2 Weeks Old

We just had Jack's 2 week appointment today.  He now weighs 7lbs 8.5oz and is 20 inches long.  He has a hard time sleeping in his own bed and wakes up after just 30 minutes of being there.  But if I let him sleep on my chest, he'll sleep for a good 2 or 3 hours. Not ideal, but I'll take it.  He loves being on his side and will roll onto it automatically if we lay him in our bed.  He has his infamous "OH" face that he makes when he is starting to wake up.  It's my favorite.  He smiles occasionally but mostly in his sleep, but it's still oh so cute.  He hates having his arms tucked in when we swaddle him.  He fights and fights until he gets his arms free.  He use to scream sooo bad when we changed his diapers but I think he's getting more use to it now.  He has breast feed fine from the beginning but would just fall asleep quickly while he ate.  Now he's staying awake longer and is therefore eating and sleeping better.  He's been kind of fussing these last couple of days, but we think it's just gas and have been giving him gas drops.  It seems to be doing the trick... temporarily. Lol.

I can't get enough of him.  I constantly kiss his cheeks, nose, and lips.  I can't help myself.  Alex's dad thinks I'm "sucking the life out of him". Lol oh well.   I'm going to do it until he gets old enough and it embarrasses him... and I'm probably gonna do it even then.  ;)

Alex loves his little boy.  He reads to him and talks to him all the time.  It's adorable.  He has been such an amazing help.  I can honestly say that he has changed more dirty diapers than I have... it's great.  He is just the best and you can tell he loves Jack sooo much.

Pebbles doesn't really know what to think.  She is not use to not being on the bed or couch with us as much as she was before and is desperate for attention.  But she is still a good girl and is just curious.  We let her sniff Jack and see him but that's it... obviously.  I can't wait till they can play together.

We have a great life.  =)

"Oh" face!

Jack's Birth Story

WARNING... LONG POST.

Ok... I'm finally blogging after having our sweet baby Jack.  I've been so busy, stressed, overwhelmed, an tired.  I hear that's normal after having a baby. Lol.

It all started on Thursday April 11th.  I had my 39 week appointment that morning with my dr where he told me I was still just dilated to 1.5 and 90% effaced.  I'd been that way for a couple weeks.  While I was there I asked him to strip my membranes.  I'm not sure if that's what triggered labor or if that was just a coincidence.  There were also a few other things we tried to induce labor that day after work.  Once again, not sure if it all worked or if that was all coincidence as well.

We had dinner at Alex's dad's that night and I felt completely fine still.  Hadn't noticed any changes.  Got home around 8pm and worked on a puzzle we had going until a little after 9pm.  Then we got ready for bed and were in bed by about 9:30pm.  THAT's when it started.  The contractions weren't too bad at first.  They lasted about 1 minute each and went from about every 9 to 11 minutes then to every 6 or 7 minutes then to every 4 or 5 minutes.  They got so painful that after about 1 1/2 hrs of laying in bed and scaring the crap out of Pebbles and waking up Alex with my moaning, that I got up and went into the living room to watch a movie and get my mind off of the pain (Yes, I put in Labyrinth to watch). I was convinced it was just false labor or something and I did not want to go to the hospital just to get sent home again.  No thanks.   I waited another 15 minutes or so and I was done.  I couldn't take it anymore.  I went to wake up Alex and said, "Alex, I think we need to go to the hospital.  They are really bad."  In which his response was, "How long is it going to take you to get ready?"  Which was his way of asking, "How much longer can I sleep?" Lol.  I told him it would take me about 15 minutes and walked to the bathroom to get ready.  At that point, my contractions were so bad that I couldn't even stand anymore.  I was sitting on the floor of the bathroom during a contraction and yelled, "Alex, get up!  We gotta go now!" Lol.  Good times.  He got up and we were gone in about 5 minutes.

On the way to the hospital I called my parents to let them know what was going on in case my mom had to hop on a plane.  I told them not to buy a ticket until I let them know that they admitted me.  I guess I was still  convinced I was going to get sent home. Lol.

We got to the ER around midnight and some lady got me a wheelchair right as we walked in.  Probably because she saw me crouched over almost sitting on the floor as we walked into the ER. Lol.  She wheeled me up to Labor and Delivery where they told me to undress and they would check me.  At this point I was still convinced I was MAYBE at a 2 if I was lucky.  That's when they nurse said, "Ok, you're at a 5.  Let me call your doctor and see what he wants to do."  OH CRAP! A 5?!  How the heck did that happen?!  Alex quickly called my mom and told her to get to Utah asap.

They admitted me and I kept asking when I could get my epidural.  It really didn't take that long though and I had it within 30 minutes.  Oh.  My.  Goodness.  It was the greatest thing ever.  I'd do it again in a heartbeat.  I started getting dizzy and so they gave me an oxygen mask and for some odd reason, I felt like I was in heaven.  That was some gooood oxygen I guess. Lol.  I was so exhausted that I basically slept the whole time I was in labor.  I could not keep myself awake! Around 4am ish the nurses checked me and I was at an 8.  They were amazed at how fast I was progressing with it being my first baby.  By 4:15ish I was at a 9 and my dr showed up about 5 minutes later.  I started pushing and after about 10 minutes the dr told me that Jack's heart rate was dropping and he was obviously uncomfortable with that.  He said that the cord was probably wrapped around him and if he didn't come soon, I'd have to have a C-Section.  I really didn't care, cuz like I said, I was half asleep and I just wanted Jack to be safe whatever it took.  Plus, I remember thinking "Randa has c-sections with all her kids and loves em!"  Anyways... I tried waking myself up again to push.  A couple pushes later, he was born at 4:41am.  And sure enough, the cord was wrapped around his little arm which is what was holding him back and lowering his heart rate cuz he was stressing out.  He was 6lbs 5oz and 19 1/4 inches.

The dr started sewing up my episiotomy and the nurses took Jack away.  My first though when I saw him was, "Holy cow, those are some long feet!"  I have no idea where he got those from. Lol. Anyways, I was confused on why they didn't give him to me to hold because I had told them when we first got there that I wanted 'skin on skin' when he was born.  I was still kind of out of it and trying to stay awake when the dr said something about his lungs sounding funny and they needed to keep him to find out what was going on.  The nurses took him to what they called, 'Transition' where they got an x-ray of his chest.  I guess there was a small hole and so there was air leaking out around his lungs?  I'm still kind of confused on exactly what was wrong (mother of the year, I know) but Alex stayed with him and took good care of him.

I was finally wheeled into transition where I was allowed to hold him for the first time.  I didn't hold him for long though because he was all plugged in to different machines and I was about to puke... again... for the 3rd time. Apparently nauseous is normal during labor?  So they wheeled me to my room and Alex stayed with Jack.  There was some more nausea and puking and sleeping for me.  Good times.  I wasn't allowed to have Jack in the room with us for the 1st day because they had to keep observing him.  They only brought him to me every 2 hrs for 1hr just to feed him, then I had to give him back.   We weren't able to keep him in the room with us until the following day, Saturday.

BTW, when we got to our room, it had been beautifully decorated by one of the nurses who knew us (she went to school with Alex). She had a welcome sign on the door which was written on a pee pad thing as well as a note on the white board and a sign made out of nursing pads. Lol. It made everyone laugh.  She was a great nurse to have around.  =)

My mom was finally able to get there around 10:30am on Friday.  That was the earliest she could find get a flight.  So she missed the birth, but was able to stay with us for 10 days.  It was super nice to be able to nap while my mom watched Jack.  The only people who were in the room with us during his birth was Alex's mom and step mom.  I'm glad they were able to be there.

They circumcised Jack on Sunday morning right before they discharged us.  The pediatrician we chose for Jack doesn't go out to the hospital we delivered at so the pediatrician on call is who took care of Jack.  Oddly enough, he was the same exact pediatrician that Alex and his sister had when they were little.  Yes, this guy is pretty old.  Lol. But he must have a good memory because he recognized Alex and remembered his name as well as his sister's name.   It was kind of cool to meet the man who took care of Alex when he was born as well as my baby boy 25 years later.

Overall, it was a great experience.  After writing it all out, it kind of seems stressful and hectic, but I honestly enjoyed every second of it.  Easiest labor ever.  I never once was worried about the baby or myself.  I felt like we were in good hands and everything was going to be fine.  It was all pretty chill. We are very blessed. =)

Enjoy the pictures.

First time holding him.

After Alex washed his hair and bathed him at the hospital.

Us

His x-ray. Cool eh? 

Poor baby... 

Going home. =)

Maternity Photos at 35 1/2 Weeks

Sorry for the picture overload! And believe me, I cut it down from the over 100 that I had to choose from. These are the same pictures I posted on facebook, but I know some of you don't have facebook so I thought I should post them here too.  Enjoy!  

PS, Yay for 38 weeks tomorrow and our next ultrasound!

36 1/2 Weeks

Whelp, I'm almost done!! I've got a little over 3 weeks left (hopefully less!).  It's hard to believe that on Wednesday I'll be full term.  Can't wait to meet little Jack Jack.  I've had 3 baby showers in the last 3 weeks and have gotten lots of cute stuff!  We're gonna have the cutest little boy ever!  

I'm definitely soooo done being pregnant. 36 weeks is a looong time. Lol. Still been taking Pepcid every day for heartburn and it's working like a charm.  Lower back has been hurting, but not horribly bad.  It's worse in the morning when I first wake up.  Just lots of pressure.  Been getting Braxton Hicks contractions several times a day.  Not fun.  Weekly doctor appointments have been going well.  Jack is about 5 1/2 lbs (as of last Wednesday) and doing perfectly fine.  The doctor said that he is really low and that I'm pretty thinned out, but not dialated at all.  It's been like that for the past 2 weeks.  Hopefully something will have changed by this Thursday when I have my next appointment. I've had several dreams where Jack is already here and they are awesome... until I wake up and realize I'm still pregnant.  Lame. Lol.  Also, this poor kid gets hiccups about 3 times a day (including right now).  I feel so bad cuz I think he's too small to have them... I just wanna hold him and make them stop.  They can't feel good when you are that little =(.  I got my maternity pictures done last weekend and I can't wait to see them.  I've seen one so far and our photographer did great at not making me look worn out and tired... which I am... 24/7.  Lol

Our lease will be up at this end of May and so Alex and I are currently looking for a new place to live.  Preferably with 2 bedrooms.  This 1 bedroom thing is not gonna work for long and where we are currently living is waaaay too expensive.  I hate looking for places to live, but oh well.   Wish us luck! 

Ps, Keta, do you like my necklace?? ;)

Weird?

So I was looking at pre pregnancy pictures/early pregnancy pictures and they almost freak me out.  I'm so use to seeing a fat belly on me nowadays, that looking at those is weird.   I swear they look photo shopped or something.  I don't even remember what it feels like to be that skinny anymore.  I can't wait to be holding my baby in my arms instead of in my tummy and be wearing my old jeans again (If I even ever fit in them again)!!  Anywho... just a random thought for the day!  Happy Monday!

(8 Weeks Prego)

33 Weeks

Whelp... I'm now 33 weeks prego!  Time is going by so fast!  In less than 7 weeks, we'll be holding our little Jack Weldon!  I have a dr's apt next week and then I'll start having them weekly!  So exciting! I love seeing our little bugger at my apt every time.   Even though 95% of the time he is hiding his face with his arms.  Little punk.  Lol.  The dr said he is a little petite, but that he wasn't surprised being that I'm petite as well.  Besides that, baby and me are perfectly healthy.  

I've found the cure to my heartburn is Pepcid AC.  It's awesome.  I take one in the morning and at night and I have no heartburn.  It's the best ever.  Wish I would have started this stuff sooner.  I'm officially peeing like 20 times a day.  It's been like that for about the past 2 weeks now.  It's super annoying.  Jack moves like crazy.  All.  Day.  Long.  People keep telling me he'll start getting too big and won't move around as much... I don't believe them. Lol.  He does flips and punches and all sorts of stuff all the time.  He's especially active in the evenings when I lay on my left side.  I'm gonna miss not feeling him in me once he's born.  

This month is going to be super crazy for us.  I have 3 baby showers planned for me, possible 4.  Then we're also taking my maternity pictures this month as well. All that plus work, and planning and preparing for Jack to come next month.  It's crazy, but we're excited.  

This morning I woke up to Alex "playing with Jack".  It was the cutest thing in the whole world.  He thought I was still sleeping, but I definitely wasn't.  I was on my side and he turned over to hug me and starting softly tickling and poking my tummy.  As soon as Jack would kick, Alex would do it back at him again.  Like they were playing tag or something.  Probably sounds dumb, but it was super cute to me.  Especially for the fact that he thought I was sleeping.  Silly Alex.  When I "woke up",  Alex said to me, "Me and Jack were playing!"  I can't wait to be able to see Alex hold and play with Jack for real after he's born.  It seriously makes me get teary eyed just thinking about it.  Alex is going to be a great dad. 

That's it for now.  Happy March!! 

30 Weeks (almost 31)

So I realized I kind of blog things like, a week late. Sorry?  I'll be 31 weeks tomorrow, but here was me last week at 30!


I have to admit, this week has probably been the hardest.  Idk... maybe not HARDEST but, difficult for sure.  I love feeling Jack move alllll the time, but I think I'm done being pregnant which is sad since I still have 9 weeks left. Lol.  Everything hurts, I'm tired 24/7, getting dressed by myself in the morning is close to impossible and WILL be the death of me, I can't breathe anymore, and sleeping on my side SUCKS.  But besides that, I love it! Lol.  When "they" say the 2nd trimester is the best, it really is.  I didn't really realize it when I was still in it, but now that I'm in my 3rd trimester, I realize how good I had it before. Lol.  I almost feel like I'm reverting back to the 1st trimester stage. Yay?

I'm ready to have him, but at the same time, not ready at all. Does that make sense? I do have to admit that when people ask me when I'm due and I say "April 17th", almost 95% of the time their reaction is "Oh wow, that's coming up soon!" followed by "You're so small!" Thanks?  I never know what to say to that really besides smile and nod.  Knowing I'm in the home stretch of my pregnancy freaks me out.  I don't really think I know what we're in for.  It's overwhelming to think about how much our lives are going to change come April.  I'm freaked out beyond means, but excited too.  Alex, Mr. Happy-Go-Lucky,  is just excited... he doesn't have a worry in the world, I swear. Lol.

Anywho... Utah is FREEZING.  My Jeep's check engine light came on last week.  I bought new sweats from Victoria's Secret last night and I love them.  I have the cutest dog ever.  I'm excited for Valentines Day.  I have a 3 day weekend this week and I'm sooo excited.  Life is good.  =)