Happy Birthday JMS

***Warning - this is the longest post ever - and probably contains TMI - but this is for me to remember - pictures at the end***

I woke up Tuesday, May 12, 2009, thinking that I had 2 more days until JM's scheduled debut. I slept in, picked up around the house before the maid arrived- and then set off on a day of errands and things to cross off of my "Things To Do Before John Marshall" list. I had a manicure and pedicure, Chick Fil A, ran some errands, and even had a "vegan" air brush tan. I came home tired and nasty from the tan (since you have to leave it on for 12 hours without showering for it to work). Justin got home from work a little early - and we sat on the couch and discussed how both of us were scared to have a baby. How would we know how to take care of him? How would we know what to do? We both agreed: (a) thank goodness that my Mom was staying with us and (b) thank goodness that we had until Thursday to meet him - and that we would get one "last supper" together. I picked up the phone to call my Mom to make sure that she knew how to take care of a baby (just kidding - Mom) - and THAT IS WHEN MY WATER BROKE at 5:30PM on May 12th. Oh. My. Word. After calling Regan, and several other people to confirm that what I thought was my water breaking was indeed my water breaking (it's not like the movies) I hopped in the shower and sadly rubbed off that $35.00 airbrush tan. I took my time getting ready - J and I both showered and loaded up the car. Our neighbors were outside and got one last picture of us as a family of two.

We got to the hospital around 7:30PM and settled in. I didn't think that I was having contractions - apparently I was - they just weren't uncomfortable enough for me to feel yet. Because of my high blood pressure I wasn't allowed to get up and walk around the hospital. I was confined to the bed, on my back. That was annoying. My doctor was at the hospital finishing up a c-section, but wasn't on call - which was disappointing - as she was going to leave after she finished the c-section. The nurses kept saying that it didn't matter, because I probably wouldn't have John Marshall until 6:00 or 7:00AM the next morning, and that she would be back in time to deliver him. The plan was for me to hang out - and they would start the Pitocin at 1:00AM if I hadn't progressed enough by then. My Mom had hopped on the next available SW flight from Houston to Dallas - so she would make it in time to see our little man make his debut.

Everything was going smoothly (other than my blood pressure and me having to lay down) and I wasn't in pain or too uncomfortable. Regan came to visit and brought Sonic ice. Justin's Aunt and Uncle stopped by, my Aunt, my cousin, her fiancee - seriously it was like a mini-party at times. I had planned on going into the hospital with an open mind regarding an epidural. Mainly I wanted to have him natural because my Mom did it that way - and if she could do - why couldn't I? Also - I am scared of needles, and the idea of someone messing with my spine - but I was DEFINITELY planning on getting one if I needed it. Around 9:30 the nurse came in and checked me, and I had progressed to a 6 - which surprised all of them - including me - especially since I didn't feel bad, or like I needed or wanted pain meds. Right after she checked me I started gushing blood (literally) and JM's precious heart rate dropped between 70 and 80. That's when it got scary. She immediately punched buttons on the wall, and called for my doctor and the anesthesiologist. She flipped me over on my side, and slapped on oxygen mask on me. Dr. K came in and said, "You were going to get an epidural any way, right? Because if you don't get one now, and this doesn't stop within a minute, you won't be awake during the c-section." Ugh. I was scared - and of course took the epidural. After making me flip around several times - his heart rate came back up, and I stopped bleeding. I was told if his heart rate went down one more time, or if the bleeding resumed, then it was a c-section for me.

Soooo a note about the epidural. WHAT epidural?!?! I would like to take a poll of everyone who has had an epidural to know if you: (a) could move your legs into any position you wanted; (b) wiggle your toes; (c) feel people pinching your toes/legs; (d) pull/hold your own legs back to push through contractions; (e) feel them squirt you with cold Betadine before you delivered; and (f) feel the baby being born? I won't even talk about what I felt afterwards. It's just that if I had to have an epidural, I would have liked it to work?!?

Thankfully - John Marshall and his heart rate cooperated, and I had no more bleeding. My Mom had made it to the hospital and we sat around and discussed how weird it was that I could feel contractions, feel my legs, move them, etc. Around 11:45 the nurse came in to check on me. By that point, I DID feel uncomfortable. We were all SUPER surprised after she checked me when she said, "You are ready to start pushing!" Really!?!? What happened to not having him until 6:00 or 7:00AM?!?! After magically transforming the room, pulling out trays, pulling down lights, etc. - by 12:00AM I started pushing. I need to mention that after my bleeding and JM's heartrate - my FABULOUS doctor decided to stay at the hospital until JM was born - even though she wasn't on call - her partner was! She is AMAZING!!!

Our lives were changed forever at 1:12AM on May 13, 2009 when God blessed us with a beautiful baby boy - John Marshall Sparks, 7 pounds, 9 ounces, and 22 inches long. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!!!

I got to hold our precious one for about 10 minutes, before the nurse took him away from me and announced that his breathing rate was too high, and that she would be taking him to the NICU. I was so overwhelmed, I didn't have time to think, cry, or say anything about the situation. Around 3:30AM the NICU called our room and announced that not only was his breathing rate too high, but that his blood sugar level was too low - and they would be inserting a feeding tube to feed him. At that point I lost it. I lost it again at 5:00AM when they called and said that his breathing was better and he could be moved to the regular nursery but NOT our room as his blood sugar level was too low, and his pedi wanted him to be monitored for a few more hours. At 7:00AM after crying to my nurse, she called the nursery and they let us have him in our room for 15 minutes. We finally got him back in our room for good at 10:30 that morning - and we couldn't take our eyes off of him!

One last shot of The Sparks family in front of our house. I was HUGE.

Regan visiting at the hospital before JM's debut.
Our first look at John Marshall and first photo as a family of three!Wide Awake!
All cleaned up!

38 Weeks

Prior to reaching 38 weeks, there is no way to comprehend just how BIG you can get. That's JM's "big boy bed" in the background...I will TRY to get nursery pics up sometime soon. I am STILL working on the baby shower post!

D-Day

May 14, 2009 - that's the BIG DAY! Unless, of course, John Marshall wants to come SOONER! (PLEASE COME SOONER).

We went yesterday for my 38 week check up. I am 3 cm dilated, more effaced, and all that jazz. She says he is low, low, low - and again mentioned that she would be very surprised if I made it to my actual due date of May 20th. I then said, "Speaking of due dates...how long past my due date do you plan on letting me go?" She then said - "Oh I won't let you go past your due date. We will induce you the week of your due date. In fact, if you want to have him next week, say next Thursday or Friday - you can!" To which I replied, "Next Thursday is GREAT!" (Without even looking at or consulting with my sweet husband who is sitting right next to me. Ha!) She said she wouldn't even start the pitocin drip when I checked in - just because of how I am progressing. She thinks just breaking the water should do the trick - we shall see!!!

I used to have a bad taste in my mouth about scheduled inductions. In my perfect little world I thought, "Why not let things happen naturallllyyyyyy? Why not let God and nature work it's magic?" Or as my birthing instructor put it, "Does one eat doughey bicuits?!?!" (I actually do!) Ummmm...yeah - that was BEFORE I was 38 weeks pregnant, miserable, and READY to have him out of me!!! Everyone keeps telling me, "Enjoy this time! Your life is about to change drastically! Treasure all the time you have now! Keep him in longer - it will never be the same!" I REALIZE this - I realized this when we decided to start trying to have a baby. My point? I WANT a baby and I am READY to meet this little man!!! (Notice I didn't say I am ready to take care of him? That part scares me!) I know it will be different, hard, etc. - but I also can't imagine anything more wonderful!!!! Can't wait to meet you John Marshall...

"What I Wore to Work Today" A Self-Portrait, By EAS

So I work for a plastic surgeon, who is very particular about everything - which is GREAT considering what he does. He is particular about dress code as well. We wear matching scrubs three days a week, and the other two days we are expected to dress nice/professional/business professional - you get the idea. Flip flops and jeans would be TOTALLY out of the question.

So here is what I wore today:

• A maternity shirt that is getting too small
• My "baggy" (not nice) maternity jeans
• A double chin
• Flip Flops (the only shoes I can wear these days)
• A 37 week bump (mountain)
• NOT my wedding band/rings (fat fingers)
  

Guess who doesn't care about the dress code anymore?!?!?

Doctor's Appointment

I realize it has been F-O-R-E-V-E-R since I have blogged...I STILL have to put up the baby shower post! I have been soooooo tired lately - and I have huge respect for people who work full time up until they have babies - especially those who already have little ones. Ugh. Working is not a problem - I can make it through the day. It's AFTER work - and on the weekends that I have absolutely NO energy to do anything!!! It is beyond frustrating!!! I have been meaning to pack a hospital bag - but have no energy! That was my ONE goal this weekend - to pack the bag - and did I accomplish it?!?! Nope. After today's appointment, I am a little more motivated. And I think I am going to retire one week sooner than I thought! :)

Today was my 36 week and 5 day appointment - and the first "check" - eeeeeek! I have been dreading this appointment for two reasons. The first being that I have heard it hurts and is uncomfortable. The second reason is that I just KNEW that she would not have any good news for me. I was wrong on both counts - thankfully! It wasn't too bad - AND I am 2cm dilated, and 70% effaced. John Marshall is low, and in place - still head down! yea! She said she would be surprised if I made it to my due date - which is FINEEEEEE by me! :) JM is measuring 6 pounds 13 ounces, according to the sonogram. Wow. The bigger "wow" is how big his head measured. I could see when she was measuring his body (his tummy, his femur, etc.) - how it would pop up on the bottom of the screen that he was measuring 36 wk 5 days...THEN she did his head. His huge head. It said "39 wk 4 days" - YIKES! Are you kidding me?!?! This baby does NOT take after the Allison side of the family...that's all I can say! We were all smaller babies...I was the biggest baby my Mom had at 7 pounds - my sisters kept getting smaller. I will blame JM's head on Justin.

When we left the appointment - she reminded us to call her if I experienced bleeding, my water breaking, or contractions five minutes apart. That just freaked me out!!! Am I really about to have a baby?!?!

JM's heart rate was 120 bpm this time - Dr. K said he looked great! Oh yes...I must confess my weight gain. I am now plus 40 pounds. At this point, I am counting on having gained at least 50 by the time I walk through those hospital doors. Don't worry - I DID come home and enjoy my mint chocolate chip ice cream! Only a few more weeks to enjoy those kinds of things!!! :)

Ugh.

Sorry. That's just how I feel. Ugh. YOU would too if you waited THREE HOURS to see your doctor. That's right. My appointment time was 3:30PM...we walked out the door at 6:45PM. Seriously. She WAS busy delivering 3 babies during that time. So I will give her that! Ha! As much as I am SUPER annoyed to have waited that long - the fact that she just helped to bring three little tiny babies into the world is SUPER amazing. I can't wait until it's my turn!

32 Weeks and 6 Days Appointment Stats:

• JM's location - head down, bum up! yeaaaa!!!


• JM's cord - still around the neck, but perhaps more "draped" than wrapped?


• JM's heartbeat - 132bpm - beautiful!!!


• ES's total weight gain so far- (this is embarrassing - but I am posting it nonetheless - so you can be SUPER proud of me when I lose it all) 30 pounds. UGH.

So...JM is measuring great/right on time/all of that good stuff. I am starting to get REALLY excited and REALLY freaked out at the same time! :) I mean...he could come early - but I am not counting on it.

We had our second childbirth/Lamaze class tonight. We skipped it as I am exhausted, it started at 7:00PM, and we didn't leave the appointment until 15 minutes until class started. I should probably mention that after last week, and all of the lovely videos I saw, I am TOTALLY cool with a c-section. Seriously though, they DID NOT have to show us all of that. And by all of that - I mean several vaginal births AND "placenta" births - or whatever you want to call them. It. Was. Disgusting. ALSO...they had the lights down, and us leaning, swaying on each other, and Justin and I were the only couple who was laughing out of control. At one point, I was supposed to be leaning on Justin, swaying with him (imagine 8th graders at a school dance) pretending I was having a contraction. THEN she had to go and say, "Ladies, drop it like it's hot!" So - Justin absolutely lost it (tears, hysterical laughing, etc.) and couldn't gain control of himself. I then lost it (tears, hysterical laughing, etc.) and wet my pants. Not kidding.

I don't have a "side profile" belly pic this week, but I do have a pic that was taken with the phone...Atticus has a new fave spot whenever I sit down. He has discovered the "shelf" that is my belly. It's pretty funny - literally as soon as I sit down, he runs to hop up onto the top of my belly. He isn't allowed to stay there for too long. (A) Because a 6/7 pound Chihuahua probably isn't the best thing for a pregnant belly; and (B) JM lets me know that he doesn't like it! And what baby says (kicks) goes around here!

If you Give a Mouse Dog A Cookie Cadbury Egg...

To be fair, we did NOT give the Cabury Eggs to Atticus. He stole all three of them. Also - I am NOT the one in the household who enjoys or purchases this strange Easter candy. That would be my husband. I am, however, the one who left a Target sack on the floor by our bed, that I thought only contained the maternity t-shirts I had purchased. Guess it didn't. We came home last night from running errands - around 8:30ish, and Atticus did not come running to the front door to greet us, like he normally does. He came slowly, with a little bit of tail tuckage. I noticed a lovely trail of foil/chocolate all throughout our bedroom, and the guest bedroom. Nice. Not only am I peeved about the mess - but he ate chocolate, which is supposedly horrible for dogs. I immediately called one of my best friends from high school, whose Dad is the best vet ever - and he said that Atticus should be fine (they actually are more worried about the amount of caffeine in the chocolate), but to take away his food/water when he started throwing up - because he would want to eat/drink more, and that would just make him worse. The great debate? Lock him in the bathroom for the night and clean up the mess in the morning, OR put him in the pen and wake up every time he pukes/needs to go out so we can clean as he messes? OH MY WORD. So glad we stuck with the pen idea. I would NOT have wanted to clean that bathroom. Needless to say, we are both tired from the stupid dog who puked massive amounts and pooped all night long. At least when we have a baby who does such things, and keeps us up - he will smile at us, or do something cute, right? All I had last night was a sad/scared little dog - who I didn't really feel sorry for - even though it was my fault I left out the chocolate. I still have to bathe all the lovely "egg white" from the eggs off of him...ugh. Happy Friday! :)

Doctor's Appt. at 30 Weeks & 5 Days

So I had a loooooveeely time at the doctor's office. Really it wasn't that bad - I just prefer NOT to spend my morning in a doctor's office that needs to be re-decorated. Badly. Justin and I arrived at 8:45 and got right for a sonogram. Karen the tech confirmed that indeed, JMS does still have cord all around his neck. Like a scarf. Ugh. I was again reminded to pay attention to his movements, and to come in immediately if I feel a decrease in movement. She also confirmed that it is his little bum that constantly pokes out, and makes my stomach look like it is at an angle, instead of round. Too cute! Then we were sent back out into the waiting room, where we waited, and waited, and waited...you get the picture. So once I was taken back again into the exam room, I had blood drawn, and a finger prick test - with that nifty little gadgets that diabetics use on a daily basis to check their insulin. Today my results were too low - as opposed to being too high (how they were after the first test). What in the world? She said she is not worried, and doesn't think I have GD - BUT that she might treat me as someone who has it - therefore, my finger will be pricked each time, and I will have sonograms (yea!) - so I go back in two weeks, and get to see little man again! We had a good shot of his face this morning. So fun!



Now for the MORTIFYING part. And she said it in front of Justin. She has NEVER EVER EVER commented on my weight before. Today, I heard these words: "Well....in a perfect world, I would have had you gain a few less pounds between your last appointment and now." Oh MY word. Ugh. Ugh. Ughhhhh. I kind of would have guessed that this was coming...after making myself ice cream sundaes after dinner every night, but still...how embarrassing?!?!? Basically, my plan on gaining only 30 pounds for this pregnancy is blown out of the water. I have two more months to go. 40 pounds...here we come!!! Oh well. And I strolled out of the office at 11:30AM - almost 3 hours later - wanting to eat anything but a salad/something healthy.

And the appointment stats:

JMS's heart rate: 138 beats per minute - beautiful!
E's total weight gain: 25 lbs (makes me giggle...I don't know why? maybe because he only weighs 3 lbs?)

Fun with the Fam

This weekend my entire family came into town. We celebrated my Granddad's 86th birthday on Saturday, PLUS I needed some major assistance from my Mom with picking out drapes for the living room, and deciding what to put above the beds in JM's room. Friday night we had fun hanging out when everyone drove in from H-town. My parents had just returned from a cruise, so they had some fun gifts to pass out, and for the first time in FOREVER I was able to sleep in (which these days means 8:30AM) on Saturday, and hang out in my pajamas until 10:00, just drinking coffee (much to the dismay of the rest of my family) and chatting with my favorite people. We celebrated Granddaddy's birthday over at my Aunt's house - and had a great time visiting with the rest of the extended family! After a few errands, my Mom, sisters and I made it back in time to catch the second half of the Baylor game. Poor Bears...I am still excited for them for making it as far as they did!!! Sunday we skipped church and did some MAJOR shopping. We took care of a few things for JM's room, and the rest of the house. The living room now has new lamps, a new mirror, new drapes - which Meredith was so nice and put the fabric hooks into the drapes to attach the rings to - that kind of detail makes my stomach hurt, and new rods/finials, which Justin and Dad put up before everyone left. I love when my family visits - and wish they lived closer! Sadly, little Muffin had to head back to Waco, and Mom, Dad, and Mere returned to Houston. I miss them so much already - but they will be back before I know it! :)

A few pics...

Nana Anna and Papa John on their trip...too cute!

Justin in a Mexican shirt my Mom and Dad brought back from their cruise from a stop in Mexico...and the matching shirt for JM! I can't wait until they can match - there are shorts that go with JM's shirt too, hysterical!

How Muffin watched the Baylor game...sleeping...on the couch.

Wedding Weekend Fun

This weekend one of my best friends married the love of her life. I was honored to be a part of Allison and Alex's special day. I met Allison at an East Texas Kappa recruitment meeting during the Spring of our freshman year of college. She lived an hour away from Tyler, in Rusk, Texas, and had pledged Kappa at TCU. She had come to the meeting to "rush" her best friend Jamie who was going to be a freshman going through rush at Baylor the following year. It was an odd/strange way to become best friends with someone - but we stayed in touch, and have been great friends ever since. Jamie ended up being my "little" in Kappa, and is also one of my best friends. Moral of the story? Gooooo Kappa! :)

Friday I picked Jamie up from DFW and we headed to the rehearsal in Dallas. After a couple hours of rehearsing (seriously), we headed over to Maggiano's for a great rehearsal dinner with lots of speeches and fun stories about the bride and groom. Justin was able to make it over in time for dinner - and we stayed way too late, and had too much fun! On Saturday, we headed back over to Dallas in time for the Bridesmaid's Brunch at the Crescent, where I ate the most delicious food, and I accidentally enjoyed a mimosa. Except that I really didn't "enjoy" it - since I didn't realize it was a mimosa. Must have been a weak one. Nice. You can go ahead and award me "Mother of the Year" award right now! After the brunch I had a fun time visiting and catching up with Jamie before we needed to be back at the church for pictures. (Justin spent the day watching basketball with our friend Brian, whose wife was also in the wedding). The ceremony at Park Cities Pres. was PERFECT, and Allison looked GORGEOUS! The reception at the Crescent was beautiful (great band, great flowers, and great food) - and went off without a hitch! (Unless you ask Justin who had red wine spilled on him by a drunk groomsman - J was p-i-s-s-e-d). Again, we stayed out waaayyy past my bed time and had too much fun - it was the perfect evening! Sunday we woke up, enjoyed a delicious brunch at Breadwinners, made a quick stop at Swoozies, and headed back to FW. Needless to say - I am exhausted - but the weekend was worth it!