Hey Mom! I'm Thankful for your son!

Today was my grocery shopping day. I had a headache all afternoon. I guess a newborn who will scream unless you are holding him and homeschooling five other children will do that to a woman. I really did not want to go but Carl said it was probably a good idea. Carl e-mailed me a list of things he needed at the store. The last item he wrote that he needed is why I am thankful for him. He said he needed to me to buy a card for his lovely wife to show how much he appreciated her. It made my day. So thanks mom for raising such a senstive and loving son. He really knows just when I need some encouragement.
I am also thankful for costumes that still fit from last year. I spent two months working on homemade Narnia costumes for Harvest Fest last year. They still fit and so with some subtle changes the kids are the characters from Lord of the Rings this year. Yeah for me for making them a bit big last year. The joy of simple things!

Precious Pictures

Alex took several hours to warm up to Samuel but now that he has he is the most gentle one. He always wants to just hold and cuddle. He is so sweet with him. He is a great big brother.


Esther is always right where Samuel is. She is always talking to him and "calming" him down whenever he cries. She can't stand to let him cry.


Daniel was the one I was most nervous about but he immediately started kissing and hugging him. Whenever I sit down to nurse he is right there beside me with one hand in his mouth and one hand on Samuel's head. I spend my day going "Daniel, leave your brother alone."



Nathan is such a sweetie. He is content just to sit and watch Samuel. Thumb in mouth and hand on his head just like he did with Esther and Daniel. I guess some things never change.


William was so excited. He was the first one in the door. Forget mommy and daddy, where's Samuel?


Am I a blessed woman or what?

A Short Labor - For Once

With Daniel's 48 hour labor still fresh in my mind I was very nervous about being induced this past Monday. I think I cried all night on Sunday which did not make matters any better. I was so tired by the time we got to the hospital. They started the pitocin and I just sat and sulked watching t.v. Carl was so great though. He made me get up and walk around the room. Well walk as much as all the wires would allow. They have to do continuous monitoring when induced. It was a good thing though because each time I stood up or walked Samuel's heart rate would drop. The only position that proved to be comfortable for me and Samuel was sitting in a chair. That is where I spent most of the labor. Carl just sat and rubbed my arms and hands. He was great. The contractions were intense and she checked me about 5:00. I was five cm. I was discouraged. I told Carl I absolutely could not do this for another day. I started to really feel bad around an hour later and was checked again. Still 6 cm. Carl and I discussed about pain management. I in no way was going to get an epidural. Been there last time and will never do it again. We decided on some i.v. drugs and I was able to relax between contractions. I think it was just enough to kick start things. I went from 6 to 10 in an hour. The midwife left the room to check on another patient and two contractions later the nurse was yelling for her to come back. I forgot what an overwhelming feeling it is when you HAVE to push. I only pushed for 8 minutes but they were eventful. UNC is a teaching hosptial so the room is always crowded. When my water broke there was some meconium so the doctors had to be on call for Samuel. His head came out quickly and the cord was wrapped so tight wround his neck that they could not budge it. His shoulders got stuck just about the time my strength disappeared. Carl told me later that Samuel face was turning blue. I just remember pushing as hard as I could and he just popped out. I rember crying and looking at the clock saying how thankful I was I did not have to endure another hour of labor. They of course swept Samuel away and had to stick that awful tube down his throat to clear him all out. He was fine and so was I when I heard him cry for the first time. It took quite a while to get me all cleaned up. THe placenta did not want to come out. I ended up with several stitches but I did not care at this point. Just give me my baby. He had to get his suger tested because of his size. When they weighed him I could not see all of the reading. I only saw the 11 oz. part and figured 8 or 7 lbs. When they told me 9 lbs. I about fell off the bed. Wow! Even I was amazed I had pushed that big of a child out. No wonder his shoulders got stuck. Carl says he is going to be a linebacker. After about 20 minutes I was finally able to hold him. I put him on my chest and the greedy little guy immediately latched on and started to nurse. Yeah! That's about it. Eleven hours of labor. Eight minutes of pushing. A huge baby boy. God is awesome isn't he? Now I just need to get used to counting to six instead of five.

No Riteing on the Wal

Carl and I thought you all might get a kick out of this picture. William wrote this note on the wall to discourage his siblings from...writing on the wall. It has now been painted over but Carl took a picture to save the moment.


Here is video of the fishing trip mentioned in the previous post.

Take A Child Outside Week

They have started this thing in NC. They actually have to have a week to encourage parents to take there children outside. It is pretty comical considering the Trautman family. Our boys are outside all the time getting dirty and gathering creeatures. We just recently put up four bird feeders in the back yard. We have a hummingbird feeder too. The hummingbirds will actually come fly around the window and stare at you when the feeder is empty. It is like he is saying "Hey you inside that house. Put more food in my feeder." The kids love to figure out the kinds of birds that come and feed. Anyway all this week has been Take a Child OUtside Week. Carl needed no encouragement. So far this week the boys have beeen fishing at a local pond that is owned by a friend at church. They each caught a bunch af fish and they loved it. I am still washing smelly clothes and shoes becasue Alex and Nathan decided to explore the pond fully clothed. I almost threw up when they came home. My pregnancy nose is still running full force. I told Carl no fish in the house. THey wanted to cut them up and eat them but I think it was too much for Carl. The kids were also at the park yesterday while I had my ob appointment. I arrived at the park and Carl pulls a tied up sock out of the van. You guessed it. The boys had found a lizard and wanted to take it home. I love life with boys. At least I have Esther although she was just as exited about the lizard as the boys were. The kids have had a good time outside this week and I am sure that Carl has something planned for Saturday, if I haven't had this baby yet. I just thought all of you would get a kick out of Take a Child OUtside Week. I thought it was a joke at first but it is real. Some guy has written a book even about how our children today have a "nature deficiency" or something like that. Thank you mom and dad Trautman for instilling a love of nature and outside in your boys. It is rare now a days. Pray for all of us women who love your boys as we step out of our comfort zones into the wonderful world of mud, fish, snakes, lizards, birds, bugs and the list goes on and on. I am getting used to the words "Mommy, look what I found outside. Can we keep it?"

Go Hurricanes

No not the weather phenomenon. The Carolina hockey team. Carl called me on Friday morning to say that someone at his work had given him four free tickets to the game. HE decided to have a boy's night out with the older three. I met him after work. I think the Lord planned it all perfectly because on the way there Daniel threw up in the car. It was comical seeing a pregnant woman with a very bad gag relfex trying to clean up a screaming two year old. I finally did it and then Carl showed up. I told him he would have to clean the car seat because I had done all I could do all ready. He just laughed. If we had all planned to go the whole evening would have been ruined. Carl took the boys and I headed home to put Daniel immediateyl to bed with just water. He did not even complain about not having dinner. Esther and I had a girl's night just eating our dinner in front of the t.v. She loved it because she got to eat on a television try that is just reserved for daddy. After I put her to bed I spent a relaxing evening by myself. I got the play by play of the game becasue the boys kept calling every time something happened. They had a great time and were so excited. The hurricanes actually wone 3-0. It was a great bonding time for the boys and Carl.

An Extra 3 Months

I figured it out last night. If I go two weeks late with Samuel that will be an extra 12 weeks of pregnancy for me all together. That is 3 months! I just thought that was an interesting fact. It is depressing when your midwife tells you that there is no reason to check for dialation since I always go late. I hope that Samuel comes soon so I can attend my own son's baptism. If I get induced on the 1st that means Samuel (with my history of LONG inductions) won't be born until Wednesday. I won't even be home a day or two before William's baptism. I am praying that Samuel is born soon so I have time to recover before the 7th. I am keeping myself busy doing housework. I am trying to get evrything ready so I have a clean house. I go grocery shopping tomorrow and Carl just called to make sure I buy easy to fix stuff. The kids luckily are not picky eaters. They are content with chicken and potates every night. I don't know what I would do without my older boys. They have been such a help this pregnacny. William can even get Daniel out of his crib and changed and dressed in the morning. What a blessing each of my children are including this stubborn little one who just likes it nice and warm where is for now.