Month Five: Looking Back, Different as Night and Day

My poor little love. He is already getting second child status. By this time after Madeus' birth I had already composed many posts for his baby book. But I realized for me, a few things happen with the second child. Yes, there is less time and that definitely plays into it. Two, I tend to just experience the moment more with Dempsey when I do have the time. Three, Dempsey is so laid back that I am pretty sure he won't be mad at me down the road when he is baby book is a little thin. He is just that kind of a kid.

There are so many comparisons that can be made between my two boys and I want to be careful at comparing too much as they grow but I don't think there is any harm in comparing their baby status.

Madeus had a giant range of expressions of emotions from day one. Dempsey has two main ones, pure happiness, or serious contentment.

Madeus slept through the night from 8 weeks. Dempsey has yet to sleep through the night.

Madeus ruined maybe two outfits during his entire diaper time from diaper leaks. Dempsey ruins an outfit weekly.

Madeus was born two weeks late and very developed. Dempsey was two weeks early and still does not hold is head very strong.

Madeus has always been pretty lean. Dempsey is my little chunky love.

Madeus is blond with blue eyes. Dempsey's eyes are hazel we think and he has dark brown hair.

Madeus was actually pretty quiet as a baby. From day one, Dempsey was noisy - grunting, snorting, and now he is always cooing and talking.

Madeus would go from not crying to complete fit withing 10 seconds. Dempsey can fake cry for 30 minutes without any real tears.

Madeus was either awake or asleep. Dempsey will cry with his eyes closed in his crib wining for as long as you "let" him. If you go in and bounce his mattress a little or pick him up he will instantly go back to sleep.

Madeus was content being held but never very cuddly. Dempsey would stay on your shoulder all day if you let him. I am cherishing naps where he will still sleep on me.

Madeus was a pretty easy eater but could be pretty particular and angry if you were late. Dempsey is an even easier nurser, he is not particular at all and rarely gets mad even when his meals are a little past due.

Madeus was very adaptable to different environments and could sleep almost anywhere. Dempsey is a lot more sensitive to noise and light but will do whatever you want when he is awake. Most times he is very content playing on a blanket or sitting in a chair - as long as you are near him.

Madeus spit up all the time - and I mean- all the time, until he was six months old. Dempsey has that more under control but has always suffered from more digestive issues.

Madeus always kept you guessing as to what his cried where about - tired, gassy, diaper change, etc? Dempsey's cries are completely distinct and easy to decipher.

Madeus has always brought a lot of fun to a room. And as my dad recently pointed out, Dempsey brings peace. Being in his presence instantly soothes me.

Labor and Delivery

I have been procrastinating writing this post which is funny because when I had Madeus I wanted to describe it over and over, I guess the novelty has worn off. But telling stories are important...

I had another bad pregnancy. Michael estimates that I threw up about 500 times by the time Dempsey was delivered. Several things made this one worse. I had the store to run, medication did not help the nausea, and I developed polyhydramnios which is basically a lot of amniotic fluid.

The polyhydramnios caused me to be huge. I kid you not, I was asked daily from 7 months on if I was about to deliver, if I was having twins, and on more than one occasion I was asked if I was having triplets. I was bigger than my friend at her delivery and I still had over 6 weeks to go. My maternity clothes ceased to fit. I was straight out ALL belly.

The polyhydramnios caused me to be tested over and over again for diabetes, oh how I love that orange liquid. And it caused me to make weekly trips into Manhattan for sonograms. Therefore, Dempsey, has more pictures prebirth than anyone I know. (Hey, at least he has that going for him as a second child).

The polyhydramnios caused contractions to begin at about 30 weeks. Mostly these were Braxton Hicks but pretty intense pressure and very regular, all night long. Everyone thought I would deliver early, I was put on modified bed rest, and knowing this made the waiting worse than even Madeus who was 2 weeks late. I did not sleep the last 6 weeks of my pregnancy pretty much longer than an hour at a time. I was miserable.

However, the polyhydramnios did cause my water to break at 38 weeks and to have one of those rushing to the hospital type of moments you see in movies - plus the whole water thing was pretty fascinating.

I kid you not, I have never seen so much water. My water broke in bed around 2 am. I thought that was it but when we got to the hospital I was told the baby's head had capped off the rest of the bag. My midwife broke the rest of my water and for the next 45 minutes it was a flood. Over 12 soaking towels and they had to bring a trash can in to put the towels. One nurse said it was the most fluid she had ever seen. It was actually kind of fun.

My fascination got me to 7 centimeters. I asked for a low dose epidural because of my sensitivity to medication. Michael was not allowed to stay in the room during the epidural because of past legal cases and he was pretty upset by this. Every thing was easy from there until I got ready to push around noon. The nurse and midwife ordered frozen yogurt from a staff member who was going out to get them and let's just say, their yogurts were liquid by the time it was all over.

Right when I was about to push, I had a lot of the pain. I told my midwife but she did not want to give me a dose because we were about to push. I was apprehensive because I know I have children with 95th percentile heads and I pushed a long time with Madeus. For Madeus' birth I used a bar placed over the bed to help but this hospital did not have that. My midwife does not cut or use other tools and while I am thankful for this, I was wishing she would change her mind. I finally gave up, after yelling at the midwife, hitting Mike, and throwing up, I told her I would no longer push until I got some pain management. I really felt like I would need a c-section as was suggested for both of my babies. My persistence and her melting yogurt led my midwife to agree and two pushes after my second epidural dose Dempsey arrived. I have NEVER felt such pure relief (and I also suggested Michael go down a floor in the hospital to get a vasectomy:)

The stats:
Dempsey was born at 38 weeks at 8lbs 11 ounces (he was growing about a 1lb every two weeks)

He was 21 1/2 inches and was born at 2:10 pm.

His labor and delivery was everything opposite of Madeus. He was born early. My water broke. I went into labor naturally. Madeus start to finish was 23 hours. Dempsey was 12 hrs. However, they both gave my body a run for its money when it came to pushing. However, with Dempsey the pain was tremendous and without my own endorphines building up throughout the contractions, it came on so intense. Madeus clocked in at about 1 1/2 hrs and Dempsey at a little over 2 hours.

I have already forgotten a lot but what I always remember is that I CANNOT believe a woman's body does this, can do this, and can produce these amazing people. I really was in "shock and awe" over the experience all over again. In some ways it is worse the second time, because you know what is coming but at the same time you don't have that fear of the unknown so it balances out.

We were in the hospital several days, it was interesting and emotional so I will save it for another post.

Timing is Everything

Here we go my little man:

I opened my own business in NYC on September 14.

Michael found out he was laid from his firm around September 30.

You decided to start your way around mid-October right at the time Michael was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy (luckily he had a fast recovery).

We found out you were on the way around the beginning of November.

There was approximately two weeks between each of these MAJOR happenings in our life, but the best things (or people) come in twos right?

Reactions:
Myself:
I was initially very excited. Right before the store and the loss of job, we had decided we were just about ready to try for a second child. It was really cool to have it be a surprise. And in all honesty, it was so nice to have something really wonderful happen after such a shocking layoff.

Then, I was pretty nervous. Obviously our situation was not ideal and I was anxious for what Mike's reaction would be with all the circumstances. Plus, I don't do pregnancy all that well (see blog on Madeus:).

Michael:
One of the most, if not the most, soothing moments of my pregnancy was when I told Michael. Of course, I had plans to wait, make it a big surprise, make a dinner, tell it through balloons, etc etc. Yet again, I only made it out the bathroom door. He reacted with pure joy, unencumbered by the very real ,rational, issues that made this poor timing. His response was so honest and pure, it was incredibly comforting.
(Dempsey arrived the very next day. Madeus was singing to him here so we think that helped the process.)

Threes a Charm

Yes, it is true I now have three blogs. But, I am a second child. Therefore, my baby book is only half full, I have a tenth as many baby pictures as my sister, and I constantly use my second child treatment to justify all my short comings.

Therefore, since Madeus' blog is also being made into a hard copy baby book, it was only fair that Dempsey have his fifteen minutes, or fifteen words, of fame on a page, all of his own.

(Pregnant with Dempsey (6 1/2 months)