We arrived at the hospital about 11am to prepare for surgery. The doctor came in and verified that the baby was still breech. (which she was) After this, the nurses prepared me for surgery. (Ok… now I started to get a little nervous, because I knew that it was ‘real’ at this point.

After the nurses etc got me prepared, I walked into the OR. The anethsesiologist gave me my spinal block, and we were ready to get underway. They did the pain test to make sure that I wasn’t feeling pain. I could still feel things but at that point nothing was really painful.

So the doctor made her inscision, and i could tell that she had made her cut, but it didn’t hurt. Then they started with the levers, and pulling and tugging. That hurt really bad. So they gave me Fentynal which is one of the strongest narcotics known. That didn’t seem to help so they gave me some local lidocaine and marcaine (which is like what you get at the dentist) in the spot. I was still in a LOT OF PAIN. Some of the nurses, etc compared it to intense labor pain! They had never seen anyone react painfuly to the procedure. Usually it numbs you up pretty good.

I could hear the anesthesiologist, “here comes baby”, and I did hear the baby cry, and I just cried and cried. The baby was real! I really had a baby in my belly! They brought her over to me so I could see her. She looked soo pouty at this point. But she was definitely cute!

Jason and I decided miss K!

K’s pouty look

They told me that her leg was swollen, and that they needed to take her away…After they took her away the lidocaine etc still didn’t work either, so finally they gave me nitrous oxide, and I didn’t care about much after that. After I started dozing off I sent Jason to go check on K.

Monday afternoon they told me that she ended up being in a really really tough position, and was extremely hard to deliver. When the doctor was finally able to lift her pelvis out of my abdomen she heard a pop. They did X-Rays on her, and she broke her femur 😦 Poor little thing.

K in the level 2 nursery

At first they thought she would require surgery, and that she would have to be transfered to Gillette that night, but they got a hold of some ortho-pod surgeons, and they didn’t think it was nesicary. But we would need to follow up.

She had to live in the level 2 nursery for the entire time that we were there. So it was pretty sad for me (mom). The only way I could go and see her is if I went down there. This I think was the hardest part. I went thru 39 weeks of a less than stellar feeling pregnancy, had a very difficult delivery, and then couldn’t even see my little bunny right away :(. I did manage to get down to the nursery quite a bit tho. So, after major abdominal surgery it was really tough at first, because you’re so sore, and you can’t move… and you feel so helpless… but because I got up so much it actually helped me heal faster. Jason was an absolute MILLION DOLLAR DIAMOND because he helped me SO MUCH! I couldn’t have done any of it without him! Not the pregnancy, delivery, or recovery. He has been absolutely great!

Jason, K and me in the level 2 “family” room

This morning (Thursday 11/15/07) we were all released from the hospital and we drove down to Gillette. Nobody told me the first time you have your baby in the car you’re a paranoid mess. I was SOOO scared of everyone on the road.

K all bundled up for the car ride to Gillette

The ortho-pod Dr. E saw her, and fit her for her little brace. It’s kind of like what adults wear if they break a colar bone. Exept for your hips. So… we got her home, and we’re all relaxing now… well I am off for the evening. If anyone wants to call please do so, we’ll be here!

Finally Home

Baby…

You have hereby been evicted from the uterus. You must pack your belongings and remove yourself from the premisses no later than 1:30pm on 11/12/07 or you will be taken by force.

Sincerely,

Your Mother.

Well I will probably start blogging more often about my feelings etc. It seems like this 38 weeks have gone by so fast! Four more days and I find out when the C-Section will be!

Yesterday I felt really uncomfortable on my way home from work. The baby was actually hurting me! If these were Brax Hix contractions, I am in a world of hurt if I actually go into labor. However I can’t even be sure that it was contractions, because it wasn’t something that I could time, it was just painful the whole time. My back, and my ribs were hurting to the point of tears! I think she was nuzzling her head up in my ribs or doing something, either way it was not cozy for momma.

Perhaps the doctor can scan me again on Tuesday and see if our stubborn baby has decided to do gymnastics and turn herself. (Not counting on it (the fact that she flipped), but it’s a good thought!) Regardless, she (the doc) said before she does the spinal block on C-Section day she will scan me to make sure she (the baby) hasn’t gone to a head-down position, so that’s good at least.

I am a bit nervous for the surgury. I’m a little scared about the spinal block, only because that has to be a really weird feeling, of loosing all of your feeling; waist down! Also because I have read that shorter people can sometimes have the numbing agent come up to high, and make them short of breath. I’m sure the doctors, and anesthesiologist will be there, and help me out if a problem should arise.

The actual surgury I know will be fine, because I will not feel anything. But the idea of having my arms straped down sounds a bit terrifying, so I am going to ask my doctor on Tuesday if I can leave my arms free, or at least one of them. Jason will be there the whole time, so that is definitely re-assuring.

And I am scared for when the numbing agent wears off. Am I going to want to die? Is it going to be the worst pain of my life? I am sad I won’t be able to move around freely during her first few days/weeks of life, but Jason is taking off work to help out, so that is definitely a bonus on my side, plus it will help him to bond with her a little more quickly.

Sometimes we turn on the baby swing, and Tyler gets all nervous about what it is. It’s cute to watch him, especially if he gets too close, and the chair hits him, he gets kind of spooked. But then we shut it off, and he just sniffs it. I think he will be really good with the baby.. (until she starts crying!)

I’m nervous, scared, and beyond excited all at the same time!

What a great feeling!!!

Well we now have a new birth plan! The origional plan was to go to labor at home as long as possible, and then go in to the hospital… have dim lights, relaxing music on the CD player, utilize the birthing ball, and to have the baby vaginally, with our without drugs. That didn’t matter. I was basically going to just take it one contraction at a time.

Today I went in for my 37/38 week appointment, and found out that our baby is breech! She was breech at my 21 week ultrasound, as well as my 28 week ultrasound, however the doctors weren’t worried, because there was always time to flip. Well our little turkey has decided that she likes to be upright, because there is no evidence that she is going to flip her head to a down position.

The doc gave me two choices. Either try external version, or schedule a C-Section.

External version is where they try to flip the baby by use of a lot of pressure, and hand placement. This is done in the hospital and is closely monitored because the risks are high. Your water can break during the process, baby can become distressed, or the umbilical cord can get wrapped around their neck. If these situations arise you need to have an emergency c-section. However the plus side is 50% of the time, the doctor can flip them to a head-down position.

Well we (Jason and I) went back and forth with it and decided just to schedule the C-Section. Our biggest concern is that something could go wrong during the version, and then I would need an emergency C-Section. Furthermore the procedure only has a 50-65% sucess rate at best, so it’s kind of like flipping a coin, for something that is apparently very painful.

So I will call the doc tomorrow, and after we have the “Delivery Date” scheduled I will post. Wish us luck! We love you all 🙂

Well I am comming into the homestretch. Soon it will all be done and over with! I guess for the most part it has gone by pretty quickly when I look back, but while I am in the moment it feels like the middle of November will never come! She is almost considered full term now, so she can definitely come early if she wants to. I will not complain at all! I have noticed her moving a lot more, and it’s either because she is bigger now, and I can really feel her, or because she is packing up her little cocoon to come out into the world. Maybe both… I definitely feel the weight of my belly these days, and getting out of bed, off the couch, or out of a chair is becomming a chore! Also my tiredness has reached an all time high of ridiculous. I am tired all of the time, and not sleeping through the night is definitely not helping. I guess she is preparing me for the first few months of mother-hood. I do miss my full nights rest though.

We’re already training the animals not to touch her things. We set the pack n’ play up with the bassinete in the room and have (I think) successfully taught the kitty that its not his bed to share with the baby. I keep a spray bottle close so if the cat even thinks about it, he will get a blast full of water. We’ve also put out the bouncy seat in the living room to teach them not to crowd it, or touch it. I have a baby shower this upcomming weekend, and then we will finish off the baby’s room. It seems to be comming together now!

So we have, give or take about 62 days left until our daughter arrives. As you know by now, we’ve chosen not to name her until she is here. Our list of names is growing by the week.

I am definitely enjoying the cool down, and the Fall Season as opposed to the Summer. This summer was very hot, and without central air things were a little steamy in the home.  Our sunflowers our blooming in the fall sun, and they look gorgeous.

Today Jason put together the crib, and it looks fantastic. The girl’s room is a light yellow with a green border, and the black wood of the crib just jumps out. It’s very majestic in her room.

Everything is going great with my pregnancy. She is getting bigger and bigger all the time… (where is this baby going to fit?). I now have a line down my belly (The Line of Neigra). Other than the constant nausea, a little trouble moving around, and a bit of back pain, I have no complaints. 

Until next time, take care, and God Bless!

Status update: All is well with mother to be, I am growing bigger every day, which is an awkward feeling for me since I am so little…

All of these choices and decisions. First there is daycare that you have to consider… Someone that you trust enough to send your child to their house for 8-10 hours a day, 5 days a week. That is a pretty hefty choice. Luckily enough we’ve gotten in with my nephews mom, so I feel very confident about that.

Health insurance was another big decision for us. To put her on our insurance would cost us nearly $300 a month, and Jason gets laid off in the winter, so that isn’t a very viable option either… so we looked into individual health plans. Luckily again I think we’ve found a health plan that sounds pretty good.

And then of course there are other things to consider too, parenting, breastfeeding, etc etc etc.

Names? We’re still adding names to our “LIST” we’ve not chosen a name 100% because we a.) still like some other ones, and b.) we want to get a good look at her before we name her… so in no particular order here is the list of names (first only):

1.) Kirra
2.) Morgan
3.) Bailey
4.) Brianna
5.) Jordan

Why is it, that our baby girl likes to “party like a rockstar” when I am trying to go to bed? Every night without fail, she decides that is her time to party. Although… today at church when everyone was singing she decided to dance a little. She moves a few times an hour I notice, and more times at certain hours than others…

My “morning” sickness is more or less the same. It’s a little better I suppose, but I still have my days. Such is life… I will feel better in November I guess…

Being pregnant is definetly an experience! Somedays I absolutely love it, and other days, it’s really tough.. Not too many headaches, knock on wood, heartburn only really exists if I don’t eat “right on time” or at night when I am trying to fall asleep… oh which leads me to another subject! Trying to sleep with a mini watermellon in my belly really is difficult. I’ve always been a belly sleeper, and obviously this isn’t comfortable at all. Luckily I have never been a back sleeper so that is not an issue for me… someday I will get used to sleeping stricktly on my side… pillows have helped!!! I have to have my blessings though… so far I have not had swollen feet, which looks very painful… and I don’t have the mask of pregnancy, or the Lina Niegra (whatever).

My next appointment is in 2 weeks, and i can’t wait to hear her little heart again! It’s definitely my favorite part…

Till’ next time… thanks for reading 🙂

Well the Ultrasound is in 5 days, and we should know if the baby is a boy or a girl. Top new contenders for names are Lane for a boy, and Alexi for a girl.

You might think Lane is a strange name, but it’s kind of after Lane Frost, the famous bull rider… you know, from the movie 8 seconds. This is one of me and Jason’s favorite movies. If it is a boy, there is a very good chance our baby’s name will be Lane. We’re not 100% sure, but who knows…

We’re excited to see the baby on the monitor, and see that it is healthy etc.