Well Hi there, baby!!!!

Since I became pregnant, the doctor and I have argued about how far along I was. I said I was further along than his due date indicated. Even the ultrasounds backed me up. However, I was scheduled for a C-section on the doctor's due date, of Feb. 2. I said that was fine, but what did he want me to do when I went into labor early? He said to call him.
Last Monday, I just didn't feel right. I couldn't quite make out WHY, I just didn't. I found myself packing baby things, without knowing why. My teacher had told me to stay home from clinical, and, while I was disappointed, I was glad, as I just felt sore and achy and not quite on the planet. Silly things set me on edge, and I just wanted to lie around. Tuesday morning, I was up at 3:30 in the morning, feeling pains, but figuring they were the braxton hicks that I was used to. So, I floated off to school, thinking maybe the change of scenery would help, but, I just didn't feel well. Everything hurt. My back, my belly, my legs. During notes on hepatitis, I was texting Jasin "They are now 5 min. apart.. gonna call the doc after school". Do not say I am not dedicated! Even after I knew I was in labor, I got a last day in at school first! So, after school, I called the doctor, who said to come in, and called Jasin, who said, "Okay honey, I will see if Brandy can take the kids after school then, and go to work. If it's anything, give me a call, and I will come home." (His job is an hour and a half away from the hospital...) and I said, "No, you are going to call Brandy to see if she can GET the kids from school, and you are going to drive me to the doctor's!"
So, off we went. The doctor had just gotten off a plane from Pakistan, and 3:00 AM that morning, and said tiredly that I was not in labor, but I should go to the hospital and have the baby monitored for an hour anyhow. An hour later, the contractions were closer, and the pain was a little worse. Not as bad as the poor woman in the next room. She was SCREAMING! For TWO AND A HALF HOURS! That womans lungs had staying power! I figured, sinced I obviously had no urges to shriek like that, that I would probably get sent home, and told to quit bothering people. Next thing I knew, the doctor was there, and saying, "Well, baby's gotta come out... you are in labor."
"Have you had enough sleep, or even had dinner yet?" I asked, "Oh, don't worry about me, I am fine!" He smiled. "Well, since you are coming at me with a knife shortly, I would rather you were rested and fed first" I informed him....
Next thing I knew, I was being wheeled into the O.R., and given a spinal. At which point, I became miserably ill. Gross, I know, and we wont get into details, but, I was sick for the first 10 minutes of being in the OR. Fishers have never done well with anesthesia.
The doctor came in, and began the operation. It took about 30 seconds to be outraged by what he saw. The last doctor, who delivered Joe, completely ruined my insides, I was told. My uterus and everything around it was a mess. He was amazed I was able to get pregnant, let alone stay pregnant, let alone go to term! It was extremely bad, and I began to lose large amounts of blood. They were starting to type me, for a possible transfusion, and the 30 minute operation took almost 3 hours, due to all the internal damage I had from the last C-section. He commented that my pain tolorance level was amazing, because this damage was bad enough, I should have been in insane pain for the last 4 and a half years.
A little while after George was born, (And, by the way, there was no undignified outraged screaming from this calm little boy. No, he cried for a moment or so, and endured the whole clean -up process in stoic silence. I was actually a little worried because he WASN'T crying!) Someone stood in the O.R. doorway and said "That 3 week early baby? EIGHT POUNDS, ELEVEN AND A HALF OUNCES!!!!!" "Dr. Chauhdry?" I said, "What?" "I told you so!" "I still have the knife, Moriah..." It was actually, drama aside, the most fun out of all the kid's births I have ever had. I really like my doctor, and I was glad he did the operation, and fixed everything.
So, this below, is the first picture of little George Elliot, born at 7:28 PM, January 19, at 8#, 11.5 oz, and 21 inches long. He really is the sweetest, most calm baby I have had yet. He cries the worst when his diaper is getting changed. Other than that, he is very easy going, and I have a hard time putting him down.

This was taken the day the anesthetic wore off. I was in so much pain, and so tired; OF COURSE I look lousy! Joe was snuggled with baby and me on the bed, watching TV. George is in there somewhere!
And, I think I have a picture just like this of Jasin with every one of the kids!

Kaila and George

Lexi and George... notice the lack of hair on my child. She cut it herself a few days before George was born. It took two haircuts to fix it as well as possible, but, when all is said and done - it's SHORT! When I asked Lexi "WHY?" she told me it was because she had decided to be a hairdresser when she grows up, and needed to practice. Really can't fault the logic, and she has to live with it. Obla dee obla da, life goes on!

And, all my boys together! Joe is trying so very hard to adjust, but, he was my little man forever, and we are pretty tight, so, this whole thing is rough, I suspect. My thought is, we all survived 7 brothers and sisters, there is no reason my kids won't survive George!




The day we were able to leave the hospital, we had to rush, as Joe had to get to school for a reading award. So, we dropped Joe off, then Jasin took baby and me home, and then went back to watch Joe get his award. He was SO proud! And, you can't see her face, but next to him on his right, is "Tiny Girl", his future wife. She lives around the corner, and the first time he saw her, he ran his bike into a tree, staring at her. He is convinced, however, that if he lets things get TOO far, that he will have to kiss her, and then will turn into a frog, so, he's decided they're just friends for now. But, he can love her, and not have to kiss her, right?

The dog, OMG! He thinks the baby is the most fasinating thing in the whole wide world! He loves to look into the bassinet, and if George makes any noise, he is right there, checking the situation out. When we are holding him, Buster is right next to us, as close as possible, to watch the baby. Very sweet! Everytime I see Buster look into the bassinet, all I can think of is "Lady and the Tramp"...

Sadly, we were only home for a day, before poor George had to be re-admitted. His biliruben count was way high, and our poor kid was extremely yellow. So, I was in the hospital with him all Saturday and Sunday. At this point, I had not slept since the previous Sunday night, and was in mega pain, from having all my insides messed around with, to fix them, and trying to catch up on a major homework load, and just a mess. When Jasin came to pick us up, he was a little early, and handed me a bag saying he had brought my slippers in. I said I didn't need them NOW, we were going home for heaven's sake! He looked liked I had just kicked a puppy, and I was in tears. REALLY needed that sleep! Which, while we waited, he made me do. I got put in the bed, the lights were turned out, and I did nap for about an hour. It made a huge difference! Below, is a picture of George FINALLY coming home! We have to have him checked again this week, but, hopefully he'll be okay!

Last night, Jasin did baby duty. Because biliruben is eliminated in diapers, making sure we get enough into him is a big priority, so, I am pumping, and we are supplimenting with formula. I fell asleep on the couch last night, and Jasin said I kept waking up and demanding to know where the baby was, and was he okay? Then I would demand to know, in a panic, where the kids were. (Okay, I was literally so tired by last evening, I was seeing everything in double. That was a total first!) So, Jasin finally lost patience and told me to go to bed. He stayed downstairs with George all night. Things looked a little better by morning!

So, in all, it's been a crazy week, but, when all is said and done, Goerge is just the best baby in the world, and he is so worth it! He is our last baby, and I am trying to enjoy him as much as possible before I have to go back to school. My teacher has told me that I WILL be bringing the baby in to school, so, I won't be seperated too much! We are still trying to decide if I am going back to work.... But I will think about that later! Meanwhile, enjoy the pictures! I am SO happy he's here! And, he really is the cutest, sweetest baby!

Quick update

This is another one of those no - pictures blogs, mostly because I have have no time to do the whole upload and go thru them thing. And, the computer had a really nasty virus recently, so we were down for awhile anyhow.

We all made it thru the holidays. The kids and I all had two weeks off of school, but, it didn't feel like much of a vacation! Between going to work and getting things done, we were pretty busy! But, Jasin came thru with the absolute BEST Christmas present in the whole world - at least, for me! He presented me with a gift certificate for a spa day at a spa in a near -by ski resort town, actually right down the raod from my school. It includes a massage, manicure, pedicure and facial. I was SOOOO happy! Now, it's trying to decide if I should go during spring break, or save it as a special graduation treat! I cannot wait. And, of course, the kids all made out at Christmas as well, so, everyone was happy. We spent most of the day at my parent's house.

On Christmas eve, the girls were in the church Christmas pagent. Kaila was one of the angels that came to see Joseph, and Lexi was a little angel that was supposed to kneel by the manger and look holy. Lexi being Lexi, I was laughing so card I was crying, by the end. Poor Jasin had to work, but my brother Luke was there, and we were absolutely sobbing with mirth. She flapped her wings, she announced loudly and excitedly she had a REAL candle, she posed for pictures, made faces at her brother, and bobbed in time to the Christmas hymns. She sang along, and took a bow when it was all over. She was so busy bowing and curtsy-ing, that she forgot to solemnly walk down the isle with the rest of the nativity, and announced "OH! I FORGOT!" then took off, running down the center isle of the church, stopping at my pew to yell "HI MOM! WASN'T I A GREAT ANGEL?!" Then take off again. Add to it someone had brought their white poodle, to be a sheep, and it was the best pagent I have ever seen.

New Year's Eve was spent a few streets over at friend's of ours. Funny enough, Kaila became best friend's with one of their daughters in Pre-K, years ago. Which is how we met. Brandy, the mom of said BFF, was going thru nursing school at the time. When all is said and done, and we got to know each other better, as our daughters are inseperable, we discovered we actually have a lot in common! Shane, Brandy's husband, used to bull ride with Jasin, years ago, right before I met him. They discovered this as Jasin looked at pictures of Shane bullriding, that are in the entrance way of their house! And, of course, brandy and I have the whole nursing thing in common, and they have 4 kids, 2 older girls, and 2 little boys as well. So, we get along well. We had the best time there that night, and the girls all managed to stay awake til midnight. Joe fell asleep on the floor next to where I was sitting at the table right before midnight. It was just a really fun, really relaxing night! The first New Year's Eve I haven't had to work in years. I just didn't want to this year.

A few days ago, I had an OB appointment. Jasin wanted to come along, so we brought Joe, too, as he doesn't go to pre-school till lunch time. It was the only long waiting room wait I have had at this doctor's office. And, wouldn't you know.... Jasin and I were talking about my job, and I was saying we have our annual Game dinner this upcoming weekend. (It's where all the guys cook up wild game that people have gotten over the year) I was saying we had elk, moose, bear, wild boar, several kinds of fish, venison, beaver, pheasant.... and Joe pipes in, ON TOP OF HIS LUNGS
"Don't forget the beer, Mom! You know that's my favorite!"
"JOSPEH! You do not drink beer!" I cried out, mortified, in front of a roomfull of disapproving stares.
"YES I DO!!!!" He insists, "You know I like to drink the Blue kind, like Daddy drinks! I LOVE beer, mom!"
I didn't know whether to laugh, or pray the floor would open up. OF COURSE my son does not drink beer! And Jasin is not a heavy drinker, either. Funny enough, if he has one at all, it's AFTER the kids go to bed, so, I have no idea where this came from. Thankfuly, we were called back to be seen shortly after this, but, I can only imagine what people were whispering after we left the room.

Once in the exam room, the doctor came in. "So! When are we taking this baby?" he cheerfully asks. (Side note here... I am tired, sore, cannot breathe most of the time, uncomfortablem cannot sleep and at the stage where even commercials make me cry. I am so done.) "Tomorrow" I said. "No" He said. So, it was decided, that should I make it untill February 2, that is when my C- section is scheduled for. Everyone, including me has doubts I will make it that far, and a possible baby pool is in the works at work, but, we'll try. I need to get thru midterms first! This poor kid's first words will be medical terms. The thought did occur to me today, in panic, that I have 3 weeks and 6 days till the c - section, and I don't have a whole lot for this poor baby yet. We have the crib and car seats and all that, but, not much in the way of clothes, and, no bottles, booties, bottles, any of that. So, I think that will be my project for next week. Stay put, George!!!!!