Sleep deprived

I cannot believe that Neil will be 3 weeks old on Thursday. Everyone said that time would fly once he was born, but I didn't expect it to go this quickly. Honestly, all I've done is feed Neil, change Neil, burp Neil, feed myself and sleep - pretty much in that order. I'm so glad that I slept so much during pregnancy because I certainly am not getting much sleep now. It's interesting - my sleep obviously comes in 2 hour intervals when I'm not feeding Neil. I feel like a breastfeeding factory.

Neil came home on Sunday, December 2nd and our first appointment with the pediatrician was Monday, December 3rd. They were a little concerned because he had lost a little over a pound - went from 7 lbs. 11 oz. to 6 lbs. 10 oz. and was a little jaudince. Dr. Geils asked me to breatfeed him like crazy and come back on Wednesday. I did as told and Neil gained half a pound in 2 days! The doctor was excited about his weight gain - I was just excited that breastfeeding was actually going well. So many friends have had trouble, so I felt blessed to not have many issues. I've been a little sore, but nothing unexpected.

We went back to the doctor for Neil's 2 weeks check-up on Wednesday, December 12th and he is back to birth weight which is terrific news. Everything checked out well and we don't go back until January 30th (2 months). I have great personal news too - I snuck on the scale while we were at the pediatrician and I've lost all my pregnancy weight - I am pumped! However, I would like to act as though I haven't lost a pound and set a goal of losing another 20 pounds to meet my goal weight.

Here is a quick picture from a few minutes ago - I was updating this site and looked over to catch this photo. Can you believe my pups? They LOVE their new brother.

And here is another picture from yesterday - Neil and I were sitting in the chair when Beau decided to come on up and join us! Isn't this sweet? What's amazing is he did this all on his own.

And here are two more pictures for tonight with Neil's eyes open - just for you Caroline!

Finally home

Neil is finally home! What a journey today. It was definitely a good decision to stay in the hospital for one more night last night - I have a feeling that is going to be one of my last good nights of sleep for a LONG time. Neil really has been a great baby - sleeps a lot! However, we were warned by many new parents that things change significantly when you leave the hospital. We haven't seen a big change yet, but I have a feeling our first night "alone" without nurses and doctors is going to be different. No more sending Neil to the nursery for 3-4 good hours of sleep at night.

It doesn't seem that we were in the hospital for 3 nights - that time really flew by quickly. Thank goodness for nursery nurses with children of their own. On our second night, Connie was Neil's nurse. She has 4 boys - one set of twins and breastfead ALL of them. Fed the twins at the same time - one on each breast. Unbelievable! She taught us many nursing tricks. He's getting better everyday, but nursing definitely is something that children and mothers have to learn. It's not easy!

More pics of Neil

What an angel. We did take the advice of friends and let Neil sleep in the nursery with the nurses while we were in the hospital. It allowed me to sleep and still have the opportunity to breastfeed. The nurses were wonderful and we got many many tips from nurses on how to make breastfeeding work. We'll see how that goes.

Birthday

After waiting around the house on a hospital room to become available, Rodney and I decided to go ahead and make our way to West Ashley. Of course we MUST have some alcoholic beverages available to our guests who come by the hospital, so we made a stop at Total Wine. It was too funny - the lady checking us out asked when I was due. It was awesome to see the look on her face when I said in 2 hours - she looked at me like I was crazy. Scheduled C-sections are great for planners!




Getting ready for surgery:

We arrived at the hospital around 11:00 and things happened really quickly after that - surgery was scheduled for noon but we ended up going back for surgery at 12:30 or so. Surgery wasn't too bad and I'm feeling well. Rodney has been wonderful and I couldn't ask for a more beautiful son!

Rodney Neil Hancock II is born at 1:05 PM weighing 7 lbs. 11 oz., 21 1/2 inches long.

Waiting on a room

Looks like things are going to be delayed a few hours. Nothing that we can control - just lots of babies being delivered today. So, we are waiting on a call from the hospital telling us they are ready for us to "come on down."

Rodney and I both were tossing and turning a lot last night, but we definitely got some sleep - I was pleasantly surprised. I'm hoping for a wireless connection in the hospital so we can update the website with pictures. This is such a quicker way to get the word out than texting or sending phone pictures. I guess we'll wait and see - the nurses say it's touch and go with the wireless connection availability.

Hopefully next time I update this website - I'll be a MOMMY!

Pets and babies

Getting ready for baby - even on Clemson Carolina day. Not much more to do, but we keep cleaning and have found more things to clean than I ever imagined. Our dogs have been so funny - they know something is going on, but they just aren't sure what yet. I really wonder how they are going to react. We took a pets and new babies class and have many tips from them. Rodney is going to bring either a blanket or a hat home on Friday to get the dogs used to Neil's smell - we'll see how that goes.

Many people have asked when to stop by the hospital. Rodney and I talked last night and we are both thinking that we'll be up to seeing people late Thursday afternoon or Friday anytime. That way, we can hopefully get settled into our room and get to know Neil a little bit - I'm hoping he'll eat right after birth too. We'll see how that goes.

I am going to try and update the website pretty quickly with pictures, so stay tuned!

Neil's birthday

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. Unfortunately, Neil decided that he was extremely happy in his current position and didn't want to move. Believe me though - they tried - 3 times to be exact. He just wasn't having it. And for those of you that are wondering, yes, it was painful. Nothing like the video! Nothing at all - I could smack that woman for making it look so easy.

Good news is - we are going to have a baby next Thursday, November 29, 2007. We check into the hospital at 10 a.m. and our c-section is scheduled for noon. I'm getting used to the fact that the birth of our son is scheduled - that is so weird to me! But, as many of you know, Rodney is a planner through and through, so this suites him just fine.

I don't think our house has ever been so clean and put together. Of course there are tiny things that we still want to do, but nothing needs to be done anymore - just wants to satisfy. I hope that many of you are able to come and visit during the first few weeks of Neil's life. I know it isn't possible for all of you, but we'd love to have you stop by and see us over the holidays.
My last day of work is going to be Tuesday, November 27th. I've been advised by many mothers to take the day before because you'll never have that day again - the last day without a child! So crazy to think about. Still letting this sink in...

And Neil is breech

Little Neil - not even born yet and is already causing me stress! I went to the doctor yesterday and Dr. Wilson (back from maternity leave) had trouble finding Neil's heartbeat in the location where it should be. So, she got out the ultrasound machine and realized the reason why she couldn't find his heartbeat in my lower abdomen is because he's BREECH! We don't know how long he's been in this position, but he's definitely completely breech - and even a little sideways. His head is basically underneath my right breast and his shoulders are under my left breast. No wonder I've been feeling so much movement in my pelvis - he's been kicking me like crazy!

After speaking at length with Dr. Wilson, our options are to either schedule a c-section for the first week of December or we can schedule an appointment at the hospital and have Dr. Wilson try and externally turn Neil into a head down position. Rodney and I thought about it a lot and I of course did a lot of research on the Internet (check out this link to watch a video of the procedure - it's not graphic at all: Turning a breech baby) and have decided to do the procedure tomorrow. It was either tomorrow or not at all because of the rate at which Neil is growing in my uterus - he won't have much room to turn the longer we wait.

My thoughts behind the decision to go with the procedure are mainly because I want to do everything I can to avoid a scheduled c-section. I know many people would love to avoid labor and have a scheduled c-section, but I really would prefer to have a vaginal birth. Just personal preference I guess. We'll see what God has planned for us!

So, we check into the hospital tomorrow at 11:00 and Dr. Wilson will come in around noon to do the procedure. She will try for about 10 minutes to get him to turn - it either works pretty quickly or it doesn't. If he turns, great - we'll continue as we have until I go into labor. If he doesn't turn - we'll schedule a c-section for the first week of December. Either way, the end result is the same - we are going to have a precious little boy in less than 3 weeks! So exciting.

Please keep your fingers crossed that Neil cooperates and decides it's in his and my best interest to flip tomorrow.

6:30 AM - REALLY?!

Just FYI for those of you who have never had a roof put on your house - they begin working at 6:30 IN THE MORNING! Who does that?! Thank goodness we are having this done now and not after Neil is born...

No news yet

No news at the doctor today - cervix is closed. So I go back next Monday for another checkup. The good news is that my doctor doesn't allow her patients to go past 41 weeks! As I type this though, I just realized that my "real" doctor comes back from maternity leave next Monday. Hopefully she has the same thoughts on that as her partner. Let's hope!

Nursery

Well, we are less than a month away now. Rodney and I worked most of the afternoon on the nursery. I've been sick since Wednesday afternoon - I'm hoping it's just the abrupt change in the weather and not a sinus infection or something. All I've done is sleep since Friday afternoon - until today when I just couldn't take it anymore! I go to the doctor tomorrow late afternoon and they actually do an exam to get a better idea about where we are - everyone cross your fingers that he's in the correct position and getting ready for delivery!

Today, Rodney and I took some things back to Babies R Us in North Charleston, then made our way to Mount Pleasant to Celedon (a great store!) to pick up a seagrass rug for Neil's nursery. I just took these pictures with Rodney's camera phone so they aren't really clear, but it will give you an idea of how things are coming together. And yes, we know that Neil's name isn't exactly straight - we'll get there eventually. That isn't an easy project!

Tick, tick, tick

Tick, tick, tick. Seriously - the time is going by lighting fast now. I spent this past weekend in Hartsville with mom for Lindsay's wedding. What a beautiful ceremony. I was a reader - and for those of you that know me really well - you know my face became blood red as I spoke in front of the entire church. I swear, when I was on that anti-anxiety drug, Lexapro, my face never got red like that. Oh well, just one of those things I guess. Needless to say, I'm not looking forward to that part of the wedding video!

Rodney has been great getting the house ready for Neil. Our list of things to do has been getting smaller and smaller every day. Last month, we had the following things to do:

Paint the baby furniture - DONE

Take the child prep and tour class - DONE

Take a breastfeeding class - DONE

Write a birthing plan - pretty much DONE

Paint the lettering to go above Neil's crib - DONE

The only thing we haven't finished is to prep the birthing announcements and complete the "list." But, we have time for that.

I have to say a HUGE thank you to my Aunt Harriet for coming to Charleston and painting all Neil's furniture black. It looks so nice! Now all of the hand-me-down furniture doesn't look like it's been handed down. All the pulls match on the drawers and the pieces look like they were meant to be together. However, we do have one HUGE problem. We can't get the crib back together. Seriously - we've tried. It's almost funny - almost, but not!

Rodney has been great in getting other things done around the house. We are getting a new roof this weekend with new gutters and they are even taking down the magnolia tree in the front yard. When mom was here last weekend we planted two large planters at the front door with beautiful plants in each - let's see how long I can keep them alive. We are trying to get even the small things done before Neil decides to make an appearance. 5 weeks and counting!

Baby Shower time

Shannon and Jody had a wonderful shower for us on October 27th with lots of family and a few Charleston friends.

4D Ultrasound pictures

Yay - we have 4D ultrasound pictures! And that is his foot, not his hand on his forehead - unbelievable...

Our little guy definitely didn't want to cooperate and have his picture taken. The nurse laughed because he is folded up like a taco with his hands and his feet in front of his face. He was literally playing with his foot - moving it back and forth with his hand. But, the kicker is that all of this is taking place right at his forehead. You wouldn't think a baby could even move like that. A friend commented that he looks "bendy" and I had to laugh - he really does!

I guess we will have to wait until he's born to really get a feel for what he's going to look like. Most people would say that is the way to do it anyway - but it would have been great to get a solid shot of his face to hold me over for 7 more weeks!

So much to do

Wow how time flies. I can't believe it's already October! I went to the doctor last Monday and the nurse said, "Okay, I'll see you back in two weeks." My response - "WHY?" Her response, "Because you are 10 weeks from meeting you baby - we'll see you every two weeks until 36 weeks, then we'll begin to see you every week." My response - NONE, I was in complete shock! Am I really ready for this? Time was creeping along so slowly, now it is FLYING by. There is so much to do:

Paint the baby furniture

Take the child prep and tour class

Take a breastfeeding class

Write a birthing plan

Paint the lettering to go above Neil's crib

Prep the birthing announcements (they are SO CUTE!) and complete the "list"

I guess those are the big things. Everything else I've been told will just fall into place. Does it really work like that? Not that I'm a planner (okay, we all know that I'm FAR from a planner) but, I feel like this is a time in my life when I should be as prepared as possible.

Good news is that we've hired a housekeeper to come once every two weeks and she's GREAT! We also have almost completely finished the repairs on our house - with hired help of course. Rodney and I both decided it was time to pay someone to come in and get everything finished - once and for all! Now we are trying to decide if we are going to stay in this house for another year or two or move again. We don't like to stay put for very long. For those of you that live in the area - come by and see the progress! The house is starting to look amazing!

My great friends Ashleigh and Caroline came to see me back in August and threw me a "ghetto baby shower." It was just the three of us and it was SO CUTE! They are the best friends ever. Here are some pictures...don't you just love the Spiderman wrapping paper?! And I know how hot I look in my bathing suit and maternity jeans - don't be jealous...

And I have to share a picture of Daisy Mae and Bo - they are just the best dogs in the world!

Baby Shower!

Regina, Lindsay and Page threw a wonderful baby shower for me on September 15th. It was a BLAST! Here are just a few pictures to share: