A Peek at the Poulsens

Well, three weeks later and I can say that I SURVIVED! Here's my C-section experience (so far) in a nutshell: It wasn't as bad as I thought.  I showed up at 7 to be admitted, get my IV started, and basically wait around for 2 hours. I had my neighbor drop me off while Austin got the kids ready for the day, and he joined me later. It was actually very relaxing, just sitting in the hospital bed, no one bugging me, not feeling any pain, watching Keeping Up With the Kardashians (did I just admit to that?) and reading my latest BranSan, Firefight . Austin killed it in the scrubs, and once we got into the operating room there were like three nurses ready to cover me with warm blankets. I was certainly not complaining...warm blankets might be the best part about having a baby. The anesthesiologist (Dr. Sailor) was one of the best doctors I've ever met - he made me feel so comfortable and comforted and informed and calm. I felt even better when my OB, Dr. Jenna Fiala, ...

We're so close! Woooo! ahhhhhhhh, pre-baby pedicure : ) : ) : )  Signs that it is time to get this baby out: +even my maternity shirts don't cover my stomach all the way +I can't open the window above the sink because my belly blocks me +Austin has been sleeping on the couch because I take up so much room in the bed (bless him) +it takes a lot of effort to change positions so i don't ever want to move but i have to move frequently because staying in one position too long is uncomfortable +the amount of times I have to pee is unbelievable, especially at night +we don't let the kids out anywhere that isn't enclosed because I literally can't chase them haha +I wake up every morning and think "mannnn, I'm still pregnant" Differences from this pregnancy to my others: +not as bad sciatic pain +wayyy worse pelvic and back pain, especially in bed +carrying the baby lower and wider across my body +I actually am way less uncomfortable...

A last dump of pictures/updates before baby! Stockton loves dropping the stroller and picking it up and doing it again. Also, he loves sitting there and dangling his legs. Cute. my handsome happy boy...he could be outside alllllllll day giving the girls a ride Some days it's cold and we have to do things inside, or go to the mall:  window markers = natalie's most favorite thing ever. EVER. it's the first thing she asks to do in the morning and she still is asking to do it by bedtime. our windows definitely look sketchy (see below) but it makes Natsby oh so happy. stockty running free look familiar? this is Natalie a year ago, running the same mall One morning we dropped Daddy off at class and then walked around campus with the Birdsalls. It was the perfect day and the gardens were beautiful! Aaron (Austin's younger brother) spoke in church on Sunday since he reports to the MTC this Wednesday - crazy!! We are proud of him and ex...

GUYS! I get to say "two weeks from Friday" when people ask when we are having our baby! That sounds like nothing!! : ) I'm to the point where every day gets exponentially more uncomfortable and I yearn to pop this baby out! Every stomach twinge or abdominal twang gets me excited..."was that a contraction!?" Luckily after two pregnancies where I tortured myself into believing I would be one of the lucky ones who goes into labor early, I am no longer naive enough to get my hopes up and therefore I am less depressed/disappointed at the end of each day. A huge bonus for being induced or having a planned C is you definitely know when your baby is coming! (Especially in my case when it would be unprecedented for me to go into labor early.) I'm a little ashamed I resorted to the bathroom cell phone pic. For posterity's sake?   A few reasons why I can't wait to have our third beautiful baby: 1. Well obviously, because we'll get to meet our third...

poor sleep-deprived Natsby The kids developed fevers/dry coughs over the weekend and by now are much better but Natalie still needs a lot of help in the middle of the night. It's like she starts coughing and then can't remember to stop in her poor half-awake state. I'm hoping tonight goes better because Austin is with his family in Nauvoo until tomorrow night, so I'm single parenting! (His brother Aaron and sister Makenzie are going through the temple for themselves tomorrow and they are doing it in Nauvoo since another sister, Makall, is on her mission there and will be able to attend the temple with them. And Anthony (his brother) and Anthony's wife Afton flew in from Nevada to make the trip too! Plus his parents and sister, Makae. Mini family reunion! Aaaand the kids and I opted to stay home. I'd love to see Makall and go to the temple with everyone but it is such a short trip and that's a lot of driving/kid wrangling to deal with for this very pregna...

Let's wrap up the month of March, shall we?   please notice: -we fit three carseats across, yay! -Natalie is happy when she gets to be in "new carseat," but her punishment if she didn't do well on our outing is to sit in the "other carseat" which, as you can see, is not pleasant for any of us. -Stockton disregarding his sister's leg on our drive to Beatrice - thank goodness we turned the DVD on so he wasn't angered by her antics (We went to church at the Beatrice Branch last week for our annual Eastertime tradition - our second date was driving to Beatrice together when Austin was assigned to speak after his mission, and it happened to be on Easter. We've gone back every year since!)  cookie dough licks - Stockton thought it would be a good idea to rub his on the floor first I was too worked up one afternoon to nap, so I did a craft instead while listening to uplifting music. Really good choice - the creative energy from do...

Mr. Stockton has finally made it to the 18-month club! Woo, buddy! he loves snacks and boxes, and snacks in boxes we love his wry smile; he doesn't like the ladybug costume; still drinks laying down...he's a milk FIEND He can say "uh oh" and "mama" and "daddy," and he gets really excited when you tell him to come put his shoes on because he knows it means he gets to go outside. He LOVES being outside, and also loves playing in the basement. Shredding kleenex is his favorite pastime (wow, imagine how happy he would be if I gave him a tissue box...OUTSIDE!!!), and he's still not a picky eater. He sleeps 12 solid hours every night (which still brings us immense joy, thank you dear son of mine!), thinks the minions from Despicable Me are hysterical, and flaps his arms when he gets excited. He runs and clomps his feet, loves bananas, and retreats to his room after he steals food/sippy from Natalie. He still doesn't really like the h...