Andrew's Birth

 These pictures will be in an odd order, but they are all from the day Andrew was born, January 19, 2017.

 

 

 

Andrew's original due date was February 3, but we knew he would be born in January.  For several reasons, I have to have C-Sections and they schedule those about a week before the due date.  Throughout my pregnancy we had assumed the scheduled date would be January 25 and that was actually put on the hospital's calendar in December and plane tickets were bought and childcare arrangements were made.  In early January, the hospital moved my scheduled date to January 30 due to some regulations that went into effect at the new year.  We couldn't be scheduled more than a week before the due date regardless of risk factors (like being over 40).  However, almost no one knows that the date was moved and almost everyone thought the delivery date was still scheduled for January 25.  This is because by the time the hospital moved the date we were aware that I wouldn't make it that far.  So we didn't know when he would be born, but we knew it wouldn't be the 30th and probably wouldn't be the 25th. 

 

 At around 36 weeks, the very beginning of January, my amniotic fluid levels started dropping.  A lot.  It was unexplained and they weren't stabilized by consuming more water.  I was drinking SO much water I can't even tell you and I was SO thirsty.  I would wake up in the middle of the night and down three glasses. 

 My fluid levels never went below the minimum requirement, but they were right at it which is a scary place to be.  My doctor was caught between wanting to let Andrew develop in the womb as long as possible and making sure he was protected in the womb.  We starting going to the doctor every three days to have my fluid levels checked and we knew that if they dropped below the minimum at any appointment we would have Andrew that day.  It was stressful.  I also had to monitor fetal movements very, very closely because a decrease in the movements could signal that the fluid had dropped too low and Andrew wasn't thriving.  We actually ended up in labor and delivery six days before he was born to have him monitored because of decreased fetal movements.  But the fluid levels were stable and the doctor really wanted to get to 37 weeks, preferably 38, I think.  We almost made it.

 

 

 

 We had an appointment on the 19th (37 weeks, 6 days) at 9am.  My fluid was too low.  There was a little bit of discussion about whether we should recheck in an hour and then if it had come up come back the next day (38 weeks) to recheck, but my doctor ultimately decided to bring him.  In the end, she was really glad she did. 

 

 

This picture was taken the day of my C-Section during the 5 hours of waiting at the hospital. We went straight to the hospital from our appointment, but had to wait until 2pm for my breakfast to completely digest before surgery.  I was monitored all day.

 The clock when Andrew was born at 2:28 pm. As soon as our doctor got in she said it was a VERY good day to be born because I had no fluid and I had the thinnest uterus anyone in the OR had ever seen.  Andrew definitely needed to come out, but he was not happy about it.  He screamed and screamed and screamed to the point that a nurse commented on it, so I guess it was unusual.  But the moment they brought him to me and laid him on my chest he was calm and quiet.

 

 

 

 

7 pounds, 1 ounce

 

This was the first time I was ever well enough to hold a baby after birth.  I had such a good anesthesiologist and my blood pressure didn't plummet for the first time ever during surgery. I cherish this moment!

 

 

 

 

He's here!

 

 

 Julie stayed with me in the hospital while Jory took kid duty at home.  My dad and Sheri would have been helping but the surprise delivery date wrenched those plans, but we were just so glad Andrew was here and healthy.  He had a rough first night, though.  He was dehydrated and couldn't poop and was none too happy about it.  It took him 14 hours to poop (it usually happens right away, but they give the baby 24 hours before they intervene).  He was good after that except when we changed his diaper.  He had a horrible time regulating his temperature and he was very cold and being undressed was painful.

 

 

 But he was here and healthy.  No jaundice and no health issues at all.  He was very, very strong.  He held his head on his own right away and his legs were fiercely strong (although I already knew that from the womb).

 

 The kids were in love and, really, everything went so well. 

 

 

 

 Even with the early delivery, it was the smoothest birth experience we have ever had.

 

 

 

 And I was worried that he would be too early and too small, but he is absolutely perfect.

 

 

 

One Month Old!

I decided to celebrate Andrew's One Month Birthday with my first blog post since his birth!  I have been overwhelmed by the sheer number of pictures we have, but I will be going through them this week and getting a bunch of posts up, but I had to document his first month milestone today!

He celebrated by having his first bath which he loved

 

 

And then having some Tummy Time which he also loved

 

 

And then he finished by attending his baby shower which was supposed to be a month ago, but we missed it!!!

What we've been doing

The Huffman kids came over to play last week and we had so much fun!

Abigail bakes all the time!  She's been loving doing cutout cookies!

Aaron  got an adventure book for Christmas from Grandma Sheri and Grandpa Tom.  It has different projects to make and he loves it.  This is his can phone.

We went to Cotton Patch Sunday night

 

 

Abigail loves playing with her Ariel Castle from Christmas

The Week

Lunch with Aaron last Friday

I completely forgot that a week ago today we had "snow" because within 48 hours it was 75 degrees!  Abigail's teacher let the kids go outside for two minutes to experience the snow and get a picture.  Aaron didn't get to go out.  

But they were soooo excited to go out when they got home.

Abigail's Snow Angel.  She came in after 30 minutes, but I eventually had to force Aaron inside.

Lunch with Aaron on Monday

On Tuesday he got sealants on his teeth and don't let this brave face fool you, he does not do well at the dentist!

I had lunch with Abigail that day

Aaron asked me to stay and have lunch with him again.  He was still a bit shaky from the dentist.

 

Abigail made gingerbread cookies

 

Today we are 37 weeks pregnant with Andrew!  We are seeing the doctor every three days now to have fluids checked and monitoring his movements closely!  His delivery is officially scheduled for January 30, but our doctor doesn't think we will make it that long, so we are just in a waiting game.  Everything is ready for his arrival! 

Back to Life

 

 We had a very low key New Years.  On New Year's Eve morning we had breakfast at Cracker Barrell and then bought some rocking chairs for our front porch.  We had been planning to get them before we found out we were having Andrew and then we bought nursery furniture instead!  But my boss gave me a really nice Visa Gift Card for Christmas and they were on sale so it worked out beautifully.

 

 

 

After breakfast Grandad came over with Christmas gifts.  Aaron got Walkie Talkies and the kids love them!  They can use them several blocks away from the house and still be heard perfectly, so it's so fun.

 

And Abigail got a scooter that she has been riding incessantly.  It is seriously crazy how obsessed she is. 

 

New Year's Day was church and hanging at the house

 Abgiail wearing slippers Kim's friend made for her a while ago.  And a nightgown that used to be mine.

 The day before the kids go back to school is usually a really fun last day of break, but we spent this one getting ready for Andrew while Abigail scootered and Aaron played outside.  Hospital bag is packed and in the car, car seats installed, etc.  Less than three weeks to go!

 Lunch with Sis this week

 Getting her haircut

 She loved her braid and glitter!

 My husband randomly leaves me Southern Living recipes on the kitchen counter.  I finally got around to making this one.  Candied bacon sweet potatoes.  Yum.  The kids ate this up!