So, last year some time we decided 2011 would be the time to have another baby. I looked at our insurance plan and my work schedule and desire to be off for the holidays (wink wink) and decided November would be ideal. I then considered the science and did the math and badda-boom-badda-bang! A November baby we shall have. Now I have to admit I carry a bit of pride about this whole "planning" thing. I have (more than once) proclaimed "My science is infallible!" In case you don't really know me, yes I really am THAT nerdy!
We were so excited when the test was positive! We came up with a great plan to reveal the pregnancy at Koribella's birthday party. We dreamed of reactions and how fun and happy everyone would be. It was hard to not tell everyone I saw, but it would be worth the wait. Oh sweet joy! And then . . .dun-dun-dun . . . reality hit. And by reality I mean nausea and fatigue, and by hit I mean like a ton a bricks falling on my head every day and then permanently attaching themselves to my heels all day long. All this with a toddler in tow and Terry working unpredictable hours. The perfect storm.
We found out at 5 weeks, then I became the walking dead around 6 weeks. We weren't planning on telling everyone until 10 weeks. Just four weeks, right. By then end of the 7th week I was willing to tell ANYone! We decided to wait until the first appointment when we had our ultrasound at 8 weeks. We would know the baby was OK and the heartbeat was good then we could broadcast it and people would stop asking me why I look so bad. So much for that perfectly fun plan.
I am not saying my nausea and fatigue is worse than anyone else's, and really I don't want you to commiserate with me if you had really bad problems with this. Here is my deal - I don't DO nausea. I NEVER puke! I haven't puked in 8 years! Yes I said YEARS! Not a typo. I DON'T puke. Michelle, if you are reading this, if I puked as much as you did with Elliott when I was pregnant with Koribella, I would have had my tubes tied! And if Terry wanted more babies he would need to adopt or carry them himself. I am not even kidding. So I don't puke, I am just nauseous - all the time. Well except when I am stuffing my face, but even last night I couldn't finish my food because looking at Terry's meal made me nauseated. Some moron BLEW HIS SCHNOZ in the restaurant, opened it up and looked at it, and then put his handkerchief back in his pocket while I was waiting on my food. If I were a person with a less intestinal fortitude I would have lost my mostly digested lunch. As it is, I just sat swooning with nausea not believing my ears or eyes.
Funny how people keep saying, "I bet you are having a boy since you are more nauseous with this baby than Koribella." Well if that is the case - TAKE HIM BACK! I'd rather have a girl than deal with this mess. When I was in labor with KB, I had no pain meds for all but one hour. I was in a LOT of pain, but I kept calm and collected, I never got angry or yelled at Terry. I just took it all in stride. I was OK with pain. With this pregnancy, I have even been thinking bad thoughts such as "I hate you Terry, you did this to me!" and other such nonsense like that. He got a stomach bug last week and was all mopey and crap. "I feel so sick" he whines. "I just can't go to work" he whines. Really?! I wanted to punch him! I know it's wrong. That's how I feel EVERY day, and you can't even put eggs on to boil?! (Don't worry, he boiled the eggs, but only after he slowly walked in there and went to the restroom.)
Speaking of Terry he has been wonderful through all of this. I assure you I am not too pleasant to be around, but after almost ten years he knows how to handle me. Others have been incredibly understanding and helpful too, thanks to everyone. Koribella is the one suffering the most. Before baby, I would bring her home from school, make dinner, play together, take a bath, and then get her ready for bed. Now she is lucky if she gets something besides a bowl of cereal for dinner and we spend most of the evening in the recliner; her watching a movie while I nap. Poor baby! She often climbs down and runs around the house terrorizing, I mean playing with Libby the poodle.
All in all, Pregnancy 2.0 has a few bugs that need to be worked out. Hopefully after the beta testing of 12 weeks are up the two worst bugs will be over and we can get on to having some fun and enjoying being pregnant. Right now, I feel like I am so ready for this pregnancy to be over and to have the baby in my arms. But the other part of me realizes it will be even more challenging to take care of a newborn with a toddler running around. I think I can wait a few more months for that. For now I will spend my time cuddling up with my hubby and my little angel. I am so blessed.
Showing posts with label babies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label babies. Show all posts
4.23.2011
8.21.2010
Birh Story Part 4
I was relieved that morning had come. At least I wasn't expected to be sleeping. The contractions were coming pretty regularly and I felt like I had made progress through the night. Well, I hoped I had made progress what with all the cramping and such that kept me in a fitful sleep all night long. Although they told me I could eat (clear liquids, yum!) all I could manage was a couple bites of jello. I had no appetite.
When the nurse checked me, I was at a 1 or so. I begged them to let me walk around and contract on my own - no pitosin! Since I was having contractions, they agreed. So Terry and I began to walk up and down the halls. I remember Jennifer and Kevin joining us for some of the walking. I don't remember how long I walked. Honestly, by this point I had pretty much stopped watching the clock. I had no shortage of "supporters" that I remember clearly. My room was something akin to Grand Central Station at 4pm on a Friday afternoon. I won't names because I would forget someone and they would get their feelings hurt (assuming they ever bothered to read this blog - which is a BIG assumption). When I went back to the room and labored the TV blared and Jennifer was screaming at the political person on the TV and ranting about her conflicting political views. My husband in his infinite wisdom (no sarcasm) turned off the television. Ahhhhhh. Sorry Jen, I don't mind your political views, just not when I am in labor.
People began to talk around me as if I wasn't there. Maybe it was because, in a way, I wasn't. I had retreated into myself. I wasn't talking except to ask to be moved to the labor suite where there was a big tub. I just wanted to get in the water! After what seemed like HOURS, a suite opened up and they agreed to move me to it. I walked down the hall to the suite, by this point I was so turned around. I really didn't know where we were - which is completely unlike me. They just had to check me before I could get into the tub. Geez! Luckily all the guys stayed outside the room until I got settled. I don't remember where I was when they checked me - maybe a 3? It was around noon-ish, maybe. Again, I wasn't really watching the clock. I crawled into the tub and Terry sat behind me on the wonderful birth coach perch (a seat behind the tub where he could put his feet in the water and reach my shoulders but wasn't actually in the tub with me. He was wonderful, by the way. He was with me the whole time! I didn't eat all day, I am not sure if he did either. I need to ask. But I digress.
Once I got in the tub, my fan club filed into the room and set up camp playing cards or something on the table in the room. There was a couch, a couple chairs, a table with chairs, and maybe some other seating so I had room for a crowd, and really - I didn't care. I didn't realize it at the time, but the nurse snuck in and attached the pitosin to my IV while I was in the tub - sneaky! In retrospect, that irritates me - a LOT. But whatever! I was in and out (to go pee) of the tub for a very long time. Finally they told me I had to get out - so I did. When I came out into the room, all the men had vacated, thankfully, and the women were left. They put the baby monitor on me and wanted me to lie in bed, but I was in a lot of pain. Being in bed was so bad! The contractions were non-stop. They kept increasing the pitosin - the EVIL pitosin!
I asked for the birthing ball and sat on that for a while with Terry behind me rubbing my back. Funniest part of my labor story. As I am sitting on the ball leaning forward on the bed with my backside exposed, the door to my room opens. A man and a woman I don't know are standing there dumbfounded. "Uh, I guess they moved her." She says as they stand and stare at me as I glare back at them. Really? How many people just wander into labor rooms without knocking??!! Fortunately, Terry was modest for me and was covering my business "just in case". He is a really great guy.
After the birthing ball I moved to the bed. The contractions were worse than ever. I was holding on to my clinging cross (best gift ever for labor). I had my helpers there too, Mom, Jennifer, and Lana. At one point they were watching the contraction monitor. Everytime I was building a contraction, they would say, "Here comes a big one" or "that wasn't very big" or something else annoying. Finally, I couldn't take it any longer, "I don't need a play-by-play" was all it took and they respectfully stopped. I also remember Jennifer sitting on my bed talking to Misty (cousin) giving her updates.
In any case, I knew I wasn't going to have any strength left to push the baby out when the time came if things continued on this track. I asked someone to call the nurse and get me a little something to take the edge off.
And then I waited . . .
and waited . . .
and waited.
No really, I waited. I promise. I was so patient, then I was less patient. I made them call again. Finally she showed. Apologizing because she was helping some other woman deliver - lucky heffer, wish I was delivering - just give me the shot! But I was nice, no really, I was nice. She gave me an hour's worth of Stadol to see how I would react to it. At this point I was able to rest between contractions. And by rest I mean completely fall asleep for 1 minute at a time until the next spasm began.
I could tell when the end of the hour was nearing. No, I wasn't looking at the clock, I could feel the pain more intensely. I told them they would have to get the nurse to get more meds, but they had to check me first - ugh! Whatever! I had been poked and prodded so much by this time it was no big deal. The midwife checked and said I was a 8-9 - a WHAT? If I let her break my water then I would probably be at a 10 or close.
When the nurse checked me, I was at a 1 or so. I begged them to let me walk around and contract on my own - no pitosin! Since I was having contractions, they agreed. So Terry and I began to walk up and down the halls. I remember Jennifer and Kevin joining us for some of the walking. I don't remember how long I walked. Honestly, by this point I had pretty much stopped watching the clock. I had no shortage of "supporters" that I remember clearly. My room was something akin to Grand Central Station at 4pm on a Friday afternoon. I won't names because I would forget someone and they would get their feelings hurt (assuming they ever bothered to read this blog - which is a BIG assumption). When I went back to the room and labored the TV blared and Jennifer was screaming at the political person on the TV and ranting about her conflicting political views. My husband in his infinite wisdom (no sarcasm) turned off the television. Ahhhhhh. Sorry Jen, I don't mind your political views, just not when I am in labor.
People began to talk around me as if I wasn't there. Maybe it was because, in a way, I wasn't. I had retreated into myself. I wasn't talking except to ask to be moved to the labor suite where there was a big tub. I just wanted to get in the water! After what seemed like HOURS, a suite opened up and they agreed to move me to it. I walked down the hall to the suite, by this point I was so turned around. I really didn't know where we were - which is completely unlike me. They just had to check me before I could get into the tub. Geez! Luckily all the guys stayed outside the room until I got settled. I don't remember where I was when they checked me - maybe a 3? It was around noon-ish, maybe. Again, I wasn't really watching the clock. I crawled into the tub and Terry sat behind me on the wonderful birth coach perch (a seat behind the tub where he could put his feet in the water and reach my shoulders but wasn't actually in the tub with me. He was wonderful, by the way. He was with me the whole time! I didn't eat all day, I am not sure if he did either. I need to ask. But I digress.
Once I got in the tub, my fan club filed into the room and set up camp playing cards or something on the table in the room. There was a couch, a couple chairs, a table with chairs, and maybe some other seating so I had room for a crowd, and really - I didn't care. I didn't realize it at the time, but the nurse snuck in and attached the pitosin to my IV while I was in the tub - sneaky! In retrospect, that irritates me - a LOT. But whatever! I was in and out (to go pee) of the tub for a very long time. Finally they told me I had to get out - so I did. When I came out into the room, all the men had vacated, thankfully, and the women were left. They put the baby monitor on me and wanted me to lie in bed, but I was in a lot of pain. Being in bed was so bad! The contractions were non-stop. They kept increasing the pitosin - the EVIL pitosin!
I asked for the birthing ball and sat on that for a while with Terry behind me rubbing my back. Funniest part of my labor story. As I am sitting on the ball leaning forward on the bed with my backside exposed, the door to my room opens. A man and a woman I don't know are standing there dumbfounded. "Uh, I guess they moved her." She says as they stand and stare at me as I glare back at them. Really? How many people just wander into labor rooms without knocking??!! Fortunately, Terry was modest for me and was covering my business "just in case". He is a really great guy.
After the birthing ball I moved to the bed. The contractions were worse than ever. I was holding on to my clinging cross (best gift ever for labor). I had my helpers there too, Mom, Jennifer, and Lana. At one point they were watching the contraction monitor. Everytime I was building a contraction, they would say, "Here comes a big one" or "that wasn't very big" or something else annoying. Finally, I couldn't take it any longer, "I don't need a play-by-play" was all it took and they respectfully stopped. I also remember Jennifer sitting on my bed talking to Misty (cousin) giving her updates.
In any case, I knew I wasn't going to have any strength left to push the baby out when the time came if things continued on this track. I asked someone to call the nurse and get me a little something to take the edge off.
And then I waited . . .
and waited . . .
and waited.
No really, I waited. I promise. I was so patient, then I was less patient. I made them call again. Finally she showed. Apologizing because she was helping some other woman deliver - lucky heffer, wish I was delivering - just give me the shot! But I was nice, no really, I was nice. She gave me an hour's worth of Stadol to see how I would react to it. At this point I was able to rest between contractions. And by rest I mean completely fall asleep for 1 minute at a time until the next spasm began.
I could tell when the end of the hour was nearing. No, I wasn't looking at the clock, I could feel the pain more intensely. I told them they would have to get the nurse to get more meds, but they had to check me first - ugh! Whatever! I had been poked and prodded so much by this time it was no big deal. The midwife checked and said I was a 8-9 - a WHAT? If I let her break my water then I would probably be at a 10 or close.
Cloth Diapers Revisited - One Year Later
Well I haven't posted about this in a while. But I thought I should do a follow-up to my original post now that I have some hands on experience with the subject. A year into cloth diapering and I can honestly say, I LOVE cloth diapers. Here are a few reasons why:
1. They are so cute! I don't have enough pictures of KB in her diapers (we usually keep her clothed), but I promise they are way cuter than disposables! They don't sag and look nasty.
2. We are saving money! I haven't tried to figure up the savings and we do still have to buy disposables for day care, but I know it is a lot less than what we would spend for disposables all the time. In fact since we have to buy the sensitive skin type disposables and we can't buy cheapo diapers due to KB getting a bad rash with those, disposables are tres expensive.
3. Very few rashes! The only rash she got was because of putting her in non-sensitive disposables and it took FORever to heal. We finally healed it up by using wool covers - breatheability is key!
4. Washing isn't that bad. The smell is no where near the horrible smell of disposables! The diaper sprayer on the toilet is handy for many things, but spraying out poopies is the number one job right now and it does it's job well.
5. Less leaks and blowouts. KB's clothes rarely ever get substance on them and the only time she ever peed through her diaper was when she was in a disposable.
6. I feel like I am doing a good thing for my child and the environment.
Some things I have learned:
1. Prefolds and covers are most economical and easiest to wash/dry and work GREAT for around the house. These are our go-to during the day.
2. It is nice to have all-in-one's or pockets to take out with us because they take up less room and only require one step to put on/take off.
3. It is great to have wet bags to put dirty diapers/stuff in.
4. Everyone else thinks cloth diapers are cute too!
5. Used diapers can be just as good as new, but there are places to buy new ones really cheap (http://www.alltogetherdiaper.com/ or http://www.luvyourbaby.com/ )
1. They are so cute! I don't have enough pictures of KB in her diapers (we usually keep her clothed), but I promise they are way cuter than disposables! They don't sag and look nasty.
2. We are saving money! I haven't tried to figure up the savings and we do still have to buy disposables for day care, but I know it is a lot less than what we would spend for disposables all the time. In fact since we have to buy the sensitive skin type disposables and we can't buy cheapo diapers due to KB getting a bad rash with those, disposables are tres expensive.
3. Very few rashes! The only rash she got was because of putting her in non-sensitive disposables and it took FORever to heal. We finally healed it up by using wool covers - breatheability is key!
4. Washing isn't that bad. The smell is no where near the horrible smell of disposables! The diaper sprayer on the toilet is handy for many things, but spraying out poopies is the number one job right now and it does it's job well.
5. Less leaks and blowouts. KB's clothes rarely ever get substance on them and the only time she ever peed through her diaper was when she was in a disposable.
6. I feel like I am doing a good thing for my child and the environment.
Some things I have learned:
1. Prefolds and covers are most economical and easiest to wash/dry and work GREAT for around the house. These are our go-to during the day.
2. It is nice to have all-in-one's or pockets to take out with us because they take up less room and only require one step to put on/take off.
3. It is great to have wet bags to put dirty diapers/stuff in.
4. Everyone else thinks cloth diapers are cute too!
5. Used diapers can be just as good as new, but there are places to buy new ones really cheap (http://www.alltogetherdiaper.com/ or http://www.luvyourbaby.com/ )
So cloth diapering has been a great adventure for us. One we will be continuing for child #1 and repeating when child #2 rolls around sometime in the indeterminate future. Feel free to post any questions as comments and I will respond. I placed an action shot below. Not the best, but you can see her cool pink camo diaper cover!
7.19.2010
Birth Story Part 3
We loaded up the car and headed down the driveway to begin our 20 minute journey to the hospital. I was excited and nervous, but I felt great! I didn't feel like anything was wrong with me, but all was not well. Now they were going to induce. I had read so many books on labor and delivery when I was pregnant and being induced was the one thing I knew I did not want. However, I also knew the gravity of the medical situation I was facing and the neccessity for the intervention. I kept focusing on the optimal end result, I go home: a healthy mother with a healthy child. I don't remember our conversation as we drove along. Perhaps I was reitterating to Terry my wishes for labor or maybe we were talking about our soon to be born daughter either way the talk did little to calm me.
Upon arrival at the hospital we parked in the garage and lugged our bags (yes multiple, we didn't know how long we would be there) up the elevator and across the building to the check in location. They settled us in a room, not a birthing suite just a holding room, to stay the night. The plan was to insert the Cervidil and wait, and wait, and (you guessed it) wait - until morning and see what might happen. Not long after getting to the room my parents arrived. I was told to undress and get into the hospital gown and then climb into the bed to be stuck, poked, prodded, and monitored. It was kind of like being the subject of a sick science experiment. Everyone sat around watching as the nurse dug first in one arm and then the other to find a vein for the IV. I didn't realize how swollen I was until I saw how deep they had to dig and still could not find a vein. I was patient and understanding as the nurse searched in my swollen arms with her needle. Then she found a nurse friend to help her continue the great hunt for my veins. As the second nurse tried first one arm and then the other, my patience was wearing thin. It didn't exactly tickle! After the second nurse attempted her second dive in my second arm, I finally insisted they put the IV in the bend of my arm. Not a good place for an IV as it restricts your ability to bend your arm, but I didn't even care. I only wanted to stop being a human pin cushion!
Now, to get down to business. My sister and brother-in-law arrived a little while later and my family sat around the small table in the room looking at their laptops and chatting while watching TV. What did people do before wireless Internet everywhere? They performed one last ultrasound to check the position of the baby - yep head down - she's a good baby! Then began the slow process of induction. At this point I was having no contractions, the time was 9:00pm. There wasn't much to see or do but wait, they would do nothing more for 12 hours. Jen and Kevin went to get dinner and perhaps I ate something - I don't really remember. I was focused on the task. I remember going to the bathroom a lot and having to disconnect and reconnect the monitors. After a little while of waiting and realizing there was much more waiting ahead, Jen and Kevin went to our house to spend the night and my Dad went back home promising to return in the morning. My Mom would NOT be leaving, I didn't mind. She slept on the little couch and Terry curled up in bed with me (love those huge hospital beds) to spend a restless night. Our last night before we saw our baby girl. It wasn't a great night. I went to the bathroom - a lot (did I already say that, well it needed to be said again) and I began to have contractions. It was a long night and when morning came I felt as if I never went to sleep at all.
Upon arrival at the hospital we parked in the garage and lugged our bags (yes multiple, we didn't know how long we would be there) up the elevator and across the building to the check in location. They settled us in a room, not a birthing suite just a holding room, to stay the night. The plan was to insert the Cervidil and wait, and wait, and (you guessed it) wait - until morning and see what might happen. Not long after getting to the room my parents arrived. I was told to undress and get into the hospital gown and then climb into the bed to be stuck, poked, prodded, and monitored. It was kind of like being the subject of a sick science experiment. Everyone sat around watching as the nurse dug first in one arm and then the other to find a vein for the IV. I didn't realize how swollen I was until I saw how deep they had to dig and still could not find a vein. I was patient and understanding as the nurse searched in my swollen arms with her needle. Then she found a nurse friend to help her continue the great hunt for my veins. As the second nurse tried first one arm and then the other, my patience was wearing thin. It didn't exactly tickle! After the second nurse attempted her second dive in my second arm, I finally insisted they put the IV in the bend of my arm. Not a good place for an IV as it restricts your ability to bend your arm, but I didn't even care. I only wanted to stop being a human pin cushion!
Now, to get down to business. My sister and brother-in-law arrived a little while later and my family sat around the small table in the room looking at their laptops and chatting while watching TV. What did people do before wireless Internet everywhere? They performed one last ultrasound to check the position of the baby - yep head down - she's a good baby! Then began the slow process of induction. At this point I was having no contractions, the time was 9:00pm. There wasn't much to see or do but wait, they would do nothing more for 12 hours. Jen and Kevin went to get dinner and perhaps I ate something - I don't really remember. I was focused on the task. I remember going to the bathroom a lot and having to disconnect and reconnect the monitors. After a little while of waiting and realizing there was much more waiting ahead, Jen and Kevin went to our house to spend the night and my Dad went back home promising to return in the morning. My Mom would NOT be leaving, I didn't mind. She slept on the little couch and Terry curled up in bed with me (love those huge hospital beds) to spend a restless night. Our last night before we saw our baby girl. It wasn't a great night. I went to the bathroom - a lot (did I already say that, well it needed to be said again) and I began to have contractions. It was a long night and when morning came I felt as if I never went to sleep at all.
6.30.2010
Birth Story Part 2
With only four weeks to go, I began to get really excited about this whole baby-having thing. But I became a little nervous too. Each visit I held my breath while on the scale to see how much I had gained, and I am sure my blood pressure was a little higher because of my anxiety concerning what my blood pressure would be. Although I kept checking out OK - steady weight gain, blood pressure normal - because I had started doing labs before, I was not allowed to stop. Each week I was required to complete blood work and a 24 hour urine catch. Each week the result came back in normal range. They began conducting non-stress tests at each visit. Koribella did NOT like the monitors they placed on my belly to detect the heartbeat! She would move away from them each time the nurse got it in position. They would not let me leave until they had 15 minutes worth of good readings from her, so one time Terry literally held her in place by pressing on my belly so she couldn't run from the monitors.
The doctor ordered modified bed rest for the last four weeks. I continued to work from home - in my recliner with my laptop on my lap and my cell phone in hand to call Terry (who was in the baby's room texturing, painting, decorating, etc.) whenever I needed ANYthing. In the evenings he would take me to Target or somewhere else and I would walk around for a few minutes. I kept thinking, "How is this baby ever going to move down if I can't walk around?" I had two doctor's appointments each week and each time they talked about inducing. I wasn't ready to induce and they weren't to the point where they wanted to force the issue. I had a project to finish up with work and desperately didn't want to leave any loose ends. The Friday before my due date, I got everything wrapped up. I told everyone at work - I will not be coming back (virtually of course because I was working from home) because no matter what I am having this baby this weekend. They believed me. That day I also turned in my last 24 hour urine catch.
The weekend was not memorable aside from it being my last weekend without my new baby. On Sunday afternoon we went to our last pre-baby movie; a matinee at The Warren in Moore, X-Men Wolverine. The movie was great and I felt great all was well. I was having a few contractions, but nothing big. When we walked in the door, the answering machine was beeping. It was a message from the midwife on call, they got the bloodwork back, I was to call immediately. They had never called before about bloodwork and on a Sunday! Something was up. So I called her back and left a message for her to call me - fun! Lana was on her way over to visit for a little while and we were so nervous and tidying things up not knowing what the midwife would say. Finally the phone rang and she told me the results. I crossed the threshold for acceptable amounts of protein in my urine and they wanted to induce - today. Wow! Like Now?? Well, not exactly. I would either need to show up within the hour or in three hours she would call me back and let me know.
Lana was there by this time and she crochetted as Terry and I scurried around getting everything together for the hospital. We knew we would be spending the night. I called my parents to let them know and they of course wanted to come to the hospital. I would call them back when we knew for sure what time we were going to be admitted. The midwife, Leanna, called back to confirm we would need to be there in 3 hours to get checked in. Whew! We had some time. We had Lana take some last minute pictures of us in the baby's room. There was no more time to prepare. We let everyone know, got our stuff together, and waited anxiously for the clock to change.
The doctor ordered modified bed rest for the last four weeks. I continued to work from home - in my recliner with my laptop on my lap and my cell phone in hand to call Terry (who was in the baby's room texturing, painting, decorating, etc.) whenever I needed ANYthing. In the evenings he would take me to Target or somewhere else and I would walk around for a few minutes. I kept thinking, "How is this baby ever going to move down if I can't walk around?" I had two doctor's appointments each week and each time they talked about inducing. I wasn't ready to induce and they weren't to the point where they wanted to force the issue. I had a project to finish up with work and desperately didn't want to leave any loose ends. The Friday before my due date, I got everything wrapped up. I told everyone at work - I will not be coming back (virtually of course because I was working from home) because no matter what I am having this baby this weekend. They believed me. That day I also turned in my last 24 hour urine catch.
The weekend was not memorable aside from it being my last weekend without my new baby. On Sunday afternoon we went to our last pre-baby movie; a matinee at The Warren in Moore, X-Men Wolverine. The movie was great and I felt great all was well. I was having a few contractions, but nothing big. When we walked in the door, the answering machine was beeping. It was a message from the midwife on call, they got the bloodwork back, I was to call immediately. They had never called before about bloodwork and on a Sunday! Something was up. So I called her back and left a message for her to call me - fun! Lana was on her way over to visit for a little while and we were so nervous and tidying things up not knowing what the midwife would say. Finally the phone rang and she told me the results. I crossed the threshold for acceptable amounts of protein in my urine and they wanted to induce - today. Wow! Like Now?? Well, not exactly. I would either need to show up within the hour or in three hours she would call me back and let me know.
Lana was there by this time and she crochetted as Terry and I scurried around getting everything together for the hospital. We knew we would be spending the night. I called my parents to let them know and they of course wanted to come to the hospital. I would call them back when we knew for sure what time we were going to be admitted. The midwife, Leanna, called back to confirm we would need to be there in 3 hours to get checked in. Whew! We had some time. We had Lana take some last minute pictures of us in the baby's room. There was no more time to prepare. We let everyone know, got our stuff together, and waited anxiously for the clock to change.
7.12.2009
Birth Story Part 1
Every mother has a unique birth story. I have been listening to other women's birth stories for sometime - even before I became pregnant. Let me tell you though- once I became pregnant, anyone and everyone who had ever taken part in a birth began to tell me their personal birth story or stories. It wasn't just the mothers who began to open up. So many dads began to share their wive's birth stories with me it was unreal and occasionally uncomfortable. I can honestly say no two stories were ever alike, and true to form, my birth story is unique as well. I have decided to tell the story in parts because it is pretty long and I don't want to have to write one single entry. So here goes.
My story begins with an ideal. A document I created to help the nurses know what my desires and expectations were. It is a dumbed down - and shortened - version of a birth plan.
"Top 5 Wants When I Am In Labor"
1. Do not offer pain meds. I will ask if I need them (I wanted a natural birth with no pain meds. This was my way of keeping pain killers off my mind. No one was allowed to ask me if I wanted pain meds - not even family.)
2. Only intermittent monitoring of contractions and baby. I want to move around during labor.
3. I want the baby placed on my stomach as soon as she is born.
4. Do not cut the unbillical cord until it stops pulsing.
5. Do not give the baby a bath without asking me first.
Remember this is IDEAL and I am a flexible person so I understand things may not always go as planned. I can assure you, very little about my first birthing experience went "as planned." Everything was trucking along nice and normal throughout my entire pregnancy. I was feeling really good, really healthy and feeling quite fortunate to have it so good. When I went in for my 36 week appointment, I had gained 12lbs in 1 week! That was alarming to me. I had been gaining about 2-3 lbs in 2 weeks. My midwife was not worried, it was just some weight gain. I needed to be careful in the next week and keep the gain very minimal.
For my 37 week check up, I gained just 1 lb! I was so proud, but there was something else. My blood pressure was elevated and my feet and legs were swollen. The baby checked out fine, but just to be safe the midwife ordered labs and told me to take it easy. I had been nervous about preeclampsia because I knew a few women who had complications due to the disease. I felt great so I was certain the blood pressure was just a one-time thing, but I went for labs just in case.
My story begins with an ideal. A document I created to help the nurses know what my desires and expectations were. It is a dumbed down - and shortened - version of a birth plan.
"Top 5 Wants When I Am In Labor"
1. Do not offer pain meds. I will ask if I need them (I wanted a natural birth with no pain meds. This was my way of keeping pain killers off my mind. No one was allowed to ask me if I wanted pain meds - not even family.)
2. Only intermittent monitoring of contractions and baby. I want to move around during labor.
3. I want the baby placed on my stomach as soon as she is born.
4. Do not cut the unbillical cord until it stops pulsing.
5. Do not give the baby a bath without asking me first.
Remember this is IDEAL and I am a flexible person so I understand things may not always go as planned. I can assure you, very little about my first birthing experience went "as planned." Everything was trucking along nice and normal throughout my entire pregnancy. I was feeling really good, really healthy and feeling quite fortunate to have it so good. When I went in for my 36 week appointment, I had gained 12lbs in 1 week! That was alarming to me. I had been gaining about 2-3 lbs in 2 weeks. My midwife was not worried, it was just some weight gain. I needed to be careful in the next week and keep the gain very minimal.
For my 37 week check up, I gained just 1 lb! I was so proud, but there was something else. My blood pressure was elevated and my feet and legs were swollen. The baby checked out fine, but just to be safe the midwife ordered labs and told me to take it easy. I had been nervous about preeclampsia because I knew a few women who had complications due to the disease. I felt great so I was certain the blood pressure was just a one-time thing, but I went for labs just in case.
1.31.2009
25 Random things About Me
1. I have been skydiving 3 times.
2. I really love snow. To the point that I really want to live somewhere else where it snows more.
3. I don't like raw onions - except on my gyros - but I really like onion rings and sauteed onions in fajitas and such. So when I go to Burger King I order my buger no onion and onion rings instead of fries.
4. My feet are shaped like Barbie doll feet. I have a very high arch and my toes naturally point up. I am proof that Barbie feet are NOT normal because finding shoes to fit my high arch, wide toe box, and abnormally high instep is nearly impossible!
5. On that note, I love shoes! But I usually end up buying a pair and wearing them once, and they hurt my feet so I rarely wear them. When I find comfy shoes I wear them out.
6. I am fiercely independent and a free thinking knowledge seeker. If it is happening to me, I want to know about it myself. I don't need you to tell me.
7. I expect a LOT from other people - probably too much.
8. I expect even more from myself.
9. I never thought I would find a guy good enough to marry and I was OK with that. Fortunately, God had higher expectations than even I did. I also never expected to marry before the age of 30. I am 27 now and have been married for 7 years to the most amazing man I know.
10. I have discovered the only differences between me and any doctor is a medical degree, whatever experience they have, and my ability to know that I don't know everything but can find it on the Internet. Perhaps someday I will just go get the degree.
11. I still sometimes doubt that I am REALLY pregnant and there is in fact a little human inside me floating around. Crazy I know, but this whole pregnancy thing is bizarre!
12. I really hate talking on the phone. I only call people if I have something specific to talk to them about. I am awkward on the phone and do not know what to say. I attribute this to never developing social phone skills since we were only allowed to talk to our friends once per night for 15 minutes at a time while sitting in the living room where my dad was watching TV blaring at 100 decibels.
13. I am the youngest of three girls. I have no brothers, but always wanted one.
14. I have MANY interests! I love to cook and experiment with recipes, bake and decorate cakes and desserts, photography, crafty stuff, fishing, racquetball, tennis, outdoor activities, etc.
15. My dream job would be to travel the world taking pictures and selling them to magazines like National Geographic.
16. If I weren't married, I might be an FBI or CIA agent or foreign service officer or something like that.
17. I am still considering a doctorate degree, but haven't selected an area of study. I think in 10 years or so I may go back to school.
18. I really love my church! Church of the Harvest rocks!
19. Terry likes to watch movies more than I do. It drives him crazy that I want the light on so I can read during the movie. I like to multitask.
20. I don't really care for cats, but we have three outdoor cats that I like a lot. they are cool cats and eat lots of creepy crawly stuff. They are also super friendly and come when I whistle.
21. We decided when my cousin Cory passed away last May that we wanted to name our daughter after him. Not that we were pregnant or were even trying at the time, but we both knew we were going to have a daughter and that is how we wanted to honor such a great man. I made up the name Koribella before I was pregnant. Before he died, her name was going to be Rosalynn just because we liked it.
22. I am kind of a wanna be environmentalist, I buy reusable grocery sacks and never use them again for groceries. I will get there.
23. My sister Jennifer once whacked me in the head with a softball bat and I had to get stitches in my eyebrow. I still have the scar.
24. We used to live in a condo and we remodeled it and painted and decorated it so pretty. Then we sold it and bought a fixer upper house. I miss my finished condo sometimes, but I like the quiet and privacy of our 5 acres.
25. FINALLY! I love you for reading all of this!
2. I really love snow. To the point that I really want to live somewhere else where it snows more.
3. I don't like raw onions - except on my gyros - but I really like onion rings and sauteed onions in fajitas and such. So when I go to Burger King I order my buger no onion and onion rings instead of fries.
4. My feet are shaped like Barbie doll feet. I have a very high arch and my toes naturally point up. I am proof that Barbie feet are NOT normal because finding shoes to fit my high arch, wide toe box, and abnormally high instep is nearly impossible!
5. On that note, I love shoes! But I usually end up buying a pair and wearing them once, and they hurt my feet so I rarely wear them. When I find comfy shoes I wear them out.
6. I am fiercely independent and a free thinking knowledge seeker. If it is happening to me, I want to know about it myself. I don't need you to tell me.
7. I expect a LOT from other people - probably too much.
8. I expect even more from myself.
9. I never thought I would find a guy good enough to marry and I was OK with that. Fortunately, God had higher expectations than even I did. I also never expected to marry before the age of 30. I am 27 now and have been married for 7 years to the most amazing man I know.
10. I have discovered the only differences between me and any doctor is a medical degree, whatever experience they have, and my ability to know that I don't know everything but can find it on the Internet. Perhaps someday I will just go get the degree.
11. I still sometimes doubt that I am REALLY pregnant and there is in fact a little human inside me floating around. Crazy I know, but this whole pregnancy thing is bizarre!
12. I really hate talking on the phone. I only call people if I have something specific to talk to them about. I am awkward on the phone and do not know what to say. I attribute this to never developing social phone skills since we were only allowed to talk to our friends once per night for 15 minutes at a time while sitting in the living room where my dad was watching TV blaring at 100 decibels.
13. I am the youngest of three girls. I have no brothers, but always wanted one.
14. I have MANY interests! I love to cook and experiment with recipes, bake and decorate cakes and desserts, photography, crafty stuff, fishing, racquetball, tennis, outdoor activities, etc.
15. My dream job would be to travel the world taking pictures and selling them to magazines like National Geographic.
16. If I weren't married, I might be an FBI or CIA agent or foreign service officer or something like that.
17. I am still considering a doctorate degree, but haven't selected an area of study. I think in 10 years or so I may go back to school.
18. I really love my church! Church of the Harvest rocks!
19. Terry likes to watch movies more than I do. It drives him crazy that I want the light on so I can read during the movie. I like to multitask.
20. I don't really care for cats, but we have three outdoor cats that I like a lot. they are cool cats and eat lots of creepy crawly stuff. They are also super friendly and come when I whistle.
21. We decided when my cousin Cory passed away last May that we wanted to name our daughter after him. Not that we were pregnant or were even trying at the time, but we both knew we were going to have a daughter and that is how we wanted to honor such a great man. I made up the name Koribella before I was pregnant. Before he died, her name was going to be Rosalynn just because we liked it.
22. I am kind of a wanna be environmentalist, I buy reusable grocery sacks and never use them again for groceries. I will get there.
23. My sister Jennifer once whacked me in the head with a softball bat and I had to get stitches in my eyebrow. I still have the scar.
24. We used to live in a condo and we remodeled it and painted and decorated it so pretty. Then we sold it and bought a fixer upper house. I miss my finished condo sometimes, but I like the quiet and privacy of our 5 acres.
25. FINALLY! I love you for reading all of this!
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