Friday, July 23, 2010
We're home!
We finally got released from the hospital at 6:30pm after getting my blood pressure down under 140/90 (I have a new prescription to fill tomorrow that hopefully won't make me so drowsy) and a car seat non-stress test. Paul had to run to buy a new carseat as Valerie was too small for the Graco we had from Henri.
Meet the family!
Carter's crazy about Valerie and Henri's crazy about whatever Carter's crazy about. Henri's also crazy about the fully stocked snack room here at the hospital.
Valerie's official stats and more pictures
She's a mellow, mellow baby and good sleeper. Nursing really well, 10-60 minutes at a time. Official stats are: Born July 22nd at 5:36pm 5 pounds, 10 ounces, 19 inches long.Right before we started, as we waited for a bed to open in maternity...
more cute baby pictures...
she's our smallest baby, and everyone's concerned about her weight until they see how pink, mellow, aware and well she's eating :)We should be discharged 6pm tonight. I got the magnesium sulfate taken off at 6am, Dr & pediatrician both came by about 10 this morning and checked us out. They took my other fluids off after I complained about marshmallow hand!!! Yes, it's really about twice the size of the other!
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Welcome Valerie Marie
So got to Dr. at 9:15 and she put in a balloon that got me to 3.5cm, they didn't have room to induce until 11am, so Paul and I hung out in the cafeteria for an hour. Then at 11am, there was a nurses meeting, so we finally got in a room about 11:45 or so. At 1:30pm, my nurse, Susan started the pitocin to induce as well as magnesium sulfate for my blood pressure. About 2pm, my Dr. stopped by to break my water.
A small little side note, an online friend who frequently prayed for me died suddenly two days ago. Her name was Susan as well. It made me feel much calmer like maybe she was watching over us :)
About 2:30pm I finished "Are you there, Vodka? It's me, Chelsea" by Chelsea Handler (thanks for the distraction, Kari!!) and 1/2 of a Redbook and we walked the hall for a 1/2 hour or so. Then I told the nurse she better check me. I guessed I was at a 7cm as I was having some pushing tuggings. Nope, only 5.5cm!!! Seriously? Anyways, so had walked around with no water leaking and sat on the bed, GUSH... I sloshed to the bathroom and almost slipped and hit my head. The nurse helped get me all back together and in bed and I basically hung out and dealt with the strong contractions.
Dr. showed up at 4:30 as her last patient cancelled and she and the nurse chatted about colleges and badmitten while massaging my back and having me do all sorts of crazy positions and shaking my hips and wierd breathing (ok, so maybe it wouldn't seem so wierd if maybe somewhere in birthing 3 kids I had made it to a birthing class). About 5:15, I felt like pushing but was only 7-8 cm, so Dr. offered some drugs in my IV so I could just breath and not push through contractions. After making sure I'd be able to walk right afterwards, I said ok. Well, of course, by the time the nurse got drugs, we were ok to push. Seriously, I finally ask for drugs and still end up with none, but whatever...
And, guess what, of course Valerie is sunny side up like Henri!!! She apparently missed the memo or can't read yet or something, so she didn't realize I just wanted ONE baby to have thier head in the right position (Carter had his hand up next to his head when he came out).
I was so glad to be done! 3-4 big pushes (Dr. says one, apparently they count contractions, not actual pushes), she came out. I can bend! Woohoo! Nurse said usually one has to stay on the magnesium for 24 hours, but I showed my Dr. how low my blood pressures were when she wasn't in the room (she's getting a complex because they get higher when she's in the room) and bargained down to 12 hours, so at 6am I can get off the IV, wait for on call Dr. & pediatrician to check us out, so I still may make it home by noon tomorrow, we'll see.
So, even though I didn't get her out by my 3pm deadline, I did shave about 2 hours off my total labor time of 6 hours, so I'll call it a success. The 3 pushes also helped the case.
Valerie also went straight to 30 minutes of breastfeeding. Carter took 2 weeks and Henri 3 weeks, so I made a deal with her that I'd be ok with her not listening about the head position if she kept up being able to figure out the breastfeeding.
Then we got me all cleaned up and on some ibuprophen & tylenol, Paul got me a 12 inch sub sandwich and Valerie got a bath and shots and has been sleeping ever since, so I can update you all... you know, you 4 people who read this blog..... Nurse should be back in 30 minutes (9:30) to check on us, then I'll go to sleep, I already sent Paul home to get some rest. Sitting around making phone calls and reassuring me that she really was out and I'd survived another birth was pretty exhausting ;) ( Just kidding, hon, I love you!) Oh, he also filled out the grueling questionaire for our cord blood donation!
So you probably want a picture of this cutie, eh? Here you go... goodnight!
A small little side note, an online friend who frequently prayed for me died suddenly two days ago. Her name was Susan as well. It made me feel much calmer like maybe she was watching over us :)
About 2:30pm I finished "Are you there, Vodka? It's me, Chelsea" by Chelsea Handler (thanks for the distraction, Kari!!) and 1/2 of a Redbook and we walked the hall for a 1/2 hour or so. Then I told the nurse she better check me. I guessed I was at a 7cm as I was having some pushing tuggings. Nope, only 5.5cm!!! Seriously? Anyways, so had walked around with no water leaking and sat on the bed, GUSH... I sloshed to the bathroom and almost slipped and hit my head. The nurse helped get me all back together and in bed and I basically hung out and dealt with the strong contractions.
Dr. showed up at 4:30 as her last patient cancelled and she and the nurse chatted about colleges and badmitten while massaging my back and having me do all sorts of crazy positions and shaking my hips and wierd breathing (ok, so maybe it wouldn't seem so wierd if maybe somewhere in birthing 3 kids I had made it to a birthing class). About 5:15, I felt like pushing but was only 7-8 cm, so Dr. offered some drugs in my IV so I could just breath and not push through contractions. After making sure I'd be able to walk right afterwards, I said ok. Well, of course, by the time the nurse got drugs, we were ok to push. Seriously, I finally ask for drugs and still end up with none, but whatever...
And, guess what, of course Valerie is sunny side up like Henri!!! She apparently missed the memo or can't read yet or something, so she didn't realize I just wanted ONE baby to have thier head in the right position (Carter had his hand up next to his head when he came out).
I was so glad to be done! 3-4 big pushes (Dr. says one, apparently they count contractions, not actual pushes), she came out. I can bend! Woohoo! Nurse said usually one has to stay on the magnesium for 24 hours, but I showed my Dr. how low my blood pressures were when she wasn't in the room (she's getting a complex because they get higher when she's in the room) and bargained down to 12 hours, so at 6am I can get off the IV, wait for on call Dr. & pediatrician to check us out, so I still may make it home by noon tomorrow, we'll see.
So, even though I didn't get her out by my 3pm deadline, I did shave about 2 hours off my total labor time of 6 hours, so I'll call it a success. The 3 pushes also helped the case.
Valerie also went straight to 30 minutes of breastfeeding. Carter took 2 weeks and Henri 3 weeks, so I made a deal with her that I'd be ok with her not listening about the head position if she kept up being able to figure out the breastfeeding.
Then we got me all cleaned up and on some ibuprophen & tylenol, Paul got me a 12 inch sub sandwich and Valerie got a bath and shots and has been sleeping ever since, so I can update you all... you know, you 4 people who read this blog..... Nurse should be back in 30 minutes (9:30) to check on us, then I'll go to sleep, I already sent Paul home to get some rest. Sitting around making phone calls and reassuring me that she really was out and I'd survived another birth was pretty exhausting ;) ( Just kidding, hon, I love you!) Oh, he also filled out the grueling questionaire for our cord blood donation!
So you probably want a picture of this cutie, eh? Here you go... goodnight!
A Carter Funny
Carter says pop is "spicy". Because of it he usually won't drink it, so when we go to Costco for a hotdog & soda, he gets the Lemonade. He used to think Lemonade was "spicy" but decided Minute Maid (they now use Tropicana) is decidedly "not spicy". So we go to Claim Jumper the other night and the waitress offers lemonade and he asks, "Is it Minute Maid Lemonade?" She says, "no, we make it ourselves." He said, "um, no, how about chocolate milk?"
Monday, July 19, 2010
Sunday church!
Oh, so I forgot to post about Sunday!
First, though, a little quote to share for you all, also because I use this blog to help me fill in the kids' scrapbooks.
Carter: "Why are you daddy's wife?"
Me: "Because he picked me."
Carter: "Was it because you were the most beautiful?"
Me: "Yep, that's why."
Sunday, I took the boys to church, figuring we probably won't go next week. Henri went off to nursery and Carter sat in the pew with me as we watched the mission trip slide show and waited for it to be time to go to Sunday school. Carter found out there was going to be a baptism that day and he decided to stay to "watch the baptism and so you won't be lonely." How sweet, my heart melted!
Yes, he talked the entire time and didn't really pay attention, but he whispered, and after the baptism, after the pastor walked around with the baby girl Carter said, "Where did he take that cute little baby?" He's so ready for his sister to come!
Anyways, a little about the service that really hit me. Number one, the gospel was the one about Mary listening to Jesus while Martha worked. Luke 10:38-42. This story pops up in my life whenever I'm doing "too much" and not focusing on what's going on around me enough. Of course, this, our busiest week of the summer and preparing for a birth, I needed the reminder to spend some last precious days enjoying the two babies I already have :)
Also was the story of the Good Samaratan which was last week's lesson, but I was working in the nursery. It was the theme for the mission trip the youth went on. Rather than a sermon, some of the mission members talked about two major points: One was to help those around us, even if we normally wouldn't, but the other was about being open to being blessed, as Mary was open to being blessed by Jesus while Martha was too busy doing work. This last week or two feeling so, so pregnant I've had to stop saying, "nope, don't need anything, I'm just fine!" to asking for help and letting others bless me. I think I mentioned in another post that we're getting meals, people are watching the kids while I go to multiple doctor appointments, and now people will be helping me get Carter to and from Vacation Bible School. I'm learning my blessability this week, so all in all Sunday morning was very meaningful this week and I'm so glad we went.
First, though, a little quote to share for you all, also because I use this blog to help me fill in the kids' scrapbooks.
Carter: "Why are you daddy's wife?"
Me: "Because he picked me."
Carter: "Was it because you were the most beautiful?"
Me: "Yep, that's why."
Sunday, I took the boys to church, figuring we probably won't go next week. Henri went off to nursery and Carter sat in the pew with me as we watched the mission trip slide show and waited for it to be time to go to Sunday school. Carter found out there was going to be a baptism that day and he decided to stay to "watch the baptism and so you won't be lonely." How sweet, my heart melted!
Yes, he talked the entire time and didn't really pay attention, but he whispered, and after the baptism, after the pastor walked around with the baby girl Carter said, "Where did he take that cute little baby?" He's so ready for his sister to come!
Anyways, a little about the service that really hit me. Number one, the gospel was the one about Mary listening to Jesus while Martha worked. Luke 10:38-42. This story pops up in my life whenever I'm doing "too much" and not focusing on what's going on around me enough. Of course, this, our busiest week of the summer and preparing for a birth, I needed the reminder to spend some last precious days enjoying the two babies I already have :)
Also was the story of the Good Samaratan which was last week's lesson, but I was working in the nursery. It was the theme for the mission trip the youth went on. Rather than a sermon, some of the mission members talked about two major points: One was to help those around us, even if we normally wouldn't, but the other was about being open to being blessed, as Mary was open to being blessed by Jesus while Martha was too busy doing work. This last week or two feeling so, so pregnant I've had to stop saying, "nope, don't need anything, I'm just fine!" to asking for help and letting others bless me. I think I mentioned in another post that we're getting meals, people are watching the kids while I go to multiple doctor appointments, and now people will be helping me get Carter to and from Vacation Bible School. I'm learning my blessability this week, so all in all Sunday morning was very meaningful this week and I'm so glad we went.
37 weeks...tomorrow
So tomorrow's 37 weeks, Thursday we are inducing.
Physically, I'm so done. It's funny because each pregnancy has actually been BETTER than the one before it! My blood pressure lasted longer each one, I felt better longer during each successive one. My morning sickness was practically non-existent with this pregnancy! However, my body hits a point sometime after 30 weeks where it is just done being pregnant.
In the last week, I've had... trouble sleeping-I can't sleep on my back or front or sides and my wierd angle that worked for the first 35 weeks now causes back pain because of the size of my belly; carpel tunnel numbness and pain in my shoulders; my clumsiness is getting worse-last night I slammed my thigh into the end of the metal babygate-1 inch higher than the bruise that was already there; I'm swelling like a balloon, and now, starting last night, I have some sort of knot-like pain on the left side (my sciatica issues were on my right) that gets worse when I relax like I'm supposed to. Add that to the rising blood pressure and the tinges and wierd pains of a body ready to labor and you've got one mommy body that is ready to no longer be pregnant.
However, since Sunday, I've also gotten extremely emotional. Part of it is probably that I'm tired from not sleeping well... take not being able to find table corners to protect Henri's head in Fred Meyer this morning. I almost cried after looking in 3 different departments out of frustration. But some of it is sentimental. It's finally hitting me that we're actually having a girl and that I'm probably in my last week of pregnancy ever (unless Carter gets his way and gets the other boy he's ordered!).
As much as I'm tired, in pain and ready to be done and meet this little girl, I'm also sad that I may never feel flutters of a new life in my belly, or get congratulated by a stranger on the street or get excited hugs from friends when announcing a pregnancy or get to see an ultrasound to see a little life forming over a very long 9 months. I know we're pretty sure we are done. Heck, my doctor hopes I'm done-she told me this morning I'm multiplying her gray hairs at an alarming rate. But, it's still a little sad.
Also scary! In 4 days, Paul and I will be outnumbered by kids! I'll have to be in labor and push out another baby! We are so blessed that we have relatively easy kids who are really, really healthy. I pray that this little girl slips into our family easily and soon we'll wonder how we ever got along without her.
Well, probably the next post will be of statistics and pictures of a baby girl. Keep an eye out!
Physically, I'm so done. It's funny because each pregnancy has actually been BETTER than the one before it! My blood pressure lasted longer each one, I felt better longer during each successive one. My morning sickness was practically non-existent with this pregnancy! However, my body hits a point sometime after 30 weeks where it is just done being pregnant.
In the last week, I've had... trouble sleeping-I can't sleep on my back or front or sides and my wierd angle that worked for the first 35 weeks now causes back pain because of the size of my belly; carpel tunnel numbness and pain in my shoulders; my clumsiness is getting worse-last night I slammed my thigh into the end of the metal babygate-1 inch higher than the bruise that was already there; I'm swelling like a balloon, and now, starting last night, I have some sort of knot-like pain on the left side (my sciatica issues were on my right) that gets worse when I relax like I'm supposed to. Add that to the rising blood pressure and the tinges and wierd pains of a body ready to labor and you've got one mommy body that is ready to no longer be pregnant.
However, since Sunday, I've also gotten extremely emotional. Part of it is probably that I'm tired from not sleeping well... take not being able to find table corners to protect Henri's head in Fred Meyer this morning. I almost cried after looking in 3 different departments out of frustration. But some of it is sentimental. It's finally hitting me that we're actually having a girl and that I'm probably in my last week of pregnancy ever (unless Carter gets his way and gets the other boy he's ordered!).
As much as I'm tired, in pain and ready to be done and meet this little girl, I'm also sad that I may never feel flutters of a new life in my belly, or get congratulated by a stranger on the street or get excited hugs from friends when announcing a pregnancy or get to see an ultrasound to see a little life forming over a very long 9 months. I know we're pretty sure we are done. Heck, my doctor hopes I'm done-she told me this morning I'm multiplying her gray hairs at an alarming rate. But, it's still a little sad.
Also scary! In 4 days, Paul and I will be outnumbered by kids! I'll have to be in labor and push out another baby! We are so blessed that we have relatively easy kids who are really, really healthy. I pray that this little girl slips into our family easily and soon we'll wonder how we ever got along without her.
Well, probably the next post will be of statistics and pictures of a baby girl. Keep an eye out!
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