1 month old

Race is so sweet! He makes me so happy.  All I have to do is look at him and life feels better.  I generally feel that way about all my kids but tiny babies are so sweet, and he is no exception.  He is a bit of a fatso.  =)  I love it!  For being so tiny, he already is roley.  He eats every 2 hours or less 24 hours a day.  Day and night!  He knows he's gotta keep up on that luscious figure!  He is a good baby, he only wants to eat.  He is cuddly and happy.  He is learning to smile, but even when he doesn't smile you can tell when he is happy, his face just looks happy.  He loves mom, and that makes her feel good.  He is getting spoiled and is figuring out what he likes.  He honestly looks nothing like his brothers.  I thought he did, but he really doesn't. I think he looks like Rye did when Rye was a baby, but with my coloring.   We will so though.  Holden and Knox looked nothing alike, but now people ask if they are twins.  Our whole family loves this baby, and we know how blessed we are to have him.  Knox especially loves him.  Every time he sees Race he says something sweet like "Hi sweetheart!"  "There's my cute little guy!" 

I love it.  He reminds me all day that we have the cutest baby, or the silliest baby, or the best baby. 

We do have a pretty special baby, and we cant wait to see who this little guy becomes.

 

I need to do a update on everyone.  We have been all so couped up with the baby, and Ryes been at school all....day....LONG! its awful, and so we haven't been out much at all.  But Ill do an update soon =)

 

 

 

 

 hasn't lost any hair yet!  Crossing my fingers!

 

He changes everyday!  You can tell by the pictures.  This one was taken today.

 

*2 weeks old*

A Smile only a mother could love! haha! And she loves it!

Race is 2 weeks!! It seams crazy, because 2 weeks is such a small amount of time, and it seams like he has always been here. 

 

He is still such a sweet baby.  He is a big boy.  When I went in  at 6 days he had already weighed 8 1/2 pounds!  He is not the best baby at night.  He is a every two hour eater which kinda sucks.  He is starting to get so fun. He is pretty chill for the most part. He hates not being warm.  So any diaper change, clothes change, or bath is very traumatic!   The boys cant leave him alone.  It seams like I am more of his protector then his mom. 

 

Knox, as big of a mommys boy as he is, has yet to get jealous.  It makes me feel good that I've raised such confident boys.  Holden is very motherly and thinks he can do more then he's supposed to =) 

 

I'm doing good.  I don't know what is going on, but I have had a major hard time nursing!  You would think since this is my third I would be pro....Ive never had a hard time.  I think its a mix of him having a tiny little mouth that doesn't latch good and me being especially engorged.....But all Ive gotta say is it sucks!!!  SO, painful, but  I know it is so worth it. 

 

Funny story:  If you know my husband, you know he is oddly supportive of breastfeeding!  haha!  He will always give mothers his two sense about how they NEED to do it!  It gets very embarrassing!  But one night about a weeks ago, I had had it!  I  flung Race onto my lap, and said "Im DONE!!"  And just burst into tears.  I couldn't feed him without my legs shaking it hurt so bad!  Rye Rushes over with this "ahhh what do I do!" look on his face.  And he tries to get Race to latch properly (he thinks he would be the best brestfeeder ever! ) Then he sits down by me and says,
 
"I promise if you will just keep trying and always nurse our kids until we are done having them, I will buy you anything you want.  The second you are done with our last kid you can go and get a tummy tuck, a boob job, and  boob lift..... umm a tattoo on your eyebrows, lip tattoos.....whatever you want, I'll pay for it!" 

HAHA! I was to upset to laugh, but I thought it was so funny!  Most of those things I don't want, but you are all my witnesses that when the time comes I can get Them!! =)

Pictures of Race's first two weeks of life:

 

 

 

 

 Knox loves sleeping by the baby!  I wanted to get a picture and went and grabbed my camera, but when I went to take it, It was like Race knew exactly what he was doing and shoved his fingers up both knoxs nose holes!  It was like he was  posing.

 

The arrival of our sweetheart

Robert Race Fitzwater (Race)

Birthday: Jan 3rd @ 1:14 pm

7 Ib 15 oz

21 inches long

 The Birth:
I was just a little over 38 weeks and My blood pressure was getting high so they had told me to start coming in more then once a week.  I went in Thurday, My Dr, Dr Barton, knew that Rye had to be back to school in NV on Monday, so he pulled a quick one on me, and told me to just come in the next day because of Rye, blood pressure, and my blood!  I was stunned and excited.  So Friday morning we got our call at 6 am to head to the hospital to be induced.  I hated to be induced but knew it was for the best.  We got there around 7:30 and they got me rolling.  It started out ok, but they broke my water around 9....and needless to say, shortly after I wanted to die.  That dang Pitocin is bad stuff.  The contractions were a minute apart and killing me!  So we requested the epidural. (HUGE freaking mistake) the first one didn't work at all, no numbness at all.  So 40 minutes later he tried again, and did two more.  I was barely hanging in there but luckily they turned the Pitocin down and I could bare it, until the epi kicked in.
At one oclock they checked me and said I was ready to go!  I think Race didn't want to come out, it was so funny!  It was like he was dodging the contractions.  He would jump from one side to the other!
They couldn't get him to engage.  But then he came......

I didn't have to push long at all.  When I was pushing The Dr said, Look at all that hair!  And then I was soooo excited!  I thought they were teasing me!  Nobody believed me that I had all toe heads at home, with how dark Race is.  When I first saw him, I couldn't believe how beautiful and perfect he was....Oh he is perfect.  I have never seen Rye look so proud.  He was such a handsome baby.  And received so much attention from all the nurses.  Everything from his personality to his perfect little eye lashes!  I love having babies (hate pregnancy)  but feel so blessed to have children. 

We got to go home Saturday.  But by that night my head started hurting worse then it ever has in my entire life.  I couldn't even lift my head up with out wanting to cry, but by Tuesday, I  couldn't lift it up without crying!  Come to find out they had hit into my spinal fluid during my epidural. So, I was leaking it out, and it was getting worse and worse!  When that happens  your brain doesn't really have cushioning, so you can imagine how that would feel. So AWFUl.  My vision still doesn't feel normal.  So, we had to head back to the hospital to do something called a blood patch. They patch the hole with your own blood, with another epidural!  I have nine holes in all, and my back just aches and aches!  But I had instant relief.  I still get mild heachaches but I can manage it.   So, thankful for my mom, like I said Rye had left Monday.  She was so much help to me!!! This all kinda put a damper on enjoying him as a newborn, it made me so sad!  

We LOVE this boy.  He is so fun.  The boys adore him, and wont leave him alone.  He is SUCH a good baby.  He is so sweet, and special.  His hair is so fun!  It is so long in the back you can do a little pony tail. His fingers are so long and dainty, haha!  His little nose is so strange, it just is so different then Holdens and Knox's, but we love that little nose!  It is so fun comparing your kids.
I cant wait to continue blogging about this little guy! Can't believe he is 9 days old  .......Thanks for choosing us Race.  We already love you more then you could ever know

 
His arrival:  

 

 

I look so bad, but I wanted to post more personal pictures.  By your third kid you don't care what you look like anymore :)

                                                          Can u believe that hair!

 First bath, and he LOVED it! It was so sweet, he loves to get his hair washed and loves to get it brushed!

 His visiters:(We got everyone but uncle Zack he came by the day he was born to.)

Pregnancy

(Disclaimer)Longest post in the world.  Ive been adding to it for the past month! 

First off, Merry Christmas!!!

We hope you had a wonderful season. =)

 (our Christmas card this year)

 Our Holiday has been a bit crazy and different, but still good! Good/crazy for the reasons below ...

But I thought it was time to write some stuff down before I forget it all, I  know after pregnancy your mind blocks it all out! So,

 Aw pregnancy....What can you say about it?  It's awful.  Its hard. It's so exciting.  It's such a mix of good and bad, but the outcome of it all is worth every single second.  I've had to remind myself that throughout this one, on a daily basis.  I LOVE babies and thank heavenly father everyday for the two I already have and blessing us with this third, but man....But I feel like this is one special little guy.  There were lessons For Rye and I to learn with him.  We actually had a hard time getting pregnant.  It was sad, and I feel for mothers who have it so much worse.  But then we totally changed our life plans and guess who decides to come on down ;)  We had never not had good insurance, we currently live hours and hours from good health care and more! Timing was defiantly not ideal.  But we counted our blessings and were excited.  We decided to continue with our plans (school) This really surprises me that we did, we have always been about stability. I think it was a blessing I was so sick and out of it, because I think I would have otherwise made Rye keep doing what we were doing.    Thank heavens we did, because it has been so worth it! Rye has excelled and just finished 36 credits his FIRST semester!  I promise you will be blessed if you choose to have children, before everything else.  I know its what we are here to do.  And things have actually worked out better for us!

For my own journal here is a summary of the last nine months!

2nd of May: We move to Elko after being homeless and traveling for 3 months.  Rye got a scholarship and we were so excited to change our direction in life.

4th of May (2 days later):  Surprise!  We tested positive for baby!  Haha.....scared me to death.

The next 2-3 months:  I layed in bed and when Rye would get home would cry to him:) I have/had never been so sick and tired in my life.  It was awful!   My boys were so great.  Sometimes I feel like someone was looking out for me.  They just played and played and let me be. Knox literally would just lay by me. Never even once getting into one thing, or making it hard for me.  My mother in law was also inspired.  For the first bit she didn't even know I was pregnant and started mailing the boys things to do.  It would keep them busy all week!

19 weeks:  Found out we were having another beautiful baby boy. Oh, and he was cute!  I started feeling good=) start feeling him move really good. 

18-27 weeks:  My immune system started going nuts!  I caught everything you can imagine!  Ear infections, strep, sinus infections, the flu, EVERYTHING! Start getting joint pain (my favorite)  He is fun to feel and watch.  The boys love to feel him kick and move!

28 weeks:   My immune system decides to kick to far into gear and my platelets start to drop (I have ITP (blood clotting disorder), have since high school, its triggard by my immune system)

30-34 weeks:  The Gallbladder just quits working and kills me!  I opted out of surgery, but found out my platelets were to low anyways.  We  start to see and feel little feet and elbows when he kicks/moves.  He is much calmer then my other boys.  @ 34 weeks we went in to the specialist I see and got to watch him again.  He is a cutie!  We could see some hair floating around.  He is measuring quite big to.  At 34 weeks 5 Ib is a really good size, and he was anywhere from 5.15-6.15 Ib.  Which made me happy considering they think they will induce me at 38 weeks  before my blood count drops anymore.....

35 weeks:  My feet and hands kill me! ....and my back, hips....headaches.  Im starting to sound like an old lady! haha.  It has been fun though.  I am at my parents house and will be here until after he is born.  Rye and Holden have had school so they have stayed in Elko.  It has been hard without Rye especially being Christmas and all, BUT it's
even harder being away from my Hoagers!! He passed of all his sight words and I almost cried I was so sad I missed out.  But they will be here the 20th if not sooner.  Im thankful for my parents for letting us stay here.  And so thankful for Ryes parents!  Rye has had to work weekends and they take Holden and I know last week for a fact Russ drove all the way there just to watch Holden!  What a great grandpa right??

38 + a little weeks: AH!  5 more days and I am DONE!!  They decided to just let him stay in until 39 weeks (monday)  Because I have been stable...kinda bummed, I was ready to be done, but glad everything is going good.  We are very excited.  He is a spoiled little stinker already.  We just got him a new swing, carseat, and he pretty much has a whole new wardrobe.  Two boys can kinda ruin everything!  We have a name.  Rye hated it and now he loves it.  We cant wait to meet this little guy.  He seams so different then my other boys.  So, we will see.  In the ultra sounds I get (3D with specialist)  He looks identical to Holden but with hair.  I actually have been having contractions, and that it pretty exciting because I never have before.  So hopefully Ill go in sooner=)  my parents have been so great! I am so thankful for them, and know we are driving them nuts.

*

I HATE pictures of me while I'm pregnant, just ask everyone Ive snapped at this Christmas...I get so bloated in my face....Its just not how I want to remember me=)  But if I can pose and control the chubby cheeks, then I'm ok. So, if your thinking "oh she looks ok and not like she is retaining 86 gallons of water."  Just know I am, and I was trying to hide it! haha. trust me I get made fun of by my jerk husband, jk...even though he really does.  

I knew I would regret not taking a few. 

31 weeks.

35 weeks.

38 weeks

Well wish us luck! .....Im excited.