Eli. One Week Old

Little Eli is now one week old! I can't believe how busy this past week has been. Following in his siblings footsteps Eli is borderline jaundice, which means he isn't on the light yet (Gage and Noah were by this point) but instead we get the pleasure of taking him to the lab almost every day to get his little heal pricked and his bilirubin levels tested. Oh, the joys of trying to recover, get rest after childbirth, parent 3 other children, have Wade gone pretty long days (since Eli wasn't supposed to come until the end of this week) and then have to visit the Dr's office. This week we took Eli to the Dr. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. We have another appointment for next Monday. Joy.

Such is life. If it weren't for my parents I would be going CRAZY already. They have helped me so much this week.

Besides the jaundice, Eli is a a great little baby. He has his days and nights mixed up and likes to eat often, but we love him just the same.

Everyone around here is pretty proud of their new little brother. Gage is a super big help and I will be sad to lose him during the day when he starts first grade this week.

Avery means well. She is very proud of her baby and loves to love on him. He has been the recipient of this love in many different ways this week...some of which might include, but are not limited to: being sat on at least 2 times, having a handful of sand thrown in his face, suffocated by lots and lots of soft blankets, poked in the eye, mouth and face numerous times, and taking a tooth brush to the head.

She does love him so.

Noah is surprisingly very soft and gentle with Eli. He loves to hold and talk to him when we are in a dim room and he can look into Eli's eyes. Just this morning he was holding Eli, and stroking his hair when he got really sad and told me that he wished Eli had hair just like him (meaning blond).

These four are quite the group. When I was pregnant I got lots of comments about how busy I was going to be, some of them nice comments, a few not so nice. Yes, they love to keep me on my toes (especially the 3 under 3) but I wouldn't have it any other way. When the day is done and I see their sweet faces sleeping I know how much they need me, how important it is that I stay at home with them and how fast these years will slip away from me.

Eli showing just how much he loves us back....or maybe it was just gas:)

Eli Owen

Little Eli Owen joined family this Saturday. I've always joked that this little man didn't want to wait a long time to join our family...Saturday proved his true in-patience even more. He is a tiny little bundle of fire-ball energy that we are all enamored with. We decided to go with the name Eli Owen, after his great-great Grandfather Christiansen. He makes a perfect little Eli.

Eli Owen Christiansen

Saturday, August 21

10:37 am

6 pounds 12 ounces

19.5 inches long

So, the birth story. At my last OB appointment I had discussed an induction date with my Dr. We were thinking that Thursday, August 26th sounded like a great date. This wasn't set in stone, in fact, I was really didn't know if it would happen then. I've always been induced because of medical reasons, and since I was perfectly healthy this time, I was sure my OB would drag it out a little bit longer if he could. I've never gone into labor on my own, so I really didn't think it would EVER happen. Plus, my OB was gone all week last week, and I really didn't want to go into labor or have anything happen while he was gone.

Friday I felt great. We played with some friends, I cleaned up the house. We got some errands done. Stayed up late watching a movie with Wade, had a normal day. Then we went to sleep. I've had braxton hick contractions at night time before, but I woke up around 5am Saturday morning with some contractions that hurt. I tried rolling over and laying on my other side. I had a few more. I didn't time any of these, I was trying to sleep, and I thought they would just go away.

My stomach continued to hurt, and I heard Avery wake up and start talking at 6:30. So, I thought I would get up, get her some milk, take a shower, get going, if they were false contractions, that they would go away. I got up and noticed that I was bleeding a little. This really worried me since I've never even spotted a tiny bit during any pregnancy. (sorry if this is too much information for you). I got Avery milk. Woke up Wade and told him I was taking a shower because I was having contractions.

At this point, we kinda freaked out a little. I'm feel really dorky that we made it to the 4th pregnancy and freaked out when I went into labor, but I have never gone into labor before! I was rushing around the house freaking out! I took a shower, made the beds, put on some make up and then I realized, I needed to stop and that we needed to go NOW, they were not getting better, but worse!

Our friend came over to sit with the kids while my parents drove up and we left in a rush. I was in some real pain. We got checked into the hospital around 8 am. Checking into the hospital seemed to take forever, but by the time the nurse figured out how much pain I was in, she found out I was already dilated to a 6, and that I really wanted my epidural NOW, things started to get moving a little faster.

It did seem to take a long time to get my epidural, but I am so glad I got it. Just the day before I had told Wade - maybe I'll try to be brave this time and not get it. HA! Fat chance. I'm so glad I did it. At 9:45, after my epidural, I was dilated to a 9, they paged the Dr. to come in and break my water and deliver the baby.

Since, if you remember, my OB was gone, the Dr. that takes his call was my OB for the day. She was great, there was a 3rd year medical student rotating with her, that I had some great conversations with once I got my epidural. I let the student do a lot of the delivery, since the OB was sitting right at her side. They got to my room around 10:20, broke my water, sat down and we started to push. I pushed just about 10 minutes and at 10:37, little Eli made his appearance into this world!

As a side-note, we talked to the OB a little after the birth about some of the blood before and during the delivery. We think that I had a small part of the placenta that had come off the wall before delivery, causing me to go into labor. I'm glad that we went to the hospital when we did and that little Eli made it here safe.

Eli is a tiny little one, the smallest baby I've had so far. He is also the earliest! On my to-do list for Saturday morning was to post a "Guess the baby's birthday contest" I had sat down one day last week and looked at all the kids due dates and figured out Gage had been born 13 days early, Noah 12 days, and Avery 11 days. I was set that Eli would follow suite and be born on Wednesday at 10 days. Instead he made his own plans - he said no to an induction and pictocin - and was born 14 days early, showing us all really who is the boss!

He has perfect long fingers, lots of dark hair and dark eyes if you ever get him to open then for you. He loves a dim room and to hear me sing to him.

Gage and Noah are in love with him. Avery loves to point at him, give him blankets and then sit herself in his car seat and say baby. So far, he loves to sleep during the day and and then nurse and be held all night long, something we have got to work on! We can't wait to see how his personality develops.

Today I said something to Wade about us being a family of 6! Crazy to think about, but we are! We love it and wouldn't have it any other way!

Another one of "those" posts...yes, someone is sick again.

So my intention was to post about Gage and/or Noah next simply because I've been posting about little Avery Ann so much lately. Apparently, however, one of the first rules a princess in a house full of boy must learn is how to get her way, so she has. She gets another post at the top of the page. This time just not such a cute one.

Saturday we had a busy day planned. We spent the morning at a friends house, the kids all played and had a great time while she and I canned 11 quarts of tomatoes. It really was great fun and so rewarding! We came home at lunch time, ate some sandwiches and I put Avery down for her nap.

Saturday was a very hot day here and we don't have an air conditioner. We really only have 3 or 4 hot days a year when we need it, so we don't have it. It was getting pretty warm in the house so I closed all the windows and blinds and placed a fan in Avery's room pointed at the crib. When she woke up from a short-lived nap she was very hot and sweaty, but it was getting pretty warm in our house.

Wade had returned home he seemed a little concerned she was cranky and hot after her nap, but honestly I wasn't that concerned. It was hot in our house and if I were her I would be cranky and hot too if I couldn't take my nap. She didn't have much of an appetite and just wanted to drink her milk and sit with me. Around 4pm we decided that we would let the kids play in the sprinklers outside to cool everyone off. Everyone got their swim suits on, including cute Miss Avery and we headed outside. She seemed a little scared of the sprinkler so she just sat on my lap on the front porch for about 20 minutes.

Wade had got some containers out for her to splash around in and as I placed her down on the sidewalk to play in one she went limp. I quickly picked her up and she started to seize. I yelled for Wade and ran in the house. Poor Wade, the kids were so mad at him for making them come in and sending the neighbor kids home. I quickly laid her down on the floor directly in front of a fan and started timing. I hate this part. Just watching her.

She had convulsions that lasted 6 minutes. Then she started to calm down and after about 3 or 4 more minutes her eyes would focus on us as we talked to her. However, Saturday was the longest time I think either her or Noah took to come all the way out of it. (Wade calls this the post-ictal period). She laid on the floor not moving her arms or legs for about 25 minutes and just watched us. It took 40 minutes for her to sit up, stand on her own or even start to cry.

After dosing her up with Tylenol we watched her pretty close the rest of the night. We ran a lot of fans in her room, she only woke up once and that was because she was cold! (she had got her diaper off somehow and was soaking wet.) We've spent all weekend at home trying to stay cool, despite it being the hottest weekend of the year here, and alternating ibuprofen and Tylenol. We noticed that she had a small rash on Saturday after the excitement, it looked like it could be heat rash so we watched it. Sunday it was worse and covered her body but she was acting completely normal and eating better.

Monday I was able to take her in to our pediatrician clinic and she was diagnosed with hand, foot and mouth. It should go away in a few days - and hopefully no one else gets it! (Washing our hands and using sanitizer like crazy!) The Dr. I saw Monday (not our normal one) was concerned we never took her temperature and so maybe she didn't have a fever - I think his thought process was maybe this wasn't a febrile seizure. I think that's silly. Of course she was hot, it was hot in our house, it was hot outside. Taking her temperature would have just told us that same thing. We were all hot. We already had a well-baby appointment for Avery scheduled on Thursday to see our normal provider that I am keeping so I can discuss this with her in more detail.

So here we are again. Resting & laying low. Trying to stay cool and looking forward to the cooler temperatures tomorrow. Avery doesn't seem that bothered by the rash, but it looks pretty yucky. We are still giving her Tylenol and ibuprofen.

The good - Wade was home and was able to help me. He got off call Monday morning for a GLORIOUS 3 weeks. We still don't get to see much of him, life of a resident is SO much fun, but at least when we do see him now I don't have to worry about the pager going off too. Also, little baby boy is staying in place for the time being. Because last week I was all ready to have this baby, but now, I think I can wait until next week. (Thursday to be exact!!!)

Sweet Sweat Curls & and a Lamb

Can I just express how happy I am that our girl got the curls? We are all in love with Miss Avery's curls. Each day when I get her out of her bed from nap time she has the most sweet sweat curls you could ever see. I know she will probably out grow these, but I hope not for a few years. Too cute.


Meet Little Lambie. Now, besides the 3 blankets that are Avery's best friends, Little Lambie must accompany her everywhere..church, stores, errands, bed, meals. Each night when we tuck her in her bed she must first lay Little Lambie down on her pillow and giver her a blanket before laying down herself.

Last week I found a small eye on the floor and I couldn't figure out what it came from. Although I felt it was so small that Avery most likely wouldn't choke on it, I still was glad I found it and sent out on a mission to find the one eyed stuffed animal in our large animal bin. No such luck. Then the next morning Gage came running up to me with Little Lambie and said "It's Hers!" Little Lambie had lost an eye. So now, while Avery and I prefer to call her little friend Little Lambie, Wade introduced the boys to a great new name....One Eyed Wooley (One Eyed Willie). They think it's great and laugh and laugh. Poor Little Lambie.

All in a hard days work

My little Miss Avery Ann. In just a few weeks you will be turning 18 months and become a big sister. Some might say that I might not remember the boys correctly, but I do believe you are the busiest and most curious out of all our children. There are days I simply cannot keep up with you!

Perhaps I cannot keep up because I'm pregnant, but I was pregnant with you when Noah was this age and I know I could keep up with him. I also moved across the country, as a single mom because Wade was gone. I can't even imagine attempting that with you my dear girl.

Perhaps it is that you are child number 3. This might be the most correct hypothesis.

No matter the reason, you, my dear girl, are one busy baby. And while you keep me on my toes. I love you so much, and your sweet smiles, giggles, kisses and hugs are all worth the mess!

Some of your favorite activities include:

Sneaking off to eating sugar from the sugar container. Finding sugar in pantries at other people's houses and eating THEIR sugar.

Rearranging the drawers and cabinets. I couldn't find Noah's sunglasses for a week. Then I went to use the blender. Hello glasses! You had placed them in the blender under the kitchen island. I especially love it when you take every item from drawers in the kitchen and shove them back between the cookie sheets. If you see me take the items back and put them in the drawer, you come right back and put them back where YOU think they belong.

Roll all the toilet paper off the roll while singing "potty....POT-TY" over and over.

Dancing on the table and trying to eat or destroy your brothers' Lego creations. I think you had one of the happiest days in your life when you figured out how to climb on the bench and get on top of the table.

Eating dirt. Or sand. You treat sand at the beach like candy or sugar, licking your finger and then dipping it in the sand.

Coloring your face with markers.

Running away with mommy's mascara while I chase you, then pulling it out like a sword when I finally catch you and yelling "TADA!"

Taking items from the fridge. You really love the produce drawer. I find tomatoes in the freezer. Today you ran away with two large tomatoes and when I caught you, you were busy trying your best to get a bite before I took them away.

I always find strange things in my freezer.

Finding any toilet that doesn't have it's lid down. Playing or placing items in it.

Emptying my purse and trying to use my new cell phone.

Digging up the plants in our (very sad) garden. It MIGHT have stood a chance this year if you could leave it alone.

Biting your brothers.

After you get out of the bath your favorite thing to play is "Empty out dresser drawers as fast as I can and throw all the clean laundry in the bathwater (that Noah is usually still in).

Playing chipmunk by holding food in your cheeks so 15 or 20 minutes after a meal when I finally have everyone and everything cleaned up you decide to spit it out. Everywhere.

Ripping library books. While giggling.

Speaking of libraries, I believe that they hold their breath when they see you come in those doors. Then they sigh when we leave. You like to run and pull every book out you can find.

Pulling all the magazines out of their holders on the book shelves.

Shoving items in the VCR.

Running around with one of Dad's X-box controllers.


And last but not least, your most favorite giggling-running-away from me moment came today. You were outside in the fenced in backyard. I was standing by the door. 2 minutes later you were gone. How could that be? We have 6 ft. fences and a VERY small yard to begin with. You apparently had found a hole and went under. The one and only hole that is between our house and our neighbors, that her cats like to use. You followed the cat and took off into her yard. When I made it over there to get you (because you just laughed at me when I tried to get you to come back through the hole) you ran and giggled and smiled!

~~

I love your adventurous attitude. This list might seem like it frustrates me...honestly when I move from cleaning up one activity just to find you doing another, it can. But you make us laugh. You smile and giggle and always come give me big hugs at the end of the day. I can't imagine how boring our little family would be without you in it!