Bringing Home Our Baby Bumble Bea

It's hard to believe our Sweet Bea is almost ONE!!

In honor of her upcoming birthday I decided to share the story of her birth. 

This is one of my favorite love stories, Sweet Bea. 

It's the story of you.

Like any good story, we have to start at the beginning.

Our sweet Bea wasn't always so sweet. In fact, she was a bit of a hellion! 

Just like her big brother, Bea is an IVF baby. A frozen embryo transfer. Just like with Drew, I gave myself a million shots, prayed my heart out, transferred two beautiful and healthy embryos, and stayed in bed for 5 days. We were pregnant. We were thrilled.

Unlike most people, I love morning sickness. It is a sign that everything is good...a reassurance that there is a growing little miracle in my belly. Little Bea took it to a whole new level! I was sick the ENTIRE time. Not just nauseous or tired but the kind of sick you have when you wake up after a night of tequila shots sick. Holy moly. I remember thinking, "Ok. My little busy Bea. Thank you for checking in but I need a break!"

Then this little rebel decided she wanted out and she wanted out NOW! 

Mind you, she wanted to make her debut at 32 weeks....oh yes, 32 frickin' weeks! Stinker. 

I had just had my sprinkle and was feeling extra tired, crampy, and HEAVY. I figured it was a 2nd baby thing so although I was uncomfortable I definitely wasn't concerned. We'd gone in for our 32 week appointment and casually mentioned how much harder this pregnancy was and my symptoms....well, it wasn't normal and after 30 minutes of monitoring, I was sent to Hoag Hospital for 48 hour observation and medication to slow contractions and meds to help baby's lungs form if she were to come early. Then sent home on strict bed rest and weekly monitoring. 

My job was to keep this baby cooking and my husband made sure I did just that! Andrew picked up all the slack and some...cooking, cleaning, laundry, and Drew! He may drive me crazy but I am pretty darn lucky to have this guy to do life with. 

Not only was my husband amazing, the grandmas took their roles to a whole new level of awesome! My mom and my mother in law helped with organizing everything from my sprinkle, washing baby clothes, and packing my hospital bag. My mother in law and sister in law took Drew more days than I can even count. Our family and friends visited, brought endless amounts of food, and entertained Drew. Thank God for the support system we have....I honestly don't know what I'd do without them. 

I'd been home two weeks on bedrest when my momma tribe had come to keep me company and bring Thai food (all I craved my third trimester)! I was so thankful for the company, yummy food, and some of the sweetest friends! My gf, Jenn/my built in doctor (she really should start charging me for every random picture and question I throw at her), started noticing the regularity and strength of my contractions despite being on medication...she STRONGLY encouraged me to go in the next day.

Sure enough, at 34 weeks, I was dilated to 2, 60% effaced, and my contractions were 7 minutes apart. The meds had stopped doing their thing...which meant back to Hoag. 

As nervous as I was, I also had a feeling that everything would be ok and truth be told, I hadn't expected this to be easy. Nothing had come easy up to this point so I kind of assumed it would be a doosey.

I was admitted, put on the monitor and meds were upped to at least buy us a little more time. During our ultrasound, we found out that our little sassy girl had flipped. Yes, flipped! Miss. Bea had been ready, head down, ready to go. Then...she wasn't. 

An external version was done and successful! Baby was ready. I was taken off meds. And I was stuck....I couldn't walk to progress my labor and the hospital could not assist or encourage my labor because I was early. It was a tough situation.

After a week in the hospital with not much more happening, we were allowed to go home! I was off meds and off bed rest.

I basically showered, unpacked, repacked, and by the next morning my contractions had picked up and I was in full blown labor...back to the hospital we flew. Andrew didn't want to deliver in the car and I was pissed he was driving like a maniac. #MarriedLife

What would you know....little stinker had flipped again. My amazing OB decided we were done messing around. I got my epidural, went into the operating room (in case things got ugly), she flipped our stinker, broke my water, and strapped me tight so Bea couldn't flip again. It was time to have a baby and this momma was totally ready!

After 3 pushes, Bea was born. As I snuggled this tiny bundle and looked at this sweet baby, all I felt was peace. Bea was absolutely beautiful. She was totally perfect. She was so worth of second of this journey and all the trouble. She was ours and I fell deeply in love all over again.

Beatrice Anne
September 5, 2016
6 lbs. 12 oz. and 20 in. long

Bea is our little sunshine! She is so full of life, happiness, and joy. We are beyond smitten with this little love.

It has been everything to watch Drew and Amina as a big brother and a big sister. Drew was made to be a big brother. He is so loving, gentle, thoughtful, and sweet. The minute he saw Bea, it was love at first sight. I always knew he'd be an amazing big brother, I just didn't know he'd be this amazing. Our Amina is so sweet and silly. She loves kissing her sister and I think her favorite thing is making her laugh. 

And Andrew....this man continues to impress me and surpass every hope I had for him as a dada...he is always patient, slow to anger, and definitely the fun parent. Our babies love him and I love watching him with them.

As our first year together comes to an end, I am a teensy bit sad that it went by so fast but I have loved every second with you, my sweet babe. You are a dream come true. You are a prayer answered. You are forever loved. 

Photography: Riley Cooper Photography

Welcome to the World Little Man...Definitely worth the wait!

Well...to say I have dropped off the face of blogger world is an understatement! But, in my defense I have been blissfully busy.

The past 3 months have been very exciting for our little family.

On September 21st, after pushing for three very long hours, our little guy FINALLY decided to enter the world. Andrew Frank Vidovich III weighed in at 8lbs 5oz and 20in long! Holy moly! This little booger was supposed to weigh 6lbs! lol.

Our Drew was definitely worth the wait. We couldn't possibly love this little boy more than we do.

Labor is no joke! We went in on Friday, September 19th at 5am to be induced. This little guy needed to be evicted...he was too cozy in momma's belly. At 11pm, my water finally broke! We were beyond excited and worried our families would miss the birth! Ha! Thankfully, the nurse made us wait to call our families in the morning! The minute we gave them the news, they eagerly took over the waiting room excitedly anticipating Drew's arrival! Unfortunately for them, our stubborn little man decided he was not ready. During the next 24 hours, I developed a fever and was totally delirious (like when you're drunk and everything is happy & oh so foggy). I spent the entire day sleeping, starving, and eating ice chips like they were going out of style! After 21 hours, I was finally dilated to 10! My fever remained so my OB told us that upon arrival, Drew would be taken to the NICU to be treated for infection. I was so sad but after wanting him for so long, waiting over 3 years to finally get pregnant, and after this long day, I figured what's a few days in the NICU! 

The minute Drew was born and was placed on my chest, I was filled with this amazing, indescribable love. It was the same feeling I had when Amina was placed in my arms for the first time. I was overwhelmed with love and devotion to this sweet baby. He was perfect (cone head and all)! 

He was quickly taken to the NICU with Daddy following close behind. On his way, he was greeted by his loving family. Everyone was so excited to see this little man. 

He was kept in the NICU for 4 days. Right before we were discharged, we realized Drew had a twitch  (which turned out to be nothing) and the NICU doctor decided to treat it as a seizure and run a panel of tests including MRI, EEG, and Lumbar test. Everything was clear except the lumbar...his levels were elevated which indicate he may have meningitis. It wasn't high enough to say for sure but it wasn't low enough to be in the clear so our doctors decided to treat him for it. He started 2 additional antibiotics and we were stuck at Torrance Memorial for a total of 21 days. They were so accommodating and although we remained NICU patients, moved us down to PEDS so we could have a private room and stay with our baby! Anyone who has ever had a child hospitalized knows the idea of leaving your baby is absolutely heartbreaking. We quickly settled in and made the room our home. 

Our baby girl even came to spend the day with us and meet her baby brother! My heart couldn't have been fuller or more joyful. Look at these sweet babes. We sure are blessed. Amina was so sweet with her baby brother! She was very curious and kissed him every chance she got!

The 21 days actually flew by and before we knew it, we were home. The days at the hospital seem like a blur. Drew is now a totally happy & healthy baby boy (slight colic episodes to start but thankfully that ended quickly)!