story

So here it is folks. It may be long and you may not care, but I want to document our story here.

I already shared with everyone about Thursday and our trip to the hospital and our trip back home.

So after we returned home I continued to labor and have contractions All day on Thursday throughout the day. I think the longest break was 45 min. Most often 15 to 20 min. apart all day with contractions. Amy was here to help - Thank goodness.
Thursday evening the contractions continued and picked up in strength around Midnight. From Midnight to one is when I figured out that if I was lying or sitting the pain from the contractions was about 10X stronger (I'd later learn this was because Landries head was against my sacrum (sp?))
So from 1:00 a.m. till I got my epidural, I was standing, swaying, walking or kneeling. My hips were killing me and I was so tired.

From 2-2:45 ish I had contractions every 5 min. or less (I was to have contractions 5 min or less solid for an hour before I went in) Then they spread out so we continued to labor at home. The biggest gap was 10 min. 7 min. was my average. Then again from 7:00-7:45 my contractions were on average 4 min. apart then started to spread back out. I was a hormonal mess at this point in pain, and tired and sore from the walking, kneeling, and sitting. Mark was such a trouper. Amy had come over to help me get through the day as I didn't think I should go in yet, out of fear for being sent home. My mom called and after hearing what we had gone through during the night she came over as well. At 8:30 I was told we were going in. I had GREAT fear of being sent back home again.

When we got to the hospital, with me breaking the law and kneeling on the floor board of the car on the ride over I was quickly checked and learned that I was a 5 and fully effaced. I was pleasantly surprised and then VERY nervous I might miss the epidural. I knew I needed sleep and wasn't going to get it without DRUGS!!!

We got in a room and got the IV and the drugs, then I finally got some rest. The rest of the labor went well I got stuck at a nine for a couple of hours with a 'ridge' whatever that means. During this time, I began having some pretty intense back pain, even with the epidural. I also got the shakes, a normal hormonal reaction. The magic people came back in and gave me more drugs, much to my dismay these did NOTHING for my back pain. This is when I learned that the babies head was scrapping my sacrum and that epidurals do NOTHING for bone on bone pain and I'd have that pain till the baby was born. YEAH!!! It was not fun. My doctor came in to see how I was and asked me to push a few times just to see what would happen to the ridge, the next thing I new they were dropping the table and telling me it was time to go. I really thought I'd have some mental prep time before pushing, but that didn't happen.

I then pushed for the next hour and fifteen min. I also learned that I have very sporadic but LONG contractions. I was pushing four times on almost every contraction. The babies heart rate was getting low so they had to give me more stuff through the IV which caused my IV arm to have some pretty bad pain as well (Yes, I'm aware I may be a baby) Mark was an EXCELLENT coach and did a great job of letting me know how I was doing by the tone in his voice. I could tell when I had a good push because his voice would get so exited.

Then finally they said your baby is here. For the first time in about an hour, I opened my eyes just in time to look at Mark so he could tell me that we had a beautiful baby girl. That was the best moment of the day for both Mark and I. Overall we had an excellent experience, but how could you not when what you get at the end is a miracle.

Landrie had swallowed or inhaled some maconium (sp?) so I didn't get to hold her right away :( They took her, in our room, for observation. We stayed in our labor room for a long time and they did not weigh and measure her until they were comfortable with her breathing so it felt like forever till we got to share our news because we wanted to wait until we had all the information we knew everyone would want.

FYI - Breastfeeding is going LEAPS and BOUNDS better and we are all doing well. Many wonderful friends and family have come by to visit and bring food, which we are grateful for - THANKS.

I will post more pictures soon and share more of our first week home. Amy was here today and took some newborn pictures which are to die for and I can't wait to share those as well.

Jaren is still doing great with 'Nani' and loves to give her kisses. He is trying to learn to share her with daddy but that is still a struggle.

update

I promise to post our labor/delivery story soon and a more in depth update. For now here is the short version of the update.

Jaren is doing a Great job transitioning into a big brother. Unless it has to do with sharing dad. He's ok to loan me to 'Nanie', but not really daddy. He loves Landrie though, always wants to know where she is and gives her the nicest kisses.

Landrie is doing well and is so perfect.

We are struggling right now though with our feeding, mom is so engorged that Landrie can't get anything out. We spent over 45 min. at the breastfeeding clinic today. They measured Landrie before the feed and after the 45 min. feed and she actually lost .1 oz because she ate so little that her work in getting anything burnt more calories than she consumed. AHHHHHH I was heart broken. we have a new regimen that we are following to try and help this problem, but it is, well, to say exhausting would be an understatement. The whole process takes approx an hour and has to be done every two hours. So I am literally spending 1/2 of my day in the chair with Landrie trying to feed or working on it and then I get one hour every other hour to try and do something else. This should only last approx. 3 days as that is when the 'engorgement' period should be over. We go to the pediatrician tomorrow and then back to the breastfeeding clinic for some more work. We are actually doing VERY small amounts of supplementing now per the lactation consultants directions so she can get some calories and nutrients and not become dehydrated.

Please pray that we can get the hang of it all soon so that we don't have to spend literally 1/2 our days working on eating.

Once I'm not tied up doing the regimen I will post some more pictures and our labor/delivery story.

Majority rules - It's a girl

Landrie Lynn was born Friday evening the 24th of June at 6:23 p.m. She was 7lbs 7oz and 19 inches long.

After a long labor, mostly at home, and an hour and 15 min. of pushing, Landrie had to spend approx the first hour and a half of her life with the NICU team, in our room at least, because she had inhaled some maconium (sp?) Her color was not the best either. After this hour and a half I finally got to hold her.

It is such a miracle and we are anxious to go home tomorrow and and see Jaren and Landrie together. Jaren visited us today, but was here when MANY others were here so he didn't fully get time to meet Landrie.

Thanks for all the prayers and support, we are so blessed to have two little miracles!

hospital visit

Well, last night beginning at 1:00 I had contractions that were 7 min. apart. On top of some other concerns I had and at my nurses suggestion Mark and I headed to the hospital at 5:00 this a.m. to be sent home at 7:30. The contractions have continued all day, NOT at 7 min. intervals however which I am grateful for. All is good and the baby looked great on the monitors. There was a concern that my placenta may be separating, but it is not so we are all healthy, just uncomfortable and tired.

With all the contractions, lack of sleep and anxiety, the Induction date has been moved up to Monday the 27th at 7:30 a.m. So only a few more days left and Peanut will be greeting us. HOPEFULLY before Monday, but at least I know it will be by Monday.

Please pray for a healthy baby and safe delivery. As well as a reprieve from the contractions if I'm not going to go till Monday. I'd love to just go tonight and int that case = BRING ON THE CONTRACTIONS!!!

D-Day update

Today is my Due Date and I just got home from my doctors appointment.

I am dilated to 2 1/2 and effaced to 70 still. I was hopeful for more, but I guess will have to be happy with progress.

We scheduled another appointment for next Tuesday and have scheduled an inducement date for Thursday the 30th if nothing happens before then. So 9 days at the MOST we have to wait to meet Peanut :)

Please pray we don't have to wait 9 days I'd really like to go into labor naturally.

Dancing fool

Jaren has always loved to dance!!! One of my favorite shows is back on for the summer "So you think you can dance" and Mark and I were watching it the other night while Jaren played and he became one of the contestants. So, cute, I think he could hang with those guys. Both the videos are very short. We didn't want to give away all his moves before he tried out for the show next year :)

Personalize your own slideshow

quilt/belly/baby names

If you remember,I made a quilt for Jaren before he was born and this is the quilt I just finished for this baby. Jaren's is the same type of quilt, but his is in classic colors so I did pastels for this one so they would be differant. Don't ask what I'll do for the next baby, no idea.



This is my belly at 38 and a half weeks. I am now 39 and a half. I'd say there is no change, but I have dropped more as I used to be able to see my popped belly button and now I have to lean over to see it :) Oh the joys of pregnancy. We go back to the doctor on Tuesday and will probably schedule an enduce date. If I get to choose we are hoping to schedule for the 30th of June, but don't know if I get to I'll find out on Tuesday.



Don't forget to leave your baby name, birth date, weight, guesses on the comments.

baby doctor appointment/Name guess

So I am officially 39 weeks today. One week from due date!!!

The appointment was uneventful, which I am thankful for, we have had such a great pregnancy.

Saying that I was a bit disappointed. I am still only dialated to one, but I am effaced 70% now, which is up 20%. I was hoping for more dialation, but should be happy that there are no concerns and that I am making some sort of progress.

Belly picture to come soon.

NAME GUESS - please don't forget to guess a name on a comment and I'll post it on my list. You can guess deliver date, weight, gender, and length as well if you'd like.

book videos

ENJOY - they are a bit long, but in my opinion worth every second, I'm not biased either.

For some reason it is starting in the middle of the second book, I have the hardest time getting videos on here right. Just wanted to let you know.

Here are a few videos of me reading books with daddy.

The first book is all about me. Thanks to the Trujillo family for this wonderful book. Watch close on chubby legs as he touches his and on hug page as he gives himself a mini hug.

The second is open the barn door. Thanks to aunt boz for this one. My favorite is the rooster.

The third is one mommy got on her book orders. The third is probably Jaren's current favorite although not as exciting to watch. Watch his eyes close though he scans the pages so carefully and gets excited mostly at the second to last page.

Personalize a photo slideshow

Names???

Does anyone have a guess on names this time around??? I can't figure out how to put the fancy list on the side right at this time, but will continue to work on it. For the mean time leave a comment on here of your name guesses and I'll try to figure it out.

If you are brave you and guess deliver date, weight, and height as well.

swimming

Sunday my mom had family afternoon/night at the goddard pool then to her house for dinner. Jaren had a really great time and handled the cold water really well. Thanks for the idea and planning mom.

Mark, Jaren, and Grandma Cheryl playing


Jaren throwing the frisbee


Jaren telling Grandma to dump water on daddy


Mommy watching Jaren play

Fiesta 2011

I had my classroom fiesta this Sat. and it went great. 32 people braved the heat and came over for the party. We moved it to the back yard this year to try and get some shade and get out of the heat and that worked really well.

The boys having a water gun fight


Mark and Jaren


Mara having some yummy food


Hanging out


Enjoying the great company

38 weeks / e-mail

I had my 38 week doctors appointment this afternoon and it went, ummm... ok. I did have some progress. I am still dilated to one, but am 50% effaced. That is pretty much all the news. I am swelling rather nicely and have strangers comment on my ankles so that is great as well has having record setting heat in June, but all in all I still feel great and can't complain, just ready to see if we are having a he or a she.

Special thanks to my sister who picked up Jaren this afternoon and took him to her house to play while I took a nap before my doctor's appointment. It was heaven and just what the doctor ordered. Thanks, Amy, I REALLY appreciate it.

I had a friend post about signing up for the e-mail update when I have a new post on my blog and she said it worked great, so please sign up if you would like to get an e-mail when I post. FYI - we will have a laptop at the hospital and will post on the blog when the baby comes and get some pictures on there as well.

follow by e-mail

I am not sure how well this works, but blogger added a new feature where you can follow my blog by e-mail. If you scroll to the very bottom of the page you can enter your e-mail and my understanding is that you will get an e-mail update when I make a post. Since I am not on facebook, and a big complaint of that is that you have to come check my blog rather than your facebook updating you, maybe this will help with that problem :)

My little fashionista

This is what Jaren choose to wear the other day. I didn't get a picture but last night may have been better. He was wearing a sleeveless Adidas outfit and then wanted a pair of daddies brown argyle dress socks on. They went all the way up to his diaper and the heel was about in his knee pits, but he wore them with pride all night long. Then is a.m. he woke up and asked for these, I'm just hoping I can get them off before we need to leave the house :)

Wall hanging

I have finished my wall hanging much to the help of my sister Amy and her Cricuit cutter and Gypsy (sp?) scrapbooking machines. As well as my friend Tisha for the wonderful idea! I am so excited about it and can't wait to fill it up.

It is a 'chunk chart' Each month on the anniversary of the babies birth I will take a picture of peanut with the same stuffed animal to show each month how big peanut gets compared to the stuffed animal. The far left big section will be filled in with the babies name once we know if it is a boy or a girl. Amy already has the paper ready to go just as soon as we know if it is a he or a she!!! I can't wait to find out.

37 weeks - full term!!!

As of Tuesday I was 37 weeks which is conidered full term - so any time now peanut :) We do have names picked out, but as you can guess we are not sharing!

I am still feeling great and really have nothing I can complain to much about. Overall I have had a wonderful pregnancy. I haven't had to many pains or sick days, my husband has been an angel and my son, well, he's almost two and considering that he has been fantastic. All I keep telling myself at this point is that within 5 weeks I will be able to lay on my stomach again!!!

Anyway I went to the doctor yesterday and not big news. I did test negative for group b strep, which made me happy! I am dialated to one and am 25% effaced (however you spell that) So really not to much going on. I go back next Tuesday.

This weekend I am having my annual fiesta for my classroom and should have about 50 people at my house celebrating the end of the school year. It is supposed to be about 95 degrees so please pray I can hang in there.

Here is my big belly - and keep checking more fun posts to come!