We survived our frist week!!

So we have survived our first week home. I may regret saying this but Westin Kate has been the happiest, easiest baby ever. She never cries, she sleeps great, and is just so sweet. She will cry if she is wet/dirty and she cries when we change her clothes and that is really it. I had a hard time with her latching on last week (which shocked me because Wade never did) so I went to target and bought a nipple shield and it has made it so much better. I wish I would have thought of this earlier. With Wade being sick this week he has actually been so much harder than her. We were up more with him than I was with her. He is finally feeling and sleeping better. He is still acting out for attention-I am hoping this will soon get better. Here are a few things about our sweet girl.

She had her first doctors appointment when she was 4 days old. Things looked great. She was a little jaundice but not too bad and she had lost some weight but he didn't seem to concerned since my milk had just come in. She weighed 7lbs 10.5oz- I can tell that she has gained weight though because she felt heavy to me today. I bet she is close to her birth weight by now.

 On her way to her first doctors appointment!

She is so so strong. Wade was never this squirmy or strong. I cannot lay her down without her almost rolling over to her side. Her head is so strong and you really have to hold her tight.

To add to the sickness around here I must have picked up some kind of GI bug at the doctors office (its the only place I have taken her) because I have had a upset stomach the past 2 days and so has she. I hate that she got it too. She doesn't seem to feel bad and is eating great but she is just having lots of bad diapers. I am so ready for everyone to get better. I could tell a couple of times at night that her tummy hurt and I felt so bad for her. I feel better today so I am hoping she does too. Hopefully Wade won't get it.

She has been doing so well at night and she really sleeps most of the day. I cannot keep her awake during the day. Last night she only ate once during the night and it was wonderful. She went 4 hours between both feedings. I am really hoping that this doesn't change!!

I had my first two days alone with both kids and we did pretty good. We even managed to get to the park yesterday for a little while. It does take so much longer to get out the door now!!! I will never be on time anymore. I have had lots of help too and it has been wonderful. Josh's mom came and spent three days with us and it was so so nice. She was so helpful with Wade so I could rest and she helped with cooking and cleaning. Thanks Nana for everything you did, we really enjoyed it!! My parents have been so helpful too. They really haven't seen her so much but have been getting Wade almost every day for a little bit so he can get out of the house. Thanks so much to them and Ashley and Zach who have helped us too. Our great family and friends have all signed up to do dinners for us and we appreciate it so much. I haven't had to cook anything since she was born and it has been so helpful.

First few days...

Here are a few more from the hospital...she looks so little with Dr. A!

 Love my sweet family

Have I mentioned those cheeks

All ready to go home...

So you may want to just skip this post...just something for us to look back on one day when she is a big girl! We left the hospital around lunch time and got home on Wednesday at 1pm. Wade came running down the steps ready to see us. He was so happy to hold her but he had started coughing so it has scared me because I don't want her to get sick. He acted out for sure once we got home...trying to get some attention. He did not want to nap and we should have just let him stay up but we finally got him to sleep. I wasn't even thinking about his doctors appt and we had to wake him to get him to the doctors. He had been coughing and telling us his ear hurt. So poor Josh had to drag him to the doctor just screaming. Wade has been well this entire Fall/Winter until the week we bring a new baby home. He had a ear infection :(

I am just hoping she does not get sick. He has coughed on her and he had his fingers in his mouth and pulled them out and dripped spit all over her. Welcome to the world Westin Kate!!

Our first night home we had a horrible time at bed time. Poor Wade is so confused and doesn't feel good. I know if he felt better things would have been so much easier. We let him lay with us and he finally fell asleep around 930p. It just makes me so sad to see him sick. He wants to hold her all the time and is always bringing her toys. It is the sweetest thing...he will even share his special toys with her.

WK did pretty good her first night home-she didn't cry much just didn't want to sleep in her bassinet. At some point I picked her up (do not remember doing that) because we woke up to my alarm going off (it was time to feed her) and I was holding her and we were both sleeping. I was so scared when I woke up because I didn't remember putting her in bed with me. She ate about every 3 hours. During the day she ate every 2.5-3 hours and sleeps a lot. She never cries and is such a sleepy little thing.

This is what we did our first couple of days at home!

Day 2- she stayed awake for a little while in the afternoon. We gave her her first bath at home and she did pretty good. Didn't love the bath but she cried less than Wade did. She loved getting her hair washed. We went for our first family walk-she did great and loved it. It was nice to get outside for everyone. Wade said the funniest things when we were walking. I was walking on the road with her because it was less bumpy and he wanted to ride his bike on the road. We wouldn't let him so he stopped his bike on the sidewalk and looked at us and said "Its not fair!!!" He has never said this before but oh how true it is these days. We laughed so hard at him.

She seems to like her paci thankfully. My milk came in and she has been eating well. She goes anywhere from 2.5-4 hours. She has a little newborn congestion when she eats but it doesn't seem to bother her too much. She is such a sweet girl and has only cries when we change her diaper.

1st bath at home

Night 2 was one of those nights we will look back and laugh about. Wade was up all night crying/screaming because he just feels horrible and she was a little gassy and had three huge diapers and fussed a little bit. We were all in the same room and Josh and I just looked at each other and laughed. We were both so tired and we couldn't seem to get them happy. I think I slept maybe one hour the entire night. Thank goodness we have some help during the day.

Wade has made up a name for his new sister. He calls her "Bobby Westin Kate" and it is so typical for Wade. He told the security guard at the hospital that he had a brother and his name was "Bobby" The only person he knows named Bobby is Zach's dad!! His teacher at school asked mom if we named the baby "Bobby Westin!" Oh this kid just cracks me up. He loves her so much and has been perfect with her. He has been acting out with us and doesn't understand why all of our attention is not on him. Josh and I left WK with mom and dad the other night and took Wade by himself to Sonic to get ice cream. We watched a Mickey movie in the car and he had a great time. We are going to try to do this every week until he gets used to the transition. He keeps telling us "I'm the boss" or "your a bad girl/boy" and we just smile and correct him.



Pictures!!

Of course we took so many at the hospital but here are a few favorites...

 Last family of three picture!!

 Our big girl-8lbs 5.8oz

She was so alert and so so cheesy!



1st time meeting his new sister-it was so sweet 



 Our sweet nurse who missed our delivery



 1st bath

 Love those sweet cheeks



 My babies!!!!!!

Westin Kate's birth story-2/6/12 (sorry its a little long)

I can't believe I am actually writing this post at 37 weeks and 1 day. (I started writing this post on 2/5 while I was in the hospital in labor) I had pretty much convinced myself that I would still be pregnant and have to be induced at 39 weeks. The past 2 days however I have felt a little "different" and it made me wonder if something may be happening. I have been nauseated and sick again and just felt uncomfortable. Actually Friday and Saturday night I kept thinking I was going into labor and then nothing would happen.

Well after the Superbowl party I got in bed and could not get comfortable (nothing out of the ordinary) I was cramping some but I figured it was the same thing as the last two nights. I tried so hard to sleep and I could not so randomly sometime around 11-1130 I decided to get out my pump and try pumping. Now I would never recommend this to anyone who is 37 weeks...normally I would say wait until you are past your due date. However nurses make the worst patients AND my doctors wanted to me try to have a baby around 36-37 weeks because of my circumstances. So I pumped for about 10-15 minutes.

After pumping nothing happened. I still felt "restless" so I got up to use the bathroom and after I did I felt a little "leak." I was pretty sure it wasn't urine (TMI I know!!) because I had just used the bathroom but I decided not to wake Josh up yet. I had to wake him up last time too when my water broke with Wade. So now it is after midnight and I was just standing in the bathroom and sure enough I had another small gush but this was enough that I knew it was my water breaking. I went and got Josh and told him to look at it and make sure it wasn't urine. I think I had one more small leak while I was waiting to hear back from the doctor. I called the on call (of course it was the one doctor I had not seen-she was on maternity leave) and she wanted me to come on in. So we got to the hospital around 1250am after my mom got here. They did the first nitrizine test to see if it was amniotic fluid and only a teeny bit turned blue. I told Josh I do not want to be sent home...and that I knew it was my water breaking. Well she waited a few minutes and did one again and it all turned blue immediately. So I was staying at the hospital and we would be meeting our sweet girl soon.

They decided to just watch me over night and see if I would start contracting on my own. They decided that I had a "high leak" and that my bag had not ruptured all the way but just had a leak. However this wasn't great news and I immediately became high risk. The nurse checked me that night and I was 3cm but WK was still really high. Because her head was not engaged I was at risk for a prolapsed cord-meaning if my water broke all the way it could cause the cord to come out first and that is a OB emergency and we did not want that to happen. This did scare me a little; I think because I used to work OB I knew exactly what that meant and I did not want to be put to sleep for a emergency C/S and risk something happening to her. So I had to call the nurse every time I had a large gush of fluid so she could check and make sure the cord was not coming out. I am so so thankful my water didn't break completely at home and that we got there in time to get her head down and ready.

Around 830 am the next morning the on call came in (who was fantastic by the way) and said we needed to start pitocin because I was not contracting regularly. So she started it slow and was hoping I would contract enough to bring her head down. She came back in at 10am and checked me again and thankfully her head was engaged. She broke my water and HOLY COW did I have ton. She said I had Polyhydraminous (too much water) for sure. The nurse said she thinks it may have been the most she had ever seen. So after changing my bed three times it finally slowed down!! After she broke my water I really started hurting. I had about an hour of really painful contractions before I got my epidural. I had about 9 hours with Wade so this was so much better. I got my epidural around 1120am and of course it did the same as it did with Wade; it only took on one side. I was happy though because it cut the pain in half. At 1145 she checked me and they put my catheter in and I was 5cm. I felt ok but not great at this point and around 1pm I had to call the nurse to get more medicine because I was hurting really bad still. They gave me at epidural bolus around 115p and I don't know how much they gave me but after that I was in heaven. At 145p I felt so great that Josh and I both took a nap. I didn't have any pain at all and was able to sleep wonderfully. It must have helped me relax and dilate because I woke up a little before 3p and I was feeling pressure on my right side. The nurse came in and I asked her if I could have another bolus because the epidural wasn't working again. It actually wasn't my nurse (she was busy with another patient) but she wanted to check me and see what was going on. Well she checked me and said "Were about to have a baby!!" Josh had just woken up at this point and we were both shocked. We called my mom and sister and the nurse ran out to find the doctor. She wasn't sure if he was even here or would get here in time. He was actually on his way in and barely had time to change clothes. It was Dr. Anthony on call at this point; I have see him quite a bit and he was great. He said that he almost had to deliver her in street clothes because everything happened so fast. I started to push a little after 3p and it was only 5-6 pushes or 10 minutes and she was here. Much shorter than Wade's delivery. I had to push for an hour with him. I was so happy to have her here and to see her. It happened so quick it felt like I was dreaming. I couldn't believe she was here already. They thought I would have her between 5-7pm and she was born at 313pm. My sister made it in time and came in right after she was born. My parents and Wade got to the hospital right after she was born. I did tear a little because she came so fast so once they got me cleaned up everyone came in. Wade had a big smile on his face when he saw her and was so happy. She is just perfect and we were so thankful everything went so well. It was special to just have Josh and I in the room. Pictures coming soon!!

Sunday!!

We had a great day at home yesterday. We didn't make it to church because Wade was so tired from not sleeping well and I was too. So we stayed in our PJ's and just relaxed at home. Josh's parents came to see us and we had a great visit. Wade was SO excited that Nana and Poppy were coming. We all met in downtown Apex and had lunch and then went back to our house to play. We had such a great visit and we were so glad they were able to come. Josh's mom brought the best cupcakes and she gave me the cutest pair of flats for my birthday. Can't wait to wear them when my feet stop swelling!! I don't have too much swelling but I do have a little more than I did with Wade. My hands are pretty puffy and my feet look a little puffy too. I am shocked that my face isn't swelling yet!

Nana and Poppy played until nap time and then we all took a nap. I was actually able to fall asleep for a hour and the boys slept almost 3 hours. Everyone was so worn out from the night before. I had to wake Wade up to take him to my parents house. They were so nice and offered to take him to my Aunts Superbowl party so we could go to ours kid free. Wade was excited because it was in her back garage (day care) where all the toys are. We went to our good friends Jenna and Jared's house and had a great time. There was so much food and I ate WAY too much. The guys were really into the Superbowl and the girls mostly chatted and watched the half time show. I am so thankful for our friends...we always have the best time with them.

I felt a little nauseated and a little crampy while we were there but nothing out of the ordinary. The funniest thing happened though. I wore my cute clogs over to their house and they fit fine. I guess because I sat for 2 hours my feet decided to swell. Well we were leaving to go get Wade and I went to find my shoes and they would not fit. It was crazy I could not slide them on my feet. I somehow squeezed my toes in enough to get to the car and then took them off. We all got a good laugh out of it!! I got home and got ready for bed so I could put my puffy feet up!! Its crazy that the Superbowl party may have been our last "outing" before Westin Kate gets here.

3-0 and 37 weeks!!

Saturday the 4th I turned the big 3-0 and also made it to full term!! Thirty sounds older to me but I honestly don't feel any older.  Josh, Wade and I went to Panera for breakfast and then I had a little "me" time. I went and got my nails done, had a wonderful facial and spent a little time at Home Goods/TJ Max. The facial was my favorite by far. Josh and Wade had some fun "boy" time too. We all had lunch together and then it was nap time. Oh I almost forgot that my sweet husband got me the prettiest David Yurman bracelet that matches my necklace and ring. He promises that it was from Wade!!

Wade had a birthday party at the Fire Station for his buddy Colton after his nap and he had a great time. It was a really cute party. We dropped him off at my parents after that so we could go out to eat with our friends. We all met at Anna's pizza and had a great dinner. I had not been feeling very well most of the day so it was nice to just sit and relax. I was nauseated and even got sick after breakfast and had a few cramps here and there too. I just thought Westin Kate might make her appearance on my birthday but no such luck!!

Wade was supposed to spend the night with Mimi and Pops but we got a phone call at 1am because he was crying saying his ear hurt. He has never cried to come home to be with Josh and I so I knew he must have felt bad. Mom brought him home and he cried a little bit about his ear but slept all night. I had to stop his abx early because he had been breaking out in hives so I am hoping his ear infection does not come back. I am hoping that this is my last pregnancy post!!


How Far Along: 37 weeks


Size of baby:  Size of a Watermelon!! 18.9-20.9 inches, and  6.2-9.2lbs. I am really hoping she is closer to the 6.2lbs but it looks like she is going to be close to 8lbs at this point!!

Gender: It's a girl....Westin Kate

Maternity Clothes: Yes

Weight Gain: around 30lbs...I was at 30lbs last week and I go back to the doctor Monday. I don't ever weigh at home!!

Movement: This has slowed down for sure the past couple of weeks. I still feel her at night mostly but I think she has run out of room!!

Sleep: Not so great again...I usually get a 3-4 hour stretch but that is usually it.

Symptoms: acid reflux STILL, started getting nauseated again and I actually vomited Saturday and Sunday after breakfast-this makes me think labor is getting closer!! Crampy off and on and lots of back pain still, feeling more pressure than normal too.

What I miss: not having a huge stomach and sleeping in a comfortable position.

Cravings: Not too many this week but I have eaten my fair share of birthday goodies so I may actually be closer to the 32lbs mark!!

What I am looking forward to: Having a baby!!!!


I did take some pictures of our birthday dinner and will try to post those soon.

Family Birthday Party

Tonight we went out to eat with my family for my birthday. Tomorrow night we are going out with our friends and Sunday is the Superbowl so it worked well to go out to dinner tonight. We had a good time (well as much fun as you can have being 9mo pregnant!!)  We went to a wings place in Apex and it is always so good. They were so busy so it took a little while but Wade did really well! He had lots of people to help entertain him while we waited. We went with my parents, Ashley/Zach, and my aunt and uncle.

Its funny because 30 used to sound so old (when we were in college) but honestly I don't feel any older. Some days I feel like I should still be 21. Its amazing how fast time goes by. Tomorrow I will be 30 years old and 37 weeks pregnant. So...anytime after tomorrow WK is welcome to join our family. I don't want her to come tomorrow but I wouldn't mind at all going into labor tomorrow night. I just want her to have her own birthday so its not something she has to share with me!! I know labor could happen any time but I just don't feel like anything is going to happen quite yet. I would love for her to surprise us and make her appearance soon.

After dinner tonight we went back to mom and dad's for cookie cake. Wade was so excited and he was so sweet and sang "Happy Birthday" to me. I wish I would have had it on video. Maybe he will do it again tomorrow. Here are some pictures from our little family party. My sweet husband once again surprised me with a present tonight. I have a manicure and a facial tomorrow and I thought that was my present. Before bed he sent Wade in with a little box. It was a beautiful David Yurman bracelet that matches my ring and necklace. Josh always picks out the best presents-he has great taste!! We have a busy day tomorrow and I am so excited that tomorrow is a Saturday and we can spend the day together. We are dropping Wade off tomorrow night with my parents and he is spending the night with them. He is SO excited (he hasn't spent the night in a long time) and he says they are going to "go camping" and have "movie night." Hoping that this is our last weekend as a family of three.