Week One

We are home. John had jaundice and we had to bring him home on bililights. It was heartbreaking having to keep him on those at home but Robert and my mom took him the next morning to get his levels tested and they were down so we were able to take him off the lights. He loves his clothes and hates being cold. When I bathe him he screams until he gets his clothes back on; same for when we change him into his sleepers at night and when we change his diapers.

He eats a ton. I don't know where he puts it all (well, his diapers would tell a different story). He is changing already. He's looking more like a baby and less like a newborn, his legs and face are chubbing up. He can sleep 4-5 hours at a time as long as his tummy is full, but he likes waking up at midnight and four o'clock in the morning. We've had a lot of family in town this week so he has been held a lot and met a lot of family. I'm ready to get on a schedule with him. He really is pretty good (thank goodness).

My labor was pretty good. 15 hours total, epidural after seven. My delivery was somewhat more complicated. I was close to an emergency c-section but the doctors and nurses were able to avoid that. Despite that, John did great the entire time. I was worried and kept asking how he was doing; the nurse said he was doing the best on the floor and he was the one baby she was not worried about. Apparently his monitor was textbook in a good way. After my delivery I felt vindicated. The hospital had not wanted to induce me but my doctor insisted as I had reached 40 weeks. Several doctors had felt that my due date was off by a couple of weeks and that I was overdue. After John was born the nurses and doctors said he was about two weeks overdue (after they looked and checked him) and that it was a good thing I didn't wait any longer to induce.

My recovery is also more complicated but I am moving along nicely now. I lost a lot of blood but they didn't want to do a transfusion so I was lightheaded for a few extra days (I passed out in the hospital) and I have some tearing and bruising to recover from. John continues to do well. I couldn't have made it through this week without my mom who stayed with us to help. Grandma and Grandpa were also wonderful with running errands, helping bring John home (he was in the hospital longer than planned because of the jaundice and Robert had a class he couldn't miss). Robert is a great dad and has already started to teach John the inns and outs of football. He gets up with him in the night and is great to me as well. Finals are approaching so we hope things continue to go well.

Mommy and John.

His first night home off the bililights.

Sleeping in his bassinet

Daddy and John in the hospital

Shortly after he was born. Daddy is so proud.

We're Parents!

John Owen Newell. Born 6:13 am. 8 lbs 14oz 20.5 inches. Big hands and feet, head of dark hair, and perfect.

I had a fifteen hour labor which didn't pick up until I had an epidural and they broke my water. Delivery was rough but he made it here and is doing well. They said it was a good thing we didn't wait to induce any longer because he shows signs of being about 2 weeks overdue. We love him so much. Robert is such a proud daddy. We both cried when we first saw him. He is very sleepy but seems to know who his mommy and daddy are.

A big thank you to everyone. To Alexander and Annalee for bringing Robert dinner while I was in labor. To Brian and Mindy for bringing Robert breakfast; John got to meet his aunt and uncle! Thank you to family members and all our friends who mean so much to us and who have been a great source of strength and support.

Due Date is Here but not the Baby

So my due date is here but I guess John didn't get the memo :) I go to the doctor tomorrow but as of now I'm not in labor and he shows no signs of coming soon. My professors and friends at school keep asking why I'm still there; I wish I weren't! Finals and Thanksgiving are going to be more difficult the longer he decides to wait. Every time I call a family member they think I'm in labor (or if I don't answer a call). I have my phone off most of the day if I'm at school so that it doesn't ring during class. So, as of now I'm just trying to stay caught up in school, trying to get more baby things ready for his arrival, and getting even bigger (I didn't think that was possible but people are starting to ask if I'm having twins).

I have one outfit that still fits; fits being defined as my stomach is completely covered, but the pouch on my pants is visible at the bottom because my shirt won't reach as far anymore. Being this pregnant is not fun but it is worth it. I can't sit for too long or I'm in pain, I can't stand too long or I'm in pain, I can't lay down too long or I'm in pain. I can't see anything past mid-belly. It is getting harder to resist tempting treats with the holidays approaching. I had to visit the bookstore yesterday to run a few errands and the entire store smelled of chocolate and they had so many goodies on display, including all of my favorites. Sigh. Did I mention that I had to pass the yummy homemade fudge. Twice. I really am looking forward to being able to eat chocolate and other sweets again. It's harder to resist knowing I'm not allowed to eat any of it, but I am doing it. It's all for the baby and it's all worth it.

Still Pregnant

So I'm still pregnant. My doctor wanted to induce me this weekend because the baby is getting big and I'm miserable, but the hospital won't allow it. Apparently, the hospital has allowed early inductions (36-37 weeks) for convenience and gained lots of negative attention for the number of NICU babies they had. So, the hospital has swung the pendulum the other way. Because my gestational diabetes is controlled they won't budge and they won't listen to my doctor. My doctor is encouraging me to try everything to go into labor on my own. Other than that, it's snowing (boo because I hate snow and it makes walking difficult and I can't even indulge in hot chocolate) and BYU has decided to only half show up for the game.

On a happy note, I bought bread pans today. We registered for some when we got married but never received any and we never bought any. We have bananas that are overripe and I don't want them to go to waste, so it was time. I bought the Williams-Sonoma gold line bread pans. We have round cake pans in the same brand and they are wonderful. They cook evenly and the cake comes out easily and without tearing. I recently did some research and the loaf pans come highly recommended by long-time bread makers, professional cooks, and cooking magazines. After reading user reviews I decided this was the way to go. My mom also has them and loves them. Robert and I also bought the all important, heavily recommended boppy. We're ready for him to come!

Pictures and Updates

I have heard from several people who want to see some pregnant pictures of me. I admit I haven't taken many but I took some this week and so I will post them. The update from the doctor is that the baby is still measuring big so they have set an induction date if I don't have him by them. It is near my due date. They don't want to let me go overdue because he would be measuring over 43 weeks by that time. Robert and I have the car seat, stroller, swing, bouncer, etc. and are ready for him to come. I have some wonderful friends and a wonderful ward who threw me awesome showers. More on that later as this is a quick post because dinner is on the stove and needing my attention. I hope you all rejoice in my hugeness!

H1N1

I was vaccinated today at my doctor's appointment. It will take two weeks to be fully effective so I still need to stay away from sick people (you don't need to tell me twice). My blood pressure is a little lower than it was last time but they still don't know why I feel dizzy and faint. The baby was transverse at the last visit (head on the side of my abdomen) but he has turned. Robert and I have been telling him to turn and singing "turning" songs to him this week (mostly as a joke) and it appears to have worked :p So far I show no signs of labor so I go back next week. Because my diabetes has been so well controlled they are not going to induce for another two weeks if at all.

My mom is in town and we have been baby shopping this week. We have the necessities and I bought a rocking chair yesterday. Robert put it together today and it is so cute that I can't wait to rock our little baby in it. We will put the crib together tomorrow (thank you to aunts Jan and Ann).That's it for now other then the news that the law school has confirmed cases of H1N1.

Doctor's Visit

Friday I received a call from my doctor's office. He has H1N1 and they wanted to reschedule for the 27th. I reminded them that I was 35 weeks pregnant, and they rescheduled me with another doctor instead.

I felt dizzy most of the weekend so I was really looking forward to this doctor's visit. I stopped driving when the dizzy spells first hit this week so that I didn't cause an accident. I was hoping they could figure out what was wrong, fix it, and I could go on my merry way. They checked my blood pressure. It was lower than it had been but not too low for a pregnant woman. They then took some blood to see if I was anemic; nope not anemic. (He had asked me if I was taking me prenatal vitamins, I said yes and he was surprised when the blood test showed that I was telling the truth. Why would I lie when I want to find out what is wrong with me?) They asked if it was related to lows in my blood sugar. Nope told him that I tested when I felt really dizzy and told him my numbers, even he said they were excellent and wouldn't be the cause of dizziness. Bottom line - (drum roll please) they don't know what is wrong with me. If I don't stop feeling dizzy they want me to come in so they can give me and IV and hopefully make it go away. I go back next week anyway so we'll see what happens. I felt fine today until this afternoon at work.

Work: I gave notice that this is my last week until after the baby is born - I'll probably go back in January (December if I can swing it). I love my job. It is something I love doing and it keeps me sane (law school is insane and being able to get away and into the real world has saved my sanity). I also love the people I work with. They are like me but different also so we compliment each other well and have a good time at work. I'm really going to miss them. But, I realized that the baby comes first, right now school comes second, and then work. I had planned to work right until the baby was born but these dizzy spells have changed that. I really wish the doctors could find out and fix the dizzy spells so that I could work a few more weeks at least.

On other baby news - he has not turned yet. The doctor started feeling for the head and couldn't find it until he found the back. Yes, my cute little guy is still sideways. I am encouraging him to turn but don't know if he understands me yet (English is a difficult language after all). Anybody have any tips on how to safely get him to turn? The doctor wasn't concerned, he says that there is still plenty of time. Everyone, encourage John to turn so I don't have to have a C-section. (caveat: I have nothing against C-sections per se I would just rather not have to recover from surgery if I don't have to). I've only had Braxton Hicks so far so it looks like he won't come just yet. I'm 36 weeks this week so let's hope he doesn't go past 40.