I say that your first official smile was on my daddy's birthday (your GPA) which was November 10th. That was the first day I felt that you were really smiling for us and not just because of gas. You looked right at your mama and smiled and just held it. Your eyes got all sparkly and I couldn't help but squeal in delight. Your daddy and I now spend time each day getting you to smile because we love that sweet toothless grin and can't help but smile back. Here is daddy getting you to laugh and mommy being a distraction with sounds and video camera. We love you and we love your smiles! We can't wait to hear you laugh!
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Got Milk?
Well the title says it all... I feel like a walking milk machine or better yet.. a cow!
I have been lucky enough to nurse Jensen from day one with very little hiccups. Since I was in the hospital for so long my milk came in while I was there which was a huge help. They showed me different feeding positions, a proper latch (not just making me watch a movie), and how I would know if he is getting enough milk. They also taught me how to pump, and what to do when I get too engouraged. The nurses were great and because of their help I am successful at feeding my son.
Nursing has ups and downs... like when my milk is really low on one side for no reason or Mastisis - which is awful and painful! I love being able to breastfeed though and I know that he likes it too. I think we both like the bond it provides and I know he is getting the antibodies he needs. I was sick yesterday but instructed to continue nursing which I did. He didn't get sick and I got better. Funny how that worked.
I would love to nurse him through his sixth month if possible. I am pumping and storing milk every day at least 4 or 5 ounces (each day) to start stocking it for when I go back to work. I don't want to feel like I don't have enough milk to give him when I go back. I figured if I pump and store at least once a day that it should put me in a pretty good place when I go back. I will pump 3 times a day when I am back a work (in the morning, at lunch, and early afternoon) and I will freeze all of that. I will still be able to breastfeed him when I get home from work and all through the night and the first feeding or two in the morning.
I plan to wean him off the breast when he can eat more than rice cereal. I want to make his rice cereal with breastmilk so that his tummy handles food better. I also want to learn how to make my own baby food so that he isn't eating all the preservatives in canned food. I know that you can make a lot of freeze it so I will have to check into it! Hopefully he likes what I make. I know it is a time commitment but I won't be nursing and I will be done with school (or about done) by then so I am sure I will have plenty of time. Plus, it will be probably be more affordable. I am sure buying everything each time seems expensive, but it probably goes a long way... or I would hope. I want to give it a shot though.
Anyway, nursing is great and I am getting the bond that I never expected to get and didn't think I would like. However for those who say breastfeeding is free ($$) they are SO wrong! You get way too full so you have to pump which means you have to buy a pump, the parts, bottles, bottle brushes, warmer, etc. It is definitely worth it though! I am not giving up any time soon!
Okay, I should be doing homework and Jensen is getting fussy. Signing off for the night....
I have been lucky enough to nurse Jensen from day one with very little hiccups. Since I was in the hospital for so long my milk came in while I was there which was a huge help. They showed me different feeding positions, a proper latch (not just making me watch a movie), and how I would know if he is getting enough milk. They also taught me how to pump, and what to do when I get too engouraged. The nurses were great and because of their help I am successful at feeding my son.
Nursing has ups and downs... like when my milk is really low on one side for no reason or Mastisis - which is awful and painful! I love being able to breastfeed though and I know that he likes it too. I think we both like the bond it provides and I know he is getting the antibodies he needs. I was sick yesterday but instructed to continue nursing which I did. He didn't get sick and I got better. Funny how that worked.
I would love to nurse him through his sixth month if possible. I am pumping and storing milk every day at least 4 or 5 ounces (each day) to start stocking it for when I go back to work. I don't want to feel like I don't have enough milk to give him when I go back. I figured if I pump and store at least once a day that it should put me in a pretty good place when I go back. I will pump 3 times a day when I am back a work (in the morning, at lunch, and early afternoon) and I will freeze all of that. I will still be able to breastfeed him when I get home from work and all through the night and the first feeding or two in the morning.
I plan to wean him off the breast when he can eat more than rice cereal. I want to make his rice cereal with breastmilk so that his tummy handles food better. I also want to learn how to make my own baby food so that he isn't eating all the preservatives in canned food. I know that you can make a lot of freeze it so I will have to check into it! Hopefully he likes what I make. I know it is a time commitment but I won't be nursing and I will be done with school (or about done) by then so I am sure I will have plenty of time. Plus, it will be probably be more affordable. I am sure buying everything each time seems expensive, but it probably goes a long way... or I would hope. I want to give it a shot though.
Anyway, nursing is great and I am getting the bond that I never expected to get and didn't think I would like. However for those who say breastfeeding is free ($$) they are SO wrong! You get way too full so you have to pump which means you have to buy a pump, the parts, bottles, bottle brushes, warmer, etc. It is definitely worth it though! I am not giving up any time soon!
Okay, I should be doing homework and Jensen is getting fussy. Signing off for the night....
Where has time gone?
I can't believe that my last post was over a month ago and it was about the first week with baby Jensen. He is going to be 7 weeks in just two more days! Nuts! So... let me catch you up on those six weeks....
Jensen is growing like a weed! By his two week appt he was already well past his birth weight and getting longer. They did the heal prick for blood but no shots yet. I love his doctor (Dr. Terri Omura) and the office and staff. Hopefully as Jensen gets older we all continue to like it there.
Jensen sleeps pretty well now. I get one good 3.5 - 4 hour stretch of sleep each night. Some nights are better and some are worse, but I am taking what I can get! He is a great baby and I absolutely love him to death! He spits up a lot and gets really bad gas that has been bad since he was two weeks old. The doctor said to give him gas drops but that didn't seem to do anything. He then gave him medicine for acid reflex to calm acid in his stomach but I couldn't get him to take it. Anything I could get it in his mouth he spit right back up. I am trying other techniques like baby massage though and hopefully that will help. They say it is colic but I disagree. Only time will tell I guess.
His first holiday was Halloween and he had a skeleton glow-in-the-dark costume, but he never wore it. I was too exhausted and he was pretty fussy that day so we didn't put it on even for pictures! I better do that though for scrapbooking. His second holiday is in just two days- Thanksgiving! We are going to my mom's at 1 and then Corey's grandma's house at 4. It is going to be a good day full of yummy food and our awesome families. I can't wait.
My birthday was just over a week ago and it was the best one yet because I have Jensen to share it with (and the rest of the family of course). It was a 3 day celebration which was awesome! Saturday night Corey's parents came over and they brought Texas Roadhouse (YUMMY!) and gave me a cute sweater dress, new sheets for our big bed, and a cute jacket for Jensen. Saturday we went to my mom's and got Training Table (YUMMY too!) and I got jewelry, my awesome new boots, a super cute hat, and Jensen's first Christmas ornaments. Oh and diapers. Yes, some gifts were for him but we need them! Monday which was actually my birthday my mom came over after work and Corey took me to Ichiban for sushi! My favorite place with my favorite man! It was a great way to turn 26!
My dad's birthday was the 10th and I finally went to see him. I don't feel like he is in the ground (or wall...) but I felt I needed to go there and see the marker that my mom had done. I should have taken flowers but I had Jensen and I was short on time. I went to see a house for sale in Sandy but it was awful! I don't know if I am ready to start the housing search again but we are going to have to figure out something soon. I don't want to renew our lease here for another year and it is up in June. Either we will rent a house or we will buy. I miss my dad every day and still can't believe he is gone. I guess I feel that he is still with me every day and watching over me and my family.
I started school over a month ago and so far, so good. I am taking a nutrition and math class. Surprisingly I think my math class is going better than my science/nutrition course. It is nice not having to write huge papers every week. In math we take weekly quizzes instead. Just a huge time saver! I will get a "winter break" December 19th to the 1st of January and so I plan to return to work on the 19th. It isn't going to be easy leaving Jensen but I know it is for the best. I have to work to provide insurance for my family and of course we need the second income. It would be nice to stay at home, at least part time while he is this little. I am already getting anxiety about returning to work.
Other anxiety- money! I have only been getting 60% of my income from short term disability and I already used that money for bills. I have absolutely no money for bills and it's freaking me out. What is worse is Christmas is just around the corner. Hopefully Corey and I can work it out so that he can pay rent and the other bills this month. He knew this was coming but he seems mad or something that I don't have any money. I have been telling him I don't have money and I wasn't joking - I was crying when I said it. Hopefully everything will work out. I should get a check from work just before returning since people have gifted me PTO. I think I got over 60 hours of PTO gifted to me between my mom and a girl in A/R who asked who needed time gifted. I am thankful for her for sure! It would be nice if I could get that money now though.
Oh and the other anxiety - I have a TON of medical bills to pay that are all going to have to be on payment plans since I won't really be making any money until January. Who knew having a c-section would be so expensive? I got a price quoted to me of about $700 for a vaginal delivery, but it is over double that for a c-section... who knew?
Okay, I am trying not to stress, get upset, or be a Debbie-downer, so I should go. I know that everything will work out, but it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel right now. Thankfully I have a beautiful, healthy boy who puts it all into perspective for me each time he smiles at me. I love you Jensen and I wouldn't trade one minute with you for anything else in this world.
Jensen is growing like a weed! By his two week appt he was already well past his birth weight and getting longer. They did the heal prick for blood but no shots yet. I love his doctor (Dr. Terri Omura) and the office and staff. Hopefully as Jensen gets older we all continue to like it there.
Jensen sleeps pretty well now. I get one good 3.5 - 4 hour stretch of sleep each night. Some nights are better and some are worse, but I am taking what I can get! He is a great baby and I absolutely love him to death! He spits up a lot and gets really bad gas that has been bad since he was two weeks old. The doctor said to give him gas drops but that didn't seem to do anything. He then gave him medicine for acid reflex to calm acid in his stomach but I couldn't get him to take it. Anything I could get it in his mouth he spit right back up. I am trying other techniques like baby massage though and hopefully that will help. They say it is colic but I disagree. Only time will tell I guess.
His first holiday was Halloween and he had a skeleton glow-in-the-dark costume, but he never wore it. I was too exhausted and he was pretty fussy that day so we didn't put it on even for pictures! I better do that though for scrapbooking. His second holiday is in just two days- Thanksgiving! We are going to my mom's at 1 and then Corey's grandma's house at 4. It is going to be a good day full of yummy food and our awesome families. I can't wait.
My birthday was just over a week ago and it was the best one yet because I have Jensen to share it with (and the rest of the family of course). It was a 3 day celebration which was awesome! Saturday night Corey's parents came over and they brought Texas Roadhouse (YUMMY!) and gave me a cute sweater dress, new sheets for our big bed, and a cute jacket for Jensen. Saturday we went to my mom's and got Training Table (YUMMY too!) and I got jewelry, my awesome new boots, a super cute hat, and Jensen's first Christmas ornaments. Oh and diapers. Yes, some gifts were for him but we need them! Monday which was actually my birthday my mom came over after work and Corey took me to Ichiban for sushi! My favorite place with my favorite man! It was a great way to turn 26!
My dad's birthday was the 10th and I finally went to see him. I don't feel like he is in the ground (or wall...) but I felt I needed to go there and see the marker that my mom had done. I should have taken flowers but I had Jensen and I was short on time. I went to see a house for sale in Sandy but it was awful! I don't know if I am ready to start the housing search again but we are going to have to figure out something soon. I don't want to renew our lease here for another year and it is up in June. Either we will rent a house or we will buy. I miss my dad every day and still can't believe he is gone. I guess I feel that he is still with me every day and watching over me and my family.
I started school over a month ago and so far, so good. I am taking a nutrition and math class. Surprisingly I think my math class is going better than my science/nutrition course. It is nice not having to write huge papers every week. In math we take weekly quizzes instead. Just a huge time saver! I will get a "winter break" December 19th to the 1st of January and so I plan to return to work on the 19th. It isn't going to be easy leaving Jensen but I know it is for the best. I have to work to provide insurance for my family and of course we need the second income. It would be nice to stay at home, at least part time while he is this little. I am already getting anxiety about returning to work.
Other anxiety- money! I have only been getting 60% of my income from short term disability and I already used that money for bills. I have absolutely no money for bills and it's freaking me out. What is worse is Christmas is just around the corner. Hopefully Corey and I can work it out so that he can pay rent and the other bills this month. He knew this was coming but he seems mad or something that I don't have any money. I have been telling him I don't have money and I wasn't joking - I was crying when I said it. Hopefully everything will work out. I should get a check from work just before returning since people have gifted me PTO. I think I got over 60 hours of PTO gifted to me between my mom and a girl in A/R who asked who needed time gifted. I am thankful for her for sure! It would be nice if I could get that money now though.
Oh and the other anxiety - I have a TON of medical bills to pay that are all going to have to be on payment plans since I won't really be making any money until January. Who knew having a c-section would be so expensive? I got a price quoted to me of about $700 for a vaginal delivery, but it is over double that for a c-section... who knew?
Okay, I am trying not to stress, get upset, or be a Debbie-downer, so I should go. I know that everything will work out, but it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel right now. Thankfully I have a beautiful, healthy boy who puts it all into perspective for me each time he smiles at me. I love you Jensen and I wouldn't trade one minute with you for anything else in this world.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
The first week
Everything has gone smoothly since we got home if you ask me. Jensen is a great baby who doesn't cry unless he is hungry (and I wait too long to notice the hunger signs), is wet/poopy, or really just needs someone to hold him. It only takes a few minutes to figure out what is wrong and another few minutes to fix the problem. Oh and he also cries pretty hard when he is naked. I would have thought that babies like to be out of there diapers?!
Anyway, we have had a few sleepless nights, but in general it has gone well. He wakes up about every 2-3 hours and nurses and gets changed and goes right back to sleep. I am averaging about 7 hours of sleep when Corey helps in the night. Last night was the best! I got to sleep from 11-4:30 while Corey took care of him. Jensen went down in his crib at 2 and then I didn't have to start feeding and changing until 4:30! I can't believe I got a solid 5 1/2 hours of sleep! It was amazing! I must say that there are times during the day when I am definitely tired, but I don't nap. I am too busy trying to get things done when he is sleeping.
Corey and our families have been a great help with taking care of me and Jensen. I am not supposed to do much or lift anything heavier than the baby. I go nuts staring at things left out and undone, so it is nice when we have help to do it so that it doesn't stress me out.
I am still extremely sore around my incision area, but I feel great otherwise. I got a band to go around my hips that also puts pressure on my incision to help the swelling and fluids move away. Hopefully within the next week or so I start to see improvements.
Okay... Jensen is crying and needs to be changed. I will try to write more about the first week later.
Anyway, we have had a few sleepless nights, but in general it has gone well. He wakes up about every 2-3 hours and nurses and gets changed and goes right back to sleep. I am averaging about 7 hours of sleep when Corey helps in the night. Last night was the best! I got to sleep from 11-4:30 while Corey took care of him. Jensen went down in his crib at 2 and then I didn't have to start feeding and changing until 4:30! I can't believe I got a solid 5 1/2 hours of sleep! It was amazing! I must say that there are times during the day when I am definitely tired, but I don't nap. I am too busy trying to get things done when he is sleeping.
Corey and our families have been a great help with taking care of me and Jensen. I am not supposed to do much or lift anything heavier than the baby. I go nuts staring at things left out and undone, so it is nice when we have help to do it so that it doesn't stress me out.
I am still extremely sore around my incision area, but I feel great otherwise. I got a band to go around my hips that also puts pressure on my incision to help the swelling and fluids move away. Hopefully within the next week or so I start to see improvements.
Okay... Jensen is crying and needs to be changed. I will try to write more about the first week later.
Hospital recovery
I was in the hospital from the 6th (although technically the 5th but was sent home) until Monday the 10th. I am so glad I stayed that long since I needed all the help I could get while recovering. I had an IV that administered morphine, fluids, and Benadryl from the time I was admitted until the morning of the 7th (Friday). Once all of that got taken out I had to walk to the bathroom for the first time and it felt like it was a mile away. My legs and feet ended up extremely swollen from all the fluids and pain medicine I was on and it took a week for them to go back to normal. I had a hard time walking partly because of how big my feet were! The few days in the hospital all became mushed together between visitors, all the doctors and nurses checking on the both us constantly, and having to walk the halls of the hospital. I was very grateful on Sunday when I had a nurse named Jackie who was also the lactation specialist there. She was super young, beautiful, and extremely helpful! My milk came in on Sunday which was perfect so that she could ensure I was getting a proper latch. I must say that because of her I am no longer in pain when I nurse! Thanks Jackie!
Corey and I got to bring Jensen home on Monday the 10th and we were extremely excited to finally be leaving the hospital! We were also starving so we stopped at McDonalds on the way home. We got home around 11:30ish and continued to rest and put things away the rest of the day.
Corey and I got to bring Jensen home on Monday the 10th and we were extremely excited to finally be leaving the hospital! We were also starving so we stopped at McDonalds on the way home. We got home around 11:30ish and continued to rest and put things away the rest of the day.
Jensen's birthday
I got wheeled into the OR, but they had already upped my drugs and barely remember a thing. I remember them strapping down my arms and I remember hearing Corey's voice, but I kept my eyes closed. I feel asleep during the surgery and woke up to hear Jensen cry. I was so drugged that I remember less than 2 minutes of the surgery and repair. I remember seeing Corey holding Jensen right by me and asking to kiss Jensen. That is all I remember. The next thing I know I back in the labor and delivery room I was first in. I couldn't wake up and I kept shaking. I was actually shaking so bad that I was scared. I wasn't cold although I did ask for more blankets in hopes that would help. I wanted to hold Jensen and see what he looked like but I could barely feel any of my body. I was numb from my ribs down.
I was told in the labor and delivery room that Jensen was 7 pounds 6 ounces and was 21 1/4 inches long. He was a lot smaller than I thought he was going to be. I wish I could have delivered vaginally and I don't think it would have been so bad with him being small. He was born at exactly 12 noon! How fun and how easy to remember! I was still extremely sleepy and everytime I woke up someone else was holding my baby. It was Corey or my mom, or Marissa. I believe it was 2 pm when I was moved upstairs to the 2nd floor where the maternity ward is. Around that time I started to feel a lot better and although I still couldn't move my legs by myself I was regaining feeling and I wasn't shaking as bad. Plus, I was finally feeling like I could stay awake for more than a minute at a time. I finally held my son and actually take a close look at him. My mom helped me hold him for a minute after I got back to the original room but it scared me to hold him and I asked her to take him back. I never got a good look at him.
I found out that his cord was wrapped around his leg, arm, and neck and that it was a great thing that I didn't progress any faster and put him in more stress. I was disappointed to have to have a c-section since that is the last thing I wanted, but I got the same amazing result- my beautiful son!
I was told in the labor and delivery room that Jensen was 7 pounds 6 ounces and was 21 1/4 inches long. He was a lot smaller than I thought he was going to be. I wish I could have delivered vaginally and I don't think it would have been so bad with him being small. He was born at exactly 12 noon! How fun and how easy to remember! I was still extremely sleepy and everytime I woke up someone else was holding my baby. It was Corey or my mom, or Marissa. I believe it was 2 pm when I was moved upstairs to the 2nd floor where the maternity ward is. Around that time I started to feel a lot better and although I still couldn't move my legs by myself I was regaining feeling and I wasn't shaking as bad. Plus, I was finally feeling like I could stay awake for more than a minute at a time. I finally held my son and actually take a close look at him. My mom helped me hold him for a minute after I got back to the original room but it scared me to hold him and I asked her to take him back. I never got a good look at him.
I found out that his cord was wrapped around his leg, arm, and neck and that it was a great thing that I didn't progress any faster and put him in more stress. I was disappointed to have to have a c-section since that is the last thing I wanted, but I got the same amazing result- my beautiful son!
October 6th
So I made it home from the hospital around 11:30 and I barely made it in to the house before a strong contraction hit. I thought I was going to die! I figured if I already hurt that much and was on morphine I wasn't going to make it. I had no idea what the pain would be like, but I wasn't ready for what was about to come.
I tossed and turned in bed, hunched over the bed, got on the floor on all fours, nothing was helping. I slept about 15 minutes from 11:30 until 4 am when I finally told Corey that we are going back to the hospital. There was no way they would send me home this time and that if I had to stay and be monitored I would, but I was in desperate need of more pain medicine. We got to the hospital at 5 am and while crying at the front desk they realized that there was no point in being monitored in the Triage rooms and they admitted me right then. I got wheeled back to a room, hooked up, got checked (I was at 3cm and 90-100% effaced) and got an epidural all by 5:30 am.
I tried resting after the epidural kicked in since I heard that labor can be a long process and to rest before having to push. I believe the next time I got checked was at 7 am and there was no changed. They broke my water and then came back around 8 and started me on Petocin since there was no change still. After this the timing of everything was a blur. I remember watching the monitor of my contractions and Jensen's heart beat and seeing that every time I had a contraction his heart rate dropped. No one said anything for a while and I was starting to get worried. A nurse finally said that she had been in contact with Dr. B who had been watching the same screen in his office for a while and deciding what to do. They unhooked my belly monitors and put an internal monitor on Jensen. Then they put in a tube that put fluid back in to see if it would help his heart rate during contractions. They watched this for about an hour. Nothing was changing. During that time they also stopped the Petocin. My contractions because much smaller but his heart rate was still dropping.
I was at 100% and 5-6cm around 11am, but they told me that I would need a c-section due to his heart. The nurse said that his cord is wrapped around him somewhere and that I don't have any other option of getting him out. They brought in the scrubs for Corey and the lunch lady looking cap for me and I was off for surgery.
Then.....
I tossed and turned in bed, hunched over the bed, got on the floor on all fours, nothing was helping. I slept about 15 minutes from 11:30 until 4 am when I finally told Corey that we are going back to the hospital. There was no way they would send me home this time and that if I had to stay and be monitored I would, but I was in desperate need of more pain medicine. We got to the hospital at 5 am and while crying at the front desk they realized that there was no point in being monitored in the Triage rooms and they admitted me right then. I got wheeled back to a room, hooked up, got checked (I was at 3cm and 90-100% effaced) and got an epidural all by 5:30 am.
I tried resting after the epidural kicked in since I heard that labor can be a long process and to rest before having to push. I believe the next time I got checked was at 7 am and there was no changed. They broke my water and then came back around 8 and started me on Petocin since there was no change still. After this the timing of everything was a blur. I remember watching the monitor of my contractions and Jensen's heart beat and seeing that every time I had a contraction his heart rate dropped. No one said anything for a while and I was starting to get worried. A nurse finally said that she had been in contact with Dr. B who had been watching the same screen in his office for a while and deciding what to do. They unhooked my belly monitors and put an internal monitor on Jensen. Then they put in a tube that put fluid back in to see if it would help his heart rate during contractions. They watched this for about an hour. Nothing was changing. During that time they also stopped the Petocin. My contractions because much smaller but his heart rate was still dropping.
I was at 100% and 5-6cm around 11am, but they told me that I would need a c-section due to his heart. The nurse said that his cord is wrapped around him somewhere and that I don't have any other option of getting him out. They brought in the scrubs for Corey and the lunch lady looking cap for me and I was off for surgery.
Then.....
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