A New Normal

Greyson is five weeks old today. Wow. There are times where I feel like he has been here forever and there are times I feel like John Thomas and I were heading to the hospital those wee hours of the morning.

 

I am a person who loves and lives off a schedule. I think I get that from my dad. I enjoy a few days off, don't get me wrong, but after awhile I like to be in somewhat of a routine. I decided after last Friday that it was time Greyson and I got into a rountine. Afterall, he was a month and I only have a little over a month before heading back to work.

 

So, being the blog stalker of random strangers that I am, I had read about this program called Moms on Call and how it worked wonders. I read about it online and thought it sounded like something I would enjoy. I ordered the book and read it pretty much in one day. I then registered for the online course that gives a little bit more information. What I really like about it is that they tell you that if it doesn't work for you then you aren't a bad parent. I have read some things and I felt like what a loser of a parent if my child is not sleeping 10 hours the first week.

 

Greyson has been such a good baby! I can literally count on one hand how many "rough, what the heck have we got ourselves into" nights. Thank God, honestly- praise God for that! He hasn't slept the entire night and he still sleeps beside our bed in his Rockn' Play Sleeper.

 

On Monday I decided we would start our new "norm". The daytime schedule has worked great! He has really caught onto it quick. Nighttime schedule has been a little different. He DOES NOT like to be swaddled and will flip like a fish out of water in it. Two of four nights he has finally gone to sleep in his crib after about a 20-30 minute fuss. One other night resulted in me in tears wondering how I was going to make it and another night of just forget it, he's sleeping by our bed again.

 

The hardest for me has been when he wakes up anywhere from 2-3 am to eat. He eats great, but then wants to stay awake until about 4 or 5, one night 6. My only ray of sunshine during this time is 1. He's so darn cute and 2. he is not fussing, but he is not content. I am learning to torture keep him awake longer after his daytime naps to help him go right back to sleep at night.

 

I think we are finally getting in the swing of things though. Some days are harder than others, but that is the realty. I love my new normal. Would not change a thing, and that's a fact!

One Month

 Greyson - you are one month old today!  How is that even possible?  I see what they mean by it flying by - it seems like you were born last week.

  

-You are about 9 pounds 1 ounce and about 21 1/2 inches long You're a growing boy, and show no signs of slowing down anytime soon! (I think our scale is off and you weigh a little more :) )

-You are wearing a size 1 diaper..you were able to wear newborn diapers for about two and a half weeks before they were too snug on you.  You are in 3 month clothes now. There are about two newborn things you can still wear and get by with, but not much longer! I packed away all your newborn clothes this week. 

-You're eating about 4 ounces at every feeding, from our best guess.  I try to give you a bottle at least once a day, typically at night. It really confuses you when daddy gives it to you. Next week I am going to begin two bottles a day.

-You are such a good sleeper! We have only had about three nights where it has been rough. You sleep a good majority of the day. Although in the past week, your awake time has greatly increased! We were going to bed about 12 each night and we are gradually bumping it back a little bit each week. Our goal this week has been to be asleep by 10:30 or 11.  Once you are good asleep you sleep until about 3 or 4, and then back down until about 7, sometimes 8!

-You've just started really smiling in the past few days, especially after your belly is full.  Your daddy was able to see it for the time last night! 

-You have discovered the ceiling fan the past two weeks! You will just lay on the bed or on your tummy time mat and look at the fan. 

-You LOVE any type of movement! Your two favorite things are your swing and being held and bounced. If you are super fussy and crying, normally one of those two things will calm you down. 

-You are warming up to burping. The first week or two you really fought me when it was time to burp, but now it doesn't seem to bother you as much. You can let some really good ones.

-You HATE tummy time. You will lay on your tummy for a few minutes and be okay. After a few minutes you give us a good cry. You do like laying on your stomach when you are laying on top of me or daddy. When you are restless sometimes I lay you on my chest and alternate pats on back and bottom and it soothes you. 

-You are not sleeping in your crib at night. I do put you in your crib during at least two of your daytime naps. We are going to start trying you sleeping in there at night in the new couple of days. You sleep in the Rock'n Play Sleeper by our bed. 

-Your big brother is VERY protective of you! When someone other than me and daddy are holding you, he constantly goes and smells that person and checks on you. When we get home and Wally has been in his crate, the first thing he does is checks on you. He doesn't like you being in your crib or Pack N Play because he can't see you in there. You just stare at him so sweetly!

-Your eyes are a pretty blue! I love when you are bright eyed, especially in the early morning or at night after your bath. 

-You still have a head full of hair! It hasn't seemed to thin much. It stands STRAIGHT up! I love it!

-You seem to love to ride in the car (we prayed this would be the case...we are in the road a lot).

-You really like baths...but I think you enjoy the blow dryer after the best! 

Your daddy and I love you more than you know!  You've made this be the best month in both of our lives!

Week Three

Week three was an exciting week! 

Since we live in the south, we don't see much snow...we see a lot of ice. You woke up Saturday and your eye was all clogged. I called your doctor and they were able to squeeze you in. We had not planned on going anywhere because the weather was suppose to be nasty. We went to the doctor real quick to learn you have a clogged tear duct. We just wanted to make sure you weren't getting sick. We came back home and you slept while me and your dad cleaned up around the house. While we were cleaning, it started snowing like crazy, fluffy and pretty snow! You slept through majority of your first snow but I did get some pictures to document!

I love this!

This week you also joined me and your Mimi at Bible Study on Thursday morning. Since it was Thursday, it was only appropriate for us to go to Wades for their dressing, my favorite! I hope you love this place as much as our family eats there. :)

I was uploading pictures and working on some things on the computer and you and Wally took a nap while waiting on me. 

You can't tell exactly by your face but you love your swing! The Mamaroo is the BEST!

You also went to your first baby shower...don't worry, your dad said those are limited for you. Right now though you kind of have to tag along wherever I go in case you want to eat. 

Lola loves you...she likes to think of you as a baby doll!

Me and Lola while her momma loved on you!

The weeks are flying by! You are growing so quickly! 

We love you, G Man!

Week Two

Your second week of life has flown by! 

 On Saturday Great Aunt Linda, Great Uncle Chris, and cousin Cameron came to meet you. We went to Mimi and Papa's house.

You ventured out for the first time! We went to Target, Chick-Fil-A and to have your newborn pictures made!

Our first family picture :) 

And of course, your protective big brother was right there the whole time! 

You are still sleeping great! You eat at least every three hours during the day and we are working on 4 hour stretches at night! Woo hoo! 

You are a happy baby! When you cry I can either feed you or change your diaper and then you are happy again! If that doesn't work, we can walk around and bounce you and you are super quite.

We love you, Greyster! 

Week One

 We had first busy week of your sweet life, Greyson! 

We brought you home on Sunday, February 3- Super Bowl Sunday! Mimi stayed with us that night, thank goodness! You could not get settled and cried and cried. Your dad and I looked at each other and felt so hopeless! I will admit, we were just as scared as you were. I had to remind myself that you had been protected and kept nice and warm for nine months and now here you are out in all this light with people holding and loving on you.

After we got through the first night, you had a great rest of the week! You eat about every three hours during the day and sometimes you will go four hours at night! When we brought you home you were 7.7 pounds and Tuesday when we went to your doctor, Dr. Parra, you were 7.9 pounds! You nurse great! You haven't had one problem, we are so thankful for that! 

Here are some pictures of your first week: 

Wally loves you so much! He is very protective of you and comes over to give you a lick and make sure you are okay throughout the day.

You are 4 days old here! You are going to meet your great grandpa and to the pediatrician.

Picture with daddy before we leave :)

You and Great Aunt Laura

You and Flynn...he is your daddy's second cousin, but we are much closer to him than that sounds :)

You are met Steth and Caden today! Uncle Tim popped in the picture, too! Nicole is on bedrest at their house and we are anxiously awaiting their new baby girl!

This is you meeting your Great Grandpa. This is your daddy's grandpa. (Grandpa Steve's dad)

This is Averie. Her mom and I are best friends- she gave you this shirt before you were even born.

We had to make sure you knew who was boss from an early age :)

Lola is holding you here- she will be a big sister any day now!

Here you are sleeping. You slept a lot your first week home!

What a wonderful first week we have had with you little man!

Your daddy, I and big brother Wally love you more than you will ever know!

Greyson's Day...Pictures!

This was the Tuesday before Greyson was born. I was at school if you couldn't tell. :)

 All hooked up and ready to go!

We had to do something to pass the time. This is how JT was imaging it would all go down- haha

Sweet Baby Greyson minutes after being born

Back in our arms finally after what seemed like an eternity of him being in the NICU

Sweet Cheeks!

First time his daddy was able to hold him!

His Mimi...my mom

Grandmommy...John Thomas's mom

Papa Paul...my dad

Uncle Kyle...John Thomas's brother

Uncle Reed...My brother

Aunt Kim...Kyle's Wife

Sweet Jessica...Reed's girlfriend

My brother and I with Greyson

Aunt Allyson...my mom's sister

There were so many more people there to celebrate his arrival! I was not able to get a picture of everyone holding and loving on this sweet boy!

Greyson's Day in Words, A Lot of Words

...Continued from previous post...

Thankfully I was only having to get up about two or three times to go to the bathroom during the night.

 (I would like to thank my job for being able to have a great bladder :) )

I was on trip two somewhere right before 3:30 Friday morning. I woke up and felt this weird feeling, almost like a pop. I got up and thought to myself that I was dreaming and it wasn't really happening since I had not had any contractions. 

When I sat down to go to the bathroom I quickly realized it was my water that had broken and I needed to get going. I screamed, "John Thomas! My water! Get up, now!" He is a very heavy sleeper and normally had to hit him to wake him up in the middle of the night. He shot up out of the bed. I quickly called my mom (thank God my dad was home! He got in about midnight), he called his mom, I grabbed the camera, my bathroom bag, phone charger and told him I had to get to the car, I couldn't walk. 

I remember being absolutely scared out of my mind!  He finally got to the car and we took off. Since it was in the middle of the night there was no traffic and we made it to the hospital in 13 minutes. On the way we talked about how we would never come home to just the two of us and Wally anymore and how excited and nervous we were. I texted my mom and told her that I was scared to death. She kept reassuring me that everything would be okay. I knew deep down it would, but I was still scared. I am not too fond of the unknown. 

We get to the hospital and they send me to Triage first. My first nurse was a mom of one of my students, of course. They have a little strip they check to make sure it is your water, it barely touched my leg and turned bright blue that it was my water. I was admitted and had an IV in minutes. 

After about thirty minutes, around 4:30, they sent me to the labor and delivery room. My parents were there and came back to sit with us. John Thomas's mom got there shortly after.

I still had not had any contractions. They decided to start the Pitocin around 6 or so and then I could get my Epidural whenever I decided. About 6:30 I had my Pitocin and was ready to get the party started. By about 7:30 or so I had about three strong contractions. I don't do pain. At all. I decided to go ahead and get my epidural...why wait? By 8 I was feeling nothing waist down and completely content. I had texted all my friends to tell them, called my principal, and already had some visitors. 

The day went by incredibly fast, considering I was having to lay in a bed all day with no feeling below the waist. They would come in periodically to check my progress and look at my contractions. Finally around lunch my doctor told me I was in "active labor". The goal then was to dilate 1 cm per hour.

About 4:30 I was feeling some hard pressure and felt like I needed to push. I told the nurse and she called the doctor in. I was an 8 and about 90% effaced...she ordered me some stronger meds for my epidural. I am not sure if my body had just had it by that point or the extra boost of medicine got me going but at 5 pm it was time to be checked again. My doctor looked at me and said it was time to get the room ready and go!

I remember everyone leaving the room and it being just me and John Thomas. I was scared out of my mind as tears came down my face. We were getting ready to face a new normal. I was ready, we were prepared, but the unknown is always scary.

By 5:20 my big empty room was flooded with wonderful nurses, my doctor and her medical student, and lots of tools. The pushing began. Greyson was wrapped in his umbilical cord a little so they gave me an oxygen mask to help him. After about two pushes he had unwrapped himself and all was well again. I pushed and pushed and at 5:44 pm I heard the most wonderful sound ever. Greyson had made it (I had survived- ha!) and was placed in my arms. I remember looking at him thinking that nothing in this world could be any better. Our child, that we had created, was here. Safe and sound.

He wasn't letting out the big gut cry like they doctors like to hear. They worked on him for a few minutes and decided that he needed a little trip to the NICU to double check everything.

While he was gone I stayed in the room and we gathered all of our stuff and then was moved to our room. Finally, about 10 pm Greyson made his way back to our room with us where his daddy was finally able to hold him and everyone else was able to meet him.

That night after everyone had left it was about 10:45 or 11. John Thomas sat there with me and we held our little baby. I cried at the overwhelming of emotions that I had. This baby was mine. This baby has changed my whole life. This baby boy was a gift from God. How someone could experience what I had experienced and not believe in God and the miracle that he created I have no idea.

We didn't sleep a wink that night. We loved on our baby.

Greyson Stephen Gillespie
February 1, 2013
8 lbs. 1 oz
20 1/4 inches
5:44 pm