i was looking through a bunch of pictures mom put on my computer from her camera. i stumbled across these pics she took of michael's nursery.
nice flash! :)
the day after michael david was born, jenny drove to san antonio to see us. i had been feeling pretty good all day, until about 30 minutes before she arrived. a wave of pain came over me and i couldn't even focus on life. i had already requested pain medication and the nurse came in about ten minutes later with a shot. i was pretty quickly knocked out. it was the weirdest feeling in the world. michael or jenny would say something that i would respond to. immediately i couldn't remember if they actually said what i thought they'd said. i also couldn't remember if i'd answered a question they'd asked out loud or only in my head. i vaguely remember brief glimpses of jenny holding the baby in the incredibly dark hospital room, swaying back and forth. she headed back to san angelo 2 hours after she got there. she didn't get a single picture. i felt so terrible.
however, this weekend, jenny came in again for a second chance visit and it was much better. this visit had actually been planned for about a month. she knew she probably wouldn't be able to come and i'd have tons of family here so she pre-scheduled a visit with baby boy. i'm so glad she came!
he was quite smitten with my pretty friend. he stared at her for quite some time...
she stared at him too.mom left today.
that says it all. she's been here for two weeks and i've enjoyed every single minute of it. she made the labor, delivery, hospital stay and coming home transition so much easier. i can't tell you all that she did for us.
besides the continuous cooking, cleaning and company, she was just here. her knowledge and caring were more than i could have asked for. just having her here to help me know what to do made everything better. she reminded us every night before she went upstairs to call her if we needed her, she was ready to do her walk if needed. there were two mornings around 6:30 michael got up with the baby and she came down not long after and took over. she was the perfect picture of motherhood while she was here. what an amazing mamo she is.
i don't think i had to get a single thing for myself while she was here. there were a few times i did get myself something to drink, but man...that's about it. she made every meal, every snack. she washed every dish and wiped the counters after each meal. she made a couple of trips to the store and even cleaned my entire house last night before bed. after the 3rd time of me telling her to sit down and not work so hard she hugged me and said, "i just don't want you to have to do anything once i'm gone. you just love that baby."
it was as hard for her to leave this morning as it was for me to watch her go. she had to tug michael david's hand from her shirt. he didn't want her to leave either. we both cried and i'm crying again now just thinking about it. it's gonna be hard without her being near. i tried to get her to move in. i think she actually thought about it for a second. i know she's excited to get back today and see ellie and gray. 2 weeks is a long time for her to go without seeing them. plus-we're going to san angelo on thursday. hopefully we'll all be able to make it these next 4 1/2 days without each other.
i love you, marme. you are absolutely more than anyone could ever ask for. thank you so much for giving up two weeks of your life to stay with michael, the baby and i. it would have never been the same without you here. these two weeks are something i will treasure forever. i love you so much-jo
michael got baby calmed down again with a new, soft blanket and a sit on the front porch. when we came inside, michael laid him in the rocker. what a cutie...
today has been tough.
other than about 1.5 hour stint where michael david and i both took a nap, he's been crying. he'll be happy for a few minutes and then start crying. poor guy must have a little tummy ache. we had hot dogs for supper last night and that's all i can think this could be. is chili, in fact, the culprit?
as i write this, however, he is content in his daddy's arms listening to his soft, calm voice. oh, wait...nevermind.
i've tried everything. Jesus, help us...
"it's the first day of school." - my first thought (well, maybe 2nd) on monday morning. each day since then, i've declared the second and third days of school.
i'm loving being home and i'm sure i wouldn't be able to go back to work right now even if i really, really wanted to. however, i must admit that i might be missing it just a bit. i think about rosemary at steubing running her classroom with ease. joanna and linda at lamar with their kids totally in love with them. sarah, jenny and crystal changing the lives of those big giant kids that are just too cool. all of my sweet teacher friends getting into the swing of things...completely exhausted by this point in the first week of school. tomorrow morning will be the hardest morning to get out of bed for them this week. it might be the hardest morning for me too...my son loves to sleep...during the day.
anyway, while i am in my own sort of haze right now, i can't help but thinking of what it would be like to be in my own, sweet school daze.
you have stolen our hearts, michael david. i can't believe you have been here, in my arms, for an entire week today. but then again, have i ever lived a day without you?
you are a beautiful child who likes to scream instead of cry. in fact, you made yourself hoarse on our 2nd night home. you hate to be naked. you hate a dirty diaper. you hate to have your diaper changed. HATE IT. you don't like baths. you don't like loud noises. you don't like to be out of your swaddle. you, we have figured, are quite particular about your life so far.
you love the sound of your daddy's voice and will quiet as he speaks in your ear. you like the way i hold you on my shoulder and pat your bottom as you sleep. you are getting better and better at life with each day that passes. you are especially cute when you lay on your boppy, curled into my tummy as you nurse. you keep your hands in fists right under your chin. you are a cuddler and love to bury your face in mamo's neck when she holds you. you also give the cutest little shiver right before you sneeze. :) i love the smiles that often grace your face as you sleep. you are my angel.
happy one week old birthday, baby boy. mama loves you.
you can't see his face, but you can see his cute, skinny body and i love it!
daddy consoling while mommy makes him mad. he does love his daddy.
mamo washing michael's sweet baby hair while mommy keeps him wrapped nice and warm in his towel.
sweet, clean, quiet boy.
not so quiet anymore...he hates being undressed, but he hates getting dressed too. we made him mad again when we put on his pj's. look at that sweet foot!
don't you find the most important posts to be the most difficult to write?
big ol' pregnant belly
big ol' pregnant belly and daddy
8:10am - dr largoza arrives to check on me and breaks my water. it was the most painful part of the entire day. dad and michael had just left the room to grab a quick breakfast so chellee searched for my hand under the sheet and kindly said, "just squeeze my hand." i didn't think i'd need to, but i think i ended up breaking 3 fingers.
from that point on, through the rest of the day, i mostly slept while mom, dad, michael and eventually, sarah chatted.
i now have my own labor story, and while it's not the one i would've chosen, it's one i'll gladly take to be able to take my son too. what an incredible gift. thank you, jesus, for a healthy baby here safe and secure.