Life with Weston

It's been 2 weeks since our Weston was born. Ironically.. he was born the next day after my last blog. I guess he agreed that September 1 was a good birthday :) To get everyone caught up I will start back on that Thursday the 1st.

As you all know, Wednesday was a very frustrating day for us and I had just heard back from the doctor saying she wanted to see me the next day  so she could do the scraping again (or so I thought). We got up Thursday morning anxious (especially me because I didn't want to feel the pain again from the dreaded scrape) and we went on in for our appointment at the clinic. My doctor comes hurrying in and tells me that she is going to do something that will make sure I won't get sent home from the hospital this time. I can't fully disclose what she did because apparantely she wasn't supposed to legally do it but you can use your imagination. I went into full contractions immediately after she did "it". (oh.. and she did it with no instruments.. just her hand. I thought the scrape was bad but Holy Moly.. very traumatizing) So there we were at her office and she tells Andrew to take me straight to the hospital because we are having the baby today.. seriously this time! :)

So we get checked in to the hospital and by that time my contractions were already 2 to 3 minutes apart. I was already in full blown labor. Let me tell you... those contractions don't mess around. Yikes! I think I could have handled them better if they weren't happening so frequently. But it was like that for 2 hours! I was breathing so heavily that I felt like I was going to pass out. But then....the sweet angel himself walked in with the magic medicine that made it all okay. Let me tell you ladies.. if you are trying to decide between epidural or no epidural.. well hands down epidural wins. It was like night and day. I was having a terrible contraction while he was giving me the epidural so I didn't feel it at all. And after he started the magic medicine I felt nothing. It was amazing. I went from wanting to rip my own child out of me right then and there to... chilling out watching HGTV and having very pleasant conversations with Andrew and my mom. Then, it was just playing the waiting game. By the time I got the epidural.. I believe it was around 11:00am. The nurse would come and check for progression every hour or so and by 2:00pm I was already at 7 cm. She said that once I get to 10cm it would still be another hour before i started to push and for the doctor to come in. Well, an hour later she came back in and I was 9 1/2 cm and she told me to give a practice push. I did and... he started coming on out.. haha I guess he was just as ready as I was to get here. Nurse paged the doctor to get there immediately and 5 pushes later he was here! I couldn't have asked for an easier labor and delivery. He came out screaming and holding on to the umbilical cord. Then he tried holding onto the scissors to cut his own umbilical cord. He finally let his dad do the job. 

That first night with him in the hospital was so amazing. You would think it would be exhausting but you both are running on so much adrenaline and excitment that it doesn't matter. It's when you get home that the exhaustion starts to catch up with you. We have had numerous doctor appointments because Weston was born jaundice so we've had to get his poor little heel pricked constantly to check his levels. But besides that he is a healthy and happy baby! He only cries during the typical times (hungry, dirty, or needs burped) and he loves to snuggle with his mom and dad. I feel like we have adjusted well to this new life and it's almost like we have always had him around and I can't picture our life before him.

Now.. we are about to embark on a whole new journey of moving from AZ to MS. We only have 4 more weeks left here and then it will be a whole new chapter in our lives. I can't wait to see what the future has in store for us and to share our little man with all of our friends and family :)

Here are some of the newborn pictures we had done yesterday. Tawnya Hood with Beauty of Life photography did another amazing job and I'm so glad we decided to have these done. They are priceless and I can't wait to see the rest of them.





Frustrated..

I need to blog my frustrations out. So, today I had my doctor appointment and my blood pressure was slightly elevated with a lot of protein in my urine. My doctor said that wasn't a good sign and she worried about preeclampsia creeping up so she sent me straight over to the hopital to have blood work done. She said with the hospital having new rules in place about inductions that she coudn't actually induce me today but she said in the past they would have always gone ahead and induced with a situation like this and not taken a chance. But now they aren't allowed to induce util 39 weeks. She wanted to make sure that I didn't get sent home from the hospital and said "we are going to have this baby today!" SOOOO she stripped my membranes. If you don't know what that is.. look it up. It hurts. Like A LOT. Plus.. she wanted to make sure that I progressed so she did it really aggressive. I was in tears but mainly because I was so happy that this was all coming to an end. Well.... we got to the hospital and first thing they said was "we are going to run your blood work..and if it comes back Ok we are going to send you home because we don't have room available" In the back of my mind I'm thinking "oooo you won't be sending me home because you have no idea what my doctor just did to me to ensure I didn't get sent home". Ha.. well jokes on me I guess because they definitley just sent me home. They hooked me up to monitor the baby, took my BP continuously, ran my blood to the labs and BAM. Came back with dreadful news. "Well your blood work came  back with just a small amount of protein in it now and I'm going to check you see if you've progressed and if you haven't we will be sending you home" I knew it wasn't going to be good because it was literally only an hour ago that I left the doctor so I highly doubted that I would have progressed since then. Turns out... I hadn't. Even though I was having contractions she said they weren't strong enough for me to stay and that I needed to go home and wait it out. TALK ABOUT BEING UPSET. You mean I just went through all of this anxiety, excitement, nervousness, and PAIN for nothing?!!? I thought I was going to meet Weston today and because they were too busy at the hospital and didnt' have any room I needed to go home and wait it out. You better believe that this girl is going to wait until he is practically coming out himself before I go back to the hospital because when I leave next time I'm coming home with him!!

I just had a phone call from the doctor and she said even though the hospital didn't have any grounds to keep me there she is still concerned and wants to get him out. So if I don't go into full blown labor tonight she wants to see me in the morning and she's going to DUN DUN DUN... do it again (the membrane scrape that is..) Holy Moly.. I don't know if I can handle that again. But whatever gets him out!!

Prayers and thoughts appreciated for tomorrow!!

**Note to Weston:
Weston,
This is your mother speaking. I'm trying to be patient and wait when you think it's appropriate to come into the world but my body is starting to turn on me. I think it's saying it's about time! So lets get this going! I think Sept 1 sounds like a good birthday to me :) Everyone is anxious to meet you so let's this thing going! We love you :)

September 6, 2011

Warning** If you don't care to read about the progression of Mr. Weston then do not read below.. dilation numbers and effacement % are listed. I know that creeps some people out. Don't say I didn't warn you..

We have a new possible birthday for Mr. Weston.. Tuesday, September 6, 2011. That is when I will be induced if he doesn't come before then. At my doctor appointment today I was 3cm dilated and 80% effaced. She also said that my water is on the verge of breaking. (I need to keep up the walking!) So she thinks he will come on his own.. but just in case he decides not to, he has an eviction date. He's in perfrect position.. head is WAY down and feet up. Ready to make his exit! I just assumed he would be stubborn like he was for the 3d pictures but suprisingly he is being very cooperative. Hopefully he will stay that way. Wow.. crazy to think in just 2 short weeks he will be here! We can't wait!!! Every night we go to bed and say "what if it happens tonight.. or tomorrow.. or in a couple of minutes" The anticipation is killing us! This is a funny side note.. Every night when Andrew talks to Weston, he like to use my protruding belly button as a microphone. hahahah he thinks he can hear him better that way. I think it's really funny. Also something Weston might think is funny when he reads this one day.

Well.. here's the last picture at 37 weeks. Could be my last one!

36 weeks

36 weeks

There have been many requests.. so here's an update on Mom and baby Weston:

I'm finishing up my 36th week and heading into my 37th with excitement and nerves all in one. SO RELIEVED knowing this is all coming to an end and SO EXCITED knowing we will get to meet our little man in 4 weeks or less. He is growing like a weed and definitely taking a toll on his mom. His kicks are no longer kicks because hes running out of room but more like wiggles and squirms that I can see runnign across my belly. Sometimes he gets his knees or foot lodged up so high under my ribs so I press down on him and say Stop that!! hahaha and he does! Already a good listener. Andrew used to like feeling him kick but now that he can press down on an elbow or knee and Weston will feel it respond back with a jab it kind of creeps him out...haha. It's just a little too much for him. We are both definitely ready for him to be here so we can hold him, cuddle him, and kiss those little hands and feet :)

I'm finished with work now so it is nice to relax and be able to get caught up on a to do list. With us moving and the baby's arrival all within the next 8 weeks it is quite a list. We found a house to rent in Starkville so that is a big relief knowing I have a home to bring our baby to. It's so surreal to think we will living where Andrew and I went to college but as a family now. My, how a few years can bring lots of changes.  We will be seeing Starkville in a whole new light. It's exciting to know we will be back home close to family and friends but there are definitley things that we will miss about Arizona. This is where Andrew and I spent our first 4 1/2 years of marriage, where we bought our first home (learned many lessons from that one), where we were able to take many wonderful vacations and see the amazing things the west has to offer, where we were able to take full advantage of the endless restaurants and entertaining activities (sporting events, festivals, comedy shows etc.)  that are provided here and last but not least the most important thing..it's where our first baby will be born. Arizona has treated us well and will always hold a special place in our hearts. In the future, we will definitely be bringing Weston here on many vacations.

Well, I hope to be updating you very soon with exciting news of possible progression! I go to the doctor once a week from here on out so I will be sure to keep everyone updated over the next 4 weeks :)

34 weeks

34 weeks in and Weston finally decided to cooperate! Yes..  I know I'm crazy and got another 3d ultrasound done. I promise I had absolutely no intentions to get another one, I was just going to be patient and wait for his arrival in 6 short weeks. BUT THEN... we had a regular 2d ultrasound done the other day to measure him and make sure he is growing appropriately. That ultrasound left me feeling uneasy because she printed off a picture of what was supposed to be his "face". Not so much.. it was a really creep looking figure and I have been paranoid ever since wondering if he even had all of his facial features in the correct place. So, as I was trying to sleep last night I was thinking "Gosh.. if I could ONLY come up with some extra money to get another 3d ultrasound done." Then.. Lighbulb! It came to me. I just recently had a birthday and received a generous amount of birthday money from my parents! And it just happend to be the exact amount I needed for an ultrasound! I decided since it wasn't technically "my" money that I was spending that it would be ok take another shot at it. Also being that I could not think of anything else I could spend it on right now this was the next best thing. Well..... I'm glad I did because now I have peace of mind and I got to see my sweet baby boy for the first time! I have to say.. it makes all of these recent "aches, pains, and constant kicks to the ribs" TOTALLY worth it.

He measured in at 5 lbs. 5 oz and estimated due date September 3! Here's to hoping she was right and he will be here 10 days early! Also wonderful news is that she saw his diaphragm going up and down and she said this shows he's breathing on his own :)

Mom just drank some juice and he was happy about the sugar!

Yuuuummm...juuiiceeee

I think I will suck on my toe now. (notice the LARGE foot.. that's his dad's foot for sure)

Hmmm... Deep thinker

Precious baby boy

My latest picture at 33 weeks

30 weeks

And so the countdown begins! I'm so thankful to have made it into the 30's. It just seems right around the corner now! Thank goodness too because as I get bigger and bigger... the temp gets higher and higher. Yesterday it was 119 in Phoenix. That's right..119. We did have about 5 or 6 minutes of rain yesterday evening and it was blissful. Everyone stopped what they were doing just to look outside and get a glimpse of the drizzle. Andrew and I have literally been under house arrest this entire weekend. When it's that hot and your wifes pregnant there's no such thing as getting out and enjoying the weekend. He has been very understanding and suffers right along with me. We have watched A LOT of movies..if you are thinking about renting something and want to know if it's any good...just ask us! We've probably seen it.

Last weekend, Andrew and I attended the birth preparation class held at the hospital. It was very informative and I feel so much more prepared for the labor and delivery process. Of course, still really nervous but it's an excited/nervous.  Andrew actually handled it better than I did! I thought some of the breathing exercises were silly and I would giggle during them. Much to my suprise..Andrew would remind me that I needed to get with it and take this serious. haha. But I'm well aware that I won't be giggling during the realy thing. Anyway, I would highly recommend any expecting moms and dads to take part in such a class!

Also, I just want to briefly mention a side effect of a large belly. Recently, as in the past week or so, I have been suffering from chronic food stains on my shirts. In the belly region of course. No matter WHAT I do...after a meal I look down and somehow some portion of my meal has landed directly on stomach. I've attributed this to not being able to lean over my plate when I eat. Most the time, I have to lean back while I eat to make room..for some reason it seems to help. So there's a greater distance now that my fork has to travel to reach my mouth. Hence, the food stain on all my attire. I guess I will just have to start wearing a bib.

30 weeks

3rd Trimester

Hello all! I'm finishing up with my 2nd trimester and heading into my 3rd and FINAL trimester. It's crazy how time has flown by! I get a little more anxious every day that passess for him to get here. I've been putting all of my nerves into getting things for his nursery. As you know, we are moving so I can't exactly do a real one right now..but I have a "temporary" one going. Last weekend, we bought his dresser/changing table and a rocking chair. I love them both so much! I would put pictures up but Andrew thinks that I should wait until we have the whole nursery put together. We have decided on a crib and will be ordering that soon. Also, I have his bedding. I ordered it from The Land of Nod and it's exactly what I wanted! Blues, teals, greens, tans etc. I love all of the patterns on it too.

I just got this in the mail today and I'm really excited about it. Pacifiers, socks and cap :)

As far as how I've been feeling heading into the third trimester... fairly good. I have definitely started having some more aches and pains carrying around the extra weight. Within the last couple of days I have been having the shooting "sciatic" pain down my right leg. I have done really well with not having to take anything for the pain but have resorted to Tylenol here lately. It seems to work ok. Also, the sleeping thing has become more of an issue. I bought my first body pillow and it's working to help support my hips and belly. On a happier note... I feel him move more and more each day. He's started having a schedule of waking up around 9..sleeping..up again at 11:30..sleeping.. and so on until he has his last play time between 10:00 and 11:00 at night then he's out for the night. I can handle that if he keeps the same schedule when he's born :)

Finally, here is my latest picture. Weston, you sure are growing little man!