Welcome Baby Levi!

Well, I started to create this post several weeks ago.  Due to technical problems and then being distracted, I never actually even started typing. 

So at last- here is the story of Levi's birth:

 After having such a great birth experience with Zac, I decided to do water birth again with my midwife Rebecca.  The pregnancy went very smoothly.  I had lots of false contractions for months, just like I had with Zac, but things were otherwise great. The week before Levi was due I went to stay up north with my family, since my midwife is in Murray.

 I tried to use castor oil to induce labor on Aug 16.  I had contractions for an hour in the night, but nothing too serious, so I went to bed.  I woke up just before 5am because Zac had climbed in bed with Ryan and I, and when I sat up my water broke!  I waited about a half an hour before I called the midwife, just to be sure it was actually my water.  (You never know at the end of pregnancy.)  We left for the birthing center just before 6.  I had started having contractions, but they were inconsistent in time and strength.  My midwife offered me an herbal concoction to regulate the contracts just before 7:30.

They skyrocketed within 10 minutes and I got into the tub.  I was expecting several more hours of labor and was worried when the contractions were so strong.  "How long am I going to have to do this?"  I knew from Zac's birth how to breathe and instinctively got on my hands and knees and started swaying my hips.  (I have back labor, so I just want the pressure off my back).

Rebecca soon asked, "Are the contractions low in your stomach?" 

"No, they're just in my back."

But on the next contraction, "Ok, they're low now."

A few contractions later she asked, "Are you feeling pressure?"

"No."

But not long after that,'There's the pressure!!"

I had felt Zac's head with my hand as he was being born, so I felt for Levi- and he was about to crown!  Rebecca coached me to just do little pushes and little grunts instead of pushing hard.

Somehow I managed to do that and within a few minutes Levi was born!  His cord was wrapped twice, so it took him a little bit to start breathing on his own.  He was perfect!!

Levi Joel Christensen

August 17, 2013

Born at 7:51 am

7 lbs 11 oz

20.5 inches

 

(That's 3 hours from my water breaking until he was born!!)  I had didn't even have to have stitches!

 

We went back to my grandma's to stay a few days so we could have our 2 day check-ups before we went home.  The boys were so excited to meet baby Levi!!

 

 

They still love holding him everyday and are very good at helping me take out the diapers.

I can't believe a month has flown by already.  Levi is now 9 lbs and so cute and sweet.

 

Zac is a busy little boy.  He is very coordinated for his age and keeps up with Tyler and Andrew.  He actually is frequently the example to Andrew in how to climb and do new things.  He's learning to talk and is very funny and lighthearted.

 

Andrew is doing so well.  He had his feeding tube removed earlier this year.  He had to stay in the hospital a few days after that, but has done great since.  He is such a sweet and mild little boy.  We still have comments all the time about how cute he is.  Those brown eyes and big cheeks can just melt your heart. 

I've been reading through my old posts of all that has happened to him and am amazed still at all he's been through in his short life.  I am so grateful to all the wonderful people who have helped us along the way.  We have been so blessed. 

 

Tyler is such a great help to me and a very good big brother.  He is starting to lose his baby teeth.  He still loves all construction equipment and has shared that love with the other boys.  They played for hours and hours in the sandbox this summer.  Tyler got to sit in two backhoes this summer, helped run a backhoe, and rode in a combine.  I can't believe how fast he's growing up.

We started 1st grade a week after Levi was born.  Things have been really bumpy this year with it.  Tyler was falling farther and farther behind in his writing and reading, and everyday was an unpleasant experience of forcing Tyler to do his work.  It took all my energy not to yell or lash out in frustration.  "Tyler, how many counting cubes are there?"  "Just write an 'A'!" So after a lot of thought, prayer, and some help from my great friend Lisa we decided to change from Connections Academy to traditional homeschooling.  I started Tyler and Andrew both last week and it has been great!!

I now have a lot of learning to do, so that I can know how to have a good homeschool, but I am so excited.  Tyler is doing so much better, and although Andrew is only 4 he is really happy to be doing school.  He was ready for it, and Tyler focuses so much better with Andrew sitting next to him.  I don't have to be a slave driver, they just do their work while I clean the kitchen or nurse.  Then we do some reading.  This week I'll add a little more to it, so we've covering more topics and material.

 

I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful husband and my sweet little boys.  I am such a lucky girl!

Tyler's 6th Birthday

 Tyler's favorite thing is still backhoes.  This is the 3rd year that he's had a backhoe birthday cake, but this year we added friends and an actual backhoe to the party!!

 Our generous neighbor brought his backhoe to our house and let the kids all ride in the bucket.  He said usually kids stand and wave their arms, but all of the boys at our party wanted to hold Ryan's hand while they were in the bucket.  :)

After they each had a 'ride' in the bucket, they all climbed into the cab and Brother Jacobson showed them how to run the backhoe.  They learned how to turn it on, put it in gear, and how to move both the bucket and the scoop.

 There were 5 kids in the cab with Brother Jacobson, and they were all fascinated!

Even Andrew wanted to make sure he got a chance to get in.  Cutie pie.

It was a lot of fun for all the kids and one that I'm sure Tyler will talk about for a while.

He loves to tell me all about Grandpa Mel's tractor, and I think this will rank up there too.

 We love going to the park now that the weather is warm.  Zac is fearless and will try any slide on his own.  He barely even sits before he throws himself down the chute. 

 I can't believe how fast they are all growing!

Tyler is almost done with Kindergarten and has done great with online school.  He is starting to come out of his shell a bit, but is still pretty shy.  He and Andrew have been playing soccer this spring.  Ryan is coaching their team.

Andrew is doing great!  He still eats almost constantly, and was able to have his feeding tube removed in February.  It's been more than a year since he's had a dilation and has made it through several illnesses without needing his tube.  It was his first winter without any ER visits or hospitalizations!!  He is also learning letters and sounds.  He and Tyler love to watch Wild Krats on PBS kids and tell us animal facts every night at dinner. 

Zac is our most outgoing little boy, and keeps up with his brothers in almost every activity.  He loves to sing.  He knows the tunes for Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star; ABC (which is the same tune, but he makes different sounds); I am a Child of God; and My Heavenly Father Loves Me.   

 Baby Levi is also doing well and is due somewhere around Aug 18.  I am 27 wks along tomorrow.  He is a finger sucker already!!  I've seen him do this in a few ultrasounds.  At this last appointment we could actually see his lips moving and his throat moving when he sucked!!  We are all looking forward to him joining our family. 

(He is laying on his back here.  You can see the profile of his face in the right half of the picture with his hand to his mouth.  His other arm is in the left side of the picture.)