2 Weeks

I officially have over 50 photos of Grace on my phone, 10 videos, and probably another 50 on my camera. I now understand the obsession and how every coo, face, and grunt are the most amazing, adorable little thing in the world! We've had some ups and downs with our little Gracie. She lost weight in the hospital and wasn't latching on right, but then we thought we figured it out. She hadn't lost anymore weight at her 2 day appt so we thought we were home free. Then at her 2 week appt she lost another 5 oz. The doctor seemed pretty worried so she had us start supplementing with formula. It turns out I've been nursing her too long because she's not getting the milk out fast enough so by the time she's finished she's born more calories then she's consumed. The drill now is only nurse for 15 min max on each side and then give her 2 oz of formula and have her drink as much as possible. When we first started on Friday she was taking almost all 2 oz each time, but today she only took .5 oz. I'm hoping that means we're slowly learning how to nurse. I'll be honest I didn't expect nursing to be so difficult. Its not painful, it's just a constant stress. At first I felt so guilty about the formula, but Grace has been so happy since we started. She's more alert, sleeps better, and cries less. All I want for her is to be healthy and strong and I will do whatever I need to make sure of that! Here are some pictures of our little cutie.

Obsessing over our Gracie.

A regular occurrence after a nursing session, sleeping right through her diaper change.

She loves getting her hair washed just like her mom.

Another regular occurrence. This kid gets so many kisses it's crazy.

Grace Louise Romney

She made it. 9 months of hoping and praying that our little girl would be healthy and safe finally brought us our perfectly healthy, beautiful little girl, Grace. Here's how she made her debut. My 38 week appointment was on a Wednesday and my midwife informed me she thought we would have a baby by Friday, I was dilated to a 3 and 80% effaced, having lots of contractions. Well I made it to my 39 week appointment the next Wednesday. At that appointment she said we'll be seeing you next week. Friday morning my water broke. I woke up to a thump like a hammer but internally at 2:30 am Friday morning. I got up to do my ritual pregnant lady bathroom break. Once I was done I noticed I just kept trickling, and trickling, and trickling. I couldn't stop. I let Grant know I thought my water just broke, just saying those words to him made my heart start racing. I wasn't having contractions so I thought I'd just wait it out a few hours, I REALLY didn't want to be induced and my midwife said if my water broke without contractions they would have to induce me. The minute I laid back down in bed I started having contractions. Grant and I started timing them, anywhere between 8 and 13 minutes apart and too hard to talk through. We hung out at home for another 2 hours getting everything ready with work and I did the dishes. Mind you this whole time I'm still trickling, how much water can a person hold?! Grant and I knelt down and said a prayer, I needed to know the Spirit would be with me. We got to the hospital at 4:30 am and by this time my contractions were getting more intense and about 5 minutes apart, but still bare able. My heart was racing, was I really about to have a baby? It was nothing like they show it in the movies with the running around like a crazy person and the husband accidentally leaving his wife behind. Between contractions Grant and I were totally talking and laughing and I was calling my family to let them know the news. They checked me at the hospital, I was only a 4! 2 hours of contractions and nothing!? The baby was also pretty far up so they had to keep me hooked to the monitors until my midwife showed up. Contractions laying down are no fun. By this point they were pretty painful and I really had to breathe through each one. My midwife showed up around 7 and checked me again, a 6! Hooray for progress. She also let me get off the monitors and move around. I found rolling my hips in a figure 8 really helped, but man those suckers were starting to hurt. It was at this point I started questioning myself and my desire to have her all natural. Could I really do this for a possible 10 more hours? I knew first time labors tended to be looong, and I was exhausted. I just decided, one contraction at a time, I could handle one more. By this point I was on the exercise ball sprawled out over Grant starting to think, maybe I'll die? No really, I was questioning it, dramatic I know. At 8 my midwife checked me again, 7. 7? One cm in an hour?! I started calculating, if that rate continued I could have another 3 hours. I really didn't think I could last another 3 minutes. From this time until Grace came out my eyes were closed and I was focusing all I could on just helping this baby out. They were coming 3 in a row with only a few second break, this is where I turned into a crazy person. Nothing can describe pain like that, but I knew it was good because my body was getting this baby out. I threw in the towel twice during the whole experience, and this was one of the times. I felt another contraction coming on and just shook my head with tears welling in my eyes, my midwife caught me and in her stern, calm voice said "Yes Zaundra you can do this." And I was back in the game. With every breath out I said to myself "you can do this." At around 9:30 she looked at me and said are you pushing? I couldn't help it the urge was too strong I just shook my head. "Ok let's push!" I found my second wind with that, I was going to have a baby! She had me hold my thighs and start pushing. Grant was right next to me feeding me ice chips and holding my legs between contractions for a break. Grant was right next to me the entire time, holding my head, holding my arms, supporting my weight, whatever I needed. Pushing was the second time I threw in the towel. Surely a person's body couldn't handle this much pain and pressure, I was going to split right in half. Every contraction my team of nurses and midwife chanted PUSH, GO, YOUR DOING GREAT, YOU GOT THIS! So I kept going. After almost an hour of pushing my midwife yelled "Zaundra open you eyes!" I saw our little lady be lifted up and put right on my chest and I lost it. Grace Louise finally made it and she was perfect.

Great Things

So many happy things happening!

I'm almost 39 weeks, and my midwife has given me the official "baby should be coming any day now." Although, it's starting to drive me crazy. Everyday I think this could be the day and every night I have to face the facts no baby, maybe tomorrow. Come on baby!

The tree next to our house is BLOOMING. I will admit I used to hate that ugly tree's limbs hanging over our driveway, but everyday I drive under the blossoms into the garage and it makes me smile. It's like having my own private archway. Now if that dingy tree on the left could get blooming!

Who knew a tree could bring so much happy!

I finally got my diploma this week!! I must say my name looks good on a college diploma. Dang. Sometimes it feels good to toot your own horn and well I'm tooting. I need to honk for Grant too. He was so supportive and encouraging. Teamwork for sure.

My friend Chelsea got us into this half price consignment sale last night. Just picture a huge storefront full of racks of clothes, toys, books, everything baby! I got all of the things in that picture for $30. A boppy pillow, a pillow cover, 5 outfits, and 3 pairs of shoes.

While I understand this baby won't even be walking for year, baby shoes are the most precious things I've ever seen, baby shoes and baby swimsuits!

I don't brag about Grant often, but I do think he is a great man and well I want to brag. He recently started selling again to put on accounts for the company. I am so grateful for how hard he works for us. Not only does he work hard, but then he comes home and tells me how grateful he is for all I do. He even offers to go grocery shopping, after he worked all night. That is love.

So many happy things, and so many more to come. A baby, my mom will be here the 19th, my sister will be here the 30th, and Grants parents will be here the end of May. Grant and I also have birthdays this month, March sounds like a party to me! Yes, even the no sleep, nursing all night, changing millions of diapers newborn thing is a welcome challenge. I'm going to be a mom, and I can't wait.