Yep, we did it. We named our child Herman. Here's why:
1. We like it.
2. It was Pete's grandfather's name. Herman Honigfort was a wonderful, hard-working man who loved his family and laid his life down for them. He worked two full-time jobs for decades to provide for his family. We love this example of counting his life as one for the service of others. We hope that our sons would grow up to emulate these characteristics.
3. We love the meaning. Herman means "Army man" and we hope and pray that our little guy grows up to be a warrior for God's kingdom.
Thomas is Pete's middle name.
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Monday, December 9, 2013
Labor Story
When I woke up Monday morning (Adam's birthday) I already had a couple early labor signs (lost mucous plug and bloody show first thing) but hadn't really experienced any contractions that I knew of. Throughout the morning I had a few light contractions and probably averaged about one per hour the rest of the day.
Since I thought I'd go into labor soon, I decided to take a nap. Again, I was so thankful for my mom who watched parts of "The Sound of Music" with Lucy while Adam and I took our afternoon naps. Pete was at work by the way.
When I woke up, I felt funny. Not good. But I wasn't exactly sure it was labor. I was suspicious that it might be the stomach bug since Adam had had it two nights earlier. I didn't eat dinner. Adam was acting funny again too, so while my mom and Lucy finished up dinner, I gave him a bath. During his bath I threw up. A lot. That was around 7 pm.
For the next 4 1/2 hours I threw up four more times, all while progressing pretty fast with labor. I think vomiting kicked my contractions in to full gear.
After 11 pm, there was nothing left inside my stomach, and I felt pretty dehydrated. I was trying to sleep but realized at some point that my contractions were 3 minutes or less apart and over a minute long. They were getting painful and I was anxious about being dehydrated and scared I'd push the baby out if I threw up again. So, I told Pete I thought we should go to the hospital.
I think we showed up at BroMenn around 11:45 pm, bowl in hand. We got checked in. I was 6 centimeters dilated. I basically begged for an IV because I knew I was dehydrated. I also knew I didn't want to be up and about. I asked for anti-nausea medication too. By 12:30ish I was in a room with everything hooked up, not feeling nauseated, eating lots of ice chips, laboring away, with Pete next to my side. I didn't throw up again.
The next 4 hours were pretty normal painful contraction after contraction. I think I did a little better this time around with handling the pain. Pete did such an awesome job coaching and encouraging me.
There were a couple things that kept me going. One: not knowing if it was a boy or a girl. We kept on talking about that during labor and that made me excited and able to get through another contraction. We'd get to meet our baby soon! We were also pretty excited that it was the morning of the 3rd, so indeed our third child followed that trend. (Lucy was born on the 1st, Adam was born on the 2nd...) Also, only a couple hours in, the nurse tech brought in all the equipment: the baby warmer and everything. So I thought "Wow! am I really that close?!"
At 3:15 AM the nurse checked me again and said I was at a 7 and my water was bulging (hadn't broken yet), and that it would break soon with a contraction and things would go quickly. So I continued on in transition for another hour. Finally at some point, I couldn't help pushing a little with the contractions, and my water broke. I was at 8 centimeters then, she said.
Also, at this point, they gave me an oxygen mask because I was hyperventilating. Apparently I'm good at that since I got yelled at for it the last two births. The nurses and Pete were good at reminding me to breath and it was more controlled while I was pushing.
From then on I couldn't help pushing. I don't remember how long I pushed but it seems like it was only a few pushes. The nurse urgently called Dr. Nord and told him I was "at 9 and feeling pushy" and then immediately called all the people to help deliver, including the "on call" physician, since she didn't think Dr. Nord would make it.
Herman's head came out pretty slowly and after it was all over and done with I was praised for my self-control. Ha. I didn't feel very in control. But, I was glad to have a more slow and controlled delivery. I only had a small tear. Dr. Nord came in the room, according to Pete, just as half of Herman's body was out, and took over.
At 4:30 AM, he was born! 8 pounds 1 ounce and 21 inches long. It was fun to hear "It's a boy!"
After some skin on skin contact with my new little boy, Pete cutting the cord, and stitching me up, Dr. Nord came over and prayed with us and for Herman. Then, Herman proceeded to nurse for an hour (he's turned out to be great at eating) and Pete went home to get some sleep before visiting with Lucy, Adam, and my mom later that morning.
Since I thought I'd go into labor soon, I decided to take a nap. Again, I was so thankful for my mom who watched parts of "The Sound of Music" with Lucy while Adam and I took our afternoon naps. Pete was at work by the way.
When I woke up, I felt funny. Not good. But I wasn't exactly sure it was labor. I was suspicious that it might be the stomach bug since Adam had had it two nights earlier. I didn't eat dinner. Adam was acting funny again too, so while my mom and Lucy finished up dinner, I gave him a bath. During his bath I threw up. A lot. That was around 7 pm.
For the next 4 1/2 hours I threw up four more times, all while progressing pretty fast with labor. I think vomiting kicked my contractions in to full gear.
After 11 pm, there was nothing left inside my stomach, and I felt pretty dehydrated. I was trying to sleep but realized at some point that my contractions were 3 minutes or less apart and over a minute long. They were getting painful and I was anxious about being dehydrated and scared I'd push the baby out if I threw up again. So, I told Pete I thought we should go to the hospital.
I think we showed up at BroMenn around 11:45 pm, bowl in hand. We got checked in. I was 6 centimeters dilated. I basically begged for an IV because I knew I was dehydrated. I also knew I didn't want to be up and about. I asked for anti-nausea medication too. By 12:30ish I was in a room with everything hooked up, not feeling nauseated, eating lots of ice chips, laboring away, with Pete next to my side. I didn't throw up again.
The next 4 hours were pretty normal painful contraction after contraction. I think I did a little better this time around with handling the pain. Pete did such an awesome job coaching and encouraging me.
There were a couple things that kept me going. One: not knowing if it was a boy or a girl. We kept on talking about that during labor and that made me excited and able to get through another contraction. We'd get to meet our baby soon! We were also pretty excited that it was the morning of the 3rd, so indeed our third child followed that trend. (Lucy was born on the 1st, Adam was born on the 2nd...) Also, only a couple hours in, the nurse tech brought in all the equipment: the baby warmer and everything. So I thought "Wow! am I really that close?!"
At 3:15 AM the nurse checked me again and said I was at a 7 and my water was bulging (hadn't broken yet), and that it would break soon with a contraction and things would go quickly. So I continued on in transition for another hour. Finally at some point, I couldn't help pushing a little with the contractions, and my water broke. I was at 8 centimeters then, she said.
Also, at this point, they gave me an oxygen mask because I was hyperventilating. Apparently I'm good at that since I got yelled at for it the last two births. The nurses and Pete were good at reminding me to breath and it was more controlled while I was pushing.
From then on I couldn't help pushing. I don't remember how long I pushed but it seems like it was only a few pushes. The nurse urgently called Dr. Nord and told him I was "at 9 and feeling pushy" and then immediately called all the people to help deliver, including the "on call" physician, since she didn't think Dr. Nord would make it.
Herman's head came out pretty slowly and after it was all over and done with I was praised for my self-control. Ha. I didn't feel very in control. But, I was glad to have a more slow and controlled delivery. I only had a small tear. Dr. Nord came in the room, according to Pete, just as half of Herman's body was out, and took over.
At 4:30 AM, he was born! 8 pounds 1 ounce and 21 inches long. It was fun to hear "It's a boy!"
After some skin on skin contact with my new little boy, Pete cutting the cord, and stitching me up, Dr. Nord came over and prayed with us and for Herman. Then, Herman proceeded to nurse for an hour (he's turned out to be great at eating) and Pete went home to get some sleep before visiting with Lucy, Adam, and my mom later that morning.
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Stomach Bug Update
A week ago, Adam had a 12ish hour stomach bug that kept him and us up all night. Two days later, I got it and was also in labor. By the time I got to the hospital, around midnight, I had ceased throwing up and then gave birth at 4:30 am. Two days later, Lucy got it and Pete stayed up all night with her since it was our first night home from the hospital with new baby. Two days later, my mom got it while traveling home to Georgia. And finally, to top it all off, Pete got it yesterday and threw up in the middle of the night. Phew.
Needless to say, we are all very tired. We are praying that this is the last straw and we won't see this virus again.
God is good and he is gracious, even in the midst of this chaos. He's given me what I need: enough sleep to function, help from family, friends to watch the older kids, and meals from people from church. We are so thankful.
Currently it is snowing outside, Pete is sleeping, the kids are playing quietly, and Herman is napping. We are in a warm house and God gave me energy to make a nutritious breakfast for me, the kids, and Pete's family before they left.
I can't say I will have this peaceful mood in all moments today or this week, but I pray that God would continue to give us much grace and we would rely fully on him.
"You keep in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock." Isaiah 26:3-4
Needless to say, we are all very tired. We are praying that this is the last straw and we won't see this virus again.
God is good and he is gracious, even in the midst of this chaos. He's given me what I need: enough sleep to function, help from family, friends to watch the older kids, and meals from people from church. We are so thankful.
Currently it is snowing outside, Pete is sleeping, the kids are playing quietly, and Herman is napping. We are in a warm house and God gave me energy to make a nutritious breakfast for me, the kids, and Pete's family before they left.
I can't say I will have this peaceful mood in all moments today or this week, but I pray that God would continue to give us much grace and we would rely fully on him.
"You keep in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock." Isaiah 26:3-4
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Herman Thomas Avery is here!
In case you hadn't heard through other social media outlets, Herman was born at 4:30 Tuesday morning after a relatively short labor. He was 8 pounds 1 ounce and 21 inches long. We are doing okay. Actually, Herman is doing fabulous. I'm doing okay. I got some sleep last night. Pete was up almost all night with Lucy throwing up. Lucy is miserable. Adam is overjoyed every time he sees the baby. We are in a little bit of survival mode at the moment and praying no one else gets sick.
I will post later with pictures and labor story, but right now there are more important things to do.
I will post later with pictures and labor story, but right now there are more important things to do.
Monday, December 2, 2013
Little Update; Please Pray for Me
You know that stomach bug Adam was up all night with a couple nights ago? Yep, I think I have it. Also, today I have been showing early signs if labor. I really do not want to know what it is like to go through both at once.
So, we would love prayer, first of all, that no one else catches it! So far its just been me and Adam. It would be really great if Lucy, my mom, and Pete all stayed healthy. Secondly, for me and my health/body; that I would get rest tonight, that the stomach bug would go away, and that if it doesn't, I'd be able to handle labor still if that comes soon. Also, for my heart and emotions. Pray that I would trust the Lord. None of this is a surprise to Him. His power is made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
So, we would love prayer, first of all, that no one else catches it! So far its just been me and Adam. It would be really great if Lucy, my mom, and Pete all stayed healthy. Secondly, for me and my health/body; that I would get rest tonight, that the stomach bug would go away, and that if it doesn't, I'd be able to handle labor still if that comes soon. Also, for my heart and emotions. Pray that I would trust the Lord. None of this is a surprise to Him. His power is made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Sunday, December 1, 2013
40.4 Weeks
Since we're simply waiting for Baby to make an appearance, we've been trying to fill our days with productive and fun things. Last Friday we celebrated Adam's 2nd birthday which is really tomorrow. Will he have a brother or sister sharing his birthday?? Or do we think this third child will follow the trend that the other siblings have set and wait until the third of December to be born??
Today we decided to go ahead and get our Christmas tree and decorate. Pete also vacuumed a lot.
In a way, I'm thankful I haven't gone into labor yet because we've needed a few extra days to get over some sickness in our house. We all had some form of a cold last week, and last night Adam had a stomach bug. He and the rest of us are feeling much better, albeit a bit sleep-deprived. We are hoping for a good night's sleep tonight.
Today we decided to go ahead and get our Christmas tree and decorate. Pete also vacuumed a lot.
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| 40 weeks and 4 days |
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