Something to brag about ~ and 7 years ago...

First of all, my sweet girl got PRINCIPAL'S LIST (straight A's) for her 2nd 9-week period. GO, SOPHIE, GO!!!!!!! 'Atta girl!!!!!

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Secondly, if there is EVER something I can say it's this -- Journaling has been something that I'm so incredibly proud of. I LOVE being able to look back through my life over the last several years and reread the ups and downs in my life, noting the moments in my life and the EXACT emotions that came over me during those moments. While my noggin may drift away from all of the little details, I can always go back to my writings and find them once more.

Seven years ago, I was on the verge of becoming a mother. Seven years ago, I was blessed with a miracle, and she changed my life forever. Seven years ago, I met the answer to all of those prayers over the years of growing up and wondering what it would be like to be a Momma and to have a baby...

What a lucky mother I am, too. I have two precious, healthy, wonderful children.


It's so amazing to go back and to read how excited I was on those last couple of days before becoming a mother. I'd like to repost some of those entries until my final birth story.

Here's an entry from January 6, 2004:

I'm still at home. I'm about to break down, I swear.

Last night, things progressed... I totally thought we were getting somewhere.
Around 3am, the contractions were averaging 5 minutes apart. I called Chris at work and just let him know that we *might* be going to the hospital soon.

My doc wants us at the hospital once the contractions have made it to 5 minutes apart for at least an hour. So, I was taking my time in getting ready, bathing, resting...

A little before 5am, more than hour after they'd started coming at around 5 minutes apart, I started seeing numbers like 9, 10, 8... I got so upset after seeing these numbers for about an hour that I said, "Screw this" and went to bed. Once I hit the bed, it seemed like the contractions either stopped or got so light that I didn't feel them. I slept for 3.5 hours and finally got back up around 10am.

I began having contractions again, and they went as follows:

9
6
4
9
6
4
5
4
4
5
4
8
3
5
4
5

Good, right? Well, the last three contractions have been 14, 18, 6 & 9. I'm so d*** discouraged right now. I finally think we're getting somewhere and then NOTHING. The contractions are stronger today, but they just won't stay consistent. I've tried squatting, rolling on my ball, walking the house... Nothing really pushes it over to where it stays at this pattern... I've cried already, because I feel like a failure. I'm not in pain, and the only time they feel like they have any intensity is when they're peaking... And that's just mostly pressure, not pain.

I'm currently in my 38th hour of early labor... and that sucks.

(contraction NOW - 6 minutes, again)

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LET THEM GET LONGER, STRONGER AND CLOSER TOGETHER!!!!!!!!

I'm tired of the anxiety and the anticipation, and I'm ready for this to lead me to somewhere. Say I'm nuts to encourage the strength and duration of these contractions, but there's this feeling of accomplishment that I get when they start to increase... I'm so freaking ready for this little girl to finally get here.

*BIG SIGH*



And one more entry from 1/6/2004 ~



*having a contraction right now*

Yes. I am STILL home. My contractions are still coming consistently, but without any pattern... They're still all over the place. I've decided to go about my normal schedule and will go to work tomorrow morning, unless the gods move the earth and pull this child from my womb.

Chris took a vacation day tonight - he's anxious, and it's cold as H*LL outside this evening. (He's actually fussing about work RIGHT NOW) He's really hoping I'll go tonight... He keeps saying over and over, "I'm ready". It's funny, because when I have a contraction, he grabs the paper I've been writing them down on and gives me feedback on how far apart they are.

I'm trying to look at things a little more positively - that I'll go when this baby girl is READY, and there's no speeding it up. I'll hope and pray that things speed up and get going, but other than walking and staying busy, there isn't much more that I can do.

*ugh* Another contraction. 9 minutes.

They at least feel like they're getting stronger. So, that's good.

I've gotten up and fixed my hair for the last 3 days. I WILL NOT blow dry or roll my hair again. Period. I *might* blow dry it, but it's gonna be straight for this baby, darn it.

Chris picked up the roll of color medium format we shot the other night and there are a couple of pictures that I LOVE.

ANYWAY, this is a boring post, and hopefully there will eventually be a day or two where I don't post - meaning, I'm busy having this little girl.

Come on, sweet full Moon!!!! Bring this little girl to me before tomorrow's over!!!!!!

(Either THAT, or may Elvis' spirit bring her on his birthday - the 8th)