Baby Britten

I spen a lot of my day looking at this cute face! It's fun! I can already see his cute personality starting to show. He is a very particular child. He hates wet diapers, but won't even squawk if it's diry. He smiles in his sleep and I think he will be a happy kid. When he's awake he wants to be close to me. I'm convinced he's a cuddler!! I love being with him....

 

 

 

 

1 Week old

 

10 days old

 

 

 

 

I love doing his hair!

 



A Baby Story

Ryan woke me up on January 19th because he had a church basketball game. It was a little before 8 and we jumped in the car to go to the church. On the way I felt a little gush of fluid. All I could think was, "Great. I just peed my pants!"

 

 

I got back home and tried to go back to sleep. It was no use. One I'm up, I'm up. I started cleaning the house and then ate breakfast. When I was done picking up, I figured I'd jump in the shower. After my shower, I felt great! then I felt another gush. Can I tell you how tired I was of peeing my pants uncontrollably?! Then it hit me! I'm only 6 days from my due date. This might not be urine. It could be the real thing!

 

I called the hospital, told them what was happening and they wanted to see me. Dustin was in the baby's room, painting the crib. I told him to stay and finish. I was going to run down to the hospital. I was sure it was just urine. I told him I'd be back in a couple hours.

 

I got to the women's center at noon. They checked me in Nd I got changed into my very fashionable blue gown. They checked me with the litmus paper and it showed no sign of amniotic fluid. Just to be sure they did it again. No fluid. I was relieved. I was not ready to have the baby yet. I had to stay for an hour on the monitors. It showed I was having contractions, but I couldn't feel them. I couldn't feel any type of cramping. the nurse was satisfied that I was not in labor, so she was going to release me. Smile!

 

I stood up and walked into the bathroom. I was getting my clothes out. I felt a trickle down my leg. Oh, no!!!! There were puddles on the floor. they were from me. I knew at that moment it was my water leaking. I went back to the bed, climbed under the blanket, called the nurse. I then called Dustin to come to the hospital. I was having my baby today....

 

 

They allowed me to walk in hour cycles. I could be up and walking for 40 minutes, but the last 20 I had to be on a monitor. I did this until 8 o'clock at night. I was trying to get my contractions to start. They were just tiny little things and not very regular. I was exhausted! This is so unlike my body. Usually I have the baby within a few hour of getting to the hospital. My body wasn't changing at all!

 

 

At 8, my doctor checked me again. I had now graduated from a 2+ to a "good 3." Seriously? I have been here for 8 hours!!! I wanted to scream and cry. Another hour went by and they checked me again. No change in dilation, but this time the nurse felt something had changed. She could no longer feel the baby head down. She said she felt what she thought might be an arm. Now I'm tired and scared. they wheeled in an ultrasound machine. The picture on the screen revealed a baby laying sideways. He was transverse. They didn't really have to say much because I could see in in their faces. The chances of delivering this baby naturally just flew out the window. I said a quick prayer in my heart.

 

It was my doctor's turn to look at the ultrasound. His picture told a different story. "Baby's head is down. He must have turned." I didn't feel anything, but regular movements, but I guess that was my baby turning. I now said a quick prayer of thanksgiving. The doctor finished breaking my water and told them to call him when I was ready.

 

At 10:30 pm I was finally a 5. I was so tired and depressed. I had never felt this way before. After lots of thought, I told the nurse that I would like an epidural. I was sad to ask for one, but knew I needed to rest. By 11:00 the anesthesiologist was having me sit up. the minute I sat up, I felt my contractions change. They hurried to get me situated so I could lay down. They checked me and I was at a 7. I jumped from a 5 to a seven in half an hour. Shoot!! I knew my baby would be here shortly.

 

They still needed to put the medicine through the epidural catheter. I rolled over. All I remember is the nurse saying, "Oh, you got it right in time. By the time you reach a 10 you will feel nothing."

 

I followed that up with, "I think I need to push." Dustin was yelling at them to check me. "When she says she needs to push, she needs to push!" Yep. I was crowning. I could feel everything, which was fine. The doctor was not here though. So, guess what they start doing to ease my urges? They start pumping me with epidural medicine!! (I couldn't feel my left leg for three hours! grrrr)

 

After 10 minutes, the doctor is here and I push my two pushes. My baby enters the world!

Britten C Russell Merritt
born Jan 19th at 11:30 pm
weighing 7 lbs 14 oz
and 20.5 in long

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are loving him!!!!

Showers for Baby

Often when it is your 6th baby, you are not thrown baby showers. I am a blessed woman! I have had two. The first was a surprise shower thrown by my work and then my dear friend, Rachael, threw me one. They were such kind gestures and I appreciate it so much.

The first part of December was our work Christmas party. When I walked in, I was surprised to find baby gifts on a separate table. I really hadn't worked there long, only 7 months. The daycare is a large daycare and I hadn't even met all the people who work there. I was humbled that all these woman would think of me, especially at a time when money is tight for everyone!! 

Before I was allowed to open the gift, I had to guess who it was from. If I guessed right, then I got to draw on their face. If I was wrong, they drew on  mine! Can you guess who was wrong more?

I was so worried about this because I didn't know everyone! These women were so sweet though! I can say I now know everyone though!!

I teach in the preschool class. I usually have about 35 kids. I have 1 aide. She is wonderful!! Her name is Rita. We always get to have great conversations. She made the cake for the shower.

They wouldn't cut it there. They said it was for me to take home for my family to enjoy. Boy did they love it! We all had a couple of pieces, but Dustin ate the rest. It was a Tres Leches cake with flan on top. Two of his favorite desserts! He ate them all the time while on his mission. He was in heaven. He kept saying, "you don't know how many memories this brings back!"

Before I left, Rita said to me, "Remind me to tell you about your cake." The next day I asked her about it. This is a summary of the story she told me:

Rita works two jobs. She works half the day at the daycare and the other half cleaning houses. She had planned on making the cake, but was afraid she was going to run out of time. On her way home from the daycare, she received a cal from the woman she was working for that day. they lady told her not to plan on coming because she had some things come up. Then her sister, who lives in California, called her. Rita said she was explaining to her how happy she was that she was able to make the cake. Her sister told her what a miracle it was and then explained to Rita that while she was in church praying today (she goes to her church everyday to pray), an image of a baby came to her mind. She wasn't sure who the baby was, but that she needed to pray for the baby. She told Rita she prayed for the baby and asked that its needs be met. As Rita is telling me this, she has a huge smile! She said, "Miss Larae, I know it was your baby she was praying for and for me that I would be able to make this cake for you and your family!" 

I loved that story!! I work with such wonderful ladies. They are so kind and caring.

In January my friend, Rachael, threw me a shower with family and a few friends. It was so fun! She is so creative and cute. We had a yummy brunch and visited. I am surrounded by amazing ladies who are so thoughtful and caring and FUN to be around!!

I am so grateful for family and friends who sacrificed during one of the toughest parts of the year to share their love  

Grace's Poem for Reflections 2012

I don't know how many schools do the Reflections program, but our does. Every year they give a theme and the kids choose from photography, visual arts, dance & theatre, music, film, and literature. They create their own project based on the category they chose.

My kids do it every year. They usually either draw a picture or write something. I'm always grateful they take the challenge because it's good for them. They need to use those creative juices that usually sit in their brains.

The theme this year was: The Magic of a Moment...

Grace came home and said, "Mom, I know what moment I want to write about."

"You do?!" i was surprised because it never happens this way. We have to take a while to think of something.

"Yes. I want to write about when Kate was born, when I became a sister!"

We talked about what she was going to write. That is where what she knew she wanted ended. I remember from parent teacher conference that she had written many poems. I was impressed with them. Grace usually has a hard time with creativity, but she wrote poems really well. Her teacher was impressed as well!

I suggested a poem. That's all. She took it from there. This was her finished product:
 

Sister

small, new

sleeping, pooping, crying

excited I'm not lonely

Kate

 

 

I loved it! And so did the school. She won for literature. She went on to regions, but didn't get picked to continue. I'm so happy for her because she felt so proud! She should.

Word for 2013

Because of the new change this year- aka: baby- I thought the word Survive would be fitting. I realize that's not very positive. So after lots of consideration, I settled on:

 

 

BEAUTY

 

 

I figure this will cover everything. This year I hope to learn to be able to find the beauty in everything. I consider myself a pretty positive and happy person. I do know I have my moments. And with new changes coming, I'm sure I'll be reciting this in my head a little more often.

 

 

I wish everyone a wonderful New Year. I hope you are blessed with your heart's desire and that your loved ones are watched and cared for.