A Baby Story PART 2

What did he mean how are we feeling??  I didn’t think his jokes were funny in the slightest.  He said “Okay, it’s time to go.”  Those words were like someone saying I had won the Power Ball lottery.  We started wheeling down the hall and thru all kinds of doors.  We got into the OR and I remember a lot of nurses being in there and seeing a table full of cutting utensils.  Under normal circumstances this would have put me over the edge, but I was hurting so bad I didn’t care.  It felt like I could have reached up and grabbed John Brantley’s head myself because he was so low. 

They told me I had to move up to another bed.  That isn’t exactly what I call easy when you are experiencing the worst pain of your life.  I was hurting so bad that crying wasn’t even an option.  I was just MAD that it was now 4:00 A.M. and I was just now going to have my section.  So I moved over to another bed and they told me to sit on it like I was riding a horse.  WHAT?!?!?  I was then given a pillow to hold and they told me to relax.  I was having contractions very quickly and they hurt like HELL.  (Excuse my language).  Once I was contraction free for about 30 seconds the doctor did my spinal tap.  I didn’t care how big that needle was.  They could have jammed a spatula in my back for all I cared.  I needed that pain to GO AWAY! 

As soon as he stuck me and was finished they told me to lie down quickly because I was about to go numb.  They weren’t kidding.  Within 1-2 minutes I was feeling GOOD!!!!  However, the medicine caused me to begin shaking.  I assured them I WAS NOT COLD and didn’t need any blankets.  My teeth were chattering and my arms were going nuts.  About this time Trey walked in to find me lying down with oxygen on and my arm flailing around like I was directing the choir.  I was told not to fight that feeling, just to let it be.  I had two doctors trying to hold my arms down.  Then a black nurse took my chap stick from me.  I told her she best NOT lose it.  Anyone who knows me personally knows of my chap stick addiction. 

A curtain was then put up around my face and I could tell that all those cutting utensils were going to work.  I got a slight bit nervous because like an IDIOT I had googled C-sections earlier and nearly died watching them.  I knew that was happening to me right then and there.  I was then told I would feel a lot of pressure.  I felt them pushing John Brantley out of my stomach.  At one point I thought they might break some ribs.  Trey started smiling and saying he could see his head.  I couldn’t see squat.  Then I heard them say he was as big as a toddler and I heard the cries.  It was 4:29 A.M.

I got tears in my eyes.  I wanted to YANK that curtain down and see the angel that I had been baking for 38.5 weeks.  Trey ran over and was taking pictures of him all the while I am yelling that I want to see them.

Finally he walked over to show me some pictures.  I could then see them bring JB over to the scale.  He weighed in at 8 pounds and 12 ounces.  Trey then got to hold him and brought him over for me to see.  I thought he was perfect!!!

It felt like I was lying there forever while they were sewing me up.  I remember asking if all was going okay.  The doctor said they were perfectionist and it would take a minute.  Trey then looked over the curtain and asked if there was supposed to be that much blood.  WHAT?!?  I got concerned and they assured him it was normal.  Whhhewww!!

When they finished we were wheeled off to the recovery room.

TO BE CONTINUED…….. 

A Baby Story Part 1

Many of you have been anxiously awaiting the blog with my birth story on it so here goes…  Before I begin if you are a man or a child this post of restricted for women only.

Last Saturday, June 9^th, I started feeling a little blah.  I figured it was because I was 38 ½ weeks pregnant and that pretty much came with the territory.  Tuesday I woke up and I really felt bad.  My back was killing me.  While Ford napped that day I laid down on a heating pad.  I kept thinking it was possible that my back might break.  Trey called late that afternoon and said we should use one of my gift certificates I got during teacher appreciation week and go out to eat.  About 5:30 we left and headed for Red Lobster in Southaven.  I don’t eat anything that swims so I wasn’t too excited about the choice.  We ate and came home.  About 9:00 I told Trey I was going to bed because my back was killing me. 

I woke up around 10:30 to go to the bathroom and went back to bed.  At 12:30 I woke up again.  I went to the bathroom and when I reached for some toilet paper I felt a little weird.  My water had broken.  I jumped up and ran into the living room where Trey had fallen asleep watching TV.  I sort of yelled, “It’s time to go!  My water just broke!”  He asked if I was sure and I was definitely sure.  I told him to call his parents and figure out someone to come to our house to be with Ford. 

I got in the shower and shaved my legs.  I am a big fan of leg shaving before giving birth.  We hurried around packing bags and trying to figure out all we needed.  A good family friend, Mrs. Rhonda, came over to be here with Ford.  We left Mayberry around 1:30 (I think) and headed north.  I called the hospital to let them know I was on the way and soon after the doctor called us back.  I told him we would be there in 30 minutes.  By this time I was hurting. 

When we got to the hospital Trey went inside to find a wheel chair.  A few minutes later an orderly came out with me a chair.  Trey was standing around waiting to make sure I got in the chair okay.  I was growling at this point for him to hurry up and park the car.  The orderly and I got into the elevator and up we went.  I was wheeled back to what I like to call a” holding room” for questioning.  I remember my arm band saying it was 2:05.  I was asked a lot of dumb questions and some of the same questions as many as 10 times.  I was highly annoyed and wondering where in the world was Trey.  Apparently when he parked the car and came upstairs no one was at the window waiting to let him back. 

I asked the nurse if I could go to the bathroom.  I hobbled in there thinking my life was over because my back was hurting sooo bad.  I got back to my holding room and Trey came in.  He was mad that he had been locked out for ten minutes.  The nurses kept asking me questions.  A few minutes later I told them I had to go to the bathroom again.  This time across the hall was much harder.  When I got back I was sweating.  Fortunately, they had a fan in there and blew it on me.  It really didn’t help.  I started yanking the covers off and pulling my hospital gown off.  Trey nearly died.  He started putting it back on me.  I threatened him within an inch of his life not to touch me or the covers.

I was hurting and hurting bad.  I kept asking what was taking so long and apparently the doctor decided he’d lolly gag around.  I was PISSED!!!  I was HURTING!!!  I threatened to start getting loud and saying stuff.  I needed to go to the bathroom again.  I told them I wasn’t getting up that I would use it in the bed.  Thank goodness they had a bed pan.  (That was a first for me).  At this point any and all modesty I ever had was completely out the door.  Again, Trey was mortified by my lack of modesty. 

The contractions were out of this world.  I was given NOTHING for pain.  Since I was a scheduled C-section patient any and everything needed to be done in the operating room.  My contractions were sooooo close together.  It felt better not even to breathe when I had one.  The contractions were completely in my back.  Nothing up front hurt at all.  I had a BAD one and screamed I’m about to push.  Push… what was I thinking?  You don’t push when you have a C-section.  But you sure do push when you are 10 CENTIMETERS dilated and have no pain medicine.  Yep, you read that right 10 cm with NO medicine.

About this time the cheese ball doctor comes in and says how are we???  How does he think I was…..????

TO BE CONTINUED…

John Brantley's Room

John Brantley’s room is almost complete.  The only thing missing is my sweet little boy.  I honestly can’t take credit for much of the room at all.  Fortunately, my mother in-law knows that I am not into decorating and she helped me with a lot of the nursery. 

This is Ford’s bed, but new bedding I ordered.  The opened door goes straight into our bedroom. 

 

He has two small closets.  I am using one for clothes he will be wearing this summer and the other is bigger stuff that people have given me.  I bought that little dress for $59.00 and Puddin (my mother in-law) painted it with with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.  She is also responsible for picking out the window treatments and the cute frog floor pillow. 

 

That is the same rocker and ottoman that used to be in Ford’s room.  The pillow in the chair says John Brantley on it.  I found the little table at a consignment store in Hernando.  It was once red.  Again, Puddin painted it for me.  She also painted the cute Noah’s Arc picture hanging on the wall.  The opened door on the left goes into our guest room.  So, in order to get into John Brantley’s nursery you must either go through my bedroom or the guest bedroom. 

 

And the last angle of JB’s room and one of the most important is the diaper changing area.  This dresser was once brown, but Puddin painted it for me as well.  GO PUDDIN!!!  The lamp was a gift from a man at a local store.  I asked him to help me find a lamp shade that would match the lamp for my baby’s room and he told me it was a gift.  I was soo excited!!  On the left side there is a print title “God’s ABC’s for Life” that my great aunt gave us and we have framed.  Puddin found the cute letters and the other picture hanging on the wall.  And one of the ladies that works with Trey bought the cute door hanger. 

I think we are in pretty good shape.  I’m not a theme person so this is the room that Toto will be living in for a few years.  If you are concerned that there is nothing hanging over his bed feel free to paint him a picture and send it my way!!!  I have run out of ideas.

Pants on his head

I am really enjoying being at home with Ford.  He is a fulltime job.  My sister in-law taught Bible school last week at her church.  She called one day to tell me how tired those kiddos had made her.  She went on to say she didn’t know how I taught school, was pregnant, and was here alone with Ford all spring and managed it all.  I quickly replied with teaching 21 kids was less work than keeping up with one 3 year old.  I have NEVER seen a child with so much energy.  I have to plan daily events to keep him occupied.

Last week he helped me clean house.

 

I found some Melty Beads at Wal-Mart.  This was a lovely idea, or so I thought.  I figured Ford would really enjoy putting these little beads on the peg board and having me iron them down.  This is a time consuming activity so I had high hopes of getting stuff done while he worked on his crafts.  I should have known that he would love it, BUT would want me to be involved in the entire process.  We have been making some colorful little projects!

 

Enjoying a hot June day with Lucy’s pink sunglasses on! 

 

My oldest niece turned 6 this past week and she had her birthday party on Saturday.  Ford was excited about going to her party since she had a water slide bouncy house.  It only took him one hour to warm up to the idea of actually going down the slide.  Beforehand he decided to play on all the outside toys instead. 

 

Sweet Molly Cate in her pink and white striped bathing suit patiently waiting on someone to bust open the piñata. 

 

I asked Ford if he wanted to hit the piñata too.  He didn’t have a clue what a piñata was, but when I told him it was filled with candy it was all business for him.  He was definitely in the game then!! 

I have been working on potty training pretty hard now for 3 weeks.  I’d say Ford is 85% potty trained.  He is a smart child and it would really tick me off, for lack of a better word, when he wouldn’t tell me that he needed to go and use it on himself.  I am potty training him in diapers for several reasons.  Reason #1 is because I have some diapers left.  Reason #2 is because I don’t want to clean up messes all day long and Reason #3 is because I figured it would be easier until he really has the swing of it.  We can go 3 or 4 days with no accidents and then he might revolt against me and use it in his pants.  I spanked him one day and it didn’t faze him a bit.  Spanking used to work well with Ford, as did time out.  I think he is over them both so my new method of punishment is…. putting toys in the attic.  I haven’t had to do it yet, but he is fearful of some of his precious tractors going up there “for a lot of days.”

Using the potty with his pants on his head…. I mean WHY NOT!!!????

We went to our property tonight to water some trees.  As soon as we got off the road and hit the grass Ford wanted to drive.  It’s a lovely thing to start driving your Daddy’s truck at age 3 in a field.  He actually steered pretty well.  I guess all that practice from driving his tractor has paid off. 

 

Several weeks back when my doctor said there was no way I would make it until my scheduled due date of June 21 the teachers I worked with on my hall at school made up a baby pool.  They all picked a date of when they thought John Brantley would arrive.  The winner would be named as the godmother and even get the first dirty diaper.  Unfortunately, no one will be named as Toto’s godmother or be lucky enough to have his first dirty diaper.  I am confident, despite the contractions I have been having for two days, that he is stuck and won’t be coming out until next Thursday. 

My lovely feet yesterday 

The Ugly Naked Truth

I have arrived.  It has happened.  I have gained 40 pounds!!!!!  Hold your applause and don’t be jealous, because I don’t need all that attention for such a marvelous accomplishment! 

I went to the doctor yesterday and it was confirmed that I have to wait until my scheduled C-section date of June 21.  I cried.  I didn’t even tell Trey that I cried, but I did.  I didn’t even mean to cry.  When I asked my doctor if we were still waiting until June 21 to have the baby and she said yes all I could think of was, THAT IS 15 MORE DAYS.  I got tears in my eyes and when she saw them she said, “Oh honey I’m sorry” and patted my knees.  Well, that definitely made it worse.  Then Kleenexes were required.  I didn’t make a fool of myself, only a few tears streamed down my face.  She said he needed to stay in there as long as he could for maturity purposes.  I feel VERY confident that his lungs are mature and he is ready to come out.

When she was measuring my stomach he was moving all around and it was becoming distorted looking.  She even laughed and commented yet again at how big I am.  Here is a visual…. I really think you can tell how low he is in this picture….

(My skin looks like it’s going to rip.  And I know you like that sunken in spot up near my ribs…)

To add to my already raging beauty I have found new friends this week, bruises and veins on my legs.  Is this normal??  You literally have to beat me to death to make me bruise, but all of a sudden my knees look beaten.  I guess it’s all the excess weight I am putting on them when Ford and I play on the floor.  And as for the veins, I am without words.  Is that just an added bonus that I get for pregnancy round #2??

FOR SALE

2006 Ford F150 King Ranch
80,000 miles
V8
Leather
4 doors
Black toolbox
Bed liner
4x4

E-mail me if you are interested:  jlamar0044@hotmail.com

A Special Celebration

Let me start off by saying this is my 300^th blog post.  For anyone who has actually read all 300 of them, Bless You!

Yesterday was a special day for my family.  We celebrated my grandparents’ 60^th wedding anniversary.  Technically their anniversary isn’t until June 14^th, but my mom scheduled it earlier in the month due to busy schedules and with high hopes that I could attend the function as well.

When I first asked my doctor about making this trip to Jackson, MS, she said we would discuss it later.  When later came she told me she didn’t want me to go to Jackson.  Last Thursday when I went to the doctor I inquired about the trip again and she said no.  I am not one to argue back with people, other than Trey, but I told her it was very important that I go to this luncheon.  I pleaded that unless she seriously thought I was going to go into labor in the next two days I really wanted to go.  I insisted that I would rest more on the 150 mile ride down south than I would at home.  I then proceeded to tell her ALL that I have been doing in my crazy nesting time at my house and she said “GO!”  And that I did… I went to Jackson and came back in the same day.   

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful grandparents!!! 

 

The entire family was able to come.  It was such a special day! 

 

Ford and Jack 

 

Ford and his namesake.  Naturally Ford was being hardheaded and wouldn’t cooperate for my picture.    

 

The children could only sit at the formal dining table for so long until they had to get outside and play.      

 

Lamar party of 3…. We are ready for #4.  And I promise I really am that huge.  I know you feel sorry for me now!      

And the good advice that my Granddaddy gave to Trey was that the first 60 years of marriage are the hardest!!!!!