Finn Campbell Ricker is here!

I know a lot of you have been waiting (and waiting :)) to hear the delivery story. Finn was born last Monday, November 2nd at 7:40 pm. I was admitted into the hospital Sunday evening for a low drip of pitocin for the night. We were hoping that the pitocin drip would help get me ready for laboring in the morning. At 5:30 am they started stronger pitocin and we tried and tried to get Finn to drop down into my pelvis. We walked the halls, sat on the birthing ball....he just wasn't coming down. My mid-wife was finally able to break my water around 3 pm (the sac was too high to reach all day). My contractions were pretty strong afterwards for over an hour. Oh my am I grateful for modern medicine!!! We decided to go ahead and get an epidural, since either way we would need it. By 6:30 pm, I was still only 50% effaced and only dilated to a 5. We felt like we had tried our best at a VBAC and that we probably were not going to get him out without a c-section. The surgery went off without any issues and he was out within an hour. Once they got him out, they told us the cord was wrapped around his body...TWICE! Once up around his armpits and another time around his waist. His cord was keeping him from dropping down into my pelvis. But he's here and healthy and that is all that matters. Recovery has been super easy....good drugs have helped :). I was out of bed the next day and even walked myself down to the cafeteria to have lunch with Sawyer on day 2. They say the second c-section is always easier and I would have to agree. Josh has had 2 weeks off for the baby and has been a great help. We will miss him when he goes back to work next Monday.

We spent until Thursday afternoon in the hospital with no visitors but my mom due to the swine flu :(. Since then, we have been spending our time at home, getting used to having a new baby around. Finn has so far been a great baby. He seems to be very mild tempered and is such a joy to have around. Sawyer has been adjusting well. He likes the baby and will often come sit by me (for moments) and tell me what a cute baby Finn is.

Here are some pictures....



Dropping Soy off at my parents for our stay at the hospital. Jay and Heather and my mom and dad took such great care of him! Thanks, we love you guys!!



Last photo of our family of 3 before we left for the hospital (no Josh didn't wear his suit, we went home and changed :))

Day 1.





















Day 2. Big Yawn....



Day 3. Going home...yay!!




We had a Welcome Home Party for Finn.....all of our family came, brought us dinner and were able to meet Finn for the first time.


Uncle Jade gets a turn and cousin Chase


Matching Pj's for his first night home from the hospital...Soy loved it!!


Enjoying his bouncer and binki


First bath at home...he's thinking it's not too bad




Lots of curly hair


Now he's decided he doesn't like it so much...

Day 8. Time in the swing






Another big yawn....


My Dad has posted more photos of Finn over the last week...you can check out his blog at www.xanga.com/arnellro.
One of those posts is of the actual delivery in the OR...my mom was able to be there and took a lot of great photos for us!

So little time....

I had my 39 week appt. yesterday late afternoon and wasn't expecting any exciting news. Sawyer never did come down into my pelvis to get labor going and I ended up being induced at 41 weeks, ending with an emergency c-section. So, with hopes for a VBAC , we have been trying to watch this baby close to make sure we didn't end up with another c-section. The main goal...keep him smaller than Sawyer (who was 8 lbs 3 oz) so the odds are in my favor for him to fit through my pelvis. I had an ultrasound at 37 weeks (2 weeks ago) and he was measuring 6 lbs 6 oz and we would expect him to grow 1/2 lb. per week, so we were thinking he should be around 7 lbs 6 oz. now. I wasn't surprised when she was done checking to hear her say that the baby was still high and had not dropped into my pelvis. She then asked if I still wanted to try for a VBAC or if I wanted to opt for just a c-section. I quickly said, no c-section! So you can imagine my surprise when she said, "well I think we need to get this baby out. We should induce you this coming week, how's Monday?"

I was shocked. What? Monday? This Monday? Like in 3 days Monday??

We grabbed the ultrasound tech quick to try and get an accurate fetal weight of the baby. 8 lbs 2 oz!! I about died! What?? My baby is that HUGE!! And I say THAT huge because I'm only 39 weeks with still a week to go (and grow!). We then both agreed this baby needed to come out soon!! I still can't believe it. I was not a huge baby...7 lb range and I was pretty sure I remembered Josh being in the low 8 lbs range a week over due. After I got home, I quickly looked up Josh's birth weight....9 lbs 2 oz!! I guess I should have known. My mother in law birthed 3 babies over 10 lbs...I should have known, right? I guess I just figured that since I have only gained 9.5 lbs this pregnancy that NOT all of that could possibly be the baby!! Yep, 9.5 lbs and I am mighty proud of that number. My OB originally told me she would like me to gain less than 15 lbs. due to my insulin resistance, my risk for pregnancy diabetes being higher than most people, etc. So I was determined to meet that goal. I gained 30 lbs with Sawyer, so I knew there would be A LOT less ice cream and late night treats involved. So again, back to my point....I wasn't expecting this baby to be so big since I had not gained a lot of weight....obviously, that is not how it works!

So we scheduled for me to be admitted Sunday afternoon for a low dose of pitocen through the night to see if we can get this peanut down where he should be in my pelvis. Then early Monday morning we will start truly inducing labor and hope for the best. Either way, the end results are the same...we will be a family of 4 by Monday!

I came home after my appt. and discussed things with Josh. By 5pm or so we both felt this was the route we needed to take and started making plans for Sunday. Josh had a full day scheduled for today and will have to squeeze in some time to work a bit and pass off the audit work he's been working on to his co-workers. He will get 2 full weeks off, so I am looking forward to having him home with us for that time. I sat down with Sawyer and explained that the time for the baby to come had arrived. He has REALLY been into toys lately and it's driving me crazy! We're talking he about hyper-ventilates when he sees something on a commercial that he just HAS to have. I kept trying to explain to him that maybe when Christmas was here he could choose a list of items and Santa might bring him a few if he was a good boy. It was then everyday...."Mom, is it Christmas yet?". So I taught him a time line. First it's Halloween, then the baby, then Thanksgiving and then finally it will be Christmas. It seems to have worked because he can repeat it back to me and knows that today is Halloween day and last Thursday our Church Halloween Party was "Fake Halloween Day." Not sure where he comes up with stuff.

I've took the time yesterday to sit down with him and explain that I am going to the hospital to have the baby and he won't be able to see me until I get back home (No kids under 18 allowed in the birthing center). I explained that he will stay at Grandma and Grandpa's and that Heather, Jay and Gwen will be helping taking care of him too. He just simply says, "But mom, I'll miss you!" So cute. I've also been working on helping him understand that he must be SOFT with the new baby, much softer than he is with poor Gwen. That poor little girl puts up with a lot from Sawyer! Luckily, she loves him and most of the time just smiles, but I think my biggest challenge will be to keep the new baby ALIVE with Sawyer running around!! I keep telling him..."you have to be soft and I show him by rubbing his check softly." I then will say "and you can't jump on him!" To which he replies, "Can I jump OVER him?". Oh man...am I in trouble!!


Pictures to come on Monday!!

Hawaii ~ 2009 ~

I promised photos of our trip so here are some ones from our trip to Maui in August!


The Famous Banyan Tree








Hiking to the Blow Hole


Sawyer fell asleep so Dad carried him down


Jordan and Shanna hiking down (150 ft to the bottom!!)


The blow hole in the distance


Blow hole in action!


I made it to the bottom...7 months prego!!


The Olive Pools


Another 150 ft hike down to get to these...definitely worth it!


Waves crash over the lava rocks to form the pools


Sawyer and Dad swimming in the pools


Jordan and Shanna ready to jump in


Sunset at the Olive Pools


My cute boys!


At the Aquarium


Jordan and Shanna


Sawyer, Josh and I


Sawyer loved having Grandma and Grandpa with us!!


Loved the sea turtles


Not liking the smell....


Big cheese for the camera!


Playing at the beach




Dad makes great sand castles!


Lovin' Hawaii and the junk food!


One of the many sunsets we saw!

More to come soon...unless this baby decides to come early!!

Summer Update.....

Is it pathetic that I am just now getting my 4th of July pictures up??? I helped my Dad with his motorhome rental business again this summer and that is winding down now that summer is over. My parents are taking off for Utah/Idaho next week, so I'll be in charge of the last few rentals before things end until next year. We've spent a lot of time over at my parent's this summer with Heather, Jay and Gwen living there now and me working over there. The cousins (Sawyer, Quinn, and Gwen) sure had a lot of fun playing at Grandma and Grandpa's house everyday! Now to the recap of our summer.....

4th of July

We spent the morning at the church for the flag raising ceremony.


Sawyer with Grandpa


Chum played the National Anthem on his trumpet

We ate breakfast at the church and then headed home to get our swimsuits on. We played at my parent's neighborhood pool for most of the afternoon.


Sawyer loved the water this summer!!


Teri's kids came with us...this is Chase jumping in.


Dad had the day off and got to play with us!!


Gwen loved the water too!!


Gwen and Sawyer taking a break from the sun and for some snacks....

After the pool we all went to dinner together and then lit off fireworks at my Mom and Dads.


Chase and Cort


Me, Josh and Gwen


Some of the gang......Cort, Randy, Teri, Mom, Chase, Sawyer, Me, Josh, Quinn and Gwen


Jay and Heather


Sawyer and Quinn enjoying the fireworks


Our little family of 3...soon to be 4!!


Sawyer got a bit scared of all the noise and decided to go and sit on the grass behind us....Aunt Headow was nice and went with him.


Sawyer with his sparkler


Quinn gets help from mom with her sparkler


Our grand finale....very cool!

My niece, Gwen, is sure growing up quick and we love having her close by!



She sure is a beauty!!


Sawyer wants to be like his Uncle Jay Jay


Gwen enjoying her first taste of baby food....


I think she likes it....maybe.

I spent the last 2 weeks of August in Maui. First week I spent with my work and then the next week with Josh, Sawyer, his parents, and his brother Jordon and his wife. We had a great time and I have a bunch of pictures to post of all our fun. We spent Labor Day out camping at the coast in Astoria, OR with Josh's family. We had one great day of weather and one crazy night of rain, wind, thunder and lightening and then drove home the next afternoon. It was fun despite the weather and we are hoping to head out to the coast a few more times before "winter" is officially here. I'll also post pictures of that trip, but need to edit them and go through them first.

We came home early from the coast for dinner with Kirk, Vynette and family. Kenny was leaving the next day for Rexburg for BYU Idaho and it was our last week with our cousins Adam, Krista and Andee in town. They cooked up some amazing grub...as usual...and it was fun to visit with everyone.


Eating yummy fajitas!!


Cute Gwenners!


Sawyer loves him some fresh fruit!!


Andee with Corinne's boots on....


Saying goodbye to Kenny


Kenny with Jay, Heather and Gwen.


Adam, Krista and Andee say goodbye! Back to Chicago they go....


We had a great summer full of fun and sun, but are excited for Fall to arrive which means our new little bambino will be here!! I have 8 weeks to go and I feel great! This week is the first time that I can say that I actually "feel" pregnant!! I am still sleeping great, but just seem to be slowing down some. This pregnancy has flown by and I am actually grateful for these last few weeks to get things ready for #2. We spent last weekend moving "the stuff" we had accumulated in our spare bedroom. It still is all over our house, but Sawyer is in his new room, sleeping in his big boy bed and the transition has been so smooth.


So excited for his first night in his new room and big boy bed!


Nighty-night mom and dad!!

Now I need to get Sawyer's old clothes and stuff out for our new little guy...clothes washed, diapers and car seat bought...etc. We are still leaning toward trying a VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section), but will make the decision when the time comes closer and we see how my body is preparing for this one. With Sawyer at 41 weeks, he still had not dropped and we ended up having to try and force him out which ended up in a c-section. We will play this one week by week and see how things work out.

Hopefully I can find the time to post our Hawaii and camping pictures soon. We had such a great time and got some great photos.
Until then....

Fun on the Swings!!

We babysat for Heather and Jay one Friday evening and took Sawyer and Gwen to the park. They had a great time!!

Josh and Gwen going down the slide

Sawyer's turn....

Les and Gwen

Playing on the Fire Truck

Cute Cousins!!

.....or triples as we like to call them!!

Aloha from Maui, Hawaii!!

Just thought I would check in quick and let you know how the trip is going.

My boss took us here.....

We've been staying at the Westin Villas....

I've done a lot of lounging by this....

We spent a morning/afternoon aboard this beauty.....

Sailed out to sea and then went snorkeling with turtles!  It was amazing!!

Now I'm about to check out of my hotel and go get these 2 cuties off of their plane!!

I can't wait to squeeze their cheeks!  I've missed them so much!!  

But it will be a fun week, can't wait....