January: The year started out without much going on. We knew Beto would be leaving to Singapore for an entire month on January 29th. The night he left I had plans with friends to go to dinner and come back to the house for some Just Dance fun. I cleaned up like it was nobody's business, and was ready for a girls night out.
I made it out to dinner with the girls, but we ended up in labor and delivery. I was having crazy contractions, and I even ended up throwing up from the pain. I was exactly 24 weeks and 1 day. Barely viable. I was so scared that I would deliver a baby that night, and he'd hardly have a chance. My friends are amazing and kept me pretty distracted through the 5 hours I was there. Thankfully after a few glasses of water and some rest the contractions stopped, and I was able to go home with a baby still in my womb.
February- We got hit with the snowstorm of the century. OMG did it snow! I thankfully left to my moms house about an hour or two before it got really bad. I would've hated to be stuck at home with Andrea by myself for that long. It was fun being a part of that history, but I was so glad I had a ticket to Vegas the day after the super bowl. Andrea and I visited my parents for 2 weeks. I really wish I had gone the entire month. It was by far the most relaxing, enjoyable time I had in a long time. I really had a hard time coming back. The only bright side was that I got to see the hubby again after a month.
March- Guess what?? C-section got moved from May 11th to May 3rd. Dr. didnt want to risk me having any type of contractions and going into labor. Guess what else?? The house that I lived in for 25 years was on the market, and we had buyers in less than 2 weeks!! Talk about a swirl of emotions. I was excited for new beginnings, but overwhelmed with leaving sweet memories of my childhood behind. Started packing immediately. It takes a long time packing up 25 years of memories.
April- The beginning of a long long series of life changing events! My amazing friends and family threw me a shower. So very thankful for them. I was apprehensive to have a shower for many reasons, but I'm so thankful they did it for me. That was on April 2nd. It was beautiful, and I could tell how much this baby was already loved.
April 10th I said goodbye to my home for the last time. We moved in with the in-laws til we found something of our own. I tried to prep for this baby as much as I could, and enjoy my last few weeks with Andrea as much as possible.
On April 18th everything changed. I woke up feeling out of it, but still took Andy to her mom and tot class. I came home fed her lunch, and forced myself to eat something. It didnt sit very well, and I knew something was up. I hadn't really felt the baby move either. Called the OB, and she told me it'd probably be best to go to the hospital. I drove myself there with Andrea. Beto and my brother in law met me there. Brother in law took Andrea home, and I figured I'd be home in a few hours.
(The events that took place from here until about August almost seem like a big exaggeration, and I'd find hard to believe if it hadn't been it happened to, but I promise it's all true)
I got IV's,and I kept throwing up. The contractions weren't slowing, and the on-call dr. decided it was necessary for baby to come out that night. Baby didnt have a name, I had barely unpacked our stuff, much less the baby's. I had another 2 weeks before his arrival. Nope, he was coming that night at 35 weeks 5 days. It was April 18th, 2011. My original due date with Gabriel was April 18th, 2010. I knew it was just meant to be. All I could do is pray that I was far along enough that baby would be ok. I got prepped for a c-section, and we welcomed a perfect baby boy at 10:54Pm weighing 6lbs 1oz and 18 inches long.
He spent 18 days in the NICU with some serious breathing issues at first. It was such a roller coaster, and we had so many ups and downs.
I was losing a ton of blood right after delivery, and was worked on for several hours. Thinking back, I have no idea how I survived all of that. I finally got to see my baby boy after 2 days. I think we finally agreed on a name on day 5. The day I was released from the hospital. Joaquin Jeronimo. Nice strong name for my little fighter.
May- After 18 long days with many setbacks including a milk, soy, and egg allergy discovery, my baby came home May 5th. It's nerve wrecking bringing home any newborn. It was terrifying bringing Joaquin home. I was so afraid of him d-stating or something else happening. Thankfully he did wonderful.
May17th I'm rushed to the hospital in excruciating pain. Seriously, Id rather be in labor than ever feel this pain again. Ended up having my gall bladder removed on May 18th. My baby turned a month old that day, and I wasn't even home to hold him. It was difficult. I had to pump and dump cause of the meds, and I could hardly eat anything because of the baby's allergies. I got sent home, and was on the way to recovery. 2 days later I'm right back in the ER with the same crazy pain! I thought I was dying. I really did. Turns out some of the sludge had spilled into my stomach lining. I had minor surgery again. My Goddaughter made her 1st Communion, and I was stuck in a hospital bed. It sucked! I finally made it home, and was recovering from labor, c-section, losing a ton of blood, and gall bladder surgery all at once. We survived May.
June- We all joked that it had been 2 weeks since anyone had gone to a hospital. Silly us! My mom ended up in the hospital for a few days in early June. She had a really really really bad case of Vertigo. It was scary. The doctors thought she had a stroke at one point. By this point I was struggling. Thank God for great husband, family and friends.
On June 18th Joaquin was baptized, and we had a nice little luncheon with our closest friends and family. It was a roller coaster month trying to adjust to two kids, trying to make up for so much time lost with hospital visits with Andrea, but we survived.
July-It brought us a lot of smiles. My parents had gone back to Vegas after having been here since Joaquin arrived. It was the first year they weren't here for my brother, Andrea, and I birthday in many years. By now I was getting used to being a mom of 2, and being in the hospital was finally a thing of the past 3 months.
I turned 29 and Andrea turned 3 a day after me. Beto quit his job, and landed a much better job with a company he is much happier with. We signed a lease for the home we are in now. The house had been on the market, and we knew we couldn't buy it right now, but I just decided to drive by to look at it for the hell of it. Lo and behold they were looking to lease it now. It's right across the street from a great school, and my brother and sister in law live a block away.
August-We moved into our new home, and I couldn't be happier. I love the place, and feel very comfortable here. I dont think it's our forever home, but for now I'm quite content here. August was pretty quiet for the most part.
I also ran my first 5k!!! What an accomplishment. I NEVER imagined myself being able to do that. It had to be one of the proudest moments in my life. I can't wait to do it again! I ran a 5k in 36 minutes, 4 months after having given birth. :)
September- Beto and I celebrated 4 years of marriage. Wow! Where does the time go?? Crazy. I started babysitting Sophia again, and Ms. Andrea started pre-school. It was a good month overall. Joaquin was doing good, and is just such a happy baby.
October- By now I had gotten used to having 3 kids under my care for most of the day, and I was having fun with it. Joaquin continued to grow, and be strong and healthy. Unfortunately, he did get his first cold at the end of the month, and we took our first ER trip. Thankfully it was nothing big, and he went home after a couple of hours.
November- Andrea, Joaquin, and I left for Vegas! My cousin Ivette got married, and it was just nice to get away for the week. Both of the kids did amazing on the plane, and had fun on vacation.
We got back, and were prepping for the beginning of the holidays. November is a very somber month for me. November 24th fell on Thanksgiving day this year. 2 years without my baby boy. I was feeling very very sad. I thought about him so much this entire month, and just wondered what he would be like.
Joaquin got very sick again, and this time we ended up in the hospital on Nov. 24th at around 5am. He was not breathing right, and had very low oxygen levels. I almost feel Gabe wanted my mind preoccupied with other things, and so I wouldn't feel so sad on Thanksgiving. Joaquin spent four days in the hospital. It's scary seeing him like that, and I guess it just raises my anxiety. Thank God he got better, and we got to come home.
December- Here we are. Last month of the year. Christmas time. It all started out rough, and I wasn't feeling very much in the spirit, but as always God comes through. Andrea went tree shopping with her daddy, and they brought back an oversized pretty tree. She was really excited about it. Having her so excited about the holidays really put me in the mood. Christmas was nice, I loved watching the glow in my kids eyes. Joaquin was the cutest Santa I've ever seen (I'm a little biased) :). Missing my Gabe like always, but he seems to be around here all the time. I know he's fine. I just can't wait to finally be able to hold him in my arms one day.
It wasn't exactly the year I had planned, but we survived. God saw us through some rough times, and I did something I hadn't been able to do in the last few years. Due to Joaquin's allergies, I went on a very strict dairy and soy free diet. I ended up losing 45lbs! I'm not anywhere near where I want to be, but I know I'm on the right path. I haven't felt this well in a long time.
Another year is in the books, and I look forward to what 2012 has to offer.
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