August 12, 2015

August 12, 2015 - 32 weeks & 2 days

IT'S A BOY!

It's been over a month since I've been able to put and update in here, and there is a lot to say.

I'll start by saying that we are sitting in your NICU room at the hospital, waiting for the doctors to make their rounds.

Midnight of July 29th, I woke up to find that I was leaking amniotic fluid. I woke up your dad in a panic, and called the after hours hotline. They told me to get my butt to the hospital ASAP. Luckily, we picked to go to the one with the best NICU in the area.

Once we got to the hospital, after a car ride of trying not to panic and cry in fear, I was told that I had ruptured and would not be leaving the hospital. I've never been more afraid. I was so scared of what would happen or what was already happening and just needed to know that you would be alright. It was a whirlwind of antibiotics to prevent infection, steroids to help your lungs develop in case you didn't stay put until 34 weeks, and 12 hours of pure hell from a magnesium dose.

The next few days were filled with getting my vitals checked and waiting. A few days before the 8th I started to get contractions. I thought labor might be starting, but that evening the contractions stopped. Very frustrating.

The next night contractions started again and this time I was praying that it was the real thing! You dad decided to spend the night at the hospital and I let him get some sleep while  I had a horrible night of very strong and painful contractions. Around 3am, the nurse came in and saw how bad things were getting so they sent for the doctor to come check how far along I was. They said I had dilated enough to move over to the labor and delivery wing, so we packed up our things and they wheeled me over to the other side.

Not long after arriving in the delivery room, I felt the urge to push stronger than I ever imagined. The staff started rushing around to get things ready for you and at some point the NICU nurses arrived. I didn't have time for any medication, just a short time of pushing.

Your daddy said It's a Boy, and I looked in disbelief and awe at you. You cried, and I think relief washed over us all. The nurses cleaned you up and laid  you on my chest.

I can't believe you are actually here, and I thank God that he has blessed us with you and that you are healthy despite being almost 8 weeks premature.

July 6, 2015

July 6, 2015 - 28 weeks

Little love,

You now weigh roughly 2 1/4 pounds! We are now in the third and final trimester! Just three months to go!!! It seems to be going fast and slow at the same time now.

Your dad just finished hanging up the art in your room, so now we just have a few finishing touches left and we'll be ready. The past weeks have been filled with painting your walls and furniture, picking out your crib and assembling, and getting all the last little nursery details figured out! It has been so much fun to prepare!

Our baby shower is in just three weeks, right after a visit from your Grandma Julie and Grandpa Sam. I am SO SO excited to see them and show them how big my belly has grown. Our visits aren't frequent enough for me!

We had a great trip to Hawaii and I can't wait to go back someday for a longer chunk of time. Your daddy says that we can tell you that you've already been to Hawaii if you ever bug us to take you ;)

We are anxious to see how the maternity photos turned out. It was so gorgeous where we took them and we will cherish them forever.

Your dad and I went in for another doctor appointment today and everything looked great! I've been having crazy dreams and have to eat smaller meals...and my feet get tired quickly, but otherwise things have been moving along!

Love,
Mom

June 22, 2015

June 22, 2015 -  26 weeks

Little one,

We've made it to 26 weeks today! You weigh approximately 1.75 pounds and you are about 14 inches long.

You've been kicking up a storm today, squirming around...and you get the hiccups often!

Your daddy and I are leaving for a short romantic vacation to Hawaii in just a day and a half. We can't wait to enjoy some r&r with each other before you enter the world. I think Daddy needs a little extra r&r since he's had to take care of me for the last 26 weeks! I hope we will always be the parents that gross you out with how loving and mushy we are to each other.

We will also be taking maternity photos down there even though my belly isn't that big yet!

Two more weeks til our next appointment!

xoxoxo,
Mom

June 16, 2015

June 16, 2015 - 25 Weeks

Precious baby,

I cannot believe it is already halfway through June! I'm past the halfway point for pregnancy and as of last week - if for some reason you decided you could not stay in my belly for another minute, your odds are great for surviving. But please stay put for at least another 12 weeks!

A lot has changed. You've become way more active and even creep me out sometimes with your movements. You like to act like a big worm at night and you seem to kick up the activity whenever I eat fruit. I love feeling you swim around, except for the low crotch kicks.

Your dad can feel the movements and loves to keep a hand on my belly when we watch tv or lay in bed.

I sent a video to your Grandma SheShe and Aunt Lindsay of my belly visibly moving from the outside. They cannot wait to meet you!

We are counting the days to our Hawaii trip, baby shower, and September 28th when you'll hopefully make your appearance!

Are you a Hannah or a Julian?!

We can't wait to find out!

With all my heart,
Momma

20 Week Anatomy Scan!

20 weeks!

Little baby,

We just had our big anatomy scan! I had to drink a whole bunch of water an hour before the appointment so I would have a full bladder to make it easier to see everything with the ultrasound...but wow was that tough! My bladder has been the size of a penny since getting pregnant, so asking me to hold in that much water while the ultrasound tech pushed all over my belly was really rough. He went through the body parts, taking pictures of different things for the doctors to look at and make sure you are developing okay.

I think he could tell I was seconds away from wetting myself because he moved through the appointment really quickly. When he wrapped it up, he immediately told me where the bathroom was :) 

We had him write down the gender in a pre-addressed envelope to SheShe so she could confirm if the ultrasound at 15 weeks was correct - and it was!

It's always SO good to see you on there squirming around and know that you are healthy and growing right on track.

We love you,
Mom

15 weeks!

15 weeks!

Nugget,

Grandma SheShe came to visit and we went for a professional ultrasound at a private studio. We had been going back and forth about whether we would wait to have your gender be a surprise at birth or if we would find out early. We scheduled an appointment at this private place that claims they can tell the gender at around 15 weeks. We invited SheShe to this special occasion...and then changed our minds about finding out the gender!

We still decided to go through with the appointment because I'll never turn down a chance to see you in my tummy! We showed up to the place, told the ultrasound tech that we did NOT want to know the gender but he could tell Grandma SheShe as long as she would keep it a secret until you are born.

It was am amazing experience. We went into the room and they had a comfy couch for visitors, and a nice table for Mommy. It was projected onto this giant wall, and it was spectacular. I kept drinking juice to help you move around, but you weren't the most cooperative! We have a dvd of the whole visit tucked away in our lockbox so we aren't tempted to find out if you are a boy or a girl!

I think SheShe really loved the appointment and getting to see how my belly is growing. You are the first grandchild!

Now we look forward to our anatomy scan at 20 weeks.

With love,
Mom

March 31, 2015

March 31, 2015 - 14 weeks & 1 day

My little one,

It has been a wild ride with you thus far. Since I last wrote, it has been constant nausea and exhaustion for weeks and weeks. There have been tears over clothes not fitting and whether your daddy will still find me attractive as you expand my belly and I go through these body changes that come with pregnancy (hormones, right?!).

We had our 12 week appointment and the doctor said my blood work looked good, and then we got to listen to your heartbeat! It was strong and music to our ears. We love hearing it so much that we bought an at home Doppler so we can listen to your heartbeat whenever we want! I think I could listen to the sound all day.

The most recent development is now I'm safely in the second trimester and we've let the world know our exciting news. It feels so amazing to have such a huge secret out in the open! Everyone is excited to meet you!

Last night in the wee hours, I got up for a potty break. When I got back into bed, I felt an unfamiliar tapping from inside my tummy! I've been eagerly waiting to feel you move, but I never imagined I would feel you so soon! After that, I kept feeling you wiggle off and on for the rest of the night. It's surreal and exciting and reassuring. I can't wait for your daddy to be able to feel you move!

We love you forever already,
Mom

February 5, 2015

February 5, 2015

Sweet baby,

I'm almost seven weeks pregnant with you and your daddy and I are counting down the days until our first doctor's appointment to see how you've grown! It will be the first time we lay eyes on you and we can hardly contain our excitement!

These past few weeks have been filled with complete exhaustion for me. Growing you is hard work and by the end of the day (7:30 pm to me), I'm struggling to stay awake on the couch! I've also been feeling bouts of nausea here and there, and food has been a tough thing to pinpoint. I've been loving Mexican food and chili cheese fries, milkshakes, and pizza! SO healthy! I have been despising leftovers. I miss my morning coffee... and I've already had to buy bigger clothes (I think it's just water weight at this point but I uncomfy).

5 Weeks Pregnant

January 24, 2015

Almost 5 weeks!

I've been tired ALL THE TIME! I already miss coffee, wine, and sushi...I think just because you want what you can't have. I'm looking forward to seeing this little tadpole in a few weeks at our first appointment!