Days Four, Five, & Six...

Helping Brother get his Binky.

I LOVE this one, even though it is a little blurry.

Eating Mickey Mouse gummies after a tough morning of...playing outside.

I wanna eat that widdle chin! NUMnumnumnum...

My guys checking each other out.

Mommy-eye view. Delicious.

Grampa, Calum, and Maddie's hair.

Again, I say: NUMnumnumnum...

Momma's boy!

Full tummy and getting ready for bed.

Everything is going pretty good so far. He's a good eater, a very good pooper ~ the diaper pail is already full, and he doesn't fuss much except when he's wet or hungry. And sleep??? He naps well through the day and ~~~ sleeps from about 2am until 7:30 or 8am! It. Is. Amazing. He is such a great baby and Maddie has been a wonderful big sister. I am very proud of her. It's hard having to deal with a new baby and a new house, all while dealing with the woes of being 2 1/2. And, while I've been kicked, hit, bitten, and head butted, she's so gentle with him. When he started crying at the hospital, she yelled for us to "Get him his Binky!". She pets his head and tickles his feet. She's getting over a cold so I'm hesitant to let her hold him just yet (no coughs or sneezes on the newborn, please), but I'm excited for her to be able to hold him ~ and for me to get photos of it.

So, we are doing pretty good so far. I'm hoping that the next few weeks of healing go by quickly so that I can pick up and cuddle my Maddie again. I'm even looking forward to doing housework, if that makes any sense. Maybe this vicodin is making me loopy?

Hope you all are doing well. Time for me to get back to my little family. :)

xoxo

Welcome To the World, Little Man...

Calum Patrick is here!!!

May 19th, 2010 at 11:32am

8lbs 8oz, 21 inches

Silly Girl

So, daddy's boss' wife had a wonderful idea to get Maddie a gift 'from Calum'. I mentioned to Maddie today that Calum would be bringing her a present. Our conversation went a little something like this:

Me: "Maddie, I think baby Calum might be bringing a present for you tomorrow! What do you think it could be?"

Maddie: "Some fish ~ in a pretend fish tank! And a box that has food in it. A surprise for Maddie!"

Me: "Wow! What else do you think it could be??"

Maddie: "A turtle! Or a box that has some food in it!"

Nerves

Dr. Le's surgery scheduler called this morning to let me know that my c-section has been moved to 11am instead of 12:30pm tomorrow. We have to check into L&D by 9am. It's different than having a scheduled induction in that, a. I won't have to mess with all that labor garbage and, b. I know what to expect during surgery. The only part that's throwing me off is that I am well aware of how the post-op will be, the pain I will be in for the next few weeks, how totally useless I will be to everyone...I won't be able to drive or pick up anything heavier than Calum for the next 4-6 weeks and I am NOT looking forward to having to tell Maddie that I just can't pick her up. But I'm trying not to think about it that way.

Also, Maddie and I did not get to go to splash in the water yesterday because she is running a fever. She's actually had a low-grade fever for about two weeks, but no one can find anything wrong. They do think that something is going on, but can't do anything about it until they know what it is. The only symptoms that she has had for the last few days (aside from the temperatures) are runny nose and is extremely irritable. And I DO mean irritable! She refuses to listen, to do what she's asked to do, she cries at the drop of a hat, she is mean...it's like a totally different personality has come over her. It breaks my heart because I know she feels bad, but I can't fix it. And now I'm going to be gone for a few days and won't be able to comfort her. I'm having a tough time being too excited for tomorrow, as my mind and heart are worrying for her. Is there ever a time when being a mommy is easy??? Someone, please give me hope!

Anyway, keep us in your thoughts and prayers ~ that Maddie feels better, that the doctor has done this surgery once or twice before, that Calum is healthy...

The next time I post a blog, it will be to show off our LittleMan. I wish you all lived closer so that you can see him and hold him and love him. Good LORD, I am emotional right now! I love you guys. Wish us lots of luck!

Thoughts

One day.
Eighteen hours.
Twenty-five minutes.

That's how much time left until I have to be admitted to Labor & Delivery. Crazy, exciting, scary, and a little sad. Maddie is acting up and I can't tell if she's stressed or if it's this upper respiratory thing the two of us have. I cried the other night while I sang her to sleep, wondering how she'll react to having to share mommy and daddy. Daddy reminded me that poor Calum will never have the joy of being the only child, that he will always have to share. Still, my heart hurts a little. And this will be the first time that I'll be away from Maddie for more than an hour or two. And, yes, Momo and Grampa, I am busy making my 'Babysitter Instructions' for you. Since everyone knows I am a little OCD, I didn't want to disappoint by not making a list to help you better care for my sweetest little baby.

For now, we're off to splash in the water for a bit. We've been stuck indoors trying to tidy up all week. Time to get our swimsuits on (ok, so no swimsuit for me, thank you very much!) and go play. Maybe stop and get some ice cream after, then to the flower shop. I am running out of energy, but it'll be nice to get her out and about for a bit.

Most Beautiful

What I've Been Up To...

Nesting. And I have an entire apartment to nest in. Cleaning, dusting, unpacking (and repacking junk that can stay in the garage)...finding a place for everything. The kitchen, dining area, and master bedroom are still under construction, but I will post photos soon.

Main living area.

Main living area.

The kid's bathroom, better known as The Frog Potty.

Better photos of the nursery. It's amazing what good, natural light will do for your pictures!

Maddie's Palace

Ahhh, in rare form: there are NO toys on the floor. Yet. She loves it ~ almost as much as playing in Brother's room. The good news is that she is almost [but-not-quite] cooperative enough to pick up after herself (after I tell her 20+ times to put her toys away). She'll get there.

Today's doctor visit (obviously) didn't end up with me prepping for a C-section. Of course, had I not showered and shaved, had daddy not come with me, had I not remembered to bring something for Maddie to do just in case, I'm sure I'd be in the hospital. Murphy's Law. Only 5 days and 23 hours left at the most. Dr. Le said I'm between 1.5 - 2cm dilated and that Calum is head down, that I may not make it until Wednesday. I'm not getting my hopes up, though. Soon enough, I guess. I am feeling really bad for all the women who go to 41 or 42 weeks...how frustrating that must be! Anyway, that was my last visit for this pregnancy (!). Wednesday morning, I have to be at the hospital by 10 to get me all IV'd up and ready to go. It is insane to imagine that, at this time next week, our son will be almost exactly a day old. I can't wait to meet him!

Nursery...Again

Big Sister helping mommy get things situated at our new place! And looking fabulous, dahhling!!


Bad phone photos (I can't find my camera cord). Changing area and rocker.

The closet is HUGE, but you can't tell from the photo.

Crib and toys. Lots and lots of toys. And I'm noticing a letter "C" that apparently needs to be lowered :/ Funny that it looks right in person.

Tomorrow is my last regular visit before Calum is born.

I'm torn between hoping that Dr. Le will send me to L&D again for delivery tomorrow and waiting until next Wednesday. There is still so much I need to get done, but my entire body hurts. I just feel done, you know? Every ounce of me screams when I move; it hurts to sleep and eat, to sit and stand. And I can hardly wait to be able to have cold deli meats! Holy cow, I have been dreaming about a giant, deli roast beef sandwich! Because you can only tolerate so much microwaved salami...

But, back to baby stuff (I could write a whole blog on food!). Daddy is coming with me tomorrow just in case they do send me over, but I'm not expecting it'll happen. Or am I? Oh, the suspense!

Quick Stuff...

Oreos and milk...with a bottle! She puts a few drops on them.

Waiting [sort of] patiently to be seen at mommy's doctor.

Getting sent to the hospital, only to get sent home again.

Today, taking a minute to snap my 37 week 4 day photo. I keep forgetting to take them! And you have a sneak-peak at Maddie's new room (never mind the clothes waiting to be hung). She loves it and has slept through the night every night (except once, but I'll take it!)

I can hardly believe that we're going to have another baby NEXT WEEK! Prepare yourselves for double the photos!!!

The Process

With Maddie, I didn't get to experience much of anything in the way of the natural process of labor. So, as you can imagine, every little thing I'm experiencing now is exciting and scary and exhilarating.

Dr. Le told me on Thursday that I am dilated to 1.5cm and sent me to Labor & Delivery for monitoring my contractions. He said that he would go ahead and deliver Calum if it looked like I might be having regular contractions. Panic! Excitement! And my sweet Maddie, who is having a hard time with all the new changes, having a tantrum the whole way to the hospital (a BIG thank you to MoMo for coming to watch her!). I guess my body wasn't doing anything too impressive, so they sent me home. I have contractions every day; some get pretty regular, but then they space out. I've got cramps, nausea, vomiting, the works! And I lost part of my plug this morning. I realize that most of y'all don't want to know some of the gross stuff, but this is my blog and I'll post TMI if I want to :)

I have also been nesting like a mad woman! I have Maddie's room and the nursery almost complete ~ and it took less than two days total. The master bedroom is almost finished, as is the main living area. Pictures are hung, curtains are up...I've mopped and vacuumed more in the last three days than I have in the entire two years living at the old house. When I get everything a little more put together (and normal Internet service), I'll post some pictures.

I am also feeling very edgy. I am impatient, antsy, and what I call "Mama Bear-ish". I don't really have great words to explain it, but it is how I imagine most animals feel with the impending birth of their babies. Definitely strange and not the most pleasant thing (for myself AND for those around me, as well). Sorry, my love.

So, now I'm just waiting. The hard part is that I'm not sure what normal, non-pitocin contractions are supposed to feel like. I never got to experience true, early labor so I am completely in the dark about what is happening and what to expect. It makes me nervous, but it is exciting. And I am thinking that little Calum is not going to wait until the 19th. We will see!!!

Untitled

Sorry there haven't been any new posts. We're in the middle of moving and cleaning and unpacking and...a million other things! We haven't even moved the computer over to the new place yet (I had to come by to let the dog out, so I thought I'd write a quick one).

Things are going ok. Maddie is having some behavior issues with all the changes, but is ultimately a sweetie. I have been nauseous for a week and spent last night vomiting ~ LOTS of fun when I'm trying to do so much. Poor daddy has been working really long, hard days trying to get the house cleaned up and ready to show, AND still has to work his regular job, of course.

Calum is taking it easy, relaxing, even stretching out now and again...poor kid has it rough.

Only two weeks left until he's here; then the circus really begins!

Anyhow, I'll check in soon. Hope y'all are doing well!