Sickling

I have a little sickling.  It started on Monday with a fever.  She had a chiropractor appt that day so we went and she also had some fluid build-up so the chiro was able to drain that. 

**side thought regarding chiropractors:
If you've never brought your child to a chiropractor, I would recommend it.  They don't crack your kids back.  They just massage and press pressure points to help fluid drain, make sure alignment is right, etc.  Back when Elise was 10 or 11 months old, she got her first ear infection- a double ear infection.  She was put on antibiotics for 10 days.  It didn't help.  So on to another 10 day round of antibiotics.  It helped one ear, but the other ear was still infected.  So on to ANOTHER round of 10 day antibiotics- and her Dr. said that if it didn't help, we would have to consider surgury (tubes).  I was honestly getting a little frustrated here.  30 days straight of antibiotics and surgury for her FIRST ear infection?  Isn't tubes a route that people take when their child has chronic ear infections? 
Now, I'm not the "must do all things all-natural all the time" type.  (not that there's a problem if you do feel that way) I'm doing her immunizations on schedule.  I'm not against antibiotics.  But something just didn't seem right with that much antibiotics for a little girl who wasnt' even 1 years old yet.  So I talked to my friend Jamie who took her kids to the chiropractor to drain their ears.  I was a little skeptical at first.  But when she explained to me that there is no cracking on your baby, I decided to try it.
I called and they got me right in as soon as possible once they heard my story with the ear infections and antibiotics.  So the chiropractor is a little more toward the "must do all things all natural all the time" type.  But I'm totally okay with it.  She did a few things while I held Elise, and what do you know....her ear infection was gone at the next check up.  I couldn't believe it!!  I have been taking her there monthly and she hasn't had an ear infection since!!  All this to say, sometimes pushing the drugs isn't always the answer!!  (as much as i love my ibprofen when I have a headache!)**

Back to my sickling:  So she got a fever on Monday,  Runny nose started Wednesday, and Coughing started today (thurday).  But also she has been fever free all day today.  Silly girl has all these symptoms starting and ending at different times and getting her mama all confused!  Well I have a feeling that this is just a cold.  I'm ready for it to be over though....I'm all done with being housebound.  We miss interaction!!

 

Elise's birth story

My plan was to stop working the Friday before my due date. Then I would have a week to get the final things in order, such as call the pediatricians office, etc.  That was my plan, but not hers. =)

My due date was Friday, April 1st 2011.  My last day of work was March 25th.  We had a great weekend- went to Chili's for dinner on Saturday night and ran into the D'Arcy's.  Amanda told me to rock in my rocking chair for a LONG time- that it may help induce labor. (at least it helped with her 2 girls)  So we went home and I rocked myself to sleep.  Nick kept rocking me after I fell asleep for awhile before we moved into bed. 

In the middle of the night (around 2am on Monday) I got up to go to the bathroom.  Not too uncommon for a 39 week preggo.  After I finished my business, a rush of more liquid came out....at first I didn't know what happened- and then I realized- my water broke!  I called for Nick (the heaviest sleeper EVER...) and he was instantly up and asking if I was okay. I decided not to call the dr right away since I already had a scheduled appt for 8:30am. So I went back to bed. Light contractions started around 3:30am. Nick came with me to my appt and we were sent right to the hospital. We got there and checked in around 10:30- I was only 1 cm. yes, I had a long way to go.

I think it was around 10:30ish when I got a dose of painkiller (not an epidural, yet) that helped with the pain.  It did make me a little loopy though.  My mom came in around that time, and I really don't have much knowledge of what was said while she was in the room.  Around 11:45pm, I was 5cm. At some point, I got one more dose of that same painkiller, and it didn't help for as long as the first dose did. Actually, it barely helped at all.  Around 3am, I was 6-7cm.  It was around 4am that I knew I needed an epidural.  My plan was to make it as long as I could.  And I had gotten to the point after 24 hrs of labor/contractions that I was so tired and spent and in pain that I needed some rest.  So I got the epidural and was able to get a little bit of sleep.  At 5:40am, I was 9cm. 

Now this is the part of the story where things are a little more fuzzy, and I have no concept of time....so bear with me.  At some point, I remember feeling the urge to push.  I pushed for an hour with Elise's head right in view the whole time.  She wasn't making it through.  The Dr. suggested that we turn down the epidural medicine so that I might be able to feel myself pushing better.  I agreed, hoping that it would make the whole process go faster!!  So we did that and WHOA contractions!!!  I can't even explain how crazy the contactions were after being on the epidural for a couple hours!    After another hour of pushing, I was informed that I would only be able to push for one more hour before I would have to be sent in for a c-section.  They thought that maybe her head was big and preventing her from coming out easily (seeing as she was right there for 2 whole hours of pushing)  This is the point in my story that I wish I had pushed for one more hour.  But I can't go back and change the fact that I decided that I couldn't make it any longer and gave the okay for the c-section.  and then I cried.  so much that they needed to calm me down before they could re-administer the numbing medicine for surgury.  I also had to drink a major yuck orange syrupy drink.

C-sections are so fast moving.  They roll you in, set up the curtain and pretty much start right in.  They asked me if I could feel anything, and I think they were cutting me as they were asking!  Also, they were starting by the time Nick was able to walk in and sit down. So fast- and so many people there! 

So all those people who say that you can't feel anything during a c-section are lying.  You totally can feel....it's just not necessarily pain that you feel.  You feel tugging and pulling and pushing.  It actually made me sick.  I threw up all over Nick.  And yes, it was orange, just like that orange drink I had to have beforehand. (sorry if this is tmi!!!)  and yes, nick didn't bring a change of clothes with him to the hospital! lol  My dr is a tiny little lady, and when she said she needed to push on my tummy a bit, I didn't think to much of it.  until she did it.....literally felt like she was JUMPING on me.  wow.  I was actually given some benadryl at one point cause I felt awful!!  The benadryl must have made me loopy though cause I remember my arm falling off the table and I struggled to get them back up.  I really remember it. really vividly too.  Nick told me that my arms were strapped on the table though....so apparently I was going crazzzzzy.  I also remember being FREEZING.  Like literally shivering!  teeth chattering and all.

 

But then, I heard a baby crying. Elise Christine was born at 11:33.  My first thought- wow, she's here- i can't believe it!  My second thought- hearing the doctors say " wow look at her head!"

 

I pretty much don't remember much else until I woke up in the recovery area and saw Nick sitting in a chair next to me rocking our daughter.  precious!!  It was then that I first tried breastfeeding.  Thankfully she took to it pretty well.  We were moved into our room around 2:30pm.  And then there were THREE!

 

Yes, I made this picture X-Large.  Beacause it's that cute.  And because I picture is most certainly overdue!  We went Apple picking on Saturday. Sept 1st - early, yes.  But with the late frost last spring, it ruined a lot of apple crops so the pickings will be slim this year.  Some orchards aren't even doing pick-your-own.  Sadness.
I'm currently writing out Elise's birth story.  I am so behind with this, and I'm realizing that I don't remember some of the details so I want to get it out before I forget even more!  So once I finish, I'll share.
Well that's all for now.  I'm enjoying my "birthday weekend" and will update on everything once it's over!

The prettiest butterfly around!

On halloween night, we participated in our church's "Trunk or Treat".  Everyone decorates their trunks and hands out candy to the kids.  It's a safe and fun alternative to going door to door in the neighborhood.  There were also carnival games and cider/sweets.  Nick and my brother Mike each did a carnival game.   Nick did a bean bag toss and Mike did a football throw.  They dressed up as carnies!

My little booger went as a cute butterfly!  I made the costume, and have to say, that I'm pretty proud of myself.  I'm not a big DIY person- but I'm learning to be ever since Elise was born!  (pinterest helps too!)

It was a fun night- and I've been enjoying eating the candy that "Elise" got when we brought her to each car! 

Final stretch

I can't believe that I'm typing right now that I'm exactly 38 weeks today!  It's so surreal to think about how close we are to meeting our little girl...last August, it seemed like FOREVER until April!  and here we are...what in the world!? 

In other news, pray for me in the job department- there are some opportunities.  I don't want to share too much on the world wide web just yet, but I can say that I'll need to make a decision soon.

Way overdue!!

No no, not overdue in the pregnancy overdue terms (i still have 3 weeks to go) 

I'm overdue for a blog post!!  It's been so long and so much has happened!  So- here's a quick recap

1- Baby shower!  I was showered with love and gifts from those that mean the most to me!  It was an awesome time!
2- We got the nursery furniture- all but the bookshelf.  that's on backorder until the beginning of April.  So what will come home first??  the bookshelf or the little one?? =)
3- Decorating the nursery- a work in progress....
4- Having a hard time sleeping now, and getting off the couch, and sitting all day at my desk, and putting my shoes on...this is to be expected though....i'm not really surprised.
5- Starting washing the adorable clothes that I have!  and even packed a bag with E's take home outfit!  Well, two outfits actually...I can't decide which I want to use yet...come on, am I really the only one who brought more than 1 outfit to the hospital??
6- Got a new phone....yeah, not really baby related.....except for the fact that when I got it, one of the first things that went through my mind was how I would be taking so many pictures of my little girl of that phone!
7- Maternity pictures!  Just got them today!  Sneak peak above....what else can i say expcept- love love them.  Samantha Whitman Photography = amazing!
8- Experiencing "senioritis" at work...can't belive i'll be done with work in just a few short weeks!
9- Took an all-day Saturday lamaze class.  Time flew by.  Learned a bunch. Got a tour of the brand new Maternity recovery wing.  Since I didn't really see the old wing, I don't really have anything to compare it to, but it's pretty nice.
10- Had my final ultrasound and got to see her face for the first time...love.

How cute are these??

Are you saying "awwww" out loud yet??

Nick prepping himself for the girly and pink things that he'll soon be surrounded by!!

looks good on him, don't ya think? =)

Changes

Yes- That's right, I'm having a baby...
Even though I'm just about 25 weeks, it still feels weird to type that.

I think that those who read my blog (two people maybe, since I never update) already know this info, but I think it's finally time to start updating my blog more frequently.  I want to remember this time leading up to her arrival.  oh yeah- did I mention it's a girl =)

I started a little journal the day I found out that I was pregnant, but only kept up with it for about 2 weeks or so...I'm hoping to transfer those entries here to my blog- I think everyone would enjoy reading it- especially other moms out there.

Now it's time to share a picture that my dear friend Danielle took last weekend. 

I must say that being pregnant at Christmastime is great and makes for fun pictures!  Thank you Danielle for capturing some great photos that I'll cherish for a long time!

-Laura