June 28, 2011

Happy and free and some stories about Zachary

I do Not do well being pregnant. We realized this after we had Zac but we forgot. Two nights ago I actually laughed for the first time in months. I wasn't depressed but I was not myself. I've always been a happy, go-lucky kinda girl but the past two years I haven't been that way at all. It is soooo wonderful to have me back! It's so nice to laugh with my husband, to take joy in everyday living, to find passion in living. My goodness it is wonderful to be myself again! I LOVE not being pregnant!!!!!

On another note, yesterday I was making chicken enchiladas for dinner and had to shred the chicken. I decided to perform this task on our coffee table - about chest level for Zac - and Zac wanted to help. Remember how he's uber into utensils right now? especially forks? Yeah, well, I got him a spoon so he could "help me" but he kept crabbing and trying to grab the forks I was using to shred the chicken. Finally, I gave in and got him his own fork. He scooted the shredded chicken around on the plate "helping me" the entire time I was shredding the chicken. I was so proud of my little man! He is really getting into helping us do things. Of course he ended up flinging some of the chicken on the ground while he was helping, but what does that matter? Our son is learning life skills; how to shred chicken, how to use forks, how to help Mommy etc. I am so proud of my developing Zachary. Also, he loves my homemade bread. When he was about a year old, he got into the fridge and tried to eat my bread through the bag. Another time, I put him on the counter and was cutting a new loaf and he grabbed the heel and tried to eat it as soon as it was separated from the loaf. He also likes oatmeal a lot! and bananas. I love my little guy soooooo much.

Anyway, I'm happy! I'm me! I'm not trying to be happy anymore - I simply am :) Ah, joy.

June 26, 2011

Katherine Ann Blacker

Note* This post and the one before this are complimentary to each other. In other words, read both!

As many of you know, I started having contractions around 29 weeks with Kate's pregnancy. This was horrible because:
1) it limited my ability to care for our family
2) I wasn't supposed to exercise cause it caused contractions
3) everytime I had contractions (these were not just Braxton Hicks) I had an effusion of "scared for my baby's health" emotions

Saturday, June 11th, I had contractions from 3:30 AM to around noon. Really disappointing and uncomfortable. Then around 11 PM that night the contractions started again. I couldn't sleep so I woke Nathan up, hopped into the tub and he timed them from 12:30-1:30 AM. During this time they were 3 minutes apart but not terrifyingly strong. So, finally after many reservations, we decided to go to the hospital. We were discouraged because we were sure the contractions would stop and we'd have spent yet another night at the hospital only to come home without a newborn baby. So, we got to the hospital around 3 AM. The midwife on duty checked my cervix, I was effaced 90 ish percent and dilated to a 5. And the contractions weren't subsiding! We were going to have a baby! Nate and I were stunned that it was actually going to happen. Anyway, the midwife wanted me to walk around for 2 hours before I got an epidural and I conceded. I made it clear to her that I wanted to be sure to get one though. At 4:20 ish I decided the contractions were toooooooo strong and so we went told the lady I wanted an epidural now, before I couldn't handle it anymore. The anesthesiologist (I spelled that would perfectly by sounding it out) was in taking care of a woman having a c-section and wasn't able to come right then, but we were told she'd be coming in about 20 minutes. The midwife asked if I'd like any other pain medications. We told her how that went during Zac's pregnancy (I made me throw up). So, around 5 AM I told them I wanted something to take the edge off, and they gave me the pain meds mixed with Benadryl which my body received well. So, that dosage lasted for 20 minutes? After that everything went more entertainingly for everyone around. I don't remember much of my labors. It's as if I'm in a different place and am not aware of my surroundings. According to Nathan, every time I had a contraction I yelled about how much I hated the nurses cause they wouldn't give me an epidural - not their fault really but I wanted to blame someone. Then when the contraction subsided, I would apologize to the nurses and tell them I really didn't hate them. Etc. I also kept whimpering to Nathan to "Help me." That was really hard on him. When I was dilated to an 8 they had me sign the epidural papers so that the second the anesthesiologist got out of the OR I could get my epidural. Things progressed a little too quickly for that. I was at a 9 1/2 shortly there after and wanted to push. That was the most incredible (in a powerful, not a good, way) feeling. Wow! It's like you need to poop but are sooooo backed up that you have 7 lbs of stuff that you want to push out and it's hard! I pushed for 10 minutes and she was out at 6:32 AM! After having given birth naturally, I don't know if I'll do it again. I'll just wait and see. But I'm so proud of myself. I. Am. Woman.

They said she was 6 lbs. 7 ounces and 20 inches long. Funny thing though, the pediatrician said a couple days later that she was 19 inches long and then at her 2 week appointment she was 20 inches long. Who knows.

Zac has taken very well to Baby Kate. He loves to give her kisses. But he's had his hard moments and those are hard!

Also, you should all refer back to my 2010 May posts and see how much our little ones look alike. I'll have to post some pictures in which they look similar so that you guys can see!

She's a great sleeper already. She slept from 12:30 AM - 6:50 this morning. It was so wonderful to rest.

Funniest thing! We like to go to the park to eat dinner about once a week. This last week there was a mom and her boy kicking a soccer ball back and forth. Zac would walk toward whomever had the ball and since they were passing the ball, he ended up walking in a zigzag in a trance. He wanted that soccer ball!







And you thought that these headbands were cute. She looks like thug - kind of :)











Aren't these towels cute side by side?



We went Mini-Golfing and Zac was thrilled that we let him play. He loved picking up the balls and trying to drop them in the hole. it was adorable.

I'm so proud that my boy likes to play in dirt :)



From the previous post - this is a picture of Zac right as he noticed the soccer ball and starts to zigzag toward it.



Zac likes to walk the dog.


Zac had his first whole apple. He loved it and tried to share it with Kate. He's really been into feeding others recently. He feeds us all his food. And here's him trying to use a fork - even when Nathan and I are eating with our hands.


So, my bow making has continued. This green bow I helped Mini-Dorff make while she was visiting.