Play Date with the Siuta Family

Matt and Lori were kind enough to come and visit us to bring lunch and catch up. They brought their adorable daughter Morgan and we had a blast dressing her up in her new swimsuit.

Waiting for our friends to arrive

Watching March Madness and playing

Time for a quick change!

How CUTE am I?

My new swimsuit!

...and hat

...and sunglasses

I am ready for summer!!

Jackson slept like an angel the entire time. 

We  can't wait until he is big enough to play, too!!  But, we will enjoy the quiet for now :)

Jackson's Birth Story

Jackson Thomas Akers

Born March 12, 2011 @ 4:31pm

6lbs 9oz - 20.5 in 

Jackson's birth begins by saying that we started the laboring process after his due date, on March 10th, 2011. His doctor did not want him to go past 41 weeks and if we did the induction a little early, that meant both my mom and Mike's mom could attend.

We went into the hospital on Thursday night to start the process with Cervidil. On Friday morning I was very excited and anxious to begin the Pitocin - thinking that this would cause strong enough contractions to get me dilated. Unfortunately, after the entire first day, there was no change. We decided to try the Cervidil overnight again in hopes of a change.

I woke up on Saturday - exhausted and still no change. Jackson is stubborn! After working through the feelings of defeat, we decided to try another method. As we made that decision, I ended up dilating to 3cm and my doctor was able to brake my water.

Now it goes fast. I started strong contractions right away and decided to wait a while before getting an epidural. By the time I realized how bad things were, it took a while for the anesthesiologist to get out of a C-Section. All three of my 'labor partners' helped me get through the next hour. I finally got the epidural and went from 3cm to 10cm in about 2 hrs. At that point, the doctor had to be called and she had to rush back in to the hospital (no one expected me to dilate this fast). At one point, the nurse said "why don't you keep your legs together until the doctor arrives."

Finally, the doctor arrived and I could stop fighting the strong urge to push. I pushed for 30 minutes and our baby was born. He was wiped down and placed right onto my chest. It was perfect. Everything happened really fast from there, but I know he received a 9 on both Apgar tests, was given a bath and nursed right away.

The process was so long and frustrating, but the end went so quickly!!

Pictures to document the day:

Day 1 of induction: Feeling very good

Grandmas, waiting...

Before the painful contractions started

Jackson and our nurse

6lbs, 9oz - peed right away

Mike and Grandma Terri

Content baby after birth

The grandmas in the recovery room

Sleeping

Daddy

In our recovery room the next day

Due Date!

Today is the BIG day that we have been waiting for. I have had 3/7/11 in my head for so long that I can't believe we don't have a baby by today! We are hoping and wishing and waiting that this baby will arrive soon...

Here is the little guy on his due date - isn't he cute?!?  hee hee

Off for a walk with Libby!

Housewife

I am kind of loving this new title I own. Our house is staying clean through the week, I am making more homemade meals and getting to spoil Mike a little more, Libby has been walked and attended to much better than usual... etc. What a fun time I get to have for now!! I am also really looking forward to the next two months that Mike and I get to spend together with Jackson. I am so thankful he will be off of school and can focus on our family. We are so lucky!

The last day @ DL

Wow, I cannot believe that today is my last day at DataLab. It has finally hit me that I will not be going back to work for a while (something I have always done, since like 16!). I have had some really great learning experiences and opportunities - and, although it has been hard, I am thankful because I know that I have grown as a person. I have Olga and Hans to thank for many things as well. They have always been so good to Mike and I and have taken care of us (or me) when we really needed it. I am so excited and thankful that we made it through the last 4 years in Maryland!

I am a bit anxious about next week, because I don't want to spend a whole week at home without a baby - I am going to have to keep very busy!

Any ideas?!?

I know that I should relax and rest while I can, but I don't think I will be able to.

I feel like I have already done the 'nesting' thing and prepared all I can - really, what more than a safe place to sleep, food, and mama's loving arms does a baby need?

Well, off to walk the dog and then out for lunch with Olga, Rachel, Alicia and Kate!  I am thinking spicy thai food... :)

1 Month to Full Term

Full Term at 38 weeks

The only other picture will be on the due date if I make it to the date

Breech

3-5% of all babies end up in the breech position towards the end of a pregnancy... and ours is one of them... so far.

I have had a difficult week coming to terms with the fact that unless this baby decides to flip, I will be delivering our first child via c-section.  I still have some hope that he will flip back to head first, but the odds are not with us right now.

If you are reading this, my wish is that you will help pray/hope for my stress to

______

Ok! So half way through this post, I ended up back at the Dr to make sure the fetal movment was still good. And, not only was baby looking fine (just quiet)-- HE IS HEAD DOWN!

What a relief for now :)