A Baby Story; Before MeloMomma Was Really MeloMomma Part 7

She says to me, “Melissa, You did not pee your pants!” I smiled with delight. I knew I was not going to be a pregnant pee pee pants. She continues, “Your water has broke and your cramps are contractions. You are already dilated to a 2.” I did not know how this could be! I am only 27 weeks along and starting labor. She went on to say, “the nurse will be giving you a steroid shot to develop your premature baby's lungs and give him a better chance for survival, as well as a shot to stop the contractions.” I heard the word survival and began to cry! What was going to happen to my baby?

Another nurse walked in with a wheel chair. I sat in the wheel chair and was wheeled to the nurses station where I got to make a call. I chose to call my mom. I knew I could try my husband on my cell later and she could get there faster. All I remember saying was, “ My water broke. Get here now!” I was crying too hard to talk, so the nurse took over the call. She had a 1 ½ hour drive but I swear she was there in an hour.

I was then wheeled across the street and admitted to the hospital. As the nurses were asking all about my medical history and administering my IV, my doctor walked in wearing scrubs. I tried to smile and make light of the situation. I complimented her on her attire.

She flashed me a quick smile as she got down to business. She explained to me that an ambulance was waiting outside to transport me to another town an hour away. They have a NICU there. She then went on to say that she would not be there to deliver my baby but that the high risk doctor would. And here comes the kicker... She said I would be staying in the hospital until I delivered within the next 48 hours. Seriously? Was I really going to deliver this baby?

I had been frantically trying to reach my husband. He was at an awards dinner and had his phone on silent. About 50 phone calls later I reached him! I told him to stay, I would be OK, but he was on the next flight home and my mom would be picking him up from the airport to bring him to me in the hospital. It was going to be a really long night for all of us! There was no way he was going to let me go through this alone.

I was lucky enough to have a decent piece of eye candy to accompany me on my ambulance ride to the next hospital. When I reached the hospital I had less than 5 minutes to settle into my room when the nurses started poking me with more needles! 2 minutes later my mom arrived! 1 hour later my dad arrived! 1 more hour later my mom left to get my husband. 3 hours later my mom and husband made it back! 10 minutes later the doctor came in.

He delivered the most unsettling news! I burst out in tears and asked everyone to leave my room.

Valentine Love Bug; A Valentine Craft

What you will need:

Egg

Construction Paper

Glitter glue (optional)

Googly eyes

Marker

Glue

Scissors

Directions:

Poke a hole in each end of the egg and blow out the contents. (We actually just colored Easter eggs so I used a hard boiled egg. My kids color eggs even when it is not Easter.

Cut out a heart and decorate it with markers or glitter glue. This will be the wing.

Glue the wings on.

Glue on the googly eyes.

Draw the face.

Please check out my Mr. Linky as well. I would love you to link up a craft or two.

Valentine's Day Link Up

Image courtesy of campfirechicblog.blogspot.com

Valentine's Day is right around the corner! My brain is flowung with all these fun crafts and activities. I have posted several but let's face it. I have two kids and a busy life. I decided I would give all my blogging friends a chance to share their ideas too!

If you have a child friendly Valentine craft, recipie, or activity you can link up below. Your link must go directly to your post and not your home page. (Please leave a comment below afer linking up).

A Baby Story; Before MeloMomma Was Really MeloMomma Part 6

Unbelievable! The tests came back and after the 12 hour glucose test, I have gestational diabetes.

My husband flipped out and insisted we go to the store that night to buy all the right foods for my new diet. The problem was we really did not know what the diet and would not have the meter to check my blood sugar for another week.

We got some foods that were low carb and not very tasty. I recall dinner that night being 4 scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese melted into them because the other dish we experimentally cooked was so nasty it was unedible. I had to wait a week to get the meter and poking stick.

A few months into the routine of eating right and poking myself after every meal, I said screw it. I had been watching my sugars and testing them. I even ate a candy bars. My numbers were never once out of whack. I told my doc they had made a mistake but of course, she insisted I keep checking my sugars. I refused to continue poking myself and that was the end of that. I mean come one... am I really going to let a doctor tell me what to do? :) Not me. I am too feisty.

Now we are on week 27 of this pregnancy. I am feeling really really good. I even have some of my energy back. I must be low on vitamin C because I have been eating 4-6 oranges a day. I just can't get enough.

My husband is about to go out of state for work. It is only for a few days and I still have a while to go in this pregnancy, so he won't miss a thing.

It was really early in the morning when he left. You just have to love those early morning flights. I grabbed the kitchen trash and walked him out the door. I sat the trash down to kiss him good by. I paused to pet my cat, Dookie, as I watched him leave the driveway. Dookie ran inside, so I picked up the trash bag and proceeded to throw it out.

Now, I know I did not just pee my pants, did I? The second I picked up the trash something happened. It was not much, so I know my water did not break. Huh, I guess the baby pushed on my bladder.

I rushed around getting ready for work as I finished my last cup of coffee, I leaned over to tell the animals bye and off to work I go. I had no idea how busy I would be at work today. There was no time for lunch. We ordered in and worked straight through. Thankfully there was no glucose tests today so I was able to eat.

By 2 p.m. I was getting cramps. I guess lunch did not agree with me. Even worse, the baby must be on my bladder because every time I stand up, it feels like a bit of pee comes out. I know... appealing and lady like huh?

At 3:30 I pulled my co worker into my office. I shut the door and told her my symptoms. She has had two kids, so I figured she might be able to relate. She said she peed her pants, but not until she was really big and about to pop. Dang! What is going on with me. Thankfully I have a doctors appointment tonight or I would be calling to make one.

4p.m. I rush home to check on my animals. I let them go potty and off to the doctors I go. I was feeling a little rough and actually starting to sweat because of my discomfort. My husband was unavailable and busy on his work trip. I called my mom and told her how I was feeling. Out conversation was short as I had arrived to my appointment.

When I was called back to get weighed, my nurse asked me how things were going. I told her all about peeing my pants and my cramps. She did not say much. My doctor was in my room fast! Usually I wait 20 minutes. She wanted to test the liquid I called pee. She excused herself and returned 2 minutes later with the nurse. I could not quite tell what she was about to say, but I smiled and waited for her mouth to open and words to come out.

A Family Style Valentines Day; How To Celebrate

Image courtesy of bhmsbandandorchestra.com

Many families will be celebrating together this Valentines Day, so I wanted to share with you a few ideas I  have.

Meals:
Breakfast: We will have either heart shaped toast or heart shaped pancakes with some fresh fruit and chocolate milk.

Lunch: We will have heart shaped sandwiches; most likely peanut butter and jelly.

Dinner: Heart shaped mini pizza's. We will all make our pizza's together and shape our dough into hearts! It might be a giant mess, but tons of fun!

Games:
Heart Hunt: I will cut lots of hearts from paper and hide them throughout the house. It is the kids' job to find them all.

Balloon pop: I will fill balloons with Valentine candy, blow it up, and let the kids pop them.

Love Bingo: Make a bingo board and fill the squares with different colored hearts. Watch your kids smile when you call out- Red Heart! Blue Heart! BINGO!

We will finish our day by decorating heart shaped sugar cookies!

My children will also have little Valentine baskets waiting for them downstairs when they wake up. The Dollar Store has some great stuff!

Happy Valentines Day!


At dinner time we will all take turns sharing why we love one another.

A Baby Story; Before MeloMomma Was Really MeloMomma Part 5

Two days later, I am back at the doc. Thankfully this time it's not the high risk doctor. Instead, I am here to do a glucose screening to test for gestational diabetes. The requirement was to drink an overly sweet orange flavored drink. It tastes awful, but to top it off I could not eat for three hours. I think asking a pregnant woman not to eat is just plain cruel!

Anyhow, I am sitting there waiting when in walks my nurse. Time to get poked and fill up three vials. I hate this part, but needles go hand in hand with pregnancy.

The test came back almost immediately and they actually said I have gestational diabetes. I was completely shocked! I am 3 months prego, weighing in at 120 lbs and I do not eat sugary foods. I demanded a re test.

I had no idea the re test would be a 12 hour glucose screening and I did not know it would take place tomorrow.

I had to drink three of these nasty sugar drinks and not eat for 12 hours. I had to put in a full day at work. I had a pretty demanding job and our team often worked through lunch. Of course that would be the case today and of course they would decide to order in pizza. It must just be my luck that not only did they order pizza but my office is right next to the kitchen and I can not even take one bite. This was torture! I sat there and sniffed pizza all day long! My co workers assured me they forgot about my test, but... That did not solve the problem and I was pretty snappy by the end of the day.

Off work and now sitting at the hospital. I was going to be here for three hours. They needed to draw my blood every hour for three hours. I had to stay at the hospital the entire time because I had to have my blood drawn at the top of the hour and could not even be a second late. Doesn't that sound like fun? I was lucky my husband joined me for 2 hours, but even he was restless.

I watched the people coming and going and badly wanted to be one of those people. I was in my last hour there. I had read all the magazines there, wandered the whole hospital, and my arms are bruised from needles. I wanted to cry I was so hungry.

I called my mom. I was so hungry that was all I could talk about. I had wondered how this lack of food was affecting my baby, but I had to trust in the doctore. As our conversation was coming to an end I hear the nurse call my name. One last poke and I am home free.

I won't know for a few days what the results of the test are, but what I was sure of is that even tho my husband ditched out on me for that last hour, he ordered pizza and it would be there waiting for me when I got home!

Recipe Thursday: Tatertot Casserol

Image courtesy of meninaprons.net

Ingredients:

1 lb. Extra lean ground beef or turkey

1 onion finely chopped

1 package frozen spinach

1 can cream of chicken soup

2 tablespoons ketchup

1 small bag of tater tots

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions:

Brown beef with onion and frozen spinach.

Drain and fat.

Add ketchup, and soup. Mix well.

Pour mixture into lightly greased baking dish.

Sprinkle with cheese.

Add tater tots.

Bake at 425degrees for 30 minutes.

This was one of my favorite dished as a kid growing up. My mom used cream of mushroom soup which is standard, but not all kids (or adults like me) like mushrooms. I also choose to add the spinach because it does not alter the taste but does add nutrition.

Valentine's Decorations; Heart Ornament

My fellow blogger Deb @ LivingMontessoriNow posted this clever little idea that I wanted to pass down to MeloMomma readers. I loved this idea because it is so simple and festive!

What you will need:
Pipe cleaners
Beads
(MeloMomma's option: If you do not have beads, you could always use pasta noodles; you can even color them with food coloring)

Directions:
String the beads or pasta onto the pipe cleaner and shape into a heart.

Toilet Paper Roll Cupid; Valentine's Day Craft

What you will need:

Toilet paper roll

Pipe cleaner

Paper

Scissors

Cotton balls

Marker

Tape

Glue

Directions:

Cover the toilet paper roll in a tan colored construction paper.

Cut out a heart and an arrow.

Fold the heart in half and cut a small slit in the middle.

Unfold it and guide the arrow through.

Tape it on.

Twist the pipe cleaner to form wings.

Tape it on.

Draw the face.

Cover the top of the toilet paper rim with glue and cover with cotton balls.



A Baby Story; Before MeloMomma Was Really MeloMomma Part 4

A few weeks later my husband and I are driving to a near by town to see the high risk pregnancy specialists. My husbands side of the family had a lose due to genetics, so we needed to get checked out as well. Oddly, I was not nervous. I felt pretty confident our baby would be ok. We were also going to finally find out the sex of our baby, so I was uber excited.

Thankfully this was just an ultra sound because the doctor was a man! Prior to seeing the doctor, we had to meet with the genetic specialist counselor. She guided us back into a beige colored room. I listend for about five minutes then tuned her out. I just could not focus as she spoke in a monotone voice and drew circles on her poster board. Finally, she stopped talking and stood up. Now, she had my attention! It was time to see the doctor!

She led us to the exam room, where surprisingly, the doctor was already waiting. I laid down on the table anticipating that cold gel they put on your tummy before the ultra sound. It made a nasty fart noise as he squeezed out a big blob. I was pleasantly surprised when the gel was warm.

The room was very quiet as he moved the ultra sound wand across my belly, stopping momentarily to make notes on his computer. I was trying to read his facial features, but he just had a half grin on his face the entire time.

He was done! Here comes the news. The doctor turned to me and said, “ Melissa, your baby looks perfectly healthy with no genetic abnormalities.” My husband and I both looked at each other and sighed with relief. I felt pretty positive our baby was going to be just fine, so now on to what I really want to know.

THE SEX OF MY BABY!

My excitement took over and I blurted out, “ that's great news, now tell me what I am having!”

I really wanted a boy. I have no idea why I wanted a boy, but that was my wish. I had already planned on dressing him up in cute preppy outfits. I wanted to spike his hair and give him a baby hawk.

The doctor makes the big announcement, “You guys ready for this? YOU ARE HAVING A BOY!”

I was so excited I cried happy tears immediately! Now I get to decorate his room and buy him the cutest wardrobe. In this moment, I felt so happy and complete.

A Baby Story; Before MeloMomma Was Really MeloMomma Part 3

I suddenly felt myself start sweating. I was pretty nervous that my doctor was not saying anything. I realize now that this silence only lasted a few minutes, but it sure felt like hours to me.

My doctor turned to head towards me and made eye contact. Oh man this is it... I am finally going to learn the sex of my baby!

She says to me, “ Melissa, I know how badly you wanted to know the sex of your baby, but I have some bad news.” Oh my goodness... my heart sank all the way down to my toes. What was wrong? A thousand “what if's” passed through my mind in the thirty seconds she was quiet. She starts to open her mouth again, and I take a deep breath as she says, “Your baby has their legs crossed. I will not be able to tell you the sex today.”

No big birthday surprise for this expecting mommy. I asked if I could do jumping jacks or something to get the baby to move, but she had other patients and pretty much laughed in my face when I asked this.

Happy Birthday Mommy To Be! Little did I know this was just the start of how onry this baby was going to be.

Off we go to have some birthday dinner. Yep... we are going to Chinese again.

DIY Valentine Wreath; Tee Shirt Wreath; Kid Friendly

This was a really fun crafting activity to do. It is so cute and yet so simple. I am all about doing crafts with materials you generally have in your home. How many of you have 3-4 tee shirts that you just don't wear or that might even have stains on them? Yep, that is what I thought. You all do!
I choose some shirts that were Valentine's colors, but any color will do!

What you will need:
Tee shirts
Scissors

Directions:
Make a circle shape with one tee shirt.
Cut the seam off of the bottom of the remaining tee shirts.
Cut the shirts in strips approx. 3 inches in width. There is no need to cut perfect. Jagged edges are just fine, so go ahead and let your kiddo practice their scissor skills.

Then cut the strips in half. Each half should be 8-12 inches long.
Take one strip and tie it around the circle where the two ends meet. Your are using this first piece to keep the circle in place and lock the tee shirt ends together.
Continue with the tee shirt strips until the wreath is full and desired look is accomplished.

* I started out with a pattern, but I quickly realized that doing this with kids, a pattern is taking away from the fun. Quite honestly... I like the look I got better after I ditched the pattern.
I also had left over tee shirt strips, so I added a few here and there to create a fuller look!

Easy Toddler/Preschool Valentine Craft; Heart Man

What you will need:
Construction paper
Marker
Scissors
Glue

Directions:
Cut out a heart.
Cut four strips of paper and crinkle them by folding the paper back and forth.
Cut out two hearts for the eyes and glue them on.

Glue on the crinkled paper to make the arms and legs.

Draw the eyes and decorate as desired.

A Baby Story; Before MeloMomma Was Really MeloMomma Part 2

Now that all our friends and family know I am pregnant the reality sets in. I am off to my first doctors appointment. I am a very modest person and sick to my tummy about this appointment. I don't think any woman enjoys this, but I was so anxious about the exam, I was puking. I had been puking off and on for two hours now just because of the exam. I was really going to have to get use to this since I am pushing a baby out of “there”.

Without details, I made it through and I even got to see my little baby in my belly. I had to ask four times where to look and what in the picture was actually the baby, but what can I say... I am a first time mom. When I finally figured out where I was looking my whole body turned warm. I was overjoyed to see this little baby I had wanted for so long. He only looked like a piece or rice at this point, but I was confident he would be just as cute as can be in 9 months.

We headed home to scan the ultra sound picture and email everyone we know. After all, this our first picture of our baby.

A few days later, the cravings set in. I was starting to crave Chinese food nearly every day. Oddly enough, this was also the food my mom craved while pregnant with me. My morning sickness was subsiding, so after I put in a 10 hour day at work, my husband and I went to settle my craving. I ordered my normal

After dinner I was quite tired and had a really full tummy. This little life in my tummy was sucking up all my energy. Cuddled up on the couch with my weeiner dog, Petrii, I fell asleep at 8pm. This was becoming an everyday thing. I was just too tired to keep my eyes open.

Things are going great,so let's fast forward a few months.

I am now far along to determine the sex of the baby. I wanted a great birthday present, so I scheduled a doctors appointment on my birthday to determine the sex of the baby. I could not wait to go to that appointment.

5:30am and I was up and getting ready for work. I was so excited to determine the sex of my baby; I did not even care if I had to work on my birthday.

7:30am and I am sitting at my desk. This day is dragging on and on. I have been here at work for 30 minutes and it feels like 8 hours.

10am and finally some fun! My co workers throw me a really great party!

12pm and I am off work for the rest of the day! Now I just have to wait until 4 pm...

3:45pm and I am driving to the doctors office! My heart is racing and I can not help but to speed just a bit to get there faster.

I arrive and as my husband and I are walking up the stairs to see my doctor, I have baby names racing through my head. I can hardly even walk straight I am so focused on what is about to happen.

I sat there so anxious waiting for the doctor to come in. I listened to the clock ticking for what seemed like hours and finally the doctor came in. She put that ultra sound wand on my tiny belly and I could not wait for the results.

I sat there so quiet and so anxious. She had a weird look on her face. Was she seeing something bad? Is my baby OK?

Toddler and Pre School Valentine's Day Craft; A Heart Kitty Cat

What you will need:
Paper
Marker
Glue
Scissors
Googly eyes

Directions:
Cut out a heart and turn it upside down.
Cut out two ears.

Glue the ears onto the backside of the heart; on the top.

Glue on the googly eyes.

Draw the kitty's face and ears.

Happy Valentine's Day!

A Baby Story; Before MeloMomma Was Really MeloMomma Part 1

I had been feeling weird for the last few days. I could not really explain how I felt. I just kept trucking along working and doing my thing. A few days later I couldn't take it anymore. My chest hurt so bad I knew something was up. I did not tell my husband anything as I snuck off to the bathroom. Guess what I was doing? As lady like as this sounds, I was peeing on a stick. I didn't just pee on one stick but I peed on three sticks. Oh goodness! These stick must be old! They are telling me I am pregnant. I mean... I guess I could be, but really? No, they are old! I am sure of it!

I was scared and ran out to tell my husband. He was very quiet and asked if I was serious?. I said I would like to go get yet another test. So, off to the drug store we go. We picked out the best of the best pregnancy tests and rushed home. I think the idea of having a baby was starting to excite my hubby because he had a silly half grin on his face that was not changing form.

Back to the bathroom for me. I was running out of pee and found it hard to complete my task but I managed. Three minutes later and four pregnancy tests later I finally believed it. I was pregnant!

I had always wanted a baby. Actually, I wanted a baby so badly I couldn't stand it but at this moment fear took over. I started to cry. I was afraid of how bad birth would hurt. Little did I know about the hardship I would encounter leading up to the birth. I also had not idea how much I would love being pregnant. I was soon going to feel little kicks and flutters in my belly. Only a mother knows how precious that feels.

I knew I needed to call my mom. I just knew she woukd be mad. She really wanted me to take more time for me and my husband before having kids. She wanted us to experience life and travel, with the money we did not have. :)We had been together for several years; but married less than a year.

I called and she was very supportive from the minute I called. She gave me the pep talk I needed. Now I am sure she cringed and was not totally happy after she hung up from me, but she kept her mom face on when she needed to!

Oh man! I can't explain the mixture of emotions I was feeling on this night. I could not believe it. I was going to be a mom.

I did not plan on telling anyone until I confirmed at the doctors but I was so excited the next day I told everyone!

Melissa was finally going to be a mom. This was what I had wanted for so long!!!

*Check back tomorrow as I go to my first doctors appointment. I was puking, but was I puking from morning sickness or for other reasons? What would my doctor say? Would she see two heart beats?

A Baby Story; Before MeloMomma Was Really MeloMomma

MeloMomma would not be MeloMomma without my kids. I would like to share with you my birth story. It is heart warming and heart wrenching. I promise you will anticipate this post each and everyday. Over the next few days I will be telling the story of my first child's birth. This story is full of emotion, love, and a mother's desire and willpower to give birth to a healthy full term baby!

It all begins the second we found out we were preggers.

This was no ordinary birth. Join me to learn why I got put on bed rest, how many things went right in my pregnancy, why I stayed in the hospital for a week, and more.....

This is a story I have been wanting to share for a while! I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

Until tomorrow...

A Valentine Heart Craft; The LOVE BUG

What you will need:
Glue
Scissors
Paper
Marker

Directions:
Cut out 5 hearts, all descending in size.
Glue the hearts together to form the body.

Cut out 10 small hearts and glue them on to form the arms.
Cut 8 8 more hearts and glue them on to form the legs.
For added decoration, Cut out 4 more hearts and glue them on the body.
Draw a face for your bug.
Cut out two antennas and glue them on!

Only Child; As Told By One Of Five Children

I have the honor this morning of having David Estep from Rednek Ritin' share his point of view on growing up an "only child with siblings". I wondered at first how a Rednek blog and MeloMomma could come together, but I was thrilled when I read this post. David is a really talented writer. He has just launched his blog and there are a few awesome hunting stories posted so far. He has given me the heads up that he has many "parenting" stories. So, I am sure this won't be the last time we see Rednek Ritin' on here.

When I make the statement that I’m an only child it usually elicits a negative response.  Mainly from my siblings, but often from others that know the family.  Before you pass judgment you should know I may not have been an only child in the physical sense, but in my mind I am the only one that matters.  This is not a selfish look at life.  Let me explain.  You see, being the oldest I watched my mother and father toil and care for the other children.  Time they could well have used on other pursuits if it hadn’t been for the others.  Think of the countless hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on rearing five children.  Had the other four not weaseled their way into our happy little family my parents would have been very different people.  You do the math.  How much time and effort go into teaching the boys to hunt and fish?  Educating a girl on the fine art of girl stuff is a daunting task as well.  Parenting the right way takes energy and time beyond comprehension to those without children.

Without the others I could sit around the campfire and tell stories to myself.  Without the others I could drive through the woods alone looking for something to shoot, or blow up.  Without the others life would be a little more boring.  I guess it’s not so bad to not be an only child.