Life with Two Kiddos...

The first week after coming home from the hospital I was lucky enough to have my mom come and stay with us.  She was a big help-especially with Kensleigh.  She made sure we were all fed and kept the house clean.  With her here I was able to rest and take it easy and not worry so much about what Kensleigh had gotten into...Bless her little soul, she is such a sweetie, but into EVERYTHING right now.   

Mikah on the other hand is just as easy going as can be, currently.  He is such a blessing to us and we didn't know what we were missing until they placed him in our arms.  He is a big eater and pooper for that matter.  I was worried about him having jaundice like Kensleigh, but after he literally pooped 6 times in his first 24hours they said I had nothing to worry about.  He loves to sleep, loves to lay on our chest and snuggle, and constantly looks all around when he's awake.  He loves the momaroo seat and loves to be swaddled.  

The first few days home were somewhat tiring.  Getting adjusted, waking up for those middle of the night feedings, you know the drill.  But after a few days we all fell into a little routine that worked.   He currently wakes once to nurse in the middle of the night and will sleep around a 5 hour stretch or so (like 11-4ish).

When my mom left I was worried that all chaos would break out-but we've honestly done pretty good.  I've managed to maintain the daily routine, and even cook dinner a couple of times.  We've gotten out a couple of  times to walk with friends and today I managed to get us all out the door, dressed, and fed to make an 8:30am doctor appointment.  Can't say I wasn't worried about that one, I thought for sure we'd be late, but we made it with ten minutes to spare.  

All in all things have been good and not too overwhelming.  I mean I have definitely had my moments-you know those moments when you feel completely overwhelemed and think how in the world ???  But with each day its gets easier and things start to fall back into place and I'm learning the new normal.  It takes a lot of grace and I'm learning to embrace it for all that it is-precious chaotic moments that I'll never get back.  And hey, there are definitely sweet moments too.

Kensleigh LOVES her baby brother, Constantly wants to hold him and gives him tons os kisses.

Getting ready to leave the hospital.

Okay, I'm dressed..Lets go home

I think he is wondering why we are taking so many pictures...

Didn't really enjoy his sponge bath.

Hello world, I'm a week old!

Two weeks!

Dee Dee and Mikah.  Such a sweet boy.

Mikah's Birth Story

Well, he's finally here and I am no longer pregnant! For those closest to me know how hard the last few weeks were for me.  Partly, because my precious daughter came early, 37.5 weeks (which spoiled me), and then mostly because I had started to feel bad towards the end.  I can't describe it, just not my "pregnant" self.  Turned out I did have an infection, which after a trip to the hospital got it all figured out, I was on the mend.  That was a stressful few days to say the least, but onto the birth story....

I had been only 1cm from 37weeks to 39weeks and was heading to my 40 week appointment preparing myself to hear the same thing again.  Thanks to my dear friend Rachel for listening to me cry pretty much after every.single.appointment  (again, hormones, sick, headaches, pregnant, not a good mixture-crazy emotional pregnant lady over here!)  Well, I ending up hearing quite the opposite.  I was now 4cm with a bulging bag.  Mikah looked great on the ultrasound that day, and my OB told me it would be soon; like the very next day.  I was thrilled and thought "finally, we made it!"

That night I started having contractions that were 15 minutes apart.  By morning they were 6 minutes apart and my doctor wanted me to go to hospital to start the process of having precious baby Mikah.  I got all checked in, and was ready.  My midwife wanted me to start pitocin to get my contractions closer together.  Therefore, my nurse started to put in my IV.  Well that was an experience all in itself.  I ended up being stuck five times by my nurse and a member of the IV team, all because they kept hitting a valve. It took over an hour ( & three bruises later) to finally get the IV in.  It was after 10am when they started me on pitocin. 

My nurse and midwife told me to just let them know when I was ready for my epidural, however since my contractions weren't extremely painful until after my water broke with Kensleigh I expected it to be about them same with Mikah-WRONG!.  So I told them I would wait it out until I was truly uncomfortable.  Well after about an hour I was definitely experiencing some pain but was waiting to be checked to see where I was at before going forward with the epidural.  I asked my nurse when my midwife would be back to check me and she told me as soon as she was done assisting in another delivery.  Well, about 20 minutes later  (11:35ish) I couldn't wait any longer and told my nurse I was ready for the epidural.  Every time I had a contraction I was having the urge to use the restroom and Jong was having to unhook me, help me to the bathroom, and re-hook me; it was becoming a nuisance.  After I made it back to bed from my last potty break my water broke.  And lets just say that my contractions doubled in pain.  My nurse helped me lay down on my side and said that the anesthesiologist was on his way. (This was all about 11:55am)

The anesthesiologist made it to the room alright.  He took one look at me and asked my nurse if we had time. Had time? I thought, with my head buried in my mattress and hand gripping the bed rail I whispered/mumbled/cried, Please have time... SIDE NOTE: Jong had left the room at this point to go get his jacket from a friend in the lobby because I was apparently freezing him out of the room.  I had no idea he had left because I was concentrating on my contractions and trying to live through them.  Then I hear the anesthesiologist  "when was the last time she was checked?"  My nurse replies, "Yesterday afternoon she was 4cm a her checkup."  To which he replied, "she needs to be checked so I can make sure I have time to give her the epidural."

My nurse made some comment about my midwife liking to check her own patients but that she would do it since my midwife wasn't in the room currently.  So she rolls me over checks me says, "she's a 7, no she's an 8, we have time." WRONG again...

At this point with one nurse, and the anestegologist in the room, no husband either remember,  I scream and push and basically yell pressure!  My nurse starts calling people in through the call button, slight panic in her voice, and the anesthesiologist ran out to get Jong (who literally almost missed the birth of his son).

All I know at this point is that people are running all around me and that this baby was coming in a matter of seconds and I thought that Jong had passed out because he wasn't standing beside me.  I'm reaching for someone's hand to hold because most intense pain I have ever experienced and my doctor comes to my rescue.  He gives me two fingers to hold...squeeze, looks me in the eyes and says "Take your scream, contain it, then push with it ".  I took his advice and pushed once, (at this point  Jong made it back in the room and switched places with my doctor, who warned him that I could break his fingers), pushed again and Mikah was born.  It was an intense release and myself  & body I think were in shock.  

He was beautiful and crying and I couldn't believe what had just happened in a matter of about fifteen minutes. Neither could the nurses/midwife/doctor.  They all said how abnormally fast he was born, but that apparently Mikah had finally decided to come into this world and wasn't waiting another second.  

Jong recalls my doctor swooping down to "catch" Mikah like a football, lifting him up and saying "Here's your baby!"

All I know is that it was fast, it was expected yet unexpected, it was painful, but it was beautiful all at the same time.  And that I couldn't have done it without my doctor, midwife, team of nurses, and of course my husband (who I'm glad wasn't passed out in the corner of the room and made it back to the room just in the nick of time-we can thank the anesthesiologist for that.)

He was here, finally here.  Mikah James Kim.   And our lives were forever changed again. 

Mikah James Kim

August 30, 2013

12:15pm

8lb1oz

20in

Mikah's Nursery....It's been a long journey...

Well, its finally complete.  Thanks to the hard work of my Daddy and Uncle David.  They slaved away this weekend installing the beadboard and then Dad painted it all the next day.  (My mom came up the weekend before and painted the Navy.  Lets just say that was a task in itself-It took 3 coats to finally be smooth and even and that doesn't even include the primer coat.)  I know I didn't do much except wait on them and get them what they needed but I'm pretty sure I was just as tired as they were.  After the paint was dry Jong and I went to town putting all the furniture back in its place, cleaning/dusting, and then setting everything up for Mikah.

I am pleased with how it all turned out.  I went back and forth on what I wanted to do for his room for so long.  Then when I finally decided on the bedding, I went back and forth on the paint color and beadboard.  But it looks great and I am so pleased. 

Paint color-Bold Blue by Benjamin Moore

Thanks to Nicki from Adoore-It for the Plaques!

This room came a long way from being pink.  But I'm glad its finally done.  I had Kensleigh's Nursery done about 2 weeks after I found out she was a girl.  So being 36 Weeks and just now finishing his room, well lets just say it was really stressing me out.  

Sorry for the poor picture quality-I had taken these with my phone.  

Big Girl Room!

I have been thinking about her big girl room so forever it feels like.  I am finally done and have her moved over minus a few things to do on the walls.  Her are a few pictures. Sorry some of them are a little blurry because I took them with my phone.  I wanted my main colors to be yellow, hot pink, and teal, and then still wanted to be able to use some things from her pink and green nursery.  I'm really happy with how it turned out and I'm pretty sure Kensleigh is too.  

She went and stayed with my parents for a few days so I could finish it and move all her clothes, toys, etc. into it.  When she came back I told her to go to her new big girl room and check it out.  She ran down the hall, past her nursery (didn't even think about going in there) and ran straight into her new room.  She smiled the biggest smile, then of course started to check everything out and find a few new things to play with!  She has been in there ever since and is doing great.  I did choose to keep her in a crib, so we bought a new one for her.  I wasn't ready to conquer the "big girl" bed yet, though she does have one in her room.  I thought it best for us to keep her in a crib since she does so great in it and sleeps so well, especially with the new baby coming soon.  

My mom made her curtains!  She totally rocks! Love them!

Little play area in her closet

Loves playing on her bed and reading her books on it.
The rocking chair was mine as a kid, but it was white so we painted it pink!

What all can I find here to play with?

Before I truly finished her room she would go in there to play. Always taking her stuffed animals on the bed

A huge shout out to my Aunt Lynn and mom for painting.  It wouldn't have gotten done without them.  I'm not much of a painter and neither is my husband, so they volunteered!!! Love ya'll!

Daughter...

Daughter

Blessings are a favor

that come from God above

touch our lives with gladness 

and fill our hearts with love.

For I received His blessing 

and His loving-kindness, too,

the moment that He gave me 

a daughter just like you.

Sitting on the front porch eating some ice...her new favorite thing to do.

Swimming Lessons

This past month we signed Kensleigh up for swimming lessons.  It was a parent child course at our local aquatic center.  I must say that it was fun!  The very first lesson Kensleigh was enthralled with the lifeguards.  She literally stood on the steps and just stared at them and smiled.  She wasn't interested in participating in the class activities-just star gazing at the lifeguard boys...  I sure do have my hands full with this one... However, when our class instructors passed out balls to blow bubbles in the water with, Kensleigh was hooked and ready to participate.

Our class had kiddos from 9ish months to a little under three.  Kensleigh learned to blow bubbles in the water, float, swim with "BIG" arms, kick (&splash), spider crawl along the side of the pool, and some fun activities to play in the pool.  I'm pretty sure she liked kicking the best, though I did not enjoy getting kicked in the stomach and I don't think Mikah did either. She absolutely LOVED doing "Humpty Dumpty" off the side of the pool and getting pulled in at the end.  Makes her laugh and smile so big every time.  She also really enjoyed doing "Motor Boat, Motor Boat" and getting dunked at the end.  She doesn't mind at all being dunked/having her head under water, but when you try to get her to do a back float she's like a little wiggly fish that you can't control and you may or may not get punched in the face-accidently of course.

It was a 2 day a week, 3 week course and we were lucky to be enrolled with some good friends. The girls had fun watching each other and splashing away.  I enjoyed learning some fun pool activities to do with her since I'm planning on living at our pool this summer.  My current plan is to go swimming  late morning-ish, wearing her out, picnic at pool, and then nap.

First lollipop ever! It was a special treat for finishing swim lessons

Please mommy, don't take away my lollipop.

Day at the pool. Taking a break from swimming to eat a snack.

Yum, my raisins are so good!

We have been to the pool many times since swim lessons have ended.  Kensleigh does love the water and enjoys being dunked, playing games in the water, and being tossed up only to be dunked some more!  

She also loves playing in her baby pool in the backyard, especially "watering" it.  When I finally turn the hose off she sticks it in her baby pool hoping that that will make more water come out-Ha!  She loves running in the sprinkler as well- I mean what kid wouldn't?!

In the wee hours of the morning...

I'm pretty sure my dogs thinks its time to start their day.  I have been trying to get back to sleep since my 2am potty break and nothing has worked.  They followed me downstairs, begged me to let them go outside, came in, then went striaght for their food bowls.

I am in complete envy of my husband right now.  He has been asleep since about 8pm and is currently sleeping soundly on his stomach (my favorite sleeping position). I wonder how much longer before I can sleep like that again...Hmmm, let me think...probably another good 6-9 months before I get a full nights sleep.

I have currently made my grocery and dinner list for the week, made lists of things I need to buy for baby boy, things I want to buy for baby boy, and things I want get done around the house before his arrival.  Is it ever too early to start nesting?  I think i've been nesting since I was 12 weeks pregnant...I have eaten breakfast, I mean if you can even call it that at 4:30am, made sure the kitchen was still clean since after dinner, done two loads of laundry, and now here I sit at my computer wanting so badly to go to sleep.  However, at this point I wonder if i'd just be better off staying awake and taking a nap when Kensleigh does this afternoon. Decisions, decisions...

Maybe I'll go read a few more chapters in my book, again...sigh