Sorry it's taken me SO long to write. I know you'll forgive me. I'm a walking zombie. I wanted to write my birthing story down so all you readers can know all the details of my 16 1/2 hour labor. Happy reading!!
My dr. scheduled me to be induced at 4am Wed. March 11th. He was going out-of-town the next week, so if I wanted him there to deliver Sophi, I had to go w/ this date. My dr. said she was healthy, so I was okay with being induced. Since I was still at 0 cm on Monday, I knew this labor thing would be long and hard.
Deric and I got 4 hours of sleep that night. We both were excited and didn't know what to expect, except we knew Sophi would arrive. By time I got checked in, given my room, got into my really cool hospital gown, it was 5am. Here's the play-by-play of my day:
3:30- my last meal
4-5am: check-in, etc
5: given pill to start labor. Nurse told me I was having contractions, but I didn't feel them.
5am-1:30pm: I hung out in the room w/ Deric. I sat on the birthing ball, rocked in the chair, did laps around the room w/ my IV tree. My contractions were more intense, had to start breathing through them. My friend Jan arrived around 10am. Took a nap. Really, really hungry.
1:30pm: Dr. Sawyer arrived to break my water. VERY VERY painful. Seriously, VERY painful!
2:00pm: Received epideral. Not as bad as I thought. Getting the cathader, again, VERY painful!
2pm-7:30pm: Could not get out of bed. Was positoned on my side and the nurse came to flip me every 30 min. So uncomfortable. Could not feel contractions, but the pressure of dialation was very intense.
7:30pm: At 3 cm. Dr. Sawyer went home.
8:00pm: Wanted to call in the towel. The pressure was so strong it was difficult to think about anything else. I believe I told Deric and Jan, "Cut her out!"
8:00-9:00pm.: The nurse returns to check me. I tell her I'm done (remember I haven't gotten up since 2, haven't eaten since 3am!) I just kept telling Deric and Jan that I had to go to the bathroom (#2).The nurse tells me that Sophi is ready to come, I can start pushing. It's not me having to go to the bathroom.They call Dr. Sawyer.
9:00pm.: I start pushing. They tell me to stop pushing b/c I'm doing too well. Seriously, God gave me the strength to push. 30 min. before that I would have past out, but suddenly this strength came over me. Only God could have given that!! They page another dr. worried that Dr. Sawyer won't make it in time.
9:00-9:24pm.: Dr. Sawyer arrives. I give a couple pushes. Again, totally God given strength!
9:25pm.: Sophi Jean Miller arrives!! It was the most amazing thing I've ever seen watching my baby girl be lifted up and plopped on my belly. I was in totaly shock. Deric says my first words were, "She has a good nose!"
After that long day I enjoyed a WONDERFUL Frosty and chicken nuggets. Life was good. :)
Well Sophi is hungry, so I'll have to write more later.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Sophi is here
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Quick Sophi update
Here's the scoop on Sophi's arrival... NOTHING!! I'm still a "closed shop" as I like to say. My dr. bumped my next apt. up to Monday. He's quite bummed nothing is happening. (You are telling me!!)
This morning at 3 am while I was just laying in bed, uncomfortable, hot, and being entertained by Sophi moving all around, I was thinking how hard it is to wait. How many times in life do we want to control everything around us? I know I am guilty time and time again. I wish I knew on this date, this time, but I don't.
These two weeks I know the Lord is really going to grow me to just wait and NOT go crazy. In our woman's bible study at church, we are going through Esther. Each lesson has us fill in, "It's tough being a woman...."
This past week's lesson was, "It's tough being a woman balancing passion with patience." One thing Beth Moore said that I really was trying to focus on last night was based on the verse in Isaiah, "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength." Beth said that our strength is depleted everytime we worry on that "thing" in life. When we truly wait on the Lord we have strength and aren't tackled by worry,etc.
Labor is going to require mental and physical strength. I know if I drive myself crazy thinking and thinking of all my fears and worries, I am depleting my strength that the Lord will give me. I'm not saying this is easy. My mind still wonders and "freaks out." But hopefully this verse will remain in the back of my mind so when I do start to panic, the Spirit will quickly calm me. (Granted I'll probably freak out more times than not, but at least I'm trying!!)
It's tough being a woman.
Monday, March 2, 2009
The waiting game
I've officially completed all my projects, have a clean home, and now am waiting for Sophi to arrive. Last night I was telling Deric, "I'm going to be so bored!!" So this morning I tried to fill my week with things to do. I'm trying to do at least 1 activity of some-sort a day, that way the time will go by quicker! I'm also anxiously waiting for my best friend Jan to come. She arrives next Tuesday and we are super excited! The plan is to do a bunch of "girly" stuff until Sophi comes. (Nevertheless, the plan when she comes, may just be--give birth to Sophi. Who really knows when she'll make her apperance?)
Just to humor myself and to bore you, here is my schedule until Jan comes.-OR until Sophi arrives:
Monday- helped Deric w/ some Middle School stuff, finished gluing ribbon the letters for Sophi's room. Hung letters. Krystle is joining me to watch The Bachelor. (AHH! Anticipation!!)
Tuesday- Bible study, dr. apt., coffee w/ friends, laundry, go to post office
Wed.- coffee w/ friend
Thursday- Samantha is highlighting my hair (I've got to look good for Sophi!)
Friday- *have nothing*
Sat./Sun -they don't count, Deric is around. :) Deric and I do know we'll be taking some sort of prego picks together, when and where, not sure.
Mon.- *have nothing*
Tuesday- Bible study, dr.apt., pick up Jan from airport
As you can see, not much happening. I always watch The View at 10:00 and watch 1 show from DVR while I eat lunch. Otherthan that, I'm pretty much hanging around. If any of you are bored, or need help w/ anything, let me know!! I would love to help!
Well, this could be my last blog until Sophi comes, or one of many waiting for her to arrive. Only time will tell. :)
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
The nursery is almost done!!
We really love the tree! Our ceilings our so tall, that it just works perfect in the room. Saturday, February 14, 2009
20/20 Special
Most of you know I'm a big fan of The View. They had Diane Sawyer on this week talking about her special that aired last night on 20/20. This special completely broke my heart. Her special was about people living here in America, in the Appalachian mountains, who are so poor they sell drugs for money or risk their lives in the mines. I encourage all of you to go to abcnews.com and watch the special. It's an hour long, so make time for it. It follows kids and their struggles they have. In these times where Deric and I are being creative so we can pay our bills, it really makes me take a step back and think how truly, truly blessed we are. Make sure you bring tissues along.
The oldest mountains in America are rich in natural beauty with their raging creeks, steep hollows and old pines. They are also one of the poorest, most disadvantaged regions in America.
More Photos
Central Appalachia has up to three times the national poverty rate, an epidemic of prescription drug abuse, the shortest life span in the nation, toothlessness, cancer and chronic depression. But everywhere in these hills, there are also young fighters filled with courage and hope.
Settled by tough pioneers who clawed their way over the Appalachian Mountains to expand America's borders, the region has produced some of the fiercest military fighters the country has seen. Like their ancestors before them, the children of the mountains are born fighters, and for two years, ABC News has documented the unique challenges some of these rural children face as they chase after their dreams.
Courtney, 12, hopes for a home for her and her family.
"We're not like other people, we can't afford food after food after food," she said.
Shawn Grim, 18, tries to fight his way out of his dysfunctional family in the mountains by becoming the high school football star of Appalachia, while sleeping in a truck.
Jeremy, 18, makes a decision to accept a life down inside the mines, and Erica, 11, is forced to grow up too quickly, trying over and over again to save her mother's life.
'Mountains Are Like Your Mother's Arms'
For generations, poets and musicians like Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn and Dwight Yoakum have been inspired by the majestic beauty of the land that spreads across 13 states and has towns named "Lovely," "Beauty" and "Kingdom Come."
"I think the mountains are like your mother's arms around you. They're holding you in one place," said Whitesburg, Ky., resident Nell Fields.
Forty-one years ago, Robert F. Kennedy traveled to eastern Kentucky to bring attention to a part of the country that desperately needed help.
At that time, almost 60 percent of families in Appalachian Kentucky fell below the poverty level. The average per capita income for the region was only $841, more than a third lower than the national average.
Today, there have been improvements in the region and many communities are flourishing. Highways now link the mountain towns to cities in the valley, and reduce what used to be day-long trips to a matter of hours. One-room schoolhouses have been replaced by fully-equipped buildings, all of which has helped pull up national achievment rankings. But roughly 40 percent of Appalachia's population in the hills and hollows remains stuck in poverty, still searching for the road to success.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
It Won't be Like This for Long
I haven't listened to country music in months! I do really enjoy it, so since my normal station was way too boring I turned it to the country station. This song played on the radio and I had to fight the tears.
Lying there in bed and listening
To his newborn baby cry
He makes a pot of coffee
He splashes water on his face
His wife gives him a kiss and says,
"It's gonna be okay"
"It won't be like this for long
One day we'll look back laughing
At the week we brought her home
This phase is gonna fly by
So baby, just hold on
It won't be like this for long"
Four years later, 'bout 4:30
She's crawling in their bed
And when he drops her off at pre-school
She's clinging to his leg
The teacher peels her off of him
He says, "What can I do?"
She says, "Now, don't you worry
This'll only last a week or two"
"It won't be like this for long
One day soon you'll drop her off
And she won't even know you're gone
This phase is gonna fly by
If you can just hold on
It won't be like this for long"
Someday soon she'll be a teenager
And at times, he'll think she hates him
And he'll walk her down the aisle
And raise her veil,
But right now she's up and cryin'
And the truth is that he don't mind
As he kisses her goodnight
And she says her prayers
He lays down there beside her
Till her eyes are finally closed
And just watching her it breaks his heart
'Cause he already knows
It won't be like this for long
One day soon that little girl is gonna be
All grown up and gone
And this phase is gonna fly by
So he's trying to hold on
It won't be like this for long
It won't be like this for long
Monday, February 9, 2009
Sophi Update
