A Husbands Ramblings

This is my post (Travis) dedicated to my:

SUPERHUMAN WIFE

and

WONDERFUL NEW DAUGHTER.

My wife likes to post her "feelings" which I have never been great at doing and don't really think I'll make much more than 1 or 2 sentences here. But here it is!

So Jen had Maggie naturally without any pain killers! Can you believe it! I can't really imagine, but, she is so inspiring to me, not because she went natural because heaven knows I just think that is crazy, but because she put her mind to doing something superhuman and then did it! She has had a rough couple of weeks and was happy to get Maggie out. This last little bit Jen has been a student (taking a 3 credit class), a mother of three crazy boys (meals, cleaning, nurturing activities, etc), worked at the rec center teaching a class and spending time in their nursery, holding a calling in church, doing darn creative projects like re-doing rooms and re-arranging things at home, and keeping up on her social life. All this while I'm not around as much as I wish I could be. In short, I'm proud of her. She could really accomplish anything she ever wanted to do if only she believed it for herself and thought she could. I really don't deserve to have such a wonderful wife, but I'm glad that I married my wife in the temple so there is not any option for her to change her mind. I love her with all my heart and could go on for hours bragging about how wonderful she is but I know that each of you don't want to listen to that. So I'll leave it at that! Jenni YOU ARE AMAZING!!!

Maggie... Just look at her in the full get-up looking like a precious darling little girl. I don't know how I feel to have a little baby girl in our family. Things are going to change in our house. I have been quite content with my boys and have honestly not "yearned" or felt the need to have a girl. Everyone says that she is going to have me wrapped around her little finger. I am so happy to have her! I think just as my boys have taught me many great lessons, Maggie will also teach me a great many things as a father. Life is so wonderful in all the lessons that we can get from it and I hope that I can see life as a bright and positive scenario. I am already having different protective feelings for my daughter and know that as time goes on she is going to help me to hone my patience.
I am excited for the future and what it holds!

Maggie meeting her Admirers

Maggie Marie Hogman

7 lbs 15 ozs
20 inches long
Arrived on April 28th at 5:45

Me and my gal.

Papa with his little girl.
Kyler with Maggie- he's mad that we didn't name her Hannah.

Eldon with his little sister.

Isaac loving her! And he does. He throws a fit if we say he can't hold her.
Grandma Hogman with her

Grandma Porter with Maggie

Grandpa Porter with her
Katie and Maggie

Jamie and Maggie

Our family!!!

Mariel and me with a funny swollen face.

My friend Callie Liechty and me with a funny face.

Jill- Dr. Hansen's office nurse and we love her!

Matt

Jamie's BFF . . . I don't remember her name.

The Dennis family!!

Kirt (White Mountian Lumber's Assistant Manager) and wife Cindy

Maggie Marie Hogman

Just a little recap of Maggie and a few pictures. When we have more time we'll post some more!

Getting ready to leave for the hospital- just me and my boys!
What I look like in all my pregnancy glory! At the hospital with our nurse Anne- yes she is upping my PIT as the picture is being taken.
Maggie getting cleaned up by our favorite Nursery Nurse Naomi!
First Family shot . . .why is it that my face is always sooooo swollen after birth- completely not fair!
Boys falling in love with her.

The Birth Story:

So some people like this sort of stuff some don't, I use it for memory purposes! So we had planned for the 28th. I had tested positive for Strep B this time around and since I'm allergic to the normally used medication I had to have the other kind. This kind takes six hours to be in your system before baby can come. So since I have four hour labors and she was looking healthy we opted for the inducment. They couldn't take us until 10:00 so we had the morning to do last minute cleaning, preparing, packing, and for Travis working. Travis got home around 9:30. He gave me a blessing. We took some last pictures and then headed to drop the boys off at our friends home, the wonderful Robinette's. We kissed them goodbye and headed to the hospital, got checked in and in the room. We met our nurse Anne- from New Zeland who had only been in Evanston for two days. She told us that it was a good thing that she was there because they had another patient and would have had to bump me if she wasn't there training. So thankful!!! At 10:30 they started the antibiotics. I was checked and was at a 3. Not wanting to rush things they started me on a very low dose of Pit at 11:00, 6 ml to be exact. The waiting game started. The first bag of Antibiotics was completed by 11:10. Dr. Hansen came to check on me at 1:00. I had dialted to a 6. So they upped the Pit to 9 ml. And let me be. During this time of waiting I had some time to contemplate what was coming up and praying fervently for the strength to do it. Finally around 2:00 I started feeling the contractions . . . I had been feeling them the whole time but now it was actually starting to hurt, but not too bad.

The Dr. said that he'd be back around 4:00 to check me again and break my water. Instead at 4:00 the started the second and last bag of Antibiotics. It was done at 4:30. Dr. came in around this time and checked me, I was an 8. They upped the Pit to 12 ml and he broke my water at 4:40. Contractions now started coming faster and harder. By now there was no choice- I was going natural. Travis was great to rub my feet. But by this time I really didn't want to be rubbed I wanted his hand! So he stayed by my side and reminded me to relax. He was great! All I could do during contractions was grab his hand, close my eyes, focus on breathing in and out, and trying to keep my body relaxed. A lot of prayers were said and constant "I can do this. I can do this" chanting.

At 5:15 ish the Dr. came back in and we all just sat there waiting for her to arrive . . . well they sat and talked encouragingly and we all cracked jokes in between contractions. My nurse said "I don't mean to be mean but I"m going to up your Pit so that we can get her here." So she upped it to . . . I don't know what. Around 5:30 they were coming hard and I felt more like it was time to push but I was so nervous that I would push before it was time and tear. So I voiced my thought and the Dr. barely put his hand down and said "We are having baby." My legs were grabbed and I was told to push.

I really can't describe that pain. Whew. I can't describe it. And thank goodness it was only three pushes and she was out! It seems surreal looking back on it. In all honesty the pushing was definately the most painful part and I remember thinking "How can I possibly live through this. She better come soon because I can't do this for long." I pushed whether there was a contraction or not. From the beginning I never wanted to be that woman who screamed in labor and I'm proud to say that I didn't scream but I was vocal during those ten minutes!! I can't describe it but it was amazing. They placed her on my belly and the first thing I did was look to make sure it was a girl and it was!!!

And I feel very proud. I know it must sound silly but I am very proud of myself for really doing it. And yes I think from now on that is how I'll do it . . . but not any time soon :) sure we've all heard me say that before! But this time I really mean it!!! It was an amazing experience and I feel so blessed that I have such easy labors so that I could do it. And recovery has been so much easier this time around. Don't get me wrong still painful but I've not had to have the amount of pain killers that I have in the past. And everything just seems to be healing faster and I feel like I can move easier. Anyways it's just been amazing. And she's amazing!!

Why we named her Maggie

Ever since we were pregnant with Kyler, Maggie Marie was the name of our little girl. Travis taught a Maggie on his mission, it was his golden investigator. We love the name and Marie is for Travis' mother. And when you look at her doesn't she look like a Maggie? We think so!!

April Hours bring Baby Showers

I have amazing people around me. Seriously they are the best in the West and beyond! So the ladies at my work threw me a shower. Here is my loot:
Allie was in charge of the major gift. So she made this: Inside the cake of amazingness- diapers! I know it makes you want to have her as a friend huh? Yeah I know it's because she's amazing.
So the "frosting" was receiving blankets. Wow talk about creativity! And talent- I know that I couldn't have pulled it off!

Then two wonderful women threw me a friend/ward shower. And we were so blessed. I am sad that I didn't get any pictures of the event. But we seriously were blessed to get everything that we needed and more. Blankets, outfits, a carseat!!!, baby monitors (which we have never had before), socks, burp rags, diapers, binkies, bows, a new high chair, and so much more. We are seriously so lucky!!! I love the people around me! They are great!!!

You know when you are pregnant after being pregnant before and you tend to forget what the last pregnancy was like? Well this is for me to remember so you don't really have to read it, it's mostly for my benefit but if you are very curious about my pregnancy or bored please feel free!

****** Things for me to Recall in Days gone by about this particular pregnancy *******

*She is as active as Kyler but the difference with her is that she sticks her body parts out so far that I'm not sure my skin will stretch with it. The thing that we see the most is her heels.

*At my first once a week check up I was dilated to a 2 and was 50% effaced. At my 37 week check up I was dilated to a 3 and 75% effaced, today at 38 weeks I'm dilated to a 4 and still 75% effaced.

*I've gained 33 pounds so far.

*I've craved apples like crazy!! Throughout the whole pregnancy I've wanted nothing but apples but they had to be Fiji or Gala or anything that wasn't red or green but in the middle.

*I've also loved ice the last trimester- my anemia must be off because I can't get enough of the cold stuff and Travis is so appalled every time I stick my hand in my cup to get some!

*I've had more braxton hicks this time around and for the first time have felt back pain with them.

*My hips separated a lot earlier- probably because this is the fourth time around. But it's worst at night. I can only sleep on my right side- every other position is incredibly painful.

*I've been very worried about loosing baby girl, even to the point of tears. I don't know if it is me being silly or the Lord preparing me but it's been an emotional ride.

*I've planned this whole time to do it naturally and have even had a nurse come to my house to teach me some points on how to do it successfully. . . we'll see.

*I dread the coming of night because Eldon is getting his molars in, Isaac is getting all four I-teeth, I have insomnia and of course the above mentioned hip and back pain. But some mornings I remember how great it is to have three healthy boys and a girl on her way. . . the other mornings I just cry.

*This is the first pregnancy that I never threw up . . .I was sick but I never actually followed through. But smells affected me more this time around then all the others. Also the morning sickness has returned these last few weeks.

*I worked up to the 37th week in teaching Kinder Kamp and working in the Rec Center Day Care.

*I tested positive for Strep B which I have never done before. Because I'm allergic to Penicillin I have to take a different med that will require it to be in my system six hours before baby girl can be born. So we have scheduled April 28th if she doesn't come sooner . . . she wont come sooner.

*At 36 weeks she looked to be 7 lbs and 2 ozs. We could already see her chubby cheeks. My Dr. also joked at that ultrasound to see the scrotum . . .yeah real funny. Actually we cracked up pretty hard. We love having a Dr. that we can laugh with.

Conference Days

We love conference! Don't you? Well we decided to do something a little different this year. Travis came up with the idea that on Saturday morning before Conference we would make an impromptu trip to WalMart and let everyone pick out one treat to eat while watching. I thought it was a great idea and the boys were thrilled. Kyler choose Cheez-it Snack Mix!! Eldon choose sour gummy caterpillars.

Isaac choose orange gummy slices.

Boys with their treats and coloring their Conference pictures.

It was a great idea and the boys listened and ate and colored and . . . threw up after so many treats! Don't worry it was actually just Eldon that threw-up . . .and we revamped the idea for the next day- no treats until the congregational hymn.

Kyler and I got the tent ready for Sunday Conference. And then it looked like such fun in there I had to get in and give it a try . . . not going to lie it was quite the feat to get in!

Kyler took this picture of Travis and Me. I debated wether or not to put it on but seeing that we don't have any pics of me pregnant with Little Gal, I thought that since there are only 30 days left it was about time.

The boys in the tent . . .and can you see Travis? Look close and you'll see his smiling face!!!

Anyways it was great. We had a fun time, heard some of it, and learned a lot from what we actually heard. Hope you had a great time too.

Nap Time and Girl Preview

Thank goodness for nap time lately! But because of two little crazy boys napping at the same time I've been able to get some fun things done. First of all here is the latest Allie-Craft-Mentor-Extraordinaire taught me how to make church ties. Trying to be a good mom I let the boys pick out their own fabric for their ties . . .can you guess who choose what fabric? Isaac is the Red, Eldon's is the blue, and Kyler's is the bright green with bright blue flowers on it . . .

Allie inspired Peep Garland. I did it the cheater way so that is why it's not a close up picture but it was fun to make and fun to have up for Easter!

These capes where what I was going to make for my niece and nephew for Christmas and I just barely got them done yesterday. I know I'm a bad Auntie. But of course the boys had to have one too!

The boys wanted to show what the back looks like while on.

Super Kyler and Super Eldon in the Super Hero moves of Superness.

We just wanted to show that the boys are almost exactly a head difference then each other! And also to demonstrate that we already know what Hogman boys look like.

And if you are wondering what a Hogman girl is going to look like, she may just look like this:

Travis wanted practice on how to put dresses on. I was laughing so hard I was crying! So perhaps this is what our new addition might look like.