photography by kaveh kardan.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Introducing our lil love!!
:: our birth story ::
oct. 2, 2009. early morning. so tired but i can't sleep. i play my favorite game routine on my iphone - solitaire and mahjong. which usually puts me to sleep after about an hour. but this time, i still can't sleep. my opu feels heavy. my body is achy. i'm missing my love vince keala, who flew to samoa to film the recent devastation of the tsunami and earthquake that hit. good news is that he'll be arriving home today around 6 am. brother keola is sleeping over to keep me company. we were laughing our okoles off earlier, listening to him learn how to play songs and chords on his new kamaka ukulele. i think baby zen was rocking and rolling too!
i get out of bed to do a couple more last minute pelvic tilts and taylor sits ... thinking it would help alleviate my sore and tired muscles. i slowly make my way back into bed. the time is now 2 am. with one slight turn to my left side, i hear a faint "pop" sound and feel a gush of water leak out of me. i calmly walk to the bathroom. the hallway light is on. i yell to keola that my water bag just broke. and think to myself, "just great, the baby who was born in the hallway at home 30 years ago is the person with me when i finally go into labor ... and he didn't even come with me to any of my bradley method birthing classes ... and vince keala better get home in time"!!!! ahhhhhhh!! keola rushes over to see if i'm ok. and frantically asks what he should do. i told him to call mom. who of course doesn't answer her phone. so i have to track her down by waking cousin laurie up and letting her know what's going on.
in the meantime, i call keala's mom as well to let her know i was in labor. she had just taken me to eat aloha salads the night before, and wanted to make sure i was ok. she ended up coming to the house before my mom and sister.
while we were waiting for everyone to arrive, i sat down on the bed to try to relax. more water started gushing out. it felt like an entire gallon of fluids. keola looked a little freaked out. he thought baby zen would arrive any minute now. i told him i was still in the first phase of labor. and we have lots of time still. i tried to stay calm. put on peaceful music and a candle. lay down on my side. started timing my contractions with my new iphone app, which started around 3 am. and were coming pretty quickly, 3-5 min a part!!
i was dreading the car ride down because of all the bumps. luckily there was no traffic because it was still so early. my mom drove. like a speedy gonzalez maniac of course. but we arrived alive nonetheless. :) mom airleen sat in the back. i sat in the passenger seat. tried to focus on my slow rhythmic breathing technique and meditative music that was playing quietly in the background. i told baby zen to wait for daddy!!
we checked into the hospital at 4 am. the people at the emergency room greeted me with a wheel chair and playfully teased me about all the luggage i had. one suitcase for clothes and birthing tools. the other one for pillows!! LOL
the intensity of my contractions were getting stronger and closer. mom, niki, keola and mom airleen were all with me. brother even called dad to let him know i was in labor. dad couldn't sleep. so took the day off and drove down to be with us as well. i must say that even if i didn't intend for that many people to be in the room during delivery, it all worked out. everyone was very helpful, quiet, patient, and mindful of my needs. me and baby zen were surrounded by so much love and light. and we felt truly blessed to have the entire village there with us!
keala arrived right as i was laboring in the spa shower. i was in a lot of pain. mom focused on giving me ice cubes and chapstick. mom airleen massaged my back and feet. sister niki filmed and took pictures. brother and dad gave me their emotional support. even mimi came down to see baby zen, who hadn't arrived yet. so she stayed to see the delivery as well.
at 10 am i was only at 5cm. which means that i was progressing about 1cm/hour. by this time i had already done everything i had wanted to ... which was to try different laboring positions and techniques. and stay hydrated with red raspberry leaf tea and recharge drink. but i was pooped. all i wanted to do now was sleep. rest. and not move.
baby zen was on somewhat of a production schedule "hurry up and wait!" and decided to take his time. he felt warm and cozy. and didn't want to greet us just yet. and although the bradley method classes encourages natural childbirth, and teaches the coaches to reassure us that we can do it, and we are already doing it!! ... i was tired. and was ready for an epidural. i did it natural for 7 hours. and i was done.
everyone supported my decision. and the anesthesiologist came into my room to give me the epidural. within 10 min i was in heaven. it was lovely. i felt like my happy go lucky self again. and i got to sleep. mahalo ke akua. and it's a good thing i took one, because baby zen finally decided to come at 8:20 pm!!! right after i had listened to my previously recorded self-visualization meditations and one hour 15 min of pushing.
the first min of his life seemed like eternity. there was no sound of his cry. his body was limp. because my water bag had broke so early, and due to some of the contractions, it caused his umbilical cord to loosely wrap around his neck like a lei. baby zen also had made a bowel movement right before he was born ... so dr b. and nurses had to suction everything out before allowing him to take his first breath.
the room was quiet. the only sound i could hear was mom airleen saying the "our father prayer," and keala praying in hawaiian to ke akua. finally, after what seemed like forever, baby zen took his first breath, and we heard his first cry. what a miracle and true blessing from God!! mahalo ke akua.
keala brought baby zen to me so i could finally hold him in my arms. the three of us exchanged "ha" - breath of life. it was the most beautiful and perfect moment i have ever experienced. we quietly sang "pupuhinuhinu" in baby zen's ears. who listened contently. surrounded by love and light. and at perfect peace. all is well in our world. and we are truly blessed beyond our fondest dreams.
mahalo ke akua. na aumakua. na kupuna. amene.
*baby zen was born with a unilateral left cleft lip and full cleft palate. about one in 500 babies are born with a cleft in hawaii. actual cause in unknown. what we do know is this: he is a spiritual baby who chose to be born this way. so that he can teach all of us that true beauty comes from within. and it is the heart and soul of a person that truly matters. he has been our greatest teacher thus far. and we are overwhelmed with love + gratitude to have him in our lives. his lip repair surgery is scheduled for jan. 27 at 8am. please send us your loving prayers. his palate surgery will take place when he is around 9 months old. we will be sure to keep all of you posted on his amazing and courageous journey!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
positive affirmations.
- i feel happy, healthy and LOVE being pregnant!
- i am strong, calm and beautiful.
- birth is a wonderful, safe experience.
- i trust my body and my baby, as it knows exactly what to do.
- i am one with the ocean and the currents of life.
it's waves and contractions bring me closer to shore ... and baby ZEN! - my baby is born happy, healthy, strong and normal.
- i am a wonderful makuahine.
my body is safe, even though i may feel afraid.
i am loved and appreciated.
my strength is abundant.
Ke Akua takes care of me.
all of my ancestors surround me with their love.
the more i breathe and feel, the more i allow my body and mind to relax.
with each contraction, i let go to receive my baby!
i open to receive life.
i receive all the love + support i need and deserve.
my baby is born perfect, whole and complete.
mahalo nui. amene.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
chanelle + vince = ZEN :: slideshow :: part 2
a very special mahalo to: jeannette + eric . robyn . dona + tara . pancipanci + hailey . malie . caleb . mark . niki . aloha inflatables . our beautiful mothers (aka baby ZEN'S grandmas) . and all of our friends who celebrated with us, and made our day extra special!! cheers + hugs!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
ohana :: baby shower!
mahalo nui loa to grandma airleen + gma,
daddy, great emma, mimi + tio, the vega ohana
aunty merrie, aunty hallie, aunty georgette,
aunty sybil + jennifer, aunty kiilani,
aloha inflatables and to all of YOU for celebrating with us!!
our baby registry.
we are registered at the following locations:
target
baby awareness (manoa)
kahala kids (kahala mall)
cupcake boutique (ward)
the growing nest (ward)
babies"r"us (pearl city, opening sept 8, '09)
bundles of aloha (kapolei shopping center)
and gift cards are always great!
we look forward to celebrating with all of you!!
with love and gratitude,
the kukona + lucero 'ohana!
beautiful inside.
"If there is light in the soul,
there will be beauty in the person.
If there is beauty in the person,
there will be harmony in the house.
If there is harmony in the house,
there will be order in the nation.
If there is order in the nation,
there will be peace in the world."
- Chinese Proverb
Friday, July 24, 2009
beautiful floral paper bouquet ::
by LeiChartru.etsy.com
custom floral design + photos by, Lei Chartru.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
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