Friday, July 11th, 2008
I’m at a loss. I just finished knitting and seaming and weaving on the BSJ#2 and am now thinking about buttons. It’s so colorful, so I can’t imagine the perfect buttons! I’m leaning toward something earthy, like maybe wood. I’m going to have to visit some craft stores this weekend to look for some.
Wednesday, July 9th, 2008
With an infant (7 weeks as of Tuesday morning, 6:39am) getting all my attention and a toddler doing crazy things to try and get my attention, I hardly have any time to sit and knit (or do other things..). I usually leave most of my own personal desires for the night time. Right now, the toddler is fast asleep and the baby just nursed himself into oblivion, so I have free hands!
One of the major perks of breastfeeding is the fact that I can knit while I do so! For the past week or so, I’ve been working on BSJ #2. At the rate Andy is growing, I’m highly doubtful he will fit into BSJ #1, so I started a new one. I wanted something a tad bit more colorful than the last one, so I chose to knit it in Noro Kureyon! I’m about 60-70% finished with it. I didn’t work on it at all on Tuesday, but I did get a chance to take a photo of it while baby slept.
Tuesday, July 1st, 2008
Today, the boys and I tagged along with Jason to Fry’s. I nursed Andrew before we left, so he was totally into his nap by the time we got there. I packed my mei tai carrier with me, so he slept the entire time we (Jason) was shopping.
At checkout, a woman came up and remarked about how cool the carrier was and asked about how much weight it can sustain. I explained that I still carry my toddler, Nathan, in it on my back and he’s 3 weighing 35 lbs. She said it was really cool and that she wanted one. Then she asked what it was called and where she could get one. I told her to search online for “mei-tai carrier” but I pronounced it “my-tie” because it was only a few weeks ago that I discovered it was pronounced “may-tie.” I really hope she googles it and finds one! I’m making this post with hopes that she finds it if she googles MY TIE CARRIER or MY-TYE etcetc.
Sunday, June 29th, 2008
I have a turquoise Moby Wrap w/UV protection up for grabs. I’ve worn my newborn in it 3 or 4 times–only one of those being in public. it’s so stinkin’ hot here in Houston, I just reach for my mei tai more often. plus, my 5 weeker already weighs 14 lbs!
You can buy it from mobywrap.com for $44.95.
I am asking $35ppd OBO by the 10th.
contact me: lisa @ impel.us (remove spaces)
thanks!
Monday, June 16th, 2008
I posted the story of my son’s birth on my Livejournal the week it happened, but just now realized I hadn’t posted it here.
Andrew’s birth story starts on Thursday, the 15th. I had an afternoon appointment with my midwife, Bernadette, and I finally consented to a cervical exam. My cervix was 3cms dilated, 50% effaced, and baby was at -2 station. She offered to let me come in the next morning to have my membranes swept. I told her I would think about it and initially thought I would do it. I spent all night going back and forth and got little sleep. I felt bad that I hadn’t spent any quality time with Nathan, my nearly 3 year old. I went to the birthing center in the morning and declined the procedure. It was now the day before my due date. I spent it hanging out with my son, doing some moderate walking, and last-minute preparations.
On Saturday (DUE DATE!), I discovered a lot of mucous during my first bathroom trip of the day. I had to wipe about 3 times to get it all. It happened again the second trip to the bathroom. I felt like I finally had a hint something was going on.
Jason and I decided to take Nate to a new park, Discovery Green, in downtown Houston. We played a bunch then decided to get lunch down the street at the Houston Center. I had my first painful contraction on the way and got a little excited. After lunch we walked back to the park, played some more then left to Grandma’s house. There I had even more mucous come out during a bathroom break and even had a soft bowel movement. “HOORAY!” I thought. We went to dinner then took Nathan to dessert at Dairy Queen.
Nothing happened that night. Nothing at all. On Sunday, I got more mucous, but absolutely no painful contractions. I didn’t really feel like doing anything, so we relaxed most of the day at my aunt’s house. Everyone was amazed I was still pregnant and they all exclaimed I looked huge but that baby still looked high. We discussed the possibility of the full moon helping me out the next night. It was a nice thought.
On Monday, we did almost the same thing we did on Saturday. We went back to Discovery Green, to the Houston Center for lunch and then back to the park. I did a ton of walking, but still no contractions! I got kind of worried then got the best idea ever—we should go bowling!
That evening, we called up my cousins and decided to make a night of it. I bowled horribly but had a great time. My pelvis ached and I got at least one contraction while we were there—as I was walking up to bowl, I might add. We left the alley and I stared at the moon the entire way home. It was full, but nothing was a-happening! I showered then went to bed around midnight. I complained to Jason that my pelvis felt like it was being ripped in two. I really felt a ton of pressure and it was super painful to lay there. I did, though, and eventually fell asleep.
At 2:41 in the morning, I woke up and jumped out of bed. It was the first time I had been able to get up that quickly in a long time. As soon as I did, I felt a warm gush then I proceeded to startle Jason with a “my water just broke! Get a towel!” I soaked that towel very quickly and then waddled to the bathroom to get a better look at the liquid—for color. I had another huge flow of water come out when I got there and it was all clear! I decided to call my midwife, just to let her know and get some advice. She was of course asleep and told me to take my temperature and if it were normal (it was) to try and get some sleep. I hadn’t had any contractions, so she just said to relax and to call her in the morning or if I started getting any that were really close together.
According to our contraction log, once they started, they were pretty much 3-5 minutes apart, but only lasting about 30-45 seconds. I called my midwife back after about an hour and she informed me that they needed the be at least a minute, coming 2-5 minutes apart for TWO HOURS. Oh I was devastated. Things weren’t too painful, but I sort of thought I might almost be ready to go to the birthing center. I wanted to labor in the jacuzzi, man!
Around 4:45 am, they jumped to a minute long. I was able to relax between them, though, so they got a little more far apart. They were tough, but I had the best labor partner. Jason would rub my back during each one and help me remember to breathe deep breathes. Between contractions, we’d laugh at stuff, talk, or just lay here quietly. It was so ideal. A little before 6, I had him call Bernadette and tell her they were long and getting more painful and harder to breathe through. She told me to get in the shower and to give her 20 minutes before we left, so she could get her kids ready. I got in the shower and it felt pretty good, but I found myself needing to literally roar through my contractions. I ended up on all fours chanting “God, give me strength” between each contraction. They came really close together, so I told Jason we had to leave “NOW.” I got dressed really quickly between contractions and we got Nathan up, dressed, and handed him off to my mom.
I had a contraction right outside the car and started crying because I knew just how awful the ride was going to be. I reclined the seat all the way back and laid down on my side, grasping the “handles” in the front and back seat by the doors. We don’t have tinted windows, so I must have looked ridiculous. Jason turned on his emergency lights and took off speeding. Yeah, we passed a few red lights, but we had the horn blaring through them all. My contractions in the car were excruciating. I wanted to push so bad and I kept yelling that I was going to. Jason told me not to and reminded me that if I weren’t fully dilated, it could be harmful to push. He tried to get me to do the panting-like breathing that we learned in our class, to avoid pushing. It was the hardest thing ever. My contractions weren’t very long, but I only got about a 30 second break between them. I yelled bloody murder through each one and kept saying “I need to push” with a huge emphasis on “push” and he kept saying it wasn’t time. I remember a specific moment when I saw a fire station and almost made him stop but he just sped right past. We both knew we’d end up in the hospital if I did that, so I’m really thankful he didn’t listen to me. We finally made it to the street the birthing center was on and I had one contraction and knew it would be my last in the car, so I calmed down a bit and actually breathed through it. We got to the center and I immediately jumped out.
I saw Bernadette waiting by the door with her kids and started walking toward her. She yelled out something about not having a key and I yelled out a “oh no!” and dropped to the ground during a contraction. She ran up to me, as did her kids and Jason. I begged her to take off my pants and check me and she yelled out to her daughter for a blanket. I thought she was asking for something to cover me, so I yelled that I didn’t “CARE WHO SAW” and that she needed to take off my pants “RIGHT NOW!” I was on all fours and still roaring through my contractions. I told her I needed to poop and was going to push, so she yanked my pants down. I ended up pooping and my amazing husband took his shirt off and volunteered it for cleanup because apparently my son was also crowning. I felt a ring of fire and pushed right past it. They all yelled his head was out and that I could push out his body if I wanted to because he had turned into the right position. I felt so amazing but didn’t really feel like I could push, but they encouraged me, so I looked down at the ground, focused on an ant that was walking by, and he slid out in a few pushes.
It was the most amazing feeling in the world. I was half-naked on a sidewalk in front of kids and there were probably people seeing me from their cars, but WHATEVER. I chanted “I feel awesome” and “we did it” over and over and was all smiles. My mom arrived about a minute later and everyone was overjoyed. The nurses/birth assistants with the keys to the building also arrived and hooted and hollered at the first parking lot birth of Rite of Passage birthing center. I was on cloud nine and walked in with him still attached to me via his cord and placenta. It was about 10-15 minutes after getting settled in bed that I felt an urge to push. The placenta came out very quickly and fully intact. Andrew nursed and I relaxed in the bed, still high from everything that just happened.
After about 40-45 minutes of nursing, I had some breakfast while they took his measurements and cooed at how adorably chunky he looked. He weighed in at 9 lbs 4.5 oz and was 21.5 inches long with a 14 inch head. Later on, it was revealed my perineum and other girly bits were all intact! No tearing! I was so thankful. I was cleaned up by one of the wonderful assistants and was back in bed in no time with my sleeping baby.
We were “discharged” about 4 hours after birth. I left with my bag of herbs for baby and I had such an amazing feeling of accomplishment. Both Jason and I couldn’t believe what had just happened. We were tired as all heck, but still so high from the experience. On the way home, I think I actually said, “I really want to do that again.” I do, but we’ll wait a while.
And next time we’ll definitely plan to do it all at home. While it was an amazing experience giving birth outside, it would have been even more amazing not having to go through that car ride.
Andrew will be 4 weeks old on Tuesday.
Wednesday, June 4th, 2008
my new son is absolutely amazing. He’s 2 weeks old and a few days. Instead of being a complete zombie, like I was when my first son was born, I’m well-rested and totally in love. He’s an awesome baby.
You wanna know what else is awesome? my BREAST MILK. In 2 weeks, my little guy has gained 1 lb and 3 oz. At his 2-wk checkup yesterday, he weighed a nice 10 lbs 7.5 oz. There’s no doubt he’s getting enough to eat.
He’s also been staying awake for longer periods of time:
There has been no crafting lately, but perhaps I’ll get some motivation soon..
Wednesday, May 28th, 2008
A few hours after my last entry, at 2:41 AM, my water broke! I labored at home until after 6am when I couldn’t take it anymore and we left to the birth center. I felt the urge to push IN THE CAR, but Jason’s amazing coaching helped me deal (though not so gracefully–I roared through the contractions that came one on top of the other) and we got to the birthing center. When we got there, my midwife was waiting outside because she didn’t have a key! I ended up giving birth on the sidewalk only about what felt like 2 minutes after we got there. It was absolutely wonderful. we were at home in bed less than 5 hours later.
Andrew Roark
born at 6:39am, 4 hours after my water broke
9lbs 4.5oz, 21.5″ long
Monday, May 19th, 2008
Well, my due date came and went. It was the 17th of May and it is now the 20th (or will be in a few short minutes). I just got home from a night of bowling. I had maybe one painful contraction, but man my hips are so sore! There’s a full moon out tonight, so we’re hopeful *something* will happen. I have a midwife appointment, tomorrow afternoon. I was ~3 cm dilated, 50% effaced and his head was at -2 station, last Thursday. I’m hoping he’s made some progress in his descent to my birth canal. I don’t really have any faith that dilation means anything, though, so if she says I’m 4 cm, I’ll probably just shrug it off. I want him to be lower (I think he is) and I sort of want to get some more painful contractions. Come on, uterus, squeeze this kid out! I probably won’t be updating much in the next few weeks, but I’ll be sure to announce my son’s arrival eventually. Please send some good vibes/prayers to us. Be safe, everyone!
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