Madelyn's First Week

Madelyn had her 1 week birthday Monday night at 11:30.  I can't believe a week has already passed.  Life with two is definitely different, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.  Madelyn has been a very easy baby and Damian has adjusted very well.  Madlyn had her one week checkup yesterday and things went great.  She now weighs 6 lbs 13 oz and measured 19.5 inches tall.  We need to keep her eye extra clean because she has a blocked tear duct and she has a horriable case of diaper rash, but beside that everything else was perfect.

The past two days have been interesting to say the least.  My parents and Jake were planning on meeting us at the pediatrician's office Monday morning to help with Damian whil Madelyn got checked out.  Sunday night my mom called and said that her and my dad were throwing up and were sick.  I figured it wasn't a big deal and the three of us would go to the pediatrician's office alone.  As I was telling Michael what was going on we heard one of the kids making a strange noise.  I went into Madelyn's room and she was sound asleep, so I headed to check on Damian.  When I got into his room he was throwing up and had a fever.  Michael jumped out of the shower and bathed D while I cleaned up.  About that time we heard Madelyn throwing up.  Luckily, it seems that she just ate too much, but it was still scary.  I knew D would be fine, but I was deathly worried about a six day old.  Damian still has a stomach bug, but Madelyn seems to be fine.

I dropped Damian off at the office yesterday while I took Madelyn to the doctors, but he didn't want to be there and threw a fit.  He wouldn't even ride the forklift with Michael.  Michael's mom ended up bringing D back home to play while Madelyn and I were ar the doctor.  When we got home I just kept the two of them as far apart as I can.  It is pretty hard having a sick two year old (especially one that is NEVER sick) and a tiny baby who needs to be fed and loved on.  The day went pretty well and Michael was able to come home from work at a decent time to help.

Tuesday went well with both babies.  With the freezing cold weather we mostly stayed at home but we had a pleasant day.  That night I started to feel really tired so Michael said that he would feed Madelyn before he went to sleep.  Michael came back into our bedroom at 10:40 and I felt like I was hit by a ton of bricks with the stomach bug.  It hit me so quickly and I spent most of the night in the bathroom.  We called my mom and had her plan to come up first thing in the morning to help.  Michael got up with Madelyn and did so well with her.  First thing the next morning the phone rang and it was my dad saying that my mom had the bug again and wouldn't be able to come.  He ended up coming up to help with Madelyn where Michael could go back and forth to work.  Michael took Damian to work for a little bit and to lunch with him while I secluded myself in our room.  It was so hard not being able to hold my tiny little girl, but I know she can't get sick.  When my dad went home Michael's mom came over to spend the night just in case Michael had to leave early.  This has been a crazy week, but as long as Madelyn doesn't get sick then everyoe else will be ok.

Michael has been a lifesave while I have been sick.  He has done so well with the babies.  They both absolutely adore him.  Damian loves nothing more than to go to work with Daddy and go to see the hog and Madelyn just stares at her daddy as she sits in his big arms.  I am very proud of him.  He completely took over and is such a great father.  I know he has to be exhausted, but he steps up way more that is expected.  He has worked, taken care of two babies and done a lot of the house work the past two days.  I love him so much and love that my babies have such a great father.

Madelyn at one week is...

- She gets more beautiful by the day.  I know I am her mother and should think she is pretty, but she gets beautiful!

- She sleeps very well.  The doctor said not to wake her up to feed her during the night since she wakes up on her own.  She usually eats twice during the night (takes about 15 min from the time I get out of be until the time I get back) and she sleeps until about 10- 10:30 am

- She eats between two and 3 ounces at a feeding

- Madelyn stays awake and alert most of the day.  She takes a few naps, but for the most part has her eyes wide open.

- Madelyn is fascinated with Damian.  She loves to look at him and always moves her head in the direction of his voice.

- Damian has been GREAT with her.  He loves her and has been so sweet to her.  I know this can change at any moment, but for now it is great.

- Madelyn likes to be swaddled in thick blankets.  Damian never like to be swaddled, but she loves to be warm and cozy.

- She hates to be naked.  She screams when her diaper is changed and when we change her clothes.  This is usually the only time she cries.

- She can hold her head up for a few sconds.  It seems to get a little longer everyday.  She is tiny, but she is a strong little girl.

- Her toes and fingers are long and skinny.  Her feet are so small the tiny newborn socks come up to her knees. 

- She is PERFECT!

Madelyn Elizabeth

Monday morning started off very early. I woke up at 6:30 to get showered and dressed and called at 7:15 to get the go ahead to come in. Michael and I arrived at the hospital at about 8:15 and got registered. The hospital was empty. We were the only ones in the waiting area. They got my room ready and took us back to get things started. As soon as I got changed and in the bed Michael ran across the street to Chick-Fil-A to get breakfast. The nurse asked me a million and one questions and put the IV in. I usually do really well with IV’s, but for some reason I blacked out. My blood pressure plumited to 80/30 and I started sweating and couldn’t see straight. That only lasted for a minute, but was enough to scare me! My nurse, Kristen, who was absolutely wonderful, checked me and said that I was between 1.5 and 2 cm and was about 50% effaced. She started the pitocin and it was pretty uneventful for a few hours from there on.

Michael and I spent the day watching Family Matters and just hanging out. At one point we even fell asleep. The pain was absolutely nothing and I was bored and wanted to walk, but when you are given pitocin you aren’t allowed to walk. Dr. Fountain ran in at lunch and checked me and I had moved to 3cm and about 80%. He came back about 6 and broke my water. Up until that point everything was painless and easy, but everything changed very quickly. My contractions started coming on very strong and closer together and I was about to die. Michael had left to go eat dinner with Damian, my parents, my sister and her kids, his mom and my aunt but I called him to come back. I ordered an epidural and it arrived at 7. By that point I felt like I was going to die during contractions. As I was getting the epidural I could see Michael’s eyes looking at the box sitting beside me with all of the needles. This epidural hurt more than the one I got with Damian, but it did work. After I got it I felt great! Dr. Fountain came back in to check me and after all of that pain I was still at 3cm and 80%. By that time I had a new nurse, Tonya, and she was the best nurse ever! She came in and laid me down a certain way and said that it always helped getting the baby to move down and for things to pick up. The way she had me laying made it so I couldn’t see the tv, so I tried to rest. As I laid there with my eyes closed I started to feel more pressure with every contraction. I called her in about 10:30 and told her I was really uncomfortable. I was 8cm and 90%. Another lady came in and turned on the baby warmer and got everything out and the room ready. Michael was too interested in Monday Night Football to realize that was going on. About 10-15 min after I was checked I started to feel the worst pressure I’ve ever felt in my life. Even with an epidural I felt like dying during contractions. I immediately called the nurse in and she said we were ready to go. We had to wait on Dr. Fountain to get there and it was the longest 15 minutes of my life. I finally started pushing about 11:20 and six contractions later Madelyn Elizabeth Drucker was born at 11:30 pm weighing 6 pounds 15 oz and was 19 inches long. She immediately started crying and was so loud! She was put on my stomach for a few minutes while she was cleaned off and looked like a little angel! Michael immediately started calling everyone and watched her as she was moved over to get weighed and checked out. I had to get stitches and watched as Michael watched hear tearing up. It was very sweet! After I was stitched up my sister and Michael’s mom came back to meet her. We got to spend about an hour in the delivery room before I was wheeled up stairs with my baby girl.

When we got upstairs Madelyn had to go to the nursery to take a bath and I fell asleep for about an hour. The hospital won’t let moms watch at the window, so I figured I would take advantage of a little sleep. Michael and Madelyn arrived back in the room about 2 and we all took a nap. Madelyn woke up about 3ish and just wanted to be held and look around. I held her and just stared at her as Michael snored next to us on his tiny little bed. She was so sweet. She wanted to hold my figer and just stare at me. 

The next day we had visitors and just played with our little girl. She was very awake and alert at times. I felt really good and wanted to get out of the hospital. That night Michael went home to spend the night with Damian. Madelyn was a little angel until it was bedtime. My blood pressure went up and I had to lay there and she decided she wouldn’t go down. Every time I would lay her down she would scream. It was by far the worst night we have had in the past week.

We got home around lunch time with her on Wednesday. My mom was at our house with Damian waiting on his sister. I walked in the door first and gave him a big hug. He knew Mommy and Daddy were getting Sissy, but immediately looked at my stomach and said he wanted to see Sissy. I explained that she was no longer in there and at that point Michael walked in with Madelyn. Damian took one look at her and said, “Madelyn!” He knew exactly who she was.

I’m very proud of how Damian had responded to Madelyn. He has been excellent with her. He has given her kisses and insists she goes everywhere with us. If I try and do something alone with him then he will tell me to pick up Sissy. Michael and I have tried extra hard to give him special time alone with him. I try to make him feel included in everything we do and he is the best at throwing away diapers. I know he can change at any moment, but I’m so proud of how well he is doing.

Madelyn is an angel! There is no other way to describe her. She hasn’t even been alive for six days and I already don’t know how I lived without her. She is such an easy baby. New Years Eve was a rough night, but every other night has been so easy. As long as she is fed and warm then she is happy. She loves to be sung to and loves to cuddle (especially with her daddy). She is so tiny, but she is a feisty little girl. She is eating 3oz at a time and can hold her head up for a few seconds. When she sleeps her little mouth smiles. She is the perfect addition to our family and we all love her so much!

Madelyn Elizabeth

Tomorrow is the Day!

I'm in a little bit of shock that Madelyn is going to be here tomorrow.  I feel like I have been pregnant forever!  A lot has happened since we found out she was on her way, my niece was born, we built and moved into our new house and Damian has changed so much.  It feels like a lifetime ago!  I am really ready to not be pregnant anymore.  I just don't enjoy it at all.  I can't wait to sleep more than 30 minutes without having to go to the bathroom and to not have to sleep on my side.  I know Michael is ready, he is ready not to have to listen to me complain! 

I know one other person that is ready, her big brother.  It still sounds so strange that Damian is going to be a big brother.  He is still a baby himself and is now not going to be an only child.  My stomach will never get as many hugs and kisses as it has the past nine months.  He always has little ice berg hands and gives her the biggest hugs and kisses.  He is such a sweet little guy!

Damian and Michael were planning on going to the Falcon's game today, but with him not being allowed to visit me in the hospital I couldn't be without him at all today.  Today has been about nothing but the two of us having fun together.  We woke up and watched Thomas in my bed, played downstairs, took a bath together, went into the office, went to Arby's  (his favorite place to eat),  played outside (where he fell in a huge mud puddle) and have made a giant train track all over the keeping room with at least ten trains running on it.  He refused to go down for quiet time so we ended up laying on top of my bed snuggling and watching Thomas.  It has been a wonderful day!  I'm going to miss my little boy so much the next few days.  Thinking about being away from him makes me feel sick.   

I'm anxious for tomorrow to get here, but am starting to get nervous.  I'm not looking forward to all of the pain, but can't wait to meet her.  I can't wait to see who she looks like and get to know her little personality.  I hope she is just like D!  Our bags are packed and we are ready to go meet Madelyn.

Christmas 2009

We had a great Christmas.  I was just so glad to be here.  I had a fear that I would go into labor and miss spending Christmas with Damian.  We spent Christmas morning as a family of 3 at our house and then went to my parents house to have dinner with my family.  We all had fun, but Damian had a blast (as usual) playing with his cousins.

Damian's very favorite toy from Santa was his tool bench.

He played with it most of the morning

Max had a great time helping Damian look at his gifts from Santa

Damian noticing that Santa left a bunch of stuff on the sofa

Damian is always happy to see Thomas stickers

When Michael got home they played with Rocky the Robot truck (Max loves this thing)

Back to the tool bench!

Once he discovered his Thomas tricycle he wouldn't get off of it

He had fun riding around the island in the kitchen

This is the only family picture we have from Christmas Day

Ava putting on her lip gloss

Damian HATED opening gifts.  He loved his gifts but he hated having to get stuff out of a bag or to unwrap

Me and my nieces, Ava and Catherine

I love this little boy so much (and so does Damian!)

Damian wanting to eat

Damian was the only little one who would sit at the little table

Ava opened one of Damian's gifts because he refused.  These two adore each other!

Two monkeys!

Damian and Spike the Dinosaur (from my parents). 

Damian and the helicopter from my parents.  They must of given him 30 gifts!  He is now the proud new owner of at least 20 new trains (my mom had a little too much fun one day in the Thomas section at Target!)

Christmas Eve

I want to keep up with my Christmas pictures becaue Madelyn could decide she is coming at any time and make posting pictures the last thing on my mond! Here are some pictures of Christmas Eve with our beautiful baby boy.

We Are Ready!

Everything is completely ready for Madelyn's arrival. I went yeaterday for my final doctors appt and everything went great. She was really active during the sonogram and was so cute to watch. She would move her little eyes and stick out her tongue. It was strange leaving my last sonogram to know that the next time I see her she will be here. My blood pressure was good and so was everything else. The nurse had me down to be examined, but I opted out. I really, really, really want to at least make it through Santa Friday morning and don't want to do anything that may bring on labor. Plus, it really doesn't mean anything. I wasn't there lond at all, but Gwinnett Medical only schedules inductions three business days in advance so Dr. Fountain told me to call first thing Wednesday morning for my time. Luckily, this morning the nurse called and said that she figured she would just try and schedule it and Gwinnett Medical would go ahead and schedule with the holiday. I have to be at Gwinnett Medical no later than 8:15 to check in to get started by 8:30. I do have to call at 7:30 to make sure there is a room available and really hope there is. I can't believe Madelyn will be here in 6 days!

Yesterday, the rest of Madelyn's furniture finally arrived. I love it! Both D and Madelyn's furniture was a gift from Michael's parents and it is gorgeous. I drove Michael crazy all day asking about where it was and found out on the way home that he was going to suprise me with it already in her room. Michael can't keep a secret to save his life and ended up telling me. I absolutely love her room. It is definitey a girls room!

Damian is getting really anxious to meet her. He asks me all the time if he can hold her. I always remind him that he can hold her when she gets here as long as he is sitting in my lap. I can't wait for him to finally meet her. Damian is growing at record speed! The little boy changes daily. He is so much fun to be around. Some fun things he is doing now are...

- He loves to ride the forklift at work. He will beg to go ride it. He doesn't understand that not all little boys have big machines and trucks to play with.

- He loves to play a game we call Bug In .... He will tell me Bug in ... and need a kiss. I am always willing to give my baby boy kisses!

- He lives for football. He randomly screams "Go Dawgs" or "Go Falcons!" The last game is Sunday and he is really looking forward to it. At first I didn't want him to go, but he would be very disappointed and I figure it will be my last nap for a really long time.

- Damian doesn't go anywhere without his Thomas boots on. They are the greatest thing I've ever bought. The child now has two pairs for when one gets ruined.

- He is still obsessed with Thomas, but LOVES Thomas stickers. The child is always covered in stickers and thinks they are the greatest thing ever. Luckily Party City has great prives on stickers!

- He now goes to the bathroom standing up like a big boy. He drinks water all morning long just where he will have to use the bathroom. He loves to stand on the stool and go. I guess it is a boy thing!

- He would never wear clothes if I didn't make him. D loves to get naked. I am the exact opposite and find it strange, but he takes his clothes off and just wonders the house. I always make him cover up if anyone besides me or Michael is around.

- He is the most cuddly child on the planet! I love to snuggle up with him in the mornings in my bed and at night on the sofa. We watch Thomas and just lay there.

- Damian and Max are best buddies. People say that a dog is man's best friend, but not for my son! They play and fight and Damian gets mad and sends Max to time out. There favorite thing to do together is go inside the Thomas tent. Max and Starr are only alowed down stairs, but almost every morning Damian opens the breakfast room doors and tells Max to run as we are going upstairs to get dressed. Damian then likes to laugh and call him a bad kitty.

- Damian loves to sing. He has most of the kid's songs down and likes to sing "I've Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas. It is hilarious to hear him singing it. Our pesonal favorite at the time is "Snuggle Puppy." When he sings it his little face lights up. He is also quite fond of "Itsy Bitsy Spider." I think he only likes it because he knows I'm deathly afraid of spiders.

- He eats like a little pig! Since most of his milk has been cut out he eats so well and it has even cleared up his bathroom issues. He is a really good little eater. When he is hungry he can eat more than Michael.

- My mom got D an Elf on the Shelf and he loves it. The first time he opened it I read him the book and he was really bothered that he couldn't touch him. I left him on the sofa and later walked in to Damian standing right in front of him saying, "I want to play with you, but I'm not allowed. I want to touch you." It was priceless.

Damian is at such a fun age. I love every second we spend together. If Madelyn has half the personality Damian has then she is going to be a pretty cool little girl!

13 Days!!!

Madelyn will be here in 13 days! I had my 37 week appt today and everything went well. She did great with her ultrasound and everything else looked good. He looked at everything and told me that I will be induced December 28th. At first he said the 26th, but since it is a Saturday I have to wait until Monday. We can't officially schedule it until next week so I will not know what time until next Monday. We also just found out that the rest of her furniture is in California and is being loaded tomorrow. Her room should be 100% complete next Wednesday or Thursday. I can't wait to finally meet my little girl in 13 days!