Jack's first peds appt

Since he lost 10% of his birthweight in the hospital I had to take Jack in today for a weight check (as did both of my other two...evidently times have changed and that is no longer OK. Maybe if they had given me my baby sooner my milk would have come sooner...*steps down off soapbox*.). Where was I?

Oh yes. His appointment. In the 36 hours we had (at that time) been home from the hospital he went from 6.15 lbs (discharge weight) to 7.33 lbs. My doctor was impressed with the cream I am evidently producing for my boy. I'm not gonna lie, I was relieved so as to get everyone off my back (I knew he'd make up for it...I mean, look at Chris and me...we're not exactly what you'd call scrawny...). Anyway, so he is 25% in weight, 75% in height (laughable, but whatever) and 50% in head (and it's funny, hats that fit Ryan perfectly fall down and cover up his eyes. Hilarious.). On another note, evidently medical thought has changed since my last baby (I feel so out-of-date already...geesh) and breastfed babies are supposed to be given vitamins every day starting from day 1. Seriously? Yuck. Poli-vi-sol is about the sickest stuff I've ever smelled, tried to remove from laundry and, unfortunately, had the bad luck of accidently tasting. Poor guy. My ped suggested tri-vi-sol as a less smelly/better tasting option, but ewww. Again, poor guy.

So, there you have it. Evidently eating a whole pan of brownies, a nice handful of cookies, rice krispie s'mores and icecream are really good for putting weight on a baby. I'm doing it all for my boy...just sayin'.

And just because he is so stinkin' cute...

At home after his doctor's appointment. Clearly, all worn out.



Getting released from the hospital:



Sweet Anna-Kate giving her brother kisses (while in her ballet costume for her performance in May):

My synopsis

...of a planned C-section. Presented by pros and cons...you know, how any type-A really looks at a situation.

CONS:
1. Having to plan all of the details (as opposed to people just coming to you as things happen)
2. Knowing. I know this sounds weird, but with a due date, there is always a chance that things will happen early (not for me you see, but for someone out there). Or, in my case, I have 2 extra weeks (as I go past dates) to make plans before I am stuck at home and married to a nap schedule.
3. The epidural, surgery prep etc hurt like crap.
4. The not eating/drinking after midnight before surgery and then the stupid liquid diet (which I, admittedly did not follow) afterwards...starving!!

PROS:
1. Everything is set (after the headache).
2. The whole surgery environment is calm and stress free
3. I hardly got the shakes during surgery
4. There was no pain during surgery
5. Even though I'm in pain now, I'm not a trainwreck like before.

In a perfect world I would have had a "normal" delivery and been myself a few hours later. However, God evidently designed my body by not giving me birthing hips. O well. So, given that my extremely anti C-section/pro vaginal birth doctor (clearly, not my Kaiser doctor, my last one) said he didn't believe I'd be able to deliver normally, the planned C-section is certainly the route to go.

(And those who said so with Ryan, feel free to keep your "I told you so" comments to yourself. Thank you.).

We're home!

We were released from the hospital today. I think Chris was pretty excited to come home and will be happy to sleep in our bed tonight.

Jack is doing awesome. Thankfully, my milk came in over last night so he is a happy camper and hopefully will start to regain some weight that he lost. So far, he sleeps constantly and eats really well (he is baby number three who is a FAST eater--thank you Jesus!!)

When we came home Anna-Kate was beside herself excited to see the baby and me. Chris took her to ballet class and they got some time alone. Ryan, on the othr hand, wanted nothing to do with me. Mom got him up from his nap and he was so excited to see me and waved at me, but by the time he got down the stairs he wouldn't talk to me, give me a hug etc. Made me sad. He finally went up to Jack during dinner (who was in his carseat) and said, "Hi baby WAKE UP!!!" then walked away. By bedtime he was wanting me to hold him and out him to bed.Hopefully he's "forgiven" me and will have forgotten about me leaving him and bringing home another baby soon.

Anna-Kate decided it would be fun to put a piece of blue crayon up her nose. You know, seemed like nothing else was going on today...sigh. She was holding her nose and when I asked what she was doing, she said, "pretending I don't have a nose". (this was before ballet). At dinner, 3 hours later, I saw something in her nose and thought it was just a crazy big booger. I looked and saw it was blue and freaked out a little bit. Chris held her down while I pulled it out with my tweezers.

Quite the evening.

We then played with the kids while Jack slept in his crib, completely unphased by the noise and craziness around him. I fed him (3 hours later...a schedule ia already coming together!! Love babywise...) played with him for a few minutes then laid him down awake in his bed...and he's still asleep. Praying this continues.

OK, hear my boy...it's been 3 hours, so I guess I'm off to feed. :)

Presenting...

JACK HENRY



My last pregnant picture with Jack. This was taken right before I got 3 bags of IV, my epidural (which really hurts going in when you aren't in labor, fyi) and then the doctor doing my surgery (who I met that morning) informed me that he "doesn't do stitches only staples and would I like staples from him that day or for him to reschedule my c-section for next week with someone willing to stitch me up?" I understand that doctors go to school for many years and are experts in their fields. I also know that I am well-read on the subject and have experienced both and am entitled to my opinion and that I can't be forced to do something I am not comfortable with. (and in case you are wondering, I have stitches, not staples. I'm very happy with them too.).



He was born at 10:27 weighing 7.11 lbs. Truly, our blessing from the Lord.



When I finally held him for the first time...5:30pm. He had been shown to me for a quick photo-op and then taken from the OR for respiratory distress (what is it with my boys??) to the transition nursery. I kept hearing "one more hour" (which also was reminiscent of Ryan...). I sent Chris to get him at 2 and he came back empty handed to a near hysterical wife (it is so weird and wrong to have a baby and not even get to hold them. It's like you are empty with nothing to show for it, and have to hear everyone else's baby cry.). At 3 I called to try and use my persuasive powers on the nazi nurse, but she said I could have my doctor called to allow me out of bed to see him but it wasn't really worth my time since they had just given him formula. I about hit the roof and started crying, again, as I had specifically told them to let me pump and give him a bottle if they needed it. I just, again, felt like my opinion didn't matter. He had to get 2 good vital reads in a row (they were taken each hour) and part of that included breathing less than 70 times per minute. He was breathing 73 times per minute. UGH.

Let me just say, the reunion (or meeting?) was sweet.

The last day...before Jack!

I had a really productive day today (though, it feels weird to know I'm having a baby tomorrow and not to be in the throngs of labor pains for the past 48 hours, but I digress...). I dropped the kids at school a bit after 9 (and put my makeup on in the car until 9:25) then made returns to Target, Kohl's, Walmart (and purchases), got a pedicure, went to the bank, got lunch and did my Publix trip for the week and was back to pick them at at 12:55. Impressed? I am!

When I got home, I put Ryan down for his nap, unloaded the groceries, (though, evidently, not quickly enough as my blasted canine who is officially up for adoption Copper, ate all but 2 slices of the Boars Head sandwich meat I bought for lunches this week. We are still not speaking.) cleaned out the car, cleaned out and organized the pantry, dusted, did 4 loads of laundry, (and folded it!) made some burp cloths, cleaned the bathrooms, cleaned the potty seats (yuck) packed for the kids for tonight and made Jack's birthday cake (and subsequently cleaned up from the decorating process. Sigh). And that was all between 1:45-4. Amazing I didn't throw myself into labor. But no, my babies only come out when they are forced out. It's how I roll evidently.

Chris came home a bit early, we fed the kids leftovers then took them over to Leigh-Ann's to spend the night. We then grabbed our last dinner alone for a while, ran a couple of last errands (including to Home Depot to get pots to plant the flowers I bought today in.) watched The Office, I finished some work projects, planted said flowers, took a shower, Chris put in the carseat and we are thinking about going to bed soon.

Are you tired just reading this? Geesh, I am!

Chris and I heading out to dinner:



Our last picture as a family of 4:

Another boy around here...

Is probably going to be a really good thing.

Poor guy, he didn't have a shot. In his top 20 first words were "pincess" (princess) and "rella" (Cinderella). [Though, to be fair, I'll add that "ball" was a top 5 word. :)]



Ahem, with "Mary" (and yes, I realize she is wearing a dress with a pumpkin on it. The other side has a pink monogram. She switched in around during her play time today saying, "well Mommy, I just needed a new dress for the afternoon." Of course you did.)



Close up of my cuties (and, incidentally, the cut on Anna-Kate's face that she got at school today when a boy she was playing horses with evidently got a little violent with the horse. I got an "accident report" and everything from her teacher and signed by the director. Geesh.)

Knowing

So, I've been asked before if I'd like to know when I'd die (this has nothing to do with coming C-section, just saying. Stick with me). The type-A control part of me says "YES!" as I'd leave my things in perfect order, see all of the people I need to see before being reunited in heaven, and such. But, then I think, no, it would make me (more?) pessimistic and then there is all of the logistical planning for parties I'd like to have, and all of the cleaning...

Here's where I'm going with this...a planned C-section is supposed to be a type-A's dream come true. "It's so simple", "you can plan everything in advance"....blah, blah, blah. See, the thing is, when you go in to labor, people drop everything to come to you, so the planning (read: HEADACHE) goes away and solves itself. As is, with my stressed out personality I am scurrying about filling time slots, madly cleaning and preparing, ticking items off the never-ending to do list with a LOOMING date ahead of me (4 days, if you are wondering).

What does this say about my personality? Who knows. Maybe nothing. Maybe I'm just tired (and, on that note, I'm going to bed.).