RSV...

Anthony and I have decided to buy a hospital room at this point. We think it's more cost efficient to have a permanent residence. 2012 was supposed to be kinder to us, but it hasn't impressed me yet. I have high hopes that things will improve in the next few months.

So about RSV...it sucks.  Apparently, it's highly contagious, and even if your child doesn't go to daycare he can still catch it.  Alex started sounding congested late Sunday, but it didn't sound like much.  By Tuesday, we were headed to the pediatrician.  We got our diagnosis, but we were told that you can't do anything about RSV--you just have to ride it out.  We ended up having to go back to the doctor on Wednesday.  Thursday we were told to go to the hospital. 

I slept in a hospital crib with my child for two nights.  I know I looked like an idiot, but seeing a 5 wk. old hooked up to an IV is not cool.  If I had to look like a fool to be close to my baby, I was fine with it.  Anyway, they watched his vitals for a few days, and thankfully everything looked good.  We were discharged on Saturday.  Now we're at home and we hope that Alex will continue to improve over the next week or two. 

Because I want my baby to be well...

And I don't want to sleep in a crib again.

Alexander Porter Sherman...

Alex was born at 7:33 a.m., on December 29, 2011.  He weighed 9 lbs. 8 oz. and was 21 1/4 " long.  He's a little smaller than Sam was, but not too much.  Apparently, I'm incapable of having "normal" sized children. 

Since I'm a repeat c-section, we checked in at 6:00 that morning.  I actually slept okay that night, which is a miracle since I haven't slept the last 3 months of this pregnancy.  I just kept having dreams that I overslept, or that I couldn't get to the hospital.  Weird, I know. 

We got there, went through all of my medical information with the doctors and anaesthesiologists, and pretty soon I was walking into the OR.  It was a little surreal to say the least.  Last time everything moved so fast.  This time, I chatted with the nurses and doctors while we were getting ready.

In what seemed like no time at all, they had started.  With Sam, I was so overwhelmed by the fact that we were about to actually have a child that I don't think I truly understood what was happening.  This time I heard Alex cry for the first time, and I cried like, well, a baby.

We headed to the recovery room, and we got to love on Alex.  I was able to nurse him, and it seems that he's going to be much better at that than his brother was. Our parents and Sam came in to see him, and I think it finally hit Sam that "baby Alex" was not a figment of his imagination.  So far, Sam has been very sweet, and it doesn't seem that he's had any major jealousy issues.  Fingers crossed that this will continue. 

Overall recovery was a little harder this time, but the past few days I've truly felt like myself.  I've got to say that there is a special place for labor & delivery nurses and mother/child care nurses.  I had some seriously sweet and caring people who worked with us while we were in the hospital.  As Anthony put it, "If I ever have to be in the hospital, I'm requesting to be put on the L & D floor."

And now, the obnoxious amount of pictures...

Getting checked out by the nurses

Sam checking out his brother

Sam brought his new camera to the hospital so he could snap some photos.

Proud dad and big brother

The grandparents checking out their new grandson

Snuggling with Alex

Up close and personal with Alex

So far, so good...

First pic as a family of four

As a friend put it, "Sam is so over it."

Sam, Alex, and Papa-Sissy

(Sam refers to his daddy's parents as one hyphenated person.  It's like their rap star name.)

Daddy with both of his boys

And another family pic--pardon the puffiness

Meeting his great-grandmother and great-aunt

Sound asleep

Leaving the hospital

Big brother "helping" feed his little brother

It's amazing how much Sam and Alex look alike--not that I'm surprised...

Sam

Sam

Sam

Alex

Alex

As much as I absolutely loathe being pregnant, I am so glad that I'm able to do it and have healthy babies.  This 2nd pregnancy has certainly not been easy--9 months of nausea and vomiting, horrible indigestion & acid reflux, back pain, and 3 trips to the hospital (4 if you count delivery.)  In the end, it's worth it.  I have 2 sweet baby boys.  

Christmas 2011...

I must admit--for the first time I can remember, I found myself looking a little past Christmas day because I knew we had Alex's arrival just around the corner.  We still enjoyed ourselves, of course, and we definitely enjoyed one of the most low-key holidays ever.  It was nice to be able to really concentrate on the holiday itself and to spend important time with our families.  To say that Sam liked Christmas is an understatment.  We swore we wouldn't go overboard this year, but I think all of us--grandparents included--wanted to make sure that Sam felt special. 

I'm afraid that Sam is going to be a little disappointed next year when he doesn't have 3 separate gift opening sessions.  Christmas Eve we went to church then headed over to MP and Joe's to have our Christmas with them.  Christmas morning was spent at our house, and Santa certainly decided that Sam had been a good boy.  My parents came down on the 28th so that we could have Christmas with them and so that they would be here for Alex's birthday the following morning. 

He did have on some cute knee socks with his saddle shoes, but those didn't last long after we got home. 

 Helping Papa unwrap gifts.  Sam is especially good at unwrapping gifts.

 And helping Sissy...

 This is our new cheesy on demand smile.   

 Stockings hung by the chimney with care.  Alex's stocking was included.

 Remember that Sam asked for Santa' sack?  Well, Santa delivered. 

 Christmas morning

 Bedhead

 Trying to figure out if Santa's sack is never ending.  Newsflash--it's not. 

Enjoying his firestation that Mimi and Grandy gave him.  The fireman obsession continues. 

We probably went overboard this year, but I felt that he needed some special attention since his world was about to permanently change.  Probably not the best way to transition, but we couldn't help ourselves.  Chalk it up to parental guilt. 

My favorite ornaments...

These are a few of my favorite things:  (on my tree)

New ornament commemorating Alex's impending arrival

Sam's 2011 ornament

What a surprise...it's a firetruck

And this lovely ornament we received from the Bulldog Club today. 

 Genius marketing if you ask me. 

Sam...

At this point we're about 2 1/2 wks. from Alex's arrival.  As much as we talk about the baby's arrival, I know that Sam doesn't quite get that he will no longer be the only child around here.  I've been going through some of his baby pictures lately, and I cannot believe that my baby has gone from this:

to this:



Although he has been known to throw some serious tantrums, I can honestly say that we are so blessed.  And I'm about to brag, so feel free to stop reading now. (Unless you just like hearing a mom being obnoxious.)

Things I want to remember:

1.  I'm blown away by his vocabulary.  Hearing a 3-year-old tell me things like, "Actually, mama, I think I want chicken," is hilarious.  He also informed me a few days ago that something wasn't blue; it was indigo. 

2.  He's still not a great sleeper at night.  He'll roll into our room at about 4:00 some nights, but most of the time we're able to escort him right back to his bed.  He still takes an enormous nap in the afternoon, and woe be to you if he misses it.

3.  He is still obsessed with firetrucks, garbage trucks, and buses.  When the bus stops on our street to pick up a kid for school, Sam flies to the window to watch it. 

4.  The only "baby" word that he still uses is "tether."  I don't know where he got it, but when Sam says "tether," it means "pick me up/hold me."  I may cry the day he stops saying it.

5.  I also may cry when he stops telling me that he "just wants to cuddle, mama."  I realize that I won't know when it's the last time that he says it, so I appreciate every time he says it. 

6.  He thinks every football player who is #14 is Chris Relf, and every player who is #1 is C-bump.  Every once in awhile he'll tell me that #28 is Ballard.  He has known the words to the fight song since sometime last year. 

7.  He informed me that for Christmas, he wants Santa's sack.  As in the sack that holds all the toys.  I had to give him the whole speech about giving rather than receiving, celebration of Christ, etc.  I have to give the kid credit for thinking outside the box, though.  He also told me he wanted a fire truck.  I responded that he had plenty of fire trucks.  He then told me, "I want one in our garage"...as in a real fire truck.  He's going to be disappointed Christmas morning. 

8.  He's also obsessed with "worker men," otherwise known as construction workers.  He loves his tools and toolbox, and any time you get out a hammer, he has to go get his toolbox to "help."

"Worker Man Sam" with his protective eyewear on his head.

I'm trying my best to remember all these little nuances that I take for granted.  I don't want to forget them as he grows.  I'd appreciate any prayers for Sam in the next few weeks as we make the transition from 1-2 babies. 

Potpourri...

If any of you are Jeopardy! fans out there, you'll understand my blog post title.  If not, oh well...

1.  I have about 23 days until this baby gets here.  I am officially in freak out mode.  Between worrying about the delivery, Christmas, and how Sam is going to handle everything, my mind does not stop.

2.  For all two of you who still read my excuse for a blog, we have officially picked out a name for baby boy #2. (If you don't like it, keep it to yourself.)  Our 2nd son will be Alexander Porter Sherman.  We'll be calling him Alex.  My grandfather and my uncle were/are both Zans, and I like that the name contains their names.  Porter is my mother's maiden name.  So there you have it--I'm sure you've been on tenterhooks.

3.  I went to the salon for my last visit before the baby gets here.   I haven't been since September, and I was in dire need of some hair help.  I tried a new stylist, and....my hair is a little on the red side.  For now, I'm just going to roll with it. 

4.  I don't know about you, but I'm glad to see some colder weather.  Having to use your A/C in December is ridiculous--it just doesn't feel like Christmas.  In my opinion, it should be cold November-January; after that it can warm back up.  At least that's what I would do if I were in charge. 

5.  We will be watching our Dawgs play in the Music City Bowl at....the hospital.  This will be the first bowl game my husband has missed since the 1992 Peach Bowl.  Let's hope the post-partum unit has wide-screen tvs.  Ha.

6.  We have a 6-year-old Boston Terrier who is neutered and has had all of his shots.  He needs a lot of attention, and we just don't have the time to devote to him with everything else we have going on.  If you or someone you know is interested, please leave me a comment.  We just want him to have a good, loving, home. 

7.  Why can't I ever build a fire, but my dad can do it within 5 minutes?  It's cold and damp today, and that's all I wanted, but it just won't catch.  Boo.

8.  Any suggestions on Christmas presents for in-laws?  I'd appreciate it greatly.  They don't want anything, but that doesn't fly with me.  Again, leave me a comment.  I need help.

9.  I don't understand people who use twitter and constantly tweet about their driving situation.  It's obvious that you're texting and driving.  Please stop. 

10.  I just finished Mindy Kaling's new book, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?  It's a good, easy, mindless read.  It makes me want her to be my best friend.  I'm now moving on to the Jack Cristil book that I bought my husband for his birthday.  It's okay to use your husband's birthday present before he does, right?

11.  I am blown away by the number of former students of mine who do nothing but complain about how they can't wait to get out of college, go home, etc.  I think all of those kids should be immediately thrown into a 2-3 wk. trial situation in which their job is awful, they have to pay a mortgage, and a child they're in charge of is sick.  I think they'd learn to appreciate each phase of their life rather than rushing through everything.  (And don't misinterpret me here--I love my life right now.  I also really loved college.  Just ask my parents.) 

12.  I also believe that men should have to be pregnant for 4 wks.--2 wks. at the beginning of pregnancy when you throw up everything all day long, and 2 wks. at the end when you can't get up without a crane, can't sleep because of the pressure on your lungs, have horrible indigestion, and have to get up 3-4 times a night to go to the bathroom because your baby is doing an Irish jig on your bladder.  I won't make them go through labor and delivery because let's face it, they couldn't handle it. 

Writing a blog post in list form is infinitely easier than trying to make sure my paragraphs flow.  Maybe I should quit being so anal and just do it this way all the time. 

Panic...

A few weeks ago, we headed to Starkville for the State/Alabama game.  We rented a house and took Sam with us.  Our plan was to tailgate all day, and then Anthony would run us back to the house before kick-off.

All was going well. Sam was a sweet boy, he played well with others, and was in a good mood.  And then it got dark.  And my child disappeared. 

Serious, horrible, panic ensued.  One minute he was sitting in a chair playing a game, and within seconds he disappeared.  We looked around the tailgate thinking that he had gotten up to play, but we could not find him in the immediate area.  Our entire tailgate began to look for him.  I searched the bathrooms, a friend stopped campus police, but we still couldn't find him.  I truly began to freak out.  All those episodes of Criminal Minds that I watch didn't help matters. 

He was gone for a good 10-15 minutes, which doesn't sound like a lot, but when it's dark and there are tons of people milling around, it's an eternity.  A friend of ours went back to the ladies room (for a total of 3 times) when she spotted him and brought him back to the tailgate.  By that point, I was in tears. 

He received a thorough talking to by his father, and we were able to breathe a sigh of relief.  Later that evening, I found out what happened.  Sam has a tendency to wait until the very last minute to go the bathroom.  Apparently, it hit him that he had to go, and he had to go right then, so he bolted.  The bathroom is a good 20 yards from where we tailgate, and I honestly can't believe he remembered where to go.  He is only 3 after all. 

I asked him what took him so long because I was trying to figure out why I never saw him when I went to check the bathroom myself. 

Me:  "Sam, where did you go to the bathroom?"
Sam:  "I went where all the mommies were."
Me:  "What did you do in the bathroom?"
Sam:  "I tee-tee and I poo-poo."

At that point I realized why I didn't see him.  He was in a stall for an extended period of time.  And then I thought...

Me:  "Sam, did you wipe your booty?"
Sam:  "No, a lady wiped it."
Me:  "What!!??
Sam:  "A lady wiped it for me."
Me:  "Did she say anything to you?"
Sam:  "She told me to wash my hands."

In summary, he bolted from the tailgate, cruised past an enormous line of women waiting for the restroom,  went to the bathroom, and got a seriously nice lady to wipe his bottom.

Lady, whoever you are, I thank you.  I promise to pay it forward.