We are now a family of four!!

I am very happy to announce the arrival of Charlie Paul Evans, born Thurs July 17. He's so new that all I have are the puffy-eyed shots which by the way I like to see even if they are blackmail worthy. There's something so special about women looking like the've been through a battle and the crazy drunk smile that says, "I have a baby now- so nothing else matters!" If you want the details, read on- if not that's perfectly o.k. too:
I was at work when I started labor but I didnt want to call Adams emergency number until I was for sure because I'd been having contractions for 2 weeks. So I measured them and they were 3-5 minutes apart. So I decided to do lunch at Cafe Rio.:) I called my doctor, he wasn't too excited because he had just checked me the day before and said I hadnt dropped and was still just dialated to 1-2 cm. I felt like they were getting really strong and my patients were getting worried about me. I decided to call Adam but he didn't answer his phone. I went to the bathroom and had some heavy duty contractions and then my water broke. I called Adam at work and he came and got me. Everyone at work was pretty excited- they had wanted my water to break in the therapy gym though- sorry to disapoint. When we got to the hospital I was already at 5-6 cm. By the time I got checked in, I was at 8 cm. I tried to get an epidural but it was maybe too late and didnt work. Everything went really fast. When I was already at 10 cm, they gave me another epidural and it eventually worked for about 30 minutes while I waited for my doctor to come. Then it had worn off enough I could feel the contractions and push. Two things I learned from my experiences: epidurals hate me and my body doesn't like pain. Adam was a great support, he patted my head and brought me ice chips. The nurse that was with me was so supportive to, maybe too supportive. She kept telling me I was doing good pushing and to try my hardest. I am a little competitive so I had to show her how strong I was and ended up with 2 tears and an episiotomy. Ouch... they had to monitor me for an extra 8 hours in labor/delivery to see if I would need extra stitches but thankfully I stopped bleeding and didn't.

it was so neat that they put baby Charlie on my chest right after he was born and he stayed with us until 6:50 until the next morning when he finally took a bath. His little eyes looked up at me and I thought how amazing it is that he can be aquatic in a dark noisy environment and then all of a sudden, he's in the light, breathing air listening to voices... It was such an awesome experience and I am even more in awe of the miracle of birth. It truly is such amazing.

Good news

This feels like a monumental post for me. I have been very stressed and worried about this delivery. I wanted to do what's called a V-bac which means a vaginal birth after a cesarian. There are increased risks with this type of delivery as opposed to just doing another c-section, but if you know about my previous birthing experience, you may understand why the benefits like a faster recovery and better pain management would appeal to me. What I really did not want to have happen was a repeat of last time. I didnt want to labor for hours and hours and then end up with an emergency c-section anyway. I've been worried and stressed that since Charlie was late, I would end up getting induced or having another c-section. Being a therapist and working with disabled children and knowing about all of the problems that baby's can be born with or things that happen in deliverys (and thanks to some very un-helpful people who like to tell you about still-born children that were fine up until their due date..) I was worrying about alot of things- mostly the unknown. About July 9 I had a dream that I was blogging and writing that everything had gone well and that I was so happy. This was the first time it had occured to me that maybe things would work out the way I wanted. I clung to this hope and am so extremely happy to report that it's true- Everything went well, I have a healthy baby boy and I am so darn happy!!

My Mom is a Cancer Survivor!!

Last week we celebrated my Mom's last appointment with her oncologist. 5 years ago, (which was also the day after my wedding- she went to the doctor because she thought her skin and eyes looked yellow in the wedding pictures.) my Mom found out she had pancreatic cancer and a tumor the size of a softball surrounding her pancreas and liver. Following some crazy doctors appointments and more stress and tears than she ever let on to me, she found a very special doctor (Dr. Belnap at St Marks) who was willing to attempt to remove her cancer. It involved removing and basically re-wiring the liver as well as removing the pancreas (they called it a modified whipple). The surgery lasted all day and ended about 1:00 AM. (Dr Belnap took one coke break the entire time.) She went to the ICU and survived some very tense hours. I think most of our family never really realized how close she had come to dying both with the surgery and the actual cancer. If she knew at the time, my mom never let on to us that the survival rate for pancreatic cancer was in the single digits. The only negative thing I ever heard her say was that she would feel sad if she died without ever getting to see her grandchildren. I thought we could get working on that but she'd have to stick around at least nine months. She went through radiation treatments, lost a lot of weight and struggled with diabetes. Today though she's healthier than she's ever been. She's strong, she eats healthy and she lives every day to its fullest, especially when it comes to spending time loving on Jackson (her very special first grandson and helper through some hard times.)

The day of her cancer appointment was also her 60th birthday!! Being cancer free for 5 years is a big deal and is an achievement rarely achieved by persons who've had pancreatic cancer. Here is Jack helping her blow out the candles.


I am so proud of my Mom and all she has overcome. She has been so strong and cheerful through everything. She is an example to me now for good eating and exercising and realizing what a gift our bodies are. I love you Mom and I am so greatful for the past 5 years with you and am excited to enjoy many more years in the future.

Top 50 things to love about Jack Jack

My sister Laura posted this and I think she is so wonderful. She's in Mexico right now helping set up self-sustainable activities for Mexican children.

This is an ode to my nephew, the cute little boy with an impish grin, big blue eyes, and a heart of gold. I was thinking about the day that I found out about Jackson's birth. I was on my mission when he was born, so I didn't find out about him until he was a day old, and I didn't meet him until he was 8 months old. My mom sent me a small package and included one of Jack's fist baby pictures. I stood there, in my missionary apartment and with my companion by my side, completely paralyzed by the feeling of love that swelled in my heart. I thought I knew what it was like to love, but I was completely amazed at how overwhelming the love I felt for Jackson was, even before I met him. Even when he was only a picture to me. In the two and a half-years since then, Jack has continued to grow on me, to the point where I cannot imagine my life without the little boy. Jack is about to become a big brother, and once again, I will not be present for the baby's birth. But baby brother will only be a few weeks old when I meet him for the first time. I find it amazing that love continues to grow with each additional being we allow ourselves to love. It is one of the only limitless resources we have at our disposal. I am so grateful for people who have taught me how to love. And now, without further adieu, I present to you the top 50 things I love about Jack.

50: The way he says "I'm sorry"

49: The way he knows how to get what he wants out of people who love him

48: The way he hugs me

47: The way he kisses me

46: His enormous blue eyes

45: His rosy cheeks (especially after he's been running)

44: The way he tries to play with the big kids (and usually keeps up with them just fine)

43: The way he eats

42: The way he tries so hard to make other people happy

41: His love affair with cranberry sauce

40: His superstar swimming abilities

39: His love of Lightening McQueen

38: The things he teaches people

37: The concern he has for others

36: The way his hair curls on the top

35: Did I mention his enormous blue eyes?

34: How fun he is to hold in my arms

33: How infrequently he lets me hold him in my arms anymore

32: How much he loves to play cars

31: Watching him swing on the swing set

30: Listening to him sing songs

29: The stories he tells (about penguins, Lightening McQueen, chicken little, and many other things)

28: The way his cute little mind works

27: The way that he eats anything and everything that is given him

26: The way he loves to try new things, even when they are scary

25: The way he pees on the potty

24: The way he loves his mommy

23: The feeling of those little arms wrapped around my neck

22: The kisses he gives his baby brother

21: The way he says my name ("Ra-ra! I wuv you")

20: Watching him eat Popsicles

19: The way he jumped into my arms and ripped off my name tag at the airport on the first day I met him

18: His cute little giggle he has whenever I tickle him

17: I even love how cute it sounds when he tells me "Go away Ra-ra!"

16: Those precious few moments that he likes to cuddle when he is very tired

15: Watching those little legs run up the stairs when he gets to Grandma's house

14: The way he is friendly with everyone, even when people are unkind to him

13: The way he loves his daddy

12: The way he drags whoever will come with him around the house to show off his toys

11: Helping him put gasoline in his toy cars

10: The way he learns new things every day

09: The way he becomes more and more sensitive to other people's needs every day

08: His little smile

07: His big smile

06: The way he treats other kids so nicely

05: His immense cuteness

04: His massive heart

03: His love of princesses

02: His incredible energy

01: His Christlike sense of compassion that is developed well beyond his two years

The picture I fell in love with as a missionary

The baby I fell in love with 8 months later

As I read back through this list, I see a lot of qualities in Jack that I would like to have for myself. I would like to have an incredible sense of energy, and I would also like to be courageous enough to try new things, even when they are scary. If only we would learn from these children among us. Jack teaches me lessons ever day. I just love that little boy!

P.S. In response to her worried blog regarding being her friends complaint board, Laura, I want to tell you- I think that we are more similar than we like to admit. I too have felt like a complainer/ bouncer board/ defender. I've decided that it is one of my best qualities though to be able to look for and find the best qualities in people and assume that people have good intentions for all their actions. Although this has gotten me in the middle of a few friend issues I might rather have avoided and it makes it very difficult to explain the evening news at times. (Adam will tease me and ask what noble intentions so and so might have had before "accidently" commiting a murder or street crime. (mental illness sometimes is the only cop-out I can find)) Anyway, I can't help thinking that Christ is a defender and I sure hope that when my life gets reviewed I have someone there who will say, I think Becky always meant well despite those numerous mess ups."