Cupcakes, Nail Polish, Tummy Time, and Rubber Duckies

Picture Time:
Here's a few pictures from our visit with my mom, Brian, Jay, and Candie. These were taken a few days before Ben was born. And then I have pictures from a couple of days ago of Ben's tummy time and the kid's first bath "together."
Update on Everything Else:
My joint dysfunction is still...dysfunctioning (is that a word?). On Friday I bawled like a baby to the chiropractor (still working out those postpartum hormones). I just reached the point of being very frustrated with the constant pain...especially because I'm feeling ready to get back out there. You know, a walk around the block, a trip to the grocery store...can't do any of that with this dang problem. And, of course, I let the mind wander into thinking it could be permanent and affect my job and the rest of my life!!! So after 1/4 of the box of Kleenex, I came back to reality, listened to the chiropractor telling me that it will go away in the next few weeks, and to get rid of that crazy fear stuff. So, I'm better now...positive thoughts, ice on the hip, Jason to the store.
Sidenote: Funny story about Jason to the store. We ran out of pullups for Abby today. Realized it at naptime. Lovely. She is fully potty-trained except for sleeping. And even with that-she's starting to wake up dry. I just haven't pushed the issue yet with everything going on. So Jason puts a swim diaper on her and went to the store to get more pullups. Now-in the pullup section, there are blue boxes and pink boxes. Blue boxes have boys on them with Diego or Cars everywhere, pink boxes have girls on them with princesses everywhere. Of course Jason comes home with a big ol' box of the boy pullups. I was like, "Honey-you didn't notice the pink boxes with princesses on the pullups?!?" Nope-not at all. So, Abby is all excited about "Cars" pullups (we just watched the movie a few weeks ago) and her blue pullups. I have no idea if the pullups are the same between boys and girls or made differently since they kinda pee in different areas? We'll see.
Okay-here's the pictures.
CUPCAKES WITH NANA





FUN WITH UNCLE JAY AND AUNT CANDIE


BEN'S TUMMY TIME AND TOESIES WITH ABBY




(I love this picture!)

BATHTIME FOR TWO AND ABBY'S SHOWCASE OF RUBBER DUCKIES (SHE LOVES THEM)




GETTING BIG ALREADY (GROWING OUT OF NEWBORN STUFF!)

"This is Temporary!"

I desperately went to see a chiropractor on Monday. I have "Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction." Basically the swivel joint that connects your backbone to your pelvis (the main joint when walking) is stiff and not moving on my right side. Thus the excruciating pain that I get when walking in my right lower back/butt/hip. Good news is that it is temporary and can be fixed. I'm not sure if carrying an almost 9 lb. baby did this, or the c-section (quite a physical surgery...lots of pushing, pulling, tugging, etc)-but I'm hoping to be cured and back to my normal walking self in the next few weeks. Other news is that I have a small spot on my incision that looks infected (my reaction: "you've got to be kidding me!"). So I'm taking antibiotics plus warm moist compresses four times a day. At 6:30 this morning, I'm laying on the couch with an ice pack on my right hip, hot compresses on my stomach, and telling Jason, "This body is taking a beating..." I feel like I'm 31 going on 81. I keep reminding myself, "This is temporary!"
Benjamin had his two week checkup yesterday. He's 8 lbs. 15 1/2 oz. now. Filling out quite nicely and has such a laid back disposition (most of the time). Here are the exceptions: He HATES the carseat for those 5 minutes it takes to strap him in, get him in the car, and get the car turned on and moving. Screams bloody murder. And he HATES a poopy diaper. In the split second it's dirty, he's hollering about it. There's no five minute window with him. I wonder too if boys poop more than girls? Cause he poops a lot...maybe I just forgot that detail about Abby when she was a newborn. Other than that, he sleeps like a dream, eats like a champ, and snuggles like a lamb. I just love him too much already.
Abigail is doing better. She has been great with Ben from day one in loving on him, kissing him, etc. But she hasn't taken too well to being knocked off her princess throne. Everything is an issue with mom and dad. Everything is a temper tantrum, or a defiant "NO!", or complete disregard for us talking to her. Needless to say, we've had lots of timeouts and spankings, and "We don't talk like that in this household!" conversations. Which always leads to her saying "I'm sorry", lots of hugs and kisses, and "I love you so much!" conversations. The last few days have been better....instead of everything being an issue...we're down to some things. I know it's a combination of her turning 3 plus not getting 100% attention from us 100% of the time. And again, I'm telling myself, "This is temporary!"

These First Few Days....

Abby is 3 years old. Meaning it's been 3 years since we did this newborn stuff. 3 years is a long time. I have to admit-I didn't even think once about how I would be losing sleep once the baby came. Just never crossed my mind....total brain fart. So our first two nights at home, Ben was completely flipped in his days/nights. Meaning I was up from about 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. both nights. Talk about a reality check! Thankfully though, he has been a great sleeper since those first two nights. I get about 3-4 hours of straight sleep, feed him, and then another 3 hours before our morning gets started. Not too bad for this early in the ballgame.
So, GOOD THOUGHTS: the hormones are getting back under control, the incision is sore but doable, the nursing thing is working itself out, and the weight is falling away quite nicely. BAD THOUGHTS: My only major complaint is lower back and right hip pain. I walk like a 90 year old lady with major arthritis. It started a few days after Ben was born, and it hasn't gotten any better. My doctor says just to rest it...well, that's nice and all, but I have a 3 year old and a new baby and a working husband. And I'm a little tired of taking 600 mg of Ibuprofen every 6 hours just to keep the edge off. So I'm hoping and praying that this is temporary cause it hurts like the dickens to walk at all. If anyone had any problems like this after a c-section-I would love a word of advice.
Here's a couple of pictures....
Ben's first bath at home



Trying out the swing...not too crazy about it yet.

Abby giving Ben a bottle (with lots of guidance). Pardon the panties...she hasn't quite worked out putting the shorts back on after she pees.

Our Hospital Pictures of Ben

In the OR-right when they pulled him out.

In the OR-checking him out, cleaning him up.

My Name is Ben.

Abigail meeting her little brother for the 1st time.

Abigail holding Ben for the 1st time.

One proud daddy!

Grandma and Ben.

Jason, his mom, and Ben.

Nana and Ben.

Nana, Granddad, and Abby with Ben.

A closeup of our fella.

A couple of days old...more awake this time.

I love my little boy!

Snuggling already.

Picture of Ben

Well, we're still at the hospital. My incision is bigger than the 1st one, and (I hate to admit it) but I'm still having a significant amount of pain some of the time. Two Percocets are keeping me comfortable but when they wear off-let's just say it's not good. So my mom and stepdad left last night (got a room close to the airport), and we are going home tomorrow morning. I'm not stir crazy yet, but I can feel it building up a little. My mother-in-law emailed me some pictures she took so here are some of them. I have some great shots but can't get them off my camera yet until we get home.

In the Quiet of the Morning...

I'm sitting here in the hospital room with nothing but peace and quiet around me. My two guys are sleeping for now-soon both will wake up hungry :) so I thought I'd send off a note before life got busy again. I am a blessed woman. A wonderful husband, a spunky redheaded girl, and now a beautiful boy in my family.
We are headed home today (hopefully). A day early but my mom is leaving on Friday morning, and I would love to just have a day at home getting settled into our new life with her around to help out. Here's a quick story of the Ben details....
The Technical Issues:
I was scheduled to have him on Monday but due to my doctor's scheduling crisis, I got bumped until Tuesday. We came in Tuesday morning and the hospital says, "oh we tried to call you....lots of women came in last night for labor issues, and we don't have a bed for you. so we can't tell you when you might have the baby, but no eating or drinking until you hear from us." So we (me, Jason, my mom and stepdad) turn around and go home. They make breakfast, and I cry. But all is well, when about 45 minutes later, the hospital calls and says, "We have a bed!" Jason just finished making his yummy breakfast, so I drive and he eats. I gotta get this bed before someone else walks in in labor! Watch out-emotional, hungry, thirsty, pregnant lady coming through!
Smooth Operation:
The c-section went great! Got a spinal, it worked like a charm. They walked me into the OR at 9:45 a.m. and he was born at 10:17 a.m. He wasn't even all the way out yet, when my doctors say, "You won't believe what color hair he has!" Oh yes, another redhead! As I'm peering at him getting worked on while I'm still on the table, I asked, "Hmm...how big is he?" The pediatrician in there eyeballed him and said about 8 1/2 to 9 lbs. Sure enough, the boy is 8 lbs. 14 oz. and 21 1/2 inches long. No wonder my hip joints felt dislocated those last few days.
Who He Looks Like:
Of course he changes every day so who knows who he will really look like. At first, he looked identical to Abby when she was born. But after the puffiness has faded, he looks a bit different than her. He has a lot more hair than she did. He almost needs a haircut-it's long in back and over the ears. And the hair color-it's like a copper color-brown but full of red in it too. I'm curious to see what it stays to be. But with him and Abby next to each other, their hair color looks the same. Ben also has a different-looking chin than Abby. I think it's a Boston chin like my brothers and I have. It's a cute chin-kinda sticks out there and says, "look at me." He is also a very content baby. He doesn't cry to much, but rather likes to look around, check everyone out, and is happy just being rocked or cuddled. Definitely not how Abigail was. She had to be just so-so, didn't like being swaddled, and to this day, is still not much of a cuddler. Ben loves to be swaddled tight....we've had a quick relearning with that.
Big Sister, Little Brother:
So far, so good. Abby is all smiles when she sees him. She picked out a plush "My 1st Soccer Ball" as his first gift from her (very much an Abby gift). Ben got her a silver piggy bank that said, "For My Big Sister, Abigail Elizabeth. Love, Baby Ben." So no one has gotten to keep their change when they come and visit us. (She loves piggy banks...she's like her daddy that way).
Okay-both the guys are up so I'm off. When we get home today, I'll post some pictures. Thanks for all the emails, prayers, and support. :)
Love, Jenn

Tuesday is Baby Day!

Just a few short days to go! My mom, stepdad, brother, and sister-in-law are all here and we're having a great time. Abby is loving the busy and full house. I am oh so ready to get this baby out...I'm hot constantly. Like a walking human incubator. But it will all be worth it! Just an update...we'll post pics of the new little man soon.