Thursday, November 29, 2012

Oh baby

I am almost certain I might be the only person who reads this blog; so I guess I don't have to be completely embarrassed that it has been 10, yes TEN months since I posted anything!!!!! More has happend in the past 10 months than I could have ever, EVER expected. Baby Maddox was born April 2, at appr. 12:22 a.m. Now that was a crazy weekend. Tatum was born a few weeks early, and Dalton was born at 38 weeks, so naturally I just assumed I would have M early too; I would drag myself to work those last few weeks and EVERYONE would say "you are still here??" One of the chapters of my book I will one day write and it will be hysterical will be "ridiculous comments made to pregnant women" And oh my friends, I had MANY people say some really wild things. Moving on, almost every Saturday I was pregnant was morning breakfast date with mommy and the bigs (I refer to Tatum and Dalton as the bigs--you know big kids), mostly they would choose Panera, and they would each have a ridiculously expensive power sandwich and an almost equally expensive pastry. Getting on with the story---I was 39 weeks on Friday, and felt so horrible, Dan and I both didn't go to work; we thought this was the day. I was LITERALLY dilated to a 4 for 4 weeks; yup; how? I have no idea......Saturday came, and I felt pretty good, so what did I do? I took Dalton for a hair cut then drove the kids to branson to shop. I am an idiot; we shopped for about an hour, ate, then I could tell I needed to get home. Saturday night came and went. Sunday the contractions were there, but not totally consistant. We walked the mall, Bass Pro, all over anywhere we could think to go. After dinner, I could not decide what to do. This is my 3rd baby for crying out LOUD! I delivery VERY fast from the past two births, and we lived in Ozark, so the Dr. said 'stay close' what the heck does that mean? (maybe she meant not to drive to Branson---oh ok).

We almost turned to go home and instead Dan said, let's just go see. We got to Cox hospital around 7:30 and Dan's parents met us there to take the bigs back to our house for the night, unless we came home. I got checked around 8:30 p.m. and the nurse asked if my contractions were getting stronger and harder; no they weren't but I had basically been in some kind of labor for 4 weeks, so you know, I was used to it by now. I lied and said THEY ARE COMING HARDER! She checked me and I was already a 6! STAYING!!!!! Called my mom; she was on her way. Called in laws to tell them baby on was his way. I was almost an 8 and it was 10:15 p.m. when I got my heavenly epidural; I almost kissed the anethesiologist!!!! The date was April 1st. I really hoped that this baby would not be an April Fool's baby!!! 11:30 p.m. dilated to 9; the clock struck midnight and at 12:10 my OB came in; 12:22 a.m. Maddox Daniel was born! He weighed 8 lbs. 1 oz and was almots 22 inches long!  We have been in love with him ever since.

I have so much to catch up on here; moving to another city, staying home for the first time in my LIFE, etc. there is much more to come. I am writing that book by the way, Chelsea Handler watch out; I am going to kick you off the chart :)

Monday, March 19, 2012

Rainy March Monday

Sure, no one wants a flood, or to have their basement leak, etc. I know that, I get that. I remember growing up and our basement would flood, and there would be a mess and so NO, flooding would be bad. BUT, I do LOVE rain. I love the way it cleans the air and the way it sounds and how it makes all the plants and grass (in our case weeds) so green and alive, etc!!! The rain really calms me, and on this Monday, 37 weeks pregnant with baby boy, I welcome the change in weather! My status is that I have had many irregular contractions over that past few weeks, but they are fairly strong, some more than others, so I wasn't too surprised at my Dr. appt. this past Friday when she checked me and I was a solid 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced. My having babies history is that they were both born a little early (37 weeks for T and 38 weeks at D), so where as many women are 'SO READY TO HAVE THIS KID NOW!' my entire pregnancy has been about making it to the safe finish line, safe for baby that is. According to all medical guidelines, babies are considered full-term at 37 weeks, however, I THINK, that the more time in there, the better off they are, unless there is something else going on, like hypertension, gestational diabetes, etc. So I was a little surprised when Dr. said we could go ahead and strip the membranes Tuesday and have that baby probably fairly quickly. Tuesday as in tomorrow. I am trying to re-schedule my appt. for Thursday or Friday. The downside is my Dr. will only be available through Friday, then she is gone next week, so that means I would just have to take whoever was on call over the weekend or next week. I would really like MY OB to deliver baby Rice, but... I think I am going to ask that we NOT do much right now, and let baby come when he is ready. I highly doubt with this being #3, and with all the contractions I have had, and the fact I am already dilated that I will go another full two weeks. Or one week...who knows. I am just praying for a healthy, baby boy and a healthy ME...! I will post again as soon as I know something :)

Friday, March 2, 2012

Counting Down.....

As I sit here, with a squirmy baby wiggling all over, I am attempting to take a deep breath. This is not easy when you have a 5-6 pound (at least) little renter who continues to take up more room and deplete your lung capacity! And I could not be happier that he is in there. I just hope he stays for at least a few more weeks. Everyone says this, but it really is true that in some ways you feel like you are pregnant FOREVER, and in others, I feel like it was truly just yesterday that the test turned bright blue... :) Every Friday my 'pregnancy' week changes, so like today I am officially 35 weeks pregnant. I look at this as a milestone, because I think it's one week longer that baby Rice has stayed put in his place and is continuing to grow and gain weight, strength and be even more prepared for the world. I am also pretty proud that I am still standing upright! Work has been even more demanding than ever, and since I already put a LOT of pressure on myself, I am happy to say I am still hanging in there. Baby's room is ready to go, I think (I hope) I have what we need for him when he gets here.

I will say that both Tatum and Dalton NEVER moved and wiggled nearly as much as this little one. He is all OVER the place! I think the thing that is most amazing is how he absolutely can hear us talk to him, and how he is already responding to our voices. I am in awe of what our bodies are capable of; growing a baby for almost a year!

Both Tatum and Dalton are excited to meet baby. I am so lucky to have such amazing little people like them. Every day I love them more if that is even possible. They are SO good. I know that this will be an adjustment for all of us, but I am hoping that we can work together and make it as easy as can be expected. I want both of them to know ALWAYS that they are so unique and special, and baby M will just be another wonderful addition to the Rice Family.

Work continues on, for now, I am FOR SURE taking as much time as I can and have accrued to be paid for, which is currently 10.5--almost 11 weeks. I am praying now that God will help me adjust to what is next up....because I KNOW myself well enough to know that I am not a stay at home mother, HOWEVER, I also am sick at my stomach thinking of taking my angel baby to daycare when he is so little. There is really no great solution. So I have tried to prepare in the best way I can and we will just see how it goes. Just take a deep breath...wait, I can't.

I am very lucky that I have THE VERY BEST FRIEND in the world always by my side going through this adventure with me, and for that I am so lucky. No one compares to Dan, and gag yourself right now if you want to, but he helps me with everything, THANK GOD for him.

So the deal is,,,I am going to have a BABY probably this month! And MOST likely unless I win the lottery and decide to adopt, this will be our last baby Rice, so I am enjoying the anticipation of it all. I am praying for a healthy little boy, and a healthy mama too. I also SERIOUSLY hope that epidural does EVERYTHING it's supposed to do. I have been trying to block out that part, but now that the weeks are becoming days, I am starting to ponder the labor, delivery and recovery.

Here is to NEW adventures around the corner with baby and family! And sushi,,,,,,and all those naughty cheeses.......and wine, and skinny-er? jeans, and normal bras, deep breaths, and holding and smelling that sweet baby. I'll keep you posted.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

30 weeks!

I am officially into the 3rd trimester of this pregnancy with baby M and things are going well and I feel pretty good. Clearly, I haven't gained the weight I did with Tatum and Dalton and I know that has had much to do with it. Tomorrow I go for my 'glucola' test. This tests the sugar in my blood and is always done around this time of pregnancy. Also, the doctor is going to do another ultrasound to check on the position of the placenta. At our first ultrasound at around 18 weeks, it was pretty low, not a complete previa, but low enough that they want to take another look now. Most of the time, nature has a way of fixing itself. As the uterus grows, the placenta moves up. There is no way around the fact that baby must come first, not the placenta. In mid-December our friend Kristi did another ultrasound for us so we could see little man up close and she noted that the placenta looked like it had moved for sure, so here is hoping that this is an absolute tomorrow. So I drink the nasty glucola, have my ultrasound, a blood draw and then my appt. with the OB. I always get a little nervous--it's in my genetic make-up to worry.

The nurse got on to me for NOT gaining enough weight last time. Damned if you do and damned if you don't. As long as baby and I are healthy, than I think it is all good; and Dr. confirmed that. Monday night we had a 'refresher' baby class here at Cox. A friend did the class and it was good for both of us. Walking down the hall during the tour past the rooms where the babies were actually being born made it very real that labor will be here sooner than later.

Another great thing I learned from this class was to download some relaxation apps on my phone. WOW!!! I played one for the first time last night and Dan said I was out within a few minutes. I am going to continue to pursue the relaxation techniques I have read up on. This type A first born kid is again, by nature a little strung out so this should be a good thing for all! I have a busy day ahead of me now. More later.