Reyen's 1st visitors and 1st bath

Coming up with baby names and agreeing on them is very hard. When we found out we were expecting I wanted to find a name that started with an R. We have an Elliot and Elsie, and a Kaden and Camden. Rylan was the odd one out. For months I have been looking for the perfect R name. Every name I liked Mike didn't. At one point Mike said I could choose the name. We have taken turns with naming the kids and since Mike didn't have any favorite names I did end up naming her Reyen. She doesn't have a middle name because we didn't have any ideas and I don't have a middle name. So she takes after me in that way.

Here are some of Reyen's first visitors. Elliot and Camden loved Reyen before she was born and fell in love all over again when they saw her. Camden's favorite thing to do was rub my tummy and ask when the baby was coming. Elliot loves to give Reyen kisses.

If you asked Elsie if we were having a boy or girl she would tell you a boy because they were what we have had in the past. Wednesday morning the kids called me at the hospital after seeing a picture we sent grandma of the baby. I told them we had a girl and Elsie said "oh" and then asked other questions. I think she was shocked a little. Elsie was happy to meet her new sister and got to tell her whole class about it.

Rylan wasn't too excited to hold Reyen for the first time. He was more interested in watching cartoons on tv. He was a good sport and took a picture for me. Since that first meeting Rylan has warmed up to Reyen and likes to hold her and I have even caught him singing church songs like "I stand all amazed" and "I am a child of God" to her very quietly as if at any moment someone will catch him being nice.

Kaden loved holding Reyen for the first time. He just stared at her and soaked her all in. He loved telling all his friends about his new sister.

Grandma and Grandpa Wilcox came to visit and meet little Reyen. She was wide awake for them.

Reyen didn't really like her first bath. Since she was born in the middle of the night by the next morning my epidural had worn off and I was up walking around and feeling pretty good. When it was time for Reyen's bath Mike convinced me to go. It was the first time I have been to watch any of my baby's baths. The nurse was very thorough. 

Reyen at 2 weeks

In Reyen's 2nd week of life, she has been loved so much. She is very alert in the mornings and evenings. She went in for her 2 week checkup and she was still little. When she left the hospital Reyen weighed 6 lbs 5 oz and 2 weeks later weighed in at 6 lbs 7 1/2 oz. Not much weight gain. We are supplementing but that isn't going well and she is taking a bottle now. I was very sad at first but know that she is getting the nourishment she needs.

Brothers love to read with Reyen and give her kisses whenever they see her.

This little girl has brought a special spirit to our family. Such a precious thing we have been blessed with and I am torn between feelings of joy and frustration. Can that be felt at the same time? So happy to have this addition to our family and worn out by all that is required of me as a mother. I wonder if I have what it takes when my little one cries and can't settle down and that in turn leaves me sleepless, tired and emotional. What did I sign up for? As the scripures say, "this too shall pass". I know the Lord has blessed us with little Reyen for a good reason and I am learning how to be a mother to another child again. They say no two kids are alike and that is so true. We are both learning new things each day.

Reyen holding Elsie's hand. I pray these two sisters will be close as they grow older.

4th of July

The 4th of July was a fun day. It was Reyen's first outing and Elsie wanted to pick her outfit. We don't wear festive clothing so Elsie picked out a dress she wore 10 years ago. I think it was handed down to her back then too. She was so excited to dress Reyen. 

After about half the day we had to change Reyen's clothes because the ruffles by her face kept making her want to eat her clothes.

Here are the kids piled in the car. Our first adventure together as a family of 8 ready to go to uncle Dave's house.

The kids loved all of the fireworks all the uncles got for them. 

Here is Rylan overheating. He runs really fast.

We even got to see part of a rainbow. It was a beautiful but very, very hot day.

Cousins! Kalissa, Elsie, Kayla, and Anna. Elsie doesn't have girl cousins her age close by so when they come to visit she loves the time she gets to spend with them.

Reyen didn't care for the fireworks at all. We had her ears plugged the whole time. 

Dave had a great show for us. It was a great time spending with family.

Reyen's first week

Reyen's first week of life she has been loved by her brothers and despised by her sister. Her brothers let me know whenever she is crying and want to help by sticking her pacifier in her mouth. They love to touch her and kiss her. Elsie on the other hand had different feelings about Reyen. She would glare at her or get away from her. I was very shocked because I didn't expect this to come from my 10 year old. I didn't prepare for jealousy. After a few talks with Elsie we found out she really didn't hate her sister but was jealous and wanted some attention too. After we figured out the problem it was easy to fix and she now says having a sister is okay.

Reyen has been eating often and sleeping good although she still looks little. We went outside to take pictures but she hated every second of it. So we headed inside. It's hard to believe Reyen has been here for only a week. Watching the boys read books to her and sing her songs melts my heart. Maybe Reyen was saved for the last to help her older brothers be good. She is definitely their favorite right now and are very soft with her.

Sorry Reyen. Looks like you are starting your life with no little feet. You have me and grandma Bagwell to thank for that. 

Here is me and Reyen. Elsie has learned that she likes to take pictures.

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.