Welcome Home Ethan

Andrey and I were so excited to hear at our morning visit that we got to take Ethan home. He passed his car seat test where his oxon his own oxygen level needed to stay at 85% for two hours. He then had to be weened off the oxygen and be on his own for 24 hours. He did a great job. he passed his hearing test (we knew he would because when Andrey sneezed Ethan jumped like crazy. lol) and after getting him into his car seat, we were off. The girls were so excited when they climbed into the car from the sitters and saw a baby there. It's been a fun night with feedings, holding Ethan (the girls can't get enough of him), giving him a bath after being covered in tubes all week, and just loving him. We are so grateful for all the nurses, doctors and other employees at the NICU that helped take such good care of our little Ethan. This has been a trying week, but through the power of the priesthood, many prayers, and lots of faith, we have been able to have our prayers answered and are so blessed to welcome Ethan into our eternal family.

Daddy putting Ethan to sleep

Father and Son time

One Week Old

Ethan is one week old today. It has been a tough week of driving back and forth mornings and nights to see Ethan. We were able to spend the night two times so I could try nursing him once he was off the Cpap and with regular oxygen. We are so grateful for family for taking the girls and relieving that stress so we could be with Ethan and get to know him and meet his needs. We are also grateful for friends for their advice, sharing their similar experiences, and bringing peace to our minds and hearts. We are so proud of Emma for being such big girls and for being so great this week. They have been little sweethearts and are excited to have their little brother home. Emma is counting down.

Ethan has been doing so well. He was able to nurse and took to that quickly, eating 3 oz. a meal now (which is a lot for our kids). He is done with his antibiotics this morning and they have taken him off the oxygen. They will watch him for 24 hours and if he doesn't have any episodes (which he did yesterday while he was sleeping-he couldn't get back up where he needed to on his own so they needed to turn the oxygen up) then we get to bring him home tomorrow. We are so happy and so excited and praying that he will do well the next 24 hours. I sure love Ethan and love being able to hold him and have time with him. Andrey is such a proud father and excited to havea son. He loves his two daughters and little boy and we are excited to have our family home. Now it's getting through the next day or two and then not stressing too much when he is home. Thank you everyone for your prayers, help with the girls, meals, and your friendship and support.

Baby Ethan is Here

BABY ETHAN: 6 LBS. 14 OZ. 20 INCHES LONG. BORN ON FEB. 16, 2011 AT 11:26 A.M.

Andrey and I were hanging out when the contractions started. We waited a few hours and when they were getting a little uncomfortable and 10 min apart, we called my mom and dad and took the girls (around midnight) to their house for their sleepover party.


We hurried over to the Intermountain Center Hospital in Murray. When i got there and they checked me I didn't really have any change. Still at a 3 and 75% effaced. I was so sad because we had waited so long before we went in. They told me I could stay another hour. Well after still no change they contacted my dr., Dr. Kaelberer and he said try one more hour and if nothing then I could come back when they were too hard to talk to and breath through.

I said a silent prayer and within two min. after the nurse left the room, the contractions got so bad- I didn't remember them ever being that bad with Ellie (later found out it's because she was breach). Another hour later, and after gripping the side of the bed and worrying Andrey, I was admitted. YAH!!! Ethan was going to be here soon.

We got into the room, got my water broken and the dr. saw that there was some maconuim (the baby's first stool) in it and that worried them because there could be a possibility that Ethan could have swollowed some (which can cause pnemonia (sp?) or other respritory problems or infections) so they called in the NICU people to make sure someone was there to check his lungs.

Until then, I just rested for a few hours trying to brave the contractions. ater getting to a 6 I decided to get an epidural (I would have needed one anyway since I was high risk, I just wanted to see how long I could go). The epidural was just as FUN (sheesh) as I remembered. lol The anesthesiologist (sp?) was super fast and it was not too bad and within min. I was in heaven and able to rest. Andrey and I took a little nap.

The only problem with an epidural as some of you may know, is that is slows down the contractions. So after an hour they gave me some petosin and the contractions started going crazy. Soon after they checked me and I was ready to start pushing. They joked that he would just slide right out, but he had a head like his daddy so it tood about 4 contractions worth of pushing to get our handsome boy out.

Andrey hurried and clipped the umbilicle (sp?) chord and they passed him off to the NICU nurses to clean him out. They found some of the maconium in his stomach. After clearing him out and wiping him down we were able to hold him. He looks so much like Ellie and a little Andrey Jr.

We went up to the recovery room and the nurse took him to check his vitals and then was going to bath him in our room but an hour later we heard some shocking news that he was admitted into the NICU. He had fluid in his lungs and they were worried about his heart (it looked too small). I was so heartbroken but instantly said a prayer and felt at peace. He would be watched over.

Andrey went down with the nurse to be with him and as visitors came we sent them down two at a time and I got to play hostess in the room. It was hard to not have my baby with me. As visitors slowed down, I was able to go down and see him. It broke my heart. He had so many tubes all over. He needed the Cpap to help his breathing, a feeding tube, an IV for antibiotics in case of infection, and then being under the lights for his Jaundice. The hardest thing was that we couldn't hold him.

Andrey and I were able to have time together to work on our faith and to be there for one another. We had Travis, my brother in law, come that night and, with Andrey, give Ethan a blessing. It was amazing to feel of the Spirit of that little baby and to feel of the Priesthood power that was there. I am so grateful for the blessings of the gospel and we quickly saw progress with Ethan's health. His lungs were doing better, his breathing as doing better, and by the second day, we were able to hold him, try to nurse him, and Andrey and I had fun bathing him at midnight our last night there. He loved the bath and it was fun to see Andrey so excited to be with his little boy. We had fun holding him as he slept so peacefully. We sure love him and are happy he is getting better and hope he continues to do so so we can have him home with us next week.

He looks a lot like Ellie and has my far-set eyes, but looks like a little mini Andrey. He is so handsome and we are just so excited at every chance we get to be with him.

I am so grateful for the great and easy delivery and for this special little spirit we get to have as part of our eternal family. It is amazing at how much love you can have for a person you have only just met. We are excited to welcome baby Ethan into our family. He was 6 lbs. 14 oz. and 20 inches long.

We want to thank all of you for your prayers, phone calls, e-mails, texts, and support. We love you all.

Happy Valentine's Day

We had a good day today and the girls are so excited for tonight.

I went to the doctors this morning after registering Emma for Kindergarten (tear, she is so grown up-but super excited). I am at a 3 1/2 (cm) and 75% effaced, so we are excited to get this baby soon. His due date is in 4 days, but if he copies his sisters, we won't see him till next week. Dr. Kaelberer (whom we love) said they will induce me next Wed. if I have not had him, so it is seeming more real now.

Andrey and I didn't make any plans for Valentin'es day just in case I had Ethan, so I called him and told him I would be around for the holiday. He wanted to go out, but we didn't get a sitter and it's too last min. So, while he is working, I asked the girls what they wanted to do for Valentine's day. After delivering their valentines to friends, we set up a small table in the livingroom, decorated it with candies, hearts, and they had fun setting the table with candles and deciding what to have for dinner. They called their dad and told him to hurry home because they have a surprise for him.

I am excited to be able to spend Valentine's Day with the family and to have this memory with the girls-they are so excited and I am grateful for this holiday to be able to express my love for my beautiful girls and wonderful, loving husband. We hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

(sorry the pictures are the wrong direction. Just turn your head to the side...lol).

Countdown

My doctor started checking my progress a month ago and the first appointment was a shock. I had a hard time dilating with the girls and was always stuck at a 1 or 1 1/2. With a month left we were excited to hear that I was at a 2 and 50% effaced. "It's your 3rd kid" everyone says. Now I know this, but I was still super excited. My next appointment a week later I changed to a 2 1/2 and still 50% effaced. We were getting super excited, but also in pain from all the Braxtin Hicks and contractions. This pregnancy has been so different (which is why we assumed it was a boy). I was not that sick. I have not thrown up once in the 9 months. I have had a lot of energy and am eating constantly, making it to where I have also gained more weight this pregnancy than the last two.
My next appointment there was no change and I was shocked because I was up all night having contractions, but I guess it was just my body preparing me for what is to come.
I went in last week and was excited to hear that I was at a 3 and 75% effaced. YAH!!! We get to have our little boy soon. We are so excited for baby Ethan.
Ok, to be honest, I am a little scared. Of course I am nervous about having a baby boy and raising a boy because my family is girls (4 daughters, a niece, and two daughters), so it's a little intimidating. But what I am scared of is having to start over again. It was been 3 1/2 years and I forgot everything. I saw small babies at the hospital and it just scares me at how little they are. So fragile, and depending on me for everything. It is hard not to feel inadequate right now.
But aside from these feelings, I am ready for the late nights, early mornings, constant diaper changing, etc. But most importantly, i am just so excited to get baby Ethan as part of our eternal family and to have him in my arms.
Andrey and the girls are so excited.
We will keep you all posted. My next appointment is on Monday and that leaves 4 for days till my due date (unless he decides to come visit us sooner).
Thank you all for your love, support, phone calls, e-mails, etc. We love you all!