First Month Frenzy

We survived.  All three of us.  I can't believe that Abishai is already a month old.  Surprisingly, it went by so fast.  I looked at a friend last week, and with dismay in my voice said "Wait... what do you mean September is almost over.  We just finished August!"  Boy does time fly when you're caring for a newborn constantly.

Parenthood is the hardest thing I have ever done. Seriously-- running a marathon is easier.  Although, I guess you could argue that parenting a newborn is somewhat maranthon-esque.  Feed, burp, change diaper, swing, rock, put down to sleep... repeat with no breaks or sleep.  That's a marathon!

As tiring as parenting can be, it's extremely fulfilling at the same time.  There's a weird balance.  It's amazing how much energy you can muster up to get you through a day on maybe 2 hours of sleep.  I thought I was a rockstar at surviving all-nighters in college, but man, this is like the Olympics of all-nighters.  In one 24 hour period I will have nursed Abe 10-12 times, been pooped or peed on at least once, and maybe had one full meal-- yet, 10 seconds of a smile or giggle makes all of it worth while.

Our first month was one roller coaster ride of frenzy.  Our first week home, I ended up with an infection and a high fever, causing Matt to rush me to the hospital for CT scans and blood tests.  On that same day, we learned that I hadn't been producing any milk at all so our poor little guy went an entire week with little to no nourishment.  Here we were, first time parents, thinking we had the best baby on the planet.  He was sleeping for 5 hour stretches his first week.  We later learned that he was just lethargic and dehydrated from not having any nourishment and, as a result, was losing weight instead of gaining.  

Soonafter, I was doing everything known to man to increase my milk supply-- herbal supplements, natural galactagogues, and prescription medications.  Several more days passed and I woke up one morning with milk!  Thank the Lord! Now, we have a full supply and little Abe eats like crazy.  At one point, he was eating at the top of every hour.  Finally, by his third week Abe made it back to birth weight and we are happy to announce that he is now past that and gaining steadily. 

How people survive this alone is beyond me.  My parents came and stayed with us for the first 2 weeks, feeding us, helping with tasks around the house, and eventually getting up in the early morning hours to help me change diapers.  My mom would stay up on the weeknights tapping my arm every time I'd fall asleep while nursing and graciously taking Abe so that I could go to the bathroom or take a shower.  I would not have survived those first few weeks without her. 

In addition to my parents help, our friends participated in a meal train and brought us dinner every other day during his first month.  We had some pretty awesome meals, too.  Not having to worry about dinner those first few weeks was a life saver.

I have a true appreciation for mothers now.  After my first few all-nighters, it was like a lightbulb went off in my head.  Sitting in his room nursing at 2am, tired and in pain from recovering from surgery, I realized the sacrifice that a mother makes for a child.  You put aside all of your own personal needs (hunger, hygiene, and sleep) and your pride to make sure that your child is provided for.  It's only been a month and I can't remember the last time I actually showered before noon or took the time to brush my hair.  It's all about survival mode and if you're in nothing but a nursing bra and pajama bottoms at 8pm, but your child has a clean diaper and hasn't missed any feedings-- you've done your job and it's been a good day.

We're only one month in and I've still got so much to learn and experience and definitely more stories to share.  The adventures of Abe are just beginning...

Twilight (minus the vampires)

I have approached the twilight of this pregnancy and I am now counting down the hours till I begin the arduous undertaking that is labor.  As I sit here, alone in Abishai's room, it strikes me that this will be the last evening that Matt and I will have that is just our own in our home.  I am overwhelmed by a combination of emotions -- nervousness, excitement, fear, joy, and gratefulness.  In a day or so, we will be meeting our son for the first time and our lives will change, albeit for the better, forever.

It has been such a long journey that started long before we ever got that positive pregnancy test.  In the last 2.5 years, God has pushed, prodded, stretched, and formed me into something new and the growth I've experienced emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and (let's not forget) physically has been challenging, but amazing.  This was not an easy road, but I've learned and seen some astounding things because I traveled it.

One thing that stands out to me the most as I reminisce is that I am truly blessed.  Totally undeserving in so many ways and yet God continues to bless me.  First and foremost, He blessed me with Matt-- a true partner and best friend that has shown me patience, love, compassion, and understanding beyond reason.  I have seen God's grace through Matt and words will never encompass the gratitude I have for his partnership in this marriage and our impending parenthood.

Then, God revealed to me His benevolence.  We are surrounded by friends and family that have gone above and beyond in their generosity towards Matt and I as we prepare for Abishai's arrival.  Multiple showers of love and gifts, providing us with every little knick knack an infant would need.  But the generosity went further than material things.  Friends surrounded us with prayers and thoughts and enveloped us with their love through meals, fellowship, help with housework, and many other ways.  I am blown away by the hospitality and kindness that has been given to us.

For those of you that know me well, you know that I like my lists and I live by planning.  Waiting for Abishai to arrive has been an agonizing test.  I could only plan for it to an extent.  At the end of the day, the date and time of his arrival would always be a surprise.  Today I am officially 41 weeks along which calculates to being pregnant for a total of 10 months and 1 week.  I have watched as the pregnant family and friends I have who were all within my due date have, one by one, given birth to their bundles of joy.  It's been frustrating, to say the least, and I've really had to learn to be patient especially through the physical discomfort I've been experiencing.  "Man proposes, God disposes" were the wise words that my mother shared with me and I've had to remind myself that none of this is in my timing.  As I prepare for our induction tomorrow evening, I am trying to strip away the anxiety and nervous tension that I have about the unknowns.  In the end, I know we will see a glimpse of God's glory through this new life. 


So, here we go.  At 8pm, Matt and I will be admitted into the hospital and begin the trip down labor road.  Please keep us both (or shall I say, all three of us) in your thoughts and prayers.  Thank you in advance for all of the support, encouragement, and love.  We're excited and can't wait for you to meet Abishai (who will have an official middle name as well). 

Here's one of my favorite Third Day songs... let's hope this helps calm me (or motivate me) through those last few pushes.

Walking from 3rd to Home

Today is my official (original) due date.  As I start this blog entry, it is 9:43pm.  I think it's safe to assume that Abishai will not be making an appearance today.  Unless, of course, I happen to go into labor in the next few minutes and have an amazingly quick delivery (highly doubtful, though greatly desired).

Instead, I will take this time to update you on my very last month of pregnancy.  What a month.  I've had a relatively easy pregnancy.  The first trimester was tough (as expected), second trimester was breezy, and for the most part, my third trimester was not so bad... until my ninth (or is it tenth) and final month.  I hit my 37th week and boy did I feel a difference.   All of sudden my toes turned into little sausages, my back ached more than usual, and a watermelon shaped bulge formed on my stomach that made getting up and out of any seated position quite a challenge.

I won't lie.  I'm so uncomfortable.  The desperation I have at this very moment to get my child out of my womb has burned a very pathetic expression on my face.  Halfway through my second trimester, my doctors convinced me that Abishai would come early.  "He's huge," they said, "There's no way he'll stay in their long-- you're running out of room".  We had our hospital bag packed and ready to go by my 36th week.  Everything has been ready for his arrival since the first of August.  Yet, here I am, on the exact day of my 40th week with a baby in my belly and no sign of delivery.

Mind you, Matt and I have attempted a plethora of natural induction methods.  In fact, I even stacked up a number of them on consecutive days, only to wake up the next morning wondering why I hadn't gone into labor.  I actually began listing out what we've tried, but decided against it.  I know what you're thinking... you have some tried and true method that you want to share and tell us to give a shot.  Trust me, we've tried it.  Trust me... it didn't work.  Trust me.   For the most part, I just end up with the same result--- chubby, swollen feet and high blood pressure.  Some methods are definitely more enjoyable than others, but they still didn't get my kid out of my womb.  Just sayin'.

Some of you have asked for more belly photos.  I forgot to take one for 39 weeks and didn't take one today for 40, so I leave you with this little diddy.  I'll take a 40 week photo some time this week.

I will officially be induced on August 27th.  I hope it doesn't come to that, although, I've already started preparing myself.  In the meantime, I'm eating every meal as if it's my last because labor is literally just around the corner.

Nursery Before & After

While I've been busy baking Abishai for the last 10 months, Matt has been just as busy for the last 4 finishing his room.  Matt put in an enormous amount of blood & sweat into all of the little details and took the task as his own.

Originally the room was a buttercream color and we had decided that a light gray/silver would look good instead.  With the help of some friends, he had the room painted and ready to go in a just a few days.  Our parents bought us our crib and glider which we then added to the room.

Paint job, crib, and first pieces of furniture

We found a wooden four piece dresser set on Craig's List for only $275.  Matt refinished all of the furniture on his own bit by bit over the next few weeks. 

Dressers before & after

I found our decal set on Etsy and we customized the colors of the birds and leaves.  It was a lot easier than I had expected to put the decals up and I had a lot of fun getting all crafty since this would be one of my only contributions to Abe's bedroom.

Decals Up

Here are some final detail shots of his room with all the finishing touches.  

Um... I need you to look at something for me

I'm now 32 weeks along (2 months left) and I'm trying to milk as much out of this pregnancy as possible.  I've hit the crest of my bell curve, but I'm trying my best to enjoy it as much as possible till the inevitable angry, uncomfortable, irritable beast of a woman inside me emerges in my last few weeks. 

Now let me preface this with the fact that I'm uber thankful that I didn't have to deal with never-ending nausea or extreme weight gain.  For the most part, I've been having a pretty easy pregnancy and I'm thankful that my body hasn't become so disfigured that I look like the Michelin Man version of my pre-pregnancy self.

As to be expected, my tiny frame is being stretched, pulled, and pushed in all different directions and I have a basketball sized belly weighing down on all the organs below my waist.  I can’t see anything below the top of my belly curve-- which makes for investigating aches, pains, and "discomforts" quite difficult.  I like to call these discomforts “silent predators”… you can’t seem them, but boy do you feel them.

Which brings me to my story....

Warning: The following tale is not for the faint of heart. I am documenting it for my own purposes-- mainly so that in the future, when I think I'm having a bad day, I can come back and read this and think "yeah your day is not THAT bad".  You know what I mean.  Glad we're on the same page.

Thankfully, I am blessed with a husband that has quite the sense of humor.  Well, that and he's not the squeamish type-- unless you're a baby and you barf in his mouth or your dog sneezes in his face (just throwing out random scenarios that would be an exception).  

So it had been a few days and I had been feeling an interesting "discomfort" in an area that was not easily reachable and definitely unseen (especially by me).  This unpleasantness then manifested itself into an insatiable itch.  I'm talking about an itch so bad you plead for death.   Being the classy woman that I am, I obviously rubbed that area raw... to the point that I'm sure it will never look the same again.  

This is where Matt comes in.  Poor Matt.  I'd been awake all night-- going to town on eliminating the itch, so I was wide awake by the time his 5am alarm went off.  He turns off his alarm and a voice from the darkness says this:

"Um... I need you to look at something for me".  That's never a good sign. 

Matt dutifully examines me and responds so matter-of-factly with

"Well, it looks like…(thoughtful pause as he waits for the right description to grace his lips)… the rudder of a ship".

I'm no expert here, but I have no use for a rudder.  The image that comes to mind is that of kneading bread dough and after a while it doubles in size.  Except, I never intended to bake loaves with my butt.

You should have seen the face on the Target cashier that watched me unload my "ship-rudder elminating" purchases onto the conveyer belt.  I threw some gum and snacks on there as well just to "lighten the mood".  I can't be the first person who has ever bought Prep-H and Chex mix together. At least now I know how to build the perfect relief package for any other pregnant woman that's experiencing these foes.

Rudder Elimination Kit

To top it all off, I ended up also breaking out into a full body food allergy rash from something I ate on Father's Day.  After being sent to 2 different doctors and a perinatologist they concluded that I can't eat shrimp, strawberries, or sesame seeds for the rest of the pregnancy.  It's too bad, I was planning a shrimp and sesame seed oil stir fry, garnished with strawberries. OR... it could just be heat rash.  We're currently testing out theories.

Expanding Appetites & Inedible Donuts

The second trimester of pregnancy is all about expansion.  Expanding my meal choices since I no longer barf at the smell of ham, expanding my wardrobe to include a multitude of stretchy pieces, and the wonderful adventures of an expanding pelvis.

Don't get me wrong, my second trimester was magnitudes more comfortable than my first.  I not only was excited, but ravenously-crazy about getting my hands on my first Dodger dog of the season.  Don't worry, I convinced myself that it was nitrate free and I washed down any lingering bacteria with an order of nachos and some garlic fries.  The Dodger dog was for me-- the garlic fries and nachos were for Abe (he begged!).  Matt acted shocked when I promptly requested ice cream after the game.  There's always room for ice cream!

That smile is less for the game win and more for the Dodger Dog, nachos, & garlic fries.

Needless to say, my appetite is pretty impressive.  I've also done a great job with keeping a very healthy diet.  Here's some photographic evidence of my nutritional discretion:

Hot Dog on a Stick, Sprinkles Chocolate Marshmallow Cupcake, & a taco in honor of Cinco de Mayo.  Ole!

I've also recently discovered that Torrance has a Rubios, so the Original Rubios fish taco with 4 limes has been added to my weekly rotation.  The Rubios guy already knows me by name and I just hand him my card.  He also knows I've been pilfering the "decorative" un-cut limes, so he now gives me a separate bag just for limes and flashes me that look of "just take the limes that are already prepared, please".  I'm sure they've given me a nickname by now-- "Prego Lime Lady" or something like that.

Despite my insanely large sugar intake, I passed my glucose test with flying colors. I sucked down that fizzy orange concoction like a champ! I actually have video of me chugging it down, but I thought the hacking noises that I make in between sips sounded too much like a cat trying to release an enormous hairball that it would be off-putting.

Chug, chug, chug!!!!

Thankfully, regardless of my nutritious diet, I've only put on 13 pounds... for now.  I have to keep telling myself that last part because I'm certain that the inevitable will happen and I'll wake up one day in my eighth month and have put on an additional twenty.  It'll catch up to me I'm sure.  In fact, I've unconsciously eyed clothing in Target's plus-size section, taken the item off the rack, and proceeded to the fitting room before realizing that the "x" after the number was not for "xs".  I've done that three times already!  One of those occasions Matt giggled his way around the store without telling me.  He thinks he's so funny.

All in all, my second trimester was definitely in the up & up purely because of my eating habits.  Then there's the downside.  As I approached the end of trimester two, I started to discover that my body was starting to feel a bit... achy.  So, although I've been able to add things like hot dogs and calzones to my edible list, I've had to add a not-so-edible donut to the list as well.

Tailbone and lower back pain is no bueno.  I've held off for about 3 weeks now from hitting the "purchase" button on Amazon for a foam butt donut.  I'll most likely Amazon prime that tomorrow.  Sitting for long periods is just unbearable and in the last 2 weeks I've been on 6 planes for a total of 18+ hours.  I'm sure my seat neighbors found it strange that my neck pillow slowly disappeared its way below my rear end.  Yeah... that happened.

I hear my third trimester is the beginning of the end and it's all downhill from here.  Well, I'm going to take it a day at a time and try to enjoy it as much as possible... despite the donut that I'll be towing around with me.  Cheers to second trimesters and fun meals and Bon Chance as I make my way through my third tri.  Home stretch, baby-- let's just have a couple more Dodger Dogs to usher this kid into the world. :)

Book Worms

Matt and I are avid readers.  Okay... Matt is an avid reader and I'm a so-so reader whenever there's a New York Times bestselling book series (insert: Hunger Games, Dragon Tattoo, and Twilight).  One thing that I'm really excited about is building Abishai's library.  Over our 5 years of marriage, Matt and I have amassed quite the book collection.  In fact, when we were moving in, there were more boxes dedicated to just books than there were anything else.  What can we say, we love the feeling of turning pages and we'll probably never convert to the digital book realm.  Sorry, Kindle.

I've already started building a mental list of all the books I want to read to Abe.  I was browsing through some blogs and stumbled upon a very intriguing children's book called The Story of the Little Mole Who Went in Search of Whodunit.  Originally written & published in Germany, the story follows the journey of Little Mole who wakes up one morning to be greeted by a stinky surprise as he pokes his head out of his hole.  Poor Little Mole begins investigating the neighborhood to solve the mystery of "whodunit". Now isn't that a precious addition to any child's library?  I can see it now, sitting on the shelf in between Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Goodnight, Moon. 

My amusement doesn't stop there.  I was pleased to learn that this particular book is "frequently bought together" with Walter the Farting Dog on Amazon.com.  Although I'm sure Abe will learn enough on his own about flatulence and bowel movements, I'm comforted by the fact that he can be entertained and educated about those topics through literature.  They may not be Caldecott Medal winners, but I'm sure they're just as memorable.

In other news, Christopher Walken may be the first person to read Where the Wild Things Are to our little boy because, well, there's just no way we could do it justice.  Listen for yourselves...