Max's Birth Story

Okay, finally getting around to this almost 2 months later.
I was scheduled to go in for an induction on the 31st of January. I got a phone call to come in on the 3oth in the evening for my first round of "the gel". Basically it makes everything soft and is suppose to get things moving along. We got to the hospital around 4 p.m. I got my first gel around 7 or 8 p.m. I felt some slight movement but no labor pains. Tim stayed with me till around 2 a.m. then went home and they we were told that I was going to get another round of gel the next morning around 7 a.m.


The next morning we move rooms. I go downstairs to the delivery suite and get my second round of "the gel". (I got one of the 2 rooms that had a window which was kinda nice.) I was then told to walk around, sit on the exercise ball, walk some more....basically keep moving to get things moving. The second round of gel made some very mild contractions come along. I was on all the monitor and Max was fine.

Around 2:30 p.m. my doctor came in and checked me and basically I was a little softer but that was about it. She said that it was time to start the real drugs. I was then given the poticin (spelling) and then they broke my water. Let me just tell you that when they broke me my water is one of the most painful things I have had happen to me. Then I remember people telling me that when they break your water or when your water breaks it is just one big gush and it feels like you are peeing yourself. Well that is all true, but for me every time I moved more "water" came out. I was gushing water for hours. It was very annoying. The poticin was being doubled every hour starting at 4 mg. So the 2nd hour it went to 8 mg, then 16 mg, etc. At 6:30 p.m. I was checked to see if I was dilated at all. I was about 1 cm. It was slightly disappointing. I thought I would have been farther along with the amount of pain that I was in.

At this point when they checked me they thought that either cord was in the way or they didn't break all of my waters. The midwife (the 2nd one of the day) went and got the doctor that was on the floor and had him come in for a quick feel. The midwife thought it was just another water membrane and he thought otherwise. My doctor, Debbie, was called at home and came in to check for herself. Once she got there, she did an ultrasound and found that it was not cord just another member that needed to be broken. So that is what she did. It didn't hurt as bad as the last time cause the real contractions were going on, which are no joke.
The contractions were coming hard and strong, like about 45 seconds to a minute apart and they hurt REALLY BAD!! They offered to do my epidural but I said no, I wanted to wait until I was in active labor (which is 4+ cm). Debbie said that if I was in that much pain that I didn't need to be brave and just get the epidural. It would make me more comfortable. I agreed but they had the find the ansegiologist. At this point it was around 7 p.m. I was offered "the gas". It is a pain reliever as well as to help control your breathing. It worked great the first few times, it helped as a distraction from the contractions but again, only for a short while. It basically made you feel drunk, which was pretty nice. :-)

After a short while the contractions were getting stronger and I really wanted my epidural. The poitcin makes the contractions harder than normal labor, or as least that is what they told me. I had to wait a hour for my epidural but my midwife was great. She had everything all set up so when he got there all it had to do was put in the giant needle, which I didn't see (Tim told me), and give me my drugs. I had a boost button as well, so when I started to feel more than normal pain I just hit the boost button and 10 minutes later I didn't feel much. It was great. I could have kissed that man.

So now we wait and hope I progress. It was at this point that Tim told me that I could have my name of Maximus. I told Tim in the mist of labor that I was going to get it whether he liked it or not. But it was nice to know that he liked the name as well. I was slightly worried that the name wasn't going to fit him or he didn't look like a Maximus. I didn't share this with him at the time.

At 11:30 p.m. my doctor came back and checked me to see if there was any progression from the 1 cm that I was several hours ago. I was a huge 2 cm. It was at this point that Debbie said that it didn't look like I was going to make much more progress and that we could either wait a little longer to see if I was going to progress or we can just go ahead with the C-section. Tim and I talked about it briefly and opted for the C-section. I had had enough of this and was ready for it all to be over.

Shortly after I was wheeled down the theater (operating room). Tim came in shortly after and they started. About 10 minutes after they started Maximus Angelo was born. He was born at 1:13 a.m. I didn't do well with the ansestic but was okay enough to see Max and when I saw him he looked like a Max, no doubt about it. Tim was banking that Max was going to be over 9 lbs. Max was 8 lb. 15 1/2 oz. He was a half ounce off of 9 lb. Tim thinks that if Max didn't pee right after he came out that he would have broke the 9 lb marker.

Once Max was out then came the fun part for me. I was throwing up, shaking, and over all slipping in and out of consciousness. I wasn't great with the ansetic because I had so much over the last few hours. But after it was all said and done it was all great. I was then wheeled to recovery where I would stay for way longer than what I wanted to.

Tim went home around 4 a.m. and returned the next day with my parents who flew in that morning and were picked up by our very good friends Chris and Ed. Thanks guys!

Life has officially changed forever. Nothing is the same. Everything takes longer and more planning than I ever thought. But it is all for the good. Love you Max.

September begins

So September begins and to me that means the holiday season is upon us which = NEW BABY! We are ahead of schedule when our stuff, at least I think so. We have the crib and the rocker and the car seats with the stroller accessories are on the way courtesy of Mom and Dad, thanks you guys. You're the BEST! So now I'm missing the stroller, which my FIL is buying, and the dressers for his clothes. They are on the way and fingers crossed that they get here soon. We are not setting up the nursery as we think we are going to be moving anyways right after I have my 6 week appointment. Where are we moving? Some where in Europe is all they have told us. But of course they want us to move right after I have the baby which I can't do because I need to go to a 6 week check-up and the baby is going to need a passport which can take up to month even if we do the really fast way. We'll see what happens.

If you also have noticed I'm still calling my son (it sounds so weird to be saying that) the baby. We still don't have a name yet. I'm hoping that Tim will give me my name. I have put a deadline on him of October 1st to chose a name. I hate calling him 'Him' all the time. Someone else also said that I should wait till he is born to name him cause he may not look like a (insert name). I guess we'll figure it out soon enough. We do have till December but that will be fast approaching as well.

I never thought I would say this but I'm happy for my new maternity clothes to be coming in. I don't have much in the way of summer wear but it is getting chiller here and the one pair of jeans isn't going to cut is for much longer and well I'm in need of some tops as well and a coat/jacket. I have it all coming but the mail is so SLOW right now. I'm waiting on a bunch of stuff now from like 5 different stores, it's crazy. Trying to get the Christmas shopping done now so I don't have to worry about it.

I have almost finished all of my unfinished projects. They are slowly coming along. I'm in the process of making a diaper bag for a friend who is having a baby any day now. She is due at the end of the month but probably not going to make it to her moved up scheduled induction. So I'm pressed for time.

That's about all for now, nothing else to really report. Sleeping is becoming a real challenge. I get up at least twice to pee and my stomach is starting to get in the way. Like I hit it with the frig door when I close it, or I can't put my water bottle between my legs because then I can't drive. Fun stuff like that. Sorry again, no belly shots. Tim is suppose to take pictures of me soon for his portfolio so I might post some of those. I feel as big as a house and I have the belly of fire from my stretch marks and yes I'm doing the lotion thing but I have a very strong feeling that this kid is going to be HUGE! They normally say your kid will be the average of what you and your husband were. Well I was 9 lb. 11 oz. and Tim was 9 lb. 2 oz. So that being said.....you do the math.

Okay, that's it, I'm out.

It's A Boy!!!

So it is official, we are having a boy. Tim is very excited and hasn't stopped smiling since we came home from the doctor's yesterday. I was laying there on the table and the doctor said, "Do we want to know the sex?" Almost at the same time Tim and I said yes. He said well it looks like a boy. I thought Tim was going to start doing cartwheels around the room, even as small as it was, he was so excited.

This is the first grandchild on my side and it is the first boy on his side, the 5th grandchild there. So the family name is safe as far as last names are concerned. Now comes the fun part of the name debate. I really LOVE one name and there are a few that I just like. My name is Maddox, we could call him Max for short cause I know that is coming too. The middle name no matter what is going to be Angelo which is also Tim's middle name and his father's first name. Other names that I just like are Dereck and Alex, and that is pretty much it. Some of those baby name websites want you to commit suicide looking at all the 10,000 ways to spell a 3 letter name.

Anyways, that's about all. So start buying blue. I have a theme picked out and it is going to be puppies. JCPenny has a puppy nursery set that I think I'm going to get, I love it! We are going to get the crib next weekend along with the changing table and dresser to match, oh and the glider chair as well.

The baby is healthy with a big head but everything looks good. His heart rate is 130s-150s from what we hear. My blood pressure is normal as is my sugar so good news all around. Other than that nothing new to report.

So I forgot

I know today is the first day of my "A Week in the Life" project but I forgot to get the camera ready this morning so I'm thinking about putting it off another week but now I'm trying to reconsider. I'm really behind on all of my other projects that I want to finish here soon and well I don't think I'm going to have time to do it this week. I am, however, going to have Tim bring the camera to the ultrasound so that we can have some pictures because I have a few layout ideas about how to document this.

I was actually thinking about starting the baby's book. Ya know, nothing to fancy cause well I'm not a fancy person. Just the pregnancy story, a layout of how I'm NOT doing belly shots (sorry everyone), and the one of the baby's sex and maybe one getting ready for their arrival. I'm thinking about doing one for the possible names that I have/had picked out. Maybe I'll do that today when I go to work seeing as I don't have any tests to give.

Anyways, things are starting to come together. My house is fairly clean, I have gone through a few things that I'm donating and throwing away. I just have to much stuff now a day. Still doing my best to sticking with my Word of the year, SIMPLIFY. I think I have been pretty true to it so far. Okay, gotta run, have to load the car up with recyclables cause our recycle guys don't take plastic....yeah I know, we said the same thing.

I think It's about time

...to do the Week In the Life of Project again. I know that I said that I wasn't going to start any new projects until I finished the old ones but who are you kidding.

Last year I did it around the end of October till the beginning of November. I have all but finished 2 pages on that project so I think I will be doing that that weekend. The finishing touches are always what takes the longest. I think I'm going to use the same album as last year and just put year divider in it. I mean the album is no where near being full.

I also wanted to do this project next week because next Saturday we find out if we are having a boy or a girl. I have my guess but I think I'm wrong, I'm 0 for 2 on guessing this baby thing and the magic 8 ball has denied my question twice so now I just figured I would wait for the ultrasound.

Until then...

Hello.....anyone still out there??

Okay so I had a month or more of house guests and other social obligations and as you can see my blog was the one that took the brunt of the neglect, my email has as well. So what's been going on. I'll try to recap...

On being pregnant.....I hate it! I'm only 4 1/2 months and I think I look like I'm about 8 months pregnant. I'm sure not everyone feels that way but that is the way I feel. Nothing fits, again, I'm hot all the time, and I currently have a cold that I can't just seem to kick the cough part, which is the worst part. I miss my drugs. My face continues to break out as do other parts of my body (sorry for the TMI) and recently Tim has told me that I have started to snore....BADLY! He said that I'm snoring so bad that I have to go and get the breath right strips so that it would reduce it. He also said that when he rolled me over that the snoring got worse. Also my boobs have gotten bigger, which if you have big boobs to begin with this is already a bad thing. So now they are pulling on my neck. I get lots of pain right between my shoulder blades. So I can only sit and/or stand for so long before my shoulders and my feet start to hurt. What is even sadder is that I'm only 4 1/2 months pregnant. I'm just barely half way there. This sucks....bring on Christmas.

On my many house guests.....We had friends that came down from Lakenheath for the 4th of July weekend. It was really nice to have them here, they will be moving here later this week....I'm so excited for that I can't wait. I'm hoping that they like the house that is just in the next village, only 5 minutes drive from here. Very exciting as well. My parents were here for about 2 weeks as well. Mom, Dad, and I went to Ireland for a few days, it was really nice. We went to Galway on the west cost of Ireland. It was really relaxing kind of break. We mostly shopped and walked along the beach. The weather was good as well. We came home and that then we had RIAT or Royal International Air Tattoo. It is the largest military air show in the world held at our tiny little base. Tim took lots of pictures and the weather even held out for us. My father cooked for everyone so the burgers weren't over done and the chicken wasn't under done. It was fun. Mom and I went out and did some baby shopping. Mostly got clothes for me because I don't have anything. The clothes are nice, to me most of them look like tents on me but again, I'm not liking being pregnant so whatever at this point. At least now I have different options to wear besides Tim's old black t-shirts. We more or less hung out the rest of the time they were here. Dad left earlier than Mom so it was sad to see him go. While Mom relaxing she registered me for baby stuff online. I'm registered at Babies-R-Us. I don't think I'm going to have a baby shower at least not one in person. No one is here for me. I don't have many friends here and the friends that I do have already have stuff picked out for me. I'll probably do a virtual shower or something. I'm not going to open much of anything once I get it anyways as we don't think we are going to be here for very much longer and if we are we won't be here long after the baby is born. Timing is everything isn't it and well ours isn't great. But I'm not upset anymore, just a little stressed, the unknown always does that to me. Back to my house guests. Mom left on Saturday, it was nice to have her here. I didn't have to do anything. If I wanted it she made it for me. All my laundry is washed and folded, now I just need to put it all away (still working on that Mom, haha). That's about it for that.

On reading....I finished the whole Twilight Saga and I totally loved it!! I'm not as excited for the movie(s) but we'll have to see. I have the first one and I was waiting until I finished all the books before I watched it. It is a blue-ray and well currently my PS3 is on it's way back from being fixed so when it gets here I'll finally watch it along with several others that we borrowed from someone that Tim works with. Not sure what I'm going to read next. I mean I read all 4 books in about 3 weeks. I'm sure I'll find something in my collection to pick up.

On all things crafty.....I have been seriously slacking in all things creative. I have been either to tired or to busy. Yesterday I finally sat down and did some stuff. I would like to have all of my unfinished project finished by the end of August and if you know me that's a pretty tall order. But I think I can do it if I just do a little at a time. I mean it isn't like there is anything on TV these days. Sometimes I wonder why we even have cable.

Well that is all for now. I'll update again here shortly with pictures from my parents' visit and air show pictures, etc. My next doctor's appointment is on 15 August and that is when we find out what we're having so I'll be sure to let you all know in a very timely manner. Until then....

Playing Catch-up

Okay, so I'm a bit behind, but at the same time I didn't want all of my posts to be about my pregnancy, and well I have been really lazy and tired all at the same time. Here is the first picture of our baby. There is only one, secretly I was hoping for 2 so I could get just get this all over with, but anyways. As of now I'm in my 11th week. Tim and I were about right when we thought we conceived. That sounds like such a dirty word at times. Our due date moved from Dec. 28 to the 26th. This should be interesting I guess. Whatever, as long as baby is healthy. We go back for another scan on the 13th of June and see the Dr. (Mr.) on 16 June. The scan on 13 June is for abnormalities and I have to get blood drawn either this week or next week for the Down's testing.

As far as other things pregnancy related I feel very fat. Yes I know that everyone is different, but I'm hoping this will all kinda taper out here as far as weight gain is concerned. I'm hoping that I just gain it all in the beginning and then the baby will just take the rest of it, what do you think? I don't think I have gained any weight, I just feel like I have. Nothing fits, stuff is to tight, and I don't feel comfortable in my own skin. I have also decided to boycott underwear. You heard me, I'm boycotting. I hate them. Now here is where I think you are going to get some TMI so if you don't want it, skip down below to the next picture. I'm a thong wearer. I became one several years ago and I love them. I like the mostly because I'm a butt sweater and I hate when I sweat then sit down and feel like I'm sitting in a puddle. Well now my thongs don't fit me, well most don't. My friend Chris told me about pregnancy thongs but again I have been too lazy and tired to search for any. So I need to get off my ass and get some stuff before I drive everyone around me insane. Honestly, I would love just to walk around in my basketball shorts and an old T-shirt for the next 6 months or so but I'm not sure that is possible. I have to look presentable at some point don't I. Okay, enough pregnancy stuff.

Below is my first gift. It is a handmade from one of our British friend's moms. She is really nice. We brought her some bread back from Scotland when we went up there last month. She said that she made it in one night. Pretty good if you ask me. Oh yeah, it is a shawl, forgot to mention that. It's really pretty though.

Other happenings: We are going to have a very busy summer. I think I only have 1 free weekend until August. Here, I'll run through our summer, for the most part.

June 5-7: Old Neighbors (Drew, Shelley, Lily, and Martha) come for visit

June 13: Scan in Oxford = most of the day gone.

June 14: Pictures at a dog show, we're taking the pictures

June 20-21: Free weekend, spring/summer cleaning

June 27: Wales to Bookstore town, maybe

July 4: Someone will have a BBQ

July 11-25: Mom and Dad here

July 17-19: RIAT (Royal International Air Tattoo)-largest military airshow in the world held at RAF Fairford.

July 25: Wedding, taking pictures again

August 1: Scan in Oxford, sex of the baby scan

So, there's my summer, for the most part. I might be helping a friend but I'm not going to say who or what we will be doing just in case it fall through but if it doesn't, life is going to get a lot nicer and I think some what easier. SUPER EXCITED, but not to excited, just in case.

We had a nice weekend as well. We had people over on Saturday for our Italian theme BBQ. There was really nothing to cook on the grill except hot dogs and some chicken. But I made lasagna, stuff shells, green beans with shittake mushrooms, regular salad, tiramusu, rice crispy treats, and peanut butter fingers. I was done but the day's end, which is why yesterday was so nice. The other major thing we did was walk the dogs for 2 hours. Puppy got to swim which was nice because it was hot here and he doesn't get his hair cut until Thursday of this week. Well hot for us, it was about 75 or so. We had to get the fan out last night and leave the windows open. It was really nice. I think we are going to get a summer this year. Super excited about that too.

Okay, that's enough of an update. Can't think of anything else. If something new arises then I'll post again. I think Transformers comes our 19 June but not sure. Will do a movie review on that when we go and see it.

Today is June 1st, I think summer has arrived....YEAH!!!!

I Could Literally....

...fall asleep at the drop of a hat and kill everyone that says "..when I was pregnant..". I'm not liking be pregnant, at least not at this moment. Everyone and I mean EVERYONE says

"...it's getting better, I loved being pregnant..."
or
"...it's NOT going to get any better and you are going to be tired for the next 5 years..." then laugh at me.

I hate you people that say that to me, a first time mom! Thanks!

I'm not looking for advice. I just want you to feel bad for me. Say, "oh Andi, I'm sorry, you should go and rest, take a nap, is there anything else that I can do to help you or make you feel better?"

I kinda feel like I'm planning a wedding. Go with me on this one. If you are already married and you have a friend that is getting married and is planning a big kinda wedding you feel the need to put in your two cents. (I have done this.) You hear a lot of "...when I got married we did...." or "...we didn't do that, we did this and it worked pretty well..." or "...no that's not going to work like that, you should do it like this..." or "...on your wedding day you are going to feel ___..."

When I realized I was doing this I stopped because I didn't want to be that person. I didn't really have anyone doing that to me because I was pretty much the first one to get married out of my friends. Looking back, I wish more of my friends had gotten married with me or before me so I could steal ideas from their wedding. But I enjoyed my wedding and whatever.

My point is, being pregnant is kinda the same thing, except this time I'm on the other end of it all. I'm one of the last ones to have a child so EVERYONE has advice for me.

"When I was pregnant.... and when I was pregnant....and when I was pregnant." or "...you should try this..." or "...you are going to fee like this..." and ..."when I was pregnant..." I'm sooooo over hearing phrases like those listed above. Let me have my own experience and stop telling me how is it is going to be because from what I hear, they are ALL different. If I want advice, believe me I'll ask then you can tell me "...when I was pregnant" and I probably won't get as annoyed with you because I asked for it.

This sucks, I'm tired, I'm REALLY cranky (if you couldn't tell), and I have to go to work and sit there and look like I'm doing something when really I have nothing to do.

Right now it is 8:05 a.m., I got up at 6:45 a.m., ate some breakfast, drank a small cup of coffee, and now I could go back to bed for a morning nap.

Okay, I have ranted on long enough, don't really want to piss anyone off, but at this point, I'm really too tired to care but sorry if I did and if you have done this to me please don't be mad at me, it is just that you and EVERYONE (mostly the women on base who don't read this blog) else has told me the same thing now for the last 3 weeks and I have just had it. I apologize in advance :-)

First Doctor's Appointment

Yesterday was my first doctor's appointment for the baby. He really didn't do much with me besides talk. We talked about the different types of blood tests that they would be running and about how far along I am (I think about about 8 weeks???). He gave me all of his phone numbers so if I even have the stupidest of questions I can call and ask. He said there is no stupid question. My biggest concern is with my weight and my asthma, mostly the asthma during labor but that is a ways away so I guess we'll cross that bridge when the time comes. He told me that I can pretty much eat what I want, in moderation of course and stay away from raw foods such as meats, eggs, and fish. I can eat them all, they all just have to be cooked, which of course I knew.

He also said not to expect the baby too soon and don't have a "we have to have the baby on this day" kinda thing and I can understand that. He was more or less talking about being early, if anything, I want to be late. We would like this kid to be born as far after Christmas as possible. Of course if he/she comes early we will be okay with that but again, if we have a preference I'll take a later date. I say that now but I'm sure when I'm waddling with swollen feet and back pain I'll say differently, but for now, that is what I'm saying.

The doctor told me that my uterus is to small to hear the heart rate, he said maybe next time. Right now it is only the size of an orange and when I go next time it should be the size of a grapefruit. So no heart rate this time. My blood pressure was low, as usual, it was 100/50 or there abouts which is my normal. I then went and peed in a cup and went home.

A couple of things that I found different from what I'm use to in the states. First my doctor is a Mr. In England apparently doctors can be both Mr. and Dr. Mine is a Mr. I still call him Dr. but on his card and when we made the appointment he was a Mr. Second, I get to keep my medical records and have to bring them back each time. I found this weird as most doctor's offices make you leave them. Last, when I go back next time I'm going to get my own cup to pee in and I'm to bring this back every time I go. So basically, I'll pee in the cup, he'll look at and run whatever tests if there is one, he'll dump it out in the sink, rinse it out and hand it back to me to bring back next time. Strange I thought but that is what they do here.

Other than that nothing else to really report. We are both excited. I still don't feel pregnant, some people that I talk to say you'll blink and he/she will be here. I'm sure that is how it will go for me. I'm trying to write everything down as it happens so when it is time and the energy to scrapbook all of this I know what I was feeling at the time. Right now it is mostly being very tired, nauseous in the afternoon, excited, tired, scared, and having a few "oh shit, we are really doing this" days. Yes in the end I know it will all be worth it.

Tim and I were trying to work out the time line for the next one. Yes I know the first one isn't here yet but ideally we would like both kids (we always talked about having 2) in school by the time he retires at 20 years. I think if we do what we talked about that will just about happen, but it will be a lot of work, but what isn't these days.

I'm still not sure what I'm going to do about work, everyone keeps asking me and I don't really have a definite answer for them. I don't want to put them (baby) in the CDC (day care on base) because they suck and everyone said to stay home the first year but I'm going to need something maybe once a week to do on my own with no kids, no husband, just for me that requires me to leave the house. I would like to work from home but I have to find something. I guess it is time to start digging around. I'm pretty decent on the computer, might even consider going back to school, for free this time though. There is a new program out for spouses where I can get $6K and find a portable career. I need to do some more research on it though. In the meantime, my contract with the base is up on 1 October so I'll decide then I guess.

Okay, I think I poured my heart out enough or at least you know what is going on. I'll let you know when the next appointment is and will post pictures of the ultrasound if I get any. From what I have seen it is looks like a big gray spot on a lighter gray screen. Should be interesting...stay tuned.

We're Expecting

Yup, we're expecting. Due December 28, as of now anyways. We went to the doctor on base and got our referral to Oxford. We will be having this baby there as it is easier than driving to Lakenheath for every appointment and we don't have to go up 2 weeks before the due date to have the baby up at their hospital, so that is nice.

Currently, food doesn't like me or I don't like it. I do okay for a few hours in the morning and then I just want to throw up, but don't. I think I would feel better if I could just get it out of my system but apparently my body as another agenda. I constantly feel nauseous and my stomach is flip flopping all the time. I know it is only temporary but it still doesn't feel good. I do better when I can just lay there like a lump. I'm doing the cracker thing with ginger ale and that seems to help. Not sure how much eating I'm going to be doing here in the near future.

The prenatal vitamins also don't agree with me. I have to take them as I'm going to sleep and it isn't like that is helping because I'm already waking up in the middle of the night for no reason. One top of that I'm waking up before my alarm. Yesterday at 5 a.m. it was like BING! wide awake.

That's all for now. First doctor's appointment with my OB is on May 14 and we'll see if the due date is correct. I'm about 6-7 weeks, not really sure, we'll find out soon enough I guess.