The Hospital Stay

We were fortunate enough to have lots of visitors at the hospital. It was soooo nice!! Grandparents, Aunt/Uncle/nephews, Bible study members, co-workers, you name it--we loved it! Here's a shot of Grammy and Grumpy Shepherd:

On Saturday evening, we got to have our steak and lobster "celebration dinner" (did I mention we LOVED Baylor Frisco??) since we weren't sure if it was the final night of our visit, or if Sunday night would be. Everything was delish!

By this time, the nurses only had to come now and then since baby boy and I were stable. My epidural was taken out on Friday morning after an extremely itchy night (guess that's a side effect?), so I was just given pain meds after that. It was kind of weird b/c at first, the nurses were very punctual and brought them every four hours, but at some point I had to start calling the nurse's station for them (possibly b/c it was the weekend and there were only about 5 rooms occupied on the floor?). I learned my lesson with the laparotomy surgery a year and a half earlier when the pain got "ahead of me"...keep up with it or it'll get the best of you. We also enjoyed the quiet times, especially with the new addition to our little family. Proud Daddy on Sunday morning, at naptime...

Sweet baby boy, who we've decided will do lots of talking with his very expressive hands:

Monday morning...time for our discharge. Two happy, excited parents:

Our suite at the hospital was absolutely wonderful--a little 'living area' plus a regular room. (we found out later these rooms are usually reserved for folks who have extended hospital visits, not just normal stays, so we lucked out!) We packed up and shipped out because Jason had to head to work to finish a bid that afternoon.

Our little guy in his carseat for the first time. The headrest thingee wouldn't go any lower, so I ended up rolling up a towel (similar style to the one by his legs) so his head wouldn't bob around on the way home. After a bit of fussing, he was out as soon as someone picked up the carseat.

The hospital visit was wonderful...great doctors/nurses/lactation consultants, wonderful visitors, nice room, yummy food (and that's from a couple of self-professed foodies!). I'd do it again in a heartbeat! I also highly recommend "rooming out" for the nights--you can send the baby to the nursery and they'll bring him back for feedings, which allows you some great sleep (for the last time in 18+ years, I'm sure ;)

Robert Reid French's Big Debut

So this post has been a long time coming...but the littlest Frenchie is now exactly one week old!!! I know it sounds cliche, but I didn't exactly realize just how busy life is with a newborn. I am basically a milk factory! ;) I look back at the past week and wonder where all the time has gone, but then if you think about it, I am feeding the little guy about 9 hours out of the day, not to mention the endless diaper changes, wondering why he's crying this time, and most importantly...just gazing in awe and wonder at the little miracle God has entrusted to us! What a blessing!!!!

In the words of Maria on The Sound of Music, "let's start at the very beginning..." Last week was the final week of the 2009-2010 school year. Jason and I enjoyed a nice, relaxing Memorial Day weekend--just what I needed after a nutty week at school. We kept waiting for "the" moment...anytime...and it just didn't happen. I awoke Tuesday morning (on the wrong side of the bed, apparently) and was just in an icky mood. I made it through the kindergarten learning celebration (kind of like a little graduation, slide show, and special book reading back in the classroom) without my water breaking, which had been a scary little daydream I'd been having. On Wednesday morning, I had to take a half day off for my doctor's appointment (the absolute only day I could do it that week)--I was still 3cm dilated and my cervix was soft, but baby boy's head had still not descended anymore. Our end of the year party was at the end of the day...another school event I was hoping to "make it through"...yet at the same time, I just longed to meet our little guy. I was finally resigned to the apparent fact that he would be coming on our induction date the next week, 6/8/10. The date was really cool, anyway ;) So I puttered around at school, didn't leave anything out in preparation for the next day (the first day I'd done that in weeks!!) and went home thinking I'd be there for the last day of school for sure.

But Mr. Reid had different plans than we did! I had trouble getting comfortable all night--got to bed early, then sat there...and sat there...finally got up at 10:30 because my brain wouldn't turn off, so I checked my personal email account (which I never, ever use anymore) and deleted the majority of the 800 emails (mostly junk), checked my sister's blog again (yay--a new post!), etc. Had a glass of milk hoping it'd put me to sleep, and got back into bed. I was still awake at 11:30, so for the first time in months, I took Tylenol PM. Blessed relief--it put me to sleep soon after. The next thing I knew, it was 3:45am and I was pretty sure I'd had the little "trickle" people talk about when your water breaks. At first I thought it must be a dream, but sure enough, another little trickle, so I bolted to the bathroom. Sure enough, I sat down on the commode and a ton of liquid came pouring out. (sorry if that's t.m.i.) I was soooo excited...until I looked down and saw that it was bright red--and amniotic fluid is supposed to be clear. I called for Jason to go get my phone and after what seemed like an eternity (but was only about 4 minutes, I think) the answering service had my doctor on the phone. He wanted to know how fast we could get to the hospital. Trying not to panic, we grabbed a few more essentials to add to our already-packed vehicle, said a frantic little prayer together, and sped off toward Baylor Frisco. The good news is that there is virtually no traffic at 4am, so we got there in record time. I was increasingly concerned because the baby hadn't moved the entire time I'd been awake, but once we were there and I was all hooked up to monitors, things looked great.

I was already having regular, strong contractions that were only 2-3 minutes apart. (Once he found that baby and I were stable and heart rates were fine, my doctor actually told the nurse to start me on pitocin, but she said my contractions were so strong/regular that I didn't need it!!) I was dilated to a four (maybe a little more) and having to pee every 30 minutes or so...but sometime after 7am when I went to the restroom, I passed a large clot (I say golf ball sized...nurse claimed orange sized when she came back into the room a little later). My doctor showed up soon after thinking we needed to do a c-section (noo!!!) since I was passing so much blood and that clot, I was encouraged to go ahead and get the epidural "just in case" we should need to do a c-section. I couldn't see the monitor, but Jason said some of the contractions were off the chart. I really was shocked that aside from lower back pain, these contractions really weren't that bad! (the ones I'd had the Friday before were much worse!!) Shortly after, they put a scalp monitor on Reid to more carefully see what his heart rate was doing, which broke my water (apparently, the liquid from earlier that kept gushing out was from a high leak in the amniotic sac, and this monitor ruptured the rest) and showed traces of meconium--more bad news because the baby can inhale this and it can cause major lung problems, etc. My doctor was quickly called back and I was to be prepped for a c-section as soon as anesthesiology could pump up the epidural and there was a clear OR. Not what we wanted to hear, but we just wanted a healthy baby. The jokes began to fly that we'd planned this because the Browers, a couple from our Bible study group, were having their planned c-section that morning to deliver their twins. Jason actually passed them coming out of the OR just before we went in--how crazy is that? Here's my handsome McFrenchie in his scrubs: (please excuse the directionality of the pic--we got a new laptop and I'm not sure how to flip the photos after they've been downloaded)

The OR was a bit freaky...I've had two surgeries, but never been awake for one! I don't see how women did it in the days where daddies weren't allowed into the birthing rooms/ORs...he was my human strength (and of course, we were both praying like crazy!!). I was pretty scared about a c-section, having heard the horror stories about all the pressure, having it feel like a horse is sitting on your chest, etc, but quite honestly it really wasn't bad at all! Now recovery will probably be a different story ;) Here's the new daddy with our little guy.

I realized later I didn't get to see him for the first ten minutes or so because the curtain (which was about one inch from my face! Claustrophobia!) was in the way, but despite my grogginess I could hear most of what was going on. It was one of the most surreal moments of my life--the little guy we've been waiting to meet for nearly ten long months!!

Here I am in recovery, where I got to nurse him for the first time in his little life. There really are not words sufficient to describe what an amazing, special thing that is...especially when you've waited so long and prayed so hard for just that. I teared up on and off because I was just so grateful that God had said, "Yes!" to our prayers.

Reid's first visitor, proud Papa French with daddy--three generations! After getting Jason's phone call that morning about my water breaking, he didn't wait for the second update...when Jason called back, Bruce was already at Bucky's in Madisonville getting coffee :) So here we are, one week later (well, okay--it's now 1:45am so one week and a couple hours later...little man doesn't want to sleep because he is an eating, peeing machine!!). Proud mommy and daddy have gotten little rest, but Grammy (my mom) has taken great care of us since we came home from the hospital. I am so fortunate she's that wonderful!! I know that now being a mom myself, I'm only just beginning to appreciate all she's done for me over the years... I have sooooo much more to tell, but it will have to wait for another day. This tired mama needs some beauty sleep!

I'M IN LABOR...wait...no...just kidding...

So school was absolute madness last week, as I expected. The end of the year is always chock full of craziness: field trips, program practices, field days, etc. The first part of the week wasn't too incredibly awful, but then came Thursday and Friday...Thursday was Careers on Wheels in the morning. I always enjoy it b/c you get to learn right along with the kids about different careers on wheels (the coolest thing I learned this year was that concrete trucks spin one direction when transporting the concrete, then spin the other direction to actually pour it out...so that's how it doesn't pour out all along the road!), but when it's 98 degrees outside, you're pushing your rolly teacher chair so you don't have to get up and down from the concrete sidewalk, and the sun is beating down on your 9 1/2 month pregnant belly stuck in hot compression stockings under all the usual clothing, it's not so fun. The kids were whiny and the teachers were tired...thank goodness for fabulous volunteers who picked this particular day to do our lunch duty and bring us food. That saved us teachers from going mad, lol ;) The afternoon was nuts, too--program practice (always a beating, and this year we have to run the sound system ourselves--yikes!), then Friday Live...but on a Thursday. They asked ME (why me??) to run the slide show (in front of all 600+ people, mind you) and I was really nervous I'd screw it up, but aside from one minor mishap it was fine. But as soon as all 500+ kiddos had filed into the gym, the fire alarm went off!! Not a drill and I never did find out exactly what happened, but we sat outside in the sweltering heat for a good 20 min while the fire department came to check things out. Surprisingly, that did not send me into labor.

On Friday, it was Field Day. Always fun for the kids, but a beating for the teachers b/c it's just hard to keep up with all the kids, make sure everyone has pottied, is hydrated, etc. Our Specials teachers do a great job and we have wonderful parents who volunteer to run all the stations...but this year it had gotten postponed due to weather...and this particular day was probably the worst as far as weather, humidity, and those awful little flesh-colored biting bugs. Thank goodness I decided to wear a tank top rather than my Bennett shirt or I think I would've passed out within the first ten minutes. I was quite worried about being in the sun for more than three hours, so I was a shade hog whenever I could be, and by the end of the school day I'd had three huge jugs of ice water, four icy pops, two flavored waters, and a regular bottle of water. Let's just say that my bladder was like, "Seriously...what're you doing to me???" We had no break the entire day since there were no Specials classes, lunch was in our classroom, and we were all on recess duty. Jason's grandparents were in town, so we'd made dinner plans with them. After school was over, I was racing around the room trying to get everything I could in order "just in case" and leaving things in obvious places. I didn't want Jason and his grandparents to have to wait long at the house, so I got home and just changed. (could definitely have used a shower, but we were just going to dinner and they convinced me I was fine) They had their heart set on the Londoner, a little pub that just opened off of the Tollway, so that's where we headed. Once we got there, I began to feel not so great. I had what I can only describe as menstrual-like pains (on steroids!!) that didn't go away. Nothing sounded at all appetizing, so I opted for a light salad (think I only ate about 10 little bites of it) and lemon water. I began feeling worse and worse, and there was a definite tightening of the abdominal area, so naturally I assumed it must be the beginning of labor, which figured since I was filthy, had an exhausting day, and it was the beginning of the weekend...plus I'd been two cm dilated at my appointment on Tuesday. It got so bad that I began timing the contractions and couldn't even make small talk nor follow the conversation. Marilyn finally said, "I think maybe you should take her home." I felt absolutely awful for cutting dinner short, but at the same time felt so horrible that that's really all I wanted to do--shower and go to the hospital. So we headed to the car and then were homeward bound, with me gripping the seatbelt and Jason speeding in between hitting every.single.stoplight. EVERY one. All the bumps and potholes in the road were excruciating. I also found out this was the date Jason had "picked" that I'd go into labor (but he wouldn't tell me until then) and he'd heard so many things with "baby" in them that day...movie titles, songs, etc. Once home, I crawled upstairs and into the shower, which felt heavenly, and somehow managed to shave (probably the crappiest job ever, but I did NOT want to stare at hairy legs nor be filthy for 12 hours of labor!). Then, once I was out of the shower, the contractions and pain didn't slow down, they just STOPPED. Period. No more. I was shocked and sure they'd come back soon, so got a bottle of water and laid down on the couch to promptly fall asleep. They never did come back. Here's basically what I looked like that day (but with longer, school-appropriate shorts and a white tank top):

On Saturday, I figured I was probably dumb for not calling the dr. the night before (but I don't want to be THAT person who panics at every little thing!) and Jason and my mom convinced me I should call the answering service. I expected my dr. to say, "Yes, that can be normal--you're fine." but he actually told me to go in to the hospital to get checked. So we had a nice little field trip to Baylor Medical Center Frisco for a few hours. It was actually not bad--kind of a neat practice for the real thing. We had a fabulous nurse who made us feel right at home (and reassured me that if we were "those" people, we'd have come in at 18 wks, 22 wks, 25 wks, etc), and if you look at the bright side of things, I now know exactly what to expect when we go in for the "real thing." Just hoping the real thing is soon b/c I am a total cow. Check it out!! (normally, I don't post the bare belly shots, and pardon my lovely outfit and funky belly button--you can blame the last surgery for that one--but I'm excited that I seem to have dropped some more overnight...I kind of have a little bit of "waist" in between the boobs and belly, now!)

So this weekend, we've taken it easy and relaxed...but also in hopes that things would get moving... I don't sit well, stand well, eat well, or sleep well, but I'm still so grateful for this wonderful little being God has allowed me to carry. I just keep seeing/reading/thinking about the Psalm that says, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." So true! In the meantime, we have tried Mexican food, lots of walks, spicy things, and well, you know. Need I say more?

And lastly, I did promise to post a pic of my lovely compression stockings, Stacey-rigged so I can wear flip flops...quite the fashion statement, but much cooler than socks and Sketchers! Gets me lots of looks, I tell ya ;)

To Drop, or Not to Drop...That is the Question!

Okay, so all the pregnancy books say first babies "drop" (lower into the pelvis in preparation for birth) up to a month ahead of the actual birth...but how can you tell? I went back to look at other belly shots, and from my vantage point, I don't look any different at all. But lots of people at school have commented that the belly looks lower...and I can indeed breathe better (for the most part--still get the occasional foot in the ribs) and the heartburn has been better overall. Not that that or dilation, etc. necessarily means anything--you can go into labor whenever, but it still makes you feel better. Kinda like when Dr. Herzog says I'm dilated "a tiny bit." He's probably just trying to make me feel better, lol (and I'm sure I'll hear the same thing, for the third week in a row, tomorrow at my appt).

Early this morning, I actually thought I might be in labor!! Somehow I usually make it from 10 or 10:30 until about 2:30 before having to pee the first time (and then it's like every single hour after that...sigh...did I mention that Jason and I finally traded sides of the bed last week just so I can be closer to the bathroom?). So last night, it was about 2:30--like clockwork, I had to pee. So when I got back into bed, Reid was moving around like crazy for awhile, then I began having pains (for lack of anything else better to compare them with, it felt like bad menstrual cramps) for awhile. It finally tapered off and I drifted back to sleep, but the same thing happened at 3:30, 5:30, and before I got out of bed, at about 6:30...sooo weird. I've felt pretty normal today (translated: BIG), but maybe have been a bit 'crampy.' I'm hoping this is moving the process along...we'll see what news tomorrow's appointment brings...

37 weeks:
Last Thursday was our field trip to the zoo. Can I just say it was FABulous driving there in a car versus the bus?? Last time (6 wks ago?) the bus was not comfortable at all. So I followed my formerly pregnant co-worker's lead and had Jason drive me. It was fun to hang out with him (plus he got to see the kindergarten madness I deal with on a daily basis, lol--I always liken it to herding cats) and was a lot less bumpy! On the downside, it quickly became the field trip from you-know-where as the weather declined. We basically got there, took a potty break, gathered for the tram, ate lunch, and it began to rain cats and dogs. I soon got a call from my team leader that we were leaving early due to a tornado watch--round everyone up. Thank goodness I'd gotten chaperones' cell phone numbers this time! So long story short, we were all completely soaked when boarding the buses...and poor Jason had to spring, flip-flops in hand, to the back parking lot where our car was. What a mess! So here's one of the only animals we actually got to see (excluding the tram). These cool little birds were flitting all over the aviary and hanging upside down to build a nest. They made sweet little chirps, too.

And here's my class, just off the tram as it was beginning to sprinkle. Jason and I got a laugh that morning when I put on my shirt and half of the bear paw didn't even show anymore...

Nursery!!

Three and a half weeks until D-Day (Delivery Day, that is)!! We went this morning for our car seat checks at Baylor Frisco, where we're set up to deliver. The hospital feels more like a swanky resort--it's beautiful, has wonderful food (Jason was sold when he heard about the 'lobster and steak celebration dinner' you get on the last night of your maternity stay), and took great care of me after my two surgeries. Our checks went well, but I never realized what all you're not supposed to have in/near the car seat! So back to the store go the mirror, car seat toys, and piddle pads I'd purchased...

I've been trying my darndest to get Reid's antics on video. He doesn't have nearly as much room to move around lately...and I thought all we'd see at this point was a few kicks and jabs, but last night he proved me wrong. We saw him moving all around in my belly, making it lopsided (he does indeed prefer my right side, which is often where I'll get a knee/foot lodged in my ribcage), poking out a foot/knee, etc. As soon as I went to get the camera, he quit (of course!). Maybe next time...

Here is a belly shot from last week. I really can't believe I'm so huge. It's weird because one day, I'll feel super big, but the next I'll be back to 'normal'. I was looking back at belly shots over the last 8 months and I'm shocked at how much I've grown!!! Guess that explains the 35 lb. weight gain! (Eek! My goal was 20-25...but oh well.) I have successfully cheated my compression stockings and I now make a daily fashion statement that I'll have to post pictures of b/c it's really quite laughable. I live in flip-flops during the spring and summer, so was super bummed when I realized the compression stockings require close-toed footwear. I've been living in tennis shoes and Sketchers--even had to buy some close-toed black shoes just to wear with dresses for my showers and church. But I ripped a hole in one pair of the stockings (and then the second pair) and figured why not cut out the toes (they're reinforced, so shouldn't run up the leg) and see how it works. Works great! Looks hideous, but I can wear flip flops and capris again!!




Here is what the nursery used to look like...



And here are pictures of it now--all complete!! I couldn't get a really great shot from any one angle, so there are five pictures... The bedding, which turned out gorgeous (we went with an 'F' monogram rather than 'R' for Reid, in hopes we can use it with baby #2):



The dresser and hutch, glider, and special pics (one is a framed poem that Leslie, our sweet janitor at school, created just for us--so special! The other is a beautifuly worded picture frame poem from Uncle Steven/Aunt Aimee/cousins Hayden/Henry that made me tear up at my shower.):

Eventually, I'll make a valance that matches the bedding (I ordered extra fabric), but for now it's just normal drapes that do a good job of blocking out light when needed:

The crib and decorative shelves to hold goodies (don't worry--they're up way higher than he'll ever reach!):

All the special books we've collected and been given, along with a few toys and goodies:

Happy Belated Mother's Day!!

Well, this year was the first year (in the past four) where Mother's Day was a happy occasion, not a reason for boo-hooing. Last year was so bad that we didn't even go to church (they always have a baby dedication that day, and I nearly embarrassed us the year before with all my sniffling)--just did brunch at Delaney's. Ironically, I thought about "it" every bit as much that day. BUT this year, Mother's Day was a happy, joyous reminder of how good God is :) It's absolutely amazing what can happen in a year's time. Don't get me wrong--I thought about my friends who are still struggling along in the infertility battle, as well as two who lost their little ones this year. I prayed for them the entire day as well as long before that...

Jason and Reid were on their A-game and got me gorgeous roses and cala lillies (my favorite!) for my arrival home on Friday. Then on Sunday, Jason had a very special children's book (let's face it...if you know me at all, you know how much I love children's books!!) written by none other than our pastor, Chuck Swindoll. It was even more special knowing he'd ordered it soon after finding out we were pregnant...and tried getting a hold of Chuck via email to see if he could sign it. Sorry ladies...but I believe I have the best husband on Earth!! I may have made it through the Mother's Day service without crying, but when I opened Jason's card later that day, the happy tears were a-flowin'. Such a wonderful day!

Here's a belly pic from last week (eek--where is my neck??)



And here's a sonogram from my appointment two weeks ago. I can't believe what a little chunker we have!! That was at 34 weeks, and he was already 5 lbs 4oz!!

The painting is complete--and looks great!! We put up pics on Reid's walls today and I will post pics soon. I did four loads of just his stuff (has to be separate from ours since it uses the Dreft detergent) and I am in the midst of washing his bedding as we speak. It took us most of Saturday, but we did the HUGE trip to Target and Babies R Us to do returns/buy most of what's still needed. Each thing we do makes this a tad bit more real...and so exciting!! I'm definitely in heavy nesting mode.... Crazy to think it could be ANY day, now!!

Showers, showers, showers!!

I am so fortunate to have fabulous friends and co-workers to throw us showers. The most recent one was thrown by Bible study friends this past Saturday. Here are the hostesses that were able to make it that day:



My mom came up for the weekend to come to the shower and just hang out. It was so wonderful to have time to chat and catch up!! Here we are at the shower:

Everything was delicious and everyone was so generous to bring much-needed goodies both for our tummies that day, and for the arrival of our little guy. Here are the goodies for our tummies...and I didn't think to take pics of the beautifully wrapped gifts, but hope someone else's camera did!

The day before that shower, my classroom at school threw me a baby shower. I really didn't think kindergarteners would care much about a baby shower (aside from the obvious excitement over the cake!!), but they were soooo cute and so sweet! It was so fun to watch their expressions as I opened each gift--they really got into it! Their little faces were aglow when I took in all the goodies attached to the absolutely beautiful diaper cake:

And of course their favorite part was probably the delicous cupcake cake. I snapped a quick pic before it disappeared...and boy, was it fantastic! I took home the five that were left over--they tasted like our wedding cake!

Here's my class, my huge belly, and the sweet gifts, including the "Mom to Be" crown Lacey picked out especially for me:

The weekend before, Jason and I went to my teamleader, Jill's wedding. In typical Stacey fashion, I forgot I'd brought my camera until we were leaving...but I took the opportunity to get a friend to snap our picture:

And previous to that, my friends at Bennett were kind enough to throw a baby shower for Lacy (our art teacher, who had a little girl named Violet on May 3) and me.

Our cake was incredibly cute (and yes, notice the cake cankles) and quite yummy:

I am so very fortunate to have such a fabulous network of loving people around us...thank you for the wonderful memories and special gifts!

Belly shots are soon to come...beginning tomorrow, we are having two rooms, the gameroom, and our very tall entryway painted--woo hoo!! So I'll be disconnected from our computer for awhile, but will post again soon. Hopefully I'll wake up on the right side of the bed that day, unlike today ;) It was a l-o-n-g day at school...and I just kept thinking of ALL we have to do before our little man arrives! Not to mention all the craziness that's starting back up as the end of the school year draws imminently closer...20 more days to go!!