Henry's Birth Story

Henry Alexander Zank was born on July 22, 2015 just before 4 pm, weighing in at 9 lbs. 2 ounces and 20 inches long.  

I had planned all throughout this pregnancy on having another unmedicated hospital delivery, but Henry had other plans.  Monday the 20th I went in for my 39 week check up and the doctor did an ultrasound for placement and discovered baby boy was breech.  During the ultrasound he was also measured to be over 10 pounds.  Both of these left the doctor very worried, and we started to discuss my options.  I didn't realize this but breech vaginal deliveries are very difficult, and my doctor said that I could try to find a doctor who would attempt a breech vaginal delivery but with the large ultrasound scan it would be difficult to find a doctor willing to let me try. In fact if I were to go into labor on my own most hospitals would have me do an immediate c-section.  Yikes.  So, her suggestions were to try an ECV (or version) which is where two doctors try to manually flip the baby, then if successful I would be induced immediately.  But if things went south and baby boy didn't tolerate the stress of being flipped I would need an emergency c-section and if the flip was unsuccessful then I would have a scheduled c-section that day.  Oh and all of this needed to happen soon, which would be Wednesday because that is when my hospital schedules c-sections.  

All my plans went out the window and I was scared.  I did NOT want a c-section, not because I am against them but because I was terrified at the thought of recovering from the procedure.  I left the doctor's office in tears (and probably scared a bunch of pregnant women in the waiting room) and needed to decide if I wanted to try to flip him or if I just wanted to schedule the c-section.  I knew that ultrasound weight scans can be notoriously off and so I wasn't worried about his guessed size but it really was a concern for my doctor.  

Ultimately we decided on trying the ECV and then going from there.  We went to the hospital at 5:30 Wednesday morning to begin the process and were told we arrived an hour early.  Awesome, but thankfully we were both able to sleep in my room a bit before everything started.  

Because I was going to have that baby for sure on Wednesday no matter what, my doctor suggested that I get an epidural before the ECV as they can be very painful. Most women will attempt an ECV between 35-37 weeks and so the epidural isn't an option but I was full term and let me say that if my doctor, who previously had been fully supportive of my desire to have an unmedicated birth, suggested I get an epidural...I would get the epidural.  

We ended up starting the procedure in the OR room and so my husband got to wear this fun hospital "costume".  

It was so weird to be in the OR room, and to be getting an epidural without having any painful contractions.  Weird and awesome.  The epidural at first was placed funny and sent shooting pains down one side.  That was awful but I was thankful I wasn't battling any painful contractions too.  The second placement worked much better but had hit a blood vessel and I could initially feel blood dripping down my back.  Not so fun, but thankfully it worked and I stopped bleeding.  

In the OR room with us was a whole bunch of medical personnel waiting to see if I would need the c-section.  They had me lay on my back with my arms outstretched and we began the ECV.  Holy cow was I thankful for the epidural!  I could still feel pressure in my abdomen and was only numb from about two inches below my ribs and down and it was quite uncomfortable. My ribs hurt so badly and the pressure from them pushing on my abdomen hurt.  But thankfully baby boy flipped!  Then in order to get him to stay and not flip back they broke my water.  Apparently I had tons of amniotic fluid and the nurses kept laughing at how big of a mess my doctor was making.  Thankfully I couldn't see any of this.  

We were wheeled back into my room to wait for baby boy to be born.  I was already dilated to about a four and so I was put on a very low dose of pitocin.  My labor progressed slowly and baby boy didn't like when I would change positions.  He did the best with me lying on my back which is the most uncomfortable position for me and I was thankful to have the epidural so we could keep his heart rate steady.  I have trouble normally laying on my back due to some back issues I have and when I delivered Adelaide I did so on my side because it was unbearable to be on my back.  Without the epidural with baby boy things would have been much worse.  

Anyway the delivery went well and I was just so thrilled that the ECV was successful and that we avoided a c-section.  Many of the nurses told me about other women who have tried the ECV and they would be screaming from the pain.  In fact one nurse told me she would never have it done because of how painful it is.  I can't imagine and am so grateful I was given the epidural beforehand.  I am just so pleased and feel so blessed with how my labor and delivery went.  It was scary going into it with so many unknowns and I ended up having the best possible outcomes and of course the world's cutest baby.  We have been so lucky.  

Dinosaur Museum

Just this week we went to the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point with Zinni and Zandon (Kellee's kids).  The kids LOVED it.  At first Stephen was afraid of everything, but he finally warmed up.  Adelaide mostly wanted to ride in the stroller, the little stinker!  She normally wants to walk everywhere except now of course.  And of course I didn't bring my double stroller because I can't fit the dang thing into my trunk.  My husband can do it easily but it's a struggle for me. Thankfully Kellee had her stroller which Adelaide loved being in.  

The kids loved this "pet dinosaur". I have video of Adelaide giving him kisses.  

Here I was trying to get her attention with this dinosaur toy and all she wanted was to get into the stroller.

 Stephen and Zinni roaring like dinosaurs.  

 Biggest hams!

 The kids liked this area and they were all dancing.  

 Cute kids.  

Recent Adelaide

I know that every kid is different but it is so amazing to watch Adelaide become her own individual.  She is SO different than Stephen was at her age and I don't know if these differences are boy/girl differences or just their own uniqueness.  

Adelaide growls.  Always has.  We often have growling competitions.  

She loves dogs and will stand next to the doors just waiting to see any of the neighborhood dogs.  

Adelaide carries around stuffed animals.  She has two bunnies and two dogs and loves them equally, my favorite is when she gets frustrated from trying to carry all four at the same time.

Diamonds are definitely baby girl's best friend.  She loves necklaces and puts them on any chance she gets.  Although she hasn't figured out bracelets and tries to stretch them on over her head.  One day she'll learn they aren't mini necklaces :). 

She can say mom, dad, me, dog, and bunny.  She can make animal sounds and sign please and thank you.  She also loves blowing kisses but thinks giving kisses is just giving you her forehead to kiss.  These are all amazing to me because at her age Stephen didn't say or sign a thing.  

Adelaide LOVES the snow.  As I am shuttling groceries in from shopping she will come out the open door barefoot on the freezing icy, snowy ground. That child!  Stephen still doesn't like the snow (it's cold AND wet) and Adelaide is often left out playing long after Stephen has come inside.  

Today Adelaide brought my husband her boots, so he put them on her.  Next came her beanie and finally both parts of her snow coat.  She was ready to go out!  It was hilarious and adorable how she got ready on her own.  Here are photos from today and her self-imposed time in the snow.  

We've Moved!

Sometimes I feel that I only update when we move.  But in truth we move quite frequently.  We haven't bought a house yet and so we still have much more moving to do.  

We're still in Utah.  Just moved about 30 minutes south.  We have a house.  With a backyard!  And a garage!  And a toy room!  And kitchen counter space!  And multiple toilets!  And two whole couches to our name!  These things are all very exciting especially when you've never had them before.  

We love where we live.  It's gorgeous.  And I love the house, or I will love it when I get all of the dog hair out of it and won't have to take allergy Medicine daily.  But really I love it!  It was such a good move for our family!

I am quite impressed with the house because I found it and secured it all on my very own.  You see over the summer Stephen's job took him to Africa twice for six weeks each time.  I am glad that is over.  

He got to do fun stuff like go on a safari in the Serengeti, and work 6-12 hour work days a week and eat gross native food like goat intestine stew.  Seriously.  

While he was gone we decided to move and so I did all the leg work (with tons of calls and emails overseas) and got us this rental.  I CAN do hard things.  

Anyway I have bunches of pictures to upload but that will happen once we are done living out of boxes.  So maybe never ;)

When I go outside

Every time I go outside (typically to take out the trash) Adelaide crawls to the door and watches me.  It's the cutest thing ever.  On this occasion Stephen came to check out the excitement.

Adelaide's first birthday

Adelaide's first birthday was in the beginning of May.  I documented our whole day through pictures.  We first opened all her birthday cards.  

 Then we went to Sugarhouse park and played with cousins.  

 

While we were driving in the car she and Stephen were holding hands...but of course not for the picture.  

  And here's a blurry but cute one of our birthday girl!  

Our Unwelcomed Guest[s]

Yesterday was Stephen's Fourth Birthday. We had planned on having a party at our house in the afternoon, and eating cake and ice cream outside on the grass. Well, we first had power repair guys outside our house (and thus the power was off until about 20 minutes before the party started. But it was fun to watch them working! Then my husband found two garden snakes in our grass. And brought one inside the house. Yikes! Thankfully the snakes left before it was time to eat outside.