Christmas & 6 week mark

Well, James made it through his first Christmas. He was awake most of the time and everyone got a chance to enjoy him. My Mom bought him a Santa outfit for Christmas and we put it on him. He didn't like it as he fussed and cried alot of the time he was wearing it.

James has also reached his 6 week mark. At this time he shared his first smile and laugh with his father. Immediately after that he stared at himself in the mirror for 1 hour. It was such a sweet moment. James is also sleeping 4-5 hours through the night straight now and going longer between feeds. This is making night time a little easier as we can get some rest.

I am doing better for the most part. My overwhelming moments seem to last hours instead of a day or so.

Enjoy some of the pics below:

Merry Christmas!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas this year and a safe one.

We will be spending time in Chatham this year, as always, but with James. It should be fun. I will post pictures next week.

Good night lastnight

We had a really good night with James last night. He slept for about 12 hours with only 3 feeds. He's starting to sleep more at night than the day which is so good for us now. He eats and after his feed he sleeps again. It's about an hour process but it's working. I hope this is his routine that he is starting to get into.

I am doing better. I am having more good days than bad now. Voula has been here to keep me company this week and that helps too. Thanks Voula!

I also have a great support team behind me. Friends, family and co-workers have been so great to talk to. Thanks so much everyone. I am one lucky person!

1 month

Well, James reached his one month as of Saturday. He's still a really good baby as he only cries when he is hungry or he wants his mother to hold him. At his one month appointment with the doctor today he has gained 2 pounds and 2 ounces since his last weigh in 3 weeks ago. He now weighs 10 pounds, 13 ounces. Obviously he is doing really well and there are no concerns. I have a picture of him and it's not the best one, but I wanted to get one in during the day on Saturday but as you can tell he slept most of the day.

Here's to hoping....

Well....it's been 4 days now and I am feeling pretty good. Thanks to the help of my parents this week for getting me back on my feet after I thought I was failing completely with life and handling the baby. It's been a rough 3 weeks, but I am really hoping that I am getting better. Lastnight was good. I got up 4 times in 13 hours to feed James and I still feel rested. Rob let me sleep for about 4 of those hours uninterrupted while he fed him and worked at the same time.

Please check out the birth announcement for James. This was done by a friend of the family (more of my sister's friend) as he did a fantastic job. Thank you Dan!!

http://babyannouncementswindsor.com/

OMG....this is one of the cutest pics of him after I gave him a bath today. The faces he makes are priceless. He has been a really good baby so far and only cries when he needs to eat.

So far so good.....

Isn't it sweet....

When feeding your baby, and he reaches for one of your fingers to grasp on to and looks right into your eyes.....

James has been doing this for a while now and I can't get over how wonderful it feels to have someone so innocent and small love you like this.

Here's another recent pic:

Pics!!!!!!!

James Petros arrival

He's here!!!!!!!!!!! And we are all so happy to have him with us. He is the sweetest thing ever born!

The story is a rough one, but with a very happy ending.

My water broke at around 2AM Nov 16 after going to the washroom. So we rushed to the hospital and they admitted me by 3:30AM. Well at this point labour hadn't actually started but they were planning on inducing me at 6AM. I asked them to put it off until I could try and start on my own by walking the hospital floors. Well, by 1PM no regular contractions so they induced me and I decided at the same time to start the epidural. The epidural was a breeze, but trying to find a vein for the IV was a nightmare. They tried 3 veins before they actually were able to have it going due to my hands being do swollen over the last few months.

Everything was great until I was in active labour and the left side of my body was not responding to the epidural. I was feeling all of the pain with extreme intensity. Along with that I was shaking really bad and throwing up. I had a great nurse that was helping me through everything. So they tried giving me more. At 7pm I was fully dialated and started pushing. After over 2 hours of pushing and feeling every pain possible, I was told the baby was facing up or in posterior position. They tried turning the baby while I was pushing and that didn't work.

Because of so many other deliveries taking place, I had to wait until 10:45 to be taken to the OR for surgery, so of course more pain and pushing to ease the pain.

I was rushed to OR and given a strong dose of the epidural as they were worried I would feel the surgery. I threw up right after Dr. Polski took him out of me at 10:59PM and I didn't get to see him until later after they cleaned him up.

Weighing in at 8lbs. 2oz, James Petros Payne was finally with us. He was not making any noises and just looking around at all the lights. We are all so very proud of him. Grandparents and Aunt Fannie are also really proud of him and can't wait to be with him all of the time.

A very special thanks to my husband, mother and Gloria (MIL) for helping me through the worst of the pain that I had gone through.

Also thank you to my Dad, Fannie, Sally, Voula, Hilary, Sonia and Anjanette for being there during that rough time. (I hope I didn't miss anyone)

I want to thank the staff and nurses for taking really good care of James and myself during our stay at the hospital. I truly felt like I was at a 5-star resort hotel. The nurses were all very kind to us and I learned so much.

Can't wait to see our baby boy grow up!!

Week 38 update

Well, I've been off now for almost 3 weeks and I am just starting to get bored. We finished the baby's room and the guest room is also finished ready for anyone that wants to stay over.

I had my weekly visit with my OB and I am 1cm dialated. I was very happy to hear this as I thought she would say that nothing is happening. She also thinks that I will be going on my own without induction after my 40th week. So by the looks of things, I have about 2 weeks to go. I've been getting alot of pressure from the baby and sharp pains and she stated that the baby is getting ready.

Time is flying and James will be here before we know it.

My parents 35th anniversary

Well on Thursday night the whole family went to the top of the floor at the Rennaissance Center in downtown Detroit. The food was fabulous as well as the service and atmosphere. They sat us facing the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit River. I believe it's the 72nd floor.

The only memory I am going to have of this evening is posted below. I am quite disappointed that this is all I have but this is what I am going to remember for the evening.

Feelings of guilt

I have been having feelings of guilt for the last few months now. Mainly these consist of not being a good wife, a friend, daughter, sister and sometimes a co-worker. I am not sure why I get these feelings and sometimes they are very overwhelming. Lately my guilty feelings have consisted of not keeping the house clean. Being so limited because of my feet and my back, it's making me feel guilty. Then I try to do everything at once and sure enough I pay the price.

I hope that these feelings diminish as I head out of my pregnancy and into motherhood because I know I'll start with feelings of being a bad mother too and I don't want that.

This is just something that I wanted to blog about and see if anyone goes through these phases just as being a mother or a friend.

I also wanted to mention in this blog that my heart goes out to the Machado family. They have suffered a dear loss and you will be in my thoughts and prayers. I know your Dad is in a MUCH better place and he is not suffering anymore.

update on week 35

Well....it's all coming together now. We have the crib set here with the room being set up next week some time. They did a superb job putting the room together and I can't wait to start decorating it.

I am officially done my job on Friday, which is only 2 days away. I have had so many well wishes and so many supportive co-workers, it's been unbeleivable. I don't know how much to thank them all for all of the kind words and the help that they've offered my over the last few months. They've also put up with alot with my complaints and my moodiness. Glad the end is near.

I had my week 35 appointment with my doctor today and she informed me that I will now start going weekly. She doesn't beleive that the baby has dropped yet, but she said it could be possible. It could be that the baby is moving up and down.

So....I proceeded to ask her to give me an estimate of what the baby weighs right about now and she said around 6lbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh boy! I think I might be headed for a 10 pounder. Because of this news, I think that I might just go for the epidural no matter what now. I am too scared to know what will lie ahead during delivery.

I am up every night now for a couple of hours so if you see emails from me at weird hours, you'll know why.

Thanks again everyone for the support.

It's that time.....

for the crib set to arrive. Rob is presently rearranging the 2 rooms so that we can set up the new room now. I can't believe how close it is. Only about 41 days left to go if he arrives on Nov 30.

Non-sleeping fun!

I was up quite early today, 2:30AM. Thank God I was off and I didn't have to worry about being tired later. It's times like this I am going to miss having fun with Rob. Well, he decided to get up and work at 3AM. At 5AM, after being up for a couple of hours, we decided to make a Tim Horton's run as we figured the baked goods would be available and fresh. Sure enough, we got a couple of muffins and they were still warm!! They were so delicious!!! Is there anything better than going to Tim Horton's in your PJs and getting nice fresh warm muffins at 5AM????? I don't think so. I think this morning will stick with me for a long time and these are the few moments in my life I will treasure.

My Chatham shower

My shower in Chatham on Sept 24-06 was very, very nice. My Mom and my sister did an excellent job hosting and preparing. All of my closest friends were there and they were all so good to me. I think I got the most amazing gifts and clothes. My sister and my mother, of course, out did themselves. My sister had a friend make her an amazing diaper display.

My good friend Judith also came down for a visit with her new baby, Meghan. She is sooooo cute and adorable and such a good baby.

I am so lucky to have such a great group of friends and the support from them are just wonderful. Here are some more pics from the shower. Enjoy!

Anyone else sick of the news??

Everytime I turn to CNN, it's about Iraq, Iran or Afghanistan. Quite honestly, its getting really old. This war is dragging so much and so far. I would love to watch Anderson Cooper, but all he talks about is the war lately. Can't we watch something happier? Even turning on to the local Detroit news, it is pretty much the same thing except its about who was murdered that day. It's so depressing. Please!!

Aren't there happier things in this world to watch besides death and war?????

Family and Friends

Sometimes you see people's true colors at a time when you need them the most but don't ask them for their support. I have a few people to mention. I've been thinking about this for a while now as I am getting closer to the end of my pregnancy.

First is my family. My family is the best ever. I have their support whenever there is nothing going on in my life. My sister, parents and Rob are so important to me these days. They have been the best group of people in my life. Rob has been so supportive and I tell people that I don't know how he hasn't kicked me out of the house yet from my complaining about the aches and pains and the other "situations" that have happened. My parents are some of the most selfless people I have ever met in my life. Why was I chosen to have them in my life? They are the best people on the planet. If anyone knows them, they will understand what I mean. And my sister, I can't imagine not having her around to be there for me. And lately she's started to take me out to lunch. Her and I don't dine together, it's not something we do together. Eating is not something that she is not fond of but it's so cute that we are together just talking and seeing each other. She's got a really good heart.

The next person I want to mention is a really good friend of mine. She has come through for me during this time and she has surprised me the most as I have never expected this out of her. She has called when I said that I would call her. She has helped me through some of my crying during a situation. She is in constant contact with me and I can't even get the chance to call her because she'll email me or beat me to it. I can't keep up with her!! I won't or can't forget this. No one understands how important this is to me that she has been there for me 110%.

The next group of people are the girls I work with at my one store. I had a really bad day yesterday at work and I had some of the best advice given to me. These people to me are the best group of girls in any store that I have been at. Really great girls. But I see them as more angelic than anything. All of them are mothers and wives and I think that they have directed me on paths that I didn't know what to take. I really don't know how I could ever repay them for the kind advice over the years. I hope they know that whatever they need I will be there for them.

The last group are the rest of my friends. All of the thoughts and the phone calls are just something I will never forget. I know sometimes I become distant, but I do think about you guys all the time and most of the time I am truly busy or just trying to rest. But I know that I will repay all of you at some point in my life. Something will come up and I will try to be the same as you have been to me during this time.

I don't think I am expressing myself as well as I am trying to in this blog, but this is the best I can do to try and let certain people know that I am very appreciative of what has gone on.

Thanks again everyone.

Some photos of me

Here are some recent photos that Rob
took of me this weekend.

Officially in my 3rd trimester

Wow...time flies. It's here. I am in the home stretch and now have to start thinking about going into labor. My guess would be that I will go early. I don't know why I am thinking this way, but I believe I will be early.

There are some great things that have happened to me while I have been pregnant. First and foremost, I have NO ALLERGIES. No itchy throat, no runny nose, and no itchy eyes. This is just too good. I can breathe this summer. The other great thing is my hair is really thick and curlier. I notice that I don't pull out any hair strands and there is barely any hair on the floor of the bathroom these days. I hope these 2 things last forever.

I know many people have been asking what the name of the baby is going to be and the name we have chosen is James Peter. James being Rob's middle name. It will not be shortenend unless he chooses to shorten it in his life. And he won't be called JP.

I also wanted to post a big thank you to my family and my friends, especially my family for helping me out so far. My mother has been amazing through this and I know how excited she is as well as my sister and father. They are going to make the best grandparents and aunt in the whole world. Rob has also been the best husband to a pregnant woman. He has taken good care of me through this whole thing as busy as he is. Listening to me complain and cry, I don't think I would have made it without someone so patient.

I have so many friends to thank for asking me how I am doing and watching out for me. Even Aunt Laura. I will remember these things as time goes on. And I do appreciate every phone call or email I have recieved. I hope I can return this to some of my friends in the future.

14 weeks to go!!

1 more week and I am out of my 2nd trimester. I can't believe this. It's gone by so fast and there is still so much to do.

Tonight I think I felt my first 2 contractions. It was pretty cool. Very light and not at all painful. They were about 3 minutes apart. It's also really hard to comprehend that within 9 months time a human being is created and ready to be part of the world. That is not a long time at all. But time flies.....

One major task that was accomplished yesterday was that we have chosen the name of the baby. We have finally agreed to a name that we both like. I don't want to post this yet as things may change, but I highly doubt they will at this point. I can't wait to share with everyone.

Our Cat - Kitty

Here is a recent photo of our cat. My friend Sue came over the other night and she dropped off a whole bunch of baby items. Well, Kitty has decided that she is taking one over for herself, as you can tell by the photo.

Keeping comments to yourself

Not that this is bothering me or anything, but why is it that some people just can't keep certain comments to themselves? I work with mostly women. And I am very close to them, but there is one male that I work with that has commented on my weight every week that I see him at work. It doesn't bother me and I laugh about it but today he proceeded to tell me that I am getting really big. After he made this comment and all I could do was say "yeah," I heard him say as I was walking away, that this is normal in my condition.

Whatever.

I know I've gained weight. I see it, I feel it and I am living it. I enjoy so much when people acknowledge that I am pregnant without having to tell them that I am. It makes me happy.

When I first told this individual I was pregnant, he didn't congratulate me but rather he "noticed that I have put on excess weight." I went home and laughed about it. How could you not?

Yes, I put on weight before I was pregnant and I have alot of work to do, but please be sensitive to pregnant women as the weight gain is hard to take but it has to happen.

Nintendo DS

I did it!! I bought the new Nintendo DS Lite. I am so excited because I even saved $20 by buying it at Walmart. I can't wait to get using this. I've been a freak of nintedo for about 17 years now and I am looking forward to all the new games and teaching my son to use it! Woohoo! I feel like a kid again.

first blog

This is my very first blog! I can't believe I am doing this, but after some inspiration from a couple of people, I thought that I should blog some of my thoughts. I've been contemplating this for a long time.

I am 5 months pregnant carrying a baby boy. I am so thrilled to have him come into our lives. I can't wait anymore.

So with that, I want to start documenting what I can so that I remember how I have felt or what the baby has done as a milestone. It's also a great way to communicate to others what me and my family have been doing in the recent days.

That's it for now....hope you enjoy my journey!