Life with Three

Today is my second day flying solo with three kids, and I am blogging.....there is something not right about that picture.  Yesterday, was my first day, but the two bigs had pre school, so I wasn't alone all day with three.  While they were at school I took Paxton for a weight check at a local breastfeeding store. They provide complementary weight checks anytime for breastfeeding mothers.  At last weeks doctors appointment he was 6 lbs 15 ounces, and yesterday he was 7 lbs 12 ounces. He is passed his birth weight again, and almost gained a lb in a week.  He is such a good little eater, and I am glad that he is growing right on track.  After we came home, rested a bit, and then picked up the big kids at school.  After some quiet time we spent the evening watching Happy Feet, and I actually cooked dinner.  I felt like I conquered the world, but I was thrilled to hand over all three to daddy for bath time, and I snuck to my bathroom for a bath for myself.

It is crazy to think that Paxton is not even two weeks old yet.  I feel as though I can not remember a day in which he wasn't here.  I just love him to pieces. He is doing great.  I prayed hard when I was pregnant with him for him to be laid back, and a good sleeper.  So far it appears as though my prayers have been answered (knock on wood).  The past 3-4 nights he has given me 5 hour stretches of sleep at night.  Last night I fed him at 11:40, and he woke up at 5 to eat again.  He then slept in until 10!! Amazing! He is sleeping in his crib, swaddled, and propped up on his boppy. He does not like to lay flat, and thankfully my movement alarm still works with him slightly elevated.  He has kind of taken to a soothie pacifier, but is not hooked! His umbilical cord stump also fell off 2 days ago, and he got his first real bath last night.

We had newborn photos taken on his one week birthday.  He was bright eyed for most of them, which was hilarious because he is always sleeping.  We finally got him to sleep, and I am confident the photographer got some great shots.  Caleb was not really into participating once again, but I think we got a few with him. Mckinlee of course modeled it up, and I am excited to see the pics of her.  We will just say it was a combined newborn/3 year old photo shoot. Here are the 2 sneak peaks the photographer has posted so far.

In other news Mckinlee has become quite opinionated about what she wears, and how her hair needs to be fixed.  The other day she insisted on wearing an Ariel nightgown with leggings and riding boots to school.  I said I would call the look "mama just had a baby, and didn't want a tantrum". She rocked it.

Caleb is doing great with Paxton.  He loves to hold him, and gives him a million kisses a day.

All in all life with three is going well.  Praying it stays this way.

Paxton's First Week

The bigs are at preschool, and Paxton is still sleeping, so I thought I would go ahead and take advantage of the silence to record things that I want to remember.  Paxton will not officially be 1 week until tomorrow, but we have had a great first week at home.  We have spent most of our days relaxing, and snuggling our sweet boy.  Monday was my birthday, and my mother in law took the older kids so Nick and I could have a relaxing night.  Paxton did not sleep at all the night before, so I took a good nap, a bath, and then Nick and I ordered take out and watched a movie.  My husband was amazing that night and took care of Paxton, and even gave him a bottle of pumped milk so I could sleep. I woke up for his 6:30 feeding feeling like a new woman.

Tidbits I want to remember.....

Doctors Visit:  Paxton had his first doctors appointment on Monday.  We had to stop by Outpatient and have his billirubin checked.  Thankfully it was only a 9 and the doctor said that he believed we had to reason to fear it going up.  At his doctors appointment he weighed in at 6 lbs 15 ounces.  When we left the hospital he was 6 lbs 13 ounces.  We take him Monday for another weight check.  Everything looked great, and the doctor gave him a clean bill of health.

Sleeping:  He is such a little cuddle bug.  He loves to sleep in your arms, and Nick and I have really not put him down very much at all.  We take turns passing him back and forth.  We are trying to take in all the newborn snuggles we can get since he is our last baby.  (Emotionally I am still wrapping my head around that fact).  He started out hating his crib.  He does not like to lay flat at all, and as soon as we would lay him down he would wake up and cry.  He spent his first few nights in between Nick and I on the boppy.  I have a huge fear of SIDS, so that was not an ideal situation.  Last night I moved the boppy to the crib, and laid him on it to see if the breathing monitor would still pick up his movements if he was propped up.  It did, so he spent his first night in his crib, and actually slept great.  He is generally waking up every 3 hours at night, and then after his early morning feeding he sleeps about 4 hours.

Breastfeeding:  Breastfeeding is going great.  The entire process was so natural this time.  He knew what to do, I knew what to do, and there was no pressure or worry.  My nipples have cracked, so I have been working on getting those healed.  That part of breastfeeding sucks, but I know in a few weeks it will all be behind me.  Engorgement has almost leveled out, and I am starting to feel more comfortable.  He has not had any nipple confusion at all thank God.  I have had to use a nipple shield on my left breast due to cracked nipples, and he still nurses the right side without one. He took a bottle from Nick with zero issues, and likes his soothie pacifier.

He still has his umbilical cord stump, and his circumcision is healing great.

The Bigs:  The kids love him.  They love to hold him, kiss him, and put their finger in his hand for him to grab.  We have been trying to make sure we set aside special time for them so they do not feel jealous. Last night we colored a sheet for preschool, cuddled on the couch and watched a movie, and read books before bed.  Kinlee has been a little more whiney lately, but I think that is just a part of being three.

All in all our first week has been great. I am so blessed to have these three perfect, healthy children, and I have found myself continuously thanking God for the blessings in my life.

Paxton's Birth Story

Paxton David arrived on February 13th at 3:26 pm.  He weighed 7 lbs 4 ounces and was 20 inches with a head circum. of 13.5. 

Last belly pic at 38 weeks 3 days

The days leading up to Paxton's arrival were LONG LONG LONG for me. I dilated to a three by 37 weeks, and the doctor told me to expect a baby any day.  I kept having false labor in which I would contract for about 3 hours with contractions 3-5 minutes apart, but not increasing in intensity.  They would then just STOP!  To say that was frustrating would be the understatement of the century.  My very last doctor appointment before he arrived the doctor checked me and I was 4 centimeters.  She informed me that my bag of water was right there, and that if I had any more consistent contractions at all that she wanted me to head straight to the hospital.  At that appointment she also stripped my membranes and scheduled an induction for February 17th (my birthday), at 7 am. 

The night after that appointment I was woken up a few times by bad cramps.  The next morning I was bleeding and still crampy.  I took the kids to school, and decided to go walk the mall in an effort to get labor going.  I walked for hours, and then came home. While home I cleaned, played with the kids, rested, and cooked dinner. I had a feeling that it was the day, but I didn't want to get my hopes up.  That night Nick rubbed my "pressure points",  and we waited to see if my contractions became regular.  At around 12 am they were coming on every 3-5 minutes and lasting 45 seconds.  They were not extremely painful, but I called the on call doctor and he advised me to head to Labor and Delivery.  Nick called his mom, and we watched some shows while we waited for her to arrive. 

Once we arrived at Labor and Delivery they admitted us to triage to be monitored.  I was monitored for an hour and my contractions were coming every 3-5 minutes. Some were strong, some were not.  I did not change in dilation within that hour, but my doctor decided to keep me since I was already 4 centimeters and consistently contracting.  They then placed my IV and moved me to my room (the same room I was in with Kinlee).  Once I got into my room, Nick and I rested for a bit.  My contractions started to slow, so I decided I wanted to walk the hallways.  We walked for a while, and the contractions picked back up.  They were still consistent but not intense.  There were talks of possibly sending me home because it did not look like I was in active labor. I about lost it emotionally at this point. My dad was already on his way, we had been up all night, contractions were coming every 3-5 minutes, and the idea of being sent home to deal with that was too much.  My doctor came in to check me to make the final decision.  Thankfully she said I was a five and decided to break my water.  Breaking my water this time was so painful.  It felt like it took forever, and the pain was intense.  I don't know if she was stripping my membranes more as well, or what but it hurt.  After she broke my water, she asked that I  hold off for a bit on the epidural to let labor pick up.  Five minutes after she broke my water I got my first strong contraction, and then they came one after one after one, without much of a break.  I tried to be strong and hold out for the epidural but the pain was getting too intense.  I asked for the epi, and soon after they were there to place it.  The epidural this time was the same as the others. They went a little slower, since my blood pressure dropped so low when I received it with Kinlee.  My contractions were so strong during it and it was so hard to sit still.  Thankfully it quickly took effect, and it was smooth sailing pain wise from there.

 

 

The nurse checked me after the epi and I was a 6. I visited with friends and family who were in the room with me, all the while I was feeling intense pressure.  The nurse checked me about 1 hour later, when I informed her that the pressure was getting worse. I was a 10! She said she wanted to let the baby "labor down", and placed me in a seated position for about an hour.  It was then time to push.  The doctor arrived, and we began the pushing process. After a little bit of embarrassment, and four rounds of pushing Paxton arrived.  I remember looking down and seeing his head come out.  He had the cord around his neck, so they moved it, and then I gave my final push.  I once again felt that amazing emotion of seeing your child for the first time.  There is really no way to explain that feeling, but Intense Love!! Love at first sight!

He was not crying with ease, so they took him to clear his airways. I waited for the first big cry, and when it came I cried a little more.  I then talked to the doctor as she sewed me up, and waited for them to bring my baby back to me. I was so glad when they finally gave him to me to hold.  He looked just like his big brother, and it was such a sweet moment talking to him, and watching his little facial expressions.  I was head over hills in love with a little guy that I had just met.  He nursed for the first time like a champ.  I literally put him on my chest, and he latched perfectly the first time. 

The rest of the day we had some visitors, and I spent my time recovering, and feeding Paxton.  The first night he really had no interest in waking to eat, so we were all able to rest.  The next day I spent some time one on one with him while Nick went home to see the kids.  I had fun taking pictures of him! He passed his hearing test that day, and was also circumcised. It was then time to head home. Unforunately we had to head home in a snow storm, which made me a little nervous. I told Nick to make sure he drove slow!

Once we arrived home the bigs got to meet their little brother.  They are head over hills in love with him, and constantly ask to hold him or come up and kiss him. 

 

I am so thankful for this little guy who has stolen our hearts and completed our family. 

Oh and he is a clone of his daddy. Nick on the left, Paxton on the right.