Grant- 11 Months Old

A little late posting his 11 month update, but I knew I wanted to squeeze it in before his big ONE year mark!!

What is Grant up to?

 

-Still not walking but cruising and pushing everything to help him walk.  He is an AWESOME climber though!!  He is getting more and more adventurous every day.  I am constantly finding him on top of things or in my cabinets.

 

-He loves to hide.  His newest things to hide in are window curtains and shower curtains.  He will throw anything over his face and "hide."

 

-He is eating table food, usually a bigger helping than me and NK. 

 

-Nursing in the morning and at night.  He occasionally nurses during the day, but in the last two weeks he has gotten a sippy cup with cow's milk at daycare instead of a bottle.  He likes his cows milk cold though.  He is showing no intentions of weaning his morning and night time feedings, and that's ok with me.  At night, when I am getting ready to nurse him is will kick his feet and smile so big, he has also started smacking his lips (that could be a little embarrassing in public!) haha!

 

-Size 3 diapers, size 9-12 months clothes, size 6-12 month shoe.

 

-Grant is a mama's boy.  I usually end up holding him from the time I pick him up until bedtime at night.  He loves his daddy too.  He kicks his feet and gets so excited when Matt comes home.

 

-He wakes up around 6:30, nap around 9:30, another nap around 1, and bedtime around 8:30-9.  He sleeps through the night, for the most part.  Sometimes we have to go in there and give him his paci.  He also rarely cries when I lay him down at night, and if he does its only for a few minutes.

 

-We had a check up a few weeks ago and for the first time in months he hasn't had an ear infection!  yay!! we were thinking we might end up with tubes... but that is avoided- for now.  We are still going to the chiropractor once a week :)

 

-He loves tractors and has started pushing them around making tractor noises.

 

-He loves giving hugs and kisses.

 

-He is waving bye bye, hey, "talking" on the phone, saying mama and dada.

 

Grant also loves his bath.  He will barrel over the side of the tub when we are in the shower too!

 

 

Grant,

I can't believe this time last year I was in high gear preparing for the new addition to our family.  The last 11 months have made me feel so complete with you a part of our lives.  You are such a sweet, happy baby.  I love you and your sister more than I could ever put into words.  It makes me a little sad for you to be turning into a "toddler," but I am excited about watching you grow and learn.  I know you are going to be a busy, adventurous little boy!

 

Love you a bushel and a peck!

Mama

 

First big boy hair cut!! (2/20/2015)

 







Grant- 10 Months

 

 

 



Gracious, sweet baby boy is 10 months old now.  I honestly think I am having a harder time with him getting older because we aren't planning for another baby quite as soon.  Whereas with Norah Kate, I knew I wanted to get pregnant again shortly after she turned one.  I really think we will wait another 3-4 years.... Our life has been so crazy for the last 3 years, with me going back to school and all.  So I kinda want to just enjoy my two for a little while, pay off some bills, and gain some normalcy (what's that, right?).

But yay!! I am officially DONE with school!!!  I am certified and licensed as a Family Nurse Practitioner!! It's crazy (and Matt would kill me if he knew) but I have already been thinking of new things I can "study."  Haha!  I really am interesting in some holistic approaches with my practice as a nurse practitioner, but for now, I am done with "school."  Never done learning though....

Anyways... back to Grant.

He is FINALLY sleeping through the night.  And has been for about 3 week now.  I mean, it only took him 9 months (enter eye roll here...this may be the reason I want to wait 4 years for another one!  haha!).  I finally had to just let him cry.  I would go in and give him his paci and walk out.  It took about three nights. It was rough, but it was worth it.  So now, I feel like our WHOLE household is functioning better.

He is pulling up and cruising along furniture.  He can stand for like 2 seconds without holding on.  He can also "walk" while pushing his little walker/push toy he got for Christmas.  He still climbs on everything...

He is also INTO everything.  He tries to pull my socket covers off.  He tears into my cabinents.  He strings canned food goods and rice and boxes every where.  He is all into my pots, pans and Tupperware containers.  Sometimes I feel like I am cleaning up one of his messes and he takes off into the other room to create another one.

He is very determined.  He was after the sockets at my mama's house last weekend, and we kept pulling him away and telling him no.  He would go right back.  He finally got frustrated and "growled" at us.  He was telling us off in his own way.

He is very dramatic.  I can tell him no or take something from him and he throws his hand up over his head, or lays his head down and "sniffles."  It's quite pitiful.

He is still breastfeeding.  He nurses about 4 times a day.  I am having to supplement some when he takes bottles because I don't pump enough, but when he is home with me and nurses he seems content.

Grant loves food.  He has finally discovered eating.  He prefers tablefood and prefers feeding himself.



He takes two naps a day.  One in the morning and one after lunch.  Some days he just gets one if our schedules get off.

He LOVES NK.  He gets so excited when he sees her in the afternoons at school.  I usually let them play in the car for about 5 minutes or so when I pick them up before putting them in their seats.... they are both so happy to see each other.

He isn't too fond of the sippy cup, but I keep offering him one with water.  He does not like milk in it at all.

We are still having a terrible time with his ears.  We may end up with tubes....  He doesn't run fever with his infections though, and honestly doesn't even act like they bother him.... but every time we go for a well check, he has an infection.

He is in size 9-12 month clothes, size 3 diapers.  He is 27 1/2 inches long (6th percentile) and 17 lbs 13 oz (12th percentile).  So he is a little small, but I think he will catch up and grow.  It worries Matt, but I am very petite... I don't really know what he expects.  Haha!  I mean, it's not like my genes are going to create a basketball player or line backer.  He looks proportional... and doesn't look shrimpy to me. He has chunky cheek and rolls on his thighs.

Grant can wave hey and byebye.  He also uses that when he wants more food/nursey.  He babbles and says "bababa, dadada, mmmmm."  He will also squeal when we are eating and that is his way of wanting you to share.  He sticks his tongue out and also blows raspberries.

He has this sweet way of turning his head sideways when you are holding him to catch your eye/attention.  He also will snuggle his head against me in the sweetest way.  He also loves to touch my face (sometimes not so pleasantly stick his finger up my nose, haha!) when I am nursing him.

He loves balls, going to the chiropractor, anything that NK is playing with or has, swinging outside and his two papa's.  He also loves playing with his tractors.  He cries when his daddy leaves.

Grant,
You have stolen my heart, sweet boy.  I never imagined I could love someone as much as I love your sister, but I sure do.  You have the sweetest, calmest demeanor already.  You are growing and learning so fast, almost too fast.  I love you so very much and can't even imagine my life without you and your sister in it.

I love you a bushel and a peck!
Mama



Grant 3 Months Old



So, this a couple weeks late, but my sweet baby boy has turned 3 months old!!

It continues to amaze me how much babies change from birth in just a matter of months.  They get so much more social, stronger, and just overall BIGGER.

We took Grant to meet a new playmate that was born this week and I was reminded how quickly they grow.  Grant was that small just a few weeks ago!! Crazy!  Now he looks huge.

 

 



What are we up to?

 

Wearing size 2 diapers and 3 month size clothes (and filling them out!!)

Rolling on to his side (not completely over yet, and I am ok with that!)

Nursing every 3 hours.

Two to three naps a day, depending on how quiet it is.  Sometimes they end up being short cat naps.

Sleeping from 8pm to somewhere between 2 or 4am then nursing and going right back to sleep.

Smiling, laughing, cooing

Screaming in our carseat

Sleeping in our swing at night

Loving his sister, all she has to do is talk to him and he grins.

Sucking your thumb/fingers.  You change it up.

 

What Mama loves most about me?

 

Your sweaty little frog feet

You big 'ole smile and dimples

That sweet little giggle

Your roly poly legs!

 

How have my looks changed?

 

Your eyes are a greenish/grayish brown.  I have no idea what color they are gonna end up.  Brown like Mama's or green like sisters?

You are still tan as can be.  Gonna have olive skin like Mama.

You are thickening up big time!  I can't wait to see how much you weigh!  You were 12lbs 4oz at your 2 month check up (a month ago!)  I am guessing about 15lbs now.

You have lost a whole lot of hair, but what's there is still dark.

 

This boy nurses like a champ and my milk supply is holding up great since starting school/work/clinicals.  I nurse him every three hours and he takes 4 ounce bottles every 3 hours at the baby sitter.  She said she could set her clock by him.

 

He started sleeping in his swing "on accident."  I had him sleeping in a cradle thing by our bed, but he would only sleep for 3 hours at a time.  Well, when I started clinicals life was pretty chaotic.  So I put him in his swing one night while I was packing up for the next day and he fell asleep (around 8pm).  I hated to move him, so I just let him sleep.  He slept until 2am then when right back to sleep after nursing! Heck yeah for a 6 hour stretch!  Needless to say, that is where he goes to bed now.  I will break bad habits later, but Mama is just too tired to fight it right now.  He gets a bath around 7-7:30 pm them I nurse him and we usually falls asleep around 8-8:30 in his swing.  He sometimes will sleep until 4am!  Everyone once in a while though we have weird nights where he and NK wake up off and on all night (fortunately they are few and far between).  He has slept completely through the night (I think it was like 10pm-8am) only once.

 

 

As a reminder to myself for the next baby, Grant formed his on little schedule on his own around 10 weeks old.  He started getting sleepy at 8 and started sleeping in his swing for good stretches around this time.

 

He laughed (like a big belly laugh) out loud for the first time right around third month birthday.

 

He is getting a lot stronger on tummy time and can hold his head up really good, but doesn't like this for very long.

 

 

Grant,

Mama and Daddy love you so very much sweet boy.  You are just as amazing as your sister.  You two are my whole heart, and I thank God so much for my two little blessing.  I feel bad sometimes because life is so chaotic right now, that you and your sister are on this crazy rollercoaster ride.  But just know that I am going back to school now to try and make things better for you both.  Only a few more months, Buddy, and it will be better.  You are such a "go with the flow" baby and are so laid back and content (except in your carseat) and I tell people all the time that I don't know how I got so lucky with you and your sister. Now, stop growing so fast and stay my baby boy forever!

 

Love you a bushel and a peck!

Mama





Grant- 2 Months Old

Grant is 2 months old!!  This baby boy is too sweet and too cute!



It amazes me how he grows and changes every day.  He is becoming very alert, especially in the mornings and late afternoons... he will just smile, coo and kick his feet.  He moves his little mouth around like he is trying so hard to talk.

Grant's first tractor ride!



When he was about 3 weeks old until he was 7 weeks old we had a little rough time in the evenings where he was fussy and just not content no matter where or what I was doing with him.  I thought it was a touch of colic, because it was most nights of the week and would last for about 3 hours.  I tried multiple things: babywearing (carrying him in his little carrier on my), lavender essential oil, mylicon drops, Gripe Water, baby massage, and the 5 S's (swish, suck, stomach/side, shush, and swaddle).


The lavender oil, baby massage and 5 S's seemed to be the most calming for him.  I think ours maybe contributed to a little "fourth trimester."  I was reading where babies can often act "colicky" because it is very disorienting for them to be out of the womb where it is dark, swaying, warm, and special noises.

He quickly adjusted though, but man that was a trying couple of weeks because NK was cutting a few teeth during this time and was extra clingy.  There were honestly some evenings when I would just be in tears by the time Matt got home to help me with them (which he was planting/transplanting tobacco during this time so if was often 9-10 at night!!)





NK thought Grant needed decorating with some 'tickers!



We made it through that time and NK is adjusting better and most importantly I am adjusting better.  Poor little Grant- he probably thought his Mama had lost it there for a little while.

Grant still isn't sleeping through the night.  Last Saturday he gave me the longest stretch which was from 11-5:35!  That was impressive.  He will at least fall asleep at 8:30-9 then wake up to eat again around 10:30-11 and then sleep until 3:30.  BUT he then wakes up again at 5:30-6.  I would love to either get a longer stretch at the beginning or skip that 5:30 feeding.  Hopefully soon :) 
He is still sleeping in his monkey cradle beside our bed.  I usually put him in his crib to sleep at 8:30 or so and he takes a short nap, but he don't sleep long in there so I am letting him sleep in the cradle (ensures longer sleep for us all... I just don't have the energy right now to fight it).  He also may or may not end up in the bed with me during some part of the night (I honestly try not to!)  I go back to work next Tuesday so I am hoping for better nights soon!

He nurses about every 3 hours during the day and is still only nursing on one side at a time.  He takes a bottle several times a week and does great with it.  (Him and NK just started going to the babysitter last week to adjust before I go to work, so he is taking bottles a little more).

He started smiling a lot about 2 weeks ago and it is SO sweet.  His whole face lights up.

Grant has also learned to pitch a fit...he started when he was colicky.  I mean he would scream so hard and loud he would turn almost purple and gag and cough.  He also gets sweated down... poor baby.  I hate when he does it, but sometimes I can't get to him right away (i.e. when bathing NK) so he just cries it out a little.

He loves his swing and laying on the floor looking a ceiling fan.  I put him on his tummy some, but he don't like it for long.

He also likes to be held up on my chest and carried against my chest in his carrier.  I have a Baby K'tan carrier and he goes to sleep in it every time.  Babywearing is definitely the way to go with baby #2!

For the most part Grant is a mellow baby... other than when he was colicky, he is pretty content any way/where I have him.

He still isn't crazy about a paci but he will take one. He also sleeps less/lighter than I remember NK doing.

He is filling out 3 month size clothes and I am about to switch to size 2 diapers when we finish this pack of size 1's.  He is growing, growing, growing!

Also, just a note to my future self... don't stress about a schedule.  I started trying to get Grant on one when he was about a month old and it was a disaster (it did nothing but stress us all out).  He is slowly forming his own schedule, and it is working out great!

7:30- wake up, nurse, play on floor
8:30- get in swing for nap
10:00-nurse then nap again
12-1- nurse and play for about 30 minutes, then nap
3-nurse, he is getting to where is stays awake some days from now until bedtime other than cat naps and sometimes he sleeps hard... depending on his mood.
6-nurse then play in bouncy seat while Mama cooks and me and NK eat supper
7-bathtime then settle down for bed
8-nurse and rock for bed
8:30-lay down in crib for bedtime.

Grant,
You are growing up so fast sweet boy... again reminding me how precious this time is.  I love you so, so much and pray daily that I am a good enough Mama for you and Norah Kate.  I pray for God to guide me to teach you and  your sister the right things and to most importantly show you the love I have for you both.  Hang in there with us, Buddy, Mama is still learning how to be a Mama.  You two are my whole world and my whole heart!  I love you so much already.

Love,
Mama 

 
 

 

 

 

 

Grant- One Month Old

I can't believe my sweet baby boy is already a month old!  At least I was forewarned with Norah Kate how quickly time goes by when they are babies.  I was telling a friend of mine how it is so sad that it goes by so fast, even though you are looking forward to more sleep at night, a healed body, a more rested mind, and a glimmer of a routine, the first few weeks are SO precious and the babies change drastically through that first month!



Coming home from the hospital (1 day old)

Grant is a great baby!  Really, I mean, if I knew it was gonna be this easy the second go around I wouldn't have been so nervous.  Of course, there is very little sleep and a lot of eating going on around my house, there is no sign of a routine even in sight, and we have our moments of exhaustion, frustration, and desperation, but overall it has been much easier (for me anyways) this time.

I had a terrible time with my hormones after Norah Kate, I mean, those baby blues made me slap crazy, so I terrified this time that they would come back or be worse.  I honestly don't think I have even had a touch of them.  I have only had a few moments of tearfulness or moodiness.  It was actually weird/scary how GOOD I felt after I had him.  I was so happy and had energy and my body felt great (my body appreciated 7lbs of baby SO MUCH BETTER than almost 9lbs of baby with NK, I have healed faster/easier.  Heck, I was cleaning house when he was days old, walking when he was a week old and went for my first "run" at 2 weeks).  I felt so much contentment and love towards my babies.  I kept waiting for those "blues" to hit, but fortunately they never did!!

Now, don't let me paint this beautiful picture of motherhood with an infant and a 2 year old.  I have struggled keeping up with both of them because a lot of time Norah Kate gets a little jealous (she is still a baby after all, and for those that know about mine and her relationship she is very close to her mommy).  I try to spend time with her when he is napping or content, but usually she don't want anything to do with me until he is crying or hungry or needing something. I get overwhelmed sometimes when they both need me at the same time.  And bedtime around this household... holy cow... I just hang on tight and pray fervently until they are both asleep.  A lot of times I am wishing I had a nerve pill and a glass of wine to help me through those crazy hours.

I told my mama the other day that bedtime around here feels like a marathon.  That I usually want to quit, but I can't, I have to keep going and that I am trying to beat my "time" from the night before.  Or at least try to get it to go "smoother."  Ha!  I am hoping that with time we get more of a routine down. 

Also, it hasn't helped matters that for the last two to three weeks my husband has been transplanting tobacco, so bless him, he has left the house around 6:30 and not been home until well after bedtime (9:30-10).  Which means I have been manning this ship all by my lonesome.  He has been home this week and it has been WONDERFUL!!  I don't see how single mamas do it.  I dread the summer months when he gets real busy again.

Back to Big Boy Grant.

Eating:

He is eating wonderfully!  He treats his mama like an all day, all you can eat buffet.  His eating habits are still unpredictable.  Sometimes he will go 3 hours without eating, then he will nurse every hour for 3 hours off and on, basically though he eats around 10-12 times a day.  I just nurse on demand regardless of if it has been 30 minutes or 2 hours... just when he wakes up and acts hungry.  I am not complaining though because I haven't gone through any latch issues, rejecting issues, etc like I did with Norah Kate.  No sir, he nurses like a champ.  You can tell it too in his clothes.  Some of his newborn stuff is too tight and we outgrew newborn diapers when he was a little over 2 weeks old.  He can wear a few of his 0-3 month clothes but they are long.

It's funny because I bought nipple shields, manual pumps, bottles, etc in case I had all the issues I did with NK, but haven't needed any of that!  I have used the pump though, only to relieve some engorgement, and I just introduced a bottle last week.  He takes a bottle good (3 oz, but I can't tell if it satisfies him or not because I usually end up nursing him again within an hour).  So far he takes a NUK, Avent, and Medela bottles/nipples without any trouble.  He is not a big fan of a paci right now either.  He gags and spits it out.  Poor thing has a very sensitive gag reflex.

Grant lost down to 6lbs 11oz right before we left the hospital that Friday, but he had gained back to birth weight (7lbs 1oz) by Monday when I had to take him for a weight and bilirubin check.  He was slightly jaundiced, but nothing requiring a hospital readmission.  We had to go back to the doctor for another weight check and check up the following Monday and he weight 7lbs 13 oz.  They told me then that one of his lab results came back abnormal from his PKU/metabolic screen so we had to have more blood drawn but everything came back perfectly normal after that :)

At our 1st doctors visit (4 days old)

I have weighed him at home and he weighs about 9.5 lbs according to my scales... We don't go back to the doctor until May 2nd so I am curious to see how much he has gained.

Sleep:
Sleep?  What's that?  Routine?  What?!
Right now, its sleep when we can, where we can, for as long as we can.  Ha!

Usually I start winding the household down at around 5:30-6 with supper for NK and a bath for Grant.  Grant usually nurses and then FIGHTS sleep.  I mean, that boy, he will fall asleep for about 10 minutes and just when I lay him down he starts fussing.  Usually its about 9-9:30 before we are all asleep for a good stretch.  I haven't really even tried to establish a routine until the last week or so because we were all just figuring things out. (Which of course that first week, before he became alert, was a piece of cake because I could just nurse him and put him down wherever and he would sleep... now that he is more alert it's a little more difficult) It would probably run a little smoother if I could rock him longer or if it were more quiet, but with a 2 year old running around who needs to eat, get a bath, and trying to settle herself down as well, it just ain't happening.

Sleeping in the cradle/rocker

Also, he doesn't like sleeping flat.  When I had him in the basinet flat he was up almost every hour at night. Whew, talk about exhausting.  So I borrowed the SnugAMonkey cradle rocker thing from my sister in law and that is where we start out the night.  Then we sleep in the recliner for a little bit because I fall asleep while nursing him, then we move to the swing or couch in the living room.  Crazy right?  It will get better.

He has just starting giving me 3-4 hour stretches some nights though, then we will have some nights were we are up every 2 hours.  This too will get better.  I know he will sleep through the night eventually :)  For now, I will be grateful for those 3-4 hours of sleep I get at a time!

(I think that's why it might be easier the second time- because you are prepared, you know that the sleepless nights will end, that tomorrow is a new day, that this time passes quickly, that it is okay to answer the door for your neighbor in your pjs at 2pm, it is all ok.  This is normal, for now.)

Personality
He has started to act like he notices me when I pick him up or walk in front of him.  His expression changes and I have just started getting a slight smile from him.

He isn't too crazy about tummy time, but we are working on it.

He will just sit and stare at NK when I have him on the floor.  She entertains him and I know he will enjoy watching her even more as he grows.

Grant is developing a temper.  He don't cry much, but when he does he will get sweated down and almost turn purple from holding his breath while crying.  He might just be a spit fire like his sister.

Things he likes
The swing
Being worn in the Baby K'tan baby carrier (I have started "wearing" him so that maybe he will like being in the carrier more than NK, it sure will make housework/cooking/taking care of NK easier.  So far he likes it)
Laying on mommy's chest (and I love letting him snuggle there!)
Nursie (Matt's name he gave feeding/eating time when I had NK)
Riding in the car
Sleeping with mommy (while I do not agree with letting them sleep in the bed with you while they are super little, there have been several instances where I have fallen asleep nursing him in the bed or on the couch and he sleep SO good while he is next to me... so I can see where it is tempting just to let them sleep in the bed with you.  It scares me though, because I know its not safe.)

Things he doesn't like
Not being held or rocked to sleep (spoiled already)
Goings to sleep at night time
a pacifier (although Norah Kate swears he should have one.  I have caught her shoving/forcing it in his mouth more than once!)
cold wipes (poor baby will almost crawl out of his skin!)

Grant,
Mama loves you so much and you have already brought so much joy to our life.  You are such a blessing to us and I can't wait to watch you grow.  I know this time will go by way too fast and am trying to cherish every moment!  You are such a good baby and thank you for being patient with me while I juggle you and your sister.  You are a sweet boy and a precious addition to our family!

Love,
Mama

Yes, that is both of my babies in our bed.

Wee morning hour snuggles.

His favorite spot!

 

Grant Samuel Thompson

.

Grant Samuel Thompson
1:32pm
7lb 1oz
19.5 inches long
Proud Parents: Matt & Katie
Proud Big Sister: Norah Kate



Once again I was blessed with a wonderful labor and delivery.  I was much more anxious leading up to this delivery, I guess because I knew how bad the pain could be and of course their was the nagging worry of the things that could go wrong.  I actually almost backed out of my induction I was that nervous!  I prayed for God to let me make the right choice about being induced and to not let me be hasty.  The strange thing though, when we were on the way to the hospital I felt so much peace and by the time they got the process started I was so EXCITED.

 

I went to the doctor on Tuesday March 18 for a check and an ultrasound.  I was 1cm and 50% effaced.  Grant looked great on the ultrasound and they estimated his weight at 7lbs and 4oz.  I was a little shocked by this because Norah Kate had always measured so big, so I still was expecting an 8lb baby.

 

I was to be admitted to the hospital Wednesday night at midnight for the Cytotec.  My progress was VERY similar to Norah Kate's.  I actually labored for almost exactly the same time.  With Norah Kate I got the first dose of Cytotec at 11pm and delivered at 10:40 am and with Grant I got the first dose at 1am and delivered at 13:22pm. 

 

Anyways...

 

When they hooked me up to the monitor and started my IV I was already 2cm (progress from even the day before) and already contracting regularly (every 3-4 minutes).  I knew I had been contracting for a while!!  They weren't painful contractions though, I could barely feel them.  I got my first dose of Cytotec at 1am.  The first dose of Cytotec didn't make me hurt, but continued making me have regular contractions.  Grant's heart rate looked great :)

 

At 3:25am I started having back labor, but it wasn't unbearable.  I was just hoping it meant I was dilating more.  Needless to say though, I got ZERO sleep!  Between the excitement and the contractions and being hooked up to everything and having to pee every 30 minutes... I just watched the second hand tick on by.  Matt slept though!

 

I got the second dose of Cytotec at 5:10 and just like with NK, I started feeling the contractions almost immediately!  This time though I had lots of back labor.  Let me just tell you something about back labor, that mess hurts!  It wasn't unbearable though and I wanted to wait on my epidural until I was more dilated.  I also decided against any IV pain medicine this time because the Demerol I received with Norah Kate made me terribly sick... and drunk... and miserable.  I was only 3cm, but at least I was progressing.  Since I was starting to hurt and really feeling the contractions, and because of my history of fast progression, we went ahead and called our mamas and sisters in at about 6:30 (we told everyone to just stay home until we called, there was no sense in nobody getting sleep that night).

 

Around 8:00 I stood up at bedside and started to rock back and forth, trying to move him on down the birth canal.  It also helped tremendously with my back labor.  For a while I couldn't feel the contractions as much when I was standing up.... but the story changed shortly.  Because I was contracting so frequently (2 minutes apart now) they decided to hold off on the Cytotec.  I started considering the epidural around 9:30 because I was getting pretty uncomfortable and I didn't want to get in unbearable pain before the epidural...but I kinda wanted to be dilated a little more.

 



 

Dr. Asbury broke my water at 9:40 and I was still 3cm.  I was getting nervous then because I was hurting but not progressing a lot.  I went ahead and asked for my epidural.  My mistake- I should have gotten the epidural BEFORE they broke my water.  The actual "breaking the water" doesn't hurt... no.. it's those contractions AFTER.  I didn't realize how much all the fluid helped cushion the pain.  Oh. my. goodness.  The next hour and twenty minutes was torture.

 

I do not tolerate pain and I am a wimp.  There.  I said it.  I am not even going to pretend I am tough.  There was no pictures taken during my intense labor pain.  I think my family was afraid to even talk around me.  I also became angry towards my husband during this time... he was catching cat naps during my discomfort.  I may or may not have threatened him bodily harm through gritted teeth ;)

 

I was hurting very bad.  I wanted to get up and walk or do something, but I could barely move for the pain.  I just kept breathing while my fluid boluses were going in.  I kept watching that bag of LR wishing they could have pressure bagged it in!  When it finished, then I had to wait on my anesthesiologist to get out of a surgery so he could come in.  I have never been so glad to see someone walk in my room!!  Man, oh, man.

 

I got my epidural at 11 and was dilated 4-5 cm.  At 11:15 I started feeling very nauseated and I couldn't feel my face.  My blood pressure had bottomed out despite the boluses and Grant's heart rate started dropping.  I wasn't worried too much about my blood pressure, because as an ICU nurse I have seen patient's bounce back from extremely low blood pressures, but seeing his heart rate drop was VERY scary and I started panicking a little.  They gave me ephedrine and reglan for my blood pressure and nausea and I felt better within minutes.  They checked me again at 11:25 and I was 5-6 cm.  After all the excitement and now that I was finally relaxed, I had the best 30 minute nap a girl could ask for!  I fell asleep before the nurses could even walk out of the room.

 

Woo hoo for Epidurals!!

 



 

I woke up at 11:50 and was feeling a LOT of pressure.  8cm!  By 12:15 I was 9cm.  My poor nurses were in a delivery next door and the pressure was getting intense.  I felt like he was coming out whether I wanted him to or not!

 

I was complete at 1:22 pm and Dr. Asbury came in and told me to show her if it was gonna be quick or take a while.  I gave a good push and she laughed and went ahead and put on her gown.  It was gonna be quick. 

 

I pushed for a total of 10 minutes and my sweet baby boy was here! 

 

I hate the movies, when they show three pushes and the baby is here... because its hard work.  Much harder than three pushes.  Even though I only pushed for 10 minutes, it was still harder than 3 pushes!

 



 

When Grant got here the cord was wrapped around his neck and it seemed like an eternity before he had that first good cry and pinked up. But he did. 

(This is when it sucks being a nurse... I saw the cord around his neck, I panicked when he didn't pink up right away... I remember that gut sinking feeling when Dr Asbury asked for some oxygen -which he ended up not needing- I remember frantically looking at the nursery nurse saying "he is still blue, he is still blue, what's wrong?". I remember wanting to get up and run to the warmer to check on my baby.  Wanting him to be okay.  Wanting to help but feeling helpless.  Hearing that "tone" in the doctors in nurses voice... the one I am familiar with because we use it in the Unit.  The tone where you appear calm as to not worry the family, but there is a sense of urgency under your tone.  Feeling like it lasted an eternity when it was only seconds.)

Thank you Jesus.  Thank you Lord for a healthy baby boy!  Thank you Lord for allowing me to get him out quickly before something happened.  Thank you Lord for telling me to go a head and get induced.  And Thank you Lord for letting him only be 7lbs so that I could push him out in 10 minutes instead of an hour.

 

Grant nursed IMMEDIATELY after he was born.  They tried to put him on my chest right from the start but because he was a little blue still I was panicking and they took him to the warmer for just a second.  He pinked right up and they brought him to me.  He was sucking his hand and latched to me right away.  He was perfect.  One of the most beautiful things I had ever seen (comparable only to Norah Kate).

 

Norah Kate had to really check out Baby Brother and Mama.  She was curious about my IV, name bracelet, Grant's umbilical cord, and all the machines in the room.  She wanted to look at his ears, his hands, feet, and belly.  It was precious.  She also kept looking at my belly.  She learned her first lesson about Mommy's Milk too, and how Grant drank only Mommy's Milk.



 

I am forever grateful that I got a second blessing from God and got to witness this miracle of life and be a part of it.  Thank  you Jesus for my sweet family!