Sam's Grand Entrance

I can't even begin to describe how my heart is just overflowing with love for our new family of five. It's hard to put into words how incredible the past week has been...a week where we've witnessed a God given gift being placed into our anxiously awaiting arms, our love for all three of our children taken to an entirely different level, and a week where we've experienced tremendous love and support from our friends and family. Blessed beyond belief...

Sam's arrival was also an event that Tim and I will not soon forget! My recollection of the timeline is a little fuzzy and I think you'll see why as you read along. This might get a little long...

My due date was officially June 8th and on the day of my 40 week appointment we scheduled an induction for June 15th. My mom made it in to town late in the afternoon on the 14th to be there with the kids when we left the next morning. Tim went on his way to football practice and I jokingly told him to keep his phone close not thinking anything would happen! Shortly after my mom got here my very dear friend Liz, who's a labor and delivery nurse, dropped over to strip my membranes to see if it might encourage Baby K to get a move on it. Weird for some to think about, I know, but modesty is nearly gone at almost 41weeks pregnant! She went overdue with her son and it worked for her...I was hoping for similar results!!

An hour after she left, I started having crazy back pain and felt a TON of pressure. Hmmmm...maybe this was working!? Contractions came on around 6:30, but were all over the place - 10 mins, 8 mins, 9 mins, 6 mins, back to 10 mins, etc. Still not convinced it was anything my mom and I went on playing with the kids, had dinner, moved the car seats to her car...you know - the not sitting still stuff that I do :)

At 7:30, I got worried. Should I have left already to get to the hospital? Do I need to call Tim? Am I just imagining I might be in labor?! Are we going to deliver this child on the side of 465??? I called Liz. After she calmed me down and finally helped me convince myself I was in labor I gave Tim the word to get home. I called the after hours number for my OB's office and was told I'd get a call back in 30 mins...ha ha...this mama was NOT waiting for that call to leave. Tim rushed in the house, got his things, and we were off!

I'll try and speed this up...got to triage around 8:30, I was at 5cm, got my IV and gown, and made it to our room around 9:15. We were about to do this!!!! I was doing fine with the contractions and was SO excited this baby might make it before Lilly's birthday. We walked the halls for a while and then labored back in our room after the pain in my back became almost unbearable. Then it hit me...I'm having back labor...the dreaded back labor our Bradley coach talks about in her videos...the back labor I've heard horror stories about...the back labor that women can't get through without pain meds. This was NOT happening! Baby K was facing the wrong direction and the back of his head was putting a tremendous amount of pressure on my back...a feeling that is more intense than any contraction I've ever felt. When they checked my cervix around 10pm I was at 6cm. I immediately thought that I couldn't do it...not if I was going to have back labor...no way.

Here's where Tim comes in. He is amazing 24/7, but a whole new form of amazing when I really, really need him. And this was a time when I truly could not have done it without him. I labored through the next 2 1/2 hours in another world. I really don't remember much, but I know Tim was doing everything he could...applying counter pressure to my back, getting me cold washcloths, and whispering encouraging words to me. He is truly my rock.

The OB appeared out of no where - I was SO happy to see her. She is amazing at what she does. She checked my cervix and I was at 9cm. Relief in sight!! She finally broke my water and things changed very quickly. Here we go! The NICU team was called because Sam had passed his meconium, but we weren't too worried - we had been through the same with Grant.

I felt the undeniable urge to push finally, which I never felt with Grant (epidural) or Lilly (pretty much came out with very little help from me!) so it really caught me off guard. Through three contractions and a little screaming later, I heard the magical words "it's a BOY!!". There he was. My Sam. On my chest. Just magical. The first photo we have of him truly capture my emotions at that moment better than I could ever put into words. Exhaustion, accomplishment, tears of joy, gratefulness, and excitement to finally meet this little one. Nothing like those first moments...nothing. I am in heaven...

Before things got intense!

Truly one of the most incredible things you can experience!

A short trip to the NICU for rapid breathing, but out a couple hours later, thank God!

It's a BOY!

Tim and I are SO blessed to announce the arrival of our newest addition, Samuel Paul Kegley! Sam was born this morning at 12:40am weighing in at 8lbs, 8oz, and is 21 inches long. He's a precious little thing and has brought tremendous joy to our lives in the short time he's been with us today!

Can't wait to tell you about his birth and post some pictures that capture his first moments of life perfectly :) Tim was AMAZING!

Thanks to everyone for their well wishes and prayers. We are so blessed!!!!

Happy Birthday Lilly!

My precious little girl is turning two today! Lilly is such a light in our lives and we are blessed to call her our daughter. I promised I’d share her birth story eventually and what better way to reminisce how she quickly entered the world than on her special day!

I had an extremely routine pregnancy with Lilly and was lucky to feel great right up until the end. I vividly remember driving home after we found out we were having a little girl and feeling so proud that I could name our daughter after my precious grandmother, Lillian (my dad’s mother). I have to admit I was going a little crazy the last two weeks of my pregnancy because so many people had tried to tell me “oh, you’ll deliver her early since she’s the second”, or “there’s no way you’ll go full term”…uhhhhh, yeah right. Lilly was happy right where she was!

After a not so great experience with Grant’s labor and lots of drugs, we chose to use a natural method of childbirth with Lilly, called the Bradley Method. Deep down, I also really wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. We spent weeks studying and strategizing on how we were going to get through it with as little intervention as possible. We took classes online with a local Bradley instructor and I’m not going to lie…a little of it’s over the top, but the bulk of the method is fantastic! The Bradley Method is all about relaxation, quiet labor, and turning fear/pain into power and I would completely recommend it to anyone considering an unmedicated birth. Wonderful experience!

The morning of my due date, June 15th, I was mentally done and couldn't’t believe that I might have an overdue baby. Luckily, by the end of the afternoon, things had started to change. It was a gorgeous day, Tim was in class, and Grant and I were playing outside on the driveway in the baby pool. At about 5:30 I started to have a few contractions. By 6:30 or 7, they were pretty regular and definitely took my breath away, but you know me…I wasn’t standing still. I rolled up the hose, cleaned up the yard, took a customer’s phone call, and got Grant to bed. Tim left class, I called my mom, and Tim’s parents were on their way over. Then I finally called the OB :) Yay!!

I labored on the exercise ball until Tim got home and we left for the hospital…a very LONG 45 minute drive. We parked and left our bags in the car figuring we had hours and hours of labor left. We didn't even have the camera! The contractions were strong, but not unbearable. We made it up to triage by about 10, the nurse got me hooked up, and finally checked me at 10:25. I was 7cm, but still thought we’d have a few hours left. Everything was calm, no one was in a hurry to do anything…except Lilly. By the time they strolled in 15 minutes later to get me in a gown and set up an IV, things were turning too intense for me to be bothered with it! I was contracting every 20 to 30 seconds and feeling the craziest pressure I’ve ever felt, which I later figured out was Lilly coming down…you think I would’ve made the connection! I distinctly remember looking up at Tim and saying "something is coming out of me!" Ha ha!!!

I think the nurse finally understood that Lilly wasn’t about to wait any longer and her and Tim hurried me down the hall on the stretcher. At that point, I think adrenaline took over because I don’t remember physically feeling much other than being terrified that she would fly right out onto the floor if they didn’t get me in a room pronto! We got into one room and they wheeled me right back out…wrong one. Seriously?! No time here people!!! When we made it to the right room they wanted me to move to the delivery table…uh, that would be a negative because when the nurse lifted up the sheet covering my lower half, Lilly’s head was out. I looked up at her and in a panic said “what do I do?!”. One push, lots of yelling for the OB to get in there, and a nurse saying “it’s going to be a wet one” (my water never broke until she was fully born) and Lilly was on my chest at 10:56pm.

BEAUTIFUL! She was simply beautiful. Happy Birthday to my precious, right on time, strong-willed, persistent little girl - you are an amazing treasure!

Lilly's very first picture after Tim finally got our bags out of the car around 1am!

A proud Bradley coach and wonderful daddy!

One of my favorites of our first few days at home

Miss Don't Mess with Me!

Weekend Fun

We had a great weekend!!! The weather has been perfect to be outside so we managed to fill up our days to keep us all out of the house and entertained while we wait for Baby #3 to grace us with it's presence. Saturday morning we headed downtown to a PBS Kids event in Military Park (thanks for the tip Katie!!) and had so much fun. The kids weren't so sure about seeing all the characters in person...Grant's face was priceless!

Yesterday, we were lucky enough to serve again at Shepherd for their Project Jordan program. The weather was SO nice for all of the outdoor activities they had planned for the kids and there was a great turnout! Although I never originally thought we'd be able to make it, I'm happy the baby managed to hold off so we could be there. Grant went with us and did great...he had lots of girls to chase, which he seems to be taking a liking to lately...hmmm.

So, we're 40 weeks and 5 days preggers today...wow. Never thought I'd type, say, or ever be in this situation!!! Physically I feel fine, so luckily I'm not miserable. I have an appointment with my amazing OB later today to see what's going on, but I'm totally preparing myself to make it to Wednesday's induction. We'll have a baby in a little over 48 hours for sure. YAY!!!!!! Keep an eye out for some exciting updates!

Baby Watch

We're all hanging in there on baby watch 24/7! The due date came and went, but I'm trying not to let it drive me crazy. Tim's been a HUGE support keeping the kids busy, like trying to ride poor Indy, while I finish up some work related things and distract myself with cleaning and keeping busy around the house.

I even braved the pool with Grant on my due date...it was quite a challenge to convince myself that being in a bathing suit at 40 weeks pregnant was a good idea. Glad I did because he had a GREAT time and the baby seemed to enjoy the feeling of floating - it was crazy active while we were in the pool.

I have a scheduled induction for next Wednesday morning if I make it that long, which is Lilly's birthday...booooo! Fingers crossed we can just cancel that so my babies don't have to share their special days!! I'm having a hard time not fearing the combination of pitocin and a pain medication-free birth. Natural childbirth was such a better experience for us so we're hopeful that it turns out that way again for us. COME ON, BABY!

Happy National Donut Day!

I'm a couple days late from the "official" National Donut Day, but better late than never! I'm totally not into strange holidays like that, but it was good timing as I've been eyeing making these cookies for a while now and who doesn't LOVE donuts?! I found a new recipe for the royal icing I use that's chocolate...I thought I was in love with this cookie thing before, but it's been taken to another level. Ahhhh, chocolate.

And mom - don't get mad, but I did these today (after my long nap)...my nervous energy is driving me crazy and I can't sit still!!!!

Our Summer Hangout

Thanks to a gift for my birthday, we'll be spending a lot of time at the Children's Museum this summer with the kiddos. We kicked off our frequent attendance for the summer last week and really enjoyed one of our last outings as a family of four. Lilly and Grant are both so curious and it such a great place for them to explore.

We're starting to figure out the places in the museum that are a little easier to keep the kids close to us...that's after a little scare with Grant the last time we were there! They really seem to enjoy the carousel and I've managed to keep my motion sickness in check to even get on with them.

We are so blessed to have the responsibility of being their parents...it is an absolute joy to watch them grow and develop before our very eyes. God is so good!!