Sam's First Week

Sam's first week of life was pretty eventful. He was able to meet Granny P. We took a trip to feed the ducks and to the Fort Sill Artillery Museum. (Tom wants to get him started early on history lessons). He sunbathed...a lot. He ate...a lot. He pooped...a ton. Slept...a ton. He's really a very easy baby and I'm hoping he stays that way. He loves being carried around in the Moby Wrap, being spoiled by kisses, and being swaddled. He sleeps like a champ when he's wrapped up tight and extra warm.

I find myself lost in another world when I'm looking at him...still in awe I have a beautiful son.

Meeting his Granny P (3 days old)

First doctor appt (3 days old)

My pretty flowers Tom had waiting for me when I got home from the hospital...love that sweet guy!

Soaking in some sunlight

The ducks literally swam away from us

I love this pic my mom took of me when I didn't know she was taking one! Holding my little bundle:) 

My Madeline

Pics with Grandma before she left:( And yes, we cried at the airport.

It's been a long week for everyone! 

I love that newborns can sleep anywhere and everywhere! Makes life easier;)

Our Hospital Stay and Bringing Sam Home

So after Sam was born, he had a few small issues. I wasn't concerned because he was a little guy for his gestation. The doctor and nurses call it SGA (small for gestational age). All of my babies have been little. (God bless you women who deliver babies larger than 7 lbs because I wanted to vacuum this baby out myself and he was tiny!) Ella was only 6 lbs 1oz and Madeline was only 6 lbs 10 oz. Maybe my uterus only allows for babies to grow that size. I have no idea.

But in the wee early hours after he entered this world, we had our first scare. He wouldn't really wake up for his 3am feeding (only his 3rd one of his life). I called the nurse after seriously trying for an hour and she came in and checked his temperature and heart rate. Then she called another nurse in to do the same to double check her own work. Apparently, he couldn't keep his body temp up and it fell to 95 degrees (while wearing a sleeper and being double swaddled with a hat). His heart rate was only 80 when they want newborns to be at least 120. They whisked him away and told me he needed to be monitored in the nursery for a few hours. I felt helpless. Come to find out he needed an IV (imagine that little six pounder with an IV...oh heartbreaking) and they did all sorts of blood work and chest xrays. In the end, the dr said he was just fine. He was away from me for about five hours and I think I stayed awake wondering the entire time and imagining the worst.

See that little dot in the middle of his hand? That's where his IV was put in. This pic was taken 10 days after!

Then after that scare, around midnight the next night, the nurse came in to do his vitals, footprints, and jaundice testing. Yeah, his levels were a bit high so in she walks with this giant tanning bed machine. After she's done setting it all up and leaves the room, Tom pops his head up from his deep slumber in that extra cozy chair/bed (sarcasm here) and says "what's up with the GTL machine?" (Jersey Shore...gym, tan, laundry) I laughed so loudly and honestly, it was exactly what I needed to hear. Neither of our girls really had jaundice issues so this was all new to me. I am a huge worry wart already and to add this to the mix...I needed some humor. Sam hated that tanning bed...his poor body shook from being uncomfortable and cold. I would have to unplug it and sit next to it every time he needed to nurse. Tom sat by it holding Sam's little leg trying to keep him warm and soothe him. Needless to say, I don't think any of us slept that night.

We were hoping to check out of the hospital by noon on Thursday, but Sam had to stay a little longer for more blood work for the jaundice. Thank goodness he passed and we were home by 7pm that night. Our longest post-baby hospital stay ever.

I swear my bed at home has never felt so comfortable before.

We were in and out of the hospital all weekend for bilirubin checks. And again on day 6. Finally his levels improved enough to where he didn't need his foot poked for any more blood work.

Pic 1: taking his heart rate Pic 2: Holding a heat pack to his foot to loosen the blood Pic 3: medic drawing the blood (btw he didn't get enough so another nurse came back in to poke him a second time!) I think he has ten pokes total on his feet:(

I don't know how parents cope when something is seriously wrong with their child and their health. I don't think I could handle seeing any of my children in pain or knowing there wasn't anything I could do to fix it. Watching Sam get his blood drawn over and over and seeing his little scab from the IV and his scabs on his feet...makes my heart hurt. I'm just very thankful it was all minor issues and we are thoroughly enjoying having him healthy at home with us:)

Some happier photos...

His little GPS tracker on his ankle. Ain't nobody taken our baby!

Tom's boss and his wife came to visit! 

He made Sam army official with his badge;)

Getting him dressed in his homecoming outfit.  

Waiting, waiting, waiting to be discharged.

Outside the hospital. All three of our babies were born here:)

Home Sweet Home

He got some extra love from his big sisters

She is so good with him...it's unbelievable. 

Meeting Sam

Such sweet baby brother lovin'! Ella and Madeline met Sam the day after he was born. It was a little late for them to come visit at the hospital the night he was born, but my mom did show them his picture and they both kissed him goodnight. She also said they screamed in delight when they heard the news of his arrival. They had been counting down the days forever. (and I am sure it seemed like forever in their minds!)

They donned their adorable Big Sister shirts made by my awesome sorority sister, Leah and walked into the hospital room. A bit timid, almost tip toeing, but with huge smiles on their faces. These girls were the proudest big sisters. It beamed from the bottom of their toes to the excitement in their big brown eyes. When they took turns holding him, my heart felt like it could burst from all the love it felt (or the thought of one of them dropping him!).

Looking at my three babies together, I felt fortunate. I felt more than blessed. And I felt like my little world just got a whole lot more colorful.

I love this picture of my mom meeting Sam. The tears in her eyes say it all. 

Our family of FIVE:) Love Madeline's face in this one

Ella stayed at the hospital all day. From 9-4 until she had to leave for dance. She couldn't get enough of Sam!

Just hanging out on the hospital bed with his sisters!

Welcome, Samuel Chase!

Our son, Samuel "Sam" Chase, entered this world on April 23, 2013 at 9:12 pm. We couldn't be more thrilled to have this little boy to add to our family. A family of five now we are and he seems to fit in pretty perfectly. Sam is a completely chill baby (so far) and the girls are absolutely loving having him in their lives.

As for Sam's birth story, here goes:

I woke up bright and early completely not ready to be induced and dreading every bit of the process. As much as I wanted to meet our son, I hated to force labor. We said goodbye to the girls and my mom, and Madeline made me cry because she didn't want me to go. I didn't either sweet girl;)  They checked us into our delivery room and explained how the inducing would go. They started an IV (after failed attempts) and hooked me and the baby up to the monitors. They did an ultrasound and Sam was showing to be sunny side up. Not ideal. After the nurse left the room, I looked at Tom and started to cry. Obviously being 41 weeks pregnant I was a little hormonal. But I just didn't picture labor like this at all. It's not what I wanted, and well, I guess my normal reaction to not getting my way is to cry. Tom comforted me and reassured me this was what was best for myself and the baby. I got my act together at that point and accepted the cards I was dealt.

The midwife came in at 9am and put a tab of Cytotec on my cervix to help soften it. At that point I was only 1cm and 50% and as she said a "-4 station" (you need to be a +3 to start pushing). She laughed at how high the baby still was (I however didn't share in her joy). The Cytotec needed to stay in for two hours with me laying down. I think Tom watched the news and I just stared at the clock. During those two hours the baby was going crazy. I was having contractions that I couldn't feel, but with each contraction the baby was trying to move away from the Cytotec and his heartbeat was very erratic at almost 190. After the two hours I was allowed to use the bathroom and the midwife checked my cervix. It didn't do anything. Still the same. But the tab of medication came out which made the midwife happy because poor Sam wasn't handling that stuff very well. They added Phenergan to my IV to help settle us both down and it ended up knocking me out within five minutes. I slept the majority of the afternoon because I wasn't allowed up anyway and oh my goodness that Phenergran really knocks you out!!

I was still hooked up to the monitors and the nurses were shocked that I continued to contract on my own throughout the afternoon. The contractions didn't hurt, but by 5:30 the nurse came in and said Sam's heart rate was settled and I could get up and use the bathroom. Thank god because I had to pee like no other. After that, I started to really feel the contractions and Tom decided to download a contraction app on his phone to time them himself. (They time them on the monitors, but the nurses didn't exactly come in very frequently to check on me. They knew I wanted a natural labor and I am sure didn't feel the need to bother me.) I labored on the birthing ball and I walked back and forth next to my bed (remember I was hooked up to an IV and monitors). At one point my wrist started to hurt and I looked down and my IV had moved and my wrist was completely swollen and filling with fluid. A nurse had to come in and start a new one on my other arm. (so much fun!)

With contractions about 1-4 minutes apart, I thought that labor was definitely beginning. But it wasn't hurting enough. I was still laughing with Tom and cracking jokes and texting friends. Finalllllllly the doctor came in at 8pm (I hadn't seen that man since the morning) to check me. I was 5cm and 80%. He asked if I wanted the epidural and I said no. I asked if they were going to start Pitocin and he said he could break my water instead to speed things up. Definitely SO weird to have your water broken. The flood gates opened, and I heard the Dr. tell the resident with him to "set the table up...she's going to go fast."  I sent my last text at 8:38pm to my friend Christy giving her a quick update. At that point I was still ok. But within seconds, I told Tom to take my phone and that this was the real deal. He was texting Bridget telling her I was a viking. And trying to rub my back telling me to think of rainbows and leprechauns. I think I told him to shut up and asked him what the hell was I thinking going natural again. I told the nurse I felt like I had to push. She put on gloves super fast and checked me...I was 8cm.

The doctor came in a few minutes later and told me I could start pushing on the next contraction. Say whaaaaat? I think the devil took over at that point and I lost my mind momentarily. I do remember  waiting for a contraction, just completely sweaty, telling the doctor that "I don't want to do this anymore" And I believe he asked me what I would be doing for birth control after this baby and I replied with "abstinence". See?  I can still joke even while pushing;) A few (like 6) pushes later and out came Sam at 9:12 pm. (the most pushing I have ever done with my babies, but definitely a quick labor)! He was a tiny, tiny guy at only 6 pounds 1.9 ounces and 19.7 inches. But he was perfect. Tom cut the cord and I held Sam in my arms completely relieved to have my son safe, sound, and healthy.

At the end of the day, I got the natural labor and delivery I wanted and most importantly, our sweet Sam.

I couldn't possibly be happier.

Saying goodbye to the belly and giving Sam a kiss!

Ready to meet our son!

I don't think he wanted to come out

So happy to have him in my arms

Tom posing him for pics already

Citadel graduate...   Class of 2035