And Baby Makes Trois! (that's three in French people)

So like, I had a baby.  It hurt.

Sorry about my blogging absence.  After Andrey came, I didn't have access to a computer.  Nate and I just bought a new iMac.  It's freakin' awesome!  Now I don't have an excuse.

There is no way that I can update everything that has happened in one post.  So I'll start with December and go from there.  I find it interesting to reread what I posted on Dec 16th.  I posted a lot about my fears, and many of them came true.  Turns out, I was afraid for nothing. I went into labor on the 17th and had her on the 18th.  She was due January 24th.

Preterm labor is no joke.  I woke up on Friday morning, started to get ready for work and suddenly started bleeding.  Fortunately Nate was still home, so we rushed to Littleton Hospital.  The nurses there gave me a shot of Terbutaline to try to stop my contractions.  My appointment was that day to have my care transferred to the high risk practice, so I wasn't a patient with them yet.  The doctor that I was seeing (Dr. A), who authorized the transfer, was called by my regular OB.  Dr. A decided Littleton Hospital was not prepared to handle my delivery (what?  did she think I was having the baby or something??) so she ordered me to go to Pres/St. Lukes (PSL).  Now, it would make too much sense financially for us to drive ourselves there so I had to ride in an ambulance with high risk L&D nurses.  These two women, (Flight Team!) were called from home to come transport me to PSL.  They were wearing skydiving suits.  I swear.  When they arrived at Littleton they saw my contractions were still going so they started me on magnesium sulfate.  That stuff sucks.  It made me feel like I was having menopausal hot flashes.  It's the strongest drug available to stop contractions.  They assured me it would work.  I bumped my way along the road to PSL, with Nate riding in front of the ambulance.  I just kept thinking "I'm not ready to have a baby.  My ceiling fans are dusty."

We arrived at PSL and the "Flight Team" told the PSL nurses everything they knew.  They were saying things like "the patient isn't responding to the mag" and blah blah blah.  Huh...I'm not responding to the mag?  Crap.  The new nurse in charge gave me another round of mag, put a catheter in (it hurt so bad I almost judo chopped her, plus she was sassy and deserved a judo chop) and informed me I would be at the hospital until I had my baby.  I thought; "seriously, what am I going to do here for weeks."

My new enemy (ahem...the mag!) didn't work the second time around.  Sassy nurse then informed me she was going to let me go into labor.  NO!  There was a man delivering babies that day.  I don't want a man! (Well I do want a man...but I already have one.  Duh!)  All my fears dissolved when this man came in to check my progress, and he was totally pleasant.  Who would have thought?

Meanwhile my mom was in Illinois because my sister had a baby four days earlier.  I needed my mom.  She caught a flight and made it in time to brush my hair, hold my hand (and eventually a leg), pray fervently, and just be there for Nate and I.

Early Saturday morning, maybe around 3am, I got an epidural.  I didn't like it.  It made me numb.  Okay, I know you're thinking that's what it's supposed to do.  But it freaked me out.  I couldn't feel my legs and I like to feel my legs.  They are vital to me.  I annoyed the anesthesiologist to the point where he said "you're only allowed to ask 20 questions".  He was great and had a good sense of humor.  I needed a lot of reassurance I was going to walk again.  Poor guy.

After pushing for about two hours, and telling/yelling at my husband to hold my leg stronger and my mom to stop texting my dad (seriously mom, you're holding a leg and texting?!), Andrey Grace was born. It was 8:18am.  She was 5lbs 1oz and 18inches long.  Just a little squirt.  She cried immediately.  What a relief.  I had been given a steroid shot to develop her lungs, and I guess she didn't need it.  She was strong enough for me to hold her for about a minute before the NICU team took her away.  I was so grateful for that minute.  The doc who delivered me (ended up being a WOMAN! score!) had warned me she would probably be taken away immediately.  It was intense to have a room full of people.  The NICU team was very impressive and thorough.  Nate went with Andrey and my mom stayed with me.

I'll wrap this up here, as I can see you're starting to lost interest.  I went into labor because of a placental abruption.  AKA - My placenta tore away from the uterine wall.  AKA - Not a good thing.  About 30 seconds after Andrey came, so did my placenta.  This is not normal people.  I got ANOTHER epidural, and had a curettage procedure preformed (it's the C when referring to a D&C) to remove remaining tissue.  Because of the second epi, I couldn't walk for 5 more hours.  So I had to wait that whole time to go see Andrey.  I wet the bed.

It was a traumatic and amazing experience.  Every bit of pain, fear and worry was worth it.  I'm so in love with my little girl.  The Lord chose me to be her mother and I would do it all again, every day to have her.

Due to the fact we were not ready to have a baby, we didn't have a camera with us.  So here are a few pictures from when she was about two days old.

Here she is under the bilirubin lights for her jaundice.

More to come friends.

Did anyone read this?  Mom?

Andrey Update

Andrey, Nate and I saw the Perinatologist this morning.  Andrey's cyst is still there, and has grown a bit.  It also changed shape, and is not looking as circular anymore.  At it longest point it measures about 3 cm.  We were pretty bummed to learn this.  After our last appointment (where the cyst got smaller) I was hoping we would come in today and learn it was smaller yet or even gone.  I know the Lord can completely remove this cyst before she is born, but I also know He may not.  It's a battle in my heart to come to a place of acceptance with this.  Our care is officially being changed over to the specialists practice, and we will no longer see our regular OB.  We will also for sure be delivering at P/SL downtown instead of Littleton.  This is to ensure we are at the best hospital for a high risk pregnancy.  It's where the surgeon works.  I don't want to deliver there - and have some random doc I've never met deliver her.  But it's what's best for the babe, and that's my number one priority. 

My heart is heavy.  I am overwhelmed.  

On a positive note, Andrey looks really healthy otherwise.  She is growing well!  According to the ultrasound measurements she weighs 5 lbs 9 oz, which is perfect for her gestational age.  Her heart, kidneys, brain, etc. all look great.  We got to check our her little face in 3D again.  She's got some good cheeks coming in, and big lips!  I just absolutely love this little girl.  She is the best, most terrifying, exhilarating, blessing I could ever imagine. 

My heart is full.  I am overcome with love. 

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I'm Alive - It's True!

I'm alive, but it's not pretty friends.  I've been battling a sinus infection for six weeks now.  It provides me with a daily, almost non-stop headache.  Dizziness and visual problems.  And extreme fatigue!  I'm completely pooped.  I'm on my second course of antibiotics, and praying they will solve this madness.  It's really overwhelmed me and put me in a funk.  I feel like my cup was full before this, and them someone threw my full cup in the ocean.  Feel sorry for me yet?  :)

I had my family baby shower on Saturday and it was wonderful!  I felt so blessed to have many people come and celebrate Andrey with me.  Now that I'm done with baby showers I can officially finish purchasing the things I need.  I can finish the nursery, install the car seat, tour PSL, set up the pack-n-play, wash clothes, etc.  It will be wonderful to get all those things done.   

Finally, I have three weeks of work left.  Woo hoo!  I can't wait to be done with work.  I can get a lot of the above done.  I hope to rest, read and prepare to never rest or read again. 

Prayer Requests:  While I have your attention I might as well, right?

• The cyst goes away!  We go back to the doc to see it 12/16.  We are desperate for a healthy baby girl!
• My health.  Pray I feel better ASAP!!
• That I daily put my trust in the Lord.  I feel so much peace when I give my fears and worries to Him. 
• Transition to one income.  It's a little scary.

Smoochies!

Baby Shower!

You know it's getting close to B-Day when you have a baby shower.  I loved my shower.  So many people, so much support, so much attention!  My kind of day!

My delicious and adorable cake.  Ignore the fact that Andrey's name was wrong.  They wrote Audrey instead.  It didn't change the fact that the cake tasted great!

My faboo hostess, Keely.  See how we looked at each other with such adoration!

My friend Megan flew into town from Texas!  It was wonderful to see her, and incredibly sweet of her to come!  She's due in March.

It was a wonderful day filled with some of my favorite people!  I'd have many more pictures had my camera battery not died.  Terrible timing!

Thank you all for coming and for the wonderful gifts.  I felt so loved and blessed to have you there.  Andrey has so many people in her corner already. Have a fatty and safe Thanksgiving! :)

I Can't See My Toes!

I didn't realize how big I was until we took some pictures last night.  I think Nate had to take about 15, before I felt satisfied.  I changed shirts several times. 

A few from week 29, butternut squash.

Nate is all about me having bare belly pictures.  So these are always taken for him.

When he takes to long to push the button, this is what the picture looks like.  

My "normal" picture.  Always important. 

I've been feeling like I'm completely unprepared for a baby.  I know you are thinking "you'll never be prepared".  I'm aware that I won't be fully prepared...but I'm really not ready for Andrey to come home.  I have nothing I need (can't wait for baby showers!) and am way behind on my reading.  When I think about her coming home, I feel a little panicked.  Am I ready for this?  Shouldn't I have to take a test or something?   We are under the impression that I will be induced a few weeks early, so that the specialist can be there for her delivery.  I'm almost 30 weeks, and that means I'll probably be having a baby in 8 weeks.  I've never been more excited and terrified for something! 

Please continue to pray for Andrey.  We met with the surgeon on Monday and he said that if the cyst stays the same (size and location) it's good.  He will have a much easier time removing it, and there is less chance for damage.  Obviously, we want it to go away completely.  But if that doesn't happen, please pray it remains on the back of her neck, and doesn't grow!  As always, we appreciate your prayers for our girl.  She is so loved, and blessed already!

Doctors Galore!

In the past few weeks I have seen a lot of doctors.  So many that I've been thinking a lot about their personalities, advice, ability to really listen and more.  Let's review:

Dr. L.B. - OBGYN - Female.  I love her.  She hears me, and is concerned about my well being as well as Andrey's.  She refers to herself by first and last name, not Dr. _____.  I think she's a real person.  We see her at every regular OB check up. 

Dr. A.A. Perinatologist - Female.  I REALLY love her.  I think she is smart, kind and funny.  She takes time with me.  I've called her in panic mode twice and she always calls right back.  She is calm and informative, while not overwhelming.  She will be delivering little Andrey come January.  We couldn't be in better hands.  She also refers to herself by first and last name. 

Dr. T.L. ER Doctor - Male.  This guy was old, and kind.  I'm not sure he really heard anything I said to him.  I waited about 6 hours for him to come see me, and was dismissed fairly quickly.  Not a bad guy, just not what I needed.

Dr. K.B. Neurologist - Female.  This lady was C.O.L.D. when I first met her.  I was so nervous after about 10 minutes with her.  I felt like she wanted me to remember EVERY detail of every headache I'd had since birth.  And when I couldn't, she was irritated.  She did warm up to me, but it was slow.  She refers to herself as Dr. ______.  No first name here!

Dr. J. A. Family Practice - Male.  Great personality!  This guy made me laugh and feel comfortable talking to him.  The downside to this was it did make me question whether he was hearing me.  But I never felt like he was inconvenienced by seeing me, and I was there on a Friday close to 4:00. 

Dr. S. R. Pediatric Surgeon - Male.  This guy is the cream of the crop.  People come from all over the country to have him preform surgery on their kids.  We are honored and blessed he lives in our state!  He was honest, detailed and talked to us like adults.  That's nice because we look like we're 10.  I asked him about 367 questions, and he patiently answered them all.  If your baby needs surgery, he's the guy!

Dr. L. J. Opthamologist - Female.  Really nice, took a lot of time to help me.  My eyes have been really messed up, and she made sure to listen to everything I said.  She tried several lenses on me, and wanted me to see as best as I could.  She actually explained why I see the way I see.  Really great doctor!

After all these visits, I think I like doctors more than I realized.  I think they sometimes have NO idea what to say, but that's okay.  All in all, it's really quite wonderful to live in a country where we have specialists in every field at our fingertips.