Reevey's Birth Story

Reevey Louise

First, How did I come up with her name?

It's funny how the names of my girls just come to me at weird times. I was sitting in church listening to the LDS General Womens Meeting back in March when the name

Reevey

Came to me. 

Sis. Reeves (one of the speakers at the meeting) was speaking and I can't help but love her last name, especially since my middle name is Ree. Reeve is a boys name which I love, but to make it a girls name I just added a 'Y' on the end. Of course, the 'ey' tends to be a trend with my girls' names ;). I couldn't leave her out of the fun. 

Throughout my pregnancy with Reevey I of course was SICK for the first 18 weeks, same timeframe with Parley, at least not the whole pregnancy like Knowley. I somehow survived those months with 2 young children and I also had geographic tongue appear over the summer which was way weird. Glad I do not have that all the time! I was very tired with this pregnancy but other than that I really can't complain. I felt good considering and did everything that I wanted to still. Kept myself really busy!

As my due date of November 18 was approaching I went into full nesting mode a couple of weeks before she came. I really thought she would have come on November 13, but sure enough that day came and went. I was having lots of Braxton Hicks contractions and would even have them consistently for 7 hours straight one night with a couple of really strong contractions. 

At 38 weeks pregnant, the doctor checked me and I was 2cm and 50% effaced. I was excited to hear that. With my other two girls I was 1cm and 50% at 39 weeks and usually went into labor later that week so I thought for sure she was going to come early!

Well 39 weeks came I was still a 2cm and 50%.

Bummer.

Another week passed. Oh my, I haven't had this baby and I am 40 weeks pregnant! My mom flew in on my expected due date (Nov 18) and she said you have to have this baby, I AM HERE! I agreed. It was time. 

2 days passed, mom and I were able to get grocery shopping done, a lot of Christmas shopping done, etc. It was kind of nice to have some time to just hang out with my mom before the baby came. 

40 weeks 2 days. I go to my doctor again. He checks me, I am a 2 almost 3 cm dilated and 70% effaced. 

AWESOME.

He asked me what I wanted to do.....

I of course wanted my body to have had this baby already, especially considering I KNOW it can go into labor on its own. I had Knowley 2 days before her due date, and Parley the day of her due date. But, this baby girl was not ready to come out.

I told the doctor I wanted to be induced.

(I was tired, my mom was here, the house was clean, I am ready)

The doctor makes a phone call and sure enough they were ready for me that afternoon. Literally 4 hours away from when I was in the doctors office. 

I was like "here we go!" very nervously. 

I was really nervous to get induced. I have posterior babies and I was praying she would flip and that she would drop down. My babies tend to not drop till I am in full active labor, which is fine, but I was nervous I would put her under stress with the hard contractions from pitocin and she would not drop or something.

Well 4pm came and we got to the hospital. I said a prayer that all would go well, took one last picture of my belly, and put on my cute gown.

The nurses started coming in and attempted to put an IV in me. I tend to have rolling veins. They look pretty till they go in and bust my veins. After 4 attempts they finally got an IV in me. They started fluids and the pitocin at about 5pm.

The contractions started to come, but weren't that bad (I have had a baby naturally before so I know what real contractions are!) I asked if I could walk the halls to get things going. They let me, but the hallway was so small it was kind of silly.

Brad and I saw the helicopter landing pad and talked about that for awhile and then decided to go back to the room, which was good timing since they were ready to go ahead and break my water. When the nurse checked me I was 3.5cm and the baby had dropped. 

The doctor came and broke my water, that was a weird feeling. Very warm and very wet. LOL With my other two I was always 10cm dilated when they "broke my water" and didn't feel it really because I was pushing the baby out and the water would always follow. 

I kept saying I wanted to stand and walk through all the contractions (since I did with the other births) but after that with every contraction water kept gushing out, so I was comfortable just staying on the bed. The nurse had since upped my pitocin and the contractions started to get really intense. 

She came in and checked I was 5cm. She asked if I was ready for an epidural, my face was letting her know the contractions were starting to get pretty intense. I said "yes, I think so, I just don't want my labor to slow down or affect the baby" she assured me labor wouldn't stall and made me feel comfortable with getting the epidural.

Thank goodness for this sweet nurse name Linsay. She was right, by the time the anesthesiologist got to me and got the epidural in (20 min time frame) the contractions were coming strong and hard. She checked me I was 6.5cm.

The epidural wasn't really working so they went ahead and gave me another button dose of meds, well that REALLY made me numb and kind of freaked me out for a little bit. Even my right breast went numb. My body started the shakes which is pretty normal during labor. I just kept shaking and had no control over it. Sure enough the shakes started because I was in transition, and started to feel the pressure. 

The nurse came back in and checked me I was fully dilated and Reevey's head was RIGHT THERE. They said she is coming! The nurse called the doc right away and then I had to wait for him to get there. All I wanted to do was push, I started feeling sick and the shakes were really bad because my body was ready! 

The doctor came in and looked and said, "All you are going to have to do is lift your legs and she will come right out" Sure enough, the nurse and my mom lifted my legs and he said push once (I literally coughed) and she came right out, all on her own. It was almost too easy!

There she was...

Reevey Louise Cox
Born November 20, 2015
9:13PM
8 lbs 5 oz
20 in long

Funny story, before I had her we wrote down on the hospital board our guesses for her height and weight, I NAILED IT. My guess was 8 lbs 5 oz and 20in long. That is exactly what she was!!

She is perfect.

The girls meeting Reevey for the first time. Officially a family of 5!

The birth was FAST 4 hours total, but was just as beautiful and smooth like the other two. I cherish each and one of these memories of pregnancy and laboring because I know how special and miraculous it is! God has truly blessed me/our family! 

Three beautiful girls to keep us on our toes and fill our home with joy and laughter!

Reevey is such a great baby. I look forward to seeing her grow up (not to fast) and learn and play with her older sisters! 

The Birth of Parley Grace

January 9, 2014

{My due date ^^}

For about a week and a half I had been having contractions. Throughout my whole pregnancy I had had many braxton hicks contractions. I could feel my body preparing for labor but it was such a tease! One night I would have contractions for 4 hours straight and they would just stop! Then same the next night and so forth. Always had contractions during the day, too. They were mild contractions, I knew they weren't "real" ones because with Knowley I labored at home till 8cm when I got to the hospital. 

On January 8, I started having contractions around 

7:00pm

that evening. 

I didn't think anything of it of course since this was like the 8th night in a row. 

The contractions continued throughout the night off and on and continued into the morning.

So I woke up with contractions and was exactly 40 weeks pregnant. I got my self showered, put on makeup, and decided to take a 40 week picture…just in case! 

(Still in denial I was at the beginning of labor)

(40 weeks!)

That afternoon around lunch I went to my neighbors for a little play date with Knowley. The contractions had really slowed down and weren't to painful. 

Around 

2:00pm

 the contractions started to pick up again. I expect long labors since I have posterior babies. From start to finish with Knowley labor was 32 hours. 

I knew I could possibly be in labor but thought I could contract like this for HOURS. 

Also, I was NOT going to the hospital to be sent home. So I wanted to labor at home as long as I could possibly handle it because I did not want to be rejected and have that emotional roller coaster, also I did not want to be stuck in a bed for hours laboring. I love to walk through my contractions!

I keep contracting and things are starting to get intense. To keep my mind busy and contractions going I am cleaning the house. 

I read online (spinnningbabies.com) there are certain techniques to help posterior babies get into position into the cervix so active labor will begin. I tried this technique through 5-6 contractions…

well at

4:00pm

I lose my mucus plug. 

I knew things were starting to really pick up and this possibly could be the real thing! I call my mom and tell her to get on the road asap! (She had a 6 hour drive)

I kept waiting and waiting to call my husband home from flight school, but the contractions were deepening and finally I call him to come home at

4:30pm

He gets home at about 

4:50pm

I am walking through my contractions and still cleaning some. He asked me if I needed or want anything. I said PANCAKES! I was hungry and those sounded good. When I was contracting I just wanted to throw up and pass out (I believe this is when I was transitioning into active labor) but in-between the contractions I was perfectly fine, happy me! He was timing the contractions, anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute long with 3-5 minutes in-between. To me this doesn't mean active labor.

Laboring! Knowley has the camera...

5:30pm

I eat half a pancake and finish packing my bag and calling the neighbors to let them knowI am in labor and asked if they can watch Knowley since my mom is still on her way :)

5:45pm

We leave for the hospital. Contractions are getting VERY strong in the car, but still 3-5 minutes apart. I just keep breathing, and talking and laughing in-between.

Brad and I are guessing how many centimeters I am on the way there. I guessed 5cm he guessed 6 or 7.

6:15pm

We are at the hospital. 

Of course it is evening time and you have to check-in through the ER. The ER is packed! Brad and I are standing at the registration window and I am still contracting leaning against the wall, and nurse asked me if I needed a wheelchair…YES PLEASE! 

I am through the ER doors waiting on Brad to check us in. I am sitting in a wheelchair in front of an ER room with people in it being checked out. I just put my head down and breath through the contractions. I felt embarrassed, but it was getting painful. Still 3-5 minutes apart contractions. 

Brad finally gets me registered, they wheel us to Labor and Delivery.

6:35pm

I get to the room and they ask me to pee in a cup and put on a gown. I did this, with help from the hubs! I get on the bed and things keep proceeding. The nurse checks me…

I AM 9CM!

Brad and I both look at each other…oh my goodness.

I ask the nurse "Can I still get an epidural??"

She says, "Oh no honey you are to far along"

Reality hits me..I just start crying! 

I was scared.

I looked at Brad and you could tell he felt SO bad for me. 

I couldn't fathom in my mind that I had to push this baby out, feeling everything.

One last picture of the belly…

6:45pm

The room is full of nurses and people rushing everywhere. The baby is coming! Fast!

They are trying to get ivy's in me and rolled 3 of my veins. I was dehydrated plus I have crappy veins in the first place. They finally get an IV in me. The doctor is waiting for them to get all that done so he can break my water. 

7:05pm

The water is broke.

Nothing really came out since her head was lodged into my pelvis (all the fluids are behind the baby)

I start pushing since there is a small lip. The lip I guess is gone. Of course during those pushes I lost some bodily fluids and a bowel movement occurred. (so embarrassed)

I keep apologizing to everyone in the room. 

7:20pm

The doctor announces its Birthday Party time.

Seriously, he did. That is the only thing I really remember. I knew it was funny but couldn't laugh because I was, well…about to push a baby out. 

I push through another contraction.

and then another…

7:35pm

She is BORN!

Parley Grace Cox

Born: at 7:35pm
Weight: 8lbs 10oz
Length: 20.5in
January 9, 2014

It was one contraction, three big pushes! Brad said she seriously came out like a football! The doctor caught her in his arms. Brad said he had to jump out of the way because all the fluids came out behind her! 

My thoughts during this time? All I could focus on was what the nurses were telling me to do. It was almost like an out of body experience. I barely remember what was happening. I just remember my body needing to push but my mind not wanting to because of the pain. My whole body shook like crazy and then there she was! It still doesn't seem real. 

Thank goodness for my awesome husband telling me when her head was out--that gave me strength for the last big push!

My mom unfortunately missed the labor but made it 3 hours later that evening! 

It was another beautiful, wonderful labor. I am so blessed with 2 healthy little girls and smooth labors!

January 4th...18 months?

It's true!

I have an 18 month old now!

WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN?

I can't believe Knowley is 18M today!

This little girl is such a busy body!

she loves:

to dance

sing

eat salt and vinegar chips

color

play with her babies

push her babies in a little stroller

watch tangled

play with mommy and daddy

wear shoes ALL day long 

take a bath

eat chocolate

sit in her little chair

eat goldfish

words she says:

momma

daddy

hi

bye (with wave)

blows kisses

i stuck

baby

1, 2, 3

shoes

toes

eyes (with point)

nose (with point)

drink

thank you
i poop
peek-a-boo

and more that I can't think of!

To Knowley,

I can't be more proud of the little person you are becoming. You are so beautiful, and you make me and your daddy so happy. We love you so much. Life would not be so full without you. Not matter what you can put a smile on our face. Thank you for giving me kisses and cuddling with me at times I really needed it! You are such a little angel with a sweet spirit. I can't wait to see you grow up and become a beautiful young women. Happy 18 months little girl!

-Momma

Christmas 2012

CHRISTMAS 2012

This year, we decided to stay home and do our own Christmas. With finances and time away from job tight, we knew we couldn't travel to neither one of our families. It was sad not being with our family, but we had a great, simple Christmas.

On Christmas Eve, we just hung out at home and watched a movie. We also opened my grandmothers gifts that she sent out to us. She always wraps our presents in blue wrapping paper, and we are always allowed to open her gifts on Christmas Eve. 

I also do the pajama tradition on Christmas Eve. So we opened those too.

On Christmas morning we got up let Knowley open her gifts first (she got tired of it after about 3 of them) and then we opened our gifts. This year Brad and I decided not to get each other gifts, but that was okay since we got many other gifts from our parents and from those we draw names with, within our families. 

Christmas Day Dinner we had our friends Nick and Melanie & baby Logan over. We did a bunch of finger foods like we do at my house on Christmas Eve. It was delicious (I ate on that food for a week)! It was so great to come together as friends and celebrate Christmas. To start are own traditions as a little family.

I need to upload my other Christmas pictures from my other camera. 

I hope everyone had a Jolly Merry Christmas! 

K with Santa at the Ward Christmas Party

Brad on Dec. 23 Christmas Sunday

Dec. 23 Christmas Sunday

Dec. 23 Christmas Sunday

Our tree this Christmas

November thus far!

It has been such a wonderful month on November thus far! 

The weather hasn't been to bad YET! We did have a crazy snow storm on the 10th (the day of my brothers wedding) but since then it has been in the 50's! I will take that. Yes, I live in Utah, yes, I should LOVE the snow...truthfully I don't really like it that much! I would be okay without it. As a kid, I loved it of course, it was so fun to go sledding and build snowmen, but now it is just dangerous and scary because I usually have to drive in it! Everyone drives like crazies here.

Recently we got new family photos taken. Below is Miss Knowley at age 16 months 2 days! I can't believe how big she is getting. She is the sweetest little thing! 

Right now she LOVES:

-To play with her baby

-Feed her baby with a bottle

-Get tickled

-Eat spaghetti

-Eat chocolate

-Watch Doc McStuffins and Mickey Mouse

-Take a bath

-Give kisses with the sound "mwah"

-To see her daddy walk in after he gets home from work/school

-To sit on mommas lap

-Color

-Feed herself (with a spoon/fork)

The words she is saying:

- Bye Bye (with wave)

- Hi

-Thank you

- Da da

- Momma

- One, two, three (yes she can count!)

- Mwah!

- Bubble (that is a new one today)

- This (with a point)

This girl loves to sing, and loves to dance! She is getting pretty good at dancing! So cute when they just bend their knees and go up and down! She is such a joy to be around. She now only nurses morning and night, and will drink milk now! So we are starting to definitely make progress. Hopefully by January we will be done! Each day gets better with the whole eating thing.

Below is also a sneak peek of our family picture! I am so blessed with a beautiful family! I have so much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving week! I can't wait till December when Brad graduates and then onto the next adventure of our life (which is still somewhat unkown!) I am ready though for whatever lies ahead. Stay tuned to read about that! 

November 6, 2012

Knowley Lately....

Knowley is changing so so much lately! 

I am almost mad at myself for not posting on here more often, because I know that I am going to forget all of this stuff!

Just yesterday we were praying before dinner, Knowley has recently learned how to fold her arms. When we were done praying I said "amen", Knowley right after said "amen"! I could not believe it, she really is growing and learning SO much right now! She is 14.5 months, and too smart. She can say mama, two, bye bye, blow kisses, wave bye bye, fold her arms, say amen, eats food (finally), and loves to watch Doc Mcstuffins and Mickey Mouse. For her first birthday we bought her a little chair, she sits in that little chair and just loves to watch those shows. I probably let her watch to much t.v. but with me still working part time from home, it helps her stay entertained while I work. She does play very well by herself though. Also, she LOVES people. She will go to almost anyone, and if she see's the kids playing outside she points to them and starts talking, I just know she wants to go play with them! 

We just started weaning yesterday. I am down to 2-3 feedings a day. Before she was still nursing all the time, I know what you are thinking...she is 14.5 months!? Well, this little one loves nursing and it has taken her forever to learn how to eat food, she still won't really drink milk, and won't and never has had a bottle or a pacifier (she would never take to them). Let's just say she has made life a lot more difficult than expected, but hey, I know there are parents with lots more struggles than their kid not eating food. It doesn't help that I am attached to nursing just as much as she is. I never thought I would get so attached to it, I hate it but I love it. It would be nice to wear whatever I want and not having to worry about if it is lose enough or not to pull up for nursing, etc. But anyways, we are working on weaning...slowly but surely. I want some me time before the next baby comes around...Not hinting anything by the way! Just saying!

I love this stage...seriously. They change and are learning so much every single day.

Today before nap time, I laid knowley in her bed and before I left the room she waved bye bye, and blew me kisses, on her own....what a heart breaker.

I LOVE you so much Knowley. I am so grateful to be a mother. No words can describe the happiness it has brought to my life. I thank Heavenly Father every day for this beautiful life he has blessed me with. I hope more to come....

First Half Marathon!

I DID IT! 

First Half Marathon---------Complete!

What an amazing experience! Before I ran this race I said I just wanted to do one, and I would be good. Well, I want to do more. It truly is kind of addicting! So fun too! It really pushed me to my limits, but how rewarding it was to cross that finish line. 

My goal was to run 13.1 miles in under 2 hours 15 minutes....

Well as you see here I definitely beat that!

Knowley with my medal! (July 28, 2012)

SO PROUD!

I am really looking forward to the next half marathon! Not sure when that will be, still deciding on the perfect race. 

ALL the hard work paid off! After all the hours of running and time being spent away from my family to work on myself was SO WORTH IT! Us women need to remember ourselves when we are raising our children, our health is just as important as theirs. It is not easy, but we can do it! I continue to run 3 days a week and also try to throw in a couple swims too if I can! You will feel SO much better if you love yourself, for me, I needed to lose that baby weight to feel good about me. Which I did + more! 

I think I can say I am a "RUNNER" now. 

I mean look at me with my fancy GPS watch??

Half Marathon....NEXT WEEK!

Half marathon is NEXT SATURDAY! July 28, 2012!

Am I ready?........

Have I put in the miles....hours?........

YES and NO!

I have been training now for 5 months! I have done so great till the last 3 weeks. With vacation and not having a hubby home to babysit, it makes working out VERY difficult. I am still running 3 times a week but not putting in as many miles as I should at this point. I have done the best I can with the given circumstances. The race is next saturday, if I am not ready now. I never will be. I am pretty sure my body will be dying and my heart, but mentally I think I can push through those 13.1 miles....

Throughout the training I have lost 14lbs! SCORE! I weigh less now than I did even before I got pregnant. I am back into a size 6! Yeah, I know, it is crazy! I am so happy and I have not really changed my diet a ton, just do not eat as much, and I try to eat healthier snack and ALWAYS eat breakfast. Oh and only drink water! My body has been good to me and has responded so well to running. I am grateful for a healthy body!

WELL..........here we go!

Happy Birthday Knowley!

KNOWLEY IS ONE!

I have to keep saying that because it still seems surreal! Where did the time go? I still feel like she is this little baby just born yesterday, but in all reality she is the beautiful little GIRL, not a baby. She has such a cute, sweet spirit. We were able to go to TN to celebrate Knowley's birthday while daddy is away doing Army training. He will be gone a full month by the time he gets home. I am so sad Brad was not able to be there for her birthday, but it is okay! We got lots of pictures and took video too. The theme of Knowley's birthday was 4th of July with a rubber duck twists :) It turned out really cute! It is really neat that she gets to celebrate her birthday on July 4th. What she is doing now?

-Somewhat eating (still working on it)

-Walking everywhere!

-Laughing

-Singing

-Talking A LOT (She can only say momma, dada, uh-oh)

-Playing with toys

-High-fiving!

-Giving Kisses

-Getting into everything, drawers, closets, etc.

-Shaking her head yes and no (doesn't get the full concept though)

and so much more...

I know she will be 2 before I am ready...trying to take EVERY MOMENT IN!

Smiling for her one year pictures!

Hey, I am ONE!

The decorations to Knowley's birthday party! July 4, 2012

Her cute 1 year outfit! 

Mommy helping blow out the candle!

Mommy and Knowley!

My new beginning...

HALF MARATHON TRAINING

Yes. I have decided to train for a half marathon, I am really nervous about doing it, but really excited too!

Date: JULY 28th, 2012

I have been training for 5 weeks now and so far I am doing great! (I think!) This will seriously be one of the hardest things I have ever done. Let me tell you running is not that easy...it's hard on the body for sure! I dread the runs 3 days a week, but after I complete each run I feel so accomplished! I will be doing a 10K next monday to kind of see where I am, and how I feel.

I am just really excited to do something for myself! Also, it's rewarding putting in hard work and getting good results! I am also competitive (its in my blood! haha) So I am excited to do some races again like the old days in high school!

I have never been a long distance runner, so this is definitely different for me. I ended up buying a GPS watch to help me with my pace, heart rate, etc. I LOVE IT! I do not think I would be able to train without it! Well I will let you all know how this training goes....!