November 13, 12 [Tuesday]
Still pregnant...haha. This wasn't exactly what I was expecting...I really thought I was gonna go into labor around the 9th(ish). We're three days away from our scheduled cesarean, so I've kind of spent the day coming to terms with that possible reality...after initially realizing it at 5am this morning and not being able to fall back asleep because I started panicking. Three days, kid...that's all you have to try to do this on your own. Tomorrow I'm starting "Operation, Induce Labor and Evict Baby!" Ha. We'll see if it works.
In the mean time, FaceBook has been full of November Thankfuls, what with Thanksgiving coming up. I don't feel like boring everyone with my handfuls of blessings, but I figured it might be nice to read over them a few years down the road...so I'll write them here, for myself.
Day 1: I'm thankful for Andrew Southard. He's the only person in the world I don't get bored of...who I never want to be without and I appreciate the crap out of him. My life was a disheveled mess when I met him and became even more so when I tried to deny my feelings for him, but my world fell together when I finally accepted the simple fact that he was everything I wanted. I can truly count on him, and I love him with all my heart.
Day 2: I'm thankful for Timothy James Southard II. My incredible son has opened my eyes to a world of splendor and wonder. Watching him discover the world, step-by-step, makes you appreciate all the little things all the more. He gets so excited about slides, fruit snacks, Elmo, Thomas the Train, the alphabet...all the simplest of things can make or break him...and I love him and wouldn't want him any other way! ((November 17, 12 [Saturday]
Well, I got interrupted by that darling son of mine...and then, low and behold, went into labor that night!! We welcomed our little Levi on November 14th at 6:23am.))
Day 3: I'm thankful for my easy, yet financially adequate job. It allows me to stay home with Timmy (and now Levi) four days a week, while still sustaining enough income to pay bills, save up for my kids, and buy a new shirt once and a while.
Day 4: I'm thankful that we have a lovely roof over our heads, and that this home allows for our family to grow here. I do regret the neighborhood, but I really do love the house.
Day 5: I'm thankful for coffee. Even though I haven't had more than a cup a day for what feels like years, it's nice to know it's there for me when I need it...and once I'm done being pregnant and breastfeeding, I can have as much as I want!!
Day 6: I'm thankful for my iPhone. It keeps me entertained throughout the day and sleepless nights, which helps me keep my sanity...especially with another little one on the way!
Day 7: I'm thankful for space heaters...helping us save on our electricity bill.
Day 8: I'm thankful for Pinterest. Not just a way to kill time, but a creative outlet that gives me new craft ideas, like picture transfers onto wood, which is going to be a big hit for Christmas this year!
Day 9: I'm thankful for already having everything we need, ready and raring for our new addition.
Day 10: I'm thankful today for the chance to sleep in and then having breakfast made for me!
Day 11: I'm thankful for the health of my family, my health, and thereby the health of this unborn baby. I'll be thankful for my good immune system too, since I rarely get sick.
Day 12: I'm thankful for the indoor play area at the mall, giving us moms a free, safe, fun place to bring our kids to play while we moms get a few minutes to catch up.
Day 13: I'm thankful for my second son's amazing timing. After Drew came home from his last day of scheduled work before our planned csection, I went into spontaneous labor! Here I am bitching on this blog about still being pregnant and how worried I am...all the while, everything was already laid out and planned perfectly.
Day 6: I'm thankful for my iPhone. It keeps me entertained throughout the day and sleepless nights, which helps me keep my sanity...especially with another little one on the way!
Day 7: I'm thankful for space heaters...helping us save on our electricity bill.
Day 8: I'm thankful for Pinterest. Not just a way to kill time, but a creative outlet that gives me new craft ideas, like picture transfers onto wood, which is going to be a big hit for Christmas this year!
Day 9: I'm thankful for already having everything we need, ready and raring for our new addition.
Day 10: I'm thankful today for the chance to sleep in and then having breakfast made for me!
Day 11: I'm thankful for the health of my family, my health, and thereby the health of this unborn baby. I'll be thankful for my good immune system too, since I rarely get sick.
Day 12: I'm thankful for the indoor play area at the mall, giving us moms a free, safe, fun place to bring our kids to play while we moms get a few minutes to catch up.
Day 13: I'm thankful for my second son's amazing timing. After Drew came home from his last day of scheduled work before our planned csection, I went into spontaneous labor! Here I am bitching on this blog about still being pregnant and how worried I am...all the while, everything was already laid out and planned perfectly.
Day 14: I'm thankful for the incredible little boy that we brought into the world today, at 6:23am! Little Levi Avery Southard is worth all the work, and has already stolen our hearts with his little face and cute mouse sounds. I look forward to all the years ahead of us, to watch him grow and become his own person!
Day 15: I'm thankful for all our wonderful friends and family who have taken the time to stop by and meet our new little guy. He's so blessed to have so many people who care about him.
Day 16: I'm thankful for our ability to have a successful VBAC, and not having to go through with my scheduled csection today at noon. Many women who have had prior csections, have been forced, convinced, or encouraged to have a repeat csection. My doctors tried that with me, but I stuck to my guns and planned to have him vaginally if possible. The first thing my doctor did after I was admitted into Labor & Delivery was have me sign a waver noting my consent to the risk of possibly sustaining a ruptured uterus and bleeding out...ultimately killing me and baby. But after 10 hours of labor, I pushed him out, without killing him or myself. The healing alone has been so much easier, being up and around the next day, going to the store the next day, it's just been incredible. But most of all, the beauty and magic of seeing this little person actually come out of me was just the coolest thing in the world, and all I ever wanted out of my pregnancies!
Day 17: I'm thankful for my friend Erin. I've been having some rough nights, as one can expect a mother to having just added another to her little clan. She's been so great, listening and offering sound advice and encouragement in some of my low points. I don't know what I would do without her.
Day 18: I'm thankful for my awesome breasts!! As beautiful as they are when I'm a milk making machine, the simple fact that they are finally fulfilling their true purpose is truly incredible...and I'm thankful for that bond that I can forge with my son just by nourishing him.
Day 19: I'm thankful for Netflix, keeping me somewhat current on the popular tv shows.
Day 20: I'm for this life...every day...even the exceptionally hard ones.
Day 21: I'm thankful for the warm aroma of pumpkin pie and a glass of red wine on this perfect fall day.
Day 22: I'm thankful for my wonderful fiancé being a marvelous cook and putting up with my crazy family for the holiday season.
Day 23: I'm thankful for Slotomania, a gambling app on my phone...I like to gamble (probably more than I should), so this allows that vice without me losing actual money.
Day 24: I'm thankful for my mom, who loves my son so fiercely...because at this time of transition for him, it's nice to be able to send him to gramma's and know he's getting that one on one attention that he has had for the past two years that came to a screeching halt with Levi's arrival.
Day 25: I'm so thankful for my cozy pj's and oh-so-soft robe, which I've pretty much been living in since having baby...ha...who am I kidding, I've been living in them since my doctor forced maternity leave.
Day 26: I'm thankful for my brother's wastefulness, thus him having an expensive, hardly ever used camera that he let me borrow to take newborn picture of our Levi.
Day 27: I'm thankful for having modern medicine and amazing doctors, taking care of us and our boys...today will be rough, with Levi's circ and PKU, but his health is our ultimate goal.
Day 28: I'm thankful for the gift card that I received at my baby sprinkle...helping us get a new car seat since our brain dead cats pee'd in our original one. I am not thankful for the cats...
Day 29: I'm thankful for Facebook, allowing me to keep in touch with loved ones near and far.
