Home Sweet Home

We made it home around 1pm today.  Here are some pictures from our hospital visitors last night and from today on our trip home.  We had meet-and-greet with Savannah.  She is very excited about Austin. More details to come later. 

Kelly

 Rachel (mother of Brody, Austin's first friend)

See that big hand!

 About to leave hospital

I drool burnt orange (thanks aunt Ricki!) 

 Hmm...this is comfortable

Hi Savannah

Burrito in a huge bed

Look at those eyes

Hello Austin!

Well, he is here! He decided to start making his grand entrance on his actual due date, 8/8/11 at around 8am.  I started having contractions around then but they were intermittent for the first few hours.  My mom, who ended up coming to Denver on Sunday morning, and I went on a two mile walk.  When I got back I started timing the contractions.  They were still about 7-10 minutes apart and about 30-45 seconds long.  We hung around the house for a while and David was at work.  Around noon, they started to get a bit more intense.  I called the doctor and they suggested I come in for them to check me out.  I was still around 2 cm dilated at that point, but she said to call back before they close regular hours.  So I went home to start really timing the contractions.  David came home from work.  As a distraction, we watched our wedding video.  That was fun since I hadn't seen it in years.  The contractions started to get closer together (5-6 min apart) and longer (50-70 sec).  We called the doctor around 3:45 and she said to go ahead and go to the hospital since they had been lasting for about 1 hour with that timing.  So, off to the hospital we went, bags and all. After being admitted at 4pm, they checked me again and I was 3 cm dilated. The nurse inserted my IV.  The contractions were getting more intense at this point.  Since I tested positive for Strep B, I had to have penicillin through my IV, which burned going in..no fun.  Also, I had to let the first round of penicillin go through my system before I could get my epidural.  Around 7pm, they had given me the epidural. Wow, that thing works.  I did not realize that I would not feel anything.  It probably did slow down my progression some, but it was worth it.  Because of my need for the penicillin (2 doses of it, which have to be given 4 hours apart), they could not break my water until it had spread throughout my system.  So at about 9:30pm when I was 5cm dilated, the doctor on call at the hospital, broke my water, which is supposed to speed up the process.  Little did I know that it would still be about 5 hours until Austin's arrival.  My mom came back up to the hospital around 10pm to be with us.  When it was almost time to start pushing, Dr Granadillo, the dr on call that night from my doctor's group, came up to the hospital.  She is about 7 1/2 months pregnant so I felt horrible for the middle-of-the night timing, but I guess that is part of her job.  Then we ran into a little bit of a obstacle because Dr Grandillo said his head was faced sideways instead of up or down, which would probably require her to use a tool to help his head out.  So, she had me try laying on each side for about 20 minutes to see if he would turn.  It was time to push, which I did for about 40 minutes.  He came out face down, which is the easiest way at 2:22am. (didn't quite make his due date, oh well)  Hooray!  They cleaned him up and David got to hold him.  Dr Granadillo was shocked that he was 7 lbs 13 oz.  She expected a baby in the 6's.  David calls the whole experience "eye-opening".  (of course I didn't see much of anything).  We didn't get to our postpartum room until 6am after they had cleaned him, cleaned me, weighed him, and my anesthesia had died off.  Now we are here just enjoying getting to know Austin, our little blessing.  He is precious and so fun to cuddle with.  It sure is nice having nurses taking care of us.  What are we going to do tomorrow when we leave?  We will be all alone (with my mom's help) at our own house with this baby.  Hmmm... but it will be great!

Here are a few pictures from the first 36 hours of Austin's life.

DiDi and a BIG yawn

and here is me the night before he decided to start his long procession into this world (at 40 weeks).  The last pregnant picture I took!

More to come...probably after we make the trip home tomorrow.  

Getting closer!

Today was our 39 week appointment.  I am 2 cm dilated so we are making some progress.  I had gained one pound since last week (probably due to my daily dose of BlueBell...ha).  They did one last ultrasound just to check my fluid levels, which were fine.  They also hooked me up to the fetal monitor to make sure Austin's heart rate and activity was normal.  The nurse said "he is a happy baby".  I hope that means he will be a happy infant!  His heart rate would go up when I felt him move and then stay pretty steady when he was resting.  I had a couple of minor contractions while connected to the machine and we could see the numbers go up.  We discussed induction with Dr Corbett and we decided that, if he doesn't make his grand entrance before next Wednesday, I will be induced then.  So we have a 9pm check in at the hospital on Tuesday night.  If I do end up being induced, they will start the process on Tuesday night and I will be given pitocin on Wednesday morning so that I have the major contractions during the day.  Dr Corbett is only at Swedish hospital where I am delivering on Wednesdays and Fridays, which is why we chose Wednesday.  So, at the latest, we will have a son one week from today!  Wow, crazy!  I hope and pray that he decides to come sometime before Tuesday night so that I don't have to be induced, but most of all I pray that he is healthy and that the labor process goes smoothly.  Either way, he will be here so soon.  I am ready to meet you, Austin.

39 weeks 2 days

Not much to report

We are still moving along.  Austin has decided that he needs to stay warm and secure in the womb for a while longer.  If I only knew when he would make his appearance.  That is the hardest part for me...the inability to plan.  I am not saying that I want a scheduled induction or C-section, but it would be nice to know that he is going to make his grand entrance on say, August 7.  (That would be an absolutely perfect date since my mom already has a flight scheduled to arrive in Denver on the evening of August 9).  But, of course, any day will be perfect.  I am trying to leave it up to God and our little guy.  I went to my 38-week appointment yesterday.  Everything was fine as far as his heartbeat and my measurements.  I had lost 1/2 lb since last week and I am now 1 cm dilated.  1 out of 10, hey, it's a start.  Work is busy so I guess that is good because it keeps me from being too anxious.  They hired the lady who will be filling in for me while I am out on maternity leave.  She started this past Monday and she has basically been my shadow for the past 4 days.  The hardest part about that is that I have to go to the bathroom every 45 minutes or so, and I feel silly when she is sitting at my desk and I need to go that often.  I am planning to keep coming to work until I go into labor.  It's kinda scary, but I want to maximize my time at home with Austin after and I only get 12 weeks total.  My doctor said to pay attention to fetal movement.  He is still moving in there, but the movements aren't as big (like the used to be more of a flip/rolling).  Now, when he moves it is like an arm or leg jabbing at me.  Here is a recent bump picture.  I have been living in tank tops and comfy shorts.  We have had 13 consecutive days of 90+ temperatures, which is alot for here.  I know in Texas they are tracking days in a row with 100+, so I can't complain.  Also, we do have central AC in our house and many houses up here do not.  That's it for now.  Say a prayer for a healthy baby and labor, please.

38 weeks 3 days

Update at 37+ weeks

On Tuesday 7/19 we had our 37-week appointment.  The heartbeat was perfect and I am measuring on track.  No dilation yet, but, wow, is he low.  He has definitely shifted down and my bladder definitely gets the brunt of that.  He is facing back (spine up towards my belly button), like he is ready to dive out of there.  They ended up doing an ultrasound with all the measurements so they could estimate Austin's weight.  Since I have gained about 22 lbs so far and only about 1.5 lbs in the past 5 weeks, the doctor wanted to make sure baby is growing.  He came in at an estimated 6 lbs 11 oz, so he has grown and she was pleased with his size.  I couldn't see his face this time at all because it is so low and faced towards my back side.  His movements are stronger and he still gets the hiccups often.  It's crazy to think that he will be out of the warm, cozy womb, and in our arms any day now.  I am still sleeping pretty well, for the most part.  I wake up 2-3 times a night to go to the bathroom, but am able to go back to sleep quickly after each trip.  I have started packing a hospital bag, but it is still in progress.  I should probably finish packing this weekend.  I am keeping up my regular exercise routine in the mornings before work.  I rotate between taking Savannah on 3-mile walks (nicest time of the day in the summer is 5:30 am when it is about 58 degrees) and going to the gym and doing the elliptical for 35-40 minutes.  On Saturday mornings I have been going to a place called Belly Bliss for a "Belly Fusion" class.  Belly Bliss offers prenatal fitness classes, birthing classes, postpartum fitness classes, among other services and products.  The belly fusion class that I have been to 4 or 5 times is a combination of yoga, weights, and pilates.  I am not a huge yoga fan, but I have enjoyed doing while holding hand weights and I like that part of the class is pilates.

Question of the day: What color hair (if any) is Austin going to have?  We will soon find out!

37 weeks 2 days