The Delivery

Well the special day was scheduled for October 21, 2009.  The night before, some girlfriends of mine took me out to eat at Ya Ya's which is a very fancy euro-bistro.  I had such a great time enjoying my last night before parenthood.

It was so nice having the delivery scheduled. I was able to have everything packed and ready to go the night before.  Here is my last picture being pregnant with Audrey!!

Ughh its hard to believe I was that big!!!

Jonathan and I went to bed very early that night.  We had to be at the hospital at 6:00am.  I don't think I slept at all that night.  I was way too excited to sleep!!  I finally got tired of laying in the bed at 4:30am and decided to get up and shower.  I wanted to make sure my hair was done and had make-up on ;).  I didn't want to look like the living-dead in pictures that could potentially haunt me the rest of my life.

We got to the hospital, checked in, and they had me hooked up to the pitocin by 6:30am.  The nurse that hooked me up to the fetal monitor said that I was already having contractions before they even started my IV.  I was shocked because I couldn't even feel them. After that, I was just waiting for my OB to come by reading magazines and talking to Jonathan

My family consisting of Mom, Dad, sister, grandparents, and my Aunt, showed up to the hospital around 7:30-8:00am.  While waiting on the doc, I really didn't feel a whole lot as far as contractions go.  Sometimes I could tell that I was having one, but other times I couldn't.

The doctor came by around 9ish to check on me.  He broke my water and told me that I should really start feeling contractions. He said that I could get the epidural whenever I wanted .  I felt like I lost 15lbs after he broke my water. I finally felt like I had room to breathe. Then the contractions really started to pick up, and I asked the nurse to go ahead and get my epidural.

A few hours later, around lunch, the nurse came in and said that Audrey's heart rate was dropping and that I needed oxygen and to lay on my side. This helped for a little while, but the doc came in and said that if it kept dropping like it was then we might have to do a c-section.  I told them that I was willing to do whatever.  Jonathan sent a text out to our family and friends to pray that things would continue to go smoothly. I was still only dilated to a 5 and the nurse said that it could still be a while which made us a little nervous because of the stress Audrey was starting to feel.

I hated the oxygen mask.  I felt like I was suffocating wearing it, which is completely impossible since I'm actually getting more oxygen. I kept giving Jonathan a hard time saying "I can't breathe in this mask!". He would just laugh at me, explain the science behind how it was better breathing than before, and continued to make fun of my claustrophobia.

I took a little nap and just tried to rest up before all the work really started. About an hour later I started to really start feeling the contractions. I told the nurse and she checked me and said "Wow you are a 9! I'll come back in 30 min and start setting up.  I had just jumped from a 5 to a 9 in less than an hour and it all started to really sink in. I really started to freak out then.  I was scared that I wouldn't know what to do, that the pain would be too much for me to handle, that I was about to become a mother, all of the crazy feelings came over me and I just panicked.  I asked Jonathan to update my family that we were about to start getting busy and to also bring my mom back. She really helped encourage me and told me I would be fine! You never get to old to need your mom sometimes!! We had a really great talk, and I needed her encouragement.

At  2:00pm the nurses came in and started getting everything together. The doctor showed up around 2:30pm.  I pushed for 22 minutes. Jonathan was really trying to be as sweet and helpful as possible, but he had no idea what he was doing or what I was needing. It seemed like he was yelling in my ear, "You're doing great, Magen. You're almost there!". I couldn't take it anymore and told him to "SHUT UP!" The nurses tried to hide their laughter while I told him to talk quieter and back off of all the encouragement.

And at 2:50pm Audrey Elizabeth Friedmann entered this world at 6lb 14oz and 19.75in.

I could not have asked for an easier delivery.  God really answered our prayers in giving us a beautiful little girl who is perfect in every way.  Jonathan and I are so blessed to have such great family and friends.

The rest of our visit was comfortable. We had other visitors from Jonathan's work and our church. However, there were about 4 times when there was a deafening grinding noise ringing through our room. It sounded like someone was using a jack-hammer in the room above us. I'm sure there's never a good time to do that kind of work in a hospital, but I'm glad it didn't last too long.

Below are some more of my favorite pictures of our stay and us going home.

Pool Day

Saturday some friends of ours, Damon and Lindsey, invited us to their neighborhood pool. We arrived at the pool about 10:30.  We had such a great time and Audrey did GREAT.

Before we left I lathered her up with sunscreen. She is so fair that I didn't want to chance her getting burned.  It would have been miserable for all parties involved I do believe.

At first Audrey wasn't to sure about the water.  It was a little cooler than the warm bath water she was used to :).  Eventually she warmed up to it and really enjoyed it.  She was kicking her feet and splashing.  We didn't stay too long out in the sun.  When we got out she loved watching the other kids in the pool, especially when someone jumped off the diving board and made a big splash.

                                                                            (nap time)

                                                                               (twins)

When we got back home Audrey went down for a nap. I had to go in and wake her up at 6:00.  I really think she would have slept all night!!  Needless to say we had a very successful pool day!! 



On a side note Audrey has finally as of Friday cut her very first tooth.  Jonathan was actually able to get a picture of it. Since then Audrey has been in such a better mood, which Mommy is so grateful for!!! If you look close (very close) you can see on center right side there is a little tooth poking through

Until next time....

Craft Projects

When I was younger I took several sewing classes during the summer.  We would usually make our own shorts and then paint a shirt to match. I LOVED it!! Since then I have always wanted to get into sewing, but never had the time or the courage to do it. 

When we were setting up Audrey's room, we were looking for a glider but didn't want to spend $500 on it. My aunt mentioned this place that gets shipments of furniture from dept. stores that are damaged in some way for cheap and then sells them for a lot less. We found a glider that was perfect, but it had been totally stripped of its upholstery.  I wanted something that wasn't a huge monstrosity but something that I would be able to sleep in. I also wanted a glider not a rocker, and I wanted it to swivel.   I was very leery about buying it because paying some one to reupholster it could be really expensive. We were going back and forth and Jonathan suggested that I just do it.  WHAT?!?  Are you kidding me?? Me, reupholster a chair!!!

Well he ended up talking me into it. Picking out the material and getting the supplies together was a lot of fun, but getting started was a whole other story.  I think it took me several days of walking by it to actually start it.  Here is the before...

and the after

It took me 4 days to do it. I think it turned out GREAT!! I was really surprised to see how easy it actually turned out to be.

After accomplishing this project it gave me more confidence in my sewing skills. Since then, I have hemmed my own pants and even hemmed the curtains for our living room.

Well my most recent project I did yesterday.  I have been looking at "Hooter Hiders" (yes, that is the brand name for a nursing cover), but I just couldn't let myself pay $35 for something that looked so simple.  I googled how to make one and found this blog: http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com . she has all kinds of other crafts as well. I went to Hobby Lobby and purchased all of my supplies and yesterday I set out to make my own "Hooter Hider."

Don't you just love the fabric?!?  I was so pleased with my final product!!  I plan on next trying to make Audrey an outfit (we will see how that goes).   I also found a very cute purse online with the pattern and everything.

I'll be sure and keep you updated on any other projects.

Sweet Husband

Yes, I know I'm doing 2 blogs in one day, but I have a lot of making up to do :)

Jonathan and I had a great anniversary.  Audrey and I went and ate lunch with him at work.  We try and do that from time to time (sometimes just so I can get out of the house), but today just to make it special.  Jonathan then informed me that he was planning our dinner and not to do anything!

He came home from work with groceries and I was told not to touch.  So while I was feeding Audrey he cooked supper. He did such a great job!!

We started out with my favorite, hummus and crackers.  It was a great appetizer while we waited for the grill to heat up.  The main course was grilled pork steaks and pasta salad!!  It was oh so good, but the best part was that I didn't cook :)  Audrey started getting fussy so I told Jonathan that I would gladly do the dishes if he would give her a bath. 

After we put her to bed Jonathan brought out dessert. A grapefruit with a little bit of sugar sprinkled on top.  It was just the right thing for a hot summer day.  Very light and healthy!! I will be doing that again.

By doing this Jonathan proved that he can cook other things besides shake and back and mac and cheese.  Little does he know he was worked himself into cooking on a more regular basis.  ;)

I'll end with a picture of how Audrey enjoys sitting in her high-chair. She loves to prop that foot up. We haven't quite grasped table manners yet :)

From the Beginning

I had a pretty easy pregnancy with Audrey.  The only problem that I had was I was diagnosed with PUPPS which is a rash that only 1% of women get when their pregnant, and I just happened to be that 1%. The only way to get rid of the rash is to have the baby.  I thought at first we had fleas or something in our house because I kept getting these little red bumps all over my legs.

It then turned into this really bad rash, so at my next appointment I showed the doc and he told me to put caladryl on it.  So I went home and did that.  Let me tell you being 8 months pregnant in September with this horrible rash is no fun at all.

Well the rash continued to get worse and worse. One day I tried calling my doc because I was at my wits end. I just couldn't take it any more.  For some reason I couldn't get through to the office.  So I got in my car (which did not have AC)  and drove there.  I walked in crying (and if you know me I don't cry especially in front of strangers).  I told the nurse that I hated to come in like this but I was miserable and needed some help. She was so so so nice and I was back in a room in 10 minutes.  I guess there must be something to being big and pregnant and crying that people are willing to do whatever :)

My OB made me an appointment with a dermatologist for the next week.  He said that I had PUPPS  and then he informed me... are you ready for this.... that I was allergic to the caladryl!!!  So, just FYI  most people are allergic to benadryl cream, it is okay to take by mouth, but the cream can cause an allergic reaction. Yes, I was making this rash worse. I must have looked horrible because the sweet man took my hand and said that I would have had no idea and that this wasn't my fault.  He then gave me a steroid cream ( best thing ever). Here is a few shots of my horrible rash....

The last 6 weeks I kept cold packs on my arms and legs 24/7 and stayed in this constant state of drowsiness cause of all the benadryl that I was taking. I would get up at 2am to change out my cold packs. I told myself this was preparing me for 2am feedings.  Also, I actually enjoyed taking cold showers.  How crazy is that.

The best part about all of this deals with Jonathan. He was so nice to me and tried so hard to be understanding, but he just didn't know what to do.  One afternoon he came up to me and showed me these red bumps on his stomach and asked me if he had PUPPS too! I laughed so hard and said no that it was poison ivy.  He was so miserable ( I have to say that I was so glad that he had it) but he was able to get a steroid shot and it took it away really fast.  Lets just say after that he was even more nice!!  After suffering with his rash for a couple of days he had a whole new respect for me and my rash. 

Since I had this my doc said that if everything was going well that I could induce 2 weeks early. We scheduled it for October 21st. Let me tell you that day could not come fast enough!!!  I didn't want to rush a delivery, just because I was miserable because I wanted Audrey to be healthy, but it was really starting to get bad. 

Stay tuned for the next update on the delivery!!

Celebrating 3 Years

Well today is our 3 year anniversary.  Wow how fast can three years go by, especially this year. 

Jonathan, thank you so much for being even more than I could ask for in a husband.

- I love how much we have learned about each other and am looking forward to learning even more!

- I love how I still get butterflies by just thinking about you

- I love watching you interact with Audrey and watching you be a GREAT dad.

- I love how you are always working at being the best husband

- I love that you stand by me no matter what

- I love how you know just what to say to make me feel better

- I love our story and all the memories that we have

- I love how you go to work every day so I can be at home to take care of our daughter

- I love how you never complain about having to go to work

- But most of all I love that I get to spend many more years with you!!

Love Love...... :)

Memorial Day Weekend

This weekend we headed to Houston to visit James and Karen.  I had everything loaded and was in the process of cleaning up Audrey from her lunch when Jonathan came home so we could leave.  I was headed to Audrey's room to do a last diaper change before we hit the road.  Well......she felt a little warm so I decided to check her temp.  Of course it was 101.8!!! ahhh we are loaded and ready to go... what to do.  I put a call into the doc. and then we just waited.  So many thoughts went through my head, to go or not to go.  She has been teething but does your temp get that high, will sitting in a  car seat only make her fever higher since she gets so hot, will she be fussy the entire weekend, and so on and so on.  Oh the joys of being a Mom!!! Well, the nurse called back and said that when teething she could run a temp of 102 ( had no idea) and just to keep Tylenol and Motrin in her and just stop every 3 hours and check her temp.  So, off we head to Houston.

It is normally a 7 hour trip but with a baby we have to add an hour and thank goodness that is all we added to this trip.  She did really really well on the trip down there. She wasn't that fussy at all PTL.  We arrive at their house and put he strait to bed.  Karen was running a 5k that next morning, but I decided to stay and let Audrey sleep in so that maybe she would have a better day.  Lets just say that her day started off okay, but as it went on she wanted no on but me.  Poor Aunt Karen and Uncle James weren't able to hold her all weekend. She pretty much ran fever all weekend long and just wasn't herself. If you want a little view of what are weekend was like, take a look.....

This picture is definitely one of my favs of the weekend!!!  Poor Uncle James tried so hard!!!

She really wasn't that bad as long as I was holding her which did get draining.  We went to Galveston on Sunday to enjoy the beach which was lots of fun. This is what Audrey thought of it...

Let me tell you , you don't know what being hot is until you are at a beach in Texas with a sleeping baby on your lap!!!

Other than the fever we has such a great weekend. We love visiting with family! Here are a few more pics of our weekend.....

Long Over Due!!!

So, now that Audrey is 7 months old I have started this up again.  I realized the other day that we have experienced so much and right now I remember it, but years down the road will I remember the joy of Audrey laughing, or her first bite of blueberries?  So, in order to keep up with all the craziness at the Friedmann house I will once again start blogging.  I really really hope that I keep this up.  I do feel very insecure about what to say or the fact that I might not have anything to say so I just don't post, but from this moment on I am going to "try"  to post several times a week and just document what we do during the day and even some of my struggles.

I kept a journal all through my high school years and even part of my college days, but somewhere along the way I just stopped doing it. Keeping a journal was one of my favorite past times and something that I did for me.  I really enjoy reading other peoples blogs, and part of me thinks that my life isn't as interesting as others.  So this blog is not to please others or entertain.  This blog is for me to journal and keep up with my growing little girl (who is getting bigger by the day).

I am going to do a recap for the next couple of post on what the past 7 months has been like for us along with what is going on currently.  Maybe just maybe I will throw in a few pic here and there :) 

I will close with one of my favorite recent pictures.  It may or may not be because it is the first one where she actually might look like me :) 

It's a Girl

I went to the Doctor yesterday for my monthly check up and we were able to find out the gender of our new baby!!!! We are so excited for a little girl. The lady that was doing the U/S was taking measurement and different pictures and then she asked us if we wanted to know the sex. I said yes of course and then she asked us if we would take a Little girl. I looked at Jonathan and he had the biggest grin on is face (that didn't go away all day long). Here are the pictures that we have:

In this one you can see that she was waving at us. She also reached over to scratch her little head. It was the cutest thing

Her legs and feet

Her profile

The Doctor said she was right on schedule for 20 weeks.

We have decided on the name Audrey. We are still working on the middle name. I am in full swing planning for this little girl. I told Jonathan yesterday while we were waiting to see the doctor to be prepared that Audrey will have a bow in her hair when she leaves the hospital, and it will most likely be pink. He just shook his head.

Audrey's room is coming together. We have taken out some of the furniture and it is slowly starting to look empty. We should be getting her furniture in the next couple of weeks. My mom bought me a rug for our living room for my birthday. Since we will have little knees crawling around I figured it was time to start that project. My new hobby is looking at bedding for her crib. There are so many choices out there!! It is kinda overwhelming. I will try and update more often about the progress of her nursery and middle name!!

until next time...

Mothers Day

So this post is way past due!!!

This weekend we went to El Dorado for Mother's Day to spend it with my Mom. We left Friday and had a Wonderful weekend. I wasn't feeling well at all that weekend for some reason. I was extremely tired and had a pretty bad headache the whole time we where there. I hated the fact that I felt so bad the weekend we went home. On Saturday evening the rest of my family came over for some BBQ (which is the best by the way). This included my Grandparents, Great Aunt, Aunt, Uncle, Little Cousin, parents and sister. We had such a great time. My mom was feeling great and it was just a wonderful time of celebrating the wonderful women in our lives.

I credit a lot of who I am to my mom. She has always been the strong rock that I needed when times were hard. I always new that no matter what happened she was there for me to lean on and give encouragement (although sometimes it wasn't what I wanted to hear:) ) She is such a strong women that, when our child gets here I only wish that I could be half as good as a mom as she was to me and my sister!!

This week has been so so so so wet and dark. Today was the first day in weeks it seems like that the sun has been out ALL day!! It is sooo refreshing. This weekend I have plans on going through the house and getting rid of lots and lots of unneeded items that seem to have collected over the past year... Get ready Jonathan haha.

My next docs appt. is this Tuesday, so I will be sure and update everyone on how we are doing!!!

Lots of Love!!!!

Magen