Postpartum Week 8: Dear Henry

Dear Henry,

You were born November 6th, 2016 at 2:29am. You weighed 8lbs 5oz and was 21inches long. I like to say to people, a marathon labor for a marathon baby (you were born on Marathon Sunday).

You came into this world a solid kid with LOTS of hair. Nice and heavy so dad and I weren't too afraid to hold you. You barely cried and mainly wheezed on my belly after birth. You were a bit steamy hot like a chinese steamed bun.

Dr. Anna Fieldman delivered you as well as another nurse, I forget her name. Dad was by my side the entire time and held my head during the labor.

We both cuddled you for an hour before you were sent off to NICU. More to come.

Love u,
Mom

Week 39, Day 2, Entry 2: How Can I meet you earlier?

Hey Junior,

I saw the OB on Wednesday and she said I'm 1cm dilated, which means two things 1) I'm progressing 2) I could very much stay at this stage for a very long time.

So I vow to walk, walk, walk to get you moving. Auntie Sandy's mom said if I walk 3 flights of stairs, 3x/daily, you will arrive. Auntie Naemeh said that her dad's wife gave birth to Shahab the following day that her elevator broke down and she needed to climb to the 8th FL. A patient at work said to negotiate 4 flights of stairs and you will show up. A coworker said ingest castor oil and you will slip out within hours like her cousin. Uh, I nixed that idea.

Tomorrow, I will attempt a little stair climbing to get this party started! 

Love u
Mom

Week 39, Day 6 - No sleep till Brooklyn!!!

Hey Junior,

In the first trimester, I had trouble sleeping because of crazy vivid nightmares from all the hormones running through my body. Sandy's grey turd was a lifesaver. 4 weeks ago, I had trouble sleeping on my side because my belly hurt and I took it as bad sign that I was bothering you. So I started sleeping on a wedge and tolerated the low back pain. Then the low back pain got too much 1 week ago so I would alternate between the grey turd and the wedge. Last night..... OH last night. Junior threw me to the DOGS!!!

I had the worst back pain on the side that you are sitting on - the left side. Sleeping on my back, left side, right side, upright on the couch did not help. I felt like you were STABBING my back. I thought this is it... this is back labor and I'm going to the hospital first thing. Nope, walking,  quadruped and leaning forward did the trick but I can't sleep in those positions. Instead, I had to wake up every hour to walk off the pain in the livingroom.

My, oh, my. I love you but GOOD GOD you hurt last night. haha. Looking forward more than ever to meeting you.

Love u
Mom

Week 39, Day 1: Oh, things have changed.

Dear Junior,

You were good to me...up until 2 weeks ago.

I can no longer sleep on my side because it hurts the underside of my belly after several hours so I sleep on the wedge I purchased for your dad. So only my thoracic and lumbar spine hurts. Better me than maybe you. I'll take it.

I can't fit into yoga pants anymore so I'm stuck wearing tights and I never ever wear tights because of my big pelvic bone. Ugh.

My feet are swollen so I had to buy new shoes. My legs are bigger so my socks cut into my calf.

I poo 2x a day and eat a gazillion times a day because there is no enough room in my belly to fit you AND my organs.

Peeing is still ok due to the brilliants exercise of Kegels.

I have a new structure like a mini Smurf in my nether regions called a varicose vein. I almost cried at the site of it. Doctor said it will go away in a few weeks after you are born.

But all in all, I love you and you are absolutely, positively worth it. I finished my last day of work so I can rest up before your arrival. I can't wait to meet you.

Kisses,
Mom

Week 31, Day 7: Your Nursery

Dear Junior, 

This week, we finished construction on dad's workstation because we made a deal to clear out the 2nd bedroom exclusively for you. Closer to your delivery date, I'll be able to confirm if we were able to successfully move out all of our junk.

Here is the before and after picture! I am pretty proud that we had the idea to create a space for dad rather than him camp out on the kitchen table and do work. The area feels so much more lighter and useful!

          

  
Photos of before and after workstation. 

I read the book, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up. I read about it on Cup of Jo and it was available for free through the New York Public Library. It helped me and ultimately your dad part ways with our old books, papers, memorabilia to make space for all your goodies. For me, the best advice from the book is to thank your old stuff for its service to you and wish them a proper farewell. And there was no place to 'squirrel it away' in the words of dad.

Dad was genius and able to consolidate all his tools and put it on his side of the closet.

We are looking for wall decals and a new rug. Going to move around the frames somewhere in the apartment or to the opposite wall. Dad's old desk that we loved and had shipped from an Etsy artist from NC will be repurposed to your changing station.

Cousin Cynthia and Cousin Kim gifted all of their kids stuff to you so dad and I don't have to spend a dime on a crib, clothes, bouncer, carrier.... everything.

We have yet to put everything together and still need to make a trip to the Salvation Army to donate some more stuff but the plan is in place... and slowly we are getting ready for you.

Love u
Mom

Week 31, Day 7: Being Pregnant

Hello Junior,

The 7th month of carrying you has been A LOT harder than the previous months.

In my first trimester, I was not nauseous, sick or hypersensitive about smells and sights. I, thankfully, continued to treat patients in all of their torpedo turds, catheter bags and other bodily fluid glory with only slight nausea. My back does not hurt. The feet are not swollen. I did not send out Dad for midnight cravings for Pizza Hut, grilled cheese or pints of Haagen Dasz Butter Pecan ice cream, not that he would go get it for me. I was just nervous of losing you because I was under a lot of stress with Uncle Elliott's job search, Grandpa Randy's spotty memory and your dad's bicycle accident. I didn't want you to go away.

Second trimester was generally fine as well. I continued to move patients, climb ladders, walk from the Village to Times Sq with Auntie Naemeh, and cook daily. I didn't get heart burn with spicy food. My gym workouts were only down to 2 per week. I didn't even get mad when people didn't get up for me on the train. I was always SUPER tired and I snuck in a 45-min nap at work during lunch. All in all, I plugged along with modifications but nothing serious.

Then the 7th month hit. My belly is so big that I can't bend over and that its encroaching on my boob territory, making it hard to slouch. Its harder to breathe unless I sit up tall. I have trouble getting up from a chair and need to push off with my arms. I need momentum to roll out of bed. When I was walking from base to the train station with my coworker Nicki, her regular pace was actually very tiring and hard work on the belly. I have 'crotch pain' which is just my ligaments at my pubic symphysis getting lax and no hip muscles to keep it together. I am lucky to get to the gym once a week and I'm definitely pairing down on all my social activities. OH, and I had to pee a million times when I went to the MET with Uncle Elliot and Grandpa Randy. To be fair, it felt like 100 degrees with the humidity and I was sucking down a lot of water.

On the flip side, you are getting so big. On Sept 7th, you were 3lbs, 10oz. I can see you when you kick. You make my belly shudder. No one really notices but me so I feel like your movements are my little secret. Its all worth it.

Can't wait to meet you darling.
Love u,
Mom

Picture of me at 7months and my very attractive stain at the belly button.

Week 23, Day 1: Holiday

Hey Junior

Dad and mom went on vacation. We had a exciting year with many ups and downs. We got engaged, got married, got into several car accidents, changed jobs and made you. We decided to go to Canada for 6days and eat our way from Quebec City to Montreal. Here is a picture of us.

Dad got a new camera strap so he will take more pictures because the camera is easier to hold. I love the idea of him taking pictures of your little feet and chubby legs. I decided to take more selfies bc I need to practice taking pictures of myself. I don't think that I carry enough self confidence and I would like to show you that I was proud to sport you in my belly.

Vacation started off a little rocky bc dad and I fought about whether to get a private room in the hospital after you are born. On a happier note, after several meals, a few games of cribbage, a tour around Quebec City, mom and dad seem to be friendly again. It's good to be friends with your dad. He'll have my back when you are crying through the night.

Love you,
Mom