Drake's Head Laceration

While at my parents at the beginning of this weekend, Drake had an accident. He and Addyson were running and she stepped on the back of his shoe. He flew forward and hit the corner of a table. I watched it happen and I knew immediately there would be blood, I just didn't know how deep it would be. This was one of those slow motion moments. I saw it all before it happened and my mama intuition told me we would be going to get stitches. I held a cold compress to his head and once we got to the medical center the bleeding had stopped. He was pretty upset & in shock. It was deep but not very big.

WARNING BLOOD! :)

I felt kinda dumb once they said they would use liquid stitches; because I could have done that at home. But it gave me piece of mind having him checked out! 

He layed back and they washed out his cut, he cried, he screamed, he said "I'm gonna die!" But after they put the bandaid on he was over it. 

They gave him a few stickers, a few treats, and a card for free ice cream. He was so proud he asked me to take a picture of the card! He went on to say, "I got hurt, they glued me back together. Now I get ice cream and we can go to the movies!" I'm unsure why he thought we would go to the movies...I think he was trying to milk me for anything and everything, haha!

How is your weekend? Hope it was less bloody but just as exciting. 

Heavy Feelings

I feel like I haven't written as much as I would like. Mostly because I've been filled with different emotions. I've been trying to sort through things the last month and although life can be confusing it helps to have an understanding husband and comfort knowing God is over all. This is a heavy post; skip now if you need something more uplifting. :)

Around a month ago I had a cousin who ended his life. From what I understand he fought a long hard battle and I hope he has found his piece. The darkness can be so thick at times, and some people may never understand the fog, I myself have caught glimpses of the dark.  I find it very hurtful whenever people talk about suicide being selfish or cowardly, if you don't understand these heavy emotions please don't judge those who live with them. Fighting is how it should be describe, and it is EXHAUSTING. 

The battles I have fought are probably not even close in difficulty compared to other peoples.  I feel I understand a little and am very empathetic towards anyone who has ever felt the desire to end their pain and suffering. 

Suicide always raises questions and I often wish I would have done or said something to help. I don't want other family members or friends to ever feel alone or embarrassed by their emotions.  If talking about it would have saved one of my two handsome cousin's lives, I wish I would have spoken up.  I wish I would have known they were struggling.  I am sad to know, how sad they must have been.

At Riley's funeral the bishop spoke; it really stuck with me.  He talked about how Riley will have some things to work on in the after life; but not to judge and not to forget that we all do (have things we need to work on). Like Riley I must work on myself;  I don't know what is to come.   I took such comfort being reminded that I need to focus on myself and bettering myself; I am the only person I have any control over.

Right now my immediate family has been going through some hard emotions, I am being vague but I just need to get some of it out.  Maybe at a later date I will be able to talk about it more.  Change is hard and so is fighting; I feel right now that we are more divided that united, I hate it! My head has been really tied up with the roller coaster of it all., I take comfort in knowing there is an end somewhere and that we will all work it out, because in the end we are family!

Life is difficult sometimes, but only to see the greatness around us!

Labor Day Birthday (LONG POST)

Just a warning, I leave nothing out of this post, so if you find birth stories gross, STOP NOW! ;)

On Sunday the 31st of August, we were chilling. I was 5 days past my due date! I decided to shower and try to take a nap because I had been having false labor on and off for a week, always during the night time when I should be sleeping, and always so disappointing when the contractions stopped.   With my hair wet I layed on the couch watching phineas and ferb with the kids. I felt a little trickle of water, my eyes widened and I yelled, Kade! He watched me in awe as I ran to the bathroom, water slowly coming through my pants. I went to the bathroom sat on the toilet and there was a large gush. My water had broken! Kade ran around gathering things for the kids overnight bag and our hospital bag. I was in no hurry. No contractions had started and I figured we had a little time until I felt pain.

My thoughts at this point, I have an hour or two before my labor starts, once it does, I will go fast and have my sweet baby here before the day is through. After all this was my third and my first two were fast and never more then 5 hours of labor.  My hopes and thoughts couldn't have been more wrong.

Me on the drive to the hospital.

Around 2 we arrived at the hospital. I was gsb positive and they started me on antibiotics pretty quickly. After answering a ton if questions They checked me for the first time around 4. I was at a 2 with 50% effaced. I hadn't had any regular contractions and the ones I had I didn't feel much. I knew again it would be a while because I hadn't' started labor.   

After two rounds of antibiotics they let me start walking around hoping it would bring labor. The rule was 5 hrs after my water broke if I didn't progress I would have to have intervention. They let me go longer then that. They checked me at eight and I was at a 3.5 with 75% effaced. So they let me keep trying to bring labor on myself because I had shown signs of progressing. At this point I could feel baby contractions they were far apart and not consistent at all. 

At this point I was discouraged that everything was taking so long. I haven't ever had a problem progressing. Plus I was 5 days past due. I figured my body and baby would be ready. 

At around 11 I was checked again. Was barely a four and still 75% effaced??? I want progressing. Did I mention all this time was spent walking circles around the hospital?  I think we wore the carpet down....

3 am and I was at the same place. Just at a four...contractions were getting stronger but they were still far apart and not consistent. They gave me the news that it was time to start pitocin.  Kade and I talked about it and figured we might as well not fight it, after all, I was tired of being pregnant and tired of walking, they started me on the lowest dose. I talked with the nurse and asked what the odds would be of having a natural birth with no epidural while being on pitocin?  She told me in her many years of experience she had never seen anyone do it.   That was disheartening, but labor was already not what I expected it to be, so I thought maybe I could do it still....another hr went by with no progress. So they bumped up the pitocin. And in another hour I was bumped up one more time. Then the contractions started. 

They were terrible. They were the strongest ones I have ever felt. I never had that strong of contractions unless I was in transition and ready to push. I was checked again I was at a 5 and still 75% effaced. It was around 6am. I was so discourage that I only was to a 5 so I asked for some iv medication. Which helped me for about a half hour. It started to wear off quickly and I started to be negative about how I couldn't make it through. They checked me again and I was still the same. I was crying more like sobbing at the fact that my body wasn't reacting how I wanted it to. I felt like I couldn't keep going it had already been 17 hours. The midwife explained that at 18 hours after membrane rupture that they would be worried about infection, especially since I had the gsb. So I had an hour before we started talking more drastic interventions, things like c section. Looking back I really think they were trying to scare me, but my normal midwife was out of town for the holiday, and she wasn't very happy about how everything was handled.  

They believed baby was face up and unable to turn and that was why I want progressing. Worried and being in so much pain I gave in. I asked for an epidural. I cried during the whole thing. I felt like I had chosen comfort over what was best for baby. TOTALLY CRAZY HORMONES! But I still wonder if I would have waited just a little longer if he would have come just as fast. I had the anesthesiologist come in  around 6:45. While sitting up and having it placed I stared feeling super nauseous and that is always a sign that I am hitting transition, but nothing was the same for this labor so I figured it was a reaction to the pitocin.  The anesthesiologist was super quick and awesome, I felt like a hundred bucks after it was placed.  I was numb they told me to try and sleep, they figured it would be a while.  They left me alone.  Kade immediately fell asleep BUT I couldn't sleep at all.  I was having strange pressure. I couldn't be ready to push already?  I was at a 5 a few minutes ago?  I waited almost a half hour before I got the nerve and called the nurse back in. After all I couldn't possibly be ready to push..one look and they grabbed gloves and the on-call midwife.   I had them grab a mirror as well, with Drake I was able to watch in the mirror, and it was super cool, so I wanted the chance again.  As soon as everyone was in place I started to push I believe it was close to 7:20. At 7:27am Mr. Lex Logan Bingham was born! 

They held him up and Kade yelled enthusiastically that it was a boy. It was the coolest thing, finding out at birth. I was sure he was a girl and couldn't believe it.   I was overjoyed to have another boy.  

The nurse joked that it took so long for Lex to come because we kept calling him a girl.  It took days for it to sink in that it was a boy and not a girl.  I had only washed girl cloths in preparation for the birth and the boy clothes were still in storage, that is how positive I was that he was a girl.  

I fed him right away and he latched like a champ. Baby's cord was attached to the side of my uterus and I guess when that happens the cord is weaker. Once the placenta finally was delivered there was a large hole where the cord was tearing off from the placenta.  Because of the hole the midwife almost pulled out the cord without all of the placenta. Which could have caused major infection and problems. 

What a large boy! 9pounds 6ounces, 21.5 inches long,  I didn't need stitches wahoo! Recovery was so slow and I never remembered being so sore. But I didn't remember labor being that horrible, I felt as though I was being ripped in half, like I was going to die.  My cramping after was terrible, as bad as some of my contractions.  But we made it! 

They told me that often when baby is face up during delivery an epidural can relax your uterus enough to let them turn. They thought he was face up and that is why I didn't progress.  Or maybe I was closer then I thought to delivery and I just needed another half hour??? Who knows!

I had to stay at the hospital for 2 days, he was a big boy and they wanted to monitor his blood sugar to make sure he wasn't diabetic.  Also I was GSB positive with my membrane being ruptured for a long time, all of those reasons made for a long hospital stay.  Lucky for baby I had 3 rounds of antibiotics for GBS to help keep him safe.

I visited with my midwife when she got back from vacation, I really wished she would have been in town!  That was the biggest letdown, not having her help me through labor.  I absolutely think the world of her and the other midwife was okay, but not the support I needed.  She told me if she would have been in town and notified she would have told me to stay at home until 24 hours or until my labor started on its own.  She wouldn't have made me come in and spend time in the hospital, and then I would't have had pitocin and other interventions until I needed them.  So for the next labor I will know better :)

We are so blessed to have Lex and even though labor didn't go as planned he is here, he is healthy, and we love him.

Now does anyone know when the pain from the epidural insertion goes away?  

Eating our Birthday Dinner, it was some yummy steak!

Baby holding dads hand!

BABY MEETS WORLD!

My wonderful Grandparents, G&G Kunz

Lex's Grandparents 

I LOVE this picture, dad and son

mom and son

Sister kisses

they were so excited and in aww

just the three of us

YAY, we are a family of 5, I am so full of love and joy!

More Teeth For Addy

the last few weeks

This month has been really bad for our family health wise.  Teeth are great, but my baby had a hard time getting these babies in.  She had a fever of 102 for a few days, because she had an ear infection along with a yeast diaper rash, and to top it off hand, mouth, and foot virus.  Because of her sickness we have lost a ton of sleep.  She cried all night for 3 nights and since a week ago she just hasn't slept longer then 2 hours without waking up.  I hope she sleeps better soon...such a pain.

She passed the hand, foot and mouth virus on to me and I have been compromised since my surgery so I have also had a fever the last few days of 102, along with some canker sores on my tongue. I am on anti-biotics from surgery so along with ibuprofen I have been able to keep my fevers mostly away.  I have broken 3 in the last 24 hours.  :(

Because of her hand, mouth, and foot virus, Addyson wouldn't eat.  She had two large sores on the tip of her tongue and she would SCREAM anytime you would try and feed her.  She was hungry but she had to be forced to eat, that is hold the bottle in her mouth till she stopped fighting it....
Needless to say this past two weeks have been the hardest yet as a mother.  I have been sick countless times, my kids need me, and I can't do much to help them.....err.

An exciting WEEKEND

Did I ever say I got into essential oils?  My sister-in-law and I joined doTERRA and we are starting to use essential oils in our everyday life, so far I love them.  So, every year doTERRA has a yearly new product release and big conference.  Well Shyla signed us up, and I was excited to have a weekend getaway.  I have not left Idaho since my honeymoon, I was excited to get away.  So, I got all my homework done and the kids were arranged and I had no stress about how the weekend would go.  All I can say now is that if things had not been all worked out like this, I would have had consequences when it came to school, and I would be severely behind.

So, the plan was to leave early Thursday morning and we would come back late saturated night, we even thought about staying until Sunday night.  As soon as Shyla drove into Utah I had a stomach ache.  I didn't tell her because I didn't want to ruin our fun.  We got to the conference center (the salt palace) and I was miserable sitting in pain for a few hours.  After a while I decided to go outside in the fresh air to see if that helped.  There were a lot of essential oils being defused in the air and I thought that maybe outside would help.

I got outside and laied on a bench and after about 20 minutes my stomach stopped hurting and I was good.  We enjoyed the rest of the night and I had a fun time at the Gala, were we ate, dressed up, met fun people, and threw confetti.

We went to bed around 11 which is really early for me, around 2 I woke up with more stomach pain, it wasn't to bad, but bad enough I couldn't sleep.  I got in the bath thinking that it would settle the pain and I could go back to bed.  The pain got increasingly worse, so I got dressed and I didn't want to wake Shyla so I went in the hall to call Kade.  I was so bummed because I thought I was sick and didn't want to be sick the weekend i was out of town.

Shyla came out to the hall after a while because I must have woken her.  She was worried because my pain was in my right side, and she had her appendix out and thought that was what it was.  After a while of her trying to get me to go to the er, I finally got a hold of Kade.  HE was so tired, he told me I needed to check my corroborator and maybe ask someone else about my car problems???? I started laughing and it was so painful that I knew it wasn't a stomach ache.  Well the dumbest part is that I am the only person without health insurance in my family, so I really didn't want to go in.

Well we went to the LDS hospital and after a few scans it was confirmed that i needed my appendix out.  I was put on morphine and don't remember much after that.  It was still a long wait, they finally fit me in after 8 hours of waiting in the ER.  As soon as Kade woke up that morning for work he drove down to Salt Lake because he realized I called him because I was sick, not for mechanic advise. :D Some lady's that we know came and did foot zoning on me before i went into surgery and I believed that helped me, because the Dr said I bled less then a teaspoon, which was pretty much AWEsOMe.  Things went smoothly, my appendix was unhealthy and had probably been giving me problems for a while.  The surgeon also said that my appendix was retro, which I believe means it is pushed up behind my intestine unlike most other peoples, so I wasn't experiencing much pain, so where most people have a ton of pain I had stomach aches.

My best friend came and visited me in the hospital, it was sooo good to see her.  I really missed her.

After a night in the hospital I got to travel a long four hours in the car.

Yesterday I went back to an ER because I had a fever of 103.6 so after another long wait in the ER I got some antibiotics and feel a world of difference today.  That was my exciting weekend, and now I still can't take care of my kids because I can't physically handle it...hopefully that will change.

I am so grateful to my heavenly father, because without him things wouldn't have worked out so well.  I know that things happened at the right place, at the right time. Without him putting people in my path I would never have gone into the hospital until possibly an appendix rupture, which would have been a lot more damaging.  I know things have been taken care of at home because of my husband and his love for me.  I am very  blessed and I know it.

No more Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

We moved A LOT of our stuff into a storage unit in Terreton on Saturday.  This is so when we actually figure out if someone is moving in our house, or if we find a place that it wont be a rush or so stressful.  While we were packing, we decided to move our bed into the living room, this is so we can watch TV, and have something to sit on when we watch TV.  We moved our couches out and had nothing to sit on.  So our bedroom is now the living room :D.  When we were packing Drake got up on our bed and was jumping on it, causing him to fall in between the crack of the bed and the wall.  I guess we hadn't moved it very tight up against the wall.  Anyway, he has a good bump on his head.  The Dr. said he may have a small permanent bump from the blood that clotted, and a scar :(.  We may have a horned kid, but that's okay because Mormans have horns right??? I am not sure where that myth came from, LOL.

He got his back really good, I think on the metal frame.  This was the only way he would let us take a picture, if we held him upside down against his will, LOL

Drake's Birth Story

This is really long...mostly for record purposes. So I would be surprised if you really endured it and read it all. Sorry if it is too graphic. I want to be able to look back and read something to help me remember all the things that took place.

On Sunday December 5th Kade and I were driving home from Blackfoot,where we had been visiting my parents. About twenty minutes from home, around 10:15 PM, I felt a painful contraction. Now, I had had a lot of false labor, but none of my contractions hurt. I told Kade, these might be the real thing. Kade just laughed because it wasn't the first time I had told him this.

When we got home I was having regular contractions about every 6 minutes, we made a trip to Wal-Mart to walk around. That didn't last long, I could hardly walk. So we went home. Around 12:30 AM I called my doula the contractions were about 5 minutes apart and not even a minute in length at this time. She suggested a bath to see if my contractions would stop. This way we would know if it was really labor. I got in the bathtub to see if I could alleviate some of the pain, and for a while I thought my contractions actually stopped.

I called the doula to update her around 12:45 AM telling her that I felt my contractions had stopped during the bath but they had started again after I got out. She told me she was worried it wasn't true labor, because the contractions calmed in the tub and that I should wait to go to the hospital. She said "wait a half hour and call me back to update me".

Around 1:15 AM I called her again because I was still havingcontractions, she told me to wait to go to the hospital till they were 3 to 4 minutes apart and to let her know if anything changed, she still wasn't sure if it was the real thing.

Not long after I decided that the pain was bad enough that I was going to go to the hospital. I figured THIS WAS IT!!!

We got there around 2:00 AM, Kade called the doula to let her know where we were. When the nurse first checked me I was dilated to 3cm. I had to lie in bed while they monitored my contractions and the baby’s heartbeat, and they asked me a BILLION questions, it took forever. I thought I was going to die, I was in a lot of pain. I was so excited when they told me I could get back into the tub. Then I felt a lot more comfortable and it was easier to deal with the pain.

Around 3:15 AM I was sitting in the tub and had a hard contraction, and my water broke. Then I got really sick and Kade held the trash can for me while I emptied my stomach. I remained nauseous and sick for the entire labor and delivery. When my membranes ruptured it was a yummy color of green. I let the nurses know so they could make the proper precautions when the baby was born. They had suctions ready for him in case he inhaled any fecal matter.

The nurse then made me get out of the tub, which was too bad because it felt super good to soak. I was very grumpy through the whole thing and I am not sure how Kade handled me, I got quite mean. I was not one of those people who think every little labor pain is a miracle and a blessing. It was painful, way more so than I expected. I thought for sure I would have labor pain...but didn't count on all of it being back labor. I am proud to say thought that I didn't curse at all during labor, GO ME! But that was my only accomplishment.

After she forced me out of the tub the nurse made me get back into the bed so they could check me, I was now at 4cm .

By that time, 3:30 AM, the doula arrived. I was really struggling with keeping control, and I was lacking confidence. I was thinking at this point that there was no way I would be able to handle birth without an epidural. The nurse informed me that they would have to call in the anesthesiologist and it could take a whole hour before he got there. So the doula talked me out of an epidural and told me that there were other "safer" medications I could use. At 3:45 AM Nubain was given through my IV. This is a narcotic that promotes rest during labor. It helps women take little naps between contractions. It isn't the strongest drug given but it lessens your pain perception. Pretty much it took off the edge. This almost instantly helped and calmed me down. I was then able to regain control and confidence.

At 4:00 AM I was very controlled and focused. The medicine helped me want to work with my coach, and making me less grumpy. I was doing excellent on my breathing technique. :D At this point I was tired and falling asleep during contractions. My husband also commented that I was very funny and loopy (due to the medication).

At 4:35 AM my contractions increased in intensity, by that time I was at 6cm with the baby's "head way down".

At 4:45 AM I was very nauseous again. Every contraction made me feel like I was going to loose my cookies, that was one of the worst parts. I was told during labor that it is common for women to be nauseous during labor and delivery...how come no one warned me? Seriously, I was SO sick. I guess not having morning sickness came back to bite me at the worst possible moment. :D I was given medication for nausea through my IV. At this point my contractions were very strong and I had quick peaks, and little time in between them. Some of the time I had one contraction right after the one before had stopped, without a brake.

At 5:00 AM I was feeling a lot of back labor. I was continually arching my back to try and relieve the pain. My second dose of Nubian was given through my IV. This time, the medication didn't work as well due to my contractions being SO hard. The doula told me that the way I felt my contractions were not like most women. She said instead of starting and slowing working up to the peak of the pain and then slowly going back down, my contractions just peaked. Because of my pain tolerance I could only feel the most painful part of the contraction. It was good and bad. It was good because my contractions were sort, but they were really MEAN and they would blindside me.

At 5:20 AM I was to 7cm. YEAH, I was feeling elated and felt the urge to push. I would push lightly to help with the urges. The nurse would discourage me from pushing because they didn't want me to bruise my cervix, in fear it would swell and close instead of open.

At 5:40 AM I was discouraged. I felt like I couldn't go on. The medication was no longer helping, my contractions were to strong. My doula gave me a speech, she told me that this is what every mother has to do to birth their baby. She explained it was hard, but the hardest things in life are worth the outcome. She reminded me that the contractions would not get any harder and I only had a little longer to go. She reminded me that I could do this, that I was doing it like it or not. I just needed to do it a little while more. She gave me what I needed to go on.

At 6:00 AM I was 9cm still feeling encouraged and still very nauseous.

At 6:20 AM I was FINALLY to 10cm. I began gentle pushing waiting for the doctor to come in. I thought this was always the fastest part for women. For me the pushing was one of the longest parts. I enjoyed it, but became discouraged when they told me I could push for hours and hours. That was the wrong time for them to tell me the truth (they could have lied). It made me sad to hear that news.

At 6:30 AM the doctor was there and I began pushing powerfully, very focused. This was my favorite part. I actually got to help do something. It felt way better to push than to sit in pain doing NOTHING. The Dr. would come in, check me and walk back out. I guess he could tell that I wasn't making a ton of progress with pushing. I was a little sad that I went to him for 9 months and he didn't have much to do with labor. All he really did was catch Drake at the very end.

I wasn't in pain now, instead of just enduring contractions, I got to help while the contractions were going on. Because it was taking a long time to get him out they asked if I would like a mirror so I could see what was happening a little better. I loved having a mirror. It really helped my delivery, I could see what they meant by "that's a good push". It was a really cool thing to watch.

I must have been getting close because the Dr. asked if he could perform and episiotomy on me. I had actually researched this. That might sound dumb, but it is actually better to tear and heal than for them to cut you. If they cut you then there is more layers of skin that have to heal, and they normally cut to much. The reason doctors do this is so it is easier for them to sew you up, it is easier to sew a straight line, rather than a tear. SO, I told the Dr, NO. He acted upset with me. But I am the patient, I have my rights. He asked me a couple more times, but I just said no, I rather you didn't.

At 7:22 AM I delivered a healthy son. Once his head was out he fell into the doctors hands. His head had a massive cephalhematoml (it is a big bruise/blood blister that forms between the skull and skin of the head. because he was sitting so low for the last 2 months of pregnancy. He knocked my pelvis so much he was really swollen. I wish I would have gotten a head measurement, but I didn't. His head was really big, so they figured that was why it took so long for me to deliver him. They figured if his head wasn't swollen he would have been a lot easier to get out. I am so grateful he didn't get stuck. ;D Once he was out they suctioned his lungs to make sure he didn't get any fecal matter in his lungs. Both of us were healthy and doing well. We named him Drake Rhett Bingham. He was 8 pounds 1 ounce, 20.5 inches long.

After he was out, I still had to deliver the after birth. Kade cut the cord, then I had to work at the after birth. That actually was really painful. No one of course warned me because most women are numb. Your contractions don't stop until after everything is out of you.

After that, the nurses push on your stomach to help make sure it is all out. That is also painful, mostly because the nurses are not that nice about kneading your now flabby stomach.

The doctor then gave me some local anesthetic so he could sew me up. I tore about half an inch on one side. He wanted to cute me on both. So I am glad I told him no, because I only had to deal with one pair of stitches instead of two. The doctor must have forgotten that I didn't have an epidural because he didn't wait for the medicine to kick in before he started sewing me up. So I could feel every needle poke until it started to take effect.

Everything was normal after that other than I dropped a clot as big as a large cantaloupe when I tried going to the bathroom. If Kade hadn't had been there to help I would have passed out. I am grateful for my wonderful husband who stood by me through this whole 5 hour ordeal. He is amazing.

I would have to say that was the hardest thing I have ever done. It was really painful and I swore for about 4 weeks after that I wouldn't have another kid because they hurt to much. I have already forgotten how terrible it was. So I am sure we will have another kid someday not to far away.

All in all I wish I would have known a lot more going in than I did. Believe me I did a lot of research and I still wasn't prepared. It was way more messy and Icky than I thought it would be. Plus the pain was nothing compared to anything I had ever felt. I was told after that when you have a fast labor like mine, that it is called fast and furious. When labor is quick, the contractions are meaner and a lot faster. So I guess I don't feel that bad about complaining now that I know my labor and delivery was meaner and faster than other peoples.

If I could go back, I would have liked to watch a real labor and delivery before trying to do it with so little knowledge.

I am so grateful for Drake. That was the hardest thing I have ever done, but it was worth the outcome. Love you Drake.

Thanks so much for your help Susan! Couldn't have done it without an epi without you.

If you look at the left side of his head you can see the purple spot. He looks like he has a cone head, but it was only swollen on one side so it was really a large bump on his head.

so handsome :D

Birth Day!!!

So after all my complaining and whining, our little boy decided to arrive. I will get back to the birth story and all the wonders of delivery a little later. But for now, just know everything went great and we are back home.

Drake Rhett Bingham is the name that we chose for him. We had no intention of naming him this for the whole 9 months but we think it fits him.



Drake weighed 8 pounds 1 ounce when he was born, but now he is down to 7 pounds 8 ounces. So he lost a little of that baby fat. I hope he gains it back quick. He was 20.5 inches long, and was born December 6 at 7:22 am. We love him so much and I can't believe Heavenly Father is allowing me to take care of something SO SO perfect.

Grandpa Pincock

Today we buried grandpa Pincock. It was a miserably cold day! The funeral service was great, there was a lot of touching music, good words, and tears shared. I learned a lot about a man that I called grandpa. He led a good life of 76 years, and we will all miss him.

The last couple of years have been hard, mostly on his body. He was slowly broke down, and it was a hard thing to watch. Kade and I recently became one of his many caregivers. It was a good thing for both of us. Kade got to help take care of him, and even though they hardly knew each other, Kade showed him a great deal of love. It was so helpful getting to help grandpa in the end because service always brings you closer to people. I became close to him and his wife by being able to help them. Grandpa truly had an angle of a wife here with him on earth and one waiting for him in heaven.

When I heard the news of his passing on Friday I couldn't help but think of the wonderful reunion in heaven he was having with my grandma and his other family members. It is hard to be sad when you know how wonderful the next life will be. Love you lots Grandpa, I was blessed to have you in my life!

These are some pictures my sister Anne Marie took.

False Labor

So this morning around 3 I was up with labor :( It wasn't the Braxton Hicks contractions I have felt before. NOOO, it was all over, no sleep, no fun false labor. I kept thinking, this can't be the real thing. They would last for over 2 minutes and I only had maybe a minute between before it started over. So for hours I laid in bed, or was up walking around. At about 6 I fell asleep, and slept till church. When I got up to get ready, I was so soar. I felt like I had been doing sit-ups all night. Well I guess I wont see my bambino today. Maybe another day.

(No not a pic of me, I don't look that good)

I am hoping this event does NOT repeat itself.

Happy Halloween :S the story of how the bug got squished

So today we went up to my in-laws. My brother-in-law was having a birthday bash, and mom and dad Bingham made dinner. It was a yummy stuffed pumpkin (something I never knew existed till I married Kade). We ate at mom and dad’s and then headed up to Shila and Tony's house for cake with the rest of his family. We had a fun evening. After we decided we would go and visit one of Kade's friends that live up there.

It was one of those REALLY dark nights. It had been raining, so the moon and stars were behind a sheet of clouds, and you could see the reflection of puddles on the ground. Kade saw a kitten in the road and dodged it...we were laughing about how he had really good reflexes. Not a minute later we both saw breath in the air, by then it was to late, we had come across a herd of cows on the road. Kade did an amazing job, he dodged about 4 cows and slowed down enough that when we finally hit one, and we were going slow enough that it didn't hurt either of us. We were traveling north and had knocked the cow into the other lane. We got out of the car to look at the damage. My poor beetle was smashed pretty good, and the cow was lying in the other lane moaning. We got back into the car and moved it to the side of the road with our flashers on.

We saw headlights! Coming the other way! The car was driving so fast. We tried to honk our horn to warn her to slow down, or something. The horn wasn't working due to the accident, so Kade stepped outta the car to wave her down. She was going so fast it didn't make a difference what we did. She hit the cow that we hit and jumped the car about 5 feet in the air. Her car did 180 when it landed; she hit 2 more cows and busted their legs before she smashed into a fence post. We thought she was going to be in really bad shape.

Kade and I ran down to see if she was okay. Luckily for everyone no one got injured except for the cattle. We finally got a neighbor to come out and park his truck on the road so that no one else would hit any cows. We were there for about 3 hours trying to figure out if it was open or closed range, what farmer owned the cows, and if the pregnant lady was really okay! LOL, They finally found the farmer and the police told us it was closed range. So 3 cows and 2 totaled cars latter...we finally got to make our way home in Kade's parent's van.

The police told us that if the roads hadn't been wet that the other car's tires would have grabbed better and her car would have flipped over. We also know that if we hadn't hit the cow first the young lady would have hit a herd of 40 cows going really fast, and that could have been deadly. We had just turned on the road and had not gotten up to speed on the highway, so we were able to really slow down. We are also really grateful because our airbags didn't go off. With that accident it would have done more harm than good.

All is good other than we have one less vehicle to drive: D that was our Happy Halloween.

HERE ARE SOME PICTURES!