Home Again

*Baby picture below*

We're home! It was so weird to leave the safe confines of the hospital, but we have managed. Last night was a bit rough, but we've figured out that he'll sleep in the car seat, so that should make things easier. The breast feeding challenges continue. I am still using the shield and have gotten a device that will help make my nipple protrude more (sorry). We also went to the ENT today and got Luke's frenulum clipped. It only took a minute and even with a little blood in his mouth, he didn't cry. He latched on a little better after that, but we still have a ways to go. Other than that, we are doing fine and totally in love.

Thank you, Kate, for your comments about tongue tie. M didn't get his clipped until he was 28 and it was very painful. We wanted to spare Luke the same fate and your comments only made me feel we made the right choice.

Also, thank you so much, Anla, for the beautiful card. It made me cry. Thank you to everyone for the comments and support. :)

Without further ado..............

He's Here!!

We have welcomed Luke into the world. :)

I am still at the hospital and was just freed from all of my IVs, so I wanted to do a short post. The whole C-Section experience was so surreal. It didn't hurt, but not being able to feel your legs for hours afterwards freaked me out. It's all worth it, though. He is beautiful and I can't imagine my life without him.

Breastfeeding has been a little challenging, but it's getting better. Luke has what they call "tongue tie" which is a frenulum that is attached too far forward under the tongue. It makes it hard to stick out your tongue or nurse very well. They gave me a nipple guard that helps, but we may have to get it clipped. It runs in the family - M had it and one of his brother's kids had it, as well.

M is already such a wonderful father. It has made me fall in love with him all over again. He has been so supportive when I'm trying to feed Luke or when he is being fussy. I feel so lucky that it overwhelms me.

I should be going home tomorrow and I will post a few pics. Thank you all for your support and prayers. It means so much to me.......and to Luke. I'm so glad he's finally here.

Baby Eve

I'm almost there. This time tomorrow I will have my little one on the outside. I'm still in disbelief that this is actually happening. I keep looking over at the changing table and the pack-n-play and trying to imagine a little baby lying there. I cheated on my bed rest this morning and went out for a last "just you and me" breakfast with M. We are spending the day pretty quietly. M is working on the baby's room and I am going to probably re-pack my suitcase while watching Dr. Who. I will try to post as soon as possible with pictures, hopefully.

Congrats to Shelby who had her baby boy!

One Week To Go!

We had our final (hopefully) round of appointments today and everything looked fine. The baby is a very healthy 7lbs 11oz and has moved back to his original one leg up, one leg down position. I have gotten in to a little routine with bed rest. Twice a day I have to stay on my left side without getting up "unless there is a fire" as Dr. T said. The rest of the time I am usually sitting up with my feet up, as well. My exciting schedule:

8-9am Spin City Re-Runs
9-10:30am Baby Shows (I used to avoid these, but have recently returned in order to watch the C-section episodes)
10:30-11am You are What You Eat (Excellent show on BBC that I am addicted to)
11am-12pm X-Weighted (Canadian show about people who go on a 6 month program to lose weight)
12pm-1pm Amazing Babies (Basically a show about people not making it to the hospital and delivering in their car)
1pm - nap
2pm - 4pm Rest on my left side again and usually watch a movie or sitcom re-runs.
4pm - Go to the couch and read a breast feeding book
5pm - M comes home

I can't believe that there is only one week to go. M and I are both in a little bit of shock, to tell you the truth. This whole pregnancy has been a little surreal and now here we are. I feel so much that I almost don't feel anything. Nothing will ever be the same, will it?

February 25th

Greetings from bed rest! I actually got to leave the house twice today for my two appointments. We saw the specialist first who was pleased with the baby's ultrasound. He was practicing breathing and my fluid levels were up to 8. I'm glad to hear that since I have done nothing but drink water and lay around.

Later, at Dr. T's office, we had a non-stress test. We had to do it twice since the baby was being stubborn for the first round and didn't move much. I would have been more worried, but his little heart beat was very strong. Maybe he was just sleeping. He moved around quite a bit the second time, so we got a passing grade. Since the bed rest has helped my blood pressure, I have to stay on it for another two weeks. We are scheduled for a C-Section on February 25th, unless I go into labor before that.

It was odd picking my child's birthday. Everything is so different from how I thought it would be. I guess that's life, though. I think it will be easier getting through this next 2WW knowing the that I will finally get to hold my baby at the end of it.

Thank you so much for all of your comments. Bed rest is a lot harder than I thought it would be. Maybe I will start doing movie reviews.

Back Home

Well, I'm back home for the time being. Here is a picture that M took of the room. I'm probably blogging in that picture! The baby continued to pass all of his monitoring with flying colors and my blood pressure went back down to my normal 117/78. Since my urine was clear, they let me go home. I go back on Monday to the specialist for an ultrasound and to my regular OB for a non-stress test. In the mean time, I am laying on my left side as much as possible, drinking TONS of water, taking my blood pressure a few times per day and doing kick counts. That sounds like a lot, but the days stretch out and I am trying to focus on what is really at stake here. Ironically, I am on yet another 2ww!! This is by far the hardest one, though. I am constantly worried that something will happen and I won't know it. The next two weeks can't go by fast enough.

Thank you all so much for your support. It really helps to read all of your comments. I will try to catch up on blogs today. I hope everyone is doing well.

Greetings From the Center of My Universe

Well, the baby and I are still here and still ok. I spent the day hooked up to various monitoring devices - fetal, contraction, blood pressure and IV. They also have me on the good ol' 24 hour urine collection. M has been with me and my friend T brought me trashy gossip mags and chocolate. I guess it hasn't been that bad of a day. My OB came in during her rounds to check in. She said that they are hoping to buy a few weeks, but not to plan on going back to work. If the levels are still too low, then it will be a birthday! I am ok, just hoping that the baby is ok. I can't help but shake my head at all of this. All of the yoga and careful eating.......this whole time I could have been eating whatever I wanted! I see the specialist tomorrow and then we will know more.

Thank you so much for all of your support and prayers!

Surprise!

Just went to the Dr. The baby is still breech and my amniotic fluid levels are low. They are sending me to the hospital for 24 hours on an IV. If the levels don't go up, they'll deliver. The baby's heart rate was fine and I am fine, although my blood pressure was up. I'll try to keep you updated as I can. Prayers are appreciated.

Everyone take care out there!