Updated Garett

Now that the Birth Story is done, it is time to start updating everything else.  So here is some updated pictures of Garett from the last couple weeks.

Oh man...He is just so cute!

Birth Story

So, this is my 3rd, and LAST birth story!  I can't believe it has come this far.  Garett's Birth Story!

Wednesday, January 8th.  Happy Birthday Mike!  I had a Drs. Appt. that day and I still hadn't grown.  Dr. Christensen is starting to get worried and my fluid is not rising, so he asks me to go get a non-stress test and ultrasound to measure Garett to make sure he is still growing.

Friday, January 10th.  I go to work, normal, typical day.  My work throws a "baby shower" for me at Tucanos (Amazing food) and we talk about what I have left to do and fun stuff like that.  I finally hear from the Hospital about the Ultrasound and they have NO AVAILABLE APPTS. for Friday.  I scheduled one for Monday and called the Dr. and he says to still go get the non-stress test done.  This is all still a week before our scheduled inducement.  I leave work a half hour early to get the test done and head to the Hospital.  I check in at 3:30 get hooked up and go through all the questions and they monitor me for half hour.  I start having contractions 4 minutes apart, and they are hurting.  Garett's heart rate dips every time I have a contraction, so they monitor me for another half hour which turns into an hour.  By 5:30 the nurse came back in and said that Dr. Christensen decided it was too risky and that I needed to be admitted to have the baby.  So I was desperately trying to reach my mom because this was a week early and we didn't have anyone to watch the boys, my bags weren't packed, the boys were still at the babysitters, Mike wasn't off work yet. It was a disaster.  Mike finally got off work, picked up the boys, packed up some bags for us, and took the boys to his Cousin Felisha's house.  I got a hold of my mom and her and my dad decided that they would start the drive and stay somewhere overnight.

By 6:30 I was in a room with a gown and they had started my IV and Pitocin.  One note about the IV, the nurse started to place it in my left arm right above my wrist but the needle was too big, so she got a smaller needle and finally placed it in my left hand by my ring finger.  But when she poked me in the wrist, she hit a nerve or something and still to this day my pointer finger and thumb are numb and hurt! Super annoying still 4 weeks later!  By 8:30 Mike had finally showed up and my contractions were super close and hurting like no tomorrow.  I got the epidural and felt so much better then Dr. Christensen came to break my water to really get things going but there was no bag of waters to break he said...that is how dry I was!  Things really started moving by after that and by 11 I was throwing up and ready to push.  I pushed about 3 or 4 times and by 11:15 pm he was here.  All purple and the cord was wrapped around his neck, but he was beautiful!  I did tear a little and so that has been a little traumatic for recovery.  Garett was 7 pounds 12 ounces, 18.5 inches long and did great on his Apgar scores.  Before he was born, Dr. Christensen was talking to us about with him being 11 days early he might have to have breathing treatments with the CPAP machine as well as he might be jaundice, but he was amazing and didn't have any problems at all.  He wasn't even on the charts at all for jaundice and took pretty quick to nursing.  He only lost 5% of his birth weight when we left the hospital.  He did so amazing!

My parents were here Saturday to take care of the boys until we came home from the hospital and help for the first couple of days and my mom stayed a week with us.  This recovery was super hard and I haven't really felt like doing anything, but I have gotten through it and feel better now.  Garett is a great eater and sleeper for the most part.  He does lately have a 2 hour middle of the night awake time, but he will get through it.  We are so lucky and blessed to have him here with us and thankful that Dr. Christensen listened to the Spirit when it told him we needed to not wait the weekend to have him.

At his 2 week appointment on the 24th of January he weighted 8 pounds 4.5 ounces and was 21.25 inches long.  He is a growing boy.  He is now out of Newborn clothes and diapers and in 0-3 Month clothes and size 1 diapers.

Just had his first bath

Baby just born

Weight!

Getting ready to leave the hospital

Garett Dean Wallenberg

Introducing Garett Dean Wallenberg!

Baby Update

So, I am 34 weeks pregnant, planning to be induced on the 17th of January which gives me 5 weeks 3 days left and I feel like I haven't even said anything about this pregnancy since 20 weeks.

At 28 weeks I failed the glucose test, and had to go to the 3 hour one which was not cool at all.  I did at least get some Psychology studying done, but it was still not cool to do.  I did pass that one and everything else has been on track this pregnancy.  I have gained so far the most with this one and still going, I am at 37 lbs gained.  I only gained 30 with Gavin and 20 with Greyson.  I weight the most I have ever weighted before too.  It should be fun getting it off.

My last appt. the Dr. said he thought he weighted 5 lbs...Holy big baby...I still had 8 weeks to go then too.  Hopefully he is just being generous.  Other than that, he moves around like crazy, he will probably be another Greyson.  I will totally have my hands full!  Gavin is super excited to have another baby and Greyson knows that he isn't the baby anymore, the baby is in mom's belly and he lets you know it.  Hopefully this little guy keeps cooking and stays in until the 17th! That is when I am planning for him!

Family Pictures

So like a month ago, we went and got family pictures done.  I am finally posting them!

Dear Boys

I had to write a paper for my Psychology class and this is the one I chose.  So I decided I better post it to the blog for future:

9.2 Dear Betty or Bob: A Letter to Your Future Child(ren).  Remember that your letter should be embedded in a paper format with introduction, conclusion, reflective writing.

I already have children and a blog so really I think I write to them often on my blog, but it is not really anything specific just a recap of the things we have done as a family and it is something that I print off yearly and keep it in book form for future generations or even just for my kids and maybe their wives and kids to see one day.  It also helps me remember how my kids were as babies, what they liked and didn’t like, and fun things we have done before.

But to write them a letter about why I chose to have them and how they changed my life would be different.  Dear Gavin, Greyson and future baby boy due in January.  Really first off I am glad to be your mom.  And I am sorry for all the bad parenting decisions I have already made with you or will make in the future.  You are only 4, 2 and not even here yet and so we have a long way to go with each other.  Also, I wish you would be nicer to each other.  I know that this is something that every parent wants for their kids and maybe eventually you will get there, but right now, the fighting is killing me.  We are all we have forever (besides Grandmas and Grandpas and Aunts and Uncles and that family), and also your future family, but we need to be good and nice to each other.  We have to spend eternity with each other so let’s start making the most of it now!

You all have changed my life in so many ways.  With you I feel like my heart is walking around with you outside my body and I hope and pray for you every day that you get the best that you need and deserve out of life every day.  I know I work full-time and am not always there for you, but you are making it and learning things every day, so really you aren’t struggling too much.  Before I had you we used to say that our kids would be perfect and never do anything wrong, (story of every parent’s life) but having you changed that ideal so much and I have grown more patient because of each of you and your unique lives and personalities you have brought to our family.  I wouldn’t change anything about any of you for anything.  I love you all the way you are and for what you are and who you will become.

I hope one day you grow up, and find someone to be with to share a family with.  I haven’t really thought much at all about becoming a grandparent because I am still carrying your baby brother, but I hope one day you get to experience parenthood and all the joys and heartbreaks that come with it, because there is no way to describe it other and living it and feeling it.  I hope that being a grandparent it a little bit sweeter than being a parent.  We need to be rewarded in some way for raising you 3 little guys.

I hope you boys know how much I love you and how much me working outside the home, and going to school is really for you boys.  I need to help with our family income and would like to better myself through school for you boys.  I am sacrificing now so we will be better off later.  I cherish the times we spend together and love the things we do together.  I love everything you tell me about your day and all the kisses, snuggles and loves.  I love you boys and hope you know I am always proud of you!  Love, Mom.

Reflective: This was an emotional paper.  While I have written letters to my boys before, I guess I tried to let it all out here.  I am planning on posting this to my blog so we can have it in the future for them and they can read it in the future.  Parenthood changes everything about everything.  You aren’t alone anymore and for some people that is what they always wanted.  Others don’t want that and that is their decision but I wouldn’t trade my decision for anything.  I can’t imagine my life without my kids.  I can’t wait to see them when I get home from work every day and we plan to do fun things together on the weekends so we can spend time together and we try to cherish our time we have together.  I look forward to the future and what it will be for us.