Yup, still alive.

Well, my blog seems to be moving down the list of priorities lately. I always think about it, but then time gets away from me and life with the littles keeps me busy :) It's been so long since my last post I can't even remember all that's happened since then. Ha!

We had a wonderful Easter full of family, food and fun! This was the first year I did easter baskets for the kids so that was fun. Fun for them and fun for me :) Aren't these easter baskets adorable? I just love them!

On Saturday morning we went to Ethan's school where the church put on a little Easter egg hunt for the kids. It was a lot of fun because there weren't zillions of kids there so the kids actually got to collect eggs and it was relaxing. Even little Lincoln walked around and grabbed a few :) So fun!


On Sunday we had my family and Jeremy's parents over for a little Easter celebration. Honey baked Ham, Deviled Eggs, a delicious cake and lots more to fill our bellies :) It was nice relaxing with everyone, celebrating family time and most importantly, the one who gave us all those things to enjoy! Jesus Christ. So thankful for the sacrifice He made on the cross - what a gift it is to know Him.

Our little crew is doing great! Spring is finally here and the weather is starting to warm up again so the kids are back to playing outside which is great! They love playing with their friends, playing on the swing set we bought them last year and just exploring outdoors. So so happy Spring is here!

Speaking of spring, we are getting family photos done mid May and I cannot wait!! I've been buying all of our outfits and accessories for months and can't wait to have my cute little family photographed with our new addition, Hudson Wallis! I'll be sure and post some sneak peeks on the blog once I have them - they are going to be way cute!

Nothing too new with the kids - they are all healthy and well - and we are so thankful for that. We signed Ethan up for soccer this past week for his 2nd year and we are excited about that. It's fun to go to his games and make fun family memories together. Some big news in regards to Ethan is that he got accepted into the school we were hoping he would get into - for kindergarten next fall! I'm so thankful and have such peace about the school. We have kindergarten round up next month - crazy! Ethan had his 5 year check up on Monday and all is well. The doctor has no concerns going into kindergarten and he knows everything he should know. Very thankful for my healthy children!

Gracelyn is doing great. She's constantly saying the cutest things that make me smile and giggle. Today, in all seriousness she turned to me and said, "Mommy, don't get another baby because this boy baby (referring to Hud) is getting cuter." Ha! Ok my little girl, I guess we'll keep him ;) She is doing very well with potty training also - which is great. We are planning on enrolling her in preschool in the fall at the same school Ethan has been at. We love his teachers and the school and Gracelyn is excited about going to school. Life next year will feel so different having Ethan away all day at school - it's gonna be weird!

Lincoln....oh Lincoln. Our sweet, smiley, laid back little boy who melts our hearts. He is at such a fun age right now. 18 months and starting to talk a little and understand things we tell him - and getting older to where he plays with his big bro and big sis like he's one of the big kids. So cute. His eczema has still been pretty bad and so I had been praying and asking God for some guidance and wisdom as to what else we could do for him. We pray God heals him completely, but until then, he is so miserable with his itching that I just wanted to look into more things that could help. To make a long story short, we have found some products that are completely all natural that we have been using for almost a week now and we are noticing a difference. It's really exciting!! I'm anxious to see what his skin looks like in a couple more weeks and if it continues to improve - but I really feel it will. I'm so grateful and we hope his eczema is a thing of the past!

My little Hudson Wallis is doing wonderful. He is such a sweet and smiley baby - possibly our easiest yet! Lincoln was pretty easy too as a baby, but then his eczema started so that changed things a bit. Anyhow, Hud is so content and happy all the time. He rarely cries, is super laid back and is extra smiley for his momma - which I love. He knows he's my baby, our caboose I'm pretty sure and so he knows I need all those extra smiles from him. He's 3.5 months now and doing so well. He's strictly nursing and is growing good and packing on the pounds! He will have his 4 month check up this month as well as Lincoln will have his 18 month check up.

As far as updates on Jeremy and I - we are good too :) Staying busy living life with our littles and squeezing in lots of date nights when we can :) Jeremy is heading down to Atlanta on Friday for a fun guys weekend to watch Michigan play in the final four! If they win Saturday's game, he will be staying for the championship game on Monday night also, and driving back on Tuesday. The longest he would be gone to date, let alone since having 4 littles - but I encouraged him to go and have a fun time, I'll do just fine :)

I actually have a fun little trip planned for me too. Once Jeremy brought up going to Atlanta I figured hey, I could probably have a weekend away too right? :) He was all for it, and I am SUPER excited to say that I'm heading to California at the end of May!! Eeek! I have a friend who lives in San Diego and I'll be staying with her while I'm down there. San Diego has been on my bucket list of places I've wanted to visit so I am super excited about going. I'm taking Hudson along with me - and booked my flight this morning :) Sunny California, here we come! A fun little getaway it shall be :)

My photography is starting to pick up again now that it's spring time. So fun - I have missed shooting! Here are a few images from my recent sessions - lots of newborns to start my 2013 season :)


Well, my little Hudson is wanting to eat, so that's all for now....hope you all are well and enjoying your day :)

I did a quick 3 month photo shoot of Hudson yesterday but haven't had a chance to upload the photos and edit them - but I'll post some updated photos of our little boy soon:)

Much Love,
Momma Keri

She's won my heart.

My girl....my sweet sweet girl. God knew my life needed a daughter! She touches my heart in a way that is different than my boys. Her tender soul, sensitive spirit....full of life and beauty - she's truly a joy and I am so grateful to the Lord He's given me a precious girl to call my own. I dream of the days my boys are off to a Michigan football game and my girl and I are off to the mall to shop and catch a chick flick. Hopefully she will want to do these things with me one day, and not want to tag along with her brothers! Ha. I love her so much and just had to share this image. I love it because it captures her best. Her hair all tangly and messy and a natural smile....a little girl full of spunk, love and happiness! She's a treasure.

Last night she came up to me and squeezed me tight and said, "I love you. We are the only 2 girls...just you and me." Yup kid, it's you and me :) (Can you tell she picks up on what I say to her?:))

When I get my camera out she likes to do all sorts of funny faces. Here's her 'pretend sad' face. What a beauty!



Love her oh so much.

New Beginnings

I have been meaning to sit down and write this post for over a month now - and have just never had the time. Linc and Hud are napping and E & G are watching a show - let's see if I can get through this :)

So, New Beginnings. As some of you may know, some very dear friends of ours (they were on staff at our church) felt many months ago that God was calling them to be head pastors. Where? They weren't really sure, and were applying at churches all over the country. In early January they went to Idaho for an interview with a church. After several days of prayer, they felt it was where God was leading them.

The morning of January 9th, my dear friend Brooke texted me and told me they took the position and were going to be moving to Idaho. My heart was filled with so many mixed emotions. I know God is going to use them in big ways there and we were praying along with them for His guidance and provision - and yet I knew at the same time, I would have to say goodbye to one of my closest friends. That, is not an easy task. Especially when those types of friendships are rare in your life. That night as I was cooking dinner and listening to Bethel, I was making 'Idaho' potatoes and just began to cry. My mind was re-playing all the memories over the past 6 years and it just hurt my heart to know we wouldn't be living life with them for much longer - the way we have been the past 6 years. Not only has Brooke been an amazing Godly friend in my life, our kids have been close also. Their Micah is just 4 months older than Ethan and have always loved playing together and being "boys". And then Gracelyn and Ainsley...oh how sweet...Brooke and I went through our pregnancies together...both having little girls...due 3 weeks apart. Gracelyn was born almost a week late and she went two weeks early with Ains and we ended up having our girls just 8 hours apart from one another! Amazing!! And then her husband (Pastor Adam:)) and Jeremy have been close as well. Let's not forget Annabelle...their oldest who is a precious little girl! Anyhow, all that to say they have been a very special family to us.

I had a good long cry that night. As Jeremy came home from work that night and saw me, he was a bit startled as he could tell I had been crying - which is not something I do very often. I'm not a big crier. He asked what was wrong with a panicked look on his face and I told him I was fine, just having a hard time knowing they were moving so far away.

Well, that evening I had an errand to run - it happened to be the first errand I was running without having any of the kids with me since Hudson's birth. As I was driving, I began to think about it all again and the emotions arose once again. Right then, I looked up and saw a huge billboard sign that said, "He is the God of new beginnings." I immediately felt comforted in that moment, I knew it was a little (but big) way that God was loving on me in that moment. I felt many things. I felt excited for our friends in their new journey and all the amazing things God would do through them there. I felt encouraged that God cares about me and that He could bring another special friend in my life.

A few minutes later, I get a text from a friend, who happens to be my pastors wife, and part of her text said this: "Praying for you tonight my sweet friend. I know God's got the perfect person coming in your life who will build on all that you and Brooke share." Moments before she sent her text I was just saying, "God, I trust you. I trust that even during this hard season of my life, saying goodbye to such an amazing friend....that you care and you can bring yet another special friend in my life." Of course my sweet friendship with B will not end just because they live far away, but it changes of course a bit when there's distance between you. But the timing of her text, seeing the sign, saying "God, I trust you" - wow. I began to cry yet again after reading her text. Yet again, another way God was showing His love for me. I texted her back sharing how God just used her so much - she had no idea! Once again, it takes me back to my favorite Bible verse, which says this: "The Lord directs the steps of the Godly, He delights in every detail of their lives." Psalm 37:23. God loves us so much. He cared that my heart was hurting. I looked up and saw that sign...then moments later got an unexpected text saying exactly what I was just talking to God about. He truly cares about the details in our lives, what a Savior!

Aside from my friends, I felt like 2013 was going to be a year of new beginnings for our family. I don't know all that entails, but it will be fun to find out :) We've already had some new beginnings....going from 3 to 4 kids....Ethan will be starting kindergarten in the fall...and we'll see what else 2013 brings. All I know is that God is good, and my soul rests in that alone. He's carried me through some of the darkest days/nights of my life and I am so grateful for His love...His peace...His goodness and grace. He brings something beautiful out of the ugly - I love that.

So, I've been meaning to share that for over a month now. Ha! Life with 4 littles, only so much time in the day :) Our dear friends left on a plane yesterday to Idaho. It still feels surreal to me, I was just saying that to Jeremy last night. I am excited for them though, I truly am. I only wish Idaho was a tad closer so we could be a part of the amazing movement that is about to start in their church, 'The Promise'. It's gonna be wild, it's gonna be great....it's gonna be full of Him ;) I took some photos for them this past fall, here's a few I thought I'd share. Aren't they the sweetest family? I sure love them.



Goodbye for now precious Cooke family, we will miss you oh so much...but now have a very good reason to visit the state of Idaho :)


As far as the Harrison littles, well, they are as cute as can be. We just celebrated Ethan's 5th birthday (what?!) which was a fun Curious George theme. I had fun planning it and making it fun for him. I'll have to post some photos soon, once I upload them and get a few edited. Gracelyn is her sweet self - always saying funny things that make me laugh :) Lincoln got his first haircut a few weeks back and he looks like a little boy now - so cute. He's a teething machine right now - rough nights and little sleep for the hubbs and I when our littles are teething....but this too shall pass :) Hudson is just a joy. So thankful for that little one and that my hubby wanted to have another babe. He's such a perfect blessing from God, I love him so much! He's doing really good....pretty easy...nursing great and getting some serious chubby cheeks like his brother Lincoln had at this age :) Here's a sweet photo I took of Hudson this week. What a doll!

So thankful for the amazing life God has blessed me with. A loving and supportive husband (and awesome daddy!), 4 precious healthy babes, great family, good friends, church family, a beautiful home to raise our littles in, my most loved minivan, my photography business taking off - (something that was never planned but that I enjoy so much), food to eat, clothes to wear, unexpected blessings....the list goes on and on :)

Praying your day is filled with all of His goodness!
Momma Keri

One Month!

Our sweet Hudson has been here for a month today. He is doing well and getting big. He's in Size 1 diapers now and in 0-3 month clothing - slow down little buddy :)

Just wanted to post a quick photo of him. Isn't he precious?

3 weeks of Hudson Love!

3 weeks. Sigh. Every milestone or little thing that implies that Hudson is growing up has been a bit emotional for me this time around. I know it sounds funny, Hudson growing up, seeing as he's only 3 weeks - but knowing he is probably the caboose of our crew - well, it's hard for me to think about. I have enjoyed this season of my life so much - and it's a bit sad for me to think about never experiencing some of those things again.

Positive pregnancy tests. Thinking of a fun way to tell Jeremy - even though he never "gets" my creative announcements. (Love you baby!) My mom's super fun and expressive reactions to another grand baby on the way. First baby kicks. Choosing a name. Picking out a baby memory book for our little one, that first night in the hospital after baby is born and it's 3am and it's just you and your baby. The list goes on and on. I truly love it all! I was born to be a momma, I really was.

I can't remember who it was that recently said to me, "Keri, you are just meant to be a momma of many kids, some people have the grace and patience for it." Now, I by no means am going to sit here and tell you I'm always gracious, or always patient with my kiddos the way Michelle Duggar seems to be with her 19 children, but I must agree that being a momma of multiple little ones I do love so much. I love being a mom - even during the season of 4 kids under 5. Our days right now are filled with applesauce spilled all over the floor, crayon on the walls, temper tantrums, bedtime fits, lots of poopy diapers and wiping butts, little sleep, and barely being able to get a sentence in to each other until all kids are in bed each night but I LOVE my life. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Over the past 5 years I've heard plenty of comments such as "2 kids is the perfect family", "Wow, your hands sure are full!", "Baby #3? You can stop now!", "Was the baby planned?" and so on. I'm not sure what makes people say such comments to others - but I just have to smile and nod when I hear those comments these days :) 2 kids may be the perfect family for YOU, it doesn't mean it's the perfect family for others. Yes, my hands are full, so is my heart! And please don't tell me when I should stop having children and yes all of our babies have been planned! By us and by God thank you very much! Those are all the responses in my mind when people say such comments to me but most of the time I find it's wiser to not respond and just smile instead :) I promise I'm not on a rampage and am not holding any bitterness in my heart, I just find people so...interesting :)

I do use the "yes, my hands are full but so is my heart!" response when strangers make that comment to me in the grocery store. I've never been one to blurt out my own personal thoughts and opinions to others on such personal decisions people make that are not my business so it boggles my mind when people make comments to me or to my friends who are living a full, blessed life with many little ones like me. Children are such a blessing. Yes, children are a lot of work too - but the rewards of having a child, the joy and happiness they bring outweighs it all. Yes, children are expensive...but that's why we budget, why I shop at mom2mom sales and garage sales for my kids clothing, borrow from friends and so on. Our society makes me sad at times....I would rather go without the nicest things or choosing to live on a strict budget than not having another child so I could vacation more, buy a bigger TV, or spoil my other children with more "stuff".

Just spilling my thoughts a bit today on motherhood I guess - and standing up for us mommas who have lots of little ones at home and hear negative comments at times. Be encouraged my fellow mommas, we are SO blessed to have healthy children and have the opportunity to raise these precious little ones to know and love others, love the Lord and be a light in our dark world.

Now, on to the latest with Hud the Stud :) I took him to the doctor on Friday and he is past his birth weight and growing good! He was 8lbs8oz at birth, 8lbs3oz when we left the hospital, 8lbs5oz at his first check up (5 days) and now already up to 10lbs5oz at his 3 week appt! Looks like he is growing great and drinking lots of mom's milk :) I basically just took him in for a weight check up, we didn't even see the doctor. He goes back again at 2 months for his next check up.

Our sweet Lincoln Jude turned 16 months old yesterday! Oh how I love that kid - he is so adorable and at such a cute and fun age. I haven't snapped many pics of him lately (indoor photography isn't really my thing) but I need to get an updated photo of him to share on the blog soon. I'll try and do that this week :)

I ordered some super cute birthday invites to mail out for Ethan's birthday party next month. He told me he wanted a Curious George party so I'm doing a CG theme :) Can't believe he's gonna be F-I-V-E! I love making birthday's a big deal, because, well, my babies birth's are a big deal! It's a day just for them - so fun to celebrate!

Gracelyn cracked me up yesterday. She was playing with her Dora doll and brought her over to me with Dora's pants down and told me she had to put some aquaphor on Dora (which she did in fact do!). I just laughed and said ok baby, no more aquaphor for Dora though ok? :) Aquaphor is a staple in our house - it's similar to vaseline for those of you who may not know - but we use it anytime the kids have red bottoms or on Lincoln's dry skin. It just made me laugh thinking about how kids really watch everything you do and copy you :)

Here's a photo I took of Hudson last night. 3 weeks! Oh how I love this little guy and everything a newborn brings - even the middle of the night feedings! I cherish all my time with him and our other 3 babies as I know these years go by so fast.

I wanted to share this photo I snapped of Gracelyn and my Grandpa (the one that Hudson is named after) on Christmas Eve. I just adore it. So sweet and a photo I will cherish forever.

Much love,
Momma Keri

2 week cutie

Our sweet little Hudson will be 3 weeks old tomorrow so this post is a little late but I thought I would still share a photo of him that I took at 2 weeks. I'm trying to capture as many moments as possible on camera because I know how quickly it all goes by! Tear.

Isn't he a doll??? We are still trying to figure out who he looks like - because we both feel he looks different than our other babes! It will be fun to see him grow and change and then maybe we'll see the resemblance of someone more.

Hudson is doing great, and as I mentioned earlier will be 3 weeks old tomorrow. He is a pretty laid back baby, eating, sleeping and pooping and peeing in between and isn't really fussy unless he has a burp or needs a diaper change. I'm enjoying every minute with him and treasuring my 4 healthy babies! What a gift!

Our Christmas was great. I must say, I got a bit spoiled this year - and they were all unexpected surprises! I've been drooling over getting a new(er) Macbook Pro - mainly wanting it for my photography and I got surprised and blessed with one a few weeks before Christmas! It's not brand spankin' new but was barely used so pretty much new. The screen is 17" (so excited!) and the clarity is better - all great tools for when I edit photos. It was such a huge surprise and to be given it was just amazing!

My sister also surprised us Christmas morning by telling us she wanted to take our family (as in us, her, my bro and Kate and my parents) on a family vacation this summer - expenses paid! For anyone that knows me, I LOVE vacations and planning them and we haven't been on one in a couple years so I was excited!! Kris and I started looking online and we decided on Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I was trying to plan a cousins trip there last summer but with multiple family members getting married and having honeymoons to go on - it just didn't happen last year. So, late August we will be taking a road trip to Myrtle Beach where we've rented a house just blocks away from the ocean. I cannot wait!! We haven't taken a family vacation with my siblings and parents in over 10 years - so I'm looking forward to all the family time and memories to be made. It should be loads of fun - and will hopefully keep my mind off our sweet Ethan starting kindergarten just a few days after we return! Tear.

Of course my favorite Christmas gift this year was welcoming our brand new baby boy into this world. I felt so blessed Christmas morning to have 4 healthy and gorgeous children and a husband who I love so much and am going on celebrating 10 years of marriage with. I feel so thankful and blessed for the life God has blessed us with - He is so good!

New Years was fun. While we haven't gone "out" for New Years since having children, I've kinda looked forward to and enjoyed getting the kids down for the night and just having quiet time with my hubby - watching a movie, making popcorn and drinking an ice cold Coke. I know I know, such big plans we have on New Years but with 4 little ones, a quiet night at home with your hubbs is actually quite exciting :)

I've never been into making new years resolutions too much but last year I did make one and this year the same. My resolution last year was to find a babysitter so my hubby
and I could spend more quality time together and have date nights out. It may sound like no big deal to you, but let me tell you, it was a big step for me! Until finding a sitter, we had only left our kids with my parents and my sister. For the first few years, leaving Ethan wasn't really easy. He went through separation anxiety until almost age 3 and so leaving him with someone he didn't know wasn't easy. Once he finally got through all that, it made it a little easier for me to think about finding a sitter to leave the kids with.

We finally found a girl from church who we have felt comfortable leaving our kids with. It's been very nice having more time alone together and I must say it is much needed and important in your marriage when raising little ones. We are in the stage of parenting where our kids depend on us for almost everything and with 4 little ones that doesn't leave a lot of time for "us". While our kids needs come first in many ways, it's important to put your marriage first also and the needs of your spouse. Without a healthy marriage, it's impossible to raise little ones as a team. Parenting is the most rewarding job, but also the hardest job - and so having date nights out together has been so good for us. A chance to talk without little ones pulling on our pant legs or saying "I pooped. Change me." So, yay for date nights!!

This year my resolution is quite simple but will help me stay organized. It's to edit my own children's photos and organize them on my computer soon after taking them. Now that I've gotten busy with photography, I spend a lot of time on other people's families photos and mine kinda sit on the back burner, never get edited or organized and put into the right folders, etc. So this year I plan to stay more organized with their photos.

Ethan went back to school this week and was happy to go back. It has been so good for him and he is learning a lot and staying busy doing fun things so we've been really happy with his preschool.

I just started to potty train Gracelyn this week so that's the latest with her. It took Ethan awhile to get it down and that's ok. I'm laid back about it and don't get stressed in the process. I remember getting comments often before Ethan was potty trained (because he wasn't 2.5 years old like their kid when they trained them) and that got old really fast. When kids are ready, they're ready - I'm not gonna be a mom who tries to keep up with the Jones' and compare my kids to others. So with that being said, there's no need to email or text me every few days asking how it's going :) I'll be sure to post the exciting news when she's officially trained :)

Lincoln is doing well. He will be 16 months on Monday and is growing up so much. He plays alongside Ethan and Gracelyn constantly, says "cheese" when I go to take a picture of him, knows where the toaster is when we ask him if he wants a waffle, runs to the coat pantry when I tell him I'm going to vacuum (where I store it) and so much more. I taught him where his nose is this past week and he smiles so big when I react to him showing me where it is :) We are working on where his ears are now ;) He's cutting 3 molars and 2 other teeth so he's been fussy on and off for weeks now. Teething is brutal on the little ones!

And Hudson as I mentioned is doing good. We have his 2nd check up with the doctor later this afternoon - they expect him to be back to birth weight at 2 weeks, and he's almost 3 and feels like he's gaining weight so I'm sure he's passed that up. I'll be sure and update with his stats next time I post.

Enjoy the weekend!
Momma Keri

Hudson's Birth Story

This will be a long post, so grab your favorite cozy blanket and a cold coke and get comfortable on the couch :)

As most of you know, I dread labor and delivery. I love being pregnant and have pretty good pregnancies but my labors are typically long and pushing is always a nightmare for me. I always get an epidural (heavenly!) but that never helps with the pain of pushing. I pushed for 3 hours with Ethan, 10 minutes with Gracelyn (awesome but still horrific pain) and 2 hours with Lincoln.

With that little intro being said, I have one word to describe Hudson's birth story. Amazing!! Ok, and all God! Let me take you back to Thursday the 13th.

I went in to see Jeanne (the most amazing midwife around) that morning for my check up. I was 3 days past due. All was well with baby. She asked how I felt about being induced and I said, "Let's do it!" Seeing as she is a midwife, being induced looks a lot different than it would with a doctor. A doctor immediately induces with pitocin for the most part and a high dose of it at that, my midwife induces with a more natural gel. I had the gel with Lincoln and it took 6 hours to put me into active labor. It went really smooth for being an induction.

So, we decided I would go into the hospital that night to be induced. She had another patient due the same day as me that was also going in at 10pm that night to be induced. I really wanted to get the "big room" for once (a full size bed to recover in....SO much better than the hospital beds!) so I said to her, "Ok so if I get to the hospital at let's say 8pm, then I'll get the big room?" She smiled and said, "Yup,".

There you have it folks....I did something selfish and decided I would get there before her other patient so I could get the big room. Honestly, I felt no guilt. After this being my 3rd delivery with Jeanne, I felt the big room was mine for once ;)

We went home, I cleaned up the house, made sure I had everything, said goodbye to the kids and off we went to have a baby! I was excited and nervous all at the same time. Excited to meet our little boy or girl, nervous to go through labor and delivery once again. We got settled into our room around 9pm, I got my IV and my first round of the gel at 11pm. My first nurse (who shall remain nameless) I thought was ok...but everything she did went wrong. She went back and forth for the longest time on where to put the IV, asking ME what I thought. Umm, what? I have no clue, I'm not a nurse :) She put it in the more "risky" spot....and within 45 minutes it was hurting me so much I had to ask her to re-do it and move it to the other spot. Oh well. She then struggled inserting the gel as well. A few other things happened also but whatever, I don't want to focus on that!

Nothing much was going on, I was not in labor yet....so when 5am rolled around, they decided to do a 2nd dose of the gel. I slept all of an hour that night so I was pretty tired already at this point and I wasn't even in labor yet! Sigh. I got the gel at 5am, was checked at 6:30am and I was barely a 2. (The story of my life I tell ya!) I was feeling anxious at times with all the waiting around...trying to keep my mind off the end (pushing) but it wasn't easy. I went all day and was checked again at 4pm. So, 9.5 hours later. I was now an "easy 2". Sigh. So, at this point I had been at the hospital close to 24 hours, 2 IV pokes, 2 rounds of gel and no sleep. At that time, my midwife said to me, "Ok, we have two options. One, we can get pitocin going or two, you can go home and come back on Monday and try again." I sighed. She looked at me and said, "You're not getting discouraged are you?" I said, "Well, it's just hard for me with all the waiting around because I just feel anxious."

Plus, a little while before this, I turned on the TV to find out what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary and I was a mess. I was crying, I wanted to go home and see my babies and I just could not get that horrific situation out of my head. 20 precious little ones, murdered. I knew I had to shut the TV off and get my mind clear and in a better place and focus on the baby. So, I did just that. I shut it off, put on some worship music and just prayed.

So, after talking with my hubby and then Jeanne for awhile, we decided we would go ahead with the pitocin. At 6:30 pm, a low dose of the pitocin started in my IV, and Jeanne thought with this being my 4th baby, it would really get things going. I was checked again at 9:30pm and was a 3, so I was ready for my epidural...which I had at 10pm. I laugh when I think about the anesthesiologist. She comes in, gets everything ready and says, "Oh shoot, I left my glasses downstairs." Umm, that isn't really what you want to hear when someone is about to poke you with a gigantic needle in your spine! My husband very seriously said, "Well, we will wait...you can go get them." HA! She was like, "Oh no, I don't need them, I'm fine." Great - how comforting :)

Jeremy left the room (as he always does when I get my epi) and she began. This would be my 4th epidural and they've never really been painful for me. Well, when she gave me the first numbing shot, I had horrible horrible stinging throughout my back. Apparently this is normal but I have never had that in the past and I thought something was seriously wrong. It hurt so bad I couldn't help but be vocal about it to her and the nurse. It happened a few times but then it stopped and I was ok. She then did the big needle which really is no big deal once you are numb...and within not long I wasn't feeling contractions and all was good!

My midwife said she would be in shortly to break my water - that should definitely get things moving. She broke my water at 11:45pm and then we decided we would try and sleep some before everything really got going. I slept maybe an hour...but, it's almost impossible to sleep when a nurse is coming in every hour to check up on you, do your vitals, etc. Jeremy however was able to get some rest in the nice big bed ;)

I was checked again at 2:30am and was an 8! Woot woot! Backing up a bit, I had a new nurse that morning at 7am....who turned out to be my favorite nurse the whole time I was there. She worked the 7am to 7pm shift. I was hoping I would deliver with her - but this baby had other plans ;) She left that night at 7pm and said she would be back in the morning at 7am and hopefully baby would be here by then! I asked her to get me a good nurse for the next shift and she did! I loved her also and she worked 7pm to 7am so she was with me when I delivered.

So, at this point (2:30am) I was finally feeling at peace again, had the Sandy Hook thing off my mind and was feeling good mentally. Around 3am I was dilated to 8.5. Just a short time after being checked that time, we hear a girl outside our room screaming and moaning in labor. I mean, just awful. It immediately brought anxiousness in me, as I knew I was about to go through that exact pain any minute!! We tried drowning her out with the TV, putting worship music on and Jeremy even ran the shower - but nothing helped. We heard her cries and it was awful. I was sitting there praying for her and for God to help her - but feeling really really really really anxious.

This is when the beautiful part of the story happens :)

So, it was 3:15am and I texted my mom, my sister, two of my best friends and another friend, Rachel. Rachel had told me the night before she would leave her phone on that night and if for any reason I needed to text her, ask for prayer or just whatever that she would be available.

I texted them all the same text that basically said to please pray for me because I was almost a 9....another girl was screaming in pain outside my door (who I thought was my midwife's other patient and thought she wouldn't make it back in time for my delivery) and I just was feeling extremely anxious. My sister and mom texted back encouraging words and prayers and that was comforting. Rachel texted back, and didn't stop texting for a good hour. The texts just poured in - she kept texting scriptures and just prayers that were so what I needed to hear. She prayed for a supernatural delivery for me - for no pain. She prayed for one baby to wait for the other so Jeanne could be there for both deliveries. She just poured life into me and our baby for a good hour. All at 3am!! Rach, I know I've already told you, but, you just don't realize how much of a blessing you were to me during that time!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

By the way, the poor girl who was screaming in labor pains delivered not too long after hearing her cries...and I learned that was not Jeanne's patient after all but that her other patient and I were neck in neck as far as delivering our babies. Turns out that girl who was screaming walked into the hospital and delivered her baby 18 minutes later!! So, she was in the worst of the pain when she walked in. Poor thing!

So, back to me...my nurse knew how painful pushing was for me (I warned her) and she had asked me if she needed to turn down my epidural so I could feel when it was time to push. I laughed and said, oh no, the epidural does nothing for me with pushing, I always know when it's time because I have horrific pain. At the same time, I wasn't wanting to speak that as Rachel and I were both praying and believing for a different experience!

Around 4:45am, my nurse said I was a 10 and if I wanted I could start trying to push and we would see how I did and if it was bringing the baby down at all. She didn't call Jeanne in at this point as she was sleeping in the hospital and she didn't want to get her until it was time for baby to come. So, for about 20 minutes I pushed with just my nurse. In my mind I didn't think it was doing anything because it wasn't painful. I figured the pain would start at anytime. Jeremy wasn't even paying much attention because again I had no pain and we just didn't think it was really time. So I did that for about 20 minutes and my nurse said I was doing great and moving baby down. I thought to myself, "Hmm, that's great...but there's just no way it's really time. Ha!" She then said she thought it was time to call Jeanne and have a baby.

Jeanne came in around 5am and she said, "Ok Keri, try and get a few good pushes in with each contraction and we'll have ourselves a baby in no time." The first contraction came along and I gave 3-4 good pushes. She was encouraging me along the way, saying I was doing great. The second contraction came along - same thing. The third contraction came along...I gave 2 pushes and I hear, "The head is out." Umm, WHAT?!?!?! Did I just hear her correctly?! The head is out? I had NO PAIN!!!!" It was at that moment I knew I would have no pain pushing the baby out....and that God truly answered our prayers in such an amazing way! I pushed once more and out slid baby Harrison!

Jeremy looked and quickly said, "It's a BOY!" Ahhh!!!! Another boy! I knew it! I then looked at Jeremy and I think we were both puzzled and shocked it was over and I had no pain! I couldn't stop smiling and I could not wait to text Rachel!! But wait, it gets better!

Hudson was born and Jeanne then says, "You have no tears!" First time in 4 deliveries I did not have tears...no stitches whatsoever were needed!" Another amazing miracle! And to top off the story, 5 minutes after delivering Hudson a nurse ran into our room to say that the other girl was about to deliver her baby and they needed Jeanne! I mean, WOW God, you are so cool!!

Jeanne's other patient had a baby girl, and since I had both a girl and boy outfit with me at the hospital I decided to walk down to her room and give her my adorable girl Gymboree outfit :) It was Christmasy and all :) Her little girl was just 6 lbs and had loads of hair so it was funny seeing her next to my chubby bald headed baby boy :) We talked for a few and she told me how she kept telling her baby to hold out until mine arrived! Ha, too cute :)

So, no pain in pushing...no tearing...and the timing literally worked out perfectly for both of us to deliver and still have Jeanne with us. It was all such an amazing testimony of God's love for me, it truly was. I still cannot get over how everything went - it was just amazing! I was even able to get up and shower within an hour of delivery - I felt that good!!

To top off my birth story, my friend Rachel lost her very best friend, Jessie, years ago in a tragic car accident. After I texted Rachel once Hudson was born (12/15/12 at 5:15am) telling her of what God had done, she rejoiced with me and went on to tell me something that gave me the chills. Jessie's birthday was the same as Hudson's. Wow. It gave me the chills. I told her it was such a supernatural divine appt. and that was just confirmation. I thought how beautiful....that through the loss of her dear friend, on her birthday, God used her in such a big way on my little guy's arrival into this world. I pray that brings some sort of healing to you Rach because I thought it was pretty amazing.

So there you have it! Hudson's birth story. Absolutely amazing and totally God in every way. Jeanne knew how much I dreaded pushing and she told me afterwards how she prayed pushing would be better for me this time. How cool is that! The two nurses I loved both worked all weekend so I had them both 3 times while I was at the hospital - they were fantastic! I've already bought them both a thank you card and gift card to Target to mail out soon!

Also, I have to say, not knowing the gender (even though I thought I knew it was a boy!) was the best surprise ever! I absolutely loved it and would do it again if we had another. Yes yes you read that right, I said "another". Hudson is most likely our last, but, I'm not gonna say he is 100%. I said that after Lincoln was born and all my friends gave me the "I told you so!" once we announced our pregnancy with Hudson.

Our sweet Hudson will be 2 weeks old tomorrow and is doing wonderful. He is a pretty easy baby so far, sleeps, eats and pees and poops and doesn't really fuss in between. I thought he looked a lot like his big brother Lincoln when he was just brand new - but Jeremy and I both feel he looks different than our other kids. It will be interesting to see who he looks like as he grows older. Regardless, his looks are quite charming like the other Harrison babies!!

Here's my very favorite photo from his newborn session. I mean seriously when I saw this my jaw dropped!!! Can a child be more gorgeous than this?! I really do not think so!! So thankful to God for 4 healthy and beautiful children. I'm one blessed momma!

Momma Keri