Sunday, May 30, 2010
Help me think. . .
So I am starting to get a list together of stuff I need to take on vacation. You know, trying to be organized. Keep in mind we only have to take clothes and beach stuff. So, my blog friends, help me think about the things that I need. You know the things that you never really think about, but would be lost if you forgot. Thanks!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Graduation
You know how at the end of Legally Blonde Reese Witherspoon's character exclaims "We did it!"? That is so how I felt! It is so hard to believe it is over, I remember the first day so clearly. Anyway, the day was amazing! I even got a little surprise at the pinning ceremony by getting the Outstanding Student Nurse Award. I knew they gave out two awards but I was certain my friends Michelle and Jinna would get them. Well, Jinna did get one of them, but I got the other. I have never felt so proud of myself in my life. Here are some pictures from my special day!
Monday, May 17, 2010
The Day is Upon Me
That's right ladies! Today was my last and final Final. Can I get a Woo Hoo? I did it, I completed nursing school. It is so weird, I kinda feel like brides sometimes do after their wedding. You know cause they have planned and planned and worked so hard getting ready for that day and then it gets here and then what do you do after that? I know that feeling won't last long, but it is so weird to not have school.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Mother's Day Memory
I wanted to share my most favorite Mother's Day Memory thus far. It was in 2007, Hannah was 4 1/2 and Jackson was about 6 weeks old. I was tired of sitting in the house with my new baby and wanted to get out. So all I asked for that year was a trip to the zoo with my family. We had the best time, Jackson was great, Hannah finally got to do something fun, and I loved getting out. Thinking back I wish I would have done that again this year! And looking at those pictures of Hannah she was so little and looks so much like Jack. It is kinda freaky. . .
Jackson's Story
So now that everyone has been traumatized with Hannah's Story, I thought I would share Jackson's. Again, Scott and I decided it was time to have another baby and all the powers that be agreed and we got pregnant in the first month or so with a due date of April 10, 2007. At the time of this pregnancy I worked with my Ob/Gyn so I had her review my records from Hannah's birth. I was very torn at first between trying a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesearean) or just choosing to have a repeat cesearean. Dr. C is very much an advocate of VBAC so I was fully prepared for her to say I should try it, but she didn't. She said after reading my delivery notes she would recommend a repeat c-section. For a few reasons, I went over my due date, alot and Hannah was a pretty big baby and second babies don't usually get alot smaller. In addition to the fact that when you have had a prior c-section you really can't be induced, the pitocin is too strong for a uterus with a scar. So I agreed, didn't really want to be traumatized again. So it was decided that at 39 weeks we would have a c-section again. This pregnancy was totally uncomplicated, absolutely no blood pressure problems. But there was the anxiety. I was so nervous from about 30 weeks on. I dunno if it is the fact that I worked for an ob/gyn and knew what could go wrong or if it was just normal second time around fears. Anyway, the day arrived. We had to be there at 5:45. My dad and step-mom arrived at the same time to entertain big sis Hannah. I was prepped with the usual IV and monitored. Now, here is the freaky part: I was contracting. I kinda thought I was but not 100% sure and the nurse who took care of me with Hannah very quietly came in and said "Jaimee do you realize you are contracting?" I told her I was. So for a brief moment I wondered, did I make the wrong choice? We proceeded with the delivery as planned and I am so glad I did, Mr. Jackson was even bigger than Hannah and was three weeks earlier than her. Whew! So, this c-section was so different, I was wide awake, remembered everything and got to hold my little man as soon as I got back to my room. I had some nausea, in fact I remember fighting puke begging someone to take him so I didn't puke on him. Anyway, by that evening I was eating and walking the halls. The next evening I went home. It was amazing, not the way God intended delivery, but much better than the first.
Facts:
Due Date: April 10, 2007
Delivery Date: April 3, 2007
Stats: 9 lbs 14.6 oz, 21.5 in
I chose not to breastfeed Jackson. Reasons I justified this were: it didn't work with Hannah, the nurses (at that time) were not supportive with Hannah, Scott wasn't 100% for it, and I didn't want to fail another baby (yes hormones working here). I wish I would have because my milk did come in and I wanted nothing more than to get it out, but that was about day 4 of formula so I toughed it out AND Jackson had horrible colic and milk allergies/sensitivity and we ended up being on the most expensive formula. Lesson learned, if and when I have another baby I will be breastfeeding. period.
Happy Mother's Day!
Facts:
Due Date: April 10, 2007
Delivery Date: April 3, 2007
Stats: 9 lbs 14.6 oz, 21.5 in
I chose not to breastfeed Jackson. Reasons I justified this were: it didn't work with Hannah, the nurses (at that time) were not supportive with Hannah, Scott wasn't 100% for it, and I didn't want to fail another baby (yes hormones working here). I wish I would have because my milk did come in and I wanted nothing more than to get it out, but that was about day 4 of formula so I toughed it out AND Jackson had horrible colic and milk allergies/sensitivity and we ended up being on the most expensive formula. Lesson learned, if and when I have another baby I will be breastfeeding. period.
Happy Mother's Day!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Hannah's Story
Ok, so I haven't "linked up" but like alot of you love birth stories. So, here we go with the story of Miss Hannah's entrance.
***Warning - not for the weak or first time Mom's***
Sometime in 2000 Scott and I moved back to Missouri. We looked and looked for a house but couldn't find one we wanted so we built what we wanted. We went in to that grand adventure knowing as soon as we were moved in it was baby making time! God and Mother Nature agreed and in February of 2002 I found out I was pregnant with a due date of November 14th. My pregnancy was amazingly wonderful, zero morning sickness, yes zero. I did have that fatigue like no other fatigue in the first trimester, but once 14 weeks hit I was great! Didn't gain too much weight, even got a lecture around 24 weeks that it wouldn't hurt me to gain a few more pounds, I had only gained 8 to that point. Time passes on, I begin the daily ice creams and deliveries of Krispy Kreme donuts fresh from St. Louis by my sweet Dad pretty well every Thursday. Around 32 weeks I had a bout with high blood pressure, but it resolved. Then around 37 weeks (October 25th to be exact) it came back and I was put on "modified" bed rest - which meant take care of yourself but nobody else. At this point I am thinking sweet! A few weeks at home to rest, get induced around 39 weeks, life is good. So I go in for my appt at 38 weeks, Dr. D checks me and well I was nothing - firm and high - zero dilation. Seriously? Is that possible? I go home, pout alot, go back the next week and Woo Hoo I am a fingertip!!!!!!!!!!! November 14th rolls along, no change. November 17th I was a 1! November 20th no change but BP is back up. Go back on the 22nd still no change, but BP still up so I get sent to the hospital. Got a little cervadil ("ripens the cervix") placed, BP goes down, cervix does not change and I go on home for the weekend. I remember clearly my nurse saying I will see you over the weekend, this will make you go in labor. SHE LIED! Monday, the 25th arrives and I go in for my appointment. Again BP back up, Dr. D wants me to go back to the hospital, I very clearly told him no, I was not going back unless he promised I wouldn't leave without my baby. He and his nurse Jan got a kick out of that. But he agreed one way or the other I was getting delivered. So I go, get some more cervadil placed to ripen my cervix overnight. I remember being offered a sleeping pill but I refused cause I didn't need it. Well the lady next door was having natural childbirth but didn't have the same composure my amazing sister did and she was loud, so I took that sleeping pill. Somewhere around 3:00 am I had my first contraction. And by first, I mean first ever, no braxton hicks entire pregnancy. Sweet I thought, they go ahead and start my pitocin (Satan made this stuff) and Dr. D breaks my water - keep in mind I am barely a 3. About 30 minutes later I am begging for my epidural cause of that Satan invention. Epidural guy came, got me set up, then starts poking around for the right place. Apparently I have very strong ligaments in my back he says. I remember him getting the epidural in and me laying down. Then I remember saying I was very cold, tired, and far away. I had a vasovagal reaction and my BP was now amazing low - like 70/30. Kinda weird. Anyway, out comes some drugs to line me back out. He spent alot of time with me after that, like about 1.5 hrs to be exact. My husband and mom thought I was in serious trouble cause they wouldn't let them come back. Anyway, things stabilized and I enjoyed a nice nap. I remember around 5:45ish having a major panic attack and of course couldn't get out of bed. That was weird. Around 6:15 pm I started pushing. Apparently my internal monitors weren't working well cause they couldn't really tell when I was having contractions, I did feel the urge to push, but no pain. So I pushed along like that for an hour or so, then they decided she needed more "room" so I got an episiotomy. 20 minutes or so later they felt a vacuum would help bring her on out. Apparently it was super cozy in there. After 2 or 3 "pop offs" it was time for the heavy ammunition - forceps. Yep they still use 'em. After two attempts at pulling me off the table it was determined she was stuck. So consents were signed for a cesarean. Off to the OR we go. Prepped, draped, all that usual stuff. Incision is made, new complication - thick meconium. New panic with the nurses cause there is not a pediatrician there. My OB was great and informed the frantic nurse that he was a medical doctor and could suction the poo out of Hannah's lungs. In the midst of this chaos Scott is looking a little pale and has to step out of the room. Thank goodness he didn't pass out. And somewhere around 8:46 pm Hannah Marie was born. From this point on I remember only a few things: hearing her cry, hearing her size, seeing my mom and dad in recovery, waking up at 2:30am on the 27th to my sweet nurse who stayed long past her shift with me. I believe this is when I have my first recollections of holding her. Then fuzz again until the afternoon when I had some visitors. I really didn't "wake up" until the next night.
So let's run down the facts:
Bedrest: October 25th
Due Date: November 14th
Birth Date: November 26th
Stats: 9 lbs. 6 oz., 21.5 in long
Labor length: 16 hours
Pain control: Epidural
Things I wish I could change: I wish I would have asked for an ultrasound to determine her size, Scott and I were both big babies so I was doomed. I don't think people should rush to c-sections but sometimes they are justified. I don't remember the first time I saw her, no real memories for at least a day. I wanted to breastfeed her, I tried to breastfeed her. But because of her size they insisted I supplement her to keep her blood sugar from bottoming out. She was smart, she figured out very quickly to play around on the breast for a bit cause I syringe of formula was around the corner. I truly believe this is why my milk never came in and I gave up.
Things I am thankful for: A healthy baby girl. So many things could have gone wrong. But her heartbeat was strong the entire time I was in labor. She could have had nerve damage and a paralyzed arm or broken collar bone, but she didn't. She could have gotten part of the way out and then her shoulders not fit, this would have been a true emergency. She showed no signs of infection despite the meconium. She was a formula baby with horrible acid reflux, but today she is perfect.
So, there you have it - the story of how Hannah came into this world.
***Warning - not for the weak or first time Mom's***
Sometime in 2000 Scott and I moved back to Missouri. We looked and looked for a house but couldn't find one we wanted so we built what we wanted. We went in to that grand adventure knowing as soon as we were moved in it was baby making time! God and Mother Nature agreed and in February of 2002 I found out I was pregnant with a due date of November 14th. My pregnancy was amazingly wonderful, zero morning sickness, yes zero. I did have that fatigue like no other fatigue in the first trimester, but once 14 weeks hit I was great! Didn't gain too much weight, even got a lecture around 24 weeks that it wouldn't hurt me to gain a few more pounds, I had only gained 8 to that point. Time passes on, I begin the daily ice creams and deliveries of Krispy Kreme donuts fresh from St. Louis by my sweet Dad pretty well every Thursday. Around 32 weeks I had a bout with high blood pressure, but it resolved. Then around 37 weeks (October 25th to be exact) it came back and I was put on "modified" bed rest - which meant take care of yourself but nobody else. At this point I am thinking sweet! A few weeks at home to rest, get induced around 39 weeks, life is good. So I go in for my appt at 38 weeks, Dr. D checks me and well I was nothing - firm and high - zero dilation. Seriously? Is that possible? I go home, pout alot, go back the next week and Woo Hoo I am a fingertip!!!!!!!!!!! November 14th rolls along, no change. November 17th I was a 1! November 20th no change but BP is back up. Go back on the 22nd still no change, but BP still up so I get sent to the hospital. Got a little cervadil ("ripens the cervix") placed, BP goes down, cervix does not change and I go on home for the weekend. I remember clearly my nurse saying I will see you over the weekend, this will make you go in labor. SHE LIED! Monday, the 25th arrives and I go in for my appointment. Again BP back up, Dr. D wants me to go back to the hospital, I very clearly told him no, I was not going back unless he promised I wouldn't leave without my baby. He and his nurse Jan got a kick out of that. But he agreed one way or the other I was getting delivered. So I go, get some more cervadil placed to ripen my cervix overnight. I remember being offered a sleeping pill but I refused cause I didn't need it. Well the lady next door was having natural childbirth but didn't have the same composure my amazing sister did and she was loud, so I took that sleeping pill. Somewhere around 3:00 am I had my first contraction. And by first, I mean first ever, no braxton hicks entire pregnancy. Sweet I thought, they go ahead and start my pitocin (Satan made this stuff) and Dr. D breaks my water - keep in mind I am barely a 3. About 30 minutes later I am begging for my epidural cause of that Satan invention. Epidural guy came, got me set up, then starts poking around for the right place. Apparently I have very strong ligaments in my back he says. I remember him getting the epidural in and me laying down. Then I remember saying I was very cold, tired, and far away. I had a vasovagal reaction and my BP was now amazing low - like 70/30. Kinda weird. Anyway, out comes some drugs to line me back out. He spent alot of time with me after that, like about 1.5 hrs to be exact. My husband and mom thought I was in serious trouble cause they wouldn't let them come back. Anyway, things stabilized and I enjoyed a nice nap. I remember around 5:45ish having a major panic attack and of course couldn't get out of bed. That was weird. Around 6:15 pm I started pushing. Apparently my internal monitors weren't working well cause they couldn't really tell when I was having contractions, I did feel the urge to push, but no pain. So I pushed along like that for an hour or so, then they decided she needed more "room" so I got an episiotomy. 20 minutes or so later they felt a vacuum would help bring her on out. Apparently it was super cozy in there. After 2 or 3 "pop offs" it was time for the heavy ammunition - forceps. Yep they still use 'em. After two attempts at pulling me off the table it was determined she was stuck. So consents were signed for a cesarean. Off to the OR we go. Prepped, draped, all that usual stuff. Incision is made, new complication - thick meconium. New panic with the nurses cause there is not a pediatrician there. My OB was great and informed the frantic nurse that he was a medical doctor and could suction the poo out of Hannah's lungs. In the midst of this chaos Scott is looking a little pale and has to step out of the room. Thank goodness he didn't pass out. And somewhere around 8:46 pm Hannah Marie was born. From this point on I remember only a few things: hearing her cry, hearing her size, seeing my mom and dad in recovery, waking up at 2:30am on the 27th to my sweet nurse who stayed long past her shift with me. I believe this is when I have my first recollections of holding her. Then fuzz again until the afternoon when I had some visitors. I really didn't "wake up" until the next night.
So let's run down the facts:
Bedrest: October 25th
Due Date: November 14th
Birth Date: November 26th
Stats: 9 lbs. 6 oz., 21.5 in long
Labor length: 16 hours
Pain control: Epidural
Things I wish I could change: I wish I would have asked for an ultrasound to determine her size, Scott and I were both big babies so I was doomed. I don't think people should rush to c-sections but sometimes they are justified. I don't remember the first time I saw her, no real memories for at least a day. I wanted to breastfeed her, I tried to breastfeed her. But because of her size they insisted I supplement her to keep her blood sugar from bottoming out. She was smart, she figured out very quickly to play around on the breast for a bit cause I syringe of formula was around the corner. I truly believe this is why my milk never came in and I gave up.
Things I am thankful for: A healthy baby girl. So many things could have gone wrong. But her heartbeat was strong the entire time I was in labor. She could have had nerve damage and a paralyzed arm or broken collar bone, but she didn't. She could have gotten part of the way out and then her shoulders not fit, this would have been a true emergency. She showed no signs of infection despite the meconium. She was a formula baby with horrible acid reflux, but today she is perfect.
So, there you have it - the story of how Hannah came into this world.
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