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Monday, December 31, 2012

What a Year!

Last year I write an elaborate and extensive "2011 - Year in Review" post.

I can't believe we are getting ready to ring in 2013.  Part of me feels like I was just sitting down to write my elaborate and extensive "2011 Year in Review."

These days especially, elaborate and extensive don't really fall into my time constraints.  A sleeping Camden is now a ticking time bomb and will be ready to eat very shortly.  

I can feel it.  Literally.

 This was our year:

- In April we found out we were expecting and I began entertaining you with all things pregnancy.   

*Apparently nothing note-worthy happened between January and April?

- I graduated from my internship program in June and accepted a new job.

- My baby sister graduated from UW.

- We got a belated anniversary gift in August when we were told we were expecting a baby boy.

- I traveled much less this year for work.  Much less is an understatement considering one trip versus the seven I took last year.

- September was filled with baby showers and a surprise visit from my best friend, Becky.

- We took a family trip to Destin, Florida to celebrate my mother-in-law's retirement.  Southwest Airlines lost (without actually losing) our luggage and we met our nephew, Liam, for the first time.

- I turned 27.  Wah wah.

- I completed two more semesters of my graduate program.  One more to go, people.

- I went into preterm labor at 33 weeks.  Ryan and I then sat on pins and needles through November and into December.

- We got off the pins and needles when we welcomed Camden James Peters on 12/11/12 at 11:06am.


What. A. Year.  In 2012 we became a family.

I can't wait to see what 2013 has in store for us.

Happy New Year!

Take Luck,
LP

Sunday, December 30, 2012

More Lately

Lately...

- There's been a new man in my life.  And he rules it.



- I get very excited about 4 consecutive hours of sleep.

- It's a good day when I get to shower.

- Double bonus points are awarded if Ryan gets to shower, too.

- I give pep talks to my boobs.

- Hugs, kisses, and snuggly time with Ryan feel extra, extra special.

- Blogging and reading my favorite blogs have taken the backseat in the 18-passenger van of my life.

Until next time.


Take Luck,
LP

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Camden's Birth Story


Even though I know that giving birth to Camden is something that I will never forget, I wanted to write it down so years down the road - I can look back and remember the small details.

I went into preterm labor at 33 weeks, so each week that he stayed put was truly a blessing.  At first we were thankful for each day, and just trying to hold on until 36 weeks.  Days turned into weeks and eventually we hit 39.  It felt a little magical.

I had been having Braxton Hicks contractions all day, every day since Halloween.  Even though they weren't the real thing, they still took a toll on me mentally and physically.  My doctors assured me that when real contractions and real labor began - I would know.

Saturday, December 8th, the real contractions started.  They certainly felt different and a few even stopped me in my tracks, requiring me to consciously breathe through them.  Although irregular, I knew that the big showdown was not far away.  The contractions continued throughout the day and night and into Sunday. Sleeping wasn't happening due to the fact that the contractions would come, wake me up, I'd breathe through them, consider timing them, and then wait for the next.

After the previous two days/nights, I decided to work from home on Monday.  If Monday was going to be anything like the weekend, there was no way I needed to be at work. I had a scheduled weekly appointment with my OB and was anxious to hear a hoo-ha status.  At that point, I had never been so excited for a hoo-ha status.

She checked me and I was 1 1/2 cm dilated and 85% effaced.  At the advice of our doula, I asked her about sweeping my membranes in hopes of getting things moving along.  She was hesitant, but I think the exhausted look on my face and the telepathic pleading I was sending her worked.  Even though she assured me that the sweep may not do a darn thing - I didn't care and was feeling somewhat rejuvenated.

I came home and continued working.  The contractions were getting stronger and showing signs of regularity.  At that point I could walk/pace them off in the living room, as well as breathe and talk through them.  

My Daddio came over in the early afternoon and we went on a brisk 3 mile walk together.  After the walk and a shower, my contractions seemed to almost stop.  My immediate thought was, "Oh, hell no."  I laid down and it didn't even take a full hour for the contractions to come back with a vengeance and for things really started moving along.

4pm came and so did active labor.  Ryan had come home early from work and we were watching Game of Thrones while I went in and out of contractions.  It was a nice distraction at first, but then every 4-5 minutes I was down on the floor in child's pose and completely oblivious to anything and everything going on around me.

I labored at home until 7pm when my contractions were consistently four minutes apart.  Our doula, Laura, came over and discussed with us the hospital's procedure and treatment of women in active labor.  I was in a lot of pain and unable to do anything to help ease  the contractions, so I decided it was best we head for the hospital.

While in the triage area, I was checked.  2 cm dilated and 90% effaced.  I was happy that all this work and pain was doing something, but I needed to get to 3 cm before they would admit me.  I was in serious pain and the thought of being sent home to labor triggered another, "Oh, hell no."

After an hour of breathing, lunges, squats, and "other activities," I made it to a 3 1/2 cm.

Halle-frigging-lujah.

We were admitted and moved to another room.  My contractions were coming fast and strong.  They were peaking and re-peaking two or three times before dying down.  Needless to say that after two nights of no sleep and the general exhaustion that was setting in from laboring - this Mama was dog tired and ready for an epidural.

My platelets needed to be checked before an epidural could be administered and I swear the lab people were trying to kill me with how long they took to return the results.  I was in the clear, and at 4 cm dilated, got my epidural - which wasn't nearly as bad or painful as I expected it to be.

I'm not sure exactly when it started happening but baby was having decels (decelerated heart rate) around this time.  The nurses were keeping a very close eye on him, moving me into various positions to try and get his heart rate to go back up, and trying not to alarm me.  But alarmed I was.  They were able to get his heart rate back up and figured he was probably just grabbing onto the umbilical cord.

The epidural made me about 1,000,000 times more comfortable.  I didn't like the heaviness in my legs, but when considering the alternative - I decided I could live with it.  While the epidural made me more comfortable, it also slowed my labor down.  They gave me some pitocin to try and kick things up.

Have I mentioned that this labor was not going exactly as I had planned or thought?

A very long and sleepless night (if you lost count - that 's three in a row) later, I made it to 5m and then 6 1/2 cm.  At around 7:30am, my OB came in and broke my water.

I'm not kidding when I say that 30 minutes later, I was at 10 cm dilated, 100% effaced, and ready. to. go.

The nurse said that my OB was next door with another patient who was ready to push.  It was up to me to wait until she was done or start pushing and have the baby delivered by a hospital laborist.  I really wanted the baby to be delivered by my OB.  I wasn't feeling any urge to push just yet, and Laura suggested that letting baby's head rest down in that position for a period of time would help stretch things out in preparation for birth.  So, we waited.

During the hour we waited, Laura told me to practice pushing while I had contractions, and reminded me to push through my bottom like I was having a bowel movement.  It was then that I panicked and realized that at that very moment, I didn't know how to have a bowel movement.  I had no idea how to push through my bottom.  I even think I said out loud, "I've been having bowel movements my entire life and at this moment, I am completely clueless." 

Perfect.

After several awkward attempts - I remembered.  Pushing started and I swear I've never felt more discouraged in my life.  I felt like I was working harder than I ever have and yet was making absolutely no progress.  I remember enjoying (or something like that) a nice combination of Ryan's encouragement (as well as having my Momma, Rachel, and Laura there too!), oxygen, a wet wash cloth on my forehead, and water in between contractions.  I also remember saying, "I can't do this," about 100 times.

The progress came.  I could feel the baby moving down and getting closer to making his debut.  When the nurse said my OB was coming in it gave me a huge boost and confirmed for me that all my hard work was actually working.

He crowned and I felt his little head.  I pushed a little more and felt even more.  I think it was two pushes after that and he literally shot out.

When my OB held him up with his lower half still yet to come out and told me to take him, I couldn't help but feel like Kourtney Kardashian as I pulled him onto my chest.

At that moment I realize I had done it.  We had done it.  It wasn't at all as I had planned or expected, but in the end - I did what I felt was best for me and us and I have no regrets.

I had initially planned on only having Ryan and Laura in the room with me, but after having my Mom and Rachel in the room throughout all the laboring - I knew I wanted them in there too.  

Lots of tears were shed by all as we welcomed Camden into the world.




Take Luck,
LP

Monday, December 17, 2012

Camden James

My absence should tell you one thing.  Camden James is here.


He became a part of our family at 11:06am on 12/11/12, weighing in at 7lbs 9oz, 19 3/4 inches long, and looking just like his Daddy.

We are getting settled and loving our little man.






Take Luck,
LP

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Waiting

It feels like all we've been doing since Halloween is waiting. November was a very hard month for Ryan and I - mentally, physically, and emotionally.  December has proven (so far) to be a much better month - but now we are just ready to get the show on the road.

Today marks the 10-day countdown to our due date.  That means tomorrow will be 9 days. As in single digits, people.

Things (with my bod) are happening and changing around here, so if I had to guess - it won't take until our due date for this baby boy to make his debut.  With that said, I've never done this before and have absolutely no idea.  So, hopefully I didn't just jinx us/myself.

'Cuz did I mention that we are ready to get the show on the road?

Ryan and I are truly blessed to have a huge support system around us - family, friends, and co-workers, who are all very excited and waiting impatiently for this babe to make his entrance.

- My Momma and little sister frequently call to check in to see how I'm doing (as if I would intentionally not let them know if something big was happening)

- My dad has been keeping track of how many weeks I am for some time (and gets very excited when he knows that Sunday's are the days that we bump up one).  

- At the news that certain things were happening, my brother got Christmas-morning-excited and declared that he would not be going to work so he could wait in the waiting room.  I assured him that he needed to calm down.  

- There is officially no topic that is off the table between my sister-in-laws and I.  Body parts, bodily functions - you name it and we've now discussed it.  Something tells me these conversations are only the beginning of over-sharing (in a good way, of course).

It's an amazing feeling to know that not only are Ryan and I excited to meet our baby boy, but we are surrounded by people who are just as excited... And tired of the waiting.

He is so loved.  And doesn't even know it yet.

Now, come on baby!

Take Luck,
LP

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

This Weekend...


A tad late, but here I am nonetheless.

This weekend we got a gas insert installed to our previously super-crummy fireplace.  You bet your booty that I broke out in a very-pregnant-lady happy dance.  The puppies were looking at both me and the fireplace with serious concern.



This weekend I got Brock in the Christmas spirit.  Against his will.



This weekend we spent 30 minutes picking out the perfect Christmas tree.  And I had on flip flops.  Not the brightest idea I've had.



This weekend I decorated our tree with direction from Clark, who kept insisting that I put more ornaments on the tree and even suggested we run out for some tinsel.  This man has the fever.  I draw the line at tinsel.



This weekend my favorite newly-engaged-world-travelers came over and shot some video for our pregnancy video.

This weekend we went and saw the production of Annie at a local community theater.  There was one actress that Rachel and I completely agreed was a Brittany S. Pierce doppelganger... Just not as fortunate in the dancing or coordination department.

This weekend I hit 38 weeks in my pregnancy.  Less than two weeks to go, people!  I cannot wait to meet this baby boy.  And decide on his name.

Take Luck,
LP

Saturday, December 1, 2012

I Married Clark Griswold

I married Clark Griswold.

Well, that's not entirely true.  I married Ryan, who this year is getting in touch with his inner-Clark.




I swear this man has continually called for more lights and more decorations on several occasions. And it's only December 1st.

We have browsed the fabulously clearanced (thank you, sweet baby Jesus) holiday section at Kohl's several times, each time needing to go back and retrieve a cart before making our way to the checkout counter.

 Ornaments, stockings, Santa Clause's, village collection pieces, lights, garland, and tinsel.  You name it and he has probably told me that we need it... Or more of it.

I'm not sure what has caused this year's surge in the holiday decor department of the Peters house but I am certainly not complaining.  It's been a lot of fun (not to mention entertaining) to have him be so excited to deck our halls and get ready for the holiday.

Take Luck,
LP

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