HAPPY BIRTHDAY EUSTACE!

Eustace Perry was born last friday at 4:44pm :) 7 lbs 3 oz, at 37 wks, and 6 days

Last thursday I had my OBGYN appt an he said I was a solid 3 cm dilated, which considering L & O's fast labors, made me on edge about making plans for the 3 littles ones to be taken care of should I have to leave for the hospital, which is about 25 minutes away. I thought I was feeling some stronger cramping that night but it went away. John got ready for work and left the next morning at 4:30am, and I started feeling those cramps again that woke me up. So I took a bath, got my things packed and waited to see what Eustace was doing. I fell back asleep, until 7am and felt 4 strong contractions about 15 mins apart. I called my dr and he said I might as well go in and get checked, and that he would be there anyway.

So I got my things packed and drove to the hospital. I stopped contracting and was trying to go over bumpy roads to induce something...ended up having to stop for a long train (which made me grateful I wasn't in active labor yet!) I got to the hospital and the nurse was curious why I was alone and how I could be in labor but be walking around. She asked me if I need to get a wheel chair lol. I said, "I may have had false labor, but i'm already here so we might as well check." I felt stupid when she took me to the labor and delivery and checked me--I was still only 3 cm. But she said they would observe my contractions for an hour or two and send me home if nothing happens.

So I felt guilty leaving the kids home with Susan, who would have to go to work at 3:30pm. I turned off the lights and took a nap from 9am to 10am. I was ready to go home with my tail between my legs for not recognizing false labor at child #4..then the nurse checked again and my cervix was forward and progressed to 4! I had barely had any pain and was now in active labor! Thank God I went in :)

After a few hours John was able to find someone to replace him at work (which was only 10 mins away from the hospital). My mom generously babysat the 3 at home so Susan could be with me. They administered the epidural without issue, and I was so happy grateful and excited to see Eustace. John made fun of how happy I was, but it's just so exciting to bring a new person to the world!

 Comfortable and excited. So glad my mom Susan and John were able to take off work for the birth.

 Once I saw the little baby bed, blanket and Christmas knit hat (John's holding) I was so glad I wasn't being sent home! I wanted to see my little baby swaddled and cozy!

After a few pushes, Eustace was born! Aunt Susan cut the thick cord :) 7 lbs 3 oz is the smallest of all my babies, but he was born 2 wks early so who knows he would've been at 40 wks!

I made this picture small for viewer discretion lol...I just think placenta is crazy looking! John asked the dr to let him photograph it lol. It's so alien in how it looks and how it's not really my body or the baby's...but it's so essential.  

 He was already latching on pretty well. My milk didn't come in until the 3rd day, but my boobs got so swollen and hard that I am only getting a couple ounces when I pump (I try to nurse him first but his latch isn't deep enough to get enough out. He's very jaundiced and lost a few more ounces, so I am nursing and pumping constantly to try to get him better :)

They put ointment on his eyes to prevent infections. 

 Daddy is starting a collection of these Baylor scrubs with baby footprints!

 December babies get these cute little hat and booties :)

My baby boy Eusty! I can definitely see daddy's side in him, even Uncle Kevin a bit :)

 So happy. 

 Grandma came to see her newest grandson

Godparents came to see him too! Thanks for the necklace! He was born on the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe :) 

All the siblings came to check him out--Frankie was a little freaked out but interested in this little person. 

This was the cutest thing--Eustace cried in the beginning of his bath, and Frankie was scared for him and began sympathy-crying! I missed my Frankie. He looks and feels so huge now compared to little Eustace.

 Here's my big kids. Missed them too. They have been enjoying having daddy home to play with and have movie nights. John is off for another week. The kids loved seeing little Eustace--here's Lucas with his Jello Pudding mustache...looking like a nascar driver. :P

 And this year's celebration dinner (this is why we go to Baylor):

 I had salmon and steak yum!

John had lobster and steak.

It's good to be home. Frankie is adjusting to being a big brother. He's sometimes jealous, sometimes sweet (gives kisses to him). I have to express how grateful I am for my whole family--Susan helping with all the kids, my mom staying with them during the birth, and most importantly my husband. John has been amazing. He has taken care of all the kids and me, and the little daily details that slip my tired and pre-occupied mind regarding taking care of the house and errands. I am totally focused on getting my supply up and getting Eustace to gain weight and get rid of his jaundice, but I know Frankie needs love, and the kids need to get out and burn some energy. Praying for patience and balance! I can't imagine what the next few months will be like, but I hope I enforce some kind of regimen all these kids.
p.s. postpartum pains are worse with subsequent children...my whole body feels achey and crampy. John gave me a good back massage and I finally got a good hour of sleep---and thats when my milk came in! Relaxation makes such a difference. Hormones are so fickle.
p.s.s. Eustace has been spitting up the milk that I do give him, so I am scared to lay him flat on his back. I have to burp him well and he sleeps best upright in my arms. I hope he doesn't have reflux. The dr also said he has diastasis which means his ab muscles are kind of separated and not strong enough to really support him yet, which makes him more prone to reflux.

    He had signs of dehydration since my milk wasn't coming in--I had never heard of or seen urate crystals, but it's scary to see red in his pee. It's going away now and he is pooping and peeing regularly so I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. He's just so much more tiny to me than the others!