Dean Markus Aronson, A Birth Story

I can't believe I have been a mom now for 2 weeks! Mark and I are just IN LOVE with our little bundle of joy.

 How did he arrive?

6/5/2014 6:30 pm A sick mark and a nervous Sandy leave for Methodist
Hospital in St. Louis Park, MN. The plan is to be induced at 8pm. We arrive and are brought into the first room of the night. We later find out that shortly after we arrived THEY CLOSED the hospital to any one else giving birth. They had run out of rooms, boy were we relieved we made it!


8pm Dr. and nurse discuss possible induction methods with us and we
find we will try the must natural, starting with a med-free induction
by inserting a balloon catheter into the cervix. We decide to go to sleep. I
spend the next 3 hours tossing and turning through minor contractions
thinking that it's not fair that it's not real labor, and that my body
is doing "Nothing" according to our nurse.


6/6/2014
2 am Contractions become too much for me to even pretend to try and
sleep. Luckily Mark has been resting this whole time. I decide to
bounce on the labor ball and my water breaks!

2:45 Nurse comes in and confirms that my water has broken and we
remove the balloon catheter. She informs me that at this point it
appears I am "in labor" (What was I in before?) And that they will
continue to keep me and baby on the monitors for a little while but if
his heart rate continues to look good I will be taken off and we will
be no longer an "induced" labor (which is high risk) but a natural
labor! I am so excited at the prospect of not being tied to a monitor
anymore!


2:45-6 am I continue to labor through ever-increasing contractions
with the help of Mark and the birth ball and constantly changing
positions.

Keeping Everyone Updated

6 am Things start to get hazy here for me but we move into a new room
(nurses magically whisk all our things away) and I immediately jump
into the huge whirpool birthing room. I know at this point my labor is
hitting the "transition" phase. Which is considered the hardest phase
of labor. At this point I am exhausted and need a break. I found it in the 1-2 minutes
between contractions in which I started to doze in the tub (THAT is
how tired I was!) At one point I was dozing and a contraction began
and I tried to move my head slammed it into the tub and my doctor and
Mark just looked at each other. I don't even remember it happening. I
do remember looking at everyone watching me labor and saying "Gosh
this must be boring for you guys! Just waiting for me to finally do
something!" They just laughed. As painful as it was I tried to stay
calm and I remember continually apologizing for things and people
telling me I was doing just fine and to continue the way I was.


10:30 I'm finally told I can start pushing. I get excited thinking
that I will have relief to the incredible pain I've been feeling and
that by 11 am I will get to meet my little man. Boy am I wrong.
Pushing goes on FOREVER.

11am I'm still pushing.

11:31(ish) I give a HUGE push and they say this is it HE IS COMING! I
look down and he's put in my arms. A mix of love,
relief, exhaustion and excitement are washing over both of us. It's
such an incredible experience to have my baby finally in my arms.

Proud Papa

Our new Family

 Turns out that the rest of the day would be hard for me. Labor was
exhausting, hours upon hours of pain, no food, no sleep my body was
shot. We end up getting to stay in the birthing room a bit longer than
anticipated because I pass out on my way back from the bathroom. I end
up passing out one more time that day. Of course this happens when our
parents are all visiting and gives everyone a scare, but turns out,
doing the hardest thing of your life on no sleep can really take a toll on your body!

Weighing Baby

Lucky for Mark and I, Dean decides that he is exhausted too and pretty
much sleeps through the night. Our 2nd day in the hospital is much
more pleasant and we find that I appear to be healing ok, my blood
levels are ok, no signs of fever, and Dean passes all his newborn
screenings. He is feeding well, having good diaper habits :) and I am
able to walk to the bathroom on my own. We become a favorite of some
nursing staff because of our cute baby with "soo much hair!" and the
individually prepared bags of cookies I give out to anyone who helps
us. We are appreciative of the time we had in the hospital and the
help of the nurses but are more than ready to go home the next day.

Visitors

With Nana

Day 2

More Visitors

41 Weeks Pregnant

Boy has this week had its ups and downs! I think maybe the pregnancy hormones (YES I AM STILL PREGNANT) may have something to do with it. Or maybe it's the constant wondering "will today be the day?" Or the texts, e-mails, phone calls "DID YOU HAVE THE BABY YET!?" (Don't worry, you will know when it happens!) Or maybe it was hearing that I may not have the exact birth I want. Needless to say poor Mark has come home to a crying wife more this week than he's used to. The moments are fleeting and I quickly recover, but I have found myself extra emotional as this pregnancy comes to an end. (It has to come to an end right?)

41 week belly

I'm currently 41 weeks pregnant and am now being monitored much more often. Yesterday I had a NST (non-stress test) where they monitor baby's heartbeat for 30 minutes. He was active and constantly in 130's, 140's (spiked to 160 when doctor came in). Today we had an ultra sound to check fluid levels and breathing. He passed in 5 minutes (they give them up to 30). We even got some cute glimpses of fingers and toes!

Cici is ready to protect him already :

It's funny because his birth is something we've been anticipating and expecting for MONTHS, but on our walk today Mark and I realized seeing his "due date" come and go, has left us unprepared once again. It's like we had been prepping and prepping for this big event, and when it didn't happen.... we thought it was over! But, I have to keep reminding myself he is going to come and soon! If he's not out by Thursday I am going to be induced. I know many people are induced (many choose to be) but I am nervous about it, simply because it wasn't the way I saw it happening. I am hoping for a water birth, as natural as possible, with the majority of laboring to be done at home. But, perhaps baby is teaching me to expect the unexpected and to prepare myself BEFORE labor happens, so that when curve balls are thrown I am more prepared. Or maybe he's just having way too much fun punching me from the inside... Who knows!

Regardless, in 4 (or less!) days, Mark and I are going to get to hold our little boy in our arms. I know this could be some of the LONGEST 4 days of my life, so I'm trying to come up with little projects that keep me busy. Today I made three little burp cloths :) I've pinned quite a few projects that I hope to get started tomorrow and continue throughout the week. And I'm hoping that MAYBE, just maybe, because I've got all these plans made, he's going to say "SURPRISE!" and come tonight (or tomorrow) :) It's all a game in patience, but the day will come. And to all those out there wondering WHEN.... don't worry, We will let you know :)

Burp cloth

Overdue

Baby has decided he is quiteeee comfortable. And that at 40 weeks 3 days he is very much enjoying himself! I have told him there is a LOT more space on the outside, but he continues to push around in his small little bubble.

Trying as much as I can to not stress out about it, really 3 days "late" is not that bad. Due dates are just a rough estimate, but I want him to come out before we have to induce! IF he decides he doesn't want to come out, we will be induced a week from Friday. Which would make him a June baby. I've been thinking I'm having a May baby, but maybe he's trying to keep me on my toes and keep me flexible so I'm ready when he comes out :)

Tree in our front yard

That being said I've been off work since last week and it's been MARVELOUS. I've been much less stressed, am able to sleep in on all those nights that I am up for several hours because of discomfort, and am enjoying walking in the beautiful Minnesota spring time! Cici has also appreciated the extra attention before she no longer gets any :(

Park near our house

Blackhawk Park 

Lebanon Hills Regional Park

My mom arrived on Sunday, our due date, and that has been nice to have her here and spend time with her before the baby comes. We have gotten to continue to spoil the only grandkid Henry, and be amazed that only 4 months ago HE was in a belly too!

I got some funny looks at the airport!

40 Weeks Pregnant..Holding a baby

He loves when Auntie dresses him

Yea, he wore more clothes in 1 day withe me
than in an average week :)

Loves Ame

This is what he normally wears lol

So until my baby decides he is ready to come out I'll keep trying to keep myself distracted: cooking, walking (sometimes in the rain!) hanging out with mom, and resting. Regardless.. he will be here next week and that is CRAZY to think about! Can't believe how excited Mark and I are to meet him and to see his sweet little face!

Cici was not happy with our springtime rain walk

We got soaked!

Last Update before Baby?

I write that with a question, because WHO KNOWS when he will decide to show his cute little face. I KNOW it will be cute because my students keep telling me so. "When's that baby coming? 1 week... I bet he will be just SOO cute", "That cute little baby is just pushing his way out of you!" "I can't wait to meet your cute little baby boy!" Needless to say my growing belly is keeping teachers and students alike wondering if I will be at school the next day. Every day I come in I hear "you are still here!" But as Mark likes to remind me, he's not due for another week and a half.

38 weeks pregnant

Shocked by my belly

This time has been kind of hard for me because I am starting to have some labor symptoms, cramping, contractions, nausea, etc.... but they come and go, and no baby :) I'm sure when the time is right he will come, but I am quite on the edge of my seat with all these "false" labors. I'll be interested to see what my doctors plan is this Thursday at my appointment because I will be 39 weeks on Saturday, and I know that she doesn't like baby's to go much over a week over due date, so we'll see what plans she has in mind. She has informed me she will be writing me a letter to give to HR that will put me on leave a week early (HOORAY!) So this is my last week at school. I feel ready, good about it and after Friday's celebration of my kids books (a huge first grade project!) I feel as though we've done most of the important stuff for the year!

For now Mark and I are just enjoying our last moments together. I feel as though the nursery is as done as it is going to be (Aside from a little thing my mom is making for the wall). We got our glider put together, our cute little hamper and a parent gave me a little fox hanging for the wall. All his clothes are packed in the hospital bag and we've got the noise machine and dehumidifier all set up and ready!

Glider and new hamper.

Alphabet wall

Fox hanging

Nesting project wreath-GO DEACS!

Tulips and wild flowers growing on front porch

Last weekend we enjoyed some time with family here (minus my brother who was working :( ) But we had a BBQ at Anne's and they finally got to meet Henry. Marcella loved him, even if she wasn't really sure of how to take care of him. Max was soo excited to see me (it had been a few weeks) He kept hugging me and kissing me and looking at my huge belly. Finally he said " That baby in there is going to be cute! He's a good guy." Yes Max he is a good guy :)

We were dressed alike

This week trying to take it easy at work, and just enjoy my students for one last week, and teaching first grade for one last week. Thinking baby will come sometime next week when I finally relax, but WHO KNOWS! :)

Baby is full term in 1 week!

This post will probably be full of pregnancy updates... because baby is coming so soon!  Since my last post we got to celebrate three different baby showers! The first one was at my school, and my 1st grade team put on a fun little baby shower after school. We got our crib mattress, lots of cute clothes and other things we needed for little A like diapers. The next day I got to celebrate AGAIN with Nancy (Mark's mom's) friends. Anne drove me out to Afton and we enjoyed a fun shower with all of the Afton ladies. There was a GREAT gluten free menu, complete with gluten free salads, muffins and a delicious chocolate pudding! The ladies got us our Pack-n-Play which we have in our room for when baby comes home and sleeps in the room with us, as well as the voice monitor, noise maker to put baby to sleep and lots of books to read baby before bed.

Pack-n-play

Clothes from school shower and cute monkey blanket

Gifts from the girls

The last shower I've had in the last few weeks was yesterday. It was a small group of us, just me, Susan and Julie and Anneke. We had a great time though! We started by playing with my little nephew Henry (who was definitely the star of the day) then ate some delicious food! My favorites were there just like at my school shower, tortilla chips, fruit, and Julie even went to the gluten free bakery to get me CUPCAKE :) We also spent a while decorating little oneies and for a group of girls who claimed to "not be artistic" I think we did a great job! I know Mark likes his Ninja turtle inspired one :)

Our Onesies (please note Curious George and Dino (SUSAN!) Elephant and Ninja (JULIE!) BYOB (Anneke!)

Thanks to ALL the generosity of our friends and family the nursery is finally feeling ready! We inherited BUCKETS of clothes from Mark's side of the family (being the 4th boy in the last 8 years) and any gear we have not received as gifts or purchased we are borrowing from Anne and Mike. I still have yet to finish decorating it (I have a vision) but all the key parts are there! We put tthe crib together (finally) and are just waiting for our glider to arrive next week.

Bookshelf

Closet organized Newborn and 0-3

Crib Unfinished

Crib Finished

Organizing all the clothes we inherited

As far as how I'm feeling... I'd say for being 36 weeks pregnant I'm doing pretty good. I had to stop doing most things at the gym, but I have gotten into the pool a few times. First time at 34 weeks (since had to buy a different maternity top!) and once the week after. I'm hoping to go more this week since it will be too rainy to walk. Mark and I have been trying to walk every day, and I'm still doing my daily morning yoga; but I have yet to attend a Zumba class since about 32 weeks. I find that now my body tells me when I overdo something, and I start to get cramps. Dr. said as long as they go away when I rest and drink water it's ok, so I'm just trying to listen to my body and when I feel any pains to stop and rest. I've had a lot more practice contractions, which are scary, and every time I think to myself "What if this is the beginning of the real thing?" (Granted most of these thoughts have happened in the middle of the night). Dr. says things seem good. I am now on to weekly appointments and my vitals have been great and his heartrate has been good as well. Last week he measured a little bit small so if he continues we may have to look into that, but my Dr. suspects it's because he's laying kind of sideways. (Which I know from his constant kicks to my right rib....) He is moving ALL the time and at night the movements became alien crazy!

34 Weeks pregnant about to swim

36 weeks pregnant

Jimpa getting to know Henry

This past week was a fun week in addition to the pregnancy, in that my dad was in town to visit! He came in on Good Friday, and we got to spend some time with him getting to know Henry (who he absolutely loves!) The rest of the weekend we got to spend with him and Paul, Susan and Henry. Saturday we went down to my parent's NEW HOUSE in Northfield, MN, and realized what a CUTE location they have gotten. My dad also got to see ALL the work he has ahead of him. Then on Sunday we went to Minnehaha falls (a bit warmer than the last time my dad was here!) And we did the hike along the falls to the Mississippi river. It was a BEAUTIFUL day.

Pretending to walk Henry

Laughing at Jimpa and Henry

The rest of the week my dad got to spend time with Mark and I in the evenings after work (since he was staying here) and a few days with Paul and Henry. The rest of the time he sepnt getting their new house ready: repairing a leaky roof, installing new door locks, replacing doors, changing the vents in the heating unit, checking out the plumbing, setting up utilities. Etc. He worked VERY hard while he was here! Not the most relaxing vacation! But we were glad to have him, and can't wait for him to be back in a couple months when Baby A is born!