Spike's Birth Story

I went to the Dr for my 39 week check up on Oct 8th, she told me that at first she though I wouldn’t make it to my scheduled c-section (Oct 15th) but now was positive I was going to go all the way. Joshua hadn’t really dropped or anything hinting that he was going to try to come early. After my appt I went to the PD got my paycheck, updated on what the dr had said and then went to lunch with Jason. We then walked around the mall looking for a baby hat that we never found. Jason joked that all that walking might make him decide to make his appearance early and something about how women go into labor after they get their induction/c-section scheduled. I told him he was nuts and that the midwife was right and the baby wasn’t going to get here until they went and got him. I was both right and wrong. The rest of the day was uneventful I convinced Jason we needed to do a belly cast so we did and that was it for the day.

The next morning (Oct 9th) Jason went to work at the fire department I woke up about 7 ate a muffin and sat down to watch tv. About 8:30 my mom called and when I stood up to get the phone it felt like I had peed or something, but being 39 weeks pregnant I didn’t really think much of it, ask a pregnant person, pee happens. So I changed clothes and continued to talk to mom. The next time I stood up the same thing happened so I mentioned it to her and she told me that she thought it was my water leaking and to call Jason. We hung up and I tried to call Jason. I tried his cell phone and every fire station he could be at and got no answer. That kinda freaked me out so I called Central (911 for my non police/fire/ems people) and got them to call him on the radio (Thanks Hank). Well not only did he not have his phone he also didn’t hear his radio and his partner had to get his attention in the gym and tell him to call me. All during this I had been having mild contractions I was considering Braxton hicks and yes I was still in denial that I could actually be in labor because my midwife told me I was going to ‘go the distance’. While talking to Jason the real contractions started and were enough to take my breath away. They stayed pretty regular about 5 minutes apart the whole time Jason was driving home. He got home and we grabbed the bags and headed to the hospital.

When we got to the hospital we checked in at the ER and went straight up to L&D. Once there I was hooked up to the fetal monitor and the contraction monitor. The contractions where still regular between 2 and 4 minutes apart and peaking pretty high (between 8 and 10 on the 0-12 scale). A hour or so after being in L&D (about 11am) a nurse came in and checked me I was less than 1 cm dilated she then did a swab to check if it was amniotic fluid I was leaking and that came back positive so they called in my midwife.  My midwife got to the hospital about 1. She checked my progress and I was still less than 1 cm but was definitely in active labor. She did a ferning test to check to see if I was still leaking amniotic fluid and it came up negative. She came in with the results from the ferning test about 2 and said that the other dr was at the hospital and if we wanted she could check and see if we could call in the OR staff and get the c-section done then instead of waiting. At this point I had been in labor for about 6 hours and was ready for the pain to be gone. Early in the pregnant we had discussed if I did go into labor on my own that she would let me labor for 24 hours then I would lose my veto power and we would go ahead with the c-section; however I could change my mind at any point and we would go ahead with the c-section then.  It took about an hour for the OR staff to get in and for me to get prepped.

The c-section was definitely different than I thought it would be. I had a spinal and some nausea medicine. I really expected to get something to relax me or something but I didn’t. The sensations involved with the surgery was interesting. I couldn’t see anything because of the drape but I could feel the pressure involved with the midwife pushing on the top of my stomach. My husband told me that not only was the midwife pushing on the top of my stomach another nurse was pulling retractors and the dr was having to unwedge the baby to get him out. He was born at 3:50 pm weighed 8lbs 8oz and was 19 inches long. Overall the c-section was uneventful other than my beautiful baby boy was born. When they finally got him out the nurses kept saying how pretty he was and he in true Brooks fashion peed twice and pooped on the nurse. Jason left with the baby while he got cleaned up weighed and measured all while I was getting sewed up. While being sewed up for some reason me and the or staff were talking about landscaping, sign painting and when Jason and I plan on having another baby. Completely random conversation but helped the time go by while they were closing.

My stay in the hospital was wonderful. The nurses were awesome and totally aided in the spoiling of Josh. 

Our son Spike

I totally forgot that I have this blog! A lot has happened since February 2010. Including the birth of our Son Joshua. I will try to find or retype my birth story. Which, if anything, is comical. Also we have started fertility treatments again.

Yet another two week Wait

It's been several months since I posted anything, partially due to frustration, mostly due to being busy with school and dr. appointments. In December I started Follistim injections (FSH) the first month was rough, the normal 12 days of shots was stretched out to 17 days of shots. This is due to the fact that my body just decided not to respond to the meds the way that it should. Of course since it took so long we weren't successful in December. I started the shots again in January, this time I was only on the shots for 16 days, one day doesn't seem like a lot but to me it is, shots in the stomach everyday are not enjoyable. If I make it all the way to Feb 5^th without starting I will have a beta hcg done. Maybe this month will be my month.

Where we stand…

Well the beta was negative, we were SURE that we had succeeded this month. I'm taking a month off from the meds, 1. Because of the weird vision thing and I have to see an eye dr to make sure that it's not my eyes. And B. because we have to have a meeting with the dr to discuss the next course of action. Which is more than likely going to be injections of FSH. So on the 30^th we have the meeting with the dr and the same day we have the class explaining the injections, what they are what they do kinda thing. At first I thought why do I have to sit through a class to learn how to give myself a subcutaneous shot, but its apparently far more informative than that. So we shall see… I think a month off will be good, let me get to some state of normal. At least for a month J

The dreaded 2 week wait….

For those of you not up to speed on trying to conceive phrases, the two week wait (or 2ww) is the two weeks from Ovulation to Menstruation. Probably the most stressful 2 weeks ever, if you are trying to conceive. I am smack dab in the middle of the 2ww. I found out a week ago that one of the side effects I have had from the clomid is not only rare but it's recommended that if you have the side effect you discontinue the meds and never take them again. I find out on the 18^th if it worked this month, if not we will discuss the next course of action. So here's to hoping.

And now we start…

another month of Clomid. All of my blood work was good this month, other than the negative pregnancy test. So another month of vision abnormalities, strange dreams and insomnia, but it will be worth it in the end. At this point I am starting to feel like House, I just want the answer to the puzzle, regardless of what the answer is. This isn’t exactly a bad way to feel but not having the answer is getting a tad bit frustrating, but it does seem like we are closer. Jason is being super supportive which I really appreciate, because apparently I have been a tad bit difficult this past month. I have been trying to not be quite so difficult and most of the time I don’t realize when I am being that way.

In school news I’m doing super good in biology, even though recently we have gotten to the part of biology that I don’t agree with (cloning, stem cell research etc). It is very difficult for me to be scientific and spiritual, because on a scientific level I can see the benefits of these areas of study, but on a spiritual level I know that it is wrong. It would take a lot more than that to explain why I think this but I don’t feel like dusting off the soapbox for this entry. I am almost finished with History 101, not doing as good but not failing. I start History 102 on 9/7 my plan is to get all the history over with as soon as possible. I think I have picked my classes for next term but I’m not 100% sure about the ones I have picked, I still have 8 weeks to make up my mind.

Also, I have decided what I want to write my first book about, since I’m planning on entering a field that is basically publish or perish. The topic of my book is going to be 1^st wife 2^nd wife interactions, and the role of a step parent. At the urging of some of my facebook friends I have started an outline for the book and have at least 10 main areas so far that I feel need to be addressed. I’m sure that the further I get into my degree the more my ideas will change on what areas actually need to be addressed. I don’t want the book to be an instruction manual, because no 2^nd marriage is the same and the relationship between the 1^st wife and 2^nd wife is the same. There are tons of variables that have to be considered. So really this is going to be observations, advice from other married people, and just examples of what has or has not worked for them in their situation. So when it comes time to writing this book I’m going to need a lot input from my twice (or more) married friends.