I always love to hear the stories that people tell about when they went into labor and so on and so forth.
Unfortunately, Lydia's is not as entertaining as Lucy's, but eventful nonetheless.
We were all rooting for her to come on October 16, simply because Alli, Lucy, and I were all born on the 16th, which would have been cool. Although, were were also all born in the Spring, and on even years. Therefore, if she was born on the 20th it would have been cool too, because Jed was also born in the Fall and on an odd year AND on the 20th. However, Lydia decided to be different altogether, and come on the 13th (the very day I promised my doctor she would NOT come!! )
Here is her story:
We found out we were expecting Lydia right after we both decided to stop trying or hoping really. Due to doctors' comments and nothing for the last 2 years, we had good reason to believe that we'd be waiting for a LONG time for a third child. In fact, we had a hard time believing we were actually pregnant for at least 2 months. All in all, the pregnancy was both one of my easiest and hardest at the same time.
The first trimester was quite a bit easier compared to the first trimester with Alli and Lucy. My third trimester was less painful than theirs as well, but almost more exhausting. I suffered from A LOT more nausea than I ever had before, as well. One thing I had never had while pregnant was a seizure. This may have been the hardest experience to handle.
At around 29 weeks I had a seizure. Those of you that know me closely, know I suffer from epilepsy and have been greatly blessed by my experiences as well as being able to control them over the years. I was far enough along, that this could harm the baby. Luckily, a miracle happened mid-seizure. I woke up DURING the seizure.
I was aware enough to get myself somewhere safe, and stop myself from falling. It hurt badly. I've always had the blessing of being unconscious before, but in this case it was a VERY good thing I woke up, because I could have seriously hurt both baby and me.
When the hospital monitored Lydia, she was was just fine and they did not have to deliver her so early. I recovered well, and had to be faced with finding rides for kids and me every week for every thing. I am not allowed to drive for 3 months after a seizure, to be sure I don't have anymore and that everything is under control. It was annoying and I had to swallow some pride, but I am blessed to have many kind and serviceable people around me, so I hope I didn't put any one person out too much.
Last week:
I was having contractions on and off last week, and starting to feel my body get ready to send Lydia out into the world!
On Oct 13 2011, I sat down on a chair to put make-up on and touch-up curls in my hair. Before too far, I fell into another seizure. After I awoke and realized what had happened, I called Jed right away. Of course I was not "with it" enough to remember that Jed had asked me to text him the word "labor" if I was going into labor. I was NOT going into labor, but I needed to get a hold of him. He was in an important meeting, and he knew if he got a text (which he doesn't get very many of) that it would most likely be me, but a call could be anyone. He didn't want to be checking his phone at every phone call. So I called his work to find him. The office manager was able to locate Jed (the meeting was not in his firm)
It was almost Jed's turn to present, when a woman bursts through the double doors (just like in the movies) and says very loudly and excitedly, "is Jed Rhien in here?" Jed--looking confused--raises his hand. She looks at him and says, "YOUR WIFE IS IN LABOR!!!"
Instantly, a cheer goes through the room, and Jed is practically kicked out the door. One lady even said, "Run...Run to her side, Jed!"
Unfortunately, after he called, he got another story. Not sure how "seizure" got turned into "labor", but I could have easily been mumbling.
Either way, I ended up in Labor and Delivery. They determined that baby was OK, but to avoid any more problems, they induced me anyhow.
She was born at 6:45pm, she had the cord around her neck; but that was easily resolved. She was 6 pounds 11 oz; and she lost 6 oz by the time we left. Which is still normal. She is 19 inches long. She is very tiny; her newborn diapers are too big and even though her onesies SAY 5-8 pounds, they drowned her. I'd love to find some smaller clothes for her. It's kind of fun to have a tiny one!
We are so blessed to have her, it's been an unexpected road to get her; which of course, makes her all the more interesting.
Thanks to SO many people who have helped me out. I'd name you all here, but I'd probably run out of space. (:
Friday, October 21, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Good News!
We are please to announce a new little Rhien on the way due in October.
We had a sonogram yesterday, and we are excited to tell you all that we are having a.........
... Alien!!
Well,
In February, Jed came downstairs one especially difficult day with a look of shock. He announced we were going to have a baby. He held in his hand the test I had taken earlier which I thought to be negative. I hadn't stuck around long enough for the test to register the positive lines. I assumed it was one of many negative tests, don't even know why I kept buying them. See we've wanted another ever since we moved, and a little before. Instead, I endured many health issues and ran a marathon, and tried to be the best mama for the two I had already been blessed with.
> We are happily expecting a baby girl on October 16th!!!! The due date is SO cool because Lucy, Alli, and I are all born on the 16 too. Hope the baby comes on her due date this time around :)
> I'll be 19 weeks along on this Sunday!
> We love our beautiful girls, and we couldn't ask for anything better. Our first two have an interesting and special relationship that I am sure will be shared with girl #3. I'm so excited to have my three princesses!! To be honest, I really love doing the princess thing with my girls. I always thought I'd be more of a football throwing t-ball kind of mom, but these girls have worked their charm on Jed and I. We've had a few random comments from friends about how they thought we'd be disappointed by the news, as they felt that every family needs an even "brady bunch" number of girls and boys to be complete- or even to go as far as to say that they assume we're having a large family just until we get our boy. We couldn't be happier that God knows us well and has blessed us so greatly with these wonderful children that we have, that fit our family so perfectly.
Love to you all from our family-
-Laura
In February, Jed came downstairs one especially difficult day with a look of shock. He announced we were going to have a baby. He held in his hand the test I had taken earlier which I thought to be negative. I hadn't stuck around long enough for the test to register the positive lines. I assumed it was one of many negative tests, don't even know why I kept buying them. See we've wanted another ever since we moved, and a little before. Instead, I endured many health issues and ran a marathon, and tried to be the best mama for the two I had already been blessed with.
>
> We cried for joy. At the same time my heart went a million ways. I knew so many that have been waiting longer and would be happy with one. People that probably would be a better parent than I. Why me? The blessing is overwhelming and incomprehensible. For about two months into the pregnancy I had a hard time believing it was true, it was like I wasn't truly convinced until my first visit to the doctors at 11 weeks when I saw the baby on a sono.
>
> To those of you that might be struggling in the topic of babies I want to say I love you. Thank you for your strength and example. Thank you for your well wishes to me despite the inner struggle. My prayers are with you.
>
> and now without putting anything off any longer.... some of you are waiting to know if we are having a girl or a boy.> We cried for joy. At the same time my heart went a million ways. I knew so many that have been waiting longer and would be happy with one. People that probably would be a better parent than I. Why me? The blessing is overwhelming and incomprehensible. For about two months into the pregnancy I had a hard time believing it was true, it was like I wasn't truly convinced until my first visit to the doctors at 11 weeks when I saw the baby on a sono.
>
> To those of you that might be struggling in the topic of babies I want to say I love you. Thank you for your strength and example. Thank you for your well wishes to me despite the inner struggle. My prayers are with you.
>
> We are happily expecting a baby girl on October 16th!!!! The due date is SO cool because Lucy, Alli, and I are all born on the 16 too. Hope the baby comes on her due date this time around :)
> I'll be 19 weeks along on this Sunday!
> We love our beautiful girls, and we couldn't ask for anything better. Our first two have an interesting and special relationship that I am sure will be shared with girl #3. I'm so excited to have my three princesses!! To be honest, I really love doing the princess thing with my girls. I always thought I'd be more of a football throwing t-ball kind of mom, but these girls have worked their charm on Jed and I. We've had a few random comments from friends about how they thought we'd be disappointed by the news, as they felt that every family needs an even "brady bunch" number of girls and boys to be complete- or even to go as far as to say that they assume we're having a large family just until we get our boy. We couldn't be happier that God knows us well and has blessed us so greatly with these wonderful children that we have, that fit our family so perfectly.
Love to you all from our family-
-Laura
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Jed's Birthday and Christmas 2010
Jed's 29 years OLD, no turing back, one more year and you qualify for aging jokes
the famous scowl!
My sister Hannah and I
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Thursday, October 07, 2010
It's been a long time. A True Friend
I know we haven't written in a long time so here's the run down, with pics to follow.
My Side
Jed was able to escape the doom and gloom at work and the Rhien family took the longest vacation we've ever taken.
We drove to Arizona and was able to see my mom, sister, bro in-law, neices and nephews, and my oldest brother. We originally planned a trip to Wisconsin to see my mom, but she moved to AZ. After a week there and swimming every day, we spent 4 hours at the Grand Canyon. Gorgeous.
Jed's side
We then stopped by Jed's family for a weekend, and we were able to see most of his cousins, Aunts and Uncles too, including the one that lives in England. We were also able to see his grandparents, which is always a joy. Too bad we were unable to go up to Utah and see his other grandparents too.
School
When we got back, we only had a few days before school started for Alli. She loves school and is doing so well. My father was able to stop by for two days during a business trip accompanied by two of his good buddies. It was fun to have them at our house.
The Next Run
I'm training for a half marathon to be run at the end of the month. Although, I seem to only manage one long run a week, so I don't feel like I am really training, and I don't expect to do well. But I enjoy running, and a nice relaxing 13.1 miles is more what I am in the mood for.
A GOOD FRIEND
So I have noticed that I have been blessed with a lot of good people around me. Each has done almost surprisingly kind things for me. I guess what is at the front of my mind is something that happened yesterday. I won't really go into detail, because it is personal. However, I received a call yesterday morning that had pretty good timing. I wasn't in some emotional struggle or anything. Still this call was from a long-time friend. She had heard of something that happened, and just called to see how I was doing. I know that sounds simple, but when I heard what she had to say I felt good. I felt like despite that my mind was busy thinking about my tasks of the day, I really needed that call from her. It meant a lot to me. What was unique about the call was, how did she know that the night before I was having a rough time? How did she connect the two events? I have no idea, her reply was, "I'm your friend."
This is not the first time someone has been there when I least expect it, but when I need it most. I only hope I can be a similar friend.
p.s. just realized i downloaded my pictures to the other computer, so I will put them up in a bit
Thanks to all my friends. I feel too often that my friends are better friends to me than I am to them
My Side
Jed was able to escape the doom and gloom at work and the Rhien family took the longest vacation we've ever taken.
We drove to Arizona and was able to see my mom, sister, bro in-law, neices and nephews, and my oldest brother. We originally planned a trip to Wisconsin to see my mom, but she moved to AZ. After a week there and swimming every day, we spent 4 hours at the Grand Canyon. Gorgeous.
Jed's side
We then stopped by Jed's family for a weekend, and we were able to see most of his cousins, Aunts and Uncles too, including the one that lives in England. We were also able to see his grandparents, which is always a joy. Too bad we were unable to go up to Utah and see his other grandparents too.
School
When we got back, we only had a few days before school started for Alli. She loves school and is doing so well. My father was able to stop by for two days during a business trip accompanied by two of his good buddies. It was fun to have them at our house.
The Next Run
I'm training for a half marathon to be run at the end of the month. Although, I seem to only manage one long run a week, so I don't feel like I am really training, and I don't expect to do well. But I enjoy running, and a nice relaxing 13.1 miles is more what I am in the mood for.
A GOOD FRIEND
So I have noticed that I have been blessed with a lot of good people around me. Each has done almost surprisingly kind things for me. I guess what is at the front of my mind is something that happened yesterday. I won't really go into detail, because it is personal. However, I received a call yesterday morning that had pretty good timing. I wasn't in some emotional struggle or anything. Still this call was from a long-time friend. She had heard of something that happened, and just called to see how I was doing. I know that sounds simple, but when I heard what she had to say I felt good. I felt like despite that my mind was busy thinking about my tasks of the day, I really needed that call from her. It meant a lot to me. What was unique about the call was, how did she know that the night before I was having a rough time? How did she connect the two events? I have no idea, her reply was, "I'm your friend."
This is not the first time someone has been there when I least expect it, but when I need it most. I only hope I can be a similar friend.
p.s. just realized i downloaded my pictures to the other computer, so I will put them up in a bit
Thanks to all my friends. I feel too often that my friends are better friends to me than I am to them
Thursday, July 22, 2010
The Mind Game
I don't know about anyone else, but I've noticed that much of life includes a mind game with ones self at least once a day. It's good for you I think.
We've all heard about the person that has exercised so much mind power that they can block out pain or whatever, or the ones that talks about the power of positive self talk. Or at least I've heard of that. Am I a believer? Well, as much as I tried, I still yelled my guts out when in labor with Lucy, so um.... I failed THAT test.... ha ha, and when I was ruthlessly made fun of in 7th grade, I still cried in my room at times but all in all I think I did a pretty good job at making the best of the experience, not perfect, but I could have done worse. Generally, I think I am a believer.
It never fails to amaze me how much I use my mind as a mother. Somedays it surprises me how LITTLE I use it too. ha .
When I ran my marathon, I hit a point that I remember being a specifically difficult mind game. I had 2 or three miles left. I wasn't sure. About a mile before I had just seen my faithful cheering squad. The pain, stiffness, and exhaustion was worse than ever.
I remember wishing that I could see that cheering squad again. In fact, I was sure that if I had, I would be able to not stop and walk and keep going until the water station. Then a part of me said, that if I could do it with my loved ones cheering, then I could without too. The point being, that I could do it.
My body and my attempts to use positive self talk argued for the next two miles. Sometimes my body's pleas to rest won. Then I paid for it in stiffness. Sometimes my mind won. The thing that I remember about those times that I gave in and walked was that I remember feeling pretty sure that I didn't have to walk, that I could do it (like I said before) that as much as I tried to justify it, I simply chose to walk. Those two miles were so slow compared to that average mile time I had been running until that point.
So I found myself playing a similar game today. I'm not saying it's not ok to take a break every now and then, but i specifically felt like when I personally needed to be filling my mind with "YOU can do it! It'll work out... You are tough... It's no big deal." etc etc, I was squeezing in, " If only i didn't have to make dinner; if only I could snap my fingers and have the laundry put away."
I am much happier when I don't say, "if only..." or " I can't" . I finally opened my eyes and laughed at my mind bouncing around.
I was trying to keep a clear head and a positive can-do attitude while my body was trying to convince me that I would be much happier reading a good book, sipping lemonade, while a maid cleans the house, and a private tutor teaches my children to read, write, learn the alphabet, socialize, math, swim, and get exercise.
However, I knew very well that I quite enjoy teaching these things to my kids, so I'll only need the tutor from about 2 pm until dinner time. In which I will arise from my lounging to a fully prepared meal and clean kitchen and happy children. I'll take it from there!
For the record, no lemonade sipping and 4 hour lounging took place today.
So there you have it, if any of this made sense. Being a mom, and well... probably many other things as well, requires a lot of self-discipline, and positive thought. Once I have that down, it takes a whole lot more to find ways to exercise their minds and bodies , and values in a healthy non-over-burdening way.
I know no one really reads this because we were MIA for so long, but just in case
, I hope that anyone reading this decides that they can get up and get to work, go outside, laugh, and maybe do something particularly challenging today.
We've all heard about the person that has exercised so much mind power that they can block out pain or whatever, or the ones that talks about the power of positive self talk. Or at least I've heard of that. Am I a believer? Well, as much as I tried, I still yelled my guts out when in labor with Lucy, so um.... I failed THAT test.... ha ha, and when I was ruthlessly made fun of in 7th grade, I still cried in my room at times but all in all I think I did a pretty good job at making the best of the experience, not perfect, but I could have done worse. Generally, I think I am a believer.
It never fails to amaze me how much I use my mind as a mother. Somedays it surprises me how LITTLE I use it too. ha .
When I ran my marathon, I hit a point that I remember being a specifically difficult mind game. I had 2 or three miles left. I wasn't sure. About a mile before I had just seen my faithful cheering squad. The pain, stiffness, and exhaustion was worse than ever.
I remember wishing that I could see that cheering squad again. In fact, I was sure that if I had, I would be able to not stop and walk and keep going until the water station. Then a part of me said, that if I could do it with my loved ones cheering, then I could without too. The point being, that I could do it.
My body and my attempts to use positive self talk argued for the next two miles. Sometimes my body's pleas to rest won. Then I paid for it in stiffness. Sometimes my mind won. The thing that I remember about those times that I gave in and walked was that I remember feeling pretty sure that I didn't have to walk, that I could do it (like I said before) that as much as I tried to justify it, I simply chose to walk. Those two miles were so slow compared to that average mile time I had been running until that point.
So I found myself playing a similar game today. I'm not saying it's not ok to take a break every now and then, but i specifically felt like when I personally needed to be filling my mind with "YOU can do it! It'll work out... You are tough... It's no big deal." etc etc, I was squeezing in, " If only i didn't have to make dinner; if only I could snap my fingers and have the laundry put away."
I am much happier when I don't say, "if only..." or " I can't" . I finally opened my eyes and laughed at my mind bouncing around.
I was trying to keep a clear head and a positive can-do attitude while my body was trying to convince me that I would be much happier reading a good book, sipping lemonade, while a maid cleans the house, and a private tutor teaches my children to read, write, learn the alphabet, socialize, math, swim, and get exercise.
However, I knew very well that I quite enjoy teaching these things to my kids, so I'll only need the tutor from about 2 pm until dinner time. In which I will arise from my lounging to a fully prepared meal and clean kitchen and happy children. I'll take it from there!
For the record, no lemonade sipping and 4 hour lounging took place today.
So there you have it, if any of this made sense. Being a mom, and well... probably many other things as well, requires a lot of self-discipline, and positive thought. Once I have that down, it takes a whole lot more to find ways to exercise their minds and bodies , and values in a healthy non-over-burdening way.
I know no one really reads this because we were MIA for so long, but just in case
, I hope that anyone reading this decides that they can get up and get to work, go outside, laugh, and maybe do something particularly challenging today.
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
recipe help!!!!! Doctor's Orders
Well,
Without disclosing more than I can, I am asking for help on recipes. I know I have a lot, and some pretty stink'n good ones too, but things just got a little more difficult.
As if eating gluten-free wasn't annoying enough, I have been advised by my doctor to alter it a little more.
She wants me to be as strict as possible with a low fat, low carb, no refined sugar diet. Also steady exercise ( no prob) and plenty of vitamins. This won't solve the problem completely but hopefully will reduce pain.
Well I am doing a sort of low carb diet naturally, seeing as my wheat is out, which knocks out bread and pasta. Still I could use some recipes that are healthy, do not have a ton of crazy ingredients, and something to fill my sweet tooth cravings with no refined sugar.
So bring the recipes on.
I am not the healthiest person alive by the end of this I don't know who is. (:
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