And the winner of "Parents of the Year" goes to...

So we have now had Indiana home for a week and a half and we have already become the "best parents in the world".  As you can see, I am being sarcastic.  On Thanksgiving I noticed that she had a small amount of discharge coming out of her eye, but I really didn't think anything of it.  By 3am, her eyes were closed shut with goopy yellow, greeny discharge.  I felt so bad!!!  We took her to the doctor the next morning and she said that she had an eye infection and a possible clogged duct.  I guess it is very common for newborns to have clogged eye ducts, but it didn't make me feel any better about the whole situation.  I couldn't believe that she was only 9 days old and has an infection.  And here I thought I was doing a good job as a first time mommy!!  :)

On a brighter note...Indy is now 5lbs.  She can play with the big girls now!!!  Here are some pictures of Indiana at 1 1/2 weeks old.  She looks so much bigger now...it is amazing.  

The best, worse, hardest, and most amazing week of my life!!!

This was the kind of week that you remember for the rest of life.  The kind that changes your life forever and makes you really think about what is important in life.  This was the kind of week were you become part of something bigger than yourself and without control, you just give in.  This week, my daughter Indiana Rose Bomgaars was born.  

November 19, 2008  4lbs 8oz   18 inches long

It all started with one of my many weekly doctors visits and we found that Indiana had not grown at all in a week.  We had been watching her progress for the last few weeks, but that day we knew something was wrong.  We were planing on inducing December 1st, but the doctor decided she had to come out now.  His plan was to induce slowly and hopefully have her within the next few days, but Indiana decided that she wanted to make her entrance into the world that day.  

I was admitted into the hospital and we started some medicine to get my body ready for the labor and within 2 hours my water had broken and I was having contractions every 3 minutes.  Lets just say it was faster then we expected.  After being in active labor for 5 hours, they started the Pitocin and that's when the problems began.  Every time I had a contraction, Indiana's heart rate would drop and not long after I began the medicine she went into distress.  I have never seen so many people move so quickly in my life.  One minute I am in bed having contractions and trying to breath through the contractions and the next minute I am being rushed to the operating room to be prepped for a C-Section.

I was really scared and didn't know what was going on and all I could think was please let her be ok.  It seemed like it took forever, but really it was only 9 minutes from getting me in the operating room to her delivery.  I kept asking for Rocky and the doctor almost didn't let him in for the delivery, but I insisted.  He finally came in and was trying to calm me down and them we heard it...she cried!!! Everything happened so fast, but I do remember thinking she will be ok as long as she cries. 

Indiana's First Feeding

I didn't get to meet Indiana until over 12 hours after her birth, but luckily Rocky was able to spend a lot of time with her in the beginning and would keep me updated on her progress.  I was so happy to hear that she was not on any breathing assistance, didn't have an IV and wasn't even in a warming incubator.  When I finally was able to go see her, I was so overwhelmed by the whole experience I didn't even enjoy our first meeting.  It is very hard to go to the NICU and know that your baby is there with other sick babies and you can't do anything about it.  I wasn't sure what to expect and when I say her, it scary, confusing, hectic and amazing all at the same time.  When I saw for the first time, I didn't even think that she was mine.  After that morning, things became easier and my mommy instincts started to kick in.  I would get up and go to every feeding and sometimes just go early just to watch her sleep.   She was doing really well and even the nurses said that she was "The wellist baby in the NICU" and that we shouldn't worry about anything.  We knew it was just a matter of time until I went home and had to leave her at the hospital, so when they said that she could come home with me after only 3 days, we were ecstatic!!!  I think that was one of the happiest days of my life.  

So we came home together as a family and the journey began.  Feeding at 3am, trying to figure out why she is crying and having her pee on you during a diaper change.  All of this is totally worth it.  We have had some easy nights and some REALLY hard nights.  I pulled my first all nighter the other day and it wasn't so bad...well until the next day when I was so tired I couldn't stand it.  We have been busy with family and friends coming over, Indy's first doctors appointment and trying to keep up with work, cleaning, laundry and daily living.  We are so excited to have our little girl home and I can't wait to watch her grow and change into the wonderful little person that she is going to be.  Even in the past week she has changed so much and I can't imagine what she is going to be like in a month or two.  Life has changed, for the better and I can't wait to share her with the world.  

Here are some pictures from Indiana's Adventurous Week:

I look just like my daddy...Little Rocky Jr.  

Tummy time with Daddy

Indiana's First Doctors Appointment.  She gained 4oz in 2 days.  4lbs 13oz.  Almost 5lbs. 

Me and Indy hanging out at home

She sleeps just like here mommy

Indiana's First Thanksgiving

Indy, Oma & Boom Boom Grandpa 

Anutie Sommer & Uncle Cameron 

Boom Boom trying to wake up Indiana

Sleeping Indy

Contractions and Liquids

Can I say how tired I am of drinking obscene amounts of liquids each day???  I know I only have 3 weeks left, but I feel like I am going to float away at any second.  I don't think that I will ever drink watered down Kool-Aid and Apple juice again, but who can say. 

I have also started to have contractions that actually hurt now...it's crazy.  I have been having Braxton-Hicks for quite some time now, but now these feel like the real thing.  Nothing close enough to actually call "real" contractions, but wow they hurt.  I guess I am getting ready for the big day...well the big induction day anayway!!!

24 days left, 14 hours, 1 minute and 27 seconds left!!!  

The right to be equal - No on Prop 8

For the first time in my life, I have put the time and effort into understanding this election and the issues that plague our country and state. It is kind of empowering to be able to hold a conversation with others and feel like I am holding my ground on issues that I feel strongly about. I never thought I would feel strongly enough to write about my feelings, because everyone has the right to their own beliefs and who am I to say otherwise, but had I to get this off my chest. Here are my views on Prop 8.

I don't understand how human rights could ever be a question in the United States. It is not really a matter of same sex marriage for me, but rather a matter of equality and discrimination. People should be treated equally, bottom line and if Prop 8 passes that right will be taken away. I also don't understand how one prop can be interpreted as so many different things, yet only deal with on issue, marriage. The lawn signs I've seen say "Yes on Prop 8 - Protect Marriages." No where does it say anything about education. When did it become Prop 8 - Protect our children's education and parental rights???

Prop 8 ELIMINATES THE RIGHT OF SAME-SEX COUPLES TO MARRY. That is it! It will:
- Changes the California Constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry in California.
- Provides that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.

No where in the prop does it say anything about education and what are children are being taught in school. The California Education Code permits school districts to offer comprehensive sex education, but if they do, they have to "teach respect for marriage and committed relationships." Parents can excuse their child from all or part of the instruction (I remember having to turn in a signed permission slip when I had Sex Ed). The case they show on one of their commercials is of a first grade class that went to their lesbian teacher's wedding. They had to get consent from the parents (which they did - two kids didn't go because of that). Whether or not the wedding is something you would call a "teachable" experience, it was the parents' decision and they will answer any questions their children will have. Also, This was also a charter school. It wasn't a public school. The commercial is lying to you about this.

There is also the issue that Churches could lose their tax-exemption status if Prop 8 isn't passed. The court decision regarding marriage specifically says “no religion will be required to change its religious policies or practices with regard to same-sex couples, and no religious officiant will be required to solemnize a marriage in contravention of his or her religious beliefs." I understand the fear people might have, but they have to understand that Massachusetts is not California and they may have different rules regarding this matter.

I will stop my rant and just say that I am sad to hear all of the things that people are saying about this prop. I am sad to see that in 2008, we are still able to discriminate against a group of people after everything this country has gone through in the past. We have overcome so much as a nation and to be able to sit back and allow our children to live in a country where equality is only given to some, makes me very, very sad. No one can take away your family values and what you teach to your children and it should be our job to say "yes, they have a different family then we do, but that is ok." That is a stronger message to our children them anything. We are all different, have different families, look different, come from different places, but no one should be left out, made fun of or segregated because of their beliefs. That is what our children should be learning in school and that is really what Prop 8 is about!!!