Little LuLu

Luke's story begins last summer when I unexpectedly got pregnant...again :)  And hopefully this third child will lead to some sort of awareness on my part about how to properly use contraceptives.  But that is another matter for another day.  

This pregnancy was a little different in that this time I knew for sure that I would be having a c-section.  I was really disappointed when my VBAC failed last time, but I have gotten over the fact that I'm just not going to deliver my babies naturally.  And honestly, it was a big relief to actually know exactly what was going to happen and prepare for it, even though I knew that I wouldn't make my scheduled April 2nd section.  We all knew from the beginning that I would come at least a few weeks early, if not more.  And lo and behold, I DID come early!  Four weeks!  So we have a true preemie back in the house again. 

My doc started cervical checks on me several weeks before the normal schedule, and at 34 weeks I was already dilated 2 cm and 30% effaced.  At 35 weeks I was at 3cm and 50% effaced.  While I was completely miserable, I felt validated in this because basically I was in slow motion labor--so ladies, imagine your labor and stretch it out over weeks and weeks--the contractions, the misery, the pain and discomfort, all while trying to keep from going into premature labor and taking care of a 2 and 4 year old.  I was pretty pretty pretty whiny.

In order to have my section before the scheduled date I had to go into full on labor.  But since I'd never done the traditional labor thing before, I was nervous to know exactly what to look for.  But on March 11th we went to a free movie at the library with the kids, and I noticed that my I had three strong contractions in an hour.  When we got the kids in bed I sat on the couch and timed my contractions and they were lasting a minute and coming every 15 minutes or so.  I called the hospital at 10 to ask them when exactly I should come in, because I knew those contractions weren't going to slow down.  I found out that the doctor on call that night was the one OB that I do not like.  I told Richie that there was no way I was going to let him cut me open.  So I labored all night at home,  and at 5 am I came downstairs and timed my contractions again.  Now they were every 5 minutes.  Time to head for the hospital!

We got there and as the nurse set me up for surgery she said that it all depended on how dilated I was. I told her I was already at a 6.  She didn't believe me and when she checked I was almost at a 7!  By now the contractions were starting to hurt pretty good and I was ready to get this child out of me!  

The c-section itself was awesome.  I was nervous because I have never been awake for my other ones, but the spinal block went smooth and fast.  As I was getting prepped I realized that Richard was the only man in the OR.  How cool is that?  Even my anesthesiologist was a woman.  It was just coffee talk and chatting about kids and backyard chickens while we listened to music and getting ready to deliver a new life to the world!  I was honestly so happy.  Especially I was happy to have modern medicine helping me out so I felt nothing but that happiness.  Richie held my hand the whole time, and when the doctor told us that we had a little boy I began to cry.  I felt so much joy in that moment.  It was the complete opposite of my other two deliveries. 

So Luke Richard Barkume Peterson was born at 8:19 am, weighing 6 lb 4 oz and measuring 18".  He was in great shape and I got to hold him as soon as they made sure he didn't need to go to the NICU.  I am now recovering from surgery and excited for the warmer weather.  Luke is growing great, like to nurse a lot and never lets us sleep at night.  But somehow we will work it out.  We love Luke, he is a wonderful, beautiful, happy addition to our family and Eve and Theron love him very much and are wonderful older siblings.  We love you Luke!

Photo Card

Modern Monogram Boy Baby Announcements

Shutterfly has cute birth announcements and Valentine's cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

A Happy New Year After a Long Hiatus

Hello all my friends and web mates.  After a year-long absence on my blog, I am finally posting again.  Mostly because I didn't manage to send out Christmas cards this year, which bummed me out, but there is always next December, right?  But, this has been a great year for our family and we have some exciting news as well!  So browse our quick update and I hope that 2013 is a good year for all!

Richard, the Chemist. Chemist really is a title well-deserved by Richard.  With lay-offs at work and big projects to complete he has been a very busy bee.  Not to mention that he walks to work every morning in 5 degree weather.  What a man!  He was called as 1st counselor in the Elders Quorum in our ward, a position that presides over the men in our congregation.  It keeps him busy as well.  He has had the chance to attend some Utah Jazz games this season, watch all his sports teams fail miserably and grew a kick-ass garden this summer.  As usual, he kept our lawn immaculate this last year, and has taken to grilling on our new grill.  Richard is a great dad who spends more time with his kids than most men I know.  They adore him and hate to see him go to work everyday to "make the monies" as Theron puts it.

Renee, the Chef.  Well this year I cooked up an unexpected surprise: baby #3 is on the way and due in the Spring!  My official due date is April 8th, my c-section is scheduled for April 2nd, but I'm pretty sure the little one will be coming in March.  We are keeping the gender a surprise, which has been fun, and I surprise myself with my lack of curiosity of what the little one is.  I personally think it's a girl, but really, could just as well be a boy.  I was called to serve as 1st Counselor in our church's Young Women organization which works with the youth of our church.  That keep me very busy!  I was also in charge of our ward's Christmas Party this year, which I nailed.  It was pretty awesome.  Having two toddlers at home keeps me very busy, along with all the swimming, hiking, gardening, coloring, cooking, laundry, canning, sewing, movie-watching, exploring and nightly couch-sitting I do.  I did bike and run this last summer, only to find out I was pregnant and immediately stopped and ate a lot of Halloween candy.  

Eve, the Princess Pirate Preschooler Doctor.  Eve has really blossomed this last year.  She started the year off with a bug-themed birthday party, which was loads of fun and cuteness, and also potty trained shortly after without much muss and fuss.  It was great.  Even after more than a year and a half of having two in diapers, I would still rather wait until they are actually ready than go through months and months of agony and messy accidents.  Once she got it she never looked back.  Eve took swim lessons this summer which she loved.  Her teacher was surprised by how comfortable she was in the water.  We went down the water slide a lot.  Eve also loved hiking and gardening this summer, which was so much fun.  She also developed a fine art sensibility and decided to color inside the lines.  Eve loves to cook and play dress-up and imagination games.  She loves to tell stories and sing.  She started preschool in the fall and is excelling socially and academically.  She really is a perfect child, always sharing and being a peacemaker.  She is a great sister, a great helper and lots of fun.  She can't wait for our new baby, which she has named Google Monster!  But a word of warning: never tell her she is silly or funny.  She is Eve, and only Eve.

Theron, the Two-Year Old.  Theron can throw a tantrum with the best of them, but he is also very sweet, happy and just about the most enthusiastic person I know.  Ask him if he wants to do something, he shouts at the top of his lung "I do I do I do I do I do!"  or if not, "Oh no oh no oh no oh no!  Please no!"  This is a kid who knows what he wants.  Most of the time it is blue "yuckers" (suckers).  Needless to say, he took his trick-or-treating very seriously this year.  He was a man on a mission.  Theron learned to crawl, walk, jump, and run this year, and turned two in November.  He likes to use the potty and uses it about once a day, but still likes to wear his diapers.  He is very independent and insists on doing everything himself.  He loves the alphabet, trains, cars, wagons and swimming.  He is also very artistic and loves to watch movies and TV.  He also loves to sing, read Curious George and be licked by dogs.  He does not like the snow or sharing.

  

This summer our family went to Yellowstone for a week which was exhausting and fun.  The kids loved the geysers and sitting in the hiking backpacks, and aside from the one day that will never be mentioned again, it was a great trip, and a chance to meet some family I have never met before. We also spent a few days at Bear Lake in a beautiful home with Richard's family.  Eve and Theron both caught their first fish and watched the eclipse.

On a sad note, this past year we also lost our beloved cat, Lucy.  Sadly, she was hit by a car on Mother's Day.  It still brings tears to my eyes when I see pictures of her.  But I think Eve might get a cat for her birthday this month.

 So there you have it, a review of the Petersons' 2012.   2013  is going to be crazy.  Really crazy.  But I can't wait!  So God Bless, and come to Logan and visit us!