Jaiden's Birth Story

A cab arrived for Jaimie and I at about 7:15 pm on Thursday, January 8^th. After saying our goodbyes to the boys and Luna, we headed to Alegent Health Midlands Hospital and arrived around 7:45 pm. As I started doing paperwork, our nurse, Connie, put in an IV for later use.

Connie checked my cervix at about 8:40 pm. I was still only 1.5-2 cm dilated, but I was 60% effaced! The baby was still high, but the cervix was feeling soft. Five minutes later, Connie came back in with the “blue pill” …actually, it’s not blue, but that’s a Matrix reference because by taking it I was opening up a whole new world to myself. =D The pill was Cytotek to help soften my cervix more.

By 9:30 pm, my contractions were about 4 minutes apart and lasted for a minute. At this point they only felt like mild period cramps … nothing I hadn’t felt before! At 10:15 pm, the contractions were about 3 minutes apart and still felt the same pain-wise.

Nurse Connie brought me a sleeping pill just before midnight so I could get some rest. She came in a little after 1 am to check my cervix and I was 2 cm dilated and she pronounced I’d entered ‘active labor’. My Group B Strep antibiotics were started and Connie predicted I would have Jaiden by 2:30/3:00 in the afternoon! My antibiotics were recalibrated about 15 minutes later because it *really* hurt my arm and hand. That’s something they don’t necessarily mention …Group B Strep antibiotics hurt!

Just after 2 am, I got another Cytotek pill. When I went to the bathroom, I noticed a light bloody discharge, so things were definitely progressing! Two hours later I was still only 2-3 cm dilated, but at 5:45 am when I went potty again, the bleeding was a bit heavier.

I got to eat breakfast around 7:45 am. My sleep was not very solid since they kept waking me up to poke and prod at me … but I was too excited anyway! At 8 am the day-shift nurse, Sue, started me on what Jaimie likes to call “Go Juice!” aka Pitocin. I was 3 cm dilated when they started Pitocin in my IV. Not even half an hour later my contractions were MUCH stronger. Dr. Gina came by an hour later to check on me, and while she was there she broke my water. Talk about getting wet! Whoo!

Because the contractions were getting a lot stronger and I was moving around more trying to find a good “spot” to deal with the pain, my belt that monitored the baby’s heartbeat kept losing it. So at about 10:15, Nurse Sue put a scalp electrode monitor on the baby’s head. His heartbeat was still very strong! =D

By this time the contractions were super painful. The best way I can describe the pain was that it was very intense and sharp. I opted to get the epidural and we started prepping for that with a bag of fluids at 10:35 am. By 11:30, Dr. Rhogan came in and had my epidural in and set! Wow …it *immediately* took the edge off the contractions. That sharpness became dull …then all the pain was gone! My legs eventually became ‘dead’ and I could really only move my feet. I had no control over my left leg and very little over my right … but I couldn’t feel any pain, so I took a well-needed nap after 12:30 pm!

Nurse Sue came in after 1 pm and checked my cervix (5 cm!) and put in a catheter. At 2:30 she returned and I was 7 cm, and when she checked on me again at 3:30 pm I was 10 cm and ready to push! However, we didn’t start the pushing till 5:45 pm. It took quite a while to get his head down, but they could eventually see the top of his head. For every set of pushes, I could get Jaiden out just a little bit, but when I stopped his head would scoot back to where it was. I could feel when my contractions were coming … there was this feeling of pressure on my bottom, but not one drop of pain. Nurse Sue had me try a few different techniques for pushing. Finally, when Dr. Gina came in, they set me up with an oxygen mask and had me do sets of 4 pushes instead of 3 like I had been doing. That 4^th push is what helped a lot.

After an hour and a half of pushing, Jaiden finally made his way into the world. Dr. Gina had made a small cut to help get his big pumpkin head out, but again, I didn’t feel any pain at all … even when I pushed his head, then shoulders and body out. Dr. Rhogan’s epidural rocked!!

Dr. Gina cleaned him up some and he started crying. I can’t tell you how wonderful that moment was. That was my baby she was holding … a baby I just pushed out of me … that I had carried for 9 months! OMG! =D

She clamped off the umbilical cord and handed the scissors to Jaimie. The proud papa freed his son and they set him on my chest while Dr. Gina finished working on me. Everything else went smoothly … no complications whatsoever, and we are very thankful for that!

I would most like to thank Jaimie for all his love and support throughout the entire pregnancy and the labor (and now thru parenthood!). He may say he didn’t do anything, but I am here to tell you that I could not have done it without him. He is my rock and I love him with all my heart!!

So now, the journey really begins. I’m ready for the ride … how ‘bout you?

Who Knew...

...that the cable company actually wants payment for their services! ^.^

Well, we knew that ...but in order for us to have some sort of Christmas, something had to be "let go" and that just happened to be our cable bill ... phone, internet, and TV.

Unfortunately, we're not well off or living comfortably ... each month is a struggle, but we always make it work out and find a way thru. Jaimie and I are really starting to think there's someone watching out for us and helping us through these tough times until I can get my daycare going in February.

If anything, we know we have each other. Love may not keep a roof over our head, but it definitely helps us figure out *how* to keep that roof over our heads! They say finances is one of the top things that can tear a married couple apart. Well, so far, the "bumps in the road" have only made us stronger!

And, truthfully, two weeks without TV and internet isn't so bad ... I actually get things done around the house instead of sitting here on my bum typing away at the keys. And, I got a few books read! I usually get too lazy for that when the idiot box is around. =D And not having the phone ringing off the hook for Miah is nice ... I swear, last night when the phone came back on, the phone rang three times within 15 minutes. How did his friends find out so fast?! lol

So hooray for being unplugged ... even if it was only two weeks. I will admit I did miss the internet very much ... especially now that it has its new-found use of chatting with family in Florida, California, and Jersey/PA via the webcam! But, at least it's back up for when Jaiden decides to make his appearance ... pictures and webcam galore!! Yay!!

Guessing Game!!

I added a link to a fun little guessing game over on Baby Ohz' blog. When you're there, just click on the banner in the post to take you to the game and enter your guesses for the baby's birthday, weight, and length. Baby Ohz *is* a boy ... so don't guess that one wrong!!

I'm going to close the game Saturday night (12/20), so get your guesses in quick! The winner will receive a restaurant or movie gift card ...so if you plan on guessing, please be willing to email me your address (if I don't already know it!).

Also, if you feel like 'sharing' the fun with other friends and family, please do so! The more guesses, the merrier! =D

Dilation, Effacement, and Station ... Oh My!

Before getting pregnant, the only times I heard things like, "She's 5cm dilated!" was if I was watching 'ER' or 'A Baby Story'. I really had no clue what exactly dilation, effacement, and station meant ... just that it was something that happened when you were in labor.

Well, after checking out nearly every book about pregnancy from the library, I finally learned what those three little words actually referred to. Now it's time to pass my knowledge on ... that way when I start talking about it more ('cause we're close to the end now, folks), you'll have an idea of what I mean! =D

For some reason, I picture my cervix kind of looking like one of those icing tubes that bakers use to decorate cakes. At the bottom is the small opening where you attach the nozzle and squeeze the icing out into pretty flowers or swirly shapes. But, if that icing tube was a cervix, the opening at the bottom would start to get bigger and thin out and you'd end up with an 8 lb blob of icing on your cake ...I mean, an 8 lb baby in your arms!! =D

Dilation is the process of the mouth of the cervix opening and widening, which allows your baby to pass through. This is measured in centimeters. For most of a pregnancy it should be 0 centimeters. In order to deliver a baby the cervix needs to stretch open to 10 centimeters.


Effacement is the shortening, or thinning, of the cervix before or during early labor. Prior to effacement, the cervix is like a long bottleneck, usually about four centimeters in length. As effacement takes place, the cervix then shortens, or effaces, pulling up into the uterus and becoming part of the lower uterine wall. Effacement may be measured in percentages, from zero percent (not effaced at all) to 100 percent, which indicates a paper-thin cervix.

And, lastly, station is how far down the baby's head has come into the pelvis. If the baby has dropped, but has not yet settled into the pelvis to begin his decent, it is measured in centimeters as a negative station. This negative measurement goes from -3 to -1. Once the baby has settled into the pelvis, but before he starts his descent to the birth canal, it is referred to as a zero (0) station. Once the baby starts heading towards the cervix, it is referred to as a positive station from 1 to 3.


So, aside from informing the masses, there really was a point to all this preggo-speak. I went to my doctor yesterday and she checked me for the first time. It definitely hurt and was uncomfortable, but she did say that she was purposefully picking a fight with my cervix and that it shouldn't be as bad the next time she does it.

According to Dr. Gina's measurements, I am a fingertip width dilated and 50% effaced. That means that something's been going on down there ... and I'm glad for it! =D Does it mean that Baby Ohz will be here this weekend? Probably not. Most first time moms deliver *after* their expected due dates ... so I foresee a January birth (tho I'm definitely not hoping for one! lol).

From now on, I see Dr. Gina each week until I give birth. She has given me the option to be checked or not based on if I'm stripped from the waist down or still fully dressed when she comes in the room. =D No matter how painful or uncomfortable having her shove her fingers up there may be, I'm way too curious to pass up the opportunity to know how my body is progressing!!

So, next week when I post my 'stats', you will all be fully knowledgeable of what exactly I'm talking about ... that is, if you took the time to read thru all that! lol

The First Snow

We woke up this morning to a nice little coating of snow over everything. This is the first real snow of the season that we've gotten, and I just love seeing white everywhere! I took a step outside on our back porch and snapped a couple pictures ... but this was well into the day, so some of the snow melted. But it's still mostly white out there! Yay snow!!



It really reminded me that Christmas is coming soon ... so I updated my player to Christmas songs! Yay!! Tomorrow we should be putting up our Christmas tree and some lights, so I'll update with pictures of that later! I love Christmas!!

Come with Me to the Land of Nerd

Before January 2006, when the Burning Crusade expansion came out for World of Warcraft, there was a big, scary dragon named Onyxia that resided in her lair in the Swamp of Sorrows. Large groups of adventurers would attempt to slay this dragon, but many were never seen again.

(Warning: This video is an animation of a 40-man raid's voicechat while attempting to kill Onyxia. There is adult language and themes, not to mention a lot of nerdy WoW-speak, so please don't watch if you're offended by such things! Don't forget to turn off the music from the player before clicking Play below!)

Since Burning Crusade, Onyxia was all but forgotten ... the new areas and challenges of Outlands called to many adventurers. There were still a bold few that would hunt Onyxia, but mostly she was left to gather dust in her cave of fiery doom.

A few nights ago, young Prince Vallangaard and his lovely Priestess Avanaar decided to pay a visit to Onyxia's Lair. Many moons before they had entered her lair, only to be thwarted by her guards. This was their chance for vengence...


Had they been fully prepared for the battle they would face, they would surely have beaten her. But she had a few unexpected tricks up her sleeve ...

After speaking with many locals, and some adventurers who had managed to escape Onyxia's claws, Prince Vallangaard decided to mount another attack against her Royal Dragoness. This time, however, he recruited the beautiful paladin, Alyssaria, and his elven son, Terrashard, to help battle the dragon.

With the help of Terrashard's ability to track Onyxia's movements, and the added damage and healing provided by Alyssaria, Prince Vallangaard and his companions battled long and hard. And in the end, they had their victory over the dreaded Onyxia!!!


And though they were rewarded greatly for slaying Onyxia, the greatest reward was working together as a family ...a three-man team... and beating down this feared and long-forgotten foe.

All of Stormwind now knows of their deed that day. Onyxia's head hangs at Stormwind's entrance, showing all who feared her that she is no more!

Three cheers for the Team Supreme!! =D

Baby Shower by Mail

Jaimie and I had our baby shower by mail on Sunday. We ended up doing it a day late because Jaimie had to work Saturday. Baby Ohz got a lot of wonderful stuff from all his family and we're very thankful for everything that was sent for him!!

Jaimie took lots of pictures, and once I'm done editing them, 'Grams' will be sending out the slideshow and I'll post them here too!!

I am thankful for ... (2008 Recap)

Thirty days of giving thanks this November. Here they are!

** a winning season for the Carolina Panthers! **

** my life with Jaimie **

** webcams to connect family across the country **

** a roof over my head and food on the table **

** hard-working men and women **

** photo-editing programs **

** a crazy, funny step-son **

** creative and inspiring people **

** my digital camera **

** late afternoon naps **

** awesome music to sing along to **

** Wednesday Mom and Gma talks **

** hair ties **

** warm baths **

** freaky fast, freaky good food **

** Palmer's Cocoa Butter Lotion **

** shoes that fit **

** library days **

** awesome friends **

** payment plans **

** water **

** watching football with my Jaimie **

** hot coffee on a cold morning **

** sleeping in till noon **

** a healthy baby **

** generous people **

** piles of orange and yellow leaves **

** cold weather **

** the two most amazing parents **

** my wonderful Jaimie **