Exhausted or Not

I have been waiting since last May for this. So you can bet that I'll be watching tonight's premiere of Season 4 - tired or not. I've been a fan from the beginning and have to see it through (even if I'm not thrilled as to where the plot might be going).

If you are not a fan it will be tricky to start in the middle of the storyline. The good news is that all episodes are available to watch online. Click HERE. You can start with Season 1 and not have to wait week to week or season to season to get hooked.

Baby Girl Meets Baby Boy

Jessica came to the hospital and said, "Mom, your baby is cute." She had maternal instincts and immediately started finger tracing all his little features. She was NOT happy that she had to go home from the hospital and Jayson had to stay the night.

Brothers

Jacob made it very clear that he did NOT want to be at the hospital. "Can we go now?" Except for when it was his turn with the baby. Jacob is a softy for babies.


James waited VERY patiently for everyone else to have their picture and video moments with Jayson before he got his turn. I thought it was very grown up of him to let the little sister and little brother go first even though it was his birthday.

A Baby Story

Friday, January 18th after pushing the snooze button, I got up at 7:15 a.m. to get showered. First stop is ALWAYS the bathroom. It was there that I had my first hint that my amniotic sac was ruptured. We like to say, "my water broke" but the fact is it didn't just pop and dump all over. Just a reoccurring drip, drip, drizzle. This happened with Jacob too, so I was quite certain that we would end up at the hospital.

I imagine that most women race to the hospital at the first sign that their water is broken. But this is what I did: took a light shower, packed bag for the hospital, throw in a load of laundry with the new baby blanket I wanted to use, pack a bag for Jessica, put on make-up, switch clothes to dryer, put hair in rollers, arrange child care for Jessica and carpool for boys to be picked up from school, called doctors office to find out who would be delivering me (since neither of my doctors were on call), call my friend Amy who works at the hospital to get the scoop on the doctor on call, post a note on the blog that I'm heading for the hospital, & eat 1/2 banana. I'm telling you... my body doesn't go into labor by itself - there was time. I still was anxious to get to the hospital. I needed to do paperwork and get antibiotics started.

SO:

7:15 a.m. - diagnose self that water is leaking
7:30 a.m. - Get Ready to Go
9:30 a.m. - Drop off Jessica
10:00 a.m. - Arrive at hospital

Then we got to play the waiting game. The labor and delivery wing had been busy all night and morning. My nurse flat out told me that she was stalling for time since they didn't have a room. I got into my backless gown and sat on the hard bed watching the scenes from Hawaii and other picturesque sites intended to calm the laboring mother. I was dilated to 3 cm.

10:45 a.m. - Officially admitted to hospital

The next couple hours involved paperwork, starving, being bored, & waiting to get the IV started. It seems like it was close to noon when my nurse finally started searching for a vein in my wrist. She was fishing around and missing the vein at the same time as the lab was poking my other arm for blood. Have I mentioned that I HATE needles - this is only one reason why I also HATE epidurals.

Now we wait for another 20-30 minutes for another nurse to take a crack at my veins. She found one, numbed the area with lidocaine, and then lost the vain. Now we are 0 for 2 sticks in the left arm. Again we wait. This time for the anesthesiologist. She searched for veins and decided to use one between my wrist & elbow of the right arm. Finally, I'm hooked up. I've been at the hospital for over 2 hours now. In hindsight I see that I should have eaten a bigger breakfast and perhaps done more laundry.

1 p.m. - IV in & first bag of antibiotics in (I'm supposed to get 2 before baby arrives, but I've never taken pitocin for over 4 hours. The antibiotic doses need to be given 4 hours apart - that's not going to happen unless we wait a couple more hours before starting the pit drip).

Over the next couple of hours the pitocin is slowly turned up at 30-45 minute intervals. I'm contracting the uncomfortable, but tolerable contractions. Wouldn't it be nice if these easy, breezy ones could do the job. I'm trying to read a book. My hugest complaints were my growling stomach & my POUNDING headache. Are you KIDDING me?!!! Yes, tension & lack of food trigger my mean headaches. Finally-

3 p.m. - we're getting serious now. The contractions are REAL. I don't like them, but I know they'll get worse. I can breathe around them. My nurse goes to track down the doctor to make sure the sac is completely ruptured.

3:30 p.m. - Doctor arrives. I'm at 5 cm. Water is completely ruptured. Time to switch rooms.

3:35 p.m. - I'm walking down the hall with an extra gown hopefully covering my back side and dragging my IV bags. My nurse is walking too fast. I need to stop for a contraction. Clean up on aisle maternity - I'm leaking water all over.

3:40 p.m. - Arrive at new room. I decide to use the bathroom before I'm hooked up to the blood pressure cuff again. I'm contracting mean ones on the toilet. I start going hysterical because I can't find the sink to wash my hands. I barely make it into bed before the intensity spikes. The nurse is wheeling in the delivery cart and baby heater. Jon gets ice chips. I only eat one because I'm going to choke on them if I have one in my mouth while contracting. I feel like I'm 800 degrees. How did it get so hot. I can't breathe through the contractions. I think this is the closest I came to screaming. I would exhale in a moan. My sweet nurse asks if I want anything for the pain. I'm thinking, "like what? What could you possibly give me at this point that would do any good." This was it - the point where I wasn't going to take it anymore. I'm starting to panic. It's too intense to do this any longer. I felt like my body was swollen and floating. My hands started to tingle. I was dizzy. It was creepy. In retrospect, I think I was hyperventilating. I was doing all the breathing OUT, but I wasn't taking good breathes in. (Maybe I should have done a Lamaze refresher course). I wanted to be to the pushing part so bad that I was worried that I was just making it up that it was time to push. The nurse checked me out and she said cervix was dilated.

4:00 p.m. Time to push. The urge to push came differently this time. I wasn't crowning. I worried that I'd be pushing for hours (like James). I asked the doctor if he was there ready to come out. She showed me a finger width of about 2 1/2 inches that I needed to push him down. Is he going to come out soon? Then she said probably the smartest thing ever, "that depends on how well you push." I was certain that right then and there I needed to have an embarrassing movement. I was horrified. But I couldn't stop the urge to push. My face turns beet red and eventually you can see the little purple popped blood vessels around my swollen eyes. Well, I wasn't having a bowel movement - it was my baby putting pressure on the bowels. Doctor told me that with each push she was seeing more hair which was encouraging.

I did have an episiotomy. I've had one with my three previous children and scar tissue doesn't stretch well. The doctor had my blessing to get in there so I could get the baby out. (He did have a 14 inch head & 14 3/4 inch chest - I need all the help I can get).

4:10 p.m. Baby born. I was able to lean forward and see him and the long blue rubbery cord stretched out from my body to his. Jon flipped on the video camera (which broke just after this footage). He was asked if he wanted to cut the cord and he declined so he could film, so doctor handed the scissors to me. I cut the cord and a moment later my warm, slimy, beautiful baby was placed on my chest. It was wonderful. My other babies have all been whisked off to the warmer and I had to catch peeks between the nurses. I got to cradle him, kiss him, examine him up close. Absolutely magical.

Meanwhile my leg muscles were cramping up from the awesome position they had been in. My jaw was chattering away, although I didn't feel cold. My appetite kicked in like a monster too. It was so great to get the placenta out and the warm blankets on.

Jayson weighed in at 8 lbs. 15 oz., 21 inches long.

He stayed in the room with me. They even came to my room to bath the baby and slick back his wavy hair. The hospital t-shirt was a tiny fit. It kept popping up to his chest. Jayson's little hands and feet were quite purple for a while, but the smoothest, softest things ever. His eyelids and stayed red for hours after they put that goop in his eyes - it irritated his skin. He started scratching at his face with his long nails. Even though he was born 2 weeks before his due date, Jayson's assessment considered him a 40 weeker.

It has been SO wonderful to have him here. So there it is - our baby story.

In N Out

I went IN the hospital like this.
And came OUT with this.



I love how his wavy, reddish hair was sticking up all over after being towel blotted. I do intend to share the whole story, but I'm sleep deprived and absolutely fatigued. Check back again soon.

Smart Momma

There are plenty of days when I fail at motherhood. There are always things I could do better. I get that. But other times - I ROCK!

A couple weeks ago James asked if I had wrapped ALL his presents. I don't know how many he thought he'd be getting. We do friend parties every other year and a family party on the other years. I think birthdays should be acknowledged and celebrated. The kids like the friend parties because it's so exciting to have a pile of presents to open. The trouble is that James' requests have tripled in price (ie. $50 Wii video games instead of GameCube game or used Nintendo 64 games for $20 or less). He is a logical boy, but he was TICKED after Dad had the talk about how we have a budgeted amount for gifts. I was looking for "extras" to wrap so the loot seemed bigger - like Bubble Gum tape & PopIts to throw in the backyard. James was CONVINCED that this was going to be the worst birthday EVER. (He is a little dramatic).

I didn't want James' birthday to get overlooked because of the baby, so we planned to celebrate early. He chose to go to Chuck E. Cheese for our family dinner. I HATE going there on weekends, so we scheduled his family party on Thursday, January 17th. I didn't give James a choice of theme because I needed to use what was readily available. I chose SpongeBob & a cupcake tower cake. I went to Michaels & Party City to gather cake toppers, candles, Crabby Patty candies, paper goods, goodie bags, & special treats. That day was like a marathon. I was so tired by the time we made it to Chuck E. Cheese. I just sat with my feet propped on the bench. The lady next to me asked if I was having twins. "No," I smiled.



The boys got nearly 50 tokens each which meant: big prizes. The cake was a hit & the presents passed James' approval (I chalked up the meal to our entertainment budget & the cake/candy supplies to the grocery budget, so I could buy an extra gift for James - I'm a sucker for presents too). Turns out that the party was a hit - and just in the nick of time. The next morning I found out that my water was broken and that I would be spending James' birthday giving birth to his little brother Jayson.



Yep, I totally went all out with the goodie bags (I only had to make THREE). It was one of the ways that made James feel like he got a stash for his party and wasn't jipped.



And here's James moments after I met him 9 years ago. He did have strawberry blond hair for a few weeks, but he hasn't gotten his bath yet either.




Notice the scale: 9 lbs. 10 oz. - way to BREAK me into motherhood son!!!

Jayson Robert has arrived

Details & family pics to come later. I've got a baby to feed. In the meantime, it is wonderful to have a photographer as a good friend. Thanks Sara. You've captured my son beautifully!!!

January 18, 2008 (same as big brother)
4:10 p.m.
8 lbs. 15 oz.
21 inches long

Plan B

Let me first say, "Happy Birthday" to my first son, James, who is officially NINE years old TODAY.

It appears that baby Jayson wants to try to share birthdays. I''m quite certain my water is broken, so we are off to the hospital in a bit.

If I'm right, you won't hear from me via blog for a few days. If I'm wrong, I will admit defeat with another post.

Say a little prayer for me :)

Scheduled

I did see my doctor today. My blood pressure was still okay, but my pulse was elevated - I was a bit anxious for what I might find out today. The news is good. I've dialated to about a 2 and am inducible. I'm scheduled to arrive at the hospital next Monday at 4:30 a.m. I'll get hooked up to IVs, antibiotics, & pitocin.

I'll be 38 1/2 weeks at delivery. So now it's your turn to guess the delivery time & weight. Those who guess closest will be sent the birth announcement FIRST :)

Baby Shower

Thanks to all my friends who pulled off this beautiful event!!! I loved all the details.


This is the gorgeous diaper cake (look closely). There should be a more elegant name for it. It reminded me of my friend Lyndsey's beautiful wedding cake made by her grandmother.



Notice the sweet bluejay on the bird house and the blue & brown eggs on the table.



Cute little bird cage on decorative boxes as you walk in the door.



A pile of nicely wrapped gifts - what mother's heart wouldn't melt!!! Notice the tiny diapers & socks & my baby will have a fresh mattress. Jessica will be wearing out our 9 year old mattress on her toddler bed.



The food table was DELICIOUS. In the back you can see the rich chocolate truffle dessert & cheesecake. The cupcakes had Sara's signature molded chocolate "J"s on top. So beautiful. And HOW did they manage to find blue, yellow, & white candied eggs in January??!!



This batch of fondue turned out lovely (we don't need to mention the behind-the-scenes batch). I loved drizzling this over my slice of cheesecake, but there were also fruits and treats to dip.



What wonderful friends I have. I enjoyed visiting for HOURS.



I always feel a bit silly being in the spotlight during gift time, but I LOVE the gifts.



THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!!!!

Spoiled from Head to Toe

It's been a full, fun, & fabulous day!!! After dropping Jessica off at preschool, I headed out to get a spa pedicure. The foot massage was wonderful and now my toes are groomed & polished (I can't actual reach my feet and breathe at the same time right now). One of the first things that Jessica said when I brought her home from school was, "Mom, I like your pretty toes." Later in the afternoon I enjoyed having my hair highlighted and trimmed with a new blond glow. I picked up Dominoes for dinner, so I was off the hook for cooking. Then I got dressed up to go to my baby shower. It was so wonderful to be around supportive and loving friends (my California family). The shower was themed around my baby bluejay with nests, cages, birds, & eggs - all done up beautifully in blue & brown. There was even a gorgeous two layer diaper cake with brown ribbons (hopefully I'll get copies of the pics so I can share). My descriptive words this time of night are really NOT conveying the imagery. Our son will be the cutest dressed guy ever from all the kind gifts. Now we wait 'til tomorrow's doctor appointment to find out if we'll be meeting Baby Jay anytime soon. Can't wait!!!

Inspiration in Stake Conference

Jessica was allowed to play with the Doodle Pro during Stake Conference today to help keep her quiet. This is a recreation of the masterpiece she created and handed to me and said, "Mommy, this is a picture of you... you have a baby in your tummy."



Thanks a lot!!

Not so Sweet

Did I say that Jessica has been sweet lately? Maybe I should have said that she's been INTO the sweets lately. I had a whole box of Baker's semi-sweet baking chocolates on the top shelf of the cupboard. I only count 3 squares remaining with white wrappers scattered around the kitchen and chocolate smudges on the edges of Jessica's lips. Nice!

On Tuesday I came into the kitchen to find granulated sugar scattered across the table and sticking to the tile floors. She had filled up her sugar dish to have a Princess tea party (where she actually served water called hot chocolate).

I guess I WON'T be making those brownies from scratch anytime soon.

4:54 a.m.

I spend my nights in shallow sleep. Tossing repeatedly and uncomfortably from side to side. I wake to use the bathroom. I'm too hot with blankets even during the cool nights. Again I wake to the sound of "ching, ching, ching." It's still dark. I glance at the clock - not even 5 a.m. and my boys are up collecting coins in Mario's galaxy. I barely can walk down the hall to whisper the news they don't want to hear. "You have to go back to bed until at least 6 a.m."

Baby Bluejay

So you've heard I've been nesting. I'm waiting for my baby bluejay.

I have a bluejay story. A few years ago, I had taken James & Jacob to the Huntington Library & Botanical Gardens. We never went inside, just enjoyed the beautiful flowers and open air. But the day we went, it started to rain. So I gathered my little boys and we ran to take cover under a pine tree (I'm sure there was a more elaborate name on the garden plaque). While we waited out the rainfall, I pulled out Goldfish crackers for the kids. The most beautiful little bluejay wanted some too. He had also taken cover under the tree boughs. I was amazed at how brilliantly blue his feathers were and how close he kept coming to my kids. We tossed him some crackers so he would keep some distance while we enjoyed watching him.

For those of you who don't know, we plan to name our son Jayson Robert after his two grandfathers (Kent Jay & Robert). I know it's not the common spelling and we have a flair for common names, but I want to squeeze my dad's name in there somehow.

I've realized that I'm a bit nervous- for the delivery that is. It's not a real comfortable experience as I remember. I've had Braxton Hicks contractions this past week and I almost completely escaped them in past pregnancies. I'm kind of wondering what it would feel like to actually just go into labor and then go to the hospital instead of go to the hospital to get things started.

I'm not usually a fan of photos that showcase me in a bathing suit. But I'll make this exception. This is me 7 1/2 years ago at exactly 37 weeks pregnant. The point was to illustrate how HUGE I was. I laugh now because that was my most petite pregnancy. Somewhere between the time this pic was taken and swimming in that pool, my water broke - but I didn't know it. Later that night I realized I was leaking and went to hospital. The rupturing of the amniotic sac did NOT trigger a labor response from my body, so I was induced starting at 2 a.m. That's how I got my Jacob three weeks early. (And for all my friends who use this community pool - SO SORRY!)



Look how great that turned out!!!


Just a note: this is my SKINNY baby.