Home on the Range

We've all made it home. It's a little surreal to be back in our house with a tiny baby in addition to Busby and Janet.

As you probably saw from Big Kahuna's post, labor and delivery went very smoothly. I could not have imagined things would go so very well. I know I shouldn't say this, but it was an easy labor. The most painful part was getting the epidural, because the anesthesiologist initially put the catheter in a little to the right, which caused incredible pain in my hip. But since I let him know that was the situation, he took care of everything, and all was well.

Delivery was incredibly fast. 3 pushes. I was shocked! I actually said to the doctor, "That was it?" But there she was. My beautiful, amazing McCloud.

It took a while, but I've figured out who she looks like. She looks like Busby did when he was born. The only difference is the plumbing.

The hospital stay was great until I took some oxycodone last night. While it did take care of the pain, it caused incredible nausea and dizziness. I have learned my lesson, and my doc didn't prescribe it for me. I did order and eat a lot of the free 24-hour room service. I wasn't kidding about the grilled cheese and chocolate shakes. The hospital staff was really, really great, and I loved all the nurses. Maggie from Labor & Delivery came by today before we left to see us again. She really is awesome.

Busby and Janet have done really well with the baby. Busby keeps his distance, and Janet keeps giving her kisses. I had to keep telling her to leave the bassinet alone, but I think she's getting it now.

Like I said, we're home. All of us. Busby and Janet are in bed (I hope). McCloud is sleeping (which she does quite a bit of). Big Kahuna is doing the dishes. I'm sitting here typing. Life is good.

For a bit of fun, click here.

McCloud has arrived !!!

 

We checked in to the hospital at about 7:30 this morning to get things started, Momma was greeted by Maggie ( our, ok her nurse ) with a big hug and peck on the cheek.  When I arrived with last minute luggage Momma was absolutely glowing!  Maggie has been a labor and delivery nurse for quite some time, when asked how long had she been a L&D nurse she simply smiled and said I started this morning about an hour ago.  So that may have been when she clocked in this morning but she also talked about being in “her art” (Nursing, and she did have it down to a  art form) and helping with the delivery of some people in our community that are that are about my age!  She kept us very comfortable and very happy! THANK YOU MAGGIE.

 

McCloud made her appearance at 12:06pm (noon).  She weighed 8 lbs. even and is 20 inches long.  She has blondish baby hair that actually looks like she has highlights, and the instant I saw her she yanked my heart out and wrapped it around her little finger.  Pretty tricky prospect seeing as this has happened about the same time after Janet was borne as well.  I called Grandma and Grandpa to tell them and also talked to Busby, when I told him that I was holding his new baby sister he gave the most excited giggle and said “I love you daddy” and then asked Grandma to turn on the movie.  All is well baby and momma doing super and I am headed to bed besides I need to leave the high points of the day for momma to blog about.

 

Big Kahuna

Today is Janet's second birthday!!!! I cannot believe that she's two.

What to say about her? How should I describe her? She's bright, she absorbs everything. She loves shoes and purses. She hates for me to brush her hair until I say it's time to do her hair, then she will sit still. She loves to splash in the bath tub. She's generous and selfish at the same time. She's moody, and she's a screamer. She loves me and her dad and her brother, and wants her own way all the time. She eats almost anything you give her. She calls the lava lamp the "apple light." She has a big plush cat that she calls "Puppy." She has a small plush cat that she calls "Monkey." She sucks her thumb, and holds a binky against her forehead as she falls asleep. She doesn't like to say please with her requests. But she does anyway. She's fast to say thank you and fast to apologize. She loves to play with the toy kitchen. She loves her new baby doll stroller. She doesn't love to share her toys, but does anyway, because we make her brother share. She has blond, curly hair that I haven't had cut yet. Because I just can't bear to. She has hazel eyes that will drill into your soul. Her favorite movie is "The Wonderful Wizard of Ha's."

That's just a glimpse of Janet. She's amazing. Happy Birthday, baby girl.

Getting to know (someone else's) baby

Our babysitter had her baby last Friday. It's also a girl. She's back home and taking care of the kids again, with the assistance of her husband and mother.

My kids are absolutely enamoured with the sitter's baby. I think it has helped Busby understand just what we mean when we say "when the baby comes." Janet thinks the baby is the coolest thing in the world, and it has usurped the sitter's husband's spot as #1 in Janet's mind.

As for me, still pregnant. Still hungry. But now I have extra sneezing. Maybe it will help things move along.

The play by play of inaction

Wednesday Late Night/Thursday Very Early Morning: Lots of Contractions. No Sleep.

Thursday Morning: Sensation and positivity that my water broke.

Not so much.

Thursday Afternoon: Slept it off.

Thursday evening: 1 contraction. While watching a documentary on debt.

Friday Morning: Sitting at my desk. Last day of work.

McCloud is coming, with or without assistance.

Contractions. Every 25 minutes. Since yesterday. No further progress. Ad nauseum.

If she doesn't come on her own, we'll have her on Monday with the assistance of Pitocin. And an epidural.

That would put the girls' birthdays one day apart. Which will probably not be the first thing that we do to anger them. ;)

Popcorn and Contractions

An update on goings-on:

For the last several evenings, I have had much lower abdominal pain and discomfort, often resulting in me doubling over. (Contractions for first two kids were very low, contractions experienced so far: very low.) Then (TMI alert!!!) I pass gas, and all is well again. Which isn't what I really wanted. I wanted to be in labor so we can get on with the business of bringing up baby.

Big Kahuna dragged out the screens yesterday afternoon, repainted them, and between us we got the storm windows out and the screens in. Yeah for cool, fresh air throughout the house.

This morning: many irregular, non-gas related lower abdominal pains. Nothing earth shattering, but annoying and uncomfortable nonetheless.

25 minutes ago: Crabby kids put themselves to bed to "take a rest." I need to go check that they aren't jumping on the beds, but it's nice that at least Busby is recognizing that all this arguing with Mommy isn't getting him anywhere, and maybe taking a nap would make things better.

All morning without relenting: my overwhelming hunger. I am so, so, so hungry. What do I want to eat? Chocolate. And only chocolate. What am I eating? Popcorn, that the microwave's autotimer burned. Oh, and Orange Kool-Aid. Because that's just a winning combination to crush my desire to eat all the chocolate in my house, the neighbor's house, and all the chocolate at Target.

Speaking of Target, I received an invitation to a friend's bridal shower. She and her husband have registered at Target, Kohl's, Pampered Chef, and (this is so fitting!) Lowe's. Who knew that Lowe's had a bridal registry? It fits her perfectly, though. I only hope she will share those tools with her new husband.

Yesterday, I accepted a full-time position with my law firm. I will begin doing this after some maternity leave. (There apparently is a question whether the boss will allow 8 weeks off, but we'll work it out one way or another.) I'll be honest, I'm not really happy about taking a full-time job at this point in my kids' life, but there doesn't seem to be an alternative at this point. But, this will get us out of debt faster (HIP HIP HOORAY!!!) and get us a mini van faster (HIP HIP HOORAY!!!). Plus, since Big Kahuna works in a construction-related industry, we don't anticipate that he will be able to earn as much this year as last, since building is down in his market.

I checked out out Jessica Seinfeld's cookbook, Deceptively Delicious, from the library. While I'm on board with the idea, the bulk of those recipes are just not for my family. So it's going back well before the due date. I also checked out a couple of books on once-a-month cooking, which I am supremely interested in. I've marked many pages that I would like to copy down information from, and try implementing.

As you can see from my side bar thingy, I'm reading "Siblings without Rivalry." It's interesting, and I'm going to try to stick with it. I'm hoping to learn a few things to help deal with the inevitable squabbles that I have to look forward to. Then I'll be reading a book about the effects of divorce 25 years later. (My parents divorced 22 years ago, so this is very much about my generation and my siblings.)

So long for now. I'll try to post again after this afternoon's OB appointment.

50 for my 50th

For my 50^th post, I thought I would tell you 50 things about me and my family.

 

1.       Big Kahuna and I met in 1994, but didn’t start dating until 1999.

2.       We broke up 3 weeks before Christmas.

3.       We got engaged on December 23, 1999. (As in, we weren’t even dating when we got engaged.)

4.       We got married 8 months after he proposed.

5.        I was raised Catholic.

6.        Big Kahuna was raised Methodist.

7.        I became a Methodist while engaged to Big Kahuna.

8.        I hold no ill will toward the Catholic church.  I just figured out it wasn’t for me.

9.        We got married in the same church as Big Kahuna’s parents.

10.   I am the oldest of 3 kids.

11.   Big Kahuna is the 3^rd of 4 kids.

12.   We live in the house his maternal grandparents built.

13.   I have an associates degree in Paralegal Studies.

14.   Big Kahuna basically put me through paralegal school.

15.   He’s so awesome.

16.   Big Kahuna drives a concrete mixer.

17.   I work 3 days a week in a law firm.

18.   Some days we like our jobs.

19.   Some days we don’t.

20.   We were married for more than 4 years before Busby was born.

21.   Busby and Janet were born 16 ½ months apart.

22.   We planned it that way.

23.   The receptionist in my law firm had to tell me I was in labor with Busby.

24.   Busby was born in less than 8 hours of active labor.

25.   Busby was 8 lb 12 oz at birth.

26.   Busby weighed 20 lbs 1 oz at his first birthday.

27.   Busby didn’t reliably walk on his own until he was 15 months old.

28.   I was really, really big when pregnant with Janet.

29.   Janet was born less than 12 hours after the induction process was started.

30.   Janet was 9 lb 12 oz at birth.

31.   Janet was 23 lbs at her first birthday.

32.   Busby eats like a bird.

33.   Janet doesn’t.

34.   I am totally freaked and don’t know what to expect from McCloud.

35.   Busby and Janet love VeggieTales and They Might Be Giants.

36.   Big Kahuna is also a TMBG fan.

37.   Big Kahuna does most of our car repairs.

38.   Big Kahuna does all of our home repairs.

39.   Big Kahuna is awesome like that.

40.   My mother taught me to crochet and cross stitch.

41.   I’m grateful to her for it.

42.   My mother-in-law sent me to a beginner quilting class.

43.   I’m grateful to her for it.

44.   Big Kahuna bought me a really nice Viking sewing machine.

45.   I don’t use it enough.

46.   I wish I had more time for needlework of some kind.

47.   I love that my time is sucked up playing with, reading to, bathing, dressing, and caring for my children.

48.   I’m a terrible housekeeper.

49.   I’m a good mother.

50.   I’m a good wife.

 

Wardrobe malfunction

After the kids took their bath this evening, Big Kahuna was dressing Janet in her pjs. First he put Janet's right arm in the left arm of the pajama, then she put her own left hand into one of the legs, and looked completely perplexed when her hand met the resistance of the footie. Too, too cute.

You have got to be kidding me.

So I skipped ahead to week 38 in Your Pregnancy Week by Week. In the "Your Nutrition" section, the first sentence is, "You may not feel much like eating about this time..." I know that 38 weeks is still a few days away, but I have a hard time imagining that my appetite will decrease that much between now and Sunday. Because good grief, I'm pretty sure I'm going to eat myself out of house and home pretty soon.

I've been trying to be really, really good, and eating lots of fruits to avoid the concentrated sugars in all that chocolate and cookies and brownies I have laying around. (Seriously. We still have 3 1/2 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies in the house.) But how many oranges and bananas can I eat before the baby is born? Apparently enough to stave off massive amounts of weight gain. But still. We're down to one banana and 2 oranges left in the house. Grocery day isn't until Saturday.

I feel like this, too.

Go check out this post at Redbook's Mom Moment. This is so how I feel somedays. (Although I am way, way to large right now to be wearing formal wear.)

Countdown to Baby (3 weeks-ish left)

Today, Busby came up and hugged my belly and declared, "I love my baby sister!" Doesn't that just make you melt?

I had an ultrasound today, and everything is looking good. Baby is estimated to be 6 lbs 13 oz.!!! At this point with Janet, she was 9 lbs. McCloud is really, really low, head down, and (in my opinion) undecided whether to start forcing her way out. Her very low position made it impossible to get a good picture of her face. But we have learned that she likes to hold her toes. I'm pretty sure this means we will never get her swaddled.

I also had a regularly scheduled OB appointment this afternoon. In light of the baby's light weight, and lack of dilation progress, she's going to take the wait and see approach, at least for the next couple weeks. I'm taking the day-to-day approach. This weekend I had some fairly intense contractions, though few and spread out. But they were real, and I was almost sure we were getting close. I've probably jinxed myself by being packed and purchasing a baby book. Also, we've left a bag for Busby & Janet over at Grandma & Grandpa's already.

Maybe she's waiting for us to finally settle on a name, or get it down to a couple of choices.

In other news, we got the kids (namely Janet) to take a tub bath. When we were getting ready, she was all good until she realized that Daddy was not getting ready as well. I put her in anyway. The thing that got her involved was pulling the shower curtain and letting them splash for a good 5 minutes. That got her wet and in the water. She let me wash her down without complaint. Yeah!

Chowder?

A few weeks ago, Busby figured out he could ask me to turn the radio volume up. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't.

Well, Janet has latched onto this. She likes her Giants and she likes them loud. So before we are out of the garage, I usually hear a request of "Yowder, peas!" Unfortunately, she doesn't understand the need to listen to local traffic reports on our way to work. So I can turn it up, but then she yells "NO!" because we're listening to people talk, and not to the songs she wants.

I really think the Giants and Disney have something good going here. We have all of the Giants' children's albums*, and the kids love them. Busby and Janet have especially grabbed onto the "Here Come the 123's" and have learned most of the songs. The "7 Days of the Week" song alone is so worth it if it helps them learn the order of the days of the week. There are some bonus tracks that include the theme to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and a really fun song called "Hot Dog" that I believe is the closing song for Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Also, the live versions of "John Lee Supertaster" and "Bed Bed Bed" are fun fun fun.


* Am I dating myself here? Who says "album" anymore?

Thanks Ed!

Dear Ed, Thank you for sending the leftover donuts (from my favorite bakery) home with Big Kahuna. I ate way more than I should have, and I'm happier for it!

To thank you some more, I'm giving you, and everyone else, the following recipe:

Crock Pot Pork Loin
Serves: A bunch

Ingredients:
3-5 lb pork loin
1 14.5 oz can beef broth
1 package dry Italian dressing mix (like Good Seasons)
1 jar Hot Ghardinera (near the pickles at the grocery)
1 jar perrocinis (also near the pickles)

Put the Pork Loin in the crock pot. Pour the remaining ingredients, including the juice from the jars, over the pork. Cook on low 8-10 hours. Shred and serve on hamburger buns with BBQ sauce (I like Sweet Baby Ray's) or some of the pan juices thickened with corn starch.

(Thanks to Beth T. for giving me the recipe in the first place.)

Countdown to Baby (4 weeks to go - maybe)

Busby spent a fun day with his Grandpa, and from his description, I believe he took a wagon ride. And there was something about hanging up a bicycle.

Janet has become increasingly defiant, and this concerns me only because I'm worried about how she will handle a new baby arriving in the house. Otherwise, I would chalk it up to being almost 2, and deal. Any thoughts?

McCloud is still a mover and a shaker, and I keep going "OH!" and getting funny looks from Big Kahuna. He knows it's not labor yet, and is expecting something more dramatic if I believe I'm actually in labor.

I got out the Newborn/0-3 Month baby girl clothing today, and to my horror discovered all kinds of spit-up stains. Turns out, this is fairly normal. I picked up some Biz at Target, and will launder the lot with this purportedly helpful product.

I'm down to weekly appointments with my OB. Today is 36 weeks 3 days. We're in the home stretch. I have an ultrasound scheduled for next week to check size and position. Size is the real concern, as Janet was 9lb 12oz at 37 weeks 4 days.

If you're squeamish, stop reading now.

Ok, I warned you...I'm 2-3 centimeters dilated, 50% effaced. You could look at that as progress, or remember that I can sit parked here for the next 4 weeks. Let's hope for progress.

I don't have any arms

For me lately, dinner preparation has been somewhat stressful. I've just not been organized, and have not been planning like I should. Add on top of that a sick husband, whose mind I cannot always read, and whose stomach I'm not sure will keep down much. Then make it 6:00, and Janet saying "Dinner!"

So, I had to get something together that would reasonable feed my family and that everyone will keep in their body for the proper amount of time. I came up with mac & cheese (shocking, I know) and canned peaches. Because it's fast, easy, and the kids will eat it. BK said he would also like a pb&j or fried cheese sandwich*. I opted for the former, which were fixed at the table. As you know, peanut butter is not Busby's "fabrit", so he just got jelly bread. Janet ate nearly an entire sandwich on top of her mac and cheese. I fixed a lovely sandwich for BK, and then I made one for myself.

I made the perfect peanut butter and jelly sandwich for myself tonight. The perfect pb&j is a magical thing, because no matter how much practice you have, you can't make them all this perfect all the time. Somehow, it just doesn't happen the same way each time. Mine started out with the right bread (Meijer Brand Split Top White Bread in the blue bag), a scoop of Jif brand peanut butter that at first glance appeared to be way too much, but was perfect, and a small shovel load of Smucker's strawberry jam. It was incredible.

Janet is in the phase where she likes to name her physical features and point them out to you. Eyes, ears, hair, mouth, teeth, fingers, piggies. Tonight she said "arms." And I said "Where are your arms?" She batted her eyes at me. So I waived my arms around a bit and said "Arms!" Busby said, "Sissy, do you have arms?" She just looked at him blankly. "Daddy, do you have arms?" "Yes." "I have arms. Mommy, do you have arms?" "No, Busby, I do not have arms." (I love to mess with the kids sometimes. I blame Big Kahuna for this. His twisted sense of humor has rubbed off on me in the worst ways.) Busby seemed a bit perplexed. But recovered when I picked up my perfect peanut butter and jelly sandwich and proceeded to eat it.

A few minutes later, Janet had to be reminded to keep her feet off of the dinner table. Busby had to be reminded to keep his hands out of his pull up while we are eating. Janet decided to try to scoop up her knee with her spoon. We asked if she could eat her knee, thinking she would lean over and take a bite. Instead she kept trying to scoop it up with her spoon. Eventually, the kids got tired of entertaining us. Busby, as usual, asked to be excused first. I asked him to show me his hands, which he and Janet did at the same time, jazz hands style.

* Because I prepare them in a skillet, Big Kahuna calls grilled cheese sandwiches "fried cheese sandwiches." I have adopted this name for them as well.

The gift that keeps on giving

On Friday evening, Janet came down with something that has caused her to overload her diapers a couple times, and she's still not feeling well. She keeps talking about poop and asking for water. Poor kid. :(

As is typical when your toddler is sick, you get sick, too. First it was Big Kahuna. I will not describe his symptoms to you. Nor will I describe mine. Neither of us has exactly the same symptoms as Janet, but Big Kahuna has been feeling especially crummy.

I am only hoping at this point that Busby doesn't come down with it. We have less than 72 hours for it to clear the kids' systems so they can go to daycare on Wednesday.

A big huge thank you to Grandpa for picking up Busby this morning and taking him to church. Busby LOVES Sunday School. He loves his teachers (Grandma is one of them), he loves to talk about the lesson, he loves to read and reread the handout each week, and he loves the new songs he learns.

Big Kahuna, Age 33

Today is Big Kahuna's 33rd birthday. This is how we celebrated:

5:00 a.m. Janet yelled "Ere arrrrrrr uuu?" I said "What?" Big Kahuna said, "I'll get it." Then 30 seconds later said, "Honey, I need your help." So I got out of bed, went to the kid's room to discover that Janet had, for the second time in 12 hours, emptied her body of all solid and not-so-solid waste, which overflowed out of her diaper and up the back of her jammies. We got her stripped, cleaned up, and in clean jammies. Since both kids were awake, I put Janet in bed with Busby, and both repeatedly asked me what I was doing while changing Janet's sheets. We got Janet back in bed, and started to head to our own bed. Busby kept stalling, then Big Kahuna brilliantly said, "Thank you for being such a big helper with Janet." That made Busby smile, and he seemed satisfied enough to stay in bed.

5:45 a.m. Both kids in our room. Both kids not saying anything. Then Big Kahuna said, "What are you doing?" Busby said, "Nothing." Big Kahuna said, "Ok, just lay down on the floor." And they did. For 10.2 seconds. Then they had to be escorted back to bed.

7:30ish a.m. Big Kahuna got up, put Janet's nasty jammies and bed sheets in the washing machine. The kids stayed asleep.

8:20ish a.m. I heard the washing machine start to walk across the basement. I got out of bed, found Big Kahuna reading this blog, thanked him for letting me sleep, and told him the washing machine was out of balance.

8:30 a.m. The kids got up. I reminded them that today is Daddy's birthday. Both kids ran to the kitchen and yelled "Happy Birthday Daddy!!!!" Then they helped me get his presents, which were not wrapped, and delivered them to Big Kahuna.

We went to the zoo today. For the first time we rode the zoo train. Before it left the station, Busby was crying because he cries sometimes when we are going to do something new. Then he got into and had fun. We saw most of the plains animals, and spent some time looking at the ducks and baby lemurs.

We came home at lunch time, at leftover mac and cheese and hot dogs, and then Janet filled her diaper again. And bless him, Big Kahuna changed her again, and put her down for a nap. Then I went down for a nap. I don't think Busby ever slept. Now I have to go to Stuff Mart.

Where are you?

Sorry for the multiple posts in one evening...sometimes it's all the time I have.

But that's not the reason for the title of this post. It comes from a scene this morning:

I was leaving the bathroom after my shower at about 6:25 this morning. I heard Janet yelling "Moooooooommmmmmmmmmy, ere arrrrr uuu?" So I opened the kids' bedroom door to let her out, to which she responded with a big whispered "Shhhhhhhhhhh, Busby seepin."

Things I had forgotten

I had forgotten that when you grow large babies, 8 months pregnant looks like 10 months pregnant. And that there is still a month of growth left.

I had forgotten how hard on my right kidney it is to be 8 months pregnant. Maybe I should try sleeping on my left side more.

I had forgotten just how much it looks and feels like a Sigourney Weaver movie is taking place in an 8 month pregnant body.

I had forgotten what it really feels like to wake up convinced that someone is trying to rip your calf off of your leg with their bare hands.

I had forgotten how amazingly awesome my husband is when it feels like someone is trying to rip my calf off with their bare hands. He is usually the one with the presence of mind to get me to point my heel.

I had forgotten about how nasty pregnancy gas and heartburn are.

I had forgotten how ridiculously small newborn size diapers are. The lovely people at Huggies sent me one with some coupons. I almost fell off of my chair laughing at how small the cute little sample diaper is. I think Janet has a doll it will fit on. It's unlikely that it will fit on McCloud.

I had forgotten how frustrating pregnancy insomnia is. I hate getting out of bed in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, because then I'm awake for at least an hour.

I had forgotten how disabling pregnancy back pain can feel.

I had forgotten about the insane levels of pregtardancy that can be reached.

I had forgotten how insane the "So, what are we going to name this baby" conversations can be.

I had not forgotten the joy, wonder, and excitement over a new life taking shape in my overextended abdomen. Or how the smallest things can make me weepy. Usually with joy.

Dear Dr. Hicks

Dear Dr. Hicks,

Thanks for nothing. You made my husband and my father-in-law believe I was playing an April Fools Joke yesterday. Not so much. Regular contractions every hour on the hour, moving up to every 30 minutes is not nice, especially at only 35 weeks gestation.

Next time, go bother someone else.

Hugs,
Surprised Spectator

P.S. No, I was not really in labor. No, I did not call my doctor. The pain was never bad enough to make me call her, plus I was never up to 4 contractions per hour. However, it did lead to much hilarity by tormenting my lawyer with this news the next day.