Since the baby came....

Well since the baby came life has definitely changed. I knew it would but man did it ever!! I dont think I was prepared for how hard it would be initially. I knew that motherhood would be hard, but I didnt know it would be this hard initially. The first few days after we came home from the hospital I slept a total of 4 hours! I was tired, emotional, and had some other problems associated with the delivery. I had no appetite and every time I would put something in my mouth I would gag. I cried all of the time and felt like a failure. I had lots of trouble with breastfeeding and the baby was losing weight so fast. We had to take him out every day to the doctor to make sure he was gaining and not losing weight. Plus we also met with a lactation consultant to help me out. My pediatrician's office is amazing! I chose a great doctor because without them and their support I dont think we would be where we are now.

I still cry at time and feel so overwhelmed, but life has gotten easier. Ipolito eats so much better and actually prefers the breast to the bottle. His sleep schedule is so erratic but manageable. There are still nights I dont get any sleep but in all it is slowly getting better. Everyone tells me to hang in there that it will get easier but will it?!

On another note, I have the MOST AMAZING husband! He has been my rock, my best friend, and the best father ever. He is so supportive and helpful. I could not have done this without him. He is so amazing. I thank God every night and morning and many other times throughout the day for him. I pray each and every person has someone as amazing as him in their lives.

Well, this is all for now. Hopefully I can make more entries as things get easier!

Ipolito is 1 month, 1 week, and 3 days!

My Birth Story

Well it all started a few days before Nov. 16...I had been waking up at 0530 each morning wide awake. This is so unlike me. I am a person who likes her sleep. Anyways, on the morning of Nov. 16 I woke up at 0530 and decided to eat a breakfast burrito my mom had made for me. I ended up going to lay back down about 0600. I finally went to sleep and was woke up at about 0645 when I felt this weird tightening feeling in my tummy and a pop. I didn't think anything of it and I remember thinking I wonder what that was. Then I kept laying there. Then about 10 min later I felt a horrendous contraction. I immediately thought...oh my the pop! I wonder if that was my water. I then realized that my pants were getting wet. I jumped out of bed and went to the bathroom where I pulled my pants down. Sure enough...my water was dripping down my legs. I was absolutely amazed.I woke up Jose, which was really hard, and told him I think my water broke. He was so out of it and just said, this is not the time to play! I told him I am not playing I think it broke! He said what?! I called the doctor and described to her what happened and she said it sounds like your water broke...go ahead and go to the hospital. I then told Jose and we both showered and put the finishing touches on the hospital bags. We stopped at Jack in the Box on the way for Jose and we pulled into the hospital about 0840. Right before we pulled in I felt a huge gush of fluid. This was not the best feeling in the world. I felt so dirty. They immediately walked me to a room had me change clothes and checked me. The nurse said my water had broke, it looks like you're having a baby today! I was dilated to a 4! I have to admit that hurt like hell when she would check me! I was told I could have an epidural or pain medicine whenever I wanted it. I was doing fine though without anything. I started having some regular contractions about that time... in my back! They hurt so bad...I finally gave in and asked for some pain medicine, but then decided to get the epidural instead. i got the epidural at 1030 and it was a piece of cake! It did not hurt at all! The pain relief was almost immediate! I was in heaven. The nurse came to check me about 1130 and I was at a 7 already. My doctor had also started pitocin shortly after the epidural was in. I ended up staying at 7 for a while. The pitocin kept going up too! Every time it would go up I would get shaky. Finally about 1515 I told the nurse that I felt like I had to poop. She checked me and said I was a 10! We waited for my doctor to come in and then I started pushing. I pushed for about 30 min and my doctor came in and was like what is taking so long. She determined I was not a 10 but an 8! So they increased the pitocin again! The doc also said the baby was sunny side up instead of down. So they kept moving me around to get him to turn over. By this time I was shaking uncontrolably! I think it was nerves and the fact that they kept increasing the pitocin. i was also very nauseous! I finally broke down and asked for something for the nausea. They gave me phenergan and that did the trick, but it also made me very sleepy. For the next two hours I was in and out only waking to try to push or turn over. About 1730 I started pushing again I was so out of it that I dont really remember anything. I do remember praying that I would come out of the funk so that I would be with it enough to remember the baby being born! About 7 pm my doctor came in and said that we had done everything we could...we were going to try a forceps delivery. All of a sudden there were a million people in the room! I mean out of no where there were lots of people. I remember her telling me to push and then hearing a big POP! I looked at Jose and said what was that?! He said oh no and looked like he was going to cry. The next thing you know I heard the most amazing sound...Ipolito crying! I was absolutely stunned. They put him on my belly and was so dirty, cute, and crying. As soon as they umbilical cord was cut they took him to assess him. The NICU was there because of his heart defect. They announced APGARS of 8 and 9! They then gave him to Jose to hold. He was/is the most cutest person I have ever seen in my life. Apparently I tore really really really bad. It took the doctor about an hour to sew me up. I had a bad 3-4th degree tear. The doctor later told me that the original plan was to use the forceps to turn him and then let me continue pushing. But as soon as she turned him my pushing was so strong and that was all he needed he came shooting on out! Ipolito was born at 1921, 6 lbs, 14 oz, 20 inches long.

Some other things. I had to have my epidural re-dosed (not re-done) 4 times because it kept wearing off. I had some really really bad back pains that were apparently caused by his position. My mom was so nervous too because I kept shaking. Jose was amazing throughout the whole experience. I got to hold the baby for about 20 min after I was all repaired and then didn't get to see my baby until 6 hours after he was born. So...I did not get to breastfeed him for all of that time.

I spent two days in the hospital. I was in pure pain all of the time and had a difficult time with breastfeeding. I still am. It has gotten better, but it is still challenging!

I had some other problems but I will have to tell you those on a personal level.

I will probably add more to this as I remember it so keep checking back.

Week 38

WOW....where has the time gone?! I mean it seems like just yesterday we found out I was pregnant and in 4 days we go to the hospital to have Ipolito Ismael! I went to the dietitian this week and I cannot say I will miss going there. I also went to the doctor on Thursday and was checked again. I already knew it would hurt since I am so uncomfortable as it is and let me tell you....I think her arm was up by my heart! It hurt like HELL!! We found out I am 3 cm dilated 75-80% effaced and at 0 station! She told us if I don't have him by Wednesday we are to check in at 5 pm at L & D! I looked at Jose when she said this and he had this, "Oh shit!" look on his face. I was like uh oh....he was actually speechless. After she left he was like already?! Do you check in like a hotel?! hehehehe. He was so cute. I had the "Oh shit" moment during the week at work when I realized I had 9 days left...single digits! For a moment I was deep breathing and just amazed.

I am so uncomfortable. I mean it hurts to stand, to lay down, to turn over, to lift my legs into the car. I just hurt everywhere! Luckily this didn't happen until this week. Well, I guess I will blog a little later in the week.

Please keep us in your prayers.

I am currently 38 weeks, 3 days!

Week 37

I am a week closer to meeting little Ipolito. This week has been pretty uneventful. I did start experiencing more frequent, painful contractions. Tuesday night while at work I had really bad back contractions. I was starting to think I would have to leave and go to the hospital, but they finally let up. Since then I have been having more and more. Thursday when I went to the doctor she said I am 2 cm dilated and 75% effaced and the head was very low. She also said she wouldn't be surprised if I went into labor on my own before the 20th! SCARRRYYY!!!!! I go to the doctor this Thursday again and we will see where I am. Well, this is all for now.

I am currently 37 weeks, 3 days.

Mamas

Have you ever wondered what makes a good mother? Do you ever thank God for your mother? Do you ever wonder will you be a good mother? Will your child ever love you and appreciate you as much as you love and appreciate your own mother? Many of us are not lucky to have two wonderful parents. I am. My mother is my rock. I only pray that I can be half the mother she is. This entry is dedicated to my own mother.

My mother, Olivia is truly my best friend (other than Jose). There is nothing I cannot tell her. She has been there with me from the beginning. She has been with me through thick and thin. Through two open heart surgeries, many hospital visits, through tears, happiness, she has encouraged me to keep going when I thought I could not. She is always happy and loving. She loves me and my siblings no matter what. She is the queen of my heart. She has taught me everything from how to love to how to be loved. When I call and something is wrong or bothering me she can always tell from the get go. She bends over backwards to be there for me and my family. When I need her to go with me to the doctor she comes right over. When I just need to hear her voice she is there. Sometimes that is all you need...just to hear her to feel everything will be okay. She is my strength.

My mother has raised two grandchildren and is helping raise a third. She has never thought twice about it either. She would lay down her life for these three kids as she would her own. The love she has inside of her amazes me.

Many of you may or may not know this, but I have not gone a day for as long as I remember without talking to my mother. I know for sure in the last 11 years there has not been a day that I have not spoken to my mother. I enjoy talking to her, hearing her voice, hearing about her day, and just being reassured knowing she is there.

I hope I can be half the mother she is. My advice to you is to hug your mother and truly appreciate her presence in your life.

Week 36

Well, well, well....I am now officially 36 weeks! The end is near...we are so much closer to meeting our little Ipolito Ismael! It is exciting and scary at the same time. This week I had my last ultrasound and we found out Ipolito is 6 pounds 4 oz! At one point we saw him stick out his tongue and at another he turned and looked right at us. It was amazing...it looks like he has some big cheeks (go figure) and Jose's shaped eyes. I really wonder what he will look like?!! Will he look like Jose? Will he look like me? Will he look like a mix? Will he have my hair, his lips, his eyes, my cheeks, his feet, etc???

I am feeling fine in general. I am very uncomfortable. The baby has dropped and I found out I am 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced. I swear sometimes I think he is just going to drop on out. It is hard to get in and out of bed, to get up, to walk fast, and my leg has been getting swollen. Wednesday night I noticed my right lower leg was swollen. I mean it looked fine at one point, then all of a sudden my ankle was HUGE! I have spider veins on that ankle and it started looking like a big bruise. You could put your fingers on my leg and leave definite finger prints. When I got home I showed Jose and by then it was a big ball. I was going to the doctor later on that day so I was not too worried. I ended up having an ultrasound of my leg just to make sure I do not have any clots. Rest assured, I received a clean bill of health.

In other news we finished the nursery! It looks good. I am so happy with it and so is Jose! I will attach some pics. This week I go see the diabetes lady again and I start my weekly visits to the doctor. I cannot believe we have 18 days left! Please say a prayer for a safe uncomplicated delivery, a beautiful, healthy baby boy, my heart, the baby's heart, and for my lovely Jose.

I am currently 36 weeks 4 days!

Week 35!

Well, I am officially 35 weeks pregnant! I am getting so excited and nervous! We did so much this week. We had another baby shower on Saturday with both our families and friends. We received so many beautiful things! The shower was absolutely wonderful and beautiful! Jose and I are so fortunate to have so many loving family members and friends. Hopefully I am going to be able to upload a slide show to the blog this time.

I am getting larger. My belly is starting to point out more and it is so hard to sleep! I am so uncomfortable and I hardly sleep more than 1.5 hours at a time. Earlier this week I was sick again! We finally figured out it was the sugar free gummy bears I had been eating. So needless to say I am no longer eating those.

We have done so much with the baby's room this week. We organized everything and I washed all of the newborn and 0-3 months clothes, blankets, socks, and bibs. The room looks so good! I hopefully will post pics later.

This week I have a sonogram on Tuesday morning and an OB/GYN appointment on Thursday. I get my first internal exam and I am nervous! I have heard mixed things on the internal exams.

Well, this is all for now.

I am 35 weeks, 5 days.