Owen - 3 Weeks Old

Time for an Owen Update!! :) He really is such a good baby - we are so blessed. He gets cranky, mainly in the evenings. And he still has a little reflux and gas issues that make him scream. But I'm already getting a 6 hour sleep stretch about every other night - so high fives all around for that!

By his two week appointment he was still 21 inches (they had said he was 1/2 inch shorter at his 1 week appointment than they said at birth) and he was back up to 10 lbs 8 oz.

WAKE TIME
This week my goal is to really work with Owen on his wake time -- as I haven't been keeping track until yesterday, and I realized a couple of his screaming fits were actually because he was too tired and needed help getting to sleep. Opps - bad mommy!

NURSING
At the beginning of this 3rd week, we moved to me pumping and giving Owen mix bottles of formula and breast milk. Right now, he gets 2oz of each in a bottle. He takes about 5 bottles a day. At night time during his "witching" hours, and in the middle of the night, I nurse him. I am undecided as to how long this will continue as I will not be pumping when I return to work. I already have about 50 oz stored in the freezer as well.

GAS
I am giving him gas drops at almost every feeding. These seem to help him not scream and writhe in pain. As often. I'm curious as to how switching to full time formula will help or hinder this, as he's had the gas issues since he was on full breast milk.

NAPS
I've yet to figure out or set a nap schedule, but plan on working on it this week. Will keep you posted.

NIGHTTIME SLEEP
Most nights Owen goes down in between 9-10pm, and will sleep until 2-3am, nurse and poop and spit up, which often requires 1-2 outfit changes, then eventually pass back out until 5-7am.

OUTINGS/EVENTS
This week we took Owen and Henry to the zoo -- it wasn't too bad except Owen seems to dislike car rides and being in the stroller. Due to my back pain, putting him in a carrier isn't really an option. My only hope is that he sucks it up and just gets used to it!

We went to church today, but ended up outside of the auditorium once the sermon started b/c Owen was pooping very loudly, and then he was hungry.

EMOTIONS
I'm in a glass case of emotion!! Seriously. Well, some of the time. Usually at night, I get really frustrated with Owen's screaming. And I cry. Then I cry because I'm crying. Then I cry because I feel guilty that Nick's helping me when he needs to be mowing the lawn. Or I cry because I'm mad he's not helping me. Or I cry because I'm resentful he's out doing something and I'm home with a crying baby. Even though I told him to go. Dumb dumb hormones and emotions. Last night I didn't cry at all and handled it much better. Perhaps the slight PPD is wearing off ...

HEARING
Owen failed his two hearing tests at the hospital, so we have to go back on July 6th to get him retested. I've seen him respond to sound so I'm not too worried, but the opening to his ear canal on one side is way smaller than the other side. So we're accepting all prayers that he will pass the next test. Also, he needs to be sleeping to be given this test - so I'm super nervous about taking him since he hates car rides and strollers and wakes up as soon as you stop moving!

SAHM
Nick is off to summer job land tomorrow -- and I'm rockin' the SAHM job for about 6 weeks or so before the kiddos head off to daycare land while I return to full time work. Henry will continue to go to daycare 1 day a week and Nick is staying home on Thursdays so he can golf Thursday nights. I am nervous and anxious about being on my own with both kiddos all day, but also hopeful because Henry does so much better on a consistent schedule, and I'm betting Owen will settle into one soon too!

Here's some pics of our little boy to end this post!

Current Nicknames: Oden, Peanut Butter


3 Week Watch Me Grow Pic

Owen Roger

I cannot believe my baby is 1 week old already!! I want time to slow down and speed up at the same time :)

Birth Story:

We got up at 4am and made it to the hospital by 5:45 (only 15 minutes late, oops!). By 7:25 I was being wheeled into the OR. I do not like the OR room, it's cold and shiny with metal equipment. My spinal block went much better this time - and then Nick got to come in and sit by me. He did an amazing job at distracting me - we talked about where we're going to put the swing set we're getting from a friend.

Owen was born at 7:50am - he cried right away, easing my worries. Everyone in the room started guessing weights - but no one guessed high enough! He was 10 lbs 6 oz. He has a huge head - no wonder I'd been walking around feeling like he's going to fall out!

The best part of this delivery is they've changed their policies and both Nick and Owen joined me in the recovery room right away. Instead of a bath they just wiped baby down, and we got to try nursing immediately. With Henry, I had to wait the full hour to see my baby. So much better to have them with me!

Our stay at the hospital was uneventful until the end - our last 15 minutes ended with me having extreme bathroom issues and pain. After 3 horrible, sobbing hours later - I had to get an enema and then was all better and clear to go home. I only tell this embarrassing story to remind my dear mothers-to-be to be prepared for that part of postpartum!!

HOME:

Our time at home has been great. After the adreniline wore off, I had a few teary breakdowns on Wednesday. But I just needed more food and sleep. Last night Owen slept for a couple 2.5 hour stretches, which is awesome.

Henry is handling the transition as good as I could hope for. He does get jealous when his dad holds baby, but not all the time. He's definitely pushing our boundaries as far as being a little naughtier than usual. Overall, he just likes to give Owen his paci and kisses on the head - then he goes back to his own little world.

Owen does have a little bit of reflux and bad gas pains. Sometimes the only way I can get him to calm down to get his poops out is to nurse him. He's eating great and already gaining weight back.

And for my C-Section mama's out there -- the second time around has been so so much easier! I don't know if it's the case for everyone - but I feel great. I have to remind myself that I just had surgery sometimes because I try to do too much sometimes. I don't know why anyone would want to do the whole labor thing after this!

Last night Nick and I took Owen's 1 week photos -- I'll do some editing and post them later!

Overall - we are so happy and blessed. I still can't believe we're a family of four!!


"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

39 weeks and 5 days...

39 weeks and 5 days pregnant with Owen Roger

And to compare...

39 weeks pregnant with Henry Mercer

I feel like the bellies are two different shapes, which makes sense since Henry was breech. I should have worn the same shirt for a more clear comparison!

How far along? 39 weeks and 5 days
Total weight gain/loss: Looks like a grand total of 42 ... three less than with Henry! Now - how am I going to lose this all, plus more in 6 weeks before a wedding that will have tons of people from high school at it? :)
Maternity clothes? Yuck!! Though, I might pick them over my husband's basketball shorts that I'm going to be living in the next couple of weeks...
Stretch marks? Why do the new ones always show up like 3 days before delivery?!?
Sleep: Awful. Just laying on my side, even supported with 7 pillows hurts me.
Best moment this week: Enjoying all my time with Henry - knowing it's going to be a challenge the next few weeks.
Movement: I'm ready to not feel like this baby is going to push an elbow through my girl parts at any moment.
Food cravings: Surprisingly, nothing really.
Gender: Boy
Labor Signs: Still contractions everyday, some mucus plug lost, but that's about it.
Belly Button in or out? Outtie out out
What I miss: Being able to hold and run and play with Henry
What I am looking forward to: Getting to the point of being comfortable taking care of both children on my own! (I know - a few weeks off I'm sure... or years?? haha)
Weekly Wisdom: "But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him."
Milestones: This is the start of my last 12 hours of pregnancy. Potentially ever.
Realization of the week: I'm having a baby tomorrow. Enough said.


Oh my, it still barely feels real. This has been the longest. pregnancy. ever. But now that our day is here - wowza. I don't know how I feel. Nervous and excited. Happy and sad.

How can I not be happy to add another handsome man to my life? :)

Change is coming...

As I was getting frustrated putting Henry back into his bed tonight ... I realized it's my last night having to worry about only Henry's sleeping. Tomorrow night he'll be off to Grammy and Grumpa's since we have to be at the hospital so early Friday.

*sigh*

So happy - and so sad at the same time!

Henry Mercer - 18 Months Old

This is my giant 18 month old.

Weight: 28 lbs 5 oz ~ 80th percentile
Height: 35.5 inches ~ 99th percentile


I'm not sure if it's starting his naughty toddler stage - or if he senses the big change coming up in his life - but wow, is he starting to test boundaries with me! He likes to run from me, and once I get him, he goes limp so I have to carry him (which is awful at 39 weeks pregnant with a belly measuring over 41 weeks). We're past the point of hand and booty smacks for punishments - so I see Time-Out's in our future. Today I took his paci away because he wouldn't walk for me. He didn't like that so much :)

His latest major milestone is that he's finally sleeping in his big boy bed!! He still wakes up 2-3 times a night, either for a paci or to be re-covered up. Once in a while he'll get all the way out of bed, but as soon as you enter the room he'll run right back to it. I'm hoping this will make brother Owen's arrival easier, since Henry is losing his nursery to Owen.

I'm trying not to worry too much about being away from him so long this weekend when I'm in the hospital with Owen. I know he'll be in safe hands, and be fine ... but I will just miss him so much!!


Henry - you are such a fun loving little boy, mommy loves you so so much!

36 weeks and 3 days...

I haven't filled out the survey for this pregnancy since 24 weeks - opps!!

Oh, to post or not to post the 36 week belly picture... *sigh*


Definitely bigger belly than last pregnancy, and a very different shape. I believe that comes from not having a breech baby this time!

How far along? 36 weeks and 3 days
Total weight gain/loss: I'm on track to gain the same as I did with Henry - but am very sick of feeling fat - especially now that it's getting warmer, which means by the end of the evenings my feet are swollen, my toes are like sausages, and my ankles are nonexistent. May be a complaint - but it's true.
Maternity clothes? I miss my cute clothes :(
Stretch marks? Can't tell if they're new ones, or the old ones getting brighter.
Sleep: I had a couple good nights - and then last night was up every hour. Every. Single. Hour.
Best moment this week: Today!! First day of maternity leave -- Yipeee!!
Movement: Slowing down a bit - as he clearly has no where to go.
Food cravings: Nacho Cheese Doritos :)
Gender: Boy
Labor Signs: Some braxton hicks contractions, some real contractions, and tons of pressure and pain ...
Belly Button in or out? Outtie out out
What I miss: Umm... not being pregnant. Hard for an IF Survivor to admit, but true.
What I am looking forward to: See previous question.
Weekly Wisdom: Being pregnant the second time ... not as much fun. Sad but true.
Milestones: If labor starts - they won't stop it now! We'd just have our baby boy sooner! (a girl can dream, can't she?)
Realization of the week: 3 1/2 weeks is going to go fast. I think.

I keep telling myself I need to make myself a list of all the reasons in the last 8 months I've told myself I don't want to do this again. That doesn't mean I don't want more children (not that I think we can actually afford more than 2) - but I've always wanted to adopt. So now the big type/kind/action of birth control comes into play...

Keep checking back for updates -- who knows, maybe Owen will grace us with his presence sooner than later!


"Even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don't be afraid and don't worry." 1 Peter 3:14

Mommy and Me Monday

And Henry, at 17 months old!


Oh, my little monkey Henry - you do the funniest things right now!


~ You love to hit and throw things. We are working on not hitting or throwing at people, but you don't always listen. You're just so excited.

~ When you're over excited - you like to spin in circles.

~ You have a few favorite books, and when you read them, you like to kiss the characters. This started with an ABC book, where you always kissed the melon and the monkey. Then you started kissing all the babies in another ABC book. And now you love to kiss every page of your Dinosaur counting book.

~ You are such a helper! In fact, you get very angry if you can't help unload the dishwasher or throw your own diaper away. Please remember this when I'm begging you to do your chores in 10 years.

~ Mommy's tummy is too big to pick you up from your crib unless you're standing up. So you only stay standing until I get there - then you flop back down and laugh at me.

~ If I ask you where Owen is, you rub my belly. If someone else asks you where Owen is, you rub their bellies :)


I love to kiss dinosaurs!!

I can't believe my little boy is almost a year and a half -- and he's going to be a big brother very, very soon!!