Brotherly Love

As I am sure I expressed on many occasions, one of my biggest fears in having another child was how Nathan would react and behave towards the new little one (and to me). Well, now that Samuel has been here a few weeks (already???), I have something to report!

Nathan has done extremely well. My apprehension and fear of the unknown is, so far, proving to be just that...fear of the unknown. Nathan LOVES his little brother, and takes the opportunity to tell everyone that, many times a day. He doesn't seem too bothered by a new addition...though he has grown completely attached to me (which I hear is normal). After all, his world has been completely turned upside down with a new baby, not to mention the Ice Storm that kicked us out of our house for a few days. Along with all that, I have found it a little difficult to be super strict on Nathan's schedule (not that I was the Nazi-scheduler before Samuel arrived, but he did have a definite nap time and bedtime...for the most part. Both of which have gotten later and later since Sam has arrived.). As a result I think Nathan does feel a little displaced and insecure about all the changes. Time is the only remedy as we all try to figure out our new normal.

Brotherly love at its finest...here is Nathan "petting" Samuel, as he does many times a day. VERY gently though.

And of course, the photo you all have been waiting for:

Brotherly Kisses.

He is Here!

And...then there were two! On January 15, 2009 at 10:31pm, Little Tyke turned into Samuel Nicholas Ice. Here is his first story:

As most of you know, I am probably the most impatient person when it comes to being 9 months pregnant. I think I just get tired of the "countdown" and just want the birthing process over with already. This time wasn't any different...especially when you go in for your 36 week doctor appointment and the "process" has already started, and your lovely (she really is lovely) doctor says (and I quote) "wow! you are already 3cm dilated...make an appointment for next week, but I doubt you are pregnant by then." . And so...the countdown became THE longest countdown in the history of countdowns. Every day I was like "will it be today?" Every contraction I was like "is this it?". It got to the point where I really thought I would be pregnant until December!!!! Regardless...I woke up on the 15th, so utterly frustrated and irritated with still be pregnant that the contractions that began at 10am didn't even phase me. Nan and Paps had taken Nathan the day before and kept him all night, so they brought him home around 11, and we had our usual of McDonald's "dippy" lunch. The contractions had continued about every 5 minutes, and were getting a little uncomfortable...however I had convinced myself that "this wasn't it. this was just a fluke..again!" At around 1:30 or so, Jonathon became a little worried and demanded that we head to the hospital. I reluctantly agreed, knowing full well that they were only going to turn me away and tell me to go home and wait it out.

We showed up at the hospital, the monitored me for an hour only to tell me that I still was 1cm short of being the "admittable" dilation. So they told me to go walk for an hour. I have to tell you...Jonathon and I had a fabulous time walking around that hour. I was having contractions, and they were getting pretty painful, but it was so fun just walking hand in hand with my husband...and laughing, making jokes, just enjoying the moments together. It is an hour that I will truly cherish!

After that hour, they checked me again, and I had progressed to 5cm dilated...so they admitted me. I got a sweet labor and delivery suite (thanks to the nice nurses that hooked me up, and the fact that it was a slow birthing day). Within an hour I had an epidural, and was dilated to an 8. I will say that this doctor that gave me the epi did a fine job! Tooooooo good, I must say. I couldn't feel a thing, not even my toes! With Nathan, the epidural just took the edge off, but I was always able to feel my legs and could have probably still walked if needed. This one, no way. I couldn't even lift my legs! After a couple of hours (and a Purdue basketball game) later, a kind nurse "accidentally" broke my water...and with in an hour I was ready to start pushing.

10 minutes later, Samuel Nicholas was here. I will say that he gave us quite the scare upon his arrival. He was completely non responsive when he was first born, and for about a good 10 minutes afterwards. It was one of the most disturbing things to see nurses rushing in the room, not answering your questions (other than "he is just stunned", whatever that was supposed to mean) and looking worried themselves. They began tubing his nose, and hitting his tiny little back to get him to cry or respond. I kept asking the doctor if he was okay, and she kept reassuring me that he was...yet he wouldn't cry. Once again, the reason was because he was just stunned because he was born so fast (?)...yet at one point I did over hear the nurses ask how much drugs I had. I am not a doctor nor a nurse, so I may be talking crazy here...but I think the Little Tyke was drugged up with an epidural! I really think the amount that I was given affected Samuel.

After they did get him to respond, the nurses said that we could hold him for a couple of minutes but that they were going to take him to monitor him for a while...which they never did. After about 10 minutes, they came back and said that he was doing fine and they didn't need to take him at all. A relief!

Meeting Samuel

Samuel

Proud Poppa.

Happy family (minus Nathan).

So there you have it.
Samuel Nicholas Ice
6lbs 10oz
19inches
January 15, 2009
10:31pm

The Bump

Update: No baby. No changes. Nadda. Zilch. Zippo...nuthin'! I assume I won't be pregnant forever...however, do you remember that story I told you a while back about hiking with my Dad out of the 50miler, and at one point I firmly believed that we would never, ever, never, ever get to the car? Well...welcome to my world of being pregnant! I am really starting to question whether this Little Tyke will just graduate college from my womb. ;)

Moving on...I have gotten a few requests to see what I look like 25 months pregnant...so...here you go. These were taken last week:

I didnt get any good shots of my face without the camera hiding it...because, well, I was taking pictures of my belly. So, you know what my face looks like...pretty much the same during pregnancy :)

I will keep you updated on any, IF any (ever), news...

Stay tuned...

(predictions are still being taken...so far, most of the dates have passed...)