He made it!!!

We checked into the hospital on 03/12 to start the induction process. I was given medication to help my body dilate more. By3:00 am I was having contractions on my own. We started Pitocin at 6:00 am, and he was born at 1:48. He was Sunnyside up. For those of you who don't know what that is, it's when they come face up towards the cieling. Scraping the back of there head long my tail bone and lower back. His head was a bit purple and bruise, and I am a bit purple and bruised as well. haha. He was 8lb 6oz, 20 1/4 inches long, and we chose the name Matthew Thomas. We love him so much already.

He was 3 wks early, they induced me because an ultrasound said he was too big for his gestational age. Due to his size and being 3 wks early, he had to be put through some sugar tests and other things. We stayed an extra day at the hospital. His syblings had a hard time with us gone. They LOVED coming to visit. My favorite thing was Lucy's questions "Where's him hat? Where's him diaper? Who's him Mommy?" I laughed when she asked that one, and told her I was. She looked at me kind of strange like. But now that we are home, I think it's clicked for her.

While at the hospital Matthew had to do the standard hearing test. He did not pass it. They did a total of 3 tests on him and did not pass any of them. This picture is the last test they did, we thought it looked like he had head phones on. We've been told that he could have fluid in his ears and that would drain on it's own. I know he can't hear because if we drop a spoon or make a loud noise, he doesn't jump at all. We'll be taking him in for more tests for his hearing these next few weeks. We are hoping for the best. I have a hard time believing he is deaf because in Utero, when I would make a loud noise like pans banging together, he would jump. That happened many times. If it does come to him not being able to hear, I honestly just feel blessed to have him here with us, and that kind of a complication isn't anything we couldn't handle and tackle.

We love our Mr. Matt.

Why do we put things off?

The first part of this post has to do with our house. When we bought the house 5 years ago, we saw that it had a Solar Water Heater on the top of it. We had NO CLUE how the thing worked, but figured it was an added bonus. When we moved in, I told Jeff, "We should have someone come and service it and tell us how it works." Anyone knowing my hubby knows the man is cheap and likes to put things like that off as long as possible. So, year after year, we would choose to pay to service other things and not the solar water heater. We had done some research online and had read somewhere that they can be like "ticking time bombs" on your roof if the pressure builds up in them.

Everyday, for the last  5 years, from 12:00-2:00 water would run out of the solar water heater, into our gutters and into the street. We had thought it did this due to pressure building up inside, making it not the "ticking bomb" we read about. Jeff would tell me ' hurry and do dishes and start a load of laundry, maybe the water would stop. It's running because we aren't using it.' That wasn't the case at all. Another issue we had was in the summer we could enjoy HOT showers and loads of laundry etc. During the winter time, even if I was the 1st in the shower the water never got hot enough and we'd have to deal with tepid water. We just figured it was the solar water heater. Being in Eugene there isn't much Solar Energy going on during the winter months . . . .

Well I finally convinced my hubby to call a service man. For a mere $100  he came and serviced both the water heater and the Solar water heater on the roof. The reason why our water was cold was because on the water heater in the garage, the temp was turned down really low. As for the running water into our gutters part of the solar water heater . . . should have never happened. Really. Imagine turning on your kitchen faucet every day for 2 hours x 5 years. That's how much water we waisted. It makes me sick just thinking about that.

So here is the lesson we learned, when you don't know how something works, at least have someone come and diagnose and explain the function of the item. Don't just assume. Ugh.

I have now enjoyed HOT showers, HOT loads of laundry and sometimes just laugh, that for 5 years I put up with tepid showers . . . 5 years . . If that's not ridiculous I don't know what is.


Now for the rest of us . . .

We are due to have baby #4 in a few days. We aren't actually due until the end of the month, but he is measuring WAY too big for where I am at in the pregnancy. We hope to be induced and hope my body and his body agree's with this induction. If so, we'll have a new little arrival in a few days! Wa HOO!

Here is the latest pregnancy picture:

Since my last post we haven't done too much except get ready for this little guy. The kids helped me paint the bedroom, and all his clothes are washed and put away. I'm thinking it's time for him to come out.