Keeping up with the Joneses

The Week I DID NOT return to Work...

Amos is SIX WEEKS OLD!

I absolutely can NOT imagine returning to work after six weeks.  This first six weeks have flown by.  Both momma and baby have undergone lots of changes.

I am so thankful that I can now get out of bed without a lot of pain.  At the same time, I'm a little surprised by how much recovering my body still has to do.  My muscles are still sore to the touch and the incision still hurts quite a bit...maybe because it was infected?  Playing around with Amos sometimes can be painful when I accidentally move the wrong way.  Nonetheless, I am feeling up to playing with Amos.  I am also walking faster and faster.  Pretty soon, I should be back to my normal speed walking ways!

As for Amos, it is amazing how much he has changed.  At first, he was this tiny, balled up, almost lifeless little guy.  Now, he weighs 1 1/2 times more than when he was born.  He smiles, coos, and moves constantly.  Some of my favorite moments have been when he is nursing, and I catch him staring at me.  When I gaze back at him, he gives me one of his goofy, toothless grins.  It melts a momma's heart.  Amos is also become more independent.  At first, I literally could not put him down without him squalling.  Now, he happily goes to bed in his bassinet around 10:30 pm, he will spend many quiet moments in his crib cooing, and he will nap consistently in his swing (we're still working on napping elsewhere consistently).

Monday, 2-13:

While I can't imagine returning full-time to work, on Monday, I did go visit.  It was parent teacher conference day, so I thought it was the perfect time to introduce Amos to the faculty and staff at Ballard.  Because Ballard is pretty spread out with lots of stairs, I decided that the Moby was my best choice for transporting Amos.  At first, he was wide-eyed checking everyone out.  He even smiled and cooed for Ronda, a fellow chemistry teacher.  Soon, however, he was happily snoozing...until it was time to eat.  I was visiting one last colleague, and I warned him that Amos would likely wake up in 5 minutes crying for food.  My plan, though, was to just head home and feed him when we got there.  However, this male colleague insisted that I should feed him before going home.  I hesitated because Amos was squalling at this point.  He adamantly insisted that I follow him to the teacher's lounge where he planned to ensure I could feed my baby.  When we were almost there, he changed his mind, and decided that he knew of a "better" place.  We went to the south office, and he asked the vice principal if he would let me into Mrs. Riggs old office to nurse.  WELL, the vice principal decided that it would work because there was a window on the door.  Keep in mind that Amos is screaming, so I'm at their mercy.  He ends up leading me into a closet with a rickety old chair.  I needed to get Amos out of the Moby, but there was no place for me to lay him while I get myself out of it.  I held back tears while I struggled to figure out what to do while he continued to cry.  I awkwardly nursed him for about five minutes...long enough to quiet his screams...then I slipped out a back door so that the men wouldn't know that I left.  For one thing, I knew that I would cry.  And I also realize that they were only trying to help, so I didn't want to make them feel bad.  I went back to Ronda, and she held Amos so that I could wrap him up and head out.  It was exhausting!  

Tuesday, 2-14:

Amos and I went to see Dr. Price for my six weeks appointment.  Unfortunately, we got two inches of snow, so I had to take extra time getting the snow off my car.  (It was melted by the afternoon, so it's too bad that my appointment was in the morning!)  Instead of lugging the heavy carrier, I used my stroller, which turned out to be both a nuisance and a life saver.  The exam rooms are so tiny that the big and bulky stroller was in the way.  However, when Amos was fussy, I was able to rock him by moving the stroller back and forth.   I worried that we would have another meltdown because my appointmet was at 9:20 am and his next feeding was due around 9:45 am.  Thankfully, by the time Dr. Price arrived, Amos was snoozing. 

I tried to talk with Dr. Price about my labor, but it wasn't that fruitful.  I asked her about the injection that stopped my labor, and she acknowledged that it wasn't ideal.  She told me that the C-section was only due to fetal distress and with my incision, I would be a perfect candidate for a VBAC.  However, they do not induce patients who want a VBAC.  She said that if I went into labor around 38 weeks on my own then I would likely be able to get a VBAC.  But if I follow a similar pattern as in this pregnancy where I had no contractions by 41 weeks, I would have to get another C-section.  It's WAY too early for me to worry about this, but it's kind of a bummer to know that I'll have to deal with all of this in the future.

After the appointment, Amos shocked me by going 2 1/2 and then 3 hours between feedings!  I had registered for a returning to work class at Babyology, and I worried that we would be late when Amos didn't wake up!  The Returning to Work class only had two people in attendance: me and Raechel.  So, we got lots of one-on-one attention regarding our concerns.  I had already read about most everything, but it was nice to have someone confirm in person what I had already read.  A couple of interesting tidbits:  sage and peppermint are bad for your milk supply while caffeine (in small doses) and oatmeal are beneficial.  Green poop and lots of spitting up (if it's not acid reflux) may indicate that the baby is getting too much food.  Breast milk is organic and changes on a daily basis.  So, if I'm exposed to bacteria at school, my body makes antibodies that Amos will also receive to keep him well.  While bottle fed babies need more and more milk as they grow, breast fed babies stay needing only 2-4 oz because the milk changes to satiate them appropriately.  Since we are currently a bottle feeding culture, care givers of breast fed babies often try to overfeed them at first.  We also got great tips about how and when to pump at work.  She also encouraged me to start pumping every day after the first feeding.

Tuesday was also obviously Valentine's Day.  Tim had a coworker who was willing to babysit for us so that we could go out, but I said absolutely not.  I was not ready to leave my baby with someone that I barely knew.  Is that crazy and and neurotic of me?  I think in a few more weeks, but just not yet.  Tim and I tend to go low key on commercialized holidays like this one, but he did come home with this:

A funny/pathetic moment that evening was that I started to cuddle with Tim on the couch for a few minutes while Amos dozed in the swing.  Well, Amos started crying at that same moment for food.  So, I ended up cuddling with Amos on the couch and falling asleep past our bedtime.  Poor Tim.

Wednesday, 2-15:

We stayed home all day.  I did put Amos in the Moby and walk the 30 minutes round trip to the YMCA in order to cancel our membership.  Along the way, I actually got honked and whistled at as this truck of men approached me.  I bet they felt super silly as they passed and saw that I had a baby!  Why are men so dumb, by the way?  I could never imagine a group of women behaving like that.  Then, Amos continued to stretch out his feeding times.  He also slept five hours through the night again.  Yay!

Thursday, 2-16:

I spent Thursday waiting for my cousin Melissa's daughter to arrive.  The plan was to head to the hospital with Amos as soon as she was born.  However, it was 10:03 pm when Layla Claire made her big entrance, so I decided to head out Friday morning.

Friday, 2-17:

It was no easy task to get Amos, myself, and all of our stuff into the CR-V.  I was up at 7 am trying to get everything done.  We were on the road by 10 am and then we arrived at the Women's Hospital around 11 am.  Amos did super well until...you guessed it...it was time to eat.  So, I lugged in the stroller and carrier while Amos cried.  Jeremy met me in the waiting room, and I fed him there.  FINALLY, around noon we got to meet Layla:

(Amos's shirt says, "Party in my Crib at 3 am!"  He wore it just for Layla!)

Isn't Uncle Jeremy such a natural with kids?

She is so adorable!

Then, Amos and I went to my parents.  Mom cooked a delicious dinner, and we all just hung out for a bit.  Uncle Jeremy got some more QT with Amos:

Saturday, 2-18:

We had a bit of a rough night.  I think Amos might be outgrowing the bassinet because he kept hitting the side of it all night, which would then wake him up.  At his 2 am feeding, he also felt super cold, so I then couldn't sleep well because I worried about him.  Finally, we got up around 6 am.  My dad, who is an early bird, took him from 7 am - 8 am so I could sleep a bit more.

Later that morning, Grammy feed Amos his first "real" bottle.  Last weekend, he just sipped a bit.  This time, he drank it all!  Yay!

Then, Amos, Mom, and I made our way to Kroger's to buy food for my cousin and her family.  Here is Amos all ready to go:
(That pacifier stayed in his mouth for about 0.5 seconds.)  Amos slept in the Moby throughout our Kroger trip.  Nonetheless, here's what he did while we were cooking:
We planned to deliver the food around 6:30 pm, but beforehand Tim called to tell me that my father-in-law was coming for a visit and also that he was worried about the roads.  After deliberating, I decided to go ahead to Melissa's.  She had a full house!  

It was Amos's cranky hour, so I quieted him by putting him in the Moby.  Mom got to meet Layla for the first time:
After dinner, we gave Amos a bath.  It was quite the event.  Aunt Gina, Uncle Jeremy, Grammy, Emma, and Lucas all helped!

 Amos loved it...until we took him out of the water!

Sunday, 2-19:

We had an even rougher night.  Amos just could not get to sleep.  I finally put him in bed with me until his first night feeding.  Then, he stayed in the bassinet until his last night feeding.  He had a blow out that woke him up, and the poor baby couldn't get back to sleep.  I finally just got up and got ready to get back to Louisville.  Bill had spent the night, and I didn't want to deprive him of his grandson any longer!  Thankfully, the bad weather missed us, so we made it home without incident.

Amos was a bit cranky after all the travel, but he did charm Grandaddy Jones with some smiles and coos.  Here, Amos is making his Elvis face:

After lunch at Chili's, Grandaddy headed out.  We missed seeing Grandma Berta!

Amos: The 5th Week

"Hello! I'm 5 weeks old," laughs Amos.

Saturday, 2-4 (Continued):

Amos after his bath.  He ended up sleeping a bit past his normal nursing time after this...very unusual for Mister Every-Two-Hours-On-The-Dot.
Two surprise visitors -- The Toons.

Sunday, 2-5:

We planned to go to church, but we were both exhausted.  Instead, Tim and I took turns napping to get a few extra minutes of sleep.  Then, the Irvines dropped off the Taurus just as my friend Kim and her husband Matt were arriving to meet Amos.  (I forgot to take pictures!)  After a nice family walk outside and a quick trip to Target (where I also juggled a phone call from my long-term sub), we cozied up to watch the Super Bowl.

Monday, 2-6:

We had a low key day.  Amos did have a blow out that covered me and him both. Yuck!  We cleaned up and then took a walk.  Generally, by 5 pm, I'm pretty exhausted.  Thankfully, Daddy comes home and plays with the boy for a bit to give Momma a break.  (Plus, it's super cute for me to watch.)

Tuesday, 2-7:

On Amos's 5 Week Birthday, we took a walk and Amos met the neighbors.  These neighbors don't speak English, so we often struggle to communicate.  The older gentleman smiled really big when he saw us the first time and said, "Bebe, very good!"  As I made my way back home, he got my attention, and pointed to Amos and asked, "Sick?"  (I think he was wondering if he was healthy.)  When I told him he was not sick, he is healthy, he said, "Very good."  He also forced me to accept five dollars.  It was really sweet.

This is a common sight in the evenings at our house around 8 pm. (Obviously, Timmers isn't really sleeping.)  Amos refuses to lay down before then.  He prefers this position when Daddy holds him.  (Isn't he such a Tiny Tim!?!)

I've started to see a pattern in Amos's feeding and sleeping schedule.  Amos has been pretty precise with his feeding schedule for a while.  Every two hours, without fail, he wants to eat.  It cracks me up.  He can be in a seemingly deep sleep, but the moment two hours are up, he pops his head up and screams for food. Generally, he eats for 15-30 minutes.  After eating, he is in a coma-like state for a few minutes before his eyes pop open.  At this time, he gives me lots of coos and smiles.  I'll change his diaper and then we'll do tummy time.  (Recently, I've added playing in the crib during this play time, which Amos LOVES!) This all usually takes 30 minutes.  Then, he's tired during the next hour.  Generally, he spends time being fussy and fighting sleep.  Finally, I'll put him in the Moby, and he will zonk out.  Recently, I have been able to get him to nap in his swing.  However, he will only go in the swing if it is as upright as possible.  This worries me when he does fall asleep because it looks like he'll hurt his neck when his head slumps over.  So, I have to sneak over and recline the swing once he's asleep.  If I time it incorrectly, and he's not totally asleep, he's back up fussing.  It's really a coup, by the way, if he naps in his bassinet or crib.  We repeat this pattern until his final feeding, which is around 10:30 pm.  After this feeding, he happily snoozes in his bassinet for an average of 4 hours before the next feeding. Then, he goes about 2 1/2 to 3 hours.  And then we go back to every 2 hours.  I try to pattern my outings around this tight schedule.

Wednesday, 2-8:

Amos and I traveled to Momma's Hip to look into cloth diapers.  As a compulsive researcher, I've looked into cloth diapers forever...even before we were expecting Amos.  However, I've always been overwhelmed.  After talking to the woman there, I decided to just try a couple and see what I thought.  So, I purchased 1 BumGenius 4.0 and 1 Flip along with 3 Flip inserts.  Both diapers are All in Ones (AIO) and accomodate babies up to 35 pounds.

After getting home from Momma's Hip, Raechel dropped by starving.  She had been at a KTIP meeting at Seneca, and it took longer than she expected.  So, I fed her and then sent her home to Andrew.

Thursday, 2-9:

Thursday was Amos's one month appointment.  It was at 9:20 am, and I wasn't sure what to do because I knew that Amos would want to eat at 9:30 am.  Since I had to wait an hour at the last appointment, I just decided to go and bring my cover to nurse in the waiting room if I had to.  To my surprise, they got me into an exam room immediately.  When they asked me to totally disrobe Amos, I knew it was probably going to be bad.  There's nothing like a mad, naked, hungry baby.  He squalled and squalled!  After the nurse weighed him, she was pretty much like, "Feed that baby!"  So, I did.  (And, by the way, he was all coos and smiles as soon as she left us alone.)  However, the nurse practioner came in after about 5 minutes, which was just long enough to tease him but not to satisfy his hunger.  As he's screaming, she's trying to check him, and I'm trying to ask questions.  I finally held a pacifier in his mouth to quiet him.  THEN, he had to get a shot.  Poor baby.  

Amos is doing exceptionally well.  Here are his stats:

Weight - 9 pounds 5.5 ounces (40-50 percentile)

Height - 21 3/4 inches (65-70 percentile)

Head - 14 3/8 inches (50 percentile)

 

After his cry-fest at the doctor's office, Amos was in a really good mood.  Here he is playing in his crib.

Isn't it funny how apparently all babies do this jousting pose?  According to the nurse practioner, research shows that they generally "joust" in a certain direction.  Amos usually looks left, though this is a rare right-looking joust.

Friday, 2-10:

Amos and I visited Daddy at work.  Here again, Amos's strict feeding schedule caused us problems.  Tim had an hour from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm for us to come. Amos was due to eat at 11:30.  So,  I drove the 25 minutes to Tim's work and fed him a few minutes early in the car.  I'm not sure if this was the best plan, though. He still cried when we first arrived.  I had gone to the bathroom, and when I returned, Tim's principal is trying to soothe him.

Since it was lunch time, Tim wanted to show Amos off to all the kids and the teachers.  It was pretty adorable to see what a proud papa he was.  And the kids were pretty excited as well.  Amos only really grinned at one person, Holly:

He maintained a tired old man grimace during most of our visit...but at least he wasn't crying.  The over tired boy did that once we got home.

The hospital had given us coupons for two free combos at Chick Fil A, so we decided to dine there Friday evening.  It was nice to have some more normal Tim and Glenda time.  Amos slept until, of course, his feeding time when he started to beg for food.

Amos must have truly been tired because he went almost SIX hours between feedings that evening!  I was so excited that I could barely get back to sleep...or it could have simply been that my body was not used to so much sleep!

Saturday, 2-11:

I'm not sure if it was all that extra sleep, but I was a busy bee on Saturday tackling a lot of projects.  First up: I pumped for the first time.  I did totally feel like a dairy cow, but it was also pretty fascinating.  Then, Tim gave Amos his first bottle while I was preparing breakfast.  I had heard lots of horror stories about how babies scream and that mom should not even be in the house.  Well, we tried the bottle about 20 minutes before his normal feeding time.  I sort of helped Tim angle the bottle, and Amos took it!

But then, seconds later (once I put the camera away), he just looked at us both and laughed.  With the bottle sort of in the corner of his mouth, he kept grinning and cooing at us.  So, he didn't eat much, but at least it was pleasant!  When it was his actual feeding time, I tried the bottle one more time before nursing him, and he laughed again.  I wonder if he was thinking, "Momma, you can't fool me...I know that's not the real thing."  My dad hypothesized that maybe the nipple on the bottle tickled him...that might also explain all the grins.

Amos was even nice enough to snooze during breakfast so Mom and Dad could spend time together.

Then, Amos was in the best mood playing in his crib:

 

After breakfast, I set to work trying to figure out where I can put all the bottles.  I also thought of a way to make more space for Amos in our bathroom.  During this time, Tim was taking care of Amos.  Happily, he even got Amos to nap in his crib!

I also attempted the cloth diapers that I had purchased earlier in the week.  The flip looked HUGE, so I went to try the BumGenius 4.0, but Amos pooped on it as I was putting it on! (I'm not sure if that's a commentary.)  On Sunday, I tried again.  The BumGenius was cute, but it did leave some red marks on his leg.  Maybe I had it on too tight?  Later, I tried the flip.  It actually did work.  But I'm still trying to figure out the best way to clean them.  At the moment, I only have two, so it's kind of a pain.  

Later that afternoon, Raechel called to see if she, Andrew, and Gavin could come over and watch the UK game with us.  I hadn't realized it, but Andrew hadn't even met Amos!  We were more than happy to hang out with this cute family.

Sunday, 2-12:

I woke up around 7 am in order to get both Amos and myself ready for church at 9 am.  Amos wasn't sure about it at first,

but he ended up doing very well.  I did have to feed him, but then he was all smiles and coos during the service.  During praise and worship time, he was wide-eyed, checking it out.  It was pretty adorable.

Then, Tim and I decided to eat lunch at O'Charley's.  My very generous and thoughtful mother had given us a gift card to dine there when we were in the hospital.  We just hadn't been able to get it together before then to eat there.  As we were driving to O'Charley's, Mom called to see if they could come visit.  Of course, we are always excited for a visit from Grammy, Pa-Paul, and Emma!  (Unfortunately, Lucas had a bit of a runny nose, so Gina decided to stay home with him.)

They arrived around 3 pm with coffee cake, chocolate covered strawberries, and a V-Day present (diapers, a onesie that says "Chick Magnet", chocolates, a heart-shaped bath fizzer, and a card that Emma picked out).  Amos was a bit fussy, but Grammy still enjoyed holding him.

Guess who's a Month Old!?!

Mr. Amos Clive Jones! 

(I have been trying to catch him smiling.  He started showcasing some real smiles last weekend with my dad.)

This week was a bit more laid back than our previous weeks.

Monday, 1-30:

After our busy weekend, I kind of planned to veg.  But then Raechel called to see if I wanted to go to Seneca Park.  Our weather has been unseasonably warm, so I also didn't want to miss the chance to soak up some sun.  Raechel and I walked and chatted.  It was so nice to be outdoors.  Amos and Gavin enjoyed snoozing most of the time.

 Moments before Gavin went to Sleepy Town:

Tuesday, 1-31:

I was feeling exhausted, so Amos and I stayed inside and played.  This is one moment too late after a big grin:

I was bummed when I figured out that what I planned for dinner  needed to be defrosted.  But THEN...I remembered that the lovely Michelle Lobo had sent us some yummy Lou Malnati's Pizzas!
So I popped the pizza into the oven and cued up a chick flick while I awaited my husband's return.  Tim got home after 7 pm, which was stinky, but he didn't bring any work home, so he took care of Amos while I took an hour nap.  I so needed that!  THEN, Amos went almost FIVE hours between feedings that evening.  (Generally, he nurses every 2 hours.)  I guess we were both exhausted!

Wednesday, 2-1:

I woke up with lots more energy thanks to a bit more sleep.  The weather remained beautiful, so Amos and I went on a walk.  Here, Amos is thinking, "Yes, I think I like this world."

Amos was also delighted when Daddy got home early to play.  (Tim has written a musical that will be performed by middle school students at his school.  They rehearse Tuesday and Thursday until 5 pm and then generally he has to work on library stuff a bit after that.  Wednesdays, he usually has faculty meetings that run late.  With the commute, he regularly is getting home around 7 pm.  Since he leaves around 7 am, his days are long, and we miss him a lot at home!)

Thursday, 2-2:

Amos was fussy and wanted to cluster feed.  I put him in the Moby and started to vacuum, which he loved.  Unfortunately, he started crying again once I stopped vacuuming.  I guess my floors are going to be really clean!  I also walked around our cul de sac to soothe him.  Finally, we went to the grocery store.  Amos slept in the Moby the entire time and then he slept for an hour in his bassinet.  Score!  During that time, I wrote letters, did laundry, organized around the house, and prepped dinner.  I felt so productive!

Friday, 2-3:

Amos turned a month old!

Tim took a 1/2 personal day because he had an interview for a library media specialist position at Watterson Elementary.  This school is just a couple of miles from our home and it would mean a considerable pay increase, so it would be wonderful if he got the position.  However, we're not holding our breaths because JCPS is such a behemoth.  After the last interview that he went on, he found out they were just "going through the process," but already had someone in mind.  They were just stalling by interviewing until they finished getting certified.  Boo!  Even when a school is serious about hiring, though, the competition is pretty fierce.  So, we'll see.  He's really happy where he's at, even though the pay is not ideal.

Another coup on Friday is that I showered while home alone.  Before this, I waited until Tim got home because Amos would squall the moment I would try to leave him.  My parents arrived just as I finished getting ready.  They were excited to see their grandson.  And then, we took them out for a quick dinner at Chili's before they continued on to Horseshoe Casino.  (It was also quick because Amos started demanding dinner for himself!)

Saturday, 2-4:

Tim let me sleep in while he watched Amos.  So, I got a heavenly two hours of sleep.  Then, we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast of mini quiche florentine (thanks to Janet!), bacon, fruit, OJ, and coffee.  While Tim was at the post office, I received a call from my friend Ashley.  Ashley's son was born this past May via C-section, so we had a lot to talk about.  I also talked to my momma and wished her a happy birthday.

Then, we spent the day together as a family playing and just enjoying each other.  We especially delighted in getting Amos to share his adorable grins and coos. 

The things that make Amos content right now include:

1. Being worn in the Moby.  Regardless of whether it's me or Tim wearing him, he's asleep in a few moments.

2. Laying on his changing table.  I will put him on the table, and he immediately seems happy.  Generally, he looks towards the blue wall, totally enthralled.  Even once I've finished changing him, he stays there, cooing and smiling.   

3.  Bath time.  The moment he is in the water, he seems super happy.  (He does cry, however, once he's out of the water for just a moment.)

4.  Vacuums, running water, hair dryers, and his sleep sheep.  In general, I think the noise is reassuring because it reminds him of his time inside momma.

Amos: Three Weeks Old

Monday, 1-23:

I stayed in, but thanks to the Moby, I was able to get some chores done around the house!

Tuesday, 1-24:

Amos and I went on our first walk alone through the neighborhood.  I put in him in the stroller, and he loved it. He was wide-eyed, checking it out.  (He did zonk out towards the end, though.)

Tim got home after 7 pm, and I was a frazzled mess by that point.  There were tears, but then he watched Amos so that I could shower.  Showers make things so much better.

Then, silly me, I was bound and determined to give Amos another bath because it's supposed to soothe them so that they sleep better.  Well, Amos squalled the entire time!  And then. THEN. I get the bright idea that I just HAVE to cut his toenails.  I accidentally cut more skin than nail.  And that toe gushed blood everywhere!  His screeches of pain broke my heart.  I literally nursed him on the floor of our bathroom to soothe him.  Meanwhile, daddy had to cut an already tiny band aid in half to fit his tiny toe.  Needless to say, I did not proceed with the toe nail cutting.

Wednesday, 1-25:

It was another rough night.  But then, around 4 am, I swaddled Amos again, and he went to sleep!  In order to get things for my cousin's shower that weekend, I drove for the first time.  Amos and I went to Target.  I wore him in the Moby Wrap, and he slept the entire time.  I was pretty exhausted by the time I got home.  I guess Amos was as well because he took an hour nap in his bassinet!

Thursday, 1-26:

Amos has started a pretty precise pattern.  He wants to nurse every two hours on the dot.  Then, he gets a diaper change, plays for a while, and then sleeps (usually in the Moby) until he suddenly awakens roaring for more food.  Repeat.

Dan Ball dropped by that evening with curried chicken salad and veggies.

Friday, 1-27:

I woke up and started getting ready to go to my friend Marta's house where she had invited a few mommas to come over.  We chatted for a couple of hours, nibbled on some of Marta's amazing chocolate chip muffins, and enjoyed some decaf chai tea.  Then, Marta rode back with me to borrow the black Taurus we are housing.  She and her husband are a one car family and that one car broke down, so we offered to help them out.  Marta also brought with her this UH-mazing soup, cornbread muffins, and a couple of the extra chocolate chip muffins.  (She's a gifted cook, so we were excited to receive some of her yummy food!)

When I checked the mail, Amos's birth announcements and social security card had arrived!  Yay!  Amos took ANOTHER nap in his bassinet, so I was able to make the cheese ball for the shower and pack to go to my parents' house.

Initially, we were going to wait and go later in the weekend, but Tim was starting to feel lousy.  Out of fear of getting Amos sick, he knew he wouldn't be much help to me, so we decided to go on to my parents' where there would be lots of helping hands.  Amos did wonderfully the entire trip until we were about 15 minutes away.  It was time to nurse, so it wasn't surprising.  He did make it, though, but he was eager to eat once we arrived.  Mom, Dad, Gina, Emma, Lucas, and Ernie eagerly waited for him to finish eating so that they could hold him and play with him.

Saturday, 1-28:

Dad, Amos, and I were the first up.  We played with Amos and enjoyed a bit of Cafe Du Monde Chicory coffee.  Then, Mom made breakfast for everyone.  Jeremy was able to see Amos; he had previously only seen him a couple of minutes in the hospital. 

I had brought a military MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) that I had received this summer from the Corps of Engineers for Emma and I to make together.  I figured this was a great moment to teach her about exothermic reactions!  (I'm not sure she got the science, but she enjoyed making the meal!) 

Here's what Amos was up to during this time:

 
Then, we discovered that Amos had a diaper rash.  Boo! :( 

By the end of the night, I was soo exhausted.  Then, unfortunately, it was a rough night.

Sunday, 1-29:

I was a tired, weepy mess in the morning.  Thankfully, my dad and then my mom watched Amos so that I could get a few blissful hours of sleep.  Gina made her famous breakfast casserole for breakfast and then we finished getting the house ready for my cousin Melissa's shower.

The shower went really well.  Before the shower started, Uncle Danny got to spend a few moments with Amos.
Next, we proceeded with the Hisle tradition of lots o' pictures in groups.  First, the expectant family:
Then, the aunts:
1st cousins (with Amos unintentionally photo bombing):
2nd cousins:
Once everyone arrived, we played a few shower games.
Then, we chowed down while the Donathans opened their gifts.
My beautiful cousin holding her newest 2nd cousin:
We hated to leave, but Tim had to get back for work.  While we were packing up, my dad got a few smiles out of Amos!  (Here is my attempt to catch it, but I missed.)
Just as we were leaving, I changed Amos's diaper and he PEED over everything, so we had to have a costume change.  Cute, eh?  (I bet you won't be surprised to know that this was a Daddy purchase!)
Stop taking my picture!
Okay! Okay! 

Amos's 2nd Week Home

Monday, 1-16:

Tim was off for MLK Day.  Yay!  We had to take Amos back to the hospital to get blood redrawn for his Newborn Screening.  It was no fun to hear our boy cry while they took his blood.

Tuesday, 1-17:

Raechel picked me up for us to attend a Babyology class on breastfeeding.  It was stormy and miserable outside.  In fact, the tornado sirens went off, causing us to be sequestered in the classroom until noon.  I'm glad that I went, but it was pretty tough for me.  Afterwards, I was exhausted, but we still made our way to Van Hoose so that I could put Amos on my insurance.  Raechel warned me that they were rude, but in my exhausted and hormonal state, I almost cried out of anger.  I didn't say anything to the demeaning and patronizing woman because I didn't want my insurance to get messed up, other than, "I'm sorry. I'm not trying to be a problem."  She treated me like trash for no reason.

That evening, Laura and Laurel from Tim's school came by to meet Amos.  They were so excited and cute. 

They also brought a delicious pasta salad, french bread, and angel food cake with strawberries.

Wednesday, 1-18:

Amos's umbilical cord fell off!  I had been noticing a little blood on his onesies for the past few days and then I found it when I changed his diaper.  Then, we had a heavenly 1 1/2 hour nap.  I am not a good napper, but I'm trying to learn how for sanity's sake.  At the end of our nap, my grandma called to check on me.  And my mom, who had a meeting in Louisville, dropped by for lunch.  My mother-in-law also called to check on us. 

It also literally seemed like overnight Amos began to be more interested in some of his toys.  Here, he is doing tummy time.  He especially likes following the baby in the mirror as I move it around.

Thursday, 1-19:

I had tried putting Amos in the Moby wrap for the first time Wednesday, but he didn't seem interested.  Then, I tried again.  Success! 

Later that afternoon, Janet came by to drop off food.  Janet has three children, all by C-section.  He first delivery almost mirrored mine exactly.  She has been so sweet and helpful.
Janet brought beef stew, salad, bread, cannolis, cupcakes, canned soups for quick meals later, AND mini quiches.  How awesome is she!?!

That evening, Tim and I gave Amos his first REAL bath. 

Here, Tim is holding him before we begin.
Amos seemed to enjoy everything up until I washed his hair.

Friday, 1-20:

Raechel came by for lunch and then we went to the mall to just walk around a bit.  It was good to get out, but it was also difficult to walk for very long.  I had to take frequent breaks.

Saturday, 1-21:

Saturday was a busy day for us.  That afternoon was Chris and Christora's engagement party.  I put Amos in the Moby, and he did wonderfully.  I also really enjoyed seeing my coworkers.

This little outing wore Amos and me out.

Still, we headed out that evening for Derek's birthday party.

Our little party animal was tuckered out!
Amos slept super well that evening. 

Sunday, 1-22:

We stayed home and recouped from a busy few days.  We did, however, take a short walk to get some fresh air.  Tim wore Amos.
I love my two guys.

Amos's First Week Home

Friday, 1-6:

When we arrived home from the hospital, I felt like I was seeing my home for the first time.  This place now housed THREE people.  I wheeled the bassinet (Thanks, Shepherds!) into the living room and just looked at our little guy.

At the same time, I realized that I was in A LOT of pain...and, of course, I was starving.  In our excitement to get home, we had declined lunch, and I forgot to take any pain medication.  Bless my husband.  He ran around the house trying to find something for us to eat as well as something I could take for the pain.  Then, he ran out to fill some of my prescriptions.  (He ended up having to go to two separate pharmacies since one only had 22 Percocets while I was prescribed 24!)

Thankfully, Katy dropped by that evening to bring us dinner (Ravioli Lasagna with spinach and garlic bread...YUMtastic!) so that we didn't have to figure something out again.  She stayed for quite some time while I tearfully told her everything that happened.

That evening was super tough.  Amos literally wanted to nurse constantly and then when he would finish, he would make this desperate, breathy, "I'm starving!" sound.  I just tried to nurse him on demand.  But as the hours ticked by, I started to worry.  Nursing is something that had been going beautifully for us.  So, I worried that I wasn't making enough milk...and that I would have to stop breastfeeding or something.  (What I didn't know at the time was that my milk had not come in yet.  Apparently, having a C-section often delays the milk coming by a couple of days since your body is concentrating on healing.  It is normal for doctors to recommend supplementing with formula for these couple of days.  OR you can try to sustain your child by basically nursing around the clock...and this is what I did.)

Towards the end of the night was the worst, most terrible moment.  I was walking down the hall and suddenly I started uncontrollably shaking.  I yelled for Tim, who had Amos, and I told him to bring Amos to me.  I got into the bed, still shaking.  I made Tim hold me to try to stop the shakes and then I frantically asked him to give me Amos so that I could nurse him.  I must have fallen asleep because the next moment, I looked down and it seemed that I had rolled onto Amos.  Who knows if I really did or if I did whether it was for half a second or half an hour.  Regardless, I freaked out and yelled for Tim to get Amos.  (Tim later told me that he had a spit second of terror where he thought Amos was dead.)  A couple of minutes later, Tim is standing up holding Amos and I started screaming, "Amos? Tim, where's Amos!?!"

So, yeah. Not the best first night home. 

Saturday, 1-7:

Thankfully, reinforcements arrived the next day.  My parents and Emma were such a blessing to us.  In addition to helping with other odds and ends, Emma helped Tim take down all the Christmas decorations (and they also played a rousing game of Scrabble together).  My parents went grocery shopping and helped around the house.  Mom made a salad and her delicious chicken-n-dumplings for dinner.  THEN, Mom stayed up with me all night to help with Amos.  Amos stayed with her in the nursery and then she brought him to me when he wanted to nurse.  That was the best thing ever.  I awoke Sunday morning feeling so much more rested.  It was exactly what I needed.

Sunday, 1-8:

Mom (who is a nurse) looked at my incision, and immediately said it was infected.  I called the doctor's office that morning, and they encouraged me to use half strength peroxide and neosporin.  The doctor also told me to leave the incision uncovered and then to call in the morning for an appointment.  Mom and Dad (once again) went out and hooked me up with all the medical paraphenalia that I would need.  Dad also put up some shelves in the nursery for me.  Meanwhile, Emma spent a lot of time doting on Amos.  She took well over a hundred pictures of our boy.  It was adorable.

Monday, 1-9:

First thing Monday morning, I called to make a doctor's appointment.  We already had a pediatrician's appointment at 10:15 am, and so they were able to schedule me for 11:30 am.  Tim and I then busied ourselves getting ready.  Two plus hours later, we were finally heading out the door.  Tim said, "Did you get an extra outfit for Amos?"  I hadn't, but Amos had never had a blow out before, so I figured we were fine.  But what I didn't anticipate was that Amos would have a super extra long nursing session prior to leaving (i.e, super full belly) or that the pediatrician's office would make us wait over an hour.  By the time we were called back, Amos had a major blow out.  Tim, of course, was mildly perturbed with me for not getting that extra outfit...especially since he was the one that had to make the Target run for new clothes.  (Thankfully, there was a Target across the road.)

While he was gone to get clothes, I was super worried that we would miss my other doctor's appointment about my incision.  So, I tried to call to tell them we'd be late.  And I was on hold FOREVER.  And then Amos started squalling.  So, I'm in the doctor's office juggling a cell phone and nursing my naked son when Tim returned.  I had clothed Amos in this sweet little outfit with light blue bears.
Tim came back with a onsie that said, "The Ladies Love Me" and a sleeper that said, "Party Animal."  Sigh.

Not long after, the pediatrician arrived.  She said that Amos's weight gain was exceptional.  I told her about our rough night prior to my milk coming in, and she told me that I did exactly the right thing.  As a result, she said that she didn't need to see us for another month.  All through our discussion with the pediatrician, Tim was STILL on hold with my doctor's office.  Finally, I told him to hang up and that we'd just get there when we could.

My doctor did get us right in and confirmed that my C-section incision was infected.  She told me to keep doing what I was doing and also prescribed an antibiotic that was safe to take while breastfeeding.  (Whew!  I had been worried about that.)

Later that evening, Cindy, Brandon, and Otto came by to meet Amos.  They also brought us a roast, tons of baby stuff, and a car seat!  It was super adorable to see Otto's reaction when Cindy held Amos.  For the rest of their visit, he stayed on Cindy's lap to prevent anyone else from occupying a place on his momma!

Not long after, Beth came by to drop of chicken enchiladas for the next evening.  Are we blessed with great friends and family, or what?!?

But the blessings kept coming in.  Knowing that Tim would have to go back to work the next day, my sister arranged for a different family member to come each day that week to help me out.

Gina and Cassie arrived around midnight.  Since we were wanting Tim to be well-rested to return to work, Gina helped me out that night similarly to how mom had.  Amos stayed with her in the nursery and then she brought him to me to nurse.  (This kind of help was invaluable to me not only so I could be a little more rested, but due to the C-section, it was pretty painful to get in and out of our tall bed.)

Tuesday, 1-10:

Gina made this awesomely tasty breakfast casserole that we enjoyed for breakfast.  (Jeremy also made some tasty apple bread that I ate for breakfast for several days.)  Together, we also gave Amos his first sponge bath.  I washed, Gina dried, and Cassie photographed.

 Gina and Cassie left before dinner, but to ensure that we had a healthy dinner, Gina made us "Easy Spinach Chicken Casserole."  It was super tasty!

Wednesday, 1-11:

Dad arrived around 9 am or so to a weepy daughter.  To help Tim get some sleep, I slept in the baby's room.  (My sister also suggested that it might be a good idea since it wouldn't be so difficult for me to get in and out of the bed.)  I tried to sleep in such a way that my incision would be exposed to air in hopes that it would dry out.  It didn't work.  And I kept ruining all of my clothes since the doctor said not to cover it.  In frustration, I covered the stupid incision.  (I have a friend who specializes in wound care that I had messaged.  My mom was worried that the hydrogen peroxide was a bad idea since it would kill even good cells.  Kristen agreed.  They both told me to stop with the peroxide and neosporin and to cover it.  It was SOO much better after that advice.)  Plus, Amos had wet three outfits in a row.  So, Dad jumped right in to help with diapers changes, laundry, dishes, and his favorite: holding Amos.

Thursday, 1-12:

My Aunt Wanda arrived around the same time as my dad had yesterday.  She changed the sheets on the beds for me and did other chores around the house.  She had heard about our roast catastrophe, so she brought along a roast for our dinner.  Plus, she made a delicous salad that I enjoyed immensely.
She also did a wonderful job helping out her great nephew.
We had some bad weather, so we were worried about Aunt Wanda getting home safely.    Thankfully, she made it safely.  My momma was planning to come up, but she unexpectedly pulled a muscle in her back.  She made it to Franfort before realizing that she was in too much pain and turned around.

Meanwhile, Meredith and Benjamin arrived with BBQ Chicken, corn on the cob, and insanely delicious cookies.  (I think she laced them with crack.)

Friday, 1-13:

That morning, Tim and I were really hoping for a snow day.  But no such luck. :-(  So, Amos and I spent some solo time together.  I also got a chance to start writing about everything, which was tremendously therapeutic.

Later that afternoon, Mona, Zachary, and Morgan dropped by for a bit to meet Amos.

That night, we were delighted by a visit from the Turners who were out on a "Daycation."  They also brought us Zaxby's!
This is the second picture that I took because Rex made a goofy face in the first one.  That kid is seriously goofy-face gifted. :-D

Saturday, 1-14:

That night, Amos went through all three of his bassinet sheets, so we had to improv with receiving blankets.  Then, Tim and the baby slept in past 10 am...I didn't know what to do with myself!  I also spent time talking with my long-term substitute about various issues.

Then, Mom, Dad, Gina, Emma, and Lucas came to visit.  We ordered Papa John's, and they watched the Saints game.  Lucas had fun entertaining Amos, who seemed enthralled by his big cousin.

Sunday, 1-15:

Amos had a period where he slept for 4 hours!  (I, of course, kept checking on him to be sure he was breathing!)  Derek and Abbi stopped by to meet Amos.
They also brought pork, cabbage, mashed potatoes, and cornbread for dinner.

We are so thankful for all the help, food, prayers, et cetera that has been coming our way.  I was sharing with my friend Raechel (who also just had a baby) that I don't feel worthy of all this kindness.  And until having a baby, I didn't realize how precious those visits, messages/cards, dinners, and helping hands were.  She told me that we just need to "Pay it forward."  I hope that I can bless future new mommas as much as everyone has blessed me.

The Hospital Stay

Tuesday, 1-3:

After our hour of skin-to-skin care, they wheeled Amos to the nursery, and I was taken to my hospital room.  I asked that Tim go with Amos to be sure that everything was okay.  Meanwhile, our family was waiting for us in the hospital room.  It was around 7:30 am when we finally were able to go to sleep.

Our first eager visitor later that day was Tim's dad, Bill.  When he came in, I asked him if he wanted to hold Amos, and Bill eagerly grasped for his 8th grandchild.
Then, my sister arrived with Lucas to check our her new nephew.
Later, Bill brought Roberta to come meet her grandson.
My mom and dad were pretty smitten as well when they came that afternoon.

Wednesday, 1-4:

I was (FINALLY!) allowed to shower and then I got some cuddle time with my new love.

Mom and Gina came back by on Wednesday with extra PJ's and other goodies.  They also spent some more time with our boy.
As they were preparing to go eat dinner, Aunt Brenda, Denisa, Cassie, and Kayleigh were arriving while at the same time, nurses came to get Amos for his circumcision!  It was a crazy moment.  And this new momma was quite nervous about the whole circumcision thing.  While I nervously waited for Amos to return, I chatted with the Parks clan.  Then, they were able to spend some moments with Amos when he returned about an hour later.
Amos was pretty out of it when they returned him, but later that night, he just seemed to be in pain.  My heart hurt for him.  Ultimately, I ended up getting him a pacifier to help soothe him a bit.  (He still only takes it in extreme circumstances.  In general, he just isn't interested.)

Tony, Michelle, Jacob, Abby, David, and Caleb arrived just as the Parks ladies were leaving.  They were all pretty excited to meet Amos.

Thursday, 1-5:

We had a pretty low key day as a new family, which was nice.

 

Tammy did drop by in the morning when we had just let Amos go to the nursery so we could get ready.  Tim took her to the nursery to see Amos for the first time.  Then, Tammy, Josh, and Larissa came by after school to meet him.  Josh and Larissa had never seen a baby so new, so they were pretty enamored.  It was pretty cute.

There were others who weren't able to visit, but were still quite a blessing to us.  Janet, a friend from college, brought Tim tons of food, so that I didn't have to worry about what he had to eat.  Heather and Erin sent congratulatory notes.  The Gabbards and the Turners sent us the most beautiful flowers and ballons in a baseball vase.   

Friday, 1-6:

We were given the choice to either stay another night or go home, and we chose GO HOME!  With nurses and doctors coming in around the clock for either Amos and me, we were ready for a little peace.  Though I must confess that I was a little nervous about going home ALL ALONE.  Tim asked me if I was going to be emotional leaving; I didn't think I would be.  But Tim was incessantly taking pictures and video, making me way more sentimental (both because he was being so cute and he made me realize, "This really is a big deal!").

Here, Tim is spending a few quiet moments with Amos before we dress him to leave.
Our little monkey waving goodbye.
Leaving our home for the past week.
Daddy taking Amos to the car.
It was so surreal coming home with our son.  We are now a family of three.  We will never again (God-willing) just be a couple again!

Amos's Birth Story

It’s so hard for me to wrap my head around that fact that it has been almost three weeks since we were waiting for our son to arrive.  My life has been totally turned upside down…and mostly in a good way.

Tim and I stalled our induction until after the New Year in hopes that Amos would decide to come on his own.  Unfortunately, that was not to be. 

After spending New Year’s Eve with the Holts eating pizza and playing Loaded Questions, Tim and I decided to sleep in Sunday morning and spend time together.  I had made a French toast casserole for breakfast, thinking that my family could also eat it when they came into town.  Then, we spent the rest of the day finishing the odds and ends that we had left to do.  You would think that since he was a week+ late, we would have had everything ready.  Nope.  When we arrived at the hospital, we realized that we had forgotten a few items.  So, Tim made sure I was okay in the Labor and Delivery Room before going back home.  He also had to go to the store to purchase a memory card for the camcorder Mom gave us. 

The Labor and Delivery Room was huge, and I just sat in a corner chair feeling completely small and alone.  I remember staring at the bed, overwhelmed by the unknown.
Terrified isn’t quite what I felt, but close.  I had told the admitting nurse that I wanted to wear my own clothes during labor.  She sort of hemmed and hawed for a moment (“Is it in your birth plan?” she stumbled.) before acquiescing to my wishes.
Sunday night, the plan was to give me Cytotec, an artificial form of prostaglandin, which is meant to thin out the cervix and start contractions.  My cervix was already thinned out, but the reason I agreed to do this is because my doctor told me that often women go into labor with just the Cytotec and no other interventions.  I very much desired the least possible interventions, but in retrospect, agreeing to the Cytotec was a mistake.  (It mostly led to a sleepless night devoid of food prior to labor when I really needed to have rest and energy.) 

In my mind, I thought they would give me the Cytotec and then I’d be able to walk and labor naturally.  I didn’t anticipate that they would require me to get an IV (which was placed on my left wrist.  Since this is my dominant hand, it made most movements difficult and it was impossible to bend my wrist.  During labor, it was always in the way.), wear a fetal heart moniter and a blood pressure cuff at all times.  I was sort of heart broken when I realized how naïve I had been. 

My nurse Sunday night was named Sadie.  She had both of her children naturally, so she was really encouraging of my desire to not have many interventions.  She didn’t make me wear the blood pressure cuff, and she was pretty lenient about letting me move, etc.  I was so excited to have such a good nurse.  I had prayed a great deal for good labor and delivery nurses.  Unfortunately, Sadie got off work at 7 am when nurse Carol took over.

Before Sadie got off work, I snuck and ate half a peanut butter sandwich and half a protein bar.  (It’s a good thing that I did because this is the last food that I would have until Tuesday evening!  Many of my friends told me that food would be the last thing on my mind during labor; well, all I could think about at moments was how hungry and weak I was!)

Initially, I thought it was a good sign that my first nurse’s name was Sadie because that’s my mom’s nickname while my second nurse’s name was Carol, which is my mom’s name.  However, Carol turned out to be quite a disappointment. 

My labor officially started around 5:30 am without Pitocin.  So, I was disappointed when Pitocin was still administered later that morning.  Again, I had hoped that if my labor could start on its own, I would be allowed to just labor without further interventions.

When Carol arrived, I hadn’t been having contractions for long.  Still, my natural tendency was to silently meditate or focus on my labor.  (My doctor later said that I was the quietest laboring woman she had ever delivered.)  Carol, on the other hand, wanted to gossip about a bad physics teacher that her daughters had at Sacred Heart.  I tried my best to carry on a conversation with her, but I never feel good about teacher bashing. I especially was just yearning for positivity at that moment.  Not long after this, Tim woke up and my sister and mother arrived to support me. 

As my labor progressed, I became quieter and had to go to the restroom a lot. (I worried that the food was a bad idea.  Or perhaps I was just overwhelmed by the vastness of the L&D room.  The smaller bathroom provided more solitude as well.  I remember thinking about how our cats growing up would always find small places like closets to deliver.  I seemed to have a similar desire.)  Sadie had shown Tim how to unplug my IV so I could go to the restroom.  Well, nurse Carol “wrote us up” for going to the bathroom without her. 

The nurse kept trying to talk to me…especially at the height of contractions.  Then, she would get frustrated and mad when I didn’t respond.  I don't remember all her threats, but she would say, "Glenda, if you don't answer me, I'm going to _________."   (In my defense, I tried my best to shake my head or give one word answers, but she rarely heard me.  Instead, Tim or my mom would translate for me as they paid closer attention to me.)  My mom and sister later told me that they were pretty irritated with how rude she was, but they didn't say anything because they didn't want to cause me further stress.  It was around this time that a big scary looking nurse came in and demanded that I keep my blood pressure cuff on constantly.  Since Sadie hadn’t required this, I didn’t even know that I needed to keep it on nor had I ever taken it off myself. 

As I labored, both Sadie and Carol had seen some decelerations of Amos’s heart rate, but they said that this was normal.  Initially, nurse Carol tried to be cool with me laboring in various positions.   I labored on my birth ball, in a rocking chair, on the side of bed, swaying with Tim, etc.  I especially liked being touched and massaged.

There were some really wonderful moments for me during this time.  My mom, sister, and Tim were all with me.  I remember holding Gina’s hand during certain points.  I also remember Tim and Mom massaging my back.  (And I told them, “You can’t massage too hard!”)  I loved those moments.  At one point, I kind of curled into my mom and overwhelmed with love and gratitude, whispered, “I love you, Momma,” and I remember we were both emotional for a bit.   But it was really loving and sweet.

I had always said prior to labor that I would be flexible to getting an epidural because I had never been in labor before.  I was surprised to find that the thought of an epidural never entered my head.  Instead,  I remember thinking, sort of confidently, “I’ve got this!” or “This is so not as bad as I thought it would be!”  (Later, I have experienced guilt for my cocky attitude, and I’ve wondered if some things happened to humble me.)

I do remember at one point my mom saying something like, “There’s nothing wrong with getting an epidural.”  And it didn’t even faze me.  Still, once the contraction was over, I asked her not to do that again in case I did get to the point that it could tempt me!  My sister also sort of scolded her for saying that.  I do totally understand, by the way, that it’s hard for a momma to see her child in pain, even if the pain is for a good reason.

Eventually, nurse Carol wouldn’t let me go to the bathroom or get out of bed. She said I was too weak.  (Later, this decision caused them to have to do a straight catheter to empty my bladder.)  I felt constrained and frustrated by all the stuff I was hooked up to.  As I would try to labor in various positions, I would constantly get tangled in all the cords.  I think it was around this time that nurse Carol turned off my Pitocin and just let me labor on my own.  I remember wanting to ask, “Why do I need to be hooked up to all this crap if I’m laboring on my own!?!”

There was a huge clock in front of the bed that I could never look at because I didn’t want to feel pressured by time.  I just wanted Amos to come when he – and my body – was ready.  Mentally, I felt calm and patient to let my body do what it needed to do to let Amos enter the world.  

I’m told that it was around 1 pm when Dr. Price decided to break my water.  Apparently, everyone thought Amos’s delivery was imminent.  L&D paraphernalia was wheeled in, and there was a general excitement in the room.  I, on the other hand, didn’t feel like it would happen at this time.  (I have no memory of this at all, but Tim tells me that the L&D paraphernalia was silently wheeled out around 5 pm.)

Somewhere, amidst all this craziness, I remember feeling super hungry and weak.  I begged for food.  Dr. Price agreed to let me have orange juice. 

Then, there was a shift change at 7 pm.  Honestly, I thought this would be for the best because it meant I could say goodbye to nurse Carol.  Sadly, nurse Amy turned out to be my least favorite nurse.  I will say this about nurse Carol.  She began to learn that if she waited for a contraction to be over, I would respond.  Nurse Amy, however, had no time to learn anything about me or how I desired to labor.  Throughout the evening, she kept calling herself my advocate.  Every single thing that she “advocated,” though, was exactly opposite of what I wanted.

As soon as she arrived, she checked me and declared that I was ready to push.  I had been having some contractions that made me feel like I did want to push.  I told her I wanted to spontaneously push, and at that moment, I was having no pushing sensation.  Nonetheless, she proceeded to instruct me to push for 10 seconds.  (I remember thinking, “Does this woman know what spontaneous pushing means?”)  When Price arrived, she said there was a lip of my cervix still not dilated.  I asked if she could push it back or something.  Dr. Price said that she could, but she seemed sort of hesitant.

Instead, they decided to let me labor more.  Though I was bound to my bed, I still tried to labor in various positions.  As a result, as I was on my knees in the bed, my internal fetal monitor slipped out and Amy said Amos heart was dropping.  (I still wonder if it did drop at this point or if it was because the internal moniter slipped out, causing a false reading.)  She made me go from one side to another and tried to put an oxygen mask on at the height of a contraction.  I resisted, and she said, “It’s not about you, Glenda.  It’s about Amos.”  I was at the moment talking to Amos and praying, so it was heart wrenching for me to hear her say these and other similar things.  (She did later apologize for speaking so harshly to me.  She said that since she didn’t know me, she felt that she had no choice but to be stern. I was terribly wounded by her words; it is still hard for me to swallow some of what happened at this time.)

I believe that Amy’s next move ended my chance for a normal labor and delivery.  Without informing me or asking my doctor, she gave me an injection which completely stopped my labor!  I didn’t even know what was happening until after it was done.  At 10 pm, after laboring for around 17 hours and being in the hospital for over 24 hours, I had to start laboring from the beginning!  As such, I was given fluids to replace the amniotic fluids from when my water was broken.  Also, when Dr. Price checked me, I was now only dilated 7-8 cm!!  She thought it was from too many people checking me, so she asked for the nurses to stop checking me so often, advice to which they did not seem to heed.

Matter-of-factly, Amy told me that I would probably need a C-section and without an epidural, I would be put under general anesthesia.   This meant that I would not be awake for the birth of my son. This also meant that I would have to be all alone; Tim couldn’t be there. All of this terrified me.  Dr. Price agreed (though much more politely) and said maybe his head was just too big.  So, I hesitantly agreed to the epidural.  It was at this point that Amy cut off my yellow dress, perhaps with a little too much delight.  (She was not happy when she arrived at 7 pm and saw me in my own clothes.)  While nurse Amy told me it takes about 15 minutes to get an epidural, it took almost an hour.  I think I did get a good epidural, though, because I could still feel my toes and other sensations without actually feeling pain. 

After getting the epidural, I can see why nurse Carol (who was probably accustomed to women having epidurals) expected me to still be able to speak at the height of a contraction.  After the epidural, I was like “What contraction?”  A bunch of the Hisle Clan plus Tim’s mom, dad, and sister had been waiting for Amos to arrive in the waiting room.  I was able to chat with those that had not yet been forced to go home.  This included Dad, Aunt Wanda, Roberta and Bill, Melissa, Ramona, and Morgan. 

Prior to the epidural, the highest level of Pitocin that they had given me was around 6 units.  Afterwards, they jacked up the Pitocin to as high as they were allowed, which was either 20 or 30 units.  I can’t remember. 

So, I progressed quickly to where I could push again.  Dr. Price still saw a small lip of my cervix that wasn’t completely dilated, but she decided to let me push anyway.  I did a practice push super well, but then Amy objected that the labor would be difficult for Amos.  So, they decided to let me labor a bit more. 

At this point, I was exhausted and super hungry, but everything seemed relatively easy for me.  I no longer felt any pain.  However, poor Amos continued to have to labor this entire time.  It’s no wonder that the little guy struggled.  The next moments were probably some of the worst of my life.  I heard Amos’ heart monitor flat line.  People flooded in.  Gina and Mom were looking at the monitor and Tim was talking to Amos to try to get his heart rate back up.  With the oxygen mask on, I just felt out of body.  Finally, I said, “I don’t understand what’s happening. Can someone tell me what’s going on?”  I didn’t get an answer, and I was terrified that either I had lost my son or I was about to lose my son.  Before I knew it, I was wheeled to surgery, pumped with more medicine by the anesthesiologist, and strapped down crucifixion-style.

It was well after 3 am.  Everything that I didn’t want to happen was happening.  And this whole C-section thing was petrifying.  I felt violated, exposed, and exhausted.  The exhaustion caused everything to seem surreal.  Feeling helpless to change my situation, I just sort of gave in.
As they were doing the surgery, I told Tim, “Just look into my eyes,” and I had him hold my hand.  I struggled to hold back tears.  I also remember hearing the anesthesiologist chatting on his cell phone and other random side-bar conversations as if this was no big deal.  I felt slightly annoyed that they couldn’t be more considerate of the gravity of the situation for me.  I was about to meet my son!  There were two nurses that tried to make it “more special” for me.  I remember them cooing about how beautiful he was and saying, “Look at those eyelashes!”  Still, when Amos was presented to me after being born at 3:48 am, I mostly just felt shock and extreme fatigue.

 

Before Amos was brought to me for skin-to-skin time, nurse Amy ("my advocate") twisted the knife one last time, and said, "You probably don't want to hear this now, but he was the perfect size and shape to be delivered vaginally." She indicated that she didn't know why Amos didn't want to come that way, and offered a couple of theories (none that I can now remember).  As for myself, I wonder if having two nurses sabotage my progress at several points along the way might have, at the very least, increased the odds of having these various interventions. In hindsight, Tim and I agree that if we were to have changed one thing about our labor and delivery, it would have been to be more assertive in seeking a doula who had "been there" and could have advocated for us, in line with our wishes. (We were rejected by the first four doulas we contacted because our due date was Christmas Eve, but we should have pursued it further.) 

Thankfully, Amos and I did get a silent hour of skin-to-skin contact (or Kangaroo care) that I very much cherish.  These were absolutely the best moments of the entire experience.  It was so amazing to see Amos just instinctually nurse.  Despite my exhaustion, I was overwhelmed with pride and joy.  For just a moment, I was in this perfect cocoon with Amos, Tim, and myself.  It felt amazing.

I did not have the labor and delivery that I imagined.  Even though I was flexible to an epidural, I was never prepared for a C-section.  I have had to have a period of mourning as  I process what happened.  Though things did not turn out the way that I had hope, I do believe that I am a stronger woman because of this experience. 

I am truly thankful for all the friends and family members who have let me talk (and cry) through it.  They have sustained me and encouraged me.  As I have been recovering, I am overwhelmed by everyone's outpouring of love.  I will never forget how kind so many people have been to me during this time. 

Hospital Pics of Mr. Amos Clive

I've been working on a post to share our story since Amos's arrival, but typing with one hand is slow going!

In the meantime, check out our son's hospital pics:

http://www.bellababyphotography.com/login

The password is kbla0103jones.

Enjoy!

 

 

41 Weeks: The End is Near!

After much agonizing, Tim and I decided to schedule the induction for January 2nd.  Yes, we do miss out on a sweet tax break. On the other hand, 1-2-12 is a pretty cool birthday, right?  Aaand maybe he'll show up sooner!

In the meantime, we are keeping busy.  Sunday was Christmas Day.  Tim and I went to our church's Christmas service.  Generally, there are two services; one at 9 am and another at 11 am.  However, in light of the fact that the majority of the congregation is in their 20's and 30's with family out of town, there was only one short 10 am service.  We thoroughly enjoyed it.  Instead of a traditional service, our pastor called all the children that were present to the front.  He then proceeded to relay the Christmas story to them.  As he did, he let them volunteer to play different parts.  Only one little girl was willing to play the donkey.  And as she went back to her seat, she said, "Mom! Dad! I'm a donkey!!!"  The kids were absolutely adorable.

I had a bit of insomnia Christmas Eve, so I was exhausted after church.  I took a nap and eagerly awaited my family's arrival. 

When they did arrive, it felt like we had our own personal Santa.  Mom cooked a ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, and rolls.  She even washed all the dishes afterwards!  I felt bad that she came to my house and worked so hard, but I also super appreciated it. 

Gina and Jeremy were also able to come with the kids.  Poor Jeremy had not slept.  He worked Christmas Eve, drove the 100 miles home, opened presents with the kids, and then drove another 100 miles to Louisville.  Needless to say, he was exhausted!  But I'm so happy he was able to come.

They also brought us lots of presents.  First, we opened some baby gifts like this one from Grandma:
Not only did Gina and Jeremy bring us some amazingly delicious homemade candy and Ruth Hunt's Candy as well as a book, they brought us a ton of baby clothes from when Lucas was a baby.  I think our amount of baby clothes increased by 10!  I can't imagine using all those clothes, but my sister assures me that Lucas wore them all.  Oh. my. goodness.  I'm gonna have to figure out a better laundry routine!
Tim was super excited to receive a new iPod.  His old one quit working moments before opening presents, and he was crushed; it was probably his most favorite possession.  You can really see in these pictures how excited he was!

Mom must have been eavesdropping on Tim and me talking about wanting to get a camcorder because she got me one along with a GPS, a snowflake necklace, and a monogrammed baking dish...not to mention that we each got stockings full of goodies.  Mom and Dad also brought us all of our wonderful goodies from Grandmas.  We were overwhelmed by everyone's generosity. 

 
We got Dad a subscription to Golf Magazine and some Callaway Golf Balls.  Who knew, by the way, how complicated golf balls are?  I researched and researched to find the "right" ones (that I could afford)!  For Mom, I decided to get her a hard copy of her favorite book, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.
I got Emma a "Big Girl" present...the first three books in the Anne of Green Gables series.  I loved them when I was a bit older than her, but she's an advanced reader, so I think she can handle it.  I hope she loves the saucy Anne as much as I did.  And we got Lucas a toy that can be rearranged into a plane, helicopter, car, and train.  We got Jeremy a gift card to hopefully help with the gas prices since he drives so far to work.  Gina got a Keurig coffee maker, and I was worried about how expensive those cups can be, so I got her a reusable cup where you can put regular coffee in it as well.  

 
I tried to talk them into spending the night...especially since Jeremy hadn't slept.  But my ever busy family had work and other things that they had to get home to. :-(  Still, it was nice to get to spend a few moments with everyone.

We slept in Monday and then I made these Pumpkin Muffins.  (I made 12 regular-sized muffins instead of 24 mini muffins.  I find it easier and less messy.)  I froze half of the muffins for later.  Then, we spent the rest of Monday trying to get our house together and finish up little odds and ends in preparation for our son's arrival.

Tuesday morning, we had our doctor's appointment.  Here's a picture of Amos:
(Tim had trouble seeing it.  At this point, he is so big that it is just his profile and his little hands clasped together.  Maybe he's praying, "Lord, get me out of here!")

We spent the rest of the afternoon praying and talking with friends and family.  While pondering our options, we walked around Meijer (where Michelle and I deliberated on the phone for a while).  Ultimately, we decided to wait until January 2nd in hopes that I will begin to labor on my own before then.    

Tuesday evening was Gabe and Elizabeth's "rehearsal dinner."  (They didn't actually have a rehearsal since they don't have a wedding party, but we still partied!)  The dinner was at Shirley Mae's Cafe, and it was some of the finest southern cookin' that I have had in a while.

Here, Elizabeth is giving a speech and inviting us to dig in.

The Holts and Bac Nghi chowing down. 

The best thing about weddings of good friends is that you get the opportunity to see some of your favorite people in the world in one place.  I love these guys.

It was also super fun getting to catch up with Gabe's brother, Michael, and the Boyer brothers.  The Boyers both have young kids. Roy has a 4 week old, so they were full of interesting information for this new momma.

After dinner, the party moved to Akiko's for a little karaoke.




Aren't they cute?

Tim and I left a bit after 9:30 pm when the club went public.  As we were walking out, I had two rather intense contractions in the alley leading to the parking lot. 

Wednesday was the wedding.  We were so thankful that we were able to attend.  Held at Buffalo Trace Distillery, everything was just perfect.  As we arrived, we were greeted by the Dobring Family.
The dress code was red and gold.  All the women were looking sassy and the men were quite debonair.  Here are Jean and I:
The Shepherds were especially rockin' it:
And the Holts were as cute as ever:
(I also love the laughing boys in the back.)

Ross!!!
Best buddies:

Awaiting his bride:
A major portion of the ceremony was family and friends offering blessings to the couple.  It was so touching.  Here is Gabe's mom sharing her blessing:
Most of us agreed that our favorite blessing was given by Gabe's dad, who tried three different times to speak, but was overcome with emotion the first two times.  When he was finally able to speak, he made us all cry.

Listening to Frank speak:

After all the blessings, Gabe and Elizabeth exchanged vows.  It was so beautiful.
During the ceremony the chairs were arranged in a circle.  Afterwards, the chairs were moved around tables, and the reception began.

Waiting for the party to start:
Gabe and Elizabeth came back in and first hugged and thanked family.
Meanwhile, we started chowing down.  There were mini hot browns, fried green tomatoes, and lots of yummy food.  Plus, Gabe and Elizabeth made bourbon margaritas that Shelley especially enjoyed.

Gabe and Elizabeth came by to say howdy do:

Soon after, they danced their first dance as man and wife:
We danced a bit before the toast.

(Look how cute the Dobring kids are...Alice and Aeden can really move!)
(Jenny Lou and Jean look on as Gabe, Elizabeth, and Elizabeth's dad speak.)

Jessica, Gabe's sister, made the wedding cake.  She had NEVER made a wedding cake before.  Isn't she brave? But it was perfect.  And the bourbon glaze was soo good!
Cutting the cake:

We chatted and danced the rest of the night away.






Such a lovely evening.  Everything was perfect.
We hated for it to end, but we are so excited for Gabe and Elizabeth to begin their lives together as husband and wife.

After such a fun-filled couple of days related to the McKinney wedding, Tim and I stayed in Thursday and recovered. 

Friday, we planned to try to encourage Amos to come.  We ate spicy Indian food at Little India Cafe and then we walked around World Market and the mall.  During that time, we received a couple of calls from Gabe (who was on his way to N'Awlins for his honeymoon) to see how we were doing and if Amos had arrived. 

We also received a surprise call from Tim's mom to see if they could drop by on their way to Lexington to see Tony, Tim's brother.  We agreed and just as we arrived home from the mall Tammy got there while Roberta and Bill arrived an hour or so later.  We ate dinner at the Ole Hickory Pit and then opened presents.




Then, they made their way towards Lexington.  It was good to see them for a few moments.  They plan to come back through on Monday and meet Amos.

Stay tuned:  Amos will be here MONDAY!