Lucky Number 7

Finley Rex
6.2.26
8lbs 9oz • 21” long

Finley’s homebirth was planned. I switched to midwives at 26 weeks and never looked back! Everything felt right once I finally made the decision and I never questioned it after that. My experience with Aurora Midwives has been amazing. I loved every appointment and how informed I felt on every decision. They made me feel ready and capable of having a homebirth. I love my four other hospital and epidural births but Finley’s birth was extra sweet for so many reasons.

I was 40 weeks and 2 days on June 2nd. Having another June baby didn’t cross my mind since Ramsey and June came early but here I was. I had a midwife appointment that day at 1 and asked to be checked and to get a membrane sweep. I loved my baby belly but I was ready to meet this boy! I left feeling crampy and took it easy once I got home. I dropped Ramsey and June off to swim with Coco near by and came home to watch The Greatest Showman in bed. At 3:45 I left to pick up Nova and her friend from drama camp and felt a couple small contractions around then. Back home I sat on the yoga ball to finish my movie and felt a few more easy contractions until at about 5 I had a stronger one and felt a big jolt inside! It almost felt like baby did a big fast kick. Then I stood up and felt a small gush and knew it had to have been my water breaking!

I sent some texts to my family and one to my friends. All of which I was in the middle of saying I didn’t think it would happen today. My mom started packing right away to make the three hour drive here and Coco was already headed back here with Ramsey and June. I was planning on my sisters and mom being at the birth if the timing worked out for them. 

Curtis was taking his time on the toilet so I finally yelled through the door that my water broke! That got him out! We looked at each other and and said yup, this is happening! I changed my bottoms and then called the midwives at 5:19pm. It’s a team of four midwives so I wasn’t sure who would be here until they answered the phone. It was Dwan, I told her what happened and to be sure she had me use a test swab I got in my birth kit to test the liquid and make sure it was indeed my water that broke, which it was, so she gave me some instructions and then said to call back when I feel I’m ready for them!

Coco got there soon after and planned on staying so Garrett came to pick up her kids. I started to time my contractions and they progressed to painful pretty quickly. Curtis and Coco set up the birth tub area and we held off filling it up. I had to focus on each contraction already and think about what position was helping out more. The contractions were irregular, like 1-5 minutes apart and lasting 30 seconds to 2 minutes long. I ended up on my hands and knees and didn’t really want to move much. It was helpful to have Coco there who took care of some things (like take pictures and videos!) while Curtis was with me. 

My Aunt Shaunna came to drop off dinner cause we were right in the middle of texting when my water broke and she offered to bring by tacos. Since everything happened so fast she ended up staying the whole time! She was helpful with June who was a little nervous about the whole thing but also wanted to be involved. I also had my friend across the street text me and ask if anything was happening yet so I told her my water broke and labor was already happening quick! A week before we joked about her bringing ice while I’m in labor and so I actually did need her to bring ice cause our freezer was broken and I wanted ice water. So she went right away and dropped off ice for us! 

During a particularly intense contraction I remember thinking “this is going really quick!” And I told Curtis he would be here soon! Curtis asked if we should call the midwife back and I said yes! So at 6:10 (only 50 minutes from the first call!) he called Dwan and told her I was ready for her to come! Curtis and Coco started to get the tub filled and I think at about 6:30 I got in. It felt good to be in the warm water and move around freely. Before I got in I gave up on timing contractions. At this point I had no relief, it felt like one constant contraction with strong peaks that would be super intense and then ease up and then repeat. But always there! I was feeling it all in my lower back and I had a hard time finding any relief from them except for having Curtis push my hips together. I remember thinking I knew this would be over quick and that helped me get through!

Dwan got there at 6:35. I was in the tub on my knees and hanging over the side and I didn’t want to move from there! The only thing I could remember to do was focus on my breathing. Everything was happening so quick we had no time for my birth affirmation cards or twinkle lights me and June hung up a couple nights before, I didn’t care who ended up being there or watching haha, things I had planned went out the window. I didn’t know where or what the kids were doing. I was in the thick of it! June would come in and out of the room but she was so unsure of things. She held my hand at one point but I was just focusing so much I couldn’t even acknowledge her. 

The midwife and student midwife set everything up and tried taking my blood pressure and get a read of baby’s heartbeat but I just kept having contraction after contraction and they tried to wait for a break in between. And then I started to feel the need to push with each contraction just before 6:50. I tried my best to breath and let my body do its thing but it was SO hard! The pain was so intense and I was getting scared for each new wave to come. I was afraid to push. It definitely did not feel better to push. Haha But I had no choice, my body was making me do it so I stopped fighting it and actively pushed when I felt the need. The ring of fire didn’t last long before I deliver his head. I finally had some relief! I sat back on my knees at this point and probably two minutes passed before I felt the next contraction and pushed the rest of his little body out! Born at 6:53pm! Just an hour and 53 minutes after my water broke! I thought I would be the one to catch him and I wished I could have been coached into it but I just did not feel able in the moment because I was so focused on the next contraction to push him out! My midwife caught him and placed his warm, slimy body on my chest. He cried and cried and I couldn’t believe I had just done that! 

We hung out in the tub for a bit and he was content on my chest. Curtis was the real MVP for staying in the tub with me pushing on my hips until he was born, he swore he wouldn’t be in there at all! I was a little afraid to deliver the placenta but it wasn’t terrible. When I was ready my midwife wanted me to get up with baby in my arms and I thought there was no way! So I gave him to Curtis so I could get help out! It’s crazy how you can go from the strongest moment in your life to the weakest! My stomach muscles did not want to work. 

I got cleaned up and taken care of by my midwife and then helped in bed where I got baby back on my chest. He was a content little guy. Nova and June had peaked in after I had him while I was still in the tub and June ended up staying through the rest of it! Missy showed up seconds after he was born! And Mom didn’t make it until after the midwives left dang it!

It was such a neat experience to already be home and be taken care of in my own bed! And I all of a sudden wondered how this wasn’t the norm!? It was such a more personal feeling, no where to go, surrounded by my family, and in my quiet and dark room. I absolutely loved it. I didn’t want anyone to leave! I was so happy and proud. June was adorable being involved where ever she could be. She helped Curtis cut the cord and put on gloves to help the student midwife look at the placenta. She was loving it! And she hasn’t stopped since!

The midwives were so efficient I didn’t even noticed how while taking care of me and baby they emptied and cleaned and deflated the tub, cleaned up all their many tools and supplies and started a load of laundry. They were amazing! 

Sleeping in my bed with little Finley on me and no one to bother me the first night was the best! Although I hardly slept from all the adrenaline! I kept replaying the birth over and over in my head. I read a quote that said worrying about childbirth is a lot harder than childbirth itself. Something like that and I thought how true it was! It was hard going into a homebirth with everything out of my control! Haha I worried how it would look, who would be there, what time of day it would be, how fast it would go, yada yada… and then it was here and happening and you just do it! In the end it all happened just as I hoped it would. 

Finley has been here three months now and we all just love him so much! I love watching the kids interact with him. June has been so helpful with him! I was surprised at how normal it felt to care for a baby again, like muscle memory. We all are so excited for his next milestones and to watch him grow! He’s going to be one spoiled little boy!

June in July

Well, I think we've already established that I only blog about special occasions and a new baby fits those guidelines! It's mainly for me anyway so I can remember every detail! So here is the story of June...

It started Thursday morning.

I woke up feeling like the Braxton Hicks were a little stronger than normal and hoping they would actually turn into something I took the kids on a walk around the block. Thankfully it was actually a decent morning. It was overcast but still a little hot and humid. Our walk got cut short thanks to Ramsey who decided to grab, with both hands, a prickly pear cactus. He would. Poor guy had his hands full of microscopic stickers and he wasn't happy about! I don't blame him! So we rushed home as fast as an almost 39 week pregnant mama could with three little kids on a bike and plasma cars, which Ramsey would not ride home for obvious reasons so I had to drag his car AND carry him most of the way. If that didn't start labor then I don't know what did! I did my best to wash Ramsey's hands and pick out what I could of the thorns. He wasn't too satisfied though.

We got invited to go to the park by my friend Nicole and I thought that would be a good idea for Ramsey to distract him from his hands and also hoping that the sand would rub the thorns out? Nicole and I were both convinced that today was the day! So as the hours went by I was more and more disappointed and felt no more signs of contractions. Thursday was definitely not the day.

I was really hoping and praying June would come by Saturday so we could be home and settled in time for Hudson to start his first day of Kindergarten on Monday! I really really didn't want to miss his first few days of school. So as Thursday ended my hopes of delivering early were coming to an end. She would have to be born Friday night at the latest for us to be home by Sunday.

So I went to bed Thursday night accepting that I'll have to wait until next Thursday to have this girl which is when I was going to be induced. Because Sunday- Wednesday were off limits! I didn't sleep very well at first. I was just uncomfortable, as always, but was also feeling those Braxton Hicks a little more that night too. By 12AM I started to wake up often from contractions. I didn't know if they were just random ones cause I had had those occasionally the past two weeks or if it was going to be the real thing. So I kept trying to sleep with little luck both out of being uncomfortable and excitement. By 2:30AM I decided I was just going to stay up, eat, and time the contractions. Which were still bearable. They were consistently 6-7 minutes apart and by then I knew this had to be the real deal! Buuut also still questioning it cause my last two labors were only 3 hours long and this seemed to be going a little more slowly. So I wasn't sure when I should wake Curtis or start thinking about calling my mom to watch the kids or having to wake up my friend Nicole who was going to take birth pictures. So I just kept timing the contractions which started to be a little more painful. Curtis woke up at 3AM to use the bathroom and I told him that he'd better just stay up. And we both did a happy dance cause this was it! JK we don't dance but we were really excited! We both showered and shaved and Curtis ironed a nice a button up shirt cause he wanted to be sure to look his best for his new baby girl. :D And I got back into my pajamas. Hah! I called my mom at 3:30 who thankfully answered my second call. We never talked about what would happen if I went into labor in the night! We weren't expecting it! And thankfully she was able to work out her work schedule to be here and watch the kids for us. We left for the hospital at 4. Which I was still questioning, wondering if they would even keep us since who knows how long I was going to be in labor for!? The contractions were only 5-6 minutes apart but definitely getting more painful. When we got to the hospital we tried to go through the main entrance which didn't open and then realized it was still too early and we had to go through the ER which was around the corner from the main entrance. I figured the walking would do some good. :P

We got check into to triage and the nurse checked me and I was disappointed to find out that I was only 3-4cm dilated. The contractions felt more painful than 3-4cm! Since they had no history of how far I was dilated before labor started she gave us 40 minutes to walk around and then see if I progressed any after that. We started our walk around 5 which didn't last long cause the pain really picked up! I had to stop and crouch down to get through the contractions. We went back to our room so I could pee and I tried to tough it out the last 15 minutes until the nurse would come back and check me but I couldn't. I told Curtis to go get her now so she could check me now! She came back, checked me, and hallelujah I was at 6cm! I decided I had better call Nicole by then so she could make it in time to take pictures! Things were still moving pretty fast but not 3 hours fast.

Once we got into the labor and delivery room I started asking for that epidural every 5 minutes. At lease it felt that way. :P The pain was getting to be a little too much OK?! Unfortunately they had to get the IV in first which took 2 nurses and 4 very painful pokes and digging around in my veins to finally get one in. That wasn't fun.Worse pain than the epidural in my honest opinion.

Nicole got to our room after 6 and around 6:30 I got that glorious epidural! Seriously, that's the best invention ever. And so are birth photographers.;) Things slowed down after that and the three of us just hung out. Haha. It was weird just waiting around. My last three labors there wasn't much waiting. I kept texting my anxiously awaiting mom and sisters "nothin yet". The nurses put that stupid peanut ball between my legs to help the progression and then came back and hour later to take it out to slow things down cause my doctor had left. What the? :1 My water broke on its own around 7:45 so I guess it did something. And then we just waited some more. By 8:30 I was dilated to 10cm buuut that's when the nurses tried to slow everything down so my doctor could make it back. June was still high up in there and I felt no need to push yet so it was ok I guess. My epidural actually worked a little too well and I couldn't feel a single thing! It made pushing a little bit hard.

At 9 my doctor was back and it was finally time to get this girl out! I pushed for almost 20 minutes and at 9:19AM that warm, squishy, little June was placed on my chest! My favorite moments EVER! It's just so special and amazing to bring a little life into the world! I'm so full of gratitude to my Heavenly Father for allowing us this heavenly experience and giving us June! Looking at that sweet girl for the first time was just the best!

June Carol

7lbs 6oz

20.5 inches

Born Friday the 21st of July

You just have to stare at them! Memorize every detail of their fresh little bodies. I couldn't take my eyes off her.

June's arrival could not have been more perfect! I was so afraid to go into labor naturally knowing how fast my last two labors went. I thought for sure this time would be even faster than 3 hours and I was worried about not getting an epidural or worse having her on the way to the hospital! Or not being able to find someone to watch the kids in time. So I chose to be induced this time for peace of mind. Obviously I didn't make it another week to be induced and June ended up being my longest labor (9ish hours :P) and my earliest baby (10 days) and thank goodness too because it gave us time to get the kids taken care of and make it to the hospital. AND we were home in time to be there for Hudson!

It's funny, I geared up for this big change of having four kids only to find out how normal it has all been. Its been challenging for sure but you just do it. You just go about your days and it's just a new crazy normal. Not knowing if this was our last baby or not I really tried to soak in all her newborn-ness cause after 4 kids you realize how fast that first month goes by! I tried hard to enjoy as much of it as I could.

June is loved very much by all her siblings! And it was so special to watch them see her for the first time! Nova couldn't wait to hold her. They were all whispering and staring at her just as much as I did. My heart couldn't take it! I feel SO blessed and I love my family so much. And I try to remember those special moments during the hard times cause it all really is worth it.

And then there were 5!

Ramsey Curtis Hofmann

Born on August 13th at 5PM

7 pounds 2 ounces and 19 3/4 in

The past 4 days have been AH-mazing! Can't believe this boy makes us a family of 5 now! I'm going to brag a bit now, continue reading if you can take it...

I was praying hard for an early arrival of this boy. I didn't think I'd be lucky enough for him to come early, considering Hudson was 8 days late and Nova was evicted 2 days before 40 weeks. My friends were having their babies left and right and it was killing me! I was just way too excited to have to wait 40 weeks or more! I didn't want to be induced but I was really considering it if I did make it to 40 weeks. We were SO ready to meet Ramsey!

I had a doctors appointment Thursday morning (the 13th). I was 38 weeks and 6 days pregnant.  My doctor said I was 3-4 cm dilated and 60% effaced. I asked her if she would strip my membranes and she did but had said they were pretty much seprated already naturally. She was confident I wouldn't make it to my Tuesday appointment. But I couldn't believe her! I was dilated to a 3 for 1-2 weeks with both Hudson and Nova, AND stripping my membranes with them never worked. I had little hope!

Went home and went about my afternoon with the kids. I laid Nova down for a nap at 1:30 and me and Hudson sat on the couch watching our shows. And then soon after started the back pain and cramping. I figured it was just from my doctor stripping my membranes but it quickly turned into contractions and 5 minutes apart! Curtis texted me at 2 and said work asked him to stay for overtime but I told I thought I was having real contractions and if they weren't gone in an hour then he'd better come home. I texted him back 30 minutes later and told him he had to leave now! The contractions were already having me crouch over in so much pain! Oh back labor is the devil!! I was kinda sorta planning on going all natural this time cause I felt I handled labor with Nova so well but the back labor quickly changed my mind and I knew I would be getting an epidulal ASAP! I told Curtis he'd better hurry! He works an hour away and I was a bit nervous with how things were progressing! I had text my mom too and asked her to come watch the kids! She was 40 minutes away though! I finished packing my bag and threw stuff into the car. I figured I'd be able to wait for one of them to get here but oh no! I texted my friend Reyna who lives a street over to see if she could take my kids while I drove myself to the hospital! Thankfully she replied right away! I got the kids ready, droped them off real fast and headed to the hospital which, thankfully, was only 5 minutes away this time! I think it was no coincidence that I switched doctors so I could deliver at that hospital! Or else Ramsey would have been born in the car on my way to Banner Desert! Curtis called me while I was on my way to the hopsital and I told him to meet me there! We both got there at about 3:45. It was happening so fast I didn't even have time to process the fact that we were about to have a baby! Just had my eye on that epidural!

Of course we had to sign papers first. My contractions were like 3-5 minutes apart now. Once in triage, which I didn't know was triage I though it was going to be the delivery room cause it had everything but nope! I paniced! I knew they still had to check me and monitor me and ask me questions.  And I was afraid there would be no time for an epidural. I told the nurses that I have fast babies so they rushed! They knew I wanted an epidural ASAP! I was already 6cm dilated when I got checked at about 4 o'clock. Then they moved us to our delivery room before they even finished with triage. The contractions were so painful!!  I'm so happy the nurses were so quick with everything! They kept asking if I was feeling any pressure to push during my contractions, I think they were worried my doctor wouldn't make it! They got me all hooked up to the IV and soon after the anesthesiologist came in. Hallelujah!  OH how I love epidurals! 

After the anesthesiologist left my nurse checked me and I was 8cm 

and it was 4:30 now. The pain slowly faded and I had about 15 minutes to relax and then my doctor showed up. She was going to check me and break my water. She said I was 9cm and told the nurses to get everything ready now! I pushed for maybe 5 minutes and a squishy, warm, dark haired, little boy was placed on my chest. Oh those moments are my favorite! I cry every time! So special and so heavenly! He hardly cried at all and was just so content to be on me. And holy crap I just had a baby in three hours! Again!! I never thought that would happen twice!

I loved this hospital! They made me do skin to skin with him for an hour which we didn't know was a rule cause after 30 minutes Curtis said OK my turn! And the nurse was like no, he's with mama for an hour! Haha. So he was able to nurse right away. Once I got him latched he stayed on for about a half hour! This was a much better start to nursing than my experience with Nova. 

So after an hour and half on me they finally took him and weighed and measured him. Then they made Curtis do skin to skin too! Haha. But I know he secretly liked it. ;)

After we got into the recovery room my mom brought Hudson and Nova. They were so cute with him! Didn't want to hold him though. Just liked looking at all his little features. And Hudson thought it was cool that he would grab his finger. I loved watching them finally get to meet baby Ramsey! Now at home they don't mind him much. Just go about their playing. Although Hudson told me today "I like baby Ramsey. " So sweet! Nova did hold him the night we brought him home. That was cute!

I've been feeling great! A much better recovery from the last two! Thank goodness too since I have two other kids to keep up with still! Breast feeding has been a world of a difference compared to Nova! Ramsey is an awesome nurser! It's still been real painful for me though! I have not had to use any formula and don't plan on it! I've been trying to get him to take a paci cause I need a break sometimes but he definitely prefers to nurse! Thankfully he took his first bottle today! That helped! The kid loves food! Maybe I'll actually have a chunker!? This may be cheesy but I had him on the day I quit nursing Nova a year ago! I thought that was special. :) He's been sleeping really great at night too! 5-6 hours! It would be longer but I wake him after 6. Don't know how I got so lucky! He is just the most patient little guy too. And loves to held of course.  He's so perfect!

He's quite literally the boy of my dreams! If you read my last post about him then you'll know I had a dream of a dark haired little boy we named Ramsey before I was even pregnant with him. Kinda special! And here he is! I really didn't know how I could love another baby boy, since my baby boy was Hudson! But that hasn't been a problem at all! So much love! I'm so thankful for my happy, healthy family of FIVE!