Sweet Child of Mine

The next morning we started out bright and early at 7AM with the Pitocin. Now things are really going to move along! Or so we thought. Midwife Sara Gorham is my primary physician although Dr "S" was the one who made the decision to induce me. Both stopped by on rounds to check up on me. All I can say is OUCH! As stated before, my cervix is really far back so it's hard to get to during the exam. The pain was excruciating. Way worse that any contractions I had been having or would have all day and according to the monitor I was having some big ones.

I'm still on the magnesium so I am feeling pretty good. I had a few more visitors during the day to encourage me along - Alina, Alicia, Christy, John and Jenifer Grant and GrandMother Doris. Even though the contraction monitor showed some high peaks and low valleys...I really couldn't feel anything. Lydia would come back in a regular intervals to check the print outs, take my temp and blood pressure and check for dilation.

Around about 2, Sara and Dr "S" stop back by to check progress. They had been in several times and we were having such problem checking dilation and I was in so much pain during the exam that Sara recommended that I get the epidural so she could examine me properly. I said OK. I still wanted to go as natural as possible but let's face it we don't always get what we want. Besides...it was the magnesium talking at this point and not me. You can ask Jamie...when things got down and dirty I went a little nutzo...I blame the drugs.

The guy comes in to administer the epidural. I am a little freaked out about the big needle going into my spine but I suck it up and solider on. That magnesium is good stuff...it didn't lower my blood pressure but it kept it from getting any higher. The guy is all business he's got ladies all up and down the hall he's got to numb up. Sit here, do this, breathe, don't breathe, tape this here and BAM! you've got a catheter in your spine and up your who-ha faster that you can say "Hey bud whatcha doing down there? Exit only please!" Cause, oh yeah, when you can't fell your lower body you can't work your bladder and when you're hooked up to the meds you can't leave the bed. This is what we call the cascade effect. One minute you are out in the rice patty and out flops your baby and the next minute you are trussed up like some weird science experiment. But it's OK cause that magnesium sure does feel good. AND I haven't even noticed that I haven't eaten all day!

So the Pitocin for all it's wonders only got me to 5cm. After the epidural It was much easier to check my progress but alas after 2 hours at 5cm Dr. "S" called for a C-Section, if we go now they can squeeze us in between scheduled c-sections for the day. How Nice. So here we are a totally non-natural child birth but in retrospect it was all for the best. At 4pm we began prepping for a c-section and everyone but Jamie is asked to wait out in the hall. As noted above I went a little loco and Jamie bless his heart tried his best to placate my demands to contact the prayer circle via email while simultaneously donning his surgery scrubs. I eventually relented once I saw (through my drug induced fog) that he was freaking out a little too and I was really asking too much of him at that moment. Poor guy.

4:15, I am transferred to a gurney to wheel me into surgery. Off down the hall I am whisked...waving to my adoring fans. Jamie is told to wait on a bench and they will call him when it's safe to come in to surgery. People begin to scrub up and I am wheeled into surgery. Drapes come up, instruments are counted and laid out. Step stools are placed into position... yes I said stools...but of the people who performed the operation were pretty short ladies. I am awake of course and the anesthesiologist ups my epidural to numb all feeling in my lower body. Wish that had worked ... while I did not feel any pain I definitely felt them pushing and pulling on my body as they worked to get the baby out. I swear I could feel the scalpel as it sliced my skin but in a sort of third person kind of way.

Jamie comes in and sits next to me. He's got his blue garb on and has the camera ready for the first pictures of our boy. The atmosphere in the room is lively. This is just another day for these people and so they are chatting away with each other. In a way it is comforting but in a way you wish they were a little more awe struck like you are. Dr "S" asks Jamie if he wants to see the baby being born and he stands up to peak over the drape. He said they slice open my uterus at that point and pulled out the baby. Liam was born at 4:29pm. He was huge. Everyone in the room placed bets on how big he was. I don't find out later just what a whopper he is but at 9 lbs 13 oz I am glad I didn't have to push him out of my va-jay-jay.

Jamie takes some pictures as he is transferred over to the bassinet. Liam pees on the nurse as she is receiving him from Dr. "S". They dry him off and he is crying. It's a nice loud cry. His lungs are clear of fluid. He is big and red and long. They wrap him up and put a little hat on his head and bring him over to see me. I give him a little kiss then they take him and Jamie to the recovery room to wait for me.

A Labor of Love

So about 5:30 pm we head out for the hospital...We don't need to be there till 7, but I'm taking no chances that we are going to hit traffic and be late. Mom followed behind us in her truck. We video taped a little and I made some phone calls and sent some text messages. It seemed like it was a long ride but luckily traffic was a breeze and we got there about 6:15. We parked...waited for mom to arrive...piddled about in the parking lot until 6:30 then went on inside.

Due to our hospital tour we knew just where to go and what to do. The hospital had changed slightly because of the renovation but everything was in the same place so we got checked in and shown to our room in record time. Our nurse Lydia, brought me a gown and all my hospital goodies (barf bowl, tissues, socks, etc). My gown was practically brand new, even Lydia commented on it.

I got changed and inspected all my amenities. I had a nice big bathroom and the room was pretty big too. It was a labor room so there was a lot of monitors and hospital equipment type stuff in there, a recliner and a couple of other chairs. Mom and Aunt Pam showed up soon after and nurse Lydia got me hooked up to all the monitors - one for the baby's heart beat and one for my contractions. At 7pm Lydia inserted the Cervodil a medication to thin my cervix and get me ready for induction in the morning. I was prepared for the Cervodil thanks to my cousin, Alina who had it during her last labor...it really does feel like sandpaper YIKES!

We spend the next few hours watching the monitors and gauging my contractions. Most of them I could not feel. Lydia and the night Nurse, Sue checked me periodically for temperature, blood pressure, etc. Jamie's Dad, Step-Mom and Grand Mother showed up and brought us some dinner. SUBWAY! Yippie! I haven't had a sandwich for months.

At some point the doctor comes around to check on me and perscribes some Magnesium to help lower my blood pressure to reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia. That is some good stuff let me tell you. It made me really loopy. I wasn't aware how loopy until I came down off the stuff two days later. Night slowly passed into day with several trips to the bathroom, readjustments of the monitor and little cat naps.

At last!

At our appointment today my blood pressure was up to 140/79. Too high. The doctor checked me and low and behold I am dilated 2cm. Hooray! That blood pressure thing put the Doctor on high alert and she scheduled an induction right then and there. So tonight at 7pm we are checking into the hospital to have a baby! Doctor "S" sent me home to rest up so that's what we are doing...counting down the minutes.

Stay tuned!

Home Stretch

Well here we are - just 5 days away from our due date of December 7th. "A date which will live in infamy."

Let's see, since our last post there have been 2 doctor visits. I will recap for you.

November 16th - No dilation, no effacement. I find out my cervix is WAY in the back and my doctor has tiny hands.

November 26th - No dilation, no effacement. I guess all that turkey I ate at Thanksgiving put my uterus to sleep. Again with the tiny hands.

Our next appointment is tomorrow December 4th.

Some things that have happened worthy of note:

Jamie's Dad and step-mother brought us a chest of drawers that is doubling as a changing table. We were very excited as this was the last piece of furniture needed to complete the nursery. I got all the 0-3 months clothes washed and put away in the drawers. Only had to re-arrange the
drawers twice to fit everything in. The closet is another matter. We have been blessed with an abundance of receiving blankets. Not only do we have several stacks of new blankets we also have blankets from when I was a baby and when Jamie was a baby AND a huge stack of hand-me downs from a good friend. It's a good thing it's winter time and that kids needs to be swaddled.

Jamie's Mom, step-father and step-brother came to visit for Thanksgiving. We had a great visit and they brought Liam some cute baby clothes and a CUTE harness thing you can put on the kid when you go out shopping (see photo above). I guess Jamie was a fast kid and his mom thought we could use the extra help.

We finally got the picture hung in the room and for all intents and purposes we are ready. I am sure we will do some re-arranging once we start using the room but right now I think we are all set. I still need to wash all the clothe diapers but I need to make sure he's gonna fit into them before I go to all the trouble.

Yesterday I decided I needed a mobile. I was going to make one but I couldn't figure out how to clamp it to the side of the bed. My creative juices have just not been flowing very freely since I got pregnant. So we headed over to the Baby's R Us. Do you know how expensive this things are? It's crazy. Luckily I found a cute one on sale in the correct colors. I don't recommend last minute impulse shopping when you are 39 weeks pregnant. If you don't find what you are looking for it's a HUGE disappointment and all you end up with is a backache and the sense you have damage your child beyond repair even before it's born.

Oh and our washer broke - luckily Santa sent us a new one. THANKS SANTA!

So here I sit...waiting...I know there are things I could do to speed up the process - Castor oil, spicy food, sex. But what if he's not 'ready'? I don't want to push the kid out before the timer has gone off and the bun is good and done.

Stepping Into Psycho

I am over it. What am I over...everything. I have reached the point now where I could give a crap about anything but having this baby. I'm big, hungry, sleepy and have indigestion. People need to just realize that nothing matters right now but me and my unborn child. Unfortunately every one has their own problems and concerns to deal with and I just can't expect everyone to cater to me. I get that but damn! Sometimes it is hard not to go ballistic on someone, especially at work.

Speaking of which a coworker sent me this funny story about another woman who wanted to be catered to. I gotta tell you sometimes i feel like the employee in this story and sometimes feel like the"jelly lady". WARNING - there are some curse words in this story.

this happened when i was a wee lad, around the age of 15-16 or so... but... this will be the story of how i got fired from my job at mcdonald's because of some raging wench...

now... some of you may know me to be rather blunt... an "asshole" if you will... so let me know if i'm out of line (i'm sure i am, i usually am...)

it was about 12 PM... 2 hours after breakfast has stopped being served for the day... a woman came through the drivethrough, and proceeded to order her food... (i don't remember what she ordered exactly or everything word for word, but i'll give examples that will be remotely similar, so that you get the idea...)



me: hello, welcome to mcdonald's, can i take your order?

woman: hi, i'll have 2 cheeseburgers, a diet coke, 2 hashbrowns, and a couple packs of jelly...

*woman instantly drives away from the window amidst a long line of cars while i try, helplessly, to inform her that breakfast is no longer being served...*

*she gets to the window after a few minutes of me handing food to the other cars and taking their money and relentlessly gouging out my eyes over the monotony of it all...*

me: i'm sorry, we are actually no longer serving food from the breakfast menu, can i get you something other than hashbrowns?

woman: no, i would like hashbrowns, i can pull forward and wait while they drop a few in the fryer, that's not a problem...

me: i'm sorry, but we can't serve items from the breakfast menu after 10PM...

woman: when did that start? i've never heard of mcdonald's not serving a customer food because it was the wrong time of day...

me: it's been that way since the first mcdonald's was built ma'am...

woman: *twitch* Ma'am?! how old do i look to you?!

me: ma'am, may i get you something other than hashbrowns?

woman: no! i want hashbrowns!

*meanwhile there is a long line of cars building ever further behind hers...*

me: we can't serve hashbrowns at this time of the day

woman: yes you can, just have them throw a few in the fryer and i will wait...

me: they don't have them out anymore, all of the breakfast food has been put back into the cooler... in the back... and we're busy, and i doubt anyone wants to walk into the back while we are all busy with what we are doing...

woman: *twitch* i'm trying to be polite... i just want hashbrowns... walk in the back and get a couple of hashbrowns and throw them in the fryer...

me: i'm sorry ma'am... but we aren't serving breakfast right now...

woman: what the fu*k... fine... god dam*it... *punches roof of her car and screams* give me 2 small fries instead then... but i was REALLY in the mood for some hashbrowns... this is ridiculous...

me: *annoyed and beginning to no doubt sound a bit condescending* thanks... but just so you realize, it would be cheaper to order a large fry instead of two small fries... and you would probably get more fries that way...

woman: are you telling me that i need more fries or that i need to save money?

me: no ma'am... i'm just trying to help you out a bit after we couldn't satisfy your craving for some hashbrowns...

woman: *twitch* get me... my... fucking food...

me: *punching buttons* ok, total comes to 5.49...

woman: *hands me 5.50* keep the penny

me: oh, thank you! *clutches penny*

woman: *twitch*

*hand the woman her food after about a minute or so of waiting, and she speeds off like the green light just lit on the tree*

me: *under breath* wow

*at the point, that same lady comes storming into the store, demanding to see me and a manager*

me: *sigh*

manager: yes ma'am? what is the problem?

enraged woman: i just came through the drivethrough and this little asshole *points at me with her witches glob of a finger* totally fucked up my order!

manager: i'm sorry ma'am, i'm sure we can correct that for you...

enraged woman: he fucking did it on purpose... i know it!

manager: i'm sure he didn't do it on purpose... tell me what the problem is, and i'll make sure it gets corrected...

*meanwhile i'm leaning against the counter now, just watching how this will unfold... no doubt with a smirk on my face, as i am entertained thinking how my manager is going to handle this woman...*

*woman start pulling the food out of her bag and sitting it on the counter for my manager to see...*

enraged woman: i ordered 2 cheeseburgers, a diet coke, 2 hashbrowns, and a couple packs of jelly... and that is not what i got... i have 2 small orders of french fries and NO JELLY!

*manager shoots me a puzzled look, and my face obviously gives him no assistance in the matter...*

manager: i'm sorry, we can not serve breakfast food after 10PM

me: *laugh quietly to myself*

enraged woman: *glares at me* he already told me that... and i'm fine with the god damned french fries... it's not what i fucking wanted, but it'll have to fucking do, since you won't fucking give me what the hell i really want... i should have just gone to burger king or somewhere that doesn't treat their customers like shit... and i will next time...

manager: ok, then what is the problem?

enraged woman: do you see any jelly in this bag?! i don't see any fucking jelly in this bag...

*i am hopelessly confused now, as i can't grasp what the hell she could need jelly for... cheeseburgers + jelly = gross... diet coke + jelly = makes no sense... hashbrowns + jelly = weird but understandable, but she doesn't have any hashbrowns, so mute point there... french fries + jelly = what?!
and to any of you non-americans reading this... jelly is jam... like the fruit spread that you put on toast or something similar and is generally referred to as a breakfast condiment here in the states...*

manager: *turns to me* can you get her some jelly...

me: odd, but sure...

woman: *twitch*

me: *look down under the counter in the other condiment bins such as ketchup packets, sweet and sour sauce, and barbecue for about 30 seconds... only to realize that we only have the jelly bin out for the breakfast menu, and then it goes back in the back in the cooler with the rest of the breakfast food... (think to myself, this is gonna go over well)

me: i'm sorry, but the jelly is part of the breakfast menu, and it doesn't look like we have it out anymore... it's probably back in the cooler with the rest of the breakfast food...

woman: *totally snaps* a jingle fuck... simon teller jackrabbit... sip on milk, tiny tim asshole... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

me: */boggle*

manager: *turns to me* can you run into the cooler and get her some jelly?

me: what?! no... it's on the breakfast menu and there's like 900 cars in line in the drive through...

manager: *getting angry* just go in the back and get her some jelly packs...

me: ... no... that's retarded... we tell her "no" to the hash browns because it's on the breakfast menu, as is the jelly, such that the answer to one becomes the answer to the other as well...

manager: *severely annoyed now* just go back in the cooler and get her some jelly!

me: you want me to get her some hashbrowns too while i'm back there?!

woman: *still snapped* oh my god you little what the god damnit jesus christ all god damned dick whore... i am going to slit your throat with my straw wrapper!!!

manager: go!

me: no!

woman: *interjects because it seems that she's had an epiphany* how in the hell am i supposed to eat my fries without jelly?!

me: *confuddled* what?!

manager: go! jelly! go!

me: god damnit... this is fucking stupid... you go get her some jelly, then...

manager: go home Kyle... i think you need a break... we'll talk about this tomorrow...

woman: *seemingly satisfied...* thank you for correcting this issue...

manager: no problem, is there anything else i can help you with?

woman: nope, just grab me some jelly, and i'll be out the door...

manager: *turns to me* before you leave, grab her some jelly... and i'll talk to you about this tomorrow...

me: fuck you douschbag... you get her fucking jelly... i'm outta here...

manager: don't bother coming in tomorrow then, you're fired!

me: *laughs* fuck you... *walks out*




the next day he called me and told me to bring my uniform back in and drop it off... and i told him no... don't know what i did with it though... i might still have it somewhere...


*edit* funny thing is... i still sometimes snap over this... i'll be sittin' around with the girlfriend and i'll suddenly just get pissed and start bitchin' about the "jelly lady"

Under Pressure

Yes, I am feeling it now! Liam has been head down for some time now but this week I have really been feeling him pressing down on my bottom parts. It's a little painful at times but mostly is just an uncomfortable feeling.

I'm in the bathroom more and because he is on my bladder so much I have to shift around to get him off my urethra so I can empty my bladder completely. Also because if his increased presence down there my bowels feel full all the time too. Luckily I have not had any constipation during my pregnancy. I guess the fiber tablets and prunes are really doing the trick.

I've been feeling pretty good up to now and pretty proud of myself for having such a good pregnancy. Some people really have a hard time being pregnant and I feel like one of the lucky ones that don't feel miserable all the time. This week has shown me a glimpse of how truly uncomfortable this can get and with each new ache, pain or twinge my temper gets shorter and shorter. I am also getting more tired. It's hard to get through the day with out craving a nap. I am really wiped out by the time we get home from work. It's a good thing we only have 4 more weeks to go.

That's right! 4 more weeks.

The Fast and the Furious

Ever since I got the go ahead for natural childbirth I have been obsessed with the signs of labor and such. Ask my friends and family and they will tell you I have been drilling them with questions about Braxton Hicks, contractions, mucus plugs and breaking water. I am sure I will recognize the signs once they arrive but its makes me feel better to ask questions. It makes me feel like I am doing something rather than just sitting here waiting for the fruit to ripen.

So while we are all waiting, here are two stories to illustrate that the baby comes when the baby is ready.

My cousin, Alina, had gestational diabetes during her 2nd pregnancy and as a result once the baby was far enough along they decided to induce. Well she and her husband check into the hospital the night before so they could be ready bright and early to start the induction. At some point that night she began to feel some pain and the nurse were letting her have pain meds and get in the tub to help ease them. Some time late that night she wanted more meds so she sent her husband to get the nurse. The nurse came into check her to see if she was dilated or something to that effect. When she lifted up the sheet the baby was crowning. The nurse freaked out because she was just a floor nurse not a labor and delivery nurse. Alina says at that point the baby just 'shot out' on to the bed. Everyone was pretty shocked it had happened so fast.

Not to be out done.... My cousin Jason and his wife were expecting their third girl on November 11th. She had been feeling some contractions early Saturday morning, the 10th but by noonish
they had gone away. Feeling like they were close to delivery, they started making arrangements for their two other girls to be cared for in case they needed to got to the hospital that night. Jason left the house with both little girls to run a last minute errand. On his way back home he gets a call from his wife, the contractions have started again and he needs to get home NOW! Jason arrives, unloads the girls and goes to get his wife ready to leave for the hospital. He's trying to call the doctor at the same time to let them know they are on the way. He finds his wife in the bathroom. She take a step towards him and says "You are going to have to catch this baby." He drops the phone and catches the baby. Jason says the whole thing took about 3 minutes. By this time the doctor is on the line coaching him through the delivery of the placenta. EMTs show up soon there after, clamped off the cord and give them a ride to the hospital.
Jason said "I don't know why we need to go to the hospital after I did all the work!"

So at this point to one up each of them I would have to give birth in my car or on my desk at work. Let's hope that doesn't happen.

Final Ultrasound

We went in for our final ultrasound on Monday the 5th. This was it people - the day we found out of my guts were going to be spread out all over some operating table in Cobb WellStar Hospital. God answered our prayers, the previa had resolved and moved so far up the doctor couldn't even see it because Liam was in the way.

NO C-SECTION! WHOO HOO!

Mom and Jamie were both with me at the appointment. We learned several things that day:

1. No c-section
2. The baby's head is down, way down
3. He is still big
4. He is still a 'he'

Let's take each of these points one by one shall we?

1) No C-Section - With the resolution of the previa we are no longer on 'pelvic restriction' and we could once again resume marital relations. Just in time for me to get so big I can hardly walk much less want to be bounced around in the throws of passion. Another good thing about being off restriction is that now I can be examined internally to see if i am dilating. While I am not siked about having people poke around in there, it would be nice to know if I am progressing towards labor.
2) The Baby's Head is Down - This means he is in the correct position to be born. The doctor was all "Wow he is really down there. Are you feeling any pressure?" On my bladder? Yes, yes I am. The baby being int he head down position is good because it's a sign that he is getting ready to be born.
3) The baby is still big. The ultrasound tech took some measurements during her exam and declared Liam to be 7lbs 14 oz. Yikes! During the exam by the doctor he declared Liam to be 7lbs 1oz. Now this in on the same day so it tell you how much of an approximation this really is. The Doctor even said the margin of error at this stage is plus or minus 1 pound. Still he indicated that the weight was increasing as it should and he would probably be in the up 95% of size. Lord help me for wanting natural child birth.
4) He is still a boy. This is important because I have known some people who were told they were having a boy and it was really a girl. You can't imagine how much stuff we have in blue right now. And since I have already washed everything...I can't take it back.

So that 's the latest update. I hope you are enjoying the journey.

Think Geek

We recently received a couple of onsies with cute quotes on them. The first one says "Let's Hug It Out" so being big Entourage fans we thought this was pretty funny. Since we are both geeks we like the one that says "Laptop Model" and has a little picture of a laptop on it. A cute idea to say the least.

This web store has a lot of cool geeky things. Here are some Maternity and Baby themed items I thought were especially funny:

For baby

http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts/kids/9b07/

http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts/kids/5e09/

For Mom

http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts/ladies/9b11/

Here's one for you Monty Python fans

http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts/ladies/9d05/

This one is from CafePress but still funny

http://www.cafepress.com/totrocket.46363913

Hope you enjoyed them.

Family Portrait

This past weekend we attended the GreyStone Power Cooperative Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting is a chance for all Co-op members and their families to enjoy a fun day and also attend the Business Meeting. GreyStone hosts a health fair for adults and a carnival for the kids complete with rides and games. There is even a pony ride and free food! Not only are we members of GreyStone but our good friend Megan works there in the PR Department. Megan took this photo of us at the Meeting.

This weekend marked the first time I realized I might not be able to do everything I want to do like walk around a carnival and stand around in the sun. During the meeting we were standing in the back kind of getting a feel for what was going on. My foot fell asleep so I started looking for a place to sit down. A man behind me who had been standing in front of an empty chair for several minutes walked away into the crowd. I sat down in his chair to massage my foot back to life and unfortunately he came back about that time. He gave me a dirty look and made a comment about being a Floria State Fan and therefore in a good mood - I did not understand what that meant but I tried to get out of his chair and found my legs did not want to cooperation. Jamie had to pull me up. At that point the guy realized I was pregnant and made a half hearted attempt at apologizing and said I could keep the seat. I graciously declined.

Not long after, Megan came along and took the picture of us and not long after that we went to visit the ponies.

Baby Shower

We had my Baby Shower on October 6th. It was so much fun. Everyone did such a good job on the decorations, food and games. It made me feel very special and loved. I had several comments on the large number of gifts we received. It made me feel so lucky to have friends and family who already love our child enough to shower him with the things he needs.

The party was held at a local church in their rec room. The theme, as you can see from the picture was duckies. My cousin Alina made the cake - isn't it awesome? The little duck is swimming in a bathtub of blue fondant bubbles and there's even a little bar of soap. It was really cute and tasty! There was blue punch with a little duck floating in it served in a washtub. All the food was really delicious - Finger sandwiches, fresh fruit and dips. They made sure everything served was something I liked. There were little rubber ducks every where. Balloons and yellow mums, even the favors were little yellow chocolate ducks. We played games like Guess the Baby Food, The Price is Right and the "Baby" Game where you can't say the word "baby"...well we all had little ducks we had to give up if we said "baby".

I guess what I'm trying to say is - it was a really cool party and I had a great time. There were a lot of people there and it made me feel good that so many people took time out to come and be a part of this special day. Thanks to everyone who came to the party and helped put it together.

You can see more pictures on our Shutterfly account here.