Grateful!

Well, I survived my first week on my own with two kids!  And it just makes me that much more grateful for all the help we had during the first few weeks from both my parents and Jared's.  It was such a help having Grandparents to keep Gavin entertained, to care for Liam when I needed a break, and to remind me to take care of myself and rest while I could.  I don't know how I would have survived on my own with Jared at work all day.  There were some rough days the first few weeks where I was feeling really overwhelmed with Liam's weight gain and bilirubin levels.  When we left the hospital Liam had lost more weight than the pediatrician liked, and suggested we supplement him a bit.  I think that was a mistake, because in addition to pumping and thinking I wasn't producing enough milk, I became stressed that he wasn't eating and gaining so we gave him more bottles.  He ended up gaining plenty that first week, but then he was just interested in a bottle for the next few days. By two weeks he was basically back down to his birth weight.  My pediatrician said maybe I did need to keep supplementing, but I told him I wanted to try going one more week without, to see if he'd eventually start nursing better from me.  That next week I felt pretty much like a cow, constantly nursing Liam and pumping often to increase my milk supply.  It wasn't a fun week but in the end it was worth it.  Liam's weight gain jumped way up, and he's nursing much better.  Plus, I've started letting him go longer at night between feedings, so I don't feel quite so much like a zombie.

Here's a history of Liam's weight gain (loss) over the past few weeks: 

Birth: 6lb 6oz

2 Days: 5lb 15oz

1 Week: 6lb 12oz

2 Weeks: 6lb 7oz

3 Weeks: 7lb 6.5oz

Liam is now almost a month old (on Sunday), and this first week on my own has gone well although a definite adjustment - balancing quality time with Gavin and limiting TV time, taking care of Liam, and keeping up with chores and other things.  I've never been big on naps, so I'm trying to remind myself to take them when I have the chance.  And I am oh so grateful for preschool!  Those two and a half hours three days a week help keep me sane!  And of course Gavin absolutely loves it!  With family gone we've started having to was dishes again...but with all the frozen meals from my mom and Patti, I don't think I'll be cooking again any time soon!  We've also had some meals delivered from the RS, and a couple friends have been awesome to invite Gavin over to play.  I'll weigh Liam again on Monday, so fingers crossed we're done with this yo-yo-ing and his weight is still on its way up!

Soccer Star!

I'm so glad we decided to have Gavin do soccer again this year!  It's only for a month, with only eight games, but Gavin has loved it!  It's always entertaining to watch the games, and it's crazy how much each of the kids have actually improved over the past few weeks.  I'm sad that Gavin's last two games are this week.

Practice shots before a game

Pep talk with Coach Lisa

GO UNION!!!

Gavin was equally excited to meet all his new soccer friends as he was to be playing soccer.  Isaac and Gavin hit it off from the first minute and were giving each other high fives and hugs before the first practice even started!  At the end of each game, after shaking hands with the other team, Gavin and Isaac always take off for the playground together.  Gavin was also thrilled to find out his friend Lizzy from Sunbeams was on his soccer team!  

Gavin & Isaac cheering on their team

Lizzy and Gavin "guarding their home"

Each game day involves a 20 minute pre-game practice, then the actual games are two 12 minute halves with a five minute break between.  It's a very volunteer based sports program, so instead of having an actual ref for this age group, the two coaches are out on the field with their teams coaching/reffing at the same time.  I think it works out really well when their this little to have their coach right there reminding them which way they're supposed to be shooting, and encouraging them on.  There are eight kids on a team, and they play 4 on 4 with no goalie.

During one game Gavin realized that one of the boys on the other team was his friend Liam from preschool!  After congratulating the other team after the game, it was too cute to see these two boys give each other a big hug and be excited to see their friend from school somewhere other than at school!  I wish I had gotten a photo!

Gavin is definitely a very defense oriented player!  Lisa has worked alot with the kids to try and teach them not to ALL run after the ball at the same time, but that they have to work to "guard their home" as well.  When ever the other team would get the ball Gavin's immediate reaction was to turn and run back towards their goal to protect it.  The last few games he's gotten more aggressive as we've explained he doesn't have to just kick the ball away from his net, but that he can run up with it and help his teammates score.  Two games ago he assisted one of Isaac's goals, and last game he scored his first goal!!!  It was a proud moment for this Mommy and Daddy!

While Waiting For Baby...

My Parents arrived in Utah on August 23rd, three days before my due date, and my mom was able to take some maternity/family photos for us before Liam arrived.  Here are just a few of my favorites.

My parents stayed at the RV Park near Utah Lake, just a little ways from our place, and we had fun going over and hanging out at their place and playing at the playground there.  Since Liam decided to take his time, I was actually able to finish making a baby blanket for him (at some point I'll get around to embroidering his birth information onto it) and was able to start a baby blanket for Emmett, my newest nephew born just two days after Liam.  While I worked on baby blankets the Saturday before my due date, Jared and Gavin went for a hike.  They had tried once before to hike up to Y Mountain, but it was too hot and too long of a hike for Gavin.  This time it was cooler out, and they were both determined to make it to the top.  I wasn't thinking they would make it, but when I called Jared a few hours later, they were heading down after making it all the way up!

Another benefit of Liam arriving a few days late meant that I was able to take Gavin to his first day of preschool!  It started on my due date, and a while ago when I told Gavin I might not be the one taking him to school on his first day, he was sad and said, "But I really want YOU to take me Mommy!"  So luckily I was able to, and Gavin (and Mommy) are really enjoying the time Gavin is at preschool!

Just the week before my due date Gavin also started soccer.  I was hesitant about signing him up, not knowing if it would be too much for me having Gavin do soccer with a new baby.  But Gavin loved the Start Smart soccer program he did last year and really wanted to play again.  Last year was just an intro to soccer, one on one with parents, where the kids learned basic skills like dribbling, throw in's, passing, etc.  I knew I couldn't do that again this year with a new baby, but then I found an actual soccer program for 4-5 year old's where they actually play real games against other teams.  I'm so glad we decided to sign Gavin up!  He is absolutely loving it!  Gavin's soccer warrants a post all of it's own, so I'll save the photos and details for later.

On Wednesday, the night before I was scheduled to be induced, I went with my parents and Gavin for a long walk along the path by Bridal Veil Falls, hoping to get things going.  Gavin rode his scooter, and had fun feeding the fish by the fall with Grandpa Ducky.

Liam Ames Edgel

Little Liam finally joined our family on Thursday, August 28th (three days past my due date) weighing in at 6lbs 6oz and measuring 18 inches long.  Everything went wonderfully, great delivery, and we're all doing well.

Originally I considered not having an epidural, so we decided to go with a Certified Nurse Midwife Group instead of using the same doctor that delivered Gavin.  I changed my mind part way through my pregnancy, opting for the epidural, but wanted to go as long as I could without it.  But regardless, I am so glad I went with the CNM's and loved how much more personal it all felt.  I also delivered at Orem Community Hospital, a much smaller hospital than Utah Valley's baby making factory!

After my due date came and went, and Dena, one of the three CNMs, began talking of induction I had a really hard time deciding what to do.  It just felt like I was now considering the total opposite of what I wanted, since originally I thought of going natural.  Plus the idea of being induced without any medical necessity and simply for convenience sake did not sit well with me or Jared.  But at the same time, each day past my due date felt more like a week, I felt anxious knowing my sister Heather was about to have her baby up in Canada any day while my parents were down here waiting for me to have mine, and the obvious - how nice would it be to just not be pregnant any more?  Also, if I did schedule an induction date I could guarantee Dena (my favorite of the three CNMs) would be the one delivering Liam.  So I went ahead and scheduled an induction date for Thursday at 7:30am, praying Liam would decide to come on his own before then.  Wednesday afternoon my parents, Gavin, and I went for a long walk up Provo Canyon by Bridal Veil Falls, and maybe that did some good. Wednesday night while driving home from dinner at Carrabbas I told Jared I thought I was maybe having contractions - just feeling really crampy, and uncomfortable, but unfortunately I was able to sleep fine through the night with no progression.

Thursday morning Jared and I headed to the hospital, and even at the last minute I was tempted to call and cancel.  It just felt strange leaving for the hospital not in pain and without the excitement of "my baby's deciding to come right now!" feeling that I had with Gavin.  I was still feeling crampy and uncomfortable on our way to the hospital, and when they hooked me up to the monitors it turned out I was having contractions on my own, and they were more often than I thought, but still not really strong enough to be doing anything.  But it still made me feel so much better knowing at least things were starting to happen on their own, even if just a little.

At about 8am I was hooked up to an IV, they started the Pitocin, and a few minutes later Dena came to break my water.  Two or three other patients ended up going into labor the same day, so because Dena knew she was going to be busy, and knowing that I wanted to go as long as I could without the epidural, they switched some things around and made sure I had a nurse that could really help me and Jared out with the pain until I was ready to call for the anesthesiologist.  Donna was my nurse and she was awesome!  I was nervous about when to get the epidural, knowing that from the time I said I wanted it till I got it and the drugs began to kick in would take about 30 minutes.  And I knew at some point the pain would exponentially increase and I might miss the chance to get it at all.  Since I pushed for 3.5 hours with Gavin, I did not want a possible repeat of that without drugs!  But it's a little hard to predict what your pain level will be 30 minutes into the future!

Around 11:20 I really started thinking I was ready for the anesthesiologist (at least during contractions), but as soon as a contraction would end, I'd think, "No, maybe I'm okay and can go a bit longer".  But because I was so scared of what the pain might be in 30 minutes, I decided to go ahead and have him come right then.  It turned out he was finishing up in a surgery right then so it took about 10 minutes for him to get there, and by the time he arrived at 11:30 I was ready, and the contractions were REALLY starting to hurt!  By noon the drugs began to kick in and it was such a relief.  I'm so grateful for epidurals, but loved that I went so long without it, and really got to experience some of the pain.  This epidural was better than it was with Gavin's birth.  With Gavin I was so completely numb that not only was their no pain, I couldn't even feel any pressure and only had the monitor to go off of to tell when I was even having a contraction.  When they told me to push, I couldn't even tell if I was or not because I was so numb.  This time I was out of pain, but could definitely still feel lots of pressure and knew when my body was having a contraction.

Dena got back while I was getting the epidural, and when she checked me I was a little disappointed that I was only at a six.  Since I was now mostly out of pain Jared started organizing our stuff and sorting through the billions of papers we were given. As he was heading for the couch to rest for a bit they checked me again and I was already at an eight.  I was laying on my left side at the time, and by the time they helped me roll over to the other side, in less than 30 seconds I was complete and ready to push!

Liam struggled a bit, as his heart rate dropped down to 85 and they gave me oxygen to help him out. I had asked for a mirror so I could watch my own delivery, and I absolutely loved being able to watch and see the progress as I pushed.  It definitely helped, especially at the end as his heart rate dropped and Dena told me I just really needed to keep pushing through a contraction even after it ended until his head finally popped out.  The cord was around his neck, but after one more small push he was out. Dena put him right on my lap as he began to cry and I got to hold him for a bit while his cord was cut before they took him to clear his mouth and check his weight and other measurements.  So after only 14 minutes of pushing, I was able to hold my sweet baby Liam!