Rambles, Rolling Over, and Kamden's Star Performance

Nathan is working evenings this week doing very monotonous, boring work. He's basically babysitting the spacecraft and he's in a clean tent the whole time. When he's in the clean tent he can't have a book, which is his favorite past time of late (reading)! He can however have computers. So...tonight he called me on his lunch break and during our chat he asks if I have updated the blog lately. I told him I wrote a post a couple days ago  and asked why. He said, "You should write one, or two, or three, or four posts tonight. I'm bored!"

Well, I don't think I will get four posts written but I'll make an effort to keep him busy for a little while at least! :-)

I'm in more of a contemplative mood so I'll probably just ramble for a while but who listens to my ramblings better than the husband? Nobody, that's right! 

Lately, I'm trying to figure out how to catch up on life. Seriously, is it possible because I have this huge mental list of to-do's that just keeps growing and growing. I still have organizing to do in this house, decorations, laundry (on a daily basis), cooking, cleaning, baking (that is a necessity, I promise), pruning and watering my garden (which is let's admit on a downhill climb), taking care of the flower beds, changing diapers, kissing owies, nursing a baby, feeding a ever-hungry 2 year old, blogging, scrapbooking (ha...like that will happen for years), party preparations, reading my book, grocery shopping, dishes (constantly), craft projects, primary lessons, and all the other things I forgot about because I didn't write them down (remember, this is a mental to-do list)! Oh, and try to shower on a daily basis.

Haha...maybe I'm being a little ridiculous but let's be honest, those are most of the thing that take up the majority of my time, except for a few of those that are just things I wish I made time for! 

But I'm learning something every day. It's taking a while because I'm hard-headed but my little ones help me to practice every day. I need to slow down sometimes. I need to sit and play cars with my Bubba Bear. I need to revel in the time that I have with my Kali girl before she grows up into a teenage girl who doesn't have all the time in the world for me anymore. I know in 10-15 years I'm going to be asking for more time with my kids and then I'm going to hear a voice say, "You had your time and you were too busy.  You couldn't simplify. You couldn't shut the computer. You couldn't put down the book. You let it pass by and slip right through your fingers. My expectations of what I should accomplish in a day are a lot lower now because otherwise I'm going to disappoint myself. Not because I don't want to be productive but because my littles deserve my time and not only that but they still want my time and attention. I better take advantage of it while I can! 

And, seriously who could resist these cute faces?

I mean, Kamden is already a 2 year old. He's already as independent as they come and it won't be much longer before I will miss hearing the cries for help or the tap on my arm to come play cars with him. He is learning so much every day!

And Kali, she is rolling over...both ways! I thought the newborn stage was supposed to last a little bit longer. This stage is so fun though too!

I need to slow down and enjoy these little ones while they are still little! :-)

I think this is more of a mental reminder than a declaration but I need that every once in a while and having it down on the blog to read later is even better. I'm trying. I'll keep trying. I'll do better.

Life as of Lately

I got out of the habit of blogging about our usual adventures and activities. Honestly, I just didn't feel like blogging...so I didn't. I've been in a bit of a slump lately but I feel like I'm finally (hopefully) getting back into a groove and feeling more alive! I can't tell you how much taking your supplements and getting some daily exercise helps a mom to feel human.

Anyways, in the last three months a lot has happened! Kaliana was born at the end of April, we started remodeling, cleaning, and painting David's new house about 2 weeks later, had Nate's parents her for 2 weeks and my mom here for 2 weeks, we blessed Kaliana, packed up our apartment a few days later and moved into David's new house. After we moved in we completely revamped the flower beds in the front yard, planted some flowers in pots, created a garden spot and planted a garden, moved a section of fence and installed it to complete the fence line of the house, and tried to unpack everything in the process. There are a ton of little things that I can think of relating to all of this that just make me tired thinking about it all. I still have boxes that aren't unpacked and there is nothing on the walls yet!

Let's be honest...life has been a bit upside down. However, we have tried to have some fun here and there with our huge to-do list. I have a lot of posts to catch up on because I really do want a lot of what has happened documented. Hopefully, most of these updates will come in the next month. I am traveling to Idaho with the kids on Wednesday though to see family so don't expect too much to happen in the next 1 1/2 weeks on here. I'll try though.

In the meantime, let's admire some pictures of my little water babies!

 

You can't really tell in the pictures but Kamden was very insistent on holding his little sister (even though he wasn't really holding her) and when I tried to take her away because she was crying it took a bit to pry his little hands away! It was so cute and warmed my heart that he is getting more attached to her! Love my little ones!

Kaliana Brooklyn: 3 Months

Little sister joined our family 3 months ago! With Kamden I remember thinking that it was so hard to believe he was already 3 months old. I find myself thinking completely different this time around. I feel like it has been an eternity since I had this little girl already. I don't know why that is exactly but 3 months seems like 6 months this time around.

The little beauty is strong just like her brother. She has been holding her head up since she was a newborn, she locks her knees to stand, smiles, eats great, loves to be held, cries if she is put down and not asleep.

Unfortunately, she had thrush and it has started to come back a couple times but I have a great pro-biotic supplement and essential oil from my mother-in-law that kicks it in the butt and keeps it away. Despite the thrush Kali has done great with nursing, which I am very happy about it. Compared to her brother it's a night and day difference and I am happy to be nursing still. I was so sad to stop nursing Kamden at 3 months old. I have to stay away from milk and too much dairy but as long as I do she's okay!

Once again, I am lucky that Kali is sleeping through the night and has been for the last month! I am so grateful for the sleep at night because let's be honest I get grumpy when I get woken up in the middle of the night.

 

She is definitely a momma's girl. I secretly love this even though sometimes it's hard to get a break and I never really felt like Kamden was attached to me like Kali is. 

We love her even if she can be a little spit-fire. She will probably need this when she is older to deal with being Kamden's little sister! We sure love her!

Kaliana: Two Months

Miss Kaliana Brooklyn was two months old today! She is doing well!

We are happy to have her! She is a high maintenance baby but then so was her older brother. That or maybe I am just a wimp. I don't know. She loves to be held (all the time)! Swaddling is a comfort to her, just like it was to Kamden. The pacifier can sometimes be her best friend and other times she spits that thing out like it's her worst enemy! She can't make up her mind! I love that she is starting to smile! It makes the crying and the colic, I claim both my babies have had, worth while! However, I need to count my blessings that this sweet girl sleeps through the night just like her brother did. For the past couple weeks she has been sleeping from around 10:00 or 11:00 p.m. to about 5:00 or 6:00 a.m. each night!

Her 2 month appointment is on Wednesday so I'll try to post stats then!

For now, here are a few pictures out of the many I took today (I love having a DSLR camera now)! Enjoy!

I know, she's adorable! You don't have to tell me twice!

A Birth Story: Kaliana Brooklyn

It seems unreal that our little girl is here but then I can't imagine life without her either!

We welcomed this sweet little sister into our family on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 3:16 p.m. She weighed in at 8 lbs. 12 oz. and 19 1/4" long. I feel like I'm still trying to internalize everything that surrounded her birth but am starting to get a grasp on things. There are many feelings I have surrounding our experience and I feel so very grateful for it all.

 Wednesday, April 24th marked 2 days before Kaliana's due date and saying I was ready is an understatement. Kamden came two weeks and a day early which made me realize it's just cruel of mother nature to send you your first that early and make you wait with your second. Nathan kept telling me I had to go into labor early morning so that we got some rest the night before and we could spend one less night at the hospital. I told him a million times that I didn't care when she came she just needed to come! He got lucky though and my body did just as he asked, starting contractions at about 6:30 a.m. After about an hour of consistent contractions when Nathan woke up at 7:30 a.m. to get ready for work I told him he wouldn't be going and we would have a baby instead! We both got showers and got ready while we waited for my contractions to progress and become closer.

About 9:00 a.m. we called my midwives to let them know I was having contractions 3-5 minutes apart with each of them lasting 1-2 minutes. We left around 9:30 a.m. to get checked at the office. When the midwife checked me I was dilated to a 7 and 60% effaced so she sent us right on over to the hospital to be admitted. From then on I figured things would happen pretty quickly. With Kamden when I was dilated to a 5 he was born around 7 hours later. I was given an IV port and hooked up to the fetal monitors.

Since I had decided to do a natural childbirth, without any medication, the monitors only had to be on for 15 minutes and then I was able to go for a walk, sit on the birthing ball, or get in the shower for an hour. I first sat on the birthing to ball to pass some time. Most of that first hour was spent sitting on the birthing ball while I leaned forward on the bed and Nathan rubbed my back. I got back in bed and shortly after was hooked up to the monitors again for 15 minutes. Contractions were coming strong but they had been since I first got to the hospital. The midwifes and nurses both commented on the strength of contractions and I didn't disagree! :-)

After my 15 minutes of monitoring were up I got back on the ball for a little bit and then I got in the shower. At this point I felt like the contractions were at their peak so far and the shower gave me so much relief. However, I came to the familiar feeling of complete exhaustion and shakiness that I had with Kamden's birth. I can honestly say this was about the only time when I really doubted my ability and will power to do a natural childbirth. However, for about the millionth time that day I said a silent prayer to my Father in Heaven asking him to help buoy me up, give me strength, and the added energy and will I needed. After that prayer I felt one of the greatest feelings of peace and added strength that I ever have. I had a new and greater determination that I could do this, that my body had the ability and that all would be well. I also felt closer to my Savior in that moment than I ever have, growing a greater, deeper understanding for the Atonement.

After my shower I got back in bed to be monitored and my contractions started to slow down. At the time I was extremely frustrated that things were slowing down as the labor was already lasting longer than I anticipated. However, looking back I know this was a great blessing and answer to my prayers as well that Heavenly Father gave me that break for a bit to know that I could endure. After being monitored I decided to go ahead and go for a walk to try getting things going again. We walked for a good while through the halls, leaning on Nathan and rocking side to side in a slow dance during contractions.

After walking I was hooked back up to the monitors and then the midwife came in to check my progression so we had some idea how things were going. She also asked me if I wanted her to break my water and knowing that things would progress a bit faster I told her to go ahead. The contractions immediately started to get more intense.We waited to progress but shortly after I felt like pushing so we got things and ready and the midwife checked me again. I had already wanted to push and her head was stationed down far enough; unfortunately, the right side of my cervix still needed to dilate a little bit while my left side was completely dilated. In order to get the right side to dilate I had to turn onto my right side and take my left leg clear across the right one as far as possible. This was the hardest part of my whole labor, being very painful. During the contractions my whole body shook while Nathan held me as best he could to help stabalize my body. I was finally able to turn over but there was still a bit of cervix in the way on the right side. I was able to start pushing, very slowly at first and then at the very end I gave a few good long pushes and she finally joined us for good!

Because there was meconium when the midwife checked me, Kaliana had to be give over to the NICU team right after birth to make sure she did not aspirate any. This was a bit disappointing to me because I was able to have Kamden right after being born. Fortunately, she did not aspirate anything. However, she weighed in at 8 lbs. 12 oz. and this meant she had to have her blood sugar checked. It was 2 points low so she had to be fed some formula and have her blood sugar checked twice afterwards every half hour. This meant they were taking her to the nursery right after and I wouldn't get to nurse her or hold her much. My awesome midwife stepped in though at this point, bringing Kaliana to me so that I could nurse her first before they gave her any formula and hold her for a few minutes. I was very grateful for this and that she felt the same way I did that nursing her would be best and help as well.

While this was all happening I was being evaluated and the midwives decided to call in the doctor to have a look, worrying that my tear could be worse than they thought. Because my cervix was not completely dilated I had what was almost a third degree tear with a lot of swelling. The doctor got me all stitched up though and then Nathan and I had some time to the two of us. I got a good meal to eat while we waited to be transferred.

We got transferred and got our dear Kaliana back about 2 hours later after her first bath and she passed off on her blood sugars! Shortly after Kamden came to visit his sister and we spent our first time together as a family of four!

Elder David A. Bednar said of pregnancy and birth, "Nothing is more holy; nothing deserves more reverence; nothing is more central to the plan of happiness."

In relation to mothers, President Thomas S. Monson said, "Mother, who willingly made that personal journey into the valley of the shadow of death to take us by the hand and introduce us to birth-even to mortal life-deserves our undying gratitude.

How great is this divine opportunity of motherhood? It is my great opportunity, blessing, calling, and love of life! My Kamden and Kaliana as well as their dear birth stories are at the very center of my (and my husband's) life together! They are our greatest gift and I can think of nothing more holy, reverent, and happy than to be their mother!

Kaliana Brooklyn

We welcomed a sweet little girl to our family on April 24, 2013 (last Wednesday). Her name is Kaliana Brooklyn and we can't imagine life without her. She was born into the world at 3:16 p.m. with a little birthmark on her right side, weighing 8 lbs. 12 oz. and coming in at 19 1/4" long.

 I'm so grateful that she eats like a champ and has since the beginning. She didn't sleep well in the hospital but as soon as we brought her home she started sleeping well too!

Let's ignore the way I look in this one and just look at the little girl in my arms!

 

 

  Kamden loves his little sister and although he has had his moments of jealousy and seems to be throwing some more fits he is still a great little boy and he loves to help with little sister as well as give her snuggles and kisses!

Today, she had a one week check-up at 9 days old. Her stats today were:

Weight: 8 lbs. 10 1/2 oz.    72%

Length: 19 1/4" long    63%

Head Circumference: 13 3/4"    55%

She almost gained her birth weight back but we will have to go back in a week to make sure she is back at her birth weight.

 We switched to another pediatrician and so Kamden also had an appointment today. It was our first time in the office so we had paperwork for both kids and Kamden was a little out of sorts with everything being new to him. He wasn't on his best behavior and Kaliana wanted to eat while we were filling out paperwork. Let's just say we were a sight and it probably looked as if we had no idea what we were doing. I'm sure glad Nathan came with me because I'm not sure we would have survived if he didn't! :-) I will be doing an update on Kamden's stats and everything soon.

I have had some great help from my dear husband. He has only left me one day alone in the last 9 days when he had to go to a funeral in New York for one of his coworkers. That guy of mine sure is a great husband and father. I just love him to death. Her birth story is coming as a work in progress right now as well.

We sure are happy to have a family of four and that the sweet little Kaliana is ours!