Shiloh is here!

On Thursday, November 17, 2011 I had my 40 week doctor's appointment. Dr. Alarcon check me and I was about 2cm dilated and 80% effaced. This was a little bit of a change from the last appointment but not much. I had been having contractions for weeks at this point and was emotionally and physically exhausted. He offered to strip my membranes to see if that would help get things going. I was willing to do anything at this point to get things moving. My dad had dropped me off at my appointment and when he picked me up he took Daniel and I to get Krispy Kreme donuts! Within about 30 minutes of having my membranes stripped, around 11:00am, I started contracting pretty regularly. I felt like the contractions were getting harder and closer but with all of the false alarms I had already experienced I was not getting excited. We went back to my parents house and my dad watched Daniel for me because I was hurting pretty bad. I laid with a heating pad and tried to rest. The contractions continued and I experienced my bloody show. Still, I was not convinced that it was real. Around 3 or 4 in the afternoon my mom came home and I told her what was going on. I talked to my doctor and he told me that if they continued to get worse to come in to Labor and Delivery. This night happened to be family night so everyone showed up. After dinner and a continuous 7 hours of increasing contractions and pain we decided to make our 6th trip to Labor and Delivery jokingly betting on how long we would be there before they would send us home. Around 8pm we arrived at the hospital and waited until about 9pm before they took us back to triage. I was put on the monitors and was contracting regularly just like every other time we had been there. The nurse checked me and I was about 2.5 cm dilated. She called Dr. Ruffin, who was on call, and she said for me to walk the halls for an hour and see if there is any progression. After an hour of walking we found out that there was no change. Dr. Ruffin came in to talk to us and recommended that we walk for another hour. Honestly, at this point it was close to midnight and if we were going to be sent home we were just ready to go. We ended up staying and walking for another hour even though we didn’t think it would do anything. When we were done, Dr. Ruffin checked me and I was 3-4 cm dilated!! We couldn't believe it. We were being admitted. This was it, our final trip to Labor and Delivery and we would be leaving with our baby girl. It was around 2:00am on November 18th and we contacted everyone to let them know. A little while later we were moved into our delivery room. My mom, Kayla, Andrew and Jessica came up to the hospital right away. At 7:00am my doctor, Dr. Alarcon, was going to be on call. He was very supportive of my decision to have a TOLAC (Trial of Labor After Cesarean) and I didn't really want to make any decisions until I talked to him. Since I was a VBAC, I was at high risk for Uterine Rupture and needed to be on the monitors most of the time. I was allowed to walk the halls for a little while but had to mainly stay in the bed. Once Dr. Alarcon was there I was about 4 cm dilated and we decided to break my water to see if it would help get things moving. He also went over the risks of me not having an epidural with me again. After he went out of the room Brian and I discussed it and Brian really wanted me to get the epidural so we didn't have to worry about having an emergency cesarean completely under. I agreed although I did not want it at all. I asked for a shot of Nubain to calm me down so I could handle getting the epi. After I got it I felt relief immediately! It was great. Then I began to notice that I could not move my left side but I could move my right. I mentioned it to the nurse but they said that was normal. Around 12pm they checked me and I was 5cm. We all just kind of hung out. Robin was there now and maybe my dad and Daniel. My sense of time was a little off. They started a very low dose of pitocin to try and regulate my contractions because they had slacked off. Throughout the afternoon my left leg was really bothering me so the nurses kept moving me trying to get the epidural to level out. It never did. I began feeling contractions in my right thigh. They had the anesthesiologist come back in to evaluate. He pulled the catheter out a little bit to see if it would help. It did help with the pain I was feeling in my thigh but it did not help my left leg from being so numb. Around 6pm or so the doctor checked me again and I was still at 5cm. I was at a 3 on the pitocin and the intensity and regularity of my contractions was perfect. My cervix was just not changing. With the risk of uterine rupture, they could not increase the pitocin anymore. Dr. Alarcon told me we had two options. One was to go ahead and have a cesarean and the other was to give it another hour and see if there is any change. He was not very optimistic since we had no cervical change in at least 6 hours. I was devastated to say the least. I wanted a VBAC so badly. I decided to wait the hour and see if there was any change. During that hour Brian and I talked about what we should do. I had been in labor for almost 30 hours and was just an emotional wreck. My epidural still didn't feel right and I was just ready to meet my baby girl. When the doctor checked me again there was no progress. I just looked at him and said lets do the cesarean. I felt completely defeated. The anesthesiologist came in and changed the dose on my epidural to make it strong enough for surgery. A few minutes later I entered the freezing OR and was moved onto a table so narrow I felt like I was going to roll off until they put my arms up on the side panels. Before they began the surgery they asked if i could feel them pinching me. I could. They adjusted my epidural several times until I could not feel it anymore. A few minutes later I felt the sharpest pain and told them it hurt. They pumped my epi again. I could still feel it. I kept telling them I could feel it. They kept pumping more in my epi. It did not help. I heard them say to get lidocaine to pour in. It took forever for someone to get it and they literally poured a vial of lidocaine into the open area. It helped until they started cutting again. It was just on my left side. All they could do was just try and finish up. A few minutes later Dr. Alarcon said, here comes the baby! Well he kept pulling and she would not come out. He said my skin wouldn't stretch anymore and had to cut a wider opening. Thankfully he did it on my right side. At 8:10pm our precious Shiloh was born weighing 7 pounds 7 ounces and was 18 inches long. She was just beautiful with a ton of dark hair. After she was born and they were closing me back up I could still feel everything. I was just praying for them to hurry up. Once they did, they gave me morphine. I was shaking uncontrollably and could not hold Shiloh. I told them I was still in so much pain so they gave me more morphine. I am not sure how long it took but when I finally stopped shaking I fed her and got to enjoy her. It was definitely not the birth experience I had planned but I have my little girl here and she is just perfect.

39 Weeks

How Far Along? 39 Weeks 4 days
Total weight gain/loss? About 7 pounds as of my last visit.
Maternity clothes? I'm content. Not much longer to be in them.
Best moment this week?  having a nice quality night with just Brian!
Measurements? Still measuring behind but the doctor said it is because she is so low.
Belly Button? Flat!
Movement? Lots of sharp movements that cause sharp pain!
Food Cravings? I have not had much of an appetite lately.
Gender? Team Pink
What I miss? Being comfortable and not having contractions all the time!
What I am looking forward to? Seeing her little face and playing dress up!!
Milestones? By now your baby has likely reached his birth weight (typically between 6 and 9 pounds) and length (18 to 22 inches from head to toe). He's accumulated enough body fat to stay cozy after he's born, and your placenta continues to supply him with nutrients and antibodies that will help fend off illnesses. If you could sneak a peek at your baby's final moments before birth, you'd see that his head is down toward your pelvis (if he's not in the bottom-down or breech presentation, in which case your healthcare provider might suggest a cesarean section). Your baby's body will either be straight up and down, called longitudinal, or positioned at an angle, called oblique. Along with spying your baby's body position, if you could see his head, you'd notice that he's head-down and facing your spine, which is the most common position (called anterior presentation). But sometimes, babies present head-down but facing toward your abdomen. This is called occiput or cephalic posterior. Your baby might lean slightly to one side or the other, meaning that he is either "right" or "left" anterior, or "right" or "left" posterior.
Other Notes? This was the last appointment I made it to with Daniel because he was born at 39 weeks 2 days. I am already past that with her. Hopefully she is not as stubborn as her daddy!!!

October Fun!

We had a lot of fun this month. We went to an apple orchard up in Ellijay with Mimi, Pops, Aunt Jess, Uncle Chris, Logan, Josh and Kenzie. The kids had so much fun. We rode a covered wagon, played with animals, jumped on the bouncy and ate lots of food.

Poppy played music at a place called McKenna Farms right down the road from our house. It's a horse farm that provides therapy services for people with special needs. They had all sorts of booths set up with bounce houses, face painting, food, cake walks and hay rides. Daniel had so much fun just running around and brushing the horses.

After the horse farm we took Daniel to a Trunk or Treat at a church nearby. We went with Mia and Poppy.

37 and 38 Weeks

How Far Along? 38 Weeks 4 days at the time of this post! Yeah, I am really behind!!
Total weight gain/loss? Still 6 pounds
Maternity clothes? I'm content. Not much longer to be in them.
Best moment this week?  Getting to full term! I am so glad that if she is born now the likelihood of there being any breathing problems are slim.
Measurements? I was measuring 2 weeks behind at my last two appointments but the doctor said that was normal because she has dropped so low.
Belly Button? Flat!
Movement? She doesn't move quite as much as she used to, understandably, but when she does move sometimes I think she is going to break a rib or two!
Food Cravings? I have not had much of an appetite lately.
Gender? Team Pink
What I miss? Being able to clean my house and just jump in the car and go to the grocery store!
What I am looking forward to? Her arrival. I am wondering if all of these "preterm labor" scares were just some kind of mean trick and in reality she is going to stay put until 42 weeks!
Milestones? Yow! If you feel a sort of lightening bolt running up and down your legs (and in your crotch), don’t freak out. At 38 weeks, baby’s probably sitting pretty low in your pelvis, which means he’s bumping into all kinds of nerves down there -- including some pretty sensitive ones you might not know you had. Be on the lookout for signs of labor, including contractions that come on stronger, at more regular intervals, and the “bloody show.” It could happen any day now -- or it might not be for a few weeks. Until then, try to relax. 
Other Notes? I went to the hospital on Halloween night with contractions 2-3 minutes apart and they had been going on for about 6 hours. I really thought it was it. Well we got there and I wasn't progressing so they sent us home! This pregnancy has been so different than Daniel's. I didn't have contractions until I was in labor with him.
At my last appointment I was 1cm and 50% effaced. I have an appointment today and am praying for some more progression!

36 Weeks

How Far Along? 36 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss? Still 6 pounds
Maternity clothes? I'm content. They are still fitting pretty well.
Best moment this week?  Getting everything washed and put away. Put the swing, bouncer and car seat together and installed the car seat.
Measurements? right on track!
Belly Button? Flat!
Movement? She is constantly stretching out as far as she can into my ribs!
Food Cravings? Still love donuts and sweets.
Gender? Team Pink
What I miss? Having energy and being comfortable.
What I am looking forward to? Meeting her!
Milestones? Your due date is just four weeks away. Hasn’t time flown? Your once-poppy seed would probably be able to breathe on his own if he was born right now. (If not, he’d probably need some TLC, but he’d likely be okay.) Most of his systems are in working order at 36 weeks. Since baby really could decide to make his arrival any day now, try to put in a little prep work. For example, if you took a child birth class a few months ago, you might want to reread any materials you were given and practice some of the breathing techniques you learned with your partner. Go over your plan for getting to the hospital, and all the what-ifs (like, if you go into labor while you’re at work, will you go home first or straight there?). You might also want to remind your boss and colleagues of the status of all your work projects, so they know exactly where to take over if you’re suddenly out of the office. Week 36 is also a good time to enjoy a date with your partner. We’re guessing you won’t be up for dancing, but a nice dinner might be just what you two could use.

She's getting closer and closer to being able to breathe on her own.

Her skin is getting smooth and soft and her gums are rigid.

Her liver and kidneys are in working order.

Circulation and immune systems are basically good to go, too.

Other notes?
 

Daniel's 2nd Birthday!

I know this is really late but I'm finally doing it!! Daniel had a great 2nd birthday! I can't believe how much he has changed over the last year. He has turned into such a sweet little boy. He loves to color and paint. He really likes learning his letters and helping me write his name. Right before his second birthday he was moved into a toddler bed and we began taking away his pacifier. He has adjusted to both of these things pretty well.

He had a blast at his birthday party. Here are a few of the pictures.

35 Weeks

How Far Along? 35 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss? Up 6 Pounds...I stayed the same from my last appointment.
Maternity clothes? Just want to be comfy!
Best moment this week? Getting everything washed and put together for her arrival. All we really have left is to install the car seat and pack our bags. Oh and to put the bassinet in our room.
Measurements? right on track!
Belly Button? I'd its sill working it's way out.
Movement?  Her movements are quite painful now! It was confirmed that she is head down so I have little feet constantly jabbing my ribs and a head pushing on my bladder!
Food Cravings? I have not really been very hungry. I guess when I am I still want sweets.
Gender? Team Pink
What I miss? Breathing normally, walking faster and just being comfortable.
What I am looking forward to? Her birth!
Milestones? Growing, growing, growing. Yup, baby and you. You’ve reached 35 weeks, and your uterus has grown about 1,000 times its original size, a number that might sound exaggerated to everyone else -- but to you it probably feels more like a million. You can expect to gain about a half-pound a week before birth, and baby’s beefing up, too. At 35 weeks, some moms-to-be feel like they have a ton of stuff left to do before baby’s arrival. Others can barely wait for baby to make his debut. Either way, try not to stress. Baby will show up when he’s ready, and he won’t care if you haven’t checked every little detail off your list.
Other notes? I am so nervous about having 2 kids but so excited to have her here.
 

34 Weeks

How Far Along? 34 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss? Up 6 Pounds
Maternity clothes? I don't really have any winter clothes but I'm making due.
Best moment this week? Having her baby shower!
Measurements? Find out next week
Belly Button? I'd its sill working it's way out.
Movement?  Her movements are quite painful now!
Food Cravings? sweets, chocolate, donuts
Gender? Team Pink
What I miss? Walking without being in pain.
What I am looking forward to? Her birth!
Milestones? Watch what you say! Your curious baby is listening in to your conversations at 34 weeks -- and might enjoy a lullaby or two -- so go ahead and sing to him. Some say that baby will recognize songs mom sings while he’s in the womb, and may even be more easily soothed by them if he’s used to them once he’s on the “outside.” At week 34, you might breathe a little easier, since baby may descend lower into your pelvis and give your lungs some space. (Ahh!) Of course, some babies don’t do this until the day they’re born, so we’re not making any guarantees. The pitfall of this descent, of course, is even more pressure on your bladder, so be prepared to make even more trips to the ladies room over the coming weeks.
Other notes? I am so nervous about having 2 kids but so excited to have her here.
 

33 Weeks

How Far Along? 33Weeks 5 days!
Total weight gain/loss? I've gained 6 pounds! 4 of them in the last 3 weeks!
Maternity clothes? Still I don't really have any winter clothes but I'm making due.
Best moment this week? getting her curtains!
Measurements? 33 weeks
Movement?  She has been actively exploring my ribs at least every 30 minutes.
Food Cravings? sweets, chocolate, donuts (no wonder I'm gaining weight)
Gender? Team Pink
What I miss? Being able to breath while doing everyday tasks!
What I am looking forward to? Her baby shower on Sunday!!
Milestones? We’d tell you to take a deep breath and relax, but it’s probably tough to do either of those at 33 weeks. It’s probably tough to be comfortable at all, since you might be feeling overheated on top of your other symptoms, too. But you’re probably getting super excited to meet baby, and we can’t blame you. Week 33 is a good time to make sure you have a safe car seat for baby -- go ahead and install it already. Sure, you might not see baby for another month, but if you have an early surprise arrival, that’s the one thing you really need to have ready. She's keeping her eyes open while awake. She's also starting to coordinate breathing with sucking and swallowing. Her bones are hardening and she going through (more) major brain development -- that's one smart baby!
Other notes? I don't remember being this uncomfortable with Daniel until later in the pregnancy.
 

32 Weeks

How Far Along? 32Weeks 4 days!
Total weight gain/loss? Still only 2 pounds.We will see at my appt on the 3rd.
Maternity clothes? Still BLAH!
Best moment this week?  Keeping her in there and not having so many contractions!
Belly Button? Its a flatty, if there is such a thing.
Measurements? on track
Movement?  She is very active! She pushes/kicks mainly on my right side.
Food Cravings? Cereal, Chocolate
Gender? Team Pink
What I miss? Having energy and being able to walk the stairs without getting tired.
What I am looking forward to? Her baby shower!!
Milestones? At 32 weeks, baby’s birth still seems kind of far away, but you and baby are physically ready in a lot of ways, just in case there’s an early arrival. Baby may have turned so she’s in the head-down position by now, poised for her trip down the birth canal. And you may have noticed your nipples looking darker. That’s so a preemie can see them for breastfeeding -- isn't your body so amazing? Intensity might be building in the symptoms department, as heartburn and contractions intensify around week 32. But we’re guessing you’re so excited about baby’s impending arrival, they’re not slowing you down much.
Other notes? Hopefully we will have a different vegetable next week!!

2 Years Old!

 He has grown up so much!

How Old? 2 Years! I can't believe it has been 2 years! He is such a big boy now.
Height and Weight? 31 inches and 22.5 Pounds. I thought he would be bigger but i was wrong.
Teeth? He has all of the teeth he is supposed to for right now. We brush them morning and night and still use toddler toothpaste.
Clothes? Mainly 18-24 months. I have been struggleing trying to find him pants to wear. He is very skinny so 12 month pants fit him in he waist but are about 3 inches too short. I found a pair of jeans at Old Navy that are 18-24 months and have an adjustable waist! They fit perfect.
Words? He can repeat just about any word you say. He Doesn't use very many double words such as "Get Daisy". I asked the doctor about this and she said to give him 3 months. He is very focused on his physical development right now and they usually don't work on physcial and verbal at the same time.
Food? He is not a picky eater but rather a moody one. He likes all different things but I never know what he is going to be in the mood to eat! The other night he only ate broccoli.
Activities? He got a train table and set for his birthday and he loves it! It is pretty much all he plays with. He also loves to color and paint. He gets very into everything he does and is very serious about it.
What Happened? School has started back and he is doing great in his class and we celebrated his second birthday.
My Toddler This Month? A child this age wears his heart on her sleeve — and in his voice, his fists, his stamping feet, and his crocodile tears. You seldom have to guess about a 2-year-old's emotional state. Expressing emotions is healthy, even when they aren't happy ones. So don't feel you have to rush in to placate your child at the first pout or sad sniffle. Let your child know that it's okay to be unhappy sometimes — it's simply part of life. Swooping in to vanquish the unhappiness sends the wrong message — that it's not okay to feel sad or mad. Solving every problem for your child also robs him of the opportunity to work through her feelings on her own. What you can do: Label her feelings for her. "You're so mad at Mommy because she said no park today!" Let him know you have the same feelings, too, sometimes: "It makes you feel sad when we say bye-bye to Grandma. It makes me feel sad, too." If your child screams or hits when he's angry or upset, show him acceptable ways to vent her emotion, like punching a pillow or stamping her feet.

31 Weeks

How Far Along? 31 Weeks 4 days!
Total weight gain/loss? Still only 2 pounds. No weight gain at last weeks appointment.
Maternity clothes? Still BLAH!
Best moment this week?  Finalizing the plans for the baby shower!
Belly Button? Still an innie!
Measurements? I measured at 30 last Wednesday
Movement? She moves all the time and it is more of a rolling feeling that kicks. When she stretches it hurts! 
Food Cravings? Cereal, Chocolate
Gender? Team Pink
What I miss? Being Comfortable. I am so uncomfortable already and I still have 2 months to go!
What I am looking forward to? Washing all of the princess's clothes.
Milestones? This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. She weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. She can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath her skin. She's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy. Have you noticed the muscles in your uterus tightening now and then? Many women feel these random contractions — called Braxton Hicks contractions — in the second half of pregnancy. Often lasting about 30 seconds, they're irregular, and at this point, they should be infrequent and painless. Frequent contractions, on the other hand — even those that don't hurt — may be a sign of preterm labor. Call your practitioner immediately if you have more than four contractions in an hour or any other signs of preterm labor: an increase in vaginal discharge or a change in the type of discharge (if it becomes watery, mucus-like, or bloody — even if it's pink or just tinged with blood); abdominal pain or menstrual-like cramping; an increase in pressure in the pelvic area; or low back pain, especially if you didn't have it before. You may have noticed some leaking of colostrum, or "premilk," from your breasts lately. If so, try tucking some nursing pads into your bra to protect your clothes. (And if not, it's certainly nothing to worry about; your breasts are making colostrum all the same, even if you don't see any.) If your current bra is too snug, you might also want to pick up a nursing bra. Choose a nursing bra at least one cup size bigger than you need now. When your milk comes in you'll be grateful for that extra room!
Other notes? I made two trips to labor and delivery this week for preterm contractions. Both times they were stopped with Brethine and they are not causing any cervical changes! Thank God! hey also did a Fetal Fibronectin test that came back negative. That means I have a 99% chance of not going into labor for the next 2 weeks. My doctor will probably check me every appointment now and do the test again every so often just to make sure. I want her to cook as long as she needs. I was told I have an irritable uterus and that I will probably have these contractions until she is delivered but she still has a good chance of staying put until 40 weeks or so.

30 Weeks

How Far Along? 30 Weeks! Only 10 More to go!
Total weight gain/loss? Gained 2 so far. Will find out Friday if I have gained more!
Maternity clothes? BLAH!
Best moment this week? Putting her name on the wall!
Belly Button? Still an innie!
Measurements? 2 Will find out Friday
Movement? She moves all the time and it is more of a rolling feeling that kicks. When she stretches it hurts! 
Food Cravings? Cereal
Gender? Team Pink
What I miss? Being able to eat. I feel like this entire pregnancy I have not been able to eat.
What I am looking forward to? My appointment on Thursday.
Milestones? Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.) You may be feeling a little tired these days, especially if you're having trouble sleeping. You might also feel clumsier than normal, which is perfectly understandable. Not only are you heavier, but the concentration of weight in your pregnant belly causes a shift in your center of gravity. Plus, thanks to hormonal changes, your ligaments are more lax, so your joints are looser, which may also contribute to your balance being a bit off. Also, this relaxation of your ligaments can actually cause your feet to spread permanently, so you may have to invest in some new shoes in a bigger size.
Other notes? I can wait to meet her!