Zaylee's Coming Out Party!

So little Zaylee Quinn Mullinax was born Sunday morning at 3:13am; here are her stats: 8lbs 10oz, 22.5in, her head is 12 3/4in, her chest is 13 3/4in and she is the most beautiful baby ever! The whole process started at 10:45pm on Saturday and this is Zaylee's story:

-Let's call this first part: Surprise!

We were getting ready for bed - you know: brushing teeth and saying night to the animals - when Amber started to experience the most intense contraction right when she laid down to go to sleep. Once the next one started at the same intensity, we decided that it was time to start timing. She was a real trooper and I could definitely tell she was in pain, but I stayed with her telling/reminding her to breath and relax. So after working through the contractions for the next hour or so they were going from 5min apart to about 3.5min apart. We called the Doc and after insisting to talk to Amber he decided that it was time for her to come in. The next 15min happened so fast, but were so humorous at the same time.

-We'll call it: Rush

I got up and told her parents (who are dead asleep in the next room) that it's time to go and they need to get ready. Between contractions Amber is pretty coherent and giving me instructions on what to do ~ "Get the packing list, don't forget my pillows, tell our neighbor to take care of our animals, and come over here and help me get through this!" I'm running back and forth packing our bags and making sure Amber is doing ok. Finally I get the bags ready and her dad (bless his heart) comes up to me with kind of a frantic look in his eyes and is like "What can I do?!? Is there any thing I can help with?!?" I tell him to make some sandwiches to take to the hospital and make sure their bags are packed. He pauses for a second and looks like he's a little confused about why we would need sandwiches, but doesn't say anything. I go back to Amber and tell her we're ready for her - this whole time was she was lying on her bed. She gets up and start's to walk outside, she makes it all the way to our sidewalk and another contraction starts. Immediately Amber drops to the ground and lays on her body pillow cringing in pain, Scott see's her on the ground and starts to runaround worrying about Amber and during all this I'm trying to make sure we will have clothes while at the hospital. We get Amber in the car and I go back inside to see if there's anything left to do and there's Scott running around the living room looking for the cats. Finally, we're all in the cars and ready to go and its 12:20am.

-Title: Driving

The bags are packed, the cats are ok, we don't have any sandwiches, and we're in the cars - Sounds great, right? Yeah, it was... We didn't forget anything too important, so our little caravan is off. As we started driving, though, we did forget one small detail, the back gate closes at 11pm and when we arrived at the back gate we decided it was a good idea to turn around after a few choice words. Now the drive to the hospital only takes 10min, but during that time Amber had 4 intense contractions. I mean these things are 2.5min apart - it's go time! It was also during this time that I texted quite a few of you with the announcement "Baby!” multi-tasking to the max: taking care of Amber, driving to the hospital, and texting...what can I say I'm a pilot.

-Title: Agony

Once at the hospital we jump out of the car and I start to take Amber to the front doors when it happens: another contraction. Amber yells "BENCH!" and starts waddling as fast as a 9mo pregnant lady can waddle towards a concrete bench outside the hospital. It was about this time a hospital attendant walks by and sees Amber all sprawled out on a bench in agonizing pain. I'm sure she thought we were nuts for letting Amber do it and I bet she thought the baby was coming out right then. She grabs Amber, gets her through the doors, and helps her across the lobby to the elevator. Once in Amber again drops to the floor in pain and lays motionless as another contraction happens. By this point the attendant is about to loose it, she doesn't know what to do and as soon as the elevator door opens, she takes off running to get the nurses. They come running probably expecting the baby to be half way out by now, but once they realize that Amber and baby are fine, they pick her up and get her to her room. It's now 12:45am and we're in the hospital room.

-Title: Tennis Ball

Amber really is an amazing woman. She made it 9mo carrying our little baby, gained 35lbs in the process, and probably cleaned our house 1,251 times in the same amount of time (not even joking, she took the "nesting" instinct to a whole new level). And now she's here, oh so close to the end and she's doing awesome. She has changed clothes and is now lying on the delivery bed in her most comfortable position on her side. Her contractions are coming fast and hard by now, and after her initial examination we find out she's already 7.5cm dilated and 100% effaced. Between contractions the nurses are having Amber sign forms and answer questions, but I think she has been in the South for too long because she had the most deep southern accent for all the questions - the nurse even asked if she was from Texas. Then during contractions Amber would give her best Southern Preacher impersonation when she would yell "Yes, Lord, Yes! Oh Lawdy!, Help me Jesus!". Between answering questions and yelling "Oh Lawdy!" she was barking orders for me (see a pattern here?) to rub the small of her back where her pelvis bone is with tennis ball in a sock (got this great idea from a natural pregnancy book). She is yelling "DOWN, LEFT, NO RIGHT, HARDER, IN MORE, etc...” it was all I could do just to keep up. I guess the idea behind the tennis ball was to relieve pressure in her lower back and pelvic region, and it was really working. That night after Zaylee was born, she said the only reason she was able to make it through the natural birth was because I was rubbing her back and her mom and me were coaching her - I think it was because she's the most stubborn person I know, but don't tell her that.
She worked through the contractions for about an hour and they did another exam and she was 9.5cm, but her water had still not broken. The doctor told Amber that if he broke her water the rest of the labor would be quicker and easier if he did and she consented. I have to say, it was pretty wicked to see someone stick a little plastic rod with a sharp hook inside of Amber and actually know what to do with it. After another 15min she was completely dilated - it's now 2:00am and it's pushing time.

-Title: Old Blood and Guts (Reference from the movie Patton if you didn't know)

Once dilated, they helped Amber into the delivery position - sitting up, chin on chest, legs in stirrups, and spread eagle - so the delivery nurse could monitor Amber's progress. For the next 45min it was me holding one leg, Bonnie on the other, and one nurse coaching Amber through this very painful process. It really gave me a great deal of appreciation for what women have to go through, and since Amber was having a natural birth she felt EVERYTHING. When she would feel a contraction coming on, she would take a deep breath, hold it for about 10s, exhale quickly, and do it again - during each breath she would turn a very pretty maroon.
One note though, nurses do not get paid enough - plain and simple. Our doctor was only in the room for about 30min the whole time we were there, and when he was there, he was inconsiderate and wouldn't tell Amber what he was doing or even worn her before he did something. Several times he would just go poking around and Amber would shriek in agony and he wouldn't even apologize. Our nurses on the other hand, stayed with us and helped us all night - all that work does not go unappreciated. Our doctor acted as if it was an inconvenience for him to be there - he was definitely not our first choice for docs.
Ok, now that I'm done ranting, let's get back to the real story. The delivery of Zaylee was one of the most beautiful experiences I've ever had the pleasure to be apart of. Amber is pushing, and during every push you could see Zaylee's head moving forward and then back – you could even tell from early on in the process that she had a full head of hair! Zaylee’s head was about an inch or so out, but it was having a hard time progressing any further. The situation stayed this way for about 10min when finally with one mighty scream Amber pushed Zaylee’s head out and then the body thereafter. Zaylee Quinn Mullinax was born at 3:13am on September 14, 2008.

-Title: “Chunks”

Immediately the doctor swoops our little baby up and clamps two sections on the umbilical cord and lets me cut it. This is a big deal for me, because as of a month ago, I was against cutting it, but after watching one of our pregnancy class videos and seeing the joy on the face of the father when he cut his baby’s cord, how could I resist? Immediately, Amber and everyone else in the delivery room realize how BIG this baby is. She’s extremely chunky! Amber is given Zaylee to hold and it is amazing, she’s not crying or yelling or anything, she’s just lying there all content looking up at this brand new bright world. What brilliant blue eyes she has! While the doctor takes care of Amber, they take Zaylee over to the cleanup table and start toweling her off – during this period, I’m busy snapping pictures with my cell phone and Bonnie is also taking pictures with her camera. Before they take Zaylee to the nursery they let me hold her, and I’m done. I’m so done, I don’t even know it. How could I (with Amber’s help of course) make something so beautiful and wonderful? That’s just it, I couldn’t. God definitely was with Zaylee and Amber the whole way. I’m so blessed to have such a wonderful family, like they say in that old school house rock song by Blind Mellon “Man and woman have a little baby – There were three in the family… and that’s the magic number.”

Well I hope you enjoyed my rendition of Zaylee’s coming out party, I’m sure if you talk to Amber, though, she’d tell an entirely different story. But that’s ok, I’ve always heard that a good story only has to be 10% true and 90% funny – think about that one.

Confessions of a Pregnant Heart

Well, today was officially my last appointment at my OB/GYN's office before the birth of our baby. It's hard to believe we've come so far so fast. The end is truly in sight! If I don't go into labor before Tuesday, I'll be induced that morning at the hospital. It really puts things into perspective when you can say with confidence, "I'm going to have a baby in 6 days." I can't fully explain to you the mixture of emotions I felt when this realization first came over me, but I will try my best. Excitement was my initial reaction, along with relief. I'm excited to finally meet my baby girl, hold her in my arms, see who she looks like, etc. I'm relieved that there will be an end to this pregnancy after all - that I can get my old clothes back in my closet, buy a new pair of running shoes, and start seeing the pounds shrink on the scale. Having a scheduled day to deliver your baby takes away the guessing of when and where labor will happen, and which doctor will be at the hospital to deliver your baby. It also guarantees Robbie will be there for the entire event.

After these first emotions ran through my mind, I was greeted with worry and anxiety. Worry about how my labor and delivery would progress, worry about whether or not "the nest" is truly ready, and worry about being a good mother. What if the induction is too hard on the baby? What if I have to have a C-section? I'm a little anxious about the transition Robbie and I will make into parenthood - will it bring us closer together or draw us apart? How tired will I be? How will our animals adjust to the new member of the family? What will it be like having so many visitors? Will it stress me out or help calm me?

No doubt, all these feelings are totally normal for any first-time mom. Ultimately, I'm just so happy I will finally be one! Being a mom, in my opinion, is the most noble and fulfilling occupation a woman could ever have. I'm honored to have been blessed with this little baby. And even though it won't be easy, or even enjoyable, at times, I know this is what God has wanted for me for a long time. All the elation, anxiety, and pain will be totally worth it...in only 6 days.

Verse of the Day

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life." Psalm 139:23-24

This was the verse for today's sermon and it is one that speaks closely to my heart. My "anxious heart." I have been so frustrated this past week with everything, and it's all based on the fact that I STILL haven't had our baby. Everything has been ready for weeks, the house clean, the nursery done, the yard manicured, even the dog washed and groomed. Every morning I would wake up thinking, "Today will be the day!" And with each passing day I would get more disappointed and more unbearable to be around. My poor husband. Last night, I was at a peak of my depressed state. I told Robbie I was so tired of everyone I know asking me, "Have you had your baby yet?...When's your due date?...You're still here?...etc." I didn't even want to come to church this morning for fear of more of the same.

God must of known I needed to be there today. I fell asleep fairly early last night and woke up this morning feeling really good. There was no way to justify not going, maybe except for the fact that I've worn the same shirt for the last 3 Sundays (nothing else fits!). So, we got up and went to church. The sermon was about God examining our hearts and revealing the things that were separating us from him. I realized that this entire last terrible week, I have taken no time to read and pray alone with God. Perhaps my subconscious excuse was that I was too distracted. Maybe deep down I was angry that God was making me wait. It occurred to me that the reason my week has been so bad was that my heart has been in the wrong place. Now, more than ever, I should be depending on God day by day. He's the one that will supply me with the strength to get through labor. He's the one that blessed us with the miracle of a child. He's the one that we need to teach us how to be great parents. And he's the one that will give me patience and perseverance until our day to be parents arrives.

For those of you out there who can relate - and not just women who are 9 months pregnant, but anyone who is going through an anxious time that is distracting you from what's important - here is my advice to you: When God is in the center of your life, everything else will fall into place and every other issue will pale in comparison to the importance of God's leadership in your life. I pray that anyone who is going through rough times will remember to rely and trust in Him, which reminds me of another great verse:

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." Matthew 6:33

Labor Day

Well folks, it's Labor Day and sadly, I am not in labor. Our next doctor's appointment is tomorrow and includes an ultrasound to check out how big our little baby is getting. I'm hoping she's a fairly average size (say around 7 lbs. ^_^) when she's born. Bigger babies are harder to deliver naturally. The longer these pregnant days last, the bigger Zaylee gets, and the smaller my hopes of a natural delivery become. But...I must be patient. The whole process is in God's hands, and he will orchestrate these exciting events as he sees fit. It is out of my hands. Oh, but wouldn't it be fitting to go into labor on Labor Day??

The Nursery Awaits

With all my nesting complete, I thought today would be a good day to display the fruits of our labor. I have enjoyed putting the nursery together so much! It's funny thinking back to when we first moved into this 4-bedroom house that we joked about having too many bedrooms and not enough people (or animals) to fill them. Back then, the thought of having a baby while we were here wasn't even considered. And look how far we've come! Although the house is old, we have made it our own and it will be hard to leave this place when the time comes. Perhaps that's why it's so important to remember Zaylee's first house with pictures she can look at when she grows up.
This picture shows Zaylee's room as you enter from the hallway...

The changing table and rocker (where we will spend A LOT of our time)...
Her closet doors have wall hangings that match her crib sheets. The "diaper cake" was made by a friend for my baby shower. It's so cute, I may not want to actually use it!Her initials on the wall stand for Zaylee Quinn Mullinax...

The little table next to the rocker was found at an antique store for $15. I repainted it (and the changing table) white to match the rest of the furniture...
The last two pictures show the inside of her closet. Look at all her adorable outfits just waiting to be put on! ^_^

Drunk on Chocolate Milk

So, after my post yesterday, I would like to follow up with yet another hilarious story in the continuing epic of our kittens' lives. Have any of you ever had children who discovered a cookie jar and ate every cookie in it before you found out? You walk into the kitchen and there's your child sitting on the floor, fat and happy, with cookie crumbs all over them. Yeah, that's sort of what happened this morning.

Robbie comes in to wake me up and informs me, "Honey got into the milk." No, she hasn't discovered how to open the fridge...yet...but we did have a box of shelf-stable milk in cardboard cartons sitting on the floor next to the fridge. It had a plastic cover over it and the kittens had never bothered it, so we didn't think anything of it being on the floor. Boy, were we wrong! Check out the damage.

Our guess is that they discovered this sometime in the night, so our kittens have been "drunk" on chocolate milk for hours. They're running around like they're demon-possessed! Let's just hope the milk doesn't adversely affect their digestive tracts...uugh.

Our Furry Family

Today is a tribute to our crazy canine, Peyton, and our furry felines, Bebe and Honey. Peyton is 1 year old and was adopted into our family in November 2007 from a family in Birmingham, AL. The kittens were rescued from the Humane Society in April and are about 5 months old (they're from the same litter). Robbie and I have always been avid animal lovers, so these pets have brought us so much joy and laughter (and some not-so-funny mishaps) along the way.

Peyton is a very energetic (and stubborn!) beagle mix who can melt your heart with his big, sad eyes. He's quiet and content most of the time and LOVES going on walks. In fact, he has been one of my biggest inspirations to stay in shape throughout the pregnancy because of the unbridled excitement he shows everytime I put on my tennis shoes! Unfortunately, Peyton also enjoys eating everything and destroying anything that he can't ingest. Since he was a little puppy, we've learned to keep a very close watch on him in the house. He's torn the corners off of pillows, ripped the noses off stuffed animals, mutilated shoes, mauled rolls of toilet paper, ripped holes in blankets, and so on. Dog toys last a maximum of 7 days with this chew monster. Yet, we still love him dearly and he has gotten much better since his early puppy days. Now, we couldn't imagine our life without him.

The kittens were my birthday present this year. After losing our little kitty, Maximus, to a feline virus last Christmas, a hole had been left in my heart unfulfilled. Now, with these two crazy furballs, it is full to the max! They are sisters in every since of the word. They go everywhere together, sleep together, play, fight, give each other baths, and even gang up on Peyton every once in a while. They are the cat version of the two dogs in "Where the Wild Fern Grows"- completely inseparable. And they're SO cute! They both have a lot of spunk to them and get in trouble often. They've torn down curtains (rods have come completely out of the wall!), scattered toilet paper throughout the entire house, severed the cord of our cell phone charger, and broken a vase or two. They are forever curious, loving, and hilarious. I hope you enjoy some of the pictures and videos showing some of the best moments captured on camera of our furry family!