Pictures of Hudson- Enjoy

More to come...stay tuned! Our friend- Betsy Haas took these last weekend- Thanks Betsy!

Crazy!

Well- I pretty much stink at keeping this blog up since Hudson was born! I intended when I posted last to continue to post something at least weekly...when I checked the date on the post it was July 14...that's like practically a month ago!

Hudson is just a joy to have and be around. I will be adding more pictures soon, I've intended on it for like a month now :) I have yet to find a picture that makes him look as cute as he is in person. I guess the whole 3D thing is lost in a picture.

He is 3 months old ( 14 weeks) and weighs over 14 pounds and is 24 inches long. He has gone from being a slow eater to a fast eater- especially on that first morning bottle. Poor baby probably wakes up starving! He is still sleeping the night- goes to bed around 9pm and sleeps till 6:30am or so. He wakes up in a good mood and I have yet, in the 5 weeks he has been sleeping the night, found him crying when I go to get him. I sometimes sneak in his room and look at him in his crib before turning on his lamp and he is so cute when he realizes I am in there- arms, legs and head all start moving in opposite directions as he shows his excitement. What a sweet and precious little person.

Since my last post he has learned to recognize faces in books and on toys and he is just so cute to watch as he studies it and then when he realizes what it is his face breaks out into a big smile and then he usually starts talking to it. He has a book that has babies in it and he loves to talk to those babies. He loves to study himself in the mirror too.

He loves his bath now- really seems to relax in it- smiles a lot. He doesn't like to be held "like a baby" (facing me) when he isn't sleepy. He'd rather you hold him so he can look out and check things out. He also gets bored if you stay in the living room (or any room) too long. He'd rather you walk around or go outside for a walk so he can look at new things.

He also loves to be "rolled" since he is not doing so on his own yet. I am ok with that- I like him being a baby- it feels like he is growing and changing so fast already! He also likes to hold your thumbs or fingers as you sit him up and then stand him up.

I've made a little game of putting his shirt on over his head- I say "Where's Hudson" before slipping it on" and then when it is on I say "There he is" and he smiles at me every time- lately he also tries to eat the collar of his shirt when I do that.

He loves to coo and talk to anyone who will look at him. He also enjoys his playmat- the monkey on it was the first thing he grabbed and talked to- but now he has diverted his attention to the elephant and giraffe.

We've gotten to do webcaming with my parents about every week- and that lets them see how he is growing and changing and it lets Hudson see them too. A few weeks ago I got to also see my brother Paul, his wife Chenelle and my new niece LJ, whom I haven't met in person yet. Technology is amazing.

Tonight Hudson & I are meeting Kelly and Will at another friend of ours- Amy's home. We are going to take the boys swimming in her pool. This will be Hudson's first time in a pool. It will be interesting to see his reaction. I am looking forward to it. I'll have to report on that later.

Hope everyone is well! Write more soon...or soonish.

Another day

Hi All-

Didn't expect to hear from me again so soon? Well- here I am - this won't be super long I just wanted to add a few more pictures and give a quick update...

Hudson has been sleeping the night for almost 2 weeks now and I am so proud of him. I thank the Lord every day that he is sleeping so well. I think God knew that I couldn't handle getting up that much- or rather that I needed more sleep! So that is going very, very well. In fact- last night even with the loud thunder and bright lightning (literally wall-shaking)- he slept without making a peep from 9:15pm until 6:30am! He wakes up in a great mood too and I just love to love on him. He is the best baby- and Oh so cute (I am a little biased though :)

Ok- here are those pictures I promised. Please everyone- continue to keep me in your prayers. I still feel like a terrible Momma because I leave him every day. To make matters worse I had to drive him to daycare and drop him off because Jay wasn't feeling well this morning- it just about tore my heart out to leave him there. I know he is well-cared for- I just wish it was me doing the caring. In the words of Dr. Fuller "Mommas should be with their babies"!

Enjoy the pics and I'll post again as soon as I can!

A long time coming...

Hey everyone-

I don't even know if anyone checks this anymore- I'll have to send out a mass email to say that I've started posting again!

I've come back to work this week and it's sad to say that I had to come back to work to have time to post or check email again- sad but true!

I'll post more pictures but here are a few to get things started. I'm sure than anyone reading this knows that I had Hudson on April 30th, 2009 but just in case I'll start from the beginning and go from there.

Ok- well, when I first logged on to here I saw that the last time I posted was on April 29th- and little did I know when I wrote that what I was in for- or that my water would break that night in bed! In the day before Hudson arrived and the hours following my last post I finished my work day, went to Bible Study (feeling super exhausted) and went to be about 10:30pm that night. Jay had worked the entire night the night before (I may have mentioned in my last post- not sure)- anyway- we were tired. Well, about 1:50am on April 30th (night of the 29th) I woke up feeling hot and realized the power was off. It was about 10-15 mins before it came back on and I spoke to Jay and decided to get up and use the restroom (with the third trimester frequency I don't miss) and just before I did I felt a sharp pain in my abdomen/groin. When I got up I felt warm liquid running down my leg- when I got to the restroom (which was not far)- I realized what was going on. How anyone could mistake that feeling for "peeing yourself" I am not sure because I knew what it was right away. I hollered at Jay "My water broke" and he hollered back "I'm up" and literally bounced out of bed (remember he was exhausted having had maybe 4 hrs of sleep in the last 24hrs!

We both got dressed and I proceded to pack the rest of the stuff I needed in my hospital bag and kept wanting to put on dry underwear- finally after about 3 pair Jay told me to quit changing because they would just keep getting wet. He was right so I grabbed a towel to sit on in the car and off we were. Jay was sleep deprived but hyper - and yet we were both very collected and excited! That is the last time we ever set foot in our house without our Squirmy (that story to be explained later).

It was 3am or thereabouts when we got to the hospital and they got me checked in pretty quickly and did the litmus (the strips of paper that check the acidity of the liquid that is running out)- they do this to make sure it is amniotic fluid and not urine. Of course it was and so they got me settled in. My contractions were not really regular at this point so they knew that I would probably have to be on pitocin to get that going- reason for this is that if your water breaks they want to deliver the baby within 24hrs to reduce the risk of infection. After the i.v. was started they gave me some i.v. fluid. At around 5;am they called Dr. Fuller to tell him I was there and he had them hang and start the pitocin. At this point I was still dilated to 3pm and effaced about 70%. My contractions began to regulate and around 7:30 am I was able to get my epidural!

I will say that the epidural was great! As I was not hooked up to a pain pump the dose of medication given through my epidural wore off/started to wear off two times and I had to be given more medicine (bolused)- the last time it wore off I was in the last stage of labor and felt tremendous pain in my lower abdomen and back during contractions- that is the only time I used my breathing techniques we'd learned in child birthing classes. Otherwise I only felt pressure- I knew when a contraction was coming on and I was able to push. By about 12:30pm I was fully dilated (10cm) and Mary (great nurse) got the bed and room ready for me to start pushing and for Dr. Fuller to deliver.

It must have been right around 1:45pm when Dr. Fuller got there- I'd been pushing around 15 or so mins and Mary mentioned she was gonna call Dr. Fuller so he could help us. Well- I didn't know it at the time but that was because Hudson had turned from a side-facing position to a face-down position and she couldn't get him to crown properly. When Dr. Fuller got there it was show time. Dr. Fuller ended up needing to use a vacuum extractor and gave me an episiotomy- but out came Hudson Jack Gillespie at 14:14 pm weighing 7 pounds and 8 ounces and measuring 20.5 inches with a head circumference of 14 inches. His APGAR scores were 8 & 9. He was beautiful and when I heard him cry it was the most beautiful sound I ever heard. When they laid him on my chest/abdomen for the first time I just cried silent tears of joy. I had never seen anything so beautiful and was amazed it came out of me. (I'm tearing up right now)- It's just the best feeling ever and you just think that no matter what you went through it is worth it and more. It's amazing- really words can't say.

Jay's Dad and Miss Betty were there and had been visiting with us since that morning but we had told them that that first hour after he was born we wanted it to be just us three- Jay, Hudson and I. We'd been told in our child birth classes that this first 45 mins to first hour they are super alert and all senses are on hyperalert. It is a good time to try to breastfeed and get them to latch on as well as for the Dad to hold baby and let him get his smell memorized. I think this must be why I haven't posted till now because I am not sure how much detail to give or leave out. I want to be super thorough so that Hudson will have an accurate record but I don't want to be boring either. We held and kissed him and talked to him. The lactation nurse came in and worked with Hudson and I. I didn't know it then but he was latching on just fine- I guess I didn't think that "pinch" would actually mean tremendous pain. Hudson tried to nurse but he seemed to keep falling asleep- later we would learn that he was just a slow eater.

After that first hour we had all kinds of company- Kerry & Janet, Jim & Miss Betty, Kelly, Julie Milinowski, Claudine, Richard, Becky, Nikki, Nick & Nathan, Steve, Michael Legner, Rachel & Dennis & then 5wk old Beau, (sorry if I am forgetting someone)- it continued to feel surreal for a couple days.

I will write more about that first day- the second day and why we stayed, who visited, the day we went home and experiences thereafter and why we call him Squirmy- soon- but for now suffice it to say that Hudson Jack has been the greatest thing ever. Tomorrow he will be 10 weeks old and Friday he will be getting his 2 month shots- time sure flies!

Let me add some pictures and there will be more to come so stay tuned...

False alarm

Oh my! Well- I became a statistic- or rather part of a statistic last night. I was sitting on the couch watching t.v., contemplating what sounded good to eat when I notice that my stomach was tightening and cramping and my lower back was sore. I continued to pay attention to it and it seemed to be happening quite frequently though I couldn't put a real time on it. I decided to check with both Rachel & Kelly (who were both induced) if they could help me with what a contraction felt like.

Rachel told me that she had not been aware of hers but that when she went in to be induced and was hooked up to the monitor they told her that she was having them (contractions). This told me that contractions- at least initially- may not be painful. I left Kelly a message to call me when she could and thought about things some more- all the while my stomach getting tight and feeling different than before.

Jay was working late so I shot him a text message to see if he thought I should page the on-call doctor. He said yes. Dr. Chang was on and he called me back shortly to tell me what a contraction should feel like and confirmed that initially they may not be painful if I was in early labor. He said the only true way was to go to the hospital to get checked. Then I worried that if I did go and wasn't really in labor I would be embarassed. All I knew is that I was feeling something that I had never felt before- no basis for comparison. I finally decided I would bite the bullet, risk embarassment and let Jay know my thoughts. He agreed with me.

I then went to pack the rest of my things and try to get ready to go to the hospital- fully anticipating to drive myself. About that time Kelly called me and said that she'd had a similar experience to what Rachel described- that she actually had cramping/contractions several days before she was induced. Kelly offered to drive me- and I accepted.

Once we got to the hospital everyone was very nice and my nurse was Pam- she was super cool and gave me a lot of good information. She hooked me up to the monitor and said they would watch me for an hour. She also did a pelvic exam and found that I was dilated to 3 cm and still effaced at about 60%. At the end of the hour we found that I had had a few contractions but nothing regular enough to warrant me staying...and apparently about 80% of first time moms go to the hospital too early and get sent home- so that made me feel a little better. Pam also performed a "membrane stripping" which is when a finger(s) is inserted into the cervix and moved around the "water sac" in a 360 degree fashion in an attempt to separate the "water sac" from the lining of the uterus. This is supposed to help release prostaglandins which are needed (whether your body releases them on their own or you are induced) to help contractions and labor along. She told me that she'd had that done before she had her son and that she delivered within 48 hrs afterwards!

So the test will be when we go see Dr. Fuller this afternoon if anything has changed as far as my dilation or effacement. I'll be sure and pass that on.

Back to poor Jay though- he was still working and trying to make it over to the hospital and when I found out they were not keeping me I let him know so he didn't have to come all the way there. Kelly dropped me off (Thanks again Kelly) and I got ready for bed- feeling pretty crampy and sore for the rest of the night. I had the bed to myself because though Jay had made it home he couldn't get off the phone with work- he ended up staying up all night- he literally walked into the bedroom as his alarm clock was going off at it's normal "wake up" time. He finally laid down and I think that during the time that I was getting ready for work his phone must have gone off 4 times! I hope he is getting some sleep now!

Our appointment with Dr. Fuller is in a couple hours- I am anxious to see if anything changed from last night. It is exciting and I just want whatever is supposed to happen to happen.

Ok- that's my update- I'll be sure and update everyone after this appointment- either tonight or more likely tomorrow. Ya'll keep Hudson, Jay & I in your prayers please.

Love ya'll!

Antsy

Jay & I sure are getting anxious for Hudson to get here. Of course I've heard that once he does come out that we will wish he was "back in"- but I think that 9 months is long enough to be pregnant for anyone :)

Kelly reminded me this weekend that I will get to celebrate Mother's Day as a mom this year. I do aspire to be kind of mom my Mom is to me. I think if I can be half of that then I will be a pretty good one.

Even with my belly I have to say that I still wake up on occasion and wonder if I am really pregnant or if it was all a dream. It still seems sureal at times and I am sure that is not about to change with the soon to be disturbed sleep schedule our Gillespie household will have. On the topic of sleep- I have to say that I have had some crazy dreams throughout this pregnancy but especially in the last couple months- I wake up and wonder "Where did that come from?" Sometimes the dreams are disturbing and other times they are just strange. I've dreamed a lot about the house I grew up in but then the people there (in the dream) are people that live here-in Arkansas- most to all of which have never been to Canada much less to my house in Canada! I guess it's just hormones.

Dennis & Rachel are adjusting- or have been adjusting nicely to being parents. Beau gets cuter and cuter everytime we see him. We decided that was wanted to do our baby dedications together- they will be on May 24th. I am super excited that my parents will be here for this!That will be something for Hudson's memory book for sure. So- that's as official as the invite is going to be... Come one, come all- Hudson's baby dedication will be at Rolling Oaks Freewill Baptist Church in Maumelle on Sunday, May 24, 2009. Services start at 10:30am. If you need directions email me. He'll be roughly 2.5 wks old at that point (assuming we go till next Wednesday for his arrival).

Well- I don't know if it's because it's Monday or because I'm about to have a baby (for real!)- but my mind is having a hard time focusing so I'm gonna end this now and check back after our next Dr. Fuller visit- unless ...you guessed it...Hudson arrives first.


Love ya'll-

No changes :(

Went to Dr. Fuller's yesterday for our weekly appointment and found out that I was still dilated 2 cm and 60% effaced- so no changes. Dr. Fuller said that it is pretty rare for a lady to be more dilated than 2 cm unless she is in labor (in which I am not currently). I had no idea! I thought that I would just keep going week by week dilating and effacing more and more till I went into labor. He said my body has done all it can to get ready for labor and I could go into labor anytime, or we might go until our due date- May 6th.

If we make it to May 6th and Hudson has not hatched, I will be induced that day because Dr. Fuller does not allow his patients to go over the due date. So at least that gives us a time frame. I am hoping that Hudson will go ahead and come on out before May 6th- but only God knows if he will or not. So if ya'll haven't heard anything by May 5th you can rest assured that we will have a baby one way or another on May 6th. We will have a baby in two weeks!

Hudson, you can commit this to memory- Women worry about their weight! I say that because I am the biggest I have ever been. Yes, I know that it is baby and not all me- but the scale and my body don't know that. Well- actually I guess a more accurate statement would be my joints don't know that. Anyway- having a you (Hudson)- is worth every pound I've gained- but I am getting pretty tired! Having had a great pregnancy I really can't complain- but I do have to admit that it is starting to take it's toll on me and I am ready to move on to the next phase of pregnancy- parenthood, and to let my body work toward getting back to normal. I know that I will miss feeling him move inside me though- that is the coolest feeling ever!

Gretchen- Dr. Fuller's nurse- asked me yesterday- "Aren't you glad we are not elephants? They carry their young for 2 years!"- I said yes- very glad and if that was the case I don't think most people would have more than one!

Jay was being Mr. Funnypants this week with the guys at work, he'd emailed them in the process of conversation on obesity that maybe now that I had been pregnant and had some physical ailments and uncomfortabilities related to pregnancy that I would appreciate what he went through all the time- reflux, backache, difficulty getting up, shortness of breath- that sort of thing. Made me laugh but I quickly replied to him that I intend to go to Weight Watchers as soon as possible after I have Hudson to work on getting this weight off.

I also plan to train to run (well- I say "run" tongue & cheek- I am sure I will be walking more than running)- the Little Rock half marathon next March. A friend of ours- Eileen- did it last year and I told her that I would like to do it with her this next year. What a great way to get in shape and lose baby weight right? I will dedicate it to both Jay and Hudson. Ya'll keep me in your prayers.

Being the type of person that always tries to enjoy whatever stage I am in- and not have any regrets I was looking ahead and thinking how all of this will be forgotten in a matter of months. What I mean is that we will be in a totally different pace of life and as most people (parents) have told us- we will wonder what we ever did without Hudson. I think that is pretty cool. Everytime we do something we think "This could be the last time we do this before Hudson arrives"- then we just try to savor the moment! We saw "Monsters v.s. Aliens" in 3D at the movies last weekend and Jay said "This could be the last movie we see before Hudson is born."

I did want to brag on myself for a minute- or my good genes- Thanks Mom & Dad. Dr. Fuller is a very laid back man but he has bragged on my how well I have done with this pregnancy from day 1. He has been pleased with my blood pressure, my weight gain and overall how my body has handled being pregnant. Yesterday when he was checking Hudson's heart rate with the doppler he said "Well, no stretch marks"- I told him that I had been moisturizing every day and he said that might be some of it but that more than likely it was good genes and not gaining too much weight. He said when lady gains 75 lbs there is only so far the skin will stretch- that kinda made me smile because knowing how laid back he is I wonder what he does when a patient is noncompliant with his direction. I wonder if he ever gets made at them? Just made me smile.

Lastly for this entry- Poppa Jay ordered a base for the car seat for his car and a neat little camera that Rachel told us about called a Flip. Well- the base came the other day and the Flip came last night. We played with it a little last night. Jay was recording me while I was doing my nightly routine of removing make-up, washing my face and flossing and brushing my teeth- it was pretty cool. The neatest thing about this camera is that the software is on it and that you plug the actual camera right into your computer via a USB port and can download the footage or still shots right onto your computer. I was instructed by Jay that one of us needs to keep it with us at all times from now till Hudson is born- and even after- so I have it with me ;)

Well- ya'll have a good rest of the week. I- or Jay- will be sure to pass on if our precious angel decides to grace us with his presence before May 6th! Love ya'll!