First Family Pics

Here are a few of his first family pics at the hospital. I was amazed at how many people came to welcome him into the world. Everyone was so excited! It was hard to get the new grandmas to share with everyone else. ;0)

  

 

 

 

Labor/Delivery Experience

So, I have a few pregnant friends that always ask me to be candid when it comes to my pregnancy and delivery experience. All of my friends who have kids told me prior to my delivery, "All the pain, tearing, bleeding, etc. is worth it once you hold your baby for the first time. You forget all about it."  I remember snickering and saying, "Ok, fine. Keep lying to me." But...now I know, it wasn't a lie. I too now live in this reality where my son's first screams and tiny features trump all.

For those of you that have kids may not care to read on, since it's mostly detailing my labor and delivery. This is more for those friends that want my take on the experience. My labor started Saturday after spending the day at Apple Hill with my family. Here we are at Apple Hill.

Who knew Baby J would be here two days later?  I had 2 mild contractions on the way home from Apple Hill, which were my first during pregnancy. I didn't think much of it until later that night when they started coming approximately 10 minutes apart. They weren't very painful just like mild cramps, so I went to sleep and they tapered off.

Sunday I headed to deVere's Irish Pub to take some staff/restaurant photos for them. That night my contractions became closer together at 5 minutes apart and a bit stronger. They continued to get stronger but still 4-5 minutes apart. I was trying to hold out, since I'd heard that if you go to the hospital too early they will send you home. I held out until about 12:30 or 1 a.m. before I woke Johnny up to take me to the hospital. We got to triage and the Dr. checked me. He said he expected our little one in the next day or two.  One of the nurses told me that you can have labor "like this" for a week or more before the baby comes. What?! How is that helpful? I was only dilated to 2, so I was given an embarrassing excuse for a sleep aid, and sent home!!!  Laboring at home, for me, was by far the worst part! It was uncomfortable and difficult. I didn't know what to expect or how I was progressing. Thankfully I had an appointment Monday morning at 9 a.m. I asked Johnny to call my mom to come take me to my appointment while he went to work for 2 hours. He tried to stay home, but I told him to go, since I felt there wasn't anything he could do until I was further along.When we got to my appointment and Dr. King checked me I was dilated to 4. Yeah!!! We were sent to the hospital!!

From there my contractions progressed and I labored until late afternoon without an epidural.  The comforting thing about labor is that for each contraction that I was having, I knew it would pass. Sometimes I would watch the monitor and breathe through it, while other times I would close my eyes and time my breathing with each squeeze of my stress ball. BTW_ My stress ball was the best thing I brought for laboring!!!

After my epidural and laboring down a bit, the only thing left to do was push. I pushed so hard that I thought for sure I would pop a blood vessel in my face. They say it was 6 good pushes and he was out! Hearing that first scream and feeling him on my chest was surreal. A few stitches for me and some meconium sucked from Baby Johnny and we were rejoined for an hour of skin to skin.

Bree was a rockstar and caught labor and post delivery photos. 

 The bottom monitor is tracking my contractions.

 And then I got an epidural when I was dilated to 6. Ahhh....sweet relief!! Now what were we talking about?

Labor/Delivery Photos

We were a little hesitant about having photos taken leading up to and immediately following delivery, but I WILL NEVER REGRET our decision!! These photos are priceless. Thanks Bree for capturing all these touching images. How could you even see to take these pics through tears?? Priceless.

 

 

Newborn Pics

Bree came over yesterday and took some newborn pics of Baby Johnny at 9 days old. They are going to be so precious, but she sent me this pic to hold me over. I can't stop staring at him and this angelic photo. I heart him.

Going Home

We are getting to head home after 3 nights in the hospital. Since Baby Johnny was born 15 days early and had a hard time latching on to feed we had to stay a few extra days.  Now it's time to go home. We had a few scary moments during delivery when his heart rate dropped, he came out with the cord around his neck and some muconium that needed to be sucked out.  Everything turned out fantastic! He is so beautiful. Our midwife and nurses at Kaiser were amazing and helped us deliver a healthy baby boy.  Now....let's go home....

Welcome Baby Johnny!

Baby Johnny is here! 14 days early. He was born at 8:55 p.m. on Monday, October 4th. He was 6 lbs. 14 oz. and 20" long. Have you ever seen a more perfect baby?! We can't wait for you all to meet him. Thanks to Bree for these amazing pics!

Braxton Hicks? Labor? Too Much Apple Hill Goodness?

Yesterday we went up to Apple Hill to spend the day with my family. Walking, eating, chatting, shopping, relaxing, eating....it was a great time. The weather was perfect and we had a nice day with the fam before the baby gets here. After my mom mentioned the Apple Crumb dessert with Tahoe Creamery ice cream and homemade apple syrup at Kids Inc. ranch in Apple Hill, I couldn't get it out of my head. Mmmm....my eyes were bigger than my stomach (well....that surely can't be literally!).

On the way home I had a brief contraction in the afternoon and they started to pick up in the evening after my shower. I started counting contractions which were coming almost every 10 minutes, feeling similar to menstrual cramps and my uterus would harden making my stomach feel solid.  They were lasting 30-45 seconds and then I started having back pain. I thought for certain that might be our cue, but I was trying not to rush to the table since I hear that most women with their first pregnancy get sent home one or a few times due to Braxton Hicks.

My contractions have lightened up and now we're back to the waiting game. Parents on standby and us on red alert, any day now we hope to welcome Baby Johnny. We have a Dr. appointment tomorrow morning so we'll see...