Finally some good luck

So a few months ago, I talked about how Greg lost his job and we were struggling to find a job for him. After a few months of no luck in getting a job, Greg called his dad to see if there might be a job opening where his dad works. So Greg started working four the casino his dad works at working as a maintenance person, a porter. Unfortunately, he had to stop because his back was causing him problems. Like really bad. He only worked there for 2 days until he went to the VA medical to get checked. So his manager told him to get a note from his Dr saying what he can and cannot do at his work. Unfortunately, his Dr didn't fill it out until he was going to be seen until his next Dr appointment.

The first day of being admitted to labor and delivery, Greg left for home to pick up some stuff for us since Wyatt's arrival was unexpected. Well on his way back, he saw a gun store just opening up, so he went in to see if they were hiring. The owner told him to bring in his resume. Of course Greg told him I was just admitted to the hospital. So a fe days after we got home, he drove out to that gun store again with his resume. And on his way back, he and Levi stopped in at Just Guns just cause and Greg found out that their AR guys left then to work for that other gun store that Greg just dropped off his resume at. So Greg told the guy that he's been trying to get a job at their place since they opened up. So, I think it was the owner he spoke with, asked him to bring in his resume. Greg came home with a smile on his face and was telling me that he might get a job with Just Guns.

So hours go by and Greg finally comes home and he has a big grin on his face and tells me he got a job a Just Guns as their AR specialist. so far they absolutely love him. Apparently his first day, he sold a $2,000 rifle. Just those 2 days he works there, the owner already told him he has free range in that area. Also, on saturday, they were begging him to work that day because they were having a customer appreciation day sale. Sp Greg said he'd work until 1330 or 1400 the latest. He also did sp well that day that the owner heard Greg's alarm go of and told him he needs to go before they beg him to stay.

finally after going from job to school to job to job to job... Well you get the idea, Greg finally found a job he's great at and something he really enjoys. Not only that, it's like as if he's back in the Corps. The owner or owner son is a Marine as well and I think there's a few others in there that are Marines as well. Greg is doing what he did in the Marine Corps. Just in the retail department. I'm proud of him. And I'm so glad that he finally found a job he loves going to and doing.

Sleep deprived!

Well today is day 5 of being home with Wyatt. It's been quite the learning process! And a bundle of joy.

Greg and I have been having so much fun (with little sleep) with Wyatt. It's still unbelievable that we're now parents to this sweet and handsome lil man.

The first day home happened so fast! It was just full of excitement! We got to finally bring Wyatt home after 3 days of him being in NICU and we just relaxed. We had Greg's mom stop by and drop off some food for us and later that evening, Garland and Janey stopped by as well to drop off food for us too. Wyatt had a hard time sleeping that night. Probably because he was cold. That was our fault. We're so used to our temp, we didn't think to add another extra layer to him.

My milk started coming in finally. But I still couldn't get Wyatt ti latch. I was getting frustrated that I called up a lactation consultant to set up an appointment for help with breast feeding. I was able to get an appointment right after Wyatt's 2 day check up. Which, by the way, went great! any way, long story short, I ended up getting a nipple shield. Just wish the lady told us about buying the thing before opening it. oh well, money well spent. Unfortunately, until my milk supply can keep up with Wyatt I am also formula feeding to make sure he is getting enough.
Hopefully soon my milk supply will increase enough that he'll be exclusively breastfeeding.  Unfortunately because of breastfeeding and lack of supply in the fridge, I haven't had as much sleep as Greg. But he does help out by taking care of Wyatt during the day so that I can catch up on sleep.

Yeah, sleep seems like trying to find the lockness monster. Haha, apparently it gets worse.

He's HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The day arrived 4 weeks early! Wyatt wanted to come out and meet the world. I was actually getting ready to go on maternity leave. I only had 3 days left. I was going to pack things away to be put to storage until we get a bigger place. I was going to get my sleep in, have lots and lots of rest. My baby shower was supposed to be this Saturday too! Tuesday morning came around. I went to pee like usual first thing in the morning. Peed but when I was done I kept trickling more water, which I thought it was just more pee and then jumped into the shower. When I got out and toweled myself, water leaked out like I peed a little. I thought it was weird so I rinsed myself off and proceeded to get ready for work. Then as I was looking for clothes to wear, I felt a sensation like I just peed in my underwear. I woke Greg up like usual and told him that I keep kind of wetting myself. So I called Labor and Delivery and told them I was trickling a little. The lady told me that discharge is normal for late third tri pregnancy. So I hung up and within minutes, my underwear was drenched. I showed Greg and then called labor and delivery again. So the lady told me to come in. We waited hours in triage. When a dr finally came in to check me, she said she was pretty sure my amniotic sac ruptured. I felt a gush of water come out as she stuck a probe down there. She was going to look under a microscope to confirm and she came back in minutes and said that it came back positive that my water did break. So, I got transfered to my labor room, by the way, the rooms are really really nice! Got hooked up to pretty much anything and everything! I had an IV put in, monitor of Wyatt's heart and my contractions, my heart monitor and blood pressure cuff. I was confined to that bed for majority of the day. Greg and I then started sending text messages and phone calls letting everyone know I was at the hospital and Wyatt was ready to come out. I was no where near being dilated at all. No thinning of the cervix.... nothing. So they explained to me that i'll have to take some kind of medication to start the dilating process. I didn't feel any contractions until they gave me 1/2 the pill that's helps my body produce such hormones. But they weren't bad at all. Hours later, I was given a whole pill and I started feeling a little more contractions, but very bearable. By 2230 I was given another whole pill and that night, I barely had any sleep. A fee hours of sleep but the contractions kept me awake or kept waking me up! By late morning I was 2.5cm dilated and 70% cervix thinned. I wanted to see if my body could go into active labor on its own without being induced. So they gave me about. An hour or two to see how mt contractions were going. Not much really changed so they started the inductions. For a few hours, everything was fine, I was able to handle the pain of the contractions, got my mind off them and then an hour or two before 1700, the pain was so bad I started crying. Honestly I was really glad Greg and Roni were there to help me through them. At first I kept repeating to myself that I can handle the pain and that I can get through it. But my contractions ended up being one on top of the other. Some of them I had to close my eyes and just scream, but I was reminded that I had to breath to give oxygen to Wyatt. Some of the contractions, Greg told me to focus on him and as tears are gushing through my eyes, Greg holds my hands and reminds me to stay focused and try not to think of the pain. Each hard contraction both Roni and Greg were reminding me to focus on something esle and reminding me to breath for Wyatt. It was hard and painful. But for some reason, since typing this, it's been kind of difficult to remmeber what happened during labor. Weird. It was hard on Greg to see me in so much pain, but he helped me through it. I've caught him tearing up as I'm crying in pain. I was so tired from lack of sleep and working through the contractions that I would litterally fall asleep instantly after a contractions. But obviously, it was only a minute or two of sleep each. when the contractions were really bad, I tried to remind myself that I can do it, that I can work through this pain. And there were times when I just screamed and said I can't handle it. When asked if I wanted to have an epidural, I kept saying I wasn't sure or that I'm going to keep trying. But it was unbearable that I did end up asking for an epidural. So the midwife came in and checked my cervix to see how far along I am and I was able to handle all the contractions up to 5cm dialated and I don't remember how thinned the cervix got. As soon as the anaesthetist arrived, he was explaining to me what the epidural is and what to expect and the risks. Right before the procedure started, I started second guessing myself. I guess I was afraid of the epidural. I've seen a video of an epidural so I guess it freaked me out. Or maybe I was afraid to fail? I sat on the bed, Greg and Roni sat right in front of me to help me cope through the contractions and epidural. The whole time I was looking at Greg. The anaesthetist then injected a local anesthetic where the epidural will take place and with the contraction and the pain of the injection, it felt like it hurt a lot that I screamed. Greg rubbed my leg and brought me back to him. I was crying the whole time the epidural insertion was taking place. The contractions were so painful it was so hard to not move. I didn't want to take my eyes off Greg because somehow it was soothing to me. I saw tears forming in his eyes. I knew it was hard for him to see me in pain. As soon as the epidural was done and the nurse finished whatever she needed to do to me, I was out like a light. I instantly fell asleep and I needed it. The lack of sleep and the fight through each contraction made me REALLY tired. I think I fell asleep for a good hour or two. Then on and off for the next few hours. My mom then arrived around 8pm and I was feeling a whole lot better by then. I felt contractions, I wasn't completely numb and I was actually glad about that. I did a lot of research with drug free/epidural free labors and the effects of epidural. One of the main reasons why I didn't want an epidural was because I didn't want to be bed ridden. I also didn't want to have a hard time during delivery because I heard some women can't even feel the contractions. But luckily I was able to feel a little bit of the contractions, like as if it were a braxton hicks contraction. By 2130, I started feeling pressure in my rectum and pelvis. Then slowly the pressure started coming around more often and were harder as well. It seriously felt like I was getting ready to take a massive dump! (yes, that's exactly what it felt like). So I told Roni that and she said that I'm getting ready to pop Wyatt out. When the nurse came in, I was telling her what I was feeling and so she told me to try not to push and to let my body "labor down" and that the midwife will be in to check me. The nurse checked how far along i was and I was already 8cm dialated and 80% thinned out. So she asked me to push and she felt Wyatt's head move down quite a bit. So she informed the midwife and it took a while for the nurse or midwife to come back. When the nurse did, I told her that I felt some strong pressure and that I have a hard time trying not to push to "labor down." So by 11:25 or so, I had a few people in my room. A few nurses for me and a few nurses for Wyatt. The contractions were so far apart that it took 50 minutes for Wyatt to finally be in my arms. For each contraction though, I was told to breath in deep, hold my breath and push like I'm going to take a massive dump. And I was told to do it 3 times during each contraction. Greg sat in front of me between my legs and he said that he saw the top of Wyatt's head start poking out. Greg checked the clock and it was just 10 minutes before midnight on 11/09/11. He motioned to me to look at the clock. I laughed and said that it looks like he'll have his Marine baby! Then, the last few contractions, Wyatt was crowning and when he was ready to be pulled out, Greg was right there, ready to catch Wyatt and hand him to me. On my last contraction, My eyes were closed and I heard the midwife say to Greg to get ready. I felt Wyatt come out and I opened my eyes, I see Greg holding Wyatt and then as he was handing Wyatt over to me, we both started crying. Wyatt has a lung on him! Greg and I exchanged kisses as I got to hold our son for the first time. It didn't take long for Wyatt to calm down. I enjoyed having him skin to skin on me for a good hour or two. One of the nurses took Wyatt and put him in the heat lamp machine thingy that keeps Wyatt warm and weighs and measures him. It was also where Wyatt got his first bath and his first diaper, cap and shirt. Greg was by his side the whole time. We thought Wyatt was going to be a good 8 pounder baby! But he came out 6lbs 9oz and 19" long. Oh and 15minutes after midnight on 11/10/11, The Marine Corps Birthday. He was a whole lot smaller than we expected. I was carrying a lot of water in my amniotic sac. So after everything settled down, We moved to the 3rd floor to the post partum for me and wyatt to be watched for a few days. This whole experience was amazing and so well worth every bit of pain and joy. Who'da thunk that something so little and someone you just met, one would instantly just fall in love. I love my little future Marine!

Pets are family too

This AM, Greg got a call from a friend of ours asking if he would help him this morning. Our friend asked Greg that he would need help carrying Mandy into the car because they made the hard decision to put her down. Mandy hasn't been doing too well the past few months. She's been in pain on and off. Joints have been hurting her. But she's a trooper. She's one tough cookie, that's for sure. Even when she was in pain, she would always get up to say hi. She had such a huge heart. She always loved to say hi to everyone. Even though I HATED her tail because it felt like a baseball bat had hit me, I'm really going to miss it. I'm going to miss her butch personality. There was nothing feminin about Mandy except the fact that she knew how to love.

I heard so many stories about Mandy before I met her. I heard how she was hooked up to Greg's old heavy truck and how she saw a cat running down the street and started chasing the cat with the truck in tow. The picture above, apparently they heard Mandy in the kitchen and as she walked into the living room, she had the trash can lid around her neck with the "I wasn't doing anything wrong" look. I heard she was following Greg and his buddy Joey as they were bleaching the deck and she was licking the bleach off the deck. And apparently she loved bleach. Greg told me he got Mandy addicted to water because he pushed her in his friend's pool as she was walking around it, scared of it. She was burley. She beat up a raccoon! When I met her, she was nothing but a total sweetheart! She acted like she was still a puppy. I don't think she knew time, nor did she knew she was getting old. When we introduced her to Mr. T, she was trying so hard to keep up with his energy. But apparently she slept well every night we brought him over. We all called her hydrolics because when she would get excited, she looked like she had hydrolics on her front legs. She would jump on her hind legs to say hi. Mander Banders is what we would call her. She was a total sweetheart with a big heart. You'll be missed Mandy.

Yesterday morning Mandy fell (don't know how, legs may have gave out on her) and since then she was not able to get up. Greg said he could hear her whining in the background when our friend called him this morning. Greg dropped me off work that morning and he headed over to our friend's house right after. Greg was telling me they tried a few times to see if they can help Mandy up. They tried to coax her, they tried to pick her up with bands on her front and back legs, but it was with no luck. They found a vet to come by and the vet gave Mandy a pain killer shot. She was in so much pain, that when the vet left to grab soemthing out of his mobile truck for a few minutes, he was surprised that she was still in pain. Soon her breathing started to slow. By 11:56 I got a text from Greg saying that Mandy was in a better place. I didn't think it would hit me so hard, but it did. I left work early, I wanted to see my bubs. I'm gonna miss her greeting me at the door. The baseball bat tail, the burley butch breathing of her, her constant licking of air until she reaches you to say "Hi, I LOVE YOU!" She was a good dog and a constantly happy dog.

You'll be missed Mander Banders!

Time to count kicks.

On Wendsday, I had my 29th week prenatal visit and Greg got to go for the first time. My OB is quite happy with my progress. Everything is going great, everyone is healthy. But unfortunately since I stopped crossfitting, I gained 6 lbs since my last visit!!!! *cries* So my OB said to try not to gain any weight for the next visit which I will try my very best to do so. Gotta get some kind of exercise going. Probably going to do some boring walking with Greg and bubbas. My blood pressure is in the normal range, which I'm happy about too since I was having a hard time keeping my blood pressure down.

This time, my uterus was measured and she said I'm in the normal range, but in the higher range. So once again, gonna have to get my exercise system back. I'm really having some bad crossfit deprived feeling... How I miss it so much! Now, I have to start counting kicks. I have to time how long it takes for Wyatt to kick 10 times. She said that it can be kicks, pokes and turns. And boy do I feel all!

When I first read up on what movements will feel like, I was confused! Books and online were saying that women start feeling movement around 16 weeks. Now here's the crazy part! They state in books and online that the movements feel like popcorn popping, butterfly flying, fish swimming. And I thought, how does one know exactly what a popcorn popping, butterfly flying, fish swimming feel like?! And how would that be possible to feel those kinds in your tummy? Why can't they just make it simple and more true to an actual feeling. Something that people actually feel. To me, the first movements felt like a muscle twitch, muscle spazm. Can others relate to that kind of feeling? I would think so. I mean seriously, popcorn popping, fish swimming? Another that they mentioned was gas bubbles... Ok, that most definitely made sense. But that didn't feel like that to me.

So, when she was getting Wyatt's hearbeat, she felt him move a few times and laughed saying that it would take no time for me to count 10 kicks. So that night, I went on my android app market to see if there might be an app for kick counts and yay! There are a couple of them on there. I knew having a smart phone would be very handy! Because knowing me, I would totally forget to do the kick count thing because I don't wear a watch and i get easily distracted. And right now he is kicking :-) always makes me smile.

Hospital Tour!

Last night Greg and I had our hospital tour and late pregnancy class. We got to learn what we'll be expecting the next few months leading up to labor and what signs to look out for if I do go into labor. She gave us information for very informative classes to take like 'Baby make Three' which she emphasis how important it is because of the big change to come along and how to cope in the relationship, communication between each other and such. There were a few other classes she explained. I still have to take my preparing for birth class and how to care for a newborn. OH! And breastfeeding class.

As far as the birth class, I'm really leaning towards a more natural birth. If women have done it for years, why can't I? At first, the thought of labor to me was just all pain. And well, I'm a whimp when it comes to pain. I have a very low tolerance of pain. But, thinking about giving birth naturally seems more right to me. I want to have meds as a last resort. If the pain is just too unbearable kind of last resort.

When we toured the hospital, she was explaining what goes on, all the way up to discharge. It's a pretty secure place too! Everyone has to sign in at the security desk. They get their picture taken and their name and picture are printed on a sticky thingy that they'll have to wear in order to see me. So family and friends who will be there for the birth of Wyatt, keep that in mind, you'll need your ID!!!!!!!!!!!!! So begining of labor, we start off at the first check. It's a small room that will monitor contractions, baby's heart beat and mom of course. If I were in labor, I would not be in that room for long. Basically it's to determin if it's a false labor or a true labor. Then, if I were actually in labor, I would be given my own room with papa's in tow (and anyone else to comfort me). The room is HUGE! They even have a couch to pull out as a bed for papa's to lay in. I think we had about 20 something people in the class last night and we were all able to comfortably fit in that room. There was a TV with a DVD player, a nice bathroom with a shower (and chair) in it. A rocking chair and this really cool high tech thingy for when Wyatt is born to be weight, measured, monitored and temp regulated. It was so neat. By the way, there's no nursery! Wyatt will be with me the whole entire time! Then, few hours after birth, I will be transfered to the next floor up for recovery for the next day or two. Once again, another big room, but without all the medical electronics. I am quite happy with all that we will be expecting. OH! and we get a free diaper bag from Kaiser. I'm really liking Kaiser more and more as I'm goign through this pregnancy!

Now, the tour was not the most interesting part. The most interesting part of last night (crossing fingers that dear mother in law does not see this until after Greg tells her), the lady who gave us the tour, she was there for Bill's birth! She was either Roni's mid wife or birth coach or something... I don't remember. her and Greg were exchanging stories, but she was more so telling him what she remembers, which was crazy enough right on the dot. Like greg and his "juice". He thought the wine Roni was drinking was juice, so he had to get his stomach pumped, and she said that to this day, she still tells that story. How crazy is it that this world is so small????!!! How we found out was, after the class and on our way to the labor and delivery building, she was saying "I knew Boling's once" so Greg said "Donna" (his grandmother)? she shook her head no and as soon as Greg said "Roni" you should have seen the look on her face. The look of "Oh.my.god.no.way" kind of look. We were all in shock. She said "I think i was at your birth" and so Greg asked if she worked at Sutter San Juan, she said no. So I say, maybe Bill's birth?. So Greg said that Bill had his birth at home, and she was excited and said YES! and asked if Scott was his dad. She was there for Bills birth, along with her husband and her 4 year old daughter. We still can't get over all this. We were in shock. She said that she has Greg's cookie jar (I really don't know much about that).

At the end of the tour, we asked her if she would be there for the birth of Wyatt as our labor coach. She said she would love to, but with her schedule of tours, she can't gurantee it. We totally understand. It would be pretty cool if she was there. She'll be present for another Boling birth. Crazy small world I tell ya! So now, we have her number and I'm hoping to take a private birth class from her. I'm thinking more Bradley than Lamaze with a side of hypno birthing.

I'm really excited about it all. Just the thought of finally meeting Wyatt gets me all teary eyes (which by the way, i've been more emotional lately, I'm hating it!). The thought of seeing the look on Greg's face when he gets to finally hold him in his arms. *cries* tears are forming, I'll stop!

9-11-01

I remember what i did that day. I don't remember what I did the day before or even the day after.  Exactly one month and 1 day before the twin towers were hit, I was up there trying to concur my fear of heights and to view the city I love to visit.

That June I just graduated high school and as a graduation/birthday gift, I was given a plane ticket to New York that summer.  I was up there in August, and I will always remember it.  The view is just breath taking. The place was amazing for tourists and locals.  I LOVED being up there.

  One month and one day later, my best friend and I decided to skip our first class and hang out. We were in his old 80's box Volvo when we heard the news. Of I were to say we were shocked, that would be an understatement. Along with every American out there watching the same thing. Both him and I worked at the same coffee shop. We both worked at Choc-o-Bean. I remember we went there that morning and he luckily had a portable TV with him. I remember him saying he wasn't quite sure if it'll work, but he plugged it in, messed with the bunny ears and soon, we got the news.  It was on every channel station, you could not have missed it.

So we sat in the back together and were shocked to watch it all happen.  I remember the news kept playing the video clip of the plane hitting the first twin tower over and over again.  We were there for a few hours with little conversation between us except the "oh my god" phrases being thrown back and forth.  Then I remember watching the pentagon get hit.  It was horrifying.  I was also praying my aunt was safe since she worked out there. And luckily, she was away for business in Baltimore.

Everything and anything else after that was a blur. But that moment, I remember it so clearly.  Tomorrow i'll be attending the Capitol Airshow. Tomorrow will be the 10th anniversary of 9-11 and also the 70th anniversary of pear harbor. They were saying that it's going to be special to commemorate those days and to honor those who have died those days and the military men and women who caught and are fighting to keep us safe.

I wish I was in the military so that I too can fight alongside the brave