Life is What Happens When You're Making Other Plans...

These lyrics from a song never rang more true for me recently. I was feeling great 5 weeks post-delivery. We were getting out more and life was normalizing. Then, "life" happened. I awoke Wed. AM to a "stitch" in my side. I went back to sleep figuring it was the way I slept since I breastfeed Miles in bed during the night. Then an hour later I awake to feed Miles only to have terrible pain wrapping all the way around me under my rib cage. I somehow made it through a nursing session with Miles but then had to call someone. I called Tony first and then my mother who came over immediately (Tony has to take a boat in from work.) I drove myself to the ER and Tony met me there. I refused all pain meds due to breastfeeding. They suspected my gall bladder (as I did too at this point as the pain was starting to focus on my right side under my ribs and HURT when the ER doctor pushed there.) I had to go to another hospital because our small local one had no ultrasound that day. LOL. I stopped at home to breastfeed Miles first though of course. LOL. I was discharged from the other hospital with pain meds and told to call the general surgeon for an appointment as my gall bladder needed to be removed at some point. Fortunately, I was able to get an appointment with the surgeon the next day because that night I had another attack. I gave in and took a pain med at this point and it numbed the pain. With two little ones I had no idea how long I could keep that up so thankfully the surgeon had an opening for surgery Friday. Apparently, the surgeon told my husband I had 50 stones! I guess it was a good thing I had my gall bladder out. I had the weekend for my husband to help me and thanks to the hurricane, he was also home on Monday to help. Thankfully, my parents as well as my in-laws also live nearby so they have also stopped up to help as they can. So, a little set back but hopefully since it was done laproscopically, I will be feeling myself very soon.

Mom Monday...

You Know You're A Mom When...

My Boys

Cole asked me to take a photo of him with Miles so I jumped at the chance to do a quick little photo shoot. Here are a few pictures from it. Enjoy!

1 Month Old!

Miles I cannot believe you are 1 Month Old today! Where does the time go?

You are still exclusively breastfeeding, which is exhausting but so rewarding. I said I would start introducing a bottle to you now and I know I need to since I will be going back to work full time in October but I really don't want to do it. I am loving that I am able to provide you with all the nourishment you need straight from my own body. It is amazing. Yes, you will be getting pumped milk but the fact right now I am the only one who can give you what you need is rewarding.

You are in size 1 diapers and after trialing Swaddlers that didn't have Dry Max we are back in Baby Dry and yes, still disposables because you got another adhesion/blister on your circ site so we are back to Baby Dry and hoping that clears up so we can get into cloth. I can't do cloth with the adhesions because I am putting the Alba Unpetroleum jelly on it but I am thinking that it would be okay. I am using the diaper safe cream on you, CJs BUTTer and am really liking it so far. It cleared up your red butt and "callus" that appeared to be forming. I hope it continues to work well. I really need to get your diapers prepped so I can be one step closer to cloth. I should have prepped them prior to your arrival. Lesson learned there!

You are outgrowing some clothes. I have squeezed you into a few newborn and size 0-3 months clothes just so I can say you wore them at least once but then had to pack them away. I can see a change in your face already and can feel when I pick you up that you are bigger. Sigh...bittersweet for sure.

You still HATE diaper changes. You cry bloody murder when they happen and you also get quite upset when you have to wait a minute to eat (and I literally mean maybe a minute at most.)

You continue to be very loud when you eat.

You have a tuft of hair on the back of your head right around your "crown" that swirls a little and stands up like a rooster's head dressing (not sure what they are called). I think it is cute and some wonder if you might have wavy hair like Mommy. You also appear to have a red tinge to your hair when the lighting is right. Several people have commented on it and I see it in photos of you sometimes.

You still could take or leave the pacifier and prefer to just use Mommy as a pacifier.

Your basic schedule right now is to eat every 3 hours but sometimes you eat more and once in a while you will go 4 hours at night.

You still burp well and spit up like crazy!

Your most alert and fussy time right now is from around 6 PM (I think I am going to have to move dinner time back some because this is when we are trying to eat) to 10 or 11 PM. You are tired during this stretch and just wont go to sleep. You also sometimes like to do a little cluster feed during this time.

You still love to be swaddled and held but will allow us to put you down.

You hold your head up pretty well but you hate tummy time.

You and Mommy fight at night sometimes as you want to feed one way and Mommy wont let you and then you get cranky and Mommy is tired...lol. I can just imagine what Daddy thinks :)

You're a wonderful gift from God that I can't thank Him enough for!

Meet Paco and Larry

This is Paco and Larry. Cole lately is more partial to Paco (he is on the left) and often lets Paco sleep with him and calls Larry "the dog" right now. LOL. Not sure where he came up with the names either :)

Remembering Eliza

I have to make sure to take a moment to pause and remember my dear friend Eliza today. It is her birthday today but unfortunately, as many of you know, she left us when God called her Home 8 years ago on February 21, 2003. Happy Birthday dear friend. I miss you and thank you for watching over me and my family in more ways than I am sure I will ever know.

Things That Make You Go Hmm....

The dinasour is just one of the many things Cole leaves in Miles' room :) He is being sure his presence is everywhere. The other picture though made me laugh. I kept looking at Miles' bouncer thinking what is that pink thing stuck in it? I thought maybe a wire or something was sticking out of where the vibrating mechanism was and then I looked at Mr. Potato Head's body next to me on the floor and it dawned on me. Cole stuck Mr. Potato Head's ear into the cushion of the bouncer. LOL. Cole is leaving his mark literally everywhere :)

2 Week Check-Up

On August 5th Miles turned 2 weeks old! The day before we had our two week check up with the MD. This of course is the time when a breastfeeding Mom especially is anxious to hear the weight (or me at least) because they should be back to their birth weight if not a little more. Miles has been doing well so I wasn't too worried but still wondered where he was at.

He not only gained his weight back (he went down from 7 lbs. 10.5 ounces at birth to 7 lbs. 2 oz. at discharge (a 6% loss I was told, which is right in the middle of okay) but he also gained more! He was 8 lbs. 2 oz! My big boy gained a full pound in 2 weeks! His weight and head circumference put him in the 47th percentile so he is doing well but so far, definitely not like Cole who was already in the 90th percentile! I don't know his height because I forgot what she said and the graph wasn't working for her. I was a little preoccupied because he was hungry (I breastfed him while waiting for the MD to come in the room) and while taking his diaper off his healed circumcision stuck to the stupid diaper and tore him and made him bleed. The poor guy screeched and bled and would you believe the office had no petroleum jelly for me to put on it!? Anyway, he was 20 inches at birth so he was more than that :)

The MD said he is doing well. Eating great (he joked that I was putting soda in a bottle or something) and he isn't concerned about the Group B Strep but I still worry a little. He said his "yucky" eye should clear but worse case scenario he may need to see an eye doctor to have a procedure to open the tear duct (praying it opens on its own.) I massage it every day but it still is weepy...sigh. His umbilical cord still hadn't fallen off at the appointment, which surprised the MD since he was 2 weeks old basically but it did end up falling off 2 days later. It literally hung by a string for the longest time! LOL. This little man has his own agenda for everything!

We haven't gotten his newborn screening results back yet. This makes me anxious because as you may remember Cole failed one of his (the one for MCAD.) Praying all is well with this little guy.

We are back to putting petroleum (I actually use Alba unpetroleum jelly) on his circ site again and I have switched diapers from the Pampers Dry Max because I think they may be too drying. I have actually found some Pampers that are not Dry Max (Baby Dry) and I like these but I found some old Snugglers in the store that were not Dry Max yet so I bought those to try as well. I tried Huggies but he pees through them! The MD even agreed with me that cloth may be the way to go and is anxious to see what happens. He said studies are actually being done about the possible side effects of the chemicals in disposables now because they are seeing more instances of penile issues (particularly the urethra closing up some in boys). Makes me more sure of my decision to cloth diaper! I hope it is the answer for my little guy.

This little guy loves to eat as I said. I had to breastfeed him before we left the office too! LOL. So glad I am getting this chance that I didn't get with Cole (I breastfed him but not exclusively due to issues with us both) but man, it sure is tiring! All worth it though and I keep putting off introducing a bottle because of it! I need to do it soon though because he will need a bottle when I go back to work in October (lets not think about that right now though.)

Finally, just a few facts...

- Miles is in the 47th percentile overall for growth.
- He wears a newborn diaper at 2 weeks old.
- He wears newborn and size 0-3 clothes.
- He is exclusively breastfed and eating well.
- He sleeps fairly well but eats about every 2-3 hours but sometimes every 1-1.5 hours!
- He is pretty laid back but HATES diaper changes.
- He did well with his first bath at home but screams like Cole did now.
- He burps well unlike Cole did but does get a very uncomfortable bubble once in a while and doesn't handle that well.
- He is gassy! (I know this is most likely what I am eating but I don't know what that is!)
- He loves to be swaddled but does fight it sometimes.
- He isn't much for the pacifier...he could take it or leave it and this is fine with me.
- He prefers the bouncer over the swing, which is the opposite of Cole.
- He like Cole, holds his head up fairly well from just days after he was born!
- He still has the stepping reflex, which I don't remember Cole doing but I think is funny.
- I call him my cat because he constantly tries to move off the burp cloth and when he does, he will ALWAYS then spit up.
- He is very loud when he eats. Tony says he sounds like a flock of geese :)
- When he wants to eat, he wants to eat and you better not make him wait!

Miles' Birth Story

This is the only picture we have of Miles' birth. It was taken with Tony's camera phone. It went so fast we didn't have time to think about pictures! I am glad Tony thought to snap this one!

As many of you know, Thursday, July 21st I had my weekly OB visit and the OB had said I was still closed, not effaced, my cervix was still posterior, etc. She was thinking Miles was not coming any time soon. I was starting to get just a little anxious as I was hoping for a natural delivery. (Little did I know just how natural it would be!) However, I was feeling pretty good and was in no hurry to hurry the little guy along. I was scheduled for a massage at 11:30 the next day (Friday, July 22nd) and was hesitant as to whether I even wanted her to do some induction points as I really wanted this little guy to come in his own time. However, I was also fully aware that my OB probably would suggest induction if he didn't come by his due date.

Now, fast forward to 3:30 A.M. on Friday, July 22nd. I awoke to some period like cramps and went to the bathroom. I then ended up in the bathroom several times. The medication I am on for my PCOS can cause this issue so I wasn't so sure it was anything but that. However, I began to notice the "cramps" were appearing "timeable". So I began timing them. They were always a minute in duration but frequency was anywhere from 5-12 minutes apart. At this point I was sure it was labor but knew it was early in the game.

Fast forward to 6 A.M. Contractions are now about 5-7 minutes apart and more uncomfortable. However, Cole's labor was 30 hours and I really wanted to labor as long as I could at home this time. I sent Tony to work (he figured he was just going to work a half day anyway because of the heat) and I decided to wait until the OB office opened at 9 A.M. to call them unless things progressed a lot. I continued to time contractions and breath through them feeling great in between each contraction and did so with Cole stuck to my side most of the time. I didn't tell him what was going on but I know he sensed it because he never left my side. If I was on the couch he was laying with me. If I was in the recliner, he was in my lap. Thinking back I think how wonderful it is that my son actually was with me for a large part of my labor. Daddy wasn't here but my son was my labor coach :)

Just before 9 A.M. I called my Mom to tell her I was pretty sure I was in labor and to "be on call." I called the OB office at 9 A.M. I immediately told the nurse my duration and frequency as well as intensity of contractions...she said, "Wow, that is all the info. I needed, what number kid is this for you?" :) The nurse said it sounded like labor but if I was comfortable laboring at home then she would call me back in 45 minutes and for me to walk around (not sit and lay like I was) to see if I made progress.

My Mom came over after running some errands to help with Cole as walking was definitely bringing on the contractions. I finished packing my bag, called Tony to inform him what was going on and waited for the nurse to call back. When she did call, contractions were 1 minute long, 2-3 minutes apart on average and intense enough that I had to stop what I was doing, lean on something and breath through them. The nurse said she thought I should come in since I had a 40 or more minute drive and possible traffic and I needed to get there 4-5 hours before delivery for my antibiotic because I was Group B Strep positive (as I was with Cole.)

I called Tony who was on his way in instead of waiting for the 11 AM boat because based on my updates he felt he should come (and so did his co-workers I am told.) Just as with Cole's birth, I know someone was watching over us because as you will soon hear, had Tony waited for the 11 AM boat, he would have missed Miles' birth!

Tony got home and packed his bag and my Mom was there to take Cole. Cole got a little uneasy as Daddy was home at an odd time and Mommy was obviously uncomfortable at this point and suddenly we both were leaving with bags. However, a few hugs, kisses and waves good-bye and he was fine. I got a little emotional leaving him but the pain of the contractions soon distracted me :)

On the way to the hospital my contractions got more intense and I really had to concentrate to breath through them. Tony was worried I may not make it to the hospital and kept saying that if I needed him to pull over he would and call an ambulance. (My Mom was worried before I left, kept telling me to get going as I made sure we had everything we needed before we left. LOL.) I kept telling Tony to just get me there :) He took a "short-cut" and that turned into a wait due to construction. We literally got to the man with the sign who turned it to stop on us. I was waiting for Tony to yell at him that his wife was in labor and to let him through! I also thought if the man can see me in the car he must be wondering what my problem is. LOL. Never-the-less we made it to the hospital.

There was no parking close so we pulled up front and parked to get me in. I had to stop and hold on to the car door for a contraction and a pregnant lady was sitting on the bench near us. I thought she must be thinking, this will be me soon! She just smiled at me :) As we were walking in a volunteer elderly man collapsed outside. I wanted to stop and help but was too uncomfortable but luckily someone else was right there to offer assistance. Remember, this was the hottest day on record for our area. I was told the temps hit 101 degrees! We took the elevator up to L&D and Tony kept asking me if I wanted a wheelchair but I was determined I could walk in. I checked in to the locked unit and the girl checking me in started looking my name up as if I was a visitor. I told her I was in labor and she said, "Oh! Then go right in!" LOL. I guess I hid my pain well :)

The nurses' station was not that far but I had to stop once and hold the rail to get through a contraction. I told the nurse, "I'll be with you in a second" and she said, "Take your time." Tony said he was thinking, "Help her!" LOL. They got me into the triage room and I had to get changed, give a urine sample, etc. Again, I had to keep stopping to breath through contractions and hold onto something. They did the usual check-in and said they would monitor me for 20 minutes, etc. I was checked and I was 4 CM and 80% effaced. I was glad to hear this as it meant I was making progress but somewhat surprised as I told Tony in the car the pain was at the point I remembered when I was 7 CM with Cole and got the epidural. Tony left to move the car. Lab came and drew some blood. Contractions were getting more intense. Tony returned, anesthesia came to try to get my I.V. in. Lab came back as they needed more blood. I really was having some intense contractions I had to breath through. I remember Tony returned and had all our bags and I thought why did he bring all that? What if we don't stay? LOL. Then, my water broke.

The nurse came in to check and it had broken. My water was broken by the OB and I didn't feel anything when I had Cole so this was a new experience for me. I was very happy to have it break on its own this time. It literally felt like you were peeing and I remember telling the nurse I think it was my water as I felt a little pop and then warm liquid but maybe I had peed myself. LOL. She said, "No, it is definitely your water." I told the nurse the contractions were more intense (could she tell by my moaning? LOL) and I was starting to feel a little pressure so she checked me again. I was now 8 CM and fully effaced. This is when things got crazy. Suddenly I remember them saying I was definitely staying, had my OB called back yet? We need to move her to a room! We need to get that I.V. in! Then I remember being moved to the room on the stretcher. Getting out the door I was told to put my legs together some so I didn't bump them and I thought, "Are you crazy, the nurse told me this would help with this intense pressure!" They got me out the door just find :) Then I was being told I needed to slide to the bed when I could and I remember like 5 people there all helping. My OB was there, lab was told it wasn't going to happen for them and they needed to leave, anesthesia kept trying to get my IV in, my nurse was there, the nurse manager, Tony and maybe another nurse or two! Then I remember hearing the IV was not going to happen, I was ready to deliver!

I felt intense pressure and an urge to push (never felt this with Cole due to the epidural). I remember just before this the OB said I still had a little "lip" and I thought great, that is what I had with Cole and tore. That thought soon faded though as the urge to push overwhelmed me. So began the pushing. It was amazing to feel that. Your body really takes over and knows what to do. The contractions were horrible but the pushing felt good. My nurse was amazing. She kept reminding me to breath. My OB was great offering whatever encouragement she could and using hot compresses and massage to try to prevent a tear. I remember several times saying, "I can't do this" and asking if they were sure there was nothing I could take for the pain :) Once pushing was in full swing I remember how good pushing felt though. The anesthesiologist held one of my legs and I labored and delivered somewhat on my right side. At one point I was trying to hold my leg too and they told me my hand was so close to touching his head. They asked if I wanted to feel it and I said yes. It was amazing. It gave me strength I needed at this point to deliver him. As he came out they suddenly said, "Stop. Don't push!" I tried so hard not to but my body was in complete control. I told them I was trying but my body was doing it anyway. Apparently the cord was double wrapped around Miles' neck and the OB couldn't get it off. I was later told by the OB that it was also wrapped loosely around his belly. Tony says they ended up having to cut the cord a few times to get it off Miles' neck. Miles Thomas was born (July 22, 2011 at 12:13 P.M. weighing 7 lbs. 10.5 ounces and 20.5 inches long...he was shorter and lighter than Cole and often this is not the case...Cole was 7 lbs. 13.5 ounces and 22 inches long) and immediately placed on my belly. (This is always the most incredible moment.) It felt like forever for the placenta to deliver. With Cole it came immediately. I asked the OB how long before I delivered the placenta and she said it should come soon :) I felt the contractions for this, which I didn't with Cole so I was a little more eager to deliver it. I asked her how it looked and she (as she did with Cole) showed it to me. It looked great compared to Cole's as you may remember, his was aging faster than it should. I got stitched up as I did tear (I didn't feel it this time interestingly) but my OB said it wasn't as bad as my last tear. I felt so much pressure as she was stitching me but she assured me it was due to the meds they inject at the site to allow "plumping" for stitching. I never felt this with Cole of course. After delivery I felt so good though compared to with Cole. I had no meds except something they gave me in the arm at one point I honestly think just to make me feel better because previously I was told nothing would help at this point. I was offered a fecal med at one point during delivery too by the OB and anesthesia said I couldn't hold still enough for it but the OB said she wanted me to know my options...they were almost arguing about it. I think the OB just felt so bad for me...lol. I was able to breastfeed within an hour after delivery and Miles did so well.

I kept asking if Miles was okay and they said yes. I was so worried because I hadn't gotten the antibiotics he needed to ensure I didn't pass infection on to him. They said since his labor was so quick his risk was lower. However, over the 48 hours in the hospital they did multiple blood draws to check for infection. Numbers were going up and down so they kept drawing and talk of him having to stay an extra day or two or possibly week and get antibiotics were discussed. I prayed and asked for prayers for his health and he was able to come home with us. He isn't fully in the clear as infection can show up months later I guess but so far he is home, healthy, and exclusively breastfeeding! Continued prayers are of course appreciated.

I felt really good after delivery as I said. I was able to get up, do most of my care and Miles' on my own and Miles breastfed well. He cluster fed the first night keeping me up most of the night literally feeding for hours straight. My nurses were great. It was such a different experience than when Cole was born. I didn't like the pediatrician and Miles ended up with a few extra heel sticks because the lab spilled his blood once and another time the blood clotted before they tested it but otherwise, the stay went well. I was ready to come home this time too. I missed the comfort of home and I missed Cole badly. It was also lonely in the hospital especially at night as Tony went home early often because he was with Cole.

So, start to finish, first contraction to delivery was just about 9 hours compared to the 30 hours with Cole. Labor was completely natural unlike my much medicated delivery with Cole. Recovery is going much better this time around. No bladder or bowel issues this time and the tear is not as bad so at almost 3 weeks post-partum now I almost feel myself. I am bleeding longer than I did with Cole but I suspect since I am feeling so good it is because I am much more active than I was after Cole's delivery. I even asked the nurse the other day when I could exercise again. She said I was only 2 weeks post-partum...give it a bit :)

Breastfeeding is going well. I am tired but Miles does sleep some, which is a big change from Cole. He naps some during the day and sleeps sometimes 3-4 hours at night with the occasional 5 hour stretch. He cluster feeds some still, which is exhausting but I am so proud to say that Miles is 3 weeks tomorrow and has not had a bottle or formula yet. Cole had a bottle/formula starting with Day 2! I am pumping and storing milk and have so much that I had to put some in my Mom's freezer. This all makes me smile through the exhaustion.

I pray all continues to go well in all areas and am so thankful for this precious gift from God. If I had it to do again, I wouldn't do it any other way. Well, maybe a little something to take the edge off contractions :) Who knows. I hope that I do get the chance to find out :)

Edit- I forgot a funny detail. During the most intense part of the labor (right before pushing) I heard a nurse say to my OB, "I like your shoes" and my OB said, "Thanks, they are my socks. I didn't know if I would make it down here in time so I kicked off my shoes and came down in my socks." LOL. I had my eyes closed during most of this part so I didn't get to see but Tony said she had the slipper things over the socks and I am guessing that she changes her shoes when she goes from her practice down to deliver a baby just in case they get soiled. Regardless, I think the fact she delivered my son in her socks is funny and the fact she wasn't sure she had time to put on her other shoes reminds me just how fast this labor went :)

Poll Results: When Will Miles Arrive?

This picture was taken within an hour of Miles' birth.

So for those of you that said Miles would arrive "next week" you were correct. Most of you thought he would come the week he was due and a select few thought I would have him the week I posted the poll. I have to say even my OB thought he would arrive the week he was due because as you may remember from the post the day before I delivered him, I was showing absolutely no signs that Miles was coming any time soon :)

I am still working on the computer that is "on its last leg" so I promise the birth story will be coming (it is a good one...at least I think so) but I have to limit my time on the computer to when I am uploading photos for fear it wont make it much longer. Plus, raising a toddler and newborn takes a lot of my time too :)

Update....

So Miles is having circumcision issues (yes, like we dealt with for 2 years with Cole...sigh) and his umbilical cord is refusing to "let go" although it did some yesterday but it still isn't fully healed and the little guy seems to be having issues with his diapers (he is still in disposables because I was waiting for the umbilical cord to fall off and the circumcision to heal...the circumcision looked healed and stuck to his diaper making it bleed at his 2 week check-up...this makes me all the more sure I need to have this kid in cloth). Also, Miles is wanting to eat and be held constantly. He was okay with being put down initially but not lately. I am still exclusively breastfeeding but that leaves little time for "me". Also, my computer I am told after several trips to the computer "guy" to fix it and several hours on the phone with him today that my computer is on its way out and quickly. I also have a very busy toddler who just wants some love...it sure sucks being the first born in my opinion when a sibling arrives. Finally, I am working on little to no sleep daily. With that said though, I am doing it all with a little tear from frustration but otherwise a huge smile internally. I have a roof over my head, a job, and a beautiful family. Really, all the other stuff is just an inconvenience. Sorry for the ramble and any typos...I am typing on borrowed time as my littlest man is ready to eat again and my dinner is getting cold.