News

There are many things floating around in my mind I have been meaning to write down. So I preface this post with a warning of disorganization.

We have been greatly blessed with a new addition to our growing family. Laeunabelle Rose Grossnickle was born February 3rd, 2013. She is so incredibly beautiful, I can't help but tear up when I look at her. She was born in the comfort of our home at 10:09pm, weighing 7lbs 13oz, and measuring 20.5 inches long with the help of our wonderful midwife Ellie. It was such a wonderful experience and we were all in our own beds by midnight. It was super bowl Sunday (keeping with the "holiday" tradition of birthdays). I stayed home from church because of an awful virus I had caught. Coughing and drained, Tim decided to take Brody to our friend Stuart's house to give me a quiet house to sleep in. Around 5pm or so, my napping was interrupted by some waves of tummy pain. I didn't think I was having contractions but I decided to text my midwife anyway to ask her advice. I thought because I was sick, I was probably just dehydrated and constipated, causing my discomfort. She advised me to try to get them to stop by taking an Epsom salt bath and drinking lots of water.  My contractions didn't stop and were consistently 3-5 mins. apart and lasting about 30-60 seconds, gradually getting slightly more uncomfortable. After sitting in the tub for maybe 40 mins, I felt the need to go to the bathroom, plus the tub water was cooling down. The whole time I'm texting my midwife back and forth. Finally she asks me if she can call me while I'm having a contraction to get a better read on where I am at. I still was in denial that I was in labor. We talked on the phone for about 5 minutes. I had two contractions that I could still talk through but by the end of our conversation, I asked her to go ahead and start the hour drive it would take for her to get here. Meanwhile, my Mother had texted me to check on how I was doing since she was at my sister Melanie's house helping with the twins. I told her what was going on but to not worry or come over. She was convinced before I was that I was in labor and offered to come over at any moment. Both my mother and midwife freaked out that I was at home by myself. I explained why Tim was away and they demanded I tell him to come home NOW. My mother showed up first and began timing my contractions with an app on my phone. They were about 3 minutes apart and lasting a minute each time, getting more intense. I couldn't walk through them any more or talk much. My midwife, her assistants Erin and Sahara, and Tim all showed up at the same time. She checked my cervices and I had been dilated to 7-8cm. That's when I knew it was really happening, and I was going to be holding my baby girl soon. My father came and helped Tim give me a blessing between contractions. It was perfect but cut short by another contraction. Brody went to bed shortly after they got home, after saying "Mommy ouchies". I labored most of it by myself because it was only and hour and a half after everyone got here that Leelu was born. In the time everyone was home, I had a moment of uncertainty. I had to refocus my thoughts because I was starting to get scared that I couldn't do it. I knew when that thought came to my mind that it would be over soon but I needed to pull myself together. Keep in mind, I am sick as a dog, coughing during contractions. During the majority of the pregnancy, I had some sharp pains I would describe as "someone scratching at my cervices from the inside". My midwife said that's from the baby having their hands by their head or sucking their thumb. It's very uncomfortable. So between contractions, there was still this sharp pain that persisted and it was messing with my mind over matter tolerance. Eventually I calmed my mind by reminding myself that I could do this and to surrender to my body because it knew what it was doing. I didn't need to think about it. At that point I was much quieter, and going through transition. I knew exactly when she began to crown, and knew it was about to get a lot more intense, but it was almost over and none of this pain was going to matter in a few short moments.  She decided to come out with her hand tucked under her chin after pushing for about 15 minutes. She was in my arms immediately and began nursing right away. It was such a wonderful moment. My labor took about 5 hours and I am so thankful for that.

The next morning Brody met her and has wanted to hold her and give her kisses ever since. He is such a good big brother. So helpful. There are moments when he wants more of my attention but he is good at being patient. He is able to communicate better and has the cutest voice. We have been working on the ABC's song and I catch him practicing the tune. He is getting closer and it's so sweet to hear. His potty training is getting better now since Leelus' been born. He tells me when he needs to go by exclaiming "potty" or "poop" (I'm sure he will love me for posting this when he is older). He is so sweet and thoughtful. One day I was sitting on my bed with tears running down my face. He came into the room and said "crying". He then left to the kitchen, got on a bar stool to grab the tissue box. He brought the box to me, took out a tissue and wiped my cheek for me. It was the cutest gesture. These are some of his most current phrases and word interpretations.

"Ohpet" for Open it.
"Loberts" for Lobster
"duh.....bul.......u" Three syllables said distinctly slow for W
"Fyder" for his Pacifier
"Chocrit" for Chocolate, although he says it correctly now
"Seerwis" for Sirius. He also calls for her to come
When at IHop, our waitress came to our table and addresses Brody by asking how he was doing. He replies by tapping the table and saying "...(gibberish)...water...(gibberish)..." requesting she get him some water.
"Thankoo" for Thank you. When you tell him You're welcome, he then tells you "You're wecom"
"Lowgurt" for Yogurt. He asks for this or "chocrit sirweeoh" for "beckfasth"
"boonce" for spoon
"nax" for snacks
I asked him the other day if he could say adorable, it came out "a dumbldor"

There are many more I can't think of right now