what a day

Yesterday was rough on so many levels.

Baby level:
Quinn decided that he wanted to be awake from 1am-7am. I nursed and rocked and bounced and soothed and ignored his cries but he just wasn't happy with any of it. At one point I had nursed him at 4am, 5:30am, and then again at 7am. He was just a hot mess which made mama a hot mess. After the 7am feeding he finally crashed for a couple of hours and so did I.

Later that afternoon we went to the pediatrician's for Quinn's two week visit. While everything is coming along perfectly, my poor baby has thrush. For those that don't know, thrush is a yeast infection in his mouth. Since I breastfeed, I have it as well and let's just say it is not a pleasant feeling (omg I think I'm on fire!). He gets an oral medication four times a day and I get to apply a cream after every time I nurse. Pray that we both clear up quickly and don't pass it back and forth between each other.

Technology level:
My phone started beeping at me that I was running out of storage room and must clear out stored data as soon as possible. Somehow, someway I managed to delete all of my contacts and restore the phone back to factory settings. Ugh! Luckily I have backup assistant and everything was saved online, but on the flip side it took me over an hour to figure out how to download it all back on my phone.

I love my laptop. It may be a Mac Powerbook from 2006 but it works just fine for me. It's familiar and I know how to use it. Unfortunately things are starting to go. The battery doesn't last 4.5 hours any longer, more like 2 if I'm lucky, but that's not the major issue. When I plug in the charger it doesn't always make contact inside the computer. I have to twist and wiggle and jiggle until the light comes on indicating that it's connected. At one point last night it would not light up no matter how much I shook it around.  Luckily the hubs found a replacement part on ebay for $40. I just hope that it works.

Family level:
I found out that my grandfather isn't doing too well. He's currently in a nursing home. He had been admitted to the hospital with pneumonia and a bladder infection and while the doctors were clearing up all that they found out he has kidney cancer. Since he is 87 years old there isn't going to be any treatment. Please pray that they can just keep him comfortable.

I had a feeling deep down that things were going south with him. I try my best to write him a letter every month or so and the past couple he never responded to. it's very unlike him not to send at least a little note back. It makes me sad that he might never see a picture of his great grandson. Maybe I'll be able to send him a letter to the nursing home and someone could read it to him.

these two are my everything

happy thanksgiving

This year we (obviously) had so much to be thankful for. Our little family is happy and healthy, albeit exhausted. Luckily both my family and the hubs' family agreed to travel to our house for the holiday. The hubs fried the turkeys while my mom, his mom, and his sister provided all of the sides.

It was a wonderfully low key day filled with chit chat and relaxation. Unfortunately I forgot to take a lot of pictures but I did get a few. My sister-in-law dressed the kids in matching pjs for a Christmas picture. I didn't get any great pictures with my camera, but I'm pretty sure she did with hers.

cousin Ashley holding Quinn

cousin Eric holding Quinn

quinn reiter

On November 15th at 7:12 pm, the hubs and I welcomed our sweet baby boy Quinn Reiter into the world. He weighed 7lbs 10oz and was 21 inches long. Below is his birth story.

The night before was spent preparing for his arrival. The house was cleaned top to bottom making sure every dish was put away and all laundry was washed. I wanted to be able to come home to a straight house. Of course we stayed up fairly late. Neither of us could go to bed considering how excited/nervous we were (maybe it was just me who was nervous).

The alarm went off at 4 am and I woke up with butterflies in my stomach. After a quick shower, I managed to get down a banana and I had the hubs take one last bump picture in front of the Christmas tree.

We also snapped one last picture of just the two of us before heading to the hospital. On the way the hubs decided he wanted a chicken biscuit for breakfast, but we couldn't find a McDonald's that was open before 6 am. We went by two different ones too. 

We got to the hospital at 5:30 and were immediately put in a room. After changing into the lovely and stylish gown, the nurse started my IV and I got into bed to be hooked up. I had two sensors around my belly. One measured when I was having a contraction and the other kept track of Quinn's heartbeat. Then I had the IV in my right arm and the blood pressure cuff around the left arm. Let's just say going to the bathroom was quite the production!

At that point I told Danny to go get himself some breakfast. I'm such a good wife ha! We spent the first couple of hours watching Home Improvement and Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The contractions were coming on consistently but not too terribly painful.

Around 9 am the doctor came in to check me and broke my water. There was no going back now! Contractions were coming on strong at that point. I did my best to breath through everything and to stay calm. I kept telling myself what my friend Allison said, "I can do anything for a minute."

My mom had arrived at the hospital at that point and the three of us watched tv while I labored on. Around 11 the nurse could tell I was starting to really hurt and offered a pain medication to take the edge off. As she put it in my IV she said I would still feel the contractions but I would feel a little light headed and wouldn't care as much. She looked at me and asked if I felt anything yet and I was responding, "No, nothing yet...oh there it is!" I instantly felt like I had just consumed 3 glasses of wine. 

An hour and a half later and it was time to call in the big guns. I was ready for the epidural. I applaud the women who have drug free births but goodness I'll never be one of them. After that point we just waited it out. I took a nap and the biggest pain I felt were hunger pains. I certainly was hungry!

I did have to be put on oxygen to keep Quinn's heart beat up, but that was the worst of it. At one point I looked at the hubs and asked, "so do you still think I'm sexy." Everyone seems to get a kick out of that. 

Danny's mom came to the hospital after her classes that morning and everyone chit chatted while we waited. 

At 5:30 I was only 6 cm along so I was trying to tell everyone to go get dinner. The nurse predicted it would be nearly 9 pm before I was ready to push. An hour later everyone was about to leave when the doctor came in and decided to check me. The nurse jokingly said, "come on 9 cm" and the hubs replied, "no, we need to wish for 10!" Wouldn't you know the doctor looked up and said, "well you're at 10 so it's time to push." The hubs and I almost thought he was joking!

Forty five minutes later our sweet boy came into the world. It was a very surreal experience. Both the hubs and my mom were there cheering me on while our nurse Jill cracked jokes. I was so appreciative of the laughter and lightheartedness. I would have had the hardest time otherwise.

Waiting to hold my bundle of joy

I can't believe I'm a mommy

After things had calmed down my mom went out and brought back Subway. It was by far the best sub I've ever had haha. Since I wasn't allowed to eat or drink, I think I also sucked down 3 ginger ales and a water in record time. I didn't care that I would have to get up and use the bathroom, everything tasted so delicious!

I was able to nurse for the very first time before we were moved to the recovery room. Luckily he latched on right away and nursed for 10 minutes on each side. After finally settling into our room (which was the size of a walk in closet lol), we started going through all the sweet sentiments sent by family and friends through texts and facebook.

It was quite the exhausting day, but it just flew by for me. I never thought 12 hours of labor could go so quickly. The next day brought on lots of love from lots of visitors.

my brother, Uncle Casey

Miss Kristen came to visit

Quinn cuddling with daddy

he's a bit dramatic when he sleeps, ha!

and ends up in the oddest positions

our little family is heading home!

going home in Clemson and camo

memere came to visit

first nap in his crib

loving on Miss Jessica

so cozy in his fleecy sleep sack

Truth: it took me three days to complete this post...ahhh mommyhood

the time has come

We get to meet our sweet boy tomorrow!

I had another check up this afternoon and the hubs wanted to come along to tell the doctor of our decision to induce by the 21st so we can be home on Thanksgiving. Funny thing was that he never had the chance! The doctor came in and first words out of his mouth were, "if you are still showing signs of progress, would you be ok with being induced?"

Ten minutes later we were walking out with an appointment for 5:30 tomorrow morning. I never thought I could feel so many emotions so quickly and all at the same time. My stomach is still doing flip flops.

I'm beyond thrilled that the time has come, but I'm still terrified of the unknown. So many questions are racing through my head! I'm trying my best to stay calm and know in a very short time my son will be in my arms. Wish us luck!

bump & baby update: 39 weeks

Not much news to report this week. The doctor checked me again and said I'm 2 cm dilated and still 80% effaced. Q is squirming around and both mommy and daddy are getting anxious to meet their little boy.

We were hopeful for an 11.11.11 birthday, but as the day came and went we quickly realized it wasn't happening. He's already shaping up to be as stubborn as his daddy, ha!

I asked the doctor how long they'd let me go before inducing and he said a week. Seeing as a week past is Thanksgiving day, I wasn't thrilled to hear that. I have another appointment this Monday and we plan on asking to be induced on the 21st giving us a couple days to recoup before coming home for Thanksgiving with our families.

We'll see if Q decides to come on his own before then!

which one?

I'm back on the crossbody purse train and I need help. I realized I still have a $100 gift card to Zappos and it doesn't have to be used on shoes! Here are the three contenders:

Number 1:

Source: zappos.com via Desiree on Pinterest

Metro Messenger by Jessica Simpson

Number 2:

Source: zappos.com via Desiree on Pinterest

Vintage Re-issue II by Fossil

Number 3:

Source: zappos.com via Desiree on Pinterest

Brooke Suede Flap by Etienne Aigner

I think I'm leaning towards number 2 because it reminds me of something I would have found in my grandmother's house, a little vintage treasure. Which one do you vote for?

bump and baby update: 38 weeks

Nothing too exciting to report this week. I'm still pregnant. The doctor checked me this week and I'm 1.5 cm dilated and 80% effaced. The only thing this really means is that my body is preparing to kick out Q, but we still have no idea when.

The list of things to do before baby's arrival is down to just a couple tasks and truthfully they don't matter if he comes before they are completed. I had two majors that I wanted done.

1. Complete the nursery - check!
2. Put up Christmas decorations - check!

Yes, you read that correctly. I have put up our Christmas decorations. We normally put them up right after Thanksgiving, but with my due date being the 17th I knew I wanted it done beforehand. I'm not foolish hopeful enough to believe that it can be done with a newborn. Christmas shopping will be plenty a challenge!

happy halloween

Halloween was pretty low-key for us this year. We did manage to put out all of our decorations, which are the same as last year except for one addition. My mom got us a white Christmas tree at a yard sale and instead of putting it up in the attic for a month to just have to bring it back down, we decided to make it into a Halloween tree. It went on the front porch and I added purple, pumpkin, and ghost lights to it.

Monday night was spent with the hubs boy scout troop listening to ghost stories by the campfire while roasting marshmallows.

two of the boys dressed up as the scout master

The hubs didn't dress up, but I did..as a magic 8 ball!

I wore my magic 8 ball shirt to work and actually won a $25 gift card for best costume. Pretty good for something that cost me less than a dollar to make, ha!

Next year will be lots of fun since we'll have a little one to torment dress up!