A Look Back Part 6

Where was I, oh yeah the birth of our son...

• While I was pushing she noticed that the cord was wrapped around his neck (one time). And I was getting tired. I had been put on oxygen because I almost passed out from pushing.

• At 8:50pm, my doctor decided that she was going try and use a suction cup to get the baby's head to come out because I had been pushing for over an hour. Well, the suction cup didn't work because it popped off the baby's head and almost hit her in the face.
• Well after that happened the doctor made a split second decision to do an episiotomy. Because the baby's heart beat dropped and Dr. Cisneros wanted him out to make sure he was okay.
• When he came out he tore me. (So, not only did I get an episiotomy but I received a 3 degree tear because our son has a big head). ;)
• Dr. Cisneros was shocked at how solid this little boy was because she said it looks like we are going to have a football player (a quarter back) on our hands.

• Brian and I decided that the baby looked like me so we named him Iain Russel

• So, at 8:55pm on the 23rd of April, Iain Russel Bott come into the world. Weighing in at 9lbs 4.5oz and was 21.75 inches long. Oh, yeah he also had a 15 inch head.
• When the doctor heard the nurses say that he was over 9lbs she did a double take.

• Oh, I almost forgot she than looked at me and said that the next time I have a baby she wasn't going to let me go passed my due date again because of how big he was.

• One of the nurses that was in the delivery room asked Dr. Cisneros if it would be okay if I got another epidural shot. She said it would be fine. She thought it was a good idea because of the episiotomy and the tear (and she could see that I was in a lot of pain so she wanted to put me at ease while she was sawing me up).
• I can't tell you what it was like to see Brian hold his son for the first time. I was so utterly happy that this man was the father of my son. It was very amazing to see my husband holding this new tiny baby in his arms. And the happiness that was on Brian's face while he was looking down at his son was quite the sight to behold.
• After the doctor and nurses left the room (well Iain's nurse stayed in the room) Brian's dad Darrell and his brother Mark came to visit us at around 9:30pm. Darrell was so excited to hold Iain, Mark kept telling their dad that it was his turn to hold Iain. Darrell didn't want to let him go.
• Iain's nurse took him to the nursery to get his first bath and to get some the newborn tests.
• Darrell and Mark where there for about an hour. After they left I fell asleep. At 10minutes till 2am I was able to feel my legs. So that I was able to go to my room.

Well, I have to go take care of Iain I'll try and write some more later today. Maybe even post some pictures. We shall see.

A Look Back part 5

Where did I leave off... Oh yeah March.

• We didn't actually get to meet the doctor until April 16th, the day before I was due. For all of my appointments before that one I was seeing the midwife. We wish she was the one that delivered at the hospital but she isn't certified.
• Well, that was pretty much it for March.
• April was a pretty exciting month for our family and our extended family. Two sweet baby boys and one beautiful baby girl entered the world to bless our lives.
• Leslie Bott Small had her baby boy on April 12th(his due date was April 10th) in Manassas, Virginia at 8:30am. Gabriel L. Small was 8lbs 12oz and was 21.5 inches long. Gabe is my in-laws first grandchild. Leslie and Chris are so blessed to have his sweet spirit in their lives. I can't wait to see him in November.
• Well, during Sunday school I started to have contractions not bad ones and they weren't close together, yet. During Relief Society my contractions started coming closer together, we're talking about every 5 minutes. So, I called my doctor and I was admitted to North Suburban Hospital. Were I was monitored for 6 hours. My contraction stopped while we were at the hospital (I think Iain was just excited that Gabe was here already but he didn't want to share a birthday with him).
• Well during the next week I kinda got scared. I was not feeling Iain move around. I would drink something sweet and wait 20 minutes and still nothing, so we went into the hospital again.
• We finally met Dr. Rosa Cisneros and we talked about if the baby didn't come on his own that she would like to admit me on Thursday the 23rd, so that I could be induced Friday morning the 24th.
• Well, I made an appointment to see the midwife on Monday the 20th. (Because I still wasn't feeling the baby move). The midwife did an ultrasound to measure how much amniotic fluid I had. ( Well, I had a fair amount, so I should have been feeling him move). Andrea (the midwife) wanted to admit me to the hospital that day but there was not any room. So, Andrea spoke to Rosa to see if we could move going to the hospital a day earlier (so instead of Thursday, go in Wednesday night). Dr. Cisneros said that it was not a problem.
• We were admitted Wednesday night at 9:30pm. I was started on an antibiotic and a cervical softener. (Not fun, I was not allowed to get up and move a whole lot and I could not eat anything till after the baby was born). The nurses also gave me a sleeping medication (which was great. I was able get 9 hours of sleep).
• By the next morning I was well rested and just ready to have my baby in my arms and to just be done being pregnant.
• At 8:15am on April 23rd, I was stared on Pitocin. (I had 7 bags of saline, 8 bags of the antibiotic, and 7 bags Pitocin pumped into me during labor).
• My doctor came in at 1pm to break my water, there was not any amniotic fluid. So, I was given an amino-infusion. (Which was not fun at all).
• The nurses kept coming in to see if I wanted to get the epidural. (But I really wanted to wait to see what my pain tolerance was. I now know what it is so for my next pregnancy I'll be getting the epidural a lot earlier). AT 5:55pm, I got the epidural. It was nice to not feel pain any more.
• Once I got the epidural I started progressing much faster and by 7:30pm I had dilated to 10cm and the baby had moved down into the birth canal.

Well, it's kinda getting late. I'll write more later.

A Look Back part 4

Well, it's been a while since I've posted anything. I was trying to write every day this week but with a baby around I've found that I don't have enough time during the day. But where did I leave off. Well it looks like I left off in January...

• Well at the end of January Brian's parents finally got an offer on their house in Manassas after being for sell for over 6 months.
• So, we decided that we would all move in with Leslie and Chris before we moved out to Colorado at the end of February.
• The movers come to the house on the 10th of February 2009. It was a long 3 days of making sure the packers labeled every box right.
• Julie, Leslie, and Marlene through me a Baby Shower on the 21st. It was a lot of fun. I'm so glad that my friends and family were able to get together to celebrate the impending birth of my sweet baby boy.
• On the 27th, Brian and I became the proud owners of a 2001 Ford Taurus.
• We left VA on the 28th of February 2009 to drive out to Denver, Colorado. And let me tell you that driving cross country, pregnant, during your third trimester, is not fun. Not only do you have to go to the bathroom all the time, you just can't get comfortable in a car. I was so glad when we were able to stop for the night and I could sleep in a bed and to be able to take a shower and relax.

• Finally, on the 3rd of March we got into Denver and were able to get to see the house we would be living in.
• So, by the 17th I finally found a doctor that I liked and was willing to do things the way Brian and I wanted. We were hoping that when it came time to deliver our baby that we would not have to have a c-section (because some doctors out here will do a c-section because they think labor is taking too long and they just want it over with). So, we were extremely glad to find Dr.Rosa Cisneros with the Cisneros Center. She delivers at North Suburban Hospital. (I actually did not get to met the doctor that was going to be in the delivery room, I saw the mid wife, Andrea. Who I love, She put me at ease right away. I wish she was the one who was going to be in the delivery room but she does not deliver babies).

I guess this is it for tonight. Hopefully, I'll be able to write more tomorrow.

A Look Back Part 3

So, part 3 of a look back. I know what you are all thinking... Will this every end. The answer is no, I'm not doing this for you I'm writing this because I want to be able to look back and remember what it was like to be pregnant with my first child. After I'm done writing this I hope to be able to write about our first year together. But in between I'll throw in things that are current so in won't be so boring. ; ) Okay, so were was I... November right.

• There was a wedding, 3 birthdays, Thanksgiving, and we found out that we might be having a boy but we would know for sure in January 2009.

• Brian and I spend Thanksgiving with my family because it was going to be our last one while we lived in VA. And I want to take Christmas card pictures in my parents back yard because it is beautiful they way they have landscaped it. My younger sister, Shantell took the pictures for us. (We also went to Royal Lake to take some pictures). I thought that they came out very nice and I was so excited to be able to send Christmas cards out for the 2008 Holiday Season.

Okay now on to December...

• Well, December is a very busy month in both our families. First of all my birthday is at the beginning of the month and than there are 4 more after that, two on the same day (17th), one on the 18th, and one on the 20th just five day till Christmas. (So, you see December is very busy) . On top of all the birthdays there is Hanukkah and Christmas. And I was very busy making Hanukkah and Christmas gifts that I spend so may hours croqueting and cross stitching that I don't think I could feel my hands for a week (just pins and needles).
• On the 17th of December we went to my parents house to celebrate Hanukkah, my dad & Brian's, Eric's birthday, and to decorate the Christmas tree. My dad in Jewish, why we celebrate Hanukkah and my mom is Catholic. Brian and my dad have the same birthday and Eric, my sister's husband, his birthday in the 18th.
• Brian also sold our truck because with a baby on the way we knew we would not be able to put a car sit in the middle back. The truck was only a 3 sitter. My parents said that they would give us their Ford Taurus.
• Well Hanukkah and Christmas fall in the same week as all the birthdays. So, my mom decided that we would all get together and have cake and ice cream after we lite the Menorah. And after the candles brunt down we started to decorate the Christmas tree. It was a lot of fun. There are a lot of memories associated with those ornaments, all the family vacations, outings, and what not. I can't wait to decorate our Christmas tree with Iain and he gets his first ornament.
• Well, on Brian's actual birthday we had cake and ice cream with his family and he opened gifts. Brian was extremely excited to get Guitar Hero and two guitars for his play station We got his mom to play Guitar Hero. (She does not like playing video games, she thinks they are a big waste of time). We got some funny pictures of Brian and Chris acting like they were pregnant. They decided to sit on the couch the way Leslie and I were. All of us were laughing so hard. (Our boys are going to laugh at this picture when they get older to understand that it's them in their mommy's stomachs).
• Christmas was a lot of fun. We all got up early in the morning to open our presents and spend some time together before Brian and I went over to my parents house. Julie, my sister-in-law, made Leslie and I a beautiful plaque with poem on it.

Before you were conceived I wanted you Before you were born I loved you Before you were here an hour I would die for you. This is the miracle of love

Leslie and I both cried when we opened this. And we give Julie a big hug. This plaque is sitting on Iain's dresser.

• After we all eat bunch Brian and I left for my parents house. It was fun to spend more time with my family. Well, as a gift to Brian and I my parents got us a car sit and stroller with Winnie the Pooh Bear for the baby. My parents are so excited to be grandparents and so are his parents.
• Brian older brother Eric came to Virginia from Utah to spend New Years with Brian's family.

That brings us to January...

• On the 12th of January at 3pm, my mom met Brian and I at my doctor's office to found out whether I was for sure having a boy or if I was going to have a girl. Well, we found and saw we were having a sweet baby boy. Brian and I didn't want to pick out a name till we saw what he looked like (we had three names picked Brian Arthur II or Iain Russel for a boy and Elizabeth Anne for a girl).

• Okay to be honest I was a bit disappointed that I was not having a girl but now that Iain is here I seriously would not trade him for anything in this world.

Okay it's kinda late for me to try and remember any more I'll write more later.

A look back part 2

I was so tired last night that I could not write any more. So, a part two was a most for me. Where was I... I think somewhere in September 2008.

• By the time I found out that I was pregnant, I was already in my 2nd trimester. As I said before I would never have thought that I was pregnant because I had had my period every month since July. (Oh yeah, I became pregnant on 11th of July 2008. Or so, my doctor says anyway).
• After Leslie and I got back to Leslie's parents house, Brian was home from work. And I looked at him and asked if he would sit and talk to me on the pouch. Because I had something important to tell him. I sat down on the top step and told him"that sometime in April we would be welcoming a brand new member to our family. I know this isn't what we had planned but sometimes plans are useless. And Heavenly Father wants us to have this sweet spirit because he or she wants to come down to us now to bless our lives and family. I don't know what we are going to say to our families." Brian laid down on the pouch and started to cry (which started me crying again, boy would I have a head ache in the morning). He than gave me hugs and kisses and told me " that everything would be okay. And it doesn't matter what our families say about us being not ready to have a baby. That we would be just fine as long as we relied on our Heavenly Father. Because we know that this was what Heavenly Father has planned for all His children". Again with more crying, I sure was crying a lot, the whole pregnancy was making me a basket case. But it was sure worth it after all the emotional ups and downs.
• We than went inside to tell his mom. I was not sure about her telling her I was pregnant (because Brian and I moved in so that we could save money to move out to Utah). We walked in the front door and said to Marlene that we would like to speak to her about something important. I began by saying, " Marlene, Brian and I are going to have a baby. I know that this is not what we planned but it is what it is and if you can't support the fact that we are having a baby than please don't say it out loud. Because I don't' think I could handle it right now."( Oh, did I mention that I was crying the whole time I was talking). Marlene, just looked at me and said that she was so happy that we were having a baby and he/she would be a blessing. and she was excited to be a grandma twice. She was curious when our baby was due, we told her that we thought that we were due in April but until we see a doctor we were not sure.
• I than called my mom and told her the same thing that Brian and I told Marlene. My mom said she kinda thought that I might be. Because I few times over the summer I called her to just talk and told her that I was kinda dizzy and tired all the time. (Which I didn't think was to out of the normal for me because I do get dizzy easy). My mom said she just had a feeling about me being pregnant. She was super excited for us and said she and dad would support us. (She is so cute sometimes. When ever she told someone new that she was going to be a grandma she would do a little jig. You just have to smile).
• We than called his dad (who was already in Colorado because of his job). And we called his brother and sister in Utah. We let Marlene tell her sisters and their children. Darrell did that same.
• Well, on the 13th of September, Brian and I went to one of my old high school friends' wedding. Mallory Rodgers and William Tryon. They were married in Warsaw, VA at Belle Meade Vineyards. I had a few people come up to me and ask if I was pregnant. I tried not to say yes to them because we had decided that was wanted to wait till the 5th month before we told anyone. Well, there were two people at the wedding that I can't lie to. And when they asked I told them but please keep it quite till we were ready to spread word. And for the most part they did. On the way home from the wedding I called my sister, Jennifer and my brother, Patrick. (I had been calling for a week by this point and they just didn't pick up their phones. They were both really excited that we were having a baby and that they were going to be an aunt and uncle).
• Well, there was one person that I tell everything. And that's my best friend, Allison Ayres. I called her the same night that we told our parents. She knew before I told my siblings (but not for a lack of trying to reach them).
• Brian and I celebrate our first wedding anniversary on the 11th of October. (I can't believe that we have been married for a year and 10 months now, I love him more today than I did when we got married. I'm s glad that he is the father of our son, Iain). Anyway...We decided that we would go to the Maryland Renaissance Festival, it fall on our anniversary and we went with Allie and Teri (friends of mine from high school). We had a great time. I'm so glad that we got to go as a couple and with my two friends. This is also the day that our kittens went to their new home in DC. (I know that they are well taken care of and that they are well loved).
• Brian and I got to hear our baby's heart beat for the first time. The look of wonder and joy on Brian's face was priceless. I will never forget his reaction. And of cause I cried (man I cry a lot). But it was so awe inspiring to hear our baby's heart beat. Some how hearing the baby's heart beat made this pregnancy more real and not a dream, at least for me. I didn't have morning sickness and I wasn't that far along that I was feeling him move a bunch. So hearing his heart beat was a sweet song and I knew that it was real and I was going to be a mommy to a sweet spirit. We were bringing this baby into our lives and we were the ones responsible for teaching him/her Heavenly Father's plan and everything else that he/she are going to need to know. But above all that we are going to teach him that we love him/her and he/she was very wanted and needed to make our family whole.
• November, was a busy month for us. We got to see the baby for the first time, our first ultrasound was on the 5th of Nov. Marlene went with us. My doctor, Peter Bryce, said that it looks like the baby might be a boy but it was to early to tell but we would be able to tell at our next ultrasound in January whether it was going to be a boy or a girl. We also asked Dr. Bryce whether or not it was safe for me to fly to Florida for my sister, Jennifer's wedding. He said it would be safe for me to travel because I was having a normal pregnancy. We flew to Florida on the 6th. It was a beautiful wedding. Jen and Eric were so glad that we were able to be there to celebrate with them on their special day. They were married on the 8th at sunset on Eric's father's boat deck. The weather was so warm and perfect. (Brian got a lot of great pictures of their ceremony that their photographer didn't get). We flew back on the 9th, we left Florida at 8am and arrived back in Virginia at 11pm, for some reason we went from Florida to New York to Virginia (weird I know). Thanksgiving and 3 November birthdays were up next.
• After Jenn's wedding reception we went back to the hotel and got ready for bed. Brian and I were snuggling while we read our scriptures, Brian felt the baby move for the first time. The look on Brian's face was priceless, almost like he was not sure that he actually felt the baby but than the baby moved again and he just knew that the baby was moving.

I'm tired now. I'll write some more tomorrow. So, I guess this is going to be a multi part update.

My sweet baby... A look back

I've been really horrible at writing anything about my pregnancy or about Iain's life so far. I've also been bad at blogging. So, I'm going to try and record everything that has happened the past year.

• Okay last May, Brian and I were living in Texas because he was working for Pinnacle. While we were living in Texas we became friends with Brandon & Maryellen Hess and Rob & Britney Geddes. I'm so glad we became friends with them because I think that if we had not I would have gone crazy with boredom.
• Brian and I added three kittens to our family. We named them Ginny, Rashia, and Tux. We could not keep them after we moved back to VA. They are now living in a three story brown stone in Washington DC, together. And I hear that they love to clime into the grand piano.
• July 4th of last year, Brian did a MMA fight. I wasn't to thrilled about it, so I didn't watch it. (I couldn't bring my self to watch). And I'm glad that I didn't Brian kinda got hurt. It was an unfair match. The other guy was taller and he got to train, Brian's training partner always came up with reasons why he could not train. So, needless to say we didn't get to watch fireworks. I was taking care of my hurt husband. I kinda liked that he needed me to take care of him.
• While the rest of the summer went to quickly. And we were on our way home. We left later than we had planned because I was sick. So, we kinda got stuck in a storm, Gustaf, just out side of Little Rock AK. Everything we brought to Texas got soaking wet that the next night we decided to get a motel (we stayed at a Knight Motel, I will never, I repeat NEVER stay at one again). Than the next morning we went to a laundry mat to wash and dry some clothes because we wanted some dry clothes to wear the rest of the way home.
• Well, we got to Mananas safely with our three kittens. And all we wanted to do was take a hot bath and sleep. It had been a long drive. After we unloaded the truck, we were able to do just that.
• About a two or so weeks later, I wasn't feeling all that great. I was always tired and listless. Just not feeling like myself. See the last 12 weeks, we had either been packing or traveling and I was stressed out, so I didn't really think about my cycle being off. Because I was still so listless I told my sister-in-law about me still being so tired and she suggested that we go and get a home pregnancy test. I said sure but there was no way that I could be pregnant. We went over to Bloom and picked up a home pregnancy test and than we went to her house, so I could take it in private. Well, within seconds it came out positive. I was shocked that I just started to cry. I could not believe that I was pregnant, this was not what we had planned. I came out o f the bathroom crying and Leslie know without me saying a word, she just put her arms around me and said that it would all be ok. We got back into her car and started to go back to her parents house but I needed a bit more time to let it sink in. So, we drove around for a bit. While we were driving I told Leslie that every time I got around one of her sisters when they were on their periods that weather or not I had just had mine I was bound to start it again. She thought that was funny and than said that there was no way I was getting that from her because she was pregnant. I just cried harder when she told me that.

Okay...more to come later.

My sister-in-law, Leslie

Leslie holding her sleeping baby boy, Gabriel.

Leslie and her husband Chris, meeting their nephew Iain, for the first time at her uncle's funeral.

Leslie at her aunt's house, holding her son and nephew.

I think it would be fun to pick someone that is important to our family and write a little about them. So here it goes...Today I'll pick Leslie. Leslie is Brian's older sister. And one of my favorite people. I haven't known her for very long but I know I can count on her for anything. I know I can call her for advice about pretty much anything. Remember those poems we all did in grade school, where we take each letter of our name and come up with a word that starts with that letter. I'm going to do that with Leslie's name. So here goes... L- loving E- energetic S- small L- laughter I- intelligent E- Easter D- delightful A- advice W- wow N- nice S- insightful M- mother A- a sweet woman L- loyal L- loved Well, I'm not sure if I did the poem thingy right, but it's my blog and I'll do it any old way I like.

Rain, Rain...Just wouldn't go away

Fourth of July week-end, we went camping at Flemming Gorge/ Iron Springs for the Wardle Family reunion. We left the Thursday before the 4th and drove to Utah. The whole time that we were there it rained and rained. On Saturday, it was raining so hard and it got so cold that it hailed. Yes, hailed...not a little but a whole lot. It collapsed our tent. Needless to say we packed everything up and left to come home. Most of our stuff got really wet. On the way home we stopped to watch fireworks along the road. I don't know where we were, except that we were somewhere in Colorado. Iain slept pretty much the whole way home and so did I. I almost wished that we had stayed home but than I think this was a lot of fun and seeing family and meeting more of Brian's extended family was really rewarding. ( I can't believe how many people there are on his mom's side of the family. Kinda overwhelming, at least for me). All in all a very wet 4th of July. Next year I hope it's not as wet. Will, post pictures of the flattened tent and Iain in his cute 4th of July outfit (it was his first 4th of July).