Saying goodbye to Family…

On Sunday morning, May 1^st, we all made our way to the Ihop in Bluffton. We met up with Caitlyn and Tracey for breakfast before they hit the road home to Miami. It was Michael’s first trip out to a restaurant and of course we go to Ihop! He did great. He slept the whole time while we ate. It was sad to see his Aunt and Uncle leave so soon but we will see them soon I am sure!

We all went back to the house to visit after breakfast. Dad and Russ did a few more things around the house for us (what huge helps they were!!). It was about 3 or 4 that afternoon when Dad and Joe’s Parents left. I was very sad to see everyone go. A far cry from what I thought I would feel. I had so much anxiety about visitors but as it turns out they were all such a huge help. I wish everyone could have stayed for longer! I enjoyed seeing everyone bond with Mikey and it made me sad to see everyone so sad to go! I was an emotional mess for a while. In fact I still am as I think back :(

Michael didn't want to see Geandma MiMi go!

Here is Joe cheering up Michael after everyone left... its pretty cute :)

That night Mom, Joe and I sat down for dinner. We put Michael in his bouncer and set him on the table. He was our centerpiece for dinner… a quite nice one I might add!

As we were finishing up I mentioned that Michael hadn’t pooped for a few days. I figured he was due here real soon. Not even 30 seconds later there comes a noise from deep in his diaper… I spoke to soon!

All our eyes widened and mom nicely mentions “I got the dishes!” We all laughed. Joe and I took Michael into his room to change him. Once Joe had his legs in the air he took his first wipe of his bum and… Michael starts to poop on the changer. All I could do was laugh while Joe was begging for help. Just before I step in to help… Michael starts to pee everywhere. Hysterical I know! I wish I could say it was over but Joe almost had him clean and he went for his last wipe of the crack and out comes some more poop… he was done after this! So I got some soapy water and Joe and I gave him a washcloth bath! He needed it!

Michael's First UFC Fight

Aunt Caitlyn and Uncle Tracey like watching the UFC fights (and so dos Joe but we don't pay to watch them). Anyway, the three of them really wanted to watch them this Saturday so that is what they did... Michael sat on Joe's lap very contently as they all watched the madness!

My Two Day Appt with the Birth Center

On Saturday April 30^th Joe and I went to the Birth Center for my appointment. With it being a Saturday we had to call the midwife on call (Nancy) and schedule a time to come in. When I called her that morning she sounded exhausted. With good reason too! She mentioned that in the last 48 hours (she was on call) she delivered 6 babies. Wow I would be tired too! Needing a few hours of rest we scheduled our visit around 3 that afternoon.

I checked out healthy. I had lost about 15lbs since the birth so go me! Of course a lot of that was baby and placenta but I’ll take it! She gave me the number to the lactation consultant in Savannah and she made me call and set up an appointment before I left. I guess she knew me and knew I wouldn’t do it unless pressured haha! Before we walked out the door I said to Nancy “I’m sure you are anxious to get home to rest!”

Her response was “I wish… I just got another call and I have another woman coming in who is in labor!” Busy busy woman… but an even busier Birth Center which is great!

On our way home Michael was fussing. At one point he was screaming so we pulled off at the nearest gas station. Both Joe and I jumped out of the car and raced to see what was wrong (new parents… gotta love it!). We both determined that he needed a diaper change so we proceeded to use the trunk and viola… all better!

Julie's Last Day in Beaufort

Julie popped over to the house with the kids for a few min on their way out of town. It was a sad moment but I was so grateful to see her one last time. We really had become so close in the short amount of time we had. We met back in October 2010 and in the 6 months we have known each other I can tell I have a forever friend in her... I am so lucky! I am going to miss seeing her and the kids... Both Joe and I grew very fond of them. We hope to visit soon and now that Joe will be eligible for 96s we may make it up there sooner rather than later!

Thanks for all you have done Julie! You are a great friend :) xoxo

Michael’s First Doctors Appt

We made an appointment with Michael’s Pediatrician very soon after he was born; April 29^th 2011. With all the kidney problems that were detected with the ultrasounds we wanted to make sure he was healthy. We originally interviewed Dr. Simmons but we saw Dr. Cantave. She was fabulous! I was having some breastfeeding issues and she really helped me understand that I was among the masses. She told me to hang in there and that it will come. It’s a learning process and both of us have to learn. She gave me a few things to try and it put me at ease (for the most part).

Michael checked out healthy. He was ‘perfect’ she called him! We made an appointment for an ultrasound on his kidneys and we were on our way.

Stats at visit:

Age – 2 days

Weight – 8lbs 4oz

Height – 20.5 in

Home from the Birth Center

About 9 hours after Michael was born we were headed home; April 28^th 2011. It was surprisingly easy to go home so early. I was a little nervous about this since the status quo at the hospital was a couple days of recovery before you are released. But they pumped me full of the information I needed to take care of myself and Mikey and we were sent home.

Mikey was dressed in his ‘Going Home’ outfit. Of course I decked him out in Ohio State gear. He was quite handsome as my little Buckeye!

When we got back to the house we were greeted by my parents and Ashley. I think they got less sleep than us! After they left the Birth Center they went to Ihop for a late dinner (or early breakfast however you look at it). By the time they got home and fell asleep it was 5 am I believe.

Joe’s parents left New Jersey the 27^th around 11pm and drove straight through the night. They arrived at our house at around 1 in the afternoon just in time for lunch! They were so excited to meet their grandson… he was only 12 hours old at that point! It was love at first sight… are you surprised?

Caitlyn and Tracey were coming from Miami. They got here to Beaufort around 7 that evening. Caitlyn was all smiles. Proud Aunt she was… Michael brought tears to her eyes!

It was nice to have all the family in to visit with us and Michael. The best part… we got to spend this time with our family at our house instead of a hospital room!

Michael's Birth Day

April 27^th was a lengthy, adventurous, magical day. It was the day our son Michael Adam James was born ~ 11:54pm. Joe and I chose to use a Birth Center in lieu of a Hospital for many reasons. A lot of family and friends voiced their hesitancy but we followed our hearts and stuck with our plan. I had dreamed of a natural birth and the hospital environment was not very conducive to our desired birth plan. We couldn’t be happier with our choice.

We were the center of attention throughout the 6 hours we were there in labor. The midwife and nurse were by my side the whole time. If I were in a hospital we would have seen the doctor for cervical checks and the last few pushes; a lot less personal.

We had a fabulous midwife. She meshed with Joe’s and my personality and it made the atmosphere light with a touch of humor. I had a great team in place. Throughout the labor I had Joe, Rita (the midwife), Amber (the nurse), Sabrina (my doula), Mom and Ashley. I know it sounds like a lot of people but everyone did their part.

If you would like to read more about my Birth Story you can find it here Michael's Birth Story.

Once Michael was born (according to mom and Joe) all I was saying was… “I love him!” and “I can’t believe I just did that!” I was trying my best to soak up every second of the moment. After about 10 min Joe got to cut the umbilical cord. I think it wigged him out just a bit but he cut it like a champ. After that I passed Michael onto Joe. He was anxious to hold him I am sure. I didn’t want to be a baby hog though I could have held him all night! Joe got to take Michael to the scale to weigh him. He weighed in at 8lbs 10oz. Everyone said he was a hefty boy… but I am quite happy with his size; not too big and not too small in my opinion!

Jo cutting the cord!

Joe holding Michael for the first time

Weighing in at 8lbs 10oz

Grandma DiDi's first time with Michael

Auntie Ashley's first time with Michael

All cleaned up for the most part!

My Sleeping Boys

Everyone had left and the nurse stopped messing with me around 3 am so I was finally able to get some rest. I didn’t rest much actually. Michael slept between us and my adrenaline was still sky high. I closed my eyes for a few but I didn’t sleep at all.  At 6am Amber popped her head in to see if I was ok. She also informed me that Michael’s blood type was O-positive so I had to get another Rohgam shot. I find it quite comical that I was hoping to go throughout labor with little need for needles. As it turns out I had more than I wanted.

1.   Rohgam shot at week 28

2.      Had an iv put in my hand for antibiotics during labor

3.      A shot of Pitocin in my leg

4.      Lidocaine for stitches

5.      Stitches (I count that!)

6.      Lastly another Rohgam shot before we left the Birth Center

I got most of them in a 12 hour time frame!

Julie came to the Birth Center around 7am that morning. She brought us breakfast and took some photos. I did the same for her about a month prior and I was so delighted to have her there for us. I have made such a great friend in her that I was so excited to have her share in our excitement!

The Midwife came into the room to perform an exam on Michael to make sure he was healthy to go home. He did great and let her mess with him. She game him his first shot, vitamin K. Not a scream came from him. I sure hope he handles all his shots like that! Only time will tell.