I know it took me a while to get started writing this down, but life with two children is a lot different than I expected. Its hard, and I knew it would be. But its hard in different ways than I thought it would be.
So how did my newest sweetheart come into the world? VERY easily! Well, compared to most births at least!
I really wanted a natural birth and had planned it that way for most of my pregnancy. Then I hit 38 weeks and had had enough. Isn't that horrible?! I was having so many problems with my back, going to the chiropractor every week, and it just stopped working like I needed it to. Sweet baby Lily had decided to camp on my sciatic nerve for the majority of my pregnancy, so at times, I could barely walk. So the doc set me to be induced at 12am on Nov. 30th.
He inserted a balloon earlier that day to help me dilate, and it got me to a 3 by the time I went in. They started the pitocin, and at that point I was still hoping for a natural birth. The poor nurse had a few rough hours in the beginning because Lily just wouldn't hold still. Every time they put the heart monitor on me, she decided to move so it looked like she was flat-lining every few minutes. Eventually I just started moving it myself to save the poor woman the hassel! Eventaully Lily decided to come down a little further so they could break my water and stick a monitor on her scalp. From there, things were pretty much smooth sailing. The contractions were getting worse and worse, but they were very erratic and coming one right on top of the other. I'll tell you, it was brutal! I could hardly finish a sentence between them. I was at a 7 and was so exhausted and so done, I decided to get the epidural. I am SO glad I did! Lily's heart rate started to wig out, so the nurses ran in to see what was up and I had gone from a 7 to 10 in 20 minutes! All my body needed to do was relax and it got the job done in no time. They called the doc and he came running in ( if you know Harter, you know he literally RAN in) and a few minutes later, after only 5 1/2 hours of labor, I had baby Lily in my arms. She was SO little! Just 6 lbs 13 oz and 18 1/2 inches long. And just perfect. There is nothing like those first moments when you meet your little ones for the first time. Moments I will never forget.
Lily is such a sweet baby. I hoped the Lord would be merciful and send me a more mellow little one, and he thought it was a good idea too! This child does not cry! She'll yell at us a little when she's hungry, but other than that, you have to really REALLY make her mad to get her to cry. Even then she calms down almost immediately. She loves to be held and is a bit of a cuddle bunny, and the girl can eat, at least when she stays awake long enough to get the job done! We had a few bumps in the road with nursing (normal nursing problems and a scary bout of diarrhea when she was just a few days old) but now everything is going great. I just really love this little girl, and I can't wait to find out who she is, what she's interested in, what she's like.
I love being a Mama. There is nothing like it in all the world.
December 10, 2009
December 08, 2009
November 12, 2009
Update For a Very Neglected Blog
I figured enough was enough. I had to blog eventually or give it up for good. Problem is, I have way too much, and way too little I want to say.
Dad's passing away has been tough. That's my understatement of the year. But I figure the world doesn't need a synopsis on this aspect of my life at the moment. I will say this: Pooka wanted to watch Up yesterday and she called it the "boy, dog and Papa movie" and I broke down.
Enough of that.
We are moving on Saturday, which is consuming the whole of my life at the moment. Matthew is doing a great job getting everything ready, but there is still so much to do, I am freaking out a little. But things will turn out well in the end. They always manage to. I just hope men from the Ward show up...
And then there is Lily. Prepping for her arrival is one of the most interesting things I have ever experienced. With Ivy, I was freaking out. I read everything, watched everything, did absolutely everything I could to make sure I was prepared. And when I actually had her, the only thing that did me any good was having my mother and my sister-in-law Stacie to talk to. Without them, I think Ivy wouldn't have made it past day two.
Now, life is so busy with work, Ivy, the move, and Dad that I haven't really had time to freak out. I come home every night sore and exhausted to a house that needs more packing, and eventually I just feel like I'm about to burst. Matthew usually takes that opportunity to remind me that I'm not allowed to have Lily until Monday. After that, sure. Bring it on. Just not before.
I read today on a baby website that women who are severely stressed during pregnancy have a much higher chance of having babies with developmental problems. Then I read that women with nausea and vomiting have babies with an obvious increase in mental capabilities, ie smarter kids. Do you think it will balance itself out so Lily is normal?
I can only hope.
Dad's passing away has been tough. That's my understatement of the year. But I figure the world doesn't need a synopsis on this aspect of my life at the moment. I will say this: Pooka wanted to watch Up yesterday and she called it the "boy, dog and Papa movie" and I broke down.
Enough of that.
We are moving on Saturday, which is consuming the whole of my life at the moment. Matthew is doing a great job getting everything ready, but there is still so much to do, I am freaking out a little. But things will turn out well in the end. They always manage to. I just hope men from the Ward show up...
And then there is Lily. Prepping for her arrival is one of the most interesting things I have ever experienced. With Ivy, I was freaking out. I read everything, watched everything, did absolutely everything I could to make sure I was prepared. And when I actually had her, the only thing that did me any good was having my mother and my sister-in-law Stacie to talk to. Without them, I think Ivy wouldn't have made it past day two.
Now, life is so busy with work, Ivy, the move, and Dad that I haven't really had time to freak out. I come home every night sore and exhausted to a house that needs more packing, and eventually I just feel like I'm about to burst. Matthew usually takes that opportunity to remind me that I'm not allowed to have Lily until Monday. After that, sure. Bring it on. Just not before.
I read today on a baby website that women who are severely stressed during pregnancy have a much higher chance of having babies with developmental problems. Then I read that women with nausea and vomiting have babies with an obvious increase in mental capabilities, ie smarter kids. Do you think it will balance itself out so Lily is normal?
I can only hope.
October 07, 2009
September 27, 2009
Some Random Updates
I figure its been a while since I actually wrote something of substance, so...
First, the phone is STILL awesome :)
Kipper is still driving me nuts. But the Lord is merciful. The dog is still not house trained, but since I threatened to skewer him and tell Matthew he ran away, he has been peeing only on hard surfaces. Right now, I'll take what I can get.
Matthew is in Idaho again. He went up last Tuesday as planned, but wasn't notified that the fund raising event he was supposed to be attending in order to get some introductions had been moved to this week. So he plodded through the week, applying to various places, interviewing at some. We decided, as hard as it was, that he needed to stay this week to attend the event as planned, sit through the interviews and meetings his cousin is setting up for him and then come home Saturday. We really feel this is what he should be doing, no matter how much it stinks. And boy, does it stink. The only thing that keeps me going is knowing that the Lord wants us to do it. Life isn't supposed to be easy, right?
Meanwhile, I have concluded that I am not going to give birth to a normal human child. It MUST be alien. How else could it contort itself in such unnatural ways? Or make me feel as though the child is going to rip through my belly like some horrible D SciFi movie? I blame it on Matthew. Not my genes!
Ivy started school at the beginning of the month. She was so stinkin cute on the first day of school. We, of course, were the annoying weepy parents taking pictures of their kid for five minutes straight. She was totally like "peace out, Mom and Dad. I'm going to school!" But that is Ivy. He teacher is great and really loves Ivy, although she acknowledges that she is a bit of a handful. I'm just glad to have her in a good structured program that she can have fun in while learning. She's just growing up!
First, the phone is STILL awesome :)
Kipper is still driving me nuts. But the Lord is merciful. The dog is still not house trained, but since I threatened to skewer him and tell Matthew he ran away, he has been peeing only on hard surfaces. Right now, I'll take what I can get.
Matthew is in Idaho again. He went up last Tuesday as planned, but wasn't notified that the fund raising event he was supposed to be attending in order to get some introductions had been moved to this week. So he plodded through the week, applying to various places, interviewing at some. We decided, as hard as it was, that he needed to stay this week to attend the event as planned, sit through the interviews and meetings his cousin is setting up for him and then come home Saturday. We really feel this is what he should be doing, no matter how much it stinks. And boy, does it stink. The only thing that keeps me going is knowing that the Lord wants us to do it. Life isn't supposed to be easy, right?
Meanwhile, I have concluded that I am not going to give birth to a normal human child. It MUST be alien. How else could it contort itself in such unnatural ways? Or make me feel as though the child is going to rip through my belly like some horrible D SciFi movie? I blame it on Matthew. Not my genes!
Ivy started school at the beginning of the month. She was so stinkin cute on the first day of school. We, of course, were the annoying weepy parents taking pictures of their kid for five minutes straight. She was totally like "peace out, Mom and Dad. I'm going to school!" But that is Ivy. He teacher is great and really loves Ivy, although she acknowledges that she is a bit of a handful. I'm just glad to have her in a good structured program that she can have fun in while learning. She's just growing up!
September 22, 2009
I Should Be Sleeping...!
I knew my life would change for the better when my big brother came to work for the Firm. I would have someone interesting to talk to. We'd have more work. I wouldn't be alone. I hated being alone.
But that is not where the goodness ends. Oh no.
My big bro, in all his awesomeness, gave me an iPhone! I know this isn't such a big deal to probably 99% of the population, but it is a huge deal to me. Its like Christmas and Anniversary and Birthday are all here all at once - because that is the ONLY way I could have ever justified getting one of these. Matthew would have had to promise to not buy me anything for a year, maybe two. But Damon saved me the horror - and Matthew the pain - of that fate.
The most amazingly wonderful part is that in my research in finding out if we could actually afford to turn the sucker on, I realized that I have been paying $15 a month for 1500 texts and using only 160. So that cut the required data plan fee in half, or so I thought. Turns out it will only cost us $20 a month to have the phone, including the 200 texts! So we are only paying $5 extra a month. SWEET!
Needless to say, I have been playing with it for the past 2 hours. I'm easily amused, I know.
Yay early Christmas/Birthday/Anniversary!
Now if I could just put it down so I can sleep....
But that is not where the goodness ends. Oh no.
My big bro, in all his awesomeness, gave me an iPhone! I know this isn't such a big deal to probably 99% of the population, but it is a huge deal to me. Its like Christmas and Anniversary and Birthday are all here all at once - because that is the ONLY way I could have ever justified getting one of these. Matthew would have had to promise to not buy me anything for a year, maybe two. But Damon saved me the horror - and Matthew the pain - of that fate.
The most amazingly wonderful part is that in my research in finding out if we could actually afford to turn the sucker on, I realized that I have been paying $15 a month for 1500 texts and using only 160. So that cut the required data plan fee in half, or so I thought. Turns out it will only cost us $20 a month to have the phone, including the 200 texts! So we are only paying $5 extra a month. SWEET!
Needless to say, I have been playing with it for the past 2 hours. I'm easily amused, I know.
Yay early Christmas/Birthday/Anniversary!
Now if I could just put it down so I can sleep....
September 01, 2009
Life
That last post was a bit of a downer, eh? Sorry about that. It seemed like everything that could go wrong that day did. And as I am not very good at bottling up my emotions (Matthew would readily testify) the blog was a perfect way to get some of it out.
To clarify:
When it rains, it really does pour, but that's not always such a bad thing.
The dog DOES like me, just not as much as Matthew. I'm ok with that. Its mutual.
Pooka has been sleeping better (maybe the post worked some hidden voo-doo magic?)
I LOVE to feel Lily move and kick, I just prefer it in non-sleeping time. The night before I posted last time was the first time she ever woke me up with brutal kicks to my innards.
The carrying a gun at work thing, not so much of a bother now. I would need to be further educated in firearms training before I would be comfortable with it, but knowing I can take care of myself, my family, and anyone else who needs me is amazingly comforting. And if I were to get this Metro position, I am glad to say I truly believe I could do it, dealing with all the evil of the world first hand. I have such an amazing, supportive husband, a father who has seen it all, and I will (hopefully) make friends in my unit who I can lean on and rely upon for help if and when the time comes. But my Heavenly Father will help me do it if it is right. And that is the most important, uplifting piece of information I can ever have. If it is right, He will help me do it.
I am still sad about not giving Grandma Morris that picture before she died, but I'm sure she understands.
Such is life.
To clarify:
When it rains, it really does pour, but that's not always such a bad thing.
The dog DOES like me, just not as much as Matthew. I'm ok with that. Its mutual.
Pooka has been sleeping better (maybe the post worked some hidden voo-doo magic?)
I LOVE to feel Lily move and kick, I just prefer it in non-sleeping time. The night before I posted last time was the first time she ever woke me up with brutal kicks to my innards.
The carrying a gun at work thing, not so much of a bother now. I would need to be further educated in firearms training before I would be comfortable with it, but knowing I can take care of myself, my family, and anyone else who needs me is amazingly comforting. And if I were to get this Metro position, I am glad to say I truly believe I could do it, dealing with all the evil of the world first hand. I have such an amazing, supportive husband, a father who has seen it all, and I will (hopefully) make friends in my unit who I can lean on and rely upon for help if and when the time comes. But my Heavenly Father will help me do it if it is right. And that is the most important, uplifting piece of information I can ever have. If it is right, He will help me do it.
I am still sad about not giving Grandma Morris that picture before she died, but I'm sure she understands.
Such is life.
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