Sunday, November 30, 2008

First Wellness Check

Yesterday's wellness check was great for Caralyn. She is over her birth weight already, which they don't expect until 2 weeks..and she was 5 days! The nurse was extremely happy with that. So she weighs 7lbs 8.1oz now. It's crazy. She eats like crazy already too. Most of the time like 3-4 oz per sitting.

My part of the wellness check wasn't so good. My blood pressure was still up at around 148/90. It's not super high, but high enough for them to worry about me. I did a urinalysis and they thought it was too much blood for 5 days after giving birth, so they took blood from me to do the same tests they've done 6 times already (that's no joke). I am getting completely upset by them taking my blood all the time for the same thing when everything comes back normal each time. It's frustrating.

So then we went and got food then home. Penny, Seth and Rachel were over from like 4:30-9:30. I could've done with them leaving earlier so I could've slept better than I had.

We've also been co-sleeping with Caralyn. I hadn't planned on it, but I'm too paranoid with the crib right now. Anytime I hear something (or don't hear something) I am up to check on her. It's killing me with how sore I am at the moment (my back's been hurting really bad from the epidural)...so we just sleep together. She slept for about 2 hours at a time last night, then gets up for food and a diaper change and sleeps again. Now that it's 6:40AM she should be sleeping for a little while longer.

Oh and my milk is definitely coming in...I'm so sore! It's crazy! I never expected pain like that. I can barely put on a bra without it hurting...and that's a stretchy comfy bra!

Well I'm out. I need to go get Josh up to watch Caralyn while I pump a couple bottles for the day. Baby girl is sooooo adorable sleeping in her bouncer right now...I could just eat her up!

Oh and for those that want pictures, it will be a little bit still...I am being selfish and want to keep her to myself for a little longer. It should be soon though. I'm sorry.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

She is the most beautiful baby in the world!

So....I haven't been online in a few days.

I had Caralyn on November 24 at 12:48PM. She is 7 lbs 6.6 oz and 19.8 inches long. She has a full head of dark brown hair (that runs in Josh's family).

My water broke at 2AM. We were at the hospital by 3AM and they started pitocin (since I didn't start labor on my own) around 6AM. I did eventually get an epidural and about an hour after it was started I had her.

The midwife that delivered her told Josh later that she had never seen a woman with an epidural do so well with pushing as I did. That made me happy to know that even if I can't feel what I'm doing, I am doing it and doing it well. I was determined to hold my baby as fast as I could.

Josh was wonderful at coaching me once he woke up (I let him sleep through the earlier contractions, knowing I would need him more once they REALLY started happening....) I couldn't have asked for a better coach. He was just absolutely amazing...and he kept his strength for me to use.

While I was getting the epidural, I guess they jabbed me with the needle like 8 times...I thought it was only 3, but I was wrong. I do have scabs on my back from it...and the spot they finally got it in was quite a bit higher. Luckily the local they gave me for that worked like a charm...I never felt anything. Josh was upset though and wanted to deck the lady giving it to me.

I had some problems while getting the epidural too..my vitals went down considerably before it was even in. As soon as it was in they had me lay back and get on oxygen. They also had to do an internal monitor for Caralyn because they couldn't find her with the external. It was crazy. Josh found the scab from that yesterday and almost freaked until he realized what it was from. LoL!

Today is her first wellness check. I hope we've done a good enough job with her so far. She has been eating like crazy the last couple days and last night, she actually slept most of the night away :) I got sleep along with my nap before bed! YAY! I'm still a bit tired, but I think that's because I'm pushing myself too much.

The day I came home from the hospital (Wednesday) I went to my mom and dad's rental place. The next day we were over there again for Thanksgiving. Yesterday I went to get my flu shot (though I have to go back Monday for it now), went to lunch with family, went to Target (yes, I know it's stupid to shop on black friday) and then finally home.

Todays plans are to stay home except the wellness appointment...we'll see how that goes with it being Penny, Seth and Rachel's last day here. Tomorrow I'll be chillin in Sequim probably then at home. It's going to be nice to just relax next week.

Well I'm out. One handed typing is not my strong suit...and my baby girl is so much better than the internet.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Another small update...

Hopefully things won't change again. That's for sure!

I had another appointment yesterday for the baby. We were all hoping I was going to have her this past weekend, but that didn't happen. No biggie. I don't figure she's going to come out until I'm induced.

I was supposed to be induced THIS Friday...the 21st. Something came up and the Dr. can't do it, so they had to change it on me. They tried getting me to be induced on Wednesday...which means I would miss Thanksgiving with my family and friends. NO WAY! I told the Dr. I was seeing WHY we had made it earlier than the 25th anyway and so they made it for the 25th. I have to call at 5AM to make sure there isn't pure chaos there first though...but since my cervix is so soft already, and I'm dilated to 3cm already, I shouldn't have to be ripened at all...or much.

So...yesterday after my appointment I wanted to cry...actually I wanted to cry IN my appointment, but I didn't. I had my hopes up to be holding my baby girl this weekend...and now that's probably not going to happen. Though, the Dr. did sweep my membranes again...so maybe this time it'll work a bit better (this time it didn't even really hurt, which is weird...maybe because it was a guy this time? I dunno...I've always felt male obgyn's are nicer and hurt less) and I'll have my baby this weekend anyway. Who knows.

On another note, my parents should be here by Sunday. I hope they have a safe trip up from California. They're heading back to 101 today since 5 has NOTHING to look at. This will take them longer, but like I've been telling them the whole time, they can take their time in getting here. LoL!

Well...that's all. I'll talk to y'all later!

Friday, November 14, 2008

Small Update

So, still no baby, which is okay at the moment.

I was checked again yesterday at my appointment (I'm going weekly now) and the midwife said I was almost at 3cm and asked if I wanted her to strip the membranes. I said "sure" since I know that sometimes helps get labor going....I figure anything to help it along! Well, after that I was a definite 3cm and possibly a little more, along with almost completely thinned out...so that's cool!

I lost my mucus plug yesterday too...definitely not a pretty sight, but oh well...it happens.

We also picked our induction day if she doesn't come early. It will be November 21, 2008...my cousin Jess' birthday :) We needed it after Wednesday since Josh has a qualification board to do that day and can't get leave until afterwards, so I figure since that was the 19th, I would go for the next birthday of a family member, which was the 21st. If there wasn't a family birthday I would've asked for the 25th since I think that's a sweet day for some reason. Don't know why, but Josh really wanted her to come early. I still have a small hope after the membrane sweep thing.

Anyway, I'm off...just wanted to update you all.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Or so I thought...

So at my last appointment, I was well on my way to going into labor within the week.

Yesterday I seriously thought that it would be then or today, but now I'm not so sure.

I was at the mall with Josh yesterday and I had a big contraction then almost passed out right afterwards (luckily I was already sitting down). He went and got me a wheelchair and we went to the hospital. Nothing was wrong. They ran blood work and everything, but everything came back 100% normal.

I was checked again and there was no change whatsoever in my dilation...so I'm still only 2cm after almost a week of walking, having sex and masturbating (I know, TMI, get over it!). So we'll continue on with all the stuff we're doing, but I guess it's not going to do anything for me really.

I have another appointment on Thursday to check my blood levels. Well I haven't taken too many readings because of random things. I try, but sometimes I just don't because I don't eat at the same time every day. I'm not hungry at the same time every day...and I'm not going to force myself to eat when I'm not hungry. That's all there is to that.

Anyway, yesterday I had a ton of long and strong contractions...and they were patterned. I would be 1 away from waking Josh up and then I wouldn't have one for 30 minutes. It made me so mad! I want to have her soon so Josh has more time with her. He's already fairly well regretting being in the Navy and having a child at the same time. I feel bad for him.

I've had a couple contractions today, but nothing like yesterday. Looks like more sex for me! YAY! I told Josh 2-3 times a day until I have her. I want her out!

Anyway....the only other thing is the weird cravings. Not for food or anything, but for smells...mainly rubbing alcohol...it's addicting...especially when you have to use the alcohol wipes for testing blood...OMG it's addicting. I always smell them before I wipe my skin, then after I test blood I take a few more smells because it smells so good and that's what I want to smell. I wish they made a candle the scent of rubbing alcohol.

Another is Compound W when it's already on the skin...Josh had a wart and he was using that stuff and it smelled soooooo good. His wart is already gone, so I don't get to smell that anymore which is sad. It's too potent and it's different when it's in the little jar...that makes me want to gag more than anything.

And then there's one that I can't really determine what it is, but I'm longing for it. I wish I knew what it was so I could just go get some and smell it on occassion so I could get over the darn craving.

That's the weirdest things though....craving certain smells...it's so weird. I had never heard of craving smells, but I guess it's fairly common. The nurse that did our Childbirth Education class had craved the smell of gasoline when she was pregnant. But I guess that's the normal one...gasoline...not rubbing alcohol! LoL!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Any day now

So I had a checkup yesterday for this pregnancy. I am now 37 weeks and 2 days, so I'm finally full term and they'll let me deliver any time now.

Well, I asked the Dr. when she was going to check for dilation and stuff, and she said she could do it either "now or next week." I opted for "now" and found out I am 2 cm dilated and my cervix is 3/4 "gone" (don't remember the exact term she used).

This means that I can deliver any day now anyway. I might not even make it to my appointment next week. This makes me very happy.

I did have energy yesterday until I took a hot shower to relax. This morning I woke up recharched even though I got woken up by my cat a million times last night. So, who knows...maybe today will be the day! I know that's probably wishful thinking, but you never know.

Anyway, that's the update. Later!

Monday, November 3, 2008

Halloween and other updates

So....I'll start off with the fact that Halloween was AWESOME! It was the only day last week that Josh had to work. He got to come home for lunch, and he got home from work a little after 4PM, which will be normal until he's back on the boat. I'm excited about this!

As soon as Josh got home he started working on the garage and getting it "presentable" since I decided I wanted to sit sheltered in case it started raining again (we don't need a sick prego in the house!) He did an amazing job, though it's not 100% finished. I want a couple things moved around so I can put up a curtain to hide the "storage" stuff.

As Trick or Treat started, it was slow, so Josh painted my belly :) It was sooooo cute! A little dragon licking my belly :)



I love it...I think it's really cute. He ended up adding the word "Slurp" to it too, but by the time we got a picture of that, it was ruined a bit. Next time we'll know to use better paint instead of Halloween paint.

Now to the fun parts. Saturday and Sunday we were running around doing last minute things to get ready for the hospital and baby's birth. Well...I thought I was going into labor by the end of both days. Saturday the contractions stopped after relaxing for a little bit...Sunday...that's a different story. I almost actually went to the hospital because I hurt so bad even after 2 hours of trying to relax. I was in tears and Josh felt so bad that he couldn't do anything about it. I took a nice warm/hot shower (I know I'm not supposed to but I don't care!) and layed in the tub for a bit letting the water relax me. As soon as I sat up, the pain started in again, so I went to bed and layed down on my left side while Josh was on my laptop playing with his RP friends. I fell asleep and when I woke up the first time, I was feeling a little better, but I couldn't lay on any side but my left one. So...that's just what I did.

This morning I feel a lot better, haven't had any real contractions that I've actually felt and the only problem is my poor swollen feet/ankles/legs/knees. So I'm staying in bed today until Josh gets home. I've already told him of this plan and he said it sounded like a good one. I don't want to be in pain tonight...not like last night...that was killer.

I think today when he gets home from work we'll run to the NEX and get the extendable shower curtain so I can put that up over the closet to hide the plain white closet doors with the theme of the room :)

Well...that's all. I'll try to keep everyone updated :)