Lucy's Birthday

I have been waaayy behind on blogging lately (I had problems with the formatting and then Lucy came and, well, life with a newborn has been a little crazy!) But, I wanted to try and get back on track, so we will start with Lucy's Birthday! The last posting was about me going on bedrest, with plans to be admitted on Sunday, April 10th to start the induction process. So, we'll continue the story from that point.

On Sunday, April 10th, Mike and I enjoyed our last day by ourselves- we slept in, had a great breakfast, enjoyed a lazy Sunday on the couch (as I was still on bedrest!). My parents came by early that afternoon, and my dad prayed for us before they left. Right after they left, I decided I would take a nap, seeing as I would need lots of energy the next day delivering our baby. I had hoped that I would go into labor on my own, because I really didn't want to be induced, but it was already 2:00 pm in the afternoon, and I thought that there's no way that I would go into labor on my own before we checked in to be induced at 8:00 pm that night. Famous last words.

 I woke up from my nap around 2:30 pm with some cramps. They continued for the next 10 minutes, which is when I decided I should probably start tracking them to see if they were really contractions. I had bought an app for my phone that allowed me to track contractions, so I started tracking. And they continued to get stronger and closer together. By the end of the hour, they were about every 4 minutes apart, lasting 1-2 minutes. Legit contractions, and to quote my phone, "This pattern of contractions satisfies the 5-1-1 rule (a contraction every 5 minutes, 1 minute in length, for at least an hour). You could be in labor and should contact your medical provider immediately."

Well, I already knew we were going to the hospital and decided to skip calling the medical professional part and take a shower instead (who wants to be all nasty when checking in to have a baby??! not me! plus, I needed to shave my legs!). So, I proceed to take a shower- Mike stayed in the bathroom with me, still counting contractions, hoping I didn't pass out in the shower from the pain.

About 20 minutes later, we were in the car, headed to the hospital (I think I saw the speedometer get a little over 80 mph on the high way). We get to registration and the contractions are now every 2-3 minutes, 1-2 minutes in length. Not fun. They rush me back to the L&D room, get me changed into a hospital gown and hook me up to the monitors. I think we freaked the nurse out when I told her my mom's longest labor was 3 hours (with me), and that was induced! At that point, I was 4 cm dilated (I was bairly 1 cm when I was at the doctor's office that Friday).

Let me just say the nurses in L&D were awesome. We got there about 5:00 pm, so our day-shift nurse was busy getting me hooked up, starting my IV in-between contractions (and she used lidocaine so I wouldn't feel the 18 gauge IV!).  She quickly got the ball rolling on the anesthesiologist for my epidural, because she thought I was going to have this baby super fast. The CRNA came in to take my history before the epidural (at this point I really couldn't talk, the pain was so bad and I didn't really have any breathing time in-between contractions because they were so close together)- he kept trying to ask me all these health questions, explaining things in slow, simple terms, talking to me like I was 5, and the L&D nurse tells him, "she's a nurse practitioner, she understands medical lingo, go faster!" It was awesome.

In comes the anesthesiologist to place my epidural, which he did in like 5 minutes flat. Let me just say, epidurals are AMAZING. I cannot begin to tell you the amount of relief I felt almost 1 minute after it was in.  I know lots of women who have babies naturally, and my hat goes off to them- I don't know how you do it. When we got the bill in the mail for the anesthesia, my thought was, "it was worth every penny!!"


After the epidural. Life is good.

So, after the epidural, I was able to rest and relax and let my body keep laboring away, all the while, I was pain-free. By 9:30 pm, I had dilated to 10 cm, fully-effaced, ready to start pushing. My OB (who was not on call that night, but came in anyway to deliver me!) came in to break my water (still hadn't broken), and then our fabulous night shift L&D nurse started us pushing. And pushing, and pushing, and pushing. And pushing some more. This continued for 3 hours.

Last pre-baby picture of us!

We finally got to the part where the baby's head was about to crown, so our nurse calls back my OB, who comes in to get ready to deliver. Two more sets of pushes later, and little Lucy Noelle arrived at 12:54 am on Monday, April 11!

Here she is!!

 

Finding out it's a girl!

It was quite unreal to have this crying, goo-covered little baby placed on your belly after pushing for what felt like an eternity, and to finally find out what gender this baby was! I couldn't believe she was a girl, but SO excited! I know Mike had thought all along that it was a boy, and he said that he had to re-set his mind to think "girl" instead of "boy."

Mike cut the cord (he said it was like trying to cut a rubber hose with a pair of safety scissors- quite difficult!).

Cutting the cord

Proud Daddy!

It took awhile to get me all stitched up, so it took a little bit of time before I could actually hold her. Holding her for the first time was amazing and surreal. Crazy to think that this was the child that I saw on a sonogram 9 months prior- at that point, all we could see was this bean-shaped being with a visible flickering heart. And to think that she had grown and developed to be a healthy, 7-pound, 11 ounce, 20 inch long baby over the course of 9 months was amazing.

My parents and my sister Liz and her boyfriend were troopers and stayed at the hospital until they could see her, which was about 1:45 AM! After they were done visiting and meeting Lucy, we finally were taken up to our room about 3:30 am. Mike so graciously went to Whataburger and got me a cheeseburger (glad that there are places opened 24 hours a day!). I don't think we went to bed until 5:30 am that morning... and then got woken up at 7:00 am to see the pediatrician, have vital signs taken, see the nurse, etc....

Aunt Liz

Papi and Grandmommy

Thus started our life as a little family!

I was thinking back recently about her delivery and all the ways that God had totally blessed that day, and it reminded me of all the answers to prayers I had prayed over the past months- that the baby would be healthy, that we'd have a quick and smooth delivery, that He would provide great nurses, that my doctor would be able to deliver me, that I wouldn't have any complications, that the epidural would work, and that I'd go into labor on my own. Amazing to see how everything turned out exactly the way He wanted it to be- His timing was perfect!

More to come soon about life with Lucy!

I love this man

This made me cry like a baby. I love this man!

Bedrest

So, on Wednesday, I went to my normal 38 week OB appointment, feeling fine, no worries. I had met earlier that morning with the dietician for a normal diabetes visit (all blood sugars have been great!). When the medical assistant took my blood pressure in the doctor's office, it was in the high 140's over 90's, repeated again by my doctor, and still high. So, she sent me down to labor and delivery triage to check serial blood pressures as well as lab work. My blood pressures went down with me lying on my side for 2 hours, but my platelets had dropped from my 28-week CBC = concern for pre-eclampsia/beginnings of early HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets). So, she sent me home on strict bedrest for the next two days with orders to come back on Friday for a repeat CBC to see how the platelets were trending, also with the understanding that we might get induced that Friday if blood work wasn't better. So, I came home and lied on the couch for the next two days. I started my FMLA leave from work that Wednesday and tried to come up of a list of things to do from the couch. Those of you who know me know how difficult it is for me to not be doing something ALL the time!! I am such a type-A person, needing to be productive all the time, with check-lists in hand. Thankfully, our friends and family have stepped in big-time and helped out with grocery store trips, visits to the house and meals for Mike and I, which has been a huge blessing. We went back today for my lab work and to see the doctor- my blood pressure was slightly higher in the clinic (had been fine at home, but it shows that moving around will elevate it = pre-eclampsia!). My platelets were essentially the same as what they were on Wednesday, which is great. Due to the high blood pressures, I will continue to be on bedrest today through the weekend and we are scheduled to check into labor and delivery on Sunday evening to begin the induction process. So, unless Peanut decides to come before then, we should meet him or her hopefully sometime on Monday! It was a little surreal, though, today, to go to the hospital with our bags packed, not knowing if today would be the day, or if we would wait until our previously scheduled induction date (the 17th) or what would happen. It is nice to know a final date- we should have a baby on the 11th. My prayer is that the induction will go smoothly, that the baby and I would both be healthy and safe. We are so excited to finally get to meet our little one, find out if it's a girl or boy and get to hold him or her!!

On being babied...

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33 weeks...

35 weeks...

Can't believe that we are 37 weeks today-full term- crazy!!

This pregnancy has, for the most part, been pretty easy. However, I will say the hardest part came around weeks 28-30. I failed my one-hour glucose tolerance test (screening test to see if you have gestational diabetes). So, if you fail the initial one-hour test, you get the pleasure of taking the three-hour test (getting your blood drawn a first time, drinking the double amount of the sugary orange drink, and then getting your blood drawn every hour on the hour for the next 3 hours. No fun, and your arms look like you are a drug dealer or something).

Due to our fabulous icy and snowy weather which occured in early February, I kept having to have this test rescheduled (I think three times!)- it finally got done the Wednesday before I left to go to NYC with Mike. Fortunately, my doc was going to be out of town the rest of the week, so I didn't have to worry about lab results until she came back (and subsequently, could eat whatever I wanted to in NYC!).

Well, it turned out that I do in fact have gestational diabetes- I royally failed the 3 hour glucose tolerance test. And it's so ironic, as I work with diabetics every day! It was a hard adjustment, though, and completely overwhelming, initially, because I had to completely change the way I ate- I can only have certain amount of carbohydrates at meals and snacks, have to make sure I get enough protein and fiber to keep me full and have to check my blood sugar 4 times a day. Even though I'm around all of this all the time at work, it was still hard when you're the one cooking, going to the grocery store, trying to figure out what in the heck is okay to eat, especially in restuarants!

After about a week of figuring this out, it got a lot easier. I've gotten used to poking my fingers 4 or 5 times a day, I've gotten organized- Sundays are my prep days, where I measure out all of my food and snacks into little snack baggies for the week. I know about how many carbs are in the common foods that we eat and where we go out for meals. My blood sugars have been great and I haven't had to go on insulin. Majority of women with gestational diabetes have normal blood sugars essentially right after birth and the problem is gone, which is what we're hoping for!

The other good thing is that the baby isn't quite so large any more! Before I knew I had gestational diabetes, our baby was measuring in the 90th percentiles, due to all the extra glucose he/she was getting. I just thought our baby was big because it was a Frizzell baby! :) Now, with the dietary changes I've made, he or she is back in the 50th percentiles, doing great (measured 6 pounds, 6 ounces last week at 36 weeks!) so, it makes me feel better that the baby is looking good (and hopefully I won't have to push out a 9 pound baby!).

Not going to lie, though- there are hard days for sure, especially the past week or so- I've become a whole lot more tired (feeling like I'm back in the first trimester!), working wears me out, my back, hips and pelvis are hurting and aching, and I feel like I'm constantly having Braxton Hicks contractions. My emotions have been ALL over the place (poor Mike!!). I'm getting tired of having such a restrictive diet and having to be dilligent with counting carbs, when all I really want sometimes is a big piece of chocolate cake, not sugar-free pudding with whipped cream. :) But, they tell me it's worth it. And I know it will be.

I can't believe we're in the home-stretch. Our bags are packed. The car seat is installed, the nursery is finished, the bathroom is finished. Stroller is in the back of the car. We've taken all the classes (Infant CPR, Prepared Childbirth, Breastfeeding Class, and Transparent Class at Watermark). The pack and play is out and ready to go, as is the swing and bouncer. All the clothes that can be washed are washed, hung up or put away. I even think Bella knows that change is in the air.

So, here we go. We are so excited to meet our little one very soon, to finally know if it's a boy or girl, to see who he or she looks like and to finally hold him or her.

Showers!

We have been SO incredibly blessed by our friends and family, it's ridiculous! Here's a recap of the showers that were so generously thrown for us!

In February, our families threw us a shower at Willa and Mike's house:

(notice the onsies- Vandy, Samford, A&M and SMU)

The beautiful cake Jules made- complete with a cute sugar-spun birds nest and egg on top!

The Frizzell side (minus Sergei and Daniel!)

The Serna Side (minus Alex!)

Me and my Baby Daddy

In March, my good friends threw me a shower at Monica's house. And I am so sad to report that I don't have ANY pictures of this event!!! (if anyone reading this does have some, please send them my way!). It was a great shower, though- lots of friends from church as well as old friends from the past and some work buddies!

The following Monday, my co-workers threw me a surprise shower at work! And, again, no pictures. SO SAD! I am going to have to do better with this once the baby arrives. But, they were SO thoughful and even had all the food labeled with how many grams of carbohydrates were in each one (another blog post about that). Plus, I work with some incredibly crafty people and they made some beautiful baskets, diaper weath and diaper cake- so pretty that I still haven't undone them yet.

Catching up... Mini-Trip over Valentine's Day

I have a feeling that in a couple of weeks the blog will be inundated with pictures of our soon-to-arrive child, and I am waaaay behind in updating what our life has been like since about January, so here is an attempt to try to catch up!

So, back in June, we had planned to go skiing during the week of Valentine's, so I blocked the whole week of for work....and then we became babied. So, no skiing.

We couldn't decide what we wanted to do during that week- there was a possibility of going to London for a work trip with Mike, but then that fell through about 2 weeks before the trip. So, then we thought about going to San Francisco or somewhere in Florida (as the previous 2-3 weeks had been full of ice and snow in the Dallas area)... then we decided we'd just stay in town over the weekend, go to a hotel, have a nice dinner, etc.

Then, it ended up that Mike was going to be in NYC the week before and week of Valentines, so I ended up flying to NYC last-minute the Friday before Valentine's- our plan was to spend a great little weekend in NYC, eating, going to a musical, etc.

I arrived to New Jersey on Friday night (where we actually stayed) to a sick hubby with 102 degree temp. Booo. Went up to 103 degrees even with Motrin in his system, so we added Tylenol to the mix and finally broke the fever by the time he had woken up on Saturday morning.

So, Saturday morning, we laid low (and I was so glad there was a Starbucks in the hotel lobby!) and then decided to go to Hoboken, NJ (we were staying in NJ) for lunch. We had fabulous Italian food and even drove past Carlo's Bakery (from Cake Boss!)- the line to go in there was ridiculous- about a block around the bakery.

Sunday, we decided to go into NYC- Mike bravely drove us from NJ to NYC in the rental car - I will say I was glad I wasn't driving. There are truly crazy people out there on the roads!! Since we'd done NYC touristy things several times, and he wasn't quite 100% (and I didn't want to go into early labor in NYC!), we decided sitting on a tour bus for a 2 hour tour would be a good option.

It was a little chilly on the bus!

After our tour, we then decided we'd go through Hell's Kitchen and eat our way down the street. We stopped in a Cajun restaurant and had a fabulous gumbo and cornbread for an appetizer.

Then went to another Italian place for our main course- the waiter came to our table and said, "May I bring you some....waaa(then glancing down at my belly)...water?" Yes, kind sir, I would have loved a glass of wine, but water will work for now. Dessert was back in Times Square at our hands-down favorite NYC place for cheesecake- Junior's Cheesecake, the one and only.

Even though the trip was altered a little due to illness, it was still a great time away!

I didn't take many pics on the camera (have a few on my phone and will try to upload, but I'm truly not computer literate)....

someday

Someday I will update this blog. Right now, feeling quite overwhelmed with everything going on right now- not enough time to even sit down and think, it seems....

But, 32 weeks along! (I stole the pic from my sister's blog...glad someone has time to update!)