Still here!

I will try to post more in the next few days about the rest of the labor and delivery process, coming home and how things have been going! If the lack of posting tells you anything is that we've had a slightly rough start, but things are getting better each day! We are adjusting to being a family of 4, just lacking in the sleep department!

I'll leave you with a picture!

He's Here!!!!

It's taken me awhile to get the energy to write again, and this won't be the whole story...just a few things for now, but the waiting is over and he's FINALLY here!!!!

Jackson Wesley was born on January 19th at 4:55pm. He weighed 7lbs. 13 oz., and was 21 inches long! I had hoped to go into labor on my own and not have to have the amnio done on Tuesday (Jan. 18th) of last week. Sadly, and much to my dismay, it did not happen!

Here's a little re-cap, this will just be Part 1:

I had been feeling sick from Thursday night all the way until Tuesday morning. I was throwing up and had other bathroom "issues" and finally called the on-call doctor on Sunday morning and he called in nausea meds because he thought I might have a stomach bug or flu. I began to feel a little better after that but I was not really hungry and didn't feel like drinking much either. I had gotten to the point of where anything I ate or drank came back up, so I just didn't want to bother! I intended to spend Monday cleaning up the rest of the house and hanging out with Tate and getting organized. I ended up feeling so bad that I didn't get everything done that I wanted to and just felt horrible. We did go out to eat chinese food that night, just Ben, Tate and I. I barely ate, but did end up eating at home later that night.

Tuesday morning, we were up and running late (of course it had to be that day!)to our appointment, and we had to drop off Tate first. We had decided to take some of our things (make-up, hair stuff, computer-the essentials!) in case they kept me. I was so nauseous that morning that I didn't eat anything, but I put some crackers in my bag. We dropped off Tate (Ben had to take her in, I knew I couldn't do it without crying...and then I cried anyways in the car!) I knew she would be fine (and she had Uncle Jace and Paige to play with) but it was still sad, because I knew more then likely that the next time I saw her she wouldn't be the only baby anymore!
We got to the doctor and went to wait in the waiting room. We went back and I was so ill by this point I thought I was going to pass out. They checked the fluid level on the baby and soon Dr. Love came in. He is halarious, and he was cracking jokes, but he could tell I did not feel well! He looked at me and asked how I was (knowing that I usually was much more "chipper" then I was that day!) I told him that I was going to just pour water on myself to make it look like my water had broken, so I wouldn't have to have the amnio! He assured me (again!) that I would be fine. He went to get everything ready and by then I had Ben give me a cracker, because I thought I really was going to be sick again. When Dr. Love came in again I was coughing (choking on the cracker) and he thought I was going to throw up. He flew across the room (to get out of the puke range) and asked me if I was going to be sick. It was halarious! Even as bad as I felt, the fact that he doesn't like puke and was so worried made me laugh! After that, they began getting me ready for the procedure. I didn't even look NEAR the tray of instruments and Ben stood up by my head, to remind me to breathe. I tend to hold my breath with needles and then I end up passing out! I already felt faint, so he wasn't taking any chances!
It was really a quick procedure and it did sting some, but really just was more uncomfortable and it felt strange. After he was done, Dr. Love said that he wanted me to be admitted (while they waited on the lung maturity tests) and to get i.v. fluids to help me feel better. He said I didn't need to go into labor being exhausted and dehydrated. So, they wheeled me up to Labor and Delivery and we began our hospital stay!

Stay Tuned! More to come...

Monday

Well, today is a holiday from school. Otherwise I would probably still be there...which can also read...this child is STUCK in me forever!! I guess "techinically" I have a little more then 24 hours before I get the amnio, however, we are cutting it very close! I am not at all thrilled at the possiblity or really reality of the test at this point! I was totally hoping that we would have had a baby at this point! Here's to hoping for middle of the night labor or water breakage!

My official "last" day at school was Thursday, since I had a 10:30a.m. appointment on Friday morning. Going in after that would have been pointless and since it doesn't count as a 1/2 day if you are not there for so many hours, it didn't matter anyways. I feel relieved to have the "transition" over with, at least knowing that I am not going, instead of waking up each day deciding how I feel! I have this wierd guilty for leaving, but excited to stay home feeling! I think it's because I team-teach and I know how much it messes up the routines when one of us is out, for a day, let alone for weeks at a time! I am hoping the new students we get will be in and out, easy and things will go smoothly.

I am hoping to get a few things done around the house today and then go to the store for a few last minute things that we'll need once I am back home. The plan is for me to have the amnio tomorrow morning at 9:15 then they put me into the hospital (Labor and Delivery) to monitor. They will send the tests off to make sure his lungs are mature and then I'll spend the night in the hospital. They will give me medicine to make my cervix do its thing and then Wednesday morning the fun will begin....aka (break my water, give me pitocin....and all that jazz. Doesn't sound like fun to me, but hopefully by 5:00 or 5:30 I will have a baby (that's what my doctor says!) I am just worried about being SO tired by Wednesday morning, but we'll see. I will have to be on monitors all night long (like I was with Tate) and I did NOT sleep at all, so that makes me nervous. Although I didn't get to take my meds at that point, so maybe I can and that will help me sleep! And I want to be able to get dressed (hair and make-up) on Wednesday morning, so we'll see about that....that will make me really grumpy if I look a mess and haven't slept!

Here's to hoping _____ will decide to come on his own today!

Thursday

,After 2 days of staying home from school I went back today. On Tuesday morning, I was having regular contractions every 7-8 minutes. Ben and I got our things ready, went to breakfast with Tate at Chick-fil-A and then went into my doctor. I had to eat before I went because I didn't do that last time and I was STARVING and I knew I didn't want to be hungry if they admitted me!

At the doctor I was only 1cm dialated and not really effaced at all. My doctor said she could put me in if I was in that much pain or just wait it out and see if it kicked in or slowed down. I didn't want to sit in the hospital all day for nothing, so we left. I did have decent contractions off and on that day, but they were not getting any stronger or closer. I didn't feel very well on Wednesday morning, so I didn't go into work. I should have because I didn't have ANYTHING hardly all day! I did finally have some good contractions after my mom and I walked in the mall, but they didn't stay for long. I went into work today and had some, but nothing major. I just came home (Ben took Tate for me today, because I was running late, and we had to switch cars) and I was starving so I ate the leftover alfredo. I have a feeling I may be sorry later! It was a lot! And now I am just laying here because I am so tired! I thought I was going to fall asleep, but I may not and just rest for a little bit. Ben is going to get Tate and they will be here in a little while. I was having some decent contractions and my feet are pretty swollen!! I tried to sit down at work and did most of the day (off and on) but it is just more "movement" probably then I have been doing in the past two days!

The nursery is officially DONE! It's turned out so cute! I love it! It's more of a "theme" then Tate's was, but I love the way it turned out! Most of the big stuff on my To-Do List is also done, which is good. The other things that are on it are not really "necessary" and some of it is "touch-up" to do again before the baby gets here. We'll see if I re-mop the floors...I'm not feeling it right now! Haha!

Monday

Well the break is officially over and I was back at school today. It has been a long day and I am ready for bed. We were up early (me to get ready) and Tate (I think her teeth were hurting) and even then we were late! Sometimes the more time I have to get ready the worse it is!

No little man yet, hopefully soon! I have had contractions off and on for the last week, but nothing stays around too long. This afternoon and this evening I have had some, but they'll probably die off too! I do have an end in sight though, because my doctor said that I wouldn't probably go past 37 weeks. So, if anything that is only 2 weeks away! It could be a LONG 2 weeks though! Tate was born at 36 wk and 1 day. My water just broke with her, so we'll see what happens with this one.

WeBen hung the last of the things in the nursery last night. And Mom made a table topper to go on a small round table, I accidently left it in the car and I was too lazy to go back out! After that's up and Ben finishes paiting a couple holes he had to patch we'll be done! Just waiting for _______ to arrive! No name yet! Well, he has one, but it's not being publically shared. If you do know (some family does, keep your beak quiet!) and if you don't we'll gladly share it with you when he arrives!

Hopefully more news on baby next time!

2010-The End!

Sadly I probably won't be up to see/hear the end of 2010! I am already in bed and it's before 10pm! I guess this is what happens when you get OLD!

We had a good day, shopping (not buying much of anything) and then went to dinner with my parents and brother tonight. My mom and Jace came over and we worked on the baby's nursery for a little bit. I have one wall that needs to have things hung on it (when I can make up my mind!) and then a couple little things added to a shelf and table and it's done! Unless I have my brother make the wall quote that he talked about. I just might take him up on that! Now we are just waiting for a baby! Even though I want it completely done, he won't even be sleeping in there for awhile-so I guess it doesn't "technically" matter! In my head it does though! Tate slept in our room MUCH longer then we had planned for her to, things just kinda snuck up on us (trips, sicknesses, etc.) and she was still in our room! We "plan" on putting this little one in his room sooner, but he'll be in a pack-n-play for awhile!

I'm trying to think of some highlights of 2010, which is kind of what I did with the recent monthly post, but here they are:

-January...nothing comes to mind! Must have been low-key!
-We had a huge snow storm in February and stayed at my parents for a few days, so much fun!
-Mom, Tate and I went to AZ for Spring Break! Tate got croup and was SO sick part of the time. I was SO tired and poor Mom and Grama had to be up with her for hours one night!
-Uncle Jace came to visit in April I think it was...he bought Tate a Cabbage Patch doll with rabbit ears!
-We took Tate to the ER for breathing issues that month too. Very scary!
-May, we found out that Tate was going to be a big sister! We also went to Julia and Jon's wedding in Texas. Ben had gone to David and Becca's wedding a couple of weeks before in CA.
-In June, Tate turned 1!
-Summer is kind of a blur...Tate and I went with my Mom and brother to TN to see my grandparents. We shopped, played and were REALLY lazy. I didn't feel very good at the beginning of the pregnancy and it was a little lot rough!
-September, back to school and schedule. We ended up with Tate in the ER again. VERY scary again!
-October...finally got Tate onto maintenance meds for her breathing issues. This has helped a lot and although she's still been sick some, we haven't been back in the ER! Tate was Snow White for Halloween, so cute!
-November...busy month that FLEW by! We had a good Thanksgiving with my family at my parents.
-December, Tate's 2nd Christmas, getting things ready for new baby, cleaning like a madwoman (nesting is what some people call it! I think Ben probably just thinks I'm nuts!)

Overall it's been a very good year! We'll see what all 2011 has in store for us!

Happy New Year!

Thursday Morning

Sadly I am up early again this morning! 6:30 today, so I did get an extra hour, actually more then that because I went to bed MUCH earlier. The night before I wasn't in bed until after 12:30....so my "night" was very short! After bursting into tears last night, for nothing too major...I decided an earlier bedtime was in order! Poor Tate just looked at me and started to cry herself! She doesn't like it when I cry! I couldn't help it, I was just SO tired!

I did lay here for a little bit and try to go back to sleep, but it didn't work. It didn't work yesterday either! I feel like I have so much to do still, even though I have been doing things for the past 2 weeks (since I've been out of school) each day. My "to-do" list items get crossed off and then I add more! Kind of defeats the purpose, but at least I am getting things done. I LOVE crossing things OFF of my list!

Yesterday Jace, Mom and I worked on the letters for the baby's room. I used the same kind in Tate's room and they are not made of real wood, so they are a pain to try to paint. My dad spray painted Tate's, but since it's so cold we decided to try acrylic. Well....it was a LONG process, to say the least! Two trips to Michaels, 4 paint colors and Jace ended up mixing them together to make various shades to paint them with. I think they turned out cute, hopefully we can hang them today. That will just leave getting a few knicknacks, lamp, tablecloth, buying a quote (Hobby Lobby opens on FRIDAY here!!!!) and deciding what I'm doing on one small wall. It's turned out cute!

I can't believe the break is already almost over...so sad! I love my breaks! At least that means we are 1/2 way through the year. So, far (knock on wood) this year has been a good one at school. We do have some challenging friends, but overall it's been good. It's just hard to go back after a longer break!

I go to the doctor today. I will have an ultrasound (hopefully find out his weight too), NST (Non-Stress Test) and see the doctor. My doctor is on vacation and the regular high-risk doctor that I see is out too. I am not too fond of the new high-risk doctor, I met her last week. My regular high-risk doctor is Dr. Love (no joke, that's his name!) and he's halarious! He's gotta have a little ADHD and he's always singing and joking, but he takes time to talk to you and answer questions, so I like that! I am on weekly appointments (I have been since about 2 weeks ago) and doing non-stress tests and ultrasounds each week. Partly for the medication that I am taking, but also because I have gestational diabetes this time too. Hopefully that means that little man is slightly bigger (like Tate) and will come a little early! We'll see! I have been having lots of pains and contractions the last few days, so I guess we'll see today if that means anything! I will be 35 weeks on Saturday! It's getting close!

I'll try and post after my appointment today!