The Passenger Arrives!

Let me start by saying that I am sorry for taking so long for this highly anticipated blog entry. After Marshall was born we were overwhelmed with visitors, both in the hospital and once we came home. Life has been ridiculously busy. For those of you who don't know the details:

Marshall Kade Lewis made his big arrival on Thursday August 21, 2008 @ 0749 via C-section. He weighed in at 7#11.5oz and measured just over 20 inches. If you recall, my doctor had measured his head via ultrasound and told us that he thought it was gigantic - it was: 14 3/8 inches...he was not going to come out the other way, even if he had turned around - which he did not.

The morning was very exciting for us. I was really calm about the whole thing. We left for the hospital at 0550 and it was smooth sailing from there. The procedure went flawlessly and I watched them deliver Marshall by having my anesthesiologist hold up a big mirror so that I could see over the drape - he came out feet first. It was absolutely amazing. Marshall's APGAR scores were 9 & 9, he was pink and vigorous. Kreat, Marshall and the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner went to the nursery to monitor Marshall's status while I was being "put back together" (yeah, I watched them do that too...it was cool).

I spent a few hours in recovery before bing moved to my post-partum room (where we remained for the duration of our hospitalization). By the time I was transferred I was able to move myself from my OR bed to my regular bed with very little help. I was feeling great. And just seven hours after delivery I was up in my room, walking. By the time we came home from the hospital on Saturday I was functioning at about 95% - I'm just not allowed to lift anything heavy.

The dogs are adjusted - they think that he is really cool. Kreat and I are making the adjustment pretty well but I will say - it doesn't matter how "prepared" you are, you are never truly "ready". We're doing good and have been enjoying some "family time" without visitors coming and going.

Marshall is such a calm baby. He has yet to actually CRY, like scream/cry. He just doesn't. He'll fuss a little, but is so mellow. I don't know how that happened. When he is awake, he is so alert and attentive. He doesn't just look around, he stares, eyes wide open, taking it all in. He is a great baby. The breastfeeding is going great. He literally needs no help when it comes to eating...he knew what to do from day one and does great. As for the sleeping, we really can't complain. He doesn't cry, even when he wakes up in the night for feedings, he makes squeaky sounds like a guinea pig.

We feel so blessed to have this little person in our lives, he has truly changed us forever. We could not have asked for a more perfect pregnancy, delivery and baby. All is well with us. Enjoy the photos!

The last photo taken: 38 weeks 2 days
On our way to have a baby!

Chatting on the phone in pre-op

My girlfriend Missy came by to see me
Nancy was my nurse for the delivery

Kreat getting ready to enter the OR

Me on the table...If only you could see what they were doing to me while I laid there.

Happy Birthday Marshall!

Our first family photo




Marshall's first bath with Naomi,RN (It was so cool to have all of my beloved co-workers there for this experience)

They brought Marshall to me while I was in recovery. This was the first time I held him.

My parents were so excited about meeting their third grandson; it was a special moment for them both.

My brother, Bob, came by to meet his nephew; Bob had never held a baby this young before. It was really cool.

Grandma Lewis thoroughly checked him over - he passed with flying colors.

Grandpa Lewis and Aunt Katie were pretty impressed with our handy-work.

Kreat's assistant Sue and her husband Dean came by on Saturday to meet our special little guy.

There was a slight adjustment period that Lola had to undergo once we got home. As you can see, she still thought that my lap was her personal space and that our bed was still her bed. She has since learned to share.


Marshall loves the swing that his Aunt Casey and Uncle Jordan bought for him!

Marshall gets a spongebath (6 days old):










A few days after we got home I had to get some homework done so Marshall napped on my lap while I studied.

After being cooped up in the house for over a week, I couldn't take it anymore - Kreat was home so I put on his rain coat and did yardwork. Kreat thought I was super crazy, but it felt great to get something accomplished and to be outside!


We're adjusting well - some days are better than others, but I am really enjoying my little boy and I think Kreat is beginning to understand why I begged for a baby for so long; he loves our little Marsh-mellow.

Four Days Left

Today was the last time that I attended church pregnant. That means that today was the last time I had to wrangle myself into pantyhose and smash my swollen feet into high heels. The pantyhose came off in the car on the way home and went immediately into the trash can.

This week is going to be crazy for us, as it is the week of The Passenger's big arrival.

Monday we have our last doctor's appointment at 0900 - it's a preoperative appointment; we'll discuss the procedure, possible complications, expected recovery, limitations on what I can and can't do after I come home, etc & I'll sign the consent form. I have a few questions that I'll ask my doctor and I'll have him show Kreat where the incision will be made and approximately how big it will be, just so that he knows what to expect.

Tuesday I have a day at the spa scheduled: 60 minute pregnancy massage, french facial and a deluxe pedicure with a paraffin dip...total time: 3.5 hours of pampering. I can't wait. I want to look beautiful for my son's birth.

Wednesday I go back to school from 0900-1430. Nothing super exciting about the first day of school, except that it means I am almost finished - like, totally, 100% finished. My last semester, FINALLY.

Thursday at 0600 we arrive at the hospital. I'll have an IV started, get a liter of fluids, get hooked up to the monitors so that we have a strip on baby before the delivery and at approximately 0730 I'll walk into the OR, get a nice Duramorph spinal and have a baby!

Friday we will still be in the hospital.

Saturday after 1200 we should be cleared for discharge if everything looks good with me and baby.

It is going to be a very exciting week for us. We are really ready for this pregnancy to be over and for our lives as parents and as a family to start. Keep us in your prayers. We love you all. Kreat will be making very brief phone calls or sending text messages out the morning of the birth to update everyone. We ask that if you get a phone call to remember that we have LOTS of people to call, so don't be offended if it is a very short update - we'll have plenty of time to talk to all of you later that day or over the weekend. I can't believe this is happening already; it feels like I just found out I was pregnant and now I'm having a baby...weird.

P.S. As of last night he finally has a name...at least for now.

It's The Final Count-Down!

Last night my girlfriends from work threw a dual baby shower for myself and Missy (who is about 4 weeks behind me in the running). It was a lot of fun but I didn't take any pictures! I know, loser. Melanie took a ton, so when I get them from her, I will post them for all to enjoy.

An exciting tid-bit: in T minus 8 days I will be having a baby! Holy crap. Eight days. The count-down is on and my house is being cleaned feverishly. Kreat scrubbed bathrooms for me (I refused to do it; my least favorite cleaning task) and I have been giving every nook and cranny the once over. The other night at 2330 I was cleaning the oven and Kreat said, "Uh, hon, I don't think the baby's going to look that close..." Nevertheless, I continued in my efforts to make the house "suitable" for our anticipated arrival.

On the agenda for today: wash all of the blankets, burp cloths, wash cloths and newborn/0-3 month outfits and get them put away for use. I stayed up last night assembling the swing (thanks Jordan & Casey!), bouncer seat, diaper genie and baby monitors. Who knew that one little person would entale so much preparation...I have a feeling this child is going to be a little bit spoiled. The hard part is trying to find space for all of the baby paraphanalia that has been accumulating.

We don't have our bags packed for the hospital - I figure I know when I'm going so I'll pack the night before, take an Ambien, get a good night's sleep then go have a baby. Isn't that funny? There's not much guessing with this, is there? No anticipation of my water breaking or running to hospital in the middle of the night...we're just going to go in and have a baby. I love it. It suits a control-freak, fanatic planner like myself to a T.

It's Official

Yesterday at my doctor's appointment my stubborn baby was in the exact (literally, exact) same position that he has been in for over 6 weeks now. He is folded in half, his feet are by his head and bottom is sunken into my pelvis - where his head should be - and his head is up under my right breast.

So, here's the big announcement: on Thursday August 21 @ 0730 I am having a C-section.

To be quite honest, I'm so excited! I can't wait to see him and hold him. I don't really care how he gets here, as long as he gets here safely. I feel as though I have a slight advantage, because I have seen so many C-sections and know what to expect that my anxiety level is at a 1/10. I'm ready.

We should be cleared to leave the hospital on Saturday the 23, if all goes as planned. I've prepped Kreat for how the procedure goes and what he can expect from all of this. He has been so supportive and more than anything just wants a healthy baby.

So in 16 days we will have a beautiful baby boy. I could not be happier.

P.S. He still does not have a name.

Announcement!

There has been a slight alteration in a vital part of the baby's arrival - we have decided to change his name.

After much consideration, and the fact that Kreat listens to everyone else on the planet other than me, the baby will no longer have the initials KML. Someone mentioned to him the other day that there was this really popular boy name right now - it was the name that Kreat had selected and I had agreed to.

For the record, when Kreat and I settled on this name, I said to him, "Ya know, I hear that name, and variations of it, all the time; it's super popular right now. So if you're okay with that, I am."

Kreat is now saying that he has no recollection of ME telling him that the name was popular, but now that this other person has said it, the name is changing.

We are currently in deliberations over a new name. We are dropping the "K" name, keeping the "M" name which will either be moved to the new first name or remain the middle name and a the runner-up first name will be implemented. It's quite complicated.

So six weeks ago I thought I had this figured out and here were are again, like three weeks away from his big arrival and he is back to baby no-name. This is ridiculous.