11 days...

 

It's crazy how much more busy you suddenly become with 3 kids! It's quite the adjustment. Two was easy...but three? It's tough. I'm crazy tired all of the time. Just listening to Macie and Noah fight is exhausting in itself. And then nursing every 2 hours for 25 minutes, that's another exhausting story. Luckily, he is a good eater, however. He didn't have any problems...me on the otherhand, well, Noah ruined me I've decided. This may be too much information, but when Noah was 10 months old, he bit me. He bit me hard. He was getting those dang molars in, and he just chomped down! The cut got infected, and opened up every time he nursed. The doctors told me the only way for me to heal from it, because it was so deep and so bad, was to stop nursing. So, after 10 months, he was done. When Macie was born, the cut opened up again, and was pretty painful for the first little bit. And this time around, it happened again. So, it's been interesting, but we are finally recovering from it. It is getting easier for me. Thank goodness!

I haven't posted anything for a long time. It's been crazy at the Christensen house these days. I'll have to back post a bunch of things. We have been using Adam's work camera, because it works better than ours, and we can't upload the pictures to our computer. So, once we get the pictures I'll do all of the posts for like Christmas and things! But, the real excitement in our house is Baby Jacob. He still is quite the novelty. It hasn't worn off yet. The kids still fight who gets to hold him first in the morning. The love this kid to pieces! A few days after he was home the hospital sent out a home care nurse to weigh him and check his vitals and things. He was good. He was a little yellow, but she just told us to put him in the sunlight for a little while and nurse him a lot. He weighed 8 pounds 1 ounce, so he lost a little after birth, but that's expected. This was a week ago. We took him in yesterday for his 2 week check up, eventhough he's not quite 2 weeks...and he weighs 9 pounds! So, he's a growin! His jaundice isn't a concern, and he's totally fine. He's a good little baby. We've had our bouts of crying and crying...but overall, he's a good baby. If I hold him at night he sleeps for like 3 hour increments. So we'll have to work on that part!

It's so fun to have him in our home, though. The kids love it, I love it, Adam loves it. It's good. We may not have the most clean house right now...or all the laundry done, but we're adjusting to life as a family of 5. It'll take some getting used to, I think. We can't do as many things. The kids and I usually go to Target to just get out of the house. We've tried it...it isn't so much fun. We probably won't be doing it again any time soon! But, think of the money I'll save! Maybe enough to get a bigger car eventually. Our Honda Accord is a little crammed.

And yet, another fight to intervene. This just gets better and better...

 

Nativity video

{We'll try this again...hopefully it'll work this time.}
If you are interested, you can watch the video. Adam read the Christmas story in Luke 2, and the kids "acted" it out. It was pretty funny to watch!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1QkRlIFpCU

The Nativity

 

We officially have the perfect amount of children to do a nativity. Hopefully we can do this as a tradition in our family. It worked out perfect to have Jacob be Baby Jesus. Noah has been talking about being Jospeh for the longest time. I got them in their little outfits, and Noah insisted that Jospeh needed a beard. So, Joseph got a beard. Noah loved it. Macie was excited to be Mary, as well. Adam was supposed to be the donkey, but he backed out at the last minute. Stage fright, I guess. (Adam says: "I won't let my kids make an ass out of me.") It was hard for them to sit still throughout the Christmas story, but they did good. I think just the costumes made it well worth it. They make a good little holy family.

 

 

 

Christmas Sunday

My mom brought Noah and Macie their Sunday Christmas outfits. Last week Macie insisted that she wear her dress from last year. And through a huge fit when I wouldn't let her. It was pretty short, but she loves the dress. Her dress this year is very similar, and Macie was so excited to wear it. She kept asking me if she could wear her pretty dress yet. She looked pretty cute in it, but during the photo shoot, she decided she would much rather sing Popcorn Popping and look through the slip of the dress. We didn't get the best pictures. But, oh well. She loved the dress. Noah got a Christmas sweater. He thought he looked very handsome, and he did. I can't beleive how big they are these days.

 

 

 

 

Picture time

 

Mother of 3

{I don't have pictures...sorry. I thought I'd warn you from the beginning. Pictures make the posts better, however, we have been using Adam's work camera, and it has decided to not let us upload the pictures to our computer. Don't worry, there will be some soon.}

Life with three children is...interesting, to say the least. We came home from the hospital on Saturday morning at around 11. It really surprised us that we were home so early. The paper said they start discharges at 11, and they really meant it. We were on the road home by then. I was ready to go home. I didn't think I could handle any more "La Buena." My roomate spoke Spanish, and apparently really liked the trashy music videos on this particular station. Hmm. Anyway, we went home without calling, we thought it would make for a better surprise. The kids loved it. Macie and Noah can not get enough of him. They fight over who gets to hold him...ALL OF THE TIME. Noah is pretty protective of his little brother. They both are pretty cute with him. Macie still is a little confused, I guess may be the right word. She really wants Mommy time, but only when I go to pick up the baby or when it's time to nurse. Her cries have gotten louder and she has now started SCREAMING. Noah has just started little tantrums, which I'm sure are baby related. We'll see how it all plays out.

My mom and brother left on Sunday morning. They weren't here for long, but it was a huge help to have the kids with them. Knowing that they were in good hands, and we didn't have to worry about taking them other places was a big helper. They were with their Momo, and they loved it. It was sad seeing them leave. My mom left me with three kids. I didn't think I could handle it. Sunday went well. Adam took the kids to church, and it was just me and Jacob. I got in a little nap, but he decided that he wanted to be wide awake for the most part. My milk hadn't come in yet, so he really wasn't into nursing much. I just fed him every like 4 hours. The night went well. He woke up twice, I think. But wasn't up long.

And then reality set in. Adam went to work yesterday morning. My mom was gone. It was me and three little kiddos. The fighting started early. Noah and Macie fought over who was going to hold him first. And then it was who got to hold his head, and who got to hold his feet. And then it was who got the blue sippy cup and who got the green sippy cup. And then it was who got to pick the movie. It just went on and on and on. I was exhausted, so I just watched them fight it out. It was quite comical. They eventually came to some sort of agreement, if you can call it that. But, after a screaming and flailing spell on Macie's part. But, we survived the morning. And I needed a shower.

I remember taking my first shower when it was just me and Noah. I didn't know what to do. Where was I going to put him? So, I usually lugged the swing into the doorway. And then Macie was born. It took more creativity with her. I'd have to get Noah engrossed in a movie, and then put Macie in the baby papasan chair. That worked pretty well. But with three? We have a separate bath. So before the baby, I would just shower while they bathed. It always worked out well. I knew where they were at. But, I still am being cautious about lifting. I overdid myself after Macie and didn't recover as quickly as I should have, so I'm trying to be really good this go around. But, I put Jacob in the papasan, and plopped the kids on the bed with a movie. But they wanted to look at the baby. It was okay. I was clean. Baby Jacob was safe. The kids were happy. It worked out. I felt pretty accomplished after the shower! But then Adam called and said I could come pick him up from work. That was a task. I got all three ready to go and in their carseats. I didn't realize how much work that would be. I even broke a sweat! I am not the kind of homebody person. I have to be going places all of the time. It drives me nuts to just sit at home. Even when I know I have so much to do at home, I just have to get out. But, I think this baby is going to totally cramp my style. I don't think I can handle three kids in a store. It was hard enough getting them into the car and into Adam's office. I think we'll be staying at home a lot more these days. Maybe I'll save lots and lots of money that way! But, we did it. We survived just the four of us. Adam came home early to save me, but for those few hours, we made it.

A home health nurse came to weigh Jacob and check his vitals and things. He weighs 8 pounds 1 ounce, the same and Noah and Macie did at birth. He's a little jaundice, but not terrible. He's a strong little booger, too. He's my big boy. He's a good little nurser, like Macie. As soon as my milk came in, he started eating every like hour and a half for a good 15 minutes. He loves it. Once again, I have quite the milk supply. I pumped a good 7 ounces last night in about 5 minutes. And, it's all cream. It's thick. I know I'll have a healthy boy! Maybe I'll get skinny again, too. I could be in my size 2 jeans again! Macie took every ounce of fat off me, and I was skinny. We'll see if Jacob is as nice! With his good nursing, however, comes the diapers. We had forgotten how many diapers newborns go through. Jeez.

Last night was a very sleepless night. I changed his diaper at about 10. I fed him, and laid him down. About 10:15, he needed his diaper changed again. And now was wide awake. 11, he went to sleep. 11:45, wanted to eat AGAIN. 12, needed his diaper changed. 12:10, another diaper change. 12:30, finally asleep. 1:30, another diaper change and wanted to eat. 3, wanted to eat again. 5, I made Adam take him downstairs while he got ready for work. 6, wanted to eat. 7:30, ate again, and needs a diaper change. It was quite the night, and starting as quite the morning. He just wants to eat and eat and eat. We'll see how Macie likes it later on. She won't be too happy that I'll be feeding him more.

But, I do love being a mother of three. I'm sure we'll work out the kinks and make it a good experience. I have good kids. They have their fair share of tantrums, but I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. Having a third baby makes us feel more complete. I know it's going to be pretty stressful, but I signed up for it! We can do it.

The long awaited…

He’s finally here! A little late, but that’s alright. Baby Jacob Maxwell was born at 3:40 AM, this morning the 19th.

I had a doctor’s appointment on Thursday in the morning. My mom and Cory came into town on Wednesday night, so they stayed home with the kids while Adam and I went to the doctor. It was supposed to be the day to schedule the induction. I was monitored, and nothing was happening. No contractions. No nothing. So, the doctor called the hospital to schedule a time. He thought it would be like Friday or Saturday before they got me in. But…I had hope. He got off the phone, and said we could go as soon as we were ready. Yay! We went home and got the kids ready with what they needed, got everything ready to go. And then made a quick stop to In N’ Out Burger. I figured it was going to be my last meal for a while…I wouldn’t be able to eat the entire time I was there…and a greasy hamburger sounded oh so good! And it was.

We got to the hospital around noon. I was only still about a 3. They gave me Cervidil, which softens the cervix to make it more workable. The only problem with it, you have to keep it in for 12 hours, lying down. Oh, it was fun. I haven’t just sat and watched TV in a long time. It was very boring. We watched a lot of Food Network and HGTV. Adam loved it. My contractions started getting closer and closer and stronger. By about 1 in the morning the Cervidil decided to fall out. Luckily I was already contracting on my own about 3-4 minutes apart. I couldn’t really feel them. I thought I was just lucky and wouldn’t feel the pain. Ha…that was a joke. They put me on the lowest Pitocin dose, and they got VERY intense. They hurt so freakin bad. I can’t believe that I forgot what it felt like and had another one! But I guess that’s why we have more…I had completely forgotten the pain.

Since it was my 3rd baby, they didn’t think the Epidural would be worth it. They thought it wouldn’t wear off fast enough, because they figured I would progress faster anyway. So, I opted for an ITN…I don’t remember what they stands for. But, it is just a shot, like an epidural, but you don’t have a tube and catheter. It was nice. Pretty instant relief. I was loving it. No pain. And then around 3 the nurse checked me again. I was like a 6. Ten minutes later I was an 8. A few minutes later I was a 10. It was finally time to push…BUT, the ITN was wearing off. I could feel everything. I haven’t ever screamed during labor before, until this morning. I could feel all of the pressure and the pain. And then the doctor wasn’t there yet. The nurse told me I couldn’t push. His head was out, and they told me not to push. Are you kidding me? I HAD to push. There was no way around it. So, I pushed. He came out before the doctor got there! His umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck, and his heart rate was dropping, so really, I HAD to push him out.

He looked so little. I thought they would say he was like 7 pounds or something, He just seemed littler than Noah and Macie did. Oh no…he was 8 pounds 6 ounces! I felt so good after labor. Just itchy. But I didn’t have the wearing off effects of the epidural that I had had before. It was nice. I had waited all this time, and the baby was FINALLY out. I was exhausted, but so excited to see him.


Jacob is a healthy baby. He nursed right after birth, latched on and everything. He’s only cried a few times. I better enjoy it while that lasts! I do miss the Rexburg hospital, however. I have to share a room. We are a total minority here, and my roommate doesn’t speak English…it’s interesting. But, we get to go home tomorrow morning, so that’s good!

When the kids came this morning to see him, they were so excited. Macie liked him from a distance, but Noah ate him up! He LOVES him. He giggled and smiled the whole time. Macie finally warmed up to him…but not to me. She is going to be so sad when my Mom leaves. It’s sad. It was the longest I have been away from her, and then she didn’t even want to go to me or look at me. She’ll come around, I’m sure, but it’s so sad! Noah is just excited for Baby Jacob to come to his house.

So, we have a healthy baby boy, healthy Momma – it’s good. Now if we can get through the night. He’s been sleeping ALL day. I’m in for it tonight. And tomorrow we go home!

Today........

We're on our way to the Hospital everyone!!
-Adam

Where did it go?

Notice the baby ticker. There is no baby there. Where did it go? I think it's trying to tell me something...I should have the baby already, dangit! Is today the day??

Sunday.

Noah is getting so big. He's growing out of everything he owns. But, the next size is just huge on him! He's in an awkward stage. We went to Mervyns for their mega going out of business sale, and found this outfit for him. I'm not a stickler on making him wear white shirts and ties to church. I figure he'll be wearing them his entire life after 12, so let him live a little! Maybe that's not the best way to look at it, but he usually just wears a polo and khakis or something...nothing fancy. But, when I saw this outfit for such a good deal, we had to buy it. When he tried it on, I, of course, got all teary. He's such a big boy. Not a baby. Not a toddler. Just a big boy! He loves it. He loves that he wears a tie and has the vest. He looked pretty sharp. Macie is sporting a skirt that I made her. I kind of made it a little too long, but she'll grow into eventually...maybe when she's 5 or so! It's cute though. She looked all fancy. Her poor little hand, however. This was 2 Sundays ago...it is getting better and we only cover it up when we go places that it could get irritated. But, aren't my kids two of the best looking kids??