Tiny Family Reunion/Funeral

It's been a week of sad and happy.

But mostly happy.

Like 96% happy.

Chris' beautiful grandmother past away.

Which is the sad part. But she is happier now without her ailments that she had here on Earth.

Chris' two older brothers (Paul and Marc) came out for the funeral and they were a lot of fun.

We haven't seen them for about a year (almost exactly!)

It was such a fun week being able to spend time with them and visit.

I know Chris was especially excited because...well, they're his older brothers!

And who doesn't adore their older siblings?

Chris and Michael are missing!

I just realized I didn't get any pictures with all of us together!! WHAT!?

I am so bad at remembering to take pictures. (Like I didn't for the 4th of July, boooo.)

Hopefully Paul or Marc did.

Chris' Uncles and Aunts, and long lost cousins once removed (or something) also came down (or up) to Sacramento which was very memorable.

Meeting some of Chris' family that he himself has never even met.

So Saturday we went up to Candida's in laws house to go swimming and that was a blast!

I haven't been swimming since...2012? 

I'm probably just kidding, but there is a chance I'm not...I just can't remember.

Anyway, we BBQ'd and played Zombie Polo, which is like Marco Polo, but when you tag someone they become 'it' with you and you all have to get everyone in the pool. 

It was nice for Chris to have so much fun after a lot of stressful weeks of summer school and lots of work hours.

SERENA LOVED IT TOO!!

She really did, she was like, "Oh my gosh, what is this stuff?"

And I can't imagine being without Chris for a few days SO...

Thank you Laura and Sue for letting us have your husbands for a little bit!!

I'm definitely happy to be a Hamann!

Thanks for reading I love you all!

Sabrina

Working out post growing a baby.

First off, sick baby's is muy mal. Which means not fun.
But she is the cutest sick baby and happiest!

She's had a stuffy nose, and literally a baby cough.
She is such a toughy.
BUT she is all better now!! Thank goodness.

On to working out...
My doctor said that I could start working out at 8 weeks postpartum.

I was so excited!!

When that 8 week mark came

I pulled out my Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred DVD.

I brushed the dust off and put it into the Xbox 360 (which we sometimes use as a DVD player).
I did level 1 aaaaaand it was so hard.

Oh my gosh, you guys, I almost wanted to cry.

I tried my hardest and it was hard!

The next day I couldn't move.

For that next two weeks I was so sore, I was walking around like a penguin with a sunburn.

Don't touch me! Ow ow ow ow.

I really should have taken it slower.

I did a no-no and put my all into that work out after not working out for practically a year!

I should've taken it slow.

Anyway, after those two weeks I got back up on that horse again and worked out like a champion!

I'm on day 30 now and whew! It's such a blast.
And it really works!! My muskles are a little bit bigger.
I'm going to continue to use this video for my work out, but also switch it around a little bit and try other work outs.
I SERIOUSLY THINK YOU NEED TO TRY IT.
What you need:
-20 minutes
-something that can play a DVD
-the 30 day shred DVD (which you can get for $8 on Amazon here)
-hand weights (you can use water bottles, soup cans, etc. Whatever you can find around the house!)

I use 5lb hand weights now, but I used water bottles for a while!
I'm a silly-goof and forgot to do before and after pictures for you, BUT I may do it later.
Just before and after pictures in general, not just for the 30 day shred.
But you can expect that...mmmmm...next year? Haha, so if I do it sooner you'll all be happier!
I know you all look forward to that!

Some times you can find some awesome routines on Pinterest, or you have a video that you swear by (like I do about the shred!)
Do you have a favorite work out video or routine? Tell me about!
I like changing up my workout a lil' bit and I loooove suggestions!

The biggest motivation for me is seeing progress in my body.
I'm like, "Oh! It is making a difference!"

Aaaand I have the cutest work out buddy, but she usually falls asleep in the middle of it.

I love you all!
Sabrina

Just a tiny update

I've come to realize that I enjoy things a lot more better when they aren't work.

Like, if chores were a game or something, my house would sparkle (inside and out), and you would be able to see it from outer space.

I need someone to come over and trick me into thinking chores are games.

You think I'm joking, but I'm sort of not.

I'm super gullible and reverse psychology sometimes works on me. Sometimes.

Wow.
Let me just confess everything to you.

I'm like a villain at the end of a movie or TV show.
You know the one.
They start telling all their secrets before they are about to kill someone because they think they will never get caught, but really they're just stalling themselves until the popo's get there.
What?
1. I'm not going to kill anyone, especially you guys.
2. Am I stalling? I don't think so...but I'm not sure.

I love getting feedback from you guys.
Unless it's bad feedback.
Keep that to yourself, Negative Natalie.
Just kidding, I love all feedback. Mostly.

Enough with the chit chat!

I feel like I really am stalling! I have no idea why!!

Serena is getting so grown up, it's ridiculous. (she's about 3 1/2 months young)
She usually gets up before me in the morning, and she will yell/talk at the ceiling to wake me up.
Then she see's that I'm moving and she'll turn and look at me like this:

"Moooom!! So glad you happen to be awake, I'm starving!"

She seriously gets so excited when she see's I'm awake.

She smiles hugely and kicks her little legs like a jig.

I'm trying to think if anyone has ever gotten that excited about seeing me.

Oh! Duh! All the time! Everyone is always thrilled to see me!

It could have something to do with the little baby I carry around, but who knows? (;

She likes to suck her thumb sometimes.

And it is super. cute.

I'm afraid I'll let her get away with anything and everything.

I forgot to show these guys on Father's Day.

 Aunt D'Veda driving around her nephews, Jack and Liam.
Oh, dear.

WE'RE GOING TO DISNEYLAND!!!
And Universal Studios.
And WB Studios.
And probably the beach.
I haven't been to Disneyland since 2012 and I am itching for my fix.
I haven't been to Universal Studios since 2012 too, but DISNEYLAND.

It's just so fun and adventurous. Look how cool we are!
This picture is from the 2012 Universal Studios trip.
I just couldn't hold it in any longer...
I'm too excited!!

I'll write a blog soon about working out again! (here is it!)
I know you are all excited about that post!
I wish I was brave enough to show you before and after pictures.
One day, maybe.


Thank you for reading, I love you all!

Sabrina

Father's Day!

But first, I'M OBSESSED!!

I can't help it!!

This little girly has become my worldy (whaat?)

For those of you who have not had kids yet; I'm going to sound like a crazy person.

And you're going to be like, "Another parent gone nuts...that'll never be me."

IT WILL!

Because I said the same thing about parents!! (sorry, parents, I did!)

When a mother would tell me how their 3 month old child is singing and talking I'd smile and nod and think to myself, "You crazy. We both know she ain't sayin' no words." (my inner me is African American?)

But little Serena IS talking and singing.

She is such a little gabbler.

Yup.

She gabs like there is no tomorrow.

Just like...you know who. (;

SPEAKING OF DAD'S

On Father's Day, after a wonderful Stake Conference, we three went home and I made Chris' favorite breakfast for lunch.

Biscuits and gravy!!

Then we went over to Jeff's!

Serena just chilled with Grampa Hamann while I "talked" with Chris' overly enthusiastic and energetic brother, Michael. 

He may be Serena's favorite Uncle, just because he is so entertaining to watch! (sorry, other uncles!(;)

Then we headed over to my parents house 

(where Jeff and Michael came later) and like always, partied.

Grampa Haag (Serena wanted to know what was on her thumb.)

Grampa Hamann and Serena!

 Later that night we went over to the "Greats" house.

Serena probably saw more people that day than in her whole life!

We were even out past her bed time, and she was not thrilled.

As you can tell by her face below:

Great Grandpa Haag

Great Grandma Haag (and 2nd  [or 1st cousin once removed] cousin Summer!)

Happy Father's Day to my dad, my other dad who raised my husband, and to the dad of my children.

My two very favorite people! (what a hunk)

Oh! And my two baby sisters came over and played with us!

Aunt D'Veda holding her niece (Serena)

Thank you for reading, I love you all!

Sabrina

Part 3: The Recovery: We did it!

[Here is Part 1: The Labor: I support drugs. and here is Part 2: The Delivery: "Push! Push! You're doing great!" if you need to get all caught up (; ]

Nobody warned me about this part...

Everyone was like, "You are going to have a baby, she's going to come out of your body. Then you get no more sleep, but it'll be okay because it's totally worth it."

And I was like, "Okay, thank you for warning me about that. I will prepare myself." (By taking 18 hour naps. Wooh, that first trimester though.)

For me, the recovery was the hardest part.

It's okay, you guys, I understand why you didn't warn me.
You were being a pal and trying not to scare me out of having a baby.
Oh, wait, I think it's a little to late for that.

No, really, it's fine. I'm not offended.

This goes out to you first time mommy-to-be's (congrats, btw, being a mom is awesome):
The aftermath of having a baby may or may not be a whole lot of ow.

It's different for everyone, I'm sure. So maybe it won't be for you! But just in case.
And then you can thank me afterwards for warning you!

Back to the story...

It was around 7am and it was time to move from the labor & delivery room to our room in the west wing.
The feeling in my left leg was coming around but still numb and my right leg was so very numb.
It wasn't even numb, it was a gummy. It was a Harry Potter gummy worm.

So I will skip over the details where they had to move me from the bed to a wheel chair and then back into a bed with my gummy legs. I don't think I can even remember the details, honestly. I must have been so embarrassed that I blocked it out of my memory.

We were all exhausted.
Having kids is no joke.

No, drugs, come baaack.

I think my face does a pretty good job of explaining everything.
Do I really need to write more??

Okay, I will.

My legs started to get all feely again. Which meant I'd have to get up and use them to head to the bathroom.
The nurse wanted me to call her when I was ready to go potty so that she could help me.
I called this lovely nurse who had sunshine coming off her head. I might've been a little out of it, but this nurse was so incredibly energetic and happy and nice and sweet and informative. And blonde (blonde=sunshine, I guess).
I wanted to take her home (seriously, I did. I was just like, "Come with me if I want to live.")
I felt that if we were under different circumstances that we would be good friends.
BUT under the circumstances I kind of never want to see her again.
She helped me out of my bed, and I hobbled over to the toilet.
I thought that I wouldn't need help to the bathroom until old age, but it came sooner then I expected!

Again, I will skip the details, but basically I felt like my insides were going to fall out. And I've never gone to the bathroom in front of someone like that, but the sunshine nurse (named Shea) was incredibly helpful!
And she just hung out there...I was like, "So why did you want to do this for a living?" and she chuckled. While I peed.

All day Saturday, Chris and I took baby naps when ever the baby napped.
We practiced changing her diaper by actually changing her diaper.
And I wobbled to the bathroom then back to my bed.

They did all these tests, like her hearing test:

She was so good!

Family came to see our new little princess (they certainly weren't there to see rag-muffin-looking me and Chris), and they brought us non-hospital food!

By Sunday morning we were ready to leave the hospital and go home!!
I took a shower and did my hygiene routine. I felt like clean garbage.

One of the nurses were getting ready to wheel me down to our car, and another nurse that had been helping us came by the room and said, "Aww, how cute! You're getting all dressed up to go home!"
I smiled and laughed. Then when she left I laughed more.
Because what she really meant was that I brushed my hair.
That's literally the only thing I did.
I may have brushed my teeth.

I have to admit, I was kind of scared to leave the hospital because it was sort of a crutch for me.
We would go home and have to take care of this little human being all by ourselves like real grown-ups.

It didn't help that the last few weeks of my pregnancy I kept having dreams where I would forget the baby in the car.

We drove home from the hospital like any new parents would.
Wut r we doeen??

Chris took two weeks off of work, and he didn't see the sunlight for two weeks.
We were ground moles. Vampires. Beetles. Other things that don't like the light.
I didn't see the sunlight for about 6 weeks. Maybe 8, who's counting though?

I limped around the house for eight weeks like the old witch lady from the Disney movie Snow White.
And when people came to visit I'd offer them apples. Just kidding, just kidding.
I'd offer them a baby.

(;

It really is fascinating to me and Chris how such a small little person can have so much emotion and personality.

She has a veeery convincing pouty face.

Questions? Comments? Let me know!

Thank you for reading, I love you all!

Sabrina

Part 2: The Delivery: "Push! Push! You're doing great!"

(Again, WARNING: Seriously, for reals: There might be TMI for people who really don't want to know TMI about me. Or TMI in general. TMI=Too Much Information. Like, a baby coming out of privates. Just saying. But if you want to know TMI about me [which I know a lot of you do]...continue on!)

I wanted to punch the doctor and nurses in the face for saying that.
For repeating it over and over again.
The nurse told me that whenever a contractions came along to hold my breath like I was going under water and push.

The nurse also told me to lift my legs up and put them in the foot holding things:
I don't think this nurse has ever had an epidural.
I tried with all my might to lift my legs!
I stared at my legs very hard as I tried to use The Force to move them.
Nothing was happening.
"I'm sorry, I can't move my legs." I told the nurse, and she helped lift my left leg up.
"Chris, do you think you could maybe lift my right leg up? I can't." And that was his work out for the day.
It must be leg day.

Believe it or not, its actually pretty hard.
Pushing a baby out. Of your body.
Even if you can't feel the pain.
It is exhausting.
In one of the pushing moments, I was holding my breath and pushing and they kept saying, "Don't stop! Keeping pushing!" But I could feel that I was running out of breath. It literally felt like I could drown.
I stopped pushing and gasped.
Then I said, "I'm sorry, I couldn't breathe."
I apologized to them, hahaha! I'm sure they got a laugh out of that too...I was too busy having a baby to notice though.
My knees were up in my face and a group of strangers were staring at my crotch.
I felt the complete opposite of glamorous...

But in all honesty, I didn't care that these people were strangers or that my legs were spread wide open for all to see.
I really thought that I would care.
I thought about it for 9 months and imagined myself throwing my gown in between my legs from embarrassment.
But when it came time to push Serena out of my freaking body I didn't care if News10 was in there recording the whole thing.
You lose your sense of privacy after/during having a baby.

I wanted to stop pushing and take a nap. Eat a pop tart. Read a book.
I wanted to do anything but push.
"Her head is crowning!" the doctor said.
That's nice, I thought, But pushing is exhausting and I would really like to take a nap.
The doctors and nurses kept cheering me on, but I just really wanted them to.....shhhh.

Then I heard Chris say, "I can see her head!"
I looked over at him, "Really?!" I asked. Yes, Sabrina, because Chris would joke about this right now.
"Yeah!!"
"Her head?!"
"Yeah!"
"You can see her??!"
"Yes!"
And that did it for me...I wanted to push.
Chris looked so excited to meet his daughter, and if that's not motivating, I don't know what is!
Chris is one heck of a motivational speaker (;
Just hearing it from him made all the difference in the world to me.

The doctor asked me if I wanted to touch her head. Whaaaaat? Nooo gracias.
Then she insisted I touch her head which was coming out of me at this time in my life.
Seriously, she was like, "Touch her head."
And so I touched her head. Which was totally weird.

I just can't express enough how weird it is to touch a head that is coming out of you.

When I reached down to touch her head I could NOT see where my hand was going.
I felt something hairy and quickly pulled my hand back...
I was certain my baby was coming out bald.
Turns out she has a lot of hair!
And the hairy thing I touched was her head!! (Whew!)

Sooo I continued to push and push and push.
It felt like 5 minutes, but it wasn't 5 minutes!
It was 26 minutes (total). Yup. Go ahead and read that again.
Started at 4:03AM all the way to 4:29AM. And all I felt was glorious pressure.

AND THEN we heard the doctor say she was here, but I didn't hear a cry...
"The umbilical cord is wrapped around her neck." the doctor said calmly.
Um, I just...I just felt like this is something that people shouldn't stay calm about.
I looked around the room to see if anyone shared my concern.
Really, I was just looking for someone to panic so that I could panic too.
But Mom, she looked calm.
Nurse? Calm too.
Doctor? More calm than if she were having a spa day.
Other Nurse? Calm as flat ironed hair.
Chris?? He looked at me like, Should I go over there and cut the umbilical cord or something?
Well, if everyone is calm, I guess I could be too. Darn you guys for not letting me panic. But really, thank you.
Seconds later the doctor had cut the cord off her neck and she let out a little tiny squeaky cry.
I looked at Chris. Our daughter!! That's her!!! Whaaaaat?!
And then I thought, We're parents now. For reals.

Goodbye sleep.

The Little Alien

Chris and I were both pretty much in our own little world when one of the nurses said, "Did you want to take pictures??" And Chris was like, "Oh yeah! Almost forgot!"








March 15th, 2014
Serena Lea Hamann 20 1/2 inches, 7lbs 7oz.


So it was over. The nurses and doctor left. I pushed her out and we laid with each other for hours. Nothing different than when she was growing inside me, except that I could see her. Her tiny long fingers. Her tiny little body. She is absolutely beautiful.



And I could feel the epidural wearing off...
Oh, crap.

Read the last part here: Part 3: The Recovery: We did it!
I love you all, thank you for reading and enjoying the experience with me!
If you haven't read Part 1, you can read it by clicking here.

Sabrina, the Mom (officially)

Part 1: The Labor: I support drugs.

(WARNING: There might be TMI for people who really don't want to know TMI about me. Or TMI in general. TMI=Too Much Information. Like, a baby coming out of privates. Just saying. But if you want to know TMI about me [which I know a lot of you do]...continue on!)

1. My Mom was two weeks over due with me.
2. I was a giant headed 10lb 9oz baby.
3. I broke her tail bone.
4. She thinks of me every time she sits down (:

You're like, "Sabrina, how do you know all this? You were just a baby, you can't remember."
Weeeeeeeeell, I have heard the stories non-stop from everyone who was there, literally since I was born.

Now, with this in mind, I think we can safely say that I was a little bit...slightly...nervous. A tiny bit.
Baby Hamann was due March 8th (Saturday), but nothing exciting happened that weekend. So my doctor scheduled me for an induction for that Friday, the 14th.
I had very mixed feelings about going in to be induced. I did want to do it, I didn't want to do it.
I may have cried about it for hours (those hormones, man).
I wanted to go into labor naturally, especially for my first child.
But my fear of pushing out a giant baby really scared me.
I kept my induction scheduled and I felt very unsure of everything...
Until I got to the hospital.

We got there early morning on Friday.
I felt like a little kid full of excitement, holding my pillow like a portable hug as Chris and I sat down while the nurses checked us in.
Everyone seemed so calm, how can they be so calm?? Don't they know what is happening?
They walked us to our room, told us things (that I don't remember), then (my favorite part) taking off all my clothes and getting into that fabulous gown. Gosh, I felt like a princess in that thing! har har

That is a nervous soon-to-be Dad if I ever saw one!

They came in and gave me oxyclean (I can't remember the names of anything) or something to help my contractions along.
(Oh, PS I was already at 3 cm when I went in, but I had been like that for about 2 weeks.)
I was having contractions but not painful ones, and I got to 3.5 cm.
I was at 3.5 cm for a long while, when they decided to break my water since it wasn't breaking on its own.
They broke that, and that hurt. That was weird. So weird. Everything about having babies is just weird.
My contractions started getting stronger and more often. I thought, I may be able to do this naturally!
While I was on a trip back from the bathroom, a very painful contraction came. I stopped walking and said owowowow, and Chris was standing a little bit away and I had the sudden urge to murder him.
Really! I did!
He was going to walk over to me to help me out (because he is the sweetest), but I feared for his safety and told him (maybe yelled at him) to stay there. Because I really wanted to punch him in the mouth and kill him. The contraction stopped and I looked up at Chris with wide eyes, "I need that epidural now!"
I was only at 4 cm!
(Side note: I most likely won't induce again.)

I would say the hardest part about the labor was getting the epidural. But the nurses were right there helping me stay calm and relaxed and then it was over. I didn't get to see the needle, aaaand I didn't want to.

That drug though.

I became numb and I couldn't feel the painful contractions anymore, just wonderful pressure.
Wonderful, wonderful pressure.
And I looked at the ceiling.
And I looked at the walls.
And I looked at Chris.
Everything was wonderful.
I. felt. freaking. fantastic. I.F.F.F #ifff

As you can see below:

This is the boring part:
I napped.
Chris napped.
My Mom came, and she napped.
We all napped. We were just a bunch of happy nappers waiting for a baby.
Chris (left) and Mom (right)






The doctor said at the rate that I was going the baby probably was going to get here in the late morning/early afternoon (Sat. 15th).
I thought, Woohoo! All that sleep!

The nurse would come in every so often to check everything and that would wake me up, and I'd just go back to sleep.

AND THEN the nurse came in and looked at my monitors and quietly said while still staring at the computer, "It's time to push." and then rushed out of the room.
I was a little bit groggy from sleeping and my brain wasn't registering anything.
And then it started registering things.
What!? Where'd you go, you little nurse nurse?? You can't just leave me!
"Chris...Chris. Chris! Chris!!"
"Hm?"
"It's time to push. Wake up my Mom!"

The nurse came back and started doing weird things to my bed and foot things appeared where I could put my feet up. Then she pulled down a light from the ceiling. Where are all these things even coming from??

The nurse said to practice pushing until the doctor got there.
Um, I don't even know what that means, everybody.
I don't know how to practice push, I only know how to real push.
So I started to real push around 4:03AM.
So long, sleep! I will miss you terribly and never get you back.

The doctor arrived and said don't push.
These people are sending me mixed signals.

The doctor puts on her gloves or something and says, "Okay, start pushing whenever you feel a contraction."

Mixed signals, I tell you.
--------------------------

Here is Part 2: The Delivery: "Push! Push! You're doing great!"!!
(Part 3: The Recovery: We did it!)
This post is already too long.

I love you all!

Sabrina