Time to take control of my time!

As I was sitting on the couch about 2 weeks ago I was looking at the clock, I was feeling like time was ruling my life. I decided at that moment that I was not going to be ruled by time any longer. I was going to stop just getting through each day and take hold of each day making the absolute most of it. I want to be a great wife and mom to my family and right now I don't feel like I am.

So I started my new routine about 2 or so weeks ago and I am proud to say for the most part I have stuck to it. I will try to go to bed every night by 11 but start winding down at 10, then wake up in the morning between 6 and 6:30. This will give me about an hour to hour and half in the morning to myself. To get a cup of coffee, have time with God and make breakfast all before the girls get up. By doing this I can get a nice jump on the day and feel like I am in control of what happens. 

Since I have started doing this I just feel so much better, happier then I had been feeling. I feel more awake when the girls get up and more able to get them ready so we can get things done or just do something fun that day. I feel like having a routine like this in place will help me grow more in my relationship with God (which I'm sad to say has really taken a back seat since having kids, and it makes me so sad), it will help me feel more in control when we are back in Ohio and I have a job on top of all the responsibility of being a mom and wife, and it will give my life a bit more structure, which it has lacked for some time now. 

Ultimately I am so happy I have made these small changes in my life, there are still plenty I want to change and do but I want to start small. Make one or two things a habit and then once I have those things down without thinking about it move on to a new goal of something else I want to change. All I ask is for prayer and encouragement to help me become the best wife, mom, daughter, sister and friend I can be, that is all I want. 

2 months old

Zeddrick is now 2 months old, life is very different with 3 kids but we are adjusting well. I love my 3 little babies very much and wouldn't trade them for anything. 

Zedd now weighs 12 lbs 12 oz (62 percentile), is 23 in long (70 percentile) and his head is 16 in in diameter (99 percentile). Yup little man had a big head, lol, bigger brain for a smarter boy!

He is still in size 1 diapers, his legs are to small for the cloth diapers still :(

He is in 0-3 month clothes and some are still to big on him. 

I'm so happy he is finally only getting up once or twice a night for a feeding, that's not counting his feeding right before bed and the early morning one. Although during the day he is still eating every 2 hours almost down to the minute. I'm still having pain when nursing him but I'm determined to keep nursing him and I will do whatever it takes to make that happen. I'm going to see at my appointment on Wednesday if they can up the dosage of the med they put me on to see if that helps more if not I will have to consider other options. The only down side to the med I'm on is it makes Zedd spit up a lot after every feeding and it has made him much more fussy then he use to be. 

He is still a momma's boy and is always wanting held and cuddled by mommy, of course I'm completely ok with this. 

He isn't really much into tummy time anymore but he still gets it several times a day, he loves be held in a standing position and puts weight on his legs. His head control is very good and in no time at all he will be able to sit in his bumbo for longer then a few minutes and play in his exersaucer. He is reaching out at objects and smiles and laughs at his reflection and mobiles. 

He loves to be talked to by everyone and just smiles and laughs, the girls love to talk to him and help as much as they can. 

Roland is an awesome daddy with all of the kids and I'm so glad he is here to help out. He always changes Zedd in the early morning for me and puts him back down so I can get another hour or so of sleep. He's been such a help with the girls keeping them happy and playing with them even more since I'm so busy with Zedd and doing other things when he is home from work. He lets me sleep in every weekend, since getting up at 8 with the girls is sleeping in for him, lol. 

I'm loving my little family of 5 and cherishing every moment we have together!

He really enjoys his play mate! 

First time in the bumbo

Our sweet baby boy is 1 month!

It never ceases to amaze me how slow that last month of pregnancy goes and how fast that first month with our precious baby slips away. I know everyone says this but I'm going to say it anyways, I can't believe how fast this month has gone! Zeddrick is now a whole month old and is such a blessing already, I can only imagine how much more my life is going to be blessed by him in the months to come. 

Roland is enjoying him so much but I can tell this is the first time he has been here for one of his when they are so young. He seems very hesitant to do anything with Zeddrick and never asks to hold him I always have to ask him if he wants to hold him. He is a helping me as much at night with him as he can, changing diapers, burping him and sometimes putting him back to sleep (mostly on the weekends). The biggest help he has been is doing so much with the girls when he is home so I can nurse Zeddrick without being climbed on and so I don't feel like my girls are missing out on the attention they need. 

The girls are still adjusting to having a baby brother. Charlotte goes back and forth between love and dislike with him. Mostly because she is still so young and wants all the attention that is now going to her brother. I try my hardest to continue to love on her as much as I can so she doesn't feel so jealous. Amelia is still completely in love with her baby brother (I'm sure that will last until he's taking her toys) and is always wanting to help with him. She always asks where he is if he is in our room sleeping or lets me know as soon as he is crying that he needs something. She is a great big sister helping me as much as she can for such a little girl. 

Zeddrick now weighs 10.8 lbs (according to our home scale) and is 22.5 inches long. 

He is now in 0-3 month clothes and size 1 diapers. We are almost out of our disposable diapers so we are going to try out our cloth to see if they fit yet, I'm so hoping they do I don't like spending money on diapers. 

He is getting up about 3-4 times a night to eat and usually he doesn't go right back to sleep because he gets so gassy after feedings. I have tried to modify what I eat to see if that helps but so far it's not (of course all my babies have been very gassy) so gas drops and a hot rice sac are awesome.

My sweet boy loves to be  held all the time mostly by mommy, which is fine by me.

He is now starting to react to others when they talk to him with smiles, it's so precious. 

He does well with tummy time so far and he is even trying to roll over already silly boy. 

Zeddrick Amasa Maxson - The Birth Story

January 10th - 40 weeks pregnant

By this point I was more then ready for our little guy to make his debut but he was not ready yet, so we had to wait. I had a doctor's appointment on the 11th, of course I was only dilated about 2 cm and so she tried sweeping and stripping my membranes the best she could. They also set me up to be induced on January 20th if I didn't go into labor before then. Of course I didn't want to be induced nor did I want to be pregnant an extra 10 days longer. So needless to say I started trying to do what I could to get this little guy to come out. 

I woke up on Sunday the 13th thinking this baby was never coming out and decided to try Castor Oil one last time. I started to take it and was only able to get down about half of what I was going to take without throwing up. I don't really think it did much to help the process since I didn't really get enough down but of course I can't be sure. 

Roland and I decided we should run to Lowe's and a few other places to get some things we needed to get done before we had the baby. On our way to Lowe's I had noticed I was starting to have some regular contractions, but since this has been happening for about 3 weeks and every time I would tell Roland they would just stop, I decided not to say anything to him until I was sure this was something happening. Then when we were getting the girls out of the car at Lowe's I was standing there and suddenly felt a small gush of water. I looked at Roland and said, "I think my water just broke." He just looked at me like are you serious. (This was about 4 pm) I decided we should just go in and get what we came for and I would go to the bathroom and make sure it wasn't just pee, lol. As I was walking back to the restroom it just keep leaking out more and more, I kept thinking I don't think I'm just peeing this has to be my water breaking. So after we left Lowe's I called L&D to find out what I should do, since I have never had my water break I wasn't to sure. They told me since it was just a small gush then I should go home and eat something and take a shower and then come in. At this point we called the people we set up to watch the girls so they could get ready and come over, we also called our parents and a few select people. We didn't want to tell everyone or even post on FB in case it wasn't my water and they ended up sending us home. I was continuing to contract and so I was almost 100% positive my water had broke and I would not be leaving the hospital once we got there. We got to the hospital around 630 pm and I was contracting but I was still smiling and still in a good mood so I was sure they would tell me I was only 2 cm and that they wanted me to walk around or send me home. They went ahead and put me on monitors and had the doctor come in and check me and see if my water did break. Well to my surprise I was 4 cm dilated and my water had broke! I was so happy to hear that because I was beyond ready for this little guy to come. Although because Zeddrick's heart rate kept fluctuating up and down so much they wanted to keep me on the monitors and wanted to start and IV right away and give me fluids to help things level out. So they moved me to a room at around 715ish and went ahead and started all that. After they finally got the IV in my nurse kept having me move from side to side and all 4 doctor's that were in L&D that night were coming in and out of our room and checking the baby. I was getting annoyed because I was striving for a med free childbirth so I wanted to get out of the bed and move around to help cope with the contractions. But since the baby's heart rate kept going up and down so much they would not let me get up or off the monitors. So finally when the contractions were strong enough I was getting mad I told them to put in the internal monitor for the baby so they could get what the needed and I could get out of bed. While she was putting in the monitor she checked me and said I was 7 cm dilated, that was around 845ish. Well his heart rate was still not what they wanted to see so I was still not aloud out of bed, I was so mad and told them I wanted an epidural if they were not going to let me out of bed. After that all 4 of the doctor's there that night came in and asked me if I was sure I wanted an epidural because my birth plan said I didn't want one. I kept telling them that if I couldn't get out of bed then I was not able to cope with the contractions the way I needed to so I wanted it. My contractions at this point were coming one right after the other with absolutely no break in between them as soon as one was over another had started, it was very intense. Finally around 915ish the anesthesiologist came in and gave me his little speech all about the epidural and then he said I would have to hold still to get it. I asked how long I need to hold still and he said about 5 mins and I just laughed and said there is no way I can not move for that long. He told me to just sit up on the side of the bed to see how I felt and if I could do it. as soon as I sat up I told them I had a lot of pressure and felt like pushing. The checked me again at about 930 pm and I was 10 cm! I looked at the anesthesiologist and told him I didn't need him he could go because I was ready to push this baby out. 

At this point all 4 of the doctor's were in my room again, because little guy's heart rate wasn't doing very well, and my nurse hadn't left my room at all since we got there watching his heart rate. I started pushing and it took a little bit because he hadn't completely descended so I had to push him down a little ways but I was ready for some relief. It felt like to took forever to get his head out, well finally his head was out and the cord was wrapped around twice. Once I was able to push again I start to hear them tell my nurse to call baby care right away, I was getting worried because something was happening and I didn't know what. They kept telling me to push it hurt really bad, it felt like something was being shoved into me at the same time I was pushing him out. Then my nurse started pushing down on my stomach at the same time I was pushing. Apparently our little guys shoulder was stuck it took them along with me pushing 2 mins to get him unstuck, as soon as he was out they cut the cord and whisked him away, he was not breathing and they had to resuscitate him. Finally we heard him cry, that was a great sound. They worked on him for a little bit and then finally gave him to me to hold and start the initial breastfeeding. I got a 2nd degree tear from him they had to repair and that definitely hurt even after they used the numbing meds. He was born at 957 pm and weighed 8 lbs 13 oz was 20 inches long, my biggest baby so far and I could definitely tell pushing him out he was a big boy. I had a feeling he would be at least and 8 lb baby but I didn't think he would be quite that big. 

They finally moved us to our recovery room around 1 am and I was exhausted and ready for bed, although because my labor had gone so fast I was at higher risk for more bleeding and other things. They were coming in my room and checking on me every 45 mins to a hour because I was in fact losing a lot more blood then they wanted me to. They kept taking my blood pressure laying down and standing up so between that and feeding the baby I didn't sleep really at all that night or the next day. Roland didn't stay with me in the hospital at all after that first night because he had a class he had to take and could not miss so it was just me and Zeddrick at the hospital other then when Roland brought the girls up to see me and meet their baby brother Monday evening. I was released from the hospital Tuesday afternoon and I was more then ready to go home because being all alone in a hospital room is no fun at all. 

Zeddrick Amasa Maxson 

Mommy and Zeddrick

Daddy and Zeddrick - He is so happy to hold his newborn baby.
The first time he is ever been here for the birth of one of his babies. 

We have been home with our little guy for a week now and we are so in love with him. Roland is over the moon to have a son and to be here with us to enjoy him as a newborn. Amelia loves him so much she is always asking to hold him and wants to help do everything that involves him. Charlotte is of course jealous of him because he gets so much of our attention. We are doing our best to keep the girls on there normal routine and give them lots of extra attention so they don't feel to jealous of their brother. 

Our 3 beautiful kids

40 weeks

The only thing that can describe how I'm feeling right now is overly irritable. I'm so annoyed that this little guy is still taking up residence in my uterus even though I know it's normal and he will come soon. It's safe to say that I'm pretty snappy these days and not really in the mood for anything but going into labor. I'm not sleeping at all really just tossing and turning trying to find a position to sleep in that doesn't hurt. If I had family close enough to take care of the girls for me I would definitely be taking advantage of that, I swear the closer it gets to this baby coming the more they think they need to be climbing all over me.
I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow (Friday) I am hoping that they will tell me I'm more dilated and can try sweeping and stripping my membranes more effectively.

 

 

It's time any day now!

 

There are no pictures because the uploader on here is not working, I will put them on FB.

 

Total weight gain: 12lbs

 

Stretch marks: I have noticed a few small new ones

 

Sleep: Not really getting much these days. Between the anxiety of wanting to go into labor and the inability to get in any kind of comfortable position I toss and turn more then anything.

 

Food cravings: Chocolate!

 

Food aversions: Nothing really

 

Labor signs: Other then random slightly painful contractions, none.

 

Mood swings: I am incredibly irritable all the time.

 

 

 

Unexpected turn

Our lives have recently taken a very unexpected turn. Roland's career in the Marine Corps is coming to an end very soon. We will be moving back to Ohio at the end of February if his checking out goes smoothly.

 As I sit and think about how this is going to change our lives and the immediate effects this will have on our little family I can't help but be completely scared out of my mind. This is not something we were planning on happening quite so soon. I keep telling myself that this is all in God's plan for us as a family and as hard as it can be I'm trying by best to give all my worries and anxieties over to Him.

We will be staying with my parents in Hicksville long enough for us to both find jobs and then we will be looking for a place to rent. We are going to be looking in the Defiance area or something closely surrounding depending on where we get jobs at.

39 weeks

Can I just say ugh. This pregnancy seems like it's lasted forever and I'm so over it. I just want to have this little guy so my crazy life of 3 kids can begin.

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday for Zeddrick and I, everything is looking good. I am about 2 cm dilated still but the doctor was able to strip my membranes so I was hoping that would get things going. My doctor did send me down to labor and delivery to have Zeddrick monitored because even though he is moving it's not as much as normal and it's not as strong of movements. That went well, his heart rate is nice and strong, he has plenty of fluid in there with him, and he is head down.

 I have been contraction on and off since Saturday but everytime they start to get strong and more frequent they just stop. It's very annoying because I makes me not even want to tell Roland because he keeps getting excited and then let down. I find it a bit annoying because with the girls I never had this once I started contracting it was only about 24 hours before I was in the hospital in full swing labor. I have a feeling when it finally does happen I'm not going to even believe it's the real thing until it's time to actually leave for the hospital. I am trying so hard to be patient but I'm waking up everyday expecting and wondering if it's going to happen that day, if that day is going to be our little guy's birthday.

 

1 week to go

 

 Total weight gain: 12lbs
 

 Stretch marks: Nothing new a few of the old ones have gotten longer.
 

 Sleep: Still having a hard time finding a position that is comfortable for me to sleep in.
 

Food cravings: Brownies
 

 Food aversions: Fish.
 

 Labor signs: Having lots of contractions that will start to get stronger and more frequent and then they just stop or go back to being a hour or more apart. This baby is teasing me and I'm not a fan of that at all.
 

 Mood swings: I have been pretty back and forth lately.
 

38 weeks

This last week has been very long, I kept thinking our little guy was going to come but he is still comfortable in my belly. I have been sick for over a week now, Christmas Day it got really bad and so Roland ended up taking me to the ER. I have an ear infection along with this awful cold, the doctor gave me antibiotics, drops for my ears, and Tylenol with codeine. I didn't feel any better at all that day but the next day my ear felt better I just couldn't hear out of it at all. Of course the next day I started feeling very dizzy if I moved around very much at all and was feeling sick to my stomach. Roland talked to his SSgt and was able to come home early yesterday to help with the girls so I could try to rest as much as possible. Today I am feeling a lot better, I'm not as dizzy or feeling sick but my ear is still all blocked up and I can't really hear much out of it at all. I'm just hoping I kick this cold before this little guy does decided to come. Other then being sick we had a nice Christmas with the girls, they loved all their gifts from us and other family members. Roland ended up making our Christmas dinner and it was very good. I am blessed to have such an amazing husband that takes care of me when I'm sick and takes care of everything in the house so I can rest. By the end of the evening he was counting down how long until the girls had to go to bed and asked me how I did this everyday, lol.

Zeddrick is still as active as always and his heart rate is still around 145-150 bpm, we were able to hear it when I went to the ER on Tuesday. I don't have another appt with my OB until Jan 2nd, I'm hoping if I don't have him by then I'm at least dilated enough they can strip my membranes to help get things started. I'm trying to be as patient as I can for him to come because I know he'll come at the perfect time for him but I just can't wait to hold him and cuddle him.

 

2 weeks to go

 

Bags all packed for the hospital

 

Total weight gain: 10lbs

 

Stretch marks: Nothing new a few of the old ones have gotten longer.

 

Sleep: I am having a lot more trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. I'm having a hard time finding a position that I can sleep in that my hands or feet aren't going numb and now with my cold it's even harder to get comfy.

 

Food cravings: Really wanting a lot more fresh fruits and veggies right now.

 

Food aversions: Nothing really, just can't really handle the smell of fish.

 

Labor signs: I'll have a lot of really good contractions and think it may be time and then they just stop, very annoying. I'm about 2 cm dilated and have lost my mucus plug. I don't feel like he has really dropped yet so I don't think things will start really happening until that does.

 

Mood swings: I have been much more moody this last week or so, there is a lot going on and a lot to prepare for in our lives so I'm sure that all has a lot to do with it.

 

 

37 weeks

I am officially considered full term! This is awesome and I can't wait for this little guy to make his debut.

This last week has been very long, both the girls have been and are sick, they both have ear infections and colds. Of course they gave me their colds as well, the only healthy person in the house right now is Roland. 

I kind of feel like I could go into labor at anytime, but then I didn't go into labor early with either of the girls so I could be completely wrong. I am doing what I can to help him come as soon as possible, I would love if he decided to come before the end of the year. Other then that not to much is going on here other then the normal day to day things.

3 weeks to go
 

 

 

 

 

Total weight gain: 9lbs

 

Stretch marks: nothing new that I've noticed

 

Sleep: As well as can be expected this far into pregnancy and with a cold

 

Food cravings: none

 

Food aversions: none

 

 Labor signs: I am losing my mucus plug and I have been having more cramping. I'm sitting on my birthing ball every night and taking evening primrose oil daily.

 

Mood swings: Getting a bit worse then they had been, I think it's mostly from being so pregnant and being sick.

 

 

36 weeks

I'm so glad that I am at the end of this pregnancy, I'm so ready for it to be over.

 

4 weeks to go

 

Total weight gain: 9lbs

 

Stretch marks: I don't think there are any new ones but it's hard to be positive, I'm sure Zeddrick has added a few of his own to my body.

 

Sleep: I wish it was good but I'm sleeping like crap. Of course this is common this far along in pregnancy. My poor wrist are not doing well at all when I try to sleep and I wake up hardly able to move my right hand at all.

 





Food cravings: Not really have any cravings, I've been feeling sick a lot lately so nothing sounds that good.

 

Food aversions: Pretty much the same, fish and eggs.

 

Labor signs: I've been having lots of braxton hicks contractions for a while now and they are a bit more painful and uncomfortable then usual. I just hope that means my body will be going into actual labor soon.

 

Mood swings: I've been a lot more emotional this last week or so.