Zeke's Birth Story

On Tuesday after getting home from MOPS I got the kids there lunch and then sat down with them to eat some macaroni and cheese. I took one bite, but it just didn't taste very good...plus we eat at MOPS so I wasn't too terribly hungry then. After putting Ella down for her nap I finished up a craft I was working on and then put a movie in for the boys and went to take a nap. I wasn't sure if I should take one at first since the last time I took a nap in the middle of the day I ended up sleeping horribly that night. But I figured if my body was telling me to sleep I should do.

I woke up from my nap at 3:15, went downstairs and told the boys to come snuggle me in bed and watch Curious George. The boys and I snuggle Jack on my right and Owen on my left. I asked them to talk to the baby and tell Baby Z that it was time to come out so they could snuggle. 5 minutes later my contractions started at 3:38pm.

I started monitoring my contractions and they were pretty sporadic at first, but then they became more consistent coming every 4 minutes. I had already called the on-call doctor and she told me to call her back when they were closer together. When I called her the second time she told us to come on in.

After I spoke with the doctor the first time I called my mom to tell her the news. She was getting a pedicure, but once she was finished they drove home, got their suitcases and came to the house to be with the kiddos.

It was a new experience...me going into labor while the kids were still awake. We talked about how the baby was going to come soon and that Ga-Ga & Pa would bring them to the hospital to meet their new sibling.

Ga-Ga and Pa got to our house around 6:45 and Pa took this last picture of us as a family of 5!

We got to the hospital a little after 7pm and went right up to triage. The nurse hooked me up to the monitor and sure enough I was contracting. She checked my cervix to see if was dilated...on Thursday at my doctors appointment it wasn't at all. In triage she said I was a 1 cm.

Sitting in triage waiting to get hooked up!

Poor Michael had the worst night sleep on Monday night so he was already running on fumes.

Since having Ella the rules have changed a bit at Swedish...I'm sure they have at other hospitals as well. Since I wasn't 39 weeks yet they have to make sure you are truly truly in labor before they will just take the baby...even though I technically don't have to labor at all. This is when I started thinking they just might send us home. To see if I could make more progress they had Michael and I walk through the hospital hallways for an hour. During that time the contractions got much stronger. At 9:10pm we headed back up to triage where the nurse checked me again and I was still at a 1 cm...no progress at all. The nurse told Dr. Pray how my contractions had gotten stronger and more consistent so when she came in to see me she said, "Are you ready to have a baby?" Heck yeah!

Baby #4!!!

After our nurse and the anesthesia doctor had finished running around trying to get everything they needed to start the C-Section...forms to be signed, IV to be hooked up and medical junk to be conveyed we ended up getting bumped back. Another woman came in completely ready to push so she got precedence over me. She seriously must have almost given birth in the car because I think we all ended up waiting another 20 minutes or so.

All suited up and ready to go to the OR.

Sitting on the table waiting to get my spinal block.

After spinal block...feeling a bit icky.

Crazy!!! Dr. Pray has her hand in my abdominal cavity!

Pulling baby out! Michael got to be the one to announce that Baby Z was a boy!

So happy my baby is here!

11:10pm May 22nd 2012. My friend Erin McGinnis guessed this day as Baby Z's birthday!

Baby Z really only let out a couple cries. He had a bunch of junk stuck in his nose and throat so they had to suchion that out.

Cute little guy....7lbs 5.4oz and only 18 inches long! I was sure he was going to be way bigger than that since I was so freakin' huge!!

Getting to hold my baby boy for the first time!

Poor baby had a bit of trouble transitioning from the womb to the outside world. At 12:15 he was taking up to the NICU so they could help him regulate his breathing and oxygen saturation better. It turned out to be a really good thing since I was having a hard time transitioning as well. Normally after my C-Sections I itch like crazy so this time the anesthesia doctor didn't give me a certain pain meds in hopes that I wouldn't have to deal with that. So the nurse ended up having to use some other pain meds to get my pain under control. I was also having a lot of bleeding at this point so they had to give me another med to make my uterus contract so the bleeding would slow down.

Around 4:10 or so my pain was under control so they wheeled me up to the NICU in my bed and I got to really see my baby boy for the first time. He was doing much better so I tried to nurse him...he wasn't quite getting it yet. Around 5am they took us down to our room.

Thankfully the bed for Michael in my room is SO much better than the bed he had to sleep on when Ella was born. He was seriously pooped out.

I really haven't slept much so I'm exhausted as well. Ga-Ga & Pa will be bringing the kiddos up to meet their new baby brother later today. Now I need to focus on getting some rest, feeding this cute baby boy and just plain lovin' on him!

Welcome to the world...Zeke Russell Martin!

Belly Pictures!

Ever since Jack's pregnancy we have always tried to get a cute picture of the kids hands on my belly or the kids kissing my belly and they never work out. The kids just won't cooperate! Jack on the other hand is SO in love with this baby and he loves to love on my belly so it was just natural.

This shot just makes me melt! His cute pursed lips and loving gaze...oh the sweetness!

Big ol' belly!

Baby Z!

Starr also edited this shot so the 'Z' is colored blue in one shot and pink in another. It will be nice to know which one is right soon.

Yep...there's a baby in there!!!

Thank you Starr for the beautiful pictures!!! I uploaded them, had them printed at Costco and hung up on the living room wall the day you brought the disc over.

Nesting & Des Moines Beach Park!

On Saturday we did a bunch of stuff around the house. I went into some serious nesting mode and decided it was time to consolidate and organize the kids toys. The playroom was just out of control and most of the time the kids weren't even playing with their toys. Michael had mentioned that it might be nice to put some toys away so it wouldn't feel so overwhelming for the kids. I think he was thinking that he would take care of it after the baby came, but on Saturday morning I walked into the playroom and it was all downhill after that! I put a ton of toys away and organized the rest so the room is much more cleaner looking. And you know what...the kids weren't mad at all. I did explain that we weren't throwing the toys away we were just putting them away and we'd bring them back out another time.

After taking care of that and a few other normal chores around the house I went out and mowed our backyard. As well as nesting it was my goal on Saturday to move around a lot and possibly trigger my body into labor. Once Jack and Ella took naps we got in the van and took the kids to Des Moines Beach Park to check out the crabs.

The kids love to pull the rocks up and see the little crabs go running. Owen could probably do this ALL. DAY. LONG!

Ella is so not a girly girl when it comes to this kind of stuff. She is just fine with picking up worms, roly poly bugs and even crabs! The one she's trying to get in this picture she couldn't quite get it so Daddy helped her out.

They are so tiny and they don't really pinch you and even if they do it doesn't really hurt. Even so...you won't catch me picking up one!

After a bit I decided to walk closer to shore and sit on a log and watch.

My cute little shadow joined me pretty quickly!

When we were done at the beach we took the kids on a walk down the trail by the beach. Owen was very vocal about wanting to stay at the beach and look for crabs. Once we started exploring other things he got into it though.

It was fun getting out into nature and letting the kids explore and run around. As for Baby Z...he or she is quite content and decided it wasn't time to go anywhere!

37 Weeks!

Michael took this picture of me last Wednesday. I was 37 weeks exactly! After he took the picture he said, "Wow...you're huge!" That's right I am! This is also what I'm wearing to bed most nights. I swear I'm on fire most of the time so tank tops and shorts it is and the ceiling fan has been on for the last few weeks too. Poor Michael has to be curled up in a ball snuggled under the covers to sleep.

I'm am SO ready for Baby Z to come. If you follow me on FB I'm sure you are getting a little tired of my updated. It's all about trying to get this kid to come out. Michael has mentioned many times this pregnancy that I seem to be a bit more of a complainer this time around. My thoughts on that are that it's because it's my last time. We are done after this and so in my mind I'm ready to be done! I think another reason is because I don't know what this baby is yet and it's KILLING ME!!! All these months I've done so good not knowing if Baby Z is a boy or a girl, but now it literally is driving me nuts! I want to know what my baby is!

Thinking that Baby Z would come earlier than my scheduled C-Section date I didn't plan much for these last 2 weeks. Needless to say I've been trying to keep myself busy so the days will go by faster. Seriously if any of my friends want to come over and hang out please do!!!!

We are absolutely all ready for baby to come at any time. Car seat in the van - check - pack and play set up - check - bag packed - check - diapers and wipes - check.

Now we just wait to see if Baby Z will make his or her appearance before the 31st or not. I would love it if Baby Z picked the date instead of it being on the scheduled day. There's something to be said about your body naturally going into labor and knowing that your body and your baby are ready.

Enjoying The Sunshine!

On Monday I needed to go to the chiropractor again so after that we headed back to Gene Coulon Park in Renton. Even though I can't really move all that well right now I don't want to let these beautiful sunny pre-baby days to pass us by. This time around I was a bit more prepared...I brought the wagon, swimsuits and a change of clothes for the kids.

The boys are getting better and better at holding hands when they cross the street.

All suited up and ready to go! Ella's bathing suit looks like it fits from the back, but it's actually a little small on her. In the front it kept coming down and showing off her nippies! Oops!

It was windier at the beach this time around so the kids didn't play as much in the water...they pretty much just had fun with the sand.

Here Ella is pretending to "cook" and "eat" her creations.

The boys were so happy they dug holes and found water!

It's been so nice getting out with the kids since I know for the first few weeks after Baby Z gets here we will most likely be staying close to home. I want to cherish this time with my 3 before they become 4! :)

13th Anniversary & 36 Weeks Pregnant!

To celebrate our 13th Wedding Anniversary on Tuesday, Michael and I went out to dinner at The Lobster Shop while the kiddos stayed home with Ga-Ga & Pa. We were the first diners at the restaurant since we wanted to get there early to take advantage of the Twilight Dinner. The food was fabulous although I ate too much and ended up feeling pretty crumby later that night. It was nice to get out and have some quiet conversation as I'm sure that will be in short supply in the coming months!

On Wednesday I went in for my first weekly doctors appointment. I'm currently 36 weeks, but I'm measuring at 39 weeks. I'm seriously huge...I mean I only have a few outfits I can actually fit into huge. My last doctors appointment prior to my scheduled C-Section is on Friday May 25th...the day I really want Baby Z to be born. I asked my doctor if I make it to that date and I'm really uncomfortable would she be able to just admit me and get the show on the road a few days early. Her response...if you're in labor! Not exactly the words I was wanting to hear. So I can only hope that Baby Z will be like Owen and Ella were and come 3 weeks early! I'm seriously done having my body taken over and not really being able to move. Also there's nothing like being ripped from a sound sleep by round ligament pain 2 times a night.

Let's have some fun and see if anyone can guess when Baby Z will be born. If you're correct you'll get acknowledgement on my FB status that you're super cool! Sounds good huh?

Okay so guess!!

Baby Z's Shower!!

On Sunday my SIL Stephanie threw me a baby shower for Baby Z. She spent so much time going over the details and everything turned out perfect. The menu was so yummy....veggies, fruit, BLT bread bowls, spinach dip, chip and salsa, cheese, nuts, Jelly Bellies and cute little footie candies. It was all so yummy and the best part was she sent me home with tons of leftovers! :)

Stephanie's friend Kelly who made her wedding cake made this cake for the shower. I had requested the same flavor that part of Ryan and Steph's wedding cake was...raspberry and lemon. THE BEST!!!

I love that she used both pink and blue since we don't know if baby is a boy or a girl.

I really wanted to bring Ella to the shower, but I wasn't sure how she would be since it was right after church and she is usually dying for her nap by then. I figured she would spend a bunch of time with Ga-Ga, but no way! She only wanted Mama, but at the same time she was really good for not getting a nap.

Celebrators!

Sherry (Stephanie's Mom), Ellen, Norean and Ga-Ga!

Paige and Michelle

Ella, Jen and Logan. It was so cute to see Logan and Ella since I'm no longer watching Logan they won't be seeing each other as often. They gave each other the biggest hug. Precious girls!

Erin, Becky, Rachael and Lilyann

Stephie, Kim and Tricia

By the time we left Ella Bean was definitely ready to go, but she never once had a meltdown...until it was time to get strapped into her car seat. Thankfully she didn't scream the whole way home.

She crashed in the car! Don't you love the scraped and bruised legs....she is totally a sister with two older brothers. Anyways when I got her out of the van she was saying "nigh nigh" so I just took her upstairs, changed her into her pajamas and put her to bed. She slept from 5:45 Sunday night all the way until 6:45 the next morning. She was party pooped!

Stephie had these pink and blue balloons hanging outside the house and she let me take them home for the kids. I thought it would be fun to take pictures of the boys with the color they think the baby is. 

34 weeks 4 days

And here's Baby Z in all his or her glory! I got these cute new pajamas from Ellen at the shower and I LOVE them. I also got diapers, wipes, bath stuff, nursing pad, baby blankets, a couple gender neutral outfits and gift cards. My mom and I went shopping on Monday night and spent the gift cards getting more diapers, nursing pads, nursing bras, stain remover and a play mat for the baby. Now I just need to pack my bag! Baby Z you can come any day now! :)