They came, they saw, they went

The parents were here to see us for two weeks and they're already gone. I was really glad for the help with night time feedings for Timothy and for help during the day with a Ryan who is always on the move.

We did lots for Ryan while my parents were here.

We went to the children's museum in Portland where Ryan loved this water activity. He left with rather wet clothing.

We went to the zoo and Ryan was thrilled to see all the animals again. He enjoyed feeding ducks and chasing a turtle.

Ryan went swimming in the hotel pool with a swimsuit on (this was a challenge since he was convinced the pool was the same as a bath).

True to my Bahamian roots, we did lots of shopping and of course visited L.L. Bean.

My favorite part of this trip was discovering a Jamaican take-out place in York. I can't wait to go back to have more food which reminds me of home.

I also noticed my parents took all the photos of Timothy and I have none to post. I'll work on that this week!

Alphabet soup

Adam scored above average on his National Contact Lense Exam (NCLE)! We joked that if he actually got this certification that Adam Alphabet Soup woud be his official title (the real one is Adam ABOC, CPOC, NCLC... see what we mean?). I am really proud of him. He worked hard for all of these certifications, but the NCLE was probably the hardest of the three and possibly the reason he left it for last.

In other news... mastitis is better. Ryan is better! The family is here and we're having lots of fun.

An embarrassing moment for this mother: In Olive Garden when I ask Ryan what his belly button was called he grabbed his crotch and said, just loud enough for everyone to hear, "penis."

Timothy is growing. I will post photos at some point.

Mastitis...

is a pain in the boob... literally. I really hoped that what I felt yesterday wasn't mastitis. I felt awful. I wondered if i had the flu. I knew better, though, I was almost certain I had mastitis. I had a clogged duct with Ryan and this was worse. Since my parents are here, I got to rest the entire day -- yay!

We went to the doctor today. She confirmed that I have mastitis. I wish it weren't so. But, at least my parents are here and can help out when I just need to rest.

Now there are two of us on antibiotics trying to feel normal again.

Scarlet

Miss Scarlet in the billiard room with the wrench. Well, that's one possiblitiy. However, it's Ryan in the doctor's office with scarlet fever. Sigh. I'm still not sure how this happened, but it has happened. On Sunday night Adam noticed a rash on Ryan while giving him a bath. We thought maybe it was from sunblock and an afternoon spent in the sun. The next day I noticed the rash, but thought the same thing as Adam. But on Monday evening the rash looked like it could be measles, but Ryan had no fever. We decided we'd see if the doctor could see him at the same time as Tim's first well baby check up. And so it was decided yesterday afternoon that little man has scarlet fever and should take some antibiotics to get rid of it. The doc thinks Tim should be okay, but if he gets a fever, we're to bring him in right away.

So it was Timothy's well baby check up yesterday and he is a nice even 9 lbs now. Like Ryan, Timothy will have to go for blood work on his thyroid. I'm waiting to do that with my parents who will be here next week. I did Ryan's first blood test on my own and it was the worst idea a lady who has just had a baby could have. After they poked him for almost two hours before finally drawing the blood, I was a mess. We won't risk that this time. My parents went with me for Ryan's second blood work event and it went so much better. Basically, the doc just wants to make sure the meds I was taking during pregnancy (which were completly safe -- and if i hadn't taken them there is a chance I could have miscarried or had Timothy even earlier than I did) didn't do anything to Timothy's thyroid.

So far the early weeks of having a new baby are going better this time around. I, of course, have my meltdowns, but overall I'm feeling much better since delivering Timothy than I did when I delivered Ryan. My nights have been a bit difficult this week since Adam is working really long days because it's inventory tomorrow. He gets up at 5:30 and comes home at 9. He's exhausted and I can't even wake him up in the middle of the night so I've been doing feedings etc alone. I'm exhausted by the end of the day and can't wait for bedtime, which seems to be coming later and later. I'm looking forward to naptime today that won't be ruined by a trip to the doctor (Ry napped in the car yesterday and that meant I got no sleep).

In other news... Adam and I celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary this past Sunday. We enjoyed a nice dinner at the Steakhouse. The food was great, the service lousy, but we were glad to have some time without the kids. Then we took a walk on the beach. Below are two of the photos from our walk.

Zoo Photos

Here are some photos from our trip to the zoo on Thursday.

This was a family of ducks we discovered. The ducklings were very friendly... mostly they wanted us to feed them.

Adam and Ryan look at the ducks.

There's an enclosed area where you can walk with the deer. I went in first and then Adam and Ryan had their turn. It was rather weird to be so close to a deer.

Some of the deer walk right up to you and look for food in your hands.

Here are the prairie dogs. They were really cute.

This is my favorite photo of the many we took at the zoo.

Post Script

The above title will deal with the first part of this post. We watched the movie P.S. I love you this week. I give it two thumbs up, five stars, and believe it belongs in our collection. However, if you plan to rent it, you may want to keep a box of tissues with you while you watch. The movie was a great reminder that time is precious with the ones you love.

In other news... Timothy is growing. We have days where he feeds great and days where we keep reminding ourselves that he was early and this feeding thing is harder for him than other newborns. He still sleeps A LOT, but with a near term baby, that's to be expected. He has more periods where he opens his eyes and takes in what he can, but it's different for him than it was for Ryan. We still try latching on, but we're pretty sure we're just going to pump ye olde breastmilk and give Timothy a bottle. I feel no guilt this time around. I felt horrible that it didn't work out for Ryan to breastfeed. I beat myself up about it, but this time I know that whether I pump for three months like I did for Ryan or if I make it through a whole year, I'm doing my best.

Ryan has been a great big brother and loves to help out. He thinks he should get milk everytime Timothy does. He loves kissing his brother and touching his hair. He's been very gentle so far.

I'm feeling much better emotionally and physically this go around with pregnancy. I think emotionally it's been a huge boost to have Adam at home. He's had to go into work each week for a few hours, but those times away have given me a chance for a trial run with two kids. We've managed to play outside without him and haven't had any major problems. We haven't, however, managed to put Ryan down successfully for a nap when he's been gone. That will take some more work.

Physically, my stitches have healed wonderfully. I know they won't be fully healed for a few more weeks, but in comparison to last time, I'm feeling a million times better. My last stitches were awful and it took well beyond the six week mark to feel somewhat normal again. I think we were in the six month region when I felt like myself again. That in and of itself makes this time easier on my emotions. Plus there haven't been any horrible blood tests for Timothy yet. We're hoping we can skip them, but I'm sure we'll still have to do some sort of check on his thyroid since I was taking medicine for mine during the entire pregnancy.

Next week Adam goes back to work and I have a week with the kids on my own before my parents arrive on the 14th. Anyone in Maine who wants to hang out is more than welcome. I have a few plans for my sanity, but I welcome visitors, too.

We've managed to do some fun things as a family also. Today we are supposed to go to York Wild Animal Kingdom, but it's been overcast and while they aren't calling for rain I'd hate to get there and not see all of the animals.

More photos

The two boys getting to know one another. Ryan is slowly warming up to the idea that he's the big brother.

Eyes open!

For Ryan's first year I documented his growth with a huge Pooh Bear. It's currently in storage, but we have this little one so I took a quick photo anyway.

Silly husband

Adam woke up this morning upset that I hadn't gotten him up last night to help with Timothy. I told him he'd fed Timothy while I pumped (Timothy simply sleeps when put to breast and the lactation consultant suggested we keep trying, but pump and give a bottle to supplement during the night... while we're still trying, we've decided this way worked for Ryan and can work for Timothy too.). He even burped the little man, but remembers nothing.

When I asked him to help out Adam was sound asleep. He sat up, took Tim and the bottle and seemed to be gettting ready to feed him. When I looked over to see how things were going he was just holding the bottle and I had to say, "You might try putting that in his mouth so he can stop sucking his fingers and actually eat." And he did what I had suggested.

Still husband remembers none of this today. Silly man!

Best of all... Timothy has been sleeping three hours between feedings at night... so much better than Ryan ever did. I was up every hour and a half with Ry at this point. I'm really thankful for the rest. Ryan wants to play all day and when he naps I just want to be with my husband who so deserves this time off so actually getting some sleep at night and waking feeling rested, is so very nice.

Pictures

Blogger is giving me a hard time with photos, but I promise there will be more later.

So I think I have three pregnancy photos for my entire pregnancy this time. Here's the final one, right after a contraction and just before walking out the door at 5:30 on Sunday morning.

Our newest addition, Timothy James with his mom and dad late Sunday night.

This was a few minutes after birth. Timothy had a really blue face for the first day because he came out so quickly.

All snug.

He's ready to go home!

Surprise!

When I went to bed on Saturday night I didn’t expect to go into labor. I had told Adam it would be neat if both of our kids were born in May and wouldn’t the 25th be a perfect day? We really didn’t think it was possible at 36 weeks. Even though I was exhausted I agreed to watch “The Brave” with Adam. It was a Netflix rental we’d been holding on to for far too long. I feel asleep around 10 p.m.

Just before 2, I got up to go to the bathroom. When I came back to lie down in bed, I was having a hard time getting comfortable. When I rolled over my water broke. Slightly puzzled (my water broke with Ryan, but it was a trickle) at the large amount of fluid, I woke up Adam and told him that I’d either wet the bed or my water had broken. He asked about contractions and I said I hadn’t had any and planned on going back to sleep.

Well, it’s hard to sleep with fluid trickling so I got up and did a few things instead. By 3:30 contractions had started and I’d about finished scrapbooking all of my 2008 photos. At 4 I tried going back to bed, but only ended getting up to take care of Ryan who had a wet diaper. At five I was having contractions about 10 minutes apart and figured I should wake Adam and have him get ready.

We arrived at the hospital at 6, the main entrance was closed, so we entered through emergency and were greeted by a security guard. Before he could ask why we were there, Adam announced, “She’s stubbed her toe.” We all laughed and then got a wheel chair ride to the maternity ward.

The nurse later confessed she didn’t think I was in labor because I was so calm. When she checked me I was already six centimeters dilated and 80 percent effaced. She warned that if I wanted any sort of pain medication that I needed to decide now because my window of opportunity was rather small. While my contractions weren’t anything like when I had Ryan, I knew there was no way I’d risk that same amount of pain again so I asked for my intrathecal.

While we waited, Adam searched the baby name book for a boy’s name. The lab tech who took my blood must have thought we were out of our minds. Adam was throwing out names like Kirby and Gandalf. We pretty much laughed the entire time we were waiting for my antibiotics.

Time went by really quickly because by eight thirty I had my iv and all my antibiotics for GBS and the doctor had checked me again and said I was about eight and almost ready to deliver. He figured I would deliver between 9 and 11. Adam made a few phone calls and when he came back into the room he was shocked to see things in motion for delivery. In 10 minutes I went from and 8 to 10 and fully effaced.

I pushed four times (incredible compared to my hour of pushing last time) and baby boy was born. We were glad we spent so much time working on the boy name. Right before delivery we had it narrowed down to three choices and we decided about an hour after he arrived that he looked like Timothy James.

So, Timothy James was born May 25, 2008 (at 36 weeks and 3 days) at 8:51 a.m. He weighted 7 lbs 13 oz and was 21 inches long. They are pretty sure if I had gone full term he would have been a 10-pound baby.

Ryan came to meet his brother on Sunday with his grandparents. He ignored him for the first half of the visit and then wanted to see everything. When he left he said “bye-bye” to him. Today he’s made sure no toys are anywhere near his baby brother in case he might steal them, but he’s been helpful in getting diapers and such.

Aside from being exhausted, Adam and I are doing well and so is baby Timothy. We’re working on breastfeeding again and just looking forward to some family time while Adam is off work.

The 36th week

My visit this week was almost the same as it was two years ago at this point in my pregnancy. I'm dilated to a 2 and not effaced at all. My doc was excited that things have started because she's hoping it will mean I won't go to 40 weeks which will make it less likely that baby will be huge. I have some mixed feelings about going to early. My parents planned their trip so they could be here and not miss out, but I have so much pressure that some days I wish baby would arrive sooner rather than later.

I am well aware, though, that baby will arrive when he/she wants to arrive. I'll keep walking and eating spicy foods in hopes that this will help speed up the process, though not too much. I was eight days early with Ryan and some number around there would be fine.

I've been having lots of cramps, which doc says are contractions, though for me they are different than any I've had before. I know each pregnancy and labor can be completely different so I take her word for it. Whatever happens, happens.

Well child check-up

Ryan had his two year well child check up today. We waited 45 minutes before ever making into the room. He'd been up since 5 this morning so he was pretty cranky and I kept praying we were up-to-date on shots so we wouldn't leave in a horrible crying fit.

Thankfully, there were no shots and Ryan is doing incredibly well. It's amazing what a difference five months can make. He's now int eh 25th percenitle for weight as opposed to the fifth percentile so we don't have a million more blood tests to take. I seriously would have done the happy dance had I not been so tired.

Ryan, however, will be going for a speech evaluation. While we all hope it's just that he's slower than most at speech, we would like to nip any issue in the bud. He hasn't been putting two words together. If you ask him to say down please or up please he usually opmits the first word and just says please. If you pester him to say the first word, he says that one alone too. He also substitutes easy words for harder ones or just simply calls EVERYTHING a car. Of course, it doesn't help that the words he wants to say all sound similar, though he uses car for cars, trucks, color, crayons, chalk, cup. He loves to read and responds VERY well to instructions he just can't use his speech the way I think he wants to.

This visit with a speech therapist makes Adam more happy than it makes me. I do want him to advance, but I guess I'm not ready to admit there might be something wrong that needs therapy just yet.

I go for my 36 week check up on Thursday. But I want to share my wacky dream with you guys. Last night my dream was that I gave birth on Friday, May 23 (this was Ryan's due date) to a boy who weighted 10 lbs and we had no name picked out. I doubt any of it. I think it all has to do with us still not having a boy name picked out.

Our little helper



These photos just may be proof that Ryan really is my sister-in-law's child. We joke that my SIL has OCD and Ryan seems to be the same. Last week he got down and dirty and helped his grandmother clean the mini-blinds. The bubbles and water were really fun and having a scrub brush just his size was even more exciting.

Our little boy is two

I can't believe that Ryan is officially two today. Where has the time gone? It doesn't seem like it was that long ago we were looking at him on my belly in the delivery room trying to figure out which of our family members he most resembled.

It had been raining for days on end when he arrived. Someone said we should have named him Noah, but that never crossed our minds. On our way to the hospital we were almost in an accident, not by anything we did, but because there was construction on 111 and some guy decided to drive off road and into some construction cones. We made there safely and six hours later Ryan was born.

On the way to the hospital we discussed boy names. He had no name until the following morning. I still have the list of names we considered that night as we looked at him in the recovery room.

It's hard to imagine life without him. While some days are a true challenge, I'm glad he's ours. He's become quite the practical joker and reminds me of my brother in that respect. I love watching him play with his dad and I love how he calls out "night" to everyone as he goes down the stairs to bed at night.

I excited to watch him continue to grow and learn and though I know it won't be challenge-free, I'm sure he's going to make a great big brother.

Week 35

Week 35 started out really bad. Ryan was in a bad mood and gave me a run for my money on Monday that lead to a major break down when Adam got home. I was glad to have a Pampered Chef party to go to that evening to get away for a few hours.

Then yesterday, I went against my better judgement and let Ryan go outside in his PJs (it's a long story, but basically the rule is he has to be dressed to go outside to make getting dressed less of a struggle) with his grandmother and then he got a big boo-boo and we didn't sleep so well last night. I was ready for major break down number two this morning because I am so tired.

But there is good news...

The week 35 visit was short and sweet. I got to miss out on the Group B Strep test. I'm really thrilled about this because there's nothing worse than having that test at this far along in pregnancy. I understand it's necessary, but it's a really bad joke. Anyway I apparently have another bacteria they already know about growing so they will spare me the test and I get antibiotics anyway.

And Adam has the day off tomorrow after working way too many days in a row. He will be studying most of the day for his NCLE, but at least he'll be around. It's a nice feeling.

Second Birthday Party



We had Ryan's second birthday party this past weekend. It's a little early, but we had no other free weekend and we figured he really wouldn't know it wasn't his birthday yet. Last year, we had the party a week late so both of our parents and as many of our friends as possible could be there to celebrate Ryan's first year. This time, I'm glad I was smart enough to realize I'd be tired and I only invited a few people.

Ryan had a lot of fun playing with his cousin Madison while we waited on his godparents to arrive. They were late due because of their work schedules. Ryan loved opening his gifts, but got stalled after he opened his Mater toy from his Aunt Vanessa and Uncle Nick. They also got him a dust pan and broom as a gag gift because Vanessa and Ryan both like to clean (case in point, I was doing laundry when he woke up and he told me "what a mess!").

Ryan was enjoying everyone singing Happy Birthday until he realized they were singing it to him so he hid under the table. He managed to blow out his candle with a little coaching from his dad.

At the end, I was beat and glad I didn't wait till later in the month. I still have a few weeks left to go (three to six, depending on if I deliver at 37 or 40 weeks, I guess), but I am really, really ready. My back hurts and I'm at the point where sleeping is difficult because belly is so large. I know there is an end, but I am ready.

Pregnancy update

Today was my 33 week visit with the good old doc. I also had an ultrasound before seeing her. Baby is very cute and has hands in mouth and eyes open. He or she is practicing his or her breathing, which was really fun to watch.

Adam was sad to have missed this ultrasound, but my mother-in-law came to keep an eye on Ryan who loves to get into the tech's papers.

Anyway, baby is average. At this stage of pregnancy a baby generally weighs around 4 lbs. Our little munchkin weighs about 4.5 lbs and is in the 50th percentile for weight. The heartbeat was 139 bmp for those of you who think this means something. With Ryan that old wives tale meant nothing.

So we proceed with pregnancy like it was any normal pregnancy. Labor will happen when it happens, though Adam has given strick orders that it wait until he's finished taking his NCLE (National Contal Lense Exam) at the end of May. I think that's do-able.

And, oh, I measured a week ahead... it means nothing, if you ask me. I'd read that most women are supposed to measure within two centermetres give or take at each appointment and that it's considered normal. So I'm considering myself and this pregnancy normal.

Boy names?

The husband and I are struggling with a boy name. We had the same problem the year Ryan was born. He didn't get his name for a full day after his arrival. We've read lots of baby name books. We've read lots of baby name websites. If you read names in alphabetical order, it gets really old after a while. I've read lists and lists and still we have no name.

So now we're taking suggestions in hopes of finding that baby boy name just in case this is another boy. We've asked family and had a few possibilities, but nothing we're sold on just yet. I'm worried we'll have another boy and the nurse will ask what we're naming him and I won't have a clue again. And then we'll scramble that night or morning to figure out a name.

Help!

Messed up measuring tape

I'm convinced my doctor's measuring tape, the one used to measure my fundal height, is messed up. Four weeks ago, I measured three weeks ahead. Three weeks ago, I measured right on target. This week I'm measuring big again. This lead me to ask if there was something wrong with her measuring tape. I wasn't trying to be rude, I just want to know what is going on. She wouldn't say how big I measured this visit. What really puzzles me is that the week I really measured big was the week that I also put on five extra pounds. This time I've managed to keep it down to almost two pounds.

I go for another ultra sound next week. We'll get to see just how big baby is at that visit. Adam and his mother are convinced that I won't make it through May without delivering ( vaginally or via c-section) this baby. I think I'd be okay with that, mainly because I am so uncomfortable and I look so huge. There's a lot of pressure in the areas the baby is hanging out in these days. I'm not sure he or she should be allowed to get any bigger. Punches and kicks really hurt. When baby decides to do other movements I cringe.

I think I'm just going to keep on thinking that the measuring tape is messed up, even though everyone else is convinced I'll give birth to a toddler. My line of thinking gives me some peace.

Ryan's first big boy hair cut

My son had his first hair cut and I am ever so proud. I have to admit, both Adam and I were doubtful about this experience when we left for the barber shop this morning. Adam was worried that Ryan would be terrified of the person cutting his hair based on the fact that he was scared of the Easter Bunny. I was fearful based on the fact that he's been a bit crabby lately.

Yesterday I started preparing Ryan for the visit. I told him daddy was going to get his hair cut and we'd like Ryan to get his hair cut like a big boy too. This morning I reminded him that when daddy got up and ready, we'd be going for a big boy hair cut. No more mommy hair cut attempts.

Daddy went first and had his hair done. We thought the same lady cutting his hair would do Ryan's but then the owner showed up and asked Ryan if he wanted a hair cut to which he replied, "yes."

He took Ramsdell's hand and walked to the chair, got his paper neck thingy and cape put on and let him cut his hair. He hated the cape and neck thing and managed to take both off. Then he saw he was getting dirty, so he allowed Ramsdell to put the cape back on. Toward the end of the hair cut he managed to get the cape off again and proclaimed to all in the barber shop that it was, "trash."

He never cried. We were so proud.

And then he got up and said, "thank you," and picked out his own lollipop.

Amazing.