Frye Fam Happenings

15 weeks 20 weeks 23 weeks

After contracting for days, I went to bed on Monday night, August 2, and felt some pretty strong contractions. Titus woke up at about 11 with a high fever he had been battling for days. I got up with him, and when I went back back to bed, I quickly realized there was no sleeping through these contractions. I went out to the kitchen, got a snack and some water to drink, and paced around the house praying to God that this wasn't the real thing! (I wasn't ready to have a newborn baby, and I really wasn't in the mood to be in pain all night :) ) Much to my dismay, however, God had other plans, so I started timing contractions around 1 in the morning. I turned on my birth relaxation playlist and bounced and rocked on the yoga ball while listening to Enya and the like. I woke Derek up not much longer after that and told him he had better call our friend, Paula, who was coming to stay with the boys. We left for the birth center around 3 I think. (Derek should probably be writing t...

1. I had ONE baby yesterday!!!!!!!!! Josiah Thomas Frye was born at 7:08 am. 7 lbs 3.5 oz, 20 inches long. I feel like I was in labor for the past week or so, but I started timing contractions a little after 1 in the morning, and he was born 6 hours later!!! I cannot believe women give birth to twins/triplets drug-free. I always forget about delivering the placenta and then the contractions post-birth, and it's always so disheartening!! I can't imagine pushing one head out and then knowing there's more coming! We are so happy for a healthy baby boy!! 2. The number of roller skates Justus bought at the store with his money yesterday. Thanks Uncle Brian and Aunt Lauren, and Grammy and PopPop!!!!! :) Isn't he so cute?!! 3. Derek did not even get a whole 3 days off from work. He had to go in this morning to cover for his "sub," because the doc had meetings. He will be here this afternoon and tomorrow, but then he has to go back Friday! I think they expected him to...

I wish!!! Oh my I have so much to do to prepare for this baby! I still have not finished my birth playlist (5-10 songs will not cut it!), and I would love to have an updated list and not have to use the one from Eli's birth. I loved that playlist, don't get me wrong. I just want some fresh songs that will help distract me from contractions as much as possible. I don't have a single item of baby clothing out of a box. I don't even know where that box is. Good thing the only 2 things that I absolutely must have are attached to my body already and will DEFINITELY be at the birth ;) I feel like I am in a little bit of panic mode, but it's still not motivating me to get off my sore rear end and do something about it! I would say the only thing I have actually done to "prepare" for this newborn is to relish in my final weeks withOUT said newborn. I am trying to fill my days with fun things for the boys, girls' night outs for me, and just sitting in bed with ...

For the sake of record keeping (and to satisfy those inquiring minds :) )... I have gained 32 lbs. to date (with 30 being the most I've ever gained before at the END of my previous pregnancies!!) I am measuring on target (36 cm), which I have never done before. (I've always measured a couple weeks behind schedule.) Josiah's little head is DOWN and engaged in my pelvis already. (Yes I can feel it, and Yes I have pretty much perfected the prego waddle.) I am so curious about his arrival date and size!! I do NOT expect an early or big baby by any means based on my history, but I will be surprised if he's not any bigger than the other babies have been. We'll find out before we know it!!

I've added my birth playlist to the right, in place of the old playlist. It was something I needed to work on, plus it was about time for a change to the music on the blog :) Actually, some of the songs are the same as before. When looking for songs, I wanted to look up the word, "Hosanna." I love the song, know the story, and have used the word. I found this article by John Piper and love it. I have such a better understanding now, and I have to say it is fitting for labor! "Lord, save me!!" :) And please excuse the Jennifer Knapp song. I hope it doesn't offend anyone, but I love it and it can still be my own personal prayer during labor! :)

What?! Wow, I thought I was "turning" 32 weeks tomorrow. It's 33!!! aaaaaaa (What would I do without my little ticker on my blog? haha) I thought time was supposed to go slowly for your own pregnancies... Not this time around!!!

1. People ask how far along you are, and your answer is, "Ummmmm, somewhere in the early-20 weeks," (and then you walk away questioning if that is even accurate.) 2. You weigh yourself, and by the time you turn around and are distracted by your 3 other little ones needing things, you start doing the math in your head to see how much weight you have gained, and you have already forgotten what the scale said. 3. You feel a thump on your stomach, and you look down to see who is needing something. 4. You sit down at the computer to enjoy some quiet time during your kids' nap and room time, and you realize how amazingly hungry you are. Then, you realize maybe that's because you haven't had a single thing to eat since breakfast...and it's pushing 1:30 pm. 5. After realizing how hungry you are, you also realize how tired you are and how fixing a real lunch is NOT appealing at the moment...so you grab anything and everything you can find that does not require any asse...

For the record, baby #4 pops out MUCH sooner than baby #1 :) Here I am prego with Justus at 22 WEEKS!!!! hahahaha And now, at 14 weeks with #4 :)

You know when you get pregnant with your first baby? Most new moms can't wait to start showing and get into those maternity clothes! With your second, you realize how frumpy most (ahem, affordable**) maternity clothes are, and you hold off pulling them out of storage. You use rubber bands on your jeans, pull out every pair of stretchy-waist pants you can find, and wear your normal shirts and just let it hug your belly. By baby number three, you recognize the fact that maternity clothes are indeed in your near future, and you go ahead and give into pulling them out and putting on at least the nice stretchy maternity pants. (not to mention the fact that your belly pops out MUCH quicker with your third!) And by the time you are pregnant with number four?? You get excited when you find out you're pregnant, if only because you get to get into those comfortable maternity clothes again and let that belly HANG OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

I had an appt. with my midwife today. Eli has moved UP to zero station...but she said that could change easily and often. I am 80% effaced, but that also doesn't mean much to me. I remember being 80% effaced with one of the boys and not going into labor anytime soon!! Everything seems like random information at this point to me. I think it all can just change and happen pretty quickly, but I was certainly hoping for a little more hope of him coming sooner than later:) Oh well, all in due time!!!! I definitely don't want him to come before he's ready! Due "dates" are kind of silly anyway. Maybe I'm just trying to talk myself out of expecting anything at a certain moment:) Labor will probably begin when I least expect it,and all of a sudden, I will be having a baby:) haha I AM a fingertip dilated, so I'll hang onto that for now! Meanwhile, here's a picture of Justus with his newfound hobby...catching caterpillars:) (Gotta love boys!!)

As of last Thursday, I am 36 weeks. Eli is engaged in my pelvis at a "Plus 1" (Plus 4 meaning he's out of there!! Here's a picture about that.) I've had a few Braxton Hicks contractions, and sometimes I feel like he's about to fall out of me!! SOOO, I'm just praying he doesn't come too early! Here's some pics to see my/his progression. We did the clothes/pictures the same way everytime so the change would be even cooler to look at...but I didn't realize how tight and silly my shirt would look at the end:) haha Anyway, here they are! 12 Weeks 20 Weeks 23 Weeks 27 Weeks 36 Weeks

Eli is head down! yea!!!! AND Derek passed his first set of boards!! Hallelujah!! We are so excited:) I have to remind myself, though, that while I am so thankful to God for these things, I would need to be thankful and joyful even if they didn't happen. God IS in control and has a plan for each of us. I am so thankful that these 2 things were in His will for us. My appt. with my midwife yesterday was great. Aside from the great news of Eli being head down, I am constantly encouraged by how thorough and knowledgeable she is. She takes so much time poking and feeling around on my belly, and once she figures out where Eli's limbs, head, back, and butt are, she takes my hands and shows me how to feel for everything. She allows me to connect with my baby and my body in a way I have never experienced. She takes TIME to listen to and thoroughly answer my questions, and she is truly concerned about my overall well-being. I had to take the boys with me to the appt. yesterday, and she w...