2 weeks already!

Jared has been with us now for 2 weeks! Often it feels much longer and I have to remind myself that he is still so young. So far he has been such an easy baby. (well not that I have anything to compare him to but everything seems to be going really well) I often find myself worrying that one day I will wake up and my sweet good natured little boy will be a totally different kid but fortunately he seems pretty content. He rarely cries, mostly just when we are changing his diaper and easily sleeps for 3 hours at a time. I have to wake him up for every feeding and he could sleep much longer if I let him! Which sometimes I am tempted to do but I want to make sure he is eating enough. We really appreciate his thoughtfulness! The last 2 days have been extra nice because Mark's school has been canceled (I love snow days!!) so we have gotten to spend time cuddling and loving our little boy. I went to a breastfeeding support group the other day and had Jared weighed and he is up to 7.15 pounds. (Its so nice to be able to drive myself places again) I have been feeling pretty well. Still just trying to rest a lot and enjoy this time with Jared. Tomorrow he has his 2 week appointment with the pediatrician. I find myself really looking forward to his appointments so I can hear that he is doing well.
Here are some pictures of the little cutie! It turns out that taking good pictures of newborns is rather difficult!

My Mom got this outfit for him. I love it!
He is for sure the cutest pumpkin in the patch to us!

"He's Perfect"

So says the pediatrician we took Jared to this morning for his newborn checkup. He said Jared has great lungs and his heart sounds great. His weight is back up to 7.1 pounds; he was 6.13 when we left the hospital, and somehow his head is now 14 inches instead of 13.5 and he is 20.5 inches long instead of 20.

As we were leaving the hospital they gave us a little diaper bag that had all kinds of coupons and pamphlets in it. Inside one pamphlet there were horoscopes for the babies. Here is Jared's first horoscope.

LIBRA: September 24 - October 23

Baby Libra is a sweet and gentle, go-with-the-flow type of child who might even need waking when its time to eat. This born diplomat loves to communicate. From day one, he'll charm you and everyone else around- expect him to do well in baby groups and classes from early on. Try to surround your little Libra with vibrant colors. He's an artist who loves observing nature's beauty and listening to music. Enjoy your refined baby!

We thought this was a pretty good model pose with his hand behind his head.

He has been such a sweet, good natured baby. I love looking at him and realizing how perfect he is. While we were waiting to see the Doctor, Mark was holding Jared and I looked over at him and thought, "Oh my goodness! That is our baby, he is not holding someone else's child!" We are so happy that Jared is here with us.

*This oh so cute quilt is one that my sister made for Jared. She's so good! Thanks Susanna we love it!

25 hours later, Two became Three

He's here and he's adorable!

Jared Hyrum Spencer was born Wednesday, October 14 at 9:12 pm.
7 pounds 5 ounces, 20 inches long

Look at those feet! He totally got them from Mark.

As mentioned I went to the doctor Tuesday afternoon and she was worried that Preeclapsimia was setting in so she decided to induce me that night since he was supposed to be due on Friday. So we set out to the hospital and checked in at 8:00 Tuesday night. When I checked in all the nurses kept asking why I was being induced because the symptons were so slim so it seems like the doctor was just trying to prevent the onset of it which was A-OK by Mark and I because we just wanted him to come.

That night they started me on some medication to soften the cervix, then in the morning around 5:30 they started me on Pitocin and at 7:00 I got my epidural. (The new anestheseologist came on at 7:00 and since I knew I wanted one I was his first patient of the day) So I spent all of Wednesday laying in bed enjoying the relief of the epidural but not progressing much. I got to a 7 around 1:00 and then a 9 around 3:30 and then it all stopped. Finally around 5:30 I was basically a 10 so they decided to have me start pushing. As they were checking me it turned out that Jared was head down but he was OP or face up instead of face down which meant my chances of delivering him were pretty slim. They said I could keep pushing until it had been 3 hours but then they should start prepping me for a C- section. So I kept pushing but he wouldn't turn. Around 7:30 they turned off the Epidural to see if I could feel the contractions more and be able to push harder. Duh, of course I could feel them more but they only kept if off for like 30 minutes, and I was still fairly numb. Around 8:15 the Doctor came back and asked if I wanted to push for another 15 minutes to see if he moved or just start prepping for the C-section. We decided to start prepping because it seemed quite unlikely he would turn and honestly, I was a little bit tired.

So they wheeled me into the operating room to where I was suddenly listening to Kelly Clakrson (My Life Would Suck Without You, fitting) on the radio and feeling very far away. The extra medicine they put in you for a C section is really strong! So Jared was delivered at 9:12 and was nice and healthy. It appears everything went well and we are so happy that he is here.

I feel like I experienced all types of pregnancy/delivery options with Jared: inducing, contractions, (even at a 4 they are pretty strong) epidural, pushing, having the epidural turned off, and a C Section. Pretty inclusive. The 2 hour immediate recovery from a C Section is awful! I felt so out of control. But now three days later Jared is doing great and I am feeling almost human again. Mark was a big help and I am so thankful that he is so supportive. He and Jared seem to be getting along just fine. Jared and I are so lucky to have Mark with us.

Marmee, (my mom) arrived from California Friday. We are so happy she is here to help us for the next week.

THE SPENCER'S

Appearantly Not

So it appears that I will not be posting a picture of myself at 40 weeks pregnant because we are going to the hospital tonight at 8:00 to be induced! I went to the doctor today and it appears that I am developing preeclampsia so she said we could do urine and blood tests for the next 24 hours but the only treatment is delivery so she recommended just being induced since I will be 40 weeks on Friday. I personally don't feel the need to be pregnant for another day or two so we are taking her recommendation. I didn't want to develop this either but have had a problem-free, quite pleasant pregnancy so far so it is what it is. I still feel quite good (and Jared's heart rate, movements and the fluid levels are fine) so I am thankful that being pregnant has been so agreeable for me. Even though it was because of preeclampsia I am really excited that it happened this week so Mark can have so much time with Jared and I. Here's to our last hours of not being parents!

Wish us luck!

39 weeks!

Here's to hoping that I don't get to take a picture of myself at 40 weeks next Friday. I feel fine and am just hanging out, waiting for Jared. Mark is officially on Fall Break so today would be a great day to start this new adventure but I feel nothing but Braxton Hicks so maybe tomorrow.

*I do love that our new camera has a setting that lets you change the colors of the photo. I think it is probably fairly common but since we bought our first digital camera in 2005 a lot has changed. You can sure get a lot more now for less then what we paid then. We got our camera on sale for $150.00 and the one in 2005 cost $250.00. The new one is way more advanced as well but our old camera did just fine. It traveled all over with us!