One Month New

I can’t believe my baby girl is already a month old! I’m not sure I like how quickly time is going by!!

At one month you are…

• Just a little over 7lbs
• You wear NB in diapers.
• Your clothes are NB and some of them are still big on you.  And I was worried that you wouldn’t wear all of them!!
• You sleep much of the day still…but are beginning to stay awake for longer stretches.
• Sometimes you like to have a party at night…but you keep forgetting to send me the invitation ahead of time!!  Your party hours are usually the wee morning hours.
• You love your bottle…typically eating 3oz every 3-4 hours.
• You are very alert when awake and have the brightest blue eyes.
• You love bath time, but despise getting out of the bath!
• You’re definitely going to take after your Mommy and be a girl on the go.  You don’t mind traveling one bit.
• You love to stick your tongue out all the time!

The Many Faces of Madilyn

The NICU Experience

Miss Madilyn had to spend 2 1/2 days in the NICU following her birth.  She had to receive  IV antibiotics for a possible infection, as well as having a condition in which she had too many red blood cells, and she also became jaundiced.  Her transfer to the NICU was unexpected.

I would not wish for anyone to be separated from their newborn.  It has been by far the hardest time of my life.  To see your newborn attached to monitors and hooked up to an IV is gut wrenching.  And I almost think it is worse because of my medical knowledge.

What I am thankful for is the fact that I have worked beside these nurses during my clinical rotation in the NICU and knew that she was in the hands of some of the best nurses I have met! Madilyn quickly earned the title of “NICU Diva” and had them wrapped around her finger!

While it was hard to see my little angel in there, I was also very thankful that she was not critical as many of the babies in the NICU were.  The night that Madilyn was born another mother delivered twins at an early gestational age.  One of the babies was stabilized and sent to a NICU that can handle infants weighing less than 2lbs.  The other twin grew their angel wings that night.  I cannot imagine the heartache that family went through! I was blessed to have a healthy newborn!!

Here is a sampling of our NICU experience in photos!

Labor Day

My last OB appointment was on Thursday, August 16th.  I was 36 weeks and 5 days.  It was a typical appointment for the most point.  We were concerned with all the swelling.  And by swelling I mean swelling that was pitting!!  Other than that, everything looked great.  A quick check revealed that I was 2cm dilated and 80% effaced.  There were lots of braxton hicks contraction and they were obviously getting my body ready!! Not to mention, she had dropped the week prior.  We set an induction date for September 4th. 

On my way out of the office, my midwife jokingly said that she would be on call all weekend if I should need her.  Little did we know that I really would!!

Thursday night was my most restless night I had experienced during pregnancy.  I couldn’t get comfortable, was up every hour to go to the bathroom and the swelling was not relenting any at all.  Needless to say by morning I was exhausted.  So I got up and started my day.  But I just felt “off”.  I couldn’t put my finger on why though. I just figured it was from the night of no sleep. 

So at 11am, I decided that I would go take a nap.  Finally, a brief stretch of sleep!! I got up at 1pm, thankful for just a short period of sleep.  It wasn’t long after waking up that I had intense pain hit me through my back.  Wow…it totally took me by surprise and took my breath away.  After a minute, it subsided.  And then about 10min later, another hit.  At this point I began to pay attention.  I pulled out my phone and noted the time. 

But could this be labor? I wasn’t sure.  So I just laid across the bed and waited to see if it happened again.  Yes…it did.  So I called and spoke to the nurse, who told me to do what I was already doing.  She confirmed that it sounded like back labor and if it continued for the next hour go to L&D to be checked. 

They continued, so at 2:45 I decided that it was time to go to L&D.  As I am gathering my bag and the baby’s bag, the back pain goes from intermittent to a constant.  This was concerning…and unrelenting! My nurse brain is trying to figure out what is going on!!

After a 45min drive (the longest of my life!!) I arrive at L&D.  At this point I am in tears and the pain has been constant for almost an hour.  I’m checked and I have progressed a little father than I was the previous day.  I’m also contracting, but not even feeling them over this constant pain in my back. 

The on-call Dr comes in and orders labs and a renal ultrasound.  She suspects that I may have a kidney stone.  She also ordered a hefty dose of pain meds!  Well…multiple doses of pain meds don’t touch the back pain. 

Finally, the results from the ultrasound arrive.  And it was in fact kidney related.  It seemed as though my little princess was squishing my right kidney, blocking the flow of urine and causing my kidney to become enlarged and spongy.  A condition known as hydronephrosis.  The decision was made to admit me, try to get pain under control and monitor the contractions.

Contractions?!?!?! I still didn’t even notice them other than feeling my stomach tighten!!

Fast forward to Saturday morning…

Pain relief was still not in sight.  So we take it a step further and they decide to start me on a pain pump.  I was hopeful that this would be the relief I needed.  But much to my dismay, it wasn’t!!

So at 2pm, I am at the end of my rope! My contractions had subsided (I know this from watching the monitor). But I felt like progress had occurred.  So when my midwife came in at 2pm, I asked her to check me.  And I was right.  I was dilated 4cm!! She then asked me if I wanted her to break my water and have a baby today.  I didn’t have to think twice on that one! I knew that the only way to improve the kidney issue was delivering. 

Labor progressed quickly and smoothly.  At 10:13pm, Miss Madilyn made her grand entrance!!

Birth Stats:

Length of Labor: 8hrs

Pain Medication: Epidural

Weight: 6lb 9oz

Length: 19 1/2in

Apgar Score: 8/10

 

Up Next: The NICU Experience

She’s Here!

Wow…so much has changed over the last month :)

Miss Madilyn Kate decided that she would make an early appearance on August 18th! And I can promise there will be many pics to come! But it’s getting late, so I will tease you with one for tonight!

During my ultrasound at 32 weeks, Maddie decided to stick her tongue out at us.  Well…she has continued to do so! She is full of personality and I’m sure she will keep me on my toes as she gets older!!

Maternity Photos and More

Oh my…where have the last 34 weeks gone? I cannot believe I am so close to holding my baby girl!!!

On Saturday I had my maternity portraits made.  They have been scheduled since I hit 20 week…and it seemed at the time that the day was so far off! But time has really gone by so fast.  We started off with sunrise at the beach, then dodged a nasty thunderstorm, moved on to an area of town to get a few and finally finished in the studio.  We had the best time and I can’t wait to see all of them!!

So for now, here is a little sneak peek and a much overdue bump-date!!

How far along: 34 weeks and 3 days today!

How big is the baby: Based upon my ultrasound 2 weeks ago, she should be around 5 1/2 lbs right now. 

Total weight gain: I’m choosing to ignore the scale! 

Sleep: Well, it’s minimal! Someone likes to party at night and wake her mommy up! 

Maternity Clothes: One day I may see my old clothes again!   

Food cravings: Fruit…with it being so hot that is one of the few things that I want! 

Food aversions: No real aversions. 

Symptoms:

• Multiple bathroom trips! 
• Sciatica! 
• Hot Flashes!
• Swelling!
• Exhaustion!

Movement: She is still rolling and trying to her best to make her cramped living space larger!! 

Gender: Girl! Confirmed once again at my last ultrasound!!

Appointment: Next appointment is August 9th. Then I start going weekly until she is here!

Bump Shot:

Baby Bump Progression

8 weeks                                                  11 weeks                                               15 weeks

 

17 weeks                                                18 weeks                                               19 weeks

 

20 weeks                                                21 weeks

I seriously need to get a current bump shot!

And now for an update:

How far along: 25 weeks,  2 days 

How big is the baby: She is currently the size of a rutabaga in the veggie world! That equals 13.5 inches long and about 1.5lbs.

Total weight gain: To date, 25lbs :0 

Sleep: What sleep! I’ve had some serious insomnia going on this past week.  And Maddie is a mover at night to top it off!! 

Maternity Clothes: Oh yes! 

Food cravings: Watermelon…and lots of it! 

Food aversions: None this week 

Symptoms:

• Multiple bathroom trips! Let me just say the books didn’t tell the truth when they said that the frequent bathroom trips slow down in the 2nd trimester…or maybe it’s because Maddie likes to head-butt my bladder!!
• Leg cramps! Oh my…those are killer and annoying to say the least!
• Hot Flashes! Or maybe that is because mother nature is having some extreme hot flashes right now!!

Noteworthy Moments:

• Swimming: Maddie may be a little water baby! While swimming today, she was moving more than ever before.  Guess that is a good thing, as I plan to live in the water this summer!!

Movement: Yes…she is rockin’ and rollin’ like crazy! But the little stinker will not move for anyone else.  Any other hand touches the belly and she abruptly stops.    

Gender: Girl!

Appointment: I had my last appointment on the 24th.  All is going smoothly and both of us are doing great! Next appointment is June 22nd and includes the lovely glucose test and then my appointments move to every 2 weeks.  Wow time is flying by much quicker than I ever thought possible!!

I Swallowed…

Well, maybe almost swallowed a bowling ball! This photo was taken on April 28th.  Hopefully I will get an updated shot soon :)

How far along: 24 weeks today :) 

How big is the baby: Maddie should now be 12.5 inches long (think ear of corn) and weigh about 1.5lbs.

Total weight gain: Haven’t went near the scales to know!! 

Sleep: About the same.  Maddie is very active around 4am every morning! 

Maternity Clothes: Yep! One day I will see normal clothes again!! 

"Note-worthy" moments:

1. I love lying in bed watching my belly move in the mornings :)

Food cravings: This week it has been anything sweet! 

Food aversions: None!

Symptoms:

• Multiple bathroom trips! Let me just say the books didn’t tell the truth when they said that the frequent bathroom trips slow down in the 2nd trimester…or maybe it’s because Maddie likes to head-butt my bladder!!

Movement: Getting stronger by the day…and moving like a gymnast still!   

Gender: Girl!

Next Appointment: May 24th

Bump-Date and More

Life…it’s like a carousel that is always in motion! Thankfully, mine has reached a little slower pace.  Spring classes are complete! I’m very thankful to have made it through the semester with 1 A and 2 B’s!! Now only one more semester stands between me and sitting for my RN boards :)

I love my job! While going to school, I never gave much thought to working for a hospice organization.  So when the opportunity came up, I really had to think and pray about it.  Was this really an area of nursing that I wanted to pursue?  It definitely isn’t what I had pictured, but it just felt right.  So that is where I am…and I can’t imagine being anywhere else.  I LOVE my job.  It is fully of challenges, and at times heart-breaking, but at the same time it is rewarding.  Will this be my forever job, I’m not sure.  But I know that it is where I am supposed to be at this moment in time.

So how ‘bout a bump-date?

How far along: 23 weeks today! I can’t believe it is going by so quickly.  Only 119 days until her due date!!

How big is the baby: At my last ultrasound (at 20 weeks), Maddie was 13oz.  Just shy of a pound.  She should now be just over a pound and about 11 inches long.

Total weight gain: Ugh…I don’t even want to think about the scale.  It seems like the scale jumped over night! Total weight gain as of today is almost 20lbs.  Hopefully I will stay at my goal of gaining no more than 35lbs. 

Sleep: Aside from multiple trips to the bathroom, I’m sleeping pretty good.  I do find myself rolling from side to side quite a bit though. 

Maternity Clothes: Oh yeah…pre-pregnancy clothes have long been pulled from the closet.  I still have a few shirts that I can wear, but my belly is quickly out-growing them.  And I just had to buy round 2 of maternity pants! 

"Note-worthy" moments:

1. All checked out fabulous with Maddie’s genetic screening! And I checked out fine in all lab areas as well. 
2. Maddie definitely looks like her Mommy! I compared her latest ultrasound picture to one of my newborn pictures and I couldn’t believe my eyes!! Now we have to wait to see if she will have my red hair and blue eyes :)

Food cravings: Nothing in specific really…just food! 

Food aversions: No real aversions thankfully.  The only true no go for me is a milkshake.  It must be something in the mix used to make them, but every time I get one it makes me sick.  Homemade is fine though!

Symptoms:

• Leg cramps.   So not my friend when the strike at night!
• Swelling. I’ve had to remember not to sit with my feet hanging! The result is cankles and sausage toes!!

Movement: She is a little acrobat! Her movements are getting stronger by the day and she definitely likes the early morning hours.  We will work on those hours when she gets here ;).   

Gender: Girl!

What I’m looking forward to: Continuing to work on her room…which is also my room.  I will stay in my current home for now, which is 1 bedroom.  She would be in my room for a while regardless, so no biggie.  Pinterest has given me many cute ideas that I am about to start working on.  And trust me, there will be pics to come as they are completed! 

What I miss: A night of uninterrupted sleep…though I guess I should get used to that!  I also miss my energy!!  Aside from having less energy, the humidity here in FL is horrible!!

Next Appointment: May 24th

Picture: I was going to take a new shot, but instead decided to post her ultrasound.  She put on quite the show for us too! Even kicking herself in the head several times!!

Almost Half Way

I can't believe how quickly the weeks have gone by! I'm now a little over 19 weeks. But I am sure that the time flying will come to a screeching halt in July and August!

So here is the most recent bump-date:

How many weeks? 19

Weight gain? I think somewhere around 12lbs...give or take a pound!

Cravings and aversions? Pizza still holds on to my top spot as far as cravings go. Also oranges and strawberries. I don't have any real issues with aversions.

Gender? Hope to find out on the 26 th! I can't wait to shop and buy colors other than green and yellow!!

Bump Shot

Hello…

So I’ve been away for a while.  I went on a little blogging break…for many reasons.  Life is still moving in warp speed.

A little glimpse into what has been going on the last few months:

• RN school is demanding, exhausting, and I’m so ready for it to be over! At least summer is just around the corner (3 weeks and counting!) and then one last semester stands between myself and my RN license!!
• Baby is growing…and so is my belly!  It’s hard to believe that I am just 1 week shy of being half-way there.  So far all is going perfectly for both of us.  And in 2 weeks I hope to know baby’s gender :)
• Work…lots of new and exciting changes have taken place in this department! I am now working for Covenant Hospice and totally LOVE it.  While it can be emotionally draining, I can’t imagine working anywhere else at this point.  And not to mention I work with an amazing group of individuals!!

My dear camera has been out sporadically.  It will be getting plenty of attention when baby arrives and will no longer feel so much neglect!  This afternoon I was able to snap a few quick shots at an Iris patch. 

Ok…back to studying for tonight!