Samantha & Natalie Home and Adjusting

So I will make another post, because even though it may not seem like it, Natalie and Samantha are keeping busy. On Sunday afternoon, Natalie and Samantha came home. Luke was so excited to get them home.

I took the week off work to help out with the transition from 1 kid to 2. I've been doing all the little household chores while Natalie is recovering. Her recovery is going well. She is starting to feel a lot better.

Samantha is having some stomach problems. She seems to have bouts with her stomach when she wakes up. This makes the nursing process difficult for Natalie and Samantha. Once Samantha starts feeling better she nurses for a long time. She sleeps for 3 - 4 hours at a time and then is up for about 1 - 1.5 hours with her tummy problems and nursing. She has a doctor's appointment tomorrow, so hopefully we learn something more about this problem.

Luke is doing well being a big brother. The other day Luke and I were shopping and he insisted that I buy a pair of baby shoes for Samantha. They fit her just perfectly. They are white with a pink butterfly on them. He really is sweet with her. For now he is calling her Sammy because he has trouble saying Samantha.

I will be back to the grind Monday. It's been nice to be home for as long as I have, but it's time for life to go on. Enjoy the new pictures of Samantha!

New Baby Girl! Meet Samantha Marie Chase

Friday Morning at around 3:30 am Natalie started going into Labor. She showered real quick and came out and told me to shower as well. As I was getting ready to shower, she had a strong contraction. She was standing/leaning against the wall, and I asked her, "Do I have time to shower?!" She said half angirly and half in pain, "Yes! Just get in there!". So I did. Janet Wilson came over about 5:30 am to watch Luke. We stayed and talked for about an hour. She was helping time Natalie's conractions. She's an expert (she's been through it 9 times on her own).

We arrived at the hospital at 6:50 am. They checked Natalie and she was dialated 6 cm. About a half of an hour later, she was dialated 7 cm. Then the baby stalled out and we had to wait until about 12:15 until the doctor came in and broke her water. He hurried off to a C-section he had scheduled at 12:30. At about 12:50 Natalie told me she felt like she needed to start pushing! Luckily the nurse came in shortly after that and checked Natalie. She checked Natalie and said "No wonder you feel like you want to push! The baby's head is right there. You are fully dialated and she's ready to come out." A few minutes later the doctor came and said lets do it. The nurses got things set up and the doctor told Natalie to push for 10 seconds. She did. Then he said do it again for 10 seconds. At about the 8 second mark I looked down and saw the baby coming out! Natalie pushed for less than 20 seconds. It sure beats pushing for 2 hours like she had to with Luke.

Sure enough the baby was a girl! She was healthy and came out crying and breathing alright. They have some sort of scale or numbering system to document how healthy the baby is when she is born. I think it is called the Apgar or something like that. Anyway, they rated Samantha a 9-10. Apparently it's rare to be given that good of a rating (at least by that nurse). I think Luke was a 1-2 or something like that.

Unfortunately Natalie had another 4th degree tear, the worst you can have. The doctor stitched her up, and I'm sure she will be sore for weeks to come.

Samantha was born at 1:12 pm cst, Jan 23rd 2009, right on her due date. She weighed 8lbs 5 oz. and measured 20.5 inches long. She has dark brown hair with some gold streaks/patches here and there. She took to nursing very quickly and appears to be in good all around condition.

Luke and I have visited twice. He seems to be really sweet with the baby. Last night he was even crying that Mommy AND the baby weren't here at home. I knew he would cry for Mommy, but I wasn't expecting him to cry for Samantha.

We officially named her Samantha Marie this morning, later than we planned just because we hadn't had time to really discuss it between changing rooms, nurse and doctor visits, visitors, phone calls, nursings, Luke playing with medical equipment he shouldn'tbe in the rooms, ect. But she had a name less than 20 hours after she was born....

I'm sure Natalie will take back over blogging after my first blog to the world. She is wanting to come home tomorrow even though initially the doctor was thinking Monday might be more realistic due to her tear. Other than that, Mom and baby Samantha are doing great. Enjoy all the pictures.

Induced

All the doctor keeps telling me is that I'm close and it could happen any time now. He told me that last week and still nothing. I thought 2nd baby's were suppose to come sooner, but I guess they just come when ever their ready. I would prefer the surprise of labor, but Alan and I did go a head and break down and had the doctor set an induction date. It will be early Monday morning. I have been having some contractions here and there, but it seems as soon as I go to bed at night it just stops. I'll have to try staying up all night if nothing happens soon. I keep think to my self that she probably hears me yell at Luke and I probably I'm just so stressed out that she says to herself if that's what I'm coming out to forget it and proceeds to go back up the birth canal.

Every day Life

We here just living are normal every day life's. No baby yet.

Last week on Thursday Rebecca Wilson through me a baby shower. The theme was diapers and wipes and boy did we get alot of wipes, not so many diapers, but I don't think I'll have to buy wipes for a really long time. I really do appreciate getting all the wipes though. Of course we also got some really cute baby girl outfits and lots of little baby socks. I had I really great time thanks to all those who helped put it together and came. Sorry no pictures.

Luke's is doing good. His ear infections are gone and his allergies are doing alot better. He his also sleeping through the night again in his own crib, Yay! I bought Alan some ear plugs last week and he has only had to use them one night. Lets hope Luke keeps it up.

Alan started a big project yesterday at work. He is the head programmer on it. He has training today and tomorrow, so as much as we want the baby to come it is probably a good thing that she hasn't come yet. I am so proud of Alan and the great job he is doing at work. At the USAA Christmas party we actually sat with Alan's boss. His boss was really nice and said some wonderful things about Alan and the hard worker he is. I am grateful for the job Alan has and that he enjoys it so mush.

We will keep you posted about the baby. I actually have a doctors appointment today.

Nothing new

So nothing new on the baby front today. I woke up feeling like something was going to happen because of some similar symptoms I had the day Luke was born, I got Alan's hopes up, he even went to work and told some of is coworkers, now he is going to go to work tomorrow and feel dumb that he even said anything.
Thanks Kristi for the e-card. It does feel good to know that I am in the single digits now and I am kind of happy that I haven't had the baby yet because now I can go to my baby shower on Thursday night.
We found out that Luke has double ear infections today and is now on four different medications. He slept alot today and hopefully this will get him some what on the track to sleeping in his crib again at night because he is just so tired.

Family Fued

Just something fun to do if you don't have anything to write about.

YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO USE MY ANSWERS!!

FUN - LET'S PLAY FAMILY FEUD!

1. Name something you use in the shower? Shampoo

2. Name something a football player wears under his uniform? shoulder pads

3. Name something people hate to find on their windshield? Bird poop

4. Name something a man might buy before a date? Flowers

5. Something you cook in the microwave? TV dinners

6. Name a piece of furniture people need help moving? Fridge

7. Name a reason a younger man might like an older woman? She is rich

8. Name something a dog does that embarrasses its owner? Poops in other people's yards

9. A kind of test you cannot study for? Standardized test

10. Name something a boy scout gets a badge for? Hiking

11. Name a phrase with the word "home" in it? There is no place like home

12. Name a sport where players lose teeth? Boxing

13. Name something a teacher can do to ruin a student's day? give them detention

14. What is a way you can tell someone has been crying? Red puffy eyes

15. Name a bird you wouldn't want to eat? Pigeon

16. Name something a person wears even if it has a hole in it? Jeans

17. Name something that gets smaller the more you use it? Tooth paste

The waiting Game

Sorry there hasn't been updates for a while we have been busy getting ready for our new little one, no, no baby yet, we are just playing the waiting game, but I do feel some what ready now. I'm not quit sure I'm ready to handle a 2 1/2 year old and a new born, but I guess I'll have to take it 1 hour at a time when the baby gets here.

Our new years was good we spent it with our friends the Ethington's. We rang in the new year with the east coast because we were ready to go home. Luke got woken up by some fireworks and he was pretty scared, but I got him calmed down and he went back to bed, but eventually ended up in our room any ways. Yes we are still having some problems with him sleeping, so if any one has some good advise on how to get him to sleep the whole night through in his crib, maybe other then just letting him cry, that would be great thanks.

Oh and Luke was diagnosed with seasonal allergies last week, so he is now on medicine for that. I'm glad we finally found out why he was getting these coughs all the time.

Sea World

Last week my cousin's wife Rebecca had 2 free passes to Sea World and she invited Luke and I to go along with her 2 boys and her. We saw a really neat acrobat show. We had a great time, thanks Rebecca for inviting us along. Sorry the videos are shaky.