Somehow Jose was able to sneak out and get us each cards and flowers! He is amazing! On top of doing sooo much for us, we got gifts! Aubriella even got a new outfit from him! Nana bought her the cute Valentines day jammies.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
My funny Valentine
Aubriella celebrated her first "fun" holiday (I don't count Groundhogs Day or Presidents day)! She mostly slept, but she also had Amanda and Matt visit- we forgot the pictures of them!
Friday, February 19, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Horrible blogger!
I think I underestimated how much time taking care of a baby would take! I've been horrible at updating this blog. If you know me at all, you would know that I used to check my email, blog and facebook SEVERAL times a day. Can you believe it had been 4 days since I looked at any?
Ok, now for the best part...
Aubriella is the greatest thing that ever happened to me. We spend lots of time just looking at her and the cute little faces she makes! I feel like I'm always reaching for the camera!
We have had a hard time breastfeeding, but we aren't giving up! The latest problem was a breast infection that not only HURTS but it has given me flu sypmtoms and a 103 temperature. Jose is amazing and really really picks up the slack. He has been taking care of her and bringing her to me every three hours to eat. We are praying the infection goes away very soon, and that Aubriella's little tongue gets stronger so she can nurse correctly.
Ok, now for the best part...
Thursday, February 11, 2010
The Birth Story
I can't believe it has already been 12 days since Aubriella Joy was born. In some ways it feels forever ago, and in other ways it feels like we just met her yesterday. Our days have kinda blurred together into a overwhelmingly happy, tired, bliss. We are falling in love with our baby girl more and more each day!
I wrote on January 29th, her due date, that I thought I was in labor. Turns out I was! From 4 am Friday morning, I had consistent contractions alllllll day. They never developed a pattern, but by the evening they were really uncomfortable.
We had lunch with Jose's mom, and we even drove to Nipomo to pick up our niece from school. My mom came over at dinner time and contractions were becoming increasingly uncomfortable. I suggested getting Chinese foot massages and at 7:30 pm my mom, Jose and I went to get massages. The sweet masseuse said she was praying for me the whole time that the baby would come that night (she didn't know I was in labor!).
Jose and I went home and watched a movie. When the movie ended at about 11 pm, it was time to get serious and start practicing our Bradley methods. Things were intensifying, and even though a bath relieved a bit of the pain, things got bad. I didn't realize it at the time, but my water broke in the tub. I mistook the "pop" for a kick and thought I imagined the sound. I also thought I accidentally peed in the tub instead of assuming it was my water! After all the reading we did, I don't know how I didn't put it together when I had three contractions on top of each other! Jose was trying to time them, and when it didn't stop for 6 minutes we knew something was up! I started shaking after this and threw up. Because of throwing up, I started getting nervous for the 45 minute drive to the hospital. I asked Jose if we could drive to San Luis and get a hotel room so we could be closer. He called the midwife (my favorite Helen was on call!) at 12:30 am and she suggested we first go to the hospital to get checked.
Jose followed his Bradley coaching to a "T" and asked me if I was sure I wanted to head to SLO. One of the tricks of Bradley is if the laboring woman can still smile, it is too soon to go. I think I managed to smile at every stage of labor, so he was a little confused. When I had a contraction on the stairs, Jose agreed that it was time to go! He reminded me that I wanted to do my hair and make-up before heading to the hospital, but I had no energy at all to care about vanity! I wish I could have found some strength because by the time Aubriella was born I looked like a worn out, wet cat. Oh well.
He drove a very smooth 85 miles an hour talking calmly to me while I stayed zoned out through the million contractions. When we got to the hospital at 1:30 am, I told Jose that I didn't want a wheelchair. I wanted to be able to brag that I walked to labor and delivery. When the ER let us in, they told me I had to sit in the wheelchair. Jose tried to tell him that I didn't want it, but I learned my lesson walking 20 feet to the door, and I gladly accepted the free ride.
The baby and I were monitored for a awhile, and when Jose told the nurse we might not be staying, she laughed and said "I don't think you guys are going anywhere!" Through a bout of shaking, I asked her if I was in real labor, and she laughed again and said she was pretty sure I was! She checked my dilation and I was already 4 centimeters! At this point there was no way I was going to leave! I labored on a birth ball in the shower for over an hour and I only came out because I was overheating and ready to try something new. When I was walking back to the room from the shower our moms were arriving.
Jose was massaging my back (because of my intense back labor) with all his strength, and my mom was softly massaging my legs and feet. Jose's mom was giving me sips of water between contractions. I remember thinking during this time that we were all working like a perfect team.
I was checked again at 6 am and was about 7 centimeters! I was excited to know that I was about to enter transition- the shortest part of labor- and nervous to enter transition-the hardest part of labor! We labored in the tub for awhile, with Jose massaging my back and me trying to do pelvic rocks because by this time we suspected that Aubriella was sunny side up. The rocks worked because at some point the back labor went away. I threw up again in the tub, and I'm sure if I had been out of the water transition would have been much harder!
When I decided I wanted to lay down for bit, the midwife arrived and checked my progress. She announced at 7:12 am that I was fully dilated and could push if I was ready! I was! Knowing we could be meeting Aubriella soon gave me a burst of energy! I even tried to smile for a picture!
Before pushing, the midwife Helen gave me what she called her pep talk. She basically said since this was my first baby we could be pushing for over 2 hours, and however hard I imagined pushing to be, it would be 4 times harder. I told her that was some pep talk! I opted to have a mirror set up to watch the pushing, and it was both amazing and unnerving to see the progress. After the first contraction, Helen announced she could see lots of hair. I couldn't believe it! I thought she was lying, but sure enough there was my baby. Helen told me she was taking back her pep talk, and said she thought the baby would be out in 30 minutes. Again I didn't believe her until I saw her start suiting up and getting the medical equipment ready! About 10 contractions, and 40 minutes late. Aubriella was born at 7:54 am! I survived the burning ring of fire (Jose asked to play some Johnny Cash in celebration), and had my baby girl placed on my stomach immediately. Jose was able to cut the cord and for about 20 minutes, she just stared at me and Jose with her big, dark, alert eyes. It was the most amazing experience ever!
WE did it! Even though we forgot to give the nurses our Birth Plan, every single desire of ours was met. There is not a single thing I would change about our birth, and if I had to do it over again I wouldn't do anything differently. I have a huge boost in self confidence, respect and am proud of myself for managing labor. It was not easy, and definitely hurt, but with tremendous support from Jose and our moms, I had the natural birth I wanted for me and Aubriella. I've replayed the labor over and over in my head, and can honestly say that it is a positive memory that makes me feel closer than ever to my husband.
I wrote on January 29th, her due date, that I thought I was in labor. Turns out I was! From 4 am Friday morning, I had consistent contractions alllllll day. They never developed a pattern, but by the evening they were really uncomfortable.
We had lunch with Jose's mom, and we even drove to Nipomo to pick up our niece from school. My mom came over at dinner time and contractions were becoming increasingly uncomfortable. I suggested getting Chinese foot massages and at 7:30 pm my mom, Jose and I went to get massages. The sweet masseuse said she was praying for me the whole time that the baby would come that night (she didn't know I was in labor!).
Jose and I went home and watched a movie. When the movie ended at about 11 pm, it was time to get serious and start practicing our Bradley methods. Things were intensifying, and even though a bath relieved a bit of the pain, things got bad. I didn't realize it at the time, but my water broke in the tub. I mistook the "pop" for a kick and thought I imagined the sound. I also thought I accidentally peed in the tub instead of assuming it was my water! After all the reading we did, I don't know how I didn't put it together when I had three contractions on top of each other! Jose was trying to time them, and when it didn't stop for 6 minutes we knew something was up! I started shaking after this and threw up. Because of throwing up, I started getting nervous for the 45 minute drive to the hospital. I asked Jose if we could drive to San Luis and get a hotel room so we could be closer. He called the midwife (my favorite Helen was on call!) at 12:30 am and she suggested we first go to the hospital to get checked.
Jose followed his Bradley coaching to a "T" and asked me if I was sure I wanted to head to SLO. One of the tricks of Bradley is if the laboring woman can still smile, it is too soon to go. I think I managed to smile at every stage of labor, so he was a little confused. When I had a contraction on the stairs, Jose agreed that it was time to go! He reminded me that I wanted to do my hair and make-up before heading to the hospital, but I had no energy at all to care about vanity! I wish I could have found some strength because by the time Aubriella was born I looked like a worn out, wet cat. Oh well.
He drove a very smooth 85 miles an hour talking calmly to me while I stayed zoned out through the million contractions. When we got to the hospital at 1:30 am, I told Jose that I didn't want a wheelchair. I wanted to be able to brag that I walked to labor and delivery. When the ER let us in, they told me I had to sit in the wheelchair. Jose tried to tell him that I didn't want it, but I learned my lesson walking 20 feet to the door, and I gladly accepted the free ride.
The baby and I were monitored for a awhile, and when Jose told the nurse we might not be staying, she laughed and said "I don't think you guys are going anywhere!" Through a bout of shaking, I asked her if I was in real labor, and she laughed again and said she was pretty sure I was! She checked my dilation and I was already 4 centimeters! At this point there was no way I was going to leave! I labored on a birth ball in the shower for over an hour and I only came out because I was overheating and ready to try something new. When I was walking back to the room from the shower our moms were arriving.
Jose was massaging my back (because of my intense back labor) with all his strength, and my mom was softly massaging my legs and feet. Jose's mom was giving me sips of water between contractions. I remember thinking during this time that we were all working like a perfect team.
I was checked again at 6 am and was about 7 centimeters! I was excited to know that I was about to enter transition- the shortest part of labor- and nervous to enter transition-the hardest part of labor! We labored in the tub for awhile, with Jose massaging my back and me trying to do pelvic rocks because by this time we suspected that Aubriella was sunny side up. The rocks worked because at some point the back labor went away. I threw up again in the tub, and I'm sure if I had been out of the water transition would have been much harder!
When I decided I wanted to lay down for bit, the midwife arrived and checked my progress. She announced at 7:12 am that I was fully dilated and could push if I was ready! I was! Knowing we could be meeting Aubriella soon gave me a burst of energy! I even tried to smile for a picture!
Before pushing, the midwife Helen gave me what she called her pep talk. She basically said since this was my first baby we could be pushing for over 2 hours, and however hard I imagined pushing to be, it would be 4 times harder. I told her that was some pep talk! I opted to have a mirror set up to watch the pushing, and it was both amazing and unnerving to see the progress. After the first contraction, Helen announced she could see lots of hair. I couldn't believe it! I thought she was lying, but sure enough there was my baby. Helen told me she was taking back her pep talk, and said she thought the baby would be out in 30 minutes. Again I didn't believe her until I saw her start suiting up and getting the medical equipment ready! About 10 contractions, and 40 minutes late. Aubriella was born at 7:54 am! I survived the burning ring of fire (Jose asked to play some Johnny Cash in celebration), and had my baby girl placed on my stomach immediately. Jose was able to cut the cord and for about 20 minutes, she just stared at me and Jose with her big, dark, alert eyes. It was the most amazing experience ever!
WE did it! Even though we forgot to give the nurses our Birth Plan, every single desire of ours was met. There is not a single thing I would change about our birth, and if I had to do it over again I wouldn't do anything differently. I have a huge boost in self confidence, respect and am proud of myself for managing labor. It was not easy, and definitely hurt, but with tremendous support from Jose and our moms, I had the natural birth I wanted for me and Aubriella. I've replayed the labor over and over in my head, and can honestly say that it is a positive memory that makes me feel closer than ever to my husband.
Monday, February 1, 2010
She is here!!!
I don't have energy for the full post right now, but wanted to share the link to some photos:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2084887&id=68600295&l=4f78fea009
We are so happy and in love with our baby Aubriella Joy!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2084887&id=68600295&l=4f78fea009
We are so happy and in love with our baby Aubriella Joy!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Is today the day?
Today is definitely our due date, but will it be the day Aubriella is born???
This week went pretty much the same as the past two. It was my 3rd week on maternity leave, and I continue to love every minute without work! I took some time to read a silly book and also read another birth book. Our doctors appointment was very short because everything is going well!
The week however has ended with a bang! Yesterday I started losing my mucous plug, and it got me excited to try all the natural induction remedies. Jose and I went out to lunch and I consumed more wasabi than I ever had before. At dinner I poured more Tapatio hot sauce on his grandma's yummy tostadas then I thought I could handle. We followed the spicy food with a long walk and other things.
Sometime in the middle of the night I woke up to pee and noticed more mucous and cramping! It was so hard for me to fall asleep but I finally did...until 4:30 am. I had a lot of cramping- which I realized were contractions!- and could not fall back asleep at all. Since 4:30 am, the contractions have not stopped, but they aren't getting very much stronger. They come every 3-8 minutes and are lasting about 30 -45seconds ! I went on a walk this morning with my friend Sonya, took a long shower, and a nap and they haven't stopped or changed! I think it is the very early stage of "The Real Thing"! I'm doing well being able to continue doing what I need to do (at a much slower pace), but they do hurt. Makes me a little nervous for hard labor!
I would be perfectly fine and calm with these contractions, but it happens to be the one day my mom is out of town (she can get home in 3 hours) and my dad is working 10 hours away!! I've given them both updates, but I'm scared to make them rush home only for the contractions to stop or to last another 24 hours until hard labor begins! So far it has been about 10 hours of consistent contracting.
We are hoping that we will be meeting Aubriella soon and that this turns out to be real labor! Did you know only 5% of all babies are born on their due date? How crazy that things seem to be happening on her due date! Hopefully the next post I write will be introducing you to our baby girl, and not writing about the time I thought I was in labor and it turned out I wasn't!
This week went pretty much the same as the past two. It was my 3rd week on maternity leave, and I continue to love every minute without work! I took some time to read a silly book and also read another birth book. Our doctors appointment was very short because everything is going well!
The week however has ended with a bang! Yesterday I started losing my mucous plug, and it got me excited to try all the natural induction remedies. Jose and I went out to lunch and I consumed more wasabi than I ever had before. At dinner I poured more Tapatio hot sauce on his grandma's yummy tostadas then I thought I could handle. We followed the spicy food with a long walk and other things.
Sometime in the middle of the night I woke up to pee and noticed more mucous and cramping! It was so hard for me to fall asleep but I finally did...until 4:30 am. I had a lot of cramping- which I realized were contractions!- and could not fall back asleep at all. Since 4:30 am, the contractions have not stopped, but they aren't getting very much stronger. They come every 3-8 minutes and are lasting about 30 -45seconds ! I went on a walk this morning with my friend Sonya, took a long shower, and a nap and they haven't stopped or changed! I think it is the very early stage of "The Real Thing"! I'm doing well being able to continue doing what I need to do (at a much slower pace), but they do hurt. Makes me a little nervous for hard labor!
I would be perfectly fine and calm with these contractions, but it happens to be the one day my mom is out of town (she can get home in 3 hours) and my dad is working 10 hours away!! I've given them both updates, but I'm scared to make them rush home only for the contractions to stop or to last another 24 hours until hard labor begins! So far it has been about 10 hours of consistent contracting.
We are hoping that we will be meeting Aubriella soon and that this turns out to be real labor! Did you know only 5% of all babies are born on their due date? How crazy that things seem to be happening on her due date! Hopefully the next post I write will be introducing you to our baby girl, and not writing about the time I thought I was in labor and it turned out I wasn't!
Friday, January 22, 2010
7 days to go!
We have made it another week! I am 39 weeks pregnant, and only a short 7 days from my due date. That really doesn't mean much considering I could potentially go up to 42 weeks (I will not be induced!).
I feel my body gearing up some, but overall I've felt pretty good. I get a few braxton hicks contractions here and there, but not that often. My hips and pelvis are getting more and more sore everyday. I had big plans to walk a lot this week, but with the crazy rain we've had it hasn't worked out so well. Jose and I walked around the mall one night to get in a little exercise, and I actually went to Target to walk fast around the perimeter (and I did a little browsing).
Maternity leave continues to be a great thing. Having rainy, cold weather makes it even easier to stay under the covers until I feel like getting up! Most days I don't even shower until after 10 am!
Our doctors appointment this week went great. The midwife who initially said she felt a big baby is now in agreement that we will have a baby in the mid 7 pound range! I continue to decline getting exams so I don't have any idea if I'm dilated. Right now I have no problem being patient, but I know if I had any indication (positive or negative) of how my cervix is working I would get antsy.
Since the beginning I have assumed Aubriella would be a February baby, so we may have some time to wait...but there is always the chance I could go into labor any time!
I feel my body gearing up some, but overall I've felt pretty good. I get a few braxton hicks contractions here and there, but not that often. My hips and pelvis are getting more and more sore everyday. I had big plans to walk a lot this week, but with the crazy rain we've had it hasn't worked out so well. Jose and I walked around the mall one night to get in a little exercise, and I actually went to Target to walk fast around the perimeter (and I did a little browsing).
Maternity leave continues to be a great thing. Having rainy, cold weather makes it even easier to stay under the covers until I feel like getting up! Most days I don't even shower until after 10 am!
Our doctors appointment this week went great. The midwife who initially said she felt a big baby is now in agreement that we will have a baby in the mid 7 pound range! I continue to decline getting exams so I don't have any idea if I'm dilated. Right now I have no problem being patient, but I know if I had any indication (positive or negative) of how my cervix is working I would get antsy.
Since the beginning I have assumed Aubriella would be a February baby, so we may have some time to wait...but there is always the chance I could go into labor any time!
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