Tiny Treasures

Love my little kiddos!

Introducing...

KATELYNN MARIE CLARK
Born May 11, 2011
8 lbs 6 oz, 18.5 inches

If you only care to see pics, then scroll down. If you want to hear the detailed labor story then stick around! :)

I was scheduled to work my last day on Wednesday the 11th. My alarm went off around 5:45am and I slowly log rolled out of bed. I then went to the bathroom to start getting ready for work. I noticed a small amount of pink in my underwear and again after peeing. I can only assume this is what they call the "bloody show". Anyway, I was not contracting but knew that this was a good sign of labor so I texted my colleague letting him know that I would not be going to work. I then texted my mom so that she could get on the road to come here. After that I told Josh that I was going to have the baby that day and he was confused as to why I was so convinced. But, I knew it was the day. I then proceeded to get ready for the day. I figured it was probably my only chance. While getting ready I was having light contractions about every 2 minutes. Although they were coming close together they weren't anything to talk about, just more confirmation that I was in the beginning stages of labor. Josh and Jackson woke up and Josh started making some breakfast. I proceeded to do a little "cleaning up" such as some laundry, changing the sheets, and even cleaning a portion of the bathroom. We then ate some breakfast. I dusted the family room and vacuumed a little. Then the contractions got a little more regular so I started keeping track. By this time it is 9:40ish I think. I was contracting about every 5-7 minutes and they were uncomfortable but I was doing okay. Josh asked if I wanted to go to the hospital and I said no. I had no desire to go to the hospital and labor all day. I was rating my contractions as they came and most of them I rated around a 5 for pain. I did mention to Josh during a couple that they were very uncomfortable and I might consider an epidural at the hospital. Around 11:20am I got a contraction that broke my water, just like a "pop" and a small gush of fluids. I still didn't think I was ready to go to the hospital since the contractions really weren't that regular and still coming 5-7 minutes apart. I went into the bathroom and after a few minutes of wandering in a stupor I got a contraction that really made me feel bad. I was sweaty and weak and just felt horrible. I called to Josh and told him we needed to go to the hospital. He could tell I didn't feel good and started rushing around trying to get everything in the car and Jackson with his shoes on, etc. I crawled myself into our bedroom and then had a contraction that still wasn't unbearably strong but at the end I was feeling like I needed to push. I was thinking to myself, no way I am that close. But I kind of got scared so I told Josh and then he was sprinting around. I even contemplated calling an ambulance and was telling myself that I shouldn't have let myself get this far. Josh was ready in a matter of minutes and then I waddled to the car. We only live about 4 miles from the hospital, with the drive it takes about 10 minutes though. We were supposed to drop Jackson at a friends house but I made Josh take me to the hospital first. In the car I was contracting but never had the urge to push again, thank goodness. I just would sit back in the seat and with each contraction the water was gushing. Luckily Josh had piled several towels so the car stayed clean! I told him to take me to the front entrance and get a wheelchair. He followed my directions and was told to take me to the ER. So around the hospital we went and Josh went in again at the entrance to the ER. A nurse slowly walks out with the wheelchair. I didn't want to move, I think Josh may have almost lifted me out of the car and into the chair. He then tried to put my feet in the foot pedals and I didn't even want to bend my legs. I then told him to hurry and take Jackson to the friend's house and come back asap. The nurse wheels me up to L&D and is asking how far apart my contractions are, how long they are lasting and I'm just answering "I don't know". In the meantime I continue to gush fluid out and I'm sitting in a puddle with stuff dripping down my legs. I get on the L&D floor and see my doctor who happens to be there on her lunch, give her a little wave and tell her I don't think I'm going to go through with the natural birth anymore. The nurse tries to wheel me into the first room, and it hasn't been cleaned. Then they were going to take me to "triage" and my doctor said no since I couldn't deliver in triage. I was a bit out of it so I'm not sure how long this took. When I got to my room they handed me a gown and a cup to pee in. I went into the bathroom and felt like I was in a stupor, very slow motion. Took off all of the wet clothes, attempted to leave a urine sample and instead felt like I was going to have a BM so I told them I couldn't pee and came out of the room. I went to the bed, laid down and told them I felt like I needed to push. They strapped a blood pressure cuff on me, got about 30 seconds on the fetal heart monitor and out popped baby Kate's head. My doctor turned around and delivered the rest of Katelynn with her bare hands. I then had to use my doctor's cell phone to call Josh, who had just gotten to our friends house, and tell him I had delivered our little lady. So, to let you know how fast this happened, the water broke around 11:25am and Katelynn was born at 12:11pm....not even an hour later and probably within 10 minutes of arriving at the hospital. Too fast if you ask me and Josh missed it. I was very sad about that. I know he was too. Josh put Jackson back in the car and they both made their way back to the hospital, meeting baby Katelynn together another 15 minutes later. I got a shot of pitocin after delivering the placenta to help the uterus contract and slow down the bleeding. Usually they give that in the IV, well I didn't get an IV. So there you have it. I'm a bit afraid already for my next delivery since I was so fast this time. I don't really want to be one of those women that delivers in the car or at home because it happens so fast. But, I can say that I was able to do it naturally again and it was actually a lot easier this time. No "ring of fire", she just kind of came out. Don't get me wrong, it hurt and was uncomfortable but I was at the end and didn't realize it until I felt her head pop out. I just wish Josh had been able to be there with me. Now the good part, enjoying the pictures of our little family of 4!

Jackson was soo excited to meet his baby sister, and what a proud brother he is!

First family picture

Josh and Jackson meeting and holding Katelynn for the first time


Washing her hair

Getting her temperature taken, and bath

Nice and pink with her purple feet after a bath



At home, Jackson is constantly asking to "share" Katelynn and loves holding her





Nana Van Woerkom arrived Wednesday evening. Jackson was so excited to show Nana his baby sister!

Easter 2011

We had a fabulous Easter this year and were very excited to be able to celebrate with Josh's parents! The Primary from our ward had an Easter egg hunt on Saturday morning at a local park. The kids got to play a few games, make their bag for the hunt and then go gather their eggs. Jackson loved it! As soon as we got there he saw the eggs and it was very difficult keeping him away from them until the allotted time! He was so excited! The pictures are actually in reverse order from the way the party went, but that doesn't really matter right? Later that afternoon our ward threw me a baby shower for this little lady in my belly! I took the camera but didn't take even one picture from the shower. In the few pictures at the park that I am in I am 37 weeks pregnant. Today I am 38 weeks so we will be meeting our new baby girl soon! We are so excited and I think I can almost say I am ready....just need to clean the house and organize her clothes into a dresser. Next update will most likely be the arrival of our baby girl! :)

Jackson and one of the eggs he picked up. They were full of "treats".


Easter Egg Hunt!

The kids were only supposed to gather 12 eggs each. Jackson was picking them up by the handful so Josh had to take eggs from the bag and put them back on the ground so he could continue his hunt.

Mama and Jackson waiting in line to play one of the games.

Jackson and his best buddy Grant playing at the park.


Josh and Jackson with Josh's mom Paula aka "nana"

Jackson and Nana.

Jackson showing off his hard work making his hunting bag!

Nana helping Jackson make his bag.


Jackson with his Nana and Papa Neuman!

Jackson is TWO!!

3/12/11
Can't believe my baby boy is 2. He is growing up so fast, and he is at such a fun stage! Very curious, loves animals, loves looking at the birds and bunny in our yard, loves throwing rocks, loves watching movies, etc. He calls hummingbirds "mama bird" because we had one that had a nest in our yard, so now all hummingbirds are "mama bird" and he can spot them all over! It's crazy! He loves going to the park, swinging, going down the slide, chasing the birds or just running in general. He starts at one point and says "on your mark, get set, go!" Or "ready, set, go!" then runs to wherever his end point is. He loves to "race" whether it's his cars, toy animals, or his dad and mom. I'm sure people get a kick out of a very pregnant woman playing chase with her 2 year old at the park! He learns so much each day, and his vocabulary is growing like crazy! I love to hear him say "yes" when I ask him a question. I also love to hear him say "hippopotamus", it is so cute! He is learning to count to 10 and does a great job! We are also working on his shapes, alphabet, and learning to say his name. When asked how old he is, he throws his hand up at you and says "two". We are working on just the 2 fingers up. He seems to be excited about his "baby sis" that he comes and loves and jumps on daily. We love our little man so much! Here are a few pictures of his special day!

We are set for Disneyland now that he has a mickey mouse hat with his name on it!

Treats and swinging


We had a combined birthday party at the park. Grant (the boy on his right) and Jackson are only 1 day apart.

It was a beautiful, hot day at the park. Also a bit windy but overall the party was fun.


Jackson eating a cupcake for breakfast! You're only 2 once!

He mostly liked the frosting!

Happy 2nd Birthday Jackson! Mom and Dad love you!!

The Phoenix Zoo

3/8/11
We took Jackson to the Phoenix Zoo for his 2nd birthday. We were in Phoenix to get Josh's cast off from his surgery in January and thought we'd have a day at the zoo. Jackson loved it and we had a great time seeing his excitement over seeing the animals. He was very excited about all the birds at the zoo...silly boy.


Viewing the kangaroo's.

We was a bit nervous in the petting zoo but had a lot of fun petting the goats!


Apparently the goats really enjoy eating the zoo maps. This older lady was fighting the goat for her map, it was pretty hilarious actually! The goat won.

If you look closely there is a monkey in the tree behind Jackson. We got to go into their habitat and be right with them. Jackson loved it, but I couldn't get a good picture!

Love these 2!
Jackson did awesome at the zoo, the best little boy ever!

Seeing the giraffe's and other African animals when we first got to the zoo.

Pregnant "mama" showing Jackson the animals