Max is 2 weeks old!

Well, Max....it is just you and Mommy.  Daddy went back to work :-( and Nana left.  We were left to really figure each other out.  Here is what we learned about you:

• Diaper changes needed to be faster....you peed on me a lot.  You even peed in your dad's coffee - that was the day after you projectile pooped on him!
• You still liked to be awake for a long stretch during the night.  Your best sleep happened in the morning from about 7 - 9 a.m.
• You ate pretty regularly (every three hours).  You are a good eater!  But had pretty bad tummy aches after eating. 
• You LOVED your car seat....anytime/anywhere....we didn't even need to be in the car!

One Week Old!

We made it through week #1!  Let me tell you, Jake and I were pooped.  We never knew tired until this past week.  Max was sleeping off and on- in his little chair.  He wanted nothing to do with sleeping in a bassinet or his crib.  He wanted to be held!  We were pretty much up every two to three hours eating - and Max LOVED to be awake between the hours of 2 - 5 a.m. (every night for a while)!  

On his one week birthday, we took his newborn pictures.  Max, we love you very much....even though you don't like sleeping yet :-). 

Max weighed 7 lbs. and 5 ozs.

Welcome Max Jacob!

Into the surgery room I went on June 5th.  Jake was asked to stay in a holding room while they prepped me for about 30 minutes.  I remember just laying there thinking, this is so not normal.  I prayed and prayed that things would go smoothly.  I also thanked my heavenly Father for giving me what I wanted....I got the whole crazy going into labor story that I dreamed of! 

Then, the doctor said "okay bring in dad".....oh gosh. 

Jake sat by my head, behind the blue curtain and held my hand.  I felt pressure and moving of things (most likely organs, I can only assume)...but no pain.  As they were about to pull Max out one of the  nurses said right before they pull him out, you'll feel a LOT of pressure....and sure enough I did.   One of the other nurses asked Jake if he wanted to stand and watch them pull him out - and he did!  I was so happy he did....a couple seconds after (at 7:39 a.m.) they pulled him out I heard the most amazing noise...this teeny tiny cry....and just like that I was a mom...

They took Max immediately to check him over (7 lbs, 8 oz. and 20.25 inches long), suction him, etc.  Jake was over there with the camera shouting "he's perfect pita....he's perfect.  Ten fingers, ten toes, he has hair....he's perfect."  What an amazing feeling. They had him over there for what felt like forever and I remember feeling so sad and crying because I wasn't the first to hold him and not even the 4th person to see him - bring me my baby!....Jake kept taking pictures and bringing them to me to see him until they finally brought him over to me and laid him next to me.  He was the best thing I'd ever seen.....he was half me and half Jake.....

They took Max into recovery where they bathed him.  Jake went with Max (our number one rule - you go wherever that baby goes!) and I stayed in surgery to get sown back together (literally).  Now, I was so overwhelmed and happy and scared and anxious and every feeling in the book - and what were the doctors talking about as they stitched me back up...LEBRON JAMES and which team they thought he was going to chose.  Nice.

I finally got to join Max and Jake in the recovery room where I got to meet Max, hold him, hug him and kiss him. I looked at Jake and Max and my world was just filled with love.  How lucky am I?

Max, You are the second love of my life.....your dad and I love you very much.  You came into this world upside down, stubborn but sweet as can be and ready to be loved!  Your nicknames:  doodlebug, Maxers, champ (although dad ditched that bc he didn't like it), handsome, lovey, love muffin....WE LOVE YOU.

Turn Baby Turn!

On Friday, June 4th, my day went on pretty much how they always did throughout the last few weeks of my pregnancy.  I woke up, worked for a while (from the chair in our family room), laid down for a bit, worked some more and waited patiently for Jake to come home from work so we could begin our weekend!  I had been to the doctor that Tuesday (June 1st) where I was NOT dilated but to maybe a half a centimeter...so the doctor said there was no chance a baby was coming anytime soon.  They did however tell me that this little guy was probably "not so little" and breech...awesome.  I was so upset because at that point, they were talking about scheduling a c-section, which I did not want to do.  I wanted the whole experience...the waking up at 3 in the morning, water breaking, running around, hurry to the hospital...I wanted it all. 

So, we decided that we would try everything we could to get this baby to turn.  That include going into the hospital the next day (Wednesday, June 2nd) for an external version - we're going to turn this baby!  Literally, that is what Jake sang to my belly - turn baby turn.

We packed up and headed to the hospital that morning.  The doctor said to have our bags packed just in case because SOMETIMES women can go into labor due to the pressure that is put on the baby while trying to turn them, etc.  So, off we went......and 5 hours later.....home we went.  No baby, no turn, nothin'.  At this point, we were scheduled for a c-section to welcome Max into this world on June 10th. 

Back to Friday....

My brother was coming into town for a work conference (he lived in Dallas at the time) and since my mom didn't ever get to see him, she came into town too.  Before they arrived, I tried to clean the house a bit and noticed back pain throughout my cleaning - but just shrugged it off.  I was pregnant and my back was supposed to hurt, right?  Jake and I did our usual - ate dinner (pizza that night) and went on a walk around the neighborhood!  After our walk, I decided that I wanted a blizzard from dairy queen - yum!  So soon after our dairy queen run, my mom got here.

She walked in the door and we hugged but I remember thinking that my back hurt so bad so I decided to lay for a bit until we had to go pick up Barry from the airport.  Well, while laying - my mom noticed my wincing and kept asking if I was okay.  I said yes, just having some contractions, but I was fine.  Well about an hour later, they kept coming so she finally started timing them.  There was NO WAY I was going into labor...

Well sure enough she said "you know Melis, those are coming pretty regularly...maybe you should call your doctor".  After about two hours of saying no, no, no they are just braxton hicks...I finally started to get a little scared.  Were these real?  So my mom left to go pick up Barry.  Around midnight, I finally gave in and called the doctor to which they promptly said to come on in to Labor and Delivery so we can get checked out!

It was strange....Jake was ECSTATIC.  He was running around like a crazy person saying "oh my gosh, we're having a baby". And I decided to put on some makeup, dry and straighten my hair, dress, pack a little more....it was like a calm feeling but denial all rolled into one.   On our way, we texted family and friends to let them know we were going into the hospital, but that we weren' sure if it were for real, so we would keep them posted.  We got to the hospital (mom and Barry met us there), got admitted around 2 a.m., hooked up to monitors (where sure enough my contractions were about every 4 to 5 minutes) and just waited for the doctor.    The nurse said we would wait for the doctor to tell us if they were going to take the baby or just have us leave and come back on the 10th for our scheduled c-section date.  I was starting to get scared and a little overwhelmed - almost hoping the doctor would tell us to go home.  The doctor finally came in around 6 a.m. and told us "it's baby day"!  So, exhausted we were with no sleep but so excited to hold this little gift....we were scheduled to be rolled back around 7 a.m...

In came the anesthesiologist, nurses everywhere, doctors, etc.  To be honest, I can't remember the epidural - I can only remember looking at Jake...he looked at me with such love and concern....so protective for and of me.  He held my hand, kept telling me to just breathe - and then he held me as I shivered and shook from the epidural.  At that moment, I realized what an amazing man I married and how blessed Max will be to have such a special father.