Thursday 3.1.12 we went to dinner at Nate's parents house. I was having contractions but not timing them and really just felt slightly uncomfortable. After dinner we were visiting on the couch and Libby (Grandma Denise's dog) came up to me on the couch and looked at me to a little while, then she simply rested her little head on my belly. It was the most concerned look and gentle rest like she knew something was coming....
I had so much to get done still, I was emailing photography clients and working on various projects between contractions. I finally went to bed around 11:00pm - just to wake up around 3:00am with contractions. They were alot harder and close to 10 minutes apart. I had them for almost 2 hours before I thought I should be writing them down so I can really see how close they were (If you know me and know how easily I loose track of time).
I saw this questionnaire on a friends blog and I loved how it documented the pregnancy - because once the baby comes, there's so much to do and life changes! I had started it on Wednesday, but finished it March 3rd - at 5:00 in the morning....
Pregnancy Questions~
How far along: 39 weeks and 3 days.
Total weight gain: 50 pounds. I don’t know how some women only gain 25-30 but it just doesn’t happen like that for me. My goal was to gain less than the 60 I did with Charlize – so I reached it! I’ve been having dreams of working out so yes, I’m looking forward to getting this weight off!
Sleep: I know I’ll get less after she’s here, but its been uncomfortable.
Best moment this week: Having Charlize say she’s excited to meet her baby sister and last night ‘Libby’ had the kindest look as she gently rested her head on my belly last night.
Miss anything: Feeling smaller and the less pain from the varicose veins. They came much sooner this pregnancy and became a lot worse down my right leg.
Movement: I’ve been worried this past week or so because movement has significantly decreased and last appt I had an ultrasound to check on fluids. It had decreased but they found enough that it was alright.
Food Cravings: Nothing consistent. With Charlize I wanted to eat ice all them time. These last few weeks I’m simply hungry, like I don’t eat large portions, but I’m hungry often. And yes, the sweets and hamburgers always sound Divine!
Anything make you sick or queasy?: Not any more. The 6 weeks at the end of the 1st trimester were HORRIBLE and the heat of the summer just added to it. I was never that sick with Charlize
and it was soooo hard being that sick because now I had so much more to do with my little girl, teaching and photography.
Gender: Girl! Charlize announced she needed a sister in July before we never told her I was pregnant and she’s always stuck to it.
Labor signs: I had back labor with Charlize but didn’t ever have strong contractions of my belly tightening. This pregnancy, I contract just walking down the hall at school and I’d have to stop and breath through them. So much easier to identify this pregnancy.
Belly button in or out?: FLAT. Mine doesn’t ever pop out.
Stretch marks?: No. I had a few small ones show up with Charlize after a few months that I didn’t realize that I had and I’m hoping the same goes for this pregnancy. Yes I feel pretty lucky for that.
Wedding ring on or off?: OFF, I took it off a few weeks ago when the weather started to get warm and I was starting to swell.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! I can't wait to meet this baby but feeling unprepared at the same time. I’m content with waiting a few more days to meet her, but we’re all pretty excited!! Really I’m not in a rush and love being more relaxed this time around.
Progress: I had a night of strong contractions 5-7 minutes apart 2 weeks ago, but I knew that I didn’t progress enough to go into Labor and Delivery. The next week I was checked and
had progressed a centimeter (now a 3 and 60%). I skipped a week to be checked because I really hadn’t had much progress and Wednesday measured 4 cm and 80% thinned. Although having worries about decreasing movements and smaller size, everything looked fine on the ultrasound
and stress test. I was certain I could make it another week to my due date, but I’ve been up since 3 with contractions about every 10 minutes so I’m not so confident anymore.
Why wait until the due date? We all have 8’s in our birthdays and I thought it’d be fun to continue that trend. I think she’s going to be independent and want her own number
12.18.1932Nate
05.08.1983Juanita
07.28.2006Married
10.28.2008Charlize
We were hoping the next one would be
03.08.2012 but not sure she’ll make it.
On your to-do list this week?: Pack a bag for the hospital, set up her bed, clean the house and breathe
What are you most looking forward to in the next week?: MEETING THIS BABY and an
easy progression for delivery.
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So I was finally timing the contractions and about 6:00 I told Nate they were bad enough I was hunched over and breathing through them, so I got in the shower and got ready to go. Of course they slowed down once I relaxed in that lovely warm shower. Urgh, I called L&D but knew I sounded dumb and that they'd most likely tell me not to come - and they did. I didn't want us to waste a sickday for another false alarm (liek what happened with Charlize) so I said lets just go to work. Nate changed back into his work clothes and was only a little late for work and my mom came and got Charlize and I headed to school. The contractions did pick up on my drive to work, while I called my sister Eleanore, shifting and the middle of an intersection - not the best combo.
It was an assembly day for Dr. Seuss week. I didn't get my reading students because there's no way they want to miss out on all that fun! I timed my contractions and they were 5-7 minutes apart ALL DAY. I told them what was going on and the teachers and staff were so sweet about it and making plans of what to do if my water broke - haha. I was just calm "knowing" it wouldn't happen today. (After the fact I didn't realize how close of a call it really could have been). They even threw a baby shower for the 5 of us that had/were going to have a baby with 6 weeks. I made it through the shower and headed home for my bag. I called my friend Lisa who is a FNP at my OB doctor and asked if she could check me before I went to L&D because I desperately didn't want to be sent home but after 12 hours of contractions I was exhausted.
Nate met me at the office, in his dirty work clothes since we just thought I was getting checked. Lisa said I was 7-8 fully effaced and if Nate left he'd miss the birth. He's wanted to shower and change his clothes because it was going to be a long day (and I was having a photographer come) but it just didn't work out - he had to wait until after she came.
We walked to L&D and got in. The Dr was out of town but the midwife was delivering and I made delivery #3 within an hour. I had wanted a natural birth with Charlize but circumstances were rushed and it didn't happen. I was fine with getting an epidural because I knew it would be easier on Nate since I didn't have someone to help me breath through them - and I didn't realize there was medicine to simply take the edge off - so I got an epi and thankfully again - could still feel and move my legs. Being the 3rd delivery they stalled me since I got the epidural and it slowed progression down. When it came down to it, I only pushed 5 times and she was here at 8:37pm. The sweetest little cry - sounded like a little kitty and was precious as could be. Lots of dark hair and beautiful - I'm biased because I'm her mommy :)
I had seen Cassidy Miller's birth photography and knew I needed her to be there for Dezlee's birth. I love having these images - the first moments we became a family of 4, seeing Nate's expression, ok-don't look too long at my fatness, Charlize's sweet amazement at her baby sister and how truly special that evening was.
Good morning sweet girls! :)
March 8th - Dezlee was snoozing on the chair and Charlize wanted to watch cartoons with her sister :) She crawled up on the chair with baby sister and ended up falling asleep
Sweet sleeping baby Dezlee :) 
These are images from Charlize's camera - yes I'd been busy taking pictures of the baby so she was thrilled when it was her turn to go around and take pictures of anything she wanted. Remember I had less than a week old baby and the house was certainly not picked up and I didn't care to have pics taken of myself but she was sooo proud of taking them and I was thrilled she was happy taking them! Like her self portrait on the bottom row? :)
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