The Good the Bad and the Ugly. Be warned... Long and detailed post!

Madeline Celeste Nixon

June 10, 2011 6 lbs 6 oz 20 inches long

Can't have a baby without telling her story, and I worry that if I don't get it out soon, I'll start to forget bits and pieces.

DISCLAIMER: This is a story about BIRTH, so if you have a weak stomach or are a guy, you probably will want to shut this browser immediately. Or just scroll through the pics and leave a comment at the bottom about how cute and adorable my baby is. Choice is up to you, but ye have been WARNED!!!

Probably best to start a few weeks back, when I go in for my weekly checkups. As with my previous pregnancy, I was having "episodes" mainly at night where I'd have random contractions. A few times they would get six minutes apart but then stop after an hour to three hours. At 36 weeks prego, I went in and was dilated to a 1-2cm. At 37 weeks, a 2-3cm. At 38, a 3-4cm, and I had Dr. Leavitt strip my membranes which is so painful when he does it. And when he strips me it is usually real quick. Partly, because he hurts so bad that I find myself fighting him the whole time I'm sure. And at 39weeks, I was still a 4cm, but at this visit I saw Scott the P.A. I did this on purpose. The day I had Bryony, I had to see Scott, and he stripped my membranes and I went into labor that day. There is a huge difference in the two guys, not sure what exactly that is. Could be smaller hands... or I don't know. But I knew that being only a few days from my due date (Bryony came on hers) I wanted to see if Scott still had the magic touch (or fingers) :/ Um, yeah bad joke! Anyways...He stripped me again, and we went shopping at the mall and did lots of walking and nothing happened. I didn't feel super great, but definitely not contracting a whole lot.

This is where the story really gets interesting. At 3:30A.M. On Friday the 10th I woke up to a pretty intense contraction. Went back to sleep and woke up again 20 min later to another one. And then I'd have one like 10 min apart and then 25 min. I tried to get back to sleep but had a hard time so at 6 A.M I woke up and just started eating breakfast. Hoping that by getting up they would get consistent. They got a little closer together but were still hard to time. I'd have one 6 min apart and then 15 and then 10 and then 25. But each contraction was very intense. In fact it seemed the closer they were together the less painful they were. When they were spread out, they were more intense. So, Pete called into work and said that he thought I was in labor. And started getting things around the house done. I went downstairs and walked on the treadmill for a mile and felt really uncomfortable but nothing seemed to really "kick" in labor.

Keep in mind, I had the last baby natural and thought I had a pretty good idea on what to look for. I kept saying to Pete that if they got consistent and about 5ish min apart, we'd go in. So, we waited. All day, I'd have these random contractions. But never really feeling like I was in labor. I took a nap in the afternoon around 2ish and the contractions actually spread to 30 min apart. So, I guess they never stopped but just never got consistent. Pete and I were both bummed. He had called into work and by 3:30 we realized he could have gone in and been home with plenty of time. Oh, well... Around 4 p.m. We left the house to go grab some grub and go to the park. About that time, my good friend Morgan, texted me and said her little sister was selling icees and needed business and asked if we'd go see her. We went over there and chatted with them for a bit and left their house around 5:15. And I kept having those dang contractions. But even while we were at their house, I'd get one and no one really knew cuz I was able to just keep talking and pretty much act normal through them. Which to me, is usually sign as to how serious to take this labor mumbo jumbo. ANYWAYS, Pete and I couldn't decide what to eat for dinner so we went to THREE drive thrus for everyone. I wanted a toasted sub sandwich on wheat from Papa Kelsey's. Pete wanted Taco Bell (YUCK!), And a couple of Happy Meals for the kids. I know, I know that's a lot of running around for food. We took our food and got to Community Park around 6:15 ish. After dinner, we were sitting at the picnic table waiting for Bryony to finish eating and Pete went to the car to grab the stroller for our walk when Kylie decided to climb on a monument and slipped and bashed her chin. She came running to me and as soon as I saw her chin I knew she'd need stitches. My little sister Trudi was due to meet us at any minute at the park, so I sent Pete and Shaelynn to take Kylie to Community Care, while Bryony and I waited at the park. Contractions still coming about the same 15 ish minutes apart. Once everyone was back at the park, my sis Trudi and I walked one lap (about 3/4 mile) while Pete and the kiddies played at the playground. During this walk, the contractions were coming about 10 min apart and seemed to surge a little in intensity. Got back to everyone, (sorry, I know this day is probably seeming like it will never end) let the kids play for a few more min and left.

On the way home I had a pretty strong contraction in the car and that's when I knew that the baby would probably come within the next few hours but still thinking it was a little ways off.

In fact, my sister, Trudi, was our "on call" girl. She was going to go home and wait for us to call her to come over, but we decided that with what was going on, that it would be better for her to just stay at our house over night. (She had stayed then night before and kinda wanted to go home) We got home about 8:30 that night, and got all the kids showered and in bed by about 9. Contractions were coming at 8 min apart then 10 then 7. So, still inconsistent, But definitely increasing in intensity. Trudi and I, started playing on the computer on Facebook and stuff and turned on Scream on Netflix (since Pete and I hadn't seen it in forever and Trud was like 5 when it came out) That's when the intensity got worse. I was not able to really talk through my contractions anymore and I found myself having to get off the bed and adjust positions. I also was having sudden urges to poo. (I told you it was ugly)A sign for me in the past that it was getting close. Contractions suddenly went to about 5 min apart and one at 3.

Pete and I left our house at 10:10ish. As I have said before, contractions in the car are HORRIBLE!!! I tilted the chair back and tried to relax. But when I'd have a contraction, I'd grab the, not sure what it's called, but we call it the "oh sh**" handle, and the console and sit up and scream. I was starting to feel shaky and that scared me. With Bryony, when I'd start to get a little shaky, it was about time to push. We arrived at the hospital a little before 10:30. As we were walking into the Women's Center, I had a contraction right there in front of the whole nurses station, and they put me in a wheel chair and wheeled me to Labor and Delivery. They took my name and my Dr's name and got me right into a room. Gave me a gown and I just started stripping in front of everyone. The nurse commented how they can tell when women are really in labor by the ones who have to go to the bathroom to change and the ones that just strip. They checked me and saw that I was an 8! An 8 for me is usually within minutes of pushing and I had another urge to poo so I knew it was pretty dang close. That's when they informed me that my Doc was out of town (The turd had been outa town the two previous weekends!) and that I'd have to use the on-call doc Dr. Huggins, who was on her way to the hospital to see someone else and happened to come on time. A friend that I've known since third grade, Traci, came walking in and was introduced as the neonatal nurse. (Don't worry, I guess it's something the hospital does now is have a neonatal nurse in every delivery if they can) Now, you may think that having someone you've known for years would be weird to have in the room when you deliver and your private parts are everywhere. But honestly, when you're in such intense labor about to split in two, you don't really care so much. :) Then next few minutes is hard for me to really remember vividly. Apparently, the doc broke my water about this time but I don't remember that at all. I started pushing and pooping. ...Nice... Traci, feel free to forget that part. :) Pete, says he rubbed my arm, but I hardly remember him even being there. I can distinctly remember feeling the intense pressure on my bones as I pushed. Screaming as loud as I possibly could. And then crowning.... DEATH!! With both of my natural births, when it comes to crowning, it's like I don't know that's what's going on. All I know is that I feel like I'm being pushed to the limit and my body is literally almost past what it can possibly handle. It's only when I look back at it that I can pin point and go, "yup, that was crowning". Then her head came out, and I just wanted it all to be over , and I pushed the rest of her body out.

They laid her on my chest, and I wish I could say that it's just like you see in the movies where despite what I'd just been through there is nothing but tears of joy and happiness. But it wasn't. Not for me anyways. I held her and looked at her, and made sure she looked healthy and all that. And I really was happy, but I was also in a bit of shock. Having just gone through what I'd gone through. I was literally still stinging everywhere. And I could feel all this hot fluid and who knows what else, that I was sitting in and I was really grossed out. The doc asked me if I wanted her to cut the cord and I told her yes. So, Pete cut the cord and they took the baby to get weighed. After a few minutes, I felt another contraction, and pushed out my placenta. One of the grossest feelings ever! She gave me the lidocaine (I think) shots and began to stitch me up. After a natural birth, the last thing I wanted was to get stabbed down there and it didn't work all the way on the one side so she had to stab me twice. But after getting stitched up and cleaned up. I began to feel more excited about having our baby here. My dad and Step mom and step sis, got there very surprised that they had missed it since they left Rigby as soon as they heard we were on our way to the hospital. And my brother Caleb and his wife Emily (Also her birthday:) showed up. And everyone was just surprised at how quick we had the baby. Total time from when we got to the hospital to when she was delivered was between 15-20 min!! Even if I had wanted an epidural, they said there was no way I would have had time for it. I was able to nurse Madeline, right after delivery and that has been I swear the key secret to the last two babies being such good nursers . I didn't even have to use the nursing consultant in the hospital with Maddy! I've been told it could be the natural deliveries, but I wouldn't suggest that to everyone just for that fact. In fact, I only go natural because I know that I go fast. If I didn't, I don't think I could. I love that natural means you can shower right after delivery. Which is AWESOME, and I love feeling normal. Being able to walk around and stuff. But natural is also EFFING CRAZY PPL!! I guess I'm just saying, that if you are thinking about going natural, do your research. Talk to women who have done it. And it doesn't have to be those probirthing women either. Trust me, I know those women can be intense and scary. I'll tell you that as long as you don't use Pitocin, I feel that most women, with their second and subsequent babies, (I would never recommend it for someone's first)can do it. But I'm also up there in the category of totally, insane and crazy!

So, that's the graphic, gruesome, gross, and brought to you by the letter G, story of how our little sweet Maddy girl came into our family.

Shortly after delivery.

The Nixon Girls!

With Grandpa Red!

Strictly pics!

Since I SUCK at blogging here's the pics in no particular order

Messy eater

Reading with my girlies!

Toothbrush feels so good on gums!

After playing Sorry

Putting things in her bucket and carrying them around the house

The girls at Radford's 1st Bday party!

My phone and the tarantula at the Grand Canyon

Pete was soo happy

Grand Canyon Trip

Camping trip in Aug

Fishing!

Pete's most favorite thing at camping

Alive!!

K, so I may not ever be an active blogger. But know that I will make efforts every once in a great while. :) When you never blog, the one time you do, you have to make it an update blog on all your happenings over the last um.... SIX MONTHS since you last blogged. So, here's the inside scoop on the Nixon clan.

We found out mid January that we are expecting our four

th girl! And we had decided before we even got prego tha

t our fourth would be our last. So,when the ultrasound tec

h showed us, I'm not going to lie. I was numb about it at first. Pete was just as happy as could be

that everything looked healthy and wonderful. But as soon as we got in the car, I had a five minute freak out. I cried that I would never have that experience of a mother and son relationship. That I would never play

trucks or guys with our little boy. But mind you, this freak out only lasted literally five minutes. I then realized how cool it was that we were going to have two sets of girls. Kylie and Shaelynn are 13 months apart (unplanned) and Bryony and this little lassie are going to be 15 months apart (crazy planned) And if this ends up anything like our older two girls. They will be best buddies. And all honestly, we are all set for this

baby and anything made easier these days is definitely an added bonus.

So, now we just have the problem of a name. We've had boy names planned forever. And knew that if we had a girl we would have a real struggle. I don't know 'bout ya'll but I feel like there is a lot of pressure on a name. It's gotta be cute, but not weird. Pretty, but not too much. I've gone a few different ways. I LOVED the name Harper Celeste,

but Pete does NOT! :( He is way more involved in the naming process this last time around. He likes Maddy and I like Adeline. So, in compromising we may

go with Madeline and call her Maddy. We'll see though, Nothing is set in stone yet.

And for the rest of the Nixon family. Bryony is a very ac

tive and funny baby. She began walking just like he

r sisters at around 10 months and like 4-5 days!! I don't understand it. It's not like we make them walk for food or anything. But, ever since she's lear

ned to walk, her personality has changed. It's like she's so much more aware of what's going on in the house. Where certain things are, where people are. It's fun to see her get so big so fast. She has eight teeth and when we took her into her one year check up, she was just under

29 inches long and 18.75 lbs. About as petite as her sisters were. Which makes it even more awkward to see this little tiny person walking around the house. I tried out a cupcake cake for her bday. And now I remember why I always just buy the cakes. When all was said and done, I was covered in sugar and frosting and so was my kitchen. And it took forever!!! But it was cute and the girls loved it, so MAYBE I'll do it again someday...

Kylie, is a reader!!!! She's known how for a while now, but has really been able to sit down with those beginner books and not have to really sound them out like she used to. She's really caught on. She also finished her skills book a few weeks ago and tied another girl to be the first in her class I might add. And anyone with a kindergartner at Discovery Elementary probably knows that those skills books are tough! The skills books are supposed to be finished at the end of the year and show that the kids are at first grade level. It was a lot of work, and Kylie was so dedicated that when she finished she was so proud. It was way cute. We took her out to Pizza Hut, since she also had a Book It, and ice cream to celebrate.

Only pic I got of Kylie's Christmas program before my camera died

Shaelynn, our little rock star, is getting a little impatient about starting school like her big sister. She wants to go and talks about it all the time. We took her to the pre registration last week and being there just fueled it more for her. Hopefully, we will get som

e sun someday and she can go play outside and distract herself until September. She reminds me so much of me when I was little. And I was trouble!!! She is quite the little tester of boundaries sometimes just like I was. Must be the red hair. ;)

Pete and I are just dealing with being busy full tim

e parents. It's crazy how each pregnancy can differ. In some ways this pregnancy has been easier than the last two, but harder in other areas. I miss how when you're prego with your first, you can just relax throughout the day and think about your baby and pay attention to your belly. I'm so crazy busy most the time that I feel guilty for not paying her more attention. Like with Bryony, I'm trying really hard to keep up on exercise. I discovered a Zumba class last August that I L

OVE. And the instructor lady is 5 weeks ahead of me and that motivates me to keep at it. Granted, I can't shake my hips all Shakira style anymore, and I definitely have had to cut back on some of the intensity. But I just feel so much better being prego when I exercise. I've just recently gotten really into redoing furniture and crafting and stuff. (I'll be posting pics of those adventures in a

future post....hopefully:) I also spend lots a time every

day working with Kylie and Shaelynn doing school and piano. Between them and Bryony, and all the never-ending housework, I feel like I lose my days. Pete became a regular mail carrier on Jan. 1. For those who don't know, regular simply means that he has his own route and is guaranteed 8 hour days. This is something we've been waiting for, for the last five years. Before, he was considered PTF carrier. Which meant he was supposed to be available 6 days a week 10-12 hour days and would work all over town. So, having him home the extra day a week a

nd few hours a day has been really nice.

In a nutshell, that's the dealio. Maybe more to come....maybe.... :)

I guess the cat's outa the bag now

Well, it's official. Nixon baby number four (and number last) is a coming June, 12 2011. And if it's like Bryony then maybe it will come on that date.

P.S. Disregard my nasty nails in this pic. I hadn't taken off the nail polish from Halloween yet. Eww!

Well, look at that..

So, as much as I try to tell myself that I am going to start blogging on a daily basis. I need to just admit to myself the truth and that that, will probably never happen.

Anyways, back to business. Most people who are close to me have heard me refer to "the vision" lately. A few weeks ago, I went to a neighbors house for a "Trash to Treasure" relief society activity. And ever since, I have been obsessed with doing some crafting. The vision being, things I want to do for our house.

So, two weeks ago, my friend, Ann Michelle, and I went to Poky. I'm a follower of the Vintage Farm Furniture on FB and they had this pitcher that I wanted. So, I made the drive down to purchase my $10 pitcher and then we did some antique shopping at a fun antique store. It was way fun. )Next time going to go on a Tues-Sat for sure tho, so I can go to my favorite antique store, Vain and Vintage, they were closed :(.

Here's the pitcher

I bought a $4 old crate at the antique store, and this is what I did to it.

I had already started to paint it, but you can see that it's just an old wooden crate. With a little paint and stain. (And pain in the butt hand-painted letters.) Followed by some 'shrubbery'. Voila! It says "La Cuisine de Nixon est. 2003" Translated it means The Nixon Kitchen est. 2003.

Perfect above our pantry.

I also bought a bunch of old frames from the antique store and the DI for like $.75 a piece. No Lying! Those are still a work in progress. So, maybe I'll get pics of those up when I finish those. But no guarantees. I'd really hate to become regular on this whole blogging thing. :) haha!

Triple Chocolate Cookies... Oh my!!!

Triple Chocolate Cookies

I heard a girl talking at the girl's Tball practice about making some chocolate cookies with cake mix and pudding. I tried looking online for the recipe, but couldn't really find one. So, I made up this recipe myself. Whoot!!! Cookies come out so soft. And they're super easy and take like five seconds to make.

1 Chocolate Cake Mix

1 Cube melted butter

1 Chocolate Pudding cup

1 Egg

1/4 Cup White Chocolate Chips

1/4 Cup Chocolate Chips

Mix cake mix, butter, pudding, and egg in large bowl. (Dough will be thick) Stir in chips.

Drop spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet approximately 2'' apart. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-18 min or until fork poked in the middle comes out clean or slightly fudgy. Cool cookies on cookie sheet for a few min. Sooo Good!!!

What the... Lost??

During my pregnancy with Bryony, I was soo nauseated and exhausted during the first trimester that I started watching Lost on Netflix. I got sucked into the weirdness and the drama and I loved it. I fell in love with the characters and the chemistry between them. Well, Sunday night was the finale of the show. And I have to say that I'm not satisfied with the end result at all! I feel that they left a lot of things open and unexplained. It left me feeling.... do I dare say it... Lost!!

Betty White and SNL

Watch this! Probably the funniest SNL I've seen in a long time.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/147989/saturday-night-live-betty-white

Trying to be a blogger!

Bryony on Mother's Day. Two months old!!

Alright ya'll! I just want you to know that I'm a terrible blogger, but I am working at trying to be better. Haha!
Bryony had her two month checkup yesterday. And I'm very happy to report that she is growing like a weed! She is weighing in at 10.08lbs and is over 22 inches long! Go Bryony! Unfortunately, with the two month checkup comes the two month shots. Poor girl. I've been soo blessed to have this baby be soo easy that when she cried when she got her shots, it was almost a sound I've never heard before. She is not a crier. So, when I heard her wail, I felt soo awful.

Right after Bryony was born, we got two dogs! Yes, we're that crazy. Pete's always wanted dogs and all I have to say is "I love my husband." They are beautiful huskies. The mom's name is Rainey (cuz that was already her name) and the pup's name is Idgie (as in Idgie Threadgood and if you don't know where that's from then shame on you!) They are driving me nuts though. Digging, and jumping up on the kids. I'm just hoping that they start to calm down so that I might have that perfect garden like my neighbor, Ashley, someday.

Rainey and the smudged up glass door.

Idgie. She's got one blue eye and one brown.

Other news of note, um..hmmm. Nodda whole lot cuz we are boring! Pete got me my trees for mother's day! I love trees and I've been wanting them for a long time. A Maple and a Sugar Maple. Now, we just have to see if they'll survive or not.

She's here, and here's her story.

Bryony Elene Nixon

3/10/10 @ 4:40p.m.
6lbs. 5oz. 20 inches long

Well, for all the anxiety and worries that I had with her, she finally came. Happy and healthy and on her own. The pic was taken when she was only 30 min old. With this being my third baby, I really wanted the experience of letting the baby pick her birthday. I had always been induced, and I wanted to know what it felt like to say, "Am I in labor? Ok, I really am in labor!" For those who love the juicy and the not so juicy details, here's how our little Bryony (Pronounced BRY ON EE! If anyone else pronounces it wrong I'm going to punch their lights out!) came into the world.

When I was prego with Shaelynn, my body started getting ready for labor a few weeks in advance. I was dilated to a four for almost two weeks before she was born and I went into the hospital and was induced by prostaglandin hormone gel being dilated a four and her head was a plus 2. Needless to say that when I finally went it was quick! Three hour labor and under ten min of pushing. I had had the epidural administered and then forty five min later I had her. So, I definitely felt a lot more with her than I had with our oldest Kylie. It was because of my experience with her that I had decided how I wanted things to go with the next pregnancy.

As with Shaelynn, my body started gearing up for delivery a month before. I'd have contractions all the time. Just never consistent. Every week, I'd have them check and I was already starting to dilate. A week before my due date, I was a four, and Dr. Leavitt stripped my membranes. For most women, this will put you into labor. But for me, usually not. Shaelynn, I'd had them stripped twice and I'm sure it helped with the progress, but it never seemed to start labor. I was starting to feel more contractions. I'd have what I liked to call "episodes" where I'd have the cramping every 15 min apart. and then they would just sort of go away. I was still have the NST's done twice a week, as well as ultrasounds to make sure everything was ok. Dr. Leavitt was still trying to talk me into induction. So, the closer I got to my due date the more anxious I got.

The morning of my due date, I had a few contractions. I went in and saw the P.A. Scott. He checked me and said that I was dilated to almost a six! He stripped my membranes again. And we discussed getting induced the next morning by having them break my water. Those of you who know me, know that I'm very anti Pitocin. I've delivered babies with and without it. And there is such a world of difference between natural contractions and Pitocin contractions. (Despite what the MALE doctors will try to tell you) Dr. Leavitt knew how I felt about Pit, so this was really the only other option. I left the office and went to the mall with my good friends. We walked around a did some minor shopping and had lunch at Subway. The whole time, I was feeling pretty crampy. I decided to go home after lunch. I had a couple of contractions on the drive home that were about five min apart. I walked in the door, and called my hubby and told him that I thought I might be in labor. This was at 2:00 p.m. He came home and started straightening up the house and getting some things in order while I laid on the bed. I could still talk through the contractions so I wasn't too worried. I got up to use the bathroom, and as soon as I stood up, the contractions jumped to two min apart and were definitely more intense. Taking my focus and energy during each one. We knew it was time. My lil sis was on her way over, and as soon as she walked in the door we were out!

If you've ever had to labor in the car, you'll know that it's DEATH!! I don't know if it's the position or what, but I hated having contractions in there. And they almost seemed on top of each other. We pulled into the hospital at 3:35 p.m. I walked through a full lobby in labor. Kinda embarrassing. When we got into the labor room, the nurse asked if I wanted an epidural. I said "no." I really. wanted to try it naturally. Especially, after my experience with Shaelynn. I was given a birthing ball. Which seemed to help. And I went to the bathroom and labored on all fours a lil bit. And that helped a lil too. I needed to go number two, so I went to the bathroom. As soon as I was done, I was kinda getting the urge to push. The nurse said I was only an 8 and that I really needed to wait. Meanwhile, she was trying to hurry and call some nurses and Dr. Leavitt to hurry and get in there. I tried to fight the urge to push, but it over came me. I felt that I had no option. I yelled "Pete, I'M PUSHING!!!" I was getting really loud. This part is almost hard for me to remember, because it's the most intense. It's like watching a scary movie where the camera is running and jumping all over and it's hard to focus on what's going on. I know I was pushing, and from pushing I broke my water. And that my water came out dirty and smelly like a sewer. I know that the my legs were in the stirrups and that the nurse was asking me to bend my legs, but I was soo tense that my legs were sticking straight out and lifting me up off the bed a little. I know that Dr. Leavitt asked if Pete wanted to help deliver the baby, and they even went to get Pete the gown and gloves. But the baby came to quick and Pete missed it. I know that I had a moment where the pain and everything was sooo intense that I looked up at the ceiling and kind of had a freak out moment, where I wanted to throw in the towel and just be out! Haha, obviously, there was no turning back. I know now that this was when she was crowning. She was born at 4:40 p.m. As soon as she came out, they laid her on me. I looked down and saw that she was covered in what looked like green slime.I was still a little out of it from what I had just been through. So, I grabbed her a little, but then I laid back and looked at the ceiling and said "Thank God she's out!" I could hear her crying in the distance now, as I came back to the reality of what had happened.

As soon as she was wiped up and her lungs suctioned, I was able to try and nurse. She did very well. The nurses attributed this to the fact that I had gone naturally. The best time to try to teach your newborn to nurse is right after delivery. When she was done, they took her to do her tests. Because I had had her naturally, I was able to shower right away. Really sore, but I could walk around.

Crazy? Yes! Will I do it again? Probably. There are benefits of having a natural child birth. And the feeling of accomplishment is amazing. Plus, I know that my body gets ready way early. I can't imagine having to go through that for hours and hours.Bryony is a week old now, and here are some pics of our precious baby.