So it's been exciting here the last couple of days. Monday the boys went in for their four month check. Levi weighed in at 15 lbs and William at 14. Levi may have William beat by a whole pound but William is still longer by a quarter inch (23.5 and 23.75 inches). Doc said they were doing great and he gave mommy an A+. He paid me a compliment too. He said he can tell I was going to be a great mother because I was laid back, calm and didn't get worked up about little things. I said that once you lose one child everything else seems trivial and he quite agreed.
So while we were waiting in the room waiting for the doctor to come in I had laid William on the table and Levi was sitting in his cars eat. The second William touched the table his legs and arms started going like a tap dancer. I think he loved the crinkly sound of the paper because he just went on and on dancing. After a couple of minutes watching and laughing at him I looked over at Levi and that kid was trying to squirm, or should I say escape his way out of the car seat. It just made me laugh even harder. He was in his orange diaper and that chubby little tummy of his was wiggling all over the place. He was so far down in the seat that his legs were sticking way out and kicking the other car seat that was setting opposite of him. They have come a long ways from being newborns.
So the boys had a series of shots and Levi was not a happy camper about it. He thought the world was ending. I was expecting William to act the same but surprisingly he did much better. He cried when he got poked but once the nurse picked him up and held him he was completely fine. I was still trying to calm Levi down and he didn't settle until I put him the car. It was not a pleasant evening. Levi was very agitated and crabby all evening. I finally gave him some tylenol when he felt warm and feverish and he finally went to bed about ten. William was somewhat cranky too and he wouldn't go down until 10:30 and that was after a lot of coaxing. I finally had to lay in my bed with him and hold onto him while he squirmed and completely wore himself out. He was still whining as he drifted off. I let him lay there until midnight and then moved him to his crib. In the morning Levi was back to his old happy self but William was a super cranky baby all day long. He was a constant barrage of whinery, and not the tasty kind. Thankfully he crashed early last night and was in bed about 7:30.
So this morning Doug got Levi up and dressed him in a Michigan onesie. So of course when I got William up and dressed I put him in the Michigan State onesie. Doug did not approve. Anyway, Doug fed Levi in the dinning room and I sat with William in the living room. William was playing with the bottle and since he wasn't interested in food I laid him on his tummy on the floor. He looked around for a minute or two and then, ploop, he rolled over with what seemed no effort. I screamed just as Doug walked into the room with Levi. He missed seeing it by 1 second. I rolled William back onto his tummy and hoped he would do it again but he didn't. Maybe later today. It was a fabulous first anyway. The irony in this is that I was imagining him rolling over and that I should go get my camera to record some video. Who knows I might catch his first roll over on video....so much for that happening. Now that William has beat Levi in the "who will roll over first" contest, will this be a prediction as to who is going to win the Michigan vs. Michigan State game?
And while William was rolling over I missed taking a call from my dad but I called him back right away. Apparently two ducks had just flown through his front, two-paned picture window. So I walked over there with my camera so he could take pictures for his insurance. There was glass everywhere and he shooed them outside before he saw the blood on his couch. So there is an injured duck out there somewhere. I hope he ends up being okay.
Showing posts with label excitement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label excitement. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Happy Birthday!
Monday May 2
I started out in the hospital bed but that didn't last for long. It was way to uncomfortable. You would think that the hospital would get some much more comfortable beds considering the person in them is going to be in so much discomfort. I doubt I was in that bed for a half hour. I had Doug move some furniture around and bring the recliner close to the monitor. This recliner is where I stayed mostly through the night the next day and the next night.
The Cervidil did cause me to have fairly frequent contractions which is good. But since it made me obviously uncomfortable they gave me some Stadol so that I could rest through the night. It made me get the shakes and feel yucky. I had this with the last pregnancy but I thought it was because of the Pitocin. Now that I know it was the Stadol I am making a mental note to never take that again.
Admit day at Spectrum Health Butterworth. The same hospital I was born at. I was so antsy that day waiting for 7 pm to come so we could head out the door and be on the road at long last. Our scheduled induction was for 7:30pm.
Doug's Dad and Step-mother came out that afternoon and followed us to the hospital so they would know where to go Tuesday. Doug's Mother was going to catch a flight out of Seattle Tuesday morning.
We live three miles from the hospital so it doesn't exactly take a half hour for us to get there. We arrived a tad early. I never have liked being late to an appointment. :-)
The Helen Devos Children's Hospital opened up earlier this year and had been excited that I would be able to have the boys there. BUT... it was not to be. After all of the planning they did they changed it and did not end up moving the labor and delivery nor the NICU over there. It is still in the Center tower of Butterworth. Needless to say I was quite disappointed when my doctor told me to go through the ER entrance as usual. From what he explained the hospital realized as they were building the children's hospital that they would already be at capacity by the time it opened so some things had to change from the original plan. Crazy huh? Oh well. I am very glad that it was built and they have so many services there to offer.
In spite of being early we had no problems getting in right away. They were ready and waiting for us. The plan was to have an ultrasound to verify the boys were still down. Check! Then they needed to see if I had made any progress on my own. No. So then they went ahead and gave me some Cervidil. It stays in for 12 hours and the hope is that it will soften the cervix. So the long wait began.
I started out in the hospital bed but that didn't last for long. It was way to uncomfortable. You would think that the hospital would get some much more comfortable beds considering the person in them is going to be in so much discomfort. I doubt I was in that bed for a half hour. I had Doug move some furniture around and bring the recliner close to the monitor. This recliner is where I stayed mostly through the night the next day and the next night.
The Cervidil did cause me to have fairly frequent contractions which is good. But since it made me obviously uncomfortable they gave me some Stadol so that I could rest through the night. It made me get the shakes and feel yucky. I had this with the last pregnancy but I thought it was because of the Pitocin. Now that I know it was the Stadol I am making a mental note to never take that again.
May 3rd.
Yay, today is there birthday! Or so I expected. Ha ha, jokes on me.
I was checked for any progress and there was barely any difference. Grrrrr. The doctor decided to go with Pitocin instead of another round of the Cervidil. He hoped that my body would decide to progress on its own. It was a very uncomfortable day. The Pitocin definitely made me have contractions and at one point they had to back down on how much I was getting because they were coming to frequently. I took a couple of showers that day and it helped me to relax. By the evening I was so tired and at my end that I was getting weepy. I didn't feel like I could go on. I was ready to give up.
You all know how much I did not want a c-section but I was really contemplating it. Doug was so wonderful to me. He kept encouraging me and saying how he knew I could do it. He told me how strong I was. I had not progressed much all day and so I was not at a point were I could even get an epidural to alleviate the pain. That evening the Pitocin was turned off and I was able to order some dinner. I was so hungry and grateful to eat. Then I was given another round of the Cervidil as well as some Morphine mixed with something else to help with the pain and make me sleep. The morphine managed to help me make it through the night but I was in tears again the next morning. The discomfort was more than I could stand. Doug kept encouraging me.
Grandpa Doug, Grandma Heidi, Grandma Wanda and Grandpa Mike were there part of the day hanging out with us. We had a nice time visiting but we were all a bit bummed that the boys were not going to come that day. The grandparents left to get some rest and would come back to wait again the next day.
May 4th
They checked me again that morning and there was finally softening and changes happening. I ordered breakfast before they hooked me up to the Pitocin again. I tried taking a shower but it didn't last very long. I hurt so much I couldn't stand or sit in the water. I got out and leaned over the tub feeling very nauseous. But by the time the food arrived I was still feeling so sick to my stomach from the pain that I couldn't eat a bite. At least Doug got to eat it for me so it didn't go to waste.
The good news was that I was progressed enough that I could get the epidural and it couldn't come soon enough. Time to move out of the recliner and into the bed. The anesthesiologist came in and I knew from prior experience that this was going to be really hard for me. You have to lean forward during a contraction and not move while he inserts the needle. OMG! I kept counting and telling myself just a few more minutes and then the pain will be gone. Only a few more minutes....
Finally finished. The soft tingling in my toes started and worked its way up my legs. Oh man, that feels so much better. Finally some relief. And laying in the uncomfortable bed wasn't so uncomfortable any more...because I couldn't feel it. :-)
I don't remember much of the rest of the day because I slept through most of it. I know that my doctor came in a couple of times but I had no sense of time. Then my doctor walked in and started getting equipment out and ready which woke me from one of my snoozes. I asked him if it was time to start pushing and to my happiness he nodded and said yes I was ready. They rolled me over to my back and got me ready. The grandpas left the room. My mom and Doug were going to be there with me and I had invited Heidi to stay if she wanted to. I think this made her a little excited. Okay okay, maybe a lot excited. I'm glad I could make this day special for her.
I couldn't feel any of the contractions so I had to rely solely on the doctors and nurses. When they said push I pushed. Three pushes later out popped William. Wow! That was quite unexpected on my part. I was expecting a little more time pushing the first one out. I thought that would be the long part of pushing, to get the first one out.
They layed him on my stomach but he couldn't come up too close to me because he had a short umbilical cord. Time of birth was 4:20pm. Doug cut the cord while I admired the top of my little ones head. He had such dark hair. Not much, but it was dark like Arawynn's was. I pulled William up closer to me so I could see his face. He was so tiny. Such tiny features. Petite might be a better explanation. He was gorgeous. I held him for a few minutes until it was time to start pushing again. I handed William over to a nurse so she could clean him up.
Push. Push. Push. Take a break and wait for the next contraction. Push. Push. Push. Second break. Push. Push. Push. Another break. Push. Push. Push. He's almost there, just keep pushing if you can. Push. Push. And there he was. Again they laid my baby on my stomach. Time of birth 4:39pm. Nineteen minutes after his brother. The first thing I can see is the top of his head and noticed that his hair was lighter than William. And he was white. Almost blue actually. I was concerned that the cord was around his neck but it had not been. After the cord was cut I pulled him up close so I could see his face. He looks so much like Doug. He had such big lips. His face was so much more round than William. He was already wanting to nurse as his mouth went through the sucking motions. I handed him off to a nurse to get him cleaned up.
William was handed back to me all cleaned up, wrapped up and wearing a hospital hat. They wrote a big A on the front of his hat. He was so precious. I admired his little face more and we talked for a bit. I eventually let his Papa hold him. Doug brought William over to Levi and showed him his brother while Levi was getting cleaned up. Then I guess he went out into the hall to show the Grandpas their grandson. I found out later that my dad had been waiting by the door and listening for their cries when they were born. He was beside himself with anticipation.
At some point I tried nursing and I was able to hold Levi after he was all cleaned up. But it's all a blur and I don't really remember much. I was just so happy and exhausted. I wanted to hold my babies and admire them but I wanted to have a nap too. It was a good day.
Happy birthday my precious boys!
You all know how much I did not want a c-section but I was really contemplating it. Doug was so wonderful to me. He kept encouraging me and saying how he knew I could do it. He told me how strong I was. I had not progressed much all day and so I was not at a point were I could even get an epidural to alleviate the pain. That evening the Pitocin was turned off and I was able to order some dinner. I was so hungry and grateful to eat. Then I was given another round of the Cervidil as well as some Morphine mixed with something else to help with the pain and make me sleep. The morphine managed to help me make it through the night but I was in tears again the next morning. The discomfort was more than I could stand. Doug kept encouraging me.
Grandpa Doug, Grandma Heidi, Grandma Wanda and Grandpa Mike were there part of the day hanging out with us. We had a nice time visiting but we were all a bit bummed that the boys were not going to come that day. The grandparents left to get some rest and would come back to wait again the next day.
May 4th
They checked me again that morning and there was finally softening and changes happening. I ordered breakfast before they hooked me up to the Pitocin again. I tried taking a shower but it didn't last very long. I hurt so much I couldn't stand or sit in the water. I got out and leaned over the tub feeling very nauseous. But by the time the food arrived I was still feeling so sick to my stomach from the pain that I couldn't eat a bite. At least Doug got to eat it for me so it didn't go to waste.
The good news was that I was progressed enough that I could get the epidural and it couldn't come soon enough. Time to move out of the recliner and into the bed. The anesthesiologist came in and I knew from prior experience that this was going to be really hard for me. You have to lean forward during a contraction and not move while he inserts the needle. OMG! I kept counting and telling myself just a few more minutes and then the pain will be gone. Only a few more minutes....
Finally finished. The soft tingling in my toes started and worked its way up my legs. Oh man, that feels so much better. Finally some relief. And laying in the uncomfortable bed wasn't so uncomfortable any more...because I couldn't feel it. :-)
I don't remember much of the rest of the day because I slept through most of it. I know that my doctor came in a couple of times but I had no sense of time. Then my doctor walked in and started getting equipment out and ready which woke me from one of my snoozes. I asked him if it was time to start pushing and to my happiness he nodded and said yes I was ready. They rolled me over to my back and got me ready. The grandpas left the room. My mom and Doug were going to be there with me and I had invited Heidi to stay if she wanted to. I think this made her a little excited. Okay okay, maybe a lot excited. I'm glad I could make this day special for her.
I couldn't feel any of the contractions so I had to rely solely on the doctors and nurses. When they said push I pushed. Three pushes later out popped William. Wow! That was quite unexpected on my part. I was expecting a little more time pushing the first one out. I thought that would be the long part of pushing, to get the first one out.
They layed him on my stomach but he couldn't come up too close to me because he had a short umbilical cord. Time of birth was 4:20pm. Doug cut the cord while I admired the top of my little ones head. He had such dark hair. Not much, but it was dark like Arawynn's was. I pulled William up closer to me so I could see his face. He was so tiny. Such tiny features. Petite might be a better explanation. He was gorgeous. I held him for a few minutes until it was time to start pushing again. I handed William over to a nurse so she could clean him up.
Push. Push. Push. Take a break and wait for the next contraction. Push. Push. Push. Second break. Push. Push. Push. Another break. Push. Push. Push. He's almost there, just keep pushing if you can. Push. Push. And there he was. Again they laid my baby on my stomach. Time of birth 4:39pm. Nineteen minutes after his brother. The first thing I can see is the top of his head and noticed that his hair was lighter than William. And he was white. Almost blue actually. I was concerned that the cord was around his neck but it had not been. After the cord was cut I pulled him up close so I could see his face. He looks so much like Doug. He had such big lips. His face was so much more round than William. He was already wanting to nurse as his mouth went through the sucking motions. I handed him off to a nurse to get him cleaned up.
William was handed back to me all cleaned up, wrapped up and wearing a hospital hat. They wrote a big A on the front of his hat. He was so precious. I admired his little face more and we talked for a bit. I eventually let his Papa hold him. Doug brought William over to Levi and showed him his brother while Levi was getting cleaned up. Then I guess he went out into the hall to show the Grandpas their grandson. I found out later that my dad had been waiting by the door and listening for their cries when they were born. He was beside himself with anticipation.
holding William
At some point I tried nursing and I was able to hold Levi after he was all cleaned up. But it's all a blur and I don't really remember much. I was just so happy and exhausted. I wanted to hold my babies and admire them but I wanted to have a nap too. It was a good day.
Levi
Happy birthday my precious boys!
Levi Gregory Lang
William Robert Lang
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