Happy birthday Caden!

Today my sweet first born turned 5!!  I still can't believe he's 5, it seems like yesterday I was heading to the hospital to have him!  He has brought nothing but pure joy and happiness into our lives!  He is the sweetest, most caring, tender-hearted, handsome, and intelligent little boy!  Mommy, Daddy, and Bennett love you so much Caden!  Here some pictures from years past:

birth

1st birthday

2nd birthday

3rd birthday

4th birthday

5th birthday

Bennett's birth

I am way behind on blogging and especially about Bennett!  Life is just so busy with 2 kiddos...but its that good kind of busy!!  I'll see if I can recap the day before and the day he was born!!

Sunday, May 22nd:
Went to church, came home and cleaned the house from top to bottom, and I took a nap!  We finished packing...I had to pack for Caden also, he stayed with my parents for 3 days!  We dropped Caden off with Brandon's mom for the night and then we headed to Bridgestreet for a yummy dinner at Cantina Laredo and some last minute shopping!  I spent the rest of the evening munching on twizzlers and packing!  I finally drifted off to sleep around 1 a.m.! 

Monday, May 23rd:
4 am:  Wake up, take a long shower, get ready (yes, I put on make-up).
5 am:  Leave the house and head to the hospital!!! 
6 am:  Got signed in and waited in the lobby for what seemed like forever!  It kind of felt like we were checking into a hotel...I wasn't in labor, so there was no rushing to get to a room!  Definetely not how its pictured in the movies!
6:45:  Finally escorted to my room...#11, the room where I was going to meet my sweet Bennett!  I had so many emotions as I walked down the hallway.  It was weird to know that it would never be the 3 of us ever again!  Once in the room, I got my lovely gown on and climbed into bed!
7:15:  Got my IV....and that sucker hurt...took 3 tries before they got it! 
7:30:  Started the bad boy drug pitocin to get things going...I was dilated 2 cm and 50% effaced at this point!
8:30:  Doctor came and broke my water:) 
9:00:  My mom arrives and i'm starting to feel uncomfortable, but nothing i couldn't handle!  Get checked again and I'm 4 cm!
10:30:  By this point i'm in some pain!!!  Brandon's mom had also arrived....I got my epidural around this time also!  Call me a weenie, but the epidural was the worst part!  It hurt...I felt everything! 
11:00:  Feeling much better and a little woozie!  I started itching really bad from the medicine they use in the epidural, so my fantastic nurse gave me some narcan to ease the itching!  From this point on, times are a litte fuzzy so I will do my best!  It seemed like time stood still that day!
1:00ish:  Dilated 5 cm....
3:00ish:  Dilated 6 cm....and my sweet Caden arrived!!!  He was so excited.
3:30:  My nurse, Stephanie, decided to put me in the "wedge"!  I wasn't progressing like I should, so it was either the wedge or c-section, and i'm anti-csection!!  I remember sitting in that crazy position talking to Stephanie while she was charting beside me and I kept saying "I feel more pressure...is this supposed to happen?"
4:00:  I got really nauseated and had some major pressure in my nether regions!!  Steph checked me and I was ready to push!!!  I was so thrilled, but so nervous!  I remember just balling my eyes out as they got me into position to push!   I don't really remember much but I slightly remember the doctor coming in and talking to me!  Everyone was amazed I had gone from 6 cm to pushing in like 20 min! 
4:26:  After pushing about 4 times, little Bennett was here!!!!!!!  It was the best moment!  It was as if, no one else was there, just Bennett and I!  Our eyes met and locked and it was love at first sight!  I did not want to hand him to the nurses to get cleaned off!  He was perfect...everything and more that I had dreamed of.  He was wisked away to be checked out and cleaned off.  Since he came down my pelvis so fast...his little face was very bruised! 

I don't remember times after he was born so I can't really document much anymore.  But....my great friend and photographer captured the whole day for me.  Its so wonderful that I have this to remember this special day!  I will let the slideshow tell the story for me!!!  Enjoy!

slideshow

2 weeks

Little love turned 2 weeks yesterday!  His doctor appointment went great;)  Here are his stats:

• weight: 8 lbs 9 oz
• length: 21 1/2 inches
• he is in the 50% percentile for weight and height!
• breastfeeding every 2-3 hrs
• can raise his head for a few minutes and loves to look around!
• sleeping 3-4 hrs at a time at night...i'm happy about this one!
• loves to be held very tightly on mine or brandon's chest

Reality.

I haven't blogged about Bennett's birth...I will soon!  I still cry everytime I think about it...not because I'm sad, but because it was beautiful and I'm just so in love with this little guy!  To be quite honest, I've had the baby blues.  Everyday is getting better.  I think from day 4 to day 7, I cried almost every day!  I'm not really sure why...I just had feelings of sadness, I missed my belly, and I felt overwhelmed!  Bennett was jaundice, so he had to lay under the billi lights for 3 days, that didn't help either!  I couldn't just sit and hold my sweet baby!  He could only get out to eat and have his diaper changed!  Brandon went back to work and I did great with both kids by myself!  My mom came over and helped me last week, which was great!  I ended up getting mastitis, which made me feel like I had the flu.  After some antibiotics, I'm feeling much better. Things are getting easier, I'm not crying anymore ha ha, and little bit is sleeping good at night!  I guess I just had to give myself some time....it hasn't even been 2 weeks!  And my hormones needed to get back to normal!  Stay tuned for his birth story.....

June 3rd, 2007....

...was the greatest day!  I married my best friend and soulmate!  I can't believe its been 4 years already!  Wow, time really flies!

Picture is small and blurry, but its still one of my favorites!

Friday was mine and Brandon's 4 year wedding anniversary!!  This year was extra special to us!  We had the greatest gift given to us...little Bennett!  Words can't express how happy I am and how in love I am with Brandon!  The past 4 years have been amazing and I can't wait to see what the future holds for us!  We didn't do anything special this year...spent the evening at the ballfields for Caden's doubleheader!  We figured we'd head to bridgestreet this afternoon for some fun and to celebrate our anniversary with the whole family!!  I love you Brandon!!!!