It's getting easier

As with most things, the more time passes, the easier it is to handle a newborn. I guess it's because Luke is slowly growing out of the newborn stage. Just last week Luke started to go to bed at 11pm instead of 1am. It's been a blessed relief for this momma. He's also started to interact more with us. It's so sweet to see him looking around trying to see things. He also is beginning to coo and babble.

Last night I had Brandon take this picture. I love it. Luke loves to cuddle which makes this momma so happy.

Luke's story

Me and my Midwife Jen

...this post comes from my journal entry on the day Luke was born....

What an exciting day! I am so grateful that I had the blessing to be induced. It really was a good thing for this kiddo and baby Luke. But, that’s getting ahead of the story.

I woke up at 6:30am and Peter got up shortly after that. We ate breakfast (well, he ate – I didn’t ‘cause I didn’t want to throw up during labor) and then I let him play while I tried to do a couple of things around the house. Brandon woke up in enough time to get ready to leave the house by 8am. Then he and Peter drove down to Payson to get Grandma Deslie. On the way back, Peter got dropped off at Grandma Thomas’ for the day. It was a good arrangement that kept Peter happy.

While I was in the shower the hospital called to see if we could come in at 9am to be induced. Sadly, I knew Bran wouldn’t be home yet, so we went in at 10am instead. It felt so strange walking into the hospital and not being in labor. I had envisioned myself walking in and having to ride the elevator while major contractions racked my body. It was nice not to have to feel that way. When we arrived at Labor and Delivery they seemed all ready for us. We were ushered into room #10 which was awesome because it was a the end of a long hallway. As a result, it was really quiet. About 30 minutes later my amazing nurses (Michelle and Kelsy) arrived. Around 10:50am they started an IV of antibiotics because I tested positive for Strep B. Blah! As a result, they didn’t want me to deliver the baby until after 2pm. When the antibiotic was close to being complete they started giving me Pitocin to get the contractions going. Thankfully that got the contractions going pretty quickly, but we knew it would still be a while before the baby was born since I was still only dilated to a 3. Just before 11:30 Bran decided to run home to each lunch. Living 5 minutes away from the hospital was such a blessing. When he came back, he had a letter from one of the sweet sisters in my ward. It was about our baby coming. It was so much fun to have Bran read it to me while I was sitting there in labor.

Just after 2pm the midwife on call (Jen) came in to say we could get going any time. My nurses also came in to say that the dude that does the epidurals was out at the nurses desk just waiting for something to do. So Bran and I decided to go ahead and get the epidural done before the major pain hit. I’m so thankful we did it that way. I think it really helped to save my energy for the pushing part. After the epidural was done I was feeling good even though I could feel the pressure of each contraction. By the this time the Pitocin was at a level 16 and I was having contractions every 2-3 minutes. Jen then broke my water and we waited for the next stage of labor to begin. I was still dilated to a 3, but and hour later (3:45pm) I was at a 6. However, it only took until 4:30 for my body to be completely ready to push Luke out. They gave me some oxygen, got all the equipment ready, and then I began pushing with each contraction. It was the most incredible feeling to know that Luke would be out soon and I pushed with all my might as I kept that thought in the forefront of my mind. Finally, 15 minutes later Luke came out screaming and hollering.

We’ve had many adventures since this moment in time. Some of which include two days in the NICU, only a few hours of sleep each day, and lots of feeding time. It’s all been worth it though and we love our little Luke so much.

Peter took this pix of us while we were trying to have tummy time

Luke David

Here is our cutie little boy. All of the nurses thought Luke would be under 9 pounds and so did I. But, we were all wrong. He was 9 lbs. 2 oz and 20" long and came at 4:44pm. The whole process was much better this time around. In fact, Luke wanted to come out so badly that it just took 15 minutes of pushing to get him here. It was wonderful. He's been a trooper since and he and I are both enjoying every moment of our relaxing hospital stay.

Today

Here we are taking down the last paper chain. It's remarkable to think that by this evening Luke will be here. I am so nervous about being a mother of two, but I'm sure I'll survive. After all, I don't have much of a choice.

What Brandon does

At the beginning of the year Brandon has to fill out a Performance Evaluation which includes the things he has done during the previous year. He sent me a copy and I just had to share it. As you can see, Bran is one super busy Associate Director. Even I had no idea he had done all of these things.

This past year I have worked hard to improve the available training for both internal and external UVU staff, the the available tools to help the purchasing staff be more efficient, and the overall image of Procurement Services. I successfully prepared and presented a number of training sessions to the campus community related to the purchasing process. I was able to create and implement new online training materials. I performed a large amount of research related to purchasing policies and procedures. As a result, the RFP and Bid processes have been improved, new bid general provisions and purchase order terms and conditions have been written, and new policy has been presented for review. I have also worked hard to improve the available software tools, including report generation, BidSync integration, a new software ordering website, and improving the various databases used. I also implemented a plan to better track sole source justification forms. I was able to complete these projects in addition to my purchasing duties, where I was able to complete 1237 Purchase Orders, 306 change orders, 97 Bids, and 11 RFPs.

37 weeks and counting down

Here I am at 37 weeks and counting down to our BIG day. I wish I wasn't so frustrated that I can't know the exact day Luke will be born. I'm trying to be patient by keeping myself super busy (meetings, church work, visiting friends, cleaning the house, Dr. appointments, etc.) though.

Here is out nightly countdown chain. I'm so shocked that it's already gotten so small. Wow!

This past Sunday we went down to my parents for a b-day celebration and Peter discovered lime jello. He seriously ate 3 plates full of the stuff. Yummy, Yum.

Bring on the comfort

I've always heard pregnant ladies say that wearing their husbands pajama bottoms are the most comfortable thing ever. Well, today I became one of those ladies. It's wonderful to have something on that gives me enough room to move around in. Thank you hubby for your generosity.

Peter and Baby Luke

Early in this pregnancy, I decided to involve Peter as much as possible with the growth of this new baby. Peter and I talk about baby Luke a zillion times a day. I'm excited that Luke is now big enough that Peter can feel him moving around inside of me. During Christmas, Peter kept asking me when he could hold Luke. It was the cutest thing ever. I tried to explain to him that it would just be a few more weeks before baby Luke would come out, but he would always look so confused when I said that.

Then, Brandon decided that Peter might understand the concept a little better if we made a visual representation of a few weeks. So, we make a paper count-down chain. Peter has completely enjoyed taking off a slip of paper each night after prayers and scriptures. Having this visual representation also helps me to realize how quickly this kid will be here. Needless to say, we are all excited that Luke will be here soon. We're just counting down the days....literally.

Sugar Cookie Fun

On Saturday night Brandon's cousin Steve and his sweet wife Vashti came to visit us. We had such a lot of fun making sugar cookies and laughing the night away. Since Vashti and I are both preggo (with baby boys) we had to get a couple of belly shots too.

We seriously had a blast and can't wait until we can get together again.

Preggo tummy

I was talking to my sister Lisa the other day (who lives in Florida) and she said she wanted to see a current picture of me. Blah. But, I love her so I'll do it. Baby Luke (yep, I finally picked a name) is growing stronger and stronger every day. He recently flipped to the heads down position so now I'm feeling him a lot more. So cool in some ways and so annoying in others.

I also can't resist adding this cute picture of Peter. He just learned how to line things up and he decided to line up his cars. Thanks so much Aunt Alli for the cars and the cute hat. Peter loves them both so much (and it made for such a cheap b-day present).