First week by myself...

Okay, this was the "official" first week by myself. Mike went back to work and despite all of my worst fears, I survived the work week with the 2 kids by myself. At times, it was crazy... take for example today: we came home from church and Jake was screaming with that quivering lip thing he does, Anthony was yelling at me "MaMa, MaMa, MaMa" because he was tired and he's constipated, and Dixie was throwing up on the carpet. I was sitting there on the couch, Jake was nursing and finally quiet, Anthony was pulling my finger, trying to get me to stand up and come play outside with him, and Dixie was dry-heaving. I just laughed ... face it, there's not much you can do in a situation like that but laugh!

All in all, I was very proud that we all survived... no we didn't just survive, we did great! This is my standard for great at this point: we all ate, poopy diapers were changed within a reasonable time period, and no one died. My friend Wendi let me borrow her Moby wrap (mobywrap.com... it's amazing!) and I just put Jake in that thingie and was still able to play around (even on the fort and sliding on the slide) with Anthony. I vacummed twice, washed Dixie, cleaned the kitchen, and thought about sweeping (but I wasn't THAT good!). Luckily I had friends bring me dinner (God bless YOU!) so most of my meals were prepared. All in all, I'd have to say we did pretty good... but thank goodness Mike is now off for a couple of days!







Another precious pic of Jake...

Anthony and his daddy watching the cowboys game... Little Romo zonked out...

Introducing... Jake!

I'd like to introduce you to the most amazing little boy in all of the world... Jacob Donald Short. We've been calling him Jake and are considering the "The Don" as well :). He is named Donald after his PaPa Don, and Jacob... well, we just liked the name. He decided to come, after 3 weeks of "practice" contractions, last Saturday, September 1st.

I went into labor at 5:00 in the morning and the contractions steadily increased in intensity and length from then on. (I was so scared that I wouldn't know when labor was real... but somehow I "just knew"!) Mike was diligent about rubbing my back through the contractions and kept telling me how well I was doing. Around 7 am I decided that this was in fact the "real thing" so I called my mom and sister to come over. Shortly after they arrived Mike left and brought Anthony to his Uncle Jody and Aunt Julies house. By the time he was finished we girls had gotten bored at home and decided that we should be walking instead of sitting anyway... so as any good country girls would do, we avioded the heat outside and went to Cabelas. (For those of you who don't know, Cabelas is a huge outdoors and sporting goods store...) It seemed like a good choice b/c it was on the way to the hospital and there are places to hide admist the "rooms of death" with the displayed animals hunters had donated. Any who... we were there for a while, my sister timing each and every contraction, and both of them offering support and back rubs during contractions, Mike and my Dad met us. We had a quick bite to eat (I'd regret eating that bacon in a few hours!) and once my contractions were quite strong and 3 mins apart, we left for the hospital (I was entering the "serious about this birthing thing" phase).

Once at the hospital, I was checked and found to be 6 cms dilated already (I was 3 cms the day before at my docs appt)! My mom, sister, Mike, and doula (Gina) were all in the room, and my dad quickly joined us. I got my IV antibiotics, sat on the ball for a while, visited with my family between contractions, then headed to the tub once the nurse gave the okay. I labored the rest of the time (1.5-2 hours) in the tub to the sound of Nora Joans in the surround sound and the touch and encouragement from Mike, my mom and sister, and our doula. I announced that I needed to use the bathroom, and knowing what that meant, nurses filled the room and escorted me to the delivery room. The Doc (Dr. Wilson) came in got all scrubbed up and dressed and anouned I was full and ready to push. After 4-5 good contractions, little Jacob was welcomed with the "happy birthday" song from all of us, the doc, and the nurses.

I am so happy and proud that I was able to have the unmedicated birth Mike and I wanted, but it pales in comparison to the feelings and ovewhelming awe we felt when our little guy was placed on my chest. He was a little purple at first, but pinked up quickly (APGAR's 8 & 9 for color only). There he was, in all of his glory, his very presence singing praises God, alert and looking at us as though we were old friends. He was so calm, and almost reassured about his place in his family. We spent those first minutes together as a family, gazing into one anothers tear stained eyes, in compete awe of the goodness of God. Mike said a beautiful prayer of thanksgiving and Jacob was welcomed by the warm hands of his parents, NaNa, and Maw Maw.When the nurse took him to weigh him and anounced he was a whopping 9 lbs and 1 oz, I almost fell off the bed! Mike with his chest out proud, and me in amazement, couldn't believe that we made such a big, healthy boy! He was given back to me and nursed right away as the doctor was finishing up.

Mike brought him to the nursery after a while for his bath while everyone watched from outside the nursery glass. My dad and I were in the recovery room, talking about how amazing what had just happened was and how awesome this little person is... while we were eating huge sub sandwiches (I was starving!). Over the next couple of days, our whole family was able to come welcome Jake in the hospital... Mike and I "rested" and fell in deeper love with out new little one, and I ate... and ate... and ate... and ate (who knew that labor made you so hungry!)

Anthony came to see his new baby brother and was so proud. He walked right up, said "baby" and gave him a kiss. When we came home from the hospital and Mike picked Anthony up from his Aunt and Uncles house, he walked right in, and unpromted, made a bee-line for Jake and gave him a kiss on the head. Anthony has not missed a beat... as if Jake has been here all along. Anthony pulls his stool up to the bassinet and stand on it so he can watch his baby brother sleep. He even shares his balls with him... which is a BIG deal if you know how much Anthony loves balls!

Now we're getting settled in to our new lives with two kiddo-s, enjoying the fabulous cooking and company my mom is so generously giving, and learning more about eachother every single day. So, feel free to call or visit, we love company! There's not too much more we can say...Life is good and God is Great!!