Curryn Scarlett

After my last post I visited the doctor on Valentine's Day... 4 days past my due date! I still had no progress. He looked at me and asked, "are you ready to get this baby out of you?" I replied with a resounding YES! He said we would try to induce and scheduled me for a bright and early 5AM arrival at Baptist! That night I went home and did the best I could on mentally preparing myself for the next day to come... Curryn's birthday! Mom picked me up at my house and we arrived on time at Baptist. Here is a shot of me before the fun really began!

At about 7AM the nurses finally got in touch with my doctor at began a pitocin drip to start the induction process. She checked me about an hour into it and found that my cervix was pointed backward, not a great start for what was to come! I was working against the odds! Every hour she would come in and increase the drip. Throughout the morning and before the contractions really got strong I had a few visitors!

My little nephew Mason was just adorable with his cute new funny faces! He kept me entertained and kept my mind off the immenent "bad part." I mentioned that every hour my nurse would come in and increase the drip. By about 1:00 I was really feeling the contractions. My mother did her best to soothe the pain, and I mean PAIN! People warned me that inducing was a lot more painful than natural contractions! They were... if I would have known that it wouldn't work I wouldn't have opted for induction... straight to the cutting!

I endured about 2 hours of strong contractions, after another check where the nurse tried to physically move my cervix forward (pain equal to induced contractions) we were still right where we had started... 7 HOURS BEFORE! They began to prep me for a C-Section and called my doctor. At about 5PM they wheeled me off in the bed to surgery. I was scared, but knew I'd be seeing my baby girl soon!

At 5:41PM Curryn Scarlett Bray arrived...

Hearing her cry was the most beautiful noise in the world! They whisked her away, my mother followed to take pictures. Then I finally saw what I had waited to see for 9 months. My little angel... the beginning of my new life!

Pearls of Wisdom from the Doc...

I had my "check up" Monday, 5 days before my supposed due date! I say supposed because my doctor after checking my doctor said, "I don't know what's wrong with your uterus!" He said it looks like I'm not supposed to be due for another month! I mean, really... how many negative things can one man say in a matter of minutes?! As I was leaving, I told the doctor I didn't want to have her on Valentine's Day! My loathing of this holiday is epic! So, with that said, I'll probably have her then! He said he didn't think it would happen and scheduled another appointment for Monday (Valentine's Day) he'll check again and said we would most likely induce, but possibly convert to a C-Section if everything is still looking the same! Who would have guessed that my daughter would be so stubborn! Bright side of things... her little heartbeat is as strong as ever and he guessed her as a heavy 7 pounds!

Honestly, it feels good to have a more solid timeline of when things are emerging... literally! We have a snow storm blowing in right now and I still have a million and one things to do before she comes! Everyone keeps mentioning how uncomfortable I must be, it's really not that bad! Granted it's getting increasingly difficult to get up out of the chair and sleeping is a chore in itself. And the HEARTBURN! This is by far the worst part of it! I am so over the heartburn! I never thought I would be a connoissuer of antiacid, but I must say that the Equate brand of Tums Extra Strength Tropical flavor is my favorite! Yum! Overall though, it's just annoying!

Here's me at 5 Days to Go! Or so I thought!

Two Weeks, To Go!

I went to the Doctor, Monday. This is the first "exam" performed in, oh... about 8 months. Who wouldn't be interested in what is going on in there!? Okay... that may be too much TMI, I was excited about my appointment! There. He felt my belly and listened to her ever strong heartbeat. He could tell by her positioning that she was curled up on the left side of my tummy. I already knew that because I had looked like a strange lopsided kidney bean for about a week. He said he thought she was "head down" but would check to be sure! Yay! The check!


The anticipation built while he completed the Group B Strep Test (basically bacteria that can be passed during delivery) and... his exact words, "there's nothing!" Nothing?! First of all, I know there's a baby or this has been some sick joke! Secondly, can I get a little more information? I asked what his definition of nothing was, not dilated? He gave a quick nod and informed me she wasn't coming anytime soon and he would check in another two weeks! Two WEEKS? This looming due date is two weeks and four days away! I'll have to devot an entire seperate post to the mysterious, chalant demeanor of my wonderful doctor. Let's just say he's not real forthcoming. I have another appointment Monday, not really sure of its point other than, yeah... she's still in there.

Fast forward four days later: Today I did some grocery shopping and picked up the Pack n' Play I ordered from the Walmart site. I really wish I had more information, like an exact date of her birth! It would really help me plan! I'm trying to remain as comfortable as possible, it isn't terribly difficult. I've been stretching when I feel pain and have been enjoying grabbing little feet that stick up. Here's a picture of me at Walmart today to mark the fact that I actually have something the size of a watermelon inside me!

Give Life a Title!

So, I set up the blog after much coercing from my wonderful brother and his wife! Tonight, my brother and I were telling my mom about it. He said the old title of the blog, "sucked pretty bad." I thought it was a cute play on words; C.S. Just the Two of Us sounds like C.S. Lewis, the famous author. Nope! It sucked... obscure. After I thought about it, I conceded to the fact that he was a little right... otherwise I wouldn't be changing it! Yes... Zac... YOU WERE RIGHT!

Anyway... I changed it to "Irregular Wiggles." Here's my reasoning so I don't get talked into changing it again:

a. Wiggle - a funny word and also my nickname.

b. This lil' Wiggle is a mover already she's already got the nickname.

c. That makes two Wiggles.

Okay so why Irregular you ask:
a. There are the obvious reasons if you know me well enough! ;)

b. I looked up the definition of wiggle and it said: To move back and forth with quick irregular motions. That was just funny to me!

c. Irregular Wiggles sounds like a blog you would want to follow, it could even be famous.

I had another blog that I started almost a year ago. Zac said, that title sucked even worse! It was called "Brays in Toyland." Yeah... another play on words! I agreed that was a little cheesy! I found it and deleted it tonight, because obviously I never posted anything for anyone to read. However, while I was figuring out how to delete, I found a draft of a post I started on that blog. The title of that was "I might as well be doing something constructive with my time." I realized then and there, I really suck at titles! I mean... seriously?! What kind of title is that?! I'm disappointed in myself. As I delved deeper to delete, I found out I had written one sentence in the body. It said, "Nine years ago, I never imagined myself here." That is deep! Especially since not even a year later, my entire life I never imagined I would be where I am now!

It's comical how life manifest itself. The post was from February 3, 2010. I wasn't pregnant then. The title of the blog had definitely had been altered since February. The collision of the two at this time in my life, demonstrated how much can change and how quickly life can come at you and go! I'm thinking about that a lot tonight. It's a irregular wiggle in time!

Nesting Should Be Called Spending...

I am trying to rationalize that everything I'm spending money on has a purpose and will be useful. However, my nesting has turned into a bunch of baby stuff stacked up around my house. I read the other day that I should be compulsively cleaning, instead I feel like I'm hoarding!

On a lighter note, I have discovered my creative gene and made some really cute stuff for Curryn's room! (Okay... this might be the spending part that was more for fun than use) I subsided to putting her name on the wall. At first, I thought it was dumb because well... duh! I know what her name is and whose room it is! Alas, there was a 50% sale at Hobby Lobby (that store is the devil!) and I bought the letters for $1.50 each! The actual decorating wasn't that expensive either, used leftover fabric and only spent a couple of bucks on the accessories! I think they turned out pretty cute!

The painting in the nursery is almost done, I picked up the framed Dali butterfly poster from... you guessed it, Hobby Lobby (50% off framing) today and can't wait to put it all together and get her home. I'm guessing a lot of remaining decorating will happen after she is born. I have roughly 3 weeks to go, washing up the baby clothes I know she will be wearing home from the hospital and in the first week or so of her life! I also have my bags packed! Now... the fun part, waiting!

I have a doctor appointment tomorrow (weather pending) and will know more about when I might be able to expect her arrival! Which be awesome because the not knowing is driving me absolutely insane! More updates to come! :)

4 Weeks and 3 Days...

No... I'm not counting or anything!

It seems just like yesterday, I held that pregnancy test and slowly opened one eye to reveal what was to come. Now that I am looking at the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel, I'm not sure I'm ready for it to end. I recall the fun moments like the first weird little movements (which have now become big weird movements) and finding out I am having a girl (which is what I secretly wanted). I honestly think I'll miss the feeling of having a little life inside me. Although, I can't wait to hold that little life on the outside either... it is bittersweet, scary, and the most exhilarating feeling I have ever known.

Mom and I attended our first of two childbirth classes today. I'm not nervous about the actual childbirth. I'm okay with the whole process, but I wish someone could just give me a schedule of exactly when everything is going to happen, and how. That would make my life so much easier! I was looking around the class today at all of these trepidatious fathers and realized not having her dad there wasn't such a bad thing! I have the luxury of having a woman and more importantly my mom to coach me through! There's just a different level of understanding and basic maternal instinct that comes with that! She's excited too... it's cute! I think, though she'd never let me know, she's freaking just a bit! :)

I enjoyed a pedicure purchased by my friend from work (AT&T) Cheri, today. It was nice to catch up with her! As I wrap up here, I consider whether I should clean off the coffee table which has now become the scrapbooking, Stephanie is suddenly crafty table, or just go to bed. Thinking the latter will probably win out! Will post pictures of my new found motherly crafting gene in the next post!