Bryan and I got a little sleep today, between the two of us. Yay! Here are my thoughts today:
1. Today's class in heaven is Smiling 101. We've gotten some glimpses of this sweet baby's smiles.
2. This boy likes to suck. He is good at nursing, pacifiers, and bottles. I'm sure he would be good at his fingers too, if I let him have them--I haven't clipped those fingernails yet.
3. I think he likes to be swaddled, but he always tries to get his hands free. Maybe because he thinks it's time to eat all the time.
4. And I think pictures of newborns, without the context of other humans, always make them look much bigger than they are. Oh, well. Here is a skewed view of what Isaac looks like:
We love his hair. I have a feeling, though, that it will all fall out and grow in blonde.
8 lb. 3 oz., 19 in. My visiting teacher came to the house at 5:30 in the morning to watch the kids. Bryan and I went to the hospital at 6:00. We started pitocin at 7:00 to get the baby to engage. The doctor broke my water just before noon. Isaac was born just before 2:00 in the afternoon.
Only three things were remarkable about this delivery. One, I did not get an epidural. Two, his arm came out with his head (like Superman). And three, the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck was not an issue. Maybe because his arm was in the way?
Isaac and I are doing great, so they let us come home today (right about 24 hours after delivery). Bryan gets to stay with us for the rest of the week, and my mom arrives this weekend. The kids are loving the new baby, each in their own way. Caleb wants to have plenty of turns to hold the baby. Savanna just wants to touch his hair and tell me how cute he is. Joseph wants to point out all of the baby's features by grabbing them as gently as he knows how....
Thank you for all your prayers and offers of help. :)
Sometimes I avoid writing all of the little details of my daily life because I am afraid of boring you. But then I find that I rarely tell you what's going on at all. In fact, I have purposefully decided not to reveal my due date because I can't stand the idea of all of you biting your fingernails in anticipation. Or maybe just that I actually can't stand the constant comments and questions toward the end, when I know exactly how much more time until my due date-thank-you-very-much. And yes, I know I look like I could deliver any day-thank-you-very-much (yes, people have said quite tactless things this time around--and yet all I can do is laugh or else I'd cry). So here is the DL, sans due date.
Let's just say that I'm going to weekly visits now.
And for those of you who can stomach my personal numbers (because I, for one, am fascinated with the anatomy of pregnancy): 50% effaced 2.5 dilation
Now, don't go telling me your predictions on when I'm going to deliver. The doctors are never accurate, so you won't be either. I'm just satisfied with the fact that I'm making progress. Because (and here I'm going to take a tangent):
With all of my previous deliveries, I believe I went to the hospital too soon. But far along enough that they admitted me. And then force-fed me IVs and pitocin, and strapped me to a bed with monitors. And then the contractions would slow, they'd up the pitocin, and I'd be in labor forever. So then I began to wonder, would my body ever actually go into labor on it's own? Because this time around, we will be paying a hefty sum to bring this baby into the world. And because of that, I am completely aware that an epidural would cost me over $1000. Since I have had two faulty epidurals, and therefore am acquainted with the pain of labor, I'm going to forego the epidural this time. Which means, I really don't want to be strapped to a bed, and IV, and pitocin (which supposedly makes the contractions harder and more painful). So all of that to tell you that I'm just really glad that my body is naturally progressing on it's own.
Now, don't go biting your fingernails. I'm planning on making it all the way to my due date, which is still far enough away. Because if I don't think that way, I will only cause myself frustration.
Ciao.
P.S. Feel free to comment or ask questions. Commiseration is welcome. Questions may or may not be answered.
Bryan went out of town. But I am grateful he is safe. And I am grateful we are safe. And I am grateful I have a couple awesome friends for a support system while he is away.
Of course yesterday, while Bryan was out of town, the van broke down. But I am grateful we were in a safe place. And I am grateful that I had my cell phone and could call my knowledgeable dad. And I am grateful to the banker who offered help, knowledge, and skills. And I am grateful that my kids handled it so well. (I am grateful I packed water and snacks.) And I am grateful for my friend who stayed with me until the tow-truck came. And then paid for it. And I am grateful for another friend who left her kids with a neighbor so she could come and give Joseph and me a ride home (there wasn't space in the first friend's car for everyone and their car seats). And I am grateful that we arrived at the car repair shop twenty minutes before they closed so I could drop off the keys and make an appointment. I am grateful they could fit me in today.
My friend (the first one) had been planning to take me and the kids to dinner and a movie. But since we had to deal with the van, we didn't make it to the matinee. But after we dropped off the van, she took the two older kids to an early dinner and a later show time. Joseph and I went home. I am grateful Joseph ate his dinner. I am grateful I could bathe and take care of him without interruption. I am grateful he went to bed early.
Then Caleb and Savanna arrived home, a little after bedtime. I am grateful they had a good time after the whole ordeal. But then Caleb said his tummy was hurting because he ate too much popcorn. But I am grateful that he threw up in my bathroom sink and not on the floor.
But then the ickiness wouldn't go down the drain. But I am grateful that I had plenty of plumbing liquid on hand. And rubber gloves. And bleach. I was especially grateful when it finally drained and I could clean out the sink. I am grateful for the good ventilation in my room so that I could still sleep in my bed.
But then Caleb woke up early in the morning and threw up again, so maybe it wasn't just the popcorn. But I am grateful he made it to the toilet this time. And I am grateful that I could turn off my alarm because I knew Caleb would not be going to school. And I am grateful that I got a little more sleep than normal (unless you count the interruptions).
But then Savanna woke up with a sore throat and terrible cough. So while she was crying for a drink, Caleb was crying because we wouldn't be able to go his last swimming lesson, and Joseph was crying because he wanted breakfast. But I am grateful that within ten minutes everyone's needs were met and a sort of calmness ensued.
And I am grateful for TV. Specifically PBS Kids.
But then the car repair shop called and told me that an inevitable repair would cost $400+. But I am grateful that I had set aside an extra $400 for our student loan this month. Not too tricky to wait until February to pay off the loan completely, instead of January. I am grateful that while $400 hurts, it doesn't hurt as bad as it could.
But then the car repair shop called to tell me that my car was fixed. During nap time. All three kids are asleep. (I should be napping too. Oh, well.) But I am grateful that the car repair shop will come pick me up. And they will wait until I call them to tell them I'm ready. So I don't have to wake up the kids.
But I should have gotten flu shots for my kids. Shame on me. But I am grateful that I got my flu shot, so at least one of us is healthy. And I am grateful that I can take care of my kids.
And I am grateful that Bryan is returning tonight.
And I am grateful that sicknesses never last forever.
(For those of you who don't know, Bryan and all his brothers are particularly fond of back-scratches.)
Bry: Can I please have a back-scratch? Bri: Only if you really love me. Bry: Then this is going to be a long, lovely back-scratch! Show me how much I love you.
Joseph wants to help. He is very curious, and he likes to get his hands into whatever anyone else is doing. If he hears the crinkle of a wrapper, he'll come running to make sure he gets his share. Here he's helping Daddy assemble a kitchen chair.
Everybody tells me Joseph looks like a little man. They also use the words "hefty," "sturdy," and "healthy." He is not chubby anywhere, just completely solid. Weighing in at over 29 pounds, you can imagine how strong his mommy's arms are! The other day, Joseph got into the toothpaste. After I cleaned him up and while I was on the phone with Poison Control (one swallow, no big deal, cup a milk, all good), he drew all over himself and the couch with a green marker. And then he has the sweetest smile and you can't get mad at him.
He is learning all kinds of words: break (from our family cheer "One, two, three, break!"), knock knock, hands, tickle, cool, wow, woah, mine, me, and no. All the important ones. And you've never met a more polite 18-month-old, saying thank you (which means thank you, no thank you, mine, and gimme) and sheez (please) all day long.
Bryan and I got a little sleep today, between the two of us. Yay! Here are my thoughts today:
We love his hair. I have a feeling, though, that it will all fall out and grow in blonde.
C
