December 19, 2009

Life as a Momma


So far I LOVE being a mother.  I'm sure people think there is no possible way NOT to love it but I have to admit...it's not always easy!  There have been a couple fussy times with Ava where I just feel so helpless and wonder what the heck I need to do to make her happy!  The worst was yesterday with Ann Crevilli at my parents house...I think Ava sensed the stress the moment she walked in the door and as soon as Ava started to cry, Ann wouldn't shut the fuck up!  She kept telling me what do, what I was doing wrong, how I shouldn't let anybody but me hold Ava, how I shouldn't even be at my moms house yet and how I wasn't even holding my daughter correctly.  I seriously was so frustrated which I'm sure Ava could sense...I know Ann was just trying to be "helpful" but I don't want to be around "helpful" people right now.  If I'm dealing with my child, let me do just that and don't interfere or judge me.  That's the crazy thing...Ava has NEVER (I say that like she's been around forever lol) been like that!  Poor baby  :(  Anyways, other than that dramatic experience things have been going really well.  Breastfeeding is a full time job but we're a pretty good team and John's been really supportive.  I introduced the pacifier today while we were on a short walk...she enjoyed it but I think I'll try and limit the use until I know she's gaining weight from feedings.

Oh, and my "I'm a dumb shit" moment of the day!  I was changing a wet diaper and took the wet diaper out from under her...just as I was grabbing the clean diaper to put under her-she pooped all over the blanket!!! Lol!!!  The poop was yellow for the first time so that's all that mattered to me...I just felt so silly because John just told me to be careful about this yesterday  :)  I have a feeling I'll be learning by trial and error a lot over the next few months-actually probably the rest of my life to be honest.

John is golfing right now...he's playing with Johnny Drama from Entourage-I don't know his real name!  Mom is coming over to help give Ava a bath and then Caitlin, Dana and Drew are stopping by before their Christmas party tonight.  

Oh, and last night we all got 6 hours of sleep in our own beds!  Well, not Ava's crib but the bassinet in our room.  She's pretty much waking up every 1.5 hours and feeding for 30 mins which is a huge increase from yesterday.  Dr McClaren said that she should be feeding ever 2 hours so we're on track now...Ava weighed in at 6 lbs 9 oz at the appointment so it's really important she doesn't lose more.  We go back Monday just to be on the safe side but I think I'll be fine since my milk is finally coming in.

December 16, 2009

Some Baby Pictures






The 3 of us...
Mommy and Grandpa
Ava with Grandma and Grandpa

Right before pushing-yes...I put on make up

December 15, 2009

Ava is Here!

So I want to start from the beginning of my labor story and get it all down before I forget.  My last update was around 6:30 yesterday morning...I was having some cramping.  Dr. Katz came in around 8 and did an exam and gave me the gel.  I was about 3 cm.   Everything was fine for about 2 minutes, then I started heavy contractions!  I would say my pain went from a 3 to a 8 immediately!!  I decided to get the epidural and by 830 that was done.  Getting the epi was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be-definitely less pain than one contraction!  John was great and held my hand as I got it and he later told me that the needle was HUGE!!!  I'm glad he kept that information to himself at the time  :)

I was feeling great, couldn't even feel my contractions.   Dr. Katz came in again around 9 and broke my water.  She also did an exam and I was up to 4 cm!!!  Mom and Dad came soon after and we all hung out for awhile...I was in absolutely no pain and happy to have everybody there to keep me company.  My parents took off around 10:30 and at 11 the nurse examined me and I was 6 cm!  I was surprised how quickly this was all moving along and started texting a few people give updates...Elissa wrote back that she went from 7 to 10 in about 20 minutes!  I was in shock so I called Mom and Dad and told them they should probably get here sooner than later.

Sure enough around 12-1230ish the nurse covering for my other nurse came in and said "you're ready to go!" I didn't really understand and asked her if I was at 10 cm--she said "yep, and you're ready to push!"  I was feeling a lot of pressure and thought for sure I was peeing my pants every couple minutes but they said it was the amniotic fluid.  So when my nurse got back from lunch around 1 they got me all set up and we started to push around 130.  We decided to have Mom in the delivery room taping which I'm so thankful I did...she didn't miss a thing but recorded the perfect angle (not too much).  The pushing was bearable and John was the best partner ever!  I looked in the mirror a couple times which was helpful-It was super motivating to see the hair on her head and made me want to push even harder-lol.  By 2ish Dr. Katz was there and things really went smoothly until the very end-I started to feel some pain.  By the time they got more meds in me we were just moments away.  Ava Rose Makely was born at 2:17pm December 14th 2009!!!!  It was the most amazing moment in my life and I was so elated to hear her first cry.  It felt like I was floating with joy...I was so happy to finally meet my little princess and I think all the meds were kicking in at the exact same time lol.  My entire body was tingly with pure happiness :)

Ava is absolutely beautiful!  She weighed in at 7 pounds 5 ounces.  I was so happy to hear that she was perfectly healthy that nothing else mattered at this point.  Not to mention I had the PERFECT delivery (no tear, no c/s, no horrible pain, no H's, nothing!)  We've been successfully working on breast feeding which is going to be a learning process for both of us but we'll get it!

Anyways, my computer is about to die and I'm tired but next post I'll put pictures on :)  I'm glad I got this down!

December 14, 2009

Hospital Update #1

So I think I'm actually having a contraction right now....to be perfectly honest it just feels like severe and sudden period cramps that only last a couple seconds.  We checked in around 830 last night after going to Cheesecake Factory for dinner with Mom and Dad.  Last night when Diane, my nurse, measured me I was at a 2 and 70% and now with the medicine this morning I'm at a 3 and 80%.  There are two other mommas-to-be doing the exact same thing with the same doctor today.  They both already had their epidurals!!!  I have an imaginary goal of waiting until I'm at at 5 but realistically I'm just going to go as long as I can.  It kinda scares me that they both got it already....like am I doing something wrong?  Are they further along then me already?  The nurse said they both came in having contractions so maybe that has something to do with it.  Ahhh,  I think I'm having another contraction right now and my belly is really hard on top....I take it back, not as painful as it was before.

So I guess Dr. Katz will come in around 7ish and give me the gel to speed up the process.  I'll try to write again after that but I'm sure at some point soon I won't want to be near a computer.  Right now John is just sleeping and I can't sleep with the cramping so it's pretty much just a waiting game.

December 12, 2009

Hospital Here We Come...

I'm really glad Davis was here this weekend-it flew by!  I can't believe we're going in to have a baby tomorrow!!  We went to Jason and Yvonne's to celebrate Hannukah and Yvonne's birthday and I met a lady who was like, "oh, when are you due?" I kind of giggled and said "Tomorrow!!"  Never thought I would be out and about this far along but to be honest I feel pretty damn good!  I really don't think I look as pregnant as other women look at 9 months...thanks Daddy for making me tall!

I think I have my hospital stuff packed
Diaper bag
2 swaddle blankets
2 Newborn outfits w/footsies and bibs
2 hats
1 box of See's chocolates for the nurses
 
Duffle Bag
1 Hot Diggity Dog
1 Pink Robe
1 pair of pink slippers
1 knee length vera wang nightgown
2 pair warm socks
1 big brother shirt for Davis
For Dad-boxers, sleep pants, shirt, thermal, white shirt
4 packs of gum
Breast Pads
Overnight Pads
Thank You cards
Body Wash, Shampoo, Conditioner, Deodorant, Lotion
Juicy Pants to wear home (I figure I'll wear the same shirt I wear in)

Macbook-need to pack last thing tomorrow
Laptop
Charger
Upload cord
Iphone
Phone Charger
Camera
Camera Charger


Still need-make up, hair brushes, face wash, Boppy or Breast Friend, and lanisohl cream!

December 10, 2009

December 10th-37 weeks 5 days-One week to go!

I'll probably be updating this post later but I'm up now at 6am so I thought I would write since watching the season finale of Top Chef doesn't even seems to take my mind off our baby!!   We have an internal exam today at 11 and I think both John and I are a little anxious this time.  For the first time this entire pregnancy John is getting a little nervous with her coming so soon.  I woke up this morning to find him sleeping on the couch...quite a turn of events lol!  The best thing for us is to not worry about it...we need to get in all the sleep we can!  The good thing is that we literally have at least one of everything we need and we both will have every minute of everyday (for the first couple weeks of her life) to be devoted to making this work.  I wonder how we'll ever come up with a schedule that works...hopefully it includes 20 minutes of me time to do my hair and make up everyday but for some reason I think that won't make it to the top of the list lol...we'll see soon enough!

So we just got back from Dr Katz's office and we're going in on Sunday night and having her the 14th!  She said I am 2 cm dialated and 80% effaced and that the chance of even having to use pitocin is low.  I'm really excited but nervous all at the same time.  I just want Ava to come into the world a healthy baby...I don't even care how much pain I go through if I can see a healthy baby girl at the end of it all.

December 8, 2009

Why Isn't She Moving?

So this morning I woke up like any other morning...Took the pups on a walk and did some random chores before heading out to my massage at ten with Peggy.  When I got home and got out of the shower I realized I hadn't felt her moving ALL morning!  Usually when I'm getting a massage I feel her kicking around since I'm just laying there, but nothing.  Then I ate a half of a PB&J and laid down to see if she woke up...still nothing.  I told John and he said not to worry but I couldn't help myself so I called Dr. Katz's office.  I spoke to Wendy, since Dr. Katz is out til Thursday, and she told me to head over to labor and delivery asap.

So on my way over to the hospital I thought I felt her move around a little bit...then as I was waiting to check in, I definitely started to feel her.  Why did it take her this long???  By the time John came she was back to her usual self, kicking and pushing around.  Because we were already at the hospital we decided to go ahead and do the fetal monitoring...sure enough, everything is fine and I'm just a paranoid mommy to be!  

Anyways, I'm 37 weeks 3 days and 10 days until my scheduled induction.  I'm scared and don't know if I should be induced or wait for her to come on her own....we're going to an appointment on Thursday so I'll know more after that. 

December 3, 2009

36 weeks 5 days

I have a feeling days are going to CREEP by for the next two weeks....lol!  Ava's been in a great mood though moving around A LOT.  We have been playing a game tonight where I hit my belly where her feet are and then she kicks back!  It's been really entertaining for me for the last two hours on the couch!!!  I'm seriously going to die waiting two whole weeks to see my precious little baby girl!

December 2, 2009

36 weeks 4 days-16 days left!!!

So we're getting REALLY excited to finally meet our little girl!  We can't believe it's already December and now with just two and a half weeks left it just feels so real yet so surreal at the same time...I read through all my pregnancy posts and realize that 9 months really does fly right by (even though it doesn't feel like it especially at the beginning when I was so worried)  I just hope that we're prepared to have a baby in the house...I can only do so much and I think without her here it's impossible to know.  We do have all the necessities though...plenty of diapers and wipes, a swing, a pack and play, crib, ext.  I do wonder if I'm going to want a glider in the nursery...as of right now we have the couch with a little ottoman so I guess we'll try it out and if it doesn't work I guess we can always go buy a glider no problem.

It shocks me a little bit that John and I didn't take one baby class...I hope we're not in for a big disaster.  When I went over to Elissa's to visit Landon it seemed like that was just as good as any baby care basic class...He seems so easy though!  I have a feeling Ava's going to be a bit of a handful...although she's been really good in my tummy.  We'll soon see!  It's crazy-just not knowing but having so many questions!  What's she going to look like?  What color eyes?  Skin?  How much will she weight and how tall will she be?  What kinda baby is she going to be?  How is my delivery going to go?  I hope inducing is a good decision!  Well at least we know one thing...we're going to love this little girl so much!

I still haven't been sleeping well at all...I think a huge part of it is just the anxiety at this point!  I can't stop thinking about Ava...my little girl  :)  Rusty has been a great buddy throughout my sleepless nights...no matter how many times I change rooms or positions, he's right here by my side.  My arm actually is resting on him right now while I type.  I really hope he's ok when Ava comes...I know he loves my complete attention but hopefully we'll all get along great and he'll take well to having a baby in the house.