Victory!

Here at the Smith household we have achieved greatness, and let me explain.  Nine days ago, Mason and I went to the Dr to get Mason registered, weighed, and measured.  He measured 24inches and weighed 9 lbs 8 oz and was at the bottom of the chart according to his age and height.  So I was told that I had to get him to gain 4 oz in 4 days, to come back the following Monday to get weighed again.

At the time I was using a shield to nurse, it was given to me in the hospital by the lactation specialist, I didn't know I was nursing "wrong" but I did feel by using the shield the bond was unnatural. Also, we had Mason on a pretty good schedule, where he was eating every 3 hrs and sleeping about 6hrs a night. I was told to forget everything we had worked for and to feed him every 2 hrs, including the night time, pump after every feeding, and to get rid of the shield.

I knew it was going to be hard, but I also knew that it would be worth it in the end, especially if he gained back the weight he lost, and I could reconnect with him without the shield.

Monday, March 28, Mason and I went to the dr to get weighed... Unbelievable! he now weighs 10 lbs 4 oz, he gained 12 oz in 9 days!! :) Yeah! they were so happy and so blown away by the progress, not to mention he looks so much better, healthier, his color is great.

The best thing about our Victory, is the bond that I feel with Mason, it feels natural now, he is happier, cooing, smiling, and giggling now and more often.  I feel more patient and loving toward him, my husband, and with myself. And now, we're able to get him back on a schedule, feeding him about 10x during the daylight hours, and maybe once a night (or early hours of the morning).  Also, we introduced the bottle, wonderful! now I don't HAVE to get up in the night to feed him, I can roll over and ask Jeff to do it for me! Victorious!!

Easy to Remember

March 7, 2011 marks the 2 year anniversary of Jeff and mine's wedding day, and just about 3 years since our first date. 

Depending on which one of us you talk to will determine which day actually counts as our first date.  I would consider March 26, 2008 as our first date because he actually asked me out, we had dinner, and the whole mood was "dateish".  

If you ask Jeff, it would be March 14 because that was the day he asked me to go to rock climbing (however, it was not just him and me, it was Jeff, his roommate Ben, and two other girls, so I was the fifth wheel. I paid for myself, and one of the two girls was swearing about me because she had a thing for Jeff).  

But then if you ask a mutual friend of ours, Minsu, she'd say it was March 7, because that was the day I asked Jeff to the Sobe Bombs... it was the first time we ever hung out. Minsu was actually interested in him, I was not, he was pulling some chivalry card on me and I thought he was a jerk - not to mention he got my name wrong in class... My name is NOT Tiffany (and I truly don't like that name now!) When Minsu asked me to hook her up with him, I guess I got jealous because I told her, "hey if anyone is going to get hooked up, it will be me, my last name is "Hook" for a reason!"

 And well, the rest is history! 

Dates are easy for me to remember because there are so many important things that have happened on similar days, for instance: 

Feb 7: My son, Mason Timothy Smith, was born 2011

Feb 14: I got my endowments out in 2003, Jeff proposed to me 2008, Valentine's day

Mar 7: First Hang Out/Date with Jeff 2008, Wedding Day 2009

Mar 26: First Date with Jeff 2008, Dustin got hired at Skywest 2008, Travis went into the MTC 2008

So anyway, I love my sweetheart Jeffrey, he is my bestest friend, my lover, and my eternal companion!- AWESOME! I am just amazed at how the Lord has directed my life, I have a wonderful husband and now a wonderful baby boy! 

This day, March 7, holds significant meaning to both Jeff and I... 2 year Wedding Anniversary, 3 years since our first date/hang out, and one month of being parents. Life is great!

The day started out like any other, only this day had way more meaning than any other day, and probably because of that, Mason was not as well behaved as I would have liked, he was fussy just about all day, it wasn't until I got him strapped up in the carseat to go to Happy Sushi that he quieted down- he finally fell asleep, and thankfully he slept through dinner and through most of the movie! Heavenly!

I love you mucho muchin!

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exactly 2 weeks...

 So two weeks from today at 11:14pm Mason Timothy Smith was born, 8lbs 6oz, 20 1/2in long!

The delivery:

woke up at 6am Monday February 7, 2011 to call the hospital to tell them that I needed to be medically induced.  They said they'd call me back when I could come in, if I hadn't heard from them by lunch, to go ahead and eat.  Well they called back at about 9:45am to tell me to come in at 10:15am... we live a half hr away from the hospital, so Jeff and I arrived between 10:15 and 10:30am.  Since I had already been to Labor and Delivery once before (the slipping on the ice incident) my information was already in the system.  I hadn't had contractions as of yet, and if I did, I didn't know about them or they weren't consistent enough to count as real contractions.

11:00am I was asked to slip into the hospital gown, was strapped up to the machines, one to measure the baby's heartbeat and movement, and the other to measure my contractions.  So far nothing yet, therefore I was given Oxytocin- the drug that starts contractions for me.

11:30am My parents and sister came to the hospital and waited in the room with me till about lunch one-ish when they left to go eat and bring back some movies.

2:15pm I hadn't dilated yet, I was still at 1 1/2cm, what I was when I came in.  I was hooked up to oxygen because the baby kept dropping below the line, possibly sleeping on the umbilical cord or something.

2:20pm we watched "Flipped"... I was having a hard time paying attention, I was getting pretty tired.  Every time Nurse Janice came in to check on me, she upped the amount of Oxytocin, but still there was no change.

3:15pm  Dr. Olsen came in and broke my water, he said that by doing this it should speed up my process a bit... however, I was still not dilating.  He was predicting my delivery to be around 2-3am Tuesday morning.

4:50pm  Cervix check, still no change, 1 1/2 cm, nurse Elise upped the petocin, I could finally feel the contractions.

6:10pm  I finally could not bare the pain of the contractions any longer, by this point I was crying at every contraction.  To explain, you know when you've got the flu and you've got body aches, so bad that you feel them in your bones and in your muscles, well, a contraction is a lot like that, just double that by a 100, and that's the pain I was feeling at that very moment!  So I asked for an epidural.  I am so glad I got one!

8:30pm I had dilated to 4cm and was just about 100% effaced.  My family had left to go to our apt because they knew it was going to take a while

9:00pm  I had dilated 4cm, I was now at 8cm and counting.  Called back my folks, they were almost at the apt, when they turned around.

9:30pm I was almost fully dilated and was told I would be pushing soon

10:00pm family had arrived and was waiting out in the hall, just outside the curtain.  It was time to push.  Nurse Judy and Jeff were the ones that held my legs and at every contraction I was to push 3x.  Push as though I needed to pooh.  By this point I did not care one bit if I poohed on the table or not, I wanted the baby out!

I pushed for half an hour when Nurse Judy paged Dr. Olsen to come to the hospital so he would be there in time to deliver the baby.  After Dr. Olsen arrived, everyone, including Jeff was telling me they could see the head, I just needed to push harder.

11:14pm the baby popped out (and almost literally) once his head came out, the rest of his body just sort of gushed out (I know kind of gross)... he plopped into the Dr's lap, he had bright red lips and a purple body, he asked if I wanted to hold him... "no, go ahead and clean him up first, then I'll hold him"

11:45pm  they cleaned him up, weighed and measured him, and then handed him to me.  Instantly I felt the bond, but shock had settled in and I couldn't hold him anymore, I began to get the "shakes"... Jeff held him (and no he did not cry, but I could see the bond was also immediate) then the rest of the family came in.

The cool thing about Mason is not only is he the First Grandson on the Hook side but he is also the First Smith grandson. Isn't he adorable?

possibly last night of freedom....

So today, Friday Feb 4, 2011 Jeff and I went on, our possibly last night, out on the town as a couple, without child.  We actually haven't been able to go "out" on a date in a while, partially because of money and somewhat because I hadn't really felt very well... all the symptoms of pregnancy... Tonight however, I look prego, but I don't feel it... I'm full of energy, it doesn't hurt to walk, I don't feel abnormally sore in the pelvic area, nothing... I feel good, and it felt real good to go "out to dinner" with my husband! I know in the future we will still be able to "go out" but it will be different because we'll either have to bring Mason along or find a sitter... wow, I feel old and responsible saying that! anyway... it will be different, but it will be great!

We went to Callaway's Bistro... it was delicious but not $20 delicious for one plate of shared food! We had no idea what the price was like until after we were seated, is it rude to take a menu and then decide to not eat there anymore and walk out? (we didn't do that, but I wanted to)... The atmosphere was hot... and I mean literally... the heat vent was blowing ridiculously hot air right on us.  The patio furniture was an interesting choice for couple's seating, it is hard to get close to someone you love when there's a huge bar and table leg in the way, not to mention the seats are enormously stocky and awkward.  Now that I've been to Callaway's, I know not to go there again... both Jeff and I did have a great time, mostly making fun and chillaxing. :)

So... No baby today... maybe tomorrow or the next day... and if not, definitely Monday.

naturally or induction?

Friday, February 4, 2011... I thought maybe today would be "THE DAY" but maybe it is too early to tell, but I haven't even had a single contraction yet.  I will keep you posted, anything can happen!

My parents will be coming Sunday Night or Monday morning no matter what and Dust will be up Monday evening, so they're both banking on me getting induced on Monday Feb 7; which looks like that may be the case...

Mason is just too comfortable, he likes living in the dark where it is warm and there isn't much noise. :)

 Week 40, 4 days past due, but in the whole scheme of things I'm glad he's still in there, it makes my job a bit easier, for now, even though I am so anxious to hold his little (or long) body in my arms!  I was telling Jeff this morning, "I wonder if when we hold him if the whole idea of being parents will really sink in, or if I'll have to see you cry in order for it to really feel real?"  he said, "cry? why do I have to cry? You might want to change your plans."  (I've never seen Jeff cry, and I'm hoping maybe to get a few tears out of him from this occasion... I don't know why it is so important to me...perhaps it shows he really is human!)

Jeff is taking apart the stroller that Stacy let us borrow, it smells like vomit, (not her fault, her in-laws put it in their garage, and for some reason it stunk) so I have to clean it.  

Next week will be interesting, because then I will have had the baby, My family is only staying till Wednesday afternoon, and Jeff will be gone all day! I will be all by myself with a newborn baby... eek, scary and exciting!

I'm glad that he was able to find a job at Icon Fitness in their customer service sales department, and was able to get hired on at Tax Liberty.  (He didn't think he would like anything to do with accounting, but he really like doing people's taxes)

bowling ball

USU's Skyroom Restaurant Team...Me, Anthony, Aubrey, Melanie, Maurina... 

Friday was my last day of work, and I actually had to "work"! they have already hired my replacement, I had been training him for the last 3 weeks.  He's a good kid.  I will definitely miss the people, not the job so much, but it was a pretty good gig considering what I was doing and how much I was getting paid. No complaints! 

It will be different to not work anymore (well at a job where I get paid in money)... now I will have a full time job 24/7, 365 days a year, getting paid in smiles, laughs, and hugs.. which is pretty good! :)

I am so excited for our baby to come! 

Jeff was reading a Parent Magazine, and in it it described how a woman feels at about week 38 and I'm week 40, it feels like there's a "bowling ball" in between their legs- reasons why women waddle and can never get comfortable, why we are so slow when we move...because of how the baby is always pushing down in the pelvic area, our muscles in our legs are always sore - making it feel like we just did 1,000 lunges before we start walking, he started laughing and then turns to me abruptly, "is this accurate?"  Absolutely! "ahhh... I'm sorry!"

Monday, Jan 31... I am still pregnant! I have a Dr's appointment tomorrow, scheduled to see the ultrasound technician and for him and the Doc to run some tests, make sure baby and me are OK.  If pass and are "OK" I will be scheduled to be induced Monday Feb 7 (one week after my due date - today- unless I go into labor all on my own before then...), and if we don't pass, I could be induced that day (tomorrow) or some other day depending on the situation, or worse yet, may have to have a c-section. I definitely do NOT want one unless absolutely necessary! ugh.

So today, Monday, my due date, not only am I nervous and anxious about today, tomorrow, and the next couple of days, but I am hoping (and possibly doing every myth in the book to make him come) that My body will go into labor all on its own without any help from the Dr.  In some ways though, I knew he wasn't ever going to be born on this day, I knew he was going to be late, I just don't know how late.

So the other day I got a message from my sister, Mikke, and the girls about their predictions of the baby child's due date, birth weight, eye and hair color, and complexion.
Andrea: blue eyes, brown hair, come late wed. 8lbs 1oz
Mikke: hazel eyes, no hair, but blonde later, Tuesday morning 1 am, 7lbs 4 oz
Ayden: Mon Jan 31, blue eyes, black hair, 6lbs
Norah: Mon Jan 31,brown eyes, 5 lbs, brown hair
Ivy: Mon Jan 31, blue eyes, brown hair, 10 lbs
Lydia: brown hair, brown eyes, Mon Jan 31

I know the day isn't over, but so far the girls are wrong... no baby.. but I'll keep you all posted.

Dr. Visit...

So I went to the Dr today... I wasn't expecting much, but hoping that I had dilated at least a little... well, I am 1/2cm bigger than I was last week... woohoo! After talking to my Dr. we both think I won't be "on time" with my delivery, I'm thinking Feb 4 and he is thinking Feb 7, when he'll have to induce me.  Whatever happens, I hope that my body will eventually go into labor all by itself without having to be induced or have to get a c-section. 

The pregnancy so far... some days are worse than others, but most days are good days, I have really lucked out considering pregnancy isn't something that most women want to be.  Yesterday was a bad day... I was having frequent labor pains and they hurt, like a shock of electricity in my lower back and soreness in my groin like I'd been horseback riding for a week straight! And no matter how hard I tried to get comfortable, there just wasn't any use.  I went visiting teaching and didn't get home till about 9pm, so from 9am-9pm I was practically on my feet all day, and it was miserable.

Not to mention this morning at about 2am, I had it with my phone, it was driving me crazy, it was already somewhat broken but still in working condition, but every time I moved in bed the phone disconnected from the cord, came unplugged, or fell on the floor... so what did I do? I threw my phone on the floor out of frustration... and you know what happened? it snapped in half.  I was still able to make calls from memory and talk, but I couldn't see anything on the screen or hear anything.  Jeff was frustrated at me, so I went to go sleep on the couch, but I couldn't get comfortable, and I truly felt like an idiot for throwing my phone, not helping the situation of already feeling frustrated with the entire everything that was happening... pregnancy, hormones, uncomfortableness, stress levels rising, anxiety, etc., etc.  I started crying and couldn't stop... so hard to the point that I couldn't breathe and I started choking.  Jeff came in the living room and hugged me, at first I didn't want him to but he wouldn't let go and kept hugging me tighter until I gave in and hugged him back. If I wasn't prego, he probably would have carried me to bed.  He is a wonderful man and I am so lucky to have him as my husband, he will be a wonderful dad. :)

First thing in the morning I went to the AT&T store, on my way to work, and the stupid store doesn't open till 10am, what store doesn't open till 10???? so I went to the post office instead, mailed off my thank you cards, and then drove back to the store, I waited in the parking lot for about 10 min before the stupid store opened, I couldn't have been more desperate to get into a store than I did this morning!

Luckily I was able to buy a pay as you go phone for $15, something simple and basic for the time being before we really do disconnect one or both of our lines from AT&T... I'm still on the same plan as I was before with my other phone, only now I can't receive or send any multi-media texts...so don't send me any photos or videos via text! thanks.

Tomorrow, Friday Jan 28, 2011 is my last day at work... it will be a sad day in the sense that I will be leaving all my friends, especially Maurina my prego friend, I have been able to tie a close bond with her because we are both pregnant and it has been nice to share stories, experiences, and difficulties in working especially in the line of work we do... on our feet all day busy running around trying to be there for everyone and everything... it is hard! Which is another reason why I am also very happy to be leaving as well! I'll get to take a break for at least a couple days before the kiddo is born! :)

My Dr. asked me today if I was scared, I said, "no, scared isn't really the right word.  I'm anxious and nervous for the labor and delivery part, I know it will hurt, but how much will it hurt, and I'm hoping there aren't any complications... I guess I'm more nervous about the whole "unknown" of it all, since all pregnancies aren't the same for every person!" he agreed with me, it is the unknown that makes it scary, nervous, or rises anxiety levels.  However, once you hold your little one in your arms, all of that goes away! That's what I am excited for!

Give or take 5 days...

I have technically 5 days left till my scheduled due date, but like I've said, I don't think he'll come till Feb 4! Thank you to all of you, we've got just about everything we need for the baby, and even some extra things for me! We just need a crib frame, changing table and pad, and/or a dresser to put all of his adorable clothes in!

here is a photo of my bare belly, I was told that I should take at least on side photo, to really see how big I am... 

Logan Baby Shower

 This post is all about photos...

 Me, Stacy (the Hostess), and Karissa, preparing for the Shower

 Amy West, playing the toilet paper measuring the belly game...

 Karissa 1st place, Aubrey 2nd...

 Look at all my unopened presents... I must really be loved!

 I'm not dissing on the present, I just wasn't sure what is was right away

 First baby prints... yeah!

"I love my Auntie"... Karissa gave us that one, but could be applied to any of my great friends.

 Heck yes! got me a red sexy robe... never had a robe before, now I've got something to wear at the hospital

 The Smith/Dyer girls havin' a good time...

 Grandma Smith gave us Jeff's old baby/toddler clothes... aren't they adorable?

 The cutest sailor outfit ever! He's so going to wear this at church!

 Great Grandma Rolfson (Sally's Mom) made this sweater and overalls for Jeff when he was a baby... ahhhhh

And I guess, this was Jeff's monkey that his grandma had made for him, now we get to pass it on to our son...