Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

For the past 4 years we've gotten both our families together for Christmas Eve. This was the first year we managed to get a group picture (minus some key people of course).

The jammies Kai has on are the ones we had put in the box when we were finding out if he was a girl or a boy. We went out right after we opened the box and bought Kadyn a matching pair.

We had a photo shoot upstairs on our guest bed awhile ago and ever since whenever we mention taking pictures Kadyn always wants to take them there. Here are the boys in their Christmas Eve sweaters.
It's beginning to look a lot like a WHITE CHRISTMAS!

Grammy made Kadyn a stocking when he was first born and we took pictures of him in it so when she made Kai a stocking this year we had to stuff him in his as well. Since we seem to like to make the holidays merry (go big or go out right?) we have a picture of Boulder in his stocking when we first brought him home (2 days before Christmas), Kadyn in his, and now Kai in his.

Happy Birthday Kadyn

We celebrated Kadyn's 2nd birthday on Saturday by having a Thomas the Tank Engine themed birthday party. I got the kids each a "conductor outfit" with hats, scarves and train whistles. I was nervous that Kadyn wouldn't want to wear his outfit, but he loved it so much he didn't want to take it off at the end of the party.
The kids decorated train cookies as an activity. I think they ate more frosting than actually made it on the cookies but they enjoyed it.



I bought the cake from Costco and decorated it myself (which is why it looks ammature). The Thomas plays the theme song from the DVD which was really fun for the kids. Kadyn couldn't even eat the cake though!! We found out the night we brought Kai home from the hospital that Kadyn is severely allergic to cashews and pistachios and mildly allergic to peanuts. (We now carry an epi pen in our diaper bag at all times!!) Well, when I bought the cake I read the ingredients to make sure it didn't contain peanuts or tree nuts. When I picked it up it had warnings all over the box that it was made on the same equipment that peanuts and tree nuts are processed on. AUGH!! So, Nana picked up a cute little "nut free" cupcake for him to enjoy.


Kadyn wanted me to tell everyone thank you for coming and for all the neat gifts. He had a great time at his party and was so glad to share his birthday with everyone. Ever since he's been walking around singing "Happy Bith-day to TeaNin" (He calls himself Tea-Nin and calls Kai "Ty" since he can't pronounce his K's)

The Monster

Baby Kai had his 2 week appointment on Monday. He is a monster!! He's already 10 lbs. 14 oz. (the size of most 6+ week old babies according to the Dr.). He's 22 1/2 inches long already too. That puts him in 90% for weight and 95% for height. With how big he is it's easy to forget he's still so young. He continues to be an easy baby for which we are so grateful.


Kadyn has taken on the role of big brother very well. He's very helpful and gentle. However, if we've been cooped up in the house too long with nothing but mommy and baby Kai he starts to let it be known that he needs more stimulation. Kadyn will be turning TWO on the 17th and his his birthday party tomorrow! In light of becoming a big boy he's now officially given up his crib for a big boy bunk bed. He comes in now to get us every morning at 6am. He is quite proud of his new bed.

Christmas Tree Hunting

Christmas tree permit: $10

New mittens: $1 (on sale during Black Friday)--already covered in mud within the first 5 minutes.

Making family memories and finding the only patch of snow in the whole woods: PRICELESS

Happy Thanksgiving

Oh so thankful for the 3 most important men in my life! Kadyn helping Nana with Thanksgiving rolls.

Building a gingerbread house with Uncle Anders (a family tradition we hope to continue with the boys).

Baking a Thanksgiving pie with Grammy.

Introducing Kai Isaac Cheney

Welcome baby Kai Isaac (meaning: Rejoice in his Laughter)

Born Saturday, 11/22, 2:15 am

Height: 21 inches

Weight: a whopping 9 lbs. 8 oz.

Right after having him

Kadyn meeting his baby brother for the first time. Kai brought a gift for Kadyn :)

Birth Story:

We got to the hospital at 7:30 am on Friday, 11/21. It was a good sign when they had a room all ready for us. The Dr broke my water at 8:30...only 2 drops came out because Kai plugged the hole with his head (I would continue to lose water until about an hour before he was born). The next 4 hours were spent walking the halls of the birth center. True to the past 3 weeks I kept having great contractions for an hour or so, then they would go away. Finally, at 12:30 pm it was decided it would be best to start me on pitocin (I was not thrilled about this). I started the lowest dose and again had great contractions for an hour...then they went away. Pitocin was slowly increased, and increased again, and increased many times after until my body FINALLY began to kick in. At this point I was having contractions ever 1-2 mintues. After my experience with the epidural last time I was really against getting one this time unless I absolutely couldn't handle the pain. Everyone thought for sure I would have this baby before midnight so I was really thinking I could do it. Somewhere around 6:00 pm I was checked and was finally 6 cm. Several hours of hard contractions later I was only 6.5 cm. Still thinking the baby was coming before midnight I pressed on. Ryan was an excellent coach the entire time helping remind me to breath, rubbing my back, and basically being my cheering squad. My energy level was quickly fading (nothing but jello to eat since 6:30am and hard pitocin contractions for 11 hours will do that to you). Just before midnight I asked for them to check me again. Secretly I was hoping for them to say I was at least 9cm and I would continue on. I was only 7.5! The Dr. asked what I wanted to do knowing I was trying to avoid the epidural. She said she'd never seen someone work so hard for EVERY SINGLE CM. I finally decided that it was best to get the epidural and try to get some rest. Agreeing to the epidural is when I broke down. I felt terrified of having the same experience again and began to lose the mental game. What had begun and lasted for 11+ hours of me controlling/blocking out the pain quickly turned in to shutting down as my defeat allowed the pain to take over...this hurt like HELL and it felt like an eternity for the anethesiologist to get there and get everything ready. I couldn't believe how much it hurt once I gave in. Ryan kept trying to bring me back to a focus but I had allowed the pain to take over and I was having a really hard time returning. The epidural was completely different this time around. First try, not 3, and they didn't put the extra drugs in the epidural needle so I didn't have the same itching I did last time. It was now about 1am. I had one contraction of relief before the pressure began. Yup, it was just after 1 am and it was time to push. No one believed me at first that I was ready to push since I was just a 7.5 but I wasn't lying. They quickly unhooked the epidural so I would still have some feeling (my legs never even got completely numb) and push I did. I remember looking at the clock thinking "this should NOT be taking this long." Kai's heart rate started dropping so they hooked me up to oxygen. Kai also thought he was quite funny by playing hide and seek. I would push with all my might to get him to crown, then he would tuck himself back in there. The nurses called in some breathing specialist for Kai just in case. And after an hour and 2 minutes of pushing I finally got the strength to completely push him out. The doctor realized once his head came out that he was going to be a big boy since my stomach was still huge (where the rest of his body was). After hearing how big he was I was really glad that he held out past midnight because I did give in to the epidural. The Dr. said if I hadn't have gotten it I probably would have had hours of pushing only to end in a c-section with the way his heart rate was dropping.

I'm still in shock that he was as big as he is. He had a hard time initially keeping his blood glucose levels under control, but eventually figured it out. He looks a lot like Kadyn did when he was born but personality is very different so far. Kai is quite content to sleep...something Kadyn still thinks he doesn't need.

We are very blessed.

Further no baby update

I am now 3 cm (at least those darn contractions are doing something) and 70% effaced. His heartbeat is good and the Dr. said I'm just not making it uncomfortable enough for him :) Maybe I should stop giving in to all my cravings then?!

I have a water breaking induction set for Friday morning at 7:30 am (if all goes well) unless this little guy decides he would like to do it his own self. Keep your fingers crossed and your prayers coming that breaking the water will be enough to get him moving and I won't need pitocin.

The no baby yet update

Despite having regular contractions for the past several weeks, despite having my membranes swept two different times, despite a full moon, despite walking miles and miles and trying almost every other tactic in the book and despite seeing my prediction on this baby's due date come and go, we are still anxiously awaiting the arrival of baby #2.

There's been 2 separate occassions now where I've thought for sure THIS IS IT. However, after an hour + of timeable, painful contractions, they fade to nothing. Yup, nothing. My last appointment I was 2 1/2 cm, -2 station and at least 30% effaced. We'll find out more tomorrow (at the appt everyone was sure I wasn't going to make it to) if I've had any further progress.

One thing for sure, this baby has the perfect birthday picked out and doesn't want to be bothered with all my attempts. We're in trouble with 2 strong-willed little boys :)

I have to admit though that I've had so much fun with Kadyn the past few days. I've been a little sad thinking about how our relationship is going to change...not worse, not better, just change. Especially since he doesn't really understand how his world is about to be knocked upside down. Regardless, I'm still more than ready to welcome this baby and introduce him to his big brother.

Send some labor dust and prayers this way...we want to meet our newest addition. Hopefully the next time I post it will be of pics of a new baby Cheney.

38 weeks

I saw mommy and daddy taking the picture above and wanted to try it too. It was harder to try when they were holding me up, but you get the idea :)