FMD

We had a FMD or a fail mom day in non Mormon language a *@&$"@&@ mom day. This is a day to celebrate. It's a day to say well this day didn't go as planned but the day is over! Thank the bright heavens! The criteria for this day if you so meet it is:
1. Get absolutely nothing accomplished
2. No shower, no getting out of pjs or whatever you were wearing the day before.
3. Crying baby PLUS no sleeping baby. Must meet BOTH criteria
4. Manage to scarf breakfast down. Lunch can be  something that was left over in the fridge that smelt a little funky but you were too tired and too hungry to care.
5. Stay at home ALL day. This means no leaving your house, not even to get your mail.
6. Last but not least there MUST be spit up or poop or some bodily fluid on your body that you didn't notice.

If you meet this criteria congratulations you just had a FMD. You deserve to celebrate. Give your partner or a caregiver your baby and do whatever you need to do to unwind. I won't ask.

Moms are amazing. Becoming a mom is the most eye opening experience that has ever happened to me. I completely love it. Even on FMD days. I can't imagine anything different. My role as a mother is the most defining thing in my life. I love being a wife but being a mother is the cherry on top.

I start clinicals this Thursday. I can't believe the time is already here to walk into patients rooms and say how's that STD treating you? Jk. I shouldn't play. But I am so excited for a new role as well as being a DNP student. How many roles can I pack into one year?

Well I am going to do my celebration with some Cafe Rio. Yes. That will be my success for a amazing FMD.

Love to all, especially you mothers. Hang in there.



How can you not love this face??

Bowen 5 weeks!

Bowen is over 5 weeks! I just love his little grumpy scowl and his big bright eyes in the morning. He is a pure joy to our family and has made us grow so much a couple. I think Maggies is still in shock. She is regressing. She has peed twice this week once on our rug and then again on our carpet. She is doing this thing with her food where she paws at it after we feed her and she eats. I think she has puppy depression..poor girl; we have gone on walks though with this gorgeous weather in St. Louis. You can't beat 70 degree weather in February. I feel like I am in Texas again.

I think I have been the most social having Bowen since moving here. First year of being in St. Louis I had to study ALL the time for my accelerated nursing program. My social network was mostly school friends and church on sunday. Second year I got the job of my dreams as being a labor and delivery nurse but also applied to and got in to a great DNP program at Creighton University. Now our last 5 months year in St. Louis and I can finally have some mom to mom time with other women and we are leaving.. we went running this week in tower grove, Bowen and I went to Lonas with Maggie, we went shopping with my good friend Vanessa, and we went to the Zoo here with Rachel and Alexis. We also got a few meals this week from friends which has been so nice who knew how fast time travels when you have a newborn.

Bowen likes to be held. I swear he has a 6th sense whenever I put him down. On the bed, on the couch, in his rocker. He is a mover. I like to put him between my legs and bounce him and he drifts right to sleep. I don't want to brag but then again I do because we finally got two nights of straight 8 hours of sleep! We put him to bed around 9:30 last night and he woke up at 5am. Then back to bed and woke up at 9am. Let's just hope he keeps it up... I had a scare this week, I thought I had mastitis. I had really bad chills and just felt so tired. I was freezing although the weather has been so nice. It was probably a clogged duct because the next day I felt so much better. I am really afraid of getting mastitis and there really is nothing you can do to prevent it except feeding regularly.

This Saturday we had a waffle party with the primary crew and it was delicious! Our neighbors hosted it downstairs. We went on a hike with Maggie after and she was in heaven with all the other dogs. It was so crowded everyone had the same idea as us to get away from the city and go hiking. We then went to Smashburger (I had never been) but still think 5 guys is my favorite.. We spent the night working on turbotax and Chris getting his GrandRounds done for next week. Oh what fun.


Homemade Cafe Rio tonight and a fire with friends in 70 degree weather. Can't get better than that. I'm just preparing to go to Omaha this next week for my Competency Health Assessment Test Out. Bowen will be taking his first flight to Omaha and then again to Utah Saturday for me to start my clinicals. We Smith's like to "move around".  Enjoy the week!!

Bowen 2 weeks

Bowen is 2 weeks old! It's crazy how much they change so fast. Bowen only lost a few ounces in the hospital and within a couple of days got to his birthweight. This last pediatrician visit he was 8.3 ounces. This kid can eat! Maggie is getting a little jealous. I found her snuggled in Bowen's boppy the other day. Here comes competition. Chris is on paternity leave right now which timed out perfect. I am glad that  we timed it after my mom left because then I have a some more time with help during the day. 

I have been a little scatter brained with a newborn in the house. I sent a text message to my friend the other night that was supposed to be to Chris. I said, "Hey don't forget to put that sleeper thing on him. It's in the brown wicker basket." She then responded Sure no problem! Then texted you must be sleep deprived. As most of you know we got in an accident on my due date. We were waiting for this check to go through in the mail and when we got home with Bowen the check was in the mail. With all the chaos and no sleep we misplaced the check. We resolved it but still... no rest for the weary. Last night School also has not taken a break so on top of the no sleep, breastfeeding every 2 hours, I am taking full time graduate level classes. I saw that one of my assignments was graded. Clicked on it, and noticed I had submitted my notes and not my paper! This mom's gotta get some sleep! Luckily, they still took my paper it could be worse. 

Bowen officially has his birth certificate and social security card. He is now officially recognized by the government. 

Last Saturday I had a friend from the ward come and take newborn pictures. They are absolutely precious. I am so happy to have done them because he is already growing so much I can't stand it. We are completely in love with him and can't wait to get out and have some fun with this boy. 

Love to all,

Cameryn

Bowen's First Week

Exactly why I don't believe in birth plans because it never goes as expected! After laboring for 20 hours, getting terbutaline, O2, and multiple turnings, they docs finally called it. I can just hear them in their station. "She's getting cut." After working in this specialty I knew I was getting cut. From the moment he started to have some variables I knew he had a cord around his neck. When I finally dilated to a 10 and his HR dropped to 74 for a few minutes the doctors said we can push in the OR. That never happened. They came in and rushed me out within seconds. And 5 mins later baby BOWEN was born! I looked at him and just had a feeling he needed to be called Bowen, he wasn't a Bennett. As much as I wanted the name Bennett. I definitely have sympathy for my patients who go through c/s especially a stat one like mine. I don't know why but I was so calm as they took me back I knew what was going on and what was going to happen. They were going to transfer me from my bed to the stretcher, clean my belly with chlorexadine for 30 seconds, put the bovie and scratch pad on, count the instruments, time out, and then testing...cut, skin, uterine, baby, placenta! I just remember all I wanted to do was hold someone's hand. I just kept reaching out. I held my nurses hand, even reached out for the anesthesiologist! Haha. Chris finally got there and after he got a good peek over the drape talking to the OB docs about the size needle he was amazed how big the needles they use on me. Finally he held my hand and I calmed down a little. Chris was whisked away and got to cut his cord and take pictures. After they stitched me up they asked if I wanted to bring the baby out to the room. I could not stop shaking. A mix between hormones and the side effects of the epidural. I was rolled into the room half dazed but so incredibly happy.
Recovery has been tough I won't lie. The day after I could hardly move and I was expected to breast feed and take care of this child while completely exhausted from both labor and the c/s. Never in my life have I been in so much pain and so incredibly happy at one time.
"A note to future self bring good food, a pillow, and a sleeping bag" - Chris. Hospital food is disgusting. I couldn't even eat the eggs! My last meal before my diet changing to clears.
My support team- mom and Chris were great while I was in labor. All I wanted was them to massage my lower left back. Right when a contraction was coming I couldn't even talk I would just point and they knew what to do. Also, women were not made to labor in bed! I loved the birthing ball.
Bowen is a week old! We made it a week as parents! It has been a three man team. But soon to be Chris and I holding down the fort.
Some memorable moments this week:
Bowen's first pediatrician visit was this week. While getting all registered Bowen was letting them rip! He peed and after changing him was making grunting sounds. Mom was holding him and he kept letting them loose an then eventual total blow out making it look like it wasn't him but the person holding him it was so funny.
Bowen has a cute little scowl, today I found him doing the blue steel with his scowl. I could not stop laughing.
Bowen went to the market this week and to our favorite Mexican restaurant. We also went on our first walk where he loves his car seat and stroller.
Bowen likes to be sang to and listen to the piano from his dad- mom doesn't have too much time to practice and play right now. School doesn't wait for a baby :( I have a test next week but hopefully it will go okay... :)
He goes through several outfits a day and we get to dress him in his cute little onesies. We did newborn pictures on his one week birthday and he was completely content in the basket. Amy would take a picture and the click would sound and he would look up and keep waking himself up.

Chris and I are completely smitten over this boy. Who knew you could give this much to love.