Proof That We Now Have Two Kids

Craziness. I'm the mother of two children. And my firstborn now seems huge to both Braden and I, ever since she walked into the recovery room at the hospital, and we saw her next to Katie. Funny how she used to be the baby, and now she's not...but she is. Weird.

Jenna "kicking" Katie lovingly


Daddy and his two girls

Quick Update

Ker here.  I'm sleep-deprived.  You probably won't be hearing from me much in the next few weeks.  Besides, for some reason my back still bothers me when I sit at the computer, among other things.  Anyway, things are slowly improving on the nursing front, although I can never really get into a comfortable position, and there are still other issues.  I must say, even though nursing is difficult, it sure helps things when you have a baby who wants to nurse.  Katie wants to; Jenna didn't.  Katie currently is not too keen on sleeping at night.  She likes to sleep on her tummy or in the bed with us, and neither of those are good options or lead to restful sleep for Mommy and Daddy.  We're working on that, but it also doesn't help that we don't want her squealing to wake up Jenna, so the crying it out thing is tricky right now (we'll try that later on, I think, and see how it goes; she's so young right now).

We went to the pediatrician today, and she said that Katie has a very slight heart murmur.  She said she doesn't think it's anything to worry about (she'd put it at a 1 out of 6 and didn't think another doctor would have even heard it; she's just really into cardiology), but she wants us to make an appointment with a cardiologist to make sure everything's okay.  She also said she thinks it's something that will eventually go away on its own.  Anyway, we're seeing her again at the end of the week, and I'll make an appointment with the cardiologist in the meantime. 

I did have some injury in the delivery; I'll phrase it that way, BUT my postpartum recovery is going sooooo much better this time around.  Now I can understand why some moms are able to walk around a few days after giving birth, which I was amazed at before, since all I knew was how horrible my pain was after Jenna's birth.  Things aren't all rosy, of course, but compared to last time, the difference is astounding.  I am so grateful that Katie's delivery went so much more smoothly. 

Thanks to my mom for helping out so much, both with Jenna and Katie.  I think I'll keep her.  :)

Thanks to my hubbin for all his help as well.  I wish he didn't have to go back to work tomorrow.  I'm definitely keeping him.

I'd best get to bed.  I might have gotten 4 hours of sleep last night, and that's a generous estimate. 

For Comparison...

Another cross-post:  This is Jenna 1 day after she was born.  Methinks they look a lot alike.

Watch Out, World!

K.J.

I posted the following on my Nursing Blog, and because nothing has been posted here yet and there may be some peeps out there that read the family blog and not the Nursing Blog, here it is cross-posted for your pleasure:

Mrs. Braden and I are pleased to announce the birth of our second child, Little Bradenette, yesterday morning at a few minutes to 6.  We went to the hospital the evening before after slowly increasing contractions all day.  I was actually in the middle of a staff meeting when Mrs. Braden called and said,  "you had better come home now."  I didn't need any more incentive than that.  I rushed back into the room, grabbed my papers, and literally ran out the door.  A short while later we were on the road to the hospital 20 minutes away (the hospital that I work at doesn't have labor and delivery - thanks, lawyers!).

At first, the doctor was threatening to have us sent home because, despite contractions 5 minutes apart and painful, they were not opening the cervix compared to a check earlier at the doctor's office.  This caused much distress in the pregnant one and a lot of concern for me and the expectant Grandma as well (Since the contractions are already close together and we can't tell if her cervix is changing, if we go home now, how will we know when to come back?)

Luckily, an hour of walking madly around the floor to the point of exhausting even me brought about more frequent contractions and a slight cervical change.  And a call to the midwife instead of the doctor brought about a decision to keep us, and eventually a visit from God himself the anesthesiologist.

Labor progressed slowly and without note until the baby decided to suddenly engage in the birth canal, setting off all kinds of alarms as her heart rate dropped into the 70s.  People came running in and repositioned Mrs. Braden and they determined that delivery was imminent.  Within 30 minutes she was pushing, and after just six contractions, out came a burst of emotion as our second baby was laid on Mommy's tummy.

Now we are just past the 24 hour mark and everything seems to be going fairly well.  Baby sounds alternately like a cat and like the baby velociraptor from Jurassic Park with all her little grunts and whines, but the doctor said multiple times while assessing her that she is "perfect", which I'm sure is a word that she does not say on every baby that she sees, but rather saves just for our baby.

So now we are hoping to be able to go home tonight, and if we are lucky, get some sleep some time in the next several years.  Wish us luck!

No Whammies, No Whammies!

Not to jinx myself here, but I think we're going to the hospital here in a few minutes.  My contractions are stronger and 4-6 minutes apart.  Plus, I was 4cm at the midwife's appt at 3pm, and then she stripped the membranes a little bit more.  I had my last supper of Pollo Asado and am ready to do this thang.  My mom thinks that they won't send me home if I'm this far along and having regular contractions...she thinks they'll probably just break my water.

So I guess you can be walking around at 4cm, Carolyn!  I have done it.  :)

All My Bags Are Packed...

...I'm ready to go...

So you may surmise by the fact that I am sitting down writing this post that I have not as yet had the baby.  The contractions were pretty consistent for a few hours last night...until I went to bed.  Then they slowed down, and I'm not even sure if I had some while I slept.  Each time I got up I would have one, and then maybe 2-3 more when I went back to bed.  I've had some this morning, but they are not that consistent so far.  I got the distinct impression that if I get up and move around, it will get things started.  So I am going to take that and run with it.  I'm eating breakfast, and then I will commence the movement, baby. 

As I was getting up this morning, I received a phone call from a very dear friend of mine who I haven't heard from in over 2 years (Old Man Marv, for those of you in the know).  I'm so grateful for a Heavenly Father who knows exactly what I need; the call lifted my spirits immensely...I was really discouraged, especially last night, and now I feel so much happier. 


And Ryan, if I have the baby on your birthday, that is soooooooo not my fault!  :) 

...Is This It?

Maybe... I've had a lot of false labor this time around, but right now feels different in that I am up and moving around and the contractions are still coming. I blame Panera Bread and Target. :)

All the other contractions have been sporadic and have stopped once I got out of bed. These seem to be pretty consistent at 7-10 minutes apart. Mom thinks it's the real thing, so we had Braden's mom stop by on her way home from the temple just now and pick Jenna up. It seems so final to have someone be watching my child because I think I'm in labor!! So yeah, I hope it's not another false start, although it will be nice for Jenna to see her Grandparents E. :) Thanks to Mom E. for taking care of Jenna!

Further bulletins as events warrant. I've been advised to quit counting and go rest. I was also advised to eat something a little lighter than chicken cordon bleu, but I ignored that. Perhaps I will regret it later. :) I just don't feel like soup, what can I say?

Contraction

I just said, "Mom, I think I'm having a contraction right now.  Come feel!"  So she did, and then Jenna came over and felt my stomach, too!  She is so funny.  She just doesn't want to be left out, even though she has absolutely no idea why we were manhandling my basketball belly.  :)



NO NEWS!!  I'm not going into labor.  I take contractions with a grain of salt these days, seriously.  We will let people know if anything serious is happening, which is not the case right now. 

Jenna - 9 Months

Jenna Video

No News!

Not much to report here, except that I am more miserably miserable.  Sorry to those who I haven't gotten back to yet...I am a lump on a log who lays everywhere and sleeps every minute I can. 

I have decided that exerting myself in hopes of inducing labor only seems to wear me out and cause contractions at night that keep me up and don't go anywhere.  I had some last night after walking around and around our ghetto WalMart, and they seemed to be progressing, but then no dice.  I haven't had any since I got up this morning.  And let me tell you that it was extremely difficult to get up this morning, since I was up at 6am.  Braden gave me a blessing of comfort, which was sorely needed.  I actually asked for it when I thought today might be the day, but it's looking like that's not going to be the case.  I have to say, Katie is probably pretty uncomfortable, too.  I mean, there's just no more room, and it leads to her trying to stretch, thus making me more uncomfortable.  There is really no position that I can get into that is comfortable for me.  I can't even be at the computer for very long, because my back hurts so badly.

I'm thinking that any pregnancy posts from here on out (just like recent ones) are going to be pretty depressing.  Sorry.  I'm so done with being big and luggy.

Politics Invades A Little Good News

Braden here for a drive-by shooting:



Bang


Bang

Who Knew?

We've long known that Jenna is an amazing baby, but who knew that she was so strong?

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Ellen And Dennis Quaid Starbucks Prank

I laughed so hard at this one! I really like Dennis Quaid; he seems really down-to-earth.

So in trying to come up with a good birthday e-card to send to someone today, I came across the Jib-Jab sendables site. I had always known Jib-Jab for their political cartoons, but who knew that they had a video of one of Ryan and Vicki's many dance practices during the time that they "had been practicing practically every day" leading up to their wedding?

Click play below for this "A Little Good News" Exclusive story:

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News On The Prego Front

*If you don't want to read details about my prego-ness, then read no further.  :)

Yesterday's midwife appointment found me now at about 3cm dilated, and the midwife semi-stripped the membranes, except that there wasn't really much to do on that front, since my body is pretty much ready.  Everything's in position, and the cervix is anterior and very soft...essentially, we're just waiting for nature to kick in and do its thing. 

Last night I had some contractions about 10 minutes apart on several different occasions, since I wake up every 2 hours or so these days, give or take.  I'm not sure if I slept through some, or if they stopped while I slept a little bit.  They weren't extremely painful or anything, just a little more than mildly uncomfortable.  Braden at one point was feeling Katie move, and all of a sudden I was like, BE GENTLE, BE GENTLE!  And Braden was like, "Are you sure you're not having a contraction?", and it was at that point that I realized that's what it was (I think they had just started).  But then when I got up this morning, I didn't have any more contractions.  I may have had some throughout the day today, but nothing consistent or close enough together to warrant any real attention.

Speaking of last night's contractions, which I obviously hoped would actually, you know, GO somewhere, the following conversation took place a little bit after I got up this morning:

Ker: So did these contractions do anything, or what?
Mom: Well, remember the midwife said that [stripping the membranes] can sometimes cause contractions that don't go anywhere.
Ker: That's dumb. 

In other news, we did a drive-by (not shooting) of the hospital where I will have Katie and managed to get in to take a tour of the birthing center.  The tour was not anything to write home about; it was kind of like, here's a bed that you'll be in until you have the baby, and then you'll go down one floor for postpartum recovery.  Okay, got it.  Not much to it.  :)  We then went down to Admitting, and I filled out the forms for pre-registration, which will save time when I'm actually in labor.  I guess when I do go into labor, we either go to Admitting if it's regular hours, and the ER if it's after hours.

I'm praying that we can get this party started!

Happy 18 Month Day!!

Jenna is 18 months old today. So technically, her first Sunday in nursery would be this coming Sunday. But no. We snuck her at 16 1/2 months because we were both getting callings...and no one in the nursery cared or made a fuss at all that she wasn't 18 months. Score!

I can't believe that my little babe is growing up so fast.

How on earth did she go from this:


to this?


We love you, Jenna!!

——
The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow,
for children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

-Ruth Hulburt Hamilton-

Untagged Tag

Hope you don't mind me stealing this, Donna.  :)

20 years ago...

1. I was in 4th grade
2. A classmate of mine accidentally stabbed me in the arm with a pencil as we were switching classrooms...you can still see the graphite in my arm
3. I used to swing some boys in my neighborhood around and around (holding onto their hands) in a circle

10 years ago

1. I was almost 3 months into my graphic design AA program in Arizona
2. I believe I had just moved out of my Jack Mormon roommate's condo and was much happier in my new apartment
3. I was working at Macy's as a "sign team member" early in the mornings

5 years ago

1. Yuck.  This was a bad year for me.  Really bad.  I was engaged to a...let me be nice and call him a low-down dirty dog scoundrel of a guy
2. I was in my last year at Kent State (transfer student) finishing up my bachelor's degree
3. My roommate at the time was by far the one I got along best with of all the roommates I've ever had (except for Braden, of course)

3 years ago

1. I was enjoying newlywedded bliss with my hubbin!
2. I was in my last year of grad school
3.
I was working as a graduate assistant in the College of Arts & Sciences on campus...free tuition, baby!

1 year ago

1. We had just decided to move into Braden's brother's place to help them out while they were trying to sell it
2. I had Jenna's first eye doctor appointment scheduled for Halloween, when we were told she needed glasses.
3. I had finished up an onsite freelance assignment up north at the end of September...and I missed my Jenna and Braden so much!

This year

1. I've pretty much been prego the whole year...looking forward to not being prego anymore  :)
2. We moved 30-35 minutes north and are now just down the road from where Braden works
3. I got called to the Primary Presidency

Yesterday

1. We put 100 miles on the car looking at cheap, cheaper and cheapest minivans
2. I saw my midwife and found out that I'm 2cm dilated and 50% effaced
3. I missed my chance to nap while I was at my appointment because my midwife was running behind

Today

1. We both had bad tastes in our mouths from slick "owners" of "great, reliable" minivans!
2. I drove at night in the pouring rain for 40 minutes or more to get to my Primary Presidency meeting
3. I asked to use the bathroom during the meeting, and everyone laughed.  I don't know why that's so funny?  :)  Nope, can't hold it for an hour and a half these days, sorry (I also found out I don't have to teach Sharing Time this month because of the Primary Program...woohoo!!)

Tomorrow

1. I will take a much-needed break from being in the car...I'm wiped out
2. Jenna and I will hang out and watch Sesame Street together
3. I'll wait with Jenna by the door when Daddy gets home so we can be so glad and give him big kisses!  (How corny is that, but it's true!)  :)

Appointments, Appointments

So I think I've mentioned before that I go about once a month to a pregnancy center about 30-35 minutes away.  They give one-on-one parenting education classes for free, and then you get vouchers that you can trade for new or used maternity/baby stuff in their baby boutique.  You also get vouchers for reading parenting pamphlets or doing the homework after each parenting class.  I have my annoyances about the place, but for the most part, I meet with an awesome counselor/teacher, and I don't have to deal with the annoying parts unless I'm having an ultrasound (which I had with both Jenna and Katie).  And, quite honestly, they have saved us so much money on baby things that I doubt we can ever repay them in full.

Anyway, this morning I had to make a couple of adjustments to my schedule this week, because the Portland trip wiped me out, and I'm not really wanting to go travel in the car some more, even if it's a couple of days away that I would have to.  I actually stayed home from the E family gathering last night because I wasn't up to more traveling and sitting.  So...I called the pregnancy center to cancel my appointment for later this week.  Well, apparently, it wasn't even scheduled, even though I specifically told the lady to schedule it a few weeks ago.  I don't know what's going on with that, but whatever; I just didn't want it to look like I blew off the appointment, because 1) it's rude, and 2) you get penalized by not being able to come in for a couple of months.  So, okay, looks like I didn't need to call, although I would have been really upset to go all the way down there in a couple of days and have them tell me I didn't have anything scheduled!  But, luckily, no harm done. 

So the director of the center gets on the phone with me to "explain" the situation (it didn't make sense...), and then she says that we'd better go ahead and schedule my appointment for after I have the baby, since the counselor I always meet with is pretty booked up.  I tell her my due date of October 24th, and the conversation proceeds as follows:

Director: So how about the 30th?
Ker (what the crap???): ...of October??
Director: Yes.
Ker: Um, no way!!  How about a month after the baby's born?
Director: A month?(!!)  Okay...how about November 20th?
Ker: That'll do just fine.

Okay, so I get that maybe some people recover pretty quickly after giving birth...but 6 days???  That just astounded me.  And I could tell that she was taken aback by my desire to wait a month before coming in.  I have several reasons for doing this.
1) I had a very difficult and long postpartum recovery period with Jenna
2) I have absolutely no idea how this labor and delivery will go, let alone the postpartum recovery
3) I want to give myself enough time to rest and adjust to having two kids
4) Let's face it; this time of year is prime time for people to get sick, and I want Katie to build up her immune system a bit before taking her out where tons of snot-nosed kids have been (and there are a lot of little kids in and out of there)! 

I don't know, maybe I'm "extreme", but that's just how I feel about it.  And I do know that I will have to take Katie to certain appointments pretty soon after having her, but that's pretty much doctor's appointments for her health and well-being.  Parenting education, while great and necessary, is not so essential that I'm going to go that soon!

...6 days???

Guess Who's Back, Back Again

Guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back....duh da duh da dum dum

Anyway, we are!  We got back yesterday from my brother's wedding in Portland.  It was a very nice ceremony and reception, and we got some great pictures that we have been forbidden to post until Ryan gives the go-ahead (which will not be until after their honeymoon).  So...the masses shall have to wait to see how dashing he was and how beautiful Vicki looked.  We had a little bit of a window between rain and more rain, and Braden was able to get some nice pictures both in the temple atrium and right outside the temple.  I don't think I'd ever been to the Portland temple before Friday; it's beautiful!  It reminds me of the San Diego temple, which is my second favorite (not that I've been there, but from the pictures I've seen, it's gorgeous). 

After the wedding, a bunch of us went to Sweet Tomatoes, which is a buffet place that I thought was only in Arizona.  I absolutely love the caesar salad there, and I hadn't had it since 1999, so I ended up giving myself some wicked heartburn from eating so much of it.  I discovered the heartburn after we went back to Vicki's Mormon mom's place to take a nap after eating....hoooooooh, boy!  It was actually the first heartburn I've experienced in pregnancy, and I have more than a sneaking suspicion that it was because I ate way too much, and there is no more room for big meals!!  I ended up having bad heartburn again that night, but that was from spicy buffalo chicken, which was at Shari's, where we went after the reception.  I still find it hard to believe that in a 15 page menu, I could not find a single thing I wanted to eat.  I apologized to the waitress several times because I took so long to order. 

Anyway, the ring ceremony was at 6pm, and it was so nice.  It was great to get to listen to some of Vicki's family.  Unfortunately, Jenna was the most talkative I've ever seen her, or maybe it was because there was no background noise to make her not seem so loud.  My goodness!!!  Braden covered her mouth, told her to whisper, gave her various cards (Costco, credit) to play with, took her to the back of the room, out of the room, all to no avail.  She has just been such a chatterbox lately; it's like this explosion of words that she can't hold in.

The gym was decorated so beautifully for the reception.  I loved the wedding cake; it was simple but gorgeous.  Ryan and Vicki danced their "first dance" to Loreena McKennitt (not sure what the song is called; this song is the only one I know by her, but it's a different one).  They then had a couple of toasts, read by Mom and Vicki's mom on behalf of Ryan's sorta twin Ty and Vicki's twin sister, respectively.  Then they cut that beautiful cake!!  Such a shame, but I *guess* it had to be done.  :)

Braden and Jenna weren't feeling well, so after eating, we went back to our hostess' house and crashed.  We can always tell when Jenna is sick, because she actually wants to cuddle with us.  She actually fell asleep on our bed (unheard of), but I kicked her out after a few minutes, because holy loud breather.  I also am just not a fan of starting a "I want to sleep in Mommy and Daddy's bed" trend at 18 months, even though I know that one time won't necessarily lead to anything like that.  However, the bed wasn't big enough for all of us anyway, so it's a moot point. 

I have more to post about Vancouver, and what we did there on the way to Portland and back, plus the good old "gee, I'm wishing my prego body was able to handle the trip better than it has so far!"  That post will have to wait for now, because it's time to hit the sack.  Good night, everybody!

General Conference Activity Packet For Children

I wish this had been around when I was a kid watching Conference!  Heck, I'll probably use it now to help me pay attention...  :)