13 years ago

This morning at about 4 am MST marks the 13th anniversary of the one and only time that my water broke. I was pregnant with Jacob and I woke up when I heard a popping noise. Then I rushed to the restroom cause I thought I had just peed the bed.
I had heard from experienced mothers and read in books that sometimes the weight of the baby makes it hard to hold your urine. I had also (heard what I considered to be nightmare) stories about women who thought their water broke in public ... like at the grocery store ... only to find out that it wasn't their water. It was their urine.I was confident I didn't want *that* to happen. So, when I didn't mention it to Dwight. Instead I played solitaire while I tried to time contractions. But I wasn't really having any contractions. My back just hurt.
So, I took a shower early in the morning, played some more solitaire, and even called a friend. I asked her about contractions and she told me that they have a definite start and a definite stop. The pain I was feeling ... and the hardening of my stomach ... didn't really have a definite start or stop. And, it didn't really hurt as badly as I expected. So, I got ready for work.Dwight and I drove to the office where I continued to leak a little for the next 4 hours. Just before lunch one of the other ladies on my team was telling her birthing story and mentioned the "leaking of water for hours." I thought I probably should just check with the doctor.
I called and they of course told me to come in immediately. I called Dwight and asked if he was available to go to lunch. He was. So I explained that we needed to just drop by the OB's office for a quick check. I didn't really say anything else.When I was on the exam table they checked me. When the nurse asked me, "When did your water break?" I calmly replied, "Probably at about 4 this morning." Dwight was shocked! And bugged that I hadn't mentioned it. They told me to go immediately to the hospital. I asked if I could go get lunch first. (Remember, I wasn't in pain, just a little uncomfortable, and the hunger was obviously stronger than the discomfort.) They were bugged that I even asked.I should have just gone to lunch cause I was starving for the next 24 hours. Ice chips. Please. Why does anyone think that a woman should be able to labor ... yes *labor* for 24 hours on an empty stomach. At least give me some jello!Anyway ... I pushed and pushed and pushed ... well, I could go on for a while since I pushed for 2 hours! I begged for a repeat c-section, but the dr assured me that I would be glad that I didn't have one as he shoved forceps into me. Seriously, never go with the forceps. I wasn't glad. And, I still ended up with a c-section.But what I am glad about is that I have Jacob. He's a good kid! I have learned so much from Jacob. I am a better method because of Jacob.I'm looking forward to a day of celebration! We'll celebrate his 13 years, and many, many more to come!

This is the "rest week" before my next round of chemotherapy, and resting seems to be about all I am energetic enough to do. I feel very anxious to return to my normal routine of life. I want to work up a good sweat, lift some weights, etc.

Weird thing ... my mediport seems to make the right side of my neck rather stiff. I wonder if that's normal. Yesterday I thought perhaps it was just cause I've been babying it and not stretching enough. So, I started doing very gentle stretching, but this morning it just feels more stiff.

Yesterday, one of my friends from Austin came by to visit. It was so fun to see her and talk with her. It really lifted my spirits to visit with her. (Thank you for coming to visit, Amy!)

Then my "gourmet friend" came by to drop off dinner and stayed to visit for a while. My kids loved that she brought 2 of her kids with her. They had a great time catching a lizard! (Thank you for visiting and for the yummy dinner!)

I also received 2 beautiful cards in the mail yesterday and a special email. One was from my Aunt Della and the other was from my Uncle Jr & Aunt Anita. The email was from my Aunt Jamie & Uncle Leslie. I'm so blessed to have a wonderful extended family. Isn't it sweet that with all of their nieces and nephews (and they do have A LOT) that they take the time to show their love for me. They've always been like that. My aunts and uncles have a great ability to make me feel like the most important person in their world. Isn't that cool? I hope I can do the same for others.

Ryan is doing well. We increased his seizure meds and so he's sleeping in each day until about 10.30 or 11.30. His myoclonic seizures have decreased from 20-30 a day to about 10-15 each day. I need to track them really closely for a couple of days before we go see the Neurologist again next week. I'm anxious to hear the results of the EEG.

Speaking of results, the results from the tests that the metabolic geneticist ordered should be in by the end of next week. The neurologist suspects they will all come back as normal. If they do, it just means that we've eliminated more possibilities and that's okay.

Mothers

Please watch this.

If you're not familiar with Stephanie's story, she is a beautiful mother of 4 children who with her husband survived a near-death plane crash in 2008. She and her husband were in a small plane when it crashed and caught fire. She was in a coma for 3 months. They both suffered from severe burns, but survived!

She has been a blogger for a long time, but she now also includes the reality of a life that has been changed forever. Check out her blog here. But be forewarned that it is addicting. You will be more thankful for the mundane in your life. You will notice all the beauty around you. You will be glad for your life.

Finished ... Finally

It's finally finished!

I know these pictures aren't great, but I just had to show you tonight. It sure has taken me a long time to wrap up this project. I'm surprised ... and very thankful ... that it still fits her.

And, yes, it may be in the 80's or 90's in Texas, but guess what Deborah will be wearing next Sunday? :)

Happy Mother's Day!

Today has been a good day. Dwight "woke up at 4 am to make quiche and to prepare fresh berries." The quiche and the berries were really yummy! (But I'm pretty sure he bought the quiche already made and was asleep till after I woke up.) It was just nice to have breakfast in bed this morning. I then lazed about in bed till I suddenly realized it was already 10.30! Yikes! Now you know why we were late getting to church this morning.

On the way in from church, I noticed this beautiful orange flower in our front flower bed. Isn't it beautiful? I love the vivid orange color! It reminds me of my sister, Cindy. It seemed so perfect that it bloomed today. I wondered if Cindy would have sent a flower just like this one to Mom for Mother's day. What do you think, Mom?

After church, I had more quiche for lunch and the family gave me a new phone set since our current phones do not seem to always recharge. Deborah gave me this cute little card that she made for me today. There were even more sparkles on it, but they are now at the bottom of my diaper bag where she first put the card.

(Does anyone else see the Grinch when they look at this card?)

Didn't she do a great job writing her name. She seems to have mastered the D and the e. We probably need to do a little more work on the rest.

(So, do you see the Grinch?)

Johnathon also gave me the following card:

On the left side below is our garden. See how big those tomato plants are getting? Everyone is surprised that I haven't killed the garden. I'm definitely not known for having a green thumb.


Also, notice how long my eyelashes look. Johnathon is convinced that my eyelashes have grown even though I have lost a lot of my hair. I love that in this picture, I'm still taller than Johnathon ... even if only by a small amount.

Waking Up

This is how I found Ryan this morning when I went into his room to wake him for church.

We bought the blue bumper to keep him from sticking his legs through the crib. I guess it didn't work so well... oh, well. He's such a patient boy. Once he gets stuck, he doesn't really cry or scream. He just calls to us every couple of minutes until someone comes in and repositions him. I'm just so glad he's moving his legs. It was a good way to start Mother's Day!