Our precious little girl is here!

I am going to attempt to get the details of her birth out while they are still fresh in my mind. I started having some contractions throughout the day on Sunday, October 25, 2009. They weren't regular enough to call my doctor, especially since I had an appointment on Monday. Monday morning about 6am I started having the contractions a little more frequently. I got ready and went into to work. I started timing them and they were coming about 5-7 minutes apart. They were hard to talk and breathe through so I went ahead and called the doctor's office and asked if I could come in earlier. The nurse told me to come in at 10:30am instead of at 3:15pm. I called Jason a little before 10 and told him we were going up there earlier. Jason met me at home so I could grab my hospital bag just in case. He timed the contractions all the way to Amarillo and while sitting in the waiting room. At that point they were a little closer together.

My blood pressure was a little high, probably because I was in pain. My doctor checked me and said I was still only dilated to a one, very thinned out, and confirmed that my water had broken. I don't know exactly when it broke. She sent me over to the hospital to be admitted. While I was getting hooked up and the nurses were doing all the stuff they needed to do, they were concerned about my blood pressure being so high. My doctor wanted them to get a urine sample, but I couldn't get out of bed because my water had already broken. So, my options were to get the epidural then they could get the sample from my catheter or they could straight cath me and I could wait on the epidural until I was further along. I decided to go ahead with the epidural. The anesthesiologist came in to give it, but they were still waiting on my lab work to get back. After waiting a while, they finally checked the status of it and it hadn't even been sent in yet. So, he left and had to come back a little later.

After I got the epidural, he gave me a large dose of the medicine and my blood pressure dropped to 80/40. I felt like I couldn't breathe and the baby's heart rate dropped a lot. The next thing I knew, there were about 4 or 5 nurses in, I had oxygen strapped to my face, and a different medicine into my IV to get my BP back up. I finally got stablized and feeling better. The nurses were having a hard time monitoring my contractions so they had to instert an internal monitor. It wouldn't read correctly, so after a while they decided to take it out and put a new one in as well has another internal monitor on the baby's head. The charge nurse put the new one in and more of my water bag broke. They started pitocin to get me to progress more but my body started to fight it. After they turned it off and let me rest, I was only dilated to a four at 7pm. My doctor came in around 5:30pm and said she thought it would be the middle of the night before the baby came.

The nurses went through shift change, my epidural was starting to wear off and I was very uncomfortable. I could only lay on my left side because her heart rate would drop too much when I moved to the right. I finally told my nurse I needed more meds in my epidural and I was feeling some pressure. She checked me at 9pm and said, "it's time to start pushing, we are gonna have a baby." My doctor was called, everything was set up for delivery, my Dad and Lori got back just in time. Lori and Jason stayed in the room. I pushed for less than thirty minutes and at 9:39pm Elise was born. She weighed 5lbs. 15 oz and was 18 1/2 inches long.

Every since that moment I have felt more overwhelming joy that I could just burst! She is so perfect in every little way, Jason and I are so lucky to be blessed with this tiny, perfect, miracle! I might explode with happiness!

The Waiting Continues....

No baby yet... obviously. Well, I say obviously but some guy in my office asked me the other day "you haven't had that baby yet?" Uhh, yeah I had her and then decided to put her back.

We went to visit our potential daycare on Wednesday night. It was VERY overwhelming to me. The lady was talking 90 miles an hour and kids were running around, parents were in and out, back and forth, all this while we walked through the whole place. While I would feel okay about leaving our child there I was having some major anxiety over actually having to take her to ANY daycare. I can't imagine what the day will be like when I actually have to take her and drop her off. I haven't even met her yet and am already a mess over leaving her. The director seems to run a tight ship up there which is good. They keep a total of 9 infants and the spot they have will be available on November 28. Unfortunately, if we want to take her there we will have to pay $65 a week starting on the 28th every week until we start taking her. After that it's $125 a week. Once we finally got to sit down in her office I got really uncomfortable and it must have shown because she asked me if I was okay. I had a massive contraction, broke into a sweat, and my eyes started watering. I told her I was fine... well her daughter went to get me a cold rag but I insisted I was fine. She told Jason he might want to start timing them! I got outside and cooled off. I think I must have had a contraction & panic attack combo or something! After all that... old plan is out, new plan is in! Jason needs to find a second job so I can quit mine and stay at home. The only thing is, Jason doesn't know the new plan yet... so that's on the to-do list... tell Jason about the "new child care plan."

We have finished our pre-natal classes. I'm glad we decided to take them. I thought they were very worthwhile and informative. At the last one we went over medical interventions - IV's, epidurals, C-Sections, and Episiotomies. After watching the video of the C-section and episiotomies, I told Jason he was only getting one baby out of me! I feel much more prepared after the class, so hopefully when the time comes I won't have as much fear about the labor and delivery process.

The next doctor's appointment is Monday afternoon, hopefully she will have more good news to give us!

It Won't Be Long Now...*we hope*

We got some good news today at the doctor's office. I am one centimeter dilated and seventy percent effaced. I was very happy to hear that I have started to make some progress since 5 days ago I had absolutely none. Baby's heartbeat is good, blood pressure was good, and I was down a pound. My doctor doesn't think I will make it to my estimated due date, but thinks it will be a couple more weeks. Fine with me! Dr. Appel said I have made some good progress over 5 days, so I'm looking forward to finding out what happens between now and my next appointment.

We had intended to get our car seat installed today before the doctor appointment, but when we got there, the lady wasn't there because she had a family emergency and couldn't reach Jason earlier to let us know. So, hopefully we can get her to do it next Monday while we are up there for my next appointment. We also got some good news about daycare! We have been on the waiting list which didn't have an opening for an infant until July 2010. They called today saying they would have a spot available on November 28. We are planning to go up there Wednesday to get the details and see what we need to do to save our spot! Aside from not being able to get our car seat installed and inspected we got some pretty good news today!

Batteries & Baby Not Included

Well, it's all assembled... Swing, Pack N' Play, Stroller. We are having a lady at the hospital install our car seat tomorrow before the doctor's appointment. Now, all we need is a stock pile of D Batteries and a baby. Oh yeah, and a few thousand more square feet and a larger vehicle to accommodate all the accessories and necessities that a baby requires!!! They don't tell you that in pre-natal class...

Dear Swollen, Puffy Face...

I hope the extra three chins you have grown over the last month disappear just as quickly as they have arrived. With any luck, they will melt off with every push that it takes to get the baby out. Let's hope that all the extra water weight that has accumulated in other various body parts including the feet, fingers, and EARS does the same. Just look forward to the day when the baby is here and you feel as skinny as a Ralph Lauren model! The end is near....

36 Weeks & 2 Days Pregnant

No Progress, Yet

Today was the 36 week visit at the doctor's office. While the baby is in position, head down ready to go, my cervix is locked up tighter than a vault. As of today, no dilation, effacement, nothing. Although, my doctor told me that doesn't mean anything, and I could very well go into labor tonight. She gave me a copy of my records and will continue to do so every week until I deliver. They are for me to keep for when I go to the hospital to give to the nurses. I told her I have been feeling crampy and having some pressure, and she said that sounds like signs of progression.

My weight gain was six pounds, but some of that is water weight. I have been swollen and can definitely see it in my face. I have been experiencing frequent headaches and seeing flashes of light. Since I conveniently work at an optometrist's office I had my eyes looked at. The doctor seemed to think I was having ocular migraines. My OB said it "could" be that, but with the swelling and headaches she wants to keep a closer eye on me. So, I will be returning to her office on Monday instead of Wednesday so she can watch my blood pressure and water retention. Those symptoms can be signs of pre-eclampsia so she wants to be cautious.

Last night was our second time to meet for our pre-natal class. We watched the live birth video and went over the labor and delivery process. She taught our "coaches" some massage techniques to help us during labor. We used the birthing balls, which were a lot more comfortable than they look. Next week she is planning to discuss all the medical interventions such as c-sections, IV's, and pain relief. I had initially thought I wanted an epidural as soon as the doctor would let me have it, but after going to the class I plan to go as long as I can without it. She has explained to us the benefits of getting an epidural, but also the disadvantages. I have a pretty high pain tolerance, so I'm going to try to wait it out as long as possible.

Jason got the Pack N' Play put together on Sunday. It's in our room next to his side of the bed. We thought it would be a tight fit, but it ended up fitting there perfectly. Hopefully Jason and I won't have to switch sides of the bed since it's on his side. Riley is exactly eye level with the top of it, so I imagine she will be peeking over it a lot once the baby is here. I have caught Possum going into the baby room just to check things out. She was really interested in all the bags and goodies from the shower, too. Jason started working on getting the swing put together but hasn't quite finished. I hope we can find a place to put all this baby stuff in our house!

I finally got some pictures from my shower, so here they are for your viewing pleasure...

Me and the Hostesses, Lucy & Connie

Kay, Stephanie, Sheila

Jason's Family
Michelle, Amanda, Aubree, Brittney, Stephanie, JaJean

Girls From My Office
Cindy, Stephanie, Ruth

Stephanie & Lori

Mom To Be & Nana To Be


Stephanie & Jeania

Someone mixed up the cards!

I Know They Mean Well, but...

honestly, I don't really want to hear it. I have heard everyone's "well-meaning" opinions for eight months now and have probably only asked for 25% of them. Thanks, but no thanks people. Especially if I don't know you, I REALLY don't care! This may come as a shock but, Yes! My husband and I realize our life is going to change in so many ways.... I don't need a constant reminder that I can no longer go out boozing and hooking every other night of the week! Don't tell me to get get used to sleepless nights or to get my sleep while I can, it's not like I can save it and use it later! Things are also a lot different now than when some women had their babies 25, 50, or 100 years ago. So, what was MANDATORY or socially accepted or unaccepted then does not always hold true now. Just because one person thinks one thing is better than another does not mean it is better for me! While I do not have a child at the present moment, I wasn't born yesterday. I have done some research, but also realize that child rearing is a learn-as-you-go process. With that being said, I have already made some decisions and formed my own opinions about how I intend to do things regarding our daughter and do not need to hear your reason for why I should or shouldn't unless I personally ask you. Surely, you do not go up to strangers at Wal-Mart and criticize their parenting abilities. So please don't argue with me over my choices. You're wasting your breath and getting on my nerves. I can handle one or two comments, but after that any unsolicited advice is unwelcome. I have spent the last eight months grinning and gritting my teeth through all the stories and advice, but I might blow a gasket if I have to hear anymore! Don't say it....Let me guess, it's only going to get worse once the baby is here? Heard it all before! So, Thanks in advance for thinking before you speak next time! Now, I'm going to take some deep, cleansing breaths and get my aura in a stable place so that I don't freak out on the next person that tells me my life is really about to change.