"How are you feeling?!"

This is a common question that I have been getting lately and it is very difficult to give a straight answer.  I go through a range of emotions in a day(...heck minute) and I don't want to throw off the vibe that I have it all together because in all honesty...I am treading water right now!  I look back in the 3 weeks since Peter was born and I am shocked at all that has transpired.  The guests, baptism, birthday parties (for friends and for the record it took me 2 hours to get out of the house that morning!), doctors appointments for both Peter and myself, etc.  Trust me, there has been tears, yelling, a LOT of TV for Matthew and Maggie and countless amount of Starbucks coffee consumed.  I am trying to let it go and remember it is just a *blip* in my life and soon we will be out and about but it is really difficult.  Just to find time to update my blog and check the others that I like to look at seems daunting!  I think taking care of Peter in and of itself is not that bad...I mean this is my 3rd baby and get up, nurse, change diapers, repeat is nothing new.  It is doing all the rest of the day with the other two AND Peter that seems overwhelming at times.  One of my besties put me at ease by reminding me that I am a schedule person and right now chaos has to be my norm.  This made me think and yes, she is right.  I am so used to being on a schedule and getting out of the house doing various chores.  This is definitely not happening right now.  In fact, showering is happening on a very basic level right now.  And don't get me wrong, I am not expecting that my body be in any good condition right now (I am not even cleared to work out for 3 more weeks) but that is hard too.  I am recovering and feeling pain in my tummy while the nerves rejuvenate but I am looking forward to getting back into a workout routine whatever that may look like.  Anyway, I just wanted to put out the honest answer for those of you that are wondering.  I am doing ok and I know it will be ok, but it is an adjustment and sometimes a struggle!  Peter is the sweetest baby and the other two are doing really well with him but it still is "one day at a time!" I have to give a shout out to my most supportive husband who has been amazing and seen me lose it a couple of times and my friends who have listened and not judged me.  Just getting out the feelings have been awesome:) xoxo

Aunty Ra Ra

After my parents left, my sister Rachel came to help out for 5 days!  It was a nice transition...she was very supportive but let me do my "thing" so I could get back in the groove of taking care of the house and kids.  Then her hubby and kids came to pick her up and took Matthew and Maggie to Riverfront Park to play and give me some alone time with Peter.  It was really nice to have her here and see my nephews:)  Thanks Aunty Ra Ra!!

Pictures

My dear friend Bradie came over from Seattle last Monday to get some pictures of Peter and the kids.  She sent me a link to some of the pictures that you can view here:

http://www.photoshow.com/watch/hB4Uh2Rd

and she sent me a cd that I am anxiously awaiting in the mail!  Some of the shots brought tears to my eyes:)  Can't wait to see them all!!!

Mimi and Papa

My parents left today after being here for a week and a half.  Let me tell you I would NOT have survived without them!  Seriously.  My mom did load after load of laundry and must have unloaded my dishwasher everyday.  My dad went to the grocery store and cooked home cooked meals almost every night (except for the nights that people were so generous and brought food over!)  All the while playing with my children in the 90+ degree heat that we have been having.  What did I do?  Sit on the couch and nurse Peter and recover.  I did feel a tiny bit guilty but as my mom pointed out "You will someday do this for your kids" and she is right...I will. Thanks to them, I have actually recovered quite quickly.  I was off the hard medicine 5 days after I had Peter, but I am not going to lie, I am not 27 with one csection anymore.  I am definitely 33 and this is the 3rd go around.  I can tell my body is a little slower.  If I over did it my body told me and coupled with this heat, I needed to take it easy!  I am so thankful that the gods intervened and I got pregnant when I did so our annual family camping trip was cancelled opening up my parent's schedules and sucking all of their vacation time so they could come pamper me:)  (Love you guys!)  But in all honesty, words cannot describe how lucky I am to have such wonderful parents who are so selfless and giving!  Thank you so much and I love you guys very much!!

Pool Time!

Since I am a bit down and out recovering, my parents have been picking up the slack pretty much doing everything!  Thank god because I would be lost without them and Chris.  This past weekend when it was SO BLAZING HOT (it is amazing how 90 is so much better than 100...) my mom and Chris took the kids to the local pool to cool off.  I wanted to go but obviously couldn't with Peter and I couldn't leave him as I am trying really hard to get him completely nursing (which is he now). They did a good job getting some pictures of them having a great time.  I don't want them to feel left out just because Peter is here:)

More Pictures...Yes I am in Love again!

It is hard to imagine having multiple children.  I was so worried that when Maggie came I wouldn't love her as much as Matthew.  But I did!  And when Peter came I was just like the grinch...my heart grew three times it's size:)  I wanted to post some random shots of the last couple of days.

The benefits of pumping!

Dad and Peter

Some Interesting facts...

Ok now that you have had your picture fix here are some interesting tidbits from the birth.  If you have ever had a csection you know they can take away pain but not the pressure.  Well it took a few minutes to get in there because I had some scar tissue from the previous babies.  Then all of a sudden I feel this immense pressure.  I asked Dr. H if he was mad at me from the last appointment I had or something and he said "no your baby has a HUGE head!"  Apparently they almost had to use the vacuum to get him out!  I was shocked when they said he was 8lbs 11oz!  I was guessing 8lbs.  I mean I knew I was big but I didn't think I was THAT big!! After that he was able to spend some time laying on my chest while Dr. H tied my tubes (yep this is it for us) and then he was able to go into recovery with me.  This made me very happy because Maggie wasn't able to do this and it freaked me out her up in the NICU.  After about an hour, they asked me to try and breast feed.  He wasn't really into it and they told me if he didn't get something to eat his blood sugar was going to get to low.  I immediately said "I need a bottle!" and I fed it to him right there.  I wasn't taking any chances with him leaving me.  Since then we have been doing a combo of pumping and nursing.  He is very impatient (just like a man!) so sometimes if the milk isn't right there he doesn't want to nurse.  Maggie was actually the same way and I got her to nurse after about a week.  Peter seems to be on the same learning curve.  I am not really concerned one way or the other.  I am just happy that he is getting  my milk for now.  And it is awesome because Matthew has fed him a couple of bottles!  Anyway, I will post more pictures but I wanted to share some tidbits.  It has been SUPER hot here so we are trying to beat the heat!

Peter Fischer Herzog

Yay finally the day came for Peter to be born into this world!  I won't bore you with details considering I know all you want is pictures:)  He was born via c-section at 8:07 am and he weighed 8lbs 11oz.  It was a relatively uneventful birth!  I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop and it hasn't!!  He is a good baby so far and basically just eat, sleeps, and poops!  I don't want to jinx it but I am very lucky.  It is always an adjustment adding another to your household but I think after I have a few freak outs it will get better?!  Here are some pictures. Oh and the name.  Yes we chose Peter.  I have always loved the name and Fischer is my maiden name.  I thought it was a great middle name and would really be cool for a boy or a girl. 

Tomorrow is the BIG day!

Here I am at 39 weeks in all my glory!  I cannot describe how happy I am to have this baby.  Not only for the fact that I am DYING to meet him and get to know his personality, but I am so ready not to be pregnant!  I figured that for my final pregnancy post I would waddle down memory lane...

Cravings: It started with microwave popcorn.  Seriously, I was eating a bag a night!  Then I moved onto cantaloupe which was intense in the 2nd trimester.  There was nothing that really stood out in the third trimester.  I did have some aversions too.  Like garlic, bananas, dorritos, some sugary stuff.  But man bananas.  I don't think I have had one banana this entire pregnancy.  I did stop drinking splenda but it kind of put me back on full sugar drinks.  Like and occasional coke...it does taste good:) 

I feel like all around I have looked and felt roughly how I did when I was pregnant with Matthew.  I was not too big until just now at the end, I carry really high, and I have had mad reflux!  I mean mad.  whew.  Thank god for zantac!  I am very tired but trying really hard to push through it so I can be the best mom I can be to the other two.  That has been the most difficult part, just having energy for the other two. 

If I had some gripes it has been when strangers tell me that I look like I carry really high.  I mean REALLY?!  Yes I know...do you really want to know my history?  I promise I will buy more in your store if you shut the hell up and just tell me that I look pregnant.  Or I look like I am going to birth any day...yes I know I am big. 

OK there are some good things.  Ummmm hmmm let me think?!  No I am kidding!  I have loved feeling him move inside me.  I am so thankful that I have had a relatively uneventful pregnancy and we are both healthy!  I haven't been pukey sick for a long time and there are some nights when I sleep like a log!  I am very excited to learn about Sparky, his personality and what he will look like! 

The very next post will be all about him!!!!  YAY wish me luck...the only person who needs a good night sleep tonight is Dr Hilton!

On aside note:  I have to say that I have been feeling the love from my friends and family so much over the last couple of weeks.  People have been so sweet with bringing us dinner or taking me out and wanting to have coffee or having me over for late night convos and ice cream:)  Not to mention those who have offered to take the kids or the ones physically taking them.  I am a very lucky girl to have such amazing people in my life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart:) <3