The Story, and a few more pictures

I'm giving you the abbreviated version. (My last entry was the super abbreviated version. :))



I checked into the hospital at 11 a.m. on the 21st, got an IV put in (ouch!), got all hooked up, etc. My doctor came by at around 12:45 and broke my water, and apparently it had meconium, or baby poo, in it, which is not a great thing. So they said that they'd be aspirating Jamie as soon as his head came out, trying to do it before he took his first breath so he wouldn't inhale any of it. Or something like that. I didn't really understand completely.



Like I said, I was induced, but got that magic epidural as soon as my contractions were regular. So it did hurt for awhile, but after the epidural, I was able to relax and almost enjoy the whole thing. I really am so grateful for modern medicine!



My mom, Jason, and I passed the afternoon by watching TV and DVDs. One nurse predicted that the baby would be born around 10 p.m., and she was nearly spot-on. I was instructed to start pushing at around 9:50, and after only half an hour, Jamie was born at 10:20 p.m., January 21, 2009.

He did end up inhaling too soon, so the respiratory therapist and peds nurse who were on-hand had to work on him for a few minutes, but he turned out just fine. I was jealous of my mom and Jason, because they got to go look at him and talk to him in the warmer across the room while my doctor and a nurse stitched me up and tried to make small talk. I was like, "Huh? Oh, yeah, uh-huh..." All distracted, trying to catch a glimpse of the baby I had just delivered! :)

We were in the hospital for a couple of days and went home that Friday, the 23rd. It's been a challenge having Jamie home, mostly because he very much prefers to sleep on someone's chest, doesn't really matter who. But at the second pediatrician appt today, the doctor said we should put him in his bassinet and let him fuss himself to sleep, and hang the whole "you can't spoil a newborn" thing. I'm not looking forward to listening to my poor baby cry, but I agree that safety is the first issue, and we do have to sleep sometime. He still gets plenty of love and contact during the day.

first bath

All in all, I'm not going to lie and say it's all been perfect or easy, but we love our little guy. I never realized just how hard it would be to adjust to being a new mom, and I've had some pretty down times, but I'm getting through it with my wonderful husband's help. We don't know what we would have done without my mom here to help at first, and then my dad and brother joining her later. They left yesterday. So yeah, any girls out there who read this and think, "Wow, I feel the same way, but I thought I was terrible for not just being plain ecstatic!", you're so not alone. It's dang hard, and I'm okay with admitting it! It's a HUGE adjustment! But worth it, of course. How could this little face not be worth it?

Isn't this one a crack-up?

Thanks so much, again, for all the comments and good wishes. I wish I could answer everyone personally, but I just honestly haven't had time to update until now, and now I can't do all I wanted because I need to go feed the baby. They really do take up so much time! But he is cute as the dickens :) (And of course pictures don't nearly do him justice.)