My birth story (part 2)

I left off on Saturday afternoon (with only about 4 hours of sleep in a 38 hour period) at home, saddened by the news that I wasn't progressing.  

Here's the finale (again, discontinue reading if you aren't comfortable with TMI issues): 


I made both my sisters go for long walks with me all afternoon.  I wanted so desperately to start labor again.  I was willing to do anything.  I even went so far as taking a dose of castor oil.  Mixed with orange juice...not so bad (gag reflex and all).  I can't remember exactly when I started feeling contractions again, but by 8:30, my sister was timing them and telling me my progress every 30 to 40 minutes.  I was encouraged every time I heard the timing because they were getting longer, stronger and closer together!! :) 


I had my sister call my friend to invite her over during my laboring at home.  I was so thankful when she and her husband showed up.  My friend sat with me and my sister in my bedroom and her husband sat with my husband and my other sister in the living room (later I found out that they were praying for me the whole time; what an amazing group of friends I have!).  The only thing that felt good to me was lying on my right side during every contraction and moaning/humming through each one.  My wonderful sister made a playlist of soothing songs and I would focus on the music through each contraction.  It helped distract me and strangely kept me focused on the task at hand.  By 10:30, I was having pretty intense contractions about every 4 minutes and decided I wanted to sit in the tub with relaxing bubble bath scents to help me through the contractions.  It felt so nice.  I laid in the tub for about an hour and a half and slipped in and out of sleep while my sister rubbed my arm and diligently kept time of the contractions.  I was so tired (remember I'd only slept 4 hours in what was now a 48 hour time period).  I think I actually slept through some contractions even though they were becoming so intense.  At one point, I awoke to a contraction and muttered "Such a rude awakening!" :)  Janelle just kept draining some water and refilling it with hot water and adding more bubbles.  


At midnight, Janelle tried to convince me that it was time to go to the hospital.  My contractions were lasting about 45 to 60 seconds and were coming about ever 3 1/2 minutes.  I remembered the nurse telling me every 3 minutes.  I was going to do my homework completely!!  I told Janelle I wanted 30 more minutes at home and got out of the tub to lay down on my bed again.  We have a queen size bed and I was laying at the farthest right side possible.  I remember my friend had brought frozen strawberries and all of a sudden those sounded so good.  I sucked on those for the next 15 minutes and finally made up my mind that it was time to go to the hospital.  Janelle (or was it Jessica, I can't remember) went out of the bedroom to tell everyone to start packing up.  All of a sudden my contractions got extremely intense and I felt this balloon come out of me.  I screamed "Something's happening!"  I seriously thought it was the head coming out.  Within a second the balloon exploded (literally) and water gushed out of me all the way across my bed and onto the floor.  What I thought was the head was my bag of water breaking.  Now, it's ON!!  Within another second I say "My water just broke! LET'S GO!"  I changed my clothes really quickly; I was SOAKED!  My sister was soaked too, but she was such a sport, she didn't mind.  (oh, it must have been Jessica, because Janelle was with me in the bed...anyway, moving on).  I get out to the car (after another contraction comes and goes), Janelle drives us to the hospital.  I walk into the E.R. and the nurse takes one look at me and says, "Oh my! Maternity center, get a wheel chair, lets go!" I can't imagine what I must have looked like to get that response! :)  I get up to my delivery room at 12:40.  The nurse tells me to pee in a cup.  I think to myself "She has GOT to be kidding!"  But I do it anyway, the nurse knows best, right?  They get me in a gown and check me.  Fully dilated and station 2.  The baby's head is crowning!!  She jokes with me about something, but right then the biggest and strongest contraction hits.  I grab Janelle's hand and say something like "This hurts, I can't do it.  I don't like it.  I have to push!"  Janelle (the WONDERFUL coach that she is) calms me down and the contraction passes.  (Later on, Janelle told me that one of the nurses response to me saying I need to push was "So, push already!"  HAHA!  If only I had actually heard those words.).  At this point, I know the baby is going to come any second.  I've been in labor for just over 4 hours and the contractions are so strong, the urge to push so intense, I'm on the roller coaster ride of my life and am losing a little bit of control.  The doctor on call (not my regular ob-gyn) hasn't made it into the room yet.  My mom hasn't made it yet.  I'm freaking out that this is all going to happen and it's just going to be me, Janelle and Rolando.  I look at the nurse and say, "I feel so much pressure.  I need to push.  Where's my mom?"  


It's 1:05 and my mom arrives.  The doctor follows within seconds.  I'm so emotional and scared.  I hear the doctor tell me to open my legs, grab my knees and bare down.  I hear him say that but in the same second, when the contraction slams into my gut, I squeeze my legs, stop breathing and clench up...everything you're taught NOT to do in labor class.  I think my body was saying, "um...this is happening way too quickly!"  The contraction fades and I give the doctor this panicked look.  He looks right back at me and very calmly says, "Okay, on the next contraction, lets try something different.  I want you to grab your knees and pull them toward you.  Chin to chest and bare down."  His calming voice reaches some inner part of me and I do exactly as he says.  The sensation of being split in two down the middle is so intense, but I press on.  Ring of fire.  This hurts!  I look at my mom with fear in my eyes.  She looks back with an encouraging look.  I know I can do this!  The next contraction slams into me and I bare down just like the doctor tells me.  Everyone is encouraging me.  The nurses, my mom, my sister holding my hand, my husband stroking my hair.  Everyone believes in me.  I push through the ring of fire and after what feels like an eternity, I feel the head push through and i know it's a matter of seconds before I get to see my son.  The rest of the body slips through and I hear the doctor say "It's wrapped around 3 times."  It takes me a few seconds to understand what he's talking about.  Thankfully, by the time I figure out what he just said, I hear the first beautiful cry of my son!  Yes, the cord was wrapped around Evan's neck 3 times but, by the grace of God, he's healthy, crying, and they are laying him on my chest. Evan was born at 1:11 a.m.


I'm so exhausted.  I lay my head back and close my eyes.  My mom has to say to me "Charissa, open your eyes and look at your son."  My son is on my chest.  It's amazing.  He's all gooey and beautiful and tiny and perfect.  "He's my son.  He's my son.  He's my son."  I keep saying this as if I'm trying to convince the world.  I can't believe he's here.  He's here and he's mine!  My mom asks us to share the name finally and I turn to Rolando.  Rolando says "Evan William."  His name is perfect.  He's my Evan.

My little Snow White dwarf :)

Evan - God is gracious
William - resolute protector

Labor took less than 4.5 hours.  I had to push two times and Evan was in my arms.  The following hours fly by.  He's weighed and measured.  5 lbs 13 oz.  19 1/4 inches long.  His head cir. is 12.75 inches.  He's swaddled and back in my arms.  I'm nursing my son for the first time and it feels so perfect.  He's a tiny little guy.  He's a bit jaundiced, but nothing to be too concerned about.  He's absolutely perfect!  I feel whole.  This is who I am.  I'm a mama.  I am exactly what God created me to be. 

Giving birth and becoming a mama has totally changed me. It has made me realize just how important life is and forced me to make some much needed changes in my life.  It has grown me into a better woman, a better wife, a better sister, a more 'whole' human.  God is so good and I can't believe the blessings that he has poured over my life.  I have the most wonderful husband and the most beautiful son.  I am so blessed.

2 months old

My beautiful baby boy is 2 months old today!

He is growing up so quickly.  He surprises me daily with his new tricks.

He's learned that the changing table can be fun with his mobile

He's learned to appreciate the outdoors

On his 2 month birthday, he did this for the first time!! 

My little boy is growing so quickly...did I say that yet?  :)  These 2 months have been such a blur, a happy blur, a challenging blur, and a growing experience for all of us.  My husband and I have learned so much about each other through raising our son and Evan has taught us many things while learning new things for himself.  He's taught me patience, that the world may not actually revolve around me (haha).  He's taught me to think outside the box (what could possibly be making him scream like that? all the options!).  He's taught me to truly and deeply enjoy every single moment that passes, to take to heart each smile and happy moment that comes my way and to leave behind the moments of trials.  

He's learned to smile, to laugh, to kick his legs, to turn his head, to follow someone across the room.  He's learned to enjoy his bouncy seat (thank God! mama needs a shower where you aren't crying the whole time!)  He's learned that it's okay to not be in someone's arms.  He's learned to coo and squeal.

He still loves to be swaddled.  He loves to sleep on his tummy on mama's chest.  He loves his daddy time, going for walks and dancing while daddy sings in Spanish.

He hates his car seat (never heard him scream so loud!  and he gets that super panic, angry look too.)

Evan,

You are the sweetest little boy ever.  I love to see your smiles and hear you talk.  Your laughs melt my heart.  You are developing right on schedule, a fact that makes me feel so proud!  You don't even know this but you are boosting my confidence every day.  I sustain you and keep you alive.  You reward me with all the growing you are doing and showing me all the fun stuff you can do.  Some times I just can't take my eyes off of you.  I know I should put you down for a nap but, instead, I hold you in my arms a little while longer and smell the top of your head.  You'll think it's funny someday but today, I can't get enough.  I love you so much.  That will never change.

I'll love you forever

I'll like you for always

As long as I'm living

my baby you'll be.

Love,

Your mama

My birth story (part 1)

Evan will be 2 months old tomorrow and I can't believe it!  You never understand how fast time can actually fly past you until you have a baby.  When reading all the mommy blogs I could absorb during pregnancy, I told myself I wouldn't say those words that all mamas say (I can't believe how fast you've grown), but seriously folks, it's inevitable.  Evan really is growing so fast.  In just 2 short weeks, he's become an entirely different baby.  It brings tears to my eyes just typing those words.  Wow, time really does fly by.

Speaking of flying by, my maternity leave is almost over and in a few weeks I'll be returning to work.    I had a few goals that I wanted to complete during my maternity leave. Don't worry I only had a few: Love Evan with all my heart, pump/store as much milk as possible (no quota, just do the best I can), and put into words my birth story.  One of my goals for maternity leave hasn't been met and so with this post, I check it off the list.

Giving birth is an overwhelming event.  It's overwhelming in the fact that it is beautiful, painful, empowering, and amazing.  It's a rite of passage.  It's a chance to show the world just how strong you are.  It's a chance to prove to yourself that you can conquer anything you put your mind to.  For nine months, a woman's body prepares for this journey into motherhood.  And then, after just a few short hours (comparatively) your body has accomplished it's goal.

Here's my story (discontinue reading if you get uncomfortable with TMI topics):

Evan William Jimenez was born on Sunday, June 26th.  I want to start my story on the Thursday before that.  I had my 39 week appointment with my doctor and asked if she could strip my membranes.  She was successful at doing so and I walked away from the appointment hoping that by the end of the weekend I would have my baby boy in my arms and no longer in my belly.  That afternoon, while at work, I starting having horrible back pain.  No amount of stretching, pelvic tilt exercises, Tylenol, or different sitting positions helped.  I was walking around the office more than I was sitting in my office chair doing work.  It was so bad that I finally went home early and laid down in my bed to rest.  I finally was able to sleep around 10:30 that night and I woke up Friday morning around 7:30.  It was glorious...until I tried to sit up in bed and was blinded with the same back pain, same spot, more intense.

I called my doctor as soon as the office opened.  I told her about my situation and she asked a lot of questions (any contractions? no, any bleeding? no, drinking enough water? yes, etc).  After answering all her questions, she advised me to go to the hospital and check myself in.  She wanted to have me monitored in case contractions where happening and I couldn't feel them.  I checked in around 10 am. and was monitored for about 2 hours.  They gave me more pain medicine and alternated ice/hot on my back.  I had one contraction after 2 hours, when the nurse came to discharge me.  She told me that my son had moved down enough to where he was probably sitting on my sciatic nerve.  My options were pretty limited.  I could go to a chiropractor and see if an adjustment would help.  Walking wouldn't help, it would probably just bring more pain.  She basically said, go home, alternate ice and heat, relax and pray your baby comes soon.  great!

I went home, in pain, not knowing what the next few days would bring.  My mind was going 100 mph.  Am I going to have to deal with this pain for another 3 weeks possibly?  I really wanted to work every day possible until the baby came; how was I going to endure?  Now I know why women take leave before the baby comes.  I can't do this!  I don't want to do this.  So this is the pain of pregnancy (yes it was pretty much for first real pain from being pregnant).  I hoped and prayed that this was the onset of labor and that I would have my son in my arms soon!  I called my sister and told her to come over, bring some movies and bring some spicy foods and green grapes (the grapes sent my aunt into labor years and years ago, so I decided to try those too).  Both of my sisters came down, we enjoyed our food and before we started watching the movies, I tuckered out and went to bed (around 11:30).

I was awakened at 12:30 am Saturday by cramping and gas pains, went to the restroom and laid back down to go to sleep.  Then the pains came again about 5 minutes later.  After about 30 minutes of this pattern it donned on me...this might actually be labor, but I didn't want to rush things so I grabbed my exercise ball and, while playing sudoku and bejewled on my phone, rolled back and forth on the ball.  I was trying not to pay attention to the time, but by 3:30 am, the contractions were happening every 3-4 minutes and, though they weren't as painful as I thought they would/should be, were becoming more intense.  I finally woke Rolando up and told him that I thought we should go to the hospital.  My sisters were sleeping in the living room, so I woke them up too and off we went.  I was elated.  It was time and soon enough I would be gazing in my son's eyes and falling head over heals in love!

While Rolando drove us to the hospital, Janelle called mom and told her it was time.  I was taken up to the room and hooked up to the monitors.  I saw the contractions coming and going and was feeling every emotion on the spectrum.

Nervous...will I be able to do this?  what is it really going to be like?
Anxious...the nurse checked me and I was only 2 cm dilated and 50-60% effaced, not a huge change from my 39 week appointment.  She advised me to use the hot tub and told me that if contractions continued it was probably real labor, but I could see in her eyes that she had her doubts.
Elated...the contractions continued while in the hot tub.  My mind was made up, this was it and I was going to meet my son.
Frustrated...the nurse came in and checked me again.  No progress, in fact, she said I was more like 1 cm dilated.  WHAT?!?!?  is that possible?  you can go backward?  NO WAY!
Angry/upset...after 3 hours of napping at the hospital (with the help of ambien and morphine) the nurses decide to send me home.  There would be no baby this afternoon.

I was so sad, upset and just plain frustrated.  My heart was broken.  I wanted to cry a river.  I was told to rest, relax, walk if possible, and when contractions started again, to wait until they were 3 minutes apart, lasting at least a minute, and painful/intense.  I was given homework.  I can do that!  Focus on the homework and wait.

Fortunately I didn't have to wait too long!

To Be Continued...

Constipation Remedies 101

Here's everything you need to know about solving the horrible bout of your child's constipation:

1.  Wake up every hour on the hour during the night and walk with your child (can you say sleep deprivation).

2.  Try to figure out if your child is hungry or just in pain.  (note: you can usually tell the difference between the two cries, but not this time...totally throwing off your mama instincts and confidence)

3.  Pray for your child.  

4. Walk and bounce and shush and sing for hours today.

5. Change your child's diaper many times hoping that a clean diaper will spur on the feeling of needing to pee or poop (because every. other. time. you change your child's diaper it spurs on the feeling of needing to pee or poop!!).

6.  Walk to your office and back (1.5 miles total) hoping that the cinched action of the wrap will help squeeze it out (you are definitely getting your exercise today).

7.  Strip yourself and your child naked and take a shower hoping that the warm water and nakedness will help move it out.

8.  Let your child sleep on his stomach for his nap, hoping that the pressure on his stomach will help it move on the way out (and then check on him every minute to make sure he hasn't fallen victim to SIDS {Gosh there are so many things to worry and fret about when you are a mom}).

9.  Listen to your child scream a TOTALLY different scream then you've ever heard. 

10.  Cry with your child.  It might help. 

11. Call a friend and talk to them about their child's experience with constipation.  Let their words comfort you and listen when they tell you they are praying for you and your child.

12.  Change your child's diaper one more time and hold up his legs a little higher than normal.  Watch as a sight normally unseen (and should probably remain unseen) unfolds before your eyes.  More poop than you can ever imagine will come running out of your sweet child's behind.

You will laugh.  You will cry.  You will shout for joy.  Must most importantly...

You will cheer on your son as he does an amazing job and relieving himself all over your shirt. 

I love my son!

Traveling with a 7 week old

I'm nervous about traveling, but feeling assured that everything will be okay.  I'm sure everyone is right that it's easier to fly with a 7 week old instead of a 1 year old, but it's still scary.  Especially when I hate flying myself.  Now I have to be concerned about another living being!  Yikes!  Don't worry though, I know I can do it.

Because I'm a list person, I'm going to make a list of what I'm planning on bringing.  Suggestions and additions are much appreciated!

Lots of clothes
Lots of blankets
Lots of burp clothes
binki and back up binki (one that he doesn't like as well, but it'll do in emergency!)
wipes/diapers
car seat
diaper bag
moby wrap
breast pump
steam bags for sanitizing pump materials
socks
white/black flash cards...I really want him to love them :)

I'm not bringing a travel bed since most of the time he'll be sleeping with me in bed or in someone's arms (I <3 loving on my son!!).  Anything I'm forgetting?  If it's something obvious, go easy on this mama.  I'm new at this and very sensitive! :)

D. B. P.

Dear Breast Pump,

It's time to be brutally honest.  I have such a love-hate relationship with you.  It's not that I truly hate you, but I definitely don't 100% love you.  I know that I need you and I know that you are good for my future needs.  I just don't feel very connected to you.  You aren't very communicative with me as of late.  I feel like you suck the life out of me and don't give me anything in return!  Also, I feel like you are a little bit fake with me.  You don't make me feel the same way that my other breast relationship does.  Oh and this is probably a good time to let you know that I'm cheating on you...a lot!  Please don't be upset.  It's better for both of us that I have this other relationship.

I might neglect you one day, but I promise I won't let you go longer than 48 hours without giving you my attention.  I hope this is good enough for you, because it's as good as I can give.  There are just a lot of demands on me right now.  But don't be worried, I promise to keep our relationship going. 

Sincerely,
kissapoo