First Smiles

I can't believe that Collin is already over a month old!!! The past month seems like a blur (I'm sure that has to do with how exhausted I am!).

Collin is still doing well. Last week, I started supplementing with formula. Not a lot... just an ounce or two after each feeding. I feel really good about it, and am so much more confident knowing that Collin's tummy gets to feel full. Ethan and the kids enjoy feeding him his bottle, too, which is nice.Collin has also been falling into a nice routine. We've been trying to get him into the cycle of: eat-play-sleep. He's done really well with it, and his schedule is fairly predictable now. At night, he was waking only once a night last week, but now is back to waking two times a night. Oh well... The only thing I forgot about was the time change. Here in England, we changed our clocks back last weekend. Previously, I had Collin waking at around 6:45am each day. So, of course, with the time change, he was then waking before 6am the first few days. We're trying to shift that. It'll just take a little time, I suppose.

Last Friday, Collin gave me his first official smile. A big gummy one! It was so precious. I've been trying to take a picture of him smiling, but he gets too distracted by the camera. We also started putting Collin under his gym during his play times. He just loves it. He gets all excited and starts kicking and swinging his arms. It's so fun watching him.

The rest of us are doing well. The kids have this week off of school, so they're getting to spend a lot of time with their brother. As for me, I have some great days, where I am out and active and getting house chores done, etc. And then I seem to come to a crashing point where I am just exhausted. Last Wednesday, I called Ethan at work, completely crying from exhaustion. My dear husband actually took the afternoon off from work to come home so that I could sleep. What a guy!

Collin at 3 weeks

Hi everyone! Sorry again for the lack of blogs. It's all I can do to get showered everyday, let alone get on the computer (I trust all you moms out there remember what it is like!).

Anyway, we're all doing well! I am particularly pleased that Collin is gaining weight just as he should be. I had issues nursing my other two kids, so I was hoping that the "third time would be the charm" for this baby. And so far, so good. Last week, I sort of had a melt-down after Collin hadn't gained weight over a 3-day span. So, on the advice of the midwife, I began pumping after a couple of feedings each day. Three days later, he had gained over 5 ounces. And now, a week later, he has gained another half of a pound. I am just thrilled! Thank you God.

Otherwise, we're just trying to get into a routine here. It's a little more challenging as I have to get Tim and Maddie to and from school and their activities, but we're managing. This week, we've started having Collin get used to his crib, and have tried having him put himself to sleep. So far, it's not working too well. He really gets himself all worked up. But, we will persevere.

And although he's only 3 1/2 weeks old, we already see some of Collin's personality coming through. Here are a few of his likes and dislikes.

Likes:

• being fed
• his binky
  
• his brother and sister (no matter what they do to him, it seems)
• having Mommy rock him to sleep
• listening to music (like Daddy playing his guitar)
  
• staring at the cat picture on his changing table
  

Dislikes:

• being buckled into his car seat
• being swaddled
• being naked (bathtime, diaper change, etc.)
  

Well, I suppose that's all for now; especially as I am now typing one-handed while holding a sleeping Collin in the other! :)

Thank the Lord for Mommies!

Hi everyone! Sorry for the lack of blogs this past week. I'm sure you can understand. It truly is amazing how much time a newborn requires.

Anyway, we are all doing well. My parents arrived last Saturday, and have done an incredible job of taking care of us. My mom has done countless loads of laundry and dishes, made meals, changed diapers, prepared kids' school lunches, etc. And my dad has helped out by being the bus driver... taking the kids to and from school and their after-school activities. I haven't had to lift a finger, which has been so nice. It's allowed me to focus on taking care of Collin, nursing, resting, etc.Collin is doing just great. He's gaining weight nicely, which is so encouraging to an unconfident, nursing mom like me. He was 9 pounds at birth, and was 8 pounds 11 ounces yesterday. He's already a professional pooper, often granting us a second curtain call after we've just changed him. He's been sleeping well too, and once we get him to sleep, he usually sleeps for most of the night-time, except for feedings (and yes, I am knocking on wood as I am typing this!). He seems to be pretty content so far, and doesn't seem at all affected by the chaos in the house. It's apparent that he feels very at home with his big brother and big sister, who just love him. Maddie, in particular, just smothers him with attention to the point of literally squishing him. She's learning, though.The hardest part about this past week, is that I came down with Mastitis. It hasn't been particularly painful, but I had 3 days of severe flu-like symptoms that just wiped me out.... chills, fever, headaches, etc. Thankfully, we caught it early, and I was able to get on an antibiotic right away. Again, I don't know what I would have done if my mom wasn't here.

So, come Monday, my parents will be flying home, and Ethan and I will be flying solo (well, duo, I guess). I really have no idea what condition our home or kids or refrigerator will be like a week from now. I suppose it's a good time to focus on the priorities for survival, and let the rest of the details find their way back in someday.

Thank you to all of you who have emailed us with congratulations and words of encouragement. It's amazing how loved we feel even being so far away from you all. And, please feel free to leave any advice for us in the comments. We can use all the help we can get!

Collin Frederick Stryker

We are so pleased and proud to announce the arrival of Collin Frederick Stryker!!! He was born Monday morning, September 22 at 10:28am, weighing in at a whopping 9 pounds!!!
For those of you out there who enjoy reading labor stories, here's mine...

I actually had some false labor last Saturday night. I woke up at 2:53am with a painful contraction. I then lay awake for about 3 hours, noting the times of the contractions, which ranged from 8-13 minutes apart. Eventually though, I fell back to sleep, and woke up contraction-free. It was a good wake-up call (literally), in that it helped Ethan and I evaluate how really ready we were.

Anyway, fast-forward to Sunday night. Ethan and I were in bed, finalizing our baby name choices, and discussing the week ahead. I turned over at 11:30 to turn off the light, and felt my water start to break. Here we go!! We called my friend Kelly to come over to be with the kids, and finished packing the hospital bag, made the kids' school lunches, etc.

When we arrived at the hospital, we started in the assessment room where they hook you up to the monitors and evaluate your labor. Mine was certainly progressing with contractions now about 4 minutes apart. We then headed to the delivery room.
I labored well for a couple of hours. I especially liked sitting on a birthing ball for a while. When the contractions started to get to be unbearable, the midwife sent up the anesthesiologist to give me my epidural. I kind of felt like a wuss at this point, like I was giving in. Not to mention how I cried like a baby when getting my epidural. But to be honest, I don't know how I would have managed to have any strength to push this baby out if I hadn't gotten it. Any of you brave women who have gone all-natural have my utmost, highest respect.

Anyway, after the epidural kicked in, Ethan and I got to sleep for a couple of hours. I was so grateful to get that rest. Then, around 9am, I started feeling painful contractions again. The midwives boosted my epidural a few times, but it didn't seem to make a difference. Finally, the midwife checked me, and said that it would be starting a little early, but would I like to try pushing? I tried, and was pleased that the pushing actually helped alleviate the pain of the contractions. 45 minutes later, Collin was born!

It was a truly rewarding birthing experience, to be honest. I really felt like I pushed this baby out, which I didn't really have with Tim's birth (I was too numb from the epidural) or Maddie's (who was c-section).

Immediately after he was born, he was put on my chest. Ethan and I were thrilled when we heard that it was a boy! Ethan got to cut the cord, and I just held him while they delivered the placenta. No one took Collin to suction him or anything. They just told me to have him on his side so he could get rid of the mucus in his lungs. They didn't even weigh him for the longest time. But when they did, boy were we shocked to hear that he was 9 pounds! I still can't believe that I had a 9 pound baby inside of me!

At this point, the midwife told me that I had a bad tear, and they called in a doctor. They quickly took me to "theater," which is basically a surgery room, to stitch me up. At this point, I was pretty tired. I just tried to zone-out through it all, and rest.

I was returned to the delivery-room, where Ethan and Collin were waiting. I was able to nurse Collin for the first time, eat lunch, and rest. Ethan left later that afternoon, and returned with the kids after I was moved into my recovery room (and yes, I was able to get a "single"). The kids were both so excited to meet their new baby brother. Maddie was especially emotional about him. She was happy, loud, nervous, and soooo talkative. She asked a thousand questions, and really proved herself to be a protective, mothering, older sister.
Eventually, Ethan and the kids left, and then it was just Collin and I together for the night. It was a little rough at times, especially since my legs were still recovering from the numbness of the epidural. But, we made it through the night just fine.

Ethan came back the next morning after bringing the kids to school, and I was able to eat and shower, and start feeling human again. In the afternoon, I asked if I could go home. The midwives said that would be fine. They supplied me with my medication, the pediatrician gave Collin a look-over, and that was it. We were outta there!!!
We arrived just in time to the kids' school to pick them up. It was great going home all together as a family. The kids were so excited about having Collin at home.
Since Tuesday, we have been managing just fine. I'm trying to take it slow, which isn't easy looking at the condition of my house. Ethan has been incredible: taking care of the kids, me, changing Collin's diapers, laundry, dishes, etc. And of course, this week was supposed to be a very busy work week for him. He's gone in to work for the last three days. Poor Ethan... he'll be so glad when my parents are here to take over tomorrow (that is, after he has to wake up at 4am, and drive 2 hours to go pick them up at the airport!!) Poor Ethan.

Collin is doing really well. He is eating just fine, and pooping up a storm. Night-time hasn't been too bad. Yes, he's awake and alert for part of the time, but he also usually sleeps straight for 4-5 hours somewhere in that time, too. So, I won't complain.And in case you were curious about his name, Collin was one of the only names that we both liked that we agreed upon. We also thought it sounded a little British, which we thought would be special for him. Frederick is the name if my grandfather (my mom's dad), who passed away when I was a teenager, but whom has always stayed very close to my heart.

Thanks to all of you for your kind wishes and congratulations. We feel so blessed at this addition to our family. Collin has already brought so much joy into our home.

Stork Walk and Hospital Bag

Well, for those of you who have been paying attention to my sidebar, you can see that we have merely two weeks left until Stryker #3's expected arrival. Up until this point, I have been feeling pretty good... big, but good. Thankfully, I'm still sleeping well, although my hips get sore from staying on my side all night. The baby is still pretty active, too, which is fun to watch, but painful at times when I can practically see it's heel trying to bust out... OUCH!

Last weekend, Ethan and I went on a "Stork Walk"- a tour of the hospital (or at least the maternity ward) where I will be delivering. Although we had the feeling that "We're not in Franklin Square anymore" (that's where I delivered Tim and Maddie in MD), we certainly weren't upset about the hospital conditions. The delivery rooms seemed quite standard. No, there's no wood paneling or windows, but it was still okay. One thing that the delivery room had that you wouldn't find in the States is "Gas & Air"- basically, laughing gas. You can administer your own laughing gas during labor as a form of pain management. They also said that they could loan you a TENS machine for pain management. I'm going to have to look into what that is. Hopefully, if all goes to plan, I will get my epidural and just go into my happy place during labor.

The delivery ward also had a room for tub births. I think that normally I would be open to that. However, since we've decided to have a VBAC, I think I'll feel safer remaining on a monitor at all times. (The baby's heart rate can be an indication of uterine rupture, etc.).

So, at this hospital, you deliver in the delivery ward and are then moved into the post-natal ward. The post-natal ward has 2 recovery rooms that hold 5-6 women and their babies. It also has a bunch of single rooms that you can get if you are recovering from c-section, or if you pay 80 pounds/night (available on a first come/first serve basis). I'm telling Ethan to book me a single room as soon as we step into that hospital!

Another difference between here and the States is that the fathers are not allowed to spend the night. Unless you are in labor, the daddies need to leave according to visiting hours. That is actually just fine with me, because I would rather that Ethan were home with the kids at night, and to be there in the morning for them. However, the post-natal ward also doesn't have a nursery to send the babies to. That means that the night after I have given birth, it will just be me and the baby in the room all night. That sounds like such a cruel thing to say, like, why wouldn't I want the baby in the room with me? I just remember that that was the only way I could get 2-3 hours of solid sleep when I first had Tim and Maddie.

Something else that's different is that they don't bring your food into the room. There is a small dining area on the post-natal ward where you go for your meals. And, when you go, you should just leave your baby asleep in your room alone, and tell the midwife that you're going to the dining room. Leave my baby alone in my room? That just seemed weird.

And also, if I have a boy, they will not do circumcisions in the hospital here. Culturally, I've heard that they think circumcisions are cruel and outdated. Hopefully, they will do a circumcision at the clinic on base for me, but I've heard rumors that they had to stop providing that service for legal reasons. I think I will be calling about that today.

A few weeks ago, I asked my mid-wife how long I should expect to stay in the hospital. Her answer was, "Anywhere from 6 hours to 3 days." Needless to say, I think I will be more anxious to get home after this baby is born, compared to my previous deliveries.

I've been spending some time during the past two weeks packing my hospital bag. A friend of mine who just had a baby here, gave me a list of what to pack. A lot of it is standard, but there are some significant differences. First of all, you need to bring something to wear to deliver the baby in. They do not provide a front-opening dressing gown for you. My question about this was, "Then how do you get that skin-to-skin experience when you first deliver?" My friend told me that they just strip you down naked! Fun! I'm also supposed to bring my own snacks and drinks for Ethan and myself to keep up our energy during labor. That sounded very different to me! In the States, I was told to drink a ton of water when I started having contractions, and then it was ice chips until the baby came. Weird. I also need to bring my own towels for showering, pads, diapers, baby blankets, and baby clothes. I literally bring the first clothes my baby will be put into! Oh, but I am not allowed to bring baby wipes... they confiscate them at the door practically. Apparently baby wipes are another form of cruelty on a baby's bottom. Instead, I have to bring these cotton disc-shaped things that they use for wipes. I got those to bring, but I think I'll hide some wipes in my suitcase just in case... don't tell!

So, that's what I've found out so far. Yes, it will surely be a different experience delivering here in England under the umbrella of National Heath Care. But, I'm trying to keep my mind open and am preparing myself to be flexible, knowing that, at the end of this whole delivery experience, God-willing, I will be coming home with a beautiful new baby.

P.S. We would certainly appreciate any prayers from people regarding our delivery. Our main concerns are obviously the health and well-being of both the baby and me, especially with a VBAC delivery. I've been told my multiple sources that I am a good candidate for VBAC, but you just never know. We would also appreciate prayers for whomever will be watching Tim and Maddie when Ethan and I are in the hospital. My friend Kelly is on call from now until my parents arrive on the 27th. And finally, we would also appreciate prayers that I wouldn't go late (especially when my parents will only be here for a week and a half), and that God would help us all to adjust to life with a newborn. Thank you.

The Lake District - Part 3

Our last day at the Lake District was surprisingly full and fun. For the previous two days, we actually had decent weather... meaning: no rain. On our third day, it was supposed to rain on and off.

We began our day with a row boat ride in Ullswater Lake. The rain hadn't started yet, so we figured we shouldn't sit around waiting to see if it was going to. Actually, with Murphy's Law being particularly strong around here, we thought we would help the rain come by going out in the middle of the lake in a rowboat.

Well, Murphy didn't wait that long. He only waited long enough for us to pay for our hour and get into the boat. Then, it started raining. It didn't really matter... we were all prepared with our raincoats, and were determined to make the most of it. We ended up having a pleasant ride. The rain came and went. The worst part, however, were these little moquito-like bugs that started attacking us about half-way into our hour. They didn't sting, but they were annoying. Maddie was just screaming!! We joked that the boat rental place keeps these bugs under the seats, and releases them so that you get your boat back in on time! Anyway, besides the bugs, we had a nice ride, and the kids especially enjoyed taking turns rowing with daddy.I even took a turn rowing, although it was difficult fitting the ends of the oars around my belly!
After our ride, we had a nice lunch back at the cottage. We then decided to head to another town called Keswick (pronounced Kez-ik), that wasn't too far away.

We stopped on the way at a place called Castlerigg Stone Circle. It's basically the Stonehenge of the Lake District, although it doesn't have quite as dramatic of an appearance. Castlerigg consists of 30 or so stones standing in a circle, with another 10 forming a rectangular enclosure. Like Stonehenge, not much is known about what it's purpose was, but they think that it dates to about 3000 BC.We kept on towards Keswick, or more specifically, towards Derwentwater, one of the smaller lakes of the region. It was raining pretty steady at this point, so we weren't sure what we were going to do when we got there. But, we decided to keep driving to at least get a glimpse of the lake.

It ended up being one of those times when spontanaity really paid off.

We found our way to the lake, and parked. We then virtually stumbled upon a boat taxi tour that was about to leave, and quickly decided to go for a ride as the boat was covered. What an incredible ride it was. The views were amazing. It was raining, yes, but there was this beautiful mist that hovered around the mountains, making it incredibly breathtaking. Then, eventually, the rain stopped, and we even saw the sun trying to come through the clouds. Again, just beautiful. We took so many pictures on that boat ride, but I don't think any of them came out quite as beautiful as I remember the views to be.When we got back to the dock, we struck up a conversation with the woman who had driven the boat. She asked if Tim might want a turn driving the boat over to the next dock. Tim was a little hesitant at first, but then decided to go with Daddy. Well, he just loved it! He felt so proud driving this big boat all by himself. It was his favorite part of the trip.Here are just another couple of shots that Ethan took on the way home, and later at Ullswater that night.So, that was basically our trip to the Lake District. We were there for less than 3 days, but during that time, we saw and rode on 3 different lakes. The views were really incredible, and it was wonderful to be by the water. I'm sure that we will be going back in the future!

The Lake District - Part 2

On our second day in the Lake District, we decided to drive down to Windermere (now, you can't call it "Lake Windermere" because "mere" actually means "lake". So, saying "Lake Windermere" is like saying"Lake Winder Lake").

ANYWAY, Windermere is the largest lake in the region, and also is the most touristy (although by American standards, it really wasn't very touristy at all). The drive took longer than expected, and was very windy and hilly. That being said, it really was an incredibly scenic drive through the glacier-made mountain range. Here are a few photos...
We drove all the way to the most southern point of Windermere, where a nice, family park is located. The kids enjoyed some time on the playground there, and we then took a small water taxi over to a point where we could take a boat tour of the lake. (This is the view of the park's tea room as we were in our water taxi.) (This is our tour boat coming to pick us up.)
The tour was very nice. There was a lot of activity on the lake... people boating, windsurfing, and sailboating.The tour took us to a village called Bowness. We were only there for an hour or so, but in that time we had some delicious local ice cream, walked down the village streets to see the shops, and spent some time down by the water, where there were dozens of swans and other water fowl. We then had a leisurely boat ride back to the park, and the children enjoyed wading for a few minutes before getting back into the car.We ate dinner at a local pub that night, and slept well!

Next time, I will blog about our last day in the Lake District. It rained, but we did a lot anyway.