Balch Family Blog

We have been adjusting to our new arrival. It has been interesting to see the family dynamic change. Camden continues to love and adore his little brother. Just this morning he gave him kisses on his feet before leaving.

Carsten is happy most of the time. He has a bad diaper rash, so he HATES dirty diapers. It also seems that he has a blocked tear duct in one eye. This is very common among infants and goes away on it own.

I have been adjusting to being a mom of 2, and have decided a schedule is needed to make sure I do what needs to be done. So on Mon, Wed, and Fri, Camden and I work for about an hour on preschool activities, play outside and spend time together. It has really helped to reduce Camden’s acting out behaviors. I have had a lot of help from the moms! My mom was here right after the birth for about a week, and then Mark’s mom has been coming over to help me with both boys!

Mark is SUPERDAD! He only took 2 days off of work, but he has been able to bond with Carsten. He and Camden are best buds and do a lot together, especially in the backyard.

I have added some updated pics of Carsten to his album and created a new Big Brother album for Camden. Be sure to check out some of the very cute things Camden has been doing with all the baby toys out again.

The Birth Story of Carsten Lee Balch

On Thursday, March 9th, 2006, I was taken off of bed rest and allowed to go out to dinner. Mark and I went out for Mexican food with another couple. While in bed, I began contracting around 11:00pm. I was able to sleep off and on through them, but about 2:00 am, March 10th I woke up and the contractions were too strong to sleep through. I started timing them and woke Mark at 2:30 because they were 3-4 minutes apart. By 2:50 we were on our way to the hospital. I was 4 cm upon arrival and 70% effaced. I was monitored for an hour and rechecked without a change. So they sent us out to walk. After walking, I was dilated 4-5 cm and my bag of waters was bulging. I was in some real pain by this point and I told the triage nurse that she could not send me home because I wanted my epidural.

After speaking with my doctor, they decided to admit me (5:45am), get my epidural started (6:30am), and when my doctor arrived she broke my bag of waters (6:55 am). When my doctor checked me I was 5-6 cm and 90 minutes (8:20am) later pitocin was started. At 10:30 am I began feeling a lot of pressure and asked if my nurse could check me. I was complete! My doctor was called and she headed back to the hospital. Luckily I had a wonderful epidural and didn’t mind waiting for her. I began to push at 11:15 am and pushed through about 5 contractions and 20 minutes later Carsten Lee was born. I was able to watch the delivery in a mirror and it was just amazing. Carsten weighed 7 lbs 13 oz and was 21 inches long. He had a head full of dark hair and was just darling! He took to nursing like a champ!

HAS ARRIVED!

Carsten was born on Friday, March 10, 2006; 11:35 am. Weighing 7lbs 13oz and 21″ long. He has dark hair and gray-blue eyes. He is beautiful! He has long fingers and toes and is his father’s child and Camden’s brother without a doubt.

We all actually got a decent night of sleep last night and I am getting more energy. I will work on posting pictures and I plan to write my birth story and create a link for it. I will include all the details, so consider yourself fore-warned! 🙂

Camden is an amazing BIG brother. He really loves Baby Carsten and checks on him every few minutes.

More to come!

Make it through Thursday! That is my goal. I met with my doctor this morning and she said that I can return to modified bed rest and take my last dose of terbutaline Thursday night at 10pm. I even have permission to go out to eat that night.

So now that I have a light at the end of the tunnel, and I can sit on my couch and check emails, I am feeling a lot more optomistic.

I had my shower last Saturday and it was just lovely. Carrie and Jennie did such a nice job! Carsten and I were spoiled rotten to say the least. Check the gallery for pictures.

We are hoping for a baby this Saturday!!!

Heather went for another ultrasound this morning to see if they could see if there is a reason for her having a lot of amniotic fluid. Basically what we found out was that Carsten is going to be big! Right now he is 7 lbs 1 oz. and not even 36 weeks yet. The tech could find no reason for the excess fluid other than it being a fairly common quirk. Heather’s doctor said everything looked great and for her to continue on bedrest until about March 10th and then she won’t try to stop him from coming.

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers. Heather still has two more weeks of laying in bed so keep her and Carsten in your prayers for her to keep her sanity.