2 week pictures

Here are a few of our 2 week pictures.

You have to turn your head; I don't know how to change that yet.

Zach has got his birth weight back on him. He weighed in at 8lbs and 8 ounces on Thursday. So, he is eating well. He likes to eat every 2.5-3 hours. We got the go ahead to not wake him up at night to eat, but he still likes to wake up and eat. I hope and pray for 4-5 hour stretches at night.

My friend, as she gave us a bag full of cute Texas Tech outfits, said that Proverbs 22:6 says - "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." We feel that one of our obligations as parents is to show him that one of the ways he should choose is the Texas Tech way.

Suction

Zach has some congestion. He sounds like a little pig snorting around some times. It is not too terribly bad yet. I had to get the bulb suction thing after his little nose to help him sleep and eat better last night. He HATES it. He screams and wiggles and tries to push my hands away. It breaks my heart. I know that I will be doing things that he does not like but are for his own good a lot more as he grows up. But, it is SO hard.
He slept all night in his bassinet. This is the first time. He has ended up on my chest. I know this is a terrible habit, but in the wee hours of the morning it works for us both to sleep.
We have discovered the benefit of gas drops.
He is still eating very well.
We have a 2 week dr. appointment on Thursday. He will get shots and some test run then.
I am recovering very well. I can go way past the 4 hour time limit without my pain pills. And sometimes Tylenol will fix me up as well as the pain meds.
James went back to work on Monday. We miss him terribly, but Mamaw Betty is here. She does all the laundry, ironing, and cleaning. We are going to be so spoiled when she leaves.
I told James today that it would be nice if we were independently wealthy so he could stay home with us every day. ;)
This baby has really increased my prayer life. I have always struggled with praying continually. I can not help but pray for him and with him when he is in my arms, when I am listening to him breathe before I go to sleep, while he is swinging, etc, etch.

home sweet home

I love this face! Ignore my shoulder.

We have been home sense Monday afternoon. That same afternoon, a 'mini-tanning bed' for babies called a 'billie light bed' for Zachary. His jaundice levels were too high when we left the hospital and the dr. wanted him under the light until his levels went down.
Well, today (really yesterday sense it is technically Friday now) we received news that his levels are down, and he does not have to be in his 'tanning bed' box any more. The company will pick it up some time on Friday. The nurse said it would not hurt to keep him in it until they picked it up. So, he spent his last night in it.

We now have to start over again in a sense as far as getting him to go to sleep on his own. The bed had an amazing calming effect on him. We don't know if it was the lights, the low humming sound, or both, but he would be fussy and then lay in his bed and be content.

Being first time parents, we worry like crazy about him. Someone has been awake 'watching' him in his bed to make sure he is okay. Tonight should be interesting as he will be sleeping in his bassinet and/or pack and play.

He can finally start to wear clothes! I must confess though that I really like him in only his diaper. I can stare at his little feet, hands, legs, etc. for hours.

I must blog for a minute on my wonderful husband. Seeing James as a dad has made me fall deeper in love with him. His love for his son is something that is so precious and can be seen in the way he looks at him. James has been wonderful in taking care of me and his new baby. I have changed very few doctors (I meant diapers, Thanks Leah!) and been able to rest thanks to James.

I want to blog about this being my first mother's day, but know it will be an emotional one. I think I will put it on hold considering I just started crying thinking about James.

I am feeling a little better each day, just soar. I must start walking, even if it only a little ways. I have been walking and up a lot in the house.

He's HERE!

Zachary was born at 12:58 on Friday, May 2nd. He was 8 lbs and 21 and 1/2 inches long.

We are both doing well.

I will bost more and better pictures later.
Did you know...the hospitol blocks the use of myspace and facebook? Just and interesting fact.
Thank you all for praying for us.
Much love!

Friday is the DAY!

We did not get to do the amnio this morning because there was no room or pockets of fluid. We got a shot of steroids to make sure his lungs are ready. Both doctors feel good about delivering tomorrow.
So, tomorrow afternoon our baby Zach should be here.
On another note, I have a cold. I am getting better but have definitely felt better. I have not been sick this entire pregnancy. I am hoping and praying that I am fully recovered by 1:00 tomorrow.
Please continue to pray for us.
We will update with pictures and info. as soon as we can.

The latest

Nothing new to report after today's doctor visits.
He is still a big, breech, boy. ;)
He did have to be woken up during the stress test with a little buzzer/vibrating thing. He did not like that and got busy moving after he was so rudely awaken.
Friday is still 'the day'. We will still do the amnio on Thursday and any results over 50 will make Friday a for sure 'go'.
The dr. wants to go ahead with the amnio to make sure there are no surprises with his lungs.
I will have James email on Friday when we have Zach here and settled in. (If settling is possible.)

Lemon Chills

Have you ever had a Lemon Chill? If you have not, I highly recommend them. I have only had them at extremely hot sporting events, but I have seen them for sale in stores before. Well, last night, I decided that I needed one. However, to my disappointment United did not have any. I nearly broke down and cried in United. I know that is crazy, but I really wanted one. James convinced me to get some Dryers fresh fruit Popsicles. I love the lime flavor. I would highly recommend these if you are looking for Popsicle texture in your frozen summer treats.

Little did I know that my pregnant friend Bianca was having a Lemon Chill craving across town. She is a much better detective than me, and found something very similar to a Lemon Chill (after going to Wal Mart, Lowes, and United) at Sam's Club. It is a Minute Maid Soft Frozen Lemonade. I LOVE them. They have 3 flavors, Cherry Limeade, Lemonade, and Strawberry Lemonade. You don't even need a spoon. The max I have eaten in 1 day is 2, but that is only because James suggested that I probably did not need the extra sugar right before I went to bed.

For those of you that read this blog to keep up with the baby, sorry for this random post.

Just some stuff going on

Pregnancy
I have said many times that I LOVE being pregnant and this has been a great pregnancy. I now have to change how I feel about being pregnant. I LOVE being pregnant when I am sitting at home in my recliner and don't have to go to the bathroom. ;) I have started to get physically uncomfortable now that my due date is approaching. I don't know if it is the anxiety and anticipation, my need to nest and not rest, or that I am carrying around a 7+pound baby and a few other pounds. Although I am uncomfortable most of the day, I can still say I LOVE being pregnant, and feel truly blessed to have this experience. I can not explain the joy I have of feeling Zach move in my stomach and being able to look down and see his tiny head move about.
To Do list
I have a running to do list, and a daily to do list. Often times I find myself forgetting about the to do lists altogether and just sitting with my feet up. I do not know how all you moms did this with other children running around.
I think the only thing left we really have to do before the baby comes is put the car seat base in the car.
I need to pack some more things for the hospital, but I have an emergency bag packed just in case my water breaks or I go into labor.
We finished the nursery, got the pack and play and swing put up, got an amazing glider/recliner that I LOVE, got a new TV (note this was not on the original to do list, Happy Mother's day to me, and anniversary, and father's day :)), and got clothes and sheets and blankets washed.
I still need to boil pacifiers. I have yet to open the good ole breast pump to try to figure out how that works. I also need some baskets to keep some things down stairs for the baby.
This Weekend
I am excited about breakfast with the lifestyle lady leaders. How amazing Janis is to have us in her home. I LOVE breakfast food too.
We have a 'meet the newlyweds' party on Saturday night. I am excited to see some old friends and people I taught with at Hutch.
I am sad I am going to miss the Red and Black football game to take a nap, but sleep sounds much better at this point.
Non-stress test
Zach has passed all his non-stress test. Hearing your babies heartbeat is amazing. A lot is going on in his tiny little world. You can even hear it when he moves, sometimes.
Brittany
My brother's girlfriend had her second surgery to attach her small intestine to her rectum and remove her 'bag'. She made it through very well on Thursday, and is recovering well today. The doctor is a little concerned about any infection, or tears, but seemed satisfied with the way the surgery went.

TAKS...I forgot...almost

That little thing called the Math TAKS test is tomorrow. I must not have much of a worry problem because I really had forgotten about it while talking/typing about Zach. Man, this baby really changes my perspective on things.
If my kids don't pass they don't get to go to high school. Some, in Stephanie's words, need a miracle. So, please pray for these kiddos.
I don't have to give the test. Apparently, me going to the bathroom every 20-30 minutes would be distracting.

Worry!

I had a wonderful friend tell me at the beginning of my pregnancy that I would never stop worrying about this baby for the rest of my life, and that some worry is okay and not something I should place so much guilt on myself for having. This helped me struggle with the battle I was having between trusting God, not worrying at all, and the guilt I was putting on myself for the worry. She explained that a motherly instinct is God given. I am not having the struggle of worry creep back up into my life. There are so many what ifs going on in my head right now regarding our baby. I joked with someone the other day that nothing about this baby had been conventional so I doubted that his birth would be. The realization that there could be issues with his lungs, issues with his breathing, and just issues with his arrival scare me more than anything. I love this baby more that I could ever have imagined, and every kick and roll is so precious and God given.
I know that God has our family and this baby in His hands and Zach will arrive in God’s perfect timing. Still, I want for him to be healthy, and safe. I want for him to be able to be in my arms. I have learned though that what we want is not always God’s plan.I guess I am writing all this to say, I am struggling with the unknown again. That seems to always be my struggle, not being willing to give up the unknown and have the faith that I should.
Please pray that Zach’s lungs will develop, and his little body would be perfect and healthy when he is born. Please pray that the doctor’s will have wisdom in how to care for us over the next few weeks. And, please pray that God would give this control freak of a soon to be mother some peace and guidance.