FINALLY....Hannah's Birth Story

Before Hannah's birth story, let me just say that I must apologize for not writing before now.  Some things have had to 'go lacking' since her birth and my blog has been one of those things.  I hate not writing, but it is difficult to put coherent thoughts together when you have had a couple of hours sleep.  I am going to try and make a concerted effort to get back into blogging because it is a release for me, and a great way to share our lives with our friends and loved ones.  Hannah is a joyful addition to our lives and although having 2 is a challenge as opposed to 1, it is also something we do embrace.   My next several posts will be retroactive--because so much has happened in the last 3 months (which I hope you will understand the reasons behind my blogging absence). 

Hannah’s Birth Story

We were to report to PCMH on March 31 between 7-7:30 for my scheduled C-section, which would actually take place around 9 a.m.  We went in as scheduled and filled out the appropriate preliminaries and were put into a prep room, which of course I would not stay in since I was not using the birthing center.  I received an IV and the nurse put the heart monitor on my belly so we could hear her heart while we waited.  I also had some blood work done and a MRSA test (didn’t have this when Seth was born).  Some time went by and there was a delay in getting back my blood work.  During that time, the anesthesiologist and his team came in and talked to us about the procedure explaining the risks and what would exactly take place.   They went back out and came back in with my doctor to tell me that my platelet count was very low for me to have a spinal block with my C-section.  They informed me that this does happen sometimes with pregnant women and that it was important I know the risks of what could happen.  One thing that could happen would be that there could be a pool of blood around my spinal column, and that I would have to have an MRI done after the procedure to determine exactly where the site was so that they could go in and drain it out (Sorry for being so graphic.).  It would be another surgical procedure for me to go through.  The other option would be for me to be totally ‘put under’ to have my C-Section.  Rob would not be able to go in the OR with me and the anesthesia could have some effects on my newborn.

We did not know or plan for this kind of bump in the road and although it was a difficult and emotional decision to make, it was plain to me what to do.  I did not feel I could endure 2 surgical procedures to bring this new life into the world, but I did not want to upset Rob by not allowing him to be in there when his daughter was born.  Rob told me that he would support me in whatever decision I made, and we had to make a quick decision because the doctors had walked out for us to discuss it and they had just walked back in.  I decided to be ‘put under’ to avoid running into other complications. 

They began to prep me for surgery and as they wheeled me away from Rob and our parents, the tears started to flow.  Rob was crying too.  My nurse told me that she would be worried if I was not crying and that they had already prayed for us that morning.  I thought that was very nice.  Once in the OR, I gave one of the nurses my camera so that she could capture some moments that we would miss.  Of course I don’t remember a lot about being in the OR, just that it was cold, I was very uncomfortable, and before I went out I felt like I was in a hole and they were piling bags on top of me.  Of course, all they were doing was preparing the surgical field.  My anesthesiologist was very good and he kept telling me what was happening.  I also had a nurse at my head telling me what was going on.

The next thing I remember is being in recovery and my nurse bringing me Hannah.  I heard her say that we wouldn’t be staying in this room, but I was still kind of out of it.  I remember seeing Hannah for the first time and seeing all of her dark hair.  She looked just like Seth did.  She weighed 8 lbs. 8.5 oz. and was 19 ¼ inches long.  Rob and our parents got to see her before I did, and here are some emotional pictures. 

Our hospital stay was okay; I could not wait to get home, though.  I understand that folks have to do their jobs and it means taking care of you but it seemed that each time a hospital employee exited the room, another came in.  Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful for their care, but I got NO rest in the hospital. 

Hannah seemed to be doing well, but our pediatrician told us that she tested Coombs positive, which means that there is a difference between mom and baby's blood type (it can be the A, B, AB, O major "types", the Rh+ and Rh- "types", or any number of other lesser-known blood "types").  It also means mom's body sees the baby's blood as foreign, and makes antibodies against it. Some of mom's blood and antibodies get into the baby's blood and attacks; it starts to break some of the baby's red blood cells. This also caused her to be jaundiced.  We were told to take her home and put her in the sunshine and they would do several weight checks in the coming days. 

I was not in the hospital long to have a C-Section…I was admitted on March 31, and I came home on April 2.  I remember staying longer with Seth, probably because he was not a scheduled C-section.

That is pretty much it for Hannah’s birth story.  We did encounter some bumps when we returned home, like having to go to the hospital 4 days in a row to have her heel pricked.  That was not fun.  She was also prescribed a biliblanket that she had to wear for about a week to get her billirubin down.  The pediatricians seem to be pleased with her weight gain—she had gotten down to 7 lbs. 15 oz. when we left the hospital, but she was up to 9 lbs. after using the biliblanket.  

In the sun and in the biliblanket

Pricks on her little heel

She's Here!

Apologies are given for the delay in my post! Bringing home a newborn is an awesome and rewarding experience, but it is also an exhausting one! The past week has been quite a ride with a few unexpected bumps in the road, but we have plowed forward and I feel we are at a pretty good place right now. I do plan to share some of Hannah's birth story up here, but for the time being, here are some pictures of her arrival and her homecoming.

More to come!

Can't Believe IAMSOCLOSE!

Bassinet assembled and ready.....check!

Swing assembled and ready.....check!

Bouncer ready......check!

Burp cloths and blankets washed and ready....check!

We are definitely becoming 'more ready' for baby girl around here.  And we should be, because it is almost time....in fact, it could be ANY TIME!  I was a little nervous this past weekend, when we had the Supermoon.  Rob and Seth went to Washington on Saturday to work on a shelving unit for Seth's room, and I was feeling nervous because of the Supermoon and the fact that they were 30 minutes away.  I had a lot of movement and pressure on Saturday, but she decided to stay put.  I pulled out my pregnancy journal (that I wrote in quite frequently when I was pregnant with Seth--this time not so much) and saw that there was also a full moon around the time I was 38 weeks with him.  After reading that, I figured she would stay put and I was correct.  I do think I am experiencing more pressure and movement than I did with Seth at this time.  I think the idea of her coming quicker and earlier this time is a strong possibility, but it's just as strong a possibility for her to stay put until our C-Section date.    I have reached the point where I am uncomfortable--I can only sit on a barstool or a straightback chair.  I can sit in a recliner with my feet propped up, but it takes ALOT of effort to get out of the recliner. 

Her room is coming together slowly but surely.  While I was home on Saturday, I completed cleaning out her closet, boxed up some stuff, and got most of the stuff off of the desk that will be moved out to make room for the crib.  I also washed her crib bedding, so when it is time to set up the crib, her bedding is ready.  I still have to go through some baby clothes, and bless her heart, she is set.  I have 4 boxes of newborn-3 months clothes from my sister and a friend at church.  Needless to say, she has a good start on clothes.

And so we wait for her arrival....when do you think she will make her appearance?

Happy Pregnant Woman, Not to Be Confused With Happy Family at Chinese Restaurants

Being happy when you are pregnant is a challenge in itself.  I have been fortunate to have had 2 good pregnancies without significant complications.  I have experienced some bumps in the road such as leg cramps, sciatica, stretch marks, to name a few.   I have tried to maintain a positive outlook through both of the pregnancies regardless of the comments uncouth, unmannered people make.  Ahem, see below....

Co-Worker #1--"Wow, your roots are really dark!"

I do color my hair.  I don't try to hide it.  I get highlights done every 5 weeks or so.  As part of my prenatal care, I take prenatal vitamins, which accelerate the growth of my hair and my nails, so it does not take long for my roots to get dark.  Now, this is not something you want to point out to a pregnant woman.  I know that my roots are dark, I don't need to be told.  I guess some folks don't have anything better to say than the obvious.

Co-Worker #2--"You have really popped out there!'"

I do have another human growing inside of me.  With this current pregnancy, I lost 15 lbs. before I got pregnant in an effort to keep my weight gain down.  Seth was a large baby--10 lbs. 6 oz. and I wanted to try and avoid a 10 pounder this time.  I really did not start showing alot until January.  I do have to say that my stomach has grown quite much in the last 6-8 weeks, and I realize that.  I do not have to be told, but obviously some folks believe I need to be reminded.  

My Mama--"Do you think you will get as big as you were with Seth?"

Me--"I hope it doesn't happen."

My Daddy--"You are not far away!"

Yes, my own Daddy.  I am smiling all through this because I aim to be a happy pregnant woman, not one who wears her emotions or hormones on her sleeve.  Not one who keeps a chip on her shoulder and uses a pregnancy as a crutch or an excuse to be ill or unhappy.  Not one to snap someone's head off just because they do not tell me I am glowing.

Seth--"Wow mommy, your belly is really big.   How many more days until the baby comes out?"

Sooner than later buddy, sooner than later.

35 Weeks....

This pregnancy has gone so fast this time.  I sent Rob an email this week and told him that we were starting to 'hatch' at school.  I say that because last week there were 6 teachers at our school who were pregnant.  One had her baby on Tuesday and she was due March 10.  Mrs. G. is due on March 6, I am scheduled on March 31 (my actual due date was April 3), we have another teacher due the first week in May, and one due in June, and one in August.  Mrs. C. started off this fertile period in October when she had her baby.  Needless to say, this school year has been most interesting with all these co-workers being able to go through pregnancy together.  It has been eye opening watching the "first-timers" go through it along with me.  Sometimes they have come to ask me questions about their experiences and it is great to be able to commiserate and rejoice with one another. 

This baby girl has gotten bigger and stronger in recent weeks.  Last night, I tried laying on my right side for a while and she did NOT like it at all.  She kicked and rolled across my belly several times, so I moved to make her happy, because I was starting to feel like a dirty rug that was being beat.  I have started to have some aching in my pelvic area when I sit for long periods as well as some pressure.  She is pushing on the internal wall of my stomach ALOT and causing me to have some significant Braxton Hicks contractions.

We got a new carseat and stroller this past weekend.  My friends at church also threw me a "sprinkle."  I wouldn't let them call it a shower, because I didn't feel I needed that much.  Apparently several church members thought differently and blessed us with a lot of pink stuff!

We are looking forward to doing more baby stuff this weekend.  The bassinet and the swing are coming down from the attic and we are going to be working on cleaning off the desk in the front bedroom so that we can get the crib down.  Now if I can only get this laundry pile to shrink....yeah, right!

Karate Kid

We recently enrolled Seth at the Charles June Karate Institute.

We are hoping to utilize their after-school program when Seth begins Kindergarten in the fall.  He is currently enrolled in the Little Dragons program, and it is a great class full of little boys and girls exerting their energy.

Sometimes though, when students do not want to cooperate and pay attention, Sensei Michelle will sit them out and/or make them do extra push-ups.  Seth has had to do this many times, but we do know that he is getting something out of this class.  He goes around the house chanting and showing off his karate moves.   At the end of each class, he gets a dragon stamp on his foot if he has done a good job.   I look forward to him wanting to test for a different level--we are not there yet, but we are working towards that.

 

32 Weeks

Good grief, I can't believe we are at this point in the pregnancy!  Time is just moving so much faster this time.  My belly seemed to have popped out after Christmas--all that good cooking--and I have continued to 'blossom' as a co-worker put it recently!  I guess it is time for that to happen considering I am about 7 weeks or so (I hope) from delivery.

Baby girl is moving a lot more these days....her movements have progressed from little flutters to strong punches and kicks.  She is especially active early in the morning and at night.  We do not have a name yet, but we are working on it.  We hope to get the car seat, the bassinet, the bouncer, and the swing from the attic either this weekend or next.  We continue to work on the front bedroom, little by little in order to get it looking like a baby's room--it's just tough to give up space you have become so used to!   Enter creative storage solutions.  I feel like I am in full nesting mode, I just do not have the energy to 'nest' like I want to!  I am not too worried though because I know it will all fall into place.