Presley's Beautiful Birth

What an honor and surprise (daddy made a last minute change of plans to allow me to be there) to be with the these dear friends to capture the birth of their little Princess Presley.

Amazing by Janelle

{KI} Baby Marshall's Birthday

Did I never post this birth video?  

 

I'm so grateful to the Frank family for allowing me into their special time to capture it.

{KI} Baby Blanchette's Birth

All Images Copyright Krystal Images

Music by JJ Heller

What an awesome privilege it was to have the opportunity to capture this birth.  

Momma was strong and calm. 

Dad was quiet and supportive.  

Baby girl was vocal and adorable. 

I was blessed and inspired.

God was present and glorified.

Bradley-o-saurus' dino party!

I really wanted to do something special for my big boy's bday!  Kristy Jantz did a wonderful job decorating and planning the party!

Here are some highlights...

B is 3!!

I have a hard time believing my little man is already 3 yrs old.

There are so many ways to describe him...
friendly and rude
cute and stinky
ornery and naughty
smart and silly
caring and sweet

He has a great memory.  If you say "we'll ... when we get home," as soon as you walk in the door he will ask about it.

He loves to sing and is enthusiastic, but is always off beat and moving more than singing.

His longtime fav movie is How to Train Your Dragon.  Lately Toy Story 2 is making a pull for #1.  He says "I want to watch Jesse!" 

He's too smart for his own good and figures things out too quickly for mommy's good.

He likes to call me "mom."  Already, really!?!

He tries to ride Hudson all the time! And loves chasing him around the house with some sort of torture device.

He can already tell the difference between his brother and sister's cries. 

He still loves his blankie and sucks his wrist when he has it.

He's pretty charming and has such an awesome laugh.

Sometimes he kisses for no reason.

He's a ham.  Anything that gets a laugh will be retried.

He loves to vacuum.  And really likes to be a helper.

He doesn't like to have stuff on his hands--- like his mommy.

He thinks tomorrow is always Tuesday.

Although, he can be quite a naughty little thing, I'm so proud of him and can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for his life! 

Would love to hear your adjectives for B...

On Nursing Twins After a C-section...

Am I crazy that I avoid saying "breastfeeding" as much as possible?  It's not that I don't like the act or think it is icky.  I just feel like we could have a better name for it.  If someone asks me if I am breastfeeding the twins I usually answer by referring to it as nursing because of my pact to avoid the term hitherto referred to as bfing.  When my 2 yr old asks what I am doing, I tell him I am feeding the babies milk.  The first time he asked what they are eating from I may have panicked a bit so I told him mommy.  Yep, that's it, mommy.  So tonight (his last night as a 2 yr old--- sigh) I was feeding his sister and he exclaimed "Kyndi is eating mommy!"  Yes, son, yes she is :). 

Here are some options I found online for an alternate to bfing---nourishing, wining and dining, suckling, sustaining, feeding, nurturing, nursing, fattening, catering to, num-nums, eating from the chest, and if any of my bi-lingual friends are reading I would love to know what it is called in another language.

This search lead me to an interesting site... it wasn't exactly what I was looking for so prepare to be amazed if you visit it.... http://www.breastfeeding.co.uk/index.php?option=com_glossary&task=list&glossid=1&letter=A


I think, for today, I'm going with...  After I found out I was having twins one of my main concerns was fattening them up.  B was easy to fatten and although I recognized that having 2 babies would create a few more difficulties and a higher likelihood of fattening problems I was determined to give it my best shot.  And so far so good.  I did minimal amounts of research, mainly asking every mother of multiples I knew about their fattening experiences.  Some weren't able to fatten, some pumped and bottle fattened, and others were successful fatteners for many months. 

My first goal was to get each baby to latch on and eat individually.  Once they were both doing that well, after the 1st day for my 2 little champs, I practiced fattening them at the same time.  Kyndi had a little trouble latching on and the nurse warned and pushed that she needed some formula for some reason or another.  I was emotionally adamant that I didn't want her to have a bottle (may be a bit ridiculous).  So, I suggested I pump and see if that would help.  The not so nice nurse scoffed a bit and basically commented that I wouldn't get anything (because of the c-section).  Well, my body proved her incorrect and we attached a tiny hose and got Kyndi to latch on.  Link took at it and never wanted to stop, probably the reason he went from 6 lb 3 oz to 11 lb 1 oz in 2 months.  :)  

A second goal was to find a fattening pattern.  My pattern of choice is to fatten the baby on one side and then the next side for the next fattening.  I used an app on my iPod the first few weeks to keep track of when and what side.  I also took my Peds advice (father of twin boys) and mandated that the babies fatten up at the same time.  So, if Kyndi woke up and couldn't wait, I would wake Link up to fatten too. At 2 weeks old Link had seizures and was in the PICU for 2 nights.  Kyndi was not allowed in there so I went back and forth to feed them.  The nurses were amazed that Link would be fast asleep when my mom came to tell my Kyndi was hungry.  Then when I went to fatten her, he would wake up too.  Now 3 months old and I swear they have a 6th sense to tell if their sibling is getting fattened.  I will sneak one out of the nursery and as I sit on the couch to fatten, the other will start their plea.

More on fattening soon...

After using fattening, I'm thinking it is a little more of a term for livestock.  Hmmm....

Kyndale and Linkoln- Twins' C-section Birth Story Finale and Video

Started the 3rd installment and then decided to get a video together for it... so hoping that works out!  I was really hoping to get to bed at a decent time tonight, but I guess it's just not in me.

Back to the story..

I was briefed on all the procedures (Even though I had already asked every question I could think of to who turned out to be a tech.  Whoops!), drank some nasty stuff, and got prepped for the surgery (they put on some crazy leg things and a hair net).  Soon my Honey, Nana, and Sisty arrived.  The nurse laid Dale's scrubs on the table and Dale asked "is this it?"  "Yep."  After she left, he looked at me and serious as can be asked "So do I leave my underwear on?"  Sisty, Nana and I laughed hard and loud.  After we settled down we wiped tears from our faces and I headed down the hall.  I had only an IV with B's LD, so all this was very new.  I got in the room and the anesthesiologist had me lean over the table as she gave me the spinal tap.   Then I was strapped down to the bed.  I felt normal until she took a cold cloth and touched my face and arm with it, then she went on the other side of the curtain and touched my tummy and I could feel the pressure, but no temp.  Soon the Dr, nurses, students (I couldn't so no), and Dale arrived.  In no time Kyndale was born.  As soon as Dale saw her, he said she's Kyndale (we were still unsure if she would be Kyndale or Lainey).  She was a grunter like B and worried the nurses a bit, but other than that she was perfect and beautiful.  Her lashes were long and perfect.  And even though she didn't cry, she made plenty of noise.  She was also covered thick in white stuff, so yes I didn't kiss her too much! Our Daughter! Then 40 seconds later, Link was born.  He didn't worry the nurses because he cried enough for the 2 of them.  He looked like he had already had a bath compared to big sis.  Dr said the babies were too cute and made the nurses bring them back over before they left the room.  After I saw them both for the second time and they went to meet their Nana and Aunt Sisty, I began to get the woozy feeling.  I remember saying, I don't feel good and having the kidney bean pan next to my face (as if!).  Thankfully Dr worked quickly and less than an hour from leaving my room I returned.  I wish I could say what happened next, but I honestly can't remember much.  Just a jumble of feedings, nurses, and sweet sweet babies.

Images taken by my Sisty and Honey. And this is why I want to do birth photography!

Because the nurses were worried about Kyndi's lungs the on call ped had them start anti-biotics through an IV.  Poor little darling was such a trooper as it kept coming out and had to be put back in.  She also wasn't great at eating at first and so I pumped (yes it can be done!) and feed her with a syringe until she got the hang of it.  Link latched right on and nursed for 20 mins solid!  More on nursing twins later.

Song- Who's My Pretty Baby by Elizabeth Mitchell