Pregnancy and beyond...

Motherhood is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. However, getting there was either a joy or a burden, depending on the mood I am in when you ask me!
Being pregnant with Finley was great and horrid. I was SOOOO excited to be pregnant that I didn't mind any of the crappy things, but now looking back, I am able to say that I would not have enjoyed being pregnant if I wasn't looking forward to it so much! I guess mindset makes you overlook a lot of things! For instance, I threw up almost every day, all day long, until I was 20 weeks pregnant. I had horrible headaches, and throwing up when you have a migraine is NOT FUN! I lost weight at every appointment until I was 24 weeks pregnant because I was so sick. But throwing up meant I was still pregnant. Then came the kidney stones at 10 weeks and again at 14 weeks. I hurt for a solid week with little relief (and a lot of puking) until I finally passed 4 stones. The docs were talking surgery and stents, and I was NOT going there! Amazing what some prayer will do, huh? And then the sciatic nerve pain. I could not lay on my back without the shooting pain going down my right side, and then it would take me several minutes to move because it felt like there was a knife in my back that turned with every movement. Also, I believed that Finley was an octopus with extra limbs made just for poking me. How can you have a foot in your ribs, an arm in your bladder and an elbow in your side at the same time? Shaun, of course, loved all of these pokes and rolls.
And the labor. Good Lord, the labor. When my water broke at 9 am on Sunday morning, I was excited that I would be having a baby that day! When I got to the hospital, I was 3 cm dialated, and was having some contractions, so I was thinking, give it 6 to 8 hours, and this will all be done! Wrong! At 9 pm, they started Pitocin, which I believe is the Devil's way of ensuring that all women labor in pain. I had back labor, and felt like I was breaking in half with every contraction. However, I had great support between my wonderful husband and great girls that I work with. So, finally, at 1:30 am I opted for an epidural to put me out of my misery. I loved that thing. Well, a few hours later, I developed a fever and finn's heart rate went way high. So I earned myself a cooling blanket. 2 cooling blankets, really. So, I shivered and shook with that 49degree water running under and on top of me. But, my fever finally came down and finn's heart rate came back to normal. And then it was time to push. And I pushed, and I pushed. For 2 hours. The epidural was no more; I could feel everything as I pushed. And pushed some more. And then I ripped as the baby was finally delivered at 2 pm on Monday (which my wonderful midwife let my husband help deliver), and then, thank God it was over. Except for the fact that I couldn't sit right for 2 weeks. Oh, well, at least she was here healthy. And pregnancy was OVER!
And then when Finley was 9 months old, surprise! Another baby!
So far, it has been much easier this time around. No kidney stones, minimal vomiting. Still the same sciatic pain, but I can deal with that. Oh, and the reflux, so Tums have become my morning, afternoon and evening snack. Should have bought stock in them. Also, Finn's little sister is also an octopus. Already. And I currently have a placenta previa, so after all the crappy labor with Finn, I may end up with a c-section. Lovely.
I guess today would be one of those days when I don't enjoy pregnancy a whole bunch, but ask me tomorrow? I'll be loving it again.

Watching her play...

As a mother, I have so enjoyed everything about my child and all of her discoveries. One of the things I really love is watching her play in the mornings. We have a video monitor and I am able to just sit and watch Finley as she wakes up and starts her day. She loves the play with her teddy bear and other animals in her crib, and she just lays back and sings to them sometimes. She talks to herself, and she coos and kicks up her feet and plays around. She never wakes up fussy; she starts her day off with a song and some babble. It's so precious to watch!
Shaun and I often lay in bed and just watch the child that we created. It's so amazing to know that WE did that, that our love and prayers enabled us to create such a loving, beautiful, precious child. We are so blessed, and thank the Lord for her everyday!

God is amazing...

A facebook post of a friend's has made me reflect on just how amazing my Lord and Saviour is. I mean, He sent His only Son, Jesus, here to earth, knowing that He would be sentenced to death, and He did all that for ME! Even if I was the only person on earth who had sinned, Jesus still would have died. Now, I love my husband, and family, and friends, but I don't think I could sacrifice my child for any of them. That is some amazing love that God has for us! And we have the audacity to question Him?
When we went through all of the infertility stuff and the loss of our first child, we were devastated, of course. We were angry, and bitter, and we wanted to be mad at God. But, why? What did He do to make me lose my baby? He gave me the ability to pray and believe and utilize my faith for that child, and it was me that failed. So, I had no right to be angry. After meeting several times with my pastor, I realized that I was in the wrong. So, I changed my outlook, and what I was speaking, and what I was doing. We were able to concieve when the doctor thought it wasn't going to happen, and we spoke over that baby and now we have our little Finley. She is such a blessing to us, and we are so thankful everyday for the gift we have been given!
As the holiday season approaches, I want to make sure that my focus stays on the REAL reason for the season. The sacrifice that was made for me and my sin. I want to make sure that Finn doesn't get caught up in all of the hustle and bustle of what we make Christmas, and forget what we are really celebrating. The birth of Jesus and the gift that came along with that birth. Our eternal salvation.
God really is amazing...

Girls will be girls...

Having a little girl has opened my mind about a lot of things. First of all, who know that there are so many things that are "instinct" to women? Finley's new thing is to walk around the house with a purse on her shoulder. Her favorite purse is a very girlie pink purse, but she doesn't mind the black Coach purse either. I mean, really? She's 13 months old, and she already has the purse thing down pat? Amazing! All she sees me carry is the plain black diaper bag, so I know she's not just copying me.
And the hair brush. She loves to comb her hair and look at herself in the mirror. She will stand in front of the full length mirror and examine herself or her outfit. She loves to see pictures of herself, and she can't stand to be dirty. Am I raising a high-maintenance little girl or what?
Oh, well maybe this next girl will be a tom-boy or something, cause Lord knows my husband will not be able to handle 2 girlie-girls! We may have to get a male dog just to add a little testosterone to the household, cause we are not going to add another baby to the mix in a few months! One oops baby is enough! (Not that we won't love Hadley just as much as Finley!)

Camping 2009

The Yount family just returned yesterday from camping at Bandit's Roost campground in Wilksboro, NC. We had a great time; this has become a tradition each spring and fall along with my parents (Norm and Beth Hendershot) and my aunt and uncle, Mitch and Elaine Garrison, and their boys. This year we added my Aunt Tammy and her 2 daughters and one of her sons.

Friday started with getting to the campsite later than we expected due to my jury duty. It was raining as we got there and stopped while we unloaded and set up the pop-up camper. We had prayed for no rain, but I guess someone else prayer harder for rain! Oh, well, it all worked out okay!

Saturday, we had sunshine and decided to tie-dye that afternoon. I have never done this before, and now I have something else to spend money on. Anyone interested in a tie-dyed duvet? Or a whole new wardrobe? Cause now I am itching to tie dye everything in sight! Seriously! They have created a monster! (A colorful, groovy monster!)

We hated to pack up on Sunday, since the weather was beautiful, but I guess all good things must come to an end. We had a great time altogether and enjoyed the extra guests!

Now, today is filled with unpacking, laundry, and getting the campfire smell out of our hair and clothes!

New to this blog thing...

Ok, so this blog thing is all new to me. I am currently trying to find something to occupy some of my non-existent free time that doesn't cost money, so I have decided to blog. Kinda like talking on the phone with no one on the other line, huh? So, I believe that this will be perfect for me. Even if no one reads what I have to say, I will still feel like I have accomplished more for the day than shopping on Ebay with money we don't have!

Well, Finley is currently rejecting the idea of a nap, and I need to shower and get the day started, so here's to my first post!