Hello Everyone,
I bet your thinking, oh, its baby # 2, Cathy isn’t writing her blog anymore. WRONG! I am writing I am just much slower to edit and publish. So, here goes 5 months later: the birth story, some firsts and some “day in the life of” moments. I hope you enjoy and stay tuned as I will continue to update as I can. Even it if is five months late, at least I am still writing. Love you all, and thanks to all for being part of my blog and our boys lives!
Today (Well this was actually Saturday August 16th):
I got peed on twice by
my four week old; went to a swim birthday party for Bella; brushed my teeth for
the first time at 2:30pm; ate breakfast while a four week old nibbled at my
boob; nursed in the mothers room at Babies R Us, listened to my husband sing
"Apples and Bananas" while my toddler danced in front of us both. And
I was also able to squeeze in watching one episode of "Orange is the
New Black".
And, this only accounts
for about 20% of my day.
I bet many of you
remember these days and some do not, but I must confess that I was quite a
wreck during Lincoln's newborn days that I can't remember specific moments that
I feel like I should be able to remember.....so this time I'm trying to
remember as much as I can about both boys during this time that I will never
ever get back.
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I am extremely grateful Lincoln is adapting well. I did learn however that Lincoln is not the biggest fan of sharing his grandma with Wrigley.....he has his moments, but he is definitely a grandma’s boy. When Lincoln met Wrigley for the first time, he was able to spend a good amount of time at the hospital with us which was nice, because I missed him so much! I had never spent a overnight without him so was a little (actually a lot) lost without my little fire cracker. So, my mom set up a reading corner for Lincoln in the hospital room. I must detail the following moment: Grandma was reading to Lincoln. Wrigley starts to cry. Grandma tells Lincoln, I need to get your brother, he's crying. Lincoln says, "NO Ammah, Papa (aka Grandpa) get Wrigley, you stay here!" And, so it begins. I think we forgot to mention to him that his Grandma would be shared too.
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Now on to nursing, Wrigley is not quite the marathon nurser as his brother was. His growth spurts seem to take up the daytime hours rather than the nighttime. He latched like a champ at his first nursing session; he took about 4 minutes to get comfy at the boob, whereas Lincoln took 0 seconds to become comfortable, he was boob ready. But, Wrigley does take more time than usual...usually 15 minutes on each side on average, sometimes less and in the mornings triple that time. I just thank God that he's a strong nurser because breastfeeding is a gift that is very close to my heart that I have always been determined and dedicated to provide "líquid gold" to my children. (Update, [12.23.14] W is still nursing like a champ and Momma is also a mega producer with a lot of extra milk that I know need a deep freezer. If you know of a sale or someone giving away a deep freezer, please let me know! I don’t want my liquid gold to go to waste. I would even consider donating some of my milk to a local mom in need, not thru a milk bank, as I currently do not have time to do the screenings required, but I am hoping to make time, as I have a lot of extra breastmilk).
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- On Friday July 18th despite our plans, I went into labor at my
parents house at 2 am with full contractions!
- I was hesitant to leave to the hospital as I wasn't sure if I was
being a wimp or if the contractions were real.(I didn't quite feel like I
was dying as many people told me I would feel like.)
- At 2:30 am, we were greeted by my brother Mark arriving home from a
night out. He was "left" at the bar, so his female friend
graciously drove him home in the largest rain storm the City had seen in
several years.
- The rain storm drove the power to go out which caused the alarm
system to turn on, which in turn awoke my father. He trickled into the
scene wearing his nighttime attire of only underwear, while Mark's female
friend was moments away. I let Dad know I was in labor and Mark made a new
friend. Father was not alarmed with the scene and was fast asleep.
- Mother awoke and entered the scene alarmed as can be.
"Here", she said, "take these, your gonna need
them".....As she covered me in a tiny raincoat, and handed me a
pillow, she said it was for me to scream into during the contractions. She
followed with a blanket to keep me warm and a stuffed animal to place at
my back for padding. God bless her!
- Meanwhile my brother wanted to document the scene so he started
videotaping from his cell phone.
- Mark also wanted to carry me out the door, but instead he agreed to
walk behind me as he held the umbrella over my head.
- Yes, we drove to the hospital in the middle of the biggest summer
rain storm!
- A 15 minute drive took us 40 minutes.
- In between yelling into the pillow as each contraction passed, I
managed to tell Chris to take his time and drive safely.
- My nurse was like a drill sergeant, no sympathy whatsoever.
- Was not able to take any drugs until I went to the operating table,
so it was me and my contractions all natural! So, Wrigley can't say I
didn't work hard for him!
- I was nervous as my birth plan was not a plan after all.
- During contractions, I was apologizing to Chris for making him wake
up early and him not getting a full nights rest.
- I was worried that my Mom would have to drive in the rain storm and
wake up Lincoln earlier than scheduled.
- I apologized to the doctor for having to drive in the rain storm to
come deliver me.
- My OB did not deliver me, but someone in the practice did.
- Upon arrival to the hospital, I was asked to show my Drivers
License to Security..Seriously !?!?
- Chris had to go back to the Jeep to get our ID's and I didn't see
him until 40 minutes later, which seemed like an eternity. Mind you I was
in full labor.
- The power went out in the hospital due to the storm, so the AC was
not working! I was sweating, my mouth was dry, and I was in complete pain!
Plus all the doctor and or assistants were sweating through their
glasses.
- Wrigley was delivered at 5:44am!
Post pardum has proven
a tad less challenging this time around. Yes, we did spend his first week in
and out of the peds.office and Methodist Children's Hospital/Kids Express
because of low Bilriubin aka Jaundice and then his Circumcision on Day 7, but
we made it all work. His Bili numbers rose and we were cleared thank God after
day 8!
I am the sole milk
provider as you know, but this time I pumped as soon as I got home from the
hospital, so I could have Chris or my mom give him a bottle when I was too
tired. I am making more milk this time around, so should have plenty for my
return to work on September 15th. (and I did!)
Preview of my first
month as the mother of a toddler and newborn:
12 days old, 9lbs; 2 weeks,5 days 10lbs; 7 weeks (according to our scale, its digital and he lays on it) 13 lbs; 3 months 29 days, 14lbs 7 oz; 5 months 16lbs 12 oz
12 days old, 9lbs; 2 weeks,5 days 10lbs; 7 weeks (according to our scale, its digital and he lays on it) 13 lbs; 3 months 29 days, 14lbs 7 oz; 5 months 16lbs 12 oz
1 week:
- 3 days old- We visited church for the first time when Wrigley was
three days old.
- we visited, Chic k Fil A, McDonald's, and Oblate Cafe, because we
had no choice, really, our toddler needed to play and between appointments
we had to eat!
- On Wrigley's First Week anniversary we went to The Twig Bookstore
for story time and all of us dressed in Batman attire.
- Lincoln's Padrino’s, Evette, David (Jude) were so kind and took
Lincoln for the majority of the day on a zoo date! Relief for us because
we spent almost two hours at the hospital getting Wrigley’s last check up
for jaundice. Also, Craig and Chelsea meet Wrigley for the first time on
Week 1.
- On Wrigley’s 8 day anniversary we went to Rosario's North to
celebrate and both boys slept the entire time (well it took some rocking
for Lincoln to get to sleep, but he eventually crashed out, poor baby was
exhausted!
- 11 days young, Main Street Pizza, and He had his grocery store
debut at Whole Foods
2 weeks:
- We attended the “Latch On” event, Wrigley was the youngest nursling in attendance. This
was such an inspiring and motivating event to see over 240 women
breastfeeding all at once. Touched my
heart that I am able to be part of this group.
This event was held to kick off World Breastfeeding Week, very inspiring. - 7/31-We visited the San Antonio Shoe
- 8/9/14, 1st family gathering, Alyssa's College send off at Tia
Mache’s house
- August 11th -First 4 hour stretch and has not done again since and
he is 7 weeks [Update 12.23.14 – He is 5 months and 4 days and not
sleeping thru the night. He’s done a 6 hour stretch once and the norm is
2-3 hours or less each night stretch. Lincoln slept thru the night at 8
weeks, but who is comparing…?]
- 8/13/14, 1st hotel stay at La Quinta Downtown as we had
a free certificate to use. Thank you Millie, April, John Mayli, Jazzy,
Lyla, Lauren and Lillian for joining us on this summer outing. Our Lincoln
had a blast and so did we.
3 weeks
·
Went
to Kids Day in Travis Park and met Fatima. Mommy and Daddy had a beverage with
Fatima at St. Anthony Hotel. It was super super hot, but Wrigley survived.
- 3 weeks, 2 days- We went to an actual mass, we would have went
earlier but Chris' car battery died so we didn't quite make it to mass on
his 2nd week.
- Mommy invited Aunt Jen, Erika, Emme and Baby Joe over for a play
date with L (I'm noting this because with L at this point, I just wanted
to roll into a ball and hide.) Thank you Jen and Erika for coming over, I
needed some girl time, eventhough I was nursing for 80% of your visit!
- Mommy’s follow up 3 week appointment was on 8/8/14 and I was
165lbs.
4 weeks
·
Attended
a four day bible school at a local Christian Church with Lyla. Also attended
Bella’s Birthday Party at the YMCA Thousand Oaks. Lincoln had a fantastic time
swimming with daddy.He's been to South Park Mall twice, a girl has to shop.
5 weeks
·
Met
Cousin Melissa Garcia
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·
First
plane ride to Chicago
7 weeks
·
Was
on vacation in Chicago and Momma’s wallet was stolen
·
First
Visit to Wrigley Field
8 weeks
·
Grandma
Carol and Poppa Mark came to visit.
·
Momma
went back to work at the Hotel Contessa
9 weeks
·
9/21/14-
Attended Mason’s 1st Birthday party (Thank you Nichole Gonzalez
for having us) Lincoln had a blast while Wrigley slept thru most of it.
- 9/21/2014- Signed up to run the alamo13.1 half marathon in March
2015. Who knows how much I will actually train for it, but at least I have
a goal.
10 weeks
·
Mommy
got really, really sick. She finally went to the doctor to get meds, but had a
rough weekend. Wrigley went into a sleep one hour only stretch and mommy got
really, really tired.
- OTHER- My total weight on delivery day was 186 lbs, I weighed 176
lbs on delivery day with Lincoln. So, I gained 10 more lbs total with
Wrigley. I currently weigh 165 lbs. (Now 168 at 7 Weeks pp) (12.23.14- I
am still 165 lbs.) I am the breastfeeding mother that keeps on her weight
for a while to help regulate the milk and my food brings me the energy to
produce milk. It took me about 7
months with Lincoln to get even close to normal weight.
As you can see, time
did not stand still this time around, we were forced to continue as usual. Likely,
because we have a toddler to entertain but also to keep my sanity.
With Lincoln, I think
staying home for those two weeks contributed to my “loopiness”. But, my
recovery with Lincoln was also much more intense.
This time post op was
painful, but I knew what to expect and how to manage which helped.
Stay tuned, we have a
vacation planned... yes a vacation, I am so excited. Hopefully, he is sleeping
longer stretches by that point. But, if he stays at the two-three hour
stretches, I will take it, as Lincoln would wake up every 30-45 minutes at
night!!!
Thanks for listening,
so much more to write, but this is a nice preview! Update, as you all
know, we did take our first vacation to Chicago when Wrigley was just six weeks
old. He did excellent on the plane ride and on the 7 day vacation. He is a
natural. I have more in store for the blog, but this is a good start. Merry
Christmas to all and to all a great December and January!