2 weeks old

Lily turned 2 weeks old on Monday.  Lisa was able to come down from Idaho and take some pictures of her last Sunday.  I have posted some of my favorites that she took.  My brother-in-law Matt is here visiting from Guam and he touched them up with photoshop for me.  Zac's Grandpa Dearstyne passed away a week ago.  His funeral was in Connecticut. Matt was able to fly to Connecticut to attend the funeral, and on his way back to Guam he decided to break up the flight by hanging out with us for the week. 

Lily's 2 week stats are as follows:
 Length: 21 inches - 75% (She grew an inch)
Weight: 7 lb 13 oz - 33% (She gain 4 oz)
Head circ: 35 cm - 21 %

This appointment was also Jennifer's 2 year old appointment.  Her stats are as follows:
Length: 37 1/4 inches - 99%
Weight: 29 lb 8 oz - 83%
Head Circ: 47 cm - 41%

When we brought Lily home, I couldn't believe how big Jennifer's head looked.  Glad to know that she is a little "below average" on her head size because it looks HUGE to me!  Right now Zac is holding Lily.  Jennifer just came into the room and started crying/screaming, "NO!  My dad!"  Out of all the kids she is having the hardest time adjusting to our new addition.  She has also definitely hit her terrible two's with full stride.  If we take our eyes off her for 2 seconds she is into something. 

I forgot to post pics of Lily's last day in the hospital, so that is what these pictures are from.

Eric started school this week.  He has Mrs. Bean for 2nd grade.   His friend from across the street is in his class, so he was really excited.  So far the week went well.  Aubrey doesn't start Kindergarten until Wednesday.  She has Mrs. Earl.  We went in for her Kindergarten assessment and Mrs. Earl was telling us that Aubrey would have to read the list that she had in order to move onto 1st grade.  Aubrey looked at the list and started reading all the words!  She is SO EXCITED to go to school.  Hopefully it won't be too slow for her since she has already accomplished what she needs to move onto 1st grade. 

Lisa was able to win tickets to the Five-for-Fighting concert on Wednesday.  Zac was willing to watch Lily for me so I could go.  It was fantastic!  We thought that it was at the Energy Solutions Arena.  So Matt and I parked at my work and took Trax a couple blocks over.  Justin and Lisa were waiting for us at the Steakhouse in the Gateway.  The concert was in the restaurant!  We walked in and it was catered, we sat at a table and there were only about 20 people there.  It was a private acoustic concert!  I felt like I was at a MTV Unplugged episode.  He talked with all of us, answering questions, signing autographs, taking pictures, etc.  If I would have known that's what this was, I would have definitely "primped" up a little bit.  I was thinking we were going to be around thousands of people at the Energy Solutions Arena.

So Zac decided that while on paternity leave, he is going to grow a beard.  He wanted me to post a pic of his beard.   This is after 2 weeks of growing it out.  I hate facial hair - I don't know why, I just do.  He shaved it off on Monday - YAY!  So far this paternity leave Zac has: planted 6 trees; order 4 tons of gravel and put them around the trees and garden; took the garden down and rototilled it; faced the retaining wall; stained our neighbors fence; and dug out under the deck for a "new room".  And he feels like he hasn't done anything this entire time home.  in addition he has taken the kids to the movies, and helped around the house. He goes back to work the day after Labor Day.  Time has seriously flown by.  He and I both thought that he would be going crazy being at home for a month, but it feels like it has only been a week!  There is still so much to do around the house/yard.

Lily Kristine Nielson

Lily Kristine Nielson was born 08/09/10 at 4:36 pm, weighing 7 lbs 9 oz, 20 inches long. 

The doctor broke my water at 8 am yesterday morning.  It took him awhile to break it but he finally got it.  They started the pitocin drip at 8:30am.  I was having good contractions almost immediately.  About 11 am I asked for the epidural and got it about an hour later.  The entire time I was having contractions, Lily's heartrate would drop down into the 60s-70s, when it should be between 130-150s.  They put me on oxygen to see if that would help.  Nope.  We kept on switching sides for me to lay on to see if that would help.  Nope.  They inserted an internal heartrate and contraction monitor.  Then they decided to put fluid back INTO my cervix to act like my water hadn't broken.  That didn't work either.  In fact, there wasn't anything coming back out, so they were just filling my uterus up which is a problem.  My blood pressure at this time was 80/40.  So they came into my room and gave me a shot to STOP the contractions.  They also gave me a shot for my blood pressure.  Soon after, my doctor showed up and threatened me with an emergency c-section.  They decided to stop the contractions for 10 minutes to see if Lily's heart would go back up.  It did.  So they started the pitocin drip again.  They only wanted to try it for 10 minutes to see what would happen.  When they started the drip again I was only dilated to a 4 1/2.  As soon as they walked out of the room, I told Zac that I hurt like crazy!  I was afraid the epidural wore off.  I told him to get the nurse.  He didn't believe me, but I told him again.  She came in, and I was at a 10.  The doctor came in and was in disbelief.  They even had gotten out the gown for Zac for the c-section and were prepping the O.R. to monitor me in there.  It only took 1 push and she was out!  She swallowed A LOT of fluid.  They had to pump 8 cc of fluid from her stomach immediately, and they pumped her again in the nursery.  We found out that I had a partial placenta abruption, and that is why she was having such a hard time.  (That is when the placenta detaches itself away from the uterine wall before delivery.) 

She had a really hard time breathing.  They told me it was because she swallowed so much fluid.  Her lungs were retracting, her nostrils were flaring, and she was grunting like crazy.  They took her away after I got a brief moment to hold her.  Zac went with them while they were monitoring her.  I finally got to see her again 4 hours later.  As soon as I had her though, she started grunting again, lungs retracting and nostrils flaring.  So they came and took her away again for another hour.  They said they were going to have to CPAP her (?).  When they brought her back, she finally seemed to have gotten the hang of breathing.  I was able to finally nurse her for the first time this morning at 1 am.  She is doing MUCH better today, and hasn't had any issues this morning.

The kids were able meet their new baby sister this morning.  They were more excited about the presents Lily got them than meeting her.  I am so grateful she is doing so well this morning and pray she continues.  She was by far my hardest pregnancy and labor.  I'm glad she's finally here, and that she completes our family.

Cracker Concert

Zac, Devin and I went to the Cracker concert last night.  It was up at the Canyons resort.  Such a great setting for a concert!  We got there early enough to hear their sound check.  (Along with a few vulgarities when the sound wasn't working right.)  We were able to get front row seats.  They played 3 songs during their sound check - it was amazing!  Cracker must have literally just gotten in, because as soon as their sound check was finished, we saw them rolling their luggage into the hotel to go check-in.  It was cold at first, and started to rain on us before the concert started.  I didn't even think to bring a jacket in August!  Luckily, by the time they got out on stage it stopped raining and the wind stopped blowing. 

It was a free concert, so there were a TON of people there.  During their first set, hardly anyone was standing up in front of the chairs by the stage.  During the second set, most of the people were drunk and wanted to dance and it got really crowded.  Kind of annoying considering they didn't even know who Cracker was and they were just there because it was a free concert.  Still worth it though.  This is mine and Zac's 4th time seeing them live, and Devin's 5th.  They always put on an amazing show!  I honestly didn't think I would make it to see them - I have always heard that if you are looking forward to something, then you will definitely go into labor.  During the 2nd set, I started having contractions every 8 minutes, but by the time we got home and I laid down, they tapered off.

Zac bought some Cracker merchandise for himself and Jennifer.  She could barely squeeze into this onesie.  She is not a fan of pictures.  While Zac was trying to take her picture I could hear her say, "Don't want it!"

Jennifer turns two!

 

 

Today Jennifer turns two!  Since I haven't been blogging lately and I need to clear out my camera before the new arrival comes on Monday, this will be a recap of our summer through pictures. :)

The kids really love to play on the slip n slide, but Zac didn't like how narrow it was.  So he decided to make the ultimate white trash slip n slide.  Throw on some dawn soap and mix with water and you will end up with a neighborhood full of kids!  Luckily he got some pictures before it got too crowded.

Eric and Aubrey were on the same baseball team this year.  About 1/2 of their games got rained out this season.  I forgot my camera until the last game.

We were able to make it up to Idaho to see Madison get baptized on the 4th of July.  After her baptism we headed down to the parade.  When the parade was over, everyone was packing up and Jennifer was looking for anyone that looked familiar.  She saw Grandma Parry sitting on the grass and ran over and gave her a hug and sat with her. 

That's about it!  This summer has been filled with lots of field trips and swimming for the kids, and lots of working for both Zac and I.  Today is my first "official" day of maternity leave.  The doctor will be inducing me on Monday if I haven't had her by then.  I was due August 5th - I was really hoping since this is my 4th that I would go into labor on my own, but no such luck.  We are getting ready and are excited for the new addition.  I will definitely be posting again sooner rather than later, especially since there is free wi-fi in the hospital. :)

Memorial Weekend

So it's been awhile since my last post...I figured I should post some pictures so Dad will remember what the kids look like. :)  Zac's been good at taking pictures, I just have been too busy to post them.  Zac has been taking Eric out shooting more frequently.  He says Eric is getting to be a really good shot.  When they don't have enough time to go out and shoot the "real" guns, Zac sets up soda cans in the backyard and Eric and Aubrey will shoot the BB gun (under Zac's supervision of course).

Zac watches the kids on Friday, since he doesn't have to go to work.  Friday's are when Jennifer gets into things.  She is not allowed on the bunk bed by herself.  She has fallen down the ladder several times.  Zac couldn't hear Jennifer playing, so he went into the kids room and saw her on the top bunk watching t.v.  The next picture is what she looks like when she prays.  Another Friday experience is Jennifer getting into the Desitin aka butt cream.  All over her face and inside her mouth.  Lovely. I think Zac needs to pay a LITTLE more attention to her when he watches her.  She hasn't gotten into any markers/cream/bunk beds/etc while I am home. 

Eric turned 7 on May 23rd.  Wow!  He really wanted a chocolate cake for his birthday, and he wanted Zac to make it for him.  For some reason the cake overflowed in the oven so it's not the prettiest looking cake.  Eric thought he could fix it with the decorations.  He really wanted to go to Chuck E Cheese for his birthday.  Zac HATES that place.  So we went there, spent only $5 on tokens between Eric and Aubrey, and were out of there in 15 minutes.  The kids were just excited they got to go.  Eric is REALLY into Legos right now.  He bought 2 lego sets with the birthday money from Grandpa and Nana Powell, and he got another Lego set from us.  He got a Lego castle from Grandpa Nielson.  Lego's are the best babysitter.  Eric spent over 10 hours at the kitchen table putting together all his sets.  He wouldn't leave, and he was SO QUIET the entire day.  He was really proud of himself for putting together the castle all by himself.  The box said ages 8-12, so he made sure we knew that he was only 7 and did it all by himself.  At Christmas, for some reason, Eric really had his heart set on getting a dolphin pillow pet.  Of course, he doesn't say anything to anybody until Christmas when he didn't get one.  So I ordered one for his birthday back in April.  I got an e-mail 2nd week in May saying they were on backorder.  Really?  Dolphin pillows are in THAT high demand?  Luckily it came right before his birthday.

I went to South Carolina again for work last week.  Unfortunately, it was during the last week of school, so it's busier at home than usual.  Zac really played super Dad well - except for doing the girls hair.  Aubrey had her dance recital.  I tried to tell him over the phone how to put her hair in a bun, and I guess it look ridiculous.  I'm glad he at least pulled it back into a ponytail.  The owners of daycare on the 2nd day asked Zac if I was out of town again.  Zac said yes - and they responded by saying they could tell by the girls hair.  Zac said Aubrey did great during her dance recital.  Jennifer really likes to dance also, so he spent a lot of time calming her down during the show, I'm glad he was able to get some pictures for me.   She did a ballet dance and a jazz dance. 

Eric's class gave out the 1st grade awards.  Zac took a long lunch to watch it.  Eric received the Pony Express Riders Award (he worked on it all year) and the Best Boy Smile Award.  It's funny how they make up awards for kids.  I started thinking back and one year I got the "Loudest Singer" award.  Now I'm not so proud of it.  Nathan said that one year he got the "Smallest Bladder" award.  Eric was excited for the award though.

This weekend we headed down to Spring City for Zac's family reunion.  This house the kids are sitting in front of was built in 1894 and Zac's great-grandparents (?) lived there.  It is now called the "Osbourne Inn" and is a bed and breakfast in Spring City.  Every year during Memorial Weekend the city puts on home tours, and this house is always open for tour.  The kids had fun exploring the house. The night before we headed down, Eric woke up saying that his stomach was going "bakka bakka bakka" so he must have the chicken pox.

Zac always asks me when he cuts Eric's hair if he can give him a mohawk.  Zac convinced me to let him do it for just Sunday and he would cut the rest off, he just wants to see what it looks like.  So here is Eric's mohawk.  Nice and redneck.  Goes great with the guns, and the old car in our garage.  

Since Zac is at work all day today,  I loaded the kids up and went to Mom's grave.  Thank you to whoever already put flowers on her grave.  I wasn't expecting to see anything, and her grave was covered.  We got to the cemetery right when they were putting on the Veteran's Service.  Eric loved watching them and the music.