Hurts Worse

Pregnancy hurt. Labor hurt. C-section recovery hurt. Going back to work hurts worse.

It was inevitable... I had to go back to work and Reid would have to go to daycare. My heart couldn't have been more broken this morning as I got us ready to start a new routine. 

I pumped then hopped in the shower. As I was getting out, I heard his cry. Dac was getting him out of bed. I quickly took over, fed, and changed him. Then I had to put him down - hardly a chance for snuggles - while I got ready. I heard him cry again... then I cried. There I was, straightening my hair and pulling on dress pants and I couldn't comfort him. It was the first of many times that day it wouldn't be me to comfort him. Someone else (though a good someone else) would be taking my place. To top it off, my hair still ended up looking like crap. Sigh.

I got him all dressed in an actual outfit for his first day and snapped a couple shots to commemorate the traumatic experience. Clearly he wasn't as traumatized as me.

I left the house in tears and stopped by the donut shop on my way to Cori's... thinking a chocolate long john and donut holes would ease my pain. #donutsfixeverything #exceptthis =(

Cori let me stop by on my lunch break so I could cuddle him. I got to change two diapers and feed him. Couldn't have spent my lunch hour doing anything better. =) When I got back, I had these beauties waiting for me on my desk:

Thanks Val and Cori!

She also sent me pictures throughout the day. Sometimes it was hard to see what I was missing but I was oh so glad to see his face. Loved getting them!

I received a lot of sweet calls, texts, and facebook messages re-assuring me that it gets easier, that I'm a good mom, and that it's definitely harder on me than him. I'm thankful for those and I'm thankful for Cori taking him in and loving on him when I can't. I'm also thankful I got to come home to him... never left work so fast! =)

First Family Photos

I'm excited to share these. We owe a very special thanks to Jennifer Miller of Jennifer Miller Media for taking the time to capture our new family and and our life at home in that first week after Reid was born. We already cherish these and I know we will forever! =) 

40 Weeks

Hello! Merry Christmas, happy new year, and everything else I've missed. The good great news is that I'm alive. The other good news is that my pregnancy went to 40 weeks. Even better than that is that we now have a perfect, healthy, beautiful baby BOY! =)

So we left off at 39+ weeks. (Here was my Pop Tart post I'd prepared to share the next week...) 

Highlights

How Far Along: 40 weeks

Size of baby: Jackfruit

Total Weight Gain/Loss:  I don't know and don't think I even care.

Maternity Clothes: I wash my like one outfit every day... the rest of the clothes that fit are in the hospital bag. 

Gender: We'll find out soon! =)

Movement: Yes.

Sleep: I laugh. I "sleep" between contractions. 

Symptoms: Contractions, cramps, stabbing pains, headache, cough, cough, cough.

What I miss: Lying down.

Cravings: WATER. Candy. Fruit.

Best Moment this week: Seeing a good, healthy-lookin' baby on the sonogram. =)

What I am looking forward to: Meeting our baby and lying down.

My due date was Friday, November 30. At approximately 3 a.m. that day, my water broke, and at 7:17 p.m., Reid David was born - weighing 8.14 lbs and measuring 20.5 in. 

I plan to share the story of that day, as well as how things have gone since, our holidays, and lots of pictures of Reid. =) That takes lots of time, planning, and motivation - and while I'm excited to share, I'm also really behind (in case you hadn't noticed) and these updates will probably come gradually, at least for now. I'm busy adjusting and enjoying our boy. Time is already flying!

I just wanted to check in and let you know I'm keeping the blog (it is our scrapbook afterall) and share a couple photos. Don't give up on me!

Here I am in the wee hours of November 30 right before heading to the hospital... looking oh so huge, puffy, nervous fabulous. =)

Here he is in all his glory! He came out looking just like his daddy!

He too was pretty puffy. He looks so different now but oh my... look at those cheeks! =)

We couldn't be more in love.

Almost there

No baby yet. 

We had the sonogram this morning but didn't get official results in time for my checkup. BUT - the baby looked good and wasn't off the charts big so we're assuming things are fine unless we hear otherwise. Dr. A wanted to check fluid levels etc... and was going to call if anything was concerning. The tech was wonderful and it was nice to see the babe.

We got some City Bites between the appts. =) Yum.

My blood pressure was on the high side again but not nearly as high as last week (thank goodness). Still, it was high enough to warrant another blood draw and a 24-hour urine collection (yippee). Because my bp has been high and unstable, she will induce next week if the baby isn't here yet. I'm pretty anti-induction but I know that bp isn't something to mess with and I'd be past 40 weeks anyway so that makes me feel a little better about it. She's supposed to call with my lab results and the induction date tomorrow. I also drop my pee jug off up there tomorrow afternoon. We'll see how it goes! I was 3-4 cm dilated this time so I am definitely progressing. Dilating is all that's left - everything else is exactly where it needs to be for baby go-time. =)

Midweek Randoms

• After my appt. Wednesday, I just sort of took it easy.

• Thursday, of course, was Thanksgiving! We started out the day lazying around and watching a bit of the parade. We did lunch at my Grandparents'. Delicious as usual! =)

• Later that afternoon we went to Dac's parents' house for a very tasty round two! Needless to say, I overdid it and ate too dang much. Oy! I just couldn't help myself. Aside from the belly ache, the day was great and we enjoyed lots of visiting.

• Dac did yard work Friday while I continued to be lazy... that afternoon my parents came over and my mom decorated for Christmas. I almost decided to forego it altogether this year but I'm really glad she talked me into it and of course that she did the work. =)

•  Ol' Peety boy celebrated his 6th birthday! He's been with us over 5 years now. Even with his OCD tendencies, I sure do love this guy. =) He's such a great buddy and I'm so glad he adopted us. 

• Saturday was more lazy and we started watching Touch on Netflix. I also started watching Revenge. #ateupwiththenetflix

• I kept up with the Bedlam game too. Unfortunately, OSU lost. BUT in overtime during a game that OU never led until the very end. Sad panda. 

• Sunday wasn't nearly as lazy. I actually did some housework, Dac did more yard work here and at his parents'. Kayla picked me up for an ice cream date so I actually stepped foot out of the house for a bit.

• Monday was my first official day of maternity leave. Given the whole blood pressure thing and the fact that I can't stand for more than a couple minutes at a time, I think it was time. haha! I still showered and fixed my hair (winning) and did the dishes so I wasn't a total bum. I also watched lots of Revenge - I'm caught up now. I also like to take a stroll around the house a few times a day. My route typically goes like this: get up from the recliner, fold the blanket I was covered up with and will no doubt cover right back up with, throw any trash away and put any dishes in the dishwasher, pick up anything that's sitting out, go to the bathroom, pick up cinnamon spray and walk to the front of the house, look at Christmas tree, look outside, walk the remainder of the house spraying the cinnamon spray and then return it to the bathroom. Next, I fill up my water bottle, sit back down, and resume Netflix. =) Hey, it helps me feel accomplished.

• That evening Dac's dad came over to help with some house stuff and Cori brought us supper! =) Hot dogs, cheetos, and s'mores! Perfect!

• Yesterday was much more eventful. After getting a little more sleep Monday night,(THANK YOU LORD) I woke up, went to my chiropractor appt., got gas and an oil change (and a sonic drink), did a couple loads of laundry, actually put some of those lothes up, did dishes, ran the dishwasher, put drawer liner in the baby's dresser, got a few diapers ready to go in the top drawer, and even washed (in the most piping hot water ever #sensitivepaws) a couple varieties of 4 oz bottles and pacifiers. Maybe it was my last little burst of energy everyone talks about?? 

• As far the baby's concerned... there's still lots of contractions and more false labor. They've been sporadic throughout the day and pretty constant/consistent starting in the evenings. I also think the baby might be even lower now. Ay yi yi. 

• We'll know more later today. I have a sonogram late this morning and my normal check-up after lunch. My prayer for the day is that the baby has plenty of fluid, is still healthy and growing, oh and that my BP is back to normal. =) I'll be sure to report back!

Monday Morning Pop Tart

Week 39 - It’s been a busy week and yet, we had lots of rest time too. I got my toes did and enjoyed the massage that came along with that. I also got my hair cut... makes me just that much closer to ready. =) Everybody is SO excitedly waiting for your arrival. Heck, we are too! You managed to stay in this long and we’re thankful. We had a great Thanksgiving and have been enjoying some much appreciated downtime since. Looking forward to meeting you... soon!!

Highlights

How Far Along: 39 weeks

Size of baby: Watermelon

Total Weight Gain/Loss:  I forgot to ask the total but I do know I didn't gain this week!

Maternity Clothes: Clothes shmothes. I think I'll just forget them for now. 

Gender: We'll find out soon! =)

Movement: Yes.

Sleep: Ha! My nightly routine still includes a Benadryl and I sleep sitting up in the recliner with a big pillow behind my back. It's the only way. This is also how I'm spending my evenings (and, ok, since I've been off work... my days too...)

Symptoms: Contractions, cramps, stabbing pains, headache, cough, cough, cough.

What I miss: 

Cravings: WATER.

Best Moment this week: Thanksgiving

What I am looking forward to: Baby day!

Doctor Date

This was more of a blind date with a doctor I've never met before. My doctor is gone this whole week for Thanksgiving so I saw another doctor in the practice. She was very nice at least. =) 

I didn't gain any weight this week... holla! =)

On a not-so-good note, my blood pressure was high. =( I'm pretty sure this is the first time it's ever been high in my life - total surprise. My bp always tends to run on the low side if anything. During pregnancy it's ran around 115/60. Today it was 150-something over 100. Yikes. I hadn't even been doing anything this morning. I've had a headache the past few days and I had a quick vision issue yesterday but I thought those were due to coughing attacks. Who knows. They had me lay on my side for quite a while then checked it again... still high... so they sent me to have blood work done. She was hoping it would give them a better idea of what might be causing it. Unfortunately it's a long weekend and I haven't heard from anyone yet. Sigh. I guess I'll just take it easy this weekend and try to check my bp every now and then. 

As for the baby, the heart rate was 147. I'm dilated to 2.5 cm this week, still 90% effaced, and baby is still at zero station (ie: super-stinkin'-low). We're just hanging in there! =) 

Enjoy the heck out of Thanksgiving!! We will and we certainly have tons to be thankful for!