Happy BIRTH day, Natalie!

Our precious baby girl has arrived!  And we are all so in love with her already.  She was really tiny but she definitely made her presence known from the start (read: fantastic lungs!).  From the moment I heard that mighty cry that was distinctly different from her big brother's first cry, I knew that she already had such a special place in my heart.

She arrived in the same way her big brother did (c-section), and yet there were many things that were different about that day, her birth-day, from the setting in the OR to my time in the recovery room.  Everything went wonderfully and we are so happy to have our Natalie Grace with us...

round 2 // 40 weeks

Time to go have a baby!

[We took these the morning we headed to the hospital for my c-section,

on my due date, at 40 weeks.]

round 2 // nursery for Natalie

If you follow this blog of mine, you know that we've been trying to get the room that our baby girl will occupy (at least for a little while) ready by adding some upper cabinets in an attempt to further organize all our office/craft stuff and still have room for a tiny newborn.

Success!

And this is what her part of the room looks like...

The valances on the 2 windows match the bedding, though you can't see that well due to the abundant daylight streaming in when I took these photos.  I made the curtains that are on the wall behind her crib (so excited when I found that fabric at Jo-Ann's -- AND it was on sale!), and Deacon made the canvas with her name on it.  The girl that watches him for me for part of the week taped off Natalie's name on the canvas and then Deacon went to town painting the canvas.  Kristen also wrote a sweet little note to Natalie on the back of the canvas about how her big brother made this for her.  Fills this mama's heart so full!

We have a changing station over to the left on the end of one of our countertops, but other than that, Natalie's pretty much just using this space to sleep.  :)  The plan is to eventually move the kids in together in Deacon's room.  

After she's sleeping through the night, of course.  :)

We pretty much have everything ready for her -- we have the pack & play set up in our room for her brief stay there.  We have her car seat installed in the van (Deacon think's it's cool, right now anyway, that he'll get to sit beside Natalie in the car :).  We have all her clothes washed and the ones she'll wear home from the hospital picked out.  We have diapers and wipes (though we probably need some more newborn size if she's gonna be a little thing like they say she will).

And just an update on "things"...

Natalie has not as of yet started the show, if you know what I mean, so we are scheduled for a c-section next Wednesday, which is my actual due date.  If I go into labor myself, of course, that will change.  That's my prayer at this point because I would still like an opportunity to attempt a VBAC, but they won't allow me to go past 40 weeks due to her small size, and my age and blood pressure, which isn't bad but I've had a couple of higher readings that makes them nervous.  :)  

I'm okay with all of this even though I have my preferences and wish I could be a normal expecting mama that they would let go a little longer just to see if I go into labor on my own.  It is what it is and I fully trust God's sovereignty and timing.  He knows how all of this will go down.

Will update you on things as I have the opportunity.  It won't be long before we get to meet baby girl!

Happy BIRTH day, Deacon!

Our baby boy is here.  Our lives are forever altered in the best possible way.  We have fallen completely and totally head-over-heels in love with this little 7 lb, 2 oz, 20 in long bundle of kissable sweetness.

October 26, 2010 brought so many different emotions for me and Jeff, not the least of which was overwhelming love for this little guy that we'd waited nine months to meet.  It's indescribable and yet I'll never forget all that took place that day...

[getting ready to head down to the OR]

[all hooked up and ready for the c-section]

[Deacon's first moments of life]

[Daddy happily looking on while Deacon is checked out & cleaned up]

[precious baby boy]

[proud papa :) ]

[Mommy's first time meeting her son]

[kissing my sweet baby boy]

[first family photo]

[our adorable son, Deacon Josiah Wenzel]

These photos speak for themselves about the day our baby boy was born.  If you'd like to see more photos, check them out here.

doctor's appts #24 & #25...

We had our last 2 doctor's appts today.  The first was at my OB office for the standard NST.  That went fine.  Deacon is still doing beautifully.  He has no clue what's about to go down but he'll adjust wonderfully to that, too, I'm sure.  :)

My blood pressue was up, as usual, but Dr. Hall seemed pretty unconcerned at this stage, just mentioning that she wanted us to monitor it to make sure it doesn't climb any higher before tomorrow.

They did check my iron one last time and it was 38 which is perfect.  Never did have trouble with my iron, so I'm thankful for that.

We had a couple of hours to kill before we had our pre-op testing appt downtown so Jeff and I ran a few errands to pick up some last minute things -- things like a 2nd car base for his truck, another changing pad cover, some envelopes & labels, etc.

At the pre-op testing center, we were both impressed with how friendly everyone there was, despite the fact that they.were.slammed.  We saw 3 different people -- one to get us into the system, one to draw blood and the last to explain to us what to expect tomorrow.

I guess I've read enough that I wasn't really surprised at any of the things that Anne told us concerning tomorrow.  Except maybe the fact that I have to shower twice (once tonight & once in the morning) with this specific soap that they gave me.  I guess that gives them a head start on killing any bacteria growing on my skin.

Dr. Hall had told us that she wanted them to take my bp before I left, after lying still on my side for a minute or two, just to see what it was and to make sure it wasn't climbing.  It was perfectly fine, 125/69.  :)

We are the first surgery of the day tomorrow, scheduled at 7:30am, so we'll be heading to the hospital in the wee hours of the morning to get there by 5:45am.  Sheesh.

I think we're as ready as we're ever going to be.  Jeff and I have enjoyed spending these last few days as "just the two of us" and even though we both feel a little bit sad at the "ending of an era", we're ready to expand our family of 2 to 3 and welcome our little man with open arms tomorrow.

doctor's appt #23...

I had another ultrasound with Wilmington Maternal on Thursday morning.  Just a standard appt to check the fluid levels around the baby which they said were really good.  Once again, they did a biophysical profile on the baby and he got great scores.  His breathing is still really great and because I drank orange juice before this appt (his fave :), he was moving all around for Melissa, the u/s tech.  We got to see a really great set of leg and foot movements.  And those were down in my pelvic area.

Yes, he's still breech.  So we're really going through with this c-section on Tuesday.  And I'm honestly okay with it.  As I've said before, I've had time to get used to the idea that this is how things are going to be for my first one and I trust that this is how God had it planned from the beginning.  Even though, this (surgery/c-section) is not how He originally planned women to give birth, I feel like maybe He's allowed it to be this way for me -- the planner -- so that I don't have any reason to be stressed about what didn't get done.  When we leave this house next Tuesday morning, whatever's not finished will be my own fault so I can't get stressed about it.  :)

But getting back to the appt...

My blood pressure was 142/94 -- the same as what it's been for the last 3 or so weeks but they still freaked out about it.  *siiiiiiigh*  I guess the closer you get, the less chances they take.  So they sent us to the hospital for more extensive monitoring, like we did a month ago.

This time I knew how to put the hospital gown on.  :)

So I got strapped up on the fetal monitors and the blood pressure cuff.  The NST turned out great results -- Deacon has been doing great this ENTIRE pregnancy.  The nurse had me actually turn and lay on my right side because she said that always brings your blood pressure down.

REALLY???  Why don't these other doctors know this?  Why can't I just do THAT at my doc appts??

Sure enough, one of my readings was 116/88, and the lowest one ended up being 112/66!  That's when Jeff said, "Is that too low?  Maybe you need to lay on your back for a little while so it will come up some..."  So I did turn, mostly because my right hip was starting to hurt, and the next reading was 123/75.  Still within in perfect range.

The nurse took some blood (out of my wrist!  that was a first...) and those labs all came back "wonderfully", according to the nurse.  They let me go after seeing the labs.  We were at the hospital for a lot less time this time around.

I promised them I would really "lay low" this weekend and I really am trying.  I actually didn't work yesterday and kept my feet up for a good part of the day while I worked on Jeff's laptop, editing photos, etc.

We have a couple of appts on Monday -- a regular NST at my OB office and then a pre-op appt afterward.  And then...we get this show on the road!

doctor's appt #22...

I had a doctor's appt with my OB this morning for another NST to monitor the baby's heartbeat.  My blood pressure was surprisingly low: 126/78.  Say what?!  Whatever.  I just never know.

The NST turned out fine -- Dr. Hill was pleased with his movement and heartbeat throughout the test.  I drank some orange juice this morning to get him really moving.  Which he was.  He likes orange juice.  :)

While I was on the monitors for the NST, Dr. Hill came in to discuss a "plan for delivery".  As of the ultrasound last Thursday, he is still breech so obviously the course of action is to schedule a c-section.

*cue villian music* Dun-dun-dun.

Now, this child has been breech for quite a while now so I've had time to get used to the idea that we may have to go the c-section route.  Not my first choice, of course, because I did want to try the labor-and-(vaginal)-delivery route, despite being scared to death of it all.  :)  However, it doesn't look like that is in the near future for us unless he turns between now and Tuesday.

That's right -- I said Tuesday.  We are scheduled for a c-section first thing Tuesday morning, October 26.  Um, yeah.  That's a week from tomorrow.

So I've been slowly processing this information all day today.  Hard to believe that in a week, we'll get to meet our little guy, this child I've been carrying for so long, the one who's been wreaking havoc on my body and my blood pressure.  :)

I will have another ultrasound on Thursday to check my fluid levels and if, by some chance, he's actually turned, I guess we'll regroup and figure out Plan B.  In the meantime, we're planning on the c-section next Tuesday.

And Jeff now has a firm deadline for that crib.

doctor's appts #14 & #15...

I had another 2 doctor's appts today, one at my OB and one at Wilmington Maternal.  Kinda getting frustrated and worn out with all these double appts, but it is what it is.  So whatev.

My first appt was this morning at Wilmington Maternal Fetal Medicine downtown for an ultrasound to check everything.  Jeff didn't get to go with me this time, but my momma did.  And she was so excited!  Momma & Daddy are in town for our baby shower tomorrow evening so Momma was able to go with me to this appt.  She loved every minute of it -- she thought it was so neat to see the ultrasound (they didn't have those back when she had her 2 babies) and tried very diligently to figure out what she was looking at.  The baby has really grown, though, so everything just looks like a mess in there now.  But my u/s tech, George, was good about pointing out what we were seeing.  

Once again, everything looks great with the growth.  George told us the baby weighs just over 5 lbs now which is in the 42nd percentile, just above average.  He said the development is right on target with my due date.  He did mention, though, that the baby is breech right now, with his butt down toward my cervix and his body curled up around on my right side (so his head is sitting under my left boob -- sorry, guys).

Dr. Radick (Dr. Wright's new partner) came in and told us everything looked great but that the kidneys were still larger than normal so they would continue to keep an eye on that and start checking my fluid levels a little more closely to be sure everything progressed the way it should.

**********************************************************************************

My next appt was this afternoon at my OB's office and they did an NST, or nonstress test.  That was really pretty cool.  They strapped 2 external fetal monitors to my belly and had me sit in this really comfy recliner.  It coulda been a La-Z-Boy.  I'm just sayin'.

The one monitor was sitting right where the heart primarily was so they could monitor the heartbeat, and every time I felt any movement I was supposed to push the button on this handheld thing she gave me (like buzzing in on Jeopardy :).  I was amazed at how much I could hear him moving around and not actually feel the movement itself (to be able to push the button).  He really moves around a lot and I can't even feel it all, only the major moves, kicks or rolls that he does.  

So this whole time I'm strapped up -- about 35-40 min, I would guess -- we've got the Kentucky Derby going on in there.  That's what his heartbeat sounded like, and what Dr. Hall even said, too.  And you could hear the heartbeat increase and decrease with movement, etc.  After they unhooked me, the nurse told me that the other monitor they strapped on my belly was to monitor any contractions I might have and to see how the baby's heartbeat did through that.  I did have at least one contraction while I was sitting there (just a Braxton Hicks which I've been feeling for quite a few weeks now), possibly 2, so I'm glad that happened so they can read how Deacon did through it.  I assume Dr. Hall read the strip before she came in to see me so he must've done okay.  :)

She said that everything still looked great with the development and his heartbeat, etc.  She mentioned that she saw the baby was breech from my u/s this morning and told me that they do not deliver babies breech -- which I knew already -- but that that didn't necessarily mean a c-section.  She said they had methods to try to turn him, if he didn't automatically turn on his own between now and then.  I mean, we do still have 6 weeks left.  Let's not rush things, for cryin' out loud!

After today's appts, I'm starting weekly appts with my OB and every 2 weeks (if necessary) with Wilmington Maternal.  My OB will do an NST each time to just be sure the baby is still handling everything well.  I hope Jeff will be able to get to one of those with me -- it was pretty neat to hear the baby and his heartbeat for that long and I think Jeff would enjoy that.  :)

childbirth education class #4...

We had our fourth and final Prepared Childbirth class last night.  We talked more about labor and delivery, specifically what happens if a c-section is needed.  Though I'm not a fan of needing a c-section -- I don't know who is really (unless they had serious complications in previous births or something like that) -- but I know that if one is needed, it will only be because it will be in my best interest & that of my child.

With that being said, having a c-section seems like a cake walk compared to a vaginal birth!  Now, I know there are more issues with recovery in the case of a c-section, a longer stay in the hospital, etc.  But the work is done mostly by the hospital staff with a c-section, according to what we learned.  Surgery is surgery, however, and the emotional issues that go along with a c-section HAVE to factor in, I'm sure.

Once we wrapped up the eduction portion, we got to take a tour of the hospital, those areas that we would be utilizing in the labor & delivery of our child.  It was pretty interesting seeing all the different places, and I got lost pretty fast but there are plenty of folks around to direct you where you need to go.  :)  What I liked about the hospital is that it doesn't feel so much like a hospital.  They've done a good job of making the rooms feel more like bedrooms, despite the little bit of medical equipment, etc. that's necessary.

The labor & delivery rooms (vs. the recovery/postpartum rooms) were kind of scary, though.  Only because Jackie flipped on the "delivery lights" (2 huge spotlights!),  took apart the bed and brought out the stirrups and such and I think it just kind of hit me right.then. that I would be going through "all this" in 2 months time.  It, um...well, it kind of...it was a healthy dose of reality.  We'll just say that.

The recovery/postpartum rooms on the mother & baby floor I've seen before after visiting some friends in the hospital after giving birth.  They're pretty nice.  Once we get to that point, it will be better.  I think.  :)

Jeff and I are really glad that we signed up for this class.  Jackie was an excellent teacher and I think we learned some really valuable things through this class.  We have 2 more classes to attend this month, one on breastfeeding and one on baby care.  After those, we'll be pros, right??