Introduction

     

ABOUT ME

My name is Lisa and I am a stay at home mom to three wonderful kids. Ariana is 4 years old, Lily is 3 years old and Joshua is 11 months old.

My journey into motherhood start just over five years ago. One day in August 2006 I realized that my nausea was not a virus. We went and bought a home pregnancy test which confirmed my feeling. I was shaking and I think in shock. I had no idea what I was going to do. I remember wondering how I was going to raise a child when I was still a kid myself. I know that sounds strange considering I was married. However I had just turned 19 and did not have my life together at all. My husband however had his head in the clouds. He was so excited. He told about 20 people before I even stopped shaking. Once the shock wore off I was just as excited. I remember that night I had a dream that I had the baby and I went in the baby's room to check in and there was six cribs in it. I almost had a heart attack. Needless to say I was a nervous wreck until a heartbeat confirmed there was only one baby.

My first prenatal appointment with my OB/GYN had to be one for the record. I refused to let her touch me. So the only thing she did was an ultrasound, which was the only thing I would allow. She confirmed the pregnancy, I was 6 weeks pregnant. We were able to see the little heart beat but we weren't able to hear it yet. She gave me all the normal information I needed, made sure I didn't have any questions and gave my a "pregnancy pack" to take home with me. When I left her office I hated her, I wanted another doctor. My husband told me to see her a second time because he thought she was very nice. He believed my anxiety had a play in my impression of her. I ended up loving her by the way and I also travel just over an hour to see her now:-)

My pregnancy went as normal as can be. I was pregnant with a healthy normal baby. My first trimester I was so sick, I thought I was going to starve to death. The second trimester I felt refreshed, back to normal. We went for my 20 week ultrasound and found out that I was carrying a healthy baby girl. When we left the appointment we started thinking about baby names. I fell in love with the name Ariana. My husband didn't like it at first but it grew on him over time. Oh yeah it took a whole 2 hours for it to grow on him, once his mother said she liked it, he loved the name. But he picked the middle name, Celene. My third trimester was on the harder side, mostly back pain and just plain tiredness. Her kicks and punches were enough to keep me going!

A week after my baby shower I went to the restroom and there was blood everywhere. So white as a ghost I went to my husband told him what was going on and we decided to call the doctor. I made the call and a "fill in" doctor returned my call. My doctor was on vacation and wasn't due back for two more weeks. He suggested we go to the hospital and get it checked out. When I arrived at the hospital I was terrified. They ran their test and found I was 2 centimeters dilated. They then admitted me so they can watch me, I was also on bed rest. Keep in mind I am only 34 weeks pregnant. After 3 days with no signs of "active labor" they release me at 4 centimeters. Strict bed rest was still to be followed and it was basically to jump start my labor. He knew that once I got home and walked up/down stairs, took showers, etc.. it was only a matter of time. Well they were right. After only 24 hours at home I ended up back at the hospital with the feeling the baby was going to fall out. I am sure you all know that feeling.

When I was admitted to the hospital I was 6 centimeters dilated with no contractions, at least none that I felt. A day later when my mother and step-father were do to visit me they decided it was time for me to make a decision. I was 35 weeks and they wanted me to decide if I wanted them to break my water and start labor, since I was 7 centimeters at that time. Well after discussing it with my husband and mother I made my choice, I was ready to have my daughter. So after I refused the epidural they came in and broke my water. I had my first contraction within minutes and cried for my mommy. Yes I actually cried "Mommy". After about 50 minutes of contractions I wanted the epidural. However it was too late. I was 10 centimeters and ready to push. We started the pushing phrase and I was not happy. If they wanted to hold their breath for ten seconds while pushing that was fine but I was doing it my way. I remember the nurse telling me that I would be there all night pushing if I didn't start listening to her. So I told her fine then I guess she will be there all night too. After only 40 minutes my mother was able to see Ariana's hair when I pushed. After only 48 minutes of pushing

My daughter was perfect! I had just one problem, my sweet little baby broke my tail bone during labor. It was horrible. I was in so much pain, I could hardly move. My wonderful husband step in and took care of her most of the time. It took the doctors three weeks to figure out it was a broken tail bone and not a pulled muscle. Luckily by the time she was 3 months old I was just about back to normal. It was then that I was really able to start enjoying my little angel. I was finally able to get to know her. She was so happy but she had her moments too.

Once I settled in to my new role of being a mom my Ariana was just over 4 months old. Then suddenly everything changed. I began getting sick all the time, I was so tired all the time. So I sat my husband down and told him I had this feeling before and that I thought we should buy a home pregnancy test. We went and got the test so that night I took the test and waited on the couch with my husband to see the results. When it was finally time to see the results, my heart was pounding I was not sure if I was ready for another little one so soon. The results were positive, I was pregnant. I showed it to my husband and he asked me if the results could change:-) I told him no, the obvious answer, lol. So I scheduled another doctors appointment and off we went. I really never planned on another baby so soon but I also knew how blessed I was. I went to my appointment where my doctor confirmed the pregnancy. Everything was going great! I went to my ultrasound where we were told we would be having another girl.

My pregnancy was going as planned until I got to 29 weeks. I started having contractions and I had to be put on medication and bed rest. I switched over to weekly appointments so they could watch us better. Then when I went for my 35 week check up, I had to have an ultrasound done. I found out three things, the baby was smaller then they want, she wasn't moving and there was no fetal breathing. My doctor decided to induce labor that night. I got the the hospital at 7:30pm. They got their test ran and started my IV. They told me to get some rest before the doctor got there. My doctor can in and broke my water at 12:00. After three contractions and one push my baby was born at 12:08 am. She was perfect. She weighed 4lbs 7oz and was 17in long. She stayed with me in the hospital until we were discharged 2 days later.

Once we got her home we still didn't have a name for her. My husband originally picked Courtney Nicole but it just didn't fit her. We finally decided on Lily Ann, which was perfect for her. We had some adjustments to make while caring for Ariana and our new Lily. Since she was so small they had us bring her in for weekly weight checks and we had a home nurse come to the house once a week. When she was two months old she weighed only 6lbs after losing almost 1lb in less then a week. They admitted her into the children's hospital and told us to pray for her. She keep losing weight and they could find a reason. Finally after changing her formula and adding rice to her bottle she started to doing better. It turns out she was just very gassy. Ha Ha

She was a healthy baby again. I couldn't believe how fast she turned around. She was my fighter. So sweet, so innocent. We eventually got into the swing of things with the two little ones. I got back to working and everything was great.

One day at work I got really sick, I didn't think anything of it at first. Then a few days later when I didn't get better I bought a pregnancy test. It was negative. A week later I was still sick and I had that feeling so I bought another pregnancy test. It too was negative. Once again a week later still sick so I bought yet another test. I was negative. I was so confused. I "knew" I was pregnant, I had to be. Well after another week I bought a forth pregnancy test. Yay!!! It was positive. I knew I was pregnant.

My pregnancy this time was completely normal. I gained weight, ate well and had no problems. I left work when I was 6 months pregnant. Went on bed rest with privileges. All as a precaution. At my 20 week ultrasound I found out I was carrying a healthy baby BOY!!! I gave my husband a list of pre-approved names so he could choose the name:-) He decided on Joshua Andrew. I loved it and it stuck. My doctor scheduled me to be induced at 39 weeks. They came in and started inducing me at 9am. Well at 2:35pm my perfect little boy pushed his way into the world, he had help of coarse. He was bigger then my girls and bigger then my doctor thought. He was too big for me:-( My doctor got her hand stuck around his neck inside me. SCARY!!! She knew when she saw his head that he was too big and tried to help pull him out a little. To prevent drugs or c-section, since I didn't want those. Well she got him out without needing forceps or suctions. He was 6lbs 11oz and 19 3/4 in long. Healthy as can be.

To this day Joshua is a handsome and healthy baby. He is always happy. Hardly cries. The perfect baby. We adjusted very fast with him. The girls LOVE him! We are finally complete.

So that is how I got where I am. My wonderful birth stories. What's yours?