Another Day

Last night was, um, better? 

I feel...very sleepy.

How are we getting by?

We began the morning, with John on the boppy, eating, and Ada in front of us, also eating.  I let her eat Cocoa Puffs.  I do not agree with giving kids junk cereal.  I do, however, agree with doing what you have to do to survive on a few hours of sleep with a 2 year old and a 2 week old.  I kept one hand on John, making sure he was staying "attached," and with the other hand I fed Ada.  At least I had enough sense to not let her feed herself.

As he ate and she ate, I drank caffeine free diet coke.  And I wished with all my heart that caffeine free would some how help in much the same way as her caffeineted cousin.  It did not.

John spent the morning eating and crying, eating and crying, and finally sleeping long enough for me to take a shower.

And then the baby swing, the glorious baby swing, saved the day, and he took a long nap while Ada played by herself, and I turned the television off and enjoyed the quiet.

And then John woke up and cried some more while Ada napped.

But, things continue to go well.  Emotionally I am stable, and this is incredible news ;)  I am taking this thing one day at a time.  Hey, I am taking this thing one hour at a time.  He may cry this hour, and my house may be a wreck this hour, but the sky's the limit next hour.  With Ada, I was taking it 18 years at a time, and that is where I went wrong.

p.s.  Mary, as you can see, Ada was thrilled to find her surprise waiting outside.  She named the baby, "purple baby," and she played with it all day long.  In fact, she would not let me read her the books because, as she explained, they belonged to "purple baby."  Thank you, thank you, thank you, Mary, Abby, and Irene!!

Little Stinker

See those eyes?  They were open a whole lot last night.  As in, every two hours.  As in, I slept in one hour shifts.  And they continued to stay open for a majority of the morning.  His inner stinker is coming out.  He is finally napping right now.

I decided to let him nurse until he fell fast asleep.  Then I rocked him in that position until I really knew he was asleep, and he has been asleep for over an hour.  Enough time for me to take a shower and dry my hair.

But now I hear him crying, and that means he needs to eat yet again.  It's what I prayed for, right?  A good nurser.  I got one.

Our New Normal

This is the scene in my kitchen this afternoon, as I try to gather up a grocery list and coupons.  I am waiting to tackle the grocery store until Scott gets home.  I am not ready to do it on my own with two in the grocery cart. 

I am figuring this thing out, one day at a time.

On Our Own

The family left today, and Ada, John, and I are on our own.  Of course, Scott will join us after work:)

It's got to be a good sign that I am blogging!!  And it is--Ada is playing independently and John is sleeping soundly.  So, that's a little too good to be true, I think.  We'll see how the afternoon goes, but so far, so good.

I am feeling good.  Very, very, very drowsy, but good.  I am getting a decent amount of sleep at night, but I guess the three hour shifts don't equal a full night's sleep.  Plus, I think the nursing is draining me a bit.  Every nursing session throughout the day, I feel a bit more tired, until bed time when I can hardly hold my head up.  Don't get me wrong, though, I am getting way more sleep than I should be with a newborn.  Please, please, keep it up, John!! 

He continues to be laid back, and Ada seems to really love him.  She has adjusted much more quickly than I ever expected.  So, things are good.

When my mom left after Ada was born, I cried.  This time, I did not.  So, things are looking up.

Still hanging in there

This little guy stills seems to be fairly laid back.  We had a couple of rough nights in a row, and I realized that I had been drinking more caffeine than intended, so I have now cut out all caffeine.  Yikes.  Those first days with a new baby are not the time to quit caffeine cold turkey.  Even while pregnant, I allow myself diet coke in moderation.  Anyway, other than a giant headache, it seems to have helped, and we all got a good night's sleep last night.  

He continues to be a champion nurser.  Every two hours during the day, and every four hours at night (which is incredible to me).  I can't believe that he is nursing this well after all those bottles that he had in the hospital.  He also has a dirty diaper every single time he nurses.  I mean, truly.  We have changed so many diapers.  So, he seems to do things a bit differently than Ada did:)

Speaking of, she is gone to the park with Scott right now.  Bless her heart.  I think she is a bit unimpressed with John, and she is sick of the monotony of nurse, change diapers, sleep, nurse.  She is ready for a friend to play with.  Well, the weather is gorgeous, so we all thought a special park day with Dad was just the thing she needed.

Ada has actually contributed to the exhaustion of the newborn stage because she is waking up at 5:50 every morning instead of her usual 7:30.  If she would sleep until 7:30, then we would all be well rested, but instead, she has changed her schedule.  I hope, oh I hope, that 5:50 is just a phase.

Tomorrow, my dad, Ann, and her three kids are all coming to McDonough.  Dad was in the middle of murder trials during John's birth and hospital stay, so he was only able to see John briefly this past Saturday, when John was still in the NICU.  It will be a party at our house with all of those people, but I know Ada will love it.  Ann actually planned to leave Ellie and Luke at home, but mom and I asked her to bring them for Ada's sake.  Then, everyone, including mom, will leave on Tuesday.  Oh man.  We'll see if I'm singing the same tune about life with two when I'm on my own.  Worst case scenario, I will just pack up my stuff a few days later and head to Scottsboro.  I am not scared to admit when I need help with a new baby!!:)

Overall, things are still going really well.  We are adjusting to this new life, and I know that I will blink and things will seem more normal. 

Sibling rivalry starts early

What you see above is a sequence that starts with John content in his bed, looking at himself in the mirror (he already loves it, Ann).  However, when he got a bit fussy, and I picked him up to rock him, Ada decided to pitch quite the fit, which ended with her falling out of her duck onto the floor.  The entire time she was crying, "I want to hold you," which of course translates to, "I want you to hold me and not John."  Jealousy rears its ugly head.  You can see that John was not worried about it; he was just happy to be in my arms.

And in the last photo, you can see how I spend most of my day, with John on the boppy and Ada by my side.  I am officially mom to two.

Homecoming (a little late)

One last nap in the NICU.

His last bottle. He needed a little comfort after his antibiotic shots. Three total!! They made me ride in a wheel chair despite the fact that I had been home from the hospital for days. Strange.Love those pacies provided by the hospital.

Ada sees John for the first time since the day he was born. She wasn't allowed in the NICU.And the big sister gift. Just a bag of "goodies," to hopefully make her feel special in the midst of all the change.

(photography courtesy of Sarah. Head over to her blog to check out her art and her etsy shop. It's all great!!)

One more thing...

I forgot to tell you this when I blogged this morning.

In the midst of the craziness during John's first week of life, I managed to wash my brand new phone in the washing machine. It was in my pocket, and what do you know, it went through the cycle with the clothing. I cried when I realized what I had done. (can we say hormonal?)

Anyway, I bought yet another phone, and I am going to call the company and attempt to keep the same number so I don't have to change it yet again. Anyway, if you have tried to get in touch with me over the past few days, that is why you haven't been able to. I now have a phone, I just need to get everything in working order with it.

Also wanted to report that we took John to the doctor this morning, and he weighed in at a whopping 8 lbs!! after weighing only 7'4 at birth. I was so proud of him, and I felt much better about the whole 10 minutes on both sides thing. Everything else looked great as well. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Lord!!!

Update: My phone is up and running with the same phone number. However, I lost all my contacts again, which stinks. Can anyone reading this who I might call on the phone please send me your number--laura_rhodes@hotmail.com. Thanks so much!!!

Life at Home

I have hesitated to update because I don't have pictures to go with this post. Sarah went back to Scottsboro, along with her wonderful camera. She has promised to send me the pictures of John coming home, so I will post those soon. I know that posts are so much better with pictures.

Anyway, here we are. Adjusting to life with two, and so far, things are going exceptionally well. I am crossing my fingers and saying lots of prayers that things continue this way.

John is a champion sleeper so far. Thank you, Lord. Anything is possible after a good night's sleep!! In fact, last night, he slept from 10:30-2:30, and then didn't wake up again until 6:30 am!!! Can you believe that? I can't. Every night I go to bed thinking this will be the night that he "wakes up." I am having to get used to sleeping in the room with him. I lie in bed listening to his little sounds, and I make myself not jump up at every sound that sounds "abnormal" to me. I tell myself to get my mind on something else, or I just begin to pray for both of my children, and I usually drift off. That is all the Lord because I couldn't sleep with Ada in the room with me. I would just lie awake in between feedings listening to her breath. It was maddening. Not this time. Scott and I have woken up the past three mornings very rested and amazed!!

He is also nursing. Again, thank you, Lord. We had everything working against us--a million bottles in the hospital, the NICU stay, and everything else, but he has not had one bottle since being home, and he hasn't needed one. Every nursing session gets better and better. I feel very taken care of by the Lord. The only problem is keeping him awake during feedings. I can get him to do ten minutes on one side, then I change his diaper to wake him up, and I might get five minutes on the other side. He does better in the middle of the night. Is this normal? I worry that he isn't doing ten minutes on both sides. I would love some feedback from other nursing moms. He seems to be a very laid back baby, but of course, he may not have fully "woken up" yet, but I will take these "easy" days to get my strength back!!

Ada is also doing surprisingly well. I can tell that she is affected by this shift in her world, though. Her emotions are definitely heightened, and she has thrown several fits over the smallest things. Yesterday she went to Kroger with me and John stayed here with mom. I could tell she was loving it, that time to be alone with me. But she has been very sweet to John, kissing him and such. She keeps saying, "he not talking." So I have to explain over and over that he can't talk yet, but that one day he will get bigger and they can play together. I think she is a bit unimpressed with him as he just lies there all day.

So...that's how things are going here. Very, very, very well, all things considered, and I am so thankful. (and goodness knows, I would tell you all the gory details if things weren't going well) Mom is still here, so I know things will get a little more difficult once she leaves.

I am so in love with my little man. I stare and stare and cuddle and soak in the smell of him. He is my precious boy, just as Ada is my precious girl. I am so thankful for these children of mine.

Happy Valentine's Day

This is my little Valentine. My precious, precious Valentine. And he is coming home with me tonight. Praise the Lord for protecting him and healing him and bringing him home.

We are at the hospital waiting on him to be circumcised. What a sad Valentine's Day gift for him. Bless his heart.

The nurse will come to our house tonight and tomorrow morning for two last shots of antibiotic, and then he is in the clear. My little burrito baby.

Happy Valentine

The End is in Sight

Everything is looking up.

John was moved out of the NICU today to a more transitional nursery. It was so much easier to visit him today because he had his own little area with a curtain and a very comfy chair. When he was sleeping, I could just sit in that chair and read or I could hold him and stare at him, which is what I mostly chose to do.

His CPR numbers, which indicate infection, were completely normal today--so no more infection. Thank you, Lord.

He never needed oxygen when eating. Again, thank you, Lord.

His little lung is completely healed, and the jaundice is gone.

John will either come home late tomorrow or early Monday. His antibiotics will not be finished until Monday morning, and the doctor is trying to get a nurse to come to our house for that dose so that John can come home tomorrow. However, we live 45 minutes away from the hospital, so I think we will probably have to wait until Monday morning. Either way, I am so happy to know a definite day.

When John left my room on Monday afternoon, the doctor told me he would be back in my room in 8 hours, and I cried a little bit over that. Little did I know that he would finally be with me 8 days later. I am so thankful it's not 8 weeks or 8 months.

I am exhausted, and I know that my nights are about to get interesting, so I plan to go to bed very early tonight in preparation for all that is ahead of me. I have a feeling that sleep will be hard to come by, as I lie awake listening to John breath, making sure he is okay. No matter what the doctors tell me, I know myself, and it will be a while before I can rest easy without worrying about every little sound that he makes.

Again, I know that I need to post pictures, but I am typing on Sarah's lap top, and I don't have the energy to find the camera and download pictures. They will come soon enough.

My little boy is coming home. I couldn't be more relieved.

Feel the need to update

It's 11:00 pm at the end of another long day, so as usual, this might not be the clearest post ever. Plus tonight I am feeling somewhat emotional over the entire situation. Basically, I want my little boy at home with me so that I can be mom to both him and Ada, rather than switching back and forth. Tomorrow morning I will find out if he can come home on Sunday, which would be the best news in the whole world. Please pray for a good report.

John decided not to nurse tonight, but I am not so discouraged. I just want to get him home and we will go from there. My milk has come in, however, and I find myself a bit miserable at times. (If there happens to be any males that read this blog, I apologize for all the nursing talk). I have that wonderful hospital grade medela pump that also got me through the first month with Ada, so I do have a way of getting milk to John even when I am not at the hospital to feed him myself.

I think he's doing well today. The only thing we are waiting on is for him to coordinate eating and breathing. They took him off that one nose medication today, and they are still having to give him a small bit of oxygen when he eats. He just gets too excited and gulps it down while forgetting to breath. If his nose would just clear up, I think we would be in the clear.

Scott and I almost got stuck at the hospital tonight as the snow kept falling and falling. We left sooner than planned in hopes to make it home before the roads got icy. Poor Ada is really feeling the effects of this abnormal lifestyle we are living, and I am trying to be at home for chunks of time each day. I was here when she woke up this morning, and I was able to bathe her and put her to bed tonight. I know she needs a bit of stability in her life right now. She did a lot of hysterical crying tonight at bedtime, so I know that her emotions are somewhat unstable now. Who can blame her? Mine are certainly unstable;) At one point, I just cried along with her as I felt so out of control of this entire situation. But aren't we always ultimately out of control? Again, intellectually I know that the Lord holds each of my children in the palm of His hand and loves them more than I can even begin to imagine, but emotionally (and hormonally;)) I want to be in control of my children, and in this situation, I am NOT.

I took lots of pictures tonight so that I can give you a glimpse of what our days are like in the NICU, but I am too tired to download them right now. In fact, I think I have to end this and head to bed. I am planning to get a really good night of sleep tonight, because I continue to hit walls of exhaustion. Isn't it amazing what a good night of sleep can do?

Thanks for all of your prayers, and Bethany, if you are reading--thanks for the meal tonight. I can't wait to eat that yummy casserole. And the bow was just adorable. Loved it.

And Sarah L. G., you have been so thoughtful over the past few days. In fact, we enjoyed a Chili's lunch before the hospital today, thanks to you. And I did almost call to see if we could stay at your house tonight, but if possible I wanted to get home to Ada. (I got your message on our way home).

Again, praying, praying, praying that the doctor says that John can, in fact, come home on Sunday. What a sigh of relief that would be. Good night, everyone!!

Quick Post

We are at the hospital, about to go in for John's last feeding before I head home for the night. Things are looking up.

John is now breathing without oxygen even when he eats--woo-hoo, keep it up, John. His nose is completely clear, so the medicine is working great--hence the eating and breathing coordination. The prayer now becomes that he can get off of the medicine and still eat and breathe at the same time.

And he had a great nursing session tonight. I couldn't believe it. He has been fighting me all day--screaming and so agitated and never latching on at all--it must have been because he couldn't breathe through his nose. After the 9:00 feeding, the nurse didn't even make me give him a bottle; that's a first since we have been here. So, thank you, Lord, for encouragement. His grace is sufficient, isn't it?

Prayers continue to be that he will coordinate his eating and breathing, get off the nose medication, the infection will continue to clear, his lungs will continue to heal, and he will really catch on to nursing.

Okay, off to feed him and then finally home and bed.

Thursday Update

I'm here for the daily update.

I am actually at home for now because I hit a wall of exhaustion at the hospital, and my mom and John's nurse encouraged me to come home for a bit. The NICU waiting room is not conducive to a recovering mom. I was washing pumping accessories in a public restroom and letting them drain in the waiting room chair. And dealing with recovery and all that it involves in a public restroom--also not fun.

After I type this and cuddle with Ada for a few more minutes, I am headed upstairs for a nap.

I had a good conversation with John's night nurse and his doctor, and I feel a little more clear about what is going on and what needs to happen for John to come home.

Okay, first of all, he no longer has to be under the lights for the jaundice. Yea. That's check mark number one.

Second, the x-rays of his lung continue to look good, though there is still some healing that needs to happen.

Third, he is having a hard time coordinating his eating and breathing. Last night he apparently turned blue and needed oxygen every time he ate, so he has to work that out before he can come home. By the way, he is no longer latching on at all. Which is emotional for me, but I am just concentrating on doing what needs to be done to get him home and then we will deal with nursing.

John's nose is very congested--not like a cold--but swollen, maybe, from all the suction they had to use right after he was born. He is using flonase and another medication to clear that up. He can come home with the flonase but not the other medication, so they have to get him off of that. The nurse thinks that the main reason he is no longer latching on is because he can't breathe through his nose, which is also why he is turning blue when eating with a bottle. Hopefully, that problem will fix itself. I am prepared for some frustrating weeks of nursing, but I am praying that we will eventually be successful.

He is still on the antibiotic for the infection (which they think is pneumonia), but his CPR numbers, which indicate infection, have gone down, so the antibiotics seem to be working. Again, he can go home with antibiotics, but they don't think he will need to.

So the main thing--he needs to coordinate eating and breathing and he needs to get off the one nasal medication. The doctor predicts that he will come home on Sunday or Monday, but again, this depends on so many things.

Of course I am having to regroup and figure out what the next few days will look like as we travel to and from the hospital everyday. It was very emotional to leave the hospital with empty arms. I didn't like feeling so far away from him.

Anyway, again, I know I am giving lots of details, but it also helps me to process what the doctor said to write it all down. If not, I have trouble keeping it all straight.

I am resting in the fact that the Lord ordained each of John's days, including these spent in the NICU. He knew the details of this birth long before they came to be, so this is clearly what needed to happen.

Now, I am going to sleep.

Latest News

I am beyond tired right now, so I am not sure if this post will even make sense, but here goes.

They did take John's chest tube out today, and I was able to breast feed. It went really, really well, all things considered. I am praising the Lord. He does have trouble latching on, but I can get him to latch on and eat with some work. Ada would never latch on, ever, until she was a month old, and then it was still a battle. Once John gets latched on, he is a great nurser. Praise. the. Lord. I will keep praying protection over him as he still has to take a bottle after each feeding. It's NICU protocol, I think. They weigh him before I feed him, and they weigh him afterwards, and based on his weight gain, they then give him the formula. Which he doesn't like, by the way.

There is a slight glitch in things at this point because he has an infection. They are not sure what the infection is until they send his blood in--or something like that--I can't get everything straight, so he most likely won't come home tomorrow. They may be able to send him home with antibiotics, so that is a huge prayer request right now. I can not tell you how I am dying to get him home. I feel so emotional because I haven't seen Ada because I need to be here to feed him, but at the same time I am having to leave the hospital without John. I feel like I can't get to either of my children. (Not to mention I am going on just about 3 hours of sleep and major hormonal changes). However, if it would be better for John to stay here, then I hope they make that decision. But, of course, I want to get him home.

The plan at this point is to leave the hospital after his 9:00 feeding--Scott is with me. I will go home, climb into bed, sleep until 4 am ish, and be back here for his 6 am feeding. I will only miss 2 feedings, I think--midnight and 3 am. I will be at the hospital all day tomorrow, and I just talked to my friend, Sarah, who lives very near the hospital, so I might be able to escape to her house for a bit in between feedings. If he has to stay another night, I will probably leave after his 6 pm feeding tomorrow, so that I can see Ada for a little while before she goes to bed. I don't think I can handle another day without seeing her in a somewhat normal setting.

The other slight complication is that John is a bit jaundiced (is that the correct terminology?), so they are also trying to take care of that. Luckily, he is getting that wonderful colostrum that should help with the infection and get that meconium moving (doesn't meconium have something to do with jaundice?). And, I am able to hold him now. That has to help. Babies need to cuddle with their mamas!!! He has had lots of dirty diapers today, so that is a good sign. Both that he is getting food when he nurses and that maybe the jaundice will go away?

So...this may be way more information than 99% of you are interested in, but that is what is going on. And if you find yourself praying--here is what I am praying for John--that John would not have nursing complications due to the bottle feedings, that John would be able to come home ASAP, and that this infection will continue to be no big deal. I am also asking the Lord to give me peace in the midst of these minor complications. I know that the situation could be so much worse. I see that as I look around the NICU and know there are babies who have been there for weeks and months. John is healthy and strong, and I am thankful for that. I am praying that the Lord would continue to fill me with those truths in the midst of my tired, emotional state:) I am also so thankful that my mother and sister are here taking such good care of Ada and me.

And, I hope to post more pictures soon. John has a bit of baby acne due to the heating lamps (I think that's what the nurse says), so he is going through that teenage awkward stage a bit early;) Of course he is just perfect looking to me.

So, that's today. And I am trying to take this thing one day at a time.

p.s. did I spell meconium correctly?

For Pictures

I tried to steal these from Sarah's blog, but it didn't work. So....if you would like to see a few pictures of John all "wired up," head over here.

I am about to go downstairs to the NICU for the 9:00 pump/feed session, and I will hopefully hear if the tube is coming out or not.

John had a great night. He is drinking tons of colustrum--all combined from several feedings--he loves it, and I was so proud--he refused to drink the formula at his 3:00 feeding. That's my boy;) He may have just been full, though:) And the best part--I got to hold him!!!!!!!!!! That was Heavenly. Our night nurse was great, and she really worked with us, rather than against us, if that makes sense.

I will probably update this post after talking to the doctor in a few minutes.

From the Hospital

One more Scott addendum because LB foolishly gave me her username and password and now I can add things anytime I want. But this will be the last time because I have relevant information. I thought everyone would want to know his size. He measured in at 21in and 7lb 3oz. He weighs less than Ada did (7lbs 11oz)! And she still only weighs 23lbs. Poor guy is destined to be a horse jockey.
-Scott

Hey everyone, it's Laura Beth. I am taking back over my blog.

I read the post below, and for the record I did not ask Scott to say anything about my water breaking or mucous plugs--I apologize for that information. I am sure none of you wanted to hear that:)

First things first. Little John is doing GREAT. He is so strong and healthy other than the fact that he just got too excited about finally being born that he took too big of a breath:) Truly, he is doing wonderful. The little hole in his lungs is gone based on the most recent x-ray, and tomorrow, if things stay the same, they will take out the tube that is currently in his chest. Once the tube is out for a day, he can come home. Woo-hoo.

As much as the doctor has assured me throughout this entire process that everything is going to be just fine, you can imagine how emotional it's been. You just don't want your baby wisked away to the NICU right after his birth. Add the fact that I am exhausted, hormonal, and once again, pumping rather than nursing, well I have cried a few tears;) But...for the most part I am doing great as well.

And last night, I decided to make the best of a bad situation, and I slept all night long. I won't do that again, as I am now pumping at John's bedside and immediately giving him that magical colostrum through a bottle (tears over that), so I will be downstairs in NICU every three hours tonight. And tomorrow, hopefully, I will finally be able to nurse him. For those of you who understand my sentiments towards breastfeeding, please join me in praying that he will latch on like he never even saw the bottle. Other than his lung being 100% healed (which it is well on its way), my next main prayer right now is that all of this will not stop John from nursing. I know that the Lord is in control of this little man's life, and he certainly knows the health benefits of breast milk, so I am (trying) to trust Him with this. At times I have complete peace, and at other times I don't have peace at all;) You know how that goes.

I did get to hold John for a brief second after he was born, and as soon as that tube is out, I can hold him again. I am dying to get him in my arms.

Labor itself was wonderful, as most of you read below. We got here at 4 am ish, and I was in quite a bit of pain. But as soon as that epidural was in, things were much, much better. John's contractions were much worse than Ada's. I am in awe of women who do this without an epidural. My epidural was also different in that I felt much more of the birth than I did with Ada's. I truly thought that I was going to have John before the doctor came because of the intense pressure I was feeling in my entire lower region including my legs. I was holding on to the side of the bed, wondering if the doctor would ever get there. But once we started pushing, I only pushed through 4 or 5 contractions, and John was here. What a glorious thing to see that baby for the first time. And he reminds me so much of Ada when she was born. They are not identical, of course, but you can certainly tell they are siblings.

And his hair. Ya'll, he has a head full of dark, dark hair. What in the world? No little red-headed boy for us, unless it falls out and comes back red. I was actually born with dark hair, so it could happen to him too.

What else do I want to tell ya'll? Thank you for all the comments, friends. I feel like little John is so loved already. And of course, please continue to pray for complete healing of that little lung. I can't wait to show you pictures. I am so proud of my little man. He was a little bug eyed and swollen when he came out (do any brand new babies really look that great?), but he is looking better now;).

I am sorry if anyone called and I have not responded. Scott accidentally left the hospital with my phone yesterday, so I have been away from my phone for 24 hours. Do you see a pattern in my life? I always have some sort of trouble with my phone.

I will continue to update as we learn more about how John is doing. For now, I am going to get some rest.

UPDATED x9: John's coming...

Hello LB's readers,

This is Scott, LB's husband. We are at the hospital and LB is numb from the waist down, so she wanted me to update everyone. Her mom has already done one update this morning if you want to go check it. But you should also check out my blog . I haven't updated yet and probably won't for a while, but there is various other hilarious content for you to peruse while waiting to hear about John.

-Scott

UPDATE: I've decided to just update here when there is something new. For example, this is the first update because I should have mentioned that she had dilated 4cm.

UPDATEx2: LB's water broke. I have already heard to phrase mucous plug too much today and it is only 830. LB wanted me to be sure to add that it broke on its own, like she is proud of it or something.

UPDATEx3: LB's new nurse is British and her accent is awesome. Every time she leaves the room LB says "I love her." It may be the epidural talking, she seems to love things a lot more since getting that.

UPDATEx4: Yes, Amanda, that was a shameless plug. I did tell LB when she asked me to do this that I wasn't used to writing for an audience this large, so I wasn't promising anything.

UPDATEDx5: It's 10:15. The doctor just checked and she is 9.5cm and they said that will start pushing in about an hour.

UPDATEDx6: Hen, we came in on Friday night/Saturday morning at 3am after not sleeping that night and neither of us have slept since yesterday morning. I'm not on top of my game enough to compete with those two. Plus, I don't have a donkey so I don't stand a chance against BP.

UPDATEDx7: The nurse just told us that since LB's water broken on its on, we don't have to pay for the tool they use to break it for her. The nurse said in 2002 when hers was done, that tool cost $14, so given inflation and LB's proficient use of coupons, we probably just saved a week's worth of groceries. Sweet.

UPDATEDx8: It's getting close, y'all. I'm starting to get butterflies, my stomach is churning, there is a constant lump in my throat and my hands are freezing. I think this will be the last update until he is here.

UPDATEDx9: Ok, sorry for taking so long to update. I'm working on 37hrs of no sleep and 11hrs of no eating. LB is in pretty much the same state except for birthing a human today, which from what I can gather, is quite taxing. LB is doing well. We had a slight setback with John though. He suffered a pneumothorax, which is extra air in the chest cavity due a hole in his lung. It was scary for us but not as bad as it sounds. He wasn't born with the hole there, but did it to himself. Basically he took an overzealous first breath when switching over from breathing fluids to breathing air and popped his own lung. The air is seeping out of that hole and forcing things to go where they're not suppose in his chest. That's about as scientific as I can get and I don't even know if that is totally correct, I kind of just wanted to use the word seeping. The docs were saying it's pretty common, but when they were taking him to a special treatment area and putting one of those face mask type deals on his head to help him breathe, that did not make me feel better. They were saying it probably happens a lot more than we know about, they just don't catch it. I thought when they said that it wasn't really helping their case or making me feel any better. Anyway, the good news is, barring any infections he should be good to go within a 3-5 days because God crazy smart and made lungs so that they can repair themselve. They also said that there should be no long lasting effects, once its healed it, its healed. Of course anything could happen so we greatly desire your prays.

Right now John is hanging out in the NICU looking all handsome and suave even with a mini greenhouse over his head. LB is at the hospital with her sister Sarah. And I'm at home with my parents, sister, and LB's mom. I'm not sure what is going on downstairs though because I am in bed hoping to put an end to this 37 hour non sleep marathon. Also, as I just mentioned it has been a while since I have slept so there is a slight chance everything I just wrote doesn't make sense. If that is the case, my bad. I don't feel like going back and proofreading it all. I'm sure LB will be back soon with her eloquent well manicured prose to clear everything up. Good night.

One last update, and then I am not reporting anything until it's the real deal

Okay...so let me tell you about my day yesterday. It was a long one.

On Friday, starting about 11 am, in Target, I began to have regular contractions--you know, 5-10 minutes apart, 1 minute long, etc. etc. They weren't super uncomfortable or anything, so I just continued on with my day, praying that they wouldn't stop. I was in Target for a while, and I still had to go to Publix and Kroger and even CVS. And the contractions continued. At 4:00 ish, I finally finished all of my grocery shopping, and I started some cleaning projects around the house. Again, I was scared to stop for fear the contractions would stop, and they were becoming more uncomfortable. I was having to stop every once in a while, catch my breath, etc. etc. So... Scott and I went to Chili's as planned, and the contractions were less intense, but they never stopped all during dinner. In fact, I couldn't really enjoy my dinner because I was thinking about the contractions.

So...after dinner we had to go back to Target, and at this point, the contractions started to intensify. Walking across the store seemed impossible. So...we finished up there, ran one more errand at Publix and headed home. I was fairly uncomfortable at this point and tired, so I decided to go to bed early, thinking I might need my rest later. Sure enough, at midnight, I woke up again, the contractions stronger than they had been. I went downstairs, and Scott and I began to time them. They were coming very regularly, so I called the doctor, and we decided to get ready to go to the hospital just in case. I took a shower, got my stuff together, and then I decided to lie back down just to make sure they were the real thing. As soon we lay down, Scott was falling asleep, but the contractions started getting worse, so I told Scott I thought it was time. We loaded up and headed up I-75.

So...we check into the hospital, they check me, and I am only 1 1/2 centimeters. DISCOURAGEMENT!! But, naturally, I think, alright, pack it up, we're headed back home. Well, the nurse goes to talk to the doctor, and they decide to keep me for observation because Ada was rather quick to arrive for a first pregnancy. Lying down at the hospital, however, my contractions came to an abrupt stop. I walked for a couple of hours, hoping to get things going again, and the nurse told me that the doctor would be in to see me at 7 am. (This was at 5ish, I think). This story is a long one, so I will make it quick--we did not see a doctor until 10 am--going on 7 hours after we got to the hospital. This was after my nurse talked me into an induction. I didn't want to be induced because I didn't think my body was ready, the nurse told me all these great reasons why I was a prime candidate for induction, I called my mom and Ann, discussed it with Scott, discussed it with the nurse, and we decided that I would go ahead with the induction, and everyone prepared to make their way to ATL for John's birth. I was praying a lot and nervous about how things would go, but the nurse was very convincing. And every time I said, "let's just wait to hear what the doctor says," she would reply, "I know what the doctor is going to say." WRONG--7 hours after I got there, a midwife comes in (a mistake on their part because I am supposed to see doctors) and tells me they are sending me home. You can imagine that I was a bit emotional at this point. I am still confused about why they didn't send me home as soon as they checked me and saw that I was only 1.5 centimeters. But, no, 7 hours later, after no sleep, we headed back to the house. I was emotionally and physically exhausted, and I was (and am) convinced that John has decided to permanently make his home in my womb.

So...I am changing my thinking. They will not let me go 10 days beyond my due date, so we know that this baby will be here by February 20th. Until then, I am getting my mind on other things. Emotionally, I can't take the waiting. I think I thought that he would come around the same time as Ada, as did the doctors, but now, I have decided it will be a while.

In fact, mom and Sarah are headed back home, and only when I am overcome with so much pain that I can not stand it, or my water breaks, will I head back to the hospital. For the time being we are carrying on with life as normal, and I am going to try to blog about things other than this pregnancy.

And that is what is going on with us.

(p.s. the doctor did give me some ambien--the same thing they gave me when I was pregnant with Ada--and I got a wonderful night's sleep as a result)

Still Waiting

Nothing to report.

I didn't feel so great today. I stayed on the couch for most of the day, which I hoped somehow meant that labor was about to kick in to high gear. So far, it hasn't.

I am dying to see little Ada. She and mom are headed this way on Saturday unless something happens tonight or tomorrow. (I'm not counting on it).

I went to bible study tonight, which helped to get my mind off of the waiting and onto some truth. Like God is in control of this thing called labor, and I am not.

I have my coupons ready for a grocery run tomorrow. Still trying to stock the freezer and pantry for easy meal preps over the next month or two.

What else? What else?

Oh, I think Scott and I might go out to dinner tomorrow night. Nothing fancy; probably Chili's, because we love it and it's not too expensive and we never go there (or any other restaurant really). But I am just as excited about a Chili's meal as I used to be about our "fancy" dates in midtown when we were newlyweds.

And that's what is happening here.

What a Day: Again, it's long, bear with me.

Okay, let me start with a quick update on what is going on in our world.

Yesterday mom and I were talking on the phone, and in a spur of the moment, whirlwind decision, mom met me a few exits above Atlanta to pick up Ada and take her to Scottsboro. We decided this would be best for everyone under the circumstances. Ada was excited, and it will allow me to rest and wait this labor out without worrying about getting Ada situated in the process. If nothing happens in the next several days, mom will head back this way with Ada in tow. Hormonally, I am not all together, so I have been a bit emotional about the Ada separation, but I know it really is the most practical solution. And Ada isn't worried about it. Just me.

In other pregnancy news...there is no news. I went to the doctor again today, and I was 1.5 centimeters. Woo-hoo...another half a centimeter (note sarcasm). I do think I am rather effaced, which I assume those of you who care, know what that means, and those of you who don't care, would rather me not explain. I think it's better to be effaced than dilated, right? I also scheduled appointments for the next two weeks. If I have to go to my doctor's appointment on the 16th (my due date is the 10th), it will not be pretty.

Okay, so I left the doctor a bit worn out and discouraged and grumbling to the Lord about how it felt like John would never get here despite the never-ending stop/start contractions. I also grumbled a bit to mom and then Ann on the phone. And even Scott and my college bff, Amy Speakman. I thought I might even cry a few tears of frustration, but they never came.

Well, I noticed about halfway home that my gas light came on, but I thought I had plenty of time to make it to the house without stopping because all I really wanted was to get home and into something comfortable. I was wrong.

About five minutes from my house, I ran out of gas. Completely out of gas.

So, I coasted to the side of the road, and I called Scott--at this point a few tears were falling.

Technically, I was close enough to walk home, and maybe if I had, then I would have gone into labor finally, but I didn't think I should just leave the car there, and I didn't think my body would hold out for that long of a walk. So Scott said to stay put, and he was on the way.

Well, the next thing I know, a policeman is pulling over and walking up to the car. I explained my situation, and he told me he would drive me to the QT down the road, so that I could get some gas. So, there I go, 39 weeks pregnant, climbing into the back of this police car. No joke. I laughed as I got in and said, "I've never ridden in a police car before."

Ya'll, it was a bit humiliating to pull up to that QT in the back of the police car. And then when I tried to get out, I realized you can't let yourself out, that would probably defeat the purpose, right?

Anyway, we got the gasoline, he drove me back to my car, and Scott came home anyway because I think he thought I might be an emotional wreck. And honestly, I was laughing instead of crying by the time he got here. After that, I climbed into bed and slept for two hours, and now I am anxiously waiting for the season premiere of Lost. Get excited!!!

On a completely separate note, I did want to show you a few pictures of John's room. I took most of these this evening, so excuse the lighting and picture quality. I repeat--we have been given so much.

My mom did the pictures hanging above John's bed. I love them. I actually bought the bed and bedding back when I was first pregnant with Ada. They were on clearance at Target, and I jumped the gun, thinking they were neutral enough, and I bought them. When I found out that Ada was a girl, I realized that I wanted her room to be very girly, so the bed and bedding have been at mom's since then. The glider was Ann's through all of her newborns, and mom (UPDATE: Mary Ann also bought this for me!!! I am so sorry, Mary Ann, if you read this before the update. Please forgive my absentmindedness. I know that you also bought it for me) bought it from her and gave it to me. It is a nice glider, and mom's plan is to continue to pass it around to all the sisters. I am so thankful to have it because I didn't have a comfy glider with Ada. I gave that up when I decided to redecorate her entire room:)The changing table was Ada's. I bought it off Craigslist for 25.00 when we moved into this house. She didn't have room for a changing table in our apartment. The little duck was a gift at the work baby shower, and Ada loves it. I don't think John will even get to use it. Ada hugs it, talks to it, and lounges in it. She also puts her baby doll in it and drags it around. Tutti was getting rid of the chests of drawers you see above, and we gladly took them off her hands. Thank you, Tutti!! I want to purchase a mirror to hang over those. I also want to buy some really cute Animal wall cards from Land of Nod, but that will all come in time. His room is a work in progress for now.The diapers, oh the diapers. Above you see just the size one diapers that we have been given. His changing table is stocked with newborn diapers, and below are boxes of size 2s and 3s. Really, I am overwhelmed by the generosity. My family gave me a baby shower, Scott's family gave me a surprise baby shower, Tutti and Jessica gave me a baby shower, and Scott's work gave me a baby shower. We have not bought anything for this little guy.And the clothes. Ann has given me all of Andrew's old stuff, and we have also been given several new things and other hand-me-downs. I have several precious Feltman Brothers outfits that I can't wait to put on him despite Scott's protests.

We are ready for this little guy, if my body will just do it's thing.