Well, I know I seem to have dropped off the face of the earth! I was busy with a 3 year old, an infant, a (busy) husband, homeschooling, and working... Now I have a 3 year old, a 1 year old, a still busy husband (he's averaging 3+ days a week working out of town and 50 or more hours a week!), homeschooling, and working. Not much has changed, except the job I have and the age of my kiddos :)
I was working at WIC as a breastfeeding peer counselor. That job lasted about a month. It wasn't a good fit for me. I was expected to be a bit more pushy than I was comfortable being, honestly I don't care how you feed your baby, just that you are! My job wanted me to push breastfeeding as the only way to feed your baby. I know there are plenty of reasons that formula is a better choice for a family (not just a mom) and I don't think it's my choice to decide if the reason they are giving me is right or wrong, so I quit.
JR turned 1 in April. That was a bittersweet moment for me because he is my last baby. In Korean tradition we did a table of objects that the baby picks from that supposedly is his future. Allison picked a pencil, that typically means academics/smart. Knowing her now at 3, there might be something to it :D JR picked a golf ball, meaning athletic/physically gifted. He started walking at 9.5 months, but I'm still waiting to see if he's going to be a star athlete.
James is working out of town quite a bit lately so I'm home with the kids and getting very little break. Thankfully, my dad enjoys watching the kids 2 days a week so I can go to Zumba. I also go to Zumba and yoga on Wednesdays. The kids go to childcare at the gym and love it! We also do a stroller strides type activity 3 days a week. This is giving me an outlet and a break from the kids.
I am going back to the classroom in August! I was at an open gym activity at a local gymnastics place in March with my MOMS Club. The owner was talking with us about her future plans for the gym and the preschool came up. I mentioned I was a former teacher, although elementary/middle school, not preschool. I was going to ask what her rates were and she asked me to come talk to her about teaching there! I went back later (without kids to keep up with) and we talked about me not only being the teacher but the director as well. She has had a preschool Gym and Learn program at her other gym in Cottonwood so I don't have to invent a curriculum. I just have to come in and teach! My kids get to come with me to work, Allison will be in the class and getting to go to gymnastics class 5 days a week because it's part of the curriculum! I am so excited for August to arrive :)
Showing posts with label update. Show all posts
Showing posts with label update. Show all posts
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Changes!
Wow, what a whirlwind month of February! Allison turned 3, she started gymnastics classes, JR got 2 more teeth, he started walking, and James is changing jobs... I'm tired just writing it all down!
Just after Allison turned 3 I decided to take her to open gym at a local gymnastics place. It is free (trying to get more kids in their classes) on Wednesdays for an hour. The kids get out and play with all of the equipment and run around like maniacs. She had so much fun that I asked about classes. Ironically, it was the first week of classes and they had a class starting on Friday. I signed her up for a trial class. Her teacher put her in the class with the older 3 year olds and 4 year olds because she's so big. After her first class, it was a good decision. She's the same size as the other 3 kids in her class! If she was in the 2-3 year old class she would tower over them!
In 2 weeks she's learned so much. They do all 4 gymnastic events (beam, bars, floor, and vault) every week. She isn't a big fan of beam or vault (she's afraid of heights) but she loves to tumble and can do a rotation on the low bar and swing herself! It's adorable to watch. I was worried because she'd never been apart from me or listened to someone who isn't family but that fear was unfounded. She does great with Mr Eric. The other kids have had meltdowns or left the floor, not Allison. She only gets mad when it's time to go!
JR took his first steps on Sunday. He was in the bedroom with James and I hear come to Daddy, come to Daddy. I sneak in just in time to see him take 6 steps to James! He still prefers to crawl most of the time but he's getting better! In no time I'll be complaining that I have to chase him everywhere!
James is very tired of his old job. They don't appreciate him or pay him all that well. It's enough to get by on one income but there isn't much room for extras. James went to talk to a friend of his who owns a well drilling company in town (but doesn't do many jobs locally). He has really wanted James to join his crew for a while but Friday they talked about it seriously! He offered James $2 more an hour and guaranteed 20 hours of overtime a week. The only drawback is he will be working out of town and working 10 days on and 5 days off. It's not that big a deal for me because my dad has moved back and is willing to move his trailer to our property to help out with the kids! The extra money will be nice and the extra days off will be great too!
It's hard to believe that I'm already making plans for summer! Our local movie theater does cheap movies (10 movies for $7 a person) during the week all summer. It's a different kids movie each week. You pick a day and go the same time each week. I have been telling Allison about going to the movies and we are planning on going with a group of friends every Tuesday morning! It's just going to be just the 2 of us because JR is too little. He'll be staying home with my dad! Should be fun :)
Just after Allison turned 3 I decided to take her to open gym at a local gymnastics place. It is free (trying to get more kids in their classes) on Wednesdays for an hour. The kids get out and play with all of the equipment and run around like maniacs. She had so much fun that I asked about classes. Ironically, it was the first week of classes and they had a class starting on Friday. I signed her up for a trial class. Her teacher put her in the class with the older 3 year olds and 4 year olds because she's so big. After her first class, it was a good decision. She's the same size as the other 3 kids in her class! If she was in the 2-3 year old class she would tower over them!
In 2 weeks she's learned so much. They do all 4 gymnastic events (beam, bars, floor, and vault) every week. She isn't a big fan of beam or vault (she's afraid of heights) but she loves to tumble and can do a rotation on the low bar and swing herself! It's adorable to watch. I was worried because she'd never been apart from me or listened to someone who isn't family but that fear was unfounded. She does great with Mr Eric. The other kids have had meltdowns or left the floor, not Allison. She only gets mad when it's time to go!
JR took his first steps on Sunday. He was in the bedroom with James and I hear come to Daddy, come to Daddy. I sneak in just in time to see him take 6 steps to James! He still prefers to crawl most of the time but he's getting better! In no time I'll be complaining that I have to chase him everywhere!
James is very tired of his old job. They don't appreciate him or pay him all that well. It's enough to get by on one income but there isn't much room for extras. James went to talk to a friend of his who owns a well drilling company in town (but doesn't do many jobs locally). He has really wanted James to join his crew for a while but Friday they talked about it seriously! He offered James $2 more an hour and guaranteed 20 hours of overtime a week. The only drawback is he will be working out of town and working 10 days on and 5 days off. It's not that big a deal for me because my dad has moved back and is willing to move his trailer to our property to help out with the kids! The extra money will be nice and the extra days off will be great too!
It's hard to believe that I'm already making plans for summer! Our local movie theater does cheap movies (10 movies for $7 a person) during the week all summer. It's a different kids movie each week. You pick a day and go the same time each week. I have been telling Allison about going to the movies and we are planning on going with a group of friends every Tuesday morning! It's just going to be just the 2 of us because JR is too little. He'll be staying home with my dad! Should be fun :)
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Whiny Mommy!
I have rheumatoid arthritis. I was diagnosed at 22 but probably have had it since childhood. Most of the time- it means I move a bit slower in the mornings (or wake up earlier to compensate) and have swelling and pain in various joints. I have taken different meds over the years to combat the disease but I have been off major meds since before I got pregnant with Allison, 3.5 years ago. By the time I started feeling the need to go back on my meds after I had Allison, I was trying to get pregnant again so I just did a couple of Prednisone tapers and felt fine.
The last couple of weeks I have been feeling pretty icky, my hands are swollen, my feet are swollen (had to go back to wearing my old Crocs that I wore during pregnancy), and generally, super tired. I know, I know, I have a 9 month old, I should be tired but he sleeps from 7 pm to 6 am with one wake up at 11 pm. I know that's not causing my exhaustion! I called my rheumatologist and asked what I should do, since I'm still breastfeeding. He said to try a Prednisone burst and see how I felt. I'm a week in to a month long prescription and still feeling crappy :( Normally, by this time, I'm ready to run a marathon! I called on Thursday and was seen on Friday. He said it might be time to start thinking about meds. He wasn't sure what ones are breastfeeding safe (he'll check with the LC at the local hospital, I gave him the number!) but in the mean time to try using my braces and resting as much as possible.
I wore my foot and wrist braces last night, for the first time in ages! I wish I could say they helped and I felt great. But I woke up with numb fingers (like usual from the swelling) and sore feet. I shuffled through Lowes and Fry's to get the errands done and came home and spent the rest of the day on the couch with ice packs! I'm still swollen.
I know I'll go to work on Monday, probably wearing at least a couple of ring (finger) splints and maybe one of my foot braces. I hate wearing them in public. It always feels like everyone is watching me. I always say, I'm not sure they help but I'd hate to see the alternative!
Oh well! Mommyhood doesn't stop for issues and I have 2 awesome kids to take care of. I feel a bit better after this whining session so that's a plus :)
The last couple of weeks I have been feeling pretty icky, my hands are swollen, my feet are swollen (had to go back to wearing my old Crocs that I wore during pregnancy), and generally, super tired. I know, I know, I have a 9 month old, I should be tired but he sleeps from 7 pm to 6 am with one wake up at 11 pm. I know that's not causing my exhaustion! I called my rheumatologist and asked what I should do, since I'm still breastfeeding. He said to try a Prednisone burst and see how I felt. I'm a week in to a month long prescription and still feeling crappy :( Normally, by this time, I'm ready to run a marathon! I called on Thursday and was seen on Friday. He said it might be time to start thinking about meds. He wasn't sure what ones are breastfeeding safe (he'll check with the LC at the local hospital, I gave him the number!) but in the mean time to try using my braces and resting as much as possible.
I wore my foot and wrist braces last night, for the first time in ages! I wish I could say they helped and I felt great. But I woke up with numb fingers (like usual from the swelling) and sore feet. I shuffled through Lowes and Fry's to get the errands done and came home and spent the rest of the day on the couch with ice packs! I'm still swollen.
I know I'll go to work on Monday, probably wearing at least a couple of ring (finger) splints and maybe one of my foot braces. I hate wearing them in public. It always feels like everyone is watching me. I always say, I'm not sure they help but I'd hate to see the alternative!
Oh well! Mommyhood doesn't stop for issues and I have 2 awesome kids to take care of. I feel a bit better after this whining session so that's a plus :)
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
TGIMF- Thank Goodness It's My Friday
I am happily finished with my first month of work. This month my schedule was Monday, Wednesday, and every other Friday so my bosses could train me and supervise me. Starting next week I work Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on weeks 1 and 3 of the month and Tuesday and Thursday of weeks 2 and 4. This is so I average 20 hours a week and can meet with more clients on their schedule (if they need to meet on a Tuesday, they only have to wait 2 weeks instead of a month when I can change my schedule). Now, I am off until Monday!
The 4 day vacation is a good thing- it will give me a chance to get my tax forms organized and done for my new business. If I get them done this week, I can make my first order early next week and build my stores (Facebook and website) over my 3 day weekends at the end of the month. It will give me the next 2 weekends off because this weekend Dad is coming up and I'll spend the weekend with him and next weekend is Allison's third birthday!
We have been invited to another girl's birthday (Belle is a day younger than Allison) on her birthday. Belle's birthday is going to be at the Phoenix Zoo! We're going to spend the entire day at the zoo for their birthdays.
Allison requested to have a lunch picnic and playdate at the park for her birthday with 3 of her friends. It's going to be so much fun- they are going to do this on the Monday after her birthday (I'm off that day). She's been planning the menu (Sams Club chicken wraps or enchiladas, fruit plate, cake with ice cream, and Kool Aid) for the past week! She can't wait!
This is a super busy time but I thrive on stress and action! I can't wait to see where this leads me :)
The 4 day vacation is a good thing- it will give me a chance to get my tax forms organized and done for my new business. If I get them done this week, I can make my first order early next week and build my stores (Facebook and website) over my 3 day weekends at the end of the month. It will give me the next 2 weekends off because this weekend Dad is coming up and I'll spend the weekend with him and next weekend is Allison's third birthday!
We have been invited to another girl's birthday (Belle is a day younger than Allison) on her birthday. Belle's birthday is going to be at the Phoenix Zoo! We're going to spend the entire day at the zoo for their birthdays.
Allison requested to have a lunch picnic and playdate at the park for her birthday with 3 of her friends. It's going to be so much fun- they are going to do this on the Monday after her birthday (I'm off that day). She's been planning the menu (Sams Club chicken wraps or enchiladas, fruit plate, cake with ice cream, and Kool Aid) for the past week! She can't wait!
This is a super busy time but I thrive on stress and action! I can't wait to see where this leads me :)
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Life Changes
As if things weren't busy enough at my house with homeschooling Allison, having JR, and working part time. I am considering starting my own business!
It makes me sad to see families paying outrageous prices for cloth diapers. I bought all of mine for less than $4 each. I was looking online to replace a few that were different than the ones I like and saw the exact diapers I use from $3-$20 depending on what website you look at! This got me to thinking about people who don't have time to do all the research I have done on cloth diapers. Why should they have to pay such an exorbitant amount to diaper their child? This led me to ask the manufacturer of the diapers what it would cost to wholesale them to me. Then, what it would take to create a website to sell them on and what taxes I would have to pay to become a legit business. All of this led me to discover I could have a business of my own (with tremendous stock) for less than $2500!
That sounds like a ton of money to me, but I found out that Sam's Club offers small business loans for a low fee (~$70/month). The more I research, the more I realize I want to start my own store! This may not happen in the next few days but I'm hoping by JR's birthday (April 26) that I have it online! I'll keep everyone posted on the details and the website, coming soon!
It makes me sad to see families paying outrageous prices for cloth diapers. I bought all of mine for less than $4 each. I was looking online to replace a few that were different than the ones I like and saw the exact diapers I use from $3-$20 depending on what website you look at! This got me to thinking about people who don't have time to do all the research I have done on cloth diapers. Why should they have to pay such an exorbitant amount to diaper their child? This led me to ask the manufacturer of the diapers what it would cost to wholesale them to me. Then, what it would take to create a website to sell them on and what taxes I would have to pay to become a legit business. All of this led me to discover I could have a business of my own (with tremendous stock) for less than $2500!
That sounds like a ton of money to me, but I found out that Sam's Club offers small business loans for a low fee (~$70/month). The more I research, the more I realize I want to start my own store! This may not happen in the next few days but I'm hoping by JR's birthday (April 26) that I have it online! I'll keep everyone posted on the details and the website, coming soon!
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Allison's Birth Story
Having had JR a little over a month ago I was thinking back to Allison's birth. There were many things that went wrong that shaped how JR was going to come into the world, but the one thing that went right was the fact that Allison was born! I am going to post Allison's birth story from a mommy website I posted on when I was pregnant with her. It was written a few days after her birth with all the emotions I was feeling after an emergency c-section and not having the birth I had planned.
Labor was an interesting thing- since I was high risk my OB wasn't going to let me go past 40 weeks. I went to the hospital on February 8 to be induced at 6 am. The nurse started my IV and Cervidil by 7 am. Things happened slowly. By the second dose of Cervidil, at 1 pm, I was only dilated to 2 cm. I came to the hospital at 1 cm and 50% effaced. I got my third dose of Cervidil at 7 pm and was still at 2 cm with a few contractions but nothing in a pattern. My OB came in and said things are moving slow, but that's okay! We'll give you the night off and start Pitocin at 6 am tomorrow. I had dinner, watched TV, and walked until 11 pm when the nurse said, "Go to sleep! Labor will be here soon enough!"
The next morning I woke up to the nurse starting the Pitocin and my OB coming to see me. My OB said we're going to take things slowly, only up the Pitocin by 1 mU/hour, until you become uncomfortable. When you get uncomfortable and can't take it anymore we'll stop and leave it there or lower it 1 mU. She also said she was going to be at a conference in Phoenix for the next 2 days (speaking) and another doctor from the practice would probably deliver me but she would call tonight to find out how I was. I was okay with this because she was wonderful during my pregnancy, I had met each of the doctors in the practice, and she knew it was her butt on the line since she had an agreement with my high risk OB in Phoenix to deliver me in Prescott (only going to 40 weeks, everything favorable, and at the first sign of problem either induce me or send me to Phoenix)! Since I was on Pitocin I could only be off the monitors for 30 minutes an hour (this included bathroom time) so I spent the next 30 minutes walking the halls of L&D. During this time nursing shift change occured and I came back to my room to meet my nurse for the next 12 hours.
As soon as I get back in the room the new nurse wanted me on the monitors. Since it was close to time I agreed and got in bed. I should have known something was bad when she said, "My shift ends at 3 and I want a baby by then!" (I was still only 2 cm, 50%, and -3). I sat in bed and talked to my mom and husband for a while and the nurse came in 15 minutes later and upped my Pitocin. I didn't think much of it until she came back in 15 minutes after that and upped the Pitocin. I asked what's going on Katie (my OB) said we are only upping the Pitocin 1 mU every hour. The nurse replied, "No we're upping it 2 mU every 15 minutes, I want a baby by the end of my shift." Since I was on such a low dose I didn't mind kicking up labor a bit since my contractions had ended during the night. By 10 am I didn't care for Pitocin as much, my contractions had picked up and were coming every 5 minutes and lasting for 30 seconds or so, I was ready to get used to them before continuing. The doctor on call came in and introduced himself to my family and I and checked my cervix. I was able to stretch to 3 cm, 75% effaced, and still -3. I brought up what Katie had said and what the nurse was doing. The doctor said I am the one who ordered more Pitocin, Katie was going too slow.
At this point I was mad! Katie was awesome and this doctor, who had never seen me, thought he knew more than the one who had followed my case from week 12! I said I would like to stick to Katie's plan and take a bit of time off from raising the Pitocin, he said we'll see what breaking your water does and go from there. He broke my water but left the Pitocin alone for the time being. But 15 minutes later the nurse came in and upped the Pitocin. This continued until 12:30 when I couldn't move during contractions, they were coming every 2 minutes and lasting a minute and a half. When the nurse came in to up the Pitocin again my mom and husband told her you have to do something she's can't cope anymore. She upped it and went to get the doctor.
He came in and checked me, quite possibly the most painful thing in the world during a contraction! I was at 4 cm, 75% effaced, and -3 not much change in an hour and a half but he said I could get an epidural if I wanted. I wanted! The anesthesiologist came in and watched a couple of contractions. He said I can get this in between contractions to make you more comfortable. I liked that idea! I found out later that in order to get it in so fast I had a HUGE bruise on my back. The pushy nurse was on lunch and a different one came in to hold me in position. She was wonderful and when she saw what I was like during contractions, she knew I was in need of the epi! After seeing a nurse who had compassion I asked if the other nurse could be kept out of my room, I needed to focus and she didn't help!
After the epi, the anethsiologist said take a nap and get ready to have a baby. I took his advice and while I was asleep Allison kept going off the monitor. That wasn't unusual, during NST's she would wander away from the monitor frequently. The nurse passed on my request to keep the bad nurse out and sent a wonderful nurse that I had had the day before, who coincidentally was named Allison too. Allison sat in my room for the next hour and kept chasing the baby around my stomach with the monitor. I couldn't see the monitor but I found out later that with each contraction, that were still coming every 2 minutes and lasting 1.5 minutes, the baby's heart rate was dropping. Her heart rate would come up quickly but Allison was getting worried. Finally, at 3 pm Allison went to get the doctor, things weren't getting better and my heart rate and oxygen was dropping too.
The doctor was delivering another baby in the next room but was watching my stats on the monitor. He told Allison to give me Terbutiline and oxygen and stop the Pitocin. He finished up in there as quickly as possible and came in the room. He checked me to see where I was in labor. I was at 5 cm, 75% effaced, and -2 station with the baby's head moulding. He said the baby wasn't going to come out naturally and she didn't like Pitocin contractions. We needed to have a c-section and now!
This scared me to death! I had not even planned for a c-section and now my baby is not doing so well! The room became a flurry of activity and I held tight to my dad in one hand and James in the other. Allison brought papers for me to sign, acid reducer to drink, and scrubs for James. I was shaking so bad from nerves and Terbutiline I could barely sign my name. James put on his scrubs and off we went!
In the OR the anethsiologist met me again and told me I said to get ready to meet baby but not like this! I laughed and he gave me a top off of meds, switched my oxygen mask for a nasal cannula, and put the pulse ox monitor on my right thumb. Allison came in and told me how things were going to go, the doctor would come in get the baby out ASAP, shown to me, and she would be checked out by the pediatrician. If everything was okay she'd be cleaned, wrapped up, and handed to James for some family cuddle time. After some cuddles and pictures the baby, Allison, and James would go to the nursery to get her measurements and I would finish up and meet up with them in my PP room. Then James came in and sat by my head. Lastly, the doctor came in and began the surgery. This went quick and Allison Ruth was born at 4:53 pm. I said look at that little bug when I saw her and touched her little hands.
She was checked out and was great! Her heart rate kept dropping because she had the cord wrapped around her neck twice and a huge head. The Pitocin was trying to get her to drop but her giant head wouldn't fit! Allison Ruth, Allison, and James went to the nursery while I was stapled up. I went to recovery where I was to stay until I could move my legs (it took about 20 minutes), and off I headed to my room, still shaking (an after effect of the meds).
My parents were already in love with their first grandchild! Allison (the nurse) came to make sure we were okay and knew what to do with breastfeeding. I was set. They set me up with a morphene pump and showed me how to use it. I used it twice but it didn't seem to work. I was so in love with my daughter that I didn't notice the meds or lack thereof. Allison brought me a liquid dinner. I had never been so excited to eat chicken broth and jello! It was the first food I had had for 24 hours. Finally, around 9 pm, my parents left and James and I were a family of 3 for the first time alone. Allie kept eating every 2 hours (she sucked like a barracuda!) and finally around 1 am I noticed that my stomach hurt like you wouldn't believe. I called the nurse and she called the doctor at home to find out what to do since Morphene wasn't doing anything for me. He said to give me Percocet. It worked and I felt so much better.
The next morning the nurse came in to get Allie and James for measurements (baby's don't stay in the nursery at this hospital and anytime Allie was out of the room James was with her) and asked if I'd like to get up and walk. Having walked around L&D so much in the past 2 days I said yes. It was uncomfortable but I wanted to do it. After a short walk I came back in to my husband and parents watching Allie with awe.
I was in the hospital for a total of 6 days because I developed a PP fever. The doctor who delivered my daughter thought I had an infection so he put me on IV antibiotics for four days. When my OB got back to town she was already mad at the other doctor for going against her wishes and inducing my labor too fast and now I had a fever! She was fit to be tied! It ended up that I was running a fever due to my RA (rheumatoid arthritis) but we couldn't prove it so Katie (my OB) had to run blood work, an EKG, urinanalysis, CT scan, ultrasound, and chest x-ray to prove I didn't have anything else!
Allie wore an adorable pink jumper, white onsie, and pink tights home. I wore my black yoga pants and a purple top (non-maternity!). Allie didn't really cry much during her stay at the hospital and going home was the same. She slept all the way home, after a quick stop at Wal-Mart to get diapers! We had another stop to get my prescriptions (Percocet and antibiotic) filled and then dinner at my parents. It was wonderful not to have to cook that first day!
On a side note, JR had his 1 month check up today and is now 11.1 pounds and 23.5 inches! That is a 2.5 pound increase and 2 inches in height in 1 month and 3 days. He's growing like a weed!
Labor was an interesting thing- since I was high risk my OB wasn't going to let me go past 40 weeks. I went to the hospital on February 8 to be induced at 6 am. The nurse started my IV and Cervidil by 7 am. Things happened slowly. By the second dose of Cervidil, at 1 pm, I was only dilated to 2 cm. I came to the hospital at 1 cm and 50% effaced. I got my third dose of Cervidil at 7 pm and was still at 2 cm with a few contractions but nothing in a pattern. My OB came in and said things are moving slow, but that's okay! We'll give you the night off and start Pitocin at 6 am tomorrow. I had dinner, watched TV, and walked until 11 pm when the nurse said, "Go to sleep! Labor will be here soon enough!"
The next morning I woke up to the nurse starting the Pitocin and my OB coming to see me. My OB said we're going to take things slowly, only up the Pitocin by 1 mU/hour, until you become uncomfortable. When you get uncomfortable and can't take it anymore we'll stop and leave it there or lower it 1 mU. She also said she was going to be at a conference in Phoenix for the next 2 days (speaking) and another doctor from the practice would probably deliver me but she would call tonight to find out how I was. I was okay with this because she was wonderful during my pregnancy, I had met each of the doctors in the practice, and she knew it was her butt on the line since she had an agreement with my high risk OB in Phoenix to deliver me in Prescott (only going to 40 weeks, everything favorable, and at the first sign of problem either induce me or send me to Phoenix)! Since I was on Pitocin I could only be off the monitors for 30 minutes an hour (this included bathroom time) so I spent the next 30 minutes walking the halls of L&D. During this time nursing shift change occured and I came back to my room to meet my nurse for the next 12 hours.
As soon as I get back in the room the new nurse wanted me on the monitors. Since it was close to time I agreed and got in bed. I should have known something was bad when she said, "My shift ends at 3 and I want a baby by then!" (I was still only 2 cm, 50%, and -3). I sat in bed and talked to my mom and husband for a while and the nurse came in 15 minutes later and upped my Pitocin. I didn't think much of it until she came back in 15 minutes after that and upped the Pitocin. I asked what's going on Katie (my OB) said we are only upping the Pitocin 1 mU every hour. The nurse replied, "No we're upping it 2 mU every 15 minutes, I want a baby by the end of my shift." Since I was on such a low dose I didn't mind kicking up labor a bit since my contractions had ended during the night. By 10 am I didn't care for Pitocin as much, my contractions had picked up and were coming every 5 minutes and lasting for 30 seconds or so, I was ready to get used to them before continuing. The doctor on call came in and introduced himself to my family and I and checked my cervix. I was able to stretch to 3 cm, 75% effaced, and still -3. I brought up what Katie had said and what the nurse was doing. The doctor said I am the one who ordered more Pitocin, Katie was going too slow.
At this point I was mad! Katie was awesome and this doctor, who had never seen me, thought he knew more than the one who had followed my case from week 12! I said I would like to stick to Katie's plan and take a bit of time off from raising the Pitocin, he said we'll see what breaking your water does and go from there. He broke my water but left the Pitocin alone for the time being. But 15 minutes later the nurse came in and upped the Pitocin. This continued until 12:30 when I couldn't move during contractions, they were coming every 2 minutes and lasting a minute and a half. When the nurse came in to up the Pitocin again my mom and husband told her you have to do something she's can't cope anymore. She upped it and went to get the doctor.
He came in and checked me, quite possibly the most painful thing in the world during a contraction! I was at 4 cm, 75% effaced, and -3 not much change in an hour and a half but he said I could get an epidural if I wanted. I wanted! The anesthesiologist came in and watched a couple of contractions. He said I can get this in between contractions to make you more comfortable. I liked that idea! I found out later that in order to get it in so fast I had a HUGE bruise on my back. The pushy nurse was on lunch and a different one came in to hold me in position. She was wonderful and when she saw what I was like during contractions, she knew I was in need of the epi! After seeing a nurse who had compassion I asked if the other nurse could be kept out of my room, I needed to focus and she didn't help!
After the epi, the anethsiologist said take a nap and get ready to have a baby. I took his advice and while I was asleep Allison kept going off the monitor. That wasn't unusual, during NST's she would wander away from the monitor frequently. The nurse passed on my request to keep the bad nurse out and sent a wonderful nurse that I had had the day before, who coincidentally was named Allison too. Allison sat in my room for the next hour and kept chasing the baby around my stomach with the monitor. I couldn't see the monitor but I found out later that with each contraction, that were still coming every 2 minutes and lasting 1.5 minutes, the baby's heart rate was dropping. Her heart rate would come up quickly but Allison was getting worried. Finally, at 3 pm Allison went to get the doctor, things weren't getting better and my heart rate and oxygen was dropping too.
The doctor was delivering another baby in the next room but was watching my stats on the monitor. He told Allison to give me Terbutiline and oxygen and stop the Pitocin. He finished up in there as quickly as possible and came in the room. He checked me to see where I was in labor. I was at 5 cm, 75% effaced, and -2 station with the baby's head moulding. He said the baby wasn't going to come out naturally and she didn't like Pitocin contractions. We needed to have a c-section and now!
This scared me to death! I had not even planned for a c-section and now my baby is not doing so well! The room became a flurry of activity and I held tight to my dad in one hand and James in the other. Allison brought papers for me to sign, acid reducer to drink, and scrubs for James. I was shaking so bad from nerves and Terbutiline I could barely sign my name. James put on his scrubs and off we went!
In the OR the anethsiologist met me again and told me I said to get ready to meet baby but not like this! I laughed and he gave me a top off of meds, switched my oxygen mask for a nasal cannula, and put the pulse ox monitor on my right thumb. Allison came in and told me how things were going to go, the doctor would come in get the baby out ASAP, shown to me, and she would be checked out by the pediatrician. If everything was okay she'd be cleaned, wrapped up, and handed to James for some family cuddle time. After some cuddles and pictures the baby, Allison, and James would go to the nursery to get her measurements and I would finish up and meet up with them in my PP room. Then James came in and sat by my head. Lastly, the doctor came in and began the surgery. This went quick and Allison Ruth was born at 4:53 pm. I said look at that little bug when I saw her and touched her little hands.
She was checked out and was great! Her heart rate kept dropping because she had the cord wrapped around her neck twice and a huge head. The Pitocin was trying to get her to drop but her giant head wouldn't fit! Allison Ruth, Allison, and James went to the nursery while I was stapled up. I went to recovery where I was to stay until I could move my legs (it took about 20 minutes), and off I headed to my room, still shaking (an after effect of the meds).
My parents were already in love with their first grandchild! Allison (the nurse) came to make sure we were okay and knew what to do with breastfeeding. I was set. They set me up with a morphene pump and showed me how to use it. I used it twice but it didn't seem to work. I was so in love with my daughter that I didn't notice the meds or lack thereof. Allison brought me a liquid dinner. I had never been so excited to eat chicken broth and jello! It was the first food I had had for 24 hours. Finally, around 9 pm, my parents left and James and I were a family of 3 for the first time alone. Allie kept eating every 2 hours (she sucked like a barracuda!) and finally around 1 am I noticed that my stomach hurt like you wouldn't believe. I called the nurse and she called the doctor at home to find out what to do since Morphene wasn't doing anything for me. He said to give me Percocet. It worked and I felt so much better.
The next morning the nurse came in to get Allie and James for measurements (baby's don't stay in the nursery at this hospital and anytime Allie was out of the room James was with her) and asked if I'd like to get up and walk. Having walked around L&D so much in the past 2 days I said yes. It was uncomfortable but I wanted to do it. After a short walk I came back in to my husband and parents watching Allie with awe.
I was in the hospital for a total of 6 days because I developed a PP fever. The doctor who delivered my daughter thought I had an infection so he put me on IV antibiotics for four days. When my OB got back to town she was already mad at the other doctor for going against her wishes and inducing my labor too fast and now I had a fever! She was fit to be tied! It ended up that I was running a fever due to my RA (rheumatoid arthritis) but we couldn't prove it so Katie (my OB) had to run blood work, an EKG, urinanalysis, CT scan, ultrasound, and chest x-ray to prove I didn't have anything else!
Allie wore an adorable pink jumper, white onsie, and pink tights home. I wore my black yoga pants and a purple top (non-maternity!). Allie didn't really cry much during her stay at the hospital and going home was the same. She slept all the way home, after a quick stop at Wal-Mart to get diapers! We had another stop to get my prescriptions (Percocet and antibiotic) filled and then dinner at my parents. It was wonderful not to have to cook that first day!
On a side note, JR had his 1 month check up today and is now 11.1 pounds and 23.5 inches! That is a 2.5 pound increase and 2 inches in height in 1 month and 3 days. He's growing like a weed!
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