It's been a while!!

It's been a little while since my last blog entry! Time has gone by so fast and Ashlynn is growing up so fast! She'll be 3 months on Tuesday and it still feels like I had her yesterday! She really enjoys daycare! For about the first 3 weeks, she was the only little one in her group! She really got spoiled by her teacher Ms. Carrie :) They loved to love on her and hold her. Hardly ever did I walk past the daycare windows (daycare is in my school) and she wasn't in someone's arm. She was so young when she first started...6 1/2 weeks old! Now, Cooper, Collin & Holden have joined her. Cooper came first! Ashlynn was "smitten" by him. She smiles A LOT at him. She's a silly goofy girl and Cooper is a little more stern and serious. She loves to look at him. I'm going to consider him her first "boyfriend". Ashlynn and Cooper were together for about a week and half and then they were joined by my principal's twins, Collin and Holden. Ashlynn seems to like Collin. :) I don't think she's seen too much of Holden yet. My baby is the only girl in there and they call her The Queen Bee. So cute!! I will have to get some pics of the kids at daycare. THey are so cute!

I really think I made the best choice when I decided to enroll Ashlynn at they daycare at my school. I can see her just about whenever I feel like it. Sometimes I see her when Ms. Carrie takes her on their afternoon or morning walk. It's so cute! Ms.Carrie is a Godsend! I think it must be in her nature to care for infants and newborns.

Ashlynn is able to do so many things now! She's able to grasp and hold on to things. She loves her pink rattle! She laughs and loves to smile. She loves trying to stand up (with Mommy's help of course). She's so calm and nothing gets to her....oh...funny story...we had a fire drill at school and when they have them, all of the infants/newborns in one crib and wheel them outside. Sirens are usually going off and lights are flashing. You would think that it would startle or scare a baby...not mine! She's in the crib smiling and laughing!! Her mobile is keeping her occupied! Nothing seems to upset her. Well, being hungry, sleepy, or when I'm trying to clean her nose. Anyway, Poor Cooper...he didn't handle it as well!!

Ashlynn still sleeps in the bed with me. Mostly on my side, but every now and then I put her between Trice and I. Not often because Trice is a very heavy sleeper! Pretty soon, she will have to get out of our bed. We are working on getting her in her crib. Just this afternoon she slept there for about an hour and half.

At her 2 months shots she was such a trooper! She cried for about 2 seconds and then she was done. However, she was very sleepy for about 2 days. I'm anxious to see how she handles her 4 month shots.

We are now battling a stuffy nose, the sniffles and the sneezes....poor baby!

I'm really loving being a mom! It's one of the best feelings in the world!

a dirty job!

This is my princess at 6 weeks old....time flies!

I can't even believe it's been 6 weeks since my little princess got here!! It really seems like yesterday and it is going by so fast!! Yesterday Trice took the family=) ( Ashlynn and me) to Mama's Pizza (lil bit slept the entire time which is good because I know when she woke up it would have been time to nurse). While we were there we were talking about who's personality she will end up with. It's hard to tell right now. Trice is the more laid back, everything will be fine, what are you worrying about person who LOVES to have fun and I am the more make a list, check it off the list, stresses over whether things will get done, loves to have fun too. The one thing that is evident about her is that she LOVES to have fun and LOVES when people talk to her. The funny thing is, once you start talking to her you have to keep it up! My mother told me that she (Ashlynn) doesn't like being little. LOL..she wants and is trying to do so much but her little body just isn't ready yet. I remember getting excited when she finally could turn her head from side to side. Something we all take for granted.

Being a mom is a dirty job!!! This morning at about 5:30 Ashlynn woke up for her normal feeding. Well, she's been really gassy lately and the ones that she lets loose I can't tell if it was her or her daddy LOL...So, she's poppin' em off and I am just amazed and the smells this little girl produces. Soon enough it turned into her doing to "doo" and I knew it was because she gets the glassed over look in her eyes and gets really still. For some reason, she "went" for a long time and I was like "good gracious girl!" So, I get up and take her into her room to the changing table and prepare to change her diaper.. Good Heavens!!! What I saw when I opened up the diaper was breathtaking!!! I should have known it was a lot because I reached to move her onesie out of the way and got a finger full....Needless to say I'm gagging, almost in tears. I didn't know whether to laugh or scream. All the while, she's looking at me like " Gotcha!" I promise, it took about 10 wipes to get her AND that changing table cleaned up! She had it ALL OVER the place. It's like it shot straight out of her diaper, up her back, on the sides of her stomach....ugh.... She had to get new clothes and a bath STAT! I will say though, she felt better afterwards. Why is it that I am always the one who catches the REALLY dirty diapers. Trice gets off scott free every time!

It's a dirty job, but I wouldn't change anything about it!!!

Already a month OLD!!!

I can't even believe that my lil mama will be a month old tomorrow. It really feels like yesterday that I went into labor with her! If that month went by fast I can only imagine how fast the others will go by. I so enjoy just holding her. It seems like she is trying to do so much already. Sometimes she yanks her pacifier out of her mouth all by herself. Then there are days that she really tries to lift her head up and she is getting pretty good at it. She can't hold it up pretty long but that doesn't even matter to me. She's already making strides!!!

Yesterday while at my mom's house, I ran across my newborn pictures and the scary thing is, Ashlynn looks just like me. Only, I don't see it when I look at her, I have to look at a picture to see it. I've gotten so used to "she looks just like Trice" or "I see your mom in her" . I never really hear, "she looks just like you". When I saw that picture I was so excited!!!

I've been letting her sleep on her tummy when she takes naps as long as I am up to watch her and she is so much more comfortable that way. Too bad I won't let her sleep like that at night. Speaking of night, our nights are getting so much better. She's sleeps for hours at a time until she's hungry. She does sleep in the bed with us because it's easier for me to nurse that way. I used to be worried that she wouldn't be able to sleep at all unless she was with us, but during the day she naps on the couch and in her bassinet without us so she's doing just fine!

I'm finally feeling more comfortable with her because I've got her figured out now. Most of the time, all she needs is to be held and she's content.

Life is good and I am truly blessed!

2 1/2 weeks done

So I've been a mommy for 2 1/2 weeks now and it is NOT easy!! I love it and wouldn't trade it for anything but it is not as easy as I thought it would be. Ashlynn is great! Her little personality is starting to come out. I think she will be playful like her daddy. I can sometimes be on the more serious side. We've kinda gotten her used to sleeping with us and I don't want that to be a problem for her when she goes to daycare so I am really trying to get her to sleep in her bassinet. She does fine in her bassinet during the day, it's at night where she refuses to get in there. I think if I can get some sort of routine down with her for bed time we may have more luck. Good thing is, she's not even a month old yet so we may be able to break the bad habit. Tomorrow is another visit to see Dr. Joki and check on her weight. Last time we were there she was starting to gain some of her weight back. When we were discharged from the hospital, she weighed 6lbs, 3 oz. Last week, she was 6lbs 5 oz. I think she's gotten bigger because she feels a little heavier. I hope she has reached at least 7 lbs.

School starts for me in about a month!! I can't even believe how fast the summer has gone! I have several staff developments that I really don't want to go to b/c I don't think I am ready to leave my little girl yet. Luckily, some of them are on Tuesdays when I know Trice will be off. On the other days, my mom will keep her b/c my mom is closest and if anything happened I don't have to go too far. I am glad that daycare will be in my school next year so I can check on her when I want. :)

Ashlynn is napping and I have learned to nap while she's napping so I am gonna go take a nap!!

Nursing is going ok. I get discouraged sometimes. A few days after we were discharged I came down with a breast infection called mastitis. It was pretty bad. It makes you feel like you have the flu!! Ashlynn wasn't latching on correctly. She was getting frustrated, I was getting frustrated. Things are better now. She latches on easily for the most part. I am still considering formula, but at the moment, we can't afford formula, and I am trying to lose 6 more lbs of pregnancy weight. I am trying to do the right thing b/c I know breast milk is best, but I also remind myself the nursing isn't for everyone. I will at least give it a month.

Getting the hang of things!

Life as a mother is great!!! Ashlynn is amazing! She sleeps alot and is starting to nurse more often! I get excited when she goes to the restroom because that means that there is a chance she is getting rid of the some of the bilirubin her little liver has having a hard time doing on it's own. Her jaundice is still kinda high (14.7) as of yesterday so we had to go back to the hospital to get her lab work done again. I'm really hoping that it's going to start to go back down, but I've heard that babies can be jaundiced for up to a month. I am waiting to hear back from the doctor about the work that was done this morning. She was discharged from the hospital at 11, then Friday it went up to 13.9, then Saturday it was 14.7. I have a good feeling that today will be the day it goes down. I had her exposed to some sunlight yesterday while she was sleeping so I am hoping that helps also. The doctor said for me to do it.

I have come down with mastitis, a breast infection that causes you to feel like you have the flu. I had a fever of 100.6 on Friday night when I called the doctor and he called in a prescription for me. It's starting to work because I'm feeling a little better.

Nursing is becoming better. Ashlynn is eating more and more. I do supplement with formula and I probably will until her jaundice level drops. The only time I get frustrated with nursing is at 3 a.m. and I am dog tired. I've been pumping milk and freezing it so that when I go back to work next month I won't have to work as hard. I am not sure how long I will nurse. Maybe until my weight goes back down. I gained 25 lbs during pregnancy and I can't wait to get it back under my pre-pregnancy weight.

Well, Ashlynn and daddy are napping and I think I am going to take advantage of this time and nap as well!!!

Jaundice....ugh

I've so enjoyed spending time with Ashlynn!! The day she was born the pediatrician on call informed me that there was a chance she would get jaundice. :( They decided to watch her carefully. So, they've done lab work to check for bilirubin in her system and every time it has come back higher than the time before. Her skin has become a little yellow. Her lab work last night (4 a.m.) came back pretty high so the doctor ordered that she begin phototheraphy to help her little system get rid of the bilirubin. Initially, I said she can stay in the nursery and receive the therapy, but I missed her so much that they brought her down to my room.The photo is of her receiving the therapy while she is in the room with me. The draw back to this therapy is that she HAS to stay under the lights for it to be effective which means when she starts crying I can't go and pick her up. That is SOOOO hard to do!! So, reluctantly, I called the nursery and had them come get her and take her back. It would be so hard for me to leave her be. I've been crying all morning. I think I've cried so much that I am making myself sick!!! She will only come out when it is time to nurse which is now being supplemented by formula. So I will nurse her first and then follow with formula. The doctor says that this will make it easier for her to use the restroom which she needs to do in order to be jaundice free. She wasn't using it enough with just food from the breast. I'm really hoping to take her home with me today. They gave me the option of finishing the phototheraphy at home but I think I am going to decline that offer because I will be too tempted to pick her up and cuddle with her when she needs to be under the lights. I miss her being in the room with me, but I've prayed and prayed and I know she will be ok. She wouldn't have to stay for long and I am just 10 minutes away and don't have to work so I could come see her when I need.

Now, if I could just stop all of this crying!!!

She's here!!!

WOW!!!! That's all I can really say!!! I was starting to think I was going to be pregnant forever!!! Now that she's here it's a totally different feeling. She's the first thing I think about (other than my husband) when I wake up and the last thing I think about before I go to sleep! We are still at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center. My contractions started at about 11:30 on Sunday night. When I realized that these contractions weren't the regular Braxton Hicks contractions, I started timing them. I would always here people say that when real labor begins you'll just know....boy is that ever true!! They were 10 minutes apart. I waited until they were 5 minutes apart before I called the doctor. I finally called the doctor at 2:45 AM and told him what was going on. He told me to head to labor and delivery. Off we went. When we got to the hospital I had dilated to a 4 and was admitted. I chose not to get the epidural early because 1-- I was extremely nervous about it and 2-- my labor wasn't that bad. By 6 a.m I was dilated to 6 cm and things didn't progress after that. At about 8:30, I was given the epidural (which wasn't that bad:)) and I was also given pitocin to jump start my contractions again. That did the trick! I started dilating and soon after I was 8-9 cm!!! When we finally reached 10 cm and 100% effaced we had to wait for Dr. Diggs b/c I was performing a C-Section. We started to push without him in the room (per his orders). That pushing was SO serious! I had NEVER experienced anything like that before. They discovered that the umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck and something was up with her heart rate. I can't remember what the term for it was. They had to suction her out and use forceps. I think the suctioning didn't work because this girl has a full head of hair. At 3:15 p.m she was born weighing 6lbs, 8oz, and she was 19 1/4 inches long!!!! I was so overwhelmed with emotions that I couldn't help but cry!!! I didn't get to hold her right away because I was busy being stitched back up because I tore pretty bad.

Right now, she looks a lot like Trice and has some of his same mannerisms! Maybe soon we'll figure out what she got from me.

So now, the blog will be about our new life with Ashlynn and not pregnancy anymore. Although it does feel strange to not be pregnant. Welcome back to sleeping on my stomach and hitting the gym after this 5-6 wait period is over!

she's so making me wait!!!

So I haven't dilated any past 3.5 cm!! I just knew that Tuesday's appointment would land me in labor and delivery because I just assumed I would be atleast at a 4. I had the bags in the car and everything!! So, she's just chillin' here! It must be comfy. As hot as it's been lately, she's probably like.." No Mommy, I'll just wait until it cools off!" It is hot! I remember thinking that she would come early! NOPE!!! I think it I didn't have an induction date, she would come at the last minute. That's my girl....fashionably late. I have started to have back pains and cramping again, but nothing consistent enough for me to get excited about!! It's amazing! It feels like I can't wait for all the "pain" to begin, but at this point, I'm just thinking, "get her out of me".

LOL. The one thing I was worried about was my paycheck. I didn't have enough state/local sick days to cover the entire bed rest. I got docked 10 days!!! 6 days on my June check and 4 days on my July check. Well, I just got my June check and boy was I shocked!!! It was almost half of what it normally is. I started to panic! Luckily, my husband and I had money put up so we're ok. The same thing will happen again in July. So we are going to be some super budgeting freaks until my checks return to normal. We are so a 2 income household. :) I can't wait for August!! My advice to any teacher planning on having a baby is to SAVE YOUR SICK DAYS!!! I'm glad I didn't use all of mine up. I didn't plan on going on bed rest so this was a total shock. I won't be using any of my sick days unless Miss Ashlynne is sick. I do plan on having another one so I have to build my days back up!

11 days until induction!!

It didn't happen!!

Last week at our regular Tuesday appointment, Dr. Diggs routinely checked my cervix and told us that I was already 3.5 cm dilated! He even thought that I would go into labor this past weekend. So I spent the entire week getting ready for Ashlynne to get here and NO SUCH LUCK!!! She's pretty comfortable where she is now. Either that, or she's just being stubborn and hard-headed like her daddy. I was so excited when he told me how far dilated I was. It made me feel like we were making some progress. I asked a friend how far dilated you have to be to be admitted to the hospital and she thinks it's 4. That's also what I thought. At tomorrow's appointment I'm hoping that I'll have dilated even more...enough to admit me and get this show on the road. With that being said, I need to finish getting Ashlynne's room ready (unpacked) and the rest of this house clean. :)

Ugh....I just knew she was going to come this past weekend.

This weekend is Trice's family reunion. I look forward to it, but part of me hopes I have to miss it b/c I will be a new mommy.

Wednesday will make a full 37 weeks pregnant allowing me to boast that I made it to full term and hopefully she will get to go home with me if I deliver this week. I get so many texts during the day and they all say the same thing "No baby yet?" LOL. I respond with "Unfortunately, no :)"

It seems like this is pregnancy season. I've got a friends due in October, November, December, and 2 friends in January. One friend just delivered earlier this month. WOW!!!

Keeping my fingers crossed about tomorrow's appointment. If not, I've got 14 days until I get induced!!!

time is winding down

This past Saturday was baby shower #2!! I had a ton of fun. The food was delish and the cake was so good!!

On Tuesday we went to the doctor and everything was looking good. I still hadn't dilated any further and Dr. Diggs removed me from bed rest at 35 weeks!! I was so excited about that. We scheduled my induction for July 7, 2009. I am to arrive at the hospital at 5:30 p.m. Dr. Diggs doesn't really think that I will go that far, but with this child you never can tell. I think I'm doing good to have made it to almost 36 weeks. The doctor is out of town this weekend on a trip to New York so he advised little Ashlynne to be still until he gets back. I sure hope she does. I would hate for another doctor to have to deliver her after Dr. Diggs has done so much for us.

I think labor maybe on it's way because I've started to get really tired and I've had a lot more crampy days filled with backaches. I hope that's the case. My total weight gain as of Tuesday was 22 lbs. I remember when I couldn't gain a thing. Hopefully, I won't go too far past this 22 lbs!! I wonder how long it will take me to get UNDER my pre-pregnancy weight. I want to weigh less than what I did before I got pregnant.

The baby shower was alot of fun!! Ashlynne got a ton of stuff!!!

a little over 3 more weeks!!!

4 more weeks...

Only 4 more weeks until I meet little Miss Ashlynne!!! There seems to be a light at the end of this tunnel! I really don't see how some women can be pregnant 4 and 5 times, or better yet, have has many kids as that Duggar woman. Please don't look for me to have too many more!! I think where I went downhill was that hospital stay that resulted in bed rest. I've been on bed rest for 6 full weeks...that's 42 days to sit around and think of all things I COULD be doing. LOL.

Yesterday we saw Dr. Diggs again and this visit was one of the shortest I've had with him since he became my doctor. Because I've reached 34 weeks now there would be no point in trying to stop labor. She's ( Ashlynne ) has been given steroids so if labor started she would be good to go! The transvaginal scans that showed the length and funneling of my cervix also stopped. I still get the weekly sonogram and checked to see if I've dilated. So far, I haven't dilated any further.

Praise God, he is taking me off bed rest next week and we are even going to schedule the day that I am going to be induced. All I know is that as soon as I am technically taken off bed rest, the walking will begin. I really went to swim but that would have to be at night were NO ONE can see me! LOL....

I went to school today to visit my class since it was the last day and they were out of control! They were so excited to see me. Top that with the fact that it's the end of the year and they were bound to be a little crazy. One student even had a gift for my little Ashlynne.

My 2nd baby shower is this weekend... I can't wait!!!

I used to think that she was going to come early, but I guess since I was on bed rest, her arrival was prolonged. Maybe she'll come before the day that I am induced in to labor... I hope so because Mommy's tired.

4 weeks and counting.....

5 More Weeks!!

As usual Tuesday is our doctor day! Dr. Diggs had previously told me that Ashlynne had better stay still over Memorial Day weekend because that was his weekend off...she followed directions very well!! Yesterday's visit brought good news! I'm a little over 50% effaced, and still 2 cm dilated...bed rest must doing the trick! We have progressed however, Ashlynne is fully engaged below the pelvic bone. I knew something was different because now all of her movement has been in my lower tummy! On the sonogram you could see that my cervix was funneling and you could see her head resting comfortably on my cervix. Comfortable for her...not really for me. I'm actually surprised that she hasn't pushed it open anymore LOL! It's amazing how much things have changed. She's actually been engaged for about a week now.

Her facial features are easily seen on the sonogram now. She has big beautiful eyes (like mine LOL) and lips like her fathers. We can see her nose, but it's not clear who's nose she has. All I know is that she is going to be a beauty...like her momma! She now weighs in at 4 1/2 pounds and everything looks good!!! Not much longer!

Dr. Diggs and I discussed that if Ashlynne isn't here by week 38 then that I would be induced at 38 weeks. After 38 weeks it's considered safe to deliver. Part of my reason for being excited about being induced is work related. Since being put on bed rest, I've exhausted all of my time off. Ashlynne would have to be 6 weeks old to start daycare when school starts for me. If she goes to her July 15th due date, I would have to miss the 1st 2 weeks of the year..10 days of work. I only get 10 days a year so if my baby ever got sick I would have to take off and get docked each day. Being induced allows me to go back to work on time and keep my sick/personal days. I actually don't want to miss the first of the year..that's the most exciting part!

So according to my real due date, I have 7 more weeks. I like the induced time of 5 weeks better! 5 weeks is SOOOOO close. The funny thing is dead on with my original due date of July 4th! So by the 1st part of July my family will go from 2 to 3!

I can't wait!

Another visit.....ugh

So, as I blogged before, last Sunday was not a good day. Well, Wednesday began to feel like Sunday and I wasn't taking any chances so I called Dr. Diggs to see what he suggested. He said it sounded like normal pregnancy discomfort, but because I had already had the bleeding, contractions, and the fact that my cervix was already shortening he didn't want to take any chances. I was told to go to labor and delivery and have them check me out. They discovered that I was already 50% effaced and about 2 cm dilated. I had to stay on the monitor for a while so they could make sure I wasn't having any contractions. Luckily, I wasn't. Just as they were about to let me go home, I started having contractions. So I was told that I would be staying the night until the contractions stopped. Ugh! The contractions were coming every 4-6 minutes, but they weren't painful. I could just feel my stomach tightening up. We figured out part of the reason my contractions were coming so early was because I had yet another bladder infection!! That's like my 2nd one in about a month. I've NEVER had one before and I get 2 in the span of a month!! How crazy is that?!?! LOL

Anyway, I stayed the night and I was given some meds for the bladder infection through and IV and something they gave me literally knocked me clean out for the night. I was asleep within a matter of minutes! I have to admit, that was the best sleep I'd had in a long time.

So I had to be honest with the doctor when he asked how much I was following the bed rest rule, truthfully, I followed it about 80-85% of the time. So he really stressed to me that he needed me to follow it 100% of the time.

I've pretty much done that since I've been out of the hospital. My only day to get up and out is when I get to go to the doctor on Tuesdays. Hopefully, I'll not have dilated/effaced anymore.

Preterm delivery 2 months early

Tuesday is our normal "doctor day" and I was so ready to go. I had a lot of questions to ask Dr. Diggs. Sunday was not a good day for Ashlynne and me. It was filled with back aches, menstrual like cramps, and contractions ( not the painful kind ). It got to the point that I almost called him because I was concerned. I felt her moving alot so I knew she was ok. It wasn't until about 7 that evening that I started to feel better. Monday was alot better for us. So today when we went in for our weekly visit I mentioned that how I felt on Sunday but that there was no spotting or bleeding. Dr. Diggs performed a transvaginal scan on ultrasound to look at my cervix and sure enough there was the problem. The length of my cervix was already shorter than it should be. The coincidental thing was that I had just looked this up because someone else I know was put on bed rest for a shortening cervix. SoI had a SMALL idea of what it meant. Normal is about 3.0 and higher, 2.5 is fair, and anything less than that is indicative of preterm labor. Well, mine was 1.28. A LOT lower than the 2.5. I was in such a shock b/c he pretty much confirmed what I already knew...that Ashlynne isn't going to make it to her due date of July 15th. I was still a little unsure what a shortening cervical length meant so I looked it up online. From what I've read, it means the cervix is already starting to thin out or efface. One website I went to said that 1.5 and less means an effacement of about 50%. So there it is. I haven't dilated yet. Dr. Diggs said that at this point, I'm too far along to be given anything to stop it ( progesterone and something else) so it's just a matter of time. I'm pretty confident because almost a month ago when I was admitted to the hospital with bleeding I was given steroid shots to speed up the maturity of her lungs. We looked at her on the screen today and she's "breathing" and now weighs about 4 pounds (3 lbs, 15oz). So, my mom says I just need to get my bag packed and have it at the door.

Now it's not a matter of IF but WHEN I will go into preterm labor...although Dr. Diggs said that Sunday's discomfort was a little preterm labor.

It's almost over....

My thoughts

Being on bed rest is getting easier, but I still continue to get bored!!! So reading has become my new best friend. This past Saturday (4-26) I had some visitors from school come by. Ms. Acosta (kindergarten teacher), Ms. Steigerwald (CMC teacher), Ms. Jones (5th grade teacher), Ms. Langston, Ms. Wilkening, and Mrs. Wiggs (4th grade teachers) all came by to cheer me up! It was quite a treat! I say this all the time, but it makes things easier when there are people who love and care about you and have your best interests at heart!!! Some people's concern can be fake, and that is not what their visit was. I'm still getting tons of phone calls and emails from members of the church and a few coworkers email me and check on me.

We had a bbq at our house this past Sunday... most of my mom's side of the family that is in the area came. It was good to be around my family. All of the kids are under the age of 4 and NONE of them are boys...5 little girls were all over the place. I'll just be adding to the crew! I had a full house, plus the food was yum!

We went back to Dr. Diggs yesterday and he has reduced my visits from twice a week to just once, but I'm still high risk. We also got another sonogram done :) He burned it on a dvd for us and I think I watch it at least 3 times a day! It's not a 3d or 4d sonogram. It took Ashlynne a minute to get moving but I've learned that she's a slow morning person. Once she gets moving she doesn't slow down. Toward the end of the sonogram, she yawned and it is so clear and easy to see!! Seeing that made me smile and reminded me that bed rest will be so worth it! I also noticed ( b/c I've totally analyzed the dvd) that you can see her eyes and yes, they are open!! They are big and beautiful!!! I even saw her blink. I'll show the video to anyone who wants to see it...I'm a proud momma already! Her weight is actually 3 lbs now. She was really 2 1/2 lbs when we were in the hospital instead of 3 1/2 lbs. I was given a fabric swatch by a parent of student in my class that I am going to use as curtains in the nursery. I've ordered the fabric online, and my mom is going to come over and help me make curtains and other accessories for Ashlynne's room. Once the fabric comes in and the curtains are sewn I will post pics. My in-laws are going to be me the rocking chair I want from Cracker Barrel. It will be painted white and then my little girls room will be waiting for her.

I'm not due until July 15th, but my instincts tell me that I am NOT going to make it that far. I am thinking maybe mid June or the first part of July. Either way....I'm really excited and can't wait to meet this little person who has taken over my body for the last 7 months!!!

Officially 7 months pregnant...

So I went to visit Dr. Diggs this morning and officially transferred my care to him.  Another sonogram was done.  I LOVE seeing my little girl on the screen.  They even can put the sonogram to a dvd. :)  Since my pregnancy is now considered "high risk"  I have to visit the good doctor 2x a week.  Once on Tuesdays (Trice's day off) and the other on Fridays (my mom will take me to those).  Yesterday I had to have my gestational diabetes blood work done.  It wasn't that bad, but the orange glucose crap is horrible!  I had to wait an hour after drinking it to have my blood drawn.  The doctors office (the old one) called and said the results said that my glucose was a slightly elevated and that I would have to go back for the 3 hour test.  At this point I start to wonder what else could go wrong!?!?!  It seems like what was once considered an "uneventful" pregnancy sure has taken a turn.  I am still considering myself blessed b/c things can always take a turn for the worse.  I know that there is NOTHING my God can't handle so I have to give it all to him.  I am waiting to hear back to Dr. Diggs' office to see what the next step is.  The plus side to this type of diabetes is that it's only gestational and I will be fine after she is delivered, if that is in fact what I have.  I don't know if she is trying to tell me what kind of child she is going to be, but I know she will NOT be boring!! LOL!

 I'm 28 weeks today...officially 7 months pregnant!!

Staying prayerful....

I might as well blog...

Since I've been assigned bed rest... I figured I might as well blog!!    I'm so glad to be at home!!  My stay at the hospital was great but there's nothing like being at my own home.   I've also decided that since Dr. Diggs  was so amazing this past weekend I'm going to switch and make him my doctor.  This weekend's events really made me realize that you can't put a price on good prenatal care.  He was so calming and so thorough!  My normal doctor was great, but she just wasn't as thorough as I would like for her to have been.  I'm beginning to wonder if my condition was visible on my 18 week ultrasound and she just missed it.  So much to think about it...these are all just my speculations!  Dr. Diggs delivers out of Methodist Mansfield, and his office is right next door.  I don't live in Mansfield, but I'm literally 10 minutes away from the hospital.  My other doctor is too far from that and this weekend made me realize that proximity is key!  I go to see Dr. Diggs tomorrow morning and I am anxious to hear what he has to say. My other doctor was going to make me wait until next week...hello.... I just left the hospital!!!  You should be wanting to see me as soon as possible!

Today was a LONG day!  I tried not to get bored, but it is hard.  I never realized how much I do until I am unable to do it.  2 members of our church brought dinner by this evening and I can't wait to dig in.  It really helps when you have people in your life that care about you.   I've gotten so many phone calls and had so many prayers!  It's a real blessing!

I'll probably blog tomorrow...it's not like I'm going anywhere! LOL!

Visit to Methodist Mansfield Hospital!!

This is a very nice hospital!!! Dr. Diggs is amazing!!!!

Saturday while I was eating lunch with my friend Tamika, I noticed that I started bleeding!!!  I know that is NOT normal, especially this far into a pregnancy (almost 28 weeks).  She and I left the restaurant and drove to the nearest hospital (Methodist Mansfield). Dr. Gray was out of town and called Dr. Diggs in to look after me.  He is absolutely amazing!!  After I calmed down, I felt completely safe.  There was a lof of bleeding and I ruined my favorite jeans...LOL!!!  Dr. Diggs finally did one of many sonograms to figure out what was going on.  I hadn't started dilating yet so that was a plus.  The negative was that he was thinking I had a placental abruption--where the placenta starts to separate/tear away from the uterus.  They didn't know how severe it was.  If it was severe enough I would have to undergo a C-Section right then and there....I panicked b/c Ashlynne is only 27 weeks develop.  It was too early!!!  So on the sonogram machine, that is indeed what it was.  Placental abruption, but NOT severe.  He also noticed that the placenta had moved and was slightly covering the cervix. Since C-section was a very real possibility at that point, and I was having a few irregular contractions, I was put on Magnesium sulfate to stop them, steroid shots to speed up the maturity of Ashlynne's lungs incased I delivered, and ampicillan (an antibiotic to keep her from getting infected), and an IV.  I had monitors attached to my stomach to keep up with Ashlynne.  A fetal specialist was called in and he didn't see any need to deliver if I could stop the bleeding and the contractions stop.  

Luckily, the few irregular contractions stopped as well as the bleeding so I didn't have to deliver.  I am, however going to be on bed rest.  I'm not sure how long, but I just know bed rest it is.  I get another sonogram this afternoon before I leave and then I am going to see Dr. Gray so she can tell me what she thinks.

What a scary  and relieving weekend all at the same time!  God was so good to me and my little girl!  She's a fighter!

so late....yay for 3rd trimester!

This is SOOOOOO late....I can't even believe I went this long....

We went to see Dr. Gray again yesterday and this was the first time I went it with more than one question.  She was really shocked!!!  I guess it's because the due date is approaching and i don't have anymore time waste!!  I finally gained some weight...7lbs..I was very excited..  That make my total weight gain a whopping 7lbs!!  I normally go in there and lose weight.  Our appointments are now every 2 weeks...wow!  We've ordered and put together Ashlynne's crib (no mattress yet LOL) and changing table.  The gifts are starting to roll in... and we are so grateful!!! She's going to be the cutest little thing...

I've had to learn to take it easy....up until now I've been able to do just about anything I wanted.  It's started to take it's toll on me.  I've been sitting more and keeping my feet propped up..  Nestle Purelife water is either on my desk at work or in my hand....  fruit has become my new best friend.  Fresh pineapples and apples have been so good lately!!!

This is the last trimester for us...week #27 and I can't even believe it.  She'll be here before you know it... Hopefully when the nursery gets done I can get some pics up!  The colors are black, white, and turquoise!!  Cute!

Not understanding!

Doesn't it make since that when you are pregnant you gain weight?  That's what I've always thought.  Well, not that I'm complaining, but we went back to the doctor for an ultrasound/routine check up and the nurse took my weight and said that I've dropped ANOTHER 3 pounds.  No complaints at all.  I just KNEW I was going to gain weight b/c while I was in Galveston for spring break all I did was eat!!!!  I think I'm more concerned that my not gaining weight will effect Ashlynne (her name is now a done deal).  I've read that not gaining enough weight can lead to babies who are small for gestational age, pre-term labor....  none of which I want.   I spoke with my mom who reassured me that I was fine and that I still have 3 1/2 more months to go so I may gain a little.  She thinks I will just be one of those who doesn't gain a lot of weight during pregnancy.  The thing is....my stomach is getting bigger and bigger so I assumed the numbers on the scale would to.  My mom said that when she was pregnant with TWINS it was the same way for her.  

I went bowling last night and I think I'm paying for it today.  My stomach feels really tight and I have a little bit of pain in my pelvis area...but this could also be Braxton Hicks contractions too... I don't know.  Just my speculations!

I will post the sonogram pic that shows it's a girl when I get to a scanner. 

I just need to find a middle name for Ashlynne.

A lot of this is now becoming so real.  I've started getting baby clothes and gifts, started a registry at Target and Babies r Us.  We even have diapers and onsies!  In about 3 months Ashlynne Williams will be here!

21 weeks done...

It seems like for the longest, I could wear my regular clothes and not "look" pregnant.  Even when I attempted to flaunt maternity clothes, I still didn't "look" pregnant.  It seems to be within the last week that this belly of mine has really popped out.  I haven't gained alot of weight....5-6 pounds at the most ( my guess ), but I all of a sudden, have a bump.  I wouldn't even call it a bump at this point.  I can't even imagine what this "bump" will look like when I'm 7 months....just a mere 2 months away.  WOW!!!!   It's hard to believe that in a few months my baby will be here.  July is just around the corner.  It's already March!!!    Next doctor's visit is March 20th.   We have another ultrasound done that day.  I'll post pictures when I get them!

I'm over half way there....21 weeks done!!!

Maybe not.....

Alright, so I went back to see Dr. Gray this past Friday (2-20). She wasn't the one who did our sonogram and she didn't see the pictures that said it was a girl. :( She really thinks it's a boy, so at our next visit (3-20) she is going to perform another ultrasound herself and give us the actual picture of what it is. This baby's heart was 138 in Nov., 170 in Dec., 150 in Jan., 145 at the ultrasound, and 140 at our last doctor's visit. I know medically speaking heart rate doesn't predict gender, but it's fun and some doctors like to try and guess...including mine! LOL.

I still believe it's a girl, b/c I KNOW what I saw on that screen, but it could be a boy! I've started to add items to our registries at Target and Babies r Us, but I just had to walk out of the stores when I saw the prices of some of those things....RIDICULOUS!!!!

Ashlynne or Brooklynne ( haven't completely decided on name yet ) moves SOOOO much. It sometimes feels like I move when she tells me ( or kicks me to do so) she's got some pretty strong legs/feet. She's serious! It's pretty neat b/c sometimes I can feel exactly where she is in my stomach and then other times, I can't find her at all....but then she KICKS, so I know she's there. I'm a little nervous about these kicks and she progresses, but it's still pretty amazing to experience it all.

When I went back to see Dr. Gray this past Friday, I told her what the sonogram guy told me....that my due date was somewhere in between July 1st and the 7th based on the baby's measurement. She was like "No, Jaime. All that means right now is that your baby is measuring 8 days ahead of your due date...in other words...you've got a big baby in there". LOL. I was confused b/c according to her charts, I've only gained a total of 3 pounds....I lose some and gain some..... I really think my due date is off...but whatever, Brooklynne will just come when she gets ready!

Naming Rights....

So, now that we are pretty sure it's a girl the task of naming her was clear.  Although, the funny thing is, she was named before she was even conceived.  Trice's cousin Terry and his wife were very much pregnant at the time and baby names were on my mind so Trice and I talked about it.  It was set from jump that IF it were a boy that the name would be Trice Williams, Jr. --TJ for short.  Girl names weren't as clear.  The only thing I knew was that she and I would share a middle name---Nichole.  There are 3 names that I LOVE--Ashlynn, Brooklyne, or Olivia.  It was going to be one of those three.  Trice said NO to Olivia b/c he said it made him think of The Color Purple...my favorite movie.  Brooklyne was better for him but he LOVED Ashlynn.  So it's pretty much been Ashlynn Nichole for a while.  She and I have conversations and I DO call her by her name.  TJ is still on stand by just in case it' s a boy...but I'm not worried about that.   The name Ashlynn is for several reasons.  My grandmother (Anna), his mom (Angela), and his sister ( Aliajha) all have first names that obviously begin with an A.  My mother  ( Evelyn), his dad ( Oslynn) both have some form of "Lynn" in there name so Ashlynn is what resulted.  It's not a very common name there is only one other person that I know of who has that name.  Brooklyne ( my unique spelling ) is becoming more common.  I hear it so much. 

Everything looked good from the ultra sound!!  She was measuring 15 cm (crown to rump) which is about 6 and half inches. It's hard to believe she's gotten that big...just in November she was .8 centimeters!!!  Growth is amazing!  I think from this point on they start measuring from head to toe so it may seem like she's grown drastically.  I never heard anything negative back from my blood work that would indicate cause for alarm!!  What a relief! We go back to the Dr. this Friday to hear another heartbeat and talk with Dr. Gray about the all the pictures that were taken at the ultrasound.

I was beginning to worry b/c I hadn't been feeling alot of movement.  But out of nowhere it started!!!  Once you feel it, you can definitely tell the difference between that and gas! LOL!  She moves so much!!  As I told someone at work yesterday, "she's moving and shakin', and all that jazz."  I usually feel her when I'm calming down for the night ( like right now ) when I want to relax, she's in here turning flips!!!  She loves music!!!!  It's amazing!!  

Now, this Dr. sent me her estimate  and I was like .....DANG!!!  Good thing I have insurance, and good thing I changed my medical plan... my deductible would have been ridiculously high...now it's just somewhat reasonable!!!  

I'm going to see my dad in Galveston over spring break.  I haven't been to Galveston since 2002--when my grandma  (Anna) died.  That's 7 years!!!  My dad is so excited that it's a girl...all he has are grandsons....can we say spoiled?! :)

There's no way you can say that God doesn't have his hand in this!!  Amazing is the only thing I can say and blessed is the only thing I can feel!  I remember telling myself along time ago that I only wanted 1 child.  Going through this is such an experience, maybe 2 might not be so bad.  

Calling it a night...well... I am...Ashlynn's about to get it jumpin' in here!

It's a girl!!!

This will be a short one b/c I'm very tired!!  We had our ultrasound/sonogram today and it's pretty clear it's a girl.  The pictures we have don't show that, but it was pretty clear in the sonogram room this morning.  It's funny b/c that's what I predicted all along!  Trice was a little disappointed at first and he still claims that it's a boy but it's not.  We go back to see Dr. Gray next Friday so she can tell us how everything looks.    Today was a good day!!  The pictures are very clear and it's clear that she's prissy and likes to relax.  Everytime we saw her, her legs were crossed.  There's was even a minute when it looked like she was tired of being watched and covered her face!!  She's a cutie already!

They took measurements and changed my due date from July 15th to July 7 which makes me 19 weeks and 1 day as opposed to 18 weeks like we thought I was this morning!!!

God is so goo and I am so tired!  Goodnight!!

WOW...time flies

If you would have told me 17 weeks and 4 days ago that pregnancy goes by fast...I probably would have seriously laughed in your face. In my mind then, it sure was going to be a long time until July.... but MAN!!! Time flies...I mean 17 weeks and 4 days...that's 4 months of pregnancy gone. :) Do you think I have any pictures to show for it? NOPE!!! But I took some today so hopefully I will get them posted on Facebook/Myspace. My girls have been waiting so patiently...all b/c I keep forgetting to buy some batteries! Don't worry girls... I bought some batteries today and took a few pictures....

I've decided to start walking again. I was walking daily during my first trimester at a track outside ( it's just nicer that way ) but it got to be too cold and I got worried about being sick. I have a gym membership but I was scared to get on a treadmil for fear that I would fall. Then I thought... I'm not running a marathon, chasing anybody, or trying to break any records....I'm just WALKING...so I need to get back on it....that starts tomorrow. I've tried to keep my eating under control and I think I'm doing pretty good. This baby LOVES salad, cereal, apples, popsicles, icecream cones, and potatoes. I could do salad all day and I was NOT a salad girl before. Now, the things that I once loved ( donuts, potato chips, etc.) this child does NOT like....it frustrates me :) From my doctor visit in Nov. to Dec. I lost 5 lbs ( thank you morning sickness ) and from
December to my January visit I gained it back. That's pretty good...5 lbs in the first trimester. Dr. Gray told me to expect the weight gain to start now. It's amazing that I can be so "starving" and start eating and then 3 bites later be completely full. What the mess?!?!

I never really experienced food aversions and smells that make me sick until this Saturday! OMG...I was watching my husband little league basketball game when this lady and her big bag of Lay's potato chips sat in front of me so I couldn't see and then I got a whiff of her chips and I was sick on the spot. It was ridiculous. I LOVE potato chips...can't eat them...but pre-baby I could. I had to move quick or she wouldn't have been eating those chips either! LOL!

Wednesday is ultrasound day..hopefully my baby will cooperate and let us know what he or she is!

Not a good day

I completely understand that pregnancy is NOT easy for everyone. I have to admit, I've had it pretty easy. I always heard that your horm0nes are crazy and uncontrollable, but for some reason, I felt as though I would exempt from that. WRONG!!! I cry at the dumbest things!!! Running out of peanut butter, a cute commercial, being frustrated because I can't get comfortable enough to go to sleep...the list really could go on. Then there's just being mad! I can't recall being like this pre-pregnancy so I can definitely blame it on that! My poor husband usually bears the brunt of my frustration and then I have to go and apologize to him later...knowing I was in the wrong. Then I usually cry because I know that's not me....it's hormones! I feel bad for him sometimes....well, him and anybody else that crosses my path in those moments, who has never been around a pregnant person before. I'm REALLY trying! It's not often and a lof of times I can control it!

I really need to stop b/c I know it's not good for me or the baby to be stressed..... don't get me wrong! I am not a mean hateful person all the time! It's really pretty rare! But even still...

I had blood work done this past Friday to screen for possible abnormalities and such and I tend to worry and I am really trying not to. I fully understand that the Lord will give you what He KNOWS you can handle. If it was something that was abnormal, I would have to just deal with it and remember that the Lord is in control. It takes alot of prayer....I don't remember ever praying so much. It's hard for me because I have very limited control over what happens with this child so I am really have to rely even more on God (which I should have been doing BEFORE I got pregnant).

Anywho, these are just my thoughts.....

So Here's What's Been Going On

The funny thing is I went Homecoming about a week before I figured I was pregnant, and all of my Kourts kept saying that I was or that I would be sooner than I thought!  They're rubbing it in now! 

I knew I was pregnant October 27th.  I figured something was up because I had strange dreams and when Trice and I went to see Saw V,  I couldn't sit through the movie that day at all!  I was in the ladies' room about 6 times during the movie.  I guess I will just have to go rent it.   My breasts were so sore... I typically panic so I thought I had tumors! LOL!  I went to the Dr. October 31 and Dr. Gray confirmed it but said it was really early.  Our original due date was July 4th!  We were excited about that!    We didn't know whether to tell our families or not b/c it was so early but we decided we could use their prayers.  It's amazing our news travels in Trice's family!!!  His mother's birthday party was the next day and so many people knew by then.  ( we had asked that it remain a secret for a little longer...too bad)  So our church knew and our families knew.  I told no one at work until I couldn't hide it anymore.  My morning sickness ( which is usually all day ) was getting harder to mask.  So, I announced it via E-card later in Nov.  Everyone seemed really excited.

Throwing up hasn't been too much of an issue,  but when I did, it was an all day thing.  I'm glad I made it out of that first trimester. It was rough! I lost a few pounds due to throwing up and not having an appetite but that is so over.  I'm hungry all the time!  I've gained about 5 pounds since my December visit to Dr. Gray.  

Our predicition is that it will be a boy although I've been trying to speak a girl into existence.  Chances are that it's a boy.  Trice's family is filled with them.  Dr. Gray even thinks it's a boy.  My family wants a boy.  Trice's sister Aliajha keeps saying twins....it's just one!

Prenatal visit #1- Nov. 24- baby's heart rate- 138 bpm- due date changed to July 15, 2009

Prenatal visit #2- Dec. 22 baby's heart rate-170 bpm ( I was thinking girl at this point :))

Prenatal visit #3 Jan. 26- baby's heart rate- 150 bpm ( Dr. Gray thinks boy!)

More blood work this Friday to screen for abnormalities--Keep us in your prayers

Ultrasound day- February 11

Prenatal visit #4-Feb. 20.

I'll keep you posted!

So I created a blog....

So I was a little nervous about creating a blog and I don't know why! LOL!  

I hope to keep my friends and family updated with what's going on with our first pregnancy. 

 I do have to admit that when I found out I was pregnant ( October 27, 2008) I was shocked to say the least. Not shocked because I couldn't believe it but shocked because I was told that it would be a little harder for me due to 1 specific reason.  Being the God-fearing woman that I am, I know that there is nothing that God can't do for those who believe in Him. So we prayed about it and gave it to God.  When I was told in July 2008 that it would be hard for me, my husband and I decided to steer clear from birth control.  I almost saw it as pointless and I am SCARED of side effects.   Our original plan was to start trying in June of 2009 in case fertility treatments had to be an option.   It's funny how the Lord works because I was weary of fertility treatments as well.  Needless to say, the Lord does what he wants and all you can do is be willing.   Never once since I found out that I was pregnant questioned anything.  I'm very blessed.  We weren't even trying.  Now, thank the Lord, I'm 16 weeks today!!