Birth Story Part II

After the epidural was in, they noticed the baby was in distress. I *think* they lowered the pitocin again to see if that helped the baby, I'm not really sure what happened after the Epidural went in. I do know that it was very weird not being able to feel my lower body. I would touch my legs and they would feel so huge and jello-y.

Since the baby was still in distress, my ob came and talked to be about having to do a c-section. At this point I already knew in my mind it was going to happen, so I wasn't scared or anything, I just wanted my baby safely out. It's funny because I thought a c-section was the worse thing that could happen to me, and I was pretty calm at the moment.

So there we were, after all we went through, we were finally going to meet our little guy. My mom and mother in law started packing up, since only Mike could go in the operating room with me. They took me to the operating room and later Mike joined me. He held my hand the entire time, while we silently just looked at each other, I guess we were both nervous and at the same time relieved and excited.

(Less than a day old)

So that's how little Mr Andrew James (who's name we didn't agree on until 2 or 3 days after he was born) was born on Saturday November 13 at 11:45pm. He weighed 5lb 12oz and measured 19.5 inches. Even though I know my exact conception date and was 40 weeks, he was very little. The pediatricians at the hospital said he was small for gestational age (SGA), that he was more like a 36 week baby.

Unfortunately, he stayed in the NICU for a whole week. On Sunday he had a choking incident, thank goodness the nurse was in my room when it happened and took him to the NICU right away. Once in the NICU, he had more desaturation episodes while feeding. He also had mild jaundice due to my blood type. It was an extremely stressful week for us, even though it wasn't anything serious, it was still sad seeing our little baby there.

So there you have it, my long birth story. It didn't go as planned, which I knew could happen, and besides the small complications, he is doing great. I can not say enough great things about all the nurses at The Winter Park Hospital, they were all amazing. Andrew has been with us for 5 weeks now and we are still slowly adjusting to our new life. We are so in love with our little boy ♥

PS: If you have any questions, just leave a comment and I'll respond :)

Coming this November...

So happy!

Just stopping by to tell you that I'll be going to Guadalajara, Mexico in May. I'm so excited! But first, let me start by telling you that I believe in the "power" of visualizing and positive thinking. So a few weeks ago, I figured I'd better get my passport, that way, good things could come my way. I figured if I was prepared, the universe would arrange itself to make some traveling happen (I know, corny).

I went to the post office on Tuesday to mail out all the paper work for my name change on my passport. Then yesterday, I went online to check air fare prices to Mexico (I do this a lot) and what do you know? I find a great deal on a flight to GDL on the dates I wanted to go, because my family is planning a big party for my grandfathers 80th birthday. If I changed the travel dates, it was double the price.

So there you have it, Mike bought my ticket last night so I could go see my family :) It's been 2 years now and I really miss them. I told most of my cousins that I was going and they couldn't believe it. They're all as excited as I am. Now, I just hope my mom can be there too. My grandfather is going to be so happy to have everyone there. I can't wait! Thanks Mike for making this happen.

Happy Birthday my love...

We had some friends over for a little early birthday celebration for Mike this past Saturday. Food was great, we made a cream of mushroom soup, following a Julia Child recipe, spinach and asparagus salad with goat cheese and roasted chicken with a pan sauce. For dessert (yes, we cheated a bit on our diet with the dessert), an orange souffle with ice cream. Everything was delicious!

We also played a little bit of boardgames, watched a movie (The Wrestler) and went over to Avalon Park to see some fireworks. It was a good day overall. He got these speakers for his birthday. On Sunday, we headed over to Cool Stuff for another birthday present, a boardgame of course! He chose one called A House Divided. Happy birthday baby, I love you more than anything, can't wait to share more birthdays with you ♥

Changes

There has been a couple of changes in my life lately. The first one is that I legally changed my last name. I know this might sound corny, but I honestly feel like I've lost a part of my identity and heritage. I don't see how changing a last name makes a marriage more "official"... it feels like my husband now owns me or something. I still don't get what the big deal is, but it meant a lot to Mike and it was starting to become a hassle with insurance and other paper work, so I went ahead and got it over with.

The other change we're making in our life is in our diet. Just a few weeks back, while enjoying some tapas in Miami, I was telling my friends how I would NEVER go on a diet, that I loved food so much... well, so much for that conversation. I had some blood work done a few weeks ago and something weird came up in my liver, so I had to get more blood work done. Now I'm waiting to go back and discuss the results with my doctor.

We have been eating more natural for like 2 years now, making everything from scratch and not eating any preservatives, artificial ingredients, hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup. But now, we are also trying to really cut down on our carbs and sugar, and that makes me very sad! I tell Mike I'd rather live a short and happy life, where I can eat anything I want! He doesn't seem to agree with me he he. I know it's all a matter of getting used to this new lifestyle, but it's so hard! I have the cravings of 10 pregnant ladies put together! I love desserts and bread so much it makes me want to cry... ok I admit it, I did cry about it already.

I know that in the long run it's the right decision. I don't want to end up like my parents taking tons of pills to control everything. As it is, Mike and I believe that most diseases are preventable by eating the right diet, I just didn't really care he he. We are still taking our food based vitamins and cod liver oil. We also started going on daily walks. Now that we are back on track in our trying to conceive (ttc) adventure, what better time to change our eating habits to try our best to have a healthy baby right?

I completely agree with this quote:

Quote of the week, originally uploaded by Creature Comforts.
(It's not originally that color, I can't figure out why it changed)

Happy Mothers Day!

My "mamita" and I
El Paso, TX.

This is Lily, my little Sheltie

Age: almost 4 years old. Favorite foods: bananas, carrots and cheese. Likes: chasing squirrels, airplanes (not helicopters though), birds and shadows, going on car rides and jumping in between your legs to bite your crotch (when she gets crazy) Dislikes: baths and cuddling (not necessarily in that order). Nicknames: Lilicans, ninis, mimis, cujo, mammer jammers, willy, billy, etc.

So...

As I was telling Candice today, I don't really like to post blog entries if I've been feeling bleh-ish. Last week I truly felt like I was going to have an anxiety attack...at least that's what I think it was, based on the symptoms I found on the mighty cyber bible known as Google.

I tend to freak out and stress over little things. Lately I've been feeling sad, frustrated, confused, stressed, disappointed, like a loser, etc. All these feelings have to do with either driving, my job hunt, my Etsy store or my husband. I'd rather not get into it right now though. I just hate feeling this way and want it to end soon.

On another note, I had a little "milestone" today. I put gas in the car all by myself for the first time. I couldn't even open the cap for the gas tank, but after many attempts I finally got it open. I know all this driving news is probably no big deal to most, but to me, driving is the scariest thing I have ever had to do... well, maybe besides marriage he he. I feel (and hope!) that both will one day be worth the hard work.

Four years ago...

And still very much in love :)

Hello 2009!

I have abandoned this little blog of mine for a few days. I started writing an entry last night, but then a friend came over and we went to a new years eve party. I even drove! I'm still not comfortable driving all by myself though.

I've been pretty sad the past few days, I think I'm finally getting over it. We (mostly Mike), decided that we need to postpone trying to start our family until March or so, to see what happens with his job. He's worried that there may be layoffs. So the plan is for me to find a job and see what happens afterwards.

I know it's probably the responsible thing to do, but I just get so sad when things don't go the way I had planned them, especially having a baby. I wish my maternal instinct could have waited to kick in, because now that's all I can think about.

It also means that I probably won't have as much time to focus on my Etsy store. If I was selling around 2 paintings per day, maybe I wouldn't have to get a real job. I just hope I have time to continue painting once I find a job.

These are some of the changes or resolutions Mike and I have for this new year:

* I will now be in charge of the household budget.
* Start reading, and possibly attending, Shakespeare plays.
* Listen to classical music and learn about the composer a little bit.
* Start exercising by playing tennis, swimming and possibly yoga.
* Try to eat less desserts.

That's all I can think of for now, we've been pretty good with cooking healthy and natural. I painted this burrito yesterday, it reminds me of a picture I have when I was younger riding a donkey. Happy new year!!!

A little homesick

This is the time of year I miss the most, wishing I could be in Mexico. Even though I'm not super religious, I really miss the way my family celebrates Christmas in Mexico. Christmas Eve was more important than actual Christmas day.

We would usually get together at one of my aunts or uncles house to celebrate on Christmas Eve. We would have a posada, the whole family would split up in 2 "teams" and actually sing the litany to pedir posada. We would also have our gift exchange, have a fancy dinner (not lunch), and wait till midnight to see what "baby jesus" or sometimes Santa, left under the tree.

A traditional drink would be ponche, a hot drink, sort of like tea, but with nuts and different fruits, and we could add some sort of liquor if we preferred it that way. We would also make buñuelos, just for this day.

But instead, i'm at home, waiting for Mike to finish working. We are driving over to my mother in law's house later, have a normal day and wait until tomorrow to open up some presents and cook a nice lunch/dinner. I miss my family so much. I would love for Mike to experience a Christmas in Mexico one year.

I hope everyone has a great Christmas with their families and loved ones. Remember that presents are just temporary material things, love, friendship and family are priceless...corny I know. Merry Christmas!

Friday

This week went by really fast, but then again, I think all of them do. I feel like I did many things this week, for example, I went to Leu Gardens with my friend Candice. I opened Sugar Village, I finally received hubby's birthday present, I bought an online game for our PS3 which I've become quite addicted to, but I suck at it, it's called PixelJunk Monsters.

And last but not least, I stopped taking my birth control pills! Hubby and I had always said we would have a baby once I was done with school, and well, we've been talking about it and we feel like the time has come. We won't start "trying" until a couple of months though...was that tmi? Oh well! hehe I'm excited and nervous at the same time, I hope that's normal.

I'm going to an arts and crafts show at Mount Dora tomorrow, that should be fun. I have 3 commissioned paintings involving elephants for a friend in North Carolina, I'll probably work on those on Sunday, when hubby abandons me to go play geeky boardgames. Have a good weekend! I'll leave you with a little farm painting I did a few weeks ago. Toodles

Grand Opening of...

It's here! I finally listed a few of my paintings on my new Etsy store called Sugar Village! I still have a few things I need to work on. I will list new paintings often, so be sure to check regularly to see new ones.

I'm very excited about doing this, I have so much to learn in the world of Etsy, but hopefully I'll get the hang of it in no time.

I want to thank my husband Mike, who motivates me and tells me how proud I make him for doing all this. Another special thanks goes to my best friend Candice, who always has positive critique, scans my paintings and helps me edit. Without them, I couldn't have done this...or at least not as easily, hee hee hee.

I hope you enjoy visiting Sugar Village as much as I enjoy working on it. Make sure to tell your friends and family about it, it would mean so much to me. Thank you!

Mi cumpleaños

Hubby and I baked my birthday cake Thursday night, it's chocolate cake with pink cream cheese frosting, yummo!

Yesterday I went to Isabelle's first solo art show with Candice. Isabelle takes awesome pictures of dolls, they show so much emotion, sometimes they seem real. My favorite doll is one with blue eyes and white hair.

After that, Candice and I celebrated my birthday by going to The Cheesecake Factory in Winter Park, originally we had planned to go "clubbing" downtown, but honestly, I just wasn't in the mood for that, I really am over that whole scene I think.

Today we are most likely going over to my mother in laws house and spend the weekend there. She usually makes me my favorite meal.

The past few days I had been feeling in a crappy mood, probably because of PMS and migraines. But I feel truly happy with my life right now. I feel blessed and I'm thankful for everything and everyone in my life right now. I can only hope next year will be as good as this one... I have the feeling it will be.

Two more...

Mr. Hubby is in Utah right now because of work. Hopefully he finishes whatever they need to be doing over there and he'll be back on Sunday. I miss him. His mom is coming over on Saturday to spend some time with little lonely Nancy.

My little drawings are starting to accumulate, so today I will share 2 more. I'm still pretty excited about making them, I don't know where this will take me, but I will enjoy it as long as I can. I don't necessarily love all of them, but I learn something new from every one of them. I hope you like them.

My dream last night

This is what I dreamt last night, bear with me, it gets a little weird and random at points. I think all of it took place in Mexico, because most of my family was there, even Lily.

Part I: We were in a house/old supermarket kind of building, when we saw a gator inside, we tried escaping but Lily was left inside somewhere in the building. I was hysterical, I just knew she would get eaten by the gator. For some reason I couldn't go back in there and get her so we left. I was extremely upset. Other things went on that I can't remember, but at one point, one of my family members did go back to get Lily and she was still alive. I was so happy to see my little baby.

Part II: I was in Cocula and it was night time. I had a little girl, about 3 or 4 years old. We went outside and there was a procession. The people carried candles and Dia de los Muertos type decorations. My daughter and I joined in the procession. I remember I was so excited for her to see all this, I kept asking her, do you like this? and she would also be excited, to see all the candles and people and would respond; yes mommy, I love it!

Later we found my mom in the procession and she introduced me to some distant relatives. They were 3 teenage girls, but I noticed they all were missing 2 or 3 fingers on their hands. I remember thinking the cause of that might be that they practiced charreria. After that we ran into hubby, I was really mad at him because I hadn't seen him all day, but he was helping out one of my cousins or something. There was also lots of firecrackers and I was trying to protect my daughter from getting burned by one.

Part III: My family was all gathered inside the house, talking about flights and parties. I didn't have a little girl anymore, but instead a little boy. My little boy and I were looking at some wooden spoons, and talking about the day we broke some of ours while cooking. We were having an amazing time, laughing and just being silly together. End of dream.

This dream left be feeling so happy. The times when I was with my daughter or son, I felt so much love towards them, or a feeling I can't even explain. I wonder if my motherly instinct is finally trying to break in? I remember thinking, this feels amazing, I've never loved someone this much. I don't really know how to talk to young kids, so I was surprised how easy it was to talk to my own, it wasn't awkward at all. This dream left me all emotional. I tried to explain to my hubby the part about my kids, but I couldn't, it made me want to cry.

In other unrelated news, we had dinner with hubby's mom yesterday. I also did not get a new phone. The girl "helping" us at T-Mobile last night pissed me off, she wasn't being helpful at all. If I want to keep my same number, since we are doing a "change of responsibility", there's all these things we have to do for that, ugh so annoying! I need to talk to my step dad and see what they told him. Hopefully I'll get a new phone tomorrow then, since today hubby has a boardgame date with a new friend he made. Time to entertain myself or be productive, toodles!

Oh, I miss him already...

My hubby is out of town because of work. Today was day 1 of being all alone. It was also the first day of my summer B session classes, my very last college classes ever! I'm already overwhelmed. I'm not used to taking "book" classes, where I have to read and study, so this will be a little hard to keep up with. I'm taking History of Photography II and an Anthropology class, which looks pretty interesting. I'm still waiting for 2 books that I ordered online, I already need them, ugh!

I've been playing Crash Nitro Kart , watching tv, surfing the web, eating and napping. I did take my poor baby on her walks too, but I can tell she misses her daddy.

I'll probably eat easy, junkish food this week, until Mike returns home. Today I had a Kashi frozen pizza. I think I'll have a slice of pumpkin pie later, I baked it this weekend.

That's it for now, hopefully this week goes by fast.

Happy fucking valentines day to me...

So, when things are going extremely well between the hubby and I, I always think it's too good to be true, so I know there is a fight just around the corner. I don't know if I jinxed myself, but the fight finally caught up with us.

It started last night, over a foot massager and went into all kinds of directions, including, me not being a good housewife, me not caring for his feet, among other things. I don't understand why the person you love the most, is the one that also hurts you the most. I absolutely hate it when he says to me- fuck you. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, it just breaks my heart a little. Not once have I said such a thing to him. The worst part, I can't help it and I always cry, and it's like he feeds off of that to keep going, to keep screaming and mocking me. It's the most horrible feeling I have ever had. So yeah, I had a rough night, there's the big stain of mascara in my pillow to prove it. I hate crying myself to sleep.

I woke up with beautiful puffy eyes, I didn't even want to go to class, I was still very sad. But I got up, showered, left to school. luckily I was able to vent to my lovely friends, I really don't know what I would do without them.

I came home and then later he got home from work, acting like nothing ever happened, which is what he does when we fight. I'm still distant, he said I'm sorry, but there is much more to talk about, I still feel hurt. He did fix me a yummy dinner which consisted of pan fried shrimp in a lemon chipotle sauce and some yummy green beans with some sauce and a bread crumb, parmesan topping. So there you have it, my lovely valentines day in a nutshell. Here's a picture to decorate today's special blog: