Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Goals


So now that I have an offspring I can finally achieve all the things I ever wanted to through her.

That is what motherhood is about right?
enter the anonymous comments about how i am awful. 

Here is the thing...I just want one thing.

I want her to sing.

And not just sing...I mean hell I sing...

I want her to sing like Jennifer Hudson, or Mercedes on Glee.

I want her to have a soulful voice.

I have a country voice...twang and all. It is what kept me from fame and glory on American Idol.

Well not my girl, we have started early with the Dreamgirls soundtrack.

I mean she is almost a month old...we are losing precious time. How will I ever get her on the Disney Channel if I am just puttering around letting her listen to Raffi.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Bestie Christmas


On Monday Bestie Miss and I had our annual Bestie Christmas.

Miss made me dinner....she made me fried chicken and mac and cheese all with just a fork, knife and a whisk. My dishes were dirty. She improvised.

We exchanged gifts. Usually we go all out...like hundreds of dollars. This year we put a $20 dollar limit on each other (with an extra $20 for/from Navy).

Miss got me those delicious tights you see. Plus a baby book and an environmentally liberal pop up book.

It was fab. She is a great gift giver.

And for some reason...we rarely take pictures together....so this is the only documentation of the event.

I forgot that I bought her a Dr Pepper Lip Smackers.

That will have to wait for next year.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Truths


So I have almost been a mother for two weeks.

In that two weeks I have learned a lot.

I thought I would impart my wisdom...seeing how I am practically an expert now.

So

Things I have learned about being a mom....

My house is covered in breast milk...seriously...it gets everywhere

Getting ready for the day is a luxury....I barely shower

I cry a lot...like when I run out of chicken

Nothing EVER goes how I imagined. She wears pink, uses the paci's I despised and is being supplemented with formula. All things I said would never happen.

I cannot fit in my pre pregnancy clothes yet. I seriously thought that would happen in a week

I don't know WHY we use diapers because my baby waits until the diaper is off to do her business

My washer/dryer usage has doubled

Remember how I thought I would be bored not working....HA

I mean this is just a partial list....but the biggest thing I learned.

I love more than I have ever loved. 

Ever.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Girl Baby

So remember how I asked for advice on what to take to the hospital.....

Like how I posted that on December 7th?

Yeah I hope you posted fast that day.

Because on December 7th at 4:28 PM 

Navy Loral Parker


was born.

6lbs 11oz 20 inches long

I was not planning on that day....but I hear that is just what happens sometimes.

I had a doctors appointment that day and we decided he would induce me on Monday the 12th.

As a side note....I mentioned to him that I did not feel her kick as much as I used to. He asked me a few questions and decided as a precautionary measure I should go get a stress test. So he set one up for that day and Saturday the 10th. 

Note: I had debated whether or not to tell the doctor about the movements. I did not want to seem overly paranoid. But I was prompted like 20394928374298 that day to tell him. This is the first of many times that I publicly thank my Heavenly Father for his love for me and my sweet daughter.

So off I went to Lakeview hospital for my test. I was only going to be there 20-30 minutes. I brought my Real Simple magazine. I had plans to wrap gifts and finish neighbor gifts that day. 

They hooked me up to the monitor and in 15 minutes a nurse came in and said "we have called Dr Pead..we think we are going to need to take this baby today...like soon". 

I just stared at her. For like what felt like long minutes. Just stared. I opened my mouth and the only thing I could think of to say was "but I am in one hour parking and I have on a Social Distortion shirt". Now it was the nurses turn to stare at me as she asked "Jennifer do you understand what I said?". I blankly said yes 

I asked if she was ok...they were vague. They just kept telling me they needed to get her out ASAP.


It was 2:15. I was taken back at 3:45. In that time....

I finished my Real Simple article
I cried
I shook
I called my husband, my mom, my dad, my bestie
I signed consent form after consent form
I realized we were doing a c-section
I cried more 
I shook more
I prayed

At 3:30 my husband and his father arrived to give me a blessing. After they finished I was whisked away to the operating room for my spinal block. Ummmm I hated that. 

Once it was in it was a blur....a sheet went up...Ed came in...I threw up....I shook and cried. 

5 minutes later...my sweet girl was out.

I cried and cried and kept asking if she was ok...she was having trouble breathing. But then I heard the beautiful sound of her screaming and I just lost it. The doctors and nurses talked among themselves and all I heard was...

"that was rough"
"cord around the neck"
"placenta causing distress"
"breech"

The doctor finally spoke to me and all he said was "thank you for listening to your body and telling me about the movements....if you had waited even one more day this would have been a different story". I had nurses huddled outside...praying that she was safe. I found out later that a very similar thing had happened just that Monday in the hospital and the baby had been still born.

Note: I would again like to publicly thank my Heavenly Father. I was told over and over again in that hospital how lucky I was, how blessed she was. It is by the grace of God she is here. 

They brought her to me....and Ed was there.


It was beautiful.
She was beautiful.

They stitched and stapled me and took me back to my room.

I was alone for like five minutes.

It was quiet. 

I thought about how 6 years ago I was in the exact same hospital detoxing from drugs...and here I was now married with a beautiful healthy daughter. I was shaking all over from the block...and I just cried and cried. Grateful for everything I have been given and the blessings in my life.

And so she is here.

And I am serious she is beautiful.






Welcome to the world little one.

You are our miracle.

Note: For all of you who were sure I would be a bad mother because I do not like pink or Hello Kitty please note, I did what was most important...I listened to my Heavenly Father. 

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Advice from moms


What did you pack in your hospital bag when you had your sweet little?

All the lists online are MASSIVE and I cannot imagine I need all of that.

Please help me out....

So far I have...

breast pads
socks

So without your help that is what I am going to the hospital with.

Luggage


I want new luggage.

And this is it. Steamline Luggage.

I die for it. 

I want all the pieces and then I just want to roll them around town.

Like use them at the grocery store.

Yum.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Girl Baby Nursery


Drum roll please.....

Below is Girl Baby's nursery.

There are a few bits and pieces left to do.

I have pennants coming and Auntie Aubry is making the mobile.

But we are pretty much done.

(not shown are the the delicious creamsicle colored closet doors...yum. I will show those when everything on the crib is done.)



NOW JUST GET HERE

Storm


The storm of the century came through Utah on Thursday.

It woke Ed Parker and I up at like midnight and then I did not sleep again.

It was like a freight train was ripping through our house.

It was pretty scary.



Knocked semi's over


Blew off signs


Uprooted trees


Destroyed peoples homes

We are lucky that all the damage we had is one missing wreath and a hole in our fence.

Our electricity was out for only a day...while others still do not have electricity.

I am grateful for our safety and the safety of all those we know.

And one thing is for sure....

I will not make it at the end of days.