The Last Two Weeks

 

Yes, Jameson.  Do you have a question?

 

What has been going on the last two weeks?  Lots.  Two weeks ago, I was sitting in the foyer at church talking with two ladies, and they questioned me about whether I would be attending an event that was being held that weekend, and if not me, then would Josh be there.  I told them very matter of factly (I don’t think factly is a word), that we would not be there, because I would be busy with a new baby.  Sure enough, Jameson was born the next day!

 

The story of Jameson.  If you don’t want to read a birth story, skip this paragraph.

Sunday, the 17th, I had contractions throughout the day, and kept waiting for them to turn into “real” labor.  They never seemed to progress, and after 8 hours or so, they fizzled out.  That was frustrating.  Monday morning came, and I felt determined to have a baby that day.  Silly, I know, since I was only 37 weeks as of that day.  I must have instinctively known, because soon after breakfast I got the urge to do laundry, and not just a load, but ALL of my laundry.  It felt very important to me.  So, I loaded up the kids and headed to the laundry mat.  We have a washer and dryer, but I really had to have it all done at once…for some reason.  I put my 5 loads in the washers, and it was about when I needed to add the fabric softener that the contractions started.  Strangely, though, they didn’t start gradually.  They came hard and pretty close together from the get go.  This was a little unnerving since I had sent Josh off to work for the day, and wasn’t really sure what I was going to do with my kids while I was in the hospital.  Contractions continued.  I put the clothes in the dryers, and really started getting nervous.  The contractions were 5-6 minutes apart, and I was husbandless, babysitter-less, and had 5 loads of wet clothes.  So, I called Josh and told him I thought we better go to the hospital.  I called sweet Sis Daines, and put her on call, and I let my clothes dry.  By the time they were done, contractions were 4 minutes apart, and I was starting to panic a bit. 

We stopped at McDonald’s for the kids.  Sis Daines met us at home soon after, and I was really hurting.  I think it made her nervous.  Nobody wants to see someone deliver a baby on a couch.  Gross.  Unfortunately, I didn’t stress to Josh the urgency I felt to get to the hospital, so he kind of took his time wrapping things up at the lab, and getting home.  My contractions were coming hard and were 2-3 minutes apart when we headed out.  I had called ahead and told my doctor I was headed in, so they were expecting me.  When the nurse was walking me back, I told her that this would have to be the real deal, because I had a babysitter for my kids in place right now, and I wasn’t sure that I could manage that again.  She laughed.  I was serious.

She checked me right away, and you can imagine my shock when I was only a 3!  It didn’t make sense!  I was experiencing the kind of contractions that I felt with Isaac when I was an 8.  How could I have been a 3?!  My urine sample revealed that I was severely dehydrated.  oops.  I didn’t mean to be, but it is suspected that the dehydration led to the intense contractions and the frequency they were coming.  Awesome-or not.  So they hung some fluids and allowed me to stay in triage for an hour.  If I progressed, I could stay, if not then I could go home.  Thankfully, after an hour I had progressed and labor kept up just as strong even after the fluids.  They made me have at least a full bag in me before they would even think about giving me the epidural.  Finally, I had enough water and the epidural was placed.  My doctor came and broke my water and very soon there after I was complete and sweet baby Jameson was out in two more contractions.  Easy breezy, except for the few hours of hard contractions that were right on top of each other.  He is so worth it though.  So start to finish, I was only at the hospital laboring for 4 hours or so before he was born at 6:25pm.  Weighing in at 6lb 12oz and 19 1/2 inches long.  I don’t know how women labor for 24 hours plus.  That is just crazy.

 

Flash forward to today, I was just outside with Jameson and Josie, and my neighbor came out, shocked that we had another kid.  He said, “You couldn’t have had a baby! I’m sure that I’ve seen you around every day in the last two weeks.”  He’s right, he has.  I went to the hospital Monday afternoon, and we were home Tuesday evening.  I can see how he’d be puzzled  

I would say that we are transitioning well.  Josh has 6 full weeks off of work, and it has made it all much easier.

 

There have been moments of craziness, and a lot of diapers to change.  I laughed pretty hard when I noticed the diaper attached to Josh’s Velcro pocket on his bum.

I’m not sure what was happening in this picture, but that looks like a great way to restrain Jo when Jameson is around.  The kids have loved having dad around so much.

We’ve all loved taking turns loving on him.  So far, he is sweet and patient. He still sleeps a lot, so we will see more what he is like as he emerges from hibernation.  It is crazy to have a 15 month old and a two week old.  It’s good though.  It is a constant reminder of how fast this first year goes.  Too fast.  Josie is a big girl now.  Of her own doing.  She is rough and rowdy like her brothers and loves to be down wrestling with them and her daddy. 

Really long story short…Josh and I are unbelievably blessed.  Thanks to everyone who has checked in on us, fed us, and has just been excited with us as we welcome Jameson to our family.