Introducing Mr. Elias!

Well, three weeks late, here is the story of Elias' birth! I was due on April 1st, and went into the hospital the Sunday before, with close, strong contractions. I was checked, and wasn't dilating so they sent me home. After a couple of days the contractions stopped. My due date came and went with no contractions. My secondary due date, April 10th, (the one I believe was correct) came and went with no contractions. On the 11th one of my midwives had set up for me to have an ultrasound, a fetal nonstress test, and another appointment. While I was in the bathroom, right before the NST, I started bleeding, but just a tiny bit. Just that tiny bit was enough to make me start doing a super pregnant waddle dance and start shouting. The nurses were a little worried, but my doula, Holly, knew right off that something good had happened. At my midwife appointment an hour later, my midwife asked what I wanted to do. Though I had wanted to have a completely natural labor, I was having problems with insane itching. I was scratching myself so hard I was bleeding and nothing was stopping the itching, so I told Jodi that I wanted to be induced. She told me it would have to wait until the next morning, but that she thought it was a good idea. Knowing how uncomfortable I was, though, she stripped my membranes at the appointment, hoping it would put me in labor that evening. We got to the hospital the next morning at about 8am, not having started labor. The midwife on call, Maribeth, checked me and said I was three centimeters dilated, so we wouldn't be using cervadil (like I had hoped), but she would hook me up to pitocin. I was really bummed, coz there went the water birth I had been hoping for. They started me at two, and half an hour later when they came in to bump it up, my doula asked them to wait because the contractions were really strong and painful, so they agreed. Another half hour later, they came in and bumped it up. After that things went well for the next 12 hours or so until at 8pm Maribeth decided to break my water. From then on it was absolutely the hardest thing I've ever done. Don't get me wrong. I had been having extremely painful, consistent, close contractions all day, but my water breaking just took it to another level. Finally at about 10pm I got an epidural. I had been trying soooo hard not to, but I felt like I just couldn't do it anymore. I think that was the hardest part for me - knowing I wouldn't have the feeling to push, not being in control. Luckily... or unluckily, depends on how you want to look at it - the epidural wore off an hour after I got it, leaving me in excruciating pain. I had always kinda laughed at those women in shows who were screaming during their labor... I remember at about 12:30 feeling like I had to push, but I couldn't, because of the catheter they had given me when they gave me the epidural. Finally, about an hour later things started moving, the catheter was taken out, and I was finally able to start pushing. Almost exactly an hour after I started pushing, the top of Elias' head was out. And it stopped. I kept pushing, but nothing was happening. My midwife had to pull on his head a bit and when she did she noticed the cord was wrapped around his neck, twice. No big deal right? She quickly took her scissor do-hickey-things and cut the cord because he wasn't coming out any further. My cord was too short. There went my plans of waiting until the cord stopped pulsing to cut it, and breastfeeding while the baby was still attached to the cord, but after being told that cutting it was basically a matter of life or death for Elias, my disappointment went right out the window.

And now. Three weeks and one day later Elias is doing great. Gaining weight like a champion. He looks JUST like Daddy. He's been truly smiling since he was ten days old and just last night at 10:30, he coo'd for the first time. It was one of the coolest things ever!

The little man was born without a uvula, which apparently isn't all that common... but luckily it shouldn't be too much of an issue. At this point, the biggest issue we are having because of it is he's really gassy, but other than that, it hasn't really bothered him, or been an issue, and will probably continue that way! :)

Lil Update

Oh my goodness. These next four and a half weeks just cannot go fast enough. All day today I've felt completely off... no way to describe it, but something in my body has changed, and really, I'm not looking forward to the next four weeks if it's going to stay this way!

I made a genius move a couple of weeks ago... or more like three weeks ago, now, I fell and slid right into my stove. I managed to bruise my uterus, which in turn started some pretty seriously strong and regular contractions. I got to spend the day at the hospital, get another ultrasound, and basically just be monitored all day. By the time they FINALLY let me go I thought I was close to losing my mind. I had to get out of there!!! I was then put on bed rest for a bit, but I'm finally off that and just... ready to have this little boy. I think part of my impatience to have him is the weather. I, of course, want to meet him more than anything, but... I'm really looking forward to walking with him, just... being outside with him. 

I had a surprise baby shower last Sunday! That was awesome. Esther and Peggy threw it for me. I absolutely loved the decorations. 

We got most of what we needed, which was unexpected and awesome!!! My plans for tomorrow include writing out some thank you notes!

Alright. I'm gonna try this whole going to bed thing again!

Cha-cha changes!

More snow. I was checking out the snow totals yesterday for our area. We're just about twelve inches over what we normally get... and I'd say we've got at least another month of snow left. I noticed Boston as well. They've had 70.7 inches this winter, and the average total for them is 22.7. Ouch. I'm, at the moment, trying to decide whether or not to bring Adia into school this afternoon. Yes, it's only across the street, BUT the forecast is calling for more snow from 11am up until 8pm. Plus with the baby having dropped my balance and my walking abilities are greatly diminished.

Speaking of the baby I had my 32 week checkup last Thursday, and also my (hopefully) last ultrasound. My placenta moved up, which I figured it would, but the ultrasound tech seemed to think that the baby is breech (which my midwife and I completely disagree with). After doing all the necessaries the ultrasound tech asked if I minded if she "fooled around with 3-d". I was absolutely fine with that (who wouldn't be?!?!?!?!) and now we have a pretty good idea of what he's going to look like. He looks a lot like Adia, that's for sure. After the ultrasound we headed over to my midwife who immediately asked "Did he drop or is it my imagination?" I told her I had been thinking he dropped as well. I've never had such a text book pregnancy before. I do not remember having a hard time walking - heck, a hard time moving - after Adia dropped! I am quite enjoying the room to breathe though! I believe next visit I start seeing the midwife every week. They've had me do things a little differently, and kept a close eye on me with this pregnancy since I am considered high risk because of my first pregnancy. So far so good though. I don't think I'll end up delivering this one very early, if early at all. I also have a doula for this delivery! Yay, exciting!!! We decided on our birth plan, newborn care plan, and postpartum care plan this past Saturday. I had heard of the first two, but never the last one... I just figured the plan for postpartum was just SURVIVAL.

Dave is working. He was hired through a temp agency a couple of weeks ago to work at a company that manufactures and assembles valves. He gets about 55 - 60 hours a week, which is great. Adia is having an extremely hard time getting used to him being gone, but... not to sound callous, she will have to adjust. And on that note, I'd say it's time to wake her up for the day.

Snow Day!

We had a nice little snowstorm today. Adia's school got out early, so she stayed home with us today. Around noon Dave went outside to check out the situation and decided it was safe enough to go grocery shopping. It was quite the interesting trip. Living in New England, you'd think people would be used to this kind of weather, but there were people riding their e-brakes, speeding (?), and just generally being kinda foolish. But on the bright side, Adia was quite well behaved in the store.

I am in my 30th week of pregnancy right now. I cannot believe in just ten more weeks I'll be holding a little baby boy. I keep wondering if I'm ready to do this again, but I'm sure that is something every mother feels, whether its her first, her third, or her seventh. (Good Lord, I could not imagine having seven children... or could I?) We are getting tons of hand me down clothes for the baby. All beautiful and in great condition! There are some things we need, still, but I'm sure we'll get them all in time. I have my (hopefully!) last ultrasound in a couple weeks. At that time they are going to check if my placenta is still really low and I believe at that time decide if I can do a normal vaginal delivery. I'm hoping I can!!! I'm determined to do this birth the way I think it should be done! I was unable to with my other two, so I'm hoping with this one it works out. At my last midwife appointment we talked about the birth - I am going to use a doula, so that I can stay home as long as possible, and then I hope to labor and give birth using a tub. I'm about 99% sure that we will not be circumcising him, and we will not be giving him any vaccinations at birth. I am more and more falling in love with my midwife. She even gave me info to find a pediatrician who does not push vaccinations. I understand its their jobs to offer them, but I hate being told I'm irresponsible for not vaccinating. Anyway... I do know that I need to start preparing for the baby. Pack a bag, etc.

Our three kittens are now litter box trained. We are giving away two of them right now, the girl, Nod, and one of the boys, Blinkin'. We are keeping Winkin' because he is handicapped. And eventually we will be giving away Leela, the mommy. It's hard, coz obviously we love them all, but four cats in our tiny apartment PLUS eventually a baby just doesn't work too well.

Alright. I must finish my jello and head to bed, coz this momma is tiiiiiiired.

Beginning :)

Happy New Year!!! 

Dave, Adia and I spent our New Years Eve at a friends place, eating tons of good food (chips, taco dip, sweet and sour kielbasa (my favorite), Special Snack - which looks to be just saltines and chocolate! - and a chocolate and vanilla pudding.) playing Wii Pictionary and Family Feud and just generally having an amazing time.
Adia, for the first time, saw the ball drop and gave her Daddy a kiss on the cheek to celebrate. 

We have been working this week on moving our bedrooms around, slowly getting ready for our sons appearance. Adia has her own bedroom now, which is a HUGE deal for us all. I've shared sleep with her since the day she was born! She is very excited though. We've spent the last few days decorating her room, which will be very "her". I will post pictures once everything is settled. My husband and I (and eventually the baby) are taking my old craft room as a bedroom, and then the room that we all sleep in now will be a playroom for the children, and a craft room for me. I'm also taking the opportunity to redo my kitchen and HOPEFULLY even paint. I've been planning on painting my kitchen for the last three years - I even have all the paint - but it just hasn't gotten done yet. Hopefully before little man makes his appearance. But I'm not going to hold my breath - partly because being in the third trimester I definitely have diminished lung capacity.

Our kittens are doing great. Nod (our only female kitten), at the moment, is cuddled right up next to Dave, Blinkin' is attacking Dave's feet, and Winkin', our handicapped kitten who was born with FCK syndrome is sleeping quite soundly. We were really worried about Winkin' for a while. Around Christmas he was sleeping all the time, while his siblings were out playing, fighting, and nursing Leela (momma cat), and we noticed Leela refused to let him eat very much. She would give him food, but just enough to survive. It was really hard to watch, and we just weren't sure what we should do about it. We got in touch with a some people who were going to help us out, with research, etc. but by the day after Christmas Winkin' was doing much better. We've even begun to notice his chest is rounding out, and he is insanely rambunctious now. He is quite the fighter. He pulled through that all on his own. It was awesome to see.

I hope everyone has a great year!