Holy crap...we're having a baby (part 2)

The nurses hooked me up to monitors to check the baby���������s heartbeat and made me lie on the hospital bed. Lying down hurt horribly during the contractions that I just couldn���������t take it and begged them to let me stand up and walk around. Dave and I paced the halls for about 10 minutes until the nurse talked some sense into me. She asked why I was waiting for my epidural and I realized that my lame excuse to ���������see how far I could go��������� just didn���������t make sense. We agreed that I could still be superwoman without feeling the pain. She called the anesthetist and we waited about 15 minutes for him to come. He put the epidural in my back and I could feel it going down my spine. I moaned and yelled a few times because it was SO uncomfortable. After a few minutes, I could no longer feel my right side, but had quite a bit of pain on my left side still so the nurse had me roll onto my left side to get the medicine moving. Finally���������relief.

We called my mom and dad, Dave���������s mom and dad, all our brothers and sisters and Keri. NO ONE answered! Dave ended up leaving messages to call us back and it took a good 30 minutes for the calls to trickle in. Everyone was so excited and Kyle, Mom, Dad, Jackie, Bryan, Joyce and Keri all came to the hospital to hang out with us. We watched TV and chatted while listening to Diana Krall. It was very relaxing and I was even able to sleep for an hour.

After a total of 13 hours, I was dilated to a ten and was told I could start pushing. I was so scared to push for some reason! I kept pushing my epidural button to make sure I wouldn���������t feel anything. The nurses cleared the room except for Dave, my mom and Keri and called for the doc. It was all hustle and bustle and before I knew it, I was told I could start pushing. After the first push, the nurse looked startled and called in another nurse to help. They put oxygen on me, propped me on my left side, and told me to stop pushing. The baby���������s heart rate had dropped very low. After it stabilized a few minutes later, I was told to push again. About 15 minutes, 6-7 pushes later and a few twists to maneuver his shoulders, he was out! They cleaned him up and we heard a faint cry���������.then it got louder. The doctor cleaned him off and laid him on my chest. I held his head and stared at him and cried. My baby boy was here. He was perfect. And big! I remember thinking ���������where have you been���������? ���������what took you so long?��������� It all felt like a dream. All I could do was cry and say ���������Hi baby��������� over and over. Dave was so cute and proud. He walked over to the scale to check on our boy and make sure he was okay. Then he came back to my side and gave me kisses and hugs while I was sewed up. I kept telling him to go be with our son, but he stayed by my side and kept whispering in my ear ���������look at him, he���������s here���������. He was so happy. Dave started calling him Scrumptious that night. What an amazing, surreal feeling! Our boy is finally here and I still feel like I need pinching sometimes. He���������s a dream come true!!

2 minutes old - such a big boy!

New Dad - so drearily in love! Trey looking intently at Daddy (doesn't he look so different just a few hours later?!)

(updated 4/20/08)

Holy crap...we're having a baby (Part 1)

I woke up to my alarm to get ready for work. I walked to the restroom to go to the bathroom and felt like I had peed my pants. I sat on the toilet and couldn’t stop “going”. I called to Dave from the toilet to tell him that I thought my water broke. He mumbled a few words and rolled over. I called to him again and he sat up and said “really?”. Yup, it was time. He got up and started cleaning the house and packing his bag.

I took a shower and my contractions started up. They weren't too bad at first, just stronger than the braxton hicks I'd been having since 20 weeks. I ended up blow drying my hair and putting on my makeup as the contractions got stronger and closer together. I called my doc to make sure I could stay home for a while before getting hooked up to IVs and such. He gave the okay and we hung out at home for about 5 hours while Dave finished cleaning the family room, kitchen, and our bedroom. He also finished packing his bag between rubbing my back during contractions. They started coming about 2-3 minutes apart and hurt like the dickens, so we decided to go in to the hospital. At L&D, I put on a gown and they took a sample of the fluid. After waiting 2 minutes, they confirmed that I was definitely in labor and took me back to my delivery room.

(updated 3/17/08)

Doc Update

I'm now just over 2 centimeters dilated and 60% effaced. Not much of a difference from last week (1.5 cm and 50% effaced). My doc stripped my membranes. It wasn't too bad, just a bit more uncomfortable than the cervical checks but with cramping afterward. After my appointment, I walked through the waiting room out to my car and felt like the baby was definitely going to fall out. That sensation passed quickly and 6 hours later, I feel no difference whatsoever. My doc says that if I haven't gone into labor on my own by my next appointment (12/5), he'll put me on the induction list. For some reason, I don't think I'll ever go into actual labor on my own. Then again, that may be the infertility creeping in, thinking that my body won't do what it's "supposed" to. I'm totally good with hanging another week. I still like being pregnant. I'm going to miss it!

Budda Belly

Keri did a "photo shoot" of Dave and I last night. Here are a couple cute pics. Woah, I'm huge!! :) Dave thought he could compete with my belly!!

9 days left...

(Note: Trey was born two days later)

More Contractions

My contractions have been consistently about 15-20 minutes apart for about 4 days now. Occasionally they will get closer together coming to about 3-5 minutes apart for a couple hours, but they taper off and never stay consistent. I've decided I want to labor mostly at home unless there are any concerns and it's a good thing I've decided that! I'd be at the hospital with false alarms probably 4 times now if I went when the doc says to (5 minutes apart for 1 hour). The contractions are becoming increasingly uncomfortable now; I had light spotting after a few rounds of really bad ones yesterday, so it seems they are starting to do their job (light bleeding/spotting indicates the cervical capillaries are breaking due to dilation/effacement).

I have my 39 week appointment this Wednesday and I'm tempted to ask my doc to strip my membranes while he's doing the cervical check. I'm fully aware that may do nothing, but it might be worth a try. What are ya'lls thoughts on that? Good idea? Bad idea? The more I think about induction (with drugs), the more I want to avoid it, but I'm all for "helping" mother nature along...

2 Weeks Left!

My ticker tells me we have 14 days left. I'm getting REAL excited now! It's so hard not to talk about anything but baby since I'm so out there and D-day is just around the corner. My doc appointment on Wednesday indicated that my cervix is "much softer" and I'm almost 2 cm dilated. Progress! When I called my mom to give her the update she was very surprised. Apparently with all her kids, she went into the hospital at 2 cm dilated because she was in so much pain. It's so interesting how different our bodies can be.

Last night Dave was mulling over the time we have left and went on and on about how 2 weeks seemed SO much shorter than 3 weeks. I think it's finally hit him that we're "running out of time". He's cleaned and vacuumed the family room (he NEVER has vacuumed in this house-8 months!) and he's been organizing like a mad man. I love it!

14 days left!!

38 Week appointment today

I have my 38 week appointment in 2 hours. I'm sure hoping to see some progress, but who knows. Baby worked his way into a really weird position on Monday and got me so uncomfortable that I was ready to evict him! Alas, I feel much better now and feel equipped to carry him for as long as need be. I got it in my head last night that he's no longer in a good position for delivery, so I'm glad to have the appointment to see what's going on in there.

I cleaned the guest room last night, so all that's left is the office. Dave has agreed to "spring clean" the kitchen and bathrooms so I don't have to hire someone. Apparently a little threatening to fork out money to strangers to clean your house does the trick! We'll see if it actually happens ;)

Oh, AND I put up the curtains in my bedroom last night. So cute, I'm a big fan!

So tired...

Amid bouts of mega energy, I am feeling very tired! It's funny how the energy comes in spurts for me now. Some days I am all sorts of gung-ho about getting things done (like Saturday's cleaning fest) and others I just want to sit around all day and do nothing (like Sunday). "My baby" (I'm still getting used to using "my") has definitely found his way into my pelvis. I'm feeling so much more pressure now, almost like he's going to fall out at times. Ooh, and the pain! During the day at work I'm fine, but put me on our squishy couch for an hour and I can barely walk when I get up!! My hips and pelvis are SO sore after lying around, it's amazing. Sometimes I feel like I've got a broken pelvis even though I don't know what that feels like. Again, I have no room to complain as my discomforts have been so minor thus far. Dave and I were reveling last night about how wonderful pregnancy has been for me. Really, how many women can say they breezed through pregnancy and just started to get uncomfortable in the last 2 weeks? Not many! Lucky me!!

3 Weeks Left!

I'm rounding 3rd, folks! Last night I was awoken by 3 very painful contractions. Shot me straight out of bed and I had to use my breathing techniques to keep from losing it after being awaken so suddenly. They started this morning at about 5 and have continued each hour. I *heart* contractions.

I'm considered "full term" today, which means the baby is just adding on fat. I'm excited about that, because chubby babies are my favorite!

We got the bassinet last night, our final piece of gear. Dave had it half-assembled before I came back from my pedicure, good boy :) Bags are packed and all essentials are ready...now all we need is the baby!

3 weeks left!

Making Progress

My doctor's appointment yesterday told me that the contractions are actually doing their job. I told Dave before I went that I would be upset if I was experiencing pain for no reason. I am 50% effaced and 1cm dilated. Definitely making some progress. The doc expressed some concern about my swollen feet. BOTH of them were extremely swollen yesterday and I didn't even notice it. That's what happens when you stay busy at work, I guess. The baby's head is down, but not "locked" into place yet, so my cervix is still very far back. The doctor joked that he had to go in up to his elbow to reach it. It definitely didn't feel like he was joking! He still doesn't want to change my due date, but he did mention he wanted to see how far I could get before we looked into induction. I agreed. I'd much rather go into labor on my own. 3 weeks left? I can TOTALLY handle that! Seriously, I'm just started to feel the pressure (literally), but I still sleep comfortably (when I'm not awaken by contractions or to pee).

Nearly There

The baby's room that is. Dave and I finally settled on a glider/ottoman for the baby's room and Dave put it together last night. We're nearly finished in the nursery! Dave just needs to do some touch-up painting (funny, cuz I don't see where he needs to, but whatever), I need to better organize the clothes, and I'm picking up the last of the "decor" tonight (a couple shelves, baskets, and picture frames). I'm so excited to see it completed and show it off! It SO does not look like a baby's room (other than the crib and mobile and such), but we're really happy with how it turned out. We intentionally painted so that he can grow into it and it's not babyish (AND Dave and I are not fans at all of cartoon characters or the like as decor).

I'm feeling less stressed now and like I can focus on the big upcoming event. I've felt so overwhelmed with all the things I had to do and buy to get ready for a baby. Our last big baby purchase was made last night and my hospital bag is nearly packed (I know, I'm so procrastinating that project), so we're on our way!

The Sleep Bandit

I finally figured out why I've been waking up so often in the middle of the night: contractions. They've gotten increasingly stronger since just after my last doc appointment. I thought at first I just kept waking up having to pee, but then when I shifted a bit in bed, I realized that I did not have to pee and I was having a contraction! They have become increasingly stronger and can even be painful at times, so I have no doubt that's it. I guess it's a good thing...hopefully my cervix will be cooperating with all these contractions and I'll have made some progress at my next appointment on Wednesday...

4 Weeks Left!

I'm officially 36 weeks today, with 4 weeks to go! My how the time flies. We're at the "safety point" according to my doc, which means that if I go into labor, he won't do anything to stop it. I'm going shopping with Keri tomorrow to find all the final necessities for my hospital bag and will hopefully have it packed by Sunday. I don't know why I've been putting it off...it just seems like such a big job to pack a hospital bag! Our little guy will be here before we know it!

4 weeks left!

Baby Boom

My doc appointment today revealed our little guy measuring in at just under 7 pounds. Really, how does he fit in there?! Even though I'll be 36 weeks in 2 days, midget is as big as a 37.5 weeker. My friend Mindy says her preemie (who came 6 weeks early) ended up being 8 pounds 1 ounce! And she's TINY! My sis-in-law had a 9.5 pounder and cousin had a 10 pounder and both were less than a week overdue. It's really interesting how that happens. I just don't get it.

Here is a list of fetal size averages. For 36 weeks, the average length and weight are 18.66 inches and 5.78 pounds

I'm not dilated, but my cervix is very short (I'm not sure what that means-effaced?). Doc says we'll discuss induction once my cervix starts to show some progress. I'm definitely not ready for the little guy to come yet, but for some reason I'm not too thrilled about delivering a 9 pound baby. As long as he's healthy and comes out screaming...that's all that matters.

No Sleep for the Weary

Saturday night I got no sleep and blamed it on my binging on fair food. Last night I got no sleep and I'm trying to blame it on my back being out, so I'm heading to the chiropractor tonight. If I get no sleep tonight, I'm blaming it on pregnancy!

5 Weeks Left!

5 weeks remain in this pregnancy o' mine! I'll be packing my hospital bag this weekend (all my books said to do it in week 31, but I'm a slacker) and finalizing the organization of the baby's room. All of the midget's clothes are nearly washed and folded, they just need their home in the dresser once I can get to it. Dave and I are determined to find the rocking chair this weekend and once the bassinet and stroller/car seat arrive in the mail, I'll have everything I need to outfit a newborn! I'm getting excited, but mostly, I would still love more time...

5 weeks left!