Friday, October 30, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
and then there were four
Today Joshua is 4 days old and he's almost back up to birth weight. He's just two ounces short of his 9 lbs 3.5 oz at birth. We just got back from the pediatrician and got a great report. I am so thankful that things could hardly be going better. Right now he's asleep on his daddy's chest and I'm trying to get started on his birth story.
I just wanted to say thank you again to everyone for the kind wishes and emails you've sent. I really appreciate that we haven't had tons of visitors yet as we try to get adjusted to life at home as a family of four. I can't wait to share more with you, but right now it's nap time. :)
I just wanted to say thank you again to everyone for the kind wishes and emails you've sent. I really appreciate that we haven't had tons of visitors yet as we try to get adjusted to life at home as a family of four. I can't wait to share more with you, but right now it's nap time. :)
Saturday, October 24, 2009
my precious boy
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Friday, October 23, 2009
Waiting...
When Courtney asked if any of us wanted to blog while she was caring for her newborn, I said I would love to. I knew I would be able to write all about what Julianna was doing here at home without her Mama and Daddy and what she was saying about the baby. Of course we didn't know that the swine flu would prevent us from taking Julianna to the hospital to see her new sibling and that the new sibling would be in the NICU so no one but Mama and Daddy could see him, much less even hold him!! All of that has been so very hard, but this too will pass.
Courtney and Jonathan are doing good. I believe Courtney is getting more sleep than Jonathan and of course he is staying at the hospital with her. They all might get to come home tomorrow, so give them a few days to get adjusted to a new one at home.
I showed Julianna the pictures of Joshua on the computer this morning and she just beamed and said "oh, my little Joshee". She is going to be one precious big sister. She has already picked out a small pumpkin to give him. She told me and Pap yesterday that she is going to tell him to dust the whole house when he gets home. Hmmm...wonder where that came from??
We cannot wait to hold the little guy and welcome him home!
Nanna
Thursday, October 22, 2009
thank you
Thank you all for your kind words. We are doing pretty well. Josh is
in the NICU due to some meconium in the amniotic fluid and a possible
infection because of the fluid in his lungs. He'll be there for at
least 48 hours so he can get antibiotics just in case and we're the
only ones who can see him. There's not even a window to look through
into the nursery. Other than that we are doing great. More pictures
soon. We love you all!
in the NICU due to some meconium in the amniotic fluid and a possible
infection because of the fluid in his lungs. He'll be there for at
least 48 hours so he can get antibiotics just in case and we're the
only ones who can see him. There's not even a window to look through
into the nursery. Other than that we are doing great. More pictures
soon. We love you all!
Finally! Joshua is here!
2:13 am
arrived on his due date
10/22/09
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Wednesday, October 21, 2009
still no baby
I think I would feel better if a tractor trailer ran over me.
Also, I officially HATE Braxton Hicks contractions.
That is all.
Also, I officially HATE Braxton Hicks contractions.
That is all.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
I think Ursula the sea witch took her voice
After 24 hours of antibiotics, Julianna is finally getting back to her old self. She hasn't had a voice for 7 days now and could only whisper to tell us what she needed. Imagine her pleasure when she woke up this morning and discovered that she was somewhat getting her voice back.
The problem is, instead of napping today she decided to TALK THE ENTIRE HOUR AND A HALF. I am not even exaggerating one bit. She talked non-stop! She is still really weak and running a low temperature (100.4) but clearly feeling better. When I went up to get her from quiet time I told her that she'd have to go to bed a little early tonight since she didn't take a nap. She replied, "OK, I will go to bed early. I just wanted to have the day off."
The problem is, instead of napping today she decided to TALK THE ENTIRE HOUR AND A HALF. I am not even exaggerating one bit. She talked non-stop! She is still really weak and running a low temperature (100.4) but clearly feeling better. When I went up to get her from quiet time I told her that she'd have to go to bed a little early tonight since she didn't take a nap. She replied, "OK, I will go to bed early. I just wanted to have the day off."
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
update
Oh my what a boring day! Julianna is NOT doing better. She is actually very sick and we are going to get her back to the doctor tomorrow morning. Friday they tested her for strep and the flu but both were negative. I don't know that anything will come of it but because since she hasn't gotten better at all, we are going to have her seen again.
I am starting to feel really icky myself and I don't know if it's just paranoia or what, but I called the doctor and they put me on Tamiflu immediately because Jules has all of the H1N1 flu symptoms. They said that I need to notify them immediately if I start running a fever or have coughs and body aches. I already feel so gross anyway, but I don't know how much is because I am 38.5 weeks preggo or how much is actually an illness. I am going to try to get an earlier weekly appointment with my OB tomorrow morning instead of my scheduled appointment on Thursday. I know it's possible, but I would be surprised if despite all of these contractions that I haven't progressed further from the 5cm I was dilated on Thursday. We'll see!
I am starting to feel really icky myself and I don't know if it's just paranoia or what, but I called the doctor and they put me on Tamiflu immediately because Jules has all of the H1N1 flu symptoms. They said that I need to notify them immediately if I start running a fever or have coughs and body aches. I already feel so gross anyway, but I don't know how much is because I am 38.5 weeks preggo or how much is actually an illness. I am going to try to get an earlier weekly appointment with my OB tomorrow morning instead of my scheduled appointment on Thursday. I know it's possible, but I would be surprised if despite all of these contractions that I haven't progressed further from the 5cm I was dilated on Thursday. We'll see!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
no baby yet
At lunch time yesterday I had a very strange contraction that didn't seem to want to go away. This was after a morning full of irregular contractions. Then I felt a small trickle and thought my water had broken. I called the doctor and they wanted to see me whenever I could get there. Mom and I called Jonathan and met him at the doctor's office.
When the PA there checked me she said there had definitely been some change in my cervix. She didn't say exactly how thinned out it was but she did say that the baby's head had come way down and that I was now dilated to 5cm. She said they would do a test to see if my membranes had ruptured and that she thought they might be sending me on to the hospital.
Well, the test was negative. She checked with the doctor on call and he said that I should go home and wait for the contractions to become regular. I was disappointed but I guess not too surprised. I was more irritated at the PA who told me on the way out the door, "See you next week!"
From the minute I got in the car I started having a lot more contractions. They became regular and were starting across my lower abdomen and back then spreading up to the rest of my belly. They were a lot stronger than what I had previously been experiencing and felt like bad menstrual cramps. Again, I started thinking, "This is the real deal" and I was just waiting for my water to break.
This continued until I decided to call the doctor's office again before they closed. I called around 4:20 and the nurse said they'd seen the last patient for the day already. She asked many questions and couldn't determine if I was in true active labor or not and she told me that it was my call about going to the hospital or not.
I knew that I didn't want to get to the hospital and then be sent home and I also know that I don't want them to have to give me Pitocin to speed up my labor so I decided to wait some more. We went to the fair to walk around some and then entire time I was having strong contractions about 5 minutes apart. They definitely felt better when I was walking as opposed to when I was sitting down so I kept walking.
On the way home Julianna started saying she felt sick. I immediately assumed it was a ploy for a little attention since she certainly knew that something was going on with mom, but instead when we took her temperature at 9pm last night it was 103 degrees.
After a rough night of vomiting, fever, motrin, tylenol, and me trying to avoid close contact with my baby girl we decided to ask my mom to take her to the doctor this morning to get checked for the flu. She has not had the flu shot yet and although I have, I have not had the H1N1 vaccination yet and the doctors keep stressing to me that I need to get it as soon as it is available and to call them if I think I've had any exposure to the virus. We figured it would be better to find out for sure if that's what Julianna has or not.
Jonathan wins the dad of the year award for going to the fair when he most certainly didn't want to after a long day of work where his wife made him run around the country after another false alarm and also for getting up and tending to the sick 3.5 year old. My mom wins the mother of the year award for taking a sick grandchild to the doctor so I could stay away.
Now I've had regular contractions for many, many hours (even though they do slow down when I lay down) but no ruptured membranes so the waiting game begins again. I'll be posting anytime something happens around here so stay tuned!
When the PA there checked me she said there had definitely been some change in my cervix. She didn't say exactly how thinned out it was but she did say that the baby's head had come way down and that I was now dilated to 5cm. She said they would do a test to see if my membranes had ruptured and that she thought they might be sending me on to the hospital.
Well, the test was negative. She checked with the doctor on call and he said that I should go home and wait for the contractions to become regular. I was disappointed but I guess not too surprised. I was more irritated at the PA who told me on the way out the door, "See you next week!"
I apologize to those of you who heard we were headed to the hospital. We weren't ever told to go on to the hospital, probably because I'm not 39 weeks yet and also because my water hasn't officially broken.
From the minute I got in the car I started having a lot more contractions. They became regular and were starting across my lower abdomen and back then spreading up to the rest of my belly. They were a lot stronger than what I had previously been experiencing and felt like bad menstrual cramps. Again, I started thinking, "This is the real deal" and I was just waiting for my water to break.
This continued until I decided to call the doctor's office again before they closed. I called around 4:20 and the nurse said they'd seen the last patient for the day already. She asked many questions and couldn't determine if I was in true active labor or not and she told me that it was my call about going to the hospital or not.
I knew that I didn't want to get to the hospital and then be sent home and I also know that I don't want them to have to give me Pitocin to speed up my labor so I decided to wait some more. We went to the fair to walk around some and then entire time I was having strong contractions about 5 minutes apart. They definitely felt better when I was walking as opposed to when I was sitting down so I kept walking.
On the way home Julianna started saying she felt sick. I immediately assumed it was a ploy for a little attention since she certainly knew that something was going on with mom, but instead when we took her temperature at 9pm last night it was 103 degrees.
After a rough night of vomiting, fever, motrin, tylenol, and me trying to avoid close contact with my baby girl we decided to ask my mom to take her to the doctor this morning to get checked for the flu. She has not had the flu shot yet and although I have, I have not had the H1N1 vaccination yet and the doctors keep stressing to me that I need to get it as soon as it is available and to call them if I think I've had any exposure to the virus. We figured it would be better to find out for sure if that's what Julianna has or not.
Jonathan wins the dad of the year award for going to the fair when he most certainly didn't want to after a long day of work where his wife made him run around the country after another false alarm and also for getting up and tending to the sick 3.5 year old. My mom wins the mother of the year award for taking a sick grandchild to the doctor so I could stay away.
Now I've had regular contractions for many, many hours (even though they do slow down when I lay down) but no ruptured membranes so the waiting game begins again. I'll be posting anytime something happens around here so stay tuned!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
another pregnancy update
I'm still here. I am getting aggravated to say the least. I always thought I'd be prepared for the baby to come late just like Julianna did, but this time around things have been so different and I have gotten my hopes up about going into labor early so many times now that it's a lot harder to be patient than I thought it would be.
I have been having so many contractions and I have thought a handful of times that "this is it" and I'd be heading to the hospital soon. Unfortunately, every time the contractions have stopped before anything else has happened. We walked around the fair for hours on Monday and then Monday night I had contractions for five hours straight. They were irregular, but some as close as 3 minutes apart.
I don't really like all this. With Julianna, I didn't really have contractions until the night I went into labor. I wasn't even sure then that it was a contraction I was feeling. I just felt bloated and went to the hospital to be checked. My water broke on the way.
This time around all of these contractions and timing them and just the whole process has been more anxiety inducing. I have finally just decided to try to stop paying attention to them. I figure I will know to go when my water breaks and that is better than sitting around nervous.
My parents were in the mountains this week and due to come home Saturday but came home last night instead. So now that childcare is easily available and nearby I can relax more.
I went to the doctor Tuesday morning and I have gained a total of 42 pounds and everything they routinely check was normal (blood pressure, belly measurement, urine, etc). When he checked me, he said I was already 4 cm dilated but only 60% effaced. Progress, obviously, but the baby's head was still pretty far up so not enough progress. The doctor offered to strip my membranes and get things started (and since they did this for me with Julianna I strongly considered it), but he also said that it wouldn't hurt to give the baby another week just to make sure that there would be no respiratory problems or anything like that with the baby. We decided to wait another week to do anything and he said that I could go into active labor at any time so that was encouraging.
I am very ready. I really didn't expect to have this little patience towards the end this time since Julianna was late and I even bet on 10/23 as the birth date. I'm just very ready to have my body back.
I had also forgotten what it was like to have everyone calling to check on you a hundred times the last few weeks. It's so nice, but at the same time it gets annoying when there's nothing to report. It will be the same way once we have a baby to bring home from the hospital.
Jonathan has said that all of these false alarms have been good for him because it's made it seem more real and made him feel like he really needs to get ready for a baby. Julianna is as ready as I think she'll ever be. The other day when I was helping her out of the car at dance she asked the funniest question. She said, "Mama, when is that silly baby EVER going to get out of your belly?" It was so cute that I 'bout died.
We are going to the fair again tonight partly because we still have tickets left and partly because it's seemed to do the trick in getting my contractions going both times that I've been already. And besides, it's been so nice to spend some fun times with Julianna these last few days. (I have a post coming on the preschool day at the fair, complete with pictures of her and her little "boyfriend.")
I think that's about it. I'm sure there's more, but I can't really concentrate well these days.
I have been having so many contractions and I have thought a handful of times that "this is it" and I'd be heading to the hospital soon. Unfortunately, every time the contractions have stopped before anything else has happened. We walked around the fair for hours on Monday and then Monday night I had contractions for five hours straight. They were irregular, but some as close as 3 minutes apart.
Last night (or early this morning rather) I had strong contractions from 2am-3:45am. I would have one and the pressure on my bladder was unreal. I would have to jump up to pee and then just as I laid back down and got comfortable enough to drift back off to sleep I would have another. I kept thinking that I was going to have to go to the hospital, but then apparently it all stopped because next thing I know I was waking up again around 5.
The contractions don't hurt, I just feel a little lightheaded or something like that. I can feel the heat rise up my neck and my belly gets super tight. It even takes on a new shape and I feel pressure everywhere. When I walk or stand up sometimes now I feel a shooting pain go up my inner thigh as if I've pulled a groin muscle. Yeah. It's about as fun as getting an eyelash stuck under a contact lens.
I don't really like all this. With Julianna, I didn't really have contractions until the night I went into labor. I wasn't even sure then that it was a contraction I was feeling. I just felt bloated and went to the hospital to be checked. My water broke on the way.
This time around all of these contractions and timing them and just the whole process has been more anxiety inducing. I have finally just decided to try to stop paying attention to them. I figure I will know to go when my water breaks and that is better than sitting around nervous.
My parents were in the mountains this week and due to come home Saturday but came home last night instead. So now that childcare is easily available and nearby I can relax more.
I went to the doctor Tuesday morning and I have gained a total of 42 pounds and everything they routinely check was normal (blood pressure, belly measurement, urine, etc). When he checked me, he said I was already 4 cm dilated but only 60% effaced. Progress, obviously, but the baby's head was still pretty far up so not enough progress. The doctor offered to strip my membranes and get things started (and since they did this for me with Julianna I strongly considered it), but he also said that it wouldn't hurt to give the baby another week just to make sure that there would be no respiratory problems or anything like that with the baby. We decided to wait another week to do anything and he said that I could go into active labor at any time so that was encouraging.
I am very ready. I really didn't expect to have this little patience towards the end this time since Julianna was late and I even bet on 10/23 as the birth date. I'm just very ready to have my body back.
I had also forgotten what it was like to have everyone calling to check on you a hundred times the last few weeks. It's so nice, but at the same time it gets annoying when there's nothing to report. It will be the same way once we have a baby to bring home from the hospital.
Jonathan has said that all of these false alarms have been good for him because it's made it seem more real and made him feel like he really needs to get ready for a baby. Julianna is as ready as I think she'll ever be. The other day when I was helping her out of the car at dance she asked the funniest question. She said, "Mama, when is that silly baby EVER going to get out of your belly?" It was so cute that I 'bout died.
We are going to the fair again tonight partly because we still have tickets left and partly because it's seemed to do the trick in getting my contractions going both times that I've been already. And besides, it's been so nice to spend some fun times with Julianna these last few days. (I have a post coming on the preschool day at the fair, complete with pictures of her and her little "boyfriend.")
I think that's about it. I'm sure there's more, but I can't really concentrate well these days.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
dentist starts with d
Julianna went to the dentist today and she did so well. I cannot believe how old it made her seem to be such a big girl doing such brave things. She went briefly to the dentist once before when she prematurely lost a baby tooth in the Spring, but today she actually had her teeth cleaned and she did a great job.
She picked out a purple toothbrush and chocolate chip cookie (ew) toothpaste and then opened wide. She laid down on the chair just as she was supposed to. She didn't seem afraid at all and although she was a little confused about the "straw water sucker" and forgot to let go of it at one point, she did everything the hygienist asked her to do.
When the dentist came to look at her teeth she said they looked great. There appears to be plenty of room for her permanent teeth to come and and she had no cavities. They still don't really know what caused her tooth to fall out a while back, but she said there's nothing to worry about at this point. After it was all done, Jules told me it was my turn and then she also asked if she could stay and watch Noggin.
I know it's silly, but I am just so proud of her I can hardly stand it.
More to come later. Been having tons of contractions and went to the doctor this morning so I'll have to give an update soon...
She picked out a purple toothbrush and chocolate chip cookie (ew) toothpaste and then opened wide. She laid down on the chair just as she was supposed to. She didn't seem afraid at all and although she was a little confused about the "straw water sucker" and forgot to let go of it at one point, she did everything the hygienist asked her to do.
When the dentist came to look at her teeth she said they looked great. There appears to be plenty of room for her permanent teeth to come and and she had no cavities. They still don't really know what caused her tooth to fall out a while back, but she said there's nothing to worry about at this point. After it was all done, Jules told me it was my turn and then she also asked if she could stay and watch Noggin.
I know it's silly, but I am just so proud of her I can hardly stand it.
More to come later. Been having tons of contractions and went to the doctor this morning so I'll have to give an update soon...
Friday, October 2, 2009
it's finally here
The largest pumpkin was almost 1300 pounds. Amazing.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
another pregnancy update
I went to the doctor again today. They didn't even check me for dilation or anything so it was a pretty uneventful visit which I guess can be considered a good thing. I am still measuring normal and have normal blood pressure. The baby's heart rate was down again this week to 140 bpm which the nurse told me could mean that the baby is descending into the birth canal. Sometimes the heart rate drops at the end. I've definitely been feeling some lower movements and more pressure... yippee...
I also found out the results of my group b strep test and this time it was negative. It's rare that a woman tests positive for the first baby and then negative for the second, but after talking the options over with the doctor, I asked not to be put on IV antibiotics during delivery this time unless it was truly warranted (like if I had a fever or something). If at all possible I want to avoid ever facing c diff again (I'd link to my blog post about that but I still haven't transferred it over from the old blog yet). Anyway, he was very agreeable and I am so thankful.
Nothing else really to report except that I am feeling irritable and exhausted (what's new, right?). I haven't been sleeping well AT ALL and I feel really yucky from my flu shot yesterday. I am also really tired of working but know that we need the money so I keep taking jobs anyway. The earliest date in our baby pool is October 15th and I don't even want to think about how I'll feel by then.
I just read Moxie's post on how to know when you're about to have a baby and am fascinated by the comments.
I also found out the results of my group b strep test and this time it was negative. It's rare that a woman tests positive for the first baby and then negative for the second, but after talking the options over with the doctor, I asked not to be put on IV antibiotics during delivery this time unless it was truly warranted (like if I had a fever or something). If at all possible I want to avoid ever facing c diff again (I'd link to my blog post about that but I still haven't transferred it over from the old blog yet). Anyway, he was very agreeable and I am so thankful.
Nothing else really to report except that I am feeling irritable and exhausted (what's new, right?). I haven't been sleeping well AT ALL and I feel really yucky from my flu shot yesterday. I am also really tired of working but know that we need the money so I keep taking jobs anyway. The earliest date in our baby pool is October 15th and I don't even want to think about how I'll feel by then.
I just read Moxie's post on how to know when you're about to have a baby and am fascinated by the comments.
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