Aubrie Christine

Born: 12/17/2007

Weight: 7 lbs, 14 oz

Length: 20.5 inches

Time of Birth: 3:33 p.m.

(Scroll down past the pictures for Aubrie's Birth Story)

Aubrie's Birth Story

We went into the hospital to be induced on Sunday, 12/16/07. We got there at 8:00 p.m. and were showed to our room. We got settled in and Dr. Garcia stopped by to check up on me. They started the pitocin drip at 11:00 p.m. Since I was already dilated to 4 and 80% effaced, I didn’t need any cervadil to soften my cervix. They left the pitocin on a slow drip overnight and gave me a sleeping pill-- but I still didn’t sleep well. I was so nervous! Imagine- most mommies have no idea when they will go into labor, but I had to sit around and wait, knowing exactly when it was going to happen, and wondering what the pain was going to be like. I had an upset stomach that whole day! Anyway, the next morning, Monday 12/17/07, they began to slowly turn the pitocin up every half hour beginning at about 6:00 a.m. The contractions weren’t that bad at first. They started to get stronger about 9 or 10 am, but I still didn’t feel like I needed any pain relief. By this time I was dilated to 5. Dr. Garcia came in to check on me and told me I should go ahead and get my epidural, if I wanted one. Of course I did! So I got my epidural shortly after that and then felt nothing. I didn’t even know when I was having a contraction. The next thing we knew I was dilated to 6. Then about 20 minutes later, it was 8. At this point, I did start feeling the contractions. Even though the epidural was working, they were still very painful. At 1:30, I was dilated to 10 and 100% effaced. Fran, our nurse, had me start pushing. At this point, I literally felt like my insides were being torn away-- I won’t lie, it hurt! I thought with the epidural I wouldn’t be able to feel anything, but I could. Fran was telling me that the baby had a lot of hair because she could see the her hair poking through. I continued to push, but wasn’t making a whole lot of progress. At 2:30, Fran called Dr. Garcia, who told her to tell me to rest for 15 minutes. That was harder than pushing! So I had to lay there through my contractions and try not to do anything. Eventually, Dr. Garcia arrived. I continued to push and still nothing was happening. Dr. Garcia told me that I have a very small pelvic area, so there wasn’t really enough room for the baby’s head to come through. He used the vacuum and the first time it didn’t stay on and popped off her head. He then did a quick episiotomy and used the vacuum again. This time he was able to get her out. She actually came out a little sideways instead of completely head down. I ended up pushing for 1 hour and 45 minutes. Dr. Garcia told me that if she had been any bigger, they would have had to do a c-section. They took Aubrie over to be cleaned up and Dr. Garcia attended to me. A piece of the placenta broke off inside me, so he had to remove that. Then he repaired my episiotomy. I ended up loosing a lot of blood and later required a blood transfusion. When they tested my hemoglobin, it was only 6.7. This is considered critical- it is supposed to be above 8.5. So, I was very sick for several days after delivery. It didn’t go as smoothly as I had hoped, but what I received in the end is well worth it. Jerry was such a big help to me in the hospital.

Once Dr. Garcia was finished with me, and Aubrie was all cleaned up, they brought her over to me. She had been screaming bloody murder, but as soon as she was given to me and I started talking to her, she calmed down. She recognized my voice. I told her Happy Birthday and that I loved her. Both Jerry and I cried! It was so hard to believe that this little life came from inside me and was created by both Jerry and I. She is precious and I could not ask for more. She has been an extremely well-behaved baby and she is now the love of my life. We have been so blessed and I have thanked God so many times for this little miracle that is my daughter. Words cannot describe what I feel as a mother. Having Aubrie has been the most rewarding part of my life. I would do it all again in a heartbeat.

Hi! My name's Kelli. My husband Jerry and I have been married for 2 and a half years. In November, we will have been together for 6! We started trying to get pregnant in December and by March, we had a bun in the oven! It was not exactly smooth sailing for me in the beginning of my pregnancy, but each day gets better and better. I am so excited to be a mother. I already love my little girl so much and I've never even seen her- It is the most amazing thing. I am going to try to update my site each week and add new pictures. I would love to hear from you!

Good luck to everyone! Post a message and let me know how your pregnancy is going.

8/20/07 I am now 22 weeks. Yesterday we went baby room furniture shopping. We found a crib and a matching changing table that also doubles as a dresser, with drawers beneath. We picked out the bedding. It is so cute! It's called 'Sugar Plum' and it has little butterflies on it. The colors are lavender, pink, and white. Once we have the nursery decorated, I will post some pictures. I also discovered a used kids's clothing store not to far from my house. It was great! They had all the name brand clothing, but for inexpensive prices. You would NEVER know they are used, because they look just like new. I think it is because babies are so small and don't wear their clothes for that long. I recommend looking for a used kid's clothing store in your area. I am feeling great. I have a lot of energy right now. I think I need to take advantage of that because I have read that energy goes way down in the 3rd trimester. Shopping for everything makes it so real! I can't wait until our little angel is here.

8/24/07 I just found the cutest predictor. Here is what justmommies.com predicts my delivery will be: "Just about the time you think you can't handle hearing one more "when is that baby going to pop?", your baby will decide to make it's appearance. We predict your baby will be born 3-7 days before its due date. Your baby will most likely be born in the morning. Justmommies predicts that your baby will weigh approximately 7.3 pounds and that your labor will be about 11 hours long."

Don't know what happened to my ticker, but it should read, "Until Our Baby Girl's Birthday."

Jerry, Kelli, and Bruiser.................Me at 23 weeks!

8/27/07 Today I am 23 weeks. According to the pregnancy charts I am now officially 6 MONTHS!!! This past week I have been tired and my morning sickness decided to make a reappearance for a few days. This week also brought a lot of firsts for me- my first pregnancy backache and increased round ligament pain across my belly. Little peanut is unfazed by her mommy's discomfort, though because she still kicks me like a little soccer player. We signed up for a parenting class this week that starts in September and goes for 6 weeks. We are going to take it at the hospital I will be delivering at. They will cover everything from breathing techniques, delivery methods, breastfeeding, etc. We haven't made any progress on the baby's bedroom. I had wanted to start this weekend, but we were busy and time slipped away. I am so paranoid that the rest of my pregnancy is going to fly by and we won't get done what we need to! Day by day......My mom, Grandma, and I all went out to breakfast yesterday to celebrate mine and Grandma's birthday's. On 8/31, I will be 28 years old. I posted a pic of our 3 generations in my photos.

Here are some pictures of some of the stuff we have bought for Baby Girl

My Birthday-- 28 years old!

8/31/07 Today is my 28th birthday. We went to Cheesecake Factory for dinner. It was wonderful! I have really been craving chocolate cake lately, so I ordered a slice of their chocolate fudge cake. Yummm......my little girl is going to be so sweet. I can tell by the sweet tooth I have had lately!

9/1/07 Today my little fur baby hurt himself. We were outside playing fetch and he came back limping- he had broken the toenail that is on the side of his leg clear at the top and it was bleeding! We took him to the vet and he has to wear this bandage for 48 hous and take antibiotics. Poor baby! He got a brand new bone to make him feel better.

9/3/07 Today I am 24 weeks. We finally started the baby's room this weekend and getting it painted. We (actually my husband and brother-in-law since I can't be around the fumes) are painting it 'Misty Violet' to match the bedding we have picked out. It's a light lavender color. My little peanut's kicks are finally packing some punch. She kicked me the other day and for the first time it was painful and took my breath away! I am still having backaches here and there and have had to sneak out to our couch a couple of nights to prop myself up and sleep. Jerry also felt the baby kick for the first time today and that was very special. Since I have been pregnant I have been having very vivid life-like dreams. Nightmares have increased, as well. I read that this is normal due to all the hormones. There's not much else to report except that I'm getting bigger. I think the last time I checked I had officially gained 14 lbs. The time is starting to go very fast now. She'll be here before we know it.

Cravings

March, April, May, June '07- nothing! I had morning sickness. It was hard enough to eat.

July '07- mexican food, tuna subway sandwiches (no more than 12 oz of tuna per week!), fruit, cinnamon rolls

August '07- ice cream, chocolate cake, butterfingers, reese's peanut butter cups (basically any form of chocolate)

September '07- chili, chocolate (any form), cereal, french toast

October '07- ice cream, cake, Cheez-It crackers

November '07- cake (still), Ben and Jerry's ice cream, milk

December '07- milk, peanut butter and miracle whip sandwiches (they're good, I swear!)

(why are all my cravings junk food???!!!!!)

Me at 25 weeks......my belly is a lot bigger than it looks in that picture!

9/10/07- Today I am 25 weeks. I have discovered that I am now very clumsy. I drop everything I pick up! I read in my pregnancy book that this is normal and very common- something about the loosening of joints and ligaments and fluid retention can make your grasp less firm on objects. I better not try to clean my china cabinet! I also keep getting this weird sensation in my abdomen, which I thought was the baby squirming, then I put my hand on my belly and realized half of it was tight and the other was normal. I then realized I have started having Braxton Hicks contractions. They are not painful, just feel very strange and kind of uncomfortable. I also had my check-up today with my doctor and all is well. I have to go for my glucose testing at my next appointment to check for gestational diabetes. I have to fast past midnight (no biggie, I am already deep in slumberland by that time anyway) and my appt is at 9:30 the next morning. You go, they give you something yucky to drink and draw your blood. You then have to wait 1 hour and they draw your blood again. I am going to be starving by then! I guess I'll pack snacks and chow them down as soon as the appt is over. My back is also still hurting a lot. It is all worth it....we can't wait to meet our baby girl.

Me at 26 weeks. I have the same shirt on I did last week! Sometimes us preggers don't have a whole lot of choice.

32 weeks: ultrasound and belly pics!

10/30/07- Yesterday I was 32 weeks. I had my dr's appt and got the ultrasound pictures that are posted above. My little girl is so cute! She was holding onto the umbilical cord and had it up against her mouth- you can see that in the 3D picture. The machine says I am measuring 1 week bigger than my due date- so it was showing I am due on 12/17 instead of 12/24. The baby weighs 4 lbs and 4 oz! It is so crazy because she actually looks like a little person now. Not much longer now. I am so excited! And we still have so much to do! My braxton hicks have actually gotten better the last several days. I talked to my dr about it and he was not concerned, so that's good. Oh, and the baby is in the head down position now- she's getting ready! Yay! I'm so excited I don't even know what else to write about!!

11/5/07- Today is 33 weeks. I had my baby shower yesterday and got a lot of great stuff. We got our Pack and Play, travel system with stroller and car seat, baby bouncer, diaper champ, and tons of other stuff. I have added some pics of the shower to my photos at the top of the page. Well, only 7 weeks to go, but technically 6 weeks because of the induction. We still need to pick out a pedicatrician- I need to get busy on that. The baby's room is slowly and finally coming together. I went to the mall over the weekend and got her a small Christmas present, so she has something to open when everyone else opens their gifts (not that she'll understand). I got her a piggy bank with her name engraved on it. YES- we picked out a name. But it is a surprise, like I said before.

11/12/07- well, here I am at 34 weeks. I was supposed to have a dr's appt today, but they called me because he is sick and it is now rescheduled for Thurs 11/15. I am hoping at that appt we can set a date for the induction. I am exhausted right now. I have no energy. It is also getting harder and harder for me to walk long distances and do certain things. I never thought it would take me 5 minutes and breaking a sweat to get my socks on. This past week my co-workers had a shower for me at work, which was very nice. They went all out with decorations, flowers, cake, everything. I thought that was so sweet of them. We finished buying all our baby needed items over the weekend. I worked in the baby's room all day on Sat- from 9 to 5! I got all her laundry done, so the clothes are clean and ready. I got everything folded and put away. I also got a lot of things put together- like the baby monitor, diaper champ, etc. I also put all the bedding in her crib and it is adorable. My right hip has been bothering me again lately and sometimes I have to go sleep on the couch where I can prop myself up with all the pillows. My only other option is to lay on my left side in our bed- if I lay on my right side, my hip hurts so bad I can barely get out of bed and walk. She is kicking me in the ribs now and I can feel when she turns her head because it presses on my pelvic floor (or possibly my bladder- not sure which, just that it hurts!). She is still getting the hiccups everyday, which I think is so cute- I guess her lungs must be working ok, then. I am still totally clumsy with everything- I put a lean cuisine in the microwave at work today and then dropped it all over the floor when I went to take it out. Clumsiness is one of the joys of pregnancy. Well, I am off to take a nap now. I need to get in all the sleep I can before my little one is here. Have a good week everyone.

11/19/07- Today I am 35 weeks. At my appt last week my dr set my induction date for 12/17/07. Today was a very interesting day. I had some bleeding and abdominal pain and went to the dr. I found out that I am 2 cm dilated! The dr told me that I could go into labor this week, or make it all the way to 12/17/07. They just never know. I was a little scared with the amount of blood there was- but my water has not broken and I have not lost my mucous plug yet. So, needless to say tonight I came home from the dr and packed my bag for the hospital! I am so glad I washed and put away all her clothes. I am also so proud of myself because over the weekend I put her swing, stroller, and car seat together-- all by myself! It's not like me to do those kinds of things on my own, so maybe I am nesting a little bit. We are prepared if she decides to come now, but I am really hoping she waits at least 2 more weeks- that will be 37 weeks and I will be full term. The dr said if I were to start to go into labor now they would try to stop it for a week. But, if I go into labor next week or anytime after that, they will just let it happen. So-- let's hope she stays put for at least another 2 weeks!

Me and Baby at 36 weeks

11/26/07- Today is 36 weeks. Well, I am officially 9 months pregnant. And I feel like it! I am very uncomfortable right now. I think the baby has dropped because she is constantly on my bladder. When she moves around now it is very uncomfortable, almost painful because she is getting so big. On Thanksgiving she kicked me in the same spot all day long and the next day that spot was sore! I had my weekly dr's appt today and was a little disappointed- I am dilated 2-3 cm. Last week was 2 cm, so I haven't really progressed any. I guess that's good. We don't want her to come too early. I also asked my dr to do another ultrasound today. I kind of worried this week about the blood I had experienced last week. From the things I was reading, the type of bleeding I had most likely originated at the placenta, which means there would be a problem. Specifically placenta previa or placenta abruption (which is very dangerous). So, I asked for an ultrasound today. My dr checked and the placenta is fine- fully mature and not detached from the uterine wall at all. It's also still above the baby's head, so no previa. I got the same lecture I have gotten throughout my pregnancy- sometimes pregnant women bleed and they cannot find a reason for it. He did tell me if I bleed like that again, I need to go the ER. Scary-- I hope that doesn't happen again. Anyway- the induction date is 3 weeks from today! I can't believe in 3 weeks I will be a mommy (maybe sooner than that!). It's pretty surreal. It feels like it's not going to happen, even though I know it will. I have my bag packed, her room is ready, the baby things are all put together...now all we need is her!

This is what I feel like my little girl is doing sometimes....

12/3/07- I am now 37 weeks and considered full term! The baby can come now at any point and likely have no complications. I had my dr's appt today and I am 80% effaced and 3 cm dilated. Getting closer! 2 weeks until the induction- if I last that long. I'm sure I will. They say first time pregnancies usually go past their due date. I am a mixture of emotions right now. One minute I will be so excited I can hardly contain myself and then the next I will be having anxiety about the labor and delivery. Everything gets me emotional. I saw a commercial the other day for ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). They played that Sara McLachlan song "In the Arms of the Angel" and showed all these really sad looking cats and dogs. I am not kidding- I bawled! And every song on the radio gets me teary-eyed. I have started getting real contractions- not just braxton hicks. The real contractions are painful. I get them usually about twice per day, sometimes more. But they have no pattern to them, so it's just my body gearing up. I only have a week and a half of work left- my last day is Wed. 12/12. It's going to be nice to have that time off. Take care everyone- if we have any earth shattering news I will update!

12/10/07- Hello! I am now 38 wks. Went to the dr today and I am the same as last week- 80% effaced and dilated to 3 cm. Yesterday I could hardly sit still. I had so much energy! I just had to keep moving. I did laundry, cleaned my house, made cookies, wrapped Christmas presents, and made a casserole for dinner. (you think I might be nesting just a little bit?) I keep having contractions and sometimes they wake me up at night. They are painful, but I know they're not the real thing because they always eventually go away. I can't believe one week from today we will be parents. I have to admit I am getting nervous for the labor and delivery part. I was sitting in the dr's office today waiting for the dr to come back and the baby was moving all over the place and it just got really real. I am not nervous at all to be a mom or to have her, just the painful labor part! I guess that's what epidurals are for, huh? We got the car seat put in the car yesterday and that was interesting. It took us about 45 mins to figure it out. We felt so stupid. But it's in there now and ready to go. I go back to the dr on Friday 12/14 for one last check-up before they induce and he is going to give me all the directions for Monday. I will update again before we go into the hospital. I also want to post one more belly picture....the final one!!!

12/14/07- I went to the dr today for my final appointment. I am still 80% effaced and dilated to 3. The dr told me today he can feel her head. I am going to the hospital at 8:30 on Sunday night, 12/16. They will start the pitocin at either 11 or 12 pm. So, fingers crossed, our baby girl will be here sometime early Monday morning. :) I am going to try to take one more belly picture before now and then and will post it as soon as I can. The next time I update will be after our little girl is here!!!!

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