Newborn Photos

We took Lily to Ranson Photography on Monday to take her newborn pictures and they couldn't be cuter!!!  She's is the most adorable baby I've ever laid eyes on :o)  We got the birth announcement cards and just a few photos.  You can feast your eyes on her beauty below ;o)

She did ok taking the pictures.  We had to keep getting her to fall asleep, but it's hard because she gets cold and wakes up.  She did best in the bear outfit and in our hands.  I was so pleased with the belly cast picture too.  I'm glad we did the belly cast, at first I didn't want to.  We ended up doing it the day before my water broke!  It's a good thing I changed my mind.  She continues to be an easy baby and we feel so blessed to have her in our lives.  I can't believe I even lived before I had Lily...I swear I was born to be her mom.

Lily is Amazing

She is absolutely amazing.  I couldn't have asked for anything more.  She makes silly faces and stares at me like she's looking right into my heart.  I'm head over heels in love with her.  Took her to the doctor on Wednesday.  She gained 9 oz. and grew an inch.  It was just a quick check up, but she'll go back in a week and that's when they will poke her heel.  I'm dreading it!  I don't want her to cry :o(  I went to the doctor on Thursday and got my staples out.  I lost 28 lbs in my first week home!  That's 2 more pounds than I gained!  Doctor said that was normal, so I guess I'll just be happy about it!  I think it has to do with the breastfeeding.  I'll make sure to keep the blog updated as often as I can.  I'm having a hard time managing my free time.  When I have a free minute I usually want to eat, sleep, shower, or cuddle Lily...

Mon

Lily's Here...Finally

Lily made it to the world!!!  She arrived via c-section on 6/17/09 at 1:04 am.  She weighed 7lbs. 8 oz. and was 19 inches long.  I didn't end up having to be induced because my water broke the morning of the induction day at 8:00am.  We went to the hospital and got all set up for what was going to be a long day.  It felt like I labored for 2 hours, but it was actually 16!  It wasn't too bad, and I was comfortable for the most part.  There were two moments that I was really uncomfortable, one was when they had a student nurse try to put in my IV line, OUCH!  and two was AFTER my epidural I had a 10 minute long contraction, they had to come give me EXTRA medicine.  Other than that it was pretty much smooth sailing...until we reached the end.  I had made it to 10 centimeters and I was excited to get the show on the road, but the doctor AND Lily had other plans. Lily hadn't dropped, I was getting a fever, Lily's heart rate was elevating, and she was turned upward....all of this meant c-section.  My doctor humored me and let me push a couple of times, but it was not going to happen.  They wheeled me into the OR and I was crying because as much as I thought I was going to be fine if i needed a c-section, when it came down to it I was really scared.  It was all very quick.  They pulled her out and showed her to me and Adam and I cried instantly.  To see the little miracle that grew inside of me was so emotionally overwhelming I can barely put it into words.  I will always remember the first time I saw Lily.  They cleaned her off and put us cheek to cheek and the 3 of us had just a few moments together before they took her off to get her vitals checked.  I passed out shortly there after and when I woke up they took me to my room where Adam was waiting.  I don't really remember much after that...I figure it's the medicine and lack of sleep.  We're home now though and couldn't be better.  Lily is learning to breastfeed...I am too.  We're starting to get the hang of it.  Anyway, I'll make sure to update when I have a chance to.  Thank you everyone for all of your well wishes, thoughts, and prayers.  We appreciate it all.  

Wasn't too pumped with today's Dr. visit...

Today was my appointment to see if I was dialated, dropped, or effaced...I was NONE of the above.  I gained a pound, which I guess is good considering I gained 5 last week, so that puts me at 24 total.  I didn't want to go over 25 so hopefully I can only gain one more pound...we'll see.  My blood pressure is still too high, and my fluid retention is still bad.  The doctor checked Lily's heart rate and she's doing well.  He said he wanted to measure her and it looks like she's weighing in at 6lbs. 9oz., that can change in either direction by a pound.  After the entire exam the doctor dropped a bomb on me.   He said because my pregnancy is considered high risk (due to my gestational diabetes), and because of my high blood pressure he wants me to be induced next week.  He knows how strongly against induction I am, but in addition to the health concerns he has he will be out of town the 18th - 21st, so if I do go into labor on my own while he's gone I would have another doctor that I don't know.  He said he'll check me again on Monday, but he really suggests that if I don't go into labor on my own between now and Wed. that I opt for the induction.  I kind of feel like I don't really have a choice because I don't want to risk going into labor while he's gone.  As much as I want to hold Lily and see her in person, I just really had my heart set on her coming into the world on her own terms.  I feel bad forcing her out.  I'm going to try EVERYTHING to go into labor on my own this week, but I just don't know if it will work.  Everyone is super excited, but I'm super nervous.  I guess the bright side is that now I have a time table and I know how many days I have to do all the things that I want to do before she's here.  

My next appointment is Monday and that's when the doctor said I could tell him my decision, but I guess it's already made.  Lily will be here next Wednesday :o)  unless she decides to come sooner.  

Baby Showers & Doctor's Visit

This past weekend was so much fun! On Friday some of my closest girlfriends (Kathryn, Therese, Cristina, Erica, and Amy) threw a shower for me and then on Sunday my mom and mother-in-law threw me a shower also. They were both so much fun. It meant the world to me that everyone would go out of their way to show me and my Lily how much we mean to them. Thanks everyone :) Lily got A LOT of things she needed and after the weekend Adam and I went and picked up some additional items for her. He built her stroller, pack n play, and her swing. She's all set! Cristina, Therese, Kathryn, Me, Erica, Amy
Nora, Me, Mom
At the shower on Sunday I had a rotating frame with baby pictures of me and Adam. Here are a couple to see who do you think Lily will look like?


I went to the doctor on Monday and got some not so good news...my blood pressure is high...too high! Also, I gained 5lbs! The doctor said that based on how my legs and hands look and my high blood pressure that he was certain it was fluid retention that caused my weight to go up that much. He said I need to stay off my feet! WHAT??? How can I? I still have to work! Last week was really hectic, I was running around doing last minute shower stuff, going to showers, prepping Lily's room, washing Lily's things...I was all over the place, so I think that caused the high BP and the excess water retention. I have taken it a little slower this week hopefully the swelling will go down. It's terrible, it starts at my knee and goes to my toes and my hands hurt so much I can't make a fist. Anyway, I've been taking it easy and reducing my sodium intake.

I go to the doctor again on Wednesday and I will have my 1st cervix check to see if I'm dialated. I'm so nervous, but I have to NOT be or this will cause my BP to stay high! I'll be 37 weeks and 4 days when I get checked. Everyone seems to think Lily will come early, but I think she's too cozy and will come around her due date. People have been saying as early at the 7th (b/c of the full moon). She's still so high up and I'm still "comfortable"...well as comfortable as I can be! Sleeping is getting a little rough, but other than that I can still get around pretty easily. Anyway, I'll make sure to post any dialation news!

Mon