Week 2

This was my first week alone with him and it was nice to just be able to bond with my son.  I love him so much and love watching the different things he does.

Over the weekend while changing his diaper his bell cap fell off.  I was kind of nervous to clean the area but they said once it falls off by its self than you are fine.  I was also lucky because he was going back to the doctor this week for his check up anyway.  So she could look at it and tell me if I needed to do anything.  This also gave me a chance to have her look at his belly button since it had been bleeding some during the week. 

At his doctors visit on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 she was pleased once again at his weight gain.  His weight was 6 lbs and 7oz and 20 1/2 inches long.  His head circumference was at 13.5 inches.  I also had her check his belly button and circumcision area's.  Everything looked good, she said that the belly button will bleed for awhile until it completely heals.  We also had to go back to the Hospital for his last PKU newborn blood test.  We don't have to take him back to the doctor until he is 2 months old.  His reports make me so happy because I feel like I am not always doing things right but then we come to the doctor and see how well he is gaining weight and everything and it makes me so much more relaxed.

I gave him another bath this week and again he loved it so much. I am so happy with him and his bathing experiences. I would have thought a baby would just cry and cry the whole time during their bath. This just makes me so happy that I am now going to make sure we get him into the swimming classes as soon as we can.

Thursday my dad came up so that he could drive us down to Houston for our annual Easter family gathering.  Since Taylor had to work.  We left Friday late morning after stopping by daddy's work so that Taylor could see Christopher before we left.  Christopher loves riding in the car.  I was thinking that he would cry at some point during the ride but he was a really good boy.  We did stop in Madisonville and ate lunch and I changed his diaper and let him stretch out.

I love seeing all the facial expressions Christopher does.  He is such a happy boy and I am enjoying being his mom.  Motherhood is precious and I am enjoying ever minute of it.  He smiles so much and it just melts my heart every time.     

This week I was wanting to compare Christopher's size to something.  All this time having Frankie I have thought how little he was until I had him lay next to Christopher and I got this shot.

1st Week Home

Home with our Sweet Baby Boy

After being in the hospital a couple of days by Sunday, March 25th we were ready to go home.  At first Christopher did not like the car seat but then he calmed down.  He loved the car ride home.  I was a little frightened to leave and not have the hospital nurses there at all time but I was happy to go home and be home with my little boy.  Being a mom is such a wonderful thing and being home with him even felt better. 

We had many visitors come to the hospital and meet our little guy and Taylor and I were happy to show him off. 

Christopher had his hearing test in the hospital and he passed with flying colors.  We laughed when she was getting him ready because he looked like he had headphones on and listening to music.

The first week home I was so happy to have my mom here with me to help us if we needed anything.  She cooked, cleaned and did anything that was needed not letting me do anything.  I am so grateful that she was able to stay with us and help out.  She is a life saver.  And yes she loved getting to spend the time with Christopher.  I love seeing her walk over to where he is and just look at him and smile.  His Granny loves him so much.

When we left the hospital Christopher's discharge weight was 5lbs 13oz.  Which is a 5% weight loss from his birth weight.  At 5 days old we went in for his first doctors visit with Dr. Laura Harn and she was so pleased with him.  His weight was 6lbs 3oz which made her very happy because he was passed his birth weight and normally babies don't do that especially breastfeeding babies.  I am now able to not wake him up every 2 to 3 hours during the night to feed him and let him sleep until he wakes up.  His length was 19 1/2 inches long and head circumference was 13.25 inches.  We go back next week for his two week old check-up.

The rest of the week was just getting use to having him home.  He had his first bath at home and this boy loves getting a bath.  I am so surprised that he didn't scream once I placed him in the water.  He just laid there smiling.  Hopefully that will last and he will love bath time.  Friday when changing his diaper I noticed that his umbilical cord fell off.  I did love seeing that only at a week old he was able to hold and put his pacifier in his mouth.  I put the paci in his mouth and it fell out and he put it in his mouth and then held it there for awhile.  Such a big boy at such a young age.

Week 40!!!!

Well the waiting game is still on and I have now reached my 39th/40th week.  Which ever week this is now, since the due date keep changing.  I went to the doctor on Wednesday, March 21st and I am now at 3cm.  The heart beat is still going strong and healthy.  I actually have recorded the last 2 heart beats on my phone while the doctor was listening to it.  After the doctor checked me out he said that we will need to schedule something for next week and he walked out.  Taylor and I looked at each other and kind of smiled because we were finally getting some kind of due date.  Well the doctor came back in and discussed that he put me on a waiting list for my inducement from Thursday, March 29th to Thursday, April 5th.  They will give me a call a day before to let me know when to come in.  I know, a waiting list for having a baby sounds crazy to me too.  But good news is that since I have dilated to 3cm already he doesn't think that I will make it to next Thursday or further.  After the doctor checked me out and he walked out he had me clean up and get dressed I noticed that I was bleeding a little bit and it scared me.  So I asked him about the bleeding and he said that he scrapped the membrane and also checked the baby so that is why I would be bleeding and also I would have some mild cramping.  It scared me for a bit.  He actually apologized for not warning me first since he knew that it was going to happen.  He also said that the baby was floating good, whatever that means.  He had me schedule another doctors appointment for Tuesday, March 27th at 10am just in case I have not had this kiddo by then.  Crossing my fingers and going to walk a lot more to try and have this kiddo soon.  This Momma is getting anxious. 

Something that I am excited about it that for the last couple of doctors visit I have not gained any weight I have stayed the same weight for at least 2 months now, if it isn't the same weight it is less.  So hopefully that means this baby is not going to be huge.  From looking at me in my point of view I am huge but then I have looked at other ladies that are in the office and it is really all belly.  I hope I am able to lose this baby weight fast and be back to a normal weight for me.

Drum Roll Please

It's a Boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday, March 22, 2012 I wasn't feeling to good all day and when I went to bed I tried to get comfortable, never even going to sleep.  I felt a really strange kick from the kiddo and then 10 to 15 minutes later to my surprise at 1:10 am March 23, 2012 my water breaks.  And when I say breaks I mean OMG!!!!! I didn't know I could hold that much fluid.  I got Taylor to come into the bedroom to tell him and then I called my parents.  I felt bad because I woke them up but I wanted to get them on the road as soon as possible. Taylor and I calmly got things together and we both took showers.  I wasn't in any pain so I told him to not rush. 

We got to the Hospital about 45 minutes after my water broke and they got me into a room.  Luckily I was still in no pain they started getting me ready and putting in the IV's and things.  I made sure to remind them that Dr. Branning wanted them to treat me as a Group B positive patient.  I settled into my room (Room: LDR4) and called my parents once again to let them know and to see where they were.  Then around 3am the nurse (Nurse: Leslie) came into check me I was still only 3 cm dilated so they suggested I get some rest.  Well, rest was not on my mind the pain started to come and then at around 5am it started to get worse.  My parents got to the hospital at around 6:30am and thankfully my mom was there because I started to get sick and the pain started to worsen.  At 7am it was shift change and my day Nurse was Shannon and she helped with everything from there on.  At 7:30 the anesthesiologist came in for my epidural.  But before they gave me the epidural they gave me some other medicine to try to calm the pain of the contractions.  Once she put the meds in my IV she said that I will be happy in no time and feeling like I had a couple of margarita's and she was right.  I was getting asked questions and I could barely answer them and I would look at my mom and Taylor and they were laughing at me because I looked drunk.  Once the epidural kicked in my nurse started me on pushing.  I only pushed for a little while then she called the doctor to come in and finish.  She said at one point that I needed to stop pushing because she didn't want to deliver the baby.  Funny they tell you to push and then they tell to to stop because he was coming way to fast.  Christopher Landon Vaughn was born at 8:56am. 

The labor was quick and easy just like my first delivery but this time the doctor had problems with my placenta.  The umbilical cord broke off of the placenta and the placenta went back into my body.  It took the doctor over an hour to remove the placenta.  Glad I got the epidural!!! 

Christopher is healthy and happy.  He got his first bath in the room with us.  About 2 hours after Christopher was born and getting everything done with me and him in the labor room they moved us to my postpartum room (Room: 271).  After getting settled in we finally were able to have our family join us and for them to meet our beautiful son.

 

 Christopher Landon Vaughn

6lbs 1.7 oz.

19 inches long

Our nurses for the rest of the day were day nurse for me Sonya and nursery nurse was Misi (Melissa) and then at 7pm was shift change and my nurse was Kandy and nursery nurse was Jennifer.

Week 39

My mom came in Thursday night 3/8/12 because I was having contractions during the day but nothing happened over the weekend.  Me and mom went shopping picking up odds and ends to get ready for the baby's arrival on Friday and then Saturday we met up with Taylor and went looking for a crib.  Finally Taylor and I found a crib that we both liked and we got it.  We also got a dresser to match.  Everything was finally coming together.  We haven't set the crib up since we really don't need it yet but we did put the dresser in the room and then me and mom started filling the drawers with clothing and blankets.  Mom and I also went through the stuff again and arranged it and started organizing it.  I still feel so unorganized.

I had a scheduled doctors appointment Tuesday March 13th at 10:30 but that morning at 5:30am I was awaken with pain and more stronger contractions.  I waited to see if it was what I thought it was and the pain and pressure didn't go away.  I woke my mom up at around 6:15am and we just talked trying to figure out if we needed to call my dad and have him get started on the drive up here.  Well the contractions kept coming so we called him at around 7am.  Tried to wait as long as possible just because it was so early.  Me and mom got up and started getting things ready then at around 8:25a I called my doctors office and spoke with the answering service and they called my doctor.  My doctor called me back and had me come in as soon as possible.  When we got to the doctors office we all were expecting to hear lets go to the hospital and have this baby.  Well my blood pressure was up some but nothing to be worried about they could tell that the blood pressure was up because I was in pain.  Then I get on the scale and I lost 10lbs Woo-Hoo for that.  So then they had me give a urine sample like always and sent me into a room.  The doctor came in he checked the baby's heart and that was perfect then it was time to check to see how much I had dilated.  Well that's when he told me that my cervix hadn't dilated but 1cm so that means that I was now just at a 2cm.  We talked and he told me that I still had a ways to go and that he would see me next week.  He then also told me that he wasn't going to induce me until after my appointment next week.  I asked I thought you wanted me to get past 3/11 and that my due date was 3/17.  He then said that he would be back he was going to go read my chart to see why he told me 3/17 was my due date and also to make sure that what I wasn't dealing with an urinary track infection or any other infection.  Everything was fine he checked my urine and it was clear. I was actually not to worried because of how much water I had been drinking. And then we got to the topic of my due date yet again it had changed and it is now back to 3/26.  You could tell that I was getting so frustrated because they keep changing my due date and keep changing what they tell me from the previous appointments.  He did say that since I am having contractions that it could be any day but that day it was just a false labor.  I was so upset because I had already called my dad and had him starting the drive up here so we hurried up with scheduling next weeks appointment so that I could call him and see if he wasn't almost here and that maybe he could just turn around.  Well we were to late he was already over half way here.  But I am so glad that he came anyway just to spend time with both of them.  Mom and Dad left Wednesday 3/14 but told me to call them as soon as I feel anything.  I am so cautious to call them anymore I just want to call people when my water actually breaks now and tell them to come then.  Then I would at least not waste there time coming up here for no reason.  Labor is just so hard to pin point and it is frustrating because I want them here so bad when the baby arrives.  They both told me to not worry about the travels and that they were happy to come up here.  But I still feel bad because I feel like I wasted there time and money driving up here.

It is now just a waiting game for now.  Maybe next week we will be able to meet our new little bundle of joy.  Crossing my fingers.  I have another doctors appointment scheduled for Wednesday, March 21st so we will see if I make it till then and if so hopefully then we can schedule something.  I have made Taylor start walking with me around the neighborhood and we also went shopping to walk some more.  I am trying anything now to meet my little one.  It's the unknown that I just can't wait for anymore.  All these things are going through my mind.  I keep feeling this kiddo kick me and all I can think about now is Who will it look like?, How big is this kiddo?, Boy? or Girl?, What will it's personality be like?, and so on.  I just can't wait to finally meet my little one. 

Week 38 and still going strong



Well, Week 37 came and went and I went to the doctor Tuesday , March 6th and still nothing has changed.  I am now thinking that this kiddo is very comfortable and content and doesn't want to enter into the world.  Or it will be just like it's Daddy and late to everything.  :-)  So we are still waiting and getting more and more anxious to meet our little bundle of joy each and every day.

Work is getting harder and harder to do with this big belly of mine.  Plus I'm trying to make the schedule for next week and I don't know if I need to schedule me there or not.  Kind of up in the air right now.  I think that I am just going to schedule me to work and then if I go into labor they can work it out.  I love all my customers.  They are all very supportive and excited too.  I get asked each and every day your still here!!  Sometimes it makes me somewhat sad but I know that they are just excite to meet our little one too.  Only time will tell with this kiddo.  :-) 

I am still feeling this kiddo a lot.  Last night it felt like I it was dancing and playing soccer all at the same time.  I am hoping that since I feel a lot of movement and since i really haven't gained that much weight this last month that it means this kiddo will be small and not a 15lb baby.  But at the same time I am kind of hoping that it is at least a 50lb baby and I wont have to exercise much to loose all the baby weight.  If it was up to Taylor this kiddo would be coming out at the age of his nephew Miles is right now because he said that Miles is a cool kid and healthy and strong.  Could you imagine being pregnant carrying a one year old in your belly.  Oh my that would be miserable.  I told Taylor that baby's are not as fragile as they look and that he will be fine.  But he is just scared that he will hurt the baby because it will be so small.  So once this kiddo gets to be 6 months and is stronger I guess I loose my child to both its Daddy and Paw-Paw.  Because we already know that the grand kids are Paw-Paws once they get to be about 6 months old because then he can play with them and rough around with them and have fun with them.  My dad is such a great Paw-Paw and to see him with all the kids crawling all over him is so much fun.  But he has been that way all my life so I knew he was always going to be a great Paw-Paw.

Well my bag is finally packed and the outfits that we have chose are in the bag as well.  We even threw in a receiving blanket that someone will bring home to big brother Jagrrr and the rest of the kids to smell so that they have the scent of their little brother or sister.  I think I am finally all prepared for the arrival of our little one.  We have the bassinet up and ready and also the Pack & Play.  Diapers are placed around the house for easy access and also the car seat carrier is all ready to go.  Clothes and blankets all washed up as well.  Granny will still have to do some washing once we know the gender of the baby and size of this little monster.  But as of right now we are all good to go.  Now we are just on a waiting game to see when we will finally meet our little bundle of joy.

The evening of Wednesday, March 7th and all day Thursday, March 8th I started feeling contractions.  I called my doctor and they told me to start tracking the contractions.  The contractions we 30 minutes apart lasting about 10 minutes each.  The only thing that I thought was strange was that I was not in any pain.  I called my mom and we spoke throughout the day.  After talking to the doctor and his nurse a couple of times my mom decided to leave Houston and drive up here just in case anything was to happen.  The contractions lasted through the day I decided that since I was having the contractions that I would take it easy for now on.  I stayed at work the rest of the day Thursday but decided to not work Friday and anymore until the baby arrives.  Everyone at work was amazed that I was having contractions and working at the same time.  But again that is me being hard headed.  Since I wasn't in any pain I was going to stay at work.  These contractions are more pressure and my belly getting rock hard than pain.  I was thinking that at first I might be dehydrated so I started drinking more and more water to see if the pressure and cramping would stop.  All I did Thursday night was pee every 5 mins then.  Well Friday, March 9th they are still about the same and the timing is about the same too.  So we are just gonna wait and see what happens.  Maybe we might get to meet our bundle of joy soon.  Can't wait!!!!!!!!!

If nothing happens this weekend I have another appointment for next week Tuesday, March 13 so then hopefully since I will be at my 39th week we can, if the baby isn't here already, then maybe schedule inducing.  My mom is going to stay until atleast Tuesday for the appointment if nothing happens.  One thing my doctor said that made us laugh because he is trying to calm me down with humor since I am so scared of the Group B strep situation.  So he told me if I go into labor and have to rush into the hospital then while we are rushing into the hospital Taylor or myself needs to be saying Group B positive and need antibiotics the whole time we are walking in.  I am just hoping that it doesn't get to that.   

Week 37!!!

37 weeks down and still no baby!!!! :-)

My Birthday came and went. I was able to enjoy my parents with me for my birthday and we just spent the day just the 4 of us doing really nothing but laying around the house and getting stuff ready for the baby. We went out to eat later that night to my favorite place Benihana's. And it sure was yummy!!!!  Then at home later that night we ate cake.  I really enjoyed my birthday because I was surrounded by loved ones and just relaxing.  What a great day we all had!!

Normally at Benhiana's they take a picture for your Birthday but for some reason they couldn't something about the camera so my mom just took a picture of me and Taylor with my phone not the best picture but at least I got something.

Went to the doctor Tuesday 2/28/12 and everything was still right on track haven't really changed from last week.  The doctor did say that my cervix is very soft and ready for this baby when it's ready to join us in the world.  He told me to start talking to my belly and to tell the baby "come on lets go" we want to meet you.  :-)  The doctor is thinking that the baby will be here the week of March 10th.  February 29th came and went and I was so happy for that I kept telling everyone that I am going to keep my legs crossed and not let this baby have a Leap Year birthday.  I would have loved to share my birthday with my child that would have been such a special gift I think. I wasn't looking forward to going into labor on Leap Year so I am happy that day came and went. Now I will be happy with any date.

While going through the baby's stuff and setting things up Taylor tried on a carrier that we had and wanted to see if it worked.  He looks so cute with that precious baby we had!!!!!  I think she looks just like her Daddy!!!!  :-)

Taylor, my mom and I also went through some of Landon's stuff and got that out as well.  We also washed some clothes, sheets, and blankets and also got the bassinet and pack & play out and all ready to go.  We are getting closer and closer to D-Day and wanted to have some things ready.  I still have a lot of clothes to wash and tons of blankets and sheets.  But I only wanted to wash a few things just because one we don't know the gender of the baby and also how big this kiddo will be.  Don't want to wash things we will not be using. 

I am feeling this baby move a lot and I have started feeling a little strange but again like I told the doctor I have never been 37 weeks pregnant so I don't know what normal feels like.  Landon was born at 35 weeks.  What is funny with Taylor is that I can't have a strange expression on my face without him asking me if I am ok.  Monday evening after my parents left and we were just relaxing before we went out again looking for a crib.  Because I wanted to show Taylor a couple that me and mom found earlier that day.  I was laying in my recliner and I had realized that I haven't felt the baby move for a couple of hours.  And the strange thing was that I had a huge lump and my stomach was hard as a rock.  I got a little scared.  So I went to lay down in our bed and try to reposition the baby and see if that would help.  After about 10 minutes of laying there and rubbing my belly I started feeling the baby move again.  At first I was getting nervous at that moment and then I started laughing because mom and dad had only been gone for about 2 hours.  And I didn't want to have to call them to tell them to turn around.  Luckily nothing happened.  I am hoping that this kiddo will give them time to be there at the hospital.

We go back to the doctor Tuesday, March 6th so we will see what he has to say then.  People all around me are getting anxious and ready for me to have this kiddo.  My customers are even asking me at work how much longer and that I better call them and let them know.  I am so lucky that I have so many people that care about me and our family.

Week 36

OH MY!!!!!!!!!!!!  I am getting closer and closer to the end.  I went to the doctor Monday, 2/20/12 while walking from the parking lot to the building they called me to let me know that the doctor was sick and that we needed to reschedule.  So I rescheduled my visit for the next day.  Tuesday, 2/21/12 was my doctors visit and as of right now I am dilated to 1cm and the doctor is happy with that.  He is hoping that I stay that way for the next couple of weeks.  The heart beat is still really strong and is everything that the doctor is wanting to hear.  No more stress per the doctor so that this kiddo can keep cooking and grow healthier.  So I will be relaxing more at work and having more and more people do things for me instead of me doing the tasks.  That is very hard for me to do but the health of me and my child is more important.

Since I am at week 36 I am starting to get nervous I am starting to worry about everything that we went through with Landon and hoping that it doesn't happen again.  When speaking with the doctor Tuesday I asked him at which point can we schedule me for inducing but he doesn't want to schedule anything until I am dilated further.  I am just scared that next week I will be dilated further and it will be to late again.  I know that what I went through with Landon probably wont happen again but if you have ever been in that situation then you understand my worries and feeling and if not then you have no clue what I am going through and probably do not understand my worries.  People have asked me why I have not posted anything about my pregnancy on Facebook or really talked about the pregnancy a lot.  Well for me what I went through and the excitement and joy of this pregnancy has been covered up with fear.  How I feel is completely understanding to some people and they completely agree with how I have handled it.  I will post about the baby and speak more freely when our baby is safe, healthy and home.  I keep getting the same question through this whole pregnancy about what sex/gender I want.  Well if you have ever been in my shoes then you will understand my response to everyone that asks me.  My response has always been that I don't care the sex/gender of the child just as long as our baby comes home and is healthy.  So until we are home and I am at ease with everything we are not talking publicly about anything.  Yes or course family, close friends and my customers and employees know about it but just random people on Facebook and any other aquatints we may have just will find out once our bundle of joy is home and safe in our arms.  If you walk into our home you will still notice all the baby stuff in its boxes and that nothing is set up.  Well that again in another way that I show my fear.  I am to scared to set anything up or wash anything and even start to get ready for the arrival home.  I am just so scared of heartbreak again.  I have started packing a bag and Taylor did get the highchair out and set it up because he wanted to.  I am just to scared to do anything and I am always wanting someone there to help me I don't like doing stuff alone when it comes to the set-up.  I have joked that my mom will be washing everything the night before we are to come home.  It is my way of still having the fear but joking about it at the same time. 

At 36 weeks the baby is now around 18½ inches long and nearly 6 pounds—just about as big as a breadbox!  We are getting closer and closer, they now say at the end of this week, that the baby will be considered full-term.  WOO HOO!!!!!!  The funny thing is in everything that I am reading about week 36 it states that the baby has little room to move; so I will not feel it as vigorously as I did in the last weeks.  Well that is totally wrong with this kiddo because this kiddo is moving around a lot more and hasn't really been sleeping much.  I hope that doesn't mean anything once the baby gets hear.  Because this Momma wants to be able to sleep!!!  Also I found out through reading that the baby’s bones are completely hardened and acquire a solid structure through which it can now make a grand entry into the new world. The muscle tone is also improved by this week and the baby’s gums will become very rigid.  This week I have felt a little different then the last couple of weeks.  My lower back is aching a lot more and I can't get comfortable when sleeping.  I am also starting to walk slower and slower.  There are other things going on with my body that make me feel like this kiddo will be here anytime now.

As you can see this week there was a drastic change I did to my hair.  Yes I finally cut all my hair off.  It was getting to thick and to long.  That is so funny for me to even be saying because if you know me I am not one to have short hair but my hair was drying out and to frizzy.  So I decided to cut it all off.  I also treated myself to a Mani & Pedi for the first time in almost 2 1/2 years.  It felt so good to finally do something for me and very relaxing.  The main reason for the Pedi was because I couldn't bend down and over to paint or even trim my toes.  So the hair cut and the Mani & Pedi were kind of an early Birthday gift to myself.  Because this coming Sunday, February 26 is my 32nd birthday.  :-) 

I see the doctor next Tuesday, February 28th so we will see then what he has to say.  Hopefully we can schedule something so both Taylor and I can finally meet our baby soon.  We can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!