Category: Oddinary Life

Hummingbirds and Flip Flops

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I’ll start this off saying grief is a strange, strange thing. There are good days, there are bad days, there are days where you feel lost, hopeless and the tears won’t stop falling, there are days were you feel like you have got it all under control and are on top of the world. There are also days where little things remind you of what once was. So with that being said…I got my mom hooked on Haviannas flip flops (they are literally the best!) I have always been a hoarder of every color flip flops and sandals imaginable…good thing I finally got out of Washington…but now my closet has a lot of boots that don’t really fit in here! Anywho, so my mom only like them after they were broken in, I mean who doesn’t? New shoes always fit weird, give you blisters all the things. So whenever she would want or need a new pair she would buy me a new pair and ask for my old ones or have me wear new ones and give them to her. That was just the relationship we had, she was my best friend. 

So the other day I looking online to order some for just going in the backyard that I didn’t mind if they got dirty, dusty, all the things. And my son goes into my closet and pulls some Haviannas out of my closet, its like he knew somehow (he is only 2) The rest of that day my mom (I wrote a blog post a few months ago called The Hummingbird Amongst) she comes back to visit in the form of a hummingbird stopped by not just once but 5 different times. I don’t know exactly what happens after we leave this current present state, but it is so nice to feel her presence and even though Anchor never had the chance to meet her, I know he still connects with her. ❤ 

At some point in the near future I’ll sit down and write out my last encounter with the medium and connecting with her. I’m not quiet ready, but it is a story that is too good not to share.

x0_meagen lea

Magnolia Lea’s Birth Story

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Magnolia Lea-June 5th, 2021 9:44pm

Contractions started on May 19th. Scotty had accepted the position at Walmart that Monday the 17th and had to take a drug test. Anchor and I were sitting in the car in the parking lot while he went into complete it and the contractions were super intense. I had thought Magnolia was going to be born on the Full Super Blood Moon called the Flower Moon on May 26th so when this happened I thought wow this could be! We tried every wives tail in the book leading up to the full moon on May 26th including Eggplant Parmesan using the Eggplant Babies recipe, but nope! May 26th was not going to be the day. Contractions continued to be regular especially after going for walks around the neighborhood, they definitely increased once I hit that 1 mile mark. But June 5th (Magnolia’s due date) at 3:33am I knew she was going to make her debut. Contractions started (very mild) at 3:33am and where a consistent 20 minutes apart. We had just gone live on our home to sell on June 2nd and had our first open house scheduled for June 5th and 6th. We had to be out of the house early so the open house could take place for the day on June 5th so our original plan was to go to the RV which was parked at the Fall City Airport and hang out there until the last appointment at 5pm was done. So we got up got ready and loaded up to head there. The contractions were still consistent at 20 minutes apart but super mild. When we got set up in the RV I laid down for about an hour and that’s when they started to fizzle out, so we decided to go for a walk around the Spring Glen neighborhood and they started to pick up again.

We were in such tight quarters with everyone in the RV and lots of distractions (not calm enough for me to focus on laboring) so Scotty booked two hotel rooms in Issaquah by the Issaquah Target. So we loaded up again and headed there. On the way the contractions started to get more intense. Anchor and Cinda were all situation in one room, and Scotty and I went down the hall to another room. When we got there I told our doula Willow maybe she should head our way. This was at about 11:45am. I also reached out to our midwife Chris to let her know this could be it. I paced back and forth in the room trying to keep them going (walking seemed to be the thing) then we walked around Issaquah for an hour or so and they continued to stay consistent and progress. With all of the chaos Anchor wasn’t able to take a nap, everyone was tired so we decided after the 5pm showing we would go home and then go back to the hotel the next day. So we headed back home at 4:45pm and that is when they really started to get intense. Once we got home they were longer and super intense to the point of taking my breath away. We called Chris and were on the phone with her for 20 minutes while she listened thru contractions and said I am ready when you are. And said as soon as Anchor goes to bed I bet you will be on your way to the birth center….sure enough. As soon as Anchor fell asleep they were just a couple minutes apart and super intense, coming quicker and quicker and back to back. So we got in the car and headed to the birth center.

When we got there the first words Chris our midwife said was “you are too smiley to be in labor” but once that first contraction hit while at the birth center she knew it was time! My dad showed up and listened to Magnolias heartbeat and sat there thru a few contractions as they filled up the bathtub. We had arrived at the birth center at about 7:45pm. Chris checked my progress and I was 9cm and 100% effaced.

Once I got in the tub the contractions eased up a little bit so I switched positions and instantly it was time to start pushing. My water hadn’t broke yet, but it was right there. After pushing for about 30-45 minutes my water broke and not even 5 minutes later Magnolia Lea entered the world at 9:44pm weighing 8 pounds 1 ounce and 21 inches long. Absolutely perfect and such a magical amazing birth experience!

x0_meagen lea

Postpartum and “Bouncing Back”

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No one tells you the reality of pregnancy, and no one tells you what really happens after the pregnancy glow wears off! To put it nicely, it’s a bit of a shock. I thought after I gave birth I would get my pre-pregnancy body back, I would instantly drop all the weight I gained. I would be able to fit into my pre-pregnancy clothes again and be back to my “normal” weight. I guess there is something to be said about it takes 9 months to gain and 9 months to lose it…which is a little disheartening and brutal to come to the realization of. So here I am 6 months into my postpartum journey and still have 10 pounds to loose. This journey has been eye opening and has been a constant learning experience with major ups and downs with my weight, emotions, and everything in between. Going through all of this, I have learned you have to give yourself grace. I have to keep reminding myself, my body was able to bring a life into this world, completely unmedicated in the most natural way possible. 

I started walking again at about 1 week postpartum and gradually made that my daily routine working back into it, I started working out again at 6 weeks, and really went in at week 7 with a weightlifting program. I gained a little weight due to muscle (I couldn’t do a push-up, or a sit up to save my life!) I had no idea how much muscle I had truly lost while being pregnant! Throughout my entire pregnancy I tried my best to stay active, I did a few workout programs up until about 6 months and then walking was about all my body could handle. I knew I lost some of my muscle mass, but man that was rough! After completing a 7 week program and not seeing any weight loss I felt so discouraged, even know I knew it was all muscle and my clothes started to fit better. I think society puts so much pressure on the number on the scale, or the size or number associated with our clothes that we loose focus of the true reason behind working out which for me is to feel good, feel my best, feel confident in my body. 

Another thing no one mentions in the postpartum journey is hormones! So, along this journey it has consisted of many trials and errors! Adding and eliminating things. Although, I am not at my goal weight or my pre-pregnancy weight, my body grew a human a healthy happy human and that is truly all that matters at the end of the day. 

No pregnancy journey is the same, no birth journey is the same, no postpartum journey is the same, everyone’s experience is different,  and sometimes you have to take a step back and say wow, look at what my body created and grew for 9 months! Yes, I am still 10 pounds away from my goal, but at this point in time, my body is stronger than ever, and I know in a few more weeks, I will be in the best shape of my life since I committed to me! So, at the end of the day, stop comparing, stop trying to be someone, or something you aren’t and just be you! And truly that goes for so much more in life than pregnancy. Do it for you, no one else.