1 month old

Cecily is 1 month old! Already. Time flies. But it's been a satisfying month.

Here are some things I've learned in these weeks.

*You can never have enough sleep.

*Olympics + new baby = even more fatigue. GO USA!

*I hate jaundice, but I am grateful she was only the lights for a few days. Her levels took forever to go down and her heels had to be pricked at least 12 times, I stopped keeping track. But now that's over.

*Samuel loves being a new brother and has proved to be a helpful big brother. Jocelyn has not been terribly jealous of Cecily, she truly loves her, she just misses the attention from me. She hasn't injured Cecily yet. She just gets into more trouble elsewhere, especially while I'm nursing.

*I am reminded of how grumpy and short-tempered I get when I am tired.

*I am handling being a mom of 3 better than I expected.

*It's been funny to hear the variations of her name. It's not Cecelia. It's not Sicily. It's S--short e--s--short i--l--ee. Or Sessilly. It's latin for patron saint of musicians. Derivative of Cecilia. You may also recognize the character name from The Importance of Being Earnest.

*I've been able to keep up with the dishes and vacuuming but laundry is definitely having a hard time getting into the drawers and I hate ironing so basically we look like a bunch of homeless people.

*I have awesome ward members, including our home teachers and visiting teachee/ers. My visiting teacher has fed us amazing food and cleaned my bathroom and kitchen. She's a saint. I've hardly had to cook in the last 4 weeks due to service from others.

*I have awesome friends. I appreciate their service too. Thank you!



*I really love Cecily. Here are some things that I've learned about her.
*She smiles now.
*She still snorts when she cries.
*When she wakes up she has to eat immediately or you'll hear it.
*She holds her breath and squawks louder than our other two children did. We laugh.
*From her first day of life she's needed a pacifier! Hallelujah!
*She is a strong little critter. She's kicked nurses who take her blood with her strong little legs. *She has avatar feet which I'll have to photograph for you. She held up her head from day 1. And I never believed it when other mom's said their babies rolled over so soon but now I believe it. She can roll onto her side by herself. She's a strong one.
*She likes to watch TV already. She likes to hear the different sounds and watch the flashing. I'm not sure if that's a good thing.
*She still hates baths.
*She loves to stare at her daddy. He only gets to see her at night and a little in the middle of the night and in the mornings. So I am happy to hand her over to him while he watches TV and unwinds. When she's awake she'll just stare at him, even when his attention is not on her. She just loves to look at him.
*Then she loves to hear Samuel and Jocelyn's voices. They get inches away from her face and talk to her. They love to see her when "her eyes are open." Now that she is awake more often they get so excited!
*She just likes the way I smell because I mean food. One day she'll appreciate me for more :) Well, she loves to sleep next to me because I keep her warm. She loves to swaddle and sleep in odd positions.

My 3 kids

Wow. I can't believe I've been a mom of 3 for almost 2 weeks now.

My help left today. It hasn't hit me yet. I think it will tomorrow. I'll blog about my little helpers later on. Many of you asked if my other kids had as much as hair as Cecily did. And here is a visual to answer your question.



All of my kids were conveniently born in even years and at the end of the month. I think this was done to help my forgetful mind remember their birthdays.

Samuel, top, born September 23, 2004. Weighed 6 lbs 6 oz. Labor: 6 hours.

Cecily, middle, born January 21, 2010. Weighed 7 lbs 3 oz. Labor: 6 hours.

Jocelyn, bottom, born December 27, 2006. Weighed 6 lbs 8 oz. Labor: 8 hours.

I think Samuel wins with the most hair. Jocelyn does with the darkest. And Cecily with the most "wave." They've all made the same facial expressions. These photos are at varying ages. Samuel is a few weeks old, Jocelyn, jaundiced, a few days old and Cecily is 1 day old. I normally think most babies are sort of not cute when they are first born. Samuel looked like a little old man, Jocelyn, like a little rat. Cecily has been the prettiest so far. Don't worry, I don't think I am offending them. I looked like a monkey until I was 3 years old! See!

1 week old

Dear Jaundice,

Please go away. You were not invited nor are you welcome. You may tempt my daughter with these cute little ski goggles that never stay in place. She gets to wear little mittens, socks and a beanie, which may be in fashion, but she is too young to be concerned with such things.



You make Cecily's skin yellow, her body tired and her sleeping schedule screwed up, all thanks to you! You may tempt her with this cute little suitcase tanning bed. Her hard little bed that she is forced to sleep in is most uncomfortable. She cannot be swaddled to better satisfy her need to get restful sleep.



We want to be able to hold our daughter again. And I don't like waking up at 8am every single morning to drive to the hospital to get her little foot poked and squeezed of many drops of blood to be tested for billirubin levels.

So, please go away soon, we want our Cecily back!

Thank you,

A concerned and sleep deprived mother

The Birth Story

The development:
Monday, January 11, 2010
-go bowling, trying to induce labor. It only starts contractions

Tuesday, January 12
-38 week check-up. 2 cm, 75% effaced!
-hope to go into labor that night so my sister Jennie can meet baby before she flies out to India the next day. No luck.

Wednesday, January 13
-10pm, contractions start again. Seem to be "real". Can't sleep. Get up and fold laundry, watch movie, etc until 1am. They stop. darn.

Not much happens for the next week other than normal irregular contractions.


The long "travelogue" version of the labor and delivery:

Wednesday, January 20, 2010
10:30 am:
-39 routine week checkup
-stats: at 3 cm, 75% effaced, head at -1 station
-midwife stripped my membranes
-had some minor contractions right after but then they went away, common daily occurrence
-drink 2 mugs of raspberry leaf tea to strengthen uterus

6pm:
-contractions start, nothing out of the ordinary
-I notice they are coming regularly so I time them
-they are consistently 4 minutes apart
-try to stay distracted--do laundry, start dinner
-try walking, sitting, monitoring strength and frequency
-by the way, I've never labored at home because my water broke with Jocelyn and I was induced with Samuel

7pm:
-call Tyler's sister, Emily, to come over for dinner and perhaps stay the night

8pm:
-call midwife
-contractions still 4 minutes apart but getting more intense
-she suggests I come to the hospital to be monitored

8:30pm:
-arrive at hospital
-Tyler gives me a priesthood blessing
-hook up to contraction monitor/baby heart monitor
-they check me and I'm only at 3+ cm. bummer.
-they suggest I wait an hour and they'll check me again to see if I am progressing

9:30pm:
-they check me again and I'm still only at 3+ cm. bummer.
-contractions 2 minutes apart now
-they give me the option of going home or staying but be off the monitor so I can walk around
-I definitely don't want to go home especially since contractions are so close together and growing more intensely
-Tyler has to run home to grab some forgotten things
-I turn on the TV because I am bored. Man vs Wild is on in the background as contractions get harder

10:20pm:
-they put me on the monitors again
-I have to start breathing through the contractions

10:40pm:
-they check me again. I've progressed to 5 cm! Wahoo! I can stay!
-they call my midwife to come to the hospital (luckily, she was able to take a little nap during the last 2 hours, she's prego too)
-call Emily and both parents telling them we'll be having a baby soon!

11pm:
-they try to give me a heplock (the needle that is a pre-cursor for any needed IV)
-the first nurse can't get a good vein. pokes me 2 times trying. calls in a 2nd nurse.
-the 2nd nurse, who obviously has never delivered naturally, keeps telling me how amazing it is that I am going to try to go naturally, while slapping my arm trying to get blood to flow better through my veins
-by the way, I ask that they try poking me between contractions, not during one
-2nd nurse and 2 more pokes, they call in the 3rd nurse. I am rolling my eyes and wishing they'd get the darn needle in already!

11:15pm
-midwife arrives
-they move me to a delivery room, luckily they let me stay on the bed and don't have to walk or sit on a wheelchair. I do not feel like moving!
-focusing on each contraction
-feel like I am heading into transition
-not really aware of what nurses are doing at this point. starting to shiver, another sign of transition.

11:30pm:
-3rd nurse, and 2 more pricks later, finally get heplock in!
-I suggest they prepare a bath for me to labor in
-midwife asks if she wants me to have her break my water or if I'd rather get into the bath
-at this point, I don't feel like moving so I say nay to the bath that is running
-she checks my cervix. at 6cm. She breaks my water

11:30-12:25pm:
-midwife pushes on my knees during contraction. It really helps. they (Tyler, nurses and midwife) take turns as they set up delivery stuff, call pediatrician dude that checks babies when they are first born
-continue breathing through contractions, trying to relax and focus on opening up
-contractions are seriously intense!!
-midwife continues asking if I feel the need to push. not just yet.
-she suggests I get on my hands and knees to open up cervix
-I wait a few contractions. That positions sounds hard to get into at this point.
-trying to stay relaxed and breath, not whimper, through contractions
-ready to get on all fours. I place my knees on the lowered part of the bed and my arms on a pile of pillows.
-first contraction hits. oh.....my.....goodness! I immediately feel the "ring of fire" and her head descend.
-trying not to cry and feel like I am dying. That's a bit of an exaggeration, but in all honesty, it was intense pressure
-go through one more contraction like that and feel like she's going to fall out of me. the midwife and Tyler and practically yelling--because I was whimpering so badly, I think....(what it felt like, I don't think they really were yelling but they had to ask me repeatedly) at me asking if I wanted to deliver her that way or turned back over. I want to turn over.
-they help me turn over, I throw the pillows off the bed.
-I am ready to push!!!
-They see her head. They tell me she has dark hair. yes!!! More motivation to get her out!
-I push her head out and the cord is loosely wrapped around her neck (just like the other two). They mend that. and I push the rest of her out, or rather, she slides out, that is how it felt anyway.
-Delivered naturally again! No time for an epidural, even if I needed to resort to that.
-She immediately cries, such relief, and they place her on my chest.
-She is beautiful!
-She is healthy!
-Oh, and I didn't tear this time!!!!

12:25pm
-Cecily Rebecca is officially born and named shortly after.
-Call my mom, per her request, to let her know the news.
-She weighs in at 7 lbs, 3 oz, 20 inches long
-rosy red lips, medium brown hair, smashed nose and round head.

the Aftermath:
-they give me pitocin to help deliver placenta. It is so much easier this time around. not painful.
-while holding Cecily I hear dripping on the floor. my IV comes undone. lol. We have to call a nurse to have them put it back in except half the bag is already dribbled out. They just take that darn heplock out. wahoo!
-contractions continue even after she's born. they continue all night long, and worse when nursing. heard this is typical with subsequent births. Darn. Should have taken Lortab when they first offered it.
-Take Lortab all the next day, switched off with Motrin for swelling.
-Whoa! Lortab is stroooong stuff. Makes me totally drowsy and incredibly tired. Stop taking after the first day. Not sure if I should take that next time.
-no soreness w/no tearing, just pain from contractions and nursing.
-she nurses well right away.
-Tyler goes home to sleep in a more comfortable bed.



2:30 am:
-I finally get to sleep :)
-6 hours of labor and I am so happy she's here instead of inside of me!
-When I check out of the hospital the nurse notices I don't walk like I just had a baby! Wahoo! It's true. I feel no soreness and have no problems going to the bathroom or sitting or any of that. It's so nice :)



The kids love her immediately. They smother her with hugs and kisses. They love to visit me in the hospital not just to seem me but mainly because they get to play on the stool with wheels and eat oreos from the snack room. I enjoy going to bed at 9pm but Jocelyn, in particular, has a hard time saying goodbye to me. She's had the hardest time adjusting to not having my attention. But she is so good to Cecily....so far. My mom was here for the first few days to help out and my now my mother and sister-in-law are here to help for a week. It has been so wonderful to have help. I was a little emotional the first day and probably will be as my help leaves. My house will probably be messy at first and the kids will probably watch a lot of movies until we all adjust. I have to remind myself to sleep and not run faster than I need to, especially since I am not sore this time around.

Life is good. I love my little Cecily. Even when I only get cat naps every 1o minutes until 3am. She'll adjust to the night/day difference eventually. Luckily, though her billirubin counts are high, she doesn't have to be under lights because she is eating/pooping so well. What a blessing, so far!

I am happy she's safely here. I am tired. But I am not pregnant anymore! I have a lot of weight to lose but I have a new daughter to grow to love! I am blessed.






Thanks to my dad who was able to take these photos for us :)

Notta

Nothing is happening this weekend. What I felt the other night for 3 hours was a false alarm. Practice. Preparation. Braxton hicks??? Whatever it was and that I keep experiencing is for me to learn patience. So, I don't think this baby without a name is coming this weekend. Darn.

Patience. A virtue that has long left my life. Come back patience! Today we had Stake Conference at 2pm. To be honest, I was hoping to be sitting in a hospital bed than on a reasonably hard yet comfortable bench in the Provo Tabernacle. At 2pm. Right smack dab in the middle of our children's naptime. They were fed previously but Jocelyn claimed, out loud, that she was huuuuungry. The only thing I really gleaned from the 2 hour experience was that Tim Slover, a very good playwright, is one of the high councilmen. And that Dr. Staehli, from BYU, was released from the same position. And I also learned that if you are locked under stubble left from an earthquake with an infant that you can feed it your own blood to keep it alive. ? Who knew? Needless to say, the kids were pretty awful. Makes us wonder why we even try to go and if they are feeling the spirit at all or just finding more reason to "hate" church.

While I've had to "wait" for this baby to come I've done a lot of things on my Nesting list. Our house is the cleanest it's ever been all at once. The living room is picked up and dusted. The rocking chair waiting for a baby to be rocked in. My bedroom is re-organized and all set up complete with porta-crib, changing table, baby monitor, diapers, burp cloths, etc; the bathroom organized and cleaned; the kitchen nearly spotless save the fridge. I finally hung up the winter coats instead of staying in the pile on the floor hidden behind a door; I made two canvas bags for Tyler's chess pieces; organized the books on the living room bookshelves; hung mirrors; re-foiled stove units; packed the hospital bag. Ran errands all week long trying to walk as much as possible. Just waiting. I can't call anyone in my family without immediately saying, "No, I'm not in the hospital" right away so they don't get too excited.

This babe keeps dropping lower and lower each morning. She can't get much lower without crowning. I keep hoping contractions will become more regular and stronger but to no avail. My mom keeps warning me that it's okay to let her "bake" all the way. In Europe, and other countries, their due dates are at 41 or 42 weeks, after all. I think I was spoiled with having Jocelyn 12 days early.

The kids are acting out. I should have expected it. They know something is going to change. They can sense I am focused on the baby. They are excited for the baby to come but I don't think they realize how much it will change all of our lives in small ways. How sleep deprived I will be. How quiet we'll have to be. How much attention she'll demand and take away from them. None of us are ready for that yet.

Because you wanted one.....I haven't smiled for real in a photo for a long time. Self-conscious. Anywho, this is a documentation at nearly 38 weeks. 2 cm dilated, 75% effaced. Wahoo! She sticks out a lot further than my other two did. And I am a lot bigger (especially weight wise) than I was with my other two. She is head down and continues to drop. Actually, I am in less pain now than I was in my 2nd trimester. I don't know why. My pain is always around the pelvis and hips (not back, unless I do something stupid like bend over wrong or lift something wrong). It was painful to walk or stand for too long. But since Christmas break it has vanished. It must be the position she's moved into or something. I don't know. I am just happy to have some energy back to get stuff done to de-stress my life a little.

Last night, I had contractions for several hours. I started getting really nervous because I wasn't "ready". My hospital bag wasn't packed, her first outfit not chosen, laundry not put away, etc. So after two hours of trying to sleep I got up and did those things until 1 am. And then of course, the contractions stopped. Dang it!

So I am hoping this weekend she'll come. I haven't had consistent contractions since then but we'll see. I hope it doesn't go on for weeks like this. This pretend labor. This weekend would be perfect because it's a 3 day weekend and Tyler would be home. Plus my mom would be able to help out a bit longer too.

So, I'll keep you posted :)

My silly brother trying to see who's belly is bigger. I think I won.

Bowling

We went bowling for family night this week. We had a great time! Samuel's score came close to mine too, several strikes included. Though he did use the bumper pads and Jocelyn was able to use the ramp. Maybe the Wii is helping out! I bowled like a 95 year old woman. I was sore later that night. I am pathetically out of shape. BUT it did get things going. I had contractions all night long and I think it helped soften things up and probably helped dilate me too.

We went bowling now because my water broke less than 12 hours after Jocelyn was born. I was hoping the same would happen this time but I had no such luck. However, I do think it progressed things along.

Also, if you want free bowling like we did you just need to buy Tony's frozen pizza's. They have a coupon on the back for free bowling at particular alleys. You just need to pay for shoe rental. And you can use more than one coupon at once to pay for the whole family.