The House that Built Me

Have you heard Miranda Lambert's song "The House that Built Me" If you haven't listened to it here you go

I swear this song was written for our house in Simi. My parents have lived there for over 30 years. I was born in this house. Every childhood memory is in this house, every fight with my siblings was in this house, every broken heart was healed in this house, every amazing Christmas morning was in this house (damn it I'm already crying) Every triumph every failure was celebrated and healed in this house. This house TRULY built me.
Not only has this house built me, but it was where everyone came for holidays. My cousins, Aunts, and Uncles all love this house as well. It's part of our family.
So why am I writing this?
My Parents are moving and they are moving soon.
Don't get me wrong, I'm SO excited they are moving, because they are moving closer to us, their kids. I can't wait until we can spend EVERY holiday together again, rather than a phone call saying Happy Mothers Day/Fathers Day/Easter/Christmas/etc. I know all the grandkids can't WAIT to have Mumma and Papa at every birthday, every award ceremony, and just random days to get spoiled by them.
But we are leaving our home. The house that built me.

I started taking pictures of the house last time I went back. I need to have pictures to show my girls where I grew up. The house that shaped me. I only got the back yard done but it's a start. I am trying to go back this month to get the rest. I know both my sister and brother will want these photos as well.

This one is hard to see but it's our names... in the cement in the backyard.... another slab of concrete has our hand prints. I need to get a better picture of this as you can barely see this one. But its special none the less.

I know we all are going to cry when we have to say our final goodbyes to our home. I can't wait to have my parents here but its going to be bitter sweet. I love this house....

Meeting Our Maelynne

This is a LONG over due post (2.5 years to be exact)
I have wanted to share our Mae's birth story but its scary and honestly I cry every time I tell it. But with our new little miss quickly approaching I wanted to make sure I have all the details saved for the future.
So here we go..
Dearest Maelynne,
I want to tell you about the day Daddy and I met you. It was one of the best days of our lives. Your sitting here next to my now, 2 and a half years old, and I cant believe how fast the years went. You are such a light in our lives and I cant wait to see what God has in store for you, you will moves mountains, I know it. Okay enough mushy stuff ya? lets get on with your story :)

Tuesday Morning (12/8/09) I wasn’t feeling too good. My stomach ached and I was exhausted. Auntie Nana (Shalayna) called and pointed out that my stomach aches were coming a 10-15 minutes or so. So we figured labor had started. It was so minor, I still could do things I just felt sick. Mumma was driving out so I started to pick up the house since I knew I would be gone for a few days. The contractions started getting harder but it still didn’t hurt. It felt like the cramps when you have to go to the bathroom. I made dinner and by 630 pm Mumma was there! The contractions were harder and were stopping me from talking about 7 minutes apart. Now they stopped me from talking but it wasn’t really painful. It just was really really uncomfortable and I felt like I REALLY had to go to the bathroom. So we went to the hospital and of course right when we got there they stopped! I was dilated to a 3 and was about 70% effaced so they sent me home. I didn’t get much sleep that night because I was so uncomfortable.

Wednesday (12/9/09) morning around 6 am they were starting to hurt. I sat on an exercise ball and that really helped I could roll my hips around and it really eased the pain for me. I had a Doctors appointment at 11:30 so we decided not to go to the hospital and just wait. When we got to the doctors office, She stripped my membranes… Now honestly this was painful!!! I was screaming on the bed….. almost breaking Daddys hand HAHA Of course I wanted her to do it but OMG it hurt… From there it got rough. Contractions were coming every 5-7 min and they were hard. I really had to breathe through them and hold on to something and squeeze. At about 3:30pm Mumma thought I had a bit of a fever which IS NOT GOOD so we went straight to the hospital. I had a slight temperature but they weren’t too concerned and I was only dilated to a 4. (they won’t admit you unless you are a 5 or your water breaks) So I had to walk around the hospital to try and get my body to get moving. I was in a ton of pain so it was like walk a few steps stop breathe through a contraction walk a bit more breathe. Finally around 4:30 pm I was dilated enough to be admitted. I literally got into the room and they said the anesthesiologist was going in a surgery so I could have the epidural now or wait and possible miss the window. I'm pretty sure everyone in the room said DO IT NOW!!!! We had quite a party in the room. It was Daddy, Mumma, Auntie Nana, Uncle Jon, and Auntie Rikki! Papa was driving out from Simi Valley!

Then really the worst part.. the IV… they had to stick me 7 times before they got it. 7 TIMES! The nurses were soooo nice and were apologizing over and over. It hurt and I was all bruised.

Then the Epidural was easy! I sat on the bed with my legs hanging over and I hunched over the tray table  Daddy sat facing me with his arms around my shoulders and we just kept saying we get to see and hold our baby girl today and Bam it was over! It didn’t hurt at all.. just felt a bit of pressure I thought it was from him holding me still honestly. After the doctor finished Daddy lets out a huge gasp and says "Oh my God that was the biggest needle I have ever seen!!" Every one started laughing, I was grateful Daddy didnt say that BEFORE he stuck me! A little after Dr. Van Eekan broke my water. 

Then the waiting game, they started Pitocin(SP?) and we waited… and waited and waited.. NO PAIN I napped a bit, Auntie Brittany came and visited for a bit. It was really relaxing. 

 Now the scary part.

Then about 11:30 PM things started to go bad. I started feeling pain again so I told the nurse. They came and put some more epidural in and You didnt like it at all Miss. Your heart rate would jump really high then fall REALLY LOW. I was put on oxygen and they started prepping me for emergency c-section. (which honestly I was more terrified of that than actual birth) They checked me and I was Dilated to a 10 and fully effaced so they gave me the option to push but kept telling me that a c-section was pretty much the end result.  (at this point Uncle Jon ran out of the room haha) So around midnight I started pushing.Then they saw that there was meconium (sp?) in the fluid and that I needed to get you out asap. I didn't want to be behind a drape when you came out, I wanted to see your first few seconds of life. I pushed, Nana and Auntie Rikki looked terrified, and Mumma started to cry when she saw your little head start to come out. I yelled at her saying she couldn't cry! I needed her to be strong! Nana called Grandma and Grandpa in Iowa so they could listen to you being born. 

At 12.41 am you came out. This was the scary part, you came out purple. The cord was around her neck and the stress of labor was really hard on you. They didn’t lay you on my belly, something I had dreamt about, you were rushed over to the incubator in the room (I'm crying as I'm writing this. It truly was the scariest moments of my life) You didn’t breathe or move for over a minute. It was horrible. I remember praying harder than I ever had in my entire life. Finally after, what seemed like hours, Nana said "She's okay! She's moving and breathing"  You apgar at birth was a 2 out of 10. It was horrible. But they got you breathing good and pink and at your 2 minute apgar you were an 8 of 10.Nana asked what your name was, nobody knew except Daddy and I. So we official announced your name Maelynne Isabella. Now something crazy, Dr. Van Eekan's name is Mia-lynne! So close to you and she delivered you! So cool!

Then Daddy got to bring you to me, and I got to see your perfect face. There really is no words I can describe how amazing that moment was. You are our perfection, your are our light, you are our life. We truly loved you from the second we saw  you.

 

So this is your story sweet girl. It's scary and wonderful at the same time. You have made our life fun and exciting and eventful since day 1! We are so honored to be your parents. We love you so much