Updating My Blog...

I've plenty of posts that have been started and not finished... I am working on completely all my posts and being able to post them within the next two weeks!

First Weeks.... Being a Mother

The first two weeks were probably the hardest, so far. Having never babysat when I was younger or been around babies or even children very much; it was a HUGE change for me. One day I'm leaving home care free and I return home a couple days later with a whole other life to care for and protect. I knew this day would come, once I had become pregnant but it just seem to come to this day quickly. I had a huge rush a emotions for the first week after we brought John home. I seemed to cry EVERYDAY at exactly 6:20 pm (probably because that was the time John was born) and it seemed like I did for no reason at all. I would always say "John's already a day old"; "John's already two days old;" and so on and this lasted for like a week. Everything seemed to make me cry, and I mean everything. And every show or commercial about babies = crying. I am glad that that only lasted for about two weeks and then I went back to "normal" or I guess my hormones were less crazy.

For the first four weeks...I got absolutely no sleep on top of recovering from major surgery. Obviously, with a newborn no one gets much sleep (which I was expecting, I guess my body wasn't prepared to loose that much sleep and recover from labor, delivery/surgery). John wouldn't sleep for the first two weeks without someone holding him. Brian or I would have to sit/lay on the couch with John laying on our chests for him to sleep. EVERY TIME we laid him down he started screaming. (I am not exaggerating, he FLIPPED!) We had to hold them for about an hour or two before we could even attempt to lay him down in his crib. (Yes, we started putting John in his crib the day we came home from the hospital). Then all the sudden one night, probably when he was about 3 weeks old we laid him in his crib and he went to sleep and slept for 3 hours at a time. And each night after that he was consistently sleeping 3 to 3 1/2 at a time during the night.

After we had been home for a week my mom came every day and stayed with me while Brian went back to work; it was hard with Brian not being there (because he had been since the day John was born), but it was nice having my mom help and she helped a lot...cleaning, watching John, running errands and making me food while I recovered and attempted to catch up on my sleep. Thank God for moms! She only came for a week; and when John was almost 3 weeks old...I was on my own during the day. I was really scared and nervous at first; but I caught on pretty quick!

I love being able to be at home with my little boy and watching all the new things he does, learns and figures out; although that part is just beginning. Below of pictures from John's first four weeks of life!

Nightly routine of having tummy time with John before attempting to lay him down in his crib for the night.

 He's so cute!

 In his overalls!

 His new friend, Lily, checking him out!

Actually asleep in his swing, which only lasted for 10 minutes. He's never been very fond of the swing.

Delayed... Labor & Delivery

Things have been very busy since the arrival of our son in mid-February. So these next few posts will be dedicated to updating everyone with what has been going on over the past 3 1/2 months; starting with...

40 weeks and 2 days... a couple minutes before we left for my last doctor's appointment and the hospital!

Labor & Delivery
Well John Cayden Thomas has arrived! We were admitted to the hospital Wednesday night (2/16) for some tests and stuff and so we would be ready for the induction in the morning, which was to occur at 7:00 am! The morning of February 17th arrived; as we were woken up at 5:00am to get things ready and to move to the labor and delivery room. By 6:00 am everything was ready to go and my induction was started! Induction was not a bad experience at all, at least for me it wasn't. There was no progress on my labor until around 12:00 pm, even with the pitocin. The up the pitocin even more, almost maxing it out... and POP! My water breaks, which happened to be the MOST PAINFUL part of the whole labor and delivery process; this was because I had a MAJOR contraction at the exact same time my water broke... YAY for me! Once my water broke, I didn't last 5 minutes before I was crying and screaming for my epidural (for those who don't know, I'm a BIG PANSY and CAN'T STAND being in pain). It took the anesthesiologist 45 minutes and two tries to get the epidural in; only because I kept making her laugh. After the epidural was in... I was in heaven. No pain at all, however I could feel the pressure of the contractions, but no pain. My doctor came in to check me twice during the next 4 1/2 hours, both times I was dilating but John's head would not move down. Checking me one last time around 5:00 pm.. she said it's go time, we don't need to wait any longer. I was prepped and taken into surgery with Brian by my side. At 6:20 pm, John Cayden Thomas was born!!!

  John Cayden Thomas

9 pounds, 13 ounces

22.75 inches

I remember seeing John for the first time, once when the doctor held him up although I couldn't see him very well and then a few seconds later when Brian held him and showed he to me. I had tears in my eyes, but feel asleep very shortly afterward due to the anesthesia. John was taken out of the OR to be cleaned, weighed and measured...Brian by his side, while I was finishing up in the OR. An hour later, I saw my son for the second 'first' time and held him for the first time, while in the recovery room. He was perfect!

We spent the next 3 days in the hospital recovering; John from birth and I from labor & delivery. We left the hospital Sunday afternoon to head home to start our new lives with our precious baby boy. Below are a few pictures from the hospital...