11 weeks

It's been 11 weeks already and your personality is coming out! You seem to be a sensitive, yet well natured baby. You love to smile and coo when you are on the changing table or right after you've been fed. You are content to sit in your bouncer or on your playmat as long as someone is within view. You don't like to be left alone at all. You LOVE playing peek a boo!!

We are finally starting to fall into a routine. You wake up at 7am and like to just lie and look at the ceiling fan for a good little while. Then we get up and you switch between play, sleep, and nap pretty much all day. Your awake moments are getting longer and longer though. Just in time for some very nice weather :)You go to sleep for the night at 9pm and usually wake up around 1am to feed and then straight back to sleep until about 5am when you feed again. Then right back to sleep until 7am (seems like you don't like to sleep when the sun is out...neither do I!) Last night you surprised me and slept for 7 hours straight! 9pm-4am!! Mommy was shocked! I'm hoping it wasn't a fluke and that you will do it again! Make mama proud :)

2 months!!

Mommy has been trying to get to this post for more than a week now! I regret not blogging about your big brother until he was 6 months old, but now I remember why that was so hard! There's always a little person who needs me, and now there are 2 little people who need me and I would much rather be spending my time with those little people than blogging. However, I wish I did blog about Jayden's earlier days b/c as I watch you each day I wonder if Jayden did this or that...Did Jayden sleep as much as you do? When did Jayden first smile at me? How much did Jayden weigh at 2 months old? I hate that I don't remember all of that for him. And it seems as if those days FLEW by! So I want to remember this fast paced time in your life.

You came home from the hospital when you were 2 days old, despite being what the Drs referred to as a late term preemie. They were impressed by your strength and one Dr even questioned your gestational age and the date of conception. However, mommy and daddy tried for over 7 yrs to have you so we do know the exact date of conception ;) You were just a strong 36 weeker :) I found out early on that you actually never had your nights and days mixed up. You are a great sleeper, just like your big brother! Your Auntie Jenny even said "No fair!! It's time for you to have a kid that doen't sleep!" b/c your cousin Livy has always hated going to sleep! lol! You love your mama's milk! So much so that you were gaining a 1lb every 2 weeks! The Dr was so very impressed and said to just keep doing what we are doing. We both dealt with a PAINFUL bout of thrush which proved to be really hard to get rid of. I believe we dealt with it for about 3 weeks, but it felt like an eternity. You didn't let that stop you from getting your milk though! You latched on like a pro and as soon as you felt the milk in your mouth your leg would get straight and you'd curl your toes. Super cute! You are not much of a pacifier guy unless you are really tired and even then you only suck it until you are just about to fall asleep and then you push it out with your tongue :)

At 4 weeks old, we were reminded that although you are a strong baby, you were still born a bit early and your lungs are vulnerable to infection. Your big brother came home from school with a virus and the Dr stressed how important it was to keep you two separated. Unfortunately, you ended up with a cough that soon turned into RSV and bronchitis. Your O2 levels were fine and of course you were still feeding like a champ, and that is what kept you out of the hospital, but you needed breathing treatments around the clock. The Dr warned me that this is bound to happen to you quite often so we have to keep a close eye on that. I was so happy when you were feeling better b/c I hate seeing my babies sick!

By 7 weeks old, you were officially smiling at me!! It is seriously the cutest smile ever (aside from your big brother's!) You would often wake up and as soon as you see my face you shoot me a HUGE grin :)

You are now 10 weeks old and just under 10lbs. The growth chart shows that you are in the 5th-10th percentile which surprised me b/c I thought you looked really big for a 2 month old. Then I remember that many babies are born at 8-9lbs, so you do have a little bot of catching up to do, but you are perfectly proportionate. Cute things do come in small packages!

Elias, you have been a joy and a perfect addition to our family in just 10 weeks. We cannot imagine life without you and can't wait to spend the rest of our years with you! We love you so much Fat Face!!

Elias Parker

Born on Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at 6:42pm 5lbs 7oz 18.5 inches long. The story of your birth is just as amazing and beautiful as you are!

Daddy had a business trip planned for Dec 17-19. We both worried that it was just too close to your due date, which was Jan 12 (c section planned for Jan 5), although Daddy was FAR more concerned than I was. At my most recent Drs appt, I wasn't making any progress so I didn't expect any action at all while Daddy was away. Still, your Nana came to spend the weekend to help me out with your big brother. It was a pretty uneventful weekend. The only things that stood out were that I was a bit cranky, very exhausted, and VERY emotional! I cried almost all weekend for no reason at all! My appetite was pretty small as well. But I had no signs of labor what so ever. Daddy was expected to be home Monday night and Nana had to leave to work the night shift. I was feeling really exhausted and emotional on Monday. I only ate a bowl of spaghetti all day. At about 7:45 that night, just before Nana left, Jayden came up to me and kissed my belly and said "Mommy, baby brother is ready to come out." I teared up and said "I know baby. I'm ready for him to come out too." Nana asked Jayden how the baby would get out of mommy's tummy and somehow Jayden knew, even though we never spoke to him about this...He took his hands and made make believe scissors and cut across my belly. Yeah, he's just as amazing as you are :) Nana left at 8. Daddy got home at 9. That's when the fun began!

At 9:30, I started feeling some uncomfortable cramping. By 10, I noticed that they had a pattern to them and were getting a bit worse each time. I started to time them and they went from being 4.5 minutes apart to being 3 minutes apart by a little after 11pm. I had to wake Daddy up and let him know we needed to go to the hospital. Since it was so late and your big brother was already in bed, Daddy drove around the corner to pick up your older cousin so she could be at home with Jayden while I was examined at the hospital. I half way packed a bag for myself. just in case, and left it by my closet door, just in case. I definitely didn't expect that I'd need Daddy to come back home and get it for me. We got to the hospital at 12:30 am and I was immediately hooked up to the monitors and the nurses saw how quickly I was contracting so they contacted the Dr on call. Since I was only 36 weeks and 6 days, the Dr wanted to try and stop the contractions b/c it was still a bit early for you to come. They gave me an injection and it worked for maybe 20 minutes or so. Once it wore off the contractions were back, stronger and faster. The nurses came speeding in about an hour later with an IV pole and vials to draw blood. The nurse said "You are really cranking out the contractions now so we need to get you set up just in case." The plan was to try and get me some fluids and then contact my Dr at 7am to get a plan. I tried to get some sleep but it wasn't happening. The nurse offered me pain meds but I refused b/c I was afraid to be sent home and left to worry if the medications had a negative affect on you. I figured the pain was no worse than really bad menstrual cramps so I dealt with them. Dr B came in at 7 on the dot. He said , "Well I wasn't expecting to see you here so soon!" He said I was having some pretty intense contractions but that he would rather keep you in as long as possible to allow more time for your lungs to mature, so I was going to stay in the hospital for observation and be rechecked later that afternoon. I was already 1cm dilated so if I was still 1cm that afternoon and the contractions slowed a good bit, I could go home, however if I was progressing then I would either stay longer or have a baby!! He asked me to rate my pain and I said, with a smile, oh a 5 or a 6 but nothing too bad! lol! Dr. B allowed me to have breakfast but nothing after that "just in case"!! It was all so excited, but I truly expected to get discharge papers when he came back to check me. I continued to contract with very few breaks in between. I napped on and off through out the day. Dr B was supposed to be back by 12 but ended up getting backed up in clinic. By then, I was STARVING and my mouth was so dry. I couldn't have ANYTHING :( By 2, the contractions worsened and the fact that I was so thirsty didn't help things at all. My nurse called Dr. B and he promised he'd be there in the next hour and a half to see me. By 3, the contractions were unbearable. I forgot about any hunger pains b/c the pains from the contractions were front and center! Daddy felt helpless. My nurse came in and started getting paperwork signed for the c section and anything else surrounding your birth b/c she said judging from the contractions I probably wouldn't be released today! I was in tears by the time Dr. B came back to check me. He walked in the door just as I was having another contraction and he looked at my face and said "You've made my decision so much easier. We're going to go ahead with the c section today." Of course, I asked if you would be okay and Dr. B said that although you would still be considered premature, he's sure that you won't need extensive or long term help with breathing, but the NICU staff would be standing by just in case. Lots of "just in case" surrounding you!

So then the phone calls began! The baby is coming today!! Within 30 minutes, the room was filled...Daddy, Nana, Paw Paw, Uncle Jason, and your great Aunt Tricia! My mind went from the pain of the contractions to "OMG I'm about to have a c section!!" Then it shifted to, "OMG, I'm about to have a spinal!!!", then finally it shifted to "OMG, I'm about to have my baby!!! After 7 yrs and I'm about to go into the OR and HAVE A BABY!!" The tears started flowing! The nurse came in to get me and I kissed Daddy on the cheek and off we went to the OR to get prepped.

I won't lie, the spinal was not painful, but it wasn't comfortable either. I was so glad once it was over. The anesthesiologists were so friendly, as were the nurses. Everyone was shuffling about doing their duties and casually talking to each other. Next thing I know, Dr B walks in and the nurse gloves him up, just like I'd seen happen on the birthing shows on TLC. Only now, it's happening to me...it's real!!! Dr. B looks at me and says, "Are you ready to have a baby??" YES, YES I AM!!!

The blue curtain went up. They placed the nasal cannula in my nose. I heard the word "incision" but felt nothing. The anesthesiologist asked if I was ok and I said yes and he said "Good b/c they started about 30 seconds ago!" A few minutes later, Daddy walked in. He was so intrigued by the surgery that he wouldn't even sit down next to me. He wanted to watch and I didn't mind! I wanted him to see you come into this world. My c section took a bit longer than usual b/c of the scar tissue from my previous surgeries but once they got to you they announced "He has LOTS of hair!!" Then they pushed you out! You had your cord wrapped around your neck once but cried as soon as they got you out. I heard a nurse say "He's a tiny thing but he's doing well!" Daddy went over to take pictures while I was stitched back up. Your cry was like sweet music to my ears and I just laid there listening to it play and I smiled! Daddy came back over to me to give me a kiss and I asked who you looked like and he showed me a picture of you. Amazingly, you looked like your big brother to me! Maybe 10 minutes later, the nurse handed you to me. I was still lying flat on the operating table but I remember pulling you in to my face to smell you and give you a kiss and oh my, you were sooooo soft!!! You had your eyes closed and you were so peaceful and content. I was immediately in love with you. I handed you over b/c I couldn't feel if I was going to drop you or not and then the nurse said they needed to take you to the NICU b/c she thought you may need some oxygen. Once in recovery, I learned that you had some rapid, shallow breathing but they were able to hold off on giving you oxygen b/c you corrected your breathing yourself. You did need to stay in the warmer for a while to bring up your body temperature, but otherwise you were fine!When I was wheeled to my room, they wheeled me past the nursery and I got a good look at you in your warmer. You were fussing and sucking your fingers b/c you were hungry! My arms ached to hold you but I had to wait. Finally, you were brought to my room at 10pm. FINALLY!!! After 7 long years of praying for you and thing you would never be, you were in my arms!! My little Elias Parker!! I was beyond thrilled. It was just you and me and Daddy. It was perfect. Your big brother was going to meet you on the next day so he would be afraid of mommy being hooked up to so many machines.

When Jayden came to meet you, it was THE SWEETEST moment ever. You were in the nursery getting checked out by the pediatrician when Jayden got there. He gave me a kiss and said "Where's my baby brother?" About 5 minutes later, the Dr wheeled you in. The look on Jayden's face was as if she'd brought him the BEST christmas gift ever!! He announced, "I'M SO HAPPY!!" Then he held you for the first time and the look of joy on his face reminded me that Jayden has been waiting a long time to meet you as well.

You are 9 days old now and you are a complete joy. You seriously never fuss, and when you do cry it's the CUTEST little cry ever. I can cuddle with you all day, and since you are breastfeeding it's pretty much all I do right now. Jayden is still so in love with you and he tells you everyday. He even shared his beloved Wayne with you last night. I didn't think I had enough love left in my heart for a second child b/c of the love I have for Jayden, but Elias, when you were born it's as if my heart grew 10 times bigger and filled with so much more love for both you and Jayden! I didn't know love like that was possible. I am so very happy that you are here and I can't wait to watch you and Jayden grow up as brothers and friends. You are totally amazing to me and I am blessed to have you!

Oh, and thank you for waiting for Daddy to get home before making your grand entrance! I love you Elias!!!

36 weeks

Time is ticking away!! As we get closer to Jan 5, everyone is getting more and more anxious to meet you! Many just can't wait to see your face and to snuggle with one of God's angels, while a select few probably just can't wait to find out what your name will be. It is still TOP SECRET!! LOL!

Your big brother starts his Winter/Christmas break tomorrow. If things go as planned, this two week vacation will be his last two weeks to have mommy and daddy all to himself. He's not big on sharing, but he's getting better! He's already very protective of you, so hopefully he won't mind sharing us with you. We will see very soon!! Love you sweet boy :)

PS. Your knee has been lodged in my ribcage since last night. It hurts. Please move it? Thanks baby!

35 weeks!!!

Mommy missed a few weeks due to a UTI that had me in L&D, Thanksgiving, and your big brother's birthday! It gets really busy around here during this time of year and pretty soon, you will add to it. We cannot wait! Your big brother LOVES this time of the year and I know you will as well :)

Yesterday we scheduled your birth date, January 5, 2012! Less that 4 weeks away! Of course, you may decide to come earlier, which the Dr said would be ok. I've always been envious of people born on New Year's Eve b/c I thought it was the coolest birthday to have! Never have to go to school on their birthday and there's ALWAYS a party to crash! So, if you want to come on New Year's Eve, Mommy won't mind! NO PRESSURE!! We are ready whenever you are buddy :)

31 weeks

I can just feel you in my arms!!! Smell your newborn sweetness!! I cannot wait to see your face, and you obviously don't want me to see it until the big day. Mommy and Daddy paid $150 to try and see your face with a 3d ultrasound. You were too busy napping and sucking on your thumb. We were disturbing your peace so the most you gave us was a quick glance, sucking hard on your thumb, and few blinks of your eyes before turning your head into the placenta! The tech rescheduled us for a complimentary second visit since you didn't want any pictures that day. I had an ultrasound at the Drs office yesterday, to check your growth and position. You are now head down and facing my spine. All I saw yesterday was the back of your head! Tomorrow is our complimentary visit to try and see you again. If you don't turn around, we'll just have to frame our 3D picture of the back of your head.

Sweet boy, you cannot be camera shy b/c your mommy has a camera just waiting on your arrival!!

30 weeks

The final stretch!!

Last week, we actually had a little scare! Mommy had to go to the Labor and Delivery ward to be monitored and we found out that I was having contractions. The nurse gave me a shot to stop the contractions and I was released with medication to take every 8 hours and orders for bedrest. No more work for me, just in case you were wondering why you hadn't heard any babies crying lately ;)

So now I'm spending my free time, in between resting of course, to fix up your nursery and prepare for your arrival. I cannot believe I'm going to be meeting you in less than 2 more months!! After 7 yrs of waiting for you, you are almost here! Words cannot express my excitement. Mommy loves you!