Alexander

Alexander Steele Rice-- Welcome to the Rest of Your Life

I'm in love all over again...

Added to my heart is our newest family member: Alexander Steele Rice, born January 22nd at 1:25 p.m., 7 lbs. 7 oz., 21 inches... brown/gold hair and dark blue eyes. Absolutely perfect!

For those who like to know the "whole" story (but still clean enough for my dad to read), this is how it went down:

5:45 am: got the call from the hospital that we were to come in as soon as possible for the scheduled induction. Couldn't sleep all night anyway, so we were ready to go! All the kids got up when they heard the phone ring because they knew what that meant! Hugs all around, a quick breakfast and we were off in the dark!

6:50 am: checked into the delivery desk during the nurse shift change so I had to wait a few minutes to be assigned. Felt sorry for the woman actually in labor in line next to me who also had to wait. Michael asked the charge nurse if I could go ahead and get my epidural now while we were waiting, but she and the laboring woman just didn't find it as funny as he did.

7:30 am: all set up in my bed, getting my pitocin started. Also started my antibiotics for the Group B Strep which would take 4 hours to be effective. At this point the epidural question was posed to us for real and we said we would like the "Princess Cruise" option-- epidural before any painful contractions (our doctor had named it this). The anesthesiologist would be able to come after finishing up a surgery.

8:15 am: anesthesiologist came in with his tool box and a couple of student nurses, talked through all the steps as he worked which was a great distraction for me. I was nervous since I'd experienced in the past some electric shocks down my legs during the procedure, but he was mostly able to avoid that "nerve brushing". It was quick and relatively painless, so I was relieved to be settling in to my numbness before I was uncomfortable with my contractions. Is that even legal? I was liking this Princess Cruise so far... :)

9:00 am: we had to work through a developing "hot spot" of the epidural being less effective, but soon got it under control. Now we had to wait to break the water until the four hours of antibiotics had been in place.

11:30 am: received second dose of antibiotics, so we were ready to get this baby delivered now!

12:00 pm: doctor came in and broke my water. 3+ cm. Everyone agreed that the labor would progress quickly now, so I took a nap while I could. Michael put on "Pay it Forward" while we waited.

12:30- 1:00 I progressed from 5 cm. to complete without noticing anything more than some pressure that I had to really think hard about noticing.

1:00 pm: Where is my mom? We call her to tell her that the baby is ready NOW, but she is weaving through traffic and running red lights to get there, so we decide to wait... don't cough.

1:20 pm: Mom arrives just about the time we decide to move forward. One good push, and we had a head.

1:25 pm: Next push, we had a baby boy! Cutest little pathetic cry that made us all laugh... hardly a cry, more of a weak pity party. Placed immediately to me and I felt my throat catch as my heart expanded 2 times it's normal size.

How did a real baby just come out of me? It's like he came out of a magic box! A bunny out of a magician's hat...

SO... easiest delivery ever. And I didn't even say "ow" or other equivilent adjectives. Only "WOW".











The Name?

The interesting part is that although we've been doing polls (to prove to each other our theories about names) and Alex/Alexander came out on top in the end... we had preferred this name from the beginning, but wanted to keep exploring all the options before making too swift a decision. In the back of my mind I kept thinking that I needed to review family names and perhaps find an ancestor that held meaning to me. I finally cracked open a book of personal histories my sister had collected a couple of years ago of our pioneer heritage and was looking for one in particular I remembered who had led an amazing "Forrest Gump" type of life, only during the early history of the church. He seemed to be at all major events from joining the saints in Nauvoo and being blessed under the Prophet Joseph's hands to seeing the capstone of the Salt Lake Temple placed and a million other amazing stories in between. (Nauvoo Temple, Carthage, Mormon Battalion, Mobs burned his home, a miracle blessing, settling Provo, cornerstone of the Salt Lake Temple). I turned to his story, written first hand, and saw his name: Alexander Wilkins and felt a little shock as I realized that I had been prompted all along. Our little Alex would have this name to remind him of personal strength and valiancy.
"Steele" is another family name associated with a whole family of ancestors who crossed the plains to come to Utah. Plus it's rather rugged sounding, don't you think? The only problem we found was when Benson pointed out that because of the middle name, our baby's name is a sentence, with "Steele" sounding like "steal" (a verb, mom!). If that's the worst thing that someone can come up with, I think he'll survive.

The Rest of the Story...
So Alex is totally healthy, looks familiar since he carries traits that seem to be common in our Rice kids, and actually has a couple of dimples when he does his "newborn smiles". I have been recovering nicely, although it feels like someone took all my organs out and put them back in the wrong spots... they'll sort out eventually! He's struggled with nursing more than my other kids but eating healthy amounts, so he'll be just fine.
Everyone wants lots of turns to hold him and Jackson even said the prayer over dinner tonight blessing that "Jackson will get the first turn after dinner to hold the new baby." I think Alex is fitting in just fine and will be very loved...

This must be what Heaven is like. He IS fresh from being there, so he brought some of it with him.

My Days Are Numbered!!

OK, so I'm only what, 4 days away from the Big Day? The plan is to be induced on Thursday if I don't go into labor on my own before then. I feel like it's never going to happen, but then I look at myself and realize SOMETHING has to happen. Is it possible to get any bigger?

When I pass a mirror I can't help but be amazed that my body is really growing another person. I stare at my shape and try to imagine a baby all tucked up with real fingers and a little mouth... I am dumbfounded at how my body knows how to do this. To build a perfect baby, while I go about my daily routines. I can only imagine how scary it might be if the baby DID depend on me to think through how to put him together. Total miracle.

Sometimes I have some weird fears about carrying a baby though:

1) When I swim I feel like I might be drowning him by keeping my belly under the water so long. However, I do realize that they are IN water. Which leads me to my next fear.
2) What if the baby is getting moldy? I mean they are in the water for so long! I also realize that their surrounding amniotic fluid exchanges frequently, but I can't rid myself of the thought.
3) I also worry about bringing a baby onto the stage, albeit in utero, while we are recording with the choir and orchestra. The quiet parts have to be deadly quiet! Everyone is thinking "please don't let me make a sound!" but do they have a BABY with them?? You'd think my phobias about the water would help me realize the baby does not breathe air and thus cannot cry.
4) How in the world can they hang upside down for so long and not get a head rush? I almost feel like the kind thing to do would be to stand on my head so he can get some relief from being upside down. I just can't figure out how to get into that position.
5) Benson was born with so much hair and it was really long, nearly 2 inches! It takes me about 9 months to grow hair out 2 inches, so maybe some babies like Benson have hair starting to grow beginning at the first cell! Kinda weird. I'm just sayin'.

Am I ready for this baby? Two trains of thought:

A) Well, I have all the gear ready... all laid out and organized and the girls and I have had our share of squeals over the cute little booties and outfits he'll be wearing. (so spoiled). The car seat is buckled in so we can see how it will feel like to have the baby with us. Did you know we completely fill our Suburban now?? Every seat. I have frozen meals ready for crisis nights and Michael will have a week and a half off of work to help while we settle into a new routine. I sniff baby lotion regularly (is that bad?) as I long for the sweet smell of a newborn.

I think we've finally settled on a name. It hit me late one night and I just knew it. For me, it is important that there is a strong feeling that we have chosen the name he is supposed to have. Not telling, you'll have to wait until the announcement!!

B) Other train of thought. I'm not ready!! How can you possibly be ready for such a life changing event? My perspective on what it means to bring another person into your heart for a lifetime has changed considerably as I've experienced my other children. Each one needs so much from you and has so much to give to the world in their own way.

I never thought I would have six children. After my first, I couldn't imagine how anyone could manage more than one! Thank goodness I'm not doing this alone-- I have Michael as a wonderful helpmeet and God is here to help us accomplish this seemingly impossible task. God has a lot more faith in me than I do, so I'll lean on that for awhile.

So while my days are numbered.... I look forward to experiencing this miracle, this little boy who insisted on joining us no matter how late. Wish me luck getting him here. We love him already.


P.S. I packed a treat in my hospital bag, and Jackson told me it's only for if I don't say "ow". I'll try not to, 'cuz I really want my treat.

Ten Years Ago Might Have Been a Different Story

"Everybody wishes they had a Jackson! All the moms in the world aren't lucky but you are mom, because you have me!" Absolutely true reminders that I hear on a daily basis from him... and yes, I taught him to believe this about our relationship. He is four, totally loveable and adores me. I wish there was a way to freeze everything just as it is...

All of this probably worked in his favor this past week. That, and I must be becoming a seasoned mom. Oh, yes, and it helps to be child #5 (don't have to break mom and dad in)....

Remember a few posts ago when Jackson brilliantly wrote all the names on the Christmas presents for me? I couldn't have been prouder! His favorite pastime is writing and drawing and I've really meant to get around to buying washable markers... So the other night, we were out on a date-night and received a call that Jackson had drawn some giraffes (representing me, Jessica, and himself)... with the sharpie... colored in solid... and it had bled through the THIN paper onto the kitchen table... so Jessica was doing her best to wipe it off, but it wasn't coming off very well she said.

We came home to some big green eyes of Jackson's, who watched my expression and said "I thought you were going to be mad at me, Mom. At least there is a lot of brown left!" And my response? "No, mommy's not mad. It's a beautiful picture. Don't worry, we'll find a way to get it off the table." The funny thing? I actually wanted to keep it for awhile, maybe even forever.
That's how I know I've seasoned. :)

Sledding Like Snobodies Business

"Christmas is not over because there's still snow, Mom!" Oh, dear. Jackson and I both would love it if Christmas were every day, but all good things must come to an end. Except the snow just goes on and on. Really, I shouldn't be shoveling at 8 months prego, but I've got to get out of the house sometime! The snow has been relentless.

Kids love the snow and see it in an entirely different perspective. I can appreciate that. I remember the glory days when sledding was like narrowly escaping death and over-riding internal warning signals. These days, ALL the warning signals are going off as I waddle and slip around on the ice...

If it were up to me, at this point, I would prefer to send them off sledding while I catch up on a good book by a heat source. However, Michael insists that I come and "have a good time with us". OK.... include me.... sledding.... how? My role? I am the moral supporter-- "Mom, did you see that?", sled racing cheerleader-- "On your mark, get set, go!", owie kisser--"That tree must have really hurt!", and glove reattacher--"Your hands are bright pink Jackson! That's why we wear gloves!" But being on the sidelines in a heap of oversized snow clothes is what life is all about for moms sometimes... gotta love it.

Benson received a snowboard from a "secret santa" on Christmas morning, just after we finished opening presents. Being the thrill seeker that he is, and the fact that ALL of his friends are big snowboarders, this was the ultimate wow factor for him. He thinks he's ready for the black diamond runs. We think he might want to practice first.


Josh and Jackson are right there behind Benson as snow daredevils. Boys. And to think we are building another boy.... it's a wonder that we have never had a broken bone (knock on wood).



The girls? Totally independent sledders as well, but more into trains, snow angels and sledding with Dad (who whoops it up all the way down). And the best part? Hot chocolate when it's over. Now we're talkin'.