Week 39 - Hiccups on the Outside

It was 3:30 in the morning on Monday, May 24th and I was peacefully sleeping away.  Yes, it's true, 9 month pregnant women can have peaceful sleep.  Only 2 more hours until the alarm would go off for work.

Instead, I was awakened by a different alarm. 

My water broke....

... and my world was about to change.

"Honey.  My water broke. The doctor said to head to the hospital."  

"Now?"

YES NOW. In case you aren't familiar with what now means, Now = after showers for the two of us, coffee for him, food for the kitties, a once-over of the hospital bag and a paw-count (Refer to previous post about Baxter's great escape as we left for our wedding in St. John!)

We never got around to a 39 week picture.. so.. TA DAHHH! Pretty, huh?

I'll sum up my experience in Check-in, Triage, and the Labor & Delivery Room by saying the following:   One of us thought it would be fun to take a photo of my "water broken" capris...  there may have been fishing shows on TV at some point... Someone drank a huge Starbucks while the other of us was offered ice chips, and there was a conference call/business negotiation for work going on while one of us was having contractions in the background...  Yes... these things really happened and my experience wouldn't have been the same without them. 

The rest of the story goes like this:  Induction begins... (Holy PAIN Batman!)  Epidural... (Relief).... PushPushPushPushPushPushPush (WHAT!?!?!) and then finally -- the moment we were both waiting for... C-Section.    I hadn't thought much about labor in general other than 1) give me an epidural and 2) give me an epidural, however the words c-section did kind of freak me out.

The baby turned out to be transverse (head turned sideways) and so he wasn't coming down for delivery.  In addition his heart rate was dropping every time I pushed, so the C-section turned out to be the only option for his safe entry into the world.  If you've never had an unplanned c-section, they move FAST... so fast you could get wrapped up into just plain FEAR.  I'll save the details.  But, after what seemed like only a few warm and fuzzy minutes (no, seriously, a spinal does that to a person), I heard the doctors ask "Dad" to stand up and watch, and all I remember is Chris, "Ohhh... Woowwww.. He has a ton of hair!" followed by that adorable newborn baby cry.

1:56pm, Monday May 24th.. Our little miracle Nolan Michael LeMessurier arrived weighing 8lbs, 5z, and 21 inches long.

The past week has been pure sleepless bliss... we couldn't be more thrilled to be parents and are so glad Nolan is here with us.  We love to hear his hiccups in person instead of through Mommy's belly.  We love you, Little Bug!  Welcome to this amazing, crazy world!!

Mommy's Day!

As I walked into Whole Foods on Friday, I was stopped by a woman walking towards me.  "Happy Mother's Day to You," she said, nodding down at my belly.

I was stunned.. my first thought, "But I'm not a Mom..."

And then it hit me...  I AM a Mommy.  I'm a Mommy to a 7lb Princess named Sammy -- an orange tabby who loves nothing more than to snuggle next to my belly and bounce while the baby kicks her.   I'm Mommy to Baxter, an 18lb MOOSE (I mean kitty) who thinks he's part dog.  And, most importantly, I'm Mommy to a 6lb Bug, rolling and kicking in my belly every day.

I make sure they are all fed and well-rested.. have regular visits to the doctor, and that they have plenty of play time.  I keep them safe from harms way and protect them with my love and affection.

Yes, I am a Mommy... And it's only going to get better from here.

37 weeks!  Can't wait to meet you, Baby Bug....!

Dad's Advice

Well if you knew my Dad well in the least you'd know a couple of his favorite sayings.  First, "Life isn't Fair" -- those were always his words when we complained how it wasn't fair that so-and-so got to do ABC and we didn't.   But second was this, which my Mom reminded me of just yesterday:  "Nice guys always finish last."

OK it's not like my Dad was Negative Nelly all the time, but those were two of his favorite comments which were always sparked by some sort of life incident that had happened to him.  His life wasn't easy, and it turns out he wasn't far off on his wisdom.  He was the man who did everything for everyone else and got no thanks in return... and... he left this earth at 51, which certainly wasn't fair.  He definitely reminded us that life had it's curves, and we were going to have to face them.

33 years and some host of unfair situations later, I realize that it's not me that has come in last...It's their loss, and the gain of those people who are patient, loving, and supportive during the twists and turns life has to offer.

So this week, a GIANT Thank you to my incredible friends who showered me with a most generous baby shower -- full of wisdom, advice, gifts, and love.  These are some of the most strong and dedicated  Mothers, Wives, and Professionals I know... all of whom have supported me without ever judging... accepting me for who I am... and loving me for the faults that make me unique.    Thank you ALSO to my coworkers who surprised me with an impromptu meeting all about Baby Bug... complete with tons of thoughtful and generous, GENEROUS gifts, and of course a yummy delicious cake to feed our fetish.  (It wouldn't be a department get together without cake...)   I am so fortunate to have these wonderful and kind folks surrounding me in my daily life.

So Dad, I hear ya.  Life isn't fair.  But sometimes, the good guy DOES finish first... it just takes awhile to realize it all.

Down to the Wire

And here we are with 5 weeks left to go before D day.  So much to do, it feels like, but really... what is there?  We have everything we need AND MORE thanks to such generous friends and family.  The energy level is deteriorating and the 22 pounds have definately left their mark.  Ohhhh to be able to do my beloved pilates again! 

We have successfully kept Baxter out of the crib thanks to my friends at Reynolds -- Aluminum Foil lining the mattress has scared him to death.  One try in left him IMMEDIATELY out, and never tried again.  Let's hope to keep that up, Boo!  He has, however, taken a liking to wrist rattles.  Hmm..

Now if we could just agree on a name.........

Ocho! Huit! Acht! Osiem! EIGHT!

Yeah you heard me.. EIGHT weeks left.  Unbelievable, really.  While Chris thinks this whole thing is "dragging on" (his words, not mine!)... I have to disagree.  I can't believe how fast it's gone.  Such a whirlwind, really.  I will never forget that day at the doctor's office when I was informed of what was about to happen in this belly of mine... and for so long, I had no symptoms so I just "couldn't drink" and was bummed about it. But then.. slowly... things started to change....

...and then there were cheese-it's and cheese-it's alone.  (It was all I could eat for a number of days.)   I think I packed an entire box on a business trip.  And then came the repulsions.  Get anything BBQ or Honey Dijon OUT of my way.. Barf!!!!!!!!  That gave way to the worst allergy/sinus/nonsense ever.  A box of kleenex a week, are you kidding me?  Clearly not.  I slept all day and sneezed all night -- Chris even said "I hope this isn't a sign of what the rest is going to be like.."  I remember waking up in the middle of the night sneezing.  In hotel rooms.. In our own house.. anywhere.  It was the most ridiculous thing ever. 

Second Trimester yielded nothing but a nagging pain in my ribcage when I attempted to lie on my left side which unfortunately has NOT gone away.    My sinuses gave me a break.. my energy level peaked.. and I was feeling alive.  Most days, barely pregnant!  Until of course I tried to sleep........ and that belly got in the way.. or that pain made me remember quite vividly what was happening.

And now, with 8 weeks left, I still hate BBQ and Honey Mustard...   AND cheese-it's, for that matter...  I STILL have a nagging pain in my left side... but I have a whole NEW set of things to think about.  Like, Swelling... contractions... getting up 5 times a night to pee...and feet sticking out of my abdomen. 

Dragging on!?!?!?!  I don't think so.  This is the miracle of life.... Feet sticking out of my abdomen!   He's just jealous.