Overwhelming

Evan sleeping as I blog and Mike plays a computer game
Tummy time, earlier today

Last week

Christmas week. I am going to start wearing makeup again soon!

Sorry I haven't posted much. In a short 2 weeks and 1 day, I am completely overwhelmed. Evan is still a great baby and a wonderful gift but it is difficult trying to get him on a schedule so that Mike and I stay sane. Mike goes back to work next week and I'm not looking forward to it being just Evan and me a few days a week. I can handle it but it is scary at the same time.

Evan's 2 week appointment at the pediatrician went well today. He is up to 7 lbs, 6.5 ozs. We are doing something right! My breastfeeding is not as successful as I thought either. I am still not producing enough for my growing baby boy so I am pumping, supplementing with formula and just trying not to get too discouraged. I have to remind myself that some is better than none at all.

My appointment with the OB/GYN yesterday went well also. Mike has done a great job of cleaning my wound (from the c-section opening) and it is starting to heal well. It is still not healed enough so Mike has to keep up the wound packing and dressing for the next 2 weeks. Maybe in two weeks, they can stitch me up.

I have driven a few times (supervised with my husband), since I haven't taken any pain medicine in a few days. We have gone out some too for groceries and more newborn sized diapers. Most of the time, we take it easy at home and clean the house and clean Evan's clothes, toys and blankets. We are still working out the diaper changing thing and trying to dodge Evan peeing on us. We haven't been very successful over the past two days. He's peed on almost everything on and near the changing table. He also hates being exposed. You take his diaper off and he cries and cries.

Overall, things are well with us. Like I said before, he is a dream baby and I love him more than anything in this world. I am trying to cherish everyday I get at home. I have to go back to work March 6 but it could be a little earlier because work denied me supplemental short term disability coverage, which means I won't get a paycheck for 2 or 3 weeks in February/March. I am still working on that one though. I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and I wish everyone a Happy New Year! Love to everyone!

Breastfeeding Success!

Today, we went all day breastfeeding only. There was no formula needed. We did have to use a little overnight last night but today it was a lot of patience on Evan's part and my part. He is eating every hour to hour and a half now but it's worth it.

Tomorrow, we are going to try and make a mini trip to Gwinnett Place Mall when they open. I want to try and get a picture of Evan with the mall Santa and get Mike one last Christmas gift. I have it planned out so that we won't have to walk much since I have my c-section issues. I took a few more cute pictures today but I have to load them on the computer. I'll post a bunch of them tomorrow, probably.

A bad night

The bad night had nothing to do with Evan! After dinner last night, I stood up and all of a sudden felt a rush of fluid. The front of my pants was soaked. I immediately took Mike and went to the bathroom and I was gushing reddish watery fluid from my c-section site. We ended up going to the Northside ER and all they did was re-dress my site and tell me to call the doctor in the morning. I was very upset and insisted on taking Evan with us. I know it's my hormones but I just can't bear to be away from him for long.

I went to the doctor this morning and one of my internal stitches have popped. It leaks through the bandage after a few hours. Mike is going to be changing the bandage and wash my c-section site each morning and evening. He really has been a good husband! Now, he has an additional MD visit with me once a week to the OB/GYN so they can assess my surgery site. Now I have to take it even easier, take an antibiotic and more pain meds. All in all, I still can't complain. I have a wonderful little Christmas gift.

Being a Mommy!

Evan and Daddy
During one of our many naps

The first swing ride. We're still a little too small!

Sorry I haven't posted since Evan's arrival. I am struggling with breastfeeding but starting to make some head way. My poor baby is already used to a bottle though and gets mad at me very easily. We went to the piediatrician today and Evan is up to 7 lbs, 1 oz and 19 3/4 inches in length. That's amazing to me at 6 days old. He is a very good, calm baby. I know it can change but I am enjoying every minute we get.

Mike is the most wonderful father. I cry happy tears just thinking about how beautiful they are together (and yes my hormones are crazier now than they were when I was pregnant). Everyone has come to see us and wish us well. Right now, Mike's dad, Dick and stepmom, Jackie are here. Between them and Christina, we haven't cooked a meal and have had lots of help cleaning the house and wrapping presents. I hope everyone else is well and I'll talk to you all soon!

Evan's Debut!

Mike, Evan and cousin Cole
Evan's First Christmas outfit from Aunt Christina

Shortly after birth

When Mommy got to finally hold her baby around 2 AM, 12/13/06

Well, it has been a very long, almost 24 hours. Evan was born via c-section at 10:45 PM Tuesday evening, 12/12/06. Mike and I were both scared to death, me more than him but things went very smoothly. I only dialated to 5 cm and Evan could be pushed back up so the doctor recommended that we go ahead with the c-section. I love my doctor and she was good to me. I shook for hours, from around 10PM when we decided to go ahead with the surgery until almost 2AM this morning. It was some cold and lots of scared. I'm already up and moving around and things are good. Evan just left to go get the circumcision. He'll be back within the hour. I am starting to pump also, since we are having a few feeding issues but things are still great and I'm so happy our beautiful baby boy has arrived healthy.

He is 7lbs even and 19.25 inches long.

Still waiting...

It is now 5;48 and I am 4-5 cm dialated. I am pain free, thanks to the epidural. All last night I had horrible cervical pain so when it came back today, I went ahead and asked for the epidural. I am hoping Evan makes his debut at a regular hour tonight but we will see. They broke my water at 10:00 AM this morning when I was 3 cm. It seems like things are taking a while. Stay tuned for his debut. I will post tomorrow.

Labor and Delivery

Well, I am at Northside. I'm going to be a mommy in one short day. They have already started the cervadil and will start pitocin in the morning. I had an amnio this morning and Evan's lungs are ready. Hopefully things will go smoothly. Mike is being very supportive and helping me out with very little complaints. He wanted me to make sure that I wrote that! I will keep everyone updated as soon as we know anything. Wish us luck!

To breathe or not to breathe

Evan has been practicing his breathing on ultrasound the past 4 weeks and he's been doing such a good job. He needs to keep it up though and improve really fast. He can come early on his own if he wants to, I won't object. If he comes on his own, it will just mean that his lungs are ready. I will probably have an amniocentesis in a few weeks to check his lungs and it scares the heck out of me. I don't want him to come if he isn't healthy enough but his size also concerns me. The doctors are definitely going to do what's best for him and me but there is so much to figure out in the next two weeks. The results of the amnio will determine if he arrives a few days before Christmas or a few days after.

On another note, the ultrasound tech said that he has a lot of hair. She didn't say it just one time either. By the way the ultrasound techs sometimes talk, it makes me believe that by the time he gets here, he'll weigh 20 lbs and have a pony tail! I can't wait to really see and meet him. Let's hope that he keeps developing his lungs!