I've been meaning to sit down and blog for a while can you tell? 3 in one day! Anyways...
We went to our ward Christmas party on Saturday night and had so much fun. It was by far the best one I've ever been to. Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE our ward??? Well I do. I've never felt so welcome or so loved by so many people that I barely know. Anyways...
Then the other Foster family brought in two bagpipes, and drums. That was really cool. Two of their daughters did a couple traditional dances as well. 
Every time they would start a new song Chloe's eyes would get really big for a few seconds and when they stopped playing her eyes would bug out again from the deafening silence that followed. Preston and I couldn't stop laughing! She's so funny! Following that our ward choir director got up and led the whole crowd in the most awesome/embarrassing rendition of the 12 days of Christmas I've ever heard. I know it's hard to understand in this video, but there are lines like "Tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet" and "Ten lords a-leaping (while jumping up and down and signing as low as you can)" You get the idea...The night finished with SANTA! The first thing he did was announce to all the kids that if they wanted an extra special Christmas present this year all they had to do was get a bail of hay for his reindeer and have their dad put it on the roof so they could have a snack too! A few dad's sitting in the back of the room started shouting "Get him! Get Santa!" and all the kids were shouting "NO! Don't!" I was just glad that Chloe isn't old enough to understand and ask Preston to put a bail of hay on the roof this year! We'll stick with carrots when she is old enough, ha ha!
We got a picture of Chloe with Santa though. It will be the last one for a while where she's not crying, ha ha!
A few days ago Chloe was all fussy and I couldn't make her happy. She had a clean diaper, a full tummy and warm toes and fingers. Nothing I did would make her happy. So I thought "What's the worst that could happen? She might scream some more?" I stuck her in the swing and started it. A few minutes later...
I love this thing!!! She sat in it for about an hour and a half and only started screaming again when she was hungry. I actually got some stuff done for once! Apparently she just likes to look around once in a while. She's such a good baby!
Oh my, this kid is her father's daughter! And her mom's too!
Reasons she's Preston's Kid:
1. She has her dad's feet!
2. She farts about as much if not more than he does! And they usually smell just as bad!
3. She is sooooo long! She's in the upper 95% of the growth chart.
4. She eats like him. Lots and lots. I can breastfeed her for two hours almost straight except for burping and she'll still happily take a 2oz bottle of formula!
Reasons she's mine:
1. She already sleeps though the night, and she'll take a long early morning nap after a diaper change bathroom break and breakfast! (We like our sleep)
2. She has THE MOST expressive face! All smiles when she has gas, an awesome death look, and what we lovingly call the Popeye with the squinty eye. There's plenty more but those are my favorites!
Other fun stuff we've discovered:
1. She will wait for a clean diaper before she poops, and then it's about 5 seconds before we have to change her again.
2. She can pee about 5 times in an hour! It's amazing... unless I have to change all of them.
3. We can't imagine what life was like before she came along. How did we live without her???
I'm alive!!! Just so everyone knows... The nurses and doctors at the hospital all said I came through the whole thing really well. I even had a nurse ask me if I really did have a c-section because I was moving around so well by the 20th. I must say I really was not prepared for a c-section. The nice part was that we managed to have her before our anniversary.
We got to the hospital at 11:30 and by noon they had the I.V. in my hand and the pitocin drip going. The I.V. was my second least favorite part of the entire labor and delivery. Preston and I started watching movies while the nurses monitored my contractions and Chloe's heart rate. She kept squirming around so they couldn't keep track of it very well. My contractions never seemed to get really bad either. Meredith, my mom, Patty, and Preston's parents and brother Colin all joined us and we had a pretty good time just talking and speculating what the baby was. (The nurses all said it was going to be a boy because they had already had 6 girls before noon that day. We started to doubt it was really a girl in there!) As time passed everyone but my mom and Patty and obviously Preston left. The contractions started to get a little worse but they were still manageable.
After I had been in labor for 9 hours the doctor came in to check my progress for the third time since we started and I was STILL only 25% effaced and 1 centimeter dilated (the same as I had been since 38 weeks along). I had all of 20 seconds to register that that meant I was going to be there for a LONG time and it was going to be REALLY bad before I heard the word c-section. Instant terror... I was in shock till the doctor left the room to make phone calls and alert the O.R. I started crying as I slowly remembered what that meant. Apparently my pelvic opening isn't big enough to have a baby the regular way, and I will have to always deliver by c-section. Yippee!
There was an emergency down the hall and I got bumped back an hour from the original time they were going to take me in at 10. It was a good thing though because it gave me time to get my head around the idea a little. I was still super freaked out though.
They got me all ready and stopped the pitocin drip though the contractions kept going. They hurt a lot more once I knew they weren't doing anything anymore. It was all mental.
They had me walk myself to the O.R. The second they opened the door and I felt the FREEZING COLD and the saw the REALLY bright lights I started to shiver and bawl. I sat on the table and they took forever getting the spinal block in. THIS was my most unfavorite part of the entire thing. I have a huge bruise on my back from it. Once I felt the meds hit my spinal fluid my whole body went all tingly and limp. It was the strangest sensation. I'm also really short so I was numb from my neck down instead of from the middle of my chest to my knees. The only part I liked was that I felt a lot warmer.
It seemed like forever as they prepped me and put up the screens before they let Preston in the room to sit by my head. Everything seemed so much better as soon as he was there. I made him talk to me so I couldn't hear the conversation of the doctor and nurses. I didn't want to because I was already freaked out enough.
They warned me beforehand that my chest would feel very heavy from being numb and that when they delivered the baby they would press very hard on the top of my belly to help get the baby out and that it would feel like an elephant on my chest for a few seconds. The extra weight of breathing was one thing but I didn't realize the elephant would feel like a truck ran over me. But as soon as the pressure lifted I heard the most beautiful sound in the world! My baby was screaming and I started bawling all over again.
They brought her around the screen so I could see her and I couldn't believe how perfectly beautiful she was. I kept saying "She's so beautiful! She's so beautiful!" They took her away to clean her up and get her measurements and then Preston brought her back around so I could see her again. I'll never forget those moments. My worst day ever turned into the best!
They took Preston and Chloe out of the room while they sewed and cleaned me up. It seemed like forever being alone like that. I couldn't move my arms so I still hadn't held or even touched her but I was so happy.
After that I spent about 2 hours in recovery shivering cold (a normal reaction to the spinal block) holding Preston's and staring at my little angel. I got to hold her as soon as I could feel my hands again, she is the most amazing little person I've ever met. I think she looks just like Preston. She was 8lbs 1oz, 21 1/2 inches long and born at 11:32 PM on the 18th of November.
Chloe and I spent a few days in the hospital with me learning how to sit up and walk with pain in my abdomen and tons of drugs flowing through my system. Good stuff... I don't however like how fuzzy the drugs make me. My brain become very nonfunctional and then I get emotional. It's all getting better. We were released from the hospital on Friday night. Preston and I are now enjoying 1:00, 3:00 and 5:00 AM feedings and diaper changes. I love her so much that I don't care at all though. I think of it as an extra excuse to hold and love and kiss her. I am so happy to finally have my baby! She's my favorite part of every day now.
Charlie does really good with her too. He comes up to her whenever we sit down and sniffs her everywhere but I wont let him lick her (though her still hasn't tried to). He mopes a little too when I don't give him enough attention but he seems to be taking it all pretty well as long as Preston take the time to play with him.
Preston is such a good daddy too! He loves to hold her and kiss her and hates it when she cries. Fortunately she's such a calm and content baby that that never happens unless she's hungry or has a dirty diaper. It's so fun for me to watch them together. I LOVE my family!!!
But... but... but... I'm the baby!
Today is my last full day of being pregnant. I officially become a mom tomorrow! Every time I say that I hear that little voice in the back of my head go "Riiiiiiii-ght... Sure ya are. Whatever, you're gonna be pregnant forever. Stop messing with yourself. Besides, you can't handle the pain. Just learn to live with it!" Then the happy-excited-Disneyland version of myself comes out and in a fit of excitement jumps up and down on the sarcastic-mean version of myself and shuts her up for a while. At least... that's the episode I imagine when the real me goes back and forth between the two feelings. Seriously, I'm too crazy to raise a child. This poor kid is going to be mental by five just between me and Preston raising it. Should be fun!
I figured since today is my due date I should commemorate it. I mean I've been waiting for today since March 19th when I found out I was pregnant.
I don't have alot to update on since my last post from last night, but have since found out what a REAL contraction feels like. OUCH! I think I like the Braxton Hicks better, ha ha! Though it's nice to know what I'm looking for now and I know they all serve a purpose. I've also discovered that I find Christmas music incredibly soothing during them. I sit in my new gilder (thanks Richard and Sharon!!! I love that thing!) and sing along to them till one hits. (It drives Preston nuts that they already have Christmas music playing on the radio, and it makes him even more nuts that I feel the urgent need to listen to it whenever I can! Ha ha! Oh the woes of the father-to-be, muah-ha-ha-ha!)
It's so hard to believe that within the next six days I will have my baby in my arms, finally. I've been so anxious for so long for this and now I'm a little freaked out to be honest. Being pregnant is easy but being a mom? I haven't changed a diaper since my youngest sister Anya was a baby. And she turns 8 in January!!! My baby is 8! Well, the closest thing I've ever had to being my baby, so far. That scares me! Time has gone so fast, what if I blink and MY baby is turning 8? I'll be old! Preston will be older, ha ha! Okay I'm done reminiscing about the future that hasn't happened yet. I'll whine when it happens k?
Anywho... I'm gonna go and attempt to trigger labor! See you on the other side!... Or not... We'll see. Whatever comes first right?
I went to the doctor today... again. For the last time! Well, at least while I'm pregnant. The doctor said I'm still dilated to a one but I am almost completely effaced. Which is good, cause the contractions I've been having are bad and if they had been for nothing I would have been very irritated!
So after he checked me and told me I had made a little progress, we talked induction. Yippie!!! He said he'd be surprised if I don't have it within the week but if I don't we are going to the hospital on the 18th at 7:30AM. It's coming out whether it wants to or not. I know it's comfy in there and all but I'm done!
The end is near!!! I'm so excited!!! I get to hold my baby within the week!!! Yay for modern medicine!
In case anyone was wondering, I'm still pregnant. I had contractions from 3:30AM till 11:30PM when I went to bed on Saturday. 20 hours!!! Nothing...
They weren't bad ones. At least not bad enough to warrant a trip to the hospital but I thought for sure by that night or the next morning they would have progressed to the kind that would have. On Sunday I expected something similar but only had a few at all. Though I've discovered the strongest ones come when I'm riding in the car (while Preston's driving of course). Now I'm all sore so when I have them they hurt anyways.
I just want to get this show on the road! I know it's going to hurt alot more than this but, the way I see it, the sooner it starts the sooner I'll be holding my baby. Which I still have no idea what it is.
I've been thinking it's a girl for the last little while but last night I had a dream that I had it and it was a boy. I thought it was funny that the most disappointing part of that dream was that I couldn't put it in the cute little girl clothes I have. I kept asking the nurse "Now what am I supposed to do with all those dresses?" Preston was excited but said "He's gonna have to wear pink!"
I went to the doctor yesterday. Nothing has changed. I'm a bit depressed about that. I'm still 50% effaced and 1 centimeter dilated.
I'm thinking I need to remember how I feel about this so in the future when others are going through the same thing I can offer helpful words without being irritating or repetitive. I think I was hoping that I would be different than everyone and have a super easy time of it all. (Which in reality I have had about the easiest pregnancy ever! So I really shouldn't complain, especially since I haven't even gotten to my due date yet.) All I've done is frustrate myself... I know I wont be pregnant forever, but right now I feel kinda doomed and really fat and SUPER uncomfortable.
Poor Preston has been such a good sport about me. He deserves some kind of medal/humongous trophy! With an inscription that says something like best ever supporting role and most awesome best friend a pregnant woman could ever hope for!
Isn't it annoying when super blessed people complain? Sorry! I'm just moping, I'll stop now and I promise to be happier in my next post!
It's Election Day! The decision will officially be made and everyone will be stuck with our choice and we'll all have to deal with it. All the backbiting and name calling can quit! Woo-hoo!
If you can't tell, I happen to hate politics. No one can have a decent conversation about them. I'm sick of other people's opinions being shoved down my throat. Or if i don't agree with someone I get yelled at. At this time I am not allowed to have an opinion unless I want to make half the people I know very angry at me. Since this whole pile of crap started I just smile and nod and zip my lips when someone expresses an opinion on politics. Yes I care what happens to our country. God designated it to be a free place to have our own opinions and choices. I believe we throw those away like garbage alot of the time but we also have the agency to do so and I am grateful for that.
I never liked either of our choices for president and I believe I chose the lesser of two evils rather than throw my vote away on Mickey Mouse (which I think would be the best choice these days, at least he's not calling anyone a stinky butt face or whatever "politically correct term" McCain and Obama have come up with to make themselves sound like over-intelligent 2 year olds). When I'm trying to choose a leader I don't want to know who is the bad guy and who is the worse bad guy. I don't want to hear "Oh but this guy MIGHT be the Anti-Christ!" (and honestly if he is the Anti-Christ we can't prevent it so lets just get it over with and have the second coming that much sooner, WE NEED IT!) Or "He's the angry guy who'll keep his finger on the the button during the war!" I want to hear who has the better qualifications and experience. I want to hear about the really cool things they've done. I want to know who is the BETTER person.
I realize alot of my friends are very political and my intention isn't to make anyone upset or mad at me, this post is purely to celebrate the end of the phone calls, commercials, and irritating people that act like they know what would be best for us. Everyone is so heated over this and either way the smaller half of the country is going to have a problem with the new president. Anger is rampant amongst friends right now when we should be working on a head start with the Christmas spirit.
The only point I've had a solid opinion on is Prop 102. Our bodies were made the way they are for a reason. I'm not saying I don't like the people I know that lean the other way. In all honesty they are some of the more decent and kind people I know. I'm just saying we were made to procreate and I find the idea of homosexuality really gross. I also have a problem with alot of the consequences of legalizing gay marriage. I insist on having a say in what my children are taught and when. That's all I have to say. There's alot behind those opinions but I'm not trying to pick a fight and even if you contradict me now or try to change my opinions keep in mind you are too late! I voted WEEKS ago. I just wish there was a way to tell the commercials and phone calls to stop after I was done. Today they can finally shut the heck up!!!!!!! I can't tell you how excited I am about this!
The only thing that could make me any happier today is if I go into labor, like now. Or now. Or maybe in a few hours. Whatever! I just want it out now!
I have a funny story... If you've seen Baby Mama this story will have a familiar ring to it.
Would the madness ever end?!? All I wanted to do was pee for heavens sake!!! I opened the door again and called out for Amy. "How do you open your toilet?" I asked the still dark hallway. (I never thought I'd have to ask that one.) She came running in "Oh you poor thing!" By this time my stupid pregnancy hormones were starting to kick in and I was on the verge of tears. I probably would have started crying if the whole thing hadn't reminded me of the scene in Baby Mama. I told Amy I didn't think she would appreciate me peeing in her sink and on top of that I didn't think I could get up there in the first place. She laughed and I finally got my much needed relief... Ah, something had gone right!!!
What else could go wrong? Oh please let me tell! When I was finished I looked over to discover THERE WAS NO TOILET PAPER!!! Tears started to well in my eyes at this point. (Who cries over toilet paper???) Somehow I managed to keep myself in check and open the cupboard under the sink. Nothing... WHY ME?!? I started calling the names of the voices I recognized that were going back and forth by the door but my sisters were screaming and yelling so no one could hear me. I looked under the sink again and said a grateful thank you under my breath. There were flushable wipes!
When I came out the door Preston was standing right there and I scared him with the angry look on my face as I asked him how long he had been standing there. He got lucky, he'd only been standing there for like two seconds. I might have strangled him if he had heard me calling for help and didn't respond.
After I recovered, I realized how funny everything that had happened to me really was and had a great rest of the night eating wings and playing with my baby niece. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to spread the laughter. Hope you enjoyed it!!!
I went to the doctor yesterday. The doctor checked me and said I was dilated to a one!!! I'm pretty ecstatic! (To everyone that wants to leave a comment at this point that says something to the extent of "Yeah but it could be another 3 weeks before you actually have it..." Please don't. I will only want to punch you. Don't burst the bubble of excitement!) I've been having contractions (mostly painless ones aka braxton hicks) on and off but they are actually the reason for my progress. I forgot to ask the doctor what percentage I've effaced but he did say he could feel the head. I'm assuming that means it's sitting pretty low. Though I have a hard time believing that when it stretches and I suddenly can no longer breathe. I think the baby is uncomfortable now... I keep telling it that if it wants to stretch it has to come out first to do so and until then it'll have to be happy with the fetal position. It's not listening very well. Must be the Preston in it, ha ha!
So while we are waiting for the baby to make it's grand entrance Preston and I are getting everything around the house ready to go. I am proud to say we have the room all ready! I wanted to get it painted but that's probably not going to happen for a while and I'm not too concerned at the moment. I have other things on my mind like "Was that a contraction???" I know I'll know the real thing when it hits but there is such a thing as a painless contraction in early labor.
The crib is all set to go and fully functional, the baby clothes, blankets and sheets are washed, folded and put away, and the diapers are organized by size. My mom got us our super cute crib and also made the crib quilt and the valence for the window. She also got us a swing, a play pen, 2 car seats, a cute little red recliner (that the baby won't even be able to use for a year or two), a walker, a simple fold up stroller (that we can't use till it's sitting up on it's own), and a bunch girl clothes. Yes, we can safely say Grandma Gaye is excited for her first grand baby (which she's positive is a girl)! She's even planning on making the clothes for the baby blessing already! She made my temple dress when we got sealed when I was 3. It was so beautiful! I can't wait to see what she makes for my baby!
Our first "baby" has been getting a lot of extra attention. I know we should be tapering off some of that attention to prevent "sibling rivalry" as the puppy books put it. But he's just so gosh darn cute! I think he knows something big is about to happen. Mostly cause the room that always stayed shut suddenly has a lot of traffic and new stuff to sniff. We've been introducing him to baby smells like diapers, baby powder, baby laundry detergent, baby shampoo and baby lotion.
Our rule with him is he's only allowed in the baby's room when we are in there. It's mostly to keep the stuffed animals and other toys that don't belong to him intact. Every time we open the door he comes running to sniff it out some more. His curiosity is definitely peaked. He's really wondering what the heck is going on by now. 
Seriously??? At least use a girl for the model! He looks a little iffy, if you catch my drift. 
I was standing in front of them and Preston pointed them out to me. He said "Wouldn't it suck if you forgot to lift the lid? Owch!" Yeah, I was doubled over laughing...I had a doctor's appointment on Tuesday. He checked to see if I am starting to dilate and efface yet. It was the day before I was full term so I wasn't expecting anything to be happening at all but he said my cervix is softening. We're getting started!!! I'm dilating or effacing yet but it's encouraging to know something is happening. I want to have the baby as soon as I can so I have more time with it before I start school and I can sit through Thanksgiving dinner comfortably. I guess no matter what I'll be holding it within the next 4 1/2 weeks right? Uhrg! That sounds like forever!!!
We had the best baby shower cake ever!!! 
I love the little slippers in this bath set!
Lora Linn and Meredith got us some more super cute Disney onesies!
These make me giggle!
In this picture I'm holding one of those amazing shopping cart covers! I'm so glad I got one! Those things are awesome!
Lora Linn has been working on this blanket for a couple years now. She started it only wanting to see the pattern and when I got pregnant I asked her what she planned to do with it and she told me I could have it! She must like me or something, lol!To start off, Brittany Keliipuleole, YOU ARE AMAZING! She did a wonderful job putting everything together in spite of being pregnant herself and being completely stressed out about too many things at once! I love that girl!
I had so much fun. Several people came and brought lots of goodies for me and baby. Mostly baby. Even though October is so busy for everyone I know, I felt so loved by my friends and family that rearranged their day to come see me.
I didn't get a lot of pictures during the party. I was busy talking to everyone and Preston wasn't in a picture taking mood. A couple other people got some pictures and said they would e-mail them to me. I just haven't gotten them yet but that's ok! This isn't everyone who came but it's all the pictures I have.
Left to right: Krystle, Chad, Meredith, Lora Linn, Matthew, Brittany
Heather, Matthew, Brittany
Meredith, Lora Linn, Preston, Anya
Charlie, Lora Linn, Meredith
This is a bunch of the stuff I got. We got alot of diapers as well but this is most of it.
These are a few of my favorites. The green and yellow blankets are actually burp rags but they are super velvety soft! I love them!
Mom and Dad to be! Our kid is gonna be the cutest!!!
