Time Sure Does Fly!!

Well, I can't believe it's been so long since I posted here on Blogger. Our whole life changed on October 23, 2009 and we haven't looked back since.
I entered the ER on 10/23/09 and was admitted immediately due to the critical nature of my illness. I was 23 weeks at the time and was experiencing some crazy cold symptoms. After having several coughing attacks in which I couldn't catch my breath, we decided to go to the emergency fearing the safety of our son. When I arrived I was brought back immediately b/c of my pregnancy and after assessing me and putting an oxygen probe on me, it was determined that my oxygenation levels were critical at only 64%. I was rushed into triage, had 9 IV's inserted into me, and was put on an BiPaP oxygen mask. I failed every test that they gave me and the decision to intubate me and put me on a ventilator was made. We would later find out that I had the Swine Flu, Pneumonia, Accute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Bronchitis and later went into renal failure. Essentially, I was dying. I only remember counting backwards from 10, I got to 6 and woke up almost 2 months later. I was in a coma for 6 weeks and they almost lost me on 4 separate occasions, they kept the baby in for as long as they could and as I started improving, he started declining. I was rushed into emergency c-section while still unconscious and my son Noah Matthew was born at 30 weeks gestation on 12/7/09, Pearl Harbor Day! He weighed 2lbs 8oz and was 15 inches long.
So, in essence, I consider our story a miracle. I was blessed with wonderful doctors, respiratory therapists and nurses at Sharp Memorial Hospital and great nurses in the Mary Birch Hospital NICU for Noah. I literally owe them mine and my son's life!
Aside from some nerve damage I sustained from a DVT (blood clot) from a vein catheter in my right leg, the only thing I have to worry about is doing some physical therapy so I can get some feeling back in my leg/foot and hopefully walk normal again. I was using a foot brace to help me walk and avoid tripping on my dropped foot but I have since begun walking without it and am doing great! I was a huge golfer before this (captain of the women's golf team at SDSU) and my goal is to play and walk 18 holes again. And of course, run after my son!
Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers, I know that because of them and by the grace of God me and my son are both here today. Praise the Lord!!

It's a...BOY!!!

Well, yesterday was the big day! Finally it was time to find out the sex of the baby. I woke up a little tired because I had trouble sleeping the night before from sheer excitement. I took a shower and got ready like usual. Then it was time to measure out those wonderful 32 oz of water that I would have to ingest and hold in my bladder with excruciating discomfort. We got to Grossmont Imaging a little early and I filled out the usual assortment of paperwork. I begrudgingly paid the fee and reminded myself of how much being a cash patient sucked and sat down with Mike and my mom. As I sat there the aniticipation built up and along with that build up, so went my urge to pee all over the office floor! Then that big door opened and my name was called. Alas, I made it.

We asked if my mom could come and she assured us that she while she couldn't come right now, she wouldn't miss anything when that time came. We walked into the room, I laid down on my back and she got to work. I pulled up my shirt and pulled down my pants (sexy, lol) and I fully anticipated a chill to follow that thick gel spewing from the bottle but it was shockingly warm to the touch. I couldn't see the magic that was happening on the screen from my vantage point but I watched Mike's face and the expressions said everything I needed to know. The ultrasound tech said that she was initially going to be doing the measurements and looking at several things and that when she was done with everything she'd show us the baby and share the big news. After several minutes and some apparent struggles with our little wiggle worm, it was determined that I wasn't as far along as we initially thought. Based on our first ultrasound, the baby was measuring 2 weeks younger than my ovulation/conception estimation. So, instead of being 19 weeks like what we thought, it turns out we were 17 weeks; much too soon to do the measurements needed for this ultrasound screen. After she shared this with us, the big reveal came.

The way it happened is something that I would have never imagined. I expected some sort of aniticipation or mystery leading up to the announcement by the tech. Maybe a question like, "Do you have a feeling about what you're having" or, "Are you ready?". I never thought it would be blurted out with no warning. But that's what happened.

I could have guessed it already though. The way Mike had been smiling the whole time. A smile and a look in his eyes that I don't think I've seen in our almost 11 years together. The smug look for the running bet about who was right and the hopefulness that radiated from his being, I just knew it was a boy. So when the tech blurted out that it was most certainly a boy and when Mike asked her what her level of certainty was... the 101% answer we got back was not a huge surprise! We left the offices and the onslaught of calls, texts and emails started. I hope we didn't forget everyone, but it is so hard to contact everyone. I hope you can understand.

So, that's it! Another stinky weenie on the way, poor Mia! We go back in 3 weeks for some measurements but everything looks good and so far, this munchkin has made his daddy proud, just look at the picture and you'll see what I mean. LOL! ;)

2nd Dr's Appointment

We had our 2nd Dr's Appointment last week on Thursday 8/13/09 with Dr. Castillo. We showed up to find a waiting room filled with other couples/families and my first thought was that it was going to be a long day. We signed in begrudgingly paid the fee, did I mention that my application to AIM and Medical has taken since June and I still don't have a determination of eligibility? I'm going to go off on a tangent here and express how I feel about this part of my pregnancy. I've worked and payed taxes since I got my worker's permit when I was 15. I graduated college just .2 short of cum laude from SDSU's Business School and never thought that when I got laid off in January and Mike finally made the decision to enroll in Nursing School that we'd get pregnant and be dealing with all of this. I will say with complete certainty that this whole process of applying for government assistance has been quite a humbling experience. With that said, this is just a temporary situation and one that I hope I will never have to go through again. This is America, the wealthiest nation on the face of this planet and to see and hear the things I have in those offices, affirms the belief that this country is in a lot of trouble. I pray about this and I encourage everyone to do the same.
Ok, so back on track. We pay and wait for our name to get called. When it finally it does, we walk back after making a pit stop at the dreaded scale (hate this part, LOL), and sit in a room to wait for the doctor. The CNA comes in and notifies us that the Dr had to leave on an emergency and that the nurse would be seeing us. This was a little disappointing but what could we do. We got the information on the Quad Screen and anxiously awaited for the part where we got to see the baby and hear the heartbeat for the first time. As I lay there on my back I had million things going through my head: did I miss a spot when I shaved?, I feel bad for Mike's view in his chair at the end of the table, am I supposed to be on my back for this long?, gosh that blue jelly looks really cold, I hope that everything looks okay with the baby, etc... Then after that initial shock from the jelly that looked so cold, I see our honey bunny. We'd soon come to find out that this child likes to do laps in my uterus! It didn't help that the girl hadn't really done an ultrasound before either! We saw the random fingers and toes, the head, the tummy, arms moving all around and legs making the most of acrobatic moves. And then there was the heartbeat. One of the most melodic of sounds I've ever heard in my life. There was the living, breathing being in my body and hearing that made it all real. I kinda expected myself to cry at the sound of it but my happiness, excitement and relief didn't let me. I looked at Mike who was smiling ear to ear and I was just peaceful.
We got the information for the lab and the ultrasound place and we were on our way. The next hour or so was spent with me being nervous of the impending doom that is a needle and the fact that I was starving. We ate at Pat & Oscar's and headed the lab. I didn't think about this until after the fact, but I kinda wish there was a place to notate the high levels of sodium in my blood were the result of 3 yummy breadsticks and some chicken cesar salad. But alas, I survived the death march with special thanks to a great phlebotemist and some entertaining distraction by Mike.
We have our appointment to find out the sex of the baby set for 9/3/09. My only concern is what the heck I'm going to do for the next couple weeks as I practically die from anticipation, and the fact that I have to drink 32 oz. of water before my appointment without being able to pee the usual 3-4 times an hour. WTH am I going to do?? Do they sell pregnancy Depends?!

Isaiah is born!

Ok, so technically he was born yesterday July 22, 2009 @ 11:09 am. He weighed 7 lbs 11 oz and was 19.5 inches long. Of course he's precious, just like Jaime was when he was born. Elisa and Toby have a knack for making those perfect looking newborn babies. You know, those one's that don't look like little old men or cone heads. LOL! He is fuzzy, a little teddy bear and kind of how I anticipate our munchkin will be. Our baby is blessed with "fuzzy" parents! And I'm really hoping he/she takes after my Nana Maria or Mike's mom in the hairless department!!
Back to Isaiah, the night before the whole house went to bed really late. My dad was up until 2 am and Mike and I were up until about 1:30-2ish watching a couple of our DVR'd shows and the movie, "Watchmen". My mom got the call at around 5 am and the whole house started getting ready for the big day. We got to the hospital at around 8 am and found that Mary Birch was under some construction, yuck! As a result, there were no children allowed past the first floor and that meant a long day for Diego and Mia downstairs away from the action and unfortunately a constant shuffling all day of an adult downstairs to be with them. When we got upstairs to room 318 we found Elisa in a lot of pain. She was dilated to 3.5 and the contractions were reading into the high 20's and mid 30's. This part was sad and scary for me, both because nobody wants to see their sibling in that kind of pain but also because the thought of me being in that very bed with that excruciating pain made the reality of what was coming that much more real. I remember being so strong with Diego, Jaime and Mia during the whole L&D process, but this go around is so different, for obvious reasons. They gave her some Phentonyl (sp?) and it seemed to help immediately. Then the decision had to be made about the epidural. To our amazement, Elisa considered going through without that miracle spinal treatment. She figured that she could just keep taking the pain medication until she gave birth. But after talking with the nurse and realizing that the medication was going through her blood system and being passed along to the baby, she decided against it and went through with the epidural. When they checked her for the epidural she was at 5 cm dilated.
I would estimate that approximately 1.5 hours passed and when they checked her again she was fully dilated and ready to start pushing. The nurse went to find the doctor only to discover that he was in surgery (C-Section) and there were complications. So we waited for about 30 minutes and then in came the doc and some more nurses and prep started immediately. They rolled a tray in, put on all their garb, removed the lower portion of the bed and Elisa's legs were in the stir-ups with the delivery ready to get under way.
After only 4 pushes, Mr Isaiah Joseph Hernandez was here!
He was so tiny and so cute. At first he was a quiet little bundle and then when the nurses started poking and prodding him, there came that manly man screaming. He was husky! The look on Jaime's face was classic. He was the epitome of a proud and doting big brother. After everything and everybody settled down and the family came and went he was peacefully asleep. We all went to Filippi's Pizza, where else of course, and ate a good lunch. When we got back Elisa had been moved to room 580.
We found out that he had swallowed some amniotic fluid and that's why he was so fussy initially. They weighed him and assured everyone that it was okay that he hadn't eaten since most babies are so sleepy to do so anyway and they're born with a layer of fat that sustains them their first day or so. Mike was good with holding him but I'm still anxious to see him with a newborn, changing and what not. He's so afraid of hurting little babies, it's funny. We visited until visiting hours were over and left the hospital and 2 tired parents to go back home at around 9:15.
The whole experience was a good one. The staff was great and aside from the construction, Mary Birch was awesome. I am hoping and praying that the construction will be done by January 2010. I am so happy and proud of my sister and Toby. It's times like these that really make you sit back and realize how important family is. And I'm so lucky to have mine.

Little Bean's Debut

Today was our munchkin's first doctor's appointment with Dr. Castillo @ Sharp. I showed up with knots in my stomach at the thought of having to possibly give blood for labs. And the image of stir-ups, I mean really. The ladies in the office were really nice and Dr. Castillo seems personable and professional, so I'm relieved about that at least.
Upon arriving and filling out all the new patient paperwork, I did the usual pee in the cup and change into paper clothing thing. When the nurse came in she asked how far along I was and mentioned that one of the lines on the pregnancy test was really faint and the other was really dark, which is exactly what happened with the First Response test I took. It got Mike and I a little concerned at first because we figured that those lines would be good and dark by now since I am 3 months. After pondering about this for a few minutes, we decided not too get worked up about it. The doc came in and did her examinations and then it was time to see our sugar plum.
There he/she was! Mike came over to the side of the table and we both looked on in anticipation as we saw that little fluttering heart and moon tummy. I was shocked at how clear the baby looked. We saw head, rump, tummy and limbs. She showed us where the sacs were and measured the baby. Even though my dates indicate that I will be 12 weeks tomorrow, the baby is measuring smaller and looks to be closer to 10 weeks. Dr. Castillo says that it could be either or: 1) I am 12 weeks and the baby is just small or 2) My dates are off and we're somewhere between 10-11 weeks. In any case, she decided to keep my due date at 1/29/09 for now and if not, the baby will be here possibly as late as Valentine's Day. Our very own little lovebug!

Happy Father's Day!

This one was a little extra special because it's Mike's first "unofficial" Father's Day to our little bean. I got him a book: "The Dudes Guide to Pregnancy". It looks hilarious. Whether he'll have finished it by the time the baby gets here is another story. He jokingly remarked today, "Well, I'll have it read by the time baby #2 gets here!". LOL, he really hates reading and I'm not going to force him but I thought it would be cool. Maybe if I would have cut out the pages, drew comic-like figures and grouped the pages into mini books of 25 pages each I might have had more luck?!
I got to thinking today about how much I admire my Dad for being such a great father to us, all three daughters have a unique relationship with him and I really hope to mirror the way he and my mom raised us. I'm so fortunate to have them.
I also took some time to reflect on both of my grandpa's who have passed on as well as Mike's dad. I think about friends and family who have lost loved ones this year and it makes me appreciate my family and friends even more.
I'm excited that this time next year, Mike will be a "real" daddy and I just know that he's going to be a great one. I can't wait.
Here's to all the poppas out there, soon-to-be or otherwise, Happy Father's Day!!

We're Having A Baby!

I thought it would be neat to start blogging about this whole experience so we could look back and reflect on these exciting times when the house is empty or the kids are driving us crazy.
We officially found out a couple weeks ago that we're expecting, on 6/6/09 to be exact. That day was like any other day. I had almost hit the 25 lbs lost mark (as a side note, I was on a steady path to be a new and improved hot wife via calorie counting and exercise) when I started noticing that my breasts were really achy. Something that had been standing out in my head was the fact that I had missed my period in May, but I attributed that to the constant dieting and exercising that I had been doing with the resulting weight loss and the fact that my period was never regular to begin with.
But when I got home that day, something urged me to reach into my dresser drawer, pull out that little test, and make sure that everything was kosher. I remember walking into the guest bathroom clutching that wrapped stick so no one could see what I was about to do. So I did my business and sat there without much anxiety or apprehension about the matter. And after a few seconds, there it was: a faint little pink line with a brighter and more distinguished line right next door. Immediately in my mind I started rationalizing, it was an old test, I must have peed wrong (this one's classic), or somehow this was my mind playing tricks on me.
Let me interject here with my childhood fantasy of how I had imagined that this was going to play out. I always thought that when this time in my life happened it would be filled with much pomp and circumstance, this grandiose experience that would be cherished in the minds of my family members forever. This ranged from opening a baby themed present at Christmas, to placing an ad in the newspaper, to creating a slide show with our baby pictures ending in the image of my pregnancy test and ultrasound. If it could be conceptualized, I imagined it and worked it out in my head!
Enter reality. I really don't know what I was thinking, but my initial reaction was to go directly to the source with the most experience on the issue, mom. Looking back, I *should* have reached for Mike and I wish I would have done that. This is a prime example of how playing Halo makes you miss out on life, lol. In any case, I swing the door open and go around the corner to the dining room where mom was sitting and studying for the accounting class she was taking. I asked her to accompany me to the bathroom so I could show her something. God only knows what she was thinking at this point, but if I could guess, I'm almost certain that the thought of looking at a pee stick was last on her list of other gross things that can be evaluated in a bathroom. So there we stood. I asked her what she thought about that judegmental faint pink line staring back at us. She made a quick comment to the effect, "well I don't know, it's pretty light but it's there". Great, just what I needed to hear, more uncertainty! I looked at her in shock and covered my mouth. I think I looked up and asked out loud how this could have happened. LOL, yeah, I think we all know the answer to that one! Again this is just me, being 'rational'.
So I leave the guest bathroom and walk to the back bathroom where Sara was taking a shower. I knocked on the door and told her I had to ask her something when she was done. She told me to just come in and ask. So there I went, into that steamy bathroom. She pulled back the corner of the shower curtain and I showed her the infamous pink line(s) to which she screamed and jumped out of the shower butt-naked into my arms screaming something about that that was how her tests looked like and that she knew I was pregnant. This is where, in my 'rational' voice, I mentioned that it could be faulty and that we didn't know for certain to which she concluded in her all knowing-ness that I was indeed pregnant. So this an improvement right?! From uncertainty to certainty!
That's when I walked into the bedroom and showed Mike. Back to square one, more uncertainty. He said that the line was so faint that he didn't want to get excited until we took another test. Ok, I think that's more in line with the rational views I thought I was having. The ying to my crazy yang. But now what?
Later that evening we went to Elisa and Toby's house to get some expert advise from a 7-month pregnant lady. So I whipped it in the kitchen and showed her. She was excited and happy and said in some more knowing-ness, that she just knew when I called her. She remembered back to Mother's Day when I wasn't eating much and to a couple other times when I had mentioned that I wasn't feeling too hot. She had one of those ClearBlue digital tests left over and she said that I should just take it and see what it said. I wanted to put it off for as long as I could. I figured that if we waited a couple days that the results might be a little more reliable. But they convinced me to do it anyway. So there we (me, mom, and Elisa) stood in Elisa's bathroom. I called Mike in there while that little hour glass was working hard to tell us the fate of the rest of our lives. I closed my eyes and told them to tell me when the read out showed up. And then I heard it. Those giggles, followed by one of those ah-ha moments. There it was, 'clear' as day: Pregnant. I cried in Mike's arms and everyone got a little misty-eyed. I walked out and told my Dad who was playing basketball in the street with Jaime, he was going to be a Tata, AGAIN! It was a heartfelt congratulations tinged with a little bit of worry or perhaps disappointment, I think. Just that night before, I had decided that I was really going to do the LPGA certificaiton thing for sure and look into moving to Florida and get things going and over with. I think we were both excited about starting to practice and play again. But that's life right?
I wish I was as celestial as my sisters! I was so shocked by this that I was literally in denial at first. Without going into too much detail, let me just say that Mike and I were being very careful. We had tried a couple years ago off and on again without any luck and had decided that it was just God's way of telling us that this wasn't the time. Afterall, we have so much going on in our lives right now. His mom hasn't been doing well at all since she almost died in December, I was laid off, Mike is in the middle of Nursing school, and the laundry list goes on and on.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I suffer from type A personality. I have a very distinct way of doing things methodically, I am super organized, I'm a planner, and I like to be in control. This news, did not match that description of my life plan. I was side swiped. But I was so happy. And if I was happy, I don't know how I could begin to describe how Mike must have been feeling. He's been wanting kids for so long. It's definitely a natural role for him, he's great with Diego, Jaime and Mia. I joke about it, but I sometimes find myself a little hurt when the kids ask for him or light up when he talks about going outside or playing video games with them. He's in the most literal sense, a big kid and I'm thankful for the many ways that he keeps me young.
So that's it! We're having a baby! Based on my calcualations and with the help of Babycenter.com, it looks like we're due on my cousin Vanessa's birthday: 1/29/09. And based on all other information it looks like my conception date is right around Cinco de Mayo, or as we like to call it "Drinko de Mayo", and that's just what we did and probably the reason for the carelessness! So here's to our miracle and the many memories that are heading our way. Cheers!