Hudson Michael Grip

Yep, he's a boy!!! I'm still having a hard time saying "he" instead of "the baby" but I was able to keep this major secret right up till the end. I'm so proud of myself.


So he's a week old now, and I'm just getting around to posting... I'm sorry that this is so delayed, but I wanted to include the birth story and some good pics so here you go.


As most of you know, Hudson was breech so I was slotted for a c-section. I did try the version, but it didn't work. And it was MISERABLE!!! If you ever know of someone contemplating this procedure, tell them that it is painful! And wrong! I had often wondered if Max and Addie could harm him because he was head up, just by their accidentally jumping on my belly or using an elbow to prop themselves up and jabbing poor little baby, but the doctor's did way more stress to my belly than I ever thought possible. It was as if they were trying to rip my belly open to get the baby to turn. And I was totally sore/bruised for several days. Not fun, don't recommend it.


So I made an appointment for the c-section for Wednesday at 7:30 am. That meant we needed to be at the hospital at 5:30 am for prep. This should explain why I look so beautiful in all my pictures, plus I wasn't allowed to wear makeup so that just added to the beauty. All went well, and fast, and before I knew it Dr. Gariti was there getting ready to start surgery. I went into the operating room without Corey so they could do my spinal, then he was going to be brought in after I was good and numb. Too bad my spinal didn't work. I guess the only difference between a spinal and an epidural is the type of medication they use, and with a spinal they don't keep the tube in your back. Also, a spinal is totally numbing, where an epidural takes away pain, but often leaves some sensation so during surgery you can feel pressure and tugging, making it a little creepy. So I was given the spinal by the prettiest man I think I've ever seen (sorry Corey), and he stayed during the whole procedure, talking me through what was going on. I was getting a little nervous when they started scrubbing my belly and I could still feel it, but he reassured me that they would test me before starting anything. And test me they did! They use a little tool to pinch my skin, and it HURT! It felt like they were cutting into me! And I wasn't numb at all. Hmm, starting to get a little interesting. I was worried that they might have to knock me out, since the meds weren't working on me, but the anesthesiologist kept assuring me that they'd wait till things got worked out. He was a little baffled as to why the spinal wasn't working, because he kept saying that it wasn't very common, but they'd get it all figured out before they did anything. After about 20 minutes of waiting for the meds to take effect, they decided to go the epidural route. Hmmmmm, now I was getting more nervous. I had these stories running around in my head about women that had their epidural quit working halfway through labor, or only working on one side of their bodies, I even watched my sister go through the worst part of labor without meds because the epidural pulled out without them knowing it. But mine have always been good experiences so I went forth with faith. About 3 minutes after they did the epidural, I was dead numb!!! Seemed like I just had to be a little difficult. Poor Corey, he'd been waiting for them to go get him for about 40 minutes, much longer than he was told, but someone remembered him and went and explained things to him.

So they started cutting, and Corey watched as much as he could through the people crowded around me. I didn't feel anything, including any pressure or tugging, so I'm pretty sure the anesthesiologist doped me as much as he could, so that was good. Then I heard our baby. Dr Gariti held him up and asked Corey if he could see, and Corey was able to announce our boy. He got all teary, and I heard the baby cry and I started crying. I have never cried at things like that, but I worried more with this pregnancy than ever before, so it was such a relief to hear that beautiful sound.

So, on Wednesday April 22 at 8:26 am, Hudson Michael Grip was born. Weighing in at 9 lbs 1 oz, and measuring at 21 1/2 in, we have a perfect little man!


Here we are, minutes after he was born. I think I was still being stitched back together, but my epidural was working so well that I didn't feel a thing.


Again, in recovery, where I can finally hold my baby.


Proud daddy! Aren't they cute?



Max took over my hospital room, thought he owned the place. Doesn't he look big?!?

Addie is such a great big sister! Here she's showing Hudson the wonders of having a binky (I'm glad she doesn't miss hers too much).

My most faithful visitors. Addie, Grandma Kathy, and Max.

Addie and Corey came to pick us up from the hospital. She is so excited to have another brother to boss around.



Daddy, the night we came home, trying to keep things normal for the little ones. They love to wrestle their dad, because he doesn't complain too much when they kick him in the face or step too hard on his head. So now we're just one big happy family!!!

Pretty little ballerina

Our pretty little girl loves to dance. She's just completed her second semester of twinkle toes ballet class, and had her spring recital this past weekend. I was a little worried, because it was being held at Whitnall High School in their auditorium. And she's three, so that equates to an unpredictable girl that may or may not cooperate. Bonus is that she gets a pretty costume, so she's more inclined to think this is cool. Most of my pics are from the dress rehearsal, the night before, as she was held backstage for the recital (another point of my anxiety, she was out of my hands for at least an hour... along with another 50 or so kids).

Here she is showing off her costume.

Something was wrong with my camera, because it took streaky pictures most of the night. Here's most of her class sitting and waiting to see what we needed to do.

Here's the actual recital, but I was zooming so far that the picture is fuzzy. But she did awesome! I never saw any bit of nerves, and she was so excited to be dancing that she was grinning from ear to ear most of the time.

Here she is with her daddy, carrying flowers that we brought to celebrate her first real dance recital (we were strongly encouraged to do so, and they even had a table outside selling flowers to the 'thoughtless' parents that didn't think to bring their own)

Addie wasn't satisfied watching the other dancers, she wanted to be moving whenever there was music. The funny thing about this song is that it's for a bunch of old ladies learning to tap dance (a little painful to watch, but they all seemed pretty proud of themselves).

Here's her dance at the dress rehearsal. She's the second from the right, but my camera zoom doesn't focus well when taking video clips. This is a little long, but I'm one proud mama so you'll just have to bear with me. I never thought I'd be one of those mothers that just has to point out to anyone that will listen how darn cute and perfect my little ballerina really is. But she is, so I guess I'll just have to be that mom and annoy my friends with my bragging. Enjoy!

Naughty baby

So this pregnancy has been harder on me than either of the previous, and I thought maybe that was because Max is so young, and I have to haul him around more than I should. I've been more uncomfortable than I ever remember, and it's been pretty hard. My last appointment, I asked my OB to check the position of the baby, but she said she wasn't sure what she was feeling. So, on Monday I went in for the first of my final vaginal exams and I didn't like the look on her face. She said I was dilated to about 1 1/2 cm, but she thought she felt the baby's butt. She did an ultrasound to confirm, and sure enough, our baby's breech.

Her first comment was that she doesn't deliver breech babies. Like I want to go through that. But I don't want to go through a c-section, either. Naughty baby!!! I'm a little ticked, I must admit. After what our weekend included, don't you think we should be cut a little slack? Not that I'm cursing the heavens or anything, but I'm ashamed to say that I am a little upset with this child. Can't I get a little cooperation? Does this mean that this is just the beginning of trouble this baby will give us?

My OB said that we have two options.

1) Try an ECV (external cephalic version) where she and one of her partners literally push and prod on my belly, trying to turn the baby around. She said that the booked success rates are about 50%, but she doesn't have much success. Thanks for the confidence builder.

2) C-section. My biggest fear. I've honestly never thought that I would have to consider going through this. And definitely not with a preschooler and a 19 month old.

I can't believe this. Only about 3% of babies are breech, and I can't believe that I'm lumped into this small percentage. Great, I've always wanted to be special. So I'm scheduled at 38 weeks (in 2 weeks) to do this procedure, and if it doesn't work I'll be cut open the week after. It's kind of a catch-22, because an EVC can send me into labor, or displace the placenta, or other possible complications where they would have to deliver me, so I need to be full term. But the longer we wait, the larger our baby will be and the less likely we are to have success at the turning. I've taken to elevating my hips , hoping that maybe gravity will be my friend. I've even read that you can shine a light at the pelvis and attract the baby downward. Then there's some sort of Chinese acupuncture technique where they burn some herb near your pinky toe to make the baby turn (who came up with this, and how is this common enough to be listed on several websites).

So, I ask for your prayers. I really don't want to go through surgery, and I don't feel much hope right now. My OB told me of a patient recently that came in the day before her surgery, and her baby had turned, so it's possible. But things just don't seem to work out like that for me. I'm sure all will be well, regardless of how this turns out. But I just need to get out of the dumps about this. What I really need is a good, sunny weekend with my family. No meetings, no church, just a few hours at the park and someone else changing some of the diapers. I'll pull out of this, but I just needed to vent. If any of you are still reading this, I'll apologize for going on and on and on. Maybe the next post will be more positive.