Sorry it took so long!

Coming home from the hospital, 1/23/09

At his first pediatrician appt, 1/26/09

Our boy finally arrived (obviously)! After a pretty darn easy labor--induced, epidural that worked great, only half an hour of pushing--he came at 10:20 p.m. Jan 21, 2009, 7 lbs 5 oz, 19 1/2 in. He is such a sweet baby, very cuddly, only likes to sleep if he's being held (which has made it difficult for Mommy and Daddy to get sleep, but we're figuring it out).

I'll definitely be putting more pictures up and giving more details about labor and stuff since then, but I need to run because Grandma is going to watch Jamie for a little while so Jason and I can have a one-hour WalMart date before he wakes up and needs to eat again. Thanks so much for all the love and good wishes we've already been given!

Coming soon to a delivery room near you!

It's official--I will be be induced tomorrow, January 21, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. unless twelve other pregnant girls show up with labor that came naturally. Then it's just whenever they can get me in.

So, pictures of the little man should be here soon!

So you know the whole "be careful what you wish for" thing?...

So, my doctor said today that since I'm full-term, there's no reason to wait, and we feel okay about it, so--I'm being induced tomorrow morning.

Yeah.

Wow.

Basically, I'm trying not to think about it. I know it's not the worst thing in the world, but come on, hospital (never checked into one in my life), needles, monitors, pain, bleeding, possible screaming (though I am so pro-epidural), and a tiny little person who will soon depend on me for every single thing...

I know women have been doing it forever and blah blah blah, but I've never done it.

I'm sure it will go fine, but my imagination tends to go haywire on the negative when I'm faced with the unknown, so yay for distractions. :) I really am excited to meet my baby, don't worry. But it's just that it's like a mission, Jason tells me: you plan on it for your whole life, it gets closer and closer, and then suddenly, BAM, it's actually there, and it's life-changing, and you think maybe you've changed your mind and will just keep everything the same, thank you, but it's too late to turn back now...

Again, I wouldn't change things. It's just overwhelming.

So, in less than 24 hours (eep!) I will be going into labor.

Going back to my video game now. :D

Oh, by the way, I made a new blog that will be safe for co-workers to look at when they start demanding baby pictures, no permissions needed. http://jasonandkristina.blogspot.com/ if you're interested. I'm planning on doing about the same thing for each one, but I guess there are already some differences.

Thank goodness for friends

I love you guys! You all are so sweet with your encouragement and kind words and understanding. It really means a lot right now.

No action again. I know I'm probably the bajillionth woman to whine this way, but: he just has to come out soon, because there is just no more room in there! My stomach feels like it's stretched to its limit! I'm calling him "Stonewall Jackson" in my mind because that's all my stomach is, just rock-hard everywhere!

And Ash, I feel ya, I found out the hard way that I can hardly move either. I tried to do a simple Sam's Club run with Jason today, and silly me, I actually tried to do my hair before we left--which means standing in front of the mirror, GASP!--and make Jason a sandwich--standing at the counter, NO!--etc., so there was just no energy left, and I was pretty miserable the whole way home.

A nice thought to combat the complaining: we got the Feb. 2009 Ensign (LDS magazine) and there are a couple of articles about adoption with a simply precious picture of a tiny baby, mid-yawn, with his little hands balled up into fists, and when I'm near the magazine, I just can't stop looking at it. I tried to find a link online to put on here, but they only have January's up. There's just something about that picture; it's like hope on a page, that he really will come and that he'll be even more precious than that baby, because he's mine.

I know the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance (D&C 1, isn't it?), but I'm pretty sure he just forgot to mention the exception of 9-months-pregnant girls using Nintendo emulators. Because I don't know what I'd do without it these days. :)

On that note, signing off. :)

Not yet.

I know I'm writing a lot, but I'm trying to get used to this whole being at home all day thing, and this way you'll all know something's up if I go a few days without doing so. :)

Well, I was waiting to see if BYU-Idaho has some kind of labor-inducing...something, but apparently not. The day isn't over, but my hopes aren't high. *Sigh* and "January 16th" had such a nice ring to it as a birthday...

I've been trying to move around even though I didn't get an actual walk in today; I did the dishes I've been letting pile up, cleaned the stove, tried to somewhat clean off our little table (that we never eat at because it rapidly gets covered in mail, library books, and other don't-know-where-else-to-put-it junk), and swept the rather large kitchen floor. Doesn't sound like much, but when you're nearly 40 weeks pregnant, dang...and still, NOTHING. Not even one little fake contraction! I guess that's a good thing, that I don't have to go through a ton of pain that's not even real labor. But sheesh, what's it take?? :)

As Sam tells me, guess I'd better get used to him doing stuff on his own schedule.

We're having Papa Murphy's pizza for dinner. Maybe I'll have Jason take me on a walk after that, to help digest and to see if it will get us anywhere. It would just be so perfect to have him today or tomorrow! (Jason has Monday off, my mom wouldn't have to get Dad or Rob out of work to get a ride to the airport, etc....)

I'm torn--I'm really glad I got the kitchen looking nice again, because I'd let it get pretty bad, but it took so long (and so much out of me) that I didn't take a walk, and it was a sunny day again today. I probably just couldn't have done both, but I feel like getting the kitchen done left me with a sense of missed opportunity with the walk, but walking would have left me feeling bad for not accomplishing more at home...I'm not the only one who's ever felt this way, am I?

I'm sorry, I really am blabbing a lot.

We got it!

We were approved for double the grant money, plus a subsidized loan! I won't say how much either of them are (like on tv, where they never say prices, they just write it on a slip of paper and slide it across the desk to the car salesman), but it should be enough to get us through until Jason graduates, and then some!

May I just say YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!

So today I took everybody in the world's advice and went for a long walk around campus (and I do mean around--I would go into a building, up the stairs, back the same way, then on to the next building), and I guess we'll see if it does anything. Mostly, I just wore myself the heck out. My feet, ankles, calves, and lower stomach muscles are all really unhappy. I was reading Jennie's comment on my last entry, and I was just starting to say in my head, HA! I did the exact same thing she did, same place even, and it didn't wor--oh. Next day. Okay, maybe there's still hope. At the very least, though, the exercise couldn't have hurt. I've lost most if not all muscle tone I had a few months ago. But it would be very nice if it did coax my little guy outta there.

And just so you all know, in addition to the long walk, I have also tried spicy food multiple times, as well as the other method recommended, and no dice. My latest strategy is pure distraction--hence, Dr. Mario.

Another week, not even another centimeter.

I am in a rotten mood. Don't ask why; I couldn't tell you. Just everything.

So I am going to go rot my brain playing an illegal emulator version of Dr. Mario for as long as it takes.

If you'll excuse me.

More updates (no contractions still)

I ended up feeling almost normal yesterday, which was WONDERFUL, so I got a few errands done, got my hair cut, and went in to work for a few hours, for the last time. I had my exit interview, which took a little bit because the HR lady gave me a questionnaire on my experiences there, whether I enjoyed it, what could be improved, etc. She's down-to-earth, so I basically gave her a look and said, "Do they really want to know? They probably won't like my answers." She told me to be entirely truthful because it's the only way things will improve (I don't see it helping anything), so I kinda let 'em have it. She said the only person who will see it is her, and possibly my manager's wife, whom I mentioned by name on it, but she also said to remember the non-retaliation laws. :) And she said I should have read my other co-worker's paper (the one who left before she had her baby), that she basically ripped them a new one. I got a kick out of that.

So, NOW, I am totally, officially done with that job. As I was walking out, the manager walked past, and I said, "The fat lady is singing! Do you hear it?" I told them I'll be back to show off the baby and abuse my discount for a couple more weeks (I got permission) for nursing bras and stuff. I can't believe the day I longed for since last April finally came!

All's still quiet on the uterus front. He's squirming around, but no noticeable contractions yet.

One more thing: Jason found out that we should (fingers crossed) actually be able to get double grant money, which would significantly lessen the amount of the loan we'll take out, which would be absolutely wonderful. He's pretty sure it will happen, but we're a little scared to get our hopes up, and I'd appreciate if people wouldn't mind remembering us in their prayers for that reason. Thanks!!

Whoops

Ok, so I think I freaked a lot of people out by the way I worded my last entry--I should have concluded by saying that it could still be awhile, like weeks maybe. Sorry, everyone. I haven't felt contractions yet; when I said the thing about the back labor, I was more trying to illustrate how excited people get when you give them the slightest indication that labor could even be on the horizon. (It's nice when you have the hubby call in sick to work for you and instead of being irritated with you, they just say excitedly, "yeah, yeah, but does this mean she's in labor??" and even if your husband says no, they assume it's right around the corner.)

So if I'm in labor at all, it's the early, latent phase. I do have like four symptoms as listed in my What to Expect book, but they're all of the "could be present hours, days, or even weeks before true labor begins" variety. And they're all pretty much gross, so I won't mention them here. Let's just say I'm done working, because I haven't felt like leaving the house.

I kind of have a feeling that it won't be TOO much longer, but it might just be optimism. I've been reading up on more details of labor, delivery, and postpartum in my book, and it's nice feeling more and more prepared. I wasn't really interested before, because it seemed so far away. Still does, some.

I just realized that what I've wanted since last April has come--I am DONE with my job--and I let it pass in a sentence! This is a great occasion!

...I guess it's hard to celebrate when you feel like crap. :)

Oh, and comments should be enabled now. Sorry about that!

Progress

Went to the doctor today--I am 2 centimeters dilated, 80% effaced (!), and he stripped my membranes, which he said MAY speed things along. Also he could feel the baby's head (sorry, I'm sure this is TMI for some of you) and said it's down really far. I've been pretty achy in my lower back and abdomen since then; women at work are telling me I could be having back labor or something.

Oh, and Jamie has had the hiccups twice since then, in about 3 hours. Not sure if that's related or not. :D

So, "any time now" has a bit more meaning! I'll try to keep you updated!

Entirely Inaccurate

Jason and I were just looking at the little baby ticker and we decided it's very off. At this point, there is no floating. None. If it were accurate, all you would see is a little bum, back, and maybe a head, smushed within the frame as if pressed up against glass.

Oh, and maybe my ribs would be up top, with his bum pressed against them.

Yeah, I'm not too psyched about labor, but I'm ready to be done being pregnant!

2 1/2 Weeks to go

I'm so glad that I'm quitting my job. They just laid off a driver who's been here a few years, and they've closed the billing office, telling the three women there that they could stay but they'd have to do customer service (my job--definitely a downgrade, in my opinion). They're going to use some outside company for the billing. So things will be very different, probably pretty awkward, etc. When the manager told me this, I said, "just out of curiosity, if I weren't quitting, would I still have a job?" He said I would, and that made me feel pretty good. I'm just so glad that Jason just sent in his FAFSA app (school grants) and that we've already decided to take out a student loan for when I have Jamie, and I'm trying not to think about him having to find a good job (or two) after graduation. (Jason. Not Jamie.)

By the way, I'm at work right now, not supposed to be on here, but I can hear the manager and the other customer service guy (the one I complained about) talking their guy talk out front, being all manly, and I figure this slacking isn't that much worse than theirs. "It would be much more profitable for a business to blah blah blah, and I told them that. You want smaller departments, and people who haven't done business for a long time just don't understand blah blah..." Snatches of what co-worker man is saying to manager out front. See? I can blog. :D

So, I'm almost 17 days away from D-Day! Well, in theory. I haven't felt any contractions yet, but I do get more uncomfortable every day as my poor son gets more and more squished in there.

We've been making progress on the getting ready, and it's made me feel a lot better. We finally found a bassinet (detachable from a playpen, which we figure will be more useful later than just a bassinet he'll grow out of) and got a glider chair, and a diaper pail. I've gotten probably most of the clothes washed and hung in his room, and the disposables from the diaper cake (from the baby shower in Nov) unrolled and stacked on the shelves. I still need to order cloth diapers to try out. I think I've got nearly everything for my hospital bag; I just need a few odds and ends like batteries for the camera and to wash the nursing bra I bought.

It feels SO GOOD to be more prepared! It makes it feel more real (in a nice way) and relieves stress. I've kept thinking lately, "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear." Can't remember the reference, will have to look it up later. Time to go out front and close the store--for maybe the last time, since next week is my last and I'm only doing 9-2 every day! YEAH!!!!