One Day at a Time

January in the Jackson home started off wonderfully. We welcomed our new baby, Lillian Grace, on the 7th and we are so happy that she is here.

After the baby's birth it's been a quiet month filled with some cabin fever. After Thanksgiving last year, Devin and I didn't really go anywhere except to Dr. appointments and grocery shopping. We didn't want to be too far away when the baby decided to come. So we stayed home. Then after my c-section I'm supposed to take it easy for 6 weeks....so that comes to almost 3 months of hanging out at home. Well I couldn't take it. After 3 weeks postpartum I needed to get out. We drove to Watford to see my parents and then to Williston to see Devin's parents. We made it to church on Sunday and then went to Minot to go grocery shopping yesterday. It was so nice to get some air and walk around and get exercise.

Kamille is loving being a big sister. Her favorite thing to say is, "Can I hold it?" She kisses her baby, and likes to play with her head, hands and toes. When ever the baby starts to cry she says, "sorry" and "shhhh". I feel like overnight she decided she was going to grow up a ton. I've been working with her on colors and how old she was and potty training for months now. The other day she was on my phone playing on the "color app" and she knew every single color! At the doctors office, the doctor asked her how old she was and before I could tell her to say two...she blurted it out and tried her hardest to hold up two fingers. I was so proud. Then two days ago she asked Devin to take her to the potty while we were watching a movie. So he did and she went! Then she asked to wear panties and was really mad when we put a diaper on her at bedtime. I'm so excited to see her grow and learn these next few months, I'm so impressed with my little toddler.

Lillian is growing everyday. She makes little grunting noises when she eats and smiles when she sleeps. She loves to cuddle. When she is fussy I always check diaper, bottle, and snuggles and she is good to go. She sleeps a lot and lets me get plenty of sleep at night. She is getting stronger everyday and lifts her head up off my shoulder all the time. She also loves taking baths.

Devin and I have started back on Thrive. We were going to wait until I was cleared at 6 weeks, but I can't just sit around. I am feeling almost healed completely and yesterday we officially started! It's been excited. We got our starting weights and measurements and wrote down a few goals. Then we planned our exercise routines and meal planned for the next two weeks. This morning we were up at 5:15! I did my just dance for 20 min and Devin did his workout next to me (he refuses to dance and look funny). We can't wait for the snow to melt so we can get outside. I like going for morning walks and Devin joins me for evening ones. We also discussed how we want to get into riding bikes this year. for our meal planning we have cut out completely: pasta, bread, potatoes, rice, sugar, and soda. Basically we pick a meat, veggie, and fruit for dinner and go with it. I was surprised I actually figured out 2 week worth of meals.

This is my starting photo! I won't put my numbers out there...but this is actually the lightest I've been even before I was married. Inches are another story, I have a lot of stretched baby fat that I'm hoping to lose and tone :) Fun fact: Last year in February was the heaviest I have ever gotten and when I was 9 months pregnant I still wasn't as heavy as that! CRAZY!  Pounds lost this month: 32 ...but that's because I had a baby lol  (Excuse the messy bathroom photo)  I'll have to get a before picture of Devin soon.


God be with you until we meet again,
and I hope you have a FABULOUS 2017,

Kaylynn Jackson

As many know, the first birth of my daughter was a scary situation. I had really extreme preeclampsia, had to be induced, labored for 24 hours, my epidural was messed up, I was rushed into an emergency c-section and Devin wasn't allowed to be there. I was then cut open and since the epidural didn't work I could feel everything. The last thing I remembered was screaming before I woke up 2 hours later with a baby. Then I wasn't prepared for what came afterwards. Baby blues, unsuccessful breastfeeding, my husband lost his job and in the end ..... I had a beautiful daughter. She's now  two years old and I survived.

This time was so much different and way way better.


On January 6, 2017 I went to my regular doctor's appointment. My blood pressure was elevated and I also had elevated levels of protein. I knew that preeclampsia was right around the corner and so did my doctor. I needed to do a few blood labs and take a 24 hour urine test. (This is where I pee in a jug for 24 hours and then turn it in -gross right? and to top it off I had to fast after dinner 7:30 pm)

January 7, 2017

We turned in the urine around 12:30 and was told to wait 2 hours to hear the results. At 1:30 my doctor called me and said the protein was still elevated and I needed to come to Labor and Delivery for observation for a few hours. I was admitted and started paperwork around 3:00. An hour later my doctor came in and determined that my numbers weren't too bad but if we waited another day they would be. I had already decided that if I had any problems I would just opt for a repeat c-section. If I went into labor on my own I would try for a VBAC. So we were then waiting for another woman to have her baby and then we would go in for the c-section. It was Saturday so the hospital was pretty much empty. My doctor was the OB on call so it was just pretty quiet. At 6:00 Devin was dressed in scrubs and I walked to the Operating Room.


The anesthesiologist was really nice and told me everything they were doing. I got a spinal but they said it would feel like an epidural. I was so scared because of last time. The Epidural was one of the most painful parts. Devin wasn't allowed into the room yet so I had to hold on to the nurse. I then took a deep breath and said. "Okay I'm ready" I'm pretty sure I had tears in my eyes and was about to cry. The anesthesiologist laughed and then she told me it was already done and I probably couldn't feel my legs already. I didn't feel anything!!!! It was awesome.
Then I was laid on the table under all the bright lights. It was kind of weird because all the nurses and doctors helping were male (except the anesthesiologist). So they shaved the cutting area and lifted my belly with tape. Then they draped the curtain and Devin got to join me. Devin doesn't like blood or needles or any of that stuff so he kept his head close to mine and tried not to hear anything. I thought he was funny. Me on the other hand could kind of see the reflection in the lights above me. I couldn't see details just shapes. So that was cool.  At 6:35 my daughter Lillian Grace Jackson was born. She wasn't screaming so I was a little worried. I looked over and her eyes were wide-open and she looked so confused and very grumpy. I laughed because she was just so mad at the world. Devin got to go into the room with them to clean her up and weigh her. She weighed 7 lbs 13  oz and measured 19.75 inches. While they were stitching me up I was just so happy and relaxed I almost dozed off (but then remember I hadn't eaten for almost 24 hours...so I was just dreaming of a hamburger or ANYTHING).

Devin got to bring her to me and I got to see her little face. She was so beautiful.
After that I was moved downstairs for a half hour for observation to make sure everything was going well. When they were moving me I was wheeled past the waiting room and Kamille got to see me. She wasn't very happy that I was laid out on a bed, not moving, dressed in all the hospital stuff.
After observation I was moved back upstairs to the recovery room. My baby was brought to me and Kamille and my parents got to come in and meet her. I finally got to eat toast and broth that night around 8:30.

Recovery went well. I was up and moving the next morning after breakfast. Last time I spent 5 days in the hospital total and this time I was discharged with my little one in less than 48 hours. It was GREAT! This time around Devin has a good job that he is able to spend 9 days total with us. So now we are chilling at home, trying to get sleep, working through breastfeeding issues, stopping a toddler from loving her sister too much, and just enjoying life.



I'm so grateful for all our family and friends that have checked in and helped. We have had texts, phone calls, dinner brought, and so much love given. Thanks for being so awesome.
Until we meet again,
Kaylynn Jackson