Back to work.....

After 3 short months, I'm now back at work.

I knew the blog would suffer on maternity leave seeing that I'd be busy with a new baby and I do all my computing at work. So if any of you are still reading, I will be updating the blog again. I brought my camera today to upload some pictures along with what's been going on the past 3 months, but of course I forgot the cord.
I had a lot on my mind getting baby girl ready for daycare :(
So check back tomorrow. I should have a healthy long post for you to read with lots of cute pictures.

Birth Story

Let's see if I can put this all together. I already have labor amnesia. It was a long labor and nothing like I anticipated (is it ever?). I felt like I read all the books and was prepared with the knowledge of what was to happen and what was to come. Boy was I wrong. It started at 12:30am Sunday August 1st. I woke up to go to the bathroom and when I came back to bed to lay down I felt 'something'. Since I'd been patiently waiting for loss of mucus plug or some other sign, I went to check and it was blood. Not the way the books describe bloody show, just straight blood. There wasn't too much of it, so I thought I'd just lay down a bit to see what happened. I then began to feel cramping. Not the belly tightening I thought contractions would feel like, just straight up uncomfortable cramping. Then I felt more blood. I kind of wandered the house for a bit wondering if this was early labor or a false alarm. Of course I googled.....everything that had to do with blood said to call your Dr. By this point it's about 3am and the cramping and bleeding has not let up. Since I'm an hour away from my hospital they suggested I come in at least to be monitored for a bit. I try and time the cramps on the way to the hospital and they are consistently 3 minutes apart, lasting about a minute. Get to the hospital, get checked in, sure enough I'm in labor but am only about 1.5cm dilated. Again since I live an hour away they let me stay to see how I progressed. I walked the halls for an hour, got checked again, was a 2. They kept me walking for a while. I thought I might be leaking fluid so I had them check and sure enough I was. Just a trickle. Dr. checked me I was close to a 3 and he determined I had a small rupture of the bag and the forebag was still intact. I walked and rocked and what ever else we could try to progress labor for the majority of the day. Finally around 8pm the Dr. broke my forebag in hopes of progressing me quicker. The Dr. and nurses were amazed that I was consistently contracting but my cervix was uncooperative by not opening at the rate it should be by my labor (yay me! not) Immediately after he broke my water, labor went from a 3-4 on the pain scale to way past 10. I labored like that for about 1.5 hours before I caved and asked for the epidural. I was pale and shaking and all my coping methods went out the door. The epidural was in place and I was a happy girl again. I look at my poor husband who now looks like he's been in labor for hours as well. I ask if he's ok, and he shakes his head no. I ask was it from watching them do the epidural and he says no, it was from watching you suffer until you got the epidural. He was not coping with seeing me in pain. We knew at this point that baby was head down and almost in the right position. She was looking to the side. While I attempted to sleep, the nurse came in every half hour to flip me from one side to the other. That was funny. My left leg was completely numb and unmoveable and the right was numb but I could still move it. Here I am trying to help roll myself with all my might and not moving at all. Although the epidural was wonderful for the pain, it really sucked being stuck in bed. They started pitocin to see if it would dilate me any faster, it didn't. I laid in bed and labored a whole nother day away. Finally around 6:30 pm I was at 10cm. I was told we'd begin pushing in an hour unless I felt the urge sooner. I started gettihg some pressure in my bottom and decided I had laid there long enough. Started pushing around 7pm. Tried many different positions to push, thankfully I could feel enough through the epidural to push effectively, but since Baby Girl was still looking the wrong direction, she simply wasn't budging. Dr. tried turning her while pushing. We tried everything for 3 hours. Finally Dr. said he thought I'd given it the best try I could, he didn't see her turning, but could be wrong. He offered to let me push for as long as I wanted to continue to try but really didn't see her coming vaginally. By this point I'd been in labor for 44 hours. My husband looked me in the eyes and very sweetly told me he knew I didn't want it to end this way, but I'd done everything I could. He completely supported any decision I wanted to make. I trusted the Dr.s opintion and I was completely exhausted. They prepped me for surgery and Miss Nora Rose was born via C-section at 10:15pm Monday August 2nd. It was quite the bizarre feeling to be numb and drunk drugged and pushed and tugged and yanked and all the other things they do to you, but as soon as I heard that sweet cry, everything was right in the world. We chose not to find out the sex beforehand so even the Dr.s and nurses were excited to see what was coming out. They held up the business end for my husband to announce. He was speachless. I could hear someone say "what is it?" trying to prompt him, he looks at me and I say "well, what is it" He says he thought he answered but literally nothing came out of his mouth. Finally someone else exclaimed It's a Girl!
There was meconium in my fluid but thankfully she didn't inhale any. They cleaned her up and showed her to me. Honestly I was so drugged and they put her so close to my face I really couldn't tell what she looked like. Keith went with her to the nursery while they finished my surgery. I then had to spend an hour in a special recovery room and then get moved to my private room. It felt like such a long time before they brought me Nora. The hospital stay sucked, we couldn't find a groove and we were all stressed out. I sprung myself loose a day earlier than they would have liked but it's been so much better at home. I'm recovering slowly, feeling better everyday and totally in love with this little girl. Welcome to the world Nora Rose!!!

40 Weeks

Or is it 41? As stated in my previous post, the Dr. and I are disagreeing on my due date. He insists on going by the date from the anatomy scan and I insist on going by the date of my LMP. I say 40, he says 41..... so frustrating. He had me go for a NST yesterday. Fluid levels are great, baby looks great. Heart rate jumped to the 190's for a couple minutes of the test which concerned the nurse, which in turn concerned me. She showed it to the Dr. and he says he thinks it's just a happy baby. This kid NEVER stops moving. Baby was off the monitor more than it was on. But this was a different office than my OB so they are just doing the monitoring and not helping with dating this baby, so they told me if I don't deliver by Monday they want to monitor me again and have me talk induction with my OB. In my heart I don't feel I'm late and really really don't want to be induced. I hate this rushed feeling they are pushing on me. If Baby and I are doing fine, just let us be. I'm still debating whether or not to make the appt. for Monday......grrr! Come on Babykins, let's birth you this weekend. Everything is ready for you, including your Dad and I.

How far along? 40 weeks.
Total weight gain: I'm calling this at 28lbs.
Maternity clothes? Yup!
Sleep: Still sleeping, thank the heavens!
Best moment this week: Wouldn't call it the 'best', but the NST was pretty neat. Your daddy got to see you on the sonogram, minus your business end so we can keep your gender a surprise. :)
Movement: Still a mover and a shaker in there!
Gender: dunno, not going to find out
Labor Signs: none :( not even dialated (as of Thursday....)
Belly Button in or out? It's not a total outie, but more outie than innie if that makes sense.
What I miss: Not being hormonal, this last week has been a doozy.
What I am looking forward to: The baby...duh!
Weekly Wisdom: Trust in yourself.
Milestones: I've got too much running through my head to answer this....this whole pregnancy has been a milestone. I ready to complete the final one....BIRTH!

39 Weeks

How far along? 39 weeks.
Total weight gain: No gain at last appt, so still up 25lbs. I go to the Dr. again this afternoon....
Maternity clothes? Yup!
Sleep: Still sleeping, thank the heavens!
Best moment this week: Nothing really exciting this week.
Movement: Still a mover and a shaker in there!
Gender: dunno, not going to find out
Labor Signs: none :(
Belly Button in or out? It's not a total outie, but more outie than innie if that makes sense.
What I miss: At this point, I miss not having to waddle when I walk.
What I am looking forward to: The baby...duh!
Weekly Wisdom: One thing at a time.
Milestones: Today is my adjusted due date from the sonograms. I won't consider myself late until my original due date of the 31st though.

I guess I should also confess I had my first freak out over having to actually birth this baby. I kept waiting for it to happen, but mostly hoping to avoid it. I was sitting on the potty (sorry) and I began to hear a cat retching in the bedroom. I reached for the door to see who it was and where they were and there was Ringo throwing up in the co-sleeper. Awesome. It just set off a series of great, now I suppose I'll go in to labor and bring the baby home and not be able to put him or her in here because there's puke, now I gotta do laundry, I'm tired and don't want to deal with this right now, yadda yadda, oh crap!, what on earth have I done?! Holy crap I'm going to have a baby, and I've never been in a hospital, I've never had anything major happen to me, aaaaccckkk!!!.....cue the tears. Thankfully I have the best husband ever who let me cry and didn't ask me to explain why, he just let me do my thing. Once I calmed down I explained myself. I feel better this morning. I figure it's best to have freaked out then, rather than to wait until I'm actually in labor and freak out during that.

38 Weeks

Woohoo! I figured out how to use the self timer on the camera. Keith went to work early this morning and I had to fend for myself for the photo. The actual hard part was propping it up on the end of the bed tall enough with about 30 DVD's and not having the cat knock it over before the photo was taken.

How far along? 38 weeks.
Total weight gain: was 25 lbs, we'll find out if I've gained more at this afternoons appointment.
Maternity clothes? Yup!
Sleep: I have one sole position that I'm able to sleep in, but that's fine. I've been sleeping!!
Best moment this week: Hospital tour made me feel pretty confident, so that was a good moment :)
Movement: Still a mover and a shaker in there!
Gender: dunno, not going to find out
Labor Signs: none
Belly Button in or out? It's not a total outie, but more outie than innie if that makes sense.
What I miss: General taken for granted body movements.
What I am looking forward to: Being off work for a bit....
Weekly Wisdom: Live, love, laugh.
Milestones: Everyday closer to delivery date is a milestone at this point!

I'm assuming since I've still potentially have a couple of weeks left that I haven't gotten the 'still pregnant?' or 'have the baby yet?' phone calls and emails. But what I have been getting has been cracking me up. My Dr. tells last week not to have the baby until today, since he'd be on vacation. My friend who will eventually be watching the baby when I go back to work asked me to wait at least until Tuesday because she'll be out of town this weekend. Keith's coworker asks that I wait until Thursday otherwise he'll have to cover 2 departments at work. My Mom wants me to hold out until Friday so the baby will be a Leo, but I need to have the baby before August because she likes Julys birthstone better than August. Like I've got any control over this situation :) I know it's all said in jest, so it makes me laugh. I'll see what I can do people.....

37 Weeks

How far along? 37 weeks.
Total weight gain: 25 lbs.
Maternity clothes? Yup!
Sleep: The past 2 nights the baby has been so far up in my ribs it's impossible to move let alone get comfortable. I manage to fall asleep, but sleep in hour or so increments all night.
Best moment this week: Reaching full term!
Movement: Still a mover and a shaker in there!
Gender: dunno, not going to find out
Labor Signs: none
Belly Button in or out? It's not a total outie, but more outie than innie if that makes sense.
What I miss: Putting on my own socks.
What I am looking forward to: Still swimming, didn't make it to the pool last weekend. Fingers crossed for this one :)
Weekly Wisdom: It should be that I know I need to start filling the freezer with ready made meals, but knowing and the desire to are 2 very different things. Come on nesting faze, where are you?!
Milestones: Full term!

36 Weeks

It's hard to tell, but I've got a 'new' wedding ring in this picture and will until my fingers return to normal. My real rings fit fine in the morning, but by the time I'm home from work they are TIGHT! I had a hard time taking them off and keeping my finger skin on. The ring I'm wearing is usually worn on my middle finger, but seems to be fitting just fine on my ring finger now. I'm not complaining though. I've really had very minimal swelling in my hands and feet so far.

How far along? 36 weeks.
Total weight gain: Holding steady at 23lbs.
Maternity clothes? Yup!
Sleep: Still all good.
Best moment this week: Getting to hold our friends new baby!
Movement: Still a mover and a shaker in there!
Gender: dunno, not going to find out
Labor Signs: none
Belly Button in or out? It's not a total outie, but more outie than innie if that makes sense.
What I miss: Swimming, hope to get some pool time in this weekend!
What I am looking forward to: Seeing if Baby makes it here in July or if we're waiting until August. I'm thinking since our friends went 3 1/2 weeks early, I'll probably be 3 1/2 weeks late....lol!
Weekly Wisdom: I've got nothing this week.
Milestones: Since the birth of our friends baby, it just makes this all a little more real. It's still hard for me to wrap my brain around the fact that there is a real little baby in my belly.