In the life of me.

Friday’s Feast has been collecting cob-webs, so someone else picked up the ball. I’m tryin’ it out.

Breakfast
Who was your role model growing up?
My parents.

Lunch
Who would you turn to first if you were in desperate need of help?
My husband, or my mother.

Dinner
Are you generally organized or messy?

Is there such a thing as an organized mess, that’s what I believe my desk has become. Everything else is neat and tidy.

Midnight Snack
What do you do when you can’t sleep at night?

I try my hardest to meditate myself back to sleep. If that doesn’t work I come out to the computer and piddle around until my eyes get heavy.

Recipe for this Week (instead of your recipe for life – what is it for just this week?)

Lots of love, compassion, prayer, snuggles, hugs, and kisses. I also would love to toss in some autumn leaves and fresh fall air.

*hugs*
~Jen

Right now I am pausing for only a moment in the middle of my chaotic week to reflect a little. Tomorrow will have been a year since my mother in law and her mother came in to be here before the birth of the newest family member (at the time, the latest came in July 6, 2008 from my sis and law and her hubby!). Despite them being jet lagged, that evening we went to our Family Readiness Group meeting. Asian themed food was to be brought and my MIL (mother in law) made some of her sweet and sour chicken. It was delish. Midway through the meeting I remember my contractions coming a bit closer together. Mind you, all day I was having them pretty close but not enough to rush to the hospital for. They were getting uncomfortable by the time I went for my second plate of food and got called up since I won a door prize. I groaned on the inside at having to get back up again to go grab my copy of Chicken Soup for the Military Wife.

Eventually, we leave the meeting and head over to the Shoppette to go get the in laws some booze for their stay. They like their night caps. It was after Bryan dropped me off at the house that the contractions became almost unbearable. He was off taking his family to the hotel. By the time he came home it was around 10 or so at night and I was bent over in front of the couch panting. He spoke…I growled on the inside. “Honey, are you alright?” I did my best to come up with a pleasant response, “Let’s go to the hospital, now.” Yes, I was calm, surprisingly.

Once we got there they hooked my tummy up to a heart monitor for John, to see how he was doin’. It also measured my contractions which were off the friggen chart. Mind you, I was in early labor for like 3 weeks and a few of those ones went off the paper too. They give me a shot to help me sleep. All it did was help me puke. Bryan had gone back home because that’s where they sent him. I got a midwife to help me walk to a delivery room and called him on the way. It was then that I wanted my friggen epidural. It was 2am and I had gotten no sleep and I puked, no fun.

When Bry arrives, he starts asking questions…I blatantly told him to shut up…even though they were for the paperwork for my lovely epidural. Simply, don’t talk when ya see the spikes move along the paper, not wise.

Once that was done, I get moved to a bigger room due to the epidural, yay! I really wanted a water birth but a) it was taken if I recall correctly and b) epidural screws with that. Oh well. I distinctly remember a Turkish woman screaming her lungs out and druggily saying, “I feel bad for her”. To which the midwife replied, “We offered drugs and she refused, too late now.” Later I learned that the Turks kinda invented this whole push present crud. With them, the louder the woman screams, the more money/gifts they get. No thanks.

After that, time sped up to where I began pushing. I remember Eva barely getting the family and herself to the delivery room on time. Labor went really fast for me. Even the midwife didn’t believe I was ready when I said I felt like I needed to push. Once I couldn’t stand the pressure any longer, I buzzed her again. Then natures work was allowed to begin. In twelve easy pushes, John Richard was born at 4:41 in the morning. I did not sleep that day either. I was too overjoyed.

It’s just really hard to believe a year has almost gone by since then. I only write this now because I will not have time. The house needs prepped before the party and I have a TON of baking to do for it as well.

*hugs*
~Jen