I’m sure there’s a lot to catch you up on. Life has gotten a little busier, but in a good way. I’m not complaining, because I know what’s going to be coming up soon. In two short weeks, I’ll be headed back to work and soon after that, back to grad school. YUCK! I’m afraid if I take much more time off from it, it will get harder and harder to go back. So, I’m diving right in head first, hoping I don’t drown.
Avery is doing so well. She is continuing to grow and thrive. She’s babbling more and more, and has two new teeth. You heard me right! It was a little early for them, and she’s been a trooper during the whole teething process.
At our 4 month check-up, she weighed 12 lb. 7 oz. and she was 24in. long. Her weight percentile dropped significantly from birth, so we started supplementing with formula when she is still hungry after nursing. That’s been a little bit of a pain: nursing, pumping and now washing bottles for formula as well. I’ve started nursing 4-5 times a day and giving a bottle the other 1-2 feedings. She’s been doing okay with it, but still not taking much formula even when offered. She’s only eating about 20-22 oz. per day and some babies her age are eating 35 oz. per day by now.
I went to buy more bottles yesterday and they don’t even sell the 4 oz. bottles with the medium flow nipples for 4-6 month olds. I guess that made me realize that it is not normal for her to be eating so little at her feedings, but I can’t make her eat if she’s not hungry. We’re also trying the Dr. Brown’s bottles now, to see if that will help cut down on gas, so she won’t think she’s full when she really isn’t.
We spent the 4th of July in St. Louis and had a great time seeing family and friends there. Avery did somewhat okay, considering she was cutting two teeth and it was so hot outside. We saw fireworks under the arch Saturday night and then Ben and his friends shot off their own firework show on Sunday out in Washington, MO. Avery also got to go to her first Cardinals game on Sunday. It was a hot one, but we lasted about 5 or 6 innings.
We finally decided on a day care. It was a tough decision, but we’re going to start her out at the day care in Stamping Ground. It’s a block from the school, and it will be convenient and a safe place for her to be. I also really like the staff there, as it is all local people from the tiny town of Stamping Ground. Ben reminds me that if we don’t like it, we can always switch, which helps calm my nerves a little.
Spending the whole summer with Avery really has been fun. We get out more and she has gotten used to her car seat and stroller and new places. She even sometimes lets other people hold her—not most of the time though. She is in love with her Mommy. (And I’m head over heels for her!!) She loves going to the pool, and we usually go at night so Daddy can go play too. She also loves going to see her Aunt Kaitlin and Marmie. She watches the puppy dogs and they keep her entertained while visiting. She had her first sleepover there last weekend, while Ben and I were out of town for Rosie’s wedding. She did super and is invited back anytime!
Avery’s schedule is a little crazy most of the time, but she’s usually pretty adaptable. Here’s what today looked like, for example:
6:15 Breakfast, diaper change, finish eating and fell asleep in Mommy’s arms
7:45 Back to bed for morning nap
10:30 Lunch, diaper change, and get dressed for the day
11:45 Play in Exersaucer
12:15 Play in Bouncer while Mommy gets ready for our outing for the day
12:45 Run errands with Mommy
2:00 Afternoon feeding, diaper change, play
3:45 Afternoon nap
5:00 Dinner
6:00 Play, Take a bath, PJs
8:00 Evening feeding, books, prayers, sleepy time
9:00 Go to Sleep
She can now entertain herself for a really long time, but enjoys interaction more. She loves to be talked to with silly voices and silly faces. Aunt Kaitlin is the funniest, and can always make her laugh. She loves her blankie and pink horse. She also sleeps with a pacifier, which we want to work on breaking here in the next couple months. Getting up in the middle of the night to put her pacifier back in her mouth is getting old, but I am thankful that’s all it takes and she will go right back to sleep.
I can’t think of any more big news for now, but I will try to keep you updated on anything.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Beach Bums
Everything continues to get better and better every day. Avery had a great trip to the beach, a great week with Aunt Kaitlin while I went back to work, and a great weekend out and about around town. She is doing very well and we are so thankful!
The beach went better than expected. I was really worried about the car ride to North Carolina, but she did GREAT!! She fussed the first 3 minutes and that was it. She ate, played and slept in the car, and we made it there in 11 hours. We only stopped to burp and change diapers. She LOVED the sound of the ocean. She's officially a beach bum, and she'll fit in perfectly with the rest of the family. We went on walks when she was cranky and the wind and water calmed her down and put her right to sleep. It was great. Mom and Kaitlin were such a big help, and it made it a true vacation for Ben and I. We love the beach!!
So, it was back to work on Tuesday. It felt great to get out of the house and back to my normal self. Then, Thursday morning came and I was EXHAUSTED! I get up at 5:15, take a shower, get Avery up at 5:45 to feed her, pass her off to Ben around 6:20, finish getting ready, eat breakfast and put Avery back to sleep at 6:45 and then leave for work. Kaitlin would spend the night and wake up when Avery got up around 9 to eat again. It worked out perfect, other than the getting up at 5:15 part! Yuck!
My students were pretty excited to see me and hear about the baby and I was equally excited to see them. They did great while I was gone and it was so easy walking into my classroom and picking up right where I left off. I was really scared that I would forget everything, but it was an easier transition than expected. 4 more days of work and then we're out for the summer! Everyone was wondering why I went back just for eight days....it's because I didn't want to ask for a leave of absence and discontinue my health insurance for the summer.
This weekend was great. Thursday night Avery got to go to her first baseball game-- she was spectacular! Friday we stayed in and hung out. Saturday Elizabeth came over and hung out with us and then we went out for Sushi and ice cream. Sunday was a great day for a walk and long naps. Avery even slept in until 10:30 this morning. God knew I needed a sleeper!!
We have planned a trip to St. Louis for the 4th of July and Avery will get to meet another cousin and more aunts and uncles. She will also get to meet her Pops for the first time. We are excited, and hope she'll enjoy fireworks under the arch.
Developmentally, Avery continues to make all kinds of progress. She met her goal for vacation in learning how to laugh, getting used to other people holding her, and used to riding and sleeping in the car. She also has no trouble taking a bottle. She's rolling over a lot, trying to talk (still saying "agoo"), she can hold her head up, push her self up with arms while lying on her tummy, and hold a rattle. She can also reach for things now and she loves sucking on her hands.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Rolling Over
We go on vacation on Saturday morning and I CAN'T WAIT! I am bored out of my mind being at home all day with little adult interaction. Going anywhere is such a chore, it's easier just to stay home. I did venture out to school yesterday for lunch with friends, but Avery was off schedule for the rest of the day and she threw a big fit at school. I think she gets scared when we go new places, which is exactly why I should take her out more, but... I get embarrassed when she cries so loudly in places, and it's NO fun for me. So anyway, I am excited about vacation next week!!
Avery has been rolling over a lot now from stomach to back. I took a video this morning and will try to upload.
Avery has been rolling over a lot now from stomach to back. I took a video this morning and will try to upload.
We're still working on learning how to laugh and getting used to riding in the car, but she's doing great with sleeping through the night, putting herself to sleep, nursing, holding her head up, and cooing. She smiles all the time! Gotta love that little toothless grin. :) I can't wait to share pics of us on the beach! Pray for good weather and an uneventful car road.
Congrats to Jackie on her new arrival, Miss Harper Marie Hack. She's precious and I'm so glad she's now at home with Mommy and Daddy Hack.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Miracle Grow
I think it's crazy how fast Miss Avery is growing. Breastmilk is the perfect food, and I think it's pretty miraculous that it's all babies need for the first 6 months of life. Avery is doing well with nursing, other than being a little sleepy head all the time. She likes to sleep for about 15 minutes between nursing on each side, which is fine with me. She's so sweet.
From day one Avery has been pretty petite, which I have no idea where she gets that from. She was 6 lbs. 12 oz. when she was born, and 6 lbs. 4 oz. when we brought her home from the hospital. She's been gaining about 1 oz. per day ever since, and at her last doctors visit she was 10 lbs. 2 oz. and she grew 2 inches. :) She went from not fitting into 0-3 month clothes because they were too big, straight to her 3-6 month clothes. I'm so confused. Shouldn't she have been in the 0-3 clothes for 3 months?
Anyway, along with her physical growth, she continues to grow developmentally each day as well. This morning she was grabbing her toy and putting it in her mouth. I don't think she's fully figured out the use of her hands, but she does a good job holding her pacifier in at night and grabbing the little monkey ring on her activity gym.
She is also trying really hard to talk and laugh. She usually just opens her mouth and moves her tounge around a lot, but sometimes something comes out and she is very pleased with herself. Here's a little video of her trying to tell me something.
From day one Avery has been pretty petite, which I have no idea where she gets that from. She was 6 lbs. 12 oz. when she was born, and 6 lbs. 4 oz. when we brought her home from the hospital. She's been gaining about 1 oz. per day ever since, and at her last doctors visit she was 10 lbs. 2 oz. and she grew 2 inches. :) She went from not fitting into 0-3 month clothes because they were too big, straight to her 3-6 month clothes. I'm so confused. Shouldn't she have been in the 0-3 clothes for 3 months?
Anyway, along with her physical growth, she continues to grow developmentally each day as well. This morning she was grabbing her toy and putting it in her mouth. I don't think she's fully figured out the use of her hands, but she does a good job holding her pacifier in at night and grabbing the little monkey ring on her activity gym.
She is also trying really hard to talk and laugh. She usually just opens her mouth and moves her tounge around a lot, but sometimes something comes out and she is very pleased with herself. Here's a little video of her trying to tell me something.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Life Post Baby
Needless to say, life has been a little bit crazy lately with our new arrival and has changed all for the better. We have a lot to get caught up on, so I'll attempt to give the abbreviated version of what it's been like for the past 11 weeks.
The recovery after a c-section was much worse than expected. That was one thing I was completely unprepared for. The c-section itself wasn't that bad, considering it was major surgery. I just wasn't prepared for the pain that would come the day after the anesthesia had worn off. Getting up to go to the bathroom for the first time was excruciating. I wish they would have given me the pain meds before they took out the catheter. That just makes perfect sense to me. Every day got a little better and I was completely off all meds within two weeks and feeling somewhat back to normal. My new normal at this point was not having any pattern to my day, feeding and pumping like crazy, and never knowing when I would get a shower.
We had tons of family and friends visit while in the hospital and when we got home. We are so thankful for the outpouring of generosity we received from everyone. It may have been partly because everyone wanted to get their hands on our little beauty, but regardless, we appreciated EVERYTHING very much.
Avery has accomplished quite a lot in the past 10 weeks. She can hold her head up, coo, track objects, and she smiles all the time. We're now working on laughing, reaching for things and rolling over. Those will be the next big milestones. She loves bath time and being held more than anything. She also likes to eat and sleep quite a lot. We are so thankful for her desire to sleep and love for her crib.
She slept in our room for the first 2 months in a bassinet. It was nice having her so close and loved that special time that we got to bond with her. However, she's a pretty loud sleeper and Ben was anxious to move her to the crib. We tried a couple of times, and I would move her back to the bassinet as I was a little uncomfortable with her so far away (across the condo in her room. :) However, after we talked to the doctor at our 2 month check-up, we decided it was time.
She was 2 months old, had her first round of immunizations, first dose of Tylenol, first night in her crib, and first night putting herself to sleep all in one day. It was a lot, but little Avery didn't disappoint. She took change well. We used the Baby Wise method and let her cry herself to sleep the first night. It took a grueling 2 1/2 hours! I was so scared she would be mad at me when I went to get her the next morning, but she woke up smiling after a great night's sleep.
After that, it took 9 minutes the second night, 8 minutes the third night, and hasn't cried since, unless she wants to go to bed. Now, she'll cry when she's tired and when we put her down in her crib, she'll stop. It's great, and it's freed up so much time for us at night and for me during the day. It used to take an hour to get her to sleep, and then she'd sleep for 15 minutes and then it would be time to eat again. Now, I'll put her down, she sleep, and I'll get an hour and a half to get things done around the house. Mom is happy!!
She's currently on a three hour cycle, starting at 6 am. She'll eat, have wake time and then sleep every three hours. So she eats at 6, 9, 12, 3, 6, and 9. She goes to bed at 10 and doesn't wake up until 6 am. It's GREAT!!! It took us awhile to get on a schedule, but now I think she was ready for it, and I know I was. I was tired of guessing about what she wanted, and she is much happier with the routine.
I am starting to really enjoy being a stay at home mom, as I did not at first. I was so jealous that Ben got to carry on with his normal life, and I was stuck at home with nowhere to go. However, now I'm getting more sleep, getting to shower everyday, and on brave days we venture out to Target or something, and it's beginning to get fun.
Avery smiles all the time, and it's so fun to entertain her. She loves it when I change my voice and tap on her belly and sing to her. She's got such a funny personality that comes out so much. She's truly a Mommy's girl (too much sometimes) and we love hanging out together. Sometimes when Dad's gone to work, we'll snuggle up in my bed together and just relax. It's the best!
We are going on vacation in less than two weeks and it will be a true test to see if Avery can handle the car. We're going to Topsail Beach, NC. We're taking along two babysitters, Marmie (my mom) and Aunt Kaitlin. It should be a blast, and I know Ben is looking forward to some time off work! I can't wait to see Avery in her little bathing suit with a bubble butt and put her toes in the ocean for the first time. :)
I go back to work the week after that for 6 days and then SUMMER BREAK! :) I timed it just about right. It will be nice to be able to pack up my own classroom and get things somewhat organized for Fall without having to worry too much over the summer break. And it will be a nice little test to see how pumping goes at work and how Avery handles being with a babysitter all day. My mom and Kaitlin will be keeping her that week also.
I was really debating if I should take grad classes this summer, as I took the Spring semester off. I have a grant that runs out in December, so it makes money sense to take classes this summer, but I didn't really know how I would pump and keep up the breastfeeding during class. It worked itself out by my classes not being offered this summer, so I don't have to feel guilty about anything.
Ben's family got to visit from Missouri when Avery was about 3 weeks old. She got to meet three of her cousins, her Grandma Ruth, Aunt Rachel, and Uncle Matt. It was so nice of them to all make the trip to meet Avery and spend time with us. She has also gotten to meet her Aunt Sara, Kelley, and her great grandparents. She gets to spend the most time with her Aunt Kaitlin and Marmie, who like to babysit a lot while I run errands or go to the doctor. Kaitlin, who is at WKU this semester, likes to come home and visit a lot, and has already had lots of sleepovers with Avery. We will miss her terribly when she goes to England next semester. :(
We've been back to school once, when Avery was 6 weeks old. All of the students were anxious to meet her and I was SOOO happy to see everyone. I love my job and all of the people I work with and miss them a lot. My substitute has done a great job, and my students have continued to make tons of progress while I've been out. It's been a breeze being away, and I'm so thankful everything has run smoothly while I've been away.
Mother's Day was awesome!! I think it's my new favorite holiday. Avery gave me the best gift of sleeping in until 8 o'clock!! She is such a good girl! Ben made me breakfast in bed, necklace and earrings of Avery's birthstone (amethyst), and a picture frame with Avery and her little footprints and hand prints in it. Then we went to church, had lunch and took a long afternoon nap. Then I got a foot massage, a bubble bath and dinner in front of the TV. What a great day!! I love holidays that I don't have to share with Ben. :) I always give him a hard time because he gets to have his birthday the week before mine and I feel like mine gets overshadowed.
I have really debated if I'm going to keep blogging or not, as I don't think I'm the most creative or entertaining writer, and I am a private person. However, I enjoy reading everyone else's blogs so much that I have decided to keep it up, and hopefully I'll have lots to share about Avery's successes and growth these next few months. Thanks for all your comments over the past few months and Keep Reading!! :)
The recovery after a c-section was much worse than expected. That was one thing I was completely unprepared for. The c-section itself wasn't that bad, considering it was major surgery. I just wasn't prepared for the pain that would come the day after the anesthesia had worn off. Getting up to go to the bathroom for the first time was excruciating. I wish they would have given me the pain meds before they took out the catheter. That just makes perfect sense to me. Every day got a little better and I was completely off all meds within two weeks and feeling somewhat back to normal. My new normal at this point was not having any pattern to my day, feeding and pumping like crazy, and never knowing when I would get a shower.
We had tons of family and friends visit while in the hospital and when we got home. We are so thankful for the outpouring of generosity we received from everyone. It may have been partly because everyone wanted to get their hands on our little beauty, but regardless, we appreciated EVERYTHING very much.
Avery has accomplished quite a lot in the past 10 weeks. She can hold her head up, coo, track objects, and she smiles all the time. We're now working on laughing, reaching for things and rolling over. Those will be the next big milestones. She loves bath time and being held more than anything. She also likes to eat and sleep quite a lot. We are so thankful for her desire to sleep and love for her crib.
She slept in our room for the first 2 months in a bassinet. It was nice having her so close and loved that special time that we got to bond with her. However, she's a pretty loud sleeper and Ben was anxious to move her to the crib. We tried a couple of times, and I would move her back to the bassinet as I was a little uncomfortable with her so far away (across the condo in her room. :) However, after we talked to the doctor at our 2 month check-up, we decided it was time.
She was 2 months old, had her first round of immunizations, first dose of Tylenol, first night in her crib, and first night putting herself to sleep all in one day. It was a lot, but little Avery didn't disappoint. She took change well. We used the Baby Wise method and let her cry herself to sleep the first night. It took a grueling 2 1/2 hours! I was so scared she would be mad at me when I went to get her the next morning, but she woke up smiling after a great night's sleep.
After that, it took 9 minutes the second night, 8 minutes the third night, and hasn't cried since, unless she wants to go to bed. Now, she'll cry when she's tired and when we put her down in her crib, she'll stop. It's great, and it's freed up so much time for us at night and for me during the day. It used to take an hour to get her to sleep, and then she'd sleep for 15 minutes and then it would be time to eat again. Now, I'll put her down, she sleep, and I'll get an hour and a half to get things done around the house. Mom is happy!!
She's currently on a three hour cycle, starting at 6 am. She'll eat, have wake time and then sleep every three hours. So she eats at 6, 9, 12, 3, 6, and 9. She goes to bed at 10 and doesn't wake up until 6 am. It's GREAT!!! It took us awhile to get on a schedule, but now I think she was ready for it, and I know I was. I was tired of guessing about what she wanted, and she is much happier with the routine.
I am starting to really enjoy being a stay at home mom, as I did not at first. I was so jealous that Ben got to carry on with his normal life, and I was stuck at home with nowhere to go. However, now I'm getting more sleep, getting to shower everyday, and on brave days we venture out to Target or something, and it's beginning to get fun.
Avery smiles all the time, and it's so fun to entertain her. She loves it when I change my voice and tap on her belly and sing to her. She's got such a funny personality that comes out so much. She's truly a Mommy's girl (too much sometimes) and we love hanging out together. Sometimes when Dad's gone to work, we'll snuggle up in my bed together and just relax. It's the best!
We are going on vacation in less than two weeks and it will be a true test to see if Avery can handle the car. We're going to Topsail Beach, NC. We're taking along two babysitters, Marmie (my mom) and Aunt Kaitlin. It should be a blast, and I know Ben is looking forward to some time off work! I can't wait to see Avery in her little bathing suit with a bubble butt and put her toes in the ocean for the first time. :)
I go back to work the week after that for 6 days and then SUMMER BREAK! :) I timed it just about right. It will be nice to be able to pack up my own classroom and get things somewhat organized for Fall without having to worry too much over the summer break. And it will be a nice little test to see how pumping goes at work and how Avery handles being with a babysitter all day. My mom and Kaitlin will be keeping her that week also.
I was really debating if I should take grad classes this summer, as I took the Spring semester off. I have a grant that runs out in December, so it makes money sense to take classes this summer, but I didn't really know how I would pump and keep up the breastfeeding during class. It worked itself out by my classes not being offered this summer, so I don't have to feel guilty about anything.
Ben's family got to visit from Missouri when Avery was about 3 weeks old. She got to meet three of her cousins, her Grandma Ruth, Aunt Rachel, and Uncle Matt. It was so nice of them to all make the trip to meet Avery and spend time with us. She has also gotten to meet her Aunt Sara, Kelley, and her great grandparents. She gets to spend the most time with her Aunt Kaitlin and Marmie, who like to babysit a lot while I run errands or go to the doctor. Kaitlin, who is at WKU this semester, likes to come home and visit a lot, and has already had lots of sleepovers with Avery. We will miss her terribly when she goes to England next semester. :(
We've been back to school once, when Avery was 6 weeks old. All of the students were anxious to meet her and I was SOOO happy to see everyone. I love my job and all of the people I work with and miss them a lot. My substitute has done a great job, and my students have continued to make tons of progress while I've been out. It's been a breeze being away, and I'm so thankful everything has run smoothly while I've been away.
Mother's Day was awesome!! I think it's my new favorite holiday. Avery gave me the best gift of sleeping in until 8 o'clock!! She is such a good girl! Ben made me breakfast in bed, necklace and earrings of Avery's birthstone (amethyst), and a picture frame with Avery and her little footprints and hand prints in it. Then we went to church, had lunch and took a long afternoon nap. Then I got a foot massage, a bubble bath and dinner in front of the TV. What a great day!! I love holidays that I don't have to share with Ben. :) I always give him a hard time because he gets to have his birthday the week before mine and I feel like mine gets overshadowed.
I have really debated if I'm going to keep blogging or not, as I don't think I'm the most creative or entertaining writer, and I am a private person. However, I enjoy reading everyone else's blogs so much that I have decided to keep it up, and hopefully I'll have lots to share about Avery's successes and growth these next few months. Thanks for all your comments over the past few months and Keep Reading!! :)
Friday, February 26, 2010
6lbs 11oz of joy
Last night we arrived at the hospital around 7:45pm. We got settled into our room and they hooked me up to the monitors. Shortly after, Kaitlin and my mom arrived! The doctors did some blood work, then came the IV. The nurse got it on the first try, thank goodness and proceeded to tell me that the worst part was over. I was reluctant to believe that!
Then it became somewhat of a waiting game; we were able to enjoy watching the Cats beat South Carolina and some Olympic figure skating. I was examined and still at 1cm so they gave me a pill to ripen my cervix before they began the pitosin. At 2:30am they started the pitosin on a slow drip. Ben was peacefully snoozing on a rock hard couch, while I layed uncomfortably in my rock hard bed with vinyl sheets. We tried getting some sleep but the monitor alarms were going off every ten minutes. Ben woke at about 5:15.
At about 5:30 the nurse came in and was concerned about Avery's heart because it had dropped to 80, when 120-160 is normal. After consulting the doctor, they decided to do an immediate c-section. It all was happening quite sooner than expected. I guessed she would be here by 6:30pm considering how mild the contractions were. Mom said 8pm - and Kaitlin said 4pm. I was at peace with having to do the c-section, shaking all over because they were pumping me full of fluid, and emotional because I was going to be a mom in the next 20 minutes! Ben put on his white moon suit that barely fit him and they wheeled me to the operating room. Kaitlin and Mom waited anxiously outside. I went in to get the epidural first - and a praise, it did not hurt a bit! They gave me some happy juice and I don't even remember it. Apparently I was being quite the comedian.
They put up the blue screen and Ben joined me, he stood by my side and comforted me as the doctors went to work. Ben tried to distract me as much as possible, and at last we heard a little cry and were overjoyed. Ben gave me a play by play of what they were doing to little Miss Avery. Then we got to see the most precious baby girl ever. Well at least to us. After cleaning her lungs and toweling her off, I was able to give her a quick kiss before sending her off to the nursery with Ben for Kaitlin and mom to see the new addition to the family. After they left, I was given some more happy juice by the doctors and the next thing I know it was all over. The nurses rolled me into the post op room where Ben, Kaitlin and my mom were waiting for me. After what seemed like forever Avery was brought in to join us.
Then it became somewhat of a waiting game; we were able to enjoy watching the Cats beat South Carolina and some Olympic figure skating. I was examined and still at 1cm so they gave me a pill to ripen my cervix before they began the pitosin. At 2:30am they started the pitosin on a slow drip. Ben was peacefully snoozing on a rock hard couch, while I layed uncomfortably in my rock hard bed with vinyl sheets. We tried getting some sleep but the monitor alarms were going off every ten minutes. Ben woke at about 5:15.
At about 5:30 the nurse came in and was concerned about Avery's heart because it had dropped to 80, when 120-160 is normal. After consulting the doctor, they decided to do an immediate c-section. It all was happening quite sooner than expected. I guessed she would be here by 6:30pm considering how mild the contractions were. Mom said 8pm - and Kaitlin said 4pm. I was at peace with having to do the c-section, shaking all over because they were pumping me full of fluid, and emotional because I was going to be a mom in the next 20 minutes! Ben put on his white moon suit that barely fit him and they wheeled me to the operating room. Kaitlin and Mom waited anxiously outside. I went in to get the epidural first - and a praise, it did not hurt a bit! They gave me some happy juice and I don't even remember it. Apparently I was being quite the comedian.
They put up the blue screen and Ben joined me, he stood by my side and comforted me as the doctors went to work. Ben tried to distract me as much as possible, and at last we heard a little cry and were overjoyed. Ben gave me a play by play of what they were doing to little Miss Avery. Then we got to see the most precious baby girl ever. Well at least to us. After cleaning her lungs and toweling her off, I was able to give her a quick kiss before sending her off to the nursery with Ben for Kaitlin and mom to see the new addition to the family. After they left, I was given some more happy juice by the doctors and the next thing I know it was all over. The nurses rolled me into the post op room where Ben, Kaitlin and my mom were waiting for me. After what seemed like forever Avery was brought in to join us.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Going to the Hospital, and We're Gonna Have a Baby!
4 More Hours until I'll be admitted to St. Joe East to be induced!! What are you supposed to do on the day before your baby arrives? Well, I got up, ate some cereal, took a bath and shaved my legs, made the bed, did some laundry, got a haircut, ate lunch with Mom, watched some Olympics action on TV, and now adding all the things I "might" need to my hospital bags.
Ben worked today and should be home shortly. We're going to have a normal evening here, finishing up chores, eating dinner in, and then we'll head to the hospital around 8 pm, just in time to watch the UK game hopefully.
The plan is to start a slow drip IV of Pitosin tonight and if my water hasn't broke by 6 am, my doctor said she would break it for me to help my contractions progress along. I hope it doesn't take too terribly long after that, maybe by noon?? to start pushing. Kaitlin and Mom are going to be at the hospital with us, and I've got an army of people praying for us.
I called my friend who is a nurse at St. Joe East and she got me set up with a nurse that she recommends for tomorrow. She said they're all great, but this one in particular is halarious and everybody loves her. I hope humor is what I'll want when in labor, but I don't know???
I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for all of your support throughout the entire pregnancy. I told Mom that this is like a chapter of my life coming to an end and a new chapter beginning-- heck, it actually feels like a whole new book beginning.
I was like waterworks last night thinking about what Ben and I have coming to an end, but I am very excited to bring Avery into this wonderful family. It's just hard saying goodbye to what I'm used to...just the two of us.
I also cried on my way to work on Wednesday thinking about leaving all those little angels, but then realized quickly as the day progressed, that I think I'll manage just fine. :)My last day of work went well. The kids were very excited about the baby, but I don't think realized that I am taking 12 weeks off. One kid asked, "So I won't see you until I'm a third grader?"
Sara will be here on Saturday, and Kelley on Wednesday. Mom is pretty adamant about them not meeting their niece on Facebook, so pictures may take awhile to be put up. Plus, babies are always cuter after three days rather than three minutes. Who knows, we may all agree that she is the cutest baby we have ever seen and decide that posting pictures just can't wait. :)
Thanks for everything!!
Ben worked today and should be home shortly. We're going to have a normal evening here, finishing up chores, eating dinner in, and then we'll head to the hospital around 8 pm, just in time to watch the UK game hopefully.
The plan is to start a slow drip IV of Pitosin tonight and if my water hasn't broke by 6 am, my doctor said she would break it for me to help my contractions progress along. I hope it doesn't take too terribly long after that, maybe by noon?? to start pushing. Kaitlin and Mom are going to be at the hospital with us, and I've got an army of people praying for us.
I called my friend who is a nurse at St. Joe East and she got me set up with a nurse that she recommends for tomorrow. She said they're all great, but this one in particular is halarious and everybody loves her. I hope humor is what I'll want when in labor, but I don't know???
I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for all of your support throughout the entire pregnancy. I told Mom that this is like a chapter of my life coming to an end and a new chapter beginning-- heck, it actually feels like a whole new book beginning.
I was like waterworks last night thinking about what Ben and I have coming to an end, but I am very excited to bring Avery into this wonderful family. It's just hard saying goodbye to what I'm used to...just the two of us.
I also cried on my way to work on Wednesday thinking about leaving all those little angels, but then realized quickly as the day progressed, that I think I'll manage just fine. :)My last day of work went well. The kids were very excited about the baby, but I don't think realized that I am taking 12 weeks off. One kid asked, "So I won't see you until I'm a third grader?"
Sara will be here on Saturday, and Kelley on Wednesday. Mom is pretty adamant about them not meeting their niece on Facebook, so pictures may take awhile to be put up. Plus, babies are always cuter after three days rather than three minutes. Who knows, we may all agree that she is the cutest baby we have ever seen and decide that posting pictures just can't wait. :)
Thanks for everything!!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
One More Week!!!!! :)
The final countdown has begun. Avery will be here in one more week!!! I can't wait to see what she looks like, even though she'll probably change a lot in the first couple of months. Every time I see a baby out and about I get the biggest smile on my face just thinking of how soon she'll be here!
Yesterday we went to the doctor for our weekly check up. We met Dr. Elkhari and went through the normal routine: urine check, blood pressure check, weight check, heart rate check, belly measurement, and now the routine exam to see how far I'm dilated. Everything is perfect so far. I'm dilated 1 cm. My belly is measuring a perfect 38 cm, and her heart rate is a perfect 140. We are so blessed. My comment to Ben was "We waited an hour for that." His response was that we are lucky to wait an hour to only hear good news. He is right.
So the plan is this weekend to finish up the baby laundry, do a little spring cleaning, pack our hospital bag and install a car seat! :) I go back to the doctor on Monday and then will be induced on Thursday night.
I've been at home all week, and that has been a blessing in disguise. I have been sleeping a lot, which I know has helped me relax and not feel so tired all the time. I have also been pampering myself a little. I got a pedicure and massage yesterday and I have a facial scheduled for next week. Who knows when I'll be able to do that again, right?
I've been feeling a lot more pain in my lower pelvic region lately and the doctor says that's her coming down. Her head is still down, which is good news for the delivery. The doctor says she is a very happy baby--well of course she is!! Dr. Elkhari expects her to be about 7.5 lbs. I asked how she knew that and she smiled and just said, "It's a guess." I think it's a pretty safe guess to say 7.5 because that's the average! They should just say, "I don't know."
I've been getting more questions from students at school about the baby, as my stomach is so much more noticeable now. It's hilarious, and I should be writing it all down. I had one student ask, "So, how do you know it's a girl?" I said, "Because the doctor told me so." "Well, how does he know?" "Because they ran a test," I answered generically. "What kind of test?" "An ultrasound" "What's that?" "Where they can see the baby on a TV screen." "All babies look the same when they are little. None of them have any hair," he said. "You're right Gabe. They do." "So what will you do if it's a boy?" "I'll be shocked." "Why?" "Because I have all pink clothes for him at home." "Well, that was poor planning." "Well, I guess so." LOL "What will his name be?" he asked. "I guess I'll have to name him Gabe since I don't have any boy names ready." "You could name him Jason. I know two Jason's." (that's his dad's name) "Maybe I will."
Another student said, "My mom works at the hospital in Georgetown and she said she could take some baby blankets from them for you." "Uh, that's okay. I don't want her to get in any trouble."
Another student said, "I'm going to get you a car seat for your baby." "No, that's okay. Car seats are very expensive." "No, Walmart has them" he said.
I'm going to miss those guys so much. All of these snow days we've had are going to put me back in school in June, since I get 12 weeks off. It will be nice to finish out the school year with them and get my things somewhat organized before summer. I'm sure Kaitlin and Mom won't mind to babysit a couple days for the sweetest little girl ever. :)
I'll keep you updated on any news! Please continue to pray for us!!
Yesterday we went to the doctor for our weekly check up. We met Dr. Elkhari and went through the normal routine: urine check, blood pressure check, weight check, heart rate check, belly measurement, and now the routine exam to see how far I'm dilated. Everything is perfect so far. I'm dilated 1 cm. My belly is measuring a perfect 38 cm, and her heart rate is a perfect 140. We are so blessed. My comment to Ben was "We waited an hour for that." His response was that we are lucky to wait an hour to only hear good news. He is right.
So the plan is this weekend to finish up the baby laundry, do a little spring cleaning, pack our hospital bag and install a car seat! :) I go back to the doctor on Monday and then will be induced on Thursday night.
I've been at home all week, and that has been a blessing in disguise. I have been sleeping a lot, which I know has helped me relax and not feel so tired all the time. I have also been pampering myself a little. I got a pedicure and massage yesterday and I have a facial scheduled for next week. Who knows when I'll be able to do that again, right?
I've been feeling a lot more pain in my lower pelvic region lately and the doctor says that's her coming down. Her head is still down, which is good news for the delivery. The doctor says she is a very happy baby--well of course she is!! Dr. Elkhari expects her to be about 7.5 lbs. I asked how she knew that and she smiled and just said, "It's a guess." I think it's a pretty safe guess to say 7.5 because that's the average! They should just say, "I don't know."
I've been getting more questions from students at school about the baby, as my stomach is so much more noticeable now. It's hilarious, and I should be writing it all down. I had one student ask, "So, how do you know it's a girl?" I said, "Because the doctor told me so." "Well, how does he know?" "Because they ran a test," I answered generically. "What kind of test?" "An ultrasound" "What's that?" "Where they can see the baby on a TV screen." "All babies look the same when they are little. None of them have any hair," he said. "You're right Gabe. They do." "So what will you do if it's a boy?" "I'll be shocked." "Why?" "Because I have all pink clothes for him at home." "Well, that was poor planning." "Well, I guess so." LOL "What will his name be?" he asked. "I guess I'll have to name him Gabe since I don't have any boy names ready." "You could name him Jason. I know two Jason's." (that's his dad's name) "Maybe I will."
Another student said, "My mom works at the hospital in Georgetown and she said she could take some baby blankets from them for you." "Uh, that's okay. I don't want her to get in any trouble."
Another student said, "I'm going to get you a car seat for your baby." "No, that's okay. Car seats are very expensive." "No, Walmart has them" he said.
I'm going to miss those guys so much. All of these snow days we've had are going to put me back in school in June, since I get 12 weeks off. It will be nice to finish out the school year with them and get my things somewhat organized before summer. I'm sure Kaitlin and Mom won't mind to babysit a couple days for the sweetest little girl ever. :)
I'll keep you updated on any news! Please continue to pray for us!!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Waiting for Avery
My dear friend Amelia came over to take a few shots of the nursery and Ben and I before the big day. I'm so thankful to have these photos and will treasure them Forever. Thank you Amelia!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Best and Worst of Pregnancy
Top Ten Best Things About Being Pregnant:
1. Feeling a little baby move inside of you
2. Everyone being super nice to you
3. Elastic belly pants
4. Guilt free massages any day of the week
5. No worries about gaining weight
6. Watching Ben's face when he feels Avery move
7. Seeing the baby on the ultrasound and falling in love
8. Picking out all kinds of cute little itsy bitsy items
9. Getting the nursery ready
10. The Miracle of it all
Top Ten Worst Things About Being Pregnant:
1. Back pain
2. Being the permanent DD
3. Feeling tired from walking up a set of stairs
4. Crying for silly reasons
5. Not being able to tie my shoes without pain
6. Getting in the bathtub and realizing the water only covers half of me now
7. Feeling fat a lot of the time
8. Realizing how much babies really do cost
9. Itchy stomach
10. Crazy horrifying stories from everyone
1. Feeling a little baby move inside of you
2. Everyone being super nice to you
3. Elastic belly pants
4. Guilt free massages any day of the week
5. No worries about gaining weight
6. Watching Ben's face when he feels Avery move
7. Seeing the baby on the ultrasound and falling in love
8. Picking out all kinds of cute little itsy bitsy items
9. Getting the nursery ready
10. The Miracle of it all
Top Ten Worst Things About Being Pregnant:
1. Back pain
2. Being the permanent DD
3. Feeling tired from walking up a set of stairs
4. Crying for silly reasons
5. Not being able to tie my shoes without pain
6. Getting in the bathtub and realizing the water only covers half of me now
7. Feeling fat a lot of the time
8. Realizing how much babies really do cost
9. Itchy stomach
10. Crazy horrifying stories from everyone
She'll Be Here Soon!
Avery will be arriving any day now! I can't believe it! We are so excited to finally meet her. I am 37 weeks and 5 days pregnant today and things are going well. Over the past couple of weeks of doctors appointments I have begun to dilate, my cervix is softening, and Avery's head is down in my pelvis. So far everything is very "normal" as I tested negative for the Group B Strep, I've gained my 30 lbs., and my belly is growing about 1 cm per week.
We set a date to be induced at our last doctor's appointment on Monday. If she has not arrived by the 25th, I'll go in at 8 pm to be induced that night and deliver her on the morning of the 26th! The doctor predicts that she will weigh about 6 lbs. when she's born, which will be great for me.
I've been off school for three days this week for snow, which has been super nice because I haven't been feeling the best. I've had a lot of drainage at night and waking up with a sore throat every morning for the past three days. It's been a nice little break from working and we've gotten to do a few more things for Avery.
Mom and I went shopping yesterday for a "Bring Me Home" outfit. I had already picked one out at Mom's store, but we wanted to find one that might be a little more special. We found a store downtown called Bella Bliss, which LB had told me about. There stuff was precious. We got a pink gown with Avery's monogram on the front, a little matching hat, and a blanket with pink bunnies and her name embroidered on it. I thought about having the date put on it as well, but I figured I was being a little too gutsy.
Her nursery is mostly finished. We are going to order some shelves for the wall and a end table for beside the glider. Mom has also ordered some "art" for the walls. These will all be "add-ons" after she arrives. The most important things are here: diapers, wipes, changing table and the bassinet.
Mom did an awesome job with the bassinet. It has been in the family since my grandfather was a baby and Avery will be the 4th generation to use it. Mom repainted it, since Ben was very concerned about lead paint, and she also put in a new liner which turned out beautiful! It's a yellow and white gingham in a silk material.
We've been attending some maternity education classes at the hospital. The first class we took was great: Infant CPR. We learned the basics to what to do if a baby goes unconscious or is choking. This was reassuring and not scary at all. The second class was a birthing class. This class was scary and should be taken by any woman who thinks she wants to get pregnant, not by those who are about to deliver a baby and it's too late to change your mind.
We watched 4 videos of real live births. They tried to show us the different types of interventions that may have to be performed. I don't want to go into any detail for those of you who still have a very rosy picture of a baby being born, but I DO NOT want my experience to be anything like what 3 out of the 4 births on that video turned out to be. Yikes.
We were scheduled to do the Breastfeeding class this week, but it got rescheduled because of snow, and next week we'll be doing the Baby Steps class. And then, I'll officially be ready to be a mom. :)
Things haven't been too crazy busy lately. Ben and I went to Gatlinburg last weekend with a group of 14 friends. We spent some time relaxing, eating, sleeping, talking, and outlet shopping for baby clothes. We got the CUTEST bathing suit ever made for little miss Avery. It has a little bubble butt for her diaper. We are currently planning a trip to the beach for the first week of October. I already can't wait.
Life is good and it's about to get much better!! I'll keep you posted on these last 14 days of progress towards her grand arrival! Much LOVE!!
We set a date to be induced at our last doctor's appointment on Monday. If she has not arrived by the 25th, I'll go in at 8 pm to be induced that night and deliver her on the morning of the 26th! The doctor predicts that she will weigh about 6 lbs. when she's born, which will be great for me.
I've been off school for three days this week for snow, which has been super nice because I haven't been feeling the best. I've had a lot of drainage at night and waking up with a sore throat every morning for the past three days. It's been a nice little break from working and we've gotten to do a few more things for Avery.
Mom and I went shopping yesterday for a "Bring Me Home" outfit. I had already picked one out at Mom's store, but we wanted to find one that might be a little more special. We found a store downtown called Bella Bliss, which LB had told me about. There stuff was precious. We got a pink gown with Avery's monogram on the front, a little matching hat, and a blanket with pink bunnies and her name embroidered on it. I thought about having the date put on it as well, but I figured I was being a little too gutsy.
Her nursery is mostly finished. We are going to order some shelves for the wall and a end table for beside the glider. Mom has also ordered some "art" for the walls. These will all be "add-ons" after she arrives. The most important things are here: diapers, wipes, changing table and the bassinet.
Mom did an awesome job with the bassinet. It has been in the family since my grandfather was a baby and Avery will be the 4th generation to use it. Mom repainted it, since Ben was very concerned about lead paint, and she also put in a new liner which turned out beautiful! It's a yellow and white gingham in a silk material.
We've been attending some maternity education classes at the hospital. The first class we took was great: Infant CPR. We learned the basics to what to do if a baby goes unconscious or is choking. This was reassuring and not scary at all. The second class was a birthing class. This class was scary and should be taken by any woman who thinks she wants to get pregnant, not by those who are about to deliver a baby and it's too late to change your mind.
We watched 4 videos of real live births. They tried to show us the different types of interventions that may have to be performed. I don't want to go into any detail for those of you who still have a very rosy picture of a baby being born, but I DO NOT want my experience to be anything like what 3 out of the 4 births on that video turned out to be. Yikes.
We were scheduled to do the Breastfeeding class this week, but it got rescheduled because of snow, and next week we'll be doing the Baby Steps class. And then, I'll officially be ready to be a mom. :)
Things haven't been too crazy busy lately. Ben and I went to Gatlinburg last weekend with a group of 14 friends. We spent some time relaxing, eating, sleeping, talking, and outlet shopping for baby clothes. We got the CUTEST bathing suit ever made for little miss Avery. It has a little bubble butt for her diaper. We are currently planning a trip to the beach for the first week of October. I already can't wait.
Life is good and it's about to get much better!! I'll keep you posted on these last 14 days of progress towards her grand arrival! Much LOVE!!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Resolutions
I started back to work yesterday, and was very eager to get back into a routine. It was nice being busy all day so I didn't really think about how uncomfortable I am. I sprung out of bed with a little pep in my step and the day was pretty uneventful and routine. I worked until about 4, made it home about the same time as Ben, took a bath, ate dinner, watched a little TV and tried to get to bed early for another day back to work.
I got a text alert about 5:30 this morning saying that Knox County Schools was closed. Was this some kind of joke? I was thinking an hour delay would be nice in Scott County, but I didn't really care about what was going on in Knox County. I went back to sleep and got up about a half hour later. Ben turned on the TV and saw that Scott County schools were closed today. Huh? There's not even any snow outside. Why? Normally I wouldn't second guess it and go right back to sleep, but at this point, I'm not ready for any snow days. Plus, I get 12 weeks maternity leave, and any snow days added on to the end of the year means I'll be going back to work in June.
So, it's been a pretty boring day of checking Facebook, doing laundry and dishes, and watching some lame TV. I don't think I'm cut out to stay at home. I need to be BUSY!! I guess if I was busy, then I would be begging for a snow day or the chance to sleep in, but today, I would have preferred to work.
The glider came in today!! It's in Midway!! Yippee!! The crib, changing table and armoire will be in at the end of next week. Mom also got in the pink material for the curtains today, so she can finish those and the bed skirt up. The room will be finished soon! We painted and hung a chandelier over the break, and Ben installed a dimmer switch. My favorite part is a little pink elephant nightlight that I found at the Lily store. It definitely makes the room :) especially since it's empty currently!
Avery's closet is getting full! I did four loads of baby laundry over the break. We were so blessed by a shower given by my sisters and Amelia and Elizabeth on New Years Day. We got TONS of wonderful stuff (clothes, high chair, bouncer, activity mat, bibs, washcloths, bathtub, toys, diapers, etc.) We also got (and finally decided on) a car seat/ carrier!! That was our toughest decision so far (lol). I loved the Chicco ones, but they were so heavy when we compared them to the Graco ones. I finally found a Graco one that was nice looking, safe, supportive of the baby, and lighter weight. And it will fit in the Universal things-- like grocery carts, strollers, etc.
I keep gaining about a pound a week- I'm up to 20 lbs total now and the belly gets bigger EVERY day!! No kidding! The constant comment is that I don't even look that pregnant, but I do feel it. My back is killing me. I went to the chiropractor every other week for the past 3 years, and I knew I would have even more back trouble with pregnancy, but my only hope is that it doesn't get much worse. Sleeping is getting tricky, because seriously no way is comfortable. I've tried every kind of pillow, body pillow, wedge, etc. and nothing is really helping. I don't mean to be complaining, but hopefully I'm being realistic about what it's REALLY like.
So, for New Years Resolutions: I would like to start having a more positive attitude about life in general. I've got lots of big changes headed my way in the very near future, and I would like to look at them with a positive outlook and to just love the life that I'm living!
Back to the doctor this Friday. So far, everything is going very well. Keep praying for us!! Thank you all for your friendship and generosity during this time in our lives!
I got a text alert about 5:30 this morning saying that Knox County Schools was closed. Was this some kind of joke? I was thinking an hour delay would be nice in Scott County, but I didn't really care about what was going on in Knox County. I went back to sleep and got up about a half hour later. Ben turned on the TV and saw that Scott County schools were closed today. Huh? There's not even any snow outside. Why? Normally I wouldn't second guess it and go right back to sleep, but at this point, I'm not ready for any snow days. Plus, I get 12 weeks maternity leave, and any snow days added on to the end of the year means I'll be going back to work in June.
So, it's been a pretty boring day of checking Facebook, doing laundry and dishes, and watching some lame TV. I don't think I'm cut out to stay at home. I need to be BUSY!! I guess if I was busy, then I would be begging for a snow day or the chance to sleep in, but today, I would have preferred to work.
The glider came in today!! It's in Midway!! Yippee!! The crib, changing table and armoire will be in at the end of next week. Mom also got in the pink material for the curtains today, so she can finish those and the bed skirt up. The room will be finished soon! We painted and hung a chandelier over the break, and Ben installed a dimmer switch. My favorite part is a little pink elephant nightlight that I found at the Lily store. It definitely makes the room :) especially since it's empty currently!
Avery's closet is getting full! I did four loads of baby laundry over the break. We were so blessed by a shower given by my sisters and Amelia and Elizabeth on New Years Day. We got TONS of wonderful stuff (clothes, high chair, bouncer, activity mat, bibs, washcloths, bathtub, toys, diapers, etc.) We also got (and finally decided on) a car seat/ carrier!! That was our toughest decision so far (lol). I loved the Chicco ones, but they were so heavy when we compared them to the Graco ones. I finally found a Graco one that was nice looking, safe, supportive of the baby, and lighter weight. And it will fit in the Universal things-- like grocery carts, strollers, etc.
I keep gaining about a pound a week- I'm up to 20 lbs total now and the belly gets bigger EVERY day!! No kidding! The constant comment is that I don't even look that pregnant, but I do feel it. My back is killing me. I went to the chiropractor every other week for the past 3 years, and I knew I would have even more back trouble with pregnancy, but my only hope is that it doesn't get much worse. Sleeping is getting tricky, because seriously no way is comfortable. I've tried every kind of pillow, body pillow, wedge, etc. and nothing is really helping. I don't mean to be complaining, but hopefully I'm being realistic about what it's REALLY like.
So, for New Years Resolutions: I would like to start having a more positive attitude about life in general. I've got lots of big changes headed my way in the very near future, and I would like to look at them with a positive outlook and to just love the life that I'm living!
Back to the doctor this Friday. So far, everything is going very well. Keep praying for us!! Thank you all for your friendship and generosity during this time in our lives!
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