Halloween 2012

Tonight Mike took the kids out to Trick-Or-Treat. Ruby didn't want to wear her costume, but still got a lot of compliments on how cute she was.  The kids came home with a ton of candy that I quickly sorted through and then had them hand back out the stuff we wouldn't eat.  I think they enjoyed themselves tonight...just as much as they did sitting on the porch handing the candy out.

Pumpkin F.H.E. 2012

 

As usual our traditional F.H.E before Halloween is to carve our pumpkins.  This year we had Mom here to help and the kids enjoyed it a lot.

Mike - Bat
Grandma - Witch
Mordecai - Jack 'O Lantern
Ruby/Mom - Goofy Face
Emily - Heart Pumpkin

Trunk or Treat

Tonight was our ward trunk or treat.  In the past we have had chili and cinnamon roll contests, but this time there was meatball subs, salad, chips, and cinnamon rolls. Mom wouldn't let me take Ivy because she was small and only 3 days old, but we went with the older 3 kids while she stayed home with the baby. Emily was a princess, Mordecai was a red power ranger...again, and Ruby was a cow, even though we couldn't document her.

Ivy's Birth Story

Last night I went out to get some frozen yogurt with Marci and Mine for my last independent outing sans kids for a while.  As we were sitting and just visiting I started to get a little anxious/nervous for what was going to happen and change today.  After I got back I packed some toiletries and clothes and then took a Tylenol PM to help me sleep, which did nothing at all.

This morning came way too quick not to mention early.  I got up at 4:45 a.m., probably from the nerves. I was supposed to be at the hospital by 6:30 a.m., so I got up, showered, ate breakfast, packed Emily's lunch, packed the rest of my stuff and headed off to the hospital. The plan was for Mike to stay and help Mom with getting the kids ready for the day and get Emily off to school and then meet me at the hospital.

I checked in on time. It felt really surreal thinking that by the end of the day I was going to have another little girl. I got my I.V. started, hooked up to the monitors and my first bag of antibiotics when Dr. Huynh showed up at 7:30 a.m. I was having small braxton hicks contractions showing up on the monitor when she got there.  She checked my cervix, which was at 2cm but still 50 % effaced.  She then explained what the cervadil gel was going to do and the process of putting it in. She felt the gel would surely work since I was already dilated and effaced and because this was my fourth child. The gel was placed at 8:04 a.m.  Her inserting the gel was not the most comfortable feeling.

I was to stay in bed for as close to an hour and then I was free to get up and walk around. At the hour mark I couldn't stand it any longer and I got up and went to the bathroom.  Claudia, my nurse, had made a comment that another nurse who had the gel said it feels like like a burning sensation or like fire crackers going off inside your vagina. I think that was an accurate explanation.  Mike finally got there around 9:00 a.m. after dropping off Emily, a gas stop, and a potty stop for Mordecai.  By the time he got there I was already having tightening contractions but nothing painful. I was cautioned to go by what I was feeling as opposed to the monitors because my belly was so small the monitor might not pick up what they actually were at.  We went to walk the halls, which felt eerily familiar to Ruby's labor day.  By our 3rd time around I was having so much pressure in my bottom area that I decided I didn't want to walk around anymore.  Claudia brought in the the birthing ball and that was the best position to sit. She checked the baby and me and I was still only a 2.  I opted for a walking epidural and that was oh-so-nice. Around 11:30 a.m. I got my second dose of antibiotics and then opted for a regular epidural since the pressure was getting pretty strong. Once the epidural was in I went from 2cm to 4cm and  I also went from 50% effaced to 90% effaced within an hour.  Dr. Huynh showed up around 12:30/12:45 p.m. like she said she would and broke my water. While she was breaking my water she told me I was a 4 and then emptied more water out and then said, "And now you are at a 5." Mike and Claudia had a small bet as to when she would be born. Mike said 2:00 p.m. and Claudia said before 1:30 p.m. I wasn't so sure.  I was so numb that I thought it would be a while before I felt anything, but Dr. Huynh was telling me that if I felt any pressure or pain to have Claudia check me because she thought it would be very soon.  Around 1:15 p.m. I started to feel a little more pain again and by this time Claudia was in my room checking the monitor.  While she was doing that she got a call from Dr. Huynh who was also watching the monitor from her office. She asked Claudia to check me and when she did she got back on the phone and said, "Yeah, you should come on down there is a head there." I immediately felt overwhelmed.  I still couldn't hardly feel anything and I was thinking, "I can't be ready, I can't feel anything, how am I going to know how to push???"  Before I knew it Dr. Huynh was there and the NICU nurses and it was time to push. Dr. Huynh said that when she said to stop pushing I needed to because she felt like she was going to come fast and if she came too quickly she could tear me or have breathing distress.  I did half a push and was told to stop so she could get the shoulder out, then pushed the rest of the way and she was out.  I couldn't believe it!!! One push! She was so easy. She was born at 1:27 p.m. (Claudia won) and weighed 4lbs. 3oz. and was 17 1/2 inches long.  I really did think she was going to be bigger, but I was wrong, clearly. When Mike went to cut her cord he made a comment about how her cord and placenta didn't look 'right' or 'normal' persay. Dr. Huynh agreed and said that that is the reason she was probably having problems growing. We wont know anything for sure until probably my 6 week post-partum check because we have to wait on the pathology report.

Her APGAR scores were 8's and 9's, and everything about her is perfect. We are lucky that her lungs and heart are fine.  We don't get to go home until Thursday which is a day longer than I am used to because they need to make sure her blood sugars are okay and that she can keep warm on her own. We are supplementing with a syringe of formula until my milk comes in to make sure she doesn't lose too much weight so she can come home. We all just love her so much and are really glad she is healthy.

 

 

"Birth"day

 

Ivy Elizabeth Rogers

Born: 10.23.2012 at 1:27 p.m.

Weight: 4lbs 3oz.

Length: 17.5" long

Head: 12.5"

Last Appointment!!!!

I had my doppler today in the imaging department of Avista because the ultrasound tech wasn't in the OB's office today. They did a whole growth scan instead of just doppler so it was fun.  She is still measuring 2-3 weeks behind....depending on what measurement you use.  Her head, belly, and leg measurements put her in week 33, but her arm measurement put her in 34 weeks. I don't know which measurement you use. HA HA. Anyway, she grew about a half a pound a week like she is supposed to.  They estimated her weight at 4 lbs. 13 oz., but that is of course give or take a pound. I also found out that the little squirt is now face up.  Little stink!!!

After the doppler I headed over to the Lafayette office to have my NST done and then met with Dr. Huynh. My NST was good, and we are waiting on the news from the imaging department on the dopplers.  If those have gone up enough we always have a chance of being induced today, but I feel like they are fine. My fundal measurement was barely 34cm and I am supposed to be almost 37 because I am 36 weeks and 5 days today, but at least it grew from last Friday.  I also had my cervix checked and I am 1 1/2 cm dilated and 50% effaced.  Mike and I weren't expecting that at all because I was nothing when Ruby was face up.  Hopefully she turns since there is plenty of room for her to do so.

We are set to be at the hospital Tuesday morning at 6:30 a.m. I tested positive for group B strep so I have to have my first round of antibiotics before I get the gel to start labor, and because of that I think labor will be longer because I have to have a second dose 4 hours later so Dr. Huynh wont break my water until that's all done.

This is getting really real, really quickly. Mike and I plan on just vegging this weekend and preparing the house for chaos. Wish us luck :)

35 weeks and 4 days

I had my bi-weekly NST's this week on Tuesday and Today. I also had my doppler and weekly appointment with Dr. Huynh today too.  The NST's went awesome, unlike a week ago.  The doppler not so much.  Dr. Huynh came in during my appointment and said that the doppler numbers went up , which they aren't supposed to do and she wasn't expecting that either, and that if it weren't for having such a good NST this morning we would be having the baby today.  She did say that she was still going to discuss this with her specialist/friend and I may get a call to come back in to induce, but I haven't heard anything and it is past closing time so I am guessing I am good. My fundal measurement went up to 32 1/2, but is still measuring behind. I am supposed to make sure she moves every hour this weekend, and then go in for my NST on Tuesday. The baby is scheduled to make her debut the 23rd sometime. I have an induction time set for 6:30 a.m. that morning and only 2 more appointments before she is here.  I think I am in denial that this is happening so quickly and that she is going to be small, so hopefully that means she wont be. :/ Here's hoping...right.

A Whole Other Set of Problems

On Thursday this last week I had my 34 week prenatal visit.  My vitals looked awesome and I only had pain once this week.  Dr. Huynh and I discussed the amnio tap, scheduled for the 24th,  again and what to expect at my next visit.  Then it was time to listen to the baby and measure my fundal height. That's when things changed. I of course was supposed to measure at least 34cm, but was still only measuring 31cm...barely.  Dr. Huynh double checked the measurement to make sure and then said we needed to schedule and ultrasound for as soon as possible. The soonest we could get in was Friday at 10:15 a.m.  Before the visit was over though we listened to the baby, who was very active and we got a heartbeat of 158.

Fast forward to today.  It was super busy! Mordecai has a sports class from 9:00-9:45 on Friday's so we had to get there, participate, and leave right away when it was done to get to my ultrasound appointment. The ultrasound tech was running behind and as she came out to call us in Ruby tried to pull a toy with her that has a string and didn't realize she was stepping on it and some how she fell and the toy landed on her head.  So, I take a screaming Ruby into the room with Mordecai and proceed to have my ultrasound test done. They did all the typical growth scan measurements all the while the tech and I were talking about how I just have small girls. By her head measurement her estimated due date (EDD) was November 29th, and by her arm measurements her EDD was December 12th.  Its a good thing we had an early growth scan, lol. As we were leaving Ruby starts asking for a drink and I got her a small one while I put her toy back.  Well, that didn't work cause she was mad we weren't taking the toy home and she starts to cry and spills and then dumps her water. Everyone in the waiting room, which was packed by the way, just laughs. My only thought was, "Don't laugh! Help me out. Can't you see how my day has been going?" Anyway, we got home around noon had lunch and put Ruby down for her nap. During all of this I am waiting for a phone call from Dr. Huynh to discuss my results. After nap time we needed to head to the grocery store to get stuff for dinner, we were signed up for the Elders, when I got the phone call from Jessica the nurse. She said that Dr. Huynh wanted to know if I could come in to the Lafayette office.  I automatically assumed she meant for my next appointment and I said, "Sure, when?" and her response was, "Now". She then said they wanted to hook me up to a monitor to do a Non-stress test (NST). WHAT?!?!?!  I told them I would be there, but that I needed to find someone to pick Emily up from school since she was going to be out in 45 minutes. Marci, one of my favorite people, came to my rescue and grabbed Emily for me.  I headed out to pick Mike up to help with the younger two, and just in case things were bad.

We got to the office and Jessica hooked me up to the monitors. She explained they were looking for two elevated heart beats after movement, which by the way took 30 minutes and 2 juice boxes to get. I asked what was going on, and she said she didn't know but that Dr. Huynh would be in to talk to us. I was shocked to say the least. I thought things would be fine, just like they were when I was pregnant with Emily.  Dr. Huynh came in and explained the results from my ultrasound that morning. She said that I should be measuring 34cm and that I was only measuring 31cm, which we already knew. Then she said that by the scans of the baby the head and leg bone measurements were fine, but her belly was measuring small.  It was supposed to measure around 34 weeks and 4 days by the scan, but that I was only measuring 32 weeks and 2 days. She also said her estimated weight is 3 lbs. 12 oz. when she should be almost 5 lbs. Then we were told that the tech measured the artery flow to the baby (umbilical cord) because there were signs of concern. Those measurements were fine. I was 2.38 and normal should be under 3.5. SO why the NST? Because her heart rate combined with her being really small are cause for concern on her health.

So now what? I have scheduled NST's two times a week on Tuesday's and Friday's, along with dopplers every Friday and weekly visits on Tuesday's with Dr. Huynh. Also, if problems arise there is a good chance they will have to take her earlier than 37 weeks. The other news...I don't have to have an amnio tap anymore. Reason being is that Dr. Huynh called a really good doctor friend and discussed my case. This doctor friend told her that all these problems that arose today trump needing an amnio and that she thinks we need to have the baby come at 37 weeks no matter what. So, Dr. Huynh would like to take her on the 23rd if there is an opening in the L&D unit, but if not for sure on the 24th at 6:30 in the morning since that was when my amnio was scheduled.

Chances are she is going to be 5 pounds or less, and that worries Mike and I, but that is what all the doctors in the practice and the specialist friend/doctor feel is best for me and the baby's health. So much for an easy pregnancy, or a less complicated pregnancy than Mordecai's.  This one has her own issues, and she is coming early whether we like it or not. :)

In happy news, my good friends threw me a shower/GNO Thursday night where we just chatted and snacked. It was fun and I was spoiled with tons of cute outfits and lots of diapers and wipes.