Friday, April 20, 2012
peanut butter cup chocolate chip cookie brownie..bar?
Ever since I discovered Pinterest several months ago, I've used it to branch out and try a bunch of new recipes. 98% of the time, I haven't been disappointed either -- and this time, with this recipe I'm about to share, is one of those times! If you have a sweet tooth like we do (I say we, because my husbands just might be worse than mine at times!!) then you will really enjoy this recipe. So, run..don't walk..to the grocery store, get your supplies and get baking!! You'll thank me later :)
Stuff you'll need:
- ready-to-bake chocolate chip cookie dough
- 12 reese cups
- box of brownie mix ( and whatever you need to make the mix, usually eggs & oil)
- muffin pan
You might also want to enlist someone to help you ;)
First, pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees. Next spray the bottom and sides of the muffin pan lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Then, smoosh a cookie dough square in the bottom of each muffin slot, making sure it fills out the bottom.
Place a reese cup upside down on top of each cookie. Try not to eat any in the process..
Prepare your brownie mix according to the box. If you have help, let your help do some of the stirring as it can get a bit tiring!
Once mixed, spoon some brownie mix into each muffin cup, about 3/4 of the way full.
Put the pan in the oven and bake for about 18-20 minutes and voila! Let the pan cool completely before removing them. You might want to take a butter knife to loosen the edges, then they should easily pop out.
Pour yourself a big glass of milk -- and enjoy!!
Friday, April 13, 2012
two months!
Audrey Elizabeth, you are TWO months old now! It's so hard to believe that 2 months have passed already, and how much you have already grown and changed. Everyday, it seems, you do something new, and your Daddy and I are amazed and smitten at how wonderful you truly are. We love to just watch you, waiting to see what new thing you do next!
You had your 2 month check-up this week, which included your first round of vaccines. You were NOT happy once those needles pricked your little legs. You cried, which was to be expected, but not for too long. Your little face was SO sad. Mommy felt horrible, but kept a brave face. And believe me, baby girl, it was NOT easy not allowing myself to shed tears right along with you! After your shots, you were one sleepy girl the rest of the day. When you were awake, you were fussy, so we just let you sleep, only waking you up to eat, then letting you fall back asleep. After some tylenol and a warm bath, you seemed to feel a little better. We knew it was the shots though, because you are generally a very happy go lucky baby.
Your first month, you were a little slow to get back up to your birth weight, but you certainly made up for it in the second month, little one! You now weigh 12 lbs 4 oz, and are 23 3/4" long! The doctor said you were in the 88th percentile for weight, and 90th for height -- a very healthy girl! You have outgrown your newborn sleepers, which makes your mom sad. You're growing way too fast! Amazingly, you can still wear some of your newborn sized outfits though (like the one in your 2 month photo) but you can now fit into your 0-3 month clothes, and sometimes, even 3 month!
According to the doctor, you are also meeting all of the milestones you should be by this point. You having been smiling for awhile now, but lately, you smile A LOT, and with purpose. My favorite smiles are first thing in the morning, right after you wake up. You love to smile at anyone, even if they aren't talking to you! It's so very sweet. Often times, I even catch you smiling at things like the elephants on your swing mobile, or the stuffed animals in your crib. And finally, mommy was able to catch that beautiful smile on camera! Keep smiling, baby girl..you light up the world :)
You are still a great sleeper -- now only if you'd learn to sleep in longer stretches at night! You are very much a creature of habit, and still wake up every 2-3 hours during the night to eat. You are always sleeping by 8 or 8:30 every night. Daddy and I have even tried keeping you up a little later, hoping you'd then adjust a little closer to our schedules -- but you won't have it, and continue to fall asleep when you want to. Silly girl. Some day, I know I will have to drag you out of bed, so for now, I will enjoy these moments (with lots of caffeine, of course!)
You've had an exciting month, including a visit from the Eater bunny at Grandma and Papa's house, and even a trip to Canton, OH to visit the Pro-Football Hall of Fame. You were such a good girl during that trip, Daddy and I were so proud of how good you were! You also attended a graduating Veteran's dinner at Daddy's school, in which you were the star of the show. Everyone wanted to see you and hold you. Everyone that meets you always says how beautiful and sweet you are -- and we can't help but agree with them :)
Happy 2 months, Audrey Elizabeth! We absolutely cannot wait to see what the next month brings!!
Love,
Mommy
Monday, April 2, 2012
a little update!
So I've been a mommy now for seven weeks now, and its been wonderful. A little challenging at times, but its all a learning process. I've been spoiled thus far with all the help I've had since coming home from the hospital. The first week, my mom was here and was a huge help, especially since that was the worst week for me, recovery wise. It was nice having here there, and I know she enjoyed getting a week of Audrey time! The following week, Ryan's grandma flew in from Colorado to help out, and meet her first great grandchild. It was nice having her there during the days when Ryan was gone at school and I would have been home alone. She also cooked for us, which I know Ryan was happy to have her cooking! lol. And the week after that, Ryan was on spring break, so he was around all day and it was nice having an extra hand!
Audrey has been a wonderful baby! She has her fussy moments, but for the most part, she really is a good baby. She really only cries when she needs something, which is usually food, lol. The girl can eat and loves to eat!! She is a decent sleeper too, and luckily, never had her days/nights mixed up. She's not a great napper during the day -- usually gets one good nap in during the afternoon (usually only if we're out and she happens to fall asleep in the carseat), then really wants to pass out in the evening. I end up getting a few hours of sleep in before she wakes up to eat, then we sleep again for a couple hours, then if I'm lucky, I can get her to sleep a little longer. I can't say I'm getting a ton of sleep these days, but I am already accustomed to running on minimal amounts of sleep thanks to my years at the TV station!! But, it could always be worse -- I could have a baby that has her days and nights mixed up ;)
She had her one month check up (nearly a month ago now!) and everything went well. She is finally back up to her birth weight, which is a relief. She had lost a pound by the time we left the hospital, and we struggled a little getting her back up to her birth weight, but we are FINALLY there (and by the looks of her chubby little cheeks, she's been growing steadily ever since!) She also grew half an inch and is in the 50th percentile for both. She can still rock SOME of her newborn clothes, but probably not for much longer! Width wise, they fit perfectly, but they are being stretched a little at the snaps, so you can tell the length is a little small. Most of her newborn sleepers don't fit anymore, so we've had to move up to the 0-3 month size (tear!). I almost want to cut the little feet off, so she can wear them a little longer! lol.
Audrey made her first trip up to Erie during Ryan's spring break. Initially, we were going to go to Colorado to visit her great grandparents and great great grandma, but those plans fell through. Hopefully we will make it there this summer! She does great in the car, and usually falls asleep right away. She's also been on a couple other small trips, including another trip up to Erie, and to Grove City one afternoon for a little shopping with Grandma and Papa. As long as the girl is fed, dry and not overly tired, she's a happy camper (albeit she DOES love to be held/cuddled and starts to get lonely if she's left "by herself" for too long)
The weather here has been amazing, for the most part. We've been trying to enjoy it as much as possible, for who know when we'll have another March with temperatures in the 80s! I wish we didn't live in a neighborhood full of hills, as I'd love to start taking her on daily walks. However, the hills are ridiculous and there is literally no flat streets anywhere within walking distance. It's a shame too, cause she loves her stroller. We did go on a nice walk down at the Waterfront with Renz one day, and Audrey slept the whole time. We're gonna start making a weekly tradition of that!
Her first Easter is coming up, and she already has her dress ready :) She met the Easter bunny a few weeks ago with her cousin Joey (she was none too impressed, haha) so she's all ready for her first "real" holiday! She will be getting a little basket, of course (with maybe a little candy for Mama ;) which I think is more exciting for me, than anything. Holidays will never be the same again!!
As for me, I'm recovering nicely from my c-section. My incision scar still hurts, on occasion, but only if my clothing happens to rub it, or if I do wayyy too much (like walking a lot). As far as the baby weight, it's been gone since the first few days. haha. I lost it all, and then a little extra. Still not where I want to be, but I'll get there! I'm hungry all. the. time. Quite a difference from where I was during pregnancy. lol. I'd get halfway through my meal, and be stuffed. Now, I finish eating and I feel like I'm hungry again shortly after. ugh!
That's it for now! I promise to write more, and more frequently. I need to be able to blog things as they happen, not weeks later ;) Until next time..(and hopefully sooner, rather than later..lol)
Audrey has been a wonderful baby! She has her fussy moments, but for the most part, she really is a good baby. She really only cries when she needs something, which is usually food, lol. The girl can eat and loves to eat!! She is a decent sleeper too, and luckily, never had her days/nights mixed up. She's not a great napper during the day -- usually gets one good nap in during the afternoon (usually only if we're out and she happens to fall asleep in the carseat), then really wants to pass out in the evening. I end up getting a few hours of sleep in before she wakes up to eat, then we sleep again for a couple hours, then if I'm lucky, I can get her to sleep a little longer. I can't say I'm getting a ton of sleep these days, but I am already accustomed to running on minimal amounts of sleep thanks to my years at the TV station!! But, it could always be worse -- I could have a baby that has her days and nights mixed up ;)
She had her one month check up (nearly a month ago now!) and everything went well. She is finally back up to her birth weight, which is a relief. She had lost a pound by the time we left the hospital, and we struggled a little getting her back up to her birth weight, but we are FINALLY there (and by the looks of her chubby little cheeks, she's been growing steadily ever since!) She also grew half an inch and is in the 50th percentile for both. She can still rock SOME of her newborn clothes, but probably not for much longer! Width wise, they fit perfectly, but they are being stretched a little at the snaps, so you can tell the length is a little small. Most of her newborn sleepers don't fit anymore, so we've had to move up to the 0-3 month size (tear!). I almost want to cut the little feet off, so she can wear them a little longer! lol.
Audrey made her first trip up to Erie during Ryan's spring break. Initially, we were going to go to Colorado to visit her great grandparents and great great grandma, but those plans fell through. Hopefully we will make it there this summer! She does great in the car, and usually falls asleep right away. She's also been on a couple other small trips, including another trip up to Erie, and to Grove City one afternoon for a little shopping with Grandma and Papa. As long as the girl is fed, dry and not overly tired, she's a happy camper (albeit she DOES love to be held/cuddled and starts to get lonely if she's left "by herself" for too long)
The weather here has been amazing, for the most part. We've been trying to enjoy it as much as possible, for who know when we'll have another March with temperatures in the 80s! I wish we didn't live in a neighborhood full of hills, as I'd love to start taking her on daily walks. However, the hills are ridiculous and there is literally no flat streets anywhere within walking distance. It's a shame too, cause she loves her stroller. We did go on a nice walk down at the Waterfront with Renz one day, and Audrey slept the whole time. We're gonna start making a weekly tradition of that!
Her first Easter is coming up, and she already has her dress ready :) She met the Easter bunny a few weeks ago with her cousin Joey (she was none too impressed, haha) so she's all ready for her first "real" holiday! She will be getting a little basket, of course (with maybe a little candy for Mama ;) which I think is more exciting for me, than anything. Holidays will never be the same again!!
As for me, I'm recovering nicely from my c-section. My incision scar still hurts, on occasion, but only if my clothing happens to rub it, or if I do wayyy too much (like walking a lot). As far as the baby weight, it's been gone since the first few days. haha. I lost it all, and then a little extra. Still not where I want to be, but I'll get there! I'm hungry all. the. time. Quite a difference from where I was during pregnancy. lol. I'd get halfway through my meal, and be stuffed. Now, I finish eating and I feel like I'm hungry again shortly after. ugh!
That's it for now! I promise to write more, and more frequently. I need to be able to blog things as they happen, not weeks later ;) Until next time..(and hopefully sooner, rather than later..lol)
Friday, February 24, 2012
audrey's birth story
On the afternoon of Friday, February 10th I left work early and headed to my 41 week OB appointment. I fully expected everything to go "completely normal" as it had the previous 9 months, and be sent home with a scheduled induction date for the following week, as baby was already nearly a week overdue -- boy was I wrong! And I've since learned not to expect ANYTHING to go according to plan when it comes to labor!
the last belly photo I would take. Of course I'm making a dumb face, but this was 41w4d.
The first half of my appointment was my BPP (biophysical profile) ultrasound where they measure things like fluid levels, big movements, small movements, baby breathing, etc to make sure everything is still okay with baby. The scoring for that is out of 8 points -- I scored 8/8. Obviously, that meant there was no need on that end, to get the baby out ASAP. The tech commented that there were no signs of baby needing to come out that day, and that she was still quite high up. I was glad things looked good, but slightly disappointed that it would probably be another 5 days or so until we met our baby.
I left that appointment, and headed to my actual OB appointment. I gave Ryan a call since he had a test and wasn't able to attend. I assured him that everything with the ultrasound looked great, and baby wasn't coming that night, or probably even that weekend. Normally, I'm a glass half full kinda gal, but not by this point!! What 9+ month pregnant woman is?? lol.
So I get to the OB office, the nurse did my usual BP check, weight check and I peed in a cup (remind me to tell you how NOT easy it is to pee in a cup with a big pregnant belly in your way!! But that's a complaint for another time. haha.) My blood pressure has always been normal, though that day it was slightly elevated. They didn't seem concerned though, and didn't even mention re-testing it at the end of the appointment. Then, I sat in the waiting room for what felt like hours. Finally, they called me back and I sat in the exam room for awhile too. Eventually my doctor comes into the room, and one of the first things she says to me is "so there was A LOT of protein in your urine" and my first thought to blurt out to her was "So can we induce this weekend?" jokingly, of course, but her response took me by surprise "that's actually what we wanted to talk to you about. With showing signs of preeclampsia, and being past your due date, I really see no reason in waiting another week to induce you tonight" I'm pretty sure my jaw hit the floor at this point. Cause like I said, I was NOT expecting things to go this way. Up until this point, I had a completely normal, text book pregnancy and never showed any signs of pre-clampsia until that day. Looking back, I DID have some random headaches that week, but tylenol always took care of them, and we actually have a portable BP machine at home, and I checked a few times and it was normal. So really, it was out of left field.
A million questions began running through my mind and my mouth. My OB did answer them all, and explained what would happen. They checked my progress from the previous week, and of course there was no change, so she mentioned it could be anywhere from 24-48 hours for baby to actually make her debut once the induction process began. I had asked if I would be able to go home before hand, just to grab a shower and pack the last few things that couldn't be packed beforehand, but they wouldn't let me, due to the risk of seizures with pre-e. So, as soon as the appointment ended, I had to call Ryan to let him know what was happening, and texted him a list of things I needed in addition to my already packed hospital bag. I was a little frustrated not being able to go home myself and get a few things done, but it is what it is. I also made the call to my parents and sister, who had been waiting on the edge of their seats for several weeks, since they planned to drive down and be there when she was born.
I headed up to the L&D triage to check in and wait for Ryan. I realized I hadn't eaten since lunch, and probably wouldn't be allowed to eat once I checked in, so Ryan was planning on bringing me something to eat as my "last meal" before induction began. They ended up calling me back before he got there, so I dressed in the lovely hospital gown and got all hooked up to the monitors and waited. Ryan showed up, Wendy's in hand, and the nurse wouldn't let me eat!! I was sad, but I was even more sad because I was more thirsty than anything, and they wouldn't let me drink either :/ Eventually the doctor came in and checked me, and my progress was the same as it was at my appointment -- 1 cm dilated/60% effaced. She explained to me that they were going to start the induction process off with the misoprostol pill, which would help soften my cervix. Once that started working, we'd go from there. Ryan asked her if I could eat the food he brought, and she initially said no, then said "well, if you want to hoover it down after I leave this room, before we start the miso pill, I'll pretend I don't know whats going on" (bless her) so I was able to eat and drink. Good thing, cause that would end up being my last solid meal for the next 50 some hours!
We hung around the triage room for what seemed like quite awhile, just waiting. Eventually they came back to get me, and transport me to the L&D room, where I would unknowingly spend the next 32 hours of my life. Once we got to the room, the doctor came in to do the miso pill. That was a pretty quick and painless process, and after it was done, all we had to do was wait. They also started me on a magnesium sulfate drip due to the preeclampsia. Because of this, I would not be allowed to leave the bed at all during labor & could only lay on my right or left side the entire time (sucks SO BAD!!) and also had to remain on the medication for an additional 24 hours AFTER labor, which meant staying in bed because the meds cause muscle weakness to help prevent seizures. It also meant no solid food -- just a lovely clear liquid diet, also for 24 hours after labor. Around 8 or 9p, my parents and sister showed up, and we all just hung out. The nurse encouraged me to order some "food" from room service before the kitchen closed at 10:30. After perusing the extensive clear liquid menu, I decided upon chicken broth, raspberry ice and some diet coke. How gourmet!
At some point, the doctor came back in the check my progress. My cervix had softened up enough at that point, so they decided it was time for the foley bulb, which would help dilate me to 3cm. That process was horrible, I will not lie. I will spare you all the graphic details, but lets just say it was an awful experience! I immediately began feeling cramping, which they said would be normal. It wasn't unbearable, but it was uncomfortable, mostly because I had planned to get the epidural at some point, but the nurse told me I might as well get it sooner rather than later because I couldn't leave the bed anyway, so why wait. I obliged.
The epidural process itself was..odd. I had to sit up in bed and lean forward, and with the foley bulb, it made it more painful than it should be. The anesthesiologist took awhile to find the right spot, and once the needle was in, it was ODD feeling with a lot of pressure. It seriously felt like the needle was being woven around my spine at times. Once it was in I was okay, but getting it put in was not fun! And of course, after the epidural was in place, I wasn't allowed to have anything more than ice chips, which sucked because I was SO THIRSTY.
For awhile, everything was fine. The epidural kept any of the initial contractions away, and because I could only labor on my sides, I had to keep switching sides every so often so I didn't get numb on either side, and each time I switched, they had to come and re-adjust the fetal monitors to keep track of the baby. So for quite some time, it was just flopping back and forth and waiting. Good times! Eventually the nurse came in to check something, and as she was doing that, the foley bulb fell out, which meant I was dilated to 3cm (yay!!)..finally, some progress!!
At that point, the doctors decided to start giving me Pitocin to further progress things. I knew from then, things were going to start moving, since that is the stuff that gets labor started. lol. The start of the Pitocin wasn't bad, since I had the epidural pumping. I remember feeling a little pressure here and there, but nothing major. More annoyed than anything that I had to keep laying on my side. My hips were starting to bother me, and it was just plain uncomfortable. But, I was able to get a little sleep in, although a nurse came in to check on me what seemed like every hour, so it wasn't exactly the most restful sleep.
Around 8a or so Saturday morning, my mom and Ryan decided to run down to the cafeteria to grab some breakfast. While they were gone, the doctor came in to check my progress. At that point, I was about 5cm and almost fully effaced, so she decided it would be a good time to break my water. Shortly after that was done, Ryan and my mom returned. I reported to them what had happened, and everyone got all excited thinking "this is it! this baby is coming some time today!" In fact, Ryan asked every new nurse that came on shift, if they thought she was coming that day. It was funny.
More time passed, every couple hours I would get checked and I seemed to be progressing a centimeter here and there, and the staff seemed confident she would be born sometime that evening. Some of my memory during that time is a blur now, which is funny considering how crazy that weekend ended up being, but while the epidural was WORKING, I didn't feel much. I just remember being annoyed that a.) I couldn't get up out of bed at all, and walking could have helped progress things and b.) I could only labor on my sides.
Now, at some point, the epidural bag ran out completely. Like, sucked dry. Not sure WHY that happened, but it did. At that point, I started feeling pretty strong contractions. They paged the anesthesiologist, who seriously seemed to take forever to get down there. Ryan even had to go back out there and ask what was taking so long, and they jumped up to get her, as if they forgot the first time. She eventually showed up and put a new bag in, but by that point, it was totally useless and it never kicked in again. Contractions were coming on very strong, and very close together. It was awful. My mom, sister and Ryan, bless their hearts, helped me breathe and get through each one. If I ever questioned what a real contraction felt like before, I now knew!!
Because I was in so much pain and so limited in positions to help relieve it, they decided to give me some extra pain meds in my epidural IV to try and alleviate it. They made a few different attempts, with different combinations, and nothing seemed to work. One anesthesiologist, who ended up being my hero for an hour, pumped me with some sort of pain med that allowed me to actually sleep for a good hour and feel nothing. It was amazing. During that nap, my oxygen levels were dropping, so they made me wear an oxygen mask, which was not fun as I felt like I was suffocating. When I woke up, my left side was completely numb from laying on that side for so long, so they helped me flip to my right side, and wouldn't you know, I began to feel EVERYTHING once again. This time, the contractions were radiating from the front, through my hips and into my back. They called the anesthesiologist's yet AGAIN to try something else, and again, it didn't work. So basically, I just layed there in pain, enduring every intense contraction while waiting for the doctor's to come check me again.
I know I am forgetting things that happened that night, including my sister apparently telling me that Whitney Houston had died, and I apparently didn't care enough to remember, because later on I was like "huh? Whitney Houston is dead??" LOL. I am trying to remember the most important parts, though!
Around 10p or so Saturday night, the doctor came in to check and I was between 7/8cm which seemed promising at that point. I kept feeling intense pressure, and the urge to push, but I wasn't progressed far enough. The doctor said she would be back in a couple of hours to check again. More waiting.
About midnight on Sunday morning, the doctor came back in to check me. I was SO sure I had progressed, but, I hadn't. I was still between 7/8 cm dilated and the baby's head was still pretty far up and not showing any signs of moving down as she hadn't moved down at all during the process. By then, I had been in labor for nearly 32 hours, and obviously not progressing as quickly as they had anticipated, so it was then the doctor's began talking about a c-section. She explained to me that because the baby was not moving down fast enough, or much at all, its quite possible she was too big for me to push out, or my pelvis was just not big enough to accommodate her. The doctor said she needed to go discuss it with the attending, but a c-section was looking like the route they were planning to take.
Shortly after, the doctor returned and confirmed that they wanted to do a c-section. By that point, I was all about it, as I wasn't sure how much more of the pain and failed pain medications I could take, and I was completely exhausted. Right after this decision, I swear things began moving at lightning speed. Another anesthesiologist came in to go over the risks of the procedure and answer any questions we had. As soon as I signed on the dotted lines to authorize the surgery, they got right to work. They started pumping in the meds needed to numb me completely from the waist down, and prepping to bring me to the OR. Things were very efficient!
They wheeled me into the OR, and everything went so fast! I was completely numb and could not feel my legs (no more contractions, yay!) which was extremely weird, since I was awake during the whole thing. Once in the OR, they transported me to the operating table and began prepping me and hooking me up to all sorts of machines. I never realized how much went into a c-section, which seems like a simple surgery since its performed so much.
After all of the prepping, Ryan was allowed to come in and they sat him up by my head. They warned me I wouldn't feel any pain, but would feel a lot of pressure, tugging and pulling. The anesthesiologist up by my head was so nice and let us know what was going on during the procedure, since we couldn't see what was going on. She explained when they said "uterine" it meant that they had accessed the uterus, and the baby would soon be pulled out. Sure enough, shortly after I heard them say "uterine!" and felt the tugging and pulling they talked about -- and briefly after that, at exactly 1:29a, we heard her first cries as she entered the world. It was amazing! We both just looked at each other, wide eyed, not sure what to say. It was tough not being able to see what they were doing with her, but she continued to cry, so we knew she had a strong set of lungs on her!! A few minutes later, we heard someone announce "8 lbs 10 oz!"..big girl! And not much after that, they brought her over and placed her in Ryan's arms. She was SO alert, and looking around everywhere and at us. It was such an amazing moment :) A team of pediatricians had to be on hand when she arrived, because of my pre-e and being on magnesium sulfate, just to check her out and make sure she was okay. One of the pediatricians came over and said "everything looks wonderful, except one thing..she's going to need a manicure and pedicure because she has some long nails!" haha, and boy did she!
I had to keep laying on the table for another hour or so while they stitched me up. Once they finished, they transported me back to another bed and I was finally able to hold my baby as they wheeled me back to the L&D room to recover.
My parents and sister were all waiting for us when we returned, and my brother even showed up to meet his first niece. It was a special moment as everyone was passing her around, getting to see her for the first time :) They stayed for a brief while before heading out and back to Erie, as everyone was exhausted since it had been a long day and a half!!
We stayed in the L&D room for about 2 hours before being transported up to our post partum room, where we would stay for the next 3.5 days. But, I'll save that for another post :)
Introducing our little girl, Audrey Elizabeth. Born on Sunday, February 12th 2012 at 1:29a weighing 8 lbs 10 oz, 20 3/4". Welcome to the world, little one :)
the last belly photo I would take. Of course I'm making a dumb face, but this was 41w4d.The first half of my appointment was my BPP (biophysical profile) ultrasound where they measure things like fluid levels, big movements, small movements, baby breathing, etc to make sure everything is still okay with baby. The scoring for that is out of 8 points -- I scored 8/8. Obviously, that meant there was no need on that end, to get the baby out ASAP. The tech commented that there were no signs of baby needing to come out that day, and that she was still quite high up. I was glad things looked good, but slightly disappointed that it would probably be another 5 days or so until we met our baby.
I left that appointment, and headed to my actual OB appointment. I gave Ryan a call since he had a test and wasn't able to attend. I assured him that everything with the ultrasound looked great, and baby wasn't coming that night, or probably even that weekend. Normally, I'm a glass half full kinda gal, but not by this point!! What 9+ month pregnant woman is?? lol.
So I get to the OB office, the nurse did my usual BP check, weight check and I peed in a cup (remind me to tell you how NOT easy it is to pee in a cup with a big pregnant belly in your way!! But that's a complaint for another time. haha.) My blood pressure has always been normal, though that day it was slightly elevated. They didn't seem concerned though, and didn't even mention re-testing it at the end of the appointment. Then, I sat in the waiting room for what felt like hours. Finally, they called me back and I sat in the exam room for awhile too. Eventually my doctor comes into the room, and one of the first things she says to me is "so there was A LOT of protein in your urine" and my first thought to blurt out to her was "So can we induce this weekend?" jokingly, of course, but her response took me by surprise "that's actually what we wanted to talk to you about. With showing signs of preeclampsia, and being past your due date, I really see no reason in waiting another week to induce you tonight" I'm pretty sure my jaw hit the floor at this point. Cause like I said, I was NOT expecting things to go this way. Up until this point, I had a completely normal, text book pregnancy and never showed any signs of pre-clampsia until that day. Looking back, I DID have some random headaches that week, but tylenol always took care of them, and we actually have a portable BP machine at home, and I checked a few times and it was normal. So really, it was out of left field.
A million questions began running through my mind and my mouth. My OB did answer them all, and explained what would happen. They checked my progress from the previous week, and of course there was no change, so she mentioned it could be anywhere from 24-48 hours for baby to actually make her debut once the induction process began. I had asked if I would be able to go home before hand, just to grab a shower and pack the last few things that couldn't be packed beforehand, but they wouldn't let me, due to the risk of seizures with pre-e. So, as soon as the appointment ended, I had to call Ryan to let him know what was happening, and texted him a list of things I needed in addition to my already packed hospital bag. I was a little frustrated not being able to go home myself and get a few things done, but it is what it is. I also made the call to my parents and sister, who had been waiting on the edge of their seats for several weeks, since they planned to drive down and be there when she was born.
I headed up to the L&D triage to check in and wait for Ryan. I realized I hadn't eaten since lunch, and probably wouldn't be allowed to eat once I checked in, so Ryan was planning on bringing me something to eat as my "last meal" before induction began. They ended up calling me back before he got there, so I dressed in the lovely hospital gown and got all hooked up to the monitors and waited. Ryan showed up, Wendy's in hand, and the nurse wouldn't let me eat!! I was sad, but I was even more sad because I was more thirsty than anything, and they wouldn't let me drink either :/ Eventually the doctor came in and checked me, and my progress was the same as it was at my appointment -- 1 cm dilated/60% effaced. She explained to me that they were going to start the induction process off with the misoprostol pill, which would help soften my cervix. Once that started working, we'd go from there. Ryan asked her if I could eat the food he brought, and she initially said no, then said "well, if you want to hoover it down after I leave this room, before we start the miso pill, I'll pretend I don't know whats going on" (bless her) so I was able to eat and drink. Good thing, cause that would end up being my last solid meal for the next 50 some hours!
We hung around the triage room for what seemed like quite awhile, just waiting. Eventually they came back to get me, and transport me to the L&D room, where I would unknowingly spend the next 32 hours of my life. Once we got to the room, the doctor came in to do the miso pill. That was a pretty quick and painless process, and after it was done, all we had to do was wait. They also started me on a magnesium sulfate drip due to the preeclampsia. Because of this, I would not be allowed to leave the bed at all during labor & could only lay on my right or left side the entire time (sucks SO BAD!!) and also had to remain on the medication for an additional 24 hours AFTER labor, which meant staying in bed because the meds cause muscle weakness to help prevent seizures. It also meant no solid food -- just a lovely clear liquid diet, also for 24 hours after labor. Around 8 or 9p, my parents and sister showed up, and we all just hung out. The nurse encouraged me to order some "food" from room service before the kitchen closed at 10:30. After perusing the extensive clear liquid menu, I decided upon chicken broth, raspberry ice and some diet coke. How gourmet!
At some point, the doctor came back in the check my progress. My cervix had softened up enough at that point, so they decided it was time for the foley bulb, which would help dilate me to 3cm. That process was horrible, I will not lie. I will spare you all the graphic details, but lets just say it was an awful experience! I immediately began feeling cramping, which they said would be normal. It wasn't unbearable, but it was uncomfortable, mostly because I had planned to get the epidural at some point, but the nurse told me I might as well get it sooner rather than later because I couldn't leave the bed anyway, so why wait. I obliged.
The epidural process itself was..odd. I had to sit up in bed and lean forward, and with the foley bulb, it made it more painful than it should be. The anesthesiologist took awhile to find the right spot, and once the needle was in, it was ODD feeling with a lot of pressure. It seriously felt like the needle was being woven around my spine at times. Once it was in I was okay, but getting it put in was not fun! And of course, after the epidural was in place, I wasn't allowed to have anything more than ice chips, which sucked because I was SO THIRSTY.
For awhile, everything was fine. The epidural kept any of the initial contractions away, and because I could only labor on my sides, I had to keep switching sides every so often so I didn't get numb on either side, and each time I switched, they had to come and re-adjust the fetal monitors to keep track of the baby. So for quite some time, it was just flopping back and forth and waiting. Good times! Eventually the nurse came in to check something, and as she was doing that, the foley bulb fell out, which meant I was dilated to 3cm (yay!!)..finally, some progress!!
At that point, the doctors decided to start giving me Pitocin to further progress things. I knew from then, things were going to start moving, since that is the stuff that gets labor started. lol. The start of the Pitocin wasn't bad, since I had the epidural pumping. I remember feeling a little pressure here and there, but nothing major. More annoyed than anything that I had to keep laying on my side. My hips were starting to bother me, and it was just plain uncomfortable. But, I was able to get a little sleep in, although a nurse came in to check on me what seemed like every hour, so it wasn't exactly the most restful sleep.
Around 8a or so Saturday morning, my mom and Ryan decided to run down to the cafeteria to grab some breakfast. While they were gone, the doctor came in to check my progress. At that point, I was about 5cm and almost fully effaced, so she decided it would be a good time to break my water. Shortly after that was done, Ryan and my mom returned. I reported to them what had happened, and everyone got all excited thinking "this is it! this baby is coming some time today!" In fact, Ryan asked every new nurse that came on shift, if they thought she was coming that day. It was funny.
More time passed, every couple hours I would get checked and I seemed to be progressing a centimeter here and there, and the staff seemed confident she would be born sometime that evening. Some of my memory during that time is a blur now, which is funny considering how crazy that weekend ended up being, but while the epidural was WORKING, I didn't feel much. I just remember being annoyed that a.) I couldn't get up out of bed at all, and walking could have helped progress things and b.) I could only labor on my sides.
Now, at some point, the epidural bag ran out completely. Like, sucked dry. Not sure WHY that happened, but it did. At that point, I started feeling pretty strong contractions. They paged the anesthesiologist, who seriously seemed to take forever to get down there. Ryan even had to go back out there and ask what was taking so long, and they jumped up to get her, as if they forgot the first time. She eventually showed up and put a new bag in, but by that point, it was totally useless and it never kicked in again. Contractions were coming on very strong, and very close together. It was awful. My mom, sister and Ryan, bless their hearts, helped me breathe and get through each one. If I ever questioned what a real contraction felt like before, I now knew!!
Because I was in so much pain and so limited in positions to help relieve it, they decided to give me some extra pain meds in my epidural IV to try and alleviate it. They made a few different attempts, with different combinations, and nothing seemed to work. One anesthesiologist, who ended up being my hero for an hour, pumped me with some sort of pain med that allowed me to actually sleep for a good hour and feel nothing. It was amazing. During that nap, my oxygen levels were dropping, so they made me wear an oxygen mask, which was not fun as I felt like I was suffocating. When I woke up, my left side was completely numb from laying on that side for so long, so they helped me flip to my right side, and wouldn't you know, I began to feel EVERYTHING once again. This time, the contractions were radiating from the front, through my hips and into my back. They called the anesthesiologist's yet AGAIN to try something else, and again, it didn't work. So basically, I just layed there in pain, enduring every intense contraction while waiting for the doctor's to come check me again.
I know I am forgetting things that happened that night, including my sister apparently telling me that Whitney Houston had died, and I apparently didn't care enough to remember, because later on I was like "huh? Whitney Houston is dead??" LOL. I am trying to remember the most important parts, though!
Around 10p or so Saturday night, the doctor came in to check and I was between 7/8cm which seemed promising at that point. I kept feeling intense pressure, and the urge to push, but I wasn't progressed far enough. The doctor said she would be back in a couple of hours to check again. More waiting.
About midnight on Sunday morning, the doctor came back in to check me. I was SO sure I had progressed, but, I hadn't. I was still between 7/8 cm dilated and the baby's head was still pretty far up and not showing any signs of moving down as she hadn't moved down at all during the process. By then, I had been in labor for nearly 32 hours, and obviously not progressing as quickly as they had anticipated, so it was then the doctor's began talking about a c-section. She explained to me that because the baby was not moving down fast enough, or much at all, its quite possible she was too big for me to push out, or my pelvis was just not big enough to accommodate her. The doctor said she needed to go discuss it with the attending, but a c-section was looking like the route they were planning to take.
Shortly after, the doctor returned and confirmed that they wanted to do a c-section. By that point, I was all about it, as I wasn't sure how much more of the pain and failed pain medications I could take, and I was completely exhausted. Right after this decision, I swear things began moving at lightning speed. Another anesthesiologist came in to go over the risks of the procedure and answer any questions we had. As soon as I signed on the dotted lines to authorize the surgery, they got right to work. They started pumping in the meds needed to numb me completely from the waist down, and prepping to bring me to the OR. Things were very efficient!
They wheeled me into the OR, and everything went so fast! I was completely numb and could not feel my legs (no more contractions, yay!) which was extremely weird, since I was awake during the whole thing. Once in the OR, they transported me to the operating table and began prepping me and hooking me up to all sorts of machines. I never realized how much went into a c-section, which seems like a simple surgery since its performed so much.
After all of the prepping, Ryan was allowed to come in and they sat him up by my head. They warned me I wouldn't feel any pain, but would feel a lot of pressure, tugging and pulling. The anesthesiologist up by my head was so nice and let us know what was going on during the procedure, since we couldn't see what was going on. She explained when they said "uterine" it meant that they had accessed the uterus, and the baby would soon be pulled out. Sure enough, shortly after I heard them say "uterine!" and felt the tugging and pulling they talked about -- and briefly after that, at exactly 1:29a, we heard her first cries as she entered the world. It was amazing! We both just looked at each other, wide eyed, not sure what to say. It was tough not being able to see what they were doing with her, but she continued to cry, so we knew she had a strong set of lungs on her!! A few minutes later, we heard someone announce "8 lbs 10 oz!"..big girl! And not much after that, they brought her over and placed her in Ryan's arms. She was SO alert, and looking around everywhere and at us. It was such an amazing moment :) A team of pediatricians had to be on hand when she arrived, because of my pre-e and being on magnesium sulfate, just to check her out and make sure she was okay. One of the pediatricians came over and said "everything looks wonderful, except one thing..she's going to need a manicure and pedicure because she has some long nails!" haha, and boy did she!
I had to keep laying on the table for another hour or so while they stitched me up. Once they finished, they transported me back to another bed and I was finally able to hold my baby as they wheeled me back to the L&D room to recover.
My parents and sister were all waiting for us when we returned, and my brother even showed up to meet his first niece. It was a special moment as everyone was passing her around, getting to see her for the first time :) They stayed for a brief while before heading out and back to Erie, as everyone was exhausted since it had been a long day and a half!!
We stayed in the L&D room for about 2 hours before being transported up to our post partum room, where we would stay for the next 3.5 days. But, I'll save that for another post :)
Introducing our little girl, Audrey Elizabeth. Born on Sunday, February 12th 2012 at 1:29a weighing 8 lbs 10 oz, 20 3/4". Welcome to the world, little one :)
Saturday, January 14, 2012
baby f -- in 3D!!
I've had a very textbook pregnancy (knock on wood!!) and because of this, I've needed minimal medical intervention. My appointments consist of measuring the fundal height(aka uterus size, basically) and checking baby's heartbeat. Then, sending me along my merry way because everything always checks out perfect, developmentally.
Of course, we are VERY grateful for this case, as it could be much worse. But, on the other hand, we've only been given two ultrasounds because of it. When you're an anxious parent-to-be, the waiting is tough! There are elective 3D/4D ultrasound clinics out there, and seem to be quite popular lately. You don't need a doctor's referral, and it gives you the chance to see your baby in 3D -- which is amazing. The only downfall is having to pay for it out of pocket, as insurance obviously doesn't cover something elective.
We'd been on the fence about this. We really wanted to, but there is only one place in the Pittsburgh area, and the cheapest package is $225. With it being the holiday season, that's pretty pricey. So, we were just going to forget about it, and suck it up and wait. But then, my sister told me about a place in Morgantown, WV. Their prices were competitive, and much more feasible, so we decided to go for it.
The experience was awesome!! We hadn't seen our little one since early September, which was 18 weeks along. The first thing Ryan said when we saw her on the screen was "wow! she got big!" and she totally did. So big, you can't even get her entire body in one shot anymore. Crazy! But seeing her in 3D/4D was SO COOL. We could see all of the features of her face, right down to the little lines in her knuckles. It was crazy! She was being pretty cooperative, except for when she kept sucking her thumb. It was very cute, and she was very content with her hands on her face. lol. A couple times, she stuck her tongue out and at one point, flipped us off! Too funny.
Without further adieu, I leave you with some pictures of our girl.
and lastly -- I leave you with my latest belly photo.
Of course, we are VERY grateful for this case, as it could be much worse. But, on the other hand, we've only been given two ultrasounds because of it. When you're an anxious parent-to-be, the waiting is tough! There are elective 3D/4D ultrasound clinics out there, and seem to be quite popular lately. You don't need a doctor's referral, and it gives you the chance to see your baby in 3D -- which is amazing. The only downfall is having to pay for it out of pocket, as insurance obviously doesn't cover something elective.
We'd been on the fence about this. We really wanted to, but there is only one place in the Pittsburgh area, and the cheapest package is $225. With it being the holiday season, that's pretty pricey. So, we were just going to forget about it, and suck it up and wait. But then, my sister told me about a place in Morgantown, WV. Their prices were competitive, and much more feasible, so we decided to go for it.
The experience was awesome!! We hadn't seen our little one since early September, which was 18 weeks along. The first thing Ryan said when we saw her on the screen was "wow! she got big!" and she totally did. So big, you can't even get her entire body in one shot anymore. Crazy! But seeing her in 3D/4D was SO COOL. We could see all of the features of her face, right down to the little lines in her knuckles. It was crazy! She was being pretty cooperative, except for when she kept sucking her thumb. It was very cute, and she was very content with her hands on her face. lol. A couple times, she stuck her tongue out and at one point, flipped us off! Too funny.
Without further adieu, I leave you with some pictures of our girl.
and lastly -- I leave you with my latest belly photo.
introducing: the nursery!
I figured the nursery deserved a post in itself. Sure, its nothing special or "designer" by any means, and you probably won't be seeing it on pinterest -- but we're happy with it and I love the colors :)
Back when we found out it was a girl, Ryan requested that the nursery not be all pink, and I was completely okay with that. I mean, I do enjoy pink, but I know it can be overkill. In fact, when I was 7 and we moved into a new house, my parents let us pick our own carpet for our new rooms. Ha! I bet they regret that, because of course, I picked out the gaudiest pink out there. Then, insisted that my closet doors, trim and light covers also be pink. And since my dad is the best, he complied. I just wish I had a photo on me to show you the obnoxiousness!
But anyway, so Ryan and I both agreed on purple and found a nice bedding set we both liked, while registering for our baby shower. It's a nice mix of purple, pink, brown and orange :) One day while I was at work, Ryan decided to surprise me and paint the nursery. This was in November, over his Thanksgiving break from school. I thought for sure that the walls wouldn't get painted until his Christmas break, so I was pleasantly surprised at his initiative -- and he did awesome, it turned out great! It was his idea to do the three alternating colors, with the lightest color strip across the center. Turned out great! We had decided to just do an accent wall so we didn't have to repaint the whole room in the future.
First, we'll show off the crib. That was hand made by my Dad. He does AMAZING work, and we couldn't be happier with how it turned out. Seriously. My parents wanted to get us the crib anyway, and when I found out my Dad wanted to make it, we were all for it! I knew he would make it with safety in mind, so that wasn't even an issue for us. Plus, its a 3-in-1 convertible crib, so, she can use it as a toddler bed and eventually, a full sized bed in the future. Plus, the fact that her Papa made it with his own two hands, makes it pretty special :)
About a month ago, I was perusing Craigslist to see what I could find. Seriously, that place can be a goldmine when it comes to baby items! I stumbled across a couple selling a changing table/glider together for $150. Not a bad deal, AT ALL. We had planned to buy these things anyway, and I had found both of them, in excellent condition, for the price of one. So happy! We went out one Sunday to pick them up, and I also scored a Bumbo seat with a tray for $15 (those normally retail for about $50) so I was very pleased!
I've been having fun organizing and washing everything. She got TONS of blankets, so we are definitely good on those! She also received a lot of 3 month and up clothes, so we went out and bought some things in newborn size, just in case. That's the tough thing about preparing for a baby -- you don't know what size they'll be! But, we have a few things in different sizes..so until she actually gets here and I can get more of the correct size, we're good for now!
I also got my hospital bag packed, which is exciting! There are still a few more things that need thrown in there, but for the most part, its good to go. Some time next week, we'll probably get the car seat bases installed in the cars. Just a few last minute preps to go before showtime!!
Back when we found out it was a girl, Ryan requested that the nursery not be all pink, and I was completely okay with that. I mean, I do enjoy pink, but I know it can be overkill. In fact, when I was 7 and we moved into a new house, my parents let us pick our own carpet for our new rooms. Ha! I bet they regret that, because of course, I picked out the gaudiest pink out there. Then, insisted that my closet doors, trim and light covers also be pink. And since my dad is the best, he complied. I just wish I had a photo on me to show you the obnoxiousness!
But anyway, so Ryan and I both agreed on purple and found a nice bedding set we both liked, while registering for our baby shower. It's a nice mix of purple, pink, brown and orange :) One day while I was at work, Ryan decided to surprise me and paint the nursery. This was in November, over his Thanksgiving break from school. I thought for sure that the walls wouldn't get painted until his Christmas break, so I was pleasantly surprised at his initiative -- and he did awesome, it turned out great! It was his idea to do the three alternating colors, with the lightest color strip across the center. Turned out great! We had decided to just do an accent wall so we didn't have to repaint the whole room in the future.
First, we'll show off the crib. That was hand made by my Dad. He does AMAZING work, and we couldn't be happier with how it turned out. Seriously. My parents wanted to get us the crib anyway, and when I found out my Dad wanted to make it, we were all for it! I knew he would make it with safety in mind, so that wasn't even an issue for us. Plus, its a 3-in-1 convertible crib, so, she can use it as a toddler bed and eventually, a full sized bed in the future. Plus, the fact that her Papa made it with his own two hands, makes it pretty special :)
About a month ago, I was perusing Craigslist to see what I could find. Seriously, that place can be a goldmine when it comes to baby items! I stumbled across a couple selling a changing table/glider together for $150. Not a bad deal, AT ALL. We had planned to buy these things anyway, and I had found both of them, in excellent condition, for the price of one. So happy! We went out one Sunday to pick them up, and I also scored a Bumbo seat with a tray for $15 (those normally retail for about $50) so I was very pleased!
I've been having fun organizing and washing everything. She got TONS of blankets, so we are definitely good on those! She also received a lot of 3 month and up clothes, so we went out and bought some things in newborn size, just in case. That's the tough thing about preparing for a baby -- you don't know what size they'll be! But, we have a few things in different sizes..so until she actually gets here and I can get more of the correct size, we're good for now!
I also got my hospital bag packed, which is exciting! There are still a few more things that need thrown in there, but for the most part, its good to go. Some time next week, we'll probably get the car seat bases installed in the cars. Just a few last minute preps to go before showtime!!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
baby shower catch up!
I know, I know..we are WELL overdue for an update on here. It's unacceptable that I haven't done it in two months. Honestly, I think about it every couple of days, and KNOW that I need to just sit down and do it, and of course I don't. My energy level is pretty depleted by the end of the day these days, and composing a blog entry is usually the last thing I want to do. It's just so much easier sitting on the couch, zoning out in front of the TV. But with less than four weeks to go in this pregnancy, its time to play catch up!
I don't even know where I left off..Thanksgiving? The weekend after Thanksgiving was my baby shower. My mom and sister threw it for me, and it was lovely. They worked hard on it, and even threw in a couple surprises for me. If you know me, you know I'm pretty tough to surprise -- but they pulled it off! One being a fun little game involving Ryan. My sister video taped him, asking him a series of questions about babies and a few other random questions, then had me answer how I thought he would respond. I loved it! I think that Ryan, being the clown that he is, got some laughs out of the crowd as well!
We had a great turn out for the shower, and are SO thankful for everyone that took the time to be there, and even the ones who couldn't, that still acknowledged us in some way. Everyone's generosity towards our little girl is greatly appreciated! She's not even here yet, and so many people already love her. It's a great feeling.
In fact, this whole pregnancy, we've experienced nothing but positive words and support from our friends and family, and it's been awesome! We can partly thank technology for that one (ie; facebook) but thats okay, because its the best way to reach out to a bunch of people at one time. What DID people do before the existence of social networking?! :)
Next up, was Christmas. We spent it in Erie with my family, and had a good time. We were spoiled again by our family -- both near AND far. We are blessed, thats for sure. It's weird to think it was our last Christmas without kids. But I know that next year, even though she'll only be about 10 months old, the holidays are still going to be given a whole new meaning. I'm looking forward to it :)
We rang in our last kid-free New Year's Eve in a low key fashion -- which was completely okay. After Ryan got off of work, we headed to our favorite Mexican restaurant for dinner. Afterwards, we swung by the store to pick up some sparkling grape juice (oh yea, high rollers!) and then headed home to relax on the couch until midnight. Once midnight rolled around, we watched the ball drop, then headed to sleep shortly after that. Party animals! ;)
2011 was a great year. Many ups, a few downs, but all in all, it was good to us. I am looking forward to welcoming 2012 in, and all of the wonderful blessings yet to come.
I don't even know where I left off..Thanksgiving? The weekend after Thanksgiving was my baby shower. My mom and sister threw it for me, and it was lovely. They worked hard on it, and even threw in a couple surprises for me. If you know me, you know I'm pretty tough to surprise -- but they pulled it off! One being a fun little game involving Ryan. My sister video taped him, asking him a series of questions about babies and a few other random questions, then had me answer how I thought he would respond. I loved it! I think that Ryan, being the clown that he is, got some laughs out of the crowd as well!
We had a great turn out for the shower, and are SO thankful for everyone that took the time to be there, and even the ones who couldn't, that still acknowledged us in some way. Everyone's generosity towards our little girl is greatly appreciated! She's not even here yet, and so many people already love her. It's a great feeling.
In fact, this whole pregnancy, we've experienced nothing but positive words and support from our friends and family, and it's been awesome! We can partly thank technology for that one (ie; facebook) but thats okay, because its the best way to reach out to a bunch of people at one time. What DID people do before the existence of social networking?! :)
Next up, was Christmas. We spent it in Erie with my family, and had a good time. We were spoiled again by our family -- both near AND far. We are blessed, thats for sure. It's weird to think it was our last Christmas without kids. But I know that next year, even though she'll only be about 10 months old, the holidays are still going to be given a whole new meaning. I'm looking forward to it :)
We rang in our last kid-free New Year's Eve in a low key fashion -- which was completely okay. After Ryan got off of work, we headed to our favorite Mexican restaurant for dinner. Afterwards, we swung by the store to pick up some sparkling grape juice (oh yea, high rollers!) and then headed home to relax on the couch until midnight. Once midnight rolled around, we watched the ball drop, then headed to sleep shortly after that. Party animals! ;)
2011 was a great year. Many ups, a few downs, but all in all, it was good to us. I am looking forward to welcoming 2012 in, and all of the wonderful blessings yet to come.
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