Happy Halloween

We weren't sure if we would all be home for Halloween, but we are with Miles joining us! I have posted before that Jax was a Team USA basketball player this year. Well he was dressed and ready to go again, and this time the whole family got in on the fun. 

First there was Jax's number one fan ... Miles of course!

Then we had the dogs who were "Rufferees."  

I think this is the face Jax gives when he disagrees with a call. 

Since Miles wasn't heading out, we took over as Jax's number one fans.  :)

My mom even became Jax's coach!

Jax only went to a couple of houses.  We were by far the first trick or treaters out on the streets, but we didn't have much choice since Jax is in bed before most of the festivities usually start!  I opted to stay inside while Jasper and my mom took Jax to our neighbors houses.   As I watched them head out I couldn't believe that by next year the wagon will be filled with two little boys trick or treating!

Mike stayed in with me and got some quality Miles time.  

Miles didn't seem to mind that he was missing all the action. 

Jax may not have gotten to eat any of the candy he received (that seemed to fall in his daddy's pocket), but his YaYa brought him his own Halloween goody bag with treats so he wouldn't be left out! 

The rest of the night we have spent handing out some candy and are heading to bed early.  We still aren't used to being up with a newborn overnight again and need all the sleep we can get.  

Happy Halloween!

Under the Lights

Miles may be home, but the hospital visits aren't over.  This is because he, like his brother developed jaundice.  Back when I was a kid (who also had jaundice at birth) this meant extra time in the hospital under lamps.  Now, babies are able to come home and receive treatment followed up with daily outpatient hospital visits to check blood levels.  Jax had a bili light that looked like a heating pad and stayed underneath his onesie.  He looked like a gloworm.  Miles was on the same light pad the first night home, but since his levels weren't decreasing as fast as Jax's did, we had to switch to the full lamp.  Basically it looks like Miles is hanging out in a tanning bed all day, though I have been assured there are no UV rays so he isn't on his way to skin cancer.  He did, however, look like he was prepping for an audition to be part of the Jersey Shore Cast.

   
The major downside of these lights is that you can't hold him. :(  He is usually only out for feedings and diaper changes though we have managed to get in a snuggle here and there. We are hoping that he will be out of the lights by this weekend so keeping our fingers crossed!

Homecoming

While Miles' birthday was the day we were most looking forward to with this pregnancy, the next best day was our homecoming.  That is the day we got to introduce Jax to his little brother and we officially felt like a family of four.  For us, that day was yesterday.  We had not brought Jax to the hospital at all because I felt he was too young to understand why he could see his mommy there and then have to leave without her.  I felt any benefit would be only for us and therefore it would be better for him to stay home with grandparents until we were released.  When we got home my mom was watching Jax in the basement playroom.  I told her to keep him down there so we could get Miles set up upstairs.  He seemed to feel at home right away.  I should note that this is the only picture we have of Miles in his coming home outfit.  It is the same outfit that Jax wore home from the hospital.

As soon as my mom brought Jax up he ran in and gave me the biggest hug.  It was just what I needed.

Then he noticed the baby.  He immediately started saying BAABEEE!  He then went over and grabbed his basketball, arguably his favorite toy, and took it over to Miles. He plopped it right in Miles' lap.  We think that is Jax's ultimate sign of friendship and acceptance, he knew this kid was his little brother and loved him.

Jasper and I loved watching Jax's eagerness to be close to the baby.  He was immediately drawn to him.

Then there was the hug that melted out hearts.

This hug wasn't bad either.

I cannot describe the pure joy that comes with holding both of your boys close to you.  Not only could I feel the enormous love that I have for both of them, but the hope that I have that they will feel this same love for each other.  I just know they are going to be the best of friends.

 

Our first family picture, life is perfect.

Welcome home baby Miles!

The Day After

Before having Jax, I assumed that the day after having a child would be a hectic whirlwind of a day.  However, I have been pleasantly surprised to find with both births that this day has been very peaceful for us.  Perhaps it is because we have limited visitors to immediate family both times in order to have less chaos.  Perhaps it is because in the days and weeks (or months) leading up to having our babies we have been doing a million things to prepare and once our little bundle of joy arrives there is nothing to do but soak up all his cuteness.  Whatever the reason, I love the day after. 

 This time we had one set of visitors other than our parents, Uncle Kevin and Megan!  I was so excited that they came up from Nashville to be here this weekend and meet Miles.

 It is amazing how life seems to just stand still when you are holding a newborn.  

I could sit and watch him sleep for hours, and I did.

Meet the Grandparents

Just like our last delivery with Jax, the Grandparents camped out in the waiting room for quite some time waiting to meet their new grandson.  They met us in the room soon after we were transferred and I just love all the moments Jasper captured of them meeting Miles for the first time.

Like my Mom's excitement.

And the pure joy on all of their faces.

Or Mike's teary eyes.

 

I have a picture almost exactly like this of all four grandparents with Jax.  

Still one of my favorite pictures of them to date.

No doubt about it, Miles is a very loved little man.

Introducing ...

Miles Patrick!

Our sweet little son was born on October 27, 2012 at 9:54 pm after a very long day.  He weighed 9 lbs 9 oz and is 20 3/4 inches long.

We went in very early in the morning to be induced since "little" man was estimated to be so large.  Turns out he is just under his big brother's weight.  The process did not go as well as it did with Jax.  I knew that Miles couldn't be as big as they were estimating  because he seemed to have plenty of room to move!  He had been head down when we were at the doctor's office on Tuesday and then by Saturday he was breech.  We found out when they did an ultrasound first thing and decided to go ahead with a version to flip him like we did with Jax.  So they went ahead and gave me an epidural and got me ready.  By the time the doctor came back and checked again he was flipped down again.  We started the medication right away in hopes of keeping him head down.  He turned twice more during the day and every time was a range of emotions because we would go between being told we would have to have a c section to him being in the right position again.  Finally, by the afternoon I had made a lot of progress and he was in the right position so we thought things were looking good, but Mr. Miles had other plans and in the end we needed to have a c section.  

Here was Jasper getting dressed to meet his son!



The procedure itself didn't take long and soon Miles was with us.  I don't think he was a fan of the lights.

Big boy!

While the surgery aspect of a c section is not that big of a deal to me, I really hated (and I mean hated) the fact that I couldn't be given my son right away.  With Jax I was the first to hold him and they cleaned him off on me and didn't have to take him away.  I can't say exactly how long I had to wait for them to bring Miles over, but I can say it felt like forever.  Jasper was amazing during the entire process.  He kept telling me everything that was going on, showing me pictures and holding my hand to tell me that Miles would be with me soon.  He is so great in these types of situations and I don't know what I wold do without him.

Ready to go over and meet his mommy!

When they finally let Jasper bring him to me I was so overcome with emotions and couldn't really see him very well.  All I remember was closing my eyes and letting myself just feel him next to me.  That is one of the single best feelings ... ever.

First picture of Miles with his parents!  I would say it was our first family picture, but as one member of the family was sleeping at home, I knew that picture wasn't until later.

After they were finished with me I was wheeled into recovery where I finally got to be with my son.  It was just Jasper, Miles and I in there along with one nurse on the other side of the room watching my vitals.  That precious bonding time after birth is simply amazing. 

Jasper got some great bonding time in as well.

An  hour after we were sent to recovery, we were then transferred to our room where we would stay the remainder of our time in the hospital.  I wouldn't let Miles leave my sight, and luckily the nurse agreed to come to our room to check Miles out and do his bath.  We made this request with Jax as well and I love not having to say goodbye to my son so soon after saying hello.  Just like his big brother, Miles didn't like being washed off, but calmed down as soon as he had running water over his head.




Jasper snapped this picture soon after we reached our room.  It is a terrible picture of me, but seems to show both the exhaustion and contentment I felt at that moment. 

I finally had my son in my arms and I was never letting go.