Anna Ruth's Early Arrival Story and 1st Week of Life

I was scheduled to deliver Anna Ruth Turner on Tuesday, September 13th but the little stinker had her own plan.  I had been having Braxton Hicks contractions for months, but on Friday, September 2nd they were more frequent and different.  I had to work in the morning and afterwards I went to pick Wesley up from a friend's house.  We met Jimmy for lunch at the Carolina Ale House.  The whole time we were at the restaurant I was having these contractions (they weren't really painful but were becoming more intense) every 5-8 minutes.  Jimmy jokingly/not jokingly said, "You better quit eating if you think you're going into labor...you can't have a big meal before a surgery" and I replied, "But this burger is really good..." and kept on eating, hehe.  We went home to put Wesley down for a nap and the contractions continued but they did let up some.  I packed my hospital bag JUST in case.  I had an appointment at 3:00, so Jimmy took Wesley to pick Grace up from school while I went to the appointment by myself.

A few days before Anna was born!

At the appointment my blood pressure was much higher than normal and my legs/ankles were starting to swell up some.  When my OB, Amber, (who is also a good friend of ours) came in she measured and kept feeling my belly have these contractions.  She said she would check to see if I was dilated and sure enough,  I was.  She looked at me and said, "Kristen, you're dilated like 3-4 cm!"  I said, "What does that mean?"  She said, "you're going to the hospital because we have to monitor that".  She told me to call Jimmy and came back in to say that based on what my body was doing and her gut, she was confident my body would go into labor within the next few days SO, "Let's have a baby tonight!"  I was shocked and also excited...so I called Jimmy.  Here's how that exchange went:

Me (phoning Jimmy who knows I'm at the appointment): no answer
Me (texting Jimmy): Can you call me?
Jimmy (texting): On phone.  What's up?
Me: I need you to call now.
Jimmy: I'm on the phone with Time Warner baby (we had been having some internet issues).  What's up?  Pressure high again?
Me: Amber is sending me to the hospital, Jimmy.  C section tonight.  I'm dilated 4 cm.
*Cue incoming phone call from Jimmy :)

 He was able to arrange for us to drop off the kids at our friend's house for a sleepover and then I called my parents and told them to head on up to NC!  The plan was for them to come on up and get the kids the following morning to bring them to the hospital since we weren't sure what time Anna would be coming.

We dropped the kids off (thank you Kittners!!!) and headed to the hospital!  The timing couldn't have been better since Jimmy was already off for the weekend and Labor Day.  We couldn't believe we were on our way to have baby #3!  We arrived at he hospital around the same time as Amber, our OB.  She wasn't even on call and came in just to deliver our sweet girl!  Jimmy went to visit with the anesthesia crew since he's done some rotations at the hospital where I delivered and knows some of the staff.  I was able to see several friends who are nurses at the hospital as well and we could just feel that we were well taken care of!

Cutting the cord!

Mommy is a little bit loopy here but there she is!!!

Before we knew it, I was prepped and ready for surgery.  I felt pretty good through the procedure and Anna came out at 6:56 p.m. beautiful and healthy 7 pounds 1.2 ounces even for being born at 37 weeks!  She measured 21 inches.  We were able to take her straight to recovery with us and my mom showed up not too long after that.  My dad had to come separately because of some bad weather in Columbia that caused some issues with the pool and the power went out, but he was able to make it a little bit later by 11, I think.

Memere arrived

In the PACU (recovery area) it was completely calm and quiet...there was no one else in there which was lovely.  Sweet skin to skin with our little angel.

Diaper changes were comical in the hospital because Anna kept keeping/pooping on Jimmy every time he got a clean diaper on.  At one point she peed twice, so Jimmy picked her up out of the bed to grab a new diaper, and she peed all over his feet.  :)  Feisty third child!

Jimmy snapped this one...love snuggling newborn babies!

The best daddy around

My mom and dad picked the kids up from the Kittner's house the following morning and brought them to meet their new baby sister!  This picture is absolutely priceless!

Another priceless first picture...they are in love!

Anna gave presents to Grace and Wesley :)

My brother sent this side by side comparison of Grace (left) and Anna (right)

Here's another one of each child: Grace (top), Anna (bottom left) and Wesley (bottom right)

Look at that squishy face!

Memere, Pepere and their grands :)  SO thankful they were able to come and help out with the kids so Jimmy could be with me at the hospital.  Cindy and Linton came to the hospital on Saturday and then everyone went home to our house and spoiled us!  They took care of the kids, did yard work, went to the store, and tidied up our messy home.  THANK YOU!  Thank you also to the Kittners for letting our kids come over for a slumber party!  We have a wonderful support system and are so thankful for that.

They made this hat at the hospital and brought her back from her first bath wearing it.

Sweet angel!  My mom's friend, Donna, made this sweet hat.

We were discharged in less than 48 hours and were SO grateful for that.  We got home by noon on Sunday, then mom and dad headed back to Columbia, SC since Jimmy was off that week.  

Harper Kittner holding Anna.  Sarah brought us a meal and brought her girls with her...these are the two cuties Grace and Wesley got to have a slumber party with :)

Reagan and Anna

Home with 3 kids...ahhhhh!

Our first fur baby meeting our last human baby :)  Maverick has been a trooper...Ellie too...she's probably outside during this picture.  

Sibling love!

That face..those cheeks...so precious.

My boys with our newest addition

New mom selfie...very tired but so in love with the newborn snuggle stage.

A few days old

Anna's middle name comes from my nana's eldest sister, Ruth, who passed away this past year.  She was the matriarch of all the Frazier girls (there were 4 total).  My Nana passed away before I had any children, and Ruth made sure to hand make a special blanket for Grace and something sweet for Wesley.  This was special because my Nana made a special blanket for me when I was born and would have loved to meet her great grands.  Ruth sent sweet notes to us and we were able to visit her each year we went to the beach since she, her son, and daughter in law moved to Wilmington, NC a few years ago.  Ruth was just a sweet lady that we loved.  The spoon in this picture was given to Ruth on her first birthday in 1918.  Her son and daughter in law mailed it to us when Anna was born to have as a keepsake.  Yep, I cried like a baby. Happy tears, of course :)  Thank you Tim and Julie for being so thoughtful and thinking of us.

He LOVES Anna and constantly says, "She so cute!"

Look who came to surprise the kids!  My brother was able to meet Grace and Wesley at the hospital when they were bor and vowed to do the same with Anna, but she came earlier than expected.  So, he was still able to fly in for the weekend plus a few days.  My parents picked him up at the airport on their way back up when Anna was 1 week old.  Uncle Jordan is the best!

Pepere and Anna have something in common already :)

Wrestling with Uncle Jordan

Wesley LOVES his Uncle Linton :)  They are reading a book together.  Cindy and Linton came back up to our house to spend some time with Jordan since he flew in from California and we don't get to see him often.  They brought a fabulous Sunday lunch and other treats as well.  I got to nap and they did some more work around the house for us.

Grace and Jimmy stayed home since she got strep throat the day before family left.  The rest of us went to Camel City BBQ downtown for dinner.  Unfortunately Grace and Jimmy had to stay home since Grace came down with strep.  She's doing much better now!

Cool looking place!

Arcade games!

Couldn't have gotten through any of this without this man right here :)  He took 2 weeks off from work to be home with us, has been on mommy duty with drop off and pick up from school, has grocery shopped, cleaned, and dealt with my emotional breakdowns.  He has been occupying Grace and Wesley and making sure everyone is fed.  Speaking of food, we are so grateful for our community that has literally showered us with meals since we came home.  The first week at home someone brought us a meal every single day!  Our church has set up a meal calendar lasting through November for people to bring us meals several times a week.  This has been and will continue to be such a blessing to us!

Sweet girl!