It's official...

I am a mother of TWO! If giving birth 6 days ago wasn't proof enough, tonight was! I successfully held a baby in one arm and with the other made a bottle, fed the baby, thawed chicken (I didn't touch it), rinsed off some grapes and fixed a drink for a two year old all at the same time. Damn, I'm good... and exhausted!

That was the beginning of tonight's circus performance! Dinner, baths for two, laundry, dishes, books, bottles, diaper changes, kisses and snuggles, spit up, poop, crying, laughing, football throwing and lego building were also acts in tonight's entertainment. Thankfully the dog didn't jump the fence... yet!



With all jokes aside, I am blessed. We are blessed. Brett and I have two wonderful boys and I couldn't have asked for more beautiful children. I cannot wait to see how their lives unfold and what kind of boys and men they become.



So, it's obviously been a while since I posted. Last Tuesday was my last post I believe, so let me catch you up...



Tuesday after my doctor's appointment I went back to work. My coworker entered our office into a contest with a local radio station to win free lunch for the entire office. Our office won and was announced on the Friday before labor day. Since we were closed on labor day, lunch was provided on Tuesday. So, I went back to the office, ate my free lunch (how could a preggo pass that up, right?) and finalized some things for the day. I had already made up my mind that I DID NOT want to be induced on Wednesday. I went home after lunch with the goal of putting myself into labor. I was already 3cm dilated. If I could do that on my own, then I could go into labor on my own. I "saddled up" my ginormous dogs and we went walking. We walked from 2:00pm until about 3:30pm. We walked so far and so long that Dakoda gave up and refused to continue about 5 blocks from the house. I seriously had to call Brett and have him come pick her up. Carter and I continued back to the house. I got back to the house and bounced and rocked on my ball while I rested my back and legs, did some a little cleaning, finalized my hospital bag and started dinner. All during this time I started having contractions, but they weren't very strong ones, but definitely more than just Braxton Hicks. At around 4:15 I walked the two blocks to Ryan's school pulling his wagon to pick him up, then walked back. Contractions were getting stronger! :) At this point, they had been going for more than an hour and I was really determined at that this was going to be it. We came home, and I continued dinner, Ryan and I played baseball in the living room while I bounced and rocked some more on my ball. Yes, we played baseball with a soft bat and rubber ball... quite common in our house!



Brett had gotten off work at 3:30 that afternoon but had a 5pm and 6pm golf lesson to teach. He asked me if I needed him home, but I felt comfortable that I'd be good to go until he got home, which I was. About the time he got home it was bath time and he took over. During the last few weeks of my pregnancy, I was so big that giving Ryan a bath was quite the chore and very uncomfortable, so he did a lot of the bath giving. While he was doing that, I kept moving. I literally walked in circles around the house and went up and down the stairs a few times just to keep the contractions going, only to stop and rock on the ball some more. I'm sure I was quite the sight. The contractions started getting closer, about 3-4 minutes apart and noticeably stronger. While Brett and I were discussing whether or not we should go ahead and call my parents, my mom called and asked how I was doing. I gave her my latest report and she promptly responded with "ok, so we'll see you in about 2 hours then?"... I guess that was our answer. :)



Mama and Deddy got here about 9:45pm and I was still walking, bouncing and rocking. Ryan had waited up for them and then we put him to bed. Afterwards Brett and I went walking around the block and up and down the street for about an hour or so. Contractions strengthened at that point and were about 2-3 minutes apart. We called my doctor's office at around 11:30 and they told us to come in!! I was stoked! This was finally happening and I wasn't going to have to be induced!



We checked in and I was sent to triage at about 11:45 for monitoring. I had made it to 4cm! Whoo hoo! Haha! All that and I was only to 4cm, but I was about 50% effaced, which was up from my 25% earlier that morning. They ended up giving me and Ambien (sleeping pill) and sent me home. My contractions were the right frequency for them to keep me, but they weren't strong enough. How bummed was I to walk my watermelon self out of there?!



We got home around 1:00 (I think) and the rest was a big blur... Ambien will do that to you. I'll NEVER take that mess again. My experience with Ambien was equivalent to drinking a fifth of liquor on an empty stomach. I never have tolerated heavy drugs well...



At about 2:15ish I woke up with very strong contractions that I couldn't talk through. We called triage back and they told me to come back. So back we go! I go back to triage and was there for about 30 minutes, and they send me to a room. Yay!!! And I'm still not totally sure of what followed because I was still drugged, thank you Ambien... *insert sarcasm*



At some point my mom got there and at another point in time Susan, my best friend here in Fayetteville got there. Susan helped bring Ryan into the world. Ryan is named after her and her family and I felt that it was only fitting for her to be with me to help bring Liam into the world too. At this point I was at 5cm and 80 or 90% effaced. I got an epidural at this point. I'm really not sure of the time but I think it was around 5:00am-ish. After the epidural the doctor came in to break my water...and I have to add here that Brett assisted him, then announced to the Facebook world that he did it! I jumped from 5 to 8cm by 8:00am and went from 8cm to 10 in less than an hour. By about 9:00am and after a few choice words (epidurals take pain away, not pressure...) I was ready to push. After about 15 minutes of pushing and some more choice words Mr. William "Liam" Earl Dippolito was born on 9.8.10 at 9:12am, weighing 9lbs 4oz and measuring 22 inches long.

There you have it folks! My beautiful half-grown man! I will add more later, but for now I must sleep!

Appointment Update

I just had my 40 week appointment and unfortunately I'm still at 3cm, his head is still high, but I've effaced a little more to 50%. His heart rate was in the 140s and I've lost 1 pound since last week (totally normal). My doctor stripped my membranes again and instructed me to come back tomorrow morning at 8:30am with Brett and hospital bags in hand, if I haven't gone into labor by then. The hospital has a policy that they will not induce unless you reach 41 weeks or there is a medical reason to do so, however, doc seems to think that since I've been sitting at 3cm for 3 weeks that all I need is a little medical attention to get things going... i.e. pitocin (which is what I DON'T want). Anyway, she's going to strip membranes again in the morning, have me walk around and see if she can get me to 4. If she can get me to 4cm then she can send me over to L&D. If not, then she said "maybe your fluids will be a little low and we'll send you over."

So, looks like tomorrow could possibly be the day. That would be happy anniversary to my parents!

I'm still hopeful that Liam will have his own day and maybe he'll come today... we shall see. (and pray!)

So, if you can spare some prayers, please pray that I will go into labor on my own between now and 8:30am tomorrow. I REALLY (and I can't stress it enough) REALLY don't want to be induced.

40 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today is the day. The turkey is done. I have been pregnant for 280 days, or maybe you prefer to say 40 weeks, or 9 months. Regardless... Liam, my dear, it's time to vacate the premises. This is a direct order from your mother! Take it seriously, sir! :)

We had a great Labor Day weekend! Saturday was the first football game of the season for the Wolfpack! I was determined that we were all going to be there. Liam could either be born well before Saturday or he needed to wait to after the game was over. What was I thinking to even suggest he would be EARLY?! No one in my family is ever early. NEVER. Certainly not any of my offspring. So here are a few pictures from Saturday...

Here we are at 39 weeks and 4 days. I haven't posted a belly shot in a while, so here you go! Papa Earl graced us with his presence on Saturday! :) Apparently Brett and Ryan were having a serious conversation.The band passes right by our tailgating spot... Ryan was happy to watch from a distance. It was too loud for him. Saturday was also my Mama's birthday. Ryan was helping her open her gifts. Shhh... we got her a new Duke t-shirt, but she was instructed to not flash it around amongst all the red.

And to show his love for her, Deddy "slaved" over this beautiful birthday cake... lol! (He actually cut up part of the cake her employees bought for her on Friday and stuck it in this charming aluminum dish.) CHEESE!!! Michael, Bubs & Mom... please excuse the horrible coloring of this pictures. We were standing under a red tent...

Deddy teaching Ryan the important things in life, like how to put a beer in a koozie.

Not really sure how he got her to wear a NCSU shirt... Another one of Brett & Ryan... discussing the ins and outs of Wolfpack tailgating, I'm sure.

Of course, I spent a lot of time this weekend trying to encourage Liam to come. I ate A LOT of Italian food this weekend. Friday night I slaved over stuffed shells, salad & garlic bread all in an attempt to consume as much oregano and basil needed to jump start contractions. (Another old wives tale about inducing labor.) It may have worked. Saturday morning I woke up to contractions, but as soon as I got out of bed and started moving around, they stopped. Then, Ryan and I went walking around the mall to shop for Mom's birthday, I had a couple then too, but nothing with a pattern. So, the oregano/basil deal could actually be true... who knows. However, by the time I got to the game, all contractions had stopped. Good thing too. I love NCSU, but not enough to deliver a baby in the back of an ambulance at one of their football games. EEK!

Sunday was spent being extremely lazy. Ryan slept until 9:30, as did I and Brett had to work. We laid around until about 1:30 and then went to get his hair cut. No contractions at all the entire day. Not a one... however... I did eat more stuffed shells and bounced on my ball. Sunday night, Brett's parents came over and brought baked ziti... YES! REAL Italian baked ziti... sausage and everything. Obviously it didn't work. I'm still pregnant. Nonetheless, it was yummy. :)

Monday was spent really trying to go into labor. Ryan and I got up, ate breakfast and walked to the park. He played while I swung on the swing (another wives tale... swing to encourage contractions) and then we walked to the fire station so he could see the fire trucks; this is our normal routine. We got home, ate lunch (more ziti for me!) and then both of us laid down for a nap. Brett got home, I woke up, went to the grocery store to do some semi-major shopping... must have food for when Liam decides to show up, then we went for ice cream, came home and grilled burgers. Contractions started about 5:20!!! Intense ones. Definitely not Braxton Hicks. However, by 6:30 they were gone. After dinner I got desperate and took both dogs, 75lb Dakoda and 95lb Carter, for a walk by myself. Surely they would start again, and they did, but by the time I unleashed the dogs and sat on my ball they had stopped. I took the steps 2 by 2 a couple times, but all that led to was sore legs and a feelings of intense heaviness in my lady parts. So, no labor for me on Labor Day.

I can't speak for William, Brett's grandfather, but from everything I remember of my Papa Earl, he was always on time. Of course, this could have been a trait he acquired after I was born... but PERHAPS, he has indirectly passed "timeliness" on to his namesake and Liam will be born today, on his due date!

I have a doctor's appointment later this morning. I'll update then.

A lesson in patience

I'm pretty sure my previous prediction will be wrong. Way to go Liam... prove Mommy wrong! Little stinker! :) Look at me, bad mouthing my unborn son.

I predicted Hurricane Earl would come through yesterday, which he did and thankfully didn't harm anyone or anything, and that Liam would be born today and NCSU would win their game tomorrow. Now, unless Liam gets a move on, he's not coming today... otherwise I will have a very short labor and delivery. Presently, he has less than 9 hours to make his appearance. I've been bouncing and rocking all day without one single contraction. So I don't see it changing.

There are so many old wives tales that I have been told and/or read about that I've decided to try. Of course at 39 weeks & 3 days, I'm pretty ready for this to all be over. On the flip side, I know that, generally speaking, babies who are overdue and/or bigger at birth tend to sleep better and eat better, which of course equals happy baby and happy family. So... do I want to go through another 4 - 10 days of misery to have the chance to have a "good" baby? Hmmm... Depending on if that theory is true, then maybe. Realistic and logical Ashleigh is no where to be found at the moment. She went on vacation. In my current physical and psychological state, I'm stuck in the here and now and it seems as if I will be pregnant FOREVER and that's depressing to me. Therefore the drive to try almost every method known to man to try to naturally induce labor. So, here is the list of things I've tried so far and subsequently failed: (*disclaimer: I know the only sure fire way for labor to start is to let nature take its course and he will come when he is ready to come, but why not have fun trying??)

1. Walking - I really could probably do more of this, but it's so dang hot outside! Going to the mall would just end up being a power struggle between Ryan and I to get him to either hang with me or stay in the stroller.
2. Eating fresh pineapple - I've eaten a total of 3 whole pineapples since Friday, August 27.... You be the judge as to if this method works.
3. Climbing the stairs - I think my legs are going to fall off... but I keep doing it! Apparently if you climb the stairs by 2 it engages all the muscles necessary during labor and helps push the baby down into the pelvis.
4. The exercise ball - bouncing and rocking on the exercise/yoga ball is supposed to do the same as climbing the stairs. Even if it doesn't work, it feels better than sitting in any chair, so I'll keep doing it.
5. Eating fried chicken - that did nothing but send me to the bathroom.
6. Eating chili - that also did nothing but send me to the bathroom.
7. Eating baked ziti - back to the bathroom...
8. Have sex - I'll spare you the details since I know my father reads this regularly... it doesn't work.
9. Pray to God for a drop in barometric pressure - 2 people told me that a drop in the barometric pressure from Hurricane Earl will bring on labor. One of those people was a nurse. Both people were wrong. I watched the barometric pressure like a hawk for 24 hours. It dropped, yes, however, Liam did not.... method/theory failed.
10. Getting angry - there have been a couple times in the last couple weeks that I have been angry... one of them this morning... therefore, I can conclude that getting angry does not induce labor.
11. Stripping of the membranes - As mentioned previously in my blog, this was done on Tuesday. Today is Friday... I am indeed still pregnant.
12. Drinking Red Raspberry Leaf Tea - I have not consumed this tea during this pregnancy. However, for the last 2.5 weeks of my pregnancy with Ryan, I drank this nasty stuff twice a day. I was induced at 41 weeks.... the tea did nothing for me except make me hate hot tea even worse than I did before. I will not be trying it again this time.
13. Cleaning or doing anything of the like - Let me assure that while my house is not spotless (I have 1 husband, 1 son and 2 dogs to mess it up while I clean) I clean regularly... and I deep clean regularly. Not to mention the house that we own and rent out that we've been getting ready for new renters to move in. I have done my fair share of cleaning, organizing, painting and moving... "hard labor" doesn't induce labor, but it will give you one hell of a back ache!

There are more things that I haven't tried yet. Tonight's objective is to consume oregano and basil (supposed to encourage contractions), climb the steps some more and spend the rest of the time bouncing and rocking on my ball. I think I will also go and purchase primrose oil. That is supposed to help with effacement, not actually induce... you can't birth a baby without effacement, so I figure why not try it too.

Nonetheless... God is once again teaching me a lesson in patience; the same lesson that I am taught time and time again. I seem to have trouble with retention.

39 weeks

From the outside looking in, 39 weeks pregnant may seem like a joyous time in a young pregnant mother's life. The nursery is ready, she's received wonderful, cute and cuddly gifts, she's got the pregnancy glow and she's just absolutely beautiful... how could she be negative during a time like this? She's getting ready to give birth to a brand new life! It's a glorious occasion!

...now, let's move on to reality...you mothers, pregnant or not, can more than likely relate to at least one of the following reasons why from 39 weeks on, a pregnant mother is truly miserable.

1. I cringe each time someone asks me how I'm feeling. I'm 7 days from my due date. I'm 33lbs heavier than I am usually. I'm tired, I'm sore, I have a 6-8lb mass of human being pressing down very firmly on my lady region. How the hell do you think I'm feeling?

2. Don't give me the evil eye when I choose the handicap stall in the restroom. Have you ever tried to get into and successfully close the door of a regular sized public bathroom stall while carrying a watermelon? No? Well, you should try it and let me know how that goes for you.

3. I have an unbalanced mixture of estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, oxytocin, relaxin, connexins and prostaglandins swimming through my body. It shouldn't come as a surprise that I'm hormonal.

4. My legs are hairy because bending over to shave them requires that I hold my breath.

5. My toes look quite sad... see the reason in #4.

6. My husband has to tie my shoes... see the reason in #'s 4 & 5.

7. The following phrases shouldn't be used when addressing a pregnant woman. "Wow, you're about to pop!" "Umm, you're getting bigger by the day!" "Don't eat that, it's not good for the baby." There are a ton more, but I've chosen to forget them.

8. Rolling over in bed is just comical at this point.

9. Sneezing is my enemy. My bladder strength and capacity is equal to that of a 90-year-old woman.

10. The advice from others... enough said.

11. Clothes, even the maternity ones, aren't comfy. My husband's basketball shorts, boxers and cut-off t-shirts are. I don't wear them to look like a slob, I wear them so you don't have to look at me naked.

12. The invasion of personal space. My personal space is defined as everything within a 1 foot perimeter around my body. If you want access to my personal space to touch my protruding abdominal area, you need to ask first.

13. And finally, don't make remarks such as "You haven't had that baby yet?" or "Why are you still here?" Those are stupid questions that absolutely will result in an answer that will make you feel stupid and make me look like a hormonal witch.

**Disclaimer: let me end by expressing my sincere thanks to God for blessing me with 2 healthy pregnancies and the ability to carry my children to full term. I know there are women out there who don't get to do that. I know how blessed I am.

Now, for an update. :) I had my 39 week appointment today. I am up to 159lbs, which is 33lbs gained. I am still 3cm dilated and 25% effaced (no change from last week). My bp was good, urine looked good and the nurse got 'mad' at me because I have no stretch marks. :) Haha! My doctor stripped my membranes as well. I'll save you the details of what all is involved with stripping membranes... utilize Google for a fantastic definition. But for a short explanation, the procedure *may* help get my labor started. If it is going to work, it will most likely work within the next 48 hours. So far, other than some dull lower back pain, I have felt no change since she did it.

I've been told to do all sorts of things... and I've even had someone try to scare me into labor. Sorry folks, Liam is half Dippolito and half Radford. I can assure you he is quite stubborn. It's in his blood! He'll come when he's ready. Until then though, I'll have fun eating chili, bouncing on my ball, walking, cleaning, eating pineapple and all the other old wives tales. It gives me something to do!

Ready.... Set....

Wait! Ok, seriously... shall I name off everything that I've cleaned and done to get ready for this child's arrival? I was joking last night that I feel like we've done more to get ready for our second child than our first, which just seems backwards to me. I've been cleaning, organizing, throwing away, moving, purchasing, painting, re-doing, etc. Mama joked with me last night that there is nothing left for me to clean so maybe he'll come now.

Yesterday Ryan and I washed the jeep... actually, it turned into water play... and then vacuumed and detailed the inside. I moved Ryan's carseat over to make room for Liam's carseat on the other side. I put in the mirror so I can see Liam's face and I added sun shades to the windows. I didn't have sun shades before. When Ryan was born, Brett made the comment that the sun shades were silly looking and he wasn't putting them on his car. Therefore, as to not look silly, I didn't use them on mine either... no worries, my windows were dark enough that it really didn't bother Ryan. Only until recently has he said anything about the sun being in his face. Anyway, all that rambling just to say I have new sun shades on either side of the jeep for each child. Who cares what my husband says! :)

So, with the house clean, the car clean, new crates for the dogs, car seat installed, nursery done, Ryan's room painted, toys out and ready, baby laundry done, new stuff purchased, rental house in Benson ready for new tenants to move in, work stuff in order... what is there left to do but wait?

I had 6 contractions last night that were 8 minutes apart. I texted my Fayetteville bff and my dad to have them be on stand by in case it was 'go time.' I was a bit nervous though seeing how as my mother was in the air... on a plane... out of town... to Houston, TX. Houston... 2,000 miles away, 18 hours by car, 2.5 hours plus 1 layover by plane and here I am going into what I thought was labor. Liam received strict orders from his Nonna (my mom) to stay put until she returns home tonight. I think he is showing his sense of humor early on. I'm not surprised in the least bit. His middle name is Earl.

Speaking on Earl. How about this hurricane we're expected to receive a visit from. Has anyone noted the name? Yes, of course. Earl! How ironic. All of you may not know, but there is a sequence of events that could potentially happen in the next 5 days that could be considered coincidence, Divine intervention or just out right funny... just depends on how you look at it. Everyone knows, if you've been following my blog, that Liam is named after Brett's grandpa William and my Papa Earl. Well, obviously Liam will be making his appearance some time in the "near" future. Depending on when he decides to come, he could be gracing us with his presence at the same time Hurricane Earl will be gracing the coast of NC with his... the coast of NC, right exactly where our trailer is at Indian Beach, NC, which belongs to my Mimi and Papa Earl. And oh, to add to this NCSU football starts this weekend. Earl was a life long member of the Wolfpack club and die hard NCSU fan.
So, here is my prediction... dare I say it 'out loud', Hurricane Earl will hit the coast of NC on Thursday night causing minimal, if any at all, damage the our trailer, William "Liam" Earl will be born on Friday, and the Wolfpack will win their season opener to Western Carolina University on Saturday evening. Either way, Liam has the perfect Pack outfit to wear to cheer on his team if he is here on Saturday.

No Mommy... Daddy do it!

Ryan is currently in a phase where he wants Daddy to do everything. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm 38 weeks preggo tomorrow and moving around, getting up, getting down, reaching, holding, stretching, etc. is getting very difficult, painful and quite exhausting. But, come on! I still want to read books, play, interact with and love on him. But no... "I want Daddy do it, Mom!"

I am so blessed to have a man who loves and does for our son the way Brett does. I should not be complaining one bit! However, this morning when Ryan wanted Daddy to put his clothes on instead of me I made the mistake of asking him if he likes me. I said "Bubs, you like Mommy this morning?" He gave me "the look," shook his head no and hugged Brett. I wanted to break down there, but I left and walked down the hall so he wouldn't see me tear up. Most of it is hormones, but damn, it breaks my heart.

I think that's the hardest part of pregnancy... when you have another young child. I've been feeling so guilty lately because I am so drained by the time I get home from work. Half the time I can't even cook dinner. Lucky for me Ryan is just as happy with rolled up ham and cheese, or a bowl of cereal for dinner. But it's when he wants to go outside and play at 5pm that I can't handle. It's too freakin' hot! The heat indexes around here have been 97 and up for the last 2.5 months and I can't get out in it without feeling like I'm going to pass out. But yesterday I said forget it... we took a walk. We went to the park and played for about 20 minutes and then walked to the fire station to see the firetrucks. We were going to stop and get ice cream at the store, but he said he didn't want any. Then, we came back home and he rode his new power wheels truck in the backyard while I sat on the deck in the shade and watched. He was so excited to get out. But, oh, it was so hot.

I'm so ready to have this baby, I'm so ready to be normal again... or I should say, establish a new normal, I'm so ready for my energy level to come back and I'm so ready to be an active mommy again!