Now we are parents!

On October 16th, 4:52 in the morning, we had our first child, Celeste Seika!! She weighed 8Ib and 22inches long. She is very healthy and very good-looking baby.
So this is how it happened…
I was getting pretty tired of being pregnant by the 9th month started. Everything went well during my whole pregnancy until the last month. I was getting backache, having to go to bathroom every 10 min, or so and my hips were hurting. I am sure that’s just the normal thing that pregnant women experience but I was ready for her to come out… So Wednesday night, the night before she came, Aaron and I were praying that our baby would be ready to come out soon to meet us. One of the church members who are retired doctor taught us acupressure points to help start contraction once the due date gets closer. Aaron was pushing those points that night.

Thinking that nothing would happen, we went to bed. A little bit after midnight, I rolled over in my bed thinking that I needed to go to bathroom and there I felt some water coming out. I thought I finally came to the point where I could not even control when to go to bathroom! I got up and did what I needed to do and stood up and here more of the water came. I walked around and some more came out… Then I realized that this is not what I am thinking! This is it!! My water broke!! I woke Aaron up , called his parents and our birth doula, quickly gathered things and grabbed my going to hospital bag, and left for the hospital. Then contraction was starting too. While Aaron drove, he counted the duration and I was concentrated on breathing technique.
We got to hospital at 1am on the 16th.
I was 4 to 5 cm dilated when they checked around 1:30.
I was moved to LDR and there, Aaron, his mom and my doula helped me get through every contraction with massage, lots of ice chips, and encouraging words.
By 3:30am I was 8cm dilated and then the nurse thought that she didn’t feel baby’s head in the place where it supposed to be. They quickly brought the ultra sound machine and found out that she was breech at the last moment.

All I was dreaming was to have my baby in natural no medicated labor. It was so close to the end and here I had to face the fact that I had to have C-section. I was crushed and starting to cry. I knew that C-section was the best way for both of us but I was just not ready for that.
I was taken to OR and when all the people around me were preparing for the surgery, I was just crying. Aaron came in scrub and he sat beside me. As soon as the epidural kicked in, the surgery has begun and my baby was out within 5 minutes or so. Then my tear became the one for joy and not for sadness.

She was 8Ib and 22 inches long. She scored 9.9 and very healthy and alert. I guess getting baby out is the easiest part in C-section and fixing mother’s tummy actually takes more time. While the doctor worked on my tummy, I watched the nurse cleaning Seika and measuring her healthy level. Aaron took some picture of her. She was crying but when Aaron went close and said “ you are ok.” She actually got quiet. She knew her father’s voice.
So this is how we welcomed our baby girl…

アーロンがやっと家のPCに日本語をインストールしてくれましたので、出産のことやその後について書こうと思います。

１６日の朝４時５２分に帝王切開で、娘を出産いたしました。 １５日の夜、アーロンと私は、早く赤ちゃんがこの世に生まれる準備を整えてくれるよう神様に祈っていました。　陣痛を起こすツボなんてのもあるらしく、同じ教会に通ってるもとドクターに教わり、アーロンがそのツボをまぁ、半信半疑で押してました。

１６日に日付が変わったころ、「あ～、トイレ行きたいなぁ」と寝ぼけながらベッドで寝返りを打った私は、水があふれてくるのを感じ、「うわ、とうとうおしっこもコントロールできなくなっちゃったよ！」とびっくりし、トイレへ。　用を済ませ、立ち上がるとまた水が出てくる。　しばらくおしっこだと思っていた私は、トイレに座ったまましばし考え、また立って座るの繰り返し。　 こ、これは破水だ！と結論付けるまで約１０分ほど…。　アーロンを起こし、準備してあった病院へ持っていくお泊りセットバッグを取り出し、ほかに必要なものを準備し、家を出た。　陣痛も始まり、まさにテレビで見るような光景を自分が演じているのかと思うととっても非現実的…。　アーロンが運転しながら、陣痛の感覚を測り、私は呼吸テクで痛みを乗り切っていく。　

病院についたのが１時。　そのときには子宮口は５cm開いていた。月曜日の時点で２cmだったからかなりの進歩。　分娩室に運ばれ、アーロンとアーロンのママと、Doulaのシェリルのサポートを受けながら陣痛の波を乗り切っていく。痛いけど、それほどじゃないかも…と心のどこかで思ったのを覚えてます。　３時半に子宮口は８cmで、初出産にしてはかなりスムーズにことが運んでいる…と思ったところで、子供の頭が下にないかもしれないと、子宮口をチェックしたナースが言い出す。　超音波をしてみるとやはり、逆子。　ガビーン！　ここまできたのに、今になって逆子とは　自然分娩にこだわっていた私にはかなりの衝撃で、一気にそこで泣き出す…。　 ずっと頭を下にしていたわが子は、最後の最後に回転してしまいました。　おしりから先に出てきた父親の娘だからね…しゃぁない。 そこから帝王切開の準備が急いで行われ、手術室に私は運ばれていきました。　

背中に麻酔を打たれる痛みよりも、自然分娩ができないことにショックで泣いてました。　アーロンが着替えて手術室に入り、私の隣にすわり、麻酔が効き始めたと同時に手術開始。５分もしない間に娘が出てきました。元気な泣き声とその姿を見たときにはもう喜びの涙に変わってました。　3600グラムの女の子で、52センチだったかな。　異常がないか正常かどうかを数値で表すんだけど、それも満点に近くまさに健康そのもの。　 最後には、この子と私が健康であればよいということですよね。自然にお産が始まって、ある程度経験できただけでも私の体にも、娘の体にもプラスに働いたでしょうし。　やはり人間が思うようにはいかない物事のほうがはるかに多く、神様の意思にゆだねて生きることの大事さを学ぶ機会となりました。　

Baby Shower at our church

We were given baby shower at our church on Oct 5th. Our good friends, Alicia, Justine and Kerry prepared everything for this special occasion. Thanks, girls!!

Hello Kitty cake:)

with Justine and Alicia

We can't wait to put this apron on her to help us around the kitchen!

Such a cute dress.

at week 38.

You can tell how I feel from my face. I'm ready for her to come out... I have pain from shoulders down to lower back now. I go to bathroom like every 15 to 20 min now and Aaron is not happy how much toilet rolls I go through:(

I went to see my doctor on Monday and found out that I started to dilate a little and 70% effacing. Things are progressing. Gotta be positive and just relax at this point.

退職しました。I finished working.

Week 36.

On September 30th, I finished working and now I am a full time mommy-to-be. I’m now week 36 and the big day is getting closer. I get to do some final preparation to welcome baby home. When I was in first trimester, I felt that time passed so slow because I wanted my baby to grow quicker. Now at week 36 and looking back this whole pregnancy thing, it seems like everything went so fast and surprisingly smooth. I hope the labor will go nice and smooth. By becoming pregnant and carrying my baby inside was just great way to learn more about God and His power. There is always God’s will in every beginning of life.

From next week checkup, my doctor will be checking to see if I have begun dilating. I feel like I’m coming to the end! All I can do now is just keep exercising, relax and wait for the time to come. I’m excited but also scared. Since we decided to have a natural labor, we decided to get a doula for extra support. We had an interview with one this morning. We asked her lots of questions and see if she will be good one for us. She pretty much supported what I wanted to do, so I think we would go with her. We kinda decided to have a doula at the last minute so we don’t have much time to be picky. She had one of her three babies in a foreign country, so she would know what I’m going through. That was good thing to know. I hope it is worth investing…

My lower back has been bothering me a lot the last two days. I’m wondering if this is one of the signs that baby is coming down… It is hard to do anything, but walking and Yoga is still helping to ease the pain. I may go see acupuncturist next week if the pain gets worse… It’s getting cooler and cooler everyday. The weather has been just gorgeous the last two weeks or so, and I am enjoying walking in the morning with just baby and me. I talk to her, sing to her and we pray together. I can’t wait to do that after the birth.
Other than having backache and huge belly, I’m just doing fine. At the last check up, my doctor jokingly told me that I could go eat Andy’s Frozen Custard (my favorite) all I want, since I am doing well with weight :)

本日９月３０日をもって、わだぐしはLoomis Ins Agencyを退職いだしましだ～。 ３６週目で、臨月に入っちゃいましたよ～。　これからは、出産の最後の準備に取り掛かりたいと思いましゅ～。 ここまで長かったような、あっという間だったような…。　妊娠とはなんとも不思議な体験であります。まさに、生命の神秘(神様の秘密どころですよ)　生命の始まりには、その始まりのスイッチを押してくれる誰かがいないと始まらないわけですが…、それは医者でも、私達でもなく、本当に神様なんだなぁとしみじみ感じます。　

検診は４週間おきだったのが、２週間おきになり、ついに１週間おきになります。　毎回、子宮口の開き具合等をチェックし、お産が近いかをみるわけですね…。　大詰めきましたねぇ。　楽しみ半分、不安半分であります。　赤ちゃんに会えるのは楽しみだけど、その前の陣痛を考えると恐ろしい Piyokoちゃんのアドバイスにより、Doula採用を再検討している私達であります。　Doulaってのは、助産婦さんのような方で、出産時にママの精神、身体面と家族の精神面をサポートしてくれるんです。　アーロンが、「ぼくが、いずみをサポートする！」とやる気だけは満々なんだけど、でもやっぱり１人じゃ不安だからお母さんにも出産時に来てもらおうなんて言うわけですよ　だったら、１人ちゃんとしたお産のプロがいたほうがいいべぇってことでDoulaさんを頼もうかと思ってます。

金曜日にDoulaの資格を持ってる方と面接をすることになりました。　ま、気があって、私達の方針と彼女の方針が合えば出産時にお世話になるってことで…。　いろいろお話して決めてみたいと思います。 で、お腹の赤ちゃんはさらに元気に動いております　痛いのにうれしい　出産時も痛いのにうれしいって思えたらいいわねぇ。　 歩くとやっぱり調子がいいし、朝の散歩って気持ちいい　賛美歌を歌いながら、お祈りしながら歩くのが日課です。夕方は時間があればアーロンとおしゃべりしながらまた歩いてます。あと、バランスボールってやつ？　あれ、骨盤にいいらしいので、とりあえず座ってます…笑。　臨月に入っても体重がいまだ２キロ増で止まってて、先生にAndy'sのアイス食べておいでって言われました　次に妊娠したときもこんな調子だったらいいな…。

My Baby's Bed.

Week 34

Here I am in week 34 (well, this week I'm in 35). My belly is getting heavier and bigger even more... but it's good thing my weight doesn't change much. I haven't got any stretch mark yet either. Well, I do have some when I gained like 20 Ibs during the first year in OK...:) but not from the pregnancy. Aaron and I have been sleeping in a separate bed for a few months now. It's because of his back surgery and he had to sleep on the recliner for several weeks and I got confortable using 4 pillows around me to sleep well. We tried to sleep together but he didn't have enough space to get comfortable and I ended up elbowing his back accidently...(ToT) I guess we have to wait until our baby comes. I can't wait to sleep on my back!

Our little vacation.

Aaron and I went to Big Cedar for 5 days. We got to relax and have some time alone with no busy schedule. It was a wonderful vacation.

The time share cabin we stayed. It was a gift from Aaron's parents. They had some time share deal and they shared some with us.

The room we stayed.

The weather wasn't all that great most of the time we were there but we didn't care. Whenever the gray sky made us sleepy, we took nap:) This pic was taken the day we were leaving. It was the only sunnier (is this a correct word??) day.

The breakfast buffet was to die for!! I would go back just to go to have breakfast.

Do you know the TV show called 'Jon, Kate plus 8?' It's on TLC cable channel. We got hooked on that show during our stay here. We watched the marathon. You learn a lot from that show and enjoy watching those 8 kids grow. Jon and Kate are funny couple. Kate is kinda scary wife but it is a good show. We are sad that we don't have cable at home but mom's best friend Sandy was kind enough to tape the new episode for us:)

Best Movie Trilogy??

Which one do you like the best??

X-Men Trilogy

The Spiderman Trilogy

The Terminator Trilogy

The Star Wars Trilogy (Episodes 1-3)

The Star Wars Trilogy (Episode 4-6)

The Back to the Future Trilogy

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

The Matrix Trilogy

The Indiana Jones Trilogy

The Jurassic Park Trilogy

The Godfather Trilogy

The Saw Trilogy

The Evil Dead Trilogy

The Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy

Oceans 11-13

the hannibal lector trilogy

Scream

The Bourne Trilogy

Look Who's Talking

Rush Hour trilogy

The Blade Trilogy



I love the Bourne series a lot.

Week 32.

Well, finally things are getting better around us. Aaron’s hole in his back is getting smaller and the gauze I staff there is getting less and less. The infection is gone and it’s healing nice. He had a cold this week but he is getting better from that, too. He doesn’t get sick easily but I guess all the medication that he was on made his body weak… We are both finally feeling better.

I’m now week 32. We went to see Baby doctor on Tuesday. He said everything is going well and my baby is a week ahead in size wise. I haven’t gained any, so baby is still sucking my fat off. I’m hoping that she would come a little earlier rather than coming here after the due date. Aaron’s mom keeps telling us that the baby will be here on full moon, which is the 14th. We will see.
My baby has been very active the last two weeks and it is getting rather painful. It’s more like squirming, pushing and stretching my tummy now and I think she puts her legs towards my left side ribs. Sometimes my ribs hurts when I breath. Even though it is getting harder and harder to carry my growing belly, it is just a joyful time. I’m so happy and can’t wait to see her in October.

We have been going to the childbirth classes too. Aaron missed the first class because it was right after his surgery, so his mom came with me. Then the second class Aaron’s aunt Gloria and Aaron came with me. Aaron was still in pain with heavy medication so he probably didn’t learn much then either. The third class he finally was able participate. So I guess once the contraction starts, Aaron’s mom needs to help me and then Gloria has to help me, and finally Aaron gets to help me…

We had a tour in the baby department in St. Johns Hospital during the forth class. They just build new section and that’s where we get to stay and have a baby. Everything was new and looked great.

The problem about the Lamaze is that you have to breath through your mouth a lot and dries your mouth and throat. Last week after the third class when we practiced the breathing techniques, I got sore throat… I may need to wear that huge Japanese mask when I do that during my labor… I won't probably care if I look stupid as long as I can keep my throat moist.

This weekend, there will be a Japanese Fall Festival at Mizumoto Japanese Garden in town. Last year, Aaron and I volunteered to be translators and caretakers for the guests from Japan. This year we didn’t sign up for anything because I’m pregnant. Anyway we are going to have a date tomorrow night at the garden. They light lots of lanterns in the garden after dark and it is very beautiful. I also just found out that one of my Japanese friends who lives in Oklahoma is a part of Japanese drum performers during the festival. So I get to see her perform tomorrow. It’s supposed to be nice and cooler weather, too. That is a great news for a 8 months pregnant woman.