Our second week at home

Mimi left yesterday and we miss her already! She was a tremendous help to mommy! She cooked, cleaned, did laundry, let mommy takes naps, helped take care of Peyton, and did much, much more! Mommy, Daddy, and the boys really enjoyed her company too! The boys loved that Mimi took them outside to play in the backyard and also took them to ride their bikes! Mommy could not have gone it alone this past week, so thank you Mimi! I am very appreciative...you are the greatest Mom in the world and I hope that I can come close to being as good a mother to my kids as you are to me.

This past week, completely out of the blue, our little Preston decided that he was going to go poo-poo in his little potty!!!! Wow! He pooped in the potty before he even went pee pee in it! After he pooped, I guess he loved the praise and attention he got, so he went and sat back down to pee pee! No, he's not officially potty training yet, but whenever he feels like going in there is fine with us. We are not rushing him because he is still adjusting to having a new brother in the house and not being the baby anymore (well he is still my baby, he's just not the youngest anymore)!!!!

While Mimi was here, we did plenty of shopping (for the kids)! We needed winter things for Paul! I also found out that Peyton is a very good baby in the car like Paul was when he was an infant! This is really good news for us because Preston was terrible in the car; he hated car rides! He would scream almost the entire time and nothing would comfort him! It was miserable and I really didn't want to have to go through that again, so I hope Peyton stays this way!!!

Unfortunately, Preston got sick last night and he is running a fever today. My poor baby! You other mother's know how aweful it is when your little ones are sick! Awwwwww!

Back to the doctor

Peyton had to go back to the doctor today. He had what looked like a "cold" in his eye and it was almost completely closed with a lot of gooey stuff in it. We called the doctor and then headed in...it is just a blocked tear duct and when she was telling me to use warm compresses and massage it, I remembered Preston had the same thing when he was little, around a few weeks old also. She gave us an antibiotic ointment for it and that was that! It is a very commom thing for infants.

Lunch with Uncle GJ and doctor appointments

We went to the doctor for Peyton on Monday, September 29 to make sure he was back up to his birth weight. When we had gone for his first appointment the week before, he wasn't quite there yet. It turns out that he was back up and he weighed in at 7 lbs. 8 oz. Everything was great, so we go back next for his 2 months shots, unless with having 3 kids we see her sooner!

I had a doctor's appointment too, but since mine wasn't until the afternoon and my Uncle GJ was in town, we (Mimi, Mommy, and all the boys) went to meet him and Edgar at Cracker Barrel. Because we had the kids there, it was a little hard to really talk to him, but we still enjoyed the visit! It was sooo good to see him, and Edgar as well! We all wish we could see him more often! Thanks for meeting us Uncle GJ!

We headed straight to my doctor's appointment after that and mommy is doing well now. The doctor said that I developed "fluid pockets," ewwwww, that will go away in about a month! Other than that, everything is good!!!

Our 1st week home

It's been a little over a week since we came home from the hospital with little Peyton.

He still has his days and nights mixed up and has had a few nights that have kept mommy up all night due to gas issues, but he is still a wonderful baby! He continues to screech like a bird when he wants something and rarely full out cries!!! Most days it is near impossible to wake him up even to eat....he just sleeps all the time.

Paul and Preston still love to give him kisses and to hold his hands. They are adjusting to always having a baby in the house now and Paul tells us that he is "too loud" on the rare occasion that he does cry!

Mommy is feeling much, much better and getting around much better too! We are still waiting to see the doctor about the fluid thing to see what he thinks about it. It still causes a lot of pain and bothers me quite a bit, but at least the actual incision is healing very well. Other than that, mommy is just really tired and trying to catch up on sleep during the day!

Big Paul was able to stay home until Wednesday with us, but he went back to work on Thursday, so mommy's Aunt Sylvia came to help her out on Thursday and Friday! She was a big help to us even cooked dinner both nights!!! Paul & Preston enjoyed her being here as well!!!

Thank you so much Aunt Sylvia!!!! That was so sweet of you to do for us and we really appreciate it!!!

Peyton's first doctor appointment

Peyton had to go to the doctor this past Monday for his very first doctor's appointment! It was a family outing because Daddy, Mommy, and both his big brothers went with him! He weighed 7 lbs. 1/2 oz. so he was not quite up to his birth weight yet. We have to go back on Monday to see if he is at least 7lbs. 5.6 oz., his birth weight. No shots today though!!!

Welcome Home Peyton!

We were able to leave the hospital a day early this time! This means that we came home a day before Mommy's birthday on September 18. Paul and Preston even decorated our car for the ride home (thanks Nanny)!!! The boys were so excited that mommy, daddy, and Peyton were finally coming home. Paul said "Is Peyton staying with us?" Haha...it was cute! When Peyton cries Preston says "Baby crying." He looks so worried. They both are doing very well, seem to love him, and continue to kiss him (too much) and Paul even helped give him a bottle! They love being big brothers! As for Peyton, he has his days and nights mixed up so it has been rough lately! He sleeps all day and wants to be up and be held for most of the night.

Mommy has been having a rough time with managing her pain. I had another section and this time I have fluid that has gathered in my stomach and according to the doctor will take about 2 weeks to start going away! That makes recovery evn more difficult by adding pressure right above the incision! At least I am able to walk around better now!

The boys with their decorations!

Daddy & Peyton

Big brothers Paul & Preston with Peyton! Hanging around the house for tummy time!

I forgot to show a picture from the boys at the hospital visiting Peyton and Mommy, so here they are. They both did very well and were very excited that Peyton was ready to come out of mommy's belly! The both gave him plenty of kisses! Paul even read Peyton a book in the hospital!

Ready to go meet their little brother!

Paul & Peyton

Preston & Peyton

Thank you so much Mimi for watching the boys while we stayed at the hospital and for staying an extra day with us when we came home! You are AWESOME! Mimi did all the cooking, cleaning, laundry, and everything else, including taking the boys to the hospital to visit us! She even helped mommy with the baby last night, so I'm sure she is looking forward to a good night's sleep in her own bed tonight!!! Thank you so much, I really don't know what I would do without you! And, we know the boys loved spending time with you because Paul said "We had fun with Mimi!"

Peyton Joseph Miano's Arrival

Well, our little Peyton did not want to wait until my dad's birthday! Yes, it would have been neat, but at least we know he chose his own day to come out! On September 15 at 3:30 in the morning I woke up and could not go back to sleep. This is not unusual except that I felt "weird." No, I cannot explain it, it was just weird. I had been having very strong Braxton Hicks contractions for a few weeks now, so when I ended up on the floor of my room a few times before Paul had even left for work that day I didn't think it was anything serious. I never did go back to sleep and when the boys woke up we all ate breakfast and went to take Paul to school.

Preston and I got home and I called Paul and told him that he may want to wrap things up that day and I may need him to stay home tomorrow if I feel "like this again." I was telling him that I could barely walk when I was getting the contractions, but they didn't feel like "real" contractions. Anyway, Preston and I spent time together and did a little sticker picture. Not long after that I lost the "plug" and proceeded to call Paul and tell him to come home from work NOW! Though I know you could not go into labor for another couple of days, I also knew how I was feeling and it wasn't quite right! I called the doctor and they told me to take tylenol, get off my feet, and call them in a few hours. Of course, I told them I was not having contractions....(they felt no different than the serious braxton hicks I had been having the last couple of weeks!)

By the time Paul got home, I was having "real" contractions. I started timing how far apart these alledged "braxton hicks" were apart and began to notice that they were coming at regular intervals! It was then that I decided I was in labor! Paul picked up Paul from school and then fixed the boys and I lunch and it wasn't too long after that when I found myself crawling on the floor on a more regular basis! When they say the more babies you have, typcially the faster your labor progresses, they mean it! I called the doctor and told them that yes I am having contractions and they are now about 7 to 10 minutes apart. They told me to come into the doctor's office around 1:30 (it was 12:30) to be checked out by the doctor! I guess I sounded too calm on the phone because I was thinking WHAT? Checked out? I'm in labor, I need to be going to the hospital!

Anyway, as Paul packed a little bag for the kids and gathered my bag and the cameras and everthing, I was crawling on the ground during contractions and helping him get stuff for the boys when I wasn't contracting! He seemed to be poking around to me, but I guess I was a bit hormonal so who knows how slow he was really going! All I know is that I kept telling him to hurry up now! He took the kids to Charmaine's house and we headed to the doctor's office.

We got there and my contractions were about 5 to 7 minutes apart now. I sat in the room waiting for the doctor to come in (still complaining about how absurd this was to be here instead of the hospital where the epidural is administered). Well, I don't even know if he knew I was there, but I finally told Paul to go tell the nurses that I was going to the hospital now and he can check me out over there....I refused to stay here any longer in pain! Paul said the contractions were now 2 1/2 to 5 minutes apart, alternating. The nurses said Ok, go ahead and head over, I'm sorry.

Well to make matters worse, Paul is laughing at me and I am in public having contractions that close together so I want to be freaking out and I have to remain calm for fear of embarrassment. We get in the elevator as we are heading to the hospital and it stops! Yes, it stops! Paul said it was for about 30 seconds, but all I know is that it stopped, did something funny and I was not at all amused! There was another girl in there, not pregnant, who didn't know I was in labor, saying oh my god, what's going on? I was like Paul "go fix it" He's like what am I going to do? I swear I was freaking out inside, but I managed to remain calm out of pure shock! Thankfully the elevator started up again and as the other girl was like "oh that was scary!" all I could do was look at her with mean eyes! If she only knew! I wanted to be like "stop complaining!" Anyway, we walked out and Paul went to get the car as I stood there waiting having pretty painful contractions and not being able to sit or bend down anywere. How uncomfortable!

We made it to the hospital where they determined that yes I was in labor and yes the contractions were 2 to 5 minutes apart. I was only dilated 2 cm which was much less than I was for Paul when his contractions were farther apart. As I came to find out and this also explains all the back pain I have felt in this pregnancy, my uterus was tipped backwards, laying on my back and the baby was sitting in there pretty much directly on my back. This causes you to dilate much slower, though the contractions are normal. So, needless to say my back was really aching! I had to stay there for a long time, whereas for Paul they let me go get the epidural much sooner. So, on the third one, who was supposed to be scheduled, with no labor pains or anything, I ended up feeling the most pain, contraction-wise anyway. I mean, both types of contractions hurt probably just the same, but Peyton's had to be felt longer as I sat and waited to be able to get an epidural.

I don't know how long I really waited, but it was long enough to begin freaking out! I can't say I was exactly nice to Paul at this point....actually, I should say that I was pretty horrible to him! I do remember flipping him off a few times and reminding him that he would never again touch me! I was not a good pregnant person and I certainly was not a good labor person either! So, sorry Paul! You really were great!

Well, finally, I got the epidural, I suddenly became nicer and we waited for the doctor to stop seeing patients for the day so he could come see me. He did, then apparently he went to eat dinner because my father-in-law and mother-in-law saw him down there when they went to eat, while I waited with indigestion and nausea for a delivery room to open up. I did end up throwing up, nothing but stomach stuff I suppose because it was about 6:30 pm now and I hadn't eaten since 12:00. (I had a half of a turkey sandwich)

Finally, a room was opened and cleaned and I was given more medication through the thing in my back so that I was "good and numb" for the section. I did manage to wait until after they took Peyton out for some anxiety medication, which was put in literally while I was still on the operating table right after he was pulled out. I also got to use a mirror to see them pull Peyton out (very gross and it looks so dangerous). But, it was neat that I got to see that.

Peyton Joseph Miano entered the world on Monday, September 15, 2008 at 8:19 PM. He weighed 7 lbs. 5.6 oz. and was 20.5 in. long, making him the heaviest and the longest of all our boys! He looked like "one of ours" and resembled the way his brothers looked at their births. Now, I beli eve he looks like Preston with dark hair and dark eyes, but we will have to see.

The boys did come by today to meet their little brother, but I will post another one about that later when I get the pictures off of my mom's camera!!!

So far, Peyton has been wonderful...he rarely cries and sleeps all the time! Of course, they all sleep all the time, but when he is awake, he seems content doing whatever. He doesn't even cry to have his diaper changed and when he is hungry he still doesn't cry! It's about time I get a "good" baby! However, I doubt this will continue....he's only one day old! But, even if he were to scream about everything, we love our little Peyton Joseph and wouldn't trade him for anything! He is the most adorable day old baby in the world and he is already loved so much!!!! He's so cute!!!! I love having another baby around...I really missed it!

Thank you so much to Aunt Sylvia, Mimi, and Charmaine for staying with the boys for us!!! We wouldn't know what to do without you all!!!