Wednesday, May 19, 2010

I love my boys

Parker was born via c-section on May 1, 2010. He was due May 8, so he was exactly a week early. My blood pressure was on the high side throughout the pregnancy, but it was consistent. The last 2 weeks it climbed really high. The plan for his delivery kept changing with every doctor appointment.On April 29th, I had to see the doctor for a blood pressure check (I had already been in 2 days earlier, where we decided that we would probably have to do a c-section on May 3). The blood pressure was around 155/95. Normally they may have put me on bed rest, given me medication, and tried to hold out until I delivered. But with my history of not dilating, and not being anywhere close to dilating with this one, the doctor said that waiting around wouldn't be safe.The c-section was scheduled for Saturday, May 1. It was a breeze. Spencer's was an emergency c-section, and was absolutely miserable; I was down longer, the epidural hurt more, I had blood clotting issues, so they had to come in and check everything out every 30 minutes...everything was a hassle. It was so nice this time around, knowing exactly when I was going to the hospital, and exactly when he would be born. When I had Spence I went through 15 hours of labor before we decided to do a c-section. Initially, we were going to attempt a vaginal birth, because the more c-sections that you have - the more high risk your pregnancies become...and you pretty much have c-sections from there on out. But that didn't happen. Parker has been an awesome baby...he eats and sleeps:) That's a whole new world that we are not use too:) He must have a Pannell sleeping gene in him. He also (so far) has tolerated milk just fine. Spencer screamed the first 2 weeks he was alive from a milk intolerance. I can also put Parker down in a chair and get some stuff done. Spencer wouldn't have that either - everything I did - until Spencer could crawl - I did with Spencer in my arms. Parker is really making juggling 2 kids a lot easier on me. Spencer loves his brother. He loves helping me with him, and running and getting Parker his diapers...I think he likes it so much because if he's getting Parker's diaper it means that I'm not changing his. Spencer has also been very patient. He acts a little bit sad here and there, but will generally sit nicely and wait for me to finish with Parker before I can help him. So far Spencer hasn't acted jealous, or mad towards Parker, and loves talking to him. Parker is darker complected than Spencer. His hair looks light brown - but blonder at the roots. However, when the sun hits it, it looks really red. I think that it will grow in blond, or maybe strawberry blond, like Lindsey's. His complection is also very clear. He was born with a skin tag right next to his left ear....but Spencer (who must be related to his dad) managed to pick it off this morning. I left the room for 2 seconds, and Parker didn't make a sound. Later that day, the skin tag was really red - it was obvious that someone had messed with it - so I asked Spencer, and he was very honest in saying that he did in fact pick the skin tag. My Dad's birthday is exactly 1 week after Parker's, then Scott's birthday is exactly 1 week after my Dad's (and I believe that Scott's Dad's is exactly 2 weeks after Scott's). My parents took everyone out to a nice dinner to celebrate all of the May birthday's, Mother's Day, and my Mom's graduation (Master's degree), the day before Scott's birthday...so we didn't do much on Scott's actual birthday. He also had to work all day, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. For Scott's birthday we had planned on getting a new camp stove. We weren't thrilled with ours, and sold it, so we needed to get a new one before camping season. They are spendy little things, but we saved and bought a nice one that we really liked. It was basically his only present, due to the price...so working all day and one present doesn't make the most exciting birthday.

We did have an awesome cake however. It was a french vanilla cake, with a cheese cake type frosting, covered in fruit. Spencer loved the topping, it is about the only cake he will eat.Scott spent that evening playing Mario Kart Wii with Spencer - can't have much more fun than that:) Spencer is getting really good at Mario Kart...he actually makes his way around the track, and is on his 2nd or 3rd lap when Scott gets done...I think that means we need to limit the Wii time with Spence:)

While Scott was working, the rest of us spent his birthday outside. It was so warm that day, we went for a walk around a nature center and then to a park.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Brothers??

Spencer August 2007Parker May 2010

Parker Jacob Pannell

Parker Jacob Pannell 7 lbs 15 oz 21 in
Born May 1, 2010





Friday, April 30, 2010

Another baby post

This baby isn't anywhere ready to come out. Exact same scenario with Spencer. At 41 weeks, with Spencer, I wasn't dilated, and he was still really high. My blood pressure is so high, and with that history, it wouldn't be safe to wait around and see if he'll come out on his own. Especially since we are following that same path (really high, not dilating very much). I also keep getting bad headaches which they don't like to hear when you have really high blood pressure, so I am scheduled for a c-section tomorrow, Saturday May 1. Luckily I kept the blood pressure consistent (up until now), and lasted at least 39 weeks.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Baby update

So here's the scoop. I am 11 days away from my due date (May 8th). I am actually dilated to a one and a half - which is a lot further than I ever made it with Spencer. My blood pressure through this whole pregnancy has not been ideal - on the high side of normal - but it has been consistent. The last 2 doctor appointments it has crept up a little bit - so I usually have to sit and relax for a minute, then they take it again...it's always something, right? When I had Spencer - neither him nor I responded well to the Pitocen - eventually ending in an emergency c-section. The doctor doesn't want to do that again, so the plan for this one, was to wait until a week or so after my due date, to see if I go on my own, then just schedule a c-section if I don't....no inducing. Since my blood pressure is not great, that plan changed, today, to scheduling the c-section more around my due date, instead of waiting until a week (week and a half) after the due date. So at the appointment we did a few more things, and they decide to check my blood pressure again - some how it sky rocketed up to 156/95. So within a few minutes the plan changed again. Now I am going back to the doctor on Thursday (29th) for a blood pressure check, and another appointment on Monday the 3rd. Between those appointments, I am basically suppose to be on bed rest. If my blood pressure is still not great, I will most likely get sent straight from the doctor's office to the hospital for a c-section (On Monday, May 3).

An Evening of Carly


My awesome sister's and mom threw me an "Evening of Carly"....a.k.a. very small, low key baby shower. I didn't really want a baby shower, traditionally it's something done only with your first. I know that a lot of people, these days, have one with each pregnancy, I think people just like an excuse to have a party....nothing wrong with that. Genetically my family is very low key, don't like the spotlight, and are home-bodies. So this party was perfect. It consisted of me, my 2 sisters, my mom, my niece Natalie, and Lindsey's mother in law. We had a nice dinner (barbecued steak), opening a few gifts, and then my sister's gave my a manicure and a pedicure....very relaxing....plus we aren't completely hip on games either. It was much nicer to sit and visit while Katie rubbed my feet:) Spencer was funny, he knew that there were "no boys allowed." Scott took him to McDonald's then to volleyball. Spence just stood at the door waiting for Scott because he knew that something was up, that didn't involve him. I was very surprised he understood that he wasn't invited, and had to go. It was a little sad, because he loves parties of any type. But I think he had fun with Dad.

A day at the Zoo