Jesse: 4 weeks

Jesse is doing great in his crib.  Mommy is getting a little more sleep with him in there!  He is still getting up about 3 times a night, but last night was twice if you call it an early morning at 6:30am.  Ouch, but really it wasn't horrible.  I got two three hour stretches of sleep, instead of three two hour stretches.  We have been getting more and more 3-4 hour stretches.  Last night would have been even more amazing as he slept great, but mommy got a stomach bug and Owen leaked out of his diaper and we had to get new pjs and sheets.

Jesse is nursing and finally it isn't hurting mommy as much. I think this is just typical for me.  

Just had his one month dr visit.  He is 10 pounds and 15 oz!  Almost 11 pounds, jumping from 30% to 70%!  Dr B said my milk must be very nutritious and keep it up.  The cluster feedings before bed are doing the trick and Jesse is sleeping great getting me up 1-2 times a night. The 3 times a night is what makes me exhausted the next day.  

Jesse is out of newborn clothes and some of the 0-3 month are getting tight too!  His nursery still isn't finished, but we will get to it eventually!!

Jesse: 3 weeks old

I wish I had more time to document every moment with Jesse, but 2 kids is way more work.  This is just plain honesty!

Jesse is thriving! He is a great baby and reminds me a lot of Owen and yet he is his own little person too! The first couple of weeks were just survival between feedings and sleep. Jesse really wants a paci. We didn't do one with Owen and really enjoyed seeing his little face, but he could cry it out and not bother anyone but the parents who were heart broken for him.  This time Jesse's cries wake up Owen if he isnt asleep in the evenings.  

Jesse: birth to 2 week weigh ins!

10-1: 8 pounds

10-2: 7 pounds 14 oz (midnight in hospital)

10-3: 7 lbs 5 oz (follow up at Peds office)

10-7: 7 lbs 10 oz

10-9: 7 lbs 13 oz 

10-14: 8 lbs 3 oz 

Next apt is one month!!

Jesse is giving us a couple 4 hour stretches, but they seem to hit during the day.  I just finished skimming the baby wise book again and will be waking him up during the day to eat.  I, also, moved him to his crib a couple nights ago.  These has seemed to help him stretch to a full 3 hours between starts of feedings instead of 2.5 hours...that extra 30 minutes makes a HUGE difference in the middle of the night!! 

Nursing is different and yet similar with Owen.  We used the nipple shield for several weeks and I stopped using it when his sucking was starting to hurt again.  Owen and Jesse have these tiny mouths and don't want to do a deep latch.  The shield allowed me to force it into their mouths so they got used to it deeper in there.  Then when we drop the shield they allow me to help them do a correct latch.  Well, Jesse has this really hard suckle at the beginning. It HURTS for about 3-5 seconds till my milk lets down and he can relax more.  The other thing that has been harder is finding time to pump.  With 2 kids needing me I can't seem to find a good time and in the evenings Jesse cluster feeds before bed and I don't want to deplete my milk supply or create an over supply.  

Big brother has been soooooo great with little brother.  Our first grocery shopping experience with both boys went pretty good!  Owen at one point held Jesse's hand to calm him down.  MELT MY HEART!!

It worked and Jesse was happy the rest of the shopping trip.  Owen was a little disappointed that he didn't get to ride in the car cart as there would have been no room for groceries and the baby car seat.  I might have to use the ergo next time so he can drive the cart as it makes him so happy! 

We broke out the double stroller and it was great at the outlets!! Both boys were great too!! Especially, since Owen was skipping a nap!  He sat in the front and ate his lunch the whole time, plus it helped that Aunt Sara was with us!! 

This is the ready 2 grow graco stroller that my family gave us!! I love it so far! Very easy to push and turn for a large heavy stroller. Plus the box has created hours of fun for a certain little boy!

We did some naked tummy time: yup of course there was a big poop and pee!!  

Jesse has no butt and skinny long legs!!  Still adorable to me!! Daddy gave mommy the best compliment the other night!  Said Jesses cheeks were filling out!  Means Mommy's milk is doing its job! 

Owen conversations:

Convo 1:

Owen: can I get my trains out? I cleaned up!

Mommy: sure, Owen!

Owen: ughhhh, my trains heavy. Owen strong like Jesus! 

Convo 2:

Putting Owen to bed and he gets into trouble for throwing MeMe out of the bed again.  I had to get stirn and pop his leg. When I was snuggling him and telling him I love him before putting him back to bed he says:

If Jesse throws his MeMe down, Jesse trouble too?

Mommy: yes, Owen Jesse will get in trouble 

Owen: mommy pop jesses leg too?

Mommy (trying not to laugh): yes, mommy will pop jesses leg too.

School photos! 

And one of Jesse too:

Big Brother Little Brother Moments

I am so proud of my first born.  He has been so sweet with Jesse.  Here are a few moments from the first 11 days of Jesse's life that I just can't forget.  Sadly, we can't seem to catch any on video or pictures.

• Big brother worries about little brother when he cries during a diaper change. Owen several nights now yells out from his bed "it's alright Jesse or it's ok, Jesse". Then I hear "jesse's hungry MeMe, he wants milk". Tonight daddy took J in there to O and O kissed and hugged him, then as daddy closed the door O said "I love you too, daddy, I love you too, Jesse!"
• Daddy was holding Jesse this morning and asked Owen to come give him a good morning kiss, which he did and then Owen gave Jesse a high five.  Later after some toddler play time he went up to Jesse's bare foot and did 5 little piggies "this piggy when to market, this piggy weee weee wee" and tickled Jesse.
• Since, Jesse was born Owen has been so sweet to shower him with kisses and his type of hug where you place your face next to someone's and make a squeezey hug grunt sound!  He like to tickle him and make pretend giggles for Jesse! 

Jesse's Birth Part 2

After getting stitched up and Chris held him for a while, before we attempted nursing.  I pretty much remembered the correct holds and latches and I also remembered Owen's bad latch and YUP baby boy Jesse has the same little mouth.  I was kicking myself in the butt for not bringing the nipple shield or top hat as we called it that I used with Owen for 3 weeks.

Once we got settled in our new room, I asked the nurse.  "When can we go home?"  She looked at me surprised.  I guess others must want to stay in the hospital, but not me.  I hate the bed, I hate being woken up from precious little sleep to get checked, or Jesse to be weighed/hearing test/blood sugar's ran/ etc.  The list goes on and on.

It was amazing how quickly I was able to get up and moving. I am not going to lie, I was in PAIN.  But it was different pain and much less than a c/s.  The c/s I was stuck in bed for over 12 hours.  The VBAC I was up in a few and ready to move around a little so my back, legs and butt didn't get as soar.  The bed was comfy at first compared to the Labor and Delivery bed, but by the time I left it felt like concrete.

daddy buckling him up

ready to go home

Owen took a ride with Mommy

same outfit that Owen wore and it was WAY too big this time again!

Jesse's Birth Part 1

38 weeks pregnant

At 3:30 we had an u/s and OB appointment scheduled on Monday the day before our 38 week mark.  The u/s ran late, but we found out that Jesse's fluid was good, he was approximately 7 pounds and 12 oz and had hair!  Then we had to wait forever to see my OB.  It was almost 5PM at this point.  My OB checked me and I was dilated to a 2 still, but 50% effaced.  I was discouraged, because I had been having contractions on and off all day every day...it seemed.  So, we had a good talk and came up with the plan that we would set a c/s date around the 40 week mark and if he came before that we were going forward with the VBAC.  Off to the scheduler's office we went and to my dismay she had already left for the day.  I knew it was only a matter of calling in the morning, but I really wanted to have that end date on the calendar so we could start planning and preparing.

Chris and I hop in the car and I had a mini break down.  I was just so disappointed and felt like Chris and my OB were pushing me to wait to do the VBAC when I knew this boy was big and I was so scared it would end in a c/s after laboring.

We decided to run to a couple of stores and look at mirrors for our master bath.  We really want to get that last part finished.  I walked around this huge warehouse decor store for a good while and then one other store before we realized we needed to pick up Owen and get him home for bed time.

By 8:30 my feet were up and I was watching TV on the couch with Chris.  At 9:30pm I decided I needed a snack and was having some regular contractions.  I chose something spicey because "hey, it could only help bring on the labor!"  By 10:30 we were seriously timing them and they were regularly coming at 5-7 minutes apart.  I didn't want to get my hopes up that this baby boy might be making his way into the world, so I tried not to get excited.  By 11:30 we decided to call the after hours nurse line because we hadn't even discussed with my OB when we should go into Labor and Delivery.  The nurse was sweet and said when they got to 3-5 minutes apart or my water broke to call back and then head in.  I did the usual lay on my left side and drink water and it didn't seem to help.  So, at midnight we call Chris's parents to come stay with Owen that we were headed to the hospital.  I was so worried that it was a false alarm and that I was putting everyone out of sleep and we would be back home the next morning with this baby still in my belly.

12:45 we left our house for the hospital.  They hooked me up to a machine and monitored my contractions that were 2-5 minutes apart on average.  It seemed like forever before a nurse came in to check me and she said my cervix was funneled, but that I was a 3 on the outside and a 4 on the inside.  During the check she must have stirred stuff up and the blood show started.  She could tell I was uncomfortable and didn't want to send me home and said that she would call it a 4 and the blood show meant we were admitted to L&D.  This was 2:30am at this point.  I was still in denial that this baby boy was on his way OUT!

All my girlfriends said if you are getting an Epidural don't be a hero and just get it ASAP!  So when the nurse asked about pain meds I said send the epi guy in!  Things seem to be either in slow motion in the hospital or super hyper speed!  By 3:30 the epidural was in! They checked me and Jesse was still head down.  Things were moving.

I tried to sleep for the next bit, but it was so surreal to think it was finally happening I was having another baby.  My little family was growing and this was it the day we had prayed for for so long.

At 6:30am the on call OB came in to see us.  Ironically, this whole pregnancy I have see my Dr. L in the office and the on call OB was always Dr. M when we had our SCH scare and the preterm labor!  Dr. M came in and checked me.  She was surprised I was admitted at a 3cm, but realized that I was a 4cm with the funneling.  We decided to break my water with a slow leak because they didn't want me as a VBAC to progress too quickly.  We all thought that Jesse wouldn't come on Dr. M's shift and Dr. L was the next OB on call at 1pm.

I tried to sleep again and was able to doze on and off a little.  But at 7:30am I got the whim whams or low blood sugar.  In my family, we call it the whim whams when we get shakey hungry.  They checked my blood sugar and seeing as it was a 75 I was able to eat some jello and some cranberry juice.  It really helped!

At 8:30am they checked me again and I was finally getting moving at a 5cm!!  We started me on the lowest pitocin drip.  Things really picked up.  9:30am I was a 6 cm, 100% effaced and Jesse had dropped to a 0 station! I was told to call when I felt the pressure.  At 10am I couldn't wait any longer and called even though it had only been 30 minutes.  Chris was looking at me like I was crazy and I even told my nurse. I swear I felt the pressure for 3 contractions before calling.  To ALL our shock I was dilated to 9.5 cm and Jesse is coming faster than we thought.  Chris was so funny when she said 9.5cm.  He sat up so quick, rubbed his face and said I guess I should put my shoes on and pee!  LOL!  We were both a bit overwhelmed that this was happening!

I did a couple practice pushes because Jesse was still up high and thankfully when I pushed it he did move down and the OB, Dr. M, was on her way.   After 17 minutes of pushing this little guy entered the world.  I am amazed my body was able to do this and I didn't watch, but Chris did.  He was amazed and cried when he was born!

Chris is the most amazing husband. We had fun years as a young married couple before the loss of the twins.  When we lost those babies the strength in him amazed me.  I don't think I can think about giving birth to any of my babies without thinking about all 3 of my very different experiences.  The day Owen was born Chris became a father to a living boy and the gentleness and patience he has is amazing.  The day Jesse was born Chris was my strength again.  When I was pushing and feeling like my insides were coming out with Jesse he would look at me with amazement and kept saying:
jeanna you are doing it!
keep it up!
this is it!

I think it would have taken me way longer to push Jesse out if I didn't have my husband as my cheerleader.  So, a very long to me, short to the staff 17 minutes later I had a squealing baby boy in my arms!!!  They put him on my chest and all the gook that I thought was gross, didn't smell, didn't feel weird, but was so amazing because MY NEW BABY was under there! I wanted to stare at this new person that was now in my life.  Jesse was amazing. He looked so much like Owen, but so different.  I love that they will look like brothers, but still be individuals!

I spent the next 40 minutes getting stitched up and holding Jesse.  I told Chris that I was sorry he couldn't hold him till I was stitched up.  I had a 2nd degree tear and my insides were pretty much torn apart.  Jesse was my distraction, he was my prize!  He is my miracle IVF baby and is so wonderful.







Big brother came to visit!

Jesse: 38 week apt

Our apt was at 3:30, we had a bunch of errands to run and got them done with time to spare!  At 3:15 we arrived at the OBs office, sadly they were running behind and we didn't got back for the u/s  till 3:50.  Jesse looked great, head down apx weight 7 pounds 12 oz; great fluid. Finally we saw my OB she checked me and I was at a 2cm and 50% effaced.  Basically, some of the contractions were doing stuff but not much progress in my book.

We decided to put a c/s on the calendar, but since it was 5:15  pm at that point the lady who schedules them had left for the day.  To say I was disappointed was an understatement.  

We decided to run to a couple of stores and look for a mirror for the master bath. We bought one at garden ridge even tho it was a smidge too long.