Two Cuties

Need I say more?

Two Weeks Old

We had our two week old doctor's appointment today. Everything went great! She is a healthy 8lb. 11oz. Hence the CHUBBY cheeks! I guess I don't need to worry about her starving any time soon.

And just for the record, I survived my first outing with Alayna on my own. Yea! All I have to say is...

Those car seats are HEAVY! (Especially when there is a baby in them.)

I think I need to do some upper body workouts.

Here she is all ready to go to the doctor.

Just When You Think It's Over...

Interesting comments is what I mean.

Remember how I would get all kinds of comments about my belly? (If you have read my various posts about pregnancy, you know what I mean.) Well, apparently those days are not quite over...yet.

On Monday (a week exactly after Alayna was born) I decided to "venture" out and get the mail. Mind you, this is about a minute walk, and the hardest part was walking up and down the three flights of stairs. I just had to "get out".

When going through the mail, I found a letter that did not belong to us and decided to take it into the office and give it to one of the managers. After handing her the letter and explaining it did not belong to us, she looked at me and said:

Manager: "Oh. When are you due?!"

Me:"Um. Actually I just had her a week ago. I am just not quite down to my normal size yet."

Manager: "Oh! I am so sorry."

Me: "That's ok."

She then proceeded with some small talk about the baby. (I think in her mind, this was making up for the earlier comment. Yeah right.)

What's funny about this whole encounter is the fact that I saw this person all the time around the apartment complex and she would ask me how much longer I had left. And... not to mention the fact that these people have never seen me NOT pregnant since I was 5 months pregnant when we moved here. So, anyway, I should look pretty dang good to them considering I don't look like I have a HUGE basketball under my shirt. I honestly think she didn't recognize me.

You may think that this event may have bothered me and that is why I am posting it, but actually, I think it is rather funny. It just goes to show some people have a hard time thinking before they speak. Now, if I encounter a similar conversation in a month or two, THEN I will be a little bothered.

The Details

So here is the labor story. I realize that some of you will not care to read this and that is perfectly fine. I understand. I am mainly writing this for my own journaling purposes.

Monday, October 13th we were scheduled for an induction, which ended up being six days after my due date. In St. George, for first babies, they will not induce you until a week past your due date. (My doctor’s husband had surgery on the 14th so she was kind enough to arrange for me to go a day sooner.) The protocol for an induction, is for the hospital to call you anywhere from 12:00am to 12:00am on the scheduled date.

At 5:00am we received a phone call (which at first I thought was my alarm going off so it took me a minute to register what was going on) from the hospital telling us they would like us to come in at 6:15am. Dan and I “tried” to sleep for another 25 minutes, which didn’t happen for me since all kinds of thoughts were racing through my mind, and then we proceeded to get ready.

After eating a light breakfast and checking our packing list, we were on our way to the hospital. I walked down the three flights of stairs as a gigantic pregnant lady for the last time. What a great feeling! On the way to the hospital, we said a prayer and tried to mentally prepare ourselves for what was to come.

I checked in, got dressed in the fashionable hospital gown, got an IV and hooked up to the monitor; to find out I was having contractions, which I couldn’t feel! Man this isn’t bad, I thought, but I wonder how long it will last. The nurse checked me, and I was 4 ½ centimeters dilated! I will admit, it wasn’t a complete surprise to us considering at my last doctors appointment I was 3 ½ centimeters and 80% effaced. The nurse then started me on penicillin (since I tested positive for group b strep) and pitocin.

Less than an hour later, at 7:20am my water broke. I turned to Dan and said, “I think my water just broke, or else I am wetting the bed A LOT.” He called the nurse and they came and checked everything out. My doctor came in and said, “I guess the baby wanted to be born today anyway.” My contractions became harder and I was surprised at how much water would gush out with each one. I looked down at my belly and realized I only looked 6 months pregnant now. Three months worth of my belly was water.

I had contractions from here on out, each one getting stronger and more frequent. Although I don’t know what happened more frequent; me having contractions, or Dan having to use the restroom out of nervousness. Dan was great! He let me know when my contractions were almost over, and wasn’t afraid to say “Whoa, that one was off the chart!” Thanks, babe. At about 10:00, I felt like the contractions were one right after another, and I couldn’t get a breath in between. The nurse then came in and checked me, to find out I was at a 9! She couldn’t believe it. (Thanks mom, for passing those genes of fast paced labor along!)

I was quickly informed that if I wanted an epidural, it was now or never. I then decided an epidural would be much appreciated! Less than 10 minutes later the anesthesiologist was in my room ready to relieve my pain. After a prick, and what felt like an electric shock, I was quickly numbing from my legs down and my contractions were now just a bunch of pressure. I was at the point of pushing, but I still needed my second dose of penicillin before the baby could come. They gave me the penicillin as quickly as they could and at 11:10 I began to push.

I pushed for an hour and 16 minutes before our precious bundle of joy arrived. How I wish I was one of those people that push two or three times and they are done, but Alayna was posterior so the doctor and nurses (and I) did a lot of work to get her to turn around. Among some of the things that were done, was a form of pushing where I played “tug of war” using a towel with one of the nurses. This was something my body paid for later, especially my arms. It was effective, but tiring. The doctor couldn’t believe how hard and fast my contractions were coming. I definitely had my work cut out for me, but it was all worth it in the end.

Alayna arrived at 12:26pm, after a little over 6 hours of labor (I realize this is very short and I am grateful). I began to cry tears of joy when they laid her on my chest. She was beautiful and perfect in every way. And she even had a head full of hair, which Dan and I did not expect at all. Weighing in at 8lbs 3oz., she is the biggest baby of any of my family and the tallest, at 21 inches long. I figure she gets these larger genes from Dan since he is so tall.

All in all, I have to say I am completely blessed to have Alayna. She is such a sweet spirit. Dan and I are so grateful to have her in our family.


Here is our precious bundle of joy.

A couple more pics to tide you over

Here she is so content, she doesn't know what to do except raise her arms. Look at those chubby cheeks! SO beautiful! Oh, and don't forget to look at the cowgirl nightie that Grandma Lindstrom gave her. She still has Wyoming roots even though she was born in Utah.

Hopefully these pictures will satisfy your Alayna cravings. Can you tell we just can't get enough of her?

Beautiful Alayna

Here are some more pics. I know that some of my family was wanting to see more of her.

Here she is with her cute pink bow.
A family picture. Don't focus on me, but the cute little baby with her tongue stuck out.
Proud Grandma holding the sleeping Alayna in the hospital.
Snuggling with daddy

Sleeping beauty Here is a picture of her natural highlights. You can't see them very well, but she has dark hair with blonde highlights.
A FULL head of hair! So cute!

Open Eyed with a Bow

Just a few more pics. Hopefully Dan will go home at some point so you can look at some better quality pictures (these are all from camera phones).

She's Here!!!

Baby Alayna arrived at 12:26pm.


She was 8 lbs. 3 oz. and 21 inches long and has a full head of dark hair.


This is KaLee again, so I'll let Erica tell you the whole birth story. And now I'll shut up so you can look at a few pics.

A Hacker

This is KaLee.

I totally hacked in (please excuse me while I pat myself on the back).

Erica and Dan are at the hospital.

That is all that I know, but at least I'm passing it on.

Waiting

Obviously from the title of this post...we did not have our little girl this weekend.

Just as I predicted, she is taking her sweet time.

Well, now just six more days until I get induced.

We can wait six more days, right? After all, we have already waited 280 days. What's six more days?

Another Baby Update

If you thought the lack of blogging was because we were in the hospital....think again.

Here's the update as of a couple of days ago:

I am still dilated and effaced. The doctor says there's a lot of pressure on the water and she thinks that I will deliver this weekend.

Now don't get your hopes up because the poor doctor has been proved wrong before and she jokes that our little girl is definitely in charge. I just pretty much think she is stubborn like her mom. :)

Just in case we hold on even longer...we have scheduled to be induced on the 13th.

Oct. 13th.....here we come!


Here's my 39 week picture:
This picture shows a better side view of my massive belly as well as my "I mean business" look. (I wasn't quite ready for this picture, hence the look.)
Funny story:

Lady: So, are you having one baby or two?
Me: Um......ONE!