Going home

We had a lot of snuggle-time at the hospital with Lyla.  It took us until Sunday afternoon to officially call her Lyla.  Because she was so small for her gestational age, they monitored her blood sugar for 24-hrs and it came out just fine.  She had a rough first night and was cold.  I ended up holding her skin-to-skin for 1 1/2 hours in the early morning Sunday to help her warm up.  

We had planned to go home Sunday night, after a 24-hr stay, but found out that Aflac only pays the maximum if we stayed an extra day.  We determined that we could leave at 2 pm Monday--6 hrs shy of the 48 hr stay.  We were bummed to stay, but had a much better night's sleep Sunday night.

Doug picked up Ethan and Sydney and brought them for lunch and a movie in my hospital bed.  We sat and watched Bee Movie and then got packed up to leave.  Ethan and Sydney helped get Lyla dressed and loved it.

She was not happy about the car seat.

Sydney helped dad carry out the baby while Ethan clung to my hospital mug.  I told him he could use it outside with the hose later.

We paused and took a photo before Doug got the car.  They are so excited that Lyla and I are coming home.

Ethan didn't forget about playing with my hospital mug.  They were out with the hose after just a few minutes of being home.

Big brother and Big Sister

When Ethan and Sydney went to bed Saturday night, they knew something was going on.  Aunt Michelle put them to bed and slept at our house.  When they woke up, Michelle told them they had a baby sister and they were stunned and excited.

They came around 10 am to the hospital and I was very excited to see them.  Doug and I kept looking at the door all morning.  It was a bit of a rough night getting woken up by the hospital staff.  My favorite was the 5:30 am wake up call to draw blood from me. I thought an alarm clock was unpleasant!

They were in love with her instantly.

Sydney managed to get in some momma snuggling time in my bed.  I felt like a China doll with her moving around in my bed.

Thanks Aunt Michelle for taking care of them for us.

We were lucky to have some cousins come by and meet Lyla as well.

She's here!

Introducing Lyla Paige

May 25th

6 lbs 3 oz

19 inches long

34 cm head

She's perfect and peaceful.

Choosing her name was difficult, but we finally made a decision.  Final name contenders were:

Lyla Paige
Lyla Jayne
Brooke/Brooklyn
Kennedy

Middle names:
Elizabeth
Anna
Emma
Kate

It's happening!

2:30 am
I woke up this morning with some intense contractions.  I laid in bed until 4 am trying to breathe through them.  I then decided to get a few things done if I was going to be awake.  I finished the few things I hadn't cleaned the day before, folded laundry, and mopped the hard wood floor in the entry way.  With this, the entire house had been cleaned in the last 24-hour period.

I headed back to bed close to 5 am and slept off and on until waking up when Ethan and Sydney came into our room around 7:15 am.  Doug took them for a jog and I attempted to do some prenatal yoga.  After about 15 minutes, I decided that being in labor doing yoga wasn't very comfortable and I turned off my DVD.  I made my bowl of oatmeal, showered, straightened my hair, and tried not to get my hopes up that we might have a baby today.

10:30 am
Doug's sister, Michelle, came and picked up Ethan and Sydney for a bike ride and they were in the bath.  By the time they were ready to go, I decided it might be a good idea to go to the hospital just to get checked so I didn't have the same "freak out" delivery last time where the first time I was checked, I was ready to push.  :-)

11:30 am
Checked in at the hospital.  I was only a 3.5 and I had been a 3 just two days earlier at my doctor's appointment.  They monitored me (laying down on my back) for an hour and there was no change.

12:30 pm
On my way home with contractions closer to 20 minutes apart after being on my back for an hour.

1:30 pm
Ate a big lunch (was starving) with guacamole as the final food.  Proved not to be a good idea.  Layed down for a nap to try to sleep through some contractions.

3:15 pm
Woke up with contractions even more intense and closer together.

4:00 pm
Decided to take a walk to see Ethan and Sydney at the splash pad about 1/2 mile from our house.  They were having a blast.  On the walk home, my contractions moved to under 5 minutes apart and grew in intensity.

5:00 pm
Left for the hospital.  When we arrived, my contractions had slowed yet again after sitting in the car and I didn't want to be sent home again.  We walked around the hospital (there was even a little trail!) for 45 minutes and paused as I had contractions.  When we decided to finally go into the hospital, I remembered that I wanted Doug to snap a photo of my belly so I'd have a real final belly shot.

6:00 pm
Admitted to the hospital again.  Dilated to a 4.5 and I was stunned.  I thought they might send me home again.  They said they'd watch me for an hour and asked if I was okay with the Dr breaking my water.  I said "yes".  I was exhausted and was puzzled how all day I could only be at a 4.5!

7:00 pm
I was told I was admitted to the hospital and the Dr broke my water shortly after 7:00 pm.  At this point,  time lost all meaning.  My contractions rapidly went to 1-2 minutes with 30 seconds in between or so.  They kept this pace for about 40 minutes.  I thought I was going to lose my control a few times.  I was relatively calm and collected, but barely.  I channeled every bit of my hypno-birthing reading and worked hard to stay focused.

7:50 pm
The doctor was in another delivery across the hall that was urgent.  I knew it was time and I moved from the yoga ball (where I'd been parked for that full 40 minutes) to the bed.  I pushed for several minutes and her head was crowning when the doctor came in.

8:06 pm
A beautiful little girl joined our family.

Impatience

My due date has come...and gone.  

I had a small 'break down' telling Doug that I was done being pregnant and that I was terrified of delivering a huge baby.  I was terrified of being induced with Pitocin mostly as well and some horrific delivery.  I have done several things in hopes of going into the labor for the last 2 weeks.

Acupuncture

Although I've been treated every month (and even during the IVF cycle to get pregnant) by my good friend, Regan Archibald, I have gone the last two weeks with the intent of inducing labor.  My first appointment he told me that my body wasn't really preparing yet and by the next treatment he said I was getting ready.  By the third, he was surprised to see me still pregnant! 

Long Walks

Thursday, after stripping my membranes for the second time, my OB told me to go take a good, long walk.  It was my due date.  He told me, "I'll see you tonight" as I left my appointment.  My sister, Sarah, had my kids for most of the day, so I started walking...and I walked for 2 hours!  I think I covered pretty close to 6 miles.  Doug was "on call" in the event I went into active labor.  Nothing. 

Spicy Food
I ate some curry Thursday night--some very spicy curry.  Everyone said to eat pizza or eggplant parmesan, but those both have lots of dairy and I wasn't up for laboring with a stomach ache wanting to throw it up.

Friday morning came and I felt resigned to be pregnant until my induction date (set for Wed, 29th).  I worked out, and took Ethan and Sydney to the park after a good walk and spent the day trying to distract myself.  By the evening, I was tired of trying things.  We took the kids to Cafe Rio to pick up dinner and brought it home after running a few short errands.  I smothered my veggie salad in hot sauce to add a little kick.

Trimming
When my nephew, Dallin, came over to mow this afternoon, he didn't have time to trim.  I asked him to show me the ropes and I told him I would try it after putting the kids to bed.  Come 7:30 pm, I was out trimming for an entire hour and by the time it was over, my arms were aching.  Combined with my aching legs from all the walking--I started to have the pregnant lady 'waddle'.

I hope after all this activity and effort, I will eventually go into labor on my own before Wednesday.

Little dancers

Ethan and Sydney love to dance.  

Ethan loves to wear dresses that twirl.  If it doesn't twirl well, he will be begging to change.  Notice how he eyes how well the dress 'twirls' in this video.

Keeping busy

These last few weeks of pregnancy are starting to go very slowly.  We stay home mostly, play outside, and read lots of books.  I've turned on more 'shows' and movies.  Their favorites are Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Max and Ruby, and Bubble Guppies.  They have become obsessed with Sound of Music and love all the songs.  One of their new favorite things is to read to eachother while one uses the toilet.  They did this all on their own and would read stories they knew well or makeup the content of the pages.  It was so fun to listen to while I cleaned up breakfast in the kitchen.  Love their creative minds!

They also have gone in my room several times and read books to eachother.  They are best friends.  (Doug's sister, Tonya, let us borrow two dresses from their 'dress up' bin.  Ethan has been in heaven with this particular dress and will show me regularly how well it 'twirls'.)

We've done our marching band regularly as well.  I had to laugh when I had the drums this week though as the drums hit my belly just right--at a 45 degree angle.

We've done a sticker chart that has worked really well! They have to earn stickers by doing different things (pictured at the top).  We wanted to get them a second plasma car and decided to have them earn it.  They've 'earned' everything--including new underwear!

We took the two plasma cars out for a spin immediately around the block.  They were in heaven!

Science experiment

Ethan and Sydney love to play in the sink with cups and with any other container that can hold water.  They waste a ton of water.  After living in Australia for 15 months, it is hard for me to see water wasted.  I gave them a bit of a lecture about how water comes from rain and we cannot waste it.  Now, they close their bathroom door and play in the water.  I thought I'd try something new--I told them when it rained (expected it to the next day), we would collect water in their cups and drink the rain water.

They were thrilled with the experiment.  They sat and watched their cups from the kitchen for a while.  I just didn't think about the wind that accompanies rain.  They quickly tipped over and the experiment was ruined.  I wasn't dedicated enough to go outside and pick them up repeatedly.  :-)

Popsicles!

I bought a popsicle-maker months ago and told Ethan and Sydney of the magic that it would do for us this summer yesterday.  We made a smoothie (frozen fruit and almond milk) and poured them into the molds.  They were so excited to share them with their cousins.  Notice my neat-ness with the bibs on only my kids.  :-)

Unexpected Swim

My energy level is starting to fade.  I have two very active toddlers who want me to dance, march in our "band" and (thankfully) read books for hours.  They adore the park, especially the swings.  It was pretty hot and I thought I'd sit in the shade and let them play.  Suddenly a city worker came and turned on the splash pad.  He told me that it was for today only because it was expected to be 90 degrees.  I did something hard for me--let the kids get the clothes all wet and run in the water.  I let go of a little control.  :-)

Ethan was hilarious.  He would run to the water and then stop and be pretty afraid of getting in the water.  Sydney jumped in with both feet.

Ethan's favorite spot--close enough to feel the spray from the water, but far enough to stay pretty dry.  He's my boy.

Syd's shirt was so wet, she started getting cold.  I ended up taking off her shirt and laying it in the sun.  She was in heaven!

Horse show

In an effort to get out of the house today for Doug to work, I met up with my sister, Sarah, and her family for the afternoon.  We went to a horse show after lunch ang had to do some deep breathing with all the dirt and manure.  Sydney went close to a stall and thought it was awesome that the horse touched her head with his mouth--over and over.  She had green slime in her hair and was grinning from ear to ear.  She said she wanted to ride a horse.  

I told her "you need to learn how." 

She said, "I already know how."

I said, "How do you do it then?"

Sydney, "Hold on to the handles."

I showed her a horse with no saddle and said, "there are no handles on this horse, how would you ride it?"

That settled that.

An old college friend spotted me and it was so fun to catch up with her.  Her daughter rides and let Ethan and Sydney take a turn on sitting on the horse.  I was relieved that Sydney would stop asking me for a ride.

Ethan was a bit anxious when the horse started stepping a bit when he got on the horse.  His face was so concerned, yet not terrified.

Sydney later said she wanted to eat the horse's food and I tried to explain to her (several time) that she couldn't eat it.  "Horses don't eat our kind of food." She was adamant that she could eat their hay and was in tears that I told her no.  I finally convinced her by showing her hay that was under manure.  Whew.

Friday fun time

We met aunt Michelle at the park for a picnic today and had a great time for 2 whole hours.  Michelle was fun to play with--kicking balls, going down slides, and brought their favorite--chips, for a snack.  It was a great time.

When I got home, I found a great activity for Ethan and Sydney.  They 'shredded' my receipts for me that I had been meaning to take into work to shred.  They were loving it!

We then had science time when I spotted a dead bee on the window sill.  They were full of questions and I had to speculate as to the cause of death.  They want to know about everything right now.  I cannot teach them fast enough.