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Baby Doll

Ever since the new baby arrived, Liliana has become more and more attached to her baby doll.

Of course I needed to add a picture of my Rosie.

This might not mean anything to everybody...

I've been thinking a lot about what has been going on in the world lately.  It's amazing how social media gives every one a voice--for better or for worse.  But this quote came to mind as I've been thinking about my life.  It's from the LDS leader George Albert Smith:

"There are two influences ever present in the world. One is constructive and elevating and comes from our Heavenly Father; the other is destructive and debasing and comes from Lucifer. We have our agency and make our own choice in life subject to these unseen powers. There is a division line well defined that separates the Lord’s territory from Lucifer’s. If we live on the Lord’s side of the line Lucifer cannot come there to influence us, but if we cross the line into his territory we are in his power. By keeping the commandments of the Lord we are safe on His side of the line, but if we disobey His teachings we voluntarily cross into the zone of temptation and invite the destruction that is ever present there. Knowing this, how anxious we should always be to live on the Lord’s side of the line."

It's Time: Labor & Delivery

Well, it didn't happen.  I did not go into labor on my own.  I wanted to (who doesn't?) but it didn't happen.  I had contractions, but nothing regular and they were barely labor contractions.  At my last appointment I was totally thinned out and dilated 2 cm.  Promising, but not great.  My official due date was March 15th.  But I also had an induction date set for the 18th.

My mother-in-law came into town on the 14th, and we went all over.  We walked around Zorinshy Lake, we went to the zoo, we walked around a shopping center place in Papillion...we tried to get things going.  I had my membranes stripped earlier in the week, hoping that it would do something.  But still nothing.  Apparently I had created such a nice home for the little girl that she decided she didn't want to come out!  =)

Since my mother-in-law was going to take care of Liliana while we were in the hospital, we spent the days going over Lili's routine and things like that.  On Sunday we did a dry run to the hospital (so she would know exactly how to get there).  It was quiet at the hospital, and since we hadn't had our hospital tour yet, they offered to give us one.  So we were able to see the labor and delivery floor, what the rooms looked like, and the procedure when we get there on induction day.

So, the 18th came around and the night before I got zero sleep.  How can you sleep knowing the next day you're going to have a baby?!  I was excited and nervous...I mean, hello, I was about to push a small pumpkin out of my body!  I hadn't been sleeping well the past week, so I knew not sleeping the night before was only going to make it worse. 

Daddy and new daughter

We got to the hospital just before 8am.  We got all checked in and met our nurse.  At the hospital I was at they try to do a one-to-one ratio of nurses to patients.  It is awesome.  Well, it was awesome for me because I had the BEST nurse.  She was so kind and loving (two great qualities needed in a labor and delivery nurse) and she would always explain what she was doing before she did it.  So I got all hooked up, and she checked my cervix...no progress.  Still at a 2.  She started a small amount of pitocin (on a side note: I know there are horror stories about the effect of pitocin, but I found none of them to be true).  At 4 centimeters a doctor (not my doctor--she was busy) came in to break my water.  Labor and the contractions continued to progress.  

Big sister.  Oh how I missed her while I was in the hospital.

She has stork bites every common place babies get them!

The contractions were getting worse and worse...they were painful.  Very painful.  At 7 centimeters I asked for an epidural--and at that point it couldn't come soon enough!  After that, it was beautiful!  While I was in labor the first time around I labored quite a bit at home, and then when I finally got the epidural in the hospital it only took on one side.  I felt a lot of what was going on...and the pain!  Luckily, it was my first child so I didn't really know any better.  I thought that's what it was supposed to be like--painful!  This time my only problem was that I was afraid I wouldn't be able to feel when it was time to push.  Turns out that isn't so much of a problem.  You know that "urge to push" feeling that people talk about?  Yeah, I felt that.  I pushed with the nurse for about 45 minutes, and I didn't feel any real pain (not like with Liliana--at all).  I felt pressure and it was VERY tiring having to push, push, push, but it wasn't painful.  Since everything happened in close proximity of each other, Adam had to be sure not to see anything he didn't want to see.  So he sat in a chair right behind me and put his hand on my shoulder as I pushed.  If he stood up he would have seen everything!  And everyone kept commenting on how much hair she had, and I was almost, almost tempted to have them bring the mirror so I could see it.  It was sort of weird to feel what was going on...I could feel the head being "right there"...then the doctor came in, and we finished the job.  Within 3 rounds of pushes the baby was out.  

The doctor was AMAZING.  I cannot say enough good things about her!  It was a slightly stressful time because as the baby came out the cord was around her neck, the doctor had to cut the cord (which was fine by Adam), and they put the baby right on my chest.  I had been wanting to do skin to skin right away, but when they put her on my chest, she stopped breathing.  Then they took her off for a second to get her to breathe (and she would) then they put her back on me, and she would stop breathing again.  They said it was because she was so used to being inside me and being comfortable that when she was placed on me she would forget to breathe on her own.  I don't know if that's true, but I thought it was sweet.  Needless to say we couldn't do skin to skin right away because they needed to get her to breathe on her own and be evaluated.  Adam said as soon as they took her and did their thing, the baby "pinked" right up.  And she was fine--perfect in every way.  (Just like I had prayed for).  Seconds after I delivered another nurse came in to assist.  She politely asked "what I just had", without even thinking I said, "boy".  Haha.  I was so out of it.  I quickly corrected myself.  Sometimes I think about it now and chuckle to myself on how silly it was.

As they were working on the baby, the doctor helped me "deliver" the placenta (which was incredibly painful with Liliana, but this time around near painless).  Happily, no stitches were needed.  They brought my "big" baby (8lbs 3oz) to me and I just held her.  She did (and does) have a ton of black hair; more than Lili.  With Liliana the first thing I noticed were her big eyebrows.  With this one, it was her HUGE cheeks!  I guess her 8lbs had to go somewhere...so they went to her cheeks!  I think at first Adam and I were a little surprised that she didn't look like either of us.  She looked Mexican, and a lot like my dad (so did Lili...and now look at her, a little Adam).  It was an unusually busy day on the labor and delivery floor of the hospital.  Normally my nurse would have been with me the whole time and taken me to the post-partum room.  But since so many women were in labor she had to go help another patient.  Consequently I had to have another nurse (and tech) come and finish up with me.  I was not thrilled with the fact that this new nurse had to give my newborn baby a shot.  She was nice, but not nearly as nice and gentle as my other nurse.  I kept motioning to Adam to stay with the baby to watch over and protect her.  She was fine and the nurse wasn't bad--I was just more comfortable with the other nurse.  We will wheeled to the post-partum room and spent 2 or 3 nights there...I can't remember now!  =)  All I remember is when we could finally be discharged, we were ready!

Here is my beautiful Rosalyn.

Overall, our whole hospital experience was really great.  I would recommend this hospital to anyone.  Everyone was so nice and helpful, and the food was great--and 24 hours.  I had french toast at 2 in the morning one day!  Everything was great with the baby, and my wonderful mother-in-law took excellent care of Liliana while we were gone.  I was a little tired (as you can imagine) but overall I felt pretty good--all things considered. 

40 Weeks

Baby Size: Pumpkin--what?!  A pumpkin?!

Symptoms: The baby is VERY low, and moving like crazy.  I'm tired all the time and have trouble moving around--but not as bad as with Liliana.  I remember with her I could barely walk down the street without being in a lot of pain.  In fact, we've been going on long walks and out places in an effort to get things going.  So far...nothing.  I had my membranes stripped.  Nothing.  I'm having contractions, but nothing regular.  But really, I'm just waiting for my water to break.  It did the first time around, and that's how I knew (for sure) I was in labor.  I'm not confident about timing contractions and knowing what's real and when to go to the hospital.

Workout: Squats and pre-natal yoga.  All my joints are aching.

Cravings: Nothing.  My appetite has subsided.

Best Moment(s) of the week: Induction!  I have an induction date set.

Missing: My sanity.  I worry about EVERYTHING.  And I'm so close to delivery; I'm just ready to see and meet her and know that she is okay.  I realize once she is here there will be a whole new set of worries, but for now, I just want to get through labor and delivery!  Oh, and I'm getting tired of being cubby...and having a fat face.  I know it's inevitable to get a puffy face, but still...I hate it!

39 Weeks--We all can't be supermodels

Baby Size: Watermelon

Symptoms: Nothing!  Seriously...next to nothing!  Ever since I turned 37 weeks I've been feeling pretty good--unfortunately.  ;)  I mean, I'm tired-- a lot.  I try to take a nap when my toddler takes a nap.  Sometimes I get extremely hunger, but other than that I don't have a ton of contractions or pains.  I'm dilated 1 cm (I've been dilated that much for 3 weeks).  Soooo...now I'm just waiting.

I don't mind being pregnant since I'm not in much pain.  But I still worry constantly, and I'd like to see her (deliver her) and know she is perfect and healthy and safe.  But I know once she is here there will come a whole new set of worries.  It's tough.

Workout: Squats.  I try to do squats because I heard it can help put you into labor.  So far, nothing.  But I guess a little working out can't hurt.

Cravings: Mangoes!  The already cut ones from Costco are the best!

Best Moment(s) of the week: Getting the glider I've been wanting!

Missing: The ability to bend over without any problems or awkwardness.

35 Weeks

Baby Size: Coconut

Symptoms:Contractions, contractions, contractions...all the time.   So different than last time...or not.  Maybe I did get a lot of contractions the first time around and just didn't realize it.  And I have a serious case of pregnancy-brain.  I've decided to embrace it.  I crack eggs over the sink, and as I was cracking and opening an egg I totally spaced and just opened the egg up and let it go down the drain...then as I was silently chastising myself as I grabbed another egg--I did it again!  I opened another egg and let it go down the drain!  I have no idea what I was thinking.

But speaking of eggs...I was making a scrambled egg for Liliana one morning and as I went to put the carton of eggs back into the fridge, the carton literally flew out of my hands and fell to the floor.  All of the eggs (there were only 4 left) broke, but all in the carton.  Easy--just pick it up and throw it away.  As I picked it up, I turned around and AGAIN it flew out of my hands and splatter all over the floor!  Luckily, my sweet husband was home and cleaned it all up!  Man oh man!  I just couldn't help it!

And no swelling yet (by this time last time I was way swollen).  But you can see from my picture my face is officially chubby.  I can't help it.  It just happens.
 

Workout: None...and it's a terrible thing.  Now anything I do that raises my heart rate causes pain and contractions.  It's quite annoying.

Cravings: Hotdogs...but I'm not eating them.  I've never been a huge hot dog fan, but for some reason they sound delicious to me!  Oh, and salmon...the very pricey salmon. 

Best Moment(s) of the week: Just feeling okay.  Contractions are in check and other symptoms are manageable.

Missing: Sleeping on my back, laying on my stomach...and really working out...and eating anything I want.  And being able to pick up and play with Liliana like a normal person.

31 Weeks

This is at around 29 weeks while playing at the Children's Museum.

Baby Size: Pineapple

Symptoms: Heartburn and Acid Reflux in full force.  I sleep sitting up like the Elephant Man.  My neck hurts as a result, and every so often I nestle down in bed and I wake up chocking on the acid coming back up.  It's pretty awesome---not really; it's gross and scary.  And I get a ton more Braxton Hicks then I ever did the first time around.  Oh, and emotions!  I can feel myself getting REALLY angry over stupid things...so stupid I can't even think of them right now.  Like, if dinner is taking longer to cook then I thought it would...silly things like that.  It's very weird.  I can go from happy to sad to angry in seconds!  Ohhhh...and I had to take the 3-hour glucose test.  I passed, but the actual test was miserable!  It was so hard not to throw up!  Seriously, I did not handle it well...and you get pricked over and over...man I hope I never have to do that again!
 

Workout: I'm only doing Pilates and yoga these days.  Back to the Braxton Hicks...I had what I believed was way too many in a certain amount of time.  (4-5 in an hour and painful) so I went into the doctor's office to be monitored.  Everything was fine, but still kind of scary.  And the only thing--the only thing--I can think of that I did differently that day was workout at the gym (which, ironically, I felt the best I had felt while running...but...then the contractions came...) so I've been nervous to go back to working out.  So, I'm sticking with prenatal Pilates and yoga.

Cravings: None really.  In fact my appetite isn't what it used to be...which is good, because I was eating everything!  Now, I just eat normal.

Best Moment(s) of the week: I say this a lot, but movement...it is, by far, the coolest part of being pregnant.

Missing: Sleeping on my back, laying on my stomach...and really working out.