Happy Birthday Carver!

June 30:  My labor with Carver started Saturday night (while we were playing dominoes with my family!)  I was definitely having regular contractions and they were getting stronger... however I had been wrong before!  I tried (unsuccessfully) not to get my hopes up.  When we were ready for bed I told my Mom that I thought we'd be going to the hospital during the night (and I really REALLY hoped I was right!)  After everyone went to bed, I spent some time cleaning up.  I decided to lay down--I fell asleep for about 2 hours.  When I woke up I was so bummed thinking I was wrong again but I quickly realized that I was still having contractions.
 


40 Weeks Pregnant--Ready to meet my Baby!

It was about 2am at this point.  I decided to finish getting things ready and try to let Marc sleep as much as possible.  I woke him up around 4 and said I thought we should try to head to the hospital.  Marc got up and took a shower while I finished pulling all of my things together.  We left for the hospital around 5:15.

 

 

When we walked in to the hospital--Marc had my suitcase and pillow and I had my bag with what I wanted during labor.  We could barely fit in the triage room.  I nurse walked by and commented "You must be pretty sure you're staying."  I was thinking--I better be staying!  She hooked me up to the monitor and confirmed that I was indeed contracting every 3 minutes regularly.  When she checked me I was 3 cm (disappointed by this--I was hoping to be further and wondering if that meant it could be awhile).  She assured me that I wasn't going home and that she could feel baby's head.  Around 6 we were finally in a real room.

 



I planned to walk and try to do things naturally as I did with the previous three... however with each passing minute I was less sure that I could actually accomplish that goal.  People tend to think that each delivery gets easier--in my opinion, each delivery gets faster, not really easier!  I decided to lay in bed while I got my first dose of penicillin (because I tested positive for group b strep).  The goal was to get 2 doses, 3 hours apart before baby was born.  When I was done with the iv I attempted to get up to walk but couldn't do it.  I was able to get some relief by sitting on the ball.  When the nurses changed shifts I met my new nurse Kathy and told her I wasn't so sure I could make it without the epidural--she was very encouraging.  She checked me around 7:30 and I was 5 cm.  She said "Baby will be here before 9--that's my guess."  I decided to try and make it with no epidural but opted for a dose of pain med in my iv. 
 

 

 

The pain medicine didn't make the contractions less painful but it helped me really relax.  I almost fell asleep between each contraction (still every 3 minutes).  Marc went for coffee and Kathy told me Dr. Eagen would be arriving around 8--she said as soon as he broke my water I should be ready to push.  

Around 8:15 the doctor came in--we talked for a few minutes and I was on board with having my water broken and pushing out a baby!  He broke my water around 8:30 and then came my least favorite (and hardest) part--pushing.  Marc was with me, 2 nurses, and the doctor.  It took about 15 minutes.  I truly felt like I couldn't do it but everyone was so encourages.  My nurses were amazing--telling me just how and when to push.  Having this little boy in my arms was the best feeling in the world!  I got to hold him before they took him to be cleaned and weighed.

Daddy's First Snuggle

 

 

He weighed 8 lbs., 15 oz. but the nurses told me that he pooped before he was weighed so I could have credit for a 9 lb. baby!  One nurse also said, "Wow, you have a 2 week old!"  After he was cleaned and swaddled I got to nurse him and he was a great eater right away.

 



My Labor Nurse--Kathy (She is also a mom of 4!)

Because I didn't make it long enough to get the 2nd dose of penicillin, he had to have blood drawn so they could monitor him for infection.  That was hard to watch--it took 2 ladies almost 45 minutes to get it done, my poor baby!  They finished in time for him to get his bath and stay in the warmer before his brother, sisters, grandparents, and aunts arrived to meet him.  Everything was done right in my room so I didn't have to be away from my sweet baby!

 

Carver's birth is another day (on a short list of dates) that I will remember vividly for years to come.  I loved being able to snuggle my sweet boy... he was worth the wait for sure!

Waiting for Carver

In the days before Carver came I tried to get stuff done... and I tried to keep busy!  Sadie was at Spy Kidz from 9--4 each day.  My friend Lisa picked her up each morning and my friend Michelle got her when it was finished.  I was able to get some rest time each afternoon before she came home.  I also walked a lot... as the days got closer to his due date I kept hoping each day that he would come! 

 

Thursday, June 27:  My friend Amy came over with her son Nathan for the morning.  We walked to a park about .75 mile away from our house.  It was HOT!  The kids had fun cooling off in the water fountain...

Friday (June 28) was a rainy  day... I tried to clean the house.  Friday night we took the kids to see "The Croods".  We let them wear their pj's:

On Saturday (June 29) we decided to take the kids to the forest preserve for a picnic and let them ride bikes.  Just as I finished packing lunches, it started pouring.  I wanted out of the house so bad!  We waited for about an hour and the rain let up to a light sprinkle so we decided to go for it.  By the time we finished our picnic the rain had stopped.  The weather was cooler--perfect for a long bike ride/walk.  The kids rode the bikes, Marc and I walked.  We did about 4 miles of trails!  I thought surely that much walking should inspire my little boy to come out!

Saturday late afternoon, Marc had to leave to pick up my parents and sister from the airport.  He took Sadie and Kinnick with him.  I took a shower and cleaned the bathrooms.  Macey was watching a movie--this is what I found when I came downstairs... 

We enjoyed a fun night of pizza and dominoes with my parents.  They were planning to leave the next day so I was very hopeful that Carver would make an appearance on his due date!

Baby Update!

As of today (June 28th) I am two days from my due date!  This pregnancy has flown by... I really can't complain--once I made it past the sickness stage, things have been good.  No complications and I've been feeling good.  

7 Months

My most uncomfortable time (physically) was probably around 8 months.  I guess now, I'm just used to it!  I've been sleeping well (for the most part) and feeling good.  The worst things I've experienced this month are swollen feet/ankles (REALLY swollen!) and crazy emotions!  My gut feeling all along is that he would come this week--sometime right before his due date... at this point I'm beginning to rethink that!

7 1/2 Months

I know they say every pregnancy is different--the biggest difference with this one... all the early/false labor I've been having.  I'm talking almost every night for the last two weeks.  I've been having lots of contractions--usually in the evening.  Sometimes they are strong but don't get close together and sometimes they come really regularly but aren't very strong.  I have had 3 nights now when I thought for sure we would be going to the hospital... but we have not.

36 Weeks/8 Months

The kids are SO super excited.  They say almost every night and every morning, "I hope he comes tonight/today!"  They have enjoyed helping me get some things set up for our little man.  Kinnick told me a few days ago, "I can't wait to see what he looks like!"

37 Weeks

What's the plan?  Well, I'm still holding out hope that he will be here soon (like tonight or tomorrow!)  But he might decide that he wants a July birthday and that's okay too.  My next dr. apt. is Monday (July 1).  My doctor told me that if I'm still pregnant then I can pick a day to be induced (as early as Tuesday).  If I opt to wait, I can go another week and then they would schedule me for around 41.5 weeks at the latest.  At this point I think I will probably wait, but I'm keeping my options open for sure!  The good news is that I'm dilated enough that they can break my water to induce--hopefully that would be enough.

38 Weeks

 

This week has been very laid back and "unplanned".   Sadie finished her last day of "Spy Kidz" toady (it's a VBS/day camp at the church where I attend MOPS).  She has been gone each day 8--4 (and thankfully I've had some awesome friends who have helped drop her off and pick her up each day!)  Kinnick, Macey, and I have been trying to stay busy--library, mall, park, walks, cleaning.  It's been a good mix of getting out of the house so I don't go crazy, and relaxing/napping so I'm not too worn out.  It was a good week to be down a kid.

 



39 Weeks

 

As far as being "ready" for baby--I'm as ready as I will be!  The pack and play and changing table are set up with all his little clothes washed, sorted, and folded.  All the baby gear is out.  Car seat bases are installed in both vehicles.  Suitcase is packed.  I even made some fun "baby boy" cookies with my friend Michelle.  They are wrapped in cute baggies in the freezer waiting to be passed out to nurses and hospital visitors.  I keep cleaning and I keep reminding myself that my house will likely not be clean when I make it home from the hospital... and that's ok!

 



39 Weeks

That's pretty much it for now... I'm so excited to update this blog with some cute pictures of my sweet baby boy!  Stay tuned...

Cutest Cookies EVER!

 

My Helpers Getting Out Baby Stuff

 



Baby Bump Pictures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mother's Day

May 10--12:  I had a fabulous Mother's Day!  I think what I usually expect for Mother's Day is to feel a little spoiled and to spend some time with my favorite people... I got both for sure this year!  On Friday I got to attend my first "Mother's Day Tea" with my favorite Kindergartner.  Sadie's school spoiled us with several cute and thoughtful gifts, some yummy snacks, and a special musical performance!  Perfect start to my Mother's Day weekend:

One thing I had really been wanting was a date night with Marc... As it gets closer to baby time I'm trying to log as much one-on-one as I can because I know it will be harder.  He always does a great job of spoiling me with some fun mother's day gifts (and Sadie LOVES going shopping with him) but this year I told him what I really wanted was to pick out an outfit and blankie for our baby boy and some cute comfy hospital pj's for me.  I had also really been wanting to do an herb garden this year--I got both on our date night!  We did some shopping, had dinner at Chipotle, more shopping, and dessert at Applebees.  During the dessert time of our date we did some brain storming and communicating to come up with a behavior plan for Sadie--I really wanted to get something in place for her before summer/baby!  I think this was one of the most fun dates we've had in awhile!  Marc didn't feel the greatest, but he was a trooper... I enjoyed every minute of our 5 hour date!

Home Depot--Buying Supplies for my Herb Tower

Kohl's--an outfit and a blankie for baby C

On Sunday Marc let me sleep in and he made breakfast for us (not really any different from our typical weekend mornings!) and the kids surprised me with cards that they made.  After church, we decided to use a gift card to Outback to go out to lunch.  As always, eating out with little ones is interesting, but they are my FAVORITE little ones! I can't particularly say that I enjoyed EVERY minute of our 2-hour lunch (yes--it was really that long, not including the "15 minute wait" that was really 40 minutes!)  But also can't say that I would change it...

7 1/2 Months

On Tuesday Marc helped me put together my herb garden... He even planted all the herbs for me and kept searching various stores to find the chives that they did not have at Home Depot... He's pretty great!  I love  having this right outside my kitchen door.  I can't believe how much everything has already grown and I have LOVED using all my fresh herbs.  They smell so fresh and AMAZING!

Mint, Lemon-Thyme, Chives, Dill, Sweet Basil, Parsley, & Cilantro