I started having labor contractions (what I would consider NOT braxton hicks) for almost a week before Camden made his appearance. He was moving around a ton during those contractions so I assume he was getting into a good position. They ended up being a little stronger by the weekend of July 30. Sunday August 1, they were pretty intense by bedtime. I somehow managed to fall asleep as my midwife appointment was the next day. I woke up on August 2, still contracting somewhere between 7-10 minutes
apart. My mom came over with my sister and we went out to lunch at Lux Cafe. I would have to focus during the contractions at this point, so it wasn’t easy to eat really! My midwife appointment was at 4 so John came home and we headed there. He mentioned that we were taking the 40 minute drive to just have a baby that evening. I got there and the midwife asked how I was and of course I just replied with…”I hurt!” I had a contraction pretty much right then. They were still only about 45 seconds long and 7-10 minutes apart at this time. She said she would check me if I wanted and I was curious if the week long contraction party had done ANYTHING. It had! I was close to 4cm and 80% effaced. We decided not to schedule another appointment but if he hadn’t made his appearance by Sunday we would call to schedule one. (Sunday, really…today was MONDAY! How would I of been able to handle another week of that!!) We left and went to McDonalds…yes, probably not the best idea when you are in labor. We got home probably close to 6:30pm. I was walking around, contractions seemed to be getting a little stronger…John decided to can the tomatoes that we had sitting on the counter because it wouldn’t get done after the baby came so I’m glad he decided to do
it right then so we didn’t waste a ton of tomatoes. Around 8pm I decided to nurse CJ and try to get him to go to bed…I remember laying in the bed with him and it was 8:13…and then between 8:13 and 8:27 I had about 6 really strong, quite painful…LONG contractions. I came out to John and told him this…I think he thought it was funny…It was pretty much one long one stretching that time period. I had to stop nursing CJ because it was too painful. I went to the bathroom and noticed I was starting to lose my plug…I decided to get a few things together, started the crockpot for some rags and moved the crib into CJ’s room so that I could have the space by the side of my bed. We turned on my hypnobabies birth day CD, I put a blanket on the floor and alternated between leaning on the side of the bed and sitting on the birth ball leaning on the bed. The contractions started to move closer together, but I was taking it all in stride. I believe the hypnobabies definetly helped me and kept me relaxed. About 9:30, the contractions where somewhere between 4-5 minutes apart and lasting over a minute…John asked if we should call the midwife…at this point I decided we probably should. He called her and she was on her way, then I called my mom and she was on her way
too. I stayed in the room until the the midwife arrived and started setting up her supplies. My mom arrived a few minutes later. This was about 10:30pm. The contractions were strong, but by staying relaxed I was able to get through them. I was talking inbetween them even if it didn’t make a ton of sense. I started talking about how this was my last kid, and that modern
medicine is the way to go…you should just go and get the baby cut out of you…and not have to deal with this. (snort, this is pretty funny…wish I had it on video!) The next hour and a half really were a blur but they went by really fast…I never noticed the contractions change much, maybe they got closer together or maybe I was just so focused I couldn’t tell. I was saying I was done by this point (transition I guess?) I was quiet during all contractions still and talking when they were over. Around 12am the midwife wanted to get me to the bathroom to try and pee, I was not too happy about getting up…I was comfortable! I somehow made it to the toilet and sat there for awhile. A few minutes later they were urging me to get back to the bedroom…I
guess they knew more then I did because I didn’t think I was that close yet! I did manage to get back and they
had set up the birthing stool…I was sitting there and they were asking if I felt pushy which I thought for a second and I did, I felt lots of pressure. I then exclaimed that I had to pee…and they told me to go ahead and of course…my water broke…all of the assistants pants. My mind switched to OH CRAP for a second because with CJ once my water broke the contractions got way worse and came slamming into one another. I refocused and they told me I could push during a contraction…it really felt good! I started questioning….”does this mean I am 10?” and “and 100%” and they just nodded. I was kind of in shock. My mom and sisters came in and were behind me at this point. I pushed during 2-3 contractions and I remember when they said he was rounding the corner and then when they could see his head. They told me to touch his head and I just said…NO…for some reason I can’t do that…I said the same thing about CJ. Then came the burning…yikes, but at this point I knew it was soon and the grunting noises began. (I do have a iphone video of this, thankfully!) It burned like heck, and then they told me to ease up as we were trying to not tear/not tear as bad as I did was CJ. So…I’m holding a babies head half way out of my vagina and they are telling me to hold up, yeah thats FUN! We worked on his head through the next contraction and then his head was OUT! Then they told me to push and he came out…and was in my arms. My sister then said…whats his name (we didnt tell family) and John said Camden Zebedee! The placenta came only a few minutes later and we got into the bed. He started nursing right away, a champ just like his big brother. They went out to do paperwork and I got to cuddle with mr squishy. He has alot of gorgeous brown hair and blue eyes. He weighed 8lbs 14 oz and had a 14 inch head. So yes you can have bigger babies naturally too! The newborn + toddler thing is quite stressful as everyone has been going through a big adjustment but I know in the long run them being close will be worth it. In my opinion (and the midwifes, she said it seemed like I was in my own world the whole time! thanks hynobabies!) it was a great birth. I did tear and need stitches but oh well. He’s healthy and thats all that matters. I wouldnt do it any other way. :)

Last weekend, John, CJ and I jumped in the car and headed to Indianapolis.  We headed down there pretty early on Saturday morning. We got inside around 10ish I’d like to say? Anyways, it was RAINING and qualifying and everything was delayed pretty much until late afternoon. By the time it did start, we were sitting down on the front stretch bleachers.  CJ made friends with the lady in front of us, she gave him her little notebook and a pen to color with.  He is only 16 months old and is already fly with the ladies. CJ loved when the cars would come around, he would jump around and scream with excitement.

Sunday was a GLORIOUS day! It was sunny, a breeze came through every so often…I did get sunburned on my face but it wasn’t too bad. CJ actually fell asleep half way through the race and slept till the end. I am not sure how he can sleep when 42 cars are roaring by him, but won’t nap at home when its quiet. It was fun, I didn’t get too many photos because we weren’t going  to take the telephoto lens with us since it is so heavy and we had a lot of other things to carry around.  I really need to get a point n shoot to take along for the family trips, would make it a lot easier and I’d probably take more pictures then. It was a fun weekend, were planning to go to Talladega in the fall, and maybe Michigan at the end of this month.

CJ gets his cast off on WEDNESDAY!!! I’m SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited!!

I can never get photos of CJ, he either turns his head and runs the other direction or if he is stuck like in his stroller….gives me this face. I call it the “mom, get the camera out of my face” look.

I will have zoo pictures, wedding pictures and more photos of CJ coming this week!

When your brides and grooms do something like this between their ceremony and reception you KNOW you have awesome clients!

More to come from Karen and Brian sooooon!! :)

Last week, Tuesday actually, CJ decided that it would be fun to try and jump out of his highchair for no real apparent reason. Of course - you can jump off of something 500 times and not get hurt, it just takes that one time of landing differently and you’ve hurt yourself. He ended up breaking both little bones in his right arm and he is in a cast until the beginning of August.  :( It probably affects mommy more then CJ though, he doesn’t act any different and hes still his usual crazy, hyperactive self.  He even uses it to his advantage, if you tell him no, he’ll knock you with his cast and believe me…that HURTS!  I guess he is just going through that dare devilish age of climbing, jumping, and learning how far he can go before he hurts himself. I hope it passes soon as it seriously freaks me out!

Don’t mind the sposie in the following pic - he usually only wears them at night or sometimes during naps. He had just woken up from his nap. :)

See, I did change him into cloth! :) This is one of his XL StickyPea Fitteds….so soft and so cute!

I LOVE this photo. It describes our family so well if you know us!

I better go finish dinner now and pick up a little.

Coming soon photos from Jeremy and Sharon’s wedding at the Old Bag Factory in Goshen Indiana!

I hope everyone has a great 4th of July weekend!! I am shooting Karen and Brian’s fabulous wedding this weekend right in my hometown of North Webster complete with a ride on the Dixie Boat. How cool is that? Stay safe everyone!!

For the past 12 days I’ve been without the internet, a storm decided to roll in and somehow lightning stuck our telephone line and fried our DSL modem. Of course, when it rains it poors and Embarq (our DSL provider) couldn’t even send us out a new box because they were on backorder.

So, no internet meant a HALT was put on my new computer search, blogging, emailing, all of that fun stuff.

FAST FORWARD

Today ended up being a good day, I ordered my computer parts last week and Monday I took them over to one of my brothers friends to get it put together…I picked it up today so now I have absolutely NO MORE COMPUTER PROBLEMS!!! I can edit photos like a breeze and it is such a beautiful thing.  No more running out of HD space, or Photoshop seriously taking ten minutes to do ONE simple thing. I am so relieved and excited. But, it gets better! We came home and checked the mail and UPS was here yesterday I guess…(we were in Chicago picking my sister up from the airport) telling us we needed to go pick up a package…and that could only be ONE THING - - DSL MODEM! Hallelujah!

So yes, computer and internet back in the same day…how awesome is that?

I will have a lot to write about in the next few days, including blogging a fabulous wedding from the 13th.

It is now bedtime, goodnight everyone!! :)

Carrie

Sorry for the lack of updates.  If you noticed - our blog has a new design! Shortly after, my laptop decided that the battery was no good and for some reason laptops use the power off the battery even when plugged in instead of using outlet power. I THINK THATS DUMB! So, yes, I have a laptop battery that only charges to 2% max, boohoo. I’m getting a new computer so all will be well shortly. I’m using and older desktop for the time being - I don’t have photoshop on it but I do have lightroom - so I’ve only been able to play a little ( see: this computer doesn’t run LR too well)
SO, thats where I’m at!

We went to a car show a few weekends ago, and CJ sat right down in front of this one as to say “Daddy, I want this one!”.

I do not have much time as CJ is screaming “dadadadaaa” in my ear and hanging off of my shoulder. I know, one day I will miss this. :)