Peanut's Birth Story

It’s been a crazy few weeks, but I am finally back and ready to tell the story of our Peanut's arrival.

As I told you before, I was scheduled for induction on Wednesday, January 21st due to my high blood pressure. I was terribly nervous this time.  I don’t really know why exactly, but I was literally shaking all morning waiting to go to the hospital.  When I called in to find out my time, I was told to be there at 8:30 for registration and to decide how to move forward with the induction.

Things officially got started around 10 am that morning with my water being broken and then progressed to IV fluids and a Pitocin drip to intensify my contractions.  It was slow going at first, but it picked up by the afternoon and I was ready for an epidural (judge all you want - it’s heaven at that point) at 3pm.  

Things were pretty peaceful from then on and the only pain I had was in my back and neck from straining during my contractions.  I tend to hold my tension there and it manifests pretty intensely during labor, no matter how much I fight it.  Bt 6pm I was nearly ready to push and it was a flurry of activity getting the doctor in the room and setting up.

By the time we were ready to push, I didn’t have to.  My body did everything for me and I our little peanut was born without one push. I was offered a mirror to watch the birth, which I have always refused out of fear, but this being our last baby, I didn’t want to miss any experience.  I said yes and I am so happy that I did.  I have a wonderful memory of seeing my baby’s birth from a totally different perspective.  And if I hadn’t seen him come out of me I might be convinced that he isn’t one of mine.  I also might not have believed that the umbilical cord could be wrapped around a baby's neck 4 times and intertwined with his entire body without somehow being noticed on one of the bagillion ultrasounds I had leading up to delivery...

Peanut was born at 6:55pm on January 21st, 2015

7 Ibs, 1.3oz

19 inches long

He was a full inch shorter and more than a pound lighter than any of my other children!  I can’t believe how small he is even now, 4 weeks later!

This is where I rave about the new procedures and Maternity Pavilion at the Chester County Hospital.  The labor and delivery was so peaceful and since my last baby, they have instituted a full hour of skin to skin for mommy and baby before they do anything at all.  No drops, no weighing, nothing happens until skin to skin is over.  

If you are unfamiliar with skin to skin, its when the baby lays directly on the mother”s chest, skin to skin.  It helps sooth baby as well as regulate body temperature.

Peanut latched and nursed like a champ and things seemed perfect.

I was taken to my room by a team of nurses (not just one or two) who made a huge deal of my experience and birth story and made sure that I was very comfortable and fed in my brand new room.  It was beautiful.  The bathroom with the waterfall shower was better than what I have at home and I enjoyed it immensely.

I guess because he was so much smaller and I didn’t have to push, I actually felt as though I had not just had a baby.  The next day it was almost disturbing.  I was concerned that I was not feeling like a truck had run me over (don’t be jealous.  I’m usually a blubbering basket case that can hardly walk for weeks).

The hospital staff was super efficient in getting all his tests done and completely non invasive with my care.  I was really impressed when they actually had me ready to go at discharge time that Friday morning-even before my husband could get there pick us up.

My older kids were staying with Grandma for the weekend, so it was just Me, Daddy, Peanut and Booboo.  We thought that the time was good for us to let the our youngest adjust before having all four together.  

Then some weird stuff began to happen.  I noticed that Peanut was having what looked like little convulsions. They were somewhat concerning because of the length of time they would go on for, but he seemed fine otherwise. Babies can do some weird looking stuff because of their immature nervous systems, so I figured that’s what it was.  

When I took him this first doctors appointment on Monday, I was told he looked great.  I thought I would just mention the convulsions to see what they could be and I was shocked when they immediately got a Neurologist on the phone to describe the episodes.  I was told that we needed to go directly to The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to have him evaluated for possible seizures!

We were admitted for 3 days.  During that time he brain was monitored for unusual activity and he was recorded to catch any episodes he may have.  While there, he had multiple episodes that each seemed more disturbing that the last and we were terrified of what we would learn.  We also found out that despite his great form and latch, he was not getting anywhere near enough fluid from breastfeeding.

I was instructed to begin pumping and bottle feeding as well as nursing and supplementing with formula until his weight was up and my supply was steady.  In the mean time, they put Peanut on IV fluids.  In 20 minutes, he was like a different baby.

Where his skin had seemed baggy and thin, he plumped up and filled out.  Where he had been lethargic or  fussy when awake, he seemed pleasant and content.  His color went from yellowish to pink.  The poor thing had been dehydrated all along.  Once the fluids were in, he stopped having the episodes and we heard from Neurology that there was no abnormal brain activity at all.  The episodes he was having can only be attributed to his dehydration.

We were released from CHOP in the late afternoon on Wednesday, January 28th.  The team of doctors and nurses that we worked with were amazing and I am grateful to be close to such a phenomenal hospital.  I just don’t ever want to go back ;)

We were very fortunate that there was a quick and easy fix to the problem, I only wish it would have been obvious at first.  We avoided many invasive tests, but I still would have loved for him not to have gone through the whole experience.  I look back on the whole thing and wonder what I could have done differently or think on what I should have noticed earlier, but it’s done and over with now.  

Thankfully, he is eating like a champ now.  I pump and nurse for more than half of his feedings and then the rest I fill in with formula.  It’s what we have done for all of our kid, actually, but for different reasons.  He looks really good now and we are so relieved for the scary stuff to be over.

We look forward to seeing how this little guy changes and who he becomes.  I feel like we are only really seeing Booboo’s personality really shine just these last few months and I can’t wait to see the same with Peanut!

37 Weeks Pregnant with No. 4

I can't believe that I haven't posted in 5 weeks!  I mean, I sorta can, because it has been crazy around here.  But 5 weeks flew by and now I am sweating these last 3 weeks like crazy.  It could be any day now that this little mister makes his debut.  Or it could be 3 weeks...

I feel like it's just around the corner.  Contractions have picked up and I have installed the contraction counter app on my phone.  It has been used to track my evening contractions that seem to creep up around 7pm.  I can't tell you why.  They aren't the only ones that I have, though.  I hope that they are doing something at this point.  I don't feel like these are Braxton Hicks - they are much too painfully sharp.

According to my dr at the last appointment, I am dilated to about 1cm, which is totally normal at 37 weeks and somewhat disappointing for someone expecting her 4th.  I'd love to find out I am about 3 cm at my next appointment.  Probably wishful thinking, but I can dream!

32 Weeks

32 Weeks, so that means 8 weeks until my due date.

I have really had it good up until this point.  This pregnancy (other than the morning sickness that I was able to thwart using this remedy), things have been very good.  I don't know if it has actually been easier or if I have been effectively distracted by my other children and life in general, but there haven't been many compliants.

Well, yesterday, things seemed to take a turn.  One I was completely expecting earlier on and then things were just fine. So I thought that maybe this would be a relatively uneventful pregnancy.

The Good:
I had an ultrasound yesterday and I was thrilled to find out that baby is finally head down and in position!  That is great news because he has been breech since I have been having ultrasounds and I was getting really worried about having a C-section.  He is doing great! Had a non-stress test and he was perfect, he's growing like crazy (over 5 Ibs already!) and fluid levels were good.  We could even see that he has some hair :)

The Bad:
Then I went to a regular OB appointment and discovered that my blood pressure was really high.  Not higher than it has ever been, but higher than it's been since before I was put on medication (standard for me during pregnancy).  I was nearly sent to Labor and Delivery for monitoring, but thank goodness they decided to settle for home monitoring and returning in a few days.  We talked about a plan moving forward and it sounds like higher doses of medication and possible bedrest.  I will likely be induced early if I don't naturally go into labor by 38 weeks, so that really leaves me with only maybe 6 weeks.  (If this sounds sever for one high BP reading, it's not for me.  All of my pregnancies have resulted in dangerously high BP that needs to be monitored and usually has me in line for inductiuon unless I can bring labor on myself, which I have done rather successfully).

My concerns going into my appointment were the constant dizziness and weak muscles/shakiness that I have been experiencing for the last 2 weeks.  Being on my feet has become very problematic.  I can hardly hold my son and my energy level has decreased dramatically.  I have also been having panic attacks at night - a sure sign that my anxiety/depression/hormone combo is getting to the point of needing intervention.  I knew these symptoms were probably something bigger, but I operate in a wied limbo of "do I or don't I call the doctor?" becuase I am usually told it's normal for me and to rest more. Yeah.

The new doctor at my practice was so awesome and understanding it was almost shocking.  I usually have to ask questions about everything as they are running out the door, but I was really impressed by how he took his time and talked with me so thouroughly about what was happening.  Things could be so much worse than they are, but I am definitely feeling a little defeated, where I was feeling pretty triumfant just yesterday.

No picture this week.  The days have been so hectic that the idea of a picture doesn't even enter my brain until I'm makeupless and in less than flattering PJ's so forgive me if I don't want to show you that loveliness ;)

29 Weeks and an Answer to our Prayers

29 weeks is so close to 30 weeks, which is a nice round number, I would like to just be 30 weeks.  I am feeling every sort of uncomfortable that I think I possible can right now.  I know that I have 11 weeks until my due date and boy does that feel like an eternity and an instant all in one.

This is actually my 28 week pic that I never posted.  I have yet to take one for 29 weeks.  I can tell you that I have dropped a bit.  I want to do a comparison shot with this one later to see how much.

Today, in particular, I am so so crampy. Like, all the way around my stomach and back. I know some of it is stress, but I can't really do anything about that.  I just wish I could get it to relax.

Also, baby is still completely breech, which is really wierd for me.

This baby is supposedly the size of a large cabbage at 29 weeks.  I disagree, but I guess this is the average.

The holiday rush has started for us.  I can't wait for delicous Thanksgiving dinner and I passed my glucose test with flying colors (I was worried!) so I can enjoy my favorite things without worrying. But the season starts for me with Dude's birthday next week.  Getting things planned at just the right time so that they don't interfere with Thanksgiving is hard every year.

Gift buying also starts now (actually, I like to be done by Thanksgiving, but that's really not happening this year...).  I try to start my list with Dude so I can decided what I want to do between his birthday and Christmas.  My birthday, our wedding anniversary and Jason's birthday also all land right around Christmas, so I want to be sure I am paying special attention to each thing (not by birthday, so much).  I am just feeling super overwhelmed with work, Holidays and baby coming so as usual, I'm avoiding all of it.  It's totally a great way to fix a problem, right?

Now that I have sufficiently complained about almost everything, I do have one very pice of good news!

My husband, Jason, has been working super hard for the last 3 years to change careers and break into a new field.  This included going back to school full time while only I worked and interning for nearly a full year.  The company that he interned for is fantastic and close by so that we didn't need to relocate.  Everything about it was a good fit and we really wanted him to be employed there.  It was just a matter of time and available positions, which were very competitive.

As of yesterday, he is officially employed by this amazing company!  This opportunity is outstanding and he was chosen out of 90 applicants to take it on.  I am beyond proud of all of Jason's accomplishemnts.  His drive and focus are something I can't even wrap my mind around.  This is such a huge answer to our prayers and we have worked so hard as a family to get here - it feels surreal.

He deserves a medal for taking care of us, working, interning and dealing with my pregnant hormones.  REALLY.  Love you, Babe!

27 Weeks and Happy Halloween!

So, we have reached the 27 week milestone!

Please ignore how puffy and swollen I look.  It's gonna be the norm for the next 3+ months...

I don't even know if people still make a big deal about this particular week or pregnancy, but when I was pregnant with my first (2008) my birth boards were a-buzz with information about the survival rate of an infant at 27 weeks if the mother happened to deliver early.

It's kind of a downer to think about a child being born so early because it is my no means a goal to have, but if you have a complicated pregnancy or run the risk of preterm labor and delivery, it is a comfort to know that your baby has more than a 90% chance of surviving and thriving.  With my pregnancies not always being easy and problems with contraction starting early on, this has always been a milestone that I couldn't wait to reach.

This picture does not do the baby's size justice, IMO.  I feel like I have at least two in there.

27 weeks also happens to be the last week of the second trimester!!! Cue the band music ;)

I'm not in a hurry, really, but it does feel nice to be coming to the home stretch.  I am excited to have a new baby in the house and I can't wait to meet him and get to hold him in my arms, but there is also sooo much to do before he comes.

We still have a little one sleeping our bed and I need to get him moved to his own room and into his toddler bed very soon.  But I have been saying this for months...

I also have no desire to sort through our infant clothes.  It feels like as soon as I get set for one season, it's time to switch out the clothes again.  I just don't feel like going to the basement and pulling out the big tub and then wash everything..... I also don't think I have that much because I threw a lot of stained things out and donated/gave away a bunch of stuff after Booboo.  So I probably need to actually purchase some things.

I'm not actually complaining about this, but I can tell you it is different to get ready for #4.  With Princess I already had everything washed and sorted.  It's not as easy to be so organized and "on the ball" with everything else going on.

In other news:  It's Halloween!

Princess is...wait for it...Elsa from Frozen!
Dude: Captain America
Booboo: Pirate

We've been Trunk or Treating already, but tonight is the real deal.  Can't wait to get some good pics!

Happy Halloween!

     

Croup, Respiratory Viruses and 25 Weeks Pregnant

It's been such a crazy week I have hardly had time to stop by and say anything!

A nasty little virus made it's way into our house about 2 weeks ago.  Dude gets Croup nearly every time he gets anything respiratory, but this time he made it out pretty easy.  Low grade fever for a few days, tired and pale, croupy cough.  He was given some oral steroid to open his airway and he was good to go.  It took him about a week to fully recover.

Fast forward to Saturday, Princess starts with a very low fever, feels cold and just seems "off."  By Sunday she was running a 103.5 temp and (despite sayings she felt fine) could hardly stand.

This is super unusual for her because even when she is really sick (like with pneumonia last year), she act completely normal.  By Sunday night she had the worst case of croup she has ever had.  You could hear the stridor (the sound of her breathing) from the next room and the barky cough associated with Croup  was painful. The doctors office sent us to the ER for oral steroids and a breathing treatment.  The treatment helped her croup symptoms tremendously but she is really only just yesterday seeming back to her usual self.

And then there were three...

Tuesday, Booboo started with some cold-like symptoms, but since he has never had Croup we thought he may escape it this time as well.  Nope.

We were in the ER both Wednesday and Thursday for him.  And I have to say, he is such a trooper.

He is more bothered by the oxygen sensor they tape to his toe and the hospital bracelet that the medicine, treatments and rectal thermometer (squirming in my seat...).

Today he is still a bit feverish and very clingy but his breathing is much better.  I pray that we are seeing this thing out the door, but now both grandfathers have the virus and it seems like it's making the rounds at my office.

I have a slight tickle in my throat that won't go away, but I AM NOT getting sick.  So there.

It the midst of all this, I am now 25 weeks pregnant, but without a picture.  I am feeling super enormous and experiencing more contractions than usual, but I bet that has to do with the extra stress and sleepless nights listening to little chests and checking temps.

Has a virus come knocking on your door yet? Any remedies you swear by?  We are vitamin C (through Juice and Fruit), Greens and warm mist vaporizers/shower steam people.

Here's praying for healthier months to come!

     

My Pregnancy(so far) in Numbers {24 Weeks}

I always love reading other blog posts about life simply put in numbers.  No doubt life isn't so cut and dry, but it's interesting to see how others break it down.  I hope you enjoy :)

24:  Weeks pregnant

2:  Major cravings - Strawberry Pop Tarts and Pumpkin Spice Frozen Cappuccinos from Wawa (a local convenience store).

5:  Ultrasounds (sonograms) - dating, bleeding, growth scan, anatomy scan, growth scan.  I am likely to have 2-3 more growth scans.

8:  Months guessed that I am by the average stranger.

5:  Months that I am actually pregnant.

4:  Average number of times I get up at night to pee.

6:  Average number of times I am up during the night for various reasons (including peeing).

1:  Average number of times I cry a day.  So VERY hormonal.

Baby is about the size of an ear of corn at 24 weeks.

5:  Number of blood tests I have had.

3:  Number of pills I take each day - blood pressure medication, low dose aspirin, prenatal vitamin.

84:  Average ounces of water I drink each day.

4:  Average number of Braxton Hicks contractions that I have daily.  Those are the ones I notice.  And there was a day a couple of weeks ago that I had them nearly every 10 minutes for about 14 hours.  I did see the doctor and things are looking good, so he wasn't concerned.

3.5:  Approximately how many months until this little boy makes his entrance into the world!  I am both so excited to meet him that I can't wait for January AND scared that I am sooo not ready yet (as far as getting things organized and ready for another baby in the house)!

2:  Cups of coffee I still drink each day. One in the AM and one in the PM (this includes the frozen cappuccino I mentioned above on the days that actually happens).

27:  (inches) Size of the average soccer ball and my uterus.

     

23 Weeks

Today I am 23 weeks and 2 days and things are getting real.

There is no mistaking that I am pregnant now and people are noticing.

They also seem to assume I am ready to pop any day. I have only had one other mother (of 5) tell me that I don't look too big for this stage of pregnancy. And maybe she just knows how it is or maybe she was just being nice...

I don't bend anymore and getting out of bed or off the couch or floor requires quite a bit of effort and I am told I have adopted the waddle already.

 This isn't news to me and I expect it by this time, but it's funny how it sneaks up on you. One day you feel sorta pregnant but functional and the next day you can no longer bend over to get your shoes on or pick up toys or get the spoon that fell under the table. Luckily I have little people who can help me with those things. It's only fair since they are closer to the ground and the messes are usually theirs anyway ;)

I'v also realized that I have quite the sweet tooth and I don't remember that in the beginning. But it has to be specific things, like strawberry Pop-Tarts or the Pumpkin Spice Frozen Cappuccino from Wawa. Neither of which I should be having regularly...

 I get the stuff for my glucose test at the end of the month, so that should be fun. I feel fine and I have never failed a glucose test before, but I always worry because there are many people in my family with Diabetes and my mother was borderline during her pregnancy with me and not with my brothers. I don't know if that means anything, but it's always made me a little nervous.

 Plus the drink makes me sooo sick. Why can't we just eat a Pop Tart?

Baby should be about the size of a cantaloupe which seems way too small and way too big at the same time. I think about a cantaloupe not being very big, but then I think about having a whole cantaloupe inside of me on top of everything else that's already in there and it does seem like a lot.

I think I nest my whole pregnancy.  The impending birth, no matter how far away, makes me antsy to get things done.
We have moved the kids into their new rooms, but the stuff is still being consolidated and put away.

We have also  moved my husbands office to the basement where he can be left in peace.  It also gives us a lot more room in our bedroom where the set-up was previously.

It doesn't sound like that much of an undertaking, but it has been going on for about a month now and I still feel like so much has to be done.  Plus there is the all the baby clothes finding and washing and deciding what needs to be replaced or gotten rid of.  I actually got rid of lots of the little boy stuff I had because so much of it was stained and there was another little boy born into the family shortly after Booboo, that needed some things, so I gave a bunch away.  I amazingly have TONS of baby girls things.  And I am having a hard time parting with them...

I still have at least 15 weeks left (if you consider that I never make it past 39 weeks, my last was at 38 weeks and I want baby to be full term, so no more than 3 weeks early please!), but I don't get that much done during the week because of work/school routine and  I must pace myself on the weekends.  That comes to about 14 - 15 weekends of prep-time.  Doesn't sound like a lot when you put it that way, but it's still super exciting!

What do you do to get ready for baby?  Are you a planner or do you wait until the last minute?

     

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19 Weeks

Yesterday was the 19 week marker for this pregnancy and I am pretty happy with how things are going.  Considering the stress of all things going on and this being #4, I feel pretty good.

I have only gained 4-6 Ibs which is phenomenal for me!  I really hope I can keep this pace up because I started over-weight and with each pregnancy I have ended at a higher weight than the previous.  At this rate I have a chance at staying within range of my first pregnancy.

My pain/discomfort level increases as the day wares on, but overall it's not that bad.  I am still sleeping with a toddler in my bed and able to sleep in cramped positions without my pillow (if you sleep with a child in your bed, you may know what I mean).

We just got bunk beds for my 2 older children and they are officially sharing a room.  Last night was the first night that they slept in their new beds and I really hope it was just the excitement of the new situation.  It was a late night and an early morning this morning.  They were organizing and fighting and bugging each other for a solid hour after bed time.

The 5:15 wake up was not welcome (never is...) after being awake from 1am-3am with a sick 18 month old.  Poor little guy has an ear infection and Coxsackie (Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease).

This is also the first week of school for my daughter.  She is officially a bus riding 1st grader and she is super excited!

Can you tell it's been busy around here?  Do you blame me for not getting my blog posts in order this week?  I hope not.

On top of all of this, my husband was stung by a King Bee and ended up with a terrible infection. Two super antibiotics and tons of probiotics later he still feeling wiped out and sick, but the infection is retreating and the swelling has gone down.  I wish I had gotten a picture to show you of the initial sting and the infection when he woke up the next morning - really terrible.

So, next week is the big 20 and we will hopefully find out what we are having!