A Momma's Journey...

Labels: - Tuesday, November 25, 2008



Okay, Mary Lindsey... :)




So Braelyn is here... Both Dustin and I will blog on our experience of her birth.

Here's my Journey...

12:30-1:30 Contractions about 5 minutes apart... very uncomfortable...

now if you remember, the Dr. told me to get to the hospital when my contractions were 10 minutes apart...

I woke up Dustin worried because my water hadn't broken and my contractions were so close, we were both convinced that they were the braxton hicks and that if we'd wait things out they would go away... but the pain kept getting worse so Dustin called the Dr. and she instructed us get to the hospital ASAP!!! We both started getting ready, luckily I had everything pretty much ready to go, but Dustin wanted to shave and shower before leaving, so I decided that while he was doing that I would do my hair and makeup! :) I wanted to look good for any pictures that would be taken!!

We got on the road about 2:30 and dropped Pressley off at Janes; and then headed to the hospital. As we were getting off 40- the snow started falling... it was a nice treat!

They checked us in at the ER and sent us up to get checked out, I informed the nurses no matter how close to 10cm I was I wanted an epidrual! :) I'm gonna do a little dialog...

Nurse: Wow, your blood pressure sure is high... I think I know why... (she begins checking to see how dialated I am) oh yeah---
Jessica: what?
Dustin: what?
Nurse: You're 8.5 cm dilated with a bulging bag... you're gonna have a baby in a couple hours...
Jessica (about to cry): and mom and dad aren't going to make it in time! Dust, CALL MOM AND DAD~
Nurse: okay, we've gotta get you to Labor and Delivery quick!

They wheeled me up to labor and delivery very quickly... as we would pass a nurse, each one had something to throw on my bed that I would need in my room! It was quite funny! Our room over looked the mountains where I-40 passed through, so it was a pretty view!

We got into our room, and the nurses immediatly drew my blood and sent it to the labs so I could get my epi! Dustin called our Doula and she arrived ...

It took 2 times for my epidrual to take, but once it did, I was mucho relived!!! We tried to hold off as long as we could for my parents to get there but as any mother who has delivered a baby, the "need to push" came and we had to push!

Just as the sun was coming up behind the mountians... with snow slowly falling, our daughter was born. I began pushing aroun 6:45 a.m and somwhere before 7:02 Dustin got to get in the action and deliver our little girl.

Braelyn Mae Chapman
Born 7:02 a.m. on 11/16
7lbs 8oz 19.4" long
Black hair
Dark Blue eyes

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I am exhausted... emotionally & physically... I will write more later... right now, we all just need prayer.

keep your eyes peeled for a Daddy's Journey--- Dustin's story of Braelyn's birth.

Happy Place...

- Friday, November 14, 2008

The other night, while trying to breath through some pretty painful and uneventful contractions, I remembered something I learned in my child birth classes last year... taking yourself to a relaxing place... in your mind... or as my brother Joel calls it, your happy place...

I thought it would be neat and fun to go find some pictures of things that make me happy... some of the images may seem stupid to you, but each one of these things brings joy to my heart. There are many more things, like my husband and my little girl... those are my true happy places... but I will have him there with me so I won't need to imagine him... plus he is pretty much responsible for the "pain" that I'm enduring!!!   :)


The beach,  I love the sound of the waves... the smell of the air, the soft breeze... I imagine sand squishing between my toes, and the taste of a shaved ice from that little local place by the pier.  Most often, this is where I try to picture myself at... pure relaxation.



Home... Dad & Mom's home... but a place that will always bring back such great memories... This picture is way old (1995) but those old times were some of the most precious!  I remember  family suprising us for special holidays on that front porch... climbing the cedar tree to the left of the house... "writing" poetry :) 



Kate Spade, Diaper Bags & Purses...  I love Kate Spade ANYTHING... the clean lines and the great colors... she's such a great designer... :)



Pink Cars... especially, Mini COOPERS! :)  This just makes me smile... I think that if I got to ever drive something like this around that I would alway have a smile plastered on my face!



Things that make me think of my Grandma Johns...  Grandma was always such a fun person, creative, ... so many things all wrapped into one... but every memory I have of her is priceless... she taught me how to sew, crochet, knit, build tee-pee's, and I'm sure a ton of other things too... She always had home made bread, and those yummy peach milkshakes... fishing off her dock always was the  perfect end to a fun day of swimming in the lake... 



Crab Legs... yummy yummy!!  I doubt that I will be thinking about Crab Legs while in labor... I doubt that I will be thinking about anything edible... but I thought it would be funny to throw this one in... now that I am starving for some of these... I'll have to find someone who sells them!!! :)  

Miserable.

Labels: , - Thursday, November 13, 2008

Here's how last night went... I finally fall asleep around 9:30ish... at 12:00 am, the stupid beagle's are back barking up a storm... finally fall back asleep 45 minutes later... from 3:00 - 5:00 I had contractions every 12-15 minutes apart... I finally get up, and they stop. ugh. I am over this pregnancy... It dawned on me on my way to work, the first trimester of this pregnancy was such a nightmare compared to my Pregnancy with Pressley, so why wouldn't the 3rd Trimester be any different?  My luck, I'll be having these contractions for another 4 weeks... Oh and who ever posted on my poll that I will make it to 40 weeks... you're dead meat! :)


On to another subject, my bosses daughter was diagnosed with Melanoma last January... she went through chemo-- with flying colors and is now cancer free... well last night, my boss called me to tell me that his oldest son (28 yrs old) has a growth on his Thyroid... Please be in prayer for this family... its been a tough year for them.  

Brae Updates

Labels: - Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Well, I am 3 cm dialated! WOO HOO!!! YAY!  YIPPEE!! and she has dropped just a tiny bit... nothing to write home about... still 50% effaced... The contractions are more sharp but are still irregular... :-/  


C'mon Brae!


The little things...

Labels: - Tuesday, November 11, 2008

During my pregnancy with Pressley, God brought someone very special into my life by way of my job.  A very nice couple was almost done with their home being built, but I got to get to know them through the last phases of construction.  While carrying Pressley, this lady's daughter in law was expecting their first also;  a girl, named Avery. So naturally, we always had a lot to talk about, me being pregnant with a little girl, and her, expecting her first grandchild!  We struck up a friendship before meeting each other, so by the time we got to meet each other for the first time, it felt like we'd known each other for ages!  To make a long story short, she made Pressley a beautiful blanket that she totes around the house... she just LOVES it! Well, today, she brought in one for Braelyn... Here is what it looks like... so snuggly and girly!  I know Braelyn will love it as much as Pressley loves hers...


  

Among other things...

Labels: -

So today, I will hopefully come home to a "care package" sitting on my front porch from my mother.  I don't know everything that is in this little package but I do know that each thing that is in it was thought out by someone very special to me... Is it the fact that I am getting a box filled with neat little things just for me that makes me so excited, or the fact that my mother loves me enough to think of me to put together a box full of things that she knows I will enjoy... it probably is a little of both... but I am so thankful to have a mother so wonderful!  I am quite lucky!  


The past couple of nights I have still been having those painful irregular contractions... I think last night they were regularly coming every 12 minutes for about 30 minutes or so... ha... so I had 2 before they became irregular! But I spent most of the night, watching the clock, waiting and wondering when we'd be in labor... so today, I mainly feel pooped... like a big giant fat zombie wandering around... :)  I am still at work though, not sure of how much I want to be here or at home.  I feel like both places are needing me... but what is most important... right this minute?  Well, unless I go into labor today or tonight, I will have another Dr. Appt tomorrow at 9:15... maybe we'll be closer to having another little one in our lives by that point!

Baby Showers!

Labels: - Monday, November 10, 2008

On Saturday, our good friends, Maggie & Chris threw us a baby shower!  We sat on the front lawn  enjoying a perfect fall day, the weather was just perfect! Maggie served up some wonderful food, and some delicious apple cider!  We were surrounded by several of our close friends & family from the area, which made a perfect day even better!  

Chris, Maranda & Reese
Our sweet angel... cheeks all rosie from the crisp fall air!


Pressley and her cousin Reese, hanging out for pictures!


Pressley and her "uncle Tedd"  he's such a great man! (he's also my boss)


Last but not least, Maggie, she did such a great job throwing the shower! THANK YOU!

Brae Updates...

Labels: - Friday, November 7, 2008

okay, so I am 37 weeks now... I went to the Dr. on Wednesday and no progressions have been made... I am still having lots of painful Braxton Hicks contractions and having to breath through them. Dustin likes to call them "practice contractions"... I'm over them and ready for the real thing!  I have got 60% of my "nesting" done so far... but we've got a few more things left to do at home before I will feel great about leaving for the hospital.  I finished Braelyn's name and hung it with pretty lavender ribbon above her bassinet.  It is just beautiful... her bassinet is something beautiful too!  Mom and Dad bought it for us, it fit for a princess, very frilly, and I also added a run of lavender ribbon with a beautiful bow at the front to make it just perfect... I'll put pics up so that you're able to see what I'm talking about.  I have Prissy's bags packed for her short stay with Ms Jane... cabinets are packed of things that she will need while we're at the hospital... I've even made a little booklet of everything Mom and Dad will need to know while watching her!  I am short a few things in our hospital bag, but for the most part I've got that all done and packed... 


Here's whats left to do:
- I'd like to buy a different digital camera that is easier to work... I've got my eye on this Sony Cybershot... seems like an amazing purchase.
- Complete Dustin's L&D Shirt that says "Team Braelyn" on the front and "Daddy" on the back
- Get all the baby clothes out of storage and re-washed for Brae.
- Install the car seat.
- Put Hospital Bag in the car... ready to go!
- Have the baby!

Back To 10/31/08

Labels: , - Thursday, November 6, 2008

Okay, So let me fill you in a little bit about our halloween experience.


First of all, Pressley was a fairy princess... 


and she discovered what balloons are...


and I discovered was how much her and her daddy look alike (Braelyn better look like her momma!)


We danced in the streets... 


We filled our bellies with fake icecream...


Pressley learned about bubbles, and how much fun they are!


All in all... the next 3 pictures will sum up my first halloween experience as a mother...




But whatever my experience... she still is and will forever be... our fairy princess!


Halloween...

Labels: - Wednesday, November 5, 2008



This post will be a continuos post... I don't have the time at the moment, but I at least wanted to share this cute video with you...

Lots of cute photo's to come.

Love-
J

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