Birth Story

Let me tell the story of how little Kohen entered this world.

I suppose maybe I should start with the day before my scheduled induction which was set for Friday, August 3rd.  So on Thursday the 2nd, the girls went to my parent's house since we were to be at the hospital early the next morning at 6:30 am.  I battled pregnancy insomnia during this pregnancy and it reared it's ugly head that night as well.  This was of no surprise, I anticipated this was going to happen. As you can imagine, I could not shut my mind off.  My head was playing through 1,001 scenarios on how everything would unfold the following day. I was tossing and turning out on the couch while Nate was asleep and snoring in bed.  I tried to watch the Olympics to focus my mind on something else.  But you know, the realization that tomorrow at this time,  I will have held my baby boy and all of this will be behind me, there is nothing more exciting and anxiety provoking than that.  So I ended up dozing off for about 2 hours from about 12 am-2 am.  I had my alarm set for 4:30 but I decided to get up and start getting around at 4:00.

On the way, I decided I wanted to eat McDonald's breakfast.  So Nate swung through the drive thru.  He got himself a big cup of coffee to fuel himself up because he too had trouble sleeping the night before.  My hash brown was yummy but after a couple of bites of my sandwich I had to call it quits.  I think my nerves were getting the best of me.

We pulled up to the hospital and took advantage of the valet parking out front.  We went and checked in and a security guard came to escort us to our room: 2211.  Walking into the labor and delivery room is exciting.  Seeing the little warmer they place the baby on after he comes out and just being in the place, the actual room, where it's all going to happen is so great and relieving to finally be in that moment.

So then came the paperwork with the registration lady.  Then a nurse came in and started and IV in my hand.  I met my nurse who checked me and reported that I was dilated to 3 cm.  So no more progress since my last prenatal visit.  I had Nate make notes to track my progress and all the happenings so that I would be able to write a detailed birth story.

At 7:50 am the Pitocin, or "Go Juice" as one nurse called it, got started.  By 8:10 I felt my first "kind of big" contraction.  But then I didn't feel another one for quite some time after that.  At 9:45 my nurse broke my water and reported that I was now dilated to 4cm.  Both my mom and my mother-in-law came to the hospital.  They came and chatted for awhile and then left for awhile.  I received my epidural at 11:25.  Oh my gosh, I loath getting an epidural.  It was the one thing I was seriously dreading about giving birth again. I was dreading it so much I didn't even allow myself think too much about it because I didn't want to get myself all worked up about it.  The relief it provides makes it 100% worth it but I really hate having it done.  It just the creepiest feeling to have someone messing around near your spinal column.  The sting of the numbing stuff and then the pressure, uggg, it's making me wiggle around in my chair while I type this.  So the last time I had an epidural, I could not move my legs at all.  In fact, it was hours after having the baby that I regained enough sensation to get up and use the bathroom.  But this time, it was not as strong.  My legs felt numb but I could still move them.

At 12:10 I was dilated to 5 cm and then progressed to 7 cm at 1:10 pm.  I felt things were going pretty good at this point.  But comparing my labor with Clara, who I was also induced with, this one was going slower.    But then just 40 minutes later, at 1:50 I was at a 10.  Yea!  The magical number!

When the nurse checked me and reported I was at a 10 she got sort of a puzzled look on her face and said that she was feeling something unusual.  Instead of feeling his head, she said she was feeling something else.  Possibly an ear.  She called my Dr to let him know that I was at a 10 and to let him know what she had felt.  Dr. S would be there soon. So she decided to grab another nurse for another opinion.  Nurse #2 agreed she didn't feel his head and suggested maybe he was breech.  I started to get a little nervous.  My Dr. had been so convinced that he was head down and I could not believe that either he was wrong or that baby had somehow turned.  So the nursed grabbed the ultrasound machine to check his position.  They started looking and then in walked my Dr.  He reassured us that ultrasound showed that baby was head down.  So he checked me and then explained what he felt.  My baby had his head extended instead of flexed with his chin tucked to his chest.  A face presentation or brow presentation it's called since he was leading the way that that part of his head.  At first it didn't seem like too big of a deal.  The Dr. thought he might be able to help him tuck his chin and that he was still deliverable like that.  He spent some time examining and trying to move the baby's head. It was very uncomfortable.  My contractions were very strong at this time too.  Strong enough I started crying each time I had them.  I'm not sure if I was feeling so much pain because the epidural wasn't very strong or if it was the baby's presentation.  But either way, I was definitely uncomfortable. They gave me a bolus 2 times for some extra relief.   So Dr S left for a little while because he said I had a "little lip" left before being dilated to a complete 10.

He came back like an hour later to check again.  No good news.  Baby was still in the in same position.  He had me start pushing with my contractions while he was working with getting the baby to tuck his chin. He was able to get him to get into about the neutral position but then his head went back to the same extended position in between contractions.  I'm not sure how long this went on but I could sense that things were not looking good.  Dr. had his eyes glued to the monitor watching the baby's heart rate which was slowing and showing some stress.   Baby was not moving down the birth canal at all with my pushing.  So finally Dr. S reported that he was going to have to come out by c-section.  He believed that it would be best for the baby.  Those words really stung.  I didn't want a c-section in the worst kind of way.  I cried.  Through the Dr's and nurses apologies and explanations all I could do was nod my head and say "I understand." I couldn't even look at anyone but Nate in the eyes.

So after the official call was made, things started happening in a whirlwind.  More people in room,  papers to sign, explanations of what was about to happen.  The anesthesiologist came back in to give me more stuff through the epidural.  Nate was given surgery wear to put on.  Then before I knew it, I was wheeled into the cold OR and being prepped for surgery.  I was so tired all day long from the lack of sleep the night before but when I went into surgery it intensified 100%.  I have no idea if it were my nerves or if I was given something that was partly knocking me out but my eyes and my body just wanted to go to sleep.  I was trying to keep my composure and it seemed to help to lay there with my eyes closed and not watch the hustle and bustle of everyone prepping.  I remember a nurse asking me if I was going to my happy place and I responded softly, "Ya" without even opening my eyes and looking at her.  Then I heard Dr. S's voice say, "I just pinched your stomach pretty hard 4 times, could you feel that?"  I responded, "No."

I guess that gives the green light to start the surgery.  What literally felt like one minute later, I heard someone say, "Aw, there's his little face looking up at us."  Followed by Dr. S saying, "Okay you are going to feeling some tugging."
And then, just like that, Kohen was out.
He was quickly handed over to the NICU team waiting for him to check him out.  They didn't even hold him up over the curtain so that I could see him.  I know this is because he wasn't doing real good.  He wasn't crying which concerned me a little.  But I did hear him make a couple of little noises.  I found out later that his 1 minute Apgar score was only a 2.  Nate kept pacing between me and him.  He eventually took a picture of him and then showed me the picture on the camera so that I could see him.

While I was getting stitched up and I started getting so shaky.  My jaw and my arms were involuntarily trembling. Then I was rolled into recovery.  I was given something for the nausea I was experiencing but the shakes were making me very nervous feeling.  I just could not control the movements.  The anesthesiologist and nurses reassured me that it was normal but it was an awful feeling.  Finally Kohen was given to Nate and he brought him over to me so a could get a quick peak.  Then he was taken to the NICU nursery for observation for an hour.  I remember telling Nate, "I don't want any visitors.  I don't feel like seeing anyone." Kind of a bold statement, I know.  Especially since my mom and mother-in-law had been at the hospital waiting all day.  I'm not sure why I felt such an overwhelming feeling of not wanting to see anyone.  Most likely because it had been a long day, I was exhausted, shaking uncontrollably and  had yet to hold my baby boy.  I just wanted and needed time him.  And I wanted him all to myself to cuddle and nurse and to get to know.  And I wanted to sleep.

I never really thought I would end up with a c section.  At least I didn't think I would with #3.  I thought about it plenty with my first pregnancy, knowing it was a possibility.  But after you have 2 kids naturally and then you find out the baby you are carrying is not breech but rather head down just as he needs to be for delivery.  Well, I just didn't see it coming.  The hardest part for me was not to have "that moment."  That moment when you push the baby out and it's handed to you.  It's a moment of elation.  A moment that cannot be described.  Well I feel a bit robbed that I didn't have that feeling.  Instead, I looked at him on a camera screen.  Then I caught a small glimpse while Nate held him near me to see.  Obviously I did finally get to hold him.  That's the important thing. I am so thankful that everything turned out okay.  I'm so relieved that my Dr. made the decision he did and kept us both safe and sound.  He is absolutely handsome.  I could not love him more.

Thanks for reading along on my pregnancy blog.  From here, I will pick up back on my family blog.

39 Weeks

Well here I sit on August eve.  The long awaited month is about to arrive - I made it.  Or I guess I should say we made it.
I had my Dr.'s appointment yesterday afternoon.  Up until yesterday, I had always scheduled morning appointments but yesterday I had to have an afternoon one because it's all he had available. I think I had the first appointment after his lunch break because he smelled so strongly of onions when he entered the room.  I measured right on at 39 weeks and baby boy's heart beat was 131.  No dilation progress, his words, "I have you at a strong 3."  So still hanging onto that (for 2 weeks now!).  We discussed inducing as I decided that I would be okay with it.  So we set the date for this Friday, the 3rd, if he doesn't make his debut on his own before then.  I will be just 2 days shy of my due date of the 5th.  AAAAHHHH!  It's crazy.  Just crazy.  We have to be at the hospital at 6:30 a.m. to get things started.  Before Dr. S left the room, he shook my hand and said, "I'll see you on Friday!"  I cannot explain how that feels to hear him say that.  Of course, I'm approaching my due date and it is inevitable that the time is coming.  But to sit here right now, on Tuesday night and think that by next Tuesday, this pregnancy will be behind me.  Labor and delivery will be behind me.  I will have met our son.  I can't even wrap my mind around it.
So I've been kind of nervous about.  And rightfully so  I guess.  It's only like the biggest thing to go through.
So how I am feeling physically?  I'm getting a ton of pressure.  The feeling like if I move wrong he's just going to come right out.  I'm also experiencing some awful ligament pain which, at it's worst, can be paralyzing when I try to roll over in bed at night.  I thought I was stuck in bed last night when I woke up to go to the bathroom.  It was hurting so bad, I could barely move.  He's still very active and I cannot believe how big his movements are when you watch my belly moving all around. 
I continue to have pregnancy insomnia occasionally.  I can't seem to turn my mind off at night.  There is just so much to think about right now.  It weighs on my mind and it's hard to shut off.  A few nights ago I woke up to some contractions.  They were strong enough that I decided to start timing them but they amounted to nothing.  I was almost a little relieved.  It was 3:30 in the morning and I was tired.  I didn't feel like scrambling around to get the last minute things packed and waking the girls up at that hour.
But maybe I'll have to do that tonight.  You just never know :)

*Birth story to come!

38 Weeks

Below are some pictures of the nursery that is just waiting on our baby boy!  I am so thrilled with the way it turned out.  It's hard to believe it used to be painted purple and all very girly. 



But now onto the important stuff: an update on baby progress.  I had my appointment today and found out....there is no baby progress.  I'm still dilated to 3 cm but other than that, I got nothing!  It's kind of a bummer on the one hand, but on the other hand I wasn't really expecting to hear that I had progressed because I feel pretty much exactly the same as I did last week at this time.  But that is also the fun part AND the part that can drive a person CRAZY.  I could go through one more week of nothing happening OR I could start having contractions that send me into labor the second after I hit "publish" on this post.   You just never know.

So baby's heartbeat was 148 and Dr. S is very certain he is head down.  And so am I.  I can tell by the way the movements feel.  The movements I feel up high in my ribs feel like kicks where as the movements that I feel down low like against my hip bones are more squirmy like a head moving side to side.

My Dr. discussed induction. He was willing to induce me as early as this Friday if I wanted.  But I'm not ready for that.  There is no medical need for it and I feel like baby just needs some more time to make sure he gets all of his finishing touches complete.  However, it was really hard to not agree to have it done.  What my ears heard were, "So would you like to meet your baby on Friday?"  How on earth do you say, "Nah, I'll wait" to that?  I don't know, but somehow I did.  So the plan is to go back to the Dr. next Monday and maybe I'll give in to being induced then.  This is my last week of work and I hate to burn to much of my FMLA time without baby here.  So I know that next week I will really be feeling like I want to get the show on the road.

37 Weeks

I had my Dr.'s appointment this morning and learned that  I've made some progress...I'm dilated to 3cm!! WoooHooooo!  I was quite shocked to learn that I'm that far dilated considering I was a 1 last week.  So this kind of put s a whole new spin on my feelings of when we are going to meet this baby boy.  I've never been early and figured I wouldn't be this time either.  But now there is small part of me that is thinking maybe, just maybe, this guy will make his appearance early.  I only got up to 2 cm dilated before being induced 3 days prior to my due date with Clara.  With Alayna, I think I did reach a 3 but had her shortly thereafter.  So we'll see.  I realize I could walk around at  a 3 for some time still though.
Otherwise, I am still measuring big but Dr. S said that he does not think I am having a big baby.  He thinks I'm measuring high (or big) because the baby hasn't dropped yet.  He also thinks I'm carrying "all out front" which could be why I'm measuring big.  Baby's heartbeat was 145 and I'm 50% effaced.
I've been having a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions.  Mostly in the evening while I'm sitting with my feet up in my recliner.  It's funny how I never felt these with the girls and I'm feeling them all the time with this little guy.
So yesterday I stepped on a bee and was stung once (or maybe even twice) on my 2nd toe.  It hurt SO bad. It felt like I stepped on a knife.  So my toe is swollen and red.  It feels like I am walking around with a marble on the bottom of my toe.  That does nothing for my already disgustingly fat feet.
The girls have been loving feeling the baby make such big movements in my belly.  They love crawling up in my recliner - both at the same time - and just putting their hands on me. Sometimes it like my whole belly is dancing and other times, I feel a definite "knob" of some kind far over on my right side.  Clara also loves kissing my belly.  It's adorable.
Lastly, I wanted to share something Alayna said last week. 
She said, "Mommy, how do people know there is a baby in your belly?"
I said, "Well I guess because my belly is SO big."
She replied, "How do they know it's a baby and not just a lot of food?"
Haha, I couldn't help but think that was her way of asking me how people know that I'm not just fat.

36 Weeks

Well let the true countdown begin!  Only 4 more weeks to go, isn't that unbelievable?  I had my first of my weekly appointments today.  That's when you know it is getting very close. 
I am still measuring big, I think what Dr. S said is, "You are measuring 37....eh....almost 38 weeks." So it is what it is.  Could I be having a big baby?  I just don't know.  I'm hoping for another peanut.  I'm dilated to 1 cm.  Nothing to get too excited about but at least it is something.  I go back next Tuesday so hopefully I will show some more progress then.  So after my appointment, we took the girls to Babies R Us for a few things including a new swing, 2 crib sheets, and a boppy cover.  Then we went to Fazoli's for lunch.  It has literally been years since I've been there and I was a little disappointed.  What happened to their blackened chicken alfredo?  They don't have it anymore.  But their bread sticks are still delish.  We then took the girls to Build-a-Bear to have them make baby boy a gift to take to the hospital when is born.

With crazy-perfect coincidence, Clara chose a Happy Birthday shirt for her puppy.  Both girls did good and they had fun making them.  Alayna did struggle a little bit at the beginning because she didn't get to make one for herself too.  But she loosened up after we reassured her that she could play with the one she made until brother arrives.  And then came this evening....the girls put lip gloss on them.  So now there is a greenish sour apple hue around their lips.  And if it's any sign of what is  to come, Alayna's blue boy bear had added a skirt and earrings once he was home and she could dress him up.

In other pregnancy news, last week KICKED MY BUTT.  100+ degree days = big fat feet.  At least we have had some cooler temps this week.  But seriously, my feet spill out over flip flops that are a whole size larger than my normal size.

I'm starting to get some pressure.  When I stand up I get enough pressure that I either have to move slowly or just stand there a second until that feeling subsides.

The nursery is nearly complete.  I will post some pics soon, it is so adorable - I'm just in love with it.  I've also packed my "in case my water breaks at work" bag to keep in my car.  Not that I think it will, my water has never spontaneously broke.  It's always had to be done for me during labor.  But you never know!

Until next week :)





34 Weeks

Well here I am at 34 weeks.  If you think this heat is at all bothersome, try being pregnant in it - barf !
These 90+ degrees days are not pleasant.  Now in a couple of days we are supposed to reach 100.  Thank goodness for central air!

I had a doctors appointment today.  I'm still measuring 2 weeks big, so  I'm not totally sure what to make of that.  Dr. S never really acts like it's a big deal or an indication of anything.  I, however, keep wondering if it means this baby is going to be big.  I hope not for the sake of my body.  What if he is a 10 pounder??  Baby boy's heart rate was 143. I got my blood drawn again to check my anti M.  I feel like I've had my blood drawn at every single visit.  The lady who does it is really good at her job and easily finds my vein each time.  She's also a high school classmate of mine, so it's always nice to chit chat with her.

In other news, I did baby boy's first load of laundry last week.  It was kind of fun and oh so cute to be folding some miniature boy clothes.  But ya,  I know the joy of added laundry will not last long.  I bought some wonderful smelling Dreft to wash them in and make them all baby-smelling.  I soooo love that smell.  I remembered loving the smell of that stuff but when I unscrewed the cap and took a big whiff, I think I forgot just how good it smelled.   Mmmmm, it's so baby.  So he now has a couple of drawers full of boy-ee things all ready for him.

After my appointment today, I went to Carter's to look for a few things.  And for the first time ever, I walked through the door and turned to the right.  Towards the boy section.  I cannot count the number of times I have been there shopping. And each time, I go in,  I go to the left.   I can honestly say that I had never before stepped foot on "that side" of the store.  I'm still finding it a lot of fun to be buying boy things.  BUT  of course I had to venture over to the girls side before leaving and I realized how thankful I am to get to shop on that side as well.  There are just sooo many cute clothes for little girls.

My next appointment is in 2 weeks and then I believe I will be going weekly!  It's hard to believe the time is approaching.  A family of 5 - seriously?  Wow :)

32 Weeks

Seriously feet, give me a break already.

On the one hand I can't believe I only have 8 more weeks until we meet our baby.  On the other hand, I'm all, "Seriously, I still have 8 more weeks!?"  This is definitely taking a toll on my body, I feel so tired and worn out almost non-stop.

Though I know this is our last child, I can tell you that I would never agree to being this pregnant in the summer if we were ever to have another one. I just cannot tolerate the heat.  Summer dresses are my preferred dress of clothing right now.  I only want to be in the sun and heat for small spurts and then promptly return to the air conditioning.  Both of my girls were due in the middle of winter and I think compared to this, that's the better time to do it.  However, the one advantage will be that he'll have a summer birthday so that will be good for birthday parties.  Not to mention that all of the birthdays in the family (both sides) are in fall/winter.  So this will be nice.

He's moving around a ton which I love love love.    He feels so big in there. 

Below I posted some pictures from the ultrasound I had done last Tuesday.

My baby boy!

Foot by his face



Here I am - 32 weeks



31 Weeks

31 weeks and my feet are KILLING ME!  They are so achy, sore and fat. 
And I am so tired.  All the time.

Well today I had my elective 3d/4d ultrasound done followed by a Dr's appointment.  It was awesome to see some life-like images of this baby.  We decided he is going to be very cute and is a keeper.  I got all of the confirmation I needed that baby is definitely a boy.  We got some  unmistakable shots of his boy parts.  So now that means that we can start on the nursery and make it all boy-ee.  He is head down so hopefully he stays that way until his birth day.  His heart rate was 133.  The ultrasound tech printed us 30+ pics and also burned us a CD with the still images.   I can't stop looking at them and thinking about him.  It's hard to believe we will be holding him in about 9 weeks!

The Dr's appointment went good.  I am once again measuring 2 weeks big.  Which I also did a couple of appointments ago, but then things got back on track and I measured right on.  But now big again...maybe I just grow in huge spurts.  Because I do feel like I've gotten to be ginormous in the blink of an eye.

The bunk beds are up and the girls are spending their first night in their shared room tonight.  It took a little work to get them to sleep but it wasn't awful.  My dad and I are going to paint the nursery this weekend now that Alayna's old room is free for the makeover.  I'm really looking forward to starting it and cannot believe it's time to be doing this!  This pregnancy has gone by so fast.

29 Weeks

So for the first time - in 3 whole pregnancies mind you - I've experienced some swelling.  Over the weekend we had a wonderful house full of friends.  We had pizza Friday night and then I woke up with some seriously swollen feet and ankles the next morning.  It was also HOT on Saturday.  So I really don't know if there was too much salt in the pizza or if it was the heat.  Either way, everyone said my feet resembled what it would look like to blow up latex gloves.  Very puffy I was.  So I pretty much sat with my feet up all day Saturday and the majority of Sunday.  By Monday my feet were much much better - but still not my normal size.  I'm not sure that I'll see that again until after this little guy is born.  I've actually bought 2 pairs of sandals both one size larger than my normal.

So besides the swelling, my feet were bothering me a few days before all that started.  It's been hot so I want to wear flip flops but they are so unsupportive.  What I want to wear is tennis shoes everyday but then my feet are hot and sweaty.  That doesn't help with the swelling though.  I guess I don't even know if I could get my tennis shoes on right now even if I wanted to.

We officially have car seat SUCCESS!!  We put them in last night and they fit!  I just cannot believe it, what a relief.  It will be very tight until the day we buy a mini van.  Hopefully only a year or two.

Baby boy's movements make it very obvious that he is getting larger.  I will feel him up high and then down low.  Movement are more distinct too, like a little foot or knee grinding on my hand when I place it on my stomach when he's really active.  For the first time last week, I could definitely tell which side he was lying on when I laid flat on my back and I saw a lump taking up the right side of my abdomen.  It's all very awesome.

27 Weeks

I had my monthly Dr.'s appointment this morning.  And it was an eventful one.  I had the lovely glucose screen to make sure I'm not developing gestational diabetes.  It involved drinking an extra sugary 8 oz fruit punch drink.  Then an hour later they drew my blood for the lab work.  I also got my RhoGam shot since I'm Rh-.  The little guy's heartbeat was 162 today.  I surprisingly didn't gain weight over the last month.  Don't ask me how I pulled that off because I have no idea.  My uterus is measuring right at 28 weeks.  So things are looking good.  I got to schedule my next visit in which I am doing an elective ultrasound because I want to see him again sooo badly!  My Dr. only does one routine scan unless there are issues.  So I don't anticipate that I'll be getting another unless something comes up.  It will be 3D/4D scan so we'll get to see him in much more detail.  I've never had a 3D/4D done so I really cannot wait.  My mom and I are going together so that should be a lot of fun!  Plus I'm really looking for some more confirmation that I'm carry a boy.  Once I have that scan done, I will be confident to begin putting the nursery together.

Speaking of the nursery, I bought some lettering for his room that I am so excited about.  I was originally hoping to find some free standing wooden letters that I could spell his name out with.  My thought was to buy a little shelf or ledge and place them on that.  So I went to Hobby Lobby to look for something like that which I found, but then I found something even better.  I found these tin signs letters.  I was able to find a tin for each letter in his name.  So yay! Each of them are uniquely different but look very cool when placed all together. I could not be happier with my purchase.  I wish I could show them off to people but since we don't share the name until the baby is here, I guess I will have to keep them to myself too.  I also picked out some adorable border that I plan on using in his room.  I will have to post some pictures of the room as we work on it.

The garage sale was successful a couple of weekends ago - I made $464 to be exact.  So that money is getting put to use right quick on things we need for the baby.

I still don't know anymore about the car seat issue.  I've only received 1 of the 3 I ordered.  The others should be here by the end of the week.

25 Weeks

25 down and 15 to go!  Bunk beds got ordered on Saturday.  Nate has been diligently working on adding nice shelving to Clara's closet to keep everything organized for the girls when they move in together.  He wrapped up that project last weekend too.  So now that has given me the opportunity to move baby boy things into Alayna's current closet and moving a lot of Alayna's stuff into her new shared closet with Clara.  My aunt, mom and I are having a garage sale this weekend so I am selling a TON of clothing - at least I hope a ton gets sold!  It makes me a little nervous relying so heavily on the ultrasound lady reporting boy.  She better be right!  I'd love to make some good money so that we can buy some things that we need to get.   After hours (literally) of searching online for the most narrow car seats to fit the Subie, I made a big fat ($575) purchase in the hopes of that working to get 3 seats across.  It should be no surprise that the most narrow seats are also the most expensive.  I had to order them and we haven't received them yet but hopefully we'll know in a week or so.

He has been moving so much. He has many active periods throughout the day. Every night when I kick my feet up in my recliner, he always gets squirmy.  Sometimes he will do something crazy in there and I can see my whole stomach give a hard twitch.  I wish I could peak in there and see what he's doing. I haven't experienced him having hiccups yet and I'm wondering if I will.  I never felt them with Alayna but I did regularly with Clara.  Probably every day with her.  I've also never experienced Braxton Hicks contractions.  I've been reading that they could start happening anytime.  I hope they don't only because I think it would freak me out as I would think it's the "real" thing. 

I try to be very "good" while pregnant.  You know, I do or don't do things that I should or shouldn't do.  One of those things is eating cold meat. I'm not convinced it's all that terrible but if there is a small possibility that it could be, then I opt for better safe than sorry. I caved this weekend and got my favorite from Subway a BMT on Italian herb & cheese.  OhMyGoodness, it tasted so good. In fact I think my mouth just watered at the though of sinking my teeth into one of those. Now I feel as though I must have it again, like ASAP.

24 Weeks

Well Alayna wins, she is the first one to get to feel the baby boy move!  We were lounging around in the living room this morning and he started moving so I put her hand on my belly where I was feeling him.  He kicked and I said, "There he just did it, did you feel it?"  She said no....so we waited for a few seconds more and then he did it again even harder.  Instantly I knew that she felt it that time.  Her face lit up, smiling ear to ear she started squealing "I felt him!  I felt him!"  So then little Clara put her hand on my belly for a split second and then started mimicking exactly how Alayna was acting saying that she felt him too.  I know that she didn't....but I just went with it.

24 weeks is always a big deal to me.  At this point, the pregnancy is considered viable.  What does that mean exactly?  It just means that if for some reason the baby had to come out, he would have a chance of surviving.  It's like a 50% chance. Not huge and also  not something I like to think about but it always makes me realize how developed the baby really is at this point. To think that would even be a possibility amazes me.  But let's just pray for another  happy & healthy 16 weeks together as one.

My mom and I picked out a cute little border to decorate the nursery with.  So once that gets ordered, I'll be able to pick out some paint to coordinate everything.  Nate and I are going to shop for bunk beds this weekend for the girls....so things are moving forward.  Craziness.

23 Weeks

I had a Dr's appointment today.  I love Dr. appointment days :)
I love to hear that little stinker's heartbeat.  It was 152 bpm today.  I got some good news too.  At my last appointment, he had a blood draw done to titer the Anti M in my blood.  It came back negative for it, so I guess it's such a low level, it's not even showing up.  So yay!  He told me the right thing to do is to continue to watch it but if it was going to be a problem, that number would probably be increasing, not decreasing.  So hopefully it continues to be almost non-existent.

He measured me to be 25 weeks, so I'm measuring a little big for my due date.  But I'm trying to take that with a grain of salt and not be hopeful that I'm any further along than what we planned.  I really believe the dates we have are correct.

I only gained 2 pounds over the last month so WOOT WOOT!  Proud of myself for that one.

We may have picked out a name. It's a name we both like and the more I think about it the more I like it.  Nate's not 100% sold but he does like it.  I told him that I am done looking for any other names but if he wants to suggest something else, I'd be open to hearing it.  But if he doesn't bring anything else up, well then, I know what our little boy will be named.  :)   :)

Also, I bought his going home from the hospital outfit today.  AAAWWWWWWW.  So cute.

22 Weeks

Baby boy's movements are getting much stronger.  I have felt him from the outside several times now.  A couple of days ago the girls were laying in bed with me were their hands on my bare belly trying to feel a kick.  As patient as they were being, it never did happen.  I explained to them that he can hear our voices now, so Alayna was yelling, "Kick on the right!" since her hand was on the right side of my belly.  Hopefully they will get to experience that very soon.  Movements are also getting higher though a lot of the squirmies are still low too.
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Last week I had 2 strangers ask about my pregnancy so that made me feel very noticeably pregnant.
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Still no name and we are no closer than we were 2 weeks ago.  WHY is it so hard to come up with boy names!?
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I had the girls at the store the other day and we were randomly browsing down the toy aisle.  While they were oohing and aahing over the baby dolls, the little toy trucks caught my eye.  I stood there thinking about how I'm going to have those to pick up off my living room floor now too.  It's so crazy to think about.  It's fun though because it's all so new to me.  I've been browsing clearance racks whenever I get a chance so I can get some good deals with out-of-season clothing.  On Sunday I purchased this too cute orange shirt with a monster on it.  An orange shirt with a monster on it.   After 5 years of pinks, purples, princesses, leggings, skirts and dresses, let me tell you it feels SO strange to buy a shirt with a monster on it.

20 Weeks

Well I'm officially halfway through this pregnancy!  That's an important milestone in my book. 

Over the last week I have been thinking pretty much non-stop on what it will be like to have a little boy in our house.  I am just soooo excited!  I'm trying hard not to wish away the pregnancy because I enjoy being pregnant for the most part.  Also, Alayna will be starting kindergarten a couple of short weeks after the baby is born and I am most definitely not hoping for that time to get here any sooner than it has to.
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We are struggling big time on names.  We have officially started a list but I'm not 100% sold on any of the names.  Oddly, all of the names on the list so far are names that I have picked. Yet they are all just "okay" to me at this point.  They are all names I could be talked into if Nate was head over heels for one of them.  I feel like a name should just jump out at me.  One that I love right from the start but so far I'm falling short.  In fact, a few times I have really liked a name, sold Nate on it and then the more he likes it, I start back pedaling and change my mind.  It's such a hard decision.
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I'm still tired and wondering if I'll ever gain some energy back.  Alayna has pretty much outgrown her nap at this point. However during nap time, I let her watch a movie while I snooze on the couch.
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This 70-80 degree weather has been kind of a tease.  It's making me feel like I'm closer to my due date than I actually am.  Since my due date is August 5th, the dead of summer, it's making me feel like it could be at least June.  But nope - it's not even April.
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I felt the baby move from the outside the night of the ultrasound.  I was lying flat in bed on my back with my hand on my belly.  He was wriggling around and I felt a very soft movement on the outside.  It was real low, about bikini line area.  He's moving more and more but it doesn't feel like kicks so much yet, more just him squirming around.
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Tonight we tried to fit all 3 carseats in the back of the Subie.  But, just as I suspected, it's a big fat no go.  It's not even going to "kind of" work. So on to plan B.  Okay, we don't have a plan B.
I guess I try to find seats that are narrower than what we have  I don't know.  Otherwise we strap a kid to the top of the vehicle as Nate suggested.

Ultrasound Day

The much anticipated ultrasound day finally arrived today.  And what a wonderful day it has been.   Today we found out that we are being blessed with a baby boy!  We cannot believe that we are actually capable of making a baby boy.  Although I was hopeful for a boy, there was a part of me that believed I was just a girl mommy.  So we were absolutely thrilled when the ultrasound lady said, "this is a baby boy" with confidence.  WOW!  I'm sooo excited!  He measured perfectly and looks healthy which is so reassuring to hear as well. Right now the baby is breech but Dr. S says he has plenty of time to turn.  And if he doesn't then, "we'll just figure out a way to make him turn."  His heartbeat was 148 during the ultrasound.  I wish I could have an ultrasound at every visit.  It's so fun to watch the baby moving around.  He was really moving around the whole time.  The ultrasound tech joked that we'd have our hands full with this little mover.  I believe she said he weighed 10 ounces and is 6 inches long from the top of his head to the bottom of his behind (not including the legs).

All in all we had a wonderful day together. The four of us really enjoyed this beautiful day.  65 degrees outside and sunny, a perfect day! 

Celebratory lunch at Ruby Tuesdays

I wonder if he'll look like Daddy?

After lunch we went to Babies R Us to purchase our very first boy item.  It felt so foreign being in the boy section, but totally fun!!  I loved looking at everything.  We ended up picking out this onesie that came with camo pants of course!

And we couldn't stop there.  We went to Rural King to buy dog food but I, of course, had to browse through the kids clothing. I found this adorable onesie and had to buy it too.

OH  - THIS IS GOING TO  BE FUN!

18 Weeks

I'm feeling the baby move for sure at this point.  It turns out that I never had a defining moment where I knew for sure.  But rather it ended up being a lot of "I think that could have been it" moments that evolved into, "Yep that was definitely it!"  You would think that the third time around I would know for sure right away when I felt it, but I just didn't.  It just happens so fast and then it's over.  Right now during the day I may feel a little nudge once or twice.  That at night, after the girls go down for the night and I kick back in my recliner, that's when the baby seems to get the most active.  I love love love the feeling!  I even loved it last night at 1:30 in the morning when Clara got up out of bed and I walked her back to her room. Baby was very active when I got back in bed.

I had a surprise "extra" visit to the Dr. last week.  We had gone to a water park the weekend prior and I was having a lot of discomfort followed by what I would swear to be leaking amniotic fluid.  Turns out the leaking I experienced was because I either peed my pants a little or some leftover water from those water slides leaked out.  And the discomfort was more than likely overuse of muscles as I was climbing rope ladders and riding doubles with Clara down one of the slides.  So anyway, I did get to hear the heartbeat and it was 135.  The nurse practitioner predicted a boy.

Speaking of predictions - it's time to make your official prediction because next Tuesday, the 13th, is our ultrasound!!!!  I am sooooo excited.  A little anxious too.  I am #1 hopeful that the baby is healthy and all is well.  Then #2 I am hopeful the baby cooperates and shows us what it is.   I get so excited thinking about finding out that it's either one, boy or girl - I just want to know and cannot believe it's only a week away!

So be watching for the announcement coming soon!

16 weeks

Things have been going pretty good since the last time I wrote.  I feel like a little energy has returned but I say that with caution.  I actually had enough energy to walk on the treadmill a couple of times last week  BUT I'd be lying if I said I wasn't still taking regular naps.  My nausea is almost non-existent at this point. Last week I went to get my hair done and when I walked into the salon, there was a pot of coffee brewing and it smelled fabulous!!  That made me very happy to enjoy that smell once again.
But now onto the complaints.  I have so many headaches.  Looking back on my pregnancy journal for Clara, I complained about them at this time with her too.  So I guess this is normal for me.  Whatever normal is.
I'm still longing for that defining moment of knowing for sure that I have felt the baby move.  There have been a few instances that I thought maybe I felt a little something.  But nothing definite yet.  I'm trying to be patient and I keep telling myself that maybe tomorrow will be the day.  I would just love the reassurance of feeling that.
I change my mind daily on the gender of the baby.  I really cannot decide what I think we are having.  We also haven't talked about names too much.  Nate and I have a history of never agreeing on a boy name.  So to save any fights or headaches, we are waiting to start the discussions until after we find out what it is.  No sense in going there if we don't need too. 
Until next time!

14 weeks - Do you want a boy this time?

Let's be honest, if you haven't asked me this question personally, I know you are thinking it.  I get it it. It's a perfectly understandable question.  But it's not one that I can answer a simple yes or no to.  So I will try my best to explain.
Nate and I decided to start and family and one day were blessed with a baby girl.  Then there was never really a decision to be made about whether or not to have another after that.  It was more of a question of when. We always knew we wanted at least two.  Well then after having our second baby there was an actual decision to be made.  Do we or don't we?  We obviously love the thought of adding a son to our family. Something totally different and fun.  However when deciding to have a 3rd, we had to ask ourselves, would we be okay with having three girls?  No wait, not just would it be "okay" but would we love and embrace our lives having 3 daughters?  (insert some reservations when we are pondering our lives with 3 girls ages 16, 14, and 11)  However,  when we were both able to conclude yes, than that was our answer. I truly feel that children are a gift from God and I have faith in knowing that He chooses the perfect child for our family.  So I'm trying really hard to not get hung up on wanting one or the other but rather just waiting to see what the right fit for us is.
Now having said all of that.  I do hope that God feels a boy is what we need.  But if it's another girl - I will embrace without looking back because I know God knows best.  What is crazy exciting to think about is that it is already one or the other.  Well that was determined at conception.  But what I really mean is that I read in my pregnancy book that at 14 weeks the baby is fully formed, now things just have to mature and grow - lots!  So "the new littlest" has it's parts and hopefully it will reveal it's parts on ultrasound day.  Until then I will just keep trying to figure out the easiest way to answer that question, because I would bet my left hand that I will get asked again.  And again.
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I had my 14 week Dr.s appointment today.  I got to hear the heartbeat only just briefly because the little bugger was apparently moving around a lot. So as soon as it would register on the Doppler, it would go away shortly thereafter. It was super sweet to hear, I could listen to that thumping all day long.  It was 146.  Dr. S reviewed with me that I have an unusual antibody in my blood - Anti M it's called.  It will require me to have more frequent blood draws to make sure I don't start producing a lot more or it could adversely affect the baby.  He didn't seemed overly concerned, so I will try not to be as well
I got to schedule my next appointment which will be ultrasound day - YAY!  It's slated for March 13th.
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I felt something in my lower abdomen that may have been more than gas.  I won't swear to it, but I felt that distinct feeling twice last night and then once on the way to the Dr. this morning.

Let's do it again!

So I'm pregnant and have decided to write an online pregnancy journal this time.  What is fun about blogging is that you can have it printed into a book. So the plan will be to write about my pregnancy here and then print it off when I'm finished.  Then our new life as a family of five will be continued on my regular blog.

So where to start?
Well how about here.  I'm an 13 weeks along and I'm due August 5th.   I got a positive pregnancy test on November 30th.  I've always read that a positive pregnancy test can be detected as early as 10 days past ovulation.  I'm also well aware that testing with your first morning urine is the most concentrated so it's especially important to use that if testing early.  So on my lunch break at work, on November 30th, I ran to CVS and picked up a couple of tests with the plans on testing the following morning.  Those tests were burning a hole in my purse. They tempted me for 2 hours until I finally could not stand it, I just had to get up and take one.  Too early?  I was sure of it.  Using middle of the afternoon diluted urine? a negative for sure.  But....it was positive, it turned almost instantly.  So now I'm at work with life altering huge news and I'm not the type to share the news early so I just had to keep it bottled up.  So I just have to celebrate in my head and wear a giddy grin on my face the rest of the day.  And also check the test umpteen times for the next couple of hours to be sure I was seeing correctly.

I got home that evening and slid the test across the counter to Nate and said, "I've got something to show you."  He picked it up and with a big grin, he replied, "Whoa are you serious?"  We had been trying, sure.  But it's definitely still a shock when you see those 2 pink lines.  Our conversation was limited about it that evening, mostly because of the girls' presence.  We didn't want them to know until I was further along.  I think we shared a lot "Wow are we really do this" glances that evening.

I am using the same Dr. as I did with Clara, Dr. S we will call him.  He did me right the last time around and I'm confident he'll do the same this time too. I had my first appointment on January 9th when I was 10 weeks along.  It was exciting to be back and to see my Dr. again.  I was given my official date of August 5th, was given a urine test, an exam and then it was time to hear the heartbeat.  He couldn't find it.  He only searched with the Doppler for about 30 seconds without hearing anything and then said, "If we can't hear it, we'll go see it on an ultrasound."  So then, I cannot lie, I was hoping to get an ultrasound. He looked for another 15 seconds or so and then made a comment on my heart rate going up - indicating I was getting nervous I suppose. So back out to the waiting room I go. I had to wait until the ultrasound room was available. This is where some anxiety set in and I was wishing that Nate was there with me. 

Ten minutes later the ultrasound lady called me back.  I got positioned on the table and she had the screen facing her.  She told me that she would take her measurements and then turn the screen so that I could see.  So she moved the little wand around on my belly and then clicked her machine for what seemed like FOREVER AND SHE DIDN'T SAY ONE WORD.  I started getting really nervous as I watched her face for any kind of expression.  Something that would say, yep there's the little wiggly bean.  Or an unfortunate expression that might mean something wasn't right.  But nothing!  Her face gave me nothing!  But finally, she said okay, here is the baby's heartbeat and she turned the volume on so I could hear it.  Aaahhh, music to my ears.  What an awesome sound to hear. All my worries melted into a big pile of goo. The heart rate was 178.  Then a couple of minutes later she turned the screen around and let me see that wiggly little bean.  I so wish Nate would have been with me to see "the new littlest" for the first time.  It was awesome!!  Everything looked wonderful and the ultrasound gave and estimated due date of August 4th.

So to give a general recap of how I have felt over the past 13 weeks.  2 words: hungry & tired.  All of the holidays meals, chocolates, cookies, pies - YES PLEASE.  And does any of that have cheese on it?  Because I love cheese too.  And also, does it look like, taste like or resemble a Dorito in anyway?  Because I love the hell out of those guys too.  Nate and I watched my "National Geographic: In the womb" DVD a couple of weeks ago.  It was talking about how a pregnant mother has a natural instinct to eat foods that have good nutrition for the baby.  If that is the case, someone needs to explain why this baby wants more Doritos.
I've been totally useless because I don't have one single ounce of extra energy.  I can get done the basic necessities but that is it, nothing more.  I'm doing what I can to just get by.  On days that I don't work, believe I am taking a 2 hour afternoon nap with the girls.
I've been more nauseous this time around.  I haven't puked but have  felt like I am on the verge at any moment which is just a crummy feeling.  My prenatal vitamins make me feel ill.  I can't drink coffee (decaf) and cannot even stand the way that it smells. I think all of these morning sickness annoyances are beginning to subside now though.