Welcome Makaela Christine!

Miss Makaela Christine was born April 1st, 2013 at 0800 weighing 8 lbs 7 oz and 21 inches long. Daddy was right all along....we had an April Fool's Day baby!

March 31st, Easter Sunday, I woke up at about 445 AM and felt different. I thought maybe I needed to go to the restroom but when the cramping persisted after 30 minutes I realized this was it. These were the real contractions and "the feeling" everyone said you would just instinctively know.

About 530 I woke up Tim and let him know that I thought I was having contractions and was going to take a shower just to be prepared. He put in a request that I hold off on "popping her out" until at least 2pm so he could watch the Michigan game. Love that guy.

The contractions persisted so after I took my shower I told Tim he should probably take one sooner rather than later because I was sure at some point today we'd be going to the hospital. I thought I would be extremely nervous but I wasn't....I was just focused.

About 730 I used the restroom and noticed a pinkish discharge. I knew things were progressing and I was in the early stages of labor. I called Labor and Delivery to let them know what was going on and to see what they said. At this point I was feeling contractions about every 5 minutes at a pain level 3-4. Based on what I told her the nurse confirmed I was in labor and said to try and stay home until the contractions were 2-3 minutes apart because I would be more comfortable at home. Just like the doctors the other day had reminded me...once you get to the hospital they start hooking you up to machines etc.

As the morning progressed the contractions got more uncomfortable. I downloaded a handy dandy contraction timer on my phone which really helped keep me focused and aware. Since Makaela is totally team daddy, we were able to hold off on going to the hospital until 230 pm.

On the way to the hospital we stopped and got sour patch kids and a hershey bar with almonds, because for some reason I felt I would REALLY needed those specific items after delivery. The drive to the hospital got pretty uncomfortable especially when we passed over bumps. When walking into the hospital I had to stop several times and lean on Tim to wait for a contraction to pass.

Once we got into Labor and Delivery they took us into a triage room and did all the preliminary vitals. Next they said they were going to check me to see if we would be admitted or not. As the doctor went to check me my water broke all over her. I'm sure she loves her job. At this point I had been in labor for 10.5 hours (9.5 hours at home) and was 2 cm but because my water broke they admitted me. They told me they like to deliver babies within 18 hours of the water breaking.

They took me to our room and we were greeted by the most amazing nurse. She was 100% focused on me and taught me how to breath and work through the pain (most of which was in my back). Without her, Tim and I are confident that the experience would have been totally different. Unfortunately, her shift ended at 700 PM that night.

I wanted to manage the pain naturally for as long as possible. After a few hours I inquired about what my options were and decided to take some IV pain medication. This helped a lot. I could still feel the contractions but they could be worked through.

About 830 PM I was getting more and more uncomfortable. They checked me and I had progressed to 6 cm on my own! At that point I knew I would want an epidural at some point so opted to get it then. The nurse said she was pretty sure we'd have the baby by midnight.

The epidural was not painful at all to receive. But it was scary. They kept saying how "critical" it was that I did not move, and the process took quite some time. (My biggest fear about labor and delivery all along was an epidural gone wrong...I pictured chronic back pain or never having feeling in my lower body again.)

The epidural was heaven sent. I was on cloud nine. Literally I was just hanging out. If they would have let me eat, I would have kicked back and munched on some bon bons.

Around 1100 PM they checked me again and I had progressed to 7-8 cm. Seemed like we wouldn't be having her before midnight, but were happy that I was still progressing without things like pitocin.

Around 130 AM when they checked me I was 9.5 cm dilated. The nurse said it would be time to push soon. I asked her if it was going to hurt or if I would feel anything. She asked if I could feel anything at the moment, and I could. Pain was about a 4-5 but not awful. She said she would pump up the epidural and I wouldn't feel anything during pushing. Sounded great to me.

Around 330 AM the doctors and nurses came in and said it was time to push. We did a few practice pushes so I could learn how to do it. I could feel pressure and some pain but figured it was par for the course. They had me push while holding my legs, while pressing my legs against a squatting bar and pulling on a rope wrapped around it, while on my hands and knees and they had me push on each side. After awhile I was in excrutiating pain. I could feel horrible pain in my back and left side. I was mentally and physically drained and they just kept saying "good job" "you're almost there" "you can do it" "she's so close." I wanted to punch them all. I kept saying how horrible the pain was and asking if I could push my epidural button to get relief. Occassionally they would let me, but reminded me "labor hurts." I finally hit the point where I just couldn't do it anymore at about 630 AM after 3 hours of pushing.

I didn't hold back at all. I told them I was done pushing and they better get me set up for a c-section. The doctors grouped and told me that was not the safest thing for me or baby because she was "so low" and "almost out." I told them to figure something out then because I was done helping (LOL). They came back in and asked if I would be okay with a forcep assisted delivery to which I replied "if you can get her out in the next 15 minutes have at it otherwise GIVE.ME.A. C-SECTION." (This was said in between my screams of pain.)

They decided forcep delivery was the way to go and told me they would have anesthesia come in to pump up my epidural first. When anesthesia came in he goes over to my back and goes "oh wow, this explains why she was in pain, it came undone." THE EPIDURAL WAS NOT CONNECTED TO ME. ARE YOU FRICKIN JOKING RIGHT NOW!??! In a weird way it made me and Tim relieved to know that there was a legit reason why I was in so much pain. We determined when the nurse went to increase it around 130 she some how unhooked me....

Because the original epidural tubes etc were no longer sterile I had to get another one. It was a little harder to sit still this time, but I knew the end was near. Once the epidural was in, I pushed for 30 minutes (no forceps) and had our baby girl at 800 AM. (We can't help but wonder how long I would have pushed had the epidural been functional during the first round of pushing...)

Tim was beyond wonderful throughout the whole process even though he saw more than he wanted to ;-)

She was immediately put on my chest and they helped me nurse her. They pushed on my belly to deliver the placenta which they said was "huge!" (gross - Tim looked, I did not). They then extracted cord blood because we decided to donate that to a local cord blood bank. She stayed on my chest for an hour while they "repaired me" (hellllo 3rd degree tear) and then weighed and measured her.

8lbs 7 ozs BOO YAH! Take that doctors who thought she'd be "a lil peanut."

Our hearts have never smiled so hard. Talk about love at first sight.

We can't wait to share how our stay and recovery in the hospital went along with how our first week at home is going soon!!

Oh, hey due date...

Spoiler alert: I'm still pregnant. Annnnnnd this post is long.

When I last posted we were going in for an induction. We got to the hospital, and got settled in our room, I scarfed down a sandwich because they told me it would be the last time I could eat until after delivery, answered a bunch of questions, and started getting hooked up to all the lovely machines (IV, fetal heart monitor, contraction monitor and BP cuff). After all that the on call L&D doctor came in to check me and come up with a "game plan."

I hadn't made any progress since my last appointment. I was still about 50% effaced and 0 cm dilated, contracting about every 2-2.5 minutes. The doctor talked with us about all the "labor and delivery possibilities" so we understood what methods may be used during induction and what to expect. He wanted to get me started on pitocin so I got hooked to yet another lovely tube and was told that I would have to stay in bed but could get up to use the restroom. I already knew I was going to be sick of the bed in a hurry. I think I was tangled in my gown and all the tubes coming out of me within 5 minutes.

My blood pressure got checked every 20 minutes, and the nurse came in just about as often to update stuff on the computer and occasionally bump up my pitocin. I wasn't feeling anything, so was actually able to get some rest in between the periodic checks.

After about 11 hours on pitocin the doctor came in to check me again to see if progress had been made. I figured something HAD to have happened...I mean it'd been 11 hours, despite the fact I still didn't feel pain. Well....we were at the same point as when we came in. The doctor talked to use again about the next possible steps, and I told him again that the foley bulb sounded TERRIFYING.

They were happy that the baby was tolerating the pitocin so well, and also mentioned that my BP had not been high AT ALL since being admitted.

The doctor came back in with his attending advisor and started with "We've been looking over your chart...." Immediately I thought the next words were going to be "since things don't seem to be progressing we'd like to prep you for c-section." THANKFULLY I was VERY wrong.

They talked about how I really am a healthy person, and the baby was doing very well. They said "you are already at a pretty high dosage of pitocin....we can continue with the induction which realistically could take another 3 days. We know you made arrangements to come in and perhaps have family already on their way OR we feel comfortable that you and baby are stable enough that you can go home, and come back when you spontaneously go into labor."

Call me naive, but I didn't EVER consider this would be an option! I thought inductions led to the inevitable....a baby being born one way or the other.

I looked over at Tim and we both quickly agreed we wanted to go home. Seriously, what a blessing. We would much rather not force things that obviously aren't ready to happen. And how exciting is it that my BP seems to not be an issue again!?!

So here is what we learned:

1. My body is holding the baby hostage. This little girl is stubborn. She's calling all the shots.
2. Tim should bring a blanket next time. Covering up with my spring coat wasn't ideal.
3. If I had to wait 3 days without eating, I would probably give myself a c-section.

Fast forward to today. Baby girl's due date and our 40 week appointment. No changes. Our doctor is working L&D Wednesday night so wants us to come in then to get monitored (make sure baby is doing well, that amniotic fluid levels are sufficient etc.). If we are both healthy we can give her until Friday to come out on her own, but if not we will have a no-turning-back induction. IF by unfortunate chance things don't look ideal on Wednesday (once babies are overdue there is concern about the placenta not functioning as well or baby releasing meconium) then our doctor will start the induction that night.

But hey, who knows, little girl could come before Wednesday on her own. Tim HAS said all along that she is going to be an April Fools Day baby.

Induction Tomorrow

This will be my last "official" pregnancy photo. It was taken today at 39 weeks 2 days. I'm feeling good but am anxious starting to get really nervous for tomorrow!!

I'm being induced prior to the baby's due date as the result of some blood pressure concerns. Although, this was certainly not part of our "birth plan" and I will likely have to adjust a lot of my preferences, the end goal is the same....healthy and safe baby and mama :)

I don't know quite what to expect but trust my doctors and am so happy to have my wonderful husband there to support me (we're both nervous!)

We will update everyone as soon as we can. Just think our next post will have real pictures of our little lady!!

Baby is coming!!

A lot has happened in the last 48 hours and my mind is all over the place so this may be a bit of a spastic post! I'm going to try and put together a more logical post with important info tomorrow :-)

I had my 39 week appointment on Thursday. Baby's heart rate and growth were great, but my BP was no bueno. I was 50% effaced and 0 cm dilated. Although my BP wasn't outrageously high, it was high enough that the doctor doesn't feel comfortable overlooking it anymore. My BP was high in the first trimester, and then it leveled out wonderfully in the second trimester. Starting at my 38 week appointment it was on the rise again.

The doctor had me go get some blood work done and give a urine specimen to check the protein levels in my urine. She gave me paperwork about inductions and told me she was passing along my file to the scheduler, and although I knew this was real, I didn't totally take it seriously. Can't explain it.

She told me she would call me shortly and let me know if I needed to do a 24 hour collection. Well, within about an hour she called and said I did need to go ahead with that.

Keep in mind I'm at work at this point, so I'm thinking great...my second to last day at work and I have to walk around here with a jug of my own pee. Wonderful last impression. But I also thought it was ridiculous to go home. Soooo picture me carrying this box around the office (to disguise my "supplies) with me anytime I had to use the restroom.....yep, for real.

I got a couple "Aww packing up your stuff?" to which I replied..."uhhh not exactly." Hahha.

Fast forward to Friday, my last day of work....I had to leave at noon to drop off my 24 hour "collection" to the hospital. I dropped it off, went and got a pedicure and then came home to try and nap because I was truly exhausted, had a headache and a little bit of cramping. I never got a call from the hospital so I assumed that meant they would just call me early next week and we'd set up something for her due date or that I didn't need to be induced at all.

Around 10am this morning, I was just sitting down to watch Pretty Little Liars after the Comcast repair guy left and I was thinking of a few errands I would run, then the phone rang and it was the hospital. A super peppy doctor informed me that "we have you scheduled for Monday morning!" I said "Oh wow, okay." Then she told me all the details about when to arrive etc. MONDAY. MONDAY. As in less than 48 hours from the time of that phone call. HOLY. CRAP.

Since that call my mind has been racing. I need to do this, I need to do that. OMG. What does one do in their last 36 hours before being induced?!? We're going to have a baby within a few days. There goes my plan to have the next week off work to relax ;-)

So for the rest of the weekend (Tim is at work until 5pm today), I'm going to do a final cleanup of the house, pick up a few things from the store (could be one of the last times I don't have to tote baby with me...ahh!), relax (yeah...right) and think about what life will be like this time next week (picture me eating a subway sandwich, sushi and a margarita....haha).

Baby and I will be home for Easter (score!!) Hmm, maybe I'll put in an order to the Honey Baked Ham Company now....

Baby girl is due NEXT WEEK

It is so weird to say "I'm due next week." Holy cow. 

Things that have been happening around here lately:

- Parking my car at work or in the garage and not being able to FIT OUT THE DOOR. Sh*t just got real, as the kids say. This rock hard belly can't be sucked in. I've dried off the side of my car with the bump (not by choice) on more than one occasion. 

- Leaning to grab something in the cabinet above the stove and setting my belly on a burner. Yep, the burner was on. Talk about not being aware of your own body!!

- Grunting and having to do a 1-2-3 to launch myself off the couch when lying down. 

- Baby girl recognizing her daddy, mama and Taylor Swift's voices. Her movement either indicates she loves us, or she is desperately scrambling to cover her ears. 

- Nesting and resting. It's really one extreme to the other. One day we go crazy organizing (thank goodness hubs is so handy), getting rid of unnecessary items and cleaning and other days it seems beyond exhausting to even stay awake for an hour long TV program. 

- Having some physical signs that things are progressing and baby girl will be joining us before we know it...

Workplace Love

Wednesday when I walked into work I was greeted with a loud cheer of "Surprise!" When I rounded the corner I saw that my team had decorated my desk with all things adorable, and had filled my cube with gifts. Seriously, I work with such thoughtful people!! I think they are trying to induce my labor with all these amazing surprises.

Baby girl got hooked up with precious outfits, blankets, socks, headbands, toys, teethers, bottle and nursing supplies and diapers.

J and V's team even pulled together and made that sweet bouquet of baby socks and flowers and gave me a tear-jerker of a card that they gave me later in the week.

After talking things over with the hubs and doc we decided my last day at work will be March 22nd. I'm a mixed bag of emotions about it. One thing I know for sure is that I can't wait to bring in baby girl to meet all of my amazing coworkers friends <3.

Nursery Tour

Have been wanting to do this post for a little while but I'm a lil technologically challenged and was having trouble with the video.

When we set to working on her nursery we knew we didn't want it to be total cookie cutter. We wanted it to be simple and warm with DIY elements and personalized touches from local or etsy artists.

Truth be told, Tim had to reel me in several times because I wanted to go overboard....so many ideas, so little space!

We had the artwork on the left in the picture below custom made by one of our favorite Etsy artists. It normally is made to say "I love the shit out of you" which we were all about and then suddenly when it came time to order we decided to opt for an alternative in case one day she asks what it says, haha. 

I drew the one in the middle with some good ol' colored pencils and mounted it on sparkly silver card stock. We love us some Monsters Inc.

The one on the right is a small print from another Etsy artist. 

This painting below was done on a thin canvas by an artist who sells her work at Pike's Place Market in Seattle. It's hard to tell in the photo but it has some cute glittery accents. 

These horseshoes were snagged on our recent trip to Mt. Hood, Oregon. They had some other embellishments that we removed to make it just how we wanted it.

We just picked this air plant and the bowl from West Elm. We're all about some low maintenance greenery.

Owls are super adorable right? The one on the right was snagged at a cute children's boutique in Seattle, but was made by some Alberta Street locals in Portland, Oregon. 

Scrap book paper + ikea picture frames = cheap art for baby to look at while on the changing table.

These hearts came with other colored hearts on a string of garland. We just broke it down and then hung a few of our favorites with fishing line above the lounge chair, kind of like a mobile for baby girl to look at.

The bookshelves that I forgot to take a picture of and am too lazy to go photograph right now are just cheapy Ikea spice racks that we painted in grey and green. Can't wait for story time with the little one <3