Danni's Birth Story

OK OK I know it's been a MONTH since I posted last.  But let's face it.  I've been very busy trying to learn how to be a new mommy! And I've cherished every moment of it  :-)

Monday, December 24th, Christmas Eve
Dad and Tina had driven down to spend a little Christmas time with Dillon.  And I know Tina was hoping I would go into labor at that point, as was I!  But it didn't happen, and on this day they left around noon to head back home.  I was feeling a little lonely and discouraged that I had not shown any progress in the labor department, so I decided to drown my sorrows in a couple of hot dogs and about half a pack of raw cookie dough.  This happened around 2pm.

By 6pm Tom had come home and started wrapping presents - procrastination at it's best!  He wanted me to help, but I just wasn't feeling well.  I could not get into a comfortable position and I felt a little heart burny.

At 10 pm, Tom ran a bath for me and it seemed to help a little.  I got into bed and slept about an hour, but ended up getting up and vomiting.  Thoughts of food poisoning crossed my mind.  Damn cookie dough.  I sat in the living room for about 2 hours before we finally decided to go to the ER.

Tuesday, December 25th, Christmas Day
Long story short, it was an agonizing gall bladder attack that took several hours to die down.  The surgeon says he can't see any stones on my ultrasound, but according to my sis that doesn't mean squat.  They said the same thing to her and when they ended up removing it they told her stones were just falling out of it.  We got quit a scare as the doc was wanting to do an emergency c-section!  But we convinced him to let us hold off.  

I think they sent me home with a shot of demeral and phenergen around 3pm?  But we were finally able to have our Christmas with Dillon.  He had a great Christmas.  Thank god we didn't have a baby (via c-section) on Christmas day!

I slept fairly well that night thanks to the shots they gave me.

Wednesday, December 26th
My normal weekly OB appointment was scheduled for Wednesday, so we showed up at the office at 10am.  I told Tom I DID NOT want them to check me again.  They checked me so many times the day before I was bruised and still at 0cm.  But he convinced me to let them.  While we were sitting in the waiting room I had my first real contraction - the kind you feel in your back. And when the doc checked me, I was at 1cm!  WHOO HOO!  Progress!

I continued to have contractions all day, but they were not regular.  Maybe 2 an hour.

That evening Tom and I went to see a movie and it was then I realized I was having a few more contractions than just 2 an hour.  I started timing them and they were coming every 10-12 minutes.  About 5 minutes before the end of the movie I told Tom I just couldn't sit there any longer  HA!  I was feeling some pretty intense pressure and I was convinced I was going to drop a baby in the middle of the movie theater.  So we left.

By the time we went to bed the contractions were 9 - 10 minutes apart.  I was able to sleep in between contractions and I feel like I got some decent rest.

Thursday, December 27th
I started timing the contractions at around 5 am and they were 8 - 9 minutes apart.  I sent my mom a text and told her that I thought today was the day - so she responded that she would start heading my way!  We got up, I worked a little in the office, meaning I sent some emails to my boss and a few others and told them I'd see them in 12 weeks and to have a happy new year  :o) 

A few weeks prior, Tom had asked that I NOT go into labor on this day because he had a very important business meeting.  So I was feeling a little nervous when I sat him down and told him that I really thought this was happening.  He told me he was still planning to attend the meeting an I freaked out a little.  I think it was at that point that he realized I was dead serious!  So he suggested we run over to the doctor's office and let him check.

Dr. Tydings was really tired of me by this point (LOL).  But he checked and told us I was 2cm and in early labor, but that he wanted to go ahead and get this show on the road so we should just head over to the hospital. YEA!!  We didn't go straight to the hospital.  Instead we dropped Dillon off at Grandma's and ran by our house so Tom could pack a bag.

When we got to the hospital I started to walk the halls in the labor and delivery ward.  I'd slow down a little for each contraction (about 4-5 min apart by this time).  They nurses would cheer me on through each contraction.  After about an hour of this, they wanted me to lay in bed so they could hook up the baby monitor and check my cervix.  I was still at a 2.  So they wanted me to start walking again.  I'm not sure what was different, but this time I thought I was going to pass out with each contraction.  I would grab onto Tom, practically ripping his clothes off.  I only made it through about 6 contractions before I had to get back to the bed - I mean I really thought I was going to faint.  When I was in the bed, I would hold onto the rails as the contractions would hit - needless to say these were rail shakin contractions!  I was getting more and more vocal.  They checked me again - still at a 2.  OMG!  I think I may have begged for a C-section at this point.  Janet the nurse told me that I needed to relax in order to dilate more.  HA!  I'm not sure how long this went on, but she finally checked with Dr. Tydings and got permission to order my epidural.  Thank God.  Once I had that, I was golden for about 3 hours until it wore off.  So they came back and bumped it up and I was good again until I had her!

My mom showed up after the first epidural, and then my sister surprised me after the 2nd dose.  I was so glad to see Meghan.  She is a nurse practitioner and has been specializing in obstetrics for the last year.  It really just gave me a huge peace of mind to have her there with Tom and my mom!  But I had to put her to work as my videographer, so here is a short interview she shot of me while I was in labor.

Interview with Katie in labor with Danni

Her birth was amazing.  It was fast!  I have footage of Tom's face when nurse Kelly pointed out the top of Danni's head.  Priceless!  Once Dr. Tydings arrived, I only pushed about 6 times before she was born.  I could not believe this little creature I had waited on for 9 months was finally here!  It was truly unbelievable!  The best thing I have ever done in my life.  I love her so much.

She was born at 10:25pm on December 27th, 2012.  She only weighed 6lbs, 13oz!  So so tiny!  I really thought she was gonna be a whopper, so I was very surprised that she has been the tiniest baby born amongst my siblings now.

Here are some photos from the labor and the first few days after. 

Waiting for Danni!!

First diaper change.  Pee-yew!

Little little girl!

My sweet Uncle Curtis got to hold her!  I'm so happy he came!

First bath - we did this like 10 hours after she was born.  Gross I know but she had been through enough. 

Daddy's exhausted!

My beautiful family!

My little princess!

Bubba loves her!

Daddy's girl!

Going Home!  Daddy was really struggling getting her little body into that carseat!

This glorious event brings this blog to a close.  I'll be starting a new blog to document her first year.  After all, she's no longer a new life inside...  she's a bundle of joy for everyone to cherish!

Here's the link Danni's First Year

Thanks for reading! 

Katie

Full Term Baby! 37 week update...

OK so I'm like a day early on posting this blog but it's a lazy Sunday and I have plenty of time today. 

Tomorrow I will officially be 37 weeks!  I just can't believe it!  This means I'm full term and now it's all just a waiting game.  My weekly appointment is tomorrow and I'm really hoping there is at least a little dilation going on...  maybe 1 or 2 would be nice.  For the last 2 weeks he checked me and announced I was "high and tight" meaning there ain't nothin goin on.  But I've had more braxton hicks - nothing regular like 2 weeks ago - but I get them.  Kind of feels like someone is slowly spreading my hip bones apart with one of those surgical instruments they use to crack your ribs.  Somewhat painful but not a show stopper.  I've cut out coffee, which surprisingly wasn't that hard to do.  I didn't want her popping out demanding a caramel machiato with a double shot of espresso.  Although that sounds yummy.  I've been trying to drink more water instead.  Not sure why...  don't think it really matters at this point but I feel like I need to be hydrated and ready for labor.  I've also been walking more.  Just an attempt to get things moving along.  She pushes her little tush out on my right side, so I constantly feel lopsided.  And when she really sticks it out there it kind of hurts!  I give her some taps which she seems to ignore.  Like mother like daughter.  I think she has dropped down a bit in the last 2 days.  My ribs are not nearly as sore as they were over the past month, and the cough I had seems to have subsided  FINALLY!  The 8th month was by far the worst because of that darned cough.  I haven't gotten a solid night's sleep in 8 months, but now it's especially difficult.  It's very hard to get into a comfortable position, and when I finally find something that works and doze off for an hour, I wake up with aching hips and the need for a bathroom trip.  Getting in and out of the bed is a chore!  Poor Tom.  I have not had that much swelling - maybe b/c I gave up the coffee and replaced with water?  But my feet have looked like normal non-pregnant feet for the last 2 weeks, so that's good! 

So that's my news for now, and I leave you with my comparison montage.  If there is a significant change in my cervical status tomorrow, I'll post again.  If not...I'll post when I get around to it.  :o) 

BABY FEVER AAAUUUGGHHH!!!!

I can honestly say that the baby fever has now reached an all time record high.  This baby is all I think about 24/7 and yes I do mean 24 hours a day because there is no sleeping and when I do catch a nap I'm dreaming about her.  When I think of Tom and Dillon I think of them with the baby, holding the baby, feeding the baby (not changing the baby I'm not delusional). 

I have mentioned that I found these 2 wonderful friends down here in LA - internet stalking really pays off - and they have helped me so much through this pregnancy.  Angela has a 2 year old sweet girl with the most gorgeous dark eyes (Isabella) and Jess has a 1.5 year old sweet girl with stunning blue eyes (Juliette).  Well...today both of these ladies made the mercury shoot through the top of the baby thermometer! 

Jess gave birth to another little sweet baby girl today at around lunch time.  So Angela headed over to Jess's house to help look after Ju and I swang by and picked up food for Jess and Justin.  I was just gonna drop it off and go help Angela but Jess was just sitting there, an hour after giving birth, looking gorgeous and I swear she was high on life.  I'm sure she may have been high on drugs too but you could see the life puling in her.  Grinning ear to ear, relaxed, calm...  I was like a moth to a flame, walking in the room gettin high off whatever she was exuding.  It was unreal.  I have not seen a new baby in 2 years since my niece was born and I was in my I'm-never-having-kids phase.  I did not get a chance to hold the baby - daddy was giving her a bath and after that she was hungry.  I'm pretty sure if I had it would have shocked my system right into labor, which I guess would be fine since I WAS on a L&D unit and my doc delivers there on occasion. 

Ju had woken up from her nap so Angela came to the hospital but I met her in the parking lot so we could eat in her car really quick.  We we weren't quick enough because poor Isabella fell asleep in her carseat.  So I told Angela to go ahead and go in while I ate and sat with the little sleeper.  So she did and about 2 minutes after she walked in Isabella woke up and was scared that all of the sudden her mama wasn't there.  So I pulled her out of her seat and held her and found an Elmo video on my phone, so she just laid against Danni while I stroked her back.  I was OVERDOSING on mommy hormone by this time.  I even had some very light BH contractions.  She was so cute and I'd love to think it was my innate mommy abilities that calmed her, but really it was stupid Elmo.  But holding her was just so overwhelmingly satisfying...and she's not even mine! 

As a matter of fact - it's been about 3 hours since I wrote that last line.  I happened to realize that I WAS having contractions.  They were light but they were steady so I went and had them checked out.  Nothing to worry about I'm back home now...still dreaming about my sweet little girl. 

Danni's Special Angel

Dear Danni -

My plan for you is to live a life filled with love and kindness, a kind of life everyone deserves.  I want you to know that as you grow and get older, you will have a special angel that will look over you and guide you.  She had a gleaming love for me and we shared a unique bond.  She taught me so much... like how babies are born (I still don't believe her!!).

I wish that you would have had the chance to meet her when she was here on earth, as I know she wanted to meet you.  But she left us on November 24th, 2012 - about a month before you are scheduled to arrive.  I want you to have these photos of her as a reminder that you will never be alone - always protected. 

This is your Great Aunt Gaggie -

Top left:  Holding me as a new born.  Top right: Her and mom helping me walk on the beach, Lana looking on.  Bottom:  Holding Meghan and I.  Meghan was a cute baby!

One of her visits - I would get SOOOO excited that she was coming!

I traveled a lot to see her, and we even went to Washington DC together (top photos).  She loved her gardens - bottom photos are of her English Garden at the house in Batesville, IN.  That was my favorite place to visit.

These were taken at mom's cabin in Talladega.  Aunt G and Uncle C had just bought a house close by so I always got to see them when I visited mom.

That's me in the big helmet.  We were at Lana's in Waconia, MN.  FREEZING TO DEATH!  I was actually about to ride their snow mobile.

Again in Talladega on top of Bald Rock.  Gorgeous view.  One of my favorite places to go. 

She had a pool with a cabana.  Top pic is me sleeping in her lap while she read her paper.  Bottom pic is my best friend Laura getting jealous of the attention and plopping in the middle of us.

This was the family at Aunt Meghan's wedding.  You don't know her as Aunt Meghan - Not sure what you will call her but I'll think of something good.

Top photo is at her and Uncle C's 50th wedding celebration.  Bottom is at Aunt Meghan's bachelorette party at Lulus in Gulf Shores. 

This is one of the last photos I have of us together.  Cousin Alan was an account manager at a Yacht company and he drove us around on this gorgeous yacht in a parade.  Her and I are wearing pink Santa hats I think.

I miss you Aunt G - please look over Danni for me. 

Love Katie

THE Baby Shower

This is something I had been looking forward to for MONTHS.  Seriously it felt like time was creeping along as I anticipated having my family together to celebrate this new little life - kind of like when I was waiting to hit that 17.5 week mark so we could find out our little bean was a girl.  Pregnancy has its ups and downs BUT the ups far outweigh the downs.  So many big surprises and reason's for family to be together! 

My only requests were that it wasn't a ladies only shower and that we had food...  everything else was left up to these fine ladies.  

The hostesses from left to right:  Meghan Whitfield (sister and it was at her house), Toni Dueitt (SIL),  Margaret Hendrix (mom), Me (me) and Tina McDaniel (step monster mother - she loves her nickname) . 

Everything was hot pink and zebra striped.  I call this the Jersey Shore theme and it started because I am (well, was until I plastered it all over this blog...) a closet Jersey Shore fanatic.  I even went through a fake nail/eyelash phase.  Anywhoo...during this phase of my life I asked mom to make me and Danni matching blankets, one side being hot pink, the other zebra striped.  So she did and somehow this spilled into the theme for the shower.  I LOVED IT!!  Especially Tina's pink pants. 

We had Jim N Nick's Barbeque and cupcakes with zebra liners, cream cheese icing spray painted pink with pink sprinkles.  And then Tina made her famous broccoli salad and mom did her potato salad.  Meghan did the cupcakes and Toni did a choc cherry dessert. 

Tina bought door prizes that matched the theme.  We played 2 games.  One had to do with not saying the word "baby" and the other was something I'll cherish forever - everyone had to write down their own advice for raising a baby and I had to guess who wrote it.  So cute and I have everyone's advice saved in a little book.

Everything turned out so super cute I could not believe it.  I was so happy to have everyone there!  I feel like Tom, Dillon, Danni and myself are very lucky to have such a wonderful family that loves us so much!! 

Here are some more pics from the shower.

Tom and Dillon's arrival

My grand entrance.  I had not seen all of the decor...so I was getting my first glance.  So exciting!

My toes left, Tina's toes right.  Even our toes joined in on the theme!

Me and my little Memaw

YUMMY!! 

Even the little tree in the background had pink lights.

Me and my hubby enjoying the night

This is not a cute child...

See not cute at all.  Meghan's youngest with his Poppie (my daddy).

Enjoying the food - Jim N Nicks  YUMMMM.  Oh and enjoying the company too...  :o)

Off to the right you can kind of see the blankets that started this whole theme

Nastiness.

Me and my bestie - all pinked out!

Again, some more non-cute kids.  For real where did all of these ugly kids come from?  LOL Dillon and Grayson showing some love.

I will also point out that Necia was tasked with entertaining me for the day.  So we went and had mani/pedis, did some shopping, and ate at Chipotle. All I had to do was enjoy my day and show up at the shower...  kind of like my wedding day.  Funny how that works out... 

So now that I've been home I've put away all Danni's loot, washed all of her clothes, set up her play pin and bassinet, and ordered my boob pump.  I'm all set to have a baby girl now (well, after my sister gets her butt down here and gives me some lessons on bassinets, bottle warmers, pumps, etc).

It was just awesome and I'm still beaming about it. 

Katie

34 Week Update

I'm not so good at this blogging thing - it's been over a month since the last update.  WHOOPS.  Sorry kind of busy creating a human life! 

I'm just going to give a general 34 week update here, and then I'll do a separate post about my amazing baby shower...  because it really deserves it's own post!

First and Foremost:  Let's get the bump comparison photo out of the way.  Please excuse my appearance.  Hey, at least I put on mascara.

OK so that's done...  and please just focus on the belly, not the number of chins I have developed. 

As for how I feel.  Well, large.  And sick...

I have to confess here to my little Danni that I've been drugging her with codeine.  I'm sure if she is like her mama, she doesn't mind too much, but I'm sorry I could not give her the opportunity to "Just Say No".  Today marks the 20th (? I may have lost count ?) day of a terrible cough I have developed.  I have seen the OB twice and my regular doc once.  The OB thinks it's sinus drainage - but he looks at pregnant belly's and hoo ha's all day, so what does he know?  The regular doc thinks it's Whooping Cough or Walking Pneumonia but he didn't test me.  I hate doctors. SO at this point I've been prescribed Robitussin with codeine AND as of Tuesday an antibiotic.  It's not working fast enough.  I'm convinced my rib is cracked from the violent cough, and frankly, I'm tired of peeing on myself.  I think my little sickness DID help me loose a pound over the holidays...  at least it has it's perks!

Other than being sick, everything else is going great!  I start my weekly appointments next week. So he will start checking me to see if I'm dilating and how big my little whopper is.  He said no to going past 40 weeks so I know that by January 7th she'll be in my arms, but at this point I assume even that could change.  Her head is down where it's supposed to be, and I feel her move all the time.  I can feel her turn her head and flip from side to side.  She has the hiccups about 3 times a day now.  This used to be endearing, but now I feel like she is poking me and saying "Mama, mama, mama mama" with every hiccup.  Tom does not understand that this has become annoying, so occasionally I send him back to back texts "Mama....Mama...Mama...Mama....Mama..." until she stops.  This annoys him to the point of threats to withhold food from me, so at least he understands a little better I think.

Funny story:  The other night I nonchalantly mentioned to Tom that a Coach Diaper Bag this would be a good Christmas idea for me - he likes to buy me nice things, I want stuff for the baby...   easy right?  Well he gets his panties in a bunch about it and kind of stomps out of the room.  WTH?  He fixes himself a bowl of cereal and comes back in the room and stares me down and proceeds to tell me how much I piss him off with my ability to ruin a good surprise.  :o)  That same night he had been across the lake buying me said bag.  And he didn't want me to think he went out and bought me one just because I had mentioned it, you know he wanted the credit for thinking about it all on his own.  I must say, I DO love to spoil a good surprise.  Don't know why...  Anyway I CANNOT wait to use it!!  I already have it packed with some items.    

That about does it for my 34 week update.  I have 2 more posts that I need to make TODAY so be on the lookout.  As a matter of fact, why don't you just join my blog so it at least looks like I'm a hot popular blogger - links to the right I think...  :o)

Katie

The Whopper & Dillon's Field Trip

Today Danni is 29 Weeks, 2 Days. 

Last week I had my regular OB check.  Her heart rate was 156 which is great.  The doc was examining/palpating/ pressing around my belly and he states "Oh my we have a whopper in there."  While I am excited she's "healthy" I'm a little afraid about what that means in terms of the watermelon through a lemon hole analogy.  You get my drift.

I also went for my Gestational Diabetes test.  This is where you go to one of those Lab Corp/Quest Diagnostic type places and drink this sugary concoction that reminded me of a flat Orange Crush with way more sugar.  Then you wait exactly one hour and they draw your blood.  This tells the doc if your body is processing sugar normally.  I am happy to announce I passed.  They consider anything under 130 to be normal and I was 84.  This tells me my body loves sugar and that I should celebrate with a bowl of ice cream.

Yesterday I "chaperoned" Dillon's class field trip to Luizzo Produce Farms in Amite.  It was pretty cool.  They had pumpkin decorating, a corn maze, a tour of the farm, etc.  We got to pet the animals and feed the baby cow.  They even have a 5 month old zebra!  I also learned the best time to buy strawberries is in the winter.  By end of spring/summer, the plants are exhausted.  Good to know!

This was their Pumpkin Patch.  They have a real patch behind it but it had already been harvested and this was what was left.

Mrs. Brown's Class

Please note Dillon picks the table where the ladies are.  Loves them girls!

Dillon painted a Patriotic Pumpkin

Holding a teenage duck.

Very pretty Zebra!

Until next time...

Katie