Amy Scott's Thoughts

5 Meat Stuffed Pizza and Ben & Jerry’s on a hard day! Yes, please!!!

Now the title of this blog says “Mom & Dad”, but I don’t mean Jeremy and I. Yesterday was one of those days… After a crazy night of sleep (or lack thereof), we loaded Owen into the car and headed to my Dad’s office so he could show his grandson off to all the office ladies and Steve (the one guy who came to see him). The visit started off great. Lots of baby adoration. However, Owen got warm and needed a new diaper so we headed to Grandpa’s office for a more private location. In Grandpa’s office, Owen proceeded to go through through 3 diapers (2 good poopy ones back to back) and he peed on Grandpa’s desk. All this time, he was crying and Steve was on a call down the hall. It wasn’t really too bad. Everyone laughed about it and by the time Steve made it into the office to check on things, Owen was happy again so Steve was able to snap a photo and send it to his wife. All was good… except for the fact that I only had 1 diaper left in our bag! Oops!

After our short stop at the office, we went to Owen’s two week appointment and circumcision. Being a girl, I kind of knew it was going to be a rough visit, but I didn’t really know what to expect 100%. Owen was getting fussy because he was starting to get hungry but alas the poor kid couldn’t eat until the appointment was over. Jeremy and I were asked if we wanted to stay in the room. We both opted yes. Jeremy actually fed Owen sugar water and watched the whole procedure. I sat in a chair and looked the other way. The hardest part for me was watching him being strapped down for the whole ordeal. It looked so mean. At that point, I looked away and didn’t look back. Owen crying at the doctor’s office is something I’m used to after the heel pokes, but I think because I knew this was a different kind of experience for him, it really drained me. Once it was over and he was dressed, I tried to feed him. He was super hungry and at first I thought all was going to be calm. Once the numbing medication started to wear off, he started screaming for a few seconds and then eating for a few seconds. He would rotate between being on a mission for food and just plain unhappy. At one point, he became seriously inconsolable. I felt terrible.

Before the “appointment”, Owen is wearing socks on his hands because we forgot his mittens at home!

We eventually got him into the car seat and Jeremy started to swing it back and forth. He loves this motion and he calmed down. Once we got into the car, he fell into a hard sleep. It’s not wonder after all the drama and trauma that had just happened to him. I didn’t even watch the procedure, but I found myself praying that I only have one son, because I’m not sure I can go through that again. It was harder than I thought it would be. The lack of sleep might play into my overly drained and emotional state, but I was seriously spent.

I had sent a text to my parents about how the appointment had gone and how it had made me feel. I got a call from my mom shortly after asking if she could bring us pizza and ice cream for dinner. I almost started crying right there. Normally I would say that we were fine and thanks for the offer, but in that moment, I really wanted something comforting and pizza and ice cream sounded right up my alley.  Later that night, I sent a text saying thank you for the meal and my Dad texted back saying we had earned it. Mommy and Daddy merit badges.

Luckily for me, days like this won’t happen again – unless we have another son… But at least for Owen it’s done and over. I’m grateful that the whole thing is behind us. Owen was a trooper and even though the office experience was hard, he as great the rest of the day. He seems to be doing just fine with no real side effects. Praise the Lord!  Jeremy worked from home yesterday afternoon just to be on the safe side. I know he did it for me. I thought for sure that Jeremy would leave and Owen would wake up in a terror, all mad and upset like at the office, but he didn’t. In fact, he actually had a decent night last night and I’m feeling a whole lot better about things today.

I do think the pizza and ice cream helped! Thank you, Mom & Dad, for saving the day! I appreciate you!!!

PS… I’ve been trying to think of blog topics that don’t revolve around Owen, but I can’t come up with any. At this point, he is my whole world. Everything is about him. I know it’s only a season, but please be patient. I will think about other things eventually. I think…

Our little Owen is now 13 days old. Almost 2 weeks! What a crazy two weeks it has been. I would be untruthful if I told you the adjustment to motherhood has been an easy one. I knew it was going to be a challenge, but there is a difference between knowing something and living something out. First off, Owen was jaundice when he was born which led to week’s worth of doctor appointments and heel pricks for blood draws. The process of going to the doctor so often really did drain me. We had to be out of the house and on-time to many appointments from the very beginning. Also, I came down with a urinary tract infection that had me going to the doctor as well last week. It seemed that if wasn’t one thing, it was another. Our family has been very medically exciting these days. I’m happy to report that last Wednesday, Owen was given the clear on the jaundice situation so that is now over. Praise the Lord!

Now doctor’s appointments aren’t the only thing that has been filling our time. We’ve had many visitors over to the house to meet Owen. He has also had outings to both set of grandparent’s houses and to the church. These have been great times. I love showing our friends and family our little man. It’s exciting to introduce them. These people mean a lot to me and I hope they will mean a lot to Owen in the future. We’ve been so blessed by a loving community. The only downside to visitors is again the busy factor. At times it’s felt like our house has been a bit of a revolving door. Like, I have said, I am grateful, but our pace of life has not been as restful as I assumed it would be.

With doctor’s appointments and visitors quieting down, I am now really entering the “stay at home mom” season of life. Jeremy has gone back to work full time and I find myself home all day with this new little life. Owen has been great when it comes to being a content baby during the day. I usually feed him in the morning and he settles in for a nap and then I feed him again around lunch time and he settles in for an afternoon nap. Very doable. Not too overwhelming. However, I’m learning that I have a hard time sitting down when Owen is sleeping. I used to be a nanny and I took naps all the time when the baby slept. I thought it would just like that… However, I’m now realizing that I didn’t nanny in my own home. I didn’t feel responsible to clean the house, move the laundry along, write thank you cards. When Owen is asleep, I feel myself moving in double time to get things done. I know logically many of these things don’t need to be done right away, but order brings calm to my world, so in a way, it’s important to me to do small things each day that lead to order in my home. Trust me, I’m not tackling my to-do lists like I used to, but in some way doing the things I used to do makes me feel like me.

I’m learning how to rest. I’m learning how to slow down. I didn’t realizing how hard this was going to be for my personality. I can no longer be a mover and a shaker with a nursing newborn. I will say, though, that being Owen’s mother is truly a blessing. People look at him and tell me “good job”, but I know it’s all God, not me. I didn’t make this beautiful boy this way. God did. When he is alert and happy or starting to get dopey, I look into those little eyes and that sweet face and I really do think he is perfect. These moments make it all worth it. I just have to remember them when it’s the middle of the night and I really want to be sleeping and for some reason he seems to be generally fussy.  I’m also learning to let go of mommy guilt. Sometimes when Jeremy is trying to quiet a fussy Owen, I feel bad because I think I should be the one doing that job. Or like right now, when I have him in the swing, so my hands can be free, I feel guilty that I’m not holding and cuddling him. These are the things that I’m learning right now. I know they are only this small for so long and I don’t want to rush through it. I can already tell he is growing and changing as his little outfits that used to be big on him now fit well. Even this weekend we were given clothes that were 18 months and it’s just so hard to believe that someday he’ll be that big.  I’m trying to treasure the moments as much as possible!

The question has come up often – “Who do you think he looks like?” Honestly, Jeremy and I have had a hard time seeing ourselves in Owen. We didn’t see either one of us at first. It took us pulling out our own newborn pictures before we saw the resemblance. Looking in the faces of Baby Jeremy and Baby Amy, I finally saw pieces of us in Baby Owen. So what do you think? Do you see me and Jeremy in him?

Baby Jeremy & Baby Amy

Baby Owen

Owen’s 1st visit to the church!

Today was a day of firsts. Sadly, we had another doctor appointment, but the upside is we stopped by the church so we could show Owen off around the office. It was great to see our co-workers and the community we have Bethel. This was also a good baby step for me. Taking Owen to the office is a small step towards actually taking him the church when it’s filled with people. I’m still trying to decide if I want to brave this Sunday. I would feel more confident if I was going in with Jeremy by my side, but because church is our job, he will have to work that morning. I’m not sure I’m ready to face the crowds alone. However, I will have to do it at some point, so I’m thinking it might be best to get on with it. But anyway, I digress.  The stop by the church was a lot of fun. Not only do Nana & Papa work there, but so many of the people that mean the most to me. It was great to share moments with them and see them dote on Owen. I am a proud mama and I have very sweet friends.

Owen’s 1st walk!

As we were driving home in that afternoon in the lovely October sunshine, Jeremy mentioned that it might be fun to take the dog on a walk. We’ve been trying really hard to make Toby feel special as we make this lifestyle change. Toby has been great with Owen. I am thankful that Owen seems unphased by any barking Toby might make. So far they seem to like each other and get along! These sunny fall days are perfect for walks and I’m glad we went for it. It was a bit of an adventure. As soon we got Owen into the stroller, he promptly pooped and peed in his diaper. Then while changing the diaper, he peed again and ruined his outfit. The dog knew that we were leaving for a walk and was less than pleased that we put off our departure time. I felt bad that we were doing this walk for the dog and then it looked like we’re teasing him by getting all ready to go and stopping. We were finally able to get our walk in while there was still daylight, but not as early as we had hoped for. It was a lot of walking as a family and it felt good to be up and on my feet. I’m looking forward to maybe a few more walks like this before the winter rains really set in.

On a side note, I’ve wrestled with what to blog about on a general scheme. Originally, I thought it would be a good place for me to share my thoughts on being a ministry family. However, it quickly become an “anything” blog. I write about my baking, my friends, my family, my travels, my baby, etc. It’s pretty much whatever is going on in my head and in my life. I don’t want Owen take over my blog, but at the same time, he is a pretty big deal! Being a new mom, this little life is taking up a lot of my thoughts and energy. I want to share my journey because writing helps me process my world. So, I apologize if this turns into more of a baby/family blog. There will still be posts of all kinds, but I have a feeling a lot of posts will center around this new season life. Plus, Owen is just too sweet not to write about!

First Family Photo

On Tuesday, October 8th, we welcomed Owen Richard into the Scott family. Monday night, Jeremy and I checked into the hospital. The thought was that they would give me some Cytotec to help get my body ready for labor and on Tuesday morning they would induce me. Well, that plan didn’t really pan out… When I arrived at the hospital I was already having regular contractions. They debated if I even needed a dose of the medication, but they still decided to go forward with the plan. However, my water broke around 12:30am and the contractions started coming on strong after that. By 3:30am, I was having an epidural. The pain came on quicker than I expected – thanks to the meds. After the few hours of labor I experienced, I’m not sure how women can do all natural for hours on end. By before 7:00am, my contractions were so intense that our little guy wasn’t doing well with them. Each contraction was cutting off his oxygen supply and his heart rate would drop considerably during each one. At this point, they gave me a shot to stop my labor. The doctor on-call came in and told me because I was only half way dilated, she recommended a c-section. I was nervous and scared, but I knew that this was a possibility from the beginning. My doctor got into the office a little after 8:00am and took over for the on call doctor. My doctor wasn’t as interested in the c-section option. They monitored the baby’s heart rate and once things looked good, they gave me Pitocin.  Once the Pitocin was in my system, I dilated quickly. 45 minutes of pushing was all it took for Owen Richard Scott to enter the world at 12:22pm. He weighed in at 7lbs. 5oz. and was 19 inches long.

Falling in love with this little face!

I don’t want to be one of those people who go into all the gory details of their labor. The labor process was totally different than I expected and I’m still amazed that my body could push out a little human. It’s amazing and strange. Life definitely changed the moment they put our little baby on my chest. It wasn’t an overly emotional experience for me. I think the emotions have settled in over time. One night this week, Jeremy and I were showing each other pictures on our phones and cameras. We were laughing and commenting on how cute Owen is. I felt like a parent. Here we were looking at our baby’s pictures like he was the greatest thing on Earth. I felt the tears coming. Another insistence of emotions sneaking up would be when I was texting my sister. I was commenting on how good things were despite the ups and downs. She responded by saying that God is good and again, I felt the tears. God is so good. We are so blessed.

It hasn’t been an easy journey. In the hospital, we were told that Owen was jaundice. He’s foot was poked each day, but they released him and told us to make a doctor’s appointment for the following day. This lead to a long process of daily doctor’s appointments and blood draws. It’s been hard to see him struggle and honestly, it’s been hard being out of the house every day. Today is the first day since Owen’s arrival that we’ve been home all day and that Owen didn’t have to have his foot pricked. We do have another appointment tomorrow, but I’m hoping that it will be last for a while. Because of the jaundice, Owen also struggled with being too sleepy to eat. His lack of interest in food led to him losing 10% of body weight which is the line for intervention when it comes weight. We’ve had to supplement with formula, but I’m happy to announce that Owen’s weight was up at his last appointment and his appetite has perked up. I’m really hoping for good news tomorrow when they weigh him.

There are so many milestone moments I could continue to blog about – that feeling when we loaded him the car and took him home or seeing Jeremy become a dad. I could write an endless blog about how amazing my husband is. He has been by my side through this whole process. We are truly a team! When Owen wouldn’t stay awake to eat, Jeremy would help me coax him awake. Jeremy has taken countless diaper changes and has snuggled and love on his son in the most adorable ways. Jeremy is a great daddy.

I’ve been so blessed! Jeremy is an amazing father. Our family has been so supportive of us. We’ve been brought meals from friends and our MOPS group every day. It’s been so great to not have to worry about dinner each night. It’s so 1950’s to bring a meal to a family with a new baby and makes me grateful for our community. Even though the hospital experience wasn’t “fun”, I had wonderful nurses and a doctor that made me feel like I could do anything. Overall, I can do nothing but sing praises! God is so good. I look into the face of my son and I don’t know what I did to deserve such an honor. I continue to be blown away by this new season of life and the little life we get to share it with!

Well, this is it! The last post I will make as a family of two with a little dog. At our doctor’s appointment this morning, my blood pressure was high and I’m accepting this as standard. No big shock. Because of my blood pressure, my doctor would like to induce next week. Monday night, I will check into the hospital so they can give me drugs that will help my body get ready for labor. Early on Tuesday morning they will induce me. At this point that is the plan.

It’s weird having a plan… It’s odd knowing that this weekend is our final weekend before parenthood takes on a whole new meaning. It just feels strange. I knew our little guy had to come at some point and honestly, I wasn’t too hung up on the “when”. It’s just crazy to think that our lives are about to change. It’s like standing on the cliff about to jump… As ready as I am, I’m not sure I’m really ready for this, but it’s a little too late for that now! There is only forward. The whole bringing a little human into the world is mind boggling!

I now have a free weekend ahead of me. I’m still on bed rest, so I’m not going to travel the countryside or do anything too zany I’m hoping to get a lot of rest and just enjoy the down time while I can. As strange as it sounds, I’m looking forward to having some time with my Toby Dog and loving on him while he is my only “baby”. I want to rest as much as possible so I can be as ready as possible for the upcoming labor process. I know that you can’t “hoard” rest, but I want to make the most out these last few down days. As a result, I will put my blogging aside after this post.  I will, of course, post something once our little guy is here and make the grand announcement.

I look forward to writing in the future about this whole new aspect of my life. I love to be honest on my blog about the challenges and struggles I face as well as the good times and the people I get to share life with. I know that being a mom will add more color to my world and give me new experiences to blog about. I know it will effect my home life and my ministry. Things will never be the same. I look forward to walking this new journey out with you along for the ride. So please, stay tuned! Exciting times are ahead!

Hospital Trips & Bed Rest Entertainment

Seems like things are getting exciting as the end of this pregnancy draws near! The last couple of weeks, my blood pressure has been high.  A week ago on Wednesday, I had been seeing some flashing lights and had a headache, so I was given my first experience with a non-stress test. I didn’t know that was how it was going to go down at the time. Since it was after hours, I had to go to the hospital that is attached to our doctor’s office. I thought they would slip me into an exam room and just take my blood pressure, but no. I was hooked all to all the monitors and supervised for a while. My blood pressure was fine while I was in the hospital and I was eventually released. On Friday, at my regular doctor’s appointment, my blood pressure was still high so my doctor decided she wanted to see me back sooner than my next scheduled appointment. She said that if my blood pressure didn’t go down we would maybe talking about inducing. She’s hesitant to go that route because she really does want our little guy to come on his own.

Yesterday, we drove up to our appointment where again my blood pressure was high and after four readings they finally got a result they liked. At that point, I was told to be on modified bed rest. I can get up and do stuff around the house, but the main point is to be chill, relax and don’t stress (good luck with that). Our doctor also wanted another ultrasound to measure the baby. She said that I was measuring small, but because the baby has dropped so much it’s hard for her to get an accurate reading. The ultrasound appointment was made for today.

I will admit that I was bummed when they put me on bed rest. I was planning on teaching my class and volunteering at Bethel as long as I could. In fact, Tuesday before our appointment, I was getting stuff ready for my class and attending MOPS. I decided I was going to live my life as normal as possible until I was told otherwise.  And yesterday, I was told “otherwise”. Jeremy was very sweet and took me out to lunch after the bed rest news. It was my last meal “out” before the baby comes. I splurged at Red Robin and got a chocolate milkshake and a cheeseburger. Jeremy also stopped to pick up my all-time favorite Disney movie, The Little Mermaid, which was just released on Blu-Ray. He is taking good care of me.

Now on to today… The ultrasound went well. Baby is measuring just fine and is weighing in a guesstimated weight of 7lbs. 3oz. When I heard the weight, I definitely thought that inducing sooner rather than later doesn’t sound so bad. That’s a good weight! What should have been an in and out appointment today got derailed by more flashing lights and another headache. We asked if a nurse could take my blood pressure before we left the office and…. OF COURSE… it was high! The nurse had me lay down and she took the reading again and it was lower. However, my doctor sent me over to the hospital for another non-stress test and some blood work.  It’s the craziest thing, once I was over at the hospital, my blood pressure went down a LOT – like the lowest readings I’ve ever had in my life. No clue why, but I’m very good at the up and down readings. After waiting what felt like an eternity for the lap results, we were released. It seems my Wednesdays are now spent doing test at the hospital. Not a trend that I am enjoying.

I debated even writing this blog because I can be so private about medical stuff, but at the same time, word is eventually going to get around that I’m on bed rest and people will ask why and explanations will need to be given. So, I’ve reached a “who cares” kind of attitude. Plus, when my blog is all about the things bouncing around in my head, this is one of those things… Kind of a big thing. I’m curious if Friday’s appointment will add a new chapter to the drama or if I’ll just be sent back to bed. Who knows! I’ll keep you posted!

I found myself daydreaming yesterday as I laid down for my afternoon nap. I really haven’t given too much thought to what our little guy might look like. If I was perfectly honest, I think most newborns look funny. The only ones that I’ve gushed over being super cute are the ones that I have a personal connection to. For example, my niece and nephew were some of the cutest newborns I’ve ever seen. For the most part, though, newborns just look a little weird. I’m not a huge fan of the newborn phase anyway because I’m worried I’m going to break them. But… I will soon have a newborn around this house and I wonder who will he favor in appearance. Will he look like me? Will he look like Jeremy? Will he look like an alien until he grows into his features? I really hope for his sake that he looks like Jeremy because Jeremy was an adorable little guy. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see! Until then, I thought I would post some pictures of Jeremy and I from our little days and give you some visuals of what genes our little guy has to work with!

Little Amy

Little Jeremy