Thursday, December 30, 2010

One year ago... and 3 years ago...

Last year we celebrated our 2 year anniversary, and I found out I was pregnant with little Max. I can't believe how much has changed in just a year! It's so amazing to look back and see what the Lord has, and is, doing in our lives. Having a child is such an amazing experience to go through. Max is such a blessing.
So today is also our 3 year anniversary. I absolutely love my husband; he’s my best friend. We've been through our share of tough, stressful moments this past year along with many blessings as well. The Lord continues to be so faithful to us. Can't wait to see what plans the Lord unveils in 2011!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

It's been a while...

So it's been a (little) while since my last post. Hah! I was still pregnant with little Max! We had just gone for a check-up and we hadn't even found out if we were having a boy or a girl! Life is so crazy!

Well, alot has happened since then...

Max is now 3 and a half months old! He was born on August 29th at 8:07 am. His original due date was not until September 8th. So he was 10 days early, which was fine for me because I was beginning to feel SO huge! I think by the end of pregnancy you feel so uncomfortable that you're just ready to have the baby out! It's ironic because that's exactly what I told my husband, Michael, the day Max was born. I had gone with my good friend Beth to get a pedicure around 2, it was a Saturday. Afterwards, her and her husband came over to eat dinner and watch a movie. Mike and Eric had gone to pick out the movie and of course brought back a real 'man-flick', hah!. Near the end of the second movie I started to feel funny.
That is when it all began...

12:00 am
Our friends left

I felt so tired, and I had this dull pain in my lower abdomen. Then I kept having this strong urge to use the bathroom. I NEVER thought to myself that it could be labor. I think when you're pregnant, and the time finally comes, you're so nervous that you make excuses in your head because somehow the fact that you've waited so long, it seems the day will never arrive. As silly as this may be, I thought it could be period cramps! Or possibly some bad restaurant food, or maybe just some indigestion. Finally, Michael took out his cell and began timing the start of one contraction to the next. We were shocked when they were only 2 and half to 3 minutes apart! I tried not to get upset, I just kept saying "this is not THAT bad, not bad enough for labor!" BUT, I put my makeup back on just in case THIS WAS IT! (call me vain, but if I was going to be all sweaty and in pain, I was going to look like myself! lol)

1:30 am
Phone call (& pizza!)
I called my sister in law who's an RN and has had 2 children herself. By the end of our phone conversation, I was hunched over and prancing around in pain chowing down on a slice of pizza (you're not allowed to eat once you're admitted). I had to go sit again... I heard her over the phone tell Mike to take me to the hospital.

2:25 am
We left for the hospital

Our bags weren't fully packed yet, and being the packrat that I am, I found myself sprinting up the stairs a few times remembering the stuff I had wanted to bring. Turns out we didn't use any of it (the yoga ball, back scracther, etc.) We did however use the gum, HIGHLY recommended! All that running around got my mind off the contractions, but once in the car, they really came full force. All I can remember is Michael telling me to breathe. As we rode down the highway (we live an hour from the hospital) I tried singing to aliviate the pain. Even now I still get chills when I listen to those songs. Watching the length of the song told me when the contraction would come again, considering by this point they were coming every 1 and a half to 2 mins. I finally accepted that this was it, and I started crying tears of joy! That was such a sweet moment for us.

3:25 am
We checked into the hospital

I remember holding my belly in pain while filling out our nametags. (I was so in pain, doing things myself took my mind off the pain, (carrying the hospital bag, filling out the nametags, etc.)I had a HUGE contraction in the elevator and I remember looking aroung in that mirrored thing thinking, I can see myself in writhing in pain in every direction! ahh! (but it was an exciting pain :))

Once we got in the room, I asked to be checked immediately. I hadn't been checked yet at any of my appt's. (I had one scheduled for one the next day and they were going to check me for the first time.) I was amazed when she told me I was almost 5 centimeters! Half-way there!

4:30
Epidural time

When we first got there I asked for an epidural right away. But, you have to go through two bags of IV fluid before they'll give it to you. By the time the Anesthesiologist arrived, I was 7 centimeters. I was shaking I was in so much pain. Unfortunatly the pain was even worse when I got the epidural. The Anesthesiologist kept hitting a nerve in my spine that sent my right leg shooting off the table. This happened three times all while having a contraction. It was horrible.

Once that epidural kicked in though, I was in heaven. Your legs get all warm and tingly, and the pain stops!! It's AH-MAY-ZING! I highly recommend it.

about 7:50
Pushing time

I was on the phone with my mom telling her to hurry up! (she lives about 4 hours away) She walked through the elevator with Mike's family ushering her to run, not walk, to the room!!! (she walked in right as they were weighing him; I only pushed twice, it went so fast!)

8:07
MAX IS BORN!

There is nothing in life more amazing than the sight of your first born baby after that last push. I looked up and thought, "wow it's a baby!". When they laid him on my chest, I felt odd at first. I thought, "this is mine!?" It's so incredible the emotions that you go through. It's something you can't imagine until you go through it for yourself. It didn't really hit me until they were wheeling me down the hall and they handed me my baby. I started crying. What had been a belly, was now a baby; life will never be the same. :)