Saturday, February 20, 2010

Photo Shoot

So, when my sister-in-law had her baby last month, I checked her blog everyday hoping for MORE pictures! I was really disappointed and couldn't figure out why she wasn't posting more often. Then I had my baby and remembered how time-consuming, overwhelming and exhausting it is to have a newborn!!! Thankfully, it is also very rewarding.

I still don't have it in me to upload any of my own pics. But I can refer you to my friend Melissa's photography blog. She offered to take pics of Jonny for her first ever newborn shoot. Of course, I took her up on that offer. This turned out to be the only day of his life that he wasn't sleepy, so after 2 hours, we were lucky to get some good shots. Don't mind my roots. Hair coloring appointments have also been low on my list of priorities.

Click here to see: http://blueprintsphotography.blogspot.com/

Thanks so much, Melissa!

Monday, February 8, 2010

Heeeeeere's Jonny!

Okay, this is going to be quick because I'm exhausted. Jonathan Masahisa Watabe made his grand entrance at 3:45 PM weighing in at 8 pounds 8 ounces (our biggest baby yet and half an ounce lighter than my birth weight.) He is 20.5 inches long. I only pushed about 8 times total, 20 minutes from the first push to them telling me to pull him the rest of the way out up onto my belly. He's super sweet and so soft. He hardly cried during his first bath. He nurses like a pro and likes his pacifier already! More pics and details to come after I get some rest!
(It's so hard to get a cute new born pic -- we'll keep trying!)

Finally!

After giving up the wish of having all of our birthdays have 7's in them, I went to bed last night feeling disappointed, yet also had a little gut instinct not to take my sleeping pill because I might need to be alert. Well, I'm glad I didn't because it wouldn't have been good to be groggy around 2:30 AM when contractions started. I laid there and monitored them for an hour. They were 3-7 minutes apart. So I got up and finished packing my bag. My mom woke up and Nate finally woke up. I took a bath and called Kaiser. They said go to the hospital. So Nate and I drove into Denver and I had contractions every 5 minutes on the dot the whole way here. They checked me and I was only a 2. The no nonsense older nurse told me to walk around for two hours and they'd check again, but if I wasn't a 4 I'd have to go home. She wasn't my favorite. We walked around for about an hour until I was in tears from the painful contractions and the thought of possibly having to go home. So we took a little break and the contractions slowed down, which worried me. I was praying SO HARD the whole time that they'd let me stay and I'd have the baby today. We walked for another 20 minutes before it was time to get checked.

It was a new, nicer nurse and she said I was 3 1/2, and she was encouraging me to go home. I plead my case (one day overdue, mom in town wasting helping time, I will probably need to be helped along because I was with my other two, my other two were 8 and 8.5 pounds at this same point, we don't want to keep driving back and forth in the snow, the hospital was not busy so they may as well take me, etc.) She said she'd call the Dr. and talk to him about it. I knew it was all judgement calls at this point and was praying my heart out that they'd have mercy on me. My contractions had slowed way down and I was really nervous they'd try to send me home. I was getting ready to turn on the tears if I had to when she came back and said she decided to skip consulting the Dr. and just send me up to be admitted. She said, "Don't make a liar out of me." I gave her a big hug and told her I'd do my best. She also said there's still a chance they'll send me home if I'm not progressing.

We got to the room and got hooked up to everything and the contractions still weren't that great. I met the resident Dr. who is a young, beautiful girl named Vanessa (I've never met a Vanessa who wasn't beautiful), and she said, "I don't see any reason we'd send you home." I said I definitely agreed and decided I really like her! Then my contractions started to really pick up (probably because the pressure was off now that I knew I could stay.) After a couple of hours they were 3 minutes apart and very intense. I was praying I'd be at least a 4 so I could get my epidural.

They checked me and I was a 5, so they offered the epidural (loved it that I didn't even have to ask). Within minutes the anesthesiologist was in here doing a fantastic job of giving me an epidural. I told him he was my new best friend.

Now I am as comfy as can be. The annoyance/pain of the IV and catheter have worn off (isn't it funny how it hurts at first and then you get used to it?) I am a little itchy from the epidural, but it's tolerable.

They just checked me and I'm a 7. My mom is on her way and we'll probably get to meet Jonny in the next few hours. I've been praying for nine months that this will be my best labor and delivery experience yet, and so far it has been. I am thrilled that I went into labor on my own -- a first for me. Even after my water broke with Elizabeth, they still had to give me pitocin. Maybe I went on my own because I tried every trick I'd ever heard of EXCEPT Castor oil, I wasn't desperate enough for that yet. I got a massage and she worked my pressure points so hard that I was literally black and blue, I bounced on the ball, walked on the treadmill, ate eggplant and pineapple and spicy food (all tips from various people), and tried the oldest trick in the book. But I think the kicker was probably the evening primrose oil capsules that Tamara gave me. I had one at lunch yesterday, one last night and also inserted one (I know, gross and TMI), but hey, I'm in labor now and I was willing to try almost anything! So THANK YOU TAMARA!!! And everyone else who gave suggestions and encouragement. I feel so blessed to have supportive, loving family and friends, modern medicine, good insurance, good nurses and Dr's who are treating me so well (other than grumpy grandma who checked us in) and the power of prayer!




Please pray that things will continue to go smoothly! I'll keep you posted!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Getting Closer

I don't really get the "nesting instinct," but I have forced myself to do some preparing for the baby.


*I did get a really strong urge to clean and organize my bathroom last week. After 2 hours, I had a big bag of things to throw out and a sprakling bathroom.


*That same day, I finally got out the baby clothes. Styles have changed in the last 5 1/2 years, but I don't really mind, especially for the tiny new born clothes, that are just sweet and comfy anyway.


*Last week we all got haircuts. Elizabeth's is the cutest -- I'll post a picture soon. I really don't love mine, which is an unfortunate thing to have happen the week before you have your baby. I didn't need to feel any uglier, but oh well. Hair grows, and I'll be cooped up in my house for the next month anyway.


*This week I got my list of errands done, stocked up on food and got Harrison started on his Valentines! We also got out all of the Valentine's decorations and Harrison's love for decorating for each holiday is just as strong as it was at Christmas.


* I finally put my book down for a few hours and organized the office. It is a task that constantly hangs over my head and has to be done at least once a quarter. This time, I am determined to follow the "one touch rule" of organizing so the papers don't pile up. It could still use some work in the funcationality department, considering it's an office/craft & sewing room/toy room/guest room. Maybe Mom can help with that.


*I got my pre-delivery pedicure! A must for every expectant mother, in my opinion. The poor girl had to scrub my heels for about an hour to get all the calluses off. They look and feel so much better! I was trying to go for a Valentine's look.



*A big snowstorm is coming to D.C., so my mom moved her ticket up a day, and she'll be here tomorrow! Otherwise, she might have gotten stuck and not made it until Monday. Sooner is definitely better than later. I'm still holding out for Sunday, the 7th though.


*My stomach feels a little strange today. I have a Dr's appt. this afternoon. We'll see what they say. Last week the Dr. said I was, "not what he would call ripe."

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

The Final Countdown!

Okay, 5 days to go. And I am really hoping to go ON my due date. My mom gets here Saturday and I really want to hold out for her. I'm a mama's girl and I want her in the room. But once she's here, I don't want to waste any of her precious helping time, so then it's go time. Plus, this is silly, but we all have 7's in our birthdays and Sunday would be his only chance to have a 7. I refuse to wait until the 17th!

How am I passing the time? Am I cleaning my house? Organizing the office? Working on a quilt for the baby? Setting up his room? No, all of those things are on the list, but instead I'm reading Hunger Games and Catching Fire. I've heard about them from multiple people and finally had to see what all the fuss was about. Let me tell you, it's a great way to pass the time. All day Sunday (except for 3 hours at church) and all day yesterday were spent on Hunger Games and last night I started Catching Fire. I figure I'll have it done in the next couple of days. I highly recommend the books. The premise is somewhat disturbing, but it's a page turner, easy to read, entertaining, and thought provoking. And a must for me -- there is a love story.

Thanks for all of your input on the swing. At my shower, as part of the group gift I got the Fisher Price Papasan Cradle Swing (swings both ways). We found a great deal on one, so that makes it even better. I'm excited to find out if he loves it as much as I hope he does!

Fingers crossed for the 7th, everyone! I'll keep you posted!