Discovering My Inner Mommy

Each moment with Kamryn Marlee is better than the last. Jacob and I can't believe she's already over 10 weeks old! We're loving every second of being parents and enjoying watching our rapidly changing baby girl. It's hard to imagine our lives before her.

If you're a parent, you know that having a child makes every experience more special. The holiday memories we made this year will be some of my most treasured. Kamryn joined us in a little bassinet at the Thanksgiving dinner table and held hands with us for the prayer. We loved opening presents with her at Grandma and Grandpa's on Christmas morning and checking out all the wonderful gifts from our generous family. At midnight, New Years Eve, the three of us sat up together in bed and I cried as Kamryn's bright eyes watched the ball drop. People were right... Our lives will never be the same. And I'm so thankful.

Learning to be a Mommy has been wonderful, and Kamryn's a great teacher. She's being patient with me as I figure out how to do everything - and there's still a lot to learn. Luckily, Jacob was home with us for the first few weeks, but since then, I've had quite a few opportunities to be alone with our baby girl. At first, it was a little scary. I noticed that when she would cry, it was natural for Jacob or my Mom to get up and walk her around. I was fearful that alone, I wouldn't be able to calm her if she got to crying hard. I even wondered briefly if I had the ability to take care of her on my own. I mean, a good mother should be able to take care of her own daughter, right? But, before I knew it, any doubts I had were gone.

In the early weeks, it did feel awkward trying to wheel around with Kamryn in my lap. She was so little and I was still getting the hang of how to handle her. Now that I know she's not going to break and now that she's starting to hold her head up on her own and sit up a little better, things are much easier. Being able to get up in my wheelchair with her gives me much more freedom when I'm alone, so I don't feel so trapped. Plus, Jacob modified a changing table so it's nice and low for us. I have even found ways to soothe her that don't involve walking. For example, she loves to bounce, and fortunately, I have pretty strong arms. I'd say we're becoming a pretty good team already. I can tell, even now, that she will adapt as needed to work with a Mommy on wheels... and it's a beautiful thing.

We live for her little smiles. It's so cool that we're already starting to see her personality. I can tell she has a strong but mellow spirit like her Mom and Dad. Her muscles are growing stronger by the day and the noises she's able to make are increasing all the time. And, boy, does she love her Daddy. I look forward to every day and helping nurture and support our little angel in each phase of her life.

As far as my personal health, I'm feeling great. I've even been back to the gym a couple times and it felt amazing. I'm getting stronger so I can hit the ground running when I get back with my personal trainer. Jacob's getting back to the gym again, as well. We're excited to do some 5K's this year as a family. Also, now that we have a bit more of a schedule, we're able to cook more and eat better, too. Life is good!

Thanks for reading! I will continue to share my experience of being a mother on wheels, including any tips I discover and more. Talk to you soon!

The Birth of Kamryn Marlee Rhoades - 11-11-11

First, please accept my apologies for taking so very long to update my blog. Many of you know by now that we welcomed our beautiful daughter, Kamryn Marlee Rhoades, on November 11, 2011. It confirmed how special we already knew she was when she came on such a unique day. She's an absolute miracle.

Kamryn was a month early and joined us on a full moon. According to my Mom, it was the same exact story with me when I was born. On Thursday, the 10th, I went in for my routine check up to monitor my contractions and baby's activity. For the preceding three days, I had been having pretty regular contractions. After the exam, my doctor determined that, although I hadn't really progressed, that my contractions were too regular to send me home. She decided to keep me in the hospital overnight just to monitor things. It was purely a precautionary measure due to my lack of feeling. Jacob was working on a job about an hour and a half away and wasn't able to get there until late, so my Mom accompanied me to the hospital.

As the night went on, the contractions got more intense and really consistent - often, only a couple minutes apart. As things intensified, so did my muscles spasms and dysreflexia. In other words, my body was creating a lot of physical stress in an attempt to warn me that something major was going on beneath my feeling line. As it turns out, these warning signs make me feel really, really crappy. My legs were in spasms like I've never seen before, I was sweating like crazy below my feeling line (which is a response from my nervous system), and I was extremely nauseous. And in all of it, I began to worry that in the midst of my body trying to warn of pain, that it would create too much stress on the baby.

When things were only slightly better in the morning, but I hadn't progressed in labor, my doctor decided it would be best for me to remain in the hospital until the baby came - even if that meant two or three more weeks. That was news I wasn't thrilled to hear, especially if I continued to feel that way. However, before I knew it, things took a sharp turn. The nurse walked in and while I was expecting her to suggest some sort of medicine I didn't really want to take to help with the pain and spasms, she said something completely unexpected. She explained that she had just spoken with my doctor, who had just consulted my high-risk physician, who had recommended that we go ahead with a c-section that day! The procedure was scheduled for only two hours away! I burst into tears. We were utterly stunned.

Our wish was to have Jacob in the room and me to be awake when they performed the c-section, but after they had trouble with the epidural, my doctor decided to just proceed with putting me under. The procedure was so quick! Baby and I were both healthy and back in the room with our family in less than an hour. I remember being wheeled back in and seeing Jacob holding Kamryn. It was a sight I always dreamed of and that I'll never forget. When he laid her in my arms, it was surreal. Time stood still. I don't have words to describe the emotions I felt.

We spent the next three days learning some baby basics, learning how to breast-feed and enjoying the most beautiful mountain view from our hospital room. The experience was wonderful. We soaked up every second of it. There was one particular moment on the second night that will be with me forever. Jacob, Kamryn and I were all laying together in the hospital bed, listening to a playlist I had made before hand and the perfect song was on. I remember just becoming completely overwhelmed with love on a level that I had never felt before. I'd been told that would happen, but experiencing it is something completely different.

With both of us recovering well, with no unexpected health issues, we came home on Monday. I think that was the shortest hospital stay I've ever had. Being home has been great. I was on bed rest for the first two weeks; just to be extra careful (again, due to the lack of feeling where the incision is). While it was a little slow getting back up in my chair after being down so long before and after the delivery, I'm pretty much back to my old self now. I have quite a bit of strength to get back, though, so I look forward to getting back to the gym.

I couldn't have done any of this without my sweet husband. Since we have been home, Jacob has been taking the best care of both of us. He is the most natural father and even better at all this than I imagined he'd be. Kamryn and I are so lucky to have him, it brings tears to my eyes on a regular basis. I am so thankful for our perfect little family. Also, my Mom and Dad have provided much-needed support when Daddy has had to work.

Kamryn's calling, so that's all the time I have for now! Look for my next posting as I take you along with me in this journey of motherhood on wheels. I have a lot to learn and am excited to share. Merry Christmas and a Happy, Happy New Year!

Home for the Final Stretch

This week, it really started to sink in that we will meet our baby girl very soon. Somehow, it's already almost time. After my contractions continued throughout the week, I went in for an early visit to the doc. Everything checked out great, but to try and prevent an early labor, my doctor asked that I stay home on bed-rest for the remainder of my pregnancy. While I hate leaving work early, I am proud I made it this far (only 3 1/2 weeks to go) - feeling great, with no complications. Plus, I'll be able to work a little bit from home. I've only been out a few days, and I have to admit that the lack of activity has helped. I'll be sure to appreciate this time I have to relax before it's time to be a mommy.

To ensure everything is on track, in the case that this baby does decide to come early, we went for our last ultrasound. All was perfect with her growth and she's even in the right position (for the time being)! And, we were surprised to learn that they estimate she is already 6 pounds, 1 ounce! Wow - what a healthy little girl! They did the 3D ultrasound, which was just so awesome. It was an amazing feeling staring at little Kamryn Marlee in my belly, squirming around, waiting to come into the world.

So, it's evident that there's not long now. Her clothes are washed, the car-seat is installed in my new car and our bags are just about packed for the hospital. We couldn't be happier. Any occasional discomfort I feel or trouble I have getting around seem so insignificant compared to the excitement I feel for the upcoming birth of our daughter. Plus, I'm so thankful for such a helpful, happy husband that is making this experience what it is.

Until next time, friends... Have a great day!

We'll Meet Her This Month (& She Has a Name)!

Well, we have had a fast-paced, event-filled couple weeks! As I've mentioned before, things seems to be falling right into place, just at the right time. I'm over 34 weeks along and have just over 4 weeks until the scheduled delivery of our baby girl. We're so excited. One of the most exciting new developments is that we've decided on a name. On November 30th (or before), we can't wait to welcome Kamryn Marlee Rhoades into this world!

So, I'm absolutely thrilled to share the news of my new car! Those that know me personally know that I love cars and drove a red truck with flames on it (affectionately called my "Hotwheels" truck) for the last 10 years. It was all equipped with hand controls and a lift from Bruno Independent Living Aids, Inc., and it worked perfectly for me. Plus, it was paid off, which was nice. When the motor went out for the second time in February, I was pretty bummed. Not long after, I found out I was pregnant. Suddenly being faced with having to find a new vehicle that would be accessible for me, work with a new baby, accommodate my wheelchair and my companion dog and be affordable was challenging, to say the least. However, we were able to work with a fantastic local dealership, that also modifies vehicles, and just a few days ago, I drove home my new Mazda 5.  Zoom zoom.

My new "compact wagon" is really cool, although a big change from what I'm used to. The little lift (by Adapt Solutions) tucks my wheelchair snugly behind my driver's seat, leaving four seats open for passengers - one, of course, already reserved for a car seat. It drives great and fits me like a glove. I want to extend my sincerest thanks to the great people at Milton Martin Honda in Gainesville, Georgia, as well as all the others that helped make this happen! I'm so fortunate to be surrounded by this wonderful community and SO happy to be independent again!

In the last week and a half we've attended two awesome baby showers! The first, hosted by my Aunt and Uncle, was a beautiful dinner party - complete with our own chefs!  This past weekend, two of my closest friends hosted a perfect little afternoon get-together. We got so many adorable baby gifts and have had a blast checking each item out in great detail. But, the best part about both parties was spending time with the best people we know and seeing how much love they all already have for our baby girl. She is surrounded by love.

While I'm still feeling considerably well, over the past week, I've been experiencing some increased Braxton Hicks, or "practice contractions." Exams at the doctor have gone well, with me showing no signs of labor. However, over the past two days, increased activity or even a hint of dehydration will increase my contractions - which we don't want at this point. So, the doctor advised me to reduce activity, drink as much water as I can stand and pay close attention to my body. It's difficult to back off when there's so much to do, but I know it's what needs to happen right now. My most important job is to take care of this baby. So, I'll continue on this path and take the next few weeks one day at a time - and make sure to keep on smiling.

It's amazing that it's already November and that we'll meet little Kamryn Marlee this month. I'm looking forward to the holidays this year with a new and special excitement. Enjoy your week and thanks for reading!

6 Weeks To Go...

Things are getting so very exciting! I am nearing 33 weeks along and doing fantastic. I remember thinking at the very beginning of this pregnancy - I'm talking in the first few weeks - that it seemed like an eternity until our baby would be born. Since then, time has flown by and it's so evident that she'll be here before we know it.

We've been seeing my OBGYN twice a week and have had nothing but good news at each check-up. Also, she has picked a date that we'll have the baby (that's if she hasn't decided to join us before then). On November 30th, we'll go to the hospital and either induce or have a c-section, depending on what's best at the time for the baby and I. It's just astonishing that that's only 6 weeks from today.

Recently, we met with the anesthesiologist who will be present during our procedure. It was important to actually talk to him before hand so we could discuss certain complications that can occur related to my spinal cord injury, specifically called autonomic dysreflexia. Mom, Jacob and I all liked him a lot and were glad that he seemed very knowledgeable about my condition. He also did an X-ray to make sure he could do an epidural with the type of spinal fusion and hardware that I have in my back. All looked great.

Jacob and I had a really good time and learned a lot at our birthing class. Plus, it was at the hospital where I'll deliver and we got to see our beautiful rooms, with gorgeous views overlooking the North Georgia mountains. It all felt perfect. And, I must say that I was very proud when my sweet husband was the only Dad out of all there who was brave enough to get up and practice swaddling in front of the group. This little girl has no idea how lucky she is.

As we all expected, my mobility is getting more limited by the day. With determination and some help, though, I'm still maintaining my basic independence. I've started to cut out certain things that are becoming too difficult and have gotten extra creative with other daily living tasks. But these days, I'm finding more and more that even if I am able to do something - like get dressed, get out of the house, climb up into our SUV - I'm so exhausted by the time I'm finished that I have to lay back for a bit. Over the next weeks, I'll pay close attention to my body and my strength and reduce my schedule accordingly. For the time being, I'm hanging in there and being very thankful for those around me, as well as a sympathetic work environment.

Last week I had a little baby shower with some wonderful ladies I know and brought home a beautiful bassinet. I loved watching Jacob put it together. This weekend, we'll enjoy a co-ed baby shower with some family and friends. We can't wait to celebrate the coming arrival of our little girl!

I feel so fortunate that I'm experiencing this journey with the man of my dreams. I'm still in awe at how our love continues to grow each day and how comfortable and content we've felt during this entire process. I also continue to be amazed by the strength and potential of the human body. It's all an amazing miracle that I'm proud to share with you. Thanks for reading and have a happy week!

Getting Closer Everday...

It seems like all the pieces are coming together.  We've got two months left and the excitement is growing everyday. Last weekend, Jacob painted her room a beautiful "sun shower yellow." It's starting to feel like a nursery with the valence hung up, little hangers in the closet and a few of her things filling up some of the space. My talented husband also started construction on the accessible crib. He's doing such a great job and I can't wait to see the finished product.

We had our first "non-stress tests" (or NST) this week. In the last two weeks or so, I've had some tightening in my abdomen that we think could possibly be some minor contractions. My doctor assured me that "Braxton Hicks" are pretty common and harmless unless they started to occur more frequently. Just to be safe and keep a good eye on things, we'll start going in twice a week for these NST's, which monitor for contractions, as well as the baby's activity. When I go in, I lay on the table (with plenty of pillows) for about 40 minutes to an hour with a belt strapped to my belly. A print out provides the information the doctor is looking for. The first of these tests went great and I loved it when my doctor came in at the end, looked at the read-out, smiled and shook her head and said, "This is one beautiful baby. Everything is perfect, you can go on home."

This week, I had a great time speaking to the first-year Occupational Therapy students at Brenau University. This is the third time I've spoken to that class about mobility issues and being a wheelchair user, but the first time I've had the opportunity to share insights as to what my experiences are while pregnant. I've had many occupational therapists make a real positive impact on me over the years, so I am glad to offer any knowledge that might help these students. They were pretty impressed that at 7 1/2 months along, that I can still lift myself up into our Chevy Trail Blazer, on my own. We're in the process of getting a new accessible vehicle for me, and I look forward to that more than I can say!

I feel so fortunate to still be feeling so great this far along. Aside from some spells of exhaustion, some occasional cramped feelings (especially after I eat), shortness of breath here and there, and a recent slight increase in muscles spasms - I can't help but consider myself lucky. Also, despite some extra time and effort it takes for me to accomplish daily tasks, I'm still managing to take care of myself pretty much as usual, and I'm thankful for that as well.

As Jacob lit our first fire today, I had a noticeable awareness that we are nearing the season that our daughter will join us. She'll be here before we know it. Next weekend, we'll attend our child birth class. In three weeks, we'll have the first of our baby showers. I have a feeling we'll be pretty busy from here on out. And I'm looking forward to every moment of it.

Remember, if you or someone you know has some questions for me, feel free to send an email here, and you may also share this post. Thanks for following along and until next time, Happy Fall!

Motivating the Cadets at Riverside Military Academy

Today, I had the honor and privilege of speaking to the cadets at Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Georgia.  I was invited to speak as a part of their character development series, after a referral from my friend and colleague, Dr. Bill Lampton.  The experience was something I’ll never forget. 

My speech was entitled "It's All About the Attitude."  I shared my story and discussed the importance of a positive attitude and overcoming challenges.  This was the biggest audience I've had the opportunity to speak to, with over 350 cadets (grades 7-12), as well as staff members, faculty and some parents.  Also, Jacob, my parents, and few of my colleagues from Brenau University were in attendance as honorary guests.

And I must add, saying we were treated like honorary guests is an understatement.  From the moment we arrived, everyone was so kind and definitely among the most respectful group of people I've had the pleasure of spending time with.  After my speech, we were invited to stand next to the President, Dr. and Colonel Jim Benson, as the cadets performed an amazing Pass and Review.  I was so impressed by the young men and so honored to stand with my husband beside the Colonel.  

After the cadet's demonstration, we were all hosted for lunch in their beautiful dining hall.  My heart was warmed as person after person approached me and expressed that they enjoyed my presentation.  Having the opportunity to inspire those cadets to take advantage of their own potential was something I am truly grateful for.

President of Riverside Military Academy, Dr. Jim Benson, COL, and myself in the dining hall.