I have so much I want to say...
For now though... my little girl is perfect, and while I might be struggling a tad bit I am overwhelmed with how in love with her I am. :)
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
The Miracle of Life
I remember watching the movie "The Miracle of Life" in grade school. We called it "the" movie! I also remember showing it to my students in middle school when I was teaching. I thought I knew what to expect out of this child birth experience but boy was I wrong!
I'm not sure there are words to describe it. It's over and you just want to walk around telling everyone about it. Probably because you are so proud of yourself for enduring such torture or maybe it's because you want to show off the creation YOU made because they are the most adorable thing you have ever seen in your life, but realistically it's because God created Child birth to be the most beautiful thing.
So because this is my blog, and I make the rules around here :) I'm going to share with you Jessalynn Jean's Birth Story.
Oct. 27th, 2010
2pm: I had spent the last few days worrying about my doctor wanting to induce my labor. I really had my heart set on doing things naturally but I really wanted to trust that God had a magnificent plan for me. So I talked myself into being really excited to go into the hospital at 8pm.... That's just when I received a call. The hospital called and told me they had to room for me and that they couldn't get me a time when they would induce me. I'm not sure if it was the hormones or what, but I must say I handled the situation pretty well. I didn't get upset and cry like I really really wanted to, instead I choose to again trust that God had a great plan for me. We had continued to call the hospital to ask if they had a bed for me but they kept telling us no.
11:30pm: Nick and I had just settled into bed realizing that we would not be having a baby that evening. We both closed our eyes, and that's when the phone rang. "We have a bed and are waiting for you." We looked at each other and knew... this was it! We were about to become a family of 3! We loaded up the car, looked at the clock and it was exactly midnight! This was going to be such a fun adventure!
October 28th, 2010
We arrived at the hospital, signed some papers and sat in the waiting room. I had just said to Nick, are you praying for my nurse? He said yes and I agreed that I was too. Just then a woman walked out and called my name. She was wearing an extremely colorful scrub hat. She introduced herself as Stephanie my nurse. I said "I've been praying for you!" She sort of looked at me, and I said "ya right in that chair I was praying that I would have a wonderful/fun nurse and by the looks of your hat, God answered my prayers." She laughed and continued to be absolutely as amazing as I suspected God would give to me. She walked me slowly through everything and explained everything, which is just what I wanted and prayed for.
2am: As Stephanie checked my cervix she got a huge smile on her face and said "guess how many cm you are at?" I said I dunno?? She said "3.5!" I couldn't have been more excited!!! She then went on to say "You're body is made for labor!" Wow it was like she told me I won the lottery!! She placed a medicine called Cervidill on my cervix which was suppose to thin it out. It can also cause mild contractions, which it did. Nick slept, I watched t.v... I was WAY to excited to sleep. I wanted to take in the whole experience!!!
5:30am: Stephanie took out the medicine, checked my cervix and also striped my membranes for the 2nd time. For those of you that don't know what that is, I'll save you and not tell you :) She came back with Pitocin at 6am and put it in my IV. I had heard horror stories about this and since I was already having pretty strong contractions without the pitocin I didn't know what to expect. Well it was better than I could have ever imagine. It completely calmed me down, I know that sounds strange but my contractions got more consistent and stronger but less painful. It's actually really hard to describe. I was determined not to have an epidural and thus far I was doing great! I was breathing through my contractions, and literally felt on top of the world! I was going to meet my baby soon! :) Then... 8am rolled around.
(Shift change: During this time there was a shift change. I had asked Stephanie if she knew who my nurse was going to be, and she said she would go pick one out for me! :) She went and got the list of who was coming in that morning and she picked out Andrea to be my nurse. (I'm not sure if they are allowed to do this, but they did! It was fantastic!!) When I met Andrea I told her she had alot to live up to, because of how awesome Stephanie was. Of course I was joking, and she just laughed but I knew she was special too.)
8am: I knew they were going to break my water, but what I didn't know is what to expect from this. I kept asking and everyone told me, your contractions will get stronger but I was told "Its not like hell breaking loose or anything." So one of my doctor's co-workers came in and broke my water!.... And ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE! I started contraction after contraction after contraction... they wouldn't stop. I couldn't get a break. I was scared because of how much control I had over my contractions before and now I had nothing but screams of pain and anger! I was not mentally prepared to handle no breaks between contractions. I opted for an epidural at this point. The anesthesiologist came shortly after and kicked Nick and Staci out of the room. This normally 20 min. procedure took about 45 because my contractions would not slow and would not give me a break. Andrea was so wonderful the whole way through. I focused on a picture of her little girl in a ballerina outfit that she was wearing along with her badge. (how ironic this was my focal point and I had a little girl!) Anyway, they got it in and it was very much relief! They gave me a button to press to give me more, but I wanted to make sure I could still feel things. I could still move my legs, I couldn't really feel much but at least I still felt in control which was one of my major reasons I didn't the epidural in the first place.
10:45am: I told Andrea I was having a super sharp pain in my butt. By this point I had increased my epidural because the pain in my butt was so bad! Also, whatever medicine they were giving me caused my boobs to itch like CRAZY. So my only complaints where my butt was in excruciating pain and my boobs itched! haha!! When I told Andrea about my pain she said "is it because of your position?" I didn't know so I said it must be and then she asked, it is come in intervals, I said yes and she said "let me just check you." Well she checked me and said "Ok I'm going to call Dr. Cook and make sure it's ok for you to start pushing!!" O MY GOSH! I"M ALMOST THERE!!!!!
11:00am: Dr. Cook came in checked me again and agreed I should start pushing. He said lets have this baby in an hour. Staci then told me it took her 3 hours to push with her baby and I freaked! 3 HOURS?!?! My butt hurt so bad at this point 5 mins sounded too long. So I started pushing, and pushing my little heart out. I had a mirror placed so I could see progress and what a sight when I finally got to see dark hair! O my gosh, I could cry just thinking about it again. Slowly I was making progress and that's when Andrea told me I had a REALLY REALLY tight band and she thought I was going to need an episiotomy.
11:45: At this point I really didn't care what had to happen to get the baby out so I said fine... and she went to call Dr. Cook to come give that to me. Right before she left to make the call she said, if he does this the baby will be out in no time... that's when I started to scream! I now know what is meant by the "ring of fire" but only on my right side :) Andrea left the room, and I continued to scream!!
11:49am:Andrea comes back in the room tells me Dr. Cook is in the building and on his way to my room. Then her eyes got real big! She said "Nick... push the call button! Staci, open the door and yell that we need some help!" I threw my head back in pain, Andrea was trying to put my feet in the stirrups and get me to scoot forward. A rush of about 10-15 people flooded my room and then I felt the most incredible feeling in the whole world!! A baby being born!
11:52am: They put her on my chest and Nick tells me it's a girl. By this point I'm hysterically crying (as I am again writing this.) Everything is happening so fast and they take her away (remind you, I think only one person in my room is in a gown because it all happened so fast.) People kept commenting on how this never happens with 1st time moms and on an on. I could care less what they are saying and proceed to ask every single one of them "Are you sure it's a girl?" "You are sure?" "You saw her parts, she's a girl?" They all reassured me it was true! My baby boy I had been expecting was instead the most beautiful girl on the face of this world. Her face so chubby, her fingers so long and her hair so dark! She is absolute perfection!
One week old, and finally finishing this entry!!
I could cry just by telling you just how in love with her I am. Breastfeeding has proven to be quite the challenge, and the hormone experience is interesting as well. There are little things that no one tells you about before you deliver. Maybe it's alittle kept secret that noone wants to tell you about, but it's scary as you go through these times. Nick has been more wonderful than I could have ever imagined, and handles my random crying fits well. My mom and dad... I can't even begin to explain how amazing it has been to have them here. They cook, clean, take the baby when she won't stop crying, deal with dinners that I cry all the way through for no reason, make me laugh when I'm at my wits ends with feeding her and just overall have been so so so helpful. I can't believe they are going to leave us here on Saturday morning. Mom keeps saying that she is going to cry all the way home, and I think i'll probably join her. I just can't believe we live so far away.
Other than that Jessa has been receiving so many gifts, I feel like it's Christmas every day. It will be so much fun to dress her up in all the cute things she has been receiving... but thank you notes might take longer going out than I would like. It's really crazy how the girl sleeps ALLLLLLL the stink'n time, yet for some reason i can't find time to even respond to a text message.
I have so much I would like to say, but it's hard to get it all out. Please don't be offended if I don't respond to text, calls or emails. I'll try really hard but sometimes it just doesn't happen... that doesn't mean I don't enjoy reading them all and very much appreciate the thought :) I hope to shortly get into a routine, and regain my awareness of days and nights :)
I'm not sure there are words to describe it. It's over and you just want to walk around telling everyone about it. Probably because you are so proud of yourself for enduring such torture or maybe it's because you want to show off the creation YOU made because they are the most adorable thing you have ever seen in your life, but realistically it's because God created Child birth to be the most beautiful thing.
So because this is my blog, and I make the rules around here :) I'm going to share with you Jessalynn Jean's Birth Story.
Oct. 27th, 2010
2pm: I had spent the last few days worrying about my doctor wanting to induce my labor. I really had my heart set on doing things naturally but I really wanted to trust that God had a magnificent plan for me. So I talked myself into being really excited to go into the hospital at 8pm.... That's just when I received a call. The hospital called and told me they had to room for me and that they couldn't get me a time when they would induce me. I'm not sure if it was the hormones or what, but I must say I handled the situation pretty well. I didn't get upset and cry like I really really wanted to, instead I choose to again trust that God had a great plan for me. We had continued to call the hospital to ask if they had a bed for me but they kept telling us no.
11:30pm: Nick and I had just settled into bed realizing that we would not be having a baby that evening. We both closed our eyes, and that's when the phone rang. "We have a bed and are waiting for you." We looked at each other and knew... this was it! We were about to become a family of 3! We loaded up the car, looked at the clock and it was exactly midnight! This was going to be such a fun adventure!
October 28th, 2010
We arrived at the hospital, signed some papers and sat in the waiting room. I had just said to Nick, are you praying for my nurse? He said yes and I agreed that I was too. Just then a woman walked out and called my name. She was wearing an extremely colorful scrub hat. She introduced herself as Stephanie my nurse. I said "I've been praying for you!" She sort of looked at me, and I said "ya right in that chair I was praying that I would have a wonderful/fun nurse and by the looks of your hat, God answered my prayers." She laughed and continued to be absolutely as amazing as I suspected God would give to me. She walked me slowly through everything and explained everything, which is just what I wanted and prayed for.
2am: As Stephanie checked my cervix she got a huge smile on her face and said "guess how many cm you are at?" I said I dunno?? She said "3.5!" I couldn't have been more excited!!! She then went on to say "You're body is made for labor!" Wow it was like she told me I won the lottery!! She placed a medicine called Cervidill on my cervix which was suppose to thin it out. It can also cause mild contractions, which it did. Nick slept, I watched t.v... I was WAY to excited to sleep. I wanted to take in the whole experience!!!
5:30am: Stephanie took out the medicine, checked my cervix and also striped my membranes for the 2nd time. For those of you that don't know what that is, I'll save you and not tell you :) She came back with Pitocin at 6am and put it in my IV. I had heard horror stories about this and since I was already having pretty strong contractions without the pitocin I didn't know what to expect. Well it was better than I could have ever imagine. It completely calmed me down, I know that sounds strange but my contractions got more consistent and stronger but less painful. It's actually really hard to describe. I was determined not to have an epidural and thus far I was doing great! I was breathing through my contractions, and literally felt on top of the world! I was going to meet my baby soon! :) Then... 8am rolled around.
(Shift change: During this time there was a shift change. I had asked Stephanie if she knew who my nurse was going to be, and she said she would go pick one out for me! :) She went and got the list of who was coming in that morning and she picked out Andrea to be my nurse. (I'm not sure if they are allowed to do this, but they did! It was fantastic!!) When I met Andrea I told her she had alot to live up to, because of how awesome Stephanie was. Of course I was joking, and she just laughed but I knew she was special too.)
8am: I knew they were going to break my water, but what I didn't know is what to expect from this. I kept asking and everyone told me, your contractions will get stronger but I was told "Its not like hell breaking loose or anything." So one of my doctor's co-workers came in and broke my water!.... And ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE! I started contraction after contraction after contraction... they wouldn't stop. I couldn't get a break. I was scared because of how much control I had over my contractions before and now I had nothing but screams of pain and anger! I was not mentally prepared to handle no breaks between contractions. I opted for an epidural at this point. The anesthesiologist came shortly after and kicked Nick and Staci out of the room. This normally 20 min. procedure took about 45 because my contractions would not slow and would not give me a break. Andrea was so wonderful the whole way through. I focused on a picture of her little girl in a ballerina outfit that she was wearing along with her badge. (how ironic this was my focal point and I had a little girl!) Anyway, they got it in and it was very much relief! They gave me a button to press to give me more, but I wanted to make sure I could still feel things. I could still move my legs, I couldn't really feel much but at least I still felt in control which was one of my major reasons I didn't the epidural in the first place.
10:45am: I told Andrea I was having a super sharp pain in my butt. By this point I had increased my epidural because the pain in my butt was so bad! Also, whatever medicine they were giving me caused my boobs to itch like CRAZY. So my only complaints where my butt was in excruciating pain and my boobs itched! haha!! When I told Andrea about my pain she said "is it because of your position?" I didn't know so I said it must be and then she asked, it is come in intervals, I said yes and she said "let me just check you." Well she checked me and said "Ok I'm going to call Dr. Cook and make sure it's ok for you to start pushing!!" O MY GOSH! I"M ALMOST THERE!!!!!
11:00am: Dr. Cook came in checked me again and agreed I should start pushing. He said lets have this baby in an hour. Staci then told me it took her 3 hours to push with her baby and I freaked! 3 HOURS?!?! My butt hurt so bad at this point 5 mins sounded too long. So I started pushing, and pushing my little heart out. I had a mirror placed so I could see progress and what a sight when I finally got to see dark hair! O my gosh, I could cry just thinking about it again. Slowly I was making progress and that's when Andrea told me I had a REALLY REALLY tight band and she thought I was going to need an episiotomy.
11:45: At this point I really didn't care what had to happen to get the baby out so I said fine... and she went to call Dr. Cook to come give that to me. Right before she left to make the call she said, if he does this the baby will be out in no time... that's when I started to scream! I now know what is meant by the "ring of fire" but only on my right side :) Andrea left the room, and I continued to scream!!
11:49am:Andrea comes back in the room tells me Dr. Cook is in the building and on his way to my room. Then her eyes got real big! She said "Nick... push the call button! Staci, open the door and yell that we need some help!" I threw my head back in pain, Andrea was trying to put my feet in the stirrups and get me to scoot forward. A rush of about 10-15 people flooded my room and then I felt the most incredible feeling in the whole world!! A baby being born!
11:52am: They put her on my chest and Nick tells me it's a girl. By this point I'm hysterically crying (as I am again writing this.) Everything is happening so fast and they take her away (remind you, I think only one person in my room is in a gown because it all happened so fast.) People kept commenting on how this never happens with 1st time moms and on an on. I could care less what they are saying and proceed to ask every single one of them "Are you sure it's a girl?" "You are sure?" "You saw her parts, she's a girl?" They all reassured me it was true! My baby boy I had been expecting was instead the most beautiful girl on the face of this world. Her face so chubby, her fingers so long and her hair so dark! She is absolute perfection!
One week old, and finally finishing this entry!!
I could cry just by telling you just how in love with her I am. Breastfeeding has proven to be quite the challenge, and the hormone experience is interesting as well. There are little things that no one tells you about before you deliver. Maybe it's alittle kept secret that noone wants to tell you about, but it's scary as you go through these times. Nick has been more wonderful than I could have ever imagined, and handles my random crying fits well. My mom and dad... I can't even begin to explain how amazing it has been to have them here. They cook, clean, take the baby when she won't stop crying, deal with dinners that I cry all the way through for no reason, make me laugh when I'm at my wits ends with feeding her and just overall have been so so so helpful. I can't believe they are going to leave us here on Saturday morning. Mom keeps saying that she is going to cry all the way home, and I think i'll probably join her. I just can't believe we live so far away.
Other than that Jessa has been receiving so many gifts, I feel like it's Christmas every day. It will be so much fun to dress her up in all the cute things she has been receiving... but thank you notes might take longer going out than I would like. It's really crazy how the girl sleeps ALLLLLLL the stink'n time, yet for some reason i can't find time to even respond to a text message.
I have so much I would like to say, but it's hard to get it all out. Please don't be offended if I don't respond to text, calls or emails. I'll try really hard but sometimes it just doesn't happen... that doesn't mean I don't enjoy reading them all and very much appreciate the thought :) I hope to shortly get into a routine, and regain my awareness of days and nights :)
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
You know your ready...
When you get completely winded, PO'd, and violent after trying to put on shoes.
Yes... I believe I'm ready to have my body back. Thank you baby, you are officially done cooking, now get out!
Yes... I believe I'm ready to have my body back. Thank you baby, you are officially done cooking, now get out!
What to do?!?!
What in the world do you do on one of your last days as a single person? I suppose I'll always be a "single" person but for the last time for the next 18++ years I only have one person to think about during the day, and that's ME! (of course I think about Nick but he's at work ;)
I'm just overwhelmed at the thought of what to do? Do I go shopping? Do I got sit at the park and enjoy the quiet? Do I read a book? Do I go to the bathroom with the door shut? Do I go out an spend a ridiculous amount of money? Do I spend a large amount of time getting ready and putting on makeup? I"M GOING TO BE A MOM!
I'm been laughing an extreme amount in the last 48 hours. I'm not sure what other reaction to have. I've known for about the last month I could have a kid at any point, but it wasn't real until.... I have a date set? I'm still not super keen on the idea of picking my child's birthday but, it is what it is! And, holy smokes... I'm going to have a baby! A real live baby to hold and kiss and snuggle with. When I was little I played with baby dolls all the time. Feeding them and changing them and making them talk (haha) and now I will have my own real life baby doll.
This is all just crazy and I'm probably not making any sense. I'm so excited, scared, overwhelmed, in disbelief, shocked, happy, nervous, ecstatic, worried, maybe every emotion possible, I think I'm feeling it. It's for sure an indescribable feeling. Wow.
Here's to my new life chapter...
I'm just overwhelmed at the thought of what to do? Do I go shopping? Do I got sit at the park and enjoy the quiet? Do I read a book? Do I go to the bathroom with the door shut? Do I go out an spend a ridiculous amount of money? Do I spend a large amount of time getting ready and putting on makeup? I"M GOING TO BE A MOM!
I'm been laughing an extreme amount in the last 48 hours. I'm not sure what other reaction to have. I've known for about the last month I could have a kid at any point, but it wasn't real until.... I have a date set? I'm still not super keen on the idea of picking my child's birthday but, it is what it is! And, holy smokes... I'm going to have a baby! A real live baby to hold and kiss and snuggle with. When I was little I played with baby dolls all the time. Feeding them and changing them and making them talk (haha) and now I will have my own real life baby doll.
This is all just crazy and I'm probably not making any sense. I'm so excited, scared, overwhelmed, in disbelief, shocked, happy, nervous, ecstatic, worried, maybe every emotion possible, I think I'm feeling it. It's for sure an indescribable feeling. Wow.
Here's to my new life chapter...
Monday, October 25, 2010
What Joy
I'm a posting fool these days. I just can't help it! :)
I wanted to share my favorite song at the moment... it's pretty awesome, definitely check it out!
(it's a YouTube)
CLICK HERE!
It's called "What Joy" by Generation Church
And the lyrics:
What Joy
Artist: Generation Church
Album: All Things New
You made the heavens and the earth
The sea and all that is in it
Your promises remain
You give justice to the weak
You care for the widow and orphan
Forevermore You reign
What joy, what joy for those whose hope is in the name of the Lord
What peace, what peace for those whose comfort is
Is Him alone
What joy, what joy for those whose hope is in the name of the Lord
What peace, what peace for those whose comfort is
Is Him alone
You made the heavens and the earth
The sea and all that is in it
Your promises remain
You give justice to the weak
You care for the widow and orphan
Forevermore You reign
What joy, what joy for those whose hope is in the name of the Lord
What peace, what peace for those whose comfort is
Is Him alone
What joy, what joy for those whose hope is in the name of the Lord
What peace, what peace for those whose comfort is
Is Him alone
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
We sing, we sing, we sing
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, forever we will sing
Hallelujah, praises to the King
Hallelujah, forever we will sing
Hallelujah, praises to the King
I wanted to share my favorite song at the moment... it's pretty awesome, definitely check it out!
(it's a YouTube)
CLICK HERE!
It's called "What Joy" by Generation Church
And the lyrics:
What Joy
Artist: Generation Church
Album: All Things New
You made the heavens and the earth
The sea and all that is in it
Your promises remain
You give justice to the weak
You care for the widow and orphan
Forevermore You reign
What joy, what joy for those whose hope is in the name of the Lord
What peace, what peace for those whose comfort is
Is Him alone
What joy, what joy for those whose hope is in the name of the Lord
What peace, what peace for those whose comfort is
Is Him alone
You made the heavens and the earth
The sea and all that is in it
Your promises remain
You give justice to the weak
You care for the widow and orphan
Forevermore You reign
What joy, what joy for those whose hope is in the name of the Lord
What peace, what peace for those whose comfort is
Is Him alone
What joy, what joy for those whose hope is in the name of the Lord
What peace, what peace for those whose comfort is
Is Him alone
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
We sing, we sing, we sing
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, forever we will sing
Hallelujah, praises to the King
Hallelujah, forever we will sing
Hallelujah, praises to the King
Sunday, October 24, 2010
More Pictures :)
I'm toooooo excited to hold it in. I just got my maternity shots back, and I am absolutely in love with them!! I never once have liked the way I have looked during this pregnancy, but finally a captured moment or two... or three, or four... where I actually like what I see! These are so great.
http://www.stacigwinnphotography.com
Go to the "Client" tab at the top and enter the password: "Dayna" making sure the D is a capital! :)
Yay!
http://www.stacigwinnphotography.com
Go to the "Client" tab at the top and enter the password: "Dayna" making sure the D is a capital! :)
Yay!
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