Holidaze...days ago

Better late than never, I realize Christmas was 42 days ago but we still had a great time and it's worth being immortalized in the blogosphere.

We spent Christmas with Hoss's family...


Mini B wasn't super excited about her first Christmas, I am pretty sure it was just a blur for her, but we sure had fun with her! We didn't get any pix of MiniB with her cousin Brady because the poor little guy was sick, but I am sure they will be best friends next year.

We spent New Year's with my family. It was so fun to have 4 cousins around!

Li'l Mil and I read lots of books.

Nano pulled everything off of this shelf and then got stuck inside of it. I couldn't help but take a picture before I helped her out of it. I am the best aunt ever!

Grandpa was generous enough to share his sweater with MiniB to keep her warm.


MiniB used her baby speak to entice her cousins to come play with her.

Li'l Mil was in the midst of potty training and with the cheers he got from Grandma, Grandpa, and all of his aunts and uncles I think he has it down.

Step 1: Go to the bathroom.
Step 2: Burst through the door and yell "I goed poooopoooooooooo"
Step 3: Hug everyone because of course we were all so proud.
Step 4: Get M&M's.

Ahh, life is good when the simple things get rewarded with M&M's.

We had MiniB's blessing on the 3rd of January. Thanks Grandma M for the beautiful dress!

Hoss's family was able to come down and it was the first time he and all 8 of his siblings were together in over a year.

We couldn't have asked for a better holiday!

Safety First

With the addition of MiniB, her uncle, Hoss's brother, decided that he needed to change our security system for us. However, we may actually have downgraded...

We moved in with this security system.

And now we have this security system.

MiniB didn't really care.
In fact, she was kind of bored.

But, given that the house also came with bars on the doors, motion activated flood lights on all sides, and video surveillance capabilities, we figured it was okay to make the change. Hopefully the downgrade doesn't negate the original system.

FYI: In the 18months we have lived in our house we have not had any problems with intruders. It is possible the high security was due to the fact that the previous owners may have been growing questionable organic material in the basement. Just chalk it up to big city livin'.

Worth the Wait

It's a GIRL!


Our daughter blessed us with her arrival on November 20th, 2009 at 12:45am. She tipped the scales at 8 lbs 12 oz and is 22 inches long. We like to maintain our anonymity in the blogophere, so sorry, name will be with held.

It has taken me a while to introduce her to the blog world for reasons you will soon understand. MiniB's birth story began on Wednesday, November 18th. I started having contractions around 10am, coming about 15 minutes apart. By 10pm they were coming 5 minutes apart. I labored at home during the night and we went to the hospital about 5am. I was 90% effaced, but only dilated to 2cm, so they sent us a walkin'. Hoss took me to Sam's Club and we walked and walked and walked, I only made it a few steps between contractions while Hoss made it around to all of the electronics. We journeyed back to the hospital around 1130am and I was admitted at 4cm. We never did get a cute picture of me 40 weeks pregnant, so this one will have to do. Here is me in hospital garb, not looking so cute in all my glory at 41 weeks and 3 days pregnant. Enlarge at your own risk.

I made good progress until around 5pm, I got stuck at 7cm and they broke my water at 730pm. I was having coupling contractions, meaning two contractions overlapping each other which usually indicates a posterior presentation, or sunny side up, meaning head down but facing the front instead of the tail bone. This position makes for very intense and painful back labor. After they broke my water my contractions got even more intense and I lost my focus. I asked for some Fentanyl to take the edge off. After that I was able to regain my focus and concentrate on my breathing. I should put in a plug for the hypnobirthing method for anyone who wants a natural labor and delivery. I couldn't have done it without the hypnobirthing breathing and relaxation techniques, and of course, not without Hoss supporting me all the way. By 11pm I was dilated to 10cm and started to push. I pushed until 1240am without much progress. My heart rate was in the 170's and MiniB's was in the 180's. The baby's heart rate dropped suddenly to 90 and wouldn't come back up. At this point the doctor came up to my side and said "The baby's heart rate has been down for 12 minutes, we need to get the baby out now." They tried suction, but the cups wouldn't stick to her head because she has so much hair. Then they used the forceps and she finally made her first appearance.

Unfortunately, I suffered a 3rd degree perineal tear and was rushed right to surgery after some painful gauze packing of orifices. MiniB was taken right to the NICU where Hoss was able to be with her. My surgery took about 1 1/2 hours and then an hour for recovery, by the time they took me to the NICU it was 330am. She was beautiful, they didn't let us hold her til the next day, but just looking at her made me cry.


MiniB was in the NICU for 2 days, she wasn't able to maintain her oxygen on room air, had excess fluid in her lungs, and her white blood cell count was high so they put her on antibiotics in case of infection. She was finally able to come to our room on Saturday night and they let us go home on Sunday.



My mom and Hoss have been awesome. My mom is taking care of all the little things that make a big difference and drive me crazy, like dishes in the sink, laundry etc. They have been letting me sleep and helping with MiniB. I spend most of my time lying down because frankly it hurts to sit and to stand. To be totally candid, it is really scary to poop when your bum and everything in between is being held together with stitches!

For documentation purposes and to supplement my own failing memory, MiniB was born able to hold her head up and she likes to sleep on her right side, it doesn't matter what I do, she always rolls up onto her side once she lays down!


Her entry into the world was somewhat traumatic, but we are so happy she is here, and she was definitely Worth the Wait.

MiniB

IT'S

STILL A FETUS!

Yep, one day past the due date and no sign of baby. I must give kudos to MiniB for obedience. Hoss's first act as a father was to sternly tell MiniB not to come before Thursday at 3pm due to Daddy having an exam at 1pm.

I am doing just fine, and must admit I have loved being pregnant and I am going to miss it. Especially the little feet poking out the side of my stomach!

My pregnancy in 10 tips/bits o' info in no particular order.

1. I worked all the way up to 9 months and am sooo happy to officially be on maternity leave.
2. Face it, it is hard as a woman to pee in a cup anyway, but prit' near impossible when pregnant. Yes, I have peed on my hand.
3. Avoid "the waddle" as long as possible. Thanks to working along side Physical Therapists every day the waddle only creeps in when I really have to pee (every 6 minutes) or when I am really full (every time I eat). But, no back pain!
4. No 1. and really only pregnancy complaint from me is DRY FEET! This kid is going to be wrinkly because there is definitely no moisture left in my feet.
5. Got my hair done last week. I figure when my stomach looks like a deflated balloon, at least my hair will look good.
6. Painted every room in my house, some more than once.
7. Stretch mark cream is a billion dollar bogus industry.
8. Craigslist is the best place for affordable nearly new baby gear. Apparently most people in Denver only have one kid.
9. My house is cleaner than it has ever been, even in places no one ever sees.
10. I have finished all of my Christmas shopping!


P.S. I am trying to get a 40 week pregnant pic, but something goes horribly wrong with every attempt!

"I'm tired"

That's what Hoss said to me this morning around 6am. Poor guy was up late studying for a big test, so I figured that was why he was tired, but I was wrong.

"I'm tired" was followed by, "I stayed up too late playing with the baby".
My response: Ah, what? We haven't actually had the baby yet.
Hoss: You were asleep when I came to bed, and I put my hand on your belly and every time I would almost fall asleep the little guy/gal kicked my hand.

I am just glad they are bonding! Hopefully this means Hoss will not feel the need to "toughen" the baby up. Currently he tells the baby daily that it is sleeping on the floor the first night to test his/her survival skills. Don't worry, I already told him no.

Lisa Leonard Designs Jewelry GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Free Jewelry! Anytime baby! I love this stuff, can't afford it, but love it.

Lisa Leonard Designs Jewelry GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

We had a great visit from Hoss's parents this weekend. Hoss's mom brought him a Lego set she found at a garage sale that is remiss of his childhood and he is furiously attempting to do an inventory of the pieces and has downloaded the original instructions from the world wide web. I think Hoss does what every other grown man wishes he could be doing. Someday if he goes missing, I think he will have figured out how to fly and took him self to Never Never Land so he never has to grow up.

Hoss had game 3 of the Flag Football season and their record has improved from 1-1 to 2-1. Hoss took one guy to the ground, meaning Hoss stood in front of him and the guy ran into him and fell over. After that they put a tiny fast one in front of him, good thing the little guy was fast or he wouldn't have survived. I also learned from his mom that the bribe in high school was a motorcycle in exchange for playing football. He didn't take it. I think he would take it now.

Last but not least, I had an interesting exchange at the check out in WalMart with my father-in-law and realized either I look old or he looks young (in all honesty I think he is pretty good looking and is a very distinguished 50 something).

Perky check out girl: How many months are you?
Rose: Seven.
Perky: What are you having?
Rose: It's a surprise.
Perky: And is this the Daddy?
Rose: Ah, this is the Grandpa.
Perky: Ah, well you never know these days.

I don't know who blushed more, me, FIL, or Perky.