Post from 2019 - Masters in Tennessee

Tennessee to Iowa and Back!

Wow, I can't believe it's been about 3-4 years since we last updated our family blog! Procrastination is king! Hahaha. Our family has grown so much since our move here to Knoxville, TN. Chris had planned to just get his Masters in Plant Pathology, which he earned in May 2018 from the University of Tennessee, and we were planning to be done. However, an incredible opportunity arose and he was offered a staff position to manage the soybean breeding program AND the chance to work on a Doctorate. So he is super busy with work and school, and we relish in the moments we get together as a family. He continues to work hard and also serves as an unpaid ecclesiastical leader in our congregation's Bishopric. His determination to put his all into the things that matter most continues to bless our family. 

I've been working on overcoming past anxiety about driving, so the kids and I have been able to go on some road trips to see family. In May, we drove down to Florida to spend time with my parents and brothers, and Chris's dad and step-mom, and his older sister's family. It was so nice! Atlanta, Georgia, is NOT a pleasant place drive though. People drive crazy fast there! If you don't watch your schedule and happen to drive through during rush hour, better plan on adding a couple hours of drive time to your plans. *forehead slap* The Georgia Peach pass toll road was great on the way down, but it was closed on the way back and I got stuck in standstill traffic for two hours with some very tired kids. It wasn't my favorite part of the trip. 🙎

The Olympic Flame viewable from the Freeway through Atlanta

This is a rare sight in Atlanta, when you can actually see empty space on the road! 

With one big trip under my belt, I realized I was brave enough to take the kids out to the Midwest. My cousin, Kirsi, was getting married in Kansas City, MO, and I hadn't seen most of that side of my family for almost nine years, when Chris and I were married in 2010. We were so excited to be out there for her special day and be able to spend quality time with my mom's side of the family. 

Kirsi meeting my kids for the first time! 

Friends

Great-Grandma and the Girls

Kansas City, MO Temple

Kansas City, MO Temple

Elarie's Arrival

Well, little Miss Elarie is a week old! That went fast. I have a sinking remembrance of how quickly newborns grow out of newborn phase, and how quickly babies turn to toddlers, and so forth. She changes every day and we are just adoring every minute. 

A lot of friends want to know how everything went with the birth, so here it goes. Three weeks before her due date, I was already dilated and effaced quite a bit. Talk about wanting that baby out! All the painful contractions every night made for a month-long labor of sorts. I was tired, sore, and frazzled. I was really, really surprised that she didn't come sooner. Mom took me to my last appointment on my due date last Thursday, and I had a sinking feeling that I'd probably end up going another week before they'd induce me. I didn't want to be induced initially. I went in to visit with one of my midwives, she stripped my membranes for the second time, this time finding I'd had a tough adhesion attached to my cervix, which was probably keeping my water from breaking on its own. 

Another item of concern appeared, my blood pressure was higher than they wanted. It was odd because my levels had been amazing throughout the whole pregnancy. Candidate for preeclampsia, my midwife said they'd better send me to the hospital to be tested and monitored. She prepped me by saying if my levels weren't down to normal in an hour, they would need to induce me and have the baby that very day. 

I was excited at the prospect of not being pregnant anymore, but I also started to internally freak out because Chris was in a seminar for work until 3:30 and I didn't know if I could get hold of him in time. He was dutiful, had his phone on vibrate, but didn't answer the first attempt for 5 minutes, so I had a good silly, irrational cry in the restroom before he called me back and I told him to get down there pronto. 

Chris hurried down from Johnston as fast as he could. A little side note, a little miracle -  that morning on his way to work, his gas gauge was registering on "empty" (which never happens! He's awesome about keeping it full). He was thinking, "Oh, I'll fill it up after work at the gas station next door." But something prompted him to risk a few minutes being late to work to just fill up right then instead. Now we realize what a blessing it was that he did fill up, because in the rush of the moment, he would have forgotten the gas situation, gotten stranded somewhere along the highway, and probably not made it down in time to go in with me before the birth. 

My mom waited with me and Westley in the waiting room at the hospital while we waited for Chris. My dad also was able to get away from work to come and wish me luck. The three people I rely on most were there to help me prep for something I was terrified of, and I knew that Heavenly Father was giving me comfort and peace in preparation. Westley's birth went so fast and hard, I hadn't had known what to expect with him, so it seemed a lot less scary than this time around. Knowing what is coming does not necessarily make things easier! You think you're prepared for the world of pain that comes with childbirth, but it took me by surprise again. :) 

Chris came in the nick of time, and we went in and were admitted by 1:30. My blood pressure levels were still bad. By 2:15, they'd broken my water and put me on a Pitocin drip. Because I had to have the drip and because of my elevated BP levels, the midwife sadly informed me that I would not be allowed to move around off the bed, and couldn't use the whirlpool bath. My birth plan had to go out the window. I was disappointed, but you do what you have to for the health and safety of your baby. 

It wasn't too bad the first hour. The contractions came on gradually as they gently increased my dose of Pit. Chris and I were laughing and playing a card game of Monopoly Deal for that first hour. It was a great memory... before the contractions started to get painful. :P They hit harder and faster than I liked, obviously the Pit doing it's job. 

I was super uncomfortable, begging my nurse to let me sit on the very edge of the bed. Melissa was her name, and I've never met a better example of an angel in the flesh. She kept telling me I was doing an amazing job and tried super hard to keep me comfortable. I had an accident and she helped half-carry me and the mess to get cleaned up in the restroom. She kept me warm, held my water cup for me, helped me stand up in the restroom, and did so many little acts of kindness and tenderness for me. I was in so much pain half the time I couldn't even vocalize what I needed. I know that was hard on Chris because he was trying so hard to comfort me and relieve some of my pain. 

So I'd planned on not having an epidural again, going natural like I did with Westley. They said if at any point I changed my mind, I could have one... And presented another option of an IV narcotic called Fentanyl that I could use as a back up if I needed to take the edge off. About two and a half hours into the contractions, I could hardly keep my head on straight, the pain was so intense and I was just barely getting by with my relaxation and breathing exercises. I could feel my consciousness working so hard on keeping calm and trying to relax, but I wasn't progressing at all. Every time they checked, I was still only at 3cm. Talk about disheartening when you're feeling so cruddy! I started for the first time to panic and feel totally helpless. I cried in Chris's arms, "I can't do this, I can't do this, I'm not strong enough!" Last time, I felt so confident, so in control. Not so, this time. :) 

I asked Melissa if I could please use the Fentanyl. As soon as she added it to my drip, I felt the relief. It allowed me to rest for the first time in between contractions. I thought I was still aware of my surroundings, but Chris had an entire conversation with the nurse that I have no recollection of. All I remember was the first wave of relief and the feeling that everything was going to be okay now. About five minutes later, though it seemed like hours of restful slumber, I felt the urge to push. 

I had a wave of comfort wash over me, and I had the distinct impression that Chris's Grandma Turvey was preparing our little one to come. I thought that was odd at first and tried to dismiss it as my imagination, but that feeling became stronger as my body did it's job. The state of being between this world and the next is so frail. There really is a thin boundary separating us from our loved ones who have died. They are aware of us and want to comfort and guide us until we can be physically reunited again. It made sense that Elarie and Grandma would be close, since we wanted her to have a Welsh name and to have the middle name of Angela, Chris's mom who passed away. Grandma Turvey and Angela were both born in Newport, Wales. 

So, the IV drugs were a good idea, because within five minutes I dilated from 3cm to 7cm! I was in "transition phase" before they could even get the Midwife there. She had gone down to the office across the street for a little bit, hearing that I'd only progressed to 3cm. The nurse called and told her things were rolling and she might want to come back. I had that familiar feeling, and told Melissa they needed to hurry the midwife because I couldn't stop the urges. She gently told me I needed to try really hard to wait. Pffff! You try telling your body to hold on to something it is determined to expel violently! Haha. I tried so hard to hold back, but couldn't for very long. 

I told Melissa I was so sorry, but couldn't stop. She kept saying, "I know, honey. I know you can't, but you have to!" She called the midwife and said, "You'd better hurry up, she can't wait!" In two minutes, I felt the baby crowning and screamed that she was coming. They pulled in a neighboring physician who was available with a team of nurses to stand in place of my midwife because this baby was coming! My midwife, Sea, got there just as Elarie's head was showing, threw on a suit and gloves, and looked ready to catch a football. She gently told me when I could push, but I didn't need any coaching, I knew what to do. :) 

I felt in control suddenly for the first time throughout the labor. It was a much more gentle time pushing that it had been with Westley. Five or so pushes and I was holding this coughing bundle of a fat baby on my chest. She was born three hours after they broke my water. I hardly tore, and only had to have a stitch or two. And my, she was a big baby! Westley had been born two weeks early, and he had been 7lbs 12oz. Elarie, coming right on her due date, was 8lbs 9.4oz. Her head was a lot bigger too. I looked up at Chris, only to find him sobbing with joy and saying she was so beautiful. That moment will forever be etched in my memory as one of the most beautiful ones of my life. We can't stop being in awe of her sweetness and the blessing of being her parents. She has the LONGEST fingers, toes, and arms. She has a future in women's basketball and piano playing. :)

I appreciated our hospital staff so much. The nurses were sweet and accommodating. The facilities at Methodist Hospital were comfortable and the Gluten Free food was really good. I ate like a horse and a half the whole time I was there. About a half hour after labor, I was ravenously hungry and ate as much food as I could stuff in my face for hours and hours. It was pretty comical. We really enjoyed the visits from my family in the evening, and from my friend Adena and her husband Ross. Adena and I had our baby girls the same day at Methodist, so we enjoyed being sleepless, new-mommy hospital buddies! 

We were discharged after two days. I have only had two instances of the "baby blues" so far, luckily. One was when we left the hospital, and one right before we got home an hour later. Lots of sobbing, and feeling silly about it. But ever since we actually got home, I've been peaceful and enjoying my little ones immensely. Westley has dealt with the adjustment really well. He wants to be helpful with the baby, giving her kisses and rubbing her head, getting diapers, clothes, and wipes for me, etc. We've only had a few times when he is jealous of her. He's a very good big brother. We just have to watch him right now because he came down with a bad fever yesterday. Chris took him to Urgent Care and found out it's a virus. He loves the baby so much, it's been hard to keep them separated.  

Thank you to our friends and family who helped with prayers and support. And thank you to our friends from church who have brought us delicious meals this week. It was so nice to have one less thing to worry about!

More movies and pictures to come from Elarie's first week! 

Love to all, 

The Wymans

Enjoying Sunday morning snuggles with my babies

Proud to be a big brother

Enjoying snuggle time with Uncle Tyler

And Uncle Cory

Well, Good News Came Fast!

We welcomed our daughter into our family yesterday January 22nd at 5:02pm. Elarie Angela Wyman came into the world measuring in at 8lbs 9.4oz and 19.5in.  Here are some photos. Story and more photos to come soon. Both Lindsey and Elarie are doing great.

Playing Monopoly Deal before they broke her water

Daddy Daughter time

Bath Time

Beautiful like Mommy

Miss Elarie Angela Wyman

It's begun, She's the center of their attention.

Grandma and Grandpa with their first granddaughter

Miss Elarie, enjoying grandma Debbie's company

I am in love with her so

Elarie and Grandpa Clark bonding

Beautiful, just beautiful

Is "No News, Good News"?

Westley wants to share his stuffed animals with the baby

The wait is still on. Lindsey is looking bigger and more tired every day. Westley continues to speak to his mommy’s belly, “Baby, come out!” We are definitely getting a little more impatient every day. Through the discomfort and anticipation, Lindsey, Westley, and I are enjoying each other’s company more and more. When I come home from work we usually eat dinner and then go to a mall or a big store to walk around and see if we can speed things up a bit. The time together has been priceless.

This last week was business as usual for the Wyman clan (as usual as it can get, I suppose). I am still enjoying the work I get to take part in. I have definitely found my career of choice in scientific research. I am still unsure exactly what biological research I plan to take focus in, but as of yet, I am leaning toward plant pathology research in the field of agriculture. I had an interview this week with Dupont Pioneer’s Pathology group. I believe the interview went very well and am waiting for a response back. Whether I get the position or not remains to be seen, but I felt that the opportunity to interview was a great developmental experience alone.

West about a year ago

The weather in Iowa is positively crazy. We’ve had snow and below-zero days, followed by days in the 50s and back down to below zero. It has been nuts and I am sure that if I ever found a career opportunity in Iowa, I would make sure that I have enough money to buy a snow blower along with the down payment before I bought a house.

Westley is doing great! He is growing too fast. He and I were watching some old family videos of him the other day. As I watched, I realized how much he has grown up both physically and mentally in a seemingly short amount of time. As I go to work every day, I come home to him learning or doing something new each time. I am grateful that we have been somehow able to financially allow Lindsey to be a stay at home mom and teach him so much.

Playing "Space" with Captain Kirk

Bowling at Scheels

At Bass Pro, looking at the "Big Fish" and thinking about "Fish Grandpa"

  

I just wanted to thank you all so much for all you have done as our family and friends to make our lives so blessed. We are grateful for all of you. We’ll be sure to announce any big news when “she” comes. Until next time.

Puzzles at the Library

The Waiting Game

How did the time from October to January happen so fast? Fall was so lovely but much too short.
We went to a pumpkin patch and corn maze at the end of October. Westley had a blast!

He chose a huge pumpkin

Playing in the giant corn pit with Daddy

Little Go-Kart racer

CHEESE!

Giant Corn Pit

Halloween - Pinocchio, Blue Fairy, and Gephetto! 

Proud of himself for catching a leaf in the wind

Iowa winters are unlike any other place. It fluctuates between bitter, icy cold and warm sunny days in a matter of 24 hours. At least it keeps things interesting, right? We have had only two major snow storms so far. One dumped about 8 inches of snow on our yard. You should have seen Chris attack that driveway... with a fury only found in a man who is mad to see so much snow! :) I am sure grateful for his muscles and strength, especially lately.

We had a very nice Christmas. It was good to be with family for the holidays for the first time in four years. Westley loved his presents from his great-grandparents, grandmas and grandpas, great aunts, aunts, and uncles. Thank you everyone for making it a special time for us!

It's been a rough last two weeks. I know other women have had a much harder time with their pregnancies than I have, but the last two weeks have really tested my mettle, and that of Chris and my family too. I went to my 36-week appointment the Tuesday before last and they found I was already dilated to 1cm and 50% effaced. I was pretty excited to hear it, because Braxton Hicks contractions had started to give me trouble every night. The Braxton Hicks had intensified and I started to get a lot of the same symptoms I had the night that Westley was born... hot flashes, nausea, bowel troubles, etc.

Tanner and Westley lounging at Bass Pro Shops

Chris sporting a new Mask/Car Seat Cushion

Waiting for Food!

Westley was such a fast birth, my water breaking at 2:30am and him being born just 20 minutes after we got to the hospital, it made me a little hopeful that this labor was going to be just as fast and efficient. Well, the symptoms have persisted every night for the last two weeks now! We went in that Friday to the hospital after being checked at the Midwives (who told me I'd dilated to 2cm and was 75% effaced). We walked around for four hours and had some more good contractions. When we went up to labor and delivery to check, nothing had progressed. They sent me home.

That day, I had found out that I tested positive during the Group B streptococcus screening. This added a new dimension of mental and emotional stress, because the Labor and Delivery nurses said they would optimally like me there at least 4 hours before the baby is delivered so they can administer the necessary antibiotics to protect the baby from getting anything. I began to really stress about getting things perfectly lined up (Chris getting here from work in Johnston, getting Westley to my parents, and getting to the hospital 20 minutes away, not to mention fighting with the weather).

I know that this underlying stress has affected everything a lot, because we went in with another false alarm just 24 hours later, thinking my water had broken (it hadn't). They sent me home after my three-hour long stretch of contractions disappeared AGAIN! Dilated to 3cm, still 75% effaced. I cried and cried because nothing was happening, except I lost my mucus plug that night. Monday we had that massive snowstorm and I was having rough contractions and pains all afternoon. Mom came over and brought Westley and me to their house, so I would have some piece of mind until Chris was able to trudge his way home through the mounds of snow. The contractions got harder, so we went down to check. The darn things disappeared again, as soon as they hooked me up to the monitors.

So every night, my contractions are getting feistier, waves of the same symptoms keep beating, sometimes for hours on end. I wake up in pain and nausea every hour or so. This has made for a very sleepless and edgy household. Poor Chris has really been suffering with me. He calls or texts every day when he can to check and see how I'm feeling. He doesn't get phone reception when he works in the growth chambers, so he has all his co-workers on alert, has my ringtone set to a Tornado Siren alarm, and tells them to grab him if they hear it. :)

I love him so much. I'm really starting to see that this horrible time of frustration is actually a blessing because we have been able to spend so much quality time together. Lots of walking at the mall, sharing yummy meals, talking and praying together. I love him more and more and know that Heavenly Father knew exactly the type of man I needed to help support and love me. And Westley has been really sweet and attuned to my emotional needs too. When I have breakdowns (about every other day - lol), he comes over and wipes at my tears and says, "Mommy, sad? Or happy? Are you okay?" Chris had to explain that sometimes Mommy isn't sad when she's crying, but cries when she's happy too. It's been sweet to watch him take on a protective role with me, just like his daddy does.

You know, I am really, truly blessed to have so many people who love and care about us. So many friends and family offer their support and love right now, I can feel the strength emanating from them and their prayers on our behalf. We know that this time is special and are learning to love it, despite its challenges. Hope to have a concrete announcement soon though! :)