Mommy and Logans first days without Daddy

Well, yesterday was an experience that I was very afraid of. The past week I've had Dustin with me at all times and when I needed a break, he was there, even when I didn't know that I needed a break. For example, the two times that I was getting frustrated with nursing Logan because Logan was getting frustrated with not being able to latch on. I figured out why he wasn't able to latch on...he's a messy eater and once he gets his mouth kind of slimmy then I get kind of slimmy then he just keeps falling off when he tries to latch on. (That's a good hint for other new time nursing mommies out there too!)

During these times of my frustration Dustin just knew that I was actually getting frustrated because I was overly tired...even though I didn't know this fact. He made me go lay down and rest for a while. Once I woke up, I was as good as new...or as much as one can be when still exhausted.

Monday was my first day without Dustin, and I think Logan and I did a great job together. Twice I slept when he slept, and then we went to Logan's first Doctor appointment for his one week check up.

(Logan and Mommy sleeping together)

(Logan getting ready to go into the car seat to go to the Doctors)

He's doing great. He's already over his birth weight and weighing in at 7lbs 4.5ozs and is now a full 21inches long! My little boy is already growing up! When I heard that I nearly cried!

Today I tackled taking a shower while it was just Logan and myself in the house...and the kitties of course. I closed the bathroom door to keep the kitties out and put Logan in his car seat next to the shower. I made my shower quick and kept talking and singing to Logan while I was in there. When I came out he was sleeping! I was so happy that it all went alright.

The only thing I would complain about today is the fact that I've been peed on twice while changing his diaper...even with using the peepee teepee's given to us by Marsha. But that is only minor and would happen even if Dustin was here.

That's better then what happened to us while in the hospital. Logan was nursing and then started to make a grumpy old man face, I could just tell he was trying to have a BM. Well, when he goes poo, he's loud and you can feel it. Its actually very funny! He went three times and had a very long pause so we ASSUMED he was done, so we changed him. He had nearly had a blow out of his diaper, so I'm glad that we did change him. I had finished cleaning his bottom and was just cleaning his testicles of poo when Dustin was about to say that I missed some. Instead off me missing some it, actually turned out that Logan had more to offer us. A stream of poo came out...then again...then again...then again...I just kept having to catch it from going on his bed with wipes about 6 times! That's right he kept going 6 TIMES! Then in between one of those times, he decided that he needed to pee too. Well, needless to say, we had to give him a little bath, change his clothes and change his bedding. Logan wanted to have a good laugh at us on his first day of life! Dustin and I just kept laughing about it...and still do.

So, my worries were for nothing. Logan and I are fine with just being Logan and Mommy!

Laboring Part 2 and Delivery

Sorry its been nearly a week since I posted the first part of my little families adventure, but that's the life of a new mommy, busy!

(In the hospital trying to keep a naked Logan warm against mommy after he finished one of his first feedings.)

Well, after being told that I was 6cm dilated and wouldn't be sent home I couldn't have been happier. I started laboring in Woodwinds HUGE bath tub (I kept telling Dustin that I wanted that tub, and I still do). It was nice to be able to sit in the tub cross legged and still have room to move around. The water really did help me out and eased some of the pain. (My advice to mommies to be, be open to laboring in a bath tub, it was great!) Afterwards I went to the birthing ball...still my number one favorite item for labor! And then back into bed to try and rest between contractions.

After a bit of time my contractions started growing stronger and longer, and I was just so tired. Something in my body just started saying "DRUGS DAMN IT! GIVE ME DRUGS!" Well, apparently it wasn't just my body but I was actually saying it too. They checked my cervix again and I was 7-8cm Dilated. So we started talking about pain meds and epidurals. I decided not to do it and just keep going as is. Then sometime later, after checking my cervix yet again and finding out that there was NO PROGRESS, I was still 7-8cm dilated and 100% effaced, they ordered up the pitocin to try and get things moving again.

Once the Pitocin was in the room and just about to be given to me my contractions grew even stronger and I was needing Dustin to push on my back even harder (apparently harder then what he could he said later), I said "No not that, not yet, I need the epidural. I want it, don't give me that yet." If I remember correctly I was nearly in tears at this point. The pain plus the overwhelming tiredness that I was facing was just too much, I was in need of the epidural. So they ordered it for me.

As the anesthesiologist was starting the epidural process and inserting the needle I had a contraction, a BIG ONE, but I was told before hand that I needed to stay perfectly still and not move while this was being done. So I just held Dustin's hands and STARED at something, who knows what, and I didn't move one bit. This apparently impressed everyone, as most women move and it needs to be started all over again. I just kept thinking about my back and how I wanted it to not be injured, of how this would relieve some of my pain, of how much I wanted my little boy in my arms and this would help me to achieve that goal.

(Logan 1 day old in the hospital wrapped up nice and snug in his swaddler.)

After laying down for about 45minutes or so with the epidural and being able to sleep between contractions, the next time I was checked for progress I was then FULLY dilated. So that's all that I needed was to be able to rest and relax for just a little bit to let my body do what it needed to do. I will say this about the epidural, my right side went completely numb, I didn't even feel the pressure of my contractions. My left side though I could still feel a bit of the contraction and all of the pressure, but it was still wonderful. Lost feeling in my right leg, but still had it and could move my left.

After being told that I was fully dilated midwife Jessica said to push if I felt like I needed to, which might not be right away, and just rest otherwise. Well, the next contraction I felt, I felt like I needed to push...or more so I felt like I needed to have a BM, which they said meant I needed to push. I normally had 3 pushes in me. The first seemed like a practice push, and the next two were active pushes that actually helped my little guy along. Everyone kept saying just one more push and he would be out, but i just didn't have it in me, it felt like I hadn't breathed in an hour at times and also like my body didn't have it in it anymore. Then my hot and cold flashes were just horrible. Everyone could tell when a contraction was starting because I needed everything taken off of me and a cold cloth put on me neck and face. Then when the contractions were over I needed more and more warmth.


After some time Midwife Jessica gave me Pitocin to increase my contractions, but they wouldn't let me hit the button to give me more of the epidural medicine...I was mad, but obviously it worked. Soon I had my little boy being put on my chest and then being put to breast. He is my the absolute best Valentines gift anyone could ever ask for.

Logan, plus know that Dustin is such a great husband and daddy is the best present anyone could ask for, is what I should say. I don't know how I could have made it with out Dustin helping, supporting, and just loving me the whole time. Giving birth isn't just a job for the mommy, but for the daddy too! Please everyone remember that one little thing, they are working just as hard as we are. They are trying to keep their emotions together, trying to make sure that your needs are met, trying to prepare for the arrival of their bundle of joy, and so much more.

(Logan Loving Daddy's finger)

Looking back now, I really do believe that I could have gone through Logan's delivery without the epidural if I weren't so tired. I hadn't really slept since the night of February 13th, and it was the afternoon of the 15th. So I was pretty exhausted by that time. But no matter what I now have my precious little boy in my arms...or right now in his bassinet next to me.

Logan weighed 7lbs 4ozs and was 20 and 3/4inches long. The only issue that he had after delivery was not being able to hold his temperature on his birthday. They put him under the heating lamp a few times and, VIOLA, he was just fine...actually perfect is more like it.

Logan is a very well behaved little boy. I was afraid that he was going to be like the baby in the room next to us and scream and cry continually. Instead, he hardly ever cries and hardly even fusses. The only real time he fusses is when he's trying to have a BM or if he just can't latch on right, and that's normally due to the fact that he's a messy eater and he has milk and saliva all over both him and me. Otherwise, he is seriously one of the happiest babies I have ever seen, and I'm so glad that happy baby is all mine...well, mine and Dustin's.

(My always smiling boy after a good feeding)

Well, time for something to eat...I still haven't eaten yet today. I'll try to be better and get online sooner rather then later.

The BEST Valentines Day present EVER! The labor Part 1

Well, we didn't get our valentine's present ON Valentines day, but one day later. Welcome to the outside world Logan Todd, my wonderful, beautiful, nearly non-fussing baby boy!!

After about 2 weeks of start and stop labor I finally decided that enough was enough, I was having this baby. On Saturday February 13th, 2010 I decided that I was going to 'induce myself'. By this I mean that I met Dustin at Menards for lunch at 3:00pm and I didn't leave until a little after 9:00pm. No we didn't have a 9 hour lunch, we had lunch then I just kept walking the store, up and down the aisles (leaning on a cart at least). When I got tired I went to 'my' patio swing and sat down, but I tried not to as much as possible. I probably walked at least 2 miles, possibly more. When I got bored I even volunteered my time to Menards and helped straighten out their seasonal hats and also helped Dustin organize some hardware that is for store use. I was feeling a little down because I hadn't gone into labor by the time I went home, but I said to myself that I would just go back (or to another store) tomorrow if nothing felt any different.

Well, another store was not needed. I woke up at 5:00am on Sunday February 14th, 2010 (Baby's due date) and was having contractions. These contractions were different from all the rest, but I figured that it could just be because I was tired a little sore from my walking the day before. None the less, they were coming every 12 -10 minutes, so we knew that it wasn't time yet. Dustin went to work and I stayed home trying to work through the contractions. At about 12:00pm I noticed that I was spotting and got a bit worried so I called the midwife who said that it was fine and normal and that she expected me in the hospital within the next few hours.

So I did as she told me and called Dustin home from work. Soon after he got home I was having contractions anywhere from 7 to 5 minutes apart and lasting about 1 1/2 minutes, and boy were these intense! Soon though my hopes of leaving soon were dashed - my contractions were getting FURTHER APART! I was back to every 12 - 10 minutes and some not as intense. I was getting so sad and just wanting to cry, but I just kept reminding myself that my little boy WOULD come out.

My sister Carlynn brought over a birthing ball for me and boy did it do wonders for me and the painful back laboring that I was going through. I will always love my sister even more now for the help that she provided me through that birthing ball! Thank you sis!!

After Carlynn left I ate a little bit of chicken noodle soup (the first real food I had that day) and then Dustin and I went to bed. I 'slept' from about 10:30pm until about 11:30pm and then I was back up laboring in the tub and trying not to wake Dustin. Back to bed again at about 12:30am with contractions about 10-8 minutes apart, so I wasn't getting my hopes up at all.

About an hour later, after having woken up SEVERAL times with contractions and apparently sleeping through many more (Dustin says I was sleeping but making all the noises of contractions) I woke up yelling "I need to sit up!" (I was finally at the point that I was so big I needed help in order to sit up in bed, or else just roll out of it). Dustin IMMEDIATELY woke up and pushed me up. We started timing my contractions which ended up being anywhere from 4-1 1/2 minutes apart. I couldn't sit down, I had to walk the end of the bed, pacing back and forth, my body just couldn't sit down. Dustin brought the birthing ball to me, and miracles of all miracles I could sit and rest and the pain was substantially less! ALLELUIA!!

Now, you're supposed to wait until you have been having contraction 5 minutes apart for an hour before calling into the midwife or until your water breaks. We just couldn't wait any longer then 45 minutes before calling. As I was on the phone with the midwife I started having a contractions mid sentence and had to put the phone down, unfortunately for the midwife I also put my head down too right next to the phone. Dustin was a sweety and took the phone and talked with the midwife who said to come in to the hospital. YEAH!!

Once we got to the hospital around 4:00am, we realized that my contractions had slown down to about every 8 minutes or so again. I was getting upset again and worried that I would be sent home. My worries were for nothing, they checked my cervix and I was 6cm dilated, no way was I being sent home. They said it was most likely just the adrenaline rush that slowed them down.

Well that's all I have time for now. I'm getting pretty tired and need to get a nap in with my handsome little prince Logan. I'll finish a little later for you when I have the chance.

38 and a half weeks and counting

Sorry for my absences from my blog site here. I have either been busy or haven't had much to say recently.
Here is a quick update for all:
I had my 38 week appointment yesterday (Tuesday). We couldn't really tell much at the appointment other then the fact that Midwife Carrie could only just brush my cervix because Baby S's BIG HUGE HEAD had dropped even more. She said that he best answer to me would have to be that I'm about the same as last week. I can't really efface anymore then 80% at this time without dilating to nearly 10cm, and I'm defiantly not there yet (darn it).

I started my Maternity leave officially on Monday. I've been having several contractions for sometime now and they are starting to become more frequent and stronger. Hopefully we will go full blown here shortly!! I will be out of work Full Time for 10 weeks and then Part time for 5 weeks. Its nice to be out of work right now and be able to concentrate just on me, Dustin, and Baby S.

I got my hair cut on Saturday last week (during a time when my contractions were pretty slow or just non-existant)...I knew that it was something that was needed to be done before Baby S arrived that way I could actually get it done and I would have better and easier manageable hair once Baby S arrives as well. I didn't make any major change, just a trim, but also a dry hair treatment as well, which is what really helps me out. That has been what I've noticed the most during this pregnancy, I have suddenly acquired dry hair, something I haven't had since I first started on the swim team in middle school and then learned how to take care of my hair. So this is very strange for me. The professional treatment helps though, that is for sure. And since I go to Fantastic Sam's, it doesn't cost much at all!

I was out of work on Friday last week.  I could hardly walk do to the pain in my hips.  Seriously, could Baby S's head drop down any lower?  I think I want some more pain please...Haha, I'm trying to be funny and I don't think I'm succeeding!  I've had this pain for months now, but it's just getting unbearable now.  That plus all the braxton hicks contractions that I've been having meaning I got NO SLEEP the night before and then the Hyperemesis kicking in during everything...well I had to stay home.  I felt bad about it, but I had to look out for what was the best thing for myself and, more so, for Baby S. 

Well I think that's about it for now. Hopefully more to come soon!!