These pictures are from Jackson's first days out of the hospital. He looks so tiny!! He wore the cute little cow onesie home from the hospital, so the bottom two pictures are from when he was just 3 days old. So sweet!! And the top picture is Grandpa Kleven, Erick and Baby Jackson.

The first drive home, Erick was extremely nervous and drove like 10 miles an hour (I swear, he did)...plus I was still extremely sore and tired. Duh. So when we arrived home, it was a relief. We were looking forward to a good nights sleep.

I know, all you parents are laughing. We slept hardly at all. This was Jackson's worst night so far. He would not sleep for more than 2 hours and so we were up practically the whole night. But it was fine.

After this first rough night, Jackson slept pretty well....ranging from 2-4 hours at a time, which is pretty good for a brand new baby. Erick and I took turns getting up with him and that helped a bit with getting something resembling sleep.

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Starting with the picture closest to the text (#6), you see me with Jackson...I think this was our first picture. Erick, apparently, was super sweet and would not let anyone else hold Jackson until I could hold him. I feel bad that it took me so long to wake up, but when I finally did wake up, I was so groggy. I remember opening my eyes in recovery and everything was especially blurry. Oh, I realized my glasses were off. It felt like forever before I could concentrate on anything-- even though the nurses (or doctors or whoever they were) kept asking me questions. Finally, I was released and I remember seeing Erick and other family members as I was wheeled into our room. Erick then came in with Jackson and placed him in my arms. Holding my son for the first time, even as groggy as I was, has to be one of the most special moments I've ever had in my life. I immediately loved him and memorized his sweet little face. After, honestly I don't know how long, family came in and finally had a chance to hold our little Baby.

The other pictures I have here are:
5--My mom, so Grandma Susan holding her first grandson, for the first time.
4--Another picture of Jackson, not long after he was cleaned and everything.
3--Erick's mom, Grandma Pam holding her first grandson, for the first time.
2--My lovely sister Mia, holding her nephew.
1--This picture, in which I look so amazing (not) is, I think, the first time I fed Jackson.

And now for the REAL reason I am doing all this.....Jackson Erick was born July 15, 2009 at 11:13 AM. The whole delivery adventure began on the 14, when we went in to the doctor's office for a 'regular' visit. I say regular in quotations because Jackson's due date was July 9, so he was four days "late". I had been having problems with high blood pressure and swelling, so I was on a modified bed rest (meaning, I wasn't stuck in bed, but really couldn't do anything else). I was really hoping the doctor would send us to the hospital, but I was thinking it would NEVER happen. And when we first started our appointment, it really seemed like we would have to wait longer. But the thing that "kicked us into gear" was that my blood pressure was high, then normal, and then high again. Our doctor said there was no point in waiting any longer, so off we went! All the way to the hospital, we talked about how we couldn't believe it was finally happening...and we called a handful of family members too.

When we arrived at the hospital, I felt like I was in a semi-fake reality...what with having to wear a super thin, backless gown and no longer being able to eat, instead having an IV. We were there and set to go, mmm, like 6pm? And right away they started the medicines to induce stronger contractions. At first, it was fine, but then....it was so not cool. I hardly slept the back pain was so bad. Contractions? What?! Who could notice those with all the back pain?

Anyways, morning finally came (and so did the epidural---a definite relief!) and the doctor noticed a drop in Jackson's heartbeat after each contraction...while probably nothing was wrong, she did not want to risk it. We were to have a C-section. Literally minutes after that decision was made, I was being rolled off. Erick was being dressed in clean hospital gowns and last I remember, the anesthesiologist topped my epidural off with some morphine--to ensure I would not feel the incision--and then I could not breathe. You know when you watch medical shows, like House, and the patients suddenly look like fish out of water? Mouths wide open, but no sound comes out and they have to put in a breathing tube? I always thought that was so fake looking, but....now I know, that's really what happens.

So I was knocked out and did not get to see Jackson until over four hours after he was born. (Yep, it took me that long to wake up). But as you can see, he was just so beautiful.

The pictures here:
Top: This one's Jackson, with the lovely eye grease that helps protect from germs...He's only a few minutes old at this point!
Middle: In this picture, Jackson was held up so all the family that was eager to see our baby could finally see him.
Last: And this picture is one of the very first of Erick and Jackson.

Inspired by our awesome Aunt Staci and also trying to fill the need for multiple requests for pictures of Jackson, here is our "blog"....I don't know how often I'll be able to update with notes, but I am more concerned with pictures anyways.

I'm sure anyone who knows about this blog already knows our story, but....just in case you want to know...

Erick and I met at Illinois State University while we were teaching at a Junior High band camp. (Funny, right?) Erick and I had actually crossed paths the previous semester, on that fantastic Sousa tour...but anyways. Erick (as most any one will agree) showed an amazing talent for keeping middle school boys under control and I was very impressed. Well, the week long camp of course ended with two big events: a concert (showcasing all the work they did during the week) and a dance. Which do you think they were more excited for? Well, on the way to the dance, my group of girls was walking in front of Erick's group of guys. Feeling excited about being asked to dance, two of our girls (lovingly nicknamed Adam 1 and Adam 2 because of their unbelievable love for Adam Sandler), asked me if I was looking forward to dancing with anyone. "No" I said, "I'm just going to make sure you all have a good time and are behaving". Well, this was not a good enough answer, so they went to Erick and said "You have to ask her to dance tonight"... and I said, "Oh...I don't know" and right at the same time Erick said "Sure--that would be great!" Thrilled, the girls joined their friends and, danced happily. When the first slow song came on, Adam 1 and 2 bounced on over to me and said "Time for your dance!! Let's go find him"...and my smooth response was, "Nah, he's got to come and ask me!", hoping maybe they'd just go find their own partners for the song. No sooner had I said that, Erick walked up, took my hand and asked if I'd dance with him. I honestly don't remember what I said (seeing as it was almost 6 years ago....and I was so surprised that he actually came to dance with me)

You see, I have to pause here to explain why I was so surprised. Erick was an upper classman AND a very well known, POPULAR person. I mean, everyone knew him and liked him. And there I was, a soon-to-be sophmore that no one knew. Hello?! I didn't think he'd even look twice in my direction. (Just goes to show what I know!) Anyways. The dance was a very nice one, ending with Erick kissing my hand.

After the dance, those girls went back and forth between me and Erick at least 15 times...saying things like "He really likes you--do you like him??"...."She said she really likes you--can we tell her you really like her??" So middle school. And once we were back at the dorms, it didn't stop! They actually wrote a love letter for me to give Erick. It was quite funny and I really wish I hadn't tossed it out, because that would make this whole story even better...

The next day was the concert and all of the camp staff's focus was on making sure everyone was there, with instruments, music, reeds....blah, blah, etc.... So, when the concert was over, the kids finished getting their stuff together, packing clothes, stuff and cleaing dorm rooms. I was in the lobby "directing" traffic, when everyone's favorite Adam 1 and 2 came up and asked if I had gotten Erick's number yet..."No, which is too bad, since I think he's already left".

And who walked in just as I said that?! Of course. Erick. So, those girls got Erick to give me his number. And we at the end of it all, we left, with a month and a few weeks til marching band camp and the regular semester would start.

Despite the enthousiasm of those two sixth grade girls, Erick had somehow neglected to get my phone number and he had also (very "wisely") given me the number for his frat house on campus...not where he was staying for the summer.

Band camp finally rolled around and when we saw eachother, I said "Hey, how's my favorite junior high band camp 'boyfriend'?" and he returned with some funny comment...and the whole week was like that--each of us, flirting back and forth. Mid-week, I asked my section mates what I should do...I didn't think I had a chance. But when they realized who I was talking about, they all said I should go for it. For some reason, I was still having doubts. Just a few days later, at the end of band camp, we finished our short parade outside Alamo II and my super awesome friend Twohill cornered me into talking to Erick. She literally dragged me to him and said "Hey, she needs to ask you something!" and then to me said, "Talk to him!!!". I had no idea what to say. And Erick did not make it any easier; he put his arm around my shoulder and said, "So, what did you want to talk about?" I swear, I melted and my brain froze. I mumbled something lame about going to a movie sometime...and something else about fixing my computer...I honestly don't know what actually came out of my mouth, but Erick was all cool and said "I'm so glad you asked me, cause I didn't have the b@lls to ask you..."

And that's how it all started. Its a pretty fantastic story if you ask me.