Grady's Story

We went into the hospital around 8:30.  The nurses (who were awesome) prepped me for surgery and took the time to help calm my nerves.  By 10:00 I was in the operating room.  It all went so fast.  The doctor and nurses were all amazing - talking to me and making me feel good.  I felt some pressure in my chest and then out came Grady at 10:21.  They all commented about how he was a big boy, but he looked perfect.  He didn't cry real loud, but made a little whimper and was brought over to a nurse to be cleaned up.  It was great because where she was working was actually in my line sight so I didn't have to wait another 30 plus minutes just to see him.  I was overwhelmed at seeing him.  His cheeks were so chubby and he had that dark hair like Leon did.  I was already in love with him.  They cleaned him up, wrapped him up, and then Kyle was able to bring him over to me for a closer look but of then they had to take him away.  He was having some breathing problems (fluid in the lungs) which I guess is common in ceseran babies.  Then I was having some issues - I got dizzy and told them I thought I was going to get sick right there on the operating table.  The anatigolist gave me something for the nausea and after a couple minutes of gripping Kyle's hand as hard as I could it was over.  They decided to send Grady to the NICU.  They stitched me up (no stables - horaay!) and sent me on my way to the recovery area for observation.  I spent most of the next two hours by myself.  Kyle visited me a couple of times, the nurse kept me company, and then my dad and Claudette (his wife) came.  After about an hour of Grady being in the NICU he was fine but the peditrician said they wanted to keep him a little longer just to make sure.  They took me to the post partum room where I visited with my dad and Claudette.   Kyle stayed with Grady.  Around 2:00 (the time I thought Grady would be able to come to me), Kyle came in and said they wanted to keep Grady for another two hours!  At that point, I was mad and frustrated and heart broken.  I wanted to hold him SO BAD.  I sent dad and Claudette to see their new grandson.  I tried to rest but between the itching (a side effect of the drugs) and my restlessness to see my baby which we still hadn't named, I just couldn't. So, I made phone calls to my family.  Finally at 4:30 - 6 hours after he was born- they finally brought him in.  I had my baby!  I nursed him, we talked about names, and things were perfect.  I had my baby!

I'm still overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude and love.  I'm a mother of two beautiful little boys.  We're a family of four.  Motherhood, parenthood is such a beautiful gift.  Grady is the sweetest thing.  I'll write more about him when I post his newborn photos.  I just am just so in love with him

*****

Here are some other pics, taken with our little point and shoot, of our weekend in the hospital.

Waiting for the big operation

Grady getting some extra help

Look at those cheeks!

Daddy and Grady in NICU

Papa and Claudie

They're goofballs!

Grandma Allen

Grandpa Allen

Nana.  Mom bought be the prettiest autumn floral arrangement while at the hospital.

Big Brother (of course he's picking his nose) and daddy took a break to get a snack

Grady Ray Allen

Grady Ray Allen

born on 11.11.11 at 10:21 am

19 inches, 9lbs 5 oz

Sorry it's taken me four days to put up a photo, but between the pain and just wanting to enjoy my new little one I haven't really had much time to even take any photographs.  Grady is precious.  We all love him so much.  He's a chubby verison of his big brother (you can see here).  He's been sleeping and eating like a pro.  I feel so incredibly blessed and am in complete awe of my new little guy.

Hopefully I'll get some time today to edit the photos I have taken and put up Grady's story today or tomorrow, so stay tuned!

Pregnant and Barefoot

2.5 weeks to go.  Heck yeah!  I'm beyond done being pregnant.  BUT Kyle's exam is next Friday, so I have and am willing to hold on.  Also, just about everyone is telling me I'm not going to make it, so I kind of want to just to prove them wrong ;)

Anyway, the above pic is how I spend most of my days - barefoot.  I actually had to bend over slightly to take this picture.  I have about 3 pairs of nonsandals that fit my swollen, fat feet.  I can't wait to be able to fit into all the others.  Then again, maybe if I can't, I can just go buy new ones, right? 

Hmmmm...something to think about. 

I have a seriously cute maternity dress that I just bought from a second hand store.  It's GAP.  I got it for $18 with the tags still on.  It was orginally $60.  I really want to wear it, but all my cute shoes won't fit. 

It's not fair. 

My contractions are slowing down which I'm not sure whether to be happy or mad about.  I think I'm going to be happy about it since I'm having a c-section.  Who needs them, right?  I've already had a ton.  It's time for a break. 

I can't wait to hold my baby.  We're not any closer to picking a name.  We actually just added a few names to the list.  It's going to hard.   Hopefully, we see him and just know.  Leon loves to give my belly kisses (especially when he knows he is starting to push the limits - he's sly, I tell you) and also loves to do belly bumps.  It's pretty stinkin funny.  He's been going 100% - he's serioulsy a wild child right now.  He's going to be such a fun big brother.

4 Weeks

(35 weeks)

I have a whopping 4 weeks left until I deliver.  The end of this pregnancy has been well...pretty miserable.  I'm finally starting to feel a bit better.  I feel like I can make a few more weeks.  About 5 weeks ago, I was measuring 6 weeks bigger than what I should.  Luckily it was nothing, but can you imagine what it felt like to be SO big SO early?  Yep.  You should see my stretch marks.  However, I'm catching up to my measurements which is good because it means that I'm not getting any bigger - at least, for now I'm not.  I've been having contractions for the last 2 months.  I can't fit into most of my clothing, including maternity clothing.  I think I have about 6 shirts that fit (which are starting to get a little small), 2 pairs of jeans and 5 pairs of sweats that fit out of my entire wardrobe.  Thank goodness for those sweats.  I wake up with swollen feet and hands.  What I'd do for a good pedicure and foot massage.  I've had no energy - you should see my house.  Things are getting better.  I'm finishing up the baby's room and starting to get a little more obessed with things getting done in the house.  My arms are wide open to that nesting instinct.  It can come whenever it pleases and stay for as long as it likes.

What has made it worse is that up until about 2 weeks ago, I was having irrational fear of having another baby.  I kept thinking "what if I don't want to hold the baby" or "how on earth am I going to take care of Leon and a baby" or "what if the baby blues are way worse this time - they were pretty bad with Leon"  or "can I really do this again?" and many others which, of course, I can't remember.  Thankfully, I've gotten way over that.  I can't wait to meet this little baby boy.  I can't wait to kiss him and hold him.  For heaven sakes - I even can't wait to nurse the kid ;)  I can't wait for Leon to be a big brother - to see his reaction to this baby.  I know everything will be okay.  I know I'll love this baby.  I'm so excited to have another little person in our family. 

So 4 weeks.  I can totally do another 4 weeks.  Let's just hope this kiddo can too.

How we are doing...

 Most of my posts so far have been mostly in the need-to-know, what we've been doing, new baby, or Leon catergories.  But I thought I'd sit down and share a little more about how we're actually doing.  We'll start with the most important:

Leon

Leon had a pretty rough time adjusting to this move.  It really didn't go over well with him at all.  However, I'm happy to say that after 2 and half months he is finally getting more and more comfortable and adjusted.  He went to nursery at church today without crying (HORRAY!) for the first time since we got here.  He doesn't have to be right outside the shower when I shower - he'll play in the playroom or in my bedroom.  He's not afraid of his massive closet anymore.  He actually went downstairs all by himself today to play (I was in the shower and when I came out I started to panic because I couldn't find him anywhere - I went downstairs and he was happily playing with his trains).  His speech has really taken off.  He surprises me daily with the words/phrases he picks up and the sentences he puts together.  He's become very observant - On our way to church today, he saw McDonald's and shouted out (with joy) "french fries!".  A few weeks ago he started calling me "Mommy" instead of "Momma".  He is very gracious - he says "thank you, mommy"  just about everytime I compliment him or give him something.  His temper tantrums have declined signficantly since we moved.  He now can count up to 5 and knows most of this colors.  AND, when I ask him if he wants a baby he usually says "Yes" while shaking his head up and down.  It's adorable.  I love the kid and every time he does something cute or sweet or funny I wonder how on earth I was lucky enough to have this little boy be my son!  He's just awesome.  The one bad thing we're still working on is getting him to sleep in his own bed throughout the night - he just gets worried without us there with him.

Kyle

Kyle has been having to make a lot of changes when it comes to his work situation.  His commute is much different - driving into the big city requires a lot of dealing with traffic and rush hour.  He is getting used to how different the work enviroment is at this new company, but I think he's liking it.  It's different but not bad.  He's got another one of his crazy actuarial exams coming up right before the baby is due.  His study schedule is pretty intense which isn't so enjoyable.  However, there's light at the end of the tunnel - if he passes this one he only has one more and then he is done!  Forever!  Yay!  He's told me that he really likes the area and the people he works with.  He is also enjoying having a yard that only takes 20 minutes to mow instead of 2 hours and having a house that doesn't have an endless list of improvements to work on.  Despite his busy work and study schedule and the stress that comes with both, he's been so awesome.  He's been helping me with all my house projects and with Leon.  He's making life around here great.

Me

I miss home - mostly my friends and family, my favorite photography locations (I haven't had much success with scouting places out here), and the convience of just knowing an area for so long.  However, I do like the area for the most part.  I've been making friends with ladies from church and they're great.  I joined their book club and have been invited to a couple of ladies nights which have been a lot of fun.  I really like our new house.  I love that all I have to do is paint and decorate and keep it clean.  That's ALL!  It's really starting to look like a lovely home for us.  I can't wait to show more pictures.  Most rooms are very close to being photo worthy.  As far as the pregnancy goes, I'm already very uncomfortable.  I'm huge and I still have 12 weeks to go - people keep asking me if I'm having twins or their eyes get really wide when I tell them the baby is due in November.  I'm not usually too offended when this happens because I agree with their thoughts - I'm big and I know it ;)  I'm already having contractions which stinks.  But luckily everything else is going great, so I'm not going to complain too much.  I miss taking photos.  However, I'm not feeling to creative while being big and it's nice having the free time.  I'll start things back up in the spring.

Baby #2

He's nice to me.  Well, other than the whole making me huge thing, giving me contractions, and being up in my ribs most of the time.  He lets me sleep when I need/want to and he lets me get things done.  I appreciate it.  His room is going to be so stinkin cute when it's gets done.  We are still are debating on names.  We've got a list going but we just can't decide.  Here are some of our options (the ones I can remember at least):  Owen, Oliver, Ollie, Greyson, Griffin, Charlie, Ray, Ethan, Everett, and James.

P.S.  Check out our little adventure of feeding the ducks at a nearby lake here.

My Plan for the Baby's Room

So for baby #2's bedroom, I've decided that I don't want to do a theme but a color scheme.  I don't want to get too caught up in doing a theme when I'd just end up changing it in a couple of years.  I want it to be simple and classic with a contemporary design.

Here's the color scheme - blue, green, gray

I've started to make a quilt already.  I've already have the top done (this is a not-so-great pic of it).  It's simple, fun, and incorporates my chosen color scheme.  I just need to find someone to quilt the back and front together for me so I can do the binding.

This time, I'd really like to get a nice, comfortable rocking chair (we moved the chair we used for Leon into our living room so we need a new one).  I'll cozy it up with pillows, cushions, and a ottaman.  OR maybe a nice upholstered glider similar to this one.

Other things I'm hoping to do:

• a bird mobile, like this one, with the left over quilt fabric
• family photo(s), temple photo/silhouette, and some other artwork
• some pretty, simple white wall shelves
• repaint Leon's old dresser and use it as a dresser/changing table
• big monogram letter(s)

Also, I'm getting tired of calling this baby "baby #2"  - I could use some ideas for boy names if anyone would like to share!

I wanted to do more pics in this blog post, but blogger isn't allowing me to link any pics through URL - so sorry for all the silly links.

A Brother

Yesterday we had our ultrasound.  I'm happy to say that we're having a healthy baby boy!  Leon is going to have a little brother and we couldn't be more excited.  I was sure it was a girl so I was surprised, but the more I think about it the more excited I get.  Two boys to play with each other, two boys to send on missions, two boys to have adventures with.  It will be wonderful.

After the ultrasound, Leon and I went to Babies R Us to celebrate and get some fun new things for the baby.  Leon helped me pick out the little doggie and the cars pj's and I picked out the cute robot pj's.

Now it's time to start making decisions.  What on earth are we going to name this boy?  We don't have a lot of names picked out.  Should I have a VBAC or another C-section?  The doctors here DO NOT like doing VBACs.  How should I decorate this kiddos room? 

I'm so excited about it all!