When it Rains it Pours! Jacks 3 weeks!

The first 2 weeks at home went so smoothly, we had so much help and so many family and friends coming together to get us through! Breastfeeding was going great and Jack was a happy little man! This week things went downhill, my milk supply got really low due to a UTI and Jack was extremely grouchy over his food! Then he started getting stuffy and was really fussy. We took his temp after he was screaming even while he drank a bottle and he has a little temp. At 2 am after 3 sleepless nights, a fever was the last thing this stressed to the max-girl needed. Did I mention how much I love my Patrick??? Even though he had to get up early and work he was missing out on almost as much sleep as me trying to get Jack calmed down. I also talked him into going to the lactation consultant appt that I was extremely anxious about and to the pediatrician appt. even though he really needed to go into the office today.

The lactation consultant gave me some great info and REALLY calmed me down. I'm already seeing an improvement in my supply and pray that it comes back as strong as it was before! The pediatrician says Jack has a cold/virus upper resp infection. We've been trying to limit visitors but it's so hard to deny people seeing the first little one on both sides.

I'm praying that all this passes and I look back and laugh~~well I'm already laughing when I look in the mirror and look at our house that looks like a hurricane tore through it :). I thank God everyday for my hungry little boy and my husband who will bend over backwards for us!

Visitors!

I could not believe the amount of people that came to meet Jack!!! They even put us in a bigger room bc they knew the constant flow of people wasn't going to slow down. We are so lucky to have so many people that support us! Here are some pics!

The hardest part!

It was really important to me to atleast try breastfeeding. Working in healthcare and hearing all the benefits immediately and later in life & just hearing about the bonding from my mom and friends made me really want to try. I was very anxious, because I've known so many people that it didn't work out for and it was something that I really wanted to do. We went to classes on it and I read alot of books and info on how to get the best start.

Pat had such a positive attitude about it and kept me going, but once Jack got here I realized how hard it really is and started to have my doubts. Right after birth Pat mentioned to the nurse that I wanted to breastfeed and she said as long as I felt up to it, to let Jack start right the. So the nurses and helped and he definitely latched on before I was even stitched from the episiotomy. I don't think he was getting much but they said every little bit helps and the colostrum will help him through the first couple days. It's amazing how our bodies really are made to do this. When he would nurse I would get cramps/contractions and they help shrink your uterus/get rid of extra blood. I had no idea how linked everything was.

With all the visitors it was so hard to read little Jack's signals that he was hungry so I was constantly worried because he wasn't eating. By the time he was starving he would cry and then would be too angry to latch on and stay on. Luckily they have amazing lactation consultants there and I would just turn on my call light and they would come help. They gave me so many tips and really helped me out. Day 2 was probably the most stressful. Jack was circumsized that morning and just wanted to sleep or would cry in pain. It was awful trying to stay calm when you know he's starving and your milk hasn't come in yet, I wanted so bad to just grab a bottle and get him full so he'd be comfortable, but Pat really helped me and talked me through it. The lactation consultants were in my room probably 4 times a day and by the last day me and Jack could latch on and feed without them! Although my milk still hadn't arrived they assured me it would come. Jack was born at 7lbs 2 oz and left the hospital at 6lbs. 11oz...they reassured me that this was normal and he would probably lose more, but would gain once my milk came in. Sure enough I think it was the 2nd or 3rd day home from hospital and my milk arrived...I think it was enough for every baby in the neighborhood! Jack fed like crazy and started to have more and more wet and dirty diapers and it made me feel great! We took him to the pediatrician and he weighed over and beyond his birth weight, and had lost weight in the hospital. He was doing so great that she said most b-fed babies come in week 2 and 3 to weigh in and he can skip those appointments.

Right now he is eating just about every 2 hours. Breastmilk is easier digested than formula so he gets hungrier quicker and also goes through diapers like crazy. This is through the night also so it gets very tiring and is very difficult when your half asleep. But, once we got the hang of it I absolutely love our time together. I love being in his cozy nursery and bonding with him. He is such a little noisy character and we just stare at eachother :) and he holds my hand. He loves laying on our chests and they say that helps breastfed babies. Pat has been great and I probably would've grabbed the formula if it wasn't for him. To be totally honest I think it was 10 times worse than the labor and delivery. The patience and trial and error that it took was really stressful He takes Jack for the diaper changes so I can get a bathroom break/extra 10 minutes of sleep. I'm so thankful that it has worked so far and I pray that the milk keeps coming!

Our lil angel is here!!!!

On 2-2-11 Jack Thomas Rooney made his arrival in a hurry! We couldn't be happier! This week has been an amazing rollercoaster ride and I just have to laugh looking back. It all began with an ice storm that was plowing it's path right to Indy. When I heard this news and all the warnings, I told Pat "you watch I will deliver this baby in the next 4 days" sure enough he came in the middle of it. I went to work on Monday and actually stayed at home on Tuesday because of the ice. Outside looked like ice rinks and being 39 weeks pregnant it was too dangerous to risk it. My coworkers were actually asked to stay the night at the hospital to keep a "skeleton" crew bc the roads were so bad. I cleaned and cleaned our house going stir crazy from being cooped up all day. That night we were watching a moving and light contractions started and I knew right then and there he was on his way. The contractions started around midnight ad weren't too painful at first. I tried to walk, sleep, do anything and they just stuck around. Pat went to sleep, and I started timing. Suddenly they got very regular and strong and were 4-5 minutes apart. I woke Pat up and called my OB. Dr. Boyce said to head to the hospital to get checked especially in the middle of this storm who knows how long it would take. At this point it was sleeting and our driveway was an ice rink. I hopped in the shower and Pat started packing the car. I could tell by the look on Pat's face that the ride to the hospital wasn't going to be fun and he told me he had just wiped out in our own driveway. On our way there was NO ONE on the roads during this ice emergency except the ice trucks. Poor tired Pat walked me to the doors of OB then ran to park the car, as I started to walk in I realized that the doors we were going in are closed through the night so I called him and his cell phone was in my purse. So he had to iceskate back to the car pull around get me in and off to the Er parking lot we went. We were sent to OB triage and I wasn't dilated at all. They kept me until around 6am and sent us home in the ice storm :(. They said to come in when my contractions were stronger and 2-3 minutes apart. We slowly made our way home and in the car I felt like my contractions were getting stronger and even closer together. Pat laid down for a few and I couldn't sleep, I just had a feeling this little boy was on his way! I started timing the contractions and they were 2-3 minutes apart and getting stronger. I told myself to wait until 830 when our Dr. office opened and I could call and just get checked at an appointment there. It took forever but FINALLY it was 830 Pat had to call the Dr. office for me because it was getting difficult to talk through the contractions. He tried to stay calm while he told me the Dr. office was closed because of the ice and the oncall Dr. should be calling us back. I was trying not to panick and didn't want to be "that girl" going back to the hospital for false labor 6 times in one day. I spoke with Dr. Smidt and she said come in immediately or Mr. Rooney may be delivering at home.

We got back to St. Francis and they checked my cervix immediately. I was 90% effaced and 3 cm dilated~~thank God I wasn't crazy and WAS in labor! They admitted me and we started making phone calls. Being only 3 cm at around noon the Dr. told us it could be around midnight or later so no one had to rush in. They switched our rooms and things started happening pretty quickly. The Dr. came in before my epidural and broke my water. At that point I was dilated to a 4. The contractions got stronger and stronger and finally I needed some relief. Unfortunately, I didn't know that before the epidural I needed labs and full IV bag of a certain medication. The nurses couldn't get a vein to save their lives. They kept rolling and the contractions were getting stronger and stronger, finally they got one in my hand. My blood pressure was getting really high and little Jacks heart rate started deceling so they finally got the epidural. The epidural wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but she did have to put alot of pressure to get through the bone~yuck, but at that point I really didn't care. Since I was at a 4 the Dr. said she would be back in a few hours to check on me, she said usually it takes 1 cm 1 hour to dilate so it would be later in the night. I felt like the contractions were still pretty strong with the epidural, but atleast most the major pain was gone! The nurse checked and said I was at 5cm. Everyone was at the hospital and it was just a waiting game. My favorite coworkers came and visited and suddenly the nurse and Dr. walked in like they had seen something on a screen and asked them to leave. The nurse then checked me and it was an hour from my last check. She said "oh my gosh your at a 10!" my heart rate immediately went up because I honestly thought it would be hours and hours of waiting and Pat said, "like the ten where she pushes??" My mom and Dana weren't even in the room. Suddenly carts and carts of utensils and baby warmers were brought in. Huge lights and mirrors came down from the ceiling and this was really happening. His head still wasn't all the way down so the Dr had the nurse do some practice pushes with me to get his head lower. Sure enough his head moved down and the Dr. walked in right when they could say that he had a full head of DARK hair! I knew he was definitely on his way when I saw how quickly the Dr. was getting ready and how quickly the nurses were moving to prepare. My blood pressure was still very high so the doctor only let me push every other contraction and I would tell her would I could feel a contraction. Pat and my mom were by my head and helped raise my legs and head up to push. Who knew that 10 seconds could last so long! We did 3 sets of 10 with every other contraction. Things moved pretty quickly and about 45 minutes in I did one really big push and his head was crowning. I never thought I'd want to watch or see anything, but my mom and Pat looked and they didn't faint (ha) so they pulled the mirror down so I could see and the Dr. even let me feel his little head full of hair. I did one more huge push and she said to stop and that his head was out! They suctioned him and turned him and I did one more light push and out he came. The umbilical cord was around his neck, so my mom was panicking and couldn't watch. Pat cut the umbilical cord and he started to scream and scream, it was the best noise I have ever heard! They were reaching to put Jack on my belly and he started to poop :) right then and there I should've known he'd have his father's bowels. Since he was doing great on his apgars they could do most of the work/cleaning on him on me. He looked great, his little hands and feet were a little blue but he was just warm and wet no blood, no white stuff, just perfect! I cradled him and the amazing part is how they already know your voice. He was just looking right up at me almost like "so YOUR who I've heard for the last 9 months". They took him to weigh him and Pat didn't let him out of his site. When they weighed him he peed everywhere...atleast we know his little plumbing is working on both ends! The cleaned him up and wrapped him in a blanket and handed him to his dad. That was my favorite moment was looking over and seeing Jack all warm and toasty and Pat carrying him. They both were so content and happy that it made me melt!

Induction date set!

Last week at my 38 week appt. I saw Dr. Wisler my main doctor. Everything looks good. At first my blood pressure was really high, but I had an awful day at work and was running around like crazy so they had me sit and relax and it went down after that~thank GOD! My cervix hasn't really budged since last week, but his head is lower. He said it's still normal to not be dilating or anything especially since first pregnancies can go over due dates. They don't let you go over a week past your due date and my doctor happens to be on call on Mondays. So, this means little Jack will most likely arrive on VALENTINE'S DAY :) if he doesn't come before then. So crazy to think he may be born on our 2 year anniversary! We go into the hospital Feb. 13th (sunday) at 730 to start cervadil overnight and then he will hopefully be here sometime the next day.

He doesn't really believe in inducing before due date if there's nothing medically wrong, especially since my cervix isn't really prepared just yet...which is totally fine with me, maybe I'll dilate before delivery date so I'm not in the hospital days before he arrives.

I can't believe it's actually getting down to go-time! I'm so excited to hold this little guy!!!

The pictures above I grabbed at work...one of them looks like he's smiling and the other looks like he's praying :)

My next appointment is in 2 days so we'll see if the walking and spicy foods are doing anything to move my cervix along!

RIP Dave Moore

Well today is a snow day and also the funeral of a classmate of mine from Roncalli. He graduated with us in 2000 and was recently killed in random traffic stop. I remember what a great guy is was all-around. He was never really a partier, never starting trouble, and always friendly to everyone. He always was kind to everyone, it didn't matter what "clique" you were in. Its obvious that he had many friends and effected so many people in the community, considering his funeral was at Conseco. Today was also the "icestorm" of 2011 so we watched the funeral from home. After losing about 30 lbs in tears, I really can't get over how strong his family is being throughout this. He really must be around them making them strong. A parent should never have to bury a child and I can't imagine what they must be going through. Throughout all the speeches and songs both his parents keep coming out saying they want to not dwell on his death, but celebrate his life. In all honesty I have no idea how I would even get out of bed, let alone face thousands of officers, family, and friends. I always have to wonder why God takes people like this?? I mean how to these horrible things happen to such wonderful people? But, in reality he made more of a difference on this earth in 29 years than some will in 100 years. I guess we can just be lucky to have known him and learn from him. His death has definitely effected the whole city, and I'm sure his legacy will live on. I also can't help but think of all the families that loved ones received his organs, even after he's passed on he is still helping people. I also heard that someone at Methodist received his heart. They surgeons and doctors couldn't believe that the closest match for his blood type was in the hospital next door, not states away. What an awesome heart to receive!!

Definitely saying lots of prayers today!

You may know more than you think you do

I get a million prego emails a day but thought this one was really interesting and SO true about most common mistakes you can try to avoid

Mistakes 1 Believing Everything You Hear

During the first weeks with your newborn, you'll seek advice from everyone who's been there, done that. Even if you don't, they'll offer suggestions anyway. One acquaintance advocates sleeping with the baby. Your best friend warns against it. Your sister-in-law says it's okay to let the baby suck her thumb. Your pediatrician prefers a pacifier.

"The only opinion that matters is yours," says Alvin Rosenfeld, M.D., a child psychiatrist and author of Hyper-Parenting (St. Martin's). "If you follow everyone else's advice, you give up the most creative role in your life." Friends and relatives can offer useful parent-tested information. But remember: Your and your spouse's intuition are the best guides. As Dr. Spock once wrote, "You know more than you think you do."