Anabel's birth story

I woke up at around 3:00 am because I needed to use the bathroom.  When I stood up, I felt a trickle down my leg.  I was afraid that maybe my bladder was just too full and it couldn’t hold it in any longer.  I went to the bathroom and emptied my bladder.  Than cleaned up and tried to go back to bed.  For the next hour, I lay in bed awake and felt some mild contractions, but they didn’t feel regular.  I got up and decided to start timing them.  I went to the bathroom a few more times and noticed that I was continuing to leak, but it was a little here and there.  I thought my water probably had broken, but I wasn’t sure.  My contractions were not regular and eventually fizzled out completely.  I finally called L&D and talked to the dr. on call to see if he thought it was okay for me to wait until morning before coming in to get checked.  He said that it would be fine.  When morning came and the boys and Mike were awake, I was pretty sure by now my water had broke, as I continued to have leakage.  I called a sister from the branch to ask her if she could take the boys for us.  She came over and got the boys.  JR was excited to go, but AJ had a hard time.  It was hard to see him crying when they drove away, but I knew he would be okay.  We went to the hospital around 8:30 am and got checked in.  The dr. came and checked me and found that indeed my water had broken, but I was only 1-2 cm dilated.  They would have to give me pitocin.  The dr. told me that I was in for a long day (which I had figured out on my own) and I abandoned any idea for a natural delivery and told him I would have an epidural.  They also put in an internal monitor on the baby’s head because my water had broken, to keep a better eye on the baby.  At around 10:30 am they started the pitocin.  It didn’t take long before my contractions kicked in.  At first they were not too bad, they upped the pitocin a few times and then the contractions started to get more intense.  I got my epidural when I was about 3 cm dilated around 12:15 pm.  They kicked Mike out of the room while they gave me the epidural so he went and got himself some lunch.  The epidural worked wonderfully and I was able to relax and was not in any pain.

As my labor progressed, Mikey and I noticed that the baby’s heart rate dropped a few times, but it was only for short times and would always come back up.  The nurse told us they would keep an eye on it, but because it was always coming back up, they thought everything was fine and it was just the baby dropping.  Sometimes her heart rate would go down for a longer period of time and the alarm would go off, but it always came back up.  Her heart rate drops would usually coincide with my contractions, so they thought maybe she was laying on the cord.  They decided to pump some saline into my uterus, to help cushion the cord.  That seemed to work and the heart rate drops were less frequent.  About 1:45, I was 5 cm.  Around 3:30 pm I was at 9 cm.  They emptied my bladder which allowed her to drop even lower so that I could start pushing.  I only pushed twice and the dr. saw the cord right next to her head (it was prolapsed). He had to quickly give me an episiotomy to move the cord and I was able to push her head out.  The dr. suctioned her mouth and then let me push her completely out. She was born and they placed her on my chest.  The dr. looked at the cord and saw that there were 2 knots in it.

Anabel Marie was born 8/31/2011 at 3:45 pm.  She was 7lbs 5 oz and 19 inches long.  She is beautiful and looks like her brothers.  We are home now and adjusting to life with one more in the family.  JR and AJ are getting used to having a little sister and so far have been really cute with her.  At first AJ did not want her to come home, but he is warming up to her more and more everyday. At discharge from the hospital they told us she is jaundice and so we had to go back the next day to get her numbers checked. They were still up the next day, so we have to go back on Tuesday and have them checked again.  She is so tiny, all the clothes we have for her are so big, but I know she will grow fast.  We are so excited to have this new little spirit in our home. 

just born

Double knot in the cord. Sorry kind of gross.

boys checking out their sister

AJ holding Anabel

JR holding Anabel

Going home.  "Little Sisters Rock"

Belly pics

36 weeks

37 weeks

New OB

Finally had my first appt. with my new OB.  I really like him.  The only problems is there is only 5 dr. in the whole town that delivers baby, and depending on which one is on call, that is who you get.  I understand why they have to do that, but I like to know who is going to deliver the baby.  I know it will all work out okay.

Because the Dr. office just squeezed me in, so I could be seen quickly, I had to bring the boys with me, since Mike had to work.  It wasn't too bad, but he did need to do the strep B test on my as well as check me.  JR was great the whole time, but AJ had a hard time and wanted me to hold him, especially while we were in the examining room.  Also the appt. lasted a really long time. I think the dr. really likes to talk and is very thorough with his patients, which is good, but made for a very long appt.  Also because there are so few dr. in this town, I am sure they have too many patients as well.  He did tell me I was about 1 cm dilated.  I know that doesn't mean anything, and I have never really dilated before I go into labor.  But really I could go anytime, which is crazy to think about.  I am not ready for her to come yet.  Mom, Dad and Kristy are coming in a couple of weeks to help out, and I really hope Anabel stays put until then.

I did finally get a new belly shot, but it is still on my camera.  I need to download it and remember to keep taking them, because you never know which one will me my last for this pg.  I finally got the baby girl clothes washed and put away, as well as all the baby girl blankets.  There is still so much to do though.  I hope I can get it all done.  I feel bad, because the boys really need my attention with all the recent changes, and so they don't let me get too much done. And when I try they act out more.  Also the last trimester fatigue is really hitting me this time, and there are times during the day that I feel like I can't keep my eyes open. It won't be too much longer until I will be sleep deprived from a newborn instead though.  I hope the boys can continue to get through all these changes.

Going crazy

Okay, I know I have not updated here for a long time and I need to keep this blog updated because there are things I want to remember about this pg.  First of all if you want to know the craziness happening in our lives right now, go check out the family blog.  To sum up what has been going on, Mike finally received a job offer in KY that required us to move very quickly so he could be here to start teaching. We are grateful about the job, but I had to travel across the county very pg, and that was not fun.  Besides being so sore from all the traveling, my feet have also swollen really bad, and they have not gone back down to size since we arrived here.  I don't expect them to until the baby is born.  I am fortunate that I have not had any contractions through all the stress and travel, but I am exhausted.  I have yet to find a doctor here, because I am still trying to get the insurance worked out. I had to say goodbye to my midwife and will have to see an OB here.  It is fine, but I was hoping for a different experience with this one, but as long as she is born healthy and strong and I don't have any complications throughout the process, I will be happy.  It will be interesting. Mom, Dad, and Kristy are planning on coming out in a couple of weeks, so they can help out with the baby, so that is exciting.

I still need to take a new belly pic, I feel huge.  I haven't documented my belly growth as well with this one. But finding the time to do things like that is harder and harder.  I still feel her move quite a bit, but her movements are quite a bit less in that I am pretty sure she is running out of room in there.  I hope she isn't bigger than the boys were, but I think it is possible.

update

It feels like all I do anymore is go to appointments. I am going every 2 weeks to my midwife and I have been seeing the chiropractor about once a week or more often. They are always really quick appointments, but I feel like I will eventually lose track of everything. My insurance only covers a few more appointments with the chiropractor, so those will stop soon, and they really seem to be helping, so I hope it stays that way until I deliver.

Anabel is head down already, although she seems to have plenty of room still to shift because she moves quite a bit. Most times those I can feel her feet (I assume they are her feet) right in my ribs. Maybe the boys did this to me too, but I really can't remember. It's not too painful, more uncomfortable. Mike told me to push her around, but I just can't do that, not that it would help anyway. I think she is also having some longer awake periods, because there has been times she has been moving around quite a while. I love it, it really is the coolest sensation, and although I will be happy to meet her when she arrives and will be grateful that I am no longer pg, I will miss feeling her move inside of me.

Nothing much more that I can think to report. I have starting to nest, but there isn't much I can do, because I really don't know where we will be when Anabel is born. So I am doing what I can to get ready, but it feels like that really isn't much I can do right now. Mike keeps asking me why I am doing this stuff (like going through baby clothes and what not) and I had to remind him that 2 months really isn't that far away, and she may be here sooner than that. This pg really has flown by.

Appointment update 28 1/2 weeks

I had an appoint last week and everything looks good.  I passed my glucose screening (was pretty sure I would) but iron is a little on the low side (it always is).  Was put on a iron supplement.  I was also able to get another u/s.  Got some really cute picks of the Anabel's face.  It's amazing at what they can do now when it comes to u/s.

Even though it was pretty obvious with the first u/s that baby was a girl, she checked again and there really isn't any doubt Anabel will be a girl.  Everything looked beautiful in the u/s and she is measuring ahead, which I don't mind if she comes early, but hoping she is not bigger than the boys.  If they went by my measurements my due date would be 9/1/11.  So I guess we will just have to wait and see what happens.

I have been having a lot of aches and pains with this pg, at least more than I remember with the previous two.  I know it is completely normal but I mentioned it to my midwife and she referred me to a chiropractor.  I went for my first adjustment this morning and go back on Saturday for another.  My hips already feel better.  I have always wanted to go to a chiropractor so I am glad to be able to and that it is covered by my insurance.  Hopefully it will really help. 

28 week belly pic

3rd trimester, only 3 more months.

Movement and Names

I have not done very well keeping this blog updated.  I have too much going on in my head and two boys to keep me busy, that I have not documented things the way I have in the past.  I will try to do better.  I haven't taken another belly shot yet, but I really need to.  I have grown, lol.  I feel like I am 8 months pg, with all the aches and pains that come with it.  It makes me a little nervous for when I am actually 8 months pg and how I will feel then.

There are few stories I want to make sure I write about, so I am going to just jot them down here.  First of all, Anabel (yes that's the name we have chosen) moves all the time right now.  I really do love it, there is something awesome about a little being inside you moving with such force it sometimes knocks you back.  It really is my favorite part of being pg.  The boys have both felt her, and so has Mike.   JR loves when he can feel her.  Sometimes he will tell me "Tell me when the baby is kicking or doing somersaults".  Other times he will just come up to me and put his hand on my belly and say, "Is she kicking?" I love how excited he is about it.

The story I really want to make sure I remember is about her name.  For a while now we have been asking the boys what they think we should name her.  Well sometimes they would tell us, they didn't know or just something silly, but one name they always ended up talking about is Kiki.  This is a name of a girl from the Fresh Beat Band, one of their favorite shows on Nick Jr.  Anyway, when we finally decided on the name Anabel, (Mike picked it, and I love it), JR was still adamant that we call her Kiki.  He said it didn't like Anabel.  I told him that he could call her Kiki if he wanted to but her real name is going to be Anabel. Then we saw the Disney movie Beauty and the Beast.  I told JR the princess's name was Belle, and we could call our baby that as a nickname if we wanted.  Well that hooked him and he loves the name Anabel now.  But AJ is a little bit harder to convince.  If you ask him what the baby's name will be, is insists it will be Kiki.  I am pretty sure he will come around to Anabel soon because he has started to say it and he says is so cute.  So I know when they are older they will find it strange they wanted to name their sister Kiki, so I don't want to forget.

Name

I think we might have a name for this little girl.  Mike picked it out, but I like it enough to think that it will probably be the name we use.  Still trying to decide if we should tell people what it is, or make them wait until she arrives.

20 Weeks

 Here is a 20 week belly pic.  JR took it, so its a little blurry and I had to crop it quite a bit, but you get the idea.  I feel huge.  I guess I will only get bigger.

I had my 20 week appt today and everything went well.  H/b is good and strong.  She always seems to have a hard time finding it, because this little bean is a mover.  I did find out that I get to have a follow-up u/s between 26-28 weeks so they can get the shot of the head that they couldn't get because baby didn't want to move to a better position, so I am really excited about that.  Everything else is going well and I am feeling good.  I took the boys shopping today and we purchased something for the baby. We don't need to purchase a lot for this one.  We already have much of what we need.  But let me tell you, I could spend quite a bit on her, just on clothes, if I don't restrain myself. 

 I am thinking this is what will be here coming home outfit.  If you can't read the shirt is says "Little Sisters Rock". I also want to get the boys (probably closer to baby sisters arrival) some cute Big Brother t-shirts and I am hoping I might get a picture of all three of them together in their shirts.  At least that is what I am hoping for, not sure if it will work out or not.

It's a girl.

So we took both boys with us and when JR found out it was a girl, he almost cried.  But he is warming up to the idea.  He thinks it will be fun to have a little sister, but he still says he really wants a boy too.  

We got a lot of pics and they even gave us a DVD of the whole session.  So cool, never got anything like that with the others.  Everything looked good that she could see.  Baby girl was tucked down really low standing on her head.  She didn't seem to care that she had a lot of room to move around there, she wanted to stay low and snug.  The tech had a hard time getting a certain shot she needed because of it, so she said they might send me back later to have another u/s done.  That would be cool.  Oh and the baby is measuring almost exactly a week ahead.  I don't know that they will change my due date, but if they go by these measurement I would be due 9/8.  I will have to wait to see what the midwife says about that.

Here are some of the best pics we got. 

Movement and Contractions?

I am definitely feeling movement now. It still not very consistent, but pretty sure that I am feeling it.  Really want it to become a daily occurrence though.  Think I will be there soon.  Also today and yesterday, I think I have had some contractions.  I am not too worried about it, when I relax a little and drink more water, they don't last, but I am pretty sure that is what I am feeling.  At least that is what I remember contractions feeling like.  They are more uncomfortable than anything, but not painless like BH.  I am sure they are nothing to worry about though, unless they become more frequent.

Really excited for Monday, and can't wait to see a healthy little babe in there.  Really hope we get some good looks.  With both of my pg before, I had an early u/s, so had a already seen the little guy before I was this far along, but this time, this will be the first look.  So excited.

Poll

So does anyone want to take a guess at what baby #3 will be.  We should hopefully find out on Monday, but would love too see what everyone thinks. The poll is on the right side bar.

Appointment update

Had my 16 week appointment yesterday.  Everything looking really good.  The baby's heartbeat was good and strong.  It took her a while to find it, the baby was moving around quite a bit, but when she finally did find it it sounded really good.  I was also excited to find out that I have my u/s in 2 weeks.  In the past, I have always had to wait until I was 20 weeks, but this time I will be 18 weeks.  It is scheduled for the 18th.  So stay tuned for the big news.  JR told me that he really wants us to have a boy, but it will be okay if its a girl. I really don't care either way.  I really want a girl, so I can dress her up in all the cute girly clothes. I have saved all the girl baby clothes that we received when we were expecting through adoption (either as gifts or hand me downs) and I really want to be able to use them soon. But I would love to have another boy too.  I am used to boys and they are fun and sweet.   Only 2 weeks and we will be able to know for sure, assuming this baby cooperates and we get some good pictures.

I only gained 1 pound and my blood pressure was excellent.  I am starting to really feel good. Now if only I could start feeling this baby move more, I would be loving being pg again.

Movement

I know its probably still early for me to really feel movement, but I can't help but think sometimes I feel it. Last night I had a dream that the baby was moving around like crazy.  Wouldn't it be cool if I was feeling the baby move in my sleep.  Can't wait until I can feel the baby move all the time, it is one of my favorite things about being pg.

Also JR told me that he will be okay if we have a girl.

Bad taste

So with this pg,  I have had a constant bad taste in my mouth.  I have been chewing gum almost constantly because of it, which helps.  Today I am 13 weeks and a couple of days and it is 10:34 am and I just realized I have no bad taste in my mouth.  I have yet to stick a piece of gum in my mouth.  I am so excited about this.  Maybe this means this is truly the beginning of the 2nd trimester for me.  So excited about this. What silly things excite a pregnant woman.

Heartbeat

Yesterday, I had another appointment and was able to hear the strong heartbeat of our little bean.  Mike came with me too.  I had to switch midwives because of insurance stuff, but I like this new one I met yesterday as well.  It finally feels real now, that I have heard the heartbeat. I never really doubted that anything was wrong, because I have been plenty sick to help me to now everything was going well. But it is still a wonderful reassurance that everything is going well, when you hear that fast little heartbeat.

My morning sickness is pretty much leaving, which I am so grateful for.  I am ready to be in the 2nd trimester and feeling great.  Other than that, there is not much to report.  Think I may have to start wearing maternity clothes soon, but still able to fit into my regular pants for now.

JR has been really cute about the idea of having another baby.  He keeps telling me that it is going to be a boy, and has been very interested in all things baby.  He will even watch A Baby Story or Bringing Home Baby with me on TLC while AJ is napping.

Now that we have heard the heartbeat, will probably start letting more people know about our happy news.

First Appointment

Today was my first appointment and everything went well.  I decided to go with a midwife clinic and I am really excited about it.  These midwives deliver in the hospital, but the care already seems quite a bit different.  It could just be that I was in a small town before and my dr. had to see so many patients.  I did like my dr. with the boys a lot, but I really like the midwife I met today.  The only problem is that you see all the midwives and then the one on call delivers your baby, but I don't think it will be too bad, because they give you a lot more care during your delivery, they just don't come to catch the baby.  I just hope I like all the midwives.  I have met two so far and like them both and there are 6, I think, in the clinic, so we will see.  I really like the one that saw me today.

I was a little disappointed that she couldn't hear the heartbeat, but it is still really early for that, and that baby is so low its hard to hear.  I am not too worried though.  I am still feeling sick, not throwing up as much, but I definitely have pg symptoms to keep me from worrying. Can't wait until the first trimester is over, and hopefully I will start feeling better and have more energy.

Sick, sick and more sick

So I have not been feeling well for the past week or so.  Part of it is the pregnancy, the other part I had a really bad head cold.  The cold is gone, but I still have the baby sickness.  I don't want to complain because it really isn't that bad, at least not as bad as I know some people get sick.  But it is the worse I have felt being pregnant.  I have thrown up a few times, but mostly I just feel sick to my stomach all the time, unless I am sleeping.  Food does not taste good to me at all, but I have to eat or it is worse.  I hate the fact that I can't enjoy eating right now.  I really, really hope it only lasts the first trimester, because I really like to eat.  When I was pg with JR, food tasted so good to me (which is probably why I gained 50lbs), but I loved to it.  I really want to get to that part of pg with this one.  Surely it will come, right?

I am also so exhausted all the time.  I know that too is part of early pg, but it's hard when I have 2 little boys to take care of that don't always let me rest.  But thankfully they are starting to play so well together, that sometimes I am able to lay down while they play with each other and I love that.  It is very cute to watch them play too.

I am sick of winter. I want the spring to be here. Not only will that mean I am in my 2nd trimester but hopefully the cold weather will leave and we can enjoy some warmth for a change.  I really miss the warm weather, I am so done with winter.

BFP!!!!

Still here

I do have say, I'm a little surprised that I haven't deleted this blog yet. I am now 4 days late and have still not tested. Part of the reason is that I do not have a pg test in the house.  I think I might pick one up this afternoon so I can test tmw morning.  I am still in awe that I could possibly get pg this easily, but I really think I am.  Trying to decide if I should just tell Mike that I suspect I am pg, or if I should wait for a positive test.  So excited about the possibility that this is for real.

A secret?

I've started this blog in secret.  It is private and I have told no one that I expect I am expecting.  It is almost silly for me to think it.  I am not even a day late. JR took 5 years to conceive and AJ 9 months, there is no reason for me to believe that I could conceive on the very first try.  But I really feel like I am pregnant.  I am not going to test until next week some time.  Maybe I will delete this blog in the next day or so, when I discover I'm not really pregnant and that it is only wishful thinking, but I really think I am, so we will just wait and see for now.