JD's Newest Hangout

If you have children you know that they are always finding new places to hide, JD is no exception. He has loved to hide behind Isaac's chair, the bathroom and his newest place... drum roll... ...

Rae's bed! video on my facebook He can climb up on it, the better news is that he can get down! 

I wasn't able to get the MP3 player book thing I wanted for JD, it was a Thomas & Friends one I had seen before Christmas. Rae has a Dora one that JD loves and he loves Thomas so it would have been perfect. I sent Isaac to get an Elmo one, he called and said they had a Cars one. So this is what he got:

I think that is all for now. Isaac and I are going to spend some time together before he has to leave for work.

HISloveNAME

The Woodward Family

Just Breathe

We had another snow storm this week, well two actually, one right after another. The second one dropped some freezing rain making the snow heavy and weighing it down. Our landlord had the day off and went out around 2pm, after the first storm. Isaac went to get some groceries and when he got back he started working on trying to move my van. It wasn't moving. I got in and he and our landlord pushed. I got it out of the snow and into where he had already removed some snow. I couldn't get it back up the driveway but I was able to back down it. So the plan was to get a running start, except there was 3" of snow/slush on the road. Well, I thought that was the problem until Isaac told me the rear right tire wasn't turning. CRAAP! He worked on it, the landlord "helped" (he tries, but lacks some common sense) finally he disconnected the break on that side so the tire would turn and moved it back into he driveway. He hasn't had a chance to take a look at it again yet.

At one point during this whole thing I came in the house to call my father and when I turned around JD was up on the couch :-) so in the midst of something awful I am wicked proud of JD!!

HISloveNAME
The Woodward Family

JD's Birth Story

1 year later lol. Better late than never right?

Early Labor

Around 22 weeks I started having contractions when I did things especially picking Rae up. The doctor checked to make sure I wasn't dilating and luckily I wasn't. But I wasn't aloud to lift anything. Easier said than done, but done none the less. Around 30 weeks I thought I was having some contractions but I wasn't sure at this point in a pregnancy it doesn't matter if they are strong or not, they want to know about any you have that are 4 or more in an hour. But I didn't want to call.  After over 24 hours of not really feeling the baby move I called and was told to go to L&D (labor and delivery). Isaac was at class so a friend said she would watch Rae till he got out. She had never gotten ready for me as easily as she did that day. It had me a little worried, just to the point where I figured something must be going on. I headed in. Of course as soon as I get there the nurse is putting the monitors on and the baby kicks her. I told her "I swear it wasn't moving before" She said she believed me. I was having enough contractions that he would be tired and less likely to move. They did some blood work and such, all came back normal. They hydrated me, still contracting. They did a Fetal Fibronectin (fFN) test which came back positive basically it is a test that if it comes back positive could mean you are 1-3 weeks from delivery. Read the article it is very helpful.  I got a shot of terbutaline which slowed the contractions down but didn't stop them. They can give you up to 3 so they gave me another one. When that did nothing they didn't try again. They gave me steroid shots to help the baby's lungs develop. Because of this and wanting to get an ultrasound, I was in the hospital for 48 hours. The ultrasound showed the baby as being on the larger side, which is good if we were going to be dealing with a preterm delivery. They sent me home on some medication to slow things down, and bed rest. From here on out I saw only doctors, no more midwives. The contractions continued. I went back in at 32 weeks and was 2cm. This was just a few hour stay, no big thing.

The way things work is at 32 weeks I could have the baby in Beverly, so that was my goal. Once I made it to that I was less worried about how things were going to play out. Although, the whole time I was rather calm the nurses didn't quite understand it. I had people all over the world praying for me. God was in control. Whatever was going to happen, was going to happen. And I tried not to think about anything else. They were going more for 34 weeks. At that point they would no longer try to stop the labor, they would just let things happen.

Active Labor

At 33 weeks I told God that I was only a week away from 34 weeks. I wasn't going to call unless I was bleeding or actually in labor. Well at 33 weeks 2 days I was still having the contractions like I had been. But there were a few more stronger ones in an hour. I was counting and fell asleep. When I woke up I figured it couldn't be labor cause I fell asleep. I went to the bathroom and I was bleeding. Called the doctor, went right in. Rae was supposed to come home that day, she had been with my parents for 5 days. I was still at 2 cm but the doctor told me I had earned myself an over night stay. my mom was halfway down with Rae and headed back. This was the start of her unhappiness. The next morning the doctor told me she wanted to wait to check me until I was about to leave that afternoon. Well around 10am I had a strong contraction, the nurse came in and saw it on my face. I had a couple more while she was there and we called for the doctor she didn't leave me she just used the buzzer. The doctor checked me.. I had gone to 3 cm. They started me on Magnesium Sulfate. I was in the bed for good. This meant I also got to have a catheter fun lol Anyway. The only reason I got out of bed for the next 6 days was to have an ultrasound. And at 33 weeks 3 days the baby was 6lbs which meant if I went full term the baby could be over 9.5 lbs Also, I finally got to see Rae a week after she had left our apartment. She was a completely different kid. My doctor even came to see me even though he hadn't been on while I had been there. It was really nice to see him. At the 30 weeks he told me it was possible that I wouldn't have the baby till it was full term., and if he were a betting man he would bet I would go full term. A lot of what they were basing this all on was because Rae was 40 weeks 1 day. When he got to be the one to discharge me at 34 weeks he said I would have the baby preterm. At 36 weeks I was 4 cm and I stayed there till 38 weeks 4 days. The day before I had been having some pretty strong contractions but didn't call cause I knew I was coming in the next day. When he walked in for this appointment he told me he hated pregnancies like mine. It was great because it was all the same reasons I was frustrated. Almost 9 weeks of early labor is crazy. I reminded him that it was a good thing he wasn't a betting man. We laughed. He said he was going to check me and go from there. "Oh yeah" he said "you are easily 5 cm. The next time I am on it Monday, how about we induce so we can set down a stopping point. Unless you go before then." Which at this point we were both very much doubting. But I will never forget those words. A couple weeks before I wasn't about inducing, but by now YES PLEASE!

That appointment was on a Thursday. Saturday night Isaac and I were able to go out and get some last minute things. In the process of doing this I had a LOT of contractions. We kept stopping and I kept trying to stay relaxed. My mom and sister were going to be coming down Sunday night. I was frustrated because everything was all planned and this baby was going to ruin it. lol. Sunday night my mom and sister came down; my mom to watch Rae on Monday and my sister to be there for the birth. I got a decent amount of sleep Sunday night, although Rae was awake early and I ended up being the one with her. My mom said she would have done it if she had known I was still in there. I told her I knew but she had been through so much I wanted to be in there with her. 

^The Night Before^

Delivery

Isaac, my sister and I headed over to the hospital for 7am. We got there, all checked in  and learned that the midwife on was the same one who delivered Rae, she was rude and I didn't like her. I was hoping I didn't go into labor until after he was out of surgery. Before we started the nurse asked if I wanted an epi because at 5cm once they started it would probably be too late. Around 8:30 am they started the pitocin. Everything stayed the same, lots of contractions, only one or two an hour I could feel and even then they weren't extremely strong. Around 12:30 pm the nurse came in and said the doctor wanted to come in a break my water. She asked again about the epi. Again, I said no. So the nurse stopped the pitocin and I got into bed. Within a couple minutes the contractions we all strong. The nurse sat and monitored things for a little bit. She said she had to go do something and told me to send someone to get her if my water broke or I felt like I needed to push.Well no sooner did she leave the room then did my water break 1:04 pm. My sister ran out of the room. They came back in and checked me. She said "I don't feel anything" I was like What? Then she said "I've never seen someone so calm at 8cm" I think that is why she was so confused. lol. I was very calm, I just breathed through them and didn't think about anything and tried as hard as I could not to talk or even open my eyes. A little bit later she said she had to do something she might have said more, but I was very focused she said if I needed to push to get her. Well.. lol Same thing again, as soon as she left I HAD TO PUSH. This next part happens all within less than 5 mintues so just bare with it:

My nurse, another nurse and the doctor came rushing in. My nurse told me I had to move, the doctor told her that if I was comfortable we should try like this first. I said "I don't think I want to do this anymore" My nurse was in shock. My doctor just laughed and then told her I was joking. Isaac and the other nurse were on my right side and my sister and my nurse were on my left. The way my nurse and Chrys were pushing on my leg it caused quite a bit of pain later, another story for another day ;)  I pushed twice, the doctor told me to stop so he could unwrap the cord and then with another the baby was out. To be truthful I don't think I pushed at all, I think he just fell out lol. I think the pain was just him crowning. So at 1:40pm on Monday, January 18th, 2010 Joseph Daniel was finally born. At 39 weeks 1 day he was 8 lbs 9 oz which means he could have been 9 lbs 9 oz had he come at his due date.

 ^Newborn JD^

Random Information

My nurse told the nurse that was taking over that she had never seen anyone so calm. She described it as  Hypnobirthing but I was calmer than any of the woman she had ever seen do it. She also mentioned that the doctor wanted to induce because he feared I would go very quickly once I started in labor.

At my follow up appointment I asked him what happened. He said I definitely went into preterm labor, there was just no preterm birth. He thinks that the reason I went full term with Rae was because she was only 6 lbs 7 oz. My body started to really tell them it was ready when JD hit 6 lbs so that confirmed their thoughts. Which is exactly what I thought when they did the ultrasound and he was 6 lbs and then another doctor said the reason they base the next ones off the first babies is because if your body can carry a baby to term chances are good that it will always do that. 

^1 Year Later^

Phew... I think that is everything.

HISloveNAME

The Woodward Family

Where Does Time Go

It really is an honest question. And my answer is I have no idea. Things have been so busy since Christmas and I think it is partly because we have been so sick. I've had some sort of sickness since Thanksgiving mostly just colds but I did get the stomach bug and the kids have each had a bug and a bad cold since before Christmas. Its been rough. I wanted to get online and update because it was a year ago that I went into the doctors office hoping he would tell me to head over to the hospital that they would induce me then. Well, what happened I think was even better just because I got to plan a little more. He told me I was at 5cm and the next time he would be on would be Monday, so if I was still pregnant which most people wouldn't be but because of this pregnancy it wouldn't surprise him he would induce me. There were a couple of reasons this was nice. We got to go out Saturday night and get some last minute things although I had some strong contractions and probably should have gone in and my mom and sister were able to come down. My mom to watch Rae and my sister to be there when the baby JD was born. So right now I am thinking about the last few days of being pregnant. Because of the events that surrounded it they are pretty burned into my memory. Including stupid people saying things like "of course he wants to induce its what is convenient for him" Two things saying this proved to me. 1- People don't know how things work now. Any doctor could be on at any time, it isn't about YOUR doctor so much. 2- they didn't know my story. It was what was convenient for me too. I am not a fan of induction. In fact just 3 weeks before that another doctor was talking about it and I wanted nothing to do with it. But by almost 39 weeks I just wanted to be done. I didn't want to see how long I could go. Although as I write this I am starting to wonder, but over all I am happy with my chose. JD was born at 8 lbs 9 oz at 39 weeks 1 day. I don't think I wanted to go to 40 weeks. I mean, he practically fell out when I had him lol but I still don't want to know what it would have been like to deliver a 9.5 lb baby. Thank you lol 

Rae wants to eat a Popsicle with me so I have to get going. I think by his 1st birthday probably on I will post his birth story finally lol

HISloveNAME

The Woodward Family

First Steps!!

Sorry it is sideways... It is what it is and you get what you get... My little boy is walking!!

First Words?

The question mark is because I am really hoping they are the start to moving forward. I only fear this because of what we went through with Rae. However, he babbles and she really didn't. Tell me what you think?

I should warn you to turn the speakers down... I am pretty loud right at the beginning and then even louder at the end ;)

I am going to try to start just writting quick updates. The thought behind this is hoping I will forget less and will be able to share in every joy or worry that comes our way. That I will be here often enough that it doesn't become: 'oh yeah, I should update the blog' and I have to sit for 20 minutes and write something. I don't know how good I will become at that but I am going to try that for now.

HISloveNAME
The Woodward Family

I did it

I cut Rae's hair! It came out really good, I am pretty proud of myself. She was letting me brush her hair and play with it and so I decided to try and cut it. She HATES having her head touched, her hair brushed or washed. So I did it. Its a little sad, the first time its really ever been cut When she was about 7 months old I did cut her hair a little bit, there were two chunks that were a little longer than the rest, but that doesn't really count. I cut about an inch off. I wanted to trim the layered look off, make it look straight unlike mine her hair is think enough to look straight when you cut it. Its still plenty long though, and very beautiful. It will be interesting to see what the curls that were at the bottom do. It is possible that the rest would curl a little if it wasn't so long, so we will see if that is what happens. I didn't cut it all one length, the front is still a little shorter, but it looks angled, very nice.

Okay, enough about Rae's hair. lol

I was talking to my friend and we were at the door. She asked if it was ok that JD went out in the hall he was making his escape. I told her it was fine, he wasn't going to go anywhere. Boy, was I wrong lol. He went for the first stair, lifted his leg a time or two, and up he went. He probably would have done them all fairly quickly but we were all behind him. Since then he has tried to climb everything. He hasn't had much success though. But he is wicked cute.

His loveName
~The Woodwards

I'm Back?

Well I am hoping. I have been reading a couple more blogs from friends and feeling like I would like to start blogging again. Not that our lives are all that interesting, but ya'll missed that JD is now crawling! He started at about 6 months. He is standing and not quite cruising, but he does try to take steps between things. I really do think he looks around and realizes that we don't use furniture to hold onto when we walk. Rae's speech therapist said that he isn't even overextending his legs that much, which is odd for his age, but good because it means he really is strong enough to walk.

Rae's speech therapy is going well. She is moving ahead which is good, but frustrating because we would like to see her get into the town preschool because we can't afford a private one($3000 a year is just too much) We are going to be moving sometime in the next year (more on that later) and we are assuming they are cheaper up near my parents, which is where we plan to go. Rae is actually doing really well and may not have a problem, but it is still hard because they say she would really benefit from speech therapy for the next couple of years. But we can't afford that, and or preschool. It will all work out, somehow. I am very proud of her and I love the fact that I can ask her where something is and even if she didn't put it there, if she just saw it, she can tell me where it is.

That is it for now. I have been doing a really good job at keeping the apartment picked up and there are a few things I have to do while JD is napping.

I'm Done, But Thank You

This is copied and pasted straight from a post from a message board I belong to, but the end thank you applies here too (so if some of the abbreviations don't make sense that is why. Feel free to ask though):

At this point it is kind of bitter sweet. I am still pumping after being sick and while I know things could still get better from here they probably won't get much (because of the production issues I was having anyway) It takes me 4-5 times pumping to get a 4oz bottle. When, for me, it should only be like twice. DH ended up taking all of last week off because of DD being sick, then him, then me so pumping was easier than it will be. He goes back to work tonight and tomorrow I am on my own and I can't feed and pump. I did it with DD and DH and my mom told me they wouldn't let me do it again. And I don't mind because I think it contributed to my PPD after having her. (I have depression, its winter here and I also suffer from seasonal depression.) I can already see signs of it coming out and I see a lot of it relating to BFing and letting people down, including myself. I always wanted to be one of those happy BFing mommies, but I just can't do it. In fact I am starting to get angry, at myself, at dumb BFing people, and just people who BF in general. And I am sorry, but I would rather be happy and there for my children than attached to a baby all day to keep him from screaming, and causing my DD to be jealous and dislike me because I can't play with her. I do feel like I have failed, like I haven't tired hard enough, but I have. If you can do it, good for you. But I need to know where my limitations are, and I am pretty sure I have reached them.

I'm still not okay with this. I really did want to BF, that is why I cry. Part of me is just doing it to appease the masses, and so the part of me that wants to keep me healthy says that just for that reason I need to quit. I shouldn't do anything just to keep others happy. But know that if you (being a relative term to anyone I ever meet) say ANYTHING I will defend my right to be happy and healthy and to enjoy my children.

I do want to thank all of you who supported and gave me advice. It really means a lot to have people who are just willing to help out and not attack me. But I need to do what is best for my children (both of them) and for me, and BFing isn't it.

GB ~The Woodwards