Introducing Trevor David Jones!

I love birth stories. I love reading them and writing them. So, reader beware, this might be TMI for the normal crowd. :o)

My "guess date" was October 12, but I was certain that date would come and go with no news. I was right.

I told my mom to not come on or before the 12th, because I wanted her here for the maximum amount of time after the baby was born. My mom flew in from Oregon at 1:30 on Monday (the 17th) afternoon. We went to Ikea, and walked and walked and walked. And dreamed and planned and bought.

At bedtime that night (11pm), I started having some hard contractions, and knew I'd be home with my baby in the next 24 hours. That was a happy thought to go to sleep to! I woke up at 1:43am, no longer able to sleep through the contractions, but I stayed in bed until around 2:30am. I started timing my contractions and writing down how long they lasted (because I'm terrible at remembering things like that). At 2:30am I came out to the front room so that I could walk around a little and rest on the couch. I found that my favorite position was leaning over something--on my knees leaning on the piano bench, on my feet leaning against the kitchen counter--that was what felt best. I gathered a few last-minute items, and finally decided it was time to call the midwife.

When I was laboring with Lincoln I discovered that counting really helped me make it through each contraction. I focused on each individual contraction, not thinking about anything else. And I would count up to the peak and then backwards again.

I was having to do my low guttural breathing to get through a contraction , and felt some pretty good pressure down below. I woke Stephen up at 4am, telling him I was calling the midwife, but then changed my mind--the contractions were so close I wouldn't have had time to talk between them, so I told Stephen that he was calling the midwife. I gave him my list of contractions and he was able to tell Catherine what was going on. She said to come right in (she was already there with another laboring mom).

Stephen was surprised that she wanted us to come in right away--he was thinking back to Lincoln and how we were at the birthing center for quite a long time before he finally showed up. Truth be told, that is what I was thinking, too--I DID NOT want to be at the birthing center any longer that I needed to be. But I figured, with how I was feeling, I needed some extra help--especially if I was going to feel that way for many more hours. I was dreading that. I knew I could do it--what was my alternative?--but I wasn't looking forward to it. My contractions were almost on top of each other, and so hard.

I was so grateful that Mom had just arrived--as my dad said, "Looks like the calvary made it in the nick of time!"

We arrived at the birthing center at 4:30am. Catherine (my midwife) met us at the door, and in between contractions I told her how I was feeling and what had been going on. We got to the Chocolate Room (don't you love the name?!) where the giant tub was full and waiting for me. She suggested I lay on the bed so she could check me and the baby, but then decided to put me straight in the tub. Oh, it was wonderful to get in that hot water! She checked me in between the next 2 contractions and said, "You are complete! Let me know when you want to start pushing!"

HALLELUJAH!!!!! This wasn't going to last forever! It wasn't going to last much longer at all! I said a very, very heartfelt prayer of gratitude. Stephen turned on Yanni and helped me remember to make low sounds and relax. I really focused on what he was saying, and survived every single contraction--even when I didn't think I could. I kept saying to myself, "Every one of these brings me closer to holding my precious baby." And once out loud, "GOD ALMIGHTY!!!" I was leaning against the side of the tub, in the wonderful water, on my knees. It was just the most comfortable position for me.

In between each contraction I felt perfectly calm--I even remember saying, "Stephen, remind me about how I feel right now next time I want a baby." And all of a sudden I needed to push. Oh my, oh my. Stephen moved in to position (having no idea how to catch a baby). Push one, I can see the head! Push two, you're doing great! Push three, out to the ears!! Push four, he's out!!! GREAT relief--the pain was gone, and replaced with a beautiful baby boy. And I didn't tear at all!! He was born at 5:05am.

Catherine and Stephen put him on my back and gave him a rubdown to encourage him to take his first breath, and then I heard the sweet, sweet sound of my newborn's cry! I rolled over in the water and just held him close to me until the cord stopped pulsing and Stephen cut it. We stayed in the water a bit longer, and then Stephen took the baby and Dana (the birthing assistant) helped dry me off and put me in bed.

Then I just held our little Trevor David and looked at him and loved him. He started rooting around and so we nursed...and nursed...and nursed. And then slept and rested. Our Trevor David is named after two of his uncles--my oldest brother, Trevor Dean, and Stephen's oldest brother, David.

I was able to get up and go to the bathroom, and had some yogurt and fake gatorade. And then we rested and listened to music. Dana and Paula (another of the midwives--Catherine was helping another baby come to the world) did little Trevor's newborn exam and Vitamin K shot, and then Stephen left to get the kids and my mom at about 8:45am. Our "little" Trevor beat out all of his siblings (and namesake) at 9 lb., 11 oz.!!

They were so excited to meet little Trevor! Well...not Lincoln so much...he clung to Stephen most of the time he was there.

Mom made breakfast for all of us in the kitchen, and the kids and I thoroughly enjoyed it. :o) What a special memory for all of us to be there together! The birthing center (Morning Star) has been just great! If we have another baby while in MN, I'm definitely going back!

I got home at 11:30am--same day--with a "tuck-in doula" to get me all settled in. I was put on bed rest for 24 hours, and settled in to rest. It was great--I felt so good (considering I had just given birth) and everyone waited on me hand and foot. It was wonderful to have my recovery at home, in my own bed with my own lumpy pillow and my sweet kids poking their heads in to check on the newest brother and I. I could have the door closed and sleep or open and be part of the fun, without any of the responsibility.

We couldn't be happier with our sweet baby Trevor! 5 kids. Wow. We feel so blessed and grateful!

Who said it?

Mystery child #1, as he walks inside inside the house:

"You don't want my hand inside, because it's full of millipedes and they're squirming all over and squeezing out!"

Mystery child #2, after listening to a song called "It's Possible", which includes the lyrics "anything is possible", repeated over and over:

"Well, not anything is possible. Electronics can't turn into ants."

10 years, 5 pregnancies, introducing Mason

Stephen Mason Jones, born April 2004, my age: 23

We were living in Beaverton when I got pregnant with Mason. I was still commuting to Corvallis for school 4 days a week, and the first month of pregnancy was really, really draining. It was such a relief to finally be finished! The time between Elise and Mason when I was finished with school was another unique time for me. Stephen had a good job, and my only job was to take care of Elise. We made friends with another couple in our apartment complex, Ben & Heidi Boyer, who had a little girl 2 months younger than Elise. Heidi was also pregnant, and due 2 months before me. It was such an easy time of life!

Months before I became pregnant with Mason both Stephen and I had an experience in the temple--we were sitting in the chapel with our ward when we both had the impression that there was a little boy waiting to come to our family. Stephen had a vision in his mind of Elise playing with a little brother. We both remember wondering if Heavenly Father was warning us that this child was going to something special.

I had a great pregnancy. I was so much more relaxed this time around than I was with Elise. Heidi and I went walking together with our babies most nice days. We spent lots of time together. I watched her little girl, Rachel, when she went to the hospital to have Elena. She and Ben watched Elise when I went to the hospital to have Mason.

Here's me a week before having Mason:

We had decided on his name, Stephen Mason, after Stephen and his mission president, President Kenneth Mason. We decided to call him Mason--but Mason Stephen just didn't have the same ring to it as Stephen Mason. President Mason was very touched when Stephen called him to tell him the name of our little baby.

I was induced with Mason 2 days after his guess date. It was my midwifes on-call day, and I really wanted her to be the one to deliver Mason. It was also a Monday. We went in at 6am and hooked me up to the machines. Mason was born that afternoon, around 2pm. My epidural wasn't so strong this time, so I was able to move sooner after his birth. Again, I was absolutely famished! He was 8 lb 10 oz, and had the funniest silvery widows peak.

Since we don't like to have a baby birth without some excitement to go along with it, we moved into our first house exactly one week after Mason was born! And not only that, Stephen, his dad and my dad immediately started ripping down walls. Literally. Again, Ann made sure that I had a quiet space before I ever got to the house.

I hung up sheets to make "walls"--and so I wouldn't have to deal with all the dust and wires. Until we moved 4 years later we were always working on the house. It was perfect when we left! Mason grew up wiring, sheetrocking and doing carpentry work. I'll always remember the day after we moved in. Dad Jones was doing yard work (my birthday present was a weed whacker!). Elise was playing on the swing set in the back yard and Mason was in his car seat right next to her. Gene was edging the lawn not 2 feet from where Mason was sleeping--and Mason kept right on sleeping!

When we put him in his own room at about 3 months he figured out the going-to-sleep-on-his-own thing in 2 nights. It was wonderful. It was also wonderful that he was such a good sleeper--I remember Stephen taking out the kids room door frame late one night...with a sawzall.

Mason was very predictable the first two months of his life. EVERY two hours he would eat and poop. It was like clock work. Absolutely amazing. He ballooned up, too!

At 3 weeks:

At 8 weeks:

At 3 months:

By 4 months he was sitting--well, it was more like he had such a wide base that he couldn't tip over. Here's him at 6 months:

He didn't crawl until 11 months or so--he was just too high centered. :o)

And there is the first year of Mason's life! Finally documented.

10 years, 5 pregnancies, introducing Elise

How different my 5th pregnancy has been than my 1st!

Elise, born June 2002, my age: 21

I was going to school full time at Oregon State (in Corvallis, OR) and working part time. I literally walked miles every day--from home to school to work and back home. I took classes pass/no pass and did an internship, so I was all finished with school a week before my guess date. Which came and left. I remember picking strawberries and making jam on that day. Elise was born on a Monday, the first day of finals week at OSU, 7 days after the guess date. In fact, Stephen had to leave the hospital the day after she was born to take a test. My parents left town for Nauvoo the following Thursday, Stephen graduated on Sunday and we moved to Wilsonville on Monday.

Here's what I remember about that first whirlwind week...

My water broke about 11pm on Sunday and the contractions started right away. On the way to the hospital I decided that I wanted an epidural, and once that wonder drug was in I was very comfortable. She was born at 10:29am on Monday. I couldn't move afterwards because of the epidural--it was really weird. I had lots of visitors, and my Grandpa sent me flowers! I remember being famished and devouring a huge hamburger and fries--food had never tasted so good!

Stephen's brother and his wife and 3 kids (one of whom was 3 months old) stopping by. I was terrified to clip Elise's fingernails so Melissa did it for me.

Stephen studying late at night while comforting Elise.

Being SO overwhelmed at having to pack up the house, especially with my mom gone, and receiving a phone call from a friend. She asked, "How is everything?" (Alicen had recently had her first baby). I started to say, "Oh, everything is just fine", but couldn't make it through the lie and started to weep. She said, "I'll be right over." And come she did, with her own baby, and did my dishes. Soon another friend (Dawn) came over with her newborn and folded laundry. I still cry out of gratitude for those friends, who came at a time when I truly needed them.

Going to Stephen's graduation with his parents and John & Melissa (and Caleb, the 3-month-old). I remember sitting in the grand stand as the ceremony went on and on and on and on. I was still figuring out the whole nursing thing (it took months!), and during the 5 or so hours we were there, Elise wouldn't nurse once. I was freaking out, but Elise just slept.

Moving the day after graduation--Elise was exactly one week old. Stephen's parents didn't let me do anything. The first thing Ann had done when the truck was unloaded was set up a spot for me--our old blue recliner from Grandma Cleaver. I felt guilty for not helping, but at the same time was so grateful that I wasn't allowed to do anything! It was quite the deluxe apartment after what we'd always lived in in Corvallis!

Here's us in our new place:

Stephen had an internship in downtown Portland, and then in October got a job at Nike, in Beaverton. He took the car to a park & ride most days, but sometimes I'd drop him off so that I could get out of the apartment.

I took the following semester off of school, so for 6 months I only took care of Elise. Sleeping in until 10am was normal during that time. How wonderful and strange! The following January I started commuting to Corvallis to finish up school. I passed Elise off between my mom (who had started working), my 15-year-old brother, Scotty (who refused to change diapers) and my former Young Women's president, Janet Folsom.

Elise didn't sleep through the night until she was 10 months old--she was the first baby, after all! Her learning to sleep was a painful process for me, but learn she did! We moved to Beaverton, to be closer to Nike, when she was about 11 months old, so my school commute became longer. But I finished at the end of the summer!

We pretty much worshiped this little girl!

How Lincoln eats breakfast

Lincoln is usually the first child awake in the mornings, and lets us know by yelling from his crib, "MA! MA! MOMMY!!" (Think Mayhem in the Allstate commercials), or as this morning, "DA! DA! DADDY!!!" As soon as one of us goes in there (or Elise or Mason get him up) he gives a huge grin and puts his binky on his dresser and gives us a big hug.

Then he runs to the kitchen, gets a bowl, spoon and bib, stops by the fridge for the milk and runs to his chair. His first breakfast is usually frosted shredded wheat. His second breakfast is whatever Daddy is having for breakfast, his third breakfast is whatever I'm having for breakfast...this pattern continues until every child is awake and has eaten breakfast. He cracks me up!

Didn't make the cut

NOT on my list of favorite ways to be awakened from a nap:

"Lincoln pooped and it squished out and is all over his legs!"

Helpful

Today a friend at ballet gave me 5 big garbage bags full of boys clothing, sizes 0-7. What a blessing! She had it all sorted by size and everything. How nice to be able to just sit down and go through one size at a time and take what I need and put back what I don't.

Yes. Well.

My kids have been very helpful lately (honestly and truly--like Mason making pancakes for everyone yesterday), and continued on in that vein tonight, by bringing in all the bags of clothing. What I didn't realize  they were doing was this:

Sigh. They cut open and dumped out every single bag of neatly sorted, folded clothing. And proceeded to jump on the pile. They were so proud of themselves for helping me so much! I didn't have the heart to scold them, they were so pleased with themselves. 

Well, Stephen is gone tonight; I guess I'll sort clothes on the floor and watch something...goodnight!

October thus far

I don't have anything really exciting to say...it's just been a happy, normal month so far. Oh--and no baby yet. :)

We made a baby blanket for a friend who is having a baby any day now. The kids tied it--and learned how to tie a square knot!

We ate yummy food for General Conference--Stephen was proud of me for halving all recipes. :) BUT--making yummy food just made me miss Paul & Candace & co in Utah and my brother Brett's family in Idaho. We always spent Conference together.

Elise helped Stephen in the yard in between sessions on Saturday. I find it hilarious that she used the leaf blower!

 Farmer Sammy helped tidy up the flower garden. We pulled out all the kids' getting-bigger boxes to get cool weather clothes--most of them enjoyed trying on "new" things. Mason enjoyed it for about the first 5 minutes, and then complained the rest of the time. Sammy and Elise loved it and Lincoln tolerated me holding clothes up to him. Sammy was SO excited to see there was a pair of overalls that would fit him! We also put away all summer clothes...and it's been in the 80s all week. In October. In Minnesota!?!?!

Lincoln likes to sit on the counter and "help" me whenever I do anything in the kitchen. He hasn't fallen yet--he's pretty cautious. He also loves the treats he gets when he's helping...

Last night I asked Stephen to take Lincoln out of the kitchen because I just couldn't handle his whining and climbing on my legs when I was trying to make dinner. I kid you not, not 1 minute later I hear a "WHACK" and then the screaming started. Elise came in, "Lincoln bonked his eye and is bleeding all over." I figured Stephen had things under control (and I was kind of busy frying Swedish pancakes anyhow), so I had her get a cool, wet rag for him. Stephen had tossed Lincoln on the couch (Lincoln loves it!), but failed to catch him before he rolled off onto our little end table. He has an inch-long cut right on his eyebrow.

Some Neosporin, 2 butterfly bandages and one bandaid later, Lincoln was NOT happy with Stephen. He sat like this all dinner long, just scowling. He perked up once Stephen left the table, and only then would he eat. Stephen was convinced that Lincoln was very upset with him. Kind of looks like it! (He's fine this morning--I was kind of worried he'd need stitches, but I think he'll just end up with a really cool scar.)

I really like my husband!

Sometimes I forget how awesome my husband is, with the busy-ness that can creep up on us. This weekend I've had such a wonderful time with Stephen! We haven't done anything special at all, just spent almost the entire time together. It's the little things, like having him cook and clean up and lift heavy stuff and laugh with me. Neither of us went anywhere (aside from Priesthood meeting--and even then he came straight home), and every time I got stuck in the couch or dropped something he was right there to help me out (in the couch example, literally :). We got to sit next to each other and hold hands while watching General Conference, and if one of us fell asleep the other shushed the kids. We talked about the kids and laughed and laughed.

I really love this guy!