Coen at 2 months

My reasons for posting tonight are twofold. I'm avoiding Microbiology, because...man, that junk is hard! And also, and more importantly...Coen turned two months old today! Time flies when you're having fun....and you're sleep deprived!

 Coen is a sweet boy. He's very. serious. Seriously. Every expression he has is extremely solemn. He's a thinker. Big thoughts. And big cheeks. 

He's becoming a relatively good sleeper at night, although during the day all bets are off. But he's generally pretty content if he's being held or hanging out in a wrap. Which works out well because he is growing entirely too fast and I am loving this stage. You know, the stage when you can easily make them happy and they don't run off or make a mess. Bliss.




Seth is never far from Coen, either. He is a very sweet and attentive big brother, much to my surprise. He's still really attached to me, but he doesn't resent Coen at all. He's come up with some inventive ways to still get to cuddle while I'm holding the baby, too. Ava and Jace are pretty enamored of him as well, and Evany likes him sometimes, so I can't complain!




His nickname in the house has officially become CoCo, much to my chagrin. Luckily he looks very much like a boy, so he can pull it off. Even Evany has picked it up, and hearing her little voice calling out "CoCo! CoCo!" is pretty adorable. I'm trying to sell the kids on calling him Co instead if they need a nickname, but so far they're not buying it.

He has a check up coming up on Tuesday, but I'm betting he's around 12 pounds or so based on what he weighed at the end of August at the girls' physicals. I've had to start packing away his smallest clothes, and there have been a couple of outfits that his brothers wore before him that have been pretty sad to put away.

I'm basically head over heels in love with him. Unfortunately, no matter how much I could go on to write about this adorable baby, Micro is calling me name. And laughing at me. So I'd better get to it. Hope everyone has a great Labor Day Weekend!

A Little Color

We did our first decorating project today for the new place. I got the idea from my friend Amie, who got it (I think?) from Pinterest. I'm posting it because it was a cheap and very easy way to add some color to these white, white walls.

 

We still have along way to go, but it's a start. The colors are a little off here because I didn't want to use a flash (most things that look cream colored should be white).

Anyway, it was an easy and fun project. The kids and I picked out six pieces of coordinating scrapbook paper, frames to fit them, and three blank canvases, all in the 12 x 12 size.

Then we chose paint colors from the center piece of scrapbook paper and I let the kids choose three different wood cutouts of words. They went with "Live", "Laugh", and "Love".



We painted the canvases and the words separately, then used regular school glue to attach them to the canvas. It was pretty fool proof and impossible for the kids to mess up, so they felt really accomplished.

They're not hung perfectly straight, mostly because a certain three year old was "helping" me hang them up. Still, though, it's better than a blank wall! I'm pretty happy with the colors and patterns. Definitely brightens things up.



In other news, Coen is six weeks olds today! He was not in the mood to have his picture taken, I'll tell you that. Today he only has eyes for his Dragon Wubbanub. That thing is his favorite. It's my favorite too, since it's a whole lot easier to find in the middle of the night than loose pacifiers are.

I can't believe he's six weeks old! He's going to be a teenager before I know it. This is going way too fast!

I've got to go to bed. Seth just snuck out of bed and to avoid getting in trouble, he's scrubbing the walls and floor vigorously with a rag and trying to look very busy.

The view from here

All of the kids are in bed except for Coen. He is in the restless phase of his evening, when he needs his pacifier replaced every thirty seconds or he makes this crazy grunting noise and is only really content when I keep my hand on top of his head. He's an odd duck. =)

I'll be honest here...this going from four to five kids business is tough. I wouldn't have it any other way, of course, and I can't imagine my life without Coen and all of my other children in it. In fact, if there was any way I could have all six of my kids here, I'd choose that option in a heartbeat, no matter how tough it was. But really? Yeah, it's tough. I try not to complain about the tough parts of parenting because I don't want to sound like I'm not appreciative of the blessing my family is, but man. I'm tired. Add in moving and trying to get things organized and settled in here? Yeah. Really tired.

I think it's the ages of everyone more than anything else. Coen is nursing every three hours around the clock, Evany is quickly rounding the corner to the terrible two's and exerting her will on anyone who will listen as well as those who won't, and Seth is Seth...incredibly challenging, every day. Ava and Jace have been troopers through this transition and I know it will get better very soon. At the same time, I don't want to wish Coen's babyhood away.

We may have already turned the corner; Seth has been in the vicious cycle where if he naps he is up way too late, but it's almost impossible to keep him awake all day. Things were just spiraling out of control...he'd be up until midnight, then crash and be so tired the next day I couldn't keep him awake if my life depended in it. Then the whole cycle would happen all over again. But yesterday, magially, we managed to keep Seth distracted and awake until his normal bedtime, and he stayed awake again today! I'm already starting to feel a little better just having a small window of time with them all asleep so I can decompress. 

Now we just have to get potty training taken care of before next month and we'll be golden. 

On second thought, anyone want to come here and potty train an extremely stubborn yet adorable just-turned-three year old? No? I didn't figure.

In all seriousness, I feel really good about where we're at in life right now. We may not have chosen this path, but I feel like we've made the best of it and the kids are happy and healthy, we have a roof over our heads, food to eat, and things are good. I've worked hard to follow God's will in all of this and while it can be hard for me to see what exactly that is, sometimes, I know that feeling so content and satisfied with the state of my heart and the kids' hearts means that I must be heading in the right direction. I can't do it on my own, and this healing has to be coming from God, so I'll take it all happily, the good and the bad, the fun and the exhaustion. I know someday I'll remember these days fondly, no matter how hard they feel right now. 

And on that note, the baby's hungry and adorable and I'm off to stare at him.

He's Three!

I have so many things to post about. I have been so sick this week. Just a day after Coen came home, I had to head back into the hospital. I was a basket case having to leave Coen at home, but thank God it was just a pretty bad kidney infection and I didn't have to stay. The antibiotics finally started to kick in in Friday and I have slowly begun to feel human again. It was pretty horrible for a while, which is a whole 'nother post.

But today?

Today is Seth's Third Birthday!

It also just happens to be Coen's 2 week birthday. So I thought a celebratory brotherly photo shoot was in order.

We've had a really nice, laid back day. We had a great lunch with family and then did a few gifts and had cake. Seth has been riding his new tricycle around the house all day long. He's such a sweet boy. In addition to being sweet, he is ornery, and for the record, colorstay 24 hour lipstick really doesn't come off. And now he has some nice 24 hour color all over his eye. It's very classy. 

Luckily I'd already taken their pictures. 

I can't believe this boy is three! I fall more in love with him every day, even though he is the most challenging child I have ever had the pleasure of calling my own. He pushes boundaries, marches to the beat of his own drummer, and makes life really difficult sometimes, but seeing him automatically pray before a meal and hearing him say "In Jesus Name We Pray!", or hearing him say I love you to me at night as his gives me his very best hug makes it all more than worth it, even if "it all" consists of putting him back to bed twenty more times the very same night. He keeps me on my toes, this one, and I thank God for it every single day. 

Happy Birthday, Seth. I love you more than more. 

He's Home!

Oh, and also?

Coen is home!

I wanted to post this last night when we got home but our internet was conveniently out. I've been calling him a rockstar this entire time, and so when I realized I'd already bought him a sleeper that said "Mommy's Rockstar", I knew it had to be his coming home outfit because he's totally a rockstar to us.

So we're home, Coen is doing great, and we're adjusting to life with a new baby around again. Evany is just a little put out, I have to say. =)

Thank you for all your prayers!

Happy One Week Birthday, Coen!

Coen turned one week old today. This week has both flown and dragged. But Coen decided to make the most of his big day. As of today, he:

Is off oxygen.

Is free of umbilical lines and IVs.

Is done with the bilirubin lights for jaundice.

Is taking his feedings by mouth.

Is wearing adorable an adorable outfit.

AND

I got to hold and nurse him for the first time today!


It's been a big day here. He's definitely a McCall and loves to eat, which is no surprise. It's been a really wonderful and exhausting day, for sure. Here are some pictures from yesterday and today that I've been meaning to post.  Yes, there are several since I couldn't pick which ones to post.

What a week it has been!

There's something about Coen

I'm about to update about Coen again but I feel kind of bad. I'm not neglecting the other kids, I promise! They spent the day at the zoo today with their Grandma and had a great time. They've been shuttling back and forth between my mom and my aunt and uncle and having a grand old time. I came home from the hospital last night and spent time with the four of them and it was really nice.

All four of them have met their brother now, and Ava and Jace are just in love with him. Seth thought he was cute but I could tell he thought he was just some random baby until last night when we were getting ready for bed. All of a sudden he looked at my stomach and yelled "Where's the baby?! Where'd he GO?"

It was hilarious. Then this morning when we were all checking into the NICU, it's like it all clicked for Seth and he took off down the hallway yelling "New Baby! New Baby!"

It was adorable. Then he started trying to climb into Coen's bed, which wasn't so adorable.

Evany just kind of smiled at the baby and then wandered off to play in the NICU's play area.

Yes. The NICU has a huge family lounge with a play area. It's amazing. This whole experience has just been great. I came home to sleep last night, which I have almost never done when I have a baby in the NICU. It's a huge testament to how much I trust these doctors and nurses. I feel totally comfortable with him being there even when I can't be, which is huge considering I can be a bit of a control freak.

So back to Coen. Man, I just love saying his name. I hardly let myself say it while I was pregnant because we were keeping the name a secret and now that it's officially his name I just can't say it enough. It fits him so well already and I have loved this particular name for years but it just never fit the other boys. But this baby is definitely the Coen I've been waiting to name.

As of last night when I left the hospital he was on the verge of being put on the ventilator. He was struggling and his doctor had a conversation with me about how it was time and that he would most likely be putting him on the ventilator after his next blood gas and x-ray. So I basically prepared myself for the vent and got my head wrapped around it. Both Seth and Jace were on it, so we've been there, and while it was a huge bummer, I wanted what was best for Coen. He was in pain, he was struggling, and I totally agreed with the doctor...it was looking like it was time.

Can I just say again how much I love Coen's doctors? They're all amazing. One of them was chatting with us yesterday and he commented on how calm I was and he said "Usually I go into a room and say hello and the mom immediately starts bawling. It's not great for my self esteem!"

So when I walked in this morning to see a quiet, peaceful baby who was actually on less oxygen than he was on last night and was most definitely not on a ventilator, I was shocked, to say the least! He looked like a different baby. To top it off, his pneumothorax was almost completely resolved and he just seemed a hundred times more content than he did last night.

It was pretty awesome. His nurse from yesterday was as surprised as I was and when his doctor poked his head in, we joked about how Coen must have heard him threatening to put him on the vent. He laughed and said "This is what I like about you! You always have a smile for me." I just love that the doctors caring for him actually talk to me instead of just talking at me and moving on.

Then...then! Coen started waving his arms around and I jumped up to see what was wrong and he kept raising his eyebrows and wiggling around and then he opened his eyes for the very first time! Up until now he's been like a newborn kitten. It was so cool to see him open his eyes and look around! He's obviously a genius since he was kind enough to wave his arms and let me know something big was about to happen.

And this is officially too long. I have a bunch of things to write about but they can all wait until later. The good news is that Coen is, as of now, doing well and we're all head over heels in love with him. I already can't imagine not having him with us and it's so surreal to me that just a few days ago I hadn't met him and had no idea who he'd be. You guys are going to have to put up with me gushing about him for a while longer...he's just amazing and I can't get over how blessed I am to have these amazing children. The tough parts don't hold a candle to the blessings of this family I have.

Hope everyone has a great night!

He's Hanging In There

Coen was officially three days old this morning. He's had a little bit of a rough time. After my last post, Coen's doctor decided that after doing a needle aspiration it was clear that his lungs were not just being affected by the pneumothorax, and so overnight they intubated him and gave him a dose of surfactant to help get his lungs inflating properly. Luckily they were able to extubate him shortly after.  He improved quickly but by the next morning he had a huge pneumothorax on the opposite side. They showed me his x-rays and the pocket of air was so big his lung was almost completely deflated and his heart was even being shoved over into the other side of his chest.

So Coen's now the proud (temporary) owner of a chest tube. Luckily the needle aspiration worked on the other side, so he doesn't have a tube in each side. Since that was inserted, he's really improved and they were able to take him off C-PAP and switch him to a high flow nasal canula. He's straddling the line at this point...the C-PAP was too damaging to his lungs but his blood gases haven't been great with the canula, so we'll see what happens. Until he gets this chest tube out no cuddling is allowed, and I'm dying to hold him.

The good news is that he's getting very small amounts of breast milk every three hours and his very rapid breathing (over a hundred breaths a minute at one point) has slowed down markedly.

Baby steps.

The plus to getting off the C-PAP is that they took off a hat that was helping keep it in place and I finally got to see his hair! I have no clue who he looks like at this point. His face is still quite swollen and he's been in some pain from the chest tube so I don't think he really looks like himself yet. But I was able to take some great pictures in the dark last night (Thank goodness for fast 50mm lesnses!), so here are some of the boy.

Introducing...

Coen Rhys McCall

Born at 9:53 AM on July 3rd, 2011

7 pounds 10 ounces - 20 1/4 inches

Coen made his debut today at 35 weeks, 3 days. I'm head over heels for him already and I can't wait to update on his birth. So far, he's holding his own in the NICU but as I'm sure lots of you are aware, things can change on a dime in these situations. Prayer would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much everyone. Have a great Fourth of July!

I think the summer is agreeing with them, don't you?

I have to say, I think these kids are flourishing in this Indiana summer, judging from these pictures I took after their big Pow-Wow at camp tonight.

And I have to say that I think this thirty-five week baby boy is thriving, too!

Things are good. The kids are loving their camp this week, Seth and Evany are getting into lots of trouble and talking up a storm at home, I am getting lots of school work done in preparation for my semester ending in just two weeks, and after four amazing months with my family we are moving into our very own place here in just a few weeks! Sometimes God just shakes things into place in amazing ways. 

Yep. Life is good. When my major complaint is intensely swollen ankles, I know these are good problems to have. 

What We're Up To

I keep writing blog posts in my head but fail to post them because I have just physically and mentally and emotionally hit a wall.

I got strep throat this week and have been just ready to die. I think strep combined with the normal aches and pains of pregnancy has just been the straw that broke the camel's (that's me! lol) back. I had the worst body aches and I couldn't swallow and I was ready to give up. Luckily antibiotics are helping me recover and I'm coming out of the "just kill me now" stage and am squarely into wanting to hibernate until this pregnancy is over. 

I'm sorry...I've been trying really hard not to complain this pregnancy and just be thankful for a chance enjoy it while it lasts.   I've done a passable job of it but it's all coming to a head now that I've passed the 34 week mark.

Me and my friend Aimee- she's 30 weeks this week with a little boy as well!

Yeah. 34 weeks! It's crazy! I can't believe it. I am so excited and freaked out all at the same time. I'm so convinced we made the decision to come to Indiana...there are many factors at play, but I just know that getting away from the insane stressors I was dealing with there has played a role in the fact that I have not had to be in the hospital one time this pregnancy as well as the fact that I'm still pregnant! I'm thrilled. 

On the flip side, I'm scared to death that now that this baby has managed to stay put for so long something bad is going to happen to him. I was 35 weeks pregnant with Eli when he died while I was in labor, so I have a lot of emotions coming into play this week. I just want this baby to be healthy and alive. Now that I'm getting so close to getting him here safely the anxiety is coming into play a little more. I could definitely use some prayer for the remainder of this pregnancy. 

I'm now further along than I was when Evany and Seth were born. Eli and Jace came at 35 weeks, and Ava was 37 weeks, so if I go more than a couple more weeks I'll be in uncharted waters!

Ava has been in a Fine Arts camp all week at the church Seth's future preschool is at  and the specialty she chose was liturgical dance...that's so Ava. We just got back from her end of camp performance and it was hysterical. She and Jace are going to a day camp I attended growing up in Fort Wayne next week and they are so excited about learning about Native Americans and orienteering and cooking on a campfire. I think it's really cool that they're going to the same camp I went to as a kid! That's one cool thing about being back in my hometown. I still remember being thrilled to get to go there and it's a little surreal that now my kids are going the same spot. I must be getting old!

Seth has just been exploding this summer. He's been talking in 4 and 5 word sentences and running and beginning to jump up a storm. We're in the thick of potty training and it's going really well, which is kind of a shock to me. He's getting to be such a big boy...yet I still can't believe he'll be three next month. 

Evany is just hilarious and a joy to have around. She's starting to hold her own with the big kids and she's become obsessed with brushing and combing what little hair she has. It's pretty sad, but maybe all the brushing will make her hair grow. =)

I've missed writing here so much but have just felt really led to spend every second I can with the kids and soak up this time with them. School has turned into a huge commitment for me this summer (three weeks left!), and every second I'm not studying or taking tests I've been cuddling or playing or hanging with the four  pretty awesome kids. Time is going so fast and I don't want to miss the ages they all are right now...they're all so sweet and precious and precocious in their own ways and I want to make sure I'm not just giving lip service to putting them first but really doing it. Of course I'm also totally pregnant and hormonal and cry at the drop of a hat so that could be contributing as well. 

There are days I feel so beat down and frustrated and even sorry for myself and I just want to scream and yell about how unfair it is to be doing all of this in this way. But I know that while God didn't plan for me to be having and raising these kids on my own he can bring something good from it and I'm counting on that. I do know that I'll never take having a partner around to help out for granted every again. It's so easy to do, to take your husband for granted and pick apart the things he does but the flip side is so much harder! I remember the days I would stand at the door with a crying baby to hand over to my husband after a rough day to get some sanity and I totally took that for granted. What I wouldn't give to go back and get a do over in areas like that! 

Luckily we get a chance to learn from our mistakes. And any future husband of mine will be totally blessed by all the mistakes I've made. =) 

And that's what's going on with us. I've got two tests tonight and a paper to write. Hope you're all doing well!

32 weeks and 18 Months

You guys I made it! I'm 32 weeks this week and the pregnancy is going great. This is officially the first baby who hasn't come earlier than the previous one. I'm pretty excited. Things are going great on the pregnancy front. We were looking at pictures  this morning of Evany from just after she was born and it was crazy for me to think that this baby is bigger than her already!



Speaking of Miss Vivi Jane, she turned 18 months old last week! She went straight from walking last month to running, and she is all over the place and just hilarious. She's talking up a storm these days, lots of lecturing in some other language and a few well placed, really clear words.





Now if she could just grow some hair! It's getting a little ridiculous. She is completely anti headband or bow so she gets called a boy a lot. A lot. I don't think she looks like a boy, but man, she must to other people! She's looking like such a toddler these days, though, and it seems like she shed her babyhood overnight.

As always, she's holding her own with her siblings. She and Seth eat more than both the big kids combined, and as long as you feed her regularly she's a remarkably cheerful girl. She's wearing a lot of Ava's old hand me downs and it is so funny to see since they have such different coloring. The outfits look completely different!

I can't believe 18 months have gone by already! It feels like just yesterday that she was born. I feel so blessed to have her and Ava is so happy to have a baby sister in the family to counteract the boys. Something tells me they'll be teaming up against them before long! In the meantime I think I'll enjoy the time she has left of being the baby of the family.