July After Baby

The rest of our July was (understandably) consumed by our newest addition. As a result, everyone's updates pretty much revolve around her.

Sawyer

Sawyer is really sweet with little Wren and asks if he can hold her quite often. He especially likes to snuggle up to her on mine and Dillon's bed while she's napping (which is a lot of the time right now). He'll ask me, "Where's baby sister?" and if she happens to be snoozing on the big bed he'll follow it up with, "Can I lay by her?" The first few times I peeked in to make sure things were going smoothly and each time he was quietly gazing at her while sharing a blanket and one time I heard him whisper, "I love you" in her tiny ear and I just about melted in a puddle on the floor. The only minor mishap we've had is when he covered her face with the blanket because he likes to cover his own sometimes so I quickly explained that she's not big enough for that and needs to have her face out to breathe. We've been good since. 

Some other funny things he's said/done.. When he came home right after we got out of the hospital and he kept patting my belly and asking about another baby. So I explained to him that it took a long time for my belly to get big so that the baby could fit and it will probably take a long time for it to get small. So now he casually pats my stomach and double checks, "It takes a long time for your belly to get small?" Ha, kids. We've had a few questions when it's come to feeding her and Sawyer's funniest one was, "She eats out of your elbow?" After explaining how it works (again) he seems satisfied with the answer and hasn't asked anything about it since. And, lastly, he excitedly told me that his baby sister is "so beautiful and awful!" I asked if he meant awesome since awful usually means bad and he said, "Oh yeah, that's right. She's beautiful and awesome!" 

Dawson

Dawson has been obsessed with Wren's umbilical cord. He saw it in the hospital when it was still pretty good sized and then when he saw it at home, he was alarmed and said, "They take her big cord!" I said it was still there, just tiny now. So now he asks to see her cord at least a dozen times a day. After trying to share food with her, we told him that she can't have food yet because she doesn't have any teeth. And he thinks that's just the most interesting and funny thing and will point to her mouth and ask, "She has no teeth?" He likes to pet her head and tell her, "It's okay, I'm here." And I really just hope that he continues in that vein as they grow older. He shares his wubbanub monkey and flamingo blanky with baby Wren which is a big deal since those are his big ticket comfort items. He loves her and is sweet with her little baby self and I'm just so glad and relieved. 

On a separate note, the week we brought Wren home, Dawson figured out a way to climb out of his crib. This friends, is terrible news. Dawson is horrible to put to sleep 75% of the time and needs to be trapped in a toddler cage in order to go to sleep still. We plan on moving him in with Sawyer but, not yet. Thankfully, Dillon figured out that Dawson was using the rocker as a go between with the crib and the floor. So we moved it across the room and Dawson is back to staying in his crib (for now). 

Wren

Wren has been pretty chill so far. She actually has me enjoying the newborn stage again. Sawyer was an easy going baby for the most part but Dawson was hard and really high maintenance and since he was freshest in my memory, I was nervous to have a tiny, needy person again. But Wren has been a really good sleeper and eats regularly but not the grueling every 2ish hours that Dawson did. She takes at least one long break (like 5 or 6 hours) and then generally eats around every 3 1/2 hours. It's such a doable system. Speaking of eating, she and I have had the smoothest nursing experience of the three. Not to get too graphic, but there has been zero damage to sensitive parts of my body and very minimal soreness as they get used to this feeding thing all over again. She's our first baby that has had good bilirubin levels so we didn't need lights and she didn't need to be poked a million days in a row to keep getting checked. She might hate me later in her life for sharing this but, she poops all.the.time (which probably contributed to her good bilirubin levels). And it seems like it's always during the night. Which is unfortunate because she sleeps so well during the night that I only have to feed her twice, but I'm still up what feels like a million times because I need to change her diaper. At least she stays sleepy for the most part during those changes. Her poor little cord had the nastiest smell. My boys' didn't have an odor that I remember but hers seriously smelled like death as it was drying up. Thankfully it fell off around day 9 and the smell eased up.

Dillon

Dillon actually got to take a some days off work with this baby and it made a world of difference. In the past, it just didn't work out that he was able to take days off aside from the actual delivery/hospital stay days. But this go around, he was with us almost a whole week and he took over the cleaning and cooking and was really just a star of a partner and it definitely saved my sanity. Plus the boys really loved having him home for that extra time. They love their dad. 

DaNae

Even though delivery went pretty smoothly, I still was inevitably sore and was surprisingly stiff and sore in my lower back from the epidural. Zero regrets. It took a few days before I could maneuver without wide legs and shuffling steps. The after pains this time sucked hard and took about a week before tapering off and finally disappearing. But all in all, I felt pretty decent by the time Wren's actual due date rolled around. Still plenty of healing that needs to happen but my body is so miserable by the end of pregnancy that it's amazing how much better it feels just a week after delivery. 

I've really been trying to soak up all of Wren's cuddling because I know that this newborn stage will just fly by so fast and she'll likely become a lot less snuggly because she would rather discover the world just like her big brothers did. I've also been trying to balance being there for Sawyer and Dawson. I feel bad when Sawyer will ask if I can have a sleepover with him or play a game with him and I have to tell him no in the moment because I need to nurse the baby. Slowly all those moments with him and Dawson will be worked back into a regular system. Mom guilt is hard and balancing kids needs is hard. I want them all to know that they matter to me. 

New baby and mommy selfie. Both of us looking tired and puffy.

She's not super into the binky but we'll keep it around in case she changes her mind. 

Just sweetly loving on his baby sister.

Having a turn. 

Having a short awake moment.

So tiny in her car seat. 

First (sponge) bath at home. She wasn't a big fan.

I always take a million pictures of my babies when they sleep. It never quite seems to capture the magical sweetness in the photo, but I'll still keep doing it. 

Trying to capture her pretty awesome double chin.

Hanging out with Wren while she sleeps.

Visit from some of Dillon's family. Grandma Ronna, Kristin, Mike, and Allie & Mason. 

Showing them how he fits in his shark blanket so he can use it as a costume.

Being his silly self with a baby pool floatie. 

I took him for a very short one-on-one outing to get a chocolate Harry Potter wand. 

PSA: They are way too expensive but I had already told him all about them and he seriously loves Harry Potter. Plus, that little grin. 

D: She doesn't have any teeth? Me: Nope, please don't stick your fingers in her mouth.

"Hi baby sister, I'm here."

Grandpa Dale made sure to get her some onesies that related to their relationship.

Out for our first walk. My pelvic bones weren't quite ready for how long of a walk we took but, we'll get there. 

My three babies. 

Just trying to haul some river rock home.

Really living in the, "Can't give a genuine smile to save his life" phase. 

Everyone loves dad (and I don't blame them). 

Wren's Birth Story

Let me just begin by saying that all of the stars aligned for this birth and everything about it just really seemed to work in our favor. Baby girl was still a week away from her due date (July 25th) and I had just had my last in clinic appointment, rocking a 2+ dilation and contracting all the stinking time. I wasn't planning on her coming earlier than the 24th since Sawyer had only come two days before his due date and Dawson, just one. My mom had invited the boys to have a sleepover with her and my dad Friday night (the 19th) just to give everyone a break I think. So Dillon and I made plans to have a very casual date night since it would likely be the last for a little while. 

When we dropped the boys off I remember thinking, "It sure would be nice if we could just have the baby while the boys are already set up at my parents, but there's no way we're that lucky." And so, Dillon and I set off for part one of our date night- grocery shopping ha. It was actually nice to be able to wander around together and it was doubly nice to basically have a stocked house right before giving birth. After Wal-mart, we went and picked up dinner then came back home to watch some of our Netflix list. 

I managed to get some sleep but was up pretty often in the night due to bathroom trips and my back muscles being extremely sore and achy. I mostly just figured that my grocery store strolling was just too long for my poor, tired body. But at about 4:00 am the morning of the 20th, I made another bathroom trip and noticed that I had lost my mucus plug (I wish there was a nicer way of describing that, but it is what it is). The same thing had happened with Sawyer, followed by contractions but I didn't go into legit labor with him until two days later. So I decided to kind of hang out for a minute and see. I started having contractions right away but wasn't fully committed to the idea that this was the real deal. I decided to take a shower since I wouldn't be sleeping anyway and, if I was in labor, I would at least be freshly cleaned.

While I was in the shower, my contractions became more intense and I knew that we were going to meet our baby girl that day. I timed them and they were about six minutes apart. I got out of the shower, decided to eat and start getting ready, and I woke up Dillon to tell him we were having a baby. About an hour had passed since my initial contractions and they had already gotten much closer together- 2-3 minutes apart. They were definitely uncomfortable and I would stop to rock my body through them but I decided to finish getting ready before heading out. I wanted to wait long enough that I was at a good dilation and they wouldn't question whether or not I was really in labor but not so long that I was pushing baby out in the hospital lobby (which for my body, is a really fine line. when it's ready to go, it's ready to go). 

Dillon and I both finished getting ready and hopped in the van. I called my mom to let her know that it was go time and that we were stopping by to drop off the boys' bags. We stopped in for literally two minutes. The boys happened to be awake so we told them that we were headed to the hospital to have baby sister. Sawyer excitedly hopped off the bed and asked, "Can I bring my sword?" He was all ready to come with us and meet his sister, toy sword in hand. So we had to explain that he was staying for now but that Grandma and Grandpa would bring him and Dawson to meet her in just a few hours. We gave hugs and kisses and knuckles and then were off to the hospital.

We arrived at the hospital at about 6:30. So at this point I had been having contractions for a little over two hours and they had been 2ish minutes apart for an hour. As we were checking in and giving all of our information to the front desk nurses, they asked for my provider's name. When I told them Dr. Gatherum they replied, "Oh he's out so you'll be seen by Josie instead." My initial reaction was, "You've got to freaking be kidding me." Which I didn't say out loud, I just told them that he had joked that I couldn't have her two days ago because he would be gone at Girls Camp, he didn't say anything about the weekend. And then my mind came around and I said, "Well, this baby is coming either way and I'm sure Josie will be great." (I'd heard really good things about her).

I then told them that my babies come fast, my first two labors were only 4 1/2 hours each, and that I had already been in labor two hours and would really, really love to get an epidural. They were the best group of nurses I could have asked for and instead of doubting me, one of them immediately called the anesthesiologist while a couple of others led me into a room to change, be checked, and be monitored. 

When my first nurse, Nurse Jess, checked me I was already at a 5 1/2 dilation and so, was not going to be sent home. All of the checking in, changing, and being checked actually happened really fast and it was only 6:45 at that point. Technically they still had to monitor me for a little while but they only had to do it for 20 minutes instead of an hour and then I was full on admitted and "officially" having a baby. 

When my second nurse, Nurse Vicki, came in to do my IV I explained to her how much they had struggled placing it when I had Dawson. It had taken them over an hour and they ended up giving me a local to get into a much deeper vein. So I told her that if she needed to do that, feel free, and do it right at first. She was a champ and said that that sounded like a deal. But she actually managed to get it on the first try but she definitely had to use some force and special finagling. As she was placing it she exclaimed, "Man! You have really thick skin!" Ummm.. thank you? We both just laughed and then she said that's probably why they struggled so much last time. They had to use so much pressure to get the needle through my skin that it would then cause my much more fragile veins to pop instead of holding. So anyway, I have thicker skin than normal but Vicki is a pro and my IV was placed within minutes. Contractions were still nice and steady and the baby was doing great.  

Around 7:30 the anesthesiologist walked in and said, "They tell me that you go fast. So my question is, do you want light or heavy on the epidural?" And without blinking I was like, "Heavy." To which he replied, "Yep, when you go fast, heavy is really the way you want it." I couldn't agree more, sir. 

Everything was set up and my epidural was in place by about 7:45 and now I just had to wait (and hope) for it to kick in. When he was placing it, I felt a little zapping sensation run down my left leg so we knew that meant my left side would be feeling it more. I was just hoping it didn't mean that my right side wouldn't be numb at all. But by about 8:15 I could tell that both sides were becoming less painful, although I still had more sensation in my right side than my left. At about this time the midwife, Josie, popped in. We are actually the same age and totally know each other so once she saw my face she said, "Oh! I know you! I was wondering because I didn't think there could be too many people with the name DaNae around here." We talked for a minute and she asked if I was okay with her delivering my baby. I told her absolutely, that I'm sure it would all be great. She offered to break my water but said that we definitely didn't have to if I didn't want to. I decided to wait since there was really no reason for it, I was still numbing up, and baby girl was still doing really well. So Josie said she'd check on me a little later. 

Nurse Jess came back and checked me again and I was already at an 8 1/2 dilation. From a 5 1/2 to an 8 1/2 in about an hour and a half. My body means business and I love epidurals ha. 

An hour or so after I had gotten the epidural, I had straight up dead legs. Like the heaviest, deadest of all dead legs. My right leg I could feel if it was touched (but no pain) but my left leg had zero sensation. Dillon got a kick out of that and kept poking me to see if I could feel what he was doing. Labor is so much more lighthearted when my body is doing the work while numb. My heavy, unfeeling lower limbs meant the epidural was definitely doing it's job. I ended up needing a couple shots of ephedrine at that point to even out my blood pressure. I was definitely feeling weak and sick but bounced back once the ephedrine kicked in. Dillon was sweet and comforting while I waited to feel better, helping me drink water and offering encouraging touches here and there. Such a good husband. 

At 9:00 am Josie popped back in to inform us that Dr. Gatherum was going to be delivering our baby after all. He had come back into town and called in and the nurses had let him know I was there and sitting at an 8 1/2, but not for long. So he said he would hurry and was on his way. He got there at 9:30 and said that he had been up the mountain camping with his wife overnight and she had told him that they should head back early because one of their kids had an event to get ready for. I joked, "Well thank goodness for that!" He agreed and told us he was glad he didn't miss the birth. 

He asked about breaking my water and at this point, I was good and numb, had been in labor for about 5 1/2 hours, and figured baby girl was probably ready to come out anyways; so I agreed to let him break my water. After he broke my water, things were chill for a minute and then for some reason, my blood pressure went weird again but in the other direction. I felt completely fine, baby was doing fine, but my blood pressure had shot up. The nurses were monitoring me and were on the verge of giving me medicine to bring it down when it decided to level out back to where it had been and things were back on course. 

At 10:10 Dr. Gatherum came back in to check me and see if we were ready for pushing. Sure enough, my body was ready and it was time. They got everything all set up and I laughed/apologized for being zero help with my own legs as Dillon and Nurse Jess helped to lift them. Nurse Vicki asked if I remembered how to push to which I replied, "I think so." She told me to go ahead and push since I was contracting and I soon as I started, Dr. Gatherum said, "Yep, she remembers. Baby is crowning!" I pushed again and her head was head out, pushed one last time and her body was out and baby girl was here and crying her sweet little newborn cry. It was about 60 seconds of pushing, all using the same contraction. It was seriously incredible. 

As I held our newest baby while all the aftermath was being taken care of, I couldn't believe how smoothly everything had gone. There had been just the tiniest of hiccups here and there but I was in awe of how everything had worked out and was just so grateful that she was with us and we both were safe and healthy. She was perfect, delivering her was just about perfect, and having her on the outside in my arms while Dillon looked down on both of us was definitely perfect. 

Wren Stevie Thatcher
7 lbs 13 oz
19.5 in

Named after her daddy whose first name is actually Steve, as well as her Papa Steve. Two of the best guys to be a little namesake for. 

  

The boys were so excited to meet her! Dawson's attention only lasted for a little bit and then he was over holding her, but Sawyer was fully into it and liked loving on his baby sister.

Dawson was especially intrigued by her umbilical cord.

Tiny newborn feet.

With Grandma Paula.

With Grandpa Dale.

Wanted another turn holding her. I love how he's looking at her and that he loves her so much.

Mommy and baby selfie.

She looks so much like Sawyer to me. Sawyer with a bow. It'll be fun to see how she changes as she grows.

Ready to go home. Not pleased at being put down and propped for a photo.

July Before Adding a Third

I wouldn't say there's enough for everyone to get their own update this time. July hit and it got hot and I became significantly less fun, though I am trying. We all are just in full on survival mode until baby gets here. She tricked me good in the middle of the night on July third with contractions that were six minutes apart and lasted a good five hours. BUT they never got closer together and never got more intense and then they just went away. So that was just a practice sleepless night. I'm more than ready for it to be the real deal. Sawyer has been really emotional and anxious and basically acting like a teenager. I know he's also experiencing some boredom because our days have been feeling monotonous so I don't entirely blame him. When he was at my parents most recently, he spotted smoke coming from the neighbors house and they thought nothing of it at first, but then Sawyer was like, "It's big smoke!" and sure enough, it was a house (technically backyard) fire. So my dad called 911 and the firetrucks came to put it out (which scared Dawson, they had to explain that those were the good guys). It all got settled and the house was okay, the backyard not so much. Dawson has been his same little self and made me laugh when we were outside and he was pitching to himself so he could hit baseballs then he would run around the bases and yell, "Sawyer, say me good bustle!" So Sawyer would tell him "good hustle" and Dawson would slide into home. Dillon has been on fun patrol with the boys once he's home from work. Their favorite right now to play with him is "hide and keek" according to Dawson. They especially love to play it outside. I hear them all take turns counting and then it's quiet while they look, followed by the best little squeals once they're found/have done the finding. 

We skipped out on traveling this year for the 4th of July (which seemed especially good after my July 3rd contractions) and even skipped our town's parade and opted for the lake instead. It was definitely the right choice for these little boys. 

We took each boy on their own little one-on-one date before the baby. We took Sawyer to see Toy Story 4. 

And it was nice to spend time with just him. 

And then the next week we took Dawson for some ice cream and let him pick some new baseballs at the store. 

Stealing Dad's ice cream. 

I think Dawson loves his dad a little bit. It was so nice to spend time with just little Daws. He doesn't get near as much one on one time as he probably should. Balancing kids is a tough job. 

Home Depot work shop. Building and painting tow trucks. 

I didn't catch her big rolls and jabs but I was at least able to get some of her hiccups. 

Take my smile? 

One of my more desperate attempts to entertain them. Look! Sparkly pipe cleaners! Bend away ha. 

We hit up the July Jamboree. It was a quicker visit than usual because my 38+ week body was feeling it. But the boys, especially Sawyer, really enjoyed it. He kept running up to each car and shouting, "Look at this one! It's so beautiful!"

Just using his sister as a pillow. 

Had to document them playing with the lite brite together so nicely. Most of the time it's one of them pestering the other which ends in screams and/or punches (usually Dawson) and me reminding them once again that they need to be nice to each other. Brothers man.