Ok - here are the details

(I don't expect everyone to read this whole thing, but I need to document it somewhere. If you read it, lucky you.)

At my last appointment, I was dialated to 4 cm. I was freaked out at being that far at only 37 weeks. I decided to try the castor oil a week early than I had originally planned.

Friday December 19 - Lisa offered to take the little boys for the morning (she is such a saint! Love you Lisa!) Clayton was off that day, so he came with me to run some errands. When we got home, I took three Tablespoons of castor oil. I had planned on making the castor oil cookies, but when I made the dough, the smell of the molasses was gross, and I didn't want to have to eat tons of gross molasses or a little bit of gross castor oil. Anyway, Tommy and I laid down for a nap. I had a few trips to the bathroom, but really not that bad. I guess I started feeling contractions in the evening. They weren't much different than the ones I had been having for weeks. After the kids went to bed, they were worse. I never really had time to sit down and time them, so I was going mostly by pain. We decided to call the Dr at around 10:00. After a long discussion, she said to come in. We got the kids to the Vejnars, and arrived at the hospital at around 11:30. I was dialated to 5 cm and the nurse said the magic words, "you're staying!"

I laid in bed watching tv and feeling contractions. They got more and more painful, and by the time the candyman (anesthiesiologist) came I was in tears at every contraction. This is where I got the worst epidural I have ever had. For some reason he couldn't find the right spot, and it took forever! I was having a constant electric zing down my left leg and dealing with really painful contractions. Needless to say, I was sobbing like a baby during this whole time. Finally the thing got where it needed to be and it was over. I started feeling much better and was actually realxing. I was so exhausted, and I loved not feeling my body that had been causing me so much pain and discomfort for the past few months. I don't think I got much actual sleep, but I didn't hurt. After the epidural, I was dialated to 7 cm and stayed there for a long time. Apparently the baby was having some heart decelerations with my contractions. Then my contractions were on top of each other, and the baby needed a rest. They gave me some medicine to slow my contractions. This, and the epidural, are probably the reason I didn't progress during that time.

It was a long, long night. I was at 7 cm all the way until the Dr came in at 7am. She broke my water and within an hour, I was at 10. The only problem was that I was back to feeling the contractions and it was very painful again. I was getting scared of pushing if the contractions were as painful as they were. I pushed the button for more medicine - nothing. I asked for another dose, and then another. Finally I was pain free (again). But now, I couldn't push. More of the waiting game. An hour later, I was able to say, "can we please try?" So we did, and about 2 or 3 contractions later there he was.

As he was coming out, the nurse exclaims, "His head is huge!" The whole time she was cleaning him up, she couldn't stop commenting on how big he was. She wasn't kidding either. We were suprised to hear them announce 8 lbs 7 oz! Thank goodness he came over 2 weeks early!

We are all glad the pregnancy and delivery are over and we can move on to being a new family of 7! (holy crap, how did that happen?!)

Brandon Rogers Phillipps

December 20, 2008

8lbs. 7oz

21 1/2 inches long

We are sooooo thankful for miracles!

Beteween our elementary school and our house, there is a pond that used to be used for irrigation when our area was farm land. For the last 2 days we have been having below zero temps and the pond had frozen over. Jackson apparently had one of those 8 year old not-so-smart moments, and went out onto the ice to try to get a log. Yes, he fell through the ice. Clayton's sister lives across the street from the pond, and Molly ran over there. Aunt Candice ran over, but by the time she had gotten there, Jackson climbed out himself. His cousin, Scott, was on the ice also, but didn't go through the ice. Jackson was cold, wet, and scared to death - but fine. Molly was quite traumatized. She kept crying and screaming "Jackson almost died!"

Clayton and I are so thankful that Heavenly Father is watching over our family. I am having a hard time not thinking of all the horrible things that could have happened. We all learned a lesson today. Not only about not walking on the ice, but that Heavenly Father really does take care of us and answer our prayers.

Maybe this can be a reminder to anyone that reads this. Tell your kids this story, and why they shouldn't give into the temptation to walk on the ice.

Imagine a whale in a skirt and crocs

My feet have ballooned in the last week. I've never had this problem, until lucky number 5. The other day when I took my shoes off to show Clayton, he literally gasped out loud and said, "wow, those are some hoofs!" I only have one pair of shoes that I can get the hoofs in to - my crocs. I'm sure you all wish you could have seen me at church with a dress and Crocs. It was real cute.

All I can think of when I look at my feet, is my poor grandma Crane. Her ankles always looked like this, and now I know how "not-fun" it is.

Thanksgiving Utah trip

Yes, once again we made our pilgrimage to Utah for Thanksgiving. We always figure that is the better holiday to travel on so we can be at home for Christmas. We got to stay for a little longer than usual this time, thanks to Clayton's work schedule. We had Thanksgiving #1 at the Montgomery's house before everyone else left for a Crane Reunion at Disneyland.

I know, I'm huge.

Grandma gladly sat with the girls.

Grant, Stanford and Tommy.

pretty good, don't ya think!

Nothing like a lesson in Hearts after dinner.

Thanksgiving #2 came on the actual day. Thanks to Misty and Kori for their house and everyone else that brought food.

This is Clayton's cousin Kori, whom Molly told "I like you sometimes!"