"No More Happiness" and other Happenings

So, Jay Alvin has been an amazingly good baby with one exception: He has the hardest time with tummy aches after he eats. We've started calling gas drops "dessert" because he has them after every meal. Several people told me that I should try giving up dairy. (Um, kill me now.) After several days of screaming baby I decided to give it a try. Well, it's been two days and . . . it seems to be working. (Huge sad face from me.) I'm super grateful, but also wondering why (after I already sacrificed 9 months of my life, my body, and went through a lot of pain to get him here) I have to sacrifice one of my favorite things in the world. Do you realize that no milk means no yogurt, cottage cheese, cheese, milk and, worst of all, no ice cream?!?!? What am I going to do without ice cream? Yeah, I don't know either. It's a good thing I love this little boy. (How could I not? Look at that cute face.)

Leo is turning into quite a good little helper. He loves giving Jay Alvin a bottle, throwing his diapers away (something we could never get him to do with his own diapers), and helping to burp him. I'm pretty sure the burping is his favorite because he's allowed to hit Jay Alvin without getting into trouble.

I decided that living away from family when you have a baby rocks because then your mom comes and stays with you for 2 1/2 weeks. She's been an absolute lifesaver! Especially since we all have colds right now. I'm pretty sure I would be dead by now if she wasn't around to let me get some sleep. She's the best!

We were a little worried that we wouldn't have as many pictures of Jay Alvin as we have of Leo. I don't think it's going to be a problem though. :)

The Juicy Details

Okay, here's the scoop on Jay Alvin's birth day. (I'll try and keep it short. )

Monday morning I had my membranes stripped (again). My hopes were high since the doctor who did it was the one who sent me into labor with Leo. I started having contractions shortly after that, but they were short and very, very far apart. They eventually started getting closer together so when Ty got home I told him to get the spreadsheet ready. (He's a nerd and likes to make spreadsheets. We had one with Leo that would calculate length of contractions and frequency. He was going to make another one like that for Jay Alvin.) So Ty got the spreadsheet ready and told me to tell him when my next contraction began. Of course, I didn't have another one after that. I was (slightly) depressed and decided to go to bed early. I started having contractions again and I thought they were getting closer together, but I was mostly asleep so I wasn't really sure. I got up around 1:30 to move to the couch and told Ty that we might be having a baby that night. Then as soon as I got to the couch the contractions stopped again. (I seriously almost screamed.) I finally lost all hope around 2 and got up to go to the bathroom before I went back to sleep. As soon as I got to the bathroom I started having really strong, long and fast contractions. I entered 2 contractions into the spreadsheet and then woke Ty up and told him it was time. We called Krystal (Ty's sister) to come and stay with Leo and got everything ready while we waited for her to get to our house. In the time it took her to show up my contractions got really painful and I started thinking that I really didn't want to have a baby. I practically dragged Ty out the door and spent the entire drive to the hospital telling him that he was going too slow and accusing him of intentionally taking as long as he could to get there so that I would be in more pain. At one point I even made him run a red light because there was no one coming the other way. By the time we got to the hospital parking lot I told Ty that we were never going to have sex again (just in case) and by the time I was in my room and changing into my gown I informed him that I absolutely was not going to deliver this baby vaginally. (Me: "Get out there right now and tell them that they have to stop this and do a c-section instead!!!" Ty: "Um, she says she's ready.") So the nurse came in and said, "You had a c-section before, right? But you wanted to try for a VBAC?" Me: "Yeah, I did. But I don't any more. Just make it stop." Nurse: "What if we got the anesthesiologist in here and got your epidural started? Do you want to do that before you decide?" Me: "If you can do it fast. Just do it fast." So she got me on the bed and started getting me hooked up to the IV and everything. (Nurse: "We have to do all of this either way so just keep breathing." Me: "I can't do this. I can't do this. I can't do this. Just do a c-section. Make it stop. Make it stop.") As soon as they were finished with all the preliminary stuff they informed me that the anesthesiologist was waiting just outside the door if I wanted to give it a try. I agreed and he came in and just stood there by my bed smiling at me. Anesthesiologist: "You've done this before, right? (eternal pause) Just so you know the risks. . ." Me: "Yeah, I know. I consent. Just do it!" Then while I was waiting for him to get the dumb thing in. . . "Ty, I am seriously never doing this again. If you want a little girl we're going to have to adopt." And then the drugs kicked in and life was good. Ty asked me a little hesitantly if I wanted to go ahead and try the VBAC and I said, "Oh yeah. Lets do it." And then, "Well, that was kind of fun. I got to be a crazy pregnant lady."

The rest was pretty boring. I dozed in bed and Ty read a book for 3 hours while I finished dilating. Then the doctor came in, I pushed for 8 minutes and out he came. The recovery was really, really easy and life is good.

More Pictures

Sorry it's taken me so long to get these up here. I've been in a bit of a brain-fog from lack of sleep. Here's a bit of what's been going on around here mixed in with random pictures of the newbie.

Leo did so great with Jay Alvin at the hospital. Every time he came in he wanted to hold him and look at him. He thought he was so cool. Once we brought Jay Alvin home Leo wasn't quite so sure about him. He goes back and forth between loving him, hating him and pretending he doesn't exist. It's been a crazy couple of days, but things are starting to normalize.

Leo discovered fudgesicles. He's a big fan. (Usually he only gets the white chocolate ones because he ends up looking like this with the dark.)

Leo has been jumping on anything that is even remotely bouncy lately. Couches, beds, pillows, cushions. . . it's been fun.

The boys.

Day 1 Jay Alvin Pictures

Ok, time for my once a child post. Here are the pictures of Jay Alvin taken just after delivery. He is 7 lbs, 5 oz, 20" long. he was born at 6:39 AM this morning. Kristen seems to be doing well. I'll let her fill you in on the juicy labor details, but I thought it was much less stressful than Leo was.


About 20 min after birth

Nursery after being cleaned up, just before going back to mom

20 min post birth

Nursery after being cleaned

This boy:

is starting to figure out that something is going on around here.

He's been super cuddly (which is so not his natural state of being).

I love it.

But it makes me feel bad because I'm pretty sure he's going to be upset when his little brother gets here.

If you give a boy a cookie. . .

He didn't even eat half of it.

Big Boy Bed!!!

Today we turned Leo's crib into a toddler bed. We were absolutely not planning on doing it this early, but he absolutely refuses to sleep in his crib. Even if he's asleep when we take him in there he wakes up as soon as we lay him down and starts screaming his little head off. We're hoping (especially now that there's going to be another little person in our bed in the middle of the night) that this will help Leo stay in his own room. As soon as we finished he climbed right on it and lay down. Then he spent the next 20 or so minutes jumping all over it.

(There's his picture face.)

I tried to get him to lay down again once I had the camera.

This is the closest I could get.

Wish us luck!

Sometimes I forget God. I don't mean that I doubt His existence, I don't, but I guess that I sometimes just accept as fact that He's there and don't stop to think about what that means. I know that He created everything, and that He's all powerful and totally in control, but I forget that He can be involved in my life in a real and personal way. I forget that I'm His child and that He loves me and is concerned with my welfare. I forget that I can appeal to Him for help and, most of the time, He'll provide it. Today He sent me a reminder of all of that.

I woke up this morning and just didn't feel good. I was tired and achy and I just wanted to lay down. Of course, Leo wasn't on board with this idea. He wanted to be entertained. During my morning Facebook check I commented, "Dear Leo, Can you please take a nap that lasts all day long so I can lay on the couch and try not to die? Thanks! - Mom." A few minutes later I pulled out his toys, turned on Nickelodeon and got situated on the couch. Then our apartment phone rang. (This doesn't usually happen as most people call us on our cell phones.) It was a girl from my ward who I know, but not well at all. She said that she had seen on Facebook that I was having a rough day and could she please keep Leo for a little while so I could have a break? My first reaction was to be embarrassed, and then grateful. I agreed and she said she would be over in a few minutes to get him. As soon as I got off the phone I started crying. It was a little ridiculous, but I couldn't help myself. I had just gotten an answer to a prayer I hadn't even been conscious of praying. I felt like Heavenly Father was reaching out His hand and saying, "I'm still here. I know what you're going through and I'm here to help." And I needed that reassurance even more than I needed the nap that I was able to take. (And believe me, I really needed that nap!) I'm so grateful for a God who not only knows me and takes an active interest in my life, but who also reminds me who I am when I (so often) forget.

Two Weeks!

Hallelujah

Seriously, I hear heavenly choirs sing every time I think about it.

Rant

Things I Hate Doing While I Am 37 Weeks Pregnant

(Oh, yes I am.)

*Washing Dishes

I can't quite reach the water so my back ends up hurting and my front ends up soaking wet.

*Leaning Over The Sink to Wash My Face

This should never involve holding your breath, but I can't quite get over the sink if I'm breathing.

*Picking up Toys

It should never be easier to get on the ground and crawl from toy to toy than to just bend over and pick them up.

*Answering the "How Are You Feeling?" Question

Seriously? I feel like crap. I'm twice as big as I should be. I can't move. I can't sleep. Everything hurts and there's a person inside of of me who's favorite past time is seeing how far he can straighten out his body without actually ripping a hole in mine. Is that what you want to hear? Nope. So you get a, "Feeling pretty good."

*Waiting

How come the closer you get to your due date the farther away it seems? 8 months? No problem. 3 months? It's so soon! I'm not sure I'm ready. 2 weeks? Kill me, kill me, kill me!!!

*Going to Church

How horrible is that? It's just so hot and the chairs are so uncomfortable. By the end of the three hours I just want someone to put me out of my misery.

*Sitting in General

How come no one has chairs that are comfortable for people with unbelievably huge bellies? I mean, is that too much to ask? I think not.

*Rolling Over in Bed at Night

Nothing that happens in the middle of the night should be so hard and take so much time and effort. Nothing.

* Taking Leo Anywhere

If Ty is there the kid will do everything on his own. Go down stairs, go upstairs, climb into and out of his car seat. . . He'll even help Ty to buckle the seat up. If it's just me? He suddenly forgets how to move any of his limbs and needs to be carried everywhere.

An added bonus to this inconvenience? When I carry him he ends up sitting right on top of my enormous belly. Maybe he'll push Jay Alvin out a few days early.

Random

Sorry I'm posting so much at once. I didn't want to forget stuff. Just a few random things.

*I got a new ice cube tray at the dollar store and I'm in love. It makes baby ice. (Not quite as small as Sonic, but still a lot smaller than regular ice.) I'm obsessed and very well hydrated these days.

*It's been quite warm here the past few days and Leo's been spending a lot of time like this:

(He just hates wearing clothes.) The bad thing is that he has now figured out how to take his diaper off and he does it constantly. It makes me crazy so I've been forcing him to wear pants. I'm mean, I know.

*On Wednesday night I seriously thought I had appendicitis. I was having major pain in my lower right abdomen. It felt like round ligament pain (which is totally normal) but it was really strong and it would not go away. I was about to cry for about an hour. My main thought about this? "Oh good. They'll probably do a c-section before they do the appendectomy. I can finally be done with this pregnancy."

We later found out that your appendix is pushed back by your kidney when you're pregnant, so I was fine the whole time. Bummer.

Leo and I went to Jump On It yesterday with my niece Winter and her kids. It was so much fun! It's basically a bunch of trampolines connected to each other. They also had a few blow-up bouncy thingies. Leo wasn't too sure about the trampolines, but he loved the bouncers. Especially the big slide. He went again and again until he was too tired to climb up it any more. Then he made me carry him to the top. (It wasn't easy. I thought I was going to die or tip the entire thing over.)

I've been getting this face every time I pull out the camera lately.

For some reason he always goes down slides like this.

Any how, maybe we'll go again some time. They have mommy and toddler time and it's only $3 for an hour.

Oh, I almost forgot. I was trying to get up onto one of the raised platforms they have in the middle of the trampolines and there was a little boy already up there. He was probably five or six. He looked at me and said, "Um, I think you might be pregnant." I guess that makes up for the, "Your belly is unbelievably huge" comment I got on Wednesday.

Banana Bread Cookies

I made these amazing cookies that I found here. She calls them Banana, Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip, Pecan Cookies but I think that's a bit of a mouth full. They taste like banana bread with chocolate chips so I'm going to call them Banana Bread Cookies. Any how, they're delicious. You should definitely try them.

Banana, Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip, Pecan Cookies:

Recipe by For the Love of Cooking.net

-1 very ripe banana

-3/4 cup brown sugar

-1/4 cup softened butter

1 large egg

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour (white flour would work too.)

2 cups oatmeal

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cup chocolate chips

3/4 cup pecans

Pre-heat oven to 350.

Combine the banana, sugar, butter, egg and vanilla. Beat with a mixer at medium speed until mixed thoroughly. Mix the salt, flour and oats together. Add the oat mixture, chocolate chips and pecans and mix with a spoon until well combined. Bake 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. (I baked them for 13 minutes and they were perfect.) Let cool and eat them all in one sitting. (That's what I did any way.)

I didn't take a picture. Sorry. They look like cookies. You'll have to use your imagination.

Samoas

Yesterday we finally got our Girl Scout cookies.

Hooray!

I have seriously been dreaming about these babies for weeks. I even attempted to make my own with a recipe I found online. (It was no good at all.) I decided about a week ago that I was going to savor every last cookie. I was only going to eat one a day so that they would last me a good, long time. (I mean, it's not like you can just have them whenever you want, right?)

Yeah, those two didn't make it through the night either.

Hooray!

Well folks, we have officially entered the

Birth Month.

I am so stinkin' excited.

And even better,

I am totally ready for Jay Alvin to be here.

Last week I:

Sorted and organized all the boy clothes

Rearranged Leo's room to accommodate a brother

Stocked up on stuff we might run out of in the next 2 months

Washed everything

(ie. car seat, swing, bouncer etc.)

and

Deep cleaned the entire house.

Can I tell you a secret?

It hurt my body.

I'm glad it's done though. :)

And I found out I'm

1-2 cm dilated and

60% effaced.

(Exactly the same as I was with Leo at this point.)

Come on out baby.

We're waiting for you. :)