Can you say Procrastination?

I am horrible at keeping this up lately!! Wow, I just looked at my last post & just about started laughing!! After that last post our lives have been sleepless & hectic!!

A week after that post I took Jess in for a routine weight check, (which she had gained 2 lbs in 2 weeks!) & found out she had an ear infection!! Yes, at 2 weeks old! So, they put her on Ammoxicillin. Well, a week later I realized she had what looked like 'Thrush' in her mouth, so set an appointment & sure enough it was Thrush & a yeast infection on her bum!! I couldn't believe it. No wonder she'd been so fussy! They wanted to see her back in 10 days to check her ear, so we went back in & I told the Dr. how she was acting & she thought she had reflux. She doesn't ever spit up, but it comes up in her throat & goes back down, so it burns twice as bad!! So, she is on Zantac for that.

Poor girl. She has had a rough start & mom hasn't gotten much sleep! I have taken a nap almost every day since she's been born! I feel like I'm sleeping her life away!! I can't believe she's almost 3 months old! Crazy. Now, she is doing good. She weighs about 14 lbs already! Yes, she nurses well!! She is so much happier too. She is such a sweetie!

My parents & sister (Amy) came out at the end of September for Jessica's blessing. I was so glad they could come. We had a good time together. Amy was a great baby holder!! She would just take Jess for me so I could nap & even offered to take her in the middle of the night for me!! She never had to, but it was nice of her. I showed her where the 'bottle making' stuff was, just in case!! Amy left after a week & my parents stayed another week. My dad did a few projects for us around the house & fished a lot with Craig. I think they had a good time. They were probably glad to get back to their 'quiet' home! I miss them already.

My mom made Jessica's blessing dress which was beautiful!!! Here are some pictures of it:

Isn't she a cutie pie? She's so YUMMY!!

First week home

Ok, that last post was a little much for some, I am sure. So, I'll just stick with posting pics this time. Enjoy!

Cutie Pie

Long fingers!

First sponge bath

Sleep deprived mommy

Tired girl in the swing

Emi & Jess

Proud Daddy

Jessica Nicole Record

Baby Jessica Nicole was born on Aug. 1st, 2009 at 7:25am. She weighed 6 lbs. 1 oz. & was 19 1/2" long.

WARNING: Long & Graphic labor details! LOL

I started having contractions every 8 r 9 min. at 11pm on Friday. By 2:30am they were pretty strong & every 5 or 6 min. So, I called the hospital & woke Craig up & told him we needed to go to the hospital. He said "Are you serious?". I thought "NO.... I'm waking you up at 2am for a joke!" I didn't say that though. So, we called grandma & she came over & we headed out. The bumps in the car seemed so exaggerated!!! Holy cow it was really uncomfortable!

We got to the hospital & there were 5 people waiting behind the desk. I asked if they were waiting just for us & they said I was the only one there that night! So, Dr. Scott checked me & I was 4cm dilated. I thought he was kidding! I had been 3cm for 2 weeks! I thought for sure I would be more than that! So, He broke my water to speed things along & the nurse asked if I wanted to get in the jacuzzi. So, I did that. It felt really good, but man did my contractions start coming strong! So, I got out after about 20min & Dr. checked me again.....5cm. So, I was making progress, just not as fast as I had expected, especially after my others were so fast. So, I asked for Nubane. If that didn't work I was going to get the epidural. The Nubane made me feel so loopy in between contractions. I felt everything during them & they hurt like crazy, but in between I was able to relax a little. So, I didn't get the epidural. I SHOULD HAVE, but didn't.

The baby was 'face up', so I had really bad back labor!! It was horrible. Craig said he could see my backbone all deformed & curved weird. No wonder it hurt so bad. I had him pushing on my back as hard as he could & it still wasn't hard enough! I was in SO much pain. By this time I was 7 cm & it was too late for an epidural. As the Dr. was checking me I went from 8-10cm during a few contractions. It seemed like it took forever, but it really was only about 1 hr of really bad contractions, but I had never felt that before. I had always had epidurals. I really don't think I was expecting that at all. If I had been more prepared maybe it wouldn' t have been so traumatizing! Pushing was weird. It wasn't the same feeling as with the epidural. It hurt like hell! It didnt' feel right, it was just weird! 3 or 4 pushes & she was out. Luckily, she was small. I think I may be paralyzed right now if she were any bigger! LOL

After she was born the Dr. got looking at the placenta & said it was small & that there was a piece missing. He told me he needed me to be calm & relax. I said 'ok' He said 'I have to reach in & get the rest of the placenta. If I don't get it I have to take you straight to surgery to get it out or you could hemmorage."I freaked out a little. He told me I couldn't be tense or he wouldn't be able to get it. So, with no medication & having just delivered a baby, He had to reach his WHOLE HAND in me to get it out! He got it though & we were so relieved! Until.....he told me he had to do it again to make sure it was all out!!!!! I felt like I had just delivered triplets!!!!Holy cow! I'm still debating which was worse, the delivery or that!!!

The Dr. said that it was a 'Bi-lobal'(sp) placenta. Where the placenta forms in 2 pieces with a bridge in between, instead of one whole piece. He said that could be the reason she's small, the blood flow wasn't quite right getting to her. Everything is healthy though, so that is good.

I'm not sure if it's hormones or what, but every time I think of the labor & delivery I get all emotional & start crying. I really don't know why. It was very traumatic for me & I really felt like I could have died right there that day. I am so blessed that the Dr. knew what he was doing & that everything turned out the way it did. I don't know why people go through that pain on purpose without medication. I'm healthy & we have a precious baby girl who is also healthy. That's all that matters in the end, but I sure don't want to go through it again!! She is SO worth it though.

She is the most mild-mannered baby we've ever had! She is so sweet & we love her so much!

The kids absolutely adore her. Especially Matthew!!! Remember how he didn't want a brother or a sister??? Well, he sat & held her for over an hour the other day & kissed her & talked to her. It was so precious! They are all SO good with her. She is the perfect addition to our family! Definately the baby in my dream!!

Baby Update-36 weeks

Well, I had my OB appt. yesterday. Baby sounded good, measured good, blood pressure good, head's down & 3 cm dilated! I am freaking out a little about this! I usually go pretty quick once I hit 4 cm, but we'll see. I go back in on Monday & if I'm 4cm & contracting.....that could be the day! That's what happened with Matt & Emily. Who knows. I'm SO excited to meet this little girl. I want everything to be healthy & developed enough though so we don't run into problems. So, hopefully, she'll come when she's all ready.

I've had some really weird dreams lately.......

One was that I opened my tummy like an oven, took the baby out & said " you're not done yet, you gotta go back in" & put the baby back in the oven........I mean my tummy!

Another one was where I unbuttoned my belly button, opened my tummy like a 'flap' & took the baby out. So weird!

Another one was that Craig could feel the baby's hand through my tummy & she could grab his finger through my skin. Like some Scifi movie!

Man, I wake up SO relieved that they were just dreams!! So strange.

My feet & hands are so swollen. I've never had this before, but I've never been pregnant in the summer before either. It is so weird to not be able to see the bones in my feet & hands! My toes look like little sausages! I told Craig to just call me 'Fiona'. I feel like I have Ogre feet! LOL I tried on some size 9 shoes the other day.....couldn't even get them on! I might have to have my wedding ring cut off too if this baby doesn't come within the next week or so. It's starting to hurt pretty bad at times!

My friend Chantelle took me out to dinner last week to PF Changs & then we went & got pedicures! It was so nice of her to do that for me! I felt SO pampered. I'm sure the lady doing my feet was like " Wow, these feet are huge!" It was such a relaxing night & I had a great time with a wonderful friend! Thanks Chantelle!

Baby Bash

Some friends from church threw a Baby Bash for me & 2 other friends that are expecting in October. It was wonderful of them to think of us. It was a good relaxing night & so nice to get together with good friends to celebrate these little miracles! The food was great too!

Here are some pics of the night:

Caroline & I

All of us

I look SO huge in the pictures. I'm sure the camera adds at least 15 lbs. Right?

The 3 Preggos

Jen, Kellie & Lisa

Remember, I'm due in 6 weeks, they're due in 3 months!

I have no idea why Kellie's pointing at me or why Jen is making that funny face.

Baby update

So, I'm officially due in 5 or 6 weeks, but I've always been 2-3 weeks early. So, I went to my OB appt. on Wednesday & she said I am 1cm dilated. It freaked me out a little. I called Craig & he was REALLY freaking out. He was asking if we had everything ready & what we needed. I told him to calm down, I could be 1cm for a month! I guess I have to start somewhere, but we thought it was a little early for that. We weren't expecting it. Anyway, she wanted me to come back in another week instead of 2 weeks. I thought that was a good idea. So, I'll keep you posted on what's going on.
Meanwhile, I have been cleaning & organizing everything that I can. I cleaned/defrosted the deep freezer the other day. It took over 2 hours. I don't think I want to let it get that bad again. I was so tired! The boys helped though. Adam helped me scrap (I know, you're not supposed to do that) & Eric held the hairdryer to speed things along. Matthew 'dumped' the 'snow' outside for us. It was nice that they all helped. What a mess. Now, I have room for some freezer meals that I want to have made before the baby comes. That's my next project.
We're all getting excited for the baby to come. I've washed the clothes, the cradle is up, we have diapers & car seat. I think we're set. I've been trying to do fun things with the kids lately because I know once the baby comes things will have to slow down a little. So, we have some 'staycations' planned that are close to home, but hopefully will still be fun.
Next appt. is Wednesday. I'll do an update then.

Lemonade & Porches

The kids wanted to make a lemonade stand the other day. I told them I wasn't sure how many people would stop by because most people stop for yard sales & such, not just for lemonade. Well, they proved me wrong. They were out there for an hour & made $5. I couldn't believe it. Neighbors were coming over to get a drink to go with their lunch, cars were stopping by, cars were even driving by & then turning around to get some. I was shocked! They had a great time out there together. They made the lemonade & the signs by themselves too. I brought them lunch outside so they didn't have to take a break too. What little entrepreneurs!

Matthew with missing teeth eating watermelon

Emily

While I was outside taking pics of the kids, I snapped a few pics of our new front porch. It isn't done quite yet. We still need railings & it needs to be painted, but you get the idea. We love it! It's so nice to just sit out there & watch the sunset or have dinner. Hopefully the railings & paint will be done next week. We can finally go in & out of the house through the FRONT door! Amazing!

Just ignore the long grass.