Monday, March 2

Today was wonderful! It was a beautiful day out, sunny 68 degrees and no wind. Layton and I took a walk and it was nice to be out of the house in the fresh air. The rest of the day we cleaned out clothes closets putting away maternity clothes, sorting out others for Saks on Broadway (Several empty hangers now need to be filled.....), procrastinated writing thank yous (after the flu last week it is hard to motivate), checked email, updated our blog, and played (on the tummy turtle, reading, shaking rattles, kicking, giggling, the normal 5 week old play). It was a busy maternity leave Monday, only one more to go before I start back to work.

I am gearing up to go back to work, excited, hestitant, and anxious as I love Layton and my job. Finding the balance of family and work will be the next career challenge to face. We have a wonderful sitter lined up, Layton will be with her and her almost 2 year old, we went over there last week to visit and all should go well. The team I work for is very family oriented.

This past weekend Evan's Uncle Larry and Aunt Patty visited from Greeley and we sold the rest of Grandma's household stuff at a neighboring auction. It was hard work to get everything boxed up, loaded and delivered, thank goodness for family and 3 high schoolers. The auction went well and Evan came home with some new farm machinery.

This weekend my best friend from college Jenny is coming for a visit. She is the last round of 3 weeks of visitors. It has been so nice to see our very best friends (Darin and Megan came for the shower two weekends ago) in the past month since Layton was born.

Life Change

Layton has brought so much change to our lives, all for the best! He has been wonderful, exciting, the best thing in the world. We are now learning to appreciate the simple pleasures, a 20 minute nap, sweet smiles both awake and sleeping, getting drive through and eating at the park (or in line for the automatic car wash) just to avoid a germy crowd, bath time, taking a drive to the lake just because, snuggly little boy at 2 am, 5 minutes of uninterrupted conversation together, letting the phone ring because it's feeding time, diaper change time, or fussy time, reading nursery rhymes/ simple books every day, take out dinner on Friday nights from Aunt Christy during her weekly visit, waking up 3 -3.5 hours into the night thinking it's time to feed again but just hearing light snoring from the nursery, and Grandma coming over several times a week to hold and spoil Layton to give us a little down time. A new baby has been so energizing (crazy I know), refreshing, and wonderful for us.

5 years ago we were asked several times around our wedding (and since) how soon we planned to have kids "5 years" was always our standard answer, and it was 4 years and 7 months - before Layton arrived. It was the right amount of time for Evan and I - we appreciate each other so much and had time to enjoy our marriage and each other as "just us" before expanding our family. We are so blessed and could not ask for more at this point.

1 week old!

Noteworthy changes
1. Almost outgrowing newborn size clothes, toes are touching the end!
2. Gaining more of an appetite, takes twice as long to eat as 6 days ago.
3. Getting more aware of surroundings.
4. Sleeping 3 hour stretches most nights.
5. Eyes are brown
6. Loves our dog Tucker, kisses and all.
7. Red spots disappearing

Homecoming Day!

Layton James and Daddy

Day 1

Layton James Arrived!

Greetings! Layton James Hopkins finally made his appearance Friday, January 23rd at 10:19 am. He weighted 7 lbs 15 oz and was 21 1/2 inches.

The story of his arrival was a journey, much like our entire pregnancy. We first started having contractions Tuesday night (sleepless night #1), but only every 10 minutes or so; Wednesday night the contractions went to every 5 minutes and we headed to the hospital. We were admitted about 7:30 pm Wednesday night (sleepless night #2) and the plot thickens. Thursday morning not much had changed and the Dr's decided at 9:50 am to break my water, after walking the halls most of the day, having contractions, and only getting clear liquids not much was happening. Thursday night (almost sleepliess night #3) 7:30 pm I broke down and asked for pain meds via IV - heavenly relief!! The medication had to be pushed about every 30 min though. Around 10pm the CRNA was on-site for an emergency c section and I recieved an epidural, talk about relief!! The next 3-4 hours passed with no action noticed as we were sleeping, first time in 3 nights. Bless Evan's heart for 2 limited sleep nights in the hospital recliner, he is such a trooper. Around 4 am we tried pushing as the pain was increasing, after 2 hours I was begging for the baby to be sucked out or use forceps anything to help - we were spent, emotionally and physically. The decision was made to transfer me to Scott City for an emergency C-Section as their CRNA on staff could perform a spinal. Thus we set off on our first ever ambulance ride, Cori our driver, Evan, Dr Liu and Tonya the nurse; Cori humored me and we ran lights and sirens the entire 45 miles and even got a police escort in Scott City. After what seemed forever, we (Evan and I) plus the OR team, 3 Drs, and my best friend at the time the CRNA, made it to the operating room for the spinal and arrival of our son. The best news in 38 hours, "get ready he's about to come out" then his cry...it brought tears to my eyes, our son was finally here! We were all safe and sound. Layton was such a strong baby, through the entire labor, pain meds, and everything he never showed signs of distress.

It was a journey but so well worth it. Evan has been the world's best husband and father, he went through so much with me and we are so much closer now. The meanest thing I said to him the entire time was "get over your scrubs being too small and deal with it".

After three 3 days in the hospital, our families and best friends visiting we got to come home. We are learning more and more each day. Layton has his ups and crankies and sleeps fairly well at night all things considered. He has been quite an eater and came out sucking on the nurses finger even. Evan has been amazing with Baby Layton and housework, we are at a 50 / 50 split on the diaper and dressing duties I think.

We are thankful for God, each other, our families, our guardian angels, wonderful medical staff both in Tribune and Scott City, and our son Layton James. We are very blessed.