Jack's second birthday is this weekend so I thought I'd go back to the beginning since I started the blog when Jack was a few months old. It is so strange that two years have passed by so quickly. They have been two wonderful years and I have never learned so much at one time.
This picture is from the weekend before Jack was born. Rod and Phyllis were down on the Sunday before Jack was born because Jess was trying to finish building his shed. I'm not sure what stage the project was in that weekend, I know we were close to shingling though. The weather was VERY warm that year. I remember the beginning of school was HOT, like 90 degrees for the entire month of August. Jess spent every weekend and lots of his free time when he wasn't looking for a job building his shed.Jess had just got his job at Nelnet a couple weeks before Jack was born and was just finishing his training. My pregnancy was pretty smooth; college graduation, one week of itchy skin, move to Lincoln, one failed prenatal diabetes test (Eileen's cookie, chocolate milk, honey roasted peanut, and coca-cola is too much sugar!), one episode of false labor following a strep check, and law school.
We were getting a new bedroom set that Tuesday. I had pleaded with Jack to wait until the furniture was delivered to come out...he waited exactly one day to decide to start working his way out.
I had a check up Wednesday the 10th. I had been feeling a few contractions that day, but only every hour or two. I went to my appointment, had a contraction while I was there, they considered putting me on bed rest because of my high blood pressure but decided I was free to go. I put myself on bed rest for the length of a nap. When I woke up, my contractions were much more frequent, maybe every half an hour. I was slightly concerned that this could be "it." I went shopping to buy a slipcover for a "boppy" pillow and to get some groceries (not too many perishable goods, just in case.)
I had a couple contractions while I was shopping, but nothing too much. I count my nearly 30 hours of labor based on being at the store around 8:00. I met Jess at home because he was working 11:00 to 8:00 and told him what was up and that I had been shopping "just in case." I tried not to get my hopes up because my due date wasn't for another two weeks. We spent the evening with me having contractions every 20-30 minutes. Eventually I called the hospital and talked to a nurse, they said to wait until they were every 5 minutes or so. So I waited all night. I couldn't sleep because contractions hurt more laying down. I think I took four baths overnight. Jess was sweet and stayed up with me from about 2:00 on.
Overnight I had a few contractions 7 min. apart, but never that elusive 5 minutes that would mean I really was having a baby! Finally morning came and I went to the doctor's office to be "checked." I was 4 cm. dialated and ready to go to the hospital (St. Elizabeth's).
I was advised to get something to eat so we ran through McDonald's on our way to the hospital. I called my mom who was on her way to McCook with some friends. She was in Cambridge and turned around to head to Lincoln...she shouldn't have rushed, Jack took his time.
They told us soooo much at child birth class...we didn't use any of it. I wouldn't let Jess touch me, it made it hurt worse, I wanted an epidural and wasn't about to take a bath to try to ease the pain when they could give me the benefits of modern medicine. We got to the hospital and they said I had to get going right away to get my epidural or I'd have to wait until the anestheologist went to surgery and came back...ha, right, like I'd want to wait. So I finally got my epidural and it was wonderful. I was able to sleep a little bit and we just waited for Jack to work his way out. I pushed through a Rockie's playoff game checking the score between contractions (they won that night and eventually went to the World Series, but lost to the Red Sox). Jack was finally born at 11:34 (27 hours, 34 min after I started my official labor clock). I don't really care how much babies weigh if they are anywhere between 6-9 pounds, but people seem to think it is important. He weighed 7 lbs. 13 oz.
We were thrilled that Jack was here!! They put him on an oxygen monitor when he was first born because he looked however a baby looks when they need monitored. Jess was a little freaked out but I have watched enough "Baby Story" on TLC so I knew that if the nurses weren't freaking out I didn't need to. He was fine and in my arms in no time.
Mom came in the afternoon after she got home from Cambridge, so she gave Jess a break for a while and waited with me. She was waiting outside the door when Jack came. I think they even shooed her away at one point.
Phyllis came down sometime that evening...I'm not sure what time, but I was having a baby, you'll have to give me a break for not being on top of that. Mom and Phyllis were kind enough to go to Amigo's and get me some "real food" so I didn't have to eat a hospital sandwich after Jack was born.
He was here and in my mind perfect! We stayed in the hospital Friday and into Saturday evening. We came home on a rainy Saturday evening.
All of my family came over once we got home from the hospital and we had Eileen's cookie to celebrate.
When I think about everything, the memories are still vivid in my mind that it is hard to believe that two years have already passed. We are so blessed to have Jack in our lives and to have so many people who love and support us. Thank you all!
