Entries from March 2008
I must interject here that I am a very compliant and nice person under these kinds of circumstances. I figure, “I don’t know how to fix this, they do.” and I let the doctors and nurses do what must be done. This can be both good and bad, as we’ll see later.
I chatted with the nurse in the ambulance all the way to Dallas. I was so excited. I remember saying, “This is a great day! I’m having my first baby, my first ambulance ride, and my first hospital stay! How exciting!”
I’m pretty sure she thought I was in shock, but she kept talking to me. I know she thought Ronnie was in shock. She said, as the ambulance pulled away from the hospital in Longview, “I think your husband is in shock. He seems too calm.”
“No.” I replied, “Ronnie is always like that. He never gets stressed.” (If that were only true today.)
When we arrived at the hospital in Dallas, it was almost dark. The EMT’s unloaded me from the ambulance. Of course, the skinny one nearly fell over from my weight-poor thing. The big guy showed him how it was done, and I was whisked in to Labor and Delivery once more.
I was in my room for barely five minutes when the telephone rang. Not believing it was for me, I had the nurse answer.
“It’s for you. Do you know a ‘Handsome’?”
“Yes,” that’s my sisters boyfriend!”
“Are you okay?” he asked in a panic, and gave me a brief lecture on scaring everyone. “Here’s your sister.”
No doubt she had been pacing the floor, wringing her hands. Jennifer took over his side of the conversation. She was very emotional and made me cry.
Our conversation tomorrow. Meanwhile, here’s a photo of Sofia at two months:
Categories: Uncategorized
I cried the whole 30 minute drive to Longview. Ronnie sped silently and held my hand between shifting.
At Linda’s office, I was weighed, my urine was tested for protein, and my blood pressure was checked.
The results:
weight=+20 pounds in 3 weeks
urine=+4
blood pressure=203/133
Becky said, “Lay down honey. You’re going to the hospital.”
She told me I would go to Dallas or Shreveport, depending on what the doctor on call decided about the condition of the baby, and that he would be born in a few days.
Ronnie drove me across the street to Longview Regional Medical Center. I was rushed to Labor and Delivery. An IV was started with Magnesium Sulfate, which made me really hot all over. They inserted a catheter and gave me a steroid shot in the butt. I was told the steroids were for Ethan’s lung development.
Within an hour or so, the decision was made that I would be transported via ambulance to Dallas, and I was told again that my baby would be born in the next few days.
Just as they were loading me into the ambulance, Brother Robert Massey, our pastor at the time, and a good friend, Ricky Bryan, caught up with us. The EMT’s waited so patiently as they encouraged and prayed over me.
Categories: Uncategorized
We decided on the name Ethan Grant. Both names mean strength, or strong. We didn’t know that was a foreshadowing of what would come next.
April 12, 1999, Ronnie and I went for a walk around the block. We probably walked for about 30 minutes to an hour. The weather was beautiful, and I felt great, just really swollen.
April 13, 1999, I awoke with a severe headache, unlike anything I’d ever had before or have ever had since. My vision was so blurry, I could not make out the numbers on my digital alarm clock.
I had been baby sitting a little girl and, not feeling well, I called her mom to see if I could keep her at out apartment. She agreed and brought Chloe over for the day.
Just after putting Chloe down for her first nap, I called Linda’s office. I explained the headache and blurred vision to her nurse Becky, who told me to come in as soon as possible to check my blood pressure. I told her it might be later that afternoon when Ronnie was home from student teaching.
Then it happened. I turned around and saw my eyes in the mirror. The whites of my eyes were so swollen, I could actually see them ‘ripple’ between my eyelid and the colored portion of my eye.
I started crying and called Chloe’s mom to come get her. I then called the Jr. High, where Ronnie was, and told him to come get me for the doctors office.
Categories: Uncategorized
Ronnie and I had been married four months when we learned of our first child. His due date was June 29, 1999, just two days after our 1 year anniversary.
Morning sickness for me was mild. Only nausea and fatigue for the first trimester. Then, like a magic switch, I felt great!
Things were sailing along. We had our first appointment with our midwife, Lynn Jett, and all systems “go.” I made a trip to my parents house while Ronnie was gone to South Padre Island for Beach Reach. While I was there, my sister had a nice little conversation with my unborn, “Hey, you in there, hurry up and come out! We want to meet you!”
Looking back at the photos from that time, it was obvious that something wasn’t right.
Back at ETBU, Ronnie and I were called to the deans office. Seems as ‘on-campus’ residents, we could not have a home birth. With that realization, and with much prayer, Ronnie and I felt God leading us to find a doctor. We asked around and found Linda Boggs, a nurse practitioner in Longview.
On April 6, 1999, we had our 28 week ultrasound. IT’S A BOY!
I would post a photo of me from that Spring Break, but I can’t find it.
Categories: Uncategorized
20 minutes on the treadmill.
15 minutes in the sauna.
20 minutes in the shower.
Shopping.
Chocolate.
New clothes!
I feel so good!
Categories: Uncategorized
Here I come!
Last night, after supper, we loaded up the family and took the long drive to the Y.
We were able to apply for financial assistance, or else we would be paying more than we can afford. The pay scale is based on 2 parents, with children and a certain income. The financial assistance takes into account the number of children you have.
For instance: A two parent household with one or more children, making $50,000 a year would pay $67 a month.
That’s great if you only have 1 or 2 children, but with a family of 7, $67 makes a big dent in the budget, not to mention the amount of gas you’ll be spending to get there.
So, with a recent pay cut, trying to get out of all debt/student loans, we applied for the ’scholarship’. We should know within the next two weeks if we get it or not.
In the mean time, we have a guest pass, that works just like a membership. I can do all the things a member can do, while we wait for the scholarship.
I could hardly get to sleep last night thinking about going to work out today. The locker room even has a dry sauna! Be still my heart!
I’m so excited! I can work out, sit in the sauna for a few minutes, shower, fix my hair and makeup, all while the children are safe in the Child Watch area. I’m so excited!
Did I mention I am excited?
Photo: Today, March 26, 2008
Categories: Uncategorized
When I was thin you would see me in a nice dress regularly.
…you would find me wearing makeup and a big red smile.
…you would find me singing in the grocery store/department store/as I walked along the way.
…you would find me hugging people.
…you would find me.
Now, as an overweight person, you might not find me at all.
I feel awkward in my own skin.
I would rather not draw undue attention to myself, even positive attention.
I don’t feel comfortable in a dress.
For some good news…
We met a woman that works at the YMCA yesterday. She told us about the sliding scale for economically challenged families. She told us about 2 hours of child care a day, while I get to work out/shower/or even read!
We’ll be heading to the Y soon!
Categories: Uncategorized
Check out BabyBestBuy.com for inexpensive pinless cloth diapers and accessories.
I just ordered some from there. I’ll post a photo of Sofia in one when they come in!
Also check out DiaperSewing.com for a pattern to convert prefold diapers into fitted diapers. Super easy if you have the patience!
Categories: Home Made Stuff
(aka: diaper inserts)
I made these for the inserts for my pads, whenever that time comes, and then realized how perfectly sized they are for inserts in a newborn cloth diaper! Dual purpose! Whenever Sofia is too big for them, I’ll be able to use them for my menstrual pads.
I made them from a pattern from www.diapersewing.com.
I am quite proud that I didn’t even get the slightest bit angry with the sewing machine tonight.
FYI: These pads are made from flannel receiving blankets. They are 8 inches long and 3 inches (or so) wide. You could customize them for your own personal needs. I’m planning on making some larger for the toddler boy!
Categories: Home Made Stuff
After a bunch of research and a tight budget, we’ve decided to buy cloth diapers for Sofia and Levi, the toddler–some day he’ll potty train!
Then, some more research on making my own detergent and home cleaners and I actually found a pattern for cloth pads. You got that, cloth menstrual pads. Sorry if TMI.
I just recently made the switch to organic disposable pads after Sofia was born because I got a terrible rash on the inside of my legs from the wings of the pads I normally used.
So, going cloth diapers with the kiddos, it made since to go cloth with menstrual pads.
Of course, I wont need them for almost 2 years, but, hey, I can make one a month until Aunt Flow comes back and have plenty in the cupboard!
Going natural is becoming much more fun lately!
Categories: Home Made Stuff
