Our Sweet Ellie Sue

Life with 2 babies is no joke, hence the reason it has taken me 6 MONTHS to get this girls story on the blog but I love the idea of having it here. 

Our Sweet Ellie Sue. 7 weeks after I got pregnant I thought I miscarried but miraculously we saw our sweet baby's heartbeat on the screen the next day and she was still on her way!

She was due February 24th and unfortunately I had absolutely NO indication she was coming any time soon. We decided to set up to be induced the following Monday, February 27th. 

We got to the hospital at 7AM, I had had a few contractions that morning but nothing too big. We got everything set up and waited to hear from my doctor when to start me. At 10:15 they finally started me on Petocin and within an hour I was having HARD contractions. 

If you don't know me, I don't show my emotions too much. I also have a pretty high pain tolerance so though I was hurting pretty good I kept thinking I could handle a little more. So I held off getting my epidural as long as I could. When I finally did I was having a ton of pressure as well.

At 11:50 we called my mom and told her I was about to get my epidural and to come to the hospital. She had been watching Gracie at our house in Rigby until Lexie got off work but I was progressing pretty quick so I wanted to make sure she was there. So Jilinda went over to take her place. We had also got a birth photographer so we told her to come as well.  

Around 12:15 I was told he was on his way up so if I wanted to go to the bathroom that I should hurry and go. It took me forever to get in there with Dillon's help. When I sat down I thought I felt my water break but I wasn't sure. When I got back to the bed I could tell that it had broke but the anesthesiologist was there so I slide to the edge of the bed and got my epidural in place.

They laid the bed down flat so it would start working quicker. 

{SIDE NOTE: the anesthesiologist didn't even have his stuff packed up yet.}

As soon as I was flat on my back the next contraction I felt like I was about to rip open! Haha I laugh about it now but it was AWFUL! I was freaking out! 

1. I had JUST got my epidural in.

2. My MOM wasn't even here yet! 

3. I had only been in labor 2 hours.

4. Did I already say my epidural wasn't working yet!!!

With every contraction I had the urge to push, hard. The nurses just kept telling me to breathe and not push... I kept thinking the baby was going to come out and the nurses weren't even down there yet to catch her if she came out and it felt like it was going to happen any second! 

Dr. Evans from Madison Womens Clinic was my Doctor and I can say without a doubt that he was the BEST person I could have had to deliver Ellie. When he came in he was trying to distract me and it totally didnt work. But through everything else he was so awesome! Right as he sat down our Photographer Erin Smith walked in. I was SOO happy she made it in time. Everything happened so fast and I am so happy we have something to remember it all! 

I had one contraction and Dr Evans said, "Ashley you can't scream! She would have been out that time if you didn't scream!" 

I always thought it was so silly thinking about someone screaming while giving birth. Like come on, you don't have to scream... 

Yes, it flipping hurt so every contraction I was screaming..

One more contraction and at 12:35pm she was out. Holy tired. I thought I was going to pass out. I lay back in the bed and he wiped her off a little before handing her to me and I was actually glad I had a second to catch my breath! What just happened?! I got my epidural and had a baby within 10 minutes! That is not supposed to happen. The nurse said, "well now you know what its like to go natural as compared to having an epidural so you'll know what you really want next time." 

Ill tell you this... That will Never happen again and definitely not by choice! Give me all the drugs! Haha! 

7 lbs 2 oz of perfect. Me and Dillon just sat there staring at her. We were still in awe about what just happened. Even in the craziness of it all I think giving birth is the most spiritual experience on Earth. I don't know how you can't know there is a Heaven and a God who loves us when that baby is laid on your chest for the first time. I could have a whole lot of babies if just for that moment.

When the nurses started cleaning up my mom walked in, literally missing it by minutes. She peeked around  the curtain and all she said was "Oh no!" And started crying as she walked over to the bed. We were both so sad she missed it! 

Our Sweet Ellie Sue. She was so beautiful! So incredibly perfect. 

It was the Best when Gracie met her for the first time! She kept saying "Oh, my baby sister, I love her!" 

We are so blessed to have such a beautiful family.. Life is oh so good! 

Gracie Lynn Wray

Now that Gracie is a MONTH old I am finally getting around to getting her birth story written down. Thanks to my mom for writing down when everything happened in the hospital or my time guessing would be way off.. It all happened so incredibly quick and went perfectly!

 I started having contractions on Sunday June 21st, they were really random but still an annoyance. They continued Monday and Tuesday and ended up being 5 minutes apart for about an hour and a half so we went into the hospital at 2AM Wednesday morning, I was dilated to a 3, 100% effaced but as you can see from the photo below.... I was way too happy/comfortable! I had no idea what I was supposed to feel yet so I thought I was in "real" pain. Now I know what I was feeling was nothing! Haha Needless to say we were sent home at 3:30AM.

Throughout Wednesday contractions stayed random. Dillon had a softball game at 6 pm and told me I needed to make sure to wait until after to have the baby. I guess Gracie heard him because I started having hard contractions 3 minutes apart 30 minutes after we got home! I really didn't want to be sent home again so I put off going in to the hospital as long as I could! Once I started crying my mom decided for me that it was time to go in at 9:30pm. Luckily they kept me. I was dilated to a 5 and they called the anesthesiologist right when I got there. By 10 my contractions were 1 1/2 minutes apart and I got an epidural at 10:55pm. OH MY GOSH. BEST INVENTION EVER! I don't think I have ever been more relaxed than once I got that. I was exhausted but way happy after that!

I fell asleep until around 4 am when the nurse came in to check on me and ended up asking me if I wanted to start pushing. I was so surprised that I could after such a short amount of time being in there! At 4:45am the nurse called the doctor (yes, after less than 1 hour). The nurse told us that once he got there it would be about 20 minutes until she was born, He got there about 10 minutes later and after pushing TWICE she was out! Everything happened SO fast it was overwhelming! But it was just perfect! Once she was out I was bawling and she only made one little scream then just looked at me with these big eyes. They were trying everything they could to get her to cry to clear out her lungs but she wouldn't! She was just looking at me. So happy. So perfect.

Gracie Lynn Wray was born at 4:59am June 25, 2015. 6 pounds 13 ounces, 19 inches long.

We could never have asked for a better baby. She has been so nice from the very beginning! 

I have always loved my husband more than anything but seeing him hold our baby for the first time and every time since I realize more and more how I could never live without him. He is the BEST dad! Gracie and I are definitely the lucky ones!

When we left the hospital Gracie weigh 6lbs 7oz and by her check up the next Monday she was back up to 6lbs 14oz. If you were wondering how she is eating.. at her 2 week appointment she gained almost 2 pounds weighing 8 LBS 4 OZ! So I guess she's been eating pretty good! Breastfeeding has gone so well and I definitely feel lucky to have had no problems! She is changing every day and we cant believe how fast she's growing up!

Gracie is so happy, so nice and smiles ALL the time! She definitely fills a spot in our hearts and lives that we never knew was empty. She's our perfect little princess  and we are so glad we have her forever!

An Early Christmas Present

We have so much to be thankful for this time of year! So much is happening in our lives and it has been nothing but incredible! 

I have been loving my internship at South Fork Elementary school and am both sad and excited it is coming to an end. I graduate in December with a degree in Social Work and am so ready to be done! I have loved the program though and getting my education. 

Dillon just got surgery last week on his ACL and is now crippled and cant do much but he's determined to be back at it in no time. He is glad it will be fixed but hates not being able to do anything.

We also recently got a new nephew and niece in the same week! 

Dillons sister Tori and her husband Blaine had Molly

and his brother Tanner and his wife Katelyn had Jax

They are so sweet and we love them so much already!

I have been so excited to decorate for Christmas and finally got started this weekend. Dillon let me do a purple Christmas tree, just for this year. :)

I was most excited about putting up our stockings because we got an early Christmas present...

Sweet Baby Wray coming June 24, 2015. We cant wait to meet our perfect new addition.

Happy as we can be for the holidays. Hoping everyone has a wonderful Christmas.

In Case You Didn't Know..

Each week at BYU-Idaho we have a Devotional where someone comes and speaks addressing different topics ranging from education to marriage. Today we had the opportunity to hear from a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Jeffry R. Holland, who is pretty much a main man in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His talk was so inspiring. Along with this happening, I am taking a class called Teachings of the Living Prophets this semester and it got me thinking about those of you who may not know what we truly believe as "Mormons".

One of the most incredible truths of this gospel is that we have a Living Prophet who actually speaks with God... I know. Mind blowing stuff. The President of our church, Thomas S. Monson, is called of God to preach his word to the world and testify of Christ. I think some members of the church may even take this for granted. A member of the British Supreme court (not of the LDS faith) once asked if the members understood the importance of this message, saying that if it was true it is the greatest message to come to the earth since the birth of Christ. 

For those that think that God no longer speaks to us, President Hugh B Brown(1883-1975) of the first presidency, asked this simple question, "Why do you think it stopped?"

He then gives possible answers,
"Perhaps it is because He cannot, He has lost his power."
"If you don’t accept that, perhaps he doesn't speak to men because he doesn't love us anymore. He is no longer interested in the affairs of men"
"The only other possible answer as I see it is that we don’t need him. We have made such rapid strides in education and science that we don’t need God anymore."

If you believe in God at all I believe that it would be hard to find any of these possible solutions true. God loves us and wants to be a constant part of our lives, giving us direction to return to Him.

I think it is easy to believe in Prayer. That someone out there may be listening if you get down on your knees and talk. I know without a doubt that you will get an answer every single time. Sometimes we think He doesn't answer because we don't get what we want. But he always answers in a way that will benefit us.

Now believing that there is a man who can talk to God and that God tells him counsel for the ENTIRE WORLD (not just those of LDS faith)... That's something bigger to wrap your head around. On October 4th and 5th we have the opportunity to hear what our Heavenly Father has told the Prophet, and other great leaders of our faith, to tell us. Its coming directly from Him! If God has something to say to us we will find it in their words. I know it with all my heart. I plead with anyone who reads this who isn't planning on turning on the TV to do it. I know that you will feel the spirit testify of the truth that is spoken.

President Thomas S. Monson

I am so blessed to have the testimony that I do of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the prophets that he has on the earth today. I hope all of you will learn this truth as well and do something about it. If you already know it, tell someone who doesn't. The gospel is too beautiful not to share. I hope if anyone has any questions or reservations about the church or learning about it that they would Ask, me or someone else close to you. Don't just assume rumors you hear and think that you know all about the "Mormons" and don't just read what I say. Find out for yourself about it and you will find a beautiful answer. I love my Savior. I hope everyone can get to know Him and love Him the way I do.

<3 Ashley

New Nephew, New Apartment

Its hard to believe it's already been a full semester of being married! It seems like yesterday but at the same time feels like we've been married for forever! We love married life and having our best friend with us all the time.

This semester Dillon was on track for the winter semester and I babysat for a couple families, hating the snow and hating Dillon's homework as much as he did, (if not more). He finished his last final Saturday night and we are both sooo excited about it. 

A couple other things that happened this semester... I cut my hair for the first time in forever, I got the internships that I wanted for the next two semesters of school (aka I'm graduating really soon), Dillon got a landscaping job for the summer, he also finally got a smart phone!

We have had a lot of fun together but definitely our favorite thing was meeting our sweet new nephew Sullivan Kyle Maddux! He is the sweetest baby ever and we were so happy we had the chance to go down to California with my family and see him! I could hold him forever! We wish they lived closer! I mean look at this sweet boy!!

 We also didn't mind the sunshine and the beach while we were there!

We made a heart for us at Bubble Gum Alley, it was super gross.

At the finale of the semester we moved out of our cute first house and into an apartment. Even though our house was bigger/two bedrooms and no neighbors, we both LOVE our new place and the fact that it doesn't actually smell old (you cant get that smell to go away!). It has been fun being able to call it our own, knowing we wont be leaving for a while and I have loved decorating, finally getting my frames painted and setting up Easter decorations my mom got for me! 

We are so in love with our lives and everything we have. We have been more than blessed for the past 3 months and everything we have hoped for has worked out perfectly! We are so in love and have yet to have a real "fight", the only disagreement we really have is that I want to paint our kitchen chairs different colors and sometimes Dillon thinks it might be too much (but I'm going to do it anyway haha. Love you Dill!)

With it being so close to Easter we are so grateful for our Savior and we know we wouldn't be who we are or where we are without him! We are so blessed by his Atonement and gospel every day of our lives and feel his love for us! We are all so loved!

Here's to another semester as Mr. and Mrs. Dillon Wray. We can't wait for what is in store for us! 

A Honeymoon and a House

Once all the craziness of the reception was over went to Idaho Falls to the Motel on the Falls for the night. It overlooked the temple and the river and it was so pretty! I didn't know where we were going so it was a great surprise! The next day we drove to Salt Lake City and stayed there for 3 days. It was so fun going to see the lights at temple square and shopping. We had so much fun together and didn't really want to come back! It was an amazing trip but we were also ready to start our life together.

We got home on New Years Eve. I already knew what an amazing year it was going to be. It was crazy going home and spending the night in our first house! It has been so fun to put everything away and decorate, knowing it is ours! I love it! I'm still blown away by the fact I'm with this stud forever and he's never going away. I'm such a lucky girl! He shows me everyday how much he cares about me and he's just perfect. It has been a fun week and I cant wait for years to come! 

The start of Forever.