Well if anything went as planned around here, we would not recognize it as our lives! So here starts the story of the sweetest baby boy ever (or at least the sweetest baby boy tied for 3rd:))
On Monday afternoon (June 14th) I was still fighting the same headache that I had had since Sunday, and had a nagging feeling that my blood pressure was creeping up. Scott had almost convinced me to go get it checked out (after a pedicure!) and as I walked out the door, I stopped at the mirror for a lip gloss app, and was horrified to see that I could not make the right side of my face work right, AAHHHH! I was so scared and thought for sure I was having a stroke, so off to OB I went. I hooked myself up, and initially my BP wasn't really too bad, and I almost left, but the girls convinced me to stay for a non-stress test after I couldn't stop crying while telling them my story (Thanks girls-you really are live savers) And literally 20minutes after arriving the decision was made for an emergency c-section for severe pre-eclampsia due to all of my symptoms! Again I was crying, I was just so worried about Clay being too early. Things were quite a blur after that, until the sweetest sound ever-Clay crying at 7:18pm!
7 lbs 15.5oz 19inches
He was in a bit of a shock at first, and acted like the preterm babe that he is, having trouble keeping his temperature up and regulating his breathing. Though by day 3, he seemed to clear those hurdles and become one hungry little man! Hopefully this is the trend because he did lose over 10% of his birth weight, down to 7lb 2 oz today. (never knew I would have such a small guy)
So baby Clay had arrived safely (I knew my blood pressure was already falling!) I had be on Mag Sulfate for a day, a definite YUCK but I could handle it, and I was really having no pain from the surgery, yay! All ok, until my face continued to get more unresponsive, by Tuesday am my right eye was not blinking, I could not suck from a straw or smile with the right side. After many tests, I was diagnosed with bells palsy. Basically an annoying condition when the facial nerve on one side of the face becomes "paralyzed" A totally random occurance that decided to come at one of the most inconveniant times! We are hoping that a round of meds and a few weeks will clear it up, and until then not too many pics of this mommy..
Wow-thats quite a story, but since there is not a baby book in sight, this is my way to be sure that Clay will know his beginning!
Clay's big brothers, seem to be completely unaffected by all of this drama and are just completely in love with their new brother!
They cried each night when heading home to bed with Daddy that Baby Clay couldn't go along. Which made me cry too-its so hard to feel like you are choosing between your kids. Jack says "he's adorable!" and wants to hold him constantly "with just my 2 hands" and Quinn just screams "BABY CLAY!!!" They were beyond excited to come home from daycare today to find all of us here to stay "forever!" I am hoping that this love affair continues :)
(they did already have quite the education about the breast pump-how DO you explain that one?)
And for the new Daddy?
He's been quite amazing at juggling all of our needs, he is quite the mr mom, laundry guy, grocery shopper, bath giver and mommy calmer!
And of course grandma's and grandpa's love helps too!
Just SO thankful right now to be home, on the mend(please face mend!) with my 4 boys.
