Evelyn Joyce!

Ok, so let's try this blogging thing while the baby sleeps. She will probably wake up as soon as I get about half way through, though. Hah!

It all started Thursday, May 12, 2011.  My water broke about 6am when I went potty for the millionth time that night. I was basically freaking out. KR slept on the couch that night to let me get some sleep. So I called the hospital, calmed myself down, got dressed, and THEN woke him up.  I fully expected to be hurting right away b/c they say contractions come fast and hard after your water breaks. (They also say it's not too common for your water to break FIRST. I was only have braxton hicks when my water broke, so why that happened, we really don't know.)

I showered, ate, cleaned, packed, and we got to the hospital just after 8am. Still barely having contractions. There was only a few people on the floor, and most were gone after just a couple hours. Then they tested to make sure it WAS my water that broke (it was), and told me I was only 1cm, not very thinned out, and contractions were WAY far apart.  I was GBS+ so I had to get an IV for a penicillin drip. I should've known this was going to be a long day after this ordeal... The girl who did my IV (who had somebody shadowing her, btw) burst not one, but 2 veins, and the IV had to go just under my thumb. It wasn't very pleasant. KR's face looked horrified, apparently, the first vein squirted everywhere... her, me, the floor, dripping down my arm... And we all know how much I HATE NEEDLES. Then I got my first bag of antibiotics.

Then, the DR came to talk to me... It was probably noon now - no better  on contractions. Since my water broke (and that's  yet another infection risk) they didn't want to check me until absolutely necessary, so no idea on "progress" but it wasn't likely.  They wanted to put me on pitocin right away... I was hesitant, though who knows why. Two babies were already born by this point. I should note it was very comforting hearing the women in the neighboring rooms screaming as I wait for it to happen to me. I turned down the pitocin and asked if I could walk to try to get things started first. This was when I was told I had at least 24 hours of labor to go. They let me - and also suggested hot showers. Walking helped a little, showering helped a LOT. I ended up taking 4 showers while I was there. Contractions were closer, but still not technically close enough to do anything. Had my water not broken, they weren't close enough to get me admitted to the hospital yet. That didn't happen until probably 8pm ish. About that time, I was hurting enough where I didn't want to get in the shower anymore, I didn't want to get out of bed, or even hobble to go potty. I was trying to stay strong... but it hurt. It hurt EVERYWHERE.

I started asking about the epidural around midnight, I think. It was definitely getting to the point of unbearable, although the nurse kept trying to get me to hold out, and kept trying to tell me that I wasn't even in active labor yet. (Seriously, it hurt that bad, and it wasn't even ACTIVE labor?!) Later KR told me the nurse said when your water breaks, contractions hurt much more b/c there are no waters in you to "cushion" the contractions... so you feel them ALL. Go me!

I got the epidural around 3am. By this point I was shaking uncontrollably - nurse said that was the normal reaction to getting to "active" labor. It was no fun. The epidural helped immediately, though it was crazy not being able to move the lower part of my body.  KR and I were both able to sleep about 2 hours... before I was woken up by contractions starting to hurt even more. I told the nurse. She told me that was normal. Boo.

By this point, I was on my 4th bag of penicillin... What would be my last! My arm started to burn... Really bad, esp. right around my IV. I almost had them move the IV it was hurting so bad.  After some time, we came to find out that that the bag of penicillin contained chemicals that was burning the inside of my veins - and I only just noticed it b/c it slowly wore away after the first 3 bags of penicillin... They also realized that the bag was really cold... The nurse put a warm compress on my arm, which helped, but somewhere while I was hooked up, I started shaking uncontrollably again - but this time because I was cold.  I thought it was from the cold bag of drugs going into my arm; the nurse worried it was from a fever starting because of an infection.  My temp did creep up a bit, but managed to stay below the "bad" point that would send me to an emergency c-section. Shaking was no fun, though, it was really scary, actually, and the nurse didn't want to cover me up too much because if it was a fever, covering me up would only make the fever worse in the long run.

Once I stopped shaking, the contractions started hurting again. And oh, boy, did they hurt! I did get an extra little dose of the epidural, and I felt my feet go numb, but it didn't really help where I wanted it... I ended up in excruciating pain after that. We're talking, screaming, crying, pleading, couldn't stay calm. I quite literally would not have made it through without my husband - he tried to keep me focused, but it hurt so bad that even keeping my eyes locked on his I couldn't always make it through the contractions without trying to rush it. Still, the nurse said that was normal... I still call bullshit on that.

 I went from 2cm to 8cm in roughly the 2 hours I slept... That's impressive progress, though I would've rather it take longer and my epidural block more of the pain. I ended up having to beg them to let me push... Actually, I had to have KR go TELL them I was pushing because they kept telling me to wait and I simply couldn't. Pushing wasn't bad though.... I could feel it all, though.. I knew when... well, I knew. Let's just leave it at that.

We didn't get to hold her right away b/c of all the risks for infection... it was at least an hour before we got to hold her.  In that hour, I got tortured. They kept pushing on my belly which made me cry and twitch again, and then I had some procedure waaay UP there b/c I had issues with bleeding or something... I didn't tear or need stitches, but whatever they did to me, I could barely move the entire weekend. I needed help to go to the bathroom and KR had to practically carry me up the stairs to our apartment Sunday night b/c I simply couldn't do it.

At 0832 on May 13, 2011, her due date, Evelyn Joyce was born at 21.5 inches long, weighing 9 pounds even.

When the started unhooking me, the nurse said, "Ummm... How long has the epidural been turned off?"

......

After being moved to the mother-baby unit, apx. 1130, we caught word that my beautiful cousin, Carina passed away shortly after Evelyn was born after a 15 month battle with leukemia.

Talk about a bittersweet day.

Oh boy!

...Or girl?

Man, I have GOT to get an update up here, soon!

But I have simply not had time to write what I want to write.

Blogs that are upcoming:

1) Evelyn's birth story
2) Wedding re-cap in honor of our first anniversary

Beyond that, simply know life is crazy, and bad things come in 3 - so who's next?

Yes, I said, who.

Miss R

...is still not here! Sorry to excite you!

There is some progress, as I am now 2cm dilated, but still 75% effaced. However, for the first time (seriously, I think ever in my life) my blood pressure was "borderline high".  139/77. I had no other worrisome symptoms, so they aren't doing anything quite yet, but I'm fairly certain if it's still high by the time I go to my appointment next week, they will induce me. Yikes! It was a bad weekend for food - ate out twice, and had lots of high sodium meals, which I know can affect blood pressure. I'm just super glad I didn't drink any pop before the appointment or no doubt, the caffeine would have raised my blood pressure even more! Otherwise, I am really not too worried about it - between worrying about my cousin and the little bit of drama from our neighbors nearby that really upset me, and the obvious things to get anxious about right now, I'm sure I'm just stressed. Just hoping I can calm down before it ends up effecting me or the baby negatively.

We may have guests for her baptism, too! Nothing is definite, and we aren't getting our hopes up, but it would be nice to see familiar "homely" faces!

I am definitely slowing down and hurting more, depending on the day, at least. I have myself waking up/getting woken up in the middle of the night and not being able to go back to sleep for an hour or so - no, not the baby kicking me - usually KR's alarm... I really hate to say it, but I sleep so much better when he isn't in the bed with me... =/ I really hate that fact because 1) I REALLY need my sleep. L&D is not going to be a breeze so I need all the energy I can save up! 2) My nights of sleeping in the same bed with my husband are limited, so I don't want to waste them!

Oh, to be torn!

Anyways, it's bed time. Or at least time to get off the computer, as this chair absolutely swells my feet something terrible!

Mother's Day!

Well, it's Mother's Day, 2011. Still pregnant, though only a few times have I thought it was possibly going to be the day. Today would've been nice - because she would've been born on Mother's Day and Baptized on Father's Day, and that would've been one creepy but awesome coincidence. I guess the day isn't over yet, technically.

Otherwise, she is just rolling around in there - I am fairly certain she thinks all she needs to do is kick her away out of my belly. I am also fairly certain this girl is gonna be TALL with long legs. She has absolutely no problem stretching out right now, so I find it amusing when people keep saying, "They are so comfortable in their tiny space," I just want to laugh and show them my belly and ask, "Then why does she always stretch out like this?"

We need to miss Wednesday and Friday this week, though (no pressure, girl). KR has training/testing on both of those days, and unfortunately, it is VERY crucial he make it to both - Wednesday's he might not even be able to get out of at ALL. So that is making me nervous.

Tomorrow is my next appointment. We'll see how that goes.

Again, continue to pray for my cousin's miraculous recovery. She is now at home with her husband - off antibiotics and chemo, and on pain and nausea meds.  The doctors "say" about 2 weeks, and even then only because she is "young." My heart goes out to her amazing husband, John, who has stuck by her side through all this.  He, especially needs support through all this. His birthday was Friday.  They are both younger than me, and it absolutely breaks my heart. Talk about learning a life lesson. =/

Happy Mother's Day everyone!

Whirlwind of Events!

Even putting aside the world news, it's still been a crazy past few days...

An update on my cousin: Not good. =( She still has cancer, I assume the infections are still there, and the doctors have informed them there is nothing left they can do. Haven't heard anything since this update. I know she wants to go home, as she's been in the hospital since November - but I guess she is unable to walk at this point, and they probably won't let her leave until she can. She is a strong one, from a line of very strong and stubborn women, so we know the fight isn't over... But the set backs are very exhausting.

I honestly don't even remember this weekend, but I feel like we were busy. KR had of Friday; Thursday night we went out to eat Mexican (my request!) and it was DELICIOUS. That night I started hurting - and have been ever since. I am definitely limping about, but I really think it's because of the pain more than anything.

We did make it to Mass yesterday (yay!) but, I'm sad to report that I did not make it THROUGH Mass. There is no A/C here, and the room was fairly crowded. I started feeling funny, kinda light-headed, was hurting whether I stood or sat, and I could feel my feet swelling.  I forced myself to make it through Communion - and then we left. As soon as the fresh air hit me, I felt instantly better. I also have no been able to really sleep at night. I hurt, so rolling over/getting out of bed hurts, I can't get comfy, and apparently, I have some sort of allergy that leaves me stuffy and unable to breath (enough) through my nose. I wake up short of oxygen, hurting, needing to potty, or just plain uncomfortable. And lately, sometimes I can't fall BACK asleep, no matter how tired I really am, and just give up and hope I can catch a nap later. I know I need to get my sleep while I can, so it's VERY frustrating that I'm not able to anymore.

Today was my 38 week appointment. It went surprisingly well. I was measuring 37cm, which is smaller than what I measured 2 weeks ago when I was a tad big. Baby must have been sitting weird or who knows! Since I had been hurting, I decided to go ahead and get the internal exam, dreading it. Yeah, it's not very pleasant. Didn't quite expect that.  Either way, I sit at 1cm dilated, 75% effaced... which more than likely is WHY I started hurting... The doctor seemed surprised at that progress. The doctor said she even got a feel of the baby's head, which the baby did not like and kicked me when that happened. I, too, didn't like it, for the record.

Either way, could be any day, could be stuck like this for weeks. So we'll just see. Better get that bag together, though, just in case...