Home Alone!

Getting into the swing of things at home. This is my first day at home by myself and things have gone alright. We did have one spit up explosion that happened in the crib, but I managed. We got to the doctor tomorrow for a 2 week check up. I can't wait to see how much she weighs as that is my biggest anxiety right now. I have no clue how much she's getting and if she's getting the good stuff! Her diapers seem to indicate she's eating well, but I would rather a doctor tell that for sure!

We have had so many visitors and none of them come emtpy handed. Our house is stocked with food and presents and we couldn't feel more blessed!

I thought I would be a little stir crazy by now, seeing as I have only left the house twice since we got home. I am actually doing ok with it though. I think for now I am too nervous to take her anywhere actually. I do wish the weather was warmer so we could atleast go outside, but oh well.

We are looking forward to Thanksgiving. Doug's grandma and my brother and his girlfriend are in town to add to the festivities!

Katherine Austen Jones

She's here (and so are we)! Here's her story:

KAJ was born on Friday, November 15, 2008 at 1:15pm. Doug and I went to the hospital on Thursday night to get the process started. The night was alright - I was not uncomfortable despite having some mild contractions, but it was really hard to get any rest being monitored on my belly and my blood pressure every 30 minutes. On Friday morning my water broke just before 7am. This really increased the intensity of my contractions and I was in tears shortly. The epidural came at 8am. It was a stinging sort of pain that was super intense but it happened at the same time as a contraction and the BP cuff going off so it was difficult to focus on only one area of discomfort.

The epidural was perfect - I was in no pain in no time. We relaxed in the room with my mom and Doug's mom until about 10am when I drifted off to sleep until 12. At 12, I started to feel my contractions again and so the nurse checked me again for progress - I was at about 5 cm. That was so frustrating because it meant we were in for a long day. At 12:45, I told the nurse my epidural was really not working that well anymore because the contractions were bad and I felt so much pressure. Apparently "pressure" was different than a contraction and pressure meant we could be close! She measured me again and I was at 9 cm and Katherine was crowning. She paged the doctor who got there at 1pm, got everything prepped for pushing. They gave me a quick tutorial on pushing which I practiced twice but didn't get it quite right. I was messing up by trying to keep breathing throughout the push and I was supposed to hold my breath instead. So the first big push came and I pushed hard for about 10 seconds. The nurse asked if I could lift my head up and see Katherine coming out! I couldn't see her, but apparently she was coming out. So the doctor said, let's push again and as I pushed she pulled Katherine's shoulders out and the rest came out easily from there. I immediately got to hold her which was blissful as we all cried and looked at our new baby daughter at once! She was perfect!

The next few hours are a blur as she went to the nursery with Doug to be weighed and measured and meet the world outside of Labor and Delivery Room 1. She weighed 7 pounds 3.8 ounces and measured 18 3/4 inches. Her feet are super long (Doug thinks she formed her flipper feet the night of my Michael Phelps dream). Her nose and lips are so sweet looking and she has a head full of dark hair! She is just so pretty!

We stayed in the hospital until Sunday and came home that afternoon. We came home to a car (mine) that needed a new battery immediately and a dog with a double ear infection and some impacted bowels (I know, TMI)! On top of trying to adjust to our new life with Katherine, we have had to deal with those unexpected things but know that if we can make it through that, we can make it through a lot.

She has been sleeping pretty well, albeit only in her infant carrier or with someone holding her. Luckily we have 4 willing and able grandparents around along with lots of aunts and uncles. Doug is still home with us but goes back to work tomorrow. I will miss the help with her, but will mainly miss the wonderful time we are having as a new family.

Our love for each other seems to have quadrupled since she got here and we love her already in ways that are indescribable. I am so totally frightened at times wondering if we're doing things right - and at those times, God keeps me singing "Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour." Literally, we must ask God to remind us of the wisdom and courage we know have in order to face each hour. It's so easy to question, but we must remember to rely on God for the anxiety ridden hours, days, and years ahead!

Ok, enough rambling - here are some pictures of Katherine Austen Jones.
The Jones Family! Our first family photo at the hospital - proud dad and mom, with soon to be spoiled little daughter!
Katie-bug all wrapped up her in pretty polka dot blanket!
Her Phelps Feet! From her pinky toe to her heel is the length of my middle finger (sorry for the reference - didn't have a ruler.)
N o, I didn't have twins! This is Katie's cousin Cole - 3 weeks her elder!
Katherine and the beautiful pink roses she sent to me on the morning of her delivery to thank me for carrying her for 9 months! What a sweet (husband) daughter I have!
Katherine's "oh no you didn't bring 3 dozen cookies up here and not offer me any" face.

Is There a Doctor in the House?

Yes there is! Congratulations to Jessica Clark who successfully defended her PhD in Chemistry yesterday! Years of work and countless experiments (some that lasted 22 hours) later, she has earned her doctorate!

She wrote her dissertation while pregnant which is a feat in and of itself! Now she's going to do a post-doc at USC and then see where life takes her with doctor in front of her name!

Good Job Dr. Clark! I know you're relieved to be done and Wilson is relieved to have to spend less money at Starbucks!

The Wait is (Nearly) Over!

I had my 38 week doctor's appointment yesterday and they have made the official decision to induce me on Friday morning (11/14.) This will be one week shy of my actual due date, but I am certainly not complaining. We have to spend the night in the hospital Thursday night where they start something (just can't recall) and then they will start the Pitocin drip early Friday morning. The doctor has warned that we could be in for a long day and run a higher risk of having a c-section if I don't progress well.

Doug and I are really excited but I am so nervous at the same time. So many thoughts are running through my head, most of which have me asking if we are ready for this. But since the answer to that truly doesn't matter as we can't go back at this point, I am trying to get over it! I am working a half day today and then heading home to mentally prepare for the days ahead.

Please pray for us as we head to the hospital to meet our baby girl. The most comforting thing is knowing that God already knows everything that's going to take place this weekend for us! Of course, I wouldn't mind being let in on the secret, but that's not how it works!

We are so excited for our families getting a granddaughter or a neice and becoming grandparents and aunts and uncles. We can't wait for you all to meet her! We will keep you posted once she gets here!

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Four years ago today, I was stuffing my face with chicken nuggets hoping not to spill barbeque sauce on my wedding dress as I awaited on the arrival of the photographer. A few hours later I got to marry my best friend in front of our friends and family. I loved our wedding and the excitement that filled that day!

So much has changed in the last four years. We have dealth with some incredible losses of PawPaw, Punkin, Grandpa Baggerly, and Mimi. We have both changed jobs. We have made our house a home. We have grown together as a couple and are now embarking on a journey as parents.

I remember my life before Doug and remembering it makes me love him even more for how much he has changed my life. I am so proud to be his wife and very excited to be a mother to his daughter. Doug's personality and mine don't always seem compatible to others, but we are a perfect match.

For four years of marriage - here are four of my favorite memories:

1. Our first year of marriage, we woke up every Saturday morning singing the ESPN Gameday song for that year. We spent most Saturdays just watching college football with family and spending time together. I loved making appetizers for our day long grazing and enjoyed all the games we got to watch together!

2. Doug and I both have a long sleeve brown v-neck shirt from Banana Republic. I went to get mine out of the dryer one day and put it on and somehow it was huge on me! I started crying asking what happened to my shirt and then realized I was wearing Doug's shirt. A few days later, Doug walks into our bedroom in my brown shirt that is way too small for him pretending to cry asking what happened to his shirt. He was totally making fun of me, but it was hilarious!

3. The new edition to our family that arrived February 2006: Jack. Doug bought me a dog bowl and leash and said I could go pick out a new puppy. I had one in mind and we drove to go meet the puppy and it was one and done! Doug was smitten with Jack and I was smitten with the smittenness!

4. Our first mud run together was in 2006. We had 2 teams of Joneses and trained together and competed together. It was so much fun to share our competitive spirit together and train and prove that we could do it. I had fun pretending to be athletic but even more fun running the race with my husband!

I love you Doug and I am forever indebted to you for what you have to put up with from me!

Newest Comment

Someone today actually said this to me:

"Looks like you're carrying that baby in your chin as well, or should I say chins."

Seriously?

Getting Closer!

So, I haven't been one to post many pictures of myself during pregnancy, but this get up I had on last week deserves to be seen! I have been getting SO MANY remarks from co workers and perfect strangers about my size that I tried to detract attention from my ever expanding belly and draw people's eyes upwards! I think it worked!

Wow - self deprecate much? My little Katherine is probably shaking her head at me as we speak. It's something I have long done to my mother and I fully expect Katherine to learn to disapprove of her crazy mother and her actions!

As an update - I will be 38 weeks on Saturday. Still going weekly to the doctor on Tuesdays. Yesterday, I was 1 cm dilated.

Just for giggles - here are some actual comments I have received from actual people over the last few weeks.

"That baby better weigh 10 pounds or you have some explaining to do about all that weight!" (comment from 250 lb doctor with whom I work)

"Are there two in there?" (comment from lady at Top Nails getting her feet done in the chair across from me - ps - Thanks to my mother in law for the special treat of pedicure/manicure)

"Are you headed to the hospital now to have that thing?" (comment from cashier at CVS)

and my personal favorite (language has not been changed so that the full effect of the comment comes through)

(said in a slightly country twang) "That's gonna hurt like hell." (comment from woman working the front desk in a doctor's office where I was in the waiting room)