Delivery

Well Daphne from my last post you could tell it was probably time. Daddy and I left the house Sunday 10/24/10 at 11:00AM to go to the hospital to see what was going on. Before we left my contractions were 4 to 5 minutes apart and hurting priddy bad. We got checked in and to our room about 12, when the nurse checked she said I was dilated to a 2 and 90% faced. I wanted to have a natural birth so daddy and I went outside to walk and see if we could get things to progress. We (I) walked for a little over an hour and when we came back at around 1:40pm the nurse checked and we were at a four. The contractions were so painful, more than I had expected. Every time I would get a contraction it would hurt my stomach, my back and the worse part was the pain running down the front of my legs. Also every time I got a contraction my whole body would shake uncontrollably and I was very nausea, throwing up a couple of times. Daddy was very worried about us and convinced me to get the epidural, now I feel like I weenied out and should have tried longer to do it naturally. I got the epidural about 4:30 when I was dilated to a five. After getting the epidural labor was a breeze, I couldn't even feel the contractions anymore. People started to arrive around 5 the first were Aunt Pam and Uncle Tony, followed by Nanny and Papaw then Amanda and Delydia and finally Memaw. Labor was going slow and around 7pm Dr. Vandever came and broke my water, at that time we were at a 6. Also when they broke my water there was some meconium so they started to flush that out, so you would be okay and not get anything in your lungs. I was checked again around 9 and was still at a 6 then at about 10:40 the nurse came in and checked me and I was at a 9. Woo hoo it was almost time to push. The nurse began bringing everything in for the actual labor and somewhere around 11 I began to push. During the pushing your daddy had to leave to go to the bathroom, he actually announced to the nurse and I that he had to go to the front to blow up the toilet. We were both a little dumbfounded I couldn't believe he was really leaving in the middle of it. Well about an hour after pushing your head had crowned so the doctor was called. After waiting on her for what seemed like forever probably about 20 minutes she arrived and I finished pushing. You were born at 12:20am Monday 10/25/10, 7lbs 7oz and 20 1/4 inches long. I will never forget seeing you for the first time, it was amazing. I wanted to hold you right away and it seemed like the doctor was taking forever to suction your airways. It took all I had not to reach out and grab you. Finally you were lyed on my chest and I held you, you had a conehead and I was worried at first but the doctors said that it was normal, it is back to normal now. After they took you to clean you up some, daddy was watching and put your mittens on you right away because he said you were scratching yourself. He loves you so much and wants to protect you from everything. The first time he held you he was absolutely beaming, I regret not getting any pictures of it, but I wasn't in a position to get them. It seemed like it took forever for them to clean me up and let me nurse but it wasn't that long. You latched on so easy and made breastfeeding not too hard. After you were done eating everyone who I mentioned before came into the room to hold you, everyone except Nanny and Papaw who had left earlier because you were taking your sweet time and they had to go to the doctor themselves the next morning. Everyone owweed and awweed over you and said your were perfect. It was an amazing night, that I will never forget!

39 weeks and counting

Daphne, the doctor visit went good today. You heartrate was at 146bpm, I am dilated to a 3 and 60% thinned. We are getting closer, but please hang on til Monday, I really don't want that other doctor delivering you.

Well Daphne Friday night the Texas Rangers made history and won the pendent so they will be going to the world series! Saturday was Mackenzie's birthday she turned 3. On the way home from Mackenzie's party I started getting a little crampy and then started to feel alot of pressure.

Today is Sunday, I didn't sleep very well last night, I was very crampy. Starting at 5 I was having consistant cramping, but sometime after 6:30 I fel back asleep. I woke up at 7:11 with my first real contraction. I have been having frequent contractions since then, but I don't think they are strong enough to go to the hospital. I think the hardest thing is not knowing when is the time to go. Here comes another one........

38 weeks and getting close!

Daphne, we went to the doctor on Friday, your heartbeat was up to 166bpm, that's the highest it's been in awhile. We also found out that I am 2cm dilated and 50% effaced, your head is also very low, the doc said it could be any day now!! I called daddy at about 11 that day to tell him it cold be any day he called back about 2 hours later to see if I was ready to have you yet,lol. Since then daddy has been so helpful and kind. I wish I would have told him along time ago that you could be here any day, boy would my life have been easier!

I have to go to the regular doctor tomorrow because I have some crap going on with my lips. They are swollen with blisters and hurt, this has been going on since two Fridays ago. My biggest fear is it is some kind of infection and I'm not going to be able to kiss you because I will give it to you.

All day today (Monday 18th) I have been having contractions, they are about 20 to 40 minutes apart. This could be early labor, or just practice, only time will tell, but I think I will skip the gym tonight and go get some rest.

False alarm Daphne, you are still not here. It is Thursday now and all yesterday and all night last night, I was very crampy so I thought maybe you were coming. After a hot shower this morning all cramping went away, kinda sad, but I know you are stubborn like me and will come when you are ready.

Ok so the lip mystery is solved, well kinda anyways. I went to the doctor on Tuesday and they told me it was an allergic reaction to something I had ate. At first I thought maybe something in the hot sauce b/c that is when it first started. Then I thought no it was the jalapenos, but sadly after eating a tomato last night I realized it is tomatoes. Tomatoes are my favorite veggie and one of the best things you can eat fresh off the vine during the summer. I have never been allergic to tomatoes and I hope after the pregnancy the allergy goes away and I hope that you do not get it.

Today has been a long day, all of my work at work has been finished, now I am just waiting on you to get here. October has by far been the hardest month only because the closer we get the longer it seems to take. I just really want you here to hold and love and watch you. Since today is Thursday I would like for you to hold off now until Monday because our doctor is not on call this weekend and I do not want that creepy guy doctor delivering you. Also Sunday is Mackenzie's birthday and I don't want you to have to share your birthday with her, I want you to have your own special day!

Week 37

This week has been so busy, today is Wednesday already and I haven't had a chance to write to you before now. Friday night we hung out with Daddy's friends from CA that were staying with us. They are really nice people and we had alot of fun. Saturday I got up made breakfast for everyone then showered, went to Wal-mart, and came home and began making jalapeno poppers and brownies. Oh man will I never make jalapeno poppers again without wearing gloves. On the way out to Iredell that night I felt like my hands were literally on fire, the pain didn't go away until Sunday afternoon.

Your little cousin Mackenzie is very excited about your arrival, she really wants to see you. Mackenzie knows your name is Daphne and that you are in my tummy but she doesn't understand why she can't see you, or how come you wont come out. She pushed on my belly trying to find you until her daddy told her to stop. Later that night I was watching Mickey with her and she wanted to know if you liked Mickey too? She then came up to me and tried to feel you and lifted up my shirt trying to see you and after looking in my belly button (which is hardly there anymore) she gave up.

Our company left Monday morning and man was I so tired at work on Monday. Thur-Sun we stayed up til like 2 or 3 in the morning and then didn't really sleep in the next day so it made for one tired mommy. Daddy and I were discussing getting everything ready for the hospital on Monday night, and he wants to go ahead and load everything in the car now because he thinks he will too nervous to remember anything. I love him so much, he is so cute. I keep trying to explain to him that once labor starts we will have plenty of time, but he still thinks it is like in the movies and he won't have time for anything.

Tuesday after the gym I started to have priddy bad regular cramping, I thought it might really be time for you to come. Once I finished dinner and got off my feet though, the cramping went away and I realized it was a false alarm.

Yowzer little girl, you have become a kicking machine. You have gotten so strong that you can really see you moving in my belly. I took a video of it last night, it is so cool to watch. Daddy says you are trying to find your way out. He keeps saying Daphne tell mommy to let you out.

Tomorrow is the 16th and the day that daddy predicted you to be here, we will have to see but I think he is wrong on this one.

Week 36

Today Daph, while driving back to work from lunch, I saw a newborn baby calf. It made me think that you could come any day, and for the first time I can say we are ready for you! Our hospital bags are packed, the nursery is finished and everything has been checked off my to do list. I still would like to shampoo the carpets before you get here, but it is not a must I can do that once you get here.

Roscoe is now an outside dog, he hates it and it makes me feel bad. I finally kicked Roscoe all the way out when I realized he had gotten fleas in the house, they were/are in the carpet, urghhh..... I swear it seems like we always have some kind of pest living with us. I just realized that when you are older reading this you might think we had a dirty house, but that is not the case. I clean it everyday, we just have bad luck with bugs and skunks and stuff. The fleas are only in our bedroom, where Roscoe spent most of the time, but I am getting bombs tonight to get rid of them.

Last week we had a doctor appointment and you were doing just fine, heartbeat was 155. I also found out that we have to start going to the doctor every week now instead of every other week. It's exciting that we are getting close and kinda a pain because I have to get off work, but you are well worth it. I hope at this weeks appointment they can give me some information, like what position are you in, am I dilated any, are we still on for the same due date. Last Thursday I thought something was wrong with me, my left side hurt so bad, constantly all day. When I got to the doctor and asked them what was going on, they told me it was you. You must have been lying different or pushing on something. I hope you don't decide to do that again.

We took the tour of the hospital last weekend, and for the most part it answered my questions, but it also brought up a concern. We learned that the three doctors in the practice rotate shifts on the weekends, so there is a good chance the doctor I have been using and am comfortable with, will not be the doctor to deliver you, if you come on a weekend, urghhh... I know I have told you to come on a Friday but unless it is Friday the 15th (our doctor is on call then) then please come on a weekday. A Thursday would be best, that way daddy can take off Friday and Monday and have plenty of time with us.

Daddy is already ready for you to get here, I mean like tomorrow would be good with him. Every night he talks to you and says hurry up Daphne, I want you to come out. Daddy thinks you will be here within the next two weeks, I think you will wait on your due date, or longer.

Well Daphne, today is Tuesday and it has started off to be a very good day, lets hope mommy's mood stays that way! One reason I am happy today is because I am wearing a shirt from before I lost weight and it is still big on me. Makes me happy that at 9 months pregnant I am still smaller then I was at my heaviest. Now I know once you get here I can get this weight back off.

Wednesday morning came way too early when you woke up at 4:15am with hiccups. It was so cute, but then I felt bad that my little girl had hiccups and there was nothing I could do to stop them. This morning was really the first time I can remember you keeping me up because you were moving so much. Not only did you have hiccups for about 15 minutes but it felt like you were moving lower and lower into your birth position. I hope this is what I was feeling anyways! Daddy said this morning that he thinks you will be here Oct 16th, I think you will be here between the 29th and 31st. Lets see who wins.

Thursday has been very aggravating!!! Some out of state friends of you dads have come to Texas because their mother died. We said they could stay at the house when they came because the information we were given was that they were coming in November and staying 1 maybe 2 nights. Well this morning daddy got a call from them saying they were in Texas and are going to be here for 2 weeks. I don't want to be selfish but I really wanted these last three weeks before you got here to be special for daddy and I, and I don't want to be playing hostess for them.

Friday was a doctor's appointment, I was disappointed for a few reasons. One, we didn't find out any new information like if we are getting closer to labor or not. Second was I thought I wasn't going to get to have an appointment next week, but after some tears and dwelling over it all weekend, I got things worked out. Good news is your doing great in there and the doctor said you might have dropped since my uterus hadn't grown any from the previous week. Also I weighed this morning and we lost 2 pounds, yippee!