Thursday, December 29, 2011

Introductions

We went to Tulsa for Christmas, and Cale had the opportunity to meet a lot of family.  We arrived in Tulsa late Wednesday night and didn’t take any pictures.  However, Cale met Aunt Shannon, Aunt Randi and Uncle Matt on Wednesday.

It was really late when we arrived, so we didn’t take any pictures.  The first order of business Thursday morning was to introduce Cale to his great-great-aunts and his great-great-uncles and his great grandmother.

Meeting Great-Great-Uncle Doug (Uncle Doug officiated our wedding.)052

Getting some love from Uncle Doug and Aunt Marilyn058

Meeting GiGi060

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Meeting Great-Great-Aunt Jodi074

Uncle Duie, Aunt Jodi and Cale079

Allie holding Cale (He was crying because he was hungry.)097

Gettin’ some love from the McComber girls (Allie, Aunt Shannon and Analise)098

Friday was a day of introductions as well.  First up – the Jolly Old Elf Himself.

Cale meeting Santa103.2

Nanny turned 90 on Christmas Eve.  We celebrated her birthday Friday afternoon.

Cale meeting Nanny120

Meeting Uncle Adam125

Snuggling with Aunt Randi147

Kenley and Cale148

Aunt Fran and Cale001

It was so nice to spend time with family.  What wonderful memories we created!  We love all of you!!

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Claire and Cale

005 I’ve had several people ask me about how Claire is handling being a big sister.  Like everything else Claire does, she is handling it beautifully!  She simply adores her baby brother.

If Claire has one complaint, it is that Cale does not play with her enough.  At just two-weeks-old, he still sleeps almost 20 hours a day, which, after feedings, doesn’t leave much time for playing with his sister.  This makes her a little sad.  However, her daddy and I still play with her a lot; so she’s not lacking for attention.

As for sharing “her” spotlight, Claire loves to tell everyone about her “baby brudder.”  She’s as proud of him as his daddy and I are.  She loves showing him off.032

Claire thinks Cale is “SO cute!” and “so sweet!” and “so fun!”  And she is the best big sister ever.  She helps with diaper changes, feedings, playtime, snuggle time, bath time and every other time she can.  She is so sweet and kind and tender and gentle with him.

She has shown no signs of jealousy, and we have not had any problems with regression in regards to potty training or anything else.  If anything, Claire acts bigger than ever.  She’s anxious to help out and is proud to be a big sister.

As for Cale, if it’s possible to have a baby that is easier than Claire was, then it’s Cale.  He’s so even-tempered and calm.  He only cries when he’s hungry or needs a diaper change.  Other than that, he’s just relaxed and easy-going.  He goes down for naps and bedtime so easily and sleeps three to four hours at a time during the night – waking only twice to eat.  His daytime naps last two to three hours each.  He’s so happy and content and cuddly.  We all adore him!017

Steve and I are so proud of our children!  They are both healthy and beautiful and strong and smart and sweet.  We are so very blessed!!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

More Presents

This week Cale received some more presents from Grandpa and Grandma Osterholm – a hat, socks, shoes and a blanket.002

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Thank you so much, Grandpa and Grandma!  We love you!!!

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Push Present

A push present is a gift a new daddy gives to a new mommy upon the birth of their child.  (When Claire was born, Steve gave me a charm for my charm bracelet.)  When Cale was born, Steve gave me a beautiful silver necklace with two charms – a flower with Claire’s name on it and a circle with Cale’s name on it - and a pearl pendant that hangs in the middle.010

It’s beautiful!  Thank you, Steven. I love it!

And while I’m at it, I have much more to thank Steven for.  Since Cale’s birthday, Steve has done all of the cooking, cleaning, laundry, errands, grocery shopping, etc. and has taken such good care of Claire, Cale and me.  He has allowed me time to rest and just enjoy my children.  And on top of all of that, he spoils me with massages, bubble baths, long afternoon naps, special meals and desserts, etc.

Steven Lee Norton, you are the most amazing man, husband and father.  I am so thankful that God gave you to me.  I love our family, and I love our life together.  Thank you for marrying me.  Thank you for all that you do.  I love you more than anything!!

Saturday, December 10, 2011

MiMi and PopPop

027 MiMi and PopPop came to stay with us to take care of Claire, Cale, Steve and me.  They were a tremendous blessing!  They put their lives on hold and arrived at our house on Thursday, November 10th, so that they could be here when I reached 39 weeks on the 11th.

While they were here, we had a great time!  We ate at some fabulous restaurants, including Rudy’s, Lupe Tortilla, Ling’s, Five Guys, etc.  We shopped The Galleria Mall, Ikea, Home Goods, Target, Walmart, Toys R Us, etc.  We went to the Mercer Botanic Gardens a couple of times.  We played games and watched movies and ate and just generally had a great time.

When Cale finally made his appearance, they were here to stay with Claire – to keep her safe and happy.  I was able to focus on the task at hand – the birthing of my son – and didn’t have to worry if my daughter was well cared for in my absence.043

After Cale was born, my parents stayed until the following Monday, December 5th, to take care of my family as we settled in to a new schedule.  They cooked for us (including two pies!!!) and cleaned for us and ran errands for us and cared for us and played with Claire and Cale.  They did lots of loving and hugging and snuggling and made sure that we all knew that we were loved.010

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Thank you, MiMi and PopPop!  We loved having you here and appreciate all that you did to care for us.  There are not adequate words to express our gratitude.  We’re missing you already and can hardly wait for Christmas when we will get to see you again!  We love you so very much!!!

Friday, December 9, 2011

Birth Story

Unlike Claire’s birth story, Cale’s was a little more exciting.

First and foremost, it is important to remember that in 2006 I was told that I would never be able to conceive children without a lot of medical assistance, if even then.  Then in November 2008, without any type of medical assistance whatsoever, Steven and I were surprised to discover that I was four months pregnant with Claire.  Claire was born in May 2009 at Reunion Birth Center.  Her delivery was quick, easy and pain-free.  The fact that I just gave birth to our second child, again without any medical assistance in conception, is a miracle in and of itself!!  And the story of his birth is nothing short of amazing!

This is Cale’s story:  On Monday morning, Steve and I went to Reunion for another appointment with my midwives.  They ran another non-stress test, which had great results.  They performed another ultrasound to check the amniotic fluid, which was also good.  But when they checked me, they said that Cale was still so high that they would be unable to induce me at the birth center and that if he did not come before Wednesday night, I would be admitted to the hospital and induced Thursday morning.  In my opinion, it was less than great news.  I had no desire to be admitted to the hospital and even less interest in being induced.  My midwives were as disappointed as I was, stating that they would be completely shocked if I would have to be admitted to the hospital to deliver my second child when the birth of my first child was so easy.  But Steve and I chose to stand on God’s Word.  We spoke to my body to work just as God created it to, commanding my uterus to contract, my cervix to dilate, my water to break.  We spoke to Cale and told him that he needed to cooperate and be born before Wednesday night.

Monday evening I was exhausted (and feeling disappointed), so I went to bed at 7:00 p.m.  I woke up around 10:30 p.m. and just felt a little crampy.  I moved from my bed to the living room so that I wouldn’t disturb Steve’s sleep.  Around 11:00 p.m. I decided that a bubble bath would help me to feel better.  I woke Steve and asked him to help me get into the tub.  Around 11:15 p.m. I felt the first contraction.  Contractions began about 4 minutes apart and lasted for about a minute.  By midnight my contractions were 2 minutes apart and were lasting for about a minute and a half.  Steve called our midwife who asked us to meet her at the birth center.  We arrived around 1:00 a.m.  I was dilated to 7 when we arrived.  Cale was coming fast.

I labored standing up, which was much easier.  I leaned against Steve; and our birthing assistant, Janelle, massaged my lower back during my entire labor.

Janelle (my birth assistant) and Cale049

Janet (my midwife) and Cale017

When my water broke, we discovered that there was meconium in the amniotic fluid.  However, very little fluid drained.  At this point I was fully dilated and ready to push.  I only pushed three times.  Cale was born at 3:19 a.m., sunny-side-up, with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck twice.  He weighed 10 lbs 7 oz and was 23 inches long.  As I pushed him out, the remaining fluid gushed out behind him.  It created a very crazy situation.016

However, as I mentioned before, Cale’s birth was miraculous!  The meconium was old and had liquified.  There was no solid material for him to inhale.  The cord was wrapped so loosely around his neck that Janet was able to just roll him over twice, and it unwrapped without any problems.  In fact, it was so loose that his heart rate never dropped during my contractions.  As for his presentation, it caused me quite a bit of discomfort while pushing since I was lying on my back; but it wasn’t unbearable, and pushing was short.  My entire labor only lasted four hours.

If I had been induced at the hospital, it is highly likely that I would have needed a c-section.  The Pitocin, which would have caused the contractions to come hard and fast, would have most likely caused Cale much distress since it would have caused too much pressure on the wrapped umbilical cord resulting in a decrease in his heart rate.

Cale and my body knew just what to do.  Cale stayed high – keeping the pressure off of the umbilical cord – until the contractions were hard enough to push him out.  Then he came down fast and out into our loving arms.006.2

008 We stayed at the birth center for quite a while this time.  We had breakfast and took a nap before heading home.  We arrived home just before 1:30 p.m.

Ready to go home054

We are all doing great, and we are so in love with Cale!  We give God all of the glory for another supernatural childbirth!  God is so good to us!  We are so very grateful for our beautiful, healthy family!

Gifts for Our Boy

Cale has received several gifts from family and friends.

From Steve’s boss and coworkers – a gorgeous bouquetflowers

The card reads “Congratulations on your bundle of joy!  From Colgan Air Flight Ops”009

From Grandpa D’Wayne, Grandma Robin and Aunt Emily – Cale’s first deposit into his savings account014

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From Gramps, Aunt Kasey and Aunt Dawn – two Winnie the Pooh onesies, a Winnie the Pooh bib and a blanket038

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From Micah, Kathy and Baby Micah Wright – a Ralph Lauren polo union suit017

From MiMi and PopPop – a racecar piggy bank, a monkey toy, a frog beanie baby, a sleeper sack, a Gap union suit, a Gap long-sleeve onesie that reads “great things come in small packages,” Gap pants, Mickey Mouse jersey with matching shorts, a grey and white striped sweater union suit (Cale wore this for Christmas card pictures.), a Gap long-sleeve onesie that reads “BEST Baby Brother,” a Gap Santa long-sleeve onesie, Santa socks and a rugby shirt (MiMi and PopPop have bought other gifts, but these are the things he received during their visit this month.)024

Thank you to everyone for being so kind and generous to our boy.  We really appreciate your love and thoughtfulness!