November 12, 2009

Hush Little Baby

My boys. Kinda surreal to use plural form now. Feels good. :)

Something tells me this might make for a good blackmail video later in life -- proof that there was a time when they didn't want to beat the snot out of each other?

Saving this one for posterity!

Posted via email from TheMacMommy

November 9, 2009

Diaper Rash Sucks :(

Poor Keagan has some pretty nasty diaper rash so I've been letting him "air out" on a towel on the floor. Tonight we had a "picnic" in Mommy & Daddy's bedroom on a blanket on the floor so we could all hang out with Keagan while eating dinner together. (well, at least Keagan was literally hanging out!) He has been such a trooper through it all. He only cries for diaper changes, hunger and attention...the usual.

He is such a great baby! I can't get enough of kissing him and running my lips over his peach fuzz. Every time I look at Lucian, I'm reminded just how fast time goes and how quickly they grow up so I'm trying to savor this time even through the sleep deprivation, engorgement and incision pain. (Percoset is a great Mother's Little Helper right now, but it's soon time to start weaning myself off of it.)

The good thing is, it's all just temporary.

The bad thing is, it's all just temporary.

I know can't stop time, and wouldn't want to necessarily, but at least I can make memories of moments in time that will hopefully last forever :)

These are little reminders that life is tough, but we get by.

 

"This is so NOT the spa experience I was hoping for!"

(airing out diaper rash)


 

"I'd rather have a bikini wax right about now instead of this diaper rash!"

Happier Moments
I can't get enough of his peach fuzz!

Posted via email from TheMacMommy

November 5, 2009

On Our Way Home

Can't wait to see Lucian!!!

Melissa Davis
TheMacMommy
Sent from my iPhone

Posted via email from TheMacMommy

The Arrival of Keagan Rowan Davis

Here are some photos taken over the past few days documenting the arrival of our newest son, Keagan Rowan.(see slideshow — if your browser lets it load — or click on the link to the online album.)

Keagan was born on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 6:28 am via Cesarian Section performed at TMC in Tucson, Arizona.
Keagan weighed 8 lbs. 6 oz. and measured 19 in. long. He latched on and nursed soon after delivery.

The surgery went very well despite large amounts of scar tissue from the previous C-section that made it take a little longer to get him out. That made it a little stressful for me, but luckily this time, the warming bed where they were getting Keagan cleaned up was within my view from the operating table and watching my baby helped to keep me a little distracted from the surgery and all of the movement. It was nice watching Nate get to cut the cord and be there to greet our new son and talk to him. One thing I loved was that I was able to touch my baby and kiss him and see more of his body this time around. (Last time all I got was a burrito baby shoved in my face and all I could see was Lucian's nose!) My arms weren't strapped down this time, so I could actually raise my hand and touch him. That made me very happy.

There was lots of laughing going on around the warming table because it turns out, Keagan peed FIVE times during the time he was there in the OR! When he was taken back to the recovery room for the APGAR test, (he scored 8/9) he then proceeded to poop as well. So, we were well assured that all his plumbing was in proper working order right from the start.

I found the surgery to be somewhat less traumatic this time around. I was still scared because I knew what to expect and wasn't looking forward to it. I was a bit more relaxed and felt like I was in good hands. My anesthesiologist was extremely nice and talked with me throughout and answered any questions I had. He was super great about putting the epidural in and I was very proud of myself for staying still while the needle went in. There was one part of the surgery where I began to panic. The numbing sensation was climbing up into my lungs and I felt like I couldn't breathe. My tongue felt like it was swelling and I couldn't feel my throat when I attempted to swallow. The anesthesiologist gave me two puffs of my Albuterol and that seemed to help. I was able to calm down a little more but still got the shakes really bad. Later, after surgery, one of the side effects from the drugs is that it makes you itch like crazy. I accidently pulled some of the skin off my nose from itching it so much. It's healing along with all the other boo boos I've since received during my time here. As usual, my veins alway present an issue and one attempt to start an IV left a very colorful mark.

What should I name it?

One of the worst parts of recovery was dealing with the IV. I was hooked up to a monitor that had alarms on it for my oxygen, heart rate and IV fluid intake. They had to put the IV in near my right elbow, so every time I used my arm, the alarm would sound. Trying to nurse and get in and out of bed set it off constantly. I was ready to throw it out the window and so was Nate. Luckily I didn't have to deal with it for too long, but unfortunately, I think I may be suffering from some nipple trauma because of the difficulty of the cords in the way during nursing sessions. I'm really, really sore right now and many different parts are extremely raw and sensitive.

I'm looking forward to being discharged tomorrow (Thursday) after getting my staples from my incision removed. Today was a pretty decent day getting around. I'm on a regimen of pain killers and Motrin to manage the pain. Sleeping is next to impossible here at the hospital and if and when I do manage to get sleep, it's a nap for about 2 hours max.

I really miss my Lucian and can not wait to see him at home. Nate and I were heartbroken when we found out Lucian would not be allowed to visit at the hospital because of the flu season. (No kids under 12). So, we're really looking forward to getting home so the boys can meet each other! They have presents to give each other :)

This whole experience is still very surreal yet and I'm sure it will be for quite a while. Keagan looks so much like Lucian in the face, it's like I just had a cloned baby! Keagan has white-blond hair and blue eyes, so that's the main difference. He's also a tad smaller than Lucian was as well. Sometimes I have to take off his little cap just to be reminded this is Keagan and not Lucian! Of course, Nate and I have already called Keagan by his big brother's name instead several times now.

Now that the pain meds are kicking in and Keagan has been fed, I'm going to try and snooze. Sorry if there are lots of typos. My eyes are failing to focus now and my ears are ringing so it's time to take a break and nap.

Thanks to everyone who has written me. I wish I could respond back to everyone, but just know that it all means so much to me. Your feedback, prayers, encouragement and advise has really helped me to begin recovering so much faster!

Hope you all enjoy the photos and I'll try to update and write more later. I also have a couple of cute movies I'll want to post later.

Posted via email from TheMacMommy

November 2, 2009

Say Hello To Keagan

Daddy & Mommy are FINALLY going to try and rest now that Keagan has finally nursed again. He's great at it, just very lethargic at times.

Posted via email from TheMacMommy

Labor Data & Update

This is what the data looks like from the iPhone app called "Baby's Coming" which is a contraction timer app. I'm also using an app called "Total Baby" which is aimed at logging info on the baby like feedings, wet diapers, dr appts, etc. I'm actually using it now to log info about ME that I know the hospital staff will likely ask me later. It sounds awful, and truth be told, it's not pretty but when you have a c-section, you end up being monitored just like the baby and they even measure your pee and poop to make sure your organs are working once they put you back together after they extract the baby. Meds will be dosed on a tight schedule and also meals. So, I figured why not add myself as one of the "children" that needs to be logged. I just entered my last meal, meds I've taken and noted my contraction info, among other details so I'll hopefully know what answers to give nurses when they ask after I've been admitted.   


I've had to stop several times now while writing this to note my contractions and; re-copy and paste the new data!


Baby is still active and moving a lot. I really think he wants out soon.


The surgery is scheduled for 12 noon today, so hopefully we can hold out for it, but 11 hours feels like a long time to be like this so unless these contractions start spreading out like they did an hour ago, we may have to leave earlier for the hospital than planned.


The OB on call told me to try and rest up (yeah, right!) and to just report to the hospital once we have a consistant pattern of contractions lasting 1 min and 5-10 mins apart for at least an hour. Well, I can check the 1 minute duration off the list and I can also check off the 5-10 min. intervals, but the consistant for 1 hour is what I'm working on now. Also, they can not cut me open until I've not had any food for more than 6 hours. Looking at my food log in the Total Baby app, it tells me it's only been closer to 5 hrs. since I last ate. So, we couldn't even leave for the hospital for another 1 hr. anyway.


I took some Tylenol PM and I'm starting to feel sleepy but I just don't see how I'll sleep through these contractions!


Well, that's the update for now. Nate is sleeping and I'm trying to lay down and rest in between contractions and going potty which is extremely hard to do when it feels like there is an ice pick in my bladder!!


I'm taking it minute by minute. Thanks so much for all of your prayers, thoughts, tweets, posts, and phone calls. It really means so much to Nate and I.


I'm going to keep resting while pressing the start/stop button on the iPhone app. It does really make it so much easier to rest because of the minimal effort to use the app. I can keep the lights off, Nate can sleep (which is what I need him to do!), I can lie on my side and just reach out a finger to the iPhone I have setting right here by my bedside and touch the screen.


Bags are packed and ready. Gadgets are charging. Computers are backed up. Lucian is sleeping over at Oma and Opa's house. Oma French braided my hair and alarms are set.


Rock n Roll!

EventDetails
Contraction  1:09:04 AM (duration: 1 min 30s, interval: 7 min 1s)
Contraction  12:59:59 AM (duration: 2 min 2s, interval: 6 min 19s)
Contraction  12:52:01 AM (duration: 1 min 39s, interval: 5 min 21s)
Contraction  12:45:34 AM (duration: 1 min 5s, interval: 9 min 37s)
Contraction  12:35:05 AM (duration: 50s, interval: 6 min 35s)
Contraction  12:26:48 AM (duration: 1 min 41s, interval: 6 min 1s)
Contraction  12:18:38 AM (duration: 2 min 8s, interval: 4 min 34s)
Contraction  12:12:36 AM (duration: 1 min 27s, interval: 2 min 6s)
Contraction  12:09:45 AM (duration: 44s, interval: 8 min 54s)
Contraction  11:58:58 PM (duration: 1 min 52s, interval: 2s)
Contraction  11:58:55 PM (duration: 1s, interval: 8 min 14s)
Contraction  11:48:54 PM (duration: 1 min 45s, interval: 8 min 14s)
Contraction  11:39:44 PM (duration: 55s, interval: 23 min 14s)
Contraction  11:14:44 PM (duration: 1 min 45s, interval: 28 min 45s)
Contraction  10:44:40 PM (duration: 1 min 17s, interval: 12 min 44s)
Contraction  10:31:09 PM (duration: 47s, interval: 12 min 35s)
Contraction  10:17:29 PM (duration: 1 min 4s, interval: 14 min 21s)
Contraction  10:01:55 PM (duration: 1 min 12s, interval: 31 min 20s)
Contraction  9:28:48 PM (duration: 1 min 46s, interval: 13 min 43s)
Contraction  9:13:52 PM (duration: 1 min 11s, interval: 9 min 19s)
Contraction  9:03:21 PM (duration: 1 min 11s, interval: 9 min 57s)
Contraction  8:51:53 PM (duration: 1 min 31s, interval: 7 min 38s)
Contraction  8:42:25 PM (duration: 1 min 48s, interval: 7 min 22s)
Contraction  8:33:28 PM (duration: 1 min 34s, interval: 5 min 31s)
Contraction  8:25:27 PM (duration: 2 min 30s, interval: 16 min 24s)
Contraction  8:07:05 PM (duration: 1 min 57s, interval: N/A)