Aubrey Ann has decided that she will begin Ballerina practice immediately.
She will only practice while she sleeps so that she can spend time doing other things. We have about 10 different pictures of her posing as a ballerina…here is one.
Wow! What a week. I think this has been the most exciting, draining, loving week of my entire life. I am feeling so much better now that my hormones are a bit more adjusted, and I am getting a bit more sleep.
I am so in love with our baby girl, I can hardly stand to put her down. Right now she is taking a nap in her bassinet and I can hardly resist the urge to pick her up and kiss her! She is the most adorable, loveable, blessing a woman could ever receive as a daughter.
I want to document my birth story so Aubrey Ann can look back and read it when she is pregnant some day. Wow, what a thought! I am sooooo not ready for that! Guess it will be awhile before daddy and I have to worry!
Well, we went into my 39 week doctors appointment with Peter Nassar on April 29th and he checked me and said that my body was basically ready to go into labor, and that he was a bit concerned that Aubrey Ann might be getting a bit too big in my tummy. So he asked us what day we wanted to induce. When he asked us, Brandon and I just looked at each other and laughed. It was like we couldn’t believe that the day had finally come for us to meet our little girl.
We decided that we would go in that evening to start the Cervadil, which would prepare my body for labor. Well, after all day of getting ready, and talking up a storm about everything we were about to experience, the doctor called and said that we were going to have to wait until the morning because the hospital was too full. So I had a night of absolutely no sleep, as everything the next day would hold ran through my mind. I kept wondering about my little girl. What would she be like? What would it feel like to hold her? I spent the entire night talking, singing, and rubbing my belly, knowing that it would be the last time that I had her that close to me.
So, we went in to the hospital the next morning at 10:00, where doctor Peter put in the Cervadil. We had lots of visitors during this first stage of labor, and the pain wasn’t too bad. I was able to talk, eat, and read the Bible and other books with Brandon. Brandon and I were both so giddy, we couldn’t wait for our little girl to come say hello.
After about 4 hours or so, the Cervadil really started to really kick in. This medicine is not suppose to start contractions, but it did for me. My contractions started out about 6 minutes apart, and within a couple of hours had moved to 2-3 minutes apart, and some were even starting to overlap. Brandon held my hand, sang, and prayed with me through the contractions. When the contractions started to get really painful, all I could do was stare out the window in a daze. Brandon says I never said an unkind word. I had intense back labor that increased when I was laying down. Brandon would massage my back when contractions started and that helped a little. Everytime I tried to sit up, Aubrey Ann’s heart rate would drop a little, so I basically had to lay down.
Finally, after about 6 hours of contractions that were 2-3 minutes apart I found a somewhat comfortable position in a recliner in my room. Brandon and I tried to watch “Night at the Museum” but had to keep stopping it. We found that we got through about 10 minutes of the movie during about 2 hours of labor. I was really in a lot of pain by 8 pm, and I was anxious to find out how much I had dilated to see if I was going to be able to labor without using the Pitocin (the drug that is actually suppose to start the labor, though my labor was already well under way).
The nurse came in around 10pm and checked me and found that though my cervix had thinned a lot, it hadn’t dilated much, which meant I spent the last 12 hours in labor for very little progress. The doctor decided to start me on the pitocin to increase my contractions even further so I could finally make some progress. One of my biggest fears was having to have a c-section because of “failure to progress”. This is a fairly common problem with first time mommies that have to be induced.
They offered me an epidural before I started the pitocin, and I jumped at the chance. It took the anesthesiologist over an hour to make it to my room. When he finally came in, I was headed for my last bathroom trip, and I told him, “don’t go ANYWHERE!” Well, needless to say, he left and it was another 45 min before he came back.
The anesthesiologist finally made it back and gave me an epidural. Wow! Although it was a little uncomfortable getting the procedure done, it felt great! The only problem was that I could still feel the contractions on my left side, but it really was so much better, so I couldn’t complain.
The anesthesiologist was so kind. He could not put me on a “continuous drip” epidural because the pharmacy in the hospital was closed. So that meant that he had to be there every two hours to give me another shot. He was suppose to be off, and I was the only one in the whole hospital that needed anesthesia, so the doctor stayed all night so he could keep coming in and giving me shots.
During this whole time Brandon was so supportive. He was the best labor coach anyone could have asked for, and I wouldn’t have been able to make it through it without him. What an awesome guy!
After the epidural I slept for about an hour and a half (my first sleep in two days) until it started to wear off. The doctor checked me and I was dilated to a 5, but my water still hadn’t broke. The kept giving me more and more pitocin to make my labor progress.
After another 2 hours it was about 7 am and the doctor came in and said I was dilated to a 7 and I would probably be in labor for another 3-4 hours. We called all of our family to let them know that I was progressing, but it would still be awhile. Well, luckily they all decided to come at that time anyway.
Since it was going to be awhile, they gave me one last dose of the epidural, but they said it would be my last dose because they needed the epidural to wear off before it was time for me to push because they said that I would not be able to push her out unless I could feel the contractions. I was so not looking forward to that!
Well, just an hour later (after they told me it would be a minimum of 3-4), the doctor came in and checked me and looked up at Brandon and said “Do you want to see the head?” Brandon’s eyes got huge and watery. He looked down and said he could see about a quarter size of the head and she had lots of hair! I was already at a 10 and ready to push!
The doctor kept insisting that I wait until the epidural wear off before I push, but I begged him to let me try. He agreed and we called my Mom, and my mother-in-law in to witness the birth of our baby girl.
Well, the doctor didn’t think I was going to be able to push this little one out, but after I gave my first push he said “Well, I think she has that down, let’s get that baby out of there!”
I pushed for about 20-30 minutes, with Brandon by my side counting for me and telling me how much he loved me. It was such an amazing experience. Finally, the doctor said, “One last push and her head will be out!” I gave my last push and the doctor told me to reach down and grab my baby and deliver her the rest of the way. I pulled her out, and layed her against my chest. It was love at first touch. I couldn’t stop crying, she was so beautiful and amazing! Daddy cried, and so did both grandma’s.
When the doctor tried to make Aubrey Ann cry for the first time, he couldn’t while she was snuggled on my chest. The only way she would cry was when he tried to move her away. She was a snuggle bug right from the start! She felt safe in her mommies arms! My first words to her were, “I have missed you so much!”
Brandon cut the cord, and they took her to get cleaned up. She was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. She had dark hair just like me when I was born, and big blue eyes just like her daddy. She spent about an hour just laying on my chest. I couldn’t believe how much I loved her.
Daddy and I talked to her, and held her for hours, and finally after about 3 hours, we had a few visitors come in and say hello.
Aubrey Ann is so wonderful. I have never felt anything like being her Mommy. She is the most amazing, beautiful baby in the world. Please continue to pray for her and her new parents! Thanks to everyone who has called and visited. Aubrey Ann is so loved already!
The first few days after the birth were a bit rough, just because of my lack of sleep. Now I feel so much better, and we are enjoying every second of our lives with her!
Here are our first pictures of Aubrey Ann. They are right after the birth, but don’t worry, nothing revealing. Although, there is a little naked baby butt!
Here is a pic of Brandon being the most awesome labor coach ever! I am so blessed!
Finally ready to push, approximately 8:15 am.
Here is a picture of Aubrey Ann right after she delivered. Look at Daddies face!
Mommy and baby time!
Daddy and baby time!
Look at these proud grandma’s!
Here is the labor and delivery crew, along with the most precious baby you have ever seen!
We are so blessed to have such a wonderful little addition to our lives! Please keep us in your prayers. We love you Aubrey Ann!
Everyone’s favorite time…bath time! Is that a smile I see?
Aubrey Ann posing as a ballerina…
Another sleepy baby….
Mama and baby…
Me and my girl…
Another Mama and baby…
Aubrey Ann has decided on a vocation…she’s going to be a plumber!
Well, video proof is finally here. You can see in the video that Uncle PJ admits to getting owned (horribly defeated to the point of embarrassment) on his Xbox.
Just to rub it in, I had never touched an Xbox 360, nor had I ever played Soul Caliber.
PJ, I know you’ll deny it, but don’t worry, I’ll give you a rematch any time you want.
Here are a couple pictures from the hospital.
And here is one taken from my MacBook Pro yesterday.
Looks like Aubrey Ann has found a new feeding location…I don’t know if this is what God had in mind when he created the natural sucking instinct.
Click the picture for a full size view.
Here is a little video of our dorky family singing for us at the 3D ultrasound appointment. They are super cute! It is even funnier that I hit my head after hearing it!
Well, we’ve been having a little issue with Aubrey Ann sleeping. She loves to sleep (as do most babies), but she doesn’t like to sleep alone. She really likes to sleep while you’re holding her. When you lay her down in her bassinet, she starts crying.
Today we decided we were going to let her cry it out and see if she would sleep on her own. About 30 minutes later she was still crying off and on. She would cry for 5 minutes and sleep for 2. Mari Jo was really upset so I told her I was hungry and she should go to Taco Bell and get me some Cheesy Bean and Rice burritos (they are awesome). She needed a few minutes to be out of the house without any responsibilities.
She left and I wrapped Aubrey Ann up in a burrito-like swaddle and laid her back down. She cried for about 60 seconds then fell right to sleep and slept for about 90 minutes!
I had to tell Aunt Tahnee she couldn’t come over because Aubrey Ann was sleeping, but she needed her rest.
Now she is awake and feeding and is already crying less. I guess everyone gets grumpy when they don’t sleep!
My mom is throwing me a shower, and everything has been kept a secret. It is driving me crazy. My mom invited me to go with her and Cassie (my friend who is helping her throw the shower) to pick out some decorations at a party store, and then to lunch. The only condition was that I could not peek at what they were buying, and I had to stay on the opposite end of the store. Of course I agreed, but my mom should know me better! I am a notorious snoop, and just couldn’t help myself.
So here is what I uncovered during “Operation Sneaky Shower”:
I am so sorry to my mother, who thought I had been a “good girl” the entire time she did her shopping. I just can’t help myself! Unfortunately, I uncovered nothing of value, and still do not know anything about my shower, except for the fact that it will be a shower. Well, better luck next time I guess. Next time I will have to bring my “Super-Deluxe Spy Kit”!