Overachiever

My boss gave me a playmat for little man to borrow, after playing on his back for a while we decided to do some tummy time. I put him on his tummy and sat down on the floor and watched him. About 30 seconds into the tummy time he rolled over and I couldn't believe it!! So I grabbed my phone and to make sure it wasn't just a one time thing I put him back on his tummy and started recording. Sure enough he knows how to roll over and after 4 more successful times I'm sure of two things, 1) he CAN for sure roll over and 2) he HATES tummy time!!

ROAR

Ken and I both love white tigers... however I think Kevin's opinion is slightly different haha!!

Our first little family trip

Founded May 14th, 1607 (ha ha I love history)

Such a pretty drive I loved it!!

(A picture of the storm brewing)

Ken had today off so we decided to take a little family trip to Jamestown. I love going anywhere that has some American history to it and Jamestown is only a 45 min drive. They have a really nice road that goes around the peninsula and I was able to snap some great pictures. We spent about 2 1/2 hours driving total. It was such a beautiful day when we started our trip but it started storming a little after we got there. The trip was really good though the baby was awesome the entire time, he only fusses when he is wet or hungry and was really happy or sleeping the rest of the time. They had a ton of places to pull off of along the tour road so I was able to nurse when baby was hungry. It was a really smooth trip and makes me really excited for this summer because we have huge plans to do a lot of sightseeing around the east coast. Something really funny happened while we were driving the tour road. As we were driving the tour road we saw something really black and small starting to cross when we pulled off we could not believe it was a... turtle. Now usually this wouldn't be as funny but when we went to Gettysburg last summer we were driving one of their tour roads and almost ran over a turtle trying to cross the road there too. The same time we passed the turtle today a park ranger did too so we all got out and made sure it got across safely. The park ranger was glad we didn't try to pick it up I guess this was a snapping turtle. He's so little.

(Our Jamestown Snapping Turtle, the park ranger is holding it)

(Our Gettysburg box turtle)

Milk Mustache

Ha Ha Ha I love when he unlatches and he has milk mustaches, it cracks me up for some reason.

No longer a Newborn

So big and alert!!!

My baby is getting so big!! He turns 3 weeks tomorrow, he officially had to switch to size 1 diapers today and I had to upgrade his dresser drawers by switching out the newborn clothes to his 0-3 months sizes. This was prompted when on Wednesday I accidentally got one of his newborn shirts stuck while trying to fit it over his head...I felt horrible. At his two week apt last Saturday he was back up to his birth weight, 9 lbs 1 oz and he was 23 inches long. He has some room to grow into his 0-3 clothes which is good. I get comments all the time how he doesn't look 3 weeks but 3 months old. Where is my little baby going? Here are some new pictures of him taken in his 0-3 month clothes.

Hopefully his clothes stay a little baggy for a while.

Mommy and her boy!!

Daddy Love

I took these when little man was 5 days old and I can't get enough of them. They are my favorite pictures of all time so I thought I would share them.

I know he's probably hungry but I like to pretend he's giving kisses!!

He makes his daddy so happy!!

I LOVE my boys!!!

The moment happens

Not his usual uniform but it still looks good!!!

After the C-Section was decided things happened so quickly. The anesthesiologist brought in this green liquid I was told would help fight off acid in my stomach ( I think that's what he said I wasn't really paying attention) either way I immediately threw it up afterward. The nurse brought in Ken's wardrobe to wear in the operating room and took him to the post op ward so he could take our stuff there. Meanwhile they were prepping me and making me sure I knew what was going to happen. Once the operating room was prepped they laid my bed back and started wheeling me in there. I remembered thinking how I wanted Ken there. Once there I remember the Dr saying how it wouldn't be to much longer until I met my son. They then had me transferred to the operating table. After they got me all situated and my arms strapped down, I started shaking like crazy, they asked if I was cold which I couldn't really tell so I said yeah. They covered my arms and chest with this air blanket that was filled with hot air. It didn't make the shaking stop and I was scared that if I was shaking this much I was going to make them mess up. I didn't know if I was shaking down past my chest because I couldn't feel it. The anesthesiologist started making sure I was numb by doing more poke tests, pretty much the same ones he had been doing when my epidural was wearing off. I kept worrying it would wear off again during surgery. Once they had everything prepped it seemed like they were getting started with the surgery and I kept worrying they weren't going to bring Ken in. Just then I heard one of the nurses say she was going to go get the husband and a few minutes later Ken was there. He came in and started stroking my hair telling me I was doing great I thought, I'm not doing anything anymore they're doing it all but it was comforting anyway. He noticed how shaky I was and asked if I was o.k. I said yeah and I think that was the only word I had said in the operating room so far. They told me I would start to feel some pulling and tugging and it was just them getting the baby out. It was probably one of the weirdest feelings I have ever felt. The anesthesiologist told Ken to stand up and he could watch the baby being born. I got really excited, and then heard the most amazing sound... our baby.

What a big boy!!!

Our Baby!!!

Meeting our baby!!

As soon as he was out Ken went over to him and started taking pictures. They finished the delivery and then started stitching me up.The whole time baby Kevin was crying and I felt horrible that I couldn't hold him. I wanted to see him so bad. Luckily because we had it written in our birth plan Ken was able to cut the cord ( they kept it long so it wasn't attached to anything but Ken was happy he was still able to do that) the nurse told us if it came to a c-section he wouldn't be able to but she was wrong. After what seemed liked an eternity they finally brought him over and I started talking to him. As soon as he heard my voice he stopped crying and that made me feel so amazing. When they broke my water they had noticed a lot of meconium in the fluid so they needed to take the baby to the nursery as soon as possible so they could make sure he didn't aspirate any. I felt horrible I couldn't bond with him right away. Ken went with the baby when they took him out. After they finished they transferred me to another gurney and took me to the post op ward. I asked when I could see my baby and they told me as soon as I could bend my knees and lift my butt they would take me to my recovery room and the baby would be brought in shortly afterward. I was told it might take up to 2 hours for me to be able to move. I was determined though so after 40 minutes I moved my little behind and bent my knees like it was life or death. I wanted to see my baby. The nurse called down to postpartum to see if there was a room available. Luckily there was and even more luckily it was a private room. I asked her to call down to the nursery and have Ken come back up. He had this amazingly proud look on his face when I saw him again. We were taken to our room and our new nurse introduced herself and asked if there was anything she could get me and if I was hungry. Which of course I was starving so she showed me how to use the hospitals room service, went over my meds with me and got me some water. My food came, I ate then waited for my baby to be brought in. Finally when I thought I couldn't wait any longer, the door opened and I saw the most beautiful thing in the world being wheeled into my room. I started crying and Ken handed me our little miracle. Finally after 40 weeks and 4 days I was able to meet my son.

Chapter 3.. the induction begins

(My last belly picture)

The morning of the 2nd we had our scheduled induction. We went into the Labor & Delivery area of the hospital and were immediately taken to a L & D room. They checked my cervix again and I was still only dilated to a 1-2 and about 30% effaced, my cervix was also still very high. Since I wasn't dilated hardly at all they wanted to try other methods instead of immediately starting me on Pitocin also known as Oxytocin- (a medicine used to start uterine contractions). The first thing they tried was a vaginal suppository medicine that contained prostaglandins this is commonly used if your cervix is as unfavorable as mine (yes almost every medical personnel that checked me called my cervix unfavorable). My contractions started about 2 hours into the induction, they were painful but made me laugh, I was so excited to get this going and I knew with each contraction I was that much closer to meeting my son. They came and checked me after 4 hours and I was now fully dilated to a 2. Not the progress we were hoping for so we tried the next method, a Foley catheter. This method was really uncomfortable. They inserted an uninflated balloon into my cervix and filled it up with water. When the balloon is inflated with water, it puts pressure on your cervix, stimulating the release of prostaglandins, which cause the cervix to open and soften. When your cervix begins to dilate, the balloon falls out and the catheter is removed. After about 3 hours with that in and being really uncomfortable I went to the restroom and it fell out. I was so happy not only to have it out but having it fall out meant I was making progress. They came and checked me again and I was dilated to a 4. It had been 8 hours. My contractions were hard but I was handling them o.k. The pain however was making my blood pressure go up. Now that I was at a 4 they were confident enough to start the pitocin. Since pitocin makes your uterus contract the stronger the dose they give you the harder the contractions. They started mine out on middle ground. The contractions were intense. After about 4 hours on the pitocin I had dilated to a 5. My blood pressure was getting higher so they brought the anesthesiologist in. I would have to say that Epidurals are by far the greatest friend of a laboring woman. Why I held out for so long I have no clue. After I received my epidural they broke my water.
Ken was a little upset because he had gone down to one of the vending machines to get a snack and they broke my water while he was gone. He was awesome during the whole thing, every time before the epidural that I needed to use the restroom he would unhook everything like they showed him. He would get me ice chips even if my cup was full but the ice had melted a bit so they stuck together. He would change the channel/volume (no remote) on the t.v whenever I asked.

(Ahhh.... Ice chips!!!)

He was just so amazing through it all, holding my hand, and rubbing my back. He wanted to be involved in everything but sadly missed the water breaking. Honestly though it could have been karma for him sneaking in a snack when I was starving lol.
After being in labor for 12 hours I was able to get some sleep, every few hours some one would come in and check me. About 15 hours into it I had dilated to a 6. I still wasn't making the progress we were hoping for. They turned the pitocin up to basically turbo level. They could tell I was contracting and they were long but not how hard. They were going to put in an internal monitor so they could check the strength of the contractions. Before they were able to do this though the baby's heart rate dropped. Most likely caused by the pitocin being too high. They put me on oxygen and turned the pitocin down and waited for his heart rate to come back up. He regulated fairly quickly after they turned it down. About an hour later they turned the pitocin back up and waited an hour before putting the monitor in. The contractions were measuring really hard and should have been making me progress a lot more than I was. They waited a few more hours in between which my epidural was wearing off. I felt like a barbie doll with no legs. My legs were numb but my pelvis and everything in between was not. I was starting to feel my super intense contractions. The anesthesiologist came back in and did a prick and cold test after assuring that yes I was not numb he gave me a different medicine through the Epidural. It worked for about an hour then it wore off again. So he came back in and re-administered more medicine. Immediately after wards the baby's heart rate dropped again. They turned the pitocin down and waited an hour for baby's heart rate to regulate again. After which they checked me. Still a 6. I was so beaten. I felt like a failure, my body which was designed to give birth was not doing what it was supposed to. It was so frustrating. They decided to give the pitocin a couple more hours. Still a 6. At this rate my epidural was wearing off it seemed almost every hour, the baby's heart rate kept dropping which meant we had to stop the pitocin, which is what we needed to keep the labor progressing. I knew at this rate it wasn't going to work. The Dr's were concerned for me and the baby. My blood pressure was getting higher. It just wasn't working. My body couldn't do it. After 23 hours it was decided a C-Section was needed.

Continued

The night of the 31st we went home from the hospital. I had to go back the next day to return the 24 hour urine catch they wanted me to do. I was really emotional because I knew my sister and my mom were leaving in the morning without the chance of getting to meet the baby. I was also worried if Ken and I would be able to handle everything by ourselves. I knew deep down we could but it was really depressing knowing I was going to only have Ken there for support during the labor and delivery. Don't get me wrong I had totally faith in Ken that he would be amazing but there was something about having another woman there supporting me knowing what I was going through. We didn't let it ruin the last night they were here though. I'm grateful for the time we got to spend together. We had a lot of fun and it was really special to have them here. My sister made the Wood's famous banana nut bread a special treat that my grandma makes all the time. (There are even 2 loafs in my freezer left) Woohoo!!! We woke up the next morning very early and took them to the airport. It was so hard saying goodbye. I had visions of taking them to the airport and having them kiss the baby goodbye.
Later that evening we went back into Labor & Delivery where I had the option again to be induced. I was dilated at about 1-2, I was 4 days overdue and had recorded high blood pressure. I was ready for the baby to come. I was so frustrated that my body wasn't cooperating and I figured I might as well get induced now then later. Since it wasn't scheduled the Dr. looked in the books and they had an opening in the morning. So we went home and had our last uninterrupted night of sleep. Not know how long, and frustrating the next phase would be. (To be continued..) Again...

Bad Timing

My mom "A" and my sister Amanda flew in from WA on the 25th (4 days before my due date) and were scheduled to fly back on the 1st. The last 2 weeks of my pregnancy I was having a ton of Braxton Hicks Contractions and a lot of mucus discharge. It felt like period cramps and they would come and go so I was really positive something was going to happen while they were here. They flew in on the night of the 25th and then the next morning Ken, Mom, Amanda and I went to what I was hoping to be my last appointment. We all went into the apt with a positive attitude and then it kind of crashed. I was only 1 cm dilated. The Dr stripped my membranes (most uncomfortable thing ever) hoping that would make things happen. She suggested I start taking an herb called Evening Primrose Oil orally and then take one as a vaginal suppository at night before bed. She also suggested walking and sex. Well every day after that apt we spent walking around, we went everywhere the malls, the NEX, the different bases to see all the ships, the ocean front, it was a lot of walking for a very pregnant lady with swollen feet. Luckily my mom would rub them every night (she's awesome)!!
We counted the days down to my due date which came and went, the Dr called and wanted to set up an apt for the 31st to check my vitals and check on the baby make sure everything was good. At this apt I was still only 1 cm dilated. The Dr. at this apt was actually my favorite one and I wish I would have seen her more throughout my pregnancy. She stripped my membranes again and it didn't hurt as much as the first time and caused some bleeding which she said would be a sign it was working, my cramping also increased. At this apt however my blood pressure was elevated. She checked it three times and thought it would be best if I went into the labor and delivery to be checked out. They checked me and my blood pressure had gone back down, they did an ultrasound and the baby looked well. The Dr came in and wanted to know if I wanted to be induced (I had a scheduled induction on the 6th in case I didn't start labor on my own). I talked with my mom, sister and Ken and we decided it was best to not start the induction. They were leaving at 4 am and we were all a little concerned that I might still be in labor by then and Ken would have to leave in the middle of it to take them to the airport. We also wanted to see if my body would go into labor on its own to reduce the possibility of a C-Section. So we went home and in the morning drove my mom and sister to the airport. I loved the fact they came to be with me during this time and I really enjoyed and cherished every minute with them. I wish they could have stayed just two more days.... (To Be Continued)