DOCTOR'S VISITS

You, love bug, have been to the doctor twice this week to check your weight.  Although born 37 weeks 2 days, because of your size you were labeled "late term preemie", so we have been carefully watching you making sure you are growing and are healthy.


January 10th - your BIRTHDAY!  You weighed a whopping 5 lbs and 18 inches long.

January 13th - 3 days old!  You left the hospital weighing 4 lbs. 12 oz.

January 16th - 6 days old!  YOUR FIRST DR'S APPOINTMENT! Mommy, Daddy and Gigi took you to your first doctors appointment. You still weighed 4 lbs 12 oz.  Dr. Webb (who we adore) said you had probably lost more and were starting to gain it back.  The nurse measured you 17 1/2 inches, but it's not possible we shrunk, so we think she was a little off.  We are sticking to the 18 inches!

January 20th - 10 days old!  You have gained!  Dr. Webb wanted you to gain at least 2 oz. since Monday and you have gained 3 oz.  You go girl!  You are quite the eater!  And you are now 18 1/2 inches, so you have gained  1/2 inch. 

We do not have to go back until our 1 month check up, since Dr. Webb feels you are growing so well.  On Monday, after his first encounter with you, he stated you were vigorous...

vig·or·ous

adjective

1.

full of or characterized by vigor: a vigorous effort.

2.

strong; active; robust: a vigorous youngster.

3.

energetic; forceful: vigorous steps; a vigorous personality.

4.

powerful in action or effect: vigorous law enforcement.

5.

growing well, as a plant.

However, you find doctor's visits quite boring...

You are such a blessing to us!  We love you so much! 

Gonna Be Worth It.....

We were walking fast down the hall....the OR doors opened and I remember Mike asking them to stop for a minute before they took me inside. He would be allowed in once everything and everyone were ready. He kissed me, told me he loved me, and said he would be right there. IT'S GONNA BE WORTH IT..... I was lifted from my bed to the OR table and then set up sitting sideways off the bed.  I was curled up in a ball, my nurse was holding my shoulders, almost like a hug, as the spinal block was put in. I prayed to God to not worry about me, but please, Lord, save my child. IT'S GONNA BE WORTH IT..... I remember my left leg randomly "jumping" and they knew the spinal was working.  I went completely numb immediately,  I was laid back on the bed.  I remember hearing all the nurses and doctors counting....they were counting their instruments before they started. IT'S GONNA BE WORTH IT ALL.....
Mike was then by my side.  He was absolutely amazing!   I was nauseous, so an alcohol wipe was tucked under my oxygen line at my nose. Much better. 
And then this song started in my head.   I have heard this song maybe three times my whole life, but somehow in that moment, I knew every word.  It must have been God singing to me!  IT'S GONNA BE WORTH IT ALL.....

Letter From Daddy

I remember the first time that I heard your heartbeat. Your mom and I looked at each other and immediately knew our lives would change forever. Every day since then, we have been hopelessly in love with you, Sweetheart. Our adventure together as a family has only begun and we already know how lucky we are to be blessed with the purity and unconditional love that you are.  We've heard hiccups and seen thumbs up and everything in between, baby girl.  Nothing. I honestly mean, NOTHING, could have prepared me for the raw emotions that I felt the first time I saw you though. You taught me, in only a few seconds, what perfection truly is. Your mommy and I will spend our lives making yours better. You have made us better. You have made us a family.  We love you.

YOU HAVE ARRIVED!!!

Avery Mackenzie Lane, you our sweet cupcake, have arrived. You were born Tuesday, January 10th at 8:51am. You weighed exactly 5 lbs. and 18 inches long. You have stolen the hearts of everyone who meets you. I will do another whole post about how we all sit and stare at you, everything you have been doing, etc. but I definitely wanted to document your birth story.

Thursday was our last doctor's appointment which landed us in Labor and Delivery. We knew we would not be leaving without you, but were not sure if we would have to induce early or not. Either way, but Sunday, January 8th, we would start the induction process.

You and I both stayed stable until Sunday so we went with the induction as planned. About 6:30pm on Sunday night Dr. Goresch inserted the Cervadil, which would ripen my cervix and we would start the actual dilation/contraction part in the morning. However, two hours later at 8:30pm we started having contractions. They were coming very close together, but due to some pain meds through my IV and an Ambien, we were able to sleep a decent amount through the night.

Monday morning we woke up and started the Pitocin, which is synthetic Oxytocin used to create contractions and cause dilation. Since I was already having contractions (although only 1 cm dilated) the contractions came on way to strong. We were getting no break between contractions and they were lasting 60-90 seconds, yet, we were not dilating. All day long we played the game of upping the Pitocin, then backing it back down, upping it back up, backing it back down. The contractions were still staying 2 minutes apart and lasting 1 1/2 minutes each.

By Monday night we were only 2-3 cm. dilated. We knew at that point we were going to be in for the long haul. Roughly 6pm on Monday night, Dr. Clark came in and broke my water. About 10 minutes later, I was in excruciating pain. My back felt like someone was prying my back and legs apart with the jaws of life. However, the TOCO monitor was oddly placed (thanks to a non-observant nurse) so she was not seeing my contractions on the monitor. Mike finally ran out in the hall to get her, explaining something was seriously wrong. When she finally came in, I could barely stand it anymore - I just knew at any point I was going to pass out from the pain. Dr. Clark came to check on us again, and I was still only 3 1/2 centimeters dilated but my contractions were 1 1/2 minutes apart, lasting 1 1/2 minutes each...they were coming so hard one on top of the other, we were getting not even 5 second breaks between them. At this point, I really thought I was going to die. Not from the pain, but I just knew something was not right. Next thing I know, they are completely shutting off the Pitocin, another doctor was rushing in to give me an epidural, I was attached to an oxygen mask and they were running fluids FULL BLAST through my body. Since the induction started, I had a fluid drip going through IV where it would take about 8 hours to go through a bag...at this point, I went through 1 1/2 bags in 15 minutes.

Once the epidural was put into place, I finally felt relief. I did not feel right, but I wasn't in all the pain. Mike and I were able to get about 4 hours of sleep. Around 2 am, the nurses came back in and every 15 minutes were rotate me from my left side to my right side, and I was continuously on the oxygen. They didn't say anything to us, but I figured this wasn't a good thing. (P.S. It is extremely hard to rotate a pregnant whale from her left to right side continuously when you are numb from the waste down.)

Early Tuesday morning around 6am, Dr. Clark came back in and I was only 4 cm. dilated. We knew I wasn't progressing like I should. I explained to her the pain was coming back pretty strong and I was sure my epidural was wearing off. She watched on the monitors for awhile and saw my blood pressure was creeping up quickly. It was almost shift change.

Next thing I remember, was Dr. Miles came in about 8:00am Tuesday morning and said he can see where Avery is showing distress and my blood pressure was still rising. They gave me more fluids, more oxygen, and ran a blood pressure medicine through my IV. He said he would check back in just a few minutes and if it had not changed, we would discuss our options of a c-section.

About 8:30 he rushed in the room and quickly explained that we need to head to the OR immediately. Avery's was having decels after every contraction....and since they were right on top of each other, she wasn't catching a break and she was under too much distress. I again felt like the jaws of life were cracking my spine apart. My blood pressure, despite the IV medicine, was 198/134. We had to get her out and get her out right then.

We went straight to the OR, I was given a spinal block, since my epidural was not working anymore, and by 8:43 they had started. I didn't have a clue. Mike was by my side, holding my hand talking to me, and I was telling the nurse I felt really nauseous. I did not even realize they had started the surgery. Next thing I know, I hear, "Congratulations!! Oh, she is so tiny!" In a total of 8 minutes Avery had entered the world. They took her over to do test, and they quickly realized, although very tiny, she was absolutely perfect. She had no complications or problems. PRAISE THE LORD!!!

As they finished closing me up, the nurses asked if I wanted to hold her. I couldn't, though, because my hands and arms were completely numb. So, Mike held her and We were in heaven!!! And the nurses were great. My Head Nurse took our camera and took pictures of the three of us.

You were delivered by Dr. Benjamin Miles, who we love  and have seen the most the past few months. Dr. Little was in the OR helping Dr. Miles, since things got so hectic so quickly. We had our favorite nurse, Brandi, as our OR nurse which made me feel even better.  The doctor who gave the spinal stayed with me the whole time and was absolutely wonderful.  He explained everything and did nothing but comfort and ease any anxiety I had throughout the entire surgery.  God definitely was on our side and with us through this whole process.


By 9:15 we were headed across the hall to delivery for an hour. Avery was able to stay with us the whole time so mama, daddy and baby had wonderful bonding time and skin to skin contact. Again, Brandi was with us which was wonderful.
We were absolutely smitten with you from the minute we first saw you! You are so beautiful! You are the best thing that has ever happened to either of us.

We love you so much, Avery Mackenzie Lane. We would say "To the moon and back" but realized immediately that did not even come close to the love we have for you.

We will be leaving with a baby!!!!

Well....at yesterday's doctors appointment Avery's heart beat was way too high...up in the 180's. She did have the hiccups during the NST, but either way it should have not been that high. My BP was 160/104 so Dr. Clark felt it was best that we head to Labor and Delivery to be continually monitored for a few hours. As soon as we got here, Avery's heart beat when back down to her normal 145-160, which is beautiful and normal. My blood pressure continued to rise. My pulse was also rather high so we.all agreed it was probably my nerves, however the same thing happens when preeclampsia goes into the dangerous/severe stage. Over the next few hours it kept climbing with our highest readings at 176/112 and 166/110 we decided for the fear of seizures we were admitting me and we would not be leaving until Avery came.

Once I got settled in my room, we kept monitoring my blood pressure....185/96. Dr. Vuong decided it was time to induce. They told me to go use the restroom while she went to get the Cervadil....the cervix ripener. She came back, my BP was 170/93 so she also was ready to start my on magnesium. We realized in the chaos of it all, we had yet to get my medicial armbands on...(they are overflowing with women in labor, water breaking....a packed house!) So Dr. Vuong went to get my bands, while my nurse had an IV line started, had the Magnesium drip hooked up to me, I took my Aldomet, and we were just waiting on the Dr. To come back, insert the Ceravidil, and let us know how much Magnesium we were starting with. I signed all forms, was told the induction may take up to 3 days, possibly will end in csection, the "death in a bag" (Magnesium) is going to make me absolutely miserable and feel like I have the flu....and from this point on I can't eat.

But....Dr. Vuong and the nurses were rushed to the OR for an emergency csection. By 9:45pm when they came back by BP was.down to 148/90. Dr. Vuong let me know if we can continue to keep it down, she will let me eat. It continued to hover 140s/90s. Sometime between 10-10:30 Dr. Vuong let us know she wasn't going to induce since my BP's were stable. We would let me eat, rest throughtout the night and reevulate in the morning. Overnight my BP was 136/74. This morning at 8am....114/57. Hot dog!!!!!

Dr. Goresich is at the hospital today through Sunday so the induction was ultimately up to her since I am in her care this weekend. She agrees that as long as my blood pressure stays under control we will wait to do the induction on Sunday....but we are here so at any point if we need to induce or deliver, we can. Although only 2 days to go, they want any little bit to let me rest, get my BP as low as possible, let my cervix hopefully start making changes, and let Avery get as close to "term" as possible. Although, since we are here, why not go ahead and have her thoughts, we DO completely agree with this.

So, back to hospital bedrest we go....and sometime between now and Sunday evening we will induce.

We ask you please keep us in your prayers during the crazy time. We are on edge not knowing when or how emergent this is going to be. Pray we can stay off the "devil juice" aka "death in a bag" aka Magnesium...as long as my BP is stable, we cam avoid it.

We are following doctors orders and looking out for the health of myself and Avery so asking only immediate family come to visit until further notice. We need to keep my BP as low as possible, and we are in the same room from start to finish so no clue when I will be in the middle of induction (and it could be 5 hours or up to 48 hours), in the middle of labor, sick on the magnesium drip, etc. You are more than welcome to stay in contact with us through Mike's cell phone....and we will try to keep everyone updated. Thank you guys, and we promise, as soon as we are out of the woods and settled, we will be showing Avery off left and right....our main concern is for me to be seizure free.

Thank you all for the love and support. You are all absolutely wonderful!!!!
We love each and every one of you!

Mike and Stephanie

ONE HAND!!!

Counting the days until Avery's arrival and we are down to ONE HAND!!!!  Well tonight, counting to induction is 5 days.  Tomorrow, 4 days (with 5 days until her arrival!) Mike and I realized this today while sitting in the doctor's office waiting room.  We both had the "Oh Wow!  Didn't realize so soon..." look on our faces.  I am sure the couple sitting across from us thought we were nuts.

We are truly blessed with the best family and friends.  You all ROCK!!! We have received so many texts, emails, and phone calls checking up on us and asking about appointments, etc.  Y'all are wonderful!!!   I am sure I will update after Thursday's doctor's appointment, but I know many of you have asked how you can specifically pray for us so I wanted share, in case you do want to join us in prayer. I will try to explain some of them to help you understand.

ONE:  For Avery to make her arrival into the world when it is the safest for she and I both. Today at our appointment during our Tuesday/Thursday BPP/NST, Avery is starting to show signs of distress. No panic, yet! Nothing at dangerous levels yet, but for the past 6 weeks she has been such a trooper and hasn't seemed to be bothered by the preeclampsia.  Now,with my blood pressure on the rise and with her being bigger and needing more nutrients, blood, oxygen, etc. the preeclampsia may be compromising what she is receiving from me. This is where my high blood pressure compromises the umbilical cord, not allowing her to receive everything she needs from me. Although some concerns with the BPP Ultrasound, she passed the NST on the monitors with flying colors. If she did not pass the NST, we would have headed to L&D for further monitoring and a possible emergency c-section. However, the NST did show she is still very active, has beautiful movement and a great, strong heart beat.  She is growing and in the 30% which is great!  (anything below 10% is when they are concerned!) We come to the point where we want to be able to try and make it to 37 weeks (4 DAYS AWAY) to give Avery time to reach "term" and have had the chance to grow as much as possible, however, we are now debating whether 4-5 days away is that big of a difference, or do we need to go ahead and deliver her sooner.  After she finally passed, we decided she and I were healthy enough to wait until at least Thursday.  Thursday we will repeat the BPP and NST and then decide if we need to head to L&D or if we can make it until Sunday.

TWO:  Our medical team!! We have been blessed with the best doctors. Although there are over 7 doctors in our practice, the past month we have only dealt with 3 (these have been our 3 favorite from the very beginning, so God definitely has been on our side)...not to mention, Monday and Tuesday two of them are on call at the hospital, so as long as we make it to our induction, either one of them will be delivering Avery.  We are so thankful that we have continuously been in contact with these same doctors, who we are comfortable with, who show true concern and have been and are staying up to date on our case, and who are truly taking mine and Avery's health into consideration.  Their names are Dr. Aundrea Clark and Dr. Benjamin Miles.  We ask that you please join us in praying for them, as they will be the ones at the hospital with us during Avery's delivery.

THREE:  We pray that the delivery and induction go as smoothly as possible.  There are so many unknowns right now, but we know that God is in control...First, for this induction to be successful, we need the Cervadil and Pitocin to both work effectively. Although right now my body is not prepared for labor, we hope it takes well to these induction methods and easily transitions into labor.  There is potential for my body not to respond, or for my body to respond too rapidly, causing distress for me and/or Avery.  Either one of these scenarios ends in emergency c-section.  We just hope that the original induction plan goes as smoothly and peacefully as can be.

FOUR:  Preeclampsia has the potential to get worse during labor and even after delivery.  There is what we have worried about, with seizures taking place and my blood pressure getting outrageously high.  We pray this is NOT the case.  We also pray that I can continue on my Aldomet while in labor (it has been known to slow down and delay the labor process/contractions).  We also pray that we do not have to be put on Magnesium, the "devil juice" to prevent seizures. 

No matter what happens, I definitely feel a peace about things...whether it be a 36 hour labor, whether it turns into an emergency c-section, whether whatever, although I am nervous (which I think is more a first time parent thing), I have this calming peace that no matter what it WILL be okay.  I keep hearing, "Be still and know that I am God!"  I know that no matter what He is in control. I am going to have to put this on a huge poster board in my delivery room. I pray that Mike and I can continue to keep our focus and feel this calming and comforting blanket wrapped around us.

Again, each and every one of you mean the world to us and we cannot wait to introduce Avery to you, knowing no matter how or what kind of delivery we go through, she has made it this far because of your faithful prayers and love!  We pray that God blesses each and every one of you!!

Love,
Mike and Stephanie

We Are Down To the Wire...and I'm DONE!

We are now down to the wire and my stress level, hormones, nesting and sleep deprivation are in FULL force.  I will cry in a heartbeat and snap in a split second.  All is fair in love and war at this point!!!

I just sat on my kitchen floor and scrubbed my oven for over 2 hours!!!  It has taken four people to get it clean, and somehow the 9 month pregnant bed rest woman had to finish it!  My next investment will be a self cleaning oven!  Honestly, whatever genius invented an oven that does not self clean itself is just an idiot! After the Oven-Off was sprayed on it and I was told it was clean....it was still smoking and about to catch fire as soon as I turned the oven on, I sat on the floor with a fire extingusher, a potato scrubber (which is now in the garbage),  a bucket of water and two rolls of paper towels.  After two hours, the thing is finally NOT smoking when heated, but still has an odd odor to it.  If I could move the darn thing to the road for trash pick up that is where it would be right now! 

While we are ranting about things,  hostess at restaurants really need to go through a common-sense, idiot proof course!  The other day, after dying to get out of the house, Mike let me go Ruby Tuesdays.  We ran by Target really quick afterwards to get a few last minute supplies needed for the hospital and the first few days Avery is home.  The restaurant was NOT busy, but the lovely waitress asked me if I wanted to sit at the bar.  No offense, and yes I would love a drink, but what pregnant woman wants to try and waddle herself up on a bar stool.  When I declined, she asked if a BOOTH at the bar would be more acceptable.  I again declined.  There is nothing that screams I can fit a 9-month belly into a BOOTH without leaving a permanent table indention into my belly.  No, thank you!  I politely asked her for a table.  Again, the restaurant is NOT busy and she squished us in a table between two other tables.  I couldn't even pull my chair out because the person at the other table and I were back to back, so my belly was squished anyway.  I know I have not been in public for over a month now, but REALLY?!?!  You can't miss this belly! 

Also, to all non-pregnant people, It is NEVER okay to ask a pregnant woman how much she has gained, that is looks like she is carrying twins, that she now has a double-chin, that she looks completely exhausted, etc. etc. etc.  WE KNOW!!!!   The only acceptable response to a pregnant woman is, "Wow, you look great!"  You and I both know we don't, but that's all!  And yes, I know my maternity shirt has a stain on it and that is slowly creeping up to be a belly shirt!  I KNOW!  But, I have been on bed rest for over a month, go no where, so how and why in the world would I go buy NEW maternity shirts when I am at my house all day, every day.  You should be lucky, I shower every day!!! 

Other than that we have been in full nesting mode.  We (well Mike and my parents) have dusted every inch of the house, scrubbed every inch of the house, changed light fixtures, replaced and changed wall sockets, rearranged some furniture, touched up on paint, etc. etc. etc.  Well, I made a list and have had to sit back and watch it be done...other than the oven!  Let me tell you how stressful that has been.  I am not a "point and bark orders" person - I am a "get out of my way and let me do it" type of girl, so this is killing me!  And it is just overwhelming when I think of everything I want done before Avery comes. 

Speaking of....a week from today - Avery should be making her arrival into the world.  It may be Tuesday, but hopefully Monday.  No matter what, this time next week, we will be at the hospital!  Woohoo!  That is the only thing getting me through at this point!!!

Happy Monday and New Year every one!!!