Hannah's First Doctors appointment and an outing

Hannah went to her first appointment Tuesday for a follow-up from the hospital. She was 8 pounds 5 ounces when she left the hospital, and she is still the same weight. Dr Holbrook said everything looked great. We are so blessed to have a healthy child. After we left the doctor we went to my office to see everyone. They were all very excited to see Hannah.

Happy Birthday Hannah!

On the way to meet our little girl!

Yesterday was a very long day. I was so excited to meet our little girl that I hardly slept at all on Wednesday night. I woke up at 4:45 am and got our of bed, washed dishes, put clothes in the washing machine and dryer, fed our dogs, etc. I was just excited. We arrived at the hospital about 7:30 am after eating Bojangles and Starbucks for breakfast. Once we arrived and checked in, the nurse came and got us and took us to the B Side of labor and delivery, not where I wanted to be, but I asked as soon as we got in the room if I could go to A Side, and they told me once a room was clean I could. Dr Taft came in about 8:30 and told us we would have to do an easy catheter, which is inserted into the cervix and makes you dilate. They also started Pitocin about this time and that is also from the devil. It was needless to say about the worst thing that I have done during this pregnancy. Anyway, after it makes you dilate the catheter falls out and you are about 3-4 cm. Dr Taft checked me and I was 4cm almost 5 cm he said, so he went ahead an broke my water about 11. That was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I didn't even feel anything. Since I was sitting up a lot to labor, because it just felt better, the nurse had Dr Taft but an internal monitor on for my contractions. Not long after that, I got my first prayer answered, I got moved to A Side! YAY! My nurse over here was excellent, I held out until 2 before I ever got any pain meds, and the first dose worked GREAT. I could get it every hour, and I got it ever hour, but the longer I waited, the worse the pain was and the harder the contractions were, because of the Pitocin. So, I gave in about 5 and asked for an epidural, it did not take long at all for the doctor to come in for the epidural, he was very gruff, however, he gave me a GREAT epidural and I was numb on both sides and my bottom. Like I said GREAT. So about 7:30-8ish, Dr Stephenson came on and came into check me, I was 100% effaced, 10cm dilated and ready to start pushing. I started pushing at about 8:55pm and Hannah Elizabeth was born at 9:11pm. When she came out, I heard them talking about she had a little meconium, but God answered a third prayer when she was ok. She is a beautiful baby, very chunky with chubby cheeks. She weighed 8 pounds 9 ounces and was 21 inches long. God has really blessed us both with such a precious gift!

After Daddy and Mommy held me, I got to meet my Great Grandma Buck

Our first picture together as a family of three

In my car seat getting ready to go home

We came as two, but we are leaving as three!

40 Weeks

How Far Along: 40 weeks  

Size of baby: Baby Ayscue is the size of a watermelon

What’s developing: She probably weighs around 7-8lbs and measures 19-21 inches. Her skull bones are not yet fused, which allows them to overlap a bit if it's a snug fit through the birth canal during labor

Clothes:  Mostly all maternity

Gender:  It’s a GIRL!!!

Movement: All the time, she’s an active little girl

Sleep: up 2-3 times, sometimes 4-5 times to use the bathroom and get comfortable

 What I miss: Jersey Mike’s, I thought I would have been able to have my Ham and Cheese on Wheat bread by now L

Cravings: apple juice

Symptoms: Still swelling in my hands and feet, and ready to see our little girl!

Best Moment this week:  We thought we were getting admitted on Friday night to have the baby. I started having contractions Friday at work and they were consistently 5-10minutes apart. I called and went to the doctor and they checked and said I was 2 cm dilated and wanted me to go to the hospital around 5, we thought we were getting admitted to meet our little girl. When we got to the hospital they checked me in, and sent us to triage. They hooked me up to the monitor and I was having contractions, but when the doctor came to see me he said I was still only 2 cm and wasn’t in active labor.  So they sent me home to wait. I have had contractions all weekend, but still no baby yet; they aren’t as consistent as they were on Friday.   Doctor’s appointment on Wednesday coming up.

39 Weeks-a little late

How Far Along: 39 weeks  

Size of baby: Baby Ayscue is the size of a watermelon

What’s developing: She probably weighs around 7-8lbs and measures 19-21 inches. Her brain is still growing at an astonishing rate. Her pink skin has now turned whitish and her head probably has dropped into my pelvis.

Clothes:  Mostly all maternity

Gender:  It’s a GIRL!!!

Movement: All the time, she’s an active little girl

Sleep: up 2-3 times, sometimes 4-5 times to use the bathroom and get comfortable

 What I miss: Putting on my sneakers without difficulty. It’s hard to walk, like they tell you if you aren’t wearing sneakers 

Cravings: nothing really

Symptoms: still swelling in my hands and feet, and ready to see our little girl!

Best Moment this week:  nothing, BIG disappointment at the doctor last week, I thought since I was close to 40 weeks they would go ahead and let me get set up for an induction, but they had me schedule an appointment for next week for an ultrasound and a non-stress test( just putting me on the monitor to check the baby) and then they would set me up for induction. I really hope I go on my own before then.

A Tour of the Nursery

Just wanted to post some pictures of her nursery. Hope you enjoy seeing her room!

38 Weeks

How Far Along: 38 weeks!  

Size of baby: Baby Ayscue the size of a watermelon
What’s developing: Fetal development is nearly complete and she tends to a few last-minute details like shedding the skin-protecting vernix and lanugo. She's also producing more surfactant, a substance that prevents the air sacs in her lungs from sticking to one another once she starts to breathe. Most of the changes this week are small but important: She’s continuing to add fat and fine-tuning hers brain and nervous system

Clothes:  Mostly all maternity

Gender:  It’s a GIRL!!!

Movement: She moves A LOT, an child is a healthy child

Sleep: Waking up at least 3 or 4 times a night to use the bathroom. It takes a lot more effort these days to get out of bed or even just roll over to my other side.

What I miss:  being able to breath and walk without getting short of breath
Cravings: Popsicles

Symptoms: Back pain and joint pain, hard to close my hands, some contractions, nothing to consistent

Best Moment this week: Going to the doctor, 1cm dilated and 50% effaced, and head down!! hopefully not too much longer!