Picture Time

I want a maternity test!

Seriously I’m not sure if my children are mine.

Caleb’s first week of school is going great! He made a new friend whose name is Bob but likes to be called Rob. And Caleb, who has another Caleb in his class, has decided to go by his self-given nickname KK. He’s a happy kid about that one. I was reading over all his paperwork and Washoe County requires that fourth graders have 40-60 minutes of homework every night and an additional 20 minutes of reading. Now the reading isn’t a big deal, he does that anyway to calm himself down for bed but the homework shocks me. I personally think that the only homework kids should have is leftover work from school or special projects/reports but who am I to decide this…a mom? They will be doing lots of reports this year his teacher said. I enjoyed helping him with his last report and he learned a lot. They also get four really cool field trips this year.

He had a fun trip to his Grandparents house. They shared these pictures with me. They plan lots of fun stuff for him and he eats it right up.

He got to meet his little brother Sunday night at the airport. It was so sweet. As soon as I signed for him he went over to  the stroller to look at him. He was excited and wanted to push him. I think he needs to take a few driving lessons, especially since Hud wasn’t strapped in, but he didn’t fall out so that’s a good thing.

I said over and over again I would be perfectly content having no more kids and I’m sure I would have if I didn’t. However I am so happy I had Hudson. I am in love. Absolutely in love with him. I feel like I know him so well already…his schedule, his personality, his grunts and cries. I can’t stop steering at him, studying his features. I have always done this with Caleb…looking for new features, new freckles, facial changes. Hudson has found his cry but doesn’t do it much. We’ve had one rough night where he wanted to be awake and was a bit cranky but all was well the next night. He likes tummy time and can lift his head up and face it the other way. He also loves to poop in his new diaper, right away. Seriously, as soon as we put it on he poops in it. And we’ve been really quick to change his diapers because the poor baby has a rash already. It’s clearing up though

I’m doing well. Things are less sore. My milk has come in good and plenty. And I’m getting relatively enough sleep. I've been going a lot trying to make up for the time I lost before Hudson was supposed to be here ie. Putting together dresser, getting a crib, getting groceries, etc. etc.

So all is well with us. I love my boys so much, I’m really happy.

 

Day 4

Hudson is wonderful! He is an amazing baby. Seriously he only cries when he’s hungry and occasionally when we’re changing him. He eats (and eats very well….my boobs may be small but they have plenty of milk) every two hours, almost on the dot. About every other feeding he wakes up for two hours and is so content just looking around. He sleeps all night in between feedings…it’s me that has issues with getting up early…can’t seem to sleep long. But my boy and I do take a nap a bit later. He loves to cuddle on my chest to nap.

He had his checkup with the Pediatrician yesterday. I really like her. He lost 1.5 oz which she said isn’t bad; babies usually loose more……told you he eats well. She was worried he’d get jaundice since he was so bruised but no signs of it thankfully. All seems well with the blood sugar, she wasn’t worried about him only breastfeeding.

I miss my other baby and can’t wait to see him Sunday. He starts 4th grade Monday. I can’t believe it, my baby is starting 4th grade! He is having a blast at his Grandparents! I can’t wait for him to meet his brother too. He’s going to be such a good big brother.

So anyway, enjoy the pictures.

The story

There are two kinds of labor in this world for me. There’s Caleb labor, which while a horrible horrible amount of pain, I managed it. Then there is Hudson labor aka back labor and OH! MY! GOSH! That is a whole new different kind of pain!

So here’s the story….

About Tuesday or Wednesday last week I noticed that he dropped. Friday and Saturday I didn’t feel all that well…just sort of a stomach ache and just not feeling good. I woke up Saturday about 12:30 pm, got some last minute things done for Caleb and took him to the airport to fly to his Grandparent’s for a week.

That night I went to work as usual but drove myself (I decided like two days before that since it was getting closer to start driving myself just incase---talk about instincts huh?). I still felt like crap but I’m pretty good at just sucking it up. On the way to work I noticed some contractions. They didn’t hurt, just really intense tightening all over my stomach. I had been having them off and on and figured they go away as usual. I got to work and did my 10 pm count and they were still coming. So I sat down at my desk and watched the clock, they were coming every 3-5 minutes….still no pain, just these contractions (which is what I had with Caleb too). I did my 12 am count and they were still coming. I sat back down at my desk afterwards debating on whether or not to go home. They regulated to every four minutes and finally I decided to go home at 1:00 am. ---------causing some co-workers to freak out, ha ha!-----------On the way home I talked to my mom and they came every 4 minutes on the dot and my lower back started to ache with each one. My mom suggested I either go get checked or call Labor and Delivery.

I got home and called Labor and Delivery who had my call my doctor. The on call nurse told me to go in and get checked which I agreed since with Caleb I had these same contractions and they didn’t hurt until 7 cm so no telling what would happen. I drove in to the hospital and got checked in. I was 3 cm dilated and about 50% effaced. I was SHOCKED, I thought it was all in my head and they’d send me home. She called my doc and he had me walk around for two hours to see if I changed. The contractions at this point were coming every 3 minutes. After two hours and absolutely exhausted I laid down at 6 am to wait for my doc and my contractions slowed down to every 5 minutes. My doc came in and checked me and I was a 4 and 80% effaced. He said I was being admitted and suggested breaking my water to move it along. I agreed.

I left triage, was admitted in my room about 8:30 am and my doc broke my water. The first contraction I felt some achiness. The second a little worse. My like #7 or 8, HOLY CRAP! They didn’t hurt in my stomach at all but I swear to you my spine was being pulled apart. I always heard back labor was horrible but couldn’t imagine especially since I felt Caleb’s contractions all over my stomach and back. They were coming about every 4 minutes. The on call doc came in at about 9:30 to check me before going to the other hospital to deliver a baby. He said I was still a 4…mentioned pitocin (a drug to make your contractions stronger)….I asked to wait to receive it….he agreed since he was leaving and said he’d see me in a bit. By 10 am I tried to labor in an upright position to relieve some pressure on my back. It helped but not enough. It was unbearable. I threw all my plans out the door and requested an epidural. The nurse went to get the anesthesiologist and came back to inform me he just went in for a c-section and would be another 45 minutes—oh my gosh I was so sad. She said that I could have an iv drug if I wanted, I said yes. Now I didn’t want any drugs at all with labor but I didn’t think I could handle the pain. It was horrible…thank God I had about 1 minute of no pain between each contraction…especially when they had me lay back down so they could keep track of his heart beat. It was about 10:25 am at this point. She said she wanted to check me first before giving it to me and I was dilated to a 7-8 so she said NO I couldn’t have it. I thought I’d die. No epideral, no drugs, guess I had to follow my plan regardless. She said let me know if you feel like you have to push, otherwise she’d be back in a bit and left. Not 5 minutes later and like two or three contractions I felt his head start to push and he felt like he was coming out RIGHT THEN. They ran and grabbed her, she checked me, I was a full 10 and she sent for the other doctor. She told me not to push but I couldn’t help it. Actually I didn’t push, he did, he was coming and I couldn’t stop. They pulled the doc from the c-section he was doing, he came in, I pushed about two or three times and baby Hudson entered the world.

He was really purple and barely cried. They put him on my chest. They had to take him real quick though and give him some oxygen but I got him back pretty quickly. His whole body, especially his head was SO bruised. They said it was from him coming out so quickly. Despite being born so quickly. I got to nurse him and he latched on relatively easy.

They moved me upstairs to my recovery room and reunited with my clean sweet baby. We had a wonderful day with him. That night they did a blood sugar test and it was low. I breastfed him and when they tested him again it was too low. They had to give him some formula (which I hated but understood). They tested him again after that and it was still too low. He had to have formula every two hours and be tested every two hours. To test him they had to prick his foot each time, poor baby. They let me breastfeed him after he had the bottle but he was so full he wasn’t interested. I was so scared he would prefer the bottle. Finally once it started coming up, they let me breastfeed him first and do formula second. It took him a few tries before he re-figured out how to nurse. Finally he was able to keep it up for three tests in a row yeah!

Since he was doing good, they let us go home yesterday about 1 pm. He’s been only breastfed since then. His face is so much better, not nearly as bruised but his poor poor feet are.

He’s mellow and tiny and wonderful. Hardly cries at all. He is nursing about every two hours. He slept great last night, only wake up to eat and poop. We were up at about 4 this morning so I thought I’d type this since he just fell back asleep.

I’m so blessed. I cannot thank God enough for this healthy, precious baby boy. I’m the luckiest girl in the word. Caleb and Hudson are amazing and healthy and my heart feels so full. I cannot wait for Caleb to meet his baby brother on Sunday (remember, he’s in the bay area at his grandparents). He was happy when I told him he was a big brother.

Anyway, time to hold my tiny man.

Stats:
Hudson Michael
6 lbs, 4.5 oz
19 inches long
6/28/09
10:42 am
Head 12 1/4

 

Family Fun

I have been trying to think of a fun family activity to end Caleb’s summer break and enjoy this last bit of time we have before the baby.

We have decided to go to the zoo! It’s been three years since we’ve been there and I’m rather excited! I figure Sacramento has a good hospital “just in case” but all should be fine.

I love being able to leave my cell phone in the car, letting go of everything in mind and hanging out with my family. Caleb make me so happy and I cherish little things like this since we haven’t had too many of them since I started my job.

One major goal I have as a parent is to sit at the table in 20 years and have my kids say, “remember that time we went to……..man it was fun!”
P.S. I’m 36 weeks today, only four weeks left! Crazy!

I'm so sick of....

Leg cramps!

Working overnight

Having my sleep broke up so much

Feet in my ribs

Laundry that never ends

My duty belt at work

Back aches

Feet aches

Aches


I can’t wait for my baby to be here. I’m exhausted.

35 Weeks

Only 5 weeks left! I can’t believe it!

I went to the doctor yesterday, all is good. I lost one pound so I’m officially up 4 lbs total. But my stomach grew 6 inches in 3 weeks so he’s good. I was a little concerned because he hasn’t been nearly as active as he was so the doc did a NST (non-stress test) and the baby is not stressed.

The baby shower was wonderful. I will post pictures soon; don’t have time before work right now to load them on my computer. Emily and Haley were so creative and it looked adorable! I am thankful to everyone who came.

I spent most of my weekend washing baby clothes, blankets, etc. I ordered a dresser for him that should be in in about a week or so. Uget the crib at the first of July but the cradle is all set up and ready to go.

I’m really nervous yet really excited! We meet with a pediatrician on Tuesday and I’m hoping to schedule a tour of the hospital as well. I’m trying to get everything in order and done.

Caleb started his baseball camp yesterday and I quote, “It’s almost the most fun I’ve had in my whole life, but not quite.” He’s learning and having fun so I’m really happy about that. He only has a couple more weeks before he starts school so he’s trying to make the most of it!

Well here is a 35 week picture…enjoy!

34 Weeks

I’m exhausted. I get wore out really easy and most of the day I just want to sleep. I don’t know if my stomach, well specifically my side muscles, can stretch anymore. I don’t have any new stretch marks and the ones I had from Caleb are the same. No line down my belly either. So those are good things. There are a few funky things I’ve noticed though. My eyebrows feel the need to go down; they will not brush up for anything! I’ve tried hairspray and an eyebrow brush and nothing; they want to go down! My belly has collected quite the hair too and now it’s starting to get darker. I remember it doing the same thing with Caleb.

About a week ago the baby dropped and although I was having some contractions, the feeling of him made it feel like I was having lots. I got checked out and all is well. I can decipher the difference between him and a contraction now I think. They’re really sporadic and not consistent at all so no worries. I didn’t know that they would drop this early. I thought it was like a week or so before that they drop but he is definitely in my pelvic bone. Not comfortable at all! And last night at dinner he found my sciatic nerve, Oh My Gosh! It was a long long sleeping night.

He is still tossing and turning like there is no tomorrow. He’ll move almost three days straight and then not move much at all for like a day and a half. Crazy kid.

My baby shower is this Saturday and after that I will be ready for him to come whenever he chooses. If I had to guess he won’t wait until his due date. I can’t wait to meet him and cuddle him and nurse him and just have him around. I can’t wait to see the big brother Caleb will be. Sure it’ll be nice to do away with the discomforts of being pregnant but really, I’m just excited for him to be here.

I’m still working unfortunately. I plan to work up until he comes but it is getting harder and harder so we’ll see. I can’t wait to do away with my duty belt. I wear it under my belly but my butt doesn’t stick out enough to hold it up so I’m always holding it with my hand. I have no where else for my keys or radio though so I have to wear it.

I moved into my new house and I love it. There’s so much room!!! Plus living RIGHT next door to a park is a huge perk! Caleb loves it! I have Makayla for this week and they have fully taken advantage of it. It’s much nicer being only 32 minutes away from work compared to an hour. If we have a good relief we’re home by 6:30 in the morning, its great!

Caleb is finished with school and enjoying his summer so far. He made great grades! I’m so proud of him. Next week he gets to do a baseball camp he’s really looking forward to. It’s so hard to believe he’s going to be a fourth grader now.

Anyway that’s it for now; sorry for the delay in posts…I’ve been tired and trying to get my house together. Adios!

I'm so in love with my son!

There are so many reasons why I’m so in love with him...his green eyes, his cute little freckles, his funny jokes said a thousand times. But occasionally he can do things that just absolutely melt my heart. The other morning I was hanging out on the bed in my room chatting with Caleb before he went to school.  I gave Caleb a big hug and a kiss on the cheek telling him to have a great day and I loved him. In return he hugged me back and then bent down, kissed my belly and said, "Bye Baby B, I love you." Oh good God I was speechless! He’s felt the baby move and he’ll rub my belly here and there and he talks about him a lot but that was the first time he’s done that. These tears of joy are not because my hormones are whacked, they are simply because I am in love with my son.

Life

Lately I feel like I’ve been tested. Sadly, these tests have made me doubt and second guess myself. I always thought I was so much stronger then that.


There are so many people that route against you in life and very few that route for you.


Why? I don’t know. Perhaps they’re insecure with themselves. Perhaps they truly feel they are better then you.


I am ashamed that I would let someone get to me like that and make me doubt my priorities when in fact I know exactly where I stand with what. I know what my goals are…I know what my priorities are…I know what is important to me and what isn’t so much.

I have changed. I constantly change. I am always learning new things, facing new challenges, meeting new people.....I am proud of the person I have become. I am willing to do what it takes to ensure my goals and ethics are secured and will mold as needed to changing events.

27 Weeks

The baby is doing good. I don’t ever remember Caleb stretching and pushing like this one does. Sometimes (a lot) he pushes so hard and it is so intense I can hardly handle it. It doesn’t hurt, it’s just so much pressure it takes my breath away. I had another ultrasound yesterday and he’s still a boy. He had no problem showing us his stuff but he sure in the heck didn’t want us to see his face. The whole time he was wiggling like crazy but refused to look at the front of my belly rather then my back. Silly kid does have a touch of my stubbornness. He weighs about 3 lbs and measured 2 weeks big…so he’s measuring 29 weeks and I’m only 27. So there’s no telling when this kid will come. I absolutely do not want to be induced at all but I don’t want a 10 lb kid. If the time comes and the doc wants to induce me so I don’t have such a big baby, which would be really hard for me. I have a fear of drugs/intervention. Don’t get me wrong, I will do what is necessary to keep the baby and myself safe, it just scares me. I think it’s used entirely too much when it isn’t needed. I have a lot of faith in my body that it knows what to do and I really hope to have him naturally. I have nothing to prove, I just don’t like that stuff. If you can’t tell my mind is starting to think about this upcoming event. I won’t lie; I’m terrified to give birth. I think with Caleb I didn’t have a clue what to expect so it didn’t faze me before hand. But now, now I’m scared.

Anyway here is my 27 week pictures.

26 Weeks

Monday my baby turned 26 weeks. I cannot believe that 6 ½ months have already gone by...well 5 months since I found out about him. There are only 3 full months left until his due date. Am I ready for this? Not sure but I can’t wait to meet him! I think he’ll have brown hair, brown eye brows and dark lashes light.


In my last post, or maybe the one before, I wrote that I don’t really feel pregnant except my expanding belly and him moving. Ya well things have changed. I now feel VERY pregnant and uncomfortable. I forgot how uncomfortable being pregnant is. My belly is starting to get in the way a little, his feet/head/butt/whatever have made their way right into my ribs, and I can’t take a full breath for a long while after I eat. I have had horrible leg cramps too.  I looked up pregnant leg cramps and they said that possibly they’re caused by restricted blood flow to the legs because of the weight of the baby. It recommended lots of water (which I drink), plenty of rest (ya right), warm baths (I can handle that) and sleeping on my left side. Sleeping on my left side has made it easier to fall asleep, otherwise they’re always crampy. I know I don’t get as much sleep as I probably should but I’m starting to feel tired a lot again. I get exhausted pretty easily.


He is moving all the time and his kicks are getting stronger. In church the other day I was looking down and he kicked and I could see it...made me smile. Last night was the same thing at work. Caleb tries to feel him but doesn’t have much patience for keeping his hand there. He’s felt him once and thought it was pretty cool. He seems very excited to have a brother which makes me really happy. I think he’s going to be a fantastic big brother.


Anyway here are some pictures.