Borrowed Camera

My mom came for a long weekend when Aiden was a week old. My camera just isn't fast enough and seems to be making all of my pictures blurry. So my sister was kind enough to lend us her really super fast awesome camera that takes like 12 pictures a second or something like that. It is way cool and I would love to have one someday when it is more in my price range. So pictures from that weekend are really all that I have. None of this is in chronological order either. But here are some of my favorites.

Evan sleeping with Aiden.


Kyle contemplating--he looks really tired because he has been. Not sleeping well and not sleeping long enough.


My mom with Aiden.


My mom with Kyle. I think this is the only time that he cuddled with her.


This is one of Kyle's favorite things to do. He climbs on the table and then in the bouncy. If Aiden is in it, he'll lay on Aiden. I wish that whomever it was had never put him in it and shown him how to turn on the vibration. (I really can't remember who it was either).


My mom and Aiden.


My sister with Aiden. She was about three weeks from her own delivery of her first baby at this point. So Aiden will have a very close girl cousin.


Kyle helps me buckle Aiden in to his car seat. He also does it on his own. But he'll do it on the baby car seat whenever we put it down. For some reason, we have a hard time remembering that he does that when we can't seem to get the arm strap out from behind Aiden's back when Evan and I put him in there. You'd think we would have caught on by now--but no :)


Kyle holding Aiden. No one can touch him when Kyle holds Aiden--and he doesn't cuddle him. Aiden just lays there. Now we use the boppy so that Aiden isn't so uncomfortable.


Kyle demonstrating good baby care with his baby and the boppy. If I had taken this picture a second later, the baby would have been covered--even over his head with the blanket. Kyle has done that to Aiden as well. Good thing I caught him.


Aiden had another baby checkup with our midwife yesterday. I am pleased to announce that he is 9lbs 10oz. He's growing, and he still pretty much looks like he did the day he was born. We had newborn photos taken at 2 weeks, so we'll post those as soon as we have them.

July 9, 2010 12:12pm

On Wednesday, we had our last midwife appointment. Kyle usually has his belly measured too and we usually listen to his heartbeat. Most of the time after I get off the couch, he gets on to have it done to him. He climbs right up, lays down and pulls up his shirt. This time he did it with me. I also have a video of him helping Bri find the position of the baby to listen to the heartbeat, but it won't upload to Blogger right now. It's pretty funny how used to all of this he got.


This is Evan about two years ago with Kyle. Kyle was a week old--sorry this is a cell phone picture.


And this is Evan yesterday with our new addition--Aiden Dillon Young. He was born at 12:12 pm.


We had a home birth. I went into early labor about 2:30 am on Friday morning. Kyle woke up at 3 am vomiting and having diarrhea again. So I scrubbed poop out of the carpet and held him through contraction as he vomited in my lap until his grandmother came to get him. We are so lucky that Evan's parents are so close--if only we knew why Kyle has been sick for three weeks.


This was the amazing pool. I got in, but the contractions slowed so Bri said I couldn't get back in until 6 cm dilated. I so wanted to be in that pool though.


I went into really active labor about 6 o'clock in the morning. Just like Kyle my contractions were again in my hips and I have to admit that nothing we tried really did anything to help ease them. I have a feeling that it is just the way that my nerves are placed and I have this to look forward to at every labor. At 10:30 I was able to get in to the pool, Bri took her sister home. They had both been at another birth all night. The second that Bri left, I was in transition. Luckily, Cathy agreed to come over (another midwife that Bri partners with). She got a little lost on the way to our house and as she arrived at 11:45, my water broke and I was pushing. I told Cathy that I couldn't push for two hours (the average length of time for pushing) and she reassured me that it would only be two more minutes. After three pushes and a little maneuvering of his shoulders he was born. I was only about 8 cm dilated when he was born and I did not require any stitches.

This is Bri weighing Aiden. 9lbs 0oz. That is almost three whole pounds bigger than Kyle and a little less than half of what Kyle currently weighs :)


These are the wonderful ladies of our birth. Candice is holding Aiden, she is Bri's sister and helped with schlepping stuff and clean up. Bri was our midwife and Cathy is the one who taught our birth class and delivered Aiden. We can't express how much we love them, how awesome they are or how much we loved birthing with them.


This is three hours old. Look at those cheeks. He is such a squishy baby. He looks just like Kyle did although slightly darker (a little Asiany in my opinion) and chunkier. But he looks EXACTLY like Evan did as a newborn. Evan was dark and chunky. They have the Dillon nose, bum, toes, lips and all that. When will I ever have a baby that looks like me??? I'm so outnumbered.


He had to have his nails clipped yesterday because they were so long already at birth. The only thing that Aiden takes after me in (and Kyle for that matter) is long fingers. I have to say that I did a terrible job trimming his fingernails because they had partially grown with the skin. But at least he can't cut himself now :) P.S. I hate cutting fingernails--babies or toddlers.


Kyle came over and met him for about 15 minutes. Aiden cried and Kyle seemed really unsure. Unfortunately, my camera has been really really really blurry the last few days. Kyle and Aiden both move too which makes it worse. But the look Kyle is giving his grandma is priceless.


Kyle did want to hold him and kiss him, and we'll have to learn gentleness. But Kyle was really
cranky from missing a nap and being ill, so he mostly just wanted to sit on my lap. :)


I was showered and the whole house was cleaned up like nothing had ever happened about two and a half hours after the birth. It was so wonderful. We've just been at home and chillin'. I will definitely be having all my babies this way from now on.

Primary's

Kyle was sick for a week so we went to the doctor. He said to keep him on a simple diet longer as intestines need about 3 days to heal, even when we feel better. After 11 days of sickness, we went back to the doctor. He had not had a wet diaper in 36 hours and had no interest in food or drink. To mine and Evan's surprise, we were admitted that afternoon to Primary's Children Hospital up by the University of Utah.


Although it looks like his arm is broken--it isn't. That is just the coban they put around his IV so he wouldn't try to pull it out, although he did try at times to chew on the line and to chew on the port. The first 24 hours were very pitiful and Kyle didn't really get out of bed, highly different from when he is usually bouncing off the walls sick in the past. This sickness was the first time that I had seen him writhing in pain and waking up screaming because of it. He wouldn't even let us touch him it was so bad at times.

We just got home this morning after spending 3 nights up there. It's funny because I feel so dirty after leaving the hospital, any hospital. It seems so germy, which is not something I usually care about. I want to wash everything.

They still don't know what was wrong and we may never know. But we got him hydrated and made sure that he could keep himself that way without an IV every night. He was definitely feeling better by the time we left and was so bored and irritated with his room. So were Evan and I. Because it is possible he has a highly contagious bacteria living in his intestines (c-diff), we were not allowed to leave his room. So we saw no fireworks (although Evan and I viewed fireworks from up there two years ago when I was pregnant with Kyle) and were not allowed to take walks or do anything outside of the room. So we were very bored and frustrated yesterday afternoon and this morning.

None of us slept very well either. One of us would sleep with Kyle and the other would sleep on the pull out chair/cot. Seeing that I am 39 weeks pregnant, I was just never comfortable. The first few nights every few hours I made Evan change sleeping places with me. Needless to say, we are glad to be home. Even though we got home at 10 this morning, we are now all taking a nap.

Happy Fourth of July, everyone!

First of 28 Days

I've never been this pregnant. It was on this day of gestation during my last pregnancy that Kyle was born. 36 weeks. It is kind of scary to still be facing a probably four more weeks--although I could be facing six. I've never been this big or carried this large of a baby. I've never faced spontaneous labor or false labor contractions. It's totally new from here until the end.

This pregnancy is also very different. I wasn't nearly as sick as I was with Kyle (no surgery or hospitalizations), I've had no high blood pressure, or debilitating pain or insomnia; however, I have struggled with bouts of faintness, joint aches, and reflux. And with both, I've worked hard to improve my boarderline anemia. Even how Aiden is in my body, less responsive and muffled movements, based on placement is so different.

However, the biggest change is this:


It arrived yesterday and I couldn't be more excited and filled with anticipation. It comes with these wonderful women (pictures courtesy of Cathy):

(Bri)

(Cathy)

My pool was missing a piece, awaiting on another client to return the attachment, and so that will come as soon as it can be complete.

If you haven't figured it out. I'll tell you what I mean. I've been too afraid to directly reference it on our blog and I've tried to tell as few people as possible. But I've decided that I am no longer worried about what people think of my decision. I've already dealt with both my family and my in-laws being unsupportive and this is not about them anyway. So here is my worldly declaration: I'm having a home birth in the living room of my apartment with those wonderful midwives and my very devoted husband, hopefully, Kyle will even be sleeping in the next room. But if not, he'll be close by with friends who have gone before in this endeavor. And, for the record, it will be wonderful.

After my last experience with OBs and the traumatic pregnancy where we felt little control or compassion or even validation followed with a disrespectful labor and unnecessary preemie, I couldn't face that again. My body was so violated along with my spirit during the last pregnancy. It was either choose another option or refuse all prenatal care. Because Evan has known Bri for about six years, we had talked to her during my pregnancy with Kyle. We even considered a home birth and were trying to move to a midwife in the hospital when I was scared into a medically unnecessary induction. But before Kyle was born, I did a lot of reading at Bri's guidance. Even before I got pregnant again, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt we would have a home birth with Bri.

We have faced a lot of opposition, but Evan has been on the same page with me from the very beginning. I had to do no convincing. Do you know that if you need three hours to process through your previous birth experience and gain confidence in your ability to birth naturally, Bri will do it with you. If you need to text her at 10 o'clock at night for whatever reason--even if it is to brag about how much iron you've consumed or liquid, she'll respond. You can have a prenatal in your clothing with your child and husband by your side. If you have to go to her house on a Sunday to have your heart listened to--she's available. And if you're all hungry after your prenatal, you'll all go out to dinner and ice cream after. If you need weekend night prenatals--it'll be worked out. You even get home visits. I've gained such a deep friendship and not just a medical professional. And let there be no confusion: she is a trained, college graduate, with medical knowledge and abilities.

So we are planning a birth party, Evan even wants something similar to a Kraft service table with snacks and goodies for during and after labor. I have a puzzle to keep me busy in early labor and we're taking a birth class from Cathy. Cathy is providing me with knowledge on pain techniques, but mostly she is telling me that I can do it. The only fear and anxiety that I still have is over natural childbirth--who really wants to be in pain. But I know that I can, even if Evan, Bri, and Cathy are the only others who also believe.

I am so grateful to be surrounded by loving support this time. My body is respected. My feelings are validated. I am in control (except of the actual time he'll come and of course that drives me crazy :) We will have this baby in our home, in our chosen nest prepared the way we desired, surrounded by what brings us joy. It'll be wonderful. I'll admit though, I'll miss TLC at the hospital because we don't have TV at home, and I love TLC. But, it's a good trade off :)

I feel so confident in our decision. So confident in the ability of my body and the training and knowledge of these women. I feel empowered in my pregnancy. Even though I was friends with Bri before, I feel like the woman that is delivering my baby and seeing me at my most vulnerable is one of my best friends. She loves all of us (Evan, me, Kyle and Aiden) and is as excited for my birth as we are. How could this birth be even better? Who would be a better person to embark on this journey with?

***Note: I started this blog as a way to journal and include pictures (which I often don't print off) of what is going on for the sake of my kids. This post is mostly for Aiden, and could be offensive to some. I've been thinking for several long weeks about what I want to say, and I've tried to put it as best that I can.

Zoo

So the last time that we went to the zoo was for Kyle's first birthday (8 months ago). He was still too young to really appreciate it. I think the animals were too far away for him to focus. Luckily, we have these amazing friends with a zoo pass and we go for free with them---


Aren't they the cutest. Kyle loves their house and every week when we go over he gets all excited pointing and talking (in the serious sound making although no real words). I partially think that it is because there seems to be a never ending supply of food given to him. For example, after the zoo all the kids had peanut butter sandwiches and none of the older kids ate the crust--Kyle spent the next hour, going into the kitchen, climbing up to the table, getting a piece of crust, bringing it to the living room, and eating. But he also loves Gracie (the youngest). Thank you Hyzer's for allowing us to tag along.

This is the only picture I got of Kyle because my camera was running out of batteries--thanks to the other 35 he took the Saturday before. But he was intently telling me something--if I only knew what :)


Kyle really enjoyed the zoo this time and could see the animals and since he loves animals it was perfect. When we saw the monkeys, he pointed and said, "Daddy." Evan thinks I'm kidding. But I am entirely serious. The wildcat was the only thing that he correctly identified, "kitty." :)

We went to the farm at Thanksgiving Point for Memorial Day and I should have taken pictures but I left my camera at home on accident. He loved that as well and everything, especially the cows and horses, were called, "doggie."

Fwancee

Last weekend, Frances came home from Washington D.C. (although after a year, is Utah still her home?? Probably not) to do this incredible bike ride up by Logan and to see people. We went to a bonfire with s'mores (made with reeses's cups--so good). This is how excited Kyle was to see her--and we even taught him her name that day, Fwancee.

These are the two old friends, although I think Kyle was mostly sitting with her because she kept giving him graham crackers. :)


He took 35 pictures on my camera that look something like the next two, but after the camera would click, he would laugh and smile and keep going. It gave him too much joy to take it away, although it did wear out my battery.



And this is 35 weeks.

Mother's Day

I had a wonderful Mother's Day. I was spoiled. I asked Evan to make me Sunday dinner and strawberry shortcake using pound cake. He did wonderful in his cooking endeavors and it has given him more confidence in his kitchen abilities. Hopefully, that will benefit the whole family.

This is Kyle demonstrating his mothering abilities. His bunny is wrapped in that baby blanket. He did it himself :) Don't worry, I only worry for Aiden a little. This is also the smile he now gets when he sees the camera. After, he asks to see the baby on the screen.


This is after Evan and Kyle brought me breakfast in bed. Like I said, I had a very good mother's day.


I just love this picture. I had been gone for 15 minutes to get showered and this is what I found. Being little is hard work.