The Baker's Menagerie: A Whole New World

I figured it was about time that I updated the blog. Considering it has been over a month, I think. So, basically, nothing has changed except the completion of our little family. Crae James was born on the 24th of March at 7:22 AM. I will go into that story later as it is kinda funny. Other than that, we are just trying to get through each sleep deprived day, looking forward to the time that we get to go home for a visit.

Jared was able to take off 10 days for paternity leave. He went back to work last Thursday and has been enjoying every minute of it of course! Especially last Friday when he was only able to get 3 hours of sleep. Poor guy was not used to that because with Madison, I was the only one to get up since Jared was usually at work for her first feeding. Jared did get our orders for the next year finally. We are officially El Paso bound for one last year. Which means that we will be home by this time next year (likely anyways) due to terminal leave. It's hard to believe that we are finally at the end of this long tour. This will be 4 years, the longest we have been anywhere, and definitely the longest we have lived in one house.

As for me, I am just muddling (yes, muddling) through my days. Not really sleeping, not really functioning, just trying my best to not forget anyone or anything. As for the labor, it went smoothly. The day after my mom got into town I had not been feeling my best, but that was a given considering my advanced state of pregnancy. My mom had offered to take the kids that night so Jared and I could have a date before my delivery the next Tuesday. I started having contractions that morning but I ignored them because I had been having braxton hicks since the beginning of the pregnancy, which is why I had been on bed rest. We went to a local Japanese restaurant and enjoyed the heck out of our alone time. It was a tepanyaki place, and even though they charged $2 for water (tap water!!!) it was awesome. I was counting the contractions but still had not told Jared yet. They were about 7 minutes apart at this point. We then went to see the Hunger Games and got a big bag of popcorn. I had eaten some of it then suddenly I could not get down another bite. At that point I got worried, I knew my body was going into labor but I was still trying to convince myself otherwise. I made it through half the movie and that was it. I had to tell Jared. The contractions were about 3 minutes apart. I made it through the movie and told Jared to stop so I could get some water and go to the bathroom. It didnt help. We got home and packed up the car. We headed off to the hospital when the contractions were 2 minutes apart. We kept joking that we were going to be sent home. Well, we got to the hospital at 11 PM and by midnight, I had my epidural. I stalled a few hours later and they started pumping pitocin into me and I told them to call the doc or he would never make it. They didnt of course, and I progressed quickly. The doc barely made it and even he didnt believe me when I told him he had 5 minutes. The nurses had to search the hospital for him as he had gone to get some coffee. (it was 7 AM, come on! It wasnt that early!) CJ was born after 3 pushes and promptly peed all over me. Welcome to the family Monkey! I am doing well three weeks post partum. Back in school and trying to get my brain to remember how to do math.

Kayla is still doing well in school. She has reverted a little bit since CJ was born. She has become very crabby and melodramatic if she doesnt get her way. She is a really good helper to me though. Anything I need for the baby she is very quick to get it for me. that makes her think that she deserves an extra treat or special treatment. We are working on it. She adores her little brother though and cannot wait until she can hold him all the time instead of when he is rarely awake.

Madison has not reverted. She has just gotten more stubborn. She has learned that when I am holding the baby I am less likely to follow through on a punishment. I have had to become a little more heavy handed with her punishment because she is pushing for a little too much freedom. Luckily though, she also adores her baby brother and holds him whenever she can. She also feeds him and helps me keep him covered in blankets whether I want her to or not.

This is CJ's first update! CJ was born on Mar 24th at 7:22 AM at 20.5 inches and 7 lbs 3 oz. He came out peacefully and was forced to wake up and scream because he was too cozy sitting on mommy's chest. A few hours after birth they heard a little wheezing and he was placed under an oxygen hood while they waited for the fluid to clear his lungs. That was hard for us because they took him to the nursery at about 8:30 AM and we did not get him back until 5 PM. I was able to pump and feed him quite a bit though which may have helped in his speedy recovery. They said his quick delivery might have prevented him from getting all the fluid out of his lungs. His two week appointment showed a weight gain of 1 lb since birth, but they never gave me his height. The doc kept commenting on how fat he was. The kid was born with rolls, I make my babies big! He is not sleeping any better than any other newborn, about every 2 hours he is up chowing down, but he is so sweet. He only cries when we refuse to get up to his squeaking (which is pretty much every time) and then it is more of just a warning cry. At this point I do not see any signs of colic but I am constantly praying not to, I do not want a repeat of Madison's first 3 months. He has quickly grown out of newborn clothes and is making his way out of 0-3 month as well. I have already packed a box to be sent out to his cousin that will be here in a few months.

So that is about it. Wandering around in a sleepless state, and getting by ok. We are happy and content to finally have our family completed. It feels like this chapter of our lives is finally over and now we can move on to raising our kids instead of making them. We both feel very at peace with this. So until next time, here are some pics of us, and good luck and love to my 3 sister in laws, 1 bestie, and one cousin who are currently prego. See you all in a few weeks!