4 Days Old

Gage had a brief check-up at the Dr's office today. Since he is a nursing baby, the Dr. wanted to make sure he didn't acquire Jaundice. He was born Friday weighing 7lbs 15.6 oz, & left the hospital Sunday weighing 7lbs 10oz. Today, he weighed in at 7 lbs 10oz again, so we have to take him back to the Dr's office on Friday to get weighed again. The Dr. said he does have a touch of Jaundice, so he needs to get some sunlight. When we returned from the Dr's office Gage went sunbathing. Thank goodness for sky windows in our living room. He is such a good little baby. He sleeps most of the day & night, & he just LOVES to be held.

I've also captured a few pictures of his many nap time faces. So funny.

Imitation

I've been told by many that McKenna is going to be a great Little Mommy's helper. I've never had a doubt about that. What I didn't know, was the extent as to which she would be taking it. She just amuses me. All I have to say, is good thing we have 2 hand breast pumps (one for each of us). She even had to make sure she took her pump with her to daycare today. Jason couldn't resist taking a picture of the 2 of us this morning nursing....myself, nursing Gage, McKenna, nursing "Ba". I won't post it, but will bring it out for her to look back on later in life to laugh at.

I've also noticed the kids needing to imitate the baby. I now know we can't leave any pacifier out, or they find their way into the germy little hands & mouths of Kenna & Zander. We've caught them both trying to hop into the swing too. Zander did get mad when we took his Monkey out of it to replace it with baby Gage. I think the eyes in the back of my head are growing larger everyday, with all of the things I see them trying to get into.

Overall, I think the kids approve of Gage. First thing in the morning they both ask for him. McKenna thinks Gage is another baby doll for her to tote around & play with,....which we are working on. As for Zander, Gage is a neat little toy that he can show us where all the body parts are. We have to watch him, because he will try to poke at Gage's eyes or nose, just to show us he knows where they are. Normally this is practiced on us, & we have time to shut our eyes, & then praise him for knowing the body parts. It's all a work in progress.

Gage already has a brother & sister that love him to pieces.

Gage is here!

Gage Grady Bartel arrived at 3:26pm on Friday July 25th weighing in at 7lbs 15.6 oz & measuring 19 1/2 inches long. He is a beautiful little baby with adorable dimples on both cheeks! SO cute. The hospital staff said they had a full nursery that weekend, & Gage was surrounded by little screaming baby girls. I guess he just looked around & didn't even whimper. He can thank McKenna & Zander for getting him accustom to screaming from the womb. Overall he is a happy baby, & only cries when he's hungry or gassy.

Here's the Labor Story:
I checked in at 7am, & received the Epidural by 8:30am. About 1 hr later, came the Pitosin. At 12:30 the Dr. broke my water. At this point, the Epidural was working, because the nurse told me I was having steady contractions, which I could only feel a bit of tightening from. Not even 30 min later, the Epidural wore off & on came full blown, very painful contractions. (my Epidural stopped working with Zander's delivery as well). The Anesthesiologist came back in to give me a "different" concoction, which only led me to be paralyzed in my right leg & still no pain relief. I must admit, looking back, it was pretty funny, because my leg kept falling off the table & Jason had to keep putting it back up. The Anesthesiologist was prepared to give me another Epidural, but at this point, Gage was almost here. (boy did I cry like a baby!) After about 1 1/2 hours of pushing, out came Gage! He starting coming out so fast that the Dr's scrubs weren't completely on & she had just put her gloves on. This hospital was pretty laid back for our taste, as they didn't even weigh, measure, clean or put the eye cream on Gage until over an hour later. Once all cleaned up, he slept in our arms for the whole night. He is just a little slice of Heaven... a mixture of both McKenna & Zander, so it will be interesting. I will post more pictures later. Here are some from the hospital. So far he's nursing great & already turning into a Mommy's boy. We couldn't be happier.

Check out those dimples!

Fun Times

So today was all about McKenna & Zander time. I was trying to give them as much attention as possible, seeing that they will be sharing even more of me come tomorrow, if all goes well with the delivery. They are such good kids. Today I was looking through the living room window at them & as soon as they saw me they said "I Love You Mommy!" (Z said "wuv",...not quite there with saying love...just like the TV is the TB, no matter how hard he tries to get it right) They just melt my heart. I'm noticing I have to look hard to see the "baby" in McKenna, & Zander, well; he still has a lot of "baby" in him yet, but I can see it fading fast. I will cherish these times. They are so fun to be around & the things that come out of their mouths just amaze me.

Only 13 1/2 more hours before we check in to the hospital. I'm getting nervous & anxious! Yikes!

32 Hrs & Counting...

Well, I've been off work since Monday, thinking that I would be holding Gage by now.....but Gage has other plans. I went to the Dr. again today for my weekly appt. I am scheduled for 7am on Friday for Gage's arrival. I'm almost half way there (seriously already!) , so the Dr. thought this would be a pretty fast one. (She also thought I would have had the baby over 2 weeks ago, so we'll see if her prediction is right). We're so ready, yet we're so not!! 3 kids, 3 & under, what have we signed up for?! I'm really anxious & nervous. I guess it's normal considering what has to "happen" for the baby to actually come out. Not a fan of labor....BIG fan of epidurals though. Thankfully my Dr. is as well, as she said I could check in & get the Epidural first if I would like,....hmmm.....YES! She said she wants to make this as painless & enjoyable as possible. I can't really say the whole birthing process was either of the two for me, but the outcome sure is beautiful. I can't wait to lay my eyes on this little kicker in me. I wonder if he too, will be a spitting image of his Daddy like McKenna & Zander are. Only 32 more hours before I can begin to find out. McKenna is all set to help with the baby, & Zander, well, he knows that there is something in my belly we call Gage, however; I highly doubt he has the slightest clue of what is to come. It will be interesting, especially since he is such a Mommy's boy & he will now have to "share" me. Until their world gets shaken a bit with a new baby brother in the house, they are having the time of their lives getting spoiled with attention by Nana (my mom is staying with me for the week) & enjoying the beautiful weather. Just yesterday they wanted to run through the sprinkler, so we put the swim suites on. It wasn't more than 2 min before I saw 2 naked buns running around the yard. Oh the joys of being young & carefree!



I will post another update once we are set up at the hospital. (at least that is my intention)


Say some prayers for this little soul's safe journey into this world.

Yes, I know that I am the size of a House

So I'm borrowing this post from another blogger who couldn't have stated it better: (Yes, that is the view of my belly this morning)

For all of you women out there who have been pregnant, you know that some people just don't know how to resist the urge to comment on how you carry your baby. Like we have a choice in the matter right? I have been thinking a lot about it lately because I get comments that range from all over the board from, "I looked way more pregnant!" to "You are sooo much larger than I ever was." to "you really are ready to pop aren't you?" or my favorite, "Girl, you aint gonna make it 4 moe weeks, you too big!"
So, my question is why do people feel it is okay to comment on the size of a pregnant woman or compare a pregnant woman to another prego woman when you would NEVER do that to a normal person? Like we don't all ready feel fat-we don't need comments to make us feel worse about our current state! You would never say to a friend, "you look sooo much older than so and so." or "You have way more wrinkles than so and so." Or, "your butt is WAY bigger than so and so". No, we would never say these things. Why? Because they are hurtful and rude and obviously comments that are not thought through-so why friends, why do people think that it is okay to comment on this uncontrollable thing in a womans life-this should be the LAST time somebody should comment on your body size, because A. You CAN'T control it B. You are all ready an emotional reck and C. we ALL READY FEEL FAT-nobody has to say it!
Some people claim that they are giving a compliment when they tell a pregnant woman that they look so pregnant. Like this is a compliment, ever was a compliment or ever will be a compliment. If you question what you should say to a pregnant woman-if you MUST say something, all you have to say is "You look GREAT!" or, "You have that pregnancy glow". (even though it's just the sweat because I'm overheated) These my friends are comments I will take all day.
I am going to become more blunt over the next 5 days that I have left of being pregnant. If someone says something inconsiderate, I am going to call them on it. If they say something like, "Wow, you are huge." I will say at least I can't do anything about it, maybe you should hit the gym since you can!" Maybe I won't be that rude, but I will think of something witty. If any of you have any suggestions what I can say I would appreciate it!
The thing is, my feelings really don't get hurt when people say stuff to me, it just really peeves me when people say these things ESPECIALLY woman who have been pregnant and should know better. Enough ranting, but let's all be more sensitive to the comments we say to all the prego's in the world! And teach all the insensitive people a thing by voicing our thoughts about how rude their comments are!

Yes, Still Preggers

Well, I haven't blogged in a while, so I thought I would post an update. My last Dr's appt was on Tues. I checked in at 4, peed in the cup, & the nurse pointed me to the room to wait for the Dr. As I'm waiting, & waiting & waiting, I made my way to the hallway to see if anyone was around. By this time I was getting restless. At 5:20, the nurse sees me & puts her hands to her mouth. Yep, I knew it, they FORGOT about me! How can you forget about a 9 mos contracting pregnant woman? Hmm. Well, the nurse apologized & then proceeded to tell me the Dr. left for the night. Just great. Needless to say I received a phone call at work from my Dr. the next day apologizing, & she asked if I could come in for a brief visit, which I did. As of Wed, 3cm dilated & 80% effaced. (sorry to gross anyone out). She did a little procedure on me, that if worked, should produce labor within 24 hours.....well, that was over 72 hrs ago. I am contracting, but nothing consistent. I'm beginning to think I might just have to wait until the 25th when Gage is actually scheduled to make is debut. McKenna & Zander are at Nana & Papa's house for the weekend, so maybe I can get some "nesting" done ....(okay, who am I kidding, I can't even bend right now)
Say some prayers & hopefully maybe even tonight!

Gage Updates

Well, I had my Dr's appt on Tuesday, & all went well. Baby's heartbeat in the 150's. Dr said I am progressing well, & even thought by this weekend Gage would make his debut. Well, seeing that I am blogging right now instead of in the hospital probably means we will have to wait just a little bit longer.... McKenna can't wait for the baby to come out of my belly so she can lay on my again. (I can't wait for that either!)

Until the baby arrives, we are just enjoying the beautiful weather!

It's Tinkle Time

Well, this week is all about potty training Zander. The kids stayed at Nana & Papa's for only 2 days, yet Nana always seems to gets them to start Potty Training . It's were McKenna started & now Z. He says "poop!" when he needs to go (even though it's always a tinkle). He's so proud. Yesterday he said "poop!", so I took his diaper off & he made a mad dash to the potty. Without realizing the toddler toilet seat wasn't inserted, & heard this cry. Yep....there's Zander with his arms & legs wailing, while his little but fell in. I almost hesitated to go get the camera, but the poor little guy was crying, so I scooped him out & rescued him. He's now a little bit more leery to try getting on by himself.

I think my kids are just hilarious. Jason went to a Bachelor party last year, & jokingly brought his "beer goggles" along. Well, the kids managed to dig them out & now need to take turns wearing them. Zander went on a 2 day streak were he would cry if he couldn't have them. First thing in the morning it's breakfast & beer goggles. What a ham!

Happy 4th of July

Well now that I'm finally figuring how "blogging world" works, I can finally update our Blog with pictures & updates....now, where to start?....

• May 30th we signed our 1st home!! It's a beautiful home in the country on a 1/2 acre of fenced in yard. The kids just LOVE it! Just in time to welcome a new baby....not in the best condition to be packing/unpacking though. Apparently my uterus was irritated with all of the moving & lifting & I ended up in the hospital the next week, (2 times) to be monitored. 5 contractions in 1 hour. I received a shot to calm down the tummy & I went back home.


• McKenna started her Summer Pre-School program. It's her first time in a real classroom at a real school! I dropped her off & she made herself at home right away & started playing with all of the toys. About 5 min later the teachers made the parents leave & told us it will be harder on us than the kids. I didn't even get a chance to cry! I asked her who her friends are & she only gave me boy names.....hmmm. She's growing up way too fast!


• About 2 weeks ago Jason was in his annual "Neenah Street Ball" Competition. The kids & I went to cheer him on they loved it. Grandma & Grandpa Bartel came to watch & spend some time with the kids. They took 3rd place for their bracket.


• July 4th we went to Aunt Tania, Uncle Chad & Brecken's house for a cookout & then walked down to the river to watch the fireworks. The kids had a blast swimming with Brecken in the kiddie pool & running around EVERYWHERE before the fireworks started....which finally happened at 10:20pm. Needless to say, Zander fell asleep. McKenna was a trooper & stayed awake for the finale.

We are really enjoying summer in our new place. I am looking forward to Maternity Leave so I can spend the summer with the kids. NOT looking forward to the sleep deprivation. I feel like Gage will make his debut any day now. Next appt is on the 8th, so I will post more pictures & updates then.