Heaven You Can Hold

"Heaven You Can Hold" was written inside the card my Dad gave to us and I think it's just a perfect description of children.

Before I get in to our first week as a family of five there are a couple of people that I owe a big thank you to.

First, thank you, thank you, thank you to my aunt Minda. Minda came to the house the night I went in to labor. This is not the first time Minda has come to the rescue and will probably not be the last. No other person in our lives has given more of their time than her. Since time is probably the number one thing we all covet it means more to me than anything else.

If I didn't have Minda to rely on I really don't know what I would do. With my family all living out of town she has been my rock and for that I am truly grateful. I would like to add that true giving is when you give without an expectation of "payback." This is a rare quality that Minda possesses and someday, I swear, I will repay her somehow.

Also, thank you to Clare for coming to the hospital at 2:00 in the morning to videotape Laila's birth. The footage is precious to me.

A few more thank yous go to my Mom and Rick for sending the Edible Arrangement! Yum!

Our neighbor, Anita, for bringing dinner over on Tuesday!

Thank you, Dad, for coming down for the weekend and being the perfect Grandpa.

And thank you to Ronnie and Clare for coming over yesterday and feeding us delicious gourmet food all.day.long.

Oh, and I can't forget Melissa who drug her whole family over here last night to meet Laila after a full week in Floriday, a 3 hour plane ride and 1 hour in the parking garage trying to remember where they parked their car. Then again, there is a reason she is my very best friend.

Now, on to week one of being a mother of three.

Not much to report on since Bill was home all week to lighten the load. Everyone is doing great! Laila had one rough night after I ate some spicy Jumbalaya for dinner (how quickly we forget the rules of breastfeeding).

Cecelia has been very good with the baby - our little "mother hen." She wants to hold Laila all the time and kiss her and hug her and sing to her. She is also my little helper - fetching a diaper, blanket, or whatever else I might need.

Most people have been asking about Delaney and how she's handling the new addition. Truth be told she has been rather unaffected by the whole thing. She tells Laila how "tute" (cute) she is and gives her a kiss and then is on her merry way. Delaney is such a good girl I really shouldn't have expected anything different.

Bill was wonder Dad this week. Taking the girls with him to the grocery store, etc. This is no easy task and I'm proud of him for stepping up to the plate. He also had both the girls out at the pool every chance they could get. And when the other two are taken care of he scoops up his youngest Angel to just hold her and admire his handywork.

As for me. I too am feeling good and adjusting to my new role as a mother of three. This week will be a new challenge since I am on my own, but I think I am up for it.

Wish me luck and I will update with anything new and exciting.

The Short and Sweet Version

A brief play-by-play of Laila's labor and delivery is as follows:

Saturday
5:30 p.m.: The four of us were heading over to a BBQ at our friends Amy and Brad's house. As we made some stops on the way there I noticed I was having some contractions. I mentioned it to Bill but didn't want to get my hopes up in case they went away.

8:30 p.m.: Decided to leave the BBQ and head home. Contractions were mild and coming every 15 minutes or so while we were there. I still didn't think too much of it at the time.

9:00 p.m.: The four of us went for a short walk before putting the girls to bed. I was trying to either A) get things moving or B) decide I was in false labor - I figured the walk would be a good indicator.

11:30 p.m.: My aunt arrived at the house to spend the night "just in case". My contractions after the walk were closer to 5-10 minutes apart. I was STILL not sure if I was actually in labor as the contractions were not getting that much more intense.

12:30 p.m.: My aunt went to bed.

12:45 p.m.: I couldn't take the suspense any longer and woke Bill up (who I sent to bed at 10:00) to take me to the hospital just to see if anything was actually happening.

The minute we hit the garage to get in the car - major contraction. All of a sudden, bam, bam, bam - one after another.
I can't tell you how many contractions I had simply from the parking lot up to the maternity ward - they were constant and extremely painful.

1:15 a.m.: After checking in the nurse checked me. 6 cm dialated. Wow.

25 minutes later the anesthesiologist arrives. I'm 8 cm dialated. Basically, too far along for an epidural.

Insert wild, sweating, and screaming woman in intense and excruciating labor here. Not kidding one bit. It was hell on earth.

The anesthesiologist did manage to get me a narcotic to ease the pain, though, thank God!!

By the time he was done with me I was fully dialted and ready to deliver.
Seriously, probably less than an hour after we had arrived. It went VERY fast.

2:28a.m.: LAILA IS BORN!!

I would like to say that I do not like "natural" labor. I relate my experience to a cat delivering a litter - writhing in pain, eyes screwed shut, assuming death is my only option because my body is not equipped to handle the pain.

The only thing that makes it all worth it is, of course, the beautiful and exquisite outcome.

Our baby is here. She's perfect.

I am no longer pregnant and feel like a million bucks.

Thank God it's all over.

She's Here!!!

Laila Beth Heer

July 20, 2008

2:28 a.m.

7 pounds, 1 ounce

20 inches

Perfect.

Prayers, Please.

***Update to the update***
Literally, 30 seconds after I posted the previous update my Mom called to say the breathing tube was out!! Yippee!! They are reintroducing pain medication (a big relief, I'm sure!). His voice is hoarse, but he is seeing visitors and doing well.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

***Update 7/16/08***
Rick's blood pressure has not been able to get under control. Because of this, they have not been able to wake him up since his surgery yesterday. He is not allowed pain medication or muscle relaxers until they have the breathing tube out and he is able to breathe on his own. His is in what would be compared to as a drug induced coma - although he is aware of what's going on around him, to a certain degree.
My Mom is under a extremely large amount of stress and I ask that you continue to send prayers their way.
Again, I will update you when I know more.


***Update***
My Mom called before 11:00 to say that the surgery was complete!! (We thought it would take much longer).
Rick did really well, his valve is in place and the rest of his heart looked good and didn't seem to need any more attention.
He will be in 24 hour recovery (Mom is probably just now being let in to see him).
They hope to have him home by Saturday. David (my brother) will fly in Friday to be his caretaker for a week.
Continue to keep him in your prayers through his recovery.
Blessings!!


My step Dad, Rick, is having open heart surgery as we speak. If you aren't on the up and up on his diagnosis I posted a while back about his heart problems.
Today, Rick is getting a heart valve replaced. My Mom just called to let me know that they just put him on the "lung machine" that will breathe for him during the surgery.
I believe he is in good hands and will come through this with no problems.
Pray for him today, for me.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart and I will post again as I know more.

"We're the Same"

To quote my doctor this morning.



My due date is July 22nd. During my routine 5 month ultrasound the technician said baby's measurements put her in around July 18th. I have been holding on the 18th because, even though it's a differenc of only 4 days, it sounded more like mid- July vs. end of July.

Either way you look at it, I am due in a week.

I am obviously not going to have this baby early since the way I see it, she is due now anyway.

I will go in again next Monday and have an ultrasound to make sure there is still enough fluid and that baby girl is doing all right.

After that appointment it is up to me if I want to schedule an induction or not.

My doctor said she'd give me a week past my due date to go on my own so that's my plan.

Having done things both ways - induced with Cecelia and on my own with Delaney - I would MUCH prefer to go in to labor on my own.



So, for now, I am still just waiting. I am crampy, uncomfortable, can't eat, can't sleep, crying at the drop of a hat, waiting.

Wish me luck, folks.

Tips, Information and Misc. Take 2

"In the summer, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt"
Margaret Atwood

For those of who that don't let your kids (or their clothes) get dirty, I just don't get you. At all.

At any rate, here is another issue of "A.J.'s finds in various magazines that seem helpful or interesting."

Receipe:
Texas Guacamole:
3 ripe avocadoes
1 Tbsp. grated white onion
1 1/2 Tbsp. picante sauce
Squeeze of fresh lemon
Pinch of garlic salt.

Store bought goodie:
Skinny Dippers. Chocolate pops at only 80 calories - woohoo!
(you can even get half chocolate/half mint).

Tips:
Stick your kids popsicle stick through a coffee filter so when it drips it drips on to the filter. Genious.

Make your own play-doh:
1 cup flour
1 cup warm water
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon oil
1/4 cup salt
food coloring

*credit card for bee stings *stick of gum for indigestion *honey and lemon juice for a sore throat *chamomile for colic * baking soda for bug bites *cayenne pepper for nosebleeds *duct tape for warts *bubble wand for anxiety *blow-dryer for swimmer's ear *contact lens solution for congestion (over 6 months old) *fresh ginger for car sickness (2 and older)*cucumber for mild swelling

Learning to write:
Start with: E,F,H,I,L,T
Second: B,C,K,G,J,O.P,Q,S,U
Third: A,K,M,N,R,V,W,X,Y,Z

Travel:
Airplane travel w/out a carseat!
CARES - totally portable, FAA approved seat belt that straps onto the back of the airplane seat.
www.kidsflysafe.com

www.luggagefree.com. 'Nough said.

New car seat rule:
It's 5 times safer for your 1-year-old to ride facing backwords. AAP recommends to keep a child rear facing until she's at least 1 AND 20 pounds. Experts now are recommending you keep your toddler's convertible car seat facing backward until she reaches the seat's height and weight limits for the rear position (usually 36 inches and 30-35 pounds.)

Random:
Because of breathing problems associated with c-section deliveries, it is now being recommended women wait until they are atleast 39 weeks before delivery.

Lastly (and I LOVE this one):
That flashy flat-screen TV with the bargain price tag might not seem like such a steal after you receive your electric bill. It costs about $92/year to operate a 42 inch plasma screen for 5 hours a day, compared to only $15 to run a conventional 32 inch TV set for the same amount of time.
Still want it:
Go with a smaller screen or LCD instead of plasma.

4th of July Weekend

Wow. Where to start!
Thursday night the four of us went to the Taste of MN for food, live music (REO Speedwagon, baby!!) and fireworks. Don't ask me how we managed but somehow we spent 5 hours there. And that was before we spent 45 minutes trying to get out of the parking garage.
Friday morning we dressed the girls up in their cutest red, white and blue (should've taken pictures, duh) and headed to the park for the 4th of July parade. We packed lunches and hung out with some family afterwords.
Saturday our friends came over to spend the day swimming with us. We spent all day BBQ-ing and swimming. By Saturday night we were completely water logged, sunburned and plain old worn out.
Sunday we did a "little" housecleaning, more swimming and then to Chuck E. Cheese's to meet up with Bill's old football buddies, their wives, and all their kids! I like to get together with them because every time we do there has been a wedding, a move or a new addition to someone's family.

I feel that this was one of the more fun and relaxing 4th of July's we've had. Spending so much time together as a family is really so great. As I have reflected on the weekend I have to say that, again, I am so proud of how we are growing so well together.
I know I complain somewhat about the kids causing me stress, but the truth is I have the best kids on the planet.
Cecelia has been beyond helpful to me lately. If I ask her to get something for me, or help out her sister she does it. Even though she is a willful child, she is also gentle and kind. Cecelia never intentionally hurts people or their feelings. She is loving and nurturing. I can't tell you how much I love her.
Delaney continues to be our little comedian. Lately I've been referring to it as "middle child syndrom." Seriously, come hang out at our house for a day and you will know what I'm talking about. She is still Mama's little girl, but having Dad around for the long weekend has forced me to share her cuddles and kisses with him. I truly, truly hope she never outgrows being a snuggly child. Even just now before laying her down for nap she gave me a big bear hug, kissed both my cheeks and said "luh you mama." How can I not be obsessively in love with her?
And as for baby number three? Well, doc said this morning that there is no progress from last week. Baby seems comfortable and is still moving around quite a bit. Even though I can't wait to have her here I feel unusually OK today knowing it won't happen anytime soon. She will come when she is ready. I can't wait to tell her how much I love her, too.

I hope you all had a safe and fun holiday weekend. It's hard to believe we're full swing in to summer now.

Bummer?

I had contractions last night for over an hour from around 3:00am to 4:00am.....then they stopped.
Even though they were pretty decent contractions (fairly painful and kept me wide awake) I didn't feel the urgency to get in the tub or take a shower. In my mind I knew it was too early.
Lucky for me, now I can make my hair appointment tonight.
Although part of me was getting a little excited, another part of me wasn't quite ready last night.
I'll tell you what, though, laying there thinking about my plan of action I have another list of "to do's" today for when the time really does come.