First Grins

It's been an eventful few weeks here in the Carey household. Between diaper changes, feedings, trying to catch up on rest and decontaminate our germ-infested casa, we're staying busy.

Today Doug went to the doctor for the THIRD time to see why his sickness and fever continue. He is truly sick of being sick. They took a chest x-ray to determine if it is pneumonia and gave him another antibiotic, as well. They also told him to stay away from Liam and don a surgical mask if it is absolutely necessary to hold him or get near him. Nice timing, huh? :( So hopefully we will have confirmation tomorrow as to why Doug hasn't been able to get better. I feel so bad for Doug. This should be an amazing time for him to experience with the little guy, but he's trying to stay away from Liam as much as possible for the good of our entire household. Please keep praying he gets better soon!

Here are some pictures of our little family and of Liam's first smiles. Interestingly enough, Ava was about this age when we caught her first grin on film. Liam's face looks quite a bit like Ava in the first picture of her smiling.

http://thecareyclan.blogspot.com/2006_04_01_archive.html
















Family picture at Chuck E. Cheese (with Ava multi-tasking, riding a horse :-)














Liam, the snuggle bunny














Ava, spending tokens at a record-setting pace! :-)
Doug said he thought she had more fun at Chuck's this time around, than ever before...














Ava helping Mommy with Liam (she is able to say his name so clearly! :-) Poor Liam... we're double-teaming him...












We're so thankful that Liam hasn't been sick yet! Keep the smiles coming, kiddo!

Peace, love and germ-warfare,
Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam :-)

Tiny Tots and Tunes

Johnson Ferry Baptist Church offers a class one day a week called "Tiny Tots and Tunes."  I thought it would be the perfect excuse to get out of the house and give Ava some extra-special attention.  The kids get to dance and sing to different songs and play with some props, too.  Ava loves it.  She loves singing and dancing!  My Mom was in town, so she was able to keep an eye out for Liam, who actually slept in the stroller through the entire class.  Amy Hoffman and Mekhi met us there, where the kids had a ball. 

Peace, love and Mommy/Ava fun,
Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam

Liam is Two Weeks Old / Grandma Pam's Visit to Georgia

Sorry I haven't updated in a while. We're trying to keep up with our sleep and keep all members of the household healthy, at this point...

Doug is STILL sick with some sort of bug and actually came home from work early today with chills and a fever. I took Ava to the doc last Friday. The doc confirmed Ava just has allergen issues and her (awful) cough isn't anything to be concerned about. I remain healthy, Liam seems to be doing great, and my Mom, who has been a great help within the past few weeks also remains healthy. (She arrived about four hours after Liam was born and will be staying through this Saturday). When I was having contractions on Sunday, I told my Mom. I called her on Monday, 07/07, letting her know that I thought Doug and I would probably be heading to the hospital that day. Sure enough, after visiting my Ob/Gyn's office, they sent us to the hospital. Liam was born less than 3 hours later. My Mom arrived at the hospital about a half-hour after I was checked into my regular hospital room.


Grandma holding Liam for the first time
























Grandma holding Liam in the hospital
























Doug took a quick video of me holding Liam before he and my Mom left to go home for the night. In the video, I told Ava hello, asked how her day went and introduced her to Liam. Doug said when she saw the video she was grinning ear to ear. The next day when Ava first came to the hospital, I'm not sure she really understood what was going on. Liam was SO QUIET for the first few days, I don't think she even noticed him much. In the hospital room, we had a fun time with Ava. Liam gave Ava a princess storybook and Ava got to go on an egg-hunt through the hospital room (thanks for the GREAT idea, Molly!). She also got a Baby Alive from Grandma Pam. Ava seemed to really be anxious to spend time with me, after my absence from the house for the night.

Ava playing with the gift Liam gave to her: a fun princess book
















Ava holding her brother for the first time
















Ava holding her brother for the first time

















Ava excited about meeting her baby brother
















Showing Ava her brother's sweet little feet
















Enjoying some time with Ava in the hospital
























Fast forward two weeks... I got seven hours of GLORIOUS sleep last night. Liam seems to be a great sleeper. He sleeps in 4 and 5 hour increments. My Mom took the midnight feeding last night (which ended-up being the 4 a.m. feeding) so we could get some much-needed rest. I slept from 12:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. We'll be happy when the 4 a.m. feeding vanishes into oblivion! :-) My Mom asked if there was anything she could be doing today, with Doug being home sick. I told her she just needs to keep her finger on the trigger of the Lysol spray, to constantly disinfect our house of the ever-present germs. Ugh. It's been amazing to have Mom as an extra set of hands around the house during the past two weeks. We'll miss her when she leaves on Saturday. It has also helped that our class at church has been delivering meals every other day for the past week. Thanks, everyone!

We were able to make it to church this past Sunday for the first time. I know, it might seem a little crazy to go to church when Liam is only 2 weeks old, but at this point, we figure that we need to be AWAY from our house to get healthy, considering how sick everyone has been under our roof! :(

Liam has been an absolute sweetie pie. He is SO well natured, when we went to our first pediatrician appointment, we had to ask if he was "too quiet". The doctor said "And you're complaining about that?" :-) He really only cries when he needs a diaper changed, or when he is touched with a cold wet wipe. Can't blame him.

Liam seems to have my coloring entirely. His hair is definitely strawberry-blonde at this point, and he has my skin tone. Ava always seemed to have Doug's coloring. Doug thinks that Liam will look like me. Liam seems to look quite a bit like my hospital baby picture. He has THE LONGEST fingers and feet for a little baby! This kid will probably be able to palm a basketball by kindergarten... He seems to slowly be learning how to smile in response to our smiles. Each day he becomes more alert.

Ava seems to be adjusting well. At first she seemed to take issue with me specifically, as I am now splitting my time between tending to her needs as well as feeding / nursing Liam. She seems to be getting more used to the idea over the past few days. We've done some fun activities with her specifically, too. Today we attended a kid's music camp at a local church, for kids her age. She has gone to similar events at this church in the past, so she really enjoyed jumping around to fun church songs and playing with other kids. I think she appreciated the attention, too. She touches Liam ever so gently and says "it's okay, baby". She really seems to be taking a liking to him today, specifically. She is, however, boycotting afternoon naps and now prefers to play quietly with her entourage of stuffed animals in her room. I think tomorrow the zoo may have to take a trip to a different room in our house during her naptime.

Taking time out for a Mommy and Ava craft: Building a foam barn :-)
















My Mom has been a God-send during the past few weeks. It is amazing how many "sets of hands" are needed around the house with: a healing Mamma, an attention-craving two-year old, a helpless two week-old and a sick Daddy... Crazy. As you can see in these pictures, Ava enjoys the time she spends with Grandma Pam. I wish we were able to capture more candid shots, but we've been a LITTLE busy! :-)

Enjoying time with Grandma Pam
























Liam loves Grandma

















I'm really doing great in healing from the c-section. I only needed Percoset for 24 hours after the delivery. The nurses seemed to encourage the Percoset at every turn, though. It zapped me so much of energy, and made me groggy, so I decided to forego it after that. I seemed fine without it and felt less sleep deprived. I think I'm healed for the most part, but can't really stretch around the different stairs at McDonald's Play Place. The c-section shuffle hasn't even been required of me, at this point. I recall BARELY being able to walk after Ava was born. Now having a 2 year-old to run after, I think it's probably mind over matter?

Other than that, I've been able to do most things. The doctors don't want me lifting Ava, but that's REALLY hard not to do... So, I've just tried to limit how often I do lift her. I think I gained 26 lbs this pregnancy and lost 22 of the 26 lbs in 13 days. It's nice to be in my own clothes again. I look forward to moving the "tub" of maternity clothes out of our room, and finally getting dressed from clothes in my closet. Doug calls me the incredible shrinking woman. I told him I might've lost most weight, but it's definitely not in the same spots as it was previously! So, I am anxious to jump on the dreadmill or at least take walks when the weather cools off. For now, it is unbearably hot and humid (think 95 degree sauna :( ).

We feel incredibly blessed that Liam has been so well-natured so far. Please keep Doug in your prayers that he gets better soon... He has been sick one way or another since July 3rd (his birthday). 18 days later, and he's still sick...

I will be sure to post more updated pictures of Liam, etc later. For now, this is the picture taken in the hospital.

I hope everyone is doing well. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for a safe and quick delivery. We definitely had just that!

Peace, baby love and lots of diapers,
Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam :-)

Happy Birthday, Sweet Boy!

I'm sitting here in the hospital after visiting hours are over, with the sweetest little boy laying next to me. Liam Truman Carey was born on Monday, July 07 at 3:37 p.m. ET. He weighs 8 lbs 3 oz and is 21 1/2 inches long. He has strawberry-blonde hair and blue eyes. I was surprised by the strawberry-blonde hair and his peachy coloring because Ava was dark complected and had dark hair when she was born. He is truly the sweetest thing. He does have some lungs, but only cries when his diaper needs to be changed or when he needs to eat (for now). :-)

The name "Liam" is typically a shortened version of William, and is especially popular in Ireland, Scotland and many other European contries. I really just liked the way the name sounded. I also thought it was nice that it's a bit different but not totally "out there". It seemed to grow on Doug. It seems like a good "sturdy" name for a boy. And it fits the criteria I had: It is gender-specific: you know it's a boy's name before you even see the little guy.

My Dad's name is William Dean Griffith. The first (Irish) Griffith to come to America was also named William Griffith. My Grandfather Lawson's middle name was Truman. "Truman" means "faithful man". Although Doug didn't get to meet my Grandfather (Grandfather Lawson died when I was 15), Doug has heard great things about him. While visiting Grandfather Lawson's grave some time ago, Doug saw that Grandfather's middle name was Truman. Since then, Doug thought it would be cool for our son to have part of my Grandfather's name. What's really strange is that Liam's initials are my Grandfather's initials, but backward. Liam Truman Carey and Clinton Truman Lawson. So, Liam Truman he is! Seeing that his hair was strawberry-blonde, I'm thinking the name Liam was the right choice.


























I started contracting sometime on Sunday (around 3 p.m.). Because my 41 week Ob/Gyn appointment was scheduled for Tuesday, I thought I might try to make it to Tuesday, if possible. Contractions on Sunday night / Saturday morning were very intense and were 5 minutes apart, waking me up from sleep. Monday morning I decided I needed to change my appointment time from Tuesday to Monday. So, we then learned I was dilated to a 3+ and "completely thinned-out". I was so glad to hear that at least my body knew that it should be doing something on its own! Yay! I don't bake babies forever! We were told to go directly to the hospital, where we later checked-in.

On the way to the doctor's appointment, Doug said he didn't think I was in labor based on my body language. I was just trying to relax as much as possible through each one. So, we packed our bags and made our way to Northside Hospital (aka #2 or #3 in the nation as far as the #'s of babies born per year. I think Northside delivers 66 babies a day, on AVERAGE!). At the hospital, I was immediately hooked-up to monitors, etc, based on my previous c-section (they want to monitor to be sure I wouldn't rupture my c-section scar).

Each contraction intensified naturally and without pitocin. The doctor attending on Monday wasn't interested in starting pitocin, and I basically wanted to see what my body would do on its own. With each contraction, the little guy's heart rate would drop dramatically. This seemed to happen with every contraction, even after the nurse administered two liters of fluid (thinking I might've been dehydrated). The doctor was very quick to say, although we had hoped for a VBAC, rapid heart decelerations as early-on as 4 centimeters would mean rapid heart decelerations for longer periods of time during contractions at 9 and 10 centimeters. This wouldn't be good for the baby.

He then broke my water and saw meconium. I understand meconium is normal for post-date babies. Ava had tons of it when she was born. The doctor seemed pretty adamant that we should sign-up for a repeat c-section, and seemed to use quite a few scare tactics so we would sign-up for the c-section quickly. I wasn't biting as quickly, this time around. He basically came in, said we needed a c-section and said "Okay?" He seemed a bit disturbed when I asked if I could just have time to talk with my husband about what we wanted to do. Doug seemed to think we were being rushed, too. We told the doctor that we wanted to watch two more contractions, to see if the baby tolerated them well. During both contractions the baby's heart rate decelerated drastically, so we decided the c-section was probably the best way to go.



















The O.R. experience was completely different from our O.R. experience with Ava. I now know that Ava was definitely a "stat" c-section. The O.R. doc seemed impressed when I asked him if he would suggest one-layer or two-layer uterine sutures. He asked if I was a nurse... When I told him "no", he said that I must've been doing some research and reading-up on childbirth. Doug dared to "peer" over the curtain separating us from my guts. :-) The doctor told us that, not only was a knot TIED in the umbilical cord, but our little guy was coming into the world face (eye) first - not head-first (his eye was swollen shut when he was born), with his hand directly in front of his face. Two of the OR technicians had to crank on my ribs to get him "unstuck" from me, as well. At the time, I KNEW I would have bruises on my ribs after they got done with me....So, I think it is safe to say that a 21 1/2 inch kid is as much as my torso can possibly handle!

When he was born, he had great coloring, had his lungs cleared out by the OR staff. He is a very healthy boy. He nursed like a champ from the get-go, but has since had problems latching on. It seems to be correcting itself now. I can't tell you how surprised to see that he has strawberry-blonde hair and my coloring, considering Ava had really dark hair and a dark complexion!!!





















I was disappointed about the c-section route, but realize that if we had to end-up with a c-section, it worked out the best way possible. And I went into this labor knowing the odds were already stacked against me. We arrived at the hospital at 12:45 p.m. and the baby was born at 3:37 p.m., if that gives you any idea of how quickly the decision was made that I shouldn't attempt a vbac. Ava was able to spend the night in her own bed, thanks to our friends the Hoffmans, who brought her back to our house after picking her up at day care and spending some time playing with her. They took her to McDonald's Play Place (her favorite place in the world) and she got to hang out with her buddy Mekhi.

This c-section has been a little easier to heal from than my first, with Ava. I didn't have to push the patient-controlled pain pump at all while healing. The nurses and docs at Northside have been great so far!

Liam is such a quiet little guy, and the best snuggler! He is super-alert when he is awake. He sleeps for long periods of time already! The night that Liam was born, Doug took a video of me holding Liam and telling Ava "good night", while I held Liam. So, when Doug got home he played it for her. Doug said she was grinning ear to ear when she saw it. Ava didn't really seem too interested in Liam yesterday. He's been entirely quiet whenever she's in the room. Today he was hungry and crying, so Ava took note. She said "Liam not have eyebrows." "Liam not talk". She is definitely the little narrator and likes to talk about everything (guess she comes by that honestly!).

We're hoping to check out of the hospital tomorrow, if they let us go a day early. It would be nice to sleep in my own bed and start the home-routine. As a sidenote, Doug has been miserably sick and hasn't been able to hold Liam too much as a result. That bums him out, but I know he's working on getting better as quickly as possible.

I can't tell you how many times I've nodded-off typing this up (Maybe 30 times)... I'm exhausted and Percoset is coarsing through my veins... So please forgive any typos!

Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers!

All our love,
Now a family of four!
Doug, Shelly, Ava and Liam

Happy 4th of July!!!

Happy Fourth of July!

Nothing has changed since my last blog entry. Whenever I call anyone lately, the conversation usually begins with “Hi! No contractions yet!” When Doug goes to work each day, his co-workers now greet him with a “Wow. You’re still here?” It IS kind of annoying to walk into a room when people seem to be disappointed to see your face. I guess I’m getting to know that feeling well again these days!

Doug turned 36 yesterday. Because we didn’t know if we would be in the hospital or not, we didn’t have any elaborate plans this year. Doug asked for a Carvel ice cream cake and wanted some golf shirts. We indulged in a mint / chocolate ice cream cake with sparkler candles last night and grilled-out (per Doug’s request). We were planning on going to the pool, but after hearing from the doc that Ava has an ear infection (and now that Doug is also under the weather), we decided to ix-nay that idea and just relax.

Doug also wanted to buy a chuck to go with his mini-lathe. So, he’ll be picking one of those out soon, too, for his birthday gift. One of his latest hobbies is to turn wood on a mini-lathe. He has turned at least four or five pens, to date. They’re absolutely beautiful! Here are a few of the first ones that he turned...






















Today we’ve had a low-key day so far. With Doug being sick, he didn’t feel like doing too much. Hopefully he can relax and kick this cold before this baby is born. We did decide to check out the Marietta Square for the Fourth festivities. It was pretty hot, but we walked around the square for a bit, listened to a live band and checked-out all of the kid-friendly activities. Ava rode on the “shark slide” with Doug (quite a trooper, being sick), climbed on an obstacle course, jumped on a moonwalk. She really seemed to enjoy herself and is tuckered-out as a result. She fell asleep on the way home in the truck... Doug and Ava are now both sleeping. I hope they both get better soon!

Peace, love and 36 birthday candles,
Shelly, Doug and Ava

40 Weeks: Gestation Frustration

I'm still here!!!

We just got back from my 40-week appointment today. I'm still dilated to "one". The nurse-midwife said that doesn't mean I can't go into labor on my own today or tomorrow. But for now, we play the waiting game. They WILL let me go to 42 weeks if amniotic fluid levels, baby's heart rate, my health continue to be fine. If it doesn't look favorable for having the baby on my own or via induction, they will schedule a c-section, at that point (sometime around 07/15). My next appointment is next Tuesday afternoon.

At this point the baby isn't quite 8 lbs yet, per the nurse-midwife. I don't have any swelling, my blood pressure remains great, and I think I'm up 27 lbs total. I do think the baby has dropped, as I can see / feel my ribcage again. (Now I just look like I've had a few cases of Pabst Blue Ribbon too many ;-).

So, lunch after the appointment was spent eating...what else? Eggplant parmesan. :-) (The third dose of eggplant parmesan in the last two weeks). Doug is now to the point of rolling his eyes when I suggest (with my tongue-in-cheek, as well) that these types of meals can encourage labor.

I've heard that 40 weeks is an average human gestational period. AVERAGE. The window is between 38 and 43 weeks. Being that my Mom carried me 42 and 3/4 weeks, my sister carried each of her boys 41+ weeks, and Ava was 41 weeks and 3 days, I would venture to say we're long "gestators" in my family. Not a club in which I would want to place membership, but obviously there isn't anything I can do about it...

I did have a case of the entirely neurotic nesting-thing hit me yesterday and today. In the past 24 hours I have: swept and cleaned the kitchen floor, bathroom floor, steps to the basement, vacuumed, cleaned the shower & tub, done laundry, washed down our cabinet surfaces, cleaned our refrigerator, organized our freezer, separated out Ava's toys, labeled some of her toy containers, watered the garden, purged the junk drawer(s), separated her crayons from markers from colored pencils and YES, sharpened all of her colored pencils... And painted my nails! (toenails are no longer "reachable" :-)). All of this in hopes that they might tell me I needed to go to the hospital after today's appointment. :-) Oh well. I guess this little guy will come when he's good and ready. So, I am SERIOUSLY thinking of buying a pogo stick and putting it to good use. Even if just to make the neighbors do a double-take. :-)

After all of the cleaning, I do feel some sciatic pain in my lower back / hip area. I had it CONSTANTLY when pregnant with Ava, and think it was because I taxed my body so much with all the walking I did. I think this pregnancy has been much easier in that respect, because I haven't tortured my body so much! I don't feel like a "90 year-old beached whale", as my previous doctor said all pregnant women feel by the end. I just feel like a "beached whale". No aching joints this time around.

Ava seems to be getting better with her cough, but now she seems to have a stomach bug. At our friends' house on Sunday she threw-up three times and then once on the way home. She's been home with me trying to get some rest for the last few days. Her appetite has returned, thankfully. It seemed to hit her out of the clear blue sky. Hopefully she's on the road to recovery!!!

Until you hear from me, assume the baby's birthday will be July 15th. In that way, if he arrives "early", we'll all be surprised!

P.S. - It is a little discouraging for me to hear (via Doug's Blackberry, right after our appointment, still in the exam room) that one of his co-workers had her baby at 37 weeks 3 days, weighing in at 7 lbs 10 oz... Which leads me to the inevitable question... If the doctors didn't "make" me have a c-section at 42 weeks, how long WOULD this body hold onto this little guy? Hopefully I will find out the answer to that question, before modern medicine decides to intervene...

Until next time...

Peace, love and PRAYERS this baby will decide to announce his own arrival,
Shelly, Doug and Ava