Happy Birthday Alyssa Catherine!

What a beautiful day!  Ready to have a baby!

We arrived at the hospital early Wednesday morning on July 14 to settle in & get labor started.  Paperwork, labs, etc were all done &Pitocin was started around 7:45am.  

I was 2-3cm & my cervix was thick, but OB didn't feel Cervidil was needed.   My water was broken around 8:30am & I started feeling contractions right away.  I couldn't get the epi until my IV bag of fluid was empty.  This helps prevent a drop in blood pressure (or so they thought) immediately after getting the epi.  Finally around 9:15am it was time for the epi!  Thank goodness!  I was thrilled to hear that Blake could stay during the epi since it's commonly against hospital policy.  

While getting the epi I started feeling dizzy & like I was going to faint.  Remember the IV bag that is supposed to help prevent a drop in blood pressure?  Well, my blood pressure bottomed out - drastically.  They didn't want to give me any meds for the low pressure because it would impact baby Alyssa.  So, I was monitored closely & it leveled off, still low, but level.  I think the lowest it got was 80s/40s.  It wasn't a pleasant experience at all!  The epi hurt like hell along with the contractions!  Not sure which was worse.  Luckily, 45 seconds later I felt NO pain at all.  

Addison & Grams came to visit around 11:00am.  Addison wasn't too sure about me laying in the bed with all the cords & stuff around me.  They left around 12:10pm & I was glad because I was feeling really nauseous & didn't want Addy to see me get sick.  

At around 12:20pm the nurse came in & I told her I felt sick & also felt pressure.  She suspected something was going on from the readings on the monitor at the nurse's desk & came to check me..... 9 1/2cm..... ready to push!  This particular OB nurse was awesome, however, she kept mentioning that baby wasn't coming down enough & a C-section might be needed.  Well, that went in one ear & out the other.  I'm sure she wasn't trying scare me & just prepare me for the worst case scenario, but I didn't want to hear that!  At least let me push a few times & let the OB assess the situation.  Ha, the 'situation'.  Did I mention that Blake walked Addy & Grams out to the car???  So, Courtney, a dear friend & our photographer for the day, hurried & called him on the cell to let him know NOT to take his time getting back to the room!  LOL!

I started 'practice' pushing & everything went very fast from there.  The OB came in & immediately said he didn't like the way baby Alyssa's heart rate was reacting when I pushed & said she had to come out now.  I remember the nurse calling the NICU for back-up because of fetal distress & heard 'forceps'.  Forceps are steel utensils used to assist the baby through the birth canal quicker than the OB thinks I would deliver just by pushing alone.  Whoa!  I think there ended up being about 10 people in the room in case of an emergency.  I pushed a couple of times & then OB inserted the forceps.  After another push or two baby Alyssa was born!  Well, before she could come all the way out the cord had to be cut since it was around her neck & shoulder.  This is what was preventing her from coming on out!  Those dang umbilical cords!  

At 12:53pm Alyssa Catherine was born 6lbs 14.6oz & 18 1/2 inches long.  Alyssa's Apgar score was 8 & 9.

More to come...

TOMORROW is BIRTH day

I went to my last prenatal appointment this morning.  The OB wasn't there because a lady was in labor at the hospital, dilated to 8cm and refusing to push without an epidural.  It was too late for her to get an epi & the dr kept telling her to just give him 2 or 3 pushes & the baby would be out!  Finally, I guess she pushed & the dr was able to come back to the office.  I told the nurses if I'm in that situation to call & remind me of the waiting room full of patients waiting to be seen & JUST PUSH!  LOL

My blood pressure was slightly elevated this morning, however, baby Alyssa is doing great!  The NST was normal with movement & heart rate for Alyssa.  I've progressed farther than last week & the OB suggested we not worry about the blood pressure & go ahead for an induction in the morning.  SIGN ME UP!  I'm ready!  So, nothing to eat after midnight & be at the hospital L&D at 6:30am.  I have mixed emotions about being induced again, but it's time for her to come out since my BP is rising.  Stay tuned.....

First outing without a diaper!

Yesterday was our first trip out of the house without a diaper was a SUCCESS!  YAY!  We only went to Walmart for about an hour, but that's a pretty big deal!

Waiting on Grams to get back with breakfast!

Today was another successful day for Addy & the potty.  There was a little shop that we always went to for bows, blankies & other little specialty baby items that suddenly closed without notice!  UGH!  HELLO, I'm about to have a baby girl, I need YOUR STUFF!  Luckily, the shop has a booth at a local flea market once a month, so we decided to make the trip to see if they were still there.  Yippie!  The booth was there & we got all of the items ordered that we wanted/needed.  Personalized blankies, burp cloths, bloomers!  

Okay, so back to the potty info.  I decided to put Addy in a diaper for our outing since the flea market is about 30 minutes away.  We got there & walked around for a bit then Addy said she needed to potty.  I rushed & found the bathroom & much to my surprise her diaper was dry & she used the BIG potty.  She cried a little bit, but nonetheless used the BIG potty.  I think it was just being in a new place, public bathroom, etc & she didn't like it much.  So, I put another diaper on her & went back to shopping.  She never asked to go again while we were at the flea market.  When we got home she was ready though.  Again, diaper was dry!  I'm not sure when I'll be brave enough to leave her in panties for naps & bedtime, but I think she is ready for them when we leave the house from now on.

My OB is NUTS

Okay, so at my last appt the due date was still July 11.  Well, today dr looks at my chart & makes the comment that he doesn't know why my chart is showing 39+ weeks, because my due date is actually July 17!  Today he decides that I'm actually 38+ weeks & is going by the very first ultrasound estimated gestational age due date of July 17.  That is fine with me, but STOP changing from week to week you idiot!  Seriously, I don't care if he delivers my baby or not.

Anyway, I'm continuing to make progress & blood pressure is still great.  The NST shows baby Alyssa is happy where she is right now, so that's all that matters.  I will endure another week or so of aches & pains if that's what I have to do!

Addy's potty-training is going very well.  We are to the point of NO accidents during the day!  AWESOME!  She wakes with a dry diaper from naps & if we catch her in time then her morning diaper is dry also.  Treats/snacks/bribery are no longer required!  She doesn't even ask for a Dora snack anymore!  She's just SOOOO excited when she uses the potty that is reward enough for her :)  

Surprise at First Friday

We had been planning to attend First Friday for more than a week.  The plan was to go eat dinner there & enter Addy & her wagon in the 4th of July parade (pics will come soon).  Yesterday I got a call from my neighbor giving me a tip on a little 'surprise' gathering the ladies from our playgroup were putting together for me.  Thanks Angela :)  

So, we strolled up the street to where the festivities were taking place.  There's always vendors, DJ, street dancing, etc.  It's just a good time for friends & family in this area to get together.  We went inside for dinner & my wonderful friends had the back room all decorated & setup for our baby shower!  

I'll be 39 weeks tomorrow!!! Holy Crap!!!

This is a pic of some of the ladies from the playgroup.  

My camera fogged up when we went outside :(

Addison wasn't too sure about going down the slide.  At first we thought she was going to go with Maggie, but she got half way up & turned around.  Finally, she went up with Courtney & slid down (on her tummy)!

Potty Progress

Today is DAY 9 of the 3 Day Potty Training.  LOL  Although we are well past the 3 days the guide suggests it takes to potty train your little one - I'm happy to report that yesterday (DAY 8) was our FIRST accident FREE day!  I know not to get my hopes up though & fully expect accidents to happen for a while going forward.  Half of the time she will tell me she needs to go potty & the other half I encourage her to go.  We are still putting diapers on for naps & bed time because that works for us right now.

Yay!  My Baby K'tan Infant Carrier just arrived!  I found a great deal at Baby Half Off & couldn't resist.  This carrier can be used from birth & will hopefully come in handy to carry/nurse Alyssa while chasing Addison!  I love my Baby Bjorn, but will have to wait until Alyssa is old/big enough to use it.

I'm 38 weeks & 4 days pregnant today!  It's such a blessing to still be pregnant & not have any complications thus far.  I'm pretty uncomfortable, but it's a small price to pay for what we are about to get in return.  I CAN'T WAIT!  The excitement & anticipation with baby #2 isn't any less than with baby #1!

Confession

Okay, okay!  I'll fess up to this.  Our front door is the type with the large oval glass & in the early evening hours during this time of year the sun blares in & blinds me!  So, lately I've been putting a thick blanket over the door to block out the sun.  Well, yesterday Addy was watching cartoons & I went to put the blanket over the door (Blake was in the kitchen which is open to the living area & front door).  I look to make sure Addy & Buddy aren't by the door so I won't close up a finger or nose.  Nobody was around....  I go back to sit on the couch & I don't see Addy.... Off I go through the house looking for her.  While I was in the back, Blake HEARD HER CRYING & SAW HER silhouette through the blanket that was covering the front door!  MY BABY HAD SLIPPED OUT WHILE I WAS PUTTING UP THE BLANKET & I DIDN'T REALIZE IT!  If that wasn't bad enough, she was totally naked (we were taking a break from panties during our potty training)!  SAD, SAD, SAD!

Speaking of potty-training, here is our new favorite snack!  These fruit snacks aren't very healthy, BUT when I showed them to Addy she went to potty!  I know they say NOT to bribe, but rules are made to be broken & this method may work for us :)  LOL

My dad just got called up for jury duty.  If you are 70 or older then you are exempt from serving.  Well, wouldn't you know that he has to go SIX days before his 70th birthday.  He called & tried to get out of it, but it didn't work!  Just his luck!

I'm 94% pregnant!

I'm still trying to make pigtails out of the little bit of hair Addy has.  At my last ultrasound the tech kept saying how much hair she was able to see on baby Alyssa's head.  Well, I couldn't see it!