My boys!

Mason saying the Pledge....we had to laugh at how he ends it with "sit in your circles."

We caught Mason swinging in Jaxson's swing.  

Yes, Mason IS supposed to be in bed!

Jaxson - 1 month old

     Jaxson is now 1 month old!  He weighs 7lbs 5oz.  He still sleeps most of the time and wants to be held all night.  He eats about every 3 hours but did go 5 hours between feedings last night.  I hope he keeps that up!  Mason really seems to enjoy his brother and always runs to him if he starts crying.  He will ask to hold him on occasion, but it only lasts for about 10 seconds.  

Mason's 4th Birthday

It's hard to believe Mason is 4!!  He is about 43 inches tall and weighs 40lbs.   He is still very into trains (Thomas and Chuggington).  When I asked him about his favorite things, this is what he said:

favorite color:  blue

favorite movie: Monsters Inc.

favorite food: he said cheese but I'd say peanut butter and jelly

favorite toy:  Chuggington

favorite book: When You Give a Mouse a Cookie

favorite friend:  Sydney

     He was potty trained for a couple weeks but after Jaxson was born, he reverted back to going in his pull-up.  He has been a challenge since I went on bed rest in July.  Mason likes to tell us "no" and does the opposite of what we ask.  He has gotten a little better since we are all home under one roof (and I am up and moving).  

     Mason started preschool this year at Washington.  He goes Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, but after Thanksgiving, will start going Monday through Thursday mornings.  He will also start riding the preschool school bus!  

Coming Home!

Jaxson spent 15 days in the NICU.  He was allowed to come home on November 7th!

NICU Pictures

Jaxson getting his hearing test.

HALLOWEEN

Happy Birthday Jaxson!

     Well, we made it to 34 weeks 5 days.  After 2 years of struggle, 97 days of bed rest, and over 200 injections, Jaxson Thomas Miller decided that October 23rd would be his birthday.  

     The night before, I was having what I thought were Braxton-Hicks contractions for about 3 hours before bed.  They weren't painful, just my stomach tightening.  They ranged anywhere from 3-20 minutes apart.  I drank a bunch of water and they went away.  I do remember feeling a couple overnight.  When I woke up at 7:30 Wednesday morning, I noticed another contraction.  This made me wonder because I typically did not have any that early in the day.  Then I noticed another one 3 minutes later, and another 3 minutes after that.  Tom was getting Mason ready for preschool and I continued to time the painless contractions.  They were very consistent.  I decided to call the doctor at 8am.  They told me to head to the hospital to get checked out, especially with me being high-risk.  I got a quick shower and packed the rest of my hospital bag.  Around 9am, Tom and I were headed to Aultman.  On the way, the contractions started up in my back, and we knew it was time! 

       We arrived by 9:30 and by 10:00 they finally checked me out.  To my surprise, I was 3-4 cm dilated WITH my cerclage.  I was in labor.  By 11am, my doctor had arrived and we went straight to the operating room.  I received my spinal block and at 11:33am, Jaxson was born.  He weighed 5lbs 1oz and was 17 1/2 inches long.

     

Fall Fun

     Tom took Mason to Maize Valley.  I was pretty bummed I had to miss out, but there's always next year. 

    Mason picking out new trains for doing so well with potty training.

34 Week Appointment

     WOW!  We made it to 34 weeks! Mason was born at 33 weeks, so this a true miracle as well as uncharted territory.  Everything looked good at the appointment today.  We scheduled our c-section for November 22nd, at which I will be 39 weeks.  Other than that, I am still on bed rest.  Even the receptionists at the doctor's office are blown away that I've been on bed rest now for 90+ days.  Yes, I am stir crazy!  Is it bad that I was excited to go to Rite Aid to get my flu shot yesterday? It's the first "store" I've been to in 3 months!

     We've been so lucky to have my mom helping out on a daily basis now.  She took some time off from Mount using FMLA.  She's been such a huge help watching Mason so Tom can work.  She and my sister also have the nursery pretty much ready to go!

Mason with my pregnancy pillow - something I could not live without!