Summer Preview

Finally, the rain has relented! This weekend has been absolutely beautiful and we took full advantage of it. On Saturday, Zach deemed it necessary to clean out the entire garage in an effort to make room for "pool stuff." While he lifted and rearranged and swept, Brady, Ella, and I hung out under some umbrellas around the sandbox and water table. I almost felt bad for not helping, but then I remembered I just birthed him a daughter. Even. ;-)

Ella's first trip to the sandbox--riveting!

Our friends' generosity and thoughtfulness have continued. One of our neighbors brought us over a bag full of food because she said the weather was too nice to cook! Amen to that, sister! And out of the clear blue, we got a blast from the past: the same sweet gal who bought Brady the personalized blanket we used in all of his monthly pictures did the same for Ella! Emilie, if you're reading this, you really made our day! How incredible of you to even remember us, let alone spend your hard earned money on a beautiful PINK blanket for Miss Ella. THANK YOU! We'll be sure to put it to good use with her monthly pics, too!

Ella's blanket :-)

I still can't get over how wonderful I feel. I continue to be thankful I avoided a repeat c-section (especially having labored again) because I honestly don't know if I would have been able to pick up Brady or get him in and out of his crib. Our doula, Gretchen, made her final visit yesterday and commented on how good I'm getting around. She also said Ella looks great, so I'm hoping that means she's getting enough to eat and the nursing is going as well as I think it is! Before she left, Gretchen gave us the video montage and still photos she took during labor and delivery and while a few are too graphic to share here, some of them are really awesome! I've put together a little slide show at the end of this post with those pics and a few others. The black and white ones of Brady are from a friend's son's first birthday party. Her gal pal is a professional photographer and just snapped random shots of the boy and I am in LOVE with them! I contacted her, offered to pay her for them, and she refused! She just sent them to me and now I own them. That's almost unheard of these days with copyright crap! The best part about this girl is that she will come to us or go to any location we want, allow as many outfit changes as an hour will allow, gives us one 5x7, one 8x10, AND all of the photos on CD which again means we own them! Did I mention she does all this for $80? I am beyond thrilled with her! She's coming out in a few weeks to photograph the Jankowski Family in our natural habitat. That should be interesting!!

For whatever reason, he loves that hat...

There are only 11 days of school left and I cannot wait until Zach is home with us every day. Even though things are going well so far, it's difficult juggling a Brady and an Ella sometimes! Thank goodness for maternity leave, afternoon naps, and floating around the pool on a huge raft bathed in sunshine ;-)

Deck construction should start within the next two weeks!

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One Week Old!

I can't even believe that just last week, I was in labor at the dinner table; today, I'm holding my baby girl in my arms while Brady shows her his golf swing. And the cherry on the sundae is that I am recovering so well and so comfortably--all hail the VBAC!

No pants, a goofy hat, and a golf club. Yep, that's about right.

We hosted a little meet-and-greet for Ella on Saturday. Most of the family was able to make it which was wonderful. Brady definitely enjoyed himself; he played himself silly and then slept for 14 hours afterward. The weather was perfect and although Miss Ella napped the entire time, I think it's safe to say she was grateful for the visitors.

Ella meets Nonna

Ella has been eating and sleeping very well. She really only wakes twice a night and she goes back down fairly easily. Brady hasn't heard a peep and we are so grateful for that! I have a friend whose daughter would wake with her newborn brother because she was afraid she was missing a party! Thank goodness Brady sleeps as soundly as Zach; I'm not sure what I would do with two wide awake kiddos at 2 am!

Uncle Duane, Lauren, and Aunt Elaine

I have to admit, I was always anti-pink and frills when growing up, but having a little girl sure changes things! I can't get enough of the flowers, the ruffles, the lace! Even the blankets are more adorable for girls! What's not adorable is this child's ability to projectile poop; just today, what I thought was a "toot" ended up all over my arm. 'Nuf said about that.

How many Grandmas does it take to change a diaper?! :-)

Maternity leave is a wonderful thing! All this free time is certainly being put to good use. I'm in the process of putting together Ella's birth announcements and finishing a photobook for her, and just today I've done 3 loads of laundry, vacuumed the first floor, and managed to shower and brush my teeth! Brady is currently napping, Ella's on her way to snoozing, and I think I just may close my eyes for a bit before Zach gets home. This is the life!

Kisses from her big brother <3

Checkin' out the pool!

Uncle Derek and Aunt Kim bring the gift AND put it together!!

 

 

My family <3

"Please, no more pictures!"

Introducing...

Ella Faith Jankowski

Our beautiful daughter was born via a successful VBAC on Monday, May 9, 2011 at 3:54 am. She graced us with her presence weighing the same as her big brother, 8 pounds, 3 ounces, and she is 21 inches of pure perfection. She has black hair and olive skin just like her Daddy. I'm very curious to see if it "sticks!" Despite her fractured left clavicle, I could not have asked for a better, more supportive, or more amazing birth experience. And it all started and ended with family...

Zach, Brady, and I were getting ready to go to my parents' for Sunday family dinner when, around 4:45, I thought I noticed some somewhat consistent contractions. Fast forward to the dinner table when, around 5:45, I announced: "I think I may be in labor. NO ONE FREAK OUT." The fam was pretty calm, although Zach did want to go home immediately. I only had two bites of my Mother's Day fettuchini alfredo!

We ended up going home around 6:45 after I lay on the couch and the contractions didn't stop. Rick and Terri picked up Brady shortly after we got home, and then Zach and I were on our own. His homemade Contraction Chart and stopwatch had been laid out for about a week, so he was prepared!! I labored in the shower and then in bed for as long as I could, and when I noticed there didn't seem to be much reprieve or time in between contractions, we figured it was the right time to leave for the hospital. We got to Magee around 10 pm and I was VERY uncomfortable. I had had at least three really bad contractions walking from the parking lot to the hospital and I knew it wouldn't be long before we met our son or daughter.

When we checked into triage, one of the nurses asked, "What brings you in tonight?" and I have to admit, I was pretty rude in my response of, "IS THAT A SERIOUS QUESTION?" Then again, I was doubled over in pain right on her desk, so perhaps she should have thought about rephrasing her question! By the time I was checked, I was 100% effaced and 5 centimeters. I was bummed to learn I was only 5 centimeters along because the pain was almost unbearable and I was only halfway done! Zach was amazing, allowing me to break the bones in his hand with each contraction, and he was a great cheerleader which boosted my self esteem! Gretchen was very hands-on in helping with the back labor (yes, I had THAT again...) and she, too, was enthusiastic about my progress and attitude. Eventually, I started to yawn in between contractions and I started to fear that I would be too tired to push and that would lead to another c-section. I didn't want to "give up" just yet, but Gretchen assured me that an epidural has its place and if it would allow me to relax, I should consider it. I asked to be checked again to see if I was "that" close, and when they told me I was only 7 centimeters, I asked for the meds. I thought I would regret it, even writing it, but heck no! God bless the epidural...even if it only worked on my left side!! I could still feel the contractions enough to push with them and push I did--only for 45 minutes this time, though!

My mom stayed in the room with us (my dad declined our invitation and opted to wait in the hall!), and I could hear her sob with every one of my pushes. She was a little emotional ;-) The second Ella was born, she was on my belly and I was in heaven. She was gooey and disgusting and I loved every second of it. The nurse, Dia, who was incredible, told me to take my time with my daughter and let her know when I was ready for Ella be to weighed. What a concept--holding your child before he/she is two hours old and having someone respect your birthing wishes! It was like a fairy tale. Everything I really wanted in this birth happened: the chance to labor down, a vaginal delivery, a supportive doctor and staff, the ability to hold my baby as soon as it entered the world, a chance to nurse right away, etc. It was...there aren't even words to describe it.

My kids!!!

We came home from the hospital (to our pool!!!!) on Wednesday around 6 pm (we had to stay a bit longer since Ella was a little jaundice) and have been learning to function as a family of 4 since. While Brady's first encounter with his little sister wasn't necessarily a positive one (he tried to push her out of my arms and said, "No! Away!"), I will say he has exceeded big brother expectations since then. Just this morning, he woke up and asked where Ella was! He's been petting her hair and calling her, "Pretty," too! When she cries, he says, "Oh, my! Eh-ya crying!" and tries to console her. He's done a pretty awesome job with helping  us, too. He's getting very good at throwing things in the garbage--a simple yet somewhat time consuming task for a 22 month-old :-)

Sweetest boy in the world

Ella's first doctor appointment showed that she's eating well, but because she wasn't necessarily peeing or pooing "regularly," the doctor suggested a visiting nurse come check things out this morning. Ella is completely fine, in fact, she's wonderful according to the nurse who admitted she wasn't sure why she was even called upon! Since the doctor appointment, Ella gained over a half an ounce which is great since they recommend an ounce a day weight gain. But it was Brady who actually stole the show while the nurse was here; he greeted her at the door with a big "Heh-yo!" (Hello), and then when she was leaving she told Brady it was nice to meet him. He heard those words and stuck out his little hand to make it official: they shook and he said, "Byebye, nurse."

I think it's safe to say we are truly blessed. Not only do we have two healthy, beautiful children, but our families and our friends have been so fantastic. Thank you to Rick and Terri for being Brady Central while we were in the hospital; we couldn't have slept soundly without knowing he was in great hands. Thank you to my mom, dad, and aunt for cooking up a storm and delivering it directly to our dinner table--I'll be sure to take advantage of the extra 500 calories a day due to nursing! Thank you to our friend Nate for looking after the dogs and our house while we were gone. Thank you to so many of our neighbors for their random acts of kindness: putting an "It's a Girl" sign in our yard, bringing gifts for Ella AND Brady, dropping off meals, and caring enough to call or check in. Babies really do bring out the best in people, and I think Miss Ella is doing a pretty good job of that. 

I'm too lazy to make a slideshow right now, so enjoy these pics. More are definitely on their way!!

First family photo

Checking in on his little sister!

Ready for some football!

:-)

Happy Mother's Day...Yes, I'm Still Pregnant.

Happy Mother's Day to all of the wonderful moms who are in our lives! Today we are reminded of the sacrifices and difficult decisions and overflowing love that encompass motherhood, and we remember and appreciate all that you do for us. I can especially appreciate the physical toll growing, carrying, and birthing a child can take on the body; I sneezed yesterday and peed a little. I'm hot.

Brady, PapTom, and I went to Zach's baseball game on Friday afternoon. We ran into PapRick there, and Brady was super confused by seeing both of his grandfathers in one place at one time! He kept looking for Grandma Terri because she and PapRick are a pair, and he was a little distraught when he realized she wasn't there! Nonetheless, he enjoyed watching the big kids bat and got to see some home runs, too. He's constantly yelling, "CRACK! Home run!" so at least this time it was appropriate.

Saturday morning, we met Uncle Derek, Aunt Kim, PapRick and Grandma Terri for an early Mother's Day breakfast. It's rare we can all get together so it was very nice to have some time to just sit and chat. Plus, my raisin bread French toast was yummy and that makes prego happy. Later in the day, we went to our good friends' sons' birthday party at the Elks, which is where all of these pictures are from. Brady took his clubs and balls since it was a golf course and all, and after the party festivities, we took him out in Zach's cart and he was in HEAVEN. We showed him the flags, the greens, the holes, the sand traps--everything he had only ever seen on TV. After the grand tour, he got to putt on the greens. Zach would throw the ball away from the flag and Brady would have to hit it back to make the shot. This, as you can imagine, took quite some time, but the boy was loving it!

Shot #24, I believe...

Toward the end, Brady realized that all of the putting wasn't necessary if he could just start out closer in the first place:

This morning, my boys let me sleep in and they attended church on their own. As they're not home yet, I can't say for sure how that went, but Brady can be a handful during the hour-long mass! I do think Zach felt guilty, which is why he insisted on taking the boy solo: a few weeks ago, he asked what I wanted to do for Mother's Day and I just said I wanted to sleep in and be able to do all of the crazy, nesting things I can't get done during the week. For instance, I have yet to put Brady's baptism picture in a frame. I would just like to get that done before the baby comes! Yet, yesterday, my husband informed me that he would like to golf today and since it's not "Wife Day" and I'm not his mother, it shouldn't be a problem. He claims he was joking. I, however, did not appreciate the humor.

I'm not overdue by any means, but EVERYONE keeps calling and e-mailing and texting and Facebooking and asking, "Are you still pregnant???" Yes, I am. My own mother is the absolute worst, despite my pleas for her to stop with the phone calls and questions. Even my co-workers are sending messages asking if the little one has arrived! I spent all last week training my replacements/subs, and on Friday, my courses were actually moved to them! In the event that I do have to work tomorrow, I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to do since I DON'T HAVE ANY STUDENTS. I sure hope that I can snap out of this bad attitude and not be an angry prego in labor. I'm going to need some zen music and a massage or something!

Happy Mother's Day to ME!!!

On a positive note (and one that may be "too much information" for some--you've been warned!), I lost part of my mucus plug on Friday night. I opted, yet again, to show Zach because I enjoy the way he recoils in fear at these things. In checking my older posts, I learned that when I lost it with Brady, I went into labor two days later. Perhaps it's sharing information like that that propels the incessant phone calls from my mom? I think next time she calls and begins the conversation with, "So...any news?" I'm just going to say, "Yep, I'm in labor," and hang up. A girl's gotta have a little fun, right?!

39-Week Appointment

Yesterday I went to what I'm hoping we can call my last appointment! I've gained 3 pounds of water weight all of which is quite evident in my swollen legs and feet, but because my blood pressure is still good (108/64), the Dr. Kremser said we shouldn't worry about it. He advised me to go home, lie on my back, and put my feet up on the wall so they're above my heart. I was very tempted to ask if he would be available to retrieve me because once I'm down, I may never get back up.

The baby's heart rate is even slower this week at 136 bpm and the nurses all confirmed it's the "calm before the storm." I'm not sure about all that, but I do have to wonder how comfortable it can be in there at this point. There is zero room for that poor kid! I'm also just about 3 centimeters and I have friends who were in full-blown labor and at the hospital by the time they were 3-4 centimeters, so I'm also wondering why the child isn't just falling out.

Nights have been very unkind to me and unfortunately, my tossing and turning and constant visits to the bathroom have kept Zach up, too. He was so concerned about last night that he just called from work this afternoon to ask if I was in labor :-) I promised him that he would be the first to know!

I've had it my mind that I would go into labor this past Tuesday or Wednesday, or it would be a leisure weekend labor like Brady's. While it is likely that I am wrong on both accounts, the waiting is agonizing! I've tried to keep busy as best I can, but every kick or pain has me stopping in my tracks to really pay attention. Could this be it? Does my back ache mean something? Is that a real contraction? So far, the answer has been an emphatic NO! I've accepted the fact (I think...) that I can't dictate when this child will officially join our family, but I have put together a schedule of the doctors' on-call hours. I like to pretend I have a choice in that matter and can successfully hold the baby in until one of my favorite docs is available. Reasonable, right?

Yesterday was my dad's birthday and, in true Stephanie fashion, I left my camera battery charging at home while we celebrated. So, there are no pictures to speak of, but it was a good time with good food and even better pineapple upside down cake for dessert! Brady enjoys his "apple pines," as he calls them, so PapTom's traditional cake was a huge hit for the boy.

Today is one of the only days in the past 5 that have been nice enough to play outside. Hopefully I'll remember my camera AND my charger and be able to post some pics of the kid enjoying the great outdoors. Until then, here is Brady's indoor version of fun:

1 Busy Boy, 1 Week Until Baby, and...1 Dead Terrorist?

This weekend sure was a whirlwind of random events. Saturday's weather was so incredibly perfect that we spent the majority of our day outside. My busy boy actually refers to Zach who kept himself plenty busy mowing the lawn, landscaping stuff, building the world's biggest mulch bed, etc. While he did this, I tried to keep up with Brady who insisted we wail golf balls all over the yard. Needless to say, I eventually ended up a spectator seated in a comfortable lounge chair. Later in the afternoon, we attended a first birthday party for a friend's son (where Brady ate them out of house and home), and then the boy and I returned to "Hawk Wawey," which is where we live if you ask him, to do some napping. In the evening, Zach and I went out for a final date night before the baby comes. The waitress messed up my dinner and gave us free dessert, so I'd have to say Saturday was a success!

Then came Sunday. It was rainy, a little colder, and I thought my hips were going to split in half. "A side effect of pregnancy," as my husband calls it. I thought I was going to be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. This round ligament pain, as the experts call it, is no joke. Neither is my incredible urge to clean everything; nesting is a real hazard to a pregnant lady's health! Despite the discomfort, I managed to do countless loads of laundry and clean really important things...like the shelves that hold the laundry detergent. For whatever reason, I'm waiting to do actual important things, like packing my hospital bag, until the very last minute. I figure I'll need something to keep my mind off of the fact that I'm in labor, and packing up a bag seems like a nice way to handle it. Plus, those laundry shelves were disgusting. Priorities, people!

Today, Monday, May 2, 2011, marks the 39th week of my pregnancy, as well as the world-wide announcement that at some point last night, Osama bin Laden was captured and murdered. On one hand, I want to rejoice with the majority of other Americans, and I can guarantee you that had I lost a loved one as a direct result of that psycho, I'd be on the "God Bless America" bandwagon. But for whatever reason, I feel like celebrating the murder of another human being is a bit weird. Granted, the dude needed to go, but I feel like we should just be grateful he's no longer a threat, but ever aware that there are other very real threats who are probably a little ticked off Osama is adrift at sea. Un-American? I think just paranoid. I shall blame hormones.

I'm already on maternity leave in my head. It is not pretty. I do the least amount of work as possible thinking that tomorrow, I'll leave it all up to someone else. Not quite a team player, I realize, but Dang It! Stuff needs done. For instance, I have to alphabetize all of the books on the shelves in our office. Life would be so much easier if I just knew what kind of baby to shop for; we'd be decked out in blues or pinks rather than Pledge and Windex.

Next appointment is Wednesday. I'll be back with the details!