Sawyer's birth story (as written in Sawyers journal)

Ready to go home from the hospital

Sawyer Benjamin Jeppsen
October 23, 2009
3:07pm
5lbs 7oz
18 ½ inches

The previous two weeks before your birth Dr. Housel noticed you were not growing at a normal rate and decided it would be best to induce labor to have you. I went in on a Thursday to my appointment and was started the morning after on Friday.

I wanted to try to have you natural. They started the pitocin at 7:15am. I handled the labor very well. Letting my body relax with each contraction. My nurse Shirley was amazing. She had both of her children natural and was very supportive. After I had labored for several hours I decided at about 2:30pm I wanted an epidural. By the time the anesthesiologist got to the room my water had broke. Your dad and grandma Carr left the room while your aunt Andrea stayed to help me with the epidural. She was sitting in a chair and they had raised the bed so I could put my legs on the arms of the chair. While they were doing the epidural I had a contraction and some of my water went on your aunt Andrea. By the time they were done with the epidural and checked me I was dilated to an 8 and could still feel the contractions. They said it was time and called the doctor. I had the urge to push with the contractions, but they wouldn’t let me till the doctor got there. When the doctor got there he said it looks like all we will need is one push and you would be here, but it took three contraction of pushing to get you into the world. I cried when I felt you come out. I was emotionally overwhelmed. They put you on me and the first thing I said was Benjamin Jeppsen you looked just like your daddy. He looked and knew right away that you were his little boy and you resembled him. I couldn’t stop calling you by your father’s name. That is why your middle name is Benjamin. We had two names in mind for you Dayson and Sawyer. We felt like Sawyer sounded best with Benjamin Jeppsen. That is how you received your name Sawyer Benjamin Jeppsen.

Your dad had an 8 hour test he had to take in Salt Lake City. So he left the hospital that following morning to take the exam. By this time you had not eaten very much and what you did eat would come back up. You also weren’t digesting anything. This was causing your jaundice level to increase and you couldn’t keep your temperature. By the time your dad had come back I knew there was something wrong. The nurses told me they would talk to the pediatrician and see what the best option would be for you. Around 9:00 Saturday night I received a phone call from Dr. Allred the pediatrician at the hospital. Telling me that they decided you needed more extensive care and it would be best for you to be placed in the NICU. It is hard to explain the feelings I had when I received this news, but I knew it would be best for you. Dad and I went with you as they took you to the NICU. Dr. Simmons came in late to observe your condition. They took a few X-rays and tests to look at your condition. Dr. Simmons decided you needed some suppositories to get your digestive system going. After several of these you finally started eating. They did put you under lights for jaundice for a day and monitored everything very closely. Your father and I would travel everyday and spend most of our day in the NICU feeding you and watching your progress. Your sister had to go to Grandma Jeppsens or Grandma Carrs , because children were not allowed in the NICU. We finally got to bring you home on Thursday October 29th.

We are so grateful to finally have you home. We are now a family. Sadie loves you very much and is enjoying “baby Sawyer”. She likes to swing you in your swing. Although there is not very much sleep happening in our home we are enjoying life. You get up every 4 hours to eat. Your sister wakes up during the night and won’t go back to sleep, because her two year molars are coming in. It is all worth it! We love you very much and are excited about watching you grow and learn.

Happy Halloween!

The tradition continues! My sister Michelle painted my belly an ornament with Sadie. This time it is a pumpkin. She does an amazing job.
Sadie girl admiring the pumpkin.

Our lives

Life has been crazy and exciting the last few weeks. We have now put Sadie in her toddler crib, because she learned how to climb and fall out of her crib. She has adjusted decently well. Except for some mornings she decides 6:30am is her wake time. Which last night was one of those cases and I happen not to fall asleep till 1:00am and woke up at 5:00am. It's just one of those mommy days I guess. The first time ever I let her wonder through the house while I stayed in bed. I was actually grateful that she found her diaper bag with raisins and gold fish in it. What a great breakfast!
As for the pregnancy I don't know how to feel about it. I went to the doctor yesterday. To find out I lost another pound and the baby isn't growing as well as he would like. He wants to induce me next week if the baby isn't at 6lbs by then. Which I think is very unlikely that he will be considering he is averaging 5oz a week and he was 5lbs 6oz at the appointment. I don't want to be induced, because I'm looking forward to having this baby naturally and being induced makes the likelihood of that slim.
Ben is taking an engineering exam on Saturday Oct. 24th. So he spends most of his time studying and we are crossing our fingers the baby doesn't come during this next weekend so he can take it.
Pregnancy and babies are so unpredictable. I guess we just have to wait this one out and hope for the best!

KNITTING

I have a new talent! My mom and I found a lady that was willing to teach us how to knit hats. This is my first complete hat. I'm so excited! Now it is time to make some hats for the little one to come.

TODDLER here we come

I usually let Sadie roam the house while I shower. She is pretty good about not getting into things. Not this time! I came into the kitchen to find her in the dishwasher. She really thinks she is a helper which she is most of the time.

Peach Days

Peach Days has always been a tradition for the Jeppsen family. We had a lot of fun this year. We always start off with the parade. Sadie loved picking up the candy and putting it in her bag. After the parade we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa Jeppsen's for the traditional pot luck.

Poor Girl

We just got her over her tonsillitis and her comes the spider bites. I guess it is off to Logan to see the doctor again today. I just feel for our sweet little girl. Hopefullly this one will heal easily. I think Ben will listen to me and kill the spiders now! Instead of letting them outside because they eat the bugs! I do not like spiders and they are not good in my book.

Wisdom Teeth

This last Friday for our long weekend we took Ben to have his wisdom teeth out. He has done pretty good with it. He was eating steak the next day. He basically grounded it up like hamburger. When a man is hungry I guess he'll do whatever it takes for some good food.

Pregnancy 30 weeks 5 days

My sister called me today and told me 97.1 ZHT is doing a bump contest. So my sweetheart of a husband was so nice to take a couple pictures of my baby bump to send into the contest. I'll let you know when to vote. 1st place winner receives a baby nursery. 2nd and 3rd get a $200.00 gift certificate to a baby store that is sponsering the contest. I think Ben did a great job! We took the pictures down by the train station in Brigham.

Sadie loves her baby!

Sadie loves her little baby. She has it with her all the time. She carries it around the house with a blanket and rocks it in her swing, gives it drinks, tries to feed her baby, burps it, rocks it in her chair, sings songs to the baby, gives the baby kisses, and the new one today is taking the baby potty. She brought her baby to me and said gross. I noticed it had water all over it. Thinking she tried to give her baby a drink. I asked her where the babies drink was. Then she showed me the potty that the baby went potty on. Good thing the baby is washable. I just hope she doesn't get these ideas with her little brother.

Burp Clothes

I have had the hardest time finding cute things to make for our baby boy. I could make bows, beaded socks, and all that other girly stuff for Sadie, but for a boy it just doesn't work. My mom told me about these burp clothes and I looked it up online. So my mom and I took off to find everything we needed. I'm doing boy burp clothes and she is doing girl ones. Thanks to Ben watching Sadie the last couple of nights I have these fabulous burp clothes made out of clothe diapers.

First Hair Cut

Sadie was in desperately need of a hair cut. Ben really didn't want it done, because he wanted to wait till it got long enough to put in pony tails. As you can see it is growing in unevenly. I call the sides her wings. It kind of looks like she can fly away.

Finished product. No more wings! Now it is all even.

It only took over 19 months to get her first hair cut.

Nursery Poster

I finally finished my poster. I started this about a week ago. The stars have velcro on the back so as the children come into nursery they can put their star up on the poster. I also laminated the poster and stars hoping it will help it last longer. I am still missing one photo as you can tell. All the others I went to their houses or took their picture at nursery. I hope the little ones enjoy it.

28 weeks pregnant

28 weeks pregnant and still loosing my mind. Today I made pork chops in the crock pot. Ben got home and asked what's for dinner? Strange cause he can usually smell what is cooking! I forgot to plug in the crock pot. Other than loosing my mind the pregnancy has been good. I'm starting to get uncomfortable at night trying to sleep, but the body pillow really helps. As for our baby boy he is doing great and he is a little cutie. I had an ultrasound just yesterday and I could see his little face and hands. It's amazing to realize what the human body can create. We love him already and are anticipating his arrival. Sadie says baby when she points to my belly and whenever we watch the ultrasounds. I'm sure she doesn't completely understand, but it is still fun to tell her about little brother.

El Toro Viejo

Sadie really enjoying the french fries and ranch dressing!

As usually Friday night we headed out for date night. Sadie came along with us for this one. We drove by the El Toro Viejo Mexican restaurant by our place and realized that it was opening night in ten minutes. So we decided it would be fun to be their first customers and it was. They took our picture and charged us $1.00 for all our meals. They are going to frame them and put it up on their wall. They said that it is custom in mexico and gives the business good luck.