My Birth Story

I wish I could say I was one of those women who unexpectedly went into labor while hanging out somewhere. I wish I could say I needed to rush home to pack my bag because I just wasn't ready. Instead I can say my bag was packed and repacked 3 times before I saw the first sign of labor. We made it to my due date and then we sailed right on by it.

I felt the first contraction around 3:30 am on December 17th which was my due date. Thinking I was well on my way to laborville, I gathered my rice sock, cold packs, massagers, iPhone (with labor playlist set). I dimmed the lights then found myself a cozy spot on the futon bed downstairs. I asked Steve to get as much sleep upstairs as he could while I didn't need him because I was sure he wouldn't sleep at all once I got to the point where I did need him.

As I settled in my contractions started to settle into a pattern. 3 contractions at about 5 minutes apart, a 10 minute break then it would start all over again. I decided I should try to get some sleep while I still could so I started to nod off. I fell in and out of sleep awaking for the occassional tough contraction but usually quickly finding that sleepy place again.

Around 2:00pm that afternoon, Steve suggested that we start walking. So off to the mall we go to walk TJ into this world. After a couple of hours of squatting, swaying and breathing in public, I decided it was time to labor in private where I could reserve some dignity. On the way home my contractions started coming 3-4 minutes apart, making the ride extremely difficult. I made the first call to the on-call midwife who told me to wait until they were a solid 3 minutes for 2 hours.

Once we got home, Steve ran a tub of hot water for me to soak in. From that point I began a rotation of soaking in the tub then leaning on Steve. We did that until I met the requirements somewhere near 1am Friday morning and then off to the hospital we went. As they were checking me in they noticed my blood pressure was extremely high and tested me for pre-eclampsia. The test was negative but they were not convinced so they decided to do a 24 hour urine analysis. In the meantime they checked me and I was only 2 centimeters. So they sent us home but with a sleeping pill and a huge jug to collect urine in.

We get home and I finally get some rest, even though every contraction was strong enough to wake me up. Once the sleeping pill wore off, I was back to working through every contraction with the help of Steven. We did that through the night until I was completely exhausted. Around noon on Saturday I had enough and went to the hospital to demand either pain relief or something that would allow me to sleep so I could deal with them better.

Once I got there my water broke and they had to keep me there regardless. A few minutes into our celebration we were told I had protein in my urine and would be treated for pre-eclampsia. That meant I would be given magnesium and would have to labor in the bed. Since I was at the point where I could not handle a single contraction without standing and swaying, I knew I had to have an epidural.

So by 12:45 on Saturday I was in the hospital bed with a million and one tubes running into my body. Completely unaffected by the contractions, I slept like I never had before. After some time the doctors expressed concern about my failure to progress because of the magnesium. The decision was made to give me pitocin and then we began the attempt to find a perfect balance between contraction inducing pitocin and muscle relaxing magnesium. Of course you can't have pitocin in the mix without those troubling heartbeat fluctuations, so they dialed it down and waited out the 24 hours before the inevitable Cesarean took place.

I don't remember much of the surgery, I barely remember hearing him cry or seeing his face the in the operating room. I do remember waking up and not feeling a baby in belly for the first time in 35 weeks. A few minutes later they rolled my little angel into my room and it was all worth it.

Here He Is

I know it is has been a couple of months since I last blogged but I've been busy. LOL
Actually I or should I say we are still busy. Our little angel was born Sunday December 20th and weighed 9 lbs 12 oz. He was absolutely amazing and I was instantly in love. Labor is a story in itself and will be shared at a later date. What's most important is Thomas Joseph is happy and healthy in his home.My heart is beyond full and I am not sure if I can take anymore.

The pregnancy related evolution of me.

In light of the approaching New Year,I decided to look through my 2009 pictures. Anywho, I was amazed by how much pregnancy has changed my appearance and my overall demeanor. I know it sounds crazy because being preggo is all about the big belly, the double chin, large boobs and round cheeks but I was still shocked. Here are a few pics.







I kinda can't believe how much hair I had before and during the earlier part of my pregnancy. Who has that much time? Obviously not me because I am now rocking my new mommy hair cut. I also have noticed my preoccupation with looking halfway decent is now gone. I have a rotation of workout gear that I wear on a daily basis. I don't wear makeup or keep any kind of true waxing schedule. I use the I am just trying to make it through this pregnancy line as an excuse but I wonder if I am changed forever.

Who knows right now I don't care.
9 days till the due date!!! Not that it means much.

I'm Still Here

Hello All,

After getting messages through other social networks about my lack of new posts, I am getting it together. I can't believe almost 2 months went by but then again, I should. Life has been super crazy for me. Not crazy in a terrible way but in a I can't tell if I'm coming or going kinda way.

I have been at home full time since my last post because I started to show some stress signals. Elevated blood pressure, extreme amounts of pelvic pressure, nausea, headache and lower back ache, all caused my midwife to ask me to stop working if possible. I planned to work here or there but Steven wanted me to play it safe. I guess between the symptoms I was dealing with and the threat of H1N1 in the schools was enough to creep him out.

You would think staying home would afford me more time to post and get things done. Yeah that's so not true. Something about the lack of structure in my daily routine has made it easier to waste entire days. On top of that those new symptoms did not crop up without causing other problems. The biggest of which is no sleep. I have not slept properly in months and that has caused some serious fatigue. So yeah I have spent tons of time trying to get some sleep.

So yeah that's somewhat of an explanation of what I have been doing I guess. That's not all. Steven has been having fundraiser after fundraiser, many of which I have attended. Our friends here in Nashville threw an awesome Jack and Jill shower for us. We received tons of diapers, children's books and other essentials, all of which we were more than grateful for. Outside of that we have been spending as much time with our beloved crew as well as having lots of date time before TJ makes his grand entrance.




We finally got the nursery to an acceptable point. I'm not going to say it's finished because it's not but it's workable. Steven did the base coat and I sketched then painted the mural. I am happy to report that we are organized and if TJ were to be born today we could bring him home and thrive.

Braxton Hicks Suck!!!!

Excuse my whining but wowsers.

I have been stuck in some sort of braxton hicks holding pattern since yesterday. It's kinda weird. I have heard some women describe labor as some form of hell. If labor is hell like in any sort of way then braxton hicks land is purgatory.

They don't hurt per say but I mean they don't burn or make you feel like your muscles are being torn apart but they do take your bath away. Not in because of the pain but the squeezing. Baby TJ doesn't like it too much either because he immediately tries to find a more comfy spot which is usually closer to my ribs which makes breathing difficult.

Then you have the intense tightening of an already crowded space. Ouch. I really didn't think I could feel more full than I do now and then I had a braxton hick and thought I was going to lose my lunch. When they last for a long time anything more than 2 minutes, I get on my hands and knees and allow gravity to help fight the tightening.

The worse part of braxton hicks is my son's rebuttal. As soon as it begins to give, he insists on reminding both the hicks and myself that he is king of the uterine castle. He begins to kick and push like there is no tomorrow. I guess he does it until he believes he has submitted the hick and is once again comfortable. In the mean time my ribs take a beating. More so than anything, I am left wondering if he could possibly be this stubborn and feisty in real life. Scary.

10 weeks to go and so much to do.

So I have been so consumed by everything. I mean, sorting through shower gifts, putting things away deciding what clothes to pack up until later, changing sizes so they correspond with the season...you know that kind of stuff. I also had a million and one thank you notes to write and send off. Oh yeah and of course I have been harassing my husband to put together the baby furniture and make more progress on the many projects we have undertaken to get this room done. It doesn't look like it but we have made a lot of progress.

The room a month or so ago.

We still needed to deconstruct our closet and move our stuff.



We removed our headboard to find damage to the wall from old shelving.




But at least we had the changing table together.


Not so much an after but more so of a what it looks like now.

This was after the storm of shower gifts hit the room.






So we moved some things around and shoved shower gifts onto the changing table. Put the crib and glider together. Then we dealt with the nightmare of a storage scenario we have with our things. Baby TJ can have unlimited belongings but we will be yard selling most of our things by the end of the month. I figure my clothes will be outdated by next winter season and I will be 28 and some one's mom, so most of it can go to someone else. However, I am not letting go of my shoes.

Anywho,in the next month we will be focused on getting the house ready, that means our new room (in the loft), the baby's room (in our old room)and the kitchen which I am sure he will take over with the various bottles, pump accessories and whatever else. We also have to do the whole education deal breastfeeding, childbirth and new parent classes. Then there is the fun but essential stuff such as belly pictures, belly cast and plenty of rest and relaxation. I am not sure how we will fit it all into 10 weeks but as long as we don't skimp on the fun stuff, I am pretty sure we will be fine.

I have been making soups and other hearty dishes to put in the freezer. We have also found some great low sodium, low fat prepared foods from Trader Joe's which will make life easy for us as well. I have written a birth plan, started packing the hospital bag and set up an interview with a pediatrician. Another important task is to find a Christmas outfit for TJ. Random I know.

Forgot to add my most important accomplishment....got a haircut.

Went from this


To this

Showered with love

OMG!!! The big day finally arrived,not the birth of the baby but the baby shower. I finally found something to wear,though it was not at all spectacular, the waters in Atlanta receded and we were ready to go.

The shower was absolutely amazing. My mother, sister and friend Courtney hosted the amazing event with additional contributions from countless friends and family members. I didn't know much about what would happen at the shower but I knew the food would mostly salads. At the beginning of the pregnancy, I only wanted salad. When we were discussing a shower menu, I randomly said I don't care if it's all salads. So she went with it. It was wonderful.

There was a mixed green salad, Greek cucumber and tomato salad, chicken salad, turkey salad, fruit salad, cheese and deserts. Yummo! That was my kind of menu. Wowsers. I spent most of the shower walking back and forth to the food as people played games and socialized. I never really stopped eating.




The rest of the shower was equally amazing. My mom had a preggo picture of Steven and I for everyone to sign. Then there was the cutest baby shower book with guest signatures, guest advice, pictures and all types of things. The shower games were original and obviously challenging, as I was chased away from table after table because I was talking when people were trying to concentrate. LOL. The favors were all personalized and adorable. The cover of the game books was a reproduction of the canvas that inspired the nursery design. I was so outdone by the attention to detail and seeing so many random conversations held with my mom brought into this shower. I felt so loved.




My Mothers


Anywho, the most amazing part was how generous everyone was. I always appreciate any gift I receive but I was floored by the thought and consideration people placed into the gifts. Though I had a registry, there were many who purchased off registry and they considered the lack of space in our loft, my taste and the theme. We walked away from that shower with virtually everything we needed for TJ. Our parents have been extremely generous purchasing the crib,changing table, travel system, bassinet and more clothes than I can stand to hang (still working on it). Everything else we could imagine was purchased by the shower guests.

Me and the shower spoil


I still get choked up when I think about how much the shower was a blessing to us. We spent a lot of time worrying about how we would be able to afford this surprise baby of ours. This shows me God's timing is always the best timing. Worry or not, He always supplies.

I am on cloud 9.

A few pics more


I said I couldn't wait to see my son in those clothes, so someone put his ultrasound picture in this outfit. I thought it was funny.


4 generations of Smith women. Gotta Love it.



My college girlfriends representing