Happy Birthday Baby John!!

Weighing in at 8lbs 9ozs, measuring 21 1/2 inches long, born by emergency c-section on October 23, 2009 at 4:15pm, please put your hands together for John Phillip Fry!!

Last Friday, I went into the doctor for my weekly fetal non-stress test and while I was hooked up to the fetal monitor they took my blood pressure, which was very high. It has been high throughout the pregnancy, but this was higher then it had ever been, and the doctor came in and told me she wanted me to be admitted until I had the baby because she felt it would be safer for me. When I asked if I would be having the baby that day, she said she thought it would either be that weekend or they would just have me wait until the 30th, which is when I had my original c-section scheduled. So off to the hospital we went, and they put me in the OB Triage to wait for the nurse to be in to get me all set up. Phil and I were in that room for about 5 minutes when the nurse came in and said that the doctor on duty set me up to have my c-section a few hours from then, and they were going to take me to labor and delivery to start getting me prepped. Phil and I just looked at each other like what!!?? It was a total surprise that it was going to be happening right then and there, because I thought for sure they were going to make me wait another week. So I called my mom to tell her and dad to get done there as soon as they can, and off to labor and delivery we went.

After getting prepped and my parents finally getting to the hospital, they had Phil dress in scrubs and took me off to the operating room to get the epidural and start the c-section. I have never been so nervous in my life, I was shaking like a leaf the entire time and nothing I could do could stop that. Luckily the epidural went in without any problems, and once I was laid down on the table and the medicine started kicking in, Phil was brought in to sit next to me. At 4:08pm they started and at 4:15pm John was born. He cried right away and my heart just soared and as soon as they brought him around the curtain and showed him to me I just started crying. He was perfect, and he was ours, and we had waited so long for him. Phil went right over to him and they had him cut the cord and since he was doing so well, they took him to recovery to weigh him and wait for me, and they sent Phil with them while they spent the next 45 minutes putting me back together. I was so impatient the entire time, I just wanted them to hurry up so I could get to recovery and see my baby boy.

In recovery, I was still shaking so bad, and the nurse told me that it is normal, it was just hormones from just having a baby, and it was so bad at first I wasn't able to hold John, but they brought him to me and I just couldn't believe how beautiful he was and that I did that. My family came in two at a time to see him and two hours later, I was transferred to my postpartum room and was finally able to really hold John and check him out, of course checking to make sure he had all his fingers and toes.

I was in the hospital for four days, and was able to come home Tuesday night. John is in perfect health and even though he seems to have his days and nights mixed up and Phil and I pretty much are running on a few hours sleep here and there, we couldn't be prouder of what we have created and the new family we now have. It seems so strange to me at times that I actually have a son. I guess I thought I would never have a child of my own, just like a never thought I would get married, but now I have a family of my own, we just moved into a nice and bigger apartment that allows John to have his own room, a dog that is still trying to figure out what the heck this little person is, and great family and friends that love me and support me along the way. I couldn't be more blessed.

37 Week Appointment and Hospital Stay

Tuesday we went in for our normal prenatal appointment and as always, they first get me hooked up to the fetal monitor and take my blood pressure. Now, since becoming pregnant my blood pressure has been on the high side, but I have had every lab test done and even done a 24 hour urine collection and all has come back that I just have maternal hypertension and I'll be fine. Well, my blood pressure was through the roof both times they checked it, so the doctor told me she wanted me to go right to the hospital and be admitted for a 24 hour observation and also do another 24 hour urine collection to rule out the possibility of me having preeclampsia. They kept asking me if I had a headache or blurred vision or felt bad, but I felt fine. I was more worried about baby then myself, but they assured me that he was fine, it was me that they were concerned about, and if there was any health risks to me, they would take the baby right away.

So basically, I sat in the hospital for 24 hours, collecting my pee, just for them to tell me last night around 10pm that everything came back fine and I was free to go home right then and just go to my regular prenatal visit next week. In a way, I know it was best for me to be in there because if there was a problem then things about be done, but I truly felt like I could have been taking my blood pressure at home and peeing in a bucket at home where I would have been comfortable. I guess a lot of it is because since I was already in the hospital, I just wanted John to be able to be delivered, because I am at the point where I am just uncomfortable and ready for him to come out. Plus, when the did an ultrasound on him, he is already at 8 1/2 pounds!!! But they say his lungs may still need to be developed a little more, so once I heard that, I felt better about making sure he stays in here at least another week or so. But more then likely they are going to schedule the c-section for next week.

So now I am home and taking it easy. We are moving this weekend and have so much to do around here, and I keep feeling the need to grab some boxes and just start packing and cleaning, but I am having a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions when I do too much, which they said is normal, and plus with my blood pressure I know I have to take it easy and just let Phil handle everything. The best news today though is that my doctor's office just called and they are faxing a note to my work letting them know I missed work yesterday because I was in the hospital, and that I am on restricted activity and will not be able to return to work through the remainder of my pregnancy, so I am officially on maternity leave!! Another thing I don't have to worry about, just as long as we can get through this move and then bring this baby into the world and home where he belongs.

Stubborn Baby

Last Tuesday, at our 36 week prenatal appointment, they checked the baby's fluid and we discovered that John is still in the breech position, his head is up, right above my belly button, and in fact every time he turns his head from side to side (which he does a lot), the whole top of my belly moves. As cute as that is, the doctor gave us about a 5 percent chance that he is going to turn on his own, which means it looks like I am going to end up having a scheduled c-section. To be honest, as much as I would love to have a regular delivery, there has always been something in my head that made me think I was going to end up having the c-section, and I wasn't even upset when the doctor told me this. Disappointed, yes, but not upset, because whatever we need to do to deliver him safely is what I care about, and if it means surgery, then I am for it. So Tuesday we go for his growth ultrasound and we will see what they said then. I doubt very much he is going to turn on his own, because he is still in the same position, and I think he is just comfy there. My main worries and concerns are after the c-section, such as my healing time, which they say will be longer for me because I am unable to walk, and what it will be like for me when I have to transfer from my chair to the car or my bed, and such. But those things are for me to deal with, and I will with no complaints, because it means that my son came into this world safely and is happy and healthy. As a mother, you have to put your needs aside for the well-being of your child, and I would go through this a thousand times over just to be able to have him here with us.

As for everything else, I feel like I am living in chaos as our move is coming up on the 18th and our house is just a mess. Moving is such a pain, trying to pack up everything, and weed through things you haven't used since you first moved in. And I am really no help at all because I can no longer bend over easily, or lift anything, and anything I do just wears me out, so Phil has to be the one who does this whole thing. I try to help out with what I can, but mostly I just supervise. Then, once we get moved next weekend, that place will be a mess, and we have a very short time to get it somewhat organized and get John's room ready before his arrival. Of course, this is not the best time to move when your nine months pregnant and could go into labor at anytime, but our lease is up and we couldn't pass up on the amazing deal with were able to get on a two bedroom, plus John needed his own room. Luckily, my aunt Kelly, uncle Rick, and cousin J are helping Phil with the move, so I don't feel so bad about just sitting back and directing where the boxes go, as that is about all anyone will let me do.

And lastly, it looks like I am going to be taking my maternity leave 2 weeks earlier then I had planned. Work is just getting to be really tough on me, I can't sit in my chair for very long because my back hurts all the time and my feet and ankles get so swollen, and the bigger I get the more tired I am, and trying to work for 8 hours is miserable. So tonight I work a 4 hour shift, and the same with Monday, and then on Tuesday I am having the doctor write me a note saying I am taking my leave now. They have me starting my leave as of my due date, Nov. 5th, but with scheduling a c-section he is more then likely going to be here before that, and I really could just use this time to rest, get his nursery ready at the new place, and have a little Kimbo time before it all becomes John time.