Edwin Eugene

Ok it's that time - I'm finally getting around to writing about Edwin's birth.  After an eventful few days in the hospital in the beginning of November (3rd,4th, and 5th) trying to stop my contractions so that Edwin wouldn't come too early, and then being told to 'take it easy' for several weeks (for the same reason) I was glad when Edwin finally decided to join our family 4 1/2 weeks later.  Although he was still 2 weeks early, I felt like I was over due with all the anticipation from going into early labor.  

The day before Edwin was born (Dec 5th) Robert called and told me that he had to go to the emergency room because he had severely cut his arm while throwing a toilet in a dumpster.  At this point I had just barely started feeling contractions and wasn't really positive if it was the real thing yet.  After several hours and going down to the hospital to visit / pick up Robert I was sure it was the real thing and was just hoping to not have to deliver at St. Joseph's (which is where Robert was).  Lucy was already asleep at my parent's house by the time Robert was all stitched up and we were able to come home, so we left her there for the night.  After several more hours and not much sleep later I decided that it was time to go down to the hospital.

We get to the hospital and find out that I am only dilated to a 3 1/2.  This news is very disappointing to me seeing as I had been a 3 for the past month.  However after waiting in triage for 2 hours and dilating 2 more cm they said I could stay and was checked in.  Since I was positive for group B strep I had to take some antibiotics when I first got to the hospital and then again 4 hours later - meaning the dr. wouldn't come in and break my water until then.  The pain was a lot different with this one than with Lucy and lasted a lot longer.  After some deliberation I decided that I wanted to get an epidural this time.  It was amazing the difference it made!  I went from intense pain and anxiety to being able to relax and actually look forward to the birth of my son.  I was also grateful that since I held out so long I didn't have to go through the annoyance of having a catheter put in.  So, to cut a long story short the dr. came in about an hour later (after the designated 4 hours) broke my water and after about another 30 minutes and several pushes Edwin Eugene was born! It was about 12:45 in the afternoon on Thursday, December 6th, and he weighed 6 lbs 10 1/2 oz and was 19.5 inches long.

I loved that they gave him to me right away.  With Lucy they took her and checked her first because she was so early and so it was several minutes before they finally gave her to me.  But there is nothing quite like having them put that tiny, gooey, perfect baby on your chest right after he is born.  It has definitely been an adjustment having two little ones now, but it has also been wonderful and we are so grateful to have Edwin in our family now!

in the hospital again...

So this wasn't the first post I was wanting to write about my handsome little Edwin, but I figured people would want to know what was going on, and this is the easiest way to do it.  It seems like everyone is getting sick right now.  Lucy has had a fever, runny nose, and cough for several days (the fever is gone now) Robert and I both had our crummy feeling days as well.  I was hoping that little Edwin would be able to miss out on it, but unfortunately that did not happen.  Sunday night before we went to bed he had a very slight temperature (99.1) he had a pretty rough night and when we took his temperature when we got up it had increased to close to 102 degrees.  (he measured at 102.2 but he had been bundled up just before so we are thinking it was not really that high).  We took him into the dr a couple hours later and he was at 100.8.  Since he is less than 2 months old the dr. told me to come to the emergency room.  Edwin most likely just has a cold, but with kids that young there is a 15% chance that he could have a serious infection like meningitis and they don't want to take any chances. 

I brought him to Cardon's and the proceeded to poke him and stick him with needles over and over again trying to get all the blood they needed and to get an iv in.  After hours and 10 needle pokes they had all the blood they needed, but still no iv.  (Apparently he has very small tender veins even for a baby)  It was terrible to have to watch him go through all of that!  I wanted to pick my baby up and run away with him.  The worst part was that they had to do a spinal tap as well.  I regretted even bringing him in since chances are he is fine.  Especially since his fever has gone down all on it's own.  Unfortunately once you come in they don't let you leave, and he will need to be here until all of the labs come back which can be anywhere from 48-72 hours.  

After trying 2 more times (lucky number 13) early this morning they were able to get an iv line going which will at least save him from having to get 2 or more shots every 6 hours.  They are giving him him antibiotics just in case his labs come back positive. 

Edwin seems to be doing good, his vitals are good, any of the lab work that has come back has been good, and his fever is pretty much gone.   Hopefully this will be the last time that any of us have to be in the hospital for awhile - seems like it's been way too often these past couple of months!

Picture catch up

A few last pictures from when the Tolman's were visiting:

 Cousins (mostly)

 Feeding the ducks at the park

 They love playing together!

This is in our side yard.  Lucy loves shoveling up the old grass clippings and putting them in her bucket!

Halloween

Lucy loved Halloween!  We went to my parent's neighborhood Halloween block party and had a great time.  Lucy especially loved the bouncy castle and the giant blow up slide.  She wasn't feeling super great on the night of our ward's trunk or treat so we only stayed for only a short time, but she loved carrying around her pumpkin bucket and having people give her candy!

 Lucy was a really cute butterfly!

 

Eating some candy after the party

Robert couldn't make it to my parent's party but he did dress up for our ward trunk or treat.  He went as Peter Pumpkin Eater and I went as a pumpkin (see previous pic).  Unfortunately I don't have a picture from our trunk or treat with all of us together - I will have to get it off of Robert's phone.

Pumpkin Patch

Another fun activity we did while the Tolman's were here visiting was going to DeWitt Stables pumpkin patch.  It was not quite as amazing as I had envisioned in my head, but the kids had a lot of fun - so I guess that is all that matters!

They had horses that you could ride:

 Love the face Lucy is making here!

 She did end up liking them though!

 The kids all loved going on this little train ride.

A petting zoo:

 Break time

 

 And of course the pumpkin patch:

Unloading the pumpkins from the tractor seemed to be the kids favorite part!

Lucy found one just her size

There was also a bouncy castle which the kids spent some time in and a place to practice roping cattle.  Overall a big hit!  I love being able to try new adventures and once again glad that Cynthia and her kids could enjoy it with us!

Phoenix Children's Museum

My sister, Cynthia, and her kids were in town for a week last month and we had so much fun hanging out with them while they were here!  One of the things we did was go to the Phoenix Children's Museum (thanks to groupon for discounted tickets)

 All 4 grandkids on the Fife side

 Erica and the kid she nannies for were able to come too.  Lucy always has fun playing with Eli!

 Making pizza with Grandma

 

 Lucy liked climbing all over this jungle gym type thing that they had, as long as I stayed close to her.  Some of the places were kind of steep and I gotta say - not really made for pregnant women to be crawling through! :)

 I didn't get a good picture of this thing, but Lucy loved it!  You stuck those fabric things in a big vacuum tube then watched them travel through the whole big maze before flying out the top of it.

This thing was similar but used balls instead

I was really impressed with this place, the kids could practically spend all day in just one room.  Not only did they have a kitchen type area, but there was a room that was pretty much a full on grocery store, with shopping carts and places to check out and pay for the food.  All the kids had a blast - too bad it is kind of far away... Oh well it makes for a special visit every once in awhile.

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