Au Naturale

January has literally flown past me like I was sitting in a Lazy Boy on the side of the interstate!  Our day to day lives have kept this momma busy but, to be honest, their lack of blogosphere worthy excitement has held me back from updating.  This pregnancy gig has been good to me though, and I can honestly say that I've been feeling great...even better than usual.  But really why wouldn't I, with the excitement of what's to come in just five months after thinking it would never happen for almost eight years?!  So for a somewhat quick update on current events of the latest Everhart, you can continue reading. 

As you know, I tend to lean a little to the crunchy side of things, so having a baby for the first time has been no different.  Even before I did any reading and fact finding, I knew that I wanted to go natural.  That is, no induction, epidural, or episiotomy (along with a myriad of other things I've added to the list since).  Because if my Grandmother did it three times and my Mamaw did it eight (once on my current dining room table), why couldn't I?   I have always been amazed at how God made a women's body, with few exceptions, to be able to grow and give birth to another human.  Anatomically, hormonally, and psychologically.  It's one of the frustrations of infertility...thinking that your body has failed you of this one God created function.  So given the opportunity, I knew I didn't want to interfere with nature if I didn't have to. 

It only took a few trips to my OBGYN to realize that this birth in a hospital route was probably not for me.  I LOVE my doctor, but it was pretty evident that he and I had some differing opinions on the female body, it's capabilities in childbirth, and what was "healthy" for me and baby.  Not to mention what restrictions hospital protocol would require and the crazy rising rate of cesarean section.  So a few months ago, I started doing my research (and dragging along my poor husband).  The more we learned about actual facts, statistics, and history (not just hearsay and perception) the more confident we became about looking at midwives in our area.  Then we watched that dern Ricki Lake movie about hospitals and midwives and procedures and medical interventions, and the nail was in the coffin so to speak.  At my following appointment, I gave my doctor my "it's not you, it's me" spiel and to my relief he gave me an encouraging "go for it".  So a week later we were stuffed with twelve other couples in the sitting room of a 100+ year old Victorian turned birthing center hearing all about childbirth without medication, birthing tubs, and Dad catching the baby.  Pretty much a one-eighty from the previous week and completely refreshing.  You know when you get that comfortable feeling like you're in the right place at just the right time?  I had prayed for peace in what decisions we needed to make, and I really feel like God answered.  For the first time since October, I was 100% excited and fully trusting in whatever the plan was ahead of us.

Our first appointment at the Birth & Women's Center was yesterday and everything is looking great thus far.  It was a stark contrast from my OB appointments as we arrived and were one of two couples at the center.  The office manager showed me the normal routine of testing my own urine, weighing myself, and having a seat on the comfy sofa in the "exam" room that really looked like a living room with walls dotted by the footprints of babies born before ours.  We heard the heart beat (which Jordan calls a construction site) and visited like old friends with our midwife about our journey to becoming parents, foster care, our boys and the excitement of this new adventure.  At my OB's office, I was preparing for a 20 week sono; routine procedure.  Here we were given the option, which now we have decided to forgo.  We had hoped to know the sex of the baby before, but I really couldn't rationalize for myself having a sonogram for that sole purpose when I am not sold on the other arguments for having one.  So it looks as though we will be surprised...something I'm getting used to these days!  I've been feeling the so called "fluttering" in my stomach for a few weeks, but Sunday while singing at church, I got some hard thuds.  Not sure if baby was dancing along or giving a warning that I was out of key!

So Jordan and I will keep arguing over boy names, we'll start our Bradley birth classes this Saturday, and all that weight I lost will continue to be joyfully reintroduced to my front side (and hopefully it will not venture to any other places).  Will I have the fuzzy, dreamlike birth I envision?  Probably not.  But I can't help but guess that it will be a life changing event no matter the experience! 

Catching Up Before the New Year

Slacking as usual...we've had a busy few months and to be honest, blogging has been the last priority for me.  So once again, here's a quick update in photos of our December.  I hate that I have to leave out so many because of our little Mr. D.  He's a cutie and I'd love to share his chubby little face with you but Rylin will have to do for now.

We started off December with going to the Christmas tree farm to pick out our tree.  It was a cool and cloudy day and perfect weather for our outing.  Rylin was very independent and insisted on sitting by himself on the hayride to the field where the trees were planted.

After we found our "perfect" tree, the boys set to cutting it down.

We celebrated Mr. D's first birthday on the 9th with a "Little Man" party at our house complete with bow ties and mustaches.  This little guy has been such a fun addition to our family and we were excited to get to share this milestone with him.

We headed to my parents the weekend before Christmas for our extended family party and stayed through Wednesday for some great family time.  My Mom always goes all out for the holidays and this year was no exception.

The grand kids made their annual ginger bread houses (and train) with Mimi, we relaxed, we sat by the fire, we drank hot cocoa, we listened to Johnny Mathis, we ate more than we should, the kids opened presents on Christmas eve, we went to Christmas eve service, and on Christmas morning everyone enjoyed all the goodies that Santa brought.  Nothing like seeing the excitement in all of the kids eyes and reminded me of when I was their age.  I love the holidays!

We returned home on Wednesday to snow...and some very cold chickens!

I bundled up the boys and let them have some fun.  Poor Mr. D was less than enthused with my footwear improvisation.  He can blame my Aunt Polly for that idea:)

Rylin loved the snow and didn't want to come inside.  I practically had to drag him while bribing with chocolate and a movie!  The next day when he woke up he ran to the window and yelled "Mommy!  Where's the snow?!"  Poor guy! 

Infertility, Family, & a BIG Surprise

If you're still reading my blog you probably know where we came from.  Long ago (OK it was like four years ago) I posted briefly about infertility.  It was really a post bragging on my husband, but it told the short version of wanting kids, being disappointed in my physical failings, and finding a love for adoption that God planted in my heart.  I really wouldn't trade how God has shaped our family thus far for anything.  His infinite wisdom is so much greater than my own tiny plans.  How much I would have missed if He had let me do things my own way.

In this month of Thanksgiving, I have so much to be thankful for.  These two sweet little boys and one big boy are only a smidgen of it!  My heart has been full of gratefulness for a while now regarding my family.  Both immediate and extended sometimes drive me batty but show me more about love, selflessness, and encouragement than most are afforded the privilege.  Jordan and I have both been blessed with parents who have supported us beyond our expectations, brothers and sisters (and in laws) that care about all the details of our life, and grandparents who set examples of hard work, love, and godliness.  Our family couldn't possibly be any richer.

So last month when I haphazardly took a pregnancy test to ease my curiosity, I don't think I had fully prepared myself to see two lines staring back at me.  I've taken a lot of pregnancy tests.  None of them were positive so I had kind of just resigned that it was impossible.  In the back of my mind, though, it was always there.  A tiny little seed of desire still wanting to experience pregnancy, birth, a genetic tie, a baby that looks like me, and a commonality with all my other girlfriends.  So I cried.  Well that's to put it mildly.  I suppose it was good that Jordan wasn't home to experience my toilet bowl break down.  He got there soon enough though, and after the initial shock wore off, he smiled and smiled and smiled.  I think he's still smiling.  Over the last few weeks I have covered the gamete of emotions.  Fear, excitement, hope, caution.  Infertility changes a person and it's interesting how a lot of the insecurities I dealt with then have resurfaced now.  Still, I have resolved to not let past struggles steal my current joy.  So this Thanksgiving, the month before and the days after, I am thankful for this sweet surprise and miraculous blessing.  God's timing is perfection and this patchwork quilt of a family is more wonderful than any I could have dreamed up myself!

Birthday Party Madness

What happens when you invite 28 kids under five to a party and 26 show up? Complete madness! We had a fun time celebrating our little guy's third birthday at The Heard Museum. They had a dinosaur exhibit that made it the perfect location for our Dino lover!

My Baby Is 3

I have been scolded by the remaining three people who still read this blog so here's me catching up.  I wrote this post the day before Rylin's birthday, October 25th.

Honestly, I can NOT talk about it without getting weepy.  Tomorrow my little boy turns three and I can't believe how fast he has grown.  Three years ago we were here.  Wow, how our lives have changed.  He made us a family and we have loved him from day one when his birthgrandmother placed him in our arms.  We are so blessed to have the relationship we do with his birth family and today won't end without reading his book about the way his family was made.  Before I get too sentimental on you, I'll leave with some pictures of this adorable little guy and an interview. 

What is your name?  Ryin Marshall Ederhart
How old are you? 1..2..3..4..5..6..7..8..9..10..17..18..19.  I 19.
What is your brother's name?  Carson and I have a sister, Doward (need to work on that one)
What does Daddy do during the day?  goes to work
What does Mommy do during the day?  I don't know
Who is your best friend?  Leighton
What is your favorite color? red
What is your favorite song?  Jesus (Jesus Loves Me)
What is your favorite food?  berries
What is your favorite book?  Bunny (Peekaboo Bunny...completely random)
What is your favorite movie? Daniel Tiger (he's never seen it)
What is your favorite toy?  red monkey
What is your favorite sport?  Football
What is your favorite football team?  Cowboys!!

A Whole New Wardrobe

OK...so I wish, right?!  As I mentioned a while back, Jordan and I have changed our diet in a pretty significant way this year.  After reading the Primal Blueprint, we have eliminated all grains, white potatoes, sugar and artificial sweetener, started buying a lot more veggies, cut down on our dairy, and tried to stick to organic and grass fed meats.  We eat lots of bacon and good fats and avoid processed and "convenience" foods.  The results have been HUGE for our family and for my own weight loss.  We both have said goodbye to any and all stomach issues, I lowered my cholesterol and blood pressure, Jordan (being a type 1 diabetic) has lowered his A1C, lost 10 lbs of body fat, and we have a new love for the Y doing Yoga together (he'll kill me for that one).   Last month I passed the 65lb weight loss mark!  Crazy to think I was at a point where I needed to loose that much weight.  In doing so though, NONE of my clothes fit.  This is my kind of problem except I don't really have the cash to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe.  So....I've slowly been adding some things via thrift stores.  With a little patience and creativity, I think I've scored some great new pieces.  So to brag on myself a little bit, here is my dramatic before and after!

I honestly had to search for a picture of myself "before".  I did not allow a lot of them to be taken.  And looking at it I can see why!  If you're tired of the same old failing diet or of feeling sluggish and less than alive, I encourage you to check out the Paleo diet.  A friend of mine encouraged me for over a year to do so and now I am seriously grateful!  No, I don't buy into the whole notion that we "evolved" to eat this way, but I do agree with the nutrition behind it, our governments flawed food pyramid, and obviously my results.

September is Almost Gone!

September started out a rocky one for us.  Poor Mr. D came down with a virus and we ended up in the hospital for fluids.  

He was a trooper though, and after an overnight stay, he went home.  The nurses and Dr.'s took good care of us and our stay was almost a mini vacation.  Almost.

Part of the reason it seemed like a vacation was because Rylin went to stay with Mimi & Papa!  He had a good time riding and feeding the horses.  Helping Papa with the hay and entertaining Mimi with his endless barely translatable vocabulary!

On Friday, as D was doing much better, we headed to West as well.  Labor Day is WestFest weekend and on Saturday morning we took the kids to the parade.

Then to WestFest to enjoy a few complementary rides thanks to Papa.  Rylin was not interested in much except the big slide and the Ferris wheel...and even that I had to practically drag him on screaming.  He was in a mood.

A mood that shows in this picture!  We got to watch Shelby and KK preform for the Junior Historians Czech dance club.  I was a member back in the day and found it humorous that the show was the exact same we had done...narration and all! 

 After we left, we managed to leave a wave of stomach virus in our wake.  I felt horrible as we thought Mr. D was no longer contagious.  Somehow Jordan, Rylin, and I escaped it.

Rylin and D have become great friends.  They love to play together in Rylin's room.  D is moving a lot these days and even took three steps today!  He has come a long way from being in a cast for six weeks just two months ago!

Rylin had his first day of Mother's Day Out.  He was so ready to go!  He loves school and is always grins when I drop him off and pick him up.

We enjoyed some cooler weather and a few last chances to swim in our giant pool!  The chickens are very curious when the kids are in the back yard.  They looked so funny pecking around while the kids splashed.

Then from out of nowhere, Sissy decided my arm looked like a nice perch and flew up on me while I was typing on my laptop.  Crazy chicken!

Jordan and I celebrated our 8th anniversary this month too.  We enjoyed a child free weekend thanks to Mimi & Papa of which we kicked off with a fantastic dinner with our friends Shala & Matt.

I was ready to see my boys again when the weekend was over.  Monday night we hit up Chick-fil-a for some play time.  Rylin took advantage of having the playplace to himself!

In September Rylin finally started sleeping in his own bed...most of the time!  Sometimes he still sneaks in early in the morning.

We got to visit the Plano Balloon Festival with our friends from church and though Rylin was more interested in running around with the other kids, he did get excited about the balloons upon take off.

We've been going to our local YMCA a lot lately and taking advantage of the childcare!  Jordan and I get a few hours to work out and the boys get to play with friends.  Jordan has been playing some racket ball and has shown Rylin a few moves!

We went to a few more of our friend's birthday parties in September too.  It is definitely the season of birthday parties for us!  Yesterday, Rylin left Carson & Avery's without his shirt...it was an extra fun time!

We've been getting some much needed rain so the whole family took advantage of our wet Saturday to run around and be silly.  Rylin & D loved splashing in the puddles and getting Daddy wet!