Loopy Pain Meds

Montey's first bath at home, drying off in his duckie hooded towel.

Okay, so I re-read what I had written about the birth of Montey Jaycob and realized that I had not exactly worded things exactly right, due to the rather LOOPY pain meds I was on from labor and from the labor after pains. Thankfully I am FREE from using pain meds; I can't believe people actually like taking these Narcotics for fun. Anyhow, just wanting to back up and re-fix the error:
We went to the hospital at 3:00am, after contracts starting at 12:30 at night on the 30th. And we waited for an hour and a half for the epidural. Then just 15mins after the epidural was in, my doctor came in and stated that it was time for me to start pushing. And my jaw dropped and I looked at her and said, "WHAT?" So I started pushing and 21 mins later he came (the doctor had a lot of maneuvering to do with the baby in working with him to get him out the best and least painful way.) The epidural took just enough to take to edge off, which I was glad to have waited for it anyhow, seeing that if I didn’t that last 21mins would have been worse than what it ended up being. So what it all comes down too is that, I do not wish a natural delivery on my worse enemy. This delivery went way too fast, and nautral is no fun. The results ended up great at the end, but NOT at all how I wanted or imagined labor would go this time around. So pretty much this sealed the deal....WE ARE DONE!!! I am never doing that again, we are glad to have our two boys and two girls, I am proud to say that our fam is complete. =) Yippy, I am really looking forward to getting my body back in shape to resume my belly dancing classes and all that fun "ME" time again.

Montey Jaycob Meets His Siblings

Brothers, Caleb and Montey bonding at last......................................

Liahona and Montey sharing some loves..............................

Tamara and Montey sharing a moment........................

Montey Jaycob Mathison

Is finally Here!!! He came at 5:06 am, on April 30th, just 18 hours before his due date. It amazes me how all of my children have come almost exactly ON their due dates.
He was indeed big, but not as big as I had thought. His weight was, 8 lbs and 12 oz, 21 in long, head was 13 1/3 inches big, and his chest was a BIG 14 inches wide. Getting is shoulders and chest out was the hardest part. And the whole time I was nervous about his head being too big. Thankfully my doctor did a great job working with him, and I didn't rip or tear or even need an episiotomy. This was the shortest delivery from contraction starting at 12:30 at night, and delivering at 5:06 am, but the most intense and painful of all. I was dilated to 6cm and 90% effaced by the time we got to the hospital, and doing alright. However, upon arrival I immediately asked for an epidural. My goal has NEVER been to have a natural delivery.... It took the dang anesthesiologist an hour and a half to get my room, with only one person before me he was working on. I have never experienced the "fun" intense transitional contractions before, and I was no way near ready to do a natural delivery. My doctor wanted me to start pushing and stubbornly I refused, and she gave up and left the room as I waited and waited for that epidural...just like I was always use to getting. After the epidural was in we delivered Montey only 45 mins later...so I suppose you can say I pretty much did it natural and boy was that an experience I will never forget. Montey and I are healthy and doing just fine. They kept me as a prisoner for more than I liked, a whole 2days and 1 night. I like to leave the hospital ASAP...it's not a hotel, the Nurses bother the heck out of me, it's just not comfortable like home sweet home.=) Which is where we are now and it feels great to be home.

Gifts for Montey Jaycob

Caleb with his new baby brother, giving Montey his first Teddy Bear, which is named Michael. A name that Caleb wanted to call his new brother but we compromised and gave him the opportunity to name someone Michael.

Liahona with new baby brother, giving her gift, a muscial duckie..."Twinkle Twinkle little star"

Tamara with new baby brother, giving her gift, a froggy bath robe. Montey says "Peace Out!"

Still NO baby...

So with all the great advice from friends and family, trying to decide to either be induced or go into labor naturally....we have decided NOT to be induced this Wednesday, and just go into labor naturally as I have done with the past three pregnancies. Mostly because this last week we have had a ton of Contractions. Also, last week the doctor said I was dilated to 3 cm. So, Even though the contractions have not been serious, or close enough to go the hospital, it's good to know my body knows what it's doing. Yet, however, I could be dilated to 3cm for weeks without any progress, but we are optimistic about having the baby come sooner than the Due Date(May 1st), seeing that we really would like to avoid having a 9 to 10 pound baby. =)
Thanks for all your advice and support everyone.
Love Tanya
We will keep you informed when this baby boy finally decides to come.

Baby Dilemma

3D Ultra sound picture.
The OB-tech couldn't get a clear picture of his face. He wouldn't move away from the cord. But we still got to capture part of his cute face.

So our doctor told us that "baby boy" is about 2 weeks bigger size-wise than suppose to be. Plus were we noticing some abnormal quickening, so we did an ultra sound to detect all the actually facts. Ended up the baby was indeed on the larger size, weighing about 7lbs right now. And still 3 1/2 weeks left to go. The OB-tech said that a baby gains about 1/2 pound per week in the last month. Meaning that this baby could be a 9, almost 10 pounder. However, they did say their estimate could be off give or take a pound. YIKES! So dilemma, Question: would you prefer to just go into labor naturally knowing that your baby would be healthy but be larger than expected, or would you choose to be induced a week earlier to help prevent from having a large baby to deliver, but knowing that there could be health problems if baby is not yet ready? Any advice would be appreciated. I have heard that being induced is REALLY unfun, and I have always gone into labor on my own. Just being able to do most of the labor at home has always been nice, I really like it that way. Thankfully there are NO abnormalities with the baby; the baby is very healthy and strong. Yet with the 3D ultra sounds now'n'days they can get really good pictures of the babies inside, the OB tech said this boy has a lot of hair. And I can testify to that because of all the terrible heartburn I have been having lately...ouch!
So I have made a poll for you to vote on what you would do. So please vote or respond to this post.
P.S Friends and Family have been asking me what I needed, and I couldn't tell them anything because I wasn't able to get out all the baby items until April 1st. So, for those that are still interested in wanting to know what we need, I have registered at Target. Feel Free to look, but don't feel obligated to purchase anything. I already know that I have all your love and support as dear friends and family.=)Thanks Everyone!!

Happy Spring Everyone!!

The new header picture of tulips was taken last year in Woodburn, Oregon (near Salem OR.) during the Tulip Festival; taken by me of course.=)
We are glad that it is officially spring, even though it is snowing a bit today. It doesn't look much like spring here, but at least there have been warmer days here and there throughout the past couple of weeks. I have changed my blog page around trying new things, and it's kind of awkward for me with it all backwards, hope it doesn't throw you off too. =)

Picture Portraits

Early Spring, Late Fall Photo shots, since I missed their Fall individual picture portraits.

Pictures and More Pictures

Homeschool Easter Nest Craft Making Fun!!!

Messing Around With Mom's New Photography Backdrops!!!

Spring better get here and get here QUICK...

Well we have upgraded to a Grand Dodge Carvan, but as Eric would say downgraded from our SUV Ford Explorer. He thinks more cargo room makes more room, I on the other hand think more seats makes more room.....Who is right? Anyhow, we are glad to now have a way to drive in one vehicle as a whole family when the baby comes. It runs great and the kids are glad to have more room to themselves instead of being all squished together, as in the Ford Explorer....I think secretly Eric likes the new and improved room, to move more freely. =)
We have been sick since the beginning of Feb, and are just now getting better. And last night I felt the need to clean and catch up on house work, and needless to say I threw out my back. I couldn't move or walk for the rest of the day, it was pretty painful, but I got a good nights rest and I am up and about hoping to get more of the cleaning done......I never learn, It just frustrates Eric. =)
The weather is still bitter cold from the freezing wind blowing non stop, since there are NO mountains. Still reminds me of ICEburg Idaho. I can really understand the past pioneers as they traveled the Mormon Trail, when they called Winter Quarters one of the toughest hardships they had to endure. The snow and ice isn't all that bad...it's the bitterness of the wind that just pierces your soul, making it really hard to breathe when you step outside. We are glad to almost be down with our 1st winter here in Nebraska, one down 2 to go. I have never known a time in my life when getting to know your neighbors is mere to impossible. We have found it to be really funny how everyone pretty much hibernates in the winter and in the summer, due to the extreme humidity, causing you to never see or even meet your neighbors. We still have no idea if anyone even lives on our block. The kids really miss there cul-de-sac back in Oregon and all the kids to play with. I miss all the adult interaction as well from the great neighbors we had. Life is just awfully different here in Lincoln.
Eric's clinicals will be starting at the end of this semester. Not as much book work and more hands on learning time.....=) His finals are the week after the baby is due, May 1st. So we asked the doctor if we could schedule an inducement in case I go over my due date. She was more than happy to work it out for us, seeing that it would be a positive thing for Eric to be there for the birth. it's really nice to have an official day. Most likely I won't need it since I never go over, so we aren't too worried. Clinicals will keep him here in Lincoln up until August than, he will be in York, Nebraska, 45 mins away for almost 2months. The commute will be reasonably short allowing him to come home for the weekends, or even allowing the children and I to visit him.
Homeschooling is still coming along nicely. However there has currently been a huge battle going on between the Public School district and the Home schoolers. With the Senator wanting to make rules and regulations harder for the home schoolers, forcing more of the home schooled children into the Public system to help out with their money flow problems. And since the home school organization has such a strong hold on the state and have spoken up again, and again, this bill most likely will get shot down. Yippy!!
WE are really looking forward to the Spring, Tamara wants her birthday to come, Liahona wants it to be summer so she can touch starfish and other sea animals at the zoo, Caleb wants his brother to come, I want the snow and ice to go AWAY, and Eric wants to do more fun clinical sites for school instead of all this book work......so what it all comes down too is that Spring better get here, and get here quick!! =)
Other than that we are all good!!!