Being a big brother...

Things have changed completely in my house as one would expect with the arrival of a newborn. Not to mention that he is the second child in the house. Noah is loving almost every minute of it. This photo is of Noah getting to meet James for the first time! You can tell that he was so excited...he loves him so much! He's always wanting to hold him and love on him. It's too cute! The only time I've seen any bad feelings about having a little brother were at church today...when people usually ask him how he's doing but today were only asking how he likes having a little brother...it was tough for him. I was worried about him not getting all the attention and we worked on it while I was pregnant, letting him know that there were changes headed our way. He is doing an amazing job of being a big brother...so helpful and loving! I couldn't have asked for two better boys!

First day home...

Where do I start...Today was like a roller coaster ride. It was amazing and tiring and emotional and long and stressful and wonderful.
Our flex schedule starts with the basics: diaper change, feeding, cuddling, and sleeping every three-ish hours. James has the cycle down, he knows what he wants and when he wants it, I on the other hand have to get used to this. It's been a long time since I've had a newborn. It wasn't too bad, but by the end of the day when I'd forgotten to sleep when he slept I started to lose it. Not to mention trying to stretch the time between my pain meds, when I still need them in order to move and trying to build up my milk supply by pumping between nursing (ouch!!!). Tomorrow I plan to be better to myself....take my meds when I'm suppose to, take naps, and chill with the extra pumping.
Like I said, James has the cycle down. He's ready when I go to get him for a clean diaper and a mouth ready for food. And after burping he's all about cuddling with mommy and then heading to sleep. He is amazing and I wouldn't change anything about him!!!
Well, it's time for me to go get him...more to come later...enjoy the new pics!!!

Long Version...(aka TMI Version)

I woke up Sunday morning not feeling good at all.  My back was hurting really bad and I was cramping up a lot.  I decided to jump in the shower, hoping that the heat would help.  It did a little so we decided to go on to church.  In the middle of Sunday school I was feeling so awful that we left to head home to call the doctor.  We didn't make it home before I got sick, yes, on the side of the road.  Once home I actually started to feel a little better so we went back to church because I had nursery duty.  Needless to say, the pain came back and just as bad as before.  We decided to go on with my parents to lunch like we usually do on Sundays because I couldn't really tell the difference between my back pain and the contractions.  About 20 mins into lunch I couldn't handle it anymore.  Noah stayed and finished up lunch while Seth took me home to call the doctor and get the car packed because I was pretty sure that it was time to head to the hospital.  

Once home the doctor told me to sit in a quiet place to see if I could get a feel for the difference between the contractions and the constant back pain and also to count the number of times I could feel the baby move.  I was told to call her back in half an hour with an update.  Well, at the end of my 30 mins, the baby had only moved twice (we were looking for at least 4 times) and my contractions were every 3 to 4 minutes apart.  So, we were told to head to the hospital so that they could check on the baby and to monitor my contractions.  

At the hospital we were admitted right away, I'm guessing the look on my face said get me in a room now!  They hooked me up to all the machines and my contractions were now coming every 2 to 3 minutes and the baby's heart rate was pretty good, but not going up and down like they like to see so they decided not to let me go home.  So, they gave me some meds to make the contractions stronger and faster (which worked...and was very painful, they said I wasn't dilated enough to have any pain meds yet...ugh!)  

About an hour later I thought my water broke, I told the nurse and she took a look.  It wasn't my water...it was a hugh, huge, huge gush of blood!  They all freaked out, doctors were called, several nurses came running in...I was told that I would have to have an emergency c-section.  (Pause for a minute...I just want to say a prayer of thanks for James being breech a few weeks before because it forced me to look up info on c-sections so I didn't freak as much as I could have.)  So, they put an oxygen mask on me, put in a catheter (which hurt so bad, remember I hadn't had any pain meds yet)...and I was taken to surgery.  Because it was an emergency they wouldn't let Seth come with me, so I lost it for a second.  Through the tears he told me he loved me and that the baby and I would be fine, though I wasn't too sure.  

Once in the operating room I had to move from the bed to the table.  They started rubbing me down with something cold while they put up the blue divider, I was given a breathing tube and they put some meds in my IV that knocked me out.  That's all I can remember.  When I came to I was so out of it, I remember asking for my husband and if the baby was ok over and over.  Seth was right there to hold my hand and told me that James was alright. 

Later I found out exactly what happened...my placenta detached from the uterus wall.  James swallowed a lot of blood and they weren't sure how long he'd gone without oxygen.  They had to do chest compressions to get his heart going.  He's doing much better now but is still in the NICU.  They said if we hadn't been at the hospital when my placenta detached that he wouldn't have made it and I may not have either because of all the blood loss.  I thank God that I was having all that back pain which made me call the doctor because usually I'm the type to try to sit and wait it out.   

Baby James was born on Sunday, May 24th at 6:23 p.m.  He weighed 7lbs and 4 ozs and is 20 inches long.  I didn't get to see him in the NICU until the next morning which made for a very long night, and then right before I was headed to see him for the first time my nurse wanted me to take some pain meds, which made me very dizzy so I only got to see him for a second before having to go back to my room.  I tried again a little while later and was amazed!  He turned his head towards me when I started talking to him.  I was so worried that we wouldn't have bonding time, but he waited for me and is just perfect!  

We've taken lots of pictures and have posted some of them here for you.  (And for Noah, because children aren't allowed in the NICU so he hasn't been able to see his little brother yet except for in pictures and videos.)

Enjoy and thank you for all your prayers!!!

Short version...

Baby James is here!!!  He was born on Sunday, May 24th at 6:23 p.m. and weighed in at 7lbs, 4 ozs, and 20 inches long.  He is perfect!!!  We are hoping to go home from the hospital tomorrow.  

10 days to go...

Ugh...10 whole more days to go...and they are going by so slowly!!! I had my 38 week check-up yesterday and everything is the same; no weight change, sugar levels are good, baby is still head down. I'm so tired...not sleeping well is taking it's tole on me...yes, this could be my body's way of getting me ready for being up all night with a newborn but I'd rather just deal when he comes along and get some sleep now!!

Better news...

Yesterday I had my 37 week check-up and we got some good news...baby James turned back to the head down position! So, if he stays this way I don't have to have a c-section...which is great!! I'm scheduled for induction on Monday, June 1st. Hopefully he'll be here early but either way we'll have our new little man here in less than two weeks!

Not so good news...

This morning Seth and I headed downtown for my 36 week doctor's appointment. I was feeling pretty awful to begin with because I have a sinus infection (and they only want me to take some over the counter meds which aren't working), not to mention all the joyful pregnancy feelings...like back pain, cramping all over, feeling sick to my stomach... So, I'd only gone up about a pound, and my sugar and blood pressure were good. Then came time to meet with the doctor. While trying to find the heart beat he discovered that the baby is breech...still head up and not down like it should be. So, at my appointment next week if he is still the wrong way I have the option of letting them try to turn him (because that sounds like so much fun) and potentially having to have an emergency c-section because he either goes into fetal distress or the placenta detaches. Although that may sound like a good time I'm thinking not. So, the other option is to go ahead and schedule the c-section for the next week. I'll admit that a c-section never entered my mind and after reading some stories online I'm not exactly thrilled about the whole idea, but at least this way James doesn't have to get stressed out. So, I'll let you know how my next appointment goes (it's next Thursday) and hopefully we'll have a new due date based on when we plan the c-section. Keep us in your prayers!

It's getting closer...

Baby James will be here before we know it! I technically have four weeks left to go but according to my doctor I'm measuring a week ahead (thank goodness!!) and I'm so ready for him to be here. The nursery is done, the clothes are washed, and the car seat is already in my jeep; all I need now is for James to be here. I'll post some pics of the nursery soon!