It's a GIRL!

Introducing Eliyanah Grace Spiers 

Name Meaning: My God has answered 

Birthday: April 27, 2017

Time: 9:35 via Emergency C-Section 

Weight: 5 pounds 13 1/2 ounces 

Length: 18 1/2 inches 

I asked the nurse to make her a bow hat

Sleeping Beauty 

 She is a sleeper

Stats 

1st Outfit 

Enjoying my view

Close up and adorable

Nolan meeting Eliyanah for the 1st time

 Graysen meeting Eliyanah for the 1st time

Aunt Becca meeting Eliyanah for the 1st time

Grammy meeting Eliyanah for the 1st time

Grandma meeting Eliyanah for the 1st time

Aunt Jo meeting Eliyanah for the 1st time

Alivia meeting Eliyanah for the 1st time

GG meeting Eliyanah for the 1st time

Cute & wrinkly little toes

All bundled up

Daddy and Alivia loving on Eliyanah 

Hands by her head just like in the womb

Precious girl 

4 days new and getting ready to leave the hospital 

  

The view I looked out at from our hospital room during my 4 day stay

Not a happy camper in her carseat

Looking back- 38 weeks to 41 weeks with Baby Spiers #4!!

Here are some Facebook posts documenting my journey that I made during my last few weeks before we had Baby Spiers #4.

April 4th:
Today's freezer meal adventures included wild rice and chicken soup and mini chocolate chip banana bread muffins. Stocking up and getting ready for baby Spiers #4 (38 weeks tomorrow)!!

April 5th:
I'm currently waiting at the hospital for a version this morning. I went to bed nervous for the procedure, the outcome, and waking up so early but woke up with a feeling of peace that only God can provide. Thankful for a praying husband and his support along with the prayers of others. I'm excited to meet this baby regardless of delivery route. 38 weeks today! (I'll provide an update when emotionally ready.)

April 5th:
Update: version was successful and my sweet baby is head down. Thanking God for his peace and this "turn" of events so we can go forward with our birth wishes. The procedure took about 20-30 seconds total and was pretty amazing!! It was uncomfortable but not painful. The 1st thing I noticed was that I could breath better almost immediately. I was extremely impressed with the doctor who did the version because she told me and my mom that she doesn't like c-sections and learned how to do versions to help prevent mamas from having c-sections. She also said a lot of doctors automatically turn to c-sections for breech babies because it's considered "easier" and "faster" for them, but she is a mama too and didn't want a c-section so she wants to prevent it as much as possible. Thankful for this extremely sweet and experienced doctor placed in my path. Thankful for your prayers!

April 19th:
I'm 40 weeks today {FULL term} and I feel pretty great. I'm excited to meet this little one within the next 2 weeks but don't feel the slightest bit discouraged because I know this baby will come when he or she is ready {or through induction at/after 42 weeks}. We are ready whenever this baby wants to make his/her grand appearance. This baby is already so loved and we can't wait to experience life as a family of 6. Preparing for lots of snuggles, little sleep, and an unknown transition for mr. Graysen but couldn't be happier God gave us another blessing to raise and love on. Spiers baby #4, we are joyfully and mostly patiently waiting for you!!!

April 23rd:
We have NO names picked out for this baby, not even maybe names. Names just keep proving to get harder and harder to pick. Both boys were nameless... Nolan for a few hours and Graysen for most of the hospital stay. I can't wait to see this baby because apparently we do our best work in picking out a name we love under pressure. Lol!!!!

April 26th:
Baby bump • 41 weeks tomorrow! Physically super tired, emotionally still doing pretty well, mostly excited that I can confidently say that I get to meet this sweet baby by next week or before. 😀

Graysen Pictures!

My "baby" is turning 2 tomorrow so here are some pictures from over the last month or so. He is getting so big and starting to talk a ton. He is totally into the toddler stage (which is adorable and hard) and not so much my baby anymore. He is going to look like such a big kid when baby #4 joins our family. :)


Being my patient boy eating his snack at my 36 & 5 day appointment.

Playing with an I-Phone case acting like it's his phone.

Alivia and Graysen posing so sweetly for me!

Alivia asked Graysen for a hug and I was able to capture this sweet, sweet moment!

After eating lunch and before nap time smiles.

Pretending to drink his "tea"!

Smoothie smile...

Playing with the laundry basket during his first movie night with the big kids.

Loving the snow!

Bath time and a mischievous look after I told him not to drink the bath water and he did it anyway!

After bath selfie.

Hanging out with big brother Nolan.

Reading with daddy before bedtime.

Being a silly kiddo playing with big brother and sister.

Washing daddy's car on a nice winter day.

Swinging with Alivia at this cool park that we love.

He loves being outside and loves swinging at the park.

This kid LOVES his grammy (He is wearing a play nurse scrub that was my brothers)!

Cheesing it up with big brother and sister!

Playing with Alivia.

Snack time in a weird spot. :)

Squishy dough play.

More hugs for alivia!

Another cute selfie!

Just being silly.

Couch snuggles with siblings.

One of his favorite spots: eating food.

My Current Thoughts- Baby Spiers #4 Breech Status!!

More then 7 years ago, I was pregnant with Alivia. I was naive in believing that my birth plan would go perfectly. Instead it went the exact opposite of what Ben and I were hoping for. We had written a birth plan for an un-medicated, natural birth and instead my birth story with Alivia involves a c-section. (Alivia's Birth Story). Fast forward to the births of my boys where I was able to have a vbac with epidural with Nolan (Nolan's Birth Story and  Nolan's Birth Story Part 2) and natural vbac with Graysen (Graysen's Birth Story- Doula Perspective and Graysen's Birth Story- My Emotions) and I was elated. I have been able to work through my feeling around Alivia's birth. I needed to have all the labor and births I have had to get where I am today. Baby Spiers #4 is breech and I am sitting at 2 days shy of 37 weeks. My emotions have been pretty stable for the most part since finding out the breech status at 30 weeks. I have been praying mostly that I am content in HOWEVER I deliver this baby. Praying for peace of mind knowing that a c-section is a very high possibility at this point. In the last few months, I have been thrown into a few different situations that have tested my trust in the Lord and have allowed me the opportunity to let go of the control I want to cling onto. Ultimately, I have no control over if this baby is going to flip or not but it feels nice to think that I do. Letting go of thinking I have control and giving that part to God has been freeing and allowed me not to stress about how this baby is going to be delivered. I would love to have this baby naturally, that is my heart's desire, but in the end if I have a c-section I know that I will be ok. I know I will handle it better than how I handled my emotions with Alivia because I have changed my expectations not to what I want but to trusting in God's plan for me.

With saying that, Ben and I have decided to try a version next week to see if manually turning the baby will be just what the baby needs to flip to head down. If the version doesn't work at 38 weeks, I have the opportunity to try again at 39 weeks with an epidural. If it works my provider will induce me and if it doesn't work, I will head to the operating room for a c-section. I am comfortable with this plan. I feel that if the version(s) doesn't work that there is a reason for the baby being breech and the Lord is protecting our baby knowing that a c-section is the best route.

Here is how I am preparing for birth:

• Trusting in God's plan for me and Baby Spiers #4 
• Reading Bible Verses about strength, trust, peace, plans
• Brousing websites such as Birth Without Fear and Cord Mama and reading birth stories
• Reading Articles such as 3 Truths about C-Section Mamas and Dear C-Section Mamas
• Allowing my support team to offer their encouragement
• Listening to midwifes knowledge and confidence in my situation

32 Weeks with a freshly bathed and sweet Graysen

35 Weeks

36 Weeks (decided the bathroom needed a cleaning after this picture :))