He's Home!

KEITH IS HOME! He spent the month of February at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. It must have been a bit of a shock to leave a 2-week-old and come home to a 6-week-old. His first comment after seeing Ryan: "He's so big! Look at his chubby cheeks!"

Unfortunately, Ryan was undergoing his most notable growth spurt. Obviously he's grown before now, but his schedule and temperment didn't change. Those first few days with Keith back were filled with lots of feedings and a fussy baby. I also had to retire some of his clothes as they no longer fit. I shed a few tears over this, and I'm sure it won't be the last time.

One new skill Ryan seemed to enjoy showing off was his ability to projectile poop onto Mom. Thankfully, Dad came to the rescue with an old towel to clean up. (Lucy was no help, she just sat there and seemed amused by the whole thing.)

We're now back to being a family of 3!

Crazy Day

Yesterday was one of those days that only can happen when husbands are unavailable for help. It started off and ended well, it's just that inbetween stuff that was unbelievable.

I was able to make a same-day appointment at the health clinic on post that was timed perfectly between feedings! However, it turns out I was prescribed an antibiotic that didn't fix the issue I was having and needed to get a new prescription. So to the pharmacy I headed.

I heard him before I saw him. This loud hacking cough, a giant sniff, then a toddler came screeching towards Ryan in the stroller yelling "Baby, I want to hold the baby!" (The mom was nowhere I could see.) I blocked him from touching Ryan and started to have a conversation...discussing his name, age, where his mom was, etc.

Then I hear, "What's your problem?" Ahh, the mom had found us.
Me: "What?" Not thinking I heard her correctly.
The Mom: "What's your problem? He just wants to push the stroller around."
Me: "Right now, you're my problem. I don't know you, your kid, and he's not going to push my son around in the stroller." Did she really think I would allow this?! My thoughts were racing.
The Mom: Glares at me.
Innocent bystander to Mom: "You know, her son looks pretty young and probably doesn't have the immune system that's really developed yet."
The Mom to Bystander: "Then she shouldn't have him out." Grabs her son's arm and storms off.

Thankfully my number was called. I smiled at Bystander and finished my business. I get that I can't protect Ryan from everything, but maniacal toddlers and their witchy moms will not be near him if I can help it. Plus those germs the kid was sporting would have been like baptism by fire for the little guy's system. I'd prefer a more gentler introduction to the world...like play dates to get chicken pox.

Then we headed to Cara's house to hang out for a bit. This was a good time too! On my way back to the car, I see something on the front of my car. As soon as I process what it is, I jump back about a foot. It's a dead bird...one wing on the outside, and the other lodged on the other side of this plastic thing that is supposed to deflect rocks. (What is that thing called?!)

I use my foot to see if I can gently knock it off. Nope, it didn't even move. I knocked on Cara's door and asked for some trash bags, obviously feeling brave. I 'gloved' up a hand and tentatively tried to knock it off that way. The thing still didn't move. No sticks or stiff pieces of grass to be found, I headed home to get my broom.

As I'm standing in our drive way, taking a pic and texting it to miscellaneous people, a man pulls up in a red truck and asks if I've just moved in. (The car is still on and Ryan is peacefully napping, so he's fine and completely oblivious to what his momma is going through.) He then goes on a 45 second spiel about how he sells steaks and other miscellaneous beef items, and that he will happily deliver them from Kansas City. His special right now is $2 steaks. He then motions with his thumb to the large cooler in the back of the truck, which is obviously where the goods are. In my quick thinking moment of the day, I sadly let him know that I'm a vegetarian and won't be buying any beef from his sketchy cooler.

Quick thinking moment of the day #2: "Sir, do you think you could help me with something? I have this bird stuck in the front of my car and I can't get it out..." He thinks I'm crazy but comes and checks it out anyway. He reaches for it with his bare hand before I quickly stop him and let him know that I have garbage sacks that he can use as gloves. (Thank goodness I didn't agree to purchase beef from him...who reaches for a dead bird with his bare hand?!) He 'gloves' up and I hold another sack underneath to catch it when it falls.

Warning, this next part is kinda gross. Because he approached the whole situation without the apprehension I had, he was able to get part of the bird off the front of the car. It basically was ripped in half...part of the bird was in my sack the rest was still on the car. BOTH of us almost lose it at this point. He tells me, "Girl, you're just going to have to go to a car wash and use one of those high pressure wands to get the rest. I'm outta here." Then he left. Thankfully, his idea of the car wash worked and the car is clean.

Honestly, how much madness can happen in one day? My favorite moment of the day, and the last crazy thing to happen, was that Ryan actually went FIVE hours between feedings! That means I was able to get a chunk of sleep that I haven't had since I was probably six months pregnant. I can't tell you how refreshed I felt at 3 AM this morning! I hope this sleep thing is a trend Ryan picks up on, even if it is once a night that it happens.

Ryan Marks Lucy

Wednesday, February 9, 2012
Approximately 2:30 PM (MST)
Limon, Colorado

I thought I was being clever, until reality sprayed someone in the face.

The 'old' way of changing Ryan while on the go:
1. Lay baby on seat of car
2. Open car door and stand outside while changing baby
3. Mom and Baby shivver in cold, winter weather
4. Baby cries because:
A. Diaper changes are no fun
B. It's COLD outside and baby's buns are naked
5. Continue road trip and hope the car sounds lull baby back to sleep

The 'clever' way of changing Ryan while on the go:
1. Lay baby on the arm rest of front seats
2. Remain in back seat and proceed to change diaper
3. Car doors remain closed
4. Baby does NOT cry because he is now clean, dry, and remains warm
5. Happily continue road trip

Reality:
1. Lay baby on the arm rest of front seats
2. Remain in back seat and proceed to change diaper
3. While getting a wipe out, baby starts to potty
4. The spray hits innocent dog in the front seat IN THE FACE
5. Make horrified/amused face at baby/dog
6. Shrug and continue to change baby
7. Wipe off dog's face, front seat
8. Continue road trip

Lucy is now Ryan's official dog.

What I've Learned: The First 3 Weeks

Ummm...we have a 3 week old?! It's still sinking in that Ryan is ours, here, and not going anywhere. He is healthy, putting on weight, and a generally mellow baby - until he's hungry. Then he must be fed, and fed NOW! At his 2 week check up he was 9 lbs 2 ozs and had grown half an inch.

Here's what I've learned as a new mom:

1. I can venture out and participate in life in one of two ways: I'm either on time, but inevitably missing something important...or late, but have everything I need. If I'm going to be on time AND have everything one needs, I need to start getting ready about 3 hours ahead of time.

2. Help is available and there is no shame in asking for it. There's so many instances where I have been utterly at a loss or just clueless. Amanda saved the day when I had to call to have her explain to me how to collapse my stroller. A strange man who wanted my parking spot generously called my cell phone, which was *somewhere* in the car but definitely eluding me. My mom hung out with Ryan, and got him to go an extra hour of not eating, so I could take a needed nap.

3. There is plenty more, but I can't remember what they were. This memory loss is new and awfully persistant.

On another subject, here are some pics of Ryan meeting more family members:

Meeting the Family

Keith and I are blessed with truly great families. Our first days with Ryan would have been much different without their support and help!

My parents came down from Iowa the day I was induced. They were at the hospital with us during the day time and headed to our home to care for Lucy at night. (I was also much appreciative of the Chipotle they brought me for lunch once I could eat real food!) It was nice to have their company, and it gave Keith a chance to take small breaks every once in a while too. Ryan is their first grandchild.



Ryan then got to meet his Aunt Amanda and cousins Kyle, Owen, and Madilyn (who is 3 months older than Ryan) when they came in from Tennessee. Amanda was a HUGE help and great company while she was here, and we are still enjoying the freezer meals she made for us.



Keith's parents arrived next from Colorado! They too helped out a lot with cooking, entertaining the kids, running errands, and driving Ryan and I to appointments when Keith was at work.

(How did I miss getting a pic of Grandpa G with Ryan?! Once I get one, I'll post it here.)



Aunt Laura then came to visit from Salina! Laura was a big help with everything too! Here she is with her niece and 3 nephews.



Since Keith had to head back to work, and the Gilberts had to head back home/to work, my mom came back to our house for two days to help some more. We're so lucky to have family within driving distance - especially being a military family! All of their visits and help meant that my first solo day home with Ryan didn't happen until Ryan was almost 2 weeks old. That was kind of a scary thing, but we both survived!

Welcome Ryan Paul Gilbert!

On Tuesday, January 17 at 2:12 PM, Ryan Paul Gilbert entered our world! He was 8 lbs 5 oz and 20.5 inches long. He is perfect!
I was diagnosed with Gestational Hypertension and it was best to have Ryan before my due date came. So I was induced on Monday the 16th, just 3 days early. It was not easy (2 epidural placements that didn't totally work, 2 spinal blocks, crazy powerful upper back spasms) or short (26 hours), but completely worth it in the end!

Since Ryan was taking his time descending, and I had only dilated to 7 cms, a C-Section was called late morning on Tuesday. Keith was outfitted with some scrubs so he could be near my head during the surgery. However, the second spinal block fluid went too high and made me feel like I couldn't breathe. It's a really scary feeling, I panicked, and they ultimately put me under general anesthesia. This meant that Keith wouldn't be able to be in the OR and had to wait outside for our little guy. Through this whole deal, Keith was so great! He was very patient and supportive. It was on him to snuggle and soothe Ryan while I was in recovery for 2 hours.

We are officially a family of 3 now and loving every minute of it! Ryan is such a wonderful baby with the best, squishiest cheeks you can imagine! He has dark hair (though it's getting a bit lighter), blue eyes, long legs, and big feet. He has my eye and face shape, and Keith's nose, mouth, and chin. He makes some pretty great faces too!

Ryan's name is pretty special, and it turns out his birthday is too. Ryan's Grandpa Gilbert's name is Rex, which means "King." Ryan means "Little King." Grandpa Cullison's name is Randy, which has all of Ryan's letters (except for the D).

Paul came from Keith's older brother, Kyle Paul, who passed away at the age of 1. Since we already have a Kyle, we went with the middle name. Paul is also his Great-Grandpa Gilbert's first name. I have an aunt Janice who passed away as a teen, and her middle name was Pauline. January 17 is also Janice's birthday.

What I've Learned: Pregnancy

Over the last 38 weeks and some odd days, I've learned a lot. Here's a brief summary:

1. Keith is an amazing husband and I'm very lucky to have him. Of course I knew he was amazing before, but it's nice to have it reaffirmed during a time when a major change is taking place in our lives.

2. Pregnancy is weird, which is probably "normal." I have felt like a freak a bunch of times, and every time I talked to the doctor about it they would tell me that it's "normal." Thankfully I also have good friends and family members who will answer my odd questions with honesty.

3. I've never felt a tired like pregnant-tired. I've always been a napper anyway, but now I'm downright zombie-like (with a personality to match) if I don't get my naps. Lucy now knows what "nap time" means too, and will run to the bedroom for our snuggle time.

4. Drinking more water can cure a variety of ails: nausea, swelling, headaches, Braxton-Hicks, a stuffy nose, baby moving too much, baby not moving enough, high blood pressure, etc. Fun fact: In the 3rd trimester, women should drink between a gallon-gallon and a half of water a day. Basically once you drink what you think is enough water, drink another 2 bottles.