Monday, June 24, 2013

Gracyn is a Big Sister!

Gracyn is absolutely loving being a big sister! She loves to kiss him and rub her cheeks on his soft hair. She loves to help me give him baths. If he is crying, she runs over to him to put his pacifier on his mouth then runs to me to tell me that Cole is hungry.

We have had our downs though. I came in to her putting her bean bag on top of him. She now knows that we do not put anything on top of him. She has had some issue with going to the bathroom. There have been a couple of times that she has gone in her pants while standing in the bathroom. She told me she was doing it for attention....at least she is honest. I had some pull ups in her closet from last year so threatened to put those on her and she did not like that. So, I think we have that issue taken care of.

I want my sweet kids to stay little, but of course, I can't wait to watch them grow up together!







Welcome to the World Cole Matthew!!!

So my last blog post was June 21. I was 38 weeks along. I had an appointment the day before and my doctor wanted me to do another 24 hour urine test. So Friday at 3:00 I took my urine sample to triage. Dr. Smith went ahead and checked me again and said I may be in this weekend to have a baby. That evening, Clint, Gracyn, and I went to dinner. As we were leaving I started having contractions. I started timing them about 8:00 that night and they were 7-8 minutes apart. I spent the night timing them then about 4:30am they were 4-6 minutes apart. I woke Clint up at 6:00am so we could start getting ready to head to the hospital. We took Gracyn to G-rise and Shannon's house then made it to the hospital about 7:00am. They checked me and I was already dilated to 5cm. So far this labor was going the same as Gracyn. Since it was my second I assumed it would go faster. At this point, we called our parents so they could start traveling to NWA.

They got me set up in a room and got my epidural ordered. I got it about an hour later, then they broke my water. At noon I was dilated to an 8 and we thought we would have a baby by 2:00! However, as with Gracyn, my labor stalled at this point.  Several hours went by and finally at 6:00 I was 10 cm dilated! Dr. Smith came in to "have a chat" before I started pushing. She said we knew he was big so there was a chance of shoulder dystocia and she gave me the risks that came with that. She did mention C-section if he wasn't moving down the birth canal, but said I had delivered a 9 pound baby before so she thought I shouldn't have any problems this time around. Finally at 6:05 I was able to start pushing!

I pushed, and pushed, and pushed. He was hardly moving. I was actually sleeping in between contractions. They would have to wake me when the monitor showed a contraction. I was exhausted! At 8:00, Dr. Smith told me he just wasn't making any progress and recommended a C-section. I really did not want a C-section, but I knew he wasn't moving down. I wasn't even feeling any pressure. About an hour later, Cole Matthew was born!

Cole Matthew Thomas
June 22, 2013 9:11pm
9 lbs 11 oz. 22.25 in.

All cleaned up. Look at all that hair!
 
 

After he was delivered and taken to the nursery to be cleaned up, I must have passed out. Next thing I know, I was being woken up in recovery to nurse him. He latched on right away! After he nursed, they took him back to the nursery. Since I had a C-section, they kept him in the nursery so I could get some sleep. They would bring him in for feedings. The next morning, Clint told me that none of the family had met him yet, they had just seen him in the nursery. He wanted me to have time with him first and really know what was going on. I wanted Gracyn to be the first person to meet him. She finally got to meet her little brother about 11:00 the next day! She absolutely adored him!!! After she had her time with him, the rest of the family got to meet the little guy!



Finally get to hold my baby boy!

Sweet cheeks!
 
Big sister loves her little brother!


Aunt KK meeting her nephew!
 
Waiting to be discharged.


Getting ready to go home!
 
A C-section is not the way I had planned on having Cole. I'm still dealing with a couple open spots on my incision, but they are healing. In the end, all the matters is that I have a healthy baby. He is doing great! He has been able to exclusively breastfeed, which I wasn't able to do with Gracyn. He is gaining weight like a champ! Gracyn is such a great big sister! She really is a big help. He favorite thing to do is give him a bath! We are so blessed to have two healthy, wonderful kiddos!
 

 


Friday, June 21, 2013

Baby Update - 38 Weeks!


Cole is fully developed at this point. He really could come anytime now!  

Total weight gain:  31 lbs. Yes, I gained 5 lbs this week. I have no idea how that is even possible! So now I've exceeded the 27 lbs that I gained with Gracyn.

Maternity clothes?: yes


Sleep: Still waking up several times in the night to go to the bathroom or to flip sides.

Best moment this week: Getting all of our bags packed, minus Clint's. Cole and I are packed for the hospital and Gracyn is packed for Aunt Jeffies.

Miss Anything?: Cooler weather.

Movement: Yes!

Food cravings: Salad! I want one with every meal!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Not now.

Gender prediction: It's a BOY!!!!

Labor Signs: No.

Symptoms: Major pelvic pain, tons of braxton hick contractions.

Belly Button in or out? Flat.

Wedding rings on or off? It's off : (

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!

Looking forward to: Caroline's 4th birthday party!
Gracyn's take on the baby: We moved Gracyn's car seat to the other side and put Cole's car seat in the car. Every time we get in the car now Gracyn says something about Cole being in his seat. She is so excited for him to be here! I just hope she is as happy when she realizes that she isn't the baby anymore.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Baby Update - Week 37




Total weight gain: 26 lbs..it is what it is.


Maternity clothes?: yes

Sleep: Still waking up several times in the night to go to the bathroom or to flip sides.

Best moment this week: A good check up at doctor! Blood pressure back to normal, 120/78.
Miss Anything?: Cooler weather.

Movement: Yes!

Food cravings: Lemonade!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Not now.

Gender prediction: It's a BOY!!!!

Labor Signs: No.

Symptoms: Major pelvic pain, tons of braxton hick contractions.

Belly Button in or out? Flat.

Wedding rings on or off? It's off : (

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!

Looking forward to: Getting Cole's baby book and diaper in the mail! 

Gracyn's take on the baby: She has really been practicing being a big sister. She loves playing with her baby doll and pretending to be a little mommy!
I asked my doctor at yesterdays appointment if we would be setting a date to induce. She said not at this time, we're just going to keep watching me and so far I'm doing great. So I don't know if that means there is a chance we won't induce at 39 weeks and just have me go naturally. I would rather not induce. I mean the thought of only having 2 more weeks sounds wonderful, but I'm still holding out for a July 4th baby boy! I guess we will see!

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Just Us Girls!

Before these baby boys arrived, Katie and I wanted to have a days out with our sweet girls. We started out with lunch at Chili's then headed out shopping. Our last stop...Build a Bear!

Our sweet girls!


Time for Build a Bear!

Time for a cold treat...froyo!

They wanted one last photo op!


 


Summer Fun Meet!

Hopes and Dreams had a Summer Fun Meet for the younger kids that don't actually compete in meets. It was a fun way for them to show of their skills to their family and friends. At the end, they were given a t-shirt and able to climb the podium and "win" a medal. Gracyn was the very first person called up so of course she was "the winner."

Showing off her balance beam work and her hand stand!

Showing off her medal!

Friday, June 7, 2013

Baby Update - Week 36


Cole is starting to shed most of the downy hair that covered his body, as well as the vernix caseosa - the wax substance that protects his skin from the amniotic fluid. At the end of this week, Cole is considered full term!


Total weight gain: lost a pound this week...back to 24 lbs gained.

Maternity clothes?: yes

Sleep: Still waking up several times in the night to go to the bathroom or to flip sides.

Best moment this week: Getting the results back on all of my labs....all came back normal!

Miss Anything?: Walking without getting out of breath.

Movement: Yes!

Food cravings: I've been wanting lemonade a lot.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not now.

Gender prediction: It's a BOY!!!!

Labor Signs: No.

Symptoms: Major pelvic pain, tons of braxto hick contractions.

Belly Button in or out? Flat.
Wedding rings on or off? Some days on, some days off.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!

Looking forward to: Katie and Caroline coming up to baby shop! Getting the last few things needed for Cole's arrival!

Gracyn's take on the baby: She is just patiently awaiting his arrival!

After my 24 hour observation stay in the hospital, everything has been great. No swelling at all, my blood pressure is back down to normal ranges, and my urine and blood test have all come back normal! The doctor still took me out of work, but said I could work from home. So that is what I'm doing. I'm on limited activity restriction. She just wants to make sure we keep him in there as long as possible!

Monday, June 3, 2013

Baby Update - Week 35



Cole's kidneys are fully developed and his liver can process waste. His basic physical development is almost complete...not he just needs to gain the weight.

Total weight gain: up 25 lbs. Gained 1 lb the last weeks. I gained 27 with Gracyn and was hoping to keep this one at or under 25 lbs. Not going to happen.  

Maternity clothes?: yes

Sleep: Still waking up several times in the night to go to the bathroom or to flip sides.

Best moment this week: An unexpected ultrasound. More on that in a bit.
Miss Anything?: Walking without getting out of breath.

Movement: Yes!

Food cravings: I've been wanting lemonade a lot. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not now.

Gender prediction: It's a BOY!!!!

Labor Signs: No.

Symptoms: Lack of sleep. Still getting the hip flexor pain.

Belly Button in or out? Flat. Gracyn tried to touch it the other day. Creepy!

Wedding rings on or off? I've been wearing it up until today. By the end of the day it's really snug so I just decided not to wear it today.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!

Looking forward to: Katie and Caroline coming up to baby shop! Getting the last few things needed for Cole's arrival!
Gracyn's take on the baby: Gracyn whispered something the other day to Cole and I asked what she said. She said, " I wasn't talking to you...I was talking to Cole."   Now an update on my last appointment. I went in for my usual routine check up. My feet and hands had started swelling last week. My blood pressure was 140/80. After I saw the doctor she sent the nurse in to take my BP again...136/80. Then after another 10 minutes it dropped to 128/80. The doctor came in and said she wanted me to go to Labor and Deliver and have them test my bp over a longer period of time and also wanted me to do a blood panel and a 24 hour urine test. No big deal. I figured I would just run in give some blood, take my blood pressure, get my urine can then go back to work. WRONG! They had me lay in a bed and had a machine take my bp every 15 minutes for like 4 hours! I was also hooked up to a fetal heart monitor and contraction monitor. After awhile, the dr on call came in and said she wanted to admit me overnight and due my 24 hour urine test there. So they wheeled me out to have an ultrasound done then I had to stay in labor and delivery overnight. I went in for a routine appt at 8:50 Friday morning and didn't get released til 6:00 pm SSaturday night! Not how I planned on spending my weekend! My test results came back normal, which is good. Now I just need to keep my blood pressure down...which I never thought was high enough to really be worried about. However, I'm not a doctor so I do what I'm told. Now the highlight of my hospital stay was getting to see Cole again! The first thing the ultrasound tech said was, "Did your first one have a lot of hair?" This is the exact thing the tech that did the 3D ultrasound said. She also said he was measuring at 7 lbs which puts me 3 weeks ahead! EEK! 7lbs?!!!!! This little boy better come early....just not too early. I'm hoping we can make it to 38 weeks. I've given up on wanting him here on 4th of July. I'm just ready for him to be here!  
Here us is directly facing us. The white squiggly lines on the top of his head is hair!