Carl pictures

Greg summed up how our third labor experience went. He made me laugh after reading it. Yeah he froze. I think we both didn't expect Carl so soon. As soon as the midwife checked me all I wanted was to push the baby out because I just wanted the pain to go away. I was scared because our plan for labor didn't go as planned!

Our plan was to get the epidural. I knew there was no time for any pain mediation. Right when I was bringing Carl into the world they were still bairley putting the IV in me. I was so afraid that I wouldn't be able to do it, but before I knew it, it was over. I was relieved I did do it and our baby was healthy and made it to the world alive. Carl arrived at 7:43am.Daddy with Carl all ready to go home.The kids came over to visit their baby brother. Greg said they where so excited to see him. Savvy and Chase have been so good to him. They are in love with Carl. Savvy is being a big sister with helping get his diapers and wipes. Both threw Carl's daipers in the trash and made sure he is okay whiling he is sleeping.
Carl didn't like his first bath that much:)Carl with grandma after his bath.
When I saw this picture I looked at Savvy's new born pictures and saw how much they look alike as new borns.Grandpa with Carl. We need to take more pictures of Carl and will continue to post more. Carl is changing everyday.

Carl Reuben Peterson

Carl was born on Wednesday, June 23, weighing in at a hefty 8 lbs. 9 oz. I am going to write this blog entry because Beronica is too humble to accurately say how awesome she was through the whole process and too nice to say how stupid was I. I also write for the benefit of some family members and friends that currently have pregnant wives and probably don't want to spend the weeks following the birth of their newborn sleeping on the couch.

Beronica has been feeling contractions for the past month. Monday, they intensified significantly. At her final appointment, the midwife instructed Beronica to walk as much as possible. Hence, between Friday, June 18, and Carl's birth, she was a woman on a mission, walking up and down the hills of Makakilo, probably logging a marathon or two--literally!

Greg's an idiot scene #1
The most intense contractions in the week leading up to Carl's birth usually occurred between midnight and 2am. At 1am on Tuesday Beronica woke me up. She said that she thought her water bag broke. With one eye open, I leaned up in bed, looked at a damp (but not soaked) bed sheet, looked back at my insanely comfortable pillow, and concluded that Carl must have been on her bladder. Beronica, being the sweet, loyal wife, listened to me, (probably for the last time in our marriage) rinsed off, and went and laid down on the couch.

During the ensuing 24 hours, Beronica did a terrible amount of walking with her mom, her midsection contracting all the while. We went to sleep early that evening.

Greg's an idiot scene #2
Beronica and I woke up at about 1am. She said that her contractions were stronger when she lays in bed than when she sits on the couch. I thought, logically, it would make sense to sit on the couch. Apparently, telling your pregnant, laboring wife to go sit on the couch in the middle of the night while you sleep in bed is not a good idea!

Beronica takes charge scene #1
At about 5am I got dressed to go to PT. Beronica and I watched the end of an amazing US soccer game with her dad, and I prepared to leave. That's when Beronica got serious, putting in action the "if you want something done right..." cliche. She knew my job was to get her to the hospital and that I was derelicting my duty. With fire in her eyes and command in her voice, Beronica took charge, "Call your work and tell them we're going to the hospital! Put my bag in the car and let's go. If we wait any longer, Carl will be born in a traffic jam!" At that point I made the first intelligent decision in 72 hours--I did as I was told.

Beronica takes charge scene #2 Greg's an idiot scene #3
We just beat traffic, arriving at Tripler Army Medical Center (that's the hideous pink building in northern Honolulu that can be seen from practically anywhere on island) at approximately 6:30am. Beronica and I went into the screening room where the hospital would decide whether she was far enough along to admit us. I was trying to help Beronica breathe. About three weeks ago, Beronica said that we should brush up on our Lamaze. I assured her that I was already an expert, showing her the different breathing techniques for the corresponding stages of labor. As Beronica's pain intensified, all that I could remember was to breathe in through the nose and exhale through the mouth--I don't think that is even a Lamaze technique. During one particularly excruciating contraction in the screening room, Beronica fired her coach and took charge, "Not that one, do the other one. I'm about to give birth!" I froze! Luckily, Beronica didn't, helping me through the different breathing techniques.

The midwife then checked Beronica and their ensuing conversation still gives me the chills:
Midwife: "Well, your baby's head is really high up.....
Beronica: "Does that mean you're not going to admit us?"
Midwife: "But, your dilation is 7 and your water bag has already broken. Do you have any idea when that might have happened?
Beronica: "Yesterday, at about 2am."
Midwife: I'm going to go run down the hall to find a room for you."
Beronica: "I feel like I want to push!!!"
Greg: (inaudible)

A nurse pulled Beronica's mom out of the waiting room to join us. Alma asked the nurse if we were going to have a baby today. The nurse replied that we were going to have a baby in about 20 minutes. About 1o minutes later, Beronica pushed little Carl into this world--without an epidural, without pain medication, and without a competent Lamaze coach. He is beautiful.

Beronica was amazing throughout the delivery and the weeks leading up to it. She did so well that the nurses couldn't stop praising her. They kept saying, "That's how it's done sister." And Beronica's midwife told her that she wished she had recorded the delivery to use it as an instructional video.

Currently, Carl is doing well, healthy, eating like a champ (it took him only a matter of seconds to begin nursing), sleeping, and, most importantly, letting Beronica sleep.

Beronica is recovering well. This was her first delivery without the sublime assistance of narcotics. She doesn't plan on doing it again and doesn't recommend it to anyone (though secretly I think she wants me to go through it!)

Quick update...

No Carl yet. Friday's baby checkup came and the mid-wife said I should walk even though I don't feel well and that hills are the best:(

Yesterday I started walking up the hills and telling myself I could do it. It's hard!! After my appt I talked with Greg and told him there wasn't a baby coming today and to get tickets for us to visit the Polynesian Cultural Center.

It was AMAZING!!! We had a blast and an adventure learning the different islands' culture!!! We visited villages representing the Islands of Samoa, Aoteroa, Hawaii, Fiji, Tahiti, Tonga. Later for dinner we did a luau and the food was really good. After that, we watched an amazing show, "The breath of life."

We started that morning off by showing my parents the sea turtles that live in the paradise cove. My parents really liked swimming here and we love seeing turtles. My dad said he liked it here because he knew there were not any sharks in the water. Here are some pictures from the PCC:

Chase, Greg and Grandpa learning how to play the Ukulele:) Savvy made her Ha'une i'a weaved fish.Grandma and Savvy went up stage to do the coconut dance. Savvy was brave and only tapped her coconutsMy love and I after pigging out at the luau:)Chase was really brave and dance with his coconuts. We thought it was funny he put the coconuts on his ears.
Overall, it was a great day, spent with great company.

Update....

My parents made it safe to Oahu:) This was my dad's first time flying in a very long time. He flew once when he was very young. He was really nervous! This was the first night after they arrived: This was on Saturday at Bellos Beach. I love having them here with us. We have had some fun and kept busy. Savvy's birthday was on Monday June 14th. She wanted a princess party with pizza and lemonade. It was so sweet when she told us, "I loved my party." She loved her gifts!! There is no baby yet. Hopefully our next blog will include pictures of Carl:)

Savvy will be 3 soon!!

Today, after getting Savvy ready for church, she got a hold of my sunglasses and started being cute. I had to get her picture taken with them on.

Lately Savvy has been acting so feminine!! I think because she is becoming a 3 year old!!!

Memorial Weekend 2010!!

Before having my 2 day mommy time, we hit the beach at Whiteplanes with our friends Mark and Tera. That morning was awesome because I finally got to see Greg surf. Chase and his friend Cameron were very brave to let their daddies take them out really far to do some boogie boarding. It was crazy because they caught some really big waves and rode them all the way to shore. That is Chase riding a wave. He was out far! I was so proud of him and a little mad at Greg. That's Chase on the wave and Greg behind the wave on the right. Savvy also wanted to get her picture taken.On Memorial day Greg had planned to go to the Punchbowl cemetery but I chickened out at the last minute because I was afraid of all the walking up and down hills. I am just too out of shape and too big to be walking up & down hills! The Punchbowl is a must-do when I'm not pregnant:) In the spur of the moment we decided to go to a beach. Here are some of my favorite pictures Greg took of the kids at the beach up at Northshore. This is where they filmed the beach scenes in the TV show Lost.

Yeah that's me at 8 months pregnant (huge!), relaxing on my chair, watching the kids play, and admiring the beautiful ocean:The kids had sand on them from head to toe:) Savvy also likes to relax on her new chair that daddy got her this weekend.Chase loves playing in the sand and he like to relax like his daddy! Greg and I thought of the soldiers who served and serve our Country, especially those who have sacrificed their lives for us. We are truly grateful for them! We love our country!

Birthday Bash!!

OH MY GOODNESS!!! I had a lot of mommy time the past two days. A friend of mine invited me to her birthday bash. Her husband got a suite for all her friends to party at the Hilton downtown. My awesome husband was very willing to let me go to have a good time with some girlfriends:) This was my morning view at Waikiki.On Friday night all the girlfriends ate at the Cheesecake Factory. I had a Navajo Sandwich. The Navajo bread reminded me of Mammy's. I love Navajo Tacos, so its good to know I can at least find the bread at the Cheesecake Factory. Here is a picture of my friends, Laura & Joy, and me. After dinner we went back to the suite, ate our cheesecake, talked and laughed. They stayed up until 4am talking and joking, but this pregnant mommy could only stay up til 2am. I woke up at 10am!!! That was wierd, because I don't remember the last time I slept in past 7am!

I woke up smelling bacon. I went to the kitchen and found that Joy and Corty made an awesome breakfast. I had some yummy fruit crepes. All the girls were going to do paddle boarding that morning--not a good activity for a pregnant woman. My friend Wendi is also expecting so we hit the pool to relax. Hanging out at the pool made me want to order a fancy drink! I felt like I was on vacation with all the tourists at Waikiki:) Here is Wendi and I. As you can tell, I'm huge! Wendi is 5 months along. This will be her third baby and first girl!! After our relaxing afternoon at the pool, we all went shopping.

I thought my friend was very sweet to invite us. It was her birthday but I felt like she was giving us the gift!!!