The Big Arrival!

So Friday I had been having contractions (as usual), but they still weren't strong enough for me to pay too much attention to them. Around 11:30pm I sent Matt to the store to buy some "depends". Yep. You read that right. I am pretty much sharing with the world wide web the most humiliating experience EVER. Friday night I started having issues controlling my bladder while having contractions. I have NEVER had that kind of a problem and it really was pretty much the most humbling/embarrassing experience ever. Having to admit to my husband that, yes, I actually would like you to get up and go to the store to buy me some diapers, when he jokingly suggested it, was definetly not the high point of my life of pride. Anyway, while he was gone my contractions got stronger. ALOT stronger. It was just after midnight when I got the first "Oh yeah, that is DEFINETLY labor. I called my mom in at 12:20 to time them for me, because I was in alot of pain. They came ever 2-4 minutes lasting around a minute and were killing me. Imagine matt's suprise when he got back from the store and I was in full blown labor! A little after 2 Matt talked me into going to the hospital (I wanted to wait longer), so we left for the hospital and got to the ER a little after 2:30. All I could think about was getting an epidural! They checked me into OB Triage and called my Dr, I was 5 cm dilated, they were going to put me in a room, get me an epidural (which I was DYING for) and then break my water. I was SO excited that this time I would get an epidural BEFORE my water broke, because I remembered how much more it hurt with Lily once my water broke and I felt like I was already past my pain tolerance level.

So the delivery nurse comes to get me from Triage and MAKES ME WALK to my room, which is through some doors, past a nurses' station and then 3 rooms down. I thought I would die. I was feeling SO much pressure and it really took everything to get to that room, which took forever since I had to stop about every 30 seconds for a contraction. I of course kept asking about my epidural to which she kept responding "it's going to be a while, the resident needs to examine you first and she is busy with a delivery". She kept treating me like a total wuss and was very patronizing. She is not my favorite person in this story. My triage nurse had been SO nice and my Dr had ordered my epi right away, the nurse who had been monitoring my contractions (and knew how intense they were) was very reassuring that I would get that epidural quickly. But not my delivery nurse. When we were in the room I don't remember much at all. I asked to PLEASE get something, ANYTHING for pain if it was going to be a long time before the epidural (which I knew it would be since my nurse wasn't taking me seriosuly), so I got a shot of statol, which just made me incredible tired and dizzy. The nurse was still in the process of getting me checked into my room and asking me background questions, when I felt my water break. I told the nurse, "I am pretty sure my water just broke". "ok", she said and continued to ask me questions without even checking my fluid or even acknowledging that anything happened. As soon as my water broke I felt the sensation to push. But I figured, it just must be the increased pressure from me not having any water and I didn't say anything, because the nurse was already treating me like an idiot. After about 10 minutes, I couldn't take it. My body was involuntarily pushing and it was hurting to try and not push, so I told her, i really feel like I need to push. She then told me that she really didn't want to have to check me, because they don't like to check very often, to which I replied, I REALLY HAVE to push. My dear sweet RN husband took that very seriously and so then she went to check me and what did she see?? A baby's head on its way out. To which she then freaked out. (she was a new grad) And hit the call button calling for "someone, anyone, to get in here NOW" The resident was still in delivering whoever else's baby and my doctor was still at home since it had only been about an hour since he was called and I was at a five. Nothing in the room was set up since I had only been there for about a half an hour, the nurse was literally holding the baby's head keeping it from coming out and she was seriously freaking out. My sweet husband was great in instructing my how best not to push, which by the was is NOT an easy thing to do. I am so glad that he is a great nurse since at this point my nurse was freaking out and of NO help to me. Luckily some family practice Dr's were there, they had delivered someone else's baby and were still in the hallway, so they came in and delivered my baby. They literally didn't even have time to break the bed apart, the Dr had to stand on one side of the bed and lean over. It was CRAZY. I really didn't want to push her out, since it hurt and all, but my husband and the 2 Docs (one of whom I STILL don't know his name!) were SO great. They were really supportive and kind and I pushed that baby out without an epidural--something I NEVER want to do again, but it is good to know that I CAN do it.

Isabel Marie was born at 4:17 am. She weighed 7lbs 2oz, was 19 1/2 inches long and has a full head of dark hair. She is a very sweet and snuggly baby. She doesn't give you any warning when she is about to cry, she just errupts into a loud full scream (full of drama like her sister), but unlike Lily she quiets down immediatly and never cries for long. She is so precious and is a perfect addition to our family. I just feel so blessed to have 2 beautiful and healthy girls with a daddy who loves them and it a great, involved dad and loving husband. My mom was here the first 2 days we were home and it was a great help to have her here, I miss her already. And lily misses her even more!

Lily has been doing remarkably well since we have been home, although there has been more drama since grandma left, I really couldn't ask her to adjust better. She is such a great big sister. Our ward brought meals the first 3 nights, which was SOOO great. We have such a great ward and I am so glad to have such a great support system within the church. The recovery physically has been a thousand times easier than with Lily. I still wouldn't call it a walk in the park, but it is so much better than last time. Isabel seems to have her nights and days mixed up, which is hard, but Matt has let me take a nap during the day, which is the only thing that has kept me going. I am really hoping that my mom will able to come back next week when Matt goes back to work. We initially were told that he would get 2 weeks off, but unfortunetly although Matt's supervisors approved the time (and were game for more) there are some CHW policies that are pretty jacked that we just found out about today and Matt will have to go back to work next week. I am not going to say anything else, just that it sucks, because there is no point in getting into all the irritating details of the complicated and crappy circumstances.

Anyway, in general, things are good. We are exhausted, but extremely blessed and happy. :)

Lily couldn't WAIT to get her out of her car seat!

Holding her sister for the first time!

KISSES!!

She found her thumb at only 3 days old! Here we go again!

My Dr's office sent me these flowers witht he balloon and stuffed animal. It made me very happy!

The Waiting Game

The Monday after Christmas I had a Dr's appointment, where he told me I was 3cm dilated and about 50% effaced. I was continuing to have lots of contractions at irregular intervals and still feeling semi-miserable from the cold I had. Which by the way, if you can ever avoid being 9.5 months pregnant with a cold, you should. No bueno. Anyway, that week was a crazy and good one, 2 of my all time best friends who I L-O-V-E love love love were in town for Christmas, Heather and Kellee, so I got to spend some time with each of them, which is always fabulous. And it really lifted my spirits to be around good old friends, when I had been feeling so miserable. And Matt's good friend Mike and his wife and their 2 kids were also in town for the holidays, so we got to see them, which was great. Also my mom decided that she would rather just drive down and be here to get used to the Lily routine etc, rather than waiting for the "I'm in labor" call. So we had a busy week, between visitors and getting well. It was awesome to have my mom here, because I was exhausted and she pretty much just played with Lily non-stop. Lily loved having her here possibly even more than I did. They had a great time. And we all just hung out...waiting for me to pop!

Random pics from the week

Grandma was Lily's play SLAVE they played all day long, here they are grandma is pretending to drive to the store while Lily is riding in the car seat in the back, they will then pretend to go shopping and drive home and bring me whatever they bought.

Christmas

Well, to tell the truth, we had a pretty miserable Christmas. All 3 of us were sick. Lily had stomach issues (we went through 5 pairs of PJs Christmas day alone), and Matt and I both had nasty colds. When Lily got up she didn't want to open any presents or see any toys. Neither did she want Matt or I to participate in said festivities. We all just had to sit quietly on the couch for a couple of hours until we could eventually coax her into opening some presents. She loved them all but her energy/enthusiasm level was pretty low. Of course as soon as she was feeling better we got to see the non-stop new book and toy action and feel the force of her love for her new things, which was nice. But we definitely had about a week of total rotten-ness. And to be honest, we are just now shaking the remaining dregs of the nastiness. Anyway, here are some pics :)

She loves to wear her helmet and also all her new dress up stuff. I do have to admit I love to see her running around with her tutu's and other princess gear on. She is such a big girl!

A Week in Review

OK, first off here is a shout out to my BFF Heather, because I stole the above pic from her blog, because it describes EXACTLY how I feel this week. Yep, I am SOOOO over being pregnant and questioning why I ever signed up to do this again (and at the same time knowing I will forget these feelings and eventually do it again). I am in that ninth month and completely miserable and will remain that way until this baby comes out!! Enough said.

This week was a pretty good week, aside from the physical and emotional misery I am in. My daughter has been a ridiculous riot, keeping me entertained and on my toes.

Here she is in her room laying on the bottom shelf of her changing table, I found her like this the other day.

Lately we have spent a few days in our PJ's all day, just to take a bath at night and get into new PJ's (see above misery and don't even think about judging me!!) Anyway, she found some left over "little swimmers" from the summer and LOVES to add them to any outfit. She would seriously wear them over any outfit if I would permit her.

As we were all playing on the floor of her room this morning, she wanted to stack all of her blankets on daddy.

After they were all stacked she grabbed her pillow and woobie and made a snuggly little bed in her empty blanket basket, I thought it was pretty cute :)

We took Lily to see the temple lights, which she LOVED! And since it was after 8pm when we headed home she fell asleep on the car ride home!!!

Now some of you may be saying, what is so great about that? Kids sleep in the car all the time, did you really need to take a picture of it? The answer, is YES, I DID need the photographic evidence, because though most children sleep in their car seats my Lily NEVER sleeps ANYWHERE other than her bed, and has been that way since 2 months. And I do mean never. and anywhere. So this pic is a BIG deal for me!

We also had Matt's Barrett side of the family's Christmas Party/Fireside last night. I was exhausted and having contractions and grumpy and did my best to simply sit quietly and politely. I feel bad because we really only get together with all that family like once a year and normally I would be so looking forward to it, but I REALLY just wanted to be home in bed!

Here is Lily with her cousin Dante, this was the first time she has met him, but she loved him a whole bunch, as you can see!

And here she is patiently waiting on the stairs for her turn to see Santa. She has been talking all about Santa and was SO excited to see him, she talked all about the other kids that were sitting on his lap and about how she was going to sit on his lap.

Then of course the time came to actually sit on his lap and as you can probably guess...she flipped.

But, I figure, it is kind of a classic picture right?

Here is just a random one from this week that I found on the camera and it made me smile :)

So as far as baby news is concerned, I went to the Dr today and the diagnosis is still the same "Any day now". If that is all you want to know than just skip the rest of the paragraph, WARNING: I AM ABOUT TO TALK ABOUT MY CERVIX AND OTHER SUCH PREGNANT WOMEN TERMS! The Dr said I am dilated to a solid 2-2.5 cm. I thought that I was maybe a 3, so I was slightly disappointed. He also said that my cervix is still pretty thick, which was the biggest blow to me. I was told with Lily that I have a cervix of steel, because it is abnormally thick and getting it to efface (thin out) in order to dilate is a pretty long process. I have checked my cervix (yeah that's right, get over it) and I know that it is much thinner and more pliable than is normal for me, but apparently compared with normal women, who don't have super human cervix's it is still relatively thick. So I have no idea how long it will take to thin out. With Lily my Dr wouldn't check my cervix until AFTER 37 1/2 weeks so at my appointment (37w 6D) I was told that I was 1.5-2 cm and then the next day was in labor, but who knows if I had been like that for 2 weeks? (I wasn't brave enough to check then). So anyway, my Doc now says, it could be today, it could really be anytime, probably within the next week or so. So we are just playing the waiting game. I will let let you know next week when I go back, what he says. Although it would be REALLY great to not be able to post because I have this baby sometime this week :)!!!!

Anyway, IT'S CHRISTMAS! Actually it really doesn't feel like Christmas to me, even still. But I am all ready for it, and I am SO excited to watch Lily open her presents. It should be a really great day. And I love how abundant the spirit is in this season. I am SO grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ and that I have the opportunity to reflect upon his influence in my life at the end of every year. I hope that all of you are feeling the effects of his love, mercy, peace and hope this Christmas!

This day...

OK, so I am officially done with this day and it is only 3 pm. Sigh.

The day started out and it was raining. I LOVE LOVE LOVE with every fiber of my being the rain. And it was cold. What a great day. Seriously. Especially if you can just curl up in a blanket and watch great movies like Pride and Prejudice or something old and classic like Singing in the Rain.

However that was not the kind of day in store for me. Oh yes, I really wanted it to be that kind of day, it was SO hard to make myself be responsible, when I am so uncomfortable and pregnant and TIRED and these contractions are constant. Instead of lying around like I desperately, deep in my bones wanted to, I determined myself to get some of the things off my to do list done before it gets any closer to Christmas.

So I went to Walmart, eek! It of course took 3 times longer than was necessary and I had to carry Lily in out of the rain. all the carts were wet and there were seriously cars not letting the 9 month pregnant lady carrying a toddler cross in front of them, they were instead darting in front of me to save 15 seconds of their day, while I stand helding my wiggling daughter and our diaper bag waiting in the rain. Tis the Season right? Anyway, I did get the last of my Christmas shopping done, which is GREAT! And that does lift a ton of stress of my shoulders. In fact the stuff I ordered online all came today too, so I am officially completely ready for Christmas! I got the checks deposited so that our bank account doesn't look quite so barren, which always feels good, even if going to the bank does not. My dear sister in law called to say she was at Costco and could pick up wipes (I am almost out, but of course was unaware of that the 3 times I have been to costco in the past 2 weeks) , and so I didn't have to go to costco, which ROCKED! Especially because apparently my sweet daughter has been replaced with a little monster for the day. It has been a day that started with throwing yogurt at breakfast, oh yeah, and just continued to get worse. Her attitude of course has to coincide with the fact that I was already having a tired, exhausted day before she even got up, and I have considerably less patience than usual. She then proceeded to be a stinker the rest of the day doing all sorts of known "no no's" and of course would throw anything she could reach in the cart (or aisle) at Walmart to the floor, which is NOT acceptable or normal behavior, and it happens to be a riddiculous task for me to have to bend down in a crowded public place and get stuff off the floor with this crazy belly. So as she is throwing a fit in the car because she dropped her woobie (the priceless pink and irreplaceable blankie) in the parking lot and it got all wet and dirty and I won't let her have it (yes, apparently that is the worst kind of torture a woobie-less car ride, I am horrible, I know), I inform her that we are going to Nana's, which helps cheer her up. I have to return something and check out a dresser that she has offered to us for the new baby. SIDENOTE: I am SO grateful, it is actually going to work great once Matt can pick it up on Friday since I am anxious to get everything washed and put away for this new little girl. We weren't sure we would find a dresser, we have been looking, but this will work out great :) Anyway, Lily is excited to go to Nana's even though it is past naptime and I am glad. Nana lives right by the bank and it is our last stop. Lily is off playing and I peek and see that she is watching cartoons, so I sit to relax and chat with Nana in the next room. After a few minutes I decided to check on Lily again, when I realize...GASP...that she is sitting on Nana's couch, Nana's white striped couch, with a black sharpy marker, coloring all over herself. After my heart starts beating again I of course grab the marker that she happened upon, tear her from the couch and proceed to check the couch. And miracle of miracles no sharpy is on the couch. Huge sigh of relief. It IS however all over her face, hands, arms, neck, white shirt and Nana's coffee table. I didn't have my camera, so there is no photographic evidence unfortunetly. Luckily we caught it quick enough to get it pretty much completely off of everything, excpet her shirt. That is hopeless. Anyway, that coupled with the demands to "EAT!" at the top of her lungs and then either the refusal to actually eat anything I offer her, or taking 2 bites and making a huge mess, plus the fact that she only slept for about 40 minutes for her nap, has made today a crazy day for me. A "I am exhausted and grumpy and questioning the fact that I ever had the desire to be a parent" kind of day. Anyway, she is currently making a huge mess of her snack in her high chair and I am sitting here in denial, venting to the world wide web.

I am sure that by the time Matt gets home tonight I will be able to laugh at my grumpy day and just be proud that I survived and managed to get so much done....Or maybe I will just be asleep... Hoping for a better tomorrow...and dreaming of the day when I can sleep on my stomach again.

Christmas Time

Well, it's official, my Christmas party is over and I am still alive! Woohoo! It was actually a great success, everything went really well. You just never know! I tried my best to be organized and prepared and then the day comes and it is a CRAZY whirlwind! Plus I was doing things differently than their ward had done before, so I wasn't sure how it would go over, but I have gotten really great feedback, so I am exteremly happy with the outcome. Completely exhausted, but happy! The whole thing was way more work than I think anyone will ever realize, but I had SO much help from the Lord. This whole experience was such a testimony to me that when the Lord asks us to do domething and we seek to do it with his spirit and with a desire to serve in our hearts, he will provide a way. So many things worked out just right and I know that the Lord had a hand in all the people who were my personal blessings by their willingness to step in and help, and just the way that things all came together. We have a great ward and I am so grateful for the oppertunity to serve them and to get to see them serve each other. I am definetly looking forward to having a break though!

Here are some pics as we put up decor, I wish that I had gotten a picture with all the christmas lights on, it made everything look so much prettier, but as the day wore on I had NO time to take pictures, but you'll get the idea :)

This past monday I went to the Dr again of course, and he said that everything looked great and that I am good to go into labor even though it is still early, they wouldn't stop me at this point. Which of course completely freaked me out because I have NOTHING ready for this baby. I have been in denial about how soon this is coming. I think that I still have a solid 2 weeks before it's "any day now", but still that isn't much time. So this week Matt and I are digging out the old car seat, getting out old boxes of Lily's stuff to go through and having to think about nursing gear, getting pads etc, talking about washing everything and seeing what all we need to buy, there are a few things from Lily that no longer work or aren't in good shape, and of course diapers and all that. It is crazy to think it is so soon. We need to get a little dresser so we will have room to put this little girls stuff etc! It is just a little overwhelming. I have been putting everything off until after the party, because my mind has just been TOO full and the stress level overwhelming, and now I am realizing that I am less than 2 weeks out from being "full term" and that Christmas is in 2 weeks and I have bought NOTHING for Christmas and prepared nothing for this new sweet little girl! We did put our Christmas tree up yesterday, because I was feeling guilty. I knew that Lily would love putting up the Christmas stuff, even though we are keeping it pretty minimal this year, but I haven't had time and then I haven't felt up to it.

Why haven't I felt up to it? Funny you should ask, Monday after the Dr on my way home, my stomach started really hurting. And yep, it was the stomach flu. I literally had to leave Lily in the car in the garage while I ran in and threw up. I then proceeded to spend more than half the day in the bathroom. When Matt called to say he was leaving work, he asked "how was your day?" I told him, "I think I have the stomach flu", "that sucks" was his reply. That night he spent the whole night in the bathroom, and has to call in sick tue and wed. We were both completely miserable. And today we are finally feeling better and although all we want to do is veg out and recover from the Christmas party and being sick, we are being good little adults and doing responsible things, like Christmas shopping and digging out baby stuff, housework, etc.

Lily this week has been left to entertain herself for periods of time while her parents were incapacitated, luckily she didn't get sick. She has done some pretty mischievous stuff while unattended, none of it I was up to documenting, but here she is being a good little helper, she loves helping with housework and I heard that Santa is bringing her her own little broom and dust pan (mostly because she is lethal with the long handle that flails around as she "helps" with the normal sized broom!). Please ignore my laundry in the back and also the "cheese" smile that is unavoidable now a days.

What happened to November????

Well, things here are CRAZY. My big ward Christmas party is this Saturday so since I am in charge of it, I am stressed to the MAX!! I really don't have time to be posting this, so I will let the past months activities speak for themselves with some pics!

For the first time in her life Lily got really sick.

Downright miserable sick.

And spent alot of time just snuggling.

Falling asleep sitting up.

After about a week, she was all better and acting like her own happy self!

We went to the zoo and because the weather is great all the animals were out enjoying it!

We went to the doctor, where I have to be all the time latley!

Lily had a great time.

Who knew that a dr's stool could be so much fun?

She announced to me "poop" and laid down right on the floor of the office for me to change her diaper.

It will be great when we actually have the big potty down!

We helped Nana and Boopah set up all their Christmas Decor the day after Thanksgiving (which I seem to not have pics of, I'll have to steal someone elses, but it was great!)


Lily got to play in Nana's sleigh.

This month she also perfected her "cheese" smile that is making getting a normal pic almost impossible!

case in point.


She had fun at sunday dinner terrorizing nana (and everyone else) with a stuffed animal. Growling at or in anyway terrorizing is her new favorite thing. lucky us.