Armin is here!

Armin Maciej
3/25/10 @ 2:20AM
8lbs 6.4oz, 22in. long

Okay here it goes.. I went in for my appt. on Wednesday and had a NST. After that the nurse practitioner came in and checked me and informed me that I was already dilated to 4cm. I was so shocked. She asked me if I was feeling any contractions and I told her no, but I was feeling some pressure in my pelvis. She told me that I needed to come to the hospital as soon as I felt any contractions or anymore pressure. I went home and a few hours later started to notice that I was contracting.(around 6:30PM) The only way I knew was if I laid down and was completely relaxed and had my hands on my stomach. They were completely painless and almost unnoticeable..but they were coming every 5 minutes apart and lasting for about a minute. Everyone kept telling me that I needed to go on to the hospital, but I wasn't convinced because there was no pain or pressure. Around 10 PM I noticed that when I would have a contraction he would ball up in the middle of my stomach..I remembered with my first son that this was him positioning himself to be delivered..so I called my mom to come and stay with my son. She got there and we left for the hospital. We parked in the regular parking garage and walked across to the hospital, took the elevator to the 6th floor. We got there a little before 11PM. (I thought for sure they were going to send me home) They hooked me up to the monitors and indeed I was having contractions. She asked if I was feeling them and I told her no. She was shocked. She checked me and I was dilated to 5. We walked over to L&D. They came in asked me to sign some papers..the DR came in checked me I was at 6cm. (close to 12AM) He asked if he could break my water and told him yes. At this point I am still in no pain. About 30 mins after they broke my water I started feeling the contractions. They intensified rather quickly. An hour after the broke my water I was at 8cm. I called them around 2:15 and told them I needed to push. So the DR came in checked me and said that I was 8/9 cm. He walked out of the room and my nurse wanted me to try to relieve my bladder in a bed pan before I was ready to push just so I go while pushing. I told her that I felt like if I tried I might start pushing..because the urge was so great! As soon as I tried sure enough I could feel his head crowning. She checked me and said oh yeah you are ready to push. She ran out of the room to get everyone..and while everyone was setting up I couldn't hold it any longer. One push and his head was out. They were telling me to wait, but I couldn't stop..the Dr came in as one of nurses was catching the baby. One more big push and he was out. Kicking and screaming! (2:20 AM) He was born within seconds. They cut the cord and suctioned him and I heard the Dr say I had a small laceration that needed to be stitched. During that time they took him to the warmer, suctioned him and weighed him. It all went so fast. I am really glad that I decided to go to the hospital when I did or I probably would have had him on the way. I have to say it was a wonderful experience. Hope I didn't bore you too much!

Gestational Diabetic!

Well, yesterday I got a lovely phone call from the OB's office telling me that I am in fact a gestational diabetic. I have to be put on a diet. I go tomorrow for instructions. I am however, lucky because I only have a little over three weeks left until my due date! So, I am not going to worry too much about it. Just make healthy choices and pray that he doesn't turn out to be huge! I have only gained 23 lbs so far. They told me that I was doing well with my weight gain. I go in next Wednesday for an ultrasound to see how big he is! (or estimated to be) Say a little prayer that he isn't huge, because if he is they may try to induce me or something and to be frank I am not one to go for such things. I am praying for a natural birth (like I had the first time). So, I would like it to come naturally! Anyways, everything else seems to be going good. Blood pressure is good , his heart beat is great! So..now it is just time to wait!

35 weeks

Definitely looks like I have swallowed a watermelon! Not even 5 weeks left to go before our new bundle of joy is here! I am enjoying feeling him move and knowing that I don't have much longer before I can hold him. I failed my 1 hour glucose test yesterday, so I have to back Thursday and have a 3 hour test done! I am not looking forward to sitting that long, but I am not worried about the outcome. Although, I don't want to have gestational diabetes, I don't want to worry myself with it. Right after the test is done I have to walk back over to my OB office for an appt. I am hoping that soon they will do another ultrasound. I would love to see our little man again! It's been a while since I have seen him and I want to see how he is looking now! Other than having to retake my test, everything is looking good. Oh..my mother also found a gray hair (in my head) yesterday as we were walking out of Target. I was in shock almost. Failed test and a gray hair all in one day..what else. ahah

Change of plans!

We had decided on doing another home birth this time around and last week that planned got derailed. The Explorer had been having problems with the transmission...it went out...it wasn't drivable. After a while of it sitting and cooling down it started back up. One of my step dad's friends is a mechanic (he owns his own transmission place)..so he offered to take a look at it. He said that maybe since it started back up..there was a chance that it was just the transmission filter and fluid. If so, it wouldn't be expensive to fix. So we took it in and sadly got a call saying the whole transmission was pretty well fried on the inside. Not the news we wanted to hear. So, my little wheels started turning.. I knew we had to fix it, but we were doing home birth (which costs $2,400..well I am sure it cost less or more depending, but that is what we were going to be paying). I knew we couldn't afford to do both and I have insurance that would cover everything..if I used the hospital. So, I had to make a huge decision..this far in the game. I called around and no one could take me because I am so far a long that they said I would be a risk for them. Which I thought was a little silly considering I have had prenatal care the whole time...but oh well. The last lady I talked to told me to call the Perinatal Center because they would probably take me because they are high risk doctors. I have actually been there with this pregnancy(that is where I had my ultrasounds done). So they had me in their system and what do you know..they took me. So, I have to see a high risk doctor even though I am not high risk..which is really okay. I am a little nervous but I am just happy that we now will have enough money to fix the transmission and not have to worry so much. I go in for my first official appointment with them on Thursday! I am hoping they do an ultrasound. I would like to see our little man again! Ever since we had to change our plans I keep thinking about packing my bag and the baby's bag ..and where I will have to go when I am in labor and yada yada. Last time I was at home and they came to me and I didn't have to pack anything. So, I am freaking out a little bit! Please pray that I can calm my nerves and that this birth will go smoothly as the first did!!

Update

Well I realized I hadn't posted in a while. I thought I would update everyone ..which is probably like one or two people..ahha. Anyway,(you probably already know, but) we are expecting number 2, which is due April 5th. We are so excited. I only have about seven weeks left and we will get to meet our second precious gift! This pregnancy this far has been a lot different from the first. It started off a little rough due to a bleed out from the gestational sac. I thought that we were losing the baby at first and I was devastated. I went in for an ultrasound and they confirmed that the baby was healthy..and that I just had a small bleed, which did heal itself after about a week. Praise the Lord. I have been a lot more tired this time around and my hip and pelvic bones have been killing me. It feels like someone is ripping them apart and I also suffer from severe acid reflux..which makes sleeping almost impossible..but I try not to complain because I know that it is all worth it!! I can't wait for him to make his big appearance. Here is a pic of little Armin!

Ethan's Birth Story

May 22nd, 2008
I will make this short. I had went for my scheduled appointment that day. I was due in 4 days. My midwives told me that I was already dilated to 2cm and that anywhere in the next 24- 48 hrs he would most likely come. I was really anxious then. They wanted to take me out to eat. So, we went to Olive Garden and all I could eat was the bread sticks. I could feel something strange happening to my body. After we ate they came to my house, only one had been to my home and the other wanted to see where I lived because it was getting close and she needed to know how to get there. They spent a couple hours with me and then left to check on some of their other patients in Clinton. I begged my mom to stay at my house because I knew it was going to happen. Around seven that evening I felt some contractions, but they were nothing. I called to let them know, but told them they weren't bothering me I was still able to do my normal activities. They told me to call when they got stronger. Well, I tried to hold off. Sometime during then I lost my mucus plug and everything I had eaten a bit earlier all came back up. Everything was going smoothly and around 1 AM the contractions started getting stronger. My mom asked if she should call the midwives and I told her to wait. Around 3 AM they were so strong that I wanted to push. So, I told my mom to go ahead and call. Luckily, they knew it was going to happen to so they didn't go home..they stayed in their van near the interstate. They were at my house before 3:30AM. They checked me and I was at 5cm. I was positive for Group B Strep. So, before and during labor I had to have an antibiotic through an IV. They started my IV while I was sitting on the couch and I remember telling them I needed to vomit. I leaned over to do my business and passed out, hitting my head on the floor. I woke up to my mother smacking me in the face. In the process I had ripped my IV out. So, they had to start it again. Once the fluids started up I felt better (I was dehydrated). They fixed my bed and I walked to my room and laid down. I remember praying through some of the contractions. Everything calmed back down and my husband called my friends to come on over. ( A little after 5AM) At 5:30 I was able to start pushing.. I began laughing and smiling. My midwives got so tickled at me during this time..because I was so happy. Ethan was born at 6:13 AM (7lbs 13oz and 19 1/2in. long)..without any problems. I was lucky and didn't tear. We had an awesome experience. The whole time my midwives were there for me. They really encouraged me and comforted me. I truly believe that birth is a beautiful miracle from God. I believe that He is our relief from pain.

How we met!

Daniel and I met in August, 2006. I was with my church on a mission trip in Głogów, Poland. The church that we were working with was the church that Daniel attended. He helped me a lot with the kids I was working with. We bonded a lot over a short period of time. I never thought too much about it until one day he was pouring drinks for some of the kids and looked over at him... all of a sudden it was like God telling me, "This is the man you are going to spend your life with." What?? I just met him, we live thousands of miles from each other..I don't know him. My pastor and his wife asked me to talk to them..I thought they knew and that they were upset because we were not there for that purpose. They began explaining to me that they felt like there was something special about Daniel and me. It was like God was reassuring me. It was so amazing. I just prayed about it and continued my mission work. By the time we had to go home Daniel and I knew that we would not be apart much longer. My whole team handed him money to help get his visa to come to the states. Within a month he was in my hometown. Three months later we got married. It is so amazing how God works. Thank you Lord for the wonderful man you have placed in my life!