New Beginnings

Hello again all! It's been quite some time since I've written, so I thought I'd jump on while I have a chance and let you all know what's knew. Granted, if you're my friend on facebook, you probably already know all of this, but I'm going to say it all anyways.

If I go in order of events, I should start with having a baby!

February 13, I was awake around 2:30 am, unable to go back to sleep, and counting very mild contractions at about 5 minutes apart. So Andrew and I went to the hospital at around 4 am. My contractions were just regular enough that they decided to keep me for observation to see if I was dilating. My midwife checked me around 8 am and told me that she would normally say to go home and walk, but being as it was well below freezing, she suggested I stay and walk in the hospital and that she'd check me around lunchtime.

At lunchtime, she measured me at 90-95% effaced and dilated to 4 cm. So she broke my water. She told me to start thinking about petosin to help move things along faster since I'd already been at the hospital that long, as well as an epidural (since most people who get petosin need one). Well, let me tell you! Once my contractions really hit, they hit hard! There was no more thinking about an epidural - I wanted one right then and there! At one point, I had to use the bathroom, and I had a contraction so back it made me poop and puke all at the same time.

SO I got an epidural. With the first one, unfortunately, I was one of those women that get a hot spot, which is one isolated area where you can still feel contractions...and it was in my right hip. Plus I was a little lightheaded. So the anesthesiologist came and took that one out and put in a new one in a different location. That was the second time I threw up. After that second one started working, though, I was able to relax and get a short nap in.

A little while later, Andrew decided to go find something to eat (he'd had about as much as I'd had to eat that day). The midwife came in as the nurse was about to check my progress and start me on petosin. As soon as the midwife checked me, she asked where dad was, so we had to call Andrew and say "it's time!" I had gone from 5-10 cm in an hour and was ready to push! (At some point in this story, they had to hook a monitor to my baby's head to check her heart rate because it had dipped so low. My memory of the day is a tad bit blurry.)

Well, Andrew held my left leg, which I couldn't feel at all, while the nurse held my right leg. Twenty minutes of pushing later, out came this beautiful 8 lb, 19.5 inch long baby girl. And we became parents.

I know there's a few things about that day that I probably left out, like when I had a contraction in front of the nurses station and told them all "This sucks!" when it was over. But that's the jist of it.

Now for other great news: Andrew and I got married! We kept it simple and just went to the magistrate's office with my parents and his dad. We plan to do a ceremony of some sort, maybe a vows renewal type thing, next year or the year after that we'll invite a lot of friends to so there's a celebration. But I'm super happy! (Also, you know it's love when they see you at your grossest...IE puking/pooping or pushing out a baby...and still think you're beautiful and are proud of you!)

Other than that, I've just been taking things one day at a time. I'm learning to be both a wife and a mom now. And I wouldn't change a thing.

It's 2015!

So, Happy New Year! Okay, so I'm a few days late for the holiday, but I've been a little busy. Therefore, I'm doing my new year post today.

First, a reflection on 2014. Last year, I made a few resolutions, most of which I actually kept.
Here's what they were and how that went:
1. Finish reading my Bible. While I didn't finish, I did at least make a good dent in how far I got.
2. Live in love (or stop living in fear). I've gotten much better at not living in fear and learning to speak up for myself.
3. Plan trips. While I didn't make any huge trip plans, I have gotten much better (with the help of my wonderful fiance) at planning trips home to visit family and friends.
4. Take care of myself physically. I've definitely done well with this. I got to the point that I could jog two miles, got a lot of my flexibility back, drank lots more water, cooked more, and took better care of my appearance. Granted, I also got pregnant, which meant I've had to make sure to take decent care of myself.
5. Repair and/or replace old junk. Done, done, and done.
6. Be in at least one play.I was in Chicago, which is a dream come true, so check!
7. Choreograph a full routine. Unfortunately, I didn't finish a routine. I did get quite a bit of one done, though! And I finished some other artsy projects, so go me!

What else happened in 2014 that's worth noting? I:

A) moved in with my then boyfriend,

 B) worked at the humane society,

C) made some friends,
D) found out I was pregnant with a little girl,
E) got engaged,

F) and knitted an entire blanket!

I also had the joy of being able to decorate for Christmas for the first time in years!!

So now, what have I been up to these last few days? Mostly, getting ready for Rin to arrive. Once we got back to Boone from an extended visit home (which was on the 2nd), we unpacked, rearranged the apartment, and we're still working on getting everything put away. I still can't believe it's so close to my due date. Right now, I'm at 33 works. Which means that at the end of this month, I'm considered full term and I can go into labor at any point.

As for how the pregnancy itself is going, to start out with, I'm finally to that point that it's surprising if I don't accidentally pee a little when I do things like sneeze really hard. My body seems to be functioning properly though, so that's a great thing to think about!

I still find it fascinating when I can feel her move. Her favorite spot to stick (I'm assuming) her butt is my ribs on the left side of my body...especially when I'm trying to eat. She knows her daddy's voice and will boogy to music. And she's started sticking her foot out. I'm assuming it's a foot at least.

So yeah, pregnancy is going well. The only complaint I have is that I've discovered that pregnancy insomnia is a real thing and it's incredibly obnoxious.

On a super bright side, though, my mom and dad are getting to come over around the time Rin is due to be born! I'm so so so excited and thankful for this!!!

Now, what are my goals for 2015? I'm going to keep it simple this year.
1) Get legally married, and be the best wife I can be.
2) Give birth to a healthy baby, and be the best mom I can be.
3) Have grace with myself as I grow into my new roles.
4) Start to get myself back into shape after having a baby, while finding beauty in the changes that have occurred in my body.

Hopefully, I'll be able to accomplish these things. There's a few other things I'd love to do, but I know I'll have plenty on my plate with just becoming a mom.

That's all for now!!