Things I Like Thursdays: Friday Addition

I'm going to start a new segment on my blog.  Usually (or hopefully) it won't be a day late.  I've seen it on quite a few others and I like it.  Everyone seems to choose a different day of the week and make it a "Things I Love" day.  Well, I find "love" is used to freely and I don't want it to lose it's meaning so I'm doing "Things I Like".  Or maybe it will be "Things I Thoroughly Enjoy".  Not quite as catchy...anywho, here goes.

Yes.  Just Yes.   Like Nirvana?  Like Jo Go-Levitt?  Click that.

Speaking of Nirvana....Nevermind's 20th Anniversary Interview.  Wish I got Sirius radio

Awesome photographer, awesome blog.

Wondering what to do with all those paint chip/strips you have? 

Easy, cute hair style to try.  And while you're there check out her other posts.  I <3 reading that blog.

Pancake art!

Normally I think I'd like to have a few more links but that's all I'm gonna do for now.  I'm not sure if there is a proper way for linking to someone else's blog....if you know the etiquette please comment and let me know.  Thank you!

H-Bot Birth Story Part 2: The Birth

I'm trying to piece it all together.  It's quite a blur but I'm gonna do the best I can.

So sometime between 0300 and 0330pm we get to the special hospital entrance for women in labor and the 12 year old parking attendant looks scared and gets me a wheel chair.  As he's getting it I whisper to Hubs that I don't want a wheelchair, I feel like a tool.  He said no way.  It's probably a good thing I let them wheel me around because it would have taken at least twice as long for me to walk.  At the nurses station I say that I'm in labor.  I tell them my name and one lady is like "Oh, did I just talk to you on the phone?"  I nod.  She says "You look like you're in much more pain than you sound".  Uh...thanks?  I just nod again.  I have to pause before signing a paper because of a contraction.  They wheel me into triage to check me out.  The nurse gives me a gown and tells me to change.  She leaves and comes back like two minutes later.  I hadn't changed yet because I had a contraction while she was gone.  She's super nice and is all that's ok, take your time and leaves again.  When she comes back again I've changed and am laying on the table.  She checks me out and I'm 4 centimeters.  She says they're gonna get me a room.  I'm way relieved because I didn't want to go home.  

I think it was around this time that Hubs whispers to me that he forgot the camera in the car. I get all settled into my birthing room and the nurse asks if I'm going to want an epidural or anything.  I said I'd rather not and she told me to just ask for it if I decide I want it and she wasn't going to bug me about it.  That was the only time that meds were discussed before H was born, except that every nurse that came in was informed that I was "going natural".  ALL of them were all "wow.  I got an epidural right away" and "way to go" and stuff like that.  I didn't think it was a big deal but they all seemed impressed.  I wasn't doing it because epidurals are "bad", I just wanted to see if I could.  My mom didn't use drugs, I wanted to see if I was as tough as her.

By now there are nurses everywhere which I am grateful for since Hubs is running to the car to get the camera.  I asked one of the nurses, and this is a pretty accurate to what I really said, "Umm....if it's ok, can one of you hold my hand during this next contraction until my husband gets back?"  They're all "of course honey" and one grabs my hand.  Hubs must have ran because he wasn't gone for too long.  Or maybe he was.  My sense of time was all askew.  I got hooked up to a monitor for a few minutes but was allowed to go off of it so I could walk around and labor how I wanted.  We got left alone for the most part, which I enjoyed.  The next couple hours are a real blur.  I know I got in the jetted tub for a few minutes.  I know I threw up at least once.  I know I didn't make a whole lot of noise and I wasn't loud.  Not too much moaning and no screaming from this little lady.

A nurse came in to check me and asked if we needed anything.  Hubs asked for a birthing ball, since I wanted to try that. I can't remember how far along I was, like 6 1/2, but she said eventually they may want to break my water to move me along.  (At the time I was all oh but now that kind of irritates me.  But that was the only thing that hinted at a "horrible" hospital birth that you hear about from a lot of people.  Everyone else was content to let me do my own thing.)  She said she'd go get the ball and be right back.  As soon as she closed the door, literally AS SOON AS SHE CLOSED it I felt a HUGE gush between my legs.  I said "My water broke I need to push!"  Hubs madly stabs the call nurse button over and over saying "get in here!".  A nurse rushes in and says "Oh my!  Looks like it's time!"  and goes to get more nurses.  I was laying on my back, which is how a lot of births in the hospital go.  Hubs knew I didn't want that-I wanted to use the birthing bar and squat- and said we should try to move.  I said no I wasn't going anywhere.  The nurses said I needed to scoot down and I said no.  Between them and Hubs they got me scooted down so my feet could go in the stirrups.  They called my doctor but asked if I wanted to them to bring in the doctors that are there while my doctor was on her way.  I'm still not sure why 2 doctors were brought in but they were.  It wasn't like anything was going wrong.  I remember feeling slightly awkward between contractions.  The doctors were just sitting there chatting away and I swear swiveling their chairs like they were bored.  They'd look at my business and be all "oh, here comes another contraction, get ready to push" and then I'd push through it.  Hubs was FANTASTIC.  He did this counting thing with me that worked great to distract me from the pain.  H-Bot was getting close to shooting out.  My doctor got there.  I pushed like 3 more times and out he came at 0722pm.  He was put right on my chest and Hubs cut the cord.  The nurses took him to clean him up and check him out while I birthed the placenta.  My doctor put it in a bin and as she was picking it up and turning it over asked if I wanted to see it.  I said "I just did, that was enough".  Then I had to be stitched up because H-Bot came out with his hands in fists by his face.  I was asked if I wanted something to help with the pain of getting stitches and I said sure!  They put something in the iv (I was hooked up to saline) and then I felt gooooooooooood.  But it didn't last long and they kept having to give me shots of lidocaine down *there*.  I said something about next time I may just get an epidural and the nurses laughed and said "Oh listen to her!  Next time.  Most ladies say never again right after giving birth".  While my doctor was still sticking me up, the nurse had to punch my stomach.  It's to get the ute contracting to stop bleeding or something like that.  It made me pee.  My doctor was all "oh hey, she's peeing" and I got embarrassed and said "I'm sooo sorry.  I"m sure you're used to stuff like this though, right?" and she said it was no big deal.  I'm just glad that I didn't poop. 

We hung out a bit longer in the room after I got stitched up so they could make sure a room was ready for us and get a wheelchair for me.  They didn't want me to leave the birthing room until I went to the bathroom and said if I didn't go they'd have to give me a cathater.  The super nice nurse that checked me in triage took me to the toliet and had me try.  I kind of went, at least enough for her to show me how to use the peri bottle (which was not hard to figure out and I don't know why they have to show you...I guess to take away any dignity you have left...just kidding).  She tried helping me to get H-Bot to nurse but she said it may be too soon and if I need help to let the nurses know.  When the wheelchair came in she gave me and Andy each a hug and said she wishes she could go with us.  Then we were on our way to our room...

Holiday Hangover

Now don't get your panties in a bunch.  I'm not talking about a booze induced hangover.  I'm talking about the feeling the day after a holiday happens.  

First, here's what we did to celebrate the 4th.
 Hubs, H-Bot and I parked down in Ruston and rode our bikes to the Tacoma Freedom Fair.  

We stopped and listened to some music and found a decent spot for the airshow.

 

He didn't keep the shades on long but at least I got a picture before he threw them.

Bicycle Bill met up with us while the airshow was going on.  Since you could see it from everywhere on Ruston Way, before it ended we got up and started cruising more.  We listened to music, watched pole vaulters, and checked out stands.  H-Bot fell asleep in his bicycle seat so we stopped so he could sleep and Hubs and Bill could get some refreshments.

I was able to get him out of the seat without waking him up.  We sat in the shade while Hubs and Uncle Bill were in the beer garden.
 

 

I didn't get a picture of it, but they did a test to make sure the more expensive "larger" souvenir cups were worth the extra money and indeed bigger than a pint as advertised.  They were. 

After a while we rolled on home.  Summer, Dan, Mallery and Tony joined us for a bbq.  Unfortunetly, I didn't take many pictures and the ones I did take didn't turn out so good but here are a couple decent ones.

 

Yes, that is shortening and yes, he did put it on his corn.

 

H-Bot ate his plain.

 

Meltly strawberry angel food cake.  I cheated and use a store made cake and two containers of Cool Whip.

 

These didn't turn out as well as my cupcakes usually do.  I think it's because I used shortening instead of butter.  The cake is from scratch, the frosting is from a can because I happened to have a can of red frosting on hand.

We kind of lost track of time and didn't quite make the beginning of the fireworks show, but we saw most of it and (I think) everyone still had a good time.  I'll spare you all the blurry pictures and just post one not so blurry one.

So back to that feeling I was talking about.  The day after holidays, at least the major ones, always depresses me.  You wait and wait for that day to come and then it does and sometimes it's fun and sometimes it isn't but the next day it's all over.  And everything is back to normal.  There's no more excitement and anticipation and looking forward to family and friends getting together.  If the holiday turns out bad, you always think about what could/should have been.  If it was awesome, you mourn the loss of the fun.  I don't know if anyone else feels this way and I doubt I'm doing a very good job explaining it.  Lets just say today we're watching TV because I don't want to be alone.  I am also getting together with Mal which will definitely cheer me up.  At least until I have to go home to my house that needs cleaning.

H-Bot's Birth Story Part 1: Early to Active Labor

Man I'm horrible at this blogging thing.

Anywho, it's been over a year now since my little H-Bot was born -it's been 19 months!  Now that we have another one on the way I've been thinking a lot about the time right after H was born.  And I want to share my story.

Mind you all, I'm not a great story teller.  I'm not a master of words nor am I good at explaining things but I want to give it a shot.  I want people to know what I went through in hopes that it will help anyone else who goes through it and also people will know what is going on with me if it happens with this one, and it probably will.

Since this is going to be a long one, I'm gonna break it up into a couple different posts.

Here is Part 1:

I woke up fairly early on Sunday November 15th 2009 with cramp-like pain.  I told Hubs I was pretty sure I was having contractions.  He, being the fab hubs he is and actually paying attention in birthing class, suggested trying to go back to sleep.  I think we did for a bit but then I  couldn't sleep any more.  I figure there is no way I'm having the baby that day.  My friend had a baby 2 months previous and had contractions for daaaays before.  So I told him we better get ready for church and he said something like "uh....I don't think we're going."  He's so smart.  

I may have showered sometime in here.  I don't remember.  I do know I got dressed but didn't put on any make up.  I know we ate a little and tried to watch a movie, another thing we learned in birthing class to try to take the edge off the pain.  I didn't choose a very good movie though.  I watched "Clue" which I can recite from memory.  You should choose something that you need to concentrate on but I wanted something to cheer me up.  

The contractions were gradually getting worse and closer together.  Hubs is timing them and writing it down in a notebook. 

I decided it was finally time to start packing a hospital bag.  Yes, even a day past my due date I still hadn't even started packing.  A lovely character flaw: I always think I have more time. 

As I'm shoving things in a bag, trying to remember what I wanted to pack, Hubs called the hospital to see if we should go in.  The nurse wanted to talk to me.  I got on the phone and gritted my teeth and paused during contractions.  I must have been quite convincing.  She sounded like she wanted to tell me not to come in but instead said I could come in if I wanted however, since it would be a shame to get sent home, it may be good to try to wait a bit longer.  I said ok and gave the phone back to Hubs.  

By this time I'm bawling and just keep saying that I'm not ready, I'm not ready.  I go to the kitchen and grab the snack bag (the one thing I had packed before hand) and double checked it.  My poor poor wonderful Hubs.  During all this, he is packing his bag and putting the car seat in the car (yet another thing we "have more time for")  He's also running around trying to finish everything I'm starting, like packing my bag and getting toiletries and entertainment for before birth and during the hospital stay, because I keep pausing/stopping to let the pain pass.  I told him we better just go to the hospital.  The contractions are around a minute long and 3-4 minutes apart and had been like that for an hour or so. 

Hubs shoves everything in the car and off we go.

Shower and Registry for Baby #2?

Judge if you will, I'm registering for baby #2.  Yes, the baby that is a boy.  Just like my first child.

Nowadays it's more than OK for people to have a shower for baby #2 or #3 or whatever number you happen to be on.  However, most people don't register.  Especially if they're having a baby of the same sex, the argument being they already have everything so what would they put on it.  That is precisely why I am registering.  We do have a lot of stuff for a little boy already but there are a few things that we could still use or want.  And I know I'm being thrown a baby shower.  And, while presents are in no way required, I know people will want to get something .  And they will ask me what I want.  With the registry, they can see the specific items that I would like and get an idea of our style.

I'm not trying to be greedy.  I'm not asking for presents.  I'm just putting out suggestions for people who want to get us something but have no idea what to get.

This post wouldn't be complete without a picture.  It's not related in anyway except for it's my already born son that I mention often.

It's blurry but I like it anyway.

Mornings Spent Outside.

So I don't usually go outside in the morning.  I'm not sure why since I rarely sleep past 8am, not by MY choice mind you.  I'd sleep til tomorrow if I was allowed.  Anyway, H Bot and I went outside around 1030 which I know isn't "early" but it was earlier than our usual ventures out of doors. 

 He tried playing catch with George.  I wanted to get a picture of them together but George ran every time H got close.

Here is George hiding from H.

Apparently I should take H outside earlier more often.  Guess it wore the little guy out.  I sat on the couch to load some pictures onto my lap top.  He sat next to me and fell asleep. 

Going outside in the morning is refreshing but it also makes me sad.  On mornings when the light is right, there is a certain coolness in the air and it smells just so.  I get nostalgic thinking about different occasions I've gotten up early and it's been this awesome combination.  Like going to the fair or going on vacation.  Or even being on vacation.  And camping.

This post was going to be longer but for some reason all my pictures are taking FOREVER to load and I don't feel like waiting.  One more picture and then I'm off to look for pot roast recipes.  <3 Google!

Dreams

I'm sure I've said something along these lines many, many times.  Have you ever had a dream you want so badly to be real???  It makes me even more depressed when I wake up than I already am.

Blooooooooooog.

I think of good blog posts as I'm drifting off to sleep.

Too bad I never remember them the next day.

The View

Has anyone ever actually watched "The View"?  I tried.  I really did.  I couldn't understand ANYTHING.  All these ladies talk at the same time, trying to be louder than the others.  It's insane.

Break? Not likely.

I really want to go out to dinner sans the Monster and eat chicken alfredo and drink some Coca-Cola.

It doesn't have to be a date with Hubs either.  To bad I don't really have the money to do that.  I can, however, make chicken alfredo.  Just as soon as I go to the store.  Which means it's not happening tonight.  :(