Accident Prone

Little Miss Chloe seems to be quite accident prone.  We have had 0 emergency type doctor visits with Carson...I've lost count with Chloe.  She has no fear and thinks she can do anything her big brother can.  Poor Carson, I ask him not to do things all the time just so his sister won't try to copy him.

In the two weeks that followed Camille's birth, Chloe dislocated her elbow (again, 3rd time) and popped her chin open and had to get stitches.  When we took her to the doctor to have her elbow fixed, he finally just taught Karl how to do it.  He wanted to save us from having to come in in the future.  And her chin, she got four stitches and then hit her chin so many times over the days that followed that she popped her stitches too.  Karl took her back to Urgent Care to redo the stitches, but it had already started to heal so they couldn't do anything.  She's going to have a nice big scar.

So after the baby was born, we had my ER visit, 2 urgent care visits for Chloe, 1 doctor visit for Chloe, and Camille's new baby check up.  We were sick of going to the doctors.

Right after Camille was born, Chloe also got the stomach flu.  There was a night where Karl had to go to class and I was left alone with all 3 kids for the first time.  Some of you experienced mothers out there may think I'm silly, but I actually felt a little nervous.  I had my 2 week old baby, Carson, and then a 2 year old with the stomach flu.  At one point in the night I was simultaneously helping Carson with his homework, feeding the baby, and comforting Chloe/holding her puke bucket in place.  At least Carson is at an age where he is usually more help than work.

But we made it.  Now all 3 kids isn't nearly as daunting...although I still dread having to take all 3 to the store.  I try to schedule all trips so that I only have one or two of the children in tow.

Other November Happenings

My mom came down to help with the baby.  The kids loved having here.  While she is great and helps with the baby night shift, she also helped with the older kids A LOT.  Here's some pics of my older kids being crazy.

Chloe loves putting on the super hero gear.  She usually insists on wearing the Batman cape as an apron. 

Here is sweet Camille.

Our attempt at a family picture at Thanksgiving.

 I took the kids out to try and get a few nice pictures.  Chloe was crying most of the time and Carson kept complaining about how he was tired of holding the baby.  The picture below just makes me laugh...now.  It was very frustrating on that day.

Then I took the kids back home to try again...here is Carson and Chloe being Carson and Chloe.

And here's the best I got.  Camille looks super comfy.

Baby Arrival

My due date for baby #3 was 10/31.  That day came and went, much to my dismay...although not surprising.  I wasn't AS swollen as I was with Chloe, but still swollen.  I mostly just hurt - the muscles under my belly and my lower back were killer.

I really wanted to go into labor on my own, and while my doctor left the ultimate decision up to me, after I was a week late he recommended I get induced.  There were several pros and cons he and I weighed.  His main concern was that this baby would be as large or larger than Chloe.  Chloe had shoulder dystocia and he was worried about that.  The baby hadn't even dropped or anything so he was also a little worried that she was telling us she wasn't going to fit.  I wasn't showing any signs of upcoming labor (no dilation, etc.) so that was the con.  He said he normally wouldn't induce someone unless they were already starting the process.  I decided to go ahead and get the baby out.

I went in for induction on the 6th (at night).  Then the baby arrived on Thursday, January 7th.  The induction went well.  It was my epidural that stunk.  Just a lot of things went wrong.  At first it wasn't covering the pain (still breathing through contractions), then they made me sooo numb I couldn't move basically.  I was numb from my toes to my chest.  They sat me up and then forgot to hold on to me.  I fell back on the bed because I literally had no abdominal muscles.  The anesthesiologist just stood there looking concerned...very comforting.  Then he told me I had a "wet tap."  This means he nicked my spinal dura and I was leaking spinal fluid.

After labor he did a blood patch to fix the wet tap.  After a few days, it became clear it didn't work.  My spinal headache was a  literal nightmare.  After a trip back to the hospital and another blood patch (which means another epidural needle inserted), my spinal head ache started to go away.  I've never had a migraine, so it's hard to compare, but the pain was pretty unbearable.  I tried to take a shower before going back to the hospital and my head hurt so bad I just stood there and cried.  At least there was relief when I laid down.  All nursing was done laying down.  It made me so mad.  I just wanted to hold and look at my baby, but tilting my head down hurt too bad.  At least it got resolved!

So baby #3 joined us.  Her name is Camille Reese.  She was 9 lbs 3 oz and 21 1/2 inches long.  But I think the hospital rushed in measuring her and she was actually longer.  Carson was 21 1/2 and he fit in newborn sized clothes just fine.  I couldn't get her long body in anything newborn sized.

She had her first doctor's appointment a few days later.  She was still down a little on weight, 8 lbs 12 oz and the nurse there said 23 inches at first and then measured again because it is impossible for her to have grown and inch and a half.  She finally settled on 22 inches.

One of my favorite things was she would eat and then enter her milk stupor sleep.  During this sleep, she'd just smile and smile.  Sometimes little grins, sometimes big open mouthed smiles.  It made me smile each time.  She has a cute little dimple on her left cheek.

Carson and Chloe adjusted to her well.  They are both very sweet to her.  Carson seems to like having a little responsibility over her.  He'll volunteer to keep an eye on her as I go to bathroom, etc.  Chloe wants to hold her all the time and says "I hold it, my sister."  She often calls her "my baby my sister."  It melts my heart.  No jealousy issues (yet).

While I hate my double chin, I do think this picture is funny.  I was so tired and we happened to be in the same position.

October

We headed out to a pumpkin patch.  We went to the Pioneer historical one up north (pretty close to our house).  I still think Schnepf Farms is the best one we've done...but who wants to drive to Queen Creek.  The kids had fun.  They rode ponies.  Chloe kept digging in her heels and yelling "Hee-ya."  Not sure where she got it, but it cracked me up.

I insisted Chloe wear her long sleeve Halloween shirt even though it was still too hot.  I guess I'm still not willing to come to grips with AZ weather.  I tried to get a cute pic of the two of them several times...this was the best one.

 

 

 

 

Halloween was fun.  I made Chloe a little bee dress.  Carson's costume was super easy.  It was basically his church clothes plus a T-shirt and glasses.  I tacked his shirt open so it would show.  Chloe got the idea of Halloween very fast.  Carson had talked big about wanting to Trick-or-Treat for hours.  He got tired after 2 blocks though and wanted to go home.  He actually asked me to continue Trick-or-Treating for him while he went home to relax...ha!  I had to inform him that's not the way it works.

 

 

Also in October, I was 9 months pregnant and wanting it to be over.  The muscles under my belly and my lower back hurt constantly.  I was swollen (not as bad as when I was pregnant with Chloe though).  I was due 10/31...but she wasn't born till November...so next post.

September

Apparently nothing happened in September or I only took a few pictures.  Carson had an assembly and here is his school picture.

August 2013

 

In August, Chloe turned 2!  She was in that phase of a very cheesy grin.  Chloe's talking really took off around this time.  I'm wishing I had blogged this sooner so I could talk more on her behavior at 2, but I'll just fill in with what she's doing now (a few months later).

She usually speaks in 4 or 5 word sentences.  She is very good at communicating what she wants.  She definitely knows the "no-no's" in this household, but still chooses to get into EVERYTHING.  She'll even tell me that she is going to be good by saying "My just watch mom, no touch" as she shakes her hand in a no-no fashion.  But 3 seconds later, she's touching whatever it is she just said she wouldn't.  She uses the word "my" instead of "I." 

She likes to inform us that she is a big girl.  She loves to copy everything Carson does.  She isn't nearly as coordinated as Carson was at her age so this results in lots of bumps and bruises.  She trips and falls on unseen things all the time.  She is somewhat fearless, jumping off of couches and beds all the time.

She is also a little love.  Just wanting to be held sometimes.  She'll ask me to scratch her back and always lifts up the back of her shirt so I'll scratch her skin, rather than the outside of her shirt.  She likes songs and dancing.  She is obsessed with my makeup bag.  I have to keep it very high up and do my makeup as fast as possible each morning.

After I do her hair I'll ask her to look at me, so I can make sure it looks ok.  She always says "Beautiful, mom?"...but it sounds more like do-a-ful, mom?  She'll say beautiful after she's gotten into my makeup as well.

We got her a play kitchen for her birthday.  She loved it and played with it all day.  I did not realize how much fake eating I would have to do though.  We got a smoking deal off craigslist.  Everything in the pic below, plus more (not pictured) for $70.  We were excited.  Karl and I did have to spend a few hours the night before her birthday cleaning every single piece of food and all the dishes.  That got old real fast.

 

She knows the best way to eat a cupcake.

Also in August, Carson started first grade.  He was excited.  Chloe wanted to be in every picture.

I know I'm biased, but I think that is one handsome little boy.

Random - Chloe insists on wearing the Batman cape as an apron.

July

In July, we headed up to Utah to see the family and go to Owen's baby blessing.  My sister Jackie just had her third (Owen).  Karl's little sister was blessing her first baby the same weekend, so we divided and conquered.  So I did the drive, just me and the kids.  I was a little nervous about it but it turned out great. 

I think I overprepared, but that meant the kids had lots of options for entertainment.  I mapped out the entire drive, including where we would stop, what restaurant we would go to, at what point in the drive we would watch a movie, etc.  It really helped me to have a schedule.  We also left really early in the morning (4 am).  I was hoping the kids would sleep the first few hours of the trip, but I was kidding myself.  I quietly got them up and put them in the car at 4 am and started on the drive.  They were both wide awake from that moment on.  My kids don't sleep normal in a car.  We've even tried night driving once and they were both up till 2 am.  They still took a nap along the drive, but nothing extensive.

Anyway, we made it!  And that's the important thing.  It was so great to see my family.  We were there for 4th of July and enjoyed the fireworks.  The blessing was great.

Carson and his cousin are only a month apart.  They had fun playing.

 Uncle Tyson helped Carson light fireworks.

Chloe took a very quick liking to Uncle Tyson.  She sat on the couch and snuggled with my sister Jessie and her husband Tyson for a long time.  This is very unusual behavior for my active 2 year old.

In July, Carson did basketball.  I thought it would be a good summer sport since it is played indoors, but practices were still outside.  I love Arizona so much.  He had fun, but even with the hoop at 8' he couldn't shoot the ball high enough to make a basket.  He also got intimidated and would just pass the minute he got the ball. 

 Here he is at practice, running lines and loving it.

 

 

Chloe was quite the handful at practice and at games.  She made a little friend though and they were cute.  One game I was trying to take a few pictures of Carson and in the brief second I looked away, she ran out onto the court.  I ran out to grab her while saying sorry to all the boys trying to play.  That was a little embarrassing.