Emmaline Laura Todd

On October 2, 2011 at 1:03pm Emmaline Laura Todd made her grand entrance in the world weighing 6 pounds 9 ounces and 20 inches long.  Getting her to this world was one long day!!! I was due September 29 and obviously I went over due.  On Saturday I went into the doctor and I toxemia. They strapped me up to a machine to see how Emmaline was doing and she wasn't doing very well.  At that time I was informed that Emmaline and I wouldn't make it through a regular delivery and that I would need a C-Section.  The doctor sent me home and told me to come to the hospital that night and to plan on staying.  I was working all day trying to get my homework done and trying to come to terms with the fact that I was getting a C-Section.  I didn't want a C-Section and the thought of it just scared me.  So we went into the hospital and waited to see what was going to happen.  After being admitted the doctor came in and said that Emmaline looked a little better and that I could do a vaginal delivery. I was relived that I wouldn't have to get a C-Section.  The doctor decided to give me a pill to thin out my cervix and then he would break my water and start me on pitocin.  So I took this pill and they gave me a sleeping pill and I just went to sleep.  Sometime in the early morning the doctor came and broke my water.  Shortly after that I started contractions on my own.  They weren't that bad but they started getting worse. When I asked the nurse for an epidural she said I had to wait.  I DID NOT WANT TO WAIT ANYMORE! I kept asking for it and she kept saying I had to wait.  Finally I got my epidural and it worked wonders! Once they gave me the pitocin things started picking up.  When it was time to push I pushed, but Emmaline's heart rate would drop and took a long time to come back up.  So they had me stop pushing for 30-45 minutes! It was awful! Once the doctor got there and saw me push once he said that we needed to get the baby out now or do an emergency C-Section.  I pushed and pushed and he turned her and then got the forceps and was pulling so hard that I was being pulled off the table.  Once her head came out we realized the cord was around her neck so tight that he couldn't get his finger around it to cut it so he had to use instruments.  Once it was cut I could continue pushing.  Once she was all the way he set her on my stomach.  As I went to pick her up he informed the nurses that Emmaline needed help and to get her out.  They took her to the table and let Bryant cut the remaining cord and this whisked Emmaline off to the NICU.  I had no idea what was going on and where my baby was.  I waited and waited for what seemed like forever and then they let up know she was in the NICU and doing well but that she needed to stay there and be watched for a little bit.  Bryant and the doctor got to go see her while I waited.  I hated waiting! I was able to get cleaned up and then I was moved to the recovery room.  At that time I finally got to meet Emmaline! It was so fun and I immediately fell in love with her! The hospital was amazing and they spoiled me to death! Being home Bryant and I have had such a fun time figuring everything out.  We love out little Emmaline to death!

37 Weeks and 2 Days and Getting Excited

37 Weeks and 2 Days

So people have started asking me to post pictures of me being pregnant.  I feel like a blob so I haven't been good about it-but here is one.  This picture was taken on the day of my baby shower.  Kara did such an amazing job of planning, decorating, and doing my whole shower.  I was very grateful for all the support that I had from my friends and family.  It is amazing to me everything that a baby needs.  From diapers to clippers to creams and lotions.  Such a little thing needs so much!  I have felt like the whole pregnancy has gone really fast, until now.  Now I feel like I am just waiting....which I am.  But I am getting tired of waiting.  I haven't been super uncomfortable throughout my pregnancy but now sleeping in getting harder to do...its kind of hard to get a nice restful sleep when you have to get up several times a night and go to the bathroom.  I was talking with my mom and said I just want to sleep good again...and then it hit me.  I am not going to sleep well for the next 20 years of my life.  If its not a baby, its a toddler, if its not a toddler-its a little girl-then a teenager! For anybody that knows me-I really value my naps and one of my favorite past times is sleeping. So I might have to rethink a new favorite thing...we will see.  

A Day At The Palisades

Steve and Bryant taking the Canoe to the lake.

Bryant was really excited!!!

Bryant and I getting ready to go out!

Us again...

I think we look pretty legit!

A store....

Michelle holding the canoe so it doesn't get away from us-Bryant still really excited!

Steve and David taking off...

Emily and Bryant taking off...

Steve and David....they look legit too!

Bryant and Emily...jut floating along.

Steve and David after the first time around.

32 weeks pregnant! The vest just didn't fit as well as I had hoped.

Getting ready to go!!!

It was so fun and beautiful to go to the Palisades and go canoeing! Michelle, Steve, Emily, and David came up from Utah for a night and day of funness! On Thursday Bryant and Steve got up early and went and got the canoes from the ORC.  When they got back we went and walked around campus for a little while-then it was off to the Palisades.  It was a little over an hour away but the drive was beautiful! When we got there we found a perfect spot to go in at.  I wasn't sure if I would be up to going on the canoe so Bryant and Emily went on one and Steve and David went on the other.  Michelle and I were able to visit and talk while they raced each other around the huge lake! Once they got back I decided that I would take a jab at it.  It was so fun! Bryant and I went over to the side of the lake that had all the evergreen trees and it smelled so good! Bryant and I enjoyed talking about where we were going to build our cabin at.  It's ok to dream, right:) While we were out canoeing it started to rain.  We got back to the shore as fast as possible and I got into the car while Steve, Bryant, and David put the canoes on top.  The rain stopped about the time they got done.  Go figure! Overall it was a lot of fun and hopefully Bryant and I will find time in our crazy future to go back!

Elayna's Blessing/Shower

Michelle and Elayna! Michelle is one proud grandma and loves every minute of it!

Steve and Bryant-this picture just sums it up!

The extended family.  I would attempt to name everybody in the picture, but I am still getting names down.  But this is all of Elishia's family that was able to come to the blessing and lunch. 

Steve with Elayna- he is a proud grandpa.

Me and Elayna

Bryant and Elayna-I love this picture!

David posing for the camera!

This weekend we had the opportunity to go down to Utah for Elayna's blessing.  Bryant's parents were in town and we were able to spend some time with them.  On Sunday, we went to the blessing and then after the blessing we had a little lunch at the park.  There were lots of people from Kai's family and Elishia's family.  It was so fun to see how big Elayna had gotten since the last time that we saw her.  It was so cute to see Bryant with Elayna and made me excited to think of how he is going to be with our little one. While we were in Utah, Michelle surprised me and threw a little baby shower for me.  We met at Kneaders and people bought their dessert and then we just talked.  I was so grateful for the generosity and support that was given from both my side of the family and Bryant's side of the family.  There were cousins, Aunts, and Sister-in-laws their to support us.  There was family that I haven't seen in a long time and it was great to see them.  It is such a small world in the church-my Aunt LaRae and Michelle were in the same ward when Bryant was much younger.  This was the first time that they had seen each other since each went their separate way.  

Kristen, Shaelynn, and I

Me and Amy- I was so happy that she could make it-she came straight from work and I don't think she had been home all day! She is such a trooper!!

Emily, Laura, Aurale (sorry if spelling is wrong), and Erica enjoying visiting with each other.

Hoku and L.C.

Aunt Cathy and Aunt Sherry

Michelle and Aunt LaRae

This is me opening the gift from Kristen and Shaelynn-Shaelynn was excited for me to see what she had made for me.

This is what Shaelynn had made! Some princess pictures! These will go in the baby book for sure!

I was so surprised to see this.  I couldn't figure out how I didn't notice it in the restaurant before this but I didn't.  A group of people did a group gift and gave us a stroller and car seat! 

Cute shirt!

Cute little leggings!

I was trying to be very careful not to ruin the beautiful wrapping and ribbon.

Some cute blankets:)

A little dress:)

Some adorable little newborn outfits.

Burp cloths and diapers-apparently both will be a necessity. I am sure I will find that out in due time. 

 

 

 

Overall we were able to do a lot of fun things while we went to Utah.  We were able to stay a little longer than just the weekend which made it so that we could take more time to visit family! Bryant was able to go fishing with Dustin and caught a fish!!! I wish I had a picture of it, but still need to get it from Dustin.  We were also able to get dinner with them.  It is always a treat to be with Dustin and Amy-we wish we lived closer and could see them more.  We were also able to go and visit Perry, Kristen, and the girls! It is so fun to see how big the girls have gotten each time we see them.  It is also fun to visit and catch up with Perry and Kristen!

Grace, Shaelynn, Caroline, Kendra, and Bryant