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Confessions and Secrets

Confession #1 I have been horrible about blogging. My computer crashed and burned. Now I have a new computer which has inspired me to work harder on this blog (not really sure why). I really want to document the stories of our life since it seems to be flying by way too fast.

Confession #2 I am a horrible speller. You would think since I write articles my spelling (and sometimes grammar) would be close to perfect. ha. thank you spell check....and when that fails, Google is awesome with trying to figure out what you are trying to spell.


Secret #1 I also want to start another blog about fitness/health. Its such a broad field and I really want to narrow it down to something health fitness related and I want to make money from it. This means I have to have readers and such, which to have readers I have to have interesting content. hummmm.....lots of brainstorming to do.

Until next time (of which I promise will be sooner rather than later) take care!

Double the Love

That is what life with two is like. Of course, there is double the work, double the amount of dirty diapers and tears, but with that comes double the happiness, love and joy. Benjamin has taken to this new addition fairly well. He gives her kisses and helps hold her bottle for .2 seconds until he sees something else that is more entertaining that a newborn.

Both babies came down with RSV and that was a challenge. Meredith was the one the Dr. was most concerned about since she was so little. So we did everything to keep her out of the hospital. That meant no sleep for me for two days, round the clock nursing so she didn't get dehydrated and lots and lots of suctioning her nose out. We logged many hours in the bathroom with the shower running to help with the congestion. Benjamin was a trooper. He didn't feel well and had to share his mama with his sister. Somehow we managed to get through it and both recovered just fine and without having to go to the ER.

We are back to our normal days of organized chaos with a few temper tantrums thrown in for good measure. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Water bottle, courtesy of big bro

Meredith Grace Vaesa

The night before her birthday, we couldn't sleep. I was so excited and a little nervous about what the next day would bring. 4am on Jan. 10, 2011 came pretty quickly and we got up and dressed and to the hospital at 5am. Blood work was done, I got hooked up to monitors (monitors showed I was having contractions, which I didn't feel!) IV started, papers filled out, Dr. L came in to tell us the plan, Alan got gowned up and it was time to go.

waiting to go back to the OR

Back in the OR I got the spinal (which didn't hurt near as bad as I thought) and then I started to go numb, which is a good thing when you are going to be cut open! After the spinal, Alan came back and sat by my head. I got sick a couple of times, the doctors and nurses were great and were joking around with us. A few tugs and pulls and out she came. They held her up over the curtain and I smiled and Alan went pale. They had to give him oxygen and take him out of the OR! They came back to tell me that dad is doing better!

She's here!

 Meredith Grace Vaesa weighed in at 6lbs, 8oz and 20 1/4 inches long. Benjamin weighed in at 7lbs 90z and 20 inches, so she is a bit smaller.

6lbs 8oz 20 1/4 inches long

Mama, meet your daughter.

After spending about 2 hours in recovery (had to wait until I could wiggle my toes) and being able to breastfeed, we headed up to the mother and baby unit. Family came in, I was in a daze, the pain pills were too much and made me sick.

Alan feeling better

Bonding in recovery.

She has dark blue eyes.

 By the second day I was feeling much better and we got my pain meds under control, which made life much better.

 Alan spent the first night with me, and then I stayed by myself after that first night so Alan could take Benjamin home and sleep in their own beds. Alan and Benjamin came and visited every day and the nurses loved him! He didn't think much of his lil sis at first, much more interested in the buttons and other cool hospital equipment! On Thursday both the pediatrician and my doctor gave us the green light to go home, discharge papers were filled out and we were home around noon.

So far things have been a chaotic, fun mess! Three days after being home I came down with the stomach bug; throwing up isn't fun after a c-section. Then it made its way around to Benjamin, Alan, my sisters and my dad. Thankfully Meredith and my mom were spared the sickness. After we recovered from the flu, Alan had to go to Canada for work. We couldn't have made it without our family helping us out, we are truly grateful and not sure we could ever pay you back for everything you all have done!

Taking care of two babies is a little crazy, the hardest part was not picking up Benjamin for 2 weeks, which I had to break the rule a few times when Alan came down with the stomach bug. Meredith and I have both been back to the doctor and we are doing great. She left the hospital weighing 6lbs and is now back up to birth weight. I am about 5lbs away from my pre pregnancy weight and the incision is healing.

Meredith seems to be a little more laid back than Benjamin, or it could be that we as second time parents are more relaxed. Not sure. She eats about every 3 hours and sleeps really well for a newborn. There have been plenty of days of me being awake for 22 hours at a time, but those are getting further apart. Last night at 3 weeks old, she slept from midnight till 4am and then fell back asleep at 5:30am and slept until 9am. I can't complain. Of course, Benjamin was running a fever so I was up with him. I guess that's the thing with more than one child, if its not one, it the other! Oh well, I love my little life and all the craziness that goes with it!

It's all worth it. 

Time for Baby!

Its the night before our lil lady arrives. It feels like Christmas Eve. I'm excited. Nervous. Excited. A little queasy. A little at ease. And ready to meet this lil kick boxer! Scheduled c-sections make you feel like this. Tomorrow is a good day for a birthday!

P.J's and apple juice...

My exciting New Year's Eve plans include, shower, p.j's, a movie and a nap before the ball drops. That is if Benjamin sleeps. I have fruit, fruit dip, cheese and crackers and drinks ready. Drinks include Sprite mixed with a choice of either apple juice or what ever type of juice it is on the bottle with Elmo. For a last minute party planning, not bad huh? Don'y worry not entertaining guests, just the hubs and me. My mom's side does a big NYE party every year, but when you are 9 days away from giving birth, already have one baby that is no longer sleeping through the night...you get to do what you want for the most part! So p.j's, movie and a nap is in the plans until the ball drops in about 4 hours.

Hope everyone has a safe night and a new year filled with much joy and love.

Miss you blog...

They aren't kidding motherhood is hard, not that I thought it would be a piece of cheesecake! But you know what I mean. Our lil boy is now a year old, how fast the time went by! All the 'firsts' we got to experience with him, wouldn't have missed it for the world! I am so blessed that I have been able to stay home with him! However, that isn't all fun and games all the time...I do work from home. Thankfully he takes awesome naps and I haven't had to stay up too late or wake up in the wee hours of the morning (unless I couldn't sleep) to crank out articles. We are saving on daycare and I'm paying part of the bills, but I may have lost my sanity in the process. Not sure about that yet. I still seem somewhat sane. At least now that my husband is back. With his job he works 12+ hours days M-F and sometimes the entire weekend during the late spring, summer and fall. I'm a concrete widow during that time. So I really enjoy the winter when the concrete industry almost comes to a screeching halt due to the weather. Can't pour concrete when its too cold! Bring on the snow, ice and sub-freezing temps! We actually get to spend time together and he helps with the housework and Benjamin. Huge blessing right now as I am about 3 weeks from having our lil girl and the late pregnancy aches and pains have showed up.

Benjamin's first real experience with snow, wasn't sure at first, but he loves to eat it!

Ok...the spinach and cheese calzones are done and I'm going to freeze them for when our lil girl arrives and I have two babies and articles to write!