Baby, Car & Giraffe

It's been awhile since I last updated, and boy do we have lots to catch up on.

It all started last Monday when at 1:00 a.m. I started getting contractions. They weren't intense and they were far apart. I pretty much slept through them. When I awoke in the morning I told Matt that we should go get the rest of the baby stuff we still needed just to be on the safe side. The contractions continued and were getting more intense and closer together. We were in WalMart and I would be wheeling the cart and then have to start to breathe through a contraction. By 4:00 I had had enough and wanted to go to the hospital. My husband, on the other hand, felt we should wait it out another hour. So, we did just that, but once 5:00 came I was out the door.

At the hospital I was put on the monitors and sure enough they were picking up contractions. Unfortunately, I hadn't dilated or lost any fluid. I was sent home and by 10:00 that night the contractions had subsided. It was a long and frustrating day to say the least.

On Wednesday, I met with my OB/GYN and he felt that I wouldn't make it to 40 weeks. Not with how I am behaving lol. Like it is me causing the contractions :) Regardless, he decided to send me for one last ultrasound to see how Braden was developing. This was scheduled for Friday morning.

At the ultrasound Matt and I figured it would be okay and show Braden doing well. Unfortunately, Braden hadn't grown much in the past two weeks. The technician was concerned so she called the Doctor and sent us up to the maternity ward for a non-stress test (this is just a fancy word for being hooked up to the monitors). The test showed Braden's heart rate great and having great fetal movements. The Doctor on call came in and looked at both Matt and I and said "well you two are small so you are probably just having a small baby." The funniest part of this was that the doctor himself couldn't have been taller than 5'3. He recognized Matt from the store and when he went to do my internal he asked Matt about new cell phones. I was literally laying on the bed with my legs wide open and he was talking cell phones. It was one of those moments where I looked around for the hidden camera. It had to be a candid camera moment. Who gets an internal while the doctor talks to your husband about cell phones?

He said that Braden's head was very low which was good. He told me that I would have to go to the hospital every second day for a non-stress test and to go Monday morning to meet with my own doctor.

Of course you can only imagine how stressful all this has been. It seems something is always coming up and Matt and I find ourselves up at the hospital. And, one would assume that was enough to deal with for one day, but nooooooooooo. In the afternoon our car decides to have a mind of its own and break down. Neither Matt and I were impressed. Matt had to call a tow truck to pick it up at the mall and bring it to the garage. Of course the garage wasn't open on the weekend so we had to wait until today to get it fixed.

Monday morning and Matt and I found ourselves up at 6:30 to get ready to go to the hospital for 7:30. Of course when we get there the doctor hasn't arrived yet. The nurses get me into a gown and on the monitors. The one ordered me a breakfast cause she wanted me to eat for the testing. An hour and a half later the doctor shows up and comes to talk to us. He is concerned that Braden hasn't grown and decided to induce me. At first he said I would be induced on Thursday, but then thought we would do it today. When he said this I got extremely nervous and tried not to freak out. I turned to Matt who had a look of shock on his face and nervousness as well. I thought oh great we are on the same page. Except all of a sudden Matt turns to me and says "but the car is in the garage." Like that was really the thing on my mind! In the end, the doctor decided to keep Thursday on the induction date unless the ward is short staff then it will be Friday.

Before heading home we picked up a parcel that Matt's aunt and cousins sent us for the baby. Matt couldn't wait to rip it open which is fine. I was on the phone with my Mom while he started taking gifts out of the box. One of the gifts was this big and cute giraffe. Matt just kept taking stuff out and piling it up. I was busy talking to my Mom and updating her that I didn't get a chance to look at the other gifts. I figured once I was done talking I would look through them, but before I knew it Matt went and washed them all. Once I got off the phone I found myself alone in the livingroom sitting next to the giraffe.

I am nervous for the induction but excited at the same time to meet Braden. I am exhausted now and really want to get rested up before the big day. Speaking of which bed time calls my name.

Next time I blog Braden will be here and pictures will be up. Stay tuned!

Global Warming

So this morning I am laying in bed nice and comfortable when of course I have to pee AGAIN. I get up, go down stairs, go to the bathroom, then look outside, and what to my wandering eyes should appear? Snow! I literally stood there saying "what the f@%k? There's global warming for you." I am sorry but did mother nature not receive a calendar this year? If I remember correctly today is May 31st. Three short weeks until summer. Why is it snowing?

Needless to say the white flakes depressed me so I laid down on the couch and went back to sleep. Savannah came and cuddled with me and for two hours we slept. Yes, you read right I didn't get up till after eleven in the morning. It was glorious. But, when I did get up my lovely son decided to move his foot into my stomach. When he does this it hurts so much, makes me feel sick, and sometimes it is hard to breathe. I tried nudging him down, but he would not move. No, instead, he fell asleep.

I got ready and Nicky and I went sale shopping at the grocery stores. That is a good way of knowing you are getting old. My weekly enjoyment is getting the fliers on the weekend. It brings me joy. Sundays are usually designated to go sale shopping, but today was very difficult. With the insane weather, by this time the sun would shine and be warm followed immediately by rain and snow, I had to wear socks and shoes instead of my flip flops. Do you have any idea how hard it is to put on socks and running shoes at nine months pregnant? I was so out of breath. You would have thought I just ran a marathon. I was literally gasping for air. It was ridiculous.

We left around one o'clock and it wasn't until after that that Braden decided to wake up and FINALLY move his foot. It was a big relief. Except when I got out of the car I noticed there was a tiny rock in my shoe. I was not impressed, but was not about to take it off. I had enough trouble getting the damn thing on my foot. I just walked around with the rock. Then of course what should happen once getting back into the car? I freaking step on my shoe lace and it unties. Now I am sitting in the car trying to raise my leg up to tie the shoe. During this time Braden gets annoyed (he is so my child) and starts kicking me.

Somehow, though, I managed to get through the shopping without too much trouble lol. I bought a lot which is good. I am in the process of cooking a bunch of food that I can freeze. I figure that way once Braden decides to come into this world I don't have to worry too much about cooking.

Well I must sign off. I need to start some thank you cards for the gifts that we have received. Braden has been spoiled already :) According to our Doctors he can come at any time now so we just wait. I want a June baby so he has 30 days to choose from. Let's see if he listens or turns out to be like his Daddy and come in July.

They Think I'm Joking...

So, I have been sick for the past three days. I won't get into the details, but I got very dehydrated and lost 4 lbs. So, this afternoon I went to the hospital and told them they had to give me some IV fluids. The one nurse looked at me and said "you look familiar" I answered "I should I never seem to leave here."

Off to the triage room I went. I swear I know the inside of that room like you wouldn't believe. I could hook myself up to the monitors and give myself my own examination by now. Anyway, the one nurse hooks me up and said Braden was doing very well considering how dehydrated I was. His heartbeat was nice and strong. She left me on for about twenty minutes which is normal. Well Braden kept on moving that a zooming race car. The thing is that the monitor picks up any movement and records it as a contraction. When the nurse came back in I had to assure her I wasn't in labour it was just him moving. She laughed and read the sheet and couldn't believe how much he was moving. The kid is like his father... can not stay still.

Anyways, the two nice nurses hooked me up to an IV and spoke to the doctor on the phone. He is a very nice doctor from Montreal that comes once a month to give the doctors here time off. He told them to examine me to make sure that my illness wasn't the beginning of labour. So, the one nurse closed the curtains and did her thing. I was very uncomfortable and so happy when it was over ... except... she is still in training so the other nurse had to come in and do it again to double check. I simply said "okay sweets if I was dilating I don't think you would be having such a hard time feeling something." And, maybe this is too much information for some of you readers, but I don't care how much lubricant is on those gloves it is still so uncomfortable.

Okay I will stop right there. The doctor came in and ruled out labour (thank god cause I am too tired and weak right now to do any work) and put me on the BRAT diet. Yay for me. So for the next few days toast, rice and apple sauce are my new best friends. And, of course all I am craving is a veggie burger from Casey's.

Just before I was able to leave this woman came in and was next to me. The curtain was closed but she was laughing with her husband. Well then her contractions got bad and I could hear her trying to breathe through them. I felt like going over, holding her hand, and coaching her. I sat on my hospital bed thinking to myself "I don't want to do that." Then I heard the nurse ask her if she wanted something for the pain when they took her to her room. Well I just couldn't help myself. I blurted out "Oh my God take the drugs!" The woman didn't seemed alarmed at the voice through the curtain talking to her and laughed. I continued "I don't even know you and right now I want to take the drugs for you." Safe to say once they were wheeling her out her husband saw me and smiled.

Not long after that the nurse came and disconnected my IV. My damn vein didn't want to stop bleeding and the poor nurse had to keep applying pressure to it. Finally, the little bugger decided to stop. I gathered up my stuff and as I was leaving I said to her "okay now hopefully I won't see you now for another four weeks. And, when I do please have all drugs ready for me." She laughed and said okay. Funny thing is I think she thinks I was joking. But, I am not. I mean it the epidural is highlighted and circled on my hospital sheet for a reason. And, I don't want any of that measly gas. I was the full throttle. I want to be number from the waist down.

Only So Many Soaps...

Seriously one can only watch so many soap operas before going a little shack whacky. I knew I was starting to watch to much when I started talking to the tv. All I can say is that Nick and Sharon belong together on Y&R, Billy has the best lines, and don't even get me started on The Bold and the Beautiful.

I'm assuming from the previous paragraph you must realize that I am on somewhat bed rest. It all started in the wee hours of May 9th when Braden decided he would like to try to make his way out into this world. Preterm labour is not fun especially when the Doctors try to stop it. I was put on nitro patches (like they give to patients with heart problems). I do not EVER want to be put back on those little evil things. First of all they give you the worst headache of your life and make you just feel like absolute shit. I was in the hospital for three days and trust me by the last day I was ready to escape. I just wanted to be in my own home and sleeping in my own bed. Don't know if any of you realize this, but beds in birthing rooms come apart. Great idea for delivery, bad idea for trying to sleep. And, you would think with all the drugs they pumped in me I would have gotten sleep. But, who can really sleep in a hospital. Ask Matt and my Mom since they stayed with me and slept on a recliner chair.

Needless to say I was elated to be discharged and sent home. I was told to relax and do nothing which I did. But, being the stubborn woman that I am that didn't last long. I shouldn't complain though cause on the Sunday in the hospital the best part of my day was being able to have bathroom privileges. Ever pee in a bed pan? Uhhuhh not comfortable.

Anyhoo, by last Wednesday my Doctor took me off restricted bed rest and told me I could do little things here and there, but still had to take it easy. Thus, here I am updating this blog while my butt has been glued to this couch for a few hours now.

Braden is doing well regardless of the fact that he thinks its fun to put his Mommy into contractions and then stop. He is approx. 4 lbs. 10 onz. now and running out of room. My Doctor said if I can get to 36 weeks then I am good to go. After 36 weeks if you go into labour they don't stop it. So, Braden and I had a little talk and we have mutually agreed to stay in there for at least another week. After that he has free reign to do whatever his little body wants. I figure I would give him some freedom cause once he is out I am in charge LOL.

You know another thing they don't tell you about pregnancy? One assumes the nausea is in the first trimester and then subsides and goes away. Well little do they know that once that baby starts running out of room your insides are kicked and prodded so often vomiting sounds like a great idea. Just this morning Braden was kicking me in the stomach that I thought I was going to be sick.

I have to mention my amazing husband in this entry. He has been my lifeline throughout all of this. He slept at the hospital with me the first night, he held me in the hospital bed when I thought I was dying (okay so I am over exaggerating), he's helped considerably around the house, and is ready to take care of me at any point in time. He still tells me I am ridiculously stubborn at time, but I don't think he expects any less from me. I am truly blessed to have him as my husband and know he will make an incredible father.

Jeez I could cry... damn hormones. I found the perfect outlet though for the raging irritable wanna hate the world hormones though. Matt went and bought the video game UFC Undisputed. I personally don't get video games, but anyway I decided to make my own fighter and I kick the shit out of others on the game. It's a great way to alleviate stress LOL.

Oh shitaki mushrooms I failed to see the time. I must go and see if Adam Lambert wins American Idol. Mind you they don't tell you till the very end so I have time. I hope everyone reading this is doing well and I will let you all know when Braden decides he is ready for the world.

Melina

P.S. Thanks for all the well wishes throughout this time!

Maternity Leave Begins

Yesterday marked my last day of work and I am officially on maternity leave. The kids and staff spoiled me with gifts, a plant that my bosses are now fighting over (LOL), and cake. I was surprised in myself for not getting emotional and crying, though, I got a bit teary eyed. I don't think it has hit me yet.

I have so much to do before Braden makes his grand debut. My friend thinks that I am starting to nest, because I want to move furniture around, steam clean the rest of the carpets, muck and throw things out. I just want to gets things ready while at the same time try and get some rest. Everyone tells me to get it now while I still can.

Braden has explored new territory in my tummy. My ribs are his favourite place lately. He just sticks his little foot underneath and I have to guide him out. And, my bladder I have come to conclude is his trampoline.

I have an appointment with the OB/GYN on Wednesday. I know so far that I have gained 30 pounds. The weight doesn't bother me, but my legs hurt. I keep getting shin splints. The funniest part is I try to go for a daily walk and I get half way and my legs start cramping. I almost have to call Matt to come pick me up, but he would literally drive like 15 feet. So, I just go through it and walk to the store. Once inside I will be holding my legs up to help the cramping. I look like I just walked a marathon or something. Then I make the trek back home. I am hoping to walk a bit further today, but we will see how that goes LOL.

8 weeks to go to meet our son! :)

April Showers Brings ... Hospital Visits?

Brace yourself folks. Are you ready for the new adventure of melinahood?

Well for those of you who don't know some pregnant women get leg cramps during pregnancy. They can be in the lower leg, upper leg, whatever. For me I get the cramping in my calves and most often at night when I am sleeping. Think of a bad charlie horse. They wake me up from my sleep and I have to stretch it out. They don't last more than 30 seconds but they can be very painful. On Wednesday morning I awoke with such a bad cramp in my left calf that I jumped up like in the movies when someone has a bad dream. I jumped up and tried stretching it out. It subsided some and I went back to sleep. But, when I woke up for the day it still hurt and continues to now.

For the past few days I kept trying to stretch it out, elevated my leg and used hot compresses. About 5:30 last night it was hard to walk so I called Telehealth hoping they could give me some remedies for it. Of course the nurse tells me to see a doctor within four hours. I thought okay this lady is overreacting. It is a calf. I then called the Maternity ward at the hospital and talked to a very nice nurse. She too felt I needed to come in to get it checked. Matt and I had dinner plans with friends so when he got home from work I told him to go for supper. It was calf for crying out loud.

Apparently calf pain can indicate blood clots. I get to the hospital and as usual get hooked up to the monitors. Braden moved around doing his thing nice and healthy. The nurse did her normal examination then checked my calf. It was a bit swollen and warm to the touch. She figured that I would be admitted because it was bigger than my other calf. The doctor was just called into the OR to do a Cesarean and would come see me as soon as possible. I waited nice and patiently, brought a book to read, and was quite impressed on how comfortable the stretcher was. I figure they put all the comfy stretchers up in the Mat Ward considering pregnant women are so uncomfortable to begin with. At least give them something cushiony and soft.

The Doctor came in and started measuring my legs. My left ankle was 5 cm bigger than my right. I was like holy fucking shit. That can't be good LOL. I understand the measuring is important, but when he got up to my thighs I got depressed. A pregnant woman should only need to know the amount of weight she gains not her measurements. Just as I believe a pregnant woman should not own a full length mirror. You ever walk in front of those and go "HOLY SHIT!!!!! WHERE DID MY THIGHS GO?" And, don't get me started on my butt =oP

Where was I going with this? Oh yeah so the doctor examines me and then orders blood work and an ultrasound on my leg. The nicest and sweetest nurse came and wheeled me down for the ultrasound. I felt bad that the technician was called in for it. The nurse told me to stop feeling bad, because this is their jobs. So I get the ultrasound which is very odd. Luckily no blood clot. But, I still had to wait for my blood work to come back.

Once I got back up to the room Matt had arrived. As did two women in labour. Matt's face was priceless. Of course the curtains were closed around all of us. But, as soon as he heard a nurse talk to the women about leakage of the water his would cringe. Then he saw the examining light they use to check the vagina. Oh I can't wait till he sees stirrups.

Anyways, 3.5 hours later and four pees my results came back and luckily there was no blood clot or anything to worry about. Matt and I were sent back home. It was once again another adventurous night in the Gasper family. I hope I don't have to go back up to that hospital now until someone I know has a baby or when Braden is ready to come out.

Here's hoping!!!!!!!!!

New Changes

It's unbelievable how much changes in just a week. I can feel Braden's movement more and more, and can now distinguish what body part he using. On Saturday night he discovered how to knee me. I am not kidding. I was in bed and he just kept kneeing me like crazy until I switched positions. I can already tell this lil boys personality. He gets impatient when I get hungry and does like to wait till I actually cook the food, if I am laying a way he doesn't like he lets me know, he is very stubborn, and he loves to play games with his Daddy. Each day, though, continues to be an adventure and we are loving every minute of it.

This past Sunday Braden's cousin Heidi decided to make her grand entrance into the world. We are very excited to meet her. We now wait patiently for his other friend Michaela to make her entrance, and then next month Hudson should be here. Braden's gonna have lots of friends waiting for him when he finally comes.

Despite all our great adventures I have had to make the difficult decision to start maternity leave early. I am sure most women get excited about it, but I literally balled my eyes writing my letter. But, I have two amazing bosses who are so understanding and told me that I have to do what is best for me and Braden. All my parents at work have wished me well and the kids are getting sad. Next Friday is my last day and I am sure when five o'clock comes along Matt will have to guide me out of the building cause I will be crying. But, I will go visit as often as I can. I am going to be so bored being on mat leave 8 weeks early, but all my parents keep telling me to enjoy it and rest, because after the baby is born I will never rest again.

Well that is all for this week. I am craving chocolate pudding again :) I can hear it calling my name from the fridge.