Her first few days

Daisy is already 12 days old and growing like a weed!  Well, she hasn't gained back her birth weight yet, but I feel like she is so much bigger now than she was when she was born. 

I just can't believe how adorable she is. 

Her jaundice still hasn't gone down to a healthy level.  Yesterday they called me and said it was at 14.9.  Poor baby girl has to get her foot pricked all the time to check her levels.  The doctor said they tested her blood and said it was NOT a problem with her liver (thank you God) but instead a problem with my breast milk.  So every day we have to give her at least one bottle of formula to help flush out the bilirubin.  The doctor also said it is NOT due to an under functioning thyroid gland.  She was on phototherapy for awhile.  It was actually pretty cute.  It is this suitcase with bright blue lights in it, almost like a tanning bed.  Here's what she looked like in the bed:

Thankfully she doesn't have to use the bed anymore.  I pray her bilirubin levels keep going down.  It would break my heart to see her jaundice get worse. 

Anyway, her cord finally fell out on Sunday so we gave her a nice bath on Monday. 

She didn't cry during it, but we couldn't tell if she liked it or not.  She had such a stern face the whole time!! 

I caught a great smile from her when we were waiting for Matt in the car. 

She is such a happy baby!!!  I love it :) 

Pushing Daisy

Daisy was born last Saturday, the 19th of November.  I started having contractions at 3am on Friday morning, but wasn't admitted to the hospital until 6pm that night when I was finally 4cm dilated.  After 2 hours of really painful contractions, the doctors gave me an epidural.  Once that kicked in, I actually fell asleep!!!  I could still feel the contractions, but they were much easier to deal with.  I was in and out of sleep until about 4:30 am when the midwife gave me some petocin.  She said Daisy was close to crowning on her own, but my contractions needed to be closer together to push her out.  When I finally started pushing, it only took about 15 minutes for her to come out. 


It was amazing finally seeing Daisy.  I couldn't believe how beautiful she was.  She weighed 8 lbs and 10 ounces.  Since she was so big, they had to check her glucose levels to make sure she was a "healthy big".  And she was :) 

About 2 hours after Daisy came out, Matt noticed my skin was really pale.  So we called the nurse and she saw that I was bleeding a lot more than I should be.  When she pushed on my abdomen, a huge blood clot came out, and I felt a lot worse.  I don't remember much of this point, but I do remember them giving me a pain medicine that made me feel really drunk.  I could hear a lot of nurses and doctors in my room, rushing around.  Someone ended up giving me stitches, but I felt every little prick.  I remember hearing Matt's voice, saying that everything was going to be okay and that I was strong and could do it.  The commotion died down, and I opened my eyes again.  The doctor told the nurse to watch me carefully and that I may need to go into the OR.  It was all pretty scary.  Thankfully my mom was there to hold Daisy and Matt was there to hold my hand and kiss my forehead.  But I got better and wasn't hemorrhaging anymore. 

I'm glad that Daisy is finally here though.  She is simply amazing, and I love her so much.  And seeing Matt with her is great.  He is such a good dad already. 

A great contribution

Today I had another doctor appointment.  The doctor did all the normal things like blood pressure, fundal height check, and fetal heart rate.  They also did a strep test.  Nothing too dangerous, but then again nothing good for the baby to get.  So if I run positive for the test they will give me medications during labor to help prevent passing it to the baby.  And the last test they did was check my cervix.  I am already 1cm dilated!!! 

The doctor said that it's good I'm already dilating.  Most first time mom, he said, don't start this early and it's harder for them when it comes to labor.  But he told me that since I am dilating already I need to be more prepared for signs of labor. 

The other day Matt's mom sent us a box of mail, and in it she had a flier for cord blood banking with a little note saying "might be something good to look into."  So I asked my doctor about it this morning and he said they don't have the equipment to do it at the hospital on base, but I could contact the cord center and they would send the equipment to the hospital. 

I got home and researched it a little more.  I found a few great informational sites.  There have been cases where families have helped treat their child's leukemia.  It's amazing to me how something so natural in life, usually wasted, can save a little kids life from some diseases.  However, I don't think I can save my baby's cord blood.  It is just too expensive....

One company, the cheapest I found, starts at 20 years for $1900 and then $100 a year after that.  I wish we had the money to do it.

But I did find out that I can donate the cord blood, just like you can donate regular blood.  I think this is what I am going to do.  It would bring me so much happiness knowing that instead of wasting the cord blood, I could be saving another kids life.  So first thing Monday morning, I am going to call a donation center and get the equipment sent to my hospital.  I think it'll be such a great contribution :)

Finally....some dinner!!

Our hobby as turned into more of an obsession.  We bought some cheap fishing poles and now we go fishing 3-4 times a week.  We even went fishing the other day when it was 28 degrees and snowing outside.  But after about 5 times of going to the lake and not catching anything, Matt finally rounded one up.

It was so exciting watching him reel it in.  The expression on his face was like a little kid on Christmas morning: priceless.  I didn't catch one that day, but that didn't stop us from cooking the one he caught up for dinner.  Delicious!!

A few days later, and after more research, we were back out on the lake.  This time we tried using salmon eggs for bait.  And guess what?  It worked!!  We both caught a fish that day!

I couldn't believe I finally caught my very first fish!!

Matt gutted his like he did before with his first fish, but I was a little hesitant to doing one myself.  But I did! 

It was super slimy and honestly a little gross, but it was fun learning how to do it.  I even gave the guts to Coco who loved them almost more than a tasty dog treat.  After my experimental hour of gutting the fish, we finally put them in a baking dish and cooked them up for dinner.  Yummy!! I'm so glad that Matt and I have found something fun we can do together.  It's been interesting learning how to do everything, but I'm sure we will get better with time. 

The end is near!

So, Matt and I finally went to Lamaze class.  It was a two day process, but definitely worth it.  We learned a bunch of calming techniques for when I am in labor which we now practice every day.  It was also nice to learn what to really expect on the big day.  There were so many things I didn't know! 

My "according to last period" due date isn't until the 27th of November, but Matt and I always had this hunch that she will come out earlier than that.  Even at my 20 week ultrasound, they said she looked older than that due date predicted.  They thought she was about two weeks older giving me a due date of the 13th of November. 

At Lamaze class, the birthing nurse talked about signs of labor, and signs of preterm labor (meaning "if you see these signs, you will probably have the baby within two weeks").  There were six signs to be aware of for preterm labor:
-Nesting
-Lightning/engagement
-Pelvic floor pressure
-Diarrhea and bowel disturbance
-Braxton Hicks contractions
-Lose of mucous plug, bloody show

I am already experiencing four of those signs (the first four), maybe even five.  I'm not quite sure how to determine what a Braxton Hicks contraction feels like. Sometimes I feel like I have them, but sometimes it feels different. So maybe I have them, maybe I don't. 

Either way, I think baby girl is about to be here soon.  Hopefully she grows a little bit more and gives me more time to clean.   But we can't wait to welcome her into this world.  She is going to be great :)

water grass and pumpkins

Matt and I have found a new favorite hobby....Fishing!!!  We both got a license to fish on Fort Carson for $15.  They have a few lakes on base, but we've only been to one so far.  We went last weekend and it was really cold outside, but yesterday was a perfect day.  It was chilly, but comfortable. 

We didn't catch anything again, but got a few nibbles.  The most we caught was water grass. 

Eventually we want to buy our own poles instead of having to rent, and maybe one day we will catch something.  It's just so nice getting to spend some great time together. 

After fishing, we drove to Canon City and went to a family owned corn maze and pumpkin patch.  It was kind of difficult walking through the maze.  I felt a little sick and the baby kept pushing out on my stomach making it harder. But we found the exit and sat down.  It was kind of fun picking out our own pumpkins. 

I think we got some good ones. 

We even got this nice picture together, taken by Matt's friends wife. (I edited it though.  The original picture had poor lighting).

I can't wait to have more adventures like this one, especially when the baby comes. 

Healthy and loving

I had my 34 week check up at the doctors this week.  Everything looked good.  I've gained 36 pounds so far (I was under weight to begin with, but I still feel like a huge porker), my blood pressure was "outstanding," and the baby seemed to have a great heart beat.  I've been having problems with heartburn, so the doc gave me some medicine to calm that down.

But a few months ago, while I was in California, another doctor noticed a lump in my breast.  It's never really bothered me, but poor Matt has been so worried about it.  So finally my doctor here in Colorado ordered a breast imaging exam.  Matt left work early to be with me at the hospital, but he wasn't allowed in the area where it was being done.  It felt like I was sitting in the back room for more than an hour before they started the exam. 

The lady was nice though.  She asked about the pregnancy and kept me talking while she did the ultrasound.  But then the radiologist walked in.  He looked a little worried.  He stared at the screen then finally turned to me.  He said it was nothing to worry about.  "A common occurrence in pregnant women" he said.  He used words I don't quit understand, but something was blocked, and it wasn't liquid, but it was benign.  He said to come back after I have the baby for another exam and a possible removal. 

I went out to find Matt in the waiting room.  He quickly jumped up to ask the news and I told him.  His face lit up with such joy.  Gosh, I love this guy.  He hugged me and kissed me and said "Thank you God for my healthy Elbee!" The whole walk to the car, he held me tightly.  I couldn't believe how relieved he was.  I feel so lucky to have him.  I wouldn't trade him for the world :)

So here I am...

I'm 34 weeks pregnant and so ready to meet our baby girl!  I already know she is going to be an active little thing.  She kicks and punches me at all times of the day.  Even the doctors tell me she is the most active they have ever seen.  She doesn't get that from me!  I can bet she will look and act a lot like her daddy. 

Matt has been so great during the whole pregnancy.  My favorite part is when he leans over, kisses my tummy, and says "I can't wait to meet her and teach her everything I know!"  I couldn't have been more lucky in life.