Life at home is busy...very busy. Thank goodness Nick is home for the rest of the week. I will miss him terribly when he goes back to work. Getting two kids out of the house is going to be a real challenge all by myself, but with the proper planning, I can get it done. Audra seems to really love her new little brother. I hear "see baby? Hug baby? Touch baby? Hold baby? Kiss baby?" all of the time =) . She doesn't seem the least bit offended by him. Im so glad. I was worried that she would feel left out or hurt by his arrival.
So about my little boy...he is so sweet (of course he is...hes a baby!). He doesn't cry much...just when hes hungry or getting his diaper changed. He sleeps ok. He LOVES to be held. He is all business when it comes to eating. Not a sleepy feeder at all, which is such a blessing when it comes to breastfeeding. I took him in for his first doctors appt. last Friday, 2/18, and he weighed in at 7lbs 10oz. He left the hospital on Wednesday, 2/16, at 7lbs 9oz. So it wasn't a great gain. Then today we took him in for a weight check and he came in at 8lbs even! I'm so glad hes gaining well. And note to self (and everyone else) breastfeeding is so much easier than bottle feeding. Audra was bottle fed and to compare the two...wow! I dont have to carry around all that extra stuff anymore...or clean bottles (which was my least favorite thing in the whole world to do). I'm soooooo glad its working out for me this time. I'm tired and I wish I was able to share the night shift, but I'm so glad to be able to experience this.
So life is good....great. I'm happy. I'm in love with the three people in my home. I couldn't ask for more.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
And then there were 4
I'm so in love. Elijah was born on Valentines day at 9:59 a.m. weighing in at a healthy 8lbs 3ozs and measuring 20 inches. He is so precious. It came as a little bit of a surprise to me that the second is no less exciting than the first. I mean, here it is, 3 a.m. I'm EXHAUSTED, but I'm just simply too happy/excited/in love/pumped/thrilled-to-have-another-baby, to sleep! So, please ignore the typos and/or non-sense making statements I may make. I'm sad that Nick isn't here with me, but so glad he's the one at home with Audra. She is still under the weather (definitely better, but still) and in a horrible habit of sleeping on the couch now. It would be impossible for someone to stay with her other than one of us at the moment. However, I had the baby SO fast that at least Nick got to hang with his new son for a long time today before going home to our first baby. When I say fast, I mean FAST. I will spare you the gory details, but from start to finish was only 3 and a half hours!!! WOOHOO!!! I cannot tell you how thankful I am for that, lol. Also, I just have to tell you, God really answered my prayers. I have prayed so hard over this day...the health of the baby, my health, labor, delivery, my state of mind during all of it...etc. I cannot even put into words how thankful and truly unworthy I feel to be so blessed. It humbles me.
My beautiful husband...what an amazing father...
Precious little angel...
Audra will be meeting him tomorrow, so I will have more pictures to post at that point =)
My beautiful husband...what an amazing father...
Monday, February 14, 2011
Day 12. Write about what wears you out as a woman.
I guess I just feel the need to try to be perfect most of the time. I so want to be the Cleaver mom. I want my house to be spotless and to be the perfect mom. I want to serve my husband who works so hard so that I can stay at home with our children. I want the perfect physique and to always appear to be polished and well put together. I want to have dinner on the table every night by the time Nick gets home from work....a perfectly balanced, healthy, and delicious meal. I want to be a better Christian. I feel like there is so much more that I should be doing to glorify God and to be a better witness.
Its me that wears me out. I'm just not that woman...and thats okay! My house stays pretty clean. I do cook sometimes. As far as I know, Audra seems to be happy, although I always feel like I could be a better mom. I sometimes wear make-up before leaving the house...although Im hardly ever out of my jeans. I love God and try to make sure that I keep church a priority. But still, I want to be better. Its exhausting hearing the voices in my head that tell me what I should have done different in a day (not literal voices...no need for concern). What I could have done better.
Its me that wears me out. I'm just not that woman...and thats okay! My house stays pretty clean. I do cook sometimes. As far as I know, Audra seems to be happy, although I always feel like I could be a better mom. I sometimes wear make-up before leaving the house...although Im hardly ever out of my jeans. I love God and try to make sure that I keep church a priority. But still, I want to be better. Its exhausting hearing the voices in my head that tell me what I should have done different in a day (not literal voices...no need for concern). What I could have done better.
Day 11. Post a recipe.
I don't have a picture of this dish, but I LOVE IT!! Had I known last week that this would be a recipe I would post, I would have taken a picture of it then. However, maybe its a good thing I didn't know, because its not very pretty, lol.
Artichoke Dip
2 cans of artichoke hearts, drained and coursely chopped
1 cup of mayo
1 cup of grated parmesian/romano cheese
1/2 cup of freshly grated parmesian cheese
Garlic to taste (I usually put about 4 cloves pressed cloves in)
Pre-heat oven to 350. Mix ingrediants together and bake for about 35 minutes (should be slightly brown on top). Serve with Stoned Wheat Thins and voila!
I know it doesn't sound good...especially if you are like me and are not a fan of mayo. However, I love, love, love this dish!
Day 10. What is Jesus teaching you as a wife, mom, or friend? (Or just woman in general?)
I feel like I am constantly in pursuit of being forgiving. It's one of my many shortcomings, lol. I pray about it, and try to be conscious of it. However, every time I'm faced with the people who I feel have some how hurt me, I have a hard time letting it go. So, I just try to remember what Jesus has done for all of us and still does for all of us. If he can forgive me of the sins I have committed against him, other people, myself...how can I not forgive someone else of something much more insignificant?
Second regular post in one day.
It's 12:07 a.m. I have to be at the hospital in 6 hours. I cannot sleep. I'm so nervous. I know that whatever is meant to happen will happen and that I just need to leave it in God's hands, but I'm having a hard time calming myself down. I'm worried that I made the wrong decision to let them induce me before 40 weeks. You know, like I'm messing with nature. I'm also worried about how the contractions will feel with Pitocin. I know they are suppose to be more intense. I just wonder if I can handle them without medication. It was bad enough when laboring with Audra without the Pitocin and by the end of that, I would have married someone if they would have given me an epidural, lol (Im glad I didn't get one though). I just don't want labor to be slowed any if I cant take the pitocin contractions and end up with the epidural. There's no sense in worrying...I really just need to pray...
Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. Philippians 4: 6
I am also finding myself kind of sad at this moment. I don't know what has gotten into me. I went to the store this evening to pick up a few things for Audra for the next couple of days. Everytime I thought of her, I would tear up...maybe even cry a little. I can't explain it, really. I just love her so much. I think I'm a little sad to know that in a few short hours, it will never be just the three of us again. Not that Im not happy to introduce this little boy into our family, but I guess I have just so enjoyed directing all of my attention to her over the past 2+ years, its hard to imagine dividing that attention. Its a very hard feeling to describe.
Thanks for reading.
Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. Philippians 4: 6
I am also finding myself kind of sad at this moment. I don't know what has gotten into me. I went to the store this evening to pick up a few things for Audra for the next couple of days. Everytime I thought of her, I would tear up...maybe even cry a little. I can't explain it, really. I just love her so much. I think I'm a little sad to know that in a few short hours, it will never be just the three of us again. Not that Im not happy to introduce this little boy into our family, but I guess I have just so enjoyed directing all of my attention to her over the past 2+ years, its hard to imagine dividing that attention. Its a very hard feeling to describe.
Thanks for reading.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Induction Day!!
Is tomorrow! I can't believe it. So much has happened this past week that it hadn't really hit me until today. I found out last Thursday that I would be induced tomorrow. It's weird to be able to plan around it. I just hope that it goes as smoothly as my first labor and delivery did.
Audra is on the mend. She is still much sicker than I would have hoped at this point, but Im thankful that shes getting better and that I didn't have the baby during the worst of it. We have been sleeping on the couch for the past 6 days and really, most of our time has been spent there even when not sleeping. She hasn't really wanted to do anything. She just started eating and smiling again yesterday. So that's a good sign. Its confusing though. Last night she was the happiest I have seen her in the past week...laughing, playing peek-a-boo, 'cleaning', etc. Then today, shes back to the crying fits and just laying around. I suppose its normal, but I just don't know. I just hope tomorrow is the best day so far and that Nicks mom and dad don't have a horrible day with her...and that she isn't too distraught over not being with us. Hopefully I will have Elijah by early evening and Nick can just go back home and be with Audra for the remainder of the evening. That's what I keep praying. And for the record...there are some amazing drugs that they can give kids to help them when they are sick and Im thankful for that, but some of them do weird/scary things to them. At one point we had Audra on a mix of Albuterol Nebulizers and Prednisone...wow, she turned into the most bizarre creature. It was kind of scary really. She became combative and confused. Extremely agitated. Then that night, she had the worst night terrors. She would wake up screaming and there was NOTHING I could do to calm her down. It was like she didnt recognize me. She would try to get away from me and would hit me and just scream. Then there were other points where she would just wake up and try to crawl right off of the couch and the minute I would touch her, she would scream. It was awful. Soooo...no more nebulizer. Just the Prednisone. Instead, we have been doing 'saunas'. Just crank the water in the shower and sit in the bathroom with her for 10-15 minutes. It really does help with the cough. She doesn't particularly like it, but I don't like her to walk around not knowing who I am or where she is. *Sigh*
I have also come down with the sickness over the past couple of days =( . I think its exactly what Audra has/had. Went to the walk-in clinic yesterday because I just couldn't take the pain in my face any longer. They prescribed some antibiotics and a decongestant. I do feel a little better already. Hopefully even better by tomorrow. Although even with the sickness, as long as I have a healthy baby by the end of the day, I doubt much could rain on my parade =) . I can't wait to see his little face!!! I want to smell him, look at him, hold him on my chest....Im so EXCITED!!
Audra is on the mend. She is still much sicker than I would have hoped at this point, but Im thankful that shes getting better and that I didn't have the baby during the worst of it. We have been sleeping on the couch for the past 6 days and really, most of our time has been spent there even when not sleeping. She hasn't really wanted to do anything. She just started eating and smiling again yesterday. So that's a good sign. Its confusing though. Last night she was the happiest I have seen her in the past week...laughing, playing peek-a-boo, 'cleaning', etc. Then today, shes back to the crying fits and just laying around. I suppose its normal, but I just don't know. I just hope tomorrow is the best day so far and that Nicks mom and dad don't have a horrible day with her...and that she isn't too distraught over not being with us. Hopefully I will have Elijah by early evening and Nick can just go back home and be with Audra for the remainder of the evening. That's what I keep praying. And for the record...there are some amazing drugs that they can give kids to help them when they are sick and Im thankful for that, but some of them do weird/scary things to them. At one point we had Audra on a mix of Albuterol Nebulizers and Prednisone...wow, she turned into the most bizarre creature. It was kind of scary really. She became combative and confused. Extremely agitated. Then that night, she had the worst night terrors. She would wake up screaming and there was NOTHING I could do to calm her down. It was like she didnt recognize me. She would try to get away from me and would hit me and just scream. Then there were other points where she would just wake up and try to crawl right off of the couch and the minute I would touch her, she would scream. It was awful. Soooo...no more nebulizer. Just the Prednisone. Instead, we have been doing 'saunas'. Just crank the water in the shower and sit in the bathroom with her for 10-15 minutes. It really does help with the cough. She doesn't particularly like it, but I don't like her to walk around not knowing who I am or where she is. *Sigh*
I have also come down with the sickness over the past couple of days =( . I think its exactly what Audra has/had. Went to the walk-in clinic yesterday because I just couldn't take the pain in my face any longer. They prescribed some antibiotics and a decongestant. I do feel a little better already. Hopefully even better by tomorrow. Although even with the sickness, as long as I have a healthy baby by the end of the day, I doubt much could rain on my parade =) . I can't wait to see his little face!!! I want to smell him, look at him, hold him on my chest....Im so EXCITED!!
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