Ethan's Cord

....fell off yesterday. We thought it was going to fall off days ago...but it was barely hanging on. And yesterday it finally fell off. Madison kept calling it his medical cord. :o)

Already?

One week old already? *Sigh* Why is it that the good things have to pass so fast? It's bittersweet, however, because each week that passes means that I heal and Ethan gets to experience all the wonderful things that life has to offer. As he adjusts to us, we adjust to him and our little family of four goes through each day full of love. I hope! But also, this time of him being so new and so teency passes. *Sigh* This past week has been great. I know that these upcoming weeks will pass just as quickly and before long we won't know life without a baby and a 4 year old. It will seem just like life has always been that way. Ethan is, without any degree of uncertainty, ADORABLE and BEAUTIFUL and SNUGGLY and TEENCY and embodies every other adjective for cute and cuddly that Meriam Websters dictionary defines. OH MY GOSH he's so cute. I adore him and he is such a great addition to our family. I am so in love with my family, it's not even funny. To see Madison and Ethan together, although it's all one-sided right now, just melts my heart. Ethan just lays there in all his floppy babyness and Madison just thinks he's great! She is like a second mother to him at times...and such a BIG helper!! Ethan's hiccups send Madison into giggle fits and at any given time she'll blurt out "that's my little brother!" or "that's my Ethan Karter!" She's so proud and excited about this tiny little boy and I can't help but share in that feeling. I think this is what they call bliss. It has been so long ago that Madison was a wee baby, I'm finding there are so many things I have forgotten. Mainly, how much newborns sleep. I guess that's God's design though because it leaves plenty of opportunity for new momma's to catch some shut-eye during the day to rest up for baby care. Also, the bevvy of adorable noises that newborns make: the snorts, the squeaks, the cry before the real cry sets in (which is hardly ever since he really doesn't cry much) and let's not forget how gassy these little one's are. Oh my goodness, how could I ever forget being so surprised to hear that loud noise come from something so sweet and innocent!!!

1 Week

We can't believe Ethan is one week old already. (These were taken today.)
He loves to sleep.
Madison wanted to be in the picture... (big yawn)
This is how Ethan loves to be...swaddled tight with another blanket on top. He is content no matter what but he loves to be wrapped up tight. The only time he cries if he does is when we change his diaper.

Two Boys Watching Baseball

Kevin wanted to spend time with Ethan. When I went to our room to see what they were doing I just laughed. And Kevin's response was: "What? Just two boys watching baseball." They were watching the Brewers. I had to take a picture. Aren't my boys cute? I think so.

Ethan's Bandage

Kevin had to take Ethan to see the doctor on Saturday so they could check his circumcision and than to check his jaundice. I don't remember too much about the bilirubin test when Madison was born. They had to draw a vile of blood from Ethan's foot. It took a while using a catheter to draw the blood and they had to squeeze and squeeze and little Ethan never cried. They were all surprised and amazed. They called back later that day to tell us that his levels were fine and not higher than when he was released. If they would have been higher they were going to bring the lights to our house for the jaundice. Anyway, I took a picture of his little foot all bandaged up. It looked like a little cast almost.

Flowers & Balloons

A Few More Pics From The Hospital

Proud Daddy: right after Ethan arrived.
Aunt Jarrett: she arrived from Nebraska 30 minutes after he entered this world.
Momma with Ethan: waiting for doctor to release us

Big Sister & Lil Brother

I almost forgot to share these. We wrapped up this outfit for Madison and she opened it before coming to meet her new brother. She was so proud to wear a big sister shirt. And...she was so excited that she matched her little brother.
Proud Big Sister.
Not so happy Lil Brother. My friend made this adorable hat.
Another one of Lil Brother. He wasn't so upset here. This is the one the hospital gave him. Madison kept switching the hats.
Our children...their first photo together.

The Nursery

Here are a couple pictures of Ethan's room...it isn't quite finished yet. It looks different now from when these pictures were taken but I wanted to share. Kevin did all of it. Isn't it so fun? There are green smaller circles on the wall now but hopefully this week or soon after we will finish and I will post more photos when it is complete. Kevin informed me that he does not ever want to paint circles again. It took him forever to do them. Thanks Kevin! Thanks Daddy!

Ethan Ready to Go Home Pictures

Here are pictures of Ethan when we got him dressed and ready to leave the hospital. Kevin had to run out and buy the car seat the day before we left the hospital. Thanks for the car seat Grampy and Grandma Carol!! (They sent the $$ for a car seat and we never got around to getting it before we went to the hospital...talk about not prepared.)

Ethan's Birth Story

(I typed this up so that I could remember and also to add to his baby book...I thought I might as well post it.)

My due date was May 12th but the ultrasound had showed May 8th. I was scheduled to be induced May 21, 2008, at 7am. At my last prenatal appointment I was 1cm and having contractions that I couldn't feel. I so didn’t want to be induced but it was time.

On May 20th I wasn’t feeling that great. This was my last day of work and I worked until 2pm. I felt fine until a few hours after leaving work. Mainly what I was feeling was terrible back pain. I didn’t think that it could have anything to do with labor. I took several baths and had some Tums but nothing was working. Finally my back felt pretty good and I realized my stomach was tightening. I realized I must be having contractions….that I could feel. At 9pm I thought maybe I should time them. My contractions were 8 minutes apart. I thought no big deal since I had contractions 7 minutes apart with Madison and didn’t even dilate. But the contractions got closer together. Soon after they were 6 minutes apart and than 5. I took a shower and told Kevin I might have to call the doctor. But, this seemed so strange since I didn’t go into labor on my own last time. After I dried my hair and got dressed Kevin called the hospital. My doctor called back and I told him my contractions were now 4 minutes apart. He said since I was not a first time mom that if I had contractions 3-5 minutes apart that I had timed for 1-2 hours that I needed to come in. So, we got in the car and headed to the hospital upon request.

We checked in around midnight and I was now having contractions 3 minutes apart and was 1 ½ to 2 cm dilated. I told them I really didn’t want pitocin unless I had to. The nurse said I didn’t need pitocin since I was contracting on my own. I was so thankful. I just hate pitocin. This time I could deal with the contractions by breathing through them. I also was able to pretty much move around and do what I wanted but had to be monitored every so often. This was all so new to me considering what I went through with Madison. I think that soon after I was at 2-3 cm and they convinced me to have Nubain. I swore I would never have this ever again after having it with Madison. But, it was a completely different experience this time. If it would have been the same with Madison I would never have said I wouldn’t have it again. Wow! Anyway, the Nubain took more than the edge off. It was awesome! Crazy to say that when I talked so badly about it before. Not long after I was dilated to 3-4 cm. I was than allowed to have the epidural at 6:30am. The epidural went smooth. I was concerned since I knew this time I would feel it unlike last time when I was in so much pain. But, it went well. They informed me that my doctor was arriving at 7am since he had several inductions scheduled (I was suppose to be one of them). They said that he would come break my water. It seems I was always one step ahead of what they were telling me was going to happen. Soon after the epidural I turned to lay on one side and my water broke. I told the nurse and she said……yep it did. So when the doctor stopped by to say hello he was happy to hear that my water broke on its own. I slept most of the time. I would fall asleep for 5 minutes and wake up over and over again. My nurse would check me and say she would be back 30 minutes later. I was pretty much dilated to 8-9 cm soon after the epidural. I did have to have pitocin because my contractions at one point slowed to around 5 minutes apart but they informed me I only needed a few drops. But, I never noticed since I had already had the epidural when I needed it. I did have to have my water broken again...I can’t remember what they called it but the doctor did come break it at some point. They informed me that I was probably going to have oxygen for the baby but I never was given it. I remember having it with Madison so I wasn’t concerned. Finally they said to do some practice pushes. Guess they thought I had forgotten. ;o) Maybe I had. It had been so long since I had Madison. Than they told me it was time and I had to push. I couldn’t tell when to push just like with Madison. But, they told me when to push. Finally, they said it was time to get the doctor. When they called him he said to give him three minutes. Since I was numb from the pitocin I guess I didn’t mind waiting. Once he arrived I didn’t have to push long. At one point he told me to wait…guess he wasn’t ready. But, soon after our beautiful son was born. We were thinking if the doctor would have been ready that our son would be born at 1:51pm and we thought how cool that would be since Madison was born at 1:51am. Instead he joined us at 1:57pm weighing a shocking 8lbs 7oz and was 21 inches long. When we left the hospital he ended up weighing 7lbs 12oz. He is the perfect little boy. Oh, and we still were uncertain what his name was going to be…hours later we were still discussing. However, we were so in love with him that a name wasn’t as important at the time. Of course, before we could call anyone we felt we better decide on a name. In the end we chose Ethan Karter rather than Mason Karter. He just looked like an Ethan to us. All in all……it was a completely different experience. I must say….it is so much better to go on your own rather than to be induced. I guess since I had so many issues with swelling that something had to be easy. :o) (oh…and to my dismay…the saline iv made me swell more than I was…and they told me it would take 2-3 weeks to go away)