A Vegetarian Thanksgiving

You may be thinking, "How is this a vegetarian Thanksgiving when the first picture is of a delicious looking turkey?" Let me explain...

We sat down for a nice traditional dinner. My mom had worked hard on preparing the meal. The pies turned out perfect. The turkey didn't brown the way my mom wanted it to, but when she checked, the meat was cooked. The rolls were not as cooked on the bottom as on the top, but they were fine.

So we sat down and blessed the meal, and my brother started to carve the turkey...that is when the trouble began. The bottom half of the turkey wasn't cooked. So that meant another few hours in the next door neighbor's oven. That also meant no stuffing right then. Then we realized that it probably wasn't safe to eat my mom's home made gravy. I must say that I am proud of mom my for only crying a little bit.

Oh, yes I forgot to bring the cranberry sauce and olives. My mom was really nice to me about that.

So we had mashed potatoes and gravy made from powder, rolls, veggies, and lunch meat turkey. It was not the meal that my mom had planned and worked so hard to make, but it was delicious and we were together. Mashed potatoes and veggies are my favorite part anyway.

We also still had the traditional cheese and crackers and nuts for snacks. Plus, the dip my mom made for the veggies was the best dip I have ever had.

We think that the bottom half of the oven must have stopped working sometime after the pies were done. Talk about bad timing for your oven to break. My poor mom.

After dinner Wes provided my mom with a little baby therapy.

My mom made pumpkin, cherry, and banana cream pies, and they were delicious.

We also had fun playing Wii and then a card game called Would You Rather.

I got a pump the day before so my mom got to feed Wes from a bottle.

So snuggly.

We went to my dad's house afterwards. I forgot to take pictures. (I have been forgetting quite a bit of things lately. Hopefully I will get my brain back someday.) We had a nice time there and they shared more food with us including homemade candy.

All in all it was a good day.

Here are some pictures from this week:

I want to get some professional photos of Wes, and I was researching places and photographers to go to. There were a few pictures of babies in baskets.

That inspired me to put Wes in a basket and see how the photos turned out. Wes wasn't really sure what was going on, and the pictures didn't end up looking the way I had hoped.

In the end I decided we are definitely going to get some professional pictures taken.

Wes looked like a little pea in a pod all wrapped up like this. Bret wasn't home and Wes didn't want to be put down so this is the best view I could get of him.

Wes falls asleep so fast on his changing pad. Too bad it wouldn't be safe to leave him there because he likes being there so much.

The second week home from the hospital:

November 16, 2009 - November 22, 2009

The weather was nice, and we were felling some cabin fever so we decided to get a stroller for Wes so we could go out for walks.

Wes is so cute. I can't help but to take tons of pictures of him.

Here we are getting ready for his first walk.

Wes continues to be a fan of his dad. Of course his parents continue to be fans of him.

Wesley went to his two week appointment that Friday. The nurse weighed him and it looked like he had only gained an once. The doctor was concerned by this, and weighed him again. He had actually gained 6 ounces and was 7 lbs. 12 oz. Wes also had an eye infection so he gave us a prescription for that. Everything else looked good.

Here is Wes posing with one of his favorite gifts, a DVD about the Constitution.

Matchy, matchy.

Wes got a hat, onesies, receiving blanket and gloves from different people who didn't know each other.

His face is so cute.

Here's a hat I made for him a while ago that I forgot about until recently.

The 1st week home:

November 9, 2009 - November 15, 2009

Monday we had to go back to the hospital to test his bilirubin. It was hard to get ready and go back to the hospital the day after we left. I was still in pain from the c-section, but making sure Wes was healthy was of course top priority. His test came back showing that his bilirubin had dropped since the day before, and we were happy about that.

Wesley after his first bath at home. He didn't like it very much.

Bret decided it would be a good idea for Wes to pick out his own socks.

Wes did not agree.

He had cute little elf ears, but they are already starting to look more normal.

We went to his first visit with the pediatrician that Friday. He was 7 lb 6 oz, and everything looked good.

Scripture power

I am so grateful for the swing.

Saturday 11/14/09 we celebrated my brother's birthday that was earlier in the week. My niece had been sick so she wasn't able to visit Wes, but she was better by the time we got together.

She was so excited to meet her 1st cousin.

1st Tummy Time

Wes visiting with Naunnie on 11/15/09. He wore that same gown yesterday (11/27/09), and it is not nearly as big on him. I can't believe how fast he is growing.

Wesley's Birth

It all started on Tuesday night. I started having contractions at some point during the night. They continued and I couldn't sleep through it. I finally got up at 3:30am and took a shower and got ready for the day. I was really excited. I had my weekly doctor's appointment already scheduled for 9:30am. When we left for the appointment my contractions were about 20 to 25 minutes apart. I knew I wouldn't be admitted then, but I was still excited to go.

The doctor said that I might be back later that night, or it could still be a few days. Well sure enough my contractions started to get less and less. I couldn't decide if I should go to work or not. We stopped and got some french toast sticks and ate them at home. I decided to go to work, but have Bret drive me because I didn't know if I could safely drive during a contraction. We agreed that I would call him if the contractions picked up.

During the eight hours I worked I only had like five contractions. I was really productive though. I had to move offices, and I was on the floor hammering pegs in to a bookcase for the shelves. Not really the day I had imagined earlier, but it was fine. Bret picked me up that evening, and we made a quick trip to the store. We got home after eight.

Contractions began again around 10:30pm. I was so worried this time because I didn't believe that the baby would come that time either. I didn't think that I could do another day of work without sleeping. Well at about 1:30am my water broke, and then I started to get excited. I showered and finished packing my bags. We got to the hospital at about 2:30am, and they admitted me.

Bret was so nice during contractions. Sometimes I did not want to be touched and other times I would want him to do very specific things. I never knew what it would be before hand so he would just follow me and do what I asked him to.

I got my epidural at about 4:00am, and I was able to sleep for about 3 or 3 1/2 hours. When I woke up I found out that the baby's heart rate had kept dropping during contractions. My doctor was going out of town that morning so I wasn't expecting to see her at all. She stopped in at around 8:00am on the way to the airport. She explained what was going on and helped me feel better about it. They were just going to watch the baby closely. The doctor who was going to deliver came in a little while later. He reminded me of my friend Keith, and that helped me feel more comfortable with him. He said they'd watch the baby's heart rate, but he didn't think that I would need a c-section. He said he would avoid it if he could. He also thought it would be several hours still until I would be ready to deliver.

I had Bret call my mom and tell her to go to work for a while because it would still be several hours. My mom decided to come in anyway. Later she told me it was because she had a feeling I might have a c-section.

At one point the baby's heart rate dropped petty low for three minutes. The head nurse had me prepped and booked an OR in the event that the doctor ordered a c-section. I knew at that point what was going to happen. The doctor came in and said a c-section would be best because they didn't know if the baby's heart rate would come up again if it dropped again. He said he knew c-section wasn't my first choice, and I told him having a healthy baby was my first choice.

I was so worried for my baby and for myself. I was really worried about not being numb, but I didn't mention it because I was trying to be brave.

Here is my nurse before I went into surgery.

My cute husband waiting.

The anaesthesiologist was fantastic. I was totally numb, and he was so supportive and comforting.

Bret getting ready to come in with me.

Headed to the OR. The last picture of me with a baby bump.

Having the c-section done was not too bad at all. I was glad it was not as bad as I thought it would be. I was happy that Bret could hold my hand.

It was so exciting when I heard Wesley's little whimper as he was born. They showed him to me quickly over the curtain and then took him. I had Bret follow him.
Here is his first picture.

I got to be near him for a few minutes and we were able to take some pictures.

I was amazed at how beautiful he was. He was so much more perfect then I had even imagined he would be.
Pictures of the family right after the baby had been born have always been a favorite of mine. I was especially excited for mine. We were so happy in this moment. Later I realized that I was still cut open on the other side of the curtain. I was in such bliss about my little boy that at the moment I didn't care.

They took him to the nursery right after this, and I had Bret go with him. I didn't want the baby to be alone. The anesthesiologist was so nice while Bret was gone. He answered my questions, like what was the baby's apgar score. 7.9 by the way which is pretty good. The surgery didn't take as long as I though it would be and I was grateful.

Then I went to the recovery room to wait. It was so hard because I wanted to see my son. I had waited a long time for him to get here, and now I was waiting more. I prayed a little and tried to be patient.

After a while Bret came in. He said that the baby was under oxygen, but he would be in soon. He also let me know that my mom was with Wes, and he showed me pictures of him.

He was facing posterior so his poor head is cone shaped in kind of a weird way, but he is still so cute.
My little bright eyes. Here is my doctor. He was on call on his day off which is why he isn't wearing more doctorly apparel. He was fabulous.
My brother and sister looking at the baby through the nursery window. They only let parents and grandparents in the nursery.
It was a gorgeous autumn day. I had imagined the baby would be born on a sunny day.
A perfect little face.

I felt such a deep love for my husband watching him with our son.
My sister came in and held the baby, but we forgot to get a picture. And then my brother came in. I love how much he loves his niece and nephew.

Grandma and Grandpa Nixon

We also forgot to get pictures of Punka and Grandmas Les.

Wes with his Naunnie.
I am such a lucky mother to have him.
Alta View is a great hospital to have a baby at.

Wesley's stats.
It was so fun to be able to hold and look at him.

Wesley's first bath. I wasn't able to go, but Bret was with him.
Warm and clean.