10 Things I have learned

Here are 10 things I have learned about Liam:

1. He likes to have his feet rubbed
2. He loves his pacifier
   
3. He is getting better about changing his clothes and diapers
4. He loves it when you brush his hair
5. He loves to cuddle with Me Patrick or Grandma
6. He coo's in his sleep (I have mistaken this for being fussy at night)
7. He LOVES kisses!
8. His back is very ticklish
   
9. He likes to have his hands by his face
10. He loves to be swaddled

Introducing Liam to the world!

On Tuesday, I thought my water had broken it turned out to be a plug that holds the sack of water. This was good news. I was hoping that they would bump up my Non-Stress Test (NST) to that day. But the doctor decided that one more day wouldn't hurt. Which is fine. Mom was driving down from Seattle and wouldn't be there until Wednesday. Mom got into town on Wednesday just in time to take me to my NST. An NST is where they do an ultrasound to measure how much amniotic fluid you have left available for the baby. The normal amount for an overdue baby at 41 weeks is 7-12oz. I had 1.8oz available. Needless to say they admitted me that hour.

So Wednesday they started me on what’s called Prostaglandin Gel to attain a higher effacement value. Because I was dilated still to a 1 and at 50% effaced. They gave me two doses of the gel each one being six hours apart. So I took the first one at 7:00 pm and the second at 1:00am. They checked me and I was dilated to a 2 and 80% effaced. The gel worked! Then at 7:00 am Thursday morning is when they started me on the Pitocin. I was having contractions before, but they were hurting sooo bad. I didn't quite want the epidural yet mostly because I have heard it can increase the duration of your labor. No thank you. They gave me Fentanyl to take the edge off of the contractions. It worked quite well mostly because I was seeing stars and felt like I was sitting on the Scrambler at Lagoon.

I did this for about an hour, with the spinning feeling and slight pain. The nurse said that Fentanyl only last an hour, once that hour was up I was in excruciating pain again. I was just about to ask for another Fentanyl, then Dr. Gourley (pronounced like Girly), Dr. Glenn's Replacement, came to talk with me about how I was doing and talk about what is going to be happening within the next couple of hours. He could tell that I was in pain and he suggested that I get the epidural. But he wanted to break my water first. He switched the fetal and contraction monitors to and internal monitoring system, and broke my water. Then all hell broke loose. Since I didn't start out with enough fluid in me, breaking my water began to suffocate Liam. His heart rate dropped so low that I was rushed to the OR for an emergency C-Section. Liam was delivered at 9:24 am on 5/21/2009 he weighed 7lbs 8oz and is 20.5in long. I was in and out of the OR within 9 minutes. I really have to thank the staff of doctors and nurses I had. They were absolutely amazing. There wasn't a lot of time to explain to me what was going on, and I was kinda freaking out. Since there wasn't enough time for an epidural when I woke up from the C-Section and had no pain medication in me. I was in the most unbearable pain I have ever experienced in my entire life! They gave me Morphine as soon as they could. Meanwhile, Patrick was with Liam as they were doing different tests and cleaning him up in the nursery.

After the delivery they moved me down to the Mother and Baby floor. I finally got to see Liam for the first time! He is so beautiful! I feel extremely lucky to have such a healthy child! The rest of the day was a breeze. We were with Liam and our family throughout the day. It was nice to have their company. I do have to admit I was severely drugged so I wasn't as attentive as I would have like to have been but like I said, I was drugged. Me and Liam also started the adventures of feeding. During the C-Section Liam had swallowed a lot of blood. So he wasn't terribly hungry. He actually kept spitting it up. Poor baby! We talked with a lactation consultant and she got us started on the right track. The hardest part about that day was the nurses making me get up and walk. Even though I was still pretty drugged by that time it took all my concentration and pain management to be able to walk 5 feet. But mission accomplished.

Friday was our relax day. We got feeding down, nap time figured out and I finally got solid food and not just Chicken Broth. I don't care if its good for the soul, I like a good solid sandwich. :D I started walking around a lot, mostly because I was told the sooner you walk the quicker your recovery. With Percocet and Motrin, my new friends, I was able to start walking quite well. So well in fact I was impressing the nurses. Friday was a great day!

Saturday was even better. We were released two days early because we were doing so fantastic! Now we are home and just getting adjusted to life at home. Second day in and I think we are doing quite well. I do have to say having my mom here with me makes it 10 times easier than it would have been otherwise. Thanks Mom! And thank you to everyone who as provided and offered their support to us it means so much. We are so grateful to have such a wonderful group of family and friends around us. Thank you!

No more advice...

So we have tried everything every one has told us and, no go. Today we did have a little excitement thinking today might be the day. But, it turned out to be a false alarm. We did find out some new information, this false alarm is a good false alarm. This means that my body is getting ready. I'm crossing my fingers that it will happen within the next couple days. So after the hospital Pat thought we would try the advice of driving down a bumpy road. Yeah, never want to do that again. At least when I am 40 weeks pregnant. We did get to see some pretty cool camping sites that we might have to try. Also I took this picture up by the reservoir. Any way, I will keep you all posted.

Patrick's First Home Made Movie!

Here is Patrick's first attempt at video editing. I just love the dramatic music for such a simple task. Enjoy!

Flying with Angels and Conquring Demons

Yesterday we had our doctors appointment. Unfortunately since the doc is on vacation I couldn't get an exam so I have no new information. I was disappointed mostly because my doc doesn't tell me anything. I went in thinking I would be able to find out some new information. But he didn't tell me that his P.A isn't trained on doing exams. So, I have no idea if my body is any closer to being prepared for labor or not. I have been having contractions. They don't hurt (yet) and they are very infrequent. Sometimes they are a half an hour apart or they are 15 min apart. After leaving the doctor's office I was a little upset. Mostly because of the poor communication between the doctors office and the patients. I do have a Non-Stress test scheduled for Wednesday the 20th. I'm hoping to have him before then. If not then I will do the test and get more information then.

Seeing as yesterday was the 15th of May and a particular movie was coming out on the 15th of May, we went and saw it. Angels and Demons was pretty good. Now if you are a purist (meaning you will be upset if it doesn't follow the book exactly) then there are some parts that are going to make you upset. Mostly because they cut out a big roll from the book. And the fact that Angels and Demons came first not DaVinci Code. But I thought it was a very good screen adaptation of the book. It still had all the mystery and intrigue that you encounter when you read any of Dan Brown's books. I look forward to Dan Brown's new book The Lost Symbol coming out September 15th 2009.


Also yesterday we got more of Liam's room finished. Steph suggested the idea of putting his name in vinyl lettering in frames. I thought that was an adorable idea! Here are the pictures.


Eventually we will have a collage of pictures of him and us around his name. Thanks for the idea Steph.

Movie Quote:
-Maybe I don't want anything between me and the open road.
-You will if your head falls on it.

New Toy

So we got a new toy courtesy of Mom, she got us a camcorder!! Here is us playing with it. Yes, I do look bloated... I am 40 weeks pregnant. I can't wait to record Liam's firsts.

Still going and going and going and going.....

So I had my doctors appointment on Thursday, I got some news. Its not bad news its just frustrating news. I'm still dilated to a 1 and 20% effaced. My doctor is now anticipating on me going two weeks over due. When I thought that he wouldn't let me go over 41 weeks. Apparently I was misinformed. Liam is currently posterior (face up), but he is doing fine. Also my doctor decided that now would be a good time to go on vacation until the 23rd. Its okay I'm not a big fan of him any way. I have a non-stress test scheduled for the 20th. They are going to be testing amniotic fluid and things like that to see if they need to take the baby now or if he can bake a little longer. From what he said is that most people don't pass or don't make it to the test. I don't know how far they will let me go if I pass. My next appointment is on the 15th one day after his due date. I do have to admit I wasn't anticipating on him coming next week at all. But I thought that I would be induced the following week, this is not the case. So, I have the non-stress test to see if I should be induced. I really hope that I don't have to wait until June to have my baby, I think I would go insane. The doctor said that Liam really isn't as big has he had expected, so he isn't a large baby. But if you looked at me you could have sworn that he was 10lbs now.

Patrick has been doing really good about loosing weight he has currently lost 27 lbs since January. I am so proud of him!

Yesterday all of the girls were treated by Mom Gloria to Tea at the Grand America. YAAY! It was a blast! Thanks!

Movie Quote:
-Oh, look. A golden-throated small-winged warbler. Just one more for exotic bird bingo. I am loving this.

Anticipation

I had my latest doctors appointment. It went well. I am still dilated to a 1, he still hasn't dropped but I am 20% effaced. So I'm crossing my fingers by my next appointment I will be 30% effaced and dilated to a 3. Unless my water breaks... (yeah right). I have had so many people tell me that the last month is the longest. And its sooooo true! I think its an accumulation of different things.

1. Anticipation
2. I have the room (mostly) done, but no baby...
3. His clothes are all washed, but no baby...
4. His diaper bag is all packed, but no baby...
5. His car seat is in our car, but no baby...
6. My hospital bag is all packed and ready
7. Our house is completely remodeled and clean, but no baby...
8. I'm only dilated to a 1 with 13 days to go...
9. I have dreams that I have him in my arms and it frustrates me because he isn't...
10 .Procrastination: I have procrastinated on somethings (ie finding a pediatrician)
11. Scared (will I be a good mother, will I know what to do when I need to do it, labor (enough said) will I be able to handle the rough mornings, plus more?)
12.Feeling prepared and not prepared at all
13. Also not knowing how else to prepare when I feel like I'm not prepared
14. I get scared when he doesn't move for a while
15. Any thing I eat I am nervous that it might harm the baby (my popcorn incident yesterday)

I'm sure I could go on. I don't know if every woman feels this way before they give birth but man, I'm going crazy and feeling like I'm going 5 directions at once. Thanks for listening to me vent, I'm sure that once he is here I will have a whole ton of new fears and wants and these will be just a memory.

Here is a picture of the nursery so far. My friend Ann did the adorable bear pictures! Now I have to do the vinyl lettering and put up a moon light. It will be cute!

Movie Quote:
-One person couldn't feel all that, they would explode.
-Just because you have the emotional range of a teaspoon.