The day Jorran arrived

The later weeks of the third trimester of pregnancies can be so torturous on the soon-to-be-mommy and it can sometimes make her feel like she doesn't want to go through it again.  It can also bring someone to desperate measures.

At my 37th week of pregnancy and trying to mimic the same activities I had with my first born who was born at 37 weeks, I was quite disappointed when I had no signs of progression from my stubborn fetus at my doctor's appointment.  After emotional week 37 had come and gone, I started to look at the brighter side of things... I still have freedom to go do errands and hang out with my friends.  It was nice not having to be stressed with, "Is he finally going to come out today?"  "Will I finally be able to feel comfortable sleeping again?"  "Will I be able to not struggle doing daily tasks like showering and putting on my clothes?"  It was tough.  Then came week 39.

Of course, like other appointments, I told the doctor I hadn't had any real contractions, just practice ones at night.  And just like previous weeks, the doctor told me I had no change- fingertip, 50%, -3.    That day I wanted to try some other things.  My friend told me she took 1/2 tsp castor oil before going to bed and woke in the middle of the night with contractions.  I put that on my list for that evening.  Exercise was nothing that was foreign to me since I'd been doing that pre-pregnancy, but I wanted to put that "extra" effort today.  I walked  2.13 miles pushing a stroller in the rain and did a little circuit exercise routine made up for our missed Stroller Strides class that evening.  It included the following (3 sets):

25 tricep dips
25 squats
25 calf raises
25 crunches
25 mountain climbers

Of course I modified the crunches but gave my all on every exercise.  I even made sure I had a little pressure point massaging that day- couldn't hurt!  Sometime after midnight (after taking the castor oil around 10PM before heading to bed) I woke up having to go to the bathroom really bad and felt my bed wet already.  Embarassed not being able to make it to the bathroom in time, I wrung out my undies (TMI but hey, there's no modesty in pregnancy/delivering a baby) and sat on the toilet.  I wiped to find bloody show.  I also started to have bowel pains (as I expected with taking castor oil) so I was so happy that maybe I'm finally progressing.  After cleaning up and then deciding to time my "bowel pains" for an hour, I came to the realization that it was not bowel pains but contractions that were lasting only about 1 minute and 3-5 minutes apart.  I also decided to take my amniotest (I've got the hook up at the hospital).to find out if my water had actually broken (it didn't feel quite the same as it did with my previous pregnancy).  After seeing the dark blue swab, I was relieved to finally be in active labor!

I didn't go into the hospital until about 6 hours after the whole ordeal started.  Since I was contracting, I didn't require any additional meds.  I started out at 3cm, 80%, -3 at admission, 5cm, 80-90%, -2 around at 8AM, 5cm, 80%, and engaged at 915AM.  Although I wasn't ready for the epidural (painful but somewhat tolerable), the doctor suggested I get my epidural.  After getting the epidural at around 1030AM, I was dilated at 8cm at around 1130AM.  I was getting so excited thinking my boy was going to be here in a few hours.  Unfortunately, the epidural seemed to slow down my contractions because they started to get further apart and I was getting extra sleepy.  They finally gave me pictocin after no progression at around 430PM and nausea set in.  The epidural seemed to be wearing off in certain spots even after the boosts and the pictocin seemed to make my contractions SUPER intense.  Finally at around 600PM the nurse checked me and I was 9cm, 100%.  The nurse tested my pushing and said it was pretty strong so it was go time.  I froze. My emotions were high.  I started tearing up.  I wasn't sure I could do it.  After 5-8 minutes, 2 contractions, 6 hard pushes later, I found my lovely 8lb. 7oz., 21in. baby boy on my chest.  What a wonderful feeling.  Joy overwhelmed me once again.  Its crazy how the world just fades away and all I could think of was how in love I was with my new baby son, Jorran.

Life is good.

Five more weeks!

So it's coming down to the wire.  5 more weeks and this little boy should be ready to join us in the real world.  Everything is falling into place and I am feeling more and more comfortable with the thought that our second son will be joining us soon.  The nursery is ready with all my elephant decor and linens/clothes have been washed ready for some spit-up and poop to get it all dirty.  We are all getting excited about the arrival and getting prepared for Plan A, B, and C!

I have been preparing Julian a bit by looking at pictures/videos of when he was a baby.   I have been getting nostalgic watching all the baby videos of Julian and am hoping that the transition from one child to two won't be as difficult as I am making it.  But Julian seems to be getting so excited to meet his baby brother.  We even went to "Build-A-Bear" to build a bear for his baby brother.  He named him Fudgey Bear because he is dark like his fudge snack packs.  How clever!

I have been getting bit picture crazy lately as well.  On my tabFoto page, I posted a few of my photos I took from my maternity shoots I did on my own.  I even have been doing compare/contrast of photos from when I was pregnant with Julian to the current pregnancy.  I was hoping to see some differences (like hoping I am not as huge as I was before)!  I definitely am feeling more aches, stretching skin and pressure than before.  But I have to remember that it will be all worth it in the end.

So here is to the next 5 weeks.  I hope our healthy boy continues to grown inside of me until he is ready to make his grand entrance and I am looking forward to the day I can finally hold him in my arms (as opposed to kicking, elbowing, and pushing my insides around!).

The Best of the Last

So you've heard that people say that your 1st and 3rd trimester are not the best months of your pregnancy because of the exhaustion, nausea and being uncomfortable.   Well I am down to my last week of the "babymoon" 2nd trimester and oddly, I am already feeling the tiredness and exhaustion.   Being uncomfortable is definitely seen at night when its time to sleep.  How did I ever get comfortable my first pregnancy?  My body parts are stretching and aching and I can feel out of breath much easier than usual.  Although I try to keep up with my weekly exercise with my Stroller Strides group, sometimes I just go to hang out because I'm too tired (aka lazy) to do anything.  I need to find more motivation.

Our nursery is yet to be a nursery.  We have our crib and changing table, bed sheets and blankets, but I have yet to start.  Isn't it funny how with your first born, you are ahead of the game and gung-ho with preparing but this time around... I feel like a slacker.  Don't get me wrong, this baby, (which is another boy however unnamed at the moment) was much desired.  After trying for over a year and having a miscarriage, we've definitely tried for this baby.  But for some reason, the extreme thrill is gone.  Is it because we've done this already?  Is it because we kind of know what to expect?  In all honesty, I feel like I need a refresher course.  Little bits and pieces of Julian being a newborn come back to me... the restless nights, the round-the-clock feedings, but most importantly, the warmth of having a newborn in your arms.  Julian just turned 4 years old and he is "almost" self-sufficient.  He still likes to be babied.  But it's back to square one- this little thing will depend on me for everything.  Luckily, he has a wonderful daddy and a smart older brother to help us out a little.  

Oh boy, here we go again.  Bring on the last 13 more weeks!

Saying Goodbye

After being a homeowner in St. Cloud, FL for over 7 years, we finally got to say goodbye March 11, 2013.  I have to say, I loved my first house.  It had 4 bedrooms, a spacious living area, a large fenced in backyard, a nicely landscaped rocked flower bed, and some nice neighbors.  One of the best things is that I never felt unsafe.  It was the place Josh and I came home to after getting married.  It was Julian's home, where I decorated/painted a beautiful nursery.  It was the home we welcomed our out of town guests to come stay.  But unfortunately, the house became something we didn't want to put our hard earned money into.  Buying a house was suppose to be an investment.  Ownership was suppose to bring us a sense of accomplishment, maybe even a since of security.  The economy ruined all my hope of what I thought homeownership should be.  Yes, everyone was struggling.  Majority of the people I knew were upside down.  But not as upside down as us.  When we were paying well over double of what our house was worth, it discouraged us.  Why should we strive so hard for a house that is now becoming something I don't think is worth the pain and hassle anymore?  After several months of debate, we decided to begin the process of hoping to short sale our home and hire lawyers in November 2011.  Our house was up on the market in May 5, 2012.  We had several offers and luckily signed a contract with one before the end of the month. After months and months of hoping to hear that the bank accepted the offer and we would close soon on the house we will no longer be able to look after... nothing.  I have to tell you, there is a lot of paperwork, a lot of REPETITIOUS paperwork, that goes along with trying to short sale your home.  And boy am I glad we own a fax machine!  Finally on February 20th, 2013, the day I decided to turn off the electricity/water at our old house, we got an email stating the bank accepted the offer and we will be closing within a month~ with full waiver of deficiency!  I thanked God for this blessing that we had been waiting for so long.  And now the wait was over.  I will never forget all the memories we had in our home.  But it's time to make some new ones.