This Little Piggy Went to the Market

This little piggy stayed home

This little piggy ate roast beef

This little piggy had none

And this little piggy went weeeee weeeee weeeee

...all the way home!

My little piggy gained ONE WHOLE POUND in just 2 weeks time!

We had to make another pre-Wellness Pediatric visit because our umbillical cord wasn't healing correctly and we found that my monkey is really a little oinker =)

Photogenic

The little man is very expressive...and that makes for great pictures!

Jan King of Two Sisters Photography came over this past Tuesday morning and took these beautiful photographs of Mason at 1-week old. It's going to be amazing watching how he grows and having it captured on film for memories in years to come.

Thank you Jan!

http://www.twosisters-photography.com

http://www.twosisters-photography.com
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http://www.twosisters-photography.com

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http://www.twosisters-photography.com

Birth Story

They say you forget everything from Labor and Delivery so I wanted to journal so I can remember the day.

• I went in for the induction @ 6am.
• Dr. F broke my waters @ 7:15am.
• Pitocin drop was started @ 7:45 (the nurse FORGOT to hook it up the first 30 minutes).
• I was dilated to 4cm four hours later (close to noon) but stayed here for a while because I have a prominent spine which prevented Mason's head from putting the pressure on my cervix for further dilatation. We were concerned at this point that I might have to have a C-section.
• I definitely got the epidural when I hit 4cm...and highly recommend it! I had some initial fears about the insertion, but didn't even feel the local. My Anesthesiologist rocked.
• Finally at 3:30pm I made progress to 5-6cm dilation and then things quickened from there.
• I began pushing at 5:15pm and was able to stop 1 1/2 hrs later; I had to stop for the crowning to stretch the opening and especially for Dr. F to arrive and deliver Mason.
• Mason arrived @ 7:12pm and was immediately pink, healthy, and had a headful of beautiful hair with a 9.9 Apgar score.
• The tears came flowing of course. I was elated that he was alive and healthy!

________________________________

Side Notes:

For most of the day it was just about waiting. And I was HUNGRY! I wasn't allowed to eat after midnight the evening prior and I actually had an early dinner due to having to get up at 4:30am so basically I went without food for around 28 hours. If I had known how long I was going to go without food, I would have eaten my "Last Supper" at 11:45pm the night prior.

During L&D, the IV hurt more than anything else- it was a constant, dull pain and even 1 week later I'm still tender and bruised.

Contractions felt like menstrual cramps, just much more frequent. There were a couple of times when Mason's heartrate went down and we had to lower the Pitocin (and the contractions were really strong), but we both did well.

The hormones during L&D made me nauseous (I have an iron stomach, so this was a pretty big deal). The Zofran ended up helping, but I was already well into the pushing phase. Ice chips were a big help to keep my stomach from turning.

Also, I pushed for 1 1/2 hours but wonder if I could have decreased that time if I had been fully healthy. I came in with a slight cold and the congestion didn't really get to me much until it was time to push and I needed full lung capability and couldn't really breathe by my third push each contraction.

I ended up having a 1st degree tear that was minor; after delivery Dr. F wasn't able to see it until he completely had me cleaned up.

Take the pain meds if they offer them and get a prescription for postpartum recovery.

Hush Little Baby

Mason is so sweet! We're adjusting to life at home, establishing a routine, and just enjoying this time together with Gram (my mom). I'm already counting down the days to when Mason and I will be bawling for having to say "Goodbye"...

DON'T LEAVE US GRAM!

I already have fun stories to share, some of which include: shooting poop on the wall, baby noises that sound like puppy whimpers, and Mason peeing on my chin and all over the bathroom toiletries. But for now, thought these sweet hospital pictures would suffice.

These were taken right before we were discharged from the hospital on Friday afternoon. His little Feltman Brothers outfit just about swallowed him up and he also had matching monogrammed baby shoes, but the silly i.d. ankle tag was too cumbersome to try to keep them on.

Here's the sleeping baby taking pictures at the hospital...

Our First Pediatrician Visit

Before our Hospital discharge, Mason was checked over and his bilirubin level was a little high (slightly Jaundiced) and his weight had dropped 4oz to a body weight of 6lbs 6oz (weight loss is common in newborns and is typically not of concern until it drops more than 10%). Our Pediatrician wanted us to come in for a visit after the weekend so we could check things out just to make sure the little guy was doing okay.

So Monday afternoon, we hopped in the car and went to see Dr. C

Everything went great!

Our bili levels were still elevated, but not increased AND Mr. Mason is indeed a little piggy...he weighed in at 6lbs 12oz, gaining 6oz in 3 days and surpassing his birthweight within the first week.

So we stuck him in a window and his Mommy doesn't worry now about whether he's getting enough to eat.

Mason's Homecoming

Here's Mason all bundled up with his Diaper Bag completely stuffed

Gigi's ready to take Mason home

We're going home!

Mason's BIRTHday

MASON TINSLEY SMITH

arrived Wednesday February 11, 2009 at 7:12pm
6lbs 10 oz at 19 1/4 inches

Simply perfect and very healthy with a 9.9 Apgar score

He had full head of hair

And his lungs definitely worked well!

It was amazing that he recognized Mommy AND also was soothed by Mum's (my Mom) voice.

Mason the Monkey

Friday a little after noon, I was able to take Mason HOME! We're recovering well and adjusting to life. He has the best temperament and is so sweet and cuddly. I just LOVE this little guy so much!

Thanks for sending these pics Auntie Betty, I'll have more to post soon!

Bedrest

Yuck!

And it's such a pretty day too.

But yes, I called into my Dr's office at 11:30am because from 10:30pm last night and 11:30am today, the weight gain was 4.5 lbs and although my headache is gone, my swelling has only increased. (right now at 2:15pm it remains at 4.5 lbs gained so no increase!)

The nurse and Dr. F (heard telling her in the background) told me to stay off my feet as much as possible, to lie down, and drink as much water (and only water) as I can until I go back in on Tuesday morning for my last check-up. They told me to monitor and see if this will keep the swelling/weight gain down and to page the on-call physician over the weekend if anything "weird happens"...her words, not mine.

I simply told my nurse, "This just can't happen yet- I'm supposed to be able to wait until Wednesday when my family is in town."

Nurse replied, "Stay off your feet!"

I only wish my wrinkled sheets were as clean as when I took the below pic because I'm not exaggerating when I say they're currently a health-hazard. I'm lying on the couch right now, in fact because I don't want to bask in the nastiness of the grunge. In other clean news, at least I was able to clean the rest of my house with the exception of my toilet since I ran out of bleach (I'm careful with the fumes!).

So I Just Noticed

...my face really is swollen from the picture I took this morning. I woke up feeling swollen. This isn't a good sign.

I weighed first-thing and found I gained 3.5 lbs overnight. And that's literally overnight because I weighed myself late last night as I was cleaning the Guest Bathroom.

God, please keep my blood pressure down.

I haven't really done a good job of weighing myself each morning because I like to think positive, "You get what you expect." Of course, some people may call this denial.

God, please no more protein in my urine.

I also had a panging headache first thing which is another symptom, but again I keep telling myself to think positive. Because if I worry about it, it won't do me any good. Sometimes it's just tough to not worry. One month ago when I was starting to really show signs of Toxemia (blood pressure continuing to rise, swelling, rapid weight gain, trace amounts of protein in my urine), I made sure to sleep at least half the day away. And it seemed to work. Maybe I'm overdoing things now in preparation for Mason getting here.

God, please don't let this become Toxemia.

I recognize how blessed I am having had an "easy" pregnancy. It's just been since December, I've had PIH and signs of developing Toxemia looming over me. I'm ready for it to go away.

God, you've blessed me with going full term with Mason. Thank You.

Well, the "cure" is 5 days away anyhow...let's just get Baby Mason out safely!

The Mommy Debates

It amazes me how many controversial issues there are regarding pregnancy, labor and delivery, how to care for a newborn, and how to raise a child:

• diet and exercise
• epidural use
• induction (whether elective or not)
• C-section (whether elective or not)
• circumcision
• use of bumper pads
• sleeping position
• breastfeeding
• formula use
• living and sleeping environment
• developmental tools (toys, personal interaction techniques, TV, Internet, music exposure, etc.)

And I use the word "Controversial" because so many people seem to have very strong opinions on these particular subjects. Whether it be from a mother's perspective, a grandmother's perspective, a nurse's medical opinion, or an Obstetrician or Pediatrician's medical opinion...a lot of people consider themselves subject-matter experts on these topics.

I don't write this to deter advice-offering Mommies or nurses, as I've readily asked specific people for their suggestions and personal experiences, but sometimes it's tough when an unwarranted and unsolicited comment is slipped-in and has no real constructive use.

_______________________

I feel very blessed to have had some great words of wisdom from my Mom. And while Mom was never able to experience pregnancy, labor or delivery, she has told me that once this Baby is born, she could share a plethora of knowledge and wisdom from first-hand experience. And I trust her, because I'm biased of course, but also because I know her credentials as a Mom include:

1. succesfully raised 5 healthy children from infancy to adulthood
2. experience as an educator
3. pioneered the role of being a (female) Children's Minister at 2 churches
4. was actively involved in children's advocacy groups i.e. Council on Adoptable Children (she was President of Texas CoAC)
5. passed state legislation regarding the rights and protection of children of adoption

So she has a wealth of knowledge and first-hand experience on the homefront, in the classroom, with spiritual development, and on the political scene.

Mom's Advice:

She told me to be aware that many people may want to freely offer me suggestions and advice- that they will feel the need to share how their methods of childcare are the best, that they will expect for me to raise Mason the same way they're raising their children, that they will be appalled if my choices differ from their own...

But that in reality, every pregnancy, birth story, and child-raising will be different and there is no specific methodology to being a good parent. My goal is to love this little child unconditionally, and the most important thing...raise him up knowing the Lord. Bathing this child in prayer and turning things over to God, What earthly knowledge, advice or suggestions can trump that?!?!

So I should take everything else with a grain of salt!

THANK YOU MOMMA

Bits & Pieces

To Do List:

□ Clean house (kitchen, upstairs & all bathrooms left to clean)

□ Tie up all loose-ends with work (longer process than expected...)

□ Complete legal paperwork AND find out last details of filing for Short-Term Disability

□ Create Birth Plan
□ Pack hospital bag

□ Buy baby necessities from Registry

□ Write all those"Thank You" notes

□ Last Wal-Mart trip for a while

□ Lots of laundry (both mine and Mason's- his hasn't ever been washed since I haven't purchased Dreft yet)

□ Get mani/pedi...totally a selfish thing, but I haven't had one since before Christmas and I probably won't have a chance to get one in several months if I don't do it now.

______________________________

So in lieu of my lack of progress, I'm reprioritizing. I'm no longer working on the Nursery. Mason will be sleeping in my room for the first bit anyway- in his fancy bassinet of course! Working on the nursery is just too overwhelming considering the laundry list of things I have to do before he gets here in 1 week. There is barely any floor space to walk-on due to unpacked shower gifts from last Sunday and from 2 boxes of shower goodies from my December Shower that arrived on Monday.

So, here's a glimpse of my last 2 nursery projects:

Making His Debut

This morning I went in for my weekly OB appointment and as Dr. F had already spoken to me about offering an induction, today we went ahead and scheduled it for next Wednesday, February 11th!

We'll be welcoming Baby Mason a week from tomorrow =)

I'll be 38.5 weeks along. My blood pressure, weight, swelling, and protein in urine has been under control for the past 2 visits, but Dr. F said 1 month ago he was afraid I was really becoming "toxic" so this will reduce that chance as well as reduce the need for a C-section (from both Toxemia and the size of the baby as I've gained 50 lbs since). Alas, like last week, I'm still at 1cm dilated, 90% effaced & 0 station.

Please pray for a healthy (and quick) Labor & Delivery. I'm so excited to finally get to hold this little one...

Happy (early) Birthday MASON TINSLEY!

Lots of Love for Mason

Wow...it still amazes me how much Mason is loved, adored, prayed-for AND he's not even here yet! Today CrossBridge showered me with gifts for Baby Mason and I am again overwhelmed. I had 12 hostesses and although right now I can't find my Baby Book (if you saw all the gifts, you'd understand why), I think the head-count is somewhere around 47 that attended the shower!

Here are several pictures from today:

7 of my 12 Shower Hostesses

Food Table

Right before opening gifts

Sweet Kadie

Some of the gifts from the Shower back at home!

Mason and I are so blessed to be with a church community that surrounds us with gracious love.

What a day and what a celebration!