Megan

10:32 am: Music
I've been listening to a lot of music lately

John Butler Trio"

Goldfrapp

Fiest

In fact we bought the first two albums and downloaded Fiest.

Lots of good music.

10:35 am: Happy second birthday, my big boy baby
called Pam (midwife) at 8
dd woke at 8
dh woke at 8:30 so we can go on a walk
went for a walk to get coffee and contractions are stronger
called midwife and she suggested I rest for later
ate some lunch and then napped for half an hour
3pm contractions were strong enough to wake me up
2pm- woke up and peed. Lost lots more mucous, clear to dark brownish-red
3:30- things have slowed down a lot. Maybe one contraction an hour and not as intense.
Called Pam and she suggested that things might pick up later this evening.
6:45- Nipple stimulation seems to be working and quickly. Just 2 minutes and the first one.
7:30- feels like my cervix is a bit more open, just a bit though
10pm - they are more painful now, I have to moan through them, dd just went to bed, dh made me a strawberry sno-cone
1am - Pam came by, monitored baby's heartbeat, timed contractions a bit. Suggested I take some sleepy herbs and try to get some rest. To bed with me!
2:30am- they are coming in a pattern. One really painful one that makes me want to just completely loose control then two that I can deal with just by breathing. I'm only comfortable sitting on the toilet for the strong one.

Around 3 I decided it would be a good idea to get the pool going. I got in a hot bath to ease my need for immersion. I tried to call dh from the bathroom (nearly all the way across the house) hoping that the baby monitor in Amara’s (dd) room would pick up my voice. I tried several times and eventually got out of the tub. Shawn is a really heavy sleeper and he hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before with my tossing and then waking him early.
Shawn (dh) got the tub going and I was in the bath. I was vocalizing loudly with each contraction. He’d stick his head in the bathroom every now and then as he ran around trying to get things prepared.
About 3:45 I needed to get out of the tub. I went and put on a bra and a tank top that I had set out earlier to wear in the tub. Then I lay on the couch on my side. I had a towel down in case any mucous escaped.
Shawn asked when we should call Pam and I told him to call her and describe what was happening and she could decide when it was time to come because I wasn’t sure when she needed to be there.
He called at 10 till 4. I lay on the couch and had what felt like contraction after contraction without a break in between.
At 4:12 (Shawn noted the time) my water broke dramatically. It arched up and hit my top leg and then cascaded down. It was really loud, at least to my surprised ears. This was the moment I realized I was really in labor and he would be born soon. I had been until that point not convinced that I was truly in labor. I didn’t want to get to hopeful in case it stopped.
I called Shawn in the room and asked him if the water was clear, he said it was. I ran to the toilet as it had provided a lot of relief and comfort to me before (and I thought it would be a good place to sit since my water had broken). Right after I sat down Shawn told me Pam arrived. She came in the bathroom and stood with me a moment then ran right back out to get her birth supplies. I heard her but I don’t think I responded much. It was really focused inwardly and my only question was whether the pool was ready.
It was still cool but I got in the water anyway. Shawn added more hot water and that felt nice. I held onto the hose during a contraction and tried to move it around to spread the heat. I had a really hard time doing both things at once.

From that moment things become unclear.
Sometime right after I got in the pool Amara woke up. I heard her and told Shawn. Pam was closer and went to get her. She seemed surprised but not upset. Shawn went with her and reminded her what was happening. He also turned on her movie. At this point I could still talk a little.
I told Shawn not to ask me questions while I was having a contraction. It was irritating because I couldn’t answer. I also didn’t really want to be touched.
I was mostly comforted seeing that Shawn was sitting on the couch next to Amara and that she was okay. I could see him from the pool where he was sitting and that was all I needed.

I could feel his head moving down. The bones felt like they were grinding and it was uncomfortable and disturbing. I know I asked several times how much longer and each time was told “not much longer”. I didn’t like that answer. I wanted it exactly!
Pam was moving around the kitchen getting things ready and writing on records. I was irritated that she was so chipper and excited.
I could feel him moving down and quickly realized that the folded up skin with a bit of hair was not my skin but his head. I called Shawn in to feel. At first he was confused by what he was feeling but seemed excited when he realized what it was.

I stayed mostly on my knees letting the water support me. I wanted to sit down on my side to rest my legs between contractions but they came so close together that I couldn’t and so my legs got really tired and the position numbed my feet.
At some point around 4:45 I started to push but didn’t recognize it as pushing. When I did I tried to push along with my contractions but it hurt so I stopped.
I think I sputtered out works like “burning” and “stretching”. Pam suggested that I not push to slow it down. I told her I wasn’t. I continued to complain the whole time though!

Once I could feel the huge bulge of his head pushing down I just held my hand there amazed. I could feel my perineum stretch and thought it might tear because it was stretched so much. I felt the most stretching and burning in the front. I tried to lean back thinking it might put more pressure on the perineum and I would have preferred to tear toward the back than the front. It didn’t seem to matter how I moved the burning feeling remained in the front. I put my hand there to try to support myself. I’m not sure how much difference it made though. (I did have an abrasion between my inner and outer labia on the left side, just where I felt the most pain).

When I realized that more of his head was coming out I called in Shawn and told him to bring Amara. At one point I could feel a bit of something on the side and realized it was his ear so I felt the other side and could feel the tip of his other ear. I told Shawn that I could feel his ear and I think his response was just a big smile.
Once his entire head was out I pushed a bit and the rest of him came sliding out easily.
I didn’t let him stay in the water long, I grabbed him right up and held him to my chest. I asked if he was a indeed a boy.

The cord was wrapped around his arm and shoulder. Pam later suggested that might be why early labor was so extended and came on and off, he may have needed a lot of time to get in a better position for birth.

born at 5:26am
7lbs 3oz
20" long
13.5" head

08:49 pm: Cool Freebie
I found this site giving away personalized items for free -- some worth up to $40. You can engrave your initials or otherwise personalize the item.

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Note: please use a valid link in the request form. They're strict about links and won't consider the request valid unless the link is valid.

http://www.cengraving.com/s/free

Thanks!

01:55 pm: Okay, smart ladies...
is there a way I can transfer all of my blog entries from blogger/blogspot to somewhere else without having to do it manually?

I'm getting incredibly tired of having to re-set my password every-single-time I log in! Literally, every single time. I've tried using the same password and different password and nothing works. Each time I want to log in it says I'm not found and I have to re-set the password.

So any help would be greatly appreciated!

10:29 am: How are these things so accurate?

You Are An ENFJ

The Giver You strive to maintain harmony in relationships, and usually succeed. Articulate and enthusiastic, you are good at making personal connections. Sometimes you idealize relationships too much - and end up being let down. You find the most energy and comfort in social situations ... where you shine. In love, you are very protective and supporting. However, you do need to "feel special" - and it's quite easy for you to get jealous. At work, you are a natural leader. You can help people discover their greatest potential. You would make a good writer, human resources director, or psychologist. How you see yourself: Trusting, idealistic, and expressive When other people don't get you, they see you as: Bossy, inappropriate, and loud

09:31 am: Happy Mother's Day
...to the mamas who wait patiently (or not so patiently) for that line to show up.

...to the mamas who's baby is still baking.

....to the mamas who love their kids but don't always like to be around them.

...to the mamas that are "perfect".

...to the mamas with dishes in their sink, laundry piled up, cherrios everywhere, and baby snot in their hair.

...to the mamas who's kids have grown up and left home.

...to the mamas who's babies left this world much too soon.

...to the mamas missing their own mamas.

...to the mamas who try their best.

...to the mamas that stay home and the mamas that wish they could.

...to the mamas that go to work and miss their kids.

...to every mama that loves her children.

09:07 pm: While my internet was down
not only did I move, but much more importantly I read "Everything is Illuminated"

Its an incredible book. Really different than anything else I've ever read in approach and content.

Have you seen the movie? The book is actually quite different. I think the movie is what actually happened while the book contains a lot of other stories and letters between the two main characters.

10:09 am: Could you help me please
share some insight if you have any

MDC thread

01:28 pm: Knitting blog
Did you know I keep a knitting blog? I keep it fairly updated, taking pictures of most of my projects.

Its Megan Knits

09:43 am: Toddler nursing
Its complex. Nursing an infant is often complex but once you figure it out its the simpliest thing in the world. But in my experience nursing a toddler is always complex.

For me its been a huge blessing and an annoyance.

I love that there is a simple way for me to calm my children when they have need to reconnect with mama. I love that its an easy way to get them to sleep. I love that nursing balances out their weird diets. I love that nursing makes them healthy in every way. I love that nursing has created a deep and lasting bond with my children.

There are times though when it doesn't feel so good to me. Like when he's been nursing on and off for 3 hours fighting sleep. My nipples are sore, I'm touched out and just want to go to sleep myself. I don't like that my inlaws and most of the country think I'm doing something weird or even something wrong.

But this morning I'm very happy that I'm nursing because now I don't have to report for jury duty.

I've been called 3 times and gotten out each time. The funny thing is I'd love to do jury duty, it sounds interesting. However, I do not have anyone to watch my kids if I were to do jury duty so at least for a while I can't do it.

11:59 am: What would you do?
So I saved up, sold some things and got enough money to buy dh a nice Christmas gift.

Here is the ebay auction (still couldn't afford full price!)


Boots
When they came in the mail yesterday the soles were dirty. Brown stuffed caked in a few parts of it. And when I looked inside at the heel portion part of the letters had been rubbed off, like they had been worn. The rest of the boots look pristine. There didn't appear to be any wear on the soles at all. My best guess is that they were display shoes and that they show wear internally because people try them on but didn't really wear them outside.

I sent an email to the seller:

I received the boots today but they are not as described. The have wear on
the inside, part of the llogo has been worn off with wear. The soles are
also dirty and show signs of wear. The description in the auction lists
these as new, not used in like new condition.

I appreciate your prompt response to this matter.

Megan


And to me he writes back:


these boots are new not used yes they are dirty on the bottom because they were on the floor they can be easily clean for 99.00 dollars you are getting a great value I have never had any complaints. the number on the inside are worn out a little cause I get like this for cheaper and in turn sell for a better value to my customers at a great savings. trust me these are not used.


When people tell me to trust them it makes me nervous.

What would you do. Drop it. I gave him the boots and he loves them. I think the seller is not being honest. I would have described them as in excellent new condition with few signs of wear. Or more specifically described the boots.

Would you follow through on principle or let it go since dh loves them?

11:58 pm: Fever
she's got a fever of 104.5 :(

08:00 pm: My sick sense of humor
Video

I could use a good laugh today.

03:12 pm: Christmas tree
I don't think we will do a Christmas tree this year. We have to move and I think Grey would destroy it anyway. Its simply not practicle. It does make me a little sad though as I love my tree decorations.

05:16 am: Moving
So I got a voicemail last night (we were in Missori visiting my family) and was unable to access it until this morning. We rent a home through an agency and the guy who owns it left me a message. I returned his call this morning on the way to the airport. He told me that the owner of our house needs to move into it for financial reasons. She's going through a divorce and her financial advisor told her that it would be better for her to live in the home so when she sells it she won't have to pay so many taxes on it or something like that. Whatever it is we have to be out by April 1st.

I'm glad we at least have this much warning. We have a few months to pack and find a new place.

I have no idea where we will go though. We can't pay more than what we are paying now and we can't find anything that's the same for less. We really don't want to go back to an apartment but its the only thing in our price range.

I suppose we just have to trust and hope things will work out the way they should.

I really don't want to move. Its such a stress and a hassle.

06:49 am: today
Kids are doing ok. He only has thrown up 6 or so times so its a vast improvement over yesterday. Amara was a bit tired but doing ok. My cramps have been a lot better than usual, but the cramps are becoming worse as the day goes on.

We've gotten most of our Christmas shopping done by necessity, its much easier to spread out over many months than to cram it into a few weeks. I still can't help but look around at things...especially handmade items.


Like this outfit


And this set, though too small for both my kids


This gorgeous shirt and skirt set, I can just see this with chocolate tights


And ds would love this, he's into trains lately

04:21 pm: Conference
So we are home from the conference.

I had a great room mate, she was so helpful! I remet some people that I met at the BabyWearing Conference and met some new people that I really liked.

We also met Marian Tompson, a co-founder of La Leche League





He had just woken up and was a bit cranky but still this is a great photo. IfWhen I have my office as an IBCLC, I'll frame this and put it up in my office.

I took some really great classes. Most of which I ran around the room chasing him and keeping him from breaking things and breaking himself. I missed nearly all of the first class, which after I took another class from the same speaker later I was really unhappy that I missed it.

I took classses from Cynthia Good Mojab, Dixie Whetsell, Lyla Wolfenstein, Lisa Marasco, Janet Weidman, and Marian Tompson.

The subjects included Post Partum Depression, Case Studies: Maternal Factors in Lactation Challenges, Milk Production and Challenges, Infant Feed Rhetoric: Risks vs Benefits, and Parenting Through the Stages to Adulthood.

The most interest class was hosted by Cynthia Good Mojab, Infant Feeding Rhetoric. I certainly hope she publishes it. Until that happens I'll give you the general idea. Basically if you speak of breastfeeding as having benefits you are setting formula up as your baseline, or what's normal, and describing breastfeeding as being better than average or better than normal. If you describe formula as having disadvantages or risks then breastfeeding is what's normal and formula is lesser than the normal and expected breastfeeding.

A few key points:
Formula companies obviously want to make money and sell more product, they always describe breastfeeding as having benefits while still maintaining the normalicy of formula.

Since we know breastmilk is the biological standard for our species then its unscientific to use formula as your baseline. Describing breastfeeding as normal and formula as having risks is the only way to do it scientifically.

Cynthia had many other ways of evaluating the language we should use as well and like I said, I hope she publishes her work.

She also had the most charming 9 yr old daughter. She was a complete delight and my son adored her!

Most of the conference was exhausting. My back and shoulder are exceptionally sore and tired. He didn't sleep well and was upset a lot because he was being denied free reign. I'd still do it again if I had the option. I felt like a I learned a lot and made connections with people for the future as well.

09:30 am: To my infertile friends and aquaintances
I heard a man say something on the radio the other day about children born through surrogacy and created through IVF. It was terrible, horrible, and I will not repeat it.

Please know that he is in the minority. Most of us support you and love your children. I am still in shock almost a week later at the hate in his statement.

08:08 pm: I would love to have this
Isn't it gorgeous?

08:25 am: Our Store
Stocked this morning