Week 2

So maybe I should have done a little more reading about babies and what comes after pregnancy because man do I feel lost most days.  Our second week with Miss Elizabeth was definitely a learning curve.  Thursday was another trip to the doctor but this time it was for mommy.  Everything checked out with the incision from the c-section and I had lost a total of 22 pounds from the day I gave birth.  If you remember, I had only gained 7 pounds while pregnant so I have lost about fifteen pounds so far just from giving birth.  Yeah for me!  By Friday we were so exhausted both physically and mentally that we had decided that we would go to El Campo for the weekend to have a little extra help from my mom.  It was really nice having the few extra hours of sleep.  We would go to bed about 8pm and my mom would watch her until about 11 or so... three extra hours of sleep is definitely priceless!  We ended up staying until Monday morning before we headed home.  One thing that was different between our house and my mom's was that she had a recliner to sit in.  Greg insisted that we get a recliner for our living room so we could be more comfortable while we "camped out" with Elizabeth.  So, on the way back home Monday we stopped in at the La-Z-Boy store and got us a new recliner... and boy do we love it! 

As her second week came to an end, it was full of good nights and bad nights.  We are now trying to get as much information about babies and sleeping and everything else.  I know it will all work out in the end, but we are taking one day at a time and learning.  At her two week appointment today she weighed in at 6lbs 14oz and was 19.5 inches long.  The doctor said she is in good health, just small for her age.  She is only in the 10th percentile.  She even had to have her little foot poked and she screamed of course!  Our little princess is growing and it is so hard to believe that two weeks has already past!  Stay tuned for more of our crazy, busy life!

Since her ugly cord fell off during her second week, we were able to give her the first real bath... she loved it (much to my surprise!)!

Mommy and Lizzy

Just relaxing at Granny's!

This was her Sunday game day outfit! 

Loving the new recliner!

Two weeks old!

Such a cutie at two weeks!

Week 1

Elizabeth was born on a Wednesday afternoon and we were released on Friday afternoon.  I was so ready to go home because sitting around in the hospital was getting really old very fast!  It took forever to get released... but we were finally on our way home!  Greg was so nervous with having her in the back seat and actually driving with her.  He insisted that I sit in the back sit even though the little princess was sleeping!  I had not eaten anything that whole day because they told us we would be released a lot earlier than we actually were so we made a quick trip through a drive thru to grab some dinner.  My parents came up after they got off work on Friday evening to see Elizabeth, but they left and we got settled for our first night at home with her.  I don't think Greg and I were really prepared for that first night.  I am so thankful for Greg because even though I was getting around pretty good, my c-section had me moving a little slower.  The first night was probably the worst night we had since we had her.  We could not get her comfortable and we were nervous on top of it.  We stayed up the whole night!  So, when my mom called the next morning to see how it went, we asked if she could come stay with us for the second night.  It was such a blessing to have her stay and help.  Saturday was full of visitors which made the day go by way to fast but it was nice.  My mom left on Sunday evening and it was back to the three of us but it got easier when we got more comfortable with her and knew what to do and how to help her.  The first week went by so fast.  Monday morning we had a doctor's appointment to check out Miss Elizabeth.  When we left the hospital she weighed in at 5lb 14oz but on Monday she was already back to 6lb 3oz.  The doctor checked her out and she screamed but she is in great health so far.  We were a little worried when we got home from the hospital because right before we left the hospital they switched her formula and she just was not taking to it at all.  On Saturday evening Greg ran to the store and got the same formula we used while we were in the hospital and she drank it with no worries.  Needless to say, we have stuck with that and she seems to be doing great with it.  We also had our first little outing too.  I think it was more for me because I started to feel like the walls were closing in on me after being in the house for so long.  We went to Target to get a few things that we realized we would like to have now that she is here.  It was nice to get out of the house!    As the days continue to go by really fast, we are trying to take it all in and remember this experience because it is truly amazing!

Getting ready to go on an outing!

She loves her swing!

Her first sponge bath... team effort!

She didn't really like it too much!

One week old picture.

Another one week picture...

She's Here!

Well, Elizabeth made her debut into this world last week.  Now I have a little time to share our story while Greg holds out sweet bundle of joy! 

We were told after our second hospital stay that we had one week to prepare for baby.  The doctor thought it would be best for my health to take Elizabeth out and since she would be considered full term, it was just time.  On Friday, Sept. 30th, we went for testing at the hospital.  Elizabeth was still doing great inside but my blood pressure was just so high.  Of course they didn't want to let me leave the hospital on Friday again but I explained our situation and they called the doctor so we went about our business.  We had a great baby shower on Saturday morning and got lots of great things.  Of course I was nervous because I knew I needed to get everything back to the house so I could start washing and preparing for baby.  Monday the 3rd, Greg and I made a big day of it and went to return everything we needed to return and finish getting everything we didn't get.  We also had a doctor's appointment where the doctor just explained how everything was going to happen.  He checked my cervix but I was completely closed.  We had a long road ahead to get our baby girl out but he said that we would try and do our best to make it as natural as possible.

Tuesday came so fast and Greg had to go to work that morning so he left me home to worry!  It really wasn't that bad but I was nervous and all I had to do was sit around until we went to the hospital.  We had to be at the hospital at 6pm so we left around 5.  I knew I needed to eat something because as soon as they started labor they would not let me eat.  Since we had such a long road ahead, I knew eating would be the best thing to keep my energy up.  When we walked in the hospital they already had me a room ready to go and I changed and they hooked me up to the IV right away.  The doctor came in and again explained to us what we would expect over the next day.  That night they put this medicine on my cervix to soften it and make it start dilating.  They put too rounds in so it was a long night of getting woken up and having to take my blood pressure every 30 minutes.  Needless to say, it was a long night.  They came in on Wednesday morning and started the pitocin at about 5:30am.  She had checked me a couple times throughout the night and my cervix was soft but it was still closed.  The doctor came in about 7am and I started having contractions every three or so minutes but they were not painful.  They were kind of like braxton hicks contractions.  My cervix was still closed and he told me it looked like it would be a long day.  He said he would be back at lunch to break my water and hopefully that would speed up the labor.  I didn't mention yet that they put me on this medicine called magnesium sulfate that made me sick and feel even worse.  It sure did make for a long morning.  When the doctor came back to the hospital about 1:30 and checked me, it was clear that my body was not going into labor.  My cervix was still closed and I was not having labor contractions.  We had two options to chose from: 1) we could stop everything and wait another day and try again (with no guarantees) 2) we could have a c-section.  I was miserable and the doctor said that a c-section would be what he recommended so that is what we decided to do.  He told us he would be back at 3:30 and we would have the c-section at 4pm.



It was a long hospital stay but we are home and happy now.  It is a HUGE adjustment and the lack of sleep is hard sometimes but we are doing good.  Today has been the best day yet since she has been born.  I am thinking she has her nights and days mixed up but we will work on that!  Thanks to everyone for the support and prayers as we welcomed our baby girl.  She is precious and changing so much already.  It brings tears to my eyes to just type it here!

Getting ready to meet his daughter!







Here she comes!

Our tiny bundle of joy!

 Meeting Mommy for the first time!

Our family... this must of been right before I got sick...

Proud Daddy!

Hospital Stay #2

We have definitely been having an adventure as this pregnancy is coming to an end.  Elizabeth is doing great but mommy's blood pressure is not doing so good.  For those of you that didn't know, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure probably 6 or 7 years ago.  It has been controlled with medication and I have not had any problems with it until about two weeks ago.  We had a regular doctor's appointment on Wednesday but before we saw the doctor, he wanted us to go by the hospital for a few tests just to make sure after our hospital stay on Friday.  We got there about 6:30 so we could get done before our doctor's appointment at 9.  We got hooked up to the machines and then they took my blood pressure... that is when it went down hill.  My first reading was 179/107... and I knew right away that we would not be going anywhere.  I have had high readings when I first got diagnosed with high blood pressure and knew what a number like that meant.  The nurses didn't even say anything but they continued to take my readings every few minutes but it really didn't go down.  The bottom number (which is really the important one) stayed in 90's the whole morning.  The doctor came in for his morning rounds about 7:30 and told us that it is not looking good.  He told us that I would be admitted to the hospital and that we would most likely be having a baby soon.  Talk about starting to freak out!  I was dressed for work and didn't have anything ready for baby at home!  He just basically told us that he was going to order a bunch of blood work and an ultrasound and he would see us after lunch to get the induction started.  Greg was super excited thinking he was going to have the best birthday present ever and have a baby!  He got on the phone and started telling people that he was going to be a daddy on his birthday.  I was just trying to relax and get it through my head we were having a baby!  The nurse came in and started an IV line and they came and took me down to ultrasound.  After all that excitment of the morning, it felt like forever before we saw the doctor again.  He came in about 1:30 and told us that he got all the test results back and that it looks like that everything is ok with the baby and that the only thing that is not coming back ok is my blood pressure (which was still high by 1:30).  He felt that one more week would be better for Elizabeth (and her lungs) and that since she looks ok and is actually measuring big, she would be ok for one more week.  I will be full-term on Wednesday, Oct 5th, so that is when he decided to schedule the induction.  Even though Greg didn't get the ultimate birthday present, we are thankful that everything is ok and we hope that this one week will help Elizabeth be born healthy.  Then we had to call and tell everyone that it was a false alarm!  I was so hunger by this point because they would not let me eat or drink anything just incase he decided to induce.  The only problem was there were five people in labor that day and all the nurses were tied up delievering babies when it came time to release me.  I think it was about 3:30 by the time I got released from the hospital. 

The doctor ordered some tests for Friday and Monday so we will be busy for the next week preparing for baby.  It is kind of a catch 22 knowing when we will have her because now we can be prepared all the way through but then again, I won't be able to have the feeling of "I don't know if this is it?"!  I would have loved to went into labor naturally but God has a plan for her and me so we have to go with it!  The first thing I did when I got home was wash all her clothes and blankets we got at the shower.  I also washed bottles and pacifiers.  Now I feel a little better about bringing home baby.  The doctor told me it would be best if I got lots of rest between now and next week when we induce, so I am now home "resting"!  I did have to run a few errands this morning which included making a quick trip to work this morning to finalize everything on my desk, picking up a prescription, and going to the bank, but of course because our lives are never easy, I got into my car to a dead car.  It would not start for nothing... dead as a doorknob!  I think it is about time for a new car but again, just waiting to close on the new house before we venture into anymore debt.  Luckily, my loving brother came and took care of me this morning.  He took me up to work and to HEB.  Talk about not needing anymore stress in my life and then having a car that doesn't work!   Hopefully we can get it fixed and all is good again before Elizabeth comes. 

So now that the count down is on for Elizabeth's birthday, Greg and I continue to ask for prayers for comfort and a safe delivery.  We are both nervous and anxious at the same time.  I hope everyone has a blessed weekend and next week we will have pics of baby on here! 

Work Shower

Monday everyone at work  put a shower together for Greg and I.  It was so nice and we got lots of good stuff for baby Elizabeth.  Here are a few pictures!  Tomorrow we will hopefully have an answer on when baby Elizabeth will grace us with her presence... I will let everyone know!  Have a great Tuesday! (PS-I am still trying to round up pictures from my shower on Saturday! :))

This is everything we got minus the bouncer which I received in the mail yesterday from my shower on Saturday...

Hospital Stay #1

So, we definitely had a busy weekend.  Friday morning I woke up like usual and went to work.  All my doctor's appointments are on Friday afternoons since I only have to work half days on Friday.  I left work and went in for my usual weekly tests, the BPP and non-stress test, at the hospital.  The BPP test was fine and Elizabeth passed right away but the non-stress test was a different story.  On a side note, I want to add that Greg was not with me for the first time since I was pregnant because it was the opening weekend of dove season and he went to El Campo to hunt.  I told him it would be fine because the past couple of times it was just so routine and nothing every changed!  Anyway, the nurse made me drink some really nasty juice and I had to redo the non-stress test again.  Luckily Elizabeth paused the second time, however; they told me that if she didn't, I would have probably been admitted to the hospital for more tests!  So, off to the doctor's office I went.

I wasn't going to be able to see my doctor because she was supposed to be on vacation so I was going to see another doctor just this time.  When I got to the doctor's office, I checked in and about ten minutes later, they called me up to the desk and told me that the doctor I was supposed to see was running really far behind and they asked if I would see another doctor.  Of course this was fine with me because I wasn't even seeing my regular doctor anyway and after I explained that to the nurse, she asked who my regular doctor was.  I told her Dr. Wong and she told me that Dr. Wong was no longer working at the practice as of Friday!  WHAT!  I was a little in shock and beyond belief.  This doctor was the only one I have seen since I was pregnant and I am due in 4 WEEKS!  She told me that Dr. Heaps would be able to see me in her place so I decided to go with it.  I called Greg and let him know that after the non-stress test and now not having a doctor, I was totally stressed and wish he could be there.  They called me back almost right away to see Dr. Heaps.  They did the usual weight (only gained 2 pounds!), blood pressure, and urine sample.  I noticed that my blood pressure was high but I really didn't think it was that high... but again, I was totally stressed by this point!  Dr. Heaps came in and explained everything to me and he said he looked at my charts and read all about everything during my pregnancy.  He also then told me that he would like to send me hospital for some blood work since I would be able to get results right away at the hospital.  He was checking for any signs of preeclampsia.  So, I had to make the dreaded phone call to my husband to tell him I was on my way back to the hospital for monitoring and blood work.  What a afternoon it was!

Once I got to the hospital, they hooked me up to the machines to monitor the baby and they put me on a constant blood pressure machine and they also drew a bunch of blood.  Everything looked to be on track and looking good... the doctor had come to tell us that it looked like everything was ok but he was still waiting on the blood work.  He said that the on-call doctor would probably release us once the blood work came back.  So, the blood work comes back and nothing is wrong with it... YEAH... NOT!  The on call doctor decided to order a urine sample.  So, the we had to wait on that to come back.  When it did, it showed I was dehydrated and a trace amount of protein... so, I wasn't going home.  I guess what made me more upset about the situation was that they did not monitor me all night.  Why did I have to stay?  Don't get me wrong, I want the best for both Elizabeth and myself but it was very upsetting.  Once my doctor came in the next morning, he told me he was going to release me and continue the monitoring.  I think they were keeping me stressed so they could keep me in the hospital!  I just knew I was going to miss my baby shower on Saturday morning... but I made it (even if I was late!). 

So, it looks like we will have a baby in about two weeks.  We should know more on Wednesday when we meet with the doctor but he said he won't let me go over 38 weeks and I am 36 tomorrow.  Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers has we are getting really nervous and just want a healthy, safe delivery for Miss Elizabeth.  I will post about the shower later once I get some pics from someone! 

Girls Rule!

So, a big congrats goes out to my good friend Jessica who had a precious little girl on Monday!  I am so excited for her and her husband, and Paislyn is so darn cute!  Talk about looking like a baby doll... she looks just like one!  Greg and I went to see them on Tuesday afternoon and we took her some pink and purple outfits. Since Jess didn't know what she was having, we had to wait until she was born to get her some pink!  It is so unlike my baby's closet which is filling up with lots of pink and purple and Dallas Cowboy clothes!  This just makes me that more anxious for our little one to be here.  Little Elizabeth was just kicking way for the chance to play with her new friend while I was holding her!  Here is a picture of us with Paislyn:

What is so funny is that when we got married in December, there were three of my bridesmaids that were pregnant... all had girls.  Then, Jessica and I got pregnant shortly thereafter, and we both had/are having girls.  I even had a cousin pregnant this year who had a girl!  Someone needs to have some boys because these poor girls will have nobody to date! :) 

We have another busy weekend ahead and I am so looking forward to the baby shower on Saturday!  Congrats again to Jess and Nathan and I hope everyone has a great week!  Happy Hump Day!