Game Day-Go Hokies!

Giving Thanks

We are so excited to celebrate our first Thanksgiving as a family of four! We will be staying in LA, and having a low-key holiday. Jon's mom prepared a Thanksgiving dinner for us to eat on Thursday, so we don't even have to slave away in the kitchen. We are very grateful to our mothers for the help they have given us during their visits. Both moms got down and dirty cleaning the house, washing piles of laundry, and cooking, cooking, cooking. Thank you so much Caren and Donna!!!! Both Dads spent time playing with Will, and he is still asking for them. We look forward to more visits from both sets of grandparents. We are a little sad not to see extended family, but we know that when we finally do get to make a trip back to VA, it will be a very special time. We love you and are thinking of you this week. Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

sleeping baby

Sleepy Schus

We are still struggling with Will. He refuses to stay in his bed and go to sleep at night. We are trying a new method tonight, so we will have to wait and see. It is torture to have to listen to him cry for us at night, but we can't have him back in our room again. I think somehow in his mind, we are staying up late partying with Brighton once he goes to bed. Tonight we made a big charade of putting Brighton to bed first, so that he would think we had all gone to bed. It has been two hours now, and he's still not asleep. We are very very sleepy! Brighton did not sleep well last night either, so we are hoping that she is not getting her days and nights mixed up. Tomorrow Jon's mom and dad arrive from Williamsburg. I know they will be a help in keeping the house up and keeping Will entertained. We are going to try and keep Will on a strict bedtime routine until he finally reverts to his pre-Brighton bedtime bliss :)

Two weeks old!

Adjusting

We are still basking in the newness of being a family of four. Jon has gone back to work this week since Mom and Dad are here to help. Mom has been doing all of the housework while Dad plays with Will. I have been able to get some rest and of course, nurse Brighton constantly. Will is having some adjustment issues. He will not go to sleep without someone in his room with him. I'm hoping this is only a phase. I think he is having a little separation anxiety as a result from my brief hospital visit. Mom and Dad will be leaving tomorrow, and I will be taking Brighton to her first doctor's appointment. I will have a few days on my own before Jon's Mom and Dad arrive from Williamsburg. Thank you to all for the thoughts and prayers--we are very blessed!

Brighton is one week old

Brighton's Birth

Jon and I went to the hospital on Tuesday night. Because I had progressed on my own somewhat, the doctor did not start me on Pitocin until 5 AM the next morning. My contractions started coming faster and harder. I declined the epidural for a while because I was able to breathe through them. By 10:00, I was 6 cm and in too much pain to try and be a hero. I received the epidural an hour later and had progressed to 7 cm. After the pain went away, I was able to visit with Will before his nap. After he went back home with Nana, I started feeling my contractions again. I was almost completely dialated, but the baby had not dropped. My doctor started asking Jon and me questions about Will's birth, and in the course of the conversation, Jon mentioned that there was a moment when Will's shoulder got caught after his head was out. I never mentioned this to my new doctor before because it seemed like the problem was corrected instantly, and the incident did not count as a "birth complication." It is actually a condition during birth called shoulder distotia. I mention this now because my doctor began to think that I could have too narrow of a pelvic bone or an unusually shaped pelvis. If the baby was too large then Brighton could suffer possible nerve damage if born vaginally. (I apologize to the men reading this--feel free to tune out). The doctor ordered an ultrasound to determine the baby's size. In the meantime, Brighton started dropping quickly. The ultrasound didn't really determine an exact size. The doctor gave us the choice to go ahead with the delivery or do a c-section. We were so afraid of making the wrong choice. I could feel that she was ready to be born, but I was nervous to risk any nerve damage. We talked and prayed and decided to go ahead with the vaginal delivery. We then found out that she was coming out with her head facing the wrong way. The doctor was able to turn her head before she started coming out (this was quite painful for me). The delivery room was full of people just in case there was a possible shoulder distotia. I pushed for ten minutes at the most and Brighton was in my arms. I was so so grateful that she was not hurt. I thank God that we made the right decision, and that we had such a knowledgeable doctor.
Brighton Rae was born at 3:00PM on November 5. She weighs 7 lbs., 14 oz. She is 20 1/2 inches long. She has a full head of dark hair (like her mommy) and what looks like brown eyes. She is nursing well already, and we are hoping to leave the hospital possibly tonight. I am anxious to get home and have my ducklings together. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers! Love, Jon, Becky, Will and Brighton

Brighton meets William

Tonight

We will be heading to the hospital shortly. I have been in some pain all day. I'm nervous and anxious but trusting in God. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. I have never left Will overnight, but I know he will be fine in Mom's capable hands. I'm not too excited about getting pitocin, but I'm trusting the doctor's decision. We will be updating the blog (hopefullly) from the hospital. Love to all!