Totally Parenting a Newborn Again

I love Vox...it helped me start blogging way back in 06.  But I'm tired of the crap I get from them, tired of people adding me who are nothing but pervs and such.  So, I have my own blog now.  I'm in the process of moving my old blog posts from here to the new site and have a few new posts there as well.

I would love some comments and some followers, so please follow me to The Four Pates and bookmark it! :)  Also, feel free to "share" the site with other blog readers who you think will get a kick out of my posts!

Thank you for the love I've gotten here.  I will still read and comment on my 'hood, so you haven't gotten rid of me!

My due date...wow, today I was due with Jaylon.  Instead I have a 4 week old newborn who is getting chubbier by the day and who's cheeks are so squishy puffy I can't get enough of them.  A newborn who sleeps pretty well at night but has gas and tummy issues during the day; who loves to be held and cuddled but also loves his "alone" time and time in the car.  A newborn who rocks my world every day and who totally fits with our family already.

I had the usual doctor’s appt that Tuesday.  I had the NST like always too.  While hooked to the monitor Jay wasn’t all that active so they had to wake him up.  After using the little vibrating thing he was awake and doing great.  I had mentioned to my doc that my discharge had changed; I told him I probably just pee myself and that’s what it was.  He laughed and agreed but decided to check anyway.  I was right, just pee.  While the doc was there he checked me and I was not dilated and only 25% effaced. 

Things changed when my blood pressure was taken.  I had been flirting with pre-eclampsia the entire pregnancy and unfortunately my pressures that day were too high to be ignored.  139/93 was the highest they’ve ever been and my doc didn’t feel comfortable just letting me go on my merry way.  So, he sent me to the hospital for a 24-hr urine collection and a liver enzyme workup to rule out the pre-e.

I called Sean, which I never do after an appt, so he knew something was up.  I explained that I was just headed to the hospital for observation for 24-hrs or so and to just take Kenna to softball practice like normal.  I called my mom and explained to her what was going on and that the doc said that we wouldn’t have a baby today; depending on how the tests came back it may be Thursday though.  I asked her to call my sis because I was just getting to the hospital and needed to go to triage and get checked in and such.

When I got to triage my blood pressure was wonderful.  But since my doc sent me they had to keep me anyway.  I was sent to put on a gown and get on the monitor in the little triage curtained area until a room opened on the maternity ward.  This is where my time gets off a tad, so please forgive me.  After a while on the monitor a doc came in and asked if I was feeling the contractions that were showing up on the strip.  I explained that I was and they were pretty painful.  I could talk through them though so I didn’t think much about them.  The doc went ahead and did an u/s to see how Jay was laying then she checked me to see if the contractions were doing anything, and they were.  I was now 1cm and 50% effaced.  Not a huge change but enough to warrant some wondering if something was going to happen.  My doc then came in, so now it was after 5, so I had been there for about 1 hr.  He asked about the contractions but we both shrugged them off since they weren’t too painful.  He said again that I was just there to pee in the hat for 24 hrs and check my liver functions, and off he went to another patient. 

The contractions kept coming every 2 minutes and started to hurt pretty badly.  It wasn’t the contractions themselves; it was the burning between the contractions that got me.  Finally at 7:30-ish (I say this because shift change had happened) a new intern and resident came in to check on me.  I explained to them that I was now in pain and having to breathe through the contractions…having to stop talking to them during the contractions they were hurting so badly now.  They decided to check me again to see if they were changing me anymore.  Yip…now I was 2cm and 50%.  Then I started hearing the resident call the anesthesiologist telling him that there’s a repeat c-section in curtain 3 that is in labor…wait I was in curtain 3.  How did I go from no baby just peeing in a bucket to repeat c-section at 36wks in a matter of a few hours?  The intern and resident came back into my curtain and explained that the contractions were causing cervical changes so we were going to do the section that night, so I wouldn’t labor with my history.  I told them that my husband was about 30-45 minutes away and he needed to find a sitter, so if we could hold off until he got there that would be awesome.  They agreed and called my doc to explain the changes and what was happening.  The c-section was all set for 9:30 or 10pm. I called Sean at 7:45-ish when Kenna’s practice was over and told him that I was in labor and we were going to have this baby tonight.  He kind of freaked out a little, although I can’t blame him.  Part of me was freaking too…this wasn’t how it was supposed to happen…it wasn’t Monday the 27^th yet and I wasn’t full term yet.  But the burning between contractions sucked and I was quite happy to get rid of the pain. 

I called mom, sis and dad to explain to them the goings on and what had changed.  Meanwhile, Sean called some co-workers to see if they’d come up to the hospital to watch Kenna so he could be in the OR with me. 

Sean finally got there at 8:30 or so (again, times may be off a little).  As soon as he walked into my curtained area I felt a gush.  I thought my water had broken so I asked him to tell the nurse/intern/resident of what I felt.  Then the flurry of activity started.  In this little tiny “room” there was me in a huge bed, Sean, nurse, resident, intern and the u/s machine.  The bed was broken down to do a sterile exam to see if it was my water and the nurse started another IV.  The intern sucked…she was so rough that I swear she checked my cervix with her entire arm, she was so forceful that she shoved me upwards on the bed when she rammed her hand up there…OUCH!  All I heard was that there “was 2cc”.  I thought she was talking about amniotic fluid.  The resident ran out to call my doc and the intern did the u/s to check on Jay again.  That’s when I saw what a placental abruption looks like on an u/s.  I knew what I had seen and knew what it meant.  I could hear the resident, whose name btw was Melani, tell my doc that I was abrupting again and we needed to have the section done quickly.  The resident, Melani, came back in and explained that my doc was almost there.  Suddenly the anesthesiologist was there explaining spinals and what to expect.  I signed forms Ok’ing a transfusion, a form about not having an advance directive, signed forms for Jay to get medical help, etc.  I asked if Kenna could come back so I could give her a hug and kiss, since she was under 14 she wasn’t “allowed” back there but they said sure.  She looked a little freaked seeing all the flurry of activity around me, but I tried to be calm and told her that Jaylon was coming tonight.  She was excited by that thought, and then off she went back to the waiting room.  Then poof, there was my doc.  He laughed and said he was shocked but “let’s have a baby”.  Then off I was wheeled.

The spinal was given and I was laid down on the horribly uncomfy bed.  That’s when I realized how much blood I had lost, we moved the pad underneath me and there was quite a bit on it.  One nurse joked that I wanted attention, but I didn’t laugh…after losing 2 kids and abrupting once I didn’t want to laugh.  I think she got the idea.  The shaking began and an oxygen mask was placed on my face.  Then my doc walked in, I hardly recognized him with a mask on.  But he patted my head and told me that it’d be OK.  I believed him.  I was wheeled into the OR at 9:04, spinal at 9:07 and section started at 9:20.  I remember hearing the times being called out.  The anesthesiologists (I had two) kept asking how I was.  I told them fine but “where was my husband”.  They finally brought him in and he was there for just a few minutes when Jay came out.  I never heard “it’s a boy” or “here he is”, I just remember feeling a “lightening” and knew he was out.  Then after a few seconds heard the most pitiful cry ever.  Jay never needed oxygen, never needed help breathing or never went to the NICU, he was just fine.  Jaylon Reid was born at 9:33pm, 6lbs. 8.8oz and 19 ½ inches long.  Apgars were 8 and 9.  I got to see him for what seemed like a few seconds then off he and Sean went.  I got my blue band and smiled happily.  I was given the versed (I don’t give a shit shot) so I was tired and kept dozing a little.  I remember my doc telling me afterwards that they could only find one tube, so they tied it.  The other was so “mixed in” with the scar tissue from the c-section with Jackson that they couldn’t find it.  So, in 5 wks I will have to make an appt to have another procedure done to close up that tube, since we’re not doing this whole pregnancy thing again!

After the section I was wheeled into L&D and monitored.  I was awake most of the time and kept trying to make my legs move.  I had to be able to move my legs and hold my butt off the bed before I could be moved to the floor.  Sean came in and told me how Jay was doing and gave me his stats.  He told me that he was taking Kenna home since it was after 11 now.  I was wheeled into my own room at mid-night-ish.  I still hadn’t seen Jay but for a few seconds.  Finally at 4am the nursery brought me my son, who I got to finally hold and love on.  He was perfect, tiny and perfect.

Visiting hours began at 10am and by 10:30 Sean, Kenna, Mom and Chris were at the hospital ready to meet Sweet Baby Jay.  Kenna was smitten.  She just had this smile on her face that I hope I’ll never forget.  Mom, although moving slowly after her 2wk stay in the hospital after a botched heart cath, looked so happy and relieved.

We were released on Thursday (yes, that’s less than 2 days after having a c-section).  My sis and dad decided to join the fun early too and they came in early Friday morning, upping their trip by a few days, since Jaylon upped his arrival!

At his one week appt Jay was already up to 6lbs 13 oz and 20 inches long. He’s such a quiet content baby, which is nothing like his big sister was.  He’s sleeping 3-4 hr chunks at night and right now still sleeps quite a bit during the day.  I’ve been doing good too.   It’s nothing like the last c-section I tell ya. 

I’m so thankful that my doc sent me to the hospital that day.  Someone (God, Avery, Jackson or all three!) was watching out for us because it could have been nasty if I were at home and started abrupting.  I think it all happened for a reason.  I’m also thankful to have a healthy son who, although technically a preemie, hasn’t had any breathing problems, no problems with his sugars or anything.  Just a smidge of jaundice but what baby doesn’t have that a little?!  And I'm so thankful for my daughter, who won't stop petting her baby brother! 

Our family finally feels complete, just the four of us, and it's amazing!

Ya know, it's nice knowing (with some certainty) when your baby will arrive.  Yes there's the chance that he could come early (and some days I feel that way with the contractions and loss of part of my mucous plug), but for the most part I think he'll stay put for 10 more days.  I like knowing that on that Monday morning I'll wake up, take a shower and put on a smidgen of makeup with waterproof mascara, get dressed with my burgeoning belly one more time, hug my only child one more time and take the 30 minute drive with my husband as a family of three one last time.  It's bittersweet in a way.  Kenna's life will totally change, as will ours as a family.  I like being a family of three, it's fit us perfectly for 7 years.  But at the same time I'm ready for the "upgrade" to a quartet and I think that we'll make a damn fine foursome as well.

I hope I know what I'm in for.  I haven't had a newborn in forever and never a boy newborn at that.  When I was pregnant with Jackson I didn't want a boy.  I admit it.  I didn't really know he was a boy until the day he died.  I didn't want to know because I think in my heart I already did know and didn't want the disappointment.  I'm being honest here people, it's not pretty and it's not "right" but it's the way I felt back then.  As soon as I got my positive pregnancy test this time I knew it was a boy again.  But this time I was totally stoked that it was a boy. Yes I joked that I wouldn't know what to do with his "parts", but inside I was bursting that I got my healthy son!  Kenna's pretty happy it's a boy too, I thought for sure she wanted a girl, but she recently told me that she's happy with what we've got.  Sean has yet to say that he's excited also.  Not a guy of a ton of words, those who know him will attest to that, but I think he's pretty durn happy that his name will go on, at least for another generation.

It just amazes me that in a little over one week I'll be thrown back into diapers and bottles, crying and no sleep, cooing and drool.  I never thought that we'd be there again, and I have to admit it feels damn good!

As you can tell, we're not on the countdown at all around here...nope not even Kenna.  My appts lately are so boring that it's wonderful.  Nothing new to report, amazing enough.  I have NSTs weekly and Jay did great today.  Played and had fun for the first part so well that they didn't care that he tuckered himself out and slept through the last half.  My blood sugars are awesome, better than my docs is what he says.  The nausea that plagued me for the first 2/3 of the pregnancy has now come back again.  Which makes eating horribly hard, but I just take my meds and eat when I can.

I did find out a bummer today though regarding my c-section.  Previously we were Ok'd to have my sis in there with us taking pics.  Well, the hospital has a new policy (apparently due to litagation) where you cannot take a picture of any procedure at all, so they won't let sis in.  I'm totally bummed because not only was she my photographer (my paparazzi), she was my support when/if Sean left with Jaylon.  Now I'll be stuck on the table by myself, well and about 15 other people but they won't "care" about me and talk to me like sis would.  Sis took the news wonderfully, I, however, wanted to cry.

But on some brighter news, Kenna lost another tooth last night, on the way to her softball game.  She was really trying to get it out before we left but kept on trying in the car and suceeded.  She now looks like a jack-o-lantern, I'll have to get a pic today.  Also, Kenna went 3 for 3 at bats at the game!  Her first hit in a game, then followed that up with two more at bats and two more hits!  For those not into baseball stats (like mom!), that means she technically batted 1000! I'm so proud of her.  She's also reading so much more and better.  I can't get on the computer without her over my shoulder reading about the latest gossip from People.com!

Anyway, all is perfect in these parts.  I have contractions all the time and they hurt my c-section scar, but doc said that's just the nerves that were cut during the previous one.  I'm totally uncomfortable and don't sleep much, but I'll take it 'cause that means I have a healthy baby, for once!  Oh and those asking about me and checking in...you are TOTALLY not bugging me.  I just love that I have people who care in my life and your checking in means alot to me!

BTW...13 days!

Ah, another doc appt in the books.  I had my usual NST, but this time Jaylon was asleep, the little booger.  So they had to use the buzzer, which pissed him off totally.  After the buzzer Jay woke up and started jumping around and looking perfect.  My sugars look awesome, mean of 90, which my doc said is better than his! LMAO! 

The awesome news is we're no longer "tentative" for the April 27th c-section...we're ON THE SCHEDULE!  Wooooo hooo!  Doc did say again that if there's any change, anything that doesn't feel right, any bleeding, any change in movement, etc to come to the hospital, no if's, and's or but's.  He said he may not take him, but he would probably admit me and go from there.

I'm ready, I'm ready to meet my son and see what my daughter does with her brother.  I'm ready to see this gorgeous little boy that we've been waiting on for years.  We were always ok with having one child, we were perfectly fine with it.  But then Jaylon happened and I realized that maybe we WEREN'T ok with having an only kid.  Maybe we were just saying we were to protect ourselves.  Sure, Kenna's a great kid and I don't know what I'd do without her, but maybe we weren't done.  Jaylon is our gift, to us and to our daughter.  The daughter who we thought would be our one and only, even though she was bummed about not having a sibling.  The daughter that is a miracle; the daughter who I'm not sure how she even got here since she looked so shitty when she came out, the daughter who I'm surprised came out alive.  Now she will have a little brother; a brother who is also a miracle. 

How blessed are we?

I try and update on doc appt days which are Tuesday, but I have some anxious people out there...so here's a long one for ya!

~~~~~~~~~

Everything is going great!  NST was perfect, I got another u/s today and Jay is measuring right on track at 4lbs 15oz, placenta looks awesome as does the amount of fluid.  It's perfect...

I have pics, just two, that once I scan I'll post, but I gotta do homework with Kenna and then get ready for her softball practice. 

Adios!

~ UPDATE

Ok, sorry about the quickie, but I figured I had better update or else y'all get antsy!  Anyway, you know we're scheduled for April 27th, well the doc says today that starting next week if I so much as sneeze or hiccup wrong then he's taking Jay early.  Meaning, if he sees anything that doesn't look right or anything changes we'll do a section and get the baby outta there.  He did admit that 34-36 weekers usually have "issues" and need the NICU but he's better off in the NICU with my history than in my belly.  We're still holding out 'till 37wks (section date) but now know that it could honestly happen any time.  The good thing is everything is so great that I feel good about making it another 26 days (not that we're counting or anything here!).  My placenta is still kickin' ass, which it's never looked this good this late in pregnancy, or ever in some of my pregnancies.  Fluid levels are right on track as well.  It's like my body finally realized how to do this whole pregnancy thing and is getting it right, it's about frickin' time, huh?  So, we'll see how it goes for the next 3 1/2 weeks.  The only two pics I have are of Jay's foot and big toe, no other toes but I promise they are there too, you just can't see 'em, and a testicles pic...there is NO DOUBT this is a boy.  It's funny there's been no doubt since 18 wks but it's still nice to get the reassurance that this baby has a penis and testicles, with all the blue shit we've got!  I thought about making it a game, guess the body part, but I'll tell ya:

The first pic is his foot, on the left of the pic and big toe is pointing toward say 4 o'clock. 

Jaylons foot and big toe

Here's the testicles pic...they are on the right side of the pic and, well, look like testicles!

Jaylons test

Strange smattering of pics I know.  The doc tried to get a 3-d but Jay was all up in my placenta and couldn't get a good face/profile shot!  Oh well...we'll see him soon enough. 

I wake up every two hours to pee and rearrange myself in bed.  Laying in bed and getting comfy takes more time and effort than it used to.  Usually at 3:30 I'm still asleep, but not this morning.  This morning I was ripped from a decent slumber by some idiot outside who sounded like he was doing an Indian Rain Dance.  All I can say is WTF?! 

Why Indian Rain Dance Man did you decide to dance at 3:30 am?  Why couldn't you do it quieter?  I live in a nice neighborhood, not one you'd expect to be woken up by Indian chanting.  It only lasted for a few minutes...maybe 5, but it was long enough for me to be fully awake and wonder what the hell you were doing and why.

Strange thing...it apparently worked, we have a little thundershower coming through right now and we do need the rain! LMAO!