Do you know...

How Hard...
it is...

to photograph...

two children together?

Wow, the Christmas card is going to be interesting this year!

:)

One Week Old!

Porter's Birth Story...

I know some of you have been waiting a week to read Porter's birth story so here goes...

I had an appt on Thursday before Porter was born and was told I was 4 cm, nearly completely effaced and the head was engaged. My doctor thought I wouldn't make it past the weekend without delivering but scheduled an appt for the next Wednesday just in case I hadn't delivered. I went home and we went about our business and I still was only have a few contractions here and there. Saturday morning I think I had three or four contractions but nothing to start timing. We enjoyed a lazy Saturday...Kit & Henry ran to Lowe's and I finished cleaning a few things here and there. During Henry's nap I ran to Kohl's and did a little Fall clothes shopping for H and came home in time to leave shortly to head north and pick up my mom. She was able to come down with some family of my cousins so we said we would pick her up at my cousins house which is an hour away. Right before we hopped in the car, I had a contraction. And, once we started down the interstate, they were coming regularly...every five minutes, lasting one minute and intense! But, after getting out of the car after arriving they subsided. We decided to quickly head back home just in case they came on again, we wanted my mom and H to be settled. Once again, shortly after hitting the road, they started up again...every five minutes, lasting one minute. We were almost home when they stopped completely and I was still feeling good. So, I showed my mom a few of my lists and where things were just in case we had to head to the hospital in the middle of the night...I remember I gave H an extra long hug and kiss at bedtime and was so glad I did...

We went to bed about 10 30p and at the time, I wondered if I didn't have a slow water leak but it was very minimal, so we just went to bed to try and get some sleep. About 2 30a I woke up noticing even more and at that time knew my bag of water had ruptured. I called the office and right away the on call doc returned my call and recommended that we headed on into the hospital. But, knowing that I wasn't wanting to do an epidural gave me the okay to hang out at home a bit but definitely wanted us to be at the hospital by 7 30a. Well, after I hung up the phone, I tried to go back to sleep but the excitement was too much. I knew that my baby would be delivered that day, on Sunday, for sure! Shortly after I laid down, Kit woke up and by 4am we decided to head to the hospital since we weren't getting any rest anyway and we were anxious to get the show on the road! So, Kit hopped in the shower and I finished packing my bag and writing my mom a note that we were leaving. It was about 5 am
It was strange driving to the hospital with ZERO contractions...when I walked into Labor & Delivery they really didn't believe that I was there to have a baby and quite frankly, I couldn't either. The whole process was really slow and laid back since I was having no contractions. The nurse checked me and I was at 6 cm at about 7am. Around 7 30a my doctor arrived and we agreed that since I was positive for a ruptured bag of water that we needed to start the process...so, they started a slow IV drip of Pitocin...that wasn't until about 8 45a. The Pitocin is a pretty intense drug and what I experienced with it reminded me of what it was like when I was at 9-10 cm with Henry so it took alot of focus and me reminding myself to stay calm knowing I had to get from 6-10cm and I knew I still didn't want an epidural. The pictocin was alot more intense than my labor with Henry and it actually made me nauseated so they had to bump the meds back for a while but at that point, my body kicked in and started contracting on it's own. Around 10 30a I was complete and ready to push. I pushed for just about an hour as Porter was born at 11 38 a. I have to give my husband a huge shout out. He did such a great job this time and was a super excellent coach! He was actually cheering me on (not sipping juice like last time!;) and was able to shout out, "It's a BOY!" when Porter arrived. The doctor and nurses had a lot of fun guessing all morning on what the baby would be so we were ALL anxious to know by 11 38 a :).

For someone who was so active during my pregnancy, Porter came out without crying and to me looked very pale. It made us both very nervous but the doctor said that not only did Porter have a short umbilical cord but, it was wrapped around his neck. They laid him on my chest (Which they didn't do with Henry because of his delivery) which was an awesome experience but shortly I was asking them to take him to get checked about because I was really wanting to hear him cry. The nurses and doctors checked him all out and was concerned about his blood sugar but in the end they determined he was just stressed from the cord but was perfectly healthy. Meanwhile, when they were checking him out, I had a small complication of excessive bleeding so poor Kit was back and forth between the two of us for a while. Eventually after more blood loss, I was given some meds and we were held up in labor and delivery for alot longer than I was with Henry being monitored continually by the sweet nursing staff. They also kept checking Porter's blood sugar but it was always within normal range.

Finally, at 3 00p, we were able to switch floors and head to postpartum which I received "extra special treatment" for the next 24 hours before being cleared as "normal".

We enjoyed the time to relax in the hospital and spend time with Porter, but we were definitely anxious to get home and see our Henry.

But, the morning of our dismissal, the rounding Nurse Prac came into our room and said she heard a heart murmur on Porter. She then refused discharge for Porter until seen by the Pediatric Cardiologist. So, we had to wait from 11:00a to 4:00p with nothing to do but pray for Porter. At 4:00p the nicest, sweetest, experienced Pediatric Cardiologist from the Children's Hospital came over and declared Porter perfectly healthy and normal! He saw no need for further testing and sent us home!

We are so thankful for God's hand of protection on both of us and are so thankful for the sweet blessing Porter is to our family. We are now a family of four! :) :)

Henry is adjusting well and for the most part, doesn't act like anything has changed. He'll walk by and ask if Porter is stinky or if he cries, will grab the pacifier. I think right now he is enjoying time with his Memaw and is focused on her right now. And, Kit has been off all week so of course they've been doing alot of boy things around the house :).

I am feeling great! We've been going on walks, hitting the outlets, running some errands here and there and making sure I am caught up on sleep.

Porter is doing so well! He eats every three hours during the day and about 4-5 hours at night. Last night I only got up once in the middle of the night!

Porter has an appointment on Tuesday so I am anxious to see how much he weighs...he is already getting a little more chub on those cheeks!

:)

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday, Aunt Amber!

(Trust me...they were excited!) ;)

Bath Time!

Here are a couple of pics during Porter's first "sponge bath" at home. Something unique to Porter is the spot on the right side of his head. That isn't a bald spot but rather all that light hair is pure blonde (it's hard to see in pics..but noticeable face to face). We are very interested to see what his hair color will be or maybe it'll stay dark and that will be his "trademark"... :)

Happy Friday!

The squirmer...this is what he did in utero

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I spy with my little eye...

While at the park this morning, we always stop and visit the train! Check out what I spotted this morning that I don't remember seeing before... :)

Morning at the Park...

This morning we decided to take our first outing with the two boys and it went really well!! Of course, it does take alot longer to get ready to leave the house... :) We headed to the park to let Henry slide, swing and all of us to enjoy some fresh air. We had a successful morning! :)

My three boys walking into 'kidsville'
This is what Porter did the entire time :)

Poppa & Henry going down the BIG slide

Henry went down all the little slides like a pro

The little swings were too HOT from the Georgia sun, so Henry swung with me!

Talking a moment to cool off

All three boys hanging out

Henry leaning in for a kiss...he has big such a great helper!!

sorry it didn't rotate...Porter checking out what he looked like in utero! :)

Henry & Porter:: Comparison

Henry

Porter

Henry

Porter

Henry

Porter

Henry

Porter

Henry

Porter

Wordless Wednesday

Porter is cool but his "timer" is better! :)

Big Brother, Little Brother

Shortly after we arrived home, Porter had a suprise for us and Henry got to "help"! He was fascinated to say the least... :)

Next we all settled in by Porter and Henry opening their presents they picked out for each other. Henry loved helping to open Porter's gift and tell him "bear"...
Henry was SURPRISED Porter already had time to shop and thinks he did a GREAT job with knowing he liked tractors already!! ;)

This has kept him SO busy!! :)

Leaving the hospital

After thinking we'd be leaving first thing in the morning, we didn't get discharged until about 4 30p.m. and we didn't arrive home until 6 p.m. We had a few hoops to jump through that were unexpected, but we thank God that Porter got the all clear and we were finally able to go home! It feels SO good to be home!

Introducing!!!!!

Born September 5, 2010 at 11:38am at Northside Hospital in Dunwoody, Ga. He weighed 7lb 10oz and measured 20in long.

Happy Birthday, Gimma!!

39 weeks!

39 week appt

So at my doctor appt this morning I was 4 cm, nearly completely effaced and the head is "extremely engaged" ha! All vitals looked great and we continue to wait to meet this baby! We talked about some other options if I don't go into labor over the weekend but we'll continue to play it by ear and are praying that I'll go into labor on my own again.

I am SO thankful for friends...friends who treat Henry like family. All he has talked about the past two days was getting to see "Tay, Nurner & OOee" (Tate, Turner & Zoe). So, when he woke up this morning and I told him he was getting to go play with them, a BIG smile popped on his face and when I dropped H off at Tate's house, he just said "see ya" and waved bye and ran to Zoe's pink kitchen that he LOVES and they immediately began playing. No problem whatsoever. It's SO nice to know that he'll be staying with them...he is smitten!

The post in which I don't win Mother of the Year

So... you ever have one of those days where you wake up and just feel like being "fun"? This morning, I woke up and felt like making it an "extra great day"...you know what I mean? Last night I spent the evening completely detailing the carpets and hardwoods, and there wasn't a speck of clutter or dirty dish in the sink...which always makes me extra happy! So, I thought to myself..."I should be a really fun mom today...just Henry and I...who knows how many days we have left until the baby arrives!" So, we started off our day lesisurely and I let Henry pick his own breakfast...He wanted cereal, raisins and goldfish with orange juice...doesn't sound bad to me..comin' right up! We needed to go to the store but decided we should go first thing that way we could squeeze something fun in before naptime. So, we headed to the store and Henry was great. There he was holding my list and pen...I'd grab an item off the shelf, I'd tell him what is was and point to it on the list and he'd concentrate hard and work on "scratching" off that item from the list. We made a great team...no melt downs, no fits. Perfect! Grocery done. Check that off the list.

After the store, we went to Truett's (Chic Fil A). I was "fun" mom and got H some chocolate milk to go with his nuggets...

We headed home and he ate while I unloaded groceries. Once we were both finished with lunch, I told him all about how we had to go bye-bye again so we could go see some animals. "Unninnnamals"? He'd say with a smile on his face..."Yes, Sir! just you and me!" So, we load up and off we go to visit Noah's Ark. Henry has an awesome schedule now that he is down to one nap... I LOVE IT! So, we get there and he sees animals...we are totally excited! See picture below. This was him looking at the monkeys and right before the "Accident" happened...

I snap this picture of Henry. Next I'd try to explain in detail but to be honest, I still really don't exactly know HOW it did happen but all this to say...the stroller fell over. WHAT?! The stroller fell over??! I know. I felt awful. miserable. mommy guilt. stomach churned. adrenaline rush. oh me. oh my. The poor dude. I don't blame him if he has stroller phobia from now on. His leg is okay and his right arm had a red mark on it but it's the right side of his face that looks bad :(. It wasn't that his face hit the ground as much as it was the bar on the side of the stroller that he made impact with...poor guy! So, all this to say that "Fun Day" I had planned...out the window! Also, it's been "cooler" here but at noon it's still not "cool" so when I thought of this the morning it was 85 but at noon it was back to 100. So, on the way home I swing by McDonalds and got him one of their new smoothies since we were dying from the heat and because I still feel awful. Came home. Gave the kid some tylenol because he is getting even MORE teeth in and probably had a headache and body ache. Ugh. I still can't believe it. :(

Let's just say he walked the rest of the way... :)

Wordless Wednesday