Madison Olivia Alexander is here!

Born on Saturday 12/8/07 at 7:08pm.

6lbs 6ozs and 20 inches long. :o)

AT BIRTH

NEWBORN

ONE MONTH

TWO MONTHS

THREE MONTHS

FOUR MONTHS

5 MONTHS

6 MONTHS

Hello! My name is Christine and I live in Maine. On April 24 2007 I found out that I was expecting. Very shocked since I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome- My boyfriend, Rick, proposed to me on Christmas morning. We both are very happy and excited as our little family has been coming together. Madison has changed our lives forever and she is making each and everyday more enjoyable. :o)

~*~*~*~*Madison's Growth Updates*~*~*~*~

December 8th

*Birth Story*

So on Friday the 7th I went into work as usual at 7pm. By morning I was feeling like I was having braxton hicks or something. At 6am I even told a friend/coworker that I was feeling "funny". I left work by 7:30 am on the 8th. Driving home I was sure that I was starting labor, contractions seemed to have started. I got home and laid in bed and tried timing my contractions. They were about 5mins apart each lasting about 1 to 1 1/2 mins long. By 9am I called the oncall doctor and told her what was going on and what I was feeling. She just didn't want to jump the gun that it might be false labor. So she told me to wait a bit and then call back if things seem to progress more. By 11am I was sure it was real labor contractions were now 2 mins apart each about 50-60 seconds. I first called my boyfriend Rick who was at work to tell him to get home, he was my ride to the hospital not to mention I wanted him there. Then I called the doctor back and she asked if I wanted to come in to get checked I said yes, that would ease my mind, because if it wasnt real or whatever they could just send me home. I got my things together and Rick got home, he called his Dad because he wasn't feeling good, had a headache and with the excitement decided he didn't want to drive. So his Dad arrived and we were on our way to the hospital. At this point I was starting to feel miserable, I couldn't sit still and I felt the constant need to urinate not that I needed to go. We got to the hospital at about 11:30/noon time and I checked in, someone brought me up to the maternity floor and that's when they started to admit me, they found that I was in active labor and checked me I was 4-5 cm at that time. The contractions just seemed to get worse and worse so at that time I knew I wanted an epidural, no doubt! So I begging for it, the anesthesiologist was tied up with multiple things so it seemed like forever for him to get there. They gave me nubane to help take the edge off, once I had that I was able to breathe through them a little better and then the anesthesiologist came in and got the epidural in at about 3pm. I was in heaven once I got that, for a bit anyway. They had to put a catheter in, an internal fetal monitor and when they broke my water they found it had meconium in it. So they also put a tube into my uterus and was flushing water into it and back out to help clean out the meconium. So I had about 3 or 4 things in me, so that made me uncomfortable but easier to deal with than the contractions! I wasn't able to rest really, I wanted to try to sleep since I worked all night and now was in labor but wasn't able to get comfortable or anything to even drift off. By 6ish they checked me and said I only had about a lip of my cervix left. So they waited for that to open up, by 6:45 they checked again and got things together, they asked me to try to give a push and after a couple they got their hospital gowns and things on. I did a few more pushes, I could tell when I needed to push but I just didn't know how effective my pushing was so I asked for a mirror so I could see. I was able to see her head coming down and see how much I was able to push, so at that point I knew what I had to do. After a few more pushes doing 3 consecutively and then breaks in between she finally arrived at 7:08 pm! It was the most rewarding experience, I felt her come out and my belly give way as she exited my body. I first was asking if she was okay because of the meconium the team was checking her out, she came out crying so that was good and also came out completely pea soup green color because of the meconium, they suctioned her and she was doing well. She ended up scoring a 9 and 9 on the apgar scale! The doctors were still working on me, I did tear and they repaired that, because of the epidural I didn't feel anything. They also were really surprised with how long the imbilical cord was, it was almost twice as long! Eventually the doctors left and baby was fine. Nurses came in to get me and the baby cleaned up and after that by 8:15 I was holding my newborn baby Madison Olivia and breastfeeding her for the very first time!

December 10th

Today we came home from the hospital she weighs in at 6lbs 3 oz. We have an appt this friday for another weight check. Already really nervous to be home so soon afterwards with a little baby but glad to be home.

December 14th

Today we went for Madison's first doctors appointment to keep an eye on her weight. She weighs now exactly 6 lbs. We are coming back in again in another week to have another weight check. I have been learning to be mom and it definently is challenging. Especially with the whole sleep deprivation!

December 19th

She now weighs 6lbs 12 oz! So she is gaining! She nurses really well too, latches right on. I really enjoy breastfeeding she does a great job at it too. Its hard work since I am the only one that can do it and it also takes a lot of time but I think its best for her and want to keep doing it for as long as I can. I also go to a breastfeeding support group. Moms and their babies come in and we talk about issues or concerns and questions we have and I find it helpful since I've never had a baby before. I like to hear what other people suggest. There is also a certified person there that answers more technical questions like how to store breastmilk and such.

January 8th

Madison is now one month old! She's doing really well! I weighed her today at the breastfeeding group, they have a scale and she weighs in at 8lbs 4.5 oz on there scale. She has an appointment next week at the doctors so we will know more on how shes doing. :o) I really enjoy having her, getting nervous though since I go back to work at the end of this month. I just got a pump and need to start pumping lots of milk and to start storing to have enough for her when I am working. Easier said than done! Everyone is really enjoying this little baby! Especially me!

January 14th

Today Madison and I had our appointments. We first went to hers, she now is 9 pounds on the dot! So crazy how she is gaining so fast. Shes 21 inches in length. So right now for weight and height for her age shes in the 30th percentile. She's my healthy peanut! I love her so so much. She had to get her first shot today and that made my little mommy heart ache! Her face turned about 10 shades of red and she let out a really loud cry! It's sad to know next month she has to have FOUR more shots! Then at my appointment all is good for being 6 weeks postpartum. Just had to do a full length physical and I will go back for contraceptive soon. I plan on getting Mirena which is good for 5 years. I don't want to take pills since I can't trust myself to take them everyday! I think 5 years is good before I would even think about having another baby. I still want to go back to school to become a nurse. So only time will tell.

February 8th

I haven't update this is like a really long time.. So around the 21st of January Madison started to smile! She loves to smile when I talk to her now.. As of today we were filming her, Rick thought she looked cute playing with the blanket and then I thought maybe we can get her to smile on the camera. After awhile we were talking to her and a few sneezes, she gave out her very first laugh!! :o) Here is a video of it. Otherwise she is doing well and today she is TWO months old. She has her doctors appointment on Monday the 11th and has to get four shots! Yuck! Not going to be a happy day for her I'm sure.

March 19th

So it's been a long time since I have updated this! Madison is growing big. She did have her doctors appt on 2/11/08 and weighed in at 10 pounds. It's well over a month since then and she won't have another appointment until April- I am sure she has gained a pound or so since then. She had the shots and did perfectly well! She actually fell asleep before we left and then wasn't cranky or anything I thought she might be. She's sleeps pretty good in the beginning of the night from 7:30 until about 2 or 3, and everyone once and awhile maybe until 4. Then always at 6 or 6:30 for another feeding. She's very much an early bird. She loves to smile as you can see by the pictures! I also recently this past week tried cereal for the first time with her. She does okay with it, just introducing it here and there. I am also thinking planning on trying to wean her from breastfeeding. I was hoping to go to 6 months but I realize with working full time and all that needs to be done it is getting harder than I think is necessary. She's been taking some Enfamil Lipil when we can't do breastfeeding/expressed milk anyways and she does fine with that. So I am going to start by not pumping so much and decrease my feedings with her so that way it will start to decrease my milk supply. She always takes the bottle and formula well so I don't see any problem with it. I am also planning on switching shifts at my job- I work night shift and its killing me with the nights and losing sleep! So I talked to my boss and in about a month I am going to switch back to day shift- it will seem weird I am sure at first, but it will be worth it because I am always tired, I rather be awake when I am at work and home and then sleeping nighttime. I think it will make things a lot easier. I will only have to have my mom babysit once a week, and some weekends- if she can't then I will have to look into a daycare for whatever the shift we need her to be watched which may only even be simple shifts depending on what my fiance works. She also is baby talking, cooing and such. It's so funny I think she just realized she has a voice and is now wanting to use it and hear herself.. haha I even show herself in the mirror too and she smiles at herself. :o) Being a Mommy is a full time job but very much a rewarding one!

March 22nd

Here she is eating away her cereal! She loves it! She's eating it with bananas.. She seems to like everything so far.. Last night she slept good since we fed her before bed. She was a little piggy and ate quite a bit plus wanted to breastfeed so she got her tummy full- she slept from 10pm to 7am! I was quite pleased with that!

June 20th

So yeah I haven't written on here in a very long time! Madison is getting so much bigger.. In April she was 14 pounds and about 24 inches long now just as last week she is now 16lbs and 26.5 inches long.. She is getting big! She has been rolling over to her tummy like crazy, holding her own bottle now, and loves to eat her cereal! Just the other day I found that she is already getting a tooth now too! The lower right bottom one.. :o) So exciting! She is making lots of noise, just tried a Cheerio for the first time today and likes them! She really is a joy to have! Shes starting to sit up on her own a little too, she might still fall over so we have to be near her so she doesnt fall and bump her head (which has happened and oh boy does that suck!- but she turns out okay).

"The Pie Song"

Madison Laughing
..
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