Lilypie First Birthday tickers
pregnancy ticker
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
New journey hesitations....
I told my mom about our match tonight. It was something that was weighing heavily on my mind, and I'm glad it's finally done. She worries about me, as all good mothers are wont to do. I was afraid she would be hesitant, or even against, us undertaking another journey so soon after Mia was born. I think I felt this way partly because I struggled a bit with the speed of our new match. I never felt as though I shouldn't be getting pregnant again so soon, though. I was worried that my support system would think it too soon, and thereby not be as supportive as they were the first time around. Lucky for me, I'm surrounded by some of the most loving, caring people on earth. I had nothing to worry about; my mom was surprised at my announcement, but still fully supportive.
Chris and I have been a lot more quiet about this new beginning. I feel like it is our little special secret that I want to keep close to my heart- to only share with those who will truly appreciate it. I felt like the whole world knew about our surrogacy experience last time; and at that time, I thought it was what I wanted. But through my last journey, I learned who was truly supportive, who was just curious, and who only wanted to gossip about it. Chris can share our experience with whomever he wants, but this time I choose to keep it close.
I want to share our experiences, our triumphs and our failures with the people who care. People who love me and Chris, Johnny and Seth, or even those who are simply supportive of our journey. I honestly don't mind the curiosity. Ask me questions about what I am doing; I'm happy to explain and do a little teaching along the way. But I learned last time that, for some people, the truth of the experience doesn't matter- or that they just really can't grasp what is really going on. I hate the catty remarks behind my back that refer to me as "only doing it for the money"; or hearing that my pregnancy isn't noteworthy because the baby I'm carrying isn't mine.
I'm not talking about this at work- at least not until it is unavoidable. I thought I worked in a place of tolerance and understanding, and I have since learned that that isn't exactly the truth. It makes me sad, but it is what it is. I forget sometimes that we live in a very small-minded area, not to mention a somewhat small-minded world. Tess from my agency told us just this afternoon that one of her surros lost her job because her boss found out she was a gestational carrier....
I love what we are doing, and being a gestational carrier is something that calls to me. Sharing the success stories of surrogacy and what we have experienced makes me happy. I want to dispel the negativity around what we surros do; having a gestational carrier is a valid means or reproductive aid. But I'm not outspoken, I'm not an activist, or a lobbyist, or even a very good public speaker. I don't enjoy confrontation and I don't like to stir the pot. I will speak to those who ask me questions and seem to be genuinely curious. But I think this time around, I'm going to be a little more private about our endeavors.
And so it begins...
There are a lot of medications that one must take to prepare one's body for a surrogate pregnancy.
Ha! What an understatement....
I started my first meds this week. We are using an egg donor this time around, so my medication regimen is going to be a bit different. The clinic needs to sync my cycle with hers; when they trigger her to ovulate, then they fertilize, my little uterus has to be pre-heated and ready to go. So, first are the birth control pills, so we can always know exactly where I am at in my cycle. I also started my prenatal vitamins this week. I have a calendar that tells me exactly what medications I'm going to be taking and when throughout the pre-transfer process. I won't lie.... I haven't looked at it very closely.
The medications, honestly, are one of the hardest parts of the whole process for me. I don't mind pills, or suppositories, or even shots; it's just the combination of pills, suppositories, AND shots for weeks- and even months- at a time that is so overwhelming. I'm always so afraid I'm going to forget something, or run out of something.... And last time I had that awful reaction to the injectable progesterone. When I'm preparing for a transfer, I have more meds on the counter than my grandparents do!!! But, it's a trivial discomfort in the end. I want to be pregnant; I want to carry a baby (or two) for Seth and Johnny. So, if meds are part of what it takes to get there, then I'll take the meds. And when I am in month #3 of suppositories, lamenting that I need to buy stock in Always pantyliners, I will remind myself what the meds are all about. Then I will rejoice when the day finally comes for me to wean to my "normal" pregnancy meds. Just a prenatal vitamin, right???? you ask.... Nope. For me there is the prenatal, colace, TUMS, prilosec, and sometimes iron. Lol...
We're still waiting on the first draft of the contract from our lawyers. Kathleen told the guys it would be at the end of last week. So I'm expecting sometime this week.... And if not, I'll send her a little email. I don't want to start sticking needles in my belly and hips until that pesky little thing is signed. I'm sure Seth & Johnny would like to have it done as well!
Ha! What an understatement....
I started my first meds this week. We are using an egg donor this time around, so my medication regimen is going to be a bit different. The clinic needs to sync my cycle with hers; when they trigger her to ovulate, then they fertilize, my little uterus has to be pre-heated and ready to go. So, first are the birth control pills, so we can always know exactly where I am at in my cycle. I also started my prenatal vitamins this week. I have a calendar that tells me exactly what medications I'm going to be taking and when throughout the pre-transfer process. I won't lie.... I haven't looked at it very closely.
The medications, honestly, are one of the hardest parts of the whole process for me. I don't mind pills, or suppositories, or even shots; it's just the combination of pills, suppositories, AND shots for weeks- and even months- at a time that is so overwhelming. I'm always so afraid I'm going to forget something, or run out of something.... And last time I had that awful reaction to the injectable progesterone. When I'm preparing for a transfer, I have more meds on the counter than my grandparents do!!! But, it's a trivial discomfort in the end. I want to be pregnant; I want to carry a baby (or two) for Seth and Johnny. So, if meds are part of what it takes to get there, then I'll take the meds. And when I am in month #3 of suppositories, lamenting that I need to buy stock in Always pantyliners, I will remind myself what the meds are all about. Then I will rejoice when the day finally comes for me to wean to my "normal" pregnancy meds. Just a prenatal vitamin, right???? you ask.... Nope. For me there is the prenatal, colace, TUMS, prilosec, and sometimes iron. Lol...
We're still waiting on the first draft of the contract from our lawyers. Kathleen told the guys it would be at the end of last week. So I'm expecting sometime this week.... And if not, I'll send her a little email. I don't want to start sticking needles in my belly and hips until that pesky little thing is signed. I'm sure Seth & Johnny would like to have it done as well!
Thursday, September 6, 2012
New beginnings....
Wow... It's been a crazy few months. Mia and Jason are at home and so happy together. It's hard to believe she is 5 months old already!!! We've been so lucky to keep in tough with them over the last few months, and I'm sure we'll continue to do so. It brightens my day to see new pictures of her, and to hear that she is thriving, and that they are growing so well together.
Chris and I had pretty much planned on pursuing surrogacy again- even before Mia was born. Our plan was to wait about a year, then start looking to be matched again. I wanted to get back to the gym like I was always talking about and get my body back into shape before getting pregnant (a fifth time!!!). We had kinda hoped that Jason would be thinking of a sibling for Mia about the time we were ready again.
We asked Jason... all, "I know you have a newborn and aren't sleeping right now, but you wanted to do this again in a year, right???".... lol.... Okay, not exactly like that, but the conversation did come up. He said as much as he loves and adores Mia, and as much as he would love a sibling for her, he just can't see himself singly parenting two kiddos. Definitely fair. I can't imagine singly parenting one...
At some point later in time, Jason mentioned to me that he was referring a couple that he was acquainted with to our surrogacy agency. My ears perked up, "oh? Tell me more..." Phyllis, Jason's mom, has a friend who is family to this particular couple- they have been interested in surrogacy, and decided that it was time to take the plunge. I told Chris about this, and his ears perked up too. Hmmmm.... Well, if we can't carry for Jason again, wouldn't it be awesome to carry for someone he knows?
Then I had a little run in with reality. Mia is just a few months old. We talked about waiting a year. Are we really thinking about doing this again so soon? I can't even try to get pregnant again until 6 months after Mia's delivery. Are they ready to go now? Will they want to wait if I have to wait? Will they even like us????
So Chris and I talked about it. Not much, I'll admit, but I think we neither felt that there was much to discuss. We wanted to surro again. We have a particular group of the population we prefer to carry for- and they don't come through our agency very often (we don't live in a very liberal area). And best of all, the true decision maker, was that they were acquainted with Jason and his family. If it all worked out, we could be like one big, happy family! Well, kinda, anyway. Things in life happen when they are supposed to happen- not when we plan them. Fate, Karma, the Powers that Be... they drop things in your lap when you least expect them, and often when you're not looking for them. What you choose to do with these offerings is up to you. Chris and I chose to listen to our hearts, and take the opportunity.
I may not lose all my baby weight before I try to get pregnant again, but I've lost 2/3 of it. I've gotten back to the gym... Pregnancy-wise, this body of mine is getting a little on the old side (shhhhh... don't tell anyone I said that), and I want to enjoy another pregnancy the same as the last ones. And hey, I didn't want to be pregnant at exactly the same time of year again- for the third time!
So, I re-vamped my agency application, told Tess that I wanted my profile to go to Jason's referred couple, and we waited. Just a short time later, Tess let us know that they were interested. Then it was that blind date of all blind dates (and part job interview, too)- the Conference Call.....
And a little like magic, here we are- matched again.
Here's to our new beginnings, and another adventure.
This time with Seth and Johnny.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
What everyone REALLY wants to know
What everyone really wants to know...
How are you doing??? I think this is the question Chris and I have heard the most over the last week. It's been a whole week since Mia's delivery, and during that week we've had a lot of ups- but some downs, too. I feel like, looking back on this, I'll say I was still in that post-partum haze that seems to last for two to three weeks; and maybe I am. But it doesn't mean that I'm not still living and feeling things.
I posted before that I'm a pretty emotional person. Before living the experience, I expected to miss being pregnant a little, and I expected to miss the baby a little. I was fairly certain that handing her over to her dad was going to be more of a joyous occasion than not. I was expecting that coming home to a house with no baby was going to be easy- because Chris and I were never preparing to bring a baby home. How has reality played out compared to my expectations???
Well, there have certainly been some tears, but that is normal. I was talking to a friend of mine- another surrogate who delivered a few months ago just yesterday. I'm finding that I DO miss the pregnancy more than I have in the past. But in the past, I always had the baby to care for- and there just wasn't time to miss feeling those little flips and rolls inside. Every now and then, I find myself stopping to check for movement, or putting my had on my empty belly- before remembering that there's not a baby there any more.
I do miss Mia. And I really sat and thought about that statement yesterday. I miss holding her, and snuggling with her. I'm sad that I'm not going to get to see her in person any more- except for very special occasions. But I don't miss her in our house, if that makes sense. I'm not sad that she's not mine, and not here with us all the time. It's very much like when we go visit our family.... Chris and I have 14 nieces and nephews who all live in close proximity to each other, and we are the only part of the family that lives away. We get to see everyone once or twice a year; and whenever we are on the way home, I get very sad that we don't live closer. I feel like we are missing the opportunity to have a close family bond between our nieces and nephews, and our kids their cousins. Missing Mia, for me, is a lot like that.
The moment when Jason came in to the hospital room, and I was able to hand him his daughter was one of the greatest feelings in my life. Up there with my wedding day, and the births of my own children. Handing Mia over to her father was the whole reason Chris and I embarked on this journey in the first place. This was the goal the entire time. The happiness radiating from Jason as he got to hold his little girl for the first time is something I'll never forget. When I am feeling a little sad for myself, all I have to do is think of their happiness, and I'm reminded of why we did this in the first place.
Sunday, when Jason took Mia home, was the hardest day for both me and Chris. While Mia was Jason's from the beginning, our family still 'grew' her... I treated my pregnancy with Mia exactly the same as I did my pregnancies with our own three. While the feelings weren't the same, there was still a sense of affection and love for this little girl. I don't think Chris or I were prepared to be as fond of her as we were after she was born. And as much as we knew it was coming, it really did feel weird to leave the hospital without that that infant carrier, a new little bundle snuggled inside. We knew we weren't bringing Mia home to our house to be a part of our family, but I think we both would have loved to have had her and Jason in town a little longer.
That being said, Chris and I have voiced to each other over and over how thankful we are that we entered into this journey with Jason. He has welcomed our family into his, and has given us every opportunity to be a part of his life. We were allowed to care for Mia in his absence, and he gave our family the time we needed to dote on her before taking her home. Chris and I are very aware that a lot of surrogacy situations do not go as ours did.... The baby is delivered, handed over, and the surro and her family may never get to see the baby outside of pictures from that point forward. I'm so glad our journey didn't go that way. I'm thankful that Jason is willing to keep our family updated on how he and Mia are doing. Jason and I know that we may not talk as much now as we did before she was born, but we still plan to keep in touch. And we already have a standing invite to Mia's first birthday party... ;)
So I guess reality met my expectations, but times 100. The emotions were more intense than I expected, and a few more of them cropped up than I planned for. But the overwhelming happy that we were a part of making vastly outweighs any sad feelings I've had. And I've been told (by several people) that the sad is normal; so I don't feel bad about having a few of those feelings too.
It's been amazing. And it's so strange that this part of the journey is over. A year ago, when we were just starting out, I remember feeling like a birth was that almost unattainable goal that was so far away..... And here we are. Well, here Mia is. A special little girl who has impacted the lives of our family and her own. I can't wait to see what life has in store for her.
I posted before that I'm a pretty emotional person. Before living the experience, I expected to miss being pregnant a little, and I expected to miss the baby a little. I was fairly certain that handing her over to her dad was going to be more of a joyous occasion than not. I was expecting that coming home to a house with no baby was going to be easy- because Chris and I were never preparing to bring a baby home. How has reality played out compared to my expectations???
Well, there have certainly been some tears, but that is normal. I was talking to a friend of mine- another surrogate who delivered a few months ago just yesterday. I'm finding that I DO miss the pregnancy more than I have in the past. But in the past, I always had the baby to care for- and there just wasn't time to miss feeling those little flips and rolls inside. Every now and then, I find myself stopping to check for movement, or putting my had on my empty belly- before remembering that there's not a baby there any more.
I do miss Mia. And I really sat and thought about that statement yesterday. I miss holding her, and snuggling with her. I'm sad that I'm not going to get to see her in person any more- except for very special occasions. But I don't miss her in our house, if that makes sense. I'm not sad that she's not mine, and not here with us all the time. It's very much like when we go visit our family.... Chris and I have 14 nieces and nephews who all live in close proximity to each other, and we are the only part of the family that lives away. We get to see everyone once or twice a year; and whenever we are on the way home, I get very sad that we don't live closer. I feel like we are missing the opportunity to have a close family bond between our nieces and nephews, and our kids their cousins. Missing Mia, for me, is a lot like that.
The moment when Jason came in to the hospital room, and I was able to hand him his daughter was one of the greatest feelings in my life. Up there with my wedding day, and the births of my own children. Handing Mia over to her father was the whole reason Chris and I embarked on this journey in the first place. This was the goal the entire time. The happiness radiating from Jason as he got to hold his little girl for the first time is something I'll never forget. When I am feeling a little sad for myself, all I have to do is think of their happiness, and I'm reminded of why we did this in the first place.
Sunday, when Jason took Mia home, was the hardest day for both me and Chris. While Mia was Jason's from the beginning, our family still 'grew' her... I treated my pregnancy with Mia exactly the same as I did my pregnancies with our own three. While the feelings weren't the same, there was still a sense of affection and love for this little girl. I don't think Chris or I were prepared to be as fond of her as we were after she was born. And as much as we knew it was coming, it really did feel weird to leave the hospital without that that infant carrier, a new little bundle snuggled inside. We knew we weren't bringing Mia home to our house to be a part of our family, but I think we both would have loved to have had her and Jason in town a little longer.
That being said, Chris and I have voiced to each other over and over how thankful we are that we entered into this journey with Jason. He has welcomed our family into his, and has given us every opportunity to be a part of his life. We were allowed to care for Mia in his absence, and he gave our family the time we needed to dote on her before taking her home. Chris and I are very aware that a lot of surrogacy situations do not go as ours did.... The baby is delivered, handed over, and the surro and her family may never get to see the baby outside of pictures from that point forward. I'm so glad our journey didn't go that way. I'm thankful that Jason is willing to keep our family updated on how he and Mia are doing. Jason and I know that we may not talk as much now as we did before she was born, but we still plan to keep in touch. And we already have a standing invite to Mia's first birthday party... ;)
So I guess reality met my expectations, but times 100. The emotions were more intense than I expected, and a few more of them cropped up than I planned for. But the overwhelming happy that we were a part of making vastly outweighs any sad feelings I've had. And I've been told (by several people) that the sad is normal; so I don't feel bad about having a few of those feelings too.
It's been amazing. And it's so strange that this part of the journey is over. A year ago, when we were just starting out, I remember feeling like a birth was that almost unattainable goal that was so far away..... And here we are. Well, here Mia is. A special little girl who has impacted the lives of our family and her own. I can't wait to see what life has in store for her.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Whirlwind Week
Whirlwind Week
After Miss Mia was born, we had to wait a full day before Jason was able to get into town. He was also traveling with his parents, and we were excited to see them all. During that time, I was able to care for Mia myself. While this wasn't part of the original plan, of course, I really appreciated this time with her. I was able to feed her and care for her, hold her and snuggle her as much as I wanted. Chris was also able to spend a good amount of time with her. Looking back, I think it was very therapeutic for us. It gave us the chance to say hello, and get to know Mia a little before we had to say goodbye.
By the time Jason and his parents arrived, though, I was so excited and ready to introduce him to his little girl!!! It was about time for her to eat again, right when we were expecting them. Chris and I wanted him to be able to feed her when he arrived, instead of having to wait another two to three hours... I wish I could remember the look on Jason's face when he walked in and I handed Mia over. I don't though; I just remember feeling so happy that he was there, and that he was finally getting to hold this special little Missy that I had been carrying for 38 weeks. Chris was able to capture the moment on video, and the family took a ton of pictures. I think....
We all sat and visited for awhile in the hospital room, and Jason and Mia got acquainted. I'm not a very social person, so I was really glad Chris was there to keep the conversation going! We signed the required paperwork, talked about hospital rules and regulations, and all the sudden Mia was no longer our responsibility. It was a little strange, but totally right. Chris and I were discharged later that night, and went home to our kids who were waiting (quite impatiently I might add ) for us.
It wasn't the last time we saw the new family, though! We had Jason, Mia, and Jason's parents over for a visit and dinner at our house on Friday night. My parents were in town as well, and it was a great visit. I wanted to make sure our kids had a chance to meet Mia and hold her- they had been a part of this experience too, and they needed a chance to say hello & goodbye. Saturday night we all went out to dinner again, for one last visit. Then Sunday morning, it was back home for Jason, Mia, and Grandma and Grandpa. Looking back, the week flew by!!!
I'm very thankful for all the time that me and my family were allowed to have with Mia. I realize in similar situations, this isn't possible- or even taken into consideration. Chris and I feel like we have added to our extended family through this experience, and look forward to what the future brings.
By the time Jason and his parents arrived, though, I was so excited and ready to introduce him to his little girl!!! It was about time for her to eat again, right when we were expecting them. Chris and I wanted him to be able to feed her when he arrived, instead of having to wait another two to three hours... I wish I could remember the look on Jason's face when he walked in and I handed Mia over. I don't though; I just remember feeling so happy that he was there, and that he was finally getting to hold this special little Missy that I had been carrying for 38 weeks. Chris was able to capture the moment on video, and the family took a ton of pictures. I think....
We all sat and visited for awhile in the hospital room, and Jason and Mia got acquainted. I'm not a very social person, so I was really glad Chris was there to keep the conversation going! We signed the required paperwork, talked about hospital rules and regulations, and all the sudden Mia was no longer our responsibility. It was a little strange, but totally right. Chris and I were discharged later that night, and went home to our kids who were waiting (quite impatiently I might add ) for us.
It wasn't the last time we saw the new family, though! We had Jason, Mia, and Jason's parents over for a visit and dinner at our house on Friday night. My parents were in town as well, and it was a great visit. I wanted to make sure our kids had a chance to meet Mia and hold her- they had been a part of this experience too, and they needed a chance to say hello & goodbye. Saturday night we all went out to dinner again, for one last visit. Then Sunday morning, it was back home for Jason, Mia, and Grandma and Grandpa. Looking back, the week flew by!!!
I'm very thankful for all the time that me and my family were allowed to have with Mia. I realize in similar situations, this isn't possible- or even taken into consideration. Chris and I feel like we have added to our extended family through this experience, and look forward to what the future brings.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Delivery
Delivery
Here we are on Easter Sunday, 2 days from our planned induction date. Jason, Chris, and I knew awhile ago that delivery probably wasn't going to go quite like we were planning. Even my mom was expecting Little Miss to come a little early.
The night of April 2nd, I just didn't sleep well. Looking back, I think I was contracting a lot of the night. I remember tossing and turning, waking up often, and generally just not sleeping well. At 5am, my contractions were starting to come every three minutes, and I just couldn't sleep through them any more. They weren't awful, but definitely more than just the tightening that I had been having. I stayed in bed for the next 45 minutes or so. Finally I decided to get up and shower, then go eat some toast and just putter around the house for awhile- just to see if the contractions kept up.
My bathroom is about 7 steps from the side of my bed. As soon as my feet hit the linoleum, I felt this strange little.... give... is the only way I can describe it. Then there was a little bit of warm wet on my legs. All I could think was "Holy crap, I think my water just broke!!!". So I stood there for a couple more minutes. Sure enough, when I moved, a little clear, but pink tinged fluid hit the floor. Part of me was relieved... Now I didn't have to mess around with irregular contractions, wondering when I should go into the hospital. So, I woke up Chris and had him work on getting someone over to the house to watch the kids. I took a quick shower, and off to the hospital we went!
When we got to the hospital, labor and delivery was packed to the gills! Apparently most of the babies in our area decided they needed to come on April 3rd, too.... One of my very best friends stayed over-after already working a 12 hour night shift- to be my nurse. On the way in, I was doubting myself about breaking my water because I never had more than a little trickle at a time. Buuuttt.... as soon as I sat down in the triage bed, I flooded the thing! I was 4cm dilated and definitely ruptured.
I was admitted at 7:30 that morning. By 8, I was set up in my room with my IV, my husband, and my best friend. Chris had run into my doctor in the elevator (as he was going off call), and he was wonderful enough to stay on for me too. The only- really LARGE- kink in the karma of the morning was that Jason wasn't there! We called him as soon as we were sure we were staying, and wouldn't you know it, there were NO flights available into our city.... All day!!! I knew the baby would most likely be delivered before he could get there, but Chris and I were really bummed that he wasn't going to be able to hop a flight and get started on the journey in.
My labor progressed fairly quickly, which is normal for me. I was 5-6 cm with an epidural by 1030, and probably the most comfortable I'd been in a week! My bestie finally got to go home, and another of my favorite nurses took over our care. She was the nurse I had when my oldest was born, so it was almost like coming full circle! We think I was probably ready to push between 1230 and 1pm, but my doc had a complicated patient in the office, and we were waiting for him to come over to the hospital. In that time, though, we realized that we could Face Time with Jason via our various Apple products. So, he was going to "be there" for delivery after all!!! We love technology....
At 1:29pm, in the presence of my husband, some of my very good friends, and her daddy (via FT), Little Mia Ryan G. Made her entrance into the world. She was tiny, screaming, and perfect. It was a fast delivery, emotional and fantastic, and I couldn't have asked for a better experience.
Jason was able to "hang out" with us for awhile, and watch all of Mia's clean up. It was so sweet to be able to hold her, and meet this little person who was so special in so many people's lives.
The night of April 2nd, I just didn't sleep well. Looking back, I think I was contracting a lot of the night. I remember tossing and turning, waking up often, and generally just not sleeping well. At 5am, my contractions were starting to come every three minutes, and I just couldn't sleep through them any more. They weren't awful, but definitely more than just the tightening that I had been having. I stayed in bed for the next 45 minutes or so. Finally I decided to get up and shower, then go eat some toast and just putter around the house for awhile- just to see if the contractions kept up.
My bathroom is about 7 steps from the side of my bed. As soon as my feet hit the linoleum, I felt this strange little.... give... is the only way I can describe it. Then there was a little bit of warm wet on my legs. All I could think was "Holy crap, I think my water just broke!!!". So I stood there for a couple more minutes. Sure enough, when I moved, a little clear, but pink tinged fluid hit the floor. Part of me was relieved... Now I didn't have to mess around with irregular contractions, wondering when I should go into the hospital. So, I woke up Chris and had him work on getting someone over to the house to watch the kids. I took a quick shower, and off to the hospital we went!
When we got to the hospital, labor and delivery was packed to the gills! Apparently most of the babies in our area decided they needed to come on April 3rd, too.... One of my very best friends stayed over-after already working a 12 hour night shift- to be my nurse. On the way in, I was doubting myself about breaking my water because I never had more than a little trickle at a time. Buuuttt.... as soon as I sat down in the triage bed, I flooded the thing! I was 4cm dilated and definitely ruptured.
I was admitted at 7:30 that morning. By 8, I was set up in my room with my IV, my husband, and my best friend. Chris had run into my doctor in the elevator (as he was going off call), and he was wonderful enough to stay on for me too. The only- really LARGE- kink in the karma of the morning was that Jason wasn't there! We called him as soon as we were sure we were staying, and wouldn't you know it, there were NO flights available into our city.... All day!!! I knew the baby would most likely be delivered before he could get there, but Chris and I were really bummed that he wasn't going to be able to hop a flight and get started on the journey in.
My labor progressed fairly quickly, which is normal for me. I was 5-6 cm with an epidural by 1030, and probably the most comfortable I'd been in a week! My bestie finally got to go home, and another of my favorite nurses took over our care. She was the nurse I had when my oldest was born, so it was almost like coming full circle! We think I was probably ready to push between 1230 and 1pm, but my doc had a complicated patient in the office, and we were waiting for him to come over to the hospital. In that time, though, we realized that we could Face Time with Jason via our various Apple products. So, he was going to "be there" for delivery after all!!! We love technology....
At 1:29pm, in the presence of my husband, some of my very good friends, and her daddy (via FT), Little Mia Ryan G. Made her entrance into the world. She was tiny, screaming, and perfect. It was a fast delivery, emotional and fantastic, and I couldn't have asked for a better experience.
Jason was able to "hang out" with us for awhile, and watch all of Mia's clean up. It was so sweet to be able to hold her, and meet this little person who was so special in so many people's lives.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Just 2 weeks left...
Just 2 weeks left....
Holy cow. Our planned induction date is just two weeks from today. Where did the time go???
As we get closer to delivery, I find myself thinking more and more about what delivery will be like. I've had a really easy time this pregnancy NOT thinking of this little girl as ours. I don't feel like I'm attached to her in the same way that I was with my own kids. The thought of delivery hasn't scared me or made me nervous at all in terms of me being able to "give this baby up" as people like to say. Because this Little Miss has never been mine to keep.
Now that things are getting closer, however, I'm wondering if it's going to be as easy as I think... Now that's not to say that I'm having any inkling of wanting to *gasp* not give her up. She's Jason's baby, and not mine and my husband's. I'm just wondering if the giving process will be more emotional than I'm anticipating. I'm a crier, so I expect tears. I'm expecting to miss being pregnant a little, and I'm expecting to miss her a little. My hope is that my expectations meet what will actually come to pass.
And then I've been thinking about labor itself- wondering what it will be like. Classically, I've had quick, relatively easy labors. I'm hoping for the same thing this time around too. I'm smaller with this pregnancy than I was with my last, so I don't feel like I have an 8 pound plus kiddo hanging out in there. I'm wondering if we'll make it to our induction date.... if so, it will be the longest I've ever carried a pregnancy. Only by 2 days, but still.... And I contract a lot this time around. I've not ever really contracted before laboring before. So fr, the contractions haven't proven to do anything. But I know that can change any day.
Just like any pregnancy, there are so many unknowns. I'm excited and impatient both to see how this is going to play out. But at the same time, I'm really trying hard not to wish away the last two weeks of this pregnancy. This very well may be my last time being pregnant, and there is nothing in this world quite like the feeling of an active, happy baby rolling around in my tummy.
Here we are at 37 weeks. I swear, I'm getting worse at taking my picture....
As we get closer to delivery, I find myself thinking more and more about what delivery will be like. I've had a really easy time this pregnancy NOT thinking of this little girl as ours. I don't feel like I'm attached to her in the same way that I was with my own kids. The thought of delivery hasn't scared me or made me nervous at all in terms of me being able to "give this baby up" as people like to say. Because this Little Miss has never been mine to keep.
Now that things are getting closer, however, I'm wondering if it's going to be as easy as I think... Now that's not to say that I'm having any inkling of wanting to *gasp* not give her up. She's Jason's baby, and not mine and my husband's. I'm just wondering if the giving process will be more emotional than I'm anticipating. I'm a crier, so I expect tears. I'm expecting to miss being pregnant a little, and I'm expecting to miss her a little. My hope is that my expectations meet what will actually come to pass.
And then I've been thinking about labor itself- wondering what it will be like. Classically, I've had quick, relatively easy labors. I'm hoping for the same thing this time around too. I'm smaller with this pregnancy than I was with my last, so I don't feel like I have an 8 pound plus kiddo hanging out in there. I'm wondering if we'll make it to our induction date.... if so, it will be the longest I've ever carried a pregnancy. Only by 2 days, but still.... And I contract a lot this time around. I've not ever really contracted before laboring before. So fr, the contractions haven't proven to do anything. But I know that can change any day.
Just like any pregnancy, there are so many unknowns. I'm excited and impatient both to see how this is going to play out. But at the same time, I'm really trying hard not to wish away the last two weeks of this pregnancy. This very well may be my last time being pregnant, and there is nothing in this world quite like the feeling of an active, happy baby rolling around in my tummy.
Here we are at 37 weeks. I swear, I'm getting worse at taking my picture....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)