1 month old...

My baby is one month old.  How did that happen?!  Time has gone by so too fast.  It's amazing how much he has changed in just a month.  It feels like I was just going to the hospital to have him, but it also feels like I've known him forever.  I guess in a way, I have.  I've been dreaming of him my whole life.  I never could have imagined a love this deep.  Having a baby completely changes everything about you.  Life is no longer about you.  In an instant, it becomes about that precious life that is yours to protect, love, and guide.  I never knew exactly what being "selfless" felt like.  Now I do.  I would do anything for this sweet baby boy.

Here are a few things about his first month...

He gets cuter every day.

He smiles and laughs in his sleep.

He follows our voices.

He throws both arms up when he sneezes.

He sticks his tongue out when he coughs.

He gets the hiccups pretty much every time he eats.

He usually burps the second you sit him up.

He looks like an old man.  He has lost all the hair on the top of his head...but not the sides.

He likes when I dance around to country music with him.

He likes to look at bright lights.

He goes to sleep the second the car (or stroller) starts moving.

He hates when the sun shines on him in his car seat.  He squints his little eyes.

He doesn't like when we stop at red lights.  He starts squirming around.

When we go under a bridge and it gets darker, he opens his eyes up really wide.

He had his first snow day when he was only 15 days old and another one when he was just shy of a month old.

He only goes to sleep when he is being rocked...oops.

He moans and groans when he is full.

His eyes are still blue and his hair is still reddish-blondish-brown.  No clue what color either will end up.

Sometimes he sleeps 4-5 hours at night, but usually 3.

He always squeezes my arm with both his arms when I am holding his paci in his mouth.

He has me wrapped around his little finger.

Here are some of my favorite pictures of him from the past month...

         

Love you, little man!

Welcome to the World, Baby Boy...Part 2

On Tuesday, the day after Brooks was born, I woke up feeling a little sore.  By noon, after a dose of toradol, I was up walking around and feeling great.  Judging by the amount of swelling in my legs and feet, I might should have taken it easy and stayed in bed.  They were HUGE.  I had no swelling my entire pregnancy so I was very surprised when I looked down and realized my legs looked like sausages and I had cankles.  Gross.  Luckily, the swelling went down by the time I went home on Thursday afternoon.  

On Tuesday, my two nieces were able to come up to the floor and see Brooks through the nursery window.  Unfortunately, they weren't allowed to come to our room to see him.  We weren't supposed to take pictures because of the other babies in the nursery, but since there weren't any babies by the window, we were sneaky and took a few anyway.   

These are some of the pictures I took of him on Tuesday, the morning after he was born. 

On Tuesday and Wednesday, some of my sweet friends from school came to visit Brooks!  Scott, a friend of Clay's from work, and his wife also came to visit.  Katie and Keely came too, but I didn't have their picture on my camera. :)  

We were really hoping to be able to go home on Thursday, but my blood pressure kept getting higher and higher.  In the middle of the night, I had several high readings in a row so the nurse called my midwife and she prescribed a blood pressure medicine.  Luckily, my blood pressure reading was just below what they consider high and we were still able to go home on Thursday.

Wednesday night, I started to get a really bad headache.  I thought it was just my high blood pressure causing it.  I had ringing in my ears and my head felt like there was a ton of pressure.  The next morning, I took a percocet, but didn't have anything on my stomach so I threw up several times, which doesn't feel so great when you've just had a c-section.  Luckily, my nurse gave me zofran before I left so I was able to make it home without getting sick in the car.

 Clay loading up all of our stuff

Me feeling like my head was going to explode

Brooks wasn't a fan of his new going home outfit

Family photo on the way out

First family photo at home

All day Thursday, I laid around with a horrible headache.  Thank goodness my mom and Clay were there to pick up my slack and take care of Brooks.  I literally couldn't get off the couch or sit up without my head feeling like it was going to explode.  I stayed like this for 3 days before I couldn't take it anymore.  I did some research and diagnosed myself with a spinal headache.  Turns out I had spinal fluid leaking from my epidural site which caused the pressure in my head to be thrown off.  Laying flat is the only relief you can get from it.  I had heard from several people that they went back to the hospital and got a blood patch to seal the leak so I called my doctor and he told me to come in.  He wanted to make sure it wasn't high blood pressure causing the headache.  Once I got to the hospital on Sunday afternoon, I got lab work done which came back fine.  I talked to the anesthesiologist and we decided that I did have a spinal headache and that we should do the blood patch.  About 10 minutes later, I had the procedure done, which is basically another epidural, but this time they injected blood into my back.  It was definitely not fun having 2 IVs and 2 epidurals within a week, but it made my headache go away!  I did have a bad backache for about 2 weeks, but it was much better than being stuck on the couch with a headache.  My blood pressure kept creeping up so I ended up staying at the hospital another 4 hours after the blood patch was done.  We finally got home around midnight.  I am so thankful for mom, Coley, and Clay taking such good care of Brooks those few days!!    

Brooks will be 1 month old tomorrow!!  Where has the time gone?!

Welcome to the World, Baby Boy! Part 1...

Well, a lot has changed since the last time I blogged.  On Sunday, January 12, we went to the hospital to be induced because I still had made no progress at my doctors appointment on Friday and I was past 40 weeks.  Since I work in labor and delivery, I knew a little of what to expect so I was more excited than nervous.  The next 24 hours were full of ups and downs, but in the end we were blessed with a beautiful, healthy baby boy.

I thought I'd be able to rest on Sunday night but the medicine they gave me caused me to be up all night with what I thought were just cramps, but now I'm pretty sure they were contractions.  I got a shot of morphine and was finally able to get a little bit of rest.  On Monday morning, they began the pitocin and not long after, I started having very strong, painful contractions every few minutes.  By 11:30 that morning, my water had broken and I was in desperate need for the epidural.  I had no idea that pitocin made your contractions so strong and painful.  I was definitely not prepared for that.  Even after the epidural, I was in really bad pain and I wasn't making a whole lot of progress.  Finally that night, I got more medicine through my epidural and was able to relax a little.  I woke up to several nurses and the midwife in the room telling me that Brooks wasn't tolerating my contractions and that he wasn't in the position he needed to be in to be born safely.  His heart rate was extremely high and then he began having decels (his heart rate kept dropping) every time I would have a contraction.  At first they told me his head was sideways and then I heard that he was face up, so I'm not sure which is correct.  Knowing him now, I'd say he was sideways because he always ends up on his side when he sleeps!  I was barely dilated past 9 cm, but the midwife had me push a few times just to see if I was going to be able to have him naturally...

So at about 8:30, the doctor came in with the midwife and made the decision that we shouldn't wait any longer and that we needed to go to the OR for a c-section.   My worst nightmare was coming true....I was past my due date, had to be induced, labored for almost 24 hours, and then ended up with a c-section any way.  But, I was relieved when they finally made the call.  I knew that it wasn't safe for him to stay in there much longer and that I would get to meet my precious boy in a few short minutes.  So, we prepped for the OR and were on our way within the next 15 minutes.  At 9:14 pm, I heard that sweet sound I had been waiting on for 9 months.  Our baby boy was here and he was PERFECT.

   
Clay was beside me so he was able to take pictures of him as soon as he was born.  Also, the sweet anesthesiologist took pictures on my cell phone.  I'm so happy they were able to catch this moment!  Hearing Clay's reaction to Brooks being born, before I could see him, was one that I will remember forever.  He was so happy and I could hear the tears of pride in his voice.  I was in love before I even saw him.

Clay was able to go to warmer with the NICU nurses.  He watched them clean him off, warm him up, and take all of his vital signs.  They took him to the recovery room with the nursery nurses where he got his first bath (which Clay filmed!) while I was being stitched up.  Within about 15 minutes, I was in the recovery room with my two boys.  This was such a special time for our little family.  Usually, in a normal labor room, you don't get a whole lot of time to yourselves as a new family because you are so excited to have your family come see the baby.  But, since we had to go to the recovery room first, we were able to spend about 2 hours together, just us, before we went up to our room.

Our first pictures with Brooks

It was fun going up to our room because by that time, all the night nurses that I work with were there so it was almost like a parade going through the halls!  Everyone was stopping us, saying hello, and checking out our newest edition.  The best part was seeing all of our family at the glass waiting for us to come by.  I had been waiting so long to see them and I know they were so excited to get a sneak peak of Brooks.

When we got to our room, our moms were the first visitors.  They were in love at first sight.  Brooks is so lucky to have these two in his life.

Shortly after we got to our room, we introduced Brooks to the rest of the family!  My sisters, Clay's sister, and his dad all came to meet him.  I'm so glad they were all able to be there!

 
After everyone left, we went to sleep for the first time as a family of 3 :o)

Part 2...coming soon!



  

Home Stretch

I can't believe this is the last week I will be pregnant!  I am 39 weeks, 5 days...which will make me 40 weeks on Tuesday!  Judging by my December 27 baby birth date pool pick, I obviously didn't think I would make it all the way to (and probably past) 40 weeks.  Clay is still in the running!  Apparently when he picked January 9, he knew Brooks would want to stay warm and cozy since the high on his due date is in the 20s!

Of course there have been sleepless nights and more episodes of reflux than I care to remember, but I have absolutely LOVED being pregnant.  My two favorite parts of being pregnant are getting to see my family so much for different events and feeling/seeing him moving around.  It is still so strange to me that there is a PERSON in my stomach.  It seems like it would sink in after watching so many deliveries, but I don't think it will until they lay him up on my belly and I get to see his cute little face for the first time.  I can't even imagine the emotions that will be running through our minds and hearts.  I am most looking forward to kissing his little cheeks and seeing Clay hold him for the first time.

I am trying to just enjoy these last few days of pregnancy instead of complaining about having to go past my due date!  There are so many people that will never get to experience carrying a baby, so I feel so blessed to get to feel every kick and to share all of it with my family and friends.

I was a little disheartened when I went to the doctor on Friday at 39.5 weeks and she said I had barely even begun to dilate and that we needed to give it another week.  But, when I thought about going through the induction process and still possibly having to have a c-section if we had jumped the gun and tried to induce too early, I realized it was the best decision.  I go back to the doctor on Friday to check our progress and make an induction plan if I haven't delivered by then.  The doctor doesn't want me to go past 41 weeks, which will be next Tuesday so we should definitely have him before the 14th!  I'm hoping to go into labor naturally this week so that we can skip the whole induction process!  

It's hard to believe that my next blog post will be about the birth of our baby boy!  Also, I'm going to go ahead and apologize for all the pictures that will be posted of him.  Just kidding, I'm definitely not sorry. :o)

Praying for an easy, uneventful, safe, and healthy delivery!          

36 week update

Well, my pregnancy has been pretty uneventful up until now.  Other than a little nausea and back pain in the beginning and sleepless nights and acid reflux for the past 3 or 4 weeks, I've had an easy pregnancy.  

When I went to the doctor several weeks ago for my glucose test, I barely passed so they had me redo it.  I barely passed the 2nd one, but they didn't make me do the 3 hour test...thank goodness.  

I went back last week and my blood pressure was high, especially for me.  I usually run less than 120/80 and it was 140s/80s, 130s/90s both times they took it.  They drew PIH labs (pregnancy-induced hypertension) and sent me home with a 24 hour urine jug.  Yehaw.  I tell ya, there is nothing more annoying than having to pee as much as pregnant women do AND having to save it each time.  I went back to the doctor today and my 24 hour urine test wasn't completely normal, but not bad enough for me to have to do it all over again...yet.  My PIH labs weren't completely normal either, but he said the abnormal values were expected to be abnormal during pregnancy.  He checked to make sure I wasn't having any of the preeclampsia symptoms...headache, swelling, blurry vision, seeing spots.  I'm not symptomatic, but just to be safe, he wants me to come back tomorrow to do a biophysical profile to make sure Brooks is still growing like he should be and being as active as he should be.  Brooks is SUPER active, so I'm not concerned about that.  The doctor said I was measuring perfectly so he's not concerned at this point that the baby is having any growth issues related to my blood pressure.

Long story short, he is going to closely monitor my blood pressures, labs and Brooks and if need be, induce me within the next couple of weeks.  He said he would like me to get at least to 38 weeks...(CHRISTMAS EVE!) but if I started to become symptomatic, he would go ahead and induce me before then. Soooo, we might end up having an early Christmas present!  

I definitely went into this pregnancy not wanting to be induced and not wanting a c-section if at all possible.  But, of course, I want whatever is best for me and Brooks so whatever happens, happens!  Going through nursing school and working in labor and delivery has definitely helped keep me calm about the whole thing, so I'm thankful for that.  

Just pray for our little family that everything works out how it's supposed to and that we have a healthy baby boy in the next few weeks :o)

    

Spread too thin...

Never have I thought I "spread myself too thin" until this semester.  Nursing school will do that to you.  I'm sure my friends feel the same way.  Growing a baby, nursing school, working, weekend plans, and clinical is a LOT to squeeze into 7 days each week.

As I was making my "final countdown" to-do list (yes, I sang the Rocky song in my head when I wrote it), I started to get excited and freak out all at once.
1.  I only have 50 days to finish all of these assignments and clinical hours.
2.  I only have 50 days until I am FINISHED with nursing school!
3.  I'll have a baby in 2 months.
4.  I don't know where we are going to live after January.

My goal for the next two months is to take time and enjoy my pregnancy and stop stressing so much about everything that needs to be done.  I refuse to wish away the next two months because that would mean I was wishing away the time I get to spend growing this precious baby.  My mantra for the next 50 days will definitely be, "Just breathe."  


 

25 Week Update

Sorry I've been MIA!  I noticed I hadn't blogged since August 15, which was when school started, so I'll use that as my excuse.

My pregnancy has been fairly uneventful, thank goodness.  Aside from the nausea in Mexico, I've felt pretty good overall.  Even worse than the morning (all day) sickness, was the stabbing pain I had in my back from weeks 20-21.  That was definitely the hardest two weeks of my pregnancy thus far.  I'm not sure if it was due to his position or the stretching/growing of my belly and joints, but it was a sharp nerve pain that made it hard to breathe.  It would come and go, and some days were better than others.  I just pray it doesn't return!

Luckily, I haven't had to deal with any excessive weight gain or swelling yet.  Hopefully, I will stay close to my normal size so I don't have quite as much work to do once he comes!  Note to other pregnant women, don't go from wearing sandals/flip flops to cowboy boots when you get weighed at your doctors office.  They'll imply that you've gained too much weight by telling you to exercise and eat healthy.

I was really nervous going into our last ultrasound.  At our 18 week ultrasound, his heart wasn't big enough to definitively say that it was developing normal.  I wasn't concerned then, but as our next ultrasound neared, I began to run all the "what ifs" through my head.  I was also a little concerned because he said my placenta was "low-lying" and I definitely didn't want to have a c-section if it stayed that way or shifted even lower.  Luckily, all my fears were put to rest quickly.  The ultrasound tech said that his heart was perfect and that all his organs and bones looked great.  Also, my placenta has moved "far away" from my cervix so that is another relief!

The best part of my pregnancy so far has absolutely been watching and feeling him move around.  I love the constant reminder that I am growing a little person in my belly.  He sure is active!  I like to call him my little kick boxer because sometimes it looks as if all four limbs are kicking and punching at the same time, as hard as they can.  To be only a pound or two, he is strong!  I can't imagine how it will be when he gets a little bit bigger!