Work

Yes, I am back at work and yes, it BLOWS. I hate it. I was all sorts of nervous that I couldn't be a stay at home mom. And while I was correct in thinking I would suck at the homemaker thing (I tried, but cleaning is really just not one of my skills), I was incorrect in thinking I'd have a hard time being home all day. I loved cuddling with Heston all day and getting distracted by his cute giggles. I did get a bit jittery to get out of the house but nothing that a date night or a girls night couldn't fix. I was also correct in thinking that without a reason to shower I never would. I shouldn't say never... I showered like twice a week.... (casey's such a lucky man). But now I'm back to work, back to showering, back to having a reason to avoid deep cleaning my house, and I HATE IT. I miss him. I miss comforting him when he cries, and being spit up on, and playing with him while he giggles. I hate that I only see him for 3 hours a day. I get home at 5:30 and he's in bed by 8:30. But our neighbor, Amy, is great and sends me pics and texts to sooth my craziness and so that I know he's happy. Since I'm not a cryer she's probably been witnessing my moodiness which takes the form of VERY loud angry music. I also have eaten WAY to much cake...Anyway, I will probably be back at work for about 6 months so that we can pay off a few things and then we'll be able to afford expensive and crappy healthcare.  Just wanted to give an update! I really will start posting more often. eventually.

FAQ

Alright, this will hopefully be my last post about motherhood. I mean obviously I'll share a funny story or awesomeness if it happens but lets be honest; me having a motherhood blog is like Richard Simmons blogging about how to be manly. So this post is just to answer the questions that I get a lot.

• How's being a new mommy?   I LOVE it. Heston is amazing. He makes it sooo easy to love him.   He's a very chill baby... not sure where he gets that? me and Casey are both so high strung (heavy sarcasm). I'm still BLOWN AWAY by how much time he takes. every one said all they do is sleep, eat, and poop, so I figured I'd have plenty of down time... nope! because he came sleeping through the night and he needed 7 feedings a day (we just changed to 6 yesterday) I've been having to feed him every 2-2 1/2 hours... which sounds like a lot but it's totally not!

• How's breast feeding? you'd be surprised how often I get this question. The answer is I'm not breast feeding. I'm pumping. So Heston is getting breast milk but it's from a bottle. The follow up to this is always: WHY? It started because we had to get him out of the NICU. And since he'd already had a binky he had nipple confusion and if he didn't latch on for at least 10 minutes AND keep his blood sugar up they wouldn't let him out. We got frustrated and did a bottle with formula since obviously I wasn't producing much. We continued to give him formula and whatever I pumped until I was producing enough milk to switch completely to that. Now let me say that I'm not sure I would do it differently. Yes, it sucks that I have to feed AND then pump. You're thinking "no wonder you don't have a lot of time" but he's a pretty quick eater and I'm a pretty quick pumper. the reasons I like it; We can track how much he's eating, I've discovered my left breast produces 1/2 of what my right one does, when he has growth spurts we have have more milk ready to go instead of having to feed more frequently, any one can feed him, and the main one is IT'S EASIER TO GET HIM ON A SCHEDULE! I don't have to worry all the time that he's hungry or that he's not getting enough. Yes, I still worry about the nutrition content but all in all it's been great! especially as I'm discovering I'm not creating more milk. I've been trying to build a stock pile but no matter how long I pump for after the milk stops coming I can't seem to increase production. So far I'm still making enough but I feel like he's catching up fast...

• What are you doing about work? I was very worried about quitting my job. I didn't think I could hack it as a stay at home Mom. But, after this time with Heston I think I'll go back for the mandatory 2 weeks and that will be my 2 weeks notice. I can't imagine leaving him... and lets be honest; my job wasn't satisfying. Heston is. 

• How's he sleeping? As I mentioned above, he was pretty much born sleeping through the night. once the doctor told us it was ok to let him go more than 4 hours he's just progressively gotten longer. However, he also hates bedtime. He'll go to sleep, then wake up about a half hour later and cry and won't go back to sleep for at least another half hour. Sometimes he goes in ten minute cycles. It can take up to 2 hours to get him down for the night. But, he's getting better. We're not sure why this is, I think it's the lack of noise. During the day there are dogs barking, running, wrestling, me talking, the tv is pretty much always on and then at night... silence. We've read in order to self soothe he shouldn't go down for the night to a white noise type object because you don't want him relying on that. So that's a slow process but really... I can't complain. My 5 week old slept for 8 hours last night. AWESOME!

• How are YOU doing? They always emphasize the "you" like they pity me. I feel really bad when I tell people that I'm great. I know this sounds like bragging. It's not, I SWEAR! It's just honesty. I feel great! I have the whole time. I was a little sore for 24 hours after he was born but I was walking all over the hospital the next day. I had a bit of a bleeding issue 5 days after his birth  but after that I've been great! He's sleeping so good that I think it's safe to say even the first week he was home I got more sleep than I did when I was at Snow! Also, I thought mentally I would be going crazy. I'm not. Casey said the other day "you know everyone said our world would change completely. Well, I don't think it has at all!" my response to him was "yeah, for YOU!" Casey still goes to work, comes home, goes to dinner with his work buddies occasionally. Me on the other hand, my life is VERY different. I can't tell you the last time it was over a month since I had a girls night, went to a movie, or could count on one hand how many times I've worn jeans in the last month (basketball shorts. every day. LOVE.) 

Well I think that about covers it... and since the chair I was sitting on just broke I suppose I'll wrap this up! (and maybe take that as a sign that I should do another round with my elliptical...) Sorry this post is long and boring!

Heston Jesse Moon

Alright, last post for today! I promise! This post will be mostly pictures. We got Hestons Newborn pictures when he was only 6 days old. I can't believe how much he's already changed! He's lost some of the gigantic cheeks and even his rolls seem smaller to me (sad day). My friend Katy Pluim took the pics and she did amazing! Especially since he slept the whole time, was circumcised that day, and had crazy diarrhea so we couldn't take off his diaper. But we wanted to do them before Casey had to go back to work the next day. So here are some of my favorites! Which trust me it was hard to pick!

LOVE!!!! so much LOVE!!!

August First

I'm not sure how to do this post... so I'll hit the highlights and post as many pics as possible.

6 AM leaving our house to be induced.
8:10 AM I'm hooked up to pitocin (spelling? sorry!) and dilated to a 4.
10 AM I get the epidural, I go numb up to my face and can't move anything below the waist.
blood pressure drops, vomiting, I'm very very sleepy.
10:20 AM they have stopped the epidural and I'm coming out of my drug stupor. they check me and I'm dilated to an 8.
10:30 (ish) I'm dilated to a 10 and they call in Dr. Nance.
 (not sure of the time) He says they're going to "let me rest" so that hopefully I come un-numb a bit from the epidural... apparently you should be able to move your legs and feel pressure while pushing.
11:49 after pushing (which I couldn't feel but the Dr said I was doing it right) through 4 or 5 contractions for about 20 minutes a baby popped out!
10 lbs 3 oz 21 inches long.
The baby had aspirated fluid into his lungs. They laid him on my chest for about 5 seconds and then whisked him away to the NICU to be hooked up to a CPAP machine. Casey went with him.
They say there are 4 "degrees of tearing" I only tore to a 2. I was stitched up and then I was left alone until finally someone let my Mom in.
Then we waited.
And waited....
Until finally at around 5 or 6 they said I could get in a wheelchair and go see him.

We couldn't hold him as he was hooked up to the CPAP  machine (in this pic he's not... we didn't get any of him hooked up to the machine... sorry. But you get the idea)
The next 2 days were an absolute mess. I didn't want to name him until I could actually see him and not just the tubes of the CPAP machine. All we knew was that he wasn't a Xander. Casey actually told me that even before I really got to meet him! Alright, This is going way too long so I'm just going to say that it was a nightmare to get him out of the NICU and here are some pictures of the rare moments we got to hold him.

Thursday. One Day Old. That night we finally picked a name.

Heston Jesse Moon

The names on our list were Xander, Magnus, Easton, Heston, and Lawson. The only reason I agreed to put Heston on the list was because I wanted Easton on there. It was our compromise. People keep asking if we got the name from Charlton Heston. Nope. Casey worked with a kid named Heston a few years back and has liked the name ever since. We looked at him for a good long time and of all the names that one just fit our little Moon. 

I love this pic... Casey was instantly wrapped around his finger (and way more naturally a parent than I was but that's another story.)
Finally Friday night they let him check out of the NICU and we got to take him home!

He's amazing. he's already sleeping through the night... he slept 4 hours at night when we first brought him home and it's just progressively gotten longer (once his pediatrician told me it was ok to let him sleep through the night.) he's spoiling us with how good he is. And he's  really cute so that helps too. If you haven't met him yet I hope you get to soon because dang he's cute! :D 

5 year anniversary

Alright, I am WAY behind on my posting so here I go trying to catch up. we'll see how far I get... I decided since there is so much to post I'll go chronologically. August first I was going in to be induced. August second is our anniversary. So I had told Casey that the baby would be our anniversary present and we wouldn't get each other things. I know what you're thinking, "yeah right, even I know Casey well enough to know he didn't listen to you." Yes, I know you're right but I tried to keep an eye on him! usually I can tell if he's up to something! So the day before I was being induced we were getting ready to take the dogs up to my parents house and Casey insists that the lawn be mowed and the laundry be folded before we go. He's almost done with the lawn so I go start folding laundry and luckily pick the right basket. a few items of clothing down is a Barnes and Noble bag. He got me a new Nook!!!!!! with Glow light!!! I'm so happy!!! it's the best! I should be a Nook salesman. it totally rocks my world. I can read in bed without the lamp (I think this was Casey's selfish reason for wanting me to have it) and I can read in Heston's room while he's fighting sleep without turning on a light.
As you may have already guessed I didn't get Casey anything for our 5 year anniversary. yeah... I know.. I totally suck! But, I do realize I'm the luckiest girl in the world and Casey is totally the bees knees. He's made this the best 5 years of my life and he couldn't be more amazing. Happy 5 year Moon!

water breaking

Ahahahaha got you all! my water did not break. However, we did have a flood. The drain hose to our washing machine came out... awesome! so it soaked the floor all around the washer and dryer. Carpet was nice and gushy, our giant pile of laundry that never gets folded and was over-flowing got wet, it went through the walls and floor and dripped into the garage... like I said. Awesome. I thought the High-Efficiency washers were supposed to use less water! this was a lot of water!!! I'd hate to see a regular washer flood... On the plus side we have a Shop Vac!

 I really think I'm going to become a Shop Vac sales-person. I could not love an item more. (really. I use the shop vac to clean the bathroom. I know this is admitting the sad state of our bathroom when I finally get around to cleaning it... but I blame the dogs for shredding card-board and Casey for not cleaning is beard trimmings out of the sink) Anyway, the shop vac sucked up A TON of water. All of the water on the linoleum and all the excess from the carpet. Casey's been wanting to get the carpets cleaned... I think we can check that off the list! As I have recently begun to waddle (sssooo sexy) and I'm finally getting a smidge uncomfortable (at 38 1/2 weeks I think that's fair... so I'm not complaining!) Casey tried to make it so that I had nothing to do. He took the Shop Vac and wouldn't move the washer and dryer so I could do that area. So I just got to stand there and watch most of the time. Finally he had to lift things so I got to man the shop vac. yay me! Then we put a fan on the carpet and by this morning it's what I'd call damp. I'm hopeful it'll be almost dry when we get home from work. Anyway, this blog post is more just to vent my rage... stupid stupid flood. And now we don't know if our floor is going to rot away so hopefully I won't be come home to a hole where the washer/dryer were and have them chillin in the garage. Hope ya'll are good! go buy a shop-vac! :D
Oh and for the update I'm sure you were hoping for; I'm dilated to a 3 and 80% effaced  (this was Monday). So little Moon could come any time!

News Flash

So I've recently discovered some things. here they are

• Master Chef- I hate that I love it.
• Pawn Stars and Storage Wars. They're SOOOO stupid. why can't I stop watching?!

(I would like to insert here that I blame Casey for all three of these shows. I would love to just read while he watches them but I CAN'T look away. It's like a car accident.)

• I have inheritted my fathers neck. wide and short. It makes finding the perfect pillow a challenge.
• Strawberry watermelon gatorade is the bees knees.
• People notice you more when your pregnant. Oddly enough it seems to be men who do most of the staring.
• I'm getting better at remembering names. It's like a miracle.
• 7 year olds over share. (we now teach primary. it's been interesting so far.)
• Xena: Warrior Princess is still awesome (even with the bad acting.) I want to be Lucy Lawless.
• I read too much. OK this isn't exactly a news flash but since I've been averaging a book a day (don't judge too harshly. Mostly they're $0.99-$3.00 so they're usually only like 200 pages), I've realized I really need more hobbies. Or any other hobbies...
• I get giddy everytime I see a preview for Magic Mike. Stripper Channing???!!! it's like my crazy pregnancy dreams have been turned into a reality.

And while I'm sure ya'll don't care I felt like it'd been too long since I posted. So there you go. The very intense workings of my very complex mind.