Pre-Labor

I am currently in a land called pre-labor. It's an encouraging, but not so nice place between Braxton-Hicks Contractions, and 2 minute apart/4 centemeter dialated active labor. Basically, I am having quite painful contractions every 20 minutes that I have to stop and breathe through, and wake me if I'm asleep.

I was contracting pretty regularly last night - every 10 minutes until about 4am, then because I hadn't eaten in a while they were at 2.5 minutes. I took a shower, ate (a protein bar and baked potato of all things - I think my body was telling me I should carbo-load, lol!!), had a gatorade and spent time timing them. I was about to tell Zarik we should put our hospital stuff in the car when they started spacing out again, so I went back to bed and they spaced back out to 20 min where they've been ever since. I had my chiropractor appointment and saw Sharon (my midwife) today, and they pretty much just said hang in there, you're getting so close! I just really hope I can last until active labor - these contractions HURT and are draining me. Zarik is making sure I stay hydrated and eat enough to keep my body functioning through this, though. He's the best! I think he just likes being able to put all our labor practice into play for the first REAL time, lol.

Please pray for me (for all of us) as, even though it is exciting, I am getting tired and a little frustrated, especially knowing it could be days of this. I really want to stay positive and optimistic, but it's not easy.

Mika Really Loves to Dance!

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Rememberance Day

Today is October 15th, which is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. I don't know that I've shared my story here, so I though today would be a good day to talk about my babies.

Zarik and I first decided it was the right time to start a family New Years, 2006. 3 months later we had our positive pregnancy test!! We had our first doctor appointment at approximately 6 weeks. The doctor had a free ultrasound machine, and decided to do an quick ultrasound just for fun! Well, low and behold, it looked like there were TWO sacs!! TWINS!! It was kinda hard to tell though, so we scheduled another ultrasound/appointment, and I was supposed to get my HCG (the pregnancy hormone) levels tested. Well, after 2 more ultrasounds, appointment, and blood draws, it was apparent that yes it was twins, but they didn't grow even to the point of their hearts beating. That last appointment was the only one Zarik was unable to make and I really wish I'd waited an extra day so he could be there with me. We decided to let the miscarriage happen naturally and 2 weeks later it did. That was definitely one of the hardest times of my life. Maybe THE hardest time. A few weeks later a young man at church had a vision of Zarik holding a blond baby boy, and I had a vision of a blond girl running towards us from the gates of heaven. So that is how I now picture my babies. We never found names for them, but figure we will find out their names when we see them again.

This is the memory box necklace I got to commemorate them and their story:



Please join me tonight at 7pm in lighting a candle and saying a prayer for all the mommies that are remembering their little ones today.

The Colors of Autumn

While we don't get quite as much or as spactacular a change as the east coast, the Rockies definately go through a seasonal color change that is just beautiful. Here are some pictures Zarik took from the ridge above our home.


Our house is straight down the hill in this picture - you can kinda see the roof

I'm a big girl! Look what I can do!

Our pediatrician recommended at Mika's 1 year appointment that we start giving her a spoon or fork while we feed her so that she can start imitating us and learn to feed herself. Well, as you can see, it's going very well! This was taken October 5th, 2 days before she turned 14 months!

An eventful week.....

Well, it all started with Zarik FINALLY going to work again. He went on a four day trip that had LOTS of overnight time in Chicago. With an all women crew. Hehe!! Poor guy. He got home Wednesday night.

Thursday, due to an series of unfortunate events, Sierra, one of our huskys, got out and gave Zarik a good run through the Safeway parking lot, in and out of stores and everything. He decided then and there to shave her neck and put our shock collar on her. We just needed new batteries from WalMart.

Friday, we woke up to go to WalMart, went downstairs to go to the car, and found our bottom floor flooded. Zarik did a little damage control then we left. After we came home, he went to clean it up better and figure out what the problem was. He came upstairs a few hours later to tell me that while he didn't know exactly what was wrong, he knew what the flood was - it was sewage. Flooded all over. Great. We quickly figure out that ANY water poured down any drain, or any toilet flushed makes it back up, so we have to stop using all water and toilets. And I'd had a very productive day and was halfway through boiling and washing cloth diapers, and cleaning the kitchen top to bottom, including 2 loads of dishes. All that came to a grinding halt. The night ended with Mike throwing up all over me, and us having to leave 2 blankets and all our clothes stinking up the laundry room.

Saturday, Zarik was able to get a hold of a sewer and drain guy who rushed up and fixed what was a clog in our sewer line. Yeah!!!! And it only cost $120 on a Saturday! God is Good! Needless to say, we spent the rest of that day SCRUBBING.

Sunday about 3am, Zarik woke up throwing up. We now knew that Mika's throw up incident wasn't random: it was the flu. Poor Zarik spend all day in bed aching and feeling downright miserable. The worst part was that Zarik hadn't really had any time with his baby girl in a week and they were both missing it.

Monday morning, I woke up throwing up. Thank God Zarik was feeling better. It was JUST the 24 hour flu. So he got to spend that much desired time with Mika while I lay in bed aching and trying to rest.

Today, Tuesday, we are finally all doing much better. The carpet still needs some work from our "sewer" incedent, we are about 4 days behind on chores and such, and we still have NO energy, but we realize it could have been a LOT worse. I just hope our lives get a little more eventful between now and the time Urijah comes.....