[L and] D Day

So after trying to keep Jack in for about a month, I started working to get him out at 38 weeks. I was back at the gym, lifting Ambree and mowing the yard. On Friday (37weeks, 6 days), I put everything into overdrive because Kelly had come into town to try to be part of the labor and delivery. By this point I had had every pre-labor sign except consistent contratctions.

By 5:30pm the contractions started and now were what I would consider moderate; I had to stop what I was doing but they were still bearable. We had Antonio's Mexican resteraunt planned with my family, so we continued as scheduled, but threw the hospital bag in the car just in case. Throughout dinner I had contractions about 5minutes apart with increased intensity. My dad joked that he was eating his dinner quickly should we have to rush out of there.

I stayed home until about 10:30pm and only decided to go in the the hospital because of my first labor with Ambree, which had suddenly progressed very quickly. Really I should have probably stayed home because when I got to the hospital I was only 5-6cm.

So I labored at the hospital more- pretty boring stuff. Most of my pain was helped by rocking and resting on an exercise ball that was on the bed. It wasn't very intense, but I did have back pain, so I ended up laying in bed, which relieved my back pain but made it nearly impossible to find any relief from my contractions. At this point, I wish I had gotten out of bed. I remember asking for different positions and not really getting into one.

At about 1:30am, I decided to let them break my water, knowing that things probably would start happening right away. And they did. My contractions became unbearable and every movement in bed brought them on. I couldn't move without having insane pain, but staying in bed was horrible. After about 30 minutes (maybe less, this part was a blur), I was screaming in pain without any way to find relief. I wanted out of that bed so bad, but I really couldn't move. I almost asked Sean to just lift me out of the bed. Even though I had gotten so far, and really wanted to try not using an epidural, I was begging for one at this point. The anesthesiologist was at home (about 10 minutes away), and I knew transistional labor was coming soon. Even before the anesthesiologist was there I felt the urge to push. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have had much more to endure if I had had any desire to continue- but I did not. Just getting to sitting on the side of the bed was nearly impossible. I literally did not think it would be possible and rationalized in my head that if I just kept telling the nurses emphatically that I couldn't do it, that they would be able to find a new way to put in the epidural. Somehow I got to a sitting position and the doctor FINALLY got to the hospital.

After the epidural was placed, each contraction became more bearable, and minutes later they were back to back. As soon as I was on my back, they told me to push a couple of times, and then told me to wait for the doctor- Jack was ready! I only had to push through a couple of contractions because the doctor was able to ease him out. It was amazing and so much quicker and easier than with Ambree (which took hours).

I was able to help pull Jack out and he came immediately to my chest. He was perfect and I was in love.

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

Father's Day 2010

Ambree has really become a Daddy's girl the last few months. Monday mornings are the worst, after a weekend of growing clingy with Sean, she cries in the morning when she wakes up realizing that he is not home. It's pitiful. But so nice to watch her see the value in her Daddy. He really is such a great dad to Ambree.

From the time he gets home until he goes to bed, there is very rarely any down time for Sean, as he tries to take advantage of every moment with his girls. So he'll stand with her in a freshly filled, freezing wading pool while she swims around, take her on a trek to get the mail, go with her on an expedition in search of bugs, or just let her crawl all over him in the living room. The sound of the garage door closing in the afternoon means a brightly faced two year old is squealing down the hallway to hug "Daddy!"

I know statistically how important it is for Ambree to prize her Dad, and for Sean to be the main man in her life. So its such a joy to see Sean make the effort that it takes for this to happen. I think sometimes men don't know how to connect with children, maybe some women don't either, and I remember Sean seeming a little unsure during the first few months. I guess it takes a little fine tuning to find a rhythm in parenting for all of us. But Sean has it down now, and I'm so grateful.


Helping Sean with Jack's Room


Ambree 'fixing piggies' for Sean's Hair

38weeks, 2 days

Alright Jack. You are free to come out now :) You should be fully cooked, though everyday you stay put can help with digestion, nursing and respiratory development, which is of course good, too. But I just had the realization that I have not been able to enjoy the World Cup with a single beer. I think you have until July 11th, but the sooner the better in case I have to give you a bottle.

I am glad to have made it this far. Until just the last couple of nights, I've been pretty comfortable, and overall I would say this has been a really easy pregnancy. Hopefully that is indicative of the kind of labor I will have. At my last appointment last Thursday, I was 3cm so it could be any day, but we've been saying that now for a few weeks. Now, though, I can at least clean, organize or lift whatever I want, and I've been able to take Ambree back to the gym, which is nice for her so that she can run around with other kids in air conditioning in the Kid's Club.

I think Ambree may be wise to us now. All of a sudden she is a little more clingy and not wanting to go to sleep for naps or bedtime. I would prefer that it's her realizing something is about to change rather than the possibility of an upcoming cold- the typical reason for this type of change in behavior.

My Little Parrot

Ambree has increasingly become a little parrot. She says things like:

"I think..."
"I miss you, too, Daddy"
"Probably not"
"Um, Um, Um, Sure!"
"Excuse me"
"Good idea, Mommy"
"I'm proud of you, Mommy!"
[to friends] "I go first, you go play with other toy. Go on, boy" (The 'go on' part isn't her parroting something I say to her, but something we say to Chloe, the dog)

Anything that Mommy or Daddy say is quickly adapted to her vocabulary. Tonite, I gave her a kiss as I was putting her to bed. She said, "That's a good girl, Mommy!"

35 weeks, 5 days

Just saw the MD today, and despite a week of very low activity level, Jack is still progressing. I am 90% effaced, -1 station and 2 cm dialated. The doctor thinks he will be here in the next week despite anything I do or don't do, so I am off bed rest. When I asked her about my activity level, she said it was up to me. I told her, I need my house to be clean before this baby is here! Family and friends have been offering to help me nest, but its ridculous to ask family or friends to do the things I want to do to this house. Most sane people don't care about baseboards in their laundry room or street trashcans been hosed out. That said, my parents are coming over tomorrow to help set up so furniture for Jack and maybe some normal cleaning to help me catch up, which I really appreciate.

The doctor also said that Jack has a 97% chance of having fully developed lungs and the risk of developmental delays was gone a few weeks ago. While they will try to stop or slow the labor should it happen before 37 weeks, she doesn't think it will be too effective if he wants to come. So its nice that we can start getting excited about his arrival without worrying as much about complications. What an answer to prayers. We still, of course, covet your prayers that he is a strong and healthy boy, ready for birth whenever he decides.

Memorial Day Weekend 2010

Swimming with Daddy


Ambree and Jaxon, "I give you kiss, now"