Adventures in month 2

Oliver had a very busy month!  I will post pictures of his 2nd month growth pictures soon but in the mean time lets recap the highlights of the month!  This time of year is so super busy that James and I have had to carve out family time, which is normally on Sundays! 

One Sunday we went out to Louisburg Cider Mill.  It was super busy so I didn't get any apple cider but I did get kettle corn! We also got Oliver's first Christmas tree ornament, not the fancy one from Hallmark, but cute nonetheless. Here is a quick pic of Oliver and I on the haystacks.  We had to take a fast pic before I started breaking out in hives :)

After the Cider Mill we drove the back roads to get home and we ended up close to Eva and Shawn's new house so I thought I would show James where they lived and they happened to be outside working on the yard so we stopped in for a little chat!  Scarlett wanted to hold Oliver :)  Aunt Eva thought it would be best if she helped too!  It was very short lived as Scarlett's new bike was calling her name.

While James was at a wedding in Florida Oliver and I attended the KSU/KU game!  It was a little cold so we were all bundled but trust me he was the cutest little fan in the cutest outfit from cousin Paula!  K-State stomped all over KU.  He slept through the first half and then was awake for the major plays in the 3rd quarter! 

Overall it was successful day!  Oliver and I survived the weekend without James but we were super excited for him to return!  It was touch and go at times :) 

Oliver also attended his first soccer game.  We went the the USA/Guatemala game.  USA won.  As he did during the KSU game he slept the whole game.  This time he didn't even want to wake up for a photo-op.

Our last major outing this month was to the Maple Leaf Festival in Baldwin City.  James had to work so I went with my mom, sister, and cousins.  It was a KSU game day so we were decked out supporting the CATS! 

Darby was not excited for Oliver to join her in the stroller.  He was sitting on her candy.  She liked it a lot more when he was in his stroller and she could look at him.  It was a beautiful day and a great day to be outside.  We ended the day at home watching the Wildcats crush the Mountaineers!

While adventures are fun, being at home is just as exciting!  Taking naps on daddy's chest is one of his  favorite places.  We have also be working on tummy time.  Don't worry he was never unattended.

Sweet Dreams to all our family and friends!

Moe's new life as a second class citizen

So our first "baby" has had an adjustment period too!  When we first came home from the hospital he was really relieved to see me because I had been "missing" for 5 days and he was also happy to be out of his house since he had been in it so much over those 5 days.  We introduced Oliver and Moe and Oliver gave Moe a new toy.  Over the next week or so Moe was very curious about this thing in his house and seemed to wonder when it was leaving so he could be up on the couch again and get more attention.  He think he also hoped it would leave soon so he could get fed on a regular basis again.  As the weeks have gone on he has gotten more used to the fact that Oliver now requires more attention which means he does not get as much.  He has learned that he needs to be more forceful if we forget to feed him so he doesn't go to bed hungry.  And now, he has started to become the protector of Oliver.  He sleeps in Oliver's room and when we aren't looking he hops in the rocking chair.  He has also loved that James and I are more occupied that the rules have relaxed a little.  Here is a picture from this morning of him on the BACK of the couch..this wouldn't have been allowed 6 weeks ago :)  Oh well, as James said, at least he is not underfoot and in the way.

Can you tell life is so hard for Moe?!?

Oliver's 1 Month

So I'm a few weeks behind in updating the blog, but in my defense I'm a new mom and I'm just trying to figure out when to take a shower.  Okay, so that might be a little bit of a stretch but some days it's the true.  Being a mom has been the most wonderful experience EVER!!!  I can't believe how fast it goes by.  

Highlights of the first month:

• Eating so much and gaining weight
• Approximately 8 pounds
• Recognizes mom and dad
• Babbles and coos
• Working on head control
• Stayed with Aunt Bean for 5 hours while James and I went on our first date
• Outgrown most of his newborn clothes
• Enjoys car rides 
• Sleeps about 5-7 hours each night!
• Sleeps in his own bed in his room
• Shares his frustrations, sadness, and hunger with LOUD cries
• Cuddles
• Happy, content and awake most of the afternoon
• Loves his binky
• Starting to like Moe - starting being the key word :)

We have had LOTS of visitors since we have been home, Grandma and Grandpa Rolin, Grandma and Grandpa Bennett, Aunt Bean, Aunt Rebecca, Uncle Bobby, Aunt Laurie and Cousins Mikhayla, Danielle, and Katie. Aunt Mary and Uncle Tom came to visit all the way from Texas.

We have been to the lake to meet the Browns! Had our first family/newborn pictures taken, went apple picking, visited Regency Place to meet mommy co-workers and students and visited daddy's work too.  Oliver also spent on afternoon with Aunt Bean so James and I could go on our first date to see our friend Amanda at TCT in the production of Legally Blonde.  It has been an exciting first month!!! 

James and I have adjusted to lack of sleep and the blessing from God to be parents to our amazing little boy!  We are in awe of him more and more every day and have grown closer and more in love as a couple.  We truly have been blessed! 

Love to all!

Oliver's Newborn Photos

Several weeks ago Oliver had his newborn pictures taken.  At this time he was a little over 2 weeks old.  It was such a fun session with the talented Melissa Koontz with Midwestern Lace photography out of Atchison. 

Oliver loved being naked to say the least..he peed on everyone and everything :)  But we all just took it in stride and laughed the whole day.  Here some of our favorites with my own commentary :)  So I have a lot of favorites and if you would like to see the rest let me know and I would proudly email you them or show in the album we have....yes I'm that proud cheesy mom now!

 This photo turned out so sweet and beautiful, when it was being taken I didn't really see the vision but Melissa had it and it turned out fabulous!

 Hanging on to Dad!  Love it!!

 I always sleep this peaceful and angel like!

 What should I do today?

 Just a little nap in the dresser

We totally are in love!

 

 Can you believe it?  No we can't! or were we thinking...man we are in trouble :)

 Love the reflection

 Good Night!

 Good Morning!

 Smitten

 Can't believe he is here!

 I'm DONE!!!!

Family of 3!!

Dreaming about something funny.

After this shoot we headed to the apple orchard to pick apples.  We were a little late for the gala apples that we enjoy but still managed to find LOTS of apples to pick.  I made my first homemade apple pie.  It was delicious!!!  Next time I will attempt my own pie crust. 

Introducing Oliver Steven Bennett!!!

The time has finally come!  Oliver is finally here!  It was quite the wild ride but we are home and trying to get adjusted :)

Monday at my regular appointment I was still had high blood pressure and was still not dilated.  Dr. Brunner was concerned about my BP so we decided that an induction was necessary.  We went to the hospital Tuesday night and got admitted and I was given the meds to get me dilated.  After 12 hours of Cirvatal (sp?) in I was still not dilated so they started the Petosin (sp?) early Wednesday morning.  After being checked all day the progression was about a centimeter an hour which meant for a long day of waiting.  About 8:30pm it was finally time time push Mr. Oliver out. Well, as I suspected all along he had his own plan and is going to be stubborn, and hour and a half later we had made no progress, Oliver's heart rate was a little fast and I was starting to run a temperature.  Therefore a c-section was decided to be done.  Because of the heart rate and my temperature, it was suspected that Oliver might have an infection in the amniotic fluid so he would have to go directly to the NICU to get IV antibiotics, he cannot be on the regular mother/baby floor and have an IV :(  It is hospital policy that if they suspect this infection they start treating it right away with antibiotics and run test simultaneously, with results taking 48 hours to be returned so he would have to stay in the NICU at least 48 hours until his results came back negative, which they did! (more to follow on the NICU experience)

Back to the C-Section- We were third in line so we had to wait...at 11:37 pm on Wednesday August 22, 2012 Oliver was finally born!!!  We was perfect in every way.  That first cry will forever be engrained in my mind.  It was magical!!!  We weighed in at 7 pounds 3.5 ounces, and was 19 inches long.  I was so drugged up and hadn't eaten in over 24 hours so it is hard to remember some of that evening but that first cry and seeing that face come over the curtain was amazing!  Seeing James hold him for the very first time was so special as well.

We exited the OR and headed back to the room, the NICU wasn't quite ready for us so Oliver got to join me back in the recovery room for a few minutes.  It didn't take long before the grandparents and aunts found us too.  Everyone got to take a peek and James and I got to hold him a few.  I remember telling James that I was too out of it and felt insecure holding him.  A few minutes later Oliver was taken to the NICU to be admitted and start his IV's, I would be wheeled up there before being admitted into my room.  By 4:00am we were in our room and Oliver was upstairs.  That is hard, sad feeling.  I kept thinking, this is not fair he is healthy, he's fine, he should not be up there but then again if he did have this infection he was in the best place for him and that was really what was important.  I  also had to remind myself that it was only going to be 48 hours. 

Then the waiting really began!  It was about 1:00 Thursday afternoon before I was given permission to get out of bed and move to the wheelchair so I could be moved wheeled upstairs to see Oliver!  I was so excited yet unsure what I was going to see.  NICU has a negative connotation, which is why James and I kept it on the DL while we were in the hospital.  When we got up there he was fine, other than an IV in his arm.  Such a relief but still not excited that I had not had time to bond, hold, love, or start breastfeeding.  But again, this wasn't serious, just an inconvenience and precaution. Just as we were about to bust out of the NICU on Friday the nurse noticed that Oliver's resting heart rate seemed low, so an EKG was ordered, those results would not be back until Saturday so he would have to stay another day upstairs.  It turned out that his EKG was fine and that due to the fact that the nurses in the NICU don't handle healthy, full term baby very often they were spooked by his numbers.  Again, praise the LORD everything with him has been fine!  Saturday early evening Oliver was finally brought downstairs to room-in with us.  I was more than excited!!!  It had been a long waiting game and I was tired of going up and down between floors.

As for me....well this darn blood pressure is going to haunt me.  Since the beginning of the month I've been fighting high blood pressure.  It is not at a scary level but it is not great either.  They are watching it very, very close and I've been put on meds for a short while.  This also is something that was keeping us in the hospital.  So much that on Sunday they were still considering keeping me another day of observation but she eventually decided that my BP would probably get better at home with Oliver than send Oliver home and me stay  Thank goodness!

We enjoyed our first night home last night and survived.  Oliver is doing well and I'm taking it easy.  It's hard for me to sit and rest while James is up keeping our house running but it is necessary right now so I don't end up in the hospital or on more meds for this silly blood pressure business.  Enjoy the pics!!!

And while all this is happening my amazing husband was holding down the fort!  He was going to feed Oliver, when I couldn't be there, he was organizing our visitors, keeping me calm, making sure Moe was taken care of and just being FABULOUS!!!  Love you honey!!!

We can't wait for you all the meet Oliver really soon!
All our love!