Addition to our Family

Saturday was a big day. We've been working on the landscaping around the garage (see this post from last month to see some previous work). We were finally going to plant our raised veggie beds and then re-seed part of the neighbor's yard that got torn up during garage construction last fall.

Here's a "before" shot from Saturday morning:

Skinny raised beds, pavers, and re-graded yard ready to be seeded.

And here's an "after" shot from Saturday afternoon:

Oh wait, that's not our garden. That's Charlie - my new son!!!

Yeah, Saturday didn't quite go as planned.

A little after 8 a.m., Pharmie thought we should head to the doctor's because she wasn't feeling baby move around much after having some contractions during the night, and she was worried.

Pharmie hooked up to machines, and Henry watching some "Thomas the Train."

All was well (actually, quite perfect), and we got the "all clear" to go home. We headed to the Y where Pharmie hopped on an elliptical machine for 30 minutes, and then Henry and I hopped in the pool for his swim lessons. Part way though lessons, Pharmie disappeared. Her water broke in the locker room around 10:45 a.m. (It's a wet swimming pool locker room floor - no one probably even noticed.) We finished lessons and stopped by home for a good lunch.

Matching bellies.

Pharmie's sister's family stopped over, and they took Henry home with them. Thanks Steph and Jon!! We headed to the hospital just after 1 p.m.

Dealing with a contraction just outside the hospital. This was 1:20 p.m.

We barely got to the room when Pharmie wanted her doctor ASAP. I took off her pants, and she crawled into bed. She didn't even get onto her back (she was on her side) when the doctor came in and she started pushing. One more push, and we got to meet Charles Philip Stenzel. She never even made it onto her back in bed.

He came at 1:56 p.m. Yes, that's 38 minutes after the time stamp on my parking meter receipt and about 25-30 minutes after getting up to the Birth Center on the 4th floor. We seriously just barely got her pants off on time. Quite different than Henry's delivery 36 hours after her water broke and after nearly 4 hours of active pushing.

Pharmie's Mom.


His first bath. Pharmie's Mom has been an OB nurse for 30+ years,
and she's given all 3 of her grandkids their first baths!


Henry, Evie, Steph, and Jon coming to meet Charlie.


Henry seeing his brother for the first time. There were lots of kisses. He's sweet.


Cousin Evie immediately demanded a baby brother of her own.


Holding Charlie for the first time.






Our new family of four!


More kisses.


Goofy cousins...




Henry's already boring his little brother with his stories.

Henry and I headed home on Saturday night. We figured we'd try to keep Henry home and on a normal schedule. Henry and I sent this photo to Pharmie saying "night night" at bedtime:

Then on Sunday, my parents came up to visit just before Pharmie and Charlie were sent home.

My folks.


Some "milk drunk" smiles.


Headed home exactly 29 hours after coming in! CRAZY!

Compare the birth of our 2 kids:

Henry, June 2011:
- water broke Friday night
- dilated to 0.5 cm
- after contractions for 18 hours, progressed to 2 cm
- after more active contractions, progressed to 3 cm
- got an epidural around midnight on Saturday night so she could rest
- started really pushing at 7:45 a.m. Sunday morning
- Henry was born 3.5 hours later at 11:15 on Sunday morning (36 hours after her water broke)
- Pharmie and baby went home over 2 days later (Tuesday night - a total of almost 4 days in the hospital)

Charlie, May 2014:
- water broke at 10:45 a.m. at the Y
- got to the hospital at 1:20 p.m.
- really only had about 2-3 pushes
- born at 1:56 p.m. (just over 3 hours after her water broke)
- Pharmie and baby went home the next evening (Sunday evening - 29 hours after coming in)

Back with maybe some more baby stuff soon, and then a training update. (I have good news and bad news about injuries and such.) For now, I'm off to spend some time with my boys!

(If you're feeling nostalgic, click here to see some of Henry's first photos and his birth story.)