MMM-MA and Papa Ewell's visit

My parents came in town 2 days after we got home from the hospital. It was such a blessing to have them for 5 days. My Dad and Phil barbecued almost every night, my Mom held my sweet newborn so I could catch up on sleep, they took Wes swimming and to the movies to give him some needed special time, my Mom kept my house clean, and much more. We enjoyed every moment with them and were so sad to see them leave. 

My Dad and Wes are best buddies

Wes got a tramp over the weekend and is obsessed with it. Definitely helped with the adjustment of a new brother. 

Papa got Wes his first gelato and he loved it (not sure why he is using his left hand here)

Wes loved playing games on my phone with his Mmm-MA

I loved walking in on moments like these. 

I love this happy boy- cannot wait until he can have friends over to play in this. 

Owen's first bath, didn't really love it.

 Wesley thinks his brother is pretty neat. He definitely loves him but isn't loving sharing the attention.

Owen is getting bigger and looking less like a wrinkly newborn. (2 weeks tomorrow-eek)

Thanks Mom and Dad. We love and miss you already!

Summer of Seals

The past few years our friends have been competing in a fitness contest called "Summer of Seals". We have wanted to do it but most summers I have been either pregnant or nursing so we decided not to. However, this year even though I couldn't participate Phil decided to take the challenge. He turns 30 in October and wanted to be at his peak fitness before then.

The contest includes a 500 meter swim (10 minute break) followed by doing your max push-ups in 2 minutes (2 minute break) max sit-ups in 2 minutes (2 minute break) and max pull ups in 2 minutes (10 minute break) and finishing with a 1.5 mile run. 

Part of this challenge included extra points for weight loss and for working out at least 4 times a week. Phil used P90X as his morning workout for the summer and some nights he would also run 3 miles or do the 500 meter swim. Phil had never swam competitively and didn't know the proper form. He pretty much learned by watching you-tube videos on how to swim efficiently and what type of drills to do to learn and improve. When he first started swimming he couldn't even finish the 500 and at the competition he swam it in 13:50! 

I was so proud of how dedicated he was to not only Summer of Seals but also to getting healthier. 

The final event was yesterday and I was so bummed I couldn't be there to cheer him on! Luckily my Dad went with him and took lots of pictures! 

Phil ended up getting 1st place in his age category (18-29) and lost 24 lbs! I am so happy that he was able to achieve his goals. Good job babe!

Owen's Arrival

I have been meaning to post about Owen's delivery and the hospital all week. However, having two kids and trying to recover from a C-section is a busy job! Luckily I have had Phil home with me and my parents came in town Wednesday night. Without the 3 of them I don't think I would have made it this week!

I'll start from the beginning...  

Around midnight on Friday morning I woke up with weird pains. About every half hour for the next 2 hours I was awoken with the same pains. I kept thinking I was constipated (ha- ha). Finally around 3am Phil woke up and said I think you are having contractions. There was the Ahh-ha moment. I hadn't even considered it since I was induced with Wesley I never had contractions at home. Anyways, between 3am and 5am the contractions got closer and closer. We were already scheduled to be at the hospital at 5:30 for a 7:30 C-section. So we just headed to the hospital. By the time we got there my contractions were 3 minutes apart and lasting almost 60 seconds. When they checked me for dilation I was only at a 3 and wasn't progressing much. My Dr said I could try a VBAC but said that he didn't feel good about it and thought I should continue with the C-section. Phil and I had been praying from me to go into labor because it was our only shot of trying for a VBAC before the scheduled C-section. However, when my Dr asked me if I wanted to try I did not feel good about it. And since he didn't feel good about it either it cemented our fate and we prepped for surgery. Even though it was quite painful I feel it was a blessing that I went into labor and that we had to make the final decision. I don't have any what ifs or regrets now. I know that this is how I deliver babies and have come to terms with it. 

By 7:30 I was in the operating room and was getting a spinal block. The anesthesiologist was amazing and helped me through this since Phil couldn't be in the room while they prepped for the surgery. Once they had me numb they brought Phil in and at exactly 8am we had a beautiful baby boy.  I got to hold him for a few seconds and then they took him to clean and check him out. Phil got to go with Owen and I went off to recovery. 

This C-section was very different from the last. I was more alert since I hadn't been in labor for 13 hours like with Wes. I also only had the spinal block and had had an epidural and then the spinal block with Wes. Recovery seemed to go a lot faster as well. I was in there for about an hour and then taken to my room and after they got me hooked up on my IV and everything they finally brought Owen in to nurse. 

We had a few scary moments at the hospital. When Phil went to change Owen's diaper he found a ton of blood. After taking Owen's blood and running tests to ensure he was able to clot, we were told everything was normal and that he just had some bleeding from the circumcision. He also had high bilirubin levels and so we had to introduce a little formula which caused him to stop nursing well for 1.5 days (stressful). Despite these two incidents the hospital stay went pretty smoothly and we have a health baby boy.

Heading to the hospital

Phil dressed in his finest for the surgery

My awesome Dr, seriously cannot imagine going to another one.

Not the best angle but such a tender moment

Since I was tied to my bed most of the time Phil became master diaper changer.

Wesley and Owen meeting each other

Wes was my buddy and would cuddle with me while we watched movies.

Going home outfit 

Owen Robert Harrison

I'm blogging from the hospital so I'll keep this short for now. Once I get home I will add journaling to the pictures from Owen's big day.