2 weeks old

Jackson had his 2 week checkup this morning. This is mainly just a weight check visit because they want to make sure babies are back up to their birth weight once they are 2 weeks old. Jackson more than exceeded those expectations weighing in at 8 pounds 14 ounces today. He was 8 pounds 8 ounces when he was born, so he's eating more than enough. We have our Christmas celebration at my mom's today, and I still have a couple of presents to wrap. I will post pics later.

Merry Christmas 2008

I cannot believe Christmas is tomorrow. The last 2 weeks I've been so consumed with new baby stuff and a sick family that it really snuck up on me. In fact, this year has gone by so fast it is frightening. As I get older and we add more kids to the mix, time seems to move faster and faster. There are days I still feel like I just got out of high school, but then I have to remind myself that was over 7 years ago!
It makes me sad that I'm getting old without really knowing it, but all these years have brought such amazing things. A friend told me the other day she felt unaccomplished because she's my age and I'm married with 4 kids now, and she's not even married yet. I told her that's all I've done, while she's gone to college and has an amazing career, so I'm the unaccomplished one. I guess it's all relative to your position in life which is the "better" place to be, and I use the term better quite loosely. I don't really think either one of us is worse off for the decisions we've made in life. We're just in completely different places right now.
Anyway, I hope everyone has a great Christmas tomorrow, and Santa brings lots of great presents. I know I already have the best presents I'm ever going to receive; a fabulous husband and 4 amazing children, and the best family and friends I could ask for. I know that's really sappy, but it is true.
Merry Christmas!

PS. I finally got my Christmas cards today and I will mail them on the 26th. Yes, I'm a big slacker this year, but I have a really adorable excuse.

first bath

By the time we decided to give Jackson his first bath he has already lost his umbilical cord thing, so we just gave him a shower instead. He seemed to like it and only cried when Sean was getting him dressed. You'd think by the 4th kid Sean would move fast enough that Jackson wouldn't have time to get cold, but he's not that good yet.

other updates

~Nathan was sick the whole time we were in the hopsital, then Emma got sick the day we came home, and then Sean felt crappy Wednesday, but I think everyone is finally recovering. My mom stayed with us until Tuesday afternoon, and then came back over last night to feed the kids dinner, put them to bed and clean. She is amazing and I don't know what I'd do without her. I need some good ideas for a way to say thank you to her
~Sean had a meeting on Monday about his job, and we were completely prepared for unemployment. He actually got the meeting notice while I was in labor on Friday, which was really depressing. He arrived at work early on Mondy and packed up all his stuff and went to the meeting. He was shocked to find people from his old group there and was told he did have a job. He is getting demoted in a way, but we are unsure of what that means salary-wise so far. We are just thrilled he's still employed. That is such a weight lifted off us.
~Because of all the sickness in the house I've been quarantined in my room with Jackson pretty much until today. It was so depressing not being able to spend time with any of my family, and especially Sean. The baby blues definitely hit me hard because of all the stress, so I'm super concerned about ppd now. I think as long as things continue getting back to normal I'll be ok, but things were pretty rough for me the last 4 days.
~Even with all the craziness I'm a little sad this is the last time (probably) that we'll have a new baby. I don't love pregnancy or labor, but actually having the baby and the first couple weeks are such amazing experiences and I love every minute of it. However, I know we can't just keep having babies, so I'm trying to enjoy my time with Jackson right now.
Thanks to everyone for all the well wishes and support. We've definitely needed everyones support and all the help we can get recently.

Jackson's birth

As I said before, the labor and delivery definitely did not go how I had hoped, but we ended up with a beautiful, healthy boy and mommy, so I really can't complain since that is what matters.
Sean and I decided it would be the best decision to have me induced on Friday December 12th, especially after talking with my doctor about induciton options. My mom came over Thursday night since we had to leave so early Friday morning. Then at 2am Nathan woke up vomiting. My mom offered to get up and take care of him so we could sleep, but I really didn't get much. I was worried about Nathan and wondering if we should go through with the induction with him being so sick. But as my mom pointed out, she can handle a sick kid, and it would be awful for me to wait and catch the stomach virus and then go into labor while I'm sick.
So we arrived at the hospital at a little after 7 going on about 45 minutes of sleep. My doctor showed up and I told him about the nights events and that I may get an epidural anyway, but he said we would stick with the original plan. He broke my water and started the pitocin at 2 and said the highest we would go is 6. My contractions started regulating pretty quickly, but were just uncomfortable, not really painful. They continued to get closer together and stronger, but I was tolerating them well. Then about 11 I felt like I hit a wall and everything hurt a lot. I was having back labor again and even between the contractions my back wasn't relaxing. So I caved and asked for an epidural. It took about an hour to actually get my epidural because they had to run in enough saline. The anesthiologist was awesome and got it on the first try and I started feeling better within 10 minutes.
I got some rest for the nest couple of hours, and then the nurse came to check on my about 2:30. She asked if I was feeling a lot of pressure yet and I said not a lot so far. Over the next 10 minutes with each contraction the pressure got stronger and stronger and I finally told Sean I think the nurse need to come back and check me. She came in and checked me and was shocked that not only was I at 10 but she could see the baby's head. They called my dr. and prepped the room and told me not to push at all. My dr. finally arrived and got ready. I only pushed through 3 contractions and Jackson arrived. Sean got to announce if it was a boy or a girl. He was so excited it was a boy. I was happy I didn't tear or need an episiotomy, which meant no stitches.
I'm recovering really well, and Jackson is a champion nurser. We had a checkup for him already and in 2 days he gained 3 ounces. I am still really tired and sleeping as much as possible. I forgot how exhausting breastfeeding is at the beginning

It's a ...

BOY!!!!!!! Jackson Alexander arrived on December 12 at 3:27pm. He weighed 8 pounds 8 ounces, and is 21 inches long. He and I are both doing great, but very sleepy. It was a long day after being up most of the night before with Nathan who came down sick. Thank goodness my mom is around to help us with the kids right now. I will make a more detailed post later about how everything went.
Jackson is such a sweet baby and loves to be snuggled. We are so excited about the early Christmas present we've received. Anyway, here are a few pictures.
Click on the picture to view it full size in a new window!

here's the plan

After a lot of discussion, and I mean a ridiculous amount, Sean and I decided that an induction now would be the best plan. I did talk to my doctor prior to making this decision to see what my options really are. At first he made it sound like the only thing he could do to get labor going was to give me pitocin. I told him I didn't like that plan since I would love to go without an epidural this time, and I know pitocin makes contractions stronger and labor go much faster. Then he asked how far I was dilated at my last appointment. When I said 4, he said he can break my water and give me a small dose of pitocin to get things going. Once my contractions get regular he will turn off the pitocin and see if my body will continue to labor on it's own. He said of course there is no guarantee that my body wil cooperate and I may end up needing pitocin constantly to progress well, but most women will continue to labor on their own once things get going.
I am happy with this plan as I think it gives me the best chance of achieving the labor and delivery I am hoping for. I'm not so naive or unrealistic to believe that everything will go perfect though. I am already caving on the induction because I don't think that I will actually go into labor on my own, which is something I really wanted. I hate that this is how things are going to go, but I still feel I made the best decision given all the circumstances. I would appreciate all the good thoughts and prayers everyone can spare.
I will try to update this blog as soon as possible with all the good news about the baby and of course with pictures!