Kain Alexander Stacy (July 2009)

The death of Kain was the hardest thing I ever had to deal with. God had a better and higher plan for him that was too good to be on earth. He was beautiful, so very premature but had the most beautiful features. He looked peaceful and happy as he lay to rest in my arms. He didn't look like a normal baby, he looked to be an angel. My family's angel. His death made me angry, sad and confused. "Why would God take an innocent child from me?" I don't live a sinful life and the things that mean the most to me in life are my children. April 30th, 2009 I lost a part of me. There is not a day that goes by that my son is not on my mind. I miss him more than simple words could ever explain. I wish I would have had a chance at raising my beautiful innocent son.

My children have taught me more than ever. To be strong, to not give up, to love more than I thought possible, to see better in people and to believe.

Welcome Mia (April 2010)

Mia Alexandria Stacy was born.

6lbs. 0 oz. 19 inches bundle of joy

April 9, 2010

We are excited to welcome a new beautiful little girl into our family. I went into labor April 8th, 2010 (I give credit to red raspberry leaf tea)! I had been having contractions but they were not staying consistent enough to go into L&D. So after some research Corey and I went out to Mother Earth's food to purchase this miracle tea. I did not have too much faith in the tea working to help progress my labor. We went there at 4:30 p.m., then came home to start drinking some tea and were admitted into L&D at 7:00 p.m.! Labor was not an easy one. After 18 1/2 hours, Mia decided that she would go ahead and come out into this world. She is in great health and such a great addition to our family.

The Stacy's in NYC (August 2010)

I love New York City! I love theatre, fashion and culture. You find this all when visiting the big apple. We took a family vacation and this was our first stop. We stayed in a very old hotel which has such an awesome contemporary style to it as well. It was only a block from time square and was located in the theatre district. 

This was Corey's first time ever to NYC. He drove into fearless and didn't believe the "stories" of how crazy busy it is! Let’s just say he was surprised.

Our first day there we went to an amazing restaurant "Babbo's" There is such a difference in real Italian food compared to Olive garden. It was delish! If you ever in NYC, I highly recommend this restaurant! It very simple and elegant, a small location with a beautiful curtain when you walked into the door. Just LOVELY!

Our second day there we were able to catch the ferry over to the statue of liberty. I have always wanted to see it. It was such a beautiful island. We toured the inside of the statue and climbed up to see how beautiful NYC looked. It was breath taking! They have a small museum at the bottom where they have all the history to read. After done touring we just stayed on the island for a little and relaxed under the shade tree and let Kerhia run around. Just what my soul needed!

You would think that we came to NYC to only eat.. well we kind of did.

Our next dinner was at the "The Maze";Gordon Ramsey's restaurant. We ordered the chef's pick for the night which is a five course meal. I can't even explain how good it was! Kerhia enjoyed her butter noodles and we enjoyed a night filled with amazing courses!

On the third day we spent the day shopping. Who goes to NYC without a full day to shop! We also were able to do something very special with the girls. We took them to American girl to purchase their first American Dolls with dinner at American girl to follow. It was such a fun experience. Even at age one Kerhia enjoyed it! They made it so.. GIRLY! They had hair bows to take home as napkin rings and of course they brought out tea for your doll to enjoy as well. I will for sure be taking the girls again when they get older.

That was such a fun trip weekend in New York City with my sweet family. We walked into the subway to only walk right back out to grab a taxi, CRAZY! Hoping we can enjoy the Big City again when the girls are older!

xx.

Lyla's Birth Plan

General
After much praying and discussion, Corey and I decided to have a natural homebirth. We decided that hiring Delphine as our midwife and Holly as the birth assistant best fit our needs. We both have completed the Bradley Method of natural childbirth with Holly as our instructor. We are praying that this will be a smooth, life changing experience for not only Corey and I but for Kerhia, Mia and unborn Lyla. By deciding to stay home to give birth we want to remain at all times comfortable, relaxed and as a family unit. Our intentions are to have a peaceful, relaxed at home water birth with the guidance of God and his plan of how he naturally designed my body to give birth.

Labor
• My wish is to move around the inside and outside of our home or in and out of the birthing pool
• Unless medically necessary I do not want any internal exams, if need be please do not tell me my dilatation at the time of the exam
• I would appreciate all suggestions on positions and such to help ease the pain or move things along naturally if the labor is not progressing well for some reason
• I want to have candles lit, light music playing and to be in a calm relaxed environment
• I wish to eat or drink when I desire
• I wish to be able to use any herbal remedies, homeopathy, or aromatherapy if desired

Birth Companions
• My husband Corey is to remain with me at all times
• Kerhia and Mia are to be at home at all times unless it causes fear or anxiety for me or them
• My mother Sanya is to attend and give her direct guidance to the needs of Kerhia and Mia. If in a situation where the children cannot handle the environment ,to then take them to her home
• My mother in law Elizabeth is to attend and give her attention to all the needs of me, Corey, Delphine and Holly by assisting with anything that needs done or taken care of
• We do have plans for Diana Wilson to attend to capture the moments with her photography

The Birth
• My desire is to have a water birth
• Corey is to be the one to catch the baby during delivery unless there is an emergency where Delphine will need to do so
• I would like to avoid perineal damage by all means, I am trying to avoid stitches if possible

Afterbirth
• I want to be assisted from the birthing tub with baby on chest onto the area I desire to lay
• I want the baby placed immediately on my chest and not removed until she has accomplished the breast crawl
• We would like the the cord to stop pulsating before Corey is asked to cut it
• We do intend on keeping the placenta for Holly to do capsuling
• I do want a rhogam shot

Care for the baby
• To participate in the breast crawl before taking away from chest for any reason unless needed for medical reasons
• Colostrum in the eyes
• We do not want a Vitamin K shot to be given
• No visitors until she is feed, examined and dressed other than of those listed above

Thank you for respecting the wants of Corey and I for the birth of Lyla Elizabeth Stacy.

Alissa's Grape Salad

4 Cups of Grapes

8 oz. Cream Cheese 

1/2 Cup of Sour Cream 

1 tsp. of Vanilla

(Mix Well)

Sprinkle on top:

1/2 Cup of Brown Sugar & Nuts 

Lyla's up to NO good in there!

Wednesday I spent the day over at my mom's house getting it cleaned and ready to be put up for sale. I was having contractions on and off all day. Eventually, they became pretty painful and I went home. I immediately called my midwife and birth assistant. They all arrived to my house around 10:45 and told me to just work with each contraction. As I continued working with them. My water broke in my living room around 11:30. A lot of water came out and my midwife estimated about 200 cc and enough a towel was needed and soaked. I just knew things were going to go fast from there.
As the night went on we decided I was not in active labor. To just go to sleep and we will work more in the morning. I rested really nice and Thursday walked, squatted and all day had leaking of my water. I just was not getting those strong contractions. We did the same thing all day Friday. I took some herbals to help and again nothing. All while this was going on we watched my vitals such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, etc and kept a close eye on Lyla's heartbeat. We both looked GREAT! I stayed very hydrated and there was no concern for infection because I did not receive any vaginal exams. There is no such thing as a "dry birth" as long as the mother stays hydrated. Home care we believe that after rupture there is no reason to risk getting an infection to check dilation. Which in the hospital setting that is the complete opposite. As Saturday rolled around we were getting close to the 72 hour mark of ruptured membranes and wanted to get some blood work and ultrasound picture taken. Due to it being a holiday weekend we were unable to get into an outpatient facility. We all made the decision to go into the hospital knowing that could mean I lost my home birth plan. I knew that safety of baby and I came over location. I was happy that I had the option to go in and get the help.
 We arrived to the hospital with my birth plan and we were very welcomed by the staff. They called the doctor on call. My midwife and birth assistant stayed with me the whole time! We ordered blood work and an ultrasound. They informed me if the ultrasound showed a low fluid level below 5 I would need to be induced with the use of PIT. We received my results from the blood work first showing my white blood count was a as good as it could be, means no infections. We then received what would determine the route of care the ultrasound results. My fluid level was a 13!!! Her heart rate was great and she looked beautiful!!! My amniotic sac had resealed itself! This is a VERY rare thing. Only about 2.6% of women experience this and most experience this a lot earlier in their pregnancy!! With all the hydrating I did her levels filled back up and she is perfectly fine!! They then sent us home because we are now again a healthy momma and baby waiting on labor to return!

 Here we go again... I am a pregnant momma with a healthy little girl all cozy inside waiting till she is READY!

*** Wrote July 3,2011****

Unforgettable Fear..

After coming across a post online about a terrible mix up in the hospital of two babies and reading other mother's comments on the facebook about it. I had the urge to write a post on it. A lot of the mother's were being rude and nasty on facebook toward these mothers’s who had a hospital birth. I have had two past hospital births. Many of the women were saying "How in the world could a mother not recognize her newborn child?!" 

 I will never forget the fear that I had experienced when having Kerhia. My water broke at 33 weeks and the local hospital is not equipped enough to handle a premature baby if something were to go wrong. So they shipped me out of town to Charleston. I gave over my care to God and the well-educated staff at a larger hospital. Knowing that they would keep us in great care. They decided the best route of care was to slow my labor and to let me lay there for a couple of days to get her closer to be 34 weeks gestation. I agreed and they kept me VERY drugged, is about the best way to say it. I barely even remember the in and out episodes of those days. I can honestly say I had a painless birth! When it came to time to push every doctor in the whole OB department seemed to rush in. It was a mad house, I did not know a single person, I was so tired and medicated, and people were yelling and cutting on machines. It was not a peaceful experience. I then delivered my beautiful 4lb. 6oz. Kerhia Ann. She was breathing on her own and they were able to hand her to me for a brief second before rushing her off to NICU. I was very grateful for the chance to hold her. Though it was not a calm situation while holding her for the first time because everyone and their mother was still in my room. Then two nurses rushed to my side and took her away. I was then told the earliest I could see her is an hour. That was very shocking for me. So I had to lay in my bed not knowing what was going on, where she was or what they were doing. I felt my pride as a mother being snatched right from underneath me. Luckily, my husband , mother and mother in law were all there to make sure she taken care of. As a mother though, I was not allowed too yet.
 Finally, after having Corey bug the nurses they said I was able to go see her. As I make my way down the hall and buzz into the NICU I look around stunned by all the machines, crying and babies without a mother beside their side. My biggest fear was though, I don’t even know where Kerhia is. I have no clue. She was perfectly healthy. Maybe a little smaller than most but I couldn't stop thinking if it wasn't for having Corey by my side and him knowing her location. I would not have at all. I was so medicated and she was swept so quickly from my arms that I couldn't give you all the details.. How does this process make sense? Yes, Kerhia was early and could use the intervention but why is it that they have the same process with normal healthy babies?
 Before, you judge a mother. Stop and think about it. Why are they taken from the only thing they need the most to only be sat alone in this plastic crib for people to glimpse through a window at?