37 Weeks

So I thought I'd do a "Remember When" posting about when I went into labor with our precious Shyla. When I was 37 weeks (well only a couple hours past the 37 week mark) along I went into labor. Looking back, it's possible I went into labor earlier in the afternoon/evening, but I didn't really feel too much different than I had on other days so I didn't know. I had been having Braxton Hicks contractions from 4 months on (same with the second pregnancy) and I'm thinking it prevented me in a way from noticing when labor started since I was accustomed to the feeling already.

Here's how it went down in the final minutes:

2:15am: I woke up with the feeling I had to use the restroom and my stomach cramping (not off and on like a contraction, but constant). Actually it was more of a stabbing pain than cramping. This seemed somewhat normal to me since that is how I would feel every time I had to use the restroom for the last couple months of pregnancy. So I went in to use the restroom. I spent the next half hour trying to go back to bed, but every time I stood up or moved I felt like I wet myself. (I know most of you are thinking "duh, your water broke", however in my defense it wasn't obvious to me. It wasn't "water gushing out", or even a "trickle", it was just a drip here and there so I thought it was those muscles were just not stong at the moment since I had a baby pressing down on them...boy was I wrong!) Since our due date was still 3 weeks away and the pain was constant, I didn't think I was in labor, I thought maybe something worse.

2:45am: I decided to lie down and see if that helped. I fell over on the pillows in pain and woke Jake up by poking him in the back. He quickly got out of bed and got the phone to call Labor/Delivery, which surprisingly wasn't even on my mind (smart guy… if we waited any longer we'd have never made it to the hospital in time).

2:50am: Jake is on the phone with the hospital. They asked how far apart the contractions were but he just said it wasn't contractions, just a constant pain. The lady wanted to talk to me and asked a few questions. Then she asked "Do you think you need to come in?" I said I don't know and gave Jake the phone. Jake says to me "Do you want to go in?" Now, I'm thinking it's going to be nothing so I say "I don't know" and started crying from the pain. Jake tells the lady "we're coming in". (Smart move Jake).

3:15am: As we're about to head out the door I look up to see Jake grabbing the carseat and bags for the hospital and I'm thinking "He's overreacting, they are going to tell me it's gas pains or something small and send me home".

3:20am: We're in the car ready to go. The pain is so intense at this point I don't know how I'm going to make the 20-minute drive to Walnut Creek.

3:24am: On the freeway I could tell the pains were now coming and going. I think to myself "Uh oh, I just may be in labor!" I asked Jake what time it was. (I figured if I am in labor I want to know how far apart the contractions are). He says 3:24. I asked again. He says 3:26. I ask again. He says 3:28. We are about to exit the freeway I ask again. He says 3:29! At this point I feel some water come out and I know that what I felt earlier was my water breaking only the baby's head was in such a position that it allowed only a "trickle" to come out. From this point to the hospital the urge to push came on so strong I didn't think we'd make it to the hospital.

3:40am: We pull into the emergency parking and Jake runs to get a wheelchair. We rush up to labor/delivery and they check us into triage. The doctor checks me and says "she's ready NOW". Next thing I know I'm being rushed into the delivery room. We had an entire 8 minutes (give or take) from triage to birth. I know what you're all thinking… did she get an epidural? The answer is no. There was no time. They weren't even set up and ready for me things were moving along so fast that each time I had a contraction, the doctor told me NOT to push, so #1 there was less risk of tearing and #2… they just weren't ready.

3:53am: Baby Shyla Marie Bess is born.

I did need to get a couple stitches so I received pitocin to stop the bleeding (which didn't work). I had to take a Vicodin pill orally since I didn't get an IV (that didn't work). I got a shot of morphine in my hip (that didn't work). I received at least 6 shots of Lidocaine in the area to be stitched (those didn't work). SO… needless to say… I was stitched internally for about a half hour with no pain medication so I felt every stitch and tying off. There are NO words to describe the pain that comes with being stitched down there with no meds!!!

Present Day:

It's almost midnight and I know I should be in bed. I've been feeling contractions about as often as usual though each day they seem to be feeling stronger. The last couple weeks my tummy has been getting bigger, but in a different way than Shyla. I'm sticking out more "shelf-like" this time around. When I read to Shyla her bedtime story I have her laying to the side and I rest the book on my tummy. It's quite amusing to me. The baby has also been moving a lot more than he had been. I'm not sure if that's any indication he's coming soon or not.

I won't be worried if he wants to come now... or anytime before his due date. I'm sad the "pregnant" time is coming to an end, but am certainly anxious to meet the little guy!!!

Potty Training & Dad in Italy

POTTY TRAINING:
This new adventure has been going exceptionally well with Shyla. She now is potty trained at home (naps and bedtime excluded). The only times she has accidents, and they are few and far between, are when she is playing outside and refuses to come in to use her potty. Even when I know she has to go I let her say "no" and keep playing. She quickly is reminded that she probably should've come in to go potty.

We recently ventured out to a couple other houses "diaperless" to see how it went. No accidents!
Last night, we went to meet my mom in Castro Valley for dinner. We thought it a good time to test out a little bit longer trip. There was no accident on the way there. She used the potty before we left for dinner. She even used the potty at the restaurant! She's turning into such a big girl I can't believe it. I look at her sometimes and just wonder where the time has gone.

Soon it'll be naptime training, which I know entails many more clothing and bedding changes. I'm waiting until she wakes up from her naps "dry" more often before I attempt the next step.

DAD IN ITALY (short version):
I wish it was for more of a good reason, but my dad has been in Italy since May 3rd and is scheduled to come home on the 29th. My aunt had been diagnosed with breast cancer several months back and due to her age (a few years from 80) was only able to be given low doses of chemo. My dad, and consequently myself, only a short time ago found out about it. By then, we were told the cancer had spread from her breast to her lungs. Late April she was scheduled for surgery and during the testing process beforehand it was found that the cancer has also spread to her brain!

All the doctors could do really was "make her as comfortable as possible" and send her home so essentially wait for the inevitable. My dad spoke with his other sister and was told that at the time the oldest sister was not able to recognize everyone. It was obvious she was going quickly. So my dad that weekend got a plance ticket and left for Italy. It would be good for him to be able to see his sister one last time, but also to be able to spend time with his family over there.

Well, on Saturday, May 9th (day before Mother's Day) she passed. My dad said that he was glad to be able to see her one last time and I'm glad he was able to see her too.

For those who don't know my dad, his brother, and their parents came to America when my dad was just 15 years old. The 2 sisters stayed back in Italy. All the children, grandchildren, etc. from those 2 sisters are all still in Italy. I hope to go there one day and meet everyone (I've met a few over the years) but I'm deathly afraid to fly and since it's a really long flight needing a layover (which means 2 take off and landings each way) I haven't been yet. I know I'm crazy, but I really don't like to fly!

Surprise Shower 5/9/09

So Jake had been planning a "date night" for us for a couple weeks. He wrote it on the calendar and we made it a point to set the time aside. I've mentioned it many times I'm sure, we tend to put us last before everything else we have to do. I hate that we do that because "everything else" will always be there. We'll never be 100% done with all that we have to do. However, it's so easy to do at the same time.

So we show up to drop Shyla off at our friends place and as we walk in... I find some nice, fun people in the kitchen. They all say "surprise!". It was a Baby Shower! I loved that so many people care enough about me to help Jake in putting this together and being there for me.

Lora and Betty (Betty's son Andrew)

Left to Right:

(Mother in Law Jeannie, Jake's Aunt Kathy, Jake's Grandma, and a BFF to my family DeEtte)

Left to Right:

(my mom, my BFF's Aimee and Jenn, and Tami)
Super lovely ladies from my ward: Becky, Marilyn, Betty, and Mary
Aimee and Jenn again.

We ate delicious food, mingled with exceptional ladies, and played some fun games. One of the games was to get a length of ribbon and guess how big around my tummy is. Whoever came the closest won. The older Betty at the shower came EXACTLY (within about 1/4") to the right length!

The whole pregnancy we've been working hard to include Shyla every step of the way. She certainly won the hearts of everyone at the party.

Some fun outfits we got for the baby.

A 4 generation picture with Jake's side of the family.

With only 4 weeks left before D-day (delivery day) we're anxiously awaiting our new arrival. It may be sooner than that so stay tuned. I want him to come early so I can be more comfortable but I also want him to stay in for a while so I can continue to get last minute needs in order. Either way... I CAN'T WAIT!

36 Weeks and Getting Uncomfortable

Tomorrow I will be 36 weeks along. I went to the doctor yesterday and he checked me and said that my cervix was dialating but still closed, he could feel the head (which means baby Bess is in position so get ready), and the heartbeat sounds good. I have another appointment in 2 weeks that I may or may not make, depending on the circumstances.

These pictures are from when I was 35 weeks.

Overall I am feeling just OK. The doctor even said I'm still carrying small but he's certainly "invading" my lung space. This pregnancy I'm carrying a lot higher so the whole time it's been difficult to breathe. I don't sleep well (if much at all) at night and any position I try to sleep in just makes my hips and back hurt since there are very few positions I can sleep in the last few months. No sleep = headaches first thing in the morning. I take Tylenol when I wake up and that usually wards off a worse headache. This HEAT lately hasn't been helping. Would someone please remind our Maker that summer hasn't started yet and this pregnant lady would like cooler weather for the next couple weeks???


We're moving right along getting the nursery put together and tying up loose ends. Shyla is handling things well thus far. She knows about this "thing" in my tummy called "brother", she can sign it too! She likes to lift my shirt and say "brother" and then lift her shirt and say "brother" or "baby". I hope she loves him once she realizes he'll be staying with us.

SHYLA LATELY (5 Fun Facts): I've been having a wonderful time getting to enjoy Shyla's last weeks as an only child. I am sad to loose the one-on-one time I've been able to have with her the last couple years, but anxious to meet our new addition to the family.


1. sings the ABC song (I didn't know she knew it and one of the toys in her room sings it. The other day she pushed the button that starts it and just starts singing along!)

2. loves to ask to go swimming (once we get her all ready and in the water she screams "all done" and wants out. However, once we take her out she screams to come back in.) Hmmm.

3. is enjoying coloring quite a bit and can draw a face with hair with some direction from us.

4. singing You Are My Suh-shine (she pronounces very well the words we taught her the signs to in the song and mumbles the tune for the rest).

5. LOVES, I repeat LOVES to play outside. Any temperature. Any time. First thing when we come downstairs. Last thing before bed. She screams when she has to come in to eat or take a nap. She really enjoys playing with the dogs outside. She plays in their food and water dishes. She also takes her toys INTO their dog-gloo, even her pillow, and just lays there talking to them. She comes in the house FILTHY I'm sure you can imagine.

Mother's Day

MOTHER'S DAY 2009- Jake woke up early, which is saying a lot since neither of us really get the chance to sleep in and when we do... it's Mother's Day! I stayed upstairs watching TV while Jake came down and made me breakfast. MMMmmm we had eggs, toast, bacon, and my fav... SMOOTHIES!

I got 3 cards... one from Jake, which was really, really sweet. One from Shyla, which made me laugh. And one from our son, which was a nice touch to breakfast. Getting a little something from each family member shows they are thinking of me and I cherish stuff like that.

After breakfast, we hung out and chatted a bit, cleaned up, and went to church. Not that I need to be bribed to go to church but we got bags of chocolate after Sacrament! It was a nice, mellow time at church. During Relief Society's lesson if we wanted to we could share something nice about our mom, or any mom or mother figure that we know. One lady shared a very touching few words about her Visiting Teacher. I won't name any names... you know who you are :) I don't think there was a dry eye in the room. It was so nice to hear how someone can be such strength to another. We help lift others in ways we never knew we could and that is a gift we all have and should never be forgotten! After she spoke, her daughter said some nice words about her and that made even MORE tears! It was a nice end to the afternoon.

For dinner we weren't able to spend it with either of our mom's but we did go to our friends house and had a nice dinner with their family. Their daughter was in town visiting so it was good food, with great friends, and I had a really genuinely peaceful day.

Days Like This

A couple weeks ago Shyla and I were going to work with Daddy to give him a hand. This is how I found Shyla when I went to get her in the morning. I got her dressed, but still had her hair to figure out. Ever have days where you feel like this?

Going out to the "tuck".

This is how we often find Shyla... doing whatever we do. This day she really wanted to go to work with daddy, but since she couldn't go we just let her put shoes (really her sandals) on and we went outside to wave bye-bye. She even moves her hands around like she's tying her shoes. It's really cute! Yes, I put panties on her before going outside.

Note to self: She may not like me when she's older knowing what I took pictures of when she was little.

In The Carwash

This was just too precious for me to pass up posting. Jake, Shyla, and I went to take Jake's truck through the carwash today (normally we'd do it ourselves, but we're a little pressed for time to get things done lately). We drove in and even before the water began to come out, Shyla started saying "scared" (actually it sounds more like "scrred" which makes the experience much cuter).

It took about 5 minutes for us to get through the whole wash and the entire time Shyla was screaming and covering her eyes. Occasionally we'd get her to look up at the rainbow colored foam that would shoot onto the windows. She'd sort of half laugh/half cry.

When the carwash was over and we were driving away she starts to smile and laugh. She then says "Scrred, Shia, water scrred, eyes, ears *giggle*" Translation? "I was scared of the water so I covered my eyes and ears". Part of me wanted to take her out of the carseat and comfort her, but the part of me that had to get the camera (Jake's cell phone) and take pictures won.

I Don't Want Cake, I Want Chicken

We have had the hardest time getting Shyla to eat foods other than fruits, veggies, and some other random items. She'll eat at other people's houses, but with us it's usually a tough time. I'm not saying I don't love that she eats healthy, but it does get hard when I make something for Jake and I and I have to make a whole other food for Shyla. Finally the other morning she ate eggs! And tonight she ate chicken!

After dinner Jake and I had some leftover cake. Shyla said she wanted some so we put it on her plate. After 1 bite she proceeds to tell us "I don't want cake, I want chicken." So we put more chicken on her plate and she ate it. She ate a whole half breast of chicken.

Oh yeah and I cut her some bangs the other day. Well it was more of a snip in the middle since the sides were already kind of short. They look better in the morning. I think I did OK for my first time.

New Toy

Shyla got a new toy. The only way to describe it is that it's a pink princess wand that when you push the heart button the top part spins around and lights up. She's always been facinated with anything that lights up and/or makes noise. She flocks to those kind of toys.

We went into the bathroom where she could turn the toy on and get a better view of it. I remember doing things like that as a child and it was always a fun experience.