Erin’s finger

A week ago yesterday, Erin got her finger caught in the van door. I was just finishing up bible study and had just gotten the kids from the childcare. We were walking outside and it was freezing. The car had frozen.  While walking to the car, I tried to open the doors with he button on the keys, but it wouldn’t open. When we got to the car it opened just a little bit so she put her hand at the opening and then it shut back closed. I kept hitting the button to try and open it and get her fingers out.  Finally she got them out and was screaming. I couldn’t see it that well so I got everyone in the car. I had to climb into the front seat to turn the light on so I could take a better look. I was afraid it was broken how bruised it was. That’s when I noticed the blood. I grabbed some napkins from the car and wrapped her finger in it. Then I called Chris and told him to go straight to the ER where I would meet him. I had to drive there slowly because the weather (sleet), but we made it right after chris did. She was at the ER til past midnight with Chris. While I took the boys home for the night.   It was a scary light where we asked around for prayers that it not be broken. Luckily she didn’t need stitches either. They just used glue. This is a picture from today:

Dr check-up for Paul and I

Today, June 27, was paul's first doctors appointment! We saw the muse practitioner, Erin, which is fine because we've actually seen her more than our actual doctor who has been out on maternity leave for a while. Paul has already grown almost an inch (3/4 of one ain't bad!) and gained back all the 5% of weight he lost in the hospital so he is doing very well. I believe she said something along the lines if "perfect in every way.". :)
I also had an appointment today, and at almost the same time. Mine was not planned because i'm actually not supposed to see sorensen until my 2 week check up. But with the infection, dr cook (the last doctor to see me and inspect my stomach in the hospital) said I should see her as soon in the first part of the week as I could. He was also the one that gave my infection a name: cellulitis. When sorenson inspected my stomach it was still pretty tender but she said it was looking better. Which is nice. I was barely able to get an appointment with her but lucky for me someone canceled. So all is well with Paul and getting better with me.

Hit #2

So Erin gave me a bit of a scare today. She hit her head and scraped it up pretty good. She was playing at the dog door (which I watch her when she's at) and decided to go out it. This proceeded into a very nasty fall on her head. She got a big bump and a small cut. She immediately started crying... so hard she stopped making noise. It scared me sooo badly! I swooped her up and took her to the ER, but on my way there, she stopped crying and seemed to be calm... almost a little too calm and almost fell asleep. It worried me so much, but when I got there, she wasn't bothered very much by the bump. So I took her to the pediatrician instead (in the adjourning building... if it hadn't been I might have taken her to the minor emergency instead). She got in fairly fast (which is better than what I can say if I had taken her to the ER), and the doc said she was good and doing fine, just to watch her for the next 24 hours for anything weird. So, she is fine and doing well.

Officially Teething

Erin is officially teething. She's been lethargic all day, and has been sleeping like magic (took a three-hour nap today). She's drooling and refusing food (so I've been nursing her a lot more). She's currently got a fever of 101.3... but since she's older than 6 months we're not supposed to call unless it reaches 103. We're worried about her, but are pretty sure it's just teething. Poor thing.

PPD on Meds

So I'm on meds now, my 3rd day. Just Welbutrion. I'm a little worried about how it'll affect Erin. I'm doing better, but, you know, since I've had it around me I've been doing better.

The only problem is my milk supply... it is extremely low! It hurts so much when she gets to the end of her feeding. Almost like a needle. I'm trying to be good and drink and eat more, but it's really hard. It's hard to remember, and it's hard to get time sometimes to do anything, let alone eat. I don't know. I know my doctor (Sorenson) reccomended Zoloft because it has little/no effect on her. Welbutron's not supposed to be bad for her, but I'm supposed to watch her attitude (if she becomes docile, non attentive, and whatnot). I didn't know that until today, oye. I'm a bit worried. I need to tell her doctor (first thing tomorrow).

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Sometimes, when Chris puts her to sleep and she's crying so hard and then she suddenly stops... it scares me. Because I know how frustraiting it is, and I know how tightly he holds her. I worry. I get scared.

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Life is getting better. I'm just worried... and low.

I did get a sudden high, but now I've leveled off, still in a funk... but not as dangerous. Last tuesday I still wanted to run away. I fought the urge badly over a couple of days but now I'm better. I've been talking things over with Chris a lot more. And things are getting better with communication.

Erin's 4 month check-up

Today was Erin's 4 month check-up. Here are the stats:
Weight: 15.3 lbs (putting her in the 83rd percentile)
Length: 25.25 in (also putting her in the 83rd percentile)
Head Circumference: 16.5 in (in the 72nd percentile)

She's doing very well and is healthy. Had to have her shots today, so her legs are a little tender... and the rest of the day she was babbling away. It was super cute, but I didn't know what she wanted so we'd just talk and talk and talk for quite some time. Really super cute.

Dr. Day

Well, today I went to the doctors... again. My blood pressure was up, not much: 123/87. But we had a double duty on the doctors appointment.
When we first went in, at 8:30am (urgh), I had to do the pee test. Then they strapped me to a couple of monitors. One monitored LBG's heartrate and the other monitored and the other monitored for contractions. I didn't really have any contractions. She moved around a little bit here and there, so her heartrate fluxuated more than I've normally seen (from 120-155). There was one instance the doctor came in and thought I was having a contractiong, but really it was just LBG streaching out.
I stayed hooked up for about 30 minutes, but no major stresses, so they took me in to the ultrasound room to do some measurements. We found out LBG is actually going to be a small baby, despite my worry. She's 7.4 lbs apx... which means she could be anywhere from 6.4 to 8.4 lbs. But she's healthy, even practicing breathing on the monitor. She likes to lay on her side (a lot!).
The pelvic exam showed that there's no change. I'm still about a 1 cm, slightly soft, and posterior. She had to "go searching" for my cervix... not a fun thing for me that's for sure. It's not the first time for that either, but... anyway... That was the only part that really hurt. I know that if labor pains are the same as the pain that feels like, I'm definetly getting an epidural.
But basically: Everything's the same. No change.
Dr. S said she didn't want me to go past the 10th, so we're scheduled to go in on the 9th to be induced. Half of all deliveries are done past term. But it's no big deal to induce because it's better to do so than let the baby go too far past term. She's not too big for me to deliver, so that's not a big worry.
I guess on the 9th (if I don't deliver before then) they give me something to soften and open me up, and then I stay the night (Chris will be staying with me). Then on the 10th, they start checking me and give me the stuff that starts labor (Pitocin) in the morning. I should start labor soon after. So I will deliver LBG no later than the 10th.

Dr. Weekly

I'm pretty sure the doctor is set and determined that this week was the due week, but I'm pretty sure now that it's a week off, and she'll be coming next week... at least with the upcoming weather I'm hoping so.
But the update is this: my bloodpressure is down, which is good, to 119 over 87. We were a bit worried when it was up because that could mean something. But it's down to normal now, so that's all good.
I'm at 1cm, still soft, and posterior. So she's not going anywhere right now. I figure once the sleet and snow comes in we'll just sit back and relax until next month (only a few days away!).
The doctor asked if I wanted to set a date or let her go as long as we could. I said we'd let her go as long as we could. So, Dr. S doesn't doesn't want her to go past the 9th.
We went ahead and set up an apointment for next week, which I'll have to do a stress test for when I go. The stress test sounds pretty easy and relaxing, actually. I'll have a dopler (the baby heart monitor) strapped to my stomach and another device that monitors contractions (just in case I'm having them and "not realizing it", though I'm not sure I wouldn't realize it). But I'll be sitting down in a recliner with these two devices strapped to my stomach for 15-30 minutes until they get a good constant reading. And then I'll get the regular weekly done.
You know, the same stuff I got done this week: pelvic exam, blood pressure, heart rate of LBG, questions, weight, and pee in a cup.
LBG's heart rate kept going up from 145-150 at this one, but it's within normal range. I think she thought she was being played with. Dr. S said the cervic was still a ways up there though.

Baby Doctor

Another weekly baby doctor visit has come and gone... and been scheduled again for next week. I figure as long as she keeps scheduling me, she's not worried about LBG coming out.
I had a slightly higher blood pressure from my norm, but nothing out of the normal range. Other than that, I'm at 1cm and 50% effaced (I had to look up what that ment: it's the cervical lining thining... I think). I've been having bad headaches lately that don't go away with tylenol, so I had to report that, too.
Like last night, I woke up at 3am and couldn't get back to sleep till after 7 because I was waiting on the headache to subside, and then the heartburn. But that's beside the point.
My doctor is really great and all, but these pelvic exams are a bit rough. I bled after this one, too, but not until a few hours later (that dr apt was at 11:30a, but I didn't notice it till after 3:30p). As much as pelvic exams aren't funny, this one kind of was. LBG moved away from the doctor back up into what seemed like my throat really quickly when the doctor was doing the exam. It startled the doctor, and we all kind of laughed about it. She hadn't had that reaction before from a baby in the womb!
Anyway, all seems to be on track. 1cm and 50% effaced doesn't mean anything, unfortunately. I mean it could be tomorrow or it could be two weeks. Some women stay at 1cm for weeks, apparently.
Anyway, I'm tired. Had a long, busy day of doctors and returns. I'm going to take a nice relaxing shower, and then to bed. Have a good night yourselves!

Dr. Day

Another doctor's appointment today. We're in the weekly run now. Chris was able to make it, and sat in on it. Pretty normal stuff. I've not advanced at all, which is fine for now. LBG's heart rate was good, but she was definetly excited about something because it was hard to get a reading on her. Between 155-160.
After the appointment, we went to WalMart just to walk around. I had to go to the bathroom, and there was the tiniest bit of spotting. But I'm pretty sure that's because how rough the doctor was today. It hasn't happened again since.

Weekly Doctor

Well now that I'm int he final of the final stretches I'm seeing my doctor every week. She's super nice, I really like her and am glad I chose her. I was worried a little at first, but we've both warmed up to each other. She was a little concerned when I told her I'd gone to Houston lately, stating that that was a long drive.
But other than that there was nothing really to be concerned about. Today she did LBG's last scheduled ultrasound. Everything's looking good. LBG had her foot above her head again, but she's head down, which is good. Chubby cheeks, and a little bit of hair. Overall sounds like a cute baby!
LBG's heart rate was 154, and her weight is at 5 lbs 8 oz., apx.
I also had to have a Hep B test, which is slightly evasive... like a pap smear, basically. The lab on that will be back by next time, so all is good. They checked my cervix, and it's softening, which I'm guessing is good.
I had to go to the bathroom so bad before the apointment, I guess I held it too long because I couldn't go when I needed to for the begining pee test. Oh, well. The nurse just kind of laughed. I had been in the bathroom for a while, despite being early to the appointment.

Dr. in a routine

So today I had another doctor's appointment with my ob-gyn to check on LBG. All si well. I asked a few questions about SIDS, because we're trying to get her room ready and Chris and i have been having thermostat wars... which got me wondering what the right temperature would be for her. My doc didn't really know, and said to ask the pediatrician (when Chris and I finally decide on one).
Other than that, a perfectly routine check: pee in a cup, weight (has been steadily hanging around the same pound-age), blood pressure, measure belly, heartrate (150), and any questions I might have.
Other than that, we start paying on her part of the delivery now before the baby comes. Not all of it, but it's based on an estimate. We're doing this with the hospital too. They might change, but it's a good chance they'll be pretty spot on.
I keep waiting to see when my next ultrasound will be. I want to know if LBG is breeched or if she's doing well. I guess it's going to be closer to due date time. Doctors don't want to do too many of them.

Glucose Test

Well, I had the glucose test just a little while ago and it went well. This test required that I fasted for 10 hours (I could have water during that time) and come in to do it. At first the doctor said that I wouldn't really have to fast, that I could eat, and then four hours later go in, but when I went in and tried to do it yesterday (I ate breakfast then worked a normal 4 hour shift with just water) but the lab techs said no, that I should fast for 10 hours and try it otherwise my results will be such that I have to come in for the 3 hour test (I'll explain in a minute).
So I went home and ate like normal the rest of the day. Today when I got up for sleep, because I had the day off, I didn't have a lick of breakfast, and went in to take the test. It was the right amount of time and everything worked out well.
They gave me this thick orange flavored (and bright orange colored) drink that I quickly drank down and they started the clock. I had to wait an hour in the lobby, so I had taken a sudoku puzzle book from the house and set to work. An hour went by, and they took some blood.
The orange drink wasn't as bad as I would have thought. I guess there are a lot of flavors out there, but I think RMLabs only offers the orange (someone said there was lemon-lime, fruit punch, grape, and orange). I've had worse tasting beverages so I was plesantly surprised. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't order it if it was offered at a resturaunt, but I wouldn't say it was horrible enough to cause a gag reflex. The only part that was suckie was the blood drawn. I mean, I knew I'd have to have it done and whatnot, so I was prepaired. But she really did a number on my arm and it's a bit bruised. For half the day afterwards it felt like the needle, or at least part of it, was still in there.
Otherwise all good on the glucose front.
Oh, I was going to tell you what happens if I fail real quick: I have to do the same test for three hours. I drink an even larger amount of the orange stuff and then they have to take my blood every hour for three hours. Hopefully I won't have bad results.

Adendum (11/4/9): Wehn I went in to the doctor today they said my glucose test results were really good, 114... whatever that means?

Kicks a Miss

Little baby girl (LBG) worried me today... and last night. It's all good, but I just wanted to document it for myself.
Alright, so last night I ate waaaayy too much, which I didn't think was too much because it was a pretty average sized sinner, but then the desert was a bit big and probably put me over. A ton of sugary goodness, that after I ate it was almost instantly regretting having it all to myself. Oh, glutony, what a cruel cruel thing.
Anyway, My stomach was feeling super-dooper tight, and was visibly so too because Chris was concerned when he saw it. I went and tried to relieve it by relaxing in the tub for a bit, but that only worked slightly. So then I decided to get up and walk around a bit, you know exercise it off maybe. So I went out and picked up the doggie doo (at 9:30pm). That didn't work either.
That's when I started to notice that I ahdn't felt her move. I mean, I had noticed it at first, but just thought she couldn't because of everything I ate. I went and laid down for a little bit, and still couldn't get her going. Finally I just gave in to my superior worring skills and called the "baby hotline."
The "Baby Hotline" is a special thing I signed up for free of charge with BCBS. They have 24 hour nurses on call for any worries or questions I might have. I asked her what I should do, and she said to drink a lot of water, then go lay on my left side and count her movement. She should move 5-10 times in one hour. Well, she did, but it was barely. So I still worried and didn't get a lot of sleep because I coudln't feel her when I normally could (rolling over, getting up to go pee, etc). So when I got up at 3am and couldn't feel her any more I lay worrying. I woke Chris up and borrowed his iPhone so I could play her music. I played a number of songs, but only got 1 kick... and that worried me a lot because they were songs she usually went crazy on! I voiced my concern, but then went back to sleep because she had kicked.
When I got up this morning for work I was so exhausted. She didn't kick me at all like she normally does early on. So again, I was worried, but figured it was because we were both exhausted. Went to work and she laid low the whole time. When I got home I ate and drank some juice (something the nurse had reccomended last night, but I didn't have any)(the juice is good because of the sugar), then I went and laid down again. Nothing. No movement. LBG was scaring the crap out of me now!
Let's recap: Last night my stomach was feeling super dooper tight, add to that her lack of movement. Then since then I'd started to get cramps that felt like really bad menstrul cramps.
So I decided I'd call my nurse here locally and see if I needed to go in or what. She gave me the same advice "drink lots of liquids, preferably juice, lay down on my left side and count the kicks." There were some mild differences: "I mean, a ton of liquids; like those 42-oz big gulps," and for the kicks "there should be 6-10 per hour," she also added "to maybe have something sugary to eat." So I did. I followed the instructions as best I could. I only had one more juice box, so I didn't drink that. But I did have a miniature Hershey bar from our trick-or-treat stash and two full tall glasses of ice-cold water (I'd read that they respond a bit more if it's really cold). Then I went and laid down. She started kicking right away. I got to six before half an hour. She was doing just fine, she even gave me some weird little movements that are still hard to describe (but I'll try: it's like she adjusted her position, and sat on it).
To conclude, yes, she scared me, but everything's alright. She's up and moving as I type. My stomach hurts off and on, but I'm trying to take it easy and eat a little at a time. Maybe I'm dehydrated?

Dr. Apt... again.

Another doctor's apt today with Dr. Sorenson. She's really cool, and quick as far as doctors go. It was going to be a very basic baby check (weight, heartbeat, bloodpressure, questions), but they ended up having to put me in one of their new rooms with an ultrasound machine in it. I didn't think anything of it when the nurse said she was going to have to put me in there, I just thought it was going to be a normal checkup (because I'd had my major ultrasound last month) that just happens to be in a room with one. Turns out "well, since it's in here, let's use it!" seemed to be the idea. So I am very glad I got put in that room! I got some more pictures of Baby Rich (but they look pretty much like last time). Dr. S was excited to use the machine, and was doing all sorts of measurements on it (I think it must have been her first time or something in there with it since it's a new room). Everything is healthy. She's at a good weight (1 lb 1 oz) and her heartbeat is 150, which is good for her. Nothing's swollen on me and I'm at a good weight climb (just have to keep reminding myself to have protein for breakfast).
Other than that, I got a flu shot while I was there. I talked to the nurse about weither or not to get a regular one and a swine flu one, and she said they were doing regular ones if I wanted (and to not worry about the swine flu one just yet). I said sure, so that I couldn't chicken out. I almost did, but glad I didn't. Now I don't have to worry for the next three months about it. She was a good injector and got it right in the muscle. So it bled a little, but it looked like a lot because the alcohol hadn't fully dried yet, so she had to give me another bandaid. I'm getting less aprehensive about shots thanks to the MS, I think. She was good at it, and honestly I couldn't tell she did it. The bandaid hurt worse when I ripped it off then the shot. I just have to remember that next time I get a little nervous/anxious about that stuff... especially in the arm (I'm used to the hip now).
Oh, and I'm supposed to do a Glucose Test before my next apt. It's just a lab, but I can't figure out if it's blood or urin. Either way I'm supposed to eat normal, and then for two hours not eat anything but drink plenty of fluids (can't figure out if I'm allowed to pee or not beforehand, though). When I get there it takes a while, because they give me an orange fluid that takes an hour to work through the system, and then I do the test. They said I can go in any time to do that, but I think I might call them just to make sure I know what I'm doing.
Anyway, I'll post up the new pics when I get this computer hooked up to the scanner again. And remember folks, November 3rd is my 3-d/4-d date!

Dr. Apts Times 2

I had two different doctor appointments today, both for the same thing. The first was at the hospital just to do a 30 minute ultrasound. We got two different sonogram pictures from the time there. I'll add them in a little while. They called it an anatomy scan. They took all sorts of measurements, and stuff. And Yes! It's A Girl!!
But they measured height, width, head, body, length, placenta, amniotic sac/fluids, leg bone, heartbeat, etc. She's doing well and fine.
And apparently so am I. That was my second doctor appointment today.
Yesterday, while at work, I was feeling really lightheaded. The last couple of weeks I've been feeling lightheaded off and on. And well, yesterday at work, I slightly fainted. Now before you go getting yourself worried about it. I am just fine, and so is the baby. I wanted to wait to tell anyone, just in case. But everything is fine. The doctor said it's probably my diet. No I'm not anemic, but I should eat more protein. My weight had been the same since I last went in, and I know it's dropped a couple of pounds since I weighed myself a few weeks ago (a week or two after the last checkup).
So to recap: Yes, it's a girl! No, I don't have pictures up yet (my computer is being a butt), I'm fine, have to change my diet a bit, and she's doing great as well. I'll try to keep you better updated as we go. Oh, and the Due Date is: Feb 3rd-ish.

Ear, Nose, Throat Dr. Apt

Okay, so I found a doctor that was supposed to be the best in his field, locally. I was in need of an Ear, Nose, Throat doc because of my suspected sinusitis. Dr. Webb, my neurologist, said I might have it due to the results from my last MRI.
My ENT doc, Dr. Leuhr, came highly recommended... on the internet. And the office staff was great, a bit absentminded, but great. When I got with the nurse I had to report the pregnancy, and they wrote it in big letters on the top of the page so that when Dr. L came in he was aware of it.
The problem was he was aware of it and nothing else. He kept saying that pregnant women often get major sinus problems like I was reporting. I kept trying to explain that I'd been having problems since September, but he kept just ignoring that. I mean the MRI even said APRIL on it, which I'm not that far along. Anyway, he finally begrudgingly came around.
When he did, he just said that he couldn't do anything to confirm or treat it because of the pregnancy. Well, he could have just said that earlier. Grrr...

And that's not the worst part, the above just made me frustraited. The part that really pissed me off was when I was leaving he said, "Okay, I'll see you in about six weeks, unless something happens then I'll see you earlier. Hopefully I'll get to see you sooner." Hopefully?! Hopefully?! Basically he's saying that he hopes something happens to the baby so that he can run a stupid CT scan on me! That threw me overboard! As well reccomended as he comes, I don't think I want to return in six weeks. I still can't believe he said that.