How It All Went Down

Ruth Anita Freeman was born on Friday, August 2, 2013 coming in at 6 lbs 14oz and 19.5 inches. 

I was scheduled to be induced at 3 in the morning but they didn't have any beds open. But Ruth would not have it! About 10 minutes after I hung up the phone with the hospital I went into labor all on my own. So we went in and I was admitted. Her heart rate was extremely high but then would drop really low in between contractions. So they called my doctor and he told them to do an ultrasound to see why she was so distressed. Well the ultrasound never came because things got pretty critical and I was wheeled right in for an emergency C section. It all happened so fast and needless to say, I was OVERWHELMED. When the nurses tell you, "We need to get this baby out as soon as possible," it doesn't really calm your nerves in an already stressful situation. Thank goodness I have such a wonderful husband. He truly couldn't have been any better.

Then, BAM- Ruth was born. She had the cord wrapped around her neck and labor became too much for her to handle. She was admitted to the NICU for her high respiratory rate and low blood glucose. She couldn't eat so she was hooked up to an IV and had wires all over her. This was not the labor and delivery experience I ever imagined going through but it was all worth it to have a beautiful healthy baby girl. She and I are doing just great now and she loves to prove it with her smile! And her dimples are the yummiest. If only I can catch a picture of her showing them off. Scratch that- everything about her is the yummiest! The hair, the cheeks, her toes, and when she just stares at me perfectly content. Being a mother is oh so good.

You're Only A Day Away

WELL TOMORROW IS THE DAY! Ah, can you believe it? I still can't. Hopefully in 24 to 36 hours I will be holding my little baby in my arms. (Let's pray it will be closer to the 24 hour mark and not the 36 hour  mark). I am going in EARLY in the AM tomorrow morning to be induced because she just loves me so much that she doesn't want to leave my bellay. It's so early that some of you may consider it Thursday still. Let me just say that induction was the last thing I wanted but for some circumstances our of our control, it is the best option for us. Anyway, I realistically won't be on here for a while seeing as I will have my arms full and be running on very little sleep. But if you want any updates I am sure I will be too gah gah not to share photos on Instagram or Facebook. So check there! Alrighty I've got LOTS to do before our Ruth comes so I am signing off for a while. I am beaming.

~A Very soon to be Mommy Freeman

One Month More

Not a flattering picture but I didn't feel like taking 10 just to get one "decent" shot. So here we go. One month left! 36 weeks and feeling.... a whole lot of different things. But mainly I am overwhelmed with so much excitement! (Oh and surviving the Arizona summer with another person growing with me has not been my very favorite- but I know it'll be SO worth it!)

Sometimes You Set the Kitchen on Fire

Here's the latest with us busier than ever Freemans.

Well we moved into Brenner's uncle's guest house in Lehi. I'll be honest, this is certainly not my ideal space I wanted to move into with a baby coming. I kept fighting moving in here despite the Lord's frequent reminders that He is the one who knows where we ought to be. Everything else that kept coming up for us would fall through last minute and guess what? I know exactly why now! I have loved living in this teeny tiny studio-of-a-guest house. Sure our bed pulls out of the wall, there is only one bathroom (which can be a problem with a very pregnant gal always needing to use it), the shower is... small, there have been a few encounters with harmless but still nasty arachnids, my clothes now live in what is supposed to be the pantry, and there is no separate room for this future baby of mine or even for us. Big whoop! I have LOVED being so close to Brenner. I love my beautiful  morning runs in this neighborhood. I love the pool. I love living right behind part of his family. I LOVE knowing that we made the right decision in moving here because it just feels right and nothing can kill that peaceful feeling. Not even when I set the kitchen on fire. Wait what?.........

Yeah that's right. First night of using this new gas-lit oven. Maybe it's the pregnancy brain or maybe I just decided not to think while I stored some dish rags in the pull-out drawer underneath the oven. Well, guess what? They caught on fire! Brenner put it out real quick and there was no damage-thank goodness. But our place filled with smoke so we had to eat our cereal outside. Yep, cereal because our dinner was no longer happening. I just wasn't feeling up to it if you can believe that. The smoke cleared out super fast and the smell was gone in about an hour although my tears were still on the go. But, I have the best husband and very elastic emotions so the next morning I couldn't help but just laugh and laugh and crack a few jokes about it and laugh some more. 

Seriously, married life for us has been one crazy adventure- living in Strawberry, moving to a new home in Tucson, me transferring to U of A, preparing to be parents, moving to Lehi, transferring back to ASU, and still preparing for this baby to arrive. Then I'm sure finishing school and being a first-time/practically single mom will rock my world. Through all of it, I can't help but feel so incredibly blessed to have the life that I do. I wouldn't change a single part of it for anything and I am really glad that Heavenly Father lets us set the kitchen on fire to not only make us better but to also create lasting memories that will put a smile on our faces.

Just a Video

I love Mormon Messages and I thought this particular video perfectly depicted what our fathers do for us-constantly. I'm so grateful for all the wonderful men in my life and especially my husband and  soon-to-be father of our baby!

Growing, Growing, Come On!

Even though I am just under 30 weeks along, I can't help but get more and more excited for this babe's arrival! I have this feeling she is going to be a strong, spunky little girl just from her hard kicks and tricks she likes to play. I don't like people touching my stomach (my friends all know I'm not the touchiest person) except family. Still, the only ones who have felt her karate moves are Brenner, his sister Kylie when she was in town (I'm assuming she knew she wouldn't be able to meet Kylie right away. Very thoughtful.), and maybe my sister? Sorry Alyssa, can't remember. But really, she will be kicking so hard you can see it through my shirt and then as soon as anyone besides those peeps go to feel her she totally stops. Sassy pants. Anyway, I figured I would post one of my very last pictures of the tummy before she is here. I can hardly wait to meet her!

A little taste of the third trimester. 30ish weeks, aka about 7 months. She sure is a'growin!

Realism

In my humble opinion, dreaming is wonderful but there is something far more powerful than a wishful thought. Realistic goals and aspirations are what I'm aiming for. It's important to be present in reality. Here are some realistic truths that I have been thinking about lately.

1. Realistically, I NEED THAT BROWNIE or CUPCAKE or CINNAMON ROLL or ICE CREAM to get me through a streak of strict healthy eating. Indulgence can be the gatekeeper to my sanity.

2. Realistically, my life is NOT perfect. If I thought it was then I would just be kidding myself.

3. Realistically, Brenner cannot be here for me 24/7 right now. (Boards studying...). However, we do make the very best of the 2 hours a day we see each other.

4. Realistically, Brenner and I do not agree on everything. What? Marriage isn't perfect? Nope, sorry folks it just isn't. But guess what is? The fact that we've never raised our voices at each other and the sweet cuddles that our disagreements always end in.

5. Realistically, I just don't get around to doing everything that I intend to do today (vacuuming, making a surprise treat for Brenner during these days he's a slave to his studies, my morning run, or whatever). 

6. Realistically, much of the bliss we enjoy in life is the product of our hard work.

So here's to a realistic life like mine! It's pretty fantastic and even though I haven't done anything to get my name in a history book, the truth is that I am important. Our lives do matter. It's crucial to be real with ourselves, our lives, and our goals. I find that when we are, we still manage to exceed our own expectations and our achievements are even sweeter than imaginable. It's far better to keep our head on our shoulders and be active in our reality than sit stagnant dreaming about all of the things that we realistically cannot accomplish simultaneously.