Bowen Jared Stokes

Our little guy made his appearance just over a week ago. We are so glad to have him here!! It has been a tough pregnancy filled with more aches and pains than I expected! I felt better towards the end of my pregnancy than I did at the beginning! The first couple of months were spent with visits to several doctors to try to find the reasoning behind my joint pain and swelling. No one ever did figure out what was wrong. It was similar to an inflammatory arthritis but couldn't officially be diagnosed since some of my symptoms could be pregnancy related. All of this pain has been worth it though and I would do it all over again for this little guy. Anyways we were scheduled for a repeat c-section December 10 at noon.  My doctors office called me that morning and told me they had moved me back to 1pm so be up to the hospital around 11. My parents picked up brinklee and Jared and I headed up to Ogden regional to have our baby boy. We got all checked in and ready for surgery. At 12:45 they wheeled Jared and I back to the OR. The anesthesiologist gave me a spinal and it worked pretty fast. I was so scared about being nauseous because I was throwing up during my c-section with brinklee and remember being miserable! They made sure to medicate me and luckily I wasn't sick during the delivery. My doctor and her assistant showed up around five after and got started. Bowen was born at 13:14. Jared was watching over the drape and said he's got so much dark hair with tears in his eyes. I started to cry when they held him up. He was perfect and beautiful!! He started crying and Jared followed him into the receiving room where they weighed and measured him. When Jared and Bowen were finished they came back in and sat with me while they finished up. Bowen weighed 8 lbs 6 oz and was 19.7 inches. He had the prettiest hair and these big chunky cheeks!! I kissed his cheeks as soon as Jared brought him over by me. They wheeled me back to my room and Jared's parents were waiting for us. They were followed by grandma and grandpa stokes, grandpa Samson and aunt Angie. Brinklee and my parents showed up not too long after. Brinklee didn't know what to think and didn't want to hold him at first. Aunt Staci and uncle buck came with Corbin and Taylor and we finally got brink to hold her baby brother. Later that night aunt Cami, uncle Jared and aunt Darcie came to see him. They had just taken bow to the nursery for his bath so it was awhile before he came back. That first night was pretty sleepless because we were right by the nurses station and could hear everything going on!! The next night they moved us rooms and we were able to get a little more sleep. Bowen has been a great baby!! He usually gets up twice during the night to eat. I decided this time around to not put too much pressure on myself about breast feeding so we are pretty much switched completely to formula since he seemed to be starving when he was just nursing. It puts me more at ease knowing he's getting enough to eat. He has such big bright eyes like his sister and some pretty awesome hair that I hope stays dark! Brinklee has been adjusting great and loves her baby brother! She just hates that mom wants to sleep all the time! Jared of course is an amazing dad to both our kids! He is so good to them and I and I know how lucky I am to have him!! I have felt a lot better this time around and feel like I have been able to keep my pain under control! I am one blessed mommy and am so glad I get to be brinklee and bowen's mom!