Wake up baby!

The other night I was getting ready for bed and was ready to feed Carlos, but he was passed out and would not wake up for anything! Luke thought my attempts were funny so he filmed us. Here is the video.



He's been doing so much better about sleeping at night now though! He slept for 5 hrs straight last night! He just needs to work on going to sleep for the night before 1:30 am....and he loves to take long naps during the day too, but we're trying to cut them shorter so he does get tired at night.

~Nicole

oh little boys

So tonight Carlos decided it was time to initiate me into parenthood by peeing on me not once, but twice within 10 to 15 min the little stinker. For some reason the diapers just weren't catching the pee and he was just leaking all over. Here's a couple pics I took of him tonight (before I realized he had peed on me the second time and it soaked not only me, but it got on the couch too). He's my cute little cuddle bug :) I love him so much, even if he pees on me ha ha. I can't believe he will be one week old in 4 hours! This first week has just flown by! Hopefully we will get more settled by the time Ernie leaves on Monday so that both Carlos and I get plenty of rest so we can both be happy.  And a happy baby makes a happy Momma :D
 

 He's got his Daddy's feet :)

 He loves to be talked to!

~Nicole

My cute little man

Here's a video that Luke took of him the first night we were home from the hospital. he's such a handsome baby :)

He's here and oh so wonderful :)

He came, he came, he FINALLY came!  We are very happy to announce the arrival of Carlos Anthony Sullivan, born on April 21, 2010 at 1:43 am.  He weighed 7 lbs 7oz and was 19 in long!  I had Luke keep track of my labor and delivery experience so that I could share it with you all.  So here it goes!

I started having contractions on Tuesday morning at around 3:45 am and they had been between 5-10 min apart up to 9:30 am and then they started being 3-4 min apart until we went to the hospital at around 12:30 pm!!  Man do those things HURT!!  I was NOT a happy camper to say the least and things got worse before they got better.  When we got to the hospital they checked me and I was only at 3 cm, 75% effaced, -2 station.  They gave me the option to either stay in the triage and tough out the contractions in a bed until I was at a 4, go back home and wait it out or walk around the hospital for a couple hrs and then come back.  Being that it was about 2:30/3pm when they said this there was NO WAY we would go all the way home in traffic just to drive all the way back.  So walking it was.  We covered a little over a mile of ground walking around outside (up and down lots of hills) and got some lunch at the Subway there.  A couple hrs later we went back and when they checked me they told me I was still at a 3 so I sat there and waited out the contractions.  About an hour later they checked me again and I was finally at 4 cm, 90% effaced and -2 station.  This meant that I was admitted to Labor and Delivery at 5:30pm.  By then I had lost my mucous plug, but my water was still intact.  Once in the room I got an epidural (I had been laboring for about 16hrs by then and couldn't take the pain anymore).  Once it kicked in I was in heaven!  I'm really glad I got it.  I had a little issue with it though since it really numbed up my right side, but my left side didn't get quite as numb so they had to give me a couple extra doses to make it work.  Anyway, the doctor then broke my water at 6 pm and it was filled with meconium.  That meant that my little guy was under some stress so they hooked me up to some monitors and kept me on oxygen until I delivered him.  The next time they checked me was at 8:45pm and I was at 7cm with 90% effacement and at 0 station.  At about 10:55pm they checked me again and told me that I was at a 10 and 2 station.  Doctor said that I could start pushing soon and that he would be here shortly!!! :)

So from 11pm until 1:43am I pushed.  The first hour I pushed with every contraction, but that was causing the baby's heart rate to drop and have some trouble recovering so then the next hour or so they had me push with every other contraction (Thank the Lord for epidurals!!!).  At about 1:15 or so I was told I could push with every contraction and then at 1:43 he was here!!!  He had a good cry right when he came out and then they whisked him away to wipe him down and weigh him before giving him to me to start breastfeeding.  Oh the relief of having him here safe and sound!  To hear him cry and see him was amazing.  And that first time I held him was the BEST feeling in the WHOLE WORLD!  All the pain I went through was soooo worth it!  We still hadn't decided on a name (wouldn't until about 7 or 8 am the next day).  The nurse that was there for pretty much the whole time gave him his shots and a bath shortly after I nursed him.  She also got his footprints for us (he has his Daddy's feet!  they are so cute!!).  Her name was Deshka.  She was also helpful in getting me to get Carlos to latch on.  He did great on the first try!

 at the hospital

He is a very happy baby (when he's not starving that is).  That whole day he did alot of sleeping and eating as is normal for newborns to do.  He started playing favorites with which side he liked to feed on though the stinker.  That night was a rough one for me because he decided to cluster feed the whole night so I didn't get any sleep between 9 pm till around 6 am.  (That was only the beginning of my sleepless nights.  I get maybe about 4 hrs (give or take a couple) of sleep each day.)  Anyway, we were discharged from the hospital at about 2 pm on Thursday and have been doing pretty well.

on our way home from the hospital and snuggling his Poppa at home :)

 cuddle time with Daddy

 all clean after his first bath at home :)

We had a couple follow-ups with a lactation consultant and she said we were doing well.  The only problem I have now was something I didn't notice until later in the day on Saturday (after we got home from the appointment) that I have a small lump on the side of my breast that is red and very very sore.  It's gone down in pain though since I started pumping to help reduce my swelling.  I've been trying to have him eat on that side more too.  Saturday night really didn't help at all...it was the worst night so far...he would not be comforted for anything!  It took me running the sink water to calm him down enough to get him to latch and even then he was still pretty fussy.  Poor guy was having trouble from about 12 am until about 3 or 4 am and I was exhausted!  All I could do was cry because I felt like I was being a horrible mother for not being able to comfort my baby.  We finally got some sleep around 5 or 6 am though for at least one hour before he needed to be fed again (and was still pretty fussy).  So I pretty much got about 2 hrs of sleep.  He has been doing really well the last couple days though!  Eating and sleeping much better than he has in the last couple days that is for sure.  I actually got a 2 hr nap yesterday and about a 4 hr one today!!  I'm hoping this continues, but I know that there are probably more rough nights ahead as he gets older.

passed out after being fed :)

Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know that we are doing well considering a few bumps on the road :)  I love being his mom and wouldn't change it for the world.

~Nicole

COME OOOON BABY!

Still no sign of my little man wanting to come out to play yet :(  I had a doc appt today to check on me and the baby and we're both doing dandy (he's doing a little too dandy in my opinion...not wanting to come out the brat!).  I have a non stress test scheduled for this Friday morning to see if he's still doing alright.  If not then they will induce me that day, otherwise I have my induction scheduled for the 27th.  Here's hoping that I don't have to worry about any of that and he comes out before Friday.  Keeping my fingers crossed that he is kind to me and does just that :)  The doc was actually able to get to my cervix today (with some struggle mind you), but she says I'm still at about a 1 and tried to do the stripping.  We'll see if it helps any.  I have scheduled a maternity massage for tomorrow afternoon to hopefully help me out too.  I'm hoping she can do acupressure too (I'm willing to try almost anything to get this baby out at this point!).  Plus I need something to help me relax.  At least we know for sure that I will only be pregnant for just one more week if he doesn't come on his own.  That makes me feel much better :)  Anyway, other than my doc appt we haven't done too much today (or lately for that matter).  Ernie and I went to the Dole Plantation today and I got myself a pineapple float (soo goood!) and Ernie just got some ice cream with pineapple chunks.  We might go for a walk later too (as long as it is not super cloudy out like it has been the last couple of days).  I think the hardest part of this is for me to try to just be patient and relax.  I think I might soak in the tub tonight just to see if that helps me.  Cuz before I know it he will be here and my "me time" will be on the back burner for quite a while.  Which I'm sure I won't miss too much at first.  I'll be too absorbed in the baby and being a Mommy to really miss it I think :)  Well, that's all the news I have for now.  Here's hoping the next post I have is about the baby being here ;)

~Nicole

and....

My due date is today, but nothing has happened so far.  Granted the day isn't over yet so I still have lots of time to have him today (if he indeed feels like coming out that is ha ha).  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he does :)  Luke, Ernie and I went on a nice walk around the neighborhood this afternoon, but nothing has really happened as a result from it.  I had Luke take a couple pics of me today cuz you never know when I won't have a belly to take pics of anymore :)  Here they are:

I look pretty tired in these photos (for one thing I'm not wearing makeup, which would help me not look as tired ha ha). 

Anyway, I'll keep everyone posted once things start happening.  The sooner the better :)

oh the waiting game...so not fun

Had my 40 week appt today and the doc still couldn't reach my cervix so no stripping happened today :(  I'm getting the feeling that I will be getting induced before my body ever decides to go into labor on it's own...sigh.  Luke told me that he had a dream that we were at the hospital last night about to have the baby.  This is the first time he's had a dream related to the baby (and told me about it) so I thought it was cute that he told me :)  I can't wait until that dream is a reality and I'm holding my baby!  If he hasn't come by Monday afternoon I have a doc appt to get looked at and schedule my induction.  If that ends up happening I will try to get induced asap so that Ernie still has some time to spend with us and help me out before she goes back on the 3rd of May.  We still have no name for him yet though.  I've decided that we will just wait until he's born (basically I'm tired of fighting Luke and hearing his silly suggestions).  So it will be a surprise for all of us!  Ernie and I went to Ko'Olina again today for a little over an hour.  The weather has been so nice lately so I'm glad that we are able to go.  I've been looking pretty pale lately anyway ha ha.  Anyway in other news, Luke started working nights this week (last night was his first shift).  He's not sure if he likes it yet, but I'm sure he'll warm up to it.  He's a night owl anyway so once he's used to the schedule I'm sure he will love it.  Instead of working 7am to 3pm he works 2pm to 10pm so it works out better anyway since he would stay up til midnight when he was on the day shift and not get as much sleep.  He will definitely get more sleep on this schedule (that is until the baby comes...not sure how much sleep either of us will get then).  Well, that's all the news I have for now.  Just playing the waiting game and hoping that I go into labor sooner rather than later.  Hope everyone has had a good week so far!  I will keep everyone updated when things start happening (as soon as I can that is).  Have a good one!

~Nicole

holy cow...

Just 7 more days left!!!

39 weeks at Ko'Olina Beach

 
my patience will pay off...eventually :)

slowly but surely...

My Mother-in-law, Ernie, arrived last night safe and sound (minus a little issue with her luggage, but it was sorted out this morning)!  We went to Costco and my doctor's appt and the grocery store today to keep us busy.  She was super excited to hear the baby's heartbeat (she recorded a couple videos of it that I'll post at the bottom of this entry).  I'm only dilated to a 1 so it's not looking like he'll be here too soon.  I just hope that by next week I will have progressed more.  Tomorrow I'll be 39 weeks along...I really can't believe that he'll be here soon!  Ernie and I are going to the beach tomorrow after I show her how to get to the hospital so that she knows for when the time comes to go there :)  I'm stoked about going to the beach!  I haven't been in a while so it will be nice to just go relax there for a little while.  Ernie plans on taking me on long walks to help put me in labor ha ha.  Well, nothing else really exciting has happened to us this week so I'll leave you with these videos of the heartbeat (ignore my growing basketball of a belly and remember to pause the music). Have a good one!

~Nicole

14 days....the end is almost here!

I am so ready to have this baby!  Well, ready in the aspect of not having to be pregnant anymore.  I'm not so sure I'm totally ready to be a parent yet, but I hear that comes with time and lots of practice ;)  Ernie is flying in around 5pm on Wednesday!!  Which will bring me even closer to my due date and the day that I am holding my little one in my arms :D  I went in for my 38 wk checkup yesterday and found out he's starting to drop ( I honestly can't feel or see the difference yet since I'm constantly going to the bathroom anyway) which made me happy that he's getting ready to make his grand appearance!  Hopefully next week I'll have started to slowly dilate.  Anyway, here's a couple pics of me that were taken today:

Do I look ginormous or what?  I've gained a total of 33 lbs (give or take) so far with this pregnancy.  I'm feeling pretty good too (aside from being tired all the time...which will only get worse after I have the baby...)!  I am glad that I didn't have much trouble putting on the lbs either (I was worried about that).  I hope my recovery is just as easy.

Anyway, in other news, Luke finished his ALS course on the 31st of March (YAY YAY YAY!!!) so we attended his Graduation Banquet that night.  It was fun to attend and even more exciting for us since he was given the Leadership Award (it's presented to the student who exhibited exemplary leadership, follower ship, support, interpersonal relations and professional behavior throughout the course.  Selection for the award is based on peer evaluations, instructor evaluations, and personal interviews).  One person from each classroom (there were 3) was nominated for the award and he was the winner!!  I'm so proud of him!  My only disappointment for that evening was that I had forgotten to take the camera with us, but luckily one of his classmates had theirs and was nice enough to take some photos of us.  I'm waiting to get them in an email (more like I'm waiting on Luke to check his for them ha ha) and then I'll post them.  I'm so so glad that this course is over with!  I know that Luke is even more thrilled about that fact :)  (he's been dying to play his Xbox ha ha).  Now our only major worry is playing the waiting game with this baby. 

Anyway, that's what has been happening with us this last week.  Hope all is well in your neck of the woods :)

~Nicole