Roxelle Rianna Erickson

She is finally here!! Roxelle Rianna (Ree-ann-uh) arrived on Sept 17th @ 8:25 pm. She weighed in at 8 lbs 7 oz and 20.25 inches.

And here's the "rest of the story..."

We arrived in Newberg at 10 and got checked in. My nurse, named Mary Grace, had a senior nursing student with her, so things didn't go a quickly as I had hoped. Dr Emmons, who was very nice, came in around 10:30 or 11 and told the nurses to do antibiotics, then start the Pitocin, then she'd come back and break my water and then see how it goes from there. She did an exam and said that I was almost dilated to a 2, 50% effaced, and that she could feel the top of the baby's head really well.

By 12, they were finally putting in my IV. Dr. Emmons came back when the 2nd bag of Penicillin was 1/2 in and thought I'd be done by then (me, too!). I don't know what she said to the nurse, but they hurried things along after that. I also asked if I could have my epidural before they broke my water, just in case. They said that was fine. The CRNA came in around 2:30 to place the epidural. By then, I'd had the Pitocin for about an hour. I was having contractions, but nothing serious. The CRNA gave me a button thing-y so that I could control my own pain management.

Around 3:30, Dr. Emmons came in and wanted to know if I wanted her to break my water. I told her that my mom would be arriving around 4, if we could wait just a little longer. She said that would be fine, but that it would probably be the on-call midwife would be the one to do it since she was done at 4:30.

My mom arrived around 4 and the midwife, Jodi, came in just after that to check me and said that she didn't feel comfortable breaking my water because the baby was not down in my pelvis and I was still only dilated to a 3. I didn't say anything, but I started to panic because Jodi was almost talking like she was going to send me home if I didn't progress. Dr. Emmons ended up coming back to the hospital around 4:20 and didn't even check me, she just broke my water and left. (PHEW!!) There was meconium in the water.

Around 5:30, I had really started to be able to feel my contractions and that little button thing-y was NOT helping. I had pressed it the maximum of 3 times per hour and I could feel every single cramp and ache there was! They had paged the CRNA several times, but he was just coming out of surgery. He didn't come back in until almost 7:00. He said that my epidural had "slipped" and all the medication that had been dispensed by the button thing-y was pooling under my skin creating a bubble there. He went to place it again and hit a blood vessel, so he had to take that one out and go again. My contractions were OUT OF CONTROL. I have never endured labor that long. I feel for those that go without drugs at all! Finally, the numbness washed over my legs and the pain was less and less. *SIGH* Around 7:40, the new nurses came on. 2 of them came rushing in and were trying to find the baby on the monitor. I guess her heart rate kept dropping with each contraction and they were trying to get it under control. I didn't know until after I delivered that one of the nurses had put this cord thing in there and, like a corkscrew, put it into the baby's scalp. Apparently, this gives a more accurate and steady reading of the baby's heart rate.

(WARNING!! TMI ahead!!!)

Just before 8, Ellene (Will's sister) arrived. Jodi said I could start pushing any time. She also let Will gown up and help deliver. Just as we were about to start, Chelsea made it. They had both asked me before hand if they could come and be there. I pushed about 6 or 7 times (the most I'd ever done). I told Jodi that the pushing didn't feel like it had with the others. I didn't feel like I was doing anything and I was EXHAUSTED! Then I asked if I could use stirrups. That made all the difference. One more push and there she was!! The minute I saw her chubby little face, I said "Oh my gosh, she looks just like Tatum!"

Will cut the cord and they took her directly to the warmer and to the care of the pediatrician whom they had called in ahead of time since there was meconium in the water. She immediately pooped again and then pee'd everywhere! I could hear the nurse saying "I'm gonna get a diaper on this girl, now!"

It was so amazing. Chelsea and Ellene were so great! I could almost see the whole experience in their expressions. They just looked awed or something. I can't think of the right word. I'm glad they both made it in time. Monica walked in just minutes after she was born. She had tried to make it, but ended up feeding Rennick before she left and just missed it.

When they brought her to me, I couldn't believe she was there in my arms! It was such a surreal experience. My life is upside down right now and here's this new tiny spirit entering into the middle of it. I feel so blessed!

p.s. I will post more about the days that followed later.

Baby Shower

Tomorrow's the big day!!!

My mom and Chelsea decided to put together a shower for me with the ladies in the ward. It was really nice and I got some things that I really needed, including a carseat and lots of diapers and wipes!! Thanks everyone!

Cheryl Nelson, Lacey Stitt, Beva Shepherd, Fong Cha, Angie Stucki and Marisa Stucki

Lisa Saunders (w/Rebecca Hedrick), Kristy, Cheryl Nelson, Lacey Stitt

Janet Stitt, Tricia Christiansen, Alfrieda Fackrell

Grandma Woolsey, Sue Wyatt and her mom

Marisa and Hannah

The Week in Pictures

Will took this picture of me before church last Sunday. (only 10 more days!!)

Fashion Week Continues....

Monday

notice the shoes...

such a little poser!

Tuesday

She got her wish of NO MATCHING!
(not on the same day anyway)

Brinlee finally took mine and Grandma's advice of wearing something more weather appropriate.
It has been so hot these last few weeks and they each go to PE class every single day!

Tatum is growing into such a big girl. She dressed herself and did her own hair, then she wanted me to put Asia's Little Mermaid back pack on her. A little later, I couldn't resist snapping a couple of pics of her wearing Asia's slippers and toting one of her many "babies" around.

UGH!

Not even an hour after that last post, Dr. Burgoine's office called to ask me if I've decided which hospital I wanted to deliver at. (HUH?!) I told them that I am planning on delivering at Meridian Park. She said "Well, your insurance won't cover you there because Meridian Park in not a Providence preferred hospital." (Providence is who Will's new job is through and our insurance just started through them on Sept. 1). She suggested that I could deliver at Newberg Hospital.(NEWBERG??!) She said that Dr. Burgoine has an office in Newberg or something like that. I asked if Dr. B delivers at Newberg. She told me no. She says that Dr. B will speak to his associates and someone will call me in a few days. I told her that I just saw Dr. B this morning and we scheduled my induction for 7 am on Wednesday morning AT Meridian Park. She said "Oh....ok......hold on for just a moment". (Here I am on hold totally FREAKING out). She comes back on and says that Dr. B is talking to his associates and I will receive a call soon. So then Dr. B calls me himself and says that he talked to Dr. Emmons in Newberg and she agreed to do my induction on Wednesday at Providence Newberg Medical Center (about 30 minutes NW of Woodburn. He said he was really sorry and I told him that it really isn't his fault. He said that Dr. Emmons is really great and I said "I'm sure she is, but this really sucks. I guess I don't really care, or not that I don't 'care', but I guess I have no choice at this point." He told me they already talked to the hospital and that I needed to be there at 10 am.
I told Will that I refused to go to Newberg until I see it in person for myself. So he logged on to the Providence website and there were pictures of the Newberg facility there. It actually looks pretty new. I guess they totally remodeled it a few years ago and all of the pictures make it look pretty decent. I didn't even know there was a hospital in NewbergI feel a little better, but STILL! This is exactly why I waited all summer to see a doctor because I didn't want to start with another one and then have to change at the last minute. I guess this can't get any more last minute. GRR!!

baby update

I had my final doctor appointment this morning. We are all set and scheduled for induction on the 17th (next Wednesday). The reason I am being induced is that since my last labors have gone so quickly, Dr. Burgoine (who is totally awesome, btw) is worried that if I go into labor on my own that I won't make it to the hospital in time, or that I won't have time to recieve proper anesthesia. Plus, I am pretty sure this baby is already HUGE. Dr. B says by next week I am probably on track for having a mid 8lb-er. I couldn't imagine how much bigger she'd be if we waited another whole week! YIKES!
It is so surreal to me. I have been so busy and caught up with life that it just doesn't seem real that I am giving birth in just 5 days! We are all very excited and can't wait to welcome this new addition to our family!

"Fashion" Week

The girls had a great first week at school. We had a few mishaps with the bus ride home, but it's all worked out and now the bus drops them off right at Grandma's driveway! Mariah said, with a huff of disgust, "I told that bus driver that we are supposed to be dropped off at the corner by the dead grass". Which is the corner of Vanderbeck and Boones Ferry just a couple houses down. LOL!! Now they switched the whole route so that they can drop them at the driveway.

I tried really hard to let them choose what they wanted to wear and pick their own stuff. Much to Mariah's dismay, Brinlee ended up picking the coordinating thing to Mariah's to wear all week. Mariah kept saying "I HATE MATCHING!!"

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

baby update

I had another doctor appointment this morning. I was also scheduled to do a 3 hour glucose test because the one I took last week "failed". It was such a mess. I got to the dr. office for my appt at 8:20 and they said the dr. got stuck at the hospital and would be about 45 minutes behind, which is fine, I totally understand they have busy schedules, but my glucose test was at supposed to start at 9 and I had to arrive at the test having fasted all night. So the nurse told me to go ahead to the lab and then come back to their office after the test was complete. She said the dr. would be there till about noon.

So I checked in at the lab at 10 to 9 and waited....and waited. At 10 after 9 the registration desk calls for me to give my insurance and other info. Then I waited some more. At 9:15, I went to the reception desk where there is a sign posted saying that if you've waited 10 mins. after your appointment time, to let them know. I told her that I'd been waiting since 10 mins. before my appt and that I was nearing the 10 hour fasting limit (I was hungry and DYING of thirst!!!) AND that my doctor would only be in until noon and I needed to see him today, too. She said she'd let them know. I waited 5 more minutes (which is like an eternity when you're shaking and hungry AND pregnant) and then told the gal at the desk that I would have to reschedule. As it was, I wouldn't have been able to complete the full 3 hours and still be able to see my doctor. So she told me to go knock on the lab door and tell them the situation. When I knocked, 2 guys (presumably phlebotomists) answered and there was a girl, a tech or something standing in the back and there were no other patients in there. I told them that I would need to reschedule and the older guy of the 2 asked, "Why?" I told him that I still needed to see my dr. by noon and that I only had a sitter until 12:30 (which wasn't entirely untrue...they were with my mom, but SHEESH she has things to do, too). I wanted to tell him off and ask why I'd been left to sit for 40 minutes all pregnant and hungry (BOO HOO!), but I didn't and I went back up to my dr. office.

By then, I was laughing and told the nurse the whole story and she was furious that they made me wait. She kept apologizing a million times, which I kept assuring her that it wasn't her fault. She felt so bad that she ended up brining me some apple juice and soda crackers. And a few minutes after that the dr. arrived at the office and they sent him to me first! He kept apologizing, too, but then I started to feel bad because they were feeling so guilty for some odd reason.

Anyway, after all that, he checked me and I am only about a finger tip size dilated. He said that he would call the hospital and check his schedule for the 18th and let me know.

I have been having a lot of contractions lately. This little baby is SUPER active. She does these really interesting little flutters with her feet (I assume). The dr. said she is not breech anymore, so that's good. I can't believe there are only potentially 2 weeks to go! YIKES! I get fluttery just thinking about it!

ABC ~ 123

Yesterday was the girls' first day at Lincoln Elementary. I used to go to that school building, but it was the 5th and 6th grade middle school when I went there. It was like a blast from the past. There even 1 or 2 faces that I recognized. SCARY! LOL

Mariah is in 3rd grade and has Ms. Cheever as her teacher. Because the school is so overcrowded, as most schools, her classroom is in one of those trailers that they brought in for more space.

Brinlee is in 1st grade and has Ms. Weigel. She is the only non dual immersion teacher in the 1st grade. Woodburn Schools offer a program that teaches 1/2 the curriculum in English and the other 1/2 in Spanish. I think it's alternating days and subjects. It's called the Dual Immersion Program, but I opted my kids out since they won't be in this school very long. Her friend Anna Cook from the Ward is in her class, too.

They got to go and do some of their own school clothes shopping this year. It was really hard for me to really let them choose what they wanted, but I felt it is important for them to choose their own style. I "guided" them, of course. =p This dress was one they both chose at the same time in the store and immediately both said they wanted to wear it the first day. They just liked that it came as a complete outfit with the leggings and necklace included. After I got them ready, I thought they were slightly reminiscent of the Adamms Family, but they chose it, so everyone was happy! LOL

The Dairy Free-ks

Neither Hannah nor Tatum can have foods with dairy products. Hannah is lactose intolerant and can have some things with a little milk, though.

We had pizza, which Tatum thinks she loves and so I decided to improvise. I took a tortilla and spread it with some plain tomato sauce and sprinkled some Italian seasonings in it. Then I put her soy mozzarella and cheddar mix shredded cheese on and then some little pieces of pepperoni. I put it in the oven with the other pizza for about 5 minutes and then cut it like a pizza. Tatum ended up eating 5 of the 8 pieces from the 1st one and Hannah, who usually likes to eat mostly fruits and veggies (and a hot dog here and there), ate 3 pieces of it!!! Chelsea was so stoked! I ended up making another one and Tatum ate another 3 pieces. Lucky it was a small tortilla and I didn't put very many toppings on each one. LOL!

I also added another picture of them sitting under the desk in the kitchen. They are seldom found playing apart. They follow each other around all day. It is so fun to watch.

The "cheese-rs" eating their "pizza"

Always trying to hide!

Oregon State Fair

Mariah and Brinlee have been waiting 3 years to go to the fair! Everytime we would see a carnival in HI, they would beg us to go, but it just wasn't in the budget, so we promised them that as soon as we moved back that we would take them to the State Fair in OR. They had a BLAST!! We left Tatum home with Grandma Jones and took the older 3. The weather was perfect. It was partially cloudy, no rain and not too hot! Seeing that I am fairly huge now, I would have been miserable in some kind of blistering heat.

It was "bracelet" day, which means that you pay one price for a wristband and they can ride as many rides as they want between 11am and 4pm. They couldn't believe that they didn't need tickets! They rode a ton of rides (WELL worth the money for the bracelet), ate corn dogs, cotton candy and curly fries. As part of the bracelet "package" each girl got 10 game tickets, as well. They each took a turn playing the softball bucket toss. Brinlee went first and won a little stuffed monkey, then Mariah did the same. When it was Asia's turn, I tried to help her, but it just didn't go in her favor. She was a little sad that she didn't get a monkey, so Brinlee (sweet Brinlee, I am tearing up thinking about it) said "Here Asia, you can have my monkey". I totally melted! Brinlee got super extra bonus points for that one. She is such a great sharer, but that was the ultimate! We finished the afternoon by walking through the Jackman Long Building, where they have booths (including my dad's veterinary assoc. booth) and where they display all the vegetables that were entered for contests and by looking at all the animals in the barns.

I couldn't leave without getting an ice cream cone from the Oregon Dairy Womens booth. It is still, BY FAR, the best ice cream at the fair. One thing that I forgot to do was get an elephant ear. I always get one, but this year, I forgot. We did squeeze ourselves (except Will) into a little photo booth to get the traditional booth pics. It was fun!

Asia was too short for this one =(

Too short again for Asia and Mariah was too scared.
Someone had handed Will their leftover tickets and so he rode with just Brinlee.
She absolutely loved it! (It's my favorite, too)

The end of the funhouse

The Merry-Go-Round (Mariah in back)

Canoe Ride

The "Li'l Coaster". Mariah and Asia in the 2nd car in pic,
Brin's face is hidden in the next car back.

baby update

I FINALLY went to the OB for the first time since we moved here on June, 4. Since I am 36 weeks along now, I figured it would probably be best to go asap. I am going to the group that my sister-in-law, Chelsea, went to in Tualatin. Chelsea saw Dr. Allison, but she is not taking new patients with due dates in Sept, so they assigned me to Dr. Burgoine. He was really nice. I gave him copies of my records from HI and he went over my pregnancy history with me. After he realized that my deliveries have been getting shorter and shorter, he immediately wanted to set up my induction for the 16th of Sept. I was shocked! I was actually a little anxious about the thought of it being 1 week sooner. I still don't have a car seat or a stroller to my name. I don't have a lot of stuff ready and together like I normally do. Because we are staying with my parents, I haven't done any "nesting" like I normally do. It's driving me CRAZY! Usually I've redecorated something, or totally cleaned out and reorganized every closet in the house, or insisted that we rip down those ugly brown cabinets in the kitchen and sand them down and paint them (LOL, you couldn't forget that one, could ya Will?) Anyway, Will looked at his work schedule and asked me to find out if we could do it on the 18th so that he could be off work not have to switch anything. Dr. B said I could pick the date anyway, so now I just need to let him know. I go back next Thurs. I can't believe it's so close!!

Birthday Girl

Tatum is 2!! I can't believe it. It's such a cliche to say, but time flies so fast! Tatum is such a sweet funny little girl. We just love her to death. Don't cross her path, though, she'll definitely put you in your place. She loves to sing "ABC" and "Twinkle, Twinkle". She's really good at cleaning up the table after dinner or any meal for that matter. She eats up any left over food and then takes each plate to the kitchen sink. Her favorite things to do are jump on the "tramp" with cousin Hannah and read books. She also L-O-V-E-S babies!! She is hardly ever found without a dolly on her arm. If there is a real baby in the room, no matter where we are, she gravitates toward them. I hope that is a good indicator for how she'll be with her new sister. She had a GREAT birthday. We went to church and had her party in the later afternoon. We were waiting for Mary Lou to arrive. She got there around 5 and then Tatum opened her gifts. Her reaction to some of them was so funny. I got a few video clips and I also put together a slide show.

If you want to read the image captions, roll your mouse pointer over each image as it scrolls by.

Birthday Video

Snip, Snip

Tatum got her very 1st hair trim today. It was long over-due. Her baby hairs were starting to get too whispy and out of control. She was SO GOOD! I had cut Mariah and Brinlee's hair before hers and when they were done, she was practically scrambling to be next in the chair and wear the cape. There's not too big a change, but styling it is definitely easier.

The "before" shot

baby bird

Brinlee and Uncle Jay found a little tiny baby bird on the sidewalk behind the house earlier. The kids were so intrigued by it and kept touching it (EWWWW!!). I kept telling them to stop touching because then it's mommy wouldn't help it. My mom and Jay ended up finding the nest in the tree branches above the trampoline and put it back in the nest that had one other baby bird in it.

Girls Lunch

My girlfriends from high school took me to lunch at PF Changs and had a little baby shower for me! It was so much fun! I haven't had a girls day for months and it was so needed. Thanks ladies!

from left: April (and baby Sebastian), Jenny, Me, Jolene, and Elyse.

8.8.08

Happy Birthday Will!!!

My mom kept the kids while he and I went out to dinner for his birthday at (his choice) Red Lobster. It was SO GOOD! It's been a long time since I tasted seafood that yummy, even in HI.

La Vida Loca

A week ago, yesterday, Mary Lou took the 3 older girls to her house for a few days to spend some time with them. That Saturday, Ross and Lindsay left to go back home, so it was a super quiet weekend with just Tatum around the house. We didn't know what to do with ourselves. By Sunday afternoon, I realized that I had been needing a break for a very long time. I felt better than I have felt in months!

On Monday, we went to Vancouver and toured homes all day. We haven't found "the one" yet. We've seen a lot of potential and are excited at the prospects! From Vancouver, we drove to Rainier to get the girls. We stayed over night and on Tuesday we went to the photography studio that Mary Lou used to work at to get our pictures done (just Will and I) for our 10th anniversary. It was so fun! I want to have our pictures done every 10 years. I think it will be funny to look back at how we've changed.

Last night my mom and I went shopping for Will and the girls some new clothes. It looks like Mariah and Brinlee will have to start school here at Lincoln Elementary, which is just down the road from my moms. So we got them each an outfit and a pair of jeans to get them started on their school clothes. Mary Lou wanted to take us shopping while we were in Rainier earlier in the week, but we just didn't have enough time up there. She mentioned that she wants to come down here so that we will have a few more options than what's in Longview. It was fun to go shopping. That's something I haven't done, for real, in years. All the clothes they had in HI were either sent to us from the grandma's, or hand-me-downs from friends. I did buy them things here and there for holidays and special occassions, but I never got to just go out and "pleasure shop". THANKS MOM!

Grubbin'

We've been loving the super sweet corn from Bauman Farms. They are a local family here that grow and sell their own crops. Tatum couldn't get enough! I was surprised at how much those tiny top teeth could clean off the cob. She still only has 4 teeth on top and 4 teeth on bottom.