My Boys

These pictures don't show the similarities I thought they would. Javier and Antonio look SO much alike! I was comparing a photo of Paco at 1 week to Javi's yesterday and they are very close. Only main difference is Paco is a little fuller in the face than Javi. Funny how I took the same blanket to bring them home in, huh? It wasn't planned... just happened.

Javier Don

Javier Don

7 lbs. 13 oz., 21", 13 1/2 cm head

March 12, 2007 at 11:16 a.m.

2:00 a.m. on Monday, March 12th and I can’t get comfortable. Awake every 30 minutes, going to the bathroom, tossing and turning from one side to another.

At 4:30 a.m. I am awakened by a contraction. I practice my slow paced breathing technique. I stay awake to see if there is another one to follow – there is, 8 minutes later. After 4 contractions every 7-8 minutes apart, I wake Roy.

I tell Roy to keep sleeping and I’ll wake him if anything changes… it does. At 6:15 a.m. I call my doula to let her know that my contractions are 7 minutes apart lasting 30-45 seconds. I let my parents know and I wake Roy to have him help me time and breathe.

At 7:00 a.m. I take a warm bath to relax. Roy calls my Dad to have him come help with Paco, who decides to wake early and not watch any video he requests… he knows something is happening.

By 7:30 my contractions are 5 minutes apart lasting nearly a minute long and I am breathing through each one with slow deep breaths. My Mom arrives and we leave for the hospital at 7:50. Kissing my little man and Dad good-bye, we head to Meridian with the Monday morning traffic.

God is so good! Of all the mornings to go into labor, and of all times, we did not drop below 50 mph on the freeway!! No stand-still traffic, accidents or any other “rubber-necking” incident to slow things down.

Upon arriving at the hospital at 8:30, I am checked in triage where I am told I am dilated to 6-7 cm and need to be admitted since I am in active labor.

I loose track of time from this point forward. Let’s just say, things happened fast. Roy was my rock. He coached me, held me, encouraged me and labored with me. He kept me focused, breathing and alert the whole time.

My water broke on its own in the room while the wonderful L&D nurse rubbed my lower back to ease back labor pains. Through that, baby turned into a better position we think, water broke and we continued laboring on the birth ball. Since I had a prior caesarean section, I had to be monitored once in active labor per hospital policy. They let me labor on the birthing ball next to the bed while the nurse held the monitor in place to keep a bead on baby’s heart rate.

Jennifer, my doula, arrived and assisted with massage and coaching. I was checked again and told I was 8 ½ cm and moving right along. We discussed pain methods at this point and I was told my only option at this point was an epidural – and we were cutting it close for the team to come and have everything in place before delivery. My doula informed me that it wouldn’t get any worse than it was and that I was nearly there. I declined the epidural and the contractions kept coming. I think this was about 10:30. My mother prayed without ceasing the entire time. I watched her pray and that gave me such strength. It was a blessing having her by my side.

The next time I was checked, I was 9 ½ and “nearly there.” The nurse had us do a practice push and then a real one. With the real one the baby crowned and they had me stop pushing and breathe through the contractions. I hear her on the phone telling my doctor that she needed to get over here as baby was coming!

Within 5 minutes (2 contractions with the urge to push and told NOT to) doc was there and we were ready to push.

Things took a scary turn at this point. Baby’s heart rate drops and drops and drops. They think the cord is around his neck, pressure on his head or doc’s words, “We need to remember she has a scar.” My doctor informs us that she is going to assist the baby out with vacuum extraction but that, “Joy, you are going to have to do the work and push this baby out.”

Two contractions later, at 11:16 am, Javier Don is born weighing 7 lbs, 13 oz and 21” long. Yes, the cord was around his neck. He has swallowed meconium and the baby team is on hand to work on him immediately. His APGAR was 9 the first time and 9.9 the second test. He’s perfect – he’s fine – he’s here!!!

While the baby team worked on Javier, my team stayed with me and “put me back together again”, so to speak. With having him so fast and doing 20 minutes worth of pushing in two minutes, my body just didn’t have time to stretch and thin and move slowly. I have a wonderful doctor and she did a great job and we made it!

Before I knew it, I was holding our son and he latched right on!!! He nursed/suckled for 50 minutes!!! It was such an awesome experience.

We came home the following day and are enjoying recovering at home versus the hospital.
Big Brother Paco and Baby Javi

More pictures are on our family website.

Polenta Marinara

9 cups Water
2 cups Polenta
1/2 cup Grated Parmesan cheese
Pepper
1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 (14 oz) can tomato sauce seasoned with Italian Seasoning of your choice
Olives chopped and mixed with tomatoes and sauce
cheddar cheese

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Grease (if you need to) 9X13; set aside. Combine broth and 2 cups water in medium saucepan. Whisk cornmeal into liquid. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to prevent lumps. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook about 7 minutes or until mixture is very thick, stirring constantly. Stir in Parmesan cheese; season with pepper. Pour hot polenta into prepared dish, spreading evenly with spatula. Pour tomatoes and sauce over polenta; sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Bake 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and sauce is heated through.

This is a wonderfully filling meal! The kids devoured it and I made it again for potluck! You can obviously use any fillings you want, add meat, etc. I had these items on hand and was needing a low-sodium meal and came up with this one. Let me know if you make it and how it turns out!

Precious

My little man came home from a day shopping with his Granddad at Cabelas. My they must have had fun... in came Paco with a present for his new little brother! He lifted up my shirt, pulled my pants down from covering my belly and "showed" his new camo outfit to his baby brother. It was just precious.

Yes, camo - it's just what this baby needs, too!! I can't wait til he can wear it and show it off to everyone what his big brother got him.

So, from this post - I am still here, still pregnant and so very ready for labor to begin. Continue to pray that I go on my own and things keep "moving along." They are but pretty slow right now and we'd (doc included) would like to see more progress by next week at my 40 week appt.

Til then,
Joy

"In Me"

"In Me"

If you ask me to leap

Out of my boat on the crashing waves

If You ask me to go

Preach to the lost world that Jesus saves

I'll go, but I cannot go alone

Cause I know I'm nothing on my own

But the power of Christ in me

makes me strong Makes me strong

Cause when I'm weak,

You make me strong

When I'm blind, You shine Your light on me

Cause I'll never get by living on my own ability

How refreshing to know You don't need me

How amazing to find that you want me

So I'll stand on Your truth,

and I'll fight with Your strength

Until You bring the victory,

by the power of Christ in me

If You ask me to run

And carry Your light into foreign land

If You ask me to fight

Deliver Your people from Satan's hand

To reach out with Your hands

To learn through Your eyes

To love with the love of a savior

To feel with Your heart

And to think with Your mind

I'd give my last breath for Your glory

Here is another Casting Crowns song that I have been focusing on for labor and delivery. It applies to so much more, though. This is just what I am working on right now. When you read the lyrics, I pray that touch you, wherever you are on your journey.

Things are progressing and we think we'll have a new son in our arms within the next 2 weeks.

Blessings.