ROOM TO GROW

I WILL NEVER FORGET IN 1992 WHEN MY PARENTS SAT US 3 KIDS DOWN AND TOLD US THEY HAD SOMETHING TO TELL US.

 

MY PARENTS HAD FOUND OUT A SURPRISE.  THEY HAD TO PREPARE US.  MY DAD WENT ON ABOUT A BUNCH OF LOVE TALK AND HOW THEY HAD MORE ROOM IN THEIR HEARTS TO LOVE.  THEY ANNOUNCED WE WERE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER BABY, AN ANSWERED PRAYER I HAD BEEN ASKING FOR!  I NEVER TRULY UNDERSTOOD HOW AS PARENTS THEY “HAD MORE ROOM TO LOVE” BECAUSE WE WERE A HANDFUL ENOUGH.

I THOUGHT I HAD MY HEART FULL WITH MY BABY, MY HUSBAND, MY FAMILY AND MY FRIENDS.  UNTIL WE FOUND OUT OUR OWN SURPRISE…

…I COULD UNDERSTAND.

(ALTHOUGH, OUR UNDERSTANDING CAME BEFORE OUR SURPRISE – IT’S OKAY SIS, LIKE I SAID I PRAYED FOR YOU, THEY JUST DIDN’T KNOW I HAD BEEN WORKING OUT A PLAN WITH GOD)

TURNS OUT OUR HEARTS ARE AN ENDLESS CHAMBER, ALWAYS ROOM FOR MORE LOVE.

PRETTY COOL.

*will be doing a little back posting as I continue with new updates until all events are covered.  I’ve got a little explainin’ to do.  You. Are. Welcome. Carla.

The Birth of Zayne: The 18th, Not the 17th

*THIS POST IS A LONG ONE.  IT’S A LOT OF DETAIL BUT NOTHING TO MAKE YOU SQUIRM TOO MUCH.  IT’S NOT REALLY LIKE ME TO DISPLAY SUCH A PERSONAL EVENT, BUT I DON’T WANT TO FORGET THIS LABOR AND DELIVERY, AND IT’S ALWAYS NICE TO KNOW A GOOD BIRTH STORY.  SO I WROTE WHAT I REMEMBER…

.

.

.

.

.

THE HOURS BEGAN CLOSING IN ON THE 17TH OF JUNE AS I SAT IN MY GLIDER BREATHING THROUGH EACH CONTRACTION AND TIMING THEM ON MY PHONE (FOR ALL YOU EXPECTING MOMMIES, THE IPHONE APP, BABY’S COMING, IS AWESOME).  JASON LEFT TO DO HIS CARDIO OUTSIDE AND I ATTEMPTED TO START A MOVIE TO WAIT IT ALL OUT TO SEE IF IT WAS ALL REAL.  AT ABOUT 10:30PM, I EMAILED JASON THE LOG I HAD BEEN KEEPING ON MY PHONE .

AT 11PM HE DECIDED TO CALL THE MIDWIFE, LINDSEY, BECAUSE I HAD BEEN HAVING CONTRACTIONS 4-5 MINS APART (16 CONTRACTIONS IN 1 HOUR) FROM ABOUT 3PM IN THE AFTERNOON THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE NIGHT.  THE CRAZY THING, LOOKING BACK ON IT, IS THAT I PROBABLY WOULD’VE KEPT GOING UNTIL THE BABY JUST ARRIVED AT THE HOUSE BECAUSE I DIDN’T BELIEVE THEY WERE REAL CONTRACTIONS.  JASON CAME OUT OF THE BEDROOM AFTER TALKING WITH THE MIDWIFE AND TOLD ME TO GET READY.  SHE TOLD HIM TO MEET HER THERE WITHIN THE HOUR (12 AM).

WE GATHERED OUR ALREADY PACKED ITEMS (STOP, BREATHE IIIIINNNN, BREATHE OOOOUUUUUT) AND EXCITEDLY GOT IN THE CAR.  3 SPEED BUMPS LATER (AND MANY MORE BREATHS IN AND OUT), WE EXITED THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS JUST JASON AND ME.  DRIVING ALONG I-30 (LONG BREATH IN, SLOW BREATH OUT!), THE TWO OF US COULDN’T BELIEVE OUR LIVES WERE ABOUT TO CHANGE FOREVER (BREATHE!).  WE DIDN’T NEED TO DISCUSS IT, IT WAS KNOWN, IT WAS OVERWHELMINGLY EXCITING (LOTS OF SLOW BREATHS TAKEN IN AND OUT)!

WE EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND ATTEMPTED TO FOLLOW SIGNS FOR “LABOR AND DELIVERY” (GRIPPING THE DOOR, BREATHING IN AND OUT) WE GOT LOST, HAD TO U-TURN AND FINALLY ARRIVED AT THE HOSPITAL’S ONLY OPEN ENTRANCE, THE ER.  MY STUBBORN SIDE RAILED IT’S PERSONALITY (STILL BREATHING IN AND OUT).  I DEMANDED TO BE DROPPED OFF AT THE DOOR AND I WOULD WAIT FOR JASON TO PARK INSTEAD OF BEING DROPPED OFF AND WHEELED INSIDE (BREATHING IN AND OUT).  I DID NOT NEED A WHEELCHAIR, I WAS ABLE TO WALK AND I INSISTED I COULD DO SO (PAUSE, GASP SLOWLY, EXHALE SLOWLY – YOGA IS SO GREAT!).  SO I WAITED AND WAITED FOR HIM TO FINALLY PARK THE VEHICLE AND MEET ME AT THE DOORS TO CHECK IN (BREA…YOU GET THE POINT). WE WALKED THROUGH THE DOORS, ONLY A FEW OTHER PEOPLE IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND I TOLD THE LADY AT THE FRONT DESK I NEEDED TO BE IN LABOR AND DELIVERY.  CALMLY AND CONTINUING MY BREATHING, JASON AND I SAT DOWN IN A SMALL WAITING AREA TO BE TAKEN TO THE RIGHT LOCATION.  WHAT SEEMED TO BE SEVERAL MINUTES LATER, WE FINALLY WERE CALLED TO FOLLOW A NURSE.  SHE PULLED THAT WHEELCHAIR IN FRONT OF ME AND I TOLD HER I WAS FINE, NEEDED TO WALK.  I KNEW I WOULD BE THIS STUBBORN WHEN I WAS IMAGINING HOW IT WOULD ALL GO BUT DID’T THINK I’D REALLY BE SO STUBBORN WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO THE ACTUAL EVENTS.  I REMEMBER MY MAIN GOAL, BABY ASIDE, WAS TO DO AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE ON MY OWN.  SO I WALKED MY HAPPY, EXCITED, BELLY CARRYING BODY TO THE LABOR AND DELIVERY AND LOOKED AT THE NURSES TO DECIDE WHICH ONE I WANTED TO BE ON MY SIDE. LIKE I HAD A CHOICE?!

JASON AND I GOT SETTLED IN THE ROOM (12:30 AM) AND A NURSE (WHO I ABSOLUTELY LOVED) HOOKED ME UP TO THE MONITOR TO SEE THE CONTRACTIONS AND HEART RATE OF THE BABY.  HEART RATE STEADY AND GOOD, CONTRACTIONS REAL AND CONSISTENT.  WE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET A PATTERN OF THE CONTRACTIONS AND JASON WOULD WATCH THE MONITOR AS I WOULD CONTINUE TO BREATHE THROUGH EACH CONTRACTION.  THE NURSE CHECKED ME TO SEE HOW FAR I HAD DILATED AND I WAS ONLY AT 3 CM (EXACTLY WHAT I WAS 13 HOURS PRIOR) AND I THOUGHT SHE WAS KIDDING ME.  SHE TOLD ME SHE’D GIVE ME 30 MINS TO PROGRESS THE LABOR AND I COULD WALK THE HALLS WITH JASON, THEN SHE WOULD RETURN TO CHECK.  SO WE DID JUST THAT.  STOPPING EVERY 2 MINUTES TO BREATHE IN AND OUT, GRIPPING JASON’S HAND TO LET HIM KNOW ANOTHER CONTRACTION WAS COMING AND 30 MINS LATER, WE RETURNED TO THE ROOM (1 AM).  WE WAITED AND WAITED FOR THE NURSE TO COME CHECK ME AGAIN AND STILL HAVING CONSISTENT CONTRACTIONS, JASON WATCHED ME AS I WOULD STOP, BREATHE IN, BREATHE OUT AND NEARLY PASS OUT FROM BEING SO TIRED (STILL HAPPY, READY AND EXCITED).  HE HAD MONITORED THE CONTRACTIONS SO LONG THAT HE COULD TELL ME WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO HAVE ONE.

FINALLY, MY MIDWIFE, LINDSEY,  CAME IN TO CHECK ME AND SAID THAT I HAD DILATED TO A FOUR (2AM).  FANTASTIC FOUR.  BARELY ABLE TO STAY AWAKE, I LISTENED TO HER EXPLAIN MY OPTIONS.  OPTION #1: I COULD DO NOTHING AND CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THE CONTRACTIONS ON MY OWN.  OPTION #2: I COULD HAVE AN EPIDURAL (SOMETHING I DIDN’T WANT TO DO) AND WAIT IT OUT.  OPTION #3: I COULD RETURN HOME AND TAKE A SLEEPING PILL TO COMPLETELY RELAX MY BODY AND ALLOW THE LABOR TO KICK INTO HIGH GEAR.  I REALLY DIDN’T WANT TO BE THE GIRL WHO WENT TO THE HOSPITAL AND WAS SENT HOME!  BUT BEING SO CLOSE TO THE HOSPITAL FROM OUR HOME AND I WAS TIRED FROM BEING UP ALL DAY (I HAVE TO SAY FOCUSING ON CONTRACTIONS CAN REALLY WEAR YOU OUT. THANK THE LORD I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE MY WORKING OUT THROUGHOUT THIS PREGNANCY!), THIS SOUNDED LIKE A GOOD OPTION.  I LOOKED AT JASON AND AT MY MIDWIFE, ASKED IF A SLEEPING PILL WAS SAFE AND CONFIRMED THAT I WOULD IN FACT WAKE UP IF I WERE TO PASS OUT AND LABOR WAS TO PROGRESS.  I JUST NEEDED ASSURANCE THAT I WOULDN’T SLEEP THROUGH REAL LABOR.  LINDSEY LAUGHED AND SAID, “BELIVE ME, YOU’LL WAKE UP.”

JASON AND I GRABBED OUR BAGS, I SWALLOWED A PILL AND WE WALKED THROUGH THE HALLS TO THE EXIT (STILL BREATHING IN AND OUT EVERY ~3 – 4 MINS).  HE LEFT ME AT THE ENTRANCE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO ME.  I SAT DOWN NEAR A CONCRETE COLUMN AND THOUGHT ABOUT HOW SURREAL THIS EXPERIENCE HAD ALREADY BEEN AND WAITED FOR HIM.  MY PATIENCE WAS BEGINNING TO WEAR JUST AS HE PULLED UP TO THE CIRB FOR ME.  THE SLEEPING PILL WAS KICKING IN AND I WAS DROWSY. I REMEMBER TRAVELING DOWN I-30E AND THAT’S ABOUT IT UNTIL WE PULLED INTO OUR GARAGE.  I LEFT EVERYTHING IN THE VEHICLE AND DRUG MYSELF INTO MY ROOM.  I KNOW I WAS STILL HAVING CONTRACTIONS BUT THE SLEEPING PILL HAD ME SO TIRED, I WAS ABLE TO COMFORTABLY LAY DOWN.  I CONTINUED TO HAVE CONTRACTIONS REGULARLY THROUGHOUT THE REMAINING EARLY MORNING HOURS AND VAGUELY REMEMBER GETTING UP DURING EACH ONE.

AT ABOUT 7:30AM, THE REAL DEAL BEGAN AND THERE WAS NO MORE SLEEPING.  I GOT UP AND THINGS HAD CHANGED, THE CONTRACTIONS WERE STRONGER AND I COULD DEFINITELY FEEL THEM IN MY STOMACH AS OPPOSED TO MY BACK ONLY.  I TOLD JASON I THOUGHT THINGS WERE DIFFERENT AND THAT MY CONTRACTIONS WERE NOW ONLY 2 MINS APART, HE GOT READY.  MY WATER HAD NOT BROKEN SO I KNEW I HAD TIME FOR A SHOWER.  WE GOT INTO THE VEHICLE AND THIS TIME WOULD BE THE LAST TIME WE EXIT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS JUST JASON AND ME.

WE VALET PARKED THE VEHICLE AND THIS TIME I GAVE IN TO THE WHEELCHAIR AND LET JASON WHEEL ME TO L&D.

THE ADMITTANCE PROCESS BEGAN AT 8:30AM AND WE WATCHED THE BABY’S HEART RATE ANDMY CONTRACTIONS STILL COMING ABOUT 2 MINUTES APART.  I HAD FOLLOWED THE PATTERN FOR SO MANY HOURS BY NOW AND I KNEW IF I COULD GET TO THE PEAK OF THE CONTRACTION, I COULD GET BACK DOWN.  I KEPT THIS MENTAL EXERCISE THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE LABOR.  TWELVE TOUGH BREATHS IN AND TWELVE EASIER BREATHS DOWN, EVERY 1-2 MINUTES.  WE WERE PREPARED FOR A LONG MORNING IN LABOR AND HAD MY EXERCISE BALL, ALL MY PAIN COPING METHODS (THANK YOU TO NATALIE MEEK AND LABOR WITH LOVE), A MASSAGER, HEATING PAD, MUSIC, BOOKS AND ALL THE LITTLE ITEMS TO HELP ME STAY COMFORTABLE.

THE NEXT THING I REMEMBER WAS MY MIDWIFE COMING IN. LINDSEY HAD GONE HOME AFTER HER SHIFT ENDED AND TANIA TOOK OVER.  IT WASN’T MUCH LONGER AND I “HEARD, OKAY WE CAN START THE WATER AND YOU CAN GET IN THE TUB”.  I THOUGHT THE TUB CAME NEAR THE END.  TANIA TOLD ME IT WAS TIME.  WOW, I REALLY COULDN’T BELIEVE THIS WAS IT.  I WAS NEARLY THERE, THE BABY WAS NEARLY HERE.  HOW MUCH WORSE WOULD IT GET?

I GOT INTO THE WARM TUB AND IMMEDIATELY FELT A LITTLE MORE RELAXED WHILE STILL PAUSING TO GET THROUGH CONTRACTIONS.  MY BIRTH PHOTOGRAPHER, MICHELLE MONK, (WHO BY THE WAY, IS SUPER COOL AND SO FUN TO BE AROUND!) SHOWED UP JUST IN TIME.

I SAT IN THE TUB WITH THE WATER COVERING ME AND JASON STAYED AT MY SHOULDERS WITH A COOL RAG AND MY COCONUT WATER WAITING TO HELP ME OUT.  EACH CONTRACTION WOULD MAKE ME BREAK A SWEAT AND THE COOLNESS OF THE WASH CLOTH WOULD BRING ME BACK TO NORMAL TEMPS.  IT’S AMAZING HOW THIRSTY I WAS AND WAS SO THANKFUL FOR MY DRINK.  OCCASIONALLY, TANIA WOULD HOLD A MONITOR TO MY BELLY TO LISTEN TO THE BABY’S HEARTBEAT.  IT STAYED STEADY AND NORMAL AT 155 BPM.

I DON’T REMEMBER MANY CONVERSATIONS DURING THE LABORING INCLUDING MY EATING HABITS AND LIKING RAW FOODS THAT TANIA REMINDED ME OF AT MY 5 WEEK CHECK UP.  BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I DO REMEMBER ASKING HER WAS IF THE CONTRACTIONS WERE GOING TO GET STRONGER AND LONGER AND IF I WOULD BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH WITHOUT MEDS.  SHE LOOKED AT ME AS IF I WERE CRAZY AND SAID, “HE’S RIGHT THERE, YOU COUDLN’T HAVE IT NOW IF YOU WANTED IT.”  I WAS GLAD TO HEAR IT, IT WASN’T GOING TO BE MUCH DIFFERENT, ASSUMING THERE WAS NO EMERGENCIES.  AND IT WAS JUST THAT.  FROM 7:30 AM UNTIL THE WHOLE THING WAS OVER THE CONTRACTIONS STAYED STEADY EVERY 2 MINS, THE SAME IN LENGTH AND PATTERN.

SOON MY BODY TOOK OVER AND THE URGE TO PUSH BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE.  IT DIDN’T MATTER WHAT POSITION I THOUGHT I WOULD BE IN, MY BODY DID IT’S OWN THING.

I HAD 1-3 PUSHES FOR ABOUT 6 – 8 SESSIONS.

ON THE LAST PUSH SET, I HEARD THE MUSIC BEGIN…

3 PUSHES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN A 4TH PUSH CAME FROM NO WHERE, JUST AS THE CHORUS STARTED.

JASON GRABBED AHOLD OF ME, NOT EXPECTING THE 4TH PUSH AND RIGHT AFTER, I LAYED BACK TO TAKE A BREATH AND CAUGHT HIS EYES.  I LOOKED BACK DOWN TO MY CHEST AND THE BABY WAS THERE.

THESE PICTURES SHOW EXACTLY HOW I FELT, MY EYES DON’T LOOK LIKE ME.  I HAD GOTTEN MYSELF INTO SO MUCH OF A PATTERN THAT I REALLY DIDN’T FEEL LIKE I WAS THERE.  TO BE HONEST, THE WHOLE PROCESS JUST WASN’T THAT BAD.  I WAS TIRED BUT I WAS OK AND COULD’VE KEPT GOING, I EXPECTED IT TO BE MUCH LONGER.

I WAS SO SHOCKED WHEN I LOOKED DOWN AT MY CHEST TO SEE HIM LAYING THERE.  I DIDN’T FEEL IT. BUT EVENTUALLY, I HEARD HIM.  THE SWEETEST SOUND EVER MADE.

I HELD THE BABY UNTIL THE REST OF THE LABOR STAGES WERE COMPLETE, JUST IN AWE.  THE CORD STOPPED PUMPING AND JASON CUT THE LIFELINE.  HE WAS IN THE WORLD AND BREATHING ON HIS OWN NOW.

BECAUSE I WAS UNMEDICATED, I WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY GET UP AND MOVE TO MY BED.  WHILE I GOT SET UP, JASON HELD OUR NEW BABY BOY.  HIS STATS WERE CHECKED WHILE JASON HELD HIM.  FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF JASON AND I WERE THE ONLY ONES TO HOLD THE BABY.

THE NURSE WEIGHED AND MEASURED HIM

THEN RETURNED HIM TO JASON SO I COULD TOUCH UP.

WE COULDN’T HOLD OUT TOO LONG BECAUSE WE HAD SOME ANXIOUS VISITIORS…

MY PHOTOGRAPHER HAD TO LEAVE JUST BEFORE JASON’S PARENTS GOT TO THE HOSPITAL.  THEY WERE BOTH SO EXCITED TO HIM TOO!

HIS NAME WAS CONFIRMED AND INTIALS ETCHED INTO MY NECKLACE.  I THINK MY WHOLE LABOR PROCESS WAS SO EASY BECAUSE HIS NAME WAS GOING TO BE ZAYNE.

BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF MY AWESOME MIDWIFE, TANIA,

MY AMAZING HUSBAND FOR KEEPING ME COMFORTABLE,

AND ALL FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO PRAYED LIKE CRAZY FOR US!

.

.

.

.

ZAYNE ALEXANDER JONES

BORN 06.18.10

11:30AM

7 LBS 1 OZ, 20 IN

BLONDE HAIR, BLUE EYES

PERFECT!

*SPECIAL THANKS TO MICHELLE MONK FOR CAPTURING ONE OF THE BEST EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE.

P.S. AS IT TURNS OUT, ZAYNE WAS BORN ON 6.18.10 AND I WAS BORN AT 6:18AM AND  GET THIS, WE FOUND OUT WE WOULD BE EXPECTING A BABY 10.18.10 AND HEARD THE FIRST HEARTBEAT 12.18.10.  NOW I FEEL COMPLETE

A Very Special Father’s Day

OBVIOUSLY, I’M NOT A FATHER BUT I CAN’T IMAGINE A BETTER GIFT THAN YOUR BRAND NEW BABY WAKING UP 43 HOURS AFTER BIRTH WITH YOU AT HOME.  JASON GOT THAT.  ORIGINALLY, WE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE GOING HOME ON FATHER’S DAY BUT WERE ABLE TO GO SOONER AND SPEND THE HOLIDAY WITH THE HONORED FATHERS.

I HAD PREPARED A FATHER’S DAY GIFT FOR JASON JUST IN CASE THE BABY ARRIVED TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY WITH HIS NEW DADDY.

HE READ THE CARD TO HIS NEW SON…

…AND SHOWED THE BABY WHAT WE GOT HIM.

I LOVE THAT IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE DISCUSSING IT AND ZAYNE’S COMPLETELY PAYING ATTENTION.

THE GIFT IS A GUITAR PICK THAT READS “IT’S ALWAYS BETTER WHEN WE’RE TOGETHER”.  THEY’LL HAVE MANY TIMES TO USE THIS TOGETHER.

THE REST OF THIS SPECIAL EVENING AND MANY SINCE HAVE BEEN HOLDING, STARING AT, TALKING TO, LAUGHING WITH AND ENTERTAINING OUR NEW ADDITION.

WE THINK HE’S GONNA LIKE US!  WE SURE LIKE HIM!

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TO THE BEST NEW DADDY AROUND! AND TO OUR FATHER’S WHO CANNOT BE REPLACED.

WITH ALL MY RESPECT,

BRITT

THiS iS iT

ONE DAY SHY OF THE 40 WEEK MARK AND OUR BABY ZAYNE ENTERED THE WORLD.  FOR THIS POST, BECAUSE I’M MISS WATERWORKS IF I GET SERIOUS, I’M GOING TO LEAVE IT AT THIS…

*Jenny Martell Photography

39 Weeks

ANYTIME NOW THIS LITTLE BOY WILL BE ENTERING THE WORLD TO CHANGE US FOREVER.

AND I’M KEEPING MYSELF ENTERTAINED.

ME AND 3 OF MY FRIENDS WORKOUT TOGETHER AND HAD PLOTTED TO SURPRISE OR SHOCK THE TRAINER AT OUR GYM.  DURING THE LAST FEW WEEKS HE HAS BEEN NERVOUS ABOUT ME DOING TOO MUCH, JUST IN CASE BUT ALSO ENCOURAGES ME TO GET THE BALL ROLLING FOR DELIVERY SO IT’S BEEN EXTRA CARDIO LATELY.  SO WE THOUGHT WE’D MAKE SURE HIS BLOOD PRESSURE AND PARENTING INSTINCTS ARE STILL KEEN.  WHILE DOING AB (WHAT ABS I CAN) EXERCISES, I SPILLED SOME WATER ON THE MAT AND WAITED FOR HIM TO COME AROUND.  3 OF THE 4 OF US WERE THERE AND THEY WERE READY TO ACT.  FINALLY, HE CAME INTO THE ROOM WE WERE IN AND I JUMPED UP AS HEATHER SAID, “JOSH, HER WATER BROKE!” AND I TOLD HIM THE CARDIO HAD WORKED.  HIS EYES GOT HUGE AND HIS EXPRESSION STALE.  HEATHER WAS ALL SMILES AND HE SOON REALIZED IT WAS A JOKE.  AFTER OUR WORKOUT WAS OVER THE SCENE CALMED BUT JOSH STILL HADN’T.  AS A FATHER OF 4 HIS HANDS STILL TREMBLED SEVERAL MINUTES LATER BUT I THINK THE BLOOD PRESSURE SPIKE SUBSIDED.  AT LEAST HE’LL ALWAYS REMEMBER IT.

TO PASS THE TIME DURING THE 39TH WEEK, WE TOOK SOME LAST FEW SHOTS OF MY FIRST PREGNANCY.

WONDERING IF I COULD STILL PHOTOGRAPH MY TOES, I TRIED.  AND IF THIS SHOT DOESN’T MAKE YOU LAUGH…

JUNE 17TH FINALLY CAME AROUND AND I MADE IT TO WORK FOR THE MORNING WAITING IMPATIENTLY FOR MY NEXT APPOINTMENT.  I WAS TOLD I WAS DILATED TO JUST A LITTLE MORE THAN A 3 AND AFTER THE EXAM, SHOULD EXPECT SOME CONTRACTIONS.  I WAS PUMPED!  COUNTING DOWN THE HOURS LEFT FOR THIS LITTLE GUY TO ARRIVE, I JUMPED ON THE TREADCLIMBER AND GOT THINGS MOVING!  FEW HOURS LATER, THE BACK CRAMPS STARTED AND I KNEW I MIGHT HAVE BEEN ON THE RIGHT TRACK.  9 HOURS LEFT FOR MY BOY TO MAKE HIS APPEARANCE ON THE 17TH AND JASON AND I WENT TO A STORE FOR SOME PAIN COPING AIDS.  I NEEDED A HEATING PAD AND I PICKED UP A CHAIR MASSAGER.  NOTICING THE CRAMPING COMING IN WAVES, I BEGAN TO SEE A PATTERN AND IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I WOULD BE TIMING.  WE ATE DINNER TOGETHER AND I SLOWLY MADE IT THROUGH MY DINNER SALAD WHILE BREATHING THROUGH WHAT DIDN’T QUITE SEEM TO BE REAL CONTRACTIONS.  WE PLANNED TO SEE A MOVIE BUT THE PATTERN HAD ORGANIZED AND CONTRACITONS, ALTHOUGH ALL IN MY BACK, WERE STILL IN WAVES COMING EVERY 5-6 MINS APART SO WE STAYED HOME.

I STILL HAD TIME FOR ANOTHER PICTURE AND REPRESENTING THE 39TH WEEK IS THE WATERMELON.  I CARRIED A WATERMELON AND CONTRACTED THROUGH THE PICTURES, BREATHING BETWEEN POSES.

THE DAY CAME TO A CLOSE WITH BABY J STILL IN MY BELLY BUT THE PROCESS STARTED ON THE 17TH AND HE’S JUST MAKING ME WAIT!

Nesting

TODAY WAS THE DUE DATE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, SO I THOUGHT I’D UPDATE THE 38TH WEEK.  SEVERAL FRINEDS, INCLUDING MY LITTLE SISTER WERE HOPING BABY J WOULD COME TODAY.  I’M WASN’T FEELING ANY DIFFERENT AND THE DAY WAS COMING TO AN END.  SO I THINK THIS DAY WILL GO BY AND WE’LL BE ON TO THE NEXT DATE.  COME ON 17TH!

MY APPOINTMENT WENT WELL AND I’M STILL PROGRESSING.  AS I WAS IN THE MEDICAL OFFICE, I WAS NOTICING ALL THE BROCHURES AND POSTERS OF LABOR.  BEFORE, I HAD JUST GLANCED AT THEM WITHOUT THOUGHT.  NOW THAT IT’S REALLY ANYTIME, MY ATTENTION WAS CAPTURED.

AT HOME, JASON HAS BEEN FIXING, REPAIRING, SCHEDULING AND CLEANING.  I THINK HE’S THE ONE NESTING.  SO NOW I’M LOOKING FOR HIS CLUES FOR WHEN THIS BABY IS COMING A FEW DAYS AGO, I HAD A STRANGE DAY WHERE I WAS EXPERIENCING SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS MY FRIENDS AND COWORKERS HAD THE DAY OF THEIR LABORS. I MADE JASON ANXIOUS ENOUGH TO GO PICK UP HIS SNACKS FOR THE HOSPITAL STAY.  I WASN’T IN THE MOOD FOR DINNER (WHICH IS NOT LIKE ME), I HAD A BURST MODE TO CLEAN AND ORGANIZE PAPER AND MORE OF THE BABY’S ROOM, AND THEN MY UPPER LEGS WERE ACHY WHILE TRYING TO FALL ASLEEP.  MY MIND WAS JUST MESSING WITH ME AND THE NEXT MORNING I FELT COMPLETELY NORMAL, BUT BIGGER…

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

TODAY IS THE ANNIVERSARY OF OUR 2ND YEAR OF MARRIAGE.

IT SO FUNNY TO SAY SUCH A SMALL NUMBER WHEN OCTOBER 2010 MARKS 13 YEARS TOGETHER.  ONE YEAR AGO, WE WERE IN OUR FIRST HOME AND HAD JUST CELEBRATED THE ANNIVERSARY WITH A TRIP TO BELIZE.

THE BELIZE TRIP CHANGED US.

THAT TRIP WAS THE FIRST TIME WE TALKED ABOUT STARTING A FAMILY AND THE FALL SEEMED TO BE RIGHT FOR US.  SO WE PRAYED ABOUT IT.  A LOT!  WE PRAYED FOR THE RIGHT TIMING AND FOR THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES.

HERE WE ARE TODAY, ANOTHER YEAR OLDER AND ABOUT TO START A NEW CHAPTER, AGAIN.

WOW, LIFE CAN REALLY BE EXCITING!

I MARRIED MY BEST FRIEND OF 12 1/2 YEARS AND HE’S ABOUT TO BE THE DADDY OF OUR FIRST BABY.

EACH MILESTONE WE PASS IS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT TOGETHER.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY BABE!  THANK YOU FOR THE MANY MEMORIES, GOOD TIMES AND MORE TO COME.  I CAN’T IMAGINE LIFE WITHOUT YOU.

IT’S ALWAYS BETTER WHEN WE’RE TOGETHER!

*Jenny Martell Photography

FULL TERM

I’VE CROSSED THE FINISH LINE TO GROWTH AND SUSTAINABILITY!  AT THIS POINT, IF BABY J WERE TO ARRIVE, HE’D BE JUST FINE.  WHAT A GREAT FEELING!  I PRAYED FOR A HEALTHY FULL TERM PREGNANCY AND I’VE GOTTEN TO EXPERIENCE THIS.

MY LAST APPOINTMENT WAS A GOOD ONE AND THE BABY IS ESTIMATED TO BE AROUND 5 1/2 POUNDS NOW, WITH PROGRESS BEGINNING.  I’M SHOWING SIGNS OF PROGRESSION TO D-DAY AND IT WAS MENTIONED I MAY NOT MAKE THE JUNE 19TH DUE DATE.  COULD IT BE CLOSER TO THE OTHER D-DATE, JUNE 11TH?  WE’LL SEE.  IF I COULD CHOOSE THE DATE (WITHOUT SCHEDULING IT), I THINK THE 17TH WOULD BE PRETTY COOL.  JASON AND MY ANNIVERSARY IS JUNE 7TH AND AND HIS BIRTHDAY IS JUNE 27TH.  I’M BIG ON DATES AND NUMBERS SO THAT 17TH WOULD FIT JUST PERFECT.

IN WAITING, BUT IN NO HURRY!

————————————————————————–

AND WHILE I WAS IN NO HURRY, I TOOK SOME PHOTOS OF HEATHER’S FAMILY AT THIS REALLY COOL PLACE…

IT ALL TOOK PLACE ON MEMORIAL DAY.

THANK YOU TO THE VETERANS WHO SERVED AND TO THE TROOPS FIGHTING FOR OUR FREEDOMS.

36 Weeks

I’M ONLY ONE WEEK AWAY FROM FULL TERM STATUS AND I CAN’T BE HAPPIER TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT THIS FAR WITHOUT ANY COMPLICATIONS.  THE LORD IS GOOD!

I HAD MY LAST WEEKEND IN NORMAN AND GOT TO CATCH UP WITH A FRIEND I HAVEN’T SEEN IN TOO LONG.  THESE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS WILL BE TOUGH STAYING PUT IN F.W. BUT THERE’S STILL SO MUCH TO BE DONE.