Ba Ba Black Sheep

Richling Readers

Sibling Photos

Newborn Photos

Easter 2020

Easter this year wasn't what we expected, but let's be honest, things haven't been as we have expected for about a month now.  Because of Covid-19 and the governor's stay at home order, we didn't have a large gathering of people.  We didn't attend church.  There were no Easter egg hunts.

Just yesterday we arrived home from the hospital with baby Eden.  My parents were already in town watching the kids and Riley's parents came that afternoon.  Since they were already at our house, we figured we might as well celebrate Easter.

The Easter Bunny did find his way to our house.  Thankfully he plans way ahead!

I went ahead and had my crew put on their Easter outfits even though we weren't going to be going anywhere.  It turns out that this is our first family picture as a family of five.

Ollie & Pais Meet Eden

Meeting in the hospital didn't happen for this set of siblings so when we got home they were very excited to meet Baby Eden.

Eden's Arrival

Eden was due to arrive on April 15, but we induced on April 10.  I thought it would be a labor and delivery  similar to my past two, but due to Covid-19 it was very different.

First of all, Riley was the only one allowed in the hospital with me and we were screened upon arrival.  At 7:45 I was given Pitocin to start labor.  Dr. Roles came in at 9:00 to break my water and check me.  I was at a 4 at this time.  (At my last appointment with Dr. Roles on March 30 I was already dilated to a good 3 almost 4 so I assumed things would go quickly.)  I did not anticipate things would go as quickly as they did though.

My nurse told me around 9:00 that the anesthesiologist had just given another woman an epidural so he was going to hang out on the floor so I could get my epidural whenever I was ready.  I really hadn't had any terrible contractions at that point so I figured I would wait a bit.  Shortly after I decided that I would go ahead and get my epidural so I wouldn't be wasting his time waiting.  The epidural went in at 9:15 and that's when things got crazy.  I think the epidural actually jump started things because just as he left the room the contractions started coming on fast and hard.  Wayne, the anesthesiologist, came in three more times to give me more meds.  Each time nothing seemed to change and he commented that he just couldn't get caught up and ahead of the contractions.  By 10:40 I was dilated to a 7 and by 11:00 I was at 9.5.  The final time Wayne came in he said that with as much as he had given me I would be ready for a c-section.  Finally with the last bit in my epidural my legs started to go numb and I was ready to push.

I felt a lot of contractions and a lot of pain between 9:15 and 11:00, but luckily the epidural finally caught up in time to deliver baby.  I pushed only 3 times and baby Eden arrived at 11:13.

Her hair is dark like her brother and sister's was, but her's is very interesting.  The tips are blonde, almost like it's been frosted or something.



The rest of our hospital stay was less eventful, much less eventful.  Visitors were not allowed so we were moved to a recovery room and had a weirdly quiet afternoon and evening.  We closed the blinds and all took afternoon naps.  Riley and I ordered and ate supper together as we chatted and baby Eden slept some more.  Although we missed out on the joy of sharing our new baby with others right away, it was nice for the three of us to bond and relax.





Although our hospital stay was quiet, we were anxious to get back to our chaos.  I missed Oliver and Paisley and my own bed.  We were able to check out early Saturday afternoon making our stay just a little over 24 hours.





Riley insisted that a stop at the Fridge would certainly be considered "essential" during this time of uncertainty.

Introducing Eden Ann

Last year on April 10, which is Riley's birthday, we found out that my pregnancy was ending and we wouldn't be meeting the twins I was carrying.  Nine days later I miscarried on Good Friday.  I decided that a pregnancy that we found out about on Ash Wednesday and lost on Good Friday was somehow, heartbreakingly, a part of God's plan.

This year Good Friday fell on April 10.  The fact that these two days, that only one year ago made our world fall apart, fell on the same day was ironic enough.  But here we are this year, on this day, welcoming our baby girl into the world.

"God has perfect timing; never early, never late.  It takes a little patience and it takes a lot of faith, but it's worth the wait."

Social Distancing - Week 4

We are not technically done with week four yet, but tomorrow I am being induced!!  Yama and Papa are in charge of homeschooling tomorrow and I decided that I should go ahead and post pictures of this week or it probably wouldn't get done.  Here is our week:

I couldn't take Oliver's long shaggy hair anymore.  With the state-wide stay home order, there is nowhere to take him to get his hair cut.  Yama and I did our best with a garage haircut.  It doesn't lay down super well without water and hairspray, but its better than it was before.

Last week we started participating in the school lunches.  Local school districts are offering breakfast and lunch to children free of charge.  At first I didn't plan on participating as I felt like it was really meant to be for those already receiving free/reduced lunch at school.  I then found out that the school district receives funding for it and it also allows for employees to continue working and receiving a paycheck.  I was encouraged to give it a try and thought, why not.  Although the school district that Ollie and I go to is doing it too, it didn't make sense to drive all the way to Riley.  So on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays we have been picking up lunch from the elementary school here in Clay Center.  It is a super easy, minimal contact, drive through system and Oliver and Paisley enjoy getting to leave the house.  (Other than helping me at school twice, the kids have literally gone nowhere!). The kids love seeing what they get and I will say that the food has been a nice variety.  It makes less dishes for mommy and they really have been eating it well, probably because it is not leftovers like we had been doing for lunch.