To tell the full birth story of our sweet Josiah, we have to back up just a little. My entire pregnancy I had assumed I would probably be induced just as I had been with Raylee and Ruthi. It’s like my body just needs a kick and then it takes over on its own. I’ve had fairly easy inductions compared to a lot of people. I actually like being induced because I can have a plan for childcare and I know better what to expect. So when I got to 39 weeks and my doctor explained that the hospital has now changed their policy, I was taken aback. My OB said because the hospital is so busy, they won’t Continue Reading
Ruth’s Birth Story
When the doctor scheduled me to be induced on my due date, I was a bit surprised. I figured she would make me wait at least three days, probably four. But she didn’t have any problem with it, and I didn’t see any reason why not. Knowing we already had someone to watch Raylee that day made it seem like a great plan. But Friday, my due date came, and we didn’t end up in the hospital. It turns out that the hospital has been plum full with deliveries these past two months. They didn’t have a bed available, and there were 10 other women in front of me waiting to be induced. On Saturday, I called Continue Reading
Recovery Items for a Vaginal Tear
As you may know if you read my daughter's birth story, after delivering her I found out that I had a fourth-degree vaginal tear that went all the way through my rectum. I know, sounds pretty, right? Pretty gruesome and painful -- that's for sure! Thanks to my epidural, I didn't feel the tear happen at all. Thank the Lord Almighty! But the recovery from such a vaginal tear is not fun. I was given a two-month recovery time, which feels like forever! I was given plenty of pain medication in the hospital, and they sent me home with quite a bit too. That has been very helpful, but pain medicine Continue Reading
What I Didn’t Use from my Hospital Bag
During the birth of our daughter, my husband and I spent two nights and two and half days in the hospital. I read all sorts of packing lists for what to take in your hospital bag. I created a list of everything I could think of, and we packed it all. I am the type of person who would rather be more prepared than needed. If it helped me feel less stressed, then fill the car to the brim! And that's what we did. Now, looking back, I can share with you which things I brought that weren't needed in my hospital bag, as well as which things I'm most thankful we had with us. What I Didn't Use Continue Reading
Turning Frozen Pizza into a Delivery-Like Delicacy
One summer as a kid my older cousin Sara babysat for my brother and I while my parents worked. It was probably the best summer of my childhood. Sara was my role model and my hero, and she made that summer a blast! One thing I remember about that summer was how Sara turned a boring lunch of frozen pizza into a delicious pizza that tasted like it was straight from the delivery man. I liked it so much that to this day I still use her methods when making frozen pizza! Now my favorite kind of pizza is pepperoni. Anyone who really knows me, knows that. So I'm going to focus these tips on Continue Reading