Family Adventure and Major Life Change

After years of tossing around the idea of making a grand exit out of California, the stars aligned. San Diego finally was in a Seller's Market! We tackled several projects around our property to give it a face lift which resulted in many long days and late nights. 

After two months on the market we were able to get close to our asking price! The sale of our first home closed on December 2nd but we were already long gone. In order to take advantage of the long   Thanksgiving weekend, we were on the road bright and early on Black Friday.

Austin or Bust!

Even with several delays we made good time to our final destination of Round Rock, Texas (a northern suburb of Austin). Moving to another state is exciting and scary at the same time. To make our move easier and cheaper we sold as much of our things as possible. 

Now, we are living in a hotel while we hurry up and wait for paperwork. Chomping at the bit to open escrow on a home is hard enough, but to add living in a hotel with two young children, a dog, and a husband that is working 8-6, AND it is Christmas... I'm just thankful we are all still alive.

Look for a separate post soon with survival tips on: 

(1) Long distance road trips with an infant and toddler. 

(2) Researching a new city and/or state. 

(3) Traveling/Moving with a pet. 

(4) Temporarily living in an apartment with a family.

Sweet little mispronounciations

My two year old's vocabulary is quite expansive these days. Even so, there are a few frequently mispronounced words. I find them endearing and I know soon they will all be gone and I will thoroughly miss their presence.

Here are just a few ♡

Leafsh for leash
Choc-it milk for chocolate milk
"N"s for letters
Fare-ful for careful
Forsey for horsey
I wuv you for I love you

Birth Story: Rose

Rose Elizabeth

5/3/2013 at 8:58 am

7 lb, 7 oz, 18.5"

Previous visits to L&D at 35 w, 37 w, and 38 w due to contractions/prelabor

At my 39 week Dr appointment I asked Dr Langley to strip my membranes if it was possible. I was sitting at a stretchy 2 cm and 60% effaced so he went ahead. We went to Cruising Grand that night and walked around. I experienced some strong contractions but nothing consistent. We were officially on nervous baby watch. I felt like I had been in labor on and off for weeks and my body and mind were tired. 

My 40 week Dr appointment ended up being with NMW Erin Phillips who did my first prenatal appointment when expecting Jasmine. My blood pressure had been high at my previous appointment and was again at this appointment. At this stage of pregnancy they don't take high bp very lightly. I was taken across the hall for a NST (non stress test) and quick ultrasound to check on amniotic fluid levels. Everything looked well but I was still sent across the parking lot to get labs drawn. Thankfully there was no protein pointing to Pre-E but the elevated bp was still a concern so I was scheduled to be induced that Thursday am.

Thursday am (40 w + 1 d) I received a call from L&D saying they were full so not to come in but to call the charge nurse at 10am to check on bed status. This similar phone dialog  continued through out the day to the point that Jasmine was returned home and James came to hang out and spend the night instead. Finally at 11pm I got the call saying to come in.

May 3, 2013 (40 w + 2 d)

We arrived to Scripps Encinitas shortly after 12am and got checked into L&D. I got changed into my spiffy butt baring gown then got my IV port put in. There was some difficulty with the IV because the vein on my wrist/forearm kept rolling. So after 2-3 attempts it ended up in the top of my left hand (ouch). Once I was hooked up on the monitors the on-call Dr came in to check me. I asked if we could start as natural as possible and do the water break before starting any Pitocin. When the Dr checked I was dilated 2 1/2 cm and 80% effaced which meant she agreed to break my water. Unlike the water balloon burst I had with Jasmine this one was more of a continued wetting of myself, a weird sensation to say the least. Ha! They let me contract on my own for an hour and a half while being monitored. Contractions kicked off right away but didn't get any closer than 5 min apart. Pitocin started at 2:30am at a 2 and by the end worked its way up to 9. At this point I tried my best to rest between contractions because I thought there was a Long day ahead of me with little chance for rest, much less sleep. I also encouraged Brandon to get a little sleep. Over the next few hours I slept as much as I could but kept being woken by increasingly stronger and closer together contractions. 

Around 6am I woke Brandon up saying I needed his support, the contractions were getting much much stronger. Little did I know they were only going to double in intensity. I really had to focus on breathing through them now and was moaning through most of them too. I definitely couldn't talk through them. Shortly before 7am I was checked again because I was experiencing a lot of pressure. The nurse said 5cm. My initial internal response was "Oh No! I don't think I can keep at this for several more hours! I'm going to have to break down and ask about an epidural, I won't get to have an unmedicated birth anymore" and that thought process coupled with the pain was just too much to bare. I started crying while attempting to process what was going on. Had we made the right decision to go along with the induction?The nurses change over from night to day staff at 7am and came to introduce the day nurse Carolyn while I was covered in tears. The night nurse had pain in her eyes seeing me so upset and said "it's starting to get tough isn't it mama?" while rubbing my leg. She was so sweet. The day nurse was wonderful too, she knew of my wish to keep it as natural as possible and started suggesting different positions and turned on a spa music channel on the TV set next to my bed. I asked her, if I decided to get the epidural what would the process be? She gave a general response along with "but it doesn't sound like you're sure, you tell me when you know you want it". I really appreciated the distraction and change in approach. She helped coach me through several contractions while rubbing my shoulders, back and legs. It was like getting the Doula I had wanted but didn't think was possible. 

Around 7:30am I had Brandon take the hospital gown off by unsnapping it at the shoulders because I didn't want anything on anymore. My sports bra only stayed because it was more helpful than a hinderance.

Around 8:15am I started to reach transition. I was making a lot of deep noise through contractions, wanting to jump out of the bed while knowing I couldn't. I started telling Brandon I was sorry, that I tried but I wanted to get the epidural. He stuck to his training and kept trying to push me off. The contractions were pretty on top of each other at this point so I only had little windows of delirious speech. He finally said "OK, I'll get the nurse" at 8:30am and had me sign the anesthesia consent form that we had pre filled but left unsigned "just in case". The nurse came in with a cart and said that the anesthesiologist was in a c-section and would be at least 20 minutes. I thought there's no way I'll last that long! I started saying "hot!" over and over and was suddenly drenched in sweat. More apologies and some colorful words came out of my mouth when I could talk. The nurse checked me and said I was 7cm dilated and fully effaced. That's it?! Then just after the nurse left I looked at Brandon and said "Oh baby!! Baby!!" I could feel Rose coming down the birth canal. He told me I couldn't push yet that I was only a 7, to which I responded "not again!". I tried so hard to fight the urge to push. I started making animalistic guttural sounds trying to fight the intense contractions and urge to push because I was terrified I was going to do some serious damage. The nurse came back in and said "sounds like somebody is pushing!" and I said "I'm trying not to!". I had no control over the sounds coming out of my mouth anymore, I'm sure I sounded like some kind of animal. This point until Rose's arrival is all a blur for me. There were nurses flying in while trying to page the NMW then trying to page the on-call OB. All the while I could feel Rose getting increasingly closer to officially joining this world. As I could feel her head crowning somebody told me to take my right leg and push how I wanted that my baby was almost here. I barely lifted my leg closer to my chest and Rose's entire body came out at 8:58am.

 

I did it, I birthed my daughter while on Pitocin without the help of any pain medication, and no tears!

Apparently what was really going on during those final moments was Dr. Brody running in from a C-Section where the patient had just gone under. Dr. Brody and the nurses were trying to open all of the sterile baby equipment and get it on the bed in time. Some of the items were still being opened after Rose was born.

It took a second before they were able to scramble and put Rose on my chest where she gave a little cry covered in vernix. Once the cord stopped pulsing they clamped it and Brandon got to cut. Then Rose latched on, first try. I was so happy. After a few minutes though I handed her to Brandon because adrenaline started to take its toll and my entire body was shaking really bad. Thankfully it didn't last too long. 

We spent the next several hours just staring in amazement at each other and soaking up the precious bonding time before having our first nap and tackling the rest of the day.

Kids do the darnedest things

As a mother of a young child I constantly find myself in awe of her accomplishments and personality. Well, she's also a natural entertainer! I was reminded of that last night in a Big way. :) As I was prepping Jasmine's bath, making sure the water was at a good temperature and level in the tub, apparently she was a little too excited to take a bath... she did a headfirst seal dive into the tub fully clothed! At first it took me so by surprise that I was a little shocked but as it sunk in I began laughing harder than I have in a while. Of course, something that good Has to be shared, so I quickly fetched B to come observe as well. Having both Mom and Dad starring down at her fully clothed in the tub seemed to make little Jasmine think she was in trouble for her stunt because she started to have an expression of concern and started to get upset. After reassuring her and getting her stripped down and returned to the tub all was well and Jasmine was off to a fun bath time.

Little ones keep you on your toes, not always in a negative way either :) Lesson learned, always be prepared for a pleasant surprise and take pictures when you can! I really wish I had gotten a picture of this one. Next time!

Development: "aw man!", "please, pretty please", "hot" (oven), "trash" (taking trash and throwing it away)

A Day at the Zoo

Today I took Grandpa Baker and Baby J to the San Diego Zoo. What a beautiful sunny day! And almost all of the animals we saw were lively, active and fully visible. So exciting.

I thought I had published this post on the date that I wrote it. Alas, I left it in Draft limbo. These are some of my favorite pictures from the Zoo trip. Jasmine truly is a love of all animals and I couldn't be more happy :)

Multiple Generations

One thing that is becoming more and more rare as people choose to have families later in life, is that children are born without having or knowing any of their grandparents much less great grandparents. Jasmine is fortunate enough to have a great grandpa (paternal) and great grandma (maternal) and both grandparents on her dad's side; and both great grandparents (paternal) and a great grandma (maternal) and both grandparents on her mom's side. Truly a rare occurrence :) Of all of them, Jasmine has now met all except three. Just this weekend she has met two!

This is a rotating and overlapping Baker family weekend and week. B's aunt and girlfriend were down Saturday and Sunday, his grandpa came in Saturday afternoon and will be heading back tomorrow morning, and his dad came in Sunday afternoon and will be returning Saturday morning. Lots of fun visiting and good meals! Below are some special pictures from the visiting thus far, including a rare 4 generation picture. The picture of Jasmine in the polka dot top is over her signing "bird" at the Oceanside harbor, plenty of birds to see! :)

Train them up

I've heard and debated the Nature vs. Nurture topic several times. Not until now am I realizing that it isn't so much a versus as it is finding a balance. My daughter's natural personality and drive is an amazing one. She has the innate desire to help, communicate, and accomplish as much as she can all on her own.

I want to share a typical grocery trip yesterday (I should have taken a picture...).
{Quick reminder, Jasmine is 18 months old.}
We went to Fresh and Easy for a grocery run to prepare for guests that we will be having this coming week. Jasmine started in the cart with her magnetic drawing board. After becoming frustrated that the travel size board would not stay put on the handle of the cart she demanding to get out of the cart in the cereal isle. She proceeded to help me pick out some cereal and attempt to put it in the cart. I say attempt because she's only 31 1/2" tall and isn't quite able to get the box over the side of the cart from ground level just yet. Then she took a hold of the cart in a wide stance under the handle bar area and pushed it the rest of the way through the store with minimal steering from me. As we passed some healthy children's snacks (conveniently at her eye level, well played store person) she got to pick out a few items. Once to the check out stand, I scanned one of her snacks first then gave her the bag in the seat to happily munch away while I finished up. If she could, I think she would attempt to help load the car too! :)

Another series of sweet encounters that happened yesterday that just about melted my heart:
Jasmine has made the connection between my swelling belly and the pending arrival of a baby. Yesterday, on multiple occasions, she came up smiling saying "the baby", then gave my belly a hug and several well puckered up kisses. Each time leaving with an even bigger smile. She is going to be such a good big sister and it makes me so thankful and proud.

SAHM = Stay At Home Mom

Being a SAHM was always an ultimate goal of mine, especially while having little ones in the home, but I honestly thought there was no way we would be able to afford it living in southern California. When it came down to it, I was willing to make sacrifices and cut amenities to make it happen. I do face a regular internal struggle of the fact that I am not financially contributing to this family like I used to but the emotional contribution of knowing our daughter and future children will be raised by me in our home is beyond invaluable. I understand that there are some wonderful sources of childcare out there, and I was fully prepared to hunt down a great nanny of our own or a share situation, but my requirements would have left a very small margin of take home income. Now I get to witness on a daily basis the amazing mind and goings on of this amazing little girl that I call my daughter <3 She blows me away with her persistence, attention to detail, tenacity and brilliance. One tool in my mommy arsenal, that I am SO glad we use, is American Sign Language (ASL). The only sign we do a "baby sign" version of is "dog" because she doesn't have the dexterity to even try snapping for a while, otherwise we use actual ASL signs. If one day her ASL vocabulary gains her new friends on the playground it would be a shining moment, or if she decides to continue to grow her ASL vocabulary over time to the point that she becomes an interpreter would be amazing as well. In the end, if nothing else, ASL has made communication possible from a very early age and encouraged her to learn and use new words on a regular basis. We will definitely be using ASL with this next baby!

Development: Jasmine's newest spoken words are "Dirty" and "Noodle", her newest sign is "Turtle"

Final days of 2012, a recap

What a whirlwind end to the year. Festivities and emotions were like snow flurries flitting on the wind.

The completion of that final injection was, emotional, to say the least. We both knew it was coming and what it signified but there was nothing to prepare us for the enormous weight that lifted the moment that needle pulled out of B's flesh after the last delivery of medication. They were tears of thankfulness, of almost a state of disbelief that we had finally made it through the difficult 16 months, and a raw state of pure joy.

Currently, B is still slowly recovering his stamina and appetite but we were forewarned that it could be about two months before he is "back to himself". I still find myself reminding him to take it a day at a time and try not to overload the physical activities in one day, but for the most part he's really doing well. As a little celebratory gift, I gave him a 6 month membership/training to the San Diego Flyball team. It will be a great way to get him out with his dog, Dartanian, a Golden Retreiver. That should start up in just a couple of weeks now and will be a lot of fun.

The weekends and weeks following the completion of B's treatment were rather busy. The first weekend in December, we celebrated our 8th anniversary by enjoying an afternoon together. We did some light shopping and watched a guilty pleasure movie, Twlighlight: Breaking Dawn Part 2, in a 21+ theather. It was an amazing movie watching experience and well worth the extra money. We received seat-side service for appetizers, drinks, you name it (4 star menu!), and watched the movie in our plush leather electric reclining chairs. I think we were in agreement that it is the only way to go on a movie date from now on, especially since we Never go on dates anymore.

Second weekend in December brought a last minute invitation to join my parents' business on their Christmas cruise of San Diego Harbor. We got to visit with some good friends on the boat while enjoying the city skyline fully lit in its Christmas garb. After we finally got off the boat, there were a couple of delays on the water, B and I added time to our parking and strolled down to Seaport Village. We love the village and try to visit its shops when we are in the area. This time, B got an amazing Carlos Santana fedora hat from the hat shop and some sweet smelling pipe tabacco and a cigar from the Pirate's Cove tabbacco shop. It's been a while since we've just strolled hand in hand with no real destination. It was overall a very lovely evening even with the chilly breeze.

The social calendar began to really pick up the following weeks. Thursday night we had B's No More Needles Party at a local brewery to have a casual celebration with friends over a few pints. I made a few treats for the group and we even had a few surpise faces come offer B their congratulations. It was wonderful to see the happiness surrounding B through out the night, I'm so glad that it worked out to have the party. Then, that Saturday I helped with a fundraiser for a dog rescue that I am passionate about, Bowman's Canine Rescue and Training. The event went very smoothly and we even got to see one of our alumni stop by. That evening was B's work Christmas party. As always it was a splendid affair with a wide variety of tasty appetizers, drinks, entertainment and company. Thankfully, I have been taking advantage of my daily allowance of 300 mg of caffeine this pregnancy, otherwise I don't know how all of these events would have been possible! The following evening we watched the San Diego Parade of Lights from the shore of Coronado island. How uniquely San Diego to watch a Christmas parade that is held entirely on the water. :) Jasmine Loved the lights and the different blasts of music.

The rest of the days leading to the end of the year blur with spots of clarity. B took off the entire week of work leading up to Christmas (starting the day after the parade). My brother came into town from Virginia for 10 days (we took him to one of my favorite restaurants, Hacienda de Vega). And we joined my family at a "cabin" in Big Bear the weekend before Christmas. I say "cabin" because it was a huge house but had rustic charm so was classified as a cabin. We were walking distance from the slopes at Snow Summit which meant the boys spent most of the day, Friday, slicing into the side of the mountain on snowboards and skiis. I hiked over to watch them a little from the base of the runs by the lifts and introduced Jasmine to the snow for the first time (huge hit!). The next day was mostly filled with sledding excitement, lots of pictures, puzzles, hot chocolate, books and movies. An ideal day of relaxation... before the utter chaos of Sunday.

Sunday morning, Jasmine suffered a seizure. It was absolutely terrifying to see such a small body convulse. Especially, knowing I was powerless to do anything to help make it stop. Thankfully the Big Bear ER was very close by and they took excellent care of us. After we reached the point that they could do nothing further and needed to transfer, we decided to sign her out again medical advice and drove her down to Rady's Children Hospital in San Diego. There, we received the diagnosis of febrile seizure. A seizure that accompanies a fever of rapid increase, not necessarily an excessively high temperature (as I had previously thought). Needless to say, that was a very long and exhausting day. The following days Jasmine proceeded to get more sick with a nasty chesty cold/cough and on again, off again fever and ear infection.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day came and went. I received some thoughtful gifts, but mentally was not dialled in. Then I spent most of the week sick, spending two days in bed. I think that after all of the exhaustion my defenses weren't just low, they were gone.

Thankfully, we ended up ringing in the New Year with a great group of fun couples at a friend's house. Even though we weren't able to procure a babysitter. It was nice to be able to have a little relaxed fun around adults. It also didn't hurt that there was enjoy delicious food to feed an army ;)

Now, as I wind down on this first day of 2013, I know that this year will bring more change for our family. Baby Rose will be here before we know it. Birthdays will be had. Friendships will be lost, strengthened, and gained. But knowing that we face those changes as a family, together, with the power of the Spirit with us, it will be a good year.

Happy New Year.

Tell you child(ren) that you love them. Tell you partner that you love them.

Be thankful for what The Lord has given you.

Originally posted January 1, 2013