Melinda's Birth Story

May 30, 2013

I planned to go visit my dear friend, Dannii, in the afternoon before my 37 weeks check up appointment at 4:00pm. I got a call from my doctor telling me my appointment needed to be pushed to 5:30pm because she had to deliver a baby so I decided to wait for Jonathan to come home from school and go to Dannii's with me so I wouldn't have to go alone. Jonathan got home and we left for Dannii's. We spent some time at Dannii's and joked about how funny it would be if my doctor told me I would have to have my baby today.

We left for the hospital and had to wait for another hour cause my doctor still was in the OR. We got in her office and she saw my stomach and asked if I was having contractions because it seemed pretty hard. I told her 'Yes! Just Braxton Hicks. I've been having them lately.' She decided to perform pelvic examination first before doing ultrasound. Right when she put her finger in she sighed and then said 'What is with you people?! Why is everyone giving birth today?! You are 3 cm. dilated. You are having your baby tonight . . . or tomorrow.' Hmm. . .what?! It took us awhile to register the news.

I was admitted and sent to delivery room. The contractions were still mild after 4 and a half hours my doctor checked me again and I was just 4 cm. dilated so she sent me to my room in the ward. 

Delivery room first attempt! 

I couldn't get any sleep. I wondered how long it's gonna take until I get to see my baby. The contractions were getting milder and milder and even stopped at one point. It was very discouraging. I didn't wanna be sent home without the baby in the morning. I looked up online on how to speed up labor and stuff. Jonathan even gave me some foot massage that's supposed to help with labor. I prayed and prayed. I never prayed so much in my life like that before. I really wanted to see my sweet Melinda.

May 31, 2013

6 o'clock in the morning the nurse came in to check on me and my contractions were still mild. I thought for sure I would be sent home. It was just too much to handle at the moment. I started to pray again and again. 7 o'clock I took a shower and then had my breakfast. Jonathan and I said our prayer together asking for comfort and courage. Right after the prayer was done I started to feel my contractions again and they weren't so mild! I was sent back to the delivery room.

My doctor came in and checked me out again. By 8:30 am I was still at 4 cm. dilated but my contractions started to get pretty strong. 8:45am my water B R O K E and oh my! I could finally breathe while lying on my back!! 

My contractions started to get stronger and stronger. The nurse said Meli should be here in the afternoon. Jonathan was right there by my side the whole time. At noon my doctor checked on me again and I was only 5 cm. dilated. It was really frustrating! I was really upset cause I knew it mean I could have to been in labor for another 5 hours or so. 

The nurse came in to make sure I still wanna do this without epidural like I told her earlier. I stayed strong and confirmed my will to do this natural. Truth be told, they kept saying that she could also be here anytime and epidural would cost over $320 for 2 hours. It was hard to set my head straight due to the pain and everything but above all I knew I just want my baby to be here already.

The pain was getting worse, really bad that I might have yell at the sweet and amazing Jonathan for couple times. I started to moan . . . and moan a lot. I remembered asking Jonathan and every nurse that came in when I can start pushing even though it didn't really feel like pushing yet but I was just in so much pain. 

1 pm. my doctor came in and checked me again and she exclaimed with excitement that I was all the way opened and should start pushing now when I feel the contractions. The dynamic of the room changed all of sudden. Everyone was running around preparing stuff. Jonathan started to tell me to push and I started to feel she was coming. 

I pushed and pushed for almost half hour. It really hurt but I could feel that I was so close to see my baby. I kept repeating in my mind while pushing 'Come on Melinda! We can do this!!' over and over. Then Jonathan exclaimed 'Mink! Keep pushing!! I can see her head!! She has HAIR!!!' I pushed one more and I felt her head coming out of me. Jonathan kept cheering me on. It was already tiring but I knew I couldn't stop. I pushed more and I felt her shoulders. That really hurt!! I remembered yelling 'oh gosh it hurts!!' with that push then I pushed more and I could feel the rest of her body coming out. It felt like pushing a sack of oranges. Then I heard Jonathan said 'Mink, she is here. Melinda is here.' (yes, he cried!)

They put her on my stomach while cleaning her. I remembered the first time seeing my daughter. She was white and has the brightest small lips and she looked right at me. 

When I first saw my Melinda.

They took her out for cleaning up more and measuring and stuff. Nothing really hurt after that even I was torn and had to have some stitches. I was waiting for them to bring in my baby.

Jonathan walked in with Melinda in his arm. I got to hold my baby girl for the first time. It felt like I already knew her although I still couldn't wrap my head around that she really is mine. My beautiful 6 pounds 8 ounces baby girl.  

We took couple pictures together and Jonathan left with the pediatrician and nurse to take Melinda to the nursery. I was laying down in the delivery room still while my doctor giving me stitches and complimenting me at how good I was at doing this all natural and even for the first time. She and the nurses also couldn't stop telling me how beautiful my daughter was and how she looked just like her daddy. My doctor also said that if I carried full term 40 weeks she wouldn't let me give birth natural. Apparently Meli was pretty big considering being born at 37 weeks. 

First time holding my baby girl.

First 'FAMILY' photo! =)

Melinda - less than an hour old in nursery.

Isn't she lovely? Ah, my heart is melt!!

Half an hour gone by and Jonathan came back to delivery room. I had to stay there for another 2 hours. It was really difficult cause I really wanted to go to my room and I want to spend more time with my baby. The nurses told me to try to get some rest; I wondered if they understood that I just had a baby!! 

4 pm they finally moved me up to my room in the other bed. My parents were already there in the room (surprise!). Couple minute later the nurse from nursery brought in my sweet little girl. I got a chance to hold her again. She was even more beautiful than I first held her . . . and looked even more like Jonathan. 

Second time holding my Melinda. 

Proud Daddy!! 

Our Story

So I've wanted to start posting stuff on our blog but just did not know what I should post. Like I'm not pregnant, we aren't really doing anything special. . .so I come up with this - hey why don't I just let people know a little bit more about 'US'?!

So here we go -  It's probably gonna be long so feel free to skip. . .I don't mind.

J and I met at church (yep, it's pretty typical) in 2010. It was a special fireside with Sister Elaine Dalton who was and still is the General Young Women President. The fireside was awesome and made one of the biggest impacts in my life. Well, I'll blog about that later on? Anyway, so yeah we were both there. After the fireside I ran to his mom, Suzanne who is one of my favorite people in the world and then there was a fine young man standing next to her.

Sister Dalton at the fireside in August 2010

Let me tell you a little bit about Suzanne. She is a people person. Everyone loves her and getting your picture taken with her and making it your Facebook profile picture tends to be something you must do when you see her. So by that I mean I had to wait for her to be done with other people so I can make my way to her. 

These are other people's Facebook profile pictures. . .I know right?!

Back to the story,  right when I got to Suzanne, after a few greeting this young man next to her said such a terrible thing - "Mom, can we go home now?" and so they left. You probably know by now if that ours is the love at first sight kind - NOT! 

Life went on and almost a year after we first met, I moved out from my mother's and got a job in downtown Bangkok. I lived with my cousin, Dream, at her apartment which was not far from The Mackley's. I was SO excited to work my first job (no, it didn't turn out well) and knowing that I will be hanging out with Suzanne more often. 

The second day of my life downtown was pretty exciting. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. =) I had a job interview in the afternoon so Suzanne and I went for a walk in the morning and we headed out for lunch after that. Suzanne mentioned Jonathan would come along for lunch since he was on school break. I was fine and so we met again.

It definitely was different this time. He somewhat had such charm and hmm. . .kinda cute. So we had lunch and talked and talked even more. After lunch Suzanne had to run so she left. I happened to get turned down for the interview that day so I was free with no key to my apartment. . .

Couple minutes later I found myself chatting with Jonathan about books and stuff in a bookstore and gee! he was even getting cuter! And while we were looking at books this thing came up

J : So you like watching movies?
Me : Yeah.
J : Wanna go see movie with me sometime next week? 
Me : Sure. . .

Oh crap! Did he just ask me out? More over did I just say sure? Well, yeah I did and I'm now glad I did. =)

The bookstore we went to.

After the bookstore I found myself was on an 'unofficial first date' with him. For real! We went to a cake place and oh goodness! It was great! And I went to his place after that for a movie. No worries his mother was home by then. 

So we watched a movie (I fell asleep). And I stayed over there till dinner. And I officially met his dad. He was having a fantastic day! ;)

Basically, I was with Jonathan until 9pm. And when I got home I remembered telling my cousin "I think Jonathan Mackley just asked me out on a date!" and she simply replied "I thought you had a job interview."

Here came the next Monday. We went on a movie date that we weren't sure at first if it was a date until later. 

Somewhat I just wanted to spend more time with him. We kinda hung out almost everyday after that. So after a week of hanging out together I went to his ward on Sunday and spent time at his place after church. On my way home he walked me to the train station, in the elevator, he just suddenly KISSED me. And that was our first kiss. . .man, that was fast! Apparently I'm his first kiss (that explains why it was fast, doesn't it? ;)).

And he asked me to be his girlfriend afterward.

1st Month Anniversary. . .HE survived!

After about 9 months of dating it was about time that he knew that I'm the love of his life and life would be too boring without me so he POPPED THE QUESTION!

Yeah, that's our 'cause he likes it, then he puts a ring on it' picture!

It was at the bookstore where he first asked me out and of course I said yes. - No, I didn't say sure this time.

Our friends were there. . .nope, I had no idea.

How would you know that taking pictures in a bookstore is forbidden?! 

Security : "No picture! No Picture!" 

About 2 months later we went to his home in California. Suzanne and Craig (I don't actually call them that, Suzanne is Sister Mackley and Craig is Supercool to  me) actually moved back home. I took out my endowments in the Oakland Temple and was getting ready to marry my best friend.

Some of our engagement pictures 

Some more with us in Thai traditional dress

Melissa and Matt were there at the temple when I took out my endowments! 

May 8, 2012 our ETERNITY began! We were sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. It was the best day of our lives and we have never been happier!

Our temple announcement. . .(yes, I made it!)

"Mr. & Mrs. Mackley" Married hi-5 in front of the temple. =)

The Mackleys! 

Us and the kids! Well, yes, we do have the CUTEST nieces and nephews!

'Wai' pose AKA traditional wedding picture of TBM sisters

In front of Joseph Smith Memorial Building - the only picture of us we have from our photographer for now!

The newest Mrs. Mackley! ;)

Next morning we left for our honeymoon at the happiest place on earth. Yes, Disneyland! Yes, one of the reasons why I married him! Disneyland was amazing as I thought it would be but even more special when you got those Mickey + Minnie newlywed top hats and you could not get away anywhere in the park without people saying 'congratulations' !!

PDA is allowed once you're on honeymoon!

Waiting for the parade. . .nothing to do. . .hmm let's take a kissy picture!

J's face is so priceless!!

 We have been married for a month-ish. To me I don't have those 'my prince finally came crap'. It's  probably because the way I look at things. I have no fantasy world period! I never imagine myself being a princess and I hated playing with Barbies when I was young. So to me Jonathan is just a cool dude who steps in my life and loves me for who I am. The best things about married in my opinion is to know that there is no more good bye. And no matter how hard/bad your days seem to get you can always come home to each other and it's always the best part of the day. I love knowing that someone is willing to be stuck with me FOREVER, knowing he will always be there along this journey warms my heart. I look forward to eternity with him and he better be too! ;)

And so ETERNITY has began. . . <3

If you're still reading. . .dude, you either are our big fan or a big creepy stalker!
But thanks anyway!