We're home!

We brought Sam home from the hospital on Tuesday, January 10th.  Here are some pictures over the last week.

We got a few pictures of the three of us - We had to wake Sam up to take the pictures and he cried the whole time.  It was a little chilly outside too.  Poor guy!

Sam loves his tummy time with his Dad.

Sam got to practice lifting his head!

Sam loves to make his "Popeye" face! 

Sam and Da Grandma

I love playing with my hands.  Especially my left one!

Pancho is keeping an eye on him for us.

Sam had a touch of jaundice when we brought him home, so we got some pictures of him in the sun doing his "jaundice treatment."

These are some of my different faces:

He's here!!!

We welcomed Sam Wesley Culp last Friday, January 6th, at 1:26 pm.

Although we knew we were at the point where he could arrive any day, I still felt like I had another week to go.  However when my alarm went off at 6 am last Friday my water also broke!  I already had my bag packed and in the car and Clint and I both had time to shower.  Clint was a little bummed that he didn't get to do the mad dash and speed like crazy to get to the hospital :)  Here is the breakdown of Sam's birthday:

6:00 am - water broke, no real labor pains
7:00 am - arrived at hospital and was admitted to labor and delivery
8:30 am - started Pitocin to induce labor
10:30 am - got epidural
10:30 am -12:55 pm - monitored Sam's and my progress.  Sam was not responding well to the Pitocin.  His heart rate would drop after each of my contractions.  It is ok for a baby's heart rate to drop during a contraction, but not after, so we decided to take me off the Pitocin and see if my contractions alone would bring on natural labor.  Unfortunately,  my contractions were not regular and wouldn't level out in between.  So we decided to go ahead with a cesarean delivery.
1:00 pm - Doctors wheeled us over to the operating room and began.
1:26 pm - Sam came into our world!

Waiting to induce labor

My parents now: Grandma and Granddad for the 1st time!

Clint is a pro at changing diapers :)

Clint's Parents: AKA Grammy and Gramps / Pops

Grandma and Grandad

My brother and his girlfriend.  Now Uncle Kyle and Aunt Alex

My brother. Now Uncle Shelby

Brae, Michelle, and Natalie (part of my 3rd grade team)

Heather (part of my 3rd grade team)

Erin and Amy (former & current 3rd grade team members)

Our friend Tommy and Clint

Our wonderful neighbors James and Debbie

The pups relaxed at home on hospital blankets that smelled like Sam.

Pretty flowers from Aunt Tammi, Uncle Jeff, Aunt Sherri, and Uncle Dan

 Balloons and snuggly bear from Aunt Tammi, Uncle Jeff, Aunt Sherri, and Uncle Dan

A nice tuxedo from my Grammy and Gramps!

Granddad and Gramps / Pops

Yummy Edible Arrangement from ESP Solutions Group!  Delicious!

Balloons from ESP Solutions Group!  Sam loves looking at them!

Tuesday, January 10th:

Ready to go home!

It's so cold outside! I loved the car ride home though :)

Off to feed my baby :)

More to come!

Week 38

I have made it another week, and at my doctor appointment today I have not changed much.  I am still at 2 cm.  Which, in my mind is a good thing.  My doctor really thought that I was going to have a New Years baby!  I  think Pancho was pleased that he didn't have to share his birthday (January 1) with this new baby that is going to wreak havoc on his perfect world.  I secretly don't want Sam to come before next Wednesday.  This is selfish of me because the later he arrives, the less time I have to go back to work for the end of the school year.  Not that I don't want to go back to work, I just want the least amount of time away from my baby as possible!  We are super lucky to have so many willing family members that have offered their time to come and nanny for Sam for the six weeks that I do have to go back to finish out the school year.


The not knowing of when he will decide to make his debut is really hard for me though.  I am such a planner that the unknown is a challenge.  It is also hard because each day I leave work I have to leave it as if I am not returning the next day.  Just always a weird feeling at the end of the day.  I don't want to leave anything for tomorrow, just in case.


I also have a lot of "This is the last time for..." feelings like:
- This may be my last shower.
- This may be my last bowl of ice cream (the diet starts after he's born, ha!).
- This may be my last pedicure.
- This may be the last time I am alone!  haha!


I think we have everything ready for Sam though: my suitcase is packed and in the car for the hospital with some cute outfits for Sam and a couple comfy pjs that I am looking forward to sporting, the car seat has been installed & checked for safety, Sam's room is complete & ready, and we have quite a few frozen meals in our freezer.  We are still not really sure if we are going to have him sleep in our room for the first few nights or not.  We will just have to see how this plays out.


I am having mild contractions a couple times a day (they feel like menstrual cramps).  Every time I get a contraction-like feeling I think, "Is this it?!  I need to take a shower!  It might be my last!"  But then I have to remind myself that the real thing is going to hurt a hell of a lot worse than menstrual cramps!  I will also occasionally get a little wave of nausea, which I have been told is normal.


Clint continues to go out of his way to help with things.  He had the day off yesterday and I came home to a vacuumed living room, a clean house, and he made a great steak dinner last night.  I didn't have to lift a finger (which are really swollen and sore now).  My savior!  He would make a great stay at home dad!


All-in-all I am still feeling really good!  Who knows, maybe my next post will have pictures of Sam!  We can't wait!!!