Rebecca Lynn Stromberg

Rebecca was born July 18th at 11:24am. She weighed 5lbs 15oz and was 18in long.

My water broke at 3:45am...Jason didn't believe me but he still loaded the boys and the van to head to my mom's house. We arrived at my mom's house and dropped off the boys to my step dad at 4:30am then with my mom driving headed to Mercy Medical in Durango CO. We arrived just after 5am where the confirmed that my water had broken but that I was only 3cm dilated. We took a long walk around the hospital before heading back to the room to sit on the birthing ball for a while. They checked me again and I was 4 1/2cm so I got in the jacuzzi tub to relieve some of the pain I was having from my back labor. I spent over an hour in there (it was very nice and soothing), when I got out they checked me and I was only 5cm so we decided it was best I walked some more. After another walk around the hospital I was at my breaking point. I was tired, achy, and the contractions had been coming every 2 minutes since 5am. My mom and Jason kept talking me through the contractions and convinced me we should head back to the room where I could rest for a bit. Once we got back to the room they checked again and I was 7 1/2cm. I was ready for some form of relief but my mom and Jason kept telling me to hang in there. After they set up the room for the delivery they checked and realized I was 9cm. It only took three pushes and 10 minutes total to get Rebecca out. She arrived at 11:24am. She had the umbilical cord rapped around her neck twice and once around her body but she was okay and healthy.

All in all it was only 6 hours of hard labor total. Of course this does not include the last two weeks that I have been having contractions but that will all soon be a blur. Other than being exhausted today I am doing well. Rebecca is doing awesome, with no signs of jaundice and all her test came back with wonderful results, so even being a little over 2 weeks early she is doing great!! She is so tiny...even the newborn clothing swallows her. =) We were released today at 11am! We picked up the boys at my moms house and are now home spending some family time together!

Swim Lessons!!

Ryan and Aaron have been taking swim lessons over the last two weeks at the Kirtland High School swimming pool. No one else would let Aaron take lessons because he is not yet three years old but after talking to the director of swimming in Kirtland they let him in the program. They had a blast every day and it worked out great because as soon as lessons were over we would head over to the cafeteria for lunch then home for naps. On Thursday they both passed Level 1 swim lessons!!

We wanted to put Ryan in lessons because he is really timid around water. I think part of that is because he has always had tubes in his ears so we had to be extra cautious and he had to wear plugs in his ears which in turn made him almost fear swimming pools a little. Well I watched him over the last two weeks turn into a good little swimmer. He can go under the water now (although he doesn't like to,lol), he can float on his back with very little support and overall is very comfortable in the water now.

Aaron on the other hand had no fear of the water which scarred us to death because he had no problem just jumping in. He learned all the skills he needs to safely get in and out of the water plus he now spends a good amount of time just going under the water.

Meanwhile, Dylan wasn't old enough for lessons yet so he would sit on the bench and cheer for the boys. He would yell at them to swim faster, jump in the water, stay in the water, and anything else he could think of. He didn't care that all the other adults were listening and giggling at him, he just had to make sure they were doing the right thing at all times. (I think he gets that bossy side from me.)

Today I took them swimming at the Farmington Aquatic Center. It was so nice to not have to be in constant fear. They all did really well and they really understand all the rules of swimming much better now. I normally keep them in the wade pool so they can all walk around and I don't have to worry about anything but today I took them to the big pool. Dylan wanted me to teach him the things he had seen the boys learn in lessons. While the other two could push off the wall and swim to me plus if they went under they would swim right back up. Ryan and Aaron even went down the little slide. It was so much fun , I can't wait to take them swimming again!!

The end is insight!

I had my regular appointment with my midwives this Thursday. Well wait let me start off by saying I spent last Saturday night in the hospital with contractions every 5 to 6 minutes. They released me Sunday morning after checking me and seeing no progress with my cervix. I returned to the hospital Wednesday evening with contractions every 3 minutes lasting a minute long. Needless to say I have had none stop contractions for the last two weeks. They stay pretty consistant however my cervix is not progressing any.

After several meltdowns throughout this week I had a long talk with my midwife on Thursday and she was so sympathetic. She went ahead and set an induction date for July 27th. I'll go in at 7:30am, they'll put a pill on my cervix that will take an hour to be in full effect then they suspect we'll have our baby girl sometime mid morning on the 27th. She checked me again and says I am 3cm dilated, 75% effaced, and a -1, so she doesn't think I'll hold out until the 27th but at least I know the end is insight.

I really have enjoyed this pregnancy however the last couple weeks have been very trying for me because the contractions I'm having are not just braxon hicks...they are strong contractions that take so much of my energy out. Plus I have had a lot of swelling in my hands and feet making it difficult to move around and do things. I have had no patience and all I want to do is sleep. I am getting good sleep at night but by mid morning I'm already exhausted from all the contractions. It doesn't help that I have OCD because then I want my house to be perfect at all times so I push myself really hard to stay on top of everything, not giving myself much of a break.

Of course this baby can come at any time before the 27th but if you haven't heard anything from us before then, then I'm sure you will be hearing from us on the 27th! Until the day comes wish me luck!! =)

4th of July!

I have to start off by thanking all the men and women that have served our country, past and present. I also have to tell you all how very proud I am of my brother, Larry, for serving our country in the NAVY. He is currently in Afghanistan but will be coming home very soon!!

We had a fun 4th of July this year. Friday night we picked up pizza's and went to a grassy area of the local college. The boys ran around and played while we chit chatted with relatives and friends. This has been a tradition of ours for several years...I don't see it changing anytime soon. Anyways, we hung out there until after the fire works show then called it a night. Saturday my mom, step dad, littlest brother and sister all came over for lunch at 11am. After lunch was naps for the boys. Once they were up we loaded up in my minivan to head to Bloomfield to visit with my moms family, eat some more food, and play in the kiddie pools. After dinner we headed to Aztec to see my step dad's family and shoot off fire works. The boys didn't enjoy having the fireworks so close to them plus they all said it was too loud. My parents and littlest brother camped out in our backyard for the night...which the boys all thought that was the coolest thing ever!

It was a busy but very fun weekend!! I hope everyone had a great 4th of July weekend as well!!

One month to go...maybe?!

Well I went to my 36 week check up Thursday morning. They had to do my strep b test and during that the midwife discovered that I have vaginosis. For those of you that don't know or recall vaginosis is what is believed to have put/kept me in early labor with Dylan. Basically it is caused by an imbalance in hormones while pregnant. She gave me a prescription that I will take for the next week to get it all cleared up.

Since she knew I had vaginosis she decided to go ahead and check me to see if I had had any change from the last time I was checked (which was on Easter when I went into the hospital with contractions but had no progression at that point). She said I am 50% effaced and softening plus I am dilated to a 2 already.

She told me that she hates giving any kind of predictions as to when any woman will go into labor because these things just can't be predicted (unless scheduled, lol) but she did say that with the way every thing was when she checked me she wouldn't be surprised if I had this baby in a couple weeks. The medication I am on will clear up the infection and postpone labor for at least a week but from there I could go at any time. Of course they are hoping my body will hold out until I'm at least 38 weeks.

We are all still in a bit of shock here. I was expecting the normal check up...baby's heart beat sounds great, everything looks good, we'll see you in a week...instead I got told it's a good thing you have your bags packed because this baby is probably coming sooner rather than later. We do have everything ready and now have everyone on back up just in case. I have been in a bit of denial the last few weeks, everyone kept telling me that I was in the nesting stages and I kept saying no I'm just OCD and crazy like that but now I am willing to admit I am defiantly nesting. Every spare minute I get I am cleaning something. I have meltdowns when things get put in the wrong spot and I want everything ready for the baby at all times.

I'm so impressed with how well the midwives have handled everything and I know that if I had been going to my old OBGYN he wouldn't have even noticed the infection because it went unnoticed with my last pregnancy for weeks before I finally had to tell them something was going on (and I had been checked multiple times)!! Overall they have made us feel at ease with this pregnancy which I'm sure has helped my stress level tremendously which in turn has helped the progression of labor hold off. I'm so very thankful that this pregnancy has gone so well and I do think that I have to give credit to the midwives for being so on top of everything from the very first visit. They have consulted with the OBGYN's in Durango on several occasions about my pregnancy (past and present), they have tons of good advice to give, they are always willing to help me with any problems I am having, and they don't shove pills down my throat anytime things come up like my low iron level, rather they try to find a natural way to fix the problem which I love!

Anyways, I'll now be seen weekly until my due date. I'll keep everyone updated on any more news we hear! Stay tuned...we may have a baby very soon!!

These are two very eager brothers!!

L is for Ladybug

Jason and Liana spent last weekend painting the nursery/office for the baby. We chose light pink for the top half and a light minty green for the bottom half. My mom had purchased a border that matched the bedspread so that would separate the two colors. The did all the painting Sunday then we came back in on Monday night to put the border on and put the room back together. Everything turned out just perfect!! I absolutely love the room!!!!
Even Ryan got in on the painting!


Here is the room all finished...it's beautiful!

Father's Day & Thomas the Train!

For Father's Day this year we had the opportunity to go ride Thomas the Train in Durango, CO. My mom and step dad were out of town on business and I had offered to keep Aaron while they were away, so they bought us all tickets to ride Thomas! Anyways, we woke up Sunday morning got all dressed up and headed to Durango to the train station. Once we had checked in we walked through the museum and started to get the boys' maps marked off of all the special spots we needed to visit to receive a free prize. Then it was time to line up for the train ride. The boys got a kick out of watching Thomas pull into the station. We loaded up and were off for a 30 minute ride. The boys enjoyed every minute of the ride. Afterward we took a picture with Thomas then headed to the different free booths they had to play games, jump in the bouncy things, blow bubbles, and to the petting zoo. Timing was perfect because once they had seen and done it all it was time to head out for lunch. Jason said it was a great Father's day and that he couldn't have asked for anything better. The boys obviously had a blast and talked about Thomas for days on end!

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Baby Shower

I had a wonderful baby shower thrown for me by Jenny Wilson, Teresa Wilkins, my mom, and sister! There was tons of good food and lots of fun games for everyone to play. I received so many great gifts most of which included adorable baby girl clothes! I now can't wait to start playing dress up with the baby! I'd like to thank everyone who came, helped, and for all the gifts!

Take a look at some of the pics in this slide show....

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