Here's a list of 10 things on my first 10 days in my experience of being a new mom:
1. One day I did realize at 3:30 in the afternoon that Ryan nor I had eaten anything all day. We remedied that with a stop at Johnnies for burgers after our doctor's visits.
2. I dreamed several nights about bili-rubin counts.
3. Sleep & Showers are now luxuries.
4. Watching my child bleed hurts my heart.
5. So far nothing feels like much of a chore, I know it will probably but right now I actually like changing her, bathing her, dressing her, kissing her, rocking her...
6. You can loose hours of the day just sitting and watching her.
7. It is already going to fast but I'm trying to focus on living in the moment.
8. Watching Ryan hold her and love on her warms my heart.
9. She has a sweet spirit, I think so far she's a very easy baby, I feel like I already know her to be able to know a bit about what her cries might be about and she is easily soothed and content for the most part.
10. I already know next to Ryan, she's the best thing that ever happened to me and I've said many prayers of thanks over these past 10 days for the blessing she is in our life and that I get to be her mom.
Our memory book for this season of young family life - The days can be long but the years will be short, tucking away our golden moments to keep us anchored in the magic of now and the messes that come with it too.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Firsts...
I love getting to share Ava's firsts with her. Today was a big milestone, she went on her first mall trip and was quite the trooper! We were there about 2 hours and she slept the whole time. She didn't make any purchases but we did pick out a mother's day gift for her mimi and got some other items that were on our list.
Here's us about to embark on our outing:
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
who does she look like?
Okay here's Ryan's baby picture from the hospital...
and here's mine at the hospital....
Here's several of Ava at the hospital or just home...
I think she looks a lot like Ryan..
What do you think?
Saturday, April 24, 2010
We're home!
We'll we got home on Thursday about noon. Ryan and I did the first 24 hours by ourselves. I think it went pretty well. The nice thing about being up for 40 hours at the start of this, any sleep I get feels great and refreshing. We did have to go back to Mercy outpatient on Friday to check her jaundice level. I think I was a bit traumatized by the process in holding her while they drained blood from her heal. She screamed and cried but was easily comforted. It turns out her levels were a bit higher and made the need for at home treatment to be done. (Whats so nice is you use to have to just put your baby back in the hospital but now through home health you can do it all at home. So the same day they brought out her lights and the home health nurse called us to explain the process and that she will also come to the house each day to check her levels. My milk was still just comming in so they said she may need supplement formula. Luckily soon after that conversation with the home health nurse, my milk came in great, so we didn't have to use the formula and I am happy to report her levels are already down 3 points since starting the photo therapy yesterday evening, along with me being able to nurse her better. Nurse thinks she could be down enough to be off the lights possibly by tomorrow. So we are hopeful and prayerful that will be the case. I am so thankful she can be treated at home its kind of hard to not get to hold her as much as would like as she has to be under the lights as much as possible and can only come out for feeding and changing. Well thats our latest update. We will keep you posted!
P.S. Thanks so much LB for my new blog lay out, I love it!!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Our birth story...
Here's our birth story...
I was not due till Friday but kept it no secret I was hoping for several reasons that Ava might come on her own before that. Much to my delighted surprise she did just that!
Sunday night (really Monday at 2:00am) I woke up with contractions, they felt very different than the braxton hicks ones I had before. They were pretty mild but consistent every 10 minutes and uncomfortable enough that I couldn't sleep through them, I let Ryan sleep and kept track of them. I checked in with Ryan after a few hours but they hadn't grown closer together and not really more intense. So I was up the rest of the night and they stayed that way. Ryan and I stayed home Monday from work I was just waiting for them to increase in frequency or intensity but they kind of stalled out mid day going to about 20 minutes apart and being mild enough I could sleep, or I was tired enough I got to sleep about two hours.
One the roughest times was right after delivery they had a bit of trouble stopping my bleeding. I was really woosy and couldn't stop shaking uncontrollably. It took a bit of time and some shots of meds but they got me all done and bleeding controlled. I tried to sit the head of my bed up to fast to try to hold her and then ended up throwing up 3 times. They kept a check on my blood count the next day and it was low but up enough to not need any transfused blood.
This pic is where I couldn't hold her yet because I was too weak and was having hard time staying awake and was about to throw up:
Finally! the moment I get to hold her in my arms and love on her:
It was a crazy few days I would be up for most this day too happily visiting with family and just getting to know her! Total was up most of the last 40 hours before got some sleep. Some of the most memorable 40 hours of my life. I spent so much time in prayer throughout this process, so grateful for this tremendous blessing and all the ways I know God's hand was in this. Can't believe how much I already love this girl!
I was not due till Friday but kept it no secret I was hoping for several reasons that Ava might come on her own before that. Much to my delighted surprise she did just that!
Sunday night (really Monday at 2:00am) I woke up with contractions, they felt very different than the braxton hicks ones I had before. They were pretty mild but consistent every 10 minutes and uncomfortable enough that I couldn't sleep through them, I let Ryan sleep and kept track of them. I checked in with Ryan after a few hours but they hadn't grown closer together and not really more intense. So I was up the rest of the night and they stayed that way. Ryan and I stayed home Monday from work I was just waiting for them to increase in frequency or intensity but they kind of stalled out mid day going to about 20 minutes apart and being mild enough I could sleep, or I was tired enough I got to sleep about two hours.
Here's Rory keeping me company during that time:
I had some girl friends come by that evening around dinner time. The visit was nice to distract from the growing discomfort of the contractions getting closer and more intense. I got to eat a yummy dinner Ryan made us and a friend brought me a Sonic Blast. At about 10:00pm the contractions really picked up speed, moving to about 5-7 minutes apart. Ryan has to start really helping relieve some pain but putting counter pressure on my back with his fist to get through the contractions. We decide to head to the hospital as they were about 5:00 minutes apart. (We were following the guidelines from our child birth class and had wanted to labor at home with early labor as long as possible).
We head to the hospital and no joke we get pulled over by cop on the way for speeding. Ryan says, "I'm sure you hear this all the time but my wife is actually in labor and we are on our way to the hospital". We got out of the ticket but this interaction of course took longer than I thought it should. We arrive at the hospital they check us out in triage part of labor and delivery. They said they would monitor me for an hour to see if I made progress and then would admit me if so. Well that one hour made lots of "progress" contractions got highly intense. Ryan's poor wrist, all the pain was in my lower back during contractions so I would have him push on the middle of my lower back to help to give some counter pressures and sometimes the contractions were coming on top of each other, hard to get much relief. After an hour I had made "progress" and was admitted, got my IV and hour after that we were in our room and the epidural doc came. Love love love the epidural doc. Procedure went great, I did not feel one moment of pain from that time on. So wonderful, pain free! that time was so nice, Ryan and I talked, listened to music, spent time in prayer, he got some shut eye, I got some here and there but was really just too flooded with emotions to sleep much of any time. I slowed down a little on labor after the epidural but not much, each time they checked me after that I made progress.
At about 11:10 am it was time to start pushing. Pushing went great and she officially was born at 11:47am. Ryan cut the umbilical cord. They put her on my stomach right away so I got say hello for a moment before they took her to get cleaned up and finish working on me. She got a 10 out of 10 on her Apgar score.
I asked Ryan ahead of time to stay with her even though it was the same room, I wanted him to be there for her. He got to hold her for about half an hour before I was recovered enough to hold her. Ryan did really great through all of it, he puts up a big front sometimes of being a tough guy and his sarcastic humor but he supported me in every way. After she was born I also got a sweet surprise, my "push present" a pair of diamond earrings, lucky me that Ava's birthstone happens to be diamonds!
One the roughest times was right after delivery they had a bit of trouble stopping my bleeding. I was really woosy and couldn't stop shaking uncontrollably. It took a bit of time and some shots of meds but they got me all done and bleeding controlled. I tried to sit the head of my bed up to fast to try to hold her and then ended up throwing up 3 times. They kept a check on my blood count the next day and it was low but up enough to not need any transfused blood.
This pic is where I couldn't hold her yet because I was too weak and was having hard time staying awake and was about to throw up:
Finally! the moment I get to hold her in my arms and love on her:
It was a crazy few days I would be up for most this day too happily visiting with family and just getting to know her! Total was up most of the last 40 hours before got some sleep. Some of the most memorable 40 hours of my life. I spent so much time in prayer throughout this process, so grateful for this tremendous blessing and all the ways I know God's hand was in this. Can't believe how much I already love this girl!
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
More Maternity Pics...
Here's some more of my favorites from our maternity photo shoot with my friend Katie H., I'm about 36 weeks here...
Friday, April 16, 2010
good and not so good... week 39.
not so good: My Dr. informs us this week she will be in Hawaii for all of next week starting Wed, offered to induce me before she left but I declined, I hope her on call person is good. I do love my dr and am a little sad she may not deliver Ava.
good: Showing some more signs that I'm progressing and that she'll come on her own without needing induction and so maybe my doctor will get to deliver her.
good: I got everything I really needed too done today at work.
not so good: The house is a bit of a mess but I'm not really feeling like cleaning tonight.
good: so many sweet and wonderful gifts for Ava from so many generous loved ones and friends.
not so g00d: my progress on getting out Thank You notes, I had this not realistic plan that I would have all those done before Ava comes, not looking so good.
not so good: I feel a bit sad about not being able to go on our class's marriage retreat this weekend.
good: Ryan and I are planning a date night instead and will finish up the house preparations.
good: Car seat is installed and has been inspected by certified car seat installer (Thanks Roxy!)
Not so good: Still need to finish up the packing in the hospital bag.
The Best: Lord willing, she'll be in our arms soon!
good: Showing some more signs that I'm progressing and that she'll come on her own without needing induction and so maybe my doctor will get to deliver her.
good: I got everything I really needed too done today at work.
not so good: The house is a bit of a mess but I'm not really feeling like cleaning tonight.
good: so many sweet and wonderful gifts for Ava from so many generous loved ones and friends.
not so g00d: my progress on getting out Thank You notes, I had this not realistic plan that I would have all those done before Ava comes, not looking so good.
not so good: I feel a bit sad about not being able to go on our class's marriage retreat this weekend.
good: Ryan and I are planning a date night instead and will finish up the house preparations.
good: Car seat is installed and has been inspected by certified car seat installer (Thanks Roxy!)
Not so good: Still need to finish up the packing in the hospital bag.
The Best: Lord willing, she'll be in our arms soon!
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Super Saturday!
Well there wasn't much of a good time for Ryan and I to go on a baby-moon trip. We just went to Key West less than a year ago and we've been busy with baby preparations, remodeling, CPA exams, etc. So planned a little day of in-town fun as last hoo-rah before the new adventure of parenthood begins.
So today being one of last Saturday's before Ava arrives, The fun included starting the day with my last pre-natal massage, then on to lunch with the girls at The Market, did some shopping, got pedicures and made a stop at the Great American Cookie Factory. Tonight Ryan and I grilled out and rented a movie. Here's some pics from the festivities:
Pedicures!
So today being one of last Saturday's before Ava arrives, The fun included starting the day with my last pre-natal massage, then on to lunch with the girls at The Market, did some shopping, got pedicures and made a stop at the Great American Cookie Factory. Tonight Ryan and I grilled out and rented a movie. Here's some pics from the festivities:
Baby Bumps!
Enjoying lunch at the Market:
Pedicures!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Project Master Bathroom...Check.
Bathroom remodel is done! Ryan did most of the work himself. We still have some small decorative things to put up but overall this is a finished project. I am so glad this got finished before Ava'a arrival. He put in new lighting, re-textured the walls, painted the walls and ceiling, installed the cabinets, installed new faucets and hung the mirrors. I helped a bit here and there and helped choose colors and fixtures, but can't take credit for much. It really turned out even better than I hoped and so thankful for all the hard work Ryan put into it.
Before:
After:
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Doctor stats
***I think mostly girls read my blog, so they would be the ones interested in this info, if your a boy you probably don't know what this even means but feel free to not read on if you don't want to know any specific pregnancy info that goes along with this late stage of the game***
We went to the doctor today, we are in the every week appointments from here on out. I somehow lost a pound since the last visit, really not sure how that happened.
My hip pains appear to be completely normal, my doctor says walking to induce labor is over-rated so there's no need for me to do that if my hips are hurting.
I usually fluctuate naturally from hyper-responsibility to procrastination. I don't know why but I've not yet packed our hospital bags and we still need to get the car seat. (the reason we don't have our car seat yet should actually be a post of its own, its involves babies R us and a fraud investigation related to a gift card that appears to have gotten cyber stole from us). Doctor was asking if we had done that yet but we have not, Since we are at 37 weeks this Saturday we really should go ahead and get that done. The house is a bit of mess right now I am hoping that nesting thing happen soon but might have to just buckle down and get er done.
So here's the info on our visit today, I am at a 1, 30% effaced, and ultra sound confirms she is head down! Still doesn't mean much to indicate if she will come soon, on time or late but thats the stats. I would really really like to avoid any kind of induction, so I am prayerful and hopefully she won't come too late. Appreciate your prayers for us during this next month.
We went to the doctor today, we are in the every week appointments from here on out. I somehow lost a pound since the last visit, really not sure how that happened.
My hip pains appear to be completely normal, my doctor says walking to induce labor is over-rated so there's no need for me to do that if my hips are hurting.
I usually fluctuate naturally from hyper-responsibility to procrastination. I don't know why but I've not yet packed our hospital bags and we still need to get the car seat. (the reason we don't have our car seat yet should actually be a post of its own, its involves babies R us and a fraud investigation related to a gift card that appears to have gotten cyber stole from us). Doctor was asking if we had done that yet but we have not, Since we are at 37 weeks this Saturday we really should go ahead and get that done. The house is a bit of mess right now I am hoping that nesting thing happen soon but might have to just buckle down and get er done.
So here's the info on our visit today, I am at a 1, 30% effaced, and ultra sound confirms she is head down! Still doesn't mean much to indicate if she will come soon, on time or late but thats the stats. I would really really like to avoid any kind of induction, so I am prayerful and hopefully she won't come too late. Appreciate your prayers for us during this next month.
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