Since Sunday, 4/25 I had been having contractions, spaced at about 5-6 minutes apart and up to 9 minutes apart. I didn’t think much of it. I had an NST that Monday and went in to see that everything was fine with the baby and contractions weren’t regular enough for the CNM to be concerned. So I went home that night and the contractions were bad enough to keep me awake. Tuetsday morning I decided to go into the doctors office since I didn’t want to be sent home for the 5th time from the hospital. The CNM on call checked me and holy cow I was 5-6 cm dilated. Labor had begun! We rushed to the hospital and when I got there they were already waiting for me. I got undressed and hooked up to the fetal monitor and got my antibiotics IV in (I was GBS+). After about an hour on the machine, they took me off and said I could get in the tub, on the ball or walk around. I picked the tub, and let me tell you it was amazing. I was in there for a good hour or more. I got out and then got back on the monitors. By this time, my friends were there and we decided I’d go walking. Once I got back I got on the birthing ball. Let me just recommend that anyone who goes through labor get on a birthing ball. It was amazing in helping with the contractions.

This went on for about 5-6 hours (it was about 7 or 8 PM). I got checked again and was at 8cm. The CNM delivering me said that she’d want to break my water in about an hour or so. Once that time came around the water broke and found that little Mr. Caden couldn’t wait to have a bowel movement. There was meconium in the amniotic fluid but she wasn’t concern. By this time the contractions were much closer and stronger together. I got in the shower at this time and stayed in there for what seemed like hours. Once I got out, I felt like I needed to start pushing. So this was about 10:30PM. I pushed for 2 hours. It was the most excruciating 2 hours of my life. I got into several different positions, laying down on my back, on my sides, and on my hands and knees. Closer to midnight, the pushing wasn’t really progressing as I’d like (though there was never any talk about doing anything about it). From that point on I lost track of time but I know that between midnight and when Caden came, another doctor from my clinic came on and was advising on what to do. I had heard vaguely the word vacuum but didn’t even think much of it. At this point, I got a local anesthetic and the CNM told me she’d need to make a few cuts (I got 4 stitches). Once the cuts were made, pushing seem to come a little easier. The final minutes, I saw the neonatal team come in and everything getting ready for him and at that point I got the courage and strength to push him out.When I saw my baby boy, it was complete heaven. He was (and is) the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

Caden was born at 12:42AM on his due date. 13 hours of labor, no pain meds, no intervention (unless you count the anesthetic) and my baby boy was born healthy and happy at a 8lbs 12 oz. Of everything, having a natural birth is possibly one of my greatest achievements. I don’t think anyone who doesn’t do a full natural birth or any type of natural birth is any less of a mom because its everyone’s choice what they want. It is unfortunate for those who feel they don’t have a choice but really, I set in wanting and believing myself to have a natural birth and I ended up doing so. I don’t know if it was my willpower or what but I really wanted a natural birth and I had people who supported me in that decision, including my husband who didn’t let me give in.

Well that’s Caden’s birth story and I hope that his birth will be the start of something wonderful and exciting (a week in and it already is!).

Other than that, the appointment went well. The doc said that there is a chance that I might either need a c-section or induction at 37-38 weeks if my GD gets way out of hand. I am obviously more inclined to hope for the induction. However, so far, there is no indication that it might come to that because my glucose numbers are in a really good range just with diet alone. I am hoping it stays that way and mostly, I am hoping that I can keep up with the diet and excercise. But gosh, 9 more weeks! It seems so far away but not so far away. It’s crazy!

My baby shower is this weekend and I am quite excited. Mostly, because it gives me the green light to start buying whatever I didn’t get at the shower haha. So far we have the play yard, stroller and shelves. I am going to buy the gDiapers because I am sure no one will be buying those. I am waiting on clothes and I’d rather wait until the last minute anyways because I know I’ll just buy a bunch of stuff if I don’t stop myself from doing so. I am also excited because once March gets here, I got ‘permission’ from my husband (and mom) that I can begin to start putting things together for Caden in our room. I’ve been so eager that it’s hard to stop myself sometimes. I also need to develop a plan of action for how I am going to clean the crap out of my house (literally haha). I really want it spotless when Caden arrives and it’s really hard with pets. I am not discouraged though. Worst case scenario is that I’ll have to put the dogs and/or cats (at night and when we are gone) up in one room until we move into a bigger place. The bigger thing that needs to be done is carpet cleaning though! Ugh my carpets look hideous!

I’m going to leave on this note: I really really want a DSLR.

So, we managed to catnap my cat, Artemis. He is the love of my life! We’ve had him since he was barely able to walk straight. He has the most beautiful kitty eyes! I am definitely looking forward to snapping some photos of him. (Oh yea did I mention I lost my camera at Six Flags in June?…). We also have another kitty, Ashton. My sister conned me (it wasn’t so difficult) and he is by far the cutest little thing. I absolutely love cats and my dogs are definitely getting along with him so that’s always nice. School will be starting again and I am unsure how I feel about that. I’m excited but dreading it, yet excited because it’s one step closer to being able to teach.

Well I am at least doing better about blogging. sorta. ha.

TTFN

By the way, I just want to clear things up: I am not pregnant. Apparently I never realized that people would come to that conclusion! lol So I just decided to say that NO I’m not pregnant but I sure wish I was …

Don’t worry, you will all know in due time! It probably won’t be a surprise and to tell you the truth it’s probably one of those times where people are like “Really? That was the BIG surprise?..” but it’s exciting for me and definitely something you all will know very soon!

Other than that, it got a bit stressful thinking about money. We have contemplated cancelling our cruise, but honestly, this thing was paid for in full back in January. My grandma said she wouldn’t talk to me if I didn’t go on it!! But I promise to take a lots of pictures =D

Oh Camera, you are so reliable, so dependable! I still have yet to figure out your features, but I promise I will, really soon. I especially love your manual settings, because I am pretend like I have a fancy DSLR and make pretty pictures.

But you are not a DSLR, and that I will have to live with. Oh Camera.

My Ode to Thee!

So this is why I choose that photo for my Sit on Santa video. Ok Ok. It sounds silly, but Sitting on Santa’s lap was such a fun experience. Ya, he isn’t real but it really made my Christmas really special when I was little. But it’s a nice way to tell someone special what you really want for christmas, since that’s essentially what Santa did for me as a kid, he let me parents know exactly what I wanted! It’s nostalgic even if it’s only digitally sitting on Santa’s lap. By the way, I sent my video to Marcus, maybe he’ll get the hint Got a wish? Then send a video to your loved one!

So speaking of Christmas, I really want to buy my mom a digital frame and Ceiva has some great digital picture frames for sale right now if you purchase now. It’s a really great deal actually and comes with several options that are awesome for someone like my mom who is not technically talented. It’s plug and play and you don’t even need a computer to get pictures on it. You just stick your little SD or xD (or a host of other formats) and viola it’s there! It also has great resolution and is an 8inch which is awesome, because I know my mom likes to Prominently display her photos so everyone can see it easily. This is awesome because other digital frames that are even around this price don’t even compare, because they have small screens or are too complicated. Also, the Ceiva digital frame is sleek and cute and definitely is functional looking. I think the coolest thing is, that it has a remote and I know my mom will spend hours going through photos of her children, including one of us on santa’s lap

OH By the way, if you do the Santa video, you can enter to into a sweepstakes where 1 random entry is selected for each day of the contest and the winner will win a cash prize of $500. You can even enter everyday. I know that it might seem farfetched to enter a sweepstakes but with the way our economy is going, it doesn’t hurt to wish for a little more money to use for your loved ones… (or yourself…..hehehe)

I also finally took pictures of my new frog, plus some of my turtle. I love reptiles They are very interesting animals.

Gamabunta

Bam Bam

I’m sitting here watching sabatoge T.V. (bringing home baby) and it definitely reaffirms the baby fever. Seriously, 3 friends of mine are having or have had a baby in the past 2 months. Gah! Stop it! But as I say this, I realize that I have a baby, Yoshi. He acts just like if he is a little human baby. Plus he is soooo needy, a lot more needier than dogs should be. But I love him

OH! I finally booked my honeymoon cruise. It’s a four day cruise to Catalina Island, CA and Ensenada, Baja California (ok ok Mexico..) I am thinking about upgrading the stateroom to an oceanview, it’s only $20 per day, per person. That’s not so bad, right? I’m so excited and so is Marcus. Right now we are working on getting our passports. Can you believe that it is $100 bucks per passport?! Geez. Nonetheless, I can’t wait! I am almost more excited for the cruise than the wedding haha!

So far so good on the excercise bit! w00t! I am actually about to throw in the 8 minute tae bo workout right now. I’ll that a couple of times lol.