Blog Update

Hey everyone!  Updated my other blog recently...just wanted to let ya know, so if you haven't checked it out yet...you should :)  Livie is just growing and is SUCH a doll!!

Our new blog address is jasonandshandramcbride.blogspot.com

You need an invite, so if you haven't already left your email, leave it for me, and I'll add you to the list!

Here is an updated picture of the cutie to make you want to check out the blog!!

Going Private

I know...it is always a sad day to go private, but I knew that I would eventually once I started posting a lot about Liv...so it's time to bite the bullet and do it.

But...the good thing is that I am also starting a new blog (one that isn't shandrablake anymore...since I am no longer Shandra Blake!  hahaha)

So...if you want to be added to my new blog leave your address here...and I'll send you an invite :)  I know it's kind of a pain...but all of you who are bloggers with kids know how it goes!  Feel free to leave your address whenever you see this post!  I will keep this blog open, so we can be found on our new blog for a while.

And...I've enable comment moderation, so other's won't see your email address -- just me :)  Hope that helps!

Livvy’s Birthday

Jason and I hanging out in the delivery room after checking in a little after 5AM.  Just waiting for the nurse to come in and get the induction started!

It was amazing to have my mom there!  She is such a great support!  So…here is the story:

We arrived around 5:00am at Timpanogos Regional Hospital.  I was scheduled to be induced (due to mild preeclampsia), but was already in labor.  I had been having steady contractions throughout the night, and especially the morning of.  By the time we were to the hospital they were around 7-8 min apart, and I was having to breathe through some of them.  The nurse checked me…said I was a 3+ and had show, so I was already to go.  She suggested getting an epidural early since I was already breathing through my contractions, and with the Pitocin, it would just get more uncomfortable very quickly….so I got the epidural between 5:30 and 6:00am….then they started the Pitocin, and I progressed crazy fast (for a 1st baby).  My legs were super tingly, and I could still feel the pressure of the contractions, but not really any pain. 

Dr. H. checked in on my after his C-section.  Around or 8:00 I was to an 8+ and fully effaced, but my water hadn’t broken.  He said he would let me continue and try to have my water break on my own, and let the baby descend a bit more.  Then he left to go check on another patient at another hospital – yep another hospital – go figure…and I’m pretty sure it was my friend Katie who also had her baby girl that day!

Then by 9:00 or so I was seriously feeling like I needed to push…, but my water still hadn’t broken.  So my nurse (who was AMAZING) had me push along with my contractions to help move Liv down into my pelvis and also to break my water…so apparently I have crazy strong membranes (like my mom)…and sorry if this is TMI, but I pushed…and my water sack didn’t break…it bulged out…fully intact!!! The nurse says she had never seen that before!

Finally one more push, and my water broke and Liv’s head was in place.  The nurse called Dr. H. and told him to boogie on over to the hospital b/c I was ready to go.

He got there in about 15-20 min and then we pushed for about three sets – so like 9 times – and out she came! Jason cut the cord…and it was so great to hear her little cry.  Jason was such a great support and handled the whole birthing process AMAZING!!  I was SO happy to have an epidural, but to also feel some control over my body that I could still feel like I was laboring.  It was seriously an amazing experience. 

And…here is really what you want to see

Getting all checked out!

NOT loving being a newborn!Glad to be left alone for just a bit!!I love how big Jason’s hand is next to her little head!6 lbs 4.4 oz

So TINY!!!

The Proud Papa!!

Finally I got her!!  I had an episiotomy and I tore, so I had to have quite a few stitches, so the nurses and Jase took care of the babe while Dr. H. finished up  with me.  I was dying!!!  I wanted to hold and cuddle and kiss her so much!!Our new little family

Hanging out after her 1st bath!!Being taken care of by grandmaBeing a sleepy head in our hospital room.  I could not get her to wake up to breast feed!  It was such a challenge!  And…she had already scratched herself

Picture I took with my phone after they came in and took some newborn pictures of her

Just Chillin with Daddy.  I love that Jason took some of these pictures so you can see how tiny she is  

Ready to go home from the hospital!We got a lot of great help in the hospital – but it was great to go home…just glad that my mom came home with us too!

Worst Blogger EVER

So...I am terrible at blogging.  It takes so much effort for me...I don't know why...maybe I just haven't done it frequently enough that it still takes thinking to do...and right now I don't believe I am capable of much thinking.

I love being a mom -- Little Olivia is such a miracle.  She is beautiful and sweet and so strong.  She kicks her legs and moves her arms so much we can't keep her swaddled!  She holds her neck up AMAZING for a 3 week old.  She loves to sit up (us supporting her neck and back of course!!) and look around -- my mom says that is unusual for a baby her age. She has gained 4 oz from her birth weight and 12 oz from when we left the hospital -- She is now 6 lbs and 10 oz. and 19.7 inches long.  She had her 1st check up and is the Dr. says she is doing amazing!  She has TONS of dark brown -- almost black hair, and the fun part is that it is growing :)  It is longer and fuller than it was 3 wks ago.  I don't think she is going to lose it :)

BUT -- she will NOT calm down at night.  We get a night or two of good rest (meaning 2 stints of -2 hours of un-interrupted sleep -- usually with us on the bed b/c she hates her crib at night -- go figure??  She'll sleep there in the day, but not at night!), and then she just starts to go crazy at night again.  Last night around 2:30 am after being up with her since 10:00pm and feeding her twice -- I had to pass her off to Jason.  He is back in school and I hate to do that, but she just wouldn't calm down for me.  She screamed and screamed even with him, and then finally calmed down and slept until 5:30 am and then until 8:00am -- all while I slept with her in our spare bedroom bed so as to not disturb Jason.

I don't think you can ever understand how incredibly EXHAUSTING being a mom is until you go through it.  I thought I was prepared for motherhood -- hahaha...funny.  I wasn't.  I mean I am, but I just didn't anticipate how hard and physically and emotionally draining it would be.

It is so hard to hear this beautiful little girl just cry and not be-able to know how to help her.  I've been reading so many books trying to figure out how to help her (and me!!!)  I just feel like such a bad mom when she cries and I can't get her to stop.  And I HATE that I get frustrated.  I wanted to be the mom that would just calmly soothe my baby when she cried.  AND...and can be that for the most part, but after 4 hours of walking around our tiny apartment, putting her in the swing, picking her up, trying to lay her down, picking her up, walking around the apt...and on and on....the frustration rises.  I am emotionally exhausted by the time I finally give up and pass her to Jason.

She isn't crazy colicky...just fussy...and refuses to go to sleep at night.  So...those are my reasons for not blogging.  I am either sleeping whenever I can -- or holding a fussing baby.  Doesn't leave much time for uploading pictures and writing commentary.

HOWEVER....that is my goal today -- I will get some pictures uploaded and a blog post ready to go by tomorrow.  I want to show her off!  She is seriously so beautiful and such a sweetie -- she really is...even with all the fussing, she has the sweetest moments that just melt my heart. So...stay tuned for a few pics :)

Olivia Grace McBride

Monday, December 19th at 10:00AM our beautiful baby girl was born!

6lbs 4oz  19inches

  Olivia and Shandra are both dong well
                                

Best Ward EVER!!!

Seriously....I just have to say that I am SO grateful to live in the ward we do

We've been in the ward for almost 2 1/2 years...which is a long time for a student ward.  And I've always loved our ward and been so grateful for how willing the sisters have been to help out with meals and activities and such.

BUT...being on bedrest this past week, I have felt so much love and support from the ward.  People have been so sweet to drop by and visit us, bring us meals, and just be concerned enough to ask how we are doing.  Also, I asked if anyone had a bassinet we could borrow while my mom was in town, (thanks Bridget for the suggestion!) and within like 10 minutes my neighbor Erin totally offered to let us borrow hers.  It was so generous, and I am SO grateful!!  It is adorable by the way....and will work out perfect for the next couple of weeks.  Thanks Erin!  Oh...and when JJ (her husband) dropped it off...we had our trash outside the door -- waiting for Jason to walk it out to the dumpster (he is the worst about taking the trash out -- bless his heart!) and JJ just took it for us.  Little things like that are just so nice and thoughtful.  It seems like it might not be a big deal, but it was big to me!

Also, just having advice from all the gals in the ward that have been through this whole process, it just helps so much and calms me down. 

I'm also glad to have the family support I have; my mom and sisters are amazing!  They have put up with me talking their ears off this past week since I am stuck at home and stressing about all that needs to get done...or just about what is to come in the next few weeks.  I am so grateful that they are there for me whenever I need.

So...thanks to all of you for all you love, support, and care...you know who you are!!

Preeclampsia

Fun, right?  Yesterday I went to my 37 wk check up to find that my blood pressure was elevated and I had protein in my urine -- so off I was sent to labor and delivery to do a non-stress test and another urine test.

2 hours later, after laying in the hospital bed having my bood drawn and my blood pressure taken every 10 minuts, -- my blood pressure continued to be elevated, and again I had higher levels of protein in my urine.  I was released yesterday w/ a diagnosis of Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension/Preeclampsia.  I am officially on bedrest and am peeing in a container all day long so they can do a 24 hour urine test and then I go back into labor and delivery tomorrow for another NST.  Boy, pregnancy is fun! 

The good news is...I am 37 wks and 2 days.  So this far along in pregnancy it isn't such a scare.  AND little Olivia is doing great.  Her heart is beating wonderfully strong and she is moving a ton still!  It was so fun to listen to her little heart for 2 hours and also to hear her kicking and moving around.  The Doctor just said at this point, they are concerned about me and my health, and wants to make sure he takes care of me -- which is great.  I was dilated to a 2+ last week, so he says I'm favorable for a healthy, normal deliver -- barring no complications from the HBP.

So, I am scheduled for induction Decmember 27th @ the latest!  We will have our precious little girl by New Years :

Having been laying down for almost a day -- I do have to admit, I feel a lot better.  Working FT has really put a strain on my body, and being so short has made pregnancy a bit harder than I had anticipated.  We'll see what tomorrow brings.  I could have a baby this week or next....but for sure within 2 wks she'll be here, and we are getting so excited!!
 

Two more months!!

So, I'm officially 32 weeks today. It's funny...at times i feel like I have been pregnant FOREVER, but other times, I can't believe it is only two months away. I am so excited, and yet extremely apprehensive of how will I will be as a mother. The burden of my responsibility for this child seems so heavy -- and I have to admit it stresses me out quite a bit. It doesn't overwhelm my excitement to physically have her in my arms in such a short while, but it does weigh heavy on my mind.

I have ALWAYS wanted to be a mother and to be at home to raise my children, and I always thought I would start really young -- which wasn't quite in the cards. Sometimes, I think that may have been less apprehensive at a younger age -- probably not. I just am so concerned for the world that this little girl will grow up in, and how I can help guide here through this life to avoid as many of the pitfalls as she can. I know I can't protect her from everything, and I already have this heavy trepidation of what she may have to face in life. I'm so crazy! I wouldn't change my life path -- even my difficult trials -- and as long as I help her to gain a testimony of the Savior, and a knowledge of His plan for her, and help her to learn to rely on Him -- "It'll all work out" as President Hinckley said.

So...that is my little vent. Jason says I worry way too much. He's like...you know she comes out as a baby right? And she is a baby for quite a while...and then a little girl...and then...etc...He teases me a lot about it. I'm also worried about working a few days. I hope that I will balance work and motherhood. It's just with Jason's school, and bishopric calling, and working on research, and then me working 2-3 days...it seems like a lot to balance. I'm sure we will do just fine, but the unknown is so hard! I know I need to just relax and take it one day at a time.

On to more fun baby news....she is a crazy little girl! She is a total kicker and mover. All day and all night. Its fun to feel her, and see my stomach move -- Jason can finally feel her most of the time -- it took him FOREVER to really feel her. Now, you can visibly see it, so it can't really miss it now!

Her moving so much is a lot of fun, but definitely making me really tired. I'm not sleeping at night -- and working 5 days a week with unrestful nights is starting to take its toll! I only have 5 more weeks until the end of the semester at the school though, so I can hang in there! I have been so blessed to be able to work full time and feel as good as I have. I haven't really swollen up much at all. My hands and toes slightly swell if I don't drink enough water. I have some RLS at night, and she gets caught under my right rib a lot -- which can be pretty painful. Jason gets all of my complaining, and is so patient with me, but overall things are going really well.

Ok...so after the novel...here is a picture. Requested by Ashley! It me at almost 32 weeks. Jason takes awful pictures....or I just look awful in them...so I took this one my self. Thanks to my sister Sheryl for the winter maternity stuff!! Its getting COLD up here!

I'll attemp to have Jason take another picture today when I have actually gotten ready with hair and make-up. This was on our way to the temple and my hair was all slicked back, so no go on the full picures!

Updates and such

So…I haven’t blogged for a while….but while we were in AZ we did some really fun stuff….our first day there we went to lake w/ Ashley and Sean Tillman and her parents.  They are always so generous and kind to take us out on their boat! We had so much fun!  It was Jason’s first time REALLY wakeboarding….and he was AMAZING!  Stinking natural talent – got up his first time…and rocked it the rest of the day!

Getting up

Crossing the wake

Out in the open water! Crossing back over! Trying a bit of a jump  So freakin proud of him! The boys also did a bit of cliff jumping (pretty sad cliffs – but it’s still fun to climb and jump)  Us and the Tillmans.  Me and Ash and our baby bumps…so the story here is Ashley had a dream back in the winter that in the summer we would both be pregnant out on the lake this summer…so we had to make this trip come true!  Thanks Ash!  It was so great :)My baby bump…a bit more attractive then me next to tiny little Ashley!  lol!  So this is at 20 weeks :) 

Another great thing we did was get together with our “single” – now “married” group of friends.  We ate at the Gecko Grill – which is a place in Gilbert that Jason used to work at….and is basically obsessed with! It was so fun to get together with everyone now married – such a successful YSA ward!  We missed Tyler and Marrie and Brielle (they took off before we could snap a shot with them).  Also Josh (Jason’s brother) and his wife Syl couldn’t make it that night.  Derek, Lauralie and Max, Steve and Melinda, Jase and Me, Ashley and Sean.  The next night we got together with Jason’s friend from HS – Erik and his girlfriend Beya and Jase’s BF Adam and wife Monet.

Then on Thurs I headed out to Phx to hang with Sheryl and her fam.  This little peanut is so dang cute.  I think she has my nose – at least the one I had when I was a baby.  I can’t believe how much she has changed since she was a baby. She has such a fun personality.  Lizzy is such a cutie too!  She has so much attitude.  It crack me up.  She also is so sweet – the other day she drew a picture for me…it made my day to know that she was thinking of me after we came home!  Sad I didn’t get a picture of the Blakester boy.

One last great thing (besides the shower) Is that we went to Last Chance.  It is the best store ever!!  I got this diaper bag (Petunia Picklebottom) for $30 – yep that is right $30!  UGG boots for like $35 UGG slippers for $20

And other fun things….I also got some Tom’s shoes that are so cute!  I wasn’t totally selfish.  I did get some things for the baby too!  And last of all…here is a pregnancy pic @ 23 wks.  I hate taking these, but everyone says that I will regret it if I don’t.  I feel so huge already :(  But whatever!