Jackson Kenneth Edwin Parsons

So my contractions started around 10:30 pm on April 2nd. No biggie, didn't think anyting of it I had been having Braxton Hicks for weeks (months really) the only difference was that these actually hurt. I decided to ignore them and go see Danielle and take some pictures politely suggesting you get out as you were 6 days overdue. We took some pictures, had some tea, laughed at miss H and then I headed home. I rolled around on the couch and birthing ball and moaned in pain on the couch. Headed to the hospital around 1 am just to check everything out and it wasn't active labour and I had a non stress test booked for 8:30 the next morning so back home I went. I dozed a bit from 3-5am and then dad headed to work. I showered and bathed and had another bath because that just made it better.

 I finished packing my bag and everything I would need *just in case* and put it in the car and headed to the hospital. They hooked everything up at the hospital and were a little worried because your heart rate was pretty steady at 150. No variability. They told me that you were coming today one way or another. So.  Dad came to hang out around 9 am and they started the oxytocin. Contractions were still every  3 minutes just like they had been since 10:30 the night before. I called Danielle and she came because it was FINALLY time to meet you soon :)

Everything was ok pain wise (tolerable, not actually ok haha) but things weren't progressing quickly enough so they decided to break my water. It wasn't clear and your mom had a mini meltdown because she was worried about you. However, about 30 seconds later the pain kicked in. And I begged for an epidural (good thing I did't write a birth plan, since this was the complete opposite of the drug free birth I wanted for you). I got a spinal while waiting for my epidural and it was wonderful and I got to doze for about 20 minutes. Epidural went in and I swear that damn thing didn't work properly. Two spinals later it was 6 pm and I was only at 6 cm. Time to start asking for a c section since you clearly weren't coming out any other way.

Dr. DuPleussy came in around 6:45 and he checked and I was 10. TIME TO PUSH :) He went to get Dr Du Toit and by the time he got back it was around 7:15 and the pushing started. I must say it was such a relief to know you were FINALLLLLLY coming out to meet us! The pushing process was long according to the dr but I took it slow (no tearing was the object of the game) and lots of jokes were made. Then at 7:43 there you were. The most perfect little boy ever.  Exactly one week late, 7lbs 13 oz and 18 inches long. 10 fingers and 10 toes and a full head of hair. 

It's funny everyone says that when you see your baby you just fall in love and forget all the pain and ailments and joys of pregnancy and labour. And it's true. I saw you laying there and I was happier then I have ever been in my entire life and all I wanted to do was love you and protect you and hold you and just be the best mom ever. I forgot about all the heartburn and the five trips a night to the bathroom. I forgot about all the pain and difficulty and just fell even more in love.

Before they broke my water and I thought I would die.

Dad assuring me that I wasn't going to die and I could do this.

Love at first sight.

First family picture

You fed within the first five minutes and Dr Du Toit says your heartbeat was just right

Dad's first time holding you

Cheeky little guy 

Feet <3

Welcome to our family Jax. We love you and are so very happy you're here xoxo

Watch Me Grow! 21-41 weeks!

Look how damn cute my elephetus is!

21 Weeks 

                                                                         23 weeks

26 weeks

Mom & Dad- 28 weeks at Chilly Lake

30 weeks!

32 weeks!

35 weeks!

36 weeks

37 weeks!

38 weeks!

39.5 weeks!

40.5 weeks- the dr said it was fine!

41 weeks-the last picture before heading to the hospital!

And then You were born and I forgot about all my pregnancy aches, pains and complaints <3 

Things I Miss Whilst Being Preggo

In no particular order.......

Sugar Free Red Bull...... big can, ice cold with a straw

Vodka- namely absolut peach, straight on ice, also with a straw with a sf red bull in the other hand

Cigarettes- yes, I know, not a great thing to say but very true

My toes- being able to look down and see them

Having an innie belly button- on the same note, both my belly button piercings

Non pregnant sex- the hot sweaty awesome kind where you dont worry about poking your kids eye out

Wine- red wine, big HUUUUUGE glasses of it

HOT baths- with wine *sigh*

Sleeping thru the night- aka not  waking up and peeing 7356763458790845 times

Laying on my stomach- not that I thought I did it a lot before but I sure miss it now

Not thinking about ANYTHING- I know this wont go away when I am no longer preggo, I am now a parent and worrying is my new middle name. But I miss just thinking/worrying about nothing

I am sure there is more and I may add to this but for now, off the top of my head this is what came out. Sigh.......

Forgive me Father, For I Have Sinned, It's Been ALmost 5 MONTHS Since my Last Blog....

So- I havent blogged in FOREVER, and seeing as I havent been working in that time there really is no excuse-but i will give you one anyways :) Life has changed. Drastically. Done a 180. And I am not super superstitious but I didnt want to talk about it for a while. Now, things have been settled for a while so I think its time to start up blogging again.

I am currently FOUR days overdue- FOUUUUUURRRRRRRRR. Just for all of you out there who have not been pregnant. 4 days overdue is pretty much the equivalent of four weeks. Ugh. And its really not even the pregnancy that is so bad. As a matter of fact the last week and a bit of pregnancy have been nicer then the month or so before that. Nope, the worst part is the people. There are probably 5 or so people that I actually enjoy talking to on a regular basis. Maybe a couple more. But everyone else can EFF OFF. The things that people have the audacity to say to me. I know that they probably mean well but honestly. Shut your mouth. I dont need to be told to be patient. I dont need to be told that its getting sooner. Logistically thats one of the stupidest most obvious things you could say. I dont need to be told that he will come when he is ready. Actually, he could come on his own to a certain time and then we are forcing him out. SO-no, he will come out by a medically pre determined date. Thanks tho. I also dont want to hear about what your friend, mom, sister or whoever did to induce labour that "works every time". In fact, I may just dedicate a whole separate post to my methods of induction I have tried.

So- this is just a quick post to welcome myself back, make sure it still works and remind myself how it is done. I am going to go thru all my electronic devices and try and compile a list of notes and pictures to catch up on all the drs visits and such that I have missed so you, my dear little Spike, will have an excellent record of how youve been doing :)

Half Baked

well, i am terrible blogger, it is official. however, today is a momentous occasion. the halfway mark! i am officially 5 months and oh so surprised that i am halfway done! it feels like time is flying. but i hear its the first half that flies by and the last half that drags.

let's see, whats new..... well. it seems like nothing goes right these days, about anything, at all, ever. the one constant in my life seems to be change now. which i am trying to accept and deal with gracefully (apparently i am doing a great job) but i feel like no matter how hard i try to get all my ducks in a row theres some sneaky dog trying to screw everything up in the background.

                         *children of the eighties will appreciate this*
another constant would have to be my lovely friends and family. much love to all you guys for always being there and helping me out how you can. words can't even express how thankful i am for everyone who is helping to keep me sane through this. other then that everything is crap. needing to move, needing a new car, baby daddy issues, family stuff, work, the cold etc etc etc

as far as pregancy things...... i crave pineapple. all. the. time. and other citrus fruits but mostly pineapple. the heartburn has decreased to a managable level and isn't even around some days. yay. leg cramps however have shown up. they can eff off. i need all the sleep i can get and being woken up to that level of pain multiple times a night (aside from the waking up to go pee which is getting more frequent too) is not fun. at all. plus side. i am a c cup now. up two cup sizes in 5 months. lets see how much cleve i can obtain in the next five :)

we find out what kind of elephetus you are in TWO MORE SLEEPS! i could not be more excited for this. i've been brainstorming new baby names. i like boy names now too. either way i am thrilled to hear that you are healthy and boy or girl i will be super excited!

thats enough for now. au revoir <3

Sick & Tired

I have a cold. Just your average cold, nothing too terrible. However, not allowed to take anything for it.

I. Hate. Life.

I am horrible at being sick. It's uncomfortable and I feel gross and I just want to stay in bed curled up with tea and plenty of neo citron and nyquil.

Instead, I am working 12 hour shifts inside the entrance to the biggest Walmart in Canada. Directly in front of four sets of double automatic doors that are constantly opening and closing and frigid bursts of wind come in. I am freezing, it is supppperrrrrrrrrrr loud and Walmart clientele aren't exactly cream of the crop. Un medicated. Awesome. Oh and in case that wasnt bad enough they are building condos about 100 feet away so the sounds of cranes and welding and jack hammers also echoes around the cavernous cement cart area where my lovely kiosk is located.

Honestly, I got hired to work in an office and then they decided they wanted me where I am now.... I am counting down the days until I can go on mat leave...... Less then 4 months to go.......

That's enough bitching for the day.

One last thing to end on a positive note. I love my cousin. He has made so many positive life changes lately and it is so nice to have my happy, healthy buddy back. I am so incredibly thankful for everything he does to make my life easier. He makes me a plate when he makes dinner so I won't have to cook when I get home. He comes over just to unload my groceries so I don't have to carry heavy things. And tonight, best of all, he is coming to do my dishes so I don't have to keep ignoring them and eating cereal out of tupperware (which I am also getting low on now lol). I love you D. You're going to be the best Uncle EVER!

4 Months

* 17 weeks*

Alright so, after my last rant I figure it's time to catch up on what's been going on with you and all that. I have been a little lax in keeping up with this blog. So, heres a rundown of the last few weeks, some highs, some lows and all that jazz.

Hmm.... Where to start.

Lets start with things I am incredibly thankful for these days. I am thankful that I have a family who is uber excited for you. Your aunties are ecstatic about you and love you so much already. They make me happy just hearing them talk about you.

*that's me and your aunty r comparing bellayyys haha*

I am thankful for Kimber. She is the equivalent of a glass of wine (or three) these days. Since I can't relax with a glass of wine I have her. She always knows what to say and how to make me laugh. I am so thankful for her in my life and the laughter she brings. It's amazing the good things that can come out of bad things. I am also super thankful for the support group this pregnancy has created. I love my counselor (who just keeps telling me I am NOT crazy, I'm normal) and my midwives (also, to reassure me I am not crazy, I AM normal) and the ultrasound clinic who will tell me what you are without charging a ridiculous amount of money. Which brings me to my final I am thankful for today, I am thankful I get to find out what you are in less then 3 weeks :)

I am NOT thankful for heartburn. It sucks. I had never experienced it pre pregnancy and I hope it goes away. All I keep thinking is if it is this bad now how much worse will it get over the next 5 months. Ughhhhhhhh. I also am not loving the not being able to sleep through the night thing. Again, how much worse is this going to get. It used to be that I would think "oh, gotta go pee, it can wait til....." NO, there is no waiting now. When I have to go I have to go, at least once during the night too. Other disadvantage, I can no longer bend at the waist without immediately feeling like I am going to pass out. Awesome. Laying flat, even better, instant heartburn AND the pass out feeling. Hello extra pillows.

I can feel you moving more definitely now. I was driving home last night and had my first OH moment. Took me a second to realize that it was YOU! Just reminding me that you're in there and alive. I am so looking forward to real kicks and such (until they start to hurt, then I will be complaining about them haha) and a real bellay not this beer gut thing. You seem to love citrus fruits, although they cause unbelievable heart burn I'm on an aprx 5 a day mandarin orange habit with a few kiwis and maybe a pineapple thrown in too. Yeah I know, no wonder I have heartburn. Your dad and I are also trying to be nice to each other. We finally talked which is good. Baby steps I guess. I bought an angel care monitor so you don't die of SIDS. Another YAY! Thank God for some of the miracles of modern technology. Mostly my iPhone but some other stuff is cool too lol.

The leaves are all changing and Halloween is coming (hurry up and GROW so I can paint my belly like a pumpkin!) and then winter. And then you. Weird to think that I am almost half done growing you. It seems like for every emotion I am feeling right now there is a conflicting one. Excited and Nervous. Like time is crawling and like it is speeding by. Happy but Sad. Confident and Insecure.

I guess that is what being a parent is all about.........