The Doctor

Dr. Davidson and Ezra

Ezra got checked out at the doctor's office and has been declared, "Perfect." Let's hope he stays that way. He has been gaining weight (although not as quickly as I would like) and got his newborn screening done. He doesn't go back until 2 months. Let's hope by then he can impress her with some reading or something.

Visitors!

When you have a baby, you are tired and a bit in a daze, but one of the hardest things is missing out on adult interaction. Visiting people with newborns is about the best gift you can give. We have been blessed.

Carissa and Noah:



Gina and 1-year-old Alex:

The Posts:


My cousin Kate:


Dave:


Come back any time...please. Please come back.

Baby Brother Did It

Just after Ezra was born, we called Grandpa Jim and Elias from the hospital to let them know of his arrival. We found out that while Elias is smart, he doesn't always think things through. At breakfast that morning, Elias pointed to a scratch on the table and said, "Baby brother did it." Now had Ezra been at home yet, perhaps we might have believed Elias, but since we were all still in the hospital, it was a no go. Sorry Elias...and now we are on to you.

Elias Ecklund Kiefer

True to his word, Elias has been pretty good with "Baby Brother." He loves to give gentle pats, hugs, and kisses. I'm enjoying it now, while it lasts.

Those first few days where I was in the hospital or at home, but not in any shape to play with Elias were rough. He was not acting himself, and unfortunately Grandma and Grandpa got to see the worst of him. He has recovered quite a bit, but there are still a few things we need to work out:

The potty. Elias has begun peeing in his pants every time he has to go...even at school. That's a lot of pants to wash every day. Ugh. It was so nice when he was pretty much potty trained. Today I resorted to bribery. A treat if he has no accidents at school. I'm not holding my breath. I know he can do it, he has just decided to go in his pants (as we ask him if he needs to go, he says no, and then pees in his pants). Let's hope this phase passes quickly.

Nap time. Just as baby brother arrived home, Elias decided he didn't want to nap anymore. This, of course, is when I need him to nap the most (so I can nap). Luckily, we may have gotten this one resolved. We started calling it quiet time, and told him he could take whatever toys he wants to his room to play, but he has to stay inside until 3:00. Both times we sold it this way, he took a nap. Go figure.

All in all, I am quite pleased with Elias' interactions with Ezra. I know, I know. Just wait until the toy stealing begins.

Ezra Ecklund Kiefer

Thankfully Ezra Ecklund Kiefer decided to arrive a week early on January 9th, 2011. He weighed 7 lbs. 1.6 oz and was 19" long. I had gotten an ultrasound the week before, and they estimated he was 7 lbs. 14 oz. (give or take a pound...luckily it was take). I had a decision to make; schedule the repeat c-section or keep with my original plan to try the vbac. It was touch and go, but with a call from my sister, it was decided: wait and see. Hold out hope for the vbac.

On Saturday night, I started having contractions, but I must say I wasn't even really sure that was what they were. You would think the second time around it would be obvious. I can't remember if it was 10:00 p.m. or more like midnight when they started. Matt and Grandpa Jim had just returned that night from a great day skiing. The timing couldn't have been much better. I tried to sleep, but at 1:00 a.m. I held a committee meeting. With Matt and Mom, we decided I should wait it out at home for a little while longer and try to sleep as much as possible. My contractions seemed sporadic to me and didn't meet the criteria of a consistent 8-10 minutes apart.

A short while later, I got up and headed downstairs. Sleep wasn't working, so I thought I would do better in the living room with my book. I did manage to read 1 chapter, but I'm not sure I could tell you today what it was about. I held out until about 4 a.m., sitting on my big bouncy ball and doing my breathing. I decided it was time to call the doctor (I really wanted to hold out until Elias woke up, so we wouldn't be gone when he woke up, but it's good I didn't). When I called the doctor, I told the phone service I thought I was going to have a baby. I told the doctor I was pretty sure I was having contractions. She asked if they hurt. They definitely hurt. She told me to head to the hospital.

I woke Matt and Mom, and we headed to Rose Medical Center. My contracitons were getting closer and closer, but I am proud that I still walked to the delivery room. When the nurse checked me, she said I was 8 cm, and they had to call the doctor quickly. An on-call hospital doctor started helping with the delivery, but luckily my doctor arrived in time. I pushed for about 30 minutes, and Ezra arrived at 5:56 a.m. via a natural, drug free delivery. It was the delivery I had wanted last time. Welcome Ezra!

Should Be Interesting

Elias really does learn fast. I have definitely slowed down with baby #2 on the way (found out yesterday he is already 7 lbs 14 oz...give or take 1/2 lb). When we play, Elias either asks or tells me to go sit on the couch because he knows that's where I'll end up. Sitting on the floor (and even standing up for that matter) takes too much energy. He has now taken to putting a pillow behind his back when we have books on the couch together, just like Mom. Old Yellow has started crying and needing to be held...and baby brother isn't even here yet. Baby #2 actually arriving and coming home should be very interesting.

We Made It!

Elias was out of school for ten days straight. That's a loooooong time. But we survived it.

It seems as though most people I know who have younger-ish children are stay-at-home Moms. They blog, are on facebook, and generally like to talk about how great it is to be with their kids. Of the women I know that do work, a majority of them wish they could stay at home. Huh? This is just something I will never understand. I guess there are two types of women in the world; those that feel so blessed to be able to be around their kids a majority of the time...and then me. Don't get me wrong. I love Elias and am glad to have him, but being around him 24/7 drives us both mad. He likes school, and I like work. I can't imagine what it would be like if we were at home more than 10 days in a row together.

We tried to keep busy over the break. We went to the museum, played at the mall (twice), went grocery shopping, checked out all of his new Christmas toys, got his haircut, went to the playgrounds. We had good moments and rough ones. I know we were both glad when Grandma and Grandpa arrived on Sunday afternoon, the last day of our 10 day stint.

Maybe I'll pretend that I'm not the only one who feels this way about their kids, but that I'm just the only one brave enough to say it out loud.