Kaje's future is so bright, he's got to wear shades

At Kaje's one week check up, Dr. Ray Gavino noticed that Kaje was jaundiced.  We ran the test and he was at 20: disappointedly we went back to the hospital.  We spent the night and the next day in the hospital under the blue lights.  Kaje wasn't too sure about these, but give him his pacifier and he did fine.  Kaje really does have a laid back attitude.  Reminds me some of his dad.  Although, the nurses wanted him to sleep on his back on the light.  As you can see in the pictures, this little guy had his own ideas.  This boy can move!  He'd get his feet clear down on the glass side.  He rolled onto his side.  He even got himself clear turned and down on the end.  Other than that, we nurses and pumped and pumped and nursed.  I watched burn notice for the first time and NCIS and the home remodeling shows.  I also worked on making heart shaped hand warmers that I've given to those who watched my kids lots for me.

Kaylyn goes to White Bluffs

orientation day

 As we were checking out of the hospital, We got a call that Kaylyn got into preschool.  This year at Lewis and Clark they had to add extra Kindergarten classes.  They choose to keep Kindergarten at Lewis and Clark, and White Bluffs is hosting Lewis and Clark's preschool class.  So technically, it's a LC class, a LC aid, A White Bluffs teacher, and a WB class.  We drop off at LC and they bus to WB.  Confused yet?  But it is working out.  I'm sure the rebuilt LC will have a few more classrooms.

This is her actual first day of class.

 Kaylyn has been so excited.  She struggles a little that it's an afternoon class.  Can I go to school yet?  But she is loving it.  Her favorite things have been the play dough and reading little red hen.

 After first day of school pictures: she still asks me to take a picture of her getting on the bus.

Her teacher is Ms. Leggeit with Ms. O as her aid.  She has loved it!  And I think she is very ready for school.

There's no place like home

Kaje's sugars were boarder line the first day.  Other than needing to check our sugars and needing to nurse every 3 hours, our first afternoon was blissfully uneventful.  No need to run to the special care unit!!  We had lots of visitors.  Our first visitor was Dot with her kids and Kolten.  Kolten would not have anything to do with me.  We also had Pam come visit us.

After they left, my gang of friends showed up with my girls.  I missed my nap, but their laughter was better anyway.  We had fun sharing stories.  We also watch as a storm came through.  They think we should have named him Thor since he came in on Thursday and brought a storm with him.  The electricity even went out in the hospital.

I love this picture of my family.  I would totally make it our Christmas card and put it on our wall if Kolten was in it.  We might use it anyway.

 This was the first time that Kaje did not have to be swifted away.  So I got to be there for his first bath.  He didn't like it.  But since we didn't want to crash his sugars, the bath happened once he was nice and stable.  We did it about 2 in the morning.

 We were shocked when the next day said we could go home the next day.  We were both tickled pink.  Kaje got to come home the very next day.  He is wearing an outfit that his grandma K gave us from her baby clothes.  His dad might have worn it.

 Kolt would have nothing to do with either of us for a few days.  Daddy was his saving grace.  Kolt then tentively checked out this little brother.  When I wouldn't let him poke his eyes, Kolt petted Kaje's hair.  The next few days we found kolt tip toeing up to Kaje and carefully petting Kaje's hair.  He's now in full mommy clingy mode (thank goodness I was up to picking him up now.)  He also goes up to his brother and babbles at him.  It's cute to watch him talk with his brother.  Kaje finds he sleeps better cuddled up with mommy.  Mommy loves to cuddle with him, but I'm ready for some better sleep myself.  I have very much enjoyed cuddling with this handsome boy!  I love the feel of his hair.  And I often cuddle with him much longer than needed after nursing.

Update: since writing this post, Kolt has insisted on holding his brother.  But I haven't caught it on camera.  I'm either got my hands full making sure he doesn't drop his brother, or I can't get to the camera.  Soon, I hope.

10 crazy years

http://youtu.be/AA2NHPTHWyg

This is the song Todd and I danced to 10 years ago today!!  It's hard to believe and yet at the same time I'm at a point where I wonder if there was ever life without my wonderful husband!!  This morning Todd and I reminiscing.  At this time 10 years ago, Todd was canning pears.  I couldn't remember what time they wanted us at the temple--so I was early.  My mom was making sure we weren't late either--so we went even earlier.  The poor temple patron was starting to think I had been stood up, when on time, Todd and his parents walked in.  On our wedding night, we spent the night in our first apartment.  But since neither of us had been living there, all we had in the fridge was cottage cheese.  And we found we were really hungry.  We ate cottage cheese by candle light.  Good memories.

In retrospect, this song is a very appropriate song for us.  It's been a crazy 10 years.  I've kicked him out twice.  And I think a lot of people are surprised that here we are 10 years later and more in love then ever.  And I do want to stand next to Todd Nef when this life is done.  I don't want to share this crazy adventure called life with anyone else.

In the last 10 years, we have had 5 kids and 1 miscarriage.  And I laugh because I as write this, Kolten is pushing buttons!  So if it looks funny at the end--you know I missed one that he pushed.  We have lived in 3 states: Idaho, New Mexico, and Washington.  We have spent over half our marriage in the Tri-Cities now: 8 years!!  We have lived in 12 houses!  Now 2 weeks with mom and dad and 2 weeks with Nick and Zina are both on the list!  We have had 20 jobs between us: some temp jobs.  I'll admit, that number might be off.  We have made some incredible friends: too many to count!!  We have seen hard times and miracles.  And I am grateful for this amazing man who I call my best friend, husband, and lover!!

Kaje Thomas Nef

The end of our summer was filled with play dates for the kids while mommy went to first three doctors appointments a week.  And then came the day when my blood pressure was to high.  I went to the hospital and they kept me in the hospital over night.  My blood looked good.  We were able to bring my blood pressures down, but my urine test came back over 300: meaning I was preclampsic.  My blood pressure should not have come down, but it did.  My doctor wasn't sure what to do with me.  What he didn't know is that I had a blessing.  I had been promised that I would carry to full term.  I was also told I would be healed.  And I was.  So what to do with me?  Daily tests to make sure baby and I are still fine--until I hit 37 weeks.  But why wait until I have serious problems once the baby is good to go--especially with my history.  So when I went to see my doctor the day after Labor Day, the doctor checked me.  I was no where close to having this baby on my own despite all my braxton hicks.  So I went to the hospital that night.  He let me take Tuesday off from my daily non-stress test.  And we started the process of having this baby.
That night they gave me cervidal.  And the next morning they started me on pit.  I spent all day progressing to a 2.  Usually Todd is right by my side from the time I go into the hospital until baby is born and then as much as he can afterwards too.  But with all the others things we've been through this summer (his company not paying us for July, his hours being cut back, needing to pay the deductible on our car.)  I hated him to miss a day of work to watch me go to a 2.  So he worked--all in town, and my mom sat with me.  When alone, it gets a little scary, but my mom kept me good company.  This time around I got to do a few things I've never gotten to do before.  I got to sit on the labor ball.  I got to walk around a little.  I got to eat broth and jello!!  I loved it.
At 10 pm they took me off the pit.  I guess it hits it's peak of effectiveness at 12 hours.  Usually I'm high risk enough we push through until we have a baby, but since I was in no immediate danger--They gave me a sleeping pill and more cervidal.  I was a 4.5 when I woke up and I had a great night sleep.  I also got to eat a late dinner and breakfast.  Plus before they started me back up, I took a shower.  It was so nice!!  At a 4.5 I was uncomfortable, but I didn't hurt enough for an epidural.  But I know if I waited to long, I wouldn't get one.  So I asked about it.  They had just broken my water, so it was a great time to give me an epidural.  Then I didn't feel a whole lot for a few hours.  At this point, I knew I couldn't tell Todd as I got close until we were only a few minutes out--so he stopped working and joined me.
My mom was prepared to leave when Todd showed up.  But after consulting with Todd discreetly--he agreed and we invited my mom to join us if she'd like.
My nurse came in to check my blood sugars every hour to make sure I didn't crash--and she'd spend about half an hour in my room.  10 minutes after she left, I was ready for my bolster.  I told myself I could wait until she came back in my room.  15 minutes later I changed my mind.  I was in too much pain for having had an epideral. So I called my nurse.  She gave me my bolster--but then she checked me.  9 and 3/4!!  If I could have pushed this baby out as quickly as my others--my doctor might have missed it.
But the cord was wrapped around his neck and shoulders.  They realized this was going on by his monitor--so they were ready.  I would push and the cord would pull him back.  So we pushed all the way through two contractions and in-between them--and finally he was born!!
I tell people he was my easiest labor and my hardest delivery.  But really we are talking 8 minutes of pushing instead of 4.  I can't complain--and I've been laughed at a little for that even by me :).
Todd has always wanted to catch his baby--so I told Dr Smith.  And when it came time--Todd put on gloves and was ready.  My mom took his normal job of holding my leg for me (I don't fit in stirrups well).  Thank goodness my mom was there because there were a lot of baby's born September 5th.  Our doctor got the head out without tearing.  We learned good doctors do more than just catch.  Then he coached Todd how to pull up on the shoulders and now down.  And Todd was the first one to get to hold our son.  They put him up on my tummy and gave him oxygen.  Todd held him up for me when they were done weighing him.  I wish I was up to taking that picture.  You could tell how proud this pappa was of his newest little boy!!
September 5, 2013 at 2:50 pm Kaje Thomas Nef was born.  7lbs 8 oz and 19 inches long.  I think he would have been bigger than his brother if he'd been given the next two weeks.  He was my longest labor at 40 hours.  And he has the record for the least amount of time in the ob ward: just 24 hours!!  We were so excited to be able to take home our healthy little boy!!
If you want to know more about his name: I have already posted that, but he is named after Devin A Nef, Michael J Nef and Darrel J Nef.  To make sure our little AJ didn't feel left out in this clan of K's we throw a K after Karla Nef and an E for Emil Nef.  We then named him after Uncle Thomas Tingey.  Uncle Tom was the first Tingey to make Todd feel like family.  He has been an example of love and service to us.  We love to stop at his house in Boise, ID on our way to and from Rigby, ID and Richland, WA.
All in all, it was a great experience.  And as I type this I have a little boy laying on my chest.  I love the way his new born fuzzy hair feels.  I love that little bit of weight of my chest.  I love the squeeky crys.  I am enjoying him!!  I have a lot to be grateful for.  And we are so grateful you insisted on coming to our family Kaje.