It's That Time of Year Again

No not the holidays...FINALS. Okay, so the holidays are here too, but before we get to enjoy them we have to brave finals. Only two this semester for me and one for Robert; we both took several pass/fail classes this semester with John on the way. We took very few pass/fail classes the last two years so it is a welcome break. Robert has two papers to write and I have one. We had our tax final today, I just hope that I passed (I say this after every final, but with having John and then the infection I hope things went well). It is interesting looking at the 1L's this year and remembering what it is was like taking those first round of finals. I'm glad I'm past that point. My mom came and stayed with us so we could study for finals and she watched John while we took our finals. She is enjoying being a grandma and we are grateful for the help. Thanks mom.

It is very cold here, and snowy. We had a storm dump several inches of snow the past few days and another one is moving in so we will get more. I was hoping for a mild winter, but I guess you can't have everything in life.

John had his check-up and is doing well. He gained over a pound (I guess I know where he puts all that food he eats) and looks good. His reflexes and growth were all great. Here is a picture of the cute little one.

Week Two

Week two has not gone as well. John has been great. He is a little more fussy and is having more "awake" time between naps. He loves to cuddle right before he goes to sleep. He hates being cold. When we change his diaper he cries because he is cold (although now he is starting to realize that it's temporary and we will put his pants back on). He used to cry all during bath time but not anymore. Once he's in the water he's fine because it's warm; he screams when we take him out until his clothes are on and he's swaddled and being held. I don't blame him I don't like being cold either.

Week two has not gone as well because I got sick. I have an infection that I probably caught in the hospital. The doctor kept asking me how long I felt sick. I wanted to say "hello, I had a baby two weeks ago, that's how long I've been feeling sick and gross." The past three days I have been really sick. Flu-like symptoms and everything. Robert was in class yesterday and had work after class, but I called him during class and told him to come home. He took my temperature - 102 degrees. We found a babysitter for John while Robert took me to the doctor. I felt so horrible I went in my pajamas and a blanket (summer pajamas no less because I kept getting the chills then 10 minutes later I would sweat like I was at the gym); the sad thing is, I didn't care how I looked because I felt so horrible. My temperature was 103 when I got there. They spent the next four hours running tests to figure out what was wrong. They finally gave me a shot of antibiotics (Robert said it was a 2 inch needle) in my hip and told me to come back in the morning. Brian watched John this morning and we were there when they opened at 8 o'clock. My fever was down as were my blood pressure, and heart rate. They ran more tests which confirmed that I had an infection and gave me a prescription for antibiotics. I've been sleeping, picking up, and doing laundry.

Robert has been absolutely wonderful. He has been up with John the last three nights (we usually tag team it) because I've been sick and has been great taking care of me. I am so thankful for my wonderful husband. I am also thankful for my son who was really good for his babysitters. I am also thankful for Brian and Lorena who watched John on such short notice; we couldn't have done it without you.

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!