An introduction

Well, I know I've dropped offline again, but I guess that's what happens when you're the mother of two kids.  Before I get to the good stuff: I still want to write...desperately at times, but that hasn't been an option much lately, and I don't foresee it becoming any easier in the near future.  Like I wrote a year ago, writing is a passion for me, and hopefully I'll be able to come back to it soon.

Now, on to the good stuff.  ;)

Introducing: Miller!

Miller David was born on December 2, 2012 at 7:41 p.m.  He arrived 6 days late, which drove me crazy every minute that I wasn't going into labor.  We made one "false alarm" trip to the hospital during the week, and I cried a LOT because I was just so ready to be done being pregnant.

FINALLY, I was induced the morning on December 2.  My OB broke my water, but did not immediately begin pitocin.  She hoped that my labor would begin naturally since I was already 3 cm dilated.  She broke my water around 9 am, and contractions began getting more intense around 11:00, but they were never that bad.  I kept standing, walking around, swaying, anything to keep the contractions coming, because if I sat down or stopped moving, the contractions spaced out and became less intense.

Around 3:00 pm, the nurses changed shifts, and I was hoping they would check my progress, but they didn't.  I was beginning to get frustrated because I felt like nothing was really happening.  I was ready for some pitocin to move things along, but the nurse didn't mention it, and I hadn't seen my OB since she broke my water 6 hours earlier.

When the nurse came to check on us around 4:45, my frustration boiled over.  I was crying because I was just sick of all of it, and I told her that I wanted them to start the pitocin.  She told me that it was no problem, and she would check with the doctor and get it started as soon as possible.  Apparently, they had been waiting for me to ask for it the whole day.  This temporarily frustrated me more...

I just wanted to see this face

Also, they STILL hadn't checked my progress.  I will never know if I had made any progress, but I feel like my body must not understand how to go into labor on its own.  The pitocin (and craziness) began around 5:30, and contractions immediately became really strong, and really close together.  M called his mom, who was taking care of Evie, to tell her what was going on.  I laid in the bed crying while I listened to him talk to Evie, I was just so frustrated, and in pain, and I missed her so much.  And worst of all, since they STILL hadn't checked my cervix, I thought that I might be in labor for 5 - 6 more hours.

Around 6:30, I asked for the epidural.   It took about 20 - 30 minutes for the anesthesiologist to arrive and do the procedure.  My contractions were right on top of one another, and I was IN PAIN.  It was definitely more intense than when I got the epidural with Evie.  (I was about 5 - 6 cm when I got that epidural.)  I was shaking and I just felt out of control.

The anesthesiologist seemed to take forever.  He missed and had to place the catheter a 2nd time.  It was finally "in place" around 7:10 pm.  They FINALLY checked my cervix.  I was 10 cm!!  The nurse asked if I wanted to relax for a little while before I started pushing, but I said no.  I don't think the epidural was placed well at all.  I could still feel pretty much everything, but it wasn't quite as strong.  I just wanted to get the baby out!!!!!

The nurse ran into the hallway yelling for the doctor to get in there and wash her hands.  I think that the nurse thought the baby was about to fall out of me...ha ha ha!!  I began pushing and it took longer than I thought it would for my second baby.  I had heard so many stories about how it only took two pushes the second time, or two contractions.  I only pushed for 45 minutes with Evie, so I thought that that would be me too.

Evie meeting Miller for the first time

 The epidural was doing NOTHING for me at this point (at least I was sure I could feel everything).  It took about 20 minutes and 10 -12 contractions for Miller to get here.  I was yelling at M to stop touching me.  I even told the doctor to stop touching me at one point, only to find out that it was the baby crowning.  Yup, I was "that girl."  In hindsight, it's kind of funny. :)

At 7:41 pm, Miller made his appearance.  He weighed 8 pounds 6 ounces and was 21.5 inches long.  He was healthy from the beginning, which was different from Evie.  She only weighed 5 lbs. 15 oz. and she spent her 1st night in the NICU because she wasn't breathing very well and had a lot of fluid in her lungs.   I couldn't believe how big Miller was...2 1/2 lbs. bigger than Evie!! 

Holding baby brother

Over a month in, things are going pretty well.  The first week was rough.  I had a spinal headache from my {failed} epidural, and I spent an afternoon in the ER because of that.  Evie has been adjusting better since that first week too. I think I'm having a harder time than she is.  I feel like I just can't give her enough...or Miller for that matter, but that's a topic for a different post...

Hopefully I will be able to write more frequently.  I have so many things to write about, but time is the issue.  I began this post on December 31, if that gives you any idea of what I mean.  ;)  

In his Christmas jammies

To say that motherhood is bliss wouldn't be totally accurate at this point.  I am still getting to know Miller, and Evie and I are working on what the "new normal" means for us.  I can say that Miller has completed our family.  It's impossible to remember what life was like before he was born, and seeing M sitting on the couch holding Miller and reading a book to Evie melts my heart.

This is our family. 

Wordless Wednesday - A Great Daddy

I was looking back at pictures of when Evie was a newborn and I found these of her and M.  It made me choke up a little.  M is an absolutely amazing father, and I probably don't tell him that enough.

M and Evie's first picture together.  She was only a few hours old, and she was still in the NICU for her breathing issues.

Our first full night together in the hospital.  She cried most of the night.  When she finally went to sleep at 5 AM, M and I laid on the hospital bed and cried wondering what on earth we had gotten ourselves into.  We promptly called M's mom to come stay with us for a few days....lol!

My favorite pic.  Evie and Daddy taking a nap together.  Evie was probably about 10 days old.

P.S. I've been on Top Baby Blogs for a while now, and I swore I was never going to ask for votes, but if you are so inclined, a couple of clicks for my blog would make me extra-happy. :)

How do you measure a year?

I'm not really into musicals.  To be honest, I've always found that song, "Seasons of Love" from Rent, a little annoying.  But lately, I've really been thinking about it.  It's been a crazy year.  Actually, a crazy ride that all started well over a year ago with an extra line on a home pregnancy test, and now look what we've got...a toddler.

 Mi hijita,

The moment you were born I looked at you and I thought, "You have your father's nose."  Yup, that's the first thing I thought.  Really sentimental, I know.  Then the nurse asked, "What's her name?"  You were laying on my chest.  I looked at you, and I cried when I told her your full name. 

You spent that first night away from us so that the doctors and nurses could help you breathe better.  The next night, you wouldn't let us put you down in the bassinet in our hospital room.  By 5 a.m., when you finally went to sleep, your dad and I laid you in between us on the hospital bed.  We cried, partially out of exhaustion, but mostly in awe of you. 

5 hours old

You have changed my and your dad's life in so many ways.  I don't think our house has ever had so much laughter.  I never thought I'd see your dad turn OFF a football game, but you have him wrapped around your finger.  The day after you were born he asked me, "Is it wrong that I just feel like buying her things?"  I'm sure he'll deny that when you start asking for a car and $600 prom dresses. 

You have changed more than I could ever put into words.  You seemed so helpless and fragile when you were born.  Now, I can barely keep up with you.  You crawl from wherever you are in the house to your bedroom to pull all of the books off of your shelves.  You could spend hours "reading" on the bedroom floor.  Daddy swings you upside down and you giggle hysterically. 

Eating real food is so much fun, and so messy

You breastfed voraciously every 2 hours back then, now I can barely nurse you twice a day.  You love to eat what mommy and daddy are eating.  Strawberries, grapes, pasta, and tacos are some of you favorites, but you're willing to try anything once.  You haven't cared for peas or watermelon.  

When you were born, you cried so quietly I was afraid that I wouldn't hear you in the next room.  Now, you try to talk to us.  You've even got a few words that only Daddy and I can really understand.  You can say "mama" and "dada," and you have your own word for dog that sounds like "daaah."   You can understand us now too.  You love to put your arms above your head whenever Daddy asks, "How big is Evie?"

The "how big is Evie" pose

There is no way to truly measure the amount of change.  The whole world shifted the moment you were born.  You are sleeping now, and before I laid you down, I said the same thing I've said every night for the past year, "Sueña con los angelitos, mi hijita.  I love you." 

Love,

Your mom

P.S.  I know I'm a little early.  Tomorrow is going to be a big day, and I wanted to make sure that I told you all of this before it got too crazy. 

Stats to come after Evie's 12 month appointment next Friday!!

First Father's Day

Yesterday was M's first Father's Day!!  We had a fairly uneventful day.  Evie and I were gone all weekend visiting my youngest sister in central Illinois (more to come on that!), and we didn't get home until early afternoon.

After Evie woke up from her nap, we gave M his gifts.  We got him three books; two for him, and one for him to read with Evie.   We got him The Final Four of Everything, because he always says, "Everything is better in a bracket!"  We also gave him Wisconsin's Best Beer Guide.  He really enjoys sports and beer, so both of these books seemed like topics that would interest him.  Evie picked Sunny Bunny Loves His Dad for both of them.  (I literally held up two books in Barnes and Noble and that was the one she touched first.  Coincidence?  Probably, but it's fun to say that she picked it out!) 

The weather was great, so we got Evie ready to hang out in her whale pool.  She is really becoming quite the waterbug.  We played outside for a while, and did a little bit of work in the garden and that was the end of our low-key Father's Day.

How big is Evie???  Sooooo big!

I'd like to start some sort of tradition for Father's Day, but I'm horrible of thinking of good ideas for that sort of stuff.  Does anyone have any traditions that they've done, either for their husband or their dad?  We can always start next year!!

P.S.  If you are here for the Toddle Along Tuesday Blog Hop, Welcome!!  Please feel free to leave your blog address in the comments.  I'd love to follow you back!