Friday, March 23, 2012

The Sound of Settling

We're settling in. And the sound it makes is that of cute baby noises, a baby crying only when getting a diaper changed or when he's hungry, which happens to be about every 3 hours during the day and 4 to 5 hours during the night, Miles laughing when he's getting attention or whining when he's not, and whatever the sound that rubbing eyes and yawning makes (due to Patrick and I getting used to waking up during the night).

I feel like time is going a lot faster during these first two weeks of having a newborn than it did with Miles. Maybe it's because every little thing was so new to us with Miles and now it's like second nature. What, a little fussy in the evening? Oh, that's just Grant's fussy time of day, no worries. Holds his breath when he's really upset? No big deal, just blow in his face, the purpleness will fade back to rosy pink cheeks. Projectile poop all over me in the middle of the night? Ah, that's nothing, I have back up clothes for the both of us an arms reach away.


Things just aren't as scary as they were the first time around. Well, except for Grant's circumcision he got today. I still feel bad about that and worried that he'll remember the pain forever, but know he actually won't. Oh, and his collarbone! I think I forgot to mention that in my last post. Grant's shoulder got caught on my pubic bone when he was coming out and to help him get out the nurse jumped on the bed and practically gave my pubic bone chest compressions to pop his shoulder out (SO glad I had an epidural). This is actually pretty common and in cases like this the baby's collarbone can break. It's not a big deal unless there is nerve damage. By God's grace Grant avoided that. His collarbone is healing but I just have to be a bit careful when handling him.


Miles loves his little brother. He's always giving him kisses and poking him in the face. He really likes to stick his finger in Grant's mouth. When I'm nursing Grant, Miles will either play nicely on his own or get into everything he's not supposed to. It's as if he sees me sit down with Grant and says to himself "perfect, mom will have her hands too full to chase me around for the next 20 minutes, what can I get into that she lever lets me get into?" It's kind of funny looking back at it but really annoying at the time. Grant will probably grow up thinking his name is "Miles no!"





I'm so thankful for Patrick and how his dad instincts kick in. He's been such a big help with Miles. He'll get up with him in the morning so I can sleep a bit longer and nurse Grant if I need to. Then he works all day. Then he comes home and plays with Miles, changes him into some jammies, and puts him to bed. That's just the nutshell version of what Patrick has been doing. He cares so much about his boys and me. My favorite part of the day is when Patrick is sitting on the couch with one boy in each arm. He's so proud of them. I thank God everyday for how helpful, hardworking, and loving Patrick is. I couldn't ask for a more caring husband.


I'm also thankful for the time my mom was able to spend with us the first week we brought Grant home. Patrick and I appreciate everything she did for us, from helping with Miles and Grant, cleaning the house, cooking, driving around, the endless vat of knowledge only a mother can provide, and the gift of just being present. Miles just loved spending time with Grandma Di and Coco. He was laughing 24/7. He ate better than he's ever eaten before and I think only a grandma can accomplish something like that. Kids will try anything for a grandma. I think I even tried a spoonful of buttermilk with pepper and an onion sandwich (which was actually good) for Grandma Celine. I couldn't thank my mom and God enough for her being here to help. What a wonderful gift.





  I actually captured a smile!





The days just fly by and we've grown accustomed to these new but familiar sounds of settling. Soon they'll change to more laughter as Grant learns to smile and giggle. Hopefully the yawns will become less frequent. And definitely the love will continue to grow and grow as we get to know our boys more and more.


Saturday, March 17, 2012

Grant Mathew

After 41 long weeks we welcomed our second baby boy into our family. Grant was born on Thursday, March 8, 2012 at 2:24pm. The first 8 months of the pregnancy was smooth and uneventful and the last month seemed to drag on and on. The labor and delivery was so quick that I couldn't have asked for a better or easier experience.

It all started last summer when I least expected it, of course. Looking back it's so clear that if I had paid attention to my symptoms a bit more I would have known right then that Grant had started his life. Patrick, Miles, and I were on vacation with my family at my family's favorite past time camping resort Lake Pearrygin for the Fourth of July. The entire time we were there I was tired and felt like taking naps all day. Napping was a  huge pregnancy symptom when I was first pregnant with Miles too. As time went on I had a couple more symptoms that were similar to the ones I felt before but just played it off as being busy and tired from chasing Miles around.

The next week Patrick came home and told me that his employee had a dream that someone in the office was pregnant  (she said when she dreams about fruit, someone she knows is pregnant. She had the dream when I was pregnant with Miles). We both thought it might be another one of his employees that recently got married but in the back of my mind it clicked and all of the sudden every symptom I'd been having made sense. The next day I took a test and sure enough, there on the stick, positive. Little Grant was there.

Around 12 weeks I was able to get an ultrasound to see how far along I was. My instincts told me we were having another boy and at 20 weeks we found out it my instincts were right! The entire pregnancy felt almost identical to my first pregnancy which was nice because I knew what to expect and didn't have to deal with new symptoms or complications.

By the time week 36 rolled around I was ready to meet Grant and be done with the pregnancy. It became increasingly difficult to bend over, roll over in bed, walk up the stairs, hold Miles, and I would feel my pelvis crack throughout the night when I readjusted myself. I kept telling myself that I only had a couple more weeks left thinking that he would be here around the same time Miles was (6 days early) but little did I know that I would go a week over with no signs of labor beginning on its own!

Finally, after what felt like 4 more years of pregnancy, not 4 weeks, my doctor said we could induce since I hadn't made much more progress and wasn't feeling very many contractions and was going to hit 41 weeks later that week. I was so relieved to know there was an end in sight I almost cried!

Now I had a birthdate for little Grant. March 8th was the day.

Patrick and I arrived at the hospital at 7:30am. I was admitted, got an IV hooked up, and finally the pitocin was plugged in. I began feeling some contractions as the dosage was turned up and finally I was feeling some strong ones coming every 3 to 5 minutes. When the nurse came back in I asked for an epidural because I figured it might be a while until the doctor could be in to break my water. That turned out to be great timing because originally I was just going to wait to get the epidural until after she broke my water but she ended up being 1 1/2 hours later than she said she'd be. I don't know how I would have done that! The epidural was amazing!

Finally the doctor came in around 1:30pm and broke my water and said she'd be back when I was fully dilated and ready to push. Patrick and I talked with the nurse for about 45 minutes and then she said I was probably at 10cm and ready to get the baby out! I was surprised that it only took 45 more minutes to be completely dilated! So, my doctor came in at 2:15 I started pushing.

At 2:24pm, after four sets of pushes, Grant was born.


I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw him. A full head of dark hair! All along I thought he might have a little hair because I had heartburn but I never thought he'd have that much and that it would be dark. I guess I expected it to be like Miles hair.

He was placed on my belly and we cuddled while daddy took pictures and video. Then he nursed for a good 45 minutes. He must have been hungry! Later the nurse weighed him and what a surprise that was!

9 pounds 2 ounces!

When she told me I yelled "REALLY?" We all thought he'd be about Miles size or even a bit smaller because he'd been measuring small. Now I realize it was probably because he was laying on his side the whole time so the measurements weren't accurate. Then he got a little bath and was placed in daddy's arms so he could hold him for the first time.

The birth was such a good experience. I prayed and prayed that Grant and I would make it to full term and through labor and delivery without any complications. Well, God sure answered my prayers! Although the last month of the pregnancy was brutal I wouldn't change it. I knew that I needed to go through a bit of suffering but at the time I just couldn't see why. Now I understand. It was so I could be truly grateful for how simple and easy the delivery was. It was almost as if I paid my dues before the hard work would begin *knock on wood*. I am so thankful for all the blessings God has given us. Patrick and I are so happy that our boys are healthy and have each other. We can't wait to see them become best friends as they grow up and we really look forward to those bunk beds!



Thank you God for a beautiful family and for such an easy and safe pregnancy, labor, and delivery.







Grant is perfect.