Blow-outs

Well I had my first not-so-successful shopping trip with Greta.  We went to Maurice's so I could get an outfit for the baptism - success.  Then a quick stop at Target for a few things - successful on the purchases but unsuccessful for Greta's outfits.  I went into the dressing room to try on a few things and nurse Greta.  And I discovered when I took her out of her car seat that she had had a blow-out.  No problem - I'll just change her and we'll be good.  So I clean her all up.  Put on a clean outfit.  All better.  But wait... I walk out of the dressing room, and blow-out #2 happens.  Seriously? I only had one outfit along so off to the baby section to buy an outfit for her to ride home in. 

I check out and then go over to the customer service to ask if I can leave my cart and the lady behind the counter thought I was going to ask to leave my baby there.  Again, seriously?! 

But we made it home, all in one piece and clean.  Now the diaper bag has 2 outfits in it.

Norm is back in action

With spring comes lots of lawn mowing so Ryan gave Norm a little tune up before his first run.  Blade sharpened and a bold fixed (not really sure about this one).  But Ryan said he ran like a champ!

Family Visits

Greta has officially met everyone in the family and they all love her dearly.  Ryan and I are truly blessed with a great support system and I know we can count on them for anything.

A first for G and Me!

Greta and I took our first solo trip out today... and I'm happy to say it was a success.   We left home about 10:00 am and went to Babies R Us and then Meijer.  I even put jeans on for the occassion.  Go me!

3 weeks old

Time is flying... Greta is 3 weeks old already. 

Here's her top 10, 3 week summary

1) Smiles in her sleep a lot
2) Sleeps for at least 5 hours at a time at night - great for mommy
3) Has outgrown a couple of her newborn outfits
4) Holds her head up quite well and can move it side to side when laying on the floor
5) Lost her belly button (and then I lost it, but found it)
6) Took a big girl bath and didn't hate it
7) Love her activity mat
8) Has taken 2 walks around the house
9) Can hear her BMs from across the room
10) Is perfect in everyway

Church Bound

At just 15 days old, it was time for our first trip to church to get Greta accustomed to everything and maybe to show her off a little.  We made it on time... actually about 5 minutes early, which is better than we did some Sundays (pre-Greta).  Everyone loved her and thought she was a doll.  Best part... she also slept the whole service.   

2 weeks already

Where has the time gone?!? Greta is 2 weeks old today. And at her checkup yesterday the doctor said she was perfect. Gaining weight nicely as she was back up to 7 pounds 4 1/2 ounces.

Also feel very good about our pediatrician choice. Love her.

Back to the hospital

When you wake up with a fever of 102.5, one week after a C-Section... it's probably not a good sign.  So back to the hospital we went, praying it was nothing major.  After a couple hours, blood work, and many tests, the doctor decided I probably had an infection in my uterus and normally they admit you for that, but she was going to let me go home with 2 antibiotics and trust that I would do better.  But if I didn't improve or started feeling worse, then I needed to come back immediately. 

Luckily for me, the medicine works and I started feeling better immediately.

Milk Buzz

Greta has some seriously cute faces just after she finishes nursing... I've decided it's her milk buzz face.

 

First outing

Greta had her first outing... A trip to the doctors and then her first shopping trip.

The doctor said she was doing great. Had maintained her weight from when she left the hospital and was in the 25th percentile for weight and then 50th for length. But 100% perfect in my eyes.

As for the shopping trip, we need to work on that... She slept the whole time. Didn't want to try on shoes or anything - lol! Maybe next time.

Finally time to go home

Big day on Tuesday... We finally got to go home after being in the hospital since Thursday night... A long 4 night and 5 days.

The ride home hurt with every bump we hit but I didn't care... We would finally be home. We were greeted with pink confetti paper and a sign and balloons. Grandma had done some decorating and greeted us at the front door while the dogs waited outside.

Our first night was great in my eyes, especially not having nurses or doctors coming in every hour. I started a routine - I know you can't have a routine with a newborn but that can't help me from trying. Love being at home as 3 now!

It's time!

I had in my mind a vision of how I wanted my labor and delivery to go (which I think many woman do); however my little bundle of joy had other plans. 

Thursday, March 28
6:00 pm - Eat dinner with the Welden's at AppleBee's in Dundee
7:00 pm - Shop at Cabella's
8:30 pm - Arrive home
8:31 pm - Water breaks as I step out of my car in the garage
8:40 pm - Call doctor and she says to come in
8:41 pm - Ryan and I frantically pack (because I wasn't quite packed since I was sure she was coming on 4/7)
8:45 pm - Ryan installs car seat
9:00 pm - Leave for hospital
9:30 pm - Arrive at hospital

 

11:00 pm – Arrive in my labor and delivery room

12:00 am – Get a cervix softener thing inserted to help get me going (totally closed and 0% effaced).  Get an IV line started.  Blood work taken.  Pitocin started.

First night… try to sleep – didn’t happen.  Nurse kept checking on me every hour.  Ryan sleep on the pull out chair, not all that comfortably but got a little.

Friday, March 29

7:00 am – Still hanging out in L&D

8:00 am – Ryan goes home to shower and let the dogs out.  We still haven’t told anyone that we are at the hospital

12:00 pm – Finally time to remove the cervix softener and see how far I’ve come.  2 cm dilated. 

12:30 pm - They let me eat something (probably my last meal until after our baby arrives).

1:00 pm  - the phone calls begin to let our family know we are at the hospital.  And to get mom to come down and stay with the dogs.  Lots of shock from the family.  Mom thought it was an April Fool's joke. 

Afternoon - Lots of walking and moving around trying to get things going.  Starting to have some decent contractions.  They don't want to check me very often for risk of infection since my water had broke. 

8:00 pm - Decide to get an epidural to help me get some sleep that night.  I have only progressed to a 4 by now so I have a long way to go.

9:00 pm - Anesthesiologist comes in to get me ready and give me the drugs.  I'm quite afraid at this point to get it and really didn't want to get one this early in the labor but the pitocin was winning.

10:00 pm - I survived.  And shortly after was sleeping - until the nurse came in to get my catheter started.

Saturday, March 30

5:00 am - Slept through the night which felt great.  Contractions are getting stronger and I can still feel them through the epidural

9:00 am - Mom comes to visit us at the hospital.  I'm feeling pretty good when she arrives.

All day - contractions get stronger and stronger.  I try to dose as much as possible and drink as much water and apple juice as possible so when the time comes to push, I have the energy.  Also getting many boosts of drugs.

2:00 pm - I have a fever and now an infection has developed.  So antibiotics are started.

3:00 pm - Mary comes to the hospital to visit. My contractions are very strong now and I want to push or at least have the feeling (I wasn't any where close to being ready).  I also get the shakes really bad.  (Pretty sure Mary was freaking out).

5:00 pm - Doctor checks again and by now I've gotten to a 6.  Woo hoo.  That's progress for almost 48 hours after my water breaks.

7:00 pm - Try many different positions to get comfortable and work this baby down.  On my knees.  On a bean bag.  On a balance ball.  Something has to be working.  Doctor checks again and at a 7.  Still not progressing very quickly. Dr. Popps decides he will check again at 9:00 and decide what action we will do.

9:00 pm- No progress.  Doctor suggests a C-Section as this baby has decided he or she doesn't want to come out yet and I was getting to the point where I couldn't take anymore.  Pretty much crushed.  A C-Section was not part of my plan at all and I finally have a breakdown. 

9:15 pm - C-Section team starts prepping me for surgery.  More drugs given.  Procedure explained.  Ryan gets a cool outfit to wear. 

10:15 pm - Time to head in and get this baby out. 

10:45 pm - Baby girl Greta is born!  After I got to see her for a brief second, the NICU team (who was on hand because I had the infection) take her to check her out and Ryan goes along, while I get put back together.  Then they bring her back and I get a few minutes of pure happiness, joy, and relief.

11:45 pm - Calls to the family start.

Sunday, March 31 - Easter

2:00 am - Greta, Ryan and I arrive in our new room in the Mother and Baby Center.

6:00 am- I am up and out of bed.

9:00 am - Family starts to arrive and it's a whirlwind of a day.  Also got a nice visit from 2 of my favorite labor and delivery nurses.  I was truly blessed with great nurses and doctors during my entire stay.

Realize I have huge swollen feet.

Monday, April 1

More visits from family and Dr. Christie Harsant too (first non family to meet Miss Greta)

Finally get to take a shower!  Heavenly!!!!

Tuesday, April 2

My staples come out.  My IV is out.  Greta's IV is out. Time to start packing.  Today is the day we finally get to go home!  4 nights and 5 days later!