Four: Week 1

So much has happened in the first week and we are already half way through week 2 so I figured I better start writing about it! We continue to thank God for this life, for this healthy pregnancy, safe delivery, and healthy baby to add to our family. We truly feel like a piece was missing we didn't even realize and now we feel whole. Mama at 37 weeks!

 The last maternity picture I took - 38 weeks and yes I went into labor this day!

My beautiful and joyful daughter who continues to be my only sunshine. Although my love for her brother is unreal - who knew you really do fall completely in love with baby number 2, but wow this girl. She makes my heart sing.

Daddy and little man. He is calm and peaceful about 90% of the time. The other 10% he knows exactly what he wants and wishes we would figure it out quicker then we do! :) It is so fun to see his little personality coming out already.

Hanging out on the porch enjoying the beautiful weather we have been having! Mama is definitely ready for spring and summer!

Awake time! Trying to keep this little guy awake more of the day so that he will sleep more at night.... I think the most consecutive sleep I have gotten is 2.5 hours and that was maybe once or twice since he has been born. So cute and adorable but I am TIRED! :) He is worth it though.

I'm trying to remember each day how quickly this phase passes. The newborn phase will be gone before we know it. Goodness so will the infant and even the toddler. My big 2.5 year old blows me away with all the things she knows, remembers and shares with us. It just goes so fast.

Love his strawberry blonde hair! And how different it is from Grace's. When Grace was born she had thick dark hair which is totally opposite. Both favorites :)

Our first family walk! We have been trying to walk around the apartment complex each night. Rain has put a damper on things, but hopefully we will be back to this soon!

Yes, my diva and her fashion since. I love it :)

Sleeping... soundly... in the middle of the day. We have to leave the lights on in our room at night to try and trick him into thinking it is still day so he should sleep!

Uncle Taylor. Best Uncle ever! He visits often and always makes time for both his niece and his nephew.

Grace got new shoes! That's right I left Isaac with Boppy in his first week and headed to stride rite to find some princess sandals for my girl.

Madly in love with this tiny face.

To celebrate 1 week we took Grace and Isaac to the Bloom Festival with the whole family (Mimi, Boppy, Tay Tay, Daddy, Mama) We had a great time. We looked at all kinds of flowers.

We blew giant bubbles.

We listened to story time, pretended we were seeds, and then planted some beans.

It was a great day of celebrating. And we were exhausted afterwards.

Ok well not so tired we couldn't take some 1 week pictures! 1 week of being a big sister! WOOHOO!

1 week of being alive! YAY!

My beautiful children, Grace & Isaac,

May you realize how amazing you both are. Never be afraid to show who you are. Be vulnerable, be compassionate. Remember always that this life is a gift from God. Praise and glorify him. Love others. I continue to pray that I can be the kind of example God expects from me. I love you both.

xoxo

Mommy

Blessings: Grace & Isaac

My beautiful children. I am so blessed. 

Grace Jacklyn 2.5 years

Isaac Levi 3 days

 

 

Psalm 127:3 

Children are a blessing and a gift from the Lord.

Then There Were FOUR

It has only been 3 days and yet already I could not imagine ever going back. Ok at least a couple times last night when we were up taking turns soothing and trying to get a very awake baby to sleep... the thought may have crossed my mind. :) But we are already so madly in love with this little bear.

Now back to the beginning. Friday March 28th while at Chipotle with Mimi, Boppy and Grace (after just leaving library story time) I knew something felt very different then it had before. The contractions I had grown pretty accustomed to over the last few weeks definitely felt different. They were coming every 5 minutes and I often held my breath and closed my eyes. We headed home and for the first 3 hours I drank water, put my feet up, tried to get them to slow down or stop. I did not want to be making a trip to the hospital until I thought it was the real thing.

Finally with much encouragement from Gabe (who was finishing up week 2 at the new job) and my parents I made the call and headed into Rex Hospital. Upon arrival we were informed by the doctor that although my contractions were 2-3 minutes apart and I was dilated to 3 cm - I would have to make it to 5 cm on my own before they could legally break my water or assist in any way because there was no medical reason to encourage him to come. This was a far cry from Grace's delivery as I was induced due to pre eclampsia. I have never labored without medical help. What a difference it was. It took 12 hours for me to make it to 5 cm on my own (12pm on friday until 12am on Saturday). Mimi was with me the first couple hours and Gabe took over as soon as work was over.

At 12 am Saturday morning (March 29th) the doctor ordered an epidural for me and once that was administered she would break my water and hopefully my labor would speed up quickly. Unfortunately the epidural and I did not get along. Within seconds of getting the epidural in my back I could feel the whole world disappearing. Everyone sounded really far away like I was in a tunnel and could only see snapshots of what was going on around me. Gabe says within a minute the room was filled with doctors and nurses. My pulse was bottoming out and they were obviously concerned about both me and Isaac. They put something in my IV to try and wake me up and I had an oxygen mask on. Gabe said later it was pretty scary to watch. I am sure it was. Luckily I woke up and came to. They waited to break my water for another hour to give me time to really come around.

When they broke my water they thought it would kick start the rest of the labor but because of the stress with the epidural my body decided it was done. Absolutely nothing happened. Around 2am they hooked me up to petocin (which is what I had to help me with Grace) Gabe and I slept most of the time from 12-5. My body was pretty warn out and stressed.

At 6 They checked me again and I was fully dilated and ready to start pushing. First push - Gabe, the nurse and I were all there. Nothing notable. Second push - Gabe and I were alone. The nurse went to answer a call from my doctor. Gabe said he could see something down there. Third push - Doctor had arrived and I was told to stop pushing because they were not ready yet! Fourth push - out He came.

Isaac Levi Macaluso. Born 3-29-2014. 6:35am 6lb 13oz 19.75 inches. Beautiful, healthy baby boy.

From the moment we saw his tiny face we were madly in love.

We were shortly moved to another room and within 3 hours of his birth everyone had arrived to meet this little guy. Happy Birthday Isaac! Grace could not wait to meet this little one.

Isaac brought Grace a dress up from the movie Frozen and a doll of one of the characters. He already knows his sister so well. :) Here is the first time Grace held him. She was so gentle.

Here is a better picture of Isaac's gift for Grace. Grace also gave Isaac his blue bear wubbanub she picked out, which he uses at night and we ALL love. <3

Meeting Mimi.

Grace checking out her new dress with Daddy. Grace and Daddy went out for a special daddy/daughter lunch date which really helped Grace know how important she is and how much we love her, even when we disappear to the hospital.

 Meeting Boppy :)

And Uncle Taylor. Yes the worlds best uncle spent the night at Mimi and Boppy's house so he could be ready to come and meet Isaac as soon as he entered the world. They were all really happy that they weren't waiting in the waiting room for the 18 hour labor like they did for Grace's 7  hour labor. :) They would have been VERY tired. hehe

Our tiny family. Minus our beautiful and vivacious girl... who I believe was more interested in new toys that were brought to the hospital at this point. <3

Having a picnic at the hospital. This was by far her favorite thing to do each time that they visited. Grace came to see Isaac the morning he was born, again on his birthday afternoon and then when she came to see us Sunday morning she helped us load him up and bring him home. Isaac was about 30 hours old when we brought him home.

I love watching her explore and watch him and figure out what he is doing. She certainly is a great big sister.

Isaac was ready to head home!

My new backseat view. Grace does a great job letting me know what he is doing back there and keeping a close eye on him. :) What a helper girl.

 Finally the crib looks complete. <3 first night at home.