One Month

Maura's first month went fairly well. We had some difficulties with eating and sleeping, but she is a sweet girl who continues to bring us joy and make our family complete.

It took all two weeks for Maura to regain her birth weight. She would only eat a few minutes at each feeding. We had a lactation consultant come and help me and reassure me that Maura was indeed eating. Her umbilical cord came off after a few weeks, but continued to have some slight, normal discharge.

Nathan's parents came to meet Maura and to spend time with Holden during the first week of November, my brother came to visit the second week of November, and we had an abundance of friends stop by with dinner, gifts and well wishes the entire month.

One Month Stats
Weight: 9 pounds, 11 ounces
Length: 22.5 inches
Head: 15 inches

Welcome Maura Patricia

Maura Patricia Sandell came into this world very quickly, and here is her birth story.

October 22nd was the due date, but I did not want to get my hopes up that this child would be on-time or even early for that matter. We all remember what happened with Holden! I started to feel some cramping during the week, but that mostly happened when I would carry Holden and his large toddler body on my very pregnant belly.

That week, I tried to keep myself pretty busy. I remember getting my hair cut and highlighted, my toes and nails painted, and I tried to take Holden outside because I knew I would be inside for a while. That Friday, October 21st, Holden and I went to a playground, and I spoke with a father there who told me to try walking on a balance beam. That worked for his wife. I smiled and later tried walking on the yellow curb. Still no contractions.

I had made plans with my friend, Molly, to get ice cream at Friendly's. While we didn't know each other in high school (we both went to Robinson), we both frequented the restaurant after big high school events (yes, mine usually involved the band!). I met Molly there after Holden went to bed and enjoyed a delicious Reese's peanut butter sundae with peanut butter ice cream. We talked for almost three hours and we each went away with prayer requests on our hearts. Mine, of course, was for the delivery of the child inside of me to come soon, and come easily.

I walked in the door close to midnight - a rarity these days. Nathan had waited up for me, and we talked for another hour before finally going to bed. We knew when Holden woke up, we were going to be exhausted.

Around 3:00AM, I started to feel those cramps again. I rolled over and woke Nathan up and told him. He asked if they were consistently coming and if I felt them in my back and front. I answered no to both. Since we had been up so late, he told me he was going back to sleep and to wake him up if anything changed. The cramps hurt and were keeping me from sleep, so I asked him if he could set up some Sons of Anarchy for me to watch (we were waiting for labor to start the season). He did it, and I called my mom to let her know that this might just be it, and for her to be prepared, just in case. (And yes, just for the record, she did tell me to go to the hospital at this point).

I tried watching the first episode of the season and concentrate on Jax's new haircut, but those cramps just kept coming and I eventually had to get out of bed and stand. Around 4:00AM, I called our doula, Marilyn, and told her about the cramps that kept coming, but were not "textbook" so I didn't think I was really in labor. I had two contractions in two minutes while talking with her. She advised me to wake Nathan up and go to the hospital.

After hanging up with Marilyn, I went to the bathroom (for the eighth time that night) and broke out into a heavy sweat. That is when I really knew it was time. I immediately went to Nathan and said we had to go - now! I changed into a comfy skirt, a sports bra and t-shirt and put my fuzzy slippers on from New Zealand. Nathan called my mom and called Marilyn and while waiting for him to change, I got on our floor on all fours begging and apologizing for an epidural. The pain was intense and the contractions were coming quickly.

At 5:30AM my mom showed up to watch Holden and showed me the PBK plate she bought him for Thanksgiving. I'll never forget how excited she was about the plate, and how confused I was that now was the time she thought was appropriate to tell me about it. But, Nathan pulled his car up, and I got in hugging the front seat of the car. No seat belt. At this point, I was just trying to breathe through the contractions, letting out low, "hooo hooo hooo" sounds.

Nathan drove very carefully to Fair Oaks Hospital and parked in the emergency lot. He grabbed our bags and helped me out of the car. I stood behind him, grabbed the collar of his shirt and had two contractions in the parking lot while trying to make our way to the entrance. We finally stepped inside and Nathan began checking me in. I had another contraction at the desk and then my water broke. It didn't really break, it gushed out and I announced it to everyone because I didn't want anyone to think I was just lazily peeing myself.

Once my water broke, the kind girl behind the desk knew we were serious about being in labor and she quickly beckoned a wheel-chair. Unfortunately, sitting was not very comfortable and all I wanted to do was stand and rock; but, I was told I had to, "SIT DOWN." While in the elevator on our way to the L&D ward, I tried to stand again, but heard, "SIT DOWN." We rolled into L&D and our nurse took over and I tried to stand up for a third time, but then heard, "You need to SIT DOWN because you ARE NOT having this baby in the hallway." I apologized profusely and was rolled a few feet away into a room.

The nurses told me to get on my back in the bed, but instead I just made it to the bed and stayed on my side. I held onto the side-rail of the bed and yelled out for anyone to grab my right leg. This was it, and my body just knew it. I let out a low and hard grunt and pushed. I was told to stop pushing, but my body didn't hear what they said. I let out another low and hard grunt, pushed again and heard her beautiful cry at 6:18AM.

They placed her right on my stomach. I saw the umbilical cord and her sweet face. I was filled with such joy. Nathan cut the cord and the nurses took her for the check-up. I "birthed" the placenta and received a couple of shots, a few easy stitches, and began to shake uncontrollably (they told me later this was a normal side effect), but warm blankets helped me out. My baby girl was given to me and she latched right away.

While waiting for my recovery room, I ordered breakfast and immediately walked around. What a difference no needles, no drugs, no nothing made. I felt incredible and the oxytocin my body made on its own was more powerful than anything I had ever experienced.

Once we were settled in, I told Nathan to go home and see Holden and for my mom to come to the hospital. Marilyn stayed with me as I marveled at my sweet little girl. This was as close to heaven I have ever been. We were discharged two days later and began our journey as a family of four.

MAURA PATRICIA SANDELL

October 22, 2011

6:18AM

8 pounds, 6 ounces

21.5 inches long

Playground

Holden and I (more so Holden and Nathan) would visit the nearby elementary school playground almost every day this summer. He loves to get outside, and he loves to climb - so, the playground was a perfect fit!

As summer is coming to an end, Holden is now able to climb the stairs by himself, go down the slides by himself and cross the "bouncy bridge" by himself.

I'm not sure what we are going to do now that school is back in session, because our neighborhood playgrounds are just not as good, and not as easy to access for a super preggo mom either. I'll have to start doing some research to find fun playgrounds that are safe - or, just move to Loudon County because they have amazing public playgrounds!

Here are some pictures of Holden from earlier this week, September 5th (16 months old).

Crossing the bouncy bridge

Climbing some bars, with Nathan's help

Coming down the twisty slide

Climbing the stairs to get back to the slide

Trying to climb, but this one will probably take a few more months to master

Holden with his favorite guy - Daddy

QT with INOVA

Saturday August 13th, I started feeling some intense pain on the right side of my stomach. I knew these were not contractions, and honestly, I thought they were hunger pains - I am pregnant after all; but, even after dinner, my pain only got worse, and I could no longer walk upright. Nathan convinced me to call our OBGYN, and the doctor advised me to take a warm shower and to rest. An hour later, the pain was still there, and I had started a fever. We called back, and this time, I was told to come on down to INOVA Fair Oaks.

It was after midnight at this point, and my biggest fear was what to do about Holden. I did not want him to wake up and not have his mommy or his daddy there. All I could do was picture him freaking out and crying (whether true or not), so I called up my mommy and asked her if she could drive me to the hospital. She came right over and off we went. Have I mentioned how blessed am I to have the mother I have?

I was admitted with a 101 degree fever, an elevated white blood cell count, very low blood pressure (90/40 at one point) and an elevated heart rate. My pain was still intense and concentrated on the right side. Appendicitis, kidney stones, gallbladder issues, stomach infections, and blood clots were all tossed out as possibilities, so off to get tested I went.

My first stop was to have three different ultrasounds, then an MRI, an X-ray of my chest (radiation risk to baby), another ultrasound for the baby, an ultrasound for my legs, a CT scan (more radiation risk to baby, and an iodine risk of thyroid disease to the baby), an EKG and an echo-cardiogram. The worst feeling was signing papers saying that I understood that these tests could cause harm to the innocent child growing inside of me. A part of me wanted to just rip everything up and leave - it wasn't worth it; but, I went through with it all anyway.

Even after all those tests, a diagnosis never came back. My pain was being controlled by drugs, and eventually regular Tylenol. I was put on two different antibiotics and my fever was stable, and my CBC numbers all came back normal. My heart was still slightly elevated, but I was told it was because I was nervous. So, I happily called Nathan to pick me up that Monday evening.

But, the pain returned.

Tuesday morning, we called the doctor again, and was told to come on back to the hospital. This time, though, the pain was not as serious, and it quickly subsided with Tylenol. After one more ultrasound, the founding doctor of my OBGYN practice told me I had round ligament pain and that the baby was breech and applying pressure to me.

That was it.

I was discharged that afternoon and took Tylenol the rest of the day. So far, that pain has not returned, and I have continued seeing a chiropractor to manage the ligament pain and keep everything aligned. From this trying and emotional time, I feel I learned two simple lessons:

1. My faith in God is not as strong as I would like it to be, and not as strong as I want it to be for my son.
While I asked for prayer from family and friends, the only time I remember submitting myself to God was in the MRI tube, flat on my back and barely breathing. I prayed for God to hurry the test, or to help me breathe easier. Neither happened and I quickly lost faith. I am ashamed at how I abandoned God and did not continue to ask for His help; or even have the faith to know that while I was experiencing all this pain, He was still right besides me. As I try and teach Holden to love, know and obey God, I feel like a hypocrite. Do I love, know and obey God? This entire pregnancy has caused me to reexamine my personal relationship with Jesus - and, I have a lot of work to do.

2. Modern medicine still does not heal like Christ does.
As I mentioned above, after all of those (expensive) tests and visits by a number of different doctors, no one could give me an official diagnosis. One of my exceptional nurses even commented how she thought I could be a case on "House." There was definitely something wrong with me, but no one knew what; and then, I was fine. Even though I lost my faith, I am so blessed to have had so many true and wonderful friends praying for me who did not lose faith. Thank you all for your prayers for healing. Reflecting on this experience, I know without a doubt that it was your faithfulness and your prayer and your relationship with Christ that healed me, and kept the child growing inside of me safe during that time.

While there are no pictures of me in my hospital wardrobe, I was so grateful to one of the ultrasound techs who surprised me with two pictures of baby. They are 3D, which I have never experienced before, and very fun to see. The best part is that we have compared these pictures to newborn shots of Holden, and the two are twins. I am even more convinced we are having another boy (but, don't tell me - I still do not know!).

Summer Salad

Here is another quick and easy recipe I saw from the blog "100 Days of Real Food."

This is a perfect summer salad - an easy side-dish or a great addition to a potluck. Holden did not enjoy it (most likely the garlic flavor), so this is definitely more for adults.

The original recipe is below, and I have put my changes in italics. Enjoy!

Lime-Cilantro Quinoa Salad
Salad
-3 cups cooked quinoa (1 cup dry)
-3/4 cup dried fruit (I omitted the dried fruit)
-1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted (I omitted this because Holden is too young for nuts)
-1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
-1 bell pepper of any color, diced (I used red)
-1 can black beans
-1 can corn
(Note: I wanted this to be more Mexican, so that is why I added the beans and corn)
Dressing
-1/4 cup lime juice (make sure to get at least 2 limes)
-1/4 cup olive oil
-1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (I only had spicy brown, it turned out fine)
-2 garlic cloves, minced (I only used 1 and thought it was enough garlic flavor)
-Pinch of salt
Directions
1. Mix all salad ingredients together in a large bowl.
2. In a separate, smaller bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients.
3. Pour the dressing over the salad and mix thoroughly.
4. Eat or store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Pink Panther

Holden loves anything soft. If something is soft, or even has a soft spot, he sticks his left thumb in his mouth, puts the soft item near his face and makes a, "mm-mmm-mmm" noise (aside: I made that same noise when I was a baby).

These soft items have included our cats, touch-and-feel puzzle pieces, my bathrobe, blankets, stuffed animals, and in particular, my pink pajama pants.

Holden LOVES my pink pajama pants. He will pet me when I wear them and if they are free, he will take them around the house with him. I have to keep them in a high drawer or else he would get them every day to snuggle.

He is so in love with pink pants that on Sunday, while waiting to get a prescription filled, he saw a woman in pink pants and went up to her and started petting her leg. We quickly scooped him up and apologized. Thank goodness he is still so young and she was very forgiving!

Quick and Easy Recipe

While I do not have any pictures of my own, I finally tried a recipe from The Pioneer Woman. I've heard so much about her and have seen many friends link to her on Facebook and blogs, so I checked out her site and the Sour Cream Noodle Bake caught my eye.

Ree does a great job of giving you step-by-step instructions with amazing pictures, so it was simple to make and follow along. My only mistake was not heating the water while cooking the meat. Otherwise, everything was super quick and super easy.

Everyone really enjoyed eating it, including Holden (which equals success in my book!), and we had leftovers for lunch. I served ours with some garlic bread. Enjoy!

High Chair Relaxing

If you come over to our home, you will probably see Holden eating like this - feet up and on the table. Nathan and I started seeing signs that Holden is ready to start eating with us, so, we brought his high chair in, and Holden immediately put his feet on the table. How can I blame the guy? He just wants to relax while enjoying his meal.

Here is Holden enjoying hamburger and sweet potato rounds!

Now, don't worry those of you who swear by Ms. Manners and the method of starting where you mean to go. We are in the process of teaching Holden that feet stay down at the dinner table - but only because Nathan and I are not as flexible as he is ;)

Sick

This past week the entire Sandell family fell sick. Holden started the trend, but soon enough, Nathan and I were feeling the bug, too.

Our afternoon started off just fine, but just before we put Holden down for his nap, he started becoming restless and whiney. Usually Holden runs to his crib for his nap and is excited to go to sleep and be with his Lambie (yes, I know just how lucky I am!). Not this time, though. He was restless during his entire nap, too, and then at around 4:30PM he woke up crying, which he never does. Nathan was visiting friends who live out of town, so I rushed in and discovered a huge mess in Holden's crib. We immediately went for the bath, and as I cleaned him off, he finally calmed down and stopped crying.

Holden has never been sick in his crib before, so I was a little nervous and called Nathan to come home. It was the right decision because Holden threw up on me about an hour later. All I could do was ache for my little boy at that moment. I think as a Mama, one of the worst feelings you can have is that of helplessness when your child is in need. I could not make that sickness just go away and that was a terrible feeling.

After five more fits of throw-up, countless diaper changes and lots of snuggles, Holden finally began feeling better on Day Four. The bad news was that Nathan and I got sick that night. By God's blessing, my mom lives close by and I called her very early in the morning to be our back-up. She dutifully came over and watched Holden, helped out with the housework, and brought us fluids. I love my mom!

It took us about three days to get over our bug, and now, we are back to our healthy selves! We didn't snap too many pictures of us as we were sick, but there was a funny moment when I tried to feed Holden a mango popsicle to keep him hydrated. He loves mangoes, and the doctor suggested popsicles, so we were surprised, and amused, that Holden did NOT like the popsicle and even threw it on the carpet, and under the chair. He wanted to make sure we knew he did not approve!

Pushing the popsicle away from him

Taking the popsicle

"Gimme that popsicle!!!"

Crying and taking the popsicle over to the chair...

...because that is where yucky popsicles belong!