Daylight Savings and Birthdays

Daylight Savings began last week. I understand the idea behind it...to give us more daylight later into the evening over the summer...but, personally, I like cooler evenings in the summer, even if they're dark. And I like not feeling like I'm cheating time...hours don't just disappear when you want them to--they certainly didn't during labor.

Oh yeah, I had a baby!

The day before Stephen’s due date, I slept in till 10AM. As large and uncomfortable as I was, it felt lovely to get so much sleep. Robbie and I laid in bed talking, discussing life and the little things that make a conversation. And then, a little after 11AM, I started having contractions. They were similar to the Braxton Hicks contractions I'd been having for several weeks but more consistent in their strength and frequency. Like the wonderful nerd he is, Robbie made a Numbers document to track their duration and separation. Two hours passed and they kept coming. I texted our doula, Monique, and gave her a heads up and called my mom, with whom we made plans for her to come out to Albuquerque the next day if the contractions kept coming.

The rest of Friday was just a lot of relaxed preparation...we did some laundry, ate lunch, and ran some errands (got some flickering battery-powered "candles" and some new slippers for me). By the end of our outing, walking through the contractions was definitely getting difficult. We came home, ate dinner, and I spent the next hour or so leaning/kneeling against my exercise ball, practicing breathing through the discomfort. By 8:45PM the contractions were consistently 5 minutes apart and 45 seconds long, so we called Monique and let her know it was time for her to come.

About an hour after she arrived, we headed to the hospital birthing center. They monitored me and the baby for a short while, making sure everything looked good and that I was progressed enough to be checked in (which, at 5cm dilated, I was), and then we moved to one of the birthing rooms. I rested against my giant ball, hopped in a warm bath for a bit (with low lights and flickering "candles") and otherwise passed the first several hours in relative comfort. At the next check a short while later, I was up to 7cm, so things seemed to be progressing and a decently brisk pace. It was the wee hours of the morning and we were all quite tired, but we labored on (ha ha), knowing every hour brought us closer to finally meeting the little dude.

I'll spare you any gory details, but I just want you to know that everything they say about potentially puking or peeing or being otherwise indecorous is entirely true. It is also true, though, that if you've got a good support team (for me, my husband and my doula) and an understanding medical staff (in our case, a midwife and nurse), labor can be a good memory, despite the discomfort and pain.

The support team is especially important if you face any challenges. For us, that came in the form of being stuck at 9cm of dilation for quite awhile. The midwife let me know that, since my water hadn't broken on its own, they could manually break my water to help create more pressure against the cervix to push it open that last centimeter. I wasn't ready to do any kind of intervention unless I felt I'd given my body enough time and tried other methods first. But after five hours at 9cm and plenty of walking around and changing positions, I was ready to give it a shot. For the hour after they broke my water, the contractions got decidedly strong. That was the one time during labor that I would say it was truly painful. But, finally, after many hours of mini-naps between strong contractions and fighting the urge to push, I finally reached 10cm.

That's when the fun began!

I can't describe pushing any more authentically than being the most satisfying poo ever. After over a full day of breathing through contractions and having to passively let my body act on its own, it felt SO good to actively contribute to the mission at hand. I don't know exactly how long it took, but it was exhausting and exciting and I was determined to savor every moment (weird, huh?). It was incredible to see the kid start to crown (with the help of a mirror...I'm not THAT flexible). I made the midwife laugh when he was almost completely crowned and I told her it only "kinda burned" and got labeled as an "overachiever" by my doula. I was bursting with anticipation and delight as I watched Robbie pace the room between those last few contractions, calming himself as he prepared to catch the kid. And I was so focused when I finally felt his head pop out, making sure to push very gently after that so the midwife had a chance to check for the cord around his neck. The little babe started crying--as did Robbie--before his face was completely out, and I simply smiled with happiness and relief because I was done!

Things happened quickly then: Robbie placed little Stephen on my chest as the nurse helped wipe him down a bit. I just looked at him, shocked that something so big fit inside me (or managed to come out of me, for that matter). And right as I had the chance to marvel at how insanely cute he was, even at just a minute old...he peed on me. It was a glorious moment. I was caught in awe, but the job wasn't quite done yet. People around me were cleaning us up and checking our vitals...Robbie cut the cord once it had stopped pulsing...the midwife helped coax out the "afterbirth" and got some small tears mended...and I got the little dude to nurse for the first time. It must have taken at least 20 minutes for all of that to happen, but it felt like the blink of an eye.

Stephen Andrew Buss weighed in at 8lbs 14.4oz, and his little smushed head was 14.5" in circumference. He scored an 8 on his 1 minute APGAR test and a 9 on his 5 minute test. He was already an overachiever like his mom.

Now over several weeks have passed...the days slipping by very quickly (and in a slight fog due to interrupted sleep). We were blessed to have my mom stay with us and help out for the baby's first week, and we have received several meals from generous people at church (and Monique) during this past week. Robbie's parents were even able to visit for a few days. It feels that some normalcy is returning to life again...and I've already forgotten what it feels like to have a big belly. But I still can't believe that this little fellow is finally here and we get to enjoy this new chapter of his life.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to sleep.

Meeting Grandma Fran :)

A smitten father

The Moby wrap (a gift from Elaine Bone!)

Sad

Discovering his thumb (and poking out his eye)

Related

Classy

Daddy's chest is best

Dreaming?

Drunk on sleep

Waiting...still...

Hello all! Robbie here. I just felt that I should share what's going on right now in our lives. To begin, we are having a baby. Soon, anyway. The due date is officially March 2nd, but that just means it could happen any day now. Kate is fortunate enough to work for a company that is able to give her plenty of maternity leave (she started a week ago last Sunday). It has been wonderful to get to spend so much time with each other! Our days consist mostly of sitting around the house, walking, relaxing, watching a TON of movies, and just trying to be as rested as possible. I am fortunate enough to have a lull in gigs during this time of leave for Kate so we can spend it together guilt-free! :-P

So, it's been a lot of waiting these past few days in more than one sense. There's the baby, of course, but there is also waiting for a job for me.

Back in August of 2012, I auditioned for the Navy, specifically the Navy Fleet Band program. I passed the audition with flying colors, but, unfortunately, there were at that time no openings for French horn players. I was put on a waiting list of sorts and told that I would be alerted when there became an opening. Initially, I was told the wait could be up to 5 months, but one Navy individual said that the longest he had seen anyone on the wait list was 1.5 months, so I was optimistic. One month went by. Then two. Three, four, and five months. Then, a couple of weeks ago, I got a call from my recruiter stating that they'd like to get me in to fill out paperwork and get everything in line to get a job. I was ecstatic! I thought this was it! I was FINALLY getting a job. Not so. Turns out, they just wanted to get all my paperwork done ahead of time so, when there's an opening, I would be the first one to get called up. It was a positive step in the right direction, but still no official job. Sooo, I'm still on the wait list (it's very nearly been 6 months) and there's no sign as to when a spot might become available. I would hope that it woundn't be more than a few more months, but technially I have till early September before my audition "expires" and I would have to re-audition, something I would greatly like to avoid.

It's been a very trying time for me and Kate. At this point Kate is uncomfortable all the time due to the growing baby and I'm pretty stressed because there's no clear plan for us for the next 6 months and beyond. I know the Lord will provide; He always has for me. He does, however, from my experience, tend to wait till the last moment to provide, which I think is a lesson in trusting Him, but goodness is it a difficult trial.

I guess I'm asking for prayer for us at this time of great transition in our lives. I know prayer works, and if that's something you do, I would greatly appreciate it! :-)


    "For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."
 
        - Jeremiah 29:11

-RDB

Waiting

I'm 38 weeks and two days today. I'm caught between the amazing feeling that little Stephen could come any day now and the hard reality that he could still be almost a month away...

Waaaaaah!

This is a very different countdown than the last big one I remember: our wedding day. With our wedding, there was so much to plan, very few uncontrollable variables for which to prepare, and a firm date.

With this...well, we've gathered the basics of what we'll need, but we can always get anything else along the way. Despite all of our research and preparation, we have NO idea what the actual event will be like. And, finally, only God knows what day he'll come.

So here I am: waiting. I'll find things to do...make an iTunes playlist, proofread the birth plan, do our taxes, and make Robbie lots of bacon for breakfast. But I really can't wait to meet this little fellow. Every hiccup and kick makes me wish even more that I could finally see him.

Big

My big belly...

37.5 weeks

It's been awhile...

So, a lot has happened since we last posted...let me see if I can sum it up somehow:

• Robbie graduated with his Master's degree
• He also had a great audition with the Navy and is in the midst of the long, arduous process of getting a spot in one of their bands
• Oh, and probably the biggest news...we're going to have a baby!

In about three weeks!!

Yeah, I totally failed to share anything about that journey, didn't I? Well, I'll do my best to make up for it now.

At the end of June, on the day that my monthly visitor was supposed to arrive, Robbie and I were watching an episode of Monk and having an altogether relaxing Saturday afternoon. We hadn't been trying to get pregnant, but we hadn't really trying to NOT get pregnant either...so curiosity and impatience lead me to use the last pregnancy test we had laying in the bathroom cabinet and, lo and behold, two lines appeared!! I tried my hardest to keep a calm face when I walked back out to the living room (Robbie was still watching Monk). However, after sitting down next to him and being met with his inquisitive eyes, I grinned and showed him the stick.

"Really? REALLY??" was all he could say. He was shocked and happy and scared and bewildered...all wrapped into one.

Our facebook announcement

We found a midwife and set up a prenatal appointment and started a journey of monthly visits, plenty of morning sickness, and an otherwise uneventful first 20 weeks of pregnancy (though hearing the heartbeat for the first time at our 12 week appointment was quite a wonderful moment).

18 weeks

20 weeks

Then came time for our first ultrasound. It was amazing to see the tiny hands and spine and face, though seeing a picture on the screen still didn't feel quite like the baby was actually present in the room with us. As the technician moved the wand over my belly, examining the little stomach and bowels and other areas of the tiny person's body, she came to the legs and…TADA!…we could see immediately that it was a BOY! How wonderful it was to be able to say "he" and not "it" anymore! And it allowed us to finally decide on a name: Stephen Andrew Buss.

Creepy right eye, baby facing us

Left arm

View of boy parts and an upper leg from below...

Left foot

After several more uneventful weeks, during which time my morning sickness FINALLY started to subside, I got to finally feel his presence. Robbie was at a rehearsal, and I was sitting at home on the couch browsing the interwebs with my computer on my lap, when a very distinct "pop" against my belly made me jump. I looked down at my stomach and, a moment later, felt another one! Tiny little legs trying out their strength had moved forcefully enough to be felt! I almost started crying, I was so overwhelmed by joy at the sensation. My joy only increased when Robbie got home and, after several moments of his hand resting on my belly, was able to feel the tiny kicks as well! In the weeks that followed, the movements became ever more distinct and frequent.

Our Halloween costumes (23 weeks)

24.5 weeks

The next significant moment of pregnancy for me was not joyful or pleasant. After an initial glucose level test indicated that my blood sugar may be a bit high, I had to go in for a three hour test. After ten hours of not eating and barely drinking any water, I had my blood drawn, drank a tremendously disgusting bottle of fruit-punch-flavored liquid with 100 grams of sugar in it, and proceeded to wait around for three hours during which time my blood was drawn three more times. Between my empty stomach, getting blood drawn four times, and the sugar crash I experienced at the end of it all, I was a VERY cranky person. I have apologized to Robbie on several occasions after that day for how terribly I treated him. Despite my insanity, he treated me with the utmost care and fed me Olive Garden to return me to my previous, more stable state.

Since then, the pregnancy has been relatively dull and progressively less comfortable. My belly has continued to grow, increasing rapidly in girth during this last month or so. I am starting to feel a bit constrained in the ridiculously comfortable maternity jeans I picked up at Target at around month six. And Stephen's movements have ceased to be "cute" and have taken on a more violent nature (feet and knees visibly distorting my abdomen make for startling moments during the day). I have realized that most of what I say to our child is no longer sweet whispers but more along the lines of, "Stephen! Ow! Stop it!!" At least Robbie finds it amusing.

30 weeks

Maternity Apple shirt, featuring an Apple sticker from a coworker (33 weeks)

33.5 weeks

Now I have a little over three weeks till my due day and one week till my last day of work before maternity leave (assuming all the paperwork goes through like it should…). I am ready.

I am very ready.

I am ready to finally meet this kid. I am ready to be able to breathe again. And I am ready to be past the unknowns and fears of getting this kid out of me and into the world. We have a midwife and doula and birthing center all ready to go…we have a birth plan and a lot of reading under our belts…and we have a childbirth class this Saturday. We have done our best to be as informed as possible, but you never know exactly what it's going to be like until it happens. All you can do is prepare and pray.

Sooo…here's to the next few weeks and the surprises and new experiences they are sure to bring! I'll do my best to keep you all posted on our upcoming adventure :)

P.S. Baby hiccups are the strangest feeling in the world.