Life Now

Nyomi is now one month old, Elijah is 18 months old and Michael has one month before he's four! Time is chugging along. Nyomi is doing really well with holding her head up. Actually, at 1 or 2 days old, she was holding her head up. She also scoots and is turning over. I have another advance child on my hands. She had a little baby acne but she's good now. She had her first bath and of course she didn't like it. Michael is into Sesame Street and Thomas the Tank Engine but more so into Thomas. He has told me he wants a Thomas cake. Every day he tells me a character he wants me to buy. His 4th birthday is coming up and so we shall see. I had my 6 weeks postpartum check-up on 11/15 and I have lost 22 pounds from when I gave birth on 11/7. I am planning a New Year's resolution to lose around 50 pounds starting on January 1st. Wish me luck!

Well Baby Check-ups

Nyomi now weighs 6 lbs and 1-1/2 oz at her 1 week Well Baby check-up. When she was discharged on 11/13, she had weighed 5 lbs and 13 oz.

Elijah had his 18 months Well Baby check-up and he did well. According to Daddy, Dr. Carucci says Elijah’s weight is fine and that he just needs to grow taller. His head circumference is a little big though. Oh well. His height is 2' 6.5", his weight is 22 lb 9.7 oz and his BMI (body mass index) is 17.09. His next appointment is when he’s 2 years old. He got his vaccine shots along with his big brother Michael. Just 2 shots each, no biggie.

Nyomi Is Born!

Alright, went in on 11/6 at 10:40am. I was given a pill to soften me up. I was already contracting but not enough. I was in slow labor all day and night on 11/6. I was "stuck" at 1cm for a long while. The next day, things picked up. When it was 9:45am, I was 4cm dilated. At 10:55am, my water broke. After that, the labor pain really kicked in. I went from 5cm to 7cm in 1 hour then from 7cm to 10cm in the next hour. I felt like I had to urinate. I called the nurse and two came to assist me. As soon as I stood up, I felt this tremendous pressure and Nyomi's head plus a major contraction came on. I yelled "I have to push!" The older nurse told me to get back into bed but I was squatting to push Nyomi out. I did manage to get back into the bed and I pushed one time. The same nurse told me not to push and to "suck" Nyomi back in. I gave her a strange look and told her that my baby was coming and I couldn't stop pushing. She called over her phone that there was an involuntary pushing going on. My doctor was called and the younger nurse said my doctor was on lunch but within seconds, my doctor came rushing in. I pushed twice and Nyomi was born! She weigh 5lbs and 15.8oz, 18-3/4 inches long. I was 38 weeks and 1 day pregnant. When I was 36 weeks, I had a growth check u/s and was told she was 6.3lbs then and at 38 weeks, Nyomi was going to be between 6.8lbs and 7.1lbs. Yeah right. Nyomi wasn't even 6lbs at birth.

We were getting ready to be discharged the next day when the nurse told us that Nyomi's bilirubim levels (jaundice) were too high. Nyomi had to stay under the lights to bring the levels down. This was on 11/8. Then on 11/10, as preparations were undergoing again for us to leave, Nyomi ended up with a fever and the on-call pediatrician felt she had an infection. So, Nyomi had to go to NICU to get antibiotics. Finally today (11/13), Nyomi was 100% well and we were discharged.

Oh, I had a bowel movement while pushing out Nyomi. *shrugs* It happens.

Pregnancy Update

I have been contracting (not Braxton Hicks) off and on since Monday. Well, Wednesday morning at 4:30am, I am woken up by strong, painful contractions. I am timing, watching, waiting, debating, thinking and going through all kinds of emotions. At 7am, the contractions start to be more regular but not as painful. All through the day I am hit w/ mild, moderate and strong contractions. I go walking and shopping w/ my mom to keep contractions going.

At 3pm, I call Labor & Delivery and the nurse told me that if my contractions stay regular and strong to come in. Well, at 3:30ishpm, they subsided. Then at about 4:15ishpm, they started again hard and regular. I and my husband then go to L&D. I am monitored, my contractions are coming hard and regular. I was 36w5d. The doctor on-call said I wasn't in "real" labor. I was checked and had dilated only to 1cm. No effacement was mentioned. I was sent me home being told that I had to have stronger and more painful contractions. The doctor did say if I was truly in labor, that they won't be stopped. Also if my water broke that I was definitely going to be admitted. I was mad and upset because here I am in L&D having strong and painful contractions and I am sent home w/ instructions to take Benadryl or Tylenol PM. At least keep me until my contractions subsides (if they were to which they did later but the doctor didn't know that). Oh the doctor said too, that since I am not 37 weeks, that he wanted me to be at home. My baby would be a preemie. Umm alright I was/am 2 days from 37 weeks. 2 days won't really make a difference plus my 1st was born when I was 36w5d and he was great. His lungs and his eating were good. I know, I know every baby is different but I was just ticked off.

Today I had my NST & OB appointment. The OB who saw me said that next Friday (11/6) I am to be induced. I have to call on that day, early in the morning to find out what time to arrive. I am now 36w6d. Tomorrow I will be 37 weeks.

So everyone that's my update. I am on such a roller coaster right now... *stomps*

Alright

Whew, it has been awhile eh? Just a little catching up then. I am pregnant with my 3rd child and I'm having a girl this time around. I have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes as of 12/31/08. My sugar/glucose levels are great! So this is what happened today:

Had my 2nd growth check ultrasound today. I'm 36 weeks exactly. Nyomi is 6 pounds and 3 ounces. She's in the 50 percentile in size. She has a lot of hair and she's definitely a girl, no mistake about that one. My high-risk doctor said that he doesn't want me going past 38 weeks and an induction date will be discussed at my next OB appointment.

Walking

Elijah started walking today! He took about 10-15 steps. Oh boy, here we go!

OB Appointment

Had my prenatal appointment today. Things are going great which I am very happy for. I am gaining weight (like my doctor wants me to) and my blood pressure is good. Nyomi's heartbeat level is within the 150 range and she's a mover. My OB/GYN says I may start having my NST (non-stress test) early due to my blood condition. All in all, everything is going well. I went to Target also and found the "perfect" photo album and also a 8.5"x8.5" scrapbook journal I want for Nyomi.

L&D Visit

Round.ligament.pains. That's what all this cramping is! I and Christopher spent 3 hrs in Labor and Delivery having Nyomi monitored. She's doing great, moving and also moving too well. The nurse had to chase her around to hear her heartbeat. I gave urine and blood samples. Both came back good. I am advised to drink 1 gallon of water per day. Apparently you can have round ligament pains in different parts of your body. Wow, didn't know that. Undecided I thought maybe an UTI, nope urine test proved negative. I have Type 2 diabetics and my urine showed no signs of sugar. So now I'll have this cramping along the whole bottom side of my stomach for I don't know long. I had round ligament pains w/ my 1st but they were in my inner thighs. I can't bend over, really can't bend over. My belly is sooo sore. Well, I am happy it wasn't preterm labor. Just good ole "normal" pregnancy stuff.

Hope -n- Strength

My mother-in-law Cindy has a blog called Hope -N- Strength. It's full of emotions due to the fact she's pouring out her life story of her abuse of all kinds. She created this blog to help others. Here is in her own words what her blog is about and for:

Hope - N- Strength is a safe place for men, women or children to come to. If you’ve ever been abused in any manner, if you're lonely, depressed, or just need to talk and get something off your chest, I’m here to listen and respond. I am hoping that my story will give someone the strength to stand up for themselves, for their children or just for someone that they care about. For one to gain the courage, the hope and the strength. NO it’s not going to be easy, YES it will be hard, BUT nowhere near as hard as what you are going through or what you’ve already gone through. IMAGINE living pain free, fearing nothing, and living in freedom. It’s POSSIBLE, it’s out there for you, you just have to want it. I’m not here to save the world. BUT I would like to save someone with HOPE -N- STRENGTH.

It's A Girl!

I had my "big" ultrasound today and I along with the hubby, found out we are having our first girl! I am excited amongst other emotions. Now to buy some pinks and purple...