Week 40...Week 41....

Well, here it is.  Week 40 and nada.  Nada (Not a?) single indication that CJ will be joining us anytime soon.  Last week I grounded her for shoving her feet into my rib cage.  I didn't really think she would take it so litterally.  JD and I are in for a wild ride I have a feeling.  With her daddy's disposition to be late and my stubborness...I hate to think what that means for us.  I have a feeling we will need all the prayers we can get!

Final prego pic!

Other than CJ being stubborn and late, my doc said everything looked good so far.  Good strong heartbeat and all my medical stuff is right where it should be.  Just no baby.

**So the above two paragraphs were written a few weeks ago and as usual I either got distracted or lazy.**

Cora's Birth Story

As most of you probably know, Cora finally decided to grace us with her long awaited presence.  Eleven days ago I had my final prenatal appointment and later that night I was admitted to the hospital.  I began having extremely random contractions around 7 pm, around 11 pm they were a lot closer together but still quite random and beginning to be a bit more painful as well.  JD finally convinced me that we should go to the hospital, I didn't think I was ready and thought they would send me home since my contractions weren't regular.  My mom had flown in to ATL the Tuesday before my due date in anticipation of Cora's arrival, since she was in town, she, JD and I all piled in the Jeep and headed north.  We got to the hospital a little before midnight and before I knew it I was in a hospital gown in a L&D room.  Even though I was only dilated to a 1 they decided to keep me since my contractions were so painful.  Tuesday morning around 10 am I was dilated a bit more but still not where I should be.  The docs were kind enough to give me an IV full of pain meds (yay!) (YAY!!!) to help ease the contraction pains.  I'm not sure what exactly what the pain meds were (Morphine) but they were good.  They made me a bit loopy at first and then just helped me relax.

Later that day around 2 pm the good docs decided I had progressed enough to give me an epidural.  Now, at the beginning of my pregnancy I watched a video of a lady getting an epidural, it terrified me.  The needle seemed to last forever and the chick getting the shot wouldn't stop saying 'ow, ow, ow' in a rather high pitched voice.  Needless to say, I was dreading the epidural.  Turns out it wasn't that bad and the IV in the hand hurt a heck of a lot worse.  JD on the other hand didn't care for me getting an epidural.  He later confessed that watching me get the shot made him a little light headed.  The hardest part for me was trying to to bend over enough for the doc to get the needle in the right spot, after all I still had a big ole baby in my belly and bending over was not an easy feat to accomplish.  Ah, the wonderfulness of the epidural.  And even though it didn't effect me how I thought it would, it still got the job done.  Around 8 pm Tuesday night my midwife finally thought I had progressed enough to start  pushing.  And push I did. I pushed for an 1 1/2 hours before Cora finally let go of her inherited stubbornness (from her mommy) and made her appearance.  Cora Jacqueline Davis was born at 10:01 pm, weighing in at 6 lbs 6 oz and 18 1/2" long.  And even though JD and I both were not blessed with any hair when we were born, she was fortunate enough to have a tiny little bit of hair.

Cora's first picture

Relaxing after a hard day

Unfortunately, she tried her best to come out face up (which is apparently not good).  In the process of trying to get her turned around she swallowed a large amount of meconium.  The NICU team let me hold her briefly before they took her away.  She spent 2 hours in a transitional unit having her stomach and lungs cleaned with a tube.  JD was able to watch and said it was horrible.  I finally was released from my L&D room and made it just in time to see to see Cora get her first bath.  She was not a fan.  About an hour later she was brought down to our room all cozy and cute looking in her little hospital bassinet and with a clean bill of health.  Thursday we all were officially released from the hospital and free to go home.  Such an amazing feeling.  I thank God everyday for her being healthy.

Daddy & Cora

Meeting the big sis

Nice and cozy

Life with Cora

We have been home just a little over a week.  I was lucky enough to have the rest of my family drive in from Oklahoma on Saturday.  It was great to have my dad, brother, and niece all here to spend Christmas with.  We also had Sofie that following weekend, so we had a full house!  Cora adjusted just fine to life outside the hospital (and my warm innards) and was never without a warm body to hold her (especially her maemae).  Christmas was absolutely wonderful.  The girls loved playing with each other and JD and I were happy they had this opportunity since they live so far away from each other.  Blake and Addy had to head back to the Sooner state on Christmas day, but my father and mother were able to stick around a few more days.

Big Cousin Addy and Big Sister Sofie

MaeMae and Uppa with the grandkids (yep, all girls!)

Lovin' the park!

Already helping out

Sofie got her own Jeep for Christmas

My mom and I spent our free time reupholstering a recliner for the nursery.  My dad worked on moving some interior doors around for us.  All much needed and appreciated.

Chair deconstructed

Fabric choice

Almost done!

Cora is your typical newborn.  Eat.  Sleep.  And yes, poop.  She does throw in the occasional goofy grin and looks super cute right after she eats when she is all relaxed.  I call it MilkDrunk.  She can sleep through almost anything.  We've been letting her catch her z's during the day in the living room.  That means sleeping through dogs barking at every little thing (or squirrel  that goes by, JD's need to have the TV volume up super loud, and my dad's sneezing fits.  I've been asked how it feels to be a mom now, and it feels quite normal and I couldn't imagine life with out her.  I can't wait to see how Cora turns out and who she takes after most.

Merry Christmas!

Monkey! (Thanks Cousin Shana!)

Milk Drunk 

Hear No Evil

Speak No Evil

         Sorry, no See No Evil pic.....

Finally!