going back to normal!

Over the past couple of days I have definitely started feeling better and I am able to do more stuff and actually be comfortable (like sitting on my computer chair and blogging!)! I am completely bummed half of my maternity leave I have been in pain and haven't been able to enjoy the normal things people do while on leave with there newborn baby. I am hoping to make up for that in the next 3 weeks with Owen. Owen has been giving us a hard time at night and waking up usually every 2-2 1/2 hours to be fed and is already eating 5oz or more at each feeding. We are going to try and add some cereal to his formula in hopes that will hold him over a little longer then 2 hours so we can actually get some sleep!! We know alot of people that had to do this with there babies so I am hoping it works so he can start sleeping a little better at night. Erics grandparents were in town from Florida all last week and we were able to see them alot during that time and they loved seeing there great grandson too.

I found my thumb!

Great Grandma

Great Grandpa trying to wake up Owen, he always sleeps good during

the day!

Owen and Pebbles

Owen's thinking face

Owen and I, he has such big feet his sandals already fit him and they are so cute!

I'm finally home!

After a very extended stay in the hospital I got back home on Saturday and I am feeling a little better. I am on very strong antibiotics and they are making me very sick but I am glad that I am home with my little man. I didn't think that I would be away from him for a long time but I know he was in good hands. We had alot people help us while I was in the hospital and we are very blessed that we have so many people that care about us! I have tons of pictures of Owen's first couple weeks!!

Dr. Ali and Owen

Kissing my precious little boy

Our first family Picture

Grandma and Grandpa Custis

Danielle and Owen at the hospital

Grandma Heckathorn

His car ride home from the hospital!

His first doctors appointment with daddy and....


Mommy


One of the midnight feedings


His first sponge bath!


Grandpa McNab

My first day home from the hospital, he is alot more alert now!!

Update

Hey everyone, it's Nicki again. Jelena asked me to update so you all didn't think she disappeared! Well, she kind of did for a little bit. She's been in the hospital since Monday with an infection. I think today brought a good Doctor with a good plan forward and hopefully she'll be home this weekend. I'll let her update with any details when she's ready - but I at least wanted you to know this much.

I have seen Owen a few times now and he is doing great. He is such a great baby and only seems to cry when he's having his diaper changed or being given a bath. Jelena and Eric are blessed that he's such a great baby.... and I know that she is looking forward to getting home and getting back to their normal family life as a family of 3!

Keep the whole family in your prayers as they get through all of this!!

The Sweetest Baby Boy!

Matteson & I went up as soon as we got off work to visit with Eric, Jelena and Owen. I was SO anxious to finally meet this little guy! Aunt Arica & Danielle were visiting when we arrived and before we left Jim arrived to meet his first Grandson! Jelena, Eric and Owen were all doing great. Owen slept the whole time we were there, even through getting passed around to everyone. He never made a peep and seems to be a very content baby. Jelena looked great and just said that she was tired and sore, which is to be expected after birthing a human being! :)

As I walked into her room, I was overcome with the similarities. Then, as we talked about her delivery there were even more! Owen was born at 39 weeks and 1 day (same as Mikayla), he weighed 7 lbs 10 oz and is 21" long (exactly 1 lb. and 1" bigger than Mikayla), Jelena pushed for 8 minutes (I pushed for 8 minutes), and she is in the SAME room and SAME bed that I was in! :) It was too funny.... It's so nice having friends so close that have been through the same experiences!

Jelena and Owen have their own room so Eric can stay the night with them, which will be so great! They will come home on Thursday but for now, Jelena is enjoying her last bit of 'quiet' time in the hospital while she has nurses at her beck and call - who just so happen to deliver the best pain medication ever! ;)

Enough rambling from me - here are some long awaited pictures that I know you all want to see!

Uncle Lance & Owen

Aunt Arica & Owen

(Can you tell she's in love?!) :)

Such a sweet baby boy!

Mommy's pride & joy

Lots more kisses to come baby Owen :)

Look at that precious face!

The happy family of 3!

Stretching out!

Beautiful!

So peaceful

Happy Birthday Owen!!

*Updated at 1:45 with more pictures*

Owen Slade McNab

Born: 12:15 pm 5/12/09

Weight: 7 lbs. 10 oz.

(not as big as they all thought! ha)

Jelena said they haven't measured his length yet, nor has she been able to feed him but everyone is doing great. I will post later with more details, and more pictures! I plan to go visit this evening if she's up to it so I'll take some then!

Congratulations McNab Family on a perfect baby boy!!

Owen is Here!!!

Owen Slade McNab was born at 12:15 pm!! Arica just sent me a text that he was here, so I don't any details yet but they'll be coming soon!!

Man, that was quick! :-)

11:50 - Jelena is 10 cm and ready to have this baby!! Dr. Ali says he'll be here before 1:00!

11:00 am (5/12/09) Update:

Just got a text from Jelena.....she hasn't been checked since this morning so there is really no news. She's not in pain but can feel pressure - maybe that's her sign that pushing isn't too far off! Her Mom & Arica are there, and I'm sure Eric's Mom is there but I'm not positive.

Lots of progress!

I just got off the phone with Jelena a few minutes ago! They gave her a pain pill to help with the contractions because she was holding off on the epidural. The pain pill knocked her out and she got a good 2-3 hours of sleep. When she woke up she was 5 cm dilated and the contractions were really bad. She got her epidural a little before 8 so she was feeling better when I talked to her. Still kind of loopy from the pain pill, but the pain is subsiding. The nurses say that Owen should make his grand entrance before noon! :-)

Overnight News

So while I was sleeping, Jelena was texting me as things were happening! Here is the latest!!

4:54 am (5/12): Water broke on it's own...contractions are every one minute apart and are PAINFUL! Time for the epidural!!

11:40 pm (5/11): Contracting every 5-8 minutes

10:00 pm (5/11): Started on pitocin. No need for cervadil to start induction because she's dialating on her own!

I haven't heard from her in about 30 minutes so hopefully that means she's getting her epidural! Looks like little Owen should be here within a matter of hours! :-)

Update, 8:33 pm 5/11/09

Mama-To-Be Ready to go!

Jelena texted me and said that she's all settled in her room and is contracting a lot! Because of the contractions, they haven't even started the induction medicine yet. She hadn't been checked yet to see if she's dilated any further, but hopefully they'll do that soon.

I may not update anymore tonight, but she is going to text me as things happen so I can update first thing in the morning! :)

Let's Get This Party Started!

This is Nicki...your guest blogger for the next couple/few days while Jelena and Eric are unable to blog! :) I wish I had asked someone to update my blog when I was having Mikayla, so I'm so happy to be able to update for Jelena!

Jelena and Eric left tonight around 5:30 to grab dinner then head up to the hospital! Matteson, Mikayla & I stopped by to see them before they left and Jelena was putting on her make up, getting ready to go. They both seemed really calm, and Jelena is definitely ready to have this little boy in her arms instead of her belly! :) They were told to arrive at the hospital at 7:00 to begin her induction then they'll be doing a lot of sitting and waiting until things get rolling. She is going to text me throughout her progress, so I'll update as soon as I know more.

Until then, let's all pray for an easy labor and delivery for Jelena and Owen!

Are you nervous??

That seems to be the most common question I am getting lately and the answer is.....not really. I am not nervous about the actual delivery I am nervous about the recovery. A lot of my friends had to be cut and they said that really hurt afterwards and since it seems Owen is going to be big I am afraid I will have to be cut too! I know that all the pain is worth it in the end because we will be blessed with a baby that will depend on us and that we will love unconditionally. It seems like Owen is going to hold out until May 11th/12th. I was having contractions and braxton hicks all the time and now I haven't had anything for the past two days!! He is still moving around like crazy though and definitely seems to be running out of room in there. I got my nails and toes done today so they would look halfway decent in the hospital. My feet were so swollen my flip flops gave me blisters because they were to tight!! oops I have my last doctors appointment Monday morning at 10:00 and then I will go in on Monday night at 7:00 to start the inducment. Here are some belly pics from this morning.

Top 10 signs you are ready to have a kid!

1. It's 1pm on a Saturday and you are bored out of your mind.
2. You stay home on St. Patrick's day because of "all the drunks out there"
3. Sleep is not that important to you.
4. You rather put money in the savings then blow it on a pair of shoes.
5. You sanitize your hands.
6. You notice EVERY kid on a street and say to yourself "MY kid would never..."
7. You don't work at "Hooters"...anymore.
8. You notice that you've been telling the same "funny" story at the parties for a couple of years now.
9. You say "I did..." more than "I wish I..."
10. Because you just know you are.

No REAL progress!!

I went to the doctors today and nothing is really going on with Owen and I. I was only 1 cm dilated and his heartbeat was 133bpm. I am definitely ready to have him any moment, everything is getting very hard for me now and it takes a lot of effort to do everyday tasks. I am only working until Wednesday and then I am off for the rest of my maternity leave since I get induced on Monday. I sit at a desk all day but even that can get very uncomfortable for my back and my legs get very swollen!! I am getting very excited to see him and really wish he would come earlier then Monday but I think he is going to hold on until the last minute! Eric keeps asking me what I want for mothers and I keep telling him "a baby" lol So hopefully thats what I get!! Whenever I go into labor or in the hospital Nikki will be updating my blog with pictures and updates so everyone will know what is going on!