Baby Update

Okay, so I know it's been 2 weeks now & I have really been trying to post, but well, as all you other parents know, it's not that easy to find time to do much when you have a newborn baby...esp. your first. I can honestly say that I never could have prepared myself for such an amazing, exhausting, emotional experience. It's so much more that I could ever imagine. It's difficult, sure, but more rewarding that anything I've ever done in my life.

So, here's a little run-down of how everything has gone the past 2 weeks:

Wed. Nov. 19

Bo & Janet Final Belly Shots (41 Weeks)

I finally was admitted in the maternity ward at 2pm after being sent home in the early morning. I got hooked up to all the monitors, etc. & after 4 tries the nurses finally got an IV in me. I felt like a damn pin cushion! My doctor came in around 3pm & got me started on some medicine to induce labor. From that point on it was just a waiting game. I was feeling contractions, but nothing major. I passed the time by watching TV, doing Sudoku & crossword puzzles, & just laughing & joking with the nurses, Bo, & my mom. They were great & so supportive throughout the entire process. Bo & mom stayed with me in the labor/delivery room over night & helped me through each contraction as they became more & more intense.

Thurs. Nov. 20
After a mostly sleepless night my doctor came in & checked me. Unfortunately I had not really made much progress & was still only dilated about 3cm. Around 8:30am she broke my water (weird experience!) & got me started on some pitocin, hoping that this would speed things up a bit.....and did it ever!!! I always considered myself a tough chick, but I certainly did not act like it that day. In typical Janet style I had several choice words spewing from my mouth every time I had a contraction. I was good though, & careful not to direct my words at anyone in particular. Again, Bo & mom were great -- so supportive, holding my hands, rubbing my shoulders, etc. & telling me how great I was doing. Yea, right! Just give me the damn drugs!!! So, after begging for a couple hours they did finally give me something minor to take the edge off. It was great...for about 20-30 minutes until it wore off. I kept asking if I could "get another shot, another round" but had no luck. More cussing, more whining....finally!!! About 3:30pm I got to 4cm & the anesthesiologist came in to give me my epidural! HOORAY!!! Life was good once again. Mom laughed at me -- she said it seemed like I had just spent a few hours at the bar. Yea, I wish that were the case! :-)

Anyway, my doctor came back in around 6:45pm & I was at 10cm & ready to push. I guess I was pretty lucky b/c at 7:38pm I had a beautiful baby boy. Not even an hour of pushing -- go ME!!! :-) I must say, I love the little guy more than anything, but he's got a lot of making up to do b/c he got me pretty good (I tore a lot) -- big head just like his daddy!

Welcome to the world Spencer Richard Balcomb. Spencer is Bo's middle & Richard is my father's name, as well as Bo's late grandfather's name (his was actually Richard Spencer), so we have several people in the family represented.

He was 8 lbs. 12 oz., 21 1/4 in., & had a 13 1/4 in. head (OUCH!!!), & had a FULL head of hair!!!

We spent the next few hours getting to know our little man. He was so amazing! Around 11pm the nurse took Spencer away to give him his 1st bath. When she brought him back we saw just how much hair there was on his head. It was such a crazy sight!

Proud New Parents

The next couple days went pretty well -- lots of snuggles & kisses, & he seemed to be doing fairly well with the whole breastfeeding thing. We thought we were going to be able to go home Sat. morning, but when the pediatrician came in to check him out she decided that she'd like to keep him in the hospital 1 more night. There were a few reasons for this: 1) he had not pooped yet (aside from the one that he let loose right when he was born), 2) apparently he wasn't eating quite as well as they would have liked, 3) he was yellow! Yep! I had a yellow baby.....apparently it is not uncommon for larger babies to be a little bit jaundice, so they said not to worry just yet.

Sat. Nov. 22
So, one more day in the hospital. Oh boy! Mom brought Spencer's Gator jersey (actually Bubba's -- our toy pomeranian. Don't worry, she did wash it really well.). So we just spent the day watching football & checking the score of the Gator game on the internet since it was not televised.

Sun. Nov. 23
Hooray!!! We got to leave the hospital! Mom brought Spencer's Bronco jersey (yes, this one is actually made for a child, not a dog) & we dressed him up to match his daddy. We finally got out of there & mom took us home while Bo went to work. We got home & settled in & then mom went to pick dad up at the airport. That night we just relaxed & watched the Bronco game.

The first few nights were a little difficult -- lots of crying at night instead of sleeping. Thankfully, the grandparents were there to help out & I was able to get a little bit of sleep.

Mon. Nov. 24
We had to take Spencer for a check-up today. He was not happy about it, but did survive. He did, however, show his displeasure by peeing all over himself & the scale when we stripped him down to weigh him, & again peed all over the doctor when she took his diaper off to check him over. I have yet to be squirted, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time. :-) While still a bit yellow, he seems to be doing well & we were told that unless he starts glowing like a pumpkin, we really don't have much to worry about. She is a bit concerned about a slight split on his uvula (called a "bi-fid uvula" I think), so we scheduled an appt. with an ENT (Ear Nose Throat doctor) in Grand Junction to get it checked out. It's not quite as serious as a cleft pallate, which can cause feeding problems, among others, but he is at risk of having a speech problem. Man, I hope everything is okay! We also scheduled his 2 week check-up and circumcision. This is to take place Mon. Dec. 8 & I am NOT looking forward to it. Bo has already informed me that he will not be present for this as he does not want to be held responsible & have his son hate him for causing that kind of pain. Well, my mother-in-law said that she would go with me for moral support.

Wed. Nov. 26
Today we did not have a cook or server, so instead of leaving, my parents decided to stay & help out at the restaurant. Bo cooked & my parents & I ran the dining room -- they were in charge of seating our customers & getting their drinks, I took orders, & they ran food & bussed tables. I did pretty well staying off my feet. Dad was a little frustrated & kept telling me how he wouldn't even let mom change out of her nightgown for 3 weeks after we were all born. Well, while I do not own any nightgowns, that still sounded like a nice plan, but unfortunately, as small business owners we can not afford to do that. Oh well.

Thurs. Nov. 27
Spencer's 1st Thanksgiving went very well. We all piled into the Jeep & went over to Bo's parents' house & Spencer slept like the little baby he is. He barely moved, even while being passed around from person to person. No turkey yet for this little guy, but he sure seemed to enjoy the overwhelming amount of milk that I am producing. :-)

Mom & Dad left on Friday, so now we were really going to be put to the test. How would we survive as new parents on our own? I think we're holding up pretty well.....I just really wish that Spencer would figure out the difference between night & day. As champion sleepers, this has been a little rough on me & Bo. Oh well, we asked for it, right?!? Anyway, our nighttime routine goes like this: All 3 of us start in our bed -- he refuses to sleep unless it is on top of me or Bo. Around 11pm he begins to get fussy. By midnight I have taken him into the nursery to rock him. After a couple hours I am able to climb into the guest bed with him & get a few minutes of sleep before he wakes up & starts crying again. Finally, around 7am after multiple feedings, diaper changes, etc. I am able to fall asleep for a couple hours until Bo comes in around 9am & lays down with us. We just lay there watching our little "angel" sleep peacefully until around 10am when Bo has to leave for work.

We spent Sat. afternoon at the restaurant watching the Gators beat up on FSU. Spencer got to watch his 1st Gator game....although he didn't seem to be too interested & slept through most of it. Sun. was the same story -- Bronco game this time though. And they finally won a game!

Well, like I said, it has been an amazing, exhausting, emotional couple weeks. Our life will certainly never be the same, but we could not be happier. Though it has only been 2 weeks, I cannot imagine my life without little Spencer in it. I will try to do a better job of posting pictures & updates of our little man. Thank you all for your love & support!