Our First Family Picture!

Are you kidding me?

So, only a true dumb ass can end up on bed rest after having a baby...

I over-did it when I got home and my doctor put me on bed rest--basically she told me to put my feet up and only take care of the baby. Which selfishly is nice, but it's pretty unrealistic. 

It's completely my fault because I was so excited to be home; wanted to spend time w/ JJ,  wanted to prove I could balance two kids' needs, wanted to be outside because it has been so gorgeous, and wanted to start losing the weight that I have left over. Well, at 2 weeks post-partum my body said, "You are on crack, right?" and put a halt to my ambitions. 

So, now I'm trying very hard to take it easy and pay attention to what my body is telling me. It's hard for me to slow down but I have to let some things go--like doing the laundry, going for walks outside and running errands. Thank goodness Mike has been so helpful. We had a very trying week b/c he had to work nights this week--so he would leave around 9:30pm, work all night, be home by 7:30am to get JJ ready for school and then attempt to sleep for a few hours until JJ had to be picked up at 11am. The lack of sleep was very tough on him and the lack of support through the night and part of the day was tough for me. Luckily, after I was put on bed rest, Ashley was able to come yesterday and today to take JJ to the park and the beach and help me clean up the house. I'm so glad that Mike's schedule will go back to normal next week!

Spring!

We are loving (oddly) warm weather here! JJ is all set for the summer w/ his gadgets--he loves his tractor and he just got a new bike. Such a big boy! 

Kayley is doing well; she is so strong and independent for only 2 weeks old--she picks her head up and likes to be awake a lot during the day--she doesn't want to miss a thing!

Pixs above:

JJ and his tractor

JJ and his new bike

Kayley

JJ reading to Kayley :)

Super Twin Powers...

I'm starting to see similarities between JJ and Kayley--can you see it too or am I crazy??

JJ is the top picture, Kayley is on the bottom. Maybe all newborns look similar but I feel like you can see some distinct features in both of them. 

And can you believe JJ used to have red hair?? 

My "Uh-buh" Moment

Ok. So now I get it.

Labor and delivery: It was great! It didn't hurt! The baby is healthy! Nurses take the baby at night for you! People come to visit and bring you stuff! You are on lots of drugs pumped right into your iv!

First week home: My incision is sore. OH MY GOD my boobs are sore. I pulled something in my neck and now I can't move my head, neck or shoulders. JJ has a cold--please don't touch the baby w/ your germs but I want you to love her and not end up in therapy b/c of me! The baby is throwing up--why is she throwing up?? JJ if you tell me "No", "No Way", or "Mmmm...No" one more time... Huh, I didn't lose all 40 pounds in the hospital? Now I actually have to do some work and get this weight off.

I'm so tired.

I'm sleep deprived.

I have no patience w/ anyone.

My realization?

It is NOT  the labor and delivery that deters people from having another child. It is the first few weeks home that could tie my tubes in an instant. 

It WILL get better. (It has to?) I WILL make it through this. (Or go down crying in a blur of Vicotin, cookie dough and baby poop.) We WILL all survive this! 

Feel free to save, print and mail this post to me when you see me discussing the potential for baby #3 in a couple of years! 

Jayson and Kayley

JJ is doing great with the baby! He acts like she has always been here :) Most of the time he is not really interested in her--but he likes to give her kisses and he tells everyone that she is "so cute!"

More Pictures of Kayley

Things are still going great! I'm sore (ofc) and I'm sick of doctors and nurses coming in my room at all hours but other than that, everything's good!

Kayley is more alert now and is starting to eat on more of a schedule.

Will continue to post more pictures, can't wait for JJ to meet his little sister tomorrow!

She's Here :)

Kayley Belle Kettle Rivera

April 7th, 2008

10:14am

7 pounds 9 ounces

21 inches long

She's doing great!! And so is Mommy--the c section was wonderful--can you believe it?? What a difference good drugs can make :) I was so nervous b/c the spinal didn't work when I had JJ and it was just a traumatic, unhappy and scary experience. But this birth was so different--I felt nothing, had a great team of doctors, we chatted through the whole procedure and after Kayley was born, she never had to leave our sides :) The environment was so happy and positive and peaceful.

I'm a bit sore now but I'm really doing great! Kayley is a great sleeper and that has been a blessing :) We had many visitors yesterday--My dad came to help out for the afternoon, my sister stayed from dinner time til  bed time so Mike could go home and spend time with JJ.  My mom, Steve and Courtney and Katie came up and brought cute clothes for Kayley and even cuter Adidas booties! And Lisa came up last night and hung out w/ Steph and I.  It was fun to laugh and bond about our various birthing stories :)

Overall, this has been such a great experience--we were even talking about baby #3 with my doctor while in surgery! Buuuuuuuuttt...I think we will wait on that for a while!

Will post more pictures soon!! Thanks so much to all for your support and advice and prayers--Erin, I kept repeating while I was getting my spinal "curl in a ball and push against the needle..." It  really helped!! Thanks!!

Monday is "it"!

Just got back from the doctor's...

She said my cervix is not progressing and is "unfavorable" so we will be having a c-section on Monday am!

I'm pretty freaked out b/c of Jayson's birth when the spinal didn't work but I'm hopeful that this will be a completely different experience and I will do my best to make it as positive as possible:)

So, between now and Monday I will be getting the house ready, freezing dinners, spending as much time as possible with JJ, scheduling people to watch JJ for the week while I'm in the hospital etc etc!

Feel free to send pain-free, drug-induced, happy, calming vibes my way on Monday! We will post pictures and news as soon as we are able :)

9 Month Pregnancy Pictures

Here are a couple of pictures from our recent photo shoot--I never thought I would make it this far!! Enjoy :)

Updates Again...

Still no baby!
I'll be 39 weeks tomorrow and at my last doctor's appt on Thursday, I was still 1 cm dilated but now I am 50% effaced. The doctor said my cervix was a lot softer so I guess that's a good sign that we will be going soon!
My doctor also said if I am still pregnant at my appointment this Thursday then we will schedule a c-section. She said she will give me one week past my due date to try to have the baby naturally but after that, it's a c-section. I guess VBACs can't be induced so it's either do it natural w/ no help or have another c-section.
Not great options but I'm just excited to meet this little girl so however she has to come out, is fine with me :)

Mike and JJ have been great helpers--yesterday I thought was "it"--my back was killing me all day and my contractions were about 13 minutes apart at the closest. Mike and JJ let me lay down all day and rest. It was great (if you ignored the contractions and pain!) But then the contractions peetered out around 11pm so I guess the baby didn't think it was time yet!

We will keep you posted on when the big day happens!

Mendon Ponds

Mike took JJ on a hike in Mendon Ponds Park. Mike said that he loved wandering all over and didn't want to leave :)

More Easter Pics

JJ loved dying eggs and really liked having his first Easter egg hunt. His new obsession is 'Cars' so in his Easter basket, he was blessed w/ tons of Cars merchandise!

Happy Easter

Updates and Such

We are still here w/ not too much new to report! No baby yet--I'm 36 1/2 weeks and doing alright :)

I'm going to work for one more week and then stay home til the baby comes!

Today at RSD, there was a shower for myself and Christine, another teacher who is due 3 weeks after me. It was great--we were definitely spoiled! I can't wait to put the lil one in all of the cute clothes :) We even got big brother/little sister shirts for JJ and the baby :) too cute!

Here are some recent pictures of JJ--he loves his lady bugs! We are working on not pinching them and "breaking" them as he calls it :)

Also, we had a ton of snow last weekend, Jay loved it! I wish I wasn't so big so I could go sledding/tubing/hiking etc in the snow...oh well, here's hoping for next year!

For the West Wing fans

An interesting look at how the current political campaigns compare to the 2004 season of The West Wing.

As a fan of both the show and Obama, I thought this was entertaining!

J-A-Y-S-O-N

JJ has learned to spell his name--in spoken English, in written English and in ASL!
Enjoy two video clips-- one of him signing his name (Sorry if it's dark) and one of him writing it.
Gotta love my bi-bi baby!

Some of JJ's favorite birthday presents

Lisa, Kevin and "Baby Emma" gave JJ a play-doh animals set--I highly recommend this for toddlers--JJ loves putting the animals together and not worrying about it being perfect (think Mr. Potato Head but w/ a play-doh body)
Scott, Jen and Tyler gave JJ a batman costume--he loves running around and making the cape "fly"!
A communal gift for JJ--The RSD science teacher donated the tank; Barry, Christina and Lucian gave JJ a gift card to pick out the fish; and Mommy and Daddy bought the rest! JJ named the four fish Nemo, Dori, Hey Little Fella (can you see a Finding Nemo theme??) and Up n Down. Mommy changed Hey Little Fella's name to Rip Off cuz he died in two days...

Pictures of JJ's First Day

JJ getting ready for school
JJ's all ready!
After school hangin' out
Notice that the backpack never comes off!

Feeling Like a Craptacular Mom...

Today was JJ's first day of school!! And ofc, I'm working and not there.
Ugh, I never knew I would feel so guilt ridden as a working mom...

BUT, Mike just sent me this message so I'm feeling a little bit better:
"When we arrived there and he was so excited. We walked into building as Mrs. Wasnock was standing by to welcome Jayson in. He walked fast straight to same classroom. Then we walked up to Jennifer's office. JJ is excited and grabbed her hand. He pulled her and mine hands to classroom. Jenn showed him where coat and bag hang up (#9) he seems so distracted with other kids ha he jumped and walked ard in room while other kids sat down on floor. Teacher aide laughed and told me she'll handle him until he settles down then I said bye bye JJ. He came up and kissed me then walked away."

Mike also said "far out small world" cuz Gerry Bateman was at the school to observe a teacher working w/ one of the mainstreamed Deaf kids. Gotta love the Deaf community! Also, Jennifer that Mike mentioned above is the secretary at the school--she's a CODA so she interprets for Mike when we go to school. It's nice to have someone in the front office that can communicate w/ our family--especially since Mike will be the one picking JJ up and dropping him off every day.

I'm glad JJ is adjusting well and having a good time--I'm hoping he never knows how heart-breaking it is for me not to be there. Will let you know later how the rest of the day goes--I also have some cute pixs to publish of his first day of school outfits--JJ got a new backpack to bring to school and his been wearing it EVERYWHERE (even to the bathroom and to bed!) :)