Life with little man, Garrett

Hello everyone!!!  Things are finally starting to calm down for us as a family of 5.  Garrett is doing great.  Growing, healing and just a joy.  Cody absolutely adores him and hates going to school, bed, or anything else that will take him away from Garrett.  He tells both Jason and I to tell Garrett goodnight for him after telling Garrett goodnight himself 3 to 4+ times.  I have to hear him say goodbye to Garrett several times as he walks into his classroom.  He is always wanting to give him hugs and kisses.Wyatt thinks he is a play toy, always wanting to "pet" him.  We keep trying to tell him that Garrett is not a pet but his brother.  He does adore him.  If Garrett is crying he has to tell me, even if I am in the same room, and then says that Garrett told him that he pooped his diaper.  Of course, most of the time that is true.Garrett is quite the eater and pooper.  He is still sleeping a lot during the day and doing fairly well at night.  He likes to get up at 2 and 5 which sounds great.  The problem is that after he eats and gets a diaper change he still is up for a while.  He seems to make sure he is up for an hour at a time.  Which isn't that bad but when you do the math, I usually get about 2 hours of sleep between feedings.  That can make for a fairly grumpy mommy in the morning but I am trying my best to be very calm with the boys.Last Tuesday he had a check-up with his pediatrician (his 2 week check-up) and weighed 7 lbs 14 oz.  That afternoon we had to go into town to visit the other doctor to check on his circ. (I am not even going to try and spell it out) with which is looking great.  No more pokes for the jaundice, no more hearing tests, no more checks with the doctor about his circ.  His belly button/umbilical cord fell off and looks wonderful.  He is absolutely growing like crazy and it makes me sad.  Barring (sp) a surprise this is our last baby and I want him to stay small as long as possible so I can enjoy it.  Of course because of that Jason is calling him a Momma's boy because he sleeps really well with me but if I lay him in his bassinett he wakes right up.  The only time that bothers me is at night when I need my sleep.Today we had an appointment and they weighed him at a whopping 8 lbs 12 oz.  If that is all correct than Garrett has gained almost a full pound in less than a week, well, one day shy of a week.  That just surprises me.  I know he likes to eat but one pound in a week, awesome and crazy.The kicker happened tonight.  Garrett was in his swing and started getting fussy.  I knew he might be hungry but needed a diaper change first.  Since Jason was home I told him he got it.  I had Garrett in my arms and started saying that since I got him at night and during the day while Jason is at work, Jason can change the diapers after he gets home from work.  So, I hand Garrett to Jason and realized that my arm felt wet.  After handing him over I look at my arm and see..poop.  Yep, he had one heck of a diaper.  I had to go change my shirt.  It was great, I had to laugh.  Plus, the perfect timing I had with handing that one over to Jason without even knowing what Garrett had done, so awesome.Garrett was due for a bath so we figured that was the perfect time.  He doesn't like baths yet.  I do remember that both Cody and Wyatt neither liked baths at this age also.  I expect his dislike for baths to change as soon as he realizes the fun of splashing the water everywhere in the bathroom.  Should be fun.Tomorrow, the 23rd, Garrett will already be 3 weeks old.  I honestly don't know where the time goes.  I feel like we just brought him home from the hospital.  Don't babies know they are supposed to stay babies as long as mommy needs them to be?

My 3 boys and my Grandma (Bethel Beadles) 

 Doesn't he have the most infectious smile?

Baby Garrett is here!!!

Hello all!!!  I am a bit late getting this on here.  It has been wild and crazy.  It all started on Sunday night, the 31st of January.  We stayed home from church since Cody was sick and I just wasn't feeling up to going.  I was too uncomfortable and getting very moody about still being pregnant.  I decided to take a walk around the block.  Before I got started though my stomach got rock hard and would not ease up.  I walked anyway and started to get painful contractions but not enough to stop me.  That is until we were halfway home.  I had to stop and then it just got to painful to keep going.  We ended up cutting through the playground and heading back home.After getting home the contractions were coming pretty good still and fairly regular.  I wanted to wait and see if they actually went anywhere.  After several hours they did finally slow down and become less painful so another blow to me.  Jason and I both thought we were heading to the hospital.I didn't get any sleep that night.  Up and down, just uncomfortable, no contractions.Monday morning I wake up with a contraction here and there.  Then (this is a bit gross so skip over this if you want) I noticed that I had just lost my mucus plug.  That has never happened to me before so I didn't know what to do.  As I began my search for answers I realized I was getting some more contractions and painful again.It was Monday so I had to take Cody to school and Jason and I had made plans to have lunch together so I decided to keep those plans.  If I was going to the hospital I wanted one last good meal before I got hospital food.After lunch I called the doctor's office to find out what they wanted me to do.  We headed to Labor and Delivery.  We were there around 1pm and sure enough I was having contractions that were a decent pattern.  It took two hours to progress 1 cm to a 4.  The doctor decided to keep me and we were not leaving this time without a baby.  I was so happy that I started to cry when I heard the nurse tell Jason.Once we got to our room the nurse said the doctor ordered pitocin.  I was not excited about that because I still remember what it did to me when I was in labor with Wyatt.  Thankfully the doctor came in and I asked if she could break my water first so we can avoid pitocin at all costs.  She agreed but didn't do it since the baby's head was still too high.  But we did get to avoid the pitocin.  My contractions were starting to get more regular and stronger on their own.I don't know times so I can't share those with you but the next several hours were fairly uneventful.  Contractions, pain, etc.  I got up and down as much as the pain would allow.  I was progressing but after hitting 7 it kinda stalled.  I was having painful contractions but they weren't doing much and the baby's head was still kinda high.  Late in the night I just couldn't do it anymore.  They were right on top of each other and so much more painful than with Cody and Wyatt.  I finally just asked for the epidural.  I felt deflated and exhausted and then everyone was still taking their sweet time that I was sure I wasn't getting my epidural because the baby was going to get here first.Luckily I was able to get it.  It worked beautifully. I felt and can move my legs, they were just tingly.  I got some rest and was able to gain some energy before it all started again.  The nurse came in and said the baby's heartrate was dropping and was showing signs of distress but it evened out again.  Then a bunch of nurses bombarded my room.  I was getting oxygen and they were rotating me from one side to the other and then to my back.  They called the doctor and were getting things ready for the baby.  I was so freaked out I didn't knwo what to think.  I just started pleading with Heavenly Father that my baby would be born healthy and alive.I saw the doctor walk in and felt better.  I didn't even feel her check me but heard her say that I was fully complete and told me to push.  I was in shock but did as she said.  Within 5 minutes Garrett Howard was born with the cord around his neck twice and around his body once.  I didn't know that for sure but I did hear him cry for the first time and I just started bawling.  They took him to the warmer right away and got him taken care of.  I thought it was going to be forever before they let me hold him.  When they did I fell in love deeply and completely.  He is just as precious as Cody and Wyatt.He was born February 2nd at 4:53 am.  He weighed 8lbs 1oz and measured 21 inchs long.  He missed his Grandma Smith's birthday by almost 5 hours.  But I guess 3 family members born on one day is enough  :)It wasn't until we were in our own room that we found out he was jaundice.  It got worse and we had to stay an extra day in the hospital which I was completely upset about but understood.  Anything to keep my baby healthy.  It got a bit worse so instead of just laying on the light blanket he had to be under the overhead lamp for a while.  But the next day it went down a bit and we were able to go home without any lights.  He has since been checked again and the levels went down again so it looks like we don't have anything to worry about.He is such a good baby and wakes up every 2-3 hours like needed and sleeps.  Cody and Wyatt adore him and want to do everything for him.  It is nice but sometimes it can be more trouble than it is worth.  Much to Jason's surprise, I feel like we are good.  I have heard so many people say it before.  "Our family is complete"  What does that even mean?  So stupid in my opinion.  But after Garrett, I truly feel like our family is complete.  I have no desire right now to have any more.  Yes, a daughter would be lovely but Heavenly Father knows more about what we need than we do.  If somewhere down the road Jason and I have a change of heart or we have a wonderful surprise, then that is great but for now I am so utterly happy with my boys.

It's A Boy!!!

Hello all, this is Tanya, Melissa's sister. I highjacked her blog for the day to bring you some exciting news. IT'S A BOY!!!! This is Garrett Howard born at 4:53 am this morning. He wieghed 8lbs 1 oz and 21inches long. Mommy and baby are doing great. Hoping they get to come home tomorrow. I am sure when she gets home there will be more pics uploaded along with pics of all 3 boys.

Good news

Today was the ultrasound to find out for sure, finally, if the baby is breech or head down; whether we were going to have a baby today or not.  I was so terrified and prayed all night last night and all morning on the way to the doctor's office that the baby was head down.

Thankfully the baby is head down and is sure to stay there now since we are so late in the game.  I am sure the baby doesn't have any room to move around anyway.

So, now we wait until the baby is ready to come.  I hope it is sooner rather than later.  I had a bit of a cleaning spree late this afternoon.  There is also a full moon sometime this weekend.  We shall see if there is any merit to the mumbo jumbo they say about full moons.

Oh, the joys of pregnancy...

So today was what I thought was my last doctor's appointment before I get to see my baby.  That may not be the case.  I am excited and upset about it all at once.  Today by exam the doctor says the head is still down, so that is the good news.  I am excited to hear that because I do NOT want a c-section.  The bad news is that I have not made ANY progress since last Tuesday.  That upsets me because we went on a shopping spree in town last Saturday.  I walked almost all day long.  Sunday I felt like crap but did end up having about 3-4 hours and good contractions.  So much so that I was beginning to wonder if we were going to make a trip to the hospital that night.  Lo and behold, they stop and haven't really had anything since.  I was hoping with all that I would have had some kind of change, but no such luck.Also, last Tuesday the doctor said that if we come in on Friday and the baby is head down then he will push for an induction and we will get to hold our baby on Friday no matter what.  He has since changed his mind.  I will be going on Friday morning to the doctor's office for an ultrasound.  If the baby is still head down then I am to make an appointment for next week and we begin the waiting game until this baby decides to arrive.  That wouldn't bother me either but if I haven't made any progress in a week how much time is it going to take to get this baby out?

Update

So Jason and I set out for our "hoping" last appointment to the OB's office on Tuesday.  Once we finally get into the room he is already talking about when the c-section is.  We asked a few questions and we are all getting on the same boat.  I am happy with the doctor and what he is planning for the baby and I.We have a c-section date for January 29th at 10:30am.  Not what we were hoping for but will be fine for us.So the doctor sets out to check the baby's heartbeat and feel around to see how the baby is doing.  Well, he listens to the heartbeat and after feeling around he states that he thinks the baby has turned to a head down position.  I am in shock and tell him that the movement hasn't changed and that I still have two seperate bulges on my belly which is supposed to be a sign of breech.  He said he didn't care about the bulges just where the head is.  So he decides to do an internal exam.  Sure enough, the baby has flipped to head down position, wooohooo!!!I have also had some progression in preperation for the baby's arrival.  Even more excitement from me.Then the doctor tells me that he still plans to keep the c-section date with the OR.  The baby's head wasn't engaged in the birth canal yet so it may still flip (although I am hoping it is engaged now).  He also said that if I do not go into labor than we will still meet at the hospital on the 29th at 10:30.  We will do an ultrasound to see where the baby is and if it flipped again to breech then we will proceed with a c-section.  If the baby has stayed head down than we will induce.I definitely have my last appointment with the doctor on Tuesday the 26th.  That is unless I manage to go into labor before then.  I cannot wait.

Last few shots of preggo belly

Cody took this picture.  I am not standing crooked it is jus thow he was holding the camera.

I believe this one my 37 week picture.

So this is what is going on.  I have been to labor and delivery twice because of bleeding.  I finally got an ultrasound done last week, the 12th of January.  There is no explanation as to why I have been bleeding but they did see that the baby is breech.  I am not sure what kind, as there are three different types.  But what I thought was the babies behind near my belly button is actually it's head.  Today, the 19th Jason and I are heading to the doctor's for an appointment to find out what is going on.  The odd's are that we are going to have a c-section.  We are hoping to actually do it this Friday when I hit 38 weeks because of the unexplained bleeding and it will be beneficial for Jason for work (but that is not why I want to push it). 

I still do NOT want a c-section.  The birthing process is "easier" and quicker but the recovery time is a LOT longer than I want to deal with.  Besides, this is surgery and abdominal surgery at that.  I have had abdominal surgery to take out my appendix but I was like half the age I am now.  It took me a week to be able to stand up straight.  Can you imagine what it will be like taking care of 2 older boys, a house, a husband, and a newborn?  Okay, so I don't really have to take care of my husband.  Jason can definitely take care of himself.  Thankfully too he has 10 days permissive leave for paternity leave but since we are more than likely going to have surgery he might take a little more time off.  We shall see when we get more info at our doctor's appointment.  I will be updating when I can.