Judah's First Week and Mother's Day

Judah was officially a week old yesterday and today, we have been home for a week with our Little Bug. It has been a busy and exhausting week. We are slowly learning how to be a family of four with an infant who requires feeding and holding and protecting from Big Brother and the dog, and a toddler who's still our Baby Boy and needs reassurance and love and protection from himself as he's learning to explore this big world. There's a huge learning curve. There have been many tears, on everyone's part but Isaac's. He's been the comfort and stabilizer for everyone. Curtis runs to him for comfort because he knows that more than likely I'm holding Judah and has figured out that I can't always hold him. I run to Isaac for comfort when both boys are screaming and I just don't know what to do. And I rely on Isaac to comfort Judah when I just really need to hold Curtis. Pretty much, Isaac is our super hero. I'm so thankful that he constantly displays love and servanthood and is the perfect man that God wanted for this family. He sacrifices sleep, eating, time for himself and pretty much everything else because he knows we need him now. I'm so thankful God put him in our lives to help through this transition time and really am not looking forward to him going back to work on Thur. 

The other thing I'm super thankful for: my parents. They stayed a few extra days after we came home from the hospital so both Isaac and I could get to know Judah and could sleep some and so Curtis would still get the love and attention that he needs. And mom is still coming back into the craziness to spend another 2 weeks once Isaac goes back to work. It amazes me how much they sacrifice to help us, but I am learning, that's just what you do for your kids. You constantly are dying to self, to take care of them and serve them. Mom and Dad have done that all my life and because of that, I have great examples of how to do that for my 2 little ones. I fail every day, but God is even using those failures to show me how much I have to rely on him to make it through the day.

All in all, my heart is full and our home is filled with love, along with the screams and tears. These 2 little boys that have been gifted to me are 2 of my most very favorite people and bring so much joy to my life. It's so wonderful watching Curtis grow up before my eyes, seeing the compassion and protectiveness and love that is slowly forming for his brother. And I love watching Judah, learning about him, getting to know him and how very different he is from his Big Brother. I love already seeing some of his little personality and learning what those differences are. I know the next few weeks will be hard as Isaac goes back to work and nights become all mine with Judah, but I know God will sustain us and eventually we'll find our new normal. In the mean time, I will work on having joy in every moment. 

Little Bug enjoying some time with Yaya

 Judah's first bath. He was so much calmer and handled it so much better than Curtis. He loved having his hair and face washed.

My Little Man, having fun on Mother's day playing at the park.

He thinks your suppose to always walk up the slide and then slide down.

A few newborn pictures.

Tried to get a picture of both the boys, this is how they all turned out.

This is one of my most favorite sights

 Judah did not like this picture very much.

The best Mother's Day picture I could get, right before Curtis scrambled out of my arms.

Happy Birthday Judah!

Wow. The past few days have been a complete whirlwind. A few days ago, we welcomed our 2nd Baby Boy into this world. And while it has been crazy, and sleep deprived and chaotic, it was been some of the best few days of my life and our marriage. I imagine I'll say that with every child we have, but it really is true. I am so in love with this baby boy. It amazes me how much love I can have for both of my boys, one of God's mysteries.

It also amazes me how incredibly different this entire experience was from Curtis. 

Here's Judah's story:

Since last Sunday, I had been contracting pretty steadily, every day, every afternoon and most nights. When they would happen, I'd get my phone out and time them, but rarely were they very close together, usually 10 or 15 mins at the most. Even Saturday night, they weren't close enough that I was thinking it would happen. But I woke up about 2 Sunday morning with contractions. I began timing them and they were 5 to 10 mins apart, still not quite close enough for me to be worried, so I just continued timing them and waited for Isaac to come home about 4. We hung out and watched Scrubs, then I was gonna try and get a little sleep, but of course my pregnant bladder wanted to go to the bathroom first and when I got up, I thought my water broke. I came down stairs and told Isaac it was that time, we needed to go. So we called our friend several times to make sure we could drop Curtis off and we were on our way. As we drove, contractions seemed to come closer and they were stronger, I definitely knew I was in labor. I went to triage, they checked me. My water had not actually broken, but I was dilated at 4cm and during my contractions, Judah's heart rate was dipping some, so they admitted me instead of telling me to walk around because they wanted to make sure he was ok. Once they admitted me and monitored Judah for a little while, I was allowed to get up and move which was so different than with Curtis. I bounced on the birthing ball, walked around the room, sat on the edge of the bed, anything I could to not stay in the bed, cause I knew that once I got the epidural, I wouldn't be getting up. So I labored like that till about 12. As the contractions got closer, though, I was definitely ready for the epidural. Every one I was having to grab the bed or the IV pole or whatever was near. So they checked me again, I was 6cm dilated and then they anesthesiologist came. I was so incredibly thankful for that. It was nice to rest some and not have to feel those contractions. We watched Bat Dad and an episode of Chuck, then they came to check me and break my water. I was at 8 cm, they broke my water and within 2 contractions I was ready to push. For this reason, I pray my water never breaks at home because I'm pretty sure I'd also be delivering at home. My midwives came in and we got to work. I pushed for an hour and 15 mins. I went from one side to the other. I played tug of war with my midwife. I refused to rest because I was ready for it to be over. As he moved closer to being born, they determined that he was face up rather than down which is why the process was a little harder. They thought he was turning as I pushed. But this little boy probably was already showing his personality, he decided to turn back. He, like Curtis, was born sunny side up. They immediately put him on my belly then wiped him off. That part was pretty amazing since they immediately whisked Curtis away from me. They did have to take him away for a minute to clear his lungs, but then I got to have my skin to skin time with him and actually nurse him. I was so excited that he nursed right away. Again so different since Curtis didn't nurse for 5 weeks. So that is Judah's story. Through the whole thing, Isaac was a champ. He always is. He stayed calm going to the hospital, stayed calm as they told me about Judah's decels, snuck me part of a bagel because I was starving, held my leg and encouraged me the entire time. I pray I never have to do this without him because he's what makes it a doable process. I am so incredibly thankful for the man God has given me. We spent a little more than 24hrs in the hospital. Judah stopped nursing around midnight that night, I think because he was super tired and then he had a busy day with all the newborn stuff they had to do, but once we got home, he nursed before we went to bed. And has nursed ever since, again so different and I am so thankful.

Life at home has been crazy. I'm exhausted. Curtis is jealous so I'm thankful Isaac, mom and dad are here so he gets all the attention he needs while I'm nursing Curtis. But I did get to cuddle with him some this morning while Isaac and Judah slept, which was wonderful since we haven't really cuddled in a few months. I am loving having 2 little boys at home and am so thankful for all God has blessed us with. I am looking forward to seeing what He has in store for our little family.

Isaac doing Judah's syringe feeding when he wouldn't nurse. Thank goodness this will not be our life the next several weeks.

Such a serious sleeping face.

I love little baby feet.

Judah's going home outfit.

Cutis meeting Judah for the first time