Mylicon

Audrey has a hard time falling asleep. Once she is asleep, she is usually fine and can sleep for a long time. Chrisitan is convinced we need to give her Mylicon to help her with what he thinks is a gas issue. I do not disagree about gas, but with Caleb, I went witht he theory that we all need to learn how to work out our gas on our own, and I did/do not like the idea of giving medicine unless necessary.

Well, either Claeb did not have bad gas, or we were more tolerant with the first one. Christian went out and bought some Mylicon the other day. I was still not convinced we had to give it to her. However, tonight, after nursing her several times, bouncing her, holding her, etc. she would not fall asleep. We tried for about two hours, and then Christian decided it was Mylicon time.

I just gave it to her... we will see what happens. So far she is still crying and fussing...

Sleeping, and not...

So I was super excited yesterday to post how both my kids slept through the night.

It ought not to be news for Caleb. However, since Audrey was born, and a month prior, Caleb stated to wake during the night, sometimes frequently, even though he had been sleeping through the night for over a year. This is VERY frustrating and has driven Christian and I to try things we never thought we would to convince him to sleep and stay in his bed. Anyway, Sunday night he slept all night! Maybe the uh... second time since Audrey was born and we are going on 7 weeks here folks. In fact, for the last 7 weeks, there were many nights Audrey woke less then Caleb!

Audrey slept for 4 1/2 hours, woke at 1:30am to eat, and fell back asleep for 6 hours. This would have been heavenly, except that I stayed up working and didn't go to bed until just before Audrey woke up. But I was thankful for the 6 hour stretch after!

Alas, I did not post yesterday and the sleeping was short lived. Last night and thus far tonight, Caleb has woken several times. Audrey, is still doing pretty well.

Parenting is tough, sleep deprivation is torture!

Candy Cane Train

Some Family Christmas Fun!

Audrey at 6 weeks

She is very alert now, happy in the sling most the day, smiling at all of us, and sleeping pretty well. At six weeks, she is now wearing 3-6 month clothes. I am guessing she will be in 6 month clothes next week, yikes!

We sure love her!

Natural History Museum

We went out for a day of family fun, not knowing that is was Winter Funderland, which meant snow and real reindeers, cool! Oh, and yummy cookies, coco, and Frosty too. We had a blast!

Smiles

Audrey is starting to smile. Just this week we have gotten some smiles that seem unrelated to gas and poop, or drunken nursing sleep smiles. Pretty precious. Of course, there are every once and awhile right now, so I haven't captured one with the camera yet, but boy are they sweet!

Speaking of smiles... we are all smiling a lot more around here. Two kids... tough, but it is getting more doable as each day passes.

The joy of all joys these days for me is that I am finally recovered and healthy enough to hang with Caleb all day. We are getting back into the swing of things, of course Audrey tags along, but I can already see the difference in my interactions with Caleb after the painfully long modification to our daily time together. The pregnancy, and then the recovery, required that I have a lot of help with Caleb's care, and that had a big, and not so pleasant impact on our relationship (and his sleep and behavior). However, as he and I start spending our days together again, I can see that we are going to be just fine, and his sleep and behavior are having a drastic and positive turn around. Hooray!!!

It is amazing how much I love my kids and even the teeniest blip in our routine/time together effects us all. I was having a really hard time with the way my relationship with Caleb changed as my pregnancy became more challenging, and after Audrey was born, he was withholding his affection for me. Very hard and sad for me. I was so happy to be pregnant with and then have Audrey, but I was bitter about how it effected my relationship with Caleb, afraid things would never be the same for us again... I am praying that God continues to restore my relationship with Caleb and I am hopeful after the last few days with him.

Audrey at 3 Weeks

Story Time- Audrey at almost 2 weeks

Audrey 1 Week

Audrey is a sweet baby. She eats well and sleeps well. She spits up quite a lot, so we are doing a TON of laundry around here. Caleb loves her more and more each day and we are all adjusting as a family of four.

Audrey Day 4

Our little girl.

Audrey: Day 3 Reinforcements

So we were not supposed to have anyone in the house for a few days, as Audrey was born at home, but we woke up Saturday morning and decided we needed help. A quick phone call to my parents and they arrived that afternoon ready to cook, clean, play with Caleb, fold laundry, and grocery shop. Wow, yes, they are awesome. Grammy Claire adn papa Jerry to the rescue! Mmm, and they brought good wine and La Villa's Raviolis, doesn't get much better than that friends.

Three Generations

Yes, I realize I look scary here. I had a quick rinse after the birth, hardly a shower, and that was Thursday... this picture is late Saturday... see why we needed help? And I am severely sleep deprived in this picture as well.

So, all the red marks? Poor thing is scratching herself with her nails. We tried to cut them, but they are still connected to her skin (poor Christian found this out the hard way). She is still pretty cute though!

Audrey and Caleb: Day 2

Brother and Sister getting to know each other.

Caleb just loves Audrey. He is so good with her. Yes, he still calls her "Head Schalesky", but he knows her name is Audrey and realizes that is what everyone else calls her. Here, he was reading her a story, it was too cute! He is pretty good at being gentle. He wants to hug and kiss her all the time and is very concerned about knowing where she is at all times. I am so thankful!

Audrey sleeps pretty good, eats well, and is pretty mellow and sweet. It has been amazing to be at home (and a lot of work-cleaning, food prep, etc.), but so nice to be in the comfort of our house vs. a loud hospital.

Audrey Marie Schalesky: Day 1

November 6, 2008 2:00pm
9 pounds 2 ounces, 21 inches

16 1/2 hours of actie labor. Yikes!

Big Brother Caleb is pleased to meet her, and so are we.

Labor and Delivery

I am working on the birth story... maybe 1/2 way done?

Coming soon. :)

Due Date

Well, like last time, the due date has arrived, and is quickly coming to a close with baby still on the inside. I told Christian last night (after an accupuncture appt., spicy dinner, and some borage oil) that, "Tomorrow is the first day of feeling like I will be pregnant forever." He laughed, but really, it is the first day of resigning myself to the fact that this baby is not coming out, I will just always be pregnant. I remember feeling like that with Caleb. Yet, after a week he did indeed come out. So, at least I have that proof to look forward to. My Dr. will let me go till 42 weeks... I really hope this baby comes before November 18th, that seems so long from now. And then, my dear friend Andrea reminded me yesterday, of something I told her when she was pregnant with her first child. She had Jesse about 2 weeks after I had Caleb, and since I too had been late, I had some encouragement for her that went something along the lines of, "Each day baby stays in there is one more day that God is perfecting the baby- finishing touches you know?" And, "Each day that baby stays in is one more day that the Lord has something for you to do or experience." And, "Each day baby is in there is one more day for you to have some quality time with your husband, because when baby comes, things will change." That last one is now more like, each day is one more day with Caleb before baby comes... and with Christian as a family of 3 vs. a family of 4, which is presumably a lot crazier.

So I am surrendering to the reality that this baby may be a long time coming and trusting the Lord for each day in the meantime.

I must admit, Caleb and I did have a good time together today. And, I am getting more sleep than I will when baby arrives... that is a good thing too. I do see how God is caring for me during this time too, and have had more time to be reading my Bible and in prayer (since my schedule is pretty clear, since I had hoped to have baby by now). All good things.

Halloween Zebra

Some Halloween pics to enjoy!

We woke up from naps, got dressed, and headed to Calle Real Marketplace to meet the Wehunt-Holmes family for some trick or treating. Lot's of painful walking for the pregnant lady, but it was worth it to see the glee it produced in Caleb. He and his buddies Sasha and Stasi were pretty cute as Dog, Gorilla, and Zebra.

Who is that Masked Zebra?


Caleb John Schalesky!


Sasha, Stasi, and Caleb


Then, we headed home for a quick dinner and off to church it was for the annual Harvest Festival. Lot's of fun, lot's of friends!

Caleb and Cousin Lily


Mmm... Donuts!

40th Week

So I am in my 40th week of pregnancy. Actually feeling a lot better. My iron is good, energy is good, legs are a bit better since Monday. Apparently, baby dropped, or so lot's of people are telling me, and the new position seems to be easier on my veins. I am not swelling as much or in as much pain. My OB appt. is tomorrow. I am due on Tuesday.

I am feeling ready for baby to come and excited about baby's arrival. Having contractions, but nothing consistent. I will have a few and then nothing, and then have one an hour, and then nothing. Had that with Caleb too, and he was a week late... The best thing about the contractions is each one makes me more and more excited to meet this precious little baby. I am really looking forward to meeting baby. I keep thinking about the moment Caleb came out and I saw him for the first time. There are no words to describe what an amazing, miraculous moment that is and how much love I felt for him. I think about that, and I am so excited for this baby to join our family.

I was hoping for baby to come today. However, I prefer baby to not come tomorrow or Friday because of Halloween (yet I trust God's perfect timing). So now I am hoping for Saturday or soon after.

That is the update. :)

Grammy's Visit

Mom came to help out for 4 days and it was so great! She cooked, she did the dishes, she did the laundry, and most of all, she took GREAT care of Caleb, so I could get my iron up and rest. I have to say, I had an OB appt. the day she left and, after all that rest and red meat she cooked for us, my iron was up to a 14! Christian was so thankful for the break from dishes and folding, and got to work some extra hours since Mom was helping me.

Caleb and Grammy cooking Noodles and Meatballs (Caleb's Favorite Food)


Caleb and Grammy making Halloween Pancakes





Caleb ready to eat his Ghost



Hoping she is coming again after baby is born. We like having her here!

Pumpkin Patch!

We LOVE Lane Farms. Who would go anywhere else? They have hay rides, tons of animals, and great pumpkins that are affordable. They are so nice and Caleb just loves going there. We get our Christmas Tree there each year too.

Caleb and Daddy posing with the new baby Goat


Caleb and Mommy on the Hay Ride


Caleb's Friend the Scarecrow


Family Picture


Which Pumpkin?


This was a nice family outing on A Saturday afternoon/evening. Now we just need to carve them and roast the seeds. Maybe tonight?

In case I don't make it to Halloween...

Here is a preview of what is to come...

Trying on the Halloween Costume that didn't fit (Caleb REALLY wanted to be a Giraffe)


Trying on the Halloween Costume that does fit (Caleb is excited to be a Zebra)


He had fun crawling around like a Zebra. If I go into labor before Halloween, the plan is that our friends Jill and Andy and their boys Stasi and Sasha (all also animals) will take him out for some Halloween fun! Otherwise, we will go to our church Harvest Festival-Slime Time as usual. Pics to follow. :)

Family Day at the Pier

We have been trying to spend some good quality time together before new baby arrives (any day now we are hoping...) We were supposed to go out of town for a family vacation early October, but that did not work out. Instead, Christian took that Monday off work and we went to the Santa Barbara Pier and the Ty Warner Sea Center.

Caleb and Daddy at the Sea Center


Caleb with his new Nemo fish


Look Mom, a Pelican!


Me and Caleb (and obviously with baby on the way)


Caleb and Daddy checking out the Crabs a local fisherman caught (before they threw them back in the water)


It was a wonderful day to hang out as a family and we all had a good time. It was really good for Caleb to get some Mommy and Daddy time. It was a push for me to be on my feet that long, but it was well worth it for the time we got to spend together as a family.

Dr. Appt. Friday

I had my 37 week Dr. appt. yesterday and baby looks and sounds good. My iron is back up, so it must be the red meat! Or the gross, but really high iron tea my doula put me on... All to say, I am instructed to keep eating red meat and we don't forsee any more issues. My energy is up too, in fact I had an idea my iron was up again because I had some really good energy days last week. The only issue now is my veins and swelling from being on my feet too long. So we are just trying to get me to rest, even though I have energy-how hard is that!

I will be 38 weeks on Tuesday. Praying for cold weather so my legs and veins don't swell and hurt so much (which is a concern for when i go into labor). Thankful for everyone's help, and for my super cool doctor.

Please pray for:
Christian, as he is working really hard to get ahead at work, since he will take some time off when baby arrives, and he is doing a LOT more around home, since I need rest. Pray for energy for him, and for good health.

That I do not have to share a room in the hospital for the labor, delivery, or postpartum (yes, that happens there) and that I get nurses who support natural childbirth. Pray my OB, Dr. Ramos, will be able to be there for my labor and baby's birth, as she is supportive of our hopes for labor and delivery.

Wisdom for timing on when to go to the hospital. We want to go late in labor, but not too late.

That I have an uncomplicated labor and delivery, that baby is healthy, and that I recover well.

Caleb as he will be cared for by others during labor and while we are at the hospital. Pray for his transition to being big brother.

That I can leave the hospital as soon as possible and that we can have some wonderful time bonding as a family of four before Christian has to return to work.

That baby comes in God's perfect timing... and not 6 days late like Caleb was... :)

Thanks!

Family

We have had some visits from family lately. Caleb LOVES family. Somehow, even though he doesn't see them as much as his friends, he gets that they are FAMILY and just loves the time he spends with them all, and never wants it to end. We, who also love family and have hoped to instill strong family values in our children, are thankful for this and highly encourage family time. We try to go see family once a month. We haven't been up to see them (both my family and Christian's are just an hour from each other) since September, and are already missing our monthly visits! So we are super glad that some have come here to see us. And of course, we get the wonderful benefit of having Nathan, Melody, and Lily here in town which is super cool.

Grandma and Grandpa Schalesky


Pappa/Grampy/Scar


Uncle Nathan and Cousin Lily


Uncle Justin, Aunt Claudia, and Cousin John


Cousin John WALKING at 10 1/2 months!


This was the first time Caleb and John really started "playing" together now that John can walk. They played in Caleb's room and Caleb was very excited about John walking. He is looking forward to their next hangout! Cousin Isabella on my side of the family is just starting to walk too, at 10 months, so we cannot wait to see her (hoping they come down when baby is born). And, it is looking like Lily, who is 8 months, may be walking soon too. She already will stand on her own for a few seconds before falling and is getting really good at cruising. So much fun to have cousins all around Caleb's age (with more one the way!).