Our Baby Story

On Saturday September 6th Dusty took me to the hospital because I had a massive migraine that medication was not touching and my vision was being changed either due to the migraine or my gestational hypertension to the point that I could not read words that were written. The doctor did not feel that the migraine was blood pressure related but my blood pressure had hit a very high peak and while it had gone back down the doctor suggested that we begin the induction process since it could take a while for the baby to come since it was my first baby and my body wasn't showing signs of labor (my cervix was barely open), he said it would most likely be about Tuesday when the baby would come. That evening at 4:15pm we were admitted to Labor and Delivery room where they had me meet with the anesthesiologist to go over pain management options including epidurals, they did some blood work and they started me on Cervadil to begin opening and softening my cervix so the Pitocin that they would start me on the next morning would be more productive in the labor process.

Admitted to room 4173 to begin the induction process, Noah came to visit!

The Cervadil, while it did leave me 100% effaced and 4cm dialated threw me into very very painful contractions and by 12:30am I was a mess. I kept telling Dusty that I couldn't handle it, that getting pregnant was a terrible decision, that we would never have another child, that the doctor needed to just take the baby out because I was done with all of it and would rather die than continue having such terrible pains, and while he was very encouraging I called him a liar and told him that while I appreciated what he was trying to do that he was wrong and had no idea what he was talking about. I was given ambien to help me sleep and some pain meds and nausea meds that should have knocked me out but instead I still woke up every 3 minutes or so in severe pain and would pass out again once the pain was over. It was a terrible night and I told Dusty that I did not want ANYONE to come visit me the next day because I was miserable.

As no pictures were taken while I was especially grumpy from contractions, here is a cute picture of Noah in his Big Brother shirt.

Around 10am on the 7th they finally got me my epidural and during the whole thing I had to sit still and not move while I was still having terrible contractions. I squeezed Dusty's poor hands really hard and my water ended up breaking in the process to which I panicked and apologized over and over for making a mess. Once the epidural kicked in life was good again. I could feel the pressure of the contractions but it just felt like I needed to use the bathroom, I was much more pleasant to be around so guests were welcome and I was happy to be having a baby again.

Drugged Dianna finished with her yummy Popsicle

My mom and dad came, so did Beverly and Lyle, Heather, Josh and the kids (Abbie, Mayson, and Noah) were in the waiting room and Anita and Michael came right before we started pushing. At 3;59pm I was dialated to 9.5cm and was told we would be pushing within the hour. I was given a bit of a boost to my epidural because I was starting to feel pain again (at this point I could no longer move my legs, just wiggle my toes and move my ankles). Mom and Dusty were the only ones in the room when pushing began while HGTV was on TV (playing the one show that I don't like...Flip or Flop).

My perfect little boy (pardon his naked-ness)

Dr. Melanie Schwartz delivered Oliver at 5:29pm
Oliver weighed 6lbs 6.1oz
Oliver measured 20 3/4 inches long
He had all 10 fingers, all 10 toes, two big beautiful grey eyes, two pointy ears and a button nose.
He was perfect.

He made quite a mess of my lower half for such a small little guy, it took the doctor about half an hour to finish stitching up my 3rd degree (very close to being a 4th degree) tear and I admit that I pretty much sat there and texted while she did that. I didn't even break a sweat pushing thanks to my epidural and didn't cry until I heard my son crying (which he only did until they got him to his warm little bed to be examined because he was quite content once he was no longer cold). Dusty and my mom told me how proud they were of me and they cried. Once they had wiped Oliver down and my stitching was done I got to hold my son and he was perfect. I couldn't believe that he was mine...almost 7 weeks later I still can't.

My Angel

One proud mommy

Daddy holding his newest little boy!

First updated Haynes Family Photo! (pardon my hair!)

It looks like a doll but Noah is holding Oliver for the first time!

Thanks for reading my story! This is the first picture mommy took with her phone of me!

Oliver passed all of his tests at the hospital perfectly even with him being born at only 37 weeks 2 days! He had no sign of an arrhythmia either! The only problems he seemed to have was regulating his body temperature (we did lots of skin on skin to help this) and a clogged tear duct which are both very common. We went to our mommy baby room where Oliver continued to thrive no problem, mommy had lots of pain but the awesome nursing staff kept her medicated and supplied her with ice packs for some pain relief. We had lots of visitors including our family members and friends David, Sierra, Lily and Hayden.

On the day we were supposed to go home I got a bad pain in my right side which almost delayed our going home but instead all tests came back fine, I got some pain pills and we were all set! By the way, the Meatloaf and Squash/Red Pepper side are DELICIOUS, I ordered it twice! When we were home many more people came to see us and meet our little bundle of joy, many brought us dinner and helped take care of us new parents for which we are very grateful.

I am officially a mommy!

339 Days Left!: The Story of Us Part 4

Now, to go into every single detail of our dating relationship up to our engagement would be silly and would take forever to write and read (note, this is already part 4 and I have less than a year to cover). Once the "I love you"s were said they were said and continue to be said often. I always feel like it just doesn't portray just how deeply I feel for Dusty, like there should be a step even greater than "I love you," but there just doesn't seem to be the right words anywhere. Now, I have always been one of those people who used to mock people who were all lovey-dovey on social media sites but having caught the love bug, it started to make sense. When you love someone you want everyone in the entire world to know how amazing they are, you want to scream it from a mountain and most importantly you want that person to understand how much they mean to you and as they say, it isn't official unless it is on Facebook.

Dusty and I continued our relationship spending time with each other as much as possible, going to the Renaissance Festival and having our first (and only it seems like) future family portrait, though at the time it was not officially set in stone that we would be a family, having a Halloween party, a surprise birthday party for Dusty thrown by yours truly, an evening of feeling sorry for Dianna since my Europe trip was canceled at the last minute, celebrating Thanksgiving at both of our families houses (a first for me), spending an entire evening decorating a tree, doing Christmas Crafts and wearing reindeer antlers bought from Walgreens. We even discussed a future together. I think we started considering getting married a month into dating even if we didn't voice it. I remember one night when I was leaving Dusty's apartment telling him that, since I hated saying good bye to him (which I still do), I was going to have to convince him to marry me. He had responded with, "It wont take any convincing, it is just too early in our relationship for that."

Around the 4 month mark we started talking more about what kinds if things we would want for a wedding, though of course it was too soon to consider. Closer to the 5 month mark we had started legitimate planning and saving for the wedding, we even paid for our photographer before we were engaged because it was an awesome price and it never expired. Apparently Dusty and I were a bit obvious with our affections because on December 29th my brother expected me to be announcing an engagement and had stated to his wife that, "Dusty will make a good brother in law." I think he was disappointed when there was no ring on my finger that night.

Let me back track for a second. Once a week or so Dusty hangs out with his best friend David to do some writing. One day at work I had asked Dusty if he wanted to come to my house to have dinner and he said he couldn't. I asked what he was doing, figuring it would be hanging out with Dave, instead he said, "OK, I can't hang out because I have to do something but you can't know what it is." Why? "I can't tell you anything." Is there anything worse than when someone tells you that they know something that you aren't allowed to know? What is always the first need you have? YOU NEED TO KNOW! So what did this loving, caring, sweet girlfriend do in response? I bugged the heck out of him, guessing, trying to get him to slip, trying to sneak around the apartment to find it out. I thought I would get it for Christmas, I didn't. I thought I would get it on our anniversary...I didn't. So the day after our anniversary we are getting ready to go to breakfast and I was bugging Dusty and he handed me a journal, it was a beautiful leather journal with flowers etched into it and it buttoned closed. He told me to open it so I did and I found that he had taped the picture of us from the Renaissance Festival and wrote: "The Story of Us" I turned the page and saw that he had written something, I looked at him with tears in my eyes and told him I couldn't read it right now, he told me to read it. 

Everyday I think about where we've been. After only five months you have taken me from my lowest to my highest; from wondering if I'd ever find love again to finding a love stronger than I've ever felt.

I want you to know that I know how you used to feel. You told me how you have felt at times that you didn't belong. I have felt that as well! But now all of that has changed.

This is the beginning of our story. This is the part where we figure our that we belong with each other  This is the part where we realize it was always supposed to be us. Every decision we have made has led us right here. So go ahead and turn the page to find our what happens next in our story. 

So I was bawling, I turned the page and there were two more pictures of us and a hole carved into the journal with a ring inside. Above the hole was one simple question "Will You Marry Me.":

I don't even think I answered I just threw my arms around Dusty and told him that I loved him between sobs. After I was able to pull away he opened the journal and told me, "you know you haven't actually said yes, right?" I smiled and said yes, of course I said yes. He put the ring on my finger where it felt like home.

Noah had been there the whole time playing with the Christmas tree ornaments and Dusty asked him if we could get married and he closed his eyes, tilted his head down and shook his head in disapproval, which made us laugh. Terrible twos and the no phase. We then headed to breakfast, and do you know what we did after? We registered for our wedding gifts at Wal-Mart. Yup. We jumped right in.

And that Is where you find me now. This is not a story that will ever end but this is the final part for now. We are still in the planning process, though I must admit that we are at a standstill for the most part. You can only plan so much so far ahead of time but everything we COULD do, we have done except a couple of design things. Every decision regarding the wedding has been made together (except my dress as he did not get to come help pick). This wedding is just as much his as it is mine and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I am very excited to share more of my adventures with you and share insight on wedding related stuff. If you have a topic you would like me to write about, things you would like me to explain about my life, my relationship or my wedding feel free to suggest something. I can't guarantee I will spill any metaphorical beans, but perhaps I can fulfill your request in a round about way.

Much love!

FMH 

350 Days left - Engagement Survey

Hello Blog world! See? I didn't forget about you. I was writing a blog entry that is looking to be SUUUUUUUPER long so I decided that in the mean time, I could post this Engagement Survey to tide you over. 

Where/How did you meet? We met at our place of employment.

When did you start dating? Officially on July 29th.

Where was your first kiss? Outside of Dianna's house.

Who's friends did you first hang out with? Both, they were our co-workers.

What was the first holiday you spent together? July 4th.

Do you remember the first time you said I love you to each other? Yes

Who said it to who? I said it first...in a text...while he I thought he would be sleeping. Imagine my surprise when he responded right away...

What does his parents think about you? I think they like me...I hope!

What do your parents think about him? They love him, he is already their son in law in their eyes.

When did you start talking about spending the rest of your lives together? Less than a month after we started dating.

When did he pop the question? December 30, 2012

How & Where did he do it? He gave me a journal while we were in the living room of his apartment. It had a really sweet note in it entitled "The Story of Us," talking about how he felt and how this was what was always meant to be, I cried and then turned the page and found there was a hole cut in the journal and an engagement ring inside asking "will you marry me?"

How old were you both when you got engaged? I was 24 he was 27

What did people think about your engagement? Everyone seemed very happy about it.

Who did you tell first?  Dusty's sister Heather.

Have you set a wedding date yet? Yes, April 12, 2014. And we have been super productive with our planning and bookings for the event!

Maid of honor? Nope, Matron of honor, Mrs. Lauren Dunne

Best Man? David Cox

Bridesmaids? Brittany Mixon, Lily McLean, Heather Haynes

Groomsmen? Brad Leonard, Steven Ward, Mike Naglieri

Flower girl? Karlee Naglieri

Ring bearer? Noah Haynes

Where will the wedding be? The Village Inn Event Center in Clemmons, NC

Where will the reception be?  Same place.

How long have you been engaged? Almost 4 months.

How long until your wedding day? 350 days

What are the colors of your wedding? Apple red, Champagne, Ivory, White, Black and Popcorn Yellow

What will you  your first dance together be? All I can say is...it will be a dance, haha

Are you registered anywhere? Yes, Amazon.com and Walmart

Are you taking a honeymoon? Yes, on a Carnival Cruise to the Caribbean.

Where will you live after you are married? In an apartment that we hope to move in to a month before the wedding.
Do you plan on having kids after the wedding? It is actually part of the reception..that is a weird question. We have one child now, Dusty's son Noah who will be almost 4 at the time of the wedding and we have discussed plans for future Haynes babies.

How many, if any? It depends. Probably two more.

Is this what you really want for the rest of your life? That is kind of a horrible question. I want this every second of every day for the rest of my life.

Who is taking who's last name? I am taking his last name, hence the name of this blog. 


That's all for now. Love you all! Thanks for reading :)

FMH