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June 17th, 2007~~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LILY ANN!!!!!! oh yeah, Happy Father's Day to Gary too....
I'll be sure to post a more detailed account of the affair when there's more time. As of now, I have to go kiss on my Lily Love....

I've never been so happy in my life!

Lily Ann's debut story! ~~~~

She was born at 6:44pm weighing 7lbs 4oz and 20 1/4 in. on June 17th, 2007.
It all started at about 9pm on June 16th. I started hurting pretty bad but I figured it was just BH's again. However, my husband wanted to see if it was or not so he made me walk, walk, and walk some more. They were pretty steady, but not getting stronger. I figured it was just a false alarm and told him that we should just go home. He said, hang on, let's make one more stop before home, so I agreed, even though I had no idea where we were going. Next thing I know, he's pulling up to the hospital with a big smile on his face. I said OH NO! We're not going up to labor and delivery, they're just going to send us home again and we'll be disappointed. So instead, we decide to walk around the hospital since it's air conditioned and safe. So off we go, walking the halls at 11pm. I was walking and liquid was running down my leg, so we found a bathroom cause I figured I just peed on myself (hehe). Well, when I sit down it wouldn't quit coming out...and I just wasn't sure, so my husband got his wish of us going to L&D. I assumed it was better to be safe than sorry. So we get up there and they do the routine. B/P, pee in a cup, dialation(which I was a 2), and then for amniotic fluid. The baby's heartrate was good and the contractions were pretty regular...However, my water hadn't broke...I just peed on myself yet again...embarassing for sure. For some reason they kept re-checking my blood pressure. They decided to call the doctor and see what she wanted to do. She said that my blood pressure is too high and that they didn't want me to go home. So they admitted me and said that they would give me cervidil that evening and then pitocin the next day. They also decided to give me ambien to help me sleep that night so I could get as much rest as possible. About 1am we got all settled in our room and placed the cervidil and all we could do is wait. I couldn't hardly sleep that night even with the ambien, but at 6am I thought I started peeing on myself again and was really embarassed AGAIN. I woke my husband up and he got so excitied because he swore it was my water this time. They come in and sure enough, it was my water. I was already having contractions on my own, which were uncomfortable but not painful yet. However, the doctor wanted to go ahead and start the pitocin then and get the process well underway. At this point, I was dialated a little more than a 2. Slowly as the day progressed....I didn't. My contractions were off the charts, but my dialation just hung out at 4 the whole time. The pitocin was giving me steady contractions and by steady, I mean....I never had a rest period. It was just a continous contraction. They weren't in a big hurry to do anything because the baby was doing fine. They also believe that I was having a reaction to the pitocin. I was shaking like a leaf all over and couldn't control it. At about noon, I decided I couldn't take it anymore and I needed an epidural. I couldn't take the continous contractions and I was getting extremely discouraged. Once I got that, I was still worn out but feeling better. I was very much in love with Bill, the anestheologist. I told him I was feeling better just by the site of his face. He said he's heard alot, but never that before and it flattered him. So, I'm dog tired and 6:15pm rolls around and after pushing with some of my contractions to see if I dialate anymore...still no progress past a 4!!! The doctor comes in and says, "We may have to do an emergency C-Section because they believe the baby is too big. We're going to wait a little longer and see if we have anymore progression." Then she walks out after talking for a few more minutes. My mom and my sisters start crying because they're worried about me and the baby, and everyone is stressed out. I'm floored because I never expected this to happen and was actually upset because I wanted to deliver vaginally. Then, 6:30 they come running into the room and start prepping me and my husband as to what is going to happen. Next thing I know, I'm in a really bright room and I'm so worried that this numbing stuff isn't going to work and I'm going to feel everything. They had me move to a table that looked like an execution table...and it that's not scary enough, they say they're going to numb me up even more. I was numb from my neck down. I'm not sure if that's normal, but it was a surreal feeling and for some reason, the only comfort I could get was closing my eyes and listening to my husband's voice. However, this whole time, I'm still shaking like a leaf. But at 6:44pm....I heard her cry. Then I knew everything was alright. I couldn't help but cry because now I KNEW we would be alright.
Come to find out, she wasn't too big, her head was just sitting a little tilted in the pelvis, so she wouldn't go down any further. Other than a little bruising, she came out perfect!!!

We did have a little scare with the jaundice and she had to be hospitalized for two days after only being home for one...but she's doing wonderful now and no more jaundice!!!! Talk about heartbreaking...not being able to hold your baby with that stupid mask on. I was having a tougher time with it than she was! I am very humbled by mothers that have to leave their babies in NICU and not get to hold them. I can only say, stay strong and you're in my thoughts.

I'm so glad my little Lily love is here. She is what love looks like.

August 15, 2007~~

Lily is growing so fast. She is now 2 months old and doing so many new things everyday. Her smiles are so sweet and toothless. I love them! She goes to her 2 month appt on the 22nd of this month. Unforunately, she has to get all of those shots. I heard you can give babies tylenol to lessen the pain, but how much of a dosage do I give her? I've posted alot of new pics of her and we're going to get our first family pictures done sometime this month. She's been doing so well and I hope she's meeting all of her milestones, but I'm not too worried about it yet. As for me, I've recovered quite nicely. I do still have stomach cramps on occassion and numbness at the incision site, nothing to really whine about. I really love this mommy stuff...more than I thought I would. Does anyone else find themselves praying constantly now? =)

August 26, 2007~~~

Well Lily got her shots on the 21st and boy was she mad!!!! However, we didn't get to do the 2 month checkup, because of that pain in the butt insurance. So, she'll be getting her 2 month checkup on Sept. 5 when she's almost 3 months! Silly huh? I was surprised at how much her shots hurt me! It was the first time I've seen her cry real tears! Heartbreaking screams. She ran a slight fever for a few days, but she's doing just fine otherwise. She smiles so much now. She loves when you make faces or sing to her. And I love it too. She's growing up so fast...it seems so long ago that I was pregnant though. Every night I thank God for the best gift ever.

September 03, 2007~~~

My precious Lily Ann had her 2 month checkup on the 29th of August. Finally! I'm so glad that she was in a good mood when I took her. All smiles and she liked the doctor...can't blame her, he was pretty cute and actually didn't look too much older than her! lol. She was 11lbs 10oz and 23 1/2 inches long. He said she's in the 75% in all areas. I'm so glad she's doing well and now, I don't remember my life BEFORE her. I think I really came alive when I met Lily...and I love that feeling. I'm already so sad to see that she is growing up. I've also been thinking about when I have another baby....will I be able to love them this much? I would hate to make a child feel unworthy/bad. Do any of you mothers x 2 have any advice about that? Do you love them the same? Truly? Again, I thank God all the time for my precious daughter and pray for her to make good choices...and then wonder....Why the heck is she smiling and laughing while I change this poopie diaper!! lol

Take care Mommies and Mommies to be!

Friday, 19 October, 2007

Lily had her 4 month checkup yesterday. She's getting so big! She is now 25 1/2 inches!! I can't believe how tall she is now. She weighed 13lbs 14.5oz. I'm not sure exactly what her head measurements were but she was in the 70th percentile with it. He said that was great because that means she has a big brain! She smiled really big when he said that to her. How cute is that? As far as everything else, he said she was in the 50th percentile for weight and 75th percentile in height. I suppose she's going to be a tall, skinny little genius. lol. Dr. Kennedy said that developmentally she was doing great just by what he saw and heard. He told us to try not to give her carrots for a while longer, because the last time we did she got a strange bumpy rash around her mouth. He said it could be a sign of an allergy. I sure hope not! He said he did notice that she had a problem grasping things because her thumb stays folded over in her hand. Like she is showing you the number 4. Dr. Kennedy just told us to make sure to rub her hands and open them up often. That's not a problem because she loves to have them rubbed. She opens her hands just fine at home so I'm not too worried. He just said that it can make the muscles tense. All in all, our Lily Ann-poopypants is doing just fine! I'm so excited that she's growing so well and is happy. I can't wait for the rest of this motherhood stuff. I love being her mom!

Good luck new mommies and mommies to be!

December 20, 2007~~

Happy 6 months to Lily!!! She's finally made it to 6 months and she is getting so big and I, of course, believe she is a little genius. She is like a little bundle of heaven and can always make me smile. We had her 6 month checkup just yesterday and she is doing just wonderful! Dr. Kennedy said she is running right on course, which I was so HAPPY to hear. Everyone keeps telling me how little she is for her age and I'm starting to think they're crazy! She is 27 inches and 16lbs 13oz with a HC of 47.5cm. She also had her shots. =( I hate getting those just as much as she does. I'm usually a pretty strong person and don't tend to cry much but everytime we get her shots, she has a different cry. She was crying so hard that she started choking. And I about lost it. She was being held by her dad because I knew she would be pissed at whoever was holding her. She got the first shot, looked up at her daddy all wild-eyed, then started screaming and kicking. She was SO mad at him. That girl sure can shun someone when she wants to. She wouldn't look at him, kept turning her head when he would talk. I thought it was a little humorous but Gary of course felt really bad. An hour after her appointment she was in a really good mood. So I guess she got over it pretty quick. The bad part about all of this is, we have to go back Jan. 18 for another appt to get the rest of her shots. They didn't have all of her shots due to everyone's electric going out for about a week. So, alot of their shots have expired because they weren't refridgarated. I think that sucks big time, but you gotta do what you gotta do. She is sitting up really well and even rocking on her hands and knees just a tad. She is growing everyday and it makes me so sad to think that she is getting so big so quickly. We did celebrate her 6 months by making 1/2 of a cake. She got a little toy and her 2nd cousin and grandparents came. She most definitely did not want to stick her hands in the cake but she just wanted to hold it. It was sweet. Her cousin, Eric, thought he would show her how to do it and stuck his hands in it instead!!! hehe. She just loved the cake and started grunting. She's started grunting when she gets excitied and does this low growl when she's mad or griping at someone. It's really quite funny. I'm so glad to be updating with such great news and can't wait to give you more of that next time.

Take care mommies and mommies-to-be!

January 24, 2007~~

I have such exciting news!!! I am so proud of my big girl! Just last night she was lying on our bed playing with Daddy and all of a sudden she sits straight up! I don't even think I have abs strong enough to just sit straight up like that. I was so proud of her, just more proof that she is getting big. Prior to all of this excitiment, she stood on her own, unassisted!! Well, until she tried to bend over to pick up a toy. lol. She hasn't started crawling yet, but she's been scooting. I think she hit a growth spurt recently and was waking up every 2 hours at night wanting to eat. But after a day or two of that, she just started doing a TON of new things. She's getting so big. During the day while I'm at work, she will stay with my sister and gets to play with her cousin all day. They are really great friends and it's so sweet to see them together. They hug and kiss, and on occassion, they'll actually share their toys! lol Theeennnn, last night during bath, she was playing away and Daddy comes into the bathroom to get her to put on the pj's and such and I kid you not, (although I HATE to admit it) she said, "Hi, daddy". My jaw just dropped. She may not have purposely said, but she looked right at him, when he walked in there and said it. I was a little disappointed that it wasn't momma, but I was dancing with joy anyhow. I'm telling you, my little Lily is a genius! lol

Take care mommies and mommies-to-be