And then there was TWO...

I just wanted to make a post with a poem I received from one of my parents on becoming a mother of two.

And then there was 2

As I hold your two year old hand, basking in the glow of our magical relationship, I suddenly feel a kick from within, as if to remind me that our time alone is limited. And I wonder: How could I ever love another child as I love you?

Then he is born, and I watch you. I watch the pain you feel at having to share me, as you've never shared me before. I hear you telling me in your own way, "Please love only me." And I hear myself telling you in mine, "I can't," knowing, in fact, that I never can again. You cry. I cry with you. I almost see our new baby as an intruder on the precious relationship we once shared. A relationship we can never quite have again. But then, barely noticing, I find myself attached to that new being, and feeling almost guilty. I'm afraid to let you see me enjoying him- as though I'm betraying you. But then I notice your resentment change, first to curiosity, then to protectiveness, finally to genuine affection. More days pass, and we are settling into a new routine.

The memory of days with just the two of us is fading fast. But something else is replacing those wonderful times we shared, just we two. There are new times- only now, we are three. I watch the love between you grow, the way you look at each other, touch each other. I watch how he adores you- as I have for so long. I see how excited you are by each of his new accomplishments. And I begin to realize that I haven't taken something from you, I've given something to you. I notice that I am no longer afraid to share my love openly with both of you. I find that my love for each of you is as different as you are, but equally strong.

And my questions is finally answered, to my amazement. Yes, I can love another child as much as I love you- only differently. And although I realize that you may have to share my time, I now know you'll never share my love. There's enough of that for both of you- you can each have your own supply. I love you- both and I thank you both for blessing my life.

Hunter Ryan Colschen

Hunter Ryan Colschen was born on Saturday, April 10, 2010 at 9:42 am. He weighed 5lbs. 9oz. and was 19 inches tall! David was gone away for TWHS girls varsity state soccer game and when he called me Friday night to tell me goodnight I started to have some pains. I felt bad that he was going to miss the game and was more worried about it being a false alarm but it turned out it wasn't. David's mom came and stayed with Austin while he slept and my mom drove me to the hospital at around 1am I think. When I got there my blood pressure was elevated so they ran some more tests and it should that I had developed pre-eclampsia. At this point David had arrived which I believe was around 3am. The only cure for pre-eclampsia is delivery so they admitted me and induced my labor at around 5 or 6am. I was contracting but not regularly and still hadn't made any change in dilation and was still just at 3cm which I had been at for two

weeks. After getting sick I think it was three times (twice in triage) and once in our room I got an IV bag pumped in me and was set to have an epidural. I was getting sick because of the pain I was having due to the high blood pressure and other things that were going on because of that. My doctor was supposed to be at the hospital for a short while and arriving around 9:30 so my nurse and I were determined to have me ready to push by then. After having my epidural they broke my bag of water and we were on our way this was about 6am. The nurse came in at about 9 to check me and I was at 6cm. We thought we had time before Hunter would arrive....WRONG! At 9:20 I was sending David rushing out of the room because I felt like Hunter was going to be born without someone to catch him...yes I felt him coming out of me. Scary! The nurse came back in checked me and was like okay he is right there and sent someone to call the doctor to see where she was at. The nurse Kim who I will never forget was amazing and had me focus and breathe through the contractions until my doctor arrived and then shortly after she got there Hunter was born. The feeling is not different the second time around. It is still amazing and unforgettable. Austin came up shortly after and right away loved him and wanted to hold him and give him kisses. It was so sweet! Below are just a few pictures from that day.

Just born...

Getting weighed...

Mommy, Daddy, and Hunter

Brothers! (Austin giving Hunter a kiss)

Practicing for Hunter's Arrival

Austin "cheesing" with the baby. Doesn't he look like a natural?

Austin giving the "baby" a kiss.

David will probably kill me later at some point for this post but I couldn't resist sharing. He even asked me what I was doing when I sat down at the computer because he was sitting in the other room and I said updating the blog. He asked with what and I told him about Austin and his "baby". He said, "Babe we really don't have to go telling everyone about that!" Haha. We had been talking or I guess I should say I had been talking about getting Austin a "baby" since Christmas time. I never ended up getting him one because they don't make boy baby dolls. David's mom even tried to help talk up the idea by telling him that he had a practice "baby" when he was little before his brother arrived. David was still not to thrilled. Well the other night we went to dinner with my parents and my mom had gotten Austin a "baby". She thinking like a mom had the same idea and thought Austin would need one to help take care of when mommy is taking care of Hunter. It was a girl doll so this morning before David woke up I got it out (because David wanted it to be a boy "baby") and I took off the girl clothes and put on a baby boy outfit that David had actually gotten from the soccer team as a "gag" gift. It is just a little big but not to bad because it was a preemie outfit they had gotten him. So this morning Austin and I took care of the baby and put it "night-night". The video is of Austin putting the baby to sleep and at the end you can even see him pat the babies back to put it to sleep. So sweet! I guess we will see what happens when it is a real baby...because when daddy woke up and Austin showed daddy his "baby" and put it back to sleep by just throwing the "baby" in the cradle and walking away. I have to say though that David walked over and talked to Austin about how to treat the "baby" and showed Austin how to pat the "baby" so I guess he isn't to opposed to the idea. Hehe!

Austin putting his "baby" to sleep.

Boys are so fun!

Now I might be a little biased but I have to say having a boy is so much FUN! I mean I know a girl would be fun too...well the dressing her in all the cute girl clothes that are out there but once that ended watch out. I guess it's like the saying "boys will be boys"! Austin could not be any more of a boy. Haha! We have been on Spring Break this week and I must say it is another reason why I feel blessed to have the job I have. We had a big to-do list of things we wanted to accomplish over the break since Hunter will be joining us soon and we have done a lot. The best and most important thing probably being getting our backyard in shape so that Austin can just run around and have fun. Now I must say it was a team effort of the entire family...I did pull weeds on day one but my wrist got so sore I couldn't assist on day two but that is where Austin came in. He and David spent hours out there finishing it all up. I wish that I would have had a video of Austin pushing his wheelbarrow full of weeds to David to empty in the trashcan but sometimes memories are just etched in your head. I do have a video of Austin mowing with David though that is quite cute! I guess David will be set with his yard crew having Austin and Hunter around. Who knows one day we may have three boys? I would be perfectly okay with that because like I said boys are so fun!

Austin's Mowing Lesson with Daddy:

(Watch the entire video because at the end Austin grabs his mower.)

Hunter's Weekend Adventure!

Pictures of our 33 week ultrasound (which was Wednesday, March 3, 2010) due to being a gestational diabetic to check his size. Measuring roughly 4.5 pounds and predicted to be bigger than Austin who was born 6.8 pounds.

His eyes are slightly open in this picture!

Little cuddle bug!

Well I guess Hunter wanted another post about himself so he had to do some antics. Friday morning while at work at around 9:30 I thought that I might be having some contractions. Of course me being the person that I am I just told myself everything was fine and continued working. We had a meeting at 2 that afternoon and a teammate asked if I was feeling any better and I said not really and started to get a little emotional (those dang hormones). Haha! I didn't call David till I was being driven home because I didn't want to freak him out. He was in Conroe coaching the girls soccer team and had actually driven the bus so a parent drove him to meet me at the hospital. By 5:30 I was sitting in triage being told yes you are having contractions and we are going to give you three doses of terbutaline to make them stop. The drug did not work and I was only able to be given two doses because of what it was doing to my heart rate so they admitted me and we stayed overnight both Friday and Saturday night. I was put on Magnesium Sulfate which for those of you who have never experienced that add it to your list of things NOT to do. Haha! I was also given two steroid shots just in case Hunter decides to make an early appearance to make sure his lungs are developed. I received the first shot Friday night at midnight and the second dose was to be given 24 hours later. I was not looking forward to the shot at all because it felt like well a horrible contraction during labor before you are given an epidural but I must say when you are drugged and feeling like I was you didn't feel it. I got released late Sunday morning and David and I went up to work not knowing what the future was going to be to prepare in case I am gone longer than planned. That evening when I went to lay down (when Hunter usually decides to go nuts) I realized I hadn't felt him move lately. I decided to eat some grapes and lay on my side...didn't work. Drank a juice box and laid on my side...didn't work. David and I both got concerned so I called the on-call number and asked if maybe he was just drugged like I was and that was why I wasn't feeling him. They told me to come back and get checked so at 11pm we headed back to our home away from home and we both heard the best sound in the world soon after we arrived...Hunter's heartbeat! What a ride we have had with this one starting from the 9 week ER visit, being diagnosed with gestational diabetes, and then having contractions and being admitted at 33 weeks! I have decided that Hunter must like attention and audiences. He also knows by hearing Austin that he has an older brother so I think he is ready to meet him and play. I can picture our house now!

Austin "cheesing" with mommy while sitting in triage being monitored.