First birthday fiesta

I know, I know. Like my previous post, this one is months overdue. My sweet boy turned one on September 14, 2014 and we threw a huge fiesta for him. I admit. I went overboard. Way overboard. But, I loved every minute. It was not only a celebration of his first year, but also gave Matt and I the opportunity to celebrate making it through the first year, which is no small feat. Babies are a lot of work, man.

For the party, I had a huge taco bar featuring pretty much any taco fixings you can think of. I prepared the pork and chicken ahead of time in the crockpot, so there was minimal work for the actual party. I did a cake from a local bakery that turned out amazing! They did a great job interpreting my fiesta theme, especially since I really didn't get them much direction. So little, in fact, that they assumed it was a party for a little girl and made a pink and purple smash cake. I was ok with that, though.

As far as decorations went, I just wanted a ton of color. I had plenty of gallons, streamers, Mexican banners, and paper flowers. I used crepe paper to turn our garage into a little photo booth area, and I loved the way it turned out. I also ordered little sombreros, mustaches, flowers for hair, and maracas as little party favors. After the party, I've decided there's nothing cuter than a baby in a sombrero and a mustache.

Callum fighting over maracas with his buddy, Henry.

Our friends Gina, Dustin, and their son Julian in our photo booth.

Me and my boys.

#dead

Callum's high chair that I decorated with crepe paper.

I love this series of photos of Callum and his buds. Perfectly sums up motherhood.

Callum was very, very cautious with his cake. There was no real "smash" involved. He mainly picked away at the frosting.

What a great year it has been! Love you forever and ever, Callum David.

Callum's birth story

This post has been months in the making. In fact, I wrote the whole entire thing down when I was out on maternity leave, and then lost the file. I was so mad at myself. I wanted to remember evert tiny, tiny detail about the best day of the my life. So, here's round two.

It all started Friday, September 13, 2013. I had a 10:00 a.m. doctor's appointment, and Matt didn't have to work, so we had a nice, easy morning. We actually walked with Jax to Rocket Baby bakery for some monkey bread and coffee. I remember having a bad headache during the walk from the exertion. Thinking back on it now, this was definitely a sign of my blood pressure being high. However, at the time, I felt fine other than the headache and there was no concern.

At the doctor's, which happened to be my 40 week appointment, my blood pressure was measured and turned out to be borderline high, which obviously concerned Dr. Hoelzle. We ended up waiting for an hour or two, and they checked my blood pressure a few more times. It would go down, and then back up. I was only measuring about a cm and nothing else appeared to be of concern. Plus, Dr. Hoelzle was leaving for the weekend, and we were on the fence about what to do. After talking it over, I was sent down to labor and delivery for monitoring. Since I was so far along, I fully anticipated being induced.

We stopped at home to get our bags and the dog, and then headed to my mom's house to drop Jax off. Matt was running around like a chicken with his head cut off, grabbing our bags and getting everything in order. He was so nervous. It was the sweetest thing ever. I had to remind him that I wasn't actually in labor yet. Dr. Hoelzle didn't want me to drive after the appointment, and I think knowing my activities were limited made him a little nervous.

Saying goodbye to Jax at my mom's was one of the hardest things ever! I know it sounds so ridiculous, but this dang dog is seriously my first born. I love him with all my heart, and in a weird way, it felt like he should be there since he's a part of our family. It also felt like the end of an era: an era without kids, with just Jax. It was such a hard good bye. I know, so ridiculous, but it was.

Next stop: Columbia St. Mary's Hospital. We were admitted in to labor and delivery for observation. At this point, we had no idea whether I was going to be induced or sent home. As much as I wanted to go in to labor naturally, I also hated the idea of having to pack everything up and head to the hospital all over again. I was also so ready to meet our sweet baby.

During our couple hours in observation, we had several medical students roll through and ask me a few questions. I will never forget this one super awkward medical student who came through. You could so tell he had no intentions of becoming an OB/GYN. He stood with his back against the wall on the other side of the room, and couldn't even look at me. He was so adorably awkward.

My blood pressure continued to go up, and then back down. After the nurses talked with Dr. Hoelzle, it was ultimately decided that I was going to be induced. It was starting to get so real. In less than 24 hours, we would be holding our sweet baby.

However, Dr. Hoelzle would not be able to make it to the delivery since she was out of town. I was so bummed about this. I had really grown to trust her and wanted her to be the one to deliver the baby. But, this was out of my control, so I did my best to not stress about it.

I was moved in to a delivery room. The very first room our sweet baby would see. I was given something to sleep, and then something to strip my membranes. The plan was for me to try and get some sleep and then start on pitocin in the early morning hours of Saturday.

I was able to get some sleep for a few hours, and poor Matt slept right next to me in this miserable chair. I don't know how he does it, but he can sleep anywhere. He was golden for the night.

Around 1:30AM Saturday, I was really starting to feel my contractions and getting rather uncomfortable. I couldn't get out of the bed due to my high blood pressure. So, I did the best I could dealing with the contractions in different positions of the bed. Matt was sleeping through this for about 45 minutes! Once I made it clear that I was definitely in some pain, and very much annoyed with him, he woke and did a great job of supporting me.

At this point, everything was moving very slow. I had not made much progress. I had been checked by multiple nurses, med students, residents, the doctor, and it was so painful every single time. One resident left me in tears, and she felt so bad about it. Then, around 7:00 AM, things started to get really intense. It turns out the baby was dropping faster than I was dilating, making everything even more painful. I was given the epidural around 8:00 AM. At first, nothing really happened. The anesthesiologist came back to rearrange a few things, and everything was golden. To be honest, it was pretty smooth sailing from this point on. I know, every woman that has had a terrible, miserable, painful birth, I apologize sincerely for that previous sentence.

I continued to chug along at a slower pace. Matt and I just hung out, watched some college football, and dozed for a few hours. We had a really great nurse that was with us for most of the day, of course I can't remember her name at all right now. She was very comforting and reassuring. Very motherly.

In a really bizarre coincidence, Matt walked out of our room, and a random girl (to him at least), asked, "Is that Megan McChain in there?" It turned out to be a childhood friend, Lauren Adams! Her sister, Lindsay, was in labor right next door. They stopped in to chat for a few minutes, and we all joked about how crazy it was that we were both in labor at the same place, on the same day. Lindsay gave birth to Vincente on the exact same day our baby was born.

This whole time we were waiting for Matt's parents and my mom to come and visit. They were taking forever and we were sort of dying for company. Around 2, still without our parents coming to visit, they decided to break my water. Our nurse broke my water, which was super uneventful. Nothing happened. Literally. Sorry for the visual, but there was no release of fluids.

Finally, our parents stopped in around 2:45. I had just been checked and was around 8 cm. So, I was moving really fast all of a sudden. Our family was literally there for five minutes before the nurse sent them away so they could check me again. It turns out, our parents were having Bloody Mary's at several bars along North Ave. as they were making their way to the hospital! The crazies.

The nurse checked me again, and I was at 10 cm. I was moving so quickly now. We said good bye to our parents, and told them we'd call them as soon as the baby was born. Matt had made quite a mess while he made himself at home, so our nurse sort of nagged him into cleaning all of his stuff up before I started pushing. It was hilarious! I loved her so much for it.

And, just like that, I started pushing. It was 3:00 PM in the afternoon. I started with a few slow, easy pushes. That's when the nurses, and the resident and med student, realized that this was going to go pretty quick. They could already see the head. I asked for the mirror to be moved down so I could use, and immediately regretted that decision. It was just too much for me to handle at that point. :) I just needed to do the work with out seeing what was happening.

After about 10 minutes of pushing, I was told to stop and breath. We were trying to hold off until the doctor arrived. Baby was not having it, though. After a few minutes of holding out, there was just nothing that could be done.

Callum David Olson forced himself (literally), into this world at 3:19 PM on Saturday, September 14, 2013 at 7lbs. 7 oz. and 20 inches long. He was born one day before his due date. He came out with his arm above his head, super hero style, causing quite a rip for me. Thanks, bud.

We didn't know the sex before he was born, but I had a sneaking suspicion it was a boy. Part of our birth plan was that Matt was going to tell me the sex after the baby was born. His exact words were, "You were right." I love hearing those words from my husband whenever I can.

Right as he was born, the doctor who was supposed to deliver the baby ran into the room. Her purse was still on her shoulder, and car keys in hand. She had to scrub up right there. Thankfully she was there to deliver the placenta and to stitch me up.

That whole process took about an hour, but I didn't even care. I just couldn't believe I was holding my beautiful son. There is not another feeling in the world like it. I was so full of love, and Matt had never looked happier. It was amazing.

After Callum was born, I was suddenly so thirsty. I could not get enough water. I honestly probably chugged over a liter of water. Well, the time came for them to remove my catheter, but my epidural still hadn't worn off, so I couldn't feel a thing. The nurse asked if I had to go to the bathroom after removing the catheter, and I said I honestly have no idea, but I drank a ton of water.

Well, she decided to slide the catheter back in, and I ended up filling a bed pan twice! Matt had to dump it for the nurse, while she held my catheter. Nothing like the romance of childbirth. Amiright?

After getting cleaned up, we were moved to our recovery room, and there we stayed until Monday morning. For the couple of days, we had plenty of visitors, tried to get some sleep on the miserable hospital accommodations, and couldn't stop staring at our sweet Callum. It was truly the best day ever.

Matt and Megan Unexpecting

More than two years ago, I started this blog to document my pregnancy. Fast forward to now, and I'm no longer expecting, but am the unbelievably proud momma of a 20-month old son named, Callum.

I was debating on changing the name of the blog since my husband, Matt, and I are no longer expecting a baby. But, I was thinking a lot about it, and we are sort of still in an "expecting" stage in our lives. By that, I mean, we have no idea what to expect next. As a mom, wife, friend, sister, daughter, and so much more, life is wonderfully crazy and I am always in a state of "I have no idea what to expect next". Like, when you come home to find one of your dogs has managed to finagle his way in to the fridge and has eaten half of a carrot cake. Or, the first time you arrive home to your toddler running to greet you with open arms. Also, that amazing Sunday when a life long friend who lives across the country surprises you in Milwaukee.

It's a glorious state, expecting the unexpected. Keeps me on my toes. Something is always happening. Life is happening.

Before having my son, this idea of having no idea what to expect next would have killed me. I'm a type A, super planner, and not knowing what's coming would've have driven me out of my mind two years ago. Even now, it still does. After becoming a mom, I really needed to work hard on just taking a step back and embracing every piece of crazy madness as it comes, and I think I've done a really good job of that. Definitely not a perfect one. I still have those moments when I lose it when something is out of my control, but those times continue to become even fewer and even farther between.

One big part of that is my recent transition from full-time working mom to part-time working mom. Instead of working Monday - Friday, I now work Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and am able to stay at home with Callum on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This move was the best thing I've ever done for me, for my son, for my husband, and even my dogs. (I love them like crazy, too.) It gives me a chance to exhale. To just be in the moment. As cliche as that sounds, it honestly does.

When I was working full time, I always felt like I was a step behind. I would get home from work, make dinner, pack lunches for tomorrow, straighten up what I could around the house, and then it was basically Callum's bed time. It felt like I was spending my day getting ready for the next day, over and over and over again. I was never just present in the current day. And that stressed me out. Since, I was stressed out, I took it out on Matt, on Callum, on the dogs, which inevitably made me feel like shit. It was a terrible cycle and I will be forever grateful that I was able to change it.

There are so many awesome, amazing people in my life, who helped to make it possible: Matt who works long, hard hours to support our family, my mom who watches my son two days a week (and she loves every minute of it), my amazing job and coworkers who were able to turn my position from a full time one to a part time one, our friends who watch Callum on the third day I work, and many more. I can not lie. I am one lucky girl.

And now, since I have more time to breath, I am making it a goal to sit down and write more. I want to document this beautiful time in my life. I never want to forget it. So, I hope you follow along. The more, the merrier.

To end on a high note, enjoy this ridiculously cute picture of the naked rodeo that is our house on a daily basis. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Callum loves, loves, loves his canine brothers. This sweet, patient dog is George. He's just a few months younger than Callum.

39 weeks

Everything is still pretty much the same over here. Just waiting for your arrival, which is getting more and more difficult. Seriously baby, how do you expect me to think about anything else except for meeting you. I really just can't wait.

At our last doctor's appointment, I was dilated only 1 cm and not effaced at all. So, it looks like you're awfully comfortable in there. Dr. Hoelzle also said she thought you were between 7 and 8 pounds. Perfect! Don't get any bigger.

I had to give a little presentation today at work and some coworkers and I were joking around about my water breaking while I was presenting. How awkward would that have been? But, it totally would've been worth it if it meant you were on your way.

My induction date has been scheduled for September 22 in case you decide not to show up by then. But, I really, really hope you do. It's crazy how fast it seems like the past nine months have gone by, but then this next week and a half feels like it's going to take forever.

In other news, you dad's friend Dustin (who was the best man in our wedding) and his wife Gina (who I spend a lot of time with and love going on runs with) are expecting their first child! It's so exciting because you guys are going to be the same age. It will be so great to have good friends with a young child that we can spend lots of time with.

Anyways, you'll come when you're good and ready (which I hope is really soon). I seriously already love you more than anything and can't wait to hold you and look into your eyes and tell you I love you. I've never been more excited, anxious, nervous, impatient, full of gratitude, and so many other things in my life. I can't believe this dream of becoming a mom is about to come true. You are truly the greatest blessing in the entire world.

Alright ... any day now! We're ready to meet you.

38 weeks

Alright, I'm about ready to get this show on the road. This week you're about the size of a pumpkin, measuring about 19-20 inches long and weighing in at about 6 to 9 pounds. So, you tell me, how would you feel carrying a pumpkin around in your stomach all day?

One of my weekly pregnancy emails that I got for 38 weeks said something along the lines of, "You know what your baby looks like? A f-ing baby! Not some sort of produce." That totally made me left because I really thought it was funny that some of these sites still compare you to produce.

But, in all honesty, I'm just ready to meet you! Obviously being super uncomfortable and tired all the time is no help, but I'm just so, so ready to be a mom and take care of you and love you.

And I'm so, so, so sick of people saying things like, "Have you had that baby yet?" and (at work) "You're still here?!?!" Trust me, I'm more ready than you know and you're dumb comments aren't helping! Sorry. Can you tell I'm crabby all the time, too? Your poor dad. It's a good thing he really loves me. ;)

Symptoms: Lots of the same...

• Pelvic pressure, and menstrual-like cramps
• Braxton Hicks and/or contractions (Nothing painful, but they've definitely revved up a bit.)
• Fatigue
• Sore feet – when I wake up in the morning is the worst
• Lots and lots and lots of potty breaks
• General “I’m ready to get this little one outta me” feeling

Labor Signs: Still some contractions and/or Braxton Hicks, but nothing that shows any sort of a pattern. Yesterday, I had them all day and totally thought they were going to turn in to something more. No such luck. Some people are telling me it looks like I’ve “dropped,” but who knows. I've definitely got more of a waddle going on.

Workouts: Daily walks with Jax! But, the round ligament pains are terrible the whole time. However, I figure it can only help move things along.

Movement: Same as last week

Suspicions on gender: Boy.

Sleep: I hate to say terrible, but it's pretty terrible. Most nights I'm up every 1.5 - 2 hours to go to the bathroom and often it can be difficult to fall back asleep.

Next doctor's appointment: Friday! Hoping to be checked and get some sort of sign that I'm progressing.

Otherwise, we're just spending our time waiting for you. I don't really feel like doing a whole lot on the weekends, so we just sort of bum around Tosa and get things done around the house. We went to our last Brewers game this week. We're hoping to get one more in this season once you're born. So, you better hurry up and get here! Since I've been pregnant with you, we've been to 15 games (8 losses, 7 wins). The Brewers are doing terrible this season, though. They have absolutely no chance of getting into the playoffs and Ryan Braun is currently suspended cause he got caught using PEDs, after he swore he didn't. Classy, right? It's a good thing the first Packers game is Sunday. I'm ready for some football!!!