Really?

Presley had her 1 week checkup today. She is a rockstar who has gained ALL her birth weight back and then some...7lbs and 13oz today! However, she is still quite jaundice. So we got sent to the hospital lab to check her bilirubin levels. We got called into a curtain area where 2 techs were waiting for us. The test involves pricking the heel and collecting blood to be tested. Here's what happened next:

Tech #1 to me: I'll just need her heel to start warming it up.
Tech #2 to Tech #1: You had lots of problems last time, right? Do you feel comfortable doing this?

??????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tech #1 to Tech #2: Yeah, I should be okay. I just don't like doing babies.
Tech #1 to me: Did you get her heel out?

Me to both techs: I don't mean to be rude but could I please get someone who knows what they're doing?

Sigh...I get that people need experience but do they have to talk about how much they suck in front of patients?! Then, when the 2nd tech took me to another room, she asked if I was a new mom. Um, no...it's not my first time but even if it were my 12th baby, I'd still want someone proficient poking my baby's heel and taking vials of blood!

How fun are these?

My latest addiction? Besides snuggling an adorable newborn? Making felt food for Samara's kitchen she's getting for Christmas. They're so realistic and much nicer than plastic. They're really simple to make. Great on the waistline too!

Big Sister Samara

Samara has been doing absolutely beautifully as a new big sister. We weren't sure what to expect. She has never had to share us with anyone, never really had a babysitter or spent any time away from me. We are so very pleased to report that she has adjusted well (so far).

The first couple of days were HARD...everyone was trying to settle into their new roles and Samara's schedule was disrupted. This is a kid that NEEDS a schedule. Now that we've got her back on one, she is much happier and she has been having less meltdowns. WOW, were the ones she had those first couple of days massive though. They were impressive for such a little girl! I can't say the meltdowns were related to having a new baby in the house because they started a few weeks back...must just be that age.

She loves giving kisses to her "sistah", petting her on the head and calling her "nah-ice" and always asking about the "be-bee?". The first night we were home she even wanted Presley to sleep in her crib with her. It's been really great to see Samara adapt so well and we really hope this continues...and that this glowing post doesn't jinx the heck out of us!

O Christmas Tree...

Our tree is up! I got to decorate it...2 times! Once, how I usually do it, and twice, to remove all the ornaments from the reach of a toddler! I think it has character.

Updates!

- The night we got home from the hospital, we had quite the winter storm. It knocked the power out for 2 hours. Not having power for a couple of hours and not knowing when it's going to come back on when it is -30 something outside is not comforting with a new baby at home. Relying on candlelight for a source of light is also not the greatest when you have a very interested 18 month old!

- These people are saints. Not sure what we'd do without them. They set out for Lethbridge during a storm so that they could hang with Samara while we transitioned from a family of 3 to 4. They've been cleaning, reading books, changing diapers, visiting, doing laundry, getting groceries, shoveling snow, etc, while we got into a new groove. We are SO grateful and lucky. I won't lie when I say I shed a tear or 2 when they left this afternoon.- Presley lost 6.5% of her birth weight when we had a visit from the health nurse. She is also jaundiced. We've been working hard at waking her regularly for feedings (SOOO hard to wake a sleeping, peaceful baby!) and keeping her awake to get in a decent feed. She had a zillion (hardly an exaggeration) diapers yesterday so I think it's working.

- Pamela Anderson called, she'd like her boobs back. I'd like her to have them. My boobs seemed to have missed the memo that I only had 1 baby...not 3.

- Speaking of boobs, I had completely forgotten how painful breastfeeding can be at the start. Today was better but it's taken 4 ouch-filled days to "toughen" up!

- 1 last belly pic...would've been 39 weeks pregnant, instead Presley is 4 days old.
- a major update post wouldn't be complete without some new baby pictures!

Presley's Birth Story

I had my 38 week checkup on the morning of November 22. My doctor said I was 2cm dilated, 80% effaced and had quite a bit of bloody show so she offered to do an stretch and sweep to see if that would speed things along. I agreed and as a result had cramping much of the day but no actual contractions.

At 8pm I had my first real contraction and started timing them. They were around 11-13 minutes apart and fairly regular. At around 10pm I decided they were the real thing and started making some calls so we could have care for Samara while we were at the hospital. Our Uncle Brian's mom lives in Lethbridge and was so sweet to hop in her car in the middle of the night during a blizzard. By 1130 they were around 5-6 minutes apart so we went in to get checked. I was only 3cm at this point so they gave me a shot of Demerol and Gravol and sent me home to try and sleep.

By the time we were leaving the hospital, my contractions were around 3-4 minutes apart and Shawn was wondering if we should even be leaving. I was so groggy from the medication that I just wanted my bed so we went home and I would sleep in between contractions. The pain got too intense for me and I was worried about waking Samara so off we went back to the hospital at around 230am.

I didn't think I'd be much further along as Samara took 45 hours to get out but I hoped I could be admitted and get an epidural so that I could sleep and rest up for active labour. When we got to the hospital, contractions were 2-3 minutes apart. I was checked and was already at 8cm and they quickly got me to the delivery room.

Unfortunately for my plan, it was too late for an epidural. As soon as I heard 8cm, my stomach just dropped because I knew right away my big plan of having an epi as soon as it was offered this time around had just been blasted! My doctor broke my water and soon after I was pushing.

After an hour of pushing (and the most incredible/hideous/horrendous/outstanding/shocking pain ever due to back labour and NO pain medication), Presley was born. She is absolutely amazing and we are over the moon in love with her!

Interested in seeing just how different this labour was than with Samara? Head here!

Baby News!!

We are proud to announce the newest member of our family...a baby girl named Presley Colleen Tompkins. She was born on November 23rd at 5:17am weighing 7 pounds and 11 ounces and measuring 19 inches. We are in love! Birth story to come, hopefully tomorrow.

Winter!

We've finally been hit with WINTER. Full blown winter too, super cold temperatures (-20 with the wind chill) and snowing every day. I think Shawn has had to shovel a minimum of 2 times per day most days.

What does Samara think of this? She is THRILLED. Loves it! She opens the hall closet and shouts which item of clothing she'd like and then walks around the house with her toque (hack!), mitts (mipts!), boots (boots, that one she's got mastered!) or winter parka (coak!) on (or all of the above). It is really funny to see her reading a book or playing with blocks with her snow gear on.

The other day, Shawn gets home from work. Samara and I are sitting on the couch reading a book.
Shawn: Did you guys just get home?
Me: Nope, why?
Shawn: Um...well, Sam is wearing her winter coat, that's all.
Me: Oh, she's been wearing that for about 2 hours now.Every night Shawn has taken her outside to play and she is just over the moon. She calls it all a huge MUSH (mess, we think?) and when she fell over and face planted into the snow, she inquired about the BUBBLES???? I think she was wondering why her bath bubbles were so frigging cold on her face!

Belly Pics

Belly shot looking down (pregnant with Samara):
Belly shot looking down (9 months later!):
Belly shot looking down (9 months after that!):

38 weeks

Still pregnant! No longer want to be! Come on, baby!

Also, whoever thought it was a good idea to design maternity clothes with horizontal stripes? Not exactly flattering now that I see it from this perspective!

Neat Nat Style

Looking for an original Christmas present? Check out Neat Nat Style for the latest. I can't take credit for these, Shawn created them and they are FABULOUS.

Wordless Wednesday

Maternity Pictures

These were taken by my good friend, Llisa. Llisa was the bass player in our super awesome Ramones cover band, The Hormones!

Pics were taken at 36 weeks pregnant.