Jackson is 2 weeks old

Well it has been a really busy and exciting 2 weeks since Jackson arrived. He is doing really good and we are going to try to go and get him weighed this week to see how much he has grown. He is eating about every 3 hours during the day and 4 hours during the night. Usually he eats 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 ounces each bottle feeding. He only gets breast milk but I pump and Chad is able to bottle feed him some. He does really well switching back and forth from me to the bottle so I guess that is really good. We have now started to freeze milk for the future. I have put 11 bags into the deep freeze. I hope to be able to keep him on breast milk for the entire 1st year if things continue to go as well as they are right now. I did not know how well I would do with actually nursing him because I only pumped and gave the girls a bottle. But Jackson has taken to nursing like such a pro that I have found it is way quicker and easier to breastfeed him. And Chad has been so supportive of this decision (and it really helps to have his support). But I do love to just sit and watch him feed Jackson too (so thanks Mom for the pump).

Other than feeding which right now takes up lots of our day we basically change diapers, do laundry, and try to sleep. Chad has been a lifesaver for me he cooks most every dinner for us and when he is home for lunch he completely takes care of Jackson to let me get a shower or get the bottles clean or just rest if that is what I need to do.

I went to the dr last Monday to get my staples removed and have to go back in 5 weeks for a 1 hour glucose test and a final check up. But I am now ready to start getting me back to normal. We are starting our diet back basically we are doing my diabetic diet. We figured it worked when I was pregnant so it will work now too. And I tried to walk a few days ago but maybe I am not quite ready for too much exercise yet but I hope to be ready for it soon.

Here are a few picts of Jackson from this week I hope you like them.

Mommy, Daddy and Jackson before we went out to eat Friday night

Our handsome little boy

Jackson after his bath (he did not like the bathtub)

Happy one week birthday to Jackson!!

As of 9:13 this morning Jackson was one week old. At the time of his one week birthday I was washing our sheets because Jackson had pooped on them.... Guess that is all part of being a Mom. Other than that everything is going very good with him we went to the Dr. on Friday for a weight check and he had gained 3 1/2 ounces in the two days since we left the hospital. He is now back up to 7 lbs 11 1/2 oz. The Dr. was very pleased with how everything was going so we don't have to go back for 3 weeks so our next dr's appt is on 8-8-08. We are a little sleep deprived today because he decided to stay away from 3:00 to 5:30 and this was after we did not get into bed until after midnight. But as you other Moms know nothing can overcome being sleep deprived like holding your little one in your arms. Chad has been my saving grace with Jackson he helps with everything and has backed away from nothing. He is right there beside me no matter what. I have fallen in love with him even more just by seeing how he is with Jackson.
I go back to my dr. tomorrow and hopefully I will get my staples out at that time and hopefully I will get a clean bill of health.

Here are some pictures we have taken of Jackson since we got home. I am a picture nut and I want to make sure I have everything photographed.

Jackson holding his Dad's had.

Jackson in his frog outfit!

Jackson after his 1st sponge bath!

Jackson in his stroller for the 1st time. His 1st stop was at Fresh Market!! We went there so many times when he was pregnant it only seems fitting that he went there for his 1st outing!

Jackson is here!!!!

I was put in the hospital on July 12th for high blood pressure and on Sunday Morning at 7:30 we were told we would have a c-section at 9am. We were excited and nervous all at once. I will post the entire story later but here are some picts and the quick facts....

Jackson Lee Matthews

Born July 13th at 9:13am

Weight 8lbs 1 oz

Length 20"

This picture was just before they took us for the c-section

Chad and Jackson just minutes after he was born.

All 3 of us still in the operating room!!

Jackson wearing his 1st outfit Bama top to bottom

Mommy with her sweet little Boy.

Father and Son

Jackson in his picture outfit!

We are so happy to have Jackson here and we have been so blessed to have so many friends and family come to visit all of us. We should get to go home on Wednesday morning. I will do my best over the next few weeks to keep you all posted on how Jackson is doing and growing.

Saban in Scottsboro

On Wednesday Coach Nick Saban was speaking in Scottsboro. After our Dr.'s appointment on Monday we felt comfortable enough that I would not be in the hospital Wednesday to buy tickets. I really did not know what to expect when we got there, but it was interesting. We got there about 15 minutes early and I decided I would get us something to drink. When I walked to the back to get a drink they announced he would be signing autographs and taking pictures 1st then he would be speaking last. Since I was already standing right beside the table they had set up for this I got in line (I was actually 1st in line). You could either get one item signed or one picture per person. Chad had brought a magazine to get signed so I got that signed for my one item.

And for Chad's item we took the picture.

It turned out really good that we were close to the front of the line because he only signed things for a limited time and some people did not get their items signed. Then he spoke for about 35 minutes and then took questions from the audience. I thought that it was pretty neat and I am glad we were able to go.

We have a date!!! Now lets see if we use it?!?!?!

Well we went for our 37 week check up today and nothing has changed. It seems this little guy is comfortable and happy and does not want to join us! Nothing has changed with me even though I am having tons of contractions. So along with the Dr. we decided that we would go ahead and schedule a c-section for the 22nd. If I go into labor prior to that we will obviously get to cancel the c-section. Because I had a c-section last time either I have to go into labor naturally (thus not be induced) or I have to have a c-section. I was really hoping not to have a c-section, but more than that I just want to get him here healthy and happy. I have also posted directions to St Vincents in another post for those of you who would like to come and visit while we are in the hospital. We don't mind you visiting the hospital or us when we get home but if you visit at our house please let us know you are on your way. If you visit the hospital just come on over we certainly will not be going anywhere (at least I won't). Chad may have to go pick up me some foods that have I really missed the last 10 weeks since I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
I guess some of you may want to know the other info from my Dr.s appt today. His heart rate was 150 and he is measuring 38 weeks (as I said I am only 37). My blood pressure was up a bit 144 over 90, but it went down to 140/80 before we left. My total weight gain for the pregnancy is 12 lbs. And for the 1st time in many many weeks I did not have to give any blood today (YEA!).

What a day!!!

Well this has to be one of my craziest days in a LONG time. We went to the post office to mail some thank you notes and I left my purse there accidentally. I realized I had lost it about 20 minutes later but did not know where I left it or if it had possibly been stolen out of the car. Chad called my phone and a few minutes later someone called back from my phone. The person who called back did not speak English as their 1st language. He said he had my purse and he found it at the post office, we asked him to leave it with the postal workers. We rushed back to the post office and no purse to be found. We called him again and now he is at the Toyota dealership. I told him to stay there and while we were on our way to the Toyota place I called the police and asked an officer to meet us there. I also called the dealership and a gentleman that worked there (who turns out was about 6'3" or so and 240 and appeared to work out) said he would go look for the man carrying around a purse. When we pulled up so did the police officer and out comes the gentleman from the dealership holding our friendly little Mexican by the shoulder. The two things in my purse that concerned me were my phone and MY CAMERA (those of you who know me well know how I am about my camera). Well everything was still in my purse. I was shocked!!!!! But happy!!! I do think he might have wanted money or something if the police had not been there and he was not being held on to by a large man. It was an insane experience. But that was just my lunch experience.
After Chad got off work we headed to Huntsville to pick up a few things we still needed before Jackson arrived. We made our stops then headed to eat a Bonefish grill. While we were eating I started having contractions. Now I have been having them on and off for about 2 weeks, and because we are so far from St Vincents the Dr. told me to head in if I had more than 6 in a row that were less than 10 minutes apart. Well the 1st hour I had 6 that were 10 minutes apart and then over then next hour they dropped to 4 to 5 minutes apart. So the nurse told me to come in. We drove down to the hospital and I had up to 12 in an hour. Well they put me on the monitor and his heart rate looked great and I was still having some contractions but their major concern was my blood pressure (which was 143 over 100). They think that caused the contractions because I was no more dilated than I had been on Monday. Finally my blood pressure went down and my contractions were very spaced out and not really strong so they sent us home. We got home at almost 2 am...... We should have just stayed in Birmingham but that was an afterthought.
Well that was our yesterday but today was much better. We had a peaceful and relaxing 4th of July. We ate with Chad's parents and Courtney, Cully, and Trip. Then we floated around in the pool for a while and just basically did nothing else it was quite nice to have the day be so uneventful. Hope you all had a wonderful 4th!!

Directions to St Vincents when Jackson arrives!!

A few people have asked me about getting to St Vincents to visit after Jackson gets here. Especially since we are so far away when we come home. We want you to know that anyone is welcome to come and visit us in the hospital. Here are the directions to St Vincents: From

From Scottsboro/ Gadsden:
Take I 59/I 20 towards Birmingham
Exit on Hwy 31 / 280 / Carraway Blvd Exit
Follow Highway 31 South
Exit on 8th Ave
Left onto 8th Ave
Right on St Vincents Drive
Follow signs to Women's and Children's Center Parking Deck

From Tuscaloosa
Take I 59 / I 20 to Birmingham
Exit on Hwy 31/ 280 /Carraway Blvd Exit
Follow Hwy 31 South
Exit on 8th Ave
Left onto 8th Ave
Right onto St. Vincents Drive
Follow signs to Women's and Children's Center Parking Deck

From Hoover
Take I 65 N to 8th Ave South/ University Blvd Exit
Pass Childrens Hospital and UAB
Take right onto St Vincents Drive
Follow signs to Women's and Children's Center Parking Deck

If you prefer to Mapquest or use a navigational device here is the address:
810 St. Vincent's Drive
Birmingham, AL 35205

We (or our parents) will let everyone know when Jackson has arrived and what room we are in. After that time you are welcome to come and visit all of us.