Emma's Report!

Praise the Lord! We are shouting and singing the praises of our King today!

We arrived in Milwaukee about 12:00, found the Children's Hospital, grabbed a bite to eat, and arrived early for our appointment so I could nurse Emma. Our appointment was for 1:15pm., and the clinic was very prompt to call us back to the exam room right on time. The nurse weighed Emma, took her height and head measurements, and then we waited. Thankfully, we did not have to wait long!

The neurologist doctor came in asked us several questions about Emma's progress, how she ate, slept etc. Then she felt all over her head, and said that she was looking for ridges that would show the bones are fusing together. But since Emma's head is shaped right, her forehead is flat, and Emma's head is showing signs of growth, the doctor said that she believes that there is nothing to be concerned about at this time! YAY! She said that Emma has tiny and petite bone structures, and with lots of hair, it's easy to wonder if the soft spot is the way it should be at this time. Praise the Lord...it is exactly as it should be! We have no follow up visits, no future trips, and nothing that is raising concern in the doctor's eyes! We praise the Lord for answered prayer, for all of you who told us you were praying, for my parents who watched the boys, and for wonderful friends who stormed the gates of heaven on our behalf...THANK-YOU!!

On another happy note, since we were already in the Milwaukee area, we were able to visit with some dear friends. Jared and Beka Longsine have been our dear friends and graciously offered to assist in any way that they could be of help. Since the appointment was so short, we were able to meet up with them and spend some time visiting together. They thoughtfully included us on their ninth anniversary dinner, and we enjoyed visiting and fellowshipping with them. All in all, it was a wonderful day filled with rejoicing and God's blessings. Our hearts are full and overwhelmed with gratitude to the mighty God we serve! Thank-you!

Roger and Sarah

"A Surgery, A Surprise, and God's Perfect Timing"

Life Changing Events!

Our Beautiful Baby!

 

It’s been an interesting, life-changing week for the Robertson family, and it’s been exciting to see God’s hand in it all.

A few weeks ago, around July 17^th, Roger and the boys went on the Father/Son outing with several others from our church. While on the canoeing trip, Roger and the boys were playing “keep away” in the water. Roger stepped on something in the water and cut his foot with a long, deep gash. When he got home, he told me he needed a “band-aid” and I told him he needed to go to the Emergency Room to get it looked at! He did take my advice and the doctor ended up putting seven stitches in the side of his foot. He was supposed to come back in 10-14 days to get the stitches removed, so he went in on August 5^th. Meanwhile, his foot had started to swell on Sunday, and it was pretty red by the time he went in to get the stitches removed. The doctor removed two, gave him an antibiotic and said that it looked like it was getting infected and to watch it carefully. Well, by the time Tuesday afternoon came around, the redness was swelling, Roger had a low grade fever, and the foot was very swollen. He called the ER, and they said that the antibiotic should be kicking in soon, but he needed to make an appointment with the doctor for Wednesday. Since I already had a prenatal visit scheduled for Wednesday, Roger came along to my appointment. Our family doctor, my ob-gyn, and our baby delivery doctor (all one person!) took a look and said that she would schedule him an appointment with the surgeon.

Fast forward…Wednesday afternoon…the surgeon schedules Roger for 3pm. The infection was spreading quickly and the surgeon felt the need to cut it open and clean it all out before the situation turned more serious. So, off we went to the surgery department on Wednesday afternoon. My parents took the boys, and Roger was prepped for surgery. While we were in the prepping room for surgery, I could feel contractions starting! Since I had already been in on Sunday with labor pains that went nowhere, I decided not to say anything to Roger. He went in for surgery around 4pm. and the contractions were starting to increase. They weren’t necessarily getting stronger though, so I decided to walk across the street and walk on the track. After walking two miles, I thought maybe the REAL deal was on! Contractions were coming 2-3 minutes apart and they were getting uncomfortable!

I decided to call the birthing center (from the surgeon’s wing of the hospital!) After talking to the nurses there, they encouraged me to come up, especially since I tested positive for Group Strep B. So, I went to tell the surgeon’s receptionist that when Roger got done with his surgery could they please wheel him up to the Birthing Center. The look on her face was priceless!  She willingly agreed to let the surgeon know and off I waddled to the Birthing Center.

Our "Rose" among "Thorns"

I arrived about 5:30pm. with consistent, uncomfortable contractions, but I wasn’t in terrible pain yet. When the nurse checked me, I was at 3 cm and about 80% effaced. This wasn’t a huge change from Sunday, and I knew I still had a long ways to go!  I was hooked up to the monitor for about 20 minutes, but baby was doing great. I was then up and walking, bouncing gently on the birthing ball and trying to keep those contractions coming!  About 7pm. , the surgeon came up to tell me that Roger was done with surgery, but they were waiting for some of the effects of the anesthesia to wear off. He told me good luck, and said he was glad that we decided to have our baby and the surgery done at the same hospital!  Shortly after that, the nurse came back in and I was hooked back up to the monitors. The contractions were still coming, but the intensity wasn’t increasing. We discussed what to do, and then decided to go ahead and get the antibiotic going for the Group Strep B. I’m allergic to penicillin, so we couldn’t use that one. The next one they use, I have a resistance to; so I was given the third option. In went the IV, and the antibiotic started dripping into my body.

About 7:30pm., Roger arrived upstairs. It was a sight to see my big, strong husband being pushed in the room in a wheel chair!  The nurses got him situated in a chair with his leg elevated, and he was given strict instructions not to move. Technically, he wasn’t supposed to be out of the surgeons wing since he couldn’t wiggle his toes yet, but they gave him a pass since his wife was in labor.  The first thing I remember telling Roger is that my hair felt like I had lice, and my scalp was itchy!  Twenty minutes later, I was telling Roger to call for the nurse…my head, my face, my chest were breaking out in hives! YES, I was allergic to the antibiotic given for Group Strep B! So, between contractions and itching it was a miserable hour! The nurse came in and immediately turned off the antibiotic, but I had already received about 75% of the dosage. I was given Benedryl, which helped with the itching, but made me tired!  About 9pm. the doctor came in to talk to us. I wasn’t progressing as quickly as I would have liked, but I had already received 75% of the antibiotic, so we had ten hours to have a baby. Otherwise, we’d have to repeat some type of antibiotic for protection against the Group B Strep. That being said…we started on Pitocin!

Pitocin was started about 9:30pm. and I quickly became miserable! I really wanted to have this baby without an epidural, so I was determined to stick with it! The last check I had at 9:30 ish revealed that I was still at 3cm and about 90% effaced. The cervix was still too high to be comfortable breaking my water, so that’s why I was started on Pitocin. At about 11:30pm…labor was getting old fast! I wasn’t dilated too much more, but my cervix was lower, so my water was broken. That really started to increase the contractions, and the intensity was hard to take. Roger was stuck to his chair, so he felt like he wasn’t much help, but I tend to need to labor through pain on my own, so it was for the best. He was on one side of the bed in the chair, I was on the other side of the bed on the birthing ball, so we were quite the pair! 

I survived the Pitocin, contractions, and continuous monitoring of baby until about 1:30am. My body was really fighting the contractions, and I was having a hard time relaxing through them. I was convinced this baby was never coming, but since I had been on Pitocin for four hours, I thought that I had probably really advanced and how long could I possibly have left?! After the nurse checked me and told me “Well, your almost to 4cm, and almost completely effaced.” I promptly told her to please go find that epidural! (Much to my husbands relief as he was feeling helpless, the pain was intense, and he knew the epidural would at least provide some relief for me) The nurse came back and said that they would start the IV fluids, and the anesthesiologist would be up in 30 minutes…which was the longest 30 minutes of my life!

Finally, epidural was put in about 2:20am. It helped immensely, except it was only working on the right side! The contractions were hard and intense on the left side, and I was feeling every one of them! It took some time, but about 3am. I felt the left side go numb as well, and relief flooded my body.

Around 3:20am. the nurse was going to drain my bladder to see if that helped things speed up. However, when she went to do that…I was complete and ready to push! She then told me not to push, she was going to get the doctor! Yay…finally! J Even with the epidural, once I sat up, I could feel the pressure to push. Thankfully, the doctor was ready, and after about 3 pushes…baby Robertson came into the world! J She was tiny, petite, and priceless…and a complete shock! The whole room erupted with squeals of delight as her identity was revealed. Roger had already known…since the ultrasound!...but managed to keep it a secret for 18 weeks! I had no idea, and promptly told the doctor, “I didn’t know we could make girls!”

Emma Kate Robertson...at nine hours old.

We had no ideas on names, but she didn’t mind!  She weighed in at 6 lbs. 7 oz. and 19 inches long. We did decide to name her, Emma Kate, to which Wyatt calls her “Emma Cake”.

In and through it all, God’s perfect timing has been amazing! Going into labor while Roger was in surgery was an unusual and unique experience for us both. Roger said the first things he remembers after surgery is being shaken gently and told, “Your wife is up in the birthing center, she’s in labor.” But he wasn’t coherent enough to care at the moment, so when he woke up again, he was in a different room. He was wondering if he dreamt the whole thing, when the nurse came in to confirm where I was and that “no, you can’t go up until at least some of the medication wears off.” Thankfully, he didn’t miss the important and exciting part, but in God allowing us to have Emma on Thursday, Roger was able to have off Thursday and Friday to rest his foot …praise the Lord! We are truly blessed beyond measure!

Travis has adjusted to loving his sister...even though it's not a
puppy like he requested!

The boys adore their little sister and she receives more love than she could possibly know what to do with! We are absolutely delighted with our little girl, and as tired as I am, I wouldn’t trade these moments for anything! I could do without the fatigue, tears, and emotions…but it requires me to depend on God for every source of grace He gives.

Roger’s mom has been able to come for a few days and help out, which has been a huge delight to my heart. The boys are adapting well, but our family is going through transition, so prayers are appreciated!



Much Love!

I run...I walk...I waddle!

 

Tomorrow marks the 38^th week of being pregnant, and I’ll admit that I’m ready to be done! The latest of my babies so far came at 38 weeks and 3 days, so it’s looking like this one will take the cake for the latest baby!

My children are growing impatient and asking every day if the baby is coming out soon. I usually reply, “I don’t know.” Garett told me the other day “Mom, maybe it’s a girl baby and she can’t find her way out!” I was like, “WHAT?” But I think in his mind, he was thinking that we only have boys and they’ve all managed to find their way out, so maybe it’s a girl baby! J WOW! The way kids think amazes me…and amuses me! J

Several people have mentioned to me that sometimes walking will help you go into labor. I was complaining to Roger that I was a little tired of hearing that so he challenged me to add up all the miles I’ve accumulated since becoming pregnant. I really only have a record since February because we weren’t able to record miles in Alaska. But since returning back to the lower 48 states in February, I’ve accumulated over 400 miles of running, walking, aerobics , or biking miles…needless to say, I don’t think I’m going to put myself in labor by walking! J

I did decide to give up running at week 33 ½ simply because I was giving myself contractions and didn’t want to go into labor. I’ve continued to walk, averaging about 15 miles a week, and now I’m into waddling! J My pace has slowed down, my bladder is getting stepped on, and my endurance is lower, so I’m hoping baby decides to come soon! J

This pregnancy has been different from the others in the fact that, well, it’s been almost three years since the last baby! J Secondly, I’ve worked harder at exercising, not that it seems to have helped the scale much! L Thirdly, the boys are all older now, so I have daily inquires about my belly, the baby, and WHEN! J

We are so looking forward to meeting this little one, and we praise God for the blessing of new life. I’m overwhelmed with the challenges of facing a first-grader, a kindergartner, two preschoolers, and an infant, but I’m confident that God will give grace for every moment. It’s getting hard to be patient, but I do love soaking up the memories of the four boys knowing that these moments are passing by all too quickly! So, I covet your prayers for a safe delivery, a healthy baby, and a quick adjustment to a family of seven…wow! J

37 weeks and 2 days

Pictures!

June Activities…in a nutshell! J

It would be absolutely impossible to fill in all the cracks in the last month, so I’m going to stick to mostly pictures! To give you the gist…we finished up speech lessons for Wyatt, 4K for Chandler, participated and helped in Vacation Bible School, enjoyed a visit from an Alaskan friend, canoed, camped, visited a little amusement park, took a trip to the zoo, went strawberry picking, hosted a college/career activity, numerous swimming activities, and a host of other daily events.

 I’m continuing to grow with baby Robertson J, and everything seems to be on track. The other day I commented that the baby must be sitting on my bladder, and a few moments later Wyatt stated that his “ladder” was full too! J

The days are very full, and summer is relatively short, so we are working to enjoy the moments to the fullest; and we are never bored! J

Boys and water!

Garett and Travis

More water!

Waiting for the ride

Our trip to Bay Beach

Wyatt having fun

The boys

Yeah, more water

Two little boys

Volcano project

The little strawberry picker

Our boys

The Strawberry picking crew

Successful picking

32 weeks!

 

 

Baby Robertson #5 is a....

Well, we had our ultrasound for our newest addition…and guess what? Baby #5 is a….baby!  We chose not to find out so, we’ll discover sometime in August what God has given us. It was a hard decision, as part of me wanted to know and part of me didn’t. But in the end, we decided not to find out, and I’m fine with that too. Baby is growing well, the ultrasound showed no abnormalities or concerns, so we are thankful for that. We realize that each child is a gift from God, and we are blessed to once again be welcoming a child into our family. The boys are praying for a “girl” baby, but I’ve been trying to gently tell them that God might give us another boy. Garett wants to know why God would do that…”We already have enough of those, mom!” Well….I’m just trying to prepare you! 

I’ve been staying active with this pregnancy, in part, simply because I have four other children to take care of also!  I’ve really been trying to exercise and eat right but the scale still seems to be winning at a horrific rate!  I need to just come to the conclusion that I need to do my best to eat right and exercise, and I’ll ask God to help me get the weight back off when the time comes! I’ve been having a lot of back pain with this pregnancy, but that could be due to the fact that I have other children that want mommy to pick them up and cuddle them! 

Spring has been slow in coming this year. This week was full of rain, snow, sleet, and moments of “cabin fever”! I ran out of creative ideas, and today I was tired of the increasing questions to “Can I go outside?” So, the boys went out! We went through multiple pairs of went socks, pants, and gloves, but they had a great time! The laundry is never ending anyways, so I might as well let them add to it! We built forts, made craft projects, played in the basement, and even took an excursion to the McDonald's playland! BUT...I'm ready for some sunshine!!

Last Saturday, I was able to go grocery shopping and run some errands without all the boys. I just took Chandler, and we had a “date”. I truly enjoy spending time with them in this way as when I have all four of them along, it's a tad overwhelming for all of us! It's amazing how much talking he likes to do and how fast he's growing when I have those one-on-one moments. I loved it! Tomorrow is Garett's turn and he is VERY excited about his “date”! I treasure the time I'll get to spend with him, and am thankful for an amazing husband who cheerfully and willing watches the other boys, so that I can enjoy these moments. I am blessed!

I realize that every family has different struggles at different times, but as spring-time approaches, I've been discovering that our boys have a struggle of learning stewardship. I don't want the boys to think that life is about “stuff”, or keeping the house picked up, or not tracking in mud; however, I want them to realize that we are to be wise stewards of what God has blessed us with. This seems to be difficult to teach! I feel like I am constantly reminding them to put things away, or to go back and hang up your coat, put your boots away, etc. It gets tiring for all of us, but lately I've just been setting the timer for them to pick up. I look at the mess and estimate how long I think it should take them to pick up. Whatever isn't picked up, becomes mine for however long I feel necessary. The older two lost their bike privileges (but this week they couldn't ride them anyways!). I feel overwhelmed with all that goes into teaching responsible stewardship. Did you take it out to the car?...you bring it in! Did you wear it? ….hang it up! Did you play with it?...put it back! Part of the problem, is that with four close in age, you often feel like you repeat yourself constantly...and I do...but usually it's to a different child! So, on we plug with trying to be consistent, setting a good example, trying to maintain patience and grace when I'd rather just do it myself because it's faster and easier! So, in keeping it real...that's been our struggle of late!

April has also given me the urge to do some spring-cleaning. I've been moving furniture, emptying out closets, throwing away junk so much that when I asked one of the kids to bring me a garbage sack earlier this week, he asked what I was going to put in it very suspiciously! I managed to get one rather large piece of furniture stuck on the stairs to the basement so badly that Roger had to finish moving it when he came home from work. He says he doesn't like coming home in the dark for fear he won't be able to find his bed because the furniture is moved around! :) Pictures of our progress will be coming in a later post!

Blessings on you all,

Sarah