SHE HAS ARRIVED!!!

We are thrilled to introduce our new little one.....


CLARA JEAN SMEDSHAMMER!!!

She arrived October 4th at 6:48PM, weighing 6 lbs 10 oz and measuring 18.5 inches long.

I started having contractions the evening before around 4:30. They were coming about every 5-10 minutes. Dru and I debated about whether or not to go in to the hospital, but they weren't coming any more quickly and weren't getting really strong. So, we decided to go to bed; I didn't sleep. Finally, at 4:30, we got up and I told Dru we needed to go in. The contractions were every 5 minutes and were becoming painful. So, we called my mom, packed up Finny, and headed in to the hospital. They hooked me up to the monitor, and sure enough, my contractions were every 3-5 minutes. However, my cervix was dilated to only 3 cm, which is what it was 3 weeks earlier when I'd left the hospital with pre-term labor. The doctor told me to walk for 2 hours and if my cervix had changed, they would admit me. My mom had arrived, so she and I walked the halls of the labor and delivery unit for 2 hours. When they checked me again, I was dilated to 3.5 cm, so they admitted me!

Our family just after I was admitted, awaiting the arrival of Fin's sister

Fin's getting excited to meet his sister!

Mom's getting excited, too!

My contractions were getting stronger, and I opted for an epidural this time, so my OB came in and broke my water and then the anestestheologist came in and started my epidural. After awhile, I couldn't feel a thing on my left side, but was feeling every conraction on my right side. This went on for a few hours, and I started getting really uncomfortable. The anestesthiologist came back and said the epidural catheter must have gone sideways and that I would need another one. UGH!! So, he put in another epidural (ouch!). Then they had to start a drug called pitocin to re-induce my labor because the epidural had slowed my contractions way down. My OB came in and said it could be anywhere from 2-6 hours before I would deliver. However, shortly after starting the pitocin, I started having contractions every 30 seconds to 1 minute (thankfully by this time the 2nd epidural had kicked in so I wasn't in much pain) and within 45 minutes, I felt the urge to push. I called the nurse, who checked and sure enough, I was ready to push. She called my OB, who had left the hospital to go pick up his son. He started to race back, but was stuck in traffice; he told her to tell me not to push. He finally arrived 35 minutes later, and I started pushing. Clara made her entrance into the world with just 4 pushes. Unlike Fin, she cried immediately. The doctor cut her cord and put her on my chest. It was the most magical moment - there is nothing else quite like it - the instant surge of love.

Me and my man, waiting for the doctor so I could start pushing.

Finally, the doctor had arrived and I could push. I love this picture of me pushing and Dru wincing.

And she's out!

Our new baby!

Can you believe it, honey?!?

Clara getting all cleaned up. She stuck her little feet up the whole time. So cute!

All dressed up and warm


Back with an estactic mommy

With Dr. Hughes, my OB, who barely made it back in time. He was wonderful!

Fin met his sister for the first time shortly after she was born. He looked very intently at her for a long time.


Then he tried to poke her. What's this?!?

The four of us now!

And with Nana, who was there the entire day to help with Fin and support me. She was so good to us!

Daddy enjoying his new baby girl

Clara with Nana

Then the guests arrived. Poppy came first, followed shortly by both of Clara's aunts and their families.

Meeting Poppy for the first time!

Dad was so proud. This is his 3rd grand daughter!

Poppy and Nana with their two Smedshammer grandkids

Meeting Aunt Chelsea

And Aunt Juju!

Cousin Gretchen loved the baby!

Aunt Chelsea with her two nieces

Me with the 3 girl cousins (Clara's nursing under the blanket!)

Poppy with all of his grandkids

After the guests left, Dru and I enjoyed a little alone time with our beautiful new baby girl.

Proud Papa

Welcome to the world, Clara! We're so glad you're here!

More Fin

Our little man continues to grow and is such a source of joy, laughter, and wonder. He is a very active little boy - into everything and so curious about everyone that crosses his path. He is speaking now, saying several words including "cracker" "water" "juice" "puppy" "blankie" "hi" "ball" and "uh-oh". He surprised us with "cracker" which he says with perfect clarity - anytime Dru or I go into the walk-in pantry, Fin gets excited and says "cracker?" as he knows that's where we keep the crackers. Funny. Here's some pictures of the past 6 weeks or so of our recent endeavors.

For the day of my birthday, we went to the Western Idaho Fair. Here's our family.


We went to watch miniature pigs race for an Oreo cookie - Fin was enthralled.


He liked those pigs!



We also checked out some livestock, like this long-horned steer.

This was Fin's reaction to getting too close to the steer...too funny


Birthday Mama with her sweet babe

Over Labor Day weekend, we went camping with my two sisters and their families. It was Fin's first time to really walk/run outside. He was in 3rd heaven!

Playing with cousin Callia, who's always such a good sport with him.

All 3 cousins "helping" Dru set up the tent

Yay! We have a bed!

"Are we done yet, Daddy?"

My parents drove up for a day to have lunch and hang out with us. Here's the whole gang around the campfire.

We went fishing - the only fish in the lake were perch and a few trout.

We all caught some perch, even the preggo lady!

Dru and I catching a rare chance to enjoy some couple time while Fin napped in the tent.

Lovebugs

Fin, of course, loved playing with Poppy, who was more than happy to oblige him

Running to Poppy

Hanging out with the rest of the gang - I love this picture

We went hiking around the lake - Fin caught a ride with Daddy. Yes, those are socks on his hands - we didn't bring any mittens and it was cold.

The view of the lake and mountains. Gorgeous.

Our fam enjoying God's beauty

Fin also enjoys books, if we can get him to sit still for a few minutes. Here's, he's snuggled down with mom.

He also came with us when I went back to the hospital for what I thought was labor - turned out to be a false alarm but Fin enjoyed running all over that hospital!

My niece, Gretchen, turned 2 on 9/26. Here's a cute picture of the 3 grandkids with Nana and Poppy.

Fin also has two stuffed puppies that he loves. He drags them around everywhere and when he spots one of them after not having seen it for awhile, he shrieks and says "puppy! puppy!"

He still likes playing with cars/trucks and has started putting large Lego's together

And here you can see how many teeth our happy little bug has - 12 total, with 4 more coming in

I'll end with a few videos. Somewhere (probably daycare) Fin learned that when you push a car around, you make a motor sound with your mouth. He's been doing it for a few days and it makes us laugh.

He also imitates everything. Here, he got a hold of the washcloth I typically wipe him and his highchair down with after eating, and imitated my wiping of the tray

And here, he's fascinated with the water coming out of the tap in the bath. I love his shriek because this is how he is with every new discovery. *warning* - Fin is nude in this video, so don't watch if it makes you uncomfortable

Baby and Me

I realize I focus a lot on Fin on this blog, but the reality is that soon I will be bragging about two precious children on this site. Hopefully not too soon. Nine days ago, when I was 34 weeks and 4 days pregnant, I started having regular contractions about every 10-15 minutes. This lasted for about 16 hours, through Sunday evening and night. I called my OB Monday morning before going to work, and he told me if the contractions weren't getting any stronger or closer together, then I should be fine to carry on as usual. So, I went to work and saw patients all the while continuing to contract away. Finally, around noon, the contractions started to get stronger and closer together - two of them were only two minutes apart! So, I called my mom to come and pick me up to take me to the hospital in Nampa where my OB delivers. Dru and Fin met us there. Upon exam, they discovered I was already 3 cm dilated and my contractions were coming every 3-4 minutes. My doctor came to see me, and since my baby wouldn't be full term for another 2 1/2 weeks, he ordered a medicine called IV magnesium sulfate "IV Mag" which is a potent tocolytic meant to slow contractions of the uterus. They warned me of the side effects, but I had no idea how bad it would be - I got dizzy, lightheaded, flushed, short of breath, and felt like I'd marched through the Sahara desert - my tongue was dry and cottony and I felt like I had a fever of 105. Then they gave me a steroid shot in my bum in order to develope the baby's lungs in case she decided to come anyway - *OUCH*!! The initial dose of IV Mag did nothing to slow my contractions, so they gave me another huge bolus and decided to transfer me via ambulance to a hospital in downtown Boise where there was a NICU and several perinatologists on staff. When I arrived to that hospital, I was given even more IV Mag and plugged into all kinds of monitors. I was in and out of it - the Mag makes you feel so loopy - but my contractions finally stopped. I woke up throwing up around 1:00 AM and continued to do so throughout the night - another unfortunate side effect. The next morning, one of the perinatologists came to see me, but I was "Mag Tripping" so hard I had no idea what he said. They also did an ultrasound of the baby, who was doing just fine, but again I was so loopy I missed the whole thing. Thank goodness, my dear sweet Dru - my rock - was there through the whole ordeal. All told, I stayed in the hospital 4 1/2 days while they continued to monitor my contractions, which never became regular again. I was discharged on strict bedrest, and an oral medication to continue to help slow my contractions. So here I am and so far I am doing fine although it's been hard to not be able to do much around here. Once I'm 36 weeks (in two days), baby has a good chance of being fully developed and able to suck/swallow on her own.

After being transferred to the second hospital and my second dose of magnesium - I literally could not open my eyes all the way because of the medication


With my sweet man, my rock


I also thought it would be fun to take you through the progression of this pregnancy. Here I am around 16 weeks.


And at 22 weeks

26 weeks

32 weeks

And my bare-naked belly shots at 36 weeks (almost)

We cannot wait to meet you, Baby Girl Smedshammer! You can come anytime now that you're almost old enough! :)