Welcome to the World (part 1)

My parents had come into town back on July 4th and my dad had to leave on Monday night in order to get back for a day of work. He asked me when he thought the baby would be born and I told him not until he got back. He left when I was 40 weeks and 1 day and came back on Wednesday afternoon when I was 40 weeks and 3 days.

It was very important for me to have my dad at my birth. He was there for both Ryann and Cara's birth (my mom was too!) and since I was having this baby at home I really wanted him there.

(Most people who read my blog know that my dad is an OBGYN, but just incase you didn't know, he is... I didn't expect any complications at my birth, but I wanted him there anyway.)

Anyway, he got back to Phoenix around 2pm and then around 3pm I convinced him and my mom to watch the movie, What To Expect When You Are Expecting. It is a silly movie, but I told myself the labor vibes might rub off on me. During that time I bounced on my exercise ball to try and stimulate labor. Towards the end of the movie I started to have a couple contractions. They started to slowly come and they felt a little different which was a good thing. At 5:45 I started to get hopeful and I changed into "labor clothes" that I would feel comfortable in if I went into labor. Now, I had already done this on two other occasions so I didn't say anything because I didn't want to jinx myself.

Then at 630 I started to think that this was really maybe going to be it. I was trying to relax in between contractions but not too much relaxing, because I didn't want them to stop. I then started having to breathe through my contractions. Then at 640 I asked Rich to turn on the "homebirth playlist" on his itunes. This playlist consisted of all piano music, a lot of it which was primary hymns. I even took a picture of the playlist and put it on instagram.

At this time I thought about timing my contractions but the thought of that was annoying and I thought it would be too time consuming. So I didn't. I really had no idea how close they were I just knew that they were starting to command my attention. The only thing I did had time for was to write down the times that things were happening because I wanted to make sure I could remember it all and write my birth story.

At 645 I (or my mom) texted my family to let them know that this might be it. I also had texted my doula and midwife before this so that they could prep their families in order to free themselves up to make it in time for the birth. Also while this was going on my parents, the girls, and Rich were eating dinner downstairs. I didn't really feel like eating corn on the cob and ribs, so I passed on that and hung out upstairs for awhile.

At 725 I wanted to know if there really was anything going on so I checked myself and I was 5 1/2cm dilated. I let my midwife know because she had just been waiting for me to tell her that "this was it" so she could come on over. Rich and my dad were upstairs trying to fill up the birthing tub with water because my plan was to have a waterbirth. There of course was some humor in this becasue Rich decided it would cost too much to buy a brand new hose, so the "faucet extension" he was using was way too short to reach and it was making quite the mess.

My doula came over at 730 and I put her to work immediately. She would push on my back during every contraction and so for the next 20 minutes I was still able to talk and chat in between contractions, even though during the contractions I really had to focus.

At 750 the tub was finally full enough that I could get in it. I jumped in almost immediately and it felt nice to be submerged in the water. 

There were a lot of differences that I was noticing between this birth and Cara's birth. With Cara I had practiced hypnobirthing throughout the pregnancy. I was calm and relaxed and totally focused with Cara. I was really quiet throughout the whole thing. However, I wasn't really "present" with the birth. I didn't know what to do to make my body feel better, I didn't recognize how far along I was or how fast things were progressing with Cara. I really was in a self hypnosis state. It was really neat, really easy, and quick. 

With Mac I was very present throughout the entire thing. I could think in between and even during contractions. I was comparing what I was experiencing now to what I had experienced before and I was even talking about it during the labor. When I first got in the tub I was laughing and joking with my sisters who were both on facetime with us. I was able to tell my doula what things to do to make my contractions feel better. I was aware when I was thirsty and what I wanted to drink. I also was aware of what kind of interventions would make my contractions more tolerable. However, this labor HURT. It was hard and seemed endless even though it was also very fast. I was loud, I moaned, I swayed, I changed positions and I remember myself saying "I can't do this" quite a few times. (even though I knew I could... it is just what sounded right to say.)

After I got in the tub Ryann and Cara made some pictures and cards for me. This was the sweetest thing. The girls were so excited that Baby Mac was coming. Ryann wrote:

Dear Mom, I love you. You gave me a great hug. You gave me a great kiss. I love you where ever we go. I love my baby brother. I love my brother. I hope you feel better soon. I hope baby brother comes soon. I love you. Love Ryann

Getting Closer

I still haven't finished the room, but slow and steady progress right?  I need a crib skirt and I made these felt monsters to sew on to the curtains? I think. I still haven't decided.

 The changing pad cover is in the mail, and everything is washed and ready to go. 

 Now we just twiddle our thumbs until Baby Mac comes I guess. 

Or I could finish up these projects... hmmm... or watch Hart of Dixie on Netflix. 

So far today Hart of Dixie has won out. 

Maternity Leave

I am on partial maternity leave now. So strange because I never went on leave before my girls were born. 

Ryann I worked Sunday night to Monday morning and I had her Tuesday.

Cara I always had Wednesdays off from work and I had her on a Wednesday. 

This time around I have anywhere between 30 and 40 patients scheduled a day, and that is a LOT of patients to have to reschedule, so my office manager requested that I stop working in the office this week to save the hassle of rescheduling everyone.

I was more than happy to do this, however, I still have some simple office procedures scheduled for today and I was on call yesterday and will be on call today.

 (I delivered a cute little boy yesterdat morning named Blake! and I just found out a friend has a Blake with a birthday yesterday too! He is 11 though)

So on my "day off" of maternity leave yesterday I spent some time with the girls. Cara and I went to her tumbling class, we took naps together, then we went to Yoasis (without daddy!) because in all reality they will be doing lots of daddy daughter dates coming up and I will have to miss out on some of those. We also went swimming. 

If I am preggo much longer I foresee some pedicures, trips to the mall, baking cookies, more swimming, trips to sonic, and especially time with Grandma and Grandpa!!  Yahoo!

Bowling

The day I delivered Cara I went bowling. 

Not so much happened with Baby Mac. But it was still fun to go bowling.

 Baby Hazel enjoyed it. 

 Cara loved the air vent. 

 Auntie Devyn loved it. 

 Hazel even got to throw a few down the lane.

 Rich won the game of course. I blame it on the bumpers. 

Here is a classic bowling ball picture with another one under my shirt... right?

 My sweet Ryry

 Sisters. 

 One more picture with the bowling ball for good measure. 

Tattoos

With Auntie Devyn in town the girls and her found some neat things at target... like Superman tattoos.

 Obviously everyone got tattoos, even baby Mac!

Progress

Basically the only things I have ready for Mac is ummmm... a crib with a crib sheet. 

Poor guy, stinks to be a third child who is going to share his room with Daddy's office. 

It is okay though, because he is sure loved.

Here I hung a small banner with well wishes from friends who came to my baby shower. 

 His big sisters sure love him too.  Ryann decided to make him a sign so everyone can know where his room is. 

 Rich also hung some pictures, so now I have some decorations, and a crib with a crib sheet. 

 Hurry out here mommy!  I need help making some bedding and a mobile for him.

36 Weeks

This entire pregnancy I have felt that this baby will be born very close to his due date. I am hot and tired and swollen, but I really do want him to stay in until July. There are so many things to do and so many things to get done and I know that babies are so much harder on the outside than they are on the inside!

Plus, the lack of sleep I am not looking forward to. 

Don't get me wrong, I am very excited for Baby Mac to join our family and everyone else is too.

 With that being said, I thought it would be really fun to remind Rich that anytime after next week, he is safe to join our family, since he will be "full term".

Rich didn't think it was so fun. After church all he could ask about what what was left to get ready for him, what did we need, is there some sort of checklist I can put together for him, etc. 

Ready or not, the countdown has begun. 

Anxiously Awaiting

I am anxiously awaiting the rest of my maternity photos!  Well, family pictures really, but throw a few in of my big belly and I am excited!

Anxious for baby Mac? Nah, he can wait inside and cook a little longer. I might be changing my mood come some 110+ degree weather, but for now, we both will stay inside.

Baby Mac's Room

My sweet cousin Mallory is a graphic designer. I love what she does and makes. I found some samples of cute monster prints on etsy and told her what I wanted and this is what she came up with!

 I love them and I printed them out last night and framed them. 

Now I just need Rich to hang them on the wall. I normally would do it, but the furniture is all in the way and my big ole belly won't let me reach that far. 

After that is done I have to do it get his bedding together and we will be set.

 The countdown has started.

About 5 weeks to go!

Best Part of Pregnancy

Seriously, it doesn't get much better than this: 

 Eating everything and having a built in table. Pregnancy rocks. 

Pneumonia

On Thursday night I had some spicy Mexican food for dinner. It gave me heartburn. So then I slept almost upright and somehow pinched a nerve in my neck.

Friday I wasn't so hot. My neck hurt and my back hurt and my shoulder hurt. 

Eventually I was at the hospital waiting for a baby to make it's entrance into the world and it started hurting when I took deep breaths. 

 I figured I just needed to see a chiropractor because this pinched nerve was getting a little out of control.

So I scheduled an appointment, but not until Tuesday. 

When I got home from the delivery I was a hot mess. I was in pain and achy and couldn't breathe right. I got into the bath and stayed there for a very long time. I went to bed feeling slightly better.

Saturday morning comes around and I am on call. I head off to the hospitals around 615, see my patients, get some breakfast and I decide to call my dad. I explain my symptoms, we triage myself together to try and make sure it is all normal and then I head off to the office. I see about 8 patients when I realize that I am not doing so well. 

I am short of breath. It hurts to breathe. The left side of my chest has a lot of pain. I start breathing really fast and notice that I am making a weird grunting noise when I breathe. I start sweating a little bit. 

But then I have to ignore it because there is another baby about to be born. So I hurry to the hospital, catch the baby, then go back to the office for the next 8 or so patients. The whole time I am trying to convince myself that I am fine, but really I start to know that I am not. 

I text my dad my symptoms, as well as the OB that I work with and I tell them I am going to be evaluated in OB traige. I feel so silly going, because I figure that it is just some weird pregnancy related symptom that was associated with the pinched nerve, but by this time I can't slow down my breathing that I don't even care anymore. 

(here is my lovely snacks and water at my bedside table)

So they ran some blood tests, did an EKG, noticed my heart rate was elevated, and did a chest x-ray that came up with pneumonia! Seriously, pneumonia?? Who gets pneumonia in April in phoenix?  Well, I guess overtired, overworked midwives who are pregnant and are around sick people all the time. 

(Last pregnancy I had shingles, so I guess I would take pneumonia over that.)

So needless to say, I am off call and taking some time to lay in bed all day long (and catch up on blogging of course!) because I need to get better before I fly off to Utah on Thursday to watch my baby brother marry the love of his life. 

Thank you for all the prayers and well wishes. After a couple doses of antibiotics, fevers off and on all night (but none today!), a blessing, and some rest I am starting to feel that I will kick this little bugger very quickly. 

Busy Day With Ryann

A couple weeks ago Ryann and I spent some mommy daughter time together. 

We met a friend for some lunch at a crepe place. I would be lying if I told you that I didn't eat all of mine and then most of Ryann's as well. 

Then we headed over to target. I got a couple things that I needed and then daddy decided he wanted to come meet us there with Cara, so we had 30 minutes or so to kill so Ryann and I decided to Register at target for Baby Mac. 

 It was fun and more fun until it wasn't. Then Ryann spent some time being silly and hiding. 

28 Weeks

Plugging right along. I am starting to see a lot more weight in my face and yesterday I was pretty swollen from being up all weekend long for a lot of births. But the swelling usually goes down if I get some rest and am able to put my feet up. 

He definitely moves more than the girls, which is a lot of fun for us all, especially the girls!  They love to feel him move and kick like crazy. 

Loved

Yes baby Mac, you are loved. 

This is a very normal occurrence at our house. Ryann loves to talk to my belly, kiss it, hug it and blow raspberries on my belly. 

I love it too. 

24 Weeks

Is it bad that I cropped out the messy part of my house for this picture?

I guess I could say that I had to crop out a lot... Oh well, these days I am okay with some mess. 

Or a lot of mess, depends on how long I have been on call!!

Ultrasound Pictures

Be warned, I am not against flashing baby boy parts on the blog on an ultrasound!

My cute little Mac. 

Look at this brain... so stinking cool if you ask me!

Did I mention his head is measuring in the 88%... this baby may have a Wagner head. Yikes~

It does look like he has a Wagner nose though, we will have to see how my next ultrasound goes in a couple months. 

Just in case you weren't sure the first time, here is a repeat performance. 

Gender Reveal to Family and Friends

For this baby I wanted to do something special for when we found out the gender. I didn't care boy/girl I just wanted to make a big deal out of it. Rich wanted to know why I was making such a big deal out of it.  I told him there were many reasons:

1. Pinterest

2. If it was another girl I wanted to convince myself to be just as excited as if it was a boy

3. It was the first baby that Rich got to find out if it was a boy or a girl with me!

4. It took a lot longer to get pregnant with this baby than our others

5. And seriously who doesn't want an awesome cake or celebration?

 So I made the cake and the girls decorated it with the pink and blue candies we got.

 Then we headed over to the Baker's house and had some family on facetime when we cut the amazing blue cake!

We are so excited that we are having a bouncing baby boy.