Birth Story

Okay, so we've been a bit busy with our little Abigail finally here, but I wanted to take a few moments while she's sleeping in Daddy's arms to publish her birth story.

After waiting and waiting and waiting, the contractions finally started. Saturday evening around 6:45 they started up and were happening about every 5-6 minutes and although weren't unbearable, were definitely making their point. Since I was supposed to experience that level of contractions for 1 hour before calling the doctor, we took Patrick up to the pool for almost an hour where he and Chip could have some fun time while I sat poolside enjoying watching them while timing contractions. After about 45-50 minutes of regular ones, they started getting further apart and less painful. So they just kinda' disappeared. I was disappointed.

Around 10:45 that evening they started up again, this time less painful but happening anywhere from 3 to 6 minutes apart. After about 1 hour and 15 minutes of that I decided to call the doctor to get the go-ahead for the hospital trip. I could've endured more pain, but I was worried to wait too long just because my thresh-hold of pain might be different than others'. I got the "ok" and we left the house around 12:15 AM on Sunday morning.

Once we arrived they quizzed me about my medical history for about 1/2 hour while hooking me up to monitors. The doctor came in and checked me out. Report: 75% effaced, right at 4 cm, and contractions every 2 minutes. They were keeping me (hooray!). Around 3:00 AM they gave me some pain medication that stopped my contractions entirely (which they knew could happen when they gave it to me). Then at 5:00 AM they started a pitocin drip to restart the contractions they had stopped. They figured that since it was my due date it didn't make sense to send me home only to bring me back in 3 days to induce. We were on our way. =)

At 10:30 AM the epidural came. I was terrified again and quite upset. Not that it was painful or anything bad happened, but frankly, I'm scared to death of the procedure. However, since she was supposed to be a big girl, I was worried about that as well and opted to get the epidural anyway.

At 1:30 my doctor came in again and broke my water. At that time I was (only) at 5 cm, but he felt things would move much more quickly once he broke my water and the baby could begin descending.

He was right.

At 3:30 he returned and informed me that we were at 10 cm and ready to go. He told the nurse to turn the epidural WAY down and we would begin pushing in 30 minutes. I started feeling the contractions again, but this time in my back, but it wasn't excruciating. The feeling was returning to my lower half. This would definitely help with the pushing (I pushed for 1-1/2 hours with Patrick because half of that time I was so numb that I couldn't tell IF I was pushing!).

At 4:00 PM the room was set up, I was positioned and everyone was suited up for the delivery.

The delivery was so very simple!

I pushed through three contractions and then one additional time and she was out! It was awesome! At 4:17 PM on Sunday, June 28th, our little Abigail Jane was here!

She IS a big girl...and we love her so very much! She has all of us...including her big brother...wrapped around her tiny pinky finger already!

We came home Monday evening around 7:00 pm. Tuesday we had her follow up pediatrician's appointment where the doctor noted how healthy and STRONG she is (she is already able to hold her head up...although with not much control...and at the dr's office she was trying to push up onto her elbows when placed on her tummy!). I, of course, had already been exposed to a few months of how strong she is! Yesterday (Wednesday) we had to go to the hospital to have her bilirubin checked and she is jaundice-free! Hooray!

I am doing okay. Started being really sore yesterday, but that's to be expected...especially with a chunk of a baby (the nurses in the hospital called her "big mama"). Chip is an awesome dad, which I of course already knew. He has been my everything during the last 4 days while we are adjusting to this new phase of life.

Abigail is doing pretty well sleeping so far. Sure there are sleepless times, but as a whole, she's doing great.

I will post pictures soon. Right now I need to go get Abigail out of Chip's hands so he can eat lunch. =)

She's HERE!

Abigail Jane arrived Sunday, June 28th at 4:17 pm.

She was 9 lbs and 21 inches long. She has dark brown hair and lots of fat rolls.

Here is the one photo that we can currently load onto the laptop that we have here at the hospital. I will post more pictures and a birth story soon. Until then, we're all going to enjoy the new addition to our family! =)

Still waiting...

Cue some hold music for now, as we are still waiting on Abigail to make her appearance.

On a good note, my mom is in town for her birth, so I'm having a great time spending time with her!

Frustration

So I went back to the doctor hoping for great news today about our progress in getting Abigail here. Everything health wise is good news, but I am still frustrated.... I'll elaborate in a moment.

My blood pressure was great at 120/70, Abigail's heartrate was at a steady 148 bpm. The inside of my cervix has dilated more than last visit, but the outside is still less than 2 cm. Boo, hiss. I know...she could still come. In fact, with Patrick I was only at 2 cm when I arrived at the hospital after my water broke at home. So I know it CAN happen...I was just hoping for more progress.

The frustration came in here: I was hoping that since this weekend will mark 39 weeks for me that he would schedule my induction for soon...like Monday. Well, I have ANOTHER appointment next Thursday and he'll schedule an induction then if I want...for Friday. So the good news is that the longest I will have to be pregnant is one more week, but I was really hoping for sooner.

Of course, with Patrick I went to the doctor on a Friday and we had scheudled an induction for the following Thursday, but he came that Saturday early morning following the appointment, so I'm honestly hoping for that...especially since I'd prefer things happen naturally anyway.

Oh well...God is in control, I know, so I'll leave it up to Him. Now I will just beg Him to make it SOON, as I am so very tired of being pregnant!

Wrapping it Up

Well, today is my last day at work. I think I've pretty much taken care of the big stuff before I leave. I have reviewed most of my mundane, scheduled tasks with my temporary replacement, completed larger projects that I wouldn't dare hand off to anyone else, and even made a list of things that I need to do before I leave the office today (I told you I was a list maker!). Those things include items like: set out of office message up for emails, record voicemail greeting to indicate I will be out for an extended period, notify receptionist how to route my incoming calls, throw cup of yogurt in my refrigerator out so I don't return to penicillin in my office.

I also went to the local home improvement store yesterday and purchased some blinds for my office window. I have some on my door, but have a large 4 ft x 4 ft window from my office out into a large warehouse where approximately 60+ people work. This is normally not a concern for me, but since I will be pumping breastmilk (in my office) when I return to work, I figured that this is not an experience that I care to share with these people. =) So my boss and the HR director approved the purchase of the blinds and my maintenance supervisor told me he would get them installed for me while I was gone. =) Hooray...no peep show for the warehouse personnel! =)

Today I had to change my entire outfit because my feet were too swollen to fit into my brown work shoes. And the pants I was wearing only worked with brown shoes, so I had to change those too. And since I put on black pants, my shirt no longer would work. I'm getting to the point where I am outgrowing my clothes and I refuse to buy any more!

Yesterday afternoon Patrick and I had a run-in. He didn't like me telling him what to do (you know...don't eat doughnuts before dinner, go wash your hands...that kind of thing), so while he was behind the closed bathroom door to wash his hands, he started mouthing off in response to me, thinking that I couldn't hear him. Now, I have no problem with him being angry (of course he'll get mad at me), but it was WHAT he said that got him in trouble. I was actually quite hurt by his comment, but when I opened the door to confront him, he had a shocked look on his face and immediately broke down crying when I indicated that I had heard what he said. Although my feelings were very hurt, I thought that showing him this might make lead to him doing it more often (later) to be vindictive. So we talked about how he was a nice boy and nice boys don't say those things. We talked about how it was okay to be mad, and it was okay to express that we were mad, but there were hurtful and mean things that are NEVER appropriate to say. He then apologized and hugged me.

Later things were all alright, but I think he and I both had a life lesson yesterday. I really don't want him to grow up and lose this innocence, although I know he must. =(

I will now update my To Do list below:

1. Hang fan in nursery. Replacement part ordered. Drill died, but will borrow one from a neighbor ASAP.
2. Move glider from Patrick's room into nursery.
3. Give house key to neighbor who can let the dog out while we are at hospital. Done!
4. Find somewhere to donate old children's toys in good condition.

Hooray...only three things left!

What a Weekend!

So we had a great weekend in our household!

Saturday started with Chip cooking some scrumptious omelets and toast for breakfast. Then we watched a wee bit of TV followed by some outdoor productive time. Chip changed the oil in his car and mine while Patrick and I washed the car that he was not currently lying under. It was a great way for Patrick and me to stay away from the TV, get some much needed sunshine, some much needed exercise, and play in the water hose. And I must say...Patrick does a pretty good job washing a car! =) We will certainly use that to our advantage in a few years. =)

After the hot, exhausting, yet fun, morning we ate lunch. Patrick and Chip then each took a nap while I did some grocery sale and couponing researching and made out a menu plan for the next (approximately) 2 weeks. It was actually only 8 meals, but with leftovers from each meal, I figure that will equate into about 2 weeks.

Somewhere over the course of the day, I finished the SIX loads of laundry that I started on Friday evening. Yes...six. How does a family of 3 acquire six loads of laundry? Well, honestly it had been 2 weeks since I'd done any for Patrick (that child has entirely too many clothes), so I had to do two for all of his currently dirty stuff. Then I had to do two for Chip and me, one of sheets, and one of clothes that just arrived from Chip's sister, Sally. She rocks! She has been handing down clothes from her son for Patrick's entire existence, so we continually receive very nice clothes for our oldest. Well, she also has a daughter that is Patrick's age, so she has started sending clothes for Abigail as well. She proclaims that she hasn't kept as much from her daughter's infanthood, but she sent some ADORABLE stuff. Honestly...I think our children would be naked half of the time if it weren't for her! Thanks, Sally!

Sunday we did our usual church thing and then went out to lunch afterwards and gorged ourselves (okay, so I did...the other two really didn't). That was followed by a nap by Patrick and a trip for me to the grocery store. I spent around $140.00 and saved around $70.00 (woot woot), and that will get us through 2 or 2-1/2 weeks. It also included some things that I don't usually have to buy, like toothpaste for Patrick and some household cleaners, so I figure it actually was a pretty frugal shopping trip. I also got some serious non-essential treats, but hey-we all need those from time to time, right (and I love me some powdered doughnuts in the morning).

Sunday evening after Patrick got up from his nap, Chip attempted to hang the fan, but our drill battery may be completely useless. We're going to have to look into it, but first the fan needs to be hung, so we plan on bumming one off of a neighbor to get the job done and then dealing with ours later. So then, Patrick and Chip went to the pool and had a blast. I wanted to go, but was feeling pretty lousy. I was having some serious stomach pains and could not figure out if they were related to an upset stomach or contractions. Boo hiss. They just hurt.

So tomorrow is my last day at work before Abigail's arrival (unless she comes tonight I guess--then today would be my last!). I'm awfully tired, as I did not sleep well last night. It's fine though...I guess my body is prepping me for a series of sleepless nights. Thanks, me. =)

Otherwise all is well. Looking at the ticker at the top of the blog is surreal, as the countdown is down to less than 2 weeks. If I haven't delivered by Friday, the doctor is wanting to talk induction for next week, so in less than two weeks, our little princess will be here! I can't wait to meet her!

Doctor's Appointment (Wk 37+) and To Do List Update

Had a doctor's appointment yesterday. My bp and weight are great. My hemoglobin was "great for a full-term pregnant woman" (whatever that means...does our blood go bad when we're pregnant?). Abigail's heart rate was good (148 bpm).

It seems she's still determined to be a big baby, as the measurement from the top of my uterus to my pelvic bone is measuring as if I'm 39 weeks rather than 37. The doctor said that it is well within normal limits and since I've already proven my pelvis can handle having a child, he's not terribly concerned about it. I wanted to remind him that the baby I've proven I can deliver was smaller than this one, but I thought that might be a bit brash. =)

So my next appointment is next Friday (the 19th), which will be at the very end of 38 weeks. He told me that if she still isn't here by then, we can discuss induction if I want. I'm torn about that. I like the idea of everything happening on its own and taking its own natural course, but I'm very tired of being pregnant and worried that this baby will continue getting bigger! What says you?

Next Tuesday (the 16th) is my last day at work. After feeling horribly most of last week, I was ready for my maternity leave to begin. However, this week I've felt great while at work, so I feel almost silly wanting to stay at home as long as I'm feeling good. Plus...a paycheck is always a good thing, you know.

Tuesday night I thought was going to be the night. Contractions started coming every 4 minutes and I was (although in pain) excited. I was thinking, "yes...this is it!" Chip was at praise band rehearsal at the church and as soon as about 40 minutes of contractions hit I was planning on calling him to come home. Well, after 20 minutes they just stopped. Yep...nothing more. I was heartbroken because I'm not only tired of being pregnant, I'm ready to meet this little girl! Oh well!

I guess that's about it for pregnancy updates. I will now update my To Do list below:

1. Finish filling out paperwork for time off of work - including what the doctor needs to complete at the appointment. Turned in today. Done!
2. Hang fan in nursery. Need replacement part and drill first.
3. Move glider from Patrick's room into nursery.
4. Give house key to neighbor who can let the dog out while we are at hospital. He has agreed to do it, but we need to get the key to him.
5. Find somewhere to donate old children's toys in good condition.
6. Hang picture frames on stairway walls. (sorry--the details would bore you, but this has needed to be done for about 2 months now) Done!
7. Wash guest room comforter to remove loads of cat hair. Done!