Announcing Rohan Amit Patel

On November 25, 2010 (Thanksgiving Day), I began having contractions at about 1:00 in the afternoon that were coming every 10 minutes, but they were weak. I walked around the gas station and drank loads of bottled water to make sure they were real. That afternoon, at 3:30 p.m., Tim took me to Ryan's to eat a traditional Thanksgiving meal. When I got home, I went upstairs to rest. I ended up falling asleep around 5:00 until 7:30ish. Tim, David, and Baljit went to Walmart at 11:00 p.m. to purchase the Black Friday deals that I wanted for my Christmas presents. At 12:30, I called Tim telling him it was time to head to the hospital. My contractions were coming every 3-5 minutes.

We arrived at the hospital at 1:00 a.m. False Alarm. My contractions were coming regularly, but the weren't hard enough to dilate or efface me. (On Friday, Nov. 19, I was 1 cm dilated and 80% effaced.) At the hospital, I was 1.5 cm dilated and 90% effaced, but the nurse said she expected me to have the baby before the weekend was up. I had the option to stay at the hospital and walk or go home. I choose home. The doctor offered me a muscle relaxant to allow me to sleep, but I figured I had slept with contractions earlier. It shouldn't bother me. I really didn't want any medicine.

Bad Choice. We made it home at about 2:15 a.m. Tim went to sleep, in case we needed to rush back to the hospital. I laid down beside him, but couldn't get comfortable. That's when they really began. At 4:00 a.m. in the morning I really felt them. I couldn't talk during the contractions or walk. I watched Psych and Save by the Bell: The College Years. At 5 in the morning, I got in the bath tub. That helped a little. After my shower, I went downstairs and watched more TV. At 8:00 in the morning, I went upstairs and woke up Tim. We arrived at the hospital again at 9:00 in the morning.

This was the time. I was dilated to 4 cm and 100% effaced. The doctor had me admitted. Every hour, the nurse would come in to check me. At 10:00 a.m., I was dilated to 6 cm. The at 11:00 a.m. I was dilated to 8 cm. Finally at 12:45 a.m., I was ready to push. I only pushed for 20 minutes and my beautiful little boy was born.

Rohan Amit Patel made his entrance into the world on November 26, 2010. He weighed 7 lbs. 4 oz. and was 20.5 inches long. He is the love of his Mommy and Daddy's life. He is doing well and gaining weight.

DIY Maternity Pictures

Hey everyone! Today, I am officially 32 weeks pregnant! Tim, David, Om, and I went to the park and took some DIY maternity pictures. I think they turned out really well. We also got some pictures of David and Om as well.

This is a picture by the trees in front of a lake.

 The sun was directly in my eyes.

A little dark, but a great picture.

Thinking about everything to come.

I was afraid Tim was going to fall into the lake. 

 

My belly fit over the railing.

Om chasing after the geese.

 

This poor goose had a broken flapper.

 

A pretty tree by the lake.

This is my favorite picture of me and Tim taken all day!

Now for a little inspiration... never think you can't do what you sat your mind to. 

This structure is very tall and the stairs are very steep.....

BUT this PREGNANT woman, MADE it to the TOP!!!

Tim did too, but that's not as much of a accomplishment.

Rohan's Crib

During the weekend of the baby shower (10/10/10), my mom and dad took me shopping for Rohan's crib. I absolutely love it. After the baby shower, we got it set up in our room and the comforter set washed and put in. My nursing school friends had purchased the mobile for the crib as a gift. Now, all I need is decals above the crib. My cousins, Karen and Emily, made us hangings with Rohan's initials that match the jungle theme. Just figured, I shared the awesome crib. After I get the wall hangings up, I will post pictures of the rocker and ottoman, and above the crib.

Nursing Care of the Childbearing family

Hey everybody! Last week, I finished my Nursing Care of the Pediatric Patient class (with an A!!! Thank you Jesus!). On Monday, I began Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family. I am sooooo..... tired. I have been reading each night for 4 1/2 hours for the next day of class. However, it is preparing me for my upcoming labor and delivery in December.

I have been planning on attempting a natural birth. During my peds. class, I watched a doctor insert the equivalent to an epidural in a 5 month old. That definitely discouraged me from wanting an epidural block, just from imaging the pain from needle inserted into my spinal cord for the epidural space. (The 5 month old was under general anesthesia during the caudal.) Reading the information for all the medications to decrease pain today, once again emphasized the desire for a natural birth. Tim and I are registered for child birthing class on November 21, so hopefully we will learn techniques to decrease pain naturally during labor.

Well anyways, wish me luck during my classes. We have our first quiz tomorrow over the reading. This one is all about the stages of labor, signs and symptoms of labor, delivery, and medications.

Indian Baby Shower

Hey everyone! We had our Indian baby shower on October 10, 2010 at the Hindu Temple & Cultural Center from the house. It was interesting and different to say the least. My parents got to come up here. Tim's parents and family were cooking for the shower a month in advance and stayed up the night before to prepare all the food for the shower. The priest performed a special pooja or prayer for the baby and our family. I didn't understand a word, and Tim was overwhelmed repeating everything without a break. Well, here's the pictures from the shower. (I'll try to explain what was going on to the best of my ability. Everything is a different type of blessing.)

 My parents and in-laws before the baby shower!

 All my little cousins and brother-in-law. I'm "bhabhi" or "sister-in-law" and very important!

 My aunt Mittal and her kids. She helped us get ready for the shower.

 My mother-in-law and I.

 My sweetheart.

 Tim and I praying during the opening part of the baby shower.

 The priest tying a prayer bracelet on Tim.

 Me holding the sheet to protect my shadhi during the ceremonies for luck.

 The females of the family making me into a goddess. In Indian religion and culture, a pregnant woman is considered as high as one of their goddesses. (Or at least that's what the priest told me...)

 This is the ceremony where items for luck (wheat, sugar, money, a coconut, etc.) are placed in my shadhi and dropped into the dish 7 times. Part of the ceremony is not dropping any items on the ground.

 My grandmother and I.

 At the very end, we were given fruits for blessing. The red marks on my face were from my brother-in-law marking my cheeks for a blessing.

 Tim and I feeding each other the first bites of cake. After, a majority of the family feed us a bite of cake for goodluck.

 Our cousin Nisha performing a dance for entertainment.

Before eating, a lot of people did "garba" or danced to music. Depending on the beat, some dances were faster, others slower.

KY Baby Shower

Tim and I got to enjoy going to KY two weekends ago for Anna's wedding and my baby shower! It was so much fun. My Mom and MawMaw put a lot of work into the baby shower. It was a Ducky Theme. I got a lot of nice presents! Lil' Rohan is going to be spoiled. Here's some proof.

Tim and I before the shower.

My Mom and I before the shower. Then, my Mom, MawMaw and me! Three pretty Ladies.

My husband's adopted Mom, Pinki.

Tim's grandmother.

The awesome diaper cake my Mom and MawMaw made for us!!!

The diaper wreath filled with goodies!

Table center pieces.

The registry table and favor's of cute little baby booties.

Cutting the cake....

Tim's little brother asked to cut a piece too.

Ducks floating in a lake of blue Koolaid.

The mother's survival guide present.

Daddy's very own present.

Daddy's Diaper Dooty!!! Filled with all the essentials to nature's little calls.

We really had a great time! Another thanks to everyone who gave us a gift! Love ya!!