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Sunday, June 26, 2011

Father's Day

Chance got to have his first Father's Day this year!!! It was really special because our son was only 4 days old on Father's Day.  I don't think he was expecting anything, but come on, your first Father's Day you have to get a little something!

Here is what he got:
Father's Day gifts

This card is perfect for Chance!!! Our closest friends know how much Chance likes to play Golden Eye!!! Chance has already had Caycen sitting next to him in his boppy pillow while Chance plays his game, haha!


A bag of golf tees with a sign that says "You are a Tee-rific Dad" and a little joke that says "Good for one round of golf"... I made the tags from a little idea I found online.  There is also a $50 gift card to play golf.

A little book from Caycen to Daddy! I can't wait for him to be able to listen to Daddy read it to him.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Father's Day!!! Let me know if you did anything cute :)

Love ~ Aimes

Caycen's First Week

Well I can't believe that it's already been a week and a half since Caycen was born.  So many things have happened during the first week that I would like to share.

Caycen's First Bath:
Caycen had his first bath at the hospital when he was two days old.  Of course he didn't like it too much while he was getting the bath.  One of our nurses, Brooke, was who gave him the bath.  She showed us the proper way to bathe him since we can't submerge him in water yet. Here are some pictures of his first bath:

getting his clothes of to take the bath


washing the front

washing the back

washing the hair

getting dried off

getting his hair brushed out

happy and content baby with a comb over :)

First Week News on Caycen:
Well, we were told that Caycen has Jaundice the day we were going to leave the hospital and his bilirubin level was at 8, so we had to go to the pediatrician the next day, which they usually have you go within 48 hours of being released from the hospital anyway.  When we went to our first pediatric appointment that was on Saturday and his bilirubin level was at 16... so the doctor said we needed to make sure he was eating a lot so that he could pee and poop out the bilirubin and to put him in sunlight as much as possible... then of course we had to go back the next day to get checked again.  On Sunday we went and his level hadn't moved, which they said was good because at least it didn't go up at all.  They said that they wanted his level to get at least below 12, so we went back Monday and Tuesday to be checked.  By Tuesday his level had dropped a good bit so our Dr. told us to take off a day on Wednesday and come back Thursday.  We were very happy to have a day off (well at least we had the day off from taking him in to the pediatrician, but we had other problems where we didn't actually get the day off... I'll explain this in a little bit under news about me the first week).  We went back on Thursday and his level was at 12.7 so our Dr. said that we could just come back on our two week check-up.  YAY! We were ecstatic!
baking in the sun

BUT... then we got the news that Caycen has a heart murmur... ugh!!! So now we have to take him to get an x-ray of his heart on Monday, go to the cardiologist on Tuesday, and to his 2 week check-up on Wednesday... looks like another BUSY week!!!

Now other than all the medical stuff, Caycen is doing WONDERFUL!!!! He is eating, sleeping, pooping, and peeing just like he should be.  He smiles and makes all kinds of really cute faces! He actually laughed during the middle of the night last night for Chance and then I heard him do it again this morning.  He loves to move his arms around and stretch. 

Sleeping:  We have him sleep on his back (this is what the doctor's told us to do) in his cradle for about half the night and then he sleeps with us for about half the night... I know, I know... I'm creating a bad habit! But he sleeps longer when he's in the bed with us, and about now I will do anything for more sleep... you'll read why later.  Even though he is supposed to be sleeping on his back, he LOVES to sleep on his stomach! We put him on his stomach a few times during the day when we were sun bathing him in the window in the bassinet.  He doesn't make a sound when he sleeps like this!

Eating:  He started out eating about 2 ounces per feeding, but he is now eating about 3 ounces per feeding.  He started out eating every 1 1/2 to 2 hours, and is now eating every 2 1/2 to 3 hours.  I am trying to get him on a schedule by using the "Baby Wise" method (if you are an expecting mother, this book is WONDERFUL!!!!).  The last couple of days we've started to try a schedule and it's been working pretty good.  I try to have him eat every 3 hours.  If he wakes up hungry between 2 1/2 to 3 hours from his last feeding then I'll go ahead and feed him.  If he hasn't woken up and it's been 3 hours then I wake him.  During the night I'm letting him go up to 4 hours between feedings, but because of the Jaundice we don't go any more than that.  We will start letting him sleep as long as he wants to during the night pretty soon. 

First Week News on Mommy - that's me! :
Well I started off the first week great... of course I was very uncomfortable from the stitches I had to get because of the episiotomy and ripping during labor, but other than that I was doing great.  I was breastfeeding and everything was going wonderful.  The day after we got home from the hospital I started getting a little sore during the breastfeeding.  A few days later I was in so much pain that I couldn't even breastfeed him! I had to start pumping.  I called and made an appointment with the lactation consultant at the hospital, which was on Wednesday (this was the one day we had off from Caycen's pediatric appointments - that's why I was saying we really didn't get a day off all week). 

Before I could even go to the lactation appointment I started getting a fever on Monday and then had to go back to my doctor on Tuesday (this was after we left Caycen's appointment) for them to check me out.  Turns out that I had Mastitis, which is an infection in the breast tissue... it can come up for several different reasons.  So I had to be put on antibiotics, but they are supposed to be safe for Caycen while I breastfeed. 

At the lactation appointment on Wednesday I went in and the lady took a look at my boobs and said that my nipples looked "horrible".  She said I really needed to take a break from breastfeeding and just pump exclusively and to pump on a low setting.  I had to get another prescription cream for my nipples to help them heal faster.  She said it would take probably 3 to 4 days before I could put him back on the breast. 
It's been 4 days and I actually breastfed him for the first time yesterday morning since being to the lactation consultant.  It went pretty well, so I'm hoping it will continue to get better.  Pumping exclusively was the hardest part about all of this because I got absolutely no sleep doing this!!!  Caycen would wake up, I would feed him with a bottle of breast milk, then he would most likely stay up for a few minutes before going back to sleep, then I would pump for 30 minutes (remember I have to pump on a low setting so it wouldn't usually take that long to pump, but of course it has to be even more difficult), then by the time I got done doing that I only had like an hour to sleep and sometimes less than that. 

Now, other than all the breast issues, I'm doing great!!! I am so in love with our sweet little boy and everything we've gone through has certainly been worth it.  I pray that others do not have to go through so much during their first weeks as new parents.  I knew to expect very little sleep, but I was not prepared for all of the obstacles that have been put in our path.  This week has been emotionally draining, but it will only get better. 


Things I'm thankful for during the first week:

I am so thankful to have such wonderful parents and in-laws!!! The first day we came home from the hospital, which was Friday, Chance's mom came to stay with us for the weekend.  She stayed Friday and Saturday night.  She was SOOOO much help to us!!! She helped around the house so we didn't have to worry about anything other than taking care of Caycen.  And of course she helped out with him too!  Coming home from the hospital and having her help was such a blessing!
Nona

My mom came to stay with us on Sunday and she stayed through Friday to help out.  It was so wonderful having her here to help with the house, the baby, going to appointments, and just being there for me while I had all my emotional breakdowns.  I couldn't ask for a better mother.
Grandma

My son is so lucky to have such wonderful grandparents who love him so much!

I am also thankful for my sweet husband.  Even though I've told him over and over that he doesn't need to help me during the night because he has to go to work and needs his sleep more than me, he gets up anyway.  Chance has helped me so so much!!! He has really encouraged me and has constantly reminded me that God is in control and is watching over us with all the challenges that we are facing.  Chance loves his little boy so much. He is already such a great daddy and only going to get better at it!

I am thankful for all of the time that I'm getting to spend with my little man! I am already dreading the day that I have to go back to work and leave him with someone else.  He is such a sweet little boy and I want to spend as much time as I can with him.





Well, I hope you enjoyed seeing what our first week was like... Please leave any advice (especially about breast feeding or newborns) or words of encouragement!!!! And please pray for our little man as we take him to get the chest x-rays and all next week.

Love ~ Aimes

Friday, June 24, 2011

Delivery Story

Sorry I'm just now posting my delivery story... I would have done it much sooner, but this last week and 2 days have been HECTIC!!!! We have had tons of Dr. appointments, but I will share that in another post. So on with my delivery story...

Our first child, Caycen Edward Darley, was born into the world on June 15, 2011 @ 5:25 pm.  He weighed in at 7 lbs 14 oz and was 19 inches long... what a big boy!!!

Well we found out at our appointment on Tuesday, June 14th that I would be induced the next day.  I had to be at the hospital at 4:00 am on Wednesday, June 15th to check into my hospital room. 
Getting ready to have a baby!
wooh, I was swollen!!!


I was already 3cm dilated when starting the day.  Around 5:00 am they started the pitocin to get my contractions and labor on the go.  I started having contractions, but I barely even felt them.  My contractions were about 4 to 5 minutes apart. So I just sat and relaxed for a while...

Around 8:30 am my doctor came and broke my water.  Since I was already about 4 cms at that point, they told me that I could get an epidural whenever I felt like I needed it.  Shortly after having my water broken I was so ready for that epidural.  Unfortunately for me, I waited a little too long and the anesthesiologist had just gone into an emergency c-section.  I had to wait about an hour before he could come fix me up.  During that hour the contractions were HORRIBLE!!!! Caycen was also turned backwards so his head kept hitting my tailbone causing me to have INTENSE back pain.  Because of this, I had to lay in several different positions to get him to do a 180 and have his head facing the right direction.  I don't think I will EVER forget how bad those contractions hurt.

having bad contractions... Chance was trying to make me laugh between.

Caycen's heart beat on top, contractions on the bottom
Finally, that WONDERFUL anesthesiologist came in to give me my epidural.  He was just awesome!!! He had the epidural done in 6 minutes! I started feeling great after that.  I just rested until I started to feel the urge to push.  I told my nurse when I started feeling like I had to push and she checked me and I was at 9 cm, so she told me to wait to push a little while longer.  Man the pressure was bad by that point! I wouldn't say it was painful like the contractions, it was a different kind of hurt. 

Finally, I was 10 cms and ready to do some "practice" pushes before my doctor got there.  When my doctor got there, she was great! Sooo encouraging!  Chance held one leg and my mom held the other.  Then my mother-in-law was also in the room.  Pushing was TOUGH! It felt like you really really have to take a shoo shoo (poop), but you are so backed up you can't get anything out. 

Grandma (my mom on left) and Nona (Chance's mom on right)
I pushed for about 55 minutes, and out popped Caycen Edward Darley!!! I did have to have an episiotomy, then I ripped on top of that, so recovery was a little painful. 



We stayed in the hospital until Friday afternoon around 3:00 pm.  It was so nice to go home...

Birthing a baby is by far the HARDEST thing I've ever done, but it was SOOOOOO worth it!!!!

Our family of 2 is now a family of 3


Here are some of Caycen's visitors at the hospital:

Papa Ray and Nona

Grandma
Martha, Melissa, Lee, and Ben

Skyler

Aunt Christy

Skyler and Capri

Martha AKA Aunt Ma


Kyle and Amy

Ben AKA Uncle Ben

Lindsey

Brooke AKA Aunt Sissy

Going Home from the hospital:





Our sweet friends Lee and Melissa made sure we were welcomed home... they are so sweet!!!


God has been so great to me and my family.  I thank you him everyday for blessing us with so much.  I pray that everyone gets to feel the joy of having such a special little blessing put in their lives. I know I told you all when I first got pregnant that it wasn't planned, but God knew exactly what he was doing! I couldn't imagine not having Caycen in our lives.

I hope you enjoyed reading my delivery story. God Bless!!!

Love ~ Aimes

Monday, June 13, 2011

Busy week...

So this week is going to be pretty busy... and it will be like this for many many years to come!

Sometime this week we will be having a baby... could be any day between today and Thursday! If I don't have him by tomorrow, I have dr. appointment, and she is going to schedule me to be induced either Wednesday or Thursday... I will keep you updated.

Then the 19th is Father's Day!!! Chance will definitely be a father on this day this year! So I am busy getting a little something together for him. I will share soon because I found a really cute idea :)

Then the 21st is our 3rd Anniversary!!!!! I can't believe we will be married for 3 years already! Well... actually I can haha! It seems like much longer.  We have been together for 6 years total and I have loved every minute of it!  For the 3rd Anniversary gift you are supposed to do leather... any ideas??? I thought of a leather wallet or photo album, but if you have anything better I would LOVE to hear it!!

Well... I'm off to finishing up the father's day gift for him and searching for great ideas for anniversary gifts.

Love y'all ~ Aimes

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Pregnancy Update - Packed and Ready

So I decided to do my final update on the third trimester before I deliver.  I have been debating on when to do this post because every day I feel like I could go into labor that day... well I haven't gone into full fledged labor yet, so I figured I might as well go ahead and post while I feel up to it. 

Right now we are playing the waiting game... I am 38 weeks and 5 days today.  Who would've thought that I'd make it this far after going into preterm labor at 33 weeks?? Well my due date is on the 20th, but we have our next doctor's appointment on Tuesday.  I will be 39 weeks at that point and my doctor says that we can induce on either Wednesday or Thursday (hoping for Wednesday), if he's not here by then (hoping even more that he will come before my doctor's appointment).  I know a lot of you are going to say "no Amy, don't induce, it's horrible, you have long labor, you want to wait for him to come by himself, you will probably have to get  c-section if you induce, dot dot dot"... Well, I hate to say this, but it's my decision and I've already made up my mind... I have read so many negative things about getting induced, but I've heard lots of positives also.  If you've been pregnant before you may understand how I'm feeling right now... I am SOOO ready.  At my last appointment I was almost 3 cm dilated already so my doctor told me that if I were to be induced it should WORK pretty quickly since my body has already dilated to 3 by itself.  Who knows, I may be even more dilated by the time I go in to be induced.  I know a lot of people keep telling me "you say you're ready now, but you'll be wishing he were still in you when he comes"... Hopefully I'm not wrong but, I'm pretty sure that I would rather be tired and not getting any sleep from having a newborn, than tired and not getting any sleep because I'm in pain... but that's just me thinking here, I could be wrong.

Ok more of the update:
How I feel:
Well most of the third trimester I have been on bedrest, but felt pretty good! They say that the third trimester is usually as bad as the first, but it hasn't been too bad for me... other than preterm labor, everything else seemed to go pretty smooth.  That is, until the last couple of weeks... ugh! I am miserable!  I try not to complain TOO much, but I know Chance gets his earful of it.  The main thing is that my back has been KILLING me!  It hurts no matter what I do; stand, sit, lay down... it just plain hurts! Doctors say it's mostly because your hip bones are opening up to get ready for delivery.  Well, last Tuesday night my back hurt so bad that I was up every 30 minutes during the night walking around the room in the dark trying to get the pain to go away!  I was also getting really bad cramps in my stomach, which I would have thought were contractions, but they were lasting for like 5 to 10 minutes at a time (contractions are supposed to only be about a minute during active labor), then they would go away for about an hour and come back... I was MISERABLE! And poor Chance didn't get any sleep that night either because I was moaning and groaning, walking around, getting in and out of bed... I felt so bad for him!  The next day I went for a LONG walk and the pain eased up some, then started to come back, but it never got back to the pain I felt during the night.  I called my doctor just in case and they told me to come in.  My GREAT friend Martha came and picked me up and went to my appointment with me.  They hooked me up to the stress monitors to see if I was having contractions, and I was, but they weren't very strong contractions.  They had me hooked up for about 20 minutes and I had about 4 or 5 small contractions during that time (which I couldn't even feel).  They said the back pain was most likely labor pains.  They checked me and I hadn't dilated any more so they said I was good to go home.  Pregnancy is so confusing!

At this point in my pregnancy I am having continuous back pain; it hurts my stomach to bend down and tie my shoes or even try to put socks and shoes on; my hands, ankles, feet, legs, and pretty much everything gets swollen about 50 times a day; I get cramps in my lower abdomen (that apparently aren't contractions); I get shooting pains in my wahoo because the baby's head is so low and hitting my pelvis and nerves down there; and I feel like an emotional wreck (although I have kept my tears in and I've only cried maybe once during this trimester and it was just a little pout I promise!)!!!

Not trying to scare anyone who is pregnant or anything... but gosh this last part is uncomfortable!!!!


Body:
Well, my tummy just keeps getting bigger and bigger!!! I'm pretty sure that's the only thing that keeps changing other than the swelling. 

A few more pics:
34 1/2 weeks

36 weeks

37 weeks
I didn't take a picture for 38 weeks, but I will make sure to take one for 39 if I make it to Monday, and of course I'll take a picture on the day I go into labor (whether it's before Monday or after). 

Best moment:
hmm... this is a hard one... this may be a little weird, but hearing the doctors say they can feel his head was kind of a great moment... I knew that he was lodged head-down and ready to go at that point.  The doctors told me that because of how low he is, it is not likely that he will move out of position and become breached.  That was VERY EXCITING to hear.


Packed and Ready:

Well, I figured I would also let you guys know that we have been packed an ready pretty much since I went into preterm labor at 33 weeks... I have changed out a few things here and there or added some things that I hadn't thought of, but we have BEEN ready.
Caycen's diaper bag
I will give you the overview of what we packed for the hospital:

We made sure to pack his door hanger and a paint pen to write with (this will hang on the outside of the door at the hospital), his baby book to do his foot prints, some baby wipes, diapers, and a burp cloth.  I know that I may not use the wipes, diapers, or cloth, because they give you this stuff at the hospital, but I want it in there just in case.

CLOTHES- everyone loves baby clothes!!! Well we have an outfit for his first picture, an outfit for taking him home, and another one just because I might use it.  Of course we have some socks and a couple of little beanies (Chance's cousin actually made the green and blue one for us! Isn't she talented???).

And we have a receiving blanket and a little passy (which he might not use, but another just in case). 

 Now for what we packed:


In the big suitcase we have our clothes.  We packed Chance a couple of outfits, some comfy shorts and t-shirts to sleep in, and some underwear.  For myself there are some comfy t-shirts, tank tops, shorts, a going home outfit, nursing bras, underwear, and slippers. 



This is our toiletry bag... we packed travel sized shampoo and body wash, face wipes, nursing bra pads, nipple butter (haha), toothbrushes, toothpaste, hair ties and bobby pins, deodorant, phone charger, and anything else that may be needed to keep ourselves clean :)


We have the boppy pillow in the car already, which will be used for nursing. 
I may even bring one of my own pillows to sleep with.

And of course we have the camera packed so we can take TONS of pictures!!!!! I wonder who is going to be shooting these pics for me...  We will be bringing our camcorder also, but haven't decided if we will use it yet.

Well, I think that's about all we packed... hope I'm not forgetting anything!

I hope you enjoyed my pregnancy update and packing list... feel free to leave comments and advice! I'm hoping my next post will be my delivery story!!!

Love y'all!~Aimes