Kioko Kilonzo

It seems hard to believe that 8 days ago, in about 3 hours, we went from this.......

July 1, 2015 5 AM

39 weeks, 2 day

(blurry iPhone photo taken in a rush before the hospital)

To this........

July 1, 2016 -- 8 something AM

Kioko Kilonzo Mulandi

7 pounds 10 ounces

20 inches

8:13 AM

Kioko is a Kamba (Dexter's tribe) word meaning 'born in the morning' (turns out it is also a Japanese name meaning 'Meets the world with happiness' I'll take it!).  Kilonzo is Dexter's Dad's name.  Also, amazingly, July 1 is his birthday.  When picking the C-section date, that never crossed either of our minds.  A happy coincidence.  I hope Kioko can meet his namesake some day (soon).

Since I had a C-Section, delivery was easy and smooth.  The hardest was getting the spinal for the anesthesia.  Kioko was a little cool, temperature wise, so they cleaned him up and put him on my chest ASAP to try to warm him up.  Other than that, though, he passed all his tests and was perfect.  Once they moved me into the recovery room, he latched right on and promptly nursed for an hour!  I am so thankful that all three of my babies have been good nursers right from the start.  There is so much to be thankful for.

My first sight of Kioko.  Our lips kind of match.

Operating Room photo.

This was cool - this year, instead of having a cloth drape between the doctors and me, there was a plastic sheet, so I could see the doctors, and the baby as soon as he came out.  I couldn't see them operating (because, no thank you), but could still see them, see the baby right away, etc.  

My parents came up from MA to be with the Kyalo & Malaikah in the morning, and then to whisk them off to MA for several days so I could recover/adjust to a new baby/settle in at home a little bit.  I don't have the words for what a gift that was.  Before they left, though, they came and visited us in the hospital.

 flowers in her hair from Kyalo

Malaikah meeting Kioko.  She wasn't too sure about it all.

While I still recovering in the room, my legs were jumping all over the place, as if they had a mind of their own.  The nurse told me to stop doing that, but when I told her I had no control, she got a little worried.  Thankfully it did end on its own, but it was pretty amusing while it lasted.

Kioko was well bundled while in the hospital, but that didn't stop him from doing a cluster feed the first night.  I don't think either of the other two ever did that.  If we never go through that again, that'd be good.

Kioko was the lightest and longest of the three.  20 inches long seems quite long, and I wonder if he'll have some of the height that his Mering family has (not me sadly - Uncle Adam and Grandpa).  Also, it seems hard to know who he looks like.  The overall consensus seems to be like my dad.  Another surprise is that (so far) he has straight hair!  He has a tiny bit more than Malaikah, and it seems darker. But it hasn't yet shown any signs of curling.  Wonder what will happen.  There's no way it will stay straight.

After two days, they let us go home! 

On day four, I put him in the 'Silly' out fit that both Malaikah & Kyalo wore.  Had to be done.

There they all are!

This is one of my all time favorite pics of Kyalo.  

Who do you think Kioko looks like?  Maybe Malaikah?

I really love baby feet (who doesn't?)

 look at those legs!  Where did they come from?

here he is in his new car seat.  so tiny!

The big kids came home on Thursday night and we're easing into this new reality.  It isn't easy!  But we're getting the hang of it.  I think.

July 9, 2016

So that's it.  Tomorrow Dexter goes back to work, so it will really be the beginning of the new reality.   The biggest bummer is that because of the C-Section, I'm not supposed to lift Malaikah for six week. That'll be impossible, but will do my best. 

We got this.