Chelsea > Wayne > Sherman > Ada > Breneman > Anna > Christian & Susannah
Dave > Todd > Alton > Simpson > Eva > Amos > Mary > Christian & Susannah
Guess that makes us "Kissin' Cousins"!
Friday, July 6, 2012
Cousins
Doing a little family history the other day, I found out that Dave and I are related! It seems we are something like seventh cousins once removed. Here's the chain:
Chelsea > Wayne > Sherman > Ada > Breneman > Anna > Christian & Susannah
Dave > Todd > Alton > Simpson > Eva > Amos > Mary > Christian & Susannah
Chelsea > Wayne > Sherman > Ada > Breneman > Anna > Christian & Susannah
Dave > Todd > Alton > Simpson > Eva > Amos > Mary > Christian & Susannah
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Nursing
As we were going through our challenges with infertility I knew that the one thing I would miss most, if I couldn't have my own children, was the opportunity to nurse our babies. Funny, I know. I looked forward to that time I would spend with our babies rocking and nursing them and really bonding with them. To me, it is one of the most beautiful attributes of womanhood.
But no one ever told me how hard it is to nurse! And those who have also struggled aren't very vocal about it when they should be. It seems that we all have war stories and it's time to share them.
In the hospital I had a difficult time getting Benjamin to latch on. When we finally connected, he would keep nursing and nursing and always seemed so hungry. Before the first day was over I was already frustrated with breastfeeding. I thought it would be so instinctive and simple and it wasn't at all for either myself or my baby.
The first few days at home were the worst. Dave kept us supplied with ready-made formula bottles while I waited for my milk to come in. Meanwhile, I was in tears most of those days because [I was an emotional, hormonal wreck] my baby wasn't getting his nourishment from me and I felt like such a failure at motherhood.
Around day six I thought the milk supply was here but after pumping for nearly an hour we realized it was only a trickle. I called my doctor who prescribed a lactation medication but he warned it would make me drowsy. It not only made me tired it made me have crazy thoughts. I stopped taking it after one day.
We then learned about Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle herbal supplements (highly recommended by lactation specialists). These actually worked and within a few days I was producing much more milk. But by then Benjamin was attached to his formula. Once again, I was in tears. That dream of rocking and nursing my baby was more or less shattered, but I wouldn't give up yet. I told myself that I had to keep trying to nurse until he was six weeks old. After that, I could give it up all together and I couldn't feel guilty about it any longer. Even formula-fed babies turn out just fine and can grow up to be president of the United States.
In the midst of all this drama, I shared my story with several other ladies in the ward. Just about every one of them had a similar saga to tell about trying to nurse their first babies. I was grateful to find out I am not alone but I wish I would have known their stories before I had to live my own.
So, this post is for all of you first-time moms. Some of you won't have any troubles nursing your babies; right out of the womb you'll both be old pros. However, others of you will struggle like myself. Dry those tears and remember that you're not alone and you're not a failure! Find a friend who can sympathize and get yourself some blessed thistle. It will all be okay!
Benjamin is older than six weeks now and I'm still nursing and supplementing. He seems to think that I am his appetizer and the bottle is the main course. I'm grateful we can still have our bonding time and it really is great that Dave gets to help and bond with the baby over a bottle.
But no one ever told me how hard it is to nurse! And those who have also struggled aren't very vocal about it when they should be. It seems that we all have war stories and it's time to share them.
In the hospital I had a difficult time getting Benjamin to latch on. When we finally connected, he would keep nursing and nursing and always seemed so hungry. Before the first day was over I was already frustrated with breastfeeding. I thought it would be so instinctive and simple and it wasn't at all for either myself or my baby.
The first few days at home were the worst. Dave kept us supplied with ready-made formula bottles while I waited for my milk to come in. Meanwhile, I was in tears most of those days because [I was an emotional, hormonal wreck] my baby wasn't getting his nourishment from me and I felt like such a failure at motherhood.
Around day six I thought the milk supply was here but after pumping for nearly an hour we realized it was only a trickle. I called my doctor who prescribed a lactation medication but he warned it would make me drowsy. It not only made me tired it made me have crazy thoughts. I stopped taking it after one day.
We then learned about Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle herbal supplements (highly recommended by lactation specialists). These actually worked and within a few days I was producing much more milk. But by then Benjamin was attached to his formula. Once again, I was in tears. That dream of rocking and nursing my baby was more or less shattered, but I wouldn't give up yet. I told myself that I had to keep trying to nurse until he was six weeks old. After that, I could give it up all together and I couldn't feel guilty about it any longer. Even formula-fed babies turn out just fine and can grow up to be president of the United States.
In the midst of all this drama, I shared my story with several other ladies in the ward. Just about every one of them had a similar saga to tell about trying to nurse their first babies. I was grateful to find out I am not alone but I wish I would have known their stories before I had to live my own.
So, this post is for all of you first-time moms. Some of you won't have any troubles nursing your babies; right out of the womb you'll both be old pros. However, others of you will struggle like myself. Dry those tears and remember that you're not alone and you're not a failure! Find a friend who can sympathize and get yourself some blessed thistle. It will all be okay!
Benjamin is older than six weeks now and I'm still nursing and supplementing. He seems to think that I am his appetizer and the bottle is the main course. I'm grateful we can still have our bonding time and it really is great that Dave gets to help and bond with the baby over a bottle.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Benjamin's Birth Story, part 3
I went to bed Sunday night excited for the graduation party I would be throwing my sister the next day. By 11pm I was up again. The dull pain in my lower back was just annoying enough to make sleeping difficult. I ended up on the couch, changing positions every hour trying to get comfortable. At 2:13am I was dozing in a sitting position with my feet up on the exercise ball when a sharp contraction woke me up. It wasn't too much longer before I realized I was in labor!
Knowing I would stick to my plan to labor at home as long as possible, I didn't bother waking Dave. At 3:15 he came to check on me. I was sitting on the exercise ball folding laundry. I told him I was in labor and his response was, "Let's see how things go and if I need to I'll call my receptionist in the morning to cancel patients." "No," I replied, "you are definitely canceling patients today."
We timed my contractions. They were about 5-6 minutes apart but only lasting 30-45 seconds, sometimes less. Certainly not strong enough or long enough to head for the hospital.
With nothing else to do, I sent Dave back to bed telling him one of us needed to be well rested. But he was back in the living room ten minutes later and informed me that he was going to the office to finish up some lab work and straighten his desk before he took the next few days off. When he got back we would go to the hospital. And so he left for the next hour.
While he was gone I puttered around the house tidying up, ate a little snack, and breathed through each contraction. They were getting more intense but still only lasting about 30 seconds. Dave returned at 5am and by 6:15am we were on our way. But I wondered the whole drive if it wasn't too premature to be going to the hospital. After all, I could still talk through the contractions and they only lasted about half as long as all the books say they should.
We checked in and I dressed in the hospital gown. The nurse came to hook me up to the monitors but told me she was about to finish her shift so she would send the fresh nurse in as soon as she arrived. Shannon, our labor and delivery nurse, was an angel! We are so grateful she was the one to help us through.
She introduced herself around 7am and started asking all the questions about my birth plan, pain levels, etc. When I said that the contractions were bearable and short she figured I would be dilated to about 3cm but because I was overdue they would let me stay. We were all surprised when she checked me and I was already dilated to a 7! Inwardly I was so grateful I had accomplished the first part of my plan to stay home as long as possible. Shannon could feel the baby's head in the birth canal and a bulging sack of waters that was still intact.
I spent about 20 minutes on the fetal monitor (the baby's heart rate was doing great!) and 40 minutes walking the room of every hour for the next few hours. At 10am a resident doctor came in and broke the sack of waters. Because the baby's head was so far down he plugged the hole and only a trickle came out. After that the contractions really started intensifying.
I was walking the floors and eating flavored ice when a particularly painful contraction came on. I flew to the sink, spit out the ice, and held on to the counter for dear life as I breathed through the contraction. It soon subsided but it wasn't long before the next one hit and I could feel an intense pressure down below -- like I needed to push. I worked through it but that pressure increased over the next two contractions and I finally told Dave what was going on. He ran for Shannon.
At 11:30ish she put me in bed and asked one of the other nurses to call our doctor. When she heard that he was still at his clinic and the resident doctor had gone to the O.R. she panicked slightly but still got me ready to deliver a baby and said it was time to push. I'm not sure my body was entirely ready to push but at this point I was in enough pain I was losing control and all I could do was follow instructions. So, on the next contraction, I pushed.
I pushed through about three contractions before the resident arrived and by the next contraction the doctor was there. I kept pushing and they could see the baby's head crowning but it was a little stuck. That's when it was decided to give me an episiotomy. Again, I don't recall them asking if they could do it. Maybe they did but those moments are all a blur. On the next contraction there was a terrible burning sensation - I'm pretty sure that was the cut. Then the following contraction and push brought a great sense of relief. Our little Benjamin was born at 12:18pm with a gush of water following him!
They immediately put him on my chest. He was so perfect! His eyes were open and he was relatively calm. I couldn't stop looking at this beautiful little boy that we had fought so hard to get. The doctor started stitching me up and the nurses wanted to weigh and measure the baby but I wouldn't let them take him from me until the doctor had finished -- I needed a diversion from this new pain.
I counted his fingers and marveled at his delicate features and the dark hair that covered the back of his head (not so much on top). We did it! Finally, after two years of doctors, countless medications, hundreds of needle pricks, and overwhelming heartache, we had our little baby. What a blessing! The Lord had heard our prayers and been extremely merciful sending us our perfect little Benjamin.
Knowing I would stick to my plan to labor at home as long as possible, I didn't bother waking Dave. At 3:15 he came to check on me. I was sitting on the exercise ball folding laundry. I told him I was in labor and his response was, "Let's see how things go and if I need to I'll call my receptionist in the morning to cancel patients." "No," I replied, "you are definitely canceling patients today."
We timed my contractions. They were about 5-6 minutes apart but only lasting 30-45 seconds, sometimes less. Certainly not strong enough or long enough to head for the hospital.
With nothing else to do, I sent Dave back to bed telling him one of us needed to be well rested. But he was back in the living room ten minutes later and informed me that he was going to the office to finish up some lab work and straighten his desk before he took the next few days off. When he got back we would go to the hospital. And so he left for the next hour.
While he was gone I puttered around the house tidying up, ate a little snack, and breathed through each contraction. They were getting more intense but still only lasting about 30 seconds. Dave returned at 5am and by 6:15am we were on our way. But I wondered the whole drive if it wasn't too premature to be going to the hospital. After all, I could still talk through the contractions and they only lasted about half as long as all the books say they should.
We checked in and I dressed in the hospital gown. The nurse came to hook me up to the monitors but told me she was about to finish her shift so she would send the fresh nurse in as soon as she arrived. Shannon, our labor and delivery nurse, was an angel! We are so grateful she was the one to help us through.
She introduced herself around 7am and started asking all the questions about my birth plan, pain levels, etc. When I said that the contractions were bearable and short she figured I would be dilated to about 3cm but because I was overdue they would let me stay. We were all surprised when she checked me and I was already dilated to a 7! Inwardly I was so grateful I had accomplished the first part of my plan to stay home as long as possible. Shannon could feel the baby's head in the birth canal and a bulging sack of waters that was still intact.
I spent about 20 minutes on the fetal monitor (the baby's heart rate was doing great!) and 40 minutes walking the room of every hour for the next few hours. At 10am a resident doctor came in and broke the sack of waters. Because the baby's head was so far down he plugged the hole and only a trickle came out. After that the contractions really started intensifying.
I was walking the floors and eating flavored ice when a particularly painful contraction came on. I flew to the sink, spit out the ice, and held on to the counter for dear life as I breathed through the contraction. It soon subsided but it wasn't long before the next one hit and I could feel an intense pressure down below -- like I needed to push. I worked through it but that pressure increased over the next two contractions and I finally told Dave what was going on. He ran for Shannon.
At 11:30ish she put me in bed and asked one of the other nurses to call our doctor. When she heard that he was still at his clinic and the resident doctor had gone to the O.R. she panicked slightly but still got me ready to deliver a baby and said it was time to push. I'm not sure my body was entirely ready to push but at this point I was in enough pain I was losing control and all I could do was follow instructions. So, on the next contraction, I pushed.
I pushed through about three contractions before the resident arrived and by the next contraction the doctor was there. I kept pushing and they could see the baby's head crowning but it was a little stuck. That's when it was decided to give me an episiotomy. Again, I don't recall them asking if they could do it. Maybe they did but those moments are all a blur. On the next contraction there was a terrible burning sensation - I'm pretty sure that was the cut. Then the following contraction and push brought a great sense of relief. Our little Benjamin was born at 12:18pm with a gush of water following him!
They immediately put him on my chest. He was so perfect! His eyes were open and he was relatively calm. I couldn't stop looking at this beautiful little boy that we had fought so hard to get. The doctor started stitching me up and the nurses wanted to weigh and measure the baby but I wouldn't let them take him from me until the doctor had finished -- I needed a diversion from this new pain.
I counted his fingers and marveled at his delicate features and the dark hair that covered the back of his head (not so much on top). We did it! Finally, after two years of doctors, countless medications, hundreds of needle pricks, and overwhelming heartache, we had our little baby. What a blessing! The Lord had heard our prayers and been extremely merciful sending us our perfect little Benjamin.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Benjamin's Birth Story, part 2
Gratefully, I had a pretty easy pregnancy. I had very little morning sickness and never once ran for the bathroom. There were plenty of days of fatigue and I couldn't eat chicken for a while. But other than that things went well.
The baby was stretched out in my womb. His little feet were constantly in my ribs but because of his position I didn't "pop" until I was about 7 months along. Even then on my due date a friend told me I didn't look like I was about to have a baby.
This was taken two months before d-day.
This one is only a month away from having a baby.
In February, Dave and I took a birthing class at the hospital. Our teacher taught us all about natural labor and delivery. I didn't know I wanted to go natural but after that class and after watching several documentaries on the subject, I was sold. I determined to labor at home as long as possible then go to the hospital only when I couldn't bear it any longer. Dave started researching what to do in the event of a home birth. He is in no way an advocate of home births but he knew I was serious and decided it was better to become informed than try to change my mind.
With the nursery all but decorated and my bag packed, we waited and waited for labor to start. I thought for sure I would go early. In the doctor's office four days before my due date, he told me I was only dilated to 2. He seemed pretty certain that I would make it to my next appointment in a week and then we would start talking induction. NO!!! I did not want to be induced -- I wanted everything to go as nature intended.
I started googling all the different ways to send myself into labor: I walked the curb (Dave took a video but you won't see it here -- much too embarrassing), bounced on the exercise ball, loved my husband, massaged pressure points in my hands and feet, took long walks, and started earnestly praying that I would go into labor before my next appointment.
Then along came my due date without even a twinge of labor. So, I accompanied my mother and other female relatives to the Studio 5 taping at Hale Centre Theatre hoping my water would break in the middle of the live show. It would have been exciting but no such luck. The next day I went into Dave's office and helped him with an emergency root canal. Still nothing.
I woke up Mother's Day morning earlier than I wanted with pain in my lower back. This is it, I thought. I had a few contractions throughout the day but I still made it to sacrament meeting and the family party later in the day. By that evening, the erratic contractions stopped and the back pain more or less subsided. Disappointing. I was already overdue and more than ready to have this baby.
The baby was stretched out in my womb. His little feet were constantly in my ribs but because of his position I didn't "pop" until I was about 7 months along. Even then on my due date a friend told me I didn't look like I was about to have a baby.
In February, Dave and I took a birthing class at the hospital. Our teacher taught us all about natural labor and delivery. I didn't know I wanted to go natural but after that class and after watching several documentaries on the subject, I was sold. I determined to labor at home as long as possible then go to the hospital only when I couldn't bear it any longer. Dave started researching what to do in the event of a home birth. He is in no way an advocate of home births but he knew I was serious and decided it was better to become informed than try to change my mind.
With the nursery all but decorated and my bag packed, we waited and waited for labor to start. I thought for sure I would go early. In the doctor's office four days before my due date, he told me I was only dilated to 2. He seemed pretty certain that I would make it to my next appointment in a week and then we would start talking induction. NO!!! I did not want to be induced -- I wanted everything to go as nature intended.
I started googling all the different ways to send myself into labor: I walked the curb (Dave took a video but you won't see it here -- much too embarrassing), bounced on the exercise ball, loved my husband, massaged pressure points in my hands and feet, took long walks, and started earnestly praying that I would go into labor before my next appointment.
Then along came my due date without even a twinge of labor. So, I accompanied my mother and other female relatives to the Studio 5 taping at Hale Centre Theatre hoping my water would break in the middle of the live show. It would have been exciting but no such luck. The next day I went into Dave's office and helped him with an emergency root canal. Still nothing.
I woke up Mother's Day morning earlier than I wanted with pain in my lower back. This is it, I thought. I had a few contractions throughout the day but I still made it to sacrament meeting and the family party later in the day. By that evening, the erratic contractions stopped and the back pain more or less subsided. Disappointing. I was already overdue and more than ready to have this baby.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Benjamin's Birth Story, part 1
Over the last several months I've stumbled upon lots of mommy blogs relating the birth stories of their children. I love the idea and want to share Benjamin's birth story with you all. Actually, this might be more a story of the long road to his conception and birth.
I mentioned last year that Dave and I had been struggling to get pregnant. We went through three clinics, several doctors, acupuncture, medicines that made me go into menopause, our names on the First Presidency prayer roll, homeopathic imagery, and even a trip to the psychologist. Finally, after our fourth round of IVF, we were thrilled to learn in September that we were pregnant!!!
Within a week or two, I started spotting. Let me tell you how devastating it is to see even the smallest amount of blood when we had worked so hard to get to this point. I called the nurse at the fertility clinic and she had me come in right away for a checkup. She did an ultrasound and everything looked good. In fact, she discovered that both embryos had implanted and we were expecting twins! One of the twins was about two days behind the other but she didn't seem worried and assured us it would catch up.
However, by the time our next appointment rolled around at the end of the month, that second baby was a week behind. This time the nurse told us there is no way it would catch up and it would eventually reabsorb into the uterine lining. Then she proceeded to find the heartbeat on both babies. That made me all the more upset knowing that Baby B wasn't going to make it but still seeing it's heartbeat.
Over the next few weeks we transitioned over to our OB/GYN. Just a few days after my first appointment with him I woke up in a pool of blood at 2:00am. Dave called the emergency number and got the doctor out of bed. He said that we could go to the emergency room or wait and see him at 8am. Basically, whatever happened had happened and there wasn't anything we could do about it. In the doctor's office later that morning we had another ultrasound and thankfully all was well with the fetus. What a relief! We still don't exactly know why I bled so much but it is possible that Baby B was exiting the womb.
I mysteriously spotted one more time about a month later then finally, after a rocky start to a much-anticipated pregnancy, we were on our way to parenthood.
I mentioned last year that Dave and I had been struggling to get pregnant. We went through three clinics, several doctors, acupuncture, medicines that made me go into menopause, our names on the First Presidency prayer roll, homeopathic imagery, and even a trip to the psychologist. Finally, after our fourth round of IVF, we were thrilled to learn in September that we were pregnant!!!
Within a week or two, I started spotting. Let me tell you how devastating it is to see even the smallest amount of blood when we had worked so hard to get to this point. I called the nurse at the fertility clinic and she had me come in right away for a checkup. She did an ultrasound and everything looked good. In fact, she discovered that both embryos had implanted and we were expecting twins! One of the twins was about two days behind the other but she didn't seem worried and assured us it would catch up.
However, by the time our next appointment rolled around at the end of the month, that second baby was a week behind. This time the nurse told us there is no way it would catch up and it would eventually reabsorb into the uterine lining. Then she proceeded to find the heartbeat on both babies. That made me all the more upset knowing that Baby B wasn't going to make it but still seeing it's heartbeat.
Over the next few weeks we transitioned over to our OB/GYN. Just a few days after my first appointment with him I woke up in a pool of blood at 2:00am. Dave called the emergency number and got the doctor out of bed. He said that we could go to the emergency room or wait and see him at 8am. Basically, whatever happened had happened and there wasn't anything we could do about it. In the doctor's office later that morning we had another ultrasound and thankfully all was well with the fetus. What a relief! We still don't exactly know why I bled so much but it is possible that Baby B was exiting the womb.
I mysteriously spotted one more time about a month later then finally, after a rocky start to a much-anticipated pregnancy, we were on our way to parenthood.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
The year (so far) in review
Want to know what we've been up to this year...?
Oh, and one more important event happened in May...
Dave and I welcomed Benjamin into our family!
(more about this little miracle later)
(more about this little miracle later)
Friday, December 30, 2011
New Year's Eve at the TAB
Dear Friends,
I will be spending this New Year's Eve on Temple Square hosting a variety of performers at the Tabernacle. You are each cordially invited to join me in celebrating the close of an old year and the beginning of a new. For my dearest friends, refreshments will be provided at our Usher New Year's Eve Bash in the basement. (Seriously, just come find me!)
Love to you all. Have a safe and happy New Year and hope to see you at the Tabernacle.
~ Chelsea
I will be spending this New Year's Eve on Temple Square hosting a variety of performers at the Tabernacle. You are each cordially invited to join me in celebrating the close of an old year and the beginning of a new. For my dearest friends, refreshments will be provided at our Usher New Year's Eve Bash in the basement. (Seriously, just come find me!)
Love to you all. Have a safe and happy New Year and hope to see you at the Tabernacle.
~ Chelsea
Thursday, December 29, 2011
DINK-Hood
Dave and I have decided to label this banner year, "The last year of DINK-hood." (DINK = Dual/Double Income, No Kids.) Since getting married three years ago we've spoiled ourselves with fun and exotic vacations, going out to eat too often, and Apple-brand toys.
This Christmas certainly lived up to the nickname. Check out the stack of gifts we got to open from each other.
Next year we plan to focus all our spoiling on someone else and we can hardly wait!
We hope you had a Merry Christmas and best wishes for a prosperous New Year!
This Christmas certainly lived up to the nickname. Check out the stack of gifts we got to open from each other.
Next year we plan to focus all our spoiling on someone else and we can hardly wait!
We hope you had a Merry Christmas and best wishes for a prosperous New Year!
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Christmas Party Update
I'm happy to report that our Ward Christmas Party was a huge success! Many have told us it was the best food they've ever eaten at a ward function. Thank you, thank you all you wonderful ward members who helped cook all that good food.
P.S. I still have rolls, butter, and sour cream left over if anyone is interested. :)
P.S. I still have rolls, butter, and sour cream left over if anyone is interested. :)
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Ward Christmas Party
This year in our ward the Sunday School President (my husband) and the Ward Mission Leader (a brand new father as of three days ago) were put in charge of the Christmas Party this coming Saturday. Do you know what that really means? It means that Chelsea is in charge of the Ward Christmas Party. As if I didn't have enough to do already what with the insane number of Christmas events at work, my weekly Young Women responsibilities, two counselors on maternity leave, and a new secretary.
Last night we did about half of the grocery shopping (and ran into President Uchtdorf while doing it -- which made Dave wonder why a member of the First Presidency was out shopping on a Monday night when he should be having Family Home Evening).
Back at home, as I worked hard to get things organized -- so that tonight we can deliver all the ingredients to the sweet Relief Society sisters who volunteered to help cook -- Dave sat on the couch with a bowl of ice cream watching a National Geographic program. No joke.
I can't wait until Saturday is over. (And Dave better be coming up with a really nice Christmas gift to make up for this added holiday stress.)
Last night we did about half of the grocery shopping (and ran into President Uchtdorf while doing it -- which made Dave wonder why a member of the First Presidency was out shopping on a Monday night when he should be having Family Home Evening).
Back at home, as I worked hard to get things organized -- so that tonight we can deliver all the ingredients to the sweet Relief Society sisters who volunteered to help cook -- Dave sat on the couch with a bowl of ice cream watching a National Geographic program. No joke.
I can't wait until Saturday is over. (And Dave better be coming up with a really nice Christmas gift to make up for this added holiday stress.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)