Newborns ROCK...Ryker's first couple weeks at home

Ryker and I were released from the hospital on Monday, June 13th...his due date. We got home about 2:30 that afternoon, and it's been a whirlwind around here ever since then. Both grandmas and Val were here to welcome us home. My mom stayed the first week here at the house to help us get adjusted and to cook and clean for us. We LOVE her cooking! My Mamaw also came to visit...Ry's great grandma. Aunt Val couldn't stay away, and she was back towards the end of the week too. Papaw also came back to Katy to spend Father's Day weekend here with his new grandson. :) As far as my recovery, every day it was easier to get around and do stuff. It was a bit frustrating at first because I felt like I should be able to do more than my body was physically ready or able to do. I was very glad that Nick was off of work to help me with everyday activites and spend time with our lovable baby boy.

Our baby boy...we love him!

Up in the bouncer...

Mamaw, Me, and Ryker

Dory checking him out early one morning

Family pic

Visiting with Mamaw...his great grandma

Me and my boy!

First bottle ever! GO Daddy! It had breast milk in it. :)

Nick's first of many times getting peed on...he seems excited!

Ryker in the outfit (It's Carter's...believe it or not) that Nick and his brother Derek came home from the hospital in.

Aunt Val couldn't stay away!

Grandma LOVE

This was early one morning...visiting with Val...

Out of the house for the first time...heading to his pediatrician's office...one week old!

One week old...hanging with Momma. :)

Val loves him!

Another morning spent talking with Val. His outfit is so cute. And he's even got on little boot socks.

Nick had a couple co-workers come by. Marcie wouldn't let me take her pic, but she brought Ryker this really cute piggy bank. And, it already has money in it!

Papaw couldn't wait to hold his grandson. He was back for Father's Day.

We have the best neighbors. They sent us food and brought Ryker gifts. :) Thanks Jana, Farhana, and Aliah.

Had to get a pic of this outfit...it's too cute!

Dad and Nick spent their first Father's Day as a grandpa and dad putting up a ceiling fan in Ryker's room. How lucky am I to have these guys in my life? I love you both!

Big guy RY on Father's Day

DAD and baby LOVE...Happy FD!

Papaw LOVE...Happy FD!

Papaw and Mamaw with Ryker

And now we are 3...

Nick with his FD gift from my parents...a remote controlled helicopter.

Dad got one from Val too...

Ryker with his daddy's card...Nick got a ZigZag Racer. Man those things are popular!

Brock and Brenda came by to visit us...Congrats on your engagement!

Playing with their 'copters

Nick with his FD gift from Beth...Blue Bell yellow cake batter ice cream with sugar cookie dough chunks...his fav.

Ry, me, and my dad - Happy FD!

Ryker took to breastfeeding instantly when I fed him in the recovery room, and he hasn't looked back. He is a BF champ! I love it, and I am SO proud of him. :) I got extremely lucky with this aspect of the whole experience. Other than fussing when he's hungry (He is not a patient guy when he's hungry) and when he's getting his diaper changed sometimes, he's a sweet baby with a great personality so far. He seemes to like watching the ceiling fan and TV already, although I don't really know what he can see, and he is already lifting his head up off people's shoulders and chest. We're really gonna have to watch out for that. He's been a little gassy the last few days, and we are working on finding something that will help him in this department.

He had his first doctor's appointment on June 17th...when he was one week old. He weighed 7 pounds and 4 ounces...a 10 ounce gain from when we left the hospital on Monday. Crazy huh? What a good breastfeeder! Dr. Gonzalez checked him out, and everything was fine with our boy. He also had his second PKU test done, and we are starting him on Vitamin D drops since he is going to be an exclusively breastfed baby for as long as possible. My milk started coming in late the Sunday night we were at the hospital, and it felt really "in" on the second day we were home. I have been able to pump a few times, and I am definitely producing enough for him right now. I am so thankful for that as well. :)


Last Monday we had Ry's newborn photo shoot done here at the house. It was really fun, but Ryker and I were both very tired when all was said and done. We had Chelsea do the pics...the same photographer we used for the maternity pictures. I am betting there are gonna be some absolutely awesome photos again. :) Here's a few pics I snapped quickly from during the photo shoot...

Last week was Beth's turn to help us out and spend some time with the baby. She came in on Sunday and left on Friday. It was so nice not worrying about any meals and not really doing much around the house since someone else was taking care of it for us. The last couple days of last week Ryker and I had doctor's appointments. I had my postpartum check-up, and I am doing well. Other than dealing with the sleep deprivation, I feel good. My pain has lessened this week significantly, and I am only taking Motrin now for pain control. My blood pressure was fine, my incision looks good, and I have lost 22 pounds already...all my baby weight is gone. How AWESOME is that? Breastfeeding is SO cool for multiple reasons. Ryker's appointment went well also. He weighed in at 8 pounds and 5 ounces, and he's now 21.5 inches long. Growing like a weed! Also, his cardiac echocardiogram came back normal. We won't be back to see the peditrician until he's 2 months old. Yippee!

Ryker with grandma Beth

Lovin' the onesie...

Me and my boy hanging out...

Giving him his vitamin D...he takes the bottle well too. :)

Sleeping beauty

Daddy's turn for his bottle

Dad was showing him some of the toys waiting for him in his nursery. We finally showed him his nursery last week after the photo shoot.

Little baby...big crib!

When we were watching Harry Potter one afternoon...so dramatic.

Hope everyone following us through our blog is doing well. We are ready for visitors again. :) Please come see us!

WeLcOmE RyKeR AnDrEw CaRlSoN

He's finally here!

YAY!

Ryker Andrew Carlson was born on Friday, June 10th, at 10:22 am. He weighed in at 7 pounds even, and he was 20 inches long. Ryker decided he didn't want to engage in my pelvis, and he also didn't like labor (augmented and not) so he was born by emergent c-section that morning for late decels which are drops in fetal heart rate. Dropping his heart rate like that can lead to decreased oxygenation in his blood which is really dangerous. When Nick and I found out that I was going to have a c-section, we were disappointed and scared, but we knew that was what needed to be done when my OB-GYN recommended it so quickly. She's a really patient doctor as far as waiting it out and giving moms time to deliver vaginally...that's one of the reasons I like her so much. Becoming a family of 3 started with some drama, but we are so grateful that everything turned out so well afterwards. Please enjoy some of the pictures from the day that changed our lives forever. :) (A few are out of order, but these days I don't have time to start over.)

Nick before we left for the hospital...about 3:30 am Friday morning...

One final pic before we head to the hospital



Some pics from right after delivery...in the OR...

Our first CARLSON family pic

In the OR...

Laying in LDR-6 waiting for Ryker to make his appearance

In the nursery to start transition...Weight time now...

Nick was such a PROUD daddy! He had footprints and Ryker's stats on his shirt.

After coming out to recovery to breastfeed with mom...

Nick got to cut what was left of Ryker's cord in the nursery

BATH TIME

 

Everyone in my room waiting for Ryker to get done in the nursery...Derek, Beth, Val, Nick, Mom, and Dad. They were all wearing their special shirts that I bought them. :)

My first look at him since the recovery room...

Papaw's first time holding Ryker

Mamaw's first time holding Ryker

Aunt Val's first time holding Ryker

Beth's first time holding Ryker

Our awesome door sign...updated with Ry's stats. Ashley made it for us!

Checking out the scene after Mamaw dressed him

Getting burped by mom after feeding

So...early Saturday morning Ryker received his Hepatits B shot, and he then decided to hold his breath and change colors. He scared the nursery nurses, and they called his doctor. After talking with one of the neonatologists, they ended up drawing some labs and checking him out a bit more. Everything came back normal, and Dr. Chadda came to see him in person. She said he just held his breath b/c he was angry, and she didn't see any reason to admit him to the NICU. He was just going to be watched closely for now. I was SO happy to hear that, and the pic below was when they brought him out to me after all the above mentioned drama.

Flowers from the Jaskinias

Flowers from my Dad

Uncle Derek saying good-bye before heading back to Dallas

Morgan and Kelly stopped by to visit

Me and my boy! :)

Nick got Ryker dressed for the Mavs game Sunday night

Aunt Val spending some Q time with Ry

Ryker and daddy watching the MAVS game Sunday night...they won!

BRIGHT-eyed boy

Checking his bracelets with Tinnel to go home

In his going home outfit

The back of the outfit

Ready to go home!

Waiting on daddy to bring the Pilot to the doors

Walking out of the elevator

Last pic as a family of 2

We're outta here!

On our way home! YAY!

Hope to see everyone soon! We are definitely up for visitors now, and we would love to see you all.

Mom and Dad's 35th wedding anniversary

Tomorrow my parents are celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary! Can you believe that? My parents don't seem old enough to have been together that long...much less been married that long. It's crazy to me...even as their 31 year old daughter. I sure am glad that my dad waited outside my mom's job at Dilliard's to give her rides home from work their senior year...otherwise, I probably wouldn't be here. :) And, neither would Val. Although I am sure that their celebration will be simple this year because of Ryker's birth (which I know they don't mind), I just wanted to share their special day with everyone who follows us. Just a few things:

I grew up with the best parents anyone could ever want or ask for. Truly. Hands down. I am sure if you ask them they would tell you that there were times they wanted to kill me...literally. No...Really. Especially my mom. When I was in high school. However, we made it through, and our relationship is one of the closest ones I now have. I wouldn't have it any other way though. Anyone who knows my mom knows she is one-of-a-kind in many regards (talking, cooking, gardening, talking), and she is always there for anyone who needs it. She's even there for people she just thinks may need her. :) I think she's that way partially because of how she was raised...those POLLOCKS are givers (and talkers), and she's just a very un-selfish person in general. God has blessed me with her. I love her, and I am grateful to call her my mom every day. She has been such a blessing this past week.

My dad has always been quite the jokester. I know he got that from his dad...my Papaw. He has always been so good at it too. :) Another very giving person, my dad has always been willing and able to help anyone he thought was in need. I haven't ever asked my mom what she loves about him the most, but I would guess this trait ranks pretty far up there. I am so thankful that my dad was always around to go to band concerts, dance recitals, football games, and any other school functions I had. I'm sure it wasn't always exciting or fun, but he was there nonetheless. Another blessing God has given me...my dad. I can't wait to see him as a grandpa. I know he is gonna ROCK it.

My parents did all they could to make growing up fun and encouraging (even though we didn't have much money), and they have always been role models for the way we should live our lives...especially in the way other people should be treated. Every family has rough times, and I'd be lying if I said we had none, but I think we all came out better people for it. Each one of us...Dad, Mom, Val, and I. I can't believe that 35 years have passed since they promised their love to each other. I hope they'll both be around another 35 years (at least) to celebrate 70 years together. <3

Being nicer on a daily basis...to everyone...

I watched Joel Osteen this past Sunday morning, and his sermon basically delivered the message of always being nice and/or positive to people with all interactions since we never know what's going on in their lives on a day to day basis. Being a more positive person...it can't hurt right? It seems like such a simple thing to do, yet, I don't do it every day with people. Even most days...to be perfectly honest. Saying one positive or nice thing to someone in an interaction that you probably don't think even matters can change someone's whole day. If God has given us the opportunity to help people along in their daily struggles just by being nice or having a positive thing to say to them, why wouldn't we do it?

For example, Joel talked about when he used to go to the gym every morning like 20 years ago to play basketball. He said that there was a guy who showed up to play with him and his friends daily, but the guy never really spoke to any of them. Joel said that he used to say "Hi" and welcome him to the game every day, and the guy never responded other than continuing to play basketball with them. Of course, Joel said that he ran into him about 6 months ago, and the man remembered him...greeted him with a good ol' "Hi Joel" amongst some other things. Joel said it took him awhile to realize who the man was, especially since he wasn't used to hearing the man talk. He reminded Joel of who he was, and the man thanked him for the warm welcome he received every morning from Joel way back then. It turns out that the man was going through a very rough time in his life, and even though he didn't respond to Joel's kind words at the time, he greatly appreciated them. He even remembered Joel's niceness after all this time. (Even in all my nice new thinking, though, I can't help but think who wouldn't remember Joel Osteen? I mean he is a world-famous speaker, and he preaches at the biggest church in the U.S. here in Houston. Just saying though...)

So...I have decided to work on becoming a nicer and more positive person to the outside world at large. From the store clerk to the mail lady, from family and friends to acquaintances. Everyone. I am going to try really hard to pass out positivity to all. Even though there are going to be instances where I know it will be hard, I am going to swallow my annoyance and keep going forward. It can, and will, be done. :) The world can only become a better place with more positivity so wish me luck.