OUR NEST IS GROWING

yes its happening again!
we are growing our little nest.
totally surprised and so excited to meet this new little one.

we had talked the last few months about another baby.
we've always had the mindset,
whenever we're blessed with another little...
it would be the right time.

SAKURA BLOOM :: SLING DIARIES :: ALL THE LOVE :: UNDERSTANDING

welcome to my second entry for the Sakura Bloom Sling Diaries. Just a reminder, that over six months i will be documenting my baby/toddler wearing entries here on the blog for The Sling Diaries Volume V :: All the Love. Each month we are given a new theme to inspire our diary entries. i have loved sharing my heart with you as well as getting to know some of you lovely readers. it has been a joy connecting with you. Thank you for your support and love. So without further ado...

THEME :: UNDERSTANDING

NOAH JOEL :: INFANT LOSS

noah. hebrew. rest, comfort
joel. hebrew. the Lord is God

october 15. infant loss day remembering.sharing


july 13 2009.

my cycles had been off for a couple months, so when my period came and i passed a rather large clot, i thought it was just my body "catching up". i hadn't had regular cycles due to coming off birth control (something that i will never use again, and never promote or encourage anyone to ever using). i had been bleeding and cramping over a week and i just knew something wasnt right. i made a phone call to the dr's office and spoke with a nurse. i explained my symptoms...

she mentioned i was more than likely experiencing a miscarriage and that i should go to the ER.

that day was awful. we went to the hospital. we waited for over 4 hours to be seen and then another 2 hours before we got any type of answer.

the nurses and doctor were cold and unsympathetic. my mother, who is a nurse, was appalled at the treatment we were given.

this is a photo that i took while sitting in the freezing cold room, after being handled like a piece of meat and had one of the most painful pelvic exams. ever.

to me, i look at this photo and it expresses how that er visit was.

cold. sterile. harsh. neglect. 

i will never forget: 

-sitting in the er waiting room, bleeding, doubled over in pain, watching people who had just walked in with splinters or a stubbed toe, be escorted back to be taken care of.

-having to repeat over and over why i was there. 

-the insincere "im sorry" from the nurse writing in the chart.

-the doctor that rolled her eyes when she listened to me describe what was happening.

-that blue cup in the picture: that was the cup i had to urinate in. in a bathroom. in the middle of the main hallway. and then walk past other patients, to bring it back to my room. and then proceed to watch it sit on the counter. two nurses came in at separate times and never took it to test it. to be given discharge papers while the cup still sat on the counter. untouched.

-those stir-ups that they attached to the bed, how they were tossed on the counter with a bang and the nurse/doctor just got up and left after "checking" me. 

-the disregard for human life that the entire staff gave me and my unborn child.

the "results" that were given:

because i did not have a positive pregnancy test they refused to confirm that i had miscarried.

stunned. shock. numb.

wait, so i didn't "medically" miscarry because i did not have a positive pregnancy test?

how can someone say that? WHY would someone say that. 

this was my experience over three years ago. i think about it quite a bit. i can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that miscarrying my son was one of the worst moments in my life.

i was a mess for months. every where i turned there were pregnant women, newborns, babies. baby ads. baby clothes. i couldn't walk in anywhere with out being bombarded with BABY BABY BABY.

i was sad. hurt. angry. confused. devastated.

i cried for days, weeks. i didn't want to get out of bed. i broke into tears every time i would look into people's eyes. i closed myself away from people. i put up walls.

even now, i can remember the pain i felt.
is it still there? yes.
is it as strong? honestly? sometimes.

there are times where i grieve. still.
are there people who won't understand that? yes.

i heard everything when i told people... honestly, there are no words that take the pain away. no words that make it better. most of the time, for me at least, having someone just hold me and be silent was best.

people mean well, most of the time. but there are sometimes that i think people mean too well and say things that really just hurt. while, now i know that they said these things in love and thought they were helping.

but then i was so mad. frustrated. and angry at some of the things people said.

"your young, you have time"
"there was something wrong with your baby, thats why you lost him"
"you can always try again"
"there is always adoption"
"it was meant to be"
"well, you weren't that far along."
"God doesn't make mistakes."
"are you sure you miscarried?"
"at least you know you can get pregnant"

please, if you know someone who has miscarried, don't blow them off. don't try and give them a reason for what happened. honestly, most of the time you will never know the why. let them talk. let them cry. let them feel. let them grieve.

there are many people that go through miscarriages, and it doesn't effect them all the same way. thats okay. some people, its best for them to move on and never discuss. thats okay.

that is not me.

my heart is tender. (this is not to say that those who didn't experience and grieve like i did don't have tender hearts.)

while i don't have all the answers, i do know the things that helped me.

-our family and friends were so supportive. they showered us in love and prayers.
 
-the best thing for me, were the hugs. the silent embraces that allowed me to cry. to grieve. no judgement. no expectation of when i was suppost to be okay. they allowed me to grieve. which in a way allowed myself to be okay with whatever "time frame" that this would take.

-the random texts and phone calls. "i love you" "we are praying for you" "do you need anything?"

-naming our son.

this was a big thing for us. we had no concrete evidence to hold on to, no positive pregnancy test, no ultra-sound photo, no recording of a heart beat. i got tired and frustrated of just saying and thinking, "i lost our baby"

  ryan and i talked a lot, and we both felt we lost our son. we decided to name him.

noah joel. meaning: comfort and rest, the Lord is God. 

we were finally able to say his name. noah. our sweet noah. 

we know that 

"in all things God works for the good of those who love Him." 

we claimed that. 

we knew that noah had a purpose. just like we all do.

even though we never got to hold him. see him.

my arms still ache to hold him.

i have had many dreams of noah.
i have seen him dancing on the streets of gold. i have seen him in our Heavenly Fathers' arms.
i believe we will see him again, one day.

-i had a ring made by a wonderful woman, Gracie. i now have something that i can hold and touch.

she wrote a little of what we had done here : my persimmon

there are two things that i will never forget. 

we had two couples that took us under their wings. 

Money and Jason. Paul and Candace. 

they prayed for us. with us. 

even weeks, months after we lost Noah. they called and texted. 

one night about a couple weeks after i miscarried, Paul called and prayed over the phone with me. while he was praying he said, "give them peace that passes all understanding".

i have heard that phrase over and over, especially growing up in church, but that night it sank in, it covered over me. that night, i believe i was finally able to talk to God. really talk to him. tell him how i felt. the good. bad. and the ugly. i was able to sleep that night and wake up not feeling like my world was crashing and burning. 

thank you Paul.

Money. oh sweet Money. darling, i love you so much. you have been a pillar of strength, wisdom, encouragement, and love. your words. your prayers. your hugs. i miss you dearly! 

you held me, multiple times, while i sobbed. when i didn't know how i was going to make it through the day. when i searched for answers. 

i remember you pulling me aside one day to tell me you had a dream. 

you told me, you saw ryan and i with a blonde headed little girl and a little boy with brown eyes like mine. you knew that those were our babies.

i remember thinking to myself "well maybe she got the color of her hair wrong because there is no way that we would have a blonde headed child". boy, was i wrong and am so glad i was.

i remember you telling me, that i was a mama. those words were so healing to me. thank you sweet friend.

while today is infant loss day, i wanted to share a little of my story. (while i know its been a long post, i appreciate you sticking with me through the end)

to remember noah. 

and where it has brought us today.

enter in eden. our delight.

our daughter who is less than 10 days away from turning one. 

our blonde haired blue-eyed little girl. 

one thing, i think we forget or think is bad, is if we get mad at God. think about a parent/child relationship. did you ever get mad at your parents? did you ever scream and yell at them? ignore them?... most likely, yes you did. 

did that mean you loved them any less? (really loved them any less?) that they were no longer your parents? no.

While there are many aspects to our relationship with God, the father-child relationship is one of most revelation to me. How we are to be as parents. that even if our children say they hate us.don't love us, we still love them and are here for them. that we watch over them.guide them, even if they don't want it. that when they hurt.we hurt.

God was there for us. even when i could not see it. when i really didn't care if He was or not. thats hard for me to admit. that i did not trust God. really trust Him. 

and if i am completely honest. i didn't fully trust Him again until i had eden in my arms. every day i was pregnant was wonderful. but it was also fearful. was i going to lose her too? would i have another child i wouldn't get to see? hold? watch grow up?

i think when you miscarry you are brought into a new realm of understanding. understanding how fragile life is. what a true miracle life is. 

i now hold eden, with an understanding that she is not my own. she is God's.He entrusted her to us. 

and while i mourn the loss of our son, noah joel, i know that there is purpose with his short time on earth. 

that there is peace that passes all understanding. 

and that "in all things God works for the good of those who love Him." 

to those of you who have experienced infant loss, i am sorry. i love you. i pray for you.

know that you are not alone. 

xoxo, 

-Kate

EDEN'S BAPTISM

now that things have sorta kinda settled down since moving, 

we are getting back into the groove of things. 

what better way to start than with a baptism! 

at seven months and 3 days old,

May 27, 2012 Eden Elizabeth Schwartz was baptized.

we all know how much i love sentimental things, 

so the church she was baptized in has a very special place in our family history. 

Lutheran Church of Our Saviour in North Huntingdon, PA

• the church where both of my grandparents attended and were members of while living in Pennsylvania. 
• the church where my parents met, fell in love and got married in.
• the church where my maternal grandfather still attends 
• and my maternal grandmother's life was celebrated when she passed in February of 2012. 

It was also Pentecost Sunday, which was also the Sunday that Ryan and I got married almost 6 years ago. (unbeknownst to us until after the ceremony!)

And one year ago, to the date, is when our family was rocked with the news 

that my Mimi had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. 

So, when I woke up this morning I was overwhelmed 

with the love and support that we received from family and friends 

who came to the church to be a part of our daughters special day. 

These friends, who might as well be family, were all dealing with their own grief of losing a wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, and friend just a few months ago.

My Mimi was the glue that held all of us together,

I believe that it was because of her and her testimony to who she was,

 that we had the support and love we had today. 

Walking into the church to see almost twenty people on behalf of Eden was overwhelming. Ryan and I have longed for this sense of "home" and "belonging" and it was evident that this is where God has called us.

while we, personally, are not lutheran and have different beliefs of baptism 

(its up to her and her choice to make), 

it is and will always be a special moment in Eden's life, as well as our own.

To make this even just more sentimental, while in the moving process we found Ryan's baptism program and saw that Ryan was baptized in the Lutheran Church! I had always known I was baptized in the Lutheran Church, so this was just another little family gem! 

here is the video of her baptism. 

another special moment that none of us were aware of...

My grandfather was the "official church representative" who welcomed her into the family and body of Christ. He is the one who lighted her baptism candle. 

we have prayed for her and over her since before she was even conceived. 

our desire for her was that she would love the Lord with all her mind, soul and spirit.

that she would have wisdom beyond understanding. 

that she would be a joy and "delight" (the meaning of her name) to all she comes in contact with.

that she is an example to others, and uses her gifts and talents for the glory of God.

that she finds the blessings and silver linings in all things, good or bad.

there are so many specific things we have prayed over her, 

and these were just a few.

Eden is God's child, just like all children, 

and it is our job to direct her, teach her, discipline her, 

and love her according to God's guidelines and authority. 

we are honored that God chose us to be her parents.

please continue to pray for Ryan and I. 

That we have wisdom, patience, understanding, love, 

joy, peace, discernment, mercy, and grace while on this journey.

Ryan, Aunt Julie, Me and Eden.

thank you to those who have spent countless hours praying over our daughter. 

thank you to those who continue to pray for her.

thank you to those who love her unconditionally.

thank you to the family and friends that came to witness her baptism.

thank you to the family and friends who could not be with us in person but were there in spirit. 

thank you Mimi, for legacy you created for our family.

EDEN'S BIRTH :: 1

ok. yes i know that it has been almost 6 months since Eden was born. i have held off writing her birth story.

 honestly, because so many things have been going on

(other than having a new baby)

and i really wanted to process what happened.

i have broken this up into two posts,

so check back tomorrow for the ending post of eden's birth story!

from the very beginning i knew that i knew i wanted to have a...

completely natural unmedicated birth.

can not begin to tell you how many people,

including my own family, who thought i had lost my mind.

i cry when i get a paper cut!

i started to explain it like this:

i knew that this was the best option for me and my unborn child, and when it came to the pain... it had to end right? it wasn't like i was going to be in that pain forever. she HAD to come out!

 Ryan was 100% supportive of my decision and once we found out i was pregnant, the research began! the more i researched the more i knew we had made the right choice for us. i was very aware that things could change and i was okay with that, but i really wanted to try to have the birth i had always dreamed of!

our family was concerned and a little hesitant through-out the pregnancy. everyone wanted what was best, and people all have different opinions of what that is. for me, this is what we knew was best.

i know that deep down they thought i had lost my mind, and once i went into labor i would be screaming for the drugs! being that my sister and i were c-sections, and i was an emergency c-section... my poor mother, i knew that she was trying so very hard to be supportive, but in the back of her mind all she could see was all that could go wrong... and i cant blame her for that. :)

the further along i got, the more our family got on board about the decisions we were making regarding the birth and parenting. this was such a blessing, since i am a want everything nice and pretty and wrapped in a bow, everyone get along kind-a-gal!

the beginning of my pregnancy was ROUGH. i ended up in the hospital needing iv fluids because i got dehydrated due to a condition known as HG. (hyperemesis gravidarum) unrelenting, excessive pregnancy-related nausea and/or vomiting that prevents adequate intake of food and fluids. Estimates of the percentage of pregnant women afflicted range from 0.3% to 2.0%. Thankfully, after my first trimester this condition seemed to disappear!

through-out the pregnancy i bounced on my bright orange birthing ball, walked a lot, went to my chiropractor consistently (thanks dr. barnes!!) and read more information than any other human being!

i even had a detailed birth plan printed out!

Birth Plan 

Patient Name: Kate Schwartz

Doctor’s Name: Dr. Jones

Hospital: Ennis Regional Medical Center

Due Date: 10-20-11

My support people: Ryan Schwartz, Erica Ortiz, and Julie Anderson

We would like to thank you for being a part of the birth of our baby. In our desire for this birth to be a memorable and joyous event, we have listed our birth preferences below. These decisions were made after much research, consultation and thought. Your help in attaining these goals is very much appreciated. We understand that the following is for a best case scenario. We understand the need for medical interventions in certain situations, and we are thankful for them. If there is anything below that is against hospital policy, we are happy to discuss it and sign a waiver, if necessary. The safety and well-being of Kate and our new baby are of highest importance.

First Stage of Labor

We are planning an unmedicated labor (no Epidural, no narcotics); please do not suggest pain relief medications No IV or Heparin lock

We prefer intermittent fetal monitoring to constant monitoring

We would like to use the following relaxation techniques: birthing ball, shower, massage, hot/cold therapy, walking

We request that Kate be given clear liquids, popsicles and/or ice chips to stay hydrated

We request that Kate be allowed nutritional snacks, if desired

As few vaginal exams as possible (especially after membrane rupture)

Natural rupture of the membranes, unless discussed with and agreed to by both of us

If there is a need to speed labor, we will try natural methods before pitocin is considered

We would like to film and photograph through out labor and delivery

Second Stage of Labor

Choice of positions for pushing (no stirrups please)

We prefer mother-directed pushing; please, no counting

We would prefer to tear naturally and avoid being cut

Please place the baby on Kate’s chest immediately after delivery for immediate skin-to-skin

We request the umbilical cord be delayed being clamped or cut until it stops pulsating; Ryan will cut the umbilical cord

Baby will be breastfed immediately after delivery to assist in natural delivery of the placenta

Please, no pulling on the cord to deliver the placenta

No pitocin, unless there is a postpartum hemorrhage and has been discussed and agreed by both of us 

Baby Care

If warming is required, baby should be placed on mother’s chest with blankets

Only suction baby if meconium present or she is having trouble breathing

Please delay all routine exams to allow for bonding. We would like at least one hour with our baby undisturbed to bond and breastfeed

All physical exams and procedures be done in the mother’s room

We do not want our baby to go to the nursery at all. If the baby must be taken to the nursery, Ryan will accompany the baby at all times.

We do NOT consent to erythromycin or other medication in baby’s eyes

We do NOT consent to the HEP B vaccine

There should be NO Vitamin K injection, unless discussed with and agreed to by both of us

Newborn PKU test will be administered at a later date, not in the hospital

There should be no newborn bath, unless discussed with and agreed to by both of us

Baby will be breastfed on-demand; please no water, sugar-water or formula and no pacifiers

It is our intent to be released from the hospital as early as possible, if deemed appropriate.

We would like to thank you in advance for your support and attention to our choices. We are looking forward to a wonderful birth.

Thank you,

Ryan and Kate Schwartz

i had everything planned out... the music, the birth-plan printed, a birthday cake to light and eat when eden was born, all cameras charged and ready to go... the list was endless.i even made mini-pumpkin bread for the nurses because i wanted to have the "party" room.

the plan was for ryan's mom and sisters to come the week before and the week of eden's due date so we had help and julie would be on her way once i told her i was starting labor. my dad would also head this way once i was in labor...

or so we thought...

PART ONE:

setting the stage:

eden's due date was 10.20.11, inside i felt like she would be a little late, but based on all the comments from family and friends of how HUGE i was i began to think she might come early.

i worked up to the first of october nannying a WONDERFUL little girl who i miss dearly! and her family! this sweet child talked to eden and "played" dress up with her and would rub my tummy.

 those are memories that made this pregnancy stellar!

i have tons of instagram photos to remind me as well.

she would say..."baby EEEden" so sweet!

i got lucky having such a fantastic job that allowed me to walk and play through my pregnancy that i believed played a huge part in my labor!

i waddled everywhere, like a penguin--ryan informed me on MORE than one occasion! 

10.11.11

tina, bekka, and samantha arrived for the first week... lots of play and fun went on this week. if you were a fly on the wall you would hear this phrase over and over,  "PACK YOUR BAGS!" yes, little miss plan everything STILL hadn't packed her bag! deep down i thought that in packing my bag, she would just all of the sudden pop out! 

10.13.11 (39 weeks)

morning: the week before my due date, we went to the doctor for a check up... i had been at 3cm since i was 36 weeks. (little piece of information i didn't want to know. thank you nurse for listening so well to what i asked, which resulted in the doctor making the slip.) we scheduled our next appointment for the 20th in case eden didn't come before then.

evening: i went grocery shopping with bekka and that threw me into some contractions where i was convinced things were going to start happening. i immediately texted my doula, erica, and told her what was going on. she recommended i sit on the birthing ball and see if they continued. i called ryan and he got off work. all to get to the house and find me a little upset that my contractions had stopped.

10.15.11

tina and the girls went home for the weekend. ryan and i relaxed that weekend and just talked to eden. telling her how we were so excited to meet her and how much we already loved her. we spent a lot of time just talking and really coming to grips that we were about to meet our daughter and these were the last days of just the two of us.

(every night after this night i was waking up every hour to pee!)

10.18.11

tina and the girls show up for the second week. still not many signs of labor... i was getting a little achy but nothing too bad. i was really blessed that i didnt have an uncomfortable pregnancy.

10.19.11

julie arrives. she couldn't wait for eden to show up! she had told all of her professors that when eden was on her way, she would be leaving school to come document eden's birth, regardless of any tests or labs! (yes eden, your aunt was ready!)

we went to the chiropractor to make sure i was in good alignment...we walked and walked and walked... bounced on the birthing ball, did my stretches and tried to relax as much as possible... because you know she was going to be here tomorrow! ;)

 i baked the goodies and we waited...

10.20.11. Eden's "due date"

We woke up and things had started to get a little uncomfortable but not too bad. still no consistent contractions. just lots of random ones over the past two weeks. we took the day and walked, bounced on my ball. my appointment was for later in the day and i was very hesitant about going into the doctor for fear that he was going to try and induce me.

(again that "lovely" nurse had told us, if eden didnt come on her due date we would be induced.)

we went to the doctor, who let us know i was still at 3cm but had effaced to 75%... no talk of inducing unless we got to 41 weeks and still no progress.

ryan and i went through Chicken-Express and called my parents to give them the news and got home to fill in the troops.

10.20.11 

evening: we watched criminal minds episodes and got a little crazy... yes i did a labor dance! was that ever HYSTERICAL! i just watched the video and WOW... i was huge! im surprised she didn't just pop on out! however i did lose my mucus plug, and was again POSITIVE she was coming!

julie and i ended up doing an impromptu photo shoot in the bathroom! we didn't have maternity photos done, which i was rather upset about, so this was so special to me.

*i am completely covered, other than my belly of course. i debated sharing this photo, but it is so special to me and shows/reminds me the beauty in carrying life within you. yes i was huge!

10.21.11

ryan and i went to bed early in the morning. i woke up a couple of times through out the early morning with some cramping. 

5:30am: started having some contractions. i didn't want to wake ryan up, knowing that i needed him to have as much sleep he could before eden's arrival, so i hung out in the shower: swaying, closing my eyes, focusing on breathing and relaxing, visualizing her moving down...

8:10am: ryan and julie were up and i texted erica to let her know i was having contractions but still not very consistent. she said to get on my ball again... had to wait since julie was SANITIZING it! :) so she recommended lunges and squats. i did those in the shower while waiting for the ball!

9:30am: called my parents to let them know i was having contractions and i was pretty sure she was on her way! Dad and Melinda live in Amarillo, so they were going to get ready to come on down. My mom was in PA with my mimi who had cancer, and was wanting updates every hour!

10:00am: i made the comment while sitting in the tub, that i would just love to sit in a swimming pool and just watch tv. next thing i knew, julie and ryan were blowing up a swimming pool in our bedroom in front of the tv! hilarious!

                               

11:00am: my contractions stopped completely! i was so disappointed! we called my parents back to let them know and was told to just relax, she will come when she's ready!

1:45pm: went for a walk and started cramping/contracting.

3:45pm: sat on my ball, still cramping... texted erica who asked me to time them... they were every 7-15 min apart. she let me know that those were contractions! silly me! it was becoming real to me that she was really coming.

5:40pm: went on yet ANOTHER walk, over an hour long. Julie had gone with us and took pictures of my walking/stopping to hold onto ryan and sway.

later that evening contractions stopped again. to say i was frustrated was an understatement! i cried a lot. i told ryan, im getting a little nervous that she's not going to come out! he was so sweet and said, "kate, she has to come out. just relax. she will come when she's ready." that was a choice phrase of all family members: "she'll come when she's ready"... i was beginning to believe she would never be ready!

10.22.11

8:00am: got a call from my dad. he was coming now and was going to stay for a week (regardless of what eden chose to do)

and that melinda, his wife, would fly down when eden was born.

ryan went into work.

around lunch time tina and the girls had to leave to go home.

12:00pm: julie and i cleaned and i baked eden's birthday cake, hoping the smell would tempt her to get out! we talked a lot and i called my mom and spilled my guts to her. i missed her so much and this was the one thing that i wanted so badly and always dreamed that she would be there with me when i delivered our first child.

late-afternoon: dad arrived! we all just hung out and talked. it was good to get my mind back to relaxing. i finally came to terms that "she was coming when she was ready"

evening: still no contractions, but i was calming down and ready for a good nights rest.

10.23.11

10:00am: ryan and i woke up to find my dad outside cleaning his truck. we told him we were going for a walk if he wanted to join us. we all walked for about an hour.

11:30am: the four of us went to whataburger for lunch. i couldnt even fit in the booth!! it was quite sad.

12:15pm: went to wal-mart to walk and get some groceries. while we were there we realized the Cowboys were playing so we needed to hurry up so we could at least catch some of the game. ;)

2:30 pm: we got home, unloaded groceries, installed some shelves in our room, ryan watched the game while the three Anderson's laughed trying to get some organization going on!

afternoon: i stayed on my ball. we watched the stupidest movie "the shining"... talk about some memory making there! and of course we...went on ANOTHER walk.

7:00 pm: i texted erica to give her an update that i was trying not to get frustrated. we went to dinner at Don Jose's. I said "i want SPICY food! hey and maybe it will help? doesnt hurt to try right?"

at this point the only clothing that fit me was an XXL tshirt that said something to the effect of "sarcasm is my defense against stupid people" and yoga pants! so off we went... i BARELY fit in the booth! i ate everything i could that had some kick to it...  sooo yummy!

after dinner we went to wal-mart again, to walk. we walked and walked and walked. can i say AGAIN we walked??

8:30pm my mom called while we were in wal-mart. julie and i were just leaving the rest-room and i started to feel funny... like really bad menstrual cramps.

talking to my mother, i leaned over the display shelf of holiday blankets telling her i felt fine, was just tired and that we would call her with any updates, that i loved her and missed her giving her NO indication i was feeling weird!

julie was rubbing my back and this point and i looked up and said,

 "i think i want to go home."

 the look on her face was priceless... 

she shouted for dad and ryan to come on! they were down a couple aisles looking at something in some aisle!

dad asked "IS IT TIME?!?!" 

"no dad, im just tired and i think i ate too much." 

so we checked out, with me swaying through the check out line, and got into the car.. i should say truck. my dad has a HUGE baby blue dodge truck that im sure played its roll in helping labor progress!

once in the car, i made the comment that i wanted chicken-express ice... yes, im nuts.  my dad reminded me the whole way there. 

once in line we ordered our bag of ice and julie's jumbo fizz (a must in our family) and we laughed most of the way home. 

i was still feeling rather uncomfortable, but again figured it was from the food.

we got home and thats when things started to get interesting...

stay tuned for part two... the end of eden's birth story!

(will be posted tomorrow on 04.24.12)