Jackson's 2nd Birthday Party

This year, we celebrated Jackson's and Ashley's birthdays at Micke Grove Park in Lodi. It was a simple party, but nice and fun. We had a huge picnic lunch, sang "Happy Birthday" to Jackson and Ashley, ate cake, opened presents, then went to the amusement park. Trains are one of the many things that Jackson is into right now, so he was thrilled that our picnic site was close to the train tracks. Every time a train went by he would pump his arm and yell, "Toot! Toot!"

We thought Jackson would be excited about going on the rides at the amusement park, since he enjoyed them so much at the Yolo County Fair this year, but he wanted nothing to do with them. He must have been quite tired by then, because he fell asleep as soon as we started driving home.

Cake Time: Jackson had a Thomas the Tank Engine cupcake and Ashley had a Snow White cupcake.

Quality Time With Grandma and Grandpa:

The Arrival of Tera Nicole Medeiros

All Friday night, I had contractions that were just painful enough to keep me awake and annoyed. I assumed they were just Braxton-Hicks (false labor), so I drank tons of water and kept changing positions but nothing helped. They finally just went away at about 4 AM on Saturday morning.

Around 9 AM on Saturday, the contractions came back, but again, I assumed they were just Braxton-Hicks. Matt, Jackson, and I went out to breakfast at Crepeville and walked around the Farmers' Market. On the way home (around 11:30 AM), I decided that since my contractions seemed to be getting more painful, I should start writing down the time when each one started. At 1:30 PM, they were about 20 minutes apart and getting a bit more painful (like menstrual cramps), so I called the ob-gyn on call. She basically said not to worry about it unless they get about 5 minutes apart.

At 6:30 PM, my contractions were still about 10 minutes apart, but a little more painful, and I didn't want to spend another night awake with contractions so I called the ob-gyn again. She said to go to the birthing center and they would check me out. I threw some necessities in my hospital bag and brought it with me just in case.

By the time Matt, Jackson, and I got to the hospital and they hooked me up to the monitors, my contractions were varying from 3-8 minutes and were VERY painful (like the worst menstrual cramps EVER). The nurse said it would only take about 20 minutes to have me on the monitors and make a decision about whether to send me home or do a c-section, so Matt and Jackson went to wander around and I was to call them when I was ready to go (we assumed I would be sent home). Finally, and hour and a half later (at 9 PM), I was told that since I couldn't talk through my contractions they were going to schedule a c-section for 10 PM that night.

Aunt Judy came and hung out with Jackson (who fell asleep and missed all of the excitement) at the hospital, while Matt came into the operating room with me. Everything went quickly and smoothly.

Tera Nicole Medeiros was born at 10:52 PM on July 17, 2010. She weighed 5 pounds 15.4 ounces, and was 18 inches long. She was perfectly healthy, with a full head of jet black hair.