Darrin and I were fortunate enough to take 2 weeks off at Christmas time. We decided to spend the whole time in Utah with Darrin's family. I have to say it was so nice to have Darrin help me get used to having two kids at home. Of course, it was nice having all of the help from family. Thanks!!!! I had a great time in Utah and realized how much I think Utah is my home town just like Idaho. I miss being so close to family. Over Christmas Grandma Craner was able to hang out there the whole Christmas holiday. That was only the second time meeting her, I have a hard time talking and feeling comfortable around others I don't know, but she was great to talk too. She has such a great personality and she is funny. I loved getting to know my Grandma better. Anyone who knows me knows I love hearing stories from their live, she had tons. I was in heaven.

Here is Ethan, he is now the youngest of the Craner Clan so he played baby Jesus on Christmas Eve.

Posted in: 2009, colby, craners, ethan, holidays, us on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 at 2 comments  

I am happy to announce the arrival of Ethan Gabriel Craner. He arrived Friday the 4th at 6:15 a.m.

My Story;
I went to the hospital on the 3rd READY to be induced. They got me right in and hooked me up to the monitors, once monitored for an hour the charts showed I was already having contractions. ( I just thought it was braxton hicks) The doctor decided to start with the cervadel instead of using pitosin. Once they started the gel I would have to wait 12 hours then they were going to do another 12 hour round if nothing happened and then the pitosin. I was not so happy about going this route. I wanted my baby that day. By 9 that night my contractions were coming every 2-3 minutes and still little progress. Finally at about midnight my contractions were really hurting and when they checked I was still not dilated or effaced. By this point I was not in a good mood, I was in a ton of pain and they wouldn't give me an epidural until I was a 3. I spent the next three hours crying and praying that I would be dilated. Finally 3 am rolled around and my prayers were answered I was at lucky number 3. I was than wheeled into the nice spacious delivery room, the room we were in should be called a closet. At this point I was in a ton of pain, throwing up and waiting on my epidural. A little after 4 he arrived, I was nervous because they make the husbands leave during the procedure, I would have liked to have Darrin by my side to help calm me down during my contractions. That needle is a little nerve racking. After the anesthesiologist finished I told the nurse I was feeling tons of pressure and that she should have another look. I was an 8! I knew I should have received my drugs sooner! After that the nurse barely had enough time to get Darrin back to my room and get my room ready.
I was happy with the delivery, everything went quite smoothly. This labor was a hundred times better. I am currently enjoying my mommy and husband who are taking great care of myself, the baby and Colby.  




Taking him home from the hospital, hey I could walk easier after this one!
The day we got home from the hospital, Colby was all smiles for his new baby brother!

Posted in: colby, darrin, ethan, riss on Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 12 comments  

 He is so tiny in his car seat. It is amazing how much smaller my babies are when I am induced a little early. He actually fit in newborn for a few weeks. Colby skipped this stage. I am also amazed at how good my recovery is going. With Colby I couldn't even walk for a few weeks after, everything hurt and I sat on a doughnut for a month! No joke. I was walking around the day I had him. I love having a nice, normal recovery.

Ethan is home. Colby has been great with Ethan and is immediately in love with him and wants to be best friends.

Posted in: 2009, ethan, riss, us on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 0 comments  

 Second time around. Since my first delivery was so crazy and scary the doctor decided it best to induce me early. I was induced 10 days early. When I arrived they said I could choose pitocin or cervagel, they said I was already having little contractions so they told me it would be faster if I tried cervagel. Not true, and because I went that route I couldn't get pitocin for 24 hours and no epidural when I wanted. Grrrr! I wish my doctor was there but Kaiser is kind of a joke. I was hooked up and relaxed until about 8 that night. The pain started getting really bad and I was not allowed to get an epidural until I dialated to a 4. If my doctor was there I should have had one, but no luck. I don't understand why I can't get an epidural when the pain gets really bad. Other woman are dialated super fast and get drugs right away and don't feel anything. I dialate from a 2-10 in like an hour. Yes, hours before I am dialated I am in strong labor and get nothing because I am not dialated. So stupid! Yes, that is my opinion. Finally by about one in the morning I told them if they can't give me an epidural then they better get me something else. They did and it did not help much but it helped a little. The pain was really bad by 5 am and they checked me and I was finally a 4. They moved me to a labor room and Darrin had to leave the room for the epidural, yeah Kaiser is weird. The nurse wasn't being all that nice because by this point I was almost crying the pain was so bad and I kept telling the nurse that she needs to check me because I knew I was then at a 9 or 10. I am sure the nurse did only to amuse me, assuming I would be wrong. I was right! I had the epidural in for a good 5 minutes and the nurse told me not to do anything as she went looking for the doctor. Ethan was born a little bit later. I was extremely happy that Ethan came out healthy. I would have preferred drugs longer but everything went smoothly. Still a great improvement from my first delivery and am extremely happy Ethan is healthy and there were no complications! 

Posted in: 2009, ethan, riss on Friday, December 4, 2009 at 0 comments