Burning the candle at both ends....

Well.....a new baby is always an adventure (to put it lightly). I truly don't mind feeding her every three hours. I know it's what she needs, and I just don't mind it. But the lack of sleep really starts to add up after a while, especially when you can't have a make-up nap during the day because your three-year-old only takes a nap MAYBE every other day. Luckily, daddy's home right now and if I allow myself to just leave things to him and relax for a while I have been able to get some extra moments of rest.

A couple days ago I started getting that "tired headache". You know....the one that starts as this ache in your forehead. But over the past couple of days that ache in my forehead has moved to behind my eyes......and then last night the ache turned into a terrible pain. I knew if I cried it would be that much worse.....but I just couldn't handle it anymore, and Parker held me through a major melt-down.

Today I decided we should get out of the house. We went to the mall and got Caleb some much-needed new shoes, and I got myself some nursing essentials at the maternity store. We also made a trip to the library, and let Caleb pick out some books and movies. By the time we drove home my head was hurting so bad I couldn't contain my emotions again. I realized I'd always been feeling cold all day today as well as last night. So I took my temperature. 100 degrees. Well....that explains a lot. I'm not just tired and feeling crappy....apparently I'm running a low-grade fever. Joy. On top of it all I getta be sick too. I guess I'll be calling the doctor tomorrow. I'm not sure what I've got.....my only guess would be mastitis. I've noticed some extra tenderness on one side. I don't know how I could be sick with anything else....I haven't been anywhere. I guess we'll see what the doctor says.

Onto a brighter note, I've got some really cute pictures to post today. And I just have to say that the one of Angie and Parker just makes me smile inside. That baby girl has got her daddy wrapped around all ten of her tiny fingers. He's so good with her, and I'm so glad that my husband is such a great father. He's been really helpful.....especially today. I hope I'll be able to get a little more rest over the next few days.....and maybe I won't NEED as much sleep if I can just quit being sick.

How it went down............

Well, here's the low-down with all details included about bringing Angie into the world. Read it if you like. No I won't get graphic but yes there will be details. :)

I'd gone to work every day that week. I honestly don't remember having contractions, just feeling really uncomfortable. I also remember thinking every night as I went to bed, "There is NO way I can go to work tomorrow, I'm just too tired." But every morning I woke up and rolled outa bed. And I worked Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Thursday morning I woke up at 5:30 and I thought I was having a contraction. I thought to myself, "wow....if I've got contractions waking me up when I'm not even moving around I'll bet she's gonna come today............and quickly." I had another contraction 30 minutes later and decided I'd better call work and let them know I wasn't gonna make it for my last day (I was scheduled to go on maternity leave after work on Thursday anyway).

So I stayed in bed and tried to see if these were real contractions or if I was fooling myself. I continued to have them (short....lasting maybe 30 seconds) about every 30 minutes. We got up and made breakfast and stuff, and I decided that if I keep myself busy I might be able to make things progress. So I started cleaning. The contractions were as close together as every 20 minutes, but sometimes they'd quit for an hour and a half before I had another one. I was so confused. But I just kept timing them and I kept cleaning. I scrubbed both bathrooms, washed all the sheets, mopped the floors, and folded all the laundry. I practically wore myself out. I was working harder than I do at work!! And they weren't getting any closer. My sisters kept calling me and telling me to go to the doctor. But I protested.....they'll just send me home because my water hasn't broken and they're not close enough together. I called my mom, and she decided she'd pick up my dad from work and they would head down here to take Caleb if things start moving faster. I kept worrying my water was gonna break and we'd have to drop everything and leave (cuz that's what happened with Caleb). But my parents finally got there around 8:00 pm. My contractions were averaging 20 minutes apart by that time. I was so relieved they were there.

At 9:00 I had a VERY painful contraction, and they were about 10 minutes apart. But they seemed to be closer together when I stood up from sitting down. So we packed up the bags and went to the hospital. They checked me. (OUCH!!!) I was dilated 4 cm and 70% effaced......but baby's head was not engaged into the pelvis yet. She was still quite high. They told me if I was at 5 cm's that they'd admit me....but as things were it just wasn't time yet. OH! And lets not forget, as soon as I got hooked up to the monitor the contractions quit. They told me I could stick around for an hour and walk the halls and see if I could get things moving again. So we walked. And the contractions still weren't really coming. An HOUR of walking the halls, and when they checked me again (OUCH.....it really does hurt if the baby's head hasn't dropped) NO PROGRESS. They sent me home. They said to come back when the contractions were 2 minutes apart.

As I was getting dressed, I had several more contractions............and even going back to the car I had to stop several times to breathe through the pain. Every ten minutes. Parker went and picked up some fast food.....meanwhile I'm panting in the passenger seat. Then we went back home. It was midnight by the time we got there. I wanted to go to sleep so bad (yeah right). The pains were getting worse, and harder to bare. I was so naive to think I wouldn't have to go through pain like this. (but I really didn't with Caleb....cuz I got that epidural the second I got to the hospital....which was minutes after my water broke). My dad gave me some good advice. He said I can't allow myself to think about the pain. Just focus on breathing and nothing else. We all tried to get some sleep. I couldn't handle the contractions lying down, so we brought the rocking chair into the living room and I sat up all night in pain. I was scared to go back to the hospital too soon because I was afraid the baby's head would still be too high, and they'd send me home again. I timed those contractions until 3:30 in the morning.....and decided I was just in too much pain. I woke up Parker (who had zonked....bless his heart....he didn't even mean to) and we went back to the hospital. They were 2 minutes apart by this time. Walking from the parking lot to the hospital was so painful we had to stop several times so I could breathe through it.

This time I got a wheelchair. They checked me in again......and checked my cervix. "You're complete." the nurse told me. I was dilated 10 cm and it was just about time to push. Oh.....I forgot to tell you......around midnight before everyone went to sleep I started shaking. my legs would tremble uncontrollably.....and all the mental power I posessed couldn't stop it. By the time I was in that hospital bed I looked like I was having convulsions. I guess it's kinda a shock thing. My muscles were so tight even my jaw hurt. My first question, "Does this mean I don't get an epidural?" (I was PANICKED....I was in far too much pain to bare through this AND push out a baby). "No.....probably not." I almost started crying, if it hadn't been for the pain. (who would've thought.....too much pain to cry). "I can NOT do this." I kept telling myself over and over. Parker was trying to re-assure me, "Yes you can....." I didn't believe any of them. I have NEVER had the desire to have 100% natural child birth without any sort of pain medication.

Then they told me about something else. (I might spell it wrong). It's called an interthecal. Basicly, it's the same thing as an epidural.....except there's no tube in your back. It's a one-time shot that lasts about 2 hours. It's quick and effective....but once it's gone it's gone. And it doesn't take near as long to administer (which was the biggest worry....cuz it was almost time to push).
So that's what I did. She would defeinately be delivered by 2 hours anyway. The second they gave me that shot I started to relax. My body stopped shaking. It was the best I'd felt all day. The pain was gone. Parker says you could see the relief in my face. I SO needed that. My body was completely worn out. But now the pain was gone.

I was numb up to my chest. And now it was time to push. It took about 45 minutes to an hour of pushing to get her out. It took longest to get her to crown.....but once she did.....they had to tell me to stop pushing. AUGH! "Oh that is SOOOO uncomfortable" I said. "Wait....we have to go ge tthe doctor." Hello!! Her head is half-way out!! He came in what felt like ten minutes later...although I'm sure it was only one or two. Two more pushes and she was out. She was only 6 pounds 10 ounces 20 inches long.....but I still tore. The anasthetic started to wear off as the doctor was stitching me back up. The last couple stitches kinda hurt....but they didn't have to administer a local or anything. Angie Nicole Lyons looks just like her brother and she's healthy and we are so happy she is here.

Family of Four

We brought Angie home on Sunday January 17th. We had to stay an extra day in the hospital because I was tested positive for a certain kind of bacteria that can be passed to your baby at the time of birth and it can make the baby really sick. It's called GBS (or "group B strep"). The chances of the baby getting sick are quite rare......but if they DO get sick it could be fatal. So before delivery they administer antibiotics to the mother. And then they watch the baby extra close for 48 hours. We were ready to go home after one day, but the pediatrician wanted to keep an eye on her for another day before letting us go.

Caleb was really excited to see his mommy and his baby sister. When I walked through the door, the first thing he said was, "MOTHER!!" And then when he saw that I was carrying a baby car seat he started jumping up and down saying, "It's baby Angie! It's baby Angie!!" The rest was caught on video, so I'll just let you watch.



Angie has been doing well. She has been eating regularly and likes to poop her diaper RIGHT after I've changed it. :)
Parker and I just can't get over how tiny she is. At six pounds ten ounces, she's the smallest grandchild either of our families has ever seen. She has skinny little arms and legs, and extremely long hands and feet. She's very cute.
As far as adjustments go.....Caleb has been very kind and loving to his baby sister. But he does know that there's something different. He's not the only one in the house anymore, and he's been periodically acting out to get attention. Especially in the evenings when he's tired and extra emotional. Our first night home was quite rough. Not because of the baby. She only woke up every 4 hours...........but Caleb woke up several times as well and didn't want me to leave his side. After some strong lectures and a few tears from us as well as Caleb, he was so distraught that he finally fell asleep in our bed (which we NEVER let him do). And then he slept in till 10:30!! (Caleb NEVER sleeps in that late). But last night was much better cuz he didn't wake up at all. But Angie woke up every 3 hours, so mommy is still very sleepy.
I snapped a picture of the boys sleeping just before I woke them up Monday morning. I thought it was hilarious that they were both in the exact same position (half-off the pillow with their heads tilted in the same direction). Caleb really is SOOOO much like his daddy.

Angie Nicole Lyons

Angie Nicole Lyons was born on Friday January 15th 2010 at 6:04 AM. 6 lbs 10 oz and 20 inches long. She's healthy. She's beautiful. And she looks just like Caleb......only girly. She gets to come home Sunday morning. The story of labor and delivery will be posted next, with all the details you might want. But we're so happy she's here. And I'm glad I finally get to lie on my back. :)

Ten days early...........

Well, ten days early seems to be how the babies come.....although she's not here yet, and I guess it could be past midnight by the time she does, and then it wouldn't be ten days. But this morning I had a couple contractions that woke me up around six o'clock. And here I sit at home, waiting for things to progress. I've been averaging every 30 minutes I'd say..........although there have been some that spread as far as an hour and a half.....others as close as twelve minutes. The part that sucks...........IT HURTS! But I've called the doctor, they say there's no point to come in yet cuz the contractions just aren't close enough together. But they are getting more painful. I would think that should count for something.......but maybe I'm just a wimp.

But Caleb was born ten days before my due date......and today marks ten till for this baby girl. It'd be kinda cool to repeat the pattern. We'll have to see. I'm sure the time is very soon..........but not now. I think Parker's getting ancy. But there's not much to be done. I've already scrubbed both bathrooms, mopped the kitchen floors, done all the laundry, and all the dishes to try to stay active. So now I blog.

I suspect the next post will be one with pictures.

Fishing and Coyotes..........

I wanted to share this video with you cuz I have to brag about how smart my boy is!! For Christmas he got this fishing game. And it wasn't until today that we had batteries to make it work. And right away he started stopping it so he could get the fishing line into the fish's mouth. I caught it on video. Then when we told him not to stop it, he grabbed the fishing line half-way down with his other hand so that he could control the line better. He's pretty smart I think.

The next video is what I had to listen to today on and off for about two hours. Caleb AND Parker (actually Parker's way worse at making noise with these things) blowing into the coyote calls.
Not annoying AT ALL!

Three 1/2 Years an Only Child....

I decided that very soon the majority of my blog posts are going to be about the baby, and that maybe I should do a kind-of "special issue" on Caleb. He's spent the last 3 1/2 years as the only child in our home, and of course he's been a joy each day. He's surprised me lately with how much he's grown just in the past few months. Some things that he's been doing (typical for a 3-year-old).
- A couple weeks ago Caleb started playing "memory." I honestly didn't think he was gonna have the patience for it, but he did. We started off with all the cards face-up and just had him match the pictures. Then next time we played with only six cards (three matches). And then we added a matching pair of cards each time we played. I know in just a few more tries he's gonna kick my trash. (Kids are ALWAYS better than adults at memory).
- Hops on one foot. This started just about two weeks ago. We were walking to church, and he started hopping on one foot. I think I got a little glimpse of this on one of the videos below.
- Does a Forward-Roll. He's actually been doing this one for a while, and now it's become part of his acrobatic "fights." He loves to pretend he's fighting. As a matter of fact.....he just loves to pretend. When I'm cooking, he's got an empty pot on the counter next to me......and he always wants to "fight off the bad guys" and "save the princess." And he's always thrilled if you'll just play along with him.

- Now this is my favorite. Caleb has become a little movie-quoter. There are so many times, when he's babbling off about something, and most people probably wouldn't think twice about it. But it just so happens that his mommy ALSO loves to quote movies, and I've noticed just how many times he's reciting ENTIRE SEGMENTS from his favorite movies. And if I start quoting the movie with him.....he gets the BIGGEST smile on his face (a smile of delight that says "you're the only one who understands me mommy").

Below are a few videos of Caleb playing. Hope you enjoy. We sure love our boy.