Monday, November 26, 2012

First Days

A few photos in no particular order from Cole's first week home.  I'm convinced that your life gets turned upside down no matter if it's your 1st child or your 5th child.   
Cole's first Dr appt and success he peed on Al just like Alex did...lol   Cole also peed on the Dr right after he was born.  
First sponge bath
All clean
I love sleeping babies
This is our new normal....I nurse Cole while Alex watches Mickey Mouse Clubhouse or Little Einsteins.
Their first brother picture.
My bruised wrist 4 days after Cole was born, worst IV ever.
The first two weeks we had Cole sleep in a bassinet in our room.  He was a very quiet sleeper so I could handle having him in the same room.  For about the first week I ended up sleeping with him so I could get more rest.  A little after he was two weeks old we put him in his crib and he's been sleeping 3-4 hours at a time.  I'm crossing my fingers for that 6 week mark when they should be able to sleep 8 hours. What I would give for 8 hours of straight sleep right now.  Alex loved pushing all the buttons on the bassinet.  If it was up to him he would have music, lights, and vibration on at all times.
Are you sick of all my pictures yet?  I probably took one too many in Cole's first week of life, but they change so fast and to put my mind at ease I take a million photos.  I want to remember every detail and every moment besides night time.
Alex playing with his alphabet magnets that I recently hid since he was throwing them everywhere.
Cole's first real bath.  His umbilical cord smelled so gross.  Luckily it fell off when he was 5 days old.
He wasn't in love with his first bath and we are still working on them.  It's exhausting bathing 2 kids at different times and getting them both ready for bed.  I'm already looking forward to the day they can bathe together.
Al's mom stayed with us for over a week and then my mom came after.  Words can't express how much they helped.  Thank goodness for grandparents.  If only they lived closer.

On The 6th Day Of November

I've had these photos pending in a post just waiting for me to actually sit down and write something for the past two weeks which means Cole will be 3 weeks tomorrow.  I swear we just brought him home from the hospital yesterday.  The day before I was induced we went on one last walk around the Rose Bowl as a family of 3.  I wanted to try to speed up my induction so I thought walking 3 miles couldn't hurt.
Al's mom flew in that night to take care of Alex for us and before we went to the airport we got sushi.  I figured it was ok since I was being induced the next morning.
I was scheduled to get induced on November 6th at 5am.  I woke up at 4am so I could shower and do my hair.  Around 4:30 I had a voicemail that I luckily listened to and it was the hospital letting me know they were full and would call me when they had a bed that opened, worst ever.   I was so anxious it took me awhile to fall back asleep, but we slept in until 7:30 when the hospital called me back and told me that I could come in.  We got there around 8am and it took them until 10am to start me on Pitocin.  I was a little bummed because I didn't like my nurse that much.  She was all business and didn't know how to put an IV in.  It was more painful than my epidural and my wrist was bruised for a least a week after.  When my Dr checked me at 10:30am I was dilated to a 2 and that's also when she broke my water.
They gave me a time frame of when I could get an epidural which was until 11:30am. Otherwise I would have to wait until after a c-section was finished around 1:30pm.  I was a little annoyed because I think you should be able to get an epidural whenever you want.  I was also nervous so I chose 11:30am which ended up being around 11:45am.  Al and I relaxed for the rest of the afternoon and watched a lot of election tv while I ate jello, drank chicken broth, and water.  Side note all the nurses and Dr were amazed with my hospital gown.  Apparently customized gowns aren't a big deal in Los Angeles.  Must be a Utah thing :)

Around 4:00pm my Dr checked me again and I was still only at a 2 which was super frustrating.  She told me that it could be a long night and to try and get some rest.  I started to get anxious and a little emotional and that's when I started feeling contractions.  They started to get really really painful so we asked the nurse if the anesthesiologist could increase my epidural.  He was in a surgery so I had to breathe through them for a bit.  I kind of felt like I needed to push so I told the nurse and she decided to check me.  She told me I was dilated to an 8, she had me try to push and that's when she called my Doctor. The anesthesiologist showed up just before the Doctor and made the pain a little more bearable before it was time to push.  My Dr started telling me to push and I remember thinking I refuse to push for 2 hours again.  I pushed really hard the first time and then she said something like ok let's just do a few half pushes.   I pushed maybe 5 times and the last few weren't even full pushes and then Cole was born.  What an amazing feeling to see your baby right after they are born.  I don't think there is anything more beautiful.
  Right when Cole came out he peed on Dr Morrissey and had a really loud cry.  The experience was so much different than with Alex. I didn't have to deal with contractions for an entire day before I went to the hospital, I didn't feel pressure like I did with Alex before I had to push, and the best thing I didn't have to push for 2 hours.   If I had the choice I would get induced with every baby, loved it.  Al was supportive and amazing through the entire labor.  I couldn't ask for a better husband and I'm very thankful to have him by my side.  There was not a dry eye in the room and I think we were both in shock and extremely grateful at how fast and smoothly everything went.  We have truly been blessed.

Cole Ryan Cameron was born at 5:55PM and weighed 7lbs 80z.  Alex weighed 8lbs 5oz but was born at 41 weeks.
After Cole was born we had Shelly bring Alex to the hospital to meet Cole.  When they walked into the room he wouldn't look at me.  It was like he caught me cheating on him...lol  He finally decided he wanted to sit by me and Cole's foot brushed his side and he swatted it away.  Does this mean the  brother fighting already begins?  We had Cole give Alex a Pillow Pet Dream Lite which he loved.  We even turned out the lights in the room so Alex could see the stars.  He is still a little young to understand it all, but it was about how I expected.
Right after Cole was born Obama was re-elected, boooo.  Al and I told each other if Romney won we were going to name Cole, Cole Mitt or Cole Romney.
Cole's first bath.
1 Day Old with mom
Grandma Cameron
Our second night at the hospital was a little stressful when Alex came to visit.  I was a little relieved when he left so I could breathe again and try to understand how I was going to do this at home.
We had lots of fun visitors.  The Dannels family came to visit and brought yummy cupcakes from Dots.
Laura came who is also pregnant. I'm sad we couldn't share our cravings together.
The first day at the hospital Shelly brought Alex and we all had lunch together.  This is one of my favorite pictures.
Alex warming up to the idea of having a little brother.
Al changing the first diaper.
Sweet little Cole.
Skyping with Grandma Ranes so she could meet Cole.
Ready to go home.  He already outgrew his newborn onesie and is on his way with the pants.
This was my favorite nurse Utah who I also had with Alex.  I requested her both days I was there.  She brings you extra diapers and wipes to take home.  She also brings huge cups of pebble ice with lots of juice, love her.
We are very blessed to have two healthy little boys in our lives.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

The Last Supper

Al and I had one last date night before Cole was born.  I kept joking with him all week and would say things like this is the last time we can do this before the baby is born or this is the last time it will just be the 3 of us.   I made reservations for us to have dinner at Mastros and told him it was our last supper.
Last time we ate here they didn't bring out the scalding plate dripping in butter to put your food on, but maybe that's because we shared.  It was so yummy.
Ahi Tuna.  I figured it was ok since Cole would be out in 3 days.
Afterwards we got ice cream at Sprinkles.  Al had the cupcake ice cream sandwich, so yummy.   I love dates with Al.  

Happy Halloween

The week before I got induced we tried to do as much as we could before Cole was born.  Alex had a play date with 6 girls...lol   When Al picked him up they were watching Tangled and he wanted Al to sit by him to finish watching it.
Opening his Halloween package from Grandma Ranes.  We still need to try the Pop Rocks.
Painting pumpkins in Ambers backyard.
I need to let Alex paint more often because he loved it.
It eventually turned into all the kids painting their bodies and then picking lemons off of Ambers lemon tree and painting those...lol
On Halloween Sachia had a cookie decorating party and broke out the bounce house in her garage.  Her house is every kids dream.
Alex found my Diet Coke.  So glad that California finally caught on to the .99 cents for any size.
We went trick or treating in Sachia's neighborhood.  I stood Alex next to Hazel and he sat down, typical.
I was so glad it was warm enough for him to just wear his swim suit.
Her neighborhood had a pizza party, a show, and then they handed out glow sticks for all the kids to trick or treat with.  
Alex was wiped out from the party at Sachia's so we only made it around to a few houses and he only laid down on the ground about 5 times before we decided it was time to go home.  Happy Halloween!!

Friday, November 9, 2012

Cole Ryan Cameron

Cole Ryan Cameron was born on November 6, 2012 at 5:55PM   
He weighed 7lbs 9oz