Woohoo!!! We've almost made it! Christian should be home Sunday and I am beyond excited to have my darling home! I can't freaking wait. Luckily we've been able to Skype almost every day so that has been great. But, I hate that he's away from Max and missing out on the tiny little changes he's made in the last three week. While Christian has been gone, Max has started sleeping in his own bed, he's started cooing, he smiled for the first time while talking to Christian on Skype ***which was AMAZING***, and he's so alert and will just interact with me so much more than before. And, as I type, I'm watching him nap on the monitor and he's slowly starting to find his hands as something to suck on and soothe him. It's great. So, obviously, I can't wait for Christian to see him. :)
So, anyway, since my last post, Mom came back in town and we had a great time! She got here last Thursday and left this Tuesday. We went into Philly two of the days she was here. The first day, we saw the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall and the second day, we went to the Art Museum. It was great to get out into the city and get a little culture. Max did great on both days and people were just oooing and ahhing over him the whole time. But, all in all, it was great to have Mom here. She kept me company and helped with Max quite a bit. It was VERY nice! I even got to go out for manicure and go back to the gym. Ahhh.... :)
The days that I haven't had company have just been spent by doing little outings here and there, attending some of the Mom's Club events and walking around the neighborhood. Today, I'm actually having to meet with a CPA to do our taxes. YIKES! We were going to do it after Christian got back but they don't accept appointment after April 1st so I'm meeting with him today and I think I have everything. Once you own a house and have investment stuff, taxes get a lot more complicated that the 1040-EZ I've always been used to! haha So, wish me luck... especially since Max is tagging along. :-/
So, Christian gets home Sunday and then he'll work a little next week and then Easter weekend we'll go out to Maryland to see his dad's and the rest of the family.
That's about it for us. Short and sweet, right? :) I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend coming up! Please pray for Christian's safe return!
xoxo,
Chrissi
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Counting the days...
Hey everyone-
Hope all of you had a great weekend and didn't get pinched yesterday on St. Patty's Day! We had a good weekend with Dad & Rhonda here. It was a nice distraction from the fact that Christian is overseas. We kept busy, took a lot of walks, went out to dinner, went shopping and just enjoyed eachother's company. We also had Christian's biological dad and step-mom come up on Saturday to see Max and meet Dad & Rhonda. We all had a really good time.
I took Dad & Rhonda to the airport this afternoon and now Max and I are back home to an empty house. :( Coming back home this afternoon to an empty house made me pretty lonely. I had a little cry but now I'm OK. I just can't believe how hard this "det" (that's what Christian's trips are called) is on me. I knew it would be tough but it's just insane how much I miss Christian. I'm fine handling Max by myself and I really don't have a problem with that. But, I miss my best friend!
So, I'm just trying to stay as busy as humanly possible to make the time go by quickly. Daylight Savings Time is helping the days seem like they go by a little more quickly. It gets dark around 7:45 p.m. here and then Max and I go to bed around 9 or 10. So, there's not a whole lot of nighttime that we have to deal with, thank goodness.
Anyway, Max hit is one month mark today! I can't believe it's been a month. I can't say that it totally flew by but it is hard to believe we made it a whole month! He is changing every day and he's SOOO close to smiling at me. He coos a lot now too which is really cute. He's gaining weight and growing like crazy! He's so precious. It really is amazing how much you can love a little guy. The immediate mother-child bond didn't happen for me (maybe it was the 30 hours of labor haha) but it's certainly growing now and I love him so much. I just can't wait for Christian to be home and enjoy all the changes he's making! I send him at least one picture of Max every day so he can keep track. :)
Well, I'm going to finish my "me" time while Max is napping. Hope you all have a great week. Please continue any prayers or good vibes for Christian, me and Max so we can make it 17 more days.
xoxo,
Chrissi
Hope all of you had a great weekend and didn't get pinched yesterday on St. Patty's Day! We had a good weekend with Dad & Rhonda here. It was a nice distraction from the fact that Christian is overseas. We kept busy, took a lot of walks, went out to dinner, went shopping and just enjoyed eachother's company. We also had Christian's biological dad and step-mom come up on Saturday to see Max and meet Dad & Rhonda. We all had a really good time.
I took Dad & Rhonda to the airport this afternoon and now Max and I are back home to an empty house. :( Coming back home this afternoon to an empty house made me pretty lonely. I had a little cry but now I'm OK. I just can't believe how hard this "det" (that's what Christian's trips are called) is on me. I knew it would be tough but it's just insane how much I miss Christian. I'm fine handling Max by myself and I really don't have a problem with that. But, I miss my best friend!
So, I'm just trying to stay as busy as humanly possible to make the time go by quickly. Daylight Savings Time is helping the days seem like they go by a little more quickly. It gets dark around 7:45 p.m. here and then Max and I go to bed around 9 or 10. So, there's not a whole lot of nighttime that we have to deal with, thank goodness.
Anyway, Max hit is one month mark today! I can't believe it's been a month. I can't say that it totally flew by but it is hard to believe we made it a whole month! He is changing every day and he's SOOO close to smiling at me. He coos a lot now too which is really cute. He's gaining weight and growing like crazy! He's so precious. It really is amazing how much you can love a little guy. The immediate mother-child bond didn't happen for me (maybe it was the 30 hours of labor haha) but it's certainly growing now and I love him so much. I just can't wait for Christian to be home and enjoy all the changes he's making! I send him at least one picture of Max every day so he can keep track. :)
Well, I'm going to finish my "me" time while Max is napping. Hope you all have a great week. Please continue any prayers or good vibes for Christian, me and Max so we can make it 17 more days.
xoxo,
Chrissi
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
The day has come...
Well, the day I've been dreading is upon us and it sucks. I dropped Christian off at base this afternoon and he'll be overseas until the beginning of next month. So, it's just Max and me for the next three weeks. Yesterday was really tough and I cried a bit in anticipation of Christian leaving but today actually hasn't been awful. Christian and I were able to give Max his first real bath this morning since his umbilical cord finally fell off two nights ago. Then, we went to lunch and then I took him out to base. The goodbye was a little teary but not nearly as emotional as I expected. I thought I would totally break down but I didn't! So, now, we just have to make these next three weeks FLY BY!
I have a few things on the calendar to get us out of the house and help the days pass by. Tomorrow, I'm going to meet with a Mom's Club here in our town to see what they're all about. It's basically a group for stay-at-home moms to get together with and without their children to socialize and support one another. So, hopefully that will be something I like. We're meeting at a park nearby since the weather is so nice.
Then, my friends Vicki and Paige are coming over tomorrow evening to hang out. I'm pretty excited for some friend time! Plus, Vicki's bringing wine! haha
Then, on Friday, my dad and step-mom get in town for the weekend. I'm really excited for that too and for Max to meet another set of grandparents!
Next week, I have my post-natal doctor appointment to give me the go-ahead to get back to normal. I'm feeling great and I've lost all of my pregnancy weight so hopefully everything is going well with the rest of me recovering! I have to take Max with me to my appointment but hopefully he'll just sleep the whole time.
Sometime next week, I need to start the process of getting his birth certificate, social security stuff and then his passport since we're planning another trip to Germany later this year.
The weather is supposed to stay pretty nice the next 10 days so we'll be taking walks and going to the park some. Oh, also, Christian and I met a couple that lives like six houses down from us the other day while we were out walking. The wife, Talia, just had a baby boy on March 1st so that's pretty nice to know that someone else close by is going through what we're going through. She seems to be around my age or a little older. Hopefully she and I can connect a little more once we both really get the hang of this motherhood stuff.
Well, anyway, please just say a little prayer for the three of us so we make it through the next three weeks OK. Pray for Christian's safe flights too!
xoxo,
Chrissi
I have a few things on the calendar to get us out of the house and help the days pass by. Tomorrow, I'm going to meet with a Mom's Club here in our town to see what they're all about. It's basically a group for stay-at-home moms to get together with and without their children to socialize and support one another. So, hopefully that will be something I like. We're meeting at a park nearby since the weather is so nice.
Then, my friends Vicki and Paige are coming over tomorrow evening to hang out. I'm pretty excited for some friend time! Plus, Vicki's bringing wine! haha
Then, on Friday, my dad and step-mom get in town for the weekend. I'm really excited for that too and for Max to meet another set of grandparents!
Next week, I have my post-natal doctor appointment to give me the go-ahead to get back to normal. I'm feeling great and I've lost all of my pregnancy weight so hopefully everything is going well with the rest of me recovering! I have to take Max with me to my appointment but hopefully he'll just sleep the whole time.
Sometime next week, I need to start the process of getting his birth certificate, social security stuff and then his passport since we're planning another trip to Germany later this year.
The weather is supposed to stay pretty nice the next 10 days so we'll be taking walks and going to the park some. Oh, also, Christian and I met a couple that lives like six houses down from us the other day while we were out walking. The wife, Talia, just had a baby boy on March 1st so that's pretty nice to know that someone else close by is going through what we're going through. She seems to be around my age or a little older. Hopefully she and I can connect a little more once we both really get the hang of this motherhood stuff.
Well, anyway, please just say a little prayer for the three of us so we make it through the next three weeks OK. Pray for Christian's safe flights too!
xoxo,
Chrissi
Thursday, March 8, 2012
What a difference eight days make!
So, now we have a 19 day old! And, man, let me tell you, those eight days since my last post have only gotten better. Granted, it's still not the easiest thing in the world but we're definitely making it and I feel like my old self! I think those baby blues took a hike right at the two week point. THANK GOD! I'm hoping I never feel that way again. That was pure awful. So, all is well now and we're just making it day by day. :)
Max is doing great! I took him to the doc this morning for a weight check (they see breastfed babies a little more frequently to make sure they're gaining adequately) and he's almost a pound heavier than he was a birth! He weighed 7 lbs 3 oz at birth and now he's 8 lbs 1 oz! So, he's growing really well and proof positive that my milk supply is great! Another THANK GOD! haha He's not having any issues what so ever, other than a little diaper rash that keep creeping back in right when I think it's gone. But, that's pretty minimal and we're just managing it w/ some good ol' Butt Paste! :)
Christian is still doing well and he's such a FABULOUS dad! I'm so freakin' blessed it's ridiculous. I can't imagine having to do this on my own or with a husband who wasn't supportive. Props to any single moms out there. Holy crap you have a hard job. But anyway, Christian is home for five more days before he leaves for three weeks. Yes, that's freaking me out a bit but I know I just have to suck it up and handle it. I'm strong and I know I can do it. There may be a few tears shed while he's gone (and certainly when he leaves) but we'll be fine. Just pray for his safety please. Thank goodness he's not going on any kind of deployment. I'm not sure what I would do.
Everything at the house is slowly starting to get back in order. It's been hard to keep track of everything with this little guy latched to my boob most of the time. haha But, I've decided to start a routine with Max so I'm hoping it pays off. Basically, I read the book "On Becoming Baby Wise" and it says if you stick to their routine, your baby should sleep through the night (at least eight hours) by 12 weeks of age. I'm all about that. It's called Parent Directed Feeding. Essentially, you direct your baby's routine rather than jumping to their every single need or feeding them every time they cry. It's a lot about parental assessment of the situation and determining why baby is fussy before you all of a sudden jump to feed him. So, we've started the routine appropriate for 1-4 week olds. It's an eat, wake time, naptime routine every three hours. Then, at night, we let him sleep as long as he wants before feeding him again (usually about four hours in between feedings at night). So, hopefully, he'll understand soon enough that he eats during the day and sleeps at night. I'm on day three of that schedule now and it seems to be working pretty well (knock on wood). It also helps me with a little bit of predictability throughout my day. I asked Max's pediatrician about this routine business this morning and this is pretty much what she did with her kids so she has no problem with it. So, wish us continued success with this!
Anyway, just wanted to provide a little update for you guys! Hope all of you are having a great week! It's 70 degrees up here today and gorgeous!
xoxo,
Chrissi
Max is doing great! I took him to the doc this morning for a weight check (they see breastfed babies a little more frequently to make sure they're gaining adequately) and he's almost a pound heavier than he was a birth! He weighed 7 lbs 3 oz at birth and now he's 8 lbs 1 oz! So, he's growing really well and proof positive that my milk supply is great! Another THANK GOD! haha He's not having any issues what so ever, other than a little diaper rash that keep creeping back in right when I think it's gone. But, that's pretty minimal and we're just managing it w/ some good ol' Butt Paste! :)
Christian is still doing well and he's such a FABULOUS dad! I'm so freakin' blessed it's ridiculous. I can't imagine having to do this on my own or with a husband who wasn't supportive. Props to any single moms out there. Holy crap you have a hard job. But anyway, Christian is home for five more days before he leaves for three weeks. Yes, that's freaking me out a bit but I know I just have to suck it up and handle it. I'm strong and I know I can do it. There may be a few tears shed while he's gone (and certainly when he leaves) but we'll be fine. Just pray for his safety please. Thank goodness he's not going on any kind of deployment. I'm not sure what I would do.
Everything at the house is slowly starting to get back in order. It's been hard to keep track of everything with this little guy latched to my boob most of the time. haha But, I've decided to start a routine with Max so I'm hoping it pays off. Basically, I read the book "On Becoming Baby Wise" and it says if you stick to their routine, your baby should sleep through the night (at least eight hours) by 12 weeks of age. I'm all about that. It's called Parent Directed Feeding. Essentially, you direct your baby's routine rather than jumping to their every single need or feeding them every time they cry. It's a lot about parental assessment of the situation and determining why baby is fussy before you all of a sudden jump to feed him. So, we've started the routine appropriate for 1-4 week olds. It's an eat, wake time, naptime routine every three hours. Then, at night, we let him sleep as long as he wants before feeding him again (usually about four hours in between feedings at night). So, hopefully, he'll understand soon enough that he eats during the day and sleeps at night. I'm on day three of that schedule now and it seems to be working pretty well (knock on wood). It also helps me with a little bit of predictability throughout my day. I asked Max's pediatrician about this routine business this morning and this is pretty much what she did with her kids so she has no problem with it. So, wish us continued success with this!
Anyway, just wanted to provide a little update for you guys! Hope all of you are having a great week! It's 70 degrees up here today and gorgeous!
xoxo,
Chrissi
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Wow... life change has hit me.
Hey everyone. So, here I am now with an 11 day old baby boy. It's really amazing and it's really a lot harder than I expected. Everything about his big arrival was a lot harder than I expected. But, we're making it just fine.
So, I'll start by explaining my labor and delivery for you guys. Like I said, it was a LOT harder than I ever expected. Christian and I think I got a raw deal on labor since I had such an easy pregnancy! haha So, contractions started coming at regular intervals at around 4 p.m. on Thursday, Feb.16. So, they weren't too painful that evening so we went to bed around 10 o'clock that night and then the painful ones started around midnight. I finally woke Christian up at about 1:30 a.m. and called the doctor. Doctor told us to go to the hospital to be checked in triage and so we did. We got to the hospital around 2:30 a.m. and was checked about an hour later and I was only 2 cm and 90% effaced. So, they had me walk around for an hour to see if any progress would be made. I was still having pretty hard contractions that made me crouch down on the floor when I was walking the halls but I kept on walking. So, about an hour and a half later, I got checked again and NO PROGRESS! So, they gave me the option of going home and I took it. I knew I'd be able to eat and rest at home a little more comfortably. Plus, I knew Christian was super tired. So, around 7 a.m., we headed home. I went straight to bed but the contractions only got stronger. I dealt with them until about 10 a.m. when I came downstairs and Christian made me eat something. He cooked me eggs and bacon so I barely got that down. Then, he made a fire in the fireplace and I sat on the floor moaning (and cussing) through contractions until they were definitely only five minutes apart. I called the doctor again telling him I was in a ridiculous amount of pain and he told me to go back to the hospital. So, I forced myself to eat a little more before we headed back to the hospital around 2 p.m. When we got back to the hospital. My OB was there and he checked me and I had made it to 5 cm and was 100% effaced! I was so excited and it gave me an extra jolt of energy. So, they admitted us and I had a new source of confidence in dealing with the pain so I made it through about another hour and half before I was checked again and really didn't make much progress since I was admitted. So, Dr. Grossman wanted to break my water and that scared me because I knew labor would get much more intense at that point so after discussing it with Christian, I opted for an epidural. Christian was really a cheerleader for me going natural and I appreciate the way he handled it. He just wanted to make sure I wouldn't be disappointed in myself for getting pain meds. So, I knew at that point that I wouldn't be upset because it was so painful and to me, going through that for God knows how long just wasn't worth it. Especially since I was so exhausted and knew I had a long way to go. So, a little while later, the anesthesiologist came in and administered the epidural. That went fine and didn't even hurt. But, about five minutes after I got it, I started getting chest pains and my heart rate skyrocketed to about 128 bpm. YIKES! About four docs ended up in my room and Christian and I were scared, of course. So, they did an EKG which turned out fine and they had a cardiologist check me over. Everything checked out fine so they just kept an eye on me for the next couple hours until the chest pressure went away. We think it was just nerves and indigestion. So, from there, everything just progressed slowly and FINALLY at around 1 a.m., I was ready to push. Well, turns out Max's head was facing up so it was going to be a pretty tough feat for me to turn him and get him out. At one point, his heart rate dropped SUPER low and scared everyone. We ended up having about six people in there at that point as they tried to roll me on my sides to see if he was just lying on his cord but nothing was working for about three minutes. Then, I heard the doc say "get the room ready". At that time, I knew I might have to have an emergency c-section. SCARY! But, Christian reassured me that everything would be fine and soon, Max's heart rate started to come back up and stayed up. So, after about two hours of pushing and being ABSOLUTELY EXHAUSTED, Max was still face up and having a hard time coming out. So, the doc finally offered to use a vacuum and possibly do an episiotomy and at that point, I didn't give a shit what had to be done. I just wanted him out of me! So, the doc got the vacuum ready and ended up pulling Max out without having to do an episiotomy. Whoa.... what a relief. He was immediately placed on my belly and then whisked away to be cleaned up before Christian brought him back so I could nurse him. Christian cut the cord and all was well. :)
So, long story but that was NOT fun, not enjoyable, not anything pleasant. haha. It was freaking TOUGH! I give major props to moms who can do it totally naturally but being in labor for around 30 hours is crazy. Hopefully the next one will be easier.
The next couple days in the hospital were OK. I was super sore all over my body and I just felt like I was hungover for a couple days. So, obviously my body went through hell. Max did well in the hospital but his bilirubin levels were a little elevated so they had to prick his heel a few times to keep checking. The level kept decreasing so they let us go home Monday afternoon but we had to take him back Tuesday morning to be tested once more and everything was fine and he was good.
So, the first night at home.... it was a challenge to say the least. I don't remember much of it but I was emotional and he wanted to stay on my boob for about two hours. It was crazy. We weren't prepared with a good sleeping environment for him really so we were a little disorganized. The second night I fixed up his cradle so it wouldn't swing like crazy, I brought in the white noise machine and kept lights and voices low when he would wake up. That seems to have helped. He's been sleeping about four-five hours at a time during the night so that's been good. I'm definitely tired because I'm not used to having interrupted sleep but I guess I need to get used to it for a while. :( He sleeps a good part of the day too but every day he seems more and more alert. He pretty much eats, sleeps and poops. Typical, right?
Breastfeeding is going well but it's really demanding on me. Having to stick to an every 2-3 hour feeding schedule during the day is just draining. And, the fact that no one else can really help me out with that is hard. But, I'm producing enough milk and he was already back to his birth weight last Friday. So, that's good.
We're doing the cloth diapering here and there. It's a little tough because we have to do laundry every night when we're doing it. He just goes to the bathroom SO MUCH right now. Speaking of going to the bathroom, he pees all over the place. Last night, every time I had to change him (two or three times- can't remember), he peed all over.... even almost hitting me in the face. Awesome. haha Luckily we keep a waterproof pad under him when we change him at night.
So... then there's the baby blues. Wow, they suck. I've had them pretty bad since he was born. I'm just feeling depressed and I miss my old life a hell of a lot. That makes me feel super guilty and then that makes me feel even worse. Ugh, it's like a vicious cycle. I'm feeling OK today but yesterday was rough. Some days are good, others are bad. I've been told it all gets better but right now it really sucks. I'm not one to sugar coat a situation so I'm not going to say that this is the best time of my life or that this is all absolutely amazing because, frankly, it isn't. It's tough, it's draining, it's daunting, it's tiring, it's hard. I know it will get better but I wish I could fast-forward to the easier time! Oh well. Just say a little prayer for us that we get through everything OK and without any emotional breakdowns. haha
Well, that about sums up everything that has been going on here. My mom came in town last Friday and then leaves this coming Sunday. She's been a huge help in keeping dishes washed and letting me take showers and naps. So, it will be tough to not have her around but I think that will also make me suck everything up and deal with it.
Then, Christian leaves March 14th for about 17 days. I AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT! He has been my ROCK through this and keeps me happy. I miss him so bad when he's at work and I know those 17 days are going to be hard. But, my Dad and step-mom are coming up for a weekend and Mom might come back up during that time too. So, we'll make it. Again, just pray for us.
Anyway, I'm going to relax a little before I feed little man and we head out to Christian's squadron to meet people and watch him play volleyball for a little bit. Hope y'all are having a good week.
xoxo,
Chrissi
So, I'll start by explaining my labor and delivery for you guys. Like I said, it was a LOT harder than I ever expected. Christian and I think I got a raw deal on labor since I had such an easy pregnancy! haha So, contractions started coming at regular intervals at around 4 p.m. on Thursday, Feb.16. So, they weren't too painful that evening so we went to bed around 10 o'clock that night and then the painful ones started around midnight. I finally woke Christian up at about 1:30 a.m. and called the doctor. Doctor told us to go to the hospital to be checked in triage and so we did. We got to the hospital around 2:30 a.m. and was checked about an hour later and I was only 2 cm and 90% effaced. So, they had me walk around for an hour to see if any progress would be made. I was still having pretty hard contractions that made me crouch down on the floor when I was walking the halls but I kept on walking. So, about an hour and a half later, I got checked again and NO PROGRESS! So, they gave me the option of going home and I took it. I knew I'd be able to eat and rest at home a little more comfortably. Plus, I knew Christian was super tired. So, around 7 a.m., we headed home. I went straight to bed but the contractions only got stronger. I dealt with them until about 10 a.m. when I came downstairs and Christian made me eat something. He cooked me eggs and bacon so I barely got that down. Then, he made a fire in the fireplace and I sat on the floor moaning (and cussing) through contractions until they were definitely only five minutes apart. I called the doctor again telling him I was in a ridiculous amount of pain and he told me to go back to the hospital. So, I forced myself to eat a little more before we headed back to the hospital around 2 p.m. When we got back to the hospital. My OB was there and he checked me and I had made it to 5 cm and was 100% effaced! I was so excited and it gave me an extra jolt of energy. So, they admitted us and I had a new source of confidence in dealing with the pain so I made it through about another hour and half before I was checked again and really didn't make much progress since I was admitted. So, Dr. Grossman wanted to break my water and that scared me because I knew labor would get much more intense at that point so after discussing it with Christian, I opted for an epidural. Christian was really a cheerleader for me going natural and I appreciate the way he handled it. He just wanted to make sure I wouldn't be disappointed in myself for getting pain meds. So, I knew at that point that I wouldn't be upset because it was so painful and to me, going through that for God knows how long just wasn't worth it. Especially since I was so exhausted and knew I had a long way to go. So, a little while later, the anesthesiologist came in and administered the epidural. That went fine and didn't even hurt. But, about five minutes after I got it, I started getting chest pains and my heart rate skyrocketed to about 128 bpm. YIKES! About four docs ended up in my room and Christian and I were scared, of course. So, they did an EKG which turned out fine and they had a cardiologist check me over. Everything checked out fine so they just kept an eye on me for the next couple hours until the chest pressure went away. We think it was just nerves and indigestion. So, from there, everything just progressed slowly and FINALLY at around 1 a.m., I was ready to push. Well, turns out Max's head was facing up so it was going to be a pretty tough feat for me to turn him and get him out. At one point, his heart rate dropped SUPER low and scared everyone. We ended up having about six people in there at that point as they tried to roll me on my sides to see if he was just lying on his cord but nothing was working for about three minutes. Then, I heard the doc say "get the room ready". At that time, I knew I might have to have an emergency c-section. SCARY! But, Christian reassured me that everything would be fine and soon, Max's heart rate started to come back up and stayed up. So, after about two hours of pushing and being ABSOLUTELY EXHAUSTED, Max was still face up and having a hard time coming out. So, the doc finally offered to use a vacuum and possibly do an episiotomy and at that point, I didn't give a shit what had to be done. I just wanted him out of me! So, the doc got the vacuum ready and ended up pulling Max out without having to do an episiotomy. Whoa.... what a relief. He was immediately placed on my belly and then whisked away to be cleaned up before Christian brought him back so I could nurse him. Christian cut the cord and all was well. :)
So, long story but that was NOT fun, not enjoyable, not anything pleasant. haha. It was freaking TOUGH! I give major props to moms who can do it totally naturally but being in labor for around 30 hours is crazy. Hopefully the next one will be easier.
The next couple days in the hospital were OK. I was super sore all over my body and I just felt like I was hungover for a couple days. So, obviously my body went through hell. Max did well in the hospital but his bilirubin levels were a little elevated so they had to prick his heel a few times to keep checking. The level kept decreasing so they let us go home Monday afternoon but we had to take him back Tuesday morning to be tested once more and everything was fine and he was good.
So, the first night at home.... it was a challenge to say the least. I don't remember much of it but I was emotional and he wanted to stay on my boob for about two hours. It was crazy. We weren't prepared with a good sleeping environment for him really so we were a little disorganized. The second night I fixed up his cradle so it wouldn't swing like crazy, I brought in the white noise machine and kept lights and voices low when he would wake up. That seems to have helped. He's been sleeping about four-five hours at a time during the night so that's been good. I'm definitely tired because I'm not used to having interrupted sleep but I guess I need to get used to it for a while. :( He sleeps a good part of the day too but every day he seems more and more alert. He pretty much eats, sleeps and poops. Typical, right?
Breastfeeding is going well but it's really demanding on me. Having to stick to an every 2-3 hour feeding schedule during the day is just draining. And, the fact that no one else can really help me out with that is hard. But, I'm producing enough milk and he was already back to his birth weight last Friday. So, that's good.
We're doing the cloth diapering here and there. It's a little tough because we have to do laundry every night when we're doing it. He just goes to the bathroom SO MUCH right now. Speaking of going to the bathroom, he pees all over the place. Last night, every time I had to change him (two or three times- can't remember), he peed all over.... even almost hitting me in the face. Awesome. haha Luckily we keep a waterproof pad under him when we change him at night.
So... then there's the baby blues. Wow, they suck. I've had them pretty bad since he was born. I'm just feeling depressed and I miss my old life a hell of a lot. That makes me feel super guilty and then that makes me feel even worse. Ugh, it's like a vicious cycle. I'm feeling OK today but yesterday was rough. Some days are good, others are bad. I've been told it all gets better but right now it really sucks. I'm not one to sugar coat a situation so I'm not going to say that this is the best time of my life or that this is all absolutely amazing because, frankly, it isn't. It's tough, it's draining, it's daunting, it's tiring, it's hard. I know it will get better but I wish I could fast-forward to the easier time! Oh well. Just say a little prayer for us that we get through everything OK and without any emotional breakdowns. haha
Well, that about sums up everything that has been going on here. My mom came in town last Friday and then leaves this coming Sunday. She's been a huge help in keeping dishes washed and letting me take showers and naps. So, it will be tough to not have her around but I think that will also make me suck everything up and deal with it.
Then, Christian leaves March 14th for about 17 days. I AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT! He has been my ROCK through this and keeps me happy. I miss him so bad when he's at work and I know those 17 days are going to be hard. But, my Dad and step-mom are coming up for a weekend and Mom might come back up during that time too. So, we'll make it. Again, just pray for us.
Anyway, I'm going to relax a little before I feed little man and we head out to Christian's squadron to meet people and watch him play volleyball for a little bit. Hope y'all are having a good week.
xoxo,
Chrissi
Friday, February 10, 2012
Down to single digits!
We're down to single digit days left before my due date! Holy moly! It's kind of crazy that I can reply with "next Sunday" when someone asks me "when are you due?".
I had a little false alarm Wednesday night. I woke up to go to the bathroom at around 1:30 a.m. and was having some intense cramps and then started having a few contractions. I laid in bed for about an hour not really sure what to do before it all started to subside! I didn't wake Christian up or anything because I just didn't get the feeling that it was too urgent. Yeah, it was uncomfortable but it wasn't crazy painful. My doc says I'll know when it's real labor. Basically, I'm hoping my water breaks so I don't have to second guess myself. haha So, after it all subsided, I just went back to sleep and woke up feeling fine yesterday. And, everything is still good to go! It's just a waiting game now.
I've still been working out almost every day which I totally believe is responsible for me feeling so good in these last weeks. I really don't feel much different or any more uncomfortable than I have most of my pregnancy. Yes, this huge belly gets in my way and the extra 35 lbs I've tacked on hurt my back and legs but other than that, I'm really feeling good...awkward, but good.. I've pretty much kept up with my pre-pregnancy workout routine, minus the running. I stopped running when I got into my second trimester just because it seemed weird to me. I do about 20 minutes on the elliptical along with strength training about three days a week and the other two or three days I just do cardio. I'm doing a little lighter weight now and I don't do things where I lay on my back or anything that could possibly make me fall off balance (weighted squats, etc). But, everything else is pretty much fair game as long as I feel comfortable and my heart rate doesn't sky rocket. I'm just hoping this really helps after baby is here so I can get back into shape as soon as possible. Plus, I'm hoping for an easier delivery because of it!
Well, it's Friday and I hope all of you are planning a great weekend! We have a very interesting day planned for tomorrow! One of my good friends up here, Vicki, has an uncle who is a World War II vet. His name is Tony. He was a pilot and Vicki connected him with Christian and they chat over email and Tony sends all kinds of amazing stories about his career. So, a couple weeks ago, we were hanging out with Vicki and her boyfriend, Matt, and mentioned that we'd love to officially meet Tony so the five of us (me, Christian, Vicki, Matt and Tony) are all going to meet out at base tomorrow so Christian can show him around the C-130. Then, we're going to head over to NAES Lakehurst (about 25 minutes from McGuire-where Christian is stationed) so we can do a little tour of where the Hindenburg crashed, see some of the huge airship hangers that were used back in the World Wars and go through a small museum over there. I'm so excited! Seriously, y'all would be so entertained by some of the stories Tony has about his flying days. They are absolutely amazing. Christian tells me that military aviation is so different now and there's no way he'd be able to have any stories that compare to Tony's. It's really interesting! So, that will be a lot of fun. I'll take lots of pictures.
Those are our only plans for the weekend as of right now. I know those of you on Mom's side of the family will be enjoying the 60th anniversary party for Grannie and PawPaw. I wish so badly that we could be there! I can't wait to come home and see everyone in April! We'll be there for about a week for Alison's wedding and a little beach vacation. And, of course, we'll have Max with us! That will be super exciting! I'm a little nervous about the logistics of traveling with him but we'll figure it all out.
Well, enjoy the weekend and continue to send positive ju-ju our way so this little boy will come out! haha
Love y'all!
Chrissi
I had a little false alarm Wednesday night. I woke up to go to the bathroom at around 1:30 a.m. and was having some intense cramps and then started having a few contractions. I laid in bed for about an hour not really sure what to do before it all started to subside! I didn't wake Christian up or anything because I just didn't get the feeling that it was too urgent. Yeah, it was uncomfortable but it wasn't crazy painful. My doc says I'll know when it's real labor. Basically, I'm hoping my water breaks so I don't have to second guess myself. haha So, after it all subsided, I just went back to sleep and woke up feeling fine yesterday. And, everything is still good to go! It's just a waiting game now.
I've still been working out almost every day which I totally believe is responsible for me feeling so good in these last weeks. I really don't feel much different or any more uncomfortable than I have most of my pregnancy. Yes, this huge belly gets in my way and the extra 35 lbs I've tacked on hurt my back and legs but other than that, I'm really feeling good...awkward, but good.. I've pretty much kept up with my pre-pregnancy workout routine, minus the running. I stopped running when I got into my second trimester just because it seemed weird to me. I do about 20 minutes on the elliptical along with strength training about three days a week and the other two or three days I just do cardio. I'm doing a little lighter weight now and I don't do things where I lay on my back or anything that could possibly make me fall off balance (weighted squats, etc). But, everything else is pretty much fair game as long as I feel comfortable and my heart rate doesn't sky rocket. I'm just hoping this really helps after baby is here so I can get back into shape as soon as possible. Plus, I'm hoping for an easier delivery because of it!
Well, it's Friday and I hope all of you are planning a great weekend! We have a very interesting day planned for tomorrow! One of my good friends up here, Vicki, has an uncle who is a World War II vet. His name is Tony. He was a pilot and Vicki connected him with Christian and they chat over email and Tony sends all kinds of amazing stories about his career. So, a couple weeks ago, we were hanging out with Vicki and her boyfriend, Matt, and mentioned that we'd love to officially meet Tony so the five of us (me, Christian, Vicki, Matt and Tony) are all going to meet out at base tomorrow so Christian can show him around the C-130. Then, we're going to head over to NAES Lakehurst (about 25 minutes from McGuire-where Christian is stationed) so we can do a little tour of where the Hindenburg crashed, see some of the huge airship hangers that were used back in the World Wars and go through a small museum over there. I'm so excited! Seriously, y'all would be so entertained by some of the stories Tony has about his flying days. They are absolutely amazing. Christian tells me that military aviation is so different now and there's no way he'd be able to have any stories that compare to Tony's. It's really interesting! So, that will be a lot of fun. I'll take lots of pictures.
Those are our only plans for the weekend as of right now. I know those of you on Mom's side of the family will be enjoying the 60th anniversary party for Grannie and PawPaw. I wish so badly that we could be there! I can't wait to come home and see everyone in April! We'll be there for about a week for Alison's wedding and a little beach vacation. And, of course, we'll have Max with us! That will be super exciting! I'm a little nervous about the logistics of traveling with him but we'll figure it all out.
Well, enjoy the weekend and continue to send positive ju-ju our way so this little boy will come out! haha
Love y'all!
Chrissi
Saturday, February 4, 2012
15 more days!
I truly can't believe that any day now, I could become a MOM! What the heck!? I'll be the first to admit, it scares me a little bit. Don't get me wrong, I really think I'll be a great mom and Christian will be a wonderful dad but the whole life-turning-upside-down thing freaks me out. Of course, I know that anxiety will go away once I see my little man's face. But, whoa.... it's a change. haha (Ironically, I'm listening to Seal's version of Otis Reading's "A Change is Gonna Come" right now)
Well, nothing much has been going on since my last post. More and more preparation and cleaning constantly so I won't have to come home to an unorganized house. I'm getting a little frustrated with the whole cloth diapering thing. We're definitely still doing it but it's a little annoying that I have to order everything online and can't touch, feel, rub things before I buy them! I just have to believe the thousands of reviews and suggestions people have. There isn't a single cloth diapering or "green baby" store around here! I can't believe that... especially since we're so close to a big city. If I knew we were staying in this area, I would definitely consider going into that business in Philly. I think there's ONE store over on the west side of the Philly area in Media, PA. It would take me like 45 minutes to get over there so it's just not worth it. There's one woman around here in Collingswood, NJ that offers a cloth diapering workshop but she doesn't have a store. And, the next workshop she's hosting isn't until March. So, looks like we're just going to have to wing it. I'm pretty excited about doing it and the little challenge. We'll see how it goes. :)
Speaking of ordering things online.... looks what my darling husband got me!!! New Ugg slippers for my trek around the hospital... and, around anywhere really. :) The red (actually more of a red-salmon color) will be here Tuesday! I'm so excited. I wear the crap out of my Ugg boots now b/c my feet stay cold at home and I don't like wearing socks (picture me in a nightgown, pregnant, with Ugg boots..... haha). The boots are a bit bulky so I'm super pumped about the slippers.
Well, nothing much has been going on since my last post. More and more preparation and cleaning constantly so I won't have to come home to an unorganized house. I'm getting a little frustrated with the whole cloth diapering thing. We're definitely still doing it but it's a little annoying that I have to order everything online and can't touch, feel, rub things before I buy them! I just have to believe the thousands of reviews and suggestions people have. There isn't a single cloth diapering or "green baby" store around here! I can't believe that... especially since we're so close to a big city. If I knew we were staying in this area, I would definitely consider going into that business in Philly. I think there's ONE store over on the west side of the Philly area in Media, PA. It would take me like 45 minutes to get over there so it's just not worth it. There's one woman around here in Collingswood, NJ that offers a cloth diapering workshop but she doesn't have a store. And, the next workshop she's hosting isn't until March. So, looks like we're just going to have to wing it. I'm pretty excited about doing it and the little challenge. We'll see how it goes. :)
Speaking of ordering things online.... looks what my darling husband got me!!! New Ugg slippers for my trek around the hospital... and, around anywhere really. :) The red (actually more of a red-salmon color) will be here Tuesday! I'm so excited. I wear the crap out of my Ugg boots now b/c my feet stay cold at home and I don't like wearing socks (picture me in a nightgown, pregnant, with Ugg boots..... haha). The boots are a bit bulky so I'm super pumped about the slippers.
And, speaking of my trek around the hospital, I did the tour of the Labor/Delivery/Mother/Baby units this morning. As many of you know, I'm not huge on healthcare. For whatever odd reason (which I don't even know), I just don't trust hospitals and healthcare in general. I just feel like there are so many cases where things are done to the benefit of the hospital/doctor and not to my benefit or in my best interests. So, seeing the rooms, nurses, contraptions, and all that jazz did not help ease any anxiety that I have. And, the fact that I'm attempting to have a natural birth throws a whole other loop in that knot of anxiety. Bottom line is that I don't feel super supported in my best case scenario birth plan. I'm not sure if I just didn't do enough research to find the best doc or what but none of the docs that I've seen have been like "OK, super!" when I told them I want to have my baby naturally. They all tend to tell me some version of "well, we don't like our patients to be in pain". Really guy? Ugh. Oh well, we'll just see how much of a crazed lunatic I have to become to make sure people do what I want. :) Remember- I said best case scenario.... I know things could change and medical intervention could become necessary.
Ok, enough about that. Anyone have any big plans for the Superbowl tomorrow? Christian has a drill weekend this weekend so he's working most of the day tomorrow. We have no plans for the game. I was thinking about making tailgating food (meatballs, cheese dip, etc) and just hanging out here at the house. That sounds like fun to me! Plus, I'm down to a very limited wardrobe now days so finding something cute and comfortable is no fun when trying to get ready to go out somewhere! haha I guess I'll be rooting for the Giants simply because of our proximity to their stadium. Other than that, I really couldn't care less. I'm pretty pumped to see Madonna's performance and the new commercials.
Well, anyway, I hope you all have a great weekend! Do a little rain dance or something to help me go into labor! haha
xoxo,
Chrissi
Monday, January 30, 2012
OK, my body is no longer in my control.
Well, I'm officially full-term now and baby Max's organs should all be fully developed and ready for the this fascinating world. We have 20 days left until my due date and I am convinced that someone else is now controlling my body. Seriously, the things that are happening now days are things I refuse to take responsibility for.
For instance, tonight, while cooking spaghetti carbonara for dinner, I was shaking some pepper into the dish and just like in a cartoon, I sneezed my head off. That's not the weird thing though. The weird thing is that when I sneezed, I totally peed my pants. Yep, enough pee to make me change my jeans. That's just ridiculous. So, dinner was put on hold so I could run upstairs and make a costume change. I made Christian aware of my little incident and he insisted I share it with you guys. He also insisted that I let you all know of another bodily function that I refuse to take responsibility for. We were laying in bed the other night and he was singing some hilarious little song he made up and it made me laugh really hard and I all of sudden sounded like a fog horn. I'll let your imaginations figure out what I'm talking about there. Mind you, in the FOUR years that Christian and I have been together, that has only happened ONCE before.... ON ACCIDENT! Of course, he thought it was absolutely hilarious. Ugh, seriously... what else is to come? This is craziness.
I figured you'd all get a kick out of my pregnancy woes. So, you're welcome. :)
For those of you who have read Jenny McCarthy's hilarious pregnancy book, "Belly Laughs", or who have had these pregnancy symptoms on their own, you know exactly what I'm talking about. She is soooo spot on! haha
Anyway, I head back to the doctor tomorrow for my weekly appointment and I'm guessing it will just be another routine visit. I'm starting to have more and more Braxton Hicks contractions and I'm feeling more and more pressure down there so I'm hoping I'm progressing! I'm not having any major pains or anything so I'm assuming it's all good. I REALLY don't want to go late and have to be induced! I also can't wait for Mom (soon-to-be-known-as "JuJu") to get here! I'm so excited to see her and for her to be the first family member Max will meet! Woohoo! I really wish we were closer to the whole family so we could have people come see us in the hospital but that's not possible so we'll just work it the way we can! We have internet access in the hospital so we'll be available on Skype! So, if you guys want to see Max live and in color, get your Skype accounts ready and find me on there. My Skype name is "Chrissi Jenkins" and Christian's is "Christian Jenkins". Easy enough to remember, right?
Well, I hope all of you have a fantastic week and I hope this little post helped give you a little giggle to start your week off right. haha Talk soon!
xoxo,
Chrissi
For instance, tonight, while cooking spaghetti carbonara for dinner, I was shaking some pepper into the dish and just like in a cartoon, I sneezed my head off. That's not the weird thing though. The weird thing is that when I sneezed, I totally peed my pants. Yep, enough pee to make me change my jeans. That's just ridiculous. So, dinner was put on hold so I could run upstairs and make a costume change. I made Christian aware of my little incident and he insisted I share it with you guys. He also insisted that I let you all know of another bodily function that I refuse to take responsibility for. We were laying in bed the other night and he was singing some hilarious little song he made up and it made me laugh really hard and I all of sudden sounded like a fog horn. I'll let your imaginations figure out what I'm talking about there. Mind you, in the FOUR years that Christian and I have been together, that has only happened ONCE before.... ON ACCIDENT! Of course, he thought it was absolutely hilarious. Ugh, seriously... what else is to come? This is craziness.
I figured you'd all get a kick out of my pregnancy woes. So, you're welcome. :)
For those of you who have read Jenny McCarthy's hilarious pregnancy book, "Belly Laughs", or who have had these pregnancy symptoms on their own, you know exactly what I'm talking about. She is soooo spot on! haha
Anyway, I head back to the doctor tomorrow for my weekly appointment and I'm guessing it will just be another routine visit. I'm starting to have more and more Braxton Hicks contractions and I'm feeling more and more pressure down there so I'm hoping I'm progressing! I'm not having any major pains or anything so I'm assuming it's all good. I REALLY don't want to go late and have to be induced! I also can't wait for Mom (soon-to-be-known-as "JuJu") to get here! I'm so excited to see her and for her to be the first family member Max will meet! Woohoo! I really wish we were closer to the whole family so we could have people come see us in the hospital but that's not possible so we'll just work it the way we can! We have internet access in the hospital so we'll be available on Skype! So, if you guys want to see Max live and in color, get your Skype accounts ready and find me on there. My Skype name is "Chrissi Jenkins" and Christian's is "Christian Jenkins". Easy enough to remember, right?
Well, I hope all of you have a fantastic week and I hope this little post helped give you a little giggle to start your week off right. haha Talk soon!
xoxo,
Chrissi
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Good morning to a short week! :)
Good morning everyone! I hope all of you had a great holiday weekend and had good weather. Christian got back last Thursday from his last trip before the baby and we had a pretty low-key weekend. It was a really pretty few days but it was COLD! The high Sunday was about 29 degrees. Yikes! But, I'm not complaining because most of the days have been full of sunshine and no snow! I'm just hoping this isn't the calm before the (snow)storm.... specifically any storm on the day that I have to go have a baby! This winter has been pretty mild so far and my friend Sharon, who is from here, says that they sometimes go a few years without snow. So, here's hoping 2012 is one of those years. :)
So anyway, this weekend, like I said was pretty low-key. Saturday Christian cooked his famous lasagna all day (it takes forever) and then we went over to our friends' house (Aiji & Sharon) to watch the sad Saints game and then half of that awful Denver game. Christian works with Aiji and we have a great time with them.... they're super fun.
Sunday was just a day at the house. We had to have the toilet replaced in the nursery because it's an older one and wasn't working properly so John (husband of the woman who owns our house) was over for a few hours working on that. While that was happening, I was going through another one of my "nesting crazes". I organize and reorganize stuff all the time. I've been cleaning everything lately. It's wild. Not that I wasn't cleaning a lot before but now I'm doing things like every other day that maybe I would normally do once a month. haha So, now I'm worried that I'll get everything super clean and when Max gets here I'll just have to sit back and watch all my hard work go downhill. haha Oh well, I'll figure it all out.
So, a little update on pregnancy/baby. Max is still doing great and moving around like crazy. I feel/see his little feet poke out all the time but I can't really see any definition. He gets hiccups a lot so hopefully he'll get the hang of breathing soon. I was getting some pretty bad heartburn but that has pretty much stopped. I stopped drinking orange juice every morning and that helped a lot! So, we'll see if the heartburn myth that he'll have a lot of hair rings true! And as far as pregnancy goes.... Um, I'm over it. haha I'm 35 weeks and two days and this little guy couldn't come soon enough. Of course, I want him to develop as much as he needs to but as soon as he's ready, I'm just waiting! I've had a fantastic pregnancy and haven't really had anything to complain about but I'm just getting uncomfortable now. I feel fat, I can't bend over, none of my "cute" maternity clothes really look cute anymore, and I want my old body baaaaaacccckkkk! haha Oh well, soon enough, right? It's all for a fabulous cause. :) I need to seriously cherish this time and take advantage of my solitude. It's hard to relax though because I'm so anxious about everything!
Speaking of body.... we had our maternity photos taken this past Friday here at the house. I can't wait to see them! There are some really cute poses and ideas that we tried to recreate. She's supposed to send me a log-in to an online gallery of them within 10 days so I'm anxiously awaiting that! It was SOOOO cold outside and we actually did a few outside shots and poor Christian was in a t-shirt and jeans and I was wearing jeans, a tank top and a VERY thin cardigan. So, we were laying on the ground shaking from the cold while trying to smile and make a cute picture. haha It was quite entertaining. Hopefully they turn out good.
Well, that's about it for now. Have a great week, everyone!
xoxo,
Chrissi
So anyway, this weekend, like I said was pretty low-key. Saturday Christian cooked his famous lasagna all day (it takes forever) and then we went over to our friends' house (Aiji & Sharon) to watch the sad Saints game and then half of that awful Denver game. Christian works with Aiji and we have a great time with them.... they're super fun.
Sunday was just a day at the house. We had to have the toilet replaced in the nursery because it's an older one and wasn't working properly so John (husband of the woman who owns our house) was over for a few hours working on that. While that was happening, I was going through another one of my "nesting crazes". I organize and reorganize stuff all the time. I've been cleaning everything lately. It's wild. Not that I wasn't cleaning a lot before but now I'm doing things like every other day that maybe I would normally do once a month. haha So, now I'm worried that I'll get everything super clean and when Max gets here I'll just have to sit back and watch all my hard work go downhill. haha Oh well, I'll figure it all out.
So, a little update on pregnancy/baby. Max is still doing great and moving around like crazy. I feel/see his little feet poke out all the time but I can't really see any definition. He gets hiccups a lot so hopefully he'll get the hang of breathing soon. I was getting some pretty bad heartburn but that has pretty much stopped. I stopped drinking orange juice every morning and that helped a lot! So, we'll see if the heartburn myth that he'll have a lot of hair rings true! And as far as pregnancy goes.... Um, I'm over it. haha I'm 35 weeks and two days and this little guy couldn't come soon enough. Of course, I want him to develop as much as he needs to but as soon as he's ready, I'm just waiting! I've had a fantastic pregnancy and haven't really had anything to complain about but I'm just getting uncomfortable now. I feel fat, I can't bend over, none of my "cute" maternity clothes really look cute anymore, and I want my old body baaaaaacccckkkk! haha Oh well, soon enough, right? It's all for a fabulous cause. :) I need to seriously cherish this time and take advantage of my solitude. It's hard to relax though because I'm so anxious about everything!
Speaking of body.... we had our maternity photos taken this past Friday here at the house. I can't wait to see them! There are some really cute poses and ideas that we tried to recreate. She's supposed to send me a log-in to an online gallery of them within 10 days so I'm anxiously awaiting that! It was SOOOO cold outside and we actually did a few outside shots and poor Christian was in a t-shirt and jeans and I was wearing jeans, a tank top and a VERY thin cardigan. So, we were laying on the ground shaking from the cold while trying to smile and make a cute picture. haha It was quite entertaining. Hopefully they turn out good.
Well, that's about it for now. Have a great week, everyone!
xoxo,
Chrissi
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Another little thing to peruse on one of your vacation days. :)
http://www.oprah.com/packages/your-happiness-plan.html
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