Two and a half weeks

So it's been a hectic time since Koen got here and I haven't had time to update this. Really nothing has happened since he was born. Let's see...I'm trying to do this quickly because Nick is going to be home soon and then we are going out of town. We went to the doctor when he was a few days old and was 5 pounds 14 oz. Then we went for a lactation thing to make sure he was eating alright and he was back up to his birth weight. Then we went to the doctor for a two week check up and he was 7 pounds!! He's huge! Haha not really but I can pretend. Also, I think he has colic. Or something like it. He likes to cry from about 10:30 to midnight almost every night. Nick's family came down to visit us the Friday after he was born and then mom and Kristin came the next Monday. It was really funny to see Kimball and Koen next to each other. Kimball pretty much tried to eat Koen once. It was funny to watch. Now dad's out here and it's been lots of fun having all the family out here. I went back to school last week. Not fun. Oh, so I guess I should write about when I went into labor...So I woke up Tuesday morning and I hurt a little bit but I wasn't having contractions so I didn't think anything of it, but after talking to my mom and sisters, we decided I should call the doctor just in case. The nurse I talked to didn't seem to think it was anything. She said it was normal to feel pressure but I could come in and get checked anyway. So I did. Turns out I was 4 cm dialated, my water thing was pretty much coming out of my cervix, and Koen was pushing down really hard. So the doctor was like, "Yeah, I think it's about time you had this baby. Let's get you to the hospital." Oh, ok great. So we went to the hospital, the broke my water (weirdest feeling EVER), and then they gave me the stuff that makes you have contractions. I didn't get the epidural at first because I could handle the contractions because they weren't that bad, but then they got bad so I asked for my epidural. It took them an hour and a half to give it to me. I wanted to cry. I hurt Nick's hand a lot while waiting for it. Once I got it though, greatest thing EVER. I was completely numb and didn't feel anything anymore. Also couldn't move my legs which was weird. This was about 5 at night (I was admitted into the hospital about 1:30 pm) I think, so Nick and I just sat around and watched tv for a while. My contractions were where they were supposed to be, but I wasn't dialated enough yet so we had to keep waiting. We watched Ellen, and she had Willow Smith on there and she sang that Whip my Hair song. It's weird and I don't like it. Then we put on a movie. Then we put on another one, and by this time it was about 8:30 I think, and the nurse came back and checked me and was like alright, we're going to start you pushing soon. Fifteen minutes later I started pushing. Koen was coming out too quickly though and the doctor wasn't there yet so I had to stop and wait for him to get there. And then by 9:10 Koen was here!! So I had a very easy/short labor and delivery. It's been a great two and a half weeks and I can't believe that I have a kid now. I just love the times when I lay there with him and he just looks at me. I can't even describe the feeling. I love being a mother. Sometimes it's a little bit frustrating because he won't stop crying, but it doesn't really matter to me. I don't know if that makes sense. It's another of those things that I can't really explain. But Nick is going to be home soon so I should wrap this up.

These are some pictures of mommy and baby Koen. He is doing great! Came out 6lb 9oz and a lengthy 20in. He is a really cute little string bean. Enjoy them and we'll update more later.

Koen is here!

another update!!

So I went to the doctor today again and things are progressing!! Koen is now around 7 pounds!! I'm at a -2 station, 2 and 1/2 cm and 75% effaced. I'm going to trust the doctor on this one because the nurse practioner told me last week I was 80% effaced. Not a big difference but oh well. On Saturday night I got really bad pains in my back and today when I described them to the doctor he was like, "Oh, those were contractions." So I asked, "Real ones? Not Braxton Hicks ones in my back?" He said, "Nope, those were real." I told him they hurt and he told me I reminded him of his wife when she was pregnant with their last kid. I like that doctor. Nick likes him too because he speaks Japanese. When he walked in Nick said something in Japanese and so they started talking and me and the nurse that were in there just kind of looked at each other. It's okay though because Nick never gets to talk to anyone. Sometimes our neighbor...Anyways. Back to my son. The doctor says he wouldn't be suprised if Koen comes out in the next few days. He doesn't think I'll make it the nine days til my due date. It's kind of a scary thought for me. I knew it was coming but now he's practically here. I still can't wrap my head around the thought that in just a few days I'm going to be a mom. I will have someone else in my life who, for now, depends entirely on me. It's crazy. Anyway. So I'm going back to the doctor on Saturday because even though he's growing, they want to keep an eye on us both because of my nephrotic syndrome. This makes sense. As the doctor put it, you don't want to get 99% of the flight done perfectly and then botch the landing because then the whole flight doesn't even matter. When I told mom I'm going back Saturday she said he would be born on Friday. Then she said if not Friday, then Sunday because that is the one day that I don't want him to be born. Dad disagrees. He says next Tuesday. I would be okay with Friday. Heck, I would be okay with tomorrow. But, it's all in the Lord's time and Koen will come when he is supposed to.

Koen update!

So a lot has happened lately concerning my child. Most of you already know what's going on but for those who don't here's what is going on. Last Thursday I had a doctor's appointment and found out that at almost 37 weeks I was measuring not even 35 weeks so the doctor decided I needed a growth ultrasound soon. So I got one on Tuesday and found out that yes, he is indeed small. They can estimate the weight of a baby I guess by measuring their abdomen. Koen apparently weighs about 6 pounds and 6 ounces which is small...I guess...but I don't think so. I would be okay with him coming out that size. So back to my baby. The doctor then decided I needed to come back on Thursday for a BPP test. This is yet another ultrasound for my child. It measured my fluid levels, his muscle tone, movements, and breathing movements. Everything was fine except for he is a butthead and would not do the breathing motions. This then led to me being hooked up to a machine with things on my stomach that monitored his heart rate and how strong my contractions were and then I got a little clicky thing to say when he moved. He decided it was nap time so they gave me some juice to get some sugar into him and wake him up and make him move. Which he did. After that they said everything looked fine and I didn't need to worry. Then they measured my stomach and I'm still barely measuring 35 weeks. So I'm going back in next Tuesday for another growth ultrasound to see if he's growing and if he hasn't or has for some reason lost weight then I guess it means that I will be induced. Spectacular. The only plus side I can see to this is that I will know when I am going into the hospital. My fear with not knowing when I'm going into the hospital is that I will go into labor in the middle of class. Or that Nick will be taking a test in the testing center and will have to have his phone off. Those are my fears. Anyway. I'm trying to remember if the doctor's said anything else interesting. Kristin told me to ask about hair and if they can see it on the ultrasound. They can. It looks like Koen only has a little bit of peach fuzz. So, sorry mom, Koen is not going to be a hairy little monkey like you thought. Also from last Tuesday when we were in getting our ultrasound, we had this girl who was like obsessed with his nose and mouth so she gave us a picture she took and he seriously looks like an angry monkey. Nick and I decided this ultrasound would not be going up online as it is not attractive in the least, but for some reason the girl doing the ultrasound thought it was so cute. Dang, I keep having thoughts of what else I want to say in the middle of writing something else and then I finish that thought but can't remember what I wanted to say. It's really frustrating.

In other news, Nick and I are still both in school and it sucks. For him anyways, my classes are fairly easy still. I get to sit around and make flowers. It's quite fun for me. And my teachers are being awesome about when I have the baby. My flower arranging teacher says I can bring him to class, and my art teacher says I only have to come to class once a week and they will alter my assignments AND I can bring Koen with me. Nick is still doing all his crazy math and science classes that take up forever amounts of his time. Earlier this week I went and sat with him while he was in a study group and oh my goodness I honestly felt like I was Penny from t

he Big Bang. I mean honestly. They sat there and threw out these huge words that no one in their right mind would even know. And there were jokes that again, no normal person would understand. But it's okay. Nick's nerdliness will pay off one day. And I have to throw out now that despite his nerdliness, it is part of the reason that I love him. Speaking of my wonderful husband, he has been great these last few weeks of my pregnancy when it comes to me being in pain. He constantly rubs my back because (here is a little tidbit I forgot to mention when talking about Koen) suprise suprise, my child is ON MY SPINE. Which causes me a lot of pain, so Nick helps me by rubbing my back for me. He is great. I also got to quit my job finally. And got my license renewed so now I can legally drive again (not that I know how to drive my car yet). Also one last piece of information about my pregnancy and then I will end this novel. Last Thursday (Oct. 14) I was 0 cm dialated and 0% effaced, and as of Tuesday (because I didn't want them checking again today because it is PAINFUL) I am 1 cm dialated and 80% effaced. Yes, I am finally making progress!!!

So this is something I get to spend part of some of my days doing. Personally I think it's great fun. Nick told me that I should spend my time doing something useful. I think this could turn out to be pretty dang useful one day. Maybe.

So now it's October and I guess that means it's time for my monthly posting. School is still going on and it's still really frustrating because Nick is always doing homework or studying for a test or meeting with a study group. It never seems to get any easier for him. It's incredibly frustrating for me because I never see him or get to spend time with him. This last weekend we got to spend time together though. It was conference weekend and we both took the weekend off of work to listen to it. It was a way good conference too. I love being able to listen to general authorities speak.

In other news, I am due exactly one month from today and I have a feeling this month is going to go incredibly slow just so Koen will be able to kick the crap out of me all he wants. Like now. It seems to be his favorite thing to do. That and get hiccups pretty intensely. I won't be sorry to have that stop in my body. I find that as the time gets closer for him to come, there's more I won't be sorry to see go. My large stomach for one. And the swelling will go down, hopefully. And the itchiness. Also I will be excited to be able to lay on my stomach again. Nick thinks that's really weird but I miss it. I also miss sleep but I know that won't come again for quite some time. Like a year almost...oh well. Really that's all that's going on in our lives. School and waiting for Koen to come out. Also, sorry there have been no pictures. My camera died and since we've moved I haven't been able to find my charger.

September!

So its been a long time since I've posted because since we got back from vacation things have been INSANE. I'm only posting right now because I'm waiting for Nick's huge paper thing to print off. It's taking a long time. So what's been going on since I last posted...We were in Ohio for two weeks and it was great. We went and saw wicked with mom and dad for both of our anniversaries. Everyone loved it. Even Nick. He went golfing a couple of times with Dad and said that Dad kept singing "Popular" while they were on the golf course. I thought that was really funny. Then mom caitlyn and I went to Illinois for the weekend for a shower and to see the family. It was fun. We got a lot of good stuff. I haven't put any pictures up lately either because I can't find my camera charger so it's almost dead. Also while we were in Ohio we discovered a game that Dad absolutely loves and so does Nick, but Mom's not a big fan of it. I'm thinking maybe Nick should get five crowns for Christmas (so if anyone is looking for an idea for him there you go even though it's still a long time away). Since we've been home school has started up again and it's not fun. Nick has no time for anything. He's only in five classes, but it seems like a lot more because all he ever does now is homework. I know in the end it will pay off, but right now it really sucks because I just want attention from him sometimes and he can't give it to me because he has to get homework done. It's ok though I guess. My classes aren't too bad and all of my teachers are willing to work with me after I have Koen. One teacher even says he'll alter my assignments for me and that I will only have to come in once a week so he can check them. And I can bring Koen with me. Speaking of my son, he is kicking the crap out of me all the time, including right now. He moves around so much it's crazy. Part of me wants him to come out right now so he will stop that but then the other part of me is like uh nope not ready for that yet.
I don't really have much more time though until he's here. Six and a half weeks. The doctors say I'm measuring exactly where I am supposed to be and from his heart beat, he sounds good. I'm still working more than twenty hours a week but that's not going to last much longer because the last three times I've worked my back has been KILLING me. It's to the point where I have to pull one of the big chairs from the lobby and put it back by the register for me to use when we're busy. I talked to my boss and she says she's going to gradually cut back my hours. Kind of sucks money wise because we need it, but it doesn't really because the doctor's told me already that I shouldn't be standing for long periods of time...My shifts at work are usually around 7 hours...Other side story. Kristin came and visited last weekend and it was way fun because I didn't think I would see her or Kimball until Christmas time. We didn't really do a whole lot because I was in school and working but it was still way good to see her. And she may possibly be coming again in October and again in November because Kimball has another doctor's appointment around the same time Koen is due so she will get to meet him!! Haha and she might come up again in December if Nick and I need help during finals week with getting someone to watch him. We still don't know what we're going to do while we are both in class...I have a lot of friends who are willing to take him for the hour but we'll see I guess. Anyway, Nick's thing is done printing and I have to get up early tomorrow.