After 44 hours of labor, Delilah Jean graced us with her presence!

8lbs 1.6 oz

21 inches long

12:13pm

She's the most wonderful thing in the entire world.

It started on Friday with another check up since she was late (9 days late at that point) and her fluids were way down.  That meant that the placenta wasn't giving her the amount of nutrients it had previously been giving her.  If the levels are less than 5, they send you over to the hospital for an induction.  

I had actually gone to work that morning and just left for my appointment.  I called work and let them know.  Called my mom and let her know.  We headed back to the house to grab all of our stuff, everyone was so excited!  

When we got there, I got hooked up to an IV and an external fetal heart monitor as well as a monitor to measure my contractions.  I was started on a pill that was given every 4 hours, up to 6 times to get me dilated.   I walked the halls, ate some supper, hung out with Mom and Ben.  After 24 hours, those pills had done nothing for me.  Next up was the 12 hour med.  For the first 6 hours or so, I did really well...then the contractions started.  I was breathing through them pretty well, but I was also feeling a bit queasy, so I skipped dinner.  As the night moved forward, I couldn't even walk the halls anymore...every step was painful. I laid on my side back in the room and they got worse and worse.  I had no sense of time.  Ben was timing them and comforting me during it all.  After awhile of these contractions, I became delirious with the pain and lost sense of time.  At 1am, I was checked again, and had only dilated to a 3.  My doctor told my mom and Ben that I was "uninducable".  They had to get me on pitocin and ordered me an epidural.  

Again, I was so out of it that I didn't really know what was going on.  It was like 2 or 3 hours until they could start the pitocin and get me the epidural because the dr was doing a c-section.  When they finally came in and got it for me, I didn't even feel the epidural go in.  Ben and my mom couldn't watch because the needle was so big.  After the epidural, I got almost instant relief.  After 36 hours of labor, I think I deserved a break.  

I got some sleep, but not too much because I knew that there was a light at the end of the tunnel.  I knew I would soon hold my baby in my arms.  The prospect was so exciting!  At around 7ish, I was checked again, and was dilated at a 9!  The nurse said that Delilah would be here before lunchtime.  

AHHH!!!

Around 10ish, they turned off my epidural so that I would know how to push.  I still couldn't feel anything, but I could feel the push.  I started around 11:15 or so, and Delilah was here at 12:13pm!  She came out, let out a wail, and they put her on my chest.  She was so alert and didn't cry, she just looked at me.  I started crying, Ben had tears in his eyes.  It was the most wonderful moment of my life.  I watched as she was cleaned up and weighed and Ben was by her side the entire time.  My mom came into the room and cried and met her first granddaughter.  Words don't explain the emotion in that room after she was born.  

My life will never be the same, and I can't wait to continue on with this adventure.  

Tomorrow!

Tomorrow is my last day at work!  I'm pretty excited.  I already turned in my resignation paperwork, signed myself up to be a sub starting in Feb, and let the principal know I wouldn't be returning.  I'm excited to have this next step in my life so close.

Another doctor's appointment tomorrow.  Checking the fluids and her heartbeat again.  Gotta make sure everything is good in there.  I am really hoping they just say, "Oh, you're in labor, go to the hospital."  Course, I've been hoping that with the last few visits, and that hasn't happened.  Ah well.  Soon!

Tried a new dinner last night and it was DELISH.  I didn't get a picture of it because everyone was so hungry, the plates were soon empty!

Asian Inspired Lemon Chicken

YUM.

With it, I also made white rice and also made some broccoli stir fry (with a pinch of salt and splashes of soy sauce.)  Needless to say, everyone was quite satisfied afterwards.  It was also good on day 2 when I took it for lunch!

The good...and the ugly.

I'm totally loving this 5 day weekend that I got, by accident!  I called in on Friday because I was scared to drive in the weather, and then school was cancelled on Monday and Tuesday!

Yesterday, Mom and I made sugar cookies and decorated some of them.  Today, I got the urge to bake again and made:

Nutella Sandwich Cookies

1/2 cup butter

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cup flour

3/4 cup oats

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/8 tsp salt

Nutella

Bake at 375 for 5-7 minutes.

Beat butter and sugars.  Add egg and vanilla until smooth.

Pour in all dry ingredients and mix.  

Roll into teaspoon balls, flatten into circles.

Once they come out of the oven and are cool, spread Nutella on the bottoms and top with another cookie! 

ENJOY!

Sugar cookies with homemade drizzle

(1 1/2 cup powdered sugar with 3 tablespoons of milk.  For the chocolate, I added a spoonfull of unsweetened cocoa powder)

Quite a fun day, if you ask me!  I've got the baking bug, and it's been a lot of fun!

And now...the ugly...

Remember when I wrote about my psycho cousin and my ridiculous aunt?  Well, here's the new situation:

Cousin (who is still married to her baby's daddy...the one who left her for the female counterpart that they were swinging with...is on  her second relationship with some man in his 30s with 2 kids and is still married himself) is pregnant with new boyfriend's baby.  

Doesn't that sound like a Jerry Springer episode to you?  Maybe Maury?  Montel?  Well, any of those trashy tv shows that trash get onto.  

Maybe this will help rope him into staying with her.  Didn't work with her husband...second time's a charm?  

My aunt is really excited, of course, because this is one of the few things she has left in life (other than "dating" her ex who left her for someone else and is letting that someone else live in the house that my aunt shared with him for at least 10 years).  

Mom asked me if I felt upset at all, and I thought, "Why would I feel upset?"  I have:

1. A husband who takes care of me and has a fantastic career.

2. A mom who is wonderful and supportive and strong.

3. A beautiful little girl on the way.

4. A drive for success.

5. A college education.

6. A warm home.

7. A stable environment.  

8. Common sense and the knowledge of right vs wrong.

9. A wonderful relationship with God.

10. Family and friends that love me through thick and thin.

What more could I want?  No reason for me to get upset at this girl and her poor life.  I just pity her daughter and future child.  Her daughter has been through so much already...been exposed to goodness knows what...and I just hope that this new baby won't have to.  

Ending on a happy note:

I'm making Lemon Chicken tonight!  I'll post the recipe if it turns out delish!

Update

Got observed today.  Had an ultrasound to check all of her fluids.  Anything over 5 ml is good and means the placenta is still good and providing nutrients to Delilah.  My level was 12!  I also took a non stress test, which consisted of sitting in a very comfy recliner and having a couple bands measure to see if I'm having contractions and Delilah's heartbeat.  Each time she moved, I had to press a little button.  She moved a TON and her heartrate is great.

After thinking about it, Ben and I have decided not to induce.  We want her here, but not bad enough to do something that isn't medically necessary.  It's obvious that she's not ready to come out, and my body isn't ready for her to come out, so she'll stay until it's time.  If there was something wrong, we would definitely consider inducing, but she's safe and sound and just taking her time.  I remember thinking at the very beginning of the pregnancy that she would probably last to the second week of December (based on when I think conception took place), and I think I'm right!

I want a chair like that for my house.

Still no Delilah!

It must be very comfortable inutero...because she is still being stubborn and not coming out!

Me, Mom, and Ben went to go see The Muppets today.  Not a bad movie, pretty funny in parts.  We were the only people in the theater until about 5 minutes in when everyone started piling in.  Such is the typical Clovis fashion.  It was fine until the kids to our left started crying/whining/yelling/throwing their feet around making their light up shoes flash so bright I thought she had a multi colored flashlight.  I ignored it for a long time, but it comes to a certain point that if your kids are acting up, you remove them from a situation so that the people around you don't have to suffer.  Everyone in the theater paid the same amount, and they shouldn't have to deal with a kid (not their own) whose parents won't do anything to stop bad behavior.  It's very frustrating, especially for someone who is a teacher and has had control over 20 children by herself at once...and had them behave. Delilah isn't here yet, but if I took her to the movie and this was happening, I would take her outside the theater so that everyone else wouldn't have to suffer and miss parts of the movie.  It's distracting and unfair to everyone else.  I think that's a pretty easy solution.
Unfortunately, there are lazy parents...or maybe just parents that are impolite and don't care about those around them...or maybe they just think that their children are actually not acting poorly because they haven't taught them how to act.  Who knows.  In any case, it's annoying, and nothing will change my mind about that. Period.  People who disagree with what I'm saying probably fall into one of the categories above...or maybe they just don't know what to do to control their children in public.  I was most impressed with my friend Colsie.  Her son was 4 and sat through the ENTIRE Beatles LOVE show in Las Vegas.  It was amazing. They are awesome parents...he knows how to behave in public.  The couple times that I've seen him act up, both her and Cooper have taken immediate steps to correct the behavior.  All I ask is that parents simply parent.

Sigh.

We decorated Ben.

Tree topper!

It didn't work out...

Without flash

With flash

Expert tree decorators

Margot!

Otis!

Rilo!

Robot Santa and Zombie Nutcracker

On Friday, I called into work because it was supposed to get super icy and snowy in the afternoon.  I didn't want to chance driving in it and having contractions.  We decided to put up Christmas decorations.  Got out our tree and realized that it was pretty much falling apart.  Ben decided that we were going to go out and get a new tree and new ornaments...and get lunch.  Love it when he just does something spontaneous!  We went and had lunch at Cotton Patch, got ornaments at Hobby Lobby, a 1980s stained glass Santa at Goodwill, and then got the last nice tree with white lights at Walmart.  Ben and I were looking at the ball ornaments there and at the same time pointed to the SAME colored set.  We had to get them.  Got Delilah a stocking (no pictures of those yet because Mom and I are doing something crafty with them).  Came home and decorated the house while listening to Christmas music and had my Winter candle lit!  I love walking through our living room now...this is my favorite time of the year!  

An update on Delilah

40 weeks+1 day

I tried to explain the importance of punctuality to Delilah, but she's late.  She's late, for a very important date!

Saw that dr. yesterday.  Actually, she's my midwife and I adore her.  She's a very friendly person and has made me extremely comfortable...which is hard for someone to do when they must do things like open up your cervix with their hands.  Yeah, that happened.  

Guess what didn't feel too great...that. 

So she's late, and I have to go in on Monday for monitoring.  Gotta check the fluid levels/placenta/everything to make sure she's OK.  If she is, I still have the option for an induction on Wednesday.  What the midwife told me was that if Delilah is OK, I can hold off on the induction, but be monitored more.  If not, I'll have to have one.  I have heard that the placenta doesn't provide as much nutrients after a certain time, but I also have heard about the stress of the contractions with pitocin.  I'm just not sure what I'll do yet.  What I'm really hoping for is that Delilah will decide to come...even in the middle of the ice/snow storm we're gonna get this weekend. 

My problems with Glee and why I'm not watching it anymore:

When I first started watching Glee, it was about a group of diverse kids who were social outcasts for different reasons, yet they all happened to be great singers.
It was a dorky show about show choir.  I was down with that.

The past year, it has done nothing but focus on gay kids, bullying of gay kids, kids coming out of the closet, etc...Last episode, Rachel even called Kurt "her gay".  In EVERY episode, that is one of the main focuses.  It isn't just about bullying, it's about bullying the gay kids.  No more about bullying all around or any other major story line.  Last season it was all about Kurt (who is so stereotypical it makes me want to vomit) and his dealings with being gay and bullied.  Now it's Santana.  I turned it off last night when they were all worried about her because of the recent and very real story of the kid who made a "It Gets Better" who killed himself.

OK, GLEE, WE GET IT.  You could be bullied for being gay.  GREAT.

What about the rest of the kids who get bullied in school?
I'm a teacher, and I see kids get bullied for EVERYTHING.  No one is immune to it.
Instead of coddling kids and creating ridiculous anti-bullying (and money wasting) programs, teachers/parents/kids need to get involved themselves.  Bullies won't ever go away...no program or Lady Gaga is going to stop it.  ADULTS bully one another every day.  You have to learn how to deal with it.

There are really horrible people in this world, and sometimes you just have to deal with them.  Put on your big girl panties and suck it up.  Hell, I was bullied for being so pale, and I'm STILL self conscious about it.  I was bullied in the 7th grade because I didn't have a lot of money.  It actually progressed into the girl CONSTANTLY getting into my face, putting ice cream in my hair, and being a horrible person.  Finally, enough was enough.  I threw her across a lunch table.
Yes, I had enough and took matters into my own hands.
I stopped being a victim and quietly taking it.
She stopped bullying me after that.
Sometimes, you have to stand up for yourself and not expect others to do it for you.  Become a stronger person and take care of your own business.

And again, it isn't just gay kids getting bullied.  That shouldn't be the main "bully agenda issue" that people focus on.  If they're going to waste money on programs like this, they should be teaching kids how to be strong individuals instead of trying to tell people NOT to bully.

Some people are just always going to be assholes...an anti bullying program isn't going to stop that.

So halfway through, I turned off Glee and cancelled my timer for it on my DVR.  I'm tired of the same story plot.

Why is it so important for some people to announce that they are spending money, or announcing how MUCH they've spent?  It's really classless and off-putting, and it doesn't make anyone envy them.  Do they see that, or is the need to try and impress people so great that they are blinded by what they're saying?  I'm always more impressed when people (myself included) find great deals and get things for cheaper than the normal price.  I love sales and coupons!

Moving on....

Still having a great time with my mom being here!  We've been crafting, visiting, and just having a good time.  She's making some little softies for Delilah, an elephant and a Christmas giraffe.  They are ADORABLE.  She's also got some booties made and all they need are the laces.  Pretty freaking adorable.  I love handmade stuff so much!

I've also been making more bows, no pictures right now though.  I did finish a canvas for her room though:

I've got an owl one in the works too.

Going back to work tomorrow, not looking forward to all the comments:
"OH!  You didn't have the baby!" and comments similar to that....

My mom is in town!

Mom made it in town on Tuesday afternoon!
She got to go see my classroom and kids, meet some of my coworkers, and see where I work.  It was pretty awesome! She headed back to the house to take her stuff in and see the pups.  She got settled in and got to rest before Ben and I got home.

Ben and I had my 39 week check up that day...not dilated yet.  I was a bit disappointed, but I guess Delilah just isn't ready to make her appearance yet.

Mom and I took all the dogs for a walk...Otis, Rilo, AND Karma!  They walked together in a pack and did really well.  I'll get a picture on the next one we go on.  No walk today, Mom and I were out all day, and were so tired!
We went:
to the tower and got a tour from Ben.
to the rapconn and got a tour from Joe and Daun.
to the BX/Commissary and got coffee and a bagel and then shopped.
to Hobby Lobby to get some ribbon and felt.
to the mall to make a return and shop around.
(at the mall, we were in Dillards and saw three kids being herded back to the customer service area.  Apparently, their mom was missing.  The kids had walked away while their mom was in the fitting room...leaving them unattended outside...and they couldn't find her.  They had actually tried going outside the store to check the car!  They said she was wearing a green shirt, so mom and I looked in the store...which isn't very big...for a woman in a green shirt.  No such luck.  She wasn't in the fitting rooms either.  I think the mom just left her kids there!  Mom and I talked and we would have been screaming for the mall to be locked down until we found our kids...and no one even knew it was happening.  So sad.)
to Lowes to get L brackets for the shelves I made earlier this week:

I also made the bows!

to Walmart to get a few last minute things.

Then we went home.  We ran around a LOT today, and had a BLAST.  

Made deviled eggs and green fluff for Thanksgiving tomorrow.  First year in 3 that I'm not making a turkey, which kind of makes me sad (because I make the BEST turkey), but I don't want to be in charge of the main dish and then go into labor.  That wouldn't be good.  

I made salmon for dinner, and then Mom and I just sat at my bar and crafted all night.  I made 2 bows for Delilah...one which I'll use, the other was just a first time trial.  Here's the bow I'm going to use:

It's for her Christmas outfit!  

All in all, it's been a pretty slamtastic day.  

Adventuring in New Mexico, surprise baby shower, AND Breaking Dawn

Yesterday, there was a planned power outage in our neighborhood, so Ben and I decided to go off exploring.  We drove West into New Mexico and stopped to take pictures of the interesting things we saw.  Ben really has an eye for detail.
Here are some of my favorites:

It was a REALLY good day.  I love spending time with him.
I took some pictures of stuff we found too, just with my iphone:

This stuff is AMAZING

Our favorite place was an old abandoned church.

Last night I got together with some ladies here in town to go eat at an Italian restaurant and go see Breaking Dawn.  Little did I know that it was actually a surprise baby shower for me!
When I walked in and saw the baby plates and napkins, I actually thought, "Awww, who is having a baby?"  (Um, duh, me...9 months and almost 3 weeks....)
I got some really cute gifts and the thoughtfulness really made me tear up!

Presents!

Cupcakes!

D for Delilah

All in all, a very successful day/evening.

My friend is such an awesome photographer!  

These are just a few previews of the maternity pictures she took...aren't they AMAZING?! 

She posts a lot of her work on her blog: http://bloggtreat.blogspot.com/

LOVE IT!

These are a few things you shouldn't say to someone who is pregnant:

"When are you going to pop?"

I'm not a damn balloon, so I'm never going to pop.  I am, however, going to give birth soon.

"Are you scared?"

Would it matter if I was?  Labor/Delivery is going to happen anyway...and if I was scared, would I want to share it with every random person?

"You're crazy to not want drugs!"

Why?  Because I think that women have been giving birth for a VERY LONG TIME and are capable of bringing a baby into the world without subjecting it to all the risks of drugs just so I'm more comfortable?  I'm not going to outright deny that I will end up getting an epidural, but it's definitely not what I want.

"You're big!" (Or any other statement like that)

Obviously having a baby=gaining weight and having your torso swell.  Hello, I've got a person growing inside of me...I'm obviously going to look different.  I have felt great throughout my entire pregnancy and have taken measures to make sure that I'm eating right.  I'm not unhealthy, and statements like that imply that people think that I am.

"Aren't you ready?"

Yes, I'm actually really excited to meet my daughter.  Why wouldn't I be?  Am I ready?  That's a dumb question.

"Oh, it's just your hormones."

Guess what...I've been relatively calm and happy thoughout my entire pregnancy, but telling me something like that makes me want to physically hurt someone. It isn't just hormones.  I'm actually under a bit of stress right now being: pregnant, about to quit work, Christmas is coming up, bills, working with an idiot, etc...So no, it's not just hormones.  It's life, and I'm allowed to get frustrated with things.

In happier news, I wrapped some more presents and they look all fancy with the houndstooth print and red bows.  I love it!  I can't wait to get my Christmas decorations out up!  Christmas is the best time of the year!

Work seems to be getting longer and longer!

Boy...work days seem like they are neverending.  I was pretty exhausted yesterday, mostly because I came home and had to do all the laundry and vacuum and mop the whole house.  We had company over the weekend, and the house got messy.  Needed to be done, but I didn't get finished until 9pm.  I don't want to do that again.

2 weeks until my official due date.  I have a dr's appt tomorrow.  I hope they check to see if I'm dilated at all.  And I hope I am.

I have decided that I want a cricut for Christmas.  I think that I'd have a lot of fun with it, and I do so many different crafts that it's probably a worthwhile investment.  I'm hoping that I can find an awesome bundle...they usually have them around Christmas.
Here are some cartridges I want:

Jubilee Celebration

Hoot 'n' Holler

Those are the 2 I've found so far.  I've got a list going at work.  I am designing Delilah's baby book (couldn't find one I really liked in the stores), and I am going to have some fun with it!

Well, I need to go get my cookies packed up for tomorrow's luncheon.  woooooo

Night, sweet dreams!

Finally done!

YAY!  Her name is done!  Now we can get the nursery set up the way I want it.  Gotta move furniture around this week.  I'm planning on doing a lot of cleaning this week, because my mom is coming next week to help out and be here for when Delilah comes!

Wow. What a weekend.

Ok, Delilah, the wedding is over.  Feel free to make your appearance at any time now!  We are excited to meet you!

Went to a wedding:

Definitely one of the coolest weddings I've ever been to.  Her family went all out for it, and it turned out great!  Ben was the best man, and looked handsome as heck!