*I didn't mean to call you that*
Wow. I completely forgot about this LJ. Ha.
Let me start where I left off:
May 25th: I went in for the check up on Memorial day (this day) so they could check my blood pressure & measure the amount of white blood cells & protein in my urine. Hubby had it off so he was with me which was nice. :) We go up to triage and they hook me and Catalina up to the monitor, take my blood pressure, get a pee sample, and all that good stuff. We weren't there maybe an hour and a nurse (Marie) comes in with a wheel chair and says, "Alright. You ready?" I was like 'I don't need a wheel chair. I can walk. What am I doing.' She's says "OH. No one told you? We're inducing your labor after we get you into a room." HAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, she wheels me to the room and so Hubby and I start calling family and stuff to let them know. We couldn't really tell them too much because you never know how long it'll take after they start inducing labor. So, Marie (my nurse) spends what feels like an eternity trying to get an IV started for the pitocin drip which induces your body into starting labor. It wasn't bad at all. Little contractions here and there. I think they did that at about 11am? Marie left to let me labor in peace with my Hubby. We were calling family, he went and ate subway, got our stuff out of the car, watched tv, and just chilled until our Doctor came in. She checked me out and I was 3ish cm. At about noon she broke my bag and OMG, let me tell you that it was the most painful thing AFTER she broke my water. A nice flood of fluids came out every time I had a contraction and oh boy did the contractions start coming BAD! All of a sudden they went from every few minutes for maybe a few seconds, no problem TO every minute or 2 and for about 30 seconds, excruciatingly painful. I tried to watch Men In Black but my concentration was thrown off by the exploding of my uterus. Ha ha. I labored for over 4 hours with my Hubby by my side then my Mom and Sister as well. I was doing it. I was having a baby!!! I got to the point at about 4:30pm where I couldn't breath correctly and just couldn't take it anymore. They checked me and I was almost 9 cm, fully effaced, and soon would have our beautiful baby girl. She offered me pain medication to take off the edge of the contractions. I had her put them in my IV and oh they made my head feel loopy but I was still in a TON of pain. Even though I was so far along they told me that I could still get the epidural if I could be confident that I was able to sit still for like 4 minutes. I was pretty sure I could so at 4:45pm I was given the epidural. Holy crap it is the best thing ever! I laid back down with this huge thing in my spine that honestly didn't hurt at all compared to the contractions, and had a couple of really bad contractions, each one easing up on the pain just a bit. By the 3rd one, I couldn't feel it. Ha. I was pain free. YEAH!!! I was able to relax a little. Well, as much as someone with a baby in her tummy and feet up in stirrups could. The Doctor came in a little after 5 and checked everything. She got up and said, "Alright, well, I'm going to leave because if I stay the baby won't come but if I leave, she'll start crowning." Needless to say, the doctor didn't get a chance to leave because the nurses had already had me doing practice pushes and apparently she was ready to pop out. The doctor checked me again before she was to leave and she looked back at the nurses and said, "let's get ready. She;s crowning." The Doctor was amazing. She was talking about food the entire time I was pushing. Lol. I even laughed while giving BIRTH! It was awesome! I didn't push for too long because Catalina Marie Lowery was born at 5:55pm! It was an amazing experience even though I didn't get to do it completely natural with no medication. Maybe next time. ;)
The Doc plopped her up on me and Catalina looked up at me with beautiful black eyes. She was talking everything in and looking with content at me. She stuck out fer 3 foot long tongue and I fell in love! She is the most beautiful creature I have ever seen. I had fallen in love with someone other than my Hubby. It was just overall an amazing experience.
Catalina Marie Lowery was born on May 25th, 2009 at 5:55pm. 6 pounds 8.5 ounces and 18 3/4 inches long.
The next two days were a bit of a blur due to the lack of sleep, trauma of labor and child birth, everything.
Our first night at home with our precious angel was so scary. Hubby had the 1st week off with us. We didn't get any sleep at all that night. We kept checking to see if she was breathing. It was really scary. We cried. It's a real wake up call coming home with an infant who is solely dependent on you. We got through that night but still didn't get much sleep in the nights following. Frustrations with breastfeeding and keeping up with a newborn set in but it was going pretty well. He went back to work the following week and my Mom had week 2 off with me. It was good to have someone there with me. I stayed in bed for the first week plus but had to actually leave the house the following week because I had oncology and cardiology appointments and Miss Catalina had doctor's appointments. Everything was going ok. Breastfeeding had it's bumps and Catalina was a little jondus but we were good. After Mom and Hubby were both back at work my days seemed long and even scarier. I was home, alone, with a newborn. She's a really good baby but it was still nerve-racking being there by myself.
There were many days that I felt unable to function for myself. I took care of Catalina but didn't take care of myself. I felt really depressed all the time. Everything was getting to me physically, mentally, spiritually. It was difficult for me to wake up in the mornings, sleep at night, think straight. I guess it was postpartum depression and it hit me pretty hard. I felt pretty inadequate as a Mother, wife, human being. There were many sleepless nights where I lay there with tears just streaming down my cheeks. I didn't want to get up to feed my crying, hungry baby. BUT I made myself do it. I was not only in charge of my own life but the life of this tiny helpless baby. She couldn't do anything for herself and all she could do is cry about it. I tried to stay positive.
We have gone through our ups and downs (from nursing, pooping, crying fits to tummy time, long nights, and love) in her short little life but it's all been wonderful and great and oh so worth it.
Present day: She is a little over 5 months and here are some things I wish, I know and some random facts:
I WISH:
-I had taken more pictures when she was tiny and dated everything accordingly.
-I had more patience.
-I knew that she loves me and knows I love her
-I had kept up with her baby book.
-I could stay home with her and didn't have to go back to work.
I KNOW:
-that she is growing up in a loving atmosphere.
-she is an amazing little being.
-she prefers nursing over a bottle but doesn't put up a fit
-she is perfect.
I ABSOLUTELY:
-would not change anything about her.
-would not have done anything different.
-do not regret anything.
-LOVE HER!!!
Random:
-She was exclusively breastfed for over 3 months, then supplemented a little with 1 formula bottle a day while at the babysitters, and now she only drinks Mommy Milk in the morning and at evening.
-She was having issues with pooping because she is a lazy pooper but now everything comes out just fine.
-She rolled over at 4 1/2 weeks then stopped, hated tummy time for about 2 months but now she's rolling over and loves it.
-She doesn't like to be cluttered in her face but loves covering it up with blankets or anything soft.
-She will go to anyone, even a complete stranger and say not one word about it.
-She loves Filipino people and can't help but giggle and laugh with them.
-She sometimes scares herself when she laughs.
-She startles easily but loves to laugh at all things that are deemed 'scary'.
-She will stare at bright lights for hours.
-She has gotten 9 shots and is a trooper.
-She got her 1st head/chest cold at 4 months old.
-She swam in her 1st pool at 3 months.
-She had baby cereal at 3 months.
-She started her baby foods at 4 1/2 months.
-She is 5 months old and is 14 1/2 pounds and 24 1/2 inches long.
-She loves giggling!
-She loves sleeping on Daddy.
-She loves walking outside with Daddy when she's tired of being inside.
-She is the first girl grandbaby on my Dad's side, the 1st grandbaby on my Mom's side, and the 13th grandbaby on Hubby's side.
-She loves carrots and isn't too fond of peas but will eat them anyways.
-She loves prunes but the prunes don't like her so much.
-She has been sleeping through the night since 10 weeks old.
-She use to HATE the pacifier but has grown to like it only when she is tired.
-She is our world and our life. Everything changed when she came into our worlds and it is just amazing.
We finally went to a professional photographer and got a 4 generation picture taken. Our common color was green and my sister joined us. So it was Grandma, Mom, Me, my sis, and Catalina. The pictures cost 130$ and I honestly think I could have done better on my own with a tripod but this way we weren't stressed and some professional pics could be sent to family and friends. I can't wait to get them. They are suppose to come in within this week or so. yeah!
When I went back to work I had to find a babysitter. We looked for individuals because that is what I preferred. I didn't like the idea of sending a 3 month old to a daycare. I just don't think she would have gotten the attention she needed. Not that she is spoiled or that they would neglect her intentionally but with a ton of other kids I think she would be left behind a little. So, I found this lady, Ms. Tammy, who I met a few times before she started sitting for us and I liked her. Well, we moved back to Pensacola a few weeks ago so I had to switch sitters. It is a blessing that my Dad moved back the P-cola with his Wife and my little sister so I had asked if his wife (Kayla) could watch her. She said yes. So far we've had a couple of rocky days but it has overall gone really well! Catalina really enjoys it there and Molly (little sister) loves her! It's good.
Right now we are living with Hubby's Mom and trying to save up for buying a house. I'm excited. It'll be nice to be in our own house again!
I can walk around naked!!! :D
Wow, I think that's all for now.
Let me start where I left off:
May 25th: I went in for the check up on Memorial day (this day) so they could check my blood pressure & measure the amount of white blood cells & protein in my urine. Hubby had it off so he was with me which was nice. :) We go up to triage and they hook me and Catalina up to the monitor, take my blood pressure, get a pee sample, and all that good stuff. We weren't there maybe an hour and a nurse (Marie) comes in with a wheel chair and says, "Alright. You ready?" I was like 'I don't need a wheel chair. I can walk. What am I doing.' She's says "OH. No one told you? We're inducing your labor after we get you into a room." HAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, she wheels me to the room and so Hubby and I start calling family and stuff to let them know. We couldn't really tell them too much because you never know how long it'll take after they start inducing labor. So, Marie (my nurse) spends what feels like an eternity trying to get an IV started for the pitocin drip which induces your body into starting labor. It wasn't bad at all. Little contractions here and there. I think they did that at about 11am? Marie left to let me labor in peace with my Hubby. We were calling family, he went and ate subway, got our stuff out of the car, watched tv, and just chilled until our Doctor came in. She checked me out and I was 3ish cm. At about noon she broke my bag and OMG, let me tell you that it was the most painful thing AFTER she broke my water. A nice flood of fluids came out every time I had a contraction and oh boy did the contractions start coming BAD! All of a sudden they went from every few minutes for maybe a few seconds, no problem TO every minute or 2 and for about 30 seconds, excruciatingly painful. I tried to watch Men In Black but my concentration was thrown off by the exploding of my uterus. Ha ha. I labored for over 4 hours with my Hubby by my side then my Mom and Sister as well. I was doing it. I was having a baby!!! I got to the point at about 4:30pm where I couldn't breath correctly and just couldn't take it anymore. They checked me and I was almost 9 cm, fully effaced, and soon would have our beautiful baby girl. She offered me pain medication to take off the edge of the contractions. I had her put them in my IV and oh they made my head feel loopy but I was still in a TON of pain. Even though I was so far along they told me that I could still get the epidural if I could be confident that I was able to sit still for like 4 minutes. I was pretty sure I could so at 4:45pm I was given the epidural. Holy crap it is the best thing ever! I laid back down with this huge thing in my spine that honestly didn't hurt at all compared to the contractions, and had a couple of really bad contractions, each one easing up on the pain just a bit. By the 3rd one, I couldn't feel it. Ha. I was pain free. YEAH!!! I was able to relax a little. Well, as much as someone with a baby in her tummy and feet up in stirrups could. The Doctor came in a little after 5 and checked everything. She got up and said, "Alright, well, I'm going to leave because if I stay the baby won't come but if I leave, she'll start crowning." Needless to say, the doctor didn't get a chance to leave because the nurses had already had me doing practice pushes and apparently she was ready to pop out. The doctor checked me again before she was to leave and she looked back at the nurses and said, "let's get ready. She;s crowning." The Doctor was amazing. She was talking about food the entire time I was pushing. Lol. I even laughed while giving BIRTH! It was awesome! I didn't push for too long because Catalina Marie Lowery was born at 5:55pm! It was an amazing experience even though I didn't get to do it completely natural with no medication. Maybe next time. ;)
The Doc plopped her up on me and Catalina looked up at me with beautiful black eyes. She was talking everything in and looking with content at me. She stuck out fer 3 foot long tongue and I fell in love! She is the most beautiful creature I have ever seen. I had fallen in love with someone other than my Hubby. It was just overall an amazing experience.
Catalina Marie Lowery was born on May 25th, 2009 at 5:55pm. 6 pounds 8.5 ounces and 18 3/4 inches long.
The next two days were a bit of a blur due to the lack of sleep, trauma of labor and child birth, everything.
Our first night at home with our precious angel was so scary. Hubby had the 1st week off with us. We didn't get any sleep at all that night. We kept checking to see if she was breathing. It was really scary. We cried. It's a real wake up call coming home with an infant who is solely dependent on you. We got through that night but still didn't get much sleep in the nights following. Frustrations with breastfeeding and keeping up with a newborn set in but it was going pretty well. He went back to work the following week and my Mom had week 2 off with me. It was good to have someone there with me. I stayed in bed for the first week plus but had to actually leave the house the following week because I had oncology and cardiology appointments and Miss Catalina had doctor's appointments. Everything was going ok. Breastfeeding had it's bumps and Catalina was a little jondus but we were good. After Mom and Hubby were both back at work my days seemed long and even scarier. I was home, alone, with a newborn. She's a really good baby but it was still nerve-racking being there by myself.
There were many days that I felt unable to function for myself. I took care of Catalina but didn't take care of myself. I felt really depressed all the time. Everything was getting to me physically, mentally, spiritually. It was difficult for me to wake up in the mornings, sleep at night, think straight. I guess it was postpartum depression and it hit me pretty hard. I felt pretty inadequate as a Mother, wife, human being. There were many sleepless nights where I lay there with tears just streaming down my cheeks. I didn't want to get up to feed my crying, hungry baby. BUT I made myself do it. I was not only in charge of my own life but the life of this tiny helpless baby. She couldn't do anything for herself and all she could do is cry about it. I tried to stay positive.
We have gone through our ups and downs (from nursing, pooping, crying fits to tummy time, long nights, and love) in her short little life but it's all been wonderful and great and oh so worth it.
Present day: She is a little over 5 months and here are some things I wish, I know and some random facts:
I WISH:
-I had taken more pictures when she was tiny and dated everything accordingly.
-I had more patience.
-I knew that she loves me and knows I love her
-I had kept up with her baby book.
-I could stay home with her and didn't have to go back to work.
I KNOW:
-that she is growing up in a loving atmosphere.
-she is an amazing little being.
-she prefers nursing over a bottle but doesn't put up a fit
-she is perfect.
I ABSOLUTELY:
-would not change anything about her.
-would not have done anything different.
-do not regret anything.
-LOVE HER!!!
Random:
-She was exclusively breastfed for over 3 months, then supplemented a little with 1 formula bottle a day while at the babysitters, and now she only drinks Mommy Milk in the morning and at evening.
-She was having issues with pooping because she is a lazy pooper but now everything comes out just fine.
-She rolled over at 4 1/2 weeks then stopped, hated tummy time for about 2 months but now she's rolling over and loves it.
-She doesn't like to be cluttered in her face but loves covering it up with blankets or anything soft.
-She will go to anyone, even a complete stranger and say not one word about it.
-She loves Filipino people and can't help but giggle and laugh with them.
-She sometimes scares herself when she laughs.
-She startles easily but loves to laugh at all things that are deemed 'scary'.
-She will stare at bright lights for hours.
-She has gotten 9 shots and is a trooper.
-She got her 1st head/chest cold at 4 months old.
-She swam in her 1st pool at 3 months.
-She had baby cereal at 3 months.
-She started her baby foods at 4 1/2 months.
-She is 5 months old and is 14 1/2 pounds and 24 1/2 inches long.
-She loves giggling!
-She loves sleeping on Daddy.
-She loves walking outside with Daddy when she's tired of being inside.
-She is the first girl grandbaby on my Dad's side, the 1st grandbaby on my Mom's side, and the 13th grandbaby on Hubby's side.
-She loves carrots and isn't too fond of peas but will eat them anyways.
-She loves prunes but the prunes don't like her so much.
-She has been sleeping through the night since 10 weeks old.
-She use to HATE the pacifier but has grown to like it only when she is tired.
-She is our world and our life. Everything changed when she came into our worlds and it is just amazing.
We finally went to a professional photographer and got a 4 generation picture taken. Our common color was green and my sister joined us. So it was Grandma, Mom, Me, my sis, and Catalina. The pictures cost 130$ and I honestly think I could have done better on my own with a tripod but this way we weren't stressed and some professional pics could be sent to family and friends. I can't wait to get them. They are suppose to come in within this week or so. yeah!
When I went back to work I had to find a babysitter. We looked for individuals because that is what I preferred. I didn't like the idea of sending a 3 month old to a daycare. I just don't think she would have gotten the attention she needed. Not that she is spoiled or that they would neglect her intentionally but with a ton of other kids I think she would be left behind a little. So, I found this lady, Ms. Tammy, who I met a few times before she started sitting for us and I liked her. Well, we moved back to Pensacola a few weeks ago so I had to switch sitters. It is a blessing that my Dad moved back the P-cola with his Wife and my little sister so I had asked if his wife (Kayla) could watch her. She said yes. So far we've had a couple of rocky days but it has overall gone really well! Catalina really enjoys it there and Molly (little sister) loves her! It's good.
Right now we are living with Hubby's Mom and trying to save up for buying a house. I'm excited. It'll be nice to be in our own house again!
I can walk around naked!!! :D
Wow, I think that's all for now.