Monday, December 13, 2010
Shots
On Friday afternoon Baby J had his 2 month check-up at the doctor. He is 22 1/4 inches long and now weighs 10 lbs. 11oz. We can feel his weight gain in our upper backs. He is still considered a little guy, currently in the 25th percentile for height and weight. This appointment included vaccinations. After being examined his adorable, chubby thighs were pulled out of his striped sleeper and shots were given into both of them. The nurse and Dad held Baby J still, while Mom wept in the corner. Hearing your baby scream is just the most awful sound! He was quickly comforted with lots of cuddles and a dose of Tylenol. Thankfully he showed no reaction to the vaccines, besides sleeping a little more than normal the following day. Now we have 2 more months before returning to the doctor for more of those dreaded S-words.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
His first 6 weeks
Over the last 6 weeks mine and M's world, house, and hearts have been flipped upside-down and inside-out. In other words, having a baby changes your life! It is true what everyone says about motherhood being a tough job, but being oh so rewarding... I am truly loving my new role! It is obvious that M is too.
Baby J is changing already. He went from 6lbs. 8 oz. down to 5lb.s 15 oz. when we left the hospital. Then it took him 3 weeks to get back up to his birth weight. He is having no trouble packing on the pounds now! At 6 weeks old he now weighs 8lbs. 14oz. His cheeks are filling out, his belly is rounding out, and he has a little double chin! Nearly 9 lbs of pure adorableness!
Yesterday I had to pack up quite a few of his newborn outfits and bring out the 0-3 months ones, it was bittersweet. I know he is still my tiny, newborn, baby, boy who curls up in a ball on my shoulder; but with every size of clothes he goes up a little part of my heart knows that time is just going to keep zooming by and before I know it he will be walking... talking... starting kindergarten... graduating college!
Baby J's big blue (for now at least) eyes are always alert when he is awake. He is looking around, taking everything in. Doctors and nurses have commented on his intense alertness for a newborn... I like think it means he is a genius! He has recently figured out that his vocal chords can make noises besides cries and he gets pretty "talkative" from time to time. I wonder who he gets that from? :) He is also in the process of figuring out where his mouth is located. When he is holding on to our fingers he guides them toward his mouth for a quick suck, but when no milk comes out he losses interest. I am sure all parents are amazed by their babies and we are no different. Watching him grow, change, and learn fascinates us to no end.
Baby J is changing already. He went from 6lbs. 8 oz. down to 5lb.s 15 oz. when we left the hospital. Then it took him 3 weeks to get back up to his birth weight. He is having no trouble packing on the pounds now! At 6 weeks old he now weighs 8lbs. 14oz. His cheeks are filling out, his belly is rounding out, and he has a little double chin! Nearly 9 lbs of pure adorableness!
Yesterday I had to pack up quite a few of his newborn outfits and bring out the 0-3 months ones, it was bittersweet. I know he is still my tiny, newborn, baby, boy who curls up in a ball on my shoulder; but with every size of clothes he goes up a little part of my heart knows that time is just going to keep zooming by and before I know it he will be walking... talking... starting kindergarten... graduating college!
Baby J's big blue (for now at least) eyes are always alert when he is awake. He is looking around, taking everything in. Doctors and nurses have commented on his intense alertness for a newborn... I like think it means he is a genius! He has recently figured out that his vocal chords can make noises besides cries and he gets pretty "talkative" from time to time. I wonder who he gets that from? :) He is also in the process of figuring out where his mouth is located. When he is holding on to our fingers he guides them toward his mouth for a quick suck, but when no milk comes out he losses interest. I am sure all parents are amazed by their babies and we are no different. Watching him grow, change, and learn fascinates us to no end.
1 day old 6 weeks old
This is when having a blog is handy; because you don't annoy friends by going on and on about what your baby is doing, but the people who are interested can read it!
Monday, November 8, 2010
5 Generations
I am pretty sure we have all asked ourselves this question at one time or another... Why do we wait for tragedy to strike before families (and old friends) make the effort to all get together? Everyone putting their busy, daily schedules on hold for some quality time with the people who truly matter most. Between spouses, routines, jobs, children, money, and priorities it's easy to make an excuse for missing out on opportunities. Then someone is taken away. A loved one passes on, and whether it is an expected death or one that takes the world by surprise it's heart wrenching and we are never prepared to deal with the loss. The silver lining to such losses are the remaining people in that group all gather in the deceased's honor. While memorializing the loved one who has passed, old bonds are renewed and strengthen and new memories of togetherness are created. Relationships grow deeper as we hold each other up through the difficult time.
I feel strongly in my heart that without the deplorable loss of Joe David the 5 generations would not have gathered in one place at the same time. A small blessing in a sad time.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Splish Splash
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
My Baby Story
I have went back and forth on whether of not to write about my labor and delivery experience. Part of me feels like it may be too private of a matter to blog about, but I have had many friends ask me about it. So this is a warning paragraph... anyone who does NOT want to read about the birthing experience I had skip this post and report back later to read about cuter baby topics. Don't worry things won't get too graphic.
At 3:30 P.M. on Tuesday, Oct. 5th MM was hanging out at our worship leader's house about to play some guitar, and I was at home surfing the world wide web when my nesting urge fired up and I decided to head into the baby room for some satisfying organizing of baby items. While standing in the nursery I felt a gush of liquid... an actual gush like people see in movies. I called M to tell him to head home asap because my water had broken; upon getting a hold of my husband he wanted to know if I was absolutely sure I hadn't just peed myself. Now I understand that this is actually a common thing that happens, very pregnant women pee and think it's their water. But the liquid I felt was too much in quantity and came out too fast, so I was positive I had not become a victim of the pee!
A couple hours later we were admitted to Reynold's Army Community Hospital- blood work ran, IV placed, and first round of phone calls made. My contractions at first were mild, felt like menstrual cramps. I as only dilated to 1 CM; it was time to wait it out. By this time I had come to terms with the fact that I wasn't going to get the last 3 weeks of pregnancy to physically and mentally prepare for having this baby... he had decided his time was now. A million emotions ran through MM and I... we were anxious, nervous, excited, overwhelmed, overjoyed, and a little scared, at least I was a little scared. No amount of reading, classes, or conversations with mothers can prepare you for exactly what you will go through when you deliver a baby.
After 8 hours of laboring I decided it was time for an epidural. My contractions were getting so strong and coming a minute apart. Unfortunately the anesthesiologist was working on another patient and my wait time for relief was an hour. MM helped me practice breathing through contractions while holding perfectly still so that I would be ready for when the needle was being placed into my back. I think I was just as scared about the epidural as I was about delivering the baby. The thought of a big needle in your spine is always going to sound scary to me, but let me tell you getting the epidural was thankfully much less dramatic than I had made it out to be in my head. As the Fentanyl spread through my lower body I was finally able to relax. My muscles were tired from repeatedly tensing up during contractions. At this point in the night (12:30 A.M.) I was dilated to 3 CM. At 1:30 A.M. the nurse suggested that family leave for the night because as a first time mom I would be laboring all night before it would be time for Baby J to be born. She estimated that I would dilate a centimeter every 1-2 hours. Upon the request of the nurse MM's mom, sister, and Nana left the hospital to get a couple hours of rest at our house before it was time to welcome Baby J into the world.
My mom arrived at the hospital at 2 A.M, I started to feel contraction pain again and the pain grew and grew with intensity. I knew something wasn't working right. MM found the nurse to let her know about my pain and that we thought my epidural was no longer working. She came in to do a dilation check before dosing me up again... to her surprise, MM's surprise, and most definitely my surprise I had dilated the remaining 7 CM in just a short couple of hours and was at that time considered complete. When MM asked the nurse "are we really ready now?", she replied, "well you are, but I'm not, I have to hurry and get set up, I wasn't expecting this yet".
It was now time!! Problem with that is I was no longer experiencing any drug relief and I was past the window to get anymore. I was informed that I was going to have to have this baby the way mother nature intended... which is great for mother nature, but that was NOT the way I had intended on having this baby! I was terrified... I cried. MM handed my mom his phone to tell his mom she better hurry up and get back to the hospital asap. The next 15 minutes were spent trying to breathe through contractions and not pushing when all my body wanted to do was push, push, push! I can't describe the urge your body has to push when it's time, but trying to fight that urge goes against everything your body is attempting to do.
Finally things were set and the delivery process started. MM, my mom, and mom-in-law were all in the room. MM and I had decided about halfway through my pregnancy that we wanted to have just the 2 of us in the room for the birth of our baby, but when the actual time came I was comforted having more familiar faces around me and I know the grandmas were beyond touched to be able to witness the birth of their first grandchild. Something about watching your own babies bring babies into the world, I imagine to be a very full circle type of feeling... a sense of knowing what life is really all about.
The physically hardest 45 minutes of my life came to an end when Baby J made his way into the world on Wednesday, October 6th, 2010 at 3:30 A.M. Exactly 12 hours after my water broke. It's true what they say about the pain being worth the end result. I know the pain I felt, I know the fear I had, but none compares to the love I feel when I look into the face of my baby. This perfect human that is half me and half my amazing husband. INDESCRIBABLE!
Thanks be to God.
At 3:30 P.M. on Tuesday, Oct. 5th MM was hanging out at our worship leader's house about to play some guitar, and I was at home surfing the world wide web when my nesting urge fired up and I decided to head into the baby room for some satisfying organizing of baby items. While standing in the nursery I felt a gush of liquid... an actual gush like people see in movies. I called M to tell him to head home asap because my water had broken; upon getting a hold of my husband he wanted to know if I was absolutely sure I hadn't just peed myself. Now I understand that this is actually a common thing that happens, very pregnant women pee and think it's their water. But the liquid I felt was too much in quantity and came out too fast, so I was positive I had not become a victim of the pee!
A couple hours later we were admitted to Reynold's Army Community Hospital- blood work ran, IV placed, and first round of phone calls made. My contractions at first were mild, felt like menstrual cramps. I as only dilated to 1 CM; it was time to wait it out. By this time I had come to terms with the fact that I wasn't going to get the last 3 weeks of pregnancy to physically and mentally prepare for having this baby... he had decided his time was now. A million emotions ran through MM and I... we were anxious, nervous, excited, overwhelmed, overjoyed, and a little scared, at least I was a little scared. No amount of reading, classes, or conversations with mothers can prepare you for exactly what you will go through when you deliver a baby.
After 8 hours of laboring I decided it was time for an epidural. My contractions were getting so strong and coming a minute apart. Unfortunately the anesthesiologist was working on another patient and my wait time for relief was an hour. MM helped me practice breathing through contractions while holding perfectly still so that I would be ready for when the needle was being placed into my back. I think I was just as scared about the epidural as I was about delivering the baby. The thought of a big needle in your spine is always going to sound scary to me, but let me tell you getting the epidural was thankfully much less dramatic than I had made it out to be in my head. As the Fentanyl spread through my lower body I was finally able to relax. My muscles were tired from repeatedly tensing up during contractions. At this point in the night (12:30 A.M.) I was dilated to 3 CM. At 1:30 A.M. the nurse suggested that family leave for the night because as a first time mom I would be laboring all night before it would be time for Baby J to be born. She estimated that I would dilate a centimeter every 1-2 hours. Upon the request of the nurse MM's mom, sister, and Nana left the hospital to get a couple hours of rest at our house before it was time to welcome Baby J into the world.
My mom arrived at the hospital at 2 A.M, I started to feel contraction pain again and the pain grew and grew with intensity. I knew something wasn't working right. MM found the nurse to let her know about my pain and that we thought my epidural was no longer working. She came in to do a dilation check before dosing me up again... to her surprise, MM's surprise, and most definitely my surprise I had dilated the remaining 7 CM in just a short couple of hours and was at that time considered complete. When MM asked the nurse "are we really ready now?", she replied, "well you are, but I'm not, I have to hurry and get set up, I wasn't expecting this yet".
It was now time!! Problem with that is I was no longer experiencing any drug relief and I was past the window to get anymore. I was informed that I was going to have to have this baby the way mother nature intended... which is great for mother nature, but that was NOT the way I had intended on having this baby! I was terrified... I cried. MM handed my mom his phone to tell his mom she better hurry up and get back to the hospital asap. The next 15 minutes were spent trying to breathe through contractions and not pushing when all my body wanted to do was push, push, push! I can't describe the urge your body has to push when it's time, but trying to fight that urge goes against everything your body is attempting to do.
Finally things were set and the delivery process started. MM, my mom, and mom-in-law were all in the room. MM and I had decided about halfway through my pregnancy that we wanted to have just the 2 of us in the room for the birth of our baby, but when the actual time came I was comforted having more familiar faces around me and I know the grandmas were beyond touched to be able to witness the birth of their first grandchild. Something about watching your own babies bring babies into the world, I imagine to be a very full circle type of feeling... a sense of knowing what life is really all about.
The physically hardest 45 minutes of my life came to an end when Baby J made his way into the world on Wednesday, October 6th, 2010 at 3:30 A.M. Exactly 12 hours after my water broke. It's true what they say about the pain being worth the end result. I know the pain I felt, I know the fear I had, but none compares to the love I feel when I look into the face of my baby. This perfect human that is half me and half my amazing husband. INDESCRIBABLE!
Thanks be to God.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Turning Twenty-Nine
M celebrated his birthday a week ago. Unfortunately his birthday has been over-shadowed by hard-to-swallow medical news about his precious Nana. She has been diagnosed with pretty extensive liver cancer, for which there is no cure; and hers is too advanced for surgery or a transplant. In other words our best course of action now is prayer, prayer, prayer (feel free to join in!!) followed by positive attitudes, spending quality time with her, and following the doctors instructions.
After a hard day at the hospital, the family (Nana included) all went out to eat at a little local restaurant in Bixby, OK that no one had visited in years and years. For such sad circumstances we were all able to have a really great time... good conversation and some great laughs, not to mention the delicious fried pickles. Ok, maybe the fried pickles only made the prego's night.
After a hard day at the hospital, the family (Nana included) all went out to eat at a little local restaurant in Bixby, OK that no one had visited in years and years. For such sad circumstances we were all able to have a really great time... good conversation and some great laughs, not to mention the delicious fried pickles. Ok, maybe the fried pickles only made the prego's night.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
The first one...
After 5 years together, and 1 year 9 months as an official family we've decided to start recording our adventures in life. The biggest reason for this decision is the tiny, little baby which currently resides in my belly (Baby J). That and the fact that the Army is constantly sending us to new places, therefore most family and many friends can't be with us to experience everyday events.
I'm sure I will be the one updating this blog, more than MM (Medical Man- how I will refer to my husband in this public blog as to not use real names), but his experiences, thoughts, and opinions will be reflected through it as well. Looking back I am sure we will both be happy to have memories typed out in black and white. The one negative about blogging is that it makes me feel a great pressure to be clever as I type, maybe because my dear friend Martha who blogs about her family always has clever wit weaved throughout her blog and I want to be like her!
First family adventure to record... my routine 36 week baby check-up that turned into a 3 hour long stay in the hospital, complete with urine and blood lab work all while being hooked to a fetal monitor. My pregnancy has been an easy one with slow and steady weight gain, low blood pressure, and no complications. Yesterday when I arrived at my doctor appointment my blood pressure was high, I had gained 9 lbs in less than 4 weeks, and was seeing spots... those 3 mixed together equaled worry. To make a long and pretty boring story short- blood work came back normal, Baby J's heart rate was strong and he had several accelerations and movements while hooked up to the monitor, so they released me. We are now just waiting on one more test to come back to rule out preeclampsia. If my blood pressure was high upon arrival I can tell you all this stress and worry only made it go up more! Luckily MM was able to attend this appointment so I wasn't alone, and he was great about making me feel better and even getting me to laugh while strapped to all the machines.
I'm sure I will be the one updating this blog, more than MM (Medical Man- how I will refer to my husband in this public blog as to not use real names), but his experiences, thoughts, and opinions will be reflected through it as well. Looking back I am sure we will both be happy to have memories typed out in black and white. The one negative about blogging is that it makes me feel a great pressure to be clever as I type, maybe because my dear friend Martha who blogs about her family always has clever wit weaved throughout her blog and I want to be like her!
First family adventure to record... my routine 36 week baby check-up that turned into a 3 hour long stay in the hospital, complete with urine and blood lab work all while being hooked to a fetal monitor. My pregnancy has been an easy one with slow and steady weight gain, low blood pressure, and no complications. Yesterday when I arrived at my doctor appointment my blood pressure was high, I had gained 9 lbs in less than 4 weeks, and was seeing spots... those 3 mixed together equaled worry. To make a long and pretty boring story short- blood work came back normal, Baby J's heart rate was strong and he had several accelerations and movements while hooked up to the monitor, so they released me. We are now just waiting on one more test to come back to rule out preeclampsia. If my blood pressure was high upon arrival I can tell you all this stress and worry only made it go up more! Luckily MM was able to attend this appointment so I wasn't alone, and he was great about making me feel better and even getting me to laugh while strapped to all the machines.
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