First days

After all the excitement of delivery, I was able to eat again, and damn, was I hungry!  At 5:30 I was able to finally feel my legs and get up, go to the bathroom and walk around the room to make sure I wouldn’t get sick/lightheaded, then they put me in a wheelchair and we went to my post-partum recovery room.  Franklin had quite a crowd to see him:  Gigi, Meme, Grandpa Barton & Popper, Aunt Suzie, Aunt Julie, Uncle Ben, Aunt Kelly and cousin Elliot (forgive me if I forgot someone… so much hubbub and the past 2 days are a wild blur).  We tried feeding right after delivery, but he wasn’t interested.  He was passed around a little, pictures taken all around.   After all the excitement, everyone besides Gigi, Grandpa Barton and Aunt Kelly left.  I finally ate – had fries and mac n cheese.  I really don’t remember too much more until 1ish when he got a bath and ate successfully.  He ate at 1, 6 and 7, then slept most the rest of the day.  I slept 2am-3am, tried waking him up to feed to no avail, then slept again 5-6 and changed a dirty diaper.  He ended up with 2 dirty and 2 wet in the first 24 hrs.  Gigi, Grandpa Barton and Aunt Kelly came around 10am before Grandpa Barton and Aunt Kelly left for home.. Grandpa HAD to get a picture of Frankie on the Colts pillow pet I had with me – I used that in the delivery room for the contractions.  He didn’t want to eat, at all.  He wasn’t the only stubborn one – none of the babies have wanted to feed.   Gigi hung out with me all day, occasionally left to eat.  I was able to nap again at 2:30 while I waited for lunch to come up.  My dr has me on a low-fiber diet because I tore so bad (4th degree, I found out… OUCH – not feeling it right now but afraid of how I’ll feel when I’m home).   The day is a pretty bad blur – Meme and Aunt Suzie came by to visit, had various nurses come in, his pediatrician came in and checked him out, a lactation nurse came in to talk to me – told me no blanket and to football hold him… I could only do the football hold when she was here, the cradle is just so much easier, so I’m using that..  I feel I have more control that way.  I was finally able to get him to eat at 7 – after he was circumcised.  Daddy got back at around 7 so after I was done feeding him, he was able to hold him after not seeing him all day.  I took pictures throughout the day for him to show off at work and keep him updated on how Frankie was doing.  Gigi, Meme and Aunt Suzie left at ending hours – Gigi is staying here for the week to help us out.  Frankie can somewhat self-soothe unless he is just really upset about something.  To sum up Day 1 – not really eventful – just alot of sleeping.

We had a rough night.  Daddy was able to soothe him.  I was able to get a little nap before Daddy went to bed.  Because Franklin just was not happy last night, I spent a majority of it up and walking around the room with him.  Sat upright in the rocking chair and put both my boys to sleep.  Finally got Franklin to eat at midnight again – he went 5 hrs between feedings and the nurse showed me how to change the diaper with the circumcision and to swaddle him how they do it.  She ended up taking him out of the room after I got him to sleep and into the nursery so I could get some sleep until he was ready to feed.  I fell asleep as soon as she walked out of the room around 2 and woke up in time for Brandon to leave for work and tell them to bring him back in.  Soon as we got him back in, he fed more and I got him to burp.  We’re waiting on more dirty diapers.  He also spit up a little while writing this blog out.  I go home today so hopefully we’ll have more success at home where we’re not under so much pressure and I’m not as terrified he’s going to stop breathing on me.  We’ll see his dr in a week and I can go to the clinic and do closing paperwork since I went to them initially due to no insurance.

 

 

The little Miracle

What a fun day this has been… had some contractions last night and woke up with them at 2 and they got progressively regular and stronger. Called the dr at 5ish when they were close enough and he directed us to go to the hospital. I called my parents house and kept calling – Kelly finally answered and went up to tell mom. I then called Dad’s cell phone and told him. My water hadn’t broken yet, but my dr checked me to see if I had made any progression from my visit on Saturday – I had – I was 4 cm dilated and 90% effaced. He broke my bag and they put me on Pitocin to help get things going a little more then they were. I had a lot of back labor to begin with, then once they got me in the room I was going to deliver in, the back labor turned into full uterus/back… I was able to deal with most the contractions (with an EXCELLENT coach – Brandon – holding my hand through MOST contractions and helping me breathe – telling me to keep eye contact with him and that really helped) until 45 min before pushing (which I didn’t know it was going to be that close). The nurse had me go pee then put the epidural in. Because I had rested/relaxed so much between contractions, 45 minutes after they put the epidural in, they checked me again and I was all the way thinned out, 0 station, and 10 dilated.. so they got everything ready for me to start pushing. I honestly don’t think I would have been able to do a natural birth… pushing didn’t hurt too bad at first, then about an hr after I started pushing is when I started crying and not thinking I couldn’t finish.. again.. I had a great coach and the nurses were awesome. When he started crowning was when the epidural was starting to wear off – I didn’t know this until after I had delivered him. I had to let the contractions build up a bit until I couldn’t stand the pain anymore… the first push was always the best one cause I had rest between. In the midst of all this going on, everyone had arrived. Chris was on stand-by in case Brandon couldn’t stay with me. Which he was able to, but had to sit down between each push because of the adrenaline kicking in. When Frankie started crowning, I was shaking my head at every 2nd push, not thinking I could do it… the nurses were awesome – telling me one more good push.. that he was staying put between contractions. They told me I was doing awesome for a first-timer and said that not many first timers had the determination I did. I think part of the reason is cause I had Brandon there and he was awesome… I had to scream out a few times and between contractions, they told me instead of screaming out, use that energy to push.. Because he was a lot bigger than they thought, they had to cut a bit or I was going to tear. I ended up tearing anyway.. I forgot all about the pain when I looked down and saw his head, then the rest just fell out.. he didn’t cry until he was on me.. They had to empty my bladder once. This gives a whole new meaning to “love at first site”. I was able to try to get him to breastfeed, but he was playing and wasn’t latching on. Now he is sound asleep… I still can’t believe I did it. We will have a few pictures posted tomorrow.

Soooooo close!!!

Went to the dr this morning and I am 2cm dilated and 80% effaced… Baby has been pushing down off and on yesterday and I’ve had headaches all week.  I’ve had some contractions/stomach tightening off and on the past week, but nothing to send me to the hospital yet. People at work are all like “you’re still here?? what the hell?”.  It’s almost like they WANT me gone.. I can go in any day now, so the bag is packed and re-packed.. his room is almost done.  Going to talk to the landlords soon about installing hooks into the ceiling so we can hang up the rod and get the things we need hung up.

Brandon has Amp (energy drink) in the fridge if he needs them.

We are as ready as we can be.. it’s just playing the waiting game now… I’ll be 40 weeks on Tuesday.  FMLA kicks in on Thursday.

Time to monitor

I stayed home from work today because I woke up a little before 4 with a painful contraction.  I went to the washroom and got back in bed, shaking uncontrollably from the pain… I was shaking so bad, Brandon woke up and I explained what was going on.. he rubbed my back until I stopped shaking, then did some research on the computer to see if this was more normal pain.  Some people were stating early labor, others were stating it wasn’t.. about 5, Brandon told me to call Chris to get her opinion.. felt kinda bad for waking her up, but I needed reassurance.  I decided to call in because I was feeling so sick and having so much pressure in my lower back – like menstrual cramping.  Around 6:30, I layed down to see if that would lessen the pain… really didn’t… ended up falling asleep til 8ish.  About 9:30 I called the dr’s office to see if I could go in and get checked out since I had a headache and lower back pain still.  Found out I am almost 2 cm dilated and he hooked me up to the monitor for about 1/2 hr, checking every so often, feeling my stomach.. I had irregular contractions and now know exactly what they feel like, even if they don’t hurt right now.  But he told me they will get stronger and become more regular… he said I could go into labor this weekend or it still could be a few days… but he said I am getting close.  I get this random “lightning rod” feeling as well, but again, just normal signs of things progressing.  He said I need to keep monitoring the pain and when I can tell when I’m having the contractions, to time them.  If they get to 7 minutes or less for more than an hour, to call or if the water breaks, to call.  Because I’m so small and it’s so close to my due date, it’s hard to determine.. and for me, being my first time, it feels like I’m making stuff up and feel kinda silly when I call for irregular things that haven’t been happening.. but being reassured by him definitely helps.  I’m glad I called off so I could see what was happening.. and getting a visual of his heartbeat and mine with the contractions definitely helped me to know I wasn’t making things up.  I’m glad Brandon is off work as well.

Getting Anxious/Excited/Scared

This past week, I’ve been experiencing more pain in my lower body and last night had some menstrual-like cramps and a headache.  I was up every hour making bathroom trips and Jynx was following me each time.  Lately, I haven’t been able to tell if I actually have to make a bathroom trip, so I go anyway.  I’ve been going on walks every day.. trying to keep up a fast pace – letting Jynx set it.  I stretch a bit before I go (which I’m going to start doing on the exercise ball I got), then leash Jynx up and go.. the route changes every time as well as the distance.  The path I went on Thursday ended with meeting a new dog.  He was a boxer mix and his owner, Nicole, wasn’t sure how Jynx would handle such a bigger dog.. when I told her about Beckett, she didn’t worry so much and let them get their sniffs in.. Jynx got bored with him after a couple sniffs and started walking away.  I get home and stretch again to cool down.

This morning – had another dr appointment which Brandon went with again.  I brought these pains up and he assured me that they may have been contractions and to keep an eye on them.. if they start getting more constant and to time them when they do start getting constant.  And that the other pains (like feeling sore/hips feeling like they’re going to split/feeling like I went on a good run and the stinging randomly), were just my body and Franklin preparing for D-Day.   I am still about 1cm dilated and 70-80% effaced.  He said it could happen in the next few days or it could be a week still.  My body will determine that.  He went over when to go to the hospital, but to also not panic since, it being my first, it’ll be some time before I actually start pushing.  I told him about Jeff (the safety manager at work) and how he was panicky and said that if things happened at work, I’d be going to CDH.  Kim said if it happens at work, I still have time to call Brandon and get to LaGrange and he asked if we knew where that was.  Brandon told him that Chris works there so yes, we did know.

Car seats are installed!!! Just need to get them over to the police or fire station and get them approved.

I see him again on Wednesday.

Enjoy week 37 pictures as well as if Brandon wants to add anything how he’s feeling or if he will make his own post (he made this blog for both our POV, but it’s mainly been me. haha).

WHAT A FACE!!!|

Progression??

So I read up on BabyCenter as to what I was experiencing today.  I’ve been randomly getting “lightning rod” burning/stinging all day.. I read that I need to drink my fluids to help lessen that but it didn’t seem to help.   Anyone else have anything they can tell me to relieve it a little?  I know it’s normal at this stage in the pregnancy, but good god does it hurt!  Otherwise, nothing new to report today… I did tell my supervisor and her bosses that I’m 1cm dilated as of Saturday and Christina in HR told me to contact Nancy, also in HR, about getting my maternity leave paperwork to get that filled out and squared away.  Since Nancy had other things she needed to get done, I didn’t get it today, so hopefully I’ll get that tomorrow and have it with me on Saturday’s appointment and get it turned back in Monday (so long as things don’t go too fast), but I have the fax number to HR so I can fax have the dr’s office fax it in to them just in case.. as I said, Dr. Kim was surprised with the progression.  Getting the car seats installed today when Brandon gets home, hopefully.  I couldn’t get the one in mine done because the seat belt was twisted so I knew they wouldn’t approve that cause it wasn’t snug, so Brandon gets to put both of them in, or at least work with me on getting them in..

I DID take Jynx for a short walk, since it was so nice out. I need to make sure I do every day until I go into labor to help the labor process go smoother… a girl at work told me to make sure I walk A LOT while I can to help everything stay flexible and loose.  I’ve dropped the actual yoga DVD I have and just been doing my own stretches since that’s all it is anyway.

Need to find out what Sam has as far as car seats and such go, cause if she needs a base, I can order one that goes with mine.

Week 36 Ultrasound and Dr appointment

This ultrasound was more for Dr. Kim to see the sizing.  Not sure of the length, but he is 5 lbs 12 oz right now.  The technician said he’d be 6 1/2  but no more than 7.  Which, she said, is good for someone of my size and that it should be a smooth and easy delivery for me. So we’ll see, I guess.  I told her I was small as well and I believe Brandon was too, but I couldn’t be certain of that and she just said everything is perfectly normal.. his heartbeat was at 134, so everything still looks good and to just continue taking care of myself.. nap/rest often to conserve my energy and all that fun stuff.  He was not stubborn for once.. there was one point he had his hand over his face, but he moved it right away when she said something.   He was practicing breathing – normal, steady breaths that she noticed.  He’s definitely in the head down position.. so now it’s just waiting for things to happen at this point.

He likes to make my belly look all misshapen and it makes me laugh.. at least he’s past the point of hurting me since he can’t kick and punch as strong as he used to since he’s running out of room.. there are just random times that, because I carry him so low, that I randomly feel like he’s trying to dig himself out or if I’m laying down in the fetal position that I feel him brushing my thigh and it feels weird..  He does like to kick Brandon and Jynx when he feels them against me.. Jynx doesn’t even react… Brandon’s usually like “Hey you.  Kicking me isn’t allowed..”

Brandon went with to the Dr appointment today.  My cervix is softening and I’m about 1cm dilated so anything can start happening at anytime.. heartbeat was at 150 today.

Anyway… We’ll try to post 37 week pics next week, as I’m hoping to do 37, then 40 if I make it that far.

The picture is a profile view, looks like he is sucking his thumb

Things are happening!

Just got back from my dr’s appointment.  He did the routine cultures (Group B Stress Test) as well as an internal exam.  Franklin’s heartbeat is still 140.  He IS head – down and the cervix is about half way thinned out… so he just said to be ready for anything.  He noticed some small scars on my belly and asked about them and asked if I itch constantly… I brought up Tuesday and he said what we were thinking – Franklin was probably positioning himself and the cervix was working to thin out… and to just hang in there cause it’ll probably happen more often in the next few weeks.  I see him again on Friday, have my last U/S on Thursday, so I need to talk to Katrina (my boss) about getting Friday off since it’s an 11:30 appointment and that’s the latest he is there.

Frankie’s room is just about done.. just need to get the electronics out of there, diapers put away, need to get a rod for the closet organizer and hang up the clothes that I don’t want in the dresser – aka the ones that are 6 months and up as well as the jackets.

OFF-SUBJECT:   We still have fondue sets we’re trying to get rid of, so if anyone wants those, PLEASE tell us.  We have no use for them and they haven’t been used.

Rebellious Dog

Ever since I got pregnant, Jynx has been acting a little different.

That’s nothing compared to how she’s been in the past few weeks and today.  She’s decided to randomly start pooping in the bathroom, get in the trash and other things.  Yesterday, she was all affectionate and when I went to lie down to sleep, she was right there (when I say naptime, she usually follows anyway), but yesterday I said nothing, and she followed me and lay down right under me as if protecting me.  Brandon noticed she was acting different, so I decided to google if pets can sense labor/pregnancy, and the answer, from NUMEROUS sources (professionals included) all said yes and described their pets’ behaviors… Jynx is definitely doing them… from being more affectionate to being a little nuisance.

I came home today with no trash on the floor.  Took her out and went to nap.

Between me taking a nap and Brandon coming home, she wrecked the trash all over the place, tore it up and left it everywhere.  Brandon’s turn to punish her tonight, since I usually come home to something… as bad as it sounds, I’m glad he’s finally able to see some of the stuff I come home to some days.

 

Braxton Hicks strike!

Yesterday I had really strong episodes of Braxton Hicks contractions for most of the day. I called my doctors office and the receptionist didn’t tell me anything useful. the Health/Safety manager came over and noticed and asked about how I was feeling, and said ‘well at least you still have your sense of humor’… then went into detail, as he just went through this with his wife a year ago, on what people needed to do if there were any changes – Xander had asked him… fun times.

I had to call Chris and she was alot more helpful than the receptionist was. She had never experienced them, but was able to tell me what to do and asked me if the classes I took taught the breathing techniques and to remember those.. That’s what Brandon’s there for.. to help me with that stuff when needed. He’s been rubbing my back when I ask him to. By the end of the day, I was so exhausted from them, they felt stronger. Jeff (Safety manager) told me to start just taking baths every night to relax my muscles until my water breaks to help ease everything up. He made his wife do the same thing, even if she said she was too busy.

I came home yesterday, took Jynx out, and was asleep within seconds. Brandon called on his way home to see how I was doing and I had him stop at McD’s to get me a sprite, as I had thrown up at work and needed something in my system and Sprite just sounded good. This was the first time I asked him to bring me home something the entire pregnancy. He just decided to bring dinner home and I was definitely OK with that. I called my mom to ask her about the BH and she said she never felt them either, so I am kind of out on a limb on this one.

I took a bath and had a couple more BH before we went to bed, Brandon watched me through them.

So yeah, yesterday was interesting. I was telling Brandon and Chris that if that’s how the BH were, I’m gonna be crying like mad through the labor ones.