Joelle Grace Knowles
Joelle Grace Knowles is here and is a healthy, happy and CALM bundle of joy!
Birth Date: Saturday, May 29, 2010 at 4:10pm
Weight: 6 pounds, 3 ounces
Length: 19 inches
Like with Izzy, we had a little trouble coming up with a good girl name that was somewhat Biblically based. We finally ran across the name “Joelle” on a website and saw that it was the feminine form of “Joel” and means “Jehovah is God”. “Joelle” also isn’t a very common name which I liked.
For a middle name, we wanted both our girls to have names that were also characteristics we hope that they grow up with or into. Isabelle’s middle name is “Faith” with hope and prayers that she will be a woman with faith. Joelle’s middle name is “Grace”, for it’s the grace of God who saves and we pray that Joelle will also be a woman of grace and with grace for others. For Joelle’s nickname, we’ve been calling her “Jo-Jo” which Izzy can also say.
Now onto the birth story, I’ll try to keep this as G rated as possible.
On Friday, my water broke at home just as I was about to get Izzy up from her nap. Not the most convenient time for it to break since Izzy had gone through her drawers and made quite a mess of her room. Luke was also just on his way back from work so there I was cleaning up after Izzy while still trying to clean up after myself!
When Luke returned he took over cleaning up over Izzy while I made various calls to my health care providers. We decided to have dinner and put Izzy to bed before heading over to the hospital since contractions had not started and we thought they might actually send us home to wait for actual labor to start.
After checking in at the hospital at 8pm, they told me that we were there to stay until Joelle arrived. My mom headed up to Fort Collins to relieve Cousin Steen from Izzy duties. That night I was given a pill to help start the induction process since Joelle needed to be out within 24 hours of my water breaking.
On Saturday morning my mom and Izzy dropped by to see how things were going. Izzy was quite concerned about the IV that was in my arm and almost started to cry because it looked like mommy had an “ow”. At 11am I was put on pitocin to get actual labor started and progressing quickly.
After a few hours of pain I happily took an epidural. At 4pm pushing started and 5 pushes later Joelle arrived with full head of hair and working her lungs with some good crying. My mom and Izzy came by a couple hours later to meet Joelle. Izzy enjoyed meeting her little sister and holding her. It’s been so fun to see Izzy turn into a big sister.
It’s amazing how different this labor and delivery was from when I had Izzy. I’ve also found that my recovery is going much quicker as well which I’m extremely grateful for.
Now I have to give some props to the hospital we’re at. It’s one of the top 100 hospitals in the United States and I’ll agree to that! Our labor and delivery room and staff were great and on top of things. The recovery room that we’re staying at has a bed for daddy which makes it more comfortable for Luke to stay with us.
The food at the hospital is actually good! I get to order off of a room service menu and basically order as much as I want for “free” (I know my insurance is paying the hospital bill). Last night the hospital gave us a “New Baby” dinner which included steak, lobster tail, dessert, salad and sides.
The nurses that have been taking care of us have been helpful and quick to respond to our needs. The midwife who delivered Joelle knew what to do in order to make my labor and delivery somewhat quick and painless. I don’t think I want to leave the hospital and return to real life! Quite the opposite of how I felt the need to bolt out of the hospital in Florida.
Here are some pictures of our new addition and a video of Izzy holding her little sister:
Belly Week 39
I’m writing this post from the hospital where we’re waiting for the arrival of our baby girl. This is our second trip to the hospital this week. We were here on Monday because of early labor signs, but today we’re here because after my water broke at home and now this girl has to come out. Even though my water broke, I’m not in labor so it looks like I will be induced in a couple hours. Hopefully the induction works and goes quickly. I’m not up for another three day induction like what happened with Izzy.
It’s hard to get rest at a hospital with nurses coming in an out every two hours to take my vitals, however I am trying to rest a little so I have some energy when it’s really needed.
Hopefully the next time I post I’ll be able to post pictures of our baby!
5 Years
Wow, it’s been too crazy around here that I forgot to mention that Luke and I have now been married for 5 years! We celebrated our 5 year anniversary on May 14. That weekend we dropped Izzy off with my mom for a night and headed to the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver for a night away. We had dinner at a great little restaurant called Duo, explored the hotel which opened in 1892, and enjoyed an amazing brunch at the hotel the next morning.
Luke and I talked about our 5 married years together and it just doesn’t seem that long ago that we were wed. However, a lot has happened during these 5 years that it’s hard to believe we haven’t been married longer. All in all, we’re enjoying spending life together and excited to see what’s in store for us next!
Belly Week 38ish
My countdown widget says there’s 16 days left until my due date. This information causes mixed feelings for me. I’m so ready to meet our little girl, but so not ready for everything else that will come with her… Don’t get me wrong, I’m not being negative, I’m being realistic.
I’m coming into this with both eyes WIDE open. I’ve known what I’m getting myself into for a long time, but it doesn’t make it any easier to deal with. Actually I think it’s harder because I know what’s coming and the apprehension is there! With Izzy being our first baby, we were blissfully unaware of everything and excited for Izzy until reality hit the first night we were at home. Let’s just say there were many tears from Izzy and I the first week home.
So here’s what I’ve learned from Izzy and from mom’s of multiples:
- I won’t be able to walk or sit comfortably for at least two weeks after birth.
- Never leave pain meds at home especially for the first two weeks after birth!
- My baby will probably be hungry for the first couple days of her life while my milk comes in.
- Nursing is a learned skill for both mom and baby and will be more painful this time around.
- The “mommy-diner” will have to be open 24 hours and provide on demand meals that can take an hour to complete.
- I won’t check out of the hospital until they are literally kicking me out.
- She probably won’t sleep more than 3 hours at a time (if that).
- I will go through packs of D batteries like a champ if the infant swing will help her sleep longer.
- Not all babies fall asleep in the car.
- It’s guaranteed that Izzy will want my attention when I’m busy with the baby.
- Izzy will be whine-ier than usual because she won’t be the center of attention anymore.
- Getting in and out of the car with two kids will be at least a 5 minute process, a process that will need to be refined and mastered.
- Getting out of the house with a newborn is an hour long process.
- Explosive diapers are unavoidable and those clothes are easier to throw away than to wash.
- For the next year the longest I will be away from the baby will only be for two or three hours.
- Getting back into my pre-pregnancy clothes is going to take a lot of work and a lot of time.
Ignorance truly is bliss but having your first baby is a harsh dose of reality =)
Tadfish Swim Lessons
Izzy just finished her next set of swim lessons through the city parks and rec department. This class was called Tadfish. She learned how to “dive” into the water by putting her arms over her head and sliding into our arms on her belly, she learned how to put her face in the water to talk to the fish, she learned how to use her feet to push off the side and lay on her back (with our help) and she practiced all the other swimming skills she had learned in previous classes.
For half of the classes Luke went in the pool with her, for the other half of her classes I went into the pool with her. Her report card for this class said she learned all the skills they were teaching, but since she’s not yet three and not comfortable enough to put her face fully in the water she should either retake the class or wait to go into the next class.
With summer right around the corner and our community pool opening up soon I’ll be spending time with Izzy in the pool practicing her swimming so hopefully she’ll be ready for the next class when she turns three.
Mother’s Day 2010
I had a wonderful Mother’s Day this weekend! Luke planned a spa day for me on Saturday so I was able to get a few hours of rest and relaxation in. I had a wonderful massage, followed by a manicure and pedicure. The pedicure was just what I needed since I can no longer see or reach my own feet.
On Sunday we met my parents in Denver and treated them to the Mother’s Day Brunch at the Ritz-Carlton hotel. It was a combined Mother’s Day and Father’s Day celebration since Father’s Day is soon after my due date. My mom and I were given a dessert recipe book put together by chefs at the Ritz, Izzy was given a balloon animal of her choice (the balloon artist was amazing and was creating superheros and princesses!), mom and I picked our own bouquets of flowers and of course the food was amazing!
Izzy was happy to see her “paw-paw” and “kong-kong”. There was even a little kids portion of the brunch for her with all her favorite foods including mac and cheese, chicken fingers and french fries. Izzy was also a huge fan of their desserts and asked for cupcakes and cookies right away. Ultra healthy food =)
Here are some pictures of the brunch:
Baby Shower
A friend of my in town offered to throw baby #2 a baby shower. It was so thoughtful of her to do this for us since with Izzy we weren’t able to pull off a traditional baby shower. The baby shower was last weekend and I’m so glad that my friends and my parents were able to come.
Baby #2 received all the necessities including a few outfits all her own, which I’m thankful for since most of her clothes will end up being hand me downs.
Thank you to everyone who was able to make it and thank you to Esther and Heidi for putting this all together!
Food for Thought
I saw this passed around in an email years before I become a mom and thought it was hilarious but didn’t realize the truth in it until I became a mom.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mother’s out there! You’re greatly appreciated for all the work you do.
______________________________________
POSITION:
Mother, Mom, Mama, Mommy
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment.
Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.
Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- The rest of your life.
- Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5.
- Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three sec onds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
- Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers.
- Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
- Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
- Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next.
- Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.
- Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
- Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product.
- Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.
POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION:
Virtually none. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:
None required unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.
WAGES AND COMPENSATION:
Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent.
When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.
BENEFITS:
While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life if you play your cards right.
______________________________________
ACCORDING TO SALARY.COM
A stay-at-home mom typically has 10 job functions that would equate to an annual salary of $122,732. Working moms ‘at-home’ salary is $76,184 in 2009; this is in addition to the salary they earn in the workplace.
The job titles that best matched a mom’s definition of her work are (in order of hours spent per week): housekeeper, day care center teacher, cook, computer operator, facilities manager, van driver, psychologist, laundry machine operator, janitor and chief executive officer.
Belly Week 36
One more month… I’m exhausted from carrying this little baby girl and keeping up with Izzy, who is now a big girl. Whenever people ask me if I’m excited for pregnancy to be over, I usually respond with, “I’m excited for the next year to be over!” I know there will be more sleepless nights coming my way very very soon!
When I was pregnant with Izzy I made it a point to slow life down to a crawl during the last month of pregnancy. It seems like with this pregnancy, things are getting busier. There is something planned everyday of the week whether it’s errands, play dates, swim class or music classes, something going on almost every weekend in May, our basement is still not completely finished and Luke’s cousin Steen is staying with us while he finds a place to live in Fort Collins.
It would be great if life slowed down just a bit before our baby comes, but I’m not sure that will happen. Well at least life isn’t boring!