2014: The Year My Dream of Becoming a "Real Housewife" Became a Reality.....sort of.
So, yeah. This year has definitely had its good times and definitely some hard times….but don’t we say that every year when it’s coming to a close? Well, I for real mean it this year. This year has challenged me as a person, both physically and emotionally.
Let’s start at the beginning of 2014. We had recently found out that Nick and I were expecting and I was a ball of emotions. But I was already thinking of that unborn baby and not myself anymore -- as my usually deathly-afraid of needles self, received her very first flu shot. Yep. I did it and I didn’t even need to hold any one’s hand….but that was just the beginning of many more needles to come. No one really tells you just how many needles are involved in one pregnancy, but I was soon to find out! And what was really funny about this story, is that my mom was more shocked that I got a flu shot by myself than she was about me being pregnant. I get it. I’m a wimp.
We broke the news to my parents and my brother while we were out to dinner for my dad’s birthday – they were all shocked and excited and they all began to realize why I hadn’t felt well on Christmas. Surprise!
Nick’s parents were thrilled and so were the two aunts (my sister and his) this would be the first grandchild for his parents (no pressure).
We kept the news of my pregnancy on the DL for now….only telling our immediate family at first. When February rolled around and the rate of me having a miscarriage decreased, we decided to let our places of employment in on our secret. My place of employment was happy for me. The boss even told me to let him know if I needed anything and they would, of course, work around my appointments. Phew. What a relief, I thought. But I would come to find out that what I was told….was not exactly the truth. Nick’s employer was thrilled too…and they meant it.
As the weeks rolled on, we became more and more excited about this little bundle of joy….well, excited and scared shitless, really. Was I ready to be a mom? Will I EVER get to sleep in again? How much will this little baby change our lives? We would soon find out.
A routine ultrasound showed something that would be a concern though. Our baby was diagnosed with a single umbilical artery. SAY WHAT?!? I immediately started freaking out and quickly consulted good-ol’ Dr. Google (100 percent a bad idea). The doctor informed me that the least that could happen would be that the baby would be smaller than normal because of the lack of nutrition. I thought, OK, I’ve got this. Fruit smoothies it is! Let’s get this baby some nutrients!
Because of this diagnosis, they branded me a “high-risk” pregnancy….which wasn't exactly a bad thing because we got to see our little man every week and normally, we wouldn't. They monitored both me and the baby closely; me for stress and normal pregnancy stuff, like weight gain blood pressure and him for heart, breathing and growing issues….and the only thing they saw was a minor blockage in his kidney, to which my wonderful doctor explained to me that sometimes, that fixes itself.
Meanwhile, while all of this was going on…an evil plot to get rid of me was brewing at my place of work. Yes, I realize that it is completely illegal to fire a pregnant woman…but guess what?! They did it, when I was 8 ½ months pregnant, and they got away with it too. They told me I would make more money staying home with him than I would if I continued to work there and pay for daycare. EXCUSE ME?
I know what you’re thinking – how the hell could they have gotten away with something like this. Well, you see….the state of Florida has a law that says if you are terminated and believed to have been discriminated against, from a place of employment that has less than 15 employees, you are SHIT OUT OF LUCK. (That’s not verbatim).  I’m sure we can probably thank a Bush for that law….but I digress.
Did they do their research on how to get rid of me without consequence? Most likely. Was this good for my stress level and the baby? Absolutely not. Is this morally right? Hell no, but obviously their business is more important than my feelings. But thank goodness for my wonderful family and support system because shit got real after that happened. The show must go on, right? After all…this baby was coming, whether I was employed or not.
So, August rolled around…they induced me early due to the fact that the last ultra sound showed that he was measuring at around 9 pounds? Wait, I thought he was supposed to be small because of this single umbilical thing? The ultrasound tech and doctor told me that it’s not always accurate. Good? Thanks for the vote of confidence. P.S. – he was that big. He came out weight a whopping 9 pounds, 10 ounces and was 23 inches long. What would have happened if he had TWO arteries in that umbilical cord?!!
Labor was horrible. The epidural was magical until the back labor started. If you have ever had back labor, you know what I’m talking about – it’s a pain that not even the epidural can touch. It was the worst. I tried pushing…a lot…but when the doctor came into check, he noticed that Baby Shaw was face down and that was causing the back labor pain. I had a choice to keep pushing for God knows how long and try to get him to move down into the birth canal…or they could take me into a c-section. They took me in for a c-section and my wonderful doctor, the one who I wanted so badly to deliver my baby, stayed later to do my c-section and I was SO very thankful. His words when he pulled that beautiful baby boy out: “whoa, he’s a big boy – you made a great choice, Brittany!”
On August 28, 2014 at 6:15 p.m. – I officially became a mom. Both scared and sore, I knew that being a mom would be one of the best things that had happened to me. And…I was right.
So, yeah, 2014….you were a bitch and a lover….I had a child, now I’m a mother. (No? OK, I’ll stop now). Pregnancy is tough, losing your job sucks, being pregnant AND losing your job really takes the cake…but when you hold that handsome baby in your arms…you forget it all! I can’t wait to see what 2015 brings – excited for many more adventures with my new family! :)