Next week is Cameron's 8th birthday.  I saw this tag on Facebook and decided it would make a better blog entry to celebrate Cameron's upcoming birthday

1. Was your first pregnancy planned?

Not really.  We were not trying but we had not been preventing for some time.  The Lord had convicted me about using birth control and that conception was from Him.  But it seemed to take a very long time.  It was well over a year after I stopped using bc.

2. Were you married at the time?

Of course!  We had been married for a few years.

3. What were your reactions? 

Well, we were kind of in shock.  I didn't even realize what had happened.  I was not regular so missing wasn't a big indicator.  In fact, I was CONVINCED that I had a bladder infection.  I had all of the symptoms listed on the TV ad for some drug.  We were going to make a doctor's appointment after we came back from camping Father's Day weekend.  My friend suggested I take a test.  I guess I was being kind of mean to her daughters and that wasn't like me.  Hormones.

So it wasn't something that we expected.  But we were both very happy.

4. Was abortion an option for you?

Nope.  I do believe in choice.  But I believe that choice is made MUCH earlier: before conception even happens.  I do not believe in taking of a life, especially one so small and helpless.  Abortion has never been a question

5. How old were you?

I was 25 during most of the pregnancy

6. How did you find out you were pregnant?

We thought our friend was crazy to suggest us taking the test.  But we thought, why not, maybe she's right.  We were both in the bathroom and it didn't even take the 5 minute wait period.  It was a very strong and instant line, confirming our friends suspicions. 

7. Who did you tell first?

My husband and I found out together but decided to keep it a secret for a while.  I think mostly to prove to myself that I could keep a BIG secret and I think we wanted to go to the doctors first.  I don't remember telling anyone except his parents.  We made a special trip up to their house, but as soon as I walked in the door, my mother-in-law's cigarette smoke made me extremely nauseous.  I said I was going to be in the kitchen while my husband told his parents.  The nice thing is that she hasn't smoked around me since that day in 2000! 

8. Did you want to find out the sex?

Yes.  I couldn't wait.  I wanted to know as soon as possible.  My sister, who had been very accurate at guessing the sex of other babies was so convinced that we were having a girl that she went out and bought "her" first outfit before we knew.  She was the first person we called after our ultrasound.  LOL she quickly took the outfit back and replaced it with a boy outfit.

9. Due date?

Cameron was due 8 years ago today.  February 4, 2001

10. Did you have morning sickness? 

A little.  I had more of the all day queasiness for about 2 weeks.  There were also certain smells that made me quite green: cigarette smoke (which thankfully only involved my mother-in-law), and defrosting poultry. 

11. What did you crave?

I didn't really have too many cravings.  I loved orange juice and salsa.  My husband is the one that seemed to have all the cravings.  He craved hot fudge sundaes like the were going out of business.  We had to stop and get one after almost ever church service.  I think he gained more weight than I did.

12. What irritated you the most? 

I did have some heartburn issues towards the end and my feet were always  VERY hot.  Even in the cold of winter.  Plus from about December on I could barely put 5 words together in one breath.  It made me miserable not to be able to sing Christmas songs.  (I think I might have whistled just to satisfy my need to "make a joyful noise to the Lord.")

13. Did you wish you had the opposite sex of what the baby was?

No.  I always wanted a boy.  I knew that my husband wasn't sure about this whole father thing and that a boy would be the best fit for our family. 

14. How many pounds did you gain throughout the pregnancy?

I lost 18 pounds, but believe, I had plenty to spare.  Being pregnant was the best "weight loss plan" I have ever been on.

15. Did you have a baby shower?

Yes.  Actually I had three different showers.  My husband's family gave me one.  His mother is one of six and his dad is one of seven so there were a lot of aunts and uncles and cousins and extended family on that side.  My sister gave me one for our family and some friends and then my church also gave me one.  All three were great.  I would say that the thing I got the most of was blankets (Still haven't delved into them all 8 years later) and diapers. We did not have to buy any diapers until Cameron was 4 months old!

16. Was it a surprise or did you know?

I knew about each of them.  My mom, mother-in-law, and friend Tammy went to all three.

17. Did you have any complications during your pregnancy?

No. 

18. Did you take Lamaze?

Yes we did, but we didn't finish the class because over half the class "graduated" (aka gave birth)

19. Where did you give birth?

At the hospital

20. How many hours were you in labor?

I was in labor for over 35 hours.  I was having problems getting comfortable very early Saturday morning.  It was around 4am that I noticed that I was being woken at regular intervals.  I got up and sat on the couch until I was pretty sure what was happening, before I woke my husband.  But they weren't close enough together to go to the hospital. (They sure hurt enough. LOL) 

21. Who drove you to the hospital?

My husband and I waited around the house.  It was nice that it was a Saturday.  He helped me take a shower and then had me settle on the couch while we tried to pass the time.  We called the doctor's office to make sure that we were in labor but because it was Saturday the answering service just sent us to the hospital.

I was going too slowly to be admitted.  They sent us away saying to go walk around the mall and eat something light.  That was an interesting trip at Wal-Mart.   I think I scared a few small children. 

The second time we drove to the hospital I was in more pain than the first time.   My husband drove over an extremely bumpy road.  It was one of only two times that I yelled at him.  Poor guy, felt just awful.

22. Who watched you give birth?

We got to the hospital Saturday night around 9pm.  They gave me a sleeping pill and a shot of morphine.  That was weird.  Couldn't hold my eyes open except through the contractions.  By Sunday morning we were still making little progress.  My friend Tammy showed up as had been the plan all along.  She and my husband were present for the birth.

23 Was it natural or c-section?

It was natural.  Or as natural as possible with drugs involved. ;o)

24. Did you take medicine to ease the pain?

I remember my husband and I being at the library about 8 months into the pregnancy.  Silly me was looking at child birth books and started to weep.  "I can't do this!  You'll have to do this. I'll never be able to do this!"  My husband's ever so sensitive response: "It's a little late now."

So, I was of the mind set that I wanted the drugs in my room waiting for me.  (Wimp, I know, and proud of it)  But, I was so focused on breathing through my contractions that I never asked for anything.  I think because I had that "out" I could go further.  The nurse suggested that I should think about getting an epidural because I was tired, had been in labor for over 30 hours and it was going to get more intense. 

DUH!  I wanted one of those.  So, yes, I had an epidural.  It went better than the stupid IV for fluid they gave me.  That took over an hour and SEVERAL pokes.  I felt like a new person after the epidural.

27. How much did your child weigh?

Cameron was 8 pounds 6 ounces

28. When was your child actually born?

He was born at 3:08pm Sunday afternoon on February 11.  He was exactly 1 week late.  Over 35 hours after I first realized that I was in labor. 

29. Who visited you at the hospital?

Right when it was getting time to push, my husband was walking down the hall with our Pastor and his wife.  Since it only took me 7 minutes, they were one of the very first people to get to see and hold him.  We weren't even out of the birthing suit.  Also, my in-laws had been in a little earlier and were close by to be able to come and see him.  My mom also showed up pretty quickly as did my sister but I was in a room by that time.

I only yelled at my husband twice.  The first was in the car over the bumpy road.  The second was about his lunch.  I told him to go ahead and get lunch.  The nurse told him that he could go to the cafeteria and bring it back here.  I was all for it.  I wasn't hungry.  But when he brought it back, it smelled so BAD that I thought I was going to be sick.  I was breathing through a contraction and told him, "Your food STINKS!  Get OUT!!"  Poor guy. 

Even though it was such a long time to be in labor, I have such fond memories of it.  And what a great little man I have from it.