Long time coming...

It's been a whirlwind couple of months. I have so much to catch you up on. My last post was in August so I'll start there.

September I had my maternity pictures taken and my baby shower
October threw Nicole a baby shower and got ready for my mom's visit
November - I watched my due date come and go with no baby. I was getting uncomfortable to the max. I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep, and I could barely walk. I got HUGE! I would have sworn I was going to give birth to a sumo wrestler.
Here's his birth story:

On the 9th of November, I had my weekly OB appointment. I got checked only to find that I had stalled. I had made no progess since my last appointment even after having my membranes stripped twice. My Dr. swept them again and then went to talk to the other OB in the clinic. They decided to have me come in that night to start the induction process. She told me to go home, get some rest and eat a good dinner because I wouldn't be able to eat again until after Jackson was here.




So I go home and I am to excited to sleep. I nap off and on but don't really get any rest. Finally around 5pm I go take my shower, take my last belly picture, have my mom braid my hair and head off to dinner. We decided to go to a little place close to base where they have rottiserie chicken and potatoes. I went in to the hospital at 9pm. I was scared, nervous, anxious, and excited all at the same time. My mom took the last picture of Josh and I as a family of 2. I got into the gown and all hooked up to the machines. Around 10, my Dr came in to insert (yes insert) a small pill that would help soften my cervix. I was told to lay flat for 30 minutes to an hour and to try to get some sleep. Why can't anyone understand I am to excited to sleep :P They would be back to check me in 4 hours and see if we'd need to do another dose of that or if we could move on to the pitocin.



4 hours later, my cervix was favorable so they started pitocin. That's when the contractions got worse. They were coming every 1-2 minutes. I was doing really good breathing through them but by 6am they were really starting to get painful. At 7am I was at 4cm and I asked for my epidural. I had a really good anesthesiologist. He explained everything to me and made sure I didn't have any questions or concerns before he started. He talked to me the whole time. I didn't feel it going in. He stayed around to make sure it took and then to test it, it took an ice cube and ran it down my side. I'm very ticklish so I was laughing. All it did was change the cold sensation.



Then my Dr broke my water. According the the monitors, the contractions were getting stronger and harder but I was blissfully unaware. Finally, I allowed myself to relax enough to go to sleep. I had to wear an oxygen mask but I was sleeping so good, I was drooling into it. This is where my time gets fuzzy. I don't know how long it took for things from here. All I know is that after getting my water broken, Jackson started to have issues with the pitocin. So we'd back it off to get his heart rate back up, then my contractions would slow down. Finally after lots of back and forth with that I got to 10cm and it was time to push.



I started pushing at 6pm. The first couple of pushes were easy. Then things took a turn. Jackson was laying on his cord so when ever I pushed he heart rate would dip again. I was told I had one more set of pushes to get him out or they would go to a c-section. When that next contraction hit, They had the vaccum to help and I pushed with everything I had. No dice... At 7pm my room was flooded with Drs and nurses and everything went a little crazy.



I was taken into the operating room for an emergency c-section. My anesthesiologist stayed with me and sat by my head and talked to me the entire time. Josh barely made it in the room before they delivered the baby. Jackson was born at 7:22pm. He weighed 7lbs 12oz and was 21in long. Josh brought him over to me but I didn't have my glasses so I couldn't see him, then Josh and the baby left the room while I got stiched up and taken to my own recovery room. The next thing I knew Josh was coming in telling me how beautiful the baby was and that he was getting hungry so I had to wake up so we could breastfeed him. I didn't know it was 2 hours after he'd been born. I didn't get to hold him until 9:30pm. I couldn't believe it. He's here and he is so perfect. Everyone was right. Once I got to hold him, I forgot all about everything that happened in the past 24 hours.

Josh had 10 days of leave to spend with us and my mom was here until the end of November. It was nice to have her here to help out and especially to help cook Thanksgiving dinner :D

Jackson's first Christmas was spent at home with Mommy and Daddy. He slept through most of the gift opening. I can't wait for next year. Should be much more entertaining. We made sure to get on skype to talk with the grandparents.

After Christmas, Josh's mom came and spent a week with us. She didn't even get her jacket off before reaching for Jackson.

Now it's back to being just us and we are trying to get into a routine. My days are much more interesting now. Sometimes the housework gets neglected because I would much rather play with Jackson.

He's now 2 months old and full of personality. He is the perfect fit for us. He's already rolled over (tummy-back)and he is reaching and grabbing for things. I can't believe how fast he is growing. I've already had to pack some clothes away.

Ok, this is long winded enough. The next post will be a picture update.

xoxo
Mommy & Jackson

Getting ready...

It's all becoming so real. I have 10 weeks left until my due date. Our little boy will be here before I know it. I had my 3rd trimester class yesterday with a Labor & Delivery tour. I got a lot of helpful information along with some things that scared the pants off me. My biggest fear is not being able to figure out how to calm him when he crys. They played a CD of a baby crying that couldn't be soothed. I thought I was going to cry right there in class. I told Josh that he'd come home from work to find Jackson in his swing and me in the corner rocking like some one who belongs in the asylum... lol. I know we'll get through it. It may be tough but I have become so strong I know I can get through anything. And I have a great support system to help me when I need it.

On a happy note, His room is really starting to come together. We just need a few more things for him.


I'm getting a mani/pedi tomorrow. I am so looking forward to that. And then Saturday I am getting my maternity pictures taken with an AMAZING photographer. All in preparation for my baby shower on the 16th!
That's all the updates I have for now, so I will leave you with this 30 week belly picture.


xoxo

Double Digits!

99 days left in my pregnancy.

I am feeling a range of emotions.

I'm so excited to see him, and hold him.

I wonder who will he look like? How bad is labor really?

I'm scared. Will I know what to do? Will I be a good mom?

I'm nervous. About bringing him home, and him meeting the kitties. About being alone with him when the parent's go back to the states and Josh goes back to work.

Right now, I feel him kicking and dancing in my belly and I know he is ok and he is growing fine. I love this feeling but I am sure once her is here everything will be fine. He will be the most loved little boy ever. He has a Mommy and a Daddy who have waited a very long time for him and already love him more then the world. He has grandparents who are looking forward to spoiling him silly. Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins who are already more then willing to babysit. Friends who would drop what they are doing to lend a helping hand.
We have a pretty amazing support system.

I know deep down everything is going to be just fine. Despite all my fears. I guess I am just a natural worry-er. Anyway, enough rambling... :D

Tomorrow I will be 26 weeks. The last week of the 2nd trimester or the first week of the 3rd. Every one counts them differently. I'm in the home strech!

It's a Boy!

I haven't updated but most of my followers already know. We are expecting a little boy. Jackson Asher will be here in November. He's growing like he should and he is a very active little boy. I can't wait to meet him.

We have a lot of the big stuff for him already. Just need to order bedding then it will just be little things. We have decided to breast feed. I'm hoping he takes to it like a pro.

If all goes well, My mom will be here November 1st to help us wait for him. She will be here through Thanksgiving. Then Josh's Mom and his brother should be coming out for Christmas.

On the 27th of this month, there will only be 100 days left in my pregnancy. Since I hit 20 weeks, It all feels like it is going way to fast. As excited and anxious as I am to meet him. I am worried and scared at the same time.

Getting Anxious...

My anatomy ultrasound is in exactly a week from today. It's been so long since the last time I've seen the baby. I want to see bean and make sure s/he is growing on track. I really hope baby cooperates and shows us the goodies so we can figure out if we are having Baby Girl "K" or Baby Boy "J". The suspense is killing me.

Oh another note, I think I have started to feel the baby move. It's just once in a while. I wish I had an ultrasound machine to watch while I felt the movement to see if it really is baby :D

15 week OB appointment

Went pretty well, Baby likes to mess with me and will not let them get a read on the heat rate with the doppler so I was able to get another ultrasound today. Baby G's heart rate was 138bpm And looks great. Still right on for growth and I swear is going to be a dancer or something. Everytime I see little bean, it's always moving. Because of it's position, We couldn't get a good shot for the Dr to try to guess what Baby is so, I have my anatomy ultrasound scheduled for June 17th to figure out. Aahh A whole month to wait still.

Also, I had to take my 1 hour glucose test, The drink wasn't as bad as I thought it would be at first, but towards the end, I felt like I was going to throw up. Josh kept telling me he was going to tape my mouth shut because I only had 15 more minutes to keep it down. He's so loving huh?

Next week is our Budget for Baby class and I am very excited about that one. Then maybe I will start looking in to breastfeeding classes since I am 99% sure I've made up my mind on that subject. Up next, To cloth diaper or not? That is the question DH and I will tackle next.

12 weeks!

So, I've set mini milestones for myself to get excited about. The first being to see/hear the heartbeat, the second was to get through the first trimester.

Today, I am 12 weeks! I've had a relatively easy pregnancy so far. I've had no real major problems, and baby is growing right on track. I hope the rest of my pregnancy goes just as smoothly but then, it wouldn't be like Josh or I to make things easy. :D I am just excited to get to baby shopping! Josh and I decided to wait until 12 weeks to start ordering things. I know things could take a turn at any moment but I feel safer now that the first trimester is behind us. (well, after this 12th week)

We have lots of day trips and weekend trips planned. I've decided that so long as I was comfortable and had the Dr's ok, We are still going to travel like we wanted to this year. I figured we might as well since baby is already packed with everything it needs :D Much easier to travel with now then when it gets here and we have to pack an extra bag or two plus the stroller and carseat.

That's all for now, My next appointment isn't until 15 weeks. I'm going to attempt to con the dr into letting me see baby again, if not, I'd have to wait until I hit 20 weeks. Here's hoping right?

Tata for now
Me & Baby