Platonically in Love

Yes, I will admit it I am platonically in love with my doctors. I'm not even sure you can use the word "platonic" in that form. I had to go in to the doctor for a quick visit and I got to see both the doctors, the one who delivered our babe and my actual doctor. I brought my camera just in case.

Here she is with Dr. F, my doctor who was on vacation - notice the tan?

Not one of my favorite pictures of me, but I did just have a baby a week ago.

And Dr. I, who delivered her.

She is Here!

And she captured our hearts right away.

My doctor was out of town, however, the on call doctor was amazing. I loved him just as much. Here we are after the "rescue mission". This doctor is retiring in May, so I'm happy to be one of his last deliveries. He even gave me a bib for her with his name on it.

And this was my awesome/amazing delivery nurse. Unfortunately, her shift ended right when I was dilated to a 10. But she came up and visited us the next day.

Some have requested the "story". I don't really like birth stories, so here is just a synopsis.

• I was dilated to a 3 and 70% effaced for 3 weeks
• Since I was overdue I had to take a non-stress test
• In the non-stress test my amniotic fluid level was very low (it should not be lower than a 10 I was at a 5).
• I had protein in my urine
• I had very high blood pressure
• The placenta was aged.
• The nurse summed it up, "Your body is done". I was admitted to the hospital.
  
• They started the induction, however not quickly (I am strep positive so the antibiotic has to run for 4 hours).
• After 4 hours active labor began.
• Labor went smooth I would say even easy, delivery was the hard part.
• I pushed and pushed for 3 hours. I was exhausted and she was stuck. Did I mention my pelvic bone was narrow?
  
• After 3 hours they prepped us for a c-section, however, the doctor wanted to try forceps first. The difficulty: I wasn't even crowning.
  
• After the longest and most painful 7 minutes of my life (even with the epidural) the doctor did an amazing job and out came the baby safe and sound (which I might add during all this her heart rate stayed the exact same she never stressed)
• She was beautiful she had a few "battle wounds" but she was healthy. And we were thrilled. I cried, Brad cried, even the nurse cried, and the doctor cheered.
• And now we are home learning our new life and truly loving it.
  

40 Weeks and +

Well, my due date came and went. And this week, I'm trying to talk her into NOT coming because my doctor is on vacation. I do have an induction day set for next week which is my 42nd week (most docs don't like you going past 42 weeks). It's just the waiting and waiting that kills me. All last week I was having what you call "false labor" which I think needs to be called "teasing labor". I'm not miserable, per se. I mean being this big and pregnant isn't exactly comfortable, but I'm tolerating it just fine, or I'm just used to it, and I can't remember what it's like to not be pregnant. Last week I had 2 things happen to me which are key indicators that labor will start shortly (again I'm sparing you the details). Everyone kept telling me, "Oh you will for sure go within 48 hours" HAHAHA [inset sarcastic laugh] 216 HOURS later she still has not come, apparently that is NOT a key indicator for me. More evidence to support the theory that anything is possible in pregnancy and nothing is ever "normal". So here is picture of me from today 40 weeks and +. (See my swollen feet and ankles?).

What's up?

It's April 10th, this is what my mantle looks like because you know it is Spring:

But the weather disagrees:

And it makes me sad.

Naturally Inducing

We have been taking it easy this weekend - in hopes a certain baby would make her debut. I have been consistently progressing each week, and at my last doctor's appointment I was 3 centimeters and 70 % effaced - pretty good numbers, right? My doctor told me I would go within 10 days which means before my due date.

Then on Thursday 2 BIG key indicators that tell you labor is in the very near future happened (I will save the gory details of what those are exactly but I'm sure the ladies can guess). So I mean, this weekend seemed so perfect - not to mention convenient. My doctor is on call (ON CALL! And well I'm a tiny bit selfish and loved the idea of having him to be the one to greet, check in, and deliver) and it's the weekend. And with a husband who started a job only 2 months ago (no time off) it would have been perfect.

So.... since nature was doing quite well I thought why not help push it along?

Massage - Check.

Resting and relaxing - Check.

Long walks (with dogs even) - Check.

Jumping Jacks - Yep

Bouncing on an exercise ball - Doing it at as I type.

Hitting the right acupressure points - Yep! (And they tell you ONLY do these IF the doctor says you need to be induced because apparently they work that well - they don't work, not for me anyway).

Castor Oil - Umm yeah I tried. I couldn't keep it down, it was that disgusting so I did an alternative.

AND GUESS WHAT??? Nothing.

I've come to the theory the baby will come when the baby is good and ready to come, nothing will push her, prod her, or tell her otherwise. I wonder who she sounds like? Which means I better stop pushing, because if she is like who I think she is (me) then pushing only means pushing back harder. Lesson 1 learned child. Baby 1 Mom 0. And so it begins...

3 Times One Week

I don't reread books (There are only a few books I have reread), and I don't like rewatching movies (we have to be out of options and a long time in between for me to rewatch them). I'm not sure why but it's just not my thing. So for me to have watched this movie 3 times in one week is, well, surprising. But I LOVE it.

Intuition?

She knows something is up. What that is exactly she is uncertain about, it's obvious by the way she paces (she paces when she is nervous). She never lets me leave her sight. She follows me everywhere. It kills her when I leave, I know because I can tell by the look she gives me. She is a wise soul.

Baby Shower

I have amazing sister-in-laws and a great mother-in-law. They threw me and this sweet babe a baby shower. And it was lovely.

Here is the beautiful decor Andrea made for me to go in the nursery. Matches perfectly.

Here is Andrea and me. She did so much! Plus played photographer and my shower and got pictures of EVERYTHING. I finally got one picture with her.

Some more of my other hostesses.

Aubrey and me.

And this quilt. Well, isn't it just beautiful?
This was made by my Sis-in-law who lives out of state. I LOVE it. This will be the main bedding. This little baby has had some wonderful things made for her that I will cherish forever.

My wonderful "bosom friend" and former roommate Haley was able to make it down from Wyoming for the day. She came straight to the shower after a 6 hour car ride with her 5 month old son. (BTW she didn't just come down for the shower, she and her husband were in Utah to bless their new son).

The decor. "Some" of the clothes her grandma gave.

Friends and family.

(You know, it's funny. When I look in the mirror I don't look that swollen. And then I look at pictures and I think holy cow I AM SWOLLEN. At least it means things are progressing correctly).

**Also in the bottom left corner of the collage - yes, that is cheesecake with raspberry sauce. One of my favorites. It was a delicious as it looks.**

Here is my niece who played a big role. She answered the door and would bring me my presents. Very important jobs.

And well, this little guy. I don't think I mentioned the newest addition to our family (he arrived in December). Isn't he just scrumptious? I gobble those cheeks every time.

I loved the shower. Many wonderful thank yous to my SILs and MIL for all the work they did.

Baby Advice

As a new parent I have been inundated with baby advice. Most has been appreciated others just receive a nod and I try to forget it. However, I received (hands down) the best advice from my 4 year old little nephew. What advice is this you wonder? "To not let it die." Oh, and that I should not let it chase birds away. Love.this.kid.

Next Month

I cannot believe I can now say this little babe is coming next month. These 8 months have flown by. I do not have anything negative to say about pregnancy. I have been lucky. My pregnancy has gone so smoothly, that when the-not-so-pretty-things-of pregnancy have occurred, I think, "Yay, things are going the way they should!" I have loved experiencing, with awe, this little miracle. I will admit there is some genius behind the 9 month gestation period of the human reproduction. It really has taken me this long to prepare mentally and emotionally for this new change in our lives.

I don't exactly feel huge, per se. I mean I feel big, but not quite like a barn yet, but give me some time. ;) However, according to a not-so-socially-skilled male coworker of mine, I bring meaning to the saying, "Large with child". He is lucky there was no 2x4 around. I told him (dignifyingly - is that a word?), "My doctor thinks I'm perfect."

So I will leave you some maternity pics my talented SIL, Andrea took for me. I was 31 weeks.