Baby Drew

Disclaimer: This contains a lot of info that probably won't be of much interest to you.. However, I wanted to post it for personal/journaling reasons. :) 

Gosh.. Hello Blog. Where do I even start?? A lot has happened. First off, we have 3 kids now. Ya, I know, that was fast right?? 3 years ago we had a fertility doctor look us in the eyes and tell us we would never be able to get pregnant unless we did fertility treatments. And, that if by some chance we ever did become pregnant on our own, it would be a miracle. We ended up doing one round of Invitro Fertilization and thankfully ended up with Will & Evvie Jane. We soaked in everything we could about my pregnancy with them and their lives! We took millions of pictures and videos. I kept journals and made photo albums. To tell you the truth I think I went a little overboard in documenting their lives. But  I did it because I was also told by another fertility doctor that I might never, EVER be able to have kids.    

(These doctors have got to learn to never say these kind of things!!)  Anyways, I am getting sidetracked. My point is, we knew there was a good chance that Will & Evvie might be our only kids, so we tried to absorb, capture and soak in every. Last. Detail. 

Will & Evvie were 14 months old. We were in Cedar City for Thanksgiving. I had been feeling a little sick for a few days, but I figured it was the beginnings of the flu. Then, it hit me! I was doing laundry and the smell of the laundry soap made me want to vomit! Later, I was brushing my teeth and couldn't help but dry heave every time I put the tooth brush in my mouth. That's when I knew! I told Lance I was pregnant and he laughed. I told him to take me to the dollar store so I could by a test (the most accurate test out there)! He laughed again. Finally I convinced him to do so and soon enough I had 2 pink lines to prove my pregnancy!

This is the day we found out we were expecting another baby! We felt like we still had 2 babies!!

Seeing those pink lines appear was unreal! HOW COULD IT BE THIS EASY!?!?! We weren't even considering thinking about doing fertility treatments yet! We couldn't get over the fact of how easy it was.. No shots, no pills, no timing, no ultrasounds, no doctor appointments, no money, no waiting, or wondering, or getting your hopes up and then crushed over and over. We felt so many different emotions. We were shocked, surprised, overwhelmed, in disbelief, thrilled, happy, scared, overwhelmed.. But overall we were overcome with a feeling of complete gratitude. It was indeed "a miracle" just like our fertility doctor had predicted. 

So... now that we are somewhat caught up.. 

The pregnancy went well. I was nauseas for what seemed like forever and at 18 weeks I finally started to feel better. I used to not have any sympathy for sick, pregnant people.. Well, boy was that a bad choice. Karma came back to make a fool of me. 

I went into early labor on a Saturday night. We actually ended up going to the hospital at 12:30 am because they were quite painful and 6-7 minutes apart. I had a C-section with the twins, and I was going to try for a vbac this time around, so basically I had no idea what I was doing. Well, we were told I was indeed in labor, just the easy stages. I was only dilated to a 1, so they made me walk around a dark hospital for one whole hour to try to get things going.Afterward I still hadn't progressed so they sent me home. I always told myself I wouldn't be one of those people who go in too early for labor. Boy I felt dumb. We arrived home at 6 am, just in time for Evvie to wake up. :) It was the first all nighter Lance and I had pulled in a long time..

After 4 days of horrible, relentless, early labor, my water finally broke on Wednesday morning. I had no idea early labor could last that long. Contractions for 4 days that were anywhere from 4 to 15 minutes apart. Nonstop. And I'm not talking little contractions, I'm talking curl up in a ball and "breath through them" kind of contractions. I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep. It was horrible. The doctors assured me that some women experience long drawn out labor. They kept telling me to not come in unless they were 3-4 minutes apart for 2 hours!! I was at a complete loss of what to do. The days were so long and painful, and I was convinced I was going to go into shock soon from all of the drawn out pain!

Wednesday morning my water broke. I was so relieved. The previous night I couldn't sleep at all and prayed over and over for this baby to come soon. Lance just so happened to be home between class and a rotation so it couldn't have been better timing. We excitedly headed to the hospital. 

 By the time we got the the hospital and hooked up to the monitors the nurses kept mentioning that I was having really strong contractions. It was nice to have some verification that what I had been experiencing at home for 4 days was considered a strong contraction. It makes me feel like I'm not such a wuss.  Why am I always worried about being so tough?? Anyways, it makes me sick to even think about the long, drawn out, pain I experienced those 4 days.

Labor went fast from there on out! After only 9 pushes Drew David Higbee was born into the world at 19:19! Weighing in at 9 lbs 2.8 oz and 21 1/4 inches! Everyone kept commenting on how big he was. I had to agree, because he was double the size of Will or Evvie! I was so happy and proud that I had just had a successful vbac. It was a long road finding a supporting doctor and hospital, but in the end it worked out so great!

 My Mom was our lifesaver. She helped out so much. I need her to move in with me permanently. 

 Cutest chubby cheeks. Such a big boy!

 We were so excited to introduce Will & Evvie to the baby. For months and months we had been trying to explain things to them. Evvie is obsessed with babies right now, so Drew couldn't have come at a better time for her! Will on the other hand was more into the presents that Drew brought him. :)  He does notice him occasionally however, and loves him to pieces for a few short seconds and then moves on to something else.

Will loved coming to the hospital just so he could raise and lower the bed and eat food!

 Opening their presents from baby Drew. 

 First day home!

 Evvie has adjusted pretty well. I was worried how she would react because she is such a cuddle bug and a momma's girl. It seems to me like she thinks that Drew is just as much her baby is he is mine. It's like we are a team at taking care of him. She helps change his diaper, give baths, gives him his binky, and if he ever makes a peep she is the first to hear him and the first to run to him too. She is always touching his hands, or playing with his toes unconsciously. I love it. They already have such  a special bond. Drew is so lucky!

Drew is such a good baby. He only cries when something is wrong, if he is hungry, tired or poopy. He is already sleeping 5-6 hours each night! It is insane! He was sleeping this much at 3 days old. It took Will & Evvie months to be able to go that long without eating! I guess it shows how big of a difference it makes when you don't have your baby and month early and he weighs 9 pounds! Drew is so calm and content and seems to love his mother to pieces. :)

 Whenever Will see's Drew, even if Drew is sleeping he yells, "Baby Drew's awake!! Baby Drew's awake!!"  He loves his little brother too, and although he isn't all up in his grill like Evvie Jane seems to be, it seems as if Will keeps really good track of Drew and always knows where he is. 

We love our little Drew. He was a big surprise, but an even bigger miracle and blessing. We wouldn't have it any other way. We feel completely blessed to be able to have 3 kids. Some days seem a bit overwhelming, but to be honest I love the crazy chaos of taking care of 3 babies! I know that it will all go too fast and soon Drew will be running around as a hyper 2 year old making me wonder where my baby went. I am trying to soak in every ounce of Drew that I can!!

Cowboys & Indians!

This Halloween it was very easy to come up with an idea.. And I have no idea why.. Why or how did I think of a cowboy & indian? I have no clue. I can't wait until they start choosing what they want to be. It will be so much easier!

 I have to give a shout out to my Mom.. Notice Evvie's adorable shoes and Will's chaps that she just threw together and they came out amazing. She also felt it was very important for me to have a costume as well.. So in an hour or less she created a pretty impressive Indian costume if I do say so myself.  Thanks Mom!! It was so fun having her all to myself for a whole week.  For some reason I don't know where those pictures are at the moment.. But it was a blast.

 Getting ready for the goods.

 "What's on your head?"

 Will was rocking my Mom's Rodeo Queen belt buckle! Boo ya! Pretty cool.

 Evvie & Daddy at the Trunk or Treat!

 Looking like big kids..

 After a long night, they were so ready to go home. I decided to let them enjoy what they worked so hard for and gave them a sucker. It was a quiet ride home..

 My manly man and his mustache.

 Grandma Kris and Papa Eddy came to visit on Halloween day. It was so fun and for some reason Evvie seems to fall asleep so good with her Papa holding her!

 We painted and carved pumpkins, but the best part of the night was putting the paint IN the pumpkins. It kept them busy for quite a while. Whenever they see an empty container it seems as if they immediately take it upon themselves to fill it up with something. It is one of their great purposes in life at this stage in their life.

 "Real" Trick or Treating. The new bike we just got came in real handy to hang their buckets. Evvie was terrified of the whole concept because for some reason I thought it would be ok to take her to a door that had a scary life size witch that talked with scary music and fog.. BAD IDEA. She was terrified of every house after that. Fortunately Will wasn't scarred by the witch and thoroughly enjoyed himself.

 This just might be one of my all time favorite pictures of my boys!

 Our little family.

Scoping out what house to go to next.

 On a side note.. People in Arizona have the whole Trick or Treating thing down!!! They all sit outside on their driveway or sidewalk! Some have fires going, others have music.. It is seriously the best idea.. Why isn't it like this everywhere you go? It was like a big neighborhood party!

 Some of Will & Evvie's friends.

Halloween was great.  It is so fun having kids who enjoy and realize that something fun is going on! Plus, Lance & I have been really enjoying all the hard work that Will & Evvie did!!

Simple Life

Life these days have been very routine oriented and relaxing. We have been home now for over a month which seems a bit odd considering how often we traveled during the summer. It is nice to not have anywhere to be, or anywhere to go, and I feel like Will and Evvie are enjoying the "down time" by exploring every inch of our small, two bedroom apartment, (As shown below).

It is insane how many messes these two can manage to make in just minutes! I am still feeling fairly new at this motherhood thing, and I just can't quite seem to figure out how to keep everything in your house clean, everyday! I suppose it is something you learn as you go. But for now I am putting the blame on Will & Evvie Jane!  They thought they were pretty hilarious in these pictures!!They have so much fun together and are starting to play so cute with each other. 

 

On another note, we have slowly found ourselves enjoying the weather here in Arizona. Now don't get me wrong, it's nowhere NEAR pleasant, but you can actually sit outside for a good 10 minutes and not feel as if the heat is slowly suffocating you. I can't wait until the weather is good and we can be outside more. I am a bit homesick right now however, because I know the Cedar Mountain is looking gorgeous as it's colors are starting to show. :( There is definitely no sign of fall here in Glendale!

These are some pictures I took of our family enjoying one of those said days. 

 Evvie still loves to eat everything she finds and gets extremely frustrated if we ever try to stop her! The picture above shows her glaring at me as I tell her she better not eat the stick!!

 Will is so observant and is always pointing to things. I swear he notices things that I don't even notice! He is so curious about everything around him!

 Throwing rocks off of the bridge to the fish. There are hundreds of disgusting coy fish in the lakes around our apartments. I say disgusting because if you ever even walk over the bridge they immediately  come to the surface and start swimming all over each other trying to get a good position for the food all of the little kids throw them everyday. I used to think it was cool, but now I find myself a bit disgusted! Oh well, Will loves it.

 You know Lance & I are proud to see Will wearing an SUU T-bird shirt! Hopefully he will be a baller like his parents so we can relive our glory days through him! ;)

 Once again, throwing things into the water. Every time he throws anything he grunts as if it was the biggest throw he has ever made. Cute.

Evvie Jane is always sure to keep her baby well fed and taken care of. Evvie and I spend a lot of quality time together as she always wakes up from her nap an hour or two, sometimes THREE hours before Will. My boy definitely knows how to sleep. Evvie on the other hand has been a light sleeper from day 1!! Sometimes I imagine what my life would be like if they both took a 3 hour nap at the same time everyday. I must admit, on a rare occasion it does happen, (I'm talking like 3 times). On those times it is amazing how much I get done! I find myself almost sprinting to get the housework done, and if I ever do get it done, then I just don't quite know what to do with myself! ANYWAYS, enough about that. I love the one on one time I get with my girl!

 Sometimes Evvie lets me put curlers in her hair. But, to this day she never leaves them in long enough to work! On this occasion she had managed to pull all of them out but 3 within a few minutes. Someday I will get to see the finished product!

Life is good. Lance is in his 3rd year and we figured out where his rotations will be next year! We will be here in Arizona, then up to Twin Falls, Idaho, then we finish up in Fort Collins, Colorado! I am excited to get to live in some fun and different places! If anyone knows of anyone who could help us out on knowing where to get a good apartment for 3 months in those areas, let me know!!