Thursday, May 17, 2012

Sweet Sleep

I actually got to sleep for 3 hours at a stretch TWICE last night!  I feel so good this morning! haha.

Last night, I was irritated when I had to get up after being asleep for just 30 minutes. Jonah wasn't really sleepy after eating, so I put him in his swing instead of the crib.  He seemed content and looked like he was getting sleepy, so I went to bed.  I got to get back in the bed around midnight.  The next thing I know, he was fussing and it was 3:17 am!  Sweet sleep!  After he ate and I changed his diaper, he was awake again.  So, I put him back in the swing....and off to bed I went.  He slept from 4 am to 7:15!!  I felt like I got a whole nights sleep!  Wahoo!!  After that he slept from around 8 til 10:30ish.  I was able to sleep a bit more and make myself from steel cut oatmeal for breakfast!

All in all, it was a really good night!  I hope tonight is as good!

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

2nd Trip to the Pediatrician

Yesterday Jonah went to the Pediatrician for the second time.  

His first trip was last Monday when he was 11 days old.  On that first trip he weighed 7 pounds and 10 ounces and he was 20 inches long.  He had already gained back to his birth weight plus a little extra.  (His birth weight was 7lb 6 oz. and his length was 19 3/4 inches)

Yesterday, he weighed 8 pounds and 8 ounces and was 20 and 1/2 inches long!  Dr. Deweese was really pleased that he was able to gain that much weight in a week!  He said, "Most breastfed babies aren't able to gain that much weight"  Yay!  Hearing that kind of stuff sure makes a mom feel better!

I was a little late getting to this appointment.  I was running a bit late anyway, since Jonah decided at the last minute that he was hungry.  I didn't want to go to the doctor with a screaming kid, so I fed him quickly.  Then, after I put him in his carseat and was about ready to walk out the door...... I couldn't find my keys!  I looked everywhere.  He was crying.  I was a mess and starting to freak out.   Finally, I looked in my purse AGAIN...and they were there.  Sheew!  I was only about 10 minutes late....and they didn't seem to mind at the doctor's office at all.







Dr. Deweese said he thought we had a really good baby! He still heard his heart murmur, but he said he could just barely hear it!  So, hopefully it is getting better!

Friday, May 11, 2012

Another Good Night!

Jonah slept last night in his crib again!  I was up about every 2 hours (one stretch was 3 hours, yay!) but he went right back to sleep after I fed him, burped him, and changed him)  We got up around 10 and went downstairs, where I made myself a huge soaked flour pancake with peanut butter and real maple syrup.  I also cooked 2 pieces of sausage and I drank some raspberry leaf tea and a tall glass of whole milk.  Yum!  While Jonah was napping, I even got a chance to clean up my breakfast mess and unload the dishwasher.

Now Jonah and I are hanging out....he is about to fall asleep...and I think I might just take a little nap myself.  Or, I may just rest and watch the rest of the Criminal Minds episode that I DVR'd on Wednesday night.

I'm happy that Jesse gets to come home early from work today! He'll be home around 4 or 4:30!

Tomorrow, I need to go to Walmart.  I think we might try going with Jonah and I'm a bit nervous about it.  Maybe I'll go in and make Jesse and Jonah wait in the car....  I'm worried about germs!  haha.

 

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Jonah is 2 weeks old today!

I know everyone always says "I can't believe my baby is ____ weeks/months/years old already," but Jonah's first week seemed sooooo long that I don't really feel that way.  That week in the hospital seemed like an eternity!

Last night Jonah spent the whole night in his crib. He was sleeping in his swing in our room before.  He didn't have any crying fits at all. I just fed him and he fell asleep.  I hope he keeps it up tonight!


Sunday, May 6, 2012

The First Night Home

Jonah's first day at home was a short one.  We weren't able to leave the hospital until 6 pm.  On the way home he slept like a champ in his car seat! He stayed asleep for awhile and was a good little boy...for awhile.

In the evening, I went to change his diaper and as soon as I did, he started peeing up over his head! It went all over himself and all over the carpet in his room!  Yes, I know that boys do this, but knowing about it doesn't prepare you.  It is impossible to move fast enough to catch it!

A little while later, he did it again!  And about 20 seconds later, he shot poop out like a missile....and about 20 seconds later, he did THAT again!   Even though I covered it with a cloth diaper, the poo went all over the new changing pad cover that his Nana sewed for him!

If there is one thing I learned the first night, it is that babies equal lots of laundry!

I was so freaked out after the poo and the pee went everywhere that I stressed out and yelled for Jesse.  I think Jonah picked up on my nervous vibe and he kinda freaked out too!

We had a hard time getting him to chill out and go to sleep after his feedings all night long.  It was a rough night, but we made it through!


Jesse slept most of the night on the couch downstairs with Jonah near him in his swing.  I did manage to get some sleep upstairs in our bed, but only for a couple hours at a time.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Jonah's Birth Story - Part II

For some reason, my contractions were not regular at all.  As it got closer to midnight the contractions were getting really strong.  They were coming in a strange pattern.  I'd have 3 or 4 contractions in a row.  Then I'd have a break, and then 3 or 4 more in a row.

At 12:15, I mentally decided that I wanted an epidural.  I had already decided that if I wanted pain meds that I would have a 30 minutes "wait and see" period.  At 12:45, Kim, my midwife checked and I was 5 cm dilated.  I couldn't mentally wrap my head around the fact that my contractions were going to get worse and I was going to have to do it for about 5 more hours and then still have to push.

So, I told them I wanted the epidural.  I wasn't able to get one until around 1:30 am.  At that point, I was so happy to have the pain gone, I kept repeating, "I'm so glad I did this!"  Ha!

Then, the heart monitor kept messing up and Jonah's heart rate would drop really low when I had a contraction.  So, every time this happened, the nurses would run in, put me on oxygen and freak me out.  Eventually, they talked me into getting an internal monitor on Jonah's head.  I didn't want to do that, but I wanted to make sure my baby was safe.

After that, the low heart rate continued with my contractions.  Kim had to consult with the FamilyCare OB/GYN that was on call, Dr. Kasturi.  She came in and scared me into getting a c-section. Honestly, I don't really remember what she said.  I just remember being scared for Jonah.   I just wanted to make sure that he was okay.

So, the anesthesiologist came back and gave me more drugs to make me completely numb.  They wheeled me into the operating room. I honestly have no idea where the time between 1:30 and 4 went.  I can't remember much of anything except being so scared for Jonah.

Jesse went in to the OR with me, of course.  He sat there and held my hand.  They put up the drape and a few minutes later we heard the sound of our baby's first cries!  Both Jesse and I started crying immediately, even though we couldn't see him yet!

I watched as they weighed him and whatever else they have to do right after birth.  They wrapped him in a swaddling blanket and placed him on my chest.   It was an amazing moment!  He weighed 7 lbs and 6 oz and was 19 3/4 inches long.  His APGAR score was 9/9.

~To Be Continued~

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Jonah's Birth Story - Part I

On Tuesday, I spent the day cleaning the house.  I did all my normal weekly cleaning and a little extra.  In the evening, I did some laundry and ran the vacuum cleaner.  I wore myself out with all the work.

(TMI alert!)
Then, as I was bending down to get something out of the dryer, my water broke.  Of course, at the time I wasn't sure that it was my water.  It wasn't a huge gush or anything.

I didn't continue, so I went about my business and went to bed.

In the morning, I woke up around 7:30 am and it happened again.  So, I tried to call the birth center.  I got their answering service and as soon as they answered, the call disconnected.  I went back to sleep.  A little while later, I got up and it happened again.  I tried to call the birth center from that time until 9:45...with the same problem.  I would be on hold for around 7 minutes and then, when the woman from the answering service said hello, the call would disconnect.  By 9:45, I was extremely frustrated.  I tried every phone number that I had for  FamilyCare with no luck.   Finally, at 9:45, Jo, the secretary at the birth center, answered the phone!

I had an appointment for later that day at 3:45, but when I told her what had happened, she said I should come in right away.  I made it there around 10:30.

The midwife there was Rebecca White.  She tested me to see if the fluid was amniotic fluid, and it was.

Now, the problem is that if you don't go into active labor without 18 hours of your water breaking, there is a chance of infection in the baby.  I had already had my water broke for close to 15 hours.

So, they tried to get my labor started naturally...but it didn't work.  I wanted it to start naturally because I wanted to have Jonah at the Birth Center.  They won't induce labor there.

They sent me home, told me to eat a good lunch....and if I didn't go into labor on my own, I had to go to the hospital to get induced.  It didn't happen on its own.   At around 2 pm, we left to go to the hospital.

I was taken to a labor room and they said I was about 1 cm dilated.  They first broke my water more, since it was only barely broken.  I walked around the hallway, trying to get things started on their own.  Nothing happened.  So, they hooked me up to monitors and gave me a hep-lock IV in my hand...and started the Pitocin at around 6 pm.

Soon enough, the contractions started coming.  They were really easy at first because I wanted to start the Pitocin off really slowly.

Honestly, I don't remember much from between 6 pm and 12:15 am.  One thing I do remember is that I'm super-glad that my doula, Carrie-Meghan was there with me.  She met me at the hospital and was with me all night.  During my contractions, she would do just about anything and everything to make me more comfortable.


~To Be Continued~  


Thursday, April 19, 2012

38 week checkup

Yesterday I went to my 38 week checkup at the birth center.  My blood pressure was good, urine was clean, and weight was right on target.  I'll just go ahead and share that I began my pregnancy (at my 8 week appointment) at 121 pounds (my scale at home said 114 lbs on the same day, but that's another thing) Yesterday, I weighed 146 pounds.  So, as of now, I have gained 25 lbs.  They say for a healthy baby, you should aim to gain 25 to 35 pounds, so I guess I've done pretty well.

My belly is still measuring right on target for my due date and Jonah's heart-rate sounded healthy and happy!  I was wondering if they would check my cervix to see if it was dilated yet, and they told me that they don't do routine checks of the cervix.  She said that she would if I wanted her to, but that checking for dilation is a waste of time.  This is because someone can walk around at 3 or 4 cm dilated for a month or more....and someone else could be at 0 centimeters and give birth the next day.  It doesn't matter at all.  

They also don't try to make predictions about how much a baby weighs.  They say they are never right (unless you get a late 3rd trimester ultrasound) and that doctors just use their predictions to try to scare women into getting a planned c-section (which is more convenient for the doctor).

So, no, I don't know if I'm dilated....and, no, I don't know how big he is either.  Sorry.  For some reason, these are the questions that people ask.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Getting Close!

Wowsers! I can't believe that Jonah's due date is only 12 days away!  Where did the time go?

I'm still feeling really good.  I've been going out and walking almost every day.  It seems to help my swollen feet! Spring Break was great and I got a lot of stuff done.   Jonah's room is ready for him now!  I hope we have everything that we need!  I'll tell you what I don't need: ONESIES!  I have a TON of newborn sized onesies...so many that I'm sure he will have plenty that he'll never be able to wear.  I'm going to be sure to put him in my favorites and the cutest ones as much as possible.  He'll only be newborn sized for a short period of time!

I'm getting excited to meet him, but I'm still really anxious about all the changes in my life.  Jesse and I sat down and watched War Horse last night, which is a 2 and a half hour movie.  I'm pretty sure that isn't going to happen for awhile.....and if it does I'm pretty sure that we'll be sleeping through most of it!

I have an appointment at the Birth Center today after school.  I'm hoping to find out some information about how much longer I'll have to wait to meet my lil guy!  If I had to guess, I'd say he's coming in April.... not in May.  I think he'll come sooner rather than later.  However, I could be very wrong! It seems that first time mom's tend to go closer to 41 weeks.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Things I Want To Remember...

  1. The feel-good endorphins while pregnant!
  2. The lovey-dovey feeling for my husband, especially when he is doing a project for the baby! 
  3. Being concerned about your belly ALL of the time
  4. Hating the word, PREGO.  ugh! 
  5. The peaceful, sweet feeling of just sitting in his room.
  6. Loving the great accomplishment of scratching something off the baby to-do list
  7. The stressed out feeling of all the things to do.
  8. The first parental worries.. like the thought, "I haven't felt him move for awhile"
  9. Drinking something cold or eating something sweet....just to feel him move!
  10. The double-takes people give you when you are in public
  11. People getting mad at you for climbing on a chair.  
  12. People taking care of you....and getting you lots of pillows.
  13. Comments from people that make you feel huge.  HA!
  14. Every time you call someone they ask if everything is alright. 
  15. Feeling the need to organize....everything.
  16. Feeling so nervous about how life will change!!!
  17. Crying every time I see a baby product commercial (especially those, "having a baby changes everything" commercials!)
  18. Reading, reading, reading....books on nursing, feeding, sleeping,...blogs on scheduling, diapering, labor, etc. etc. etc. 
  19. Spending lots of money!
  20. The generosity of people who get to give you cute baby stuff
  21. Having about 50 size newborn onesies
  22. The feeling of finding a baby sock in my laundry for the first time!

Friday, March 30, 2012

Mouse in the House (part 2)

So, Jesse actually stayed home from work after the mouse incident.  He went to Home Depot and bought some mouse traps and caulked up some holes near the heating/cooling units.

Later, that evening... Jesse walked upstairs and found Kitsy hanging out in our extra bathroom.  She never goes in there, so this was odd.  He says, "Kitsy, whatcha doin' in there?"  and she responds with a little cat noise.  As she makes the noise she turns her head up quickly towards the ceiling.  Jesse follows her eyes and sees that the mouse is running across the shower curtain rod!  

So, he throws his shoe at the mouse, knocks it out, and it falls into the bathtub! Kitsy then got the mouse, but Jesse had to kill it with his shoe.  

It is sad that the cute little guy had to die, but he did keep us up all night, so I didn't feel too bad.  

Hopefully that was the only mouse.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Mouse in the House

What a crazy night and morning that we had!  Jesse and I woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of a mouse trying with all his might to escape the fresh-air return in Jonah's room.  It was so loud and right on top of our heads!  Needless to say, we didn't get much sleep.  Jesse was up and out of bed more than he was in the bed.  He didn't want to open up the return and have the mouse run around in Jonah's room.

I told him to get the cat (who was in the garage), but we were both pretty sure that the mouse would run around and Kitsy would chase it and things would get toppled and broken....and maybe even bloody!

So at 3 am, we moved to the spare bedroom and slept there.  Which was difficult since I had to bring my 11 lb (not exaggerating) memory foam body pillow to a full-sized bed.  At least we couldn't hear the mouse any more.   I don't know about Jesse, but I woke up a lot.

I overslept by more than twenty minutes!  Then....while I was trying to cook my breakfast, I thought I saw something move across the floor!  Then....there it was!! A little mouse sitting by our garage door.  It was actually pretty cute!  I got Kitsy to come chase it and before I knew it...she had the thing in her mouth and was running upstairs with the mouse in her mouth!!

Jesse locked them both in the spare bedroom.....  and I had to leave for work.  So I don't know how the story ends.

~to be continued~

Thursday, March 15, 2012

almost 34 weeks

I'm getting closer to being able to hold my baby boy! I'm so excited, but at the same time I'm scared!  I'm not scared of labor.  Actually, I have pumped myself up over labor and I'm really excited for it.  I can't wait to see what Jonah's birth story will be like!  I'm nervous about taking a baby home and the huge change in my life!  Labor is only a day or so.... but my life will never be the same!

I went to the birth center last Friday for my latest appointment.  Jonah is still facing head down and doing great.  His heart rate is gradually slowing down as his lil heart gets bigger.

People are constantly looking at my belly and telling me that I'm about to have a baby any minute! They say, "Any day now?"  or  "Gosh, you are getting close!" and when I say, "I still have ____ weeks left"  They say, "Really?!"  or " Wow, he might come early!"  

Sheesh! Thanks people!

Even thought I do still have 6 weeks left, my belly does look really big....but I guess I will still grow quite a bit more.    

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Jonah's Baby Shower!

On February 25th, my sister-in-law, Alyson threw me and Jonah a baby shower. My sister-in-law, Bekah helped too.   It was a lot of fun!  Alyson did an excellent job and went all out on decorating and the food.  It was great!

We decided on a whale theme, of course...and I wanted to use colors from his room so I could use some of the decoration stuff in his room later.




Cute whale cake baked & decorated by my Mother-in-Law, Teresa.






My niece, Carly, helping with the gifts

Everyone filled out "Dear Jonah" cards with our wishes for Jonah.





My niece, Caylan.















Friday, February 24, 2012

30 Weeks

I just got home from my 30 week checkup with my midwife.   I'm currently measuring at 32 centimeters, which is normal.  Jonah's heart rate was around 130 beats per minute and she said it sounded great!




At my last appointment, when I was 28 weeks, I had to have blood drawn for the glucose tolerance test.  They also tested my iron levels.  I got the results back today and everything was great! She said my glucose levels were "awesome" and my iron level was in the normal range.   I also gained 2 pounds since the last appointment, which is normal.  They say to gain about a pound a week during your third trimester.  So far my weight gain has been just right.  According to my home scale, I started out around 114 pounds.  Currently, I weigh around 132 pounds.  I still have about 9 more pounds to gain if I gain just one pound a week.  So, it is looking like I'll end all of this at around 141 pounds.

In my photography class the other day, I was talking to one of my students about how much weight I had gained.  He said, "It's ALL baby!"  haha!  I don't think Jonah is 18 pounds..but I knew what he meant!  Almost all of the weight I've gained is in my belly.  It is huge! I can't believe that it is going to get even bigger!  I'm very happy that I haven't gained a bunch of weight in my arms, legs or face!  I just this week started noticing that my face looks a little fuller.   Hopefully, it won't take me too long to lose it after Jonah gets here!

On a different note, here is a sweater that my mother-in-law bought for the little man.  Whales, of course!



I finally finished the orange valance for his room.  I like it!



Here is the complete beach outfit for Jonah.  My mom bought the hat, sunglasses and flip-flops.  Jesse and I bought the trunks and matching rash guard shirt.   He'll be super cute at the beach!



The other day, I found some items on the Facebook Putnam County Yardsale page.  I bought an orange Moby wrap for just 2 dollars...and I bought this playmat for only $10.


Here is a wooden Melissa & Doug toy that my mom bought for Jonah.  He probably won't be able to really play with this for a while....but it really looks cute in the nursery! 


Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Welcome to Jonah's Crib!


I finally got these illustrations from Caps for Sale put in the frames.  I love them! I'm waiting for the final placement of all the furniture in the room before we hang them on the wall.




 Jesse (and I helped a little) put Jonah's crib together a few evenings ago.  I love the crib, it looks exactly how I wanted it to look!


Jesse also hung up the curtains. He's really been working hard on getting this room ready! Babies are one project after another....and a lot of putting things together!    Now, I'm going to sew an orange valance for the top!