Z's Birth Day

Last year for Z's birthday I did this post with a picture of every month of the first year of his life. This year, I thought I'd share a bit about his birth day. So, read on, if you wish!

Below is our birthing room. To the left we have the tub that was indispensable to my ability to handle the ordeal. I was determined to go drug free, if at all possible. I was a week late and my midwife (yes, my mother-in-law) decided we would schedule an induction for Tuesday morning. Monday afternoon we went to Long Horn Steak house for a fancy steak meal with my parents. That evening after the room I wanted (the room with the tub) finally opened up, they admitted me at 5pm, and around 9pm gave me Cervadil (to "ripen" the cervix) in preparation for the pitocin/induction the next day. Thankfully, the Cervadil sent me into labor and I was able to avoid the pitocin all together. If you want to know some of the ways we helped bring on labor prior to coming to the hospital, let me know, I'll e-mail ya. :-) I'm positive it helped me avoid the pitocin!
Well, they put me in the tub pretty early on, and I think I was in there several hours. When I hit the transition stage and kept having huge urges to push, I started vomiting with each urge. Z was turned just a tiny bit and this caused some back labor which Ben was in charge of. I absolutely depended on him to push as hard as he could on my lower back (I had bruises the next day) with each contraction. My mother-in-law, who's given birth six times and delivered hundreds of babies was wonderful in telling me what to do and when.
Eventually, they coaxed me out of the tub because they needed to change the water (did I mention the puking?). When I got out, they told me I was 9cm dilated and it was time to move to the bed. I remember trying to be funny (in my delirium) and saying, "And you said you needed to change the water! You weren't going to let me back in all along, I was tricked!" But, they (my husband and mother-in-law) thought I was actually offended or at least confused. It's hard to play off a joke when you're anticipating the next painful contraction. I never bothered to explain...till now.
I'm not sure when my mom arrived, but she was there for the entire pushing ordeal which took two hours. She got a little queasy from the view as she held one of my legs, but she moved and helped hold up my head and made it through. So, there was one nurse and Ben holding a leg each, my mom holding my head and my mother-in-law delivering. It was rather perfect, I must say. The whole thing took about eight and half hours. I wouldn't change a thing (except I wish I didn't have to have an IV and the resident doctor lady who gave me the cervadil the night before had zero bedside manners). I was talking about having another baby within the first hour of giving birth!
There's lots of details I left out, like how my sisters-in-law came the night before and made me laugh till I cried and cheered me on for IV (I have PTSD with those things), oh and how I really had planned to have them and some others present for the birth, but I wouldn't let Ben leave me for a second as I needed him so much through the labor, so they never got called, and were surprised Z came so early. We were all a little surprised. I thought it would take 24 hours or more, like my poor mom had to endure. I loved that I got to nurse him right away. Ben and I would never really sleep the same again. And thus began my new job, the best job I've ever had, and I'm speaking from experience. I didn't like working out of the home 40-60 hours a week which I did for many years. But, this, non-stop, endless, work night and day, is my dream come true.

Happy Birthday, Buddy! We're glad you're here.

Weekend with cousins!

The day before Father's Day, here's Z making his Father's Day gift. We printed out a picture of this, gave it to him with the artwork and a bag of Riesens (Daddy's favorite).

Ben went to WV (yes the cabin) with his buddy, Matt, for one last hurrah before the baby comes. So, deciding not to stay home alone for four days, Z, the dogs and I imposed on Ben's brother's family for a couple of days. Seriously, it was as good as Disney World for Z! They have a full basement full of toys and wonderment, and a safe front and back yard complete with swings, a trampoline and best of all...a Barbie car that if I didn't know where Z was, I knew to look in the Barbie car. Thankfully, he couldn't quite work it yet, so he was easy to find. His older cousins, Jenna and Ally gave him rides around the yard and he loved it! Here he is with his younger cousin, Owen, cruising (in place) in the Barbie car!

Monday we got to go to one of Jenna's last T-Ball games for the summer. She did great!

Caught these two holding hands on the way out from the game. Z and his Great Grandpa H.

Yesterday was long long long without Ben. Z wouldn't take a nap until like 3pm. We were both in tears by the end of the ordeal. On a funnier note, I let my dog, Atticus, stay in the bedroom when we went up for the nap yesterday, thinking, he'll just sleep where he is. Well, he did, until Z started crying and screaming b/c I was insisting he take a nap which he was fighting. Then Atticus did what he always does when Z cries...he cried too. Loudly. Ben calls them ET and Elliot. It was so ridiculous I started laughing. I couldn't believe I was fighting with a two year old and my dog was screaming just as loudly as he was.

Thankfully, for sanity's sake, I'd scheduled a play date with my friend, Trisha, who's about to burst with another baby (they aren't going to find out what the sex is) and we had fun last night, she even kept me company for dinner. I'm busy this week with lots of sewing projects. My Navy girl (Jamie) is on a boat somewhere in the world and it's going to take a long time for her package to get to her, so I need to get that out! Oh, and did I mention everyone in the world's birthday is in June? Maybe just in my family, but oh my, I have a lot of sewing to do!

Ben comes home today, YAY!!!!

Economics!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Money For Nothin'
Hey there! It's been a while since I did one of these. I saved them up and have 3 money saving ideas for you today! They're very diverse in who they would apply to so, perhaps one will work for you...

1. Anyone taking Fish Oil? Calcium? Potassium? Well, there are prescriptions you can get from your family doctor for these and get them possibly cheaper by using your prescription insurance. Usually, it's cheapest if you ask for a three month prescription (times 3 if possible), then do mail order. Often I can get a three month supply for the same price of one month at the pharmacy. I started getting prescription Fish Oil since I've been pregnant, but anyone could ask their doc for any of these vitamins, they're just good for ya. Also, the pharmacist told me that people other than pregnant moms take prenatal vitamins, so you could ask your doc if that's an option for you too.

2. Regal Cinemas are having a Free Family Film Festival throughout the summer again. Yes this means free movies! Our local Regal cinema has two free kids movies (one G and one PG) at 10am on Tuesdays and Wednesdays all summer long. They're even playing the Veggie Tales' Pirates Movie in July! Click here to find out what's showing and when at your Regal Cinema.

3. Now, this one you should know, but I'm just making sure that you do...yard sales are great and all for making some quick cash, but check this out. If you donate your crap (from clothes, books, toys to cars!) to a not-for-profit charity you can legally claim the fair market value of the item as tax deductible, which is often more than you would get for it at a yard sale. To clarify, you don't get the money back in your taxes, but you are not taxed on the amount claimed, just like tithe or other charitable giving. For more info on charitable donations click here. So, when you drop off your goods to Goodwill, Salvation Army, or your local charity ask for a receipt, write on it the total amount the goods would be at fair market value and turn it in next March/April with your taxes. It'll help you out!


Web World
This one I know most of you know, but there's a few who haven't heard yet! Craigslist is an asset to you and your family! You need to check it out! It's on-line classifieds of people in your area wanting stuff and selling stuff. It's much easier to post on Craigslist than on ebay and it's really catching on. Plus, there's no shipping fees, because everyone is within driving distance of each other.

On a very similar note, but perhaps slightly less well known, there's FreeCycle where everything is free! Also organized by locations, I find mostly want ads in our area, but there are some posts of people giving things away, in my neighborhood! I shouldn't be surprised, people put things out on the curb all the time, but this is a much more high tech curb. Powered by Yahoo, registering is fast if you already have an account with them. Some groups will register you immediately(Canton, OH), and some want to think it over and get back with you (like Dover/Phila, OH).