My very dear and lifelong friend Natalie is currently facing a bit of trouble. She is 4.5 months away from finally graduating from college with a degree she has worked very, very hard for. Natalie was recently informed by her educational institution via letter over her holiday break that she has exhausted her allotted financial aid funds and will be responsible for covering her last semester of school out of her own pocket and she will need to pay for half of that semester by January 12th. The total for the semester is $3000.
Natalie is a single mom to 4 kids. She works over 40 hours a week in a residential care facility caring for adults with severe disabilities. Not only does she work 40 hours a week, she also goes to school for 30 and is a full time mom as well.
Needless to say, Natalie does not have the funds or the means of producing the money needed to cover the cost of her final semester of school and neither does her family.
Natalie’s brother Bob has started a fundraiser to help raise enough money to help cover the cost of her last semester.
If you can donate anything, even just $1.00 it will help.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope you can help!
Pay it forward
It’s official.
Little Miss Ellie has graduated and is now able to use her pretty pink infant car seat!!!
We couldn’t be more excited about this news.
Now fingers crossed that when she heads in to see our family doctor later this afternoon she has a nice weight gain!
If you missed the first part of this story you can catch up HERE.
Now on to the rest of the story……
After seeing the nurse practitioner that Friday afternoon (12/16) the Alex and I scooped the kids from my parents house and made our way home. We were both so darn tired and the Alex hadn’t slept all day and was scheduled to head into work that night for mandatory overtime that once we returned to our house I sent him to bed so he could get a solid 4 hours of sleep before heading into 8 hours of work. He went to bed and I attempted to get things cleaned up around the house with the help of the kids.
A few minutes into my attempt to get things done around the house, Zack decided to give me attitude that I just was not in the mood to deal with so I called my parents (who live a few blocks over from us) and asked my dad to come get him for the night. After he left, I began to have stronger contractions and more pain in my back so I decided to lay down on the couch and try to get some rest while Libby and Alexander watched a movie.
I managed to nap on and off for almost 2 hours until I had to get up to use the bathroom. I looked at the clock and realized is was 8:12pm so I asked the Libby to get Alexander ready for bed and lay down with him while I went to lay down with Alex until he got up for work.
I crawled into bed with Alex and found a somewhat comfortable position to rest in but was in more pain. Again, I somehow managed to fall asleep. I do recall having felt a few weird things while I was sleeping. At 9:10pm I was jolted awake by a sharp pain and realized that I needed to wake Alex up so he could get ready for work. He got out of bed and went to get ready and I tried to maneuver myself to get out of bed to use the potty once again. At the moment that I started to get out of bed things felt very, very weird. I walked the 10-15 feet to the bathroom, sat down on the toilet and then realized that my water had broke while I was sleeping!
Here we were, minutes before Alex was supposed to leave for work. I grabbed my phone, called my dad and had him come scoop Libby and Alexander and then I called the doctor’s office, gave the after hours answering service all my info and waited for the doctor on call to call me back.
Ironically, the doctor who called me back was the same doctor the nurse practitioner has consulted with on my case earlier in the day. She was surprised to hear from me but told me to head to the hospital the minute I told her my water broke.
From there, the Alex and I made our way to the hospital. In the less than 10 minute drive to the hospital, my contractions became stronger and were getting closer. I called my mom for a portion of the ride just to talk and take my mind off of things and to distract me from the fact that the Alex was driving.
Finally we were at the hospital and I was being wheeled up to labor and delivery by the security guard on duty who made me promise that I wouldn’t deliver my daughter in the elevator.
I kept my promise.
I was wheeled right back into the little room that I had been in the day before so that the nurse could make sure that my water was indeed broken and that I was actually in labor.
Yep.
I was.
She checked me and I was now dilated to 4, almost 5 centimeters and now 90% effaced.
I had made progress.
(See…..I told them at the doctor’s office that I was in labor and I was having a baby before the weekend was over!)
Once we had confirmation that I was definitely in labor and we were definitely having a baby, we waited as they setup my hospital room and then they transported me to room 319 (this is the same room that Alexander was born in!).
By the time we made it into my room it was 10:30pm. The nurse worked quickly to get me hooked up to the monitors to measure my contractions, but once again little Miss Ellie didn’t want to cooperate for her part so of course we had to monitor by placing a probe on her head instead.
For the next two hours, the Alex and I talked with our nurse, made a list of the things he needed to run back home and gather up to bring to the hospital after Ellie’s arrival, laughed, and grew more excited. Yes, we did all of that while I laid in my hospital bed, blowing through contractions one after the other as things continued to progress. Shortly after 1am, things really got moving and I began to get the urge to push. Ellie was definitely getting closer to enter the world but decided that I was definitely going to have to work and work hard this time. She was still very high up so I had to work and push a lot before she was finally ready (this was a first for me as well). Finally, after about 20 minutes of pushing while on my hands and knees Ellie decided it was time. The nurse thought I should flip over onto my back but I was finally in a position that wasn’t causing me pain in my pelvis for the first time in months and decided it was in my best interest to remain on my hands and knees. After 2 really strong pushes, Ellie’s head was being delivered. As this was happening, it was myself, Alex and my nurse in the room. She told me to stop pushing as she paged for the doctor, however, I was not pushing, I had no control over what my body was doing and next thing we know, my nurse is delivering baby Ellie.
Yep.
The nurse.
The AMAZING Sarah had just caught my daughter and welcomed her into the world.
And then, the doctor finally walked into the room!
Baby Ellie was born on 12/17/2011 at 1:48am weighing in a 6 pounds 2 ounces and was 18.5 inches long.
She was born 4 weeks early at 36 weeks gestation and was considered a late term preemie. She scored an 8 and a 9 on her Apgar. Ellie did have a few struggles in the beginning, she was breathing rapidly, had issues gaining weight and maintaining her body temperature on top of being jaundice and required an extra night in the hospital after I was discharged however our hospital offers a bed and breakfast program which allowed me to stay in the same room I was already occupying and remain at the hospital with my daughter but I was no longer a patient. This was not covered by our insurance and we had to pay for it out of our own pocket but it was definitely worth it because it allowed me to be close to her and continue to nurse her, pump and deliver breast milk to the nursery.
Since she was jaundice, Ellie did have to spend a day in the light box and was only allowed out when it was time to eat. This was very hard for me….I had never had to spend so much time away from my baby before and I did struggle with it a lot. At shift change when my new night nurse arrived, she was kind enough to move Ellie and her light box to my room so I could at least be with her…she was a great night light and may I add the cutest little glow worm I had ever seen!
The next morning we were happy to learn that she had managed to gain weight over night and our family doctor was ready to discharge her and finally let us take her home. Ellie had to undergo 2 car seat studies while she was in the hospital and sadly, she failed both of them so she had to travel home in a car bed but before she could come home she had to sit through another car seat study while in the car bed to ensure that her oxygen levels were okay, and thankfully she passed and we were finally able to leave the hospital!
Ellie and I arrived home on Tuesday, December 20th. Since she has been home she has gone to the hospital once for a weight and billi check, both of which she passed with flying colors. She has also seen our family doctor twice and has been gaining weight. As of last week Monday, the 26th of December she weighed in at 5 pounds 12 ounces which was much, much better than her discharge weight of 5 pounds 8.4 ounces.
Today ( Tuesday 1/3/12) she will be heading back to the hospital in the afternoon to repeat the car seat study and we are keeping her fingers crossed that she will finally get to ride home in her pretty pink infant seat that I searched store after store for the day before she was born and that we can finally say goodbye to the car bed. She will also be seeing our family doctor on Thursday 1/5/12 as well for her 2 week check up/weigh in and we are very hopeful she will be over 6 pounds by then!
Now that I finally have the time, I thought now was the best time to share Ellie’s birth story.
On the morning of December 15th, which also happened to be my birthday, I began experiencing contractions that were finally coming at regular intervals. This began right around 5am so I decided to finally keep track of them. When the Alex walked in the door shortly after 6am I informed him that the contractions I had been having most of the week had now progressed and were now establishing a pattern. Together we decided to wait things out and see if there was any change as we waited to get the kids off to school. Neither of us said a word to the kids that morning and just sent them on their way. Once the Alex returned from dropping them off we decided to call my doctor’s office and let them know what was going on and see what their thought’s were given the fact that I had only gone into labor naturally once before and my history of laboring rapidly. Based on what I was currently experiencing and my history it was decided that I should head to the hospital and have things checked out.
When we arrived at the hospital we were brought into a room so I could be evaluated. After checking my cervix, we learned that I was dilated 3cm and 60% effaced. I was surprised to say the least. Here I was, on my birthday, laying in a bed at the hospital and possibly having a baby.
The thought was CRAZY!
What was even crazier was that Ellie wasn’t expected to arrive until January 12th.
After checking everything out, I was hooked up to the monitors to measure my contractions and check on baby. We also learned at this time that baby had finally flipped and was no longer breech. This was such great news to receive on my birthday as I had been terrified for months that I would have to undergo my first c-section. Needless to say I was beyond excited!
I laid in the bed contracting for the next hour waiting to be checked to see if I had made any progress so we could determine if I was actually in labor. An hour and a half since I was first checked, the nurse came in to check my cervix again and there was no change. After talking with the doctor on call from my OB-GYN office I was told I could stay at the hospital and wait things out and see if I made any progress or I could go home and see what happens. I opted to go home. It was my birthday after all!
We stopped for lunch on the way home, got to the house and the Alex, Alexander and I all laid down to take a nap. Later that evening my mom came and took Zack and Libby home with her and Alexander went off to my in-laws house and I opted to stay home alone for the night while the hubs was at work. I figured this was in my best interest because I really needed the rest and had A LOT to do the next morning.
The next morning Alex returned from work to check on me and then we went over to my parents house to bring Zack and Libby to school. Once we brought them to school we made our way over to my in-laws house to scoop Alexander before heading to the store to finish up not just our Christmas shopping but our baby shopping too. Up until this point we didn’t even have a car seat for Ellie!
Once we completed all of our shopping we made our way home and I wrapped gifts continuously until it was all done, washed all of the new baby clothing and other baby items we had purchased. After I had finished everything we decided to head to Red Robin for lunch since I didn’t get to do anything special for my birthday and was craving a patty melt like crazy.
Throughout everything since I had left the hospital the day before I continued to feel the contractions but it had got to the point where I pretty much learned to ignore them.
After lunch we made our way to the school to pick Zack and Libby up and headed home so I could get ready to head to the doctor’s office for my 36 week check.
We arrived at the doctor’s office and I was extremely uncomfortable. I was still contracting, my lower back was killing me and I was exhausted!! Also by this time I had experienced the bloody show and was 100% certain that I had lost my mucus plug. I met with the nurse practitioner and explained everything to her that had happened in the last 24+ hours. she checked my cervix and informed me there was still no change from the day before. Once she completed my check she talked with the doctor on staff that day and they thought that I possibly had an bladder infection that was causing me to contract and causing the back pain so they had me pee in a cup before sending me on my way.
Right before I left the office, the nurse practitioner asked me if I felt like I was in actual labor. I informed her that yes, I did feel like it. Everything felt exactly the same as it did when I had gone into labor naturally with the Libby. After our chat I stopped at the desk to schedule my next appointment and told the girls I wasn’t going to make it until then and that I was definitely having a baby before the weekend ended and then, we ventured home.
I know what you’re thinking…..how can the title of this post possibly happen?
Chores and fun in the same phrase….not possible.
Ahhh my friends, that is where you are wrong.
Chores can be fun!
Not only can they be fun but they can be rewarding too and not just for you or your partner but your kids too!
In our house we are all for having the kids help out around the house and think it is very important that everyone pitch in where they can.
Right now, everyone includes both myself and the Alex along with Zack, Libby and even the 3.5 year old Alexander. At this time the only individual exempt from chores is Ellie. Her main chore is to just sit there and be cute!
I was recently introduced to GoalForIt which allows you to create a unique chore chart for your child.
GoalForIt lets you create a personalized chart that is not only fun but is a great learning tool for your child and teaches them responsibility.
I started a chore chart for our 3.5 year old Alexander to help him get back into a daily routine since the birth of Little Miss Ellie. For each chore that Alexander completes each day he receives 1 Moolah and when he reaches 500 Moolah he gets to go shopping for a new Power Ranger!
Here is what his chore chart looks like.
There is a variety of designs and stickers to choose from to personalize your chart and different tasks to choose from and the option to create your own. You also get to choose what days certain tasks are to be done and how much moolah each chore is worth. So far we have only completed Alexander’s chore chart but will be sitting down with Zack and the Libby over the weekend. The Libby has a big responsibility now….she became a pet owner over the holiday but that’s a whole other post!
GoalForIt can also be used for goal setting, behavior charts and even to create to do lists!
Disclaimer: I was compensated for this post on behalf of MomSelect GoalForIt.com in exchange for my complete and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
