Thursday, June 28, 2012

She's Here!!!

CHARLEY IS HERE!!!  She was born on Friday morning and was perfectly healthy!  I went to bed on Thursday night convinced that she wasn't coming until we forced her out on Monday.  I woke up on Friday morning around 3:30 and noticed that my water was leaking a bit but I wasn't sure.  I laid back down again and had a contraction.  My plan was to lay there for about 15 minutes and stand up again to see what happened.  Nine minutes after the first contraction, I had another.  I waited a bit and decided to start timing them.  The next one came at 8 minutes and then 7 minutes so I decided to wake Bryan.  I didn't want to worry him if it was a false alarm.  I woke him and jumped in the shower because I wanted to have clean hair and make-up.  The contractions started coming so quickly that I went with wet hair and no make-up.  We drove so fast to the hospital because by the time we left the house, 45 minutes after the contractions started, they were 3 minutes apart. I got to the hospital and checked in and had the epidural placed within about an hour.  I was 4-5 cm dilated by the time I got to the hospital.  The epidural placement was uneventful and I felt immediate relief. 

Smiles after the epidural
 About an hour and a half later, the nurse checked me and I was 9cm dilated.  I felt nothing.  It was glorious.  She went to get the doctor and came back to do two practice pushes before the doctor showed up.  The doctor came in, took one look and told me I could have her out in two pushes.  He was right!  She was born at 9:09am and weighed 7lbs 9oz.


 I was so happy to hold my sweet girl!  She is so perfect and looks just like Jackson except with softer features.  Because of the fast delivery, her head was perfectly round!

Daddy holds his daughter for the first time.
 After we were settled in our new room, Charley left for her first bath.  She wasn't a fan.

I felt so good after delivery and was so excited since I was miserable after Jackson.  Everything was going well until about 5:30 that evening and I started having a lot of bleeding.  I was terrified as the nurses and doctor filled the room.  I had to have my IV put in again and a catheter in case I needed to go back for surgery in a hurry.  The nurses were unable to to stop the bleeding and I was told I would need a D&C if the medicine didn't fix it.  The doctor came in and fixed the problem by removing the clot manually right there at the bed.  Poor Bryan was holding Charley and was right there to see the whole thing.  I'm sure he was traumatized.  I sure was!  The doctor was confident that he fixed the problem but I was still so nervous to get up after my catheter was removed the next day.  I was so scared the bleeding would start again.  Luckily, everything was fine and I was feeling much better.  I took the most needed and refreshing shower and felt like a new lady!

 We are so in love with her and are adjusting to a new normal at the house.  I'll post more pictures as time allows:)

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Father's Day

We had a great Father's Day!  I didn't plan anything because I had no idea if we would have a baby here or not.  As it became more obvious that Charley wouldn't be here, I decided I should get my act together.  I made this banner before Bryan woke up on Sunday morning and hung it up so it looked like I had done a little planning.  I gave him Mountain Dew, his favorite, his cards, and his gift was a certificate for interior detailing for his car.  It's disgusting!

We went to church and then to lunch where Bryan decided he wanted to take JJ to a Chicago Fire game.  Alone.  Like I didn't have to go and could prop my feet on a couch for 4 hours.  It ended up being better than Mother's Day and the boys had a great time.  After JJ's nap, they headed off to Toyota Park and I got these pictures of the fun!  I love my husband but I love him even more because of what a great dad he is!  He declared this his new Father's Day tradition.

A little "applesauce" to keep him happy.  It was probably sqash and apples or some other gross combo.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Still Pregnant

Well, I'm still pregnant.  I'm 40 weeks and 3 days today.  I had an appointment on Monday and I was so hoping that I could convince the nurse practitioner that my doctor should induce me earlier than Monday the 25th.  I had no luck with that.  I tried really hard too and gave her a huge list of all of my worries.  Bless her heart.  She is such a positive lady.  She started the appointment by saying, "Wow!  You're lucky Dr. Olson already has you on the induction schedule at 41 weeks 2 days.  He ALWAYS makes his patients wait until 42 weeks."  At that point, I knew it wasn't going to go well.  I told her that I was worried that my labor was so quick with Jackson and that since I was already further along, it would be really fast and my husband may not make it back from the city if she comes before the induction time.  She said, "That's great news that you labor so quickly."  I give her a lot of credit.  She has the perfect answer for everything.  She ended the conversation by telling me that I had a lot of worries and needed to breathe.  Oh well.


As hard as I tried to get her here earlier, if there's one thing I learned from Jackson, it's that babies do their own thing in their own time and are unpredictable.  Charley is no different.  I am healthy, she's healthy, so I have decided to stay positive and not let my frustrations ruin these last few days with my son as an only child.

Here's to hoping that she makes her debut before the 25th though.  I really don't want to host JJ's 2nd birthday party 6 days after giving birth. 

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

39 Weeks

I was so excited for my appointment on Monday to see how much progress I had made.  At my 36 week appointment, the doctor said he didn't think there was any way I would make it to my due date.  Each week I was another cm dilated so I was making great progress and I just knew she was coming soon.  Then there was this week....

I didn't make any progress from 3cm but I did gain a lot of weight.  As nice as the nurse was to say, "I think you're retaining water," all of the ice cream and sweets I ate over the week were in the front of my mind.  Ooops! 

I was really excited when she asked if I wanted her to look at the induction schedule!  YES!!!  She said she would call me later in the afternoon with a tentative date.  I left feeling a little bummed that there wasn't more progress but I was excited they were letting me talk induction.  I was induced with Jackson 5 days after his due date.  I know they like to wait until 41 weeks but I pitched enough of a fit that the doctor agreed to do it early.  And it worked beautifully.  I labored quickly and it all went off without a hitch!

Anyway, I was so sad to hear the message from the doctor that afternoon saying that I was on the schedule for JUNE 25TH!!!  Whaaaat?  That's a really long time from now.  My mom is coming for three weeks starting tomorrow and I am a little sad that she could potentially be here for two weeks before Charley arrives and only one week after.  Also, I just sent out birthday invitations for JJ's second birthday.  I wouldn't have had a party if I knew I would only be home from the hospital for 3 days.  Gross.

Until she comes, I am trying to push Negative Nancy aside and enjoy the time I have with Jackson as an only child!  She has to come eventually and I am walking 2 miles every day until she does!  If I don't go into labor from the walking, at least I'll be in better shape before and after delivery.  Here's to hoping my water breaks as I hit "publish!"

Saturday, June 9, 2012

23 Months

Jackson, at 23 months you:
  • have developed many opinions and you are quick to express them.  The wonderful part is that it is so fun to see you happy.  The hard part is that it is so difficult to keep you happy.
  • adding more words to your vocabulary every day but you still aren't saying any sentences.
  • recognize places as we drive by and you ask to go there.  Every time we drive into the neighborhood you think we are going to stop at the park.  We try to stop when we can but there are some times when we can't and you aren't very happy.
  • can identify some shapes.  You know circle, square, oval, diamond, star, heart, and moon.  Sometimes you try to say rectangle and triangle.
  • still love your puzzles!
  • are quite the little stinker when it comes to running away from Mommy and Daddy.  You look back to see if we are watching and then run as fast as you can in the other direction.  You can't be trusted not to run into the street so we have to chase you and you love it.
  • like to tell us when you are doing something you know you shouldn't.  You say "nonny" (naughty) and keep doing whatever it is.  It usually involves standing in a chair or throwing your food, cup, spoon, or fork on the ground.
  • have started another music class with Mrs. Caryn for the summer.  Mommy wanted you to keep a routine for the summer, especially with Charley joining our family so soon.
  • show us your belly when we ask where "sister" is and you try to say Charley.
  • recognize the Meijer sign as soon as we pull into the parking lot and get so excited to ride Sandy at the store.  You even get mad when other people are riding it and you have to wait your turn.  You always get off when your turn is over and say, "Bye bye Sandy.  Bye bye Meijer."
  • are going to be a big brother VERY SOON!!!

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

37 and 38

We are getting sooooo close!  From the beginning of the pregnancy I had a feeling that she would come early.  Now I feel like I might be pregnant until October!  I am making progress at the doctor each week but so far I don't feel any contractions and have very few other signs that labor is coming.

  My mom arrives on Wednesday and is here for 3 weeks so hopefully she comes soon so I can take advantage of all of her help!  It's going to be busy, for sure!  My dad comes on the 23rd, we have a parenting seminar on the 24th, a party for Bryan's law firm on the 30th, and we are having Jackson's second birthday party on July 1st.  My brother and his girlfriend along with Sharon, my MIL, will be here for that.  Oh yeah, and my parents two black labs.  Can you say FULL HOUSE??? 

A couple weekends after that, we have friends coming in from Ohio and New York who will be staying with us for the weekend.  Then, the following weekend we drive to Pentwater, MI for a wedding.  And during all that, I will re-learn how to take care of a newborn.  Jealous?