One Month Old!

I’m tired . . . no, not just tired, DEAD ZOMBIE TIRED! My little guy is one month old and has successfully deprived me of so much sleep that I feel like a walking zombie (and for that matter, I usually look like one as well!) Don’t get me wrong, Baby Aedan has brought so much joy into our lives, he has blessed us and is a wonderful addition to our little family . . . BUT . . . he doesn’t like to sleep at night! I should have known! When I was pregnant with him, he was the most active at night when I was trying to sleep. He kept me awake then, why should it be any different now!

I think my husband has developed a newfound respect for me, or at least he seems to be a bit in awe of my “newborn mothering” skills. He has made comments on several occasions that sound like this, “I don’t know how you did this when you were 21” and “How did you do this on your own with Tyler.” My response has been- there is no other choice! Even on the most sleep deprived day I still have to put one foot in front of the other and function, even if it appears to be in a zombie-like trance!

Our little guy is up an average 2-3 times per night, and when he is up, he isn’t very fond of going back to sleep right away. Little Aedan has been sleeping in our room thanks to a bassinet that is on loan from my friend Lindsay. But when he awakens in the middle of the night I take him out of the room so I don’t disrupt my husbands slumber (too much). Many nights I end up staying on the couch after that first initial awakening, simply because little Aedan does not particularly want to go back to bed. I’ve learned that there are some great re-runs on in the middle of the night, but that at 5:00am everything and it seems to really be EVERYTHING turns to info-mercials! WHY is this???? I have no desire to see the latest and greatest gadget on sale for 3 easy payments of 19.95!

Not only do I have to be the mother to this precious little newborn, but I also have to keep up with my very active 7 year old, which exhausts me even more. That whole “sleep when the baby” sleeps advice is no good when you have more than one child at home! I would love to sleep when the baby sleeps, but how do you do that when your 7 year old is begging for your attention! I feel incredibly bad some days. Because I am so sleep deprived, my temper is short, and I often snap at poor Tyler. The one good thing – the weather has been pretty nice and Tyler has been able to go outdoors and play with the 2 children who live relatively nearby.

I have to tell you though; I love the fact that I currently have boobs! It has to be one of the nicest and best “perks” of motherhood! I finally broke down and went to Target to purchase some nursing bras . . . I had to buy 34C!!!!! I’ve never been a C-cup in my life! I know it is a short-lived luxury, so I am trying to enjoy it while I can! After I quit nursing with Tyler my boobs shrunk to a smaller size then they were before I was preggo with him! I’m just waiting for the same to happen this time around . . . I fear that I will end up an AA!

Birth Day! April 15th, 2008

I know, I know . . . it’s been ages since I have written! Well, baby Aedan is finally here! He was born on April 15th at 12:52pm. He weighed 8lbs 8.2oz and was 22 inches long. Everything with the delivery went VERY well and smoothly, mostly because of the fact I ended up being induced. And let me just tell you . . . since his arrival, I’ve become thoroughly sleep deprived beyond belief! But first, let me give you the play by play of delivery!

Monday, April 14th. I woke up and went through the morning routine as normal, got Tyler off to school and then headed for the shower. After getting undressed and as I was standing the bathroom preparing to get in the shower, I had some leakage of fluid. Not sure what it was, I thought possibly that my water could have broken, but I wasn’t 100 percent sure because it wasn’t anything like I was told it would be (no gush, no continuous “trickle” of fluid). So I got ready for work. When I got to work, I told my mom what happened and she encouraged me to call the Doctor, since by this point I was thinking, “random leakage” of something . . . but not my water breaking. So I called the Doctor and they gave me orders to go home and rest and to call them back later in the day to give an updated report on whether I had any more fluid leakage. To make a long story short, I ended up going into the Doctor’s office around 3:30, just to be checked out and to make sure all was well.

At the Doctor’s office, I was checked out and it was determined that my water hadn’t broken, HOWEVER when she checked my cervix it turns out I was 5-6 cm dilated and 90% effaced. The midwife I was being examined by was stunned, “You aren’t having any contractions?” “Nope,” I said, “at least not any that have become regular and consistent.” By this point I had been have random contractions for a couple of weeks or longer, but no real labor. It was starting to REALLY get on my nerves! Anyway, the midwife, became concerned. “you are so close to delivery now, that if you did go into labor, I’m not sure you would make it to the hospital, which concerns me.” Ha ha ha, I thought, just my luck. The midwife excused herself from the room and said she would be right back. After a few minutes, she came in and said, “how about we give you another option.” I was like, “yeah, sure, what?” “How would you feel about being induced?” I was like, “that is the best news I have EVER heard!” So she said, “be at the hospital at 7:00am tomorrow, they are expecting you.” So, I left the Doctor’s office happier than a pig in shit and VERY ready to have our baby!

Tuesday, April 15th. I get up early, take a shower, get my husband up, get my son Tyler up and dressed for school (His Pappy would have to be in charge of getting him on the bus). But we made sure to give him extra kisses and hugs and told him that by the time he got home from school, he would be a Big Brother! We grab my bags, the camera and jump in the car for the hospital. I was feeling a little nervous, but more relieved that in a few hours, pregnancy was going to be behind me! We (Eric, my Mom and me) get to the hospital and head to the maternity ward, where we check in and get settled into our room. We flip on the TV and I change into the dreaded and not-so-flattering hospital gown. My nurse comes in and introduces herself and she begins to get me “hooked” up to all the necessary machines. We are all so relaxed and calm, since I wasn’t in labor, there was no pressure, no pain, nothing. Eventually the midwife comes in, “So, you want your tubes tied, right.” “Ummmmmmmmm NOOOOO!” I said. “Oh, well you are Mrs. Walker right.” “Yes.” Luckily, my nurse came to the rescue, “there’s another Mrs. Walker on this floor.” “Oh, ooops, sorry,” replies the midwife, “I’ll be back shortly!” So again we wait. I discuss getting an epidural with the nurse, my concern was that an epidural would slow down progress, and since I didn’t have one the first time around (I had Tyler au-natural) I was prepared to go that way again. The nurse said, “Nah, it won’t slow anything down, if it does start to impact the progress, we’ll just up the amount of the drug we give you to induce.” So I decide to go with an epidural, I’m a little scared, since this is new territory for me, but I’m willing to do anything to make this experience pleasant!

Around 9:30, I think, the midwife comes in and breaks my water, I have a ton of fluid and it just keeps coming and coming, the midwife was impressed with how much fluid I had, especially because at one point they thought I didn’t have enough. With my water broken, I finally start to have contractions! Nothing painful, more discomforting, but totally bearable. I’m told that I’ll get the epidural shortly, now that “labor” has started. A little while later, I get the epidural. Eric takes a walk at this point (he doesn’t like needles), so it’s just me and my mom. As I sit up on the edge of the bed, I’m still gushing fluid, it’s on the floor, and just basically everywhere. It’s actually kind of humorous. My mom gives me support and lets me hold her hand, which I squeeze the shit of, and the epidural is over in a matter of minutes (and about 4 needles later, so I’m told). The medicine begins to kick in, and I start to feel the effects. A total relaxation falls over my body, and an ENORMOUS uncontrollable itch (a side effect). I begin to scratch and dig at the skin on my body, but it’s an itch you cannot scratch. Despite the constant itchy feeling, I decide I really like the epidural and exclaim how much I wish I had felt like this for the last few months, then I could have possibly gotten some sleep!

The epidural is great, I couldn’t feel any contractions, I had to be told they were happening. And so we just sat there together hanging out and watching TV. Around 12:00 the nurse checks my cervix, “almost there, you’ll have a baby 1:00.” I am beyond excited now, I can’t feel a thing, and in about an hour, I’m going to get to meet my baby! The midwife comes in and she pulls up a chair and joins in as we watch are watching the Tyra Banks Show. Finally, it’s determined that it is time for me to push. I had a little difficult with this. When I had Tyler, I had no drugs, I could feel EVERYTHING. With him, my body said “it’s time to push” and I just went with it because it was impossible not to. This time however was completely different. Since I couldn’t feel my contractions, I had no idea when to push, so the nurse had to tell me when to start and stop. I couldn’t even tell if I was pushing correctly or not, and it took me a few tries and some coaching from my nurse to get the hang of it. Once I did though, the pain started. Minor pain, when compared to having Tyler, but still enough pain to make me cry. But, with the encouragement of everyone around me, things went rather quickly. And soon there was that huge relief and release of pressure when baby Aedan made his debut!

Daddy cut the cord, Mommy cried (from relief and happiness) and then it was time to deliver the placenta and finally put me back together! The little guy did some damage as he was coming down the birth canal. He decided to descend with his fist under his chin. So, I ended up with quite a few stitches. After all was said and done, we started the round of calls and texts to friends and family. Big Brother Tyler came to visit us in the hospital and was very excited to meet his new little brother! We had a few other visitors that day, but by evening, things had gotten quiet. I sent Tyler and Eric home to get rest and Aedan and I settled in for our first night together!

Still no baby . . .

Well here I am one day short of 39 weeks and still no baby! The little one just doesn’t want to make an appearance and Mommy wants to hurry up and get this whole thing over with! My comfort level is zero. I swear I’ve tried everything I know of to “induce” labor, but nothing is working, despite the fact that I am 4cm dilated! It’s just my luck to be stuck in this state. Most of my friends have had the opposite problem, they go into labor but then can’t seem to progress past 1-2cm and here I am walking around at 4cm with no action! UGH, these last weeks are so frustrating!

On a different note, the cat is out of the bag! The nurse at the Doctor’s office spilled the secret to Eric on the sex of the baby! It was totally an accident, she didn’t know that he didn’t know, but his desire to be surprised is now officially ruined! I felt so bad for the both of them; Eric because it’s so close to the end and the surprise is ruined and the poor nurse was in tears when she learned that he didn’t know and that she just blurted it out. She felt so bad, that it made me feel so bad. But oh well, everything happens for a reason. So the big secret is now free to be told . . . We’re having a boy! Little Aedan Patrick Walker will soon (we hope VERY SOON) make his appearance into the world!

Baby Please Come Soon!

Uncomfortable is an understatement at this point. I’m downright miserable! I keep hoping and praying that this child will hurry up and decide to join the real world! My whole body is sore, my back is killing me and my right leg feels like it’s about ready to fall off. I’m guessing that’s due to the “loosening of my joints.” My crotch hurts like nobody’s business and I keep having contractions that amount to a whole lot of NOTHING! I’m getting less and less sleep at night, and so is my poor husband. Between my frequent trips to the bathroom and the fact that I can’t find a comfortable sleeping position and my obnoxious snoring (I usually do snore, but it has been amplified 1000 times because of being pregnant), my husband also has to deal with the fact that every time the baby moves inside of me, it shakes the whole bed. We aren’t just talking minor movements here; we are talking bed shaking that wakes the both of us up.

On a positive note, I am totally ready. I’m stocked up with all the necessities and thanks to our friends, we had a small “baby shower” over the weekend . . . okay it was more like a party (complete with keg) and some baby gifts for us. Tyler enjoyed the gift portion . . . we left him open everything; it was the quickest gift opening that has ever taken place at a baby shower, of that I’m sure! He had everything open in 5 minutes flat, I had a hard time keeping up with him, as I tried to read cards and make a mental note of who bought us what. It was actually kind of nice not having to go through the “ooohhhs and aaaahhhhs” of a typical baby shower. Both guys and girls were invited and there was food and booze for everyone (no booze for me) and as my friend Ang stated, it was the most un-awkward baby shower she had ever been to! So I thank my good friends Jenny, Sarah and Michelle for pulling it together and for making it a fun night!

I go to the Doctor today, and I’m hoping for some good news . . . like “hey why don’t you just drive on over the hospital now.” Of course I’m sure that is some VERY wishful thinking, but really, I’m just not sure how much more being pregnant I can take!

Any Day Now!

I can’t begin to say how excited I am! I went to the doctors yesterday and learned that I am already 3cm dilated and 50% effaced, so the baby could decide to come at any moment! Yeah! I’m going to try and get outside to do some walking (if the weather ever cooperates) in hopes of “helping” things along. I am just so anxious! I guess maybe I should consider packing my bag for the hospital! Of course last time I waited until I was in labor and having contractions at home before I concerned myself with getting anything ready for the hospital, and things worked out just fine.

I am so glad that this pregnancy has gone well; even though I have found it much more painful at the age of 28 then I did when I was 21. I hope that the delivery goes smoothly and our little one is just a happy, healthy bundle of joy!

I went on my first (and probably only) secret shopping trip to purchase some clothes for the new baby. Since my husband doesn’t want to know the sex, I haven’t been able to splurge and buy stuff, simply because buying it meant I had to hide it. But, I finally couldn’t take it anymore, so I broke down and took advantage of a sale at JCPenney’s the other day! I’ve managed to wash and hide everything, so the new clothes are just patiently waiting like me!

Roughly 45 Days To Go!

Let me just tell you . . . I am REALLY hoping it’s less! I’m not sure I can survive another 45 days of being pregnant! I am so incredibly uncomfortable! But even more then being uncomfortable, I am SOOOOOO tired of the random outbursts and comments that come from complete strangers when I venture out.

It seems that no matter where I go, or what I do, someone has a comment. I’m tired of being asked if I’m due “any second” because frankly the answer is “NO!” I have at least 3 ½ more weeks to get through. I’m tired of being asked if I “know” what I’m having and I’m even more tired of people offering up their opinion as to what I am having! Everyone claims to “know” exactly what I’m having based on my size and shape. I’ve had some very convincing arguments from random strangers for each sex. For example, while television shopping with my husband a couple of weeks ago, one older couple swore up and down that I am having a girl. Their reasoning – their daughter is due with their grandchild around the same time I am due and I am carrying my child exactly like she is! But I’ve also had the “oh, its definitely a boy” comments as well – One prime example, this past week we went on our annual ski trip to Vermont (I didn’t ski L). While driving to Vermont, we stopped at a rest area on the New York Thruway. As I am entering the plaza and looking for the only thing on my mind – the bathroom – I am startled by the someone shouting in my face, “oh, you are so having a boy.” It’s beyond rude, it’s borderline psychotic! All I can do is grit my teeth and smile when all I really want to do is scream, “just leave me alone!”

Aside from being miserably uncomfortable, things are going really well. I’ve had no major problems during the pregnancy, my “watch list” in my medical folder remains empty – something my doctors keep applauding me for, and I’m actually pretty prepared! This past weekend, Eric and I put together the stroller and crib, the car seat is ready to go, and I’ve been cleaning and organizing like crazy! I completely rearranged my son Tyler’s bedroom, cleaned out his closet and dressers, packed up all of the clothing he can no longer wear and organized the clothes he can. If baby came tomorrow, I think we would be okay. There are a few things I need to purchase, but the necessities are all in hand. AND – we’ve even settled on names! Taylor McKenzie if it’s a girl and Aedan Patrick if it’s a boy!

I’ve found a local photographer who has a special “Belly to Baby” portrait package, so this weekend I’m going to get my “belly” shots and once the baby is here, we get to do the baby shots! I think it’s such a wonderful way to document things this time around! As soon as I can, I’ll post the belly shots on here for all to see!

Only 79 days to go (or less, we hope)!

Can you tell that I am counting down the days? I am so ready for this last trimester to be over! And I don’t think I’m the only one! I definitely think Tyler misses his “mom” a little. The bigger I get (and let me just tell you, I feel like I’m incubating a hippopotamus) the less “fun” I am for Tyler. I wouldn’t mind being able to move with a little more ease, either! I clipped my toenails the other night (it will probably be the last time until baby arrives) and it was such a challenge! Finding a bent-over position that is comfortable and conducive to allowing me to actually see what I am doing isn’t really possible at this stage. Tying my shoes isn’t easy either, I’ve had everyone (my Mom, Dad and even my 7 year old) doing the tying for me (that is, when I choose to wear sneakers, most days anything that slips on is the easiest thing for me to wear). I feel like that slow kid in elementary school who just never learned to tie their shoes, and so I run around looking for someone to take pity on me.

Overall, I feel pretty good, albeit HUGE. I have had several inquires as to whether I am having twins, (“are you sure there is only one in there”) or am I ready to give birth tomorrow. Each time, I hang my head and reply “no, no twins” and “I’m not due until April 18th.” The look of shock on people’s faces is usually quite humorous. I’m really not sure how much more my skin can stretch, by the end of the day it usually feels like it’s going to explode and give up trying to hold in whatever’s in there. I’m very loyal to my lotion, slathering it on at least twice a day, if not more. My belly button is protruding outward and I have developed the “unexplainable” line down the middle of my stomach. Damn the celebrities for making this all look like it’s supposed to be glamorous and easy! Christina Aguilera gets to pose for Marie Claire and look flawless, Nicole Richie proudly pounces around 2 weeks postpartum looking fabulous and a lovely size 2, and then there are us “real” people! We the average people who suffer! Which makes me even more ready for this to be over, so I can begin the transformation back to a “somewhat” normal and youthful body!

Okay, enough with the complaining, because it’s not ALL bad. Leaky boobs, backaches, and stretch marks aside, I do enjoy being pregnant. I LOVE feeling the little one moving around inside of me (except when it’s doing karate at 2:00am). And I absolutely can’t wait to hold a newborn in my arms again! Which is another reason I am so anxiously counting down the days! While I am not exactly looking forward to child birth, I am really looking forward to those first few moments of bonding with our brand new little one.

Enough rambling now, let’s report some statistics. I went to the Dr. Friday, and everything is looking good! I only gained 4 pounds (yea me) in the last 4 weeks and my blood glucose test came back free and clear! The baby’s heart rate was in the 150s, which is good, and my blood pressure remains a steady 106/60. I’m now in my last trimester and that means going to the Dr’s every 2 weeks instead of every 4. I’m hoping that the more frequent Dr visits will help the time go by more quickly!