Here are some pictures from Liam's special day.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Liam's Baptism
Liam was baptized on February 10th, 2011. All of my children's baptisms are very special to me. Watching them enter Christ's church, and seeing them receive the sacrament of Baptism is absolutely amazing. Knowing that the stench of original sin is being washed away. It's a very real and sacred responsibility given to us, to raise our children as Christians, and to teach them and instruct them to follow Christ.
Here are some pictures from Liam's special day.
Here are some pictures from Liam's special day.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Family Time
Life, as always, has been chaotic in our household. Our family was increased by one when Liam Alric joined us on December 1st, 2010. He weighed in at 7lb 9oz and 22 inches long. I was lucky to have my mom staying with us for a month. She missed his birth by about 10 minutes. It was pretty quick.
I woke up at two am because Brianna was crying. I repositioned her in her crib and she fell right back asleep. I went back to bed and couldn't get comfortable. I thought that I might be getting ready to go into labor, so I gave B_ a heads up that I thought it might be the day, and got up. I went to the office and sat on the exercise ball while getting online. Around 3am I noticed that contractions where starting, and I timed them around three minutes apart and thirty seconds. I woke up B_ at 3:30 and started making sure everything was ready to go. I woke up my mom shortly after and took a hot shower. My contractions were getting more intense, but nothing terrible. I was hoping to wait until at least 7am to leave so we could drop the kids off at a friend's house so my mom could go to the hospital with us.
But around 4am, I realized that waiting until 7 to leave was not going to happen. So I gave mom instructions for dropping off the kids once they woke up, and prayed that she'd make it in time. We left the house around 4:45 because I was getting nauseated, so I knew I was entering transition.
Arrived at L&D around 5:10am. My contractions were increasing in intensity. I was hoping to labor upright - I like to be able to lean over something. However, they were having trouble monitoring contractions (they wanted to get 20 minutes and then they would "let me loose" so to speak). I came in at -1 station, 80% effaced and 6cm dialated. I guess the doctors were giving my midwife some grief because Liam's heartrate seemed low and erratic, but that's because I was moving around and the monitor wouldn't stay in place very well. She said that a solution would be to attatch the monitor directly to Liam. They basically screw in the monitor into his scalp, um, no thank you! In addition, they would have to break my waters to attatch the monitor, and I'm vehemently opposed to premature breaking of the membranes. To keep the peace, I said I'd lay on my side. Fortunately, that worked and they were able to monitor the contractions for a time. And I was comfortable enough in the position and was able to breathe through the contractions, so that was good. But going through this, even in a "natural childbirth" friendly place with a midwife, made me realize that I don't think I want to do a hospital birth again. I find that even in the midst of labor, I still don't want people to be inconvenienced, and that's probably not the best thing if I happen to be in a position where they are pushing other things. I don't want to test my mettle. Not to mention, I imagine my labor is only going to continue to get shorter. =)
To continue, I could feel Liam adjusting into position, and around 6:50, I felt the urge to go to the bathroom (a sign that the baby is getting ready to come out). We rang the nurse, I told her that I needed to use the restroom and I thought that I was getting close. While using the restroom I definately felt him moving into position.
The midwife came in, my contractions were almost unbearable at this point and I was getting very little rest in between. She checked me while I was upright (I REALLY didn't want to get back on the bed). She said that I was still a six, but totally effaced and he was right there. I felt like I was much closer. I stayed beside the bed and kept laboring, and within a few minutes I was feeling the urge to push. I told her and got on the table so she could get a better check. She said that there was still an anterior lip. I didn't care. =) I rolled over to my hands and knees and had about four more contractions before I NEEDED to push, and I let her know.
I pushed once, and my water broke. I screamed out "WATER!!!" I think I was trying to let her know that he was coming NOW! She's yelling for a nurse (it was still just Brant, the midwife and myself), I pushed again and out Liam came! She handed him up to me and I rolled over to my back and we settled him on my chest. He was HOWLING and rooting! It took about 15 minutes before he stopped howling and rooting and actually settle down to nurse, but once he did, he decided that was where he was staying. =) Within four hours he had nursed three times, the first session lasted almost an hour.
So I woke up at 2am, started laboring around 2:30. Arrived at the hospital at 5:20. Liam was born at 7:25. Not too shabby. No drugs, no tears, and totally amazing!
A picture of Liam Alric, born at 7:25am Hawaiian time. 7lb 9.5oz, 20inches and a head of blond hair.
He's growing quickly and maturing at an astonishing rate. Just to review a few key milestones in his 10 weeks of life:
First time nursing, 3 minutes old:
First bath at home, December 10th:
Two week appointment: 8lb 6oz, 21 inches
First Christmas! December 25th, of course:
Apparently this is the best Christmas shot I have of him. Oops! lol
First smile and coos, January 3rd:
First Group Bath, Jan 18th
First Trip to the Zoo, Jan 24th
Imitating Sounds and Reaching for Toys: Jan 28th
2 Month Appointment: 12lb 5oz and 23 inches
I woke up at two am because Brianna was crying. I repositioned her in her crib and she fell right back asleep. I went back to bed and couldn't get comfortable. I thought that I might be getting ready to go into labor, so I gave B_ a heads up that I thought it might be the day, and got up. I went to the office and sat on the exercise ball while getting online. Around 3am I noticed that contractions where starting, and I timed them around three minutes apart and thirty seconds. I woke up B_ at 3:30 and started making sure everything was ready to go. I woke up my mom shortly after and took a hot shower. My contractions were getting more intense, but nothing terrible. I was hoping to wait until at least 7am to leave so we could drop the kids off at a friend's house so my mom could go to the hospital with us.
But around 4am, I realized that waiting until 7 to leave was not going to happen. So I gave mom instructions for dropping off the kids once they woke up, and prayed that she'd make it in time. We left the house around 4:45 because I was getting nauseated, so I knew I was entering transition.
Arrived at L&D around 5:10am. My contractions were increasing in intensity. I was hoping to labor upright - I like to be able to lean over something. However, they were having trouble monitoring contractions (they wanted to get 20 minutes and then they would "let me loose" so to speak). I came in at -1 station, 80% effaced and 6cm dialated. I guess the doctors were giving my midwife some grief because Liam's heartrate seemed low and erratic, but that's because I was moving around and the monitor wouldn't stay in place very well. She said that a solution would be to attatch the monitor directly to Liam. They basically screw in the monitor into his scalp, um, no thank you! In addition, they would have to break my waters to attatch the monitor, and I'm vehemently opposed to premature breaking of the membranes. To keep the peace, I said I'd lay on my side. Fortunately, that worked and they were able to monitor the contractions for a time. And I was comfortable enough in the position and was able to breathe through the contractions, so that was good. But going through this, even in a "natural childbirth" friendly place with a midwife, made me realize that I don't think I want to do a hospital birth again. I find that even in the midst of labor, I still don't want people to be inconvenienced, and that's probably not the best thing if I happen to be in a position where they are pushing other things. I don't want to test my mettle. Not to mention, I imagine my labor is only going to continue to get shorter. =)
To continue, I could feel Liam adjusting into position, and around 6:50, I felt the urge to go to the bathroom (a sign that the baby is getting ready to come out). We rang the nurse, I told her that I needed to use the restroom and I thought that I was getting close. While using the restroom I definately felt him moving into position.
The midwife came in, my contractions were almost unbearable at this point and I was getting very little rest in between. She checked me while I was upright (I REALLY didn't want to get back on the bed). She said that I was still a six, but totally effaced and he was right there. I felt like I was much closer. I stayed beside the bed and kept laboring, and within a few minutes I was feeling the urge to push. I told her and got on the table so she could get a better check. She said that there was still an anterior lip. I didn't care. =) I rolled over to my hands and knees and had about four more contractions before I NEEDED to push, and I let her know.
I pushed once, and my water broke. I screamed out "WATER!!!" I think I was trying to let her know that he was coming NOW! She's yelling for a nurse (it was still just Brant, the midwife and myself), I pushed again and out Liam came! She handed him up to me and I rolled over to my back and we settled him on my chest. He was HOWLING and rooting! It took about 15 minutes before he stopped howling and rooting and actually settle down to nurse, but once he did, he decided that was where he was staying. =) Within four hours he had nursed three times, the first session lasted almost an hour.
So I woke up at 2am, started laboring around 2:30. Arrived at the hospital at 5:20. Liam was born at 7:25. Not too shabby. No drugs, no tears, and totally amazing!
A picture of Liam Alric, born at 7:25am Hawaiian time. 7lb 9.5oz, 20inches and a head of blond hair.
He's growing quickly and maturing at an astonishing rate. Just to review a few key milestones in his 10 weeks of life:
First time nursing, 3 minutes old:
First bath at home, December 10th:
Two week appointment: 8lb 6oz, 21 inches
First Christmas! December 25th, of course:Apparently this is the best Christmas shot I have of him. Oops! lol
First smile and coos, January 3rd:
First Group Bath, Jan 18th
First Trip to the Zoo, Jan 24th
2 Month Appointment: 12lb 5oz and 23 inches
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