I’m finally feeling myself again!! The boys were both sick for about 2 weeks with Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease, a contagious viral infection that causes painful sores throughout the body, fevers and other symptoms. The boys both started with fevers and sores in their mouths and tongues. Then about a week later, Sebastian broke out in sores all over his body! The boys were very irritable and were inconsolable during this time. They refused to eat or drink anything, which was our ultimate worry. Alex (11 months old) was only content when he was nursed and Sebastian (2 years old) would fuss at every attempt to eat. After seeing a doctor, we were told that along with having painful sores in the back of their mouths and tongues, Sebastian also had an ear infection adding to his discomfort. Then we were told that no medication is given and that the virus would just go away on its own within 7-14 days.

My heart was heavy. Seeing them in pain and not being able to make it go away. Although the boys are back to normal now, I learned a lot about myself and motherhood from this experience, a lot of things that made me reflect on myself and my emotions as a mother. To name a few…

• I can’t protect them from EVERYTHING. No matter how many times I wash their hands while they fight me, or no matter how many times I say “no” to this or that. It’s a sad reality that I hadn’t experienced as a mother until now. It made me deeply reflect on the future and the fear that I can not always protect them from harm. I can guide them and pray that they are always safe, but in the end anything can happen to them at anytime. It’s something I need to remind myself as I struggle trying to shelter my boys and not return to the facility where they were contaminated.
• I can’t do it all and that’s ok. I am an organization freak, my house has to be clean, clutter stresses me and I always have to be working on a “project” to feel self fulfilled. Boy were these weeks a slap in the face! I couldn’t put dinner on the table, I couldn’t keep up with the house chores or my personal projects. I was exhausted!!
• Patience runs thin. I am normally very patient with my kids. I don’t like to yell at them or get angry with them. I tend to analyze their tantrums, frustrations and behaviors before I act because well…they are just kids and they don’t know any better. Sebastian has definitely challenged me in my attempt at peaceful parenting  and I know this doesn’t work in every situation and with every child but this week was the hardest for me in keeping up with my parenting techniques.
• Being away from family and friends sucks. My husband came home one night after work with hugs and dinner, like a knight in shining armor (literally) he said, “We have to take care of each other because we only have each other”. This is when it really hit me, that being away from family and friends really sucks. I immediately felt so lucky that hubby’s got my back just like I have his and I became so grateful for the many calls of concern I received from our family and friends.

I know I am a great mother to my kids but motherhood really kicked my butt this time physically and emotionally, and I’m only 2 and half years into this motherhood thing. I’m definitely prepared to handle the many challenges that I am sure I will continue to face…or maybe I’m not. But one thing I know for sure…keeping a positive attitude in any given situation or challenge is a definite MUST.

Oh and as soon as Sebastian and Alex learn how to read you best believe I am going to make them read this post. Broke my heart to see y’all sick but y’all drove me nuts so don’t be getting sick no more! -Love Mama

We spent a lovely 4 days in our beloved San Diego. We were very excited to catch up with friends and enjoy some of our favorite foods. My husband was even more pumped since the reason for our trip was so that he can attend his fantasy football auction draft…so thank you football!!

We had many things on our “to do” list but like always the little ones in the family are the ones in charge so we’re pretty much on their schedule. One thing we had to do for sure was visit the beach! My husband and I loved reminiscing that it was once our backyard…literally! We enjoyed walking the boardwalk, soaking in the ocean view and embracing the lovely San Diego weather.

One thing that we noticed about the boys was that their energy level during this trip was out of this world. Sebastian normally has a lot of energy to begin with but in this trip it definitely tripled! He knew that we were on vacation and acted accordingly. Alex was teething so he needed to chew on everything he could get his hands on and craved more cuddle time than normal. Lucky for him there were plenty of folks wanting to hold him.

Of course, mom the paparazzi, had a mini photo session of the kids everywhere we went. Here are a few pictures to help us remember our family adventures.

 

 

Special thanks to our mutual friends Monica and Chris for the hospitality during our trip.

Towards the end of my pregnancy I was very anxious to just not be pregnant anymore since I spent most of my pregnancy pained and not being able to find comfort. (Read about my second pregnancy here.) At the same time, I was very nervous about the labor process, knowing that it will also come with it’s own sets of pain. Okay….I was more like terrified. My first born was 38 hours of induced labor and two and a half hours of “pushing” so you can’t blame me for being such a scaredy-cat. I plan to share my first born’s birth story soon as well, at least the details I still remember.

On October 26, 2015, I went in for my 12pm 41 week appointment. Apparently, I was 5 centimeters dilated and according to my doctor experiencing minor contractions. After about an hour of examining, including an ultrasound to check fluid levels and a non stress test, I was told to go home, eat something and then head to the hospital to get induced.  My fluid levels were a bit low but my doctor said it is to be expected since I am past my due date. We would finally meet our baby boy!

My husband and I scrambled getting a few errands done. Call us crazy but our van needed a wash, I needed to stop at the post office, we needed to find a sitter and the husband needed a haircut! Yup, he needed to look sharp for all the photos I was about to take! Oh and I was hungry…my craving was a tuna sandwich from Subway…a foot long that is!

We arrived at the hospital at about 5pm and waited two hours for an available labor and delivery room. Thank goodness I wasn’t in active labor! As we waited, I began to feel what I thought were braxton hicks contractions about every two minutes. They weren’t strong enough to knock me off my feet but they were there. As soon as a room became available we were called and settled in. We began pitocin and almost immediately the nurse started verbalizing concerns with baby boy’s heart rate and stated he had arrhythmia, an irregular heartbeat. She mentioned we would know more once our baby boy was born. Not knowing anything about this, I began to research on my phone and told myself not to worry or stress.

About four hours later, I was only five and a half centimeters dilated but definitely feeling contractions, so I asked for an epidural. Boy oh boy was that a relief! I was finally able to take a nap.  The nurses then continued monitoring my progress and increasing pitocin as needed. After a few hours, my doctor decided it was time to break my water.

At about 11am, October 27, I began feeling extreme discomfort in my back. My husband attempted to massage me and re-arranged my pillows about fifty times. I began turning evil and told my husband there was no way in the world I would go through this again. As far as I’m concerned we are done having babies…no mas!

I am familiar with the urge to need to push, but this back pain felt like something else. This was pain in my back making me curl up in discomfort.  We paged the nurse and increased the dosage of the epidural medicine twice, with no comfort. The nurse then checked me and said I was completely dilated and ready to have a baby!

I began pushing…. oooooh baby baby….baby baby….push it real good….HA (socks were purchased on Etsy.) Ok where was I…I began pushing with my coach husband by my side telling me how great I was doing. At a point, the nurses in the room asked him if he was in the military! He kind of giggled and said no. To understand why the nurse asked him that you need to know that my husband’s verbal support sounds more like a personal trainer’s tough love approach. I’m surprised he didn’t say  things like “You call THAT a push?” and “Tears are for the weak!!” HA! He definitely kept my mind distracted.

After about thirty minutes of pushing we have a baby screaming and daddy cutting the umbilical cord! An eight pound twelve ounce healthy baby boy! We were relieved when the NICU team in the room was not needed. They were called in due to the doctor’s concerns with our baby boy’s arrhythmia but were not needed when baby came out and seemed healthy.

As my baby is being placed on my chest for skin to skin, I look over to my husband and say “Okay, maybe we can have more babies.” The nurse giggles and says “Wow, that was a fast change of heart.” Holding my baby and finally meeting him reminded me of how everything I just went through, in particular these 16 hours of induced labor, were oh so worth it!

We spent the next two days recovering at the hospital and trying to come up with a name for our new bundle of joy. We had many names in mind and I believe that’s what got us very confused. Plenty of times we would pick a name only to change our minds the next day. We had originally wanted to include the name Andres, in memory of my brother, for our baby boy but I found that too difficult for me. Discharge day arrives and we finally decided to call our baby boy Alexander Villa, having the same initials as my brother, Andres Velazquez.

We are now prepared to embark this journey as a family of four. There are plenty of things to learn and plenty adjustments heading our way but we are very happy to keep growing our family and excited to continue showering our babies with love. We thank God for blessing us with our newest little baby bear. Here we go!

 

Alexander Villa born October 27, 2015 at 12:01pm weighing 8 lbs 12 oz  & 21 in. long