That cute look melts my heart. I'm amazed at how much personality a baby can have at only 4 weeks old.
Going back to work is going to be nearly impossible for me. I don't want to be away from her that much!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Random Cute Moment
That cute look melts my heart. I'm amazed at how much personality a baby can have at only 4 weeks old.
Going back to work is going to be nearly impossible for me. I don't want to be away from her that much!
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Pictures!
For your viewing pleasure: random pictures of my daughter!
Brand new, just 2 minutes old
About a day old; still my favorite picture!
A week old. This is what I get for saying "Look at mommy, Adelle!"
Pretty sure I've been replaced, but I'm OK with that fact.
A week old. This is what I get for saying "Look at mommy, Adelle!"
Monday, November 21, 2011
Adelle's Birth Story
So people have asked, and now that I'm home and having a remotely lucid moment, I'm going to post quickly about my experience last week with having the baby.
Monday Morning: We went to OSU for my scheduled nonstress test/amniotic fluid check. It's a pretty standard thing they do when you're a week overdue just to make sure that all of baby's life support systems are still functioning. The fluid level was great, and my blood pressure wasn't misbehaving too much. The baby, however, was being a bit uncooperative. They had to buzz her to get the kind of reaction they wanted, and with her being overdue they decided to admit me and do an induction THAT DAY. Did I mention that the appointment was at 8am, so I had a small breakfast around 6:30am and had not been prepared for a stay in the hospital?
Fast forward. My cervix wasn't where they wanted it to be, so they started me on the first round of drugs around Noon when I was only about 60% effaced. I stalled out eventually at around 80% effaced.
12:33am Tuesday: As the nurse was coming in to check me out and start the pitocin, my water broke. WEIRDEST FEELING EVER. I was snoozing a bit, and I remember thinking I heard voices as I was waking up, feeling a weird pop, and saying "I just felt a weird thing and now I'm wet. I think my water broke." Sure enough, it had. Start pitocin!
2:00am: The contractions were coming fast and furious and making my hips feel like they were ripping apart, so I got an epidural. It worked perfectly and I was able to get some sleep. The contractions kept coming about 2-3 minutes apart, but I barely felt them so I didn't care.
Here's where the fun starts. Around 6:30am, they stopped the pitocin because baby's heart rate wasn't optimal. Once she stabilized (before noon) they restarted it to see if we couldn't get me the rest of the way into active labor.
It didn't work. By 2pm, it looked like a C-Section was going to be our only option. They gave me another hour to try to progress and NOTHING. Stalled out at 5cm. Seriously, who the hell stalls out at 5cm?! Apparently I do! It was decided to go ahead and go with the c-section. I cried because that's not what I had wanted, but you do what you've gotta do.
At 4:28pm on November 15, 2011, Adelle Emoline joined us out here in the real world.
It took 3 people to get her out of my pelvis. Turns out labor had stalled because, as the surgeon said, "There was no way this kid was coming vaginally."
They joked that I had birthed a toddler. It was only a half-joke.
9 pounds, 14 ounces, 21.8 inches long.
Yeah. That's huge. At least we know I can grow 'em :-D
Now we're having fun trying to figure out how to be parents to a newborn when mommy isn't allowed to lift her own kid. 10lb weight limit thanks to the c-section and I have a 10lb kid. oy.
So, there you have it. Now that she's outside, all of the pains and problems I had at the end of the pregnancy are obviously explained.
Now, we have what seems to be colic already. Her checkup is tomorrow morning, so I'm hoping they can point us in a better direction. For now, I'm going to go nap since Nate can't handle being up all night with a screaming baby.
Monday Morning: We went to OSU for my scheduled nonstress test/amniotic fluid check. It's a pretty standard thing they do when you're a week overdue just to make sure that all of baby's life support systems are still functioning. The fluid level was great, and my blood pressure wasn't misbehaving too much. The baby, however, was being a bit uncooperative. They had to buzz her to get the kind of reaction they wanted, and with her being overdue they decided to admit me and do an induction THAT DAY. Did I mention that the appointment was at 8am, so I had a small breakfast around 6:30am and had not been prepared for a stay in the hospital?
Fast forward. My cervix wasn't where they wanted it to be, so they started me on the first round of drugs around Noon when I was only about 60% effaced. I stalled out eventually at around 80% effaced.
12:33am Tuesday: As the nurse was coming in to check me out and start the pitocin, my water broke. WEIRDEST FEELING EVER. I was snoozing a bit, and I remember thinking I heard voices as I was waking up, feeling a weird pop, and saying "I just felt a weird thing and now I'm wet. I think my water broke." Sure enough, it had. Start pitocin!
2:00am: The contractions were coming fast and furious and making my hips feel like they were ripping apart, so I got an epidural. It worked perfectly and I was able to get some sleep. The contractions kept coming about 2-3 minutes apart, but I barely felt them so I didn't care.
Here's where the fun starts. Around 6:30am, they stopped the pitocin because baby's heart rate wasn't optimal. Once she stabilized (before noon) they restarted it to see if we couldn't get me the rest of the way into active labor.
It didn't work. By 2pm, it looked like a C-Section was going to be our only option. They gave me another hour to try to progress and NOTHING. Stalled out at 5cm. Seriously, who the hell stalls out at 5cm?! Apparently I do! It was decided to go ahead and go with the c-section. I cried because that's not what I had wanted, but you do what you've gotta do.
At 4:28pm on November 15, 2011, Adelle Emoline joined us out here in the real world.
It took 3 people to get her out of my pelvis. Turns out labor had stalled because, as the surgeon said, "There was no way this kid was coming vaginally."
They joked that I had birthed a toddler. It was only a half-joke.
9 pounds, 14 ounces, 21.8 inches long.
Yeah. That's huge. At least we know I can grow 'em :-D
Now we're having fun trying to figure out how to be parents to a newborn when mommy isn't allowed to lift her own kid. 10lb weight limit thanks to the c-section and I have a 10lb kid. oy.
So, there you have it. Now that she's outside, all of the pains and problems I had at the end of the pregnancy are obviously explained.
Now, we have what seems to be colic already. Her checkup is tomorrow morning, so I'm hoping they can point us in a better direction. For now, I'm going to go nap since Nate can't handle being up all night with a screaming baby.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
The Update!
So it seems like this little one has decided to treat me like a majority of first time moms and show up late.
She's just like her father already!
So here's the rundown from the doctor this morning. For those of you keeping track, I've had prodromal labor issues for the last month or so and even the doc was convinced I'd have this baby by her due date. Due date was November 7.
My blood pressure has been running a bit high for me. If we're talking textbook, things are still within acceptable ranges, but it's high based on my medical history so they kept me a little longer and monitored me for a while just to be safe. There are no proteins and very minor swelling, so they don't believe it's late onset pre-eclampsia, but if anything goes sideways I'm to get my butt up to L&D.
My due date was changed halfway through this pregnancy due to how fast things were growing, measuring, etc. Since then, we've measured right on track for the EDD of November 7. We're now measuring a bit ahead. Baby is positioned well, and my fundal height is actually measuring big. They did some basic external exams, and all seems well with the little one. Yaay!
We have an end date in sight if she doesn't join us of her own accord.
The rundown:
Monday: go to OSU L&D for an ultrasound, nonstress test, BP monitoring..pretty much the whole battery of tests they do on anyone a week after their due date just to make sure things really are just fine.
Tuesday: Back to the OB to go over test results, monitor my BP some more, that sort of thing.
Friday: Induction. Yup. If she doesn't join us on her own, they are inducing me Friday evening. They wanted to do it a little closer to my due date, but since there is no medical emergency I got the first non-emergency time slot available. I have it scheduled for 6pm Friday, so theoretically next weekend there will be a baby in our family!
I'm hoping she joins us before then, but it wouldn't be the first time a woman has had to be induced because baby was just too darned comfortable :-D
It's crazy knowing that one way or another this baby will be showing up soon. So, let's all just hope that she joins us on her own so we can avoid the induction. I don't want to be stuck on those monitors more than necessary!
She's just like her father already!
So here's the rundown from the doctor this morning. For those of you keeping track, I've had prodromal labor issues for the last month or so and even the doc was convinced I'd have this baby by her due date. Due date was November 7.
My blood pressure has been running a bit high for me. If we're talking textbook, things are still within acceptable ranges, but it's high based on my medical history so they kept me a little longer and monitored me for a while just to be safe. There are no proteins and very minor swelling, so they don't believe it's late onset pre-eclampsia, but if anything goes sideways I'm to get my butt up to L&D.
My due date was changed halfway through this pregnancy due to how fast things were growing, measuring, etc. Since then, we've measured right on track for the EDD of November 7. We're now measuring a bit ahead. Baby is positioned well, and my fundal height is actually measuring big. They did some basic external exams, and all seems well with the little one. Yaay!
We have an end date in sight if she doesn't join us of her own accord.
The rundown:
Monday: go to OSU L&D for an ultrasound, nonstress test, BP monitoring..pretty much the whole battery of tests they do on anyone a week after their due date just to make sure things really are just fine.
Tuesday: Back to the OB to go over test results, monitor my BP some more, that sort of thing.
Friday: Induction. Yup. If she doesn't join us on her own, they are inducing me Friday evening. They wanted to do it a little closer to my due date, but since there is no medical emergency I got the first non-emergency time slot available. I have it scheduled for 6pm Friday, so theoretically next weekend there will be a baby in our family!
I'm hoping she joins us before then, but it wouldn't be the first time a woman has had to be induced because baby was just too darned comfortable :-D
It's crazy knowing that one way or another this baby will be showing up soon. So, let's all just hope that she joins us on her own so we can avoid the induction. I don't want to be stuck on those monitors more than necessary!
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Officially on Baby Watch
Today I am considered 37 weeks and 2 days pregnant. I am considered full term, so at this point the baby can come whenever the heck she wants and it won't be any sort of medical risk to either of us.
Monday in the mid-afternoon I started getting cramps akin to those that usually accompany a period. They don't get any better or worse, so I pretty much just have to deal with this until I pop into the doctor tomorrow AM for my checkup.
Today I've been told to stay home, relax, rest, sleep, etc. to see if the pain eases off. It hasn't yet, and I've had a ton of water to help combat the cramps. Here in a bit I'm going to try a hot bath to see if that helps.
I honestly think I'm hitting early labor. If I go in tomorrow and nothing has happened as far as my body shifting towards popping out this kid, I will absolutely lose it.
I have been psychologically prepared for the pain of labor and delivery, but the pain that has settled in since baby dropped is ridiculous. Nobody warned me about this part. I also wasn't prepared for nasty cramps that don't go away but don't lead to anything, either. I was expecting cramps to come in and ultimately lead to my kid being born.
So yeah. That's the update. I'm miserable with nothing to show for it.
On the plus side, we've gotten almost everything together for the arrival of this critter. We have the big critical stuff ready to go, and just need a few odds and ends here and there. I would post a belly pic, but I've avoided taking any since that is one of the emotional triggers I've noticed. I can't wait to just wear normal clothing again!
Monday in the mid-afternoon I started getting cramps akin to those that usually accompany a period. They don't get any better or worse, so I pretty much just have to deal with this until I pop into the doctor tomorrow AM for my checkup.
Today I've been told to stay home, relax, rest, sleep, etc. to see if the pain eases off. It hasn't yet, and I've had a ton of water to help combat the cramps. Here in a bit I'm going to try a hot bath to see if that helps.
I honestly think I'm hitting early labor. If I go in tomorrow and nothing has happened as far as my body shifting towards popping out this kid, I will absolutely lose it.
I have been psychologically prepared for the pain of labor and delivery, but the pain that has settled in since baby dropped is ridiculous. Nobody warned me about this part. I also wasn't prepared for nasty cramps that don't go away but don't lead to anything, either. I was expecting cramps to come in and ultimately lead to my kid being born.
So yeah. That's the update. I'm miserable with nothing to show for it.
On the plus side, we've gotten almost everything together for the arrival of this critter. We have the big critical stuff ready to go, and just need a few odds and ends here and there. I would post a belly pic, but I've avoided taking any since that is one of the emotional triggers I've noticed. I can't wait to just wear normal clothing again!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
47 Days To Go
47 Days to go until our due date...just shy of 7 weeks.
I just want to say that this kid better be worth it. I am done being pregnant. I am done feeling huge, I am done being uncomfortable all the freaking time, and I'm done with the quirks of pregnancy. I realize my body will never be quite the same again, but I want at least some predictability and familiarity back. I want to be able to sleep on my back again.
I'm still waiting for the glow everyone talks about. All I seem to have is a puberty-level zit breakout and an awkward gait. I've avoiding taking pictures this whole time because I just flat out feel awful. I know I'm going to regret not putting weekly pictures in my pregnancy keepsake book, but it's hard to ask someone to take a picture when you just feel like a freaking whale. I don't like going out in public like this, let alone having photographic evidence of it.
That's another thing...I don't like how much I'm complaining, but I can't think of any other way to deal with it. I'd rather just rant, get it over with, and move on. As they say, it's a little late now to change my mind :-)
Honestly, though, I can't wait to meet this kid. We're trying to figure out what she's going to look like...and we have no idea. After all, I'm a blonde born of a brunette and a redhead, so who the hell knows. The general consensus right now is that we're going to end up with a redhead. It would be suiting that both Keating girls are redheads. If she is, though, heaven help us all :-D
I just want to say that this kid better be worth it. I am done being pregnant. I am done feeling huge, I am done being uncomfortable all the freaking time, and I'm done with the quirks of pregnancy. I realize my body will never be quite the same again, but I want at least some predictability and familiarity back. I want to be able to sleep on my back again.
I'm still waiting for the glow everyone talks about. All I seem to have is a puberty-level zit breakout and an awkward gait. I've avoiding taking pictures this whole time because I just flat out feel awful. I know I'm going to regret not putting weekly pictures in my pregnancy keepsake book, but it's hard to ask someone to take a picture when you just feel like a freaking whale. I don't like going out in public like this, let alone having photographic evidence of it.
That's another thing...I don't like how much I'm complaining, but I can't think of any other way to deal with it. I'd rather just rant, get it over with, and move on. As they say, it's a little late now to change my mind :-)
Honestly, though, I can't wait to meet this kid. We're trying to figure out what she's going to look like...and we have no idea. After all, I'm a blonde born of a brunette and a redhead, so who the hell knows. The general consensus right now is that we're going to end up with a redhead. It would be suiting that both Keating girls are redheads. If she is, though, heaven help us all :-D
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Random Things Nobody Told Me About Pregnancy
I am currently just shy of 32 weeks pregnant, meaning I've got just under 2 months until my little parasite is due to join us out here in harsh reality. I've been experiencing more and more weird stuff with this pregnancy as I've gotten further along, and I've decided I want to complain about a few things nobody warned me about...or if they did, they sugar-coated it enough to where I thought it would only be a minor inconvenience, not the rage-inducing pain the the ass it has become. These are in no particular order, and honestly, this is just a way for me to vent so I can move on with life today.
1) Your belly doesn't really grow gradually. It comes in bursts. If this was gradual, I could adapt...no, instead it's bursts of gain and just as I get used to the new weight, more of it shows up! As a result, I have trouble putting on my own shoes (even slip on ones!) You know you get a belly (duh) but they also neglect to tell you that breathing becomes nearly impossible...they say "oh yeah, it's tricky with baby there"...bite me. "tricky" is catching my breath after laughing a bit. This is "I just ran from a serial killer, dear God help me breathe!" levels of difficult.
2) You will miss the days of an easy poop. Nobody tells you this. Ever. You find out AFTER you're pregnant and the difficulties begin. Regularity goes out the window. Easy in and out of the bathroom trips are a thing of the past. You go from fine to "OH MY GOD BATHROOM NOW!!!!" in a matter of seconds. If you research it enough, you eventually find some information on why this is...but it's not one of those upfront things. I really could've used a little bit of warning on this one.
3) You will experience things coming out of you that you never imagined could be considered "normal." So, to be honest, all women know that strange things come out of your vagina under normal circumstances..it's why most of us don't have to douche. Your body does it's think, and it's a minor inconvenience at its worst. We also are told that the discharge will increase with pregnancy since your cervix is doing its actual job and sealing off your uterus now.
So what's my problem?
Nobody warned me about what happens to this "minor inconvenience" during the 3rd trimester! Nobody told me that the "slightly more than average" discharge would become a huge inconvenience, a mess, and a general source of discomfort. Fortunately I have a great OB team who managed to calm me down when I was convinced that I was leaking and going into super early labor and things were going to hell in a handbasket. Seriously, THEY DON'T WARN YOU THIS HAPPENS IN THE 3RD TRIMESTER! This is my warning to the world: As long as it stays normal looking and smelling, you'll be fine but a lot wetter than you have been through the entire rest of the pregnancy. I think I'm keeping the pad/pantiliner companies in business just by being pregnant.
4.Sleeping is almost impossible. I am the kind of person who sleeps sprawled out on my back. Thanks to the beach ball of liquid in the middle of me, that isn't exactly a possibility, so I have to attempt to sleep on my side. Not only is it uncomfortable in the best of circumstances for me, but it makes my hips hurt, which just screws me up for the rest of the day. When I do sleep, it's a couple of hours here and there just from sheer exhaustion. I guess it's training for having a newborn, but god do I miss sleeping. Because of the lack of sleep, I'm cranky and on edge all of the time. Mix that with the last trimester hormones and I'm a freaking awesome person to be around.
So, I guess the whole point of this whiny rant is that I am very much ready to be done with pregnancy. It's not fun or cute anymore. I'm huge, I'm uncomfortable, and I just want ONE NIGHT OF SLEEP. I know that last thing won't happen for quite a while, but just the idea of being able to sleep on my back again is sustaining me through this last few weeks.
1) Your belly doesn't really grow gradually. It comes in bursts. If this was gradual, I could adapt...no, instead it's bursts of gain and just as I get used to the new weight, more of it shows up! As a result, I have trouble putting on my own shoes (even slip on ones!) You know you get a belly (duh) but they also neglect to tell you that breathing becomes nearly impossible...they say "oh yeah, it's tricky with baby there"...bite me. "tricky" is catching my breath after laughing a bit. This is "I just ran from a serial killer, dear God help me breathe!" levels of difficult.
2) You will miss the days of an easy poop. Nobody tells you this. Ever. You find out AFTER you're pregnant and the difficulties begin. Regularity goes out the window. Easy in and out of the bathroom trips are a thing of the past. You go from fine to "OH MY GOD BATHROOM NOW!!!!" in a matter of seconds. If you research it enough, you eventually find some information on why this is...but it's not one of those upfront things. I really could've used a little bit of warning on this one.
3) You will experience things coming out of you that you never imagined could be considered "normal." So, to be honest, all women know that strange things come out of your vagina under normal circumstances..it's why most of us don't have to douche. Your body does it's think, and it's a minor inconvenience at its worst. We also are told that the discharge will increase with pregnancy since your cervix is doing its actual job and sealing off your uterus now.
So what's my problem?
Nobody warned me about what happens to this "minor inconvenience" during the 3rd trimester! Nobody told me that the "slightly more than average" discharge would become a huge inconvenience, a mess, and a general source of discomfort. Fortunately I have a great OB team who managed to calm me down when I was convinced that I was leaking and going into super early labor and things were going to hell in a handbasket. Seriously, THEY DON'T WARN YOU THIS HAPPENS IN THE 3RD TRIMESTER! This is my warning to the world: As long as it stays normal looking and smelling, you'll be fine but a lot wetter than you have been through the entire rest of the pregnancy. I think I'm keeping the pad/pantiliner companies in business just by being pregnant.
4.Sleeping is almost impossible. I am the kind of person who sleeps sprawled out on my back. Thanks to the beach ball of liquid in the middle of me, that isn't exactly a possibility, so I have to attempt to sleep on my side. Not only is it uncomfortable in the best of circumstances for me, but it makes my hips hurt, which just screws me up for the rest of the day. When I do sleep, it's a couple of hours here and there just from sheer exhaustion. I guess it's training for having a newborn, but god do I miss sleeping. Because of the lack of sleep, I'm cranky and on edge all of the time. Mix that with the last trimester hormones and I'm a freaking awesome person to be around.
So, I guess the whole point of this whiny rant is that I am very much ready to be done with pregnancy. It's not fun or cute anymore. I'm huge, I'm uncomfortable, and I just want ONE NIGHT OF SLEEP. I know that last thing won't happen for quite a while, but just the idea of being able to sleep on my back again is sustaining me through this last few weeks.
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