The Molina Family: December 2010

In JANUARY we started the year off knowing it was going to be an exciting year with the arrival of our baby boy. I was about 6 months pregnant and the excitement was kicking in. We were starting to think about how we were going to decorate the baby's room, looking for car seats, cribs, etc. I had my routine doctors appointment at the end of the month when all the excitement began. My doctor "checked" me and found that I had already started to dialate. I was sent to Labor and Delivery for some monitoring. It turned out I had been having contractions and didn't even know it. I spent the weekend in and out of the hospital for preterm labor. The last week of January was also the last time I saw my grandpa. He was in and out of the hospital around this time.

FEBRUARY started off with a bang! I was officially admitted to the hospital on February 1st for bleeding and contractions (preterm labor). That night things got worse and I was transferred by Life Flight to Intermountain Medical Center where they had a better NICU in case Jacob decided to make his arrival or they had to do an emergency c-section. At this point I was about 29-30 weeks pregnant. Jacob and I hung on and ended up spending 2 weeks in the hospital. Miguel had to quit his job at Rumbi so he could spend time with me and help me. I was also not working during this time. My maternity leave started before I even had the baby. I ended up being released on February 16, which is also the same day my grandpa passed away. I miss him every day! To this day I still feel sad that I wasn't able to say goodbye. I miss you grandpa. Although I was released from the hospital I still had to remain on bedrest. I had to go to several appointments each week for monitoring, but other than that I spent most of my time on the couch. I thank Miguel for putting up with me during this time. He spent nights with me in the hospital and waited on me day and night when I got home, he was great! Miguel's birthday was also in February. Of course I was still on bed rest so we weren't able to do much. Also, thank you to my parents for visiting, cooking and cleaning while I was out of commission during this time. It was so hard, I couldn't help fix Jacob's room, go shopping or do anything! It was all worth it though.

MARCH came and I was still on bedrest. I had a wonderful baby shower put on by my mom and Judi. It was nice to be able to get out of the house for a short time. Still about 6 weeks left until my due date and still on bed rest. On Tuesday, March 9, I started having some cramping in my back. I called the doctor and they wanted me to head over to Labor and Delivery to get checked out. Well, sure enough, I had dialated more and contractions were intensifying. I was in labor. I'll spare you the details. Jacob was born on March 10 at 11:34am. He was perfect! Jacob weighed 5lbs 2oz and was 17 inches long. I was able to hold him for a short time but then he had to go to the nursery to be monitored since he was premature. He was doing great though. We were so relieved. Jacob had to remain in the hospital to eat and grow. There was one night we had a scare. One of the nurses notcied something abnormal in Jacob's stomach. The worst case scenario would have been a something called NEC, where he wasn't able to digest his food. This is a HORRIBLE thing to have. They did some tests on Jacob and he was perfectly fine. This is so easy for me to say today, but that night was absolutely awful. I can't even tell you how it felt holding him while they were putting in IVs, oxygen, etc. We had not idea what to think. He had the IV for a few days after and then was on oxygen off and on throughout his stay. It brings tears to my eyes even just typing this. I am thankful that nurse (Heather) was so thorough with her assessment that day. Anyways, while he was there he was primarily fed by a feeding tube. I went to the hospital 2-3 times a day to hold him and sometimes feed him. Miguel came with me most nights when he wasn't working or we went before he had to go to work. Jacob was just so cute and so little, we love our little guy. The day finally came, March 30, when we were able to bring him home. We were so happy! We had to bring him home in a car bed because he didn't pass the car seat test, he was too small. The car bed is a car seat that lays flat so he can breathe better. He had that for about 2 weeks.

In APRIL we just had a wonderful time spending time with Jacob and just enjoying our new lives as parents. Towards the end of April I was scheduled to take the NCLEX for the 2nd time. This was rescheduled from February because I was in the hospital. Well, I ended up failing again. I had too much going on, no time to prepare physically and mentally for this BEAST of a test. More on this later in the year.

MAY came and I had to go back to work. This was awful, Jacob was only 6 weeks old! Because my maternity leave started so early I had to go back earlier if I wanted to be paid. Luckily my job was nice enough to let me work 3 days and then from home the others days for the first month so I could still be with Jacob since he was still so little. I also got braces on my bottom teeth in May...wahooo! Jacob was doing well, he was about 2 months old. He loved his bottles and was growing fast!

In JUNE I was back working 4 days a week with Fridays off. Miguel stays home with Jacob during the day and then we switch and he goes to work at night. Mid-June Jacob and I went with my mom and dad to meet some other family up in Wyoming. We stayed up in the mountains near the Grand Tetons in a cabin. Jacob was a trooper! I think he enjoyed his first vacation and car ride. Too bad, Miguel had to stay home and work.

In JULY we celebrated the 4th and the 24th. We took Jacob to Sugarhouse park on July 4 for his first firework show. I think he liked it. I am pretty sure he slept through the whole thing. On the 24th I took him to his first parade at Cottonwood Heights and then Miguel met us later for the fireworks. My brother's birthday was on July 24.

My birthday was in AUGUST. Need I say more? We celebrated the whole month! Jacob was 5 months old and still the cutest thing ever!

In SEPTEMBER Jacob turned 6 months old!! My baby was half a year old...crazy!! We also took Jacob to his first football game. It was a little noisy and when the crowd got crazy he cried, but he really did enjoy watching all the people. I also took my NCLEX test again this month and guess what? I PASSED!! FINALLY...PHEW! This was such a relief, I cannot even tell you how relieved I was. 265 questions and 5 hours later, it was over!!

Of course OCTOBER is Halloween. Jacob was the cutest penguin ever!! We didn't take him trick-or-treating, but we did carve pumpkins.

In NOVEMBER my dad celebrated his 60th birthday!! We went to Ruby River and had an excellent dinner. Of course we also had Thanksgiving.

DECEMBER came and went. We had a wonderful Christmas and had so much fun celebrating with Jacob. Jacob came down with his first real sickness this month as well. It started with Croup and then diarrhea. No fun! We made it through though. Jacob is becoming so much more active and getting into everything. He's always on the move! I am still on the job hunt and hope one comes along soon. At the end of the month my mom celebrated her birthday. We (meaning Miguel) cooked her a nice dinner.

I am sure I am missing something, but I'm pretty sure I caught those most significant moments. We had a great 2010 and are looking forward to 2011.

Christmas was different this year, in a good way.

After having a baby I think your perspective on many things changes. We didn't have much money to spend on Christmas this year anyway, but I felt like it was more about giving than receiving. Of course I know that is how it always should be, but like I said, this year felt different.

We wanted this Christmas to be about Jacob, starting new traditions and creating many wonderful memories. I know Jacob isn't going to remember his first Christmas, but Miguel and I will remember the memories we started with Jacob. We had a great time, opening presents Christmas morning, making breakfast and then spending time with family. Jacob loved playing with all of his toys and by the end of the day I think he was a little overwhelmed with all of his new toys.

Thank you to all of our friends and family for making this Christmas so great!!