Update on Dane

So this time around, they had us do things a little differently than with our other boys. Instead of cercumsizing(i know i spelled that wrong) Dane at the hospital, they now have you make a separate appointment with the doc a few days later. So at five days old, Dane had his first check-up. And guess what, in his five short days of life, he had already gained a half a pound! From 7 lbs 8 oz to 8 lbs even! Whoa! Now, he just had his second checkup at 3 wks and five days, and is already a whopping 9 lbs 6 oz! He is getting so big and growing so fast! I wish I could slow time down a little. He also grew one and a fourth inch longer! He is already making goo sounds, already gave us a few "real" smiles, and is so alert. Andy and Maddex are loving him, and Dane seems to be loving them right back. I love looking at his face when Andy's talking to him, like he's filing it all away in his brain and hanging on every word. We are just loving this little guy!

PICTURES....

We had Jammie Hansen take our boys' pictures and they turned out so cute! She did an amazing job! My kids are so gorgeous it hurts! Dane was only nine days old when they were taken.

Things don't always turn out the way you think they will.....

......like when you think, well, my last labor went so quikly & smoothly, so this time it will go quicker and more smoothly. Or like, of course my grandma will make it to see my baby born! I mean, if she didn't, that would mean she would have to pass away within the next couple of weeks, and that's not possible. She can't die, she's a fighter.....


It's kind of ironic that I would be blogging about a birth and a funeral in the same post. Things don't always turn out the way you think they will. Life throws you curve balls at unexpected times. These past few weeks have been bitter sweet and filled with a whole variety of emotions. But we made it.


On the evening of April 29th, the day after my grandma's funeral, I went into labor. After about eight hours of regular and painful contractions, I had not dialated so the doctor gave me some shots to stop labor and sent me home dialated to a four. UGH! For the next couple of weeks I was in "pre-labor". If you don't know what that is, it's more like real labor. Regular contractions that are more painful and intense than braxton hicks, but they just don't get the job done! On Monday, May 10th, my doctor decided to save me from my misery and sent me to the hospital to be induced. By eight o'clock tueday night, after HOURS OF PAINFUL CONTRACTIONS TWO MINUTES APART I HAD NOT DIALATED WHATSOEVER. The option: C-section. I asked my doc to let me go for another hour or two on the pitocin, desparate for some dialation. He agreed. My dad and Brandon gave me a blessing. 45 minutes later, I started to dialate. My doc had to leave town then. I would have to have a stranger deliver my baby. Luckily, that stranger was an amazing person, and at 1:32 a.m. on wednesday morning, May 12th, Dane was born, weighing in at 7 lbs 8 oz and 20 inches long.


We named him Dane, after the brother I never got to meet. A name that has always been sacred to me, and held a special place in my heart.

A big thanks to my mom, for giving me permission to use that name. And a big thanks to Brandon, for never leaving my side through this experience!




Maddex holding Dane for the first time.......


Ugh! I look horrid. But I guess thats what a long labor will do to ya. Having an I.V. in for three days can make one VERY swollen! ( you can also tell Brandon is in need of a nap as well :)

Andy giving his brother love.

DANE ROGER BAILEY :)

Just home from the hospital.
Our three boys. Andy doesn't look too thrilled in this pic, but he's actually the one that is the most crazy over baby Dane. He always want to hold him and give him hugs and kisses. Maddex has to be in a certain mood. Sometimes he just loves the baby, while other times he gets a little jealous, and pretends he's not there. It may take some getting use to.

Cryin' baby=sleepy daddy. (and mommy too)


Dane has been such a blessing! He is such a good and sweet baby, and we are SO IN LOVE. I feel so blessed that things worked out the way they did, even if it's not how I thought it would. It's good the decisions are in gods hands and not ours, or we wouldn't have trials to learn from and to grow stronger from. I know my grandma is watching over us and loving this little guy as much as we are.

My boys the morning of the funeral.

So much more than a loving memory....

For those of you that know me very well, know that I grew up in a sort of haven. A child's paradise. Living in two very large yards, separated by a flowing creek, and more trees and flowers found in any other Spring city yard. My great grandma & grandpa of course lived in the larger yard, in one of Spring City's largest & most beautiful historic rock houses. My parents owned the other yard. If you could count the times I've crossed that bridge that separates the two, the number would be next to an infinate amount.

When my mother was only four yrs. old, her sister, three, and her brother, one, their mother passed away at a young age of cancer. My mom's father's parents took my mother and her sister in & raised them as their own, just after being empty-nesters from raising their three own children.

My great grandpa was an incredible man, with a yearning of knowlege and learning, which he did, always. Wether it be reading, listening to classical music, or babying his beautiful rose gardens, he was always busy, making more than good use out of his time. When I was in the eighth grade, he passed away of mesothelioma. It was such a hard time.

Now, my great grandmother has passed away. A woman who was a mother to my mom. Who spent everyday of my childhood life with me. She was my second mother. I think it's safe to say I spent more time at her house than I did my own. She was a woman who went above and beyond the calling of a grandmother. She was a mother to everyone in her family. I don't think I've ever met a grandma who was closer to her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. I'm so thankful for the opportunity my boys had to be able to know her. Their great-great grandma. Their "little grandma". It's always been so hard for me to imagine life without my grandma. The lively, spunky 88 yr. old lady who I surely thought would outlive us all.

I feel so lost. When I go home, I won't be able to cross that bridge and find my gandma. Of course I can cross that bridge, walk into the yard and around the house, but she won't be there. Nothing will hold me there. The fire's gone. My chilodhood is gone. I don't have that home to go to anymore. It's all too much to comprehend now. It will take much time to mend my heart. A huge chunk of my life is lost.

But how thankful I am to have the knowledge I do about gospel, god's plan and the after-life. I know my grandma is with grandpa now. Surrounded by a loving family. And I can't even imagine, how much my mom's mother must be thanking her right now. And to think that she is with my brother Dane. I'm almost jealous when I think of the people she gets to spend her time with now.

Grandma, if you even knew the impact you've had on your family. How proud you must feel. You will be in my heart every minute of every day. It will be so hard for me to let go. I haven't simply lost a grandma. You've been so much more than that to me. May you be wrapped in the love of our heavenly father. I will be anxiously awaiting the day when we will meet again. I know how you so wanted to live to see my third son. Well, you'll get your chance. Maybe you'll get to before me even. I love you grandma. I'll miss you, more than I could ever tell.

Eva Mae Downard Pedersen. May 21st, 1921-April 23rd, 2010.

Catching up....lots of new posts!

The baby's room: I finally got around to getting the baby room put together. Painted the walls, put up the new crib & dresser. My mom made the crib skirt and window valance. With my other boys, I did everything sports. This time I wanted to do something different, so I went with airplanes, hellicopters, cars, trucks & tracters!!
I made these wall hangings with a bunch of scrap paper, two-dollar frames & ribbon. Very inexpensive, and they turned out pretty cute. If you look at the pictures and compare it to the bedding, you'll see I copied the design.And here is something I never thought I would do...take pics of myself at 36 weeks pregnant!! So far during this pregnancy, I've avoided cameras at all costs. Seeing my pregnant body is not pleasant for me, but I started feeling guilty. You see, I have pictures of my belly during my last two pregnancies, and I started feeling bad that this new little guy wouldn't be able to see me pregnant with him. (my boys love the pics I can show them with "them" in my belly) And since I am horrible at keeping a journal, this blog is sort of it. So, whether I like it or not, I've gotta put this "history" on here. As you can see, I don't think I could get much bigger! I'm getting really anxious to meet this baby boy!!! And so are his big brothers!

Easter 2010

Easter this year was extra exciting for my boys. My mom had her annual easter egg hunt. My in-laws had their easter egg hunt. But the most exciting thing....Aunt Tosh & Uncle Kevin surprised the boys with BUNNIES!!! Andy named his Youkollis.(you know your husband is a big redsox fan when he has taught his 4 yr. old the team player's names) and Maddex named his bunnie "Spuddie". They've had too much fun with these cute little bunnies!