Home life - First two weeks

We were all spoiled! The first two weeks were filled with visitors and gifts.

• Kyla and Jake got a house cleaner to come before I got home.
• My parents watched Brice for the days I was in the hospital and made some meals to freeze and desserts!
• Grandma Ethel and Grandpa Jack came with food and gifts for Nathan.
• Janey and Steve dropped off a lasagna, and gift for Nathan.
• Nikki, Rob and the girls dropped off pasta and dessert and a gift for Brice and Nathan.
• Jerri and her son came by with lasagna and presents for Brice.
• Steph, Elise and the boys came over with a car for Brice and cupcakes.
• Jenny came with Peyton with a box of chocolates.
• John and Katrina came with coffee, soup and gifts.
• Ernie, Veronica and there family came to visit with cute clothes.

Darren also came home with a gift almost everynight for a week from co-workers.
So yes the entire family was spoiled with generosity! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Family of Four

Yup we now fit the typical American family. A family of four. And it is wonderful, difficult, exciting, stressful, joyful... OK it is a mix of emotions! Brice is a great big brother. He asks about Nathan all the time, gives him kisses and wants to "hold my hand" as he says. The first month he gave Darren and I a run for our money with the tantrums and crying, but i would rather that then him not liking Nathan. He has since adjusted and we are doing great. After two days in the hospital with staff that took great care of me and delicious hospital food, we headed home. Brice and Darren came to pick up Nathan and I at the hospital and we headed home to start our new normal. Darren took off two weeks this time around and it was exaclty what I needed!

Things about Nathan

• He is a handsome baby
• He was a little jaundice (but nothing a little sunlight couldn't take care of)
• He has big hands
• He has long eyelashes
• I swear he giggled in the hospital
• He has big eyes
• He had no problem eating
• He has gas (which could be why he giggled and smiled)
• He can sleep through noise

Sleeping
Nathan right away went a 4 hour stretch in sleeping which was amazing! He also seemed to know night from day right away, Hallelujah! With Nathan we did the swing for night time, we didn't want to fight the crib or co-sleeper just yet and figured sleep was more important right now.

Second time around

So here is the story of my second birth...
After a very hot summer and an AC bill that was much higher then average lets just say I was ready for Nathan to arrive. On September 29th my parents, Darren and I took Brice to a small fair in my parents complex. I was having what I thought were fake contractions all day off and on. I tried to nap when we got home, but I was still uncomfortable. That night I tried to watch a movie once Brice was in bed, but couldn't make it through. I told Darren the contractions needed to come on or stop, because it was getting obnoxious. Sure enough at midnight I called my parents because contractions were getting stronger. By the time they got to the house I was in pain and we took off to the hospital. By the time we arrived to the time I got the epidural I thought hours had passed, but Darren told me it was only an hour. At check-in I was already 7cm and they had to do blood work to make sure my platelets were in normal range. The entire staff cheered once they came back normal. I had a great anesthesiologist and once the epidural kicked in I was feeling great! Just had to get to 10 cm, which took only a half hour or so. They called Dr. Newman (who was not my OBGYN, but was great.) After 45 minutes of pushing, Nathan arrived big, handsome and healthy! It was exactly how I wanted it to go and it was amazing to hold that little one in my arms finally.

 

Visitors

 

Nathan Guy McCollem

Our handsome boy has arrived!

 

Nathan Guy McCollem

Arrived on September 30, 2012 at 4:47am

8lbs 15oz

20 inches long

 

He is as cute as can be with a perfectly round little head.

 

 

 

 

"Before you were conceived I wanted you. Before you were born I loved you. Before you were here an hour I would die for you. This is the miracle of love."

Maureen Hawkins

 

 

The JEEP

We are officially Jeep owners. We sold the truck and bought a 2007 Jeep. Darren has said goodbye hauling things and has said hello to car seats! We can now swap cars no problem. As Darren would say his bachelorhood is gone. :)

Ultrasounds

They're here Great Grandma and Grandpa

Finally, they made the move from Florida to Arizona. Grandma Ethel and Grandpa Jack (as Brice calls them) are here to stay. It is so nice having them close by and see them whenever we want now. They moved into a brand new house and are getting settled in. Welcome Home!!!

My Hobby

For my birthday Darren went all out buying me my new "hobby." Photography! I love my new camera and really enjoy learing the art of taking a photo. I thought I would post some picture of the fun times we have had!

 

Happy Birthday to Me

Yup I said goodbye to my 20's. It was tough, but not as tough as I thought it would be. I have a great life, a wonderful husband a great kid and a cute baby on the way! My 20's were awesome. I went to collage (way to much to write about!), I met my closest friends and the love of my life, I started my career (which has changed a few times over), I bought a house, got married and had my first child. I have no regrets and am very thankful for all I have. On to the next chapter of my life!

 

"Life is a song - sing it. Life is a game - play it. Life is a challenge - meet it.

Life is a dream - realize it. Life is a sacrifice - offer it. Life is love - enjoy it."

Sai Baba

Pregnancy

They say every pregnancy is different... Well I definitely learned that! It has had its ups and downs, but at this point I have made it to 39 weeks and a day, so needless to say i am ready to have this baby and see his little face!
My Platelets
This time around my platelets are low. That means I am slower to clot and there is a chance I might not be able to have and epidural. Normal range is 130 + and when i had my diabetes test done (which came back normal) my platelets were at 114. After another draw a week later they dropped to 86 YIKES! Most Anaesthesiologists will not give an epidural with anything under 100 and then there are other risks if it drops below 70. This is when all the Dr. appointments really started.
Hematologist
She had me get my blood drawn a few more times, and thankfully my next two draws were 115 and 116 which is low but a good sign it is just thrombocytopenia which happens to 8% of women in there third trimester. So when I do go into labor fingers crossed my platelets are anywhere above 100!
High Risk OB
Met with a high risk Dr. in case I went into labor early and my platelets were still low. He was really great and spent a lot of time with me answering all my questions and prepared me more if anything was to go wrong.
Appointments
After all my appointments (which was 3 a week for some time plus ultrasounds) I was thinking baby could come any day, so now that I am 39 weeks, I have been anxious to meet baby. You would think after being induced at 40 weeks with Brice I would be patient this time around!
The plus side this time around
Baby is head down and has stayed head down! And yes as uncomfortable as I am, he is comfortable and full size and I will have another big beautiful baby!
I do not want to be induced this time around, and my last ultrasound (38weeks) he was estimated at 8lbs 2oz. Normally the Dr. would push for an induction, but since Brice was 9lb 13oz they know I can deliver a big baby. So we continue to wait :)

Did I mention I am hot and don't think I have felt cold in at least 6 months!!!