And it's Thomas

For those of you just waiting anxiously by the computer anticipating what Rowan's middle name is you can now rest easy- it is Thomas. We have had a couple weeks of visitors. This last week my mom came back into town! And the week before my dad visited for a couple of days. It was so nice. My parents are amazing people and I am so thankful for them both. They are both such great examples to me. And, I am thankful for the relationships I have with them. They are also such wonderful grandparents to my boys. They are excited to spend time with them, talk with them about silly things, and just stare at newborn baby faces, because that's all you can do with a new baby. 

My dad was able to finish all loose ends in my house in an hour-from hanging up a bookshelf that has needed hanging since..we moved in... to taking down the Christmas tree. We spent one day when my dad was here taking the boys to the park, and then walking to the Old Mill on the trail. It was such a great day outside. The boys ran around like crazy people, and took turns riding on my dad's shoulders. Josh, as usual, is the one you have keep your eye on cause he does not care whether he is with you or not, the fearlessness in the kid strikes fear in me. It was very fun to have my dad here, and nice to have him see where we are at. 

My mom then came back into town. It has been amazing having family come to town back to back to back. We spent many of our days organizing and organizing. This may not sound fun, but it was. Firstly, because my mom beams from ear to ear with every new organized change, and it was just fun being together. She helped me make a lot of things better in my house, and her every suggestion was just spot on to making more sense. Why did I not think of that?? That was pretty much my constant frame of mind. We also were able to take the boys to the pirate park which they loved, and it is always great to have her help and advice with the boys. 

My sister Megan comes into town next. I have to say I am loving my visitors! I can't complain one bit about how this all has worked out. Kaj said to me today "I'm excited to see Meggie." He has started to ask me who is coming next. Meggie will be the last in the line up so I better start preparing him for that now. 

I still feel like I am transitioning, and there are plenty of ups and downs still with the whole family, but there are also times like today when I was just with little Rowan that I couldn't believe it had only been 3 weeks since I had him. It feels like it has been longer. It feels like we have always had him. That's a happy feeling. 

Rowan Thomas Christensen

Kaj holding Rowan for the first time

And Josh being held by a big bear

Rowan ____ Christensen

Rowan and myself right after he was born

In the NICU

Still in the NICU but off the machines

Last night at the hospital

Home

Big brother Josh

Wishing a lot that we had a middle name picked out right about now…but that is all up to Sam, and according to the hospital we have 2 weeks to pick out a middle name. I have a favorite in mind, but anyhow. I finally feel competent enough to write down a little about this little guy. 

He was born on January 5th 2014 at 4:55 am. He was 35 weeks and 6 days which I feel like I can round up to 36 weeks… but the NICU doctors were determined to round down to 35 weeks…ok?? He was 5 lbs and 12 oz and 18 1/2 inches long. As everyone in the family knows I was quite confident I would have him early but there were many moments where I would be think "no, you are way off this time! What are you thinking?!" But I was not thinking he would be earlier than the other boys that was not on my radar. 

Interesting fact time: All my boys were born on a Sunday.

In the days leading up to having baby Rowan we rang in the New Year with a bout of sickness. Starting New Years Eve Josh was having a high fever, and the only thing we ever concluded was that it was his molar breaking through. New Years day was spent with some really grumpy boys, being cooped up in the house for a couple days. After those couple days I went out with some of the girls here and had a great night playing some good old fashioned Bunco, but as soon as Sam and I were getting ready for bed Kaj started wailing much like a cry of when he has a bad dream, I went into his room to see him on his floor, acting really weird. At that point he threw up all over his floor. There was no hurrying a 3 year old to the bathroom, and there was no getting through to him when he was about to throw up. It was a very long night of sickness happening about every hour until we just moved his mattress on the floor in our room just so I could have the privilege of catching his throw up in the bowl. The next day was better, but I was extremely leery of anything he ate. It moved on to the runny bun stage, and that hit Josh but he was definitely not as sick as Kaj, luckily. 

So Saturday night we had planned a game night at our house with a few couples. I began feeling contractions at around 4:30 in the afternoon, very much to the point that canceling made so much sense,  but I felt bad canceling too late. A long with the contracting I was having I also, ahem, was being hit with the same bug my boys had had. As the 8 o clock hour approached when we were expecting everyone I was confined to our room in bed in a very unmoving position clocking the time between contracting and gauging the pain, I tend to trick myself into thinking that it may not be the real thing, but reminding myself that I was definitely in pain. I told Sam I may just have to stay upstairs, he laughed and said "why didn't we just cancel?" but I assured him could entertain easily without me. I did make way downstairs to say "hi" to everyone. The guys were involved in a game of lunch money, and at 9:30 there was no way I could stay any longer. The girls were amazing as they helped me pack a bag which I had not done, as well as volunteer to stay at the house with the boys overnight. I am so happy there was so much willingness to jump right in. It was also so nice, because these were girls that my kids knew, and I felt comfortable leaving them with them, and I knew the boys would be comfortable as well. It made things so much better. 

We got to the hospital at 9:45 where contractions were so painful I could not walk to the doors of the hospital and I then proceeded to throw up in the parking lot, and lets just say I could not control some other functions at that time as well. A very embarrassing way to go into my night, as I was whisked into the hospital by wheelchair. Part of me wished I was delirious so that could be my excuse for my current state, that I just had no idea what was going on, of course I did know, and then I apologized again and again to my sweet nurse because I did know what had happened…and it was no es bueno. So the first part of my night was pretty awful because I was laboring with horrible sickness going on at the same time. At 1:20am my water broke and I was finally admitted to the hospital. I loved my epidural, and I loved my nurse, Jackie. Not necessarily in that order. But, maybe…but I really was so thankful for the care I received while I was there. 

Rowan was born very quickly, and he was quite the little sweetie, little being the key word. He seemed so much smaller than my other boys though he really was only a pound under what Josh was. They let me hold him when I first had him, but then explained that he was having some trouble breathing and would have to go to the NICU. The NICU staff was awesome, as was the doctor overseeing Rowan. I appreciated his straightforwardness, and his dedication. He had to go on what is called a CPAP machine to help his lungs, they did have to suck some fluids out of his lungs as well. But, he was a champ, and with every change they made from taking him off of everything he continued to do awesome. I had to stay an extra night, but we all got to go home together. 

In the meantime, my mom… I can't even describe the thanks I have for her. When I called her to say I was being admitted to the hospital, she said "what are we going to do?" And I didn't really think there was much we could do, she would come out when she had her ticket booked to come out, and that was it. Instead, she spent her morning getting her work off so she could drive out and stay with us for this first week of Rowan's life. She is so incredible, and I could not have been happier when she told me. 

It was not an easy week, though it could have been so much harder. Kaj is still adjusting, and his attitude change in showing that. I think it was very hard to understand all that is going on, as well as what went on when I was gone for days and days. He doesn't know quite how to express himself, and instead he becomes quite defiant. But, he does ask a lot about Rowan, which he usually says: "Morrow" the first time, and then when you say "Rowan" he says his name right. He asks about the baby. He isn't ready to be around him much, but he asks, and then whispers that you need to be quiet. Josh is a lot more curious, and will go right up to him, and say "This?" It will all end up being fun. But, for the next days and weeks I have no expectation. The bar is neither low nor high, it is just taking things as they come. I hope that will help roll with everything, as everyone is adjusting.

But, as for the newest little sweetie. I absolutely love him! I am so excited to have him here with us, and think that he is going to be such a great addition to our family.