Marlee is growing!!

I cannot believe that my baby girl will be 5 weeks old tomorrow!! Time is flying and it makes me so sad! She is so much more alert now, and staying awake more. I love her so much.

The best Christmas EVER

Marlee came home Christmas Eve!! We are so thrilled to have our baby girl home after 6 days in the NICU. She is healthy and happy. Our first night together went wonderfully. I hope everyone have a blessed Christmas!!!

Marlee's arrival

On Wednesday December 16th, I was sent home on strict bedrest and blood pressure medication due to pre-e. I was super swollen and my blood pressure was incredibly high. I went to my follow up appointment on Friday December 18th, thinking that my doctor would be scheduling my 37 week induction. Instead she told me that I would be having my baby that day at 36 weeks. She did an internal (my first) to see if I had started progressing any, and was dilated to a 3 and 75% effaced.




I was wheeled across to the hospital and they hooked me up to an IV with Pitocin and Magnesium Sulfate, and put in a catheter, as I couldn't walk around with the mag bag. The pitocin was started low. I could feel slight contractions that mostly felt like menstrual cramps, so they would turn it up.



My doctor came in and broke my water and found that I was 4 cm dilated and 80% effaced. They turned up the Pitocin and with in 15 mins the contractions were strong. Not only strong but with in 3 mins of each other. I held out and breathed through each contraction focusing on my focal point (a dot in the ceiling) and would have my FI rub my lower back.



I couldn't take it after a while (I don't know exactly how long b/c my sense of time completely flew out the door) so I asked for an epidural. They were in another room and came over shortly after odering it. It wasn't as bad as I expected it to be, definitely a different experience.



After getting the epi I was actually able to function, it was so nice. I was able to talk to people and relax. My nurse came in to check my progress and I was dilated to a 6. They turned off the pitocin b/c the babies heartbeat started dipping during contractions. And after a while I started feeling the contractions in my butt/vaginal area. I tried to just get past it but it started to get really intense. I told my nurse that I felt like I had to poop so she checked me and I was dilated to an 8. It had only been 30 mins!



I figured out that I had control of my epi and started pushing it over and over to get rid of the pressure, but it never seemed to work. I actually had to start breathing through some of the contractions again. Then it felt like I had to push, it was absolutely uncontrollable. I started yelling for the nurse and screaming that I had to push (I've watched so many baby stories where the women start pushing before they were supposed to and I was terrified I would!). Out of no where there were a ton of people in the room, it was litterally a whirlwind.



With in less than 30 mins I had completely dilated and her head was RIGHT THERE. The next thing I knew my legs were being pushed into stirrups and they were telling me what was going to happen and how to push. Even with the epi pushing was so painful and exhausting. I could feel my doctor stretching me out. I cannot imagine not having the epi and feeling all of that full force. I pushed with every contraction and finally out came our sweet princess, Marlee Addisyn.



I thought I would cry at the moment they put her on me, but I was in such awe I had no time to cry. I just felt all over her feet and head, goo, blood and all. She was SOOOO small!!!



The rest is an absolutely blur besides my doctor delivering my placenta and stitching me up. I ended up with a 2nd degree tear (it doesn't matter it was totally worth it). They had to take Marlee to the NICU due to the fact that she was 4 weeks premature and wasn't breathing that well. But they swung her by my bed. She had her eyes open and was looking around, she was absolutely beautiful. It was then that I started crying, that was my baby!!!!



Ultimately I went through 6 hours of labor and pushed for 6 mins. Marlee is still in the NICU on a Cpap, but hopefully not for long. As I type this we're actually waiting for the results of her xray.

35 weeks

Five weeks to go...give or take some. I have to say that I'm DONE haha, very ready to not be pregnant anymore. This has been the most wonderful experience of my life. BUT I'm ready to hold Marlee Addisyn in my arms and kiss every square inch of her face!

We had a little scare on Thursday Dec. 10th. Marlee wasn't moving much, so I put a call in to the doctor. The on-call doctor told me to go to OB triage to be put on monitors to see what exactly was going on. As soon as they were on, she was everywhere. Go figure! But I was glad to know that she was ok. Her heart rate was in the 150s, which is great. My BP was higher than normal, which could have been due to stress of the situation. I've got swelling going on, too. Which is just the icing on the cake! =)

Catch up

Sorry I missed last weeks update, completely slipped my mind!
Had my 34 week appointment yesterday. Scot is now off Tuesdays and Wednesdays so he was able to go to the appointment with me. He now understands when I say every-two-week appointments are pointless lol.

Next appointment (at 36 weeks) I am getting tested for Strep B and getting my first internal to determine Marlee's position and if my cervix is dilating or I am efacing. I REALLY hope I'm progressing!!

Here is my 34 week bump

We also were able to put Marlee's crib together and get things progressing with the nursery. There are still some things to get before she arrives but we're ready for her to get here!

6 weeks and 5 days to go

or whenever little miss decides to make her grand enterance. I really cannot believe how fast the time has flown. Not only is Thanksgiving over, but christmas is on it's way. And then Marlee is right around the corner...YIKES!!!


here is the 33 week bump

Kristen, Scot's cousin's wife, took some pictures of us on Thanksgiving. She wants to build her portfolio...she has so much talent!! We're going to take more pictures at the Christmas party on the 19th. Hopefully we'll get some good shots. Here are a few more that she took.

Thankful

Every year around this time we give thanks. What about the rest of the year? I am one hundred percent guilty of this. We only think of being thankful during Thanksgiving, and I think it's time to change that!

2009 has brought many surprises to our family. One of the greatest; being blessed with Marlee. I cannot express into words (yes I know that's what I am doing) how thrilled I am to bring this little life into this world. I am already so in love with her that I cannot imagine how much more I will love her once she graces us with her presence. I also cannot wait to see how Scot melts when he first lays eyes on her and holds her in his arms. He's really in for it!! I truly am thankful for this wonderful gift God has given us.

I am also so thankful for the family and friends (new and old) that have supported Scot and I. Scot has such a wonderful family that has accepted me as one of their own. I love them so much!!

I am also thankful for God giving me the determination to finish school! Once I take (and pass) my NRCMA test I am officially a national registered certified medical assistant!!!!

Oh and here is my 32 week bump!