One Week

A week in photos (not nearly as many as there should be--we need Grandma Cathy here to document everything!): 

Home from the hospital!  Seth is so excited for baby Catherine to play cars with him.

Catherine with the car Seth deigned to share with her (this is a big deal--he shares cars with NO ONE).

Lest you think he's being an angel--this tantrum was photographed just minutes after the car sharing.

We've seen lots of these lately.

An exciting day to come home--there were five or six firetrucks in our cul-de-sac putting out a fire in the woods behind our house.  Seth was thrilled.  We're assuming it was started by some downed powerlines--there was some crazy wind that night that knocked our power out a few times.  Thank heaven it always came back on--I was having visions of trying to nurse a newborn by flashlight...

Holding 'Baby Crafrin' as he calls her--he LOVES to hold her, but only for about 20 seconds.

I'm almost positive that she'll be just as pasty white as he is in a few months...

And now the one-week-old photo shoot:

Still not sure if those eyes are going to be blue or something else...

A happy girl

Chewing on her blanket.  Or hands.  Basically anything that touches her face.

It's been a week already.  It's gone by quickly, but that may be because I know Jon is going back to work on Monday (curse the Army for offering compensation for unused sick leave at retirement--otherwise he would have taken the full two weeks like he did with Seth).

Things are going pretty well.  Better than I expected (I tend to expect the worse so that I'll be pleasantly surprised).  Catherine is a very good natured baby--the only times I've heard her cry are when she wakes up super hungry--which is rare, I'm still waking her up half the time--and when she has tummy trouble.  But those are more like little squawks.  The only time we REALLY hear her cry is when she's getting her diaper changed.  Cold hands+cold wet wipes = one mad baby girl.

She nurses every three hours and can go longer at night.  This is a total dream compared to Seth's two hour schedule.  Of course, I realize this could change quickly once she gets more alert, but for now we're good.

And speaking of alert, apparently our kids are just going to be extra alert.  None of this newborn 'sleep all the time' stuff--she loves to just look around.  Sounds great, but she's easily overstimulated.  Any light, noise, movement while she's trying to settle down and she's bright-eyed again (ask poor Krystal who tried to take newborn pictures yesterday--in three hours Catherine fell into a deep sleep...never).  At night it's sometimes 90 minutes before I can get her settled down.  And, of course, she has to nurse or pacifier her way to sleep.  Alert suckers--those are our kids.

Seth has done pretty well.  He's more whiny than usual (I've heard "Mommy" about 25 times in the past 5 minutes).  I think it will be hard when Jon goes back to work since I'm still not up for taking him to run around.  But luckily any resentment seems to be toward his parents--he LOVES Catherine, loves snuggling with her, loves holding her, loves picking out her outfits and watching her get her diaper changed.  Hopefully this will last.

As for me...I'm tired, I still have to sit on my Boppy (and I'm on constant pain medication--just Tylenol and ibuprofen, they didn't give me any drugs this time), and I've gone through an entire box of nursing pads since Sunday.  That about covers it.  I'm hoping by next week that the last two issues will be mostly resolved.  I'm expecting the tiredness to last for quite awhile.  ;)

The days are long but the weeks are fast...

Birth Story

All brother-in-laws and parties uninterested in hearing lots of birth details can feel free to pass on this one.

As for my firm resolve that we were going to wait until she came naturally (or they forced induction at 42 weeks), let's just say that I couldn't handle it emotionally.  By the time I had my doctor's appointment Thursday (the 17th) morning, I was kind of a mess.  I kept thinking something was wrong with my body, or wrong with her, even though logically I knew everything was fine.  But the thought of waiting another week was too much for me.

My doctor surprised me by scheduling an induction for the next morning.  I was planning on waiting until Monday, but he wanted me to work with one of the doctors I was more familiar with (they added two new OBs in January).  So Friday at 8:30 I was going to have this baby!

During my appointment I was dilated to a 3-4.  He went ahead and stripped my membranes, hoping to trigger labor naturally (definitely not a pleasant sensation, but not nearly as painful as I expected).  He told me to walk a lot to keep things going, then told me I'd probably be in labor that night.  Either way, the end was in sight!

So Seth and I went straight to the mall and walked and walked.  Then I coerced him into lunch at Red Robin (he didn't even drink his milkshake--he was tired).  Of course, by the time we got home he was TOO tired to nap, so we met Dawn and her boys at the playground.  By this point I was cramping, but I only noticed contractions when I was sitting down.  I figured nothing was going to happen.

Around 9:30 pm Jon & I headed upstairs to get ready for bed.  That's when I noticed things were happening. Contractions were every four minutes, lasting one minute.  They weren't painful, but I couldn't ignore them either.  Jon was all ready to head for the hospital, but I wanted to wait until things progressed more.

Ultimately, we decided to just go.  Mostly it was a product of having to call a babysitter for Seth.  Would you rather get a call at 1am or 4am?  Poor Caitlin--she showed up at 1 am and Seth woke her up at 7am (plus Jon's alarm had her up at 6am).

We arrived around 2am and they put us straight into a room.  I guess they figured I was staying either way--no point in sending me home just to come back in 6 hours.  And I was sure they would have sent me home otherwise--mostly because I was still a 3-4 when they checked me (at first she said 2 and I almost cried.  Then she had another nurse check and she said 3-4).

I didn't want to get an epidural until I absolutely needed it since I know they tend to slow things down.  So I sat and read (War and Peace) and watched the stupid machine, hoping the contractions would pick up.  Otherwise, they would be inducing me.  I really, really wanted her to come on her own!

Finally, at 3:30, the contractions started to get more intense.  I had to stop reading and start breathing though them.  Jon would wake up and check on me every once in awhile, but I'm like my mom and prefer to just be left alone while I labor.

At 6:30 they checked me again and I was at a 6.  I was also definitely ready for an epidural.  Should have asked earlier--it was 7:45 by the time I got it, 8 am by the time it kicked in (at this point the doctor also broke my water to help speed things up).

Except, once again, it didn't work.  At least this time I was halfway expecting it.  When the first contraction hit and there was an enormous pressure in my right hip, my first thought was, 'Here we go again!'  Last time the epidural cut out all the pain from the contractions, but none of the pain from my back labor (which was AGONIZING).  This time I got half and half--felt nothing on the left, felt EVERYTHING on the right.  The poor nurse tried to have me lay on my right side to try to get some medicine to flow down there, but laying on my right side made the baby's heartbeat go crazy, so there was none of that.

I was just grateful that at least half the pain was gone (especially half the back labor--that is a KILLER).  The next hour and a half was spent in active labor--mostly I remember a lot of rocking, shaking, and sweating.  So much fun.  A little after 9 am the nurse was about to send for the anesthesiologist again, but decided to check me first.  To my surprise, I was fully dilated and effaced!

The doctor got there around 9:30 and I got to start pushing.  With Seth, the epidural finally started working just before I had to push.  I was SO grateful, but I didn't feel a thing.  They watched the monitor and told me when to push.

This time I could feel it (at least on the right side), and I actually liked it better this way.  I think it helped me push better since I could feel the contractions.  Not that I enjoyed feeling the pain, but at least I was pushing!  It was almost over!

It was a little frustrating in that (just like with Seth) they kept saying, "She's almost here!  Just a few more pushes!" and then she still wasn't out.  But I only had to push for 25 minutes instead of 90 with Seth!  And guess what?  She was sunny-side up.  I'm two for two.  Which explains the on-again, off-again labor, the epidural that didn't work, and why it took so long to push her out.  Oh, and why I tore so much.  Ouch, ouch, ouch.  My next one better come out the right way or we may not be having more children.

They let me hold her right after I delivered her, which I LOVED.  They took Seth right away to weigh and measure.  Jon and I were completely perplexed by her wide nose--it didn't look a thing like either of ours!  (Turns out it was just smashed flat--it looks perfectly normal now).

She has been a lovely baby.  Her days and nights are a bit mixed up, so she'll have these long alert periods at 2 am and then sleep through her 9am feeding, but that will sort itself out eventually.  She rarely cries, and she loves to just sit in our arms and look around.  She has a strong sucking reflex (like her brother) which means she's a fantastic nurser, but it also means she wants to suck to fall asleep.  Most of the time I'm fine letting her nurse to sleep, but I have given in and let her have a pacifier a few times (don't hate me, Dawn! jk).  Maybe she'll end up being a thumb sucker...

She had her first doctor's appointment yesterday and she completely astounded the doctor--all she could say was, "She's perfect!"  She left the hospital at 7 pounds even and was 7lbs. 5 oz. by Tuesday (told you she could nurse--most babies LOSE weight).  My favorite part was when the doctor skipped the PKU test--"Even in this yellow room against your green shirt, she still has a perfect complexion."  Seth had such bad bruising that he was jaundiced--we did the heel prick three or four times with him.  So grateful she only had to do it once (in the hospital).

Besides the fact that I can barely sit down (I'm currently seated on my Boppy), everything is going great.  Things have been so much easier--nursing, adjusting to her schedule, etc.  I know what to expect, so I'm more patient.  I know it gets easier, so I can live with the craziness.  Wish I had been this way with Seth!

Speaking of Seth--he's been pretty good.  He's shown absolutely no resentment.  In fact, he'll run up and snuggle with her (while I defend her from being crushed).  He loves to watch her get her diaper changed, and he's pretty good about letting me read to him while I nurse.  But then again, Jon is off work and is on entertainment duty.  They're currently outside in the snow, which is where I'd like to be if I could walk...  Our biggest complaint is that he's more whiny and contrary than usual.  Part of this is his schedule is off (Catherine woke him up at 6 am screaming through a diaper change), but we realize that part of it is just adjusting to a new reality.  We're trying our best to be patient with him, and the 'big brother' gifts from Grandma Cathy are a huge help--a train set and a trike!

Life is good.  I'm so glad she's here and that everything is good with her.  We've been so spoiled with meals and friends helping us with Seth--I feel really blessed right now.

Now off to sneak in a shower before it's feeding time again!

Sara Catherine

She's here!  We went into the hospital early yesterday morning (2 am) because I was having contractions.  And at 9:55 am, at 41 weeks, Sara Catherine made her appearance--no need for the scheduled induction, she came all on her own!

7 lbs. 1 oz. 20 1/4 inches at one week late

(Seth was 6 lbs. 15 oz. and 20 1/2 inches long at 10 days early)

No idea where that nose came from.  Her eyes are much darker than Seth's, and her hair isn't as red as his was at birth.  We can definitely tell they're siblings, though!

Based on her measurements, it looks like I was probably right about the due date being off a week or so.  Which makes me feel a little better about having to wait so long.  She was also facing the wrong way (sunny side up) like Seth, which explains the on-again-off-again labor.  And also why the epidural didn't work AGAIN.  More details later.

So far she's a very content little girl.  She's nursing like a pro (ALL NIGHT LONG) and loves to be held.  My only complaint is that she has her days and nights mixed up.  Neither of us got much sleep last night...

Not going to complain too much about this picture--guess not pushing for 90 minutes means your face doesn't swell as much!

Jon is a very happy daddy, who is actually spending most of his time with Seth.  I'm excited to go home so we can actually all be together.

Seth meeting Catherine.  He's kind of intrigued, but more intrigued by the buttons on my bed (he called the nurse) and walking the halls with Jon to 'see the doctors'.

Oh, and playing with the cars that Catherine 'gave' him.  Because heaven knows this kid needs MORE Matchbox cars...but nothing else makes his face light up like 'cahs'.

Our new little family (see, there's the swelling!)

Thoughts at 40 Weeks (minus a day)

Well, tomorrow's the official due date, and I think I can safely say that it will come and go without a baby making an appearance.  It's weird to be here--since Seth came so early, I was SURE she would follow suit.  But consistency and pregnancy rarely go together.  And so, I sit here, wondering if these cramps are anything more than a result of the greasy sandwich I had for lunch, and I think...

*At my appointment today I was dilated to almost a 3 and effacing.  I want to think this is a good sign, since I went into the hospital with Seth at a 3 (and then was forced to walk for an hour to prove I was really in labor.  I was).  But this pregnancy is COMPLETELY different from Seth's, so I'm not betting on anything.

*At least I'm not getting more stretch marks.  I got more than my fair share with Seth, so this is a blessing.  Baby, please don't stay in another two weeks just to make sure you leave your own indelible marks on my body...

*Is the fact that Seth is getting up earlier and earlier every day a sign of impending labor?  How about an increased appetite?  Extreme exhaustion?  Yep--pretty much everything is analyzed and over-analyzed as a sign of imminent labor.

*Did you know that babies can drop, and then un-drop?  Neither did I.  She dropped at 35 weeks, gave me three weeks of false labor, then un-dropped herself in a fantastic tumbling performance one night.  All the pregnancy guides say that second babies won't drop until labor is 'imminent'.  Apparently 'imminent' means 'anytime in the next week, or three', since she dropped AGAIN last week, and...nothing.

*I ran out of heartburn medicine on Monday.  I bought more on Tuesday as a signal that I'm willing to wait as long as necessary for this baby to show up.  But I'm really hoping to not have to open it...

*Everyone asks me how I'm feeling using that tone of voice that implies that I'm in constant pain.  Well, ladies and gentlemen, I feel great!  I'm sleeping great, I have no back pain, I'm having no false labor.  Yes, I'm tired. Yes, after a two-hour shopping trip I feel like I have a bowling ball in my pelvis.  But I really can't complain (which makes me frustrated sometimes--if I felt terrible would that mean she's closer to coming?).

*My doctor asked me today if I wanted to be induced.  "It would be really easy to set that up for you."  But Jon & I talked last night and decided that if she needs the extra time, then she can have it.  We'll go as long as they'll let me (probably 42 weeks) before inducing.

*Why wait?  Probably the biggest reason is the ultrasound.  At 20 weeks she was only measuring 18.  Granted, that's a fairly standard deviation for an ultrasound, but other things were off, too.  My pregnancy test wouldn't show a positive until a week after it should have (and then it was faint).  Morning sickness started later than with Seth.  So what if she really is only 38 weeks right now?  Better to give her a chance to come on her own than to force her out early.

*Baby, if I'm willing to wait until you're ready, you'd better not be 10 pounds.  That would just be cruel.

40+ weeks, here I come!

Keeping Busy

We've decided that expecting a baby in the early part of the year is the way to go.  From Halloween to New Year's, you're just too busy with other things to spend much time thinking about the baby.

But now the holidays are done.  And the waiting is here.

It's been worse than I thought, mostly because she's been obnoxiously trying to come (and then not, and then over and over and over again) since about 35 weeks.  Actually, I feel like I was closer to delivery at 35 weeks than I am now, at 39.  Go figure.

Jon thought she'd be here January 21st (at 37 weeks--full term).  Mom Blood told me she would be a January baby.  And I thought she'd be here February 1st (ten days early--like Seth).  In a way it's nice to be past our artificial deadlines.  Babies don't care about deadlines anyway.  But then again, my mom & Marah are betting on February 5th and Jon has now told me, 'She's going to be late.'  Oh, and I guess there's the actual due date of February 11th.  So there--more deadlines.

I don't remember feeling like this with Seth.  But then again, Seth wasn't keeping me up until 3 am every other night (seriously--it's an established pattern) with contractions that turn out to be false in the end.  Thank heaven I can sneak in naps while Seth naps!

But until she shows up, we're keeping busy!  Here's what we've been up to:

January 8th--My baby shower!

Considering I had gone into the hospital the evening before with contractions (and then was up all night with them), I was a little worried that I wouldn't make it to my own shower.  Thankfully, I did, and I think I did pretty well at hiding the exhaustion.

I had SO MUCH FUN.  I did have a shower with Seth, but it was sort of an odd situation--I had only been in the ward for a few months and didn't have very many close friends.  It ended up being lovely, but not quite what I had always pictured.  This shower was perfect--so many good friends, such AMAZING food, and, of course, adorable little girl gifts!

I owe this all to my friend Krystal, who insisted that I needed a shower (I was hesitant--does it look a little spoiled to have two baby showers?).  Throwing me a shower was probably the last thing she needed to do--she's got a toddler, a 4 month old, and is the YW President--but she swore up and down that she wanted to do this.  And I am so grateful she did!

Krystal & me

I do have pictures of everyone else who came, but I never know who is comfortable being pictured on a blog.  But it was so amazing--thank you, thank you!

Probably the biggest beneficiary of this end-of-pregnancy-waiting has been Seth.  Not only am I trying to keep busy, I'm also feeling guilty for completely altering his world here in a week or two.  Let's just say he's getting a lot more out of me than he usually does.

His favorite benefit?  Getting to go to 'the pumps' (what he calls inflatable bouncy places--you know, because of the blowers).

He was the happiest kid.  His favorite one had big, open areas to jump in, and balls to throw at his daddy.  I wanted to join in the fun, but the signs were pretty clear:

A closer view:

So I got to be the photographer, along with Aunt Lori--who features prominently in the Seth-spoiling that's been going on around here.  This is the ONLY picture I have of her--I had to put it up just to prove she was here.

She came for a quick weekend trip--just to see Seth (okay, maybe to see me & Jon, too).  Plus she was kind of crossing her fingers that baby girl would make her appearance.  But just about the time she was supposed to leave, she came down with pneumonia.  Poor thing was so sick and exhausted, and you'd better believe she got NO REST when she was out of her room.  Why?

"Aunt YOR-iiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!  Wanna play cars?"  

She was the best toy ever.  I kept telling him to let her rest, but she wanted to play (especially since 'play cars' means 'sit next to me while I play cars and refuse to let you touch any of them').

And so a quick weekend trip turned into two weeks of 'play cars' and 'I need a wet wipe' (don't ask--we are in a very weird phase right now).  I felt kind of bad--I knew she was really sick, but it was so nice to have her here!  I tried my best to have this baby for her, but nothing doing, darn it.

Of course, as soon as she made it home, they told her the pneumonia was still going strong and she would be on medical leave until mid-February.  She sent me a text from the doctor's office: "I should have stayed!!!"

I did manage to get Seth out of her hair for a little while.  Like when we went to ANOTHER bouncy place (this time with all his friends from church).  He is still talking about 'the pumps' and asking when we're going back...

And, of course, we played in the snow.  A lot.  Half the time he's begging to go outside.  The other half he'll shake his head and say, 'No.  It too cold.'

Yes, that is one of the hats I made in Nauvoo.  And yes, he has other, cuter hats, but he insists on wearing this one.

But don't think it's all fun and games for him.  We have to balance all the happiness with a little bit of torture.  Which is apparently what Seth thinks a haircut is.  How many haircuts has this boy had?  This was the WORST he's ever been.  He's still got some stray hairs that need trimmed, but if I even mention scissors he panics again...ridiculous...

And that's how you keep busy.  We're currently altering nesting projects (coming soon!) with playdates for Mommy & Seth.  Every time I schedule one, I not-so-secretly hope that I won't be able to make it because I'll be in labor.  But at least I have something to look forward to when nothing happens!

39 weeks today!