Our baby finally arrived last tuesday, April 22nd at 7:55 am. We named her Gracyn Lynne. She is 22 inches long, and weighed in at 10 lbs 13 oz. (Our midwife actually said she was 11 lbs, but she had a massive bowel movement before she could be weighed!). She has strawberry blond hair and the hugest cheeks. Of all my children, she looks the most like me. She is sooo observant and alert for her age. She loves to look at your face and study you. She turns her eyes to whoever is talking to her. She loves to be held, and loves to nurse. Matt said she is like a little drug addict when it comes to nursing.
As for labor....well, it was the hardest thing I've ever endured. It was so different than Noah and Rylee's labor. I did manage to have her natural, which was my goal. But, it took every ounce of strength in me to do it. Gracyn was posterior until 5 minutes before I pushed, so I had terrible back labor. And because of her size, the regular labor was extremely hard. I'm so grateful to my midwife, Catherine, and her care and expertise. Without her, I'm sure I would have had to have a C-section.
More to come, soon....but for now, just know that Gracyn is here and she's just perfect!
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Thoughts on waiting...
OK...so I'm now 3 days "overdue"...whatever that means. This morning, while growing increasingly more frustrated at the slow pace of things, I tried to put it all in perspective. Lets see. What is the worse case scenario about how long it can take to wait on this baby. Standard practice in the medical world is to not allow a woman to go more than 2 weeks overdue. At that point, amniotic fluid is often decreased or getting reabsorbed, the placenta is starting to break down, and the womb, which has been a place of protection and growth just is no longer the best option for the baby. Add 2 weeks to my due date of April 14th, and you get April 28th. Today is April 17th. At most, I have 11 more days of being pregnant. YIKES! But, with that being said, the end IS in sight, and the "prize" is so worth it. My mom was 14 or 15 days overdue with me. Now that I'm just a few days past my due date, all I can think about that is "poor mom! I'm sorry I took so long to come!"
Even though I know that only about 10% of babies are born on their due dates, I think I mentally prepared myself that April 14th was the magic day. So when it rolled around, then a new day started, then another day started, etc...well, you tend to think your baby and your body just never got the memo that ITS TIME! In the meantime, I'm trying, really, trying to be patient. After all, what is 3 days? Not long. And at the longest, I only have 11 days before I meet our 3rd child. I'm blessed when you think about it that way.
Even though I know that only about 10% of babies are born on their due dates, I think I mentally prepared myself that April 14th was the magic day. So when it rolled around, then a new day started, then another day started, etc...well, you tend to think your baby and your body just never got the memo that ITS TIME! In the meantime, I'm trying, really, trying to be patient. After all, what is 3 days? Not long. And at the longest, I only have 11 days before I meet our 3rd child. I'm blessed when you think about it that way.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Still Pregnant...
Well, I'm officially 2 days past my due date, but the baby does not seem to think so. Its content to "bake" a little longer. I'm now 3 cm dilated and 50% effaced. My midwife said that I cannot get much more dilated without going into labor, however this past week saw only a very minor change in how much I had dilated, so things seem to be moving more slowly at this point. I'm content, at least at this point, to let the baby come when it wants to. I'm trying not to become impatient, although I do have to admit that thoughts of labor, contractions, meeting this baby, etc seem to consume almost all my thoughts. I'm trying to avoid any labor inducing things for the sake of being IV free during this labor. So, no Castor oil, no stripping of membranes, no breaking my water, etc. In another week, it may be another story.
I'm so curious whether this little one is a boy or girl. Also, how big will it be? My midwife estimated yesterday around 8 1/2 pounds at this point. If she is right, it would be my smallest baby yet. However, they gain an ounce or two a day at this point, so every day its getting a bit bigger. My kids are soooo anxious to go stay with their cousins overnight for a few nights. I have to keep telling them we are just waiting on the baby. I was hoping to be at church on Sunday (preferably with the baby) as we have our missionaries from the Philippines in, followed by a potluck dinner. I thought it would be the perfect time (as long as I was out of the hospital) to introduce the baby, but we'll have to see. Who knows how I'll feel, also.
My house is super clean, my laundry is caught up, I'm picking up just a few grocery items this morning while Rylee is at her art lesson. I might even stop by the library for some reading material to pass the time. I've been avoiding getting books from the library because I know myself and know I would get totally absorbed and neglect my house. But, now that I have done 99% of what I wanted to get done, I feel comfortable getting something to make the time go a bit faster. It helps that the weather today is supposed to be wonderful. The kids and I picked up tons of trash that had blown through our yard during the last windstorm from our recycling box. It looks so much better now. Maybe I'll even get a good, long walk in today....
I'm so curious whether this little one is a boy or girl. Also, how big will it be? My midwife estimated yesterday around 8 1/2 pounds at this point. If she is right, it would be my smallest baby yet. However, they gain an ounce or two a day at this point, so every day its getting a bit bigger. My kids are soooo anxious to go stay with their cousins overnight for a few nights. I have to keep telling them we are just waiting on the baby. I was hoping to be at church on Sunday (preferably with the baby) as we have our missionaries from the Philippines in, followed by a potluck dinner. I thought it would be the perfect time (as long as I was out of the hospital) to introduce the baby, but we'll have to see. Who knows how I'll feel, also.
My house is super clean, my laundry is caught up, I'm picking up just a few grocery items this morning while Rylee is at her art lesson. I might even stop by the library for some reading material to pass the time. I've been avoiding getting books from the library because I know myself and know I would get totally absorbed and neglect my house. But, now that I have done 99% of what I wanted to get done, I feel comfortable getting something to make the time go a bit faster. It helps that the weather today is supposed to be wonderful. The kids and I picked up tons of trash that had blown through our yard during the last windstorm from our recycling box. It looks so much better now. Maybe I'll even get a good, long walk in today....
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
5 days to go????
5 days to go...or that is what they are saying. However, I saw my midwife last night and I am now about 3 cm dilated, and having very strong Braxton Hicks contractions the last 2 evenings. Things may very well happen in the next few days...we'll see! I'm ready to meet this little one, whether it decided to show up today, or 2 weeks from now.
It has been absolutely beautiful out the last several days. The kids have taken bike rides with Daddy (I stayed home...can you blame me?), and I took the kids on a long walk down the street to see their friends for a few minutes. I think that is what started the strong contractions, actually! Yesterday, Brock, Noah and Rylee all played outside for about 2 hours. The played on the swing set, played in the little forest behind the house, and had all sorts of fun in the sandbox. Matt took Noah's pants off last night at bedtime and commented on all the sand that came pouring out of his pants. I opened our windows for several hours yesterday, for the first time of the season. It was great. I even wore flip flops to my midwife appointment and wasn't the least bit chilly. I hear its supposed to get cold again over the weekend and early next week. That stinks, but at least I enjoyed this little warm spell while it lasted.
As for the bathroom project...its DONE!!! The only thing I would like to do is have Matt put a touch of caulk over his nail holes where he attached the trim to the wall. Not a big deal at all! Knowing things could happen quickly as far as the baby arriving, I have a lot of little things I would like to get done today. Laundry folded, carpets vacuumed, floors mopped, etc. There are some small things I would like to put away, and if I have time, I would love to hang some pictures in our bedroom. I have a whole box of them that were displaced when we moved our bedroom around in January. All our bags are packed for the hospital. I even included a little list of last minute things to pack (cell phone, toothbrush, camera, etc). The kids both have bags packed so they can stay with my sister while we are in the hospital. I even vacuumed out our van so it would be nice and clean. I set up our pack and play, with its bassinet insert and changing table in our living room. Diapers are waiting to be used. Drawers of gender neutral baby clothes are waiting. A brand new diaper pail sits beside the changing table upstairs. All that is left is the baby. And that will come when its ready to...
It has been absolutely beautiful out the last several days. The kids have taken bike rides with Daddy (I stayed home...can you blame me?), and I took the kids on a long walk down the street to see their friends for a few minutes. I think that is what started the strong contractions, actually! Yesterday, Brock, Noah and Rylee all played outside for about 2 hours. The played on the swing set, played in the little forest behind the house, and had all sorts of fun in the sandbox. Matt took Noah's pants off last night at bedtime and commented on all the sand that came pouring out of his pants. I opened our windows for several hours yesterday, for the first time of the season. It was great. I even wore flip flops to my midwife appointment and wasn't the least bit chilly. I hear its supposed to get cold again over the weekend and early next week. That stinks, but at least I enjoyed this little warm spell while it lasted.
As for the bathroom project...its DONE!!! The only thing I would like to do is have Matt put a touch of caulk over his nail holes where he attached the trim to the wall. Not a big deal at all! Knowing things could happen quickly as far as the baby arriving, I have a lot of little things I would like to get done today. Laundry folded, carpets vacuumed, floors mopped, etc. There are some small things I would like to put away, and if I have time, I would love to hang some pictures in our bedroom. I have a whole box of them that were displaced when we moved our bedroom around in January. All our bags are packed for the hospital. I even included a little list of last minute things to pack (cell phone, toothbrush, camera, etc). The kids both have bags packed so they can stay with my sister while we are in the hospital. I even vacuumed out our van so it would be nice and clean. I set up our pack and play, with its bassinet insert and changing table in our living room. Diapers are waiting to be used. Drawers of gender neutral baby clothes are waiting. A brand new diaper pail sits beside the changing table upstairs. All that is left is the baby. And that will come when its ready to...
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