Pregnancy Journal

I have been wanting to put together a post about my pregnancies before this is over for the fifth and final time(more for myself as a journal entry than necessarily anyone else's reading pleasure, so feel free to read along but it's very wordy!).
There are so many miserable things about pregnancy...stretch marks, weight gain, lack of control over emotions, throwing up, swelling up, pelvic pain, pinched nerves, acid reflux, lack of bladder control etc. etc. not even getting to labor and delivery and recovery from all that! (read over this Kris anytime you are tempted with another baby;))
However, I can't begin to express the joy that each child brings!
Jaxson Joseph started us out 10 years ago. I was due on Oct. 10th and after Derek had me running the stairs on Oct. 1 in Tornado Alley just by our house in downtown SLC, I woke up in the middle of the night to my water breaking! We had a doula helping both Derek and I with the first and attempting an all natural birth. After too many hours of pitocin, no epidural and no progression just pain and tears, we got the epidural. I was able to sleep for the night (24 hours later than I went in) and woke up dilated at a 7. They stopped the epidural and a few hours later, I was able to feel EVERYTHING as I pushed my 8 pound baby boy out on Oct. 3, 2000! That was the end of the all natural plan! I unfortunately gained over 50 lbs with this kid and had a hard time taking it off, I only lost 30 before I got pregnant again. Funny story-a family name that has been passed on for a few generations is Christian, however, the birth certificate came in while I was sleeping and Derek filled out the first name we decided together but used his own middle name, Joseph (still a very admiral and handsome name) instead of Christian (sorry dad)! His first name was decided because we thought it had a strong sportsy sound to it...try announcing it.... Here comes Jaxson Acker!! (no pregnancy pictures could be found???, but the one of me below in the hospital bed)

When Jaxson was 6 months old, I found out I was pregnant again. Grace Johanna was baby number two, I think I was due on February 5th, but Dr. Grover was going to induce me on 02/02/2002 with the persuasion of DA( how can you pass up a date like that? and she shares it with her great grandmother Johanna(Jenny) hence the middle name). We went in on the 1st and Grace was coming on her own, however, she was breach so we had two choices, wait and see if she turns but risk an emergency C-section or do a planned C-section on our chosen date and have a better chance for VBACs (vaginal birth after cesarean) later on. We went in for the C-section at midnight on Feb. 02 and out came a beautiful little 8 lb., 1 oz. girl. Two days later we had a scare with some blood testing and she was rushed to the NICU. After many prayers and a priesthood blessing was given, tests were retaken and everything came out normal and healthy! She was our little miracle child! She also came home very cranky from all those needles and was our colicky baby! Luckily she grew into a very sweet girl! I also gained 50 lbs with her and still had the 20 lbs. from previously, but I was able to take off all 50, still stuck with that ugly 20. Grace's name had always been a favorite of mine as a younger person and I once babysat a girl named Grace and asked her if she liked her name and she said, "Yes, I see it all the time on churches". Luckily Derek liked it as much as I did. (picture was taken the day I went in the hospital 02/01)


After buying our Chem-Dry and moving our family to Wichita, I was pregnant again and due with baby number three May 9th. While walking into a movie with some girlfriends on May 2nd, I started having some pretty painful contractions and found myself in the hospital that night. With not much progression, I was sent home with an Ambien, but I woke up during each contraction in a lot of pain and made Derek take me back! Sure enough, I had dilated to a 5 and they broke my water and gave me that epidural with the hopes of delivering this baby vbac. It was a pretty relaxing time after that, although I was so numb I couldn't feel anything all the way up to my neck. As baby was crowning, the nurse had me feel the baby's hair and Dr. Kauffman came in to check on me and asked if he could deliver my neighbor first, who was in a lot of pain. No problem...LOVE that epidural! So a little while later at 7:25am on May 3rd, 2004, Isabella Anne was born at 8 lbs. 7 oz.! I was working out pretty regularly and only gained about 35 lbs with her and although it took a little longer, I lost all that I had gained plus an extra 5! She shares her birthday with aunt Patti and middle name with Dawn Anne. She was a sweet baby that was sleeping through the night at 3 months old. She was very quiet too but when she started talking, she spoke in full sentences and hasn't stopped since! Her first name had special meaning too. When I was serving my mission in Spain, my companion and I were teaching a lady named Isabella (Eesabella in a singsong voice) and I sent a tape recording home to Derek and I was telling him about this lady and he loved the sound of her name. We even pronounced it spanish style in the beginning and the kids called her Isa (eesa)..sadly it's changing to Isa (iza) though. I throw out the beautiful spanish pronunciation every now and then! (this picture was taken days before delivery)



Then after trying for several months, we were blessed to be pregnant again. I was due on July 15, 2007. However, I was measuring big and they changed my due date to the 12th. On July 5th I was already dilated to a 3 and had never dilated until delivery with the past three kids so I alerted the troops and told G-pa he better leave his birthday party and hurry out to Wichita! He brought G-ma, Amy and her kids out for the fun delivery and waited for another 2 weeks! That ended up being the longest part of the entire pregnancy. They had me running laps, drinking castor oil and any other method to rush this baby along! He was a stubborn one however and finally on the 18th of July, Dr. Kauffman sent me into the hospital to use a saline bulb to start the labor. Morning of the 19th he started me on a little pitocin and finally broke the water and with Grandma along for the excitement, several hours later, I delivered a whopping 9 lb. baby boy! I gained 35 with him also and was able to loose it all, but it took me over a year. G-pa and the Eastmonds had to head back right away but G-ma was able to stay for another two weeks and help me out! It was much needed as this was my hardest recovery since that boy tore his way out here! He was the lucky one to get the namesake and we named him Brock Christian! When I was pregnant with Grace I had a dream that she came out and told me her name was Brock, it has stuck with me ever since! Seems very fitting as Grace is always making sure everyone in the family is taken good care of and making sure their voices are heard. I'm sure she was making sure I would get his name right years in advance! (one of the few pregnancy pics with Brock..not too telling)
(the much awaited moment)


So here we are now, the end of Feb, 2011 and our due date is March 16. However, with the problems Brock caused me with his large size, Dr. Kauffman said we can continue with a Vbac and still induce, just carefully. Once my parents booked their flights I knew to avoid a repeat of the last child, I would have to pin the doc down to a date and time. Luckily we have the induction scheduled for 3/11/11! Another good date, Ty always liked the band 311! I'm not sure what the veil is like between the pre existence and the afterlife but Ty and Brock missed eachother by 2 weeks and I'd like to think Ty is up there preparing this little girl for the crazy family she is about to enter!:)

This has probably been the hardest pregnancy on me, I was terribly sick and irritable in the first couple of months and then in a lot of pain these last few months, but my family has been a great support! Derek has done much more cleaning and cooking than he feels comfortable with (which is none..lol)! I was thrilled when Stacie also agreed to come out for the delivery and be here with us! They all arrive on March 9, now I just hope I make it that far. Derek leaves town tomorrow for a week in California at a Chem-Dry convention and I am already dilated, but I'm sure we will survive, whatever happens! I have been the most diligent at working out atleast 5 days a week through the entire pregnancy and plan on it until the end, but I still gained over 30 lbs. I just hope the exercise will make an easier delivery and faster recovery and weight loss. The kids really wanted to find out the gender early and so for the first time I reluctantly agreed and we took the kids out of school, left Brock with a neighbor, and went out to Ihop and then to see the baby! After the annoucement of a girl, we were all excited but Jaxson, who did a little groan. Once we told him he didn't have to ever hold her, he quickly changed his mind and has joined us in the excitement of welcoming another girl to the family.

Although we always thought the magic number would be 6, I think we have all felt that this will and should be the last baby I carry! My family is growing older and there is so much to teach and enjoy with them. I feel like I am not myself for over a year everytime I have a baby! I am so grateful we have been blessed with the kids we have and I look forward to adding our tie breaker girl to the mix and I am ready to move forward to the next phase of life!

I remember when DA got a family of snowmen made up with each child and looking forward to that moment when my family would feel complete enough to create something that wouldn't need to be added to in the future! I think we really feel that complete! I know things can change and we are always open the Lord's guidance, but it feels good with what we now have!
(picture was taken at 37 weeks)

Dr. Jess saves the day!! (understatement)

It's been 3 weeks now since Jaxson went for a lay up in the middle of his basketball game and came down on his knee and it twisted and gave out on him. He's been on crutches with a little wrap on it until Dr. Jess came through and after playing with it told us we should take it in for an MRI.
After the first day, Jaxson really didn't complain that it hurt and it seemed to be getting better, but I took Jax into a Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Pence, based on Jess' recommendation(Thanks again Jess or who knows how long it would have been ignored!). The X-ray (second picture) came back clear with nothing broken and then after the MRI (first picture, notice the black line connecting one bone to the other? That is the posterior ligament and there should be another crossing over, but it's nowhere to be found) they scheduled a follow up the next week but said if it was anything too bad they would call us earlier. Well we heard nothing and went in last Thursday for the follow up expecting good news and Dr. Pence started off by saying, "It's not good!"

(The third picture-MRI, shows the bone and all the black dots on the bone are bruising and should be very painful, luckily it's not. If I remember right, all the black stuff is the swelling fluid)
Sure enough he tore is Anterior Cruciate Ligament and normally they go in right away to surgically repair it, however, they make the repair through the growth plate and if they did that at this age, it would affect his growth. So, he will have a sports brace made up for him when the swelling goes all the way down and he will have to continually be fitted for a new one until they are able to do the surgery, atleast age 14, but maybe even later.
Jaxson hung his head pretty low and asked how it will affect him playing and his sports etc. The Dr. was very kind and understanding and said they would be doing physical therapy on and off for the next several years to help keep his mucles strong but that he can still play, but will have to keep the brace on and be careful and it may slow him down a bit.
It was a hard moment thinking of why it happened when this normally doesn't happen to kids and what we could have done, what could have been etc. Dr. said it was just bad luck! As we left, we saw a boy just younger than him with an amputated leg and it hit us both that we need to be thankful for the blessings we have and make the best of this situation.
Later, we heard that John Elway tore his ACL when younger and even played a superbowl with a torn ACL, so it gave Derek and Jax a little hope that Jaxson's future with sports isn't over.
We just have to trust in the process at this point and know the Lord is in control and what happens is for the best and meant to be...only the future will show the silver lining that seems a little dark at the time!

Gracie turns 9

Grace celebrated her 9th birthday with just a few of her closest friends. Derek worked out a trade deal with the Hilton hotel, one of our regular customers who hooked us up with the family suite.
It had a living room with kitchen, a master suite with bath and a kids room with 2 large bunk beds and another bathroom.
They swam, had pizza, ate donuts, watched movies and did a lot of giggling and not much sleeping!




I think Brock and Jaxson had the most fun, but they went home to sleep with dad (much to the girls dissapointment).

We had a great time and they ended in the morning with a great breakfast downstairs in jammies and a workout in the gym!

We had a great time and I'm glad Grace has chosen such good friends!
Hard to believe it's been 9 years since our scare with Grace in the hospital! So glad she is a part of our family! She's our little peacemaker! Love you Gracie girl!

SNOW DAY!!

It's been an interested winter. Beautiful and warm all the way through Christmas, then we got hit and pretty hard!
We have had 5 snow days from school already and it's been COLD!! A few days we have been below zero..not my favorite weather, but being so pregnant, I'm content to stay inside anyway (so no outside pictures, wish I would have braved it a little for a picture)!

Here are some pictures of the kids from the first snow day (including some cold red hands and cheeks) and a video with Brock experiencing snow almost for the first time in his mobile life!



(video will be added shortly)