2 weeks old

2 weeks old

JjHard to believe this little guy is already 2 weeks old. No surprise that his favorite thing to do is eat! We spend a lot of time snuggling while he nurses like a pro. He is a pretty good sleeper. Generally I get 2 periods of about 3 hours together. Not bad. I'm sure my memory has faded but it seems his big sister didn't sleep as well. Those newborn clothes are already too small! Those never last long. He is going to be styling for a while thanks to many gifts of new clothes and lots of loaned clothes :).

He has pretty decent periods of awake time. Luckily this is normally during daytime hours!

Baby belly 2 weeks later. Feels tiny to me after what it was!

One Week Old

Ryan went in for his one week check up on Tuesday.  He started at 8lbs 11 ounces at birth.  Was down less than 2 ounces by 11pm of day 2.  At one week old he has more than gained back to his birth weight.  Big boy is up to 8lbs 14.5 ounces!!  They also measured him at 21.5 inches.  I don't think he grew 1.5 inches in a week.  I would guess that maybe the initial measurement was off.  It isn't like newborns like to stretch out too easily.

For the most part he likes to be awake for a good amount of time in the mornings.  He is pretty good about just hanging out in his pack an play for a bit.  He does have this big sister that we still have to help sometimes.  It can be hard being the second born and having to wait.  

As is to be expected his favorite thing to do is EAT!  He is also a champ at going through diapers ;).  He is a decent sleeper for a newborn.  He takes a long while to eat and eat and eat before he will go to sleep but then he will sleep for a good 3 hour stretch at least.  Wakes up for another good feeding and goes back to sleep for another 3 hour stretch.  I feel pretty rested with getting several hours in a row.  I don't remember Jillian doing so well with sleeping...  Maybe I'm just used to getting up from being pregnant and this is really more sleep than I had been getting ;). 

Bringing Home baby

Settling into her bis sister role.  She loves him :)

Ready to go home. Finally!

My mom brought us home only because Rick had to go to work.

Heading home with my two kids!

Day 2 (10-15-14)

Grandma and Grandpa Morphew came over at 1 to meet Ryan.  Big sister Jillian had stayed the night with meemaw and papa and couldn't wait to get back to the hospital too see her baby brother.  That first day she was very possessive of him and only "allowed"people to hold him for a limited time frame. 

Throughout the day they kept a close eye on Ryan's heart rate.  His resting rate was always in the 90's and usually a new born has a rate closer to 120.  After about 24 hours it came up to just over 100.  It was within an acceptable range just on the low end.  The nurse called Dr Iorio about him and she gave him the all clear.  He never left my room for a nursery stay.  They just checked his vitals every 4 hours instead of 8. 

Day 3 (10-16-14)

Jillian arrived at the hospital at the beginning of visiting hours once again.  She was so excited and she wanted to stay with us.  We made sure it was OK with the nurse that she stayed even after my mom left and she said that was fine.  Ryan got cleared to be released before lunch.  The doctor checking patients for the day was busy with procedures and laboring moms so we ended up waiting around all day for me to get my official clearance to go home.  Rick was at the hospital with us until about 3 when he needed to leave for his visit.  It was still over another hour before the doctor came to clear me.  My mom came back so I didn't have to mange both kids by myself in the hospital room. 

Once I was cleared for discharge I called my nurse.  It took another hour or so or her to have time to get us discharged.  As she was giving Ryan one last look over she was asking if he had wet his diaper.  He still hadn't that day.  As she took off his diaper.... well he let her have it and peed all over her hand, his clothes, his blankets, and the baby bassinet.  At the same time Grandma and Grandpa came over for a quick visit.  They were able to hold Ryan while I finished my discharge paperwork. 

Finally home! 

Baby Ryan's birth story

Started as a typical Monday for me.  I went to work from 8-5.  Took Jillian to her gymnastics class at 6 then Story Time at the at 7:30.  We grabbed Wendy's for dinner on the way home.  Got home by 8:30 had our dinner.  I cleaned up the kitchen and living room area then got ready for bed.  

As I was brushing my teeth I thought that Ryan had finally pushed down to hard on my bladder that I couldn't control it.  I quickly realized this wasn't the case but instead it was fluid and time to call my parents (to take Jillian) and then birthing center.  This was about 9:30 pm.

By 10pm we arrived at the hospital and got checked in.  They were testing to make sure it was fluid leaking and nothing else.  I got changed into my lovely gown and into the bed. No sooner did I get settled onto the bed then lots of fluid came out.  It was no longer necessary for a test they were pretty confident my water had broken.  Initially I was 90% effaced and 3-4 cm dilated. 

Shortly after getting hooked up to the monitors contractions started and we were off.  My parents brought Jillian to the hospital.  She and my mom were hanging out with us in the labor room.  I did good about not showing my discomfort during contractions with the little one in the room.  She eventually curled up on my moms lap and fell asleep.  She was asleep before the contractions got really strong and long.  I had some nice ones that stayed at the peak for 4 minutes! 

We did actually get a few updates along the way about progress.  When I got to 6 cm dilated and was having pretty strong contractions I elected to take some pain killer nubain to help dull the pain.  We had been told that this needed to be given before we reached 8 cm since after that they won't administer any more pain killers as it is not safe for the baby. 

Rick and the labor nurse helped me decide when the best time to take the pain killer was.  So it didn't wear off to soon but still had time to take it.  Getting from 6 cm to 10 is pretty much a blur to me.  I was sleeping in between contractions.  I think it was about 2 hours and it was time to push.  It took 37 minutes of pushing to get Ryan out.  Overall from start to finish the labor was 6 hours. 

Ryan Joseph arrived on 10-14-14 at 3:37 am.  Weighing in at 8lbs 11 ounces (a whole 2 lbs bigger than his sister).  He measured at 20 inches long.  

Meeting Big Sister for the first time.  For the middle of the night she woke up happy :).

All snuggled up

Week 38, day 5 (almost 39 weeks)

Baby boy at 38 weeks!

Had another follow up visit with the OB today. The doctor said to me that my belly is all baby and my internal organ s are way squished.  I am at 1-2cm dilated and 80% effaced.  So the big prediction is that the boy is expected in the next week.   My due date is next Friday (Oct 10) so that is to be expected.  

This past Sunday I had a decent period of time of discomfort with lower back aching and contractions.  Thinking that is when the boy starting plotting his escape and dropped down.  Since he has now dropped I have an even smaller bladder and woke up every 1 to 2 hours to use the bathroom.

Now we just wait until he decides he is ready to come.