Brooklynn Wynter's Birth Story

So this is my sweet little Brooklynn's birth story!

You can read Autumn's story {HERE} and the story of our miscarriage {HERE}

This was Christmas Day... our last family picture as a family of 3!

The night before we had to go into the hospital, being goofy with my momma.

Brooklynn was a planned birth. She was due January 2nd. But because of a snafoo with our insurance and the fact that my doctor was going to be out of town and may not be around to deliver her, we opted to be induced on the 28th of December.

That meant that I had to go in on the 27th. He had to give me some kind of medication (maybe pitocin?) that took 24 hours to work its magic to put me into labor. I started having some serious contractions but I wasn't dilating nor had my water broken. There was a point where they said they had to go in an break my water and that would hopefully help with the dilating.  Since my contractions were pretty bad, I went ahead and told them to give me the epidural.

They gave me the epidural and then broke my water.

Time went on and on and on... still no dilating.

FINALLY, I started to dilate.

But the epidural had worn off by this point.

Too late to do anything about it at this point.

She was coming!

Have you ever given a natural birth?? It was THE coolest thing I've EVER felt in my life. I could feel her arms and shoulders and everything coming through.

After 3 pushes, 8 minutes, Brooklynn was born!!

Brooklynn Wynter Ross

December 28, 2011 3:03 p.m.

8 pounds, 2 ounces

21 inches long

Autumn got to come see her sister...and it just melted my heart how much she loved her!

This is one my favorite pictures of all time. Autumn just loved the nose sucker thing and thought it was a toy to play with.  She was so excited about that thing! 

Then it was time to go home! We actually got to leave early, but it felt like I was at the hospital for an eternity since I had to go in a day early for the initial medicine.

And so our family grew from 3 to 4....it was complete! 

Or so we thought... then came baby Caroline!

In Between A and B

You might want to grab tissues for this post (at least I need to).

In between A and B.

There is no letter between A and B, is what you're thinking, I bet.

Well, for us there is.In between Autumn and Brooklynn, we were actually pregnant with another child. 

It was around November/December of 2010.  My mom was coming for Christmas, so I was holding out telling anyone until I could tell her face to face.In the mean time, we decided we needed to start looking for a new house - a bigger one. 

We were already outgrowing the "Starter Home" that I had bought before I even met Ron.BUT, during that time, I lost the baby.I was about 9-10 weeks along.  The morning my mom was coming to town to visit.

I woke up with bleeding. Ron had to work that day (as did I), but we headed to the hospital around 5:30/6:00.  The thing about being a teacher, is that no matter what you're going through, you still have to stop and find someone to make sure your class has lesson plans...and to call in for a sub for you.... NOT something on the top of your list to do at a time when you're rushing to the hospital.  That's for sure.

We went to the hospital and they said that I was no longer "carrying."

It was hard. I was devastated. 

My poor husband didn't even know how to help me...except to keep Autumn distracted. He tried. He held me, he let me cry on him constantly. But really, what could he do?  

It took a while, but a few months later, I was able to talk about it.

Here's what I wrote down when I was ready:

"So, I have had some of you ask me 'why all the sudden are you guys moving to a bigger house?! Are you expecting?? or anticipating a growing a family??' lol. Well, my answer is no, we're not pregnant.But, I will tell you that the reason that this all started was because we were pregnant. There, I actually said it. I know a lot of you have been wondering and speculating. But yes, I had a miscarriage. When I found out I was pregnant, we decided not to tell anyone because my mom was coming about a month later, and I had a great idea about telling her in person since she was told about Autumn over the phone. So, that's why we didn't tell anyone. Then, 3 days before Christmas break, I woke up bleeding. I was about 9-10 weeks along. So, yes, that's why I randomly was not at work the last days before break. Needless to say, I was devastated, broken-hearted. And to top it off, that morning, my mother was coming into town. I had to muster up the strength to move on. I was in pain for her visit here, which really brought me down because we had some fun plans.I knew that Christmas was already going to be a hard one - my mom was leaving before Christmas and Ron was working Christmas and new years, but then to add in what I went through. I didn't feel like talking to anyone about it, and I knew I wasn't going to be able to "play happy" very well, so I just kept to myself during the break. Once I went back to work, I got better, because I kept busy. And I'm better now with it - although, I must say I'm a little teary eyed now..lolSo now you know. I know that it was God's way of getting rid of something that probably would not have thrived later on. Though, at the time, it's hard to think like that.  Looking back, I just have to be thankful that I was only 9 weeks. I know of others who have had to give birth even though they knew their baby would be born a still- born. I can't even imagine! My heart goes out to every single mother who has to go through that, and I pray that none of you will ever have to go through it."

Still to this day, I get teary-eyed reading it. I've always said that everything happens for a reason, whether or not we know God's reason, or believe that there could possibly even BE a reason for it.


When my little Brooklynn turned 1, I finally realized what the reason was.  

My Brooklynn was born around the same time that we lost this baby. And had that pregnancy worked out, we would not have my little B.  

So, I not that I would ever be thankful for something so tragic as the loss of a baby, but I am so thankful that we get to have my B!  She is definitely a God-Send.

Moving Day!!

The day has finally come!!

My parents have moved back.

It's been a long six years not having them. My mom and I are super close, and have only gotten to see them a few times a year.

They actually got into town Saturday night, but with how tired they were from driving for 4-5 days across the country, they just went straight to their destination.

We met up with them first thing Sunday morning to help them unload their uhaul into their storage unit. Autumn was so excited to see them!  And I think Grandma was a little excited to see her too. (melt my heart)

She drew a picture for Woody and got Grandma a fun book. 

Then it was time to get to work! Ron came to help, as well as Woody's boys (Hans and Erich). 

The girls did their part to help too...

And of course, they got to play around a little bit. AND of course, we couldn't have a day without Brooklynn hurting herself. She ended up busting her lip...again. haha. The girl seriously has some "grace" issues.

My cousin came down from Daytona to help out too! She's a blogger too - you can follow her journey as a family who is living in an RV, life with 2 kids, and homeschooling on the road.

annnnnd I helped out a lot too....see??? hehe

It took a while, and a lot of "geometry-ing" of boxes and tools and kayaks and couches. But we got them all in. They are here. My parents have moved back. My girls have their grandparents. The new chapter has begun!

Halloween Week and Pumpkin Poop!

Halloween week is such a blur!  I don't think I made it home before 7 o'clock one night that week. 

Here's "our week in pictures"...kind of. It's missing A LOT of fun things, but those will be revealed later on...lots of good things!

Autumn got to carve her pumpkin - she LOVES doing this. 

This girl is not afraid to get in and get dirty.

Brooklynn on the other hand?? She's a little less inclined to play with the goop.  Actually, I was trying get all "teacher" on them and tell them the name of al the parts of the pumpkin, and when I told them about the "pulp," Brooklynn goes, "Pumpkin POOP? Ew! Thas disgustin'!"  Which you can see by the expression on her face. haha!

Then Daddy got in there and taught her how to use "tools." Every daddy's dream is that their little girl will want to play with tools, right!? haha... Autumn is right on track with that.

Her pumpkin masterpiece!

Also last week, we had a Halloween Party with our friends.

When you can choose to be anyone else other than yourself, always choose a mermaid! Right?  What makes this picture even more perfect is B in the background... haha! I love it.

Then, I made Frankenpudding - for both my classroom and my girls... everything is a 2 for 1 in teacher and mommy world these days. 

Then it was Trick or Treat time!  Pete did NOT want to go inside, and wouldn't even budge when Ron was calling him in. He decided that hiding under my legs was going to save him. lol Ron had to pick him up and carry him inside. An 80/90 pound dog. Such a baby. 

My feet were hurting SO bad that day that I had Ron take the girls around the neighborhood.

And I stayed back on Candy Duty...except, the candy was extremely close...arms length. Not a safe distance. lol.

And one more picture for the week. Autumn's school was having spirit week where the kids got to dress up each day for something. Monday was western day. Both girls are just so stinkin' cute in their boots. 

Autumn Rose's Birth Story

Going back in time and writing about my 2 girls' birth stories is probably not what I should be doing right now in the midst of all the chaos that IS my life right now.

But to me?

It's top priority. I don't want to ever forget. So I want to write it down to have it forever.



So, here is her story.

I woke up that morning to go to work.  Autumn wasn't due for a few more days.

I was having some cramping, but didn't know if it was THE cramping.  So I called my friend, Kristi (T.) and she told me to stay home from work. She has 3 kids, so I figured she knew what she was talking about..ha!

They continued to get worse and around 9 or 10 that morning, my doctor told me to head to the hospital. Later that day, I was having full-blown contractions, but I was barely dilated. So they eventually broke my water for me... AND gave me the epidural. That was pure heaven.

I was feeling fine and dandy, and then around 9:00 Ron got restless... and hungry. So he headed to the "cafe" to get some dinner for us. Welllll.... he almost missed the birth of his first-born! I was sitting there thinking "hmm... it feels like one of the cords is being tugged on, so I called the nurse in to check my cords to make sure they were all where they needed to be. At this time, Ron came back with food and I told him that I just sent for the nurse. The nurse came, looked, and said...
"Oh, that's because I can see the head!"

Um... excuse me?!

Here we go!!

5 minutes of pushing and Autumn Rose was born: 

September 3, 2009

7 pounds, 12 ounces

9:42 p.m.

20 1/4 inches long

My little girl has since given us so many joys, and so much love and laughter...along with frustrations.  She is such a great big sister (most of the time) and still loves to be my little cuddlebug.