thursday, august 11, 2005.
when jerry came home from work, jeremiah was having a meltdown in his room. i went in to check on him, soothe him and get him back to sleep. when i came back to bed, i felt a bit *ahem* horny, so jerry and i ended up having sex. it ended at 445 on the nose, and as SOON as it ended, i started having contractions. they continued the rest of the morning until i got up (after jeremiah woke me up) at around nine. they were consistently in between 2 and 5 minutes apart.
i got jeremiah breakfast and called mom to tell her. she told me to call the dr and tell them, so i did. i also asked them if i should eat (because of the gestational diabetes) and the nurse said i could have something light if i was really hungry. nurse told me she was sending my info to the hospital and to go whenever i felt like it. well, i had to wait for mom to get to the house to watch jeremiah so i could shower. jerry was still sleeping, and i had only briefly mentioned it to him.
i showered and told him more, he got up and around and decided to stay, get things together, take his shower, stop at the store, then he would meet us over at the hospital. (i could tell he believed me that i thought it was time, but he was in no rush, since i’d had so many false alarms before! and believe it or not, i did not take offense to this. lol.)
mom, jeremiah and i arrived at the hospital at 11am. i was taken to a small triage room and told jeremiah wasn’t allowed in there. i was actually told he wasn’t allowed to be in a room with me until josiah was actually born and everything was ok. this was news to me! i didn’t want him in there during delivery, but i wanted to be able to see him in the meantime, so i was sad about that.
nurse was danielle. i came to discover we went to the same high school! anyway, at my first check sometime after 11, i was 4cm dilated/80% effaced.
1:50 - at my next check, i was still only about 4-5cm and 80% effaced.
3:00 - nurse said dr perkins, dr on call, wanted me to walk the halls for an hour or so, to see if i progressed on my own. i was able to push jeremiah in the stroller, or walk with him using his harness. we had quite a fun time. he was a very strict walker - he wouldn’t let me stop and take breaks like mom or jerry would.
4:00 - dr perkins, one of my doctor’s partners, came in and checked me. still no change. UGH. (side note: tho i had the same dr for my pregnancy and delivery with jeremiah, i always got out of dr rotation somehow, so i had never met dr perkins. he was very nice, tho nothing like dr dunlop. somehow it didn’t even upset me thinking that the dr who would be delivering my baby was a stranger. lol. the first time around i think i would have been freaking out!) dr perkins said i could go home if i wanted, but i was not having that again. i did not want to leave that hospital without a baby! they warned me it might be a while before i got into another room, as they were TOTALLY full. there were women coming in left and right, dilated at 9 or 10, so i was not on the top priority list!! (side note: i think the end count was 16 babies born in the time that we were there!)
8:40 - they started a sugar water iv on me. it took them SIX pokes to find a good vein, and three different people had their tries. my anesthesiologist ended up getting the winning poke.
i had been asking for some sort of tummy relief, like mylanta or tums, and still hadn’t received anything. i was feeling really sick.
9:00 - after calling FOREVER for someone to come unhook me or help me go pee, i finally gave up and went in on my own. i was feeling really queasy and horribly nauseas so i had to lean over the sink to vomit before i could sit down to pee. oops - i peed ALL OVER MYSELF. no, my water didn’t break, it was pee. ugh i felt disgusting. new nurse, martha.
9:10 - i was given nubane, the antibiotic for positive strep b and some pepcid in my iv.
9:35 - i was able to brush my teeth after being told i couldn’t eat anything - not even gum or a mint and my mouth tasted horrible.
10:00 - i was finally asked the medical history questions, and i threw in the few things that i thought were necessary for the delivery (no episiotomy, direct skin-to-skin, jerry cuts cord, josiah doesn’t leave our side without our ok, etc). we found out we would be moving to a real L&D room once it was cleaned.
10:30 - moved to new room!
10:40 - dr perkins broke my water. jerry commented “jojo’s circus will have a whole new meaning soon!” (which, btw i still don’t get, even now that i’m not on nubane LOL.)
10:45 - started on pitocin.
11:00 - hourly sugar check (which was only my 2nd or 3rd check, so yeah right on the hourly!) was normal.
11:26 - new nurse, hannah.
11:30 - dilated 6, effaced 90%, station 0.
friday, august 12, 2005
12:08 - excruciating pain during contractions. asking the Lord to end it all. LOL. trying with all my might to ‘breathe’ but it was very hard!!! given the epidural. during which, i was asked if there was pressure or pain. i replied both. she didn’t hear me so i repeated it THREE TIMES, the last time, i got more than a bit snippy. she said she was TRYING to help me, so i DIDN’T NEED to be RUDE to her. (i was bent over, having severe contractions, thinking, this woman is in the wrong line if she doesn’t want to be yelled at by women in labor. but i held my tongue.) also during which i was told i have scoliosis! she actually said, “you know you have scoliosis, right?” um, no i didn’t know that.
12:50 - we make our last minute guesses -
gramma: 7lbs 15oz/20.5in, 7:15am, blonde/blue-gray
papa: 8lbs 13oz/20 in, 3:45am, brown/brown
mama: 8lbs/20 in, 3:38am, blonde/blue-gray
12:55 - gramma decides to nap.
1:00 - papa reads, mama tries to rest. (note that until now, the epidural had been totally working - i wasn’t feeling any contractions - i just knew i was having them when i got shivers. i was feeling nothing.) interrupted by major pressure down below. it doesn’t hurt, but it feels like a head is trying to push out of my vagina. i comment on it, and the nurse checked me @
1:10 - 100% effaced, totally dilated! she calls to tell dr perkins, who is in an emergency c-section, but will be over as soon as he’s done. the nurses are getting everything ready, including the mirror above so i can see. they tell me to keep my legs closed at first, so i know he is really trying to come out! once the mirror is ready and my legs are in the stirrups, i can see his little head pushing, pushing out! it was so funny!
1:30 - dr perkins gets into the room. he does a little stretching, and something else, then tells me to push. i do one hard push, then they say “one more!” and i’m thinking yeah right, but i push and laugh, as i see him coming out, so i’m giggling like crazy as i see him exit…
1:40am - our beautiful, dark haired son, josiah benjamin, is born!! he came out and almost instantly began screaming his little head off. great lungs. they placed him in my arms (tho it wasn’t exactly skin to skin, as no one had had time to move my gown) and we looked at each other. he didn’t like his eyes open much tho, and he just kept on screaming. lol. he weighed 7lbs, 7oz and was only 19.5in long. his little head, 13.5in, is nearly perfectly round. chest was 15.5. apgars 8 & 9.
1:50 - he nursed on the left side with a great latch and great suck. took to nursing right away and nursed for ten minutes! at 2:00, nursed the right side; he was a little hesitant because of the size difference of my nipples (my right nipple is quite a bit larger than the left), but soon latched on and loved it! he now prefers the right side, btw.

and that is the story of prince josiah benjamin, sweet, precious second son, our blessing and miracle. born 12 days before his due date and not a minute too soon! thank You, Lord, for this precious gift that only You can give!!!!

dear josiah,
i always knew the joy i’d find in loving you. i know that we will always have a very special bond that no one can ever touch. you are my precious little jo-jo bean and i love you SOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!! welcome to the world, little man, and welcome into our hearts and lives. we’ve been waiting for you.
i love you.
love,
mama

Well her precious bundle of joy has finally arrived!!! Josiah came into the world at 1:45p.m. with a mere two pushes!!! Wow how very exciting. That is so great! He weighed 7 lbs. 7 ozs. and was 19-1/2 inches long. His head circumference is 13.5 and his chest is 15.5. His apgars were 8 and 9. That is so great. I am so very proud of her. She has waited so long for this time to come and finally the reward is here. What a blessing. Just think how much earlier he could have been here if she had been in her room earlier. But that is okay the pain is over and now all that is left is to shower him with lots of love, hugs, and kisses. And I know for sure he definately will not miss out on any of the above with two wonderful, loving parents, a sweet big brother, and a big family with lots of love and open hearts. She said he looks alot like Jeremiah his hair may be a little darker. When we were on the phone they were cleaning him up and she was anxiously waiting to get him in her arms. She was ready to feed him his first meal. oh yeah and she couldn’t talk very much cause she was shivering so much from the epidural. I asked her if she was still hungry for Arby’s (that is what she had been thinking about the last time I talked to her), and she said she really wasn’t hungry but she did want a Diet Coke. Well I will post more in the morning. Hope I can sleep. I am just so EXCITED!!!!!! CONGRATS TO THE WHOLE FAMILY!!!!!! I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!

Well FINALLY she called. She sounded very exhousted and tired, and I am afraid she still has a long night ahead of her. I hope not!!!!! I had been anxiously waiting ALL day just like all of you. I didn’t want to call her because I knew she would call me when she felt up to it. So she just called and she has only been in her room about 45 minutes. Ughhhhh!!! She is on pitocin, sugar water, and her antibiotic for the strep B. She has had her epidural. She is now at 6, 90% and at 0 station. She said the hospital is unbelievably busy. I read her all of your comments over the phone, and told her the guesses for the 12th. We agreed that hippiechyck’s is the one that we are hoping for time wise. She said 3 a.m. That would be soon!!!! Jenn will be calling me as soon as he is here. I will keep you posted as soon as I know something.

Well just talked to Jenn. Jerry just got there I know she is so happy that he is there by her side. He just a great husband and Daddy times 2!!!!! She seems to be in more pain. Said the contractions are coming about every minute and a half and they are more strong. She is still in the little cubicle room, and she said the doctor will be coming in soon and hopefully she will be moving to a regular labor and delivery room. She is still at 4 almost five and only 80%. So she was kinda disappointed that the walk didn’t help. I reminded her that it can change so quickly and that I hope she doesn’t have to have pitocin since she doesn’t want to have it!!! Be back later!!! Hopefully with news that things are progressing quicker!!!!!

Hey everyone, it’s the day we have all been waiting for. Jenn said she has been having strong consistent contractions since early, early this morning. So when she got up at nine she called the hopital and they told her to come in. When they checked her she was dialated to 4cm and 80% so they she is staying to have the baby. YAY!!!!!!!!! I know she is so thrilled. Unfortunately it is not her doctor there today, but she said she really doesn’t care (she is ready!). She did find out some disappointing news: Jeremiah is not aloud in her labor and delivery room AT ALL!!!! He can come in the room once she is moved to her postpartum room. She was upset and wanted to hug Jeremiah. She said when she went in her room that he was crying and she thinks he is getting a cold because he doesn’t act like he is feeling very well. Poor Jeremiah!!!!!!! Well as I was talking to her the nurse came in and said that the doctor said she was progressing well on her own so he wanted her to go for an hour walk on that floor and then come back and they would check her. She was excited!!!!!! She said, ” Well, I am going to go walk with Jeremiah!” Her mom and Jeremiah are there with her now (however not in the room). Her mom is playing puzzles and stuff with Jeremiah. Jerry is at home getting stuff together. Her dad will be coming to pick up Jeremiah later. I am so EXCITED!!!! I will let you know everytime I hear something. Bye for now!!!!

after so many false alarms, one begins to doubt herself. but i’m pretty sure this is the real thing. since a little after 445 this morning, my contractions have been in between 2.5 and 5.5 minutes apart. they have varied in intensity, some like a prick and some very painful. i have vomited this morning. i feel horrible, but i feel like it’s time.
jeremiah, mom and i will be heading to the hospital. i want jerry to get some more sleep, as he got home at 430! my dad is not coming to get jeremiah until i am checked at the hospital and he knows for sure i’m staying. insert rolls eyes icon! but who can blame him. natalie said she’s going to get ready and to call from the hospital when we get there.
i honestly do not want to come back home without josiah - i am nearly in tears thinking about being sent home again - so please pray that things happen and he comes soon!!!
thanks so much for all your prayers and all your ‘check-ups’ everyone.
i’m going to call amanda now, to let her know.
God bless.

i am SO glad i have only one more appointment at the diabetes place. and it’s 8weeks post partum. i LOVE the dr, but when i show up a few minutes early to a 145 appointment and don’t get seen until almost 330, you KNOW something is really wrong. and it’s a normal occurance at that office. UGH!!! you’d think they would offer snacks too, at a diabetic center, when they are always running late. but no. sigh.

i totally forgot to send a congrats to rachael when she had baby ian - congrats girlfriend! she also did it all-natural, so i have to give her props!
i want to send a shout-out congrats to michelle! she had her baby boy j on aug 8 (she was going to have a scheduled c-section on aug 16). how exciting! congratulations girl!!
just becca and me to go now! and no, becca, i don’t want to race. LOL.

i can’t believe i’m still pregnant. i feel like i am 45 weeks or something, as opposed to 38. walking is beyond uncomfortable and downright painful. UGH. i can feel him ramming his head down all the time. you’d think he’d accidentally break the water somehow, but nooooo. contractions are getting really painful now. i actually have to stop and breathe through them now, as opposed to just ‘hurting’. but they aren’t consistent. and josiah has been moving really well tonight too. don’t know if it’s good or bad, progression-wise, but it’s nice for mama to know he’s fine!!!

jeremiah is doing SO GREAT sleeping in his toddler bed at night! and he loves it! and he has been letting me sleep in some! woohoo! yesterday morning, when i went in at about 810, he was sitting on my glider, just playing with his telephone. it was so cute. this morning, he seemed to be scared, and was just sitting on his bed crying. don’t know if he’d had a nightmare or what. naps are still not going great so we’ll continue them in the crib for now.

oh i will be taking my own 38 week pics tonight after jeremiah’s in bed, and i’ll try to get them cropped and posted. i am wearing my NEW GLASSES which i got two months ago, but have been unwilling to wear them so far. i have a MAJOR problem with new glasses. i feel all out of whack when i wear them, i get grumpy and i just HATE wearing them. well, this morning i couldn’t find my old ones, so i had to wear the new ones…by the time i found the old ones i’d convinced myself if i didn’t stick with it today, i would NEVER get used to these new boogers. so i am still wearing them. still don’t like them. blurry headaches are not my cup of tea. but you’ll be surprised how different i look. i was GOING to get a haircut today but great clips (for which i have a coupon) was too booked with kids getting back to school cuts!

well that’s it for now. when i get the new preggo pics up, under gallery will say ‘updated aug 10′.

God bless!!

PS i am so disappointed that some of you have not put in your predictions yet. TSK TSK TSK

just wanted to let everyone know that i am headed to the hospital. don’t get all excited or anything - i haven’t been having CONSISTENT contractions all day, but i am feeling REALLY sick, and josiah’s movement has lessened a lot and i want to see if he’s ok. for some reason i have visions of umbilical cord wrapped around his neck and it’s freaking me out, so i’d rather look dumb and be wrong than be right and not do anything about it.
if by chance something DOES happen, i will call amanda from the hospital so she can update on here, k?
please pray for me and jojobean!

since josiah has been one surprise after another, i thought i’d take this opportunity to give everyone a chance to guess what they think will happen with the birth! (it’s also a sneaky way to get everyone to comment, even if they usually lurk! hehe.) if you are the closest, i will send you something extra special. no i don’t know what yet. LOL.
so leave me a comment with your guess: (ETA: remember the induction date is aug 16, so he will not be born later than that)

date:
time:
natural or pitocin:
weight/length:
hair/eye color:
delivered by my dr or another dr:
my post-birth meal:

come on, you KNOW you wanna guess!

well today could be the calm before the storm day. the day that i feel ‘pretty good’. i don’t have a burst of energy, i don’t want to clean everything, but i definitely am trying to get things ready for the arrival of my son. and i don’t feel too bad. my hips and joints are actually being friendly to me, instead of screaming at me every second! amanda could tell i was feeling better when we talked…i just sound more like me or something.

i was looking back to see the date of the last ultrasound. it was on july 22, and josiah was supposedly around 5lbs14oz. they say he’s supposed to gain a lb every week sooo that would make him NOW 7lbs14oz. so i have a few days to keep him under jeremiah’s birth weight. LOL. for some silly reason, i want jeremiah to be at least an ounce bigger, or at least the same size (he was 8lbs1.5oz). don’t ask me why. i don’t have a clue.

as for jeremiah and the toddler bed…last night he slept like a dream! he didn’t get up until 7, and slept through the whole night (not even waking up crying once!). today’s naptime is another story! he was in the bed almost two hours (getting out a few times) and never went to sleep. he ALMOST drifted off several times. you would not believe how tired he was! he’s one stubborn little guy! so i decided to let him back up, give him some lunch, and try it again, only back in the crib. i think it’s harder to get him transitioned to naptime in the big-boy bed, or am i wrong?? anyway he was in the crib about 10 minutes and he’s out now. sigh. silly billy boy!

i DO need to get a pic of the room up. remember it’s not all done yet! we still need to put up border (did i mention we have to find NEW border, since the kind i bought is discontinued and there isn’t enough of it??).

well i’m off to make my phonecall list and get my bag packed! hope everyone has a great day!!! God bless!