Check in

Well, another birthday for me is in the books. Hello 31:) growing older sure is bitter sweet.....not that I am old 🤪 we had a full day of an early midwife appointment, and an afternoon 1 month check up for Edison. For anyone wondering he is 13lbs 7 oz,  23 inches long and perfectly healthy 😍😍

In between those appointments we picked up all the free birthday coffee I could get my hands on, and then a chilly walk around downtown, catching some Pokémon, exploring  a fun alleyway called graffiti alley, and then met up with Shane after work :)  Pizza and cake and surprise video game time for me and the boys , is how we ended the night :) 

Why is it each year goes faster and faster? It’s the question we all ask right, or is it just me? I thought I just had my 30th birthday but turns out, 365 days actually passed and lots of life was lived in between. Year 30 brought us our 5th baby, among many other memories times, but that one sticks out the most ☺️😜 Life with him here had been a joy. He is a joy. I hope this next year brings another new adventure, and no I don’t mean another little one😳 I mean “give me all the newborns” but seriously, we are done now 😁  This next year promises to bring lots of crazy, loudness, laughter, tears and joy. My hope is that I fully embrace it all. The good the bad the ugly.  Life is precious and fleeting.... I plan to continue to learn, grow and live in grace that is given by the one who matters most. Without Him, all of this is nothing.... I am so glad I know that life is not for nothing, but it is kingdom work. No matter how small or how big. And right now my kingdom work is filled with very little people, but it’s big work :) 

Edison Theodore Reed

So our sweet little man is already a month old!! My last blog entry was while we were trying to patiently wait on his arrival! Finally on October 8th at 2:14 am, Shane and i were able to hold our sweet squishy baby boy!! He was here. Everything went as perfectly as it possibly could have. After a full Saurday in Ann Arbor, we finally got home around 9 at night and I soon realized it was time, and we needed to head back to the hospital! We made a game plan to see who could come stay with the kids, Posey was already asleep so we had asked our sweet friend Bria to come stay at our house with the kids :) She took such sweet care of them, letting them have an entire can of Vernors!! 😜 Saying bye to them was hard, even though a small part of me though “maybe this isn’t the real thing, I wouldn’t be surprised!” Saying bye to Owen was actually the hardest. He so badly wanted to go with us, to see the birth and experience it all. He asked shane to take videos and he cut me up some cucumbers because he was worried they wouldn’t feed me. Writing it all out now makes me all tearey eyed. He really is the sweetest kid. Henry and Ellanore were excited he was finally gonna be here, but they were winding down ready to rest and watch the movie they picked out(Harry Potter) 😋  

Out drive to the hospital was much better then our late morning drive into Ann Arbor. It was the UofM vs STATE game and thankfully they had a night game , so traffic was not back to crazy like earlier! However it was storming and raining and we stopped for food which took about 30 mins of our previous time! With my contraction counter telling me “it’s time to go to the hospital!!”  I knew Shane wouldn’t be eating for a while so we needed to fuel up. 

Arriving to the hospital, all was calm and quiet, parking was a breeze(unlike all the other times before) and we easily walked up to the floor we needed and got settled. 

I wasn’t in full blown labor like I had been with Posey and Ellanore.... we were calm and all was peaceful:) so much so I was nervous we had HOURS of labor ahead still. The midwives were all amazing and basically said, whatever you want to do, we will do! And “do you want a tub room to birth in” came out of their mouths and I quickly exclaimed yes, and we headed up to our delivevery room. Even when they had to break the news that my second group b test came back positive, and I started to cry, they completely let the choice be ours and there was no pressure at all. 

We were blessed with an amazing nurse and a slew of wonderful midvies(even though I was only in labor about....3 hours?)   

Things were progressing but I still was smiling and calm, talking and laughing, so there was still a doubt in my mind that this wasn’t really happening! I mean, I was almost 3 weeks past my due date... seemed like little Edison didn’t really want to come out ;) anyways , around 1am I was finally convinced that this was happening and possibly almost over. Still wasn’t miserable but I mean, those contractions were real!!! Shane took videos and pictures and was calm and collected the entire time , reassuring me I could do, I was doing it and the end was near! Around 1:55, at 7cm I got in the tub and at 2:14 he was born, in the tub!!! Which was a dream!! I always wanted a water birth and finally got one!! I feel like we did it all on our own, start to finish. And yes I say we because I honestly couldn’t labor and give birth to these babies without Shane there by my side! Despite all the extra waiting we had to go through before Edison arrived, I wouldn’t change anything. It was such a sweet ending to my birthing journey. My body kept him inside longer, providing a safe perfect place for him, close to my heart, and then when it was time, my body did it all on its own. No membranes swept, castle oil, or any other intervention medical or natural was needed. I doubted a little that my body could do it, but it reminded me again how it knows what to do:) Edison was gently, peacefully and joyfully brought into this world. I guided him out and picked him up out of the water , onto my chest and just felt this amazing sense of accomplishment. It was astonishing. 

This 1st month with him have been filled with emotions, so so many. Joy, excitement, exhaustion,  nervous, love, overwhelm, sadness and thankfulness: I am sure I could keep going. I even felt a since of grief. Like I was going through a grieving process of an empty womb, never to carry life again inside it. It was a huge deal that first week. It was as beautiful though and I think necessary. 

The kids are amazing and just were overjoyed to bring Edison home :) Getting home too way way too long. I think we were in the hospital until Tuesday night!! Usually we bust out right at 24hours!! So the extra time there for sure put a kink in our plans, but overall, probably was a good thing:) extra time with just him and rest. It was hard though, not going to lie, being inside when it was beautiful outside and not being with our other kiddos, it was not easy. 

The first night home Henry asked if this was Edison’s first time at home and even though it was,’it didn’t feel like it, it felt like he had been here always! It all just felt right and normal right from the start. 

The month was filled with a few thousand pictures and mini videos , unlimited snuggles, endless diaper changes, smiles, laughs, tears and struggles :) it’s been so very good. The kids ask to hold him about every five minutes 😜😍 and sometimes it’s a fight to see who goes first. They all love him so so much. They themselves are overwhelmed with his “cute tiny finger and toes” his coos and yawns, how soft he is and how squishy he is. I want to remember how it feelsto hold  him. How is body just melts into my arms, rests on my chest and our breathing syncs. How he can be squished into a little ball fetal position like he as in the womb, and he just loves it. How he can be crying and as soon as he hears my voice or feels my has picking him up, he calms and there are no more tears.  I want to remember how soft his skin is, how smooth his hair is and the send of his newborn ness, yes it’s a thing , newborns have a smell:) I want to remember it all. 

He smiles, I promise you he does. I think at the end of week 1, we had genuine smiles!! And when he is awake, he is so so awake! He is so alert and bright eyes, soaking everything up and his eyes are joyful!! His overall mood is content and joyful!! He even coos and laughs!! I swear he laughs already.... and tries to talk to us:) Owen thinks it too. He just makes so many sweet sweet sounds, he is telling us he loves us 😍😍

A month in and this new life as a family of 7 just seems right. Crazy and hard and full of challenges, but it all seems right. Shane and I have some to the realization that our house may never be all the way clean again, that everything we need to get done, may not get done, and the days of staying in pjs may outnumber the days we get dressed 😬 it is all worth it though. Everything. It’s worth it. 

This new season of motherhood (parenthood) is truely refining. Not that motherhood wasn’t before, but it’s even more so now. Life goes so fast. They say the days are long and the years are short, but right now, the days are short and so are the weeks, months and years!!! Its going so so fast. 

My hope is that I blog more, in this beyond busy season. Makes sense right?? 😝 the reason why is that I want to remember it all. The struggles , triumphs and the mundane moments of it all. I want to document it more than ever now. 

So hears to month 1 with Edison here :) we love him and are enjoying his newness so so much ☺️☺️ 

Waiting on baby 👶🏼

Hey everyone :) I am still here and still pregnant 🤰🏼 You can either say I am 41 and 3 or 40 and 6, depending on which due date I give you:) this is what happens when an ob comes in, knowing nothing about you or your pregnancy history, and starts to change things 🙄 Seriously though, nothing against obs, they are needed :) people are seeming greatly concerned for me and how uncomfortable I must be. Honestly though, my body is feeling pretty great, just sleeping is tough. A big, round belly is hard to sleep with when you can only lay on your sides!!


Life is still normal around here. Schooling, playing, cleaning, adventuring.... life is still in motion. I think God is trying to remind me that I need to soak in this season, because a new one is coming. I love change, it's so good and refreshing, but a part of my heart still has a hard time of  letting the past season go. I analyze my mistakes, all that took place, I think how it could have been better, more meaningful, more intentional.... the list goes on.  Maybe that is just part of motherhood, parenthood, but I have always been like that in small ways. So these extra days without baby boy here with us, even though they are far from perfect, I have greatly valued and appreciated. Owen, Henry, Ellanore and Posey are my little crew! They drive me bonkers and I fail them, they fail me, we all mess up, but we love being together. And I know baby boy will only add to that, but it certainly will change a bit. Thankfully they are excited, eager to hold him and impatiently awaiting his arrival!!!


He will arrive and all will be joyous 😍 Now is the hard part anyways, labor and birth!! 😂😩😜😬😁 that gives me all the crazy feels, for real. Birth is amazing, and after it all done it's like the greatest accomplishment ever.... but seriously... it's no joke! Again, I am thankful I am getting extra
time to prepare for that 🙌🙌

P.s. I have an amazing husband who is supporting me, encouraging me, talking and listening to me, reminding me to relax and enjoy and make memories. I am not sure what state I would be in without him. Thank you shane, I know this is just as crazy of a ride for you as it is for me! I love you 😘

37 weeks and counting!!!

Hey everyone! So babsically I am about to have our 5th baby, yes you read that right, 5th!!!! Crazy train is rolling back in 😜 In all honesty though we are so excited, terrified and READY to have our baby boy in our arms!  

Ever since we found out we were expecting, I have said I was going to journal all about it.....hahaha let's just say this post and the one before is all I did 🙄😬 life just is so busy! Even on days we stay home all day, moments of free time or energy to write don't come that frequent!  ( between this paragraph and the next, 7 hours passes, see what I mean 😜)

All my pregnancies have been wonderful, fairly easy, and enjoyable!!! I mean as much as gaining 45-50lbs, and someone kicking, spinnning and stretching you from the inside out, can be!! Pregnancy number 5 hasn't been much different than the rest. A few more aches and pains, a bit more tired, and the stretching began right away:) I mean, I couldn't really expect anything else when this is my 5th pregnancy, one is bound to be harder than the other. 

The beginning was like all the others. Tired and just feeling sick to my stomach. I think hormones get worse each time though, and fear comes in a destroys you more and more each time as well. That was a real struggle for shane and I, fear. We felt so blessed to have 4 amazing, health children, were we pushing our luck? We weren't planning for a 5th, we weren't exactly super super excited right at first(just being honest here) What if something goes wrong?? All the what ifs rolled right on in. The fears never really went away, they have been pushed to the side and not entertained, but man, fear in pregnancy is so, so real. In parenting also, but in pregnancy you have zero control of what is happening.... it's a humbling experience for sure. So yea, 1st trimester was typical, emotional and tired :) 

2nd trimester I was already feeling so huge!!! Fifth baby belly pop is no joke!! I definitely got bigger quicker, and then would level out. I still had a bit of nausea to deal with, which was a bit different for me!! And we still hadn't decided where we would deliver the baby! I was visiting my old midwife and good friend for appointments, but that couldn't last too much longer as it was up in Saginaw about 2 hours away.  We went back and forth on home birth or hospital birth, and at about 30 weeks decided to go with U.of.M midwives. 

Finding out we were having another boy was really really exciting:) we had the ultra sound tech write it in a care, and then we got the kids, went to the garden we were married in, and opened it together!!!! And it was my goal to video tape the whole thing.....but I dropped the ball on that 😩 I rememeber hearing Owen say "boy" and seeing the word "boy" and just being so socked and excited!!!! I mean we all know it's either boy or girl, but the reveal is still so exciting!!! A 3rd boy! The boys, especially Henry, were beyond excited, and Ellanore tried to contain her disappointment she wouldn't be getting another sister ❤️  It was super special and I am so glad we found out with the kids :) 

As far as baby movement, I started feeling baby move around week 27!!  Crazy right?! I mean I felt him or his hiccups a few times but nothing crazy noticeable. And I would have to lay down, in a quiet room and really focus on feeling the movement. That would be a rare thing in this house!! After weeks 27/28, I could feel his rolls, kicks and bumps much more often:) The reason I didn't feel much movement until then is because my placenta is covering him right up, and absorbed most all the movements :) so, perfectly normal and that was the case with all my pregnancies except with Henry. I was really hoping we could feel baby boys movements early, I was so looking forward to the kids being able to feel it. The wait was still worth it, they love feeling him move(when they can sit still long enough to actually feel it)! Before they could actually feel his movement, they loved to just hug my belly, kiss it or say hi to the baby :) Little baby is moving and grooving in there now. Watching my belly wave and jump, is our favorite thing. The kids all guess where he is, what part they are feeling or where he will kick next time!! I will miss that. It all goes so fast and it's like you have amnesia when it's over, you just can't remember ever even feeling that. 

Part of the reason I wanted to journal is because this is our last pregnancy. I know, y'all are laughing at that, and maybe I am wrong and it won't be, but with posey, I didn't prepare my heart for that to be my last pregnancy, last birth, last newborn.... all the last firsts. I didn't realize shane was actually serious that  time when he said "last baby" 😂😂😂 he had said that before 🤣😂 But this time it's for real😬

And I know that you never will fully be prepared to be done, at least I don't think I willl be. I feel way more content this time around, and ok with being done. I have tried my humanly best to enjoy all of this, capture it, make memories it, and whatever else I think will help me be ready to move on to a new season :) I still have time to go, baby is not quite ready, but for sure is getting there!!! An exciting new adventure is about to start! 

Also... this is what my phone looks like after owen or Henry takes my picture 

And there were even more 😂🤣😂🤣

Baby #5 gender reveal 👶🏻

So hello again blog world! Basically my social media friends and family:) It has been a REALLY REALLY  long time since I last blogged!!  I have often thought about writing an entry, and just have not made the time.  Something about raising 4 kids, growing a 5th, taking care of a house, trying to homeschool and staying connected to my husband.... life gets crazy!! 

Today we had our ultra sound for this 5th pregnancy!!! Shane took the day off and my parents were able to watch the kids!!! They had a lot of fun! 

I really wanted to find out with the kids, boy or girl, so I asked the ultra sound tech to fill in the spot I left on this card, so we could open it all together!! So we were able to see our baby, adorable and healthy, and then have a little day date before we met the kids :)

We had my parents meet us at the art museum we were married at:) thankfully it's beautiful outside !! Ok so the plan was all 6 of us, sit together and open this card, and I was gonna prop up my phone for a little video :) sweet right??!! I was so excited!! This is what I got..... nothing :) As I was putting the phone down to join my family , I must have hit the end button 😫😫😫 big time bummer!! Owen read the card aloud and then opened it and we all gasped with excitement!! So much like parenting, it didn't go exactly as planned, was still good  and beautiful,   but it didn't go as planned😜 I have the memory of it, and us all being together, I will etch it in my mind :) 

So we made another plan and here's the outcome!!  

Really creative, right??! 

I was truely shocked when I saw "boy" written there!!! I am a momma to 3 boys!! I really just expected a girl, for various reasons, but seeing boy there, my heart just fluttered with excitement. Either boy or girl it would have been exciting and wonderful, but Henry is our baby boy, so it's been a while since we've had a itty bitty baby boy to hold!!! 

It's a crazy wild ride, emotional and physical, I am so honored to raise these precious children, even when I feel like i am doing it all wrong!  

Yawning!!! So sweet!!!