Belly Bumps, Courses, Staying Healthy and Baby Shower

I hope to put my heart and soul into this sweet boy in the same way I did for Nieva.  Its of course a touch more difficult as I have more I am spread between these days.  I will include some weekly bump shots to catch up here.

I have been working with Sandra Maurer of Whole Beginnings (Name may be changing soon) to stay on Target with some different things.  We started working together on fertility education and now are working on pregnancy education.  Have been re-educating myself on a ton and newly educating myself as well as so much has changed the past 7 years.

We are still working on whether we would like to opt for c-section due to history or try for natural birth.  There is much that goes into that decision and is ours alone, but will keep the progress on that decision updated of course.  :)

As far as health, there has been some ebbing and flowing.  Nieva was sick off and on about 6 weeks here.  Two positive strep tests and then suspected influenza and then last week I had caught a horrid viral cold of some kind.  This week Nieva broke out in rash and low grade fever and a barky cough.  Long story short this has been interrupting my yoga teaching schedule and my groove.  Starting fresh this week.  We purchased a treadmill and today was my first day to start on that.
I know what people say about treadmills.  They turn into clothing racks lol.  But I am really hopeful to keep at this for the sake of our little peanut.  I also am doing a lot of squats and yoga as well as teaching kids and restorative yoga as it has worked with illness.  I have found I am VERY "vata" (see Ayurvedic constitutions) this winter.  Very anxious and overwhelmed thinking about everything to prepare for babe.  The dry cold weather is making ti worse.  Also, worrying about nutrients and what to eat or not eat and getting enough protein and thyroid healthy foods.  I have been vegetarian for over 5 years now so have been incorporating some (pregnancy-safe) sea food here and there and I can tell the iodine uptake is helping with thyroid function and mood.  Even though I am really not a big fan of fish I am working towards balancing.  Seeing many studies show eating seafood is linked to higher intelligence in children later so why not?  Have been inspired while reading "Your Fit Pregnancy" (Willick) and am hoping to incorporate some healthy changes from that.
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Today I am starting a personal challenge.  I made a 30 day challenge for the moms in one of the Cancer Mom groups I am in so we could have some accountability together.   I am modifying for me a touch for pregnancy.  Today was 25 minutes walking on the treadmill, 25 squats and some gentle floor yoga.  I walked 3-4 miles at the Omaha Zoo Tuesday and will be walking a lot I am sure on upcoming vacations so trying to stay in shape (Texas in 3 weeks, Cali in April, Spain and Italy in May, and Florida in June).  Also, making a commitment to cutting out cheese and sugar as well as possible.

In other news, we got Baby Shower scheduled for April 22.  Making a registry and guest list for that over the weekend between work edits.  :)
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Finding Out - November 15, 2016

"I think I see it!!!" I exclaimed excitedly.  

I was hovering over Jordon's side of the bed.  He was still curled deep under the covers.

"Huh" he said blindly grasping for his glasses  "I don't see it"

"No you need to look in the light" I said

He rolled towards his overhead bed lamp, flipped it on, and turned towards the test.

His eyebrows raised.  "I guess I do see it.  But its barely there?"

I had been waiting for any whisper of a line for quite some time.  His lack of enthusiasm wasn't going to calm though.  

"I'm not sure that is enough to go on.  Call the doctor" he patronized and rolled back under the covers.

I decided I'd take to the one place advice was plentiful and my query was welcomed.  Oh yes.... Google.  And but what did I find?  Sight after sight saying any semblance of a line absolutely means pregnant.  

I messaged my friend Kristin and "snap chatted" it to my friend Rachel.  Even drawing an arrow to the faint little line.  It was definitely there.  

I think they also weren't wanting to get my hopes up.  But I knew.  I'd felt strange this past week or so.  Tired and soreness in my chest.  I had felt a little dizzy here and there as well when helping Kristin move the week before.  So so tired!  I hadn't wanted to get too excited because last month I also had thought for sure it was "THE month" I'd see that line and sadly it was not.  

My mom, a free Lutheran pastor, 

had brought me to a healing conference.  Nervously, I took it all in.  Mostly envisioning the looks of crazy most people would give me if they knew what I was up to.  I believe in miracles, but was guarded of what went on around me.  A sweet woman who made conversation with me discovered we had been hoping for a baby and she asked to pray for me.  As she prayed I felt a pop in my low abdomen.  I was sure something very strange and miraculous had happened.  Later, a middle aged black woman prayed over me without knowing me or speaking to me at all.  She immediately put her hands to my low abdomen and slowly pushed me backwards... as if she knew this was the area in my hopes and heart.  I'd been left hopeful in the wake of it all.

I wrote the OB doctor I'd been working with and she had me go in to my primary for an HcG test that next afternoon.  A torturous wait (and another stronger lined test that am) confirmed I was not crazy.  We were officially expecting for the first time in nearly 7 years.

I immediately set to work gathering what I needed to break the exciting news to family and friends.  I purchased a shirt for me to tell my mom and sister, Lana.  I then bought our daughter Nieva a shirt for Thanksgiving which was just a little over a week away.

We recorded most everyone's reactions.  <3 a="" and="" began....="" bought="" deck="" div="" get="" i="" journal="" journey="" nbsp="" nd="" prenatal="" so="" started.="" the="" then="" to="" yoga="">

Baby #2 on the Way

Last April, we posted that we were excited to hopefully add to the family again soon.  I have so much to talk about from that journey.  I will try to condense it quickly here in case any of that information may be helpful.  I did a lot of research and added a lot of different methodology into life in hopes of rushing this process.  I think its fair to say I am not the most patient person alive and it was kind of fun researching and learning about all the different recommended methods (both scientific and new age) that were recommended to help.  Feel free to giggle.  Some of it is nuts and I don't care.  Ha!

Methods Incorporated:
Started practicing yoga more regularly (Teaching at the YMCA)
Attended a Yoga for Fertility retreat in Minneapolis (featuring cycle yoga and acupuncture)
Working with Sandra Maurer of Whole Beginnings
(She is a women's health coach specializing in fertility, pregnancy and early motherhood using herbs, natural methods, yoga, etc...)
Acupuncture for fertility
Healthier eating
Acupressure points
Magnesium lotion
Bath salts
Relaxation/meditation techniques
Fertility teas
Yoni steams
Added Brazil nuts for selenium increase
Started using Ovia charting app to keep track cycle
Ovulation strips to compliment charting
Vitamin panels/added prenatal vitamins
Ultrasound to check for endometriosis/issues
Prayed over at a healing convention
Surgery which found and fixed a blocked tube, endometriosis and a polyp (August)
Clomid medication (one cycle)
Pre-seed
Foods for fertility while vegetarian
Ayurvedic techniques
Stress relief
Men's pre-natal that specifically supports men with MTHFR mutation (which J has)

Books utilized on preparing for pregnancy (many from library plus the following)
 - Fertility Yoga by Kristen Leppert
 - The Infertility Cure by Randine Lewis PhD
 - The Kind Mama by Alicia Silverstone (Vegetarian/Vegan fertility/pregnancy)
 -Healthy Child, Healthy World by Gavin, Christopher
 -What to Expect before you are Expecting by: Murkoff, Heidi

We found out we were expecting Mid-November and am currently 3 months along.  I will be posting a few catch up post to bring up to date in pregnancy thus far now that we have announced last week.

Yoga, Acupuncture, and lots of Healthy Living

In the whirl wind that has been the past 6 years of our lives we have learned so much.  We finally feel ready to delve into the world of adding a sibling.  After Nieva was diagnosed with Leukemia at age 2 it didn't seem worth it to add more stress as we fought for 3 more years.

Now here we are.  Nieva is 5.5 and we went to her kindergarten round up tonight.  She is going to be a kindergartner.  I cannot explain what a privilege and blessing this feels like when a mere year ago we were fighting so hard just to get her to breathe on her own.

The tears continued to brim.  Spanish Immersion.  Exactly what her daddy talked about when I carried her in my body so many years ago now.  He talked to her in Spanish almost the whole first year of her life.   She was ecstatic tonight and we couldn't be happier!!

In February, I decided to initiate the process of getting educated about my second pregnancy.  Its super important to me to do everything right.  To be super healthy etc....  I got my yoga teacher certification and start teaching soon (SO exciting!!).  I have also been trying to eat much healthier.

I visited with a midwife who suggested seeing her again to look into issues if conception took more than 6 months.  Being almost 31 now and my history of endometriosis makes this important.  She recommended acupuncture and that was well... very different for me, but still exciting to try.

So here we are..... another adventure may begin soon......  <3 p="">

It saddens me in a lot of ways... that I was unable to keep up with this blog cherishing and highlighting the life of my daughter after being so diligent with recording my pregnancy and delivery. Despite anything I said anywhere or to anyone...I loved being pregnant. I was so excited to be a mother and to have this happy family. Unfortunately, as Ava came into the world I was struggling to start my own business and find my place in a world post college that was expensive and scary. So the days crept by... with me spending too many days in front of the computer and the camera, and not enough days swinging my child in circles, reading bedtime stories, or going on outdoors adventures. Today, May 1, was a strange day indeed. The ground was covered in snow like some some mystical warning of things not quite right. I took Nieva to the Dr. at 9:45am. She had been having a swollen face off and on for several weeks and dark circles under her eyes. She looked pale and tired despite her smiles and always goofy and playful demeanor. Yesterday we went into a pediatric dentist and he confirmed that a tooth abscess was certainly not to blame. I suspected allergies. So after we did a quick blood test, Nieva and I went to pick up an antibiotic for the third week in a row and I drove her to her daycare provider. About 30 minutes after getting back to the house Jordon called frantic. "Are you home?" "Yes" "Good. Stay there" "what's Wrong?" "They think Nieva has Leukemia. We need to get her to the doctor now." From there the day is the blur. We arrived at the hospital. Nieva was in good spirits. Lana, Sarah, and my mom came up as well as Jordon's mom. The doctor took Jordon and I in a private room with Nieva and said a lot of things.... but the most haunting "I need to make it clear that it is 100% certain she has leukemia". "It is malignant." "We will need to start treatment right away." Nothing in a person's life can possibly prepare them for that moment.... where you realize there is a chance you will lose your daughter forever and you may have to watch her slip away with nothing you can do." I know I can be strong though. And that is what I hope to do. I want to hold her every last minute I am able until, I pray, she gets past this and we only have to have a memory of this terrible time. Please pray for Nieva. My greatest and most precious joy in this busy unpredictable and crazy world.

Grand Opening

This past year has been a whirlwind. Life is funny sometimes. How you work so hard for something all the time, but maybe aren't sure why.... This life seems like a game. A game in which you can only succeed at anything by missing out on what is really important- by hiding who you are- and by going against things golden and true. Sometimes I wish life was a fairy tale. You could run away into the country or the mountains and forget about the stress and expectations and buzzing of our electronic bureaucracy. I'd like to think sometime somewhere there was a society where people really put in their days work and then everyone spent the evening together interacting and being close with family and friends instead of watching a tv a computer monitor or having to stress about business or bills. I love what I do, but building a business is hard. Its hard to see my baby girl shipped off day after day without any choice and to still only be scraping by as I build everything up. Just had my Grand Opening. Thankful for the support of so many, but praying for strength as these next few years will be hard as I manage and build. A part of me still longs for grad school, but I don't want to leave all my family and friends. Thanks to everyone for your encouragement, support, and many hours of helping out on the studio or babysitting. I couldn't have done without you. So excited about being at this place in this journey, yet so much more excited for what is to come. Praying it will all be worth this hard work.

-Amanda



Dear Boo-Boo,

I love you so much. On hard days your smile lights my world. I am so excited for busy season to slow down so we can spend this winter doing play dates, visiting family, and having fun more often. Thank you for being so full of energy and happiness. Your constant joy is beyond my comprehension. I pray you never change.

Love, Mommy

February 2011 6 Months Old

Lots of firsts this month. Nieva started sitting up a few weeks ago. She got to start sitting in her high chair this month too which has been great. She entertains herself so much better now and I have been able to catch up on a lot of house work. Thanks to a few friends' organizational suggestions I have been able to get the energy in this house feeling so much better. Business has been good with photography too. I keep perfectly busy imo. Much more and I would feel a little overwhelmed, so that is good. Nieva has been loving her toy drum and bouncy set this month too. While Jordon and I were in Utah Nieva cut a tooth and then a few days later she cut one more. She can stand for periods of time with no help holding onto items and so far dr's appt have been good. She also started eating her first meals (organic one grain oatmeal). She enjoys spitting this month too and sadly thats what happens to most of her solid food thus far (it gets spit and sputtered across the room when she is sick of it lol. Her 6 month appt is tomorrow so will try to update with weight height stats.

-A <3

January 2011

Baby started her second "year" of life. Lana and Steve and Nieva's cousin Sarah came to help celebrate the babys' first new year with us. We took pictures of them and had a fun time. Shortly after I went with Nieva down to my parents to spend about a week. My dad broke his foot so thought we'd go help keep him company. Nieva had fun in Gma and Gpa's jungle swing and even slept part of the night in their playpen (Nieva has never slept in a crib or playpen through the night). In fact at 5 months old she has yet to have spent more than an hour in her crib...once..... aside from that she hasn't lasted more than 5 minutes. She wants to snuggle with Mom and Dad in their King sized bed. I guess I have to admit that now that she is into a routine we both really enjoy her sleeping with us for now. Nieva also took her first vacation towards the end of January. We went out to the black hills and she got to meet my friend, Mary and her almost 3 year old, Stella. She also go to meet our friends Ryan and Annelie and their 10 week old, Chloe. We took Nieva swimming for the first time at an indoor water park in Rapid City. She was a little unsure about it at first, but soon after I think she had a lot of fun. She started scratching at things last month to feel the texture and has continued doing that on everything this month. When she gets tired she makes hoo-ing noises. She's been sleeping a lot better also. usually when we lay down and turn the lights out she goes to sleep and gets up a little after we wake up. She's been getting a little more into a routine also. Usually a few cat naps throughout the day and in bed sleeping around midnight (which probably seems late, but Jordon works til 9 a lot and that way he gets to spend time with her). She has become increasingly warm and smiley and will smile at pretty much anyone that pays attention to her. She is getting really close to sitting up on her own and will scoot a little bit when she is on her tummy if you put your hands behind her. She also tries to get up on her knees when on her tummy. She loves to grab your face when you get close to her. We bought reusable diapers and so far those are going well. She is wearing 6-12 month old pants, but 3-6 month tops. She will often hold her own bottle this month. She did it for the first time right before Christmas.

December 2010

I am trying really hard to give at least a once a month breakdown of Nieva. So fa I appear to be failing. December was a long bad month on my end. I did Christmas mini-shoots that were a big hit, but got quite sick shortly after and ended up being sick for about 3 months in December. First it was bronchitis, then flu symptoms or maybe a reaction to antibiotic, then I was in with a fever and had a large cyst forming under a mole that I had to start antibiotics for again.... ugh.

Anyways...Nieva was great fun in December. She continued to stand and get more and more interactive throughout the month. She also started to giggle more and more and slowly began to get a little more independent. She started rolling both ways and at Christmas even opened her own gift (pulled the paper out of her bag all by herself while standing over her present). She helped us go out and cutdown our tree and then we video taped us decorating the tree with her. That will be fun to look back at someday. She got a bouncer from my parents that she enjoyed for short bouts. She also decided she loved things that crunch and crinkle (she went crazy over a cheetos bag). She also started watching very carefully as we ate. She continues to get more curious about food. They told us at our 4 month appt that since nursing is going good though there is no reason to start solids until closer to 6 months so as of now that is the plan. She also started drooling excessively... not real fun, but somewhat humorous. Still no teeth however :0 ) I will soon upload some pictures from December. :0 )

Grateful

Today I am feeling grateful. Grateful that I am able to go through each day without a close loved one or myself experiencing severe pain, bad health, or loss. So many people I know right now have a loved one with a serious ailment. I don't understand why sickness and loss must pervade this world, or why so many have to experience sorrow and suffering. I don't understand why some get to live and some have to die. I cannot understand these things, but I know that we are all part of something so much bigger than ourselves. If we can fathom even for an instant how minute our existence in this life is compared to the eternity we can experience thereafter, we can perhaps begin to understand what greater things lie ahead for us. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord".

I am so incredibly grateful to have my father be cancer free for about 15 years now. My dad is amazing and I can't imagine my life without him. I know I have never told him this, but I look up to him so much in everything I do and I know many of my friends and acquaintances have said the like. He has always been an incredible role model to m and my sisters through his relentless commitment to my mom, our family, our church, and my home town community. I feel so incredibly blessed to have two healthy parents, and even more amazingly to have four healthy living grandparents. My husband lost his father two years ago to cancer and has no grandparents still living. I can't understand this. It doesn't seem fair to him.

I know that life will not always be perfect for me (nor has it been), but I am very thankful for now... a time when my immediate family is healthy. I hope I get many more years to spend with them all because I love them all very much.

Please keep anyone you know that may be suffering from a loss or serious illness right now in your prayers... and don't forget to give praise to God for what IS good. Even in the shadows there is light.

-A <3

P.S. Sorry if that all seemed random and that... none of it was about Nieva directly (even though this blog is supposed to be about her).... but thoughts are thoughts and this is just what felt right for this tonight.

November 2010

Where do the weeks fly? Here it is the day after Thanksgiving and I haven't written since Halloween. This month has been busy in various ways. Photography picked up again with a rush before Christmas and I did a wedding last weekend. Ava has been so much fun aside from her dreaded sleep schedule (Typically around 5am-12pm ish...) Her smiles keep me going through that. She gets more playful by the day and looks at everything so carefully. She is enthralled by the moving pictures on television, her eyes study the pictures as I read to her, and her new favorite is help standing up. She can stand for several minutes at a time and absolutely loves it. Her new favorite toy (....FIRST favorite toy? haha) is an alligator that has scrunchy material in it that makes noises and lights up. It also has rings and other things attached to it she can play in. She also loves her little toy station that helps her stand that my grandma and grandpa had found her on a rummage. She wears herself standing until her legs give out. All this at only 3 months old!! She may be walking soon!?! We had some concern about her getting a little rashy and congested a lot this past month because we have 3 cats, but the doctor said babies don't have allergies to cats develop until they are much older so he thought she may have an aversion to something in my milk. He recommended cutting out all dairy products...... Okay... you have no idea how much of a problem this becomes for me. I practically live off of cereal, oatmeal, coco wheat and cheesy products like pizza and macaroni (Yes I am aware this isn't the healthiest diet). This news came the day before Thanksgiving luckily so I will have many other options over the following few days, but I am hoping this helps. I don't have much else to share of great interest that I can think of right now, but if any other hi-lights pop up I will be sure to add them in. I will also try to add a few pictures from this past month soon

-A <3


Dear Ava,

You are such an alert and curious little girl. You already seem to love learning so much. You don't seem like a baby to me, but a little person that cannot wait to communicate. I have slowly been teaching you sign language because I am so eager for us to be able to understand each other more. You are such a happy baby the majority of the time. You make everyone around you light up and are so easy to love. Daddy has been continuing on with his quest for you to learn Spanish. He still speaks to you only in Spanish and reads Spanish stories to you. He also plays cartoons in Spanish for you while you doze off in your swing. He is excited for you to attend Rosa Parks and hopefully be a part of their elementary Spanish program. In other news, I have been hearing more and more lately that people think you look like your Mommy. This has been fun for me because until recently everyone has said you look like your Daddy. Your hair is still red as of now though so we are all curious to see if it will change or keep the shade it has been since you were born. Only time will tell. Daddy and I love you so much!!

-Mommy

October 2010

October was a pretty quiet month because I stayed pretty busy doing family portraits for people. I surprisingly only had 1 wedding this October, but that was great because it allowed me to enjoy time with Jordon and Nieva. The first weekend of November Jordon and I took a weekend trip to Minneapolis and Nieva went to the women's retreat at my Mom & Dad's Ranch. Mom volunteered, but somehow poor Dad got stuck with our (I don't like)sleeping beauty. We went to Valley Scare and Renaissance Fest. I also did a shoot while I was up there which was fun. The park we shot at was beautiful and it was such a nice day. I missed my baby girl horribly and was so glad to see her when we got home. The following week I had a LOT of family shoots and wedding. That weekend Becca came up and we went to the Apple Orchard for Pumpkin festival. We took lots of pictures of Nieva and topped off the trip with some caramel covered apples. We also had a couch surfer from Oxford that entire weekend.

That Monday was Jordon and I's 2 year anniversary. We spent it with nieva. Back to the apple orchard we went so Jordon could partake in the fun. We went apple picking and showed Nieva the animals in the petting zoo. After that we headed to the mall. Jordon got a new coat that he loves and I got a great pair of knee high brown leather boots. For supper we went to Minerva's. All went pretty well until Nieva decided to pee all down herself while I was changing her. All we had for a spare was Jammies so Nieva spent her first evening in a fancy restaurant in her jammies lol. Luckily though she didn't make a peep and it went pretty well. The remainder of that week was spent editing. The third week in October I was very busy again with shoots all week. That Thursday we had a great couch surfer from Ohio. Since she was in to the arts also we had lots to talk about. We all went with Michelle, Derek, and Niki to see Ben Kweller in Brookings and got autograhs after the show and pics. Was pretty cool. That weekend was our baby girl's shower. Jordon and I sing "The Prayer". We took lots of adorable pictures and spent the day with family.

The following week I was sick all week :0 ( Guess the first part of the month wore us out because Nieva was sick too. The following friday I thought i was better only to wake up to 102.8 temp at 3am sat morning. Turned out to be mastitis from Nursing. I had a temp and flt icky all weekend and regretfully had to miss Lana's shower and one of the last days at my grandmothers house. I am sad to think of it. I have so many amazing memories from my childhood there. It just doesn't seem right or real, but I hope my grandparents find something amazing and are really happy. I was bummed to have missed Halloween festivities being sick, but sill had the energy to dress up Nieva in her proncess costume. Jordon and I couldn't stop smiling. She really is our little princess. Wish everyone could have seen it.

-A <3

Nieva's 1st Halloween 10 Weeks Old

Nieva's First Halloween Weekend was pretty uneventful as her and I were both sick the entire week before. Saturday morning I was running a fever of 102.8!! I finally gave in Sunday when fever was still sittin at 101 that morning. Case of mastitis it turns out- a common infection that can cause fevers in nursing mothers I guess. Glad I went in finally. Thanks to the antibiotics I was feeling well enough (and knew I wasn't contagious) so could hand out candy to the neighborhood kids at least. Anyways Saturday night Jordon made a pumpkin pie and some soup for poor sick me and we watched an old horror film called "them" on netflix and a bunch of Treehouse of Horrors episodes. We were supposed to watch movies with Kristin and go to some Halloween Parties, but was too sick. Sunday I was really bummed because we missed Lana's shower form the Boer side and would have been one of the last times I got to spend time in my Grandma & Grandpa's house- where I have so many memories growing up. They are selling it and have to be out by Dec 1. :0 ( ANyways... we got Nieva into her princess costume after my drs appt and took some cute pics of her. Then watched Monsters Inc with her and gave candy to trick-or-treaters. I am thinking Nieva will be more excited for Halloween next year haha.

-A <3


Dear Nieva,

You looked so adorable in your little princess costume today. Daddy and I just couldn't stop smiling. We may have to dress you up again sometime to show the grandparents how stinking cute you were for Halloween today. We are very excited to bring you around in upcoming years. You are getting so big! You are in the 75th percentile for weight and 95th percentile for height. We think you are going to be tall like you Daddy. You smile whenever anyone talks to you in a sweet voice for awhile. You love to be held and cuddle. You are sneaky when we try to put you asleep. You always have one eye you try to keep half open... like you are trying to make sure we haven't left yet. If we leave before you are sleeping you know and you let us know you know haha. Daddy had fun with you this weekend since he has been working so much lately. I wanted to put you in your swing last night to sleep last night but he just wanted to hold you. We both love you lots and lots and lots.

Love,
Mommy

September

Sarah Joan!!!

Baby Showers

August

First week home

Written the night of Nieva's Birth- The Day

5:45 am woke up late
had eggs and moldy toast.....
had picture taken and coming in fell really hard on my knee. Pic wasn’t good enough so went downstairs to cat puke and poo city for a pic….left house very cranky..........
7am arrived at hosp and checked in
7:20 checked into our birthing room started candles and spa jafra music
8:30 broke water. was dilated to 3 and 90% effaced and contractions 3-4 min apart
9:00ish doula arrived and breakfast. Had omelet and banana bread and grape juice
9:15 started feeling contractions, but not painful.
10:10 woke up from attempting to nap
contractions became regular. Felt like bad menstrual cramps. Was able to breathe through them fine. Walked halls to get gravity going and then as they increased intensity got into tub at 11:10am and stayed in here until 12:45. Towards the end contractions worsened to almost not being able to handle and only ended up getting 2 bites of lunch in. Listened to hypnobirthing in tub.
12:45 everything got hazy and hard after this and turned into many many position changes through progression after progression. We tried birthing ball, aromatherapy, music, birthing stool, slow dancing, hanging over bed, etc... Had horrible back labo and Carri Jo (doula) and Jordon had to take turns pushing with all their might to do counter pressure.
4:30ish pm progressed to pushing phase. The transition to this phase was the most painful. Through the rest I was told they’d never seen someone so relaxed in labor and they were all really amazed how well I was doing.
Never asked for even a Tylenol through it all.
5:3oish The midwife thought Nieva was almost there and kept saying just on more push but she just wouldn’t come. Finally at 6:43pm she was born. I couldn't believe how big she was! She was very cranky looking and purple with a cone head at first (not so cute haha). I was so exhausted that I must admit I didn't have much reaction at first aside from relief she was here. They put her chest to chest w me. I was so worn out I could hardly react. Jordon cut the cord as a very proud papa. We kept her skin to skin with me as requested for 2 hours. She wouldn’t nurse at first but finally around midnight after one last try she nursed beautifully for 20 minutes.
Had a third degree tear after was all done. Needed a surgeon to come in for quite some time for some semi painful poking and prodding. Needed a shot because I wouldn’t stop bleeding. After they got me fixed up my family finally came.
We named her Nieva Rebecca Boer-Breuer. She had Becca’s cry and eyes. My Grandpa J, Jeff, Gma and Gpa Boer, Kristin, Lana and Steve were all here and came to visit. I had so much swelling and pain from surgery I finally needed the meds(that I didn’t take all through birth) so was a bit goofy talking to everyone. Finally after weighing her (9 pounds 10 oz!!!!!) we moved to new room where everyone got to hold her (all grandparents and jeff went home n coming back tomorrow) but mom and dad looked so excited and lana and steve. Kristin got to hold her too. It was really special to have all my loved ones up to see her so soon :0 ) After breastfeeding til 12:20ish am they took the baby to try to get us some rest and that takes us to now :0 )

We got the birth we wanted because everyone at Sanford was absolutely amazing at honoring our requests. Carri Jo was an indespsensable part of our team. I don’t know how I would have kep same w o her suggestions/coaching. Jordon was so great. I know he was so tired after helping m through back contractions for hours. I feel incredibley blessed and thankful and certainly have a new respect for anyone who has made it through labor pain med free. It was challenging, but doable, and I’m proud I survivd…… even though I’m not sure I’d go so far as to say I want to experience it again………… but I am really proud I did it and that people felt I did such a great jo.b <3 August 20, 2010

Baby Day

Nieva was born August 20th, 2010. 9lb 12oz... 21.25" long