Our second support shift has arrived - aunt Carrie left this morning and my parents arrived this afternoon.

Everyday we get a little smarter, learn a few more tricks that make this whole thing a bit easier. It is a facinating experience. He is so awesome, I can't even do him justice by trying to write it out.

Not surprising, my biggest challenge is taking things easy so I bounce back faster. I've already been scolded for overdoing it...but who is surprised? I'm neurotic, type A and have been on bedrest since mid-Feb. And now there is SO MUCH MORE to do. Baby clothes to be washed, closet transitioned from maternity to regular, house to be cleaned. But all this means running stairs a thousand times and that does not a recovered mother make. So I've learned to ask for help, and lots of it.

I still have plans to share details (for those interested) on the labor itself, breastfeeding, the amazing amount of people who come out of the woodwork to offer blessings and presents and maybe a few other gems. It has been such an unbelievable journey.

Just trying to get up and running here. Thank you for all your notes and thoughts. can't wait to introduce you to the little guy.

Wow - just wow.

We sprung Ben from NICU yesterday afternoon - he cleared his cultures, normalized respiration and was approved for discharge. We hugged Bethany goodbye (his nurse during his stay), confirmed there was no way we could bring her home with us, and drove off as a family for the first time.

Last night was ROUGH. Full details on all worthwhile stories from this week to come soon, but we're taking one day at a time.

Today we made it to the peditrician and I had a lactation consultant come to the house. All of last night's desperation, fatigue and dispair was washed away with one perfect latch from Ben. We are totally in business.

Everyone tells you a million times that this is a crazy ride but you can't really grasp it until you're experiencing it yourself. And I'd guess we haven't even scratched the surface yet.

In the end, the part that makes it all possible is his beautiful little face. And his tiny little eyes. And the chirps he makes when he needs something. I've never felt such an overpowering emotion as the one I do when I look at him. He is amazing.

More to come...

Much better day - we've been down in NICU all day and just taking a quick break to take care of a few things. Ben's levels all look good today - he earned himself feeding rights this morning. Thank goodness b/c he was very hungry when he got up.

Here he is enjoying his first bottle (we haven't given up on breastfeeding but this situation has definitely added a new challenge). All signs pointing towards release tomorrow.

Full details on situation to follow once we get home. Thanks for all your well wishes, they've definitely been appreciated!

We are so excited to welcome Benjamin Ryan (yesterday, 3/9), weighing in at 7lbs 8oz and 20 inches. He is gorgeous and perfect.

I will send additional details, had hoped to do so today. We hit a baby Ben-sized wrinkle. He logged an elevated heart rate last night and again this morning - and ultimately he was admitted to NICU.

Big picture, I believe he is OK. They've suggested he may possibly have an infection in his lungs and would need antibiotics and lead to a week's stay. I'm hoping test results tomorrow will reveal otherwise and he'll complete 48 hrs of antibiotics and come home Thursday - just one night at the hospital alone. I could cry, but overall he is OK.

Will be back with more details once our little family is checked out and healthy, but he is so beautiful, the pictures don't come close to doing him justice. We appreciate your prayers :)

xoxo

39+ weeks = mini watermelon

Not sure how I missed it in the Baby Center alert that came through this week but estimated size of baby is now mini watermelon...you always hear the analogy of "squeezing a watermelon" but who wanted to imagine there was any truth to it?

Due date is just 6 days away and I'm actually still hoping to go a little late, here are a few reasons why:

- big work event is this Tuesday and we've all been working so hard, it'd be nice to see it all the way through to the finish;
- also work-related, to come out on the other side of this event and have a few days to catch up on all the misc details that need to be wrapped up/covered off on while I'm out, would be delightful;
- there are a few tiny details left to cover off on to get baby-ready, and while not critical, it would be nice to knock them out;
- I'm honestly not at my whits end yet. I'm nearing that place, but I can absolutely make it another 14 days, give or take;
- and selfishly, perhaps the biggest reason of all, is that the longer I wait to have the baby, the longer I'll be on maternity leave!

I think I calculated that delivering March 13 means I go back June 5? Something like that. Imagine if I could stretch it just a little longer...so we can take walks when it is warm. I can plant my garden before going back. We can have lunch with our friends outside. I just love the summer, and enjoying the patio, and soaking up the sunshine...the more of it I can take advantage of, the better.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I'm going to cook a delicious dinner tonight, meatloaf with mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts. Yum. Mom got me the spice combination for the fruit and nut mix I love from Naples, so that is in the works too.

A little kitchen adventure after eating out or delivering in much of the last couple weeks. It will be nice.

Hope you had a great weekend. Cheers.

Gliding into the weekend...

Happy, happy day!

Doctor's appointment went well this am, status quo with BP and all other developments. We're officially at 39 weeks, which is fantastic. If babes hasn't arrived by next Friday, I'll start inquiring about an induction.

And back at the ranch - the changing table arrived, as did the GLIDER (look at how gorgeous it is!!), and the bedding!! Hubby is ready to shoot me b/c of course they came as four separate deliveries, four separate trucks, and all he sees are dollar signs going out the door.

But the glider is amazing, so soft and pretty and glidy. The changing table needs to be assembled and the bedding can't be washed and put on until we know the gender (bought two sets of sheets) but we're SO close. The only thing we're waiting on is the Bugaboo, coming next week.

And of course the baby :)

It is a gorgeous, sunny, warm Spring day.

It is Friday.

The big work event is four days away and coming together nicely.

I have showered, have an outfit and make up on.

It's a happy, happy day.

If you need me, I'll be gliding in the nursery.

I feel compelled to write, though I have nothing at all to report.

Do you remember in Shawshank Redemption when the main character gets sent to the hole for a month after he calls the warden "obtuse?" A month in the hole is unheard of, and then the warden makes him stay another month, and then another?

That is what I feel like.

Except that rather than growing a beard, I'm growing a belly.

Thank goodness I am slammed with work. Like conference calls at 9pm last night slammed. Because otherwise I think I'd be looney tunes. Though I'm still kind of going crazy a little...

It is really, really nice outside today so I think I may break all the rules and take Stella for a second walk. I need to break up the monotony a little.

Tomorrow is 39 weeks which is really exciting. We're basically cooked at this point, which is what doctor's wanted. Appointment tomorrow, update to follow. Stay well and do something active for me.