Three Weeks Old

Oats n Peas and Barley...

Abby LOVES to sing...here she is singing (and dancing) to one of her favorite songs from preschool. It is called "How Oats and Peas and Barley Grow."

--enjoy!

The Baptism of Damien James

Damien James was baptized on January 11, 2009 - the Feast of the baptism of Our Lord. We had the baptism at one of Uncle Fr. John's parishes. He used the old rite of baptism (all in Latin) - it was so moving and beautiful!

Damien's godparents are Uncle Jim and Aunt Amanda (pregnant with baby Paul)
Uncle Jim couldn't make the baptism, since he is in seminary in Rome, so my cousin David stood in as his proxy.

Two Weeks Old

He is so engaging and starting to really smile at mommy.

Damien had his 2 week appointment and did really well. He was discharged from the hospital at 7lbs 13oz and at his appointment he was 9lbs 2oz. So obviously he is starving! :) As our pediatrician says Ben and I make perfect babies and we should have many more!

One Week Old

Damien LOVES to be swaddled - he is our little burrito!

We are busy learning how to be a family of 5! The kids are doing great. We haven't had any jealousy issues at all...I wasn't expecting any - they are both easy going and love having the new baby around. They have been very helpful too.

Visitors...

Here are some pictures of those who visited us in the hospital. Grandpa and Grandma...Damien brings their grandkid count to 14

My brother, Uncle Fr John, came down to bless and dedicate Damien, he also brought me communion.

Aunt Kristen

Grandma's friend, Denise, was visiting from England...we LOVE Denise!
She and Grandma are neck n neck in the grandbaby derby! :)

Uncle Ray, Aunt Kelly and crew, Aunt Amanda and Clare, Great-Aunt Stephanie and Rebekah also visited us. Thanks everyone for the company!

Oh...one of the really nice hospital experiences was a local woman who volunteers her time to come up to the maternity ward and play her harp in the central area (which was right outside my room) - it was so soothing. All the nurses told me that Damien was there favorite baby, because he is so cute and easy to soothe!

Meeting my brother and sister...

Ben brought Michael and Abby to the hospital later on Saturday. They had stayed with Grandma and Grandpa. They were VERY excited to meet Damien. They hugged him and kissed him and told him they loved him.

The Z Kids

The Events of December 26/27, 2008

Christmas came and went...and no baby...I was trying very hard not to be discouraged. It was difficult because I knew that everyday I was late increased the likelihood of a repeat c-section and I was really hoping to have a Vbac.


On Dec. 26 I went in for my weekly appointment and my midwife, Katie, checked me and I was 4cm (I had been 4cm for weeks). They hooked me up to an external fetal monitor for about 45min to make sure that Damien was happy. His heart beat sounded good and the nurse noticed that my contractions were coming 5 min apart. I could tell they were getting more intense. Katie came in a preformed an ultrasound to make sure there was enough amniotic fluid still in the sac. All levels looked great and it was interesting to see an ultrasound on a full (over) term baby. S

Since I was having regular contractions and I was feeling them more Katie decided to check me one more time before I went home. In an hour I had gone from 4cm to 5cm. Since I had tested positive for Group B Strep it was important that I get antibiotics as soon as I was in active labor. Katie decided to admit me to the hospital (next door). So I walked to the hospital and called Ben to tell him it was time. I also called my mom, my SIL Kelly and my best friend, Jenney who were going to be part of my support team.

Everyone arrived and my contractions quickly progressed on the pain chart. They wanted to make sure I got two rounds of antibiotics (3 hrs apart) before they ruptured my membranes. I was having very intense contractions but after 6 hours (~7pm) I was still only dilated to 5 (need to be 10 to push).

They broke my waters and my contractions became even more intense. I walked, sat on the exercise ball, rocked in the rocking chair...all in an effort to manage my pain. Around 10:30pm Katie checked me again and I was shocked to hear that I was still at 5cm. I knew that a long night lay ahead of me and I knew I'd never make it without some rest. So I asked for my epidural. The Dr came right in because since I was a Vbac he had to be nearby and ready in case something went wrong and they needed to go in and get the baby fast. I got my epidural and soon felt great relief. I could still feel the contractions but they weren't nearly as painful.

About an hour (midnight) later I started feeling a lot of pain and pressure. Katie checked me and found that I was complete and ready to push. I pushed for 30 min (a far cry from the 3 hours I pushed with Michael) and Damien James arrived at 12:31am. He was very quiet and just looked at the new world around him. Katie put him immediately to my chest for some good skin to skin bonding. It didn't take him long to start looking for something to eat. He was very content with me holding him. I could hear sniffling and saw lots of eyes being wiped and I was so thankful to have those I love with me at that special moment.

The picture seen around the world.

Taken shortly after Damien's birth by my mom on her cell phone.

Ben, Katie (midwife), SIL Kelly and me (Damien is under the blanket) - The clock says 12:45am.

Vbac was a success!
YEY IT'S OVER! I look a lot better than after Michael or Abby's birth...3rd time's a charm!


Damien and Daddy get to know each other.

Damien turned to Ben's voice immediately...he knows his daddy.

I am very thankful for the amazing care I received. I couldn't have asked for anything more (except maybe to have asked for an epidural earlier! :P). I am very very thankful that the Vbac was a success and that Damien is here and healthy!

Damien James Zoladz

Your guest poster for today is Ben, since Mary is at the hospital taking care of our new son. (Disclosure: I totally typed "my new son" the first time. Proud Papa is proud.) Mary went in yesterday for a scheduled checkup, and never came back. They thought she was ready, and the rest is history. I'll let her fill you in on the details and cute outfits and stuff - today you get stats and pics.

Damien James Zoladz

December 27, 2008

12:31 A.M.

8 lbs., 2 oz.

20"

O Star!

This year it was my turn to put the star on top of the tree. I was super excited!
Here is Michael and me in our pajamas we got for St. Nick's day. We really love them!

Mr. Snowy

So we trekked outside again today...this time to the front yard with Daddy. We have been asking to make a snowman but the snow was too dry to pack - not today though. It was perfect, Daddy said it rolled up like carpet. So we made a snowman. When it came time to name him Abby suggested "Sara" and I suggested "Mr. Snowy"...I won! We spent a long time perfecting him. Abby gave him ears and I gave him hair. It was a lot of fun!

Introducing Mr. Snowy!

More Snow!

We woke up this morning to perfect snow...and an early start to Christmas break! There had been no wind so all the snow was perched where it had fallen. Ben ran outside to get a few pictures. That's the 4Runner - Ben had parked in the street in case I went into labor I wouldn't have to negotiate an icy incline.

Abby's Christmas Concert

Tonight was my Christmas concert at school. I was SO excited to wear my Christmas dress. After Mommy put it on me I just twirled and twirled because my skirt would spread out and I looked so pretty. I sang very well (as you can see from the videos) and everyone (Mommy, Daddy, Michael, Grandpa and Grandma) was very proud of me. The roads were very slick and icey so Aunt Amanda, Clare and Aunt Kristen couldn't make it...I missed them.

This is me and my friend Olivia.

After the concert Mommy, Daddy, Michael and I went to Ruby Tuesdays for dinner. Then we drove through the Pepsi plant light display. When we got home there was lots of new snow and some kids in the neighborhood were having a snowball fight.

Cookies!

I super like to make cookies...you know who else does?...Aunt Amanda! So today Mommy took me and Michael over to Grandma's house and we made cookies while Mommy rested on the couch. Grandma has these really cool kid aprons...Michael's had monster trucks on his. Our cookies we called Russian Tea Cookies and they were super good...Mommy ate them all so now we need to make more for Santa...Mommy says Santa really likes these kind of cookies.

Michael also liked playing with Clare...he super loves babies!

Thank you Aunt Amanda for helping us make cookies!

First Snow!

We had our first snow fall of the year on Dec. 14. It was a dusting but we all got excited and mommy bundled us up and out we went to walk around. The next day we got even more snow and back out we went. Abby and me really really liked making snow angels. We even tried to convince Mommy that Morpheus (our black Persian) wanted to go outside to make his own snow angel...she didn't buy it. We also laughed at Lily (our grey Persian) get all flustered trying to chase the big snow flakes from inside. Mommy was sure glad she got us snow gear this year...we were super prepared! Little did we know that more and MORE snow was on the way and we would only have one day of school this week (Thursday). Our town is not very prepared to handle clearing and graveling multiple streets and with the rural, outlying hills it just isn't safe for school buses. Not everyone lives within walking distance like me.

Gingerbread Time!

Michael and I LOVE decorating our Gingerbread houses.

38 Weeks...waiting...

I am now 38 weeks pregnant. I had an appointment yesterday. I'm making good progress (hooray!) but my doctor doesn't think labor is imminent. As much as I'd like to be done I'm not ready yet...funny thing about your 3rd child...your daily life goes on and you have to make extra time to get everything ready (especially right before Christmas).

Ben and I are very anxious to meet this little man and the kids are very excited, Abby has been practicing on her babies. We are trying to spend as much time cuddling and loving on the kids knowing that once the baby gets here the first few weeks will be a little crazy. I am thankful that Ben will have 2 weeks vacation (mandatory HP plant shutdown for Christmas). That will take a lot of pressure off me.

When I do go into the hospital I'll try to post something, at least on twitter, saying that we are going in. So stay tuned!

Don't forget to enter your guess on the birthday, weight, length, etc on ExpectNet - link to the right.

Michael's Winter Concert

I had my winter program at school today. This year the theme was 'Animals.' Daddy had a meeting at work (the concert was during school) so he couldn't be there. Mommy, Grandpa, Aunt Amanda and baby Clare came to see me though. I did really good. I did get a little frustrated with the little boy who stood next to me. He kept getting in my personal space and I didn't like that very much. But I had a really good time!

This is both the 1/2 day kindergarten classes. My class in the one on the left...I'm in the very middle. Baby Clare really liked the music and danced along.