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

My Latest Dr. Visit

I went to the doctor this morning and I gained 2 lbs. (18 total) and Lily caught up to me!  She's no longer a week behind.  Thank goodness!  I'm not sure if they would have had to move my due date, but that would suck if I had to go a week past my due date.  I already feel like I'm ready to have her out.  For the most part I still have some energy.  The only times I'm uncomfortable are when I'm turning from one side to the other when I'm in bed, at the end of the day when my feet are like Flintstone feet, and also when I need to get out of bed to go to the restroom.  Most times Adam has to give me a little push to help me out of bed.  I'm sure it's not nearly as bad as it could be though.  I think I owe it to staying active the whole time.  Although, my exercise routine has really slowed down.  It really is tough to walk more than a mile!  The only bad news I got today was that my blood pressure is a little high, but in my defense I was really nervous.  Here comes a little TMI, I was getting a pelvic exam and some cultures taken.  I'm not sure why I got so nervous, but I had a really tough time relaxing and the doctor said that might have something to do with my high BP.  He said to keep an eye on my swelling and if I get headaches and/or blurred vision to call him immediately.  So far I haven't had anything like that.  After today I will be seeing him once a week until Lily is here, I hope that doesn't make my BP high EVERY TIME!  

I'm super excited about my baby showers this weekend.  Friday night I have a "Mom Shower", thrown by some of my close girlfriends and Sunday I have my "Baby Shower" thrown by my Mom and Mother In Law.  Adam and I bought a new washer and dryer and we get it on Monday.  After the showers on Friday and Sunday, Monday will be the day I wash Lily's clothes, blankets, towels, etc.  I can't wait to wash her little tiny onsies!!!

Mon

Dr.'s Appt & Childbirth class

On Saturday Adam and I went to the hospital for our childbirth class. We were one of 3 couples. It was from 9 - 4 and in that time we learned A LOT! First of all we learned that about 2% of people in the valley attend childbirth class which is kind of shocking to me. I can't imagine walking into it blindly. I read a lot of stuff on the internet and I read "What to expect when you're expecting", but It's not the same as going to a class that offers hands on experience. Anyway, we learned about the stages of labor and how to count contractions and when to go to the hospital. We also had an anesthesiologist come in and show us an epidural kit and explain how they do it. It eased my mind a lot. The needle IS huge, don't get me wrong, but he said only about 2cm of the needle go in. It is only as big as it is to accommodate all sizes of people. Makes sense. We also got to go to the NICU nursery and the regular nursery. NICU was sad, babies hooked up to machines :o( not fun. The regular nursery had 2 baby girls. One had JUST been born, she was being cleaned off and they poked her heel for a blood sample. She was 5lbs. 12oz. and so adorable! I couldn't help but start to tear up. I guess for the first time I felt like "WOW, I'm going to have one of those"...it was surreal. She was crying and her little chin would quiver and it basically melted my heart. I just wanted to pick her up...she was tiny! Anyway, class ended with a hands on diaper changing lesson (on dolls) and a breastfeeding session. My friend Jill and I are going to a La Leche League meeting tomorrow to learn even MORE about breastfeeding...yay. Overall the class was a really great resource and I feel confident that I'll know the stages, the lingo, and all that stuff.

I had a doctor's appointment today. Not too good. I didn't gain any weight, which sounds like a good thing but apparently it is not. I am at 34weeks, but measuring at 33weeks. Measuring ahead is better than measuring behind so the doctor said I need to eat more. It sounds easy enough, but with my stomach being compressed I can't seem to eat as much as I used to. Also the diabetic diet must have something to do with it...who knows. So I'm still at 16lbs gained. I think though that I'm losing muscle weight because my butt and my thighs feel a little like dough...maybe that's it? Who knows! My blood pressure was normal and so was Lily's heart rate. I mentioned to the doctor that I had noticed some blood in my urine on Saturday, but they said there were no traces in my urine today and to call them if I had pain in my lower back or bladder. I have to go back in a week. Hopefully I will have gained a couple pounds. I'm not anemic which is good. Well I guess that's all for now...

Mon

P.S. I think I've started nesting, but only half way because I start to clean/organize and get side tracked and start another "project"...somehow I end up making more a mess than really cleaning :o)