Family fun

Here are some pictures we took just for the fun of it. 

Camden and dad. 

Dad and mom. I don't get many pictures of myself and Mike or the kids. Elsie volunteered to take some for me. Mike agreed on his conditions. I take what I can get.

And here are some pictures of me and the kids. They were so excited to do it all I have are funny faces.

Kaden bought a bow and arrow at the Dollar store and the kids have all loved it, maybe a little too much. I am just glad it isn't expensive so it won't be around here long. 

Just being silly.

Welcoming Reyen to the Wilcox family

This picture is the last one I have of me being pregnant with my sixth child. It was taken 

maybe 2 weeks before the baby came. Looking at the picture of myself it doesn't show me having all the aches and pains of being pregnant. Or how I felt humongous and couldn't wear a lot of my clothes. Nonetheless, I am still amazed at the miracle of growing a baby and feeling it move. I feel blessed beyond measure that this has been a fairly easy pregnancy and it has finally come to an end.

At one point I wondered if this pregnancy would ever end. With my other pregnancies I have delivered before my due date by a few days. I was hoping that would be the case with this one. Well, my due date came closer and when I had my last checkup 2 days before my due date I was still only dilated to 1cm. The doctor said she could induce me but as the date came I got cold feet. I decided I could go another week and the doctor scheduled me for the following week. 

I was due on Friday June 20th but this little surprise didn't come. Mike was hoping something would happen. Come Sunday night I had a few little contractions in bed but nothing more. Mike took the day off hoping for something. Monday came and nothing happened again. I had a few more contractions in the night and Tuesday I started having maybe one or two contractions an hour. They were nothing to worry about except they hurt my back. Mike convinced me to call the doctor because I was hurting. The doctor said it was normal and that I could take a bath to alleviate some of the pain. After dinner my contractions came more frequent but still not too close. I refreshed myself on enduring your labor from google. And then I prayed. I prayed for the ability to endure and make it through. After that my back didn't hurt so bad. On the upside I did get to watch a favorite show NCIS while sitting on the ground because it was the only comfortable position I liked. Around 9 pm my contractions started getting closer and by close to 10 I was ready to be done. I had gotten my breathing down to where every time I had a contraction I made a fist with my hand. I don't know why but for some reason balling my hand up helped. Just after 10 I told Mike I couldn't do it anymore and he asked if I wanted to go. We said goodbye to my mom who was here and left the kids in her care. That alone was a great blessing because I was worrying about who would take care of the kids. We checked in to the hospital at 10:50pm and had to wait our turn behind another couple. During that wait I had more contractions and some nurses came to see if I was okay. Before I knew it they were asking me when I was due and how many kids I have had. When I answered that I was 4 days overdue and this was my sixth they rushed me into a room and got me ready. I was checked and dilated to a 5 1/2 almost 6. Being so happy that I was far enough along I immediately said I wanted an epidural and they got me set up for it. By the time the doctor came and gave me my epidural my contractions were very intense and long. I held Mike's hand and requested drinks of water often. I was a little worried about getting poked by the epidural but knew better things would come of it and turns out it was easier this time than I remember 3 years ago. The doctor said it should only be 15 minutes before things kicked in. Well those 15 minutes didn't come fast enough. I told my nurse soon after that I felt like pushing. She said if I wanted I could push but my doctor wasn't there yet. She didn't want to make me wait and neither did I. At this point I was not so concerned about the baby being a boy or girl, just to get a baby out. When I was ready the on call doctor broke my water and after 4 or 5 hurtful pushes the baby was out. I was so relieved and surprised when Mike got to announce we just had a baby girl. I really thought we were having another boy. They put her on my chest and Mike cut her umbilical cord. The nurses checked the baby  and weighed her at 6 lbs 13 oz and 19 inches long. She was born on June 24th at 11:54pm. She wasn't breathing and I started to voice concern. They said everything was okay and the baby had pooped in my tummy and they were cleaning her out. It was a big relief when she finally started crying. My doctor showed up 5 minutes after the baby was born. Just in time to check the baby out. They gave the baby to me and within minutes Mike and I were left alone in our room. My epidural finally kicked in and I got to nurse my girl. I don't think she got any of the medicine because she was awake and alert for 2 hours after she was born. I have never had a kid do that before.

Here is the happy but tired daddy.

I told Mike after the baby was born and I was resting that he could go home and sleep. He said no and slept on the reclining chair in my room that really didn't recline.

The next day grandma brought Elliot and Camden to see us at lunchtime. Grandma stayed with me and Mike took the boys home so they could all nap. After the big kids got out of school Mike brought them to meet their new sister. This is our first family picture of 8. 

I'm so grateful for my mom who came to help with the kids and for Mike who stayed out of my way when I needed him to and was there holding my hand through it all. I'm also grateful my kids left me alone and helped out with extra chores. 

Family Photos

Conference weekend in October we had our family pictures taken. My really nice brother-in-law did it all. The weather was sweater weather and a little chilly in the shade.The boys and I had searched for places to shoot and picked Wheeler farm. Since Adam isn't a professional photographer we didn't have to pay money but he does take awesome photos. When we got there many people were already doing pictures. About 3 minutes after we caught up to LeDawn and Adam, little Elliot ran into a ditch full of water. As you look at the photos you will see he is soaked from his tummy down. I had no change of clothes for anyone but did have an extra towel in the car. By the time we finished he was almost frozen. I kind of wish Adam had his camera out ready to go then to capture it all. It was a moment when I saw it happen and couldn't stop it. Funny because we couldn't believe it really happened yet frustrating because I couldn't change things for the better. I am so proud of this little guy for not complaining and still having fun.

Thank you Adam for doing this for us. We really appreciate it. And thanks to LeDawn for helping in every other way to pull this off.

Family Gatherings

The Wilcox Grandchildren

This last weekend Mike's family was able to get together.  Mike's brother Matt and his family came to visit and baptized their daughter Kayla with family close.  Mike had to work some of the time but we were still able to get together.  We weren't able to be together for the 4th so we celebrated late with fireworks.  The kids loved it.  Uncle Matt knows how to put a show on.  The fireworks were really cool and uncle Dave had popcorn to go with it. 

 It hasn't been quite a year since the last family get together but every time they reunite it's like they pick up where they left off.  If you know the Wilcoxs you can imagine the process of taking family pictures.  While taking pictures I was laughing the whole time.

Here are all the boys!

Here is dad and the boys.

Here is the whole family.

Here are the Wilcox funnies.

 

I have learned so much from this family.  They have loved me and taught me to laugh and have fun.  I don't know how Kathy and Arn did it but they have raised some very talented children.