Eli's first appointment!

Eli had his first appointment today! He is doing great! He's already caught back up to his birth weight (he left the hospital weighing 6 lbs 10 ounces) now he's 7 lbs 3.4 ounces. He really likes to eat and is great at it! He was great in the car and with the doctor! We took him out on a little walk in the stroller, since it was gorgeous! He slept through it :-)

He really hates getting his diaper changed and clothes changed...poor little guy! That's about the only time he cries...and when he's hungry. Brandon's has been shot with pee during diaper changes several times, so he's learned his lesson and is always prepared with a wash cloth.

Eli really likes his toys, and tolerates tummy time when we're showing him his toys and books. When we read to him he examines each page before we turn it....so cute!

Newer pictures!

Introducing Elijah James Judson!

Sunday February 24, 2008, Elijah James Judson was born via c-section at 9:51 a.m. He weighed 7 lbs 3 oz and was around 19.25 inches long! I actually started having contractions on the way to the hospital, so he was ready to come get out of there! A friend from church was able to be my nurse throughout the whole ordeal, which was so comforting and made it a much better experience! Our doctor is a fellow church member too, so we had a great experience. I was surprised at how quickly everything went...and realized I had nothing to be nervous about. The second they pulled him out he started crying, and I was able to hold him while they stitched me up. All of our family was waiting right outside the door, which our doctor got a kick out of.

He looked a lot different than both Brandon and I had expected. I think we both expected him to be a Judson through and through, but he is definitely a mix....so cute! Because he was breech he was squished up against my ribs, so his head was a little flat, and ear and testicles squished as well :-) He took to nursing right away in the recovery room and didn't have any problems the next few days. All the nurses were amazed! He latched on so naturally and would nurse constantly and for really long periods of time compared to most babies!

Recovery in the hospital wasn't bad at all. I had some pain, but nothing compared to what I expected! The only issue we had was Eli had his days and nights switched, so I literally didn't sleep for 3 days straight. I don't know how I survived it! I didn't even feel tired...I was in mommy survival mode. Brandon's mom and my mom have been life savers. They came and helped in the hospital at night so we could attempt to sleep some (at least Brandon was able to)!

My mom is staying with us now and cooking and helping at night some too! It's great!

We came home from the hospital on Tuesday. That night was the REALLY ROUGH NIGHT! My milk came in, so he had problems latching and was fussy. I was a mess! Poor Brandon :-)We eventually gave him a bottle of pumped milk and then from that moment on I pumped a little to relieve the engorgement and he was able to nurse fine and now is perfectly used to it.

Yesterday was a turning point! I slept every chance I got all day and since nursing was back to normal it felt great. Since the weather was nice, we took him outside on the porch for a few moments and it felt awesome to be outside! Last night we had a great night too. He was awake and alert until about midnight and then finally went into sleep mode so we were able to sleep.

He's so cute! We just comment on it all the time. He definitely recognizes Brandon and I both. It's so cool! We played with some toys when he was awake yesterday, and he loved this music player we have that flashes lights. We're all in love!

Praise God!

So I had a slight panic attack this morning when I got a transfer notice from the bank. Then, I had a slightly larger panic attack when I looked at our accounts online and saw that someone had drained about $6,000 out of our accounts in 2 weeks! AHHHHH!!!!! I'm sure it would have been lovely to come home from the hospital with our new bundle of joy to find we are completely broke...thanks to someone in India. I am praising God that I caught it before we got our bank statement at the end of the month...and in time for Brandon to go deal with it before this weekend! We should have our money back in a few days!

Waiting....and waiting...and waiting

I had a rough night on Monday night.....I couldn't sleep at all, which of course kept Brandon from sleeping. We might have looked like zombies yesterday! We prayed last night and begged God to give us a good night's sleep....well it worked! We woke up this morning and breathed a sigh of relief! Much better.

We met with the pediatrician yesterday that our doctor recommended, Dr. Patsy Barker. We loved her! Her office is in the same building as our family doctor less than 5 minutes away by St. Francis hospital. I know when we have a sick baby or a cranky baby....only having to listen to screaming for 5 minutes on the way to the doctor is going to be a blessing! She explained everything about the practice and more. We can call her at any time as well! I think we're going to be really happy with her caring for our baby!

I just have to make it through today and tomorrow...then all the family start coming!

Oh how I miss them....

This last week of my pregnancy is bittersweet for me. I've really enjoyed being pregnant. The first trimester definitely was a challenge....as were the digestion issues, backaches, headaches sleep issues...etc., but for the most part it's been an amazing experience. I started thinking about all the things I always took for granted until I was pregnant and had to give them up. I will never take for granted again:

Hot baths
Foot massages
Feta cheese or other soft cheese
Sleeping on my back
Deli meat, hot dogs, bacon and anything else with nitrates
Sleep
Strenuous exercise...jumping jacks
Bike riding
Coffee
Sun bathing
Getting my hair highlighted
Crest Whitening Strips
Nail polish
Cute shoes or shoes with heels
Mexican food and other spicy/greasy foods
IB profine
Excedrin Migraine
Painting
Standing near the microwave
Hot tubs
Working in the garden....dirt
Caesar Salads
Running up/down the stairs
Drugs and Alcohol.....just kidding :-)

The countdown is on....

I had my last pregnancy appointment today. It was a strange feeling! My blood pressure is still low and good and his heart rate was 146. I'm thinking this is probably going to be the longest week of my life....I'm so excited and ready for it to be Sunday already. Luckily my family is coming down Friday so my brother can go to a campus visit at WSU and Brandon's family is coming up Saturday, so those days should go quickly!

Yesterday was my last day at church for a while...at least a month or until the big RSV outbreak is over around here. We had a great speaker on "dreams", which was appropriate considering this baby is my ultimate dream! God has blessed us!

I got my final instructions from my doctor for after the c-section. I'll be at the hospital 3 days...after that...I'm not allowed to do ANYTHING but take care of the baby for a month. I can't drive for a week....I can't do housework or lifting of any kind for a month....and I can walk 20-30 minutes a day. THIS IS GOING TO KILL ME! I like being a control freak and having complete control over my little home and life. It's absurd! I get to humble myself and let others help me for once :-)

1 week!

I woke up this morning extremely excited that I can say "1 week to go!" We decided to take advantage of our last weekend of freedom and got dressed up on Friday night (since I finally was feeling better) and went out to Chilis to eat and use my gift card from my brother. We went grocery shopping yesterday and tried to stock up on anything and everything! Brandon was so cute last night and made me his mom's homemade macaroni and cheese. It was so funny...I purposely stayed on the computer to watch the action. He was spilling stuff everywhere :-) He kept spilling down into the burners...which he had just cleaned this week! It was a delicious meal. Today we're making bran muffins to put in the freezer! Yum!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today Brandon and I got up a little early and celebrated Valentine's Day and my birthday! We opened presents (of course Eli had a lot as well) and cards and enjoyed the morning. For Valentine's Day Brandon got me a prenatal massage at Healing Waters, which he scheduled for this morning. It was amazing! After a rough night of me not feeling well, it was a treat. As for the rest of my birthday....not so great. I have been feeling crampy and strange all day....and hoping I'm not going into labor anytime soon! On the other hand, I'm thinking I don't really want to feel like this for another week and a half...I guess we'll see!

February 24!

So.....there's been a change of plans! They moved my c-section up 2 days. It's now going to be on Sunday, February 24. I am supposed to be there at 8 a.m. I'm really excited because I can say I'm having this little guy a week from Sunday! Yippeeeee! It will actually work out a lot better for most of our family. Before, Brandon's dad and brothers couldn't come because of school, and my little brother couldn't come either. Now it seems everyone can come! Also, Brandon won't have to waste a day of vacation/paternity leave! I am so ready to meet Eli and snuggle him. I can't wait to see what he looks like and how big he is. From the beginning I was expecting a March baby, so it feels strange that our birthdays will be 1 1/2 weeks apart! Praise God I have made it this far!

2 weeks to go!

I can't believe it is only two weeks until our scheduled c-section! I'm measuring a week ahead, so it is a possibility I could already be 38 weeks! I'm just really hoping and praying I do not go into labor before the 26th! Eli's hearbeat was around 132 today, and I haven't gained any more weight. It seems 31 lbs is going to be it for me! All that healthy eating, walking, and pregnancy DVDs have done me well...I still feel great!

The nights have been a little on the rough side! For the first time I was actually dreading going to bed! There have been a few days I wake up really early and am unable to go back to sleep (at like 4 a.m. or 6 a.m.). Then, there's the peeing issue :-) On a good night, I am only up every 2 hours....on a bad night....don't ask! I have been taking a half hour to an hour nap every day on my side to try and make up for it, and this also allows me to stay up until 10 p.m. so I'm not having to get up as much at night. I'm usually only stiff and sore when I get up at night, so it is a mixed blessing to get to walk and loosen up so many times on my to the bathroom :-)

I am so thankful that I am still feeling good! I really have nothing to complain about compared to most people.

P.S. ELI YOU BETTER STAY IN THERE FOR 2 MORE WEEKS!

The more I know..the better I feel!

Yesterday was a serious baby day! In the morning, I went to the Birthcare Center and had our car seat checked. They were impressed with how tight we had it (go figure...Brandon put it in) but did adjust the angle a bit.

Then, I had an appointment. Eli is still breech/transverse (so I am not dialated), but everything else is great. I peppered Dr. Feuille with questions about the c-section, and I feel a lot better knowing all the details. I'll have a combination spinal and epidural which will be great! I was relieved to know they put the catheter in AFTER you're already numb :-), and he's going to use dissolvable stitches instead of staples. The best news ever for me is that Eli will never leave my side throughout the whole ordeal (unless of course there is something wrong with him) and will go with me to the recovery room and post partum room!

After supper at Panera, we headed out for ice cream to celebrate the fact that Brandon no longer has to wear a tie to work...it was one of the best days of his life! We later headed BACK to the hospital for the 3rd time for birthing class. It was all on pain relief and interventions they may do, so I got a first hand look at the needles they will use for the spinal and epidural...YIKES!

Clean car for my son!

Yesterday Brandon went and cleaned out the car. I couldn't stand the thought of there being one speck of dust or one leftover Christmas tree pine needle in the car I was going to be bringing my baby home in :-) This weekend we crossed a lot of last minute items and cleaning off the list! There is practically nothing left to do but wait.