When I was at 33 weeks I rode on the back of a motorcycle a few times with Reed. I'm not sure if that caused the baby dropping or if it's a coincidence, but the next day I was in a lot of pain. At my 34 week appointment the doctor confirmed my suspicion that the baby had indeed dropped. So although I had an easy first 7 months of pregnancy, the last 2 were lousy as lousy could be. Walking hurt, moving hurt, sleeping hurt, and well... everything hurt.
The day of my 40 week appointment Reed and I had decided we were going to go in there and try to convince the doctor to induce me based on the amount of pain I had been in. (we took this picture right as we were leaving for my appointment.) Anyway, the pain was so bad that at one point I could not get off the couch. Pain hit halfway up and I went to the ground... laying there for 15 minutes until Reed got home and could help me get up. I woke up the day of that appointment with the stomach flu. My whole family was hit before and after that. I went to the doctor feeling pretty sick still, not having eaten anything because I had woken up throwing up that morning.The nurse takes my vitals and seems slightly concerned, but not overly, then walks out. Soon the doctor comes in and without letting us get a word in edgewise says "Do not pass go, do not collect 200 dollars, go straight to the hospital." I thought he was joking, so I questioned what he was saying and he repeated "I will check you real quick, but I need you to get to the hospital. Your blood pressure is way too high. I don't think you'll be pregnant after today." He wouldn't let us go home to get our bags, apparently it was that serious. So I called my mom on the way there (who, by the way, had spent all day making homemade chicken noodle soup for me that we were going to pick up on the way home from the doctor), and let her know we were going to the hospital and we'd keep her updated, but might need help getting our stuff.
We called my parents and they went to our house and collected all of our belongings, and also dropped the soup and homemade rolls off to Reed for dinner. So I got to sit and watch him eat it. The soup that had been made for me. The soup that I crave when I'm sick, because there's seriously nothing better. He got to eat it.
Around 9 they admitted me, and started inducing me soon after. Got my epidural after a couple hours, because why suffer if you don't have to... little did I know it was a different kind of suffering that I gave myself. Not being able to move your lower half of your body is sucky. I felt anxious and claustrophobic and I wasn't comfortable for a while. Around 1:30-2 AM I was feeling lots of pain. I kept pushing the button for more medication and didn't feel like it was helping at all. The nurse had said I'd still feel pressure, so I assumed that was the amount of pain, but it just escalated. At 2:30 the nurse came back in and I mentioned that I could feel every contraction, (and they were about 2 minutes apart at that point) and I was in a lot of pain. She mentioned my medicine was out and asked if I wanted more, or if I wanted another full dose of the epidural since it would have mostly been worn off by then. She got the anesthesiologist and he checks out the tube, and it was disconnected. So I don't know how long I sat there with no pain medication going in, but that kinda sucked. He gave me more and the nurse checked me and I had gone from a 5-10 within the hour, and was ready to have that baby. She was shocked.
Meanwhile, the doctor is delivering the baby of the girl I had met in the waiting room. So we sat around for 40 minutes and let the epidural kick back in, and pushed for a mere 40 minutes, and had little Carson at 4:13 AM.
7 lbs 15 oz
20.5" long
Carson gave us a little worry at the hospital. His blood sugar would be at a good level after eating, but drop dramatically before his next feeding. He was close to having to go to the NICU, but after doing 12 hours of formula, we were able to keep his levels up and he's been doing great since!
It was a long next couple of days. I hadn't had sleep for a long time, and by the time we had Carson home for his first night I had only slept 5 hours since I woke up throwing up the morning before I had him. Our first night with him was hard. (as every first parent's night is with a newborn). He screamed between every feeding. So I'd feed him, and Reed would hold him while he screamed so I could sleep an hour. Then repeat. My mom saved us the next day though, she came and watched him for a few hours, and cleaned the house so we could both sleep. Gosh, I LOVE my mom! She's been a lifesaver the last couple weeks!!
The next night Reed was throwing up. I took the next 2 or 3 nights solo with the baby, while Reed slept and tried to get over his sickness. It wasn't working, though. He was throwing up every day, and by the time he was on his 5th day and had gone to the doctor once, I wondered if he was just dehydrated. I took him to the ER figuring they could get fluids in him more effectively than we were, and we got a bunch of tests done. They didn't come back with anything crazy, and ended up sending us home saying he must still have the flu. Meanwhile, shout out to my parents again! My mom had been awakened by me that morning telling her we were going to the ER and she was at the hospital within the hour picking up my 1 week old and watching him most the day so I could focus on Reed.
The next day Reed was still throwing up, so we went to the doctor again, got him a nice hefty nausea shot, and knocked him out most the day. He slept the next couple days and nights to get better, and thankfully was fine by Saturday. So our first week was fun... super... duper... fun...
I had his 2 week appointment today. That meant circumcision day. After seeing him being pricked over and over in the hospital for his blood sugar, I knew I wouldn't be able to handle this part of his appointment. My dad was awesome and came with me since Reed had to work. He stayed in with Carson during the procedure, and I left the room. I definitely needed more support than Carson did. It's funny how much you change after becoming a mom. I never understood the protectiveness of my parents until now. He did great during the procedure, only cried with the shot and as he was being strapped down. I practically fell apart. I sat in the hall with my heart aching, doing everything in my power to not cry. I felt awful. We got home and he fussed a bit, even though he should have been numb still, and I still just ached while I cuddled him. I never thought I'd worry so easily.
Carson has been grumpy all week, maybe because he's growing so much! He has grown 2 inches and put himself in the 98 percentile for height, and gained almost a whole pound in his first 2 weeks putting him in the 55th percentile. It feels good as a mom to be praised so much for having such a healthy baby. Not that it all has to do with what I'm doing, some babies struggle eating, and I can only imagine how hard it is for moms that have that, but I'll take the praise any way I can get it! I have a baby who loves food way too much!Thank you to everyone who has helped us so far! We've had dinners from people in our singles ward that Reed still serves in, and from my family members. I'm grateful for all of it! I'm also glad I'm the last girl in the family to have a baby. One sister checked out some things I was concerned about (she's a pediatric nurse at the hospital), and another sister came and clipped his fingernails without me having to ask. I was afraid to do it. My other sister's family brought us celebration sparkling cider because the first week is the hardest, and others I can just pass off to and not worry about how he's being fed, or if he'll be burped, or how they're holding him. It's fabulous. They've literally all given me a break! Except Annalee... she has failed. But she's hundreds of miles away, so I'll let it slide. Just this time. haha!
I promised a friend I'd post lots of pictures of Carson in this blog, so friend- there you go! and the rest of you- deal with it. ;)
One last word- grumpy baby= bouncer shopping. 50$ bouncer that stops crying= priceless.
