About That Baby I've Been Carrying Around...

He's OUTTA me!!!!!!

Allow me to introduce Jackson "Jack" David, born via cesarean on October 24, 2013 at 7:59 a.m. He weighed 7lbs, 10oz, and was 19.5" long, though the weight was likely skewed quite a bit by the ton of fluid he swallowed as they pulled him out. He was down to 6 lbs, 14 oz. 36 hours later, and they had to suction quite a bit out of his little tummy, so he was likely on the low end of 7 lbs. 

I am so, so, so happy to say that he is a champ nurser. In fact, they stitched me up, brought me into recovery at 8:30, and the first thing the neonatologist said was that he had been rooting on everyone, trying to breastfeed on any surface available. Thankfully, that has continued, and we've been off to a great start. Fingers crossed we can keep it up as long as he wants - I'd love to go as long as I did with Ava :)

As for mama, recovery was rough, or at least compared to what I expected. I had heard consistently that planned c-sections were much easier, but I had a hard time, and between the fact they had to do my spinal four times, and the reaction to the Duramorph block I had for 24 hours (one nurse wanted to put me in isolation because I had scratched my skin up so badly and had carried staph a few years back - thankfully my doctor looked at her like she was nuts!), but still - even then - I would do it all again in a second. If we wanted a third, which we don't and won't. And, sad to say, my doctor informed me in recovery that my uterine wall was so extremely thin, any subsequent pregnancies would be at extremely high risk of uterine rupture and he would highly recommend against it. For someone who is DONE, it made me feel surprisingly sad. 

Yesterday was the first day, one week postpartum, that I felt like I might survive. I've had some episodes of baby blues, but called into my doctor and had him temporarily up my dose of my meds to help me through this hormone storm! Yesterday, though, I was able to leave the house to go to Ava's preschool's trick-or-treating and costume carnival, AND took her trick-or-treating (more on that later), and whether it was getting out of the house or just faking a sense of normalcy, it really, really helped. Today, we had newborn pictures taken at our house in his nursery, and while the photographer shot some pictures, I managed to clean the house up a bit and answer some emails and just generally feel hopeful I won't always be underwater. I even put my pump together and used it and remembered to look for the alternate babas, since the gumdrop one isn't cutting it for my hungry little monkey.

Well, that's about all I have time for this second, but I will photobomb you like no one's business :) These are just from in the hospital! More to come later this week. Oh wait, it's Friday. So early next week....

The moment I met my son....and my fear of not bonding with him evaporated! Love at first sight.

Ava meets her little brother!

Our Little Sweet Potato: 18 Weeks!

First, a bump pic:

This is most definitely the last week these pants are going to button. Hopefully not for that long, though :) Forgive the hair, I desperately need an appointment, but don't have time for two more weeks!

Now for some stats:

How far along: 18 weeks

Net weight gain/loss:  up 5 lbs. Bleh.

Maternity clothes:  As you can see in the picture above, I'm wearing my regular pants and shirts. BUT, if we're being honest about what's comfy and not for vanity, maternity all the way! 

Stretch marks: nope

Belly button: still an innie 

Sleep:  still exhausted. Isn't there supposed to be a second trimester boost of energy?

Baby movement:  YES! And I am beginning to feel movement from the outside, but only if laying on my stomach and if my hands are between my belly and the mattress. No one else has been able to yet, but I let Ava try the other night, and while she was waiting, she leaned down and kissed my belly saying she was kissing baby brother so he'd move. AWW!

Gender: Boy!

Food cravings: Chewy Sprees. OMG. YUM.

Food aversions:  red meat, sugar, baby hates ice cream, bleh. One day I'll feel good again, right?

What I miss:  ice cream - lol. And not having to take Zofran. It's still a part of my routine, though more like once a week than twice a day like before, so that's something, right?

Looking forward to:  our 20-week ultrasound June 12th, and Ava and daddy feeling movement, too.

Best moment this week:  D's birthday was Monday, and mine is tomorrow! We also built a major boy wardrobe in different sizes by selling some of Ava's clothes to local children's resale shops and using store credit to fill his closet. Pretty nice to get baby clothes for free :)

Milestones:  baby is kicking up a storm

15 Weeks: Our Little Orange!

How far along: 15 weeks

Net weight gain/loss: 2 lbs. even.

Maternity clothes: Nope, and proud of it :)

Stretch marks: Praying I can stay stretch-mark free again! (Fingers crossed!!!)

Belly button: still an innie 

Sleep: I've been waking up around 5 or so, and then not being able to fall back asleep until right before I have to get up, causing me to feel reallllllly drowsy and out of sorts when the alarm/Ava goes off! Bleh. It's also getting a bit weirder to sleep on my stomach, which is a huge problem for me, because I can only sleep on my stomach. 

Baby movement: As I lay falling asleep last night, squishing the wee little thing since I'm a stomach sleeper until it becomes impossible, I felt DEFINITE movement! It may have been a while since I did this whole pregnancy thing, but that is a feeling that you never forget!

Gender: 7 days until we know for sure! 

Food cravings: Sour candy from my high school days - shock tarts, chewy Sprees, Sweetart Jelly Beans. And pasta. Seriously, this baby is a carbaholic.

Food aversions: Anything that smells bad at the time, red meat, too much sugar (ironically, given that I crave candy, but maybe the sour offsets it?)

What I miss: a flat stomach! And bummed I had to take Zofran again this morning. C'mon, second trimester relief and energy boost! I've been wanting to sleep ALL. DAY. LONG.

Looking forward to: finding out the gender! And hopefully nausea getting a bit better - it's been an issue a bit this week again...

Best moment this week: anytime I'm asleep. It was a rough week - I was sick, exhausted, working a ton, and just in general need of a break.

Milestones: baby can now move all of his/her joints and limbs! 

14 Weeks: The First Trimester Didn't Kill Me!

I survived! And lest you think I'm being dramatic, the past fourteen weeks saw a stomach bug, a bout of strep that I'm still getting over, nonstop morning sickness that required twice daily zofran to get through, gallbladder issues, my normal crazed anxiety over miscarriage, all while working daily, trying to help A adjust to the idea of sharing mommy, and my husband working full-time and being in grad school full-time. So yes, I am actually somewhat surprised when I say that I have arrived at the second trimester in one piece!

Here's where we are as we start the second trimester:

How far along: 14 weeks

Net weight gain/loss: up 1.2 lbs - likely down from the past couple weeks due to being sick the past few days!

Maternity clothes: no, but was handed down a ton last Wednesday, and am almost excited (gasp!) to wear them!

Stretch marks: nope

Belly button: innie

Sleep: still could sleep all day, everyday. It's a wonder if I see 9 p.m. these days!

Baby movement: I still swear I'm feeling the baby move occasionally, but maybe I'm just insane?

Gender: Still rooting for girl #2, but basically accepted it's going to be a boy. We find out for sure 5/15!

Food cravings: pop-tarts. This baby isn't going to be my healthy eater, I can already tell!

Food aversions: so many things still. sigh.

What I miss: not feeling sick every. single. day.

Looking forward to: finding out the gender in two weeks! 

Best moment this week: Not having taken Zofran since Saturday night!

Milestones: Baby can now suck his or her thumb, though knowing my kiddos, they're already looking for a baba!

And a belly pic, if you can call it that at this point :)

11 Weeks: Our Little Lime!

I've taken a page out of Emily's book and decided to do a weekly pregnancy update with the same type of questions and fruit comparison to keep track of how this final pregnancy goes! And yes, FINAL. NEVER doing this again. Two and through, am I right?!

How far along: 11 weeks

Net weight gain/loss: 1.2 pounds. 

Maternity clothes: No, though my pants are noticeably less comfortable the further into the day we get...

Stretch marks: no

Belly button: still innie

Sleep: up between 2 and 5 (!!!) times a night to use the bathroom, which is obnoxious. Otherwise, EXHAUSTED.

Baby movement: not just yet

Gender: finding out 5/17. With A, I KNEW in my heart it was a girl. This time, I'm not sure. Thinking maybe boy, but PRAYING for a girl!!!!

Food cravings: Gardetto's snack mix and cheddar garlic biscuits. And sprite. Those are basically the only three things I can eat.

Food aversions: Everything else. Even thinking of food makes me sick. Going to the grocery store makes me extremely nauseated.

What I miss: feeling good :( I seriously am starting to think I'll never feel well again!

Looking forward to: October 23! And hopefully starting to feel better as the first trimester ends in a couple of weeks!

Best moment this week: our Facebook and blog announcement about the new baby, featuring big sister Ava, of course!

Milestones: Getting ready for our NT scan next Weds!

Baby #2: The First Ten Weeks!

This seemed like a fitting time to announce that we're expecting our second baby because a.) today is our first anniversary, and b.) I announced it with Ava right around this same point and started blogging!

In response to the questions I've gotten so far, I feel AWFUL. Simply wretched. With A, I had an easy-peasy pregnancy that I complained about just the same, but oh my Lord, I was not prepared for this when we decided it was time to add to the family. I am sick all day, all night, frequently waking up in the middle of the night sick. Everything puts me off, every smell makes me nauseated - I basically feel like I have the flu constantly. I was most worried about the exhaustion, given the hours I work and the amount of children I watch, but the exhaustion has nothing thus far on the nausea. Prescription Zofran, B6, ginger - you name it, we tried it. Nothing helped. Zofran didn't even touch the nausea, and gave me horrible headaches. The only thing that worked at all was unisom at night, since the active ingredient interferes with your body's reaction to nausea, but the fatigue was made much worse. Despite that, I'd take fatigue over all day sickness anytime!!!! Even the carpet powder I sometimes vacuum makes me sick (learned that one the hard way). The only thing I can consistently have is Pineapple-Orange-Banana juice. Hoping the citrus-y cravings mean it's another girl - I had the same love of that juice while pregnant with Ava, despite my general lack of sickness.

As for our due date, we're due 10/30 - another holiday baby - but since I'll have a repeat cesarean (VBACs are great for those interested in pursuing them, just don't count me amongst them...), he/she will likely be born 10/23. Whew. Once we hit the 37 week mark (in a long, lonnnnngggg time), it's the sooner, the better for me.

Ava is SO excited! David advised me we should keep it a secret for a while, but then he went to work the morning we found out, and I blabbed the second the door closed. I'm AWFUL at keeping my own secrets. How I've kept this from y'all for seven weeks is a mystery! Anyhow, I was just so excited that I had to tell her - and she's been talking about the baby ever since. She insists it is a baby sister (hopefully she has a sixth sense), and is already plotting to teach her to play tag and share her books with her. She's asked me about the baby weekly since we found out, and even sometimes shared that she feels nervous about having to share. We're trying to talk through her fears the best we can - having a sibling surely is a transition, but such a wonderful addition to the family and a friend for her for life, and we're focusing on those things and trying to prepare her to help.

Anyhow, we're so excited! Here's a couple comparison belly shots to document the big news:

The day we found out:

6 weeks:

9 weeks:

So far, not too much of a belly, though I feel gross and super bloated all the time. I feel like I've put on a trillion pounds, even though I've only put on one or two. Despite the all day sickness, I tend to snack on a lot of carbs to settle my stomach, so that is unfortunately keeping weight on :(

Even though this pregnancy has been challenging so far, we're so, so excited to be welcoming another baby into our hearts and family! Stay tuned for the big gender reveal May 17th - I can hardly wait!!! 

Happy (One Day Early Because I Can't Hold It In Another Second!) Anniversary to Us!

Photos courtesy the amazingly talented Wendy Gail Photography - more to come!