Siblings

Theo {1 month}

Ezra {1 week}

4 Weeks

Here's what four weeks of being a bit too house bound will make you...

...a bit on the chunky side...

...a bit on the stir-crazy side...

Ever so slowly, we're making small trips here and there...

Festive Ideas

I looooooove this time of year...okay, pretty much September through December. I'm a bit sad {okay, totally bummed} that I can't go all out this year. I'm slightly preoccupied by two little ones where I'm lucky if my teeth are brushed, deodorant is on, and I've showered in the last 72 hours. Back to the basics of life. 

But that doesn't mean I can't dream during 2am feedings when I can catch a moment to surf the net.

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My hope is to at least get my box out of the garage and put up a few things. Any fun new ideas will have to wait until next year. 

Happy Decorating!

Bringing In The Reinforcements

Yes, it does in fact take a village. Since Theo made his wonderful entrance into our little world, we have not been afraid to ask for help! 

The biggest and most obvious help has been my parents. I'm consistently thankful and blown away by their amazing and unending support. Just last week, my mom drove Theo and me an hour out to an appointment, waited in the waiting room for 45 minutes and then drove us back home. My dad took 2 hours out of his afternoon to attend Theo's circumcision so I'd have some moral support. Not to mention all the yummy meals they've taken care of here and there throughout the last 3 weeks, taking E at the drop of a phone call, and the check-ins with me to make sure I'm still breathing and not dead from a fever or stress. Heh.

A few weeks ago, my Auntie Rhonda {my mom's sister} came over for a few hours to hang with Ezra while W did some errands. Since I was still recovering from mastitis phase I, I wasn't really all that helpful. She spent time loving on E and being goofy with him.

  Two Saturday ago, Mama Judy came into town. She'll be here for two WHOLE weeks!! Seriously, a God-send. W started work last week and has been gone all day. He only sees Ezra for his last ten minutes of awake time while W puts him to bed. Having Mama here means I don't have a screaming, starving baby while having to try to get dinner on the table, a toddler fed and bathed, or when stealing away for a shower or quick bite to eat. How is it that Theo's eating schedule seems to coinicide with E's nap time, meal times, or any other time sensitive daily event?! Not sure how that's going to work when there's just me. Heh.

I'm completely indebted to my sweet sweet family on both sides. They have been such servants and so wonderful; it's hard to put into words. Since my body just doesn't like to cooporate during recovery and actually recover, it's been such a deep blessing to have these amazing people in our lives to help us, encourage us, and provide for us in such practical ways.

Sure, we may move away. In fact, we still want to someday. But now I'm saying when our youngest is like 10 or something. ;)

First Week Completed!

{first day's suit}

In his words: "I am whelmed. Not exactly overwhelmed and certainly not underwhelmed. Just whelmed." 8o)

He's very excited and loves to finally be in a job that requires mental skill and his years of school. The next three weeks will undoubtedly be a challenge. His training is being held in one of their main offices which is a 40-60 minute commute. So, we haven't seen a whole lot of W during the week which is really hard for us!! He's quickly become a major celebrity of this house and his arrival each evening is greatly anticipated by all!

I'm so proud of William. And so excited for his new adventure of bringing home the big bacon. It'll definitely be an adjustment getting use to missing my hubby so much. We've really been fortunate to have so much time together up until now. Once he's at the local office and things settle into place, I'm sure we'll do better with the new schedule. Lots of changes in the Swenson family!

Theo Has... {2 weeks}

...a giant set of lungs on him. 0 to screaming in no time...

...Papa's feet...

...gained weight-- 7 lbs 13 oz at 2 weeks...

...had a beautiful belly button at 5 days {one of the perks of delayed cord-cutting}

....Papa's ears...

...a fussy time around dinner and sometimes around 9 pm, then gives us long stretches at night...

...pretty much set into a 2 hr eating schedule...

...not taken to the paci quite yet but is a "high suck" baby...

...Mama's dark hair and skin... 

{betcha didn't know the Arterburns have Cherokee Indian in 'em}

...loves the wrap...

...has dark blue {we're pretty sure} eyes...

R & R Update

Pregnancy--- can totally do it

Birth-- sure, it's hard work, but I can do that too

Recovery-- I'd rather poke my eyes out and walk across burning coals

I've never been a good rester or recover-er. Just ask my mom and she'll bust out with, "You're just like your father!" It is so hard to just rest and do nothing. I just long for normalcy again and I miss my guys.

I have tried really hard this time around to truly rest and recover from birth. I think I'm doing fairly well. But after two kids, I'm realizing that nursing does not come naturally for me, or at least it's been a battle to establish while in recovery. Granted, with E, I took me a good month and a half of stressful labor and dedication to make nursing easy. This time around it was only a week--but it stilled seemed like eternity! Eternity in the breastfeeding trench: mastitis {again}, fever between 103 and 104, low supply, blood blisters, cracks, tears, scabs, soreness, sharp pain...well, you get the point. 

Enter God's grace: La Leche League

We had a leader come to our house. She spent 2 hours with me just working on our latch. I also went to a drop in session and a local meeting; all in an effort to get a good solid, pain-free latch. And I'm happy to report that we got a good latch, I'm not skittish about each feeding and the pain I'll be in, and what once took a good hour to get a full feeding in, is starting to take 40 minutes or less. And I've learned so much about breastfeeding in the process; much of what I'd heard before, just needed the reminder.

Guess something along the whole baby-making process had to take work and sacrifice to make it happen.

Everything else about recovery has been going super well. I don't feel exhausted, just tired. I try to nap everyday while W is still home and make short trips outdoors. Today, we took our walk to the library. 

So, we're all still here! Just needed some extra time to rest, recover, and get that nursing going strong! Part two of Theo's birth is coming soon, I promise! 

How We Met Theo {Part One}

Prelude: So, in processing through this whole thing called "giving birth", I felt like I really should do two separate posts. One being solely about little Theo's entrance into the world and another just focusing on my reactions to our unique experience of giving birth at home. Also I should caution you: while the pictures in the post are rated G, they are by no means "clean and pretty". :) 

What a rad and awesome experience!! I honestly don't have the words to truly describe just how beautiful, freeing, peaceful and wonderful this whole birth was. I, also, don't think I'll ever get over just how quick Theo's birth went too. Here's what took place {the novel-length edition}...

Hindsight is a funny thing; sure helps to get a fuller picture, then you can start to understand the details. I'm going to start during the night before only because I now have a fuller picture and now realize that the whole process was actually starting then. :) During the early morning, I experienced some super dull lower back pressure as well as some in the abdomen. I honestly thought nothing of it--other than Theo was putting on so much pressure that I thought "surely, he's going to rupture my water with all this action." Then I proceeded to try to sleep.

The morning was very normal. W had a break in work and joined us for breakfast before heading off again. I had some contraction action during this time, but again, thought nothing of it. It was so super light that I even googled "true contractions vs. Braxton hicks" to get a refresher course on what to look out for. After breakfast, E and I took laps around the complex and played. 

I called my midwife, Melissa, during this time just to check in since I had an afternoon appointment. I told her about my last Kaiser appt on Tuesday. Also, I thought I had started to pass my mucus plug {reminder the champagne analogy?! The plug is like the cork} on Wednesday so I shared that too. I didn't really feel up to driving up to her {and honestly, figured it would just be a normal/uneventful visit} so she said just to keep her posted. 

After walking/biking, we headed inside to get ready for nap time. I was continuing to have contractions, but not really noticing them or timing them. They were still really 'soft' and short. When E was on the potty around 11:15, I have a few contractions and basically felt like I was peeing a little bit. I know this happens when you cough or sneeze, but I wasn't sure about contractions. So I texted Melissa asking her if that was normal. She calls me and as she is doing so, I literally wet my pants. I'm laughing at this point: E is sitting stranded on the toilet, I'm on the phone, and completely not in control as I 'pee' on myself. I wonder out loud on the phone as Melissa chimes in: bags of waters broke.

Melissa asks if it's been progressing and in the moment I blurt out, "Yes!" {when all I can think about is getting E to my parents and getting W back home} She ends with "I'm on my way." I called my parents, texted W, somehow clean myself and E up, and start to pack E's bag all the while trying to stay calm as E is still with me. I didn't really know what to expect from my body before everything and everyone was in place. 

W gets my text and immediately thinks the water heater broke and that he has to come home to a big 50 gallon watery mess. Then realizes that "no, it's the baby coming". My parents pick up E and reluctantly leave me alone while I wait for W and the midwives to show up. I totally brushed off their concern simply because nothing has picked up. During the next 45 minutes or so while I wait and keep myself busy with tidying up the house, I have only 4 or so contractions-- they definitely felt stronger but not very long. I could still do things through them. I'm actually a bit concerned at this point that I've cried "wolf" and the midwives will be just hanging out with us all day as we wait for this little boy. W doesn't really rush home either so he shows up at 12:30ish, two of the midwives: Melissa and Sunshine with her 2 year old, Penny, come around 12:45ish. 

They start to set up shop, W pulls out the Espresso maker to make the midwives lattes, and I get lunch ready for W. The two of us are super laxed and thinking we're in it for the long haul. My contractions started to increase in intensity at this point: I have to stop while making sandwiches and walk around downstairs. Once everyone feels at home Melissa checks baby's and my stats and I'm ready to kill some time so W and I headed outside to do some laps. Our complex is in a circle and with Ezra's birth, we seriously walked around like 50 times before I was over it. Poor, poor William. He's such a trooper as we head out the door, thinking about the next 49 laps he has to go. :) 

Four and half times around and I'm over it. It's hot. I can't talk or don't like be spoken to during contractions so we head in so I can change into shorts. It's about 2 pm now. Kerri, the last assistant, shows up. The best word I have to describe me at this point: a bit irritated. Ha. I'm thankful for William's kindness and hospitality at this point because I don't really greet Kerri. I'm still in complete denial/ignorance about my actual progress. If we had planned a hospital birth, we would have been pulling off on the side of the road because at 2 pm, I'm still not thinking "this is it!"...our hospital is a 30-45 minute drive away. It never crosses my mind that he's coming soon. Not because last time took awhile, but really, it's not hard work yet. 

Melissa is getting the tub ready in Ezra's room while I'm changing in our room. By this time, my contractions are starting to get a bit heavier and it takes a bit more focus to work through them. Melissa {the entire time knowing that this will go fast} has Kerri stay with me. I no longer like walking so Melissa has me kneel over our oversized chair in our bedroom. Kerri massages my back and legs. William is right next to me. Then it hits.

The next 4-6 contractions are way intense. I call them "dry cry contractions". Some women do a low moan, I literally dry sob {for lack of a better term} through them. They are strong, intense, and you'd do anything to avoid the next one coming. Between them, I manage to say that I don't like my position anymore and try to lay on the floor. This is worse. I have the faint awareness that I'll need to bear down soon {meaning push}. Melissa suggests the bed or the tub. There's no way I'll make it to the tub down the hall since I can barely imagine climbing the bed. With the help of William, Kerri, and Melissa, I'm able to get on the bed in the all fours position. And my body has just transitioned to pushing.

I became concerned, only because I thought it was way to early to be pushing. Based on the facts that I've only had 4-6 unbearable contractions and that this was similar to last time: the nurses told me not to push even though my body was forcing me...I didn't think it was okay to. Melissa said that my body knows what to do, listen to it, and the pushing will help dilate me faster. So push, I do. Let me just say that pushing is way better than just trying to relax during contractions. You actually get to do something with your body instead of just give in to what its doing. Pushing is a great stage! :) 

After about 3 short 'push sessions', Melissa checks my progress for the first time. She announces, "No more cervix, you're all clear!" I was really thankful that she said this, because any fear I had was now gone. He was on his way and my work was almost done. I had only maybe four more push sessions and at 2:59 pm, Theo was here!   

The midwives had me roll over to William's side of the bed, put Theo on my chest, checked everyone out and got to work cleaning up. 

Theo had a little facial bruising and a smashed nose from coming out so fast. 

What's awesome is that my mom texts William just then giving us an Ezra update and asking for an update on our side. W was able to text her a picture of her newest grandson! :)

So, I didn't get my water birth experience simply because Theo came faster than the prep work for the tub. Afterward, Melissa said I should get in anyway since it was all set up. It was the perfect 98 degree warmth to clean up and relax while Theo got his stats recorded. 

Theo getting weighed...

 He's already got over a half pound on his brother's birth weight!

Papa got some great bonding time in with Theo. Cuddling...

 And cleaning up a massive mess {oh, those Swenson boys!!}...

{and yes, I just posted a poop picture on our family blog!}

Gpa, Gma, and E came over a few hours later to check out the newest addition...

 See what I mean about newborn supply overload?! And to see how Mama was doing...

By 7:30, the house was entirely clean and in order, the bed had new sheets, a load of laundry was going and everyone was gone. It was as if it never happened at home. All that was left was just Papa, Mama, and little Theo with no interruptions and a comfy queen-sized bed to get some sleep {in between staring at this new little butterball and feedings!}

Baby Love

So happy NOT to be in labor on Labor Day! Instead, we get to spend it with this little guy and his four day old sweetness!

Hello, World!

As many of you know, Theo Zev Swenson has arrived! 

 Theophilus Zev Swenson

Born September 1, 2011

2:59pm

7 pounds 9 onuces

20 and a half inches long

Details to come about our amazing, yet super short birth story! :)

Grilled Pizza

Super simple. Super tasty.

Howdy, all, this is William. I've got something fun for you. Imagine your favorite pizza. Toppings of your choice. Whatever you want; anything goes. Now imagine in every juicy bite the smoky goodness of charbroiled flavor imbedded throughout. A little redundant? When you've tried this recipe you'll understand.

One of my favorite podcasts has a new segment called Grilling While Armed. Celebrating two of America's favorite past times (not counting Baseball), the segment pairs up a tasty charcoal-grilled (NOT propane) recipe with a sidearm to match. Such a beautiful thing. Hour 3 from the August 7th show, starting at about 17 minutes, the host and his guest discuss pizza on the grill.

So the recipe and instructions are quite simple. 

Dough: Get the store bought stuff (frozen or fresh) or pull out your favorite recipe and really live it up.

Sauce: I used the  Boboli packets, but you can do whatever sounds good. Your own recipe or store bought.

Toppings: your favorite stuff. I used onions, bell peppers, pepperoni, pepper jack and cheddar. I prepped my toppings while the coals were burning and getting ready.

Directions: Let the dough set out for 30-45 minutes to rest and rise. If you use the frozen dough you should put it in the fridge the night before to allow enough time to thaw. Roll the dough out into either one large pizza or individual pizzas. Dock the dough (poke it with a fork all over so that the dough doesn't puff up too much), then slather with extra virgin olive oil on both sides.

Start the coals. For this to work you'll want to use indirect heat because the dough will burn or crisp. If your grill is smallish you can spread the coals around rather than have them in one pile. You run the risk of running out of heat, but you have a better chance of not burning the pie. If you have a large grill just keep a "cool zone", keeping the bottom dampers open and the top dampers only open about halfway (but you should keep an eye on the whole process and adjust as necessary).

Par Cook the dough (partially cook it): bring the oiled dough to the grill and place in the cool zone. In a very few minutes, when the bottom is starting to cook, flip it over and do the same to the other side.You don't want it fully cooked because after you load it up it's going back on the grill for the rest of the grilling.

Bring it back inside. Slather with pizza sauce, then cheese, then toppings. Bring it back to the cool zone of the grill and allow to cook for about 15-20 minutes. 

Eat and enjoy!