Baby Sullivan | Week One

With Marin, I did weekly posts documenting her first year. I kept it up for all 52 Weeks and I'm pretty proud of myself for that. I love that I can go back and see how much she changed and grew in the course of one year. There's a quote that comes to mind regarding parenthood: the days are long, but the years are short. I want to capture every moment that I can. 

I hope to document Baby Sullivan's first year the same. Granted, with Marin, I lugged around my DSLR camera and shot solely with that. This time around, I'm realizing that I am without my camera most of the time and will be documenting most everything via my phone. I have a preschooler and a newborn now. Mommy doesn't always have the capacity to shoot a photo the old school way. 

Sullivan is a week old as of today. The first few days of his time here on earth were spent at the hospital. Since I had a c-section, we stayed 3 nights this time. His sugar levels were pretty low and they monitored them very closely. A lot of that had to do with the fact that he's a pretty big baby. Every three hours or so, they would prick his adorable little heel and test his sugar levels. Luckily, after the first few days, everything was back where it needed to be and the monitoring ceased. 

We are getting in a great groove with nursing. With Marin, those first few weeks were super hard because her latch wasn't very awesome. Sully has been eating like a champ and I feel like Wonder Woman. I've been pumping like a crazy person as well and I'm already working on a stash for when I return to work. 

We are just taking each day as it comes at this point. We settle more into a routine with every feeding, every diaper change,  every length of time of sleep. He's sleeping in his crib at night and takes other naps in his swing/bouncer. We are learning the difference between day and night. Our nights have honestly not been too bad either. Once I was able to actually sleep on my side instead of awkwardly sleeping on my back practically sitting up, everything seemed to fall into place. A c-section is no joke though. The healing process this time around has been so different. 

I feel like this time around has been a lot easier. The transition has been pretty smooth. Marin is warming up to her little brother for the most part. I can tell that she's dealing with not being the center of attention all of the time though. I'm trying to make sure that she doesn't feel left out. She's been a great helper so far. 

Baby Sullivan...Week One. 

Baby Sullivan | A Birth Story

My due date with Sullivan was Friday, June 30th. Just like last time with Marin, we blew right past that day and I knew that we would still be waiting for a bit of time before his big arrival. My maternity leave officially started July 1st and I was left to wait and wait and wait. Luckily, I didn't have to wait nearly as long as Marin (you can read her birth story here). With her, we were 10 days overdue and I thought I would be pregnant forever. I was ready for Sullivan's arrival whenever he was ready and willing to enter into this world. I had told Ryan that I thought we would have him Monday. 

And we did. 

Sunday, July 2nd was like most days aside from the fact that this was my first official day off from work. It felt pretty strange to not be getting up at 5am and heading into the walls of church to start the day. I won't walk those halls for a little while and that's still strange to me. It's odd to know that time moves on swiftly without you and you have to be alright with realization. 

Marin and I hung out for the day. Ryan went to work. I remember sitting at the kitchen table with Marin. She was eating her typical dinner that included dinosaur chicken nuggets, of course. She eats VERY SLOWLY most of the time so we were just chilling and talking about Baby Sully. I kept getting this feeling though, this evening it would happen, I would go into labor. My body was telling me to get ready. My mind was going through all of my lists and I couldn't help but wonder if I had packed everything that we would be needing once we got to the hospital. 

At 8:50pm that night my water broke in our kitchen. I had been having a good deal of more intense contractions by that point. Our amazing doula, Tamara, was notified and was sitting at my kitchen table when my water broke. My water breaking was so different than with Marin. It really was like in the movies where you are at the supermarket and the next thing you know you are wondering if you wet yourself as you stand in a puddle. This was only the beginning. 

We labored at home for many hours. I decided to watch the new episodes of the X-files to keep my brain occupied as I recorded contraction times on my phone. We made it four episodes in and then tried to lay down and sleep for a while. The contractions kept waking me up because their intensity was slowly increasing. We decided it was time to head to the hospital. 

We pulled into the hospital at 3am, July 3rd. Checked in, got hooked up to monitor the baby, and continued to labor. 

I soaked in the huge bath tub for a long time, smelling of essential oils, and taking each wave of contractions as they would come. 

Time passed and we found that my contractions were getting slower. They administered Pitocin in an IV to try and jump start the process. I had somehow forgotten the pain from Marin's birth. You go to this place, this deep, guttural place where you have to become a warrior and just face the pain. You must ride the wave of contractions. You must let your body do its thing. I am so incredibly thankful that we had our doula with us again. I truly don't think I would have made it through this point without her. She would help me get through the contractions by pushing on certain pressure points and was a support system that Ryan and I are very thankful for. 

Laboring on the birthing ball. 

I did that for what seemed like an eternity. Then is was time to push. I pushed for quite a while. A contraction would hit and then everyone would yell, "PUSH, PUSH, PUSH!!!!!" I did. I gave it everything I had within me. 

By this point we were about 13 to 14 hours in. The pushing just wasn't working. 

This is very similar to what we went through with Marin but this birth story ends a bit differently than hers. 

At first it was hard for me to accept this because I like to be the strong woman, hear me roar. I birth babies with no meds! But, we decided the best route for Sully was a C-Section. This was not in my birth plan. I didn't want to have one going in to the birth but if it meant that I would be holding my baby boy in my arms and that he was healthy, I was fine with it. 

Laboring with Tamara by our side. 

While I was still in a wave of contractions, they rushed me to OR to administer a spinal. I have never experienced anything like that before. It's the strangest sensation to realize that you cannot feel half of your body, at least completely. My entire upper half was trembling the entire time, my teeth were chattering and I couldn't seem to calm down. Everyone there was so amazing and helpful though. Even though we were in a situation we didn't really want, I knew we would be fine.

They said that the cord had been wrapped around his neck and that I have an anterior lip that was keeping him from coming through the birth canal fully. This is similar to what we faced with Marin but Sully was such a big baby, a c-section was the route to take. 

My hubby would make a good looking doctor. 

I heard his cries for the first time and knew that there was a light at the end of the tunnel. He was here. 

Sullivan James Hollen. Born at 12:30pm on July 3rd. 9 lbs, 8 oz. 21 inches. 

He was a lot bigger than we were fully expecting. He didn't fit newborn diapers from the get go and was in size 1 the day he was born. I had one outfit in the hospital for him that I packed that luckily fit him. He's a tank and I love him. 

Slowly getting more confident. 

Marin is thrilled, excited, and a little sheepish around her little brother but is going to be a great big helper. 

Sully brought Marin a new movie as a Welcome to the World present. 

Our lives will never be the same. 

My heart is full. 

(All Photos By Ryan Hollen) 

What's In My Bag | Hospital Edition

Our bags are officially packed. We are officially as ready as we will ever be for this little man to come into the world. I'm due on Friday and now we just hurry up and wait. I remember this feeling from last time and Marin decided to take her precious time and wait until ten days after my due date to grace us with her adorable presence. I know a due date is just an estimate, more like a little suggestion to make pregnant mothers go a little bit crazy. 

I am a planner. The waiting and suspense just about kills me by this point but I'm trying to just tie up lose ends at work. Get the the house ready. And wait. And wait and wait and wait. Everyday I go to bed at night I wonder if we will be having a baby in the next 24 hours or not. So far, not. 

Last time we did this, I feel like I packed more? Maybe I did. I honestly don't completely remember but I feel like this time around, we are in a good place packing wise. There's one bag for the hospital and a canvas grocery bag full of snacks and random other items that we will throw in last minute. I plan on putting some minimal make up in and my flat iron. We will need to toss in the phone chargers. But overall, the bags are packed. 

I've also packed a bag for Marin because once I'm in labor and we head to the hospital, she is heading to the grandparent's house and will hang out there until she can come meet her new baby brother. 

Not pictured:

Minimal Hair Stuff

Gift for Marin/Gift for Sullivan

Phone chargers

Assorted, Minimal Makeup 

Now we wait. I'm ready to not be pregnant any longer and to meet this little guy. Come on, Sullivan! 

Waiting for Marin

Tomorrow I will be 1 week overdue. We have spent the past week preparing the last minute details in anticipation for our little ones arrival. I have spent many evenings wondering if this will be the last time I get ready for bed without a little one to keep us company. Will this be the last time I shave my legs in peace for awhile? Will this be the last time I almost sleep through the night, aside from getting up to go the restroom too many times every night? Will this be the last time our little home is strangely silent? Will this be the last time my house is somewhat clean and organized? 

Yet, as I write these words, she still has not arrived into this world. 

We spent a good part of yesterday at one of my normal OB appointments. I didn't think I would actually end up going to this appointment. I figured she would be here by now. A normal appointment turned into a trip to the hospital across the street for a no stress test, some blood work, and an ultrasound. Everything was done in preparation for the possibility of us welcoming our little girl into this world. But, alas, I am not dilated at all, at least as of yesterday, and they sent us home around 8:30pm last night. All of her tests came back with flying colors and it seems that she still wants to bake in there for a little while longer. 

So, we still wait. 

We still receive countless text messages and emails from friends and family. 

Is she here yet? 

Will she have red hair and dimples like her mama? 

Have they talked about inducing you yet? 

*As a side note: Ryan and I really aren't a fan of the whole inducing thing. We would much rather have her take her precious time as long as there are no medical emergencies. Just so you all know. :) There are too many risk factors that come with induction, at least in our opinion. 

So, we still wait. 

We had Valentine's Day donuts because clearly my man knows the way to my heart. 

We are taking it easy and I'm drinking my pregnancy tea like it's going out of a style. 

I am working here and there for the dental office from home. 

We are spending our last days together as just a couple. Soaking it all in. 

So, we still wait. 

My poor, swollen feet.