My Montage 6/16/10 at OneTrueMedia.com

Here are all the pictures we have so far! Many more to come!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Baby Photo Shoot

The last day at the hospital, Leah got her newborn pictures taken. She did such a good job with the photo shoot! She let the photographer turn her this way and that. The funniest part is that we brought ONE homecoming outfit with us to the hospital, which we had on her for her pictures. Half way through the pictures, we smell something funny...she had pooed through her diaper, up her back, all over her outfit, and on the photographers sheet! We panicked and called the nurse in to assist in the diaper change, and the rest of the pictures were of naked baby. She had to wear a hospital t-shirt home! We tried washing the outfit, but it is stained and ruined. Enjoy the video!

The Big Day Finally Arrives

WOW! We got to the hospital Thursday night at 4:00 to get things rolling with the delivery. At 6:30 pm the doctor gave me a medication that is supposed to last 12 hours, and is only supposed to soften the uterus to get ready for the induction, which was going to take place at 6:30 am Friday morning. On Thursday night, the nurse gave me a sleeping pill so I could get a good nights sleep before the big shabang in the morning. No biggie, right?

Wrong! At 2:30 in the morning, I wake up in an extreme amount of pain. It must have been bad to wake me after taking a sleeping pill! I called the nurse in, and after being checked, found that I was already 5 cm dialated! They took me straight to labor and delivery and (thankfully) gave me a glorious epidural. They told us to get some sleep, and they would still start the meds for the induction at 6:30.

At 6:30, we started the meds, and I started dialating so fast that I was already 9 cm by 7:30. Dr. Stewart was called, but almost didn't get there in time! The nurses told me NOT to push until he got there. At 8:00 the doctor arrived and could already see the head. I pushed for about 20 minutes, and he pulled her out with forcepts. At the time he said the forcepts were just to "speed things along". We found out later that she had the cord wrapped around her neck and her heart rate was dropping, so he needed to get her out fast. I'm glad he didn't tell me that until she was safe in our arms!!

Getting Ready For Hospital

We made it! Week 39. We leave in a few hours to go to the hospital to be induced and our little angel should be here by tomorrow afternoon/evening. Just a update on recent events...
Last night around midnight Josh had to take our dog Max to emergency because he ate a mini-pad and was throwing up everything he ate. They didn't see anything on the x-ray, so he brought in home. They got home around 2:30 in the morning, but in the meantime, I had been having contractions from 12:30 and they were every 6 minutes and they HURT. So we called the doctor around 3:00 in the morning, and he sent us to labor and delivery. So far, neither of us had any sleep. Of course, the contractions stopped once we got there, but they had to keep me for a few hours. I got some sleep, but poor Josh didn't and he froze his bum off! We got home around 7:00, and then at 11:30, Josh had to rush Max back to the vet. He will probably have to have surgery, and Susan will have to pick him up later because we will be in the hospital! What a horrible 12 hours! We are worried about Max, and stressed about the new baby. Our next post will hopefully be more cheerful...pics of the baby and a healthy Max!!!

37 weeks

Only 2 weeks left to go! I don't have any full length mirrors in my house, so I truly had no idea that I looked like a house until today at school when I caught a glimpse in the girls bathroom mirror! YIKES!

The Date Is Scheduled!

So, I went to the doctor today for a regular visit. While he is measuring my belly, this is the conversation that began:

Doctor: So, you know you aren't going to go full term?
Me: What? No. I didn't know that. Why? How can you tell?
D: I can't tell, I can just make it happen.
M: Why? Is something wrong?
D: No. Nothing interesting happens between week 39 and week 40, so we might as well get her out.
M: Why? Is something wrong?
D: No. But because of your history, I would like her out. We will induce a week early?
M: What day?
D: June 11th.

So there you have it!

34 weeks...almost there!

Well, we are almost at the end of week 34! I feel like I'm about to explode any minute. The baby is measuring at about 36 weeks, so she is going to be a big girl. The doctor said the closer we get to 37 weeks, the better chance we have of taking her home with us from the hospital instead of her having to spend time in the NICU. She moves like crazy and I swear she is going to be born with hiccups! Sleeping is just starting to get uncomfortable and my weight is just slightly shocking. I'm managing to keep it under control by eating healthy snacks, and of course running up and down 3 flights of stairs every day as I transport 2nd graders to specials, lunch, computer lab, etc. The parents of my
students are actually taking bets on when I will go into labor. The baby room is finished, all the clothes are washed, and my hospital bag is packed (a little early, I know, but I don't want to be one of those people throwing stuff in the bag on my way out the door!). We are getting VERY excited and can't wait to meet her!