2 weeks in

Now that I've had a little time to adjust to the reality of having two kids I thought I should write a little update about how it's going. First of all, babies are so easy. Even her big problems seem so much smaller to me than they did with Byron. I remember calling my mom crying, because Byron "always wanted to be held" and I "couldn't get a minute to myself." Now I feel like sitting there holding a newborn IS a break! It's this toddler that still exhausts me on a daily basis. Okay, so I miss the sleeping through the night thing. She still sleeps more than Byron did. He would wake up every 2 hours on the dot and nurse for 40 min. With diaper changes and burping that translates to like 30 min of sleep in between nursing. Now, I remember why I co-slept with him. Lillie, sleeps longer between nursing. Usually 3-4 hours, but sometimes less. Unfortunately she has a little reflux, so that makes for a longer time after each feeding to go back to sleep. I have to keep her upright for a while otherwise it's pukesville. (And not just tiny baby spit up...it's "look out across the room" and "it looks like you showered in spit up.") But this sort of rules out co-sleeping, because she isn't upright enough. So she's sleeping in the car seat inside the bassinet, next to the bed. Ryan prefers this, so he's happy. I miss just letting them latch on and drifting back into sleep, but it will probably make switching to a crib easier later.
Now, about the toddler. People keep asking me how it's going, and truthfully it's not that much different. It just takes longer to get ready to go places. And it does make coordinating bedtime harder. (Lillie's reflux acts up at night, so she wants to be held constantly.) Byron is just as energetic as he was before she got here, and he still doesn't want to go to bed. So that remains the same pain in the ass it was before. He loves the baby, and wants to hold her and kiss her all the time. He's really accepted her into the family much faster than I imagined.

Lillie had her 2 week appointment yesterday. She weighs 9lbs 8oz now and is 21.5" long. She's in the 90th percentile. That is so strange to me, because Byron has always been on the smaller side. He started out higher up there, but now he's right at 50th percentile...so average. I'm assuming she will level off later on. I kind of hope so. I don't want her to be an amazon! She'll have to protect her older brother! haha

Lillie Anna's Birth

Well, I finally wobbled my way upstairs to update all of my internet friends about the new arrival. As you can see she waited quite a while to come out. We decided to induce on Friday morning, because her head wasn't moving off my pubic bone to dialate the cervix. Also, my doctor wasn't on call over the weekend and we wanted to make sure she would be there during the birth. So we went in on Friday morning and they started me on pitocin, and then broke my water around 8am. I had the epidural about an hour later, because your labor CAN progress very quickly after your waters break. That didn't happen to me of course. So I spent the rest of the day dozing off and waiting. Around 6pm my doctor came back and started a Foley bulb to help dialate my cervix. That took me from a 4 to a 6 immediately, and then finally a 7 when they took the whole thing out. Then my contractions got really painful, which I wasn't expecting because of the epidural. Apparently her head pushing on my pelvis, combined with the fact that she was face up made for a very painful combination. I'm no hero when it comes to pain, but the anesthesiologist said that he could have paralyzed me from the chest down and I still would have felt the same pain. The epidural just doesn't work on that kind of pain I guess. Finally, we decided to have me push through my last centimeter while the doctor came down to the hospital. When she got there I pushed for an hour or so, but the baby just couldn't get past that bone, even when we tried several different labor positions. So we used the suction, as I pushed, and within 4 good pushes she was out. I can't explain the feeling of relief to anyone that hasn't given birth, but it is immense. Plus, just to look at her face finally, made the whole thing worth it. I don't think I want to do that ever again, but it was still worth it. haha

Holding Pattern

We're still waiting for the little girl to make her appearance. She's been in position now for 2 weeks, so she could literally come anytime. However, she's my daughter, so she's stubborn. :) I had my 39 week appointment this morning and everything is still checking out great. My weight is well managed, my blood pressure is normal, and she's measuring 38.5 weeks. It's good to know that everything is going well. I'm getting a little impatient though. Mostly because I'm not getting any rest now with my hips hurting, having to pee every couple of hours during the night, and also Byron has decided to be difficult at bedtime, and started waking up during the night. Last night it took me 30 min to calm him down and get him back to sleep. I suppose it is partially to do with the big event coming up, and then we think his allergies are really acting up at night too. He's been very attention hungry lately though, so I know that's at least part of it. We've taken to calling him "the wee fiend" or "dr. jekyl/mr. hyde." One minute he's sweet and cuddling. The next he's rampaging through the house leaving a wake of distruction.
That's two year olds for you. :)
Anyway, I hope the next update will be an announcement and have cute baby pictures with it. (I've been really bad about downloading my pictures lately. Sorry!)

36 Weeks Today

It's the beginning of the end. Now the baby can officially come and not be considered pre-mature. So that's good news, because my stomach is running out of room for the wiggly baby girl inhabiting it. She can't come out of there for 2 weeks though, because my doctor had to have unexpected surgery and is recovering for 2 weeks. Now watch...she'll be stubborn (where does she get that?haha) and come early just to show me who's boss.

I feel pretty good, except for the normal ache's and pains you get at the end of pregnancy. My blood pressure is still holding steady, and I'm not all swelled up like last time. I've done good on my weight gain so far (3 weeks ago was the last check, but I have one on Friday) with only gaining 14lbs. I'm excited to have her so I can go back on Weight Watchers, and fit into my cute clothes again. Is that weird? I was like that with Byron too. I would sit there and watch The Biggest Loser on TV and be jealous that they could excercise. LOL

So I'll try to keep you all posted on my progress. But nothing eventful should happen for another couple weeks.

Christmas Letter 2008

So as some of you know, I planned to send out a Christmas letter this year. Well, Christmas Eve is in 2 days and I haven't done it yet. So I don't know if I will. LOL So I'm posting it here. Enjoy!

Dear Friends & Family,
I hope the 2008 version of the Unruh Christmas letter finds you all well, and happy. I have to say it has been a very interesting year in many ways, but quickly gone. Fast away the old year passes, as the song says, and it is so true. As I’m writing this there are only 30 days until Christmas, which used to seem like a long time, but now has me in a hurry to finish this and get it out.
Byron just turned 2 at the end of October, and has definitely taken on the role of “terror.” He was one already, but it seems to have more ferocity behind it now. (What was I saying about the year passing quickly? I hope this one does!) He’s very energetic, and animated. He does very well with his speech, and other developmental milestones, and for that we are very thankful. He loves anything with wheels, and a motor, but tractors especially. His newest interest is in helping mom cook. We’re expecting another child at the end of January, and it’s supposed to be a girl. Hopefully, the ultrasound is right, because one of each sounds perfect to me. I am curious to see how Byron will handle sharing Mommy, but I think he will be a good big brother. It may take some time though!
Ryan has been keeping busy with work as usual. Diesel prices and hay prices are very high this year, and that has had some effect on business this fall. We’re expecting that to clear up soon when there is no pasture left. He’s still enjoying his new truck that we purchased last fall. We sold the old one, finally, as the end of October. That couldn’t have come at a better time with economy as it is. He’s interested in getting into farming his own alfalfa in the near future, so he will be both growing and hauling.
I’m keeping myself busy also. Besides being pregnant and taking care of a toddler; I have a few activities of my own. I’m still running the Moms Group here in town. Many of the moms had their second child this year or are currently pregnant. So we’re about to double the number of children in the group! I also took on a position as Secretary of our Home Owner’s Association. At times it seems like a very thankless job, but someone has to do it. I renewed my passion for reading this year and it feels really good to have my nose in a book again. Although I don’t think Ryan and Byron are as excited that I found a way to distract myself. There have been several attempts to hide Mom’s books.
This has been a tough year for many people, but our greatest wish is that the holiday season brings joy to each of you. We are thinking of you all and look forward to hearing from you soon.
Happy Holidays 2008!
Love,
Anna, Ryan, Byron & (Coming soon!) Lillie

For your disjointed viewing

Our satellite reciever is on the fritz. It resets itself every 5 minutes, but only when you're watching something interesting. I think it's possessed. Of course I called the DirecTv tech support. They are so helpful "Is your reciever plugged in?" "Is the green light on?" "Have you tried turning it off and back on again to restart it? (I don't need to it's doing it on it's own!) Apparently, most people who have satellite aren't big critical thinkers. So after significant amounts of eye rolling I say to her "Look, it's been plugged in the same way and working for 4 years. I don't think it's a loose power cord."

Tech lady "Oh you'd be surprised what it is...the smallest thing can make a big difference."

So being the smart person I am, and knowing that the reciever is taking a dive, I say I've decided to upgrade to the DVR model. This gets her on the right track to get it fixed. Now we just have to watch the TV reset every 5 minutes for the next week.

It's probably for the best. It will help us get out of a tv rutt! Although, I might have something to say when Grey's Anatomy is on this Thursday and I miss something good. ;)

Crapple Cup

The Cougs won the Apple Cup again this year! WHOO HOO! We have "bragging" right's for the next year now. Although, both teams have lost their quarterbacks, and several other players, which made the teams pretty equal in suckage. An announcer on the radio said they should call it the "Crapple Cup" this year, because both teams were so bad. haha We actually didn't Coug-it this year. We did it the right way, and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat! Ahhh it feels good.

Oh well, a win is a win! 16-13 Cougs in OT....eat that Huskies. ;)