Week 1

Daddy and Lydia cuddling at night.

Lydia's first bath .... she didn't like it.

This is supposed to be Lydia's bed right now but the boys seem to think that it's theirs ...

I realize that Lydia is actually 2 weeks old at this point but life is a bit busier so we’re a bit behind in updating the blog. 

So far life with a family of 5 is busy but definitely not unmanageable.  I really think that it was easier going from 2 kids to 3 kids versus 1 to 2 kids.  Jackson and Brendan are able to play together (and usually play pretty well).  It gives me time to take care of Lydia without having them climbing all over me. 

Lydia is a pretty good baby.  She gets fussier in the evenings but nothing too bad.  I think that she gets fussy because she struggles with burping.  She’s my first child that likes to sleep in the morning.  Brendan and Jackson were always early risers and Lydia will sleep in until about 9am before she has awake time.  She typically gets up every 3 hours or so to feed during the night (a couple of 4 hour stints as well).  But the best part is that as soon as she’s done nursing, she falls right back to sleep. 

Introducing Lydia Kae

Love, Love, Love this picture.... Brendan wasn't so sure of her at first but we had to hold Jackson back:)

Luke and his daughter and the birthday boy.

Brendan is all about her pacifier and wants to hold her whenever he sees her.

Mom and the 3 kids before heading home. 

Our 3 children... what miracles they all are!
 

I can't believe it's been 6 days since Lydia has arrived.  Life has adjusted so quickly and I can't imagine it without her!  After all of that waiting, we are all in love with this new little girl.  Our actual due date was the 19th and she decided to arrive on the 17th (actually if given her choice she would've waited I'm thinking).  I had been having contractions for some time now and last week Wednesday they started becoming more intense but didn't get too close together.  Around 4:30 in the morning, my water broke (something that didn't happen until I was at the hospital with the other two).  We called the doctor at 5:30am and he sent me right in because I had Group B Strep which meant that I needed some antibiotics before delivery.  So, we called my mom and she came over to be with the boys.  We arrived at the hospital around 7am and were hooked up to the IV's right away.  When they checked me, I was only dilated to a 2 so they started me on pitocin.  And our long day began.  Both of the boys were super long labors as well and honestly the worst part about it is that we get anxious for things to happen - epidurals make the wait much more bearable!  So we settled in and started watching some Netflicks shows.  Thank goodness for wonderful nurses as well!  Around 3pm I was still only dilated to a 5 so our nurse had me lay on my side for awhile and things started to progress some more.  At 5pm she came in and switched me to my other side and within an hour I went from a 5 to fully dilated!  It was amazing how quickly it went.  Of course by then I had started shaking and when I told her that she called the doctor right away since shaking like that is a sign that you're ready to push.  It took only 10 minutes of pushing and Miss Lydia Kae arrived.  Even when we started pushing, she wasn't completely down but she came down quickly.  When she arrived, she had the cord around her neck twice so it took her a minute to let out that first cry.  But it certainly is a beautiful sound!  We spent some time cuddling with her and then called her big brothers.  My mom and dad were quick to rush down with them to meet her and find out her name.  We didn't tell them the name initially because the Kae is after my mom and my sister and we wanted to see my mom's reaction.  Unfortunately Sara was working so we had to tell her on the phone but she rushed to the hospital after she got off working the next morning.  I can't get over that miracle of birth and the joy of seeing a child for the first time.  It's amazing how much love I have for the kids and how much more I fall in love with Luke with the birth of each child.  He has become a pro at being a labor coach!  More posts to come with Lydia's first few days but we're finding ourselves a bit busier these last few days.  However, it's a good kind of busy!

She's here!

Introducing Lydia Kae Hansen
Born November 17, 2011 at 6:52pm
8 lbs. 14 oz and 21 inches long

Brendan's Birthday Party #2 and Baby Update

Last week Sunday we had Brendan's birthday party with my side of the family.  Of course Brendan made out like a bandit and is now busy playing with even more new toys (even though Jackson tries to claim them as his own and give Brendan the older toys).  I can't believe that Friday will be his 2nd birthday.  I tend to get a bit emotional on their birthdays and with pregnancy hormones this could be an extra emotional birthday:) 

Brendan had some help on his candles from some of his best buddies.

I really am not a fan of seeing myself in pictures (especially when I'm 9 months pregnant) but I figured I should document that I was at least pregnant and about ready to burst at Brendan's party. 

So far no new news on the baby front.  Initially the doctor had thought we'd induce this week since Brendan was such a large baby (9 lbs. 8 oz) and each successive baby tends to get bigger but he doesn't think this one will be as large so we're waiting with and induction and praying that baby will make the decent sometime in the next week.  I'm definitely feeling ready to hold her yet my biggest concern is that she's healthy and delivery goes well.  The boys are all ready as well (including Luke!).  Luke has been great these last few weeks helping me with the boys and giving me some time to relax and to "nest" ... he's hoping that we now make it through this week so he can get some hunting in. 

Halloween

Aunt Sara with Jackson the Transformer and our strong-willed child Brendan.  (At least they sat for a picture!)

The "scary" Transformer!

Evan, Jackson and Lauryn right before heading out for all the candy

One unhappy little guy ... even the pacifier didn't make him happy!

Jackson was counting down the days until he could go trick or treating all week long.  Thankfully the night turned out to be perfect for trick or treating and the boys were ready to go.... well until Brendan had to put a costume on ... he DID NOT want to wear a costume.  But right before they left to go house to house with their cousins, we put it on and he kept it on.  I think he was consumed with the idea of getting more candy and didn't realize he still had his costume on.  Lots of candy at our house now and two boys that LOVE to go through all of it. 

Brendan Birthday Party #1

I felt really bad about not really having a birthday party for Brendan last year - he had the flu on his 1st birthday and then it was just too hard to reschedule so we just kind of fit it in when we got together with family (poor 2nd child!).  This year I thought we should try to get his parties in before baby comes so he actually gets a party this year. 

On Friday night we had a joint birthday party with his cousin Evan.  Evan was born 3 weeks before Brendan so I'm thinking that joint parties will be perfect!  That and the boys were both born with reddish hair (weird coincidence!).  This year went so much better and it was fun to watch the boys enjoy their party.  They loved the dinosaur cake and had so much fun playing with their presents. 

The birthday boys! 

Thanks Aunt Betsy, Uncle Lee, Lauryn and Evan for the LOUD guitar... paybacks at Christmas time!

Hurry up and open the present Dad!

Hard to believe that my little guy will be turning 2 in a few weeks!  He's becoming so much fun as his personality comes out and he asserts his independence (well sometimes that's fun!). 

Fall Randomness

I finally combined the boys closets and the next day Jackson comes down wearing this - they're Brendan's clothes!  The sad part is is that they kind of fit him ... a tad short but nothing that says he's 2 1/2 years older than Brendan!

Waiting anxiously for the Pumpkinfest Parade to begin.  (by the way, notice he has 2 totally different socks on and of course one of them is pulled up super high!)

Papa had Jackson ride the last little bit of the parade with him on the Borculo Christian float.  Jackson thought it was so much fun but his comment to Luke was "Papa knows LOTS of people"

Brendan waiting anxiously for the parade to begin - he LOVED the candy!

After the parade we had some friends over ... 6 kids 4 and under with 2 more on the way.  Life sure is busy but tons of fun too!

The boys playing in the leaves.

This is a totally random post as I haven't taken a lot of pictures lately.  I guess you could say life has been quite crazy as we are busy with work and the boys and getting ready for the baby.  I can't believe that in less than a month we'll have another little baby around the house.  It's definitely different with this one as I'm getting pretty tired but I guess I do have 2 very active boys around the house this time too!  This little one loves to move and is giving my ribs quite a bruising but as much as it can be uncomfortable at times I know that I'll miss that when she arrives.  We're all anxious to meet her though - no one more than Jackson (surprisingly!).  The other day I told him he was going to spend the night at my mom's and he said "The baby is coming?!" ... I had to tell him that no the baby isn't coming just yet but soon she'll be here.  I think that he's most excited about staying with Gamma and Papa and coming to visit the hospital although we had a practice trip there this week! 

On Monday night Jackson fell and hit the footstool and got quite a gash on the back of his head.  I took him to the hospital and he was a brave boy as he got a staple put in.  I would post a picture but he won't let us get a picture of him.. the little stinker!