January 2006

January 01

happy new year!

I did not stay up until midnight (though I did have to get up and pee shortly after) and I really didn't think I would.  We left this morning to visit Jerrys parents.  They are only an hour away and we figured that if something did happen we could get back here in plenty of time.  I only had minor Braxton Hicks today and one contraction that hurt for like two seconds.  But we did go on and pack bags in case something does happen soon.  Jerry has tomorrow off and is going to finish the changing table, although the weather is supposed to be rainy!  At least he can open the garage door and take a fan out to help with the fumes.  I wish I could help, but that stuff is really dangerous for me.  I am going to make a new play list for the MP3 player that has nothing but relaxing music on it to take with me to the hospital.  It'll be soooo much easier than lugging around a CD player.  The only thing our bag is missing is the camera, MP3 player, and extra batteries for both.  Oh yeah and I need flip-flops for the shower...may be more difficult to find as it is January.  Though this weather we're having is more like late March.  I can't believe that we have had two thunder storms in the past week.

ANYWAY, we went to Jerry's folks and his mom had made this huge amount of yummy food!  I ate way too much!  The banana pudding just kept calling my name.... what are you going to do?  We got lots of goodies and it was really good to see everyone.  I wish Jerry's sister and our nieces had been there, but they have longer to drive.  It was a good day though.

The baby has either moved a little further down or has turned sideways because his foot has gone from being right next to my rib to sorta the middle of my tummy.  But I think his head is still down as I am still having lots of pressure on the bladder.  I'm trying so hard not to get my hopes up.  I really don't want to be induced, but I know that they would only induce me to make sure I don't have a toddler instead of an infant... still...we'll see.  If I haven't given birth by the 12th they will schedule another ultrasound to see how big he is (well estimate..but he is pretty big.)

Okay, that's it for now.  I'm beat....

January 04

yep, still knocked up

this is a  total exercise in patience...something i'm not all that good at. yesterday i woke up feeling gross, like i was going to throw up, so i went back to bed.  my friend rachel called later on and came over with her hubby erin and brought me some books to read.  they are so nice.  jerry took me to the mall to walk last night.  it totally started me having mild contractions.  we decided to come home and time them.  there is no pain when i have them...it's just like doing a crunch you can't release on command.  so a bit uncomfortable.  it's weird though.  after each on the baby kicks me as if to say, " hey that's not fun!"  believe me I KNOW kiddo.  anyway, they lasted about 2-4 minutes and were 5- 10 minutes apart.  no where near regular and no where near calling the doctor....sigh...i know it will happen when it's supposed to happen, but it could be any day!   i called jerry at work to tell him that rachel and erin were coming over.  he has caller ID at work.  he answered the phone on the second ring and was all come and said, "hey baby".  after i talked to him for a minute and he realized this wasn't "THE CALL" he said, "did you like how calm I was when I answered the phone?"  i think he is more nervous and excited that he lets on.  he's my rock for sure!

anyway, the baby has dropped so all night i wake up every hour to pee.  if i drink a sip of water if some how quadruples in volume... look at that a hard tummy, the fact that i can type this blog and have a contraction is saying something, but i'm to the point where i would rather it stop me in my tracks...soon enough i guess.

two of my friends and former co-workers are taking me to lunch today so i am off to shower and try to look like a normal pregnant lady...

jerry wants to put the bag in the car incase i go into labor while we are out... we'll see....

send thoughts of baby's entering the world to me please!

January 05

even the spicy food

didn't work.  we went to this place called mayfaire last night to walk around.  we went to Qdoba and i ordered the spiciest thing i could handle.  i really don't do the spicy thing that often.  i got the 3 queso nachos.  we walked for a while, but nothing...well that's not true i was having regular no painful contractions even when we got home.  but as soon as i got in bed they became more sporadic and then stopped.  a week from today and we find out if and when they will induce.  the fact that the contractions are just uncomfortable and not painful makes me think i'm in false labor.

we'll see.  i think i'll work on cleaning the house today.  anyway, jerry is under instructions to post when the baby is born and send out the mass e-mails...but don't hold your breath!  i'm not!

January 06

resigning oneself

to the fact that I am just going to be pregnant forever.  sigh.  i cleaned and fixed the nursery.  i've washed the clothes and I have the guest bedroom ready for my parents arrival.  Today I will vacuum.  I'm still having contractions.  They are a little stronger.  One woke me up this morning.  But otherwise nothing.  I'm uncomfortable and I have to pee all the time.  Ruckus' kicks are so hard that I feel like they are going to come right through my skin.  It has finally turned cold...but only for today and tomorrow.  Then by Monday it is supposed to be almost 70 degrees...

Okay, enough ranting.  I shouldn't complain.  There are worse things that could be happening.  My new favorite thing is my fitness ball.  It's a little under inflated and my new best friend.  I sit on it all the time.  It take pressure off of everywhere...it's totally going to the hospital with me.  You may think I am crazy, but don't knock it 'til you try it.  It's just like floating...ahhhh floating....  If the sun ever comes out today, I'll walk around the neighborhood.  But it's supposed to be windy and cold and cloudy all day....vacuuming will have to be the exercise I get I guess.

My mom's birthday was yesterday!  Happy Birthday mom!  I will call later to see what all they did to celebrate.  Jerry's mom think's with the next full moon I will have the baby...that's not until the 14th...but who can say.  Maybe the tides and stars will all do their thing and it'll get this baby out.  Do you think this is indicative of how he will be later in life?  Never leaving home?  I will be interesting to find out.  I just don't see how he can even move.  Supposedly he is about 8 pounds now...who knows how long he is...

Okay vacuuming...I'm off to do some of that....

January 07

really could i get any bigger?

i really didn't think i was that much bigger than i was at 33 weeks when we took the picture this morning.  but holy moly stromboli!  one can really see how i am soooo ready to have this baby. that's all ...no baby yet....

January 10

stupid msn

no we haven't had the baby. this is the first time in three days i've been able to access my site. i don't know if their server is overloaded or what. i can access other web sites unless it is an msn website and then it sometimes loads. ANYWAY, i'm still pregnant.  my skin on my belly stings it is stretched so tight.  i can't even see my belly button unless i look in a mirror.  i took a walk today and i have been doing squats, but nothing!  so i am just waiting.  we ahve a doctor's appointment on thursday.  maybe that will trigger something.  at least the weather is super nice!  i can't believe that it is mid- january and the temp is close to 70 degrees.  i hope this doesn't mean that spring will take forever to get here.

jerry's mom and one of my friends from the library think the baby will come with the next full moon, which is saturday.  that would be just fine with me.  jerry finished staining the changing table this weekend.  once it's in the room i can fill it with diapers and set up the area for wipes and stuff.  we're using cloth of both so we need water around for the wipes.  jerry's clothes barely fit me anymore.  i swear ruckus is going to kick straight through my skin any minute.  i can almost count his toes when he pushes with his little feet.  there is no way he is going to fit into newborn clothes at all...oh well...good thing we have many sizes.  we've been really lucky in so many people giving us clothes.  i really don't think we had to buy any.

i am trying to sleep as much as possible, but that's hard when i have to pee every ten minutes and my hips are killing me.  i'm just uncomfortable.  but once again my new best friend is my fitness ball.  ahhhhh....i highly recommend spending the money on one of those bad boys.  and get one that's bigger than they say.  i got one according to my height and it was so tiny.  i exchanged it for the biggest one they had at Target and it is much better and oh so comfy.  it'll be great during the birth and then after i can use it to starrt getting back into shape.  it's always been my favorite thing to play on at the gym!

so anyway, if i don't update as often as i would like, it's because i can't log on.  jerry said he can get onto his without too much trouble, so maybe i will make him update his page (we'll see...) i'll continue to try to keep updating though....it only took me since about 9:30 this morning to finally get here...not that i have a whole lot to do these days....

think baby!

January 11

ho hum

this waiting game is killing me!   maybe i should have said i would work longer.  we put the baby seat in the car the other day.  however sits in front of the car seat has to have the front seat all the way up....which means i'll be sitting in front of the car seat.  not that i can fit behind the wheel of the car.  jerry and i are both really anxious to hear what the doc is going to say tomorrow.  i'm trying not to get my hopes up too much.  i've been having really bizarre cravings though.  yesterday all i wanted was chicken ramen....what's that about?  then i wanted french fries...didn't get those.  i am loving blueberry waffles too...though that's not that weird.

i can't believe i got on MSN so quickly this morning.  i don't know what the problem was/is.  i need a project i think.  maybe jerry will finish the changing table today and i can load it up.  that would be fun.

okay that's it for now...blueberry waffles sound yummy for lunch! send good wishes for the appointment tomorrow...

January 12

doctor's appointment

SOOOOOO... the appointment went really well.  We are 3 centimeters dilated (out of 10), my cervix is 50% effaced, and the baby is at station zero.  Unless you've had a baby this probably means  nothing.  To me it means that the baby is just about to come on down.  Today I've been having a few contractions that were a little more than uncomfortable, but nothing regular.  The doc we saw today is on call this weekend and she says she expects to see us at the hospital!  We went on and made an appointment for next week, but we are hopeful!  I will probably go on a walk soon and enjoy the outdoors (it's 72 degrees here if you can believe it!)  Jerry had called the 13th.  His mom has called the 14th.  I called the 18th...we'll see.  It's all very exciting.  Everything is organized by the door and ready to go.  I just can't believe how far down he is.  Station zero is right at the cervix!  The doctor actually felt his head today!!!  I think that's so cool!!!!!!

Anyway, keep sending those thoughts.  I'm going to go sit on my ball and walk and stuff!!!!  WAHOO!

January 13

*smile*

Erin and I would like to announce that we are now the proud parents of 8 lb. 6oz. Elijah Jacob Jones. He was born at 6:00 AM on January 13 after 35 minutes of pushing. I haven't yet collected my thoughts and set down my memory of the birth, but when I do I'll be sure to post the narrative here on and my site. *cheer* He's a sweet baby boy. He's a little nonchalant about eating right now, but he's had a long day too. I think he would rather sleep than eat. He appears to be hale and hearty and is awfully curious about the goings on around him. Let's see...his official stats are weight 8 lbs. 6oz. height 20 inches head 14 inches (diameter) chest 14 inches toes = fingers = 10 That's it for now. papa = mama = exhausted. :p

January 14

an a-typical birth story...now we are home...

Jerry was so sweet to update my page for me.  What a past few days.  It still hasn't set in that we really made this being and he's going to be around for a long time.  When we got home, it startled me when he started to cry.

He's so good!  Last night Elijah and I had a little talk and he is now nursing regularly and loves it (while I am glad he is such a good little latch and sucker...my breasts are not so happy...but this too shall pass.)  I am sore, but healing well.  I had a small tear (who wouldn't pushing a 14 inch head through a 10 CENTIMENTER space....I mean something had to give...) so I am a bit uncomfortable, but it was all worth it.

My version of what happened...

After our doc appt on Thursday I had non-painful, non-regular contractions.  I went to bed at 11:00 pm Thursday night.  MY water broke at 12:50 am Friday morning.  We called the doc on call and she said we could go to the hospital or stay home.  We decided the hospital just to be on the safe side.  We didn't rush.  I really thought they would tell us we were maybe 5 centimeters.  My contractions were still not regular, but did hurt a bit more.  We got to the hospital around 2 am and checked in.  (Note to those who are planning on this pregnancy thing...take a trash bag in the car to sit on.  I was saturated when we got to the hospital!  But we saved the seats!)  On the way up to the labor and delivery ward I stopped to throw up...it made me feel better.  After checking in, I changed clothes and the nurse did a pelvic exam.  I was wound up and bracing for a long night/day in labor.  She stepped back from me and said she was going to page our doc because we were 7 centimeters and 90% effaced!!!  This was amazing to me.  Labor picked up.  The pain SUCKS!!!!  I was having back labor and NOTHING helped.  But Jerry was there and supported me and answered questions.  The hospital ad our doc were awesome at following our birthing plan.  Though I never left our room to walk and never used any of the things I took except the birthing ball.  I did sit in the shower for a while...this helped lots!  (By the way, my husband had not yet gone to bed when my water broke...how awesome is he?!)  When I reached transition (the hardest part of labor...usually the shortest and always right before birth) I thought I was going to die!  The nurse came in and asked if I wanted another pelvic exam.  I told her only if it was good news...she found this humorous...anyway we had the pelvic and I was at 9 centimeters and 100% effaced.  Regardless that I knew it would be over soon, I was begging Jerry for drugs anything to stop this pain!  I finally got comfortable (understand this is does not mean that there was not anymore pain...it was just the only way I could deal with the pain.)  I was flat on my back at the end of the bed with Jerry supporting my shoulders and head.  Jerry knew that when I said I felt like I needed to poo, that it was time and called the nurse.  We were almost at 10 centimeters with just a little lip.  At the next contraction the nurse pushed the lip over the baby's head and it was time to start pushing.

I want to stop here for a minute and say that I have read and heard that pushing is a great experience and that it feels awesome...these women must have had little itty-bitty babies....

Pushing was not only the hardest thing I have EVER had to do in my life, I was the most painful thing.  In Bradley class our teacher told us not to be on our backs when we push.  Our doc said we could be in any position...I honestly was so tired that I couldn't have turned over or been in any other position and still have pushed.  So there I was on my back with my feet in stirrups and waiting for the next contraction.  I looked at the clock at 5:25 and asked if we could have the baby by 6a.m.  Everyone in the room said I could if I pushed hard and well.  I was determined.  I was also determined to not see anything that would freak me out.  So I kept my eyes closed while I pushed and only opened them briefly to glace at the clock.  I was given oxygen because the babies heart rate was dipping (Jerry told me later that it went down to 82 beats/minute) I also accepted a topical numbing drug because they knew I was going to tear (only one stitch...no episiotomy!!)  this was the only drug I accepted during the whole labor and delivery.   I will say that after the baby's head came out, things felt a bit better and after that the shoulders came out and that felt GREAT!!!!!  After Elijah was born they put him on my tummy because this is as far as the cord would go.  The cord was apparently the thickest they had ever seen.  When I delivered the placenta they were amazed again.  It weighed almost as much as the baby!  I won't bore you with the cleaning up details and hospital stay.  We had an interesting night last night.  Jerry came home to sleep (he snores really loud, so I wanted him home so Elijah and I could try to sleep.)  Elijah and I bonded and slept for about 3 hours straight and cat napped on and off.  We were treated VERY well at the hospital and I think we had an ideal birth.  I don't think it was typical at all.  In all reality we were in painful labor for less than 4 hours and I pushed for only 35 minutes before giving birth.  I really don't think this is typical, but I am glad it was my a-typical birth.

I am still in awe that he is here and so absolutely beautiful and so good.  He had his first dirty diaper yesterday and Jerry went to change him and got peed on...it was pretty funny...

Elijah and Jerry are watching football right now...well Jerry is.  Elijah does not like to be put down alone at all, so we take turns holding him through naps...or napping with him...

we are so happy to be home!  thanks for all the well wishing!!!

January 19

a rough 48 hours

To start off...we are all doing well.  Now what happened.  Little Elijah had his first doctor's appointment on Monday the 16th.  The doc was a little concerned at his coloring and sent us to have blood work done.  His bilirubin count was a bit high and we repeated the test.  What is bilirubin?  It's the stuff that causes babies to be jaundice.  It happens to all babies, but if the count gets to high it could be really dangerous.  The second test was higher than the first so we were sent to the hospital's pediatric ward.  Here they gave Elijah phototreatment.  This was the most traumatic for me.  He had to be in a little isolette and had these things on over his eyes to protect them and all these lights were on him.  He was very unhappy as he is such a cuddly baby.  I was allowed to take him out to breast feed, but he was so upset he stopped taking my breast.  His count kept going up and we were allowed to take him out at all.  We could still touch him and whatnot.  The staff brought me a pump (it was hardcore and rather painful, but at least I got to pump...my pump was at home, and I refused to leave my little guy) I was terrified he would never go back on the breast.  But at least he was eating and this seemed to calm him down.  He was also hooked up to an IV push to help him process stopped faster.  Last night his count really started coming down and staying down so we got to have him out again.  He took immediately to the breast again!  He slept with either me or Jerry waking up only to feed.  He had to stay on a biliblanket (it's a blanket with these lights in it) but that was very manageable.  We were able to come home today without any extraneous things.  He has to be put in direct sunlight 3 times a day for 30 minutes at a time and we have to make sure he eats well and is having several dirty and wet diapers daily.

We are glad that no transfusion was involved (if the count had gone higher, this would have had to happen.)  We think that his liver had just not finished developing all the way.  But he is doing great now!

He has learned to latch on in the cradle position (he would only latch on earlier on the side and now he latches on to the front...like most pictures of nursing women...it's much more comfy to me and hopefully to  him.)  And while he still latches on very well, it's not nearly as painful as it was.  Either he got just a little lazy from the bottle or my breasts got toughened up from that pump or maybe a bit of both.  While he is still a very cuddly baby and prefers to be held, he will take a nap and sleep independently of us. So while it was traumatic, good things have come out of it.  My parents are THANKFULLY here to help.  So Jerry and I can finally get some rest.  They bring Elijah in for feedings and have done a crazy amount of cooking.  We were not brought food as we weren't the the patients, so mom and dad came to the rescue.  Jerry even got a chocolate pie for his birthday yesterday... it just sucked we had to be in the hospital for his day.

Okay, I need to go sleep a bit more while Elijah's knocked out.  I'll try to keep this updated as thing progress...you'll understand why I have taken no pics in the past couple days, but I sure we'll have more soon!

January 22

cloth diaper humor!

So we want to use cloth diapers.  We waited until Elijah's cord fell off and we decided to give it a try.  We had bought these covers that said they were good for 22 pounds and under.  I guess I didn't stop to think that maybe what could fit a 22 pound baby might be a smidge big on a 8 pound baby.  So then we decided to try with just the diaper, using pins.  Also didn't work very well, as neither of us could get the diapers tight enough with our little soccer players legs kicking so much.  We thought it was hilarious.  So we are still using the diapers people have given us and ordered cover specifically for his weight.  Hopefully those will arrive before we run out of disposable.  It's amazing to me how many diapers this little guy can go through!  I'm glad we don't have to buy any more!  We did this calculator that showed us that we would break even using cloth diapers by the time he is five months.  Not to mention that we will never have to buy any more diapers for the next kids.  It may take some getting used too, but so does breastfeeding!

Okay, I think my guy is about to fall asleep and I think I would like to nap before his next feeding...boy is my milk in and it shows when I put on a tank top!!!

By the way, we are all doing well.  Eli has a dr.'s appointment on Friday!  Hopefully it will be all good news!

January 25

just a quick note

just wanted to let everyone know that all is well.  we are just tired and totally engrossed with our cutie!  i'll write more later!

 

January 28

so sleepy

we went to the doctor's yesterday and got a clean bill of health!  our little guy now weighs in at 9 pounds 2 ounces!  i thought he felt heavier!  he has a little bit of a stuffy nose.  let me tell you how fun putting saline drops into an infants nose is...

jerry and i have been trading nights off.  jerry will stay with Elijah one night and bring him in just for feedings and then i will stay with him the next night.  it's nice, because we both end up getting some sleep.  regardless i usually take over at 6 in the morning just because i'm up by then anyway.

we finally have success with the cloth diapers.  we got the right sized covers the other day and while the are bulky, they are snug.  we've really only had one leak and it was just pee (thank goodness!)  hopefully these will last until he is big enough to fit in the others, otherwise we'll have to get the next size up.  we'll see.

so how long ago did they change the format here?  i totally haven't been paying attention.

mom and dad left this morning.    they'll be back in march sometime.  but this is a chance for me and jerry to do this on our own...it had to happen eventually.  i think we are ready.  it's not like the little guy does a whole lot...though you wouldn't know it from the way we constantly stare at him.  he has these expressions that he goes through in his sleep that just crack us up...not to mention the little noises he makes...speaking of which....