Nelsonblog

We attended our LAST class tonight! It was a newborn care class- very cool, tho the teacher/nurse was kind of ditzy.
They went over bathing, diaper changing, swaddling, SIDS, feeding shedules, poop-colors (yuk), crying, weight-gain, formula prep, umbillical-cord care, circumcision care, Illness and baby-blues.
We noticed we still needed to buy a few small items:
Gauze
Vasoline
Infant Tylenol
Cotton balls
Rectal thermometer

Cool terms learned
‘Milk drunk’ – when your baby is full it can get extremley happy
‘Tummy Time’ – important time when a baby is on its stomach, and gives it a chance to strengthen its arm/neck muscles
‘Pooplosion’ – use your imagination on that one (yuk)

It was a pretty good class! Now we’re supposed to be ready?!? Eeek!

It has been challening being pregnant and not having family close by. Chris and I are both very blessed with loving parents and families – but they are all long distance. We appreciate the phone calls and all of the prayers and can’t wait to share our newest addition with all of you.

Chris and I are also very blessed to have a rich history and legacy from our families. Within the last few years we’ve said good-bye to three grandparents that are now in heaven.

At church yesterday they sang the classical hymn (not sure of it’s exact title) “Blessed Assurance” – I sat in silence as I listened to the words and then I was taken back to a time when I stood by my grandmother Ruth in church and we sang the exact same song together. She was a woman of great strength and compassion. At first I smiled as I pictured her and my grandpa in heaven looking down on me and they were still singing along with me – and then I was overwhelmed with tears (just like I am right now trying to write this).

As we prepare to celebrate the arrival of our new child – it is bitter sweet that various family members won’t be around due to passing on. I’m so thankful for the time that I had with my grandparents and having the opportunity to meet Chris grandad and grandpa before they passed on – but it also brings much sadness knowing that they won’t be here to hold their great grandchild. I take peace in knowing that they are in heaven and look down on us – but I also miss them so dearly and sad that my children will not have the opportunity of knowing them like I did.

This baby will be here! I think I’ve been in denial that this child is coming – I’ve become use to being pregnant and the ups and downs of it that it is hard to wrap my mind around the thought that this pregnancy is actually coming to an end – and the end result will be a beautiful child that will demand my attention. One of Chris’ co-workers asked me last week if I was nervous – I really didn’t know how to respond. I’m such a mixture of feellings that it is hard to pin point exactly what I’m feeling – sometimes it’s so overwhelming it almost numbing.

I guess I would say I’m nervous – not really looking fowrard to the whole labor and delivery process. I’m the type of individual that likes to plan out things and be organized – but you really can’t do that in childbirth. There are SO many factors out of my control – and it’s hard for me to not be in control. May God give me strength and endurance – and everything else will fall into place.

I’m also VERY excited – I’m been watching the Baby Story on the TLC channel and I always tear up when the doctor delivers the baby and puts it on the mommy’s stomach to say hello. I’ve tried to imagine how it will be like – but it has been hard – it’s such a precious moment that I can’t really do it justice in my day dreams. I can’t wait to see this little bundle of joy – to hear it’s cry – to see Chris hold him or her.

I tear up with the thought of seeing Chris as a father. He is a good man and a good husband – I’ve seen him grow and take on his roles and responsbilities of our household and our family. I know that both of us have more growing to do – but it’s a relief to know that I have loving partner by my side to go through life with – including being parents! Chris is so loving with children and it melts my heart when I see him carrying our friends children – can’t wait to see him when he looks down at the child in his arms and it’s OUR child – the child we made together out of love. Pretty amazing!

Had a doc’s appointment this past week (going on a weekly basis now). Well, I’ve started to dialate!!! I’m only one centimeter – but it is so amazing that the body knows what to do and automatically does it – I don’t have to tell my body to have this baby – it’s beginning the process already. I’m still only 50% efaced but it’s a miracle knowing that while I sit here my body is preparing itself for the delivery of this little one.

This past week I have not been feeling too good and sleep is hard to come by. I feel SO strange – kinda like the flu and exhaustion. My hips go numb when I lay down – there is only one spot that I can lay in on my side and after a few hours of laying in the same spot my back and hips begin to ache. I knew that there would be loss of sleep when this baby came – but not many people told me that it starts WAY before the kid shows up.

So yeah- Sue made me take down my earlier post about the breastfeeding class we attended Wed night.

I thought it was funny…

Anyway, it was a pretty good class, really. Learned quite a bit.

This week Chris and I attended two different courses offered at the hospital.

The first class was infant CPR – I pray that I will never have to use any of the skills we learned – such as how to do chest compressions and breath for the baby – but there is some comfort in knowing that if something does go wrong I can assist with saving my child.

Second class was Breastfeeding. Before I say anything else, I have to thank my husband and all of the other husbands that came out and supported their wives at this class. Chris asked me multiple of times before going if and why he had to attend – we made the deal that if he was the only man there he could leave but I would really appreciate his support – even though I’ll be the one technically breastfeeding I will need support as we attempt to do this. To both of our surprise – about 80% of the women there had their spouses with them. Good job men! Good job Chris!

My thoughts on breastfeeding – I’m going to try it out – if it works then great – but if it doesn’t work then that’s okay too. I’ve seen too many women set themselves up that breastfeeding is going to be a perfect experience and when reality hits and the baby won’t latch right or something else goes wrong – the mom’s seem to beat themselves up and feel they failed their child because they can’t provide for them. I know that emotions are going to be high as it is and I adjust to being a mother that I don’t want to add to the pressures of it by feeling that breastfeeding is the only way to go (my personal choice). So, I’m going to attempt to breastfeed and we will see how it goes.

Getting close now!

Very good class-
Went over SIDS, Choking, Heimlich, drowning, burns, poison, motor vehicle accidents, falls, pet injurys, etc

Wow. That was amazing. Very, very good class.

I am SO PARANOID right now.