Our Birth Story

This was our plan...Jed started his vacation time December 8th, he wanted a few days to get things done and I had a final on the 10th...so we planned to finish my final on the 10th and then go to my work Christmas party so I could dance like crazy and we hoped that would induce labor so Jed didn't have to waste all of his vacation time at home alone...

To our surprise it actually worked!

Sunday morning I started having contractions, they continued to get closer together and finally that night at 11:30pm we decided to go into the hospital to get checked. I wasn't in such a hurry, the contractions were uncomfortable but not severe, I just didn't want to be one of those women that wait too long then are holding the baby's head in while they rush to the maternity ward. When we checked in I was only dilated to a 2, in an hour I progressed to a 3 so they kept us for a few more hours to see if I would go any further. They had me walk for a couple hours and I wasn't prepared for that and only had my big snow boots on, it wasn't very comfortable--and it led to nothing they release us around 4am. I continued to have contractions but they seemed to calm down. Monday Jed and I decided we needed to go walk and run some errands. We walked Costco for more than 2 hours, got some Christmas shopping done. The contractions didn't stop but slowed down. I figured nothing would happen and it would stop and in a few weeks I would actually go into labor.

So that night I got up to go to the bathroom and my water broke...but I wasn't totally convinced that it broke so I tried to go back to bed for a while. I let Jed sleep for a few hours and then woke him up and calmly said "hey babe, my water broke"---I've decided those word make men panic...Jed didn't exactly panic but was wide awake and ready to go in a matter of minutes.
Getting to the hospital and getting checked in was a little easier than the previous night, because my water broke I had the golden ticket. But things didn't go much faster after that, they made us walk for hours I walked the halls at Providence hospital...until the pain got to be severe enough that I didn't want to be out having people watch me.

By the way

Labor is painful!

I started to get really weepy and cried really hard a few times. Poor Jed didn't know what to do but was really supportive and tried to help.

After ten hours of walking and active labor I had only dilated to a 6 and they said they were going to have to give me Pitocin...that is when I decided I needed something for the pain. They suggested taking something to take the edge off, I should have just asked for the epidural but I took the medication and instantly it completely knocked me out. I was so loopy and it didn't help with the pain, it made me feel sick and I started to hallucinate the room had changed into a gingerbread house/land with royal icing and peppermint swirl fields...It was not good!-- and still it didn't help the pain.
I cried and begged for the epidural after only a few minutes. Just when I thought I couldn't do it any longer the anesthesiologist walked through the door.

I love him & the Epidural!

Unfortunately because I took that pain medication it made me & baby's heart rate drop really low, they had to stop the pitocin and give me oxygen. They scared us by saying that I may have to have a c-section if it continued. But as that other med started wearing off, our heart rates went back up. Once I was dilated to a 10 I pushed for an hour
&
Elliot Thomas Jones
made his appearance.

Child birth is nothing like anyone tells you...it was so surreal. We were pretty relaxed, we had casual conversation in between contractions and pushing...it was weird

....Child birth is just weird.

Jed didn't plan on watching it, but I really don't know how you can avoid seeing it, I was worried that he was going to get all wigged out or sick but he was awesome and said it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be.

First moments with Elliot
Jed got to cut the cord and help give him the first bath. Elliot did not like having his hair washed at all!
The nurse above was one of Jed's friends--they worked together several years ago. I met her for the first time when we were admitted...then we got to know each other very very well in a short period of time. Closer than any of my other friends have ever seen me! She was very nice and I think helped Jed relax. She said that if he passed out she would make fun of him for the rest of his life.

Elliot cried the first night non-stop and we were all exhausted...the mother baby unit at Providence was not that great. The nurse didn't introduce herself, and after we called for help she didn't come for an hour or longer...by that time I was in tears and so exhausted I couldn't stand it. They took him to the nursery which we didn't even know was an option...but isn't that the point of being in the hospital (besides the whole observation of our health and stuff) but to get a good rest before going home. We got to sleep for three hours and it made a huge difference.
His feet seem so big and long to me, I guess in comparison to his body...they still look really small in this photo.

Our first family photo.

Since being home things have gotten much better. He is doing well (for the most part) with breast feeding. It is so nice to have Jed around! Jed has been so helpful and it's great bonding time for them. Jed doesn't have to go back to work until the 2nd of January we are so glad he is around, because we would probably go insane.




Well stay tuned because there will be lots of updates about our little Paco!

37 Week Update

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday. It was my 37 week check up... Today I am 38 weeks and celebrating that I am almost done with this pregnancy. Things are looking really good I am 1.5 cm dilated and 50% effaced. I did find out that I tested positive for the group b strep... so I will have to get an antibiotic while I am in labor and there may be a chance that they will keep me and paco an extra 24 hours to make sure that he doesn't get. I am feeling pretty good, really busy though.

This past week was a crazy week for us, I had a bunch of homework to finish up early this week. I did some Christmas shopping and wrapped presents. One of my co-workers passed away unexpectedly last week, she fell through some ice and got caught in the current was trapped under the ice. It was really sad and unexpected, so it has been a hard week at work for many of us. I went to her service on Wednesday, which was really interesting because it was a Buddist service, they did a lot of chanting and burning incents...it was cool to be a part of. And Paco loves chanting, he must be a little budha because in my yoga class he is very active when we chant. Then we also went to a charity event that Jed's job was hosting for the Make a Wish Foundation. Last night I finished up the last of my homework, and I am just getting ready to go take my last final. So after I take this final I am going to start walking ALOT. I also have my work Holiday party tonight so there will be lots of dancing....I want this baby to come early enough that Jed can be around to help, and since he is now on 3 weeks of vaction before the New Year....I am ready!

Baby Shopping Day!

Yesterday was such a busy day....I took the day off work, not for a relaxing day, but because I knew this may be the last day that I could take off and get everything done before finals and the Christmas holidays.

This is what it was like... no joke.

8:47am: Leave in -13 degree weather to go to the day care

9:00am: Met with the Day Care provider and talk about the contracts and all that business.

9:40am: Drive to Burlington Coat Factory to check out the baby section, particularly car seats

10:30am: Stop at Costco to see if they still have a car seat, and browse the isles of the giant wonderland. (Temp rises to -5 degrees)

11:07am: Drive across town to REI, to look for a baby pack/carrier...specifically the Ergo carrier, and to look for a snow suit, ran into our friend Ann and her kids, looked at studded tires for Jed's bike.

11:40am: Stop for lunch at Marty's Bagel Deli (Warmed up to 2 degrees)

12:20pm: drive around the one way streets to get back to a small store "Once Upon a Child" which sells used baby items. Found a Bopsy for $8, and a BOB stroller for $175, but we didn't get the stroller.

12:40pm: headed to the Hospital to meet the pediatrician. (Temperatures cooled down to zero)

12:55pm: Arrived in Parking lot and killed some time by checking out Facebook...Jed thought it would be funny to update his status and say "At the hospital with Sarah"

1:00pm: Found the pediatrician office, had a great meet and greet with the doctor asked lots of questions. He said he'd see us at the hospital unless it was Christmas, because he isn't working that day. Other than that he seems like a good guy and nice office staff.

1:30pm: Went to the Nursing Boutique in the lobby of the hospital and bought an infant insert for the ergo carrier and also got the coolest ice cleats for my boots ever! I don't think I'll be slipping with those on!

1:57pm: Left the hospital drove across town to Babies'R'Us

2:14pm: Arrived at Babies'R'Us,

2:15pm: Hilary calls upset, wondering what is wrong with me because Jed posted I was in the Hospital...she was so upset she said she was crying...then she was mad at Jed for playing such a mean trick.

2:20pm: started shopping for car seat, testing out the stroller car seat combos...which by the way why is a car seat alone $160...but I can get a car seat and a stroller together for the same price?

3:00pm...Finally make a decision about just getting a car seat alone...then see the one next to it is on sale for $50 less...but go back on our original decision. Get a separate base for the seat for Jed's truck, so we don't have to switch it out all the time.

3:02pm: start shopping for little things, Onesies, snow suit. Which we still can't find a NB size snow suit...not just a fuzzy fleece 'warm suit' but we're looking for an insulated Alaskan snow suit...they had one that we wanted and we didn't buy it AND now they are gone. Shopped for a diaper bag, closet organizers, a Genie Diaper pale and baby wipes.

3:55pm: Jed dropped me off for my prenatal massage and chiropractic appointment. A very nice break during all the running around. (Temp drops again to -3 degree...and sun is setting)

5:30pm: Jed picked me up and we headed to Target. Target we shopped for closet organizing items, hangers and grabbed some nursing pads to keep on hand. (Sun is long gone, temp still -3)

6:23pm: Heading home, stopped at Little Caesar's for a pizza
7:15pm: Arrive home (Temp dropped to -7 degrees)
7:23pm: Finally carried everything into the house.
7:30pm: Eat our pizza while watching some DVR'ed Chelsea Lately
8:00pm: Start my Journal project that is due in 12 hours
9:35pm: Finally finish my project and email it to professor
9:50pm: Bedtime and exhausted

But we are so ready for this baby to come! Hopefully Jed won't post anything that misleads you all again...and the next time it will be for "realsies"!

My Zombie Themed Baby Shower

My co-workers threw a baby shower for me this weekend. They decided to have it be a "zombie theme"...I do have a love of zombies, so it wasn't just out of the blue. They used pictures from my Halloween costume to create the invitations.


All week it has been snowing like crazy, but Saturday right before the shower was starting it looked like a blizzard. But it's Alaska and it stop anyone from coming. Even some of my friends from Eagle River that said it was a complete white out. I guess that's the good thing about living in Alaska, a little snow doesn't slow us down.

We had the shower at Sicily's Pizza, which had a room we could reserve and it was a buffet pizza place. So everyone could buy their own buffet or just hang out with us. My co-workers did such an awesome job with decorations.
This little figure just added a special touch to the Zombie Themed decorations...it was really funny and definitely a conversation starter. My boss, Dixi made these adorable little bibs with "PACO" on them...since we still don't have a name picked out...and I think everyone at work will forever call him Paco, no matter what we name him.
We also had these delicious cake pops that were decorated like little zombies...and they were so good!

We also played "Wack-a-Baby"
Where you can beat a baby pinata to get all our aggression out.

I was amazed that so many people came and supported me. It makes me realized that I have made more friends here than I imagined.
I also got tons of gifts...and really good stuff too!

I was so excited that Nicole came--even through a complete blizzard. It was like having a little piece of one of my best friends Courtney there too (because they are sisters...in case you didn't know that.)

I had tons of fun going home and having 'show-and-tell' with Jed and all of the stuff we got.

Thank you for everyone that came and helped with the shower!
I love you all!

My Birthday!!

My co-worker loves me and brought me TWO bags of potato chips for my birthday.

I had a pretty great birthday...it started really early when I started receiving texts and calls at 5am, people forget there is a two hour difference from Alaska to Utah.

My co-workers decorated my office with their typical birthday fashion. I also got a birthday card and $10 from the big head executive director...that is the only bonus we get all year.

I was really looking forward to going to my yoga class, but then I had a meeting that went a little late, and the roads were bad so with all the accidents and people driving slow I didn't make it. I started to drive home and it took me an hour to get home. I was kind of disappointed, but then Jed and I went to my favorite little hamburger place in Anchorage called Lucky Wishbone...I had a delicious grilled cheese, onion rings and an oreo shake. It was delicious! Afterwards I got to open my birthday presents.

Jed gave me flowers, and this weird Bert balloon.

I also got the Lion King, which we watched and I sang along to all the songs,

and my favorite....

GOLDEN TICKETS!!

Jed got me a spa pass!

I am so excited to use them....

I am going to pamper myself crazy before this baby comes!!

Injustice!

I am thinking this could be my Halloween costume...A picture just in case you ever wanted to see what I looked like at 4am, after being awake for several hours...with no hope of more sleep.

Tonight is another sleepless night. It seems so unjust to not be able to sleep now, when in just a few months I will have a newborn and I will be losing sleep with him...doesn't it make more sense that I would be able to go into a deep restful state prior to the birth of my child, so I would be well rested and prepared to take on the challenges ahead. But no, my body has a different motive...it's "training" me to be up with the baby. It's stupid.

So when these nights come...which are becoming more frequent I lie in bed as long as I can trying to fight it because I am so tired. Then I will finally grab my phone and try to bore myself back to sleep by checking Facebook and emails...which doesn't seem to work. The last thing I want to do is get up and leave my bed, especially in our little apartment. The front room doesn't have heat, because the floor board pipe thingy is broken and the landlords are 'slum-lords' who won't fix it, because they would have to pretty much destroy the apartment below us to do it. So, when I finally decide that I need to leave my warm sleepless bed and wander around I freeze to death.

It seems like these nights always come at the busiest times. Last night was supposed to be my relaxing night because we didn't have a young woman's activity, but as soon as I got out of class I got a message from my visiting teaching companion reminding me that we set up a time to go visit someone (since I didn't have YW's). So I headed there straight after being at work and class all day. Then I called to tell Jed I was going to be late, only to be reminded that we had a temple recommend interview at the stake center also scheduled (since I didn't have YW's). So I rushed through visiting teaching, picked up Jed, who brought me my skirt so I could change in the car on the way to the interview and we rushed to our stake center which is clear across town. We were a little late, but what better excuse is there than 'I was visiting teaching...and it's not the last day of the month'...huh?

Afterwards I was starving and rather than driving the 20 min home only to have to prepare, cook, and clean up dinner...I convinced Jed to take me to dinner at the "Burrito King" mmm..mmm..(which yes, it is as ghetto-fabulous as it sounds). By this time it was 8pm and I was ready to go home. But alas, we had to make another stop at Sear's to browse the tool section. I pretty much fell in bed as soon as we got home. I wish tomorrow night would be better, but I have a busy day at work, and the youth temple night is tomorrow. Friday is even busier, with work Halloween party, a massage/chiropractic appointment, a friends open house, and my works Halloween dance in the evening. Saturday I have volleyball with the YW's in the morning, class from 1-4pm, grocery shopping and our church is doing "trunk-or-treat". Sunday is church, YW's presidency meeting, more visiting teaching, a paper to write that is due on Monday, dinner with my brother and my favorite TV show 'The Walking Dead'---which is how I am feeling right now...I think I have become the walking dead.

30 Weeks & TMI

Today, I had my 30 week check up appointment. Things are looking really good...I am still measuring right on and the heart beat is nice and strong. Little Paco (Paco is what I am calling him because we don't have a name picked out yet) is breech and always has been, so the doctor is keeping a close eye on that. I will be standing on my head for a while trying to get him to move around...he doesn't really have much room to move but I can feel him trying everyday.

After my doctor's appointment I got to have lunch with Nicole, which I haven't seen forever and it was really fun to talk to her. It really made my day and she made me laugh so hard with some of her stories.

Tonight, Jed and I went down to the fifth avenue mall. It felt like it took so much effort to finally go, we both started talking and then we started yawning and getting tired, but finally at 6:30pm we left the house. I am so glad we did too...the big adventure was primarily to go to Nordstrom's because I wanted to get fitted for a bra (surprisingly Jed's idea). Like my last post said I feel like I have gotten so big, and I have been having horrible back pain. I know this is probably TMI, but in a way I am kind of proud of my accomplishment without surgery....So before I moved to Alaska I was fitted for a bra and was a 34 B, tonight they measured me at a 34 DD! Needless to say the bra I was wearing was not nearly that big and it is no wonder I had back pain.

The other funny thing that happened earlier, and I was even telling Nicole this earlier today. It seems like the topic of my LDS garments, or "special Mormon underwear" have been coming up a lot lately. Starting with getting my first prenatal massage, the woman explained that I could get undressed but leave my panties on...well, i kind of panicked and went into a whole spill about garments and the church, which led to more questions. Which is good...probably, share the gospel... right? I don't know it was just awkward. Well, the next time I had a massage, I wasn't in a very chatty mood so when a different massage therapist said the same thing I just told her I wasn't wearing panties and left it at that. I figured, I would rather her thinking I was just going commando than have to spend the next hour of my 'relaxing' massage talking about it. I have also had my co-workers ask me questions about it, mostly whether they have maternity garments and how that works. Then more questions from co-workers when Rick Perry's pastor said we are a cult, some going back to my "special mormon underwear"....I was getting pretty tired of the garment question. Then without even thinking about it, going into the bra fitting what do you think came up again? Yeah, I had to explain the whole garment thing again! I didn't even see it coming, and this young girl had no idea about the LDS church or Mormons. I found myself panicking again and rambling, to the point that I started explaining about the temple and I said "one of the things we do in the temple is we are sealed to our husbands forever" then I worried about the plural use of the word husband and hurried and explained that we only have one husband and we don't believe in polygamy.....ahhhh it was just a total disaster, and I made it really awkward for both of us. I left the store certain that the young girl helping me, not only thought I was really weird but that definitely Mormon's are really weird. So I am not helping much on damage control when it comes to our church being a weird cult...hopefully, the Lord will see the intent of my heart. And for heaven sakes why is my underwear coming up so much in conversation lately?!

Kenai Trip

Jed skipping rocks on the shore of Skilak Lake

It was our 2nd anniversary this weekend! Two years...pretty crazy huh? It was a great weekend. On Saturday I had to go to our young women's volley ball game at the stake center, when I came back to my car I found a dozen red roses in my car. It was a great surprise, and the young women are always so fun and full of enthusiams, they were oohing-and ahhing for until I drove away. Jed and I drove to Kenia which is about 2 hours south of Anchorage.

It was the most gorgeous weekend, it was a little chilly but just a perfect fall day. We drove out to the Captain Cook State Park, which is the very end of the Kenai Pensinsula. It was so clear you could see for miles and miles, giving us a perfect view of Mt Redoubt, the volcano that recently errupted in 2009.

This picture makes me feel gi-normous! My stomach is growing everyday...but Oh my goodness, when will my boobs stop growing!! Holy cow!

The above picture is also by Skilak Lake, it was so nice and calm we sat there in perfect silence for an hour.

This is a picture on the beach of Captian Cook State Park, the mountain in the distance is Mt. Redoubt.
Along the Turnagain Arm on our way out we stopped to watch some Beluga whales. Also that boat I have never seen a boat in the Turnagain Arm, boats normally don't come up that Arm, because it is so silty and there are no fish. So it was fun to watch the boat and see some Belugas. We saw this couple getting wedding pictures and it was gorgeous!


Along the shore of the Turnagain Arm, I am watching the boat and trying to spot Beluga whales.
It was a great weekend! I am so happy to be married to Jed! He is my best friend and he is going to be an awesome dad! I love you babe!

Doctor Update

I had a long doctor's appointment today. I am currently at 28 weeks and so the appointments seem to go really quickly. However, today they needed to do the glucose test again. I had one glucose test at 8 weeks, because I have family history of diabetes and it was okay...but they had to check me again. Today was the long one, I had to fast for 12 hours which is just not fun while you are pregnant. Then they drew my blood, I had to drink the super sugary drink in less that 3 min (Jed timed me and kept me on track)...then wait an hour to get my blood drawn again. Jed and I weren't listening very well because we thought we were done after that. Both Jed and I were starving, we were planning lunch, only to find out that we had to wait yet another hour to get my blood drawn again. I was feeling really not so good at that point...but I survived. After we got some Quizno's and went back to work.

The appointment was really good, I am measuring at 29 ( I don't know if that is weeks, or how they determine that...she just said I looked good and measuring at 29...so...). I am keeping a more consistent weight and infact lost a little from the last time I was in, which is okay since last time she, Dr. Wiggins, mentioned that I had a spike in wieght gain that was kind of unusual. I think last time I had gained like 10 lbs in a month. The baby was going crazy because I had just drank the sugary fruit punch so he was kicking like crazy while Dr. W was trying to get the heart beat. The heartbeat was going up and down from 130-155, which she said is a really good thing and it is a sign of a healthy baby...Interesting I didn't know that. And now I need to start counting the kicks...which most days shouldn't be a problem, he seems to be doing flips and turns all the time.

The Natural Way

So between starting school, and having Jed move back it seems like life has gotten really busy, so I haven't had time to post anything. However, there is really not much to post. I have been really busy, it seems like every night this week I haven't gotten home until almost 8pm or later. Between class, doctor's appointments, yoga and Young Women's I am feeling exhausted.

The only thing I can really update you with is that the baby is growing everyday and getting very strong. Sometimes it is very agitating to have him rolling around and kicking...it can drive me crazy, especially when Jed starts teasing me and poking at me also, they are already teaming up on me and sometimes it pushes me over the edge.

My chiropractor is into the whole natural birthing process and gave me some interesting information about all of it. Between her and my yoga class, which has many "natural women" who are all planning natural births has sparked my interest so Jed and I watched the movie "The Business of Being Born" a documentary about natural home births with midwives. It was.....interesting, they made some very interesting points about natural births. Don't worry, I am not planning on getting a kiddie pool and delivering the baby in my front room. But as far as epidural or no epidural...as natural as you can get in a hospital... I don't know yet how I feel, but it gives me a lot to think about, and makes me wonder if I could or even want to.

Big Long Update

Line to get into the Alaska State Fair

Here is a big update...starting from the most recent events. This weekend Jed and I went to the Alaska State Fair! It is always something to look forward to, this year it was really cold...I was freezing; it was 50 degrees, but luckily it didn't rain.

Largest Cabbage at the Fair

The largest pumpkin! In fact this pumpkin is one of only 4 ever grown pumpkins in the world that exceeded 1700lbs...but unfortunately, it was disqualified because there was a small hole in the bottom of it.
Also, I got that cute new hat at the fair because I was freezing!

Jed and I enjoying our favorite deep fried fair food

Last week when I got back from Utah I came home to a different season. While I was in Utah it was so hot, upper 90's definitely summer but when I returned to Alaska it was already autumn and in the low 50's and the leaves were already starting to fall.

This week we had a doctor's appointment, but there was nothing exciting to report. I am measuring right on at 24 weeks and the baby's heart beat was strong. I have been collecting a few more things for the baby. Just today with the Labor Day Sale I got this super cute outfit at Baby Gap.

UTAH TRIP
So Jed and I flew down to Utah for Jed's brother's wedding...it was a great excuse to go home for a little bit and visit all the family. It was so nice to feel some warm weather also!

This is the only picture that Jed and I took of the bride & groom, (oh, actually...where is the groom? I guess we didn't get any pic's of them together) we were so busy visiting with everyone we didn't take too many pictures.
This is my cute, pregnant, swollen and jet-lagged pose.

While I was in Utah, I had a list of places I wanted to eat...including Beto's breakfast burrito, Barry's in Sp-ork, Rumbi's Island Grill, and Jamba Juice.

My favorite was the Jamba Juice!! I am now on a mission here at home to recreate a smoothie that tastes like a jamba.

I loved being at home! I love Utah especially being at home in Benjamin...it was fun to just sit on the front porch and visit with the family.
Courtney Due Feb 9th, Me due Dec 24th & Sandy Due March 3rd

Finally, I was really excited and lucky to spend time with two of my best friends. It was so great to see them and spend time with them...they have been my closest friends since high school and now we are all pregnant at the same time. We went shopping in Park City and they helped me pick out some cute things for the baby.