background

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

4 months

I'm going to do better with monthly updates!... That didn't last.  Pretend like I am posting this October 29th

Today Abby is 4 MONTHS OLD!! HOLY COW!!

Big things for this month:

-Holding up head very well sitting or standing.

-Can push off the ground to standing position with support.

-Pretty stable with holding up head on tummy

Here are some cute pictures!!











Saturday, October 26, 2013

3 months

Abby is going to be 4 months in 5 days and I'm a slacker, but here is her 3 month update.




This little girl is just TOO CUTE FOR WORDS!! We are having so much fun with her.  Some big things that have happened this month are:

-First Smiles and Giggles.  Now she smiles all the time, especially when we go to get her out of her crib in the morning or get her out of her car seat.



-Weighs at least 12 lbs 12 oz (that was her weight on October 9th).

- Loves to babble.  Sometimes in response to us talking to her, sometimes for no reason at all ;)

- Can hold her own head up.

-Can sit in her Bumbo chair without help and can sit up leaning against something.
 



- Is getting SO CLOSE to rolling over.



-Went swimming for the first time and loved it!


-Pretty sure she is teething right now : /

Overall this little girl is the best! We are so lucky to have our adorable, sweet, and happy baby. 


Remember these newborn pictures with her elephant?
 



Here she is now with her elephant!










Friday, September 13, 2013

2 Month Update

I AM SO BAD AT BLOGGING!! I started this blog August 29th and it is now September AHHH.  SO pretend like it is still August.


As of yesterday, Abby is 2 Months old!!! HOLY COW. It has been a fun and very busy 2 months.
Here are some things that have happened:
-Was born 7lbs 2oz and now weighs 10lbs 4 oz
-Has gained a ton of head control and neck muscles.
-Is now smiling.  Now consistently but every now and then.
-Still loves kicking and wiggling.
-Sleeps at night about 6 hours, eats, and then sleeps 4 more hours.
-Recognizes Mommy and Daddy's voices.

Abby is such a happy baby, only fussing if she is hungry, needs a diaper change, or wants to be held.

Here are some pictures from when she was a month old.





 And here are pictures from 2 months!




Sunday, August 11, 2013

Abby pictures!

Here are some pictures that my sister in law, Camille, took at the hospital!














Friday, August 9, 2013

June 29, 2013

Yes, the rumors are true.  We had our Baby Girl!  It has been quite a whirlwind but we are finally getting settled in.

It all started on Wednesday, June 26th. I had a regular doctor's appointment.  They took my weight, tested urine, and took my blood pressure.  My blood pressure was pretty high, which surprised both me and my doctor as it had never been high before. Because of that high blood pressure and my legs retaining so much water, my doctor ordered a Preclampsia test.  Preclampsia is when there is protein in the urine. It can lead to mom having seizures. Depending on the severity, the best cure is to deliver the baby.  

I did the test (24 hour urine collection and blood work) and waited for the results. Our doctor promised to call by 6 that night with the results, because of the potential for needing to be induced. 6 pm came and still no phone call.  We got anxious and made lots of calls to find out our results.  Finally, we got a hold of our doctor and she told us that our results had come back normal. We were relieved and went to bed.

The next morning, Friday, I was at home relaxing and eating a quesadilla when my phone rang.  It was a nurse from my doctor's office.  She told me that my test results had been reviewed by two other doctors, that the results were not normal, and that I needed to come in immediately.  I was quite confused and a little shaken, but I called Josh, he talked to the nurse, and we headed to the doctor.  

When we arrived we met with the on call doctor, as my doctor was off that day. Again my blood pressure was high and he told us that there was also protein in my urine from that morning.  He explained that normal results of the Preclampsia test were levels of protein below 300.  My levels were 2500!!  He said that was very dangerously high and that we needed to walk over to the hospital, IMMEDIATELY!! I was going to have the baby!

We walked over to the hospital (my doctor's office and the hospital are connected) in a daze.  I was only 36 weeks pregnant and still had a lot to do around the house before baby came!  Luckily, Josh was much calmer and helped me to relax.  We got checked into the Maternity floor and it all began.

I was given an IV, Magnesium (to help prevent seizures), and Pitocin (to induce labor). I had been told on Wednesday that I was already dialated 3 cm and was 70% effaced, so I was starting out ahead on Friday.  I was also having contractions about 4 minutes apart.  While I was pregnant, I had a baby that was constantly moving and was still moving during my labor. So lucky for me, the early contractions I didn't couldn't even distinguish because to me the just felt like the baby moving.   As the contractions continued, the Pitocin dosage was increased and my contractions became much stronger.  Because of the Magnesium, I could not get out of bed and labor while walking around as I had planned.  Luckily, I had great support from Josh, my mom, and nurses.

Finally, I had reached the point where it was now or never for an Epidural.  I chose to have one and blood work was taken to start the process. By now, the contractions, were very close together and INCREDIBLY painful.  Blood work came back and the Anesthesiologist came in to start the Epidural.  Unfortunately, there was more blood work that needed to be done. I had to wait another HOUR before getting the Epidural and by then I was dialated to 9 cm.

At about 1 a.m it was time to start pushing.  I pushed for 2 hours, the doctor checked progress, and said we may have to consider a C-Section. I asked for more time to push.  I really did not want a C-Section after everything I had gone through to get to that point.  He said I could push for another 30 minutes and then would check progress again.  The half hour came and went and again I asked for more time.  He said 15 minutes, but that was it.  Luckily, after that 15 minutes I had made enough progress.  With some more pushing and lots of encouragement, our little girl was born 7 lbs 2 oz, 20 1/2 inches long, at 3:45 a.m., on June 29th in Loveland, Colorado. The nurses put my gorgeous little girl on my chest and I got to enjoy meeting her in person.  We narrowed down the names to Hailey and Abigail, and Abigail Rae won.  Unfortunately, they did have to take her to the NICU as she was born 4 weeks before her "due date" (more on that later).

After they took Abby to the NICU I enjoyed a delicious Roast Beef Sandwich and Cheetos (I hadn't had anything but Jello and Sprite since  8 a.m. the morning before and then settled down for a much deserved nap.  About 2 hours later, we were moved across the floor to my recovery room.  We spent much of the day just relaxing and Josh went to fed Abby every 3 hours (I wasn't allowed until later in the afternoon because i was still stuck in bed).  Throughout that day and night and into Sunday, we went to feed Abby every 3 hours in the NICU.

Sunday afternoon, Abby was cleared to come stay with us in our room.  We also gave Abby her first bath.  It was so great to finally have our little family altogether! Monday after visits from the on call Obstetrician, Pediatrician, Physical Therapist, and Lactation Nurse, we were discharged to go home!!

The reason why due date was in quotation marks is because when I found out I was pregnant, I had calculated my due date out to be July 16th.  I also had measured 2 weeks ahead at each one of my doctor appointments. Other signs that lead us to believe that my actual due date was closer to July 16th was: Abby's birth weight (7 lbs 2 oz), how much she moved around, and her overall health. So we think Abby was born closer to only 2 weeks early.

I know Heavenly Father was watching over my whole family.  If not for the nurse that reviewed my test results and insisted that I come in and be seen by a doctor on Friday morning, I don't even want to imagine what could have happened over the weekend.  The doctor that I saw on Friday and that delivered Abby was an expert on Preclampsia and was the perfect doctor to help us.  We are so grateful for the doctor that delivered Abby and all of the nurses at the Hospital.  Our little Abby is such a blessing and we are enjoying every moment with her.


   

 
 
      

Monday, June 24, 2013

36 Weeks!


As of tomorrow, I will be 36 weeks pregnant.  That means 4 more weeks till my due date! ALMOST THERE!

Pregnancy has been a little rougher lately.  Not sleeping hardly at all, swollen ankles and legs (like hippopotamus style), needing the bathroom even more constantly, huge belly.  But I am still enjoying and in awe that I am growing a living little girl!

I've had three wonderful baby showers, over the last few weeks, and they really helped me feel more prepared for bringing home our baby. We've had fun decorating her room, washing all of her clothes, and generally just getting the house ready.

Josh has been the best throughout all of this. He's actually getting really into buying clothes, decorating her nursery, and gives THE BEST foot rubs.

We got to take a tour of the maternity floor in the hospital where I will be delivering.  This helped both Josh and I feel more comfortable with the hospital and what to expect on the big day.  We were very impressed!

One of my sisters-in-law took some AMAZING maternity pictures for us up near Estes Park.  Those helped remind me that pregnancy can still be beautiful, even when I'm dying of heat all the time and feel like a beached whale.  Here is a teaser of just some of the pictures!










    

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

31 Weeks

I know it has been a LONG time since I posted a baby bump picture and gave an update on my blog.... So here one is!

No that is not a beach ball under my shirt!

I cannot believe that there are only 9 weeks till my due date! EEEK!!! I am beyond excited.

So as you can see, I am feeling huge lately.  My back hurts pretty much all the time and I have to use the bathroom about every 15 minutes.  Sleeping has been really rough lately, with getting sore from sleeping on one side too long and using the bathroom (only about every 2 hours at night).  As for food, I am so hungry all the time!

At my last appointment, baby's heartbeat was about 130 and I was measuring at about 32 weeks (I've usually been ahead a week or two).

We are still working on her nursery.  Crib is all set up, dresser is still in pieces, no chair or bookcase yet.  We also have her stroller and carseat already. I am so excited for my upcoming baby showers.  I'm getting antsy not having a lot of clothes for her! I also made a really cute headband holder for in her room and I am trying to figure out some other fun crafts to work on (IDEAS?). Definitely in the nesting stage.

Lately, baby has found my ribcage and is loving to kick it.  She also has had the hiccups a few times.  As always, she is very active at all hours of the day.  She and I have a game where I will put my hand on my stomach and she kicks it, then I move it and she kicks again.  Josh also plays his game where he puts his finger on my belly button (it is pretty flat right now) and she will kick back.

Still deciding on names.  Pretty sure on a middle name, but the first name will have to wait till we meet her.  We have about 5-7 that we like.

63ish more days till we get to meet our little Princess!!

PS  Check out my adorable nephew.  He can't wait to have a cousin!