Growing Like Weeds

Today the girls had well child visits...well technically just Emily did and Ruby had a weight check, but since we were there and the nurse took her stats Dr. Miller said we could just count it as her well check and come back in 3 weeks at her 1 month well child.  So here are their stats.

Emily:

Weight: 39 pounds-50%

Height: 43 3/8 inches-70%

So far she has been taller than the doctors had thought she would be, but only time will tell.  For about 3 weeks, since I had scheduled her visit, I have been preparing Emily for her 4 shots.  I was so proud of her! She sat up on the table when they gave her the first 2 and she didn't even flinch.  The last 2 shots were a different story.  I only remember that the 3rd shot she cried a little and so I passed off Ruby to my Mom so I could be up there with Emily while they gave her her 4th shot (Chicken Pox vaccine) which was supposed to be the worst.  She cried a little again, but was very brave.  Now we are all set for Kindergarten, which speaking of Mike and I have parents night for her coming up on the 7th of April.  How did my baby girl get so big???

Ruby:

Weight: 6 pounds 7 ounces-20%

Length: 19 3/4 inches- 50%

Head: 13 1/8 inches- 20%

So, not quite back to her birth weight, but Dr. Miller seemed please that she gained 6 ounces in 6 days, or in other words she gained an ounce a day.  She wasn't very jaundice, and no baby acne at all which our kids don't seem to really get anyway...*knocking on wood right now*.  Ruby seems to sleep about 3-4 hours at night and has 2 really good naps during the day with little cat naps here and there.  So far she is pretty calm, and hoping she stays that way.  Ruby has an ultrasound scheduled for Monday the 28th to make sure her kidneys are okay.  Dr. Miller seems to think they are because she has been urinating just fine, but we are glad that he is still checking.  Better safe than sorry.

Five Years Old...Already?

Emily LOVES Red Robin.  Every time we ask her where she would like to go eat she always says, "Red Robin, so I can get chicken on a stick."  Since today was her birthday, and Mike was home (because we had Ruby) we took her to eat and had them sing to her.  We did an early dinner since we attended BC's baptism this evening and we weren't going to miss that for the world.  Emily got some some games for her Mobigo and V-Motion from us, clothes from Grandma and Grandpa Rogers and a card with money from Grandma and Grandpa Bainbridge.  We plan on having a party for her, and we are thinking a bowling party, but things need to settle down for that to happen.

Rubys Birth

Every Sunday Mike and his brother Keith talk on the phone from about 9:00pm-10:00pm.  The usual ritual happened, while Mike talked on the phone I got ready for bed, and climbed into bed with my itouch to play games while Mike played with my hair.  As I moved my head onto Mike's lap (9:40 pm) I felt my garments get a little wet.  I must have made a funny face because Mike asked me, "What? Whats wrong?"  I told him that I thought my water just broke, and got up and went into the bathroom.  I fully expected fluid to keep coming but nothing.  Mike told Keith what happened and then they hung up so I could call my Mom.  I wanted to call my Mom because of all the things I have ever heard about water breaking is that there is a continuous leak or gush of fluids, and mine wasn't.  Mom was pretty sure it was my water even though there wasn't any leakage coming out, me on the other hand I wasn't so sure.  I got off the phone with Mom to call the on call OB because I had tested positive for group B strep, and if contractions were going to start I wanted to make sure I got in in enough time to get the antibiotics.  Dr. Moeller called me back about 10:15pm and I explained to her what had happened.  She didn't sound like she thought it was my water either because I hadn't had anymore leaks or drips and I didn't have any contractions either.  She did say that it could have been some urine left in my ureter and that the baby could have moved or kicked and the urine came out.  I immediately knew it wasn't that, because I knew at the time the fluid came out that she wasn't moving.  She did say that if I was still a little skeptical I could put on a panty liner and walk around and if it was wet within 30 minutes then I would know it was my water that had broken.  While I was on the phone Mike was searching all over the Internet for other things it could have been, and other signs or symptoms that I was having but not noticing.  The result: NOTHING.  Well about 10:45pm I decided since it was late, and that since I wasn't having any contractions that we should just go to bed, and IF I woke up with contractions then we would go in.  I did put on a thick pad (only kind I had after having Mordecai) at 10:50pm and when I went to put it on I noticed there was some red flecks in my bottoms.  It almost looked like some red cooking sprinkles had gotten wet.  Then we went to bed and tried to sleep.  I had some periods of in and out of sleep but nothing to deep and restful.  I kept waiting for something, more fluid, contractions, pain of any sort but that didn't happen.  Finally about 2:00am I got up to go to the bathroom and realized that my pad was soaked.  This next part is kind of gross, but I put the pad on the back of the toilet so that I could make Mike feel it in the morning and reassure me that I wasn't insane.  I put on a new pad and tried to go back to sleep.  Finally about 4:00am I decided to come downstairs and search the Internet for any reasoning to what was going on but came up with nothing. I tried watching T.V, but nothing was on so I went back up to bed around 6:00am.  Mike was awake and asked if I was feeling anything.  The answer was, "No, and I am beginning to think it is nothing."  I finally dozed off until 7:00am when Mordecai came in wanting breakfast so out of bed we rolled.  Showers were to happen first since Mike and I knew I needed to go in and be checked by an OB from what happened the night before.  Mike was going to the bathroom when I decided to strip down to shower and all of a sudden I had one little drip run down my leg.  I knew it wasn't urine, just like I knew it wasn't the night before.  I wiped it off and was about to get into the shower when it happened again, but this time it was a little pinkish.  I showered and started packing a bag for a "just in case" visit to labor and delivery even though I didn't have any more leaks after those two.  I did however have a "watery" type discharge every time I wiped but no drippage.  Anyway, after we fed the kids breakfast and had Kristal come over Mike and I headed to the doctors office.  I was a little annoyed after making my appointment because I didn't feel like Dr. Moeller really believed I knew what I was talking about the night before,  I felt like she just thought I was one of those paranoid-first-time-moms.  Anyway, we were in the exam room by 9:45am telling Dr. Moeller the events of the night AGAIN, and what had occurred after I got off the phone with her.  She did an exam and noted there was a little bit of watery discharge but wasn't so sure it was a leak in my bag and that I was only 4cm dilated.  She then did the pH test which came back "blue" or positive really fast which proved it was amniotic fluid and she then said I probably had a leak way up high.  See, I am not crazy lady!  I felt like she finally thought I knew what I was talking about and sent us over to labor and delivery.  It was kind of surreal since I still wasn't having any contractions.  At about 10:30am we were being taken back to our room, we skipped triage, and starting the whole check-in process.  My I.V. was started and I was given my first round of antibiotics about 10:45am.  I was then monitored on the monitors for about an hour.  Still no contractions, which I could have told them that.  We were sent to walk the halls for an hour at 11:20am and then to be checked again. No progression.  It was really weird being there knowing I was going to have a baby that day and to not be in any pain whatsoever.  Anyway, at 12:56pm Dr. Speers came in and checked me and said I was still 4cm and that they were going to try to just break my water from down below to see if that would start labor instead of having to do pitocin.  It worked, because I started having contractions that were painless about 1:00pm.  It was back to walking the halls for another half hour.  The contractions quickly began to get painful.  I was ready for an epidural and our nurse Fran called the anesthesiologist to do the epidural.  After the the contractions were much more manageable.  The dilation was progressing slowly, I was barely at a loose 5 because the baby was posterior, but Fran and Dr. Speers had warned me about that possibility and that labor could be more painful because of bone-on-bone.  Fran was good about rotating me every 30 minutes from laying on my left side to the right side to help with dilation, but Ruby was still way up high so they sat me upright to help her engage more.  At around 4:15pm I started to feel a lot of pressure in my bottom area, but wasn't allowed to push because we were still waiting for Dr. Speers to show up.  When she finally got to our room the epidural had quit working and the pressure was really strong so they let me start pushing.  Delivery was A LOT more painful than Emily and Mordecai's.  Just as Ruby was crowning she twisted which sent a surge of pain throuugh my whole body but she was out soon.  Ruby was born at 4:37pm on Valentines Day.  She weighed 6 lbs. 10.5 oz. and was 19.25 inches long and her head was 13 inches around.  I only had to push through 2 or 3 contractions which was a long time with the pressure and pain but in all reality not that bad.  She has a ton of hair, which isn't normal for our kids.  She had a weight check today since we only stayed one night in the hospital and she weighed in at 6 pounds 1 ounce.  I am thinking my milk is going to be in tonight and hopefully that means a better night of sleeping.  I am sore after this delivery because of the bone-on-bone delivery, but grateful I didn't tear or have to be cut.  We didn't expect her to come 2 weeks early, but we are glad we were ready. The kids are doing well, but it is going to be an adjustment.  We are so glad to have little Miss Ruby here and love her her so much.

Happy Valentines day "RUBY"

Ruby Marie Rogers

Born: 2.14.2011

Time: 4:37 pm

Weight: 6 lbs 10 oz

Length: 19 1/4 inches

More details about the birth coming soon...

Progressing

I had my 37 week OB appointment today. I met with Dr. Spears since my OB is in Nepal for the month.  Anyway, when she walked in she looked at me and said, "I think I have met with you before."  I told her that she had delivered Mordecai because Dr. Hall was out of town and that she had been the on call doctor when I was in the hospital a couple of times due to his complicated pregnancy.  Well, after she looked quickly over my chart she said, "Oh you are that one."  She was referring to my nephrostomy tube ordeal.  I kind of snickered and then she said that she had a patient get one yesterday at 26 weeks.  She asked me when my problems started and I told her 16 weeks and she was kind of shocked.  She then told me that she was trying to explain/reassure to her patient that these types of things aren't common and that of all the years the office had been open there has only been 3 cases where a nephrostomy tube was needed and besides her the most recent was 2 years ago and mine so far had been the worst.  Lucky me :)  After that little memory lane chat she checked and measured me.  I asked about having my membranes stripped since Dr. Huynh suggested that, but they couldn't because I tested positive for group B strep.  I didn't have that with the other 2 so I was surprised.  My fundal measured at 38 weeks and when she checked me I was 3cm dilated and 70% effaced.  YAHOOO!!!  She did say that the baby is face up (posterior) and that is the reason she is still so high up.  She didn't seem concerned at all about that, and just told me to sleep on my stomach as much as I can to get her to turn face down.  Dr. Spears also told me to put Kristal on notice because she doesn't think I will make it to Presidents Day to have this baby, and if I have her before the 20th Mom wont be here.  It all still seems a little surreal.  I am comfortable in this pregnancy, which is why I think it hasn't totally sunk in yet that I am having a baby at the most in 18 days.  I hope it feels real soon.  I have had some pretty strong contractions this evening which is helping my into reality.

Now for a feel good story.  This last Friday Mike, the kids and I headed down to Parker, CO for a surprise birthday party for a friend.  As we walked in I noticed another girl that was pregnant with her 3rd child.  While I was in the kitchen getting food she came up to me and said, "I'm guessing we are about the same gestation since we are about the same size tummy wise."  I told her we probably were and then she asked me how far along I was.  I responded with, "I will be 37 weeks on Sunday."  She looked really shocked and said, "Oh, I am 28 weeks." I tried to explain that this baby has measured small the whole time, but I don't think it helped.  I can't lie though, it made me feel good.  It only validates what everyone else has said , that I am tiny for being as far along as I am.  Hopefully this little girl will be a good size though.

GNO for ME!!!

My dear friend Kristal and some other ladies from our ward would not let me NOT have a baby shower.  Even though I kept telling them that I already had 2 kids of the opposite sex at the same time of year they were still very insistent.  So I finally gave in as long as it was only a 'Girls Night Out'.  We had a GNO at "BJ's" yesterday in the late afternoon and then Kristal and I headed out to get mani and pedi's.  It was a nice relaxing time away from the kids, and even though I said 'NO GIFTS' I still walked away with at least 2 packages of diapers in each size from newborn to size 2 and some wipes.

Merideth, Mandie, Karen, Marci, Me & Lexy

Me, Lexy, Heather, Rachel, Merideth, Mandie, Karen

This morning I woke up not feeling so well.  I had some stomach bug that was not so fun.  I don't know if it came from the food I ate yesterday or the kids, but whatever it was I am glad that I am feeling better.  Hopefully our kids or Mike wont get this, so here is to knocking on some wood.

Little Monkey Bizness

The weather has been really cold here these last couple of days.  I mean cold like below zero temps and with the wind chills of -25 at sometimes.  Anyway, with the cold temps and being stuck in the house all week I decided that I needed to do something to get the kids and I out of the house, especially since it kept me from dwelling on still being pregnant.  Kristal and Merideth joined us at a place called Little Monkey Bizness.  It is a smaller bounce house place with slides and obstacle courses.  The kids had a good time and it was nice to be out of the house. The only bad thing was that Mordecai is a wimp and wouldn't go up any slide even though he loves them, so I would have to pick him up to put him on top of the slide to go down.  It was exhausting.  Afterwards Kristal and I hit Red Robin for lunch with the kids and that was an adventure.  It seems like we are doing lunch at least once a week, which I will miss when she leaves me for Texas.

Discouraged

I had my 36 week OB appointment this afternoon.  Kristal was sweet enough to come over and watch the kids so I didn't have to drag them to my appointment.  I had another ultrasound to measure growth and her kidneys.  At one point during the exam, I think she was measuring the stomach, the ultrasound tech asked me how far a long I was.  I told her, "36 weeks and 3 days" and she said, "Oh, well this one is just a little on the small side."  I told her that we had this with her older sister, but hopefully she will be bigger than Emily was.  Mike thinks that having a 6 pound 3 ounce baby is small, let alone bringing home a 5 pound 10 ounce baby which was what Emily dropped to.  Anyway, back to my appointment.  She gained a little in the weight department.  She went from the 15% to almost the 20% weighing in at 5 pounds 10 ounces.  Of course this is all give or take a pound.  Her kidneys are still dilated, but Dr. Huynh doesn't think it warrants calling in a pediatric urologist since she is so close to being due and that there is enough fluid around her still.  The thought is that once she is born we will have to make sure her pediatrician knows about the dilation, but that she will be fine and things will resolve on their own.

After mu ultrasound I had my group B strep test done, they are done much better than the way they had to do it when I was pregnant with Emily and Mordecai, and then a cervix check.  I always tell myself that I am not going to be dilated so that if I am not I wont be disappointed.  I did that this time, and was still disappointed.  I expected to be at least a 1.5, but I was barely a 1.  I don't know about effacement because all Dr. Huynh had to say was that my cervix is still way back up there and hard to reach.  That part is nothing new because it was that way with the other two as well.  Dr. Hall used to have me make fists and stick them under my hips when she checked me.  Anyway, with Emily I started at a 1.5 and 50% effaced up until they day I went into labor with her.  Mordecai I started at a 3 and 50% effaced up until I went into labor with him.  The only thing the same with those two, was that the day I went into labor with them I was a 'loose' 3 and could be stretched to a 5.  I know that things can change very rapidly and that today's findings don't really mean anything, but I am a bit discouraged.  I don't want to go late, I know I have said this a lot, but I don't feel like I am going to have her soon either.  Dr. Huynh did say she doesn't think I will make it to my actual due date since I haven't in the past, and that if she were me she would have Dr. Spears strip my membranes next week.  Until then I am bound and determined to walk every day for 29 minutes on my treadmill on an incline and run for a minute (since that is all I can do).  Blah!