Home and the BiliBed

So we are home and easing ourselves back into reality. This recovery seems a lot harder to me. Every part of my body hurts and I can't seem to find anywhere comfortable to sit. (gotta love stitches!) But I'm happy to be home and be with all my boys. This task of being a mommy to two seems a bit daunting and Porter terrifies me still, but here we go! Luckily Tommy gets to be home with us today and tomorrow. We left the hospital Sunday and were told Jack had jaundice and needed to be tested again today. We took him back to IMC to get his blood taken and then headed to the Pediatrician. Well, not such great news, he has lost quite a bit of weight, has elevated jaundice and a little heart murmur. We are now supplementing to help with the weight issue and have rented one of these lovely devices to help with the jaundice:
It is a bilibed and bili-blanket. Poor little guy is instructed to be on this thing 24/7 except for feedings when we get to take the blanket pad out and have him lay on it. Breaks my heart not to be able to just cuddle him since he is just this small for such a short time. Porter hates the machine and wanted the mean guy that brought it to leave. Hopefully it will be done in the next 48 hours, but until then, gotta love life! I am definitely not looking forward to tonight as I keep having to adjust the thing every 10 minutes as Jack tries to wriggle his way out.
Backing up, let me just evaluate my stay at IMC for you. I absolutely loved the labor and delivery portion of IMC. The nurse was fabulous and attentive and things went so well. I, however, didn't enjoy the rest of my stay at the hospital. We were taken to our room and then sat there for almost 2 hours before we saw a nurse to let us do the bath for Jack and give me some meds. And that is how I felt the whole time. It seemed like "the nurses were always in the middle of switching shifts" and anything I needed took almost an hour! But we are happy it is over and now our little family is home!

Jackson Reese LeBaron

We are thrilled to welcome Jackson Reese LeBaron to our little
family. He was born March 26th at 5:16 p.m. weighing 8lbs. 7oz.
and measuring 21" long. He and his mother are doing very well, Dad is extremely excited, and Porter still hasn't made up his mind. As of last night I think Porter likes him.



On Tuesday Jess went to the doctor and he told her that she would have to be induced later in the week. He said it would probably be on Saturday or Sunday but she begged him to do it earlier. He said the earliest it could be would have to be Friday but we would have to call on Thursday to set it up. Thursday night Jess called the hospital and the pretty much said you are third in line so we will get to you when we can. We called Friday morning and they told us we would have to wait still. Jess had given up hope but at about 10:30 a.m. the called and said we could come down. They got us into a room and started the pitocin and then we just waited. It was sort of an up and down run, but just before 5 my mom was going to go get me a drink when the nurse came in to see how Jess was feeling. My mom said she'd better stay here if the nurse was going to check her, so the nurse checked and said oh wow! you're ready to start pushing. The doctor came in and after about 5-6 rounds of pushing the baby came out. He did have the cord wrapped around his neck again, but fortunately not as tightly as Porter did. Everything went really well from there and we are so happy to have little Jack here at last.

I was telling a friend that when we just had Porter I could not imagine how I would be able to share that love or divide it with a second child, but as soon as I had this little boy in my arms it was so incredible to feel that same amount of love immediately include both of my children and not wax or wane for one or the other. Many thanks to family and friends for the love and support and thanks to the great staff at IMC.

More Waiting

Well, I am scheduled for my induction today, but who knows when? I called last night to clarify a time frame and they said I had to wait until they call me today. If I haven't heard by 10 am then I am suppose to call the hospital so. . . The realist in me says we'll see if it really happens today because I wouldn't be surprised if they said I had to wait. I'm third on the list for inductions today so if other people went into labor last night or there are other emergencies I get bumped because mine is a voluntary induction. (although I don't totally agree because the doctor said because of how big my last one was he doesn't want to go over but . . .) We'll keep you posted!

The Vote

Ok, you knew it was coming. I certainly could not keep my political thoughts to myself after the vote tonight. Here is a brief glimpse into my feelings about this bill.

Let me get this straight......we're trying to pass a health care plan written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that hasn't read it but exempts themselves from it, to be signed by a president that also is exempt from it and hasn't read it and who smokes, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes, all to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country that's broke. What the heck could possibly go wrong?

First, I am just gonna say it, I think it is the beginning of the end. Pack your bags folks because we are on fast track to socialism. Can anyone say sign of the times and constitution hanging by a thread? No one has a right to force people to pay for health care and then fine them for not doing it. That is forced consumerism and completely socialistic. Second, it is not the government's responsibility to provide ANYTHING! The government's role in all of this should have been protection: ie. reform of insurance companies and the like, not the creation of their own system. Third, if the reform they are trying to make happen is so great, why are they having to resort to all these desperate and dishonest measures to get it passed? Does that not raise any red flags to even the supporters? Forth, I pay for my insurance and although it may not be great, I'm satisfied with it. I don't expect free healthcare. I think I should pay for it. Insurance doesn't and shouldn't mean free healthcare it should be a way to keep those who have large bills not get smashed under them. It is INSURANCE to help out when we have something big. It is still going to cost me a pretty penny to have this baby, but it was my decision to have a baby and I don't think the rest of you should pay for me to have it. (I won't even touch the abortion thing right now because an executive order can be revoked by the President at any time, and since we know Obama is great at living up to his word I'm glad so many votes came from that order and trusted him)

It isn't that I don't want to help people out, I just think that there are other ways of doing it. And just like most government programs, the majority of the people this will help out are the lazy people who think government owes them something and that they shouldn't have to pay for anything. More than half of the American population was against this bill so I'm glad to see our representatives doing their jobs!

The Truth Hurts

My doctor obviously doesn't know my body because I'm still stuck here waiting. I sent Tom to church today without me because besides the fact that I don't have any clothes left to fit over my GIANT belly, I'm exhausted and nauseated and anyone who has had a baby I'm sure can sympathize. Well, this is a picture Tom took on his phone of Porter after sacrament ended. (the result of afternoon church with NO nap) We were also informed that he fell asleep during movie time at nursery and proceeded to walk around only half awake after that. My poor child needs his nap and it occurs at usually 11:30 or 12 everday. (our church is at 12:30)Today when we were getting Porter ready for church Tom told him he was so skinny. Porter then walked up to Miko and told her she was so skinny. I told Tom he needed to teach Porter to tell me that. Instead Porter said, "no mommy's so FAT!" Oh the truth hurts!

Waiting, Waiting, Waiting

Went to the doctor today and he said he would be surprised if I made it to Tuesday without having this little boy. But, if not, we can schedule an induction anytime after that. So we keep waiting. Porter can sense that change is coming because he has become so clingy and never wants me to leave his side. He also informed me that he doesn't want the baby in my tummy to come out and that he doesn't like him. There you have it, it will be some fun adjustment for the next little while. Wish us luck!

The Guy on the Box

Porter and Tom have special father son time every morning, regardless of the time, where they eat breakfast together. Mind you, Tom works in Ogden and sometimes leaves for work at 6:30 but Porter inherently knows that Tom is getting ready to leave and even when he is not quite awake he always says, "Daddy, eat cereals with me?" So cute, no one could resist. Up to about two weeks ago, Porter had never had cereal for breakfast because he is a huge fan of pancakes, but he wanted to have a go at Tom's cereal, which happened to be Cinnamon Toast Crunch. This has become so habitual to Porter that he thinks that is what he and Tom do whenever he is getting ready to go anywhere. Well, yesterday we got into trouble because Tom had a protein shake for breakfast and we were out of Cinnamon Toast Crunch! Oh the horror of not doing it the same! He kept asking where the guy on the box was, turns out this is what he was referring to:
Needless to say, we have since gone and gotten another box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch (accept no subsitutes) and all is well with the world. However, the 6 am cereal dates are taking their toll on me.

Short Trip to Vegas

Tom had a convention in Las Vegas this weekend (along with my mom and Justin for Mr. Sandless) so we decided to tag along. I made my dad come with to help me with Porter while they were at meetings, so it was just us three walking around the strip. It was a short trip, but a nice change of scenery while I'm counting down the days. I can finally say the baby is coming this month (well unless he follows in Porter's footsteps and decides to make a late appearance). Porter loved hanging out with Papa in Vegas. His favorite spots were the Pirate Ships in front of Treasure Island and the Lion at MGM Grand. And yes, in case you were wondering, he did wear his bowler hat the entire time. I think it is becoming his security object, as well as his prop to sing and dance with. Needless to say, everyone got a kick out of it.

Looking at the Pirate Ships at Treasure Island