tuesday update

shes doing great!! she is completely off her respirator (CPAP) and so that means shes breathing 100% on her own! HURRAY!!! She still has her feeding tube down her throat but hopefully tomorrow that will be gone. We're going to attempt to bottle feed her this afternoon and she how she takes to that. Shes a champ at sucking her binkie so hopefully she does just as great with her bottle.

shes such a fiesty thing! last night we were with her and so were my parents and they had her on belly... no shit, she got up on all fours and was squirming ALL OVER!! My parents thought I was nuts when I first told them how she does that but they've seen it so they know how active she is now! They have her with this shade over her eyes since shes under the wallaby light for her jaundice and she HATES it so I think she squirms trying to get it off!! Shes a trip! Today, her knees were all red for being so darn active last night!

So we're doing great and every day she's making progress. She gained 3/4 of an ounce yesterday.. which seems minimal but when youre THAT little, every little bit helps!! Keep it up Callie Girl and you'll be home in no time!

Thanks to EVERYONE for their support. Honestly, we would we be lost without it!

pictures of my princess!

her eyes were wide open! she was under her light due to jaundice... looks like shes tanning!
hanging out with daddy!

the three of us... cant wait to get a pic of our family of 4. Cole is DYING to meet her!

Saturday

Morning all. Can't believe our little girl is here... Im still having a really hard time grasping the reality that she's ACTUALLY here. Bless her little heart.

Last night we spent hours down with her. Around 9pm they wanted to give her a sponge bath and asked if we wanted to do it. I couldn't because I can't stand for that long, so Craig did it! When he took off her diaper, she pooped on him!! Go Callie! Thats my girl get Daddy!! They took off her hat and she has this thin dark hair... so stinking cute. I'll try to get those pics uploaded today sometime.

Once she was bathed we got her all tucked in and she laid on her belly and just stared at Coles picture in her bed. We taped a picture of him in there and she'll just lay there and look at him. Then Craig was rubbing her hand and she opened it up and grasped it and wouldn't let him go. It made me cry.

We've both shed a lot of tears over our little girl but know she's in the best hands she can be. It's not easy seeing your baby lay there with all those tubes and wires hooked up to her. Definately the hardest thing I've ever been through.

Everyone keeps asking me how surgery went... honestly, it was rough. I got the epidural and as soon as they laid me down, I puked. They said its normal but it wasn't a fun feeling. Once they got me all ready, Craig came in and sat next to me. I could feel all the pressure as they TUGGED to get her out. She was wedged in there good. Shoot, even Dr G used the F word when trying to get her out. The dr behind my head (the one who did my epidural) was great, he kept telling me what was going on and was the one who told us she was a girl. He was a chinese dr so in his little accent he was like "Oh here comes the head, its out, now shoulder, and its a... its a.. its a GIRL!" it was priceless. Thats when our tears of joys started and they haven't stopped flowing yet!

Well, I need to get ready to shower so I can get down and see my baby. I know she needs her momma!

Thanks for all your support everyone.... you have no idea how much it means to us!

update

callie made some headway last night. I know this picture doesn't look like headway since she has more tubes, but she's doing so good. They gave her some meds last night and since then she's been chugging right along. All the nurses here said that Callie is the "Favorite" in the NICU!! Well, yeah, shes my child, how could she not be the fave!!! :-)

At one point she was on 50% oxygen and today she's only at 28% so thats awesome progress!

My nurse today is a girl I went to school with so that is VERY reassuring. I will get my catheter out around 1030am, get a shower and then by early afternoon get down and see my baby!! I cant wait to hold her!!!!!!

Shes doing great and thanks to EVERYONE for all your support!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

ITS A GIRL...

ITS A GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CALLIE GRACE HAS ARRIVED!!!! Thursday, December 24, 2009. 1:28PM. 4lbs 5oz. 17.5 inches long!! Shes soooo precious.

She's spending some time in the NICU to watch her breathing and her white blood cells. Originally told she'd stay in there for up to 2 weeks but now they're saying just a few days. They rolled her to her belly and shes doing much better.

I haven't gotten to hold her yet and Im not allowed back to the NICU until after I get rid of my IVs... which should be early afternoon Christmas Day (tomorrow). I cant wait to hold my little monkey!! Craig held her in the operating room (she came via c-section) and to see him hold her made me break out in tears! We are now a family of four!!!!

Thanks everyone for all your love and support. I still can't believe she's here... and a Christmas baby!!!

IM A MOM!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

New Years Baby... maybe?

Okay, so Im back from my doctors visit. My blood pressure is still elevated. I have to keep a close eye on it and if it gets real high, I have to call and head to the hospital.

The ultrasound was good... nice and detailed. The baby weighs a healthy 5lbs as of today... which is awesome! Its moving around alot and likes to yawn (gets that from its momma!!)

Dr said we definately WONT be having a Christmas baby but he's not ruling out a New Years Baby! OMG!! If things get better and we do go into January he already promised me we'd go early... and not even close to our due date!!! OMG!

So, starting tomorrow I am on vacation from the bank and dont return to work until January 4 (if no baby!!). So over the holiday I am to keep my feet up and get lots of rest. Which I can do. We CAN do this!!!! One day at a time!

Thanks for all your prayers and support!!

IM GONNA BE A MOM!!!!!!!!!!

Pre-eclampsia

Well, today I dont have a happy update, but still wanted to post an update.

Yesterday I had my 34 week check up. Over the weekend I had some swelling in my feet so I made sure to tell the Dr about it. Well, as it turns out, not only did I have swelling problems, I also have protein in my system and high blood pressure. This is what they call pre-eclampsia and depending on the severe-ness of it, you can be induced early.

I freaked out a little bit. Here we are, 6 weeks from our due date, and all of a sudden I am realizing this baby COULD come at any day now. OMG!

I went for some blood work yesterday afternoon (to check to see if my organs were affected by this pre-eclampsia) and will have those results back today when I go see Dr. G again at noon.

I also have an ultrasound scheduled for noon to check on the baby. Need to make sure our little monkey isn't under any stress. Yesterday it was moving around pretty good and the heartbeat was at 151 so that was all good signs. So we'll get an u/s to get in and really check things out.

We're trying to stay positive but it's all a bit scary for me. Just the reality of it! I did a lot of reading online last night and it sounds like the "best" solution is to take the baby as soon as its healthy enough to come out... well we're 34 weeks and if the babys lungs are developed enough, it COULD come early. Am I ready for that????? I have no idea.

We're keeping our fingers crossed that everything goes good today. Hopefully we can just take it easy for a few more weeks and keep the monkey inside.... it needs to "cook" some more!

I'll keep you all posted.

Merry Chrsitmas

Still need a girls name...

7 weeks until our official due date and we still need to agree on a baby girl name! We had agreed on Raegan Grace but after about a month of being stuck on that, I have decided it's not what I want! I know, Im so darn picky!! But I want to "love" the name I give my child, and I dont love Raegan. We have picked out Benjamin Wrigley for a boy and I LOVE it!! Our little Baby Ben! But since we dont know the gender, we need to have a girls name picked out too! And as of now, Im having a really hard time!

My boys are soooo picky when it comes to names!! They dont like what I like, but dont really give me any suggestions either! UGH!! I like Clare A LOT but they both made a face when I brought it up and told me "no". Punks!! So yeah, if you have any baby girl name suggestions, pass them our way!!!

I think I want to go with a C or a K name if it's a girl!! So we'll see.

Im feeling pretty good for the most part. However, Im not sleeping very well at night. And I have carpal tunnel that is a BITCH! Dr said that 28% of all pregnant women get this... I had no idea. No one I've ever known has had it before! So Im wearing the braces at night and it helps, but it still hurts. Plus its really bad in the mornings... makes it super hard to shower and get ready when your hands are asleep and tingling. But they said it'll go away within 30 minutes of giving birth!! I can deal with that!

I go back to the Dr on Monday, the 21st. I should be able to schedule my last ultrasound at that appointment!! Then we should have appointments every week there after! OMG it's getting so close!!

Am I ready?? YES!! Am I scared?? YES!!! Total mix of emotions.... so overwhelming!! But so exciting since we've waited 5 years for this!! 5 YEARS!! :-)

Hope everyone is ready for the holiday season!! I'll post another update after my appt. on Monday!!!

Happy Holidays!

T minus 8 weeks...

Only 8 more weeks until our due date!! It's getting so close!!!

I went to see Dr. G yesterday and everything is looking good. My belly is getting big and my weight is still under control. To date, I've only gained 22 pounds!! Go Me!!

The baby's heartbeat was at 158 and going strong!! I'm still in shock at how far we are!! It almost seems unreal!!!!

I am going back to see him on December 21 and at that appointment, I will schedule my next (and last) ultrasound and then my appointments should be weekly. I am pumped up for another ultrasound. I want to see what this baby weighs!! I can tell it's getting bigger... because Im getting bigger!! And I wonder if the little monkey is still ass first or if he/she flipped to be head down. We'll find out! When we go to our u/s next time, we are taking Cole!! I really want him to be part of it! And when I talked to him about going, he seemed really excited!! How fun!

My co-workers threw me a shower last Friday and it was really really nice! They spoiled our little monkey even more! Jocelyn and Bonnie planned it and just did a great job!! Love ya girls!

Ive been working in the babys room trying to find spots for everything!! I got all the clothes washed and put away. Next to wash the bedding and make the bed! So far we've been able to find spots for most things. Once the holidays are over, we'll have more space once the tree gets put away and what have you. And since Craig and I will both be off around the holidays, we'll be able to get everything clean and tidy before the New Year so when the baby comes, we're ready!

Still unsure if we'll be able to deliver naturally or have to have a c-section. Only time will tell! Will depend on how the baby cooperates!! I get mixed feelings about either way so we'll just have to wait and see. Im scared shitless regardless! I know it'll all be okay, but the reality of delivering a baby scares me. Im guessing a lot of first time moms go through this?

The baby kicks me A LOT these days!! Sunday I was lying on the couch and I had a fairly fitted top on and when I looked down, my shirt was moving. It was soooo freaky, but yet super cool at the same time!!! The baby sure has some force when it moves!!!!

I think thats about all the update I have for today!! Each day we're getting closer and closer!

Thanks for all your love and support!