The Labor Story

I have a blog? Oh yeah.

I am now a mother of a beautiful 3 month old boy that I adore to every inch of this universe. He is my joy and words can't even express the love I feel for my baby.
Now, everyone in the blogging world feels the need to write "The Labor Story"
I love reading everyone's stories and hearing their own experiences.
Believe it or not, this is the "short version" I wrote it fast, please ignore spelling errors, run on sentences, what not. I loved the memories that came flooding back to me as I wrote this and my hope is that as you read, you will feel a little of what was felt that day.

Braeden Joshua Told was born January 31, 2012 at 2:31 am. Weighed 8 lbs, 2 oz and 19 inches long.

January 30th 2:00pm
I had several false alarms and was sent home for the 3rd time that week, Josh knew that every time we were sent home I had to get a treat. So instead of ice cream this time, we got cafe rio. Yummy? No. It was the WORST DECISION EVER... I threw up that burrito all over that labor and delivery room. I could taste it in my mouth all throughout the procedure and the smell magnified as I woke up the next day out of my comatose state of drugs and exhaustion. Cafe Rio is ruined for me, for life!

11:30pm
Anyways, I went into labor at home around 11:30pm, I thought I'd be fine so I took a shower, ate the rest of my burrito :) and then collapsed on the ground with pain. 15 minutes later, Josh told me it was time to go. We rushed to the hospital, and I could feel the need to push during the drive. It's been told that driving is supposed to help while in labor, because it forces you to sit up, but that was an incredibly uncomfortable ride over and whoever said that obviously knew that there is no comfortable position while in labor.;)

11:45pm
Labor and Delivery, we rang the little doorbell. "Can I help you?" First of all, who says that? You are working in Labor and Delivery for heavens sake. I wanted to say, "No, just wanted to drop by and say Hello, we will leave now."
But instead Josh politely said "I think my wife is in labor." (Genius.)
So we get to our room (001).. Get dressed. Get hooked up. Throw up. Get undressed. Repeat.
The Dr then comes in to see that I'm dilated to a 6.
We call my parents, Josh's parents and we begin the breathing process. In my research we liked the Bradley method, so I tried to practice the techniques, but my contractions were intense and one on top of another. I was constantly feeling the need to push. Luckily, the nurses knew what to do and was patient throughout my contractions. I remember crying from the pain and then re-focusing to get "on top" of each contraction.

12:30pm
Dilated to a 9 now, everyone gets there and the Dr says its time to break my water, and he gets all of his equipment ready. He begins to go "down there" and jumps right back up with "a look". First of all, who likes anyone going "down there?" But then to come back up and give you a look? I could feel my face go bright red. I thought I might've accidentally, ya know, let myself "go." or something. This is worse than throwing up cafe rio.

He then looked a little nervous and told the nurse to bring the ultrasound, he checked through everything and said my baby was breech and I had to get prepped for surgery right away. At that point, I was a little freaked out. I remember saying okay dr. and watching everyone run around getting into all sorts of suits, I threw up one more time and then Josh held my face in his hands and said "everything will be fine, I'm here for you and I love you." I have an amazing husband.

2:31am
Braeden was born! I couldn't see anything, but I could feel them pulling my sides apart, and then I felt a plop. His whole body was out of me! The nurses took him over to the table and started examining him, all I could see were his feet sticking straight up in the air! Those magnificent feet made my heart melt, and soon they were able to get him to cry, His little cry brought tears to my eyes.

The nurse then came over to me and told me his sats are low, he's having trouble breathing and he has to go to the Nicu. Peace came over me, and I told her okay, and asked if I could at least see him.
They wrapped him up in a blanket and brought him to me. I couldn't hold him, so I stroked his cheek, told him I loved him and that he was perfect.. My baby is here.
It amazes me how much your body goes through to bring a child into the world. 9 months is also a long time to house a child inside you, Heavenly Father's plan for bringing us into the world is incredible, and perfectly planned.
It was all so surreal and although we were scared for our little one, I knew he was going to be fine. Peace was overwhelming and I knew Braeden was going to be ok.

The next few days were a blur, I didn't sleep, and hardly ate. I wasn't allowed to see him yet and I was in so much pain that I could barely move. Josh was so awesome and would take tons of pictures and then bring them to my room.. After the day was over, Josh helped pick me up, and he would wheel me down to meet my baby. Each time I'd get there he "wasn't to be disturbed" So I would look at his little body through the glass container and say little prayers in my heart of gratitude. And prayers for him to be healthy and in my arms. It broke my heart each time I'd come by and not be able to hold him, but just to be in his presence was enough for me!
I couldn't stay in my room, so I'd started wheel myself down with my IV to the Nicu at 2,3,4am and wait. Wait for the nurse to say he was healthy enough to be held..

The first time we "officially" met on this earth was 2 days after delivery.
 I gently picked up his swollen little body, being careful of the wires that were wrapped around him,  I brought him up to my bare chest and as soon as I spoke, his eyes opened up wide and... stared at me. We stared and stared at each other. I felt an incredible love. I knew I'd met him before and the look in his eye was if I knew what he was trying to tell me. I was his mommy. He loves me and I love him.

I was so scared to be a mom and didn't know if I'd even know how to hold a newborn. But it all came so naturally, he fit perfectly in my arms and together we learned to breastfeed and we have an incredible bond. I love my little family.

Braeden was sent home O2 free by day 4. He is now 13 weeks old, safe, healthy and so much fun! We feel so blessed and are grateful for all the blessings that we have been blessed with!
Whew! You Never would've guessed that was the short version, heh?

13 WEEK OLD BABY BRAEDEN. We couldn't be more in love with him. Thanks for reading! 

it's a Boy!!

{josh is beyond thrilled}

He is strong (seriously look at this kid's leg!) 

healthy and happy

here is our sweet little Boy...

21 & a half weeks Pregnant

Feeling pregnant & getting super excited!

Bee's Game

Tonight we went to a ball game with my family!

My dad got us all free tickets to the Bee's game, they lost Horribly, but it was so fun just spending time together...

Here is my mom & dad. oh and my little sister in the background ruining the picture

Here is my older brother, Scott with the Bee... He looks so happy!

My little sister & I with Buzz the Bee...We had to chase that bee down

& here is Josh and I (mind our faces/and my hair) It was crazy humid & hot!!

Oh and my older brother in the background.. my family has a thing with that :)

We had so much fun just @ the ballgame with my family, thanks for taking us!!

(FYI- 18 week pregnant picture: I will take one soon, but there really isn't anything there yet--so I will be taking one at 20 weeks. When we're half way there!)

Fruit Crisp

Fruit Crisp

Serves 6

To make a larger crisp that serves 10, double all the ingredients, use a 13 x 9-inch baking pan, and bake for 55 minutes at 375 degrees, without increasing the oven temperature. If making an apple crisp, we recommend equal quantities of Granny Smith and McIntosh apples. Peel, core, and cut apples and pears into one-inch chunks. Peel, pit, and cut nectarines, peaches, and plums into half-inch wedges. If using plums, add one tablespoon quick-cooking tapioca to the fruit mixture. Half a teaspoon of grated fresh ginger makes a nice flavor addition to all the fruits.

INGREDIENTS

TOPPING MIXTURE

• 6 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar , packed
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon table salt
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter , cut into 1/2-inch pieces and chilled
• 3/4 cup pecans or whole almonds, chopped coarse (or chopped fine if mixing topping by hand)

FRUIT

• 2 1/2 - 3 pounds apples , nectarines, peaches, pears or plums (6 cups cut)
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest from 1 lemon

INSTRUCTIONS

• 1. For the Topping: Place flour, brown sugar, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in food processor workbowl fitted with steel blade. Add chilled butter and pulse until mixture moves from dry sand-like appearance with large lumps of butter to a coarse cornmeal texture, about three 4-second bursts. Add nuts and pulse until mixture resembles crumbly sand, about five 1-second bursts. Do not overprocess or mixture will take on a smooth, cookie-dough-like texture. (To mix by hand, allow butter pieces to sit at room temperature for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, mix flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in medium bowl. Add butter; toss to coat. Pinch butter chunks and dry mixture between fingertips until mixture looks like crumbly wet sand. Add nuts and toss to distribute evenly. Do not overmix.) Refrigerate mixture while preparing fruit, at least 15 minutes.
• 2. Toss cut fruit, sugar, lemon juice, and zest (along with 1 tablespoon quick-cooking tapioca if using plums as fruit) in medium bowl.
• 3. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Scrape fruit mixture with rubber spatula into 8-inch square (2 quart) baking pan or 9-inch round deep dish pie plate. Distribute chilled topping evenly over fruit; bake for 40 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 400 degrees; bake until fruit is bubbling and topping is deep golden brown, about 5 minutes longer. Serve warm or at room temperature.
  this is hands down the best fruit crisp i've ever had. i even make just the topping to eat over ice cream. don't judge, im very aware there is butter chunks in there! mmm. i even substitute with strawberries, blueberries, blackberries etc. Got this yummy treat from my friend's blog. Love it!

Boobs

Hey we all have boobs! Here's to Breast Cancer Awareness!

Fun idea for our Nursery

I am in love with this website!!

www.notjustahousewife.net

Here are my next 2 projects I will be starting for the Nursery!





Scrap wood lamps!! Cutest idea ever if you ask me.

Check them out! They don't seem too hard to make, just time consuming is all. I'm crossing my fingers that I will get these projects done in the next few months :)

Goodbye First Trimester!

That's right, I'm officially out of my first trimester!

Here is what I have learned during this miserable/emotional/fun trimester...

1. Crying. Like a whole freaking lot of it. I cry while watching the news. Pretty much every emotion is magnified
2. Mad. I called the past few weeks my grumpy stage, I don't know if this was normal but lots of little things would drive me nuts.
3. Boobs. (this may be tmi) so turn away. But, first they are massive, and second they are painful, they are wonderfully evil. :)
4. Tired. No, Exhausted! I can sleep anywhere, anytime. I fell asleep on the stairs one day.. it's bad.
5. Reason, why I am so happy for next trimester. Nausea, Throwing up. Worst thing ever!

I've learned it's ok to eat what sounds good, even if it is oreo's :) and I've learned about being patient! Little things are not that big-a-deal. :)

Pics to come soon, Thanks for reading! I know I haven't updated this for a Looonng time, but as soon as this summer semester is done, I'll have some free time to just blog! Yay for Babies!