Introducing...

He is finally here! Mason Patrick Loy was born November 25 at 12:22pm. He weighed 7 pounds 8 ounces and was 20.5" long. As you can see, he has a FULL head of hair! He looks a lot like Todd (I think) and even though I know they'll change, his eyes are the darkest, prettiest blue I've ever seen. The cesarean went really well, and while I'm a little sore still, it's nothing that ibuprofen hasn't been able to handle. We just got home this afternoon. We could have come home yesterday, but I decided I wanted just one more day. So now we're home and trying to figure out our new lives as parents....and open to suggestions :)

Basically, he's perfect. Never in my life did I think I could/would love someone this way. I know all parents say this, but it's really true. It was the most amazing thing on Tuesday when it was already apparent that he knew my voice. It's all still a little surreal, and I often look at him and just stare thinking, was that really inside me? Did this all really happen?

So here are some pics. Sorry it took a few days, but I've been a little busy getting to know my new little man.

My first look at him.

Being checked out.

Dad got to bring him to me for a few minutes before they went to the nursery while I was sewn up.

Our first family photo.

Hanging out at the hospital.

Getting ready to go home.

Our Last Supper

Last night Todd and I went out to dinner for the last time without having to arrange or plan ahead. Of course, this is also possibly the last time I won't be able to order anything on the menu that I want (i.e. wine, blue cheese, meat that isn't fully cooked, etc.)

I decided Simon's would work, since I wouldn't be as tempted there to have red meat. We had crab cakes and I had the simply grilled salmon. Todd ordered the salmon that I really wanted, with the blue cheese butter...but mine was just as good, I'm sure.

Before we left we took a final pregnancy picture. So here I am, all 39 weeks of me. Oh, and did I mention, I have less than 48 hours before this is all over? Actually, right now it's 45 hours and about 15 minutes....but who's really counting, right?



I then realized I stil had my glasses on and made Todd take another...

85 and time to retire

Happy Birthday, Ted Stevens....oh, and move on over.....Mayor, ahem, Senator Mark is in charge now! Hopefully as one of his last acts as Mayor he'll approve the AFD contract. Anyone know if David Ramseur is going with him to DC?

Things I didn't know

Since I only have 10 days left of being pregnant, it makes me think about the last (almost) 38 weeks and all the things I've learned. Here's a few...

1. Morning sickness really is a joke. It's not just the morning. It's ALL DAY LONG! Who knew morning sickness could strike in the middle of the night while you are sound asleep. Which leads to...
2. Zofran is a wonder drug! I would have never survived without it. Which also leads to...
3. All the people who said it would get better after the 1st trimester lied. I'm 10 days away from the end and I still throw up!
4. Virgin Pina Coladas are actually as good as the real thing. Although, it may have had something to do with the fact that they were served poolside in Mexico.
5. If the waiter in Mexico does by chance mix up the order, and serves you a real Pina Colada, you will IMMEDIATELY know. Don't worry.
6. I never thought that watching my husbands face light up during an ultrasound would actually be better than watching the actual ultrasound.
7. When it comes time to buy new (maternity) clothes, just do it. Having clothes that actually fit around you makes all the difference.
8. All the worrying I did about not feeling the baby move yet, was quickly replaced by total worry over whether I was feeling him move enough, which has now been replaced by wishing he would hold still once in a while because it hurts when he moves in certain ways.
9. People that say "get your sleep now while you can" have either never been pregnant or have forgotten how impossible it is to sleep at the end. You cannot get into a comfortable position that still allows for breathing...and if you do, you'll just have to pee in the next 2 seconds.
10. Worrying (endlessly) about having the baby come early has now been replaced with wanting him to come NOW!

And finally, having a husband who, for the most part, rolls with things and is able to calm my fears has helped get me through this whole thing. From the shots to the sickness to the bedrest/light duty to the moodiness...everything! (thanks, Todd)

Photo Requests

I've been asked by quite a few people why I haven't posted a pregnant picture of myself. I did put one on myspace a while ago, but I guess I haven't really thought about it. I'll try to get one in the next 11 days and put it on here for you all to see.

Also, I saw the doc on Wednesday. No bribes were taken. She did say we could move the date up a week, but I would have to have an amnio to check lung maturity. That is not happening. I did find out that I've been discussed in their weekly care conference for my whole pregnancy (being "high-risk" and then on top of that being the only pregnant MS patient in the practice makes me interesting apparently), and that everyone is aware of my plans and wishes and everyone is "on-board" so to speak. Hopefully this won't really matter, but just on that off chance he decides to come before my scheduled day, it made me feel better knowing everyone was in agreement incase my doc isn't on-call.

2 weeks

I have officially reached "full term". I'm 37 weeks now, so technically the little man could make his appearance any day and it would be fine. If he sticks with the plan, he'll be here in exactly 2 weeks (the 25th).

I have also officially reached the uncomfortable stage. I thought I had run out of room months ago, but now I know I have! Sleeping is next to impossible, which I guess I should just get used to, right? I go to the doctor tomorrow for my weekly check and I have seriously considered bribing her to move my date up a week.

What else...I had another OB triage visit. I'm really starting to hate that place. I passed another kidney stone, although this one was really not fun. Two stones in a week is a little excessive, I think. I had another shower, this one given by the lab. I cannot believe how much stuff we have been given. This baby has SO many clothes I don't think I'll have to do laundry for a month after he's born! Of course, that also means he'll probably out-grow everything after he wears it once.

Everything is pretty much ready. I don't have my hospital bag packed yet, but the cord blood kit and camera are by the door just in case. All we need now is the baby!

Sorry, Canada, not moving yet! Good morning, America!!

I have to admit, I was a little worried last night going to sleep. I was worried that it would be like the time I went to sleep and Al Gore was the President elect, and I woke up to find out he wasn't. But I woke up this morning, checked, and everything is how it was, and as it should be. For 4 years (since the DNC in 04) I have loved Barack Obama, and for the last year I have been watching as others either fell in love with him too, or, we'll just say they didn't love him quite so much. Through the name-calling and mud-slinging, through Hilary in the primaries, and Palin in the last couple months...all we heard was "yes we can". And THANK GOD people finally listened! Yes, we really can...and what do you know, we just did!

Now, while I have never been so proud and excited and full of hope for our country, the same cannot be said for the state I live in. It looks as though Alaska will be sending Stevens and Young back to D.C. AGAIN! I don't really understand how this happens year after year, but this year is especially upsetting, what with one being a convicted felon and all. And on top of this, Sarah Palin will be coming back to Alaska to govern again. This worries me in so many ways and for so many reasons. In the end, she's better here, watching Russia from her front porch, than sitting in the White House ready to take over, but I just don't see how it's going to work now with all the people she has pissed off in our legislature. Not to mention the people she has embarrassed across our entire state.

Enough of that. I'm sticking with excitement for our country, and with the fact that I no longer feel that I have to move to Canada. And as if Barack wasn't amazing enough, we now have Michelle as our First Lady! Even if you don't care for her (which, I don't really understand, but apparently there are some of you out there) how can you not appreciate watching the clothes! It's like our generations own Jackie O...but, before she was Jackie O and was still Jackie Kennedy. You know what I mean.

In closing, I would just like to say, THANK YOU, AMERICA!

It ain't over yet

For those people living under a rock, Election Day is tomorrow. I'm afraid that Democrats will, like they have historically been, be lazy tomorrow. It's a fact that dems don't get out there on election days and VOTE! I think a lot of it is the polls, they show Obama ahead, so people think, why bother? Please, be bothered! Get out there and cast your vote...and hopefully tomorrow night we can all celebrate the begining of some real change in this country.

Ok, enough election talk...for now...