One week old

So today marks the one week mark for Quinn. We are adjusting to our new lives fairly well. It's amazing to me how every single day he changes in color and in shapes. I still cannot tell who he resembles, but I can definitely see both his father and I in him. It doesn't look as though he is going to be dark in color. I think he might be that perfect mocha color that mixed babies bring.

We are eating well, pooping well and all the other "good" things newborns have!

The last three nights, we've slept through the night with the one hour exception x2 to eat and change our diapers.

I never thought I would welcome my milk coming in, but it has saved me sleep this last week!

I feel blessed. He is the light of my life and I am completely smitten!! I cannot wait to take him out hiking and walking around the city, to the beach and out to dinner with friends!

Quinn Alexandar

Quinn above is just about 24 hours old.
Quinn in an Anne Geddes position that he put himself in at day 4.

My son, Quinn Alexandar was 12 days late and weighing in at 7.11 and 20 inches long. He was born on November 25th at 7:18am. APGAR score of 8/9 only due to the fentanyl I received. He was a bit sleepy, but alert when coerced, good color and excellent reflexes. All is perfect with this little boy!

Labor was LONG! I was in labor for 36 hours and in active labor from seven pm until his birth at 7:18am.

Here is my labor story:

I was due to have an appointment on Monday the 23rd for an amniotic fluid check and fetal check. At that time, they were going to make one more final attempt to sweep my membranes with the hopes of throwing me into labor that night. I chose to allow them to induce me that day so I would be pregnancy free and baby in my arms within 24 hours. That day, they gave me mesoproxil? which is a cervical dilator. I had contractions through the entire day that lasted from a minute to 1.5 minutes. That night, they gave me fentanyl and morphine to allow me to sleep b/c they were under the assumption that I would be delivering the following day. I did not need the additional cervidil b/c my contractions were 2 minutes apart at 9pm when they checked me before bed.

Tuesday morning, I was told that because I was induced, I could NOT labor in water. This was awful and shattered my plans of hypnobirthing, even though the previous day I got through the contractions with the hypnobirthing techniques. Hypnobirthing and water birthing go hand in hand, but some woman can use it without water. I guess I just had these grand plans and was not intending of going off base from them. What a let down. Needless to say, I made the decision to get an epidural. I felt so defeated:( My birth plan was basically shattered at that point b/c I was against the epidural completely until I realized my labor was going to be very long and I was running out of fuel. They also started pitocin and fluid resuscitation. Talk about FLUID OVERLOAD! OMG, I came out of birth looking like the pillsbury dough girl!! And, I'm still diuresing to this moment!

Anyhow,

I was given the epidural and only the left side was working. The right side was not and even though the on call anesthesiologist came in to try and fix it, it did not work. The good thing about this was I could feel the entire birth and was able to feel my water bag break at 715 pm on Tuesday evening. They turned the epidural off completely because they were also giving me fentanyl for break through contraction pain. That stuff threw me out of the loop. STRONG STUFF! Around 3:30am, my nurse came in and asked me the last time I was checked and of course, I couldn't remember b/c I was so "out of it". She then checked me and said, "oh my darling, you are fully dilated to 10 and your babies head it right there, we are going to start pushing in an hour.

"An hour!!" I thought! WThell. There was an emergency c-section going down, so b/c I'm low risk, I have to wait. Ahhh, I guess it gave me a moment to take everything in and prepare myself for the pain I was about to endure!

At 4:15am, I began pushing and pushing and pushing for the next three hours. The last thing I remember, the MD came in and said "Ok Kat, your babies heart rate has dropped to 71, you need to push him out right now, ok?"

I just remember saying a quick prayer to God to help me through because I was soooo beyond tired and I pushed him out in 2 tries!

AMAZING and triumphant all around. I did it, I gave birth to my first child even though my birth plan didn't play out as I wanted. He was a healthy baby boy and is the light of my life!! I'm smitten and damn I feel blessed and lucky that I was given this gift!

Today, I'm still recovering from the agony and traumatic stress of child birth. Everyday gets better and everyday I'm figuring it all out and am able to walk better and actually clean my place up a little. My mom is here to help me with everything and has been amazing. Thanks mom. She cooks me things and gets things for me since it's so difficult to move as fast as I normally do. She's been great and sadly, is leaving on Tuesday!

But in the end, she was the one who caught Quinn and cut his umbilical cord which I know she will remember forever!

It's an "official" feeling!

I am going to be pregnant forever! I don't understand this process. I've been healthy throughout my entire pregnancy, I made a birth plan and now it could be squashed in a matter of days if I do not start labor within 4 days. I will be laboring the entire time in the hospital, hooked up to an iv with pitocin running though my veins, waiting to birth my baby! Not exactly how I planned this first birth with my first child. There goes all of the natural techniques I have lined up. Perhaps I'm jumping the gun and should remain with that sliver of hope to get me through? It's hard and I'm becoming more and more discouraged because everyone texts me and calls me asking if I'm in labor or if baby is here.

I'm frustrated. I've tried so many things to get things moving. Evening primrose oil, orgasms, pineapple, walking all over, my membranes were swept, I ate prego pizza and even spicy food. I even have an appointment for acupuncture tomorrow, along with getting my membranes swept again.

Hmm..

My little one is so comfy inside and I cannot blame him really. Living inside a warm space where you're being fed, there are no loud noises and not much stress. Comfort, pure comfort.

Dear son:

I love you and I want to meet you, please help mommy accomplish this. It would be lovely if you make the decision to come out to play today or tonight. So many people are anxious to meet you and I am anxious to stare into your eyes in complete awe. I will try to be patient and allow nature to take it's course. But just know that we're running out of time and they may have to induce me here in 4 days. I love you.

Love mom...

Prego Pizza

So today I've decided upon recommendation from a stranger at the dog park, to go and try an "infamous" pizza that has been known to throw overdue women into labor. I am not even sure what to expect out of it, but at this point I am willing to at least try it and see if it will work. It's a lot easier to put down than castor oil, this is for certain.

I'm two days overdue now and have been walking and trying other "natural" ways to get things moving, but nothing's working.

So we figure, "what the heck, let's go have us some "Prego Pizza".....

Next blog will hopefully be the start of my labor blog:) Wish me luck tonight!!

Out of the loop

I've been neglecting my blog that I really wanted to do good with. I've been busy with work, packing and moving, then unpacking and nesting. Baby was due yesterday and is still incubating. Apparently he is happy inside the womb. I have had minor stomach aches and constant Braxton Hicks contractions, but no loss of the infamous "mucus plug" or any sign of my membranes rupturing. I'm more tired than normal, but I think when you're carrying around a 7+ lb baby inside you, I guess that is grounds for added fatigue. My mom arrived on the 9th and I was soooo worried that she was going to miss his birth. lol..not even close!

In the meantime, I've been walking a lot and I've had a few glasses of wine to relax my anxiety; neither which have worked. I don't plan on drinking castor oil or any herbs. He will come when he is ready to come and I will patiently wait it out.

Dear son,

I'm getting excited by the minute. My phone continues to ring off the hook with everyone wanting to know when you're making your grand entrance into this world. It's nerve wracking knowing that you are coming soon, but not so soon. I happen to think you're going to wait out the weekend and that is kind of a bummer.

We're ready for you though. Gran gran knit you a beautiful hat and mittens for the cold weather you are going to endure when you are born; it's just that time of year.

The diaper service has started, all of your clothes are washed and waiting to be used and there are plenty of people with ants in their pants to come and meet you:)

How am I doing you ask? Well, I'm still sleeping pretty well and moving around, although sometimes it is really difficult if you know what I mean!

Oh and Sherlock? He is aware you're on your way out, he is all over me and always wanting to be held or pet. He's just layin' around the house waiting for his dog walker to pick him up b/c he knows what that means!

Anyhow, we're all very excited to meet you, hold you and welcome you to this world with all the love we have to offer. Here's to meeting you soon and I definitely mean soon please:) xxo

Love mommie!

Friends and babies

I've found that my social circle is changing. Most of my friends who are single and not knocked up are not really inviting me out anymore. The phone calls get less and less and the invites all together for social outings has nearly come to a halt. At the same time, I also seem to be gravitating towards women who have children, whether single or married. It's interesting the way life works. I admit, I am still that "wild child" who likes to get dolled up with her vintage boots, cigarette pants and funky top for a night of dancing. That part of me will never die.

It's amazing what pregnancy will do to you. Women gravitate towards you and want to talk about your baby, your due date and how great you look, etc. Men on the other hand will make eye contact and smile. As they scan my body, you see them immediately look the other way; baggage I guess.

I love the idea babysrus has. They have not only handicap parking at the very front, but expectant mothers to be directly next to their handicap parking:) Ahhh..there are definitely "perks" to being pregnant!

Today I had my first of the start of my "two week" midwife appointments. It marks a significant milestone in my pregnancy, b/c the "big day" is only 6 weeks away! I am 33 weeks and 4 days today and I measured at 32cm. I didn't gain any weight; probably because I am on my feet for 12 hours during the day while working. Or, perhaps it's luck. Or, I am going to blow up here in a few weeks before giving birth!

Dear son,

I've come up with a few more names for you that I like. I'm pretty sure I'm going to pick my top three names, meet you and then name you. I'm feeling pretty strong about seeing you before naming you! You have these corky habits while inside the womb, I cannot imagine naming you before meeting you. You love to kick and wriggle around. Today I watched as you moved from the right of my abdomen, all the way to the left side near my back! Talk about bizarre!!

I still cannot figure out your sleep patterns. You definitely are not a fan of my alarm clock. You immediately start kicking me as if to say "turn that thing down." Sometimes I feel you kicking at 3am when I get up for my midmorning bathroom break. Most of the time though, you're sleeping. The other day in the shower when I tapped on my tummy as I was talking to you and you jumped and it made me jump. I never thought I would feel you jump in the womb. But, I promise to try and not scare you like that again sweetie! Keep kicking and growing my son:)

Love mom xxo

Weeks 31 and 32

Wow, I am now 8 weeks out! A bit scary, but very exciting to meet him and not be pregnant anymore. As I've stated before, I'm not a fan of being pregnant at all. I'm just a sensitive girl and pregnancy is uncomfortable to me!

These past couple of weeks things began to fall into place. I found a place over in Oakland, Montclair area in the east bay. It's a very cute one bedroom with a washer and dryer, parking and a 182 sf bedroom!! It's a beautiful apartment in a great area with lots of sunlight, central heating, air conditioner, a ton of storage under the house and my own personal outside garden! I'm renting from personal landlords who are low key and super kewl! I can start moving in on the 6th of October. I'm going to take my time moving in so I can decorate and set up baby things!

I'll post up pictures of the apartment when I'm done putting it together.

Hopefully before the little one comes.

I started my hypnobirthing classes this past week. I am happy that I registered for it. They taught us deep breathing techniques to breathe through the contractions and honestly, it all makes perfect sense! Why wouldn't anyone want to breathe through the pain? I have two more classes left and I am really looking forward to them. My coach is my friend from work, she is also a nurse. We're setting things up for the big day and it's fun. This coming week I am going to pack my bag for the hospital and gather up some music and make myself a few birth cd's. I have a friend coming from Sacramento to be a part of the birth and film it for me. It's all falling into place and it's exciting!!

Dear little one:

Although the big day is creeping upon us, you're still finding ways to move and wriggle inside the womb. I still get your random kicks and your funny movements around that I can watch and laugh at.

I hope you like the way I read stories. I know I'm not the most fun at reading them, but I promise you, your mother is ANIMATED and there will NEVER be a dull moment in your growing up! I picture myself dancing in front of you and singing at the top of my lungs while you sit and laugh at me. And believe me when I say that you will laugh at me!!! Your mom is damn funny; you'll see.

So what do you think of the idea of being multilingual? I love the idea of you being bilingual in French and English. By the time you're in junior high, you will be learning Spanish and then Italian and then Russian and then .....

ok, maybe 3 or 4 languages is enough;)

I will be happy with just two:)

Keep growing baby boy!!

xxoo