Baby 2 is on his or her way!!!

11 Weeks. <3 How far along?: 11 Weeks today How big is baby? Size of a fig. Weight gain/loss?: I feel like I haven't gained anything yet. Stretch marks?: Stomach looks amazing. Maternity clothes?: I love my maternity jeans. Still trying to get through my work day wearing regular pants with my be-band. Sleep?: Sleep is okay. I just try my hardest to empty my bladder before bed because of the progesterone suppository. Food cravings?: Not craving anything... Loving my fruit though & anything spicy. Movement?: No movement. Gender?: We just want a healthy baby. Belly button?: No belly button popping quite yet. A little bump action though. I believe its K's fault and my lack of exercising. LOL. What are you looking forward to this week?: Being one more week closer to the 2nd Trimester!!!

It has been a year!!

Kendall turned 1 on November 29th. Chris and I were so excited that we had a nice dinner and got a small cake for us to split. That night we also had a fire in the fireplace which turned into a house fire. Everyone is okay and safe. And we have a story to tell Kendall when she is old enough to comprehend. I am attaching some pictures of Kendall's 1st Birthday Photo Shoot with Jennifer and Kristen.

9 Months Already?!

Well, Kendall is 9 months today. Where has the time gone? Thank God we have videos and plenty of pictures to remember all of these wonderful moments. Kendall didn't want to see our peds dr today. She was quite fussy and tired. She has decided when Grandma is watching her that she no longer wants to nap. Oh baby girl. PS She looks so grown-up in her 8 month photos that Jennifer & Kristen took. Its crazy that she will be one soon.

Where did the time go?

I am officially slacking in the "blogging" department. Kendall is now 8 months old and she can do a lot of stuff since last post. Kendall has gone from rolling over to sitting up to army crawling to crawling..... And now pulling herself up on everything. Here are some pictures of her...

Pictures are from February, March, April and May. I will post more about our summer. I was so blessed to be home with her. :)

Pictures of Kendall (the past almost 2 months) :)

Kendall's 1 month pictures are above....

Kendall's 2 month pictures are below....

Birth of Kendall Rae

I should have written this a long time ago... So my apologies.

On November 27th, we went into one of the local hospitals to start the induction process. I felt like it took forever to get situated and start the Cervidil. The Cervidil is used to soften/ripen the cervix. I had to have it in for 24hrs. So from 8:30pm to 8:30am, I was able to use the bathroom and that is it. They didn't want it come out. Let's just say there was no progress with the cervix but the Cervidil did start some contractions.

Next morning, November 28th, I was finally able to eat breakfast and take a shower because the Cervidil came out. They also wanted to give my body a break before they start the Pitocin. The Pitocin is supposed to make the contractions stronger and to induce labor. After they started the Pitocin, I was able to walk around and use the bathroom. The Pitocin did start up the contractions again and I was able to make it through a lot of them. Until about 10pm when I started asking for some pain meds through my IV. Each time they gave me the pain meds, they had to check my cervix and there was nothing going on down there. The nurses also explained that there was band-like thing (similar to a tight rubber band) around my cervix and it wasn't allowing anything to happen. After asking for pain meds the second time around, they informed my midwife about the problem. The nurses explained that they might have to forcefully break this band. My midwife came in to check the process and this band around my cervix. The midwife wasn't concerned about the band but the lack of progress and me suffering through the contractions. They took me off the Pitocin at 10pm because of how strong my contractions were. They also made the decision to break my water. Because I was 41 weeks and a few days along, my chance of having green liquid coming out was highly likeable. So they broke my water and it came true (insert tears). As the water came out, the midwife informed me that there was meconium and that I was going to be on watch. The midwife also talked to the DH and I about an epidural.. She said I was getting through the contractions but there is a difference between getting through them and suffering. She said I was suffering through them and that it wasn't good for me or the baby (esp in these new circumstances).

So at 12am on November 29th, the DH went to finally get dinner and I received my first ever epidural (not by choice). It really wasn't as bad as everyone seemed though I hope to God I never have to receive one again. After getting the epidural, I received a catheter. During the time I had the epidural, I was watched very very closely and was told to go to sleep. But how could I go to sleep when they kept coming in to tell me that the baby was in distress and I needed to switch positions. Finally at 1:30am, the midwife and Dr. S. came in and said we have no other choice, you are going in for c-section. In the middle of the chaos, I was put on oxygen and could barely hear what they were saying to me. The DH woke up to hear that we didn't have any other choice but a c-section. I think he was taken back and not sure where this came from. People were coming in and out of the room to make sure they had everything for the c-section. The DH was doing everything in his powers to calm me down. I was already shivering, needing warmth and so emotional because I didn't want a c-section. They gave the DH some scrubs and said we will come and get you. A phrase that a pregnant lady doesn't need to hear.

So they wheeled me away and into an operating room I went. They checked over everything (talking about tools that they needed and counting things). I was behind cold and they finally got me warm blankets. Thank God. All of a sudden, it got really quiet and they read off the time and all of my information. The DH was allowed to come in and they started the process. I didn't feel getting cut open or anything they were doing down there UNTIL.......... they had to get her out. I felt so much pressure. I was crying/screaming and in pain. I have never felt that uncomfortable or in that much pain.

At 2:35am on November 29th, our baby girl was born. They didn't let the DH cut the umbilicial cord because of the green meconium. They wanted to make sure she didn't have any of that in her body. It would have been really bad if she did. Thankfully she did not. The DH was able to cut a little bit of the cord. They left some for him so he could experience that as a new daddy. All of a sudden we heard some crying. It was a wonderful/emotional feeling. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the time she left my body to the table. The DH looks and is so proud.

I finally got to see her. I wasn't able to hold her, hold her until about 4:30am that morning. Here are a few pictures.

After being in recovery and away from the two most important people in my life, we were all reunited.

This picture above is just pure love.

**I'm still recovering from the c-section. My incision did get infected and is finally looking better. On January 16th, they are going to check my incision again to make sure everything is healing up fine.

Things I do know about Baby #2 - I will still be on progesterone (if we want to keep the baby). So that means more shots and pills and bloodwork. I will have to go into labor by myself before my 41 weeks. If I do not go into labor by myself, I will not get induced because there would be so many complications. We would schedule a c-section during my 41 weeks.

My Worst Nightmare

Yesterday I called my doctor because my c-section incision was red and puffy. They said it was normal and that everything was fine.

This morning around 11:30am, I took K up to our room so I could put her down for a quick nap... I went into the bathroom and looked at my pants. My pants were soaked. Let's say I was right about how my incision looked. It was draining an orange bloody liquid.

I called the dr almost in tears. They wanted to see me ASAP. So I couldn't shower, feed K or anything. I had to drive there in the rain without the DH. K was crying and wanting to eat while we were there. So I feed her and the dr checked my incision. He was not happy that my steri strips were never taken off and that it was clearly infected. He cleaned it up and put a panty liner on the area.

So for the next few days/week or so, I have to shower a few times a day, take an antibiotic twice a day and always have a panty liner on the incision. Also at night, I'm not allowed to wear pants(underwear yes) and an old shirt to bed so the incision would get some air....

This is not how I wanted to spend my last few weeks with K. And I have to go back to the dr next week.

Welcome to the World, Kendall Rae.

Kendall Rae was born on November 29th. She weighed 7lbs 1.6oz, 20 inches long.

I hope one day I can sit down and write out her birth story. It definitely wasn't easy and I'm still recovering. I had an emergency c-section (Tuesday morning 11/29) and I was already in labor (at the hospital on Sunday 11/27).

Random Note - We get to celebrate our first Christmas with Zoey and Kendall Rae.

God has surely blessed us.

41 Weeks... OH MY

Let me explain why this is one of the last posts until she arrives!!! Today/tonight is the big day... We are going to start the induction process. I'm on this rollercoaster of emotions.

So let me leave you with this......

How far along?: 41 Weeks
How big is baby? Watermelon. :) - The DH said my stomach looked bigger last night.
Weight gain/loss?: I don't even want to worry about my weight... We're waiting for this baby!!
Stretch marks?: I think because she has been cooking for so long that I have finally started to get stretch marks on the lower part of my tummy. I'm not really excited about this. But thankfully she will be out and I can start working out when the dr gives me the okay.
Maternity clothes?: Maternity clothes all the way.
Sleep?: Sleep (YEAH RIGHT) - Sleep is not even possible. Or getting comfortable enough to sleep for a few hours.
Food cravings?: I will eat whatever I can keep down right now. Got sick a lot this past week... Had to breakdown and take a Zofran (YUCK).
Movement?: She definitely moves around, just not as intense as before (she's getting bigger). She is definitely getting into a schedule and sometimes worries me. Sleeping while I am going about my day. Then moving while I am trying to sleep.
Gender?: We have a beautiful baby girl growing inside me. :)
Belly button?: I feel like a turkey... POP.
What are you looking forward to this week?: We get to hold our baby girl in the next few days!!! Thank you Jesus!!!

40 Weeks Dr Appt

Hello readers!! Yesterday was the day we went to the doctor. We had a sono to see how much fluid was in there. Normally it is 10.0.... mine is 8.5. The doctor said it was because I am 40 weeks and that it is okay. She also said that they were not doing a non-stress test because the baby passed the biophysical profile with flying colors - mostly looking for movement and breathing. When we got to talk more to Dr. S., she checked my cervix and there was nothing. It was so painful - having someone's hand up your you know what. Its not a walk in the park especially when she is pressing down. I grabbed the DH's hand and I swear I put my nails in his hand. Though he says I didn't. After the exam, we talked more.... More like when we are going to get induced, what's the process and what kind of drugs am I going to have. So here it goes..... Cervidil and Pitocin. One is used to soften the cervix and the other is to start contractions. (Though the nurse said to me today that sometimes after talking to patients like me, they are in the hospital within a few days before induction).

My Birth Plan
In my birth plan, I have laid out important things that I want to happen. The nurse from our hospital said everything should be fine unless it goes against medical beliefs (or something like that). I promised her it would not... Just basic things such as the L&D room is only for the DH and me. I don't even want my momma in there. Yes, I know that sounds bad. But I just want my husband. After having her, I want as much skin to skin as possible before they take her to the nursery to get her first bath and all that stuff. I want a sacred hour before visitors come. Though I did find out that anyone can visit the first night (we will see how I feel about this one). After the first day, they have to follow normal visiting hours. With visiting hours, I have said that I don't want anyone in my room while I am trying to breastfeed because I am not a pro at this yet. And don't need people looking at me while I am trying to feed my baby. I also just want the DH to spend the nights at the hospital, no one else.

That's what I know right now. Its crazy. Its exciting. And sometimes I am a wreck with all of these emotions.

40 Weeks

How far along?: 40 Weeks
How big is baby? Watermelon. :)
Weight gain/loss?: I don't even want to worry about my weight... We're waiting for this baby!!
Stretch marks?: Stomach looks amazing. :) Thank you Bio-Oil!!
Maternity clothes?: Maternity clothes all the way.
Sleep?: Sleep (YEAH RIGHT) - Sleep is not even possible. Or getting comfortable enough to sleep for a few hours.
Food cravings?: Not really craving anything.
Movement?: She definitely moves around, just not as intense as before (she's getting bigger). She is definitely getting into a schedule and sometimes worries me.
Gender?: We have a beautiful baby girl growing inside me. :)
Belly button?: I feel like a turkey... POP.
What are you looking forward to this week?: Well, Baby E is staying in right now.. I'm okay with that. According to the countdown.. She is fully baked but maybe too comfortable. LOL. So on Tuesday, I will have a stress test, a sono to check the fluid and an appt to check my cervix. Praying for a miracle.

Two of my last pictures before the baby.....

Makes Me Laugh

Makes me want to laugh when I read that "She is fully baked but may hang around a bit longer because it is so comfortable." Oh little princess.... It might be scary to make the journey out... But it is so pretty out here. You will be loved. Spoiled. Cared for. And yes it might be scary but your mom and dad are waiting for you patiently.

We love you so much!

I wish...

I wish I was writing you to tell you that our baby girl is in our arms. Yesterday we found out that my cervix is open by a finger (probably not even a cm, if you ask me). I am not having contractions. Though I am walking like crazy (sometimes even 2x a day). Her heartrate was 134/137-ish. And Dr C. informed us on the plans for next week.

Next week we will meet with Dr. S. Before we get to see her, I am going to get monitored aka stress test to see how my contractions are and how the baby's heartrate is doing during this 20 minute test. After the test, we will meet with Dr S. She will check my cervix and talk about the results of the stress test. After that, the DH and I will have our sonogram to check the fluid. If the fluid is low, I am assuming I would be induced. If everything comes back fine, I will have to be induced probably that Sunday or Monday.

So here's looking to holding our baby girl probably around the 28th or 29th of November.

God give us strength.

Baptism Class & Godparents

This past Wednesday, we went to a Baptism class. We have to pick two people who will be our baby girl's godparents. It was an easy decision to make because we have talked about this several times. We have decided to go with our siblings. So my sister and the DH's brother will be our baby girl's godparents.

The baptism will not take for a few months. Looking forward to this special event in our baby's life.

39 Weeks..

How far along?: 39 Weeks
How big is baby? Mini watermelon. :)
Weight gain/loss?: Well on Thursday's appointment, I gained about 4 pounds. So the fact that I haven't gain a pound since either Week 33 or 34 and just gained 4 pounds.. I'm not going to worry about it.
Stretch marks?: Stomach looks amazing. :) Thank you Bio-Oil!!
Maternity clothes?: Maternity clothes all the way.
Sleep?: Sleep (YEAH RIGHT)
Food cravings?: fruit, beef, noodles
Movement?: She definitely moves around, just not as intense as before (she's getting bigger). She is definitely getting into a schedule and sometimes worries me.
Gender?: We have a beautiful baby girl growing inside me. :)
Belly button?: Sometimes it looks like its popped and sometimes it hasn't.
What are you looking forward to this week?: Our appointment is this coming Friday. I will be 39 weeks and 5 days - So close to 40 weeks! And an explanation of my back pain (maybe contractions?).

38 Weeks Dr Appt

You always want a great report from the doctor. You always want to hear you are dilating and that you are making progress. Well, this doctor's appointment didn't go well... My cervix is closed (please note that last week - my doctor was able to insert a finger - TMI to the max). I am not dilated. Sadness. Heartrate was 125 - which is good but starting to get slower. Doctor S said that it happens as you get closer to finishing the pregnancy. The heartrate can be between 115 to 130. Everything else is good and she made some recommendations for my sleeping or the lack there of.

38 Weeks & Going Strong!! :)

How far along?: 38 Weeks
How big is baby? Measures from head to heel (like a leek)
Weight gain/loss?: I don't believe I have gained anything from 34 week to present!! Thanks to the nurses for telling me this great news!
Stretch marks?: Stomach looks amazing. :) Thank you Bio-Oil!!
Maternity clothes?: Maternity clothes all the way.
Sleep?: Sleep (YEAH RIGHT)
Food cravings?: fresh/frozen fruit, tuna casserole (I used to hate it, now I eat it more)
Movement?: She definitely moves around, just not as intense as before (she's getting bigger). She is definitely getting into a schedule and sometimes worries me.
Gender?: We have a beautiful baby girl growing inside me. :)
Belly button?: Sometimes it looks like its popped and sometimes it hasn't.
What are you looking forward to this week?: Our appointment is Thursday afternoon. We will see what kind of process has been made cuz I'm gonna ask for another internal exam (which could be a good thing or bad thing?)

37th Weeks Appt with Dr. S.

Well, we met with the doctor today. Exciting news ---- Since 34 weeks, I have not gained a pound!! Though the baby is Xpds, Xoz, everything is still good. Baby is great. Heartbeat was wonderful today (the doctor was impressed) since the last appointment, the heartbeat was not as loud/strong as it was today. The heart rate was in the 140s. :)

My internal exam..... Cervix is still mostly closed - she was able to put 1 finger in (sorry - that is definitely TMI to the max). And my cervix is starting to change. YAY!!

Here's hoping for some positive news next week. Doctors appointment is on 11/10.

Please keep us in your prayers.

Love ya.

Our Last Sono - 11.3.11

I would have loved to share the pictures with you. Unfortunately our little princess did not want us to see her face. We did get to see her hand/fist though. It was covering her face. LOL.

Baby E weighs Xpds, Xoz - small or big, we will see. Fluid is great according to the sono tech.

Tomorrow we get to see Dr. S. again and I am hoping for an internal exam. I am dying to know what my body is doing. LOL.

Lately, I have been having bad cramps (gets worse with walking)... Nothing else I don't think.

Hello November

November: A month to be thankful for.

In less than 30 days, the DH and I will be holding our baby girl. Though we would love her anytime; we know that she will come when she is ready. :)