Randomness

Here's my Game Buddy...he just LOVES it so much, I'm sure!

What happens when you shoot poo all over dad and the dining room chair? You get put in the sink! He actually LOVED this, he was content just hanging out there, nice and cozy...

Here are my Valentines! So cute, both of them!

Another little photo shoot. I think Tony wants him to play football or something?

And finally...I thought these last two expressions of Mason's were just too funny not to put on here. Again, his cuteness makes all of the gross things he does so much more tolerable!

Visitors!!

Tony's parents were able to come out for a little over a week to visit and meet little Mason. We were so happy they could come for such a long time, and so close to Mason's birth. We love you guys! We know Mason loves you, too, and was happy for all the cuddles and attention he received!

Mason was constantly spitting up on Duke, it seemed. So sorry!!!

And the proud daddy---

Blessing Day

We were so fortunate to have so much of our family be able to come in for Mason's sweet little blessing. And his daddy did such a great job, even if he was nervous!! Thanks also to Janica for letting us borrow Bennett's little outfit. I had a hard time finding something out here : ) Thanks also to our friends who helped out (and to some who couldn't, we love you, too!)

Tony the Photographer

Tony loves all his new photo-ops with little Mason...

But sooner or later, they all turn out the same way:

Another WV Christmas

So Christmas hit me like a brick this year! I was so excited and ready for Christmas, say, early November. Fortunately, I did all of my shopping/preparations (except for decorations- thanks mom!) before Mason was born. I knew I would be busy with him, but had no idea he'd be a week late and I'd end up with a c-section, so it really knocked me out for a while. Before I knew it, Christmas was here. I must say, this had to have been the MOST tired I've ever been Christmas morning. I seriously wanted to just sleep in and miss the whole presents/breakfast thing. I'm glad Tony and I (and Mason!) got up, though, now! We went easy on the presents (Mason is our main present, of course!) this year and it didn't feel any different, really. Of course, we're looking to buy a new TV so we kind of considered that our gift to each other. PS- the truck above was just down the street from my grandma's house. Good ole' DubVee.

Our four generation picture.

Mason Duke

Here are some more pictures of the little guy. He was one week old in the Santa pictures. Sleepy Santa!

I love this one above. They are so peaceful when they're sleeping!

As you can see, he was born with tons of dark, dark hair.
My friends Michelle and Sara came to visit, even though they both have little tikes of their own at home. It was so nice to break up some of the monotony of the hospital, especially when you have to stay for several days. Thanks girls! I love you!

On that note, Tony and I have really been amazed at how many people have been so willing to help us start out our new little family. Between gifts and visits to dinners and offers to help, we have been so blessed and fortunate. I can only hope to return the favors, or at least help out others when the time comes.

And here (above) is Mason's coming home outfit. It was so fun to finally get to put him in some cute clothes and take him home!!

Rewind

So, it's been a while! For good reason, though! I had my last OB appointment on Monday, December 8th. The baby still hadn't dropped so I wasn't dilated at all, still. Tony and I went to Lowe's that night on the recommendation of the nurse to buy a rocking chair. She said it would force the baby's head against the cervix to help dilation. Of course, as soon as Tony got the chair together and glued and all, I rocked a few times and randomly started VERY regular contractions. Waste of a chair, but it's nice now to rock the little guy in. I wasn't really sure if they were contractions, though, because I hadn't REALLY felt them like that before- but it was just the back pain. At regular increments.

So by then it was around midnight and I said I wanted to shower in case if they WERE labor pains because I knew a shower would be a long time coming if I were to have the baby. ANYWAY, we ended up heading to the hospital right before 3 AM the next day. It turns out I had dilated a little, and my contractions were every 3 minutes or so apart. They went ahead and admitted me into the hospital and my doctor came by around 8:30 before his clinic. He broke my water and shortly after they starting me on pitocin because the baby still hadn't dropped at all.

To make a long and painful story short, I hit my limit around noon and got the epidural (even though I was only dilated to a three, the pitocin had made my contractions so hard and strong I could hardly breathe through them and at less than two minutes apart I hardly had time to recoup before the next one started). Wow- I seriously do NOT know how anyone ever made it through labor without one. I was definitely meant to be born at this day of age. The doctor started saying that there may be a possibility of c-section, and the chances increased during the day as I dilated up to an 8 or so and the baby still hadn't dropped, I had a fever that was getting worse by the hour, and the baby's heart rate was drastically dropping to dangerous levels with each contraction. He finally made the decision around 6:45 or so to go in and get him out. I was really upset, but knew it was most important for us both to be safe when all was said and done.

(This picture is me getting the shot that would stop my contractions before going into surgery. Didn't even feel it.)

Little Mason Duke was born at 7:33 pm December 9th, 2008. He weighed 8 pounds 4 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. That part of the c-section was fine, but when they started stitching me back up something went wrong with the anesthetic and I could feel EVERYTHING they were doing. They kept on trying to get more drugs to me (at 4-5 times the normal dosages) but it never helped. Awful. It took a couple days for my blood pressure to go back to normal due to the high level of pain and stress my body had been under. Luckily, I can't remember much, especially now almost four weeks later.

I would do it all a hundred times over, though. Mason is so adorable and fun (ok, and tiring and gross and VERY demanding, but he's so cute it's hard not to overlook those parts) and it's amazing how sweet such a little person can seem. Tony and I are so happy and lucky to have him here, safe and sound.