Marion Reeves Motal

So..continued from my previous post....

That Tuesday, I headed home after work and began getting everything ready for our hospital trip that was scheduled for the next morning. I sat down with Maggie and rocked her and played with her (as much as I could) and savored every second of this being my last moments as a mother of one and her an only child...my baby girl. Later that evening I packed her up and took her to my mom's since we had to be at the hospital at 5:30am.

When Jackson got home, we finished getting everything we would need for our hospital stay together and had it all on the kitchen table ready to go. I took a warm bubble bath, which I did nightly during both pregnancies, and climbed into bed.

Around 11:45pm, I woke up to having back contractions. They weren't really bad, and they weren't close together...I was pretty much just uncomfortable. I would doze off for a few minutes at time and wake back up to check what time it was....of course time dragged on...I just kept telling myself, "my alarm will go off in 3 hours....in 2 1/2 hours...etc." Then from time to time I would have a regular contraction..but again...no where near being close together.

THEN....at 2:45am...I HEARD a POP...like a champagne cork...while having a contraction....I KNEW this was it...I clinched waiting for my water to come gushing....but it didn't. I got up and went to the restroom and nothing happened along the way either. I tinkled a little and went back to bed....completely confused. As soon as I got comfortable, a contraction hit and that's when I woke Jackson up and we got dressed and headed to the hospital.

My contractions were instantly 5 mins apart....by the time we were in Wharton, they were 3 mins apart. Jackson drove like 90 all the way there, but to me, it wasn't fast enough! When we go to the hospital, they were 1-2mins apart and were painful!!! I walked into the ER doors at about 3:55-4am and the nurse, taking her sweet time, took me up to my room where of course they wanted me to do paperwork and talk to them, and instead all I could scream was "EPIDURAL NOW!!!!" I swear I said that at least 100 times! Jackson quickly helped me into my gown and into my bed. The nurse was starting to hook me up to the monitors but after all my screaming, she finally decided she should check me...I was at an 8. The nurse that hooked up my IV came in to start her job, and the other nurse was going to go call the doctor, which wasn't mine because he wasn't on call yet. I told her I was ready to push so she checked me again (about 3mins after first time she checked me) and I was at a 10 ready to deliver!!! So....guess who WASN'T getting an epidural.....yes, me!! I was going to have to do it all natural! YIKES!!! Dr. Keefer from Bay City was the on call doctor, and as he said, thank goodness he sleeps at the hospital, because apparently he was the only doctor available at the hospital. I of course begged him for some type of drugs and he did try to give me a Saddle Block? which I had never heard of and didn't care, I just wanted something. However, when he was trying to do it, it started to cause the baby's cord to collapse, so he stopped....I was going to have to do without. :( Well, after about 3-4 pushes, and lots of screaming.... I heard my sweet baby girl's cry....she was here and was perfect!!!

She was born at 4:37am and weighed a healthy 7lbs 8oz and was 19.5 inches long. They cleaned her up a little and gave her to Jackson to hold. Being the proud daddy, he took a picture quickly and the texting began. Something I forgot to mention earlier, was in the middle of the delivery, Jackson asked me if I had called my parents. Really???  It was the middle of the night and I was in pain...when did I have time? Lol!! So he sent my mom and dad a text saying we were at the hospital and I was getting ready to start pushing....a few mins later, he sent a text to them and Alicia and Chad telling them she was here. I can only imagine how mad they were that their phones were going off at that time in the morning! Lol

Of course we didn't have a name for her, but Jackson did not get his blonde he had hoped for! My dad and Beverly were the first to arrive, and Chad, Robin, and my mom were there shortly after that. We discussed names but couldn't decide. Robin began questioning Jackson on names from his family, and Marion was his grandmother McMasters name. We had previously discussed that name...but passed on it. Everyone left at lunch time, and mom went to get us lunch. At that time, we discussed again, and chose Marion Reeves - Reeves being his middle name and his dad's name.

Later that evening, my Aunt Becky and Granny brought Maggie to meet her new little sister. I was missing her and couldn't wait to see her and her reaction. At first she stared at Marion and kept saying Baby Sissy and her eyes were the size of golf balls! haha She looked at her for a while then ran around the room playing....she was over it! haha!

We spent one night in the hospital and headed home the next afternoon....now a family of 4!! Maggie has been a GREAT helper...always wanting to give Marion her paci, covers her up, and tells her "No No Sissy" when she cries! Gottal love 2year olds!!  :)

Here are some pics of Miss Marion the first few days. You won't see many of her and Maggie together because Maggie hides from the camera.


                                                                    Sweet girl

 

Our little family

 

My chinese baby!

 

Time to go home

 

Pregnancy Catch-Up...

WOW!!! So I just realized it has been since September since I blogged!! Yikes! Lots to catch up on so be ready for lots of blog posts!

Well to start...my pregnancy with Marion was pretty good. I did have some back pain from time to time, but over all it was a good pregnancy. Here is the last few months in a nutshell.....

Back in January I asked my doctor what his plans were for Spring Break. Since I was due the week after, I really wanted to be induced during or before so that I could have that extra week home with the baby, and both my mom and sister would be off to help out if needed. My doctor did have spring break plans, but said he would induce the week before. YAY!! I was super excited! I was very busy at work, so I shifted it into high gear and was really trying to get everything done possible since I was going to be out on leave.

My monthly appoints continued to go well, and according to the ultrasounds, the baby was growing as expected and seemed to be healthy. Around 35 weeks, I began to get some pretty bad back pain, which I assumed was the baby dropping since I had the same pains at the same time when pregnant with Maggie, so I didn't worry much. Then, I got to where I couldn't eat...every time I did eat, I either vomited or I was miserable...I had no more room in my belly for both baby and food!! At this point, I was pretty sure I was not making it to March 1st...I just knew this baby was coming soon! Well, after about a week or two, I started feeling better, and March 1st came and went...and I was still pregnant! At my appointment on March 5th...the one I was hoping he was going to schedule my induction for March 8th...my doctor informed me that the hospitals no longer allow elected inductions until 38 1/2-39 weeks and March 8th would make me 38wks....also, he had a patient that morning at the hospital dilated to a 4 and having contractions, and the hospital fought him to send her home!! Yikes! He won and she stayed, but he couldn't take me back a few days later and try to do the same...so I had to wait... His next day on call was March 20th, so we planned to induce that morning. I saw a different doctor over spring break and I was dilated to a 3 so with my luck, I figured I'd go into labor while my doctor was gone. I was already having contractions in my back so I just knew it was coming! haha

I tried my best to relax and enjoy my spring break. Alicia and I packed up and took Maggie to the bay and to Magnolia beach that Thursday and Friday. Since I was suppose to deliver in Sugarland, I knew being about 1hr 45mins away...this would surely do the trick....NOPE!! Still had contractions...but no labor yet.

Monday rolled around, and I hadn't planned on going back to work..because I just KNEW I'd have had the baby by now...but off to work I went! I went in for a doctors appt that morning and I was dilated a little more than a 3 so we continued with our plan to induce Wednesday morning. Back to work I went. I spent Monday and Tuesday finishing up loose ends and making sure everything was in place for my wonderful colleagues to handle while I was out.

Then the time came........and that's a whole nother blog......

13 weeks and growing

Yesterday I had my 13 wk check up. Things went great, however it took a while to find the hearbeat due to the baby being VERY active! YIKES!!
This pregnancy is very different from my first...I have sickness randomly throughout the day, and when it hits, it hits! I have to remind myself that the sickness is good sign of the baby growing and my body adapting. Also, although I'm 13 weeks, I feel like I'm 20wks!! UGH! :)

As for Miss Maggie...well she is in to everything more now than ever!! She has mastered opening and closing the door and even walked out into the garage on her own last night!!! Little monkey!!!

I took her last week to meet her new cousin Sadie Lucille, and she was very unsure about her. Of course she wanted to pull her hat off and hold her and when mommy said no, she lost interest. Finally before we left I coaxed her into giving her a sweet kiss! I hoping she adapts well to her so that she will be ready when baby #2 gets here!


Maggie was in an extra good mood this morning!!

SURPRISE!!!

Jackson, Maggie, and I are happy to announce that Baby Motal #2 will be here in March!!!

I had my first ultrasound last week and everything looked GREAT! The picture below is what we have used to share the news with family and friends! However, we have not posted anything on Facebook, so we ask that no one else does either. :)

The picture below is staged, however I was pretty sick weeks 6-8, but now that I am back at work, it has gone away. I think staying busy and being back into a routine has helped. I'm hoping the sickness doesn't come back! :)

Cozumel Trip 2012

Last Monday evening, the Starys, Pfeffers, Prochaskas, and us headed to spend the night in Houston so we could catch our flight to Cozumel Tuesday morning. That evening we laid low...had dinner and drinks and headed to bed! Our flight left at 8:50 Tuesday morning so the shuttle took us to the airport at 6:30. We were thinking that since it was the day before a holiday that the lines would be long...nope...we were sitting at our gate at 7:10! We boarded the plane at 8:15..and we were off for 5 days in the sun!! Who-hoo!!

When we arrived in Cozumel, the lines there were really fast also. Our shuttle was waiting for us so we made a QUICK trip to the resort. Now....when I saw QUICK, I mean QUICK! Our driver drove like a bat out of hell!! We almost took a teenager out on his bicycle...the kid slammed on his breaks so hard that he almost went over his handle bars! So when we arrived at the resort in one piece...we were happy! haha After a minor set back (them trying to put the Pfeffers at the resort next door) we were checked in and ready to hit the pool and beach!!

We spent Tuesday afternoon having MANY cervezas and Miami Vices and making new friends at the pool. O and we went down the slide from our room multiple times!! That thing was a blast!!! We woke up Wednesday, had breakfast, started drinking.....and went snorkeling out on two reefs. The boat took us to a reef out in front of our resort first and then to another reef about 20 mins away. We saw lots of beautiful fish. The boat then took us to a private beach for lunch and an hour of fun time- they had blow up slides, water trampolines and a few other water toys for us to play on. Now that was fun!!! I think we need to get one for Port Alto!! After that we headed back to the resort, swam a little, and then headed to the 4th of July celebration. The resort went all out to celebrate our independence, which was great to see. They had great food, a Harley Davidson parade, and an awesome live band! Of course I lost my voice singing Journey too loud...but hey, it was a good time! We headed to bed a little early that night because we had an off-shore fishing trip planned for the next morning.

Thursday morning we woke up early and headed to the pier for our 6:30am trip! Our captain, Miguel, and deck hand, Pollo, met us there and we headed out. Not long after we started trolling, Jen hooked a dolphin! She cranked on that sucker and got him to the boat, where he got off!!! UGH!! It was so disappointing!! However, it was a beautiful fish!! We continued fishing and about hour later, Slade caught a yellow-fin tuna!! He was able to land it after a few minutes....but was in a little pain afterwards due to the fight! haha It was a nice catch!! A few hours after that....I was looking out the side of the boat and saw a fin swim by, it went under water, came back up, went under again...and then when it came back up, I grabbed Dean and tried to show him. Well, he of course didn't see it and thought I was crazy!!! About 30 seconds later....it was hooked!! A WHITE MARLIN!!! (I knew I wasn't crazy!!) The guys quickly reeled all the lines in, I jumped in the chair....shaking like crazy...they handed me the pole and I started cranking....then it jumped gracefully into the air- the most beautiful sight ever!!!- and then suddenly he was no longer on my line!!! :( I wanted to cry!!! It would have been awesome to land that sucker!!!  O-well...maybe next time! Just seeing it jump was good enough!!!  We kept fishing and Sam caught a 40lb Wahoo!! That thing put up a fight, but Sam won!! We didn't keep the wahoo, but Miguel gutted the tuna and we took it to the resort where they cooked it for us for dinner that night. It was yummy!!!!

Friday we a relaxing day....we went to town around 9:30am...shopped a little, ate at Carlos and Charlie's and headed back. Now, this was my first Carlos and Charlie's experience...and lets just say WOW!! A waitress walked up to me...grabbed me by my boobs...shook them...gave me two shots..and shook them again!! I for once was speechless! haha She went around the table and did this to everyone...even the guys! Then they brought us our lunch...and after we ate...two waiters showed up with the tequila! As you probably saw on my facebook video...we had a lot of tequila...and I'm not a tequila fan so I knew the rest of the day was going to be bad!! That afternoon Dean ordered a Tequila Sunrise, which made me want one as well. We drank all afternoon, watched the sunset for the last time there, and I NEVER got sick!! YAY Me!!! haha

The next morning we had breakfast, packed, and said goodbye to paradise! I was sad to leave, but was anxious to get home to my baby!! When I left her she was eating a snack, so she wasn't too concerned that we were leaving. However, when we got home, she was very excited to see us both!! Now I get to spend this week sweating out all the alcohol and food we ate last week when I go to the gym. :(

Below are a few pics from our amazing trip!! Can't wait to go on another adventure!! GREAT FOOD, GREAT FUN, AND OF COURSE GREAT FRIENDS!!!

Mini-Vacation

Alicia, Layton, Maggie, and I headed down to the bay last Wednesday for a mini vacation. Thursday and Friday we took the kiddos to Magnolia beach for the afternoon. I haven't been there in years and forgot how close it is to Port Alto....we will be visiting more often!

Funny story....
On Friday, my mom met us in Port Lavaca and went with us to the beach. As you can see in the pics below, Alicia and I had our lounge chairs out in the water so that when we laid on them we were a little bit in the water. The beach had very few people on it and there were a few boats and barges passing by as well. So...as we were enjoying our afternoon of fun, we suddenly noticed that the water was getting deeper where we were sitting-the water was over our chair. So Alicia got up and pulled her chair out and got a beverage, but I didn't because Maggie was also sitting on mine and was playing. We contiued to chat and then I suddenly noticed that the water was gone- we were only sitting on sand. I looked up and saw some large waves coming and yelled to the others. I didn't think to get up because even though they were big, they weren't "that big." Well....I was wrong!!! The waves crashed on the beach and sent our stuff everywhere!!!! I grabbed on to Maggie so the waves didn't take her like they did her toys! Alicia and my mom took off after all of our stuff and gathered it back up while Maggie and I sat there in shock and were soaking wet!
Lesson learned: When a barge goes by, it pushes water up to the shore, sucks it back out...then the waves come!!! So MOVE when you see them! haha

That night the rest of the family came down- Jackson, Slade, Beverly, Dad, Chad, and Robin. Since Dad, Chad, and Robin were fishing in a tournament the next day, they were busy that night, but the rest of us headed to Seadrift and had dinner for Alicia's birthday at Bubba's- YUMMY!! On Saturday we lounged around while the boys played golf in Palacios, and Sunday we celebrated Father's Day with our family and Slade's.

Here are a few random pics....

                                                 Day 1 at the beach

Maggie crawled around playing and then suddenly decided to lay down in the middle of the floor and go to sleep....that was a first! 

                                                    Day 2 at the beach

                                           Singing on my new toy from Aunt Les and Uncle Jack

Can't figure out why these two rotated themselves on here but on my computer they are the right way!

Summer Fun....Kinda...

It's week two of summer, and so far it has been okay! I was really hoping Maggie would realize we are on vacation and she would sleep to at least 8:30 each day....ya right! That has happened once since we've been off!
I've been trying to clean closets/drawers but the little rascal doesn't let me. She's right behind me digging through my piles. This morning my mom kept her for a few hours so I could go to the gym and get some cleaning done. I was able to get done with her closet and drawers! YAY!!! Now it's on to my room!

Maggie has also been going through this fussy/attachment/not eating phase....and it needs to stop!! haha I rock her to sleep for her naps, but as soon as I lay her down, she SCREAMS!! I even rock for about 20 mins after she falls asleep to make sure she is good and out.....still doesn't work. She even does this about 3 nights a week. HELP!!! We even do the tough love and let her scream for a while...but she doesn't put herself to sleep. :( As for eating..sometimes shes a pig...sometimes she won't eat anything! I've been hoping/praying that this is all due to teething...but I still can't find any bumps on her gums.

Alicia and I are heading to the bay on Wednesday for a few days of R&R so hopefully she won't do this the whole time we are there!

Here a few pictures from Memorial Weekend and other stuff.