Mini Fox Birth Story

Okay here's the birth story, I know you were all holding your breath.

It started on the day before 38 weeks, it was Sunday, September 8th, we thought, this might be the last weekend as a family of three, so let's do something fun. I decided I really wanted to take advantage of the nice weather and go to the beach. I packed us up a nice lunch and off we headed. When we were done with the sand and playing Baby Fox wanted to walk around, we figure, hey maybe we can get labor started if I walk around a bit. I was getting contractions, but nothing that stopped me in my tracks and nothing that was time-able.

Monday morning I see some blood, so I call the doctor and he has me come in to do monitor baby. Everything was fine, baby was great and I was about 4cm dilated. Doc said he thought I would go into labor on Sept. 11th (the day that Mr. picked). For the rest of the day I felt mild contractions, but nothing to write home about. Figuring since I could walk and talk through them, they were probably Braxton Hicks.  We put Baby Fox to bed about 8:45 and just as I was walking out of his room I felt a contractions that made me stop for a second. Then about 5 minutes later I had another one. I told Mr, I think we should start timing them now. So time them we did, I started getting things ready, I wanted to charge the battery in my camera, and put the load of laundry in the dryer so that I could pack some of that stuff to go with us. We were sitting on the couch trying to decide what to watch, when Mr. decides, you know I think we should start heading to the hospital. I said what? It's only been 20 minutes, what happened contractions have to be 5 minutes apart, lasting for 1 minute for an hour? He said we needed to get a move on. He called my aunt who was going to be there with us to tell her that it was time (she lives about an hour away - her bags were already packed and in the car). Also called my parents telling them it was time. I told Mr. I wanted to take a shower first. He told me to hurry.

While in the shower the contractions were getting closer together, maybe every 3 minutes. It took so long to get anything done because I would have to stop and breathe through a contraction. Mr kept telling me, I don't want to deliver this baby at home! Hurry up. I really wanted to take off this nail polish that was worn and needed to be taken off, but Mr said that I didn't have time to do that. I told him to grab it an that I would do it when I got there. My parents finally got there around 10:20pm and Mr ran us out the door. Of course I had a contraction when I got to the bottom of the stairs, my parents said that they were certain that I was going to give birth right then and there.

*side note - the camera battery didn't charge fully, never got into the camera and my clothes were still in the dryer drying when we left.

The ride to the hospital was brutal! Man sitting still while going through intense pain like that was HARD! I kept having to tell Mr to slow down and to not drive so fast over ditches and stuff. Luckily the hospital is only 10 minutes away. We got there and had to go through the ER, while I was getting out of the car, a worker came up to us with a wheel chair, he told Mr to go get me checked in (hesitant, he did since he wanted to speed things along) and that he would wait there with me while I worked through my most recent contraction. I got into the wheel chair and then proceeded to have another contraction as soon as we got inside, and then had another one while they finished checking us in.

We FINALLY made it to labor and delivery and I told the nurse that my contractions were about 2 minute apart. She said okay, let's get you checked and settled in. She later told me that because I was smiling and not screaming my head off she didn't think I was that close. I changed into my gown and as I was getting into bed, literally, one foot on the floor the other on the bed, my water broke. I told Mr, I think my water just broke, either that or I am peeing myself. The latter would have been so embarrassing. The nurse checked my progress and she told me that I was 5-6 cm dilated. I told her that I wanted an epidural. She was very responsive and got someone in to give me the iv, so I could start fluids and get my blood work done. Pain is all I can describe, I kept thinking, just get these fluids in me, I had to keep my left arm still for the iv, I felt like I was going to break the bed rails I was gripping them so hard, trying not to move my arm. My contractions are practically on top of each other now, and the nurse finally gets the iv fluids going. I ask how long for me to get a bag of fluids, they said 20 minutes. I kept thinking, okay 20 minutes, I just have to do this for 20 minutes, I really hope the doctor can get the epidural in me fast! The nurse then says, let's check to see if you've progressed at all. She informs me that I'm now at 9cm. What?! Wasn't I just at 5-6cm like 10 minutes ago?! I say, does that mean no epidural? She says, at this point that is very unlikely. I could hear in the background that they called my doctor and the on call doctor and they'd see who made it there first. Suddenly one leg is in a stirrup that appeared out of no where. I was laying on my side so they said I had to rotate and put the other leg in the stirrup, I said that I was more comfortable the way I was. All of a sudden I felt the need to push, so mid contraction I scream I have to push! And I start doing so, simultaneously they put my leg in the other stirrup. They told me to stop and that I was going too fast. They asked me are you pushing to push or are you having a contraction. It made me stop and think and I said pushing to push.  I didn't have to wait long another was coming and strong. I started screaming and pushing with everything I had. I felt her come out, and then the doctor (some random doctor that happened to be there? I have no idea who it was), and she said to push one more time and she was out. Just like that, I had a natural labor with no epidural. I didn't sign up for it, but wouldn't change it for the world. Quite frankly I don't think I could have handled that much pain for longer then I did. I don't think I could have waited for the epidural to relieve the pain, that would have been another hour or so. I'm also certain that anyone in the hospital who wanted no epidural was now changing their mind after listening to me. She was born at 11:08pm, 25 minutes or so after getting to labor and delivery. Yep it happened that fast.

My aunt arrived about 15 minutes later and my doctor arrived about 10 minutes after that.

Me and Mini Fox minutes after birth.

In the baby warmer trying to raise body temperature.

All warmed up and cuddling mommy.

Notice the orange nail polish that I wanted to take off, but happy I didn't cause Mr might have had to deliver her in the ER parking lot.

 

 

And that's it, Mini Fox's birth story. Unfortunately things happened so fast we didn't get any before pictures...darn.

 

 Linking up with Faith, Sarah and Megan



 

She's Here!

Sorry about being MIA this week, but guess who decided to come a little early?

Born September 9 at 11:08pm, miss Mini Fox!

 6lbs 8oz, 18.5 inches long and totally perfect.

The birth story is going to blow your mind (let's just say from start to finish it was under 2 hours!), it is still blowing mine, so come back next week for that.

Here are a couple of pictures to tide you over till then.

Freshly Bathed

Me and my new best friend

I'm off to eat, sleep and wrap my head around being a mommy of 2.

All Set

Okay not really, but I'm going to just go ahead and say that.

Sorry I've been MIA for the past week. I went on maternity leave from work and have been trying to get stuff ready around the house, time just seems to escape me and when I do have some free time, I tend to take a nap.

Washed her clothes, I think she might have more then me

I got a haircut today so I can officially say I'm ready, it's been a year, yep, a whole year since I got my hair cut, I think it was about time. I feel like a new person.

My hair lady said, so you have your bag packed for the hospital...doh! I knew there was something I was forgetting! Guess I'm off to do that.

Linking up with Faith, Sarah and Megan

Like Mommy like Son

 I know I told you I wouldn't do another pregnancy post, but this was too funny not to share.

 

I have been really bad about taking pictures this pregnancy, I finally remembered on Sunday.

 

 

Baby Fox wanted to take a picture too, does this pose look familiar? haha, funny kid.

 

 

 

One Of Those Pregnancy Posts

First I would like to say, I hit 40 followers, woo hoo! Watch out world, here I come! And thank you to everyone who keeps coming back to read what I have to say.

I figure I don't talk about pregnancy that much, so I'll go ahead and do one of those pregnancy posts. Because I know you are all wondering, if not, then wait till tomorrow, I'll have something else.

Weeks: 32 Weeks

Ignore the toys, that's Noah's Ark, most of the animals are missing because Baby Fox thinks they're his babies and carries them around until he loses them, and then goes to fetch a new one. At least there is two of each animal, takes twice as long to lose everything. Oh and please excuse the way I look, it's right before bedtime and I've been up for 15 hours already.

 Belly Button: Creepy outtie, seriously, it's creepy, like where did it come from and I hope it goes away the minute this alien comes out. Oh and when you push on it, it's squishy, you're welcome for that visual.

Feeling: Sorta crappy. Gotta admit, I'm not one of those girls that loves being pregnant, it's a means to an end. Although do I really want a crying newborn? Hmm...I hope she's snuggly at least. I don't sleep and I wake up 2-3 times a night to go pee...waking up at 5am (technically 4:54am) to go to work doesn't really help either though.

Also feeling like oh my gosh we have 8 weeks left till due date, 6 weeks if she comes as early as Baby Fox did, and the room is no where near ready...when I say no where near ready, I mean we just ordered Baby Fox's furniture this past weekend, and we just got her bedding in the mail, and have NOTHING else.And the room is still full of my crafting stuff, and I have no idea where to put it...hmmm...???

What Happened This Week: Went to the doctors yesterday, going to the doctors every 2 weeks now (this is getting real!) Although all they do is have you pee in a cup, doc measures your tummy (yep it's getting bigger) and listens for a heartbeat. That part was cool, it goes, swoosh, swooosh, swoooosh, ah, music to my ears.

I can't remember what else people write...OH...

Looking Forward To: Maternity leave...4 more weeks baby! And of course meeting baby girl, wondering what she'll look like, how big she'll be, will she be small like Baby Fox, or will she be big like her cousin (he was 9.5 pounds) I'm hoping for something smaller then 8 pounds... please be less then 8 pounds, I thought pushing a 6 pound baby out was hard enough, I can't imagine 2 more pounds, yikes!

Scared of: The Epidural, I had a bad experience the first time around. I'm hoping that same doctor isn't on staff this time around. I told her if she walked in to give me my epidural this time around, I would seriously consider going with no drugs, yep that's how bad my experience was. Those that haven't had one, the epidural was seriously a life saver after she got it in and it started working, but it shouldn't have been that traumatic.

Baby Fox: Is excited for baby sister to come, he wants to feed her all of his food and drinks. Sometimes he'll walk up to my belly and point his cup or food towards my belly and make a noise like she's eating/drinking whatever he has. So cute, we keep telling him that she'll be too little to eat his food/drinks. I think he's going to be a great big brother, that is after he gets over the jealously thing.

Mr.: He's been great and really supportive. I can't believe how lucky I am to have him in my life and how my love for him has grown exponentially since having kids. Watching him with Baby Fox is the best things ever.

While Mr. was taking pictures of me he said, do one of those silly heart pictures...haha, for whatever reason we both think those pictures are hilarious. Here's my version:

And in case you wanted to see a side view. I think this picture is really deceiving, I am really bigger then that in real life. Seriously, I think it's the black skirt, it's slimming or something.

How She's Like Baby Fox: She gets the hiccups at least twice a day if not 3 times. She has them as I type this out. Feels strange, but makes me know that her lungs are developing with each hiccup.

I think that's it, probably more then you wanted to know. Don't worry this will be my first and last one of these.

Until tomorrow!

Jelly Beans Galore...Or Something

For those of you that don't know, when pregnant you have to take this glucose test to see if you have gestational diabetes. You have to drink this sugary drink wait an hour, and then they test your blood to see if your body is processing the sugar and stuff....but with my food allergies, I can't drink that sugary drink (cause it has corn syrup in it - allergic, of course), so I had to find a substitute.  Want to know what it is? Jelly Beans...yep, I found some organic jelly beans when I was pregnant with Baby Fox, and I ate a whole lot of them. So many in fact that I haven't had a jelly bean since, until now.

I was counting out how many I needed to equal this drink...53, yes that's right, I have to eat 53 jelly beans in a few minutes...ugh, my stomach is NOT looking forward to this.

Wish me luck, I'll let you know how it goes. Please don't fail, please don't fail!

Random Wednesday

Okay, so I wouldn't consider this an outfit post, mostly because it was right before I took a shower and wanted to snap a quick picture and I had taken off all of my accessories. Not that it was that much, a necklace and bracelet, so just pretend that's what you see there.

23 Weeks 4 Days (out of 40 for those that don't know)

Random Thoughts:

This is going to be a LONG summer. I mean I really hope it's not as hot as it was last year, else I might be one cranky hot pregnant lady! Seriously.

Luckily we have lots of activities planned for the summer, so it should go pretty quickly. On to the list:

• Go to Seattle to visit family
• Baby Fox's 1/2 birthday celebration (just got the invites in the mail last night, woo hoo!)
• Legoland (wish me luck on that one I'll be 7.5 months pregnant)
• My birthday!
• Hopefully lots of beach days with friends and family

Lots to look forward before this little gets here.

Speaking of which, holy cow, I have so much to do before she gets here! I have to clear out her room from all of my stuff...I have NO IDEA where it's going to go. I keep putting it off, but there is only 3.5 months left and  I haven't even begun to think about room decor. I am SO not my mother's daughter, she would have had the whole thing planned out week 5 of the pregnancy (you know cause you don't know you're pregnant for the first 4).

I guess this post turned out to be all about baby, starting to have anxiety about how much needs to get done...but on the flip side, we did get a Double Bob this past weekend I could barely fit it into the car, and I may have had to take the wheels off to get it to fit...we're now up to 4 strollers, one day I'll take a picture of the ridiculousness of it all.

Linking up with Shanna today and Faith, Sarah and Megan

What A Deal!

This weekend I did something that I don't normally do - I went to a used children's clothing store. They were having this awesome sale...fill a bag (that they provide) for $5! What?! I thought it was worth checking out. It opened at 10am, but Baby Fox had a swim lesson at 10:40, so we were just going to have to hit it up afterward. We didn't get there till about 12:30, while there was a lot of things still available, it was definitely picked over. I talked with someone who went before it opened, and she said it was a mad house. A lot of the stuff was dried when it shouldn't have been, so it was short and fat, or it was just really worn out, probably not going to last another kid. We were picky since we only wanted to fill one bag worth. This is how much we got.

That's right we got 12 things for $5.

2 - pairs of jeans
2 - long sleeve shirts
3 - rompers
2  - pj's
1 - onsie
1- short sleeve top
1 - pair of shorts

Even if some of the things don't work out, the jeans with the hearts are worth $5, so we think not matter what we use it's a win.

Final thoughts: I thought some of the things there that weren't in the fill a bag sale was over priced. It seemed that they typically charged about 50% of what the actual price was, which you can almost find if you go to Target or Carters and have the clothes be new. So for me I think I would only go if they were having the $5 bag sale.

In closing: This little girl almost has more clothes than Baby Fox does...we just keep buying stuff for her. Gotta keep that in check, our clothing budget is dwindling quick!

We're having a.....

Girl!

She was sucking her thumb almost the whole time, moving around lots and trying to avoid the technician getting a good picture (in case you don't read ultrasounds, the head is on the left, that blob in the middle is her heart)

We don't need to see the "goods" shot, I'm trying to teach her modesty after all.

Mr. is so excited he can barely contain himself. Like the possibility of having a boy was just out of the question. When we found out we were having a girl he went out the next day and bought her a few outfits.

I admit I was a little disappointed at first. But I think I had convinced myself it was a boy so that if it was, I would be happy and excited and not sad not to have a girl. So when they said girl it was a shock, like serious shock! Now I'm excited for bows, tutus and having someone to watch all those silly chick flicks with me and those teen movies where you're embarassed to see it. Now I can blame my daughter...well she wanted to see it, I'm being a good mother. Prom dress shopping, I really hope she's a shopper, cause Baby Fox isn't cutting it any more, he would rather ride up and down the escalator 5 million times then go into a shop with me. And I admit 2 days later I was buying her clothes from Macy's, you know cause I needed to get to the free shipping price, so I just HAD to buy her something!

Now to find the perfect going home outfit, I'm going to put us in the poor house, the girl clothes out there are SOOO cute! Although I think she already has Mr. wrapped around her little 20 week finger. We're all in trouble!

Linking up with: Faith, Sarah and Megan for "Mommy Moments"

Random Wednesday!

Because you guys haven't gotten enough of this kid.  This is Baby Fox's reaction to having to leave the park. If only we all could have such deep emotion to cry bit crocodile tears when leaving somewhere. Although then people would laugh and stare, oh to be a 2 years old. I lied...announcement coming on Friday, thought it would be a good way to start the weekend.

So I haven't participated in this in a few weeks because of that thing called jury duty. But here are some thing I've been thinking:

I passed a billboard this morning that said something along the lines of needing a 40 piece chicken nugget pack from McDonalds...seriously? 40 chicken nuggets? What are you feeding a small army? And even if you could find someone to share this with, by the time you got to nugget 30, the rest would be cold, ew, cold chicken nuggets from McDonalds. And we wonder why there's an obesity problem in the U.S.

I passed 5 signs this morning. Someone had taken the time to write out 5 signs and hang them on 5 overpasses, actually 10 because it was posted on both sides of the freeway, and they wrote so skinny that you couldn't read the sign going 75mph (actually 80mph, but that just sounds too fast, seriously people here drive that fast at 5am). Maybe I'll try again on the way home, but if you take the time to write out a sign to post on the freeway, make it readable please!

Baby doesn't like tomatoes...it's really bumming me out because we used to eat spaghetti once a week. Something I can make in 20 minutes and everyone loves it? I'm in...but I'm feeling hopeful that baby is almost on board with tomatoes. I ate some salsa this weekend and it stayed down, I'm very hopeful. Please don't disappoint.

Last thing, I started calling baby Muffin because at 5 weeks pregnant, I kid you not, 5 freakin' weeks my pants were giving me a muffin top. Baby Fox has shortened this to Baby Muffie, so cute!

In case you wanted to see, here's me in all my 18 week glory (I'm currently 20 weeks, but haven't taken a picture yet)

Can't currently wear any necklaces, they all make me feel like I'm choking, even the long ones, no joke!

Linking up with Shanna today

What We've been Up To

So with 3 weeks of jury duty, the blog has taken a back seat. So I'll quickly update you guys with what we've been doing. I'll try to keep the pictures at a minimum.

So going back to April 19th (I know it's been way too long right?!). We put the pool cover on and got the pool up to 75°, warm enough for these crazy boys to swim. Baby Fox loves jumping off the deck.

April 20th is our first non parent and me swim class. Sniff sniff, Baby Fox was NOT happy and cried pretty much the whole time. That's his sad face, although the kid that the guy is holding, was crying WAY more, so I guess I can feel slightly better.

After nap time Baby Fox helped Daddy wash his "fun" car. 

April 22nd - Watching Fox and The Hound. And look, the room even looks clean, that NEVER happens!

(the kid doesn't have enough trucks...see all of them lined up by the fireplace?)

April 26th - Playdate/lunch with his friend, J-Bear. We just bought this table and it comes with a cute little umbrella, the kids loved it!

I got these shoes because this lady and this lady told me to. Okay not really, but they couldn't stop talking about them, I mean they mentioned these bad boys in at least 3 or 4 different posts. Although I have to admit they had me at the very first post, and I immediately bought 2 pairs. And my lovely models are showing them off. They came in the mail during our playdate and of course we had to break them out, and the kids wanted to try them on. I think they pull them off nicely. I have to say that J-Bear rocked those shoes so hard, and was practically running in them, Baby Fox, not so much, but he was trying and eventually wanted to trade shoes so he could wear the pink ones. I do have to say they are SOOOO comfortable, if you don't have them, go out and buy them now! Your summer dresses and shorts will thank you for sprucing them up. And the bonus? They aren't that expensive, totally affordable, so go out and get them!

This past weekend a good friend just had her baby, so we went to visit them. Baby is great and Baby Fox, loved her and got some good kisses and hugs in, I think he's going to make a great Big Brother.

Went to swim lessons, just by himself this time, and boy was he upset, but towards the end the "I want my Daddy" started to calm down, so we'll just keep trying. Eventually he'll stop crying right? We're doing this for water safety, so we have to keep coming. Although it's so easy to just say, another time.

Sunday we ate dinner outside, you know cause everyone eats ribs outside while Mommy's BBQ on the grill. Best discovery, Whole Foods sells ribs individually. So we don't have to order a hole side or half of ribs, we got 3 and paid our $5 and were done. Score!

That's pretty much what we've been up to. Come back tomorrow to see a picture of our baby and to find out what we're having!

Linking up with: Faith, Sarah and Megan for "Mommy Moments"

Big Changes!

So I told you yesterday that I was going to tell you why I've been a little MIA from the blogging world lately. I promise I have a good reason, and Baby Fox wanted to tell you what it was:

Yep that's right, we're having a baby! I'm 12 weeks and feeling MUCH better. We had a few complications at the beginning, but everything has worked itself out and baby is doing great! The main reason I've been absent:  I was suffering from morning sickness, which pretty much left me unable to do anything productive. Between waking up at 4:30am and getting home from work at 5pm, I was pretty beat, and barely able to get dinner on the table let alone blog.  But feeling much better and really hoping that I kick this morning sickness sooner than I did with Baby Fox (he was 20 weeks), anything is better then that right?

We went and had our 12 week scan last Thursday, okay really it was 11 weeks, 3 days, but whatever. Everything looked great and we got a great side profile picture, we never got that with Baby Fox. So we were pretty stoked (people still say that right?)

Well here's to a healthy and happy 28 weeks!

Linking up to:
Faith, Sarah and Megan for "Mommy Moments"