Real Talk

Now that Kate is three weeks old and the newness is starting to go away (well a little), the baby blues have kicked in.  I cry a lot. I'm sure it's not all postpartum, but also has to deal with having house on the market and trying to find time to move into the rental,  trying to pay a lot of attention to Max and Claire, and learning a new routine for our new family of five.  Three is hard.  I texted a few of my friends that have three kids yesterday asking if it got easier.  I wouldn't trade my life for anything in the world, but three is kicking my butt! I'm sure things will get easier (or I will just get used to) once we figure out a new routine.

I remember feeling overwhelmed and weepy around the same time with Max and Claire.

Claire is helpful most of the time, the rest of the time she is in Kate's face or begging to hold her.

Buds can be helpful, but stays out of her way for the most part.  Occasionally, he wants to help feed her, but only last one minute.

Kate and I are still working on breastfeeding.  It has gotten a little better.  I went back to the lactation consultant and she was helpful once again.  She said I really need to be breastfeeding at least four times a day for her to get the practice and hang of things.  We still use a bottle for when she is super hungry, or I'm not here, and the late night/early morning feedings.  I think she is having a growth spurt.  She has gotten better for the most part.  Sometimes it takes a few minutes to get the latch correct, but once she does, she is good for about 20 minutes and that makes me very happy.

Yesterday started out rough for me.  I was excited, we were all up and getting ready for church, thought I was ahead of the game and had an outfit picked out.... thought being key word.  I went for a more flowy dress, went to put it on, and NOPE it made me look like a sausage, def. not flowy.  I ended up in tears. I hate this in between stage.  I have lost about 24 of the 40 I gained, but am very wide still.  Finally found a black dress to wear and had a cardigan to help cover.  I'm really upset bc one of the dresses I had tried on, was one I was going to wear to a wedding this weekend.  Now I am going to have to buy a new outfit that I will probably only wear once. UGH.

After church we packed up and went to the pool.  We are members of two, one being in a neighboring city (for justin's golf) and that is the one we went to.  Of course, it is 50 minutes away so that meant extra packing.  I did the best I could to prepare for a day trip there.  I pumped, packed bottles, fed Kate, packed lunches, dry clothes, packed pump and extra bottles... After the hour it took to get ready, we were headed out.  By the time we got there it was almost time to feed Kate again.  I was determined to breastfeed so I didn't have to get out the dreaded pump, but she had other plans.  More breast milk ended up on her and her face than in her mouth.  I was so irritated.  So, bottle it was, then I had to find a place to pump. This one has to have an outlet.  The ladies room didn't have any outlets, so I asked the teenage lifeguards if I could use their guard room to pump.  They let me, but probably had no idea what it meant when I said I needed to pump!

The kids had a great time swimming and playing with their cousins.  After the pool, Justin took Max to hit golf balls for the first time.  It was super cute!

Life with three

Kate is two weeks today! It's hard to believe it has been two weeks.  For the most part, she has been a great baby! She is super sweet, cuddly and a pretty good sleeper! She goes with the flow and is only bothered when we move her when she is in a deep sleep... which, hey, I would be bothered too!

She takes a paci, but is trying so hard to figure out her thumb! It's so cute when she figures it out - even if it's only for a few seconds!

Last Wednesday (9 days old), my Mom and I took the three kiddos to go strawberry picking.  That was my first big outing.  We had fun! Kids enjoyed being out and the special ice cream at the end and Kate slept the whole time!

Last Friday, Kate got her newborn pictures done.  The photographer did a fab. job! Can't wait to see the proofs :)  Max and Claire got in on a few pics and did great!

Claire had dance pictures on Saturday morning.  Justin was in a golf tournament with my dad, so mom came to spend the day.  I truly don't know what I would have done without her help these past two weeks.

I think the hardest part with three kids (so far), is feeling like I am giving equal attention to Max and Claire.  They have been really acting out and it hurts my heart.  Justin, Me and Mom have gone out of our way to make sure we are doing fun things with them, including them, giving them special treats, etc and they have been brats. Claire has been extra whiny and gets so upset if she doesn't help feed Kate or get to hold her 1,349 times a day.  Max has just been mean. I'm hoping this phase goes away SOON, bc it is hard on this Mama!

This afternoon I decided I was ready to drive.  I started close by, by taking Claire to dance.  We made it, and even made it on time!  Today was a better attitude day, hoping for more like it!  I'm tired and ready to knock out another night with my newest little love bug!

One more success: we nursed successfully three times today!! Hopefully the pump can be put away soon!

More about Kate!

Kate is a week old today!  She has been the best baby so far!  She gets an A+ on sleeping!  Girlfriend loves to sleep!  She pretty much only cries when she is hungry.  I am so in love with her.  She already has two nicknames.  We call her our little armadillo and squirt.  She loves to be all balled up, it's probably the same position she was in my tummy.  Squirt... well lets just say she is regular!

Going back a few days to when we were in the hospital...

 After day one, Claire was ready to be little mommy.  She wanted(s) to hold her ALL the time and talks to Kate in the sweetest mommy voice.

 

Buds loves holding Kate, but just for a minute.

He is still my baby boy!

this face!! I could eat it up! 

Selfie with the buds!

My incision has been very painful.  I mean VERY.  That has been the worst part of the past week. 

Next on that list would be breast feeding.  I am determined to breast feed Kate.  She did awesome day one, but by day two, I had cracked, bleeding and blistery nipples.  It was so bad the lactation consultant brought in a pump and some bottles and said to give my nipples a rest.  So... I've been pumping at least eight times a day, if not more. I have so much extra!

I went to a lactation appointment today and it went really well...although as soon as we got home, it's like I had stage fright and forgot everything i had just learned!  We will keep at it!

Thursday was going home day! Kate wore the same little gown Claire wore when she came home. She looks so much like her big sister!

I have been so swollen from all the fluids.  Today was the first day I saw a little bit of my ankle.  The past week it has been so swollen, I could only wear flip flops.  

Kate and I have been sleeping in our den.  Our bed is too high to get in and out of with my incision. It works well for us.  Justin set my pump up next to our laptop at one end of the sofa and I sleep at the other.  She is the best cuddler and loves to be all snuggled up on my chest.  She is mostly in the rock n play right now, but i'd be lying if I didn't say she hasn't slept on my chest a good bit too.  It's perfect and I've loved every second of it!

So blessed with our new family of five!

Kate's birth story

I have a few quiet moments and thought i would document Kate's birth day!  Kate was a scheduled c-section so I knew we would be going to the hospital at 8am Monday (May 4th) morning.  This was very different than my csection with Max and Claire because I actually went into labor with M and C and had an emergency section.   Once we arrived at the hospital, they took me back to get prepped for surgery then gave me a spinal.  I was a crying mess.  I was emotional on so many levels.

Getting ready to go in the OR

 All of the nurses were so wonderful.  They really calmed me down and talked to me through the whole surgery.  Justin kept them entertained as well ;).  I made sure there was a nurse and Justin on camera duty.

seeing Kate for the first time

Kate's first pic with Mom and Dad

Skin to skin with Mom

This was my favorite part about my experience with Kate.  As soon as she came out, she was handed to me for skin on skin.  She stayed the whole time they stitched me back up.  Then we were all taken to recovery and on the way was able to see our family members that were waiting to meet baby Kate!

on the way to recovery

While in recovery, Kate nursed for the first time.  She was a champ and nursed 50 minutes!!

meeting Grandma for the first time!

Aunt Darcy!

Max and Claire coming in from school to meet their baby sister!

Not quite sure what to think!

Max wanted to hold her first! Claire kept her distance, which surprised me.

Grandpa with all three of his grand kids

First picture of our family of FIVE!

Claire and Nanny

Mom has been a HUGE help for all of us.  She and Dad kept Max and Claire Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday night and have done things during the day for either me or the kids. So thankful for her.  Also, thankful she will be able to help me next week when Justin will be back and work!

We had most of our visitors Monday afternoon.  My BFF since I was two drove from Wilmington just to meet Kate, then turn around ane drove back! 

Katie meeting Kate!

Later that afternoon, our pediatrician and dear friend, came to check Kate out.  

 Next up--bath!  Part of the newer mother baby they are doing at our hospital, is waiting for bath.  Kate didn't get her first bath until well over eight hours. Six hours is the minimum--then they have to keep body temp above 98.0 for two consectutive hours to get bath.  There is no more taking them to the nursery to get bathed, it's all in your room! Then after bath, you do skin to skin again!

bath time!!

foot prints

Overall our first night went great!  Kate continued to nurse well and we even got some sleep!

I'll try to post a little about the other days as well!

Baby Kate!

#3 Finally has a name! Kate Webber Fredrick was born May 4th, 2015 at 9:57am.  She is absolutely perfect!  All 7lbs 14oz!  She is beautiful and looks a lot like Claire but with dark hair.

First pic of a family of 5!

I come home from hospital tomorrow and will picture overload soon!

39 weeks and countdown!

Yesterday marked 39 weeks with #3!  I had my pre-op at the hospital and was given all my instructions for Monday morning.  I can't believe it's time.  This pregnancy has gone by slow, fast then slow again and has been a lot different than Max and Claire.  Besides the obvious (no bed rest), I had morning sickness, gained a few extra lbs -- and in different places, more spider/varicose veins, and carpal tunnel --mainly in right hand/arm.
I've been able to exercise the whole time, aiming for four to five days a week.

How far along? 39 weeks
Total weight gain? 41 lbs... hopefully not an oz. more!
Symptoms? pretty bad carpal tunnel in my right hand
Cravings? not so much anymore - still love my sweets :)
Movement? Lots of rolling!
What I look forward to? Meeting our baby girl!

Justin's dad came in town today and Max and Claire's Godparents took them to the zoo, so we used this time to clean my car and put in carseat.

We contemplated many options, but ended up putting both big kids in back and #3 in middle row.  My car hasn't been this clean since we bought it.  I'm sure there were some 4 year old cheerios in and under their carseats!
After they installed the carseats, we got the crib out of the attic and took it to the rental to put together.

We won't fully move into rental for a few more weeks, but know we won't need the crib before then.  She'll be all snug in a rock n play or pack n play!

Tonight, at bedtime, I laid down with Max and Claire until they fell asleep.  Holding hands and rubbing backs.  I'm trying to soak up every last minute with just Max and Claire, my first babies!