Weight Check

On Tuesday I took Nolan back to the doctor to make sure he had gained weight back to his birth weight. Last Monday he was 7 lbs 2 oz. At the doctor's he was 7 lbs 12 oz. Very impressive Nolan! She said he looks great and he is very strong. We don't need any more weight checks and to just keep doing what we are doing. Nolan goes back for his 1 month check up in a couple of weeks. She also asked me how Tyler and Carter were doing (something I love about our doctor - she always remembers the other boys, even when I don't have them with me) and assured me that any problems we may be encountering is just a phase. Something I knew, but always nice to hear from the professional.

Cousins!!

Another highlight of having Oma and Opa here was that they boys got to spend more time with their cousins - something they always love to do. One night Todd and Jessie had us all over for dinner. The kids had a blast running around their yard and playing with all the toys. On Monday Oma, Opa, and I took Tyler, Carter, Nolan, Acacia, Shiloh, and Josiah to Garden of the Gods. Tyler was upset that we couldn't climb on more rocks when it was time to leave, but they all had a blast. Here are some pictures. Nolan is doing what he did the entire time - sleep!

Oma and Opa!!

Oma came in last Sunday to help out with Nolan. She was a great help, getting up nice and early with the big boys every morning, watching Tyler and Carter while I took Nolan to his doctor appointments, feeding and changing Nolan, and running many errands with all of us. She also kept my house clean, fed us great meals, and did my laundry. Couldn't have asked for better help! Tyler and Carter loved having her here as well, although with the adjustment phase we are going through they weren't always on their best behavior. Oma didn't seem to mind though. On Friday Opa also came into town. One night Oma and Opa even kept the boys overnight in their hotel room so I could get up and out the door to Nolan's appointment without worrying about the other two - very nice! Of course the boys absolutely loved this as well, along with playing Lincoln logs, reading books, and building cities with Opa. Thanks for all your help Oma and Opa, this week would have been much harder without you here!!

10 Day Observations

Nolan is so far quite an easy baby! Oma has been here all week helping out with the boys and cooking us lots of good food. Justin went back to work on Tuesday since she was here, but he will take more time off next week. The boys have also had fun playing with their cousins and picking Opa up from the airport on Friday. I am feeling great so far as well - this has been the easiest recovery of all three of my boys. Here are some observations of Nolan in the past 10 days.

• You are a squeaker. You make the cutest little mouse squeak in your sleep.
• You get the hiccups at least once a day. You never got them in the womb, but without fail everyday you will get them at least once. Luckily you don't seem to mind.
• Your favorite place to be (besides someones arms) is on your changing table. Once your new diaper is on you love to lay there and just look around totally content.
• Your belly button stump and circumcision has already fallen off and they both look like they have healed very nicely.
• You hated your first sponge bath. That is the most you have ever cried since you were born. Hopefully you will like regular baths better.
• You are a great sleeper already. While we know this may change we can't believe how well you do. We usually dream feed you at 11 and then you will go to 3:30. You will then fall right back to sleep and stay asleep again til around 7. You have even given us a couple 5 and 6 hour stretches!!!!
• You are a great eater as well. At three days old you were eating about 1.5 ounces a feeding. Now at 10 days you are draining 3 ounce bottles. We are excited to see how much you weigh at your weight check on Tuesday. We don't think you will have any problem being back up to your birth weight.
  
• Your brothers absolutely adore you. While we have seen some new behaviors from both of them and a few more tantrums and a lot more clingyness, they still want to hep with every diaper change, feeding, dressing, and always want to hold you.
• Even though its only been 10 days we already can't imagine life without you here. We love you so much!!!!
  

First Doctor Appointment

Nolan went to the pediatrician on Monday to make sure he wasn't losing any more weight and just to get checked over. He is looking just perfect, which is great to hear. He still weighed 7 lbs 2 oz, which was his discharge weight so we will go back next week to make sure he gained back his birth weight. The doctor also told us that it is fine that he is going 5 hours at night between feedings so we don't need to worry about waking him up. We are also going to watch him closely for signs of reflux now that he is on formula because both Tyler and Carter had it as well. We are hoping he won't. Oma got here on Sunday so she came over with Acacia and Shiloh and watched the big boys while Justin and I got to go to the appointment together. Very nice!

Brothers

Tyler and Carter are loving their new little brother. When they first met him, Tyler went up to Nolan and said "hi Nolan I am your big brother." Carter then went up to him and said "and I am your little brother". It was very cute. Now Carter says he is the little big brother. They love to take turns holding him and giving him hugs and kisses. Whenever he is crying they want to know why and like to "help" feed him and change him. It is very sweet watching them love on their new brother.

First Few Days

We have had a great first few days at home. Nolan looked great at the hospital and we were all discharged after only 25 hours after delivery. After he got his shots and circumcised we were on our way. At the hospital he also had his very first visitors - Tyler and Carter and Nana and Bapa. When we were discharged he had only lost 4 ounces from his birth weight - not bad at all.

As we left the boys went with Nana and Bapa and Justin and I took Nolan home (after a quick trip to King Soopers to get my medicine). I was a little sad that we would be going home without all of us, so Nana and Bapa brought them back over so we could spend a little family time together. Leah and Seth also came over to meet little Nolan. The boys ended up going back to the campsite with Nana and Bapa for one more night, which was nice for Justin and I to have out first night without worrying about the boys waking us up too early. Nolan actually did very well, going four hour stretches at night and staying asleep in between his feedings. On Saturday Nana and Bapa brought the boys over in the afternoon and made us some dinner. They left after dinner and it was just us as a family of five. It was crazy at times, but wonderful all the same. Lindsay and Randy came down with Savannah as well and we went on our first walk. Nolan then had another great night of sleeping. All in all our first few days couldn't have gone better. Here are some pictures.

Introducing Nolan Isaac!!!!

On Thursday, August 12, 2010, at 2:09 p.m. Nolan Isaac Pederson was born. He weighed in at 7 pounds 6 ounces and 20 inches long. With blue eyes and blonde hair, he is absolutely beautiful and perfect in every way. Here is his birth story.

I was suppose to go in at 8:00 a.m. to be induced, however when I called they were very busy and had no room for me. I was worried that we would have to wait all day, but within an hour they had called me back saying I could come in. We got there, got checked in and started the i.v.'s. By 9:30 the pictocin had been started and we were on our way. I was still only 3-4 cm and 50% effaced, the same I was a week earlier at my appointment. I had told the nurses I had wanted an epidural so I got that before they broke my water at 12:30. I never really felt any bad contractions, but I figured I would get it before things got worse. When Dr. Andy broke my water I was maybe a full 4 and still only 50% effaced. Dr Andy thought it still wouldn't be more than a couple hours however before he was born. At 2:00 or so they checked me and I was ready to deliver Nolan. Yep I went from a 4 to a full 10 in an hour and a half! They went to call Dr Andy and get everything else set up. The next thing we knew there were 3 extra nurses in the room, including the head nurse, they were giving me oxygen and a doctor I had never seen was brought in the room to get "the baby out of me". I had no idea what was going on. They finally told me (they were too busy to explain what was going on, not that they were trying to keep us in the dark - I had awesome nurses!) that Nolan's heart rate dropped a lot (from the 140's to the 90's) and no matter what they tried they couldn't get it back up. They even gave me medicine to stop my contractions. Finally it started going back up and with each contraction it would drop but he would recover when it was over. Just as we were discussing if the doctor I had no idea who he was should just deliver me or if we should wait, Dr Andy waltzed in. I had never been so relieved. After 3 pushes Nolan came right out. He had the cord wrapped around his neck twice, which is why the heart rate keep dropping. However he came out crying and a beautiful color pink. I got to hold him right away, Justin got to cut his cord and he stayed with us the entire time. Very nice. His apgars we 8/9 and like I said he is just perfect! Welcome to our family Nolan Isaac, we love you so much and can't wait to see you grow!

Nana and Bapa

Nana and Bapa got here Sunday afternoon in case Nolan decided to make an early appearance. They brought their camper a long with them so the boys have been staying with them. It has been very nice for Justin and I to get to sleep in every morning, and have a very quiet, clean house for a few days. Yesterday we all went up to Seven Falls. The boys were tried and somewhat cranky so I wasn't sure how they would do. However once they started up the stairs (all 233 of them) they did great. Or so I am told, I stayed at the bottom. When they got to the top they actually wanted to keep going on the trail and were disappointed that they weren't allowed to. Enjoy the pictures!

Haircuts!!!

The boys hair has been quite long. Justin finally broke down and gave them haircuts. Tyler did ok, but got a little upset toward the end. The pictures of the boys aren't the best, but here are some before and after pictures.

Pregnancy Updates

I feel like all I blog about lately are my doctor appointments! The boys are doing well, we just have been taking it easy and haven't been doing to much. On Monday night I was in a lot of pain so Justin took Tuesday off and I headed into the doctors. It was determined that I somehow pulled a lot of muscles so I was put on muscle relaxers. While I am still somewhat sore, the relaxers and the 48 hours of bed rest seemed to help as I can at least walk now. At that appointment I was still only 2-3 centimeters. Everything else looked great however and I actually lost two pounds.

Today I had my 38 week appointment (which is what the picture is - me at 38 weeks). I am now a good 3-4 centimeters and still 50% effaced. While I don't feel that he has dropped the doctor says his head is right there and he is plenty low. He was measuring at 39 weeks based on the tape measure. After that we went over to get an ultrasound to measure his size and estimate his weight. Surprising to everyone else he is only weighing in at 6 lbs 9 oz!!!!!! I have no idea what to do with a 6 lb baby. They did set up my induction for August 12th at 8 a.m. - right when I hit 39 weeks. However they will be very surprised if I make it that long. So back to the waiting game. I was really hoping we would have him here this weekend, but I also know its out of our hands. Either way we are ready for him to come - the hospital bag is packed and the carseat is in!