tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139583631335129582024-03-13T06:16:24.252-07:00Acquired EleganceMary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03641796889178145192noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213958363133512958.post-92060013525098364382012-07-25T17:22:00.000-07:002012-07-25T17:38:14.723-07:00Frederick's Birth Story: Ending!<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally, Sunday night around 8 pm Marve came over again to check on me. She said it still seemed like I was in early stages and not progressing so she was going to have to collect her things in case another mom went into labor and needed her. No! I have to have this baby, and soon! I knew I was in labor so I thought well I better play it up a little bit so she will stay, because at this point the contractions were about 6-7 minutes apart and I could still talk through them. So I said to myself OK I'm just not going to talk any more and make everyone wait until I'm done and close my eyes. So I did that a few times, and Marve said "Oh OK never mind. I think I'll stay." "Thank God!" I thought but I was still nervous that she would leave so while I was laying down I kept asking Marc to time the contractions to make sure they were staying consistent.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We laid on my bed for a few hours and I finally believed that OK this is it and she's going to stay. I think I needed more reassurance that I was doing it and it was working. The whole time my mom kept saying yes in just a few hours you will have your baby "With me it was so fast and you and Sterling were here!" Well I am definitely not my mom!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a while Marve put me to bed again. AGAIN with the going to bed?!! When am I going to have this baby?! Much later that night/early morning the contractions became more intense. Marc and my mom were a great team and at this point we were all so tired we were laying in our bed together. With my mom on my right and Marc on my left we all tried to sleep between the contractions. This is a moment I treasure: me in the middle of two of the most important people in my life, all waiting in anticipation for the joy of our lives to grace us with his presence. That was one of the sweetest and one of my favorite moments during my labor marathon.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally at about 4 almost 5 am I made Marc go down to ask Marve who was sleeping on the couch if I could get in the tub. I kept asking at what point she thought I could get in. She told Marc " Oh good she's getting pushy she can get in now!" "What?!" I thought, "All I had to do was be a bit more adamant?" </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let me tell you ladies who are about to have your babies. Get thee to water! It completely changes the game! Seriously, get in a tub, the shower, some form of water, trust me you'll thank me when you feel the soothing relief.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, I stayed in the tub for about an hour and watched the sun come up. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then I decided that I was done and I wanted to have my baby. Now, please! So I told my mom that I thought I needed to push. I got out of the water and went to the bathroom. I squatted a bit and I felt a bit more pressure, but I wasn't sure if it was time to push. My mom frantically got Marc to get Marve. She came upstairs and checked me... nope I was just 8 1/2 cm. Not yet but close. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She instructed me to visualize the baby in the right position so his head will put the right amount of pressure on my cervix so it will finish dilating. I labored for about an hour and a half more and the contractions started to get really intense. I thought to my self, OK wow, if I was in the hospital I would ask for and epidural! (But on a pain scale it really wasn’t that bad until that moment and I could still cope but I could just empathize with wanting some relief from all sensations.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That’s the blessing that I think God gives laboring mothers- no real sense of time or reality. There I was thinking I was having a great and lovely labor. I remember thinking I made it to 8 1/2cm this really isn’t that bad! Also, I thought I was the pro giving birth woman! This is so easy and the best labor ever!! Again evidence for not being completely there. I don’t know, it’s like some part of your brain shuts off to help you cope with what your body needs to do to deliver a baby. All I could focus on was what was going on with me. I would close my eyes and know someone was with me but each time I opened my eyes it was someone else- Marc or my mom or Marve but I had no idea when they came or left. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Marve said that I really needed to concentrate because if he didn't move she would have to move him herself. I really didn't want that to happen (doesn't that sound atrocious?) and I tried as best I could at getting him to move. But sadly he didn't move so half an hour later Marve said “OK get out now; we have to move him!” (Thank goodness she was there! She used her authority and knowledge to deliver my healthy baby.) Marc was trying his best to be supportive and loving, I told him I didn't want to do it and he said OK you don't have to. So sweet. My mom on the outside was sweet too but she told me later that she wanted to yell at me to get OUT of that TUB! No need to do that because Marve just said "OK, get out now!" Although it was said very nicely, I knew I had no choice. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She did this technique she had learned as a rural doctor in the Amazon among the Yanomami Tribe. She went in and pushed Frederick's head up and twisted him around while her assistant had a sheet draped around my belly and twisted his body from the outside. I'm not going to lie. I think that was the worst part. It was pretty excruciating, but I knew that we had to get him out or I would need to go to the hospital for a c-section. And I was not going to the hospital! (You know unless it was an emergency.) They worked for about a half an hour I'm told. Thankfully it only felt like about 5 minutes to me. So she finally got him turned and through my cervix into the canal. Now, it was time to push! Finally! </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got back in the water and my mom started to cry a bit. I told her not to cry because I needed to concentrate and if she cried I would cry and I wouldn't be able to pull it together so I needed her not to loose it! I tried pushing with each contraction while squatting. That was too hard and I needed support so that didn't work (we were all too tired) so I pushed the remaining time on my hands and knees. I thought that when it came time to push I would push for about 5-10 minutes and be done. Wrong again! I pushed for about a hour and a half. Luckily I had breaks, I only pushed when I had a contraction and my body was pushing, but still it was a looong time. I said "How long is this going to take?! On TV and in the Movies they push for less than 5 minutes and then they are done!" Naomi suggested I not watch anymore TV. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Marc was so sweet he stayed by my side and encouraged me each time. As he was applying cold cloths to my forehead he forgot to ring them out. I said "Marc?" "Yes?" "Although that feels really nice and I thank you for being so helpful, will you please ring out the water before you put it on my head? It's dripping water all down my face and it's uncomfortable!" "Oh! So sorry honey!" "Wow!" Naomi said "You are the nicest woman in labor! You didn't even yell at him!" My mom laughed and said I know... and she keeps saying "please, thank you and oh excuse me let me help you find the baby's heart beat!" I just really didn't feel like yelling or snapping at anyone, I was so tired! </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I pushed and I pushed and I really didn't think I was really going to have a baby. But, finally I hear exclamations "Oh! we can see his little head!" "Really?!" "Yes! Feel it!" So I reached down and felt the top of his sweet head and he had hair and a lot of it! I was so surprised! I just really didn't think he would have hair. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I thought OK I'm almost done. If we can see the top of his head then we are so close. With the next contraction I used everything I had left and with a scream (the biggest scream of my life, I really couldn’t help it) he was out! I had to wait a second while Marve took the umbilical cord from around his neck and that was the strangest feeling: to be able to differentiate a neck, but then I was able to push his body out and that was so much easier. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was still astonishing when Marve said "OK catch your baby!" "Baby?" (It's really like you think you'll never have one.) "Yes! He's floating to you!" So I looked down and there he was! I picked him up and out of the water and the first thing I said was "Oh hi! Wow, you have my eyebrows but my mother-in-law's expression!" He was looking around and started to whimper a bit. "Oh! Don't cry!" And we sang him the first song that was sung to me "Yes Jesus Loves Me." He had heard that song quite a bit in the womb so he quieted down and I nursed him. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the best most astounding days of my life. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03641796889178145192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213958363133512958.post-17316787902787040862012-01-02T15:05:00.000-08:002012-01-03T09:46:14.757-08:00The One True Hope of a New (Year's) Day<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">To be honest 2011 wasn't my favorite year. Although, yes, there were some very good moments: we went to Boston (Frederick and I braved public transit to visit Harvard while Marc was working), a few friends visited us here in Vegas (love quality time with friends) and most importantly Frederick turned one.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">As December started to close and a new year was upon us I started thinking about what really mattered in life and where I wanted to be in 2012. I was thinking what many of us think: "Oh I can't wait until the 1st, it will be so nice to start over and have a clean start." Then I really thought about it and realized umm, NO. No no. Nothing is going to change drastically but the year in which we mark time. What a lie! </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">I feel like New Years is false advertising. We think that a dawn of a new day and year will make everything sparkly clean and new. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">When really nothing really changes but the date. You're still the same person you were 10...9...8! seconds ago with the same problems, hopes and dreams. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">It's like thinking if you move to a new place your problems won't follow you there...</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">The only momentous event that changed my life was when I allowed God to bring me back to Him and surrendered my whole life over to Him. All my hopes, all of my hurts, and my present life, as well as my future. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">Truly our only hope is in Jesus and the life He can live through us as we have relationship with him. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">As any relationship it's a process. There are times when we feel really close and others when I let things (always very stupid mundane things) get between me and Him. But always, ALWAYS, does he draw me closer and remind me that without Him life means nothing, I am nothing without Him. Following Jesus doesn't mean that life will be perfect, but it does mean that you have a hope for the future and a trust in God that you belong to Him. And THAT my friends is a reason for living. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">When you find yourself in February or even today maybe, the 3rd, not able to keep your New Year's Resolutions; I ask that you ponder the meaning of YOUR life and seek Truth. I promise that if you really seek you will find what you are looking for. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">Seek Him you won't be disappointed.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This year I hope to trust more in Jesus and to love Him more to be obedient. It really is the only way! I'd rather have Jesus and do something uncomfortable than to be comfortable and be miserable in my own doing. He knows what is best for me (and all of us) and life in His will is the best to live. I'm just a very minuscule part to his story anyway, and it's not about me! It's about His Glory! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Cheers to Twenty Twelve and may we all find what we seek. </span>Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03641796889178145192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213958363133512958.post-33048547000283432362011-08-17T11:47:00.000-07:002011-08-17T11:47:21.873-07:00The Waiting Game: Days Two and (Part of Day) Three<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I woke up from a deep sleep and no contractions.</span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I woke up. I excitedly went down to breakfast and texted my friends: "My water broke! He'll be here soon!" And then I waited. </span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The contractions at this point were sporadic and sparse. Maybe I'd have one in twenty minutes and then five but maybe not again for an hour or maybe two. I was still in contact with my midwife who was monitoring me and came up with a plan. Walk, stay hydrated and call her when it gets more intense and she will come over.</span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So all day Saturday more of the same. Sporadic contractions and no baby. </span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We walked outside, I walked inside. </span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We went to Whole Foods again. </span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Do not pass go do not collect your baby. </span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Marve said "Nope, not real labor yet!" I was thinking, "Well, what is real labor and when am I going to have it?!!"</span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Naomi, Marve's apprentice came over late Saturday night to check on me and the baby and our progress. While she was here I only had contractions while I was up and moving around. She said that it indicated to her that my body was still not quite ready. So go back to bed. Yes, I had to go to bed again!</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sunday came and so did Marve finally to my house. She brought all of her equipment to help deliver the baby safely along with a liquid herb to help make the contractions more consistent. She also advised us to keep walking and to preform nipple and clitoral stimulation (blushes) in order to stimulate uterine contractions. (Sorry if that was too much information!) "Have fun with it!" She said. I can tell you that while it did work to stimulate contractions it was not fun nor enjoyable.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I needed to walk but we live in the middle of the dessert and it was a billion degrees outside. Marc decided to take me to Fashion Show Mall. Do you know where that is? It’s on the Strip... in Las Vegas, across from my favorite most classy hotel/casino The Wynn. So, there I was in the mall having contractions. I'll just let you think about that for a second... </span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This was the height of my embarrassment. We walked around for maybe a half an hour and I would stop every 5-10 minutes and have a contraction in the middle of the mall. People were looking at me like I was crazy to 1) Be on vacation on the strip when it was apparent I was having a baby soon and 2) Is she that committed to shopping that she's about to have a baby in the busiest mall in Las Vegas and did I mention it's on the strip?! So I told Marc to get me out of there because I hated that mall and everyone in it! I would walk at home in the 100-plus degree weather, at this point I hated everyone's face. </span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We went home and I walked our stairs.</span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div></div>Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03641796889178145192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213958363133512958.post-11295375062144860482011-08-16T16:36:00.000-07:002011-08-16T16:37:16.466-07:00Frederick’s Birth Story: Day One<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Dear Frederick,</span></span><br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is the story of how you came into the world or as your father’s godmother likes to say: “How God stopped the world for you to enter.”</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Your first birthday was absolutely thrilling. I felt like it was my day too! (And it really was... I was the one who after three days of laboring brought you into the world!) Your Grandmother reminded me that on my birthday she would say it was her birthday too. I don’t remember that... I’m sure I ignored her thinking “Whatever Mom! It’s my day!” which I’m sure you’ll do to me as well, feel free. It really is about you.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was so fun thinking about the day that changed my life forever and brought me you. </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For the first-time mother, labor really is a thing of mystery. You really have no idea what is going on, and what is going to happen next. It’s really like riding a roller coaster blindfolded. Each step is different than the next and you have no idea what is happening. You’re just hoping that maybe? you’re pretty sure? there is a baby but it’s still a surprise that yes this is really happening and you will be holding your baby soon. (Don’t ask me, I know it doesn’t make sense. Because obviously you get bigger every month and you’re body doesn’t feel like yours anymore. But the surprise is so profound like oh my gosh a BABY!!) </span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I started having contractions on Friday, July 9th... we waited and waited and waited for you to get here. You arrived on the 12th.</span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All day Friday my contractions were about 10-12 minutes apart. It wasn't bad, I could hardly feel them. My mom (your Grandmother) was with me and every once in a while she would say "Mary Lou? Are you having a contraction now?" I waited to see if I was and sure enough my stomach would squeeze and become as hard as a basketball. You could actually watch it get hard and then soft again. </span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All day Friday we just continued about our day thinking any minute it would start to get more intense and we would soon be welcoming you into the world! But did I tell you I was wrong? And you didn't come for another 3 DAYS?! </span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We went grocery shopping to pick up food for us and our lovely midwife Marve. So there I was in the middle of Whole Foods stopping by the milk, by the deli, by the organic doughnuts having contractions. But, little did I know that this would be the least of my embarrassment.</span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Later, your Dad and I went to a party and everyone was amazed that I was there and in the beginning of labor. Gramps (whom you are lovingly named after) called your Grandmother and asked how everyone was. She said, "Oh, Marc and Mary Lou are at a party!" Gramps said "What! I thought you said she is having contractions?!” My mom replied "Well, she says they don't hurt yet and you know how social her and Marc are!"</span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After the party we came home and played Wii with your Aunt Brooke and Uncle Sterling, then we went to bed. (We played a game of our own, you see I was hoping to push things along.)</span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then at around 11:45 that night my water broke.</span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Marc! My water just broke!!”</span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Are you sure?"</span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Yes! I felt a tiny pop and a bit more wetness!" I hopped off the bed in a bit of panic and just stood there frozen. Then we watched as liquid started to trickle out.</span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Get my mom and a towel!"</span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Marc ran off and soon both of us were looking (yes we were a little panicked) at my mom. What should we do? So, we called Marve.</span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Marve said that we were just in the beginning stages and not yet in active labor so go to bed. "What? Go to bed?" "Yes," she said "We have a lot of work ahead of us and it's best you stay rested. Try to relax and call me in the morning." So I went to bed. I tried to sleep but with my now leaking amniotic fluid I had lost some of my cushion around the baby and started to feel the contractions a bit more. "Ooh. Ohh...." I breathed. Marc “tried” to “encourage” me. "Mary Lou try to relax! Marve said you should go to sleep!" "I'm trying to relax! But it's not as easy anymore, but I'll try harder!" Rolls eyes.</span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I tried to sleep and sleep I did. </span></span></div></div>Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03641796889178145192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213958363133512958.post-25075950776667801132011-08-15T12:23:00.000-07:002011-08-15T19:33:02.395-07:00Frederick’s Birth Story: Preamble<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Before I get into Frederick’s birth story I wanted to give a little background and explain some of my thoughts about the decisions we made. When Marc and I decided to allow God to have control of our family planning (read: no contraceptives) I was both nervous and excited. One month later I was very surprised to have a positive pregnancy test. It is a total blessing that we were able to have children and so quickly. I really thought it would take at least six months to get pregnant. And technically we were not even trying! Like I said, it’s a total blessing from God and we were so thankful. </span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I knew I wanted to have a home birth. The first thing I did was look up midwives in my area and educate myself on what to look for in a midwife. I interviewed a few midwives and looked at a numerous websites. We choose Marvelys Lopez, CPM for many reasons. The way she treats her clients is great, each person gets about an hour every prenatal visit and she takes her time explaining and talking about everything from what is going on with development at each stage to nutrition. She is also a doctor who became a midwife, not to mention she is a mother as well. We absolutely adore her! Her website is: <a href="http://www.sweetmidwiferycare.com/I">www.sweetmidwiferycare.com </a> <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of the reasons why I knew I wanted to have a home birth is: I really hate hospitals. I have too much baggage with them and physicians, who in my experience, never take the time to step out of protocol and treat each patient as a person and not just another number. I also think that the way birth is handled here in the US is mismanaged and antiquated. Not to mention run by men who have never and will never have personal experience in giving birth. If you want to learn more about how birth is handled here in our country, a good resource is the documentary by Ricky Lake and Abby Epstein “The Business of Being Born” and their follow up book <i>Your Best Birth</i>. Granted the documentary is biased on the side of natural child birth, but they do a good job in their book of just explaining how things are run and giving you choices. Especially after seeing the documentary and reading the book both Marc and I were set on the path to have a natural home birth with a midwife. <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Overall, I had a great pregnancy (with great care), hardly any sickness, (just about 5 days when brushing my teeth made me throw up) and before I knew it it was July and my due date was rapidly approaching. <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div></div>Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03641796889178145192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213958363133512958.post-53685006953837770242011-03-28T21:23:00.000-07:002011-03-28T21:23:19.623-07:00Celebrating Baby ZJ!<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday I had a great time hosting my dear friend Dedra's baby shower! We can't wait to see and love sweet baby ZJ!</span></span></div><br />
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</div>Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03641796889178145192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213958363133512958.post-27607584626686949902011-03-24T19:29:00.000-07:002011-03-24T19:33:29.432-07:00Renouncing Our Road Trip Crowns<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">So, I should have written about this a while ago. What can I say? Life just keeps going and new days keep dawning. Although, I am very grateful for each day presented to me that I can praise our Creator!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Back to road trips...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Marc and I became the road trip King and Queen while dating. As we started to seriously date he had just graduated from the Air Force Academy and spent an extra year in Colorado Springs, so his time was up and it was time to move. Thankfully he moved not too far away to Alamogordo, NM. A very small city probably most famous for White Sands National Park. (</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Transformers</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"> was even filmed there!) It was about 8 hours away and about every 6 weeks Marc would drive to visit me back in Colorado Springs.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eD1PzKza_qo/TYv2dRmW4LI/AAAAAAAAABU/D_efLy8dZSE/s1600/07-30-2006-007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eD1PzKza_qo/TYv2dRmW4LI/AAAAAAAAABU/D_efLy8dZSE/s320/07-30-2006-007.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">(This is at White Sands taken when we were dating. The sunsets were always so beautiful!)</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">I'm sure you're wondering why I didn't just move there. (Are you?) Why all the driving? Well 1) we weren't married or engaged yet, and 2) I was still in college! I had about two more years to complete. So, thus began our road trips.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Since then we got married and continued to drive and drive and drive. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">When we lived in Alamogordo we drove to:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Colorado Springs (missed my mom and a city with decent food and shopping!)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Our longest road trip ever to Pensacola, FL (I had never really been to the south before so we took about 2-3 days each way and had what I like to call a "Southern Experience" trip)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Lots of others (I won't bore you)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">I'm telling you we were the King and Queen!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Now that we live in Henderson we drive to California often enough. L.A. is about 4-6 hours away (4 pre-Frederick and at most 6 with Frederick) and that is about as far as I will go happily.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">The trip that did us in?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">A 17 hour road trip to Colorado Springs for Christmas. Granted we did it over two days, but it's supposed to take about 12-13 hours driving. We drove because we like the time that it gives us to talk and laugh and think and be together. Also, we can bring our dog Sugar. My family loves Sugar and Sugar really loves them. We were going to be gone a long time so it was cheaper and less burdensome on our friends to take her. But no LONGER! I'm sorry Sugar you will no longer be coming with us unless it's a trip that is shorter than 4 hours and you are welcome to a house that loves dogs too. (OK enough about Sugar, but you just needed to know that she was a part of the reasonings behind the crazy.)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-czJsjuc1KNc/TYv3hlt6yRI/AAAAAAAAABY/yFkPtGYAcGk/s1600/IMG_7417_0116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-czJsjuc1KNc/TYv3hlt6yRI/AAAAAAAAABY/yFkPtGYAcGk/s320/IMG_7417_0116.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C4DhNE285v0/TYv30dHWSwI/AAAAAAAAABc/xc_iJrSKR4Q/s1600/IMG_7418_0115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C4DhNE285v0/TYv30dHWSwI/AAAAAAAAABc/xc_iJrSKR4Q/s320/IMG_7418_0115.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">With a baby and a dog we were filled to the brim of our rented Jeep! </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Our last trip was fun though! It was beautiful driving through all of the mountain passes and seeing all of the fabulous resorts. Frederick's first Christmas was magical and I can't remember the last time I had so much fun at Christmas. I've now discovered that holiday's are so much more fun with children!</span><br />
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</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"> Marc and I played a ton of Wii with my brother and sister. I was able to share some sweet memories with Cameo and Gramps. (One of them was Frederick's bath time, he is very serious about kicking his feet!)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Overall it was very lovely trip (I'm just flying next time) and a great one to hang up our crowns!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">xo,</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Mary Lou</span><br />
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</span>Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03641796889178145192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213958363133512958.post-91147112605250818012011-03-21T19:01:00.000-07:002011-03-22T10:54:26.387-07:00Dreamers<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Last night while Marc and I were trying to recover from colds we watched </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Inception. </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">It was such a great movie! Although, I think both of us had a hard time sleeping later... I vaguely remember trying to save Marc from his "kick" last night. The movie reminded me of all of my thoughts about dreams.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Do you ever see people so clearly in your dreams and yet you know that you have never seen them before? Who are these people? I often wonder if I'll one day see the person in real life. If so would I recognize them from my dream or just feel like I couldn't place where I know them from? As I consider this now I'm trying to think and recall a face so clear to me in a dream and I just can't grasp one. So, I maybe I wouldn't recognize them. Or maybe not, maybe if I saw someone it might suddenly all come back at once. But wouldn't that be weird? I'm imagining myself now yelling "Oh my gosh! You were totally in my dream last night!" to a total stranger. How awkward would that be? Then again, you know that you would have to talk to that person and find out who they were and why they were in your dream.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">I have a few reoccurring dreams that I should really start writing down. I'm sure it would be helpful if I can figure out why I keep having the dreams. One of the dreams I'm always driving to Aspen and the road is always so terrifyingly tight. Sometimes it's different seasons so I never know if it will be snowing. The road is sometimes different too and I'll be struggling to drive and will be getting increasingly frustrated and think "Why is this so hard! Oh I must be driving to Aspen!" Maybe I dream about this because have you ever driven to Aspen? The road IS actually terrifying. I drove there once when I was 17 and I guess my sub-conscience has never forgotten.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">It's OK sub-conscience! I made it to Aspen just fine you can stop warning me!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">I'll leave you with two pictures of my favorite little dreamer: </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Z0rXyvbM1MA/TYgCdKzyyMI/AAAAAAAAABQ/-qhQjnO2H04/s1600/72240024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Z0rXyvbM1MA/TYgCdKzyyMI/AAAAAAAAABQ/-qhQjnO2H04/s320/72240024.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">He was 5 days old here!</span><br />
<span id="goog_1523288954"></span><span id="goog_1523288955"></span>Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03641796889178145192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213958363133512958.post-52788977521589825132011-01-21T16:14:00.000-08:002011-01-21T16:24:05.997-08:00I think we'd be friends! (You know if I had tons of wealth and power.)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">I am so exited about the Royal Wedding I am wating in anticipation! I'm thinking I'll have a wedding vewing party. I was so intrigued and watched with delight as Prince William announced his engagement to Kate Middleton. I just loved her dress that she wore to announce their engagement. Did you notice that she chose a dress to match her ring? How endearing that Prince William gave her his mother's ring.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">I just love sapphires. I think it's because it's my birthstone, but it helps that the stone is so beautiful. I'm fortunate to have been born two weeks early in September and not in October and be bestowed with the not so pretty opal. But I digress... back to Kate and her choice to match her ring to her very lovely dress. It reminded me of my first anniversary of marriage to Marc in 2007. He supprised me with a very lovely saphire and diamond ring. Well it was supposed to be a surprise, but I accidently opened it with my friend Sarah. What can I say, I can not resist opening packagages upon arrival! He chose a saphire for me because 1) as stated before it's my birthstone, 2) we also were married in Setember and 3) before we were engaged I saw the prettiest saphire engagement ring and I thought I really wanted it for my ring. I talked about it a lot and went back and forth with the pros and cons of having a saphire ring instead of a traditional diamond ring (one of the pro's being that Princess Diana's engagement ring was a saphire. Didn't we just love her?). I guess I talked about it so much that he remembered that I loved the stone and already had a setting that would be perfect to suprise me with. It turned out to be the completion of a set that he already gave me. A diamond band as a one year seriously dating ring (wow now that I think about it Marc gives me a lot of jewelry).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">So when I saw Kate and her ring I was so thrilled! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><img alt="ring_2_1763579a.jpg" src="webkit-fake-url://1964532B-B886-4EB8-AE21-59AB2E907280/ring_2_1763579a.jpg" /></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"></span>Don't they look so happy! I pray that the Lord will bless their marriage and that they will be truly happy indeed.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">I just love her dress and the color! Navy blue and grey are my two favorite colors to wear. She looks so chic in her navy blue Isabel Issa dress. Also, when I saw them I said "Oh! They are just like Marc and I!" (You know except royal and a little older.)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Exhibit A:</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">This was taken on our first anniversary at the Air Force 60th anniversary ball. Here Marc is wearing his dress blues Air Force uniform, which I'm sure Prince William will wear for the wedding as well as he is in the Royal Air Force. My dress is also more royal blue than navy but the point is that it matched my ring which I fondly call the puddle versus Kate's/ Diana's lake. </span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xgTGKZWytkg/TToURL-ajKI/AAAAAAAAAA8/FKJRqZLxRlo/s1600/100_2817_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xgTGKZWytkg/TToURL-ajKI/AAAAAAAAAA8/FKJRqZLxRlo/s320/100_2817_2.JPG" width="164" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Since we clearly have the same taste in men and clothes. I have a suggestion for her wedding dress. She looked so lovely with the v-neck dress, I think the same silhouette would suite her. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Exhibit B: </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xgTGKZWytkg/TToaUD_Pb-I/AAAAAAAAABA/ZrwKgEge8SE/s1600/198maryloumarc.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xgTGKZWytkg/TToaUD_Pb-I/AAAAAAAAABA/ZrwKgEge8SE/s320/198maryloumarc.JPG" width="213" /></span></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">And of course her train will be much longer than my cathedral length veil and train! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xgTGKZWytkg/TTob-3F563I/AAAAAAAAABE/F45loCHbKKY/s1600/224maryloumarc.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xgTGKZWytkg/TTob-3F563I/AAAAAAAAABE/F45loCHbKKY/s320/224maryloumarc.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">I can hardly stand it! So, who wants to come to the Watch the Royal Wedding Party?! </span></div>Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03641796889178145192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213958363133512958.post-58080227561132212952010-11-17T15:30:00.001-08:002011-01-21T16:23:35.583-08:00About A Year Ago This Happened!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"> Last year when I found out I was pregnant, it was my little secret for a couple of weeks. Marc was in Europe for a business trip and I needed to tell him first, obviously. So I tried to think of the best way to tell him that he was going to be a Daddy! I decided to take a digital test and give it to him as a gift when he returned home. I was so excited (and a little nervous), I'm surprised I didn't spill the news as soon as I saw him at the airport. He said that he bought me a few things in London (ooh my favorite city!) and he would give them to me later. This was great, and I thought it would be my excuse to give him his gift.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">So, as soon as we got home I insisted that we do gifts. I told him that I had something for him too. He said "Can't we do it later? I'm pretty tired and hungry." "No! I insist that we do it now!" He thought I really wanted his present (which I did and it was lovely) when really, I just didn't think I could hold such life changing news any longer!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Here is a video of his reaction. It is so sweet, please forgive the quality. It was my first time using the video option on my 3GS last year. He asks where I bought his gift and I reply "Oh... I made it", it was the only thing I could think of to say that didn't give it away and I was "making it" (you know with God's help). At the end he says, "Yay! We're having a baby!" </span><br />
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<a href="http://vimeo.com/16942682"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Surprise Package!</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"> from </span><a href="http://vimeo.com/user5254090"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Mary Lou Fulson</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"> on </span><a href="http://vimeo.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Vimeo</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">.</span>Mary Louhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03641796889178145192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213958363133512958.post-84775603443565709972010-11-05T15:50:00.000-07:002010-11-08T11:50:28.024-08:00Sparkling Promises<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Once upon a time, not so long ago, when Marc and I were in college, Marc invited me to a party. His good friend was having a birthday so away I went with some of my roommates. I was excited to go, I was interested in meeting more of Marc's friends and knew this would be an event to remember. So, I got dressed up in my newest cute outfit and fixed my french pedicure. My roommates thought I was being silly "Mary Lou!" they said, "No one is going to notice your toes!" Little did they know, but this was not going to be their average fête. We arrived later that night and what do you know, one of the first things one of Marc's friends said to me upon arrival was: "Oh you're Mary Lou! Nice pedicure, Marc has good taste"!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, as the evening progressed and there was many a laugh, Marc and I started talking. I did not know Marc very well and we had not yet started dating. Marc leaned in, and I wasn't sure what he was doing. Is he looking at my hair? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Is he trying to kiss me?! "Are your earrings real?" Oh, he wants to talk jewelry! "No, if you must know, they are not" I said. He replied surprisingly, "well if we ever become more than friends, I am going to buy you a real pair of diamond earrings". And THAT Ladies and Gentlemen is something I have held him to. What does that even mean and who says things like that? More than friends, meaning we are exclusively dating? More than friends, I'm taking you home to meet my mom? More than friends, I want you to marry me? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Marc and I have been together since he stole my heart a little while after this proclamation for seven years. To be fair he has bought me a gorgeous diamond engagement ring, a small pretty diamond band (as a sweet we've been dating a year ring), a lovely double strand of pearls and many more exquisite gifts since we've been "more than friends". (What can I say I'm a spoiled girl.) </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, it was to my surprise on my 27th birthday, about two months after I labored three days (yes! 3! more on that later) and gave birth to our son Frederick that I found these waiting for me! </span><br />
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