Settling In.

Tomorrow Jadon will be a week old! We are beginning to settle in to life with a baby again. It has been ten years since the last one but it all comes back to you pretty fast. Especially that first all nighter that you get to pull after you come home from the hospital. Jadon has his days and nights a little mixed up. We are working on switching that and last night we had a good night. I actually got to sleep a two hour stretch! I was so excited when I woke up to Jadon fussing that I told him what a good boy he was. I think Matt thought I was nuts!

We have had a busy week this week. Monday he went for his first pediatrician's appointment. When he left the hospital he weighed 9 lbs 7 oz and at the office he was back up to 9 lbs 10oz. His doctor was pleased to hear the he is curling his fingers when we put our finger in his rt. palm and the he has moved it three times while we have been getting him dressed. His doctor said that is a good sign. A sign that the nerves did not get severed and are still intact. Now he is even beginning to grip our fingers harder when we put our finger in his hand so we are hopeful that we will continue to see improvement. We had our first physical therapy appointment on Tuesday morning. We discussed the best clothes to put him in so we don't have to lift that arm up high and not to pick him up with our hands in that armpit so we don't stress the nerves anymore. His physical therapist showed us some exercises to do with him a couple of times a day. We will be going to therapy every two weeks for an hour.

Jadon is a very good baby. Only really fusses when he is hungry, wet, dirty, or tired. Dakota our Cattle Dog has appointed himself Jadon's protector. Everytime Jadon lets out the smallest peep he is checking it out. He really wants to lick him all over but we have been letting him know in no uncertain terms that is unacceptable. This morning I put Jadon in his bouncy seat to sleep and put him in the bathroom with me so I could take a shower. I closed the doors so that the dogs would not bother us. Dakota sat outside the door whining the whole time. He can't stand when the baby is out of his sight.

I just keep looking at him in amazement. I feel so blessed that he is here in our lives. Shelby just keeps saying how much she loves him. We all fell in love with him at first sight. Both kids love to cuddle and hold him. They have been great helpers. They panic a little when he starts to fuss or when he poops his diaper but they are doing great. They can't wait to come home from school and hold him and talk to him. Shelby did say a few days ago that he was a little boring. "That's all he does" was the exact words she used. I think she expected him to come out doing all the things their 7 month old cousin Owen does. I told her not to wish his life away. Soon enough and faster than we think he will start doing many of those things. I am going to enjoy each and every phase as it comes.

I also want to thank all of our family who has been bringing in meals for us since we have been home. I feel very blessed to have such wonderful people surrounding us. It is wonderful to not have to worry about what to make for dinner. You all are so wonderful! Here are some pictures from Jadon's first days.

Jadon has arrived!!!

After many weeks of patiently waiting for our new son to arrive he finally decided today was the day! I awoke around 3:00 a.m. this morning to contractions that were already about 3-4 minutes apart. I woke Matt up and said that I thought is was time and he got up and woke Shelby and Jake up to tell them it was time to go. We had told the kids awhile ago that if we woke them in the middle of the night they needed to hussle. They also had bags packed with things to do and extra clothes ready to go. Jake was dressed and down stairs in about 2 minutes. Matt said "Your ready so quick!" Jake responded with "I have been ready for months!". We left the house around 3:30 and battled a nice thick fog all the way into Bloomington. We got to the hospital around 4:00.

Jadon arrived in the world at 7:08 a.m.. It was a little stressful for both of us. It turns out that Jadon was a little bigger than they expected him to be. He weighed in at 9 lbs and 13 0z and 21 1/2 inches long! Not a small boy. It was a struggle to get him out and he was very stressed when he did finally come out. My doctor did a great job. His head came out great but his shoulders were stuck. They had to be manipulated quite a bit to get him out. Because he was purple and his pulse was fast and he was breathing hard he went straight to the nursery. He recovered and improved quickly however and is still being monitored in the nursery but is doing great. He is so big that he does not even fit into the newborn diapers. He is already in size one diapers. None of the outfits I packed in the diaper bag are going to fit him either. No newborn clothes for this little moose!

My doctor said if there is a next time the kids is coming out early. We are not going to do that again. All in all we are very blessed. My labor was hard back labor but only lasted 4 hours. Jadon Matthew arrived in this world a little beat up but is doing great now. He does have some temporary nerve and muscle damage in his right shoulder from the doctor having to manipulate it so much to get him out but the doctors say that it will improve over the next few days and happens a lot in bigger babies when they are born. He may have to have some physical therapy if he does not start moving that arm in the next few days but we are staying positive that it will not be long. We are just so glad he is here. We have been waiting for what seems like forever.

Here are some pictures of our little moose!

Still Waiting....

Hello! I know some of you may be wondering what is going on at our house right about now. Well, the truth is not a whole lot. We seem to be in a holding pattern. It is hard to make plans to do anything when you are hoping and expecting to have a baby at any moment now. Today is day 5 past my due date and as many of you know I was ready for Jadon to arrive two weeks ago or more! The funny thing is that I seem to be the most patient one in our house at this point. Shelby and Jake are bursting with excitement to see their new brother at this point. They are acting like kids act right before Christmas comes. Jake can hardly stand the suspense and Shelby tells my stomach several times a day that this is not funny anymore and to come out already!

At my doctor's appointment on Friday I had made progress. I was dilated to 2 1/2 almost three centimeters and 50% efface. My doctor said I can go at anytime. She was even hoping I went into labor over the weekend but that did not happen. So there is a light at the end of the tunnel I am scheduled to be induced on Friday morning at 5:00 a.m.. I am hoping he decides to come on his own by then though! If not Friday is the day! Continue to keep us in your prayers and thoughts. Thanks to all of you who have been calling to check in with us over the last week. We really appreciate everyone thinking of us. We hope to be able to give everyone the good news soon!

Project Complete

Well, the last project I really wanted to get done before the baby came is done. The whole project is not done but the important part is. Several weeks ago I had Matt move a wooden rocking chair into the living room in preparation for the baby to arrive. We had a glider and ottoman in the living room but it not only glided it also turned in circles. This provided to much of a temptation for daycare kids to spin in it and I actually had something get broken. So the glider and ottoman are put away until Jadon's room is done and then they will go to his room.

The project I wanted to complete was a back and bottom cushion for the rocking chair to make it more comfortable to sit in. I could have bought one but I have fabric left over from making my curtains and thought it would be cool to have the cushions match the rest of the decor. I decided to complete the bottom cushion first and then work on the back cushion. I have had the pattern pieces cut out for awhile but have not been motivated to get sewing. My mom found out about a sewing machine sale and wanted to get me a new sewing machine for my birthday (a little early). I have a new Singer sewing machine I needed to figure out so out the project came. Sunday I worked all day on finishing the cushion. Here are some pictures. I am trying to get motivated to work on the back one now, but I have some soft, fluffy, blue baby fabric I bought awhile ago just calling my name. I know, I know. One project at a time.