First Big Bad Mommy Moment with Kamden

I always try to bathe Kamden before he eats so he doesn't spit up right after he's clean. We didn't get his bath in Wednesday night, so I did it quick before work on Thursday. He was starving since he hadn't eaten his 'breakfast' yet and was screaming the whole time. So in my rush to get him dressed so he could eat I was trying to put his lotion on in the bathroom (I usually do this in the bedroom), and I dropped a big full bottle of baby lotion on his face!!! The lotion sits on the window sill out of Karson's reach and Kamden was on the towel chest right below it. Of course he cried pretty much the loudest I've ever heard him cry. Dustin was still home and came running. He did a good job reassuring me everything was fine, but I thought for sure I broke his little nose or gave him a black eye. Kamden is just fine and only cried for about 30 seconds. Of course I popped him on the boob right there in the bathroom because I felt so bad. If this is the worse thing I do to him in his life I think we'll do just fine.

On a pissed off note, the hospital I delivered Kamden at has just lifted the no kids ban. So in the three week span I had Kamden they didn't allow siblings and now they do. I am livid about this. I want to go to the higher ups at the hospital's house and burn all the pics of their children together in the first three days of life and see how they like having that memory taken. Grrr!!! Something I will never be able to get back and there is nothing I can do about it. I guess I'll just go kick rocks.

Back to Work

I was more than ready to return to work. The boys have been wearing me out!! Work is like a vacation. It helps that my daycare lady knows our "system" and is here in town same as me. Also, only working three days a week makes for plenty of time with my boys.

Kamden is three weeks old and doing great. He is an easy baby so far (knock on wood). He only cries when he's hungry and even then I wouldn't call it crying so much as grunting. Dustin keeps trying to make things quiet and dark. I tell him to knock it off, Karson can be screaming and I can be vacuuming all while Kamden is sitting in direct sunlight and it never seems to affect him. I really don't want Kamden to become a light sleeper.

Karson is a fantastic big brother. He comes running whenever Kamden cries. Karson likes it when his baby is happy and so do I. For the most part Karson ignores the baby. When I'm nursing Kamden, Karson knows I'm not going to get up and he takes advantage of this time. He drags all his toys out and does things he knows he's not supposed to because he knows I'm not going to stop him. One of these days I'm going to pretend to nurse Kamden and I'm going to jump up and put Karson in time out. That ought to show him!!

Karson is getting so big. We've been working on his colors. He knows the basic ones, but he knows them by character. For instance, Red is Elmo (because we say red like Elmo), Green is Percy, Blue is Thomas, Orange is Grandma's pop, White is just White, Black is just Black, and Yellow is like a duck (rubber duck). Karson is to funny. We were driving down the road yesterday when I passed a semi. Karson says big truck Thomas. Yes, it was a big blue semi. So smart, kind of. He also is talking a ton. When I pump for Kamden, Karson will say, "Milk out baby" (milk out for baby). Most of the time you can understand what he wants, even if you won't let him have it.

All in all we're getting along just fine. Dustin doesn't want me to go back to work, but I need to get out of the house and away from the kids. I love my boys, but I can appreciate them more when I get a break.

It's a Boy!!! (Birth Story)

I had been having contractions for a couple of weeks, but nothing really painful or consistent. So, by the time our scheduled induction rolled around I was more than ready. On the morning of October 19 Dustin and I rounded up our things, picked up my mom, dropped Karson off at daycare, and headed to Waterloo to meet Alisia for breakfast at Village Inn before all the excitement began.

We arrived at the hospital at 8:00 am to begin our induction. The first hour was spent getting settled in, getting blood drawn, and starting my antibiotics for Group B Strep. My contractions were 4 minutes apart and I was already 4 cm dilated and 75% effaced. At 9:00 we started pitocin. That brought my contractions closer together and much stronger.

Sometime between 10:30 and 11:00 I got my epidural and was very comfortable. At 11:45 I was 5 cm dilated and the Dr broke my water. Then the nurse left to go eat lunch before things started happening. About 1:00 I started feeling contractions low in my stomach. With each contraction I could feel water gushing. I decided to just wait for my nurse to come back and let her know what I was feeling. In the mean time I kept pushing my button to up my epidural.

My nurse, Lindsey, came back at about 1:30 and asked if anyone had checked on me. I said no and she said she had gotten caught up helping set up a c-section and figured someone would have checked on me. I told her it was no big deal and told her what I was feeling. When she went to check me my bed was soaked so she changed the sheets. Then she checked me and I was fully dilated and the head was right there.

The nurse called for my Dr, who was in a c section. Dr. Rellihan arrived at about 1:45 and had me do a practice push. I hardly started to push and she says STOP, STOP!! The head was already coming out. She said don't laugh or cough and turned around to put her gloves on while the nurses removed the end of the bed. Dustin later told me he was afraid to leave the foot of the bed because the head was half way out.

Dr Rellihan was ready to deliver the baby and told me to push. I felt the head "pop" out and then the body. I don't think the feet were even out and Dustin yelled "Oh, it's a boy!!" At 1:51 pm Kamden Nile was born weighing 8 lbs 5.4 oz and was 21.75 inches long. His head was 14 inches and his chest was 13.5 inches.

Just before I delivered Kamden, Alisia arrived at the hospital and ended up being in the room for the delivery. We spent an hour trying to figure out what to name our little bundle. Everytime we mentioned Kamden he responded so we went with it.

Karson was not able to come to the hospital due to H1N1 which quite frankly ruined my birth experience. Dustin had to leave a few times to take care of Karson and I spent half my time worrying about who he was with and how he was doing. All in all things went great.

H1N1 Can Bite My A$$

I have calmed down considerably since I heard the news yesterday. The news that my hospital will not be allowing anyone under 15 years of age onto it's premises. Normally this wouldn't bother me, but I'm having a baby in 3 days and I want my son to meet his sibling while we're at the hospital!! I feel like I'm being robbed of that picture of the big brother holding the baby in the hospital bed with mom. Silly I know, but I've been waiting to see Karson's reaction to this little one since the day I found out I was pregnant!!!

I'm really mad because I asked this very question (about hospital vistor policy changing due to H1N1) at one of my last OB visits and the Dr kind of laughed like she'd never heard of such a thing. Then, lo and behold it happens. Grrr!!! I tried to call my OB's office to complain, but they transferred me to labor and delivery. I'm currently waiting on a call back from the manager. I've heard of exception being made at other hospitals, like siblings wearing a mask until they get to the room. I'm going to push for this. To top it off my regular OB is on vacation until Monday so I can't even get her to back me on this.

I was up all night thinking about this. If I wasn't so close to having this baby I would consider switching OB's and delivering at a different hospital. If I had more time to explore my options I certainly would. This sucks. I'm days away from giving birth and I feel like my life has been turned upside down. I bit dramatic maybe, but I've been planning this whole sibling meeting in my head for 9 months!!! I wasn't worried about Karson because I thought I'd get to see him daily. Now I won't be able to see him for 3 or more days. I'm seriously considering asking for an early discharge from the hospital. Can you imagine Karson's reaction when he hasn't seen his mom for a few days and then she comes home with a new person!!! If that's not asking for trouble I don't know what is. I had this transition all figured out in my head and now I'm just going to show up at home with a baby and rock Karson's world.

Sorry for the Vent. I could go on for days about this. I guess I'm just going to sit here and wait for my call back from L&D. Wish me luck.

Poop Is Exciting

Poop is always kind of funny and gross, but when you have small children poop is such a big deal. As in, Karson pooped on the potty and it was a BFD (Big Fricking Deal). We had to call and let everyone know. Now, if he would only continue to poo on the potty we'd be in business. He has started to tell me "I pooped" as soon as he has gone in his diaper. Sometimes he even lays down to be changed right away. Like, I'm dirty somebody change me.

Poop will also be very exciting when we finally have this new baby. Baby poop is always inspected. When you pick baby up from daycare your usually informed of all the baby's pooing through out the day and you couldn't be more thrilled. Weird yes, but if you are a parent you will totally understand.

On the baby front, I am currently 2-3 cm and 50% effaced. I have contractions here and there, but nothing real painful or consistent. We will be having the baby Monday if I haven't gone into labor on my own. So only about 5 more days and we'll find out if Karson has a little bother or a little sister. I am so ready!!! Yet so not!!! My next post should be a baby announcement!!!!!!!!

The Baby is Coming

The baby is coming, somewhat soon. We had an ultrasound yesterday and the baby looks to be about 7 lbs. So if we make it to our induction on 10/19 the baby should weigh around 8 lbs. I can live with that. I thought I was going to have it last night. I was having contractions every 2-6 minutes lasting 30-60 seconds, but they weren't real strong. This lasted about 4 hours and petered out. That's okay, I would prefer to wait till the end of this week.

Had a fairly busy weekend. Went tailgating at Kevins for the UNI game. UNI won big time. Karson was actually very good and didn't even have a nap. Went to church and watched the Bears game on Sunday. Monday Dustin was still home due to his back so we took Karson to McDonalds to play. I figure this was probably our last "Karson only" trip. Next, time the baby will get to come too.

This morning I installed the baby's carseat and Karson thought it was great!! He kept saying baby, baby. I told him baby will get to ride in the car with us very soon. Karson is in for such a rude awakening. He is going to be a great big brother once he realizes that the baby is here to stay.

Naked Scootering

Last night we decided to give Karson a bath earlier than normal so we could watch a movie. So Dustin made supper while I bathed Karson. After Karson got out of the bath we came downstairs to put on his diaper and pajamas. Well, Karson did not want to put on his diaper and pajamas. He wanted to ride his scooter nude. I decided to get out the camera and tape the whole ordeal. So I now have a fantastic video of Karson Scootering around the house naked with a helmet on. It's great!!! I can't wait till he's 16 and I can show his girlfriend. I would post it on Facebook, but I don't want to get kiddie porn charges.