A Lot Can Happen in 6 Weeks

To start, we welcomed home our newest family member.

I made a sign for the door, which helped all of those inquiring minds on our floor know of his arrival. 

Annabelle became reacquainted with her brother and started to realize that he would become a permanent part of our lives. She has been very loving and sweet to him - sometimes too sweet.

Dawson received his first bath.

He enjoyed it and was very content. We might have another water baby on our hands.

Annabelle made sure all of Dawson's "equipment" was well tested.

She suddenly became interested in the pacifier again, but realized she still prefers her thumb.

Dawson found her tactics embarrassing for a girl of her age. 

Thankfully, coming home was not as stressful as I thought it would be. Robert's parents were with us those first few days to help out around the house and mainly make sure Annabelle was well taken care of.  I don't think she hardly noticed that there was a new baby with all of the fun she was having at the splash park.

Here favorite thing to do is swing.

Teri and Chris were such a big help, especially since I had a difficult recovery those first few weeks and was unable to pick up Annabelle. I was very appreciative that she was able to get lots of love and attention when we were busy taking care of Dawson and I focused on healing. It made the transition a lot smoother than I expected.

Soon after they left, Robert returned to work and my mom arrived in town to help.

It was so nice having her here, she did so much to help out around the house, making sure both kiddos were well taken care of. She changed lots of diapers! Good thing for moms. During her visit we took Dawson's newborn photos. My perfect sleeper was awake for his photo shoot! I could not believe it, but luckily his photos still turned out cute even though he would not sleep, thus making it hard to position him for shots. 

I call this the "Love Boat" shot.

After a few days into my mom's visit, I was starting to feel more mobile, so we took a few strolls outside to get some fresh air and feed the ducks.

Grandma and Annabelle explored cool old trees together.

We made it out to a children's museum. 

It was nice to just rest while Annabelle kept my mom busy running around from exhibit to exhibit.

We even made it out to the beach, taking Dawson for his first visit.

Florida babies. 

Annabelle loves the beach.

It was a beautiful sunset and perfect night. The beach always picks up my spirits.

One of Annabelle's favorite things to do while Grandma was here was have her "piggy's" wiggled. She kept making her recite it over and over.

Dawson loved hanging out with Grandma as well. He liked to listen to her talk to him. 

Sadly, the day came for my mom to return home and we were left to navigate things on our own. 

My days lately consist of playing defense against Annabelle as she tries to get Dawson wherever he is. I cannot find a high enough spot to put him.

After surviving a few weeks on our own, Robert's parents came back down and took Annabelle to Disney World for an entire weekend, which gave us a chance to catch up on some projects and enjoy a quiet dinner out.

She had a blast! Meanwhile, it felt great to get a project off my to-do list that I've been wanting to get done for awhile now.

Robert and I enjoyed a great dinner at Bonefish. We almost did not know what to do with all of the quiet time. We actually got to savor my food.

My other date.

Dawson made his first appearance at church.

We returned to the beach.

I love his smiles, he has been such a sweet baby. We're so fortunate to have him.

She's one lucky girl, don't you think? That is what I call a perfect playground.

Another perfect night.

Dawson got to meet his Great Granparents. They were not able to come to the hospital like last time because Lo just underwent back surgery. We are thankful for modern medicine!
 She was very happy we stopped by and she's working hard to make a good recovery.

The three generations of Robert's.

The novelty of Dawson has not worn off yet for Annabelle. She is a little mother hen and loves to hold him every chance she can get.

My little helper.

I slimmed down in the 6 weeks post birth and could once again reach my toes, so I gave them a much needed fresh coat of paint. I also decided it would be fun to paint Annabelle's toes for the first time. We had a fun time being girly together.

We went for a few late night strolls to downtown St. Pete where Annabelle likes walking her dog, Spot, while we eat gelato.

 Annabelle is still rear facing in the car and enjoys wearing her sunglasses around town.

 She has picked up photography and become very skilled at using the iPhone. First documented selfie.

She appears to like abstract art as well.

These are the type of images I find all over my phone.

We started using the pool again. It was closed for awhile and then with Dawson's birth we missed a lot of swim time this summer. Dawson enjoys being poolside and I've officially been cleared to swim again, so next time I'll be in the water instead of on the sideline.

During the past 6 weeks I struggled with typical post delivery issues as well as two infections with a fever of 103 during one. Blah, not fun! Just when I'd start to regain strength and feel better something would pop up to set me back looking like this.

Luckily, Robert is the best and would take Annabelle out for Daddy-daughter dates, so I could get some rest and quiet time.

I'm feeling better these days (knock on wood) and starting to return to doing normal things and exercise. Hopefully, this means I will get back in shape soon.

Dawson likes Annabelle for the most part, but he's a little leery due to some "incidents" of scratching, etc. I think they're going to be great pals though once he can hold his own. 

Robert took part in the ALS ice bucket challenge at work. His company donated money for each person that participated.

Apparently, it is also cool to show up to a golf tournament for work dressed exactly like your teammate and coworker. Umm...awkward. Ha!

We signed Annabelle up for gymnastics. She loves it. I thought it would tire her out and help her get out some energy, but she comes home so revved up and turns our place into her personal gym. Every Tuesday has become Crazy Tuesday post gym class at our house.

She's a cutie though and we love her so much. I feel like in the past 6 weeks she has turned another corner and is starting to look more like a little girl instead of my little baby waddling around. Sad!

Time really does fly by. People ask how I am doing while not working anymore. I have felt very positive about my decision, and it has been a nice break for me. Part of it feels like I am on a personal maternity leave. However, my future feels very unknown to me at the moment, but I am looking forward to figuring out what the next chapter holds for me personally and getting to spend time with my babies in the meantime.

I wouldn't miss it. 

This is an awesome rainbow just outside my window over the bay. It is actually the closest I have ever been to a rainbow. I felt like it was a smile from up above telling me everything is going to be alright. I'll figure it out.

Delivery Day

Hello, me again. Since I last posted I gave birth on July 16 and our family went from three to four. I'm finally feeling alive and getting organized with life again, so I'm trying to update up the blog.

Here is the delivery story in a condensed form (as best I could do).

On July 15th, there was still no baby, so I went to my scheduled doctor's appointment per the routine. At the time I was close to 41 weeks and scheduled for a c-section on the July 17th. With time running out for my chance at a VBAC my doctor tried to get things started for me and stripped my membranes, which I was glad she did. HOWEVER, no one mentioned that this would cause cramping. Lucky me! 

I went home and felt miserable all day and night, which meant I did not eat well nor sleep well (not at all to be precise). I called the nurse back and asked if this pain was normal and she said "yes." I was really hoping she would tell me to come back to the hospital, but she didn't. :( 

Finally, after being up all night, around 7 a.m. I couldn't take anymore pain and called my doctor. She told me to go in and they would check me to see if I was dilated enough. I was so happy, I just wanted to get there and get some drugs! HaHa.

So we woke up Annabelle and left for the hospital. This is what I look like with no sleep...

Robert dropped me off and I checked-in myself and went to the triage room to be examined/monitored.

Meanwhile, Robert went to breakfast nearby with Annabelle as he awaited word from me as to whether or not I would be staying or going home. 

Shortly into their breakfast I phoned him with the good news that I was not going home and was already being prepped for an epidural and being moved to a labor and delivery room! I was also happy to hear that the doctor I wanted to deliver with (Dr. Schwartz) was attending that day.

Robert quickly finished breakfast and called a friend of ours to come and stay with Annabelle at home. 

I received my epidural and things were going well. I was happy and feeling great. I'm calling my mom in this picture to tell her things were moving along.

After running around all morning making sure Annabelle was well taken care of, my bedside buddy, Robert, made it back to the hospital and kept me company while I progressed through labor.

Selfie shot. I realize now I really should have been sleeping at this point and getting lots of rest, but I was too excited and Robert and I were enjoying some quiet time to ourselves without chasing around our little munchkin.

I wasn't in labor long, by 4:00 or 4:30 p.m. I was ready to push. We were trying to get him out before Dr. Schwartz left for the day at 5:30 p.m. I pushed, but wasn't very successful - he still needed to descend some more. I tried pushing some more, but by now I was feeling so exhausted and weak from lack of food and sleep that I did not feel I had anything left to give. Dr. Schwartz tried and tried, but we could not get the baby to come. She had to leave and switched with Dr. Prieto - the one doctor out of the practice I really did not want to end up in the delivery room with because he's not the friendliest of guys. However, it ended up being a blessing in disguise because he's a real pro and "all business." I had the doctor I needed for the emotional/encouraging part and then when I had nothing left to give I got the doctor who would come in and get the job done because at that moment that's exactly what I needed. He was worried about my uterus rupturing if I kept laboring more with where the baby was at and so he came in and quickly and made the decision to get the baby out immediately by using forceps. I was nervous at first, but then really didn't care because I just wanted it over. Luckily, he's known as the one doctor who is really good with forceps - they even call him Dr. Spoons (as the nurse reassured me when he left the room to prep). 

Next thing I know, baby boy was out and I was so relieved. He was born on July 16th at 5:53 p.m. and weighed 8 pounds 2 ounces and measured 20 1/4 inches long.

All was well, I was holding him and doing kangaroo care until things started going downhill for me. Suddenly I felt awful and he felt like a ton of bricks on my chest. I asked them to take him off of me. I felt so weak. The room suddenly became very busy with nurses and doctors as I realized I was postpartum hemorrhaging. 

Normally, you are in the labor and delivery room for about an hour post delivery - I was in there for 3-4 hours. I lost about 900 CCs of blood and was close to having a blood transfusion. I'm not a medical expert, but I believe a typical birth results in about 200-500 CC of blood loss. Needless to say, I was way above that. I cannot say enough about how weak and tired I was. Here's one photo that Robert took of me as they were prepping to move me to my room. It's not a glamor shot, so don't look too long. ;) I was covered up by lots of warm blankets because I was shivering from lack of blood and all of the fluids they pumped into my body. This is me trying to talk to people with my eyes closed. I could not keep them open even though the nurses were telling me to stay awake.  

I finally was moved to my room around 10:00 to 11:00 p.m. I kept asking for orange juice because I felt like my blood sugar was so low. The nurses kept holding out on me and telling me that it wouldn't be good for me, especially if I gulped it down, but I kept assuring them that was what I needed to feel better and I wouldn't gulp it down. I finally got some OJ after much persistence on my part and after they took my blood sugar they confirmed that my blood sugar was low! I was too exhausted to nurse Dawson the first time, so Robert bottle fed him. By midnight I was starting to feel better.

Sweet little boy.

With all of the post-birth complications, we didn't receive any visitors that day, so it was not until the next day when Annabelle got to meet Dawson. 

Annabelle was very gentle and sweet when she met him. It was super cute.

Grandpa and Grandma Fountain had made it down shortly after we announced we were at the hospital took great care of her while Robert and I were at the hospital

Annabelle enjoyed her visit to the hospital.

It was full of fun gadgets to play with. She spent much of the time talking on the phone and hanging out with Mommy and Daddy.

I was feeling more human by the next day. Even the doctors and nurses told me I had some color back and was looking better. Thank goodness because that was a close one and I did not want a transfusion. 

I love the hospital where I delivered. The food is great and the staff is awesome. My doctors from the old practice I was with even stopped in to congratulate me and check in on me. They were happy to hear I successfully delivered VBAC. The final day in the hospital we gave this little man a name and took some pictures.

Dawson Robert Fountain

We are not sure who he looks like yet - time will tell.

By the third day, I was up and moving around. We took Dawson for a stroll and Annabelle enjoyed going along for the ride.

We ate some lunch as a family and had some more hospital fun by looking out the window for birds,

and continuing our phone communication skills.

Introducing our family of four!

We eventually were both cleared for departure, so we got Dawson ready to take him home!

Leaving the hospital! Feels like we just did this with Annabelle. 

Off to start our new adventure. Ready or not, here we come!

Car buds.

Thank you to everyone for the thoughts and prayers on our behalf during this time. We feel very blessed to have a healthy baby and for the recovery I am making.

Independence Day Was Not So Independent

That's because I am still pregnant and carrying this little baby boy around with me wherever I go. He's not due until the 10th, so it is okay if he hasn't made his appearance yet - he will when he is ready. I thought I might have a patriotic baby, but it was not meant to be, so I planned activities to keep us busy instead.

First: I really wanted to attend a parade while I had energy in the morning, so we looked up parades in town and found only a few options. Florida really is not into parades. I guess because it's so hot in July, who knows? Anyway, we drove to this quaint town called Safety Harbor (about 30 minutes away) to catch the parade. 

We invited our friends the Abaunza's to join us. 

Stephanie's sister Elizabeth was in town as well. Before the parade started Annabelle loved following and petting this Great Dane. I think she has the cutest coat and looked very patriotic - even her toenails were painted.

Let the parade begin:

It was a small and cute parade with some fun local touches like this firetruck and the dancing Santa's below.

Annabelle did awesome. We were not sure what she was going to think of the parade or do, but she loved it. There was so much going on that she just sat and wanted to watch it all.

Hanging out with Daddy.

Robert and Carlos with their girls. 

We tried getting a picture of these two girls just by themselves, but as you can tell - they were not having it. I think this one captures it best. 

Robert and Carlos went to law school together and now we're having babies together, which makes it fun. 

Annabelle and Emily are 5 months apart and the baby boys will be about 3 months apart. Stephanie and I were troopers walking around town in the heat and pregnant. The town gathered after the parade in this square - they sung patriotic songs and handed out cookies, drinks, and toys to the kids.

After the parade we all went our separate ways to rest, recover, and get some lunch. However, we reconvened at our place later in the evening for some pool fun and dinner before watching the fireworks.

I wanted to stay as close to home since I did not know when I might go into labor. The pool felt so nice! It's been closed for weeks for renovations, but I am glad to have it back.

After hot dogs and snacks I busted out an "oldie but goody" game - "Let's Go Fishin'" to see who had the best fishing skills. It was quite the scene watching adults compete over a child's game. 

We even let the girls have a turn.

Once we finished the game, we passed out the glow sticks (my favorite), grabbed some desserts (I'm enjoying a root beer float), and headed out to the balcony to watch all the firework shows up and down the beach.

It was a great view and fun spot to watch the fireworks from when you have little ones and two big bellies who were not really up for traffic and long distance walking. 

Happy 4th of July!