We have a baby!

On November 14th - at 35 weeks 3 days - Declen joined our family!

PROOF - Bella Baby Photography

PROOF - Bella Baby Photography

Big brothers getting to meet their new baby

Declen getting a tan

He was born at 8:29 am, weighed 7 lbs 4 oz, 19 1/2 inches long, has a head full of black/brown hair, and did NOT have to go to the NICU! (the more detailed birth story is at the bottom of this post)

He is a pretty chilled out baby; he cried as soon as he was born, but then didn't/doesn't cry for much of anything after that (with the exception of when he goes potty or gets really hungry). He eats every 2-ish hours, but only takes between 1/2 and 1 1/2 ounces at a time, so I am seriously stocking up on breast milk at the moment. At 13 days old, he is now back up to his birth weight.

 Big Brothers

Landen and Brayden are doing so great being big brothers! They are both very VERY protective of Declen and love to give him kisses and love rubs (alternative to love pats b/c to a 1 1/2 year old pats quickly evolve into full on slaps). It has been a big change in the boys' lives and as expected we have had some regression in both kiddos - Landen's potty trained-ness is SERIOUSLY struggling these days and we are pretty much in pullups around the clock & Brayden wakes up A LOT during the night and is only consoled by being cuddled/held. Brayden has also developed separation anxiety from his daddy and cries FLIPS OUT any time Keith leaves the room/house/etc. Both Landen and Brayden have become much more needy and dramatic over the past 2 weeks, but I know that all of this is short-lived and is just par for the course. I think that overall, the boys are handling such a huge change in their lives VERY well!

As far as Declen being born early, here's what happened...

on November 11th, I went to my doctor's appointments and came home as usual. By that evening, my blood pressure was significantly higher than it had been and didn't seem to want to come down. That night, I spent several hours being monitored in the L&D Department, but was sent home and told to rest, de-stress as much as possible, and continue monitoring everything.

on November 12th, around 10 pm, I started having some pretty frequent uncomfortable contractions, but I didn't think too much of them. I didn't sleep well at all that night because of the contractions.

on November 13th, my sister and mom came to pick me up and take me over to my mom's house as I was getting kind of stir-crazy being in the bed alone. I also needed to use the internet and since we don't have it at our house my options were limited. While I was there, my sister noticed that my contractions were really regular and decided we should time them... they were coming every 3-5 minutes and lasting 1-2 minutes each... my mom and sister convinced me to call my OB just to let her know. It was late in the afternoon, so after seeing my OB, having high blood pressure, and learning that I was SLIGHTLY starting to dilate... I was admitted for monitoring. Keith came straight from his clinicals to the hospital and my mom picked up the boys from daycare. During the course of the night my contractions continued in frequency and became increasingly uncomfortable, and as a result my blood pressure continued to rise. It was decided that if I had no further progression, then I would be having a c-section on 11/14/13. They gave me nubane for the pain which was AMAZING (for me), but Declen's heart rate dropped into the low 100's to 90's and didn't seem to want to come back up.

on November 14th, Keith woke up early and decided to go home to shower and get some stuff together. At 7:45 am the doctor came in, checked me (still at 1 cm), and reviewed the stats for me & Declen. She decided that it would be best for both of us for Declen to join the world. I would be having a c-section at 8:15 am. I called Keith and texted family to let them know what was going on, and the nurses immediately started prepping me for surgery. At 8:29 am, Declen was officially out of confinement and doing great!

Because he was over a month early, he was under VERY close surveillance, but his APGAR score was 7-9 so he didn't have to go to the NICU! I FINALLY have a child that didn't need to visit the ICU!!! He and I were able to come home on the same day (another first for us)!

We are so blessed!