November

The cold is coming quickly now, especially with our heater not working. Our house is currently 61 degrees and with three babies, that's pretty cold! Today outside it warmed up to 29 degrees. Gotta love the start of winter!

Elijah is now three and a half months old. Yesterday he giggled for the first time. He is such a sweet little guy. A few nights ago he had a fever of 102.4. At three months and under they say to go to the ER for 100.4 and up. At three and a half months, apparently that is far enough away from three months, that when I called the ER, I was told to give him Tylenol and see if that helped. I unbundled him which lowered his temp in the first ten minutes and then I gave him Tylenol. By morning he was back to normal. He seems to be congested a bit and it makes it a little hard for him to breathe through his nose.

Matthew turns three soon. He understands what that means now. He already know what he wants for his birthday (a flashlight) and what kind of cake he wants (a cars chocolate cake). He also seems to think he wants a party. Funny little guy.

Augustus talks an awful lot now, even several phrases. He began talking around 14 months and is now 20 months. Matthew didn't even say more than about five words until he was about 26 months! So it has been interesting to watch them develop differently. Gus gets frustrated easily and wants so badly to be understood. With a little patience and time out, this is possible, I have found. He also used the potty for the first time ever by himself (meaning he sat down before he started going not me running him to the potty in the middle of going!). He was pretty thrilled about the concept of MandMs. I'm not going to push him anytime soon, but if he asks, I get him set up.

So this past week I gave my full effort at cleaning. Meaning, every spare moment I had, I'd clean something, with the focus on keeping the main floor spotless. I must say, this wasn't so hard when motivated. Not only that, but I kept up with laundry, sweeping, and dishes. And, every day I picked a closet or a shelf to organize. We are getting ready for the holidays because it is always nicer to have clean places to decorate and set your new gifts. We have Thanksgiving at the ranch, so we won't be home to make a mess. :) Then we have three birthdays: Dave, Mathhew, and myself. Plus of course, Christmas, which we plan to celebrate alone at home. I truly love this time of year and am very much looking forward to all of it.

I don't read the news. There is a good reason for that. My husband informs me of stories I do not care to hear and lets me know the news I maybe should hear. For this reason, I am grateful to be living in a small town, not that things could not happen here of course, but it gives me a bit of comfort.

Matthew asked Dave for a little sister, randomly this weekend while they were working in the garage. I swear I said not a peep to give him that idea! Funny kid, I guess he has our genes, because about this time after each baby is when we consider the next one. Sorry to tell him though, we have taken preventative measures (aside sheer absolute desire not be pregnant right now!) to keep this from happening, at least for a while anyway. Three under three is more than two handfuls right now! And I only have two hands, so we'll have to wait until individual comeptency becomes upon Matthew. :)
Speaking of hands full, I must go for now, as the middle child is kicking in the crib ready to escape nap time, while the noises of the kicks are hitting the monitor in my bedroom which just so happens to be where a sleeping baby lies, so I must go quiet the kicks before I have two awake too early instead of just one!

Keep On Living

                      Elijah Paul, July 26, 2013, 7 lbs and 14 ounces, 21 inches long, 5:34 AM. 

Yes, yes, I should have posted long ago. It has been six weeks since my third son flew wildly into this world, and I am just now posting about his beautiful self. In fact, I write quickly as he lies on the floor next to me, already starting to squirm, as big brother Matthew plays with letters and middle brother Augustus snoozes away the afternoon in bed. :) So much has happened and I haven't been faithful to record it and for this, I feel quite bad. Keep on living, I must tell myself. Life goes on and can be enjoyed even if not recorded. I would say I'm super busy but that's not always the case. Sometimes I just need a break, a tv show, a snack, a nap, a shower, etc. etc. etc. I don't always get the opportunity to get on the computer and when I do, I forget to write.

I will quickly recap the last several months to the best of my knowledge, for the memories of before Elijah and shortly after, all deserve to be remembered.

MAY

May 25 we brought the two boys to the Omaha Zoo with Grammy, Grampy, and Grandma. Two months and one day from the arrival of Elijah, I'm feeling pretty worn out and pretty big! It's nice to have the extra hands to help with the boys. 

JUNE

Grammy and Grampy come out. With the extra help, Dave and I are able to head to Omaha for our anniversary date! We walk around old market downtown, look through little shops, buy some amazing coffee called tap dancer that I think Dave loves more than Starbucks, and we end our date at Brother Sebastian's steakhouse for a phenomenal meal! I order the crablegs and fillet mignon. It was a wonderful date and time away. 

JULY

 The onslaught of continual company begins! In fact, beginning July 3rd, we continued a house full of company for nearly 58 days, except for one single day in between! July 3rd, Uncle Adam arrives, along with Grandma Ann, Grandpa Dan, and Connie.

 Uncle Adam drove from Massachusetts in his truck and trailer toy hauler. He brought his bike and even his big guns for a little fun in the field!

 Lazy days spent poolside with Grandpa Dan and Connie, Grandma  and Uncle Adam, all taking turns getting the boys wet (and them getting us wet!)

We went to the Auburn fireworks the night of the 4th, and even though they started way too late! (like 1030) they were quite spectacular as we were sitting right beneath the action. It was nice that we could just walk to them. Then we put the boys to bed and Uncle Adam and Dave lit off bottle rockets right from the driveway.

The same Sunday Grandpa left, Grammy and Grampy arrived. I think they came so early in hopes that Elijah had the same idea, but nope! Day after day, we played with the boys, lots of stories were read, cleaning was done, good meals were made, but baby stayed put! Until...

THE BIG EVENT (six weeks later!)

Dave had the birth planned from the beginning. He wanted to hit the week when he had the maximum time off saved up. Meaning, he wanted me to go into labor on a Thursday night before a nuclear Friday (no work Friday) so that he would have Fri, Sat, Sun, then he'd go back to work Monday and essentially never take any time off. Guess what? The bum won. It happened just like that.

Thursday July 25th, one day after my due date, I had an appointment to have my membranes stripped. Dave, Mom, and I drove up to the doctor appointment in the afternoon (Dave left work in the afternoon) and we saw the doctor. Being we lived over an hour from the hospital, the idea was to have the strip work so that we could be admitted that night and possible be induced if necessary. The doctor stripped my membranes at my 2:15PM appointment. It was ROUGH! She really did A LOT, as she knew I wanted to go into labor on my own! She stripped until the top of my head turned red and then decided to quit. Yeah, never hurt before but this was the worst! Then we drove to the mall and walked around Scheels for a while. Then we got starbucks in Scheels and Mom walked some stores while Dave and I just walked... and walked...and walked... we went to best buy, a shoe store, outside. I just kept trying to move. I felt a little crampy but nothing that ever stayed. If I stopped moving, the pains stopped, just like supposed false labor. I got a call from my Doctor (Dr.Sides, Avery, who just so happens to be a family friend as she married a classmate of mine, so we knew each other prior and had hung out years before at Dave's family branding) she called me at 4PM and told me her afternoon plans, that she was going to go for a run and then to have me meet her at the hospital at 6PM to check me to see if we've progressed. After we walked, we decided to head toward the hospital but first we ate at applebees. I had french onion soup and a salad that really wasn't very good. But the soup was! I was a bit uncomfortable and we were at the bar area so I was standing most the time while leaning on the tall stools. On the way to the hospital from the mall and all through dinner, I was timing my 'contractions' which were all three minutes apart like clockwork. We get to the hospital at about 7PM. The nurse checked me and she said I was only 1.5 cm. I doubted her because at 2PM strip, i was 2 cm and afterwards Dr.Perfilio told me I was now 2.5cm. Dr. Sides finally got in at about 8PM and she checked me and said I was definitely 2.5, maybe 3. I had to be 3CM to be admitted, so she had me walk laps in the maternity ward for an hour. By now, I was walking laps with Dave and every round we'd make I'd have a contraction, some enough that I had to stop walking. I called in my doula Diana just in case. She took over walking laps with me so Dave could take a break. I rounded a corner with Diana and Dave and we walked into Dr.Sides. She asked me how I was feeling. I told her I didn't think it was real and I didn't think I'd go into labor that night. Dave called microtel a mile away because I decided I also didn't want to drive back home. So Dr.Sides said she'd check me again and we could make our decision. She checked me and I was 3cm and she put me on a contraction monitor. As everyone was talking about the plan, the monitor consistently beeped every three minutes and I wasn't doing very good keeping conversation. I kept saying I wanted to go to the hotel so that Mom and Dave could sleep but finally I decided they should go and I should stay in the hospital because I didn't think I could go to sleep at the hotel. After this, Mom and Dave decided they would stay with me. By 11PM I got to my room. They had to ask me a ton of questions and all I wanted to do was get into my hot jetted labor tub. Finally I was able too. Dave had a headache and I was so concerned with him my doula finally told him to go lay down and helped him make his bed so I'd quit worrying about him. My mom I think was out somewhere on a couch or chair reading, trying to give us some space. My awesome mom made me three maternity gowns and the prettiest one for labor, I didn't want to get wet so I took it off, took a hospital gown to cover me while in the tub, we turned the lights off, and I labored in the tub with the doula by my side. My doula put counterpressure on my lower back every single contraction except a few, and trust me! I definitely felt the difference. She was a life saver, so was the tub! Dave's headache was better after a while. He was by my side everytime I needed him. He held my hand a lot. My mom was in and out of the room as well, giving me water, checking on me. My nurse kept wanting me to get in bed to monitor the baby and so every once in a while (every hour?) I would get out of the tub and into the bed, which totally sucked compared to the tub. I tried bouncing on a birth ball and leaning over the bed which helped. Every time, baby was perfect. So every time, I'd head back to my warm heavenly tub. I want to say around 4AM they finally checked me. I was soo mad! I wished they didn't because here I thought I'd be a 7 and I was only a 4! Talk about a let down. So at this point, my endurance and mentality was going way down and I started to beg for drugs, even the risk of an epidural which I know is not possible in my back, but of course, no one listened. Even my nurse, at this point, told me I'd make it and that I didn't need drugs, that they really wouldn't help anyway. I was surprised she was even against it, which actually helped me mentally think I could cope with what I wanted to be as my natural labor, and so I stopped asking. I think by 5, or 5:15 Dr.Sides came in for the first time and wanted to check me again. I think I was at a 7. I remember tapping her on the shoulder next to my bed and telling her to break my water now and let's get this over with. She said "You got it" and we got going. I laid in the bed and I remember someone on a phone with my main doctor (Dr.Sides was the head intern at the hospital, my main doctor was from the clinic at Offutt, the doctor I've been seeing for appointments) and they told her to get here quick. They also called another intern that was supposed to assist. Dr.Sides broke my water and I suddenly hit transition in no time at all. I felt like pushing quicker than I was supposed too. Probably within five minutes of her breaking my water I told her I felt like pushing. She checked me and said I was only at a nine and I'd have to wait, also my cervix was still over the head and if I pushed now I'd risk tearing my cervix. I told her I couldn't help pushing so I tried to breathe through a few. In just another two minutes she told me I was full but the cervix was still over the head so I could push, but she'd have to keep her fingers inside to keep the cervix out of the way. Talk about annoying, distracting, and uncomfortable! But I didn't care, I was done! So I pushed! I think I gave two hard pushes and his head was out. My doula took my hand and reached down so I could touch his head. Once I did that, I was over! I pushed one hard quick push and his body literally flew out so fast Dr.Sides was unprepared but she caught him. Along with his body, about a gallon (half a gallon?) of fluid, blood, etc. also flew out of me and splattered the room, all of the nurses and the large mirror they brought in (that I may have glanced at once if that). It was a three ring circus now because Dr.Sides was unprepared, she caught him, flung him onto my chest, a nurse slid on the liquid, tripped over my IV, ripped it from my arm as the sweet baby boy emptied his bowels all over my stomach and chest. The cord pulsated for a while, clean up crew began, and THEN the doctor who was supposed to deliver me, walked in the door. Baby Elijah was born! Elijah in the Bible flew up into heaven, and so it was, Baby Elijah was named, who flew out of my body in one quick movement. Then Dr.Sides delivered the placenta and they literally dug in me to pull out clots! I nursed him right away and he nursed for forty minutes! They didn't even take him to weigh him until after I got to hold him that long. Dr.Sides and Dr. Masters stitched up my second degree tear. (I pushed so hard and fast without warning that Dr.Sides didn't have a chance to assess the baby's position, which was both shoulders in the wrong position coming out at the same time).The stitching was no fun. My legs kept shaking and I tried to distract myself with the squirmy baby on my chest. After they were done, we made everyone leave the room including my mom, except for the nurses who were weighing baby and doing vitals, so that Dave and I could decide on baby name. We had a few in mind, but after the events that happened and seeing the baby, we decided on Elijah Paul. Clean up, paperwork, then we rested. Mom hung out with us and we took turns cuddling baby until Grampy and the brothers could come see Elijah for the first time. They showed up around 9:30/10AM and we took first family photos. Matthew knew his name already as he was repeating all the way up in the car ride. Gus didn't really care, he just wanted Momma to hold him and then walk around the room. They stayed for a little over half an hour, Daddy took them out to look at a fountain and I nursed again, then Mom rode home with them and Dave and I stayed that day and overnight until the next early afternoon before we went home. He was circumsized the next morning and all went well. Then we went home. 

AUGUST

 UNCLE DAVID AUNT JODI COME TO VISIT! AND PHOTOGRAPH! YAYY! BOYS LOVED THEM!

Mom and Dean stayed with us until August 11th I think? I can't even remember anymore! But they were great help with the boys. The boys still ask me where Uncle David and Aunt Jodi are. I tell Matthew they had to go home. But it was nice to see them a couple of days while they stopped through on their road trip.

When Mom and Dean left, Becca, Jourdan and their kids came to visit. We had fun except then our entire family except Elijah caught strep throat halfway through their visit and so it was a huge bummer to have our great friends just sitting at our house, taking care of us, while we were all super sick. I appreciate Becca more than words can describe! She cooked and cleaned and helped with the boys. I am so grateful for their friendship and just wish our visit was smoother. 

Ann and Joel came after that and stayed a week. They were also super helpful, Grandpa Joel even folded laundry! 

 and read stories!

 and watched the baby so Dave and I could shoot a little!

 And cuddled the baby!

 And brought the boys to the park!

 And cuddled the baby some more!

This past week, we drove home to SD because Dave had labor day off, only had to take Tuesday off, because Wed he had off to drive to a meeting in Columbus all day Thursday. So, we went home Friday evening and left the ranch Wednesday to get to Columbus. It was a great visit where we got to see all our relatives and we spent Saturday on the golf course with our dear friends Bo and Joanna. This was the best day I've had since before and after the baby. I was the happiest I've been in a long time. Care free. Grandparents watched the boys and Grammy Grampy watched the baby. We stayed the night with Sis in law Rachel and went to the lake on Sunday. This was such a good visit, aside I got a really bad cold Saturday night! :(  I seem to be incapable of being neither, sick, or in pain, or now, emotions are strong with the postpartum thing, but I'm hanging in there, I have more help on the way, more to record, this took an hour to write so I better go! All unedited so forgive me fellow grammatical obsessors! I'll get to it someday! But for now, I just keep on living. 

May Joys

                                                                   

Just a quick note for May! This morning I got up early with the husband and while making breakfast, looked on the camera and saw little Bean was rolling around in bed. Daddy wanted to give him a quick snuggle before work so I suggested he go get Matthew and bring him to breakfast. I made oatmeal and split it with him. Daddy had to go to work then so Matthew and I sat at our table and ate oatmeal together.

 Afterwards, we went downstairs and sat in my recliner for what we call "snuggle time." I usually read a book and drink my morning coffee while Matthew watches Thomas the Train, sitting in my lap under the big warm comforter.  It is these morning snuggles that make me oh so very grateful to be blessed to be a stay at home mommy. I'm not sure I posted much about this, but a while back, I was getting restless (again) about 'just' staying at home. I felt I need more challenging brain tasks, adult conversations and interactions. I feel bad about not contributing financially to our ever-growing family. I know I am blessed, and I do not take it for granted. But some days I want more than "poop, pee, spills, messes, constantly cleaning the same thing, repeating the same book ten times, screams, fights, nap time fits, etc. etc." The bad seems a lot bigger than the good at times.

 But mornings like today, the good outweighs the bad 100% and I can relax and settle into my current role. I know I won't always be in this position. Even if I never work, my role will change as I drive kids to practices, bake a million cupcakes, help with algebra, etc. etc. I believe it's all about contentment and finding light in ALL things. With a new baby coming soon, I realize I really have no choice but to sit back and relax for now. So I should be enjoying this special time with my little ones, not wishing I was somewhere else. Truth is, if I ever do get a full time job, I'm sure that I'll have plenty to complain about then as well! So for now, bring on the snuggly mornings and the sweet kisses, the gentle hugs and the 'needing mommy.' With this much practice, I'm beginning to think I'm actually very good at it anyway. ;)

Remember how I said time races... PREGNANT AGAIN!!!!!

                                                                   

Quite embarrassing. The last post I had was in November! Can you believe it? Even more shocking is the fact that, during that post I was indeed pregnant and did not even know it at the time! Yes, pregnant, again!!! That's right. Now that I am 27 weeks I figured I better get on the ball! A pregnancy blog that doesn't even keep up with the pregnancies. Shame on me. Well, I have somewhat of an excuse. The first one is named Matthew, the second one is named Augustus, and the third one is named Goose in my belly who has kept me nice and sick and tired until about now!

So yes, number three is due July 24th. I am surprise, having yet another boy! That's right. Three little boys I will have under three years old. Actually, under two and a half. That's right. Busy me with little boys. No tutus or pink ribbons for this Mamma! We have Thomas the Train, dinosaurs and Lightening McQueen all decked out in the bedroom already. I get my girl time by doing my hair, window shopping online, and attempting to make other lady friends. Speaking of, let me start back at November...


November... Returned from my brother's beautiful wedding in Hawaii. Had a wonderful time. Apparently missed my husband and decided to make a baby that very month. Then I decided to turn 28 and have a quiet thanksgiving at home in Connecticut, with just Dave, while the babies slept!  It was pretty nice actually. On Thanksgiving day, the stick read positive and we knew, indeed, that we were definitely pregnant (five months ahead of our 'scheduled plan'!)

December... Matthew turned 2 and we had a little birthday party for him. I made a snowman cake and we had a few friends come over and spoil him with gifts. Christmas was like Thanksgiving, only the babies were awake and partook in the festivities at home. :)

January/February: We prepared for our big move out of the navy. At the end of February, we took leave early and moved out of our house. We had the truck packed up, towed the car, and drove to Nebraska to look for a house. We stayed for a week in a hotel and my mom and Dean came to help take care of the children while Dave and I purchased a house. Our house is in town and very nice. Not huge, but big enough to call home for a long time before the boys get big and force us into hopefully, an acreage. Then we drove home to South Dakota to spend a little more than a  week at home with family

March: We closed on our house and moved in! Life in a small town begins. Dave had half the month off before starting his new job at the power plant. We enjoyed our time together and set our house up. My morning sickness is pretty bad still and I'm on two zofran a day. My back has had ups and downs, as usual, but overall nothing really major. Augustus Charles turned 1 on March 13. Grammy was here to make him a teddy bear cake and we celebrated with just the family.

April: The weather here is very weird... sun, then rain, then snow, all in the same week! Grandpa came for a visit and painted the toy box black with white dinosaur silhouettes.  He played with the boys and seemed to very much enjoy them, as they did he. Today is April 29th. We still have not found a church. I live a 10 minute walk from the grocery store which is great when it is nice out. :) I have joined MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and hope to make some decent mommy friends through them! Dave is in training for the job and doing extremely well. Too well, in fact. A year long training course of modules has taken him a little over a month and he is nearly finished! I'm very proud of him. This just means he will have to start doing 'actual work' sooner! Our lawn mower arrived today and Dave has quite a yard to mow!

MILESTONES: Augustus talks a lot! He says "what's that, cookie, juice, milk, ball, dino, car, train" and several dozen other words. Pretty much anything you tell him he can repeat back to you. Matthew has mastered counting to ten back in March and knows almost all of his alphabet letters except five. Matthew uses the potty in the daytime when he feels like it. Mostly, when he is motivated enough to get an M&M.

Wow! I've finally written. No time to edit or spell check. The smell of funkiness out of a diaper is now wafting through the air and so I must go be Mommy and do all the very things that have kept me from writing in the first place! Hopefully I'll post again before I have a third child. Until then!