Disclaimer: This is a "How Grayson came into this world" post. If you don't like details...I would recommend you return in a few days for a new post. Otherwise, keep on reading!
The night before Grayson was born Kenny and I spent the evening in the "big town" and ended up with iPhones. It ended up being a great (albeit expensive) thing because we were able to update family and friends throughout the day. Kenny discovered the notes section on his phone and took the following notes throughout the morning. His words/thoughts are in the reddish color and my added notes/thoughts are in black italics. Enjoy!
Arrived at the hospital at 4:50 am
Checked in at 4:55 am
Visited with nurse Paula until 5:30 am
Jen is tired
[DUH!!]Paula took blood at 5:50 am and put in the IV
Jen doesn't like the blood pressure cuff
[That thing is terrible! They need to come up with a better way to take blood pressure]Started Potocin at 6:20
Nurse change at 7:10 am
Dr Davis came by at 7:50 am and broke Jen's water
Jen was having consistent contractions and decided to get an epidural at 8:30 am
Jen has been eating ice chips. Thank God for the little things.
[Side note: It was about this time that Kenny brought his phone over to me to ask my opinion on some flashlights. You see, the night before we were at Target discussing how we needed some new flashlights. We both agreed we could probably find a better deal online. It just so happened that woot.com featured flashlights the day of Grayson's birth. Now everytime I look at those flashlights (which arrived the day after we got home from the hospital) I will think of my sweet baby boy.]We have been texting and talking to friends and family.
The epidural is wearing off
[Epidural? What epidural? It stops working so they give me the button to push to make more medicine go through. Not working. Not cool.]At 10:15 Jen was at an 8
The epidural is officially not working.
The anesthesiologist gave Jen more medicine at 10:47 am
[Didn't go as planned. Medicine did nothing. Absolutely nothing.]Jen's cousin Laura came by with Brinley and visited for about ten minutes
[Then I decided something wasn't right and baby might be coming.]Around 11:10 the nurse said Jen was at a 10.
[Then the worst pain imaginable came. Contractions were every minute and Grayson had moved onto my sciatic nerve. I felt completely out of control and the pain was unbearable.][The nurse had me push through 2 contractions which was the hardest thing I have ever done considering the pain in my back. Thankfully, those 2 pushes made Grayson move off my nerve.] She had someone call Dr. Davis and told Jen to stop pushing.
Jen was miserable for the fifteen minutes it took for Dr. Davis to get here.
[Miserable is an understatement.]When the doctor was ready it only took six pushes through two contractions for Grayson to come out.
Grayson is beautiful. He doesn't have a cone head because he came so quickly, but he has lots of busted capillaries for the same reason. The nurses call it a slam dunk delivery.
[Maybe he will be a basketball player? He was born during March madness...]So there you have it. Grayson's birth story from the hubby's point of view and my side comments.
Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. ~Mother Teresa
The world always looks brighter from behind a smile. 
If you don't have a smile, I'll give you one of mine. 
Brayden Lynn at 8 weeks...
Grayson Benjamin at 6 weeks...
Kennan and the rocket ship cake that him and Kenny created...
Opening presents...
Pinata time!
Pinata candy chaos!
Grayson is such a laid back and easy going little man. He hardly ever cries...he has to be pretty upset! If you were to come to our house at pretty much any time of the day you would find him in his bouncy seat asleep or keeping his eye on Kennan and Brayden. He sleeps pretty well at night, only waking up once to eat. He likes his pacifier sometimes but isn't dependent on it like his big brother and sister were at this age.
At this point I am thinking he looks a lot like Kennan did at this age. But he also has some of his sister's characteristics. Not sure about his weight and length as he doesn't go to the doctor until he is 8 weeks old. If I had to guess, I would say he is about 9 lbs.
Grayson will be 3 weeks old tomorrow. He changes everyday and is becoming so much more alert. We took him to the doctor last week and he was 8 lbs 2 oz and 20 1/2 inches long. The doctor gave him a great report!! Grayson is a great baby. He is pretty laid back and doesn't cry much. Grayson is adored by his big brother and big sister (and mom and dad too!).
Brayden is now 2 1/2 years old...going on 16. She is a wonderful big sister and a great help! Brayden continues to keep us on our toes and there is never a dull moment when she is around. She is extremely talkative and understands way more than a 2 year old should!
My sweet Kennan turned 5 years old on March 16. I cannot believe I have a 5 year old who will be in kindergarten next year! Kennan is a wonderful big brother. When he first met Grayson he was pretty stand-offish...but now we can't keep him away!
Photo shoot...
Grayson was 1 week old on the 16th, but we took pictures today!
and a sister (unsuccessfully) attempting to do the same...
We are loving this beautiful day! The rest of the week looks to be as nice so hopefully we will be enjoying the great outdoors!
Brayden was 9 days early and was 6 lbs 13 oz.
The doctor thinks Grayson will probably be in the low 8's.
and pretty much everyday we spend with our sweet girl. She is so full of energy and if you spend any time with her, it is a guarantee that you will pass out like this too! This picture was taken last night. Kenny laid her down after numerous warnings to listen and obey had failed. He gave her a few minutes to read in bed before coming back in to turn off the lights. He left her room at 7:04pm. This picture was taken at 7:12pm. Enough said.
as seen in this picture! Most days they play pretty well together and she doesn't know it yet, but she is going to miss him when he starts kindergarten next year. Kennan has started to call her "sissy" instead of sis or sister and I think it is pretty cute (maybe because that is what my brother used to, and sometimes still calls me!).
and whether Tristan likes it or not, Brayden is convinced that it is in her cards to marry this sweet boy. The other night Kennan and Brayden were going to sleep and the topic of marriage must have come up. Brayden came running out of the room asking "Mom, who I gonna marry?" I answered that I think she will need to wait until she is a lot older before she needs to worry about getting married but that God already has a special boy picked out for her. She responded, "Well, I gonna marry Tristan." Maybe God has spoken to her? Or it is her crazy fantasies about marriage? I would venture to say that the topic of marriage comes up at least every other day in this house.
Not a day goes by that this sweet thing doesn't test our patience....
but we wouldn't have it any other way. Her favorite word is "no" and she doesn't seem bothered by the negative consequences that follow her actions. Punishments don't faze her and the phrase"She'll learn her lesson" doesn't seem to apply to Brayden. I love her strong willed spirit and am hoping that she will hang on to it as she grows into a teenager and young woman.
Ready for sledding...although Kenny said she preferred to go down on her bottom and not on the sled!
The other morning before work Kenny helped the kids make "Roby" the robot out of some old cardboard boxes. They had a great time!
We've made it to 35 weeks! Only 5 more (or maybe less?) left!
The other day Brayden wanted to look at my belly to see if she could see baby Grayson. I told her we would have to wait a little while longer before we could meet him. She then suggested, "We get some scissors?". I quickly got that idea out of her head and will make sure all scissors are out of her reach and that I sleep with one eye open at night!!
