Thanksgiving and 38 Weeks

For the first time since we've been married, we stayed home for Thanksgiving (for obvious reasons). It was very, very strange all week long being here instead of Atlanta. All week, Josh and I talked about and thought about our "Gawgia" family and missed all of you guys terribly!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day at Elizabeth and Bryon's house! Elizabeth and my mom took the bulk of the work and outdid themselves. The food was out of this world and was worth every bit of heartburn that followed. We felt overwhelming blessed as we started out the day with our little family of 3, watching the Macy's parade, went over to E and B's around noon, were surrounded by loved ones, shared a wonderful meal together in peace while James happily played (much easier with him this year than last year), and then just hung out together while the Cowboys were on TV. My dad, Elizabeth, and Josh then went to see the Bond movie, my mom came over while I put James to bed, and Bryon stayed home to put the kids to bed and clean!

I am 38 weeks now and officially very uncomfortable and ready!!  He has moved even further down, and I'm having some major nerve pain as a result.  I do not remember being this uncomfortable last time, but I guess I didn't have a 2 1/2 year old toddler last time either!  I cannot resist picking him up, so I guess it's partly my fault for my ever-increasing pains!  I'm also in this state of not being able to think about anything but having this baby.  I'm really trying to stay as routine as possible, but it's so hard!  It's causing me to clean and organize non-stop, which has been very beneficial for our house at least!  I challenge anyone to find a drawer or closet in our house that is not organized!  Josh has been right there along with me, doing all of the big projects of the house, like the yard, garage, deep cleaning, etc. A few weeks ago, I went into hyper-picture-organizing mode and spent hours upon hours upon hours developing (from 4 different computers-our old, our new, Mom's, Elizabeth's), putting in order, and weeding out pictures, and then putting them into albums.  I had not done this since James was born, so it was an enormous job!  I'm up to date now and am thrilled with the results!  I also finished James' baby book and filled out almost everything I could of Jack's.  Now everything is done for him and we just need him to get here!!

Tuesday will be a busy and exciting day!  I will have my 38 week appointment at 3:45, and then my sweet friends are throwing me a baby shower that night!   I can not wait, and I will update you with progress and pictures afterwards!
James made these at MDO.  Here, he was telling me, "No, I'm not gonna smile!"

We thought it was so neat when we pulled out this Santa Claus decoration and found out that our Santa's list has not only James' name on it, but it also has the name Jack! How crazy is that?! There are just a few names on there, so I know our boys will think that is so neat when they get a little older. It's meant to be!! :)

37 Week Check Up

I went to my 37 week check up today and was excited to hear that I have made some progress!  I am now 1 cm dilated and 70% effaced.  He is pretty low now, which explains why I'm so much more uncomfortable all of a sudden.  The doctor predicted that I will go into labor in a week or two!  I'm really hoping that he waits until at least after Thanksgiving, which I never thought I would have to worry about!

Here are a few pictures to share with you of my 37 week along, ever-growing belly!

  

I took this picture of James the other day, because his little body is just too cute! It has really changed lately, as he gets taller and continues to lean out.


James has been showing a lot more interest lately in talking about baby Jack. He won't be able to fully understand what it means to have a brother until Jack has been here for a little while, but his understanding has greatly increased since his friend Kelton had his new brother, baby Kolt, arrive a couple of months ago.

After James met Kolt, I was surprised by a conversation with James about him afterwards. I said, "Who is Kelton's brother?" and he said, "Baby Kolt!" I then said, "Who is your brother?" and he said, "Baby Jack!" I was glad to have that example for James to help prepare him a little!

Last night at small group, a lady asked James, "Who is in your mommy's tummy?" James, the only child in the group and standing in the middle of several grown-ups very proudly said, "My brother, Baby Jack!" I said, "What are you going to do with Jack?" and he said, "Play his toys!" (Cute side story: He then proceeded to whine very loudly when we told him it was time to go. We usually eat dinner at whoever is hosting's house, but there was no dinner that night. He said very grumpily and loudly, "I want to eat dinner at Rose's house!!" Everyone erupted into laughter at a child's ability to say whatever they feel like, appropriate or not!)

Poor James is having to learn to wait for excitement a lot right now between Jack and Santa Claus! He says, "Baby Jack be here soon" and "Santa Cwaus comin soon". December will be a very big month for him!

36 Week Check-up

Well, I am not dilated at all, but I am 50% effaced.  That is pretty good news!  He said you generally go sooner 2nd time around, and he very casually said, "Possibly in a couple of weeks.", which would be 38 1/2 weeks.  So I'm going to try not to hold on to that, but he is very conservative in everything he says, too.  

I asked him if 2nd babies usually go faster than 1st.  He said "typically yes".  He remembered how fast I went last time, so he told me that I'm going to have to go to the hospital with the first few contractions.  Now, I realize that I could labor forever this time and be miserable, but I'd rather do that than have the baby in the backseat of our car!  For fun, I posted my labor story with James below for those who might be bored.   I had a crazy 1st time experience!  Can't wait to see what little Jack has in store for me!!

Reposted

My Labor and James' Birth Story

On my due date, April 15th, I was feeling very antsy and ready for James to get here. I felt like there was no possible way I'd ever go into labor on my own. Around 6 pm, Josh and I headed over to Elizabeth and Bryon's house to eat Rosati's pizza with the whole gang (including Michael and Jilinda). I felt an ever so slight contraction on the car ride over and was surprised! I had had some Braxton Hicks before, but nothing that felt like that. A little while later, I felt another one just like that! They never quite went away! That continued on, and I told my family what happening. We ate pizza, and I started getting really excited, because they just kept on and on. After dinner we started timing them, and they were happening about every 5 minutes. I had told everyone when we got there that I really wanted to go to Katie's custard to get ice cream after dinner, so we decided to head over there. At that point, I was scared that if I went somewhere, they would stop (I don't know why...I just did!). Well, when we got there, they didn't stop. They only got slightly stronger. I couldn't eat the ice cream by the time I got it, because that was the first moment I kind of knew that I was going to be having James soon, and I had lost my appetite!

When we got back to Elizabeth's, Josh and I decided to walk home (to speed things along) so I could take a shower. I called the Dr. when we got home (around 8:30), and he said that since it was my first baby, it would probably be a long time before I was ready to come to the hospital. He said to call back in a couple of hours, though, if the contractions increased. I took a shower and could feel them getting stronger.

Josh and I walked back over to Elizabeth's to hang out with everyone, since the family was still together, and were just in disbelief that it was really happening! We were very excited and anxious! Elizabeth blogged for me, because I couldn't form thoughts other than ("I'm in labor!"), and we were just giddy. Around 10:30, I called the doctor back and told him that my contractions were stronger and closer together. He said to go ahead and go up to the hospital to get checked.

Josh and I drove up there and arrived around 11pm. Josh, Mom, and I were in the room before the admission room and they started checking me. They told me that I was barely a 1, if that, and that it was going to be a looooong time before James would be ready to come out. For the next hour, the nurse kept checking me, and I started having really strong and much more painful contractions. Every time she'd check me, though, she told me that I hadn't dilated any more. I started telling her that I was ready for an epidural, because I was extremely uncomfortable. I kept trying to switch sides to feel better, but nothing would help. I think the nurse probably thought I was being a baby, but I knew it was bad!

Around 12pm, she checked me and said I was maybe a 1 1/2-2. She said I had the choice to go home, take an Ambien, and get some rest, or walk around and get rechecked. (The only reason she suggested that was because she acknowledged that my contractions were strong) I didn't know what to do, but Josh and my mom suggested I stay in the waiting room (where Elizabeth was).

At this point, my contractions started getting extremely painful. Elizabeth helped me with some techniques (leaning over on a chair and rocking back and forth, and squatting) that semi-relieved some of the pain. Soon after, though, I started feeling really nauseous and threw up! Elizabeth went to tell the nurse, and she sent back a trash can(We thought the B-team was up there, since it was a Saturday night late, and the night before Easter)!! Elizabeth and my mom were getting irritated that they wouldn't just admit me, especially since my mom said that when you throw up, you're in transition, which is pretty advanced labor! By the time I threw up again, we went back down the hall and asked them to check me. This was around 12:30-12:45ish, and thankfully, when they checked me, I was at a 3.  I had progressed enough to be admitted.

At this point, I was begging for an epidural, and they put in the call to the doctor to okay it. The doctor took a long time to okay it, and then the anesthesiologist to a long time to get there. During this time, I was having horribly strong contractions that WOULD NOT STOP! Contractions are supposed to go up and down, but my just kinda stayed up there! I had Josh, my mom, and Elizabeth at my side trying to help me through each second, the nurse trying to keep me from hyperventilating by making me breath into a brown bag, and me trying to keep myself from cussing (I never do, but I was in SO much pain I didn't think I'd make it through).

By the time the anesthesiologist came in the room, they checked me to see how far along I was. I was at an 8, so the anesthesiologist just packed up his bag and left the room. Josh watched in horror, and I didn't realize what had just happened. I asked Josh, "When is he going to give me the epidural?", and he said, "Uh....you're too far along, baby. He just left!". I was very scared at that point, not knowing how much longer I could take the pain.  I remember saying over and over, "I can't do this!" and them saying, "Yes you can!" 

Moments after being checked, I started telling Elizabeth that I needed to go to the bathroom immediately. Elizabeth, having been through this before, knew that meant that James was on his way down. She told them to check me again, and they were hesitant, since they had just checked me moments before. She insisted, and they listened.

I will never forgot the words that followed that last check... "She's complete!" I was at a 10 and ready to push! All I remember was a bunch of scurrying around and the doctor running in and prepping. They were trying to get me to not push, but that was a joke! All I could do was push! Elizabeth got a nurse to put a mirror in front of me, thank goodness, the doctor got in position, and then I heard, "Push, Lauren, Push!!!". I pushed twice and saw his head. My mom squealed, "There he is, Lauren, PUSH!!!". That was an amazing moment! I pushed a third time, and out popped James Robert at 2:03am! (two hours after they were trying to send me home!)

I felt instantly wonderful! I tore really badly, but didn't feel that one bit.  For the next 45 minutes I laid there in a daze while the doctor stitched me up.  All I remember was Josh being instantaneously, madly in love with tears of joy, and thanking me over and over for going through that for our baby. It was the most beautiful moment in my life to date.

Since James came out so fast, not everything was squeezed out of him and he didn't cry right at first. Thankfully, I was oblivious, but my mom told me later that she was worried for that moment. They got it out fast, though, and he was just perfect! When I first held James, it felt very strange, and I didn't quite get that he was mine. When I breastfed him for the first time, my connection to him started. He ate really well, and I thought, "Hmmmm, I think I really like him!" The second time I breastfed, I thought, "Wow! I'm falling in love with him!", the third time, I felt love sick and was completely head over hills in love with him. The rest is history!!

James' Big Boy Room pics and 36 Weeks!

We finally finished hanging everything on the walls of James' big boy room this morning! James is so proud of his room and will run in saying things like, "Wook at my book-case!!!" and "Wook, Nana made me!!!".  This is now my favorite room to be in.  It's so cozy and the wall color is very soothing!  
My dad made this bed, the matching dresser (a few pics down), and the shelf on the wall when I was a little girl.  I slept on this bed until I went off to college!
I made sure (with the good advice from my sister) to not put anything above this bed that he could tear down or destroy.  :)
My mom just made these curtains for his room.  She also made the quilt folded up on James bed when he was a baby.  It's amazing how well the colors match his bedding and room now!
The choo-choo clock was a gift from my parents, and the red frame will hold a picture of the boys together as soon as we get one!
The "Dirt on My Shirt" book is autographed by Jeff Foxworthy!  His kids go to the school Jo Anna teaches at in Atlanta, and she was sweet enough to get one for James!
Below is a good belly shot to remember what I looked like at 36 weeks!  This was taken at Matthew's 9th birthday party on Friday night.  

To update you on my pregnancy, I am 36 weeks and 1 day now, not that I'm counting! :)  I am pretty uncomfortable, but also very excited to be at the end!  With several of my friends having just had or are about to have their babies, I am getting so, so anxious for him to be here.  I can hardly wait to see what he looks like, hold him, kiss his soft baby skin, and just get to know my newest little guy.  And, I realize that I never announced to you all that we officially decided to keep the name we originally picked out...Jack Michael!  We realized after we "let it go" that we missed it, and the more time that went by, the more we realized how much we loved that name.  

At our last ultrasound (32 weeks), my doctor gave us great news about Jack.  Jack is growing right on schedule, and our doctor says he wouldn't even consider his bowel echogenic anymore!  I felt at peace about it going in to the appointment, but we were so happy to hear that.  Jack was 4 lbs then, so that should make him close to 6 lbs now!  

One great difference in my pregnancy this time is that I haven't started swelling yet!  I started swelling with James at 34 weeks and had such bad swelling at the end.  I actually even swelled up worse after I had him, and that lasted until a couple of weeks after!  I only swell now if I've been sitting in a chair for a while or sitting on the floor (cutting off circulation).  I hope this continues until the end!

My 36 week appointment is this Tuesday, and my doctor will check me to see if I've dialated any!  I am anxious to find out, because I've been contracting so much lately.  They've even been somewhat painful from time to time, which didn't happen at all last time until I actually went into labor.  I'll let you know if there is any news after my appointment! 

'06, '07, '08

This makes me sad!! Here's my little baby doll at 6 months, 18 months, and 2 1/2...

Halloween pictures!

I finally got all of the pictures that Elizabeth took of Halloween so I could post this blog! This was the hardest year ever to get a good picture of James, so I relied on my trusty sister to get some good ones.

We were so thankful that Amber let us borrow Kelton's costume from last year, because it fit James perfectly! When James tried it on in front of them the first time, he ran around the house like a wind-up toy "roaring" like crazy. It was hilarious! Then, when it came time to wear it for Trunk-or-Treat Wednesday night, he HATED it! He had to wear again it on Thursday for MDO and Friday for Halloween, and every time we put it on him, he very much resisted. Thankfully though, once it was on him and he was distracted for a little while, he was fine with it. On Halloween night, he took it off after a little while. We couldn't convince him to put it back on. Finally, when Mary Beth came over and started putting it on him, he was totally okay with it! He and Mary Beth are so cute and funny together right now! James is all of a sudden wanting to do everything she does, and she loves it! Here are pictures from our week of Halloween fun...

My sweet-T

With Nana and Deedah at Trunk-or-Treat
Waiting patiently for his candy
James told me what every person in his class was dressed up as after school Thursday! I got so tickled thinking about him taking in what each classmate was that day. Here he is with "Doctor Cohen", who he talks about a lot.
Nana Anna came to visit for a week and got to join in on all of the Halloween festivities!
Watching Uncle Michael carve a pumpkin


Our little cuties getting clean after Halloween
Mary Beth and "her boys" at the Baylor Homecoming Parade Saturday morning.