Christmas - Week 5

John is now 5 weeks old and he had his first Christmas. We are at my family's cabin in Midway, Utah. Robert and I admit that it has been nice having some help. So many people have been wanting to hold him, feed him, and even change diapers. It has been nice to have a meal or take a shower where you aren't racing the baby nap clock!

John had his first bath where he didn't scream at all. I let him play in the warm water today and he loved it. When he got out of it he didn't even cry = milestone. He had a rough couple of days. He either has gas or acid reflux. He screamed a lot last night. Auntie Meredith (my awesome sister in law) was a nanny for a year to a three year old and an infant. The infant had bad acid reflux so she had some good tips. He started to do better during the night when Robert and I tried her tips. I'm so glad that other people know what they are doing; it saves me from having to figure things out via trial and error. We also tried some Mylicon drops (for gas) that were recommended by my friend Micci and those seemed to help as well.

John has also realized he enjoys floor time. He will lay there on his blanket (surrounded by willing admirers) and kick his chubby legs and move his arms back and forth. He also started cooing and trying to "talk." It is really fun to watch (I admit that I am biased:) ) Today he also started deliberately smiling. He looked right at me while Meredith was holding him, focused on me and smiled (letting his pasi fall out of his mouth). He did the same thing to grandpa Duffy. He loves the swing and his food. If you don't feed him fast enough when he wakes up he lets you know he is not happy.

Robert and I have to go buy books this week and prepare for classes to begin again. It is going to be a tough semester. I have a full load plus my substantive writing. At least when it's over I will have my law degree!

I'll have to add pictures later because I'm posting from another computer. My Internet is not working at the moment.

Week Four

Getting ready for bed. He loves this sleeper

Staring at the clock (see below) and moving his arms.


Finally asleep. Mom wants to be asleep too.


Bonding with daddy.

Week four has passed. I can't believe John-John is four weeks old. Some funny things: he loves looking and listening to the clock hanging above his changing table, once you lay him down he stares intently at it. He likes his baths and cries less now, the toaster intrigues him. When he's staring at something that he doesn't quite understand his mouth forms and O and his eyes get really big. He continues to eat well but he's spitting up now as well. He is growing out of his 3 month clothes (the pediatrician said the dates on baby clothes aren't accurate) and is learning to use his legs to push off of things (read: mom and dad). He has slept 5-6 hours that last few nights and we are hoping that lasts; the trade off - he is awake a lot during the day (we'll take sleep at night over productivity during the day).

I'm continuing to heal but it is taking longer than I thought. I've had a rough couple of days this week where I couldn't sleep and couldn't do much during the day. It's hard. I spent nine months dealing with pregnancy and now more time recovering from it. Don't misunderstand me, it is worth it and I love my son, recovery is just harder than I thought it would be. I cannot wait to get to my doctor so I can discuss what happened during delivery so I can ensure it doesn't happen with subsequent deliveries. At least I get to eat sugar and treats again! YUUUUUM! Christmas is almost here and I am excited for family to come into town.

Goodbye to Finals

Finals are done. I just finished a paper and just have to turn it in. Robert is at school today so he can finish a big paper he has due. I've spent the day cleaning, doing laundry, finishing my paper, and taking care of John-John. Christmas is coming and I can't wait. It's always hard to get in the Christmas mood while finals are in full swing. I'm excited to have some time at the cabin.

I am continuing to recover and feel almost human again. I can't believe I have managed to have a baby and take law school finals in a little over three weeks. Thank goodness for family and the Lord who have made that possible - I could not have done it alone.

John is continuing to transform from a newborn into a baby. He has more awake time and is intrigued by the Christmas Tree lights. He is holding his head up really well. When we burp him he holds his head up and looks around for a few minutes. He is starting to love bath time. He started pumping his legs in the water, but he still screams when we take him out. He is a little munch-mouth and is getting adorable chubby cheeks. He is also daddy's little poop-monster (Robert's nickname for him when he has a poopy diaper) and kicks his legs so much when we change his diaper that it is hard to get the new diaper back on. He is a cutie and we love him so much. Babies change life so much but they are worth it. Even though I love it when he naps, there are times that I just like cuddling my little (happy) baby.

Happy Holidays!

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.