 |
| Last picture and moments as four. |
I am sitting outside on our newly remodeled patio with Louis sitting at my side peacefully asleep in his car seat enjoying the overcast cool weather. It is quite hot most days but early in the morning (when Louis is most often awake) we find ourselves outdoors enjoying the morning together. I love him so much already and get a little anxious thinking about the responsibility I have as his mother to teach him correct principles over the next several years of his life so that he has a good foundation to fall back on when he leaves our care. Its probably a little to early to be thinking about these things but we have lots of time together during the early hours of the morning so those are the thoughts that fill my head. I'm sure the thoughts that fill his head are much more simple. Regardless, he is a perfect little boy and we have enjoyed the last week and a half getting to know him and having his sweet spirit fill our home.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
 |
| 4000 grams exactly |
I went in to what I thought would be my final dr's appointment. I was convinced that all though the contractions I was having weren't very strong that this baby inside of me was huge and sitting so low that the dr would send me over to the hospital that minute. My mom was even at home with the girls because I was confident that I and he (the baby) were ready for some distance between us. Dr Rogers routinely checked me and said that I had not progressed and that the earliest he could induce me was at my 39 week mark which would be the following Monday, June 16th. Tears formed instantly. I was spent. Done. Could not handle the immobility any longer. Not to mention that my mind was prepared mentally to have the baby that day. Regardless, I accepted the invitation gratefully and went on my way to work out the tears and prepare for a few more days of pregnancy. I got over the initial disappointment quickly and enjoyed the last few days as a mother of two.
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Father's day. We woke up early and showered James with gifts. The girls love a good present opening session. Then we went about our Sunday as normal. I had missed the last two Sundays because of illness or discomfort so I was eager to return and take the sacrament before I would miss a couple more Sundays home recovering with a newborn. We taught our primary class, I left James for sharing time and went to Relief Society with my mom. We came home and ate pork roast and mashed potatoes then spent the afternoon, taking naps, getting a few last minute things together, and visiting with family at Grandma's.
I was told that we could be called anytime between midnight and midnight the next day to come in for this induction so I showered and got ready before I climbed in to bed for the final night of pregnancy belly sleep.
Monday, June 16, 2014
We received the call at 5:15 am Monday morning. They asked if we could get there by 6 or 6:15 am. I excitedly replied in the affirmative. I then woke up James who was completely startled even though I was sitting right next to him speaking on the phone. And we were up and off before too much longer after that.
Everything and everyone was ready for us. I climbed into bed and the IV was set in place and the contractions began quickly after that. They were uncomfortably from the beginning but I decided to wait on the epidural for a little while so that I could maintain some mobility. I enjoyed that. Things got a little too uncomfortable around 11 am and the epidural was administered and I was able to rest. We turned on the US vs Ghana Soccer game and that kept my attention for the rest of the time. Actually they came and checked me just after Brooks scored the winning goal and honestly not more than a few minutes later, Louis came into this world. At 5:59 pm to be exact. He weighed in at 8 lbs 13 oz (although he felt much heavier inside of me and even sitting on my chest) and 21 inches long. He cried instantly as most freshly newborns do, but then he was calm. He was set on my chest and remained as calm and alert as can be. His eyes were open and remained open for at least an hour after he was born. My joy and relief were instantaneous as he left my woom. I had felt so entirely overcome with child for the last several months that most days I felt immobile. That mobility seemed to return the moment he was out. I was anxious for the numbness to wear off so I could climb out of bed. I craved movement and have not stopped craving that movement to this day. I bend down with ease and will happily run up and down stairs for the most trivial thing left behind. This story is about my son, but I can not describe in words how grateful I was to have him in my arms instead of my belly at that moment.
I had left the naming of our son up to James a couple months before. We had argued over the topic so much that I was ready to leave the topic entirely and leave it up to him (with a few exceptions). The name would have to come from a list of names we agreed on. He accepted and said he would let me know when the baby was born what he would be called. He had decided a few weeks earlier that his name would either be Franklin James Stewart or Louis Scott Stewart. I liked both but favored Franklin (and he knew that). The day he was born my mom brought the girls over to meet him. He said that his name was Franklin (I think mostly to please his wife that had just gone through several hours of labor not to mention 9 months of other stuff). But once the girls left, I held him in my arms and said, he looks like Louis to me. He agreed and admitted that that was all he wanted to hear was my approval, that he had favored Louis all along and agreed that he looked much more like Louis than Franklin. We switched the middle names, only because I really wanted him to have his dad's name as well. And for your information Louis is pronounced LouIS. With the S at the end instead of LouiE. Which is a common pronunciation for the same spelling. Although James has really liked the name from the beginning, he was influenced by a certain famous trumpet Jazz player, Louis Armstrong in picking the name. James is a Jazz aficionado and trumpet player himself. It was fitting.
Tuesday June 17, 2014
Recovery was going well, and Louis was doing great so we were discharged early that
evening and anxious to bring him home to see the girls. They love him. In there own ways, they have shown their love for him. Sometimes it is less appropriate and scolding may follow but they acknowledge him and love him as we do.
Louis is still as calm and alert as that first hour he was born. He complains when he is ready to eat and occasionally gassy but for the most part he is a calming presence in our home. His only flaw is that he has completely confused days for nights. We will keep working on that one, and until then, our eyes will be heavy and we may drag a little more than before but we are all doing well and loving this little one more than I could describe.
