Baby E's Furious Entry Into the World

A number of folks have asked me about the birth story of our newest daughter, Eleanor.

Here is her story:

I got up to pee at 12:45 PM. 
Then I felt like I peeing all the time but I tried to lay down.
I sat up a few minutes later and felt like puking. 
And I did. I made it in the toilet. 

Since I puked, I woke Russ up and said I thought I should go to the hospital and just get checked out. 
I figured they'd just send me home, so I told Russ that I'd just drive myself to the hospital.

Thankfully, Russ said that he would drive me. He got dressed and I went and got P from her room and put her in the car. We started the short drive to the hospital.

I made Russ promise me that he wouldn't tell anyone that we'd tried to go to the hospital if it was a false alarm. I didn't want to be known for crying wolf I guess.

I had two contractions in the car that were pretty intense. I think they were about 3-5 minutes apart. 
Still, I didn't think much of it. Russ did not speed, I did not feel like he should drive any faster, and I think we made jokes along the way about how rough the morning would be teaching seminary and going through our work days.

We got to the hospital and I got out of the car and walked in while Russ parked the car and brought Phoenix in. I puked two times while walking in- and I think this is when Russ knew we would be here.

I remember thinking that I must look drunk- walking and then puking, walking and then puking.

Well, I got in the hospital and no one was at the desk. I pressed a button and told the nurse, "I may be in labor, but I don't know".

In fact, I filled out paperwork right there and wrote "possible labor, I puked" for the reason I came in.

Walking to the triage room I started having a contraction and the nurse said I could stop and wait for it to pass (what a novel idea! I would've kept moving...). 

Russ and P caught up with us at this point.

We got to the room and she handed me a puke bag. This is about the time I quit caring about things and just wanted to be checked if things were serious.

She gave me a gown and I quickly switched my clothes.
When the nurse saw how quick I changed, she quit asking questions and checked me.

Here is the how it went, conversation wise:

Nurse: Oh my goodness you are at an 8 or a 9.

Me: Where's the epidural???

Nurse: No epidural, you're having this baby right now.

Me: No... I can't do this. Please.... RUSS TEXT THE BEAUREGARD'S TO COME GET P!

Nurse: We have to move you to the delivery room

Me: Is that where the epidural is?

Nurse: No, I mean we can try, but it takes about an hour with blood work. You are just going to have this baby.

*****
We got to the delivery room and nurses were running everywhere.

Some nurse came in and tried to talk to me about blood cord banking.
Another nurse yelled at her ,"forget the blood cord there's no time"

I scribbled on some consent forms.
And I kept screaming about an epidural and that I couldn't do it without one.

P and Russ were patting  my back as the nurses told me to breathe and push.
Then P started crying.
A nurse tried to take her from Russ but that wasn't happening.

A nurse checked me again and touched E's head.

A lady doctor I have never met came in and sat down to deliver the baby.

Our friends showed up and took P.

Russ came back in.
And this is where I really lost it.

I asked for a Russ for a blessing. 
Then another contraction came and he just put one hand on my head and pushed down.
Not sure what good that did.- but he was trying to accommodate through the madness.


I kept yelling "I can't feel my feet"

And "I can't do this"

The doctor said, "Do you want to feel your baby's head?

And I said something like, "No, I want this to end"

She said, "Once you push the head the rest of the way and the shoulders then you're done."


I asked if I had to wait for another contraction.
She said no.

So I monster pushed and E was born!

P had been gone maybe 10 minutes. We had left our home about a hour before.

Then I laid there shaking in shock for about 40 minutes, scared to move.

I'll do a follow-up post if you have any questions... that aren't too personal!

"Any day now!"

Listen folks, I'm pretty good at sharing when things happen in life- and I know what it feels like to have a kid. No need to remind.

But I realize my baby bump is the elephant in the room and you want to say something about it.

Well here's an update:

How far along are you?
About 34 weeks.

Total weight gain:
18 lbs.- 4 more and I'll weigh as much as I weighed when I delivered P.

Maternity Clothes?
yes. And I just bought a maternity bathing suit! Can't wait for my morning swim tomorrow and to not have to squeeze into my old swimming suit!


Stretch Marks?
No. And I haven't used that stupid expensive lotion either.
I think that stuff is a scam.

Best moment this week:
In regards to the pregnancy? Well I crave everything that's talked about. Orange juice, grape juice, hot dogs. But today I drank an epic PB Chocolate shake. That was cool.

Miss Anything?
Yes. Sleeping through the night. Sleeping on my stomach.
Running. Not having heart burn.

Movement:
This kid likes to push on my ribs for long periods of time. Lots of pressure, if you call that movement.

Food cravings:
Everything and anything that is talked about.

Anything making you queasy or sick?
The Walking Dead scene where the guy changes a baby's diaper in the middle of the zombie forest.
Heartburn.

Gender:
It's still a surprise! I'm getting a little nervous about it!

Symptoms:
I bump people with my belly regularly. In court, in the office, at church.
I am sometimes tired but sometimes have energy. I always have heartburn.
And then there's the daily contractions that keep me alert that labor and delivery will soon come to pass.

Belly Button in or out:
In. But dangerously close to out depending on how much I eat and where the baby is sitting.

Wedding rings on or off?
On and really loose! I've almost lost them a few times!

Happy or Moody most of the time?
Happy. But I cry pretty easy.

Looking forward to:
Finding out who this little person is- boy/girl and what their name is.
Watching LOST during late night feedings.
The moms visiting... eventually.
Helping P understand her new role as big sister.

I guess I'm pretty excited! But also nervous. I don't have a thing set up at home. I just feel like it's too early. But I have prepped my work through July so nothing falls through the cracks at work.
Maybe in the next few weeks I'll get the home stuff together.

"How you feeling?"

Don't worry people.
I will always let you know if something is wrong during this pregnancy.
But here's an update:

How far along? 

21 Weeks

Total weight gain:

4 lbs.

Maternity clothes? 

Yes. Loving the comfortableness.

Stretch marks? 

No, but I'm confident they're coming.

Best moment this week:  

Lots of movement. Being able to stop heartburn and nauseousness by eating Tums.

Miss Anything? 

Yoga. Working out consistently. Sleeping.

Movement:

Lots. This kid is a ninja.

Food cravings: 

Eggs.

Anything making you queasy or sick: 

Heartburn.

Gender: 

We're going to be surprised.

Labor Signs: 

I don't think so. I figure I will know it when I feel it.

Symptoms: 

Heartburn. Tired.

Belly Button in or out? 

In. 

Wedding rings on or off? 

On.

Happy or Moody most of the time: 

Happy.

Looking forward to: 

My mom coming down Thanksgiving and painting my half bath.

Looking Back at My Sweet P

So I noticed that along the side of my blog, there's a top 5 list of posts.

I also noticed that 2 of these posts refer to being pregnant with P. One of which I read and it made me laugh- because knowing her as I do now, I can see how those initial interactions with her was part of her personality.

Here's the then and now of it:

THEN:

When someone is talking in a mean 

tone, or loudly, or maybe Spud just doesn't like them, 

Spud hides under my right rib. Whole body.

 It's fun to feel Spud fold up on one side.

NOW:

Yup. P is not a fan of loud noises and yelling or when certain people talk. While she no longer folds up under a rib, her eyes get really big and she runs to me or dad. It's funny.


THEN:
Movement: Lots. I can tell when it's a hand wave, a kick, or when 

Spud pedals along my stomach.

NOW:
The key here is the "pedals along my stomach". When P gets excited, she does something we like to call 'happy feet'. It's like a little baby tap dance or an in-place run. Also humorous. Apparently she's been doing it for a long time.


This makes me glad I took the advice of my awesome Sister in Law(s). I think I'll record this again- in a few weeks.

Baby Weight: Plans for Losing It

Perhaps this blog is premature, because I can't say that I've succeeded at my plan. But maybe someday I can tell you if this worked or not.

Baby weight. Most moms of a newborn is trying to lose it. Yes, I've met a few women who want to keep it- but they were wiry to start with.

I've heard a lot of advice for how to make it work. I've seen a lot of moms that at my point (10 wks post-delivery) that have done it. But I've done things a bit differently.

What happened:
Phoenix was in the NICU for her first 9 days of life. This was VERY stressful and any attempt to watch what I ate went out the window. I lived on fast food and Dr. Pepper. I did my best to stay up as much as I could with her.

When Phoe came home, I did do a few yoga sessions and go on walks. But I did not have a consistent exercise routine. Further, I had bought tons of treats to make Christmas cookies before being 'surprised' by Phoenix's early arrival. So when I got home, my mom began making those delicious cookies. While I tried to deliver those cookies to others, most ended up in my belly.

Then I had law school finals. That's a whole other wave of stress. Not only stress, but long hours of studying without working out.

How my body handled it:
At first I dropped a lot of weight. But as I ate those cookies and spent a lot of time studying, the weight came back very easily. * Although I don't really regret it, I think this is what caused Phoenix to bulk up as fast as she has.

The Plan:
Now that finals are done and I'm getting into a rhythm, I'm trying to get back in shape and be more active. I've contemplated what I want to do the past few weeks and here is what I'm doing:

• Accountability: Every time I go to the gym, I check-in on FB. Some may find it annoying, but it is my way of acknowledging I am doing something.

• Once a Day: I like to get in a good hour workout. But that can't always happen with a newborn. So I've learned to take what I can get. 
• Today for example. Phoenix blew out her diaper (peed all over her dad) and I couldn't leave for the gym when I planned. When I finally got to the gym, the child-care center was only open for 40 minutes. So I ran for 30 minutes straight, got the best workout I could, and went home. In a way this is a positive- because it forced me to get a good workout done. And it's the first time since getting pregnant that I ran for 30 minutes straight. In a way, not having a lot of time is a good thing!

• Default Exercise: I would love to be in a spin class and an ab class everyday- or every other day. But truth is, I can't. And I don't always have time to make up a workout. So, I have my default workout: Running a 5k. When I can't plan, I just run a 5k- and I try to do a little better than the last time I ran it.

• Utilize Resources: Russ is a wonderful husband for this. He is very willing to compromise and watch Phoenix so I can go work out. There's been a few times where Russ wants to run to the store and I want to work out. Instead of taking 2 cars, or rotating our time in doing what we want, Russ will drive and drop me at the gym and I'll work out. If there is a bunch of kids in the child-care place, he takes Phoe with him to the store. If there are only a few kids in child-care at the gym, Phoe comes with me. Really, it's a huge help to make sure I get in my gym time.

• Back-Up: Sometimes making it to the gym is just not possible. So I try to have a workout at home. Pinterest is great for having workout lists. 25 jumping jacks, 100 crunches, etc. I've pinned some of these so I can do one real quick on days the gym is not an option.
• Another back-up I've used is running a trail near where I live. I've previously tracked the distance and I know it's the distance of a 5k. Sometimes I've used this to work out.

That's about it for my plan. Any suggestions?

And- I realize I've said nothing about food. I'm off soda for Lent, but other than that I haven't done much to alter my intake. I'm still getting over my sugar love that started after having Phoenix. (When I was pregnant, I couldn't stand sugar. Now that I'm not pregnant anymore, I've gone the other way to loving sugar.)

More to come, I'm sure! I'll at least update in a few months to say if this has worked or not.

New Year!

How about it's 2012 already? And February at that!

The end of the year is always crazy. Throw a new baby into the mix and it's crazier. Top it off with being in law school and it is madness.

But I am glad to say I feel that life is calming down a bit.

2011 was a fantastic year! There were so many things that I loved about it.

And I a looking forward to a great 2012. There is so much to look forward to!

Before I leave 2011 to the history books, I wanted to belatedly blog about two other baby showers I was able to enjoy. Yes, I realize I am spoiled to be surrounded by wonderful loved ones. I feel like I will spend the rest of my life reciprocating the love I've felt.

The first shower I wanted to mention was a small, intimate shower with some work friends, neighbor friends, and close friends. I really enjoyed how small this shower was because it enabled me to talk one on one with everyone and just relax together.

A huge thanks to Jess, and in part Hil, for so much love. I could not ask for better friends!

Re-entering Blogging with an Update

How far along? 

31 Weeks

Total weight gain:

17 lbs. Lost a few lbs. this past week. Not on purpose- due to stress I think.

Maternity clothes? 

Yes. Loving the cute styles.

Stretch marks? 

Just one on each side. I look like I'm wearing racer pants when I'm well, not.

Best moment this week:  

Understanding Spud's movements. When someone is talking in a mean 

tone, or loudly, or maybe Spud just doesn't like them, 

Spud hides under my right rib. Whole body.

 It's fun to feel Spud fold up on one side.

Miss Anything? 

Yoga. I miss being able to fold up, stretch out and just enjoy a good practice.

Movement:

Lots. I can tell when it's a hand wave, a kick, or when 

Spud pedals along my stomach.

Food cravings: 

None. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: 

No.

Gender: 

We're going to be surprised.

Labor Signs: 

I don't think so. I figure I will know it when I feel it.

Symptoms: 

None, really. Russ has to buckle my shoes most days.

But I can still see my feet and paint 

my own toenails.

Belly Button in or out? 

In. 

Wedding rings on or off? 

On- and very loose.

Happy or Moody most of the time: 

Happy and giggly. Surprisingly optimistic about everything- even 

the hard things.

Looking forward to: 

My mom coming down Thanksgiving to help set everything up.

Guest Blogging

Check it out! I wrote a blog post for a "Women in Law" blog, and they put up my submission. Pretty cool huh?

Read the full post here.

Russ is Going to Be a Great Dad

He's going to ensure Watermelon does not develop a skill for discrimination.

The Watermelon- Previously Known as The Spud

So remember a few posts ago when I said every 5 weeks I'd be taking a baby bump picture?

If you don't, well, let me fill you in. When I was 15 weeks pregnant I said that every 5 weeks I'd take an updated photo. But when the time came around for that next picture, Russ and I received some... questionable commentary from our doctor who subsequently sent us to a specialist the following week.

Without having many answers, I didn't feel like taking a picture that weekend. And, unfortunately, the specialist didn't have any answers either. Yet. Hopefully we'll know more later this month. I will keep you posted.

I don't want to sound a false alarm, so I don't think I really want to go into much on here. Suffice it to say that our Spud needs to get bigger. I thought that if Russ and I start calling the baby "Watermelon," Spud would be encouraged to grow. Even though I don't think the word 'watermelon' is part of the fetal language. Still...

I will write a little update about other things about Watermelon right now. I've been thinking about it for the past few days regarding pregnancy. Things that I want to remember or that people (particularly my sister-in-law Erika) tell me I should remember about pregnancy.

1. I love to eat mashed potatoes and cheerios.
2. I have night terrors. Awful, vivid dreams that are straight out of horror movies. I hate this.
3. We felt the first kicks on Sept. 2
4. I have polished off my first container of Tums.
5. I am finally feeling tired. Like I don't have the energy I normally do. I know this is expected, but I expected it to come earlier in pregnancy. Like 5 months ago.
6. I am more weepy than I was earlier too. I also thought this would come earlier. But it's just been the past two weeks.
7. We have no idea if Watermelon is a boy or girl. Even the sonogram tech's can't tell. This baby wants to be mysterious.

I think that's it. Well, until the next pregnancy post in a few weeks- Grow, Watermelon, Grow!

Photo Shoot- July 27, 2011

This last week I had the opportunity to do a photo shoot for my dear, dear, dear friend Heidi. She is due in about 2 weeks, pregnant with a boy.

Heidi is one of those poster-women of pregnancy. She makes pregnancy look appealing. I remember on my mission, in Hawaii, meeting a mom-to-be that was a walking Malibu Barbie. I guess she was more of a Hawaii Barbie.

Point is, she was gorgeous. And when she got pregnant, it was like any fat that existed in her body just went to her belly and made her look even more fantastic.

Heidi reminds me of this lady. I'm still editing the photos, but here are a few proofs that I have done for her. And they're so gorgeous, I had to share!

How This is Gonna Go Down

So a few weeks ago we broke the news on here about Spud. And while this change turns many blogs into diaries of puking, mood swings, and baby prep talk, that won't happen here. That's fine- I'm not dissing on blog styles that roll that way. Russ and I just do things a bit differently.

So while I will occasionally talk about it, I'll still talk about the other stuff that is going on in our life. Like the trip to Utah I have coming up and this professional conference I'm going to attend. And the other fun summer stuff Russ and I will do since I'm not in school for the next month and a half.

This post, is one of those little updates. Because my sister-in-law, who has had 5 kids, said she regretted never taking these kinds of pics. And because I value her advice (and could care less for the advice of people who are not my close friends or family members) here's the first pic. Russ and I are going to take one every 5 weeks, and post it on here. 

As you can see it looks like I just ate too much. And that I have bad posture. I honestly forget about Spud about 90 % of the time because I just can't see anything besides a little chub. And I'm not sick. So perhaps in 5 more weeks this will be something more to ooh and aahh at, instead of looking like the before picture in a Weight Watchers ad.

And PS: We're not finding out if it's a boy or a girl. So please, don't hold your breath for an announcement of a Wilde Baby boy or a Wilde Baby girl. : D

Until tomorrow! Happy Sunday!