A Newborn and a Toddler

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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Lincoln has shown nothing but love for his little brother, he says "I love you brother" what feels like every five minutes, and enjoys licking/ kissing him. And of course, he at times is not as gentle as we would like, but he's learning. He doesn't realize when he goes in for a kiss with his entire 30lb body it can really take a toll on his brother. I've become a professional at playing referee with Lincoln as he goes in for kisses while I'm trying to nurse at the same time. 

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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And now for the birth story you've all been waiting for. I was scheduled for C-section at 8am on Friday July 18th.

• 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

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:

·         Family Photo Shoot at Picture People at Shoppes at La Cantera

• 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, 1^st 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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6 weeks

·         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 1^st 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!