not too easy to blog these days...

I have to document the funniest thing. Elijah enjoys laying down and checking out his surroundings. Well, part of his surrounding would include the little mullet he some how grew (must have been Brad's genes) :)
The little stinker finds his hair and pulls it until he cries! What's so funny is that he doesn't let go, he clenches his fists tighter and pulls hard, making him cry harder! It's funny, but not....okay, I love him dearly, but it is hilarious! I hope I can get a video of him doing it. Here's a photo though.
Soooooo sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

Aside from his hair pulling, I feel so busy ALL the time! The only moments of down time, are during his naps (or when Brad has him a bit) - but even during nap time (like right now) I am catching up on all kinds of housework it seems. I will admit that I do like it though, because I get to do things my way all the time and keep it that way.

Eijah is so wonderful. Some nights he doesn't even cry if I can catch his needs soon enough. All he needs is to eat and be changed and occasionally want to be snuggled and held instead of staying in the co-sleeper thingie. Breastfeeding is still kind of up and down most days, although I am excited that I can nurse without the shield more often now...depending on his mood and how hard he wants to work. At night I don't even battle him, I just want him to eat and go right back to bed.

The past few days have been strange though...he will nurse for OVER an hour. I guess it was a growth spurt? -- as long as his poops are yellow, I don't care

I've also been trying to moderately follow the Baby Wise sleeping schedule. It's pretty easy so far, and I guess it's working a bit because Elijah will sleep 4 1/2 - 5 hours at night. It's normally 10:30 - 3 am. I start school at the end of the month, so I am nervous about how to regulate his schedule in the morning before I have to leave for class by 7:15 (and that doesn't include the time I will have to take him somewhere to be watched for those few hours -- no one was kidding around when they said you won't sleep anymore).

That's about it in my world lately. I am just so surprised at how much I love him. It grows every day...I may burst soon. :D

Here are some of my favorite pictures that we took this last week...

My super sweet family :)

Aunt Steefie and Elijah

Aunt Beequee!

Me, my Magoo (Emma) and my little Tootum Pie!

finally a peaceful moment

Today has been kind of nuts. Poor little Elijah was all backwards. Everytime I'd get him to go to sleep something would wake him - including his massive poop explosion.

Our weekend was pretty interesting. Friday we just hung out at home, just the three of us. I'd like to say it was a nice bit of family time, but we were all so tired we zoned out the whole night.

Saturday was a very eventful day. The three of us went out to look at cars. Believe it or not Brad's Jetta does not fit the car seat safely in his car!! My little 2 door Mercedes is a safer ride for Elijah. So we ended buying a car....not exactly in the plan, but it happened and we are happy. We ended up with a new 09 Hyundai Sonata. It's not the most exciting car in the world, but the price fits our budget, the warrenty gives us piece of mind and the car seat fits in the back - SAFELY!

Sunday we went to lunch with Brad's parents and Logan (Natalie and Tim went to the wineries, damn them...j/k, I know my time will come)

It definitely creates quite an attraction walking in with two babies aroud the same age. To be honest the attention creeps me out a little. I know that 99.999999% of the time people are mostly good. I just worry about that fraction of a percent of people who would try to harm me/us. --- I should probably note that I am NOT crazy...I just finished watching some CRIME-TV, so that's why I'm a little over the top right now...

I think my peaceful moment is coming to an end soon....but who cares, look how sweet he is (he is rooting for his hands under there...)

I love him :)

1st doctor appt

Thing went pretty well today (his dr appt was the 24th - I couldn't finish the blog until now)Luckily my mom was able to go with me because I felt insecure leaving Elijah in the backseat alone. -- No, not because I am a psycho, overprotective mother yet -- but because the car seat does not allow him to recline enough, so his poor little neck strains to keep his head up. (We fixed that problem today).

Dr. Sato did his check on him and found him to be perfectly healthy! He was completely shocked to see how well he can hold his head up, and estatic to find out that he has gained 12 ounces! He now weighs 7 pounds 4 oz. He said babies that are 3-4 weeks old will gain this amount!! -- This however did not excite Brad as much as me (he's already nervous Elijah has a double chin) :)

I'm just glad to know that nursing is going well enough to sustain him! We still have to go back and forth with the nipple shield. Some days are better than others (or Eli is lazier sometimes) and we have to use it. I'm getting over it really quickly that I have to use it. Whatever makes him healthiest, makes me happiest.

So after his doctor's appointment we went to lunch with Brad and made a quick stop so his Nana could buy him some blankets (she was completely embarrassed I took him out with the blankets from the hospital --- what? They are the best kind to swaddle him with...)
After that we waited for Becky to have her 34 week check up with Dr. Chen. I nursed Elijah in the car while my mom went to the appt with Becky. After he was finished and had a full tummy, I decided to drive him around a bit and put him to sleep...that really didn't work out to great. #1, I'm and idiot and decided to drive around the parking garage, circle after circle after circle....so he got pretty cranky, enough for me to take him out of his seat and soothe him. Well, he was soothed quite well after he threw up ALL over me...I then learned that I also need extra clothes in the diaper bag.

All in all it was a pretty full day, we were both glad to be home!

One week ago...

Elijah was born! I can't believe one week has come and gone all ready. So far so good (knock on wood someone...) Breastfeeding has been a challenge, but we're slowly getting the hang of that together (thanks Amy for the shield!). I was a little disappointed I had to use a breastshield to get him to latch on properly, but we're working on not using that when we can - besides, all I care is that he is getting what is best for him, and that would be breastmilk.

I can't say there is a pattern yet. He's hungry about every 2-3 hours and has a poo just about each time. It's remarkable to see the changes in him already. He is staying alert a lot more during the day (I say a lot more -- probably just a few hours total).

For me, I am happy to say that I have lost 25 of the 32 pounds I've gain so far! Good for me!!

So here is a before and after...I always loved seeing everyone's B/A postpardom shots...

39w6d 1w post

So there we have it...

I have "the" pair of jeans calling my name from my closet, so here's my declaration to wearing those in the next few weeks.

All in all, I must say I had my FAVORITE moment this morning. All three of us were in bed before Brad's alarm went off. I've never felt so much love than I did when I saw my family in that quietness and stillness. Elijah was sleeping and Brad was gently cuddling and holding him with his hand. It really hit me that this is my family we've created.

It's so incredible, and I am so very lucky.

Elijah is here!!!!!!!

And we are home! He arrived July 15th, at 7:09 am.
So, now I will finish the labor story I started a few days ago

--- So bare with me, this will be a long blog ---

After the appointment with Dr. Chen on Tuesday the 14th I was one centimeter, 90% effaced. Brad took the rest of the day off with me luckily and just stayed with me. So Brad and I got comfortable and watched the All-Star game (ironically Dr. Chen was at the game, so he was probably hoping that I wouldn't go into labor that night) :)
As night fell, I was getting more and more uncomfortable, but again the contractions were sporadic - definitely more noticeable and painful, but not exactly time-able yet. Brad went and grabbed dinner (I wanted some hot wings to try the spicy food old wives tale). We ate and tried to get comfortable and wait for some kind of signal that it was time to go.

That time would come...let me tell you.

I tried SO hard to get comfortable on the couch, on the birth ball, in the tub, in the shower assuming I was STILL in the latent labor phase. My contractions never became time-able and regular. Eventually we just headed to bed around 11:00 and I tried to sleep them off. Around 11:30 Brad was snoring so loud he didn't hear a thing around him, so I got into the tub. No relief there. At that point I was so upset that I was still in latent labor (so I thought anyway) I wanted some help. Brad might not appreciate this next part too much, but it's part of the story nonetheless :)

I started getting really upset that I was in so much pain and I couldn't find any relief and my labor coach was snoring away. I woke him up and asked him what I could do and he told me to sit on the exercise ball --WHAT?? What's my coach there for then??? So I started to get so upset thinking that no one could help me. I tried the ball, I tried walking, I tried anything I could. And I'm still thinking "Dear God, this is still only early labor??" I thought this because my contractions were not but 6 minutes apart and they were not consistent with intensity or timing.

I decided my Bradley birth was no longer an option. I wanted some help, and I wanted it right then. So I woke Brad up and ordered him to take me to the hospital. I was so upset that I didn't know what to do, he didn't know what to do so I just wanted to be someplace where they knew what was happening to me. Brad was reluctant at first - trying to coax me into a walk, and trying regain his coaching status. I was too upset that this wasn't the labor/birth story I wanted so I demanded to be taken to the hospital to have some kind of pain relief.

The car ride to the hospital I was having contractions equal in intensity about 4 minutes apart. The contractions I had in the car ride were the worst yet. I think profanity was my only vocabulary at that point. We arrived at MOBAP Hospital about 2:00 in the morning and went into triage room 4. I was so scared, I knew I was only dilated to a 2 or 3. The nurse checked me in, asked me a million questions as I paused in-between contractions. FINALLY she checked me, which had to be one of the most uncomfortable exams ever...but it was the most beautiful. I was 100% effaced and dilated to a 7! yes, a 7!! Not only that, they couldn't find my bag of water! Thinking back now, I assume it broke while I was in the tub, because that's when the pain became incredible.
I cried for joy when I heard that magic number. She asked me if I intended to have an epidural, I told her no, but if I needed it what was the latest I could get it. She said as long as I was able to sit still I could get one.

Probably one of the worst experiences was getting stuck 4 times to get my heplock (sp?). Those nurses were wonderful, but they just couldn't get a good stick in my vein. After the 4th stick they decided that they would just leave what they had. It was unfortunate because for some reason a comforting thing to me is to have wrists squeezed, and now with all those needle sticks that relaxation idea was not going to work.

Either way I was still so elated. I was only 3 cm away from kissing my baby's lips! -- well, 3 cm and a good rub down to remove any birthing goo--

Brad and I were so excited we called everyone. In my birth plan I only wanted Brad present, but that changed. My mom, Stephanie, Brad's mom and dad arrived. They were there in the room during my labor, and it was comforting to me somehow. I was alert and social in between contractions and it was kind of nice to have them as a distraction, at least for that next hour. The contractions became more and more intense. I labored in the shower for around 45 minutes and asked to be checked because I started to feel more pressure. I was an 8 (which was kind of disappointing) but in the plus stations (I can't remember what station exactly). I got out of the shower and took a lap around L&D with Brad to try and help my dilation progress. However the birthing/exercise ball was my greatest relief -- along with the greatest birth partner ever. Brad definitely regained his coaching status and helped me more than he will ever know. He massaged my back, held my hair, did things I'm sure I'll never remember. All I know is that I am grateful and couldn't have done it without him.

Around 6:00 am I was feeling intense pressure, I kept telling the nurse I wanted to poop. She checked me and said I still had a little bit of cervix left but the baby was very low. She called Dr. Chen and he said it was okay to start pushing and he would be on his way. At 6:30 I was in pushing position lying on my left side. Brad had my left leg, my mom had my right. Steph and Christie had the cameras and Neal had slipped out of the room by then. I began pushing and didn't realize how hard it actually was. The pressure was so intense but it was so hard!! Everyone was encouraging me and cheering me on. Their cheers helped to encourage me, but what really did it was touching the baby’s head. I pushed with everything I had and his head came out. I looked down, freaked out, pushed two more time and was able to reach down and finish delivering Elijah at 7:09 am. (I made it through that with NO tearing and NO cutting -- Elijah however came out with the biggest cone head I'd ever seen)

We let his cord pulsate. Unfortunately it wasn't the 3 minutes we hoped, but because we chose to donate his cord blood they couldn't wait. Things after that were kind of a blur. I remember delivering the placenta and getting to take a peek at it but that's about it.
Now we come back to the awful vein sticks. It's routine to give pitocin to deliver the placenta and start the contracting of the uterus. Well, since my helplock was put in like crap my wrist ballooned up with fluid so I ripped it out. That left them to give me a shot in my leg to get the contractions started.

Never in the books did I read about the massaging of the uterus after birth. I suppose it's routine, but because I didn't have an IV bag full of pitocin they had to squeeze and push on it so hard (for nearly 2 hours, in 15 minute inetervals!). I have bruises on my stomach. I swear that hurt so bad. I just had to lay there and get punched in the gut and my vag would literally pour out blood. It made them nervous so they had to check on that quite often.

Eventually we were transferred to our room and started parenthood. I am falling so in love. I can't say it was love at first sight because I was still in shock from my med free birth. The pain was intense, but a distant memory now - already. I must also say that all the squatting that the Bradley method encourages must have saved me from any tearing during delivery. I am so grateful for that. Now here it is, 4 days later and I feel better than ever. The postpartum recovery has been a breeze (I didn’t even need the pain meds they offered at the hospital – just 2 IB profins those two days I was there!)

I have the most beautiful baby in the world and the sweetest husband I could ever ask for. I can't wait to start the new chapter of my life. Brad, Pattie and little-baby-to-be will officially become Brad, Pattie and Elijah!!!

Happy Birthday Becky, but NOT

happy birthday Elijah... :(

Yes, technically there are 7 hours left, and it could happen, but not likely. Everything is such a blur right now. Let me try and update. Last night I took my bath and was feeling contractions, I got out of the bath and was still feeling contractions. I decided to try and sleep them off and wait for something more significant.
12 am wakes me up with some.
1 am wakes me up with some.
2 am wakes me up with more painful ones. Painful enough Brad and I timed them on contraction master. By 3 am they started to become irregular again. They were 5 minutes apart, about a minute long. So I tried to go back to sleep.
4 am I wake up with even more uncomfortable ones. This time I let Brad try and sleep and timed them on my own while wiggling my hips on the exercise ball. The contractions were now around 4-5 minutes apart 45-60 seconds long and uncomfortable to the point I had to put more focus on getting through them (however still not the excruciating ones I envision). By 4:45 I was getting a little nervous and decided to call Dr. Chen's exchange. I had an appt with him at 11:30 today, so I didn't want to go in premature and just get sent home. He called me back within 10 minutes and advised me that it was my decision. I really didn't want to go and get sent home, so I tried to fall asleep again...yea, didn't happen. Actually laying down made them so much worse. So by 6:30 Brad is getting pretty antsy and wants to go to the hospital, but I know it's still early. So we decided to try and up our appt time when the offices opened. Well, Dr. Chen being so great called us and made us a time to come in at 9. So I ate a little, took a bath and started to notice the more active I became the more sporadic the contractions were becoming. -- This was pretty disappointing after the regular ones kept me up ALL night. Oh well, nonetheless we had an appointment we had to keep.
Dr. Chen checked me to find that I am 90% effaced and at 1 cm. I WANTED TO CRY. 1 cm....fan-freaking-tastic-progress I had there...

He did however assure us that he thinks active labor is just around the corner and I am in stage 1, latent labor. woo hoo I guess, but when I google latent labor and check the all knowing WTEWE book they say latent labor can be unnoticeable or feel like mild to moderate contractions or cramping. So now I feel completely defeated. I know I'm feeling ones that are a little painful....where is my quick labor that I've been hoping for - that everyone else seems to have gotten?? How am I the 'lucky' one to be given the mild/moderate contractions latent labor?? I guess what makes it worse is that I am just so stinking tired, and that makes me emotional which definitely doesn't help me manage anything.

The good news is that is is doing fine in there. His head is definitely smooshed down on my vag bits. We got an u/s to make sure had enough fluid (which he does) and he just seems so content in there. I can already tell he has chubby cheeks (although today they only estimated him to weigh 6 1/2 - 7 pounds). I can't wait to hold and kiss him.

I guess lucky for me the contractions today were not as frequent so I napped quite a bit to hopefully gain some rest for the active labor just around the corner. However they still came, woke me up and made me question active labor contractions.

Poor Becky. Today is her birthday, and normally I am more of a "rah rah, yea it's your birthday!" kind of person, but I barely said anything to her. (She was going into her appt with Dr. Chen as we were coming out). I'm sure she understands, but I still feel bad about it.

Come on baby, please come out to help me feel normal again...

yep, still waiting.

Again, I woke up this morning around 4. Only this time it was contractions that woke me up, not having to pee. They were around 7 mintues apart lasting about a minute. These were a bit more uncomfortable (dare I even say a little painful??) than last night. I got up ate breakfast, moved around a little bit and finally got back to sleep around 6:30. I woke up around 9 (after I emailed and told my work I would not be coming in) and felt like CRAP. I don't know if it was lack of sleep and/or a combination of everything. All I knew is that I had to get up and start moving around. Luckily my mom came over and we straightened up my house a bit and planned to do get out of the house a bit. Well, after doing the dishes, taking out the trash, etc, etc I noticed that my mucus discharged had turned into the "bloody show". I didn't have any signs of blood yesterday, and so far today that's all there has been. Some has been red - but I'm not all that concerned.

After I padded up we had lunch with Brad and ran some errands. I was feeling some more contrax/cramps, but again nothing really measurable. So that's about it. I got home and busied myself a little bit and now I feel this baby move like he's never moved before. It's like he's digging an escape tunnel!!! What's even more remarkable is that I can physically see a difference in my baby bump from this morning! He has definitely dropped, and continues to do so as I type.

All signs point to labor soon, but we'll see. I visit Dr. Chen tomorrow and I hope he says "How did you go from not being dialated to a 6???" hahahaha, yea right. Here's to hoping. We're all kind of rooting for a delivery tomorrow, mostly because it's also Beequee's birthday too!! How cool would it be if my baby was born on her birthday and her baby was born on mine!? (Could happen mine is 8/31 and she is due 9/5)