Live, Laugh, Lyon

I am very well aware that I have not been the best blogger or the best communicator with my family and friends, but whatever free time I do have I must cherish for myself!! Things I manage to do in my free time are:

Cat naps to catch up on sleep
Eat something other than Eli's stomach contents that almost always seem to make their way into my mouth when he's on my shoulder
Shower/basic grooming
Sit and breathe in sweet silence

We have been extremely busy with the kids as well as packing up to head home *le sigh*. We weren't supposed to be heading out until June but Hilton recently got news of some engagements starting in 5 days so we have been scrambling to get the apartment packed up!

The initial plan was to only bring one bag each on the plane and ship everything else back to the states. However, when I called Fed Ex to get an estimate for 5 25kg boxes they told me a whopping 7,400 euros!! Non, merciiiiii! So right now we are moving items from the boxes and into our bags, stuffing them as much as possible. We have also thrown things away and donated to Salvation Army. Whew! We really have no space left for anything. I am trying hard to hold on to things that mean A LOT, though. Unfortunately, I won't be able to bring back souvenirs. We just have to use what little space remains for our belongings. Besides, we're traveling with an extra little human!! =)

....Oh, we are flying out tomorrow, the 17th. Pffff....

Today is EJ's last day at school and Hilton's last day of the season and well...

I will miss everything and everyone I have met. I will greatly miss the life we have established out here.

I am being frank when I say that this pregnancy experience with Eli was terrible. Awful. Miserable. Throughout all 40 weeks he was always healthy but I, on the other hand, was in pretty bad shape. I was physically deteriorating and had to be placed on bed rest in December because my body was showing early signs of labor. The physical breakdown led to a mental breakdown, as I was pretty much locked in the apartment 24/7, in my bed or in the couch. No sunlight, no interaction, nothing. I was an extreme mess for many months and though I knew Eli had to stay in my tummy until at least 38 weeks, I could not WAIT for it to be over as soon as possible.
In France, you're only seen once a month during your third trimester leading up to the due date as opposed to twice a month to once a week visits in the US. I never liked the idea because of my situation and would take a trip to the hospital anytime something just didn't feel right. During my 36th week, something just did not feel right so I had Hilton take me to the hospital for a quick check up. Sure enough, I was dilated at 2 cm and was told that the baby could come that night or the next day! I went home and stayed glued in the bed, not moving unless I had to pee, which was about every five minutes. Hilton's mom flew out within the next two days just in case. Once she arrived, the contractions slowed down significantly and once my mom arrived, the storm calmed.
Once 38 weeks came I was REAAADDDYY!! But guess what happened? The contractions almost came to a complete halt! What??? Alllll this time my body was ready to eject (lol) Eli and now when the time was appropriate it just wanted to go dormant on me? Well, I decided to walk as much as I could bear though not much because of Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction and my beat up back. I mean, you name it and I suffered from it!
By the time I hit 39 weeks I was crying, "Come out, Eli!! I can't take it anymore!" I was SO testy and ill-tempered. Everything made me either snap or cry. I thought I'd never have this baby and the unbearable pain and discomfort would never end. Every time contractions would come I'd time then and they would always be inconsistent and false!
On Sunday, March 25th, my contractions were coming about every 10-12 minutes. I wasn't really pressed at all because I figured it was just going to be another false alarm and it would take some Hollywood version of labor for me to know that it was time. My midwife who comes to the house to check up on me just so happened to text me that day and ask how everything was. I gave her the contraction update and she told me to go to the hospital. I just said, "haha, ok", with no enthusiasm whatsoever because if Eli wasn't crowning I just wasn't going to be convinced that he'd ever come!
I told Hilton that I wanted to go in and he was just as skeptical but we went anyways. I mean, better to be safe than sorry and besides, what's another false alarm, right??
So, off we went at 8 something that evening. I was examined and was told that I was still at 2 cm. "Here we go again...", I thought to myself. They ended up monitoring me for contractions and his heart rate and gave me anti-spasm medication that would slow the contractions if they were indeed false. After the monitoring and the medication, the contractions remained the same. I was told to go walk around for an hour and if there was a change 'down there' then, voila! So, Hilton and I went outside the hospital into the night to walk around. An hour later and I was dilated to 3-4 cm!!!! Hilton and I were SO elated! I was in labor the whole time and had no idea!!
Asked if I wanted an epidural, I said I'd wait and see. The midwife told me that I needed to quickly make up my mind because generally, second births happen fast! So I said, yes please!
After three hours of labor and 5-6 minutes of pushing----pause-----the epidural prevented me from feeling the contractions in my abdomen but did NOTHING in the way of me feeling him on my sacrum and coccyx. OMGGGGGGG. I could feel him descend and no matter how many times I frantically pushed the epidural button for more meds, it just grew worse with each contraction!! So yes, I felt him slowly and tortuously descend and exit. But it only lasted a brief moment and once they placed him on my chest, I realized that the 40 agonizing weeks were worth every brain response to the pain I endured.

Click on the pix to make them bigger!