Celebrations!

We had quite the weekend of celebrations - a very full weekend it was - it left me quite tired out.

We started off by attending the Easter Party our community put on. The party started at 9 am and though we attempted to arrive at 9 it was about 9:20 before we got there (it seems that having three children and getting them all dressed and in the car is more difficult 2). Not to worry the egg hunt was scheduled for 9:30 so we were there in plenty of time!

While waiting for the egg hunt:

Asher slept.

Jude and Shiloh rode on the Thomas the Train train. Unfortunately all my pics of them on the train are terrible. Can't see them because they are all shadowed...

At 9:30 the egg hunt for 1-2 year olds began on the playground. After the 1-2 year olds were done there was a hunt for the 3-5 year olds. 

Shiloh picking up the eggs. At first he was confused but he caught on pretty quickly and started gathering up those eggs.

Determined to get those eggs! 

Jude waiting for his turn.

Look at him go!

 Shiloh posing as a model on the playground.

Because there were so many kids in the 3-5 year old group the organizers decided to put more eggs out and have an all ages free for all in order to allow the 3-5's to get more eggs. 

After hunting eggs, playing on the playground and chatting with friends we loaded up the car and went home for lunch. Then it was nap time for the boys. After nap time we got dressed again (the boys don't really wear clothes when they are at home...) and went to Granny's house for a family Easter Celebration and Birthday gathering for Charity.

We hunted eggs. Including the "big" kids! And we got cash in the eggs! I think my Granny, I mean the Easter Bunny Rocks! We read the Easter story to the kids from the Jesus Story Book Bible and I almost cried while reading it. Really if you don't have this bible go buy it. Then we ate fajitas - yummy! After dinner we sang happy birthday to Charity and ate a delicious ice cream cake that Rachel made - OMG sooooooo good!!!!!!!!

Jude and Haylyn hunting eggs. Look at that block. Well done Jude. Look don't judge me in an egg hunt it is every man or woman for themselves and Haylyn had Jeremy coaching her on - which if you know Jeremy I need not say anymore.

Granny and Shiloh hunting!

Grandad pointing them out for Jude. 

Failed attempt at a brother picture. Granny bought these cute shirts for the boys that say "I'm the Big Brother," "I'm the middle brother" and "I'm the little brother." Neither Jude or Shiloh would hold Asher and Shiloh started crying because he wanted to open his eggs.

Candy from the basket.

Surveying the eggs.

Happy Birthday Aunt Charity. 

Bluebonnets and Blue Bell!

Yesterday we ventured out as a family of 5! 

It's a tight squeeze but we got all 3 carseats in! Kids loaded up and only 40 minutes behind our goal for leaving.

We got to Brenham and after nursing Asher we got out and snapped some pictures. It was cold, the kids were whiny and not super cooperative but after an hour the results were several good pictures!

We stopped at Subway for some sandwiches and then we drove to the Blue Bell Creamery. We met up with my friend Jennifer and her two littles Rebecca and Jonah.

Jude and Rebecca riding the cow.

Family picture.

Shiloh riding the cow. Look at that happy smile!

Jennifer and Jonah.

Shiloh with his Blue Bell hat.

Jennifer, Rebecca and Jonah.

Blue Bell truck. We almost missed our tour because of this picture...

Shiloh enjoying his ice cream after the tour.

Jude enjoying his ice cream.

How cute is this baby?

Mommy and Asher.

Mischief Makers

Lately Jude and Shiloh have become quite the partners in crime and they have been specializing in making mischief.

Lilah wants a treat too.

Milk and carrots. I suppose there are worse things they could have chosen.

Sweet baby.

Attitude at the park. He did not want to share with his friend.

My three year old is becoming quite the coffee maker. I'm actually quite pleased with this. 

Climbing. Always climbing. My poor sister almost had a heart attack when she was over last week because of all the climbing and other normal boy behavior going on. I don't even blink anymore. Boys will be boys and that why we have insurance and emergency rooms.

Fixing the swing.

I have no idea where they found these tootsie pops. Really I don't. But they found them after nap time while mommy was still in her room "napping" (I confess I was awake and I heard them get up but I was sooooo tired and Asher was so peaceful...and they were being quiet - and this is why).

Too cute.

From Surrender to New Life

So birth has been on my mind lately...I can't imagine why? As I have reflected on Asher's birth and the labor that came before it I have thought of some of the parallels in my walk with Jesus.

See in labor there are these different stages you pass through and at first there is this excitement because you know that finally the baby you have waited for is coming. Things get harder and you focus but you are still in control. Then comes transition and it is in this transition (at least for me) when things are the hardest and you reach the point where you can no longer handle things and you think "I can't" or "I don't want to" and it's silly because its happening and you can plus at that point it doesn't matter if you want to or not because you are. At this point you have a choice fight for control or surrender to the process and relax. Both are difficult. But when you surrender and relax it allows your body to do what it needs to and then you can move on and get that baby but if you fight for control you just prolong the process because you begin to work against your body.

It is this idea of surrender, coming to the end of yourself and realizing you can't do it that has struck me about my walk with Jesus. Because that is exactly how one begins a relationship with him. When you finally realize you have messed up and there is no way you can fix it and you are separated from God then you are at the point where you can be rescued by Jesus (See Romans 3). In order to be rescued we have to surrender to Jesus and trust in him and the work that he did, he fulfilled the law (where we fall short and mess up He never did!), he took on our punishment (we deserve death and separation from God) dying on the cross, and he was raised to life (proof that God accepted his death as payment also assurance that those who trust in him that we will be raised to life).

The more I ponder it the more I realize its not just a one time surrender and then you can go on doing what you where doing. It is a daily surrender. Like in labor the contractions keep coming and you have to surrender all over again with each one. Or sometimes you have to go through a transition period in your life (and things are difficult and really suck) and that is when you most need to surrender and lean into Jesus. It is hard. And sometimes you want to fight for control. But there is hope - when you surrender to Jesus and trust him there is new life and joy incomparable.

I did not enjoy labor (because I don't like pain thank you very much) but I met it head on because I trusted there would be new life and joy after. Walking with Jesus is like this, often there is pain and I don't enjoy it but on the other side there is life and joy.

2 Week Status Report

Asher is 2 weeks old today! Wow time is already flying and this boy is growing fast.

Birth weight: 9 lbs 2 oz
2 Weeks: 10 lbs 1.5 0z

Birth clothing: Newborn
2 Weeks: 3 month

Birth Length: 20.5 inches
2 Weeks: 22 inches (as best as i could measure...)

Today was also circumcision day. So that was fun. Or not. We had a pediatrician who is also a Jewish Rabbi come to our house and perform the circumcision. It was quick and not painless. Poor Jude did not like what happened...he cried. What a sweetheart. He was very distraught for Asher. Asher is not too happy right now either - so it may be a long night.

Below are some pictures in no particular order of happenings in the Legare home.

Our amaryllis, that Lilah and Boker chewed on...maybe we should get them some new chew toys.

Jude is breast feeding Elmo...wonder what mommy is doing most of the day.

Sweet boy.

Batman and Spider-Man working on a trap for the huge monster.

Fighting crime is tough work.

Biggest brother.

Shiloh loves Asher. Here is a kiss.

My little boys.

Hava. Thank you. I love my baby sling.

A Birth Story: Asher David Legare

Born to Chad and Destiny

March 25, 2014

1:06 AM

9 lbs 2 oz

20.5 inches

Asher was born after a fast and furious labor, from start to finish it was a total of 3 hours and 6 min. I guess he was making up for staying inside 41 weeks, really if he would have come a day later it would have be 42 weeks and he would have shared the 26^th with the rest of the family: Chad and Destiny’s Wedding Anniversary and Cousin Haylyn’s Birthday– May 26, Jude and Shiloh’s Birthday – August 26. Asher’s Birthday – March 25, he’s obviously stubborn and wanted to be born on his terms.

Monday morning, March 24^th, I got up and took the boys and myself to the chiropractor (because that’s what we do). I was exhausted and trying not to be depressed that I was still pregnant and huge. I wanted to get out of the house so I wouldn’t drive myself crazy thinking every Braxton Hicks might be a real contractions but I also hated going out because strangers would comment, “looks like you’re about to head to the hospital” and some people would say, “your still pregnant?” and then the worst was the look of pity some people gave me. Look I don’t need your pity and you to ask me when I’m going to go get induced because I’m not and this baby will come when he’s ready. Anyway after the chiropractor visit we went walking in the neighborhood, popped in on a friend in the neighborhood, met Granny at Chick-Fil-A, went to Granny’s house so the boys could play with Haylyn, home for naps (that didn’t happen), and ate dinner.

Around 8pm, after getting Jude and Shiloh down for the night Chad and I sat down to watch Star Wars. Asher began to go crazy: he was moving and kicking and stretching and punching – it was BJJ and Taekwodo inside me. When the movie ended we got ready for bed and Asher was still going crazy and I kept thinking I’m so tired but I’m never going to get to sleep because this kid won’t stop.

At 10pm when I had just laid down in bed and was trying to get comfy I realized Asher had finally gotten quiet and I was soaked and I thought, “Did I just pee on myself?...No, way to much fluid…I think my water broke.” I woke Chad up and told him I thought my water had broke and he asked if I was sure and I said “ummmm, yes.”

I called my midwife, Connie Blokkum, and told her my water broke but I wasn’t having contractions yet. She told me to rest and keep her posted.

Chad, awesome husband that he is, began to fill up the birthing pool and then he changed the sheets on our bed and prepared them as we had been previously instructed.

My contractions started up a few minutes after I had talked to Connie and they were really strong. They were 10 minutes apart for about 30 minutes and then they began to get closer. I sent Connie a copy of my contractions and told her I would call her in a minute as I was having a contractions right then. When I called she was gathering her things and headed my way, it was about 11pm.

I spent a majority of my laboring in the bathroom because I kept gushing fluid with every contraction. Who knew there was so much when your water broke? (With Jude the doc broke my water and I didn’t realize how much it was and with Shiloh I was already in full labor and in the birthing pool). It was actually really nice in the bathroom because I could sit on my fitness ball and rest my head on the granite counters (which were nice and cool) during my contractions.

From 11pm to 11:30 pm I tried to keep track of my contractions with my handy dandy iphone app contraction master so Connie would have an idea how my labor was going when she arrived. However it got increasingly difficult because they never stopped. I would have a contraction that lasted 6-7 minutes and then I would start it right back up. Connie and Amanda Newkirk, birth assistant, arrived around 11:30pm just about the time I thought, “I’m done tracking contractions.” After that who knows because really it doesn’t matter. Connie told me afterward that it appeared as if I never had anytime between contractions – so yeah I would say I had one long contraction until Asher was born, they did strengthen and lessen but is was always there – no breaks.

About midnight the pool was almost ready for me to get in and I couldn’t wait. Connie asked if I’d like her to check me while we were waiting and I said sure but then I heard Chad and Amanda say the pool was ready and I climbed in. Ahhh water. I love water. It helped relieve the pain of the contractions and was so soothing.

Throughout the rest of the labor I tried to stay focused and really relax during my contractions. So weird because I could hear Connie and Amanda ask Chad questions about birth supplies and I wanted to tell them where they were but I didn’t want to get distracted so I would count my breaths and really focus on breathing. I also could hear Chad reading scripture and praying for me as he sat next to me. Connie was also praying and hearing the two of them pray really calmed me and helped me stay relaxed. Connie would check the baby’s heart rate everyone once in a while and that also helped because I could hear Asher and it helped me focus.

Transition hit and it hit hard. Chad got in the pool with me and sat behind me supporting me and encouraging me to relax into him that he would hold me up. So awesome because I could just float and didn’t have to hold myself up.  I started to feel pushy and Connie asked to check me and I was completely effaced and at 8cm. She encouraged me to wait to push until it was an overwhelming urge. I knew that would be best so I wouldn’t tear so I waited but I really wanted to be done. About that time I started saying things like, “I can’t do this” and “I don’t want to do this.” And I could hear Connie saying, “you can do this, your almost there.” And I tried to surrender to the process and relax.

Asher started to crown and Connie told me I could feel his head if I wanted. And sure enough I could when I reached down. Not much longer. Suddenly I knew I could do this. A few minutes later I knew I needed to push and after about 2 or 3 pushes Asher’s head and then his body followed. He was born at 1:06 am, just over 3 hours after my water had broke.

Connie lifted Asher up and placed him in my arms and I held him. Words can’t describe the feelings I had so I won’t try. It was overwhelming and awesome and so much more.

I am so glad to have had my birth at home. I will always remember how I felt at the birth of each of my children and I can say that wish Jude had not been born in the hospital, even though it was un-medicated, the way I felt afterward was not jubilant and empowered and strong and treasured and like a person rather I remember feelings of failure and feeling like I was not strong and that I was just another victim, I mean patient. Anyway again words fail to describe. But with the births of Shiloh (born at the Katy Birth Center with Connie as my midwife) and Asher I felt so good and the experience has shaped me and given me so much confidence and I can’t explain but it is wonderful. I wouldn’t change it for the world. The pain was worth it.

  

Chad praying and reading scripture while I labor.

Connie praying and encouraging me through transition.

The joy of Asher's birth. 

Chad cutting the cord. 

Baby footprints! 

Birth Team!

Happy Day!