More Pictures

I can't believe Caroline is almost 1 month old. It's gone by so fast. She is starting to wake up a little more lately and we're getting a better idea of her little personality. One of the cutest things she does is when she cries, she snorts. I would love to get it on video...but I feel bad video taping her while she is crying. She is such a strong little girl. She has been lifting her head since her first week home. I love being a mother. It's a lot of work, but so much fun. I could just stare at her all day!

























Caroline is going to have lots of little friends growing up. She has so many little cousins...one of them was born just 6 days after Caroline. Andrew and Sarah had little Andie Jayden on August 3rd at 8:56...she was 7 lbs 3 oz and 20 1/4 in. long. Congrats to the proud parent. We can"t wait to meet her...I wish we lived closer!

Pictures

As requested, here are a few pictures. I will upload the rest on facebook, so I hope we are friends on facebook! :) 

First cry

As close as I could get on the operating table.

My first time holding her. 

I just love her so much!

Proud daddy!

Our little family

Sweet Caroline

Mommy and Caroline

So CUTE!

Daddy loves his little girl...

Finally home

Cutie pie

Welcome to the World Caroline

We're home, finally! We are doing great! It's amazing how fast I am healing this time...a baby really helps! They didn't want me to leave until Saturday, but I begged them to let me go so I could sleep in my comfy bed! 

I guess I will tell you how it all went. 

Tom and I showed up to the hospital at 10:30 to check in. I was scheduled for 12 noon. When I got to labor and delivery there was another lady whose uterus had ruptured so of course she got to go before me. They left me waiting watching Home Improvement on a stretcher while Tom was outside in the waiting room. It was probably the scariest and most nerve racking 4 1/2 hours of my life! Finally at about 3:30 they hooked me up to an iv and catheter, and wheeled me to the recovery room to wait for another 1/2 hour. All of the sudden they come and tell me it's my turn! Ahh! So scary. They wheeled me to the operating room where they gave me an epidural. Again, I was so scared wishing Tom could be there. Once it was clear the epidural was working they strapped me to the table, put oxygen on, a sheet to cover so I couldn't see...and they finally brought me Tom! 

I laid there just feeling a little tugging, but no pain at all...then all of the sudden at 4:14 pm I hear a little cry! It was so amazing! I will never forget that cry. After she was out, the hardest part was that I couldn't hold her. I watched for a while and then they brought her to me to take a couple pictures next to my head. All I could do was cry and kiss her. They whisked her away soon after and Tom followed. I went to recovery until I could feel my legs again and lift my body....about 2 hours later I finally got a room and got to hold my baby girl--so amazing! The past 3 days have been great! Breast feedings been hard, and loosing sleep, but it's all worth it for my sweet Caroline. : )

AHHHH!

Wow, I can't believe Caroline will be here tomorrow! I'm so excited, but so nervous too. I just can't wait to hold my baby girl! It seems like I have been waiting FOREVER for her! 

I finally got most everything done. I got my blood work done this morning, I successfully switched insurance companies (after the stupid lady made me cry because she was so RUDE!), found Caroline a pediatrician, finished up the laundry and cleaned the house. Now time to RELAX since I have less than 24 hrs. to do this! Ahhhh! 

Oh, and ya'll are going to have to wait until I am home from the hospital for pictures because my laptop that is less than 1 mo. old decided to get a virus! grrrr

July 28th!

Well, the big day will be July 28th. I'm scheduled for a c-section at 12 noon. I can't wait...just one more week. 

I haven't been doing too much lately. I get tired standing up or walking for a long time. I can't sleep very well.  My feet and hands get swollen from the heat and humidity...but, I'm doing good! I'm just trying to get everything organized before next week. 

Here are some pictures. Tom and I have been enjoying the beach and we caught the sunset the other night. :) 

The picture in my header was taken a year ago...in the same shorts, different shirt...wow, I've gotten big!




Tom got stuck taking the picture cause he has longer arms : )

External Version

So I went to have the external version done. It wasn't quite what I expected. 

I went to labor and delivery just like they told me to...but apparently I was supposed to get checked in at the ER first. I had to go all the way back downstairs. Tom and I went down and registered and then went back up to labor and delivery and they wouldn't let Tom in :( 

They did an ultrasound to make sure Caroline was still breech (she was), did NST, and gave me an IV. The IV I was not expecting and was not so happy about...especially since blood started squirting everywhere. They told me it happens all the time. Ya...I've had at least 10 IV's in the past few years and that's NEVER happened!

Finally after an hour they took me to another room to do the procedure. I also wasn't expecting to have to get a shot. They gave me a shot of terbutaline to relax my uterus. It made me really shaky and my heart beat fast. It was a weird feeling. They finally let Tom come in when they were about to start. Let me tell you...it hurt REALLY bad and I was glad to have him there to help me through it...even if it was hard for him to watch. I have an anterior placenta (the placenta is in front of the baby) so this made it a bit more difficult...well, so difficult that they couldn't do it! He tried for what seemed like forever (10 min.) and she just wouldn't budge. About half way through I was wishing I never did the procedure and had just opted for the c-section. It hurt me, but I also felt like it was hurting the baby. 

After the doctor gave up I was very relieved, but sad that I will have to have a c-section. I know it will probably be easier to have a c-section, but I just wanted to experience labor and birth the "normal" way. They did NST again to make sure Caroline was ok. She was fine. 

My doctor is leaving the country tomorrow and not coming back till August 5th so I am meeting with a new doctor on Monday. I've already met her when I had my ectopic pregnancy and she was very nice. The c-section will be scheduled sometime during the next 2 weeks...probably July 29th since my sister Kim is flying in on July 28th. 

I guess it's a relief to know when she will come...but I'm still a bit nervous and unsure of what this is going to be like. Any advice? 

Oh, and we decided we are going to save the cord blood. Has anyone else done this and know which company  is best? I need to call in the next couple days. 

37 Weeks...21 days to go!

I'm now 37 weeks! As far as I'm concerned she can come right now! Only 3 weeks till my official due date :) 

She is still breech. Stubborn little girl. Tomorrow morning, bright and early, my doctor is going to attempt to turn her. He doesn't seem like he thinks it will work because of the way my placenta is...but I still want to try. So, if it works, we will just wait for her to decide to come...if not, I will have a c-section somewhere towards the end of the month. I'm not supposed to eat anything after midnight just in case they have to do the c-section tomorrow. There is a possibility that my water could break when he is turning her or she could get upset. It's kinda scary going not knowing if I will have her tomorrow or not. I'll let you know how it goes. 

I've been watching A Baby Story on TLC every day. I feel like it's preparing me for what's about to happen...if it's possible to be prepared for something like this. I watch it and I'm always so scared and think..."I don't want to do this", but then when they baby cries and they hand him/her to mom and dad I cry and get so excited to hold my little girl. I  know I'm going to be a big cry baby when she comes because I cry when complete strangers have babies. 

This whole pregnancy has been great. I always hear pregnant women complaining...but other than throwing up every day for 7 weeks strait in the beginning it has been quite nice. I enjoy feeling her move and get the hiccups. This is definitely something I plan to do many times over. 

I'll keep you posted!

Baby Shower!

Thank you to everyone for the great gifts and especially to Maryann (Tom's mom) who threw the shower for me. I had a lot of fun and got lots of great stuff for my baby girl. She is going to be even more spoiled then her mother...never thought that was possible. 

Julie made this awesome cake! She's a pro!


My sister in-law Denise and I


Cathie & Dad!


My friends, Jenielle, Julie, and Rebecca


My friend Rebecca and her cute daughter Natalie


Opening gifts...


me and my cute husband


Carolines got everything a girl could need (and this isn't even everything) ... but yet I still always find something to buy at the store. :)

SURPRISE!!!

Dad and Cathie came all the way from New Mexico and surprised me for my baby shower. It was great seeing them and I am so happy they came! I was sitting on the couch at church when my dad walked up behind me and asked where Tom was. Surprise! It was great.

Sunday we had my shower and Monday we did some shopping and went to the beach. They brought the sunshine with them...it's been raining almost every day for the past month of more. When they came it went away and now that they are gone it's pouring again! Thanks for the little bit of sunshine Dad and Cathie! :) 

Dad and Cathie- I love this picture of them.

Bows

Will someone tell me how to make cute little bows and flowers for Caroline....or a website that sells them at a reasonable price?? I think $17 and even $10 for a bow is rediculous when I can probably learn to make them myself. Thanks!

33 weeks and 5 days

I just keep getting bigger and bigger...I enjoy being pregnant, but it's getting really uncomfortable and I'm ready for her to arive.

Work Baby Shower

I work at a preschool and the kids (well, really my co-workers and the parents) gave me a surprise party on Friday. It was so cute. The kids prepared for it all week. Every time I would walk by the older kids classroom they would say "No, no. There's no surprises going on in here." Friday they called me into their classroom. I walked in and the kids were all sitting on the carpet with bibs on that they had made for me. They started singing a variation of Happy Birthday that went something like this "Happy baby to you, happy baby to you..." It was so stinking cute! They made me nachos with salsa and guacamole (one of my favorites) and baked me a cake. They all brought me presents and were so excited to see me open them. It was a really fun day...and despite the fact that I HATE attention, I had a really good time. My mother in-law is throwing me a shower next Sunday so I have to make it through one more day of attention. Hope I can handle it without turning red. :)

All the gifts I got plus $200 in gift card!The parents and my co-workers were so nice to do this for me!

I thought this was cute. It's a note from a little girl I watch named Caroline. She is 6 now, but I first met her when she was 3 and she was the first person I met named Caroline--it's just such a cute name!

One of the parents made these cute bottle cookies as favors for my party. Adorable!

Baby Caroline

I don't have any new pictures... nor do I have anything to blog about except my pregnancy. This baby pretty much takes up all my thoughts and energy. Hope I don't bore anyone by so many pregnancy posts... but hey, I'm sure at least my family in NM would like to know my life since I don't get to call much. 

I went to the doctor last week. My amniotic fluid level went back up... though not as high as before. The normal range is between 10-20 cm and you usually want to be right in the middle around 15 cm. The first time the doctor told me it was too high I was at 26 cm (30 usually sends you into labor). The next appointment I was at only 18 cm and this time I was at 21 cm. I did the Non Stress Test (NST) and everything seemed to be just dandy. In fact they said I was doing good for 30 weeks. I had a few contractions during the test, but I didn't even feel them. I go back next week to get an ultrasound and do the NST again. I'm actually happy to go to the Dr. all the time, I would probably be out of my mind worrying if I only went once a month. So glad I have insurance! 

Another problem, which maybe won't even be a problem, is that Caroline is still breech... in the transverse lie (across the womb) position. My Dr. seems a little concerned by this. Although many babies don't turn head down until later, he said that she needs to be in that position by 34 weeks... so 3 more weeks to go. I have been doing the breech tilt (I'm not smart enough to add links on here, so look it up) twice a day. Hopefully that works, though so far no luck. At my 34 wk appointment if she hasn't turned he is going to schedule me for the external version at around 36 wks (that's where they try to turn the baby for you). Hopefully she turns on her own because according to my Dr.  (whom I trust since he is a highly experienced high risk Dr. and head of the department at the hospital) I have a posterior placenta. This will make it less likely that he will be able to turn the baby through external version. If  he can't turn her, I will have to have a c-section THAT SAME DAY... and I DO NOT WANT A C-SECTION!!! I already have one scar and I don't like the idea of getting cut open twice within a year... although the last time was probably far more traumatic and less rewarding than this will be. I know it is possible to have a vaginal birth after a cesarean, but it's more risky, and the more times you get cut open the less children Dr.'s seem to think you should have. Those of you who know me well know I want lots of kids (I have gone down from wanting 10 to 6 though : P ). 

Getting to be pregnant for one month less may sound nice to some of you... but not me. I just want her to be strong and have as much time to grow in there as possible. Most Dr.'s will wait until 38 wks to try to turn the baby, but because of my high levels of amniotic fluid he does not want to take the risk of me going into  labor on my own with a  breech baby. Makes sense I guess.  

Well, that's the gist of it. Pregnancy is so complicated (for me at least), but I know it's worth it because I will be getting the GREATEST gift ever in the end! 

Finished!

I finished the baby room! Well, almost...I still need the baby, and I am going to get some vinyl lettering for above the changing table. What do you think? ...oh, and PS: I put everything together myself!!

The crib and glider


Close up of the crib and bedding...we got some AwSoMe deals...I LoVe deals!


Changing table...someone at BuyBuy Baby is in trouble because it is missing a pretty significant piece...it's supposed to go where the basket is so hopefully soon we will have it!


The whole shabang!

Good Baby!

So everything went great today! The amniotic fluid measured at 18.6 cm....down from 26 cm. Great news! 

I also don't have diabetes or any infection that might be harmful to the baby...in fact, it's apparently a good thing that I have been watching kids for so many years because I am actually immune to almost every infection that could hurt her. So I guess it was #4...just a fluke! A scary one though. 

She is still breech, but I still  have plenty of time for her to turn...and let's hope she does because I do not want a c-section!!! Although my surgery in August was different (they didn't cut through my uterus) I still do not want to go through the whole recovery of being cut open while trying to take care of a newborn. 

Only 82 more days!!!

Thanks for all your support everyone! 

Pregnancy Update

Well, I am now in the 3rd trimester (as of tomorrow morning). April 30th I went to the doctor and found out I have hydramnios (too much amniotic fluid). I was told that there are several reasons why this could happen to me. 

1. I may have diabetes. Hydramnios usually happens to about 10% of diabetic women and usually is diagnosed in the 3rd trimester. I was tested for it 4 weeks ago and didn't have it, but who knows, maybe now I do. I am being tested again on Thursday. 

2. Caroline could have some sort of birth defect. Sometimes the baby will have a problem that causes her to stop swallowing fluid while her kidneys continue to produce more urine from the fluid she's already swallowed....this means she could have plyoric stenosis, a cleft lip or palate, or some kind of blockage in the gestational tract. Also, some neurological problems can keep her from swallowing. She may also have some sort of bladder of kidney problem. Obviously we are hoping that this is not the case with our sweet Caroline. 

3. She could also have severe anemia caused by an infection. I did some tests and this is pretty much ruled out...but who knows? 

4. This whole thing could just be a fluke and the amniotic levels will eventually go back to "normal". 

Obviously, we are hoping for #4! I go to the doctor Thursday morning for an ultrasound to find out what the amniotic fluid level is. Also, I will be doing the diabetes test. We are just hoping for the best! I honestly feel like she is just fine. I feel her kicking all the time which makes me so happy! I feel blessed to have this little girl no matter what!

One of the risks with Hydramnios is preterm labor. My levels were at 26. According to my doctor if the level gets to 30 my water could break. So, if the level is still the same on Thursday, I will have to be tested weekly. If they have gone down, I am pretty much in the clear. But, if they have gone up I will need to have some amniotic fluid removed through a process just like amniocentesis. 

Pray for the best! 

The latest picture of Caroline. She is very flexible...notice the foot by her head.


me at 27 weeks

Weekend Upstate

I'm getting bad at updating this...maybe when I am home with baby Caroline I will have more time. 

Anyway, last weekend Tom and I went to upstate NY to his Uncle and Aunts cabin with our friends Dave and Julie. We drove up Friday night, spent most of Saturday in Cooperstown, NY which is where the Baseball Hall of Fame is. Tom and Dave really enjoyed that...and it was fun for Julie and I too. Saturday night and Sunday we spent enjoying the cabin. It was a GREAT weekend! 

Tom and I outside the Hall of Fame


Dave and Tom walking the streets of Cooperstown


Go Yankees!!


The great Hall of Fame!


Julie and I make Babe Ruth look good ;)


Babe Ruth


Dave and Tom




Tom and Dave rode the ATV's while Julie and I watched