The Search Is On......

Now that Tyler has made his debut I have actively begun searching for work. Yes, I know that he is only two weeks old and technically I can not begin working until after my six week check up, but I wanted to get a jump on getting resumes out.

Many people have asked me where I will be moving to now that he is born. Well, to be honest, wherever I get a job. I have not lived in Michigan in 10 years and this is not my home. It was merely a necessary pit stop on my journey of life. Personally, Phoenix is more home to me than any other place I have ever lived. (And believe me, there have been a lot of places.) But what I have realized is that I am not in my 20's anymore and moving all of over the country is not an option. While I wouldn't take back those experiences, I know that it is time for me to settle into a career and make a home for me and my children. And I am ready.

But I also realize that beggars can not be choosers. I have two children who have be through enough drama. I can not stand to put them through anymore. I know they don't have a choice in the matter of where we live but I have to accept the first offer that comes (outside of the state of Michigan as I REFUSE to stay here) with the salary requirement I need to support them. So while I do not want to live a frozen tundra, if that is where the job is, that is where I will be.

Ahhh, the joys of adulthood.

Adjusting

NyCee is adjusting well to Tyler's arrival. She emphatically reminds everyone that he is "her baby." She helps me with changing his diaper and giving him a bath. She attempts to put lotion on him and calls my name when he is crying. I even caught her standing on the rails of his crib saying, "It's okay. Don't cry."

I wonder how long these endearing sentiments will last.

3 for 3 at 3am

Tyler goes to sleep around 1030p and sleeps until 3:00a or so. Normally, he nurses and goes back to sleep until around 6:30a. This morning was no exception. Well, there was a slight exception. When he woke up and as I was changing his diaper, poop starting squirting all over the place. I had to ditch the night light and turn on the lamp to view the damage.

After cleaning the poop and changing the bed sheets, he then decided to pee-pee every where. Did I mention all of this was going on at 3:00a? So picture me at 3:00am, trying to keep Ty from crying as to not disturb my parents, while wrestling with NyCee to change the bed sheets. When I finally managed to complete those tasks, he threw up down my night shirt.

Escape Hatch

While I recognize that it has been two years since I have changed a newborn diaper, I don't think it should be difficult to strap the thing on my son's bottom to hold ALL liquids in place.

For the last couple of days, every time I pick him up in the morning (around 6a is his normal wake up time. I will take it considering that he only wakes up once during the night most of the time.) the side of his pajamas are soaking wet. I thought he was sweating but it is pee-pee. Then today, his poop traveled all the way up his back. I have no idea how that happened. If I strap the diaper on any tighter, I will cut offthe circulation to his legs.

I guess I will get the hang of the "mommy to a little boy" thing soon.

Developing Vocabulary

Once again I had a little visitor in the bathroom with me during my evening shower. This time, she decided to play peek-a-boo with me behind the shower curtain. Every time she would move the curtain to look at me she exclaimed, "Mommy. Naked" and broke out in hysterical laughter.

Good thing I am not self conscious about the fact that I just gave birth one week ago or my ego would be seriously bruised.

Sharp Shooter

"Milkspud, watch where you are aiming."



Thankfully, he hasn't gotten me but for the past four days he has managed to pee in his hair and on his face--just missing his eyes. And all of this occurs in a matter of seconds. I turn my head for just a moment and SQUIRT--pee-pee is flying all over the place.

If I were a contraction....

So I went to the see the OB on Wednesday morning and he advised that I was still dilated to 1 centimeter (see Just Comfy). So he advised that on Friday, I was to report to the hospital for testing to determine if he would induce labor. Report time: 5:00a.m. I said, "Okay" and left the clinic.

Shortly after, I went to the library to do additional research for my proposal and was there for about 2 hours or so. Upon returning to my parent's house, I sat down to spend a few hours doing school work before picking NyCee up from the daycare. As I sat down at the computer to check my emails, I had sharp shooting pains that were foreign to me. Initially I thought that I was doing a little too much as I had been up since 645a and had to run errands before my doctor's appointment. But the pains happened in several short successions. (Keep in mind, NyCee's labor was induced so I never felt the contractions due to the medication received before the induction process started.)

So, I called my sister Boonie and asked the following question, "If I were a contraction, would I be a sharp pain shooting through my hoo-hoo." She laughed and replied, "Yes and does it feel like you have to go to the bathroom?" "Yes, it does." So I advised Tarisa, who was at my parent's house with me, that I was going to lay down for an hour to see if the pain subsides. Well, I didn't last 15 minutes.

After picking NyCee up from the daycare, we drove to the hospital and the pains increased. I immediately realized that I was in labor. When I was examined, I was dilated to 6 centimeters. The hospital paged my doctor and he came to exam me and stated that I was at 7 centimeters. Because I was so far dilated, I was unable to receive epidural. I thought I hallucinated when he said that. I started crying asking why not? Why can't I have epidural?

Well, I never received the epidural but thankfully my labor lasted only 3 hours from start to finish. Ty was born at 5:51p.

I don't understand how women choose to have a natural birth because believe me, that was NOT my decision. That was the longest 3 hours of my life. But the result was a beautiful baby boy so the pain was well worth the treasure.

I am so proud of NyCee as she was not startled at all. She didn't stay through the entire process. On several occasions she stated, "Mommy crying." Which I was. And when I stopped she asked, "Mommy. All Better?" Once I was admitted, I had Tarisa take her to my grandmother's house until after the baby was born.

I went from 1 centimeter to 6 in about 4 hours with no pain. Then the last 3 centimeters hit like something I can't even describe. There are no words that can describe the pain and elation that child birth brings. And 20 minutes after it was over, I was sitting up talking as if I had just gone shopping. The miracle of child birth is truly amazing. What's even more amazing to me is that God allows us to be a part of that wonderful process. Now that, is truly priceless.

Introducing....

I would like to introduce you to:

Frederick Tyler Thompson

Born April, 16, 2008

Please click the link below to view photos:

Tyler

Just Comfy

From the title you can guess that my son has not even tried to be born. I am still dilated to 1 centimeter and he is just, well, sitting there in the womb. Although I know when he arrives he is going to enter the world full steam ahead. Why? Because although he has chosen to remain comfortably inside my belly, he dances and skips around in there all day.

Eh, at least he does it in the day time so putting him on a schedule should be easy. (In theory, right?)


Yes, the pregnancy continues....

The most annoying part....

The most annoying part of third trimester pregnancy is not:

~going to the bathroom 700 times a day,
~the inability to see your feet from a standing position,
~the groans and grunts that you make when attempting to stand from a seated position,
~waddling, literally, every where in an effort to keep your balance,
~running low on outfits that fit because the cute stage of pregnancy has passed and generally your belly is poking out from under every shirt,
~people wanting to rub your belly as if you were the Golden Buddha.

No, the most annoying part of third trimester pregnancy is the following question:

"You haven't had that baby yet?"

Well, apparently not Captain Obvious! And it becomes increasingly more annoying when asked over and over and over again. Day after day after day after day.

Little Miss Talkative

Since turning two years old nearly a month ago, NyCee has been talking up a storm. My gosh! Although she is talking more, I am pleased with how well she is developing. She can count to four. (That may have something to do with the 1-2-3 behavior modification technique that I use sometimes. Actually, it's 1-2 as I do not say "3." She responds on 1 or 2.) She also can recognize her shapes and attempts to say them. She says, "Grandma, Granddad, Ti-Ti, All better, All finished, Don't want it, potty, Mocha, Dora Cookies, Grapes," and my personal favorite: "Mommy come here."

The one challenge lately is that she has stopped saying, "please" when asking for something. Part of that may be from going to daycare. But when I ask her, "How do you ask for something?" She replies, "peez." Also, in the last couple of days she has been saying, "uh-uh" instead of "No Ma'am and "Yep" in place of "Yes Ma'am." Again, something I am sure she picked up from daycare.

But all in all, she is developing right on schedule.

Obstructed View

Because my son has yet to make his debut, my huge belly has left me no choice but to walk around with legs so hairy I look like I belong on Planet of the Apes.


In an effort to rectify this problem, I attempted to shave my legs while in the shower. There are two major problems with that:

1. I am near-sighted so my distance vision is distorted with out my glasses or contact lenses. And

2. My huge belly makes it darn near impossible to see my legs while standing.

I tried to put my legs up on the wall of the shower (not a good idea when soap is present and no slip guard is on the shower floor). After several nicks, cuts and scrapes, I abandoned the idea of shaving.

I can't really blame Ty for this. I just didn't want to go to the hospital with hairy legs and that be the focal point of the day. I could just hear the snickers: "Why didn't that nut shave her legs? She knew she could be coming to the hospital at anytime to her baby. Gross!" I mean honestly. Who wants to endure that type of humiliation. Now that I have 700 bandages all over my legs. The next conversation will be, "Why did this nut try to shave her legs at 10 months pregnant? No one cares about her hairy legs."

Vanity!

Reminiscing

When I walked into the bedroom and saw NyCee sleeping, I was instantly reminded of a picture I captured of her when she was about 1 month old. She was sleeping in almost the identical position.



My goodness, how children grow so fast. It literally seems like just a few days ago I captured this photo of her.

They grow up way too fast.

Only 1 centimeter?

When I saw the nurse today, (my OB is on vacation) she advised me that I was dilated 1 cm. Initially I thought, "Aw man! Only 1 centimeter." But then I thought, "Oh man! 1 centimeter! Hey that is an improvement over last week! Only 9 centimeters to go!"

And bonus: I lost 6 pounds! That rocks!

I have learned to expect positive things to occur everyday and I will take the positive however it comes.

Afterthought: It's weird walking around with my cervix open and that being normal. :~P

3/4 Nearly Completed

My cousin Cari is a breast cancer survivor and during her chemo treatments she often referred to them in terms of the miles for completing a marathon. (Cari is an advent runner and has completed many marathons throughout the years.) While I have never run a marathon, I could relate to her analogy. As each phases passes, it is another milestone completed. 1/2 way mark, 3/4 mark, etc.

That is how I feel. The past few months have been challenging to say the least but as I ran the race with patience (Hebrews 12:1), I can see how each milestone moment puts me closer to completing this part of the race.

For the past 24 weeks, I have been in graduate school and have taken 3 courses each quarter. Graduate school is challenging but rewarding. Also, caring for my toddler, growing from being pregnant with Ty (who still has not made his debut), and planning my future has been draining. But I am reminded of an old adage my grandmother Minnie used to say: "When you think you have no shoes, think of the man with no feet." In other words, someone is worse off than you so be thankful to God for what you have.

When I think of how far I have come with respect to my educational endeavors, I stop and look up to heaven and thank God for the journey. No, it has not been easy. Yes, there have been tear filled nights. ("Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5b.) I am over the half way mark and am continuing to press toward the goal. And I run my race with joy and patience for I can see how all the hard work, rocky patches, and trips through the valley, pays off.

With that being said, I have to hit the books as classes started back up yesterday. 3classes, 11 weeks, 1 pending birth, 1 spunky toddler, 1 20 page proposal to write, 8 journal entries, 2 research papers, and a partridge in a pear tree (HA! HA!): Lord Jesus continue to give me strength.

(Have you ever noticed how quickly a two week vacation passes?)

One Crappy Evening

"Mommy. Boo-Boo. Potty."

"Okay, pumpkin cake. Hurry to the potty."

As she was sitting there waiting for the deed to be completed, she decided to jump down off the stool smearing her unfinished business on the seat and all down her legs.

I will take keeping her in diapers for $600 please Alex.

Bathroom Visitor

So last night I put NyCee in the bed at her normal bedtime. I decided that I would take a shower a little earlier than normal to help me relax. Well, about 5 minutes into my shower with shampoo in my hair and soap on my body, what do I hear: "Mommy." Sure enough, my child standing in the bathroom door smiling. (She had only been in the bed about 10 minutes.) What else could I do but bring her into the bathroom with me?

The entire time, she wanted to play peek-a-boo with the shower curtain. And when she couldn't see me because I was facing backwards and she was pulling the curtain from the front, she would bellow out, "MOMMY" as if I were able to disappear from behind the shower curtain.

When I finally dried off, she attempted to "assist" me with my lotions and etc. She handed me each item and then wanted some for herself. She also continuously poked at my belly and said, "Baby" and then broke out in laughter. She is truly a character.

12:44 a.m

Picture it: Port Huron, MI, 12:44 a.m. All is quiet in the sleepy town. Everyone in the house, including the dog Mocha, is slumbering soundly. Mommies and Daddies are tucked in their beds with visions of sunshine and warm weather dancing in their heads.

But then piercing through the still silence a small voice exclaims, "Mommy. Potty!"

Mommy is awakened from a deep, restful slumber and replies, "Okay Pumpkin Cake. Come lay next to mommy and go back to sleep."

While I am positive that was not the correct response, I was so tired that I didn't want to get up and make the first of my five or six potty trips that night. I have no doubt that she really did have to potty. Mommy was just too lazy to get up, remove the diaper, sit on her the potty, wait for her to put pee-pee in the potty, put a new diaper on her, and walk her back to bed. Nope! That was entirely too much to do at nearly 10 months pregnant at 12:44 a.m.

Nothing! Nada! Zilch!

I saw the OB today. (Well, I had to see the nurse because he was called out to deliver a baby at the hospital across the street from his office.) Anyway, Tyler is still in place.

No progress. He is just content to live in the womb kicking the crap out of mommy everyday.

He is not due until 04/16/2008 but I just knew he would be considerate and come out while I was on break from school.

Sunday, my family thought I was having contractions because my lower back was really hurting and I felt pressure in the pelvic area. (More pressure than normal. I never experienced labor pains with NyCee as my labor was induced with her. However, prior to the induction process, I was given LOTS of drugs so I don't know what a contraction feels like.) As a result, my mom called Tarisa to come over and stay with me while she and my dad were at church. But nothing happened. I think Tarisa was more disappointed than I was. And of course today I learned that Ty was just moving around trying to make room for himself.

So, the pregnancy continues..