Harper Reese....Birth Story

Here we are ready to go at the hospital.

 Oh my goodness where does one begin?  As most of you are aware we kind of "planned" our baby's arrival....but then again we really DIDN'T!  It's so funny because before our baby arrived I had never really wondered about the birth story!  Man was ours interesting and an adventure!!

Saturday: 

As planned my mom, dad, sister and family all arrived on Saturday!  Chris and I enjoyed spending the day with them prior to our arrival at the hospital at 5 that night.  We finished up Harper's room and did a few other errands.  Then at 4:30 pm Chris and I took off for the hospital...what a surreal feeling that was.  I mean we were actually on our way to meet our sweet baby!  Once we got to the hospital things were a little rocky....On the Tuesday prior there was another woman with my same name who came in and delivered there....thus causing some confusing as to who I was and how they didn't realize I was coming it.  They had marked me off the induction book because, well they thought I already had my sweet baby.  No worries the nurses and on call doc got everything squared away quickly.  Plus we ended up getting a wonderful large room.  This was great since we have many family members coming to visit.  Around 7 pm we began the induction....since I was not dilated this seemed to be a long road.  However, Chris and I were fully aware of that going in.  My family came up for a bit and hung out...I was looking super sexy as you can see!

That night they checked me around 10...not much change so I didn't want poor Chris to have to sleep there that night.  I sent him home, and believe me he was very hesitant to go.  But really all I was going to do was sleep so why did he need to be there?  I kept him up to date via text every time the nurses came in.  Nothing much happened except contractions of course...but no major changes.

These wonderful gowns make me look GIGANTIC.

all hooked up and ready to go...

 Sunday:

Sunday morning Chris arrived around 5 am as we had planned.  Yes, he is an early riser!  He was there when they began my pitocin.... My doctor was on call on Sunday that is why we planned this! She came in explained how things would work and said she would check back around lunch.  Thus things began to progress a little more...or so I thought.  I mean I was actually "feeling" the contractions at this point.  My family arrived with breakfast around 8 and then Chris' family came in around 10.  I was so glad everyone finally made it so that they would all be here for the arrival of Baby R.  I then of course told Baby R he/she could come out because everyone is here!  HA HA HA  Noon came and went with no change other than the pain I was feeling.  I began some iv pain meds...that made me talk crazy!  Our poor family....got to hear me gab about random stuff!  Then it was well dinner time and still no change.  My poor doctor is so sweet she kept telling me things would work out and she had tons of tricks to try. After 2 bags of pit nothing had moved around....my doctor did a few things inside (sorry for the tmi)...scraped my membrane (which hurt like h*ll).  Then at 10 pm we were sitting in the same boat.  NOTHING moving forward...NO dilation what so ever!  Our families were getting very excited about a baby, and well this one was not moving!  Thus we were in for a long night I was afraid.  Chris made is bed and we both tried to get some rest.

I was up off and on as the nurses came in and checked on me....don't be alarmed nothing changed.  I mean I still was not even a 1! I of course hit the bathroom a few times.  Let me tell you what a pain that is when your hooked up to a million machines...I am a PRO now let me tell you.  Around 2:30 am after just returning from a bathroom trip I felt this huge kick on my stomach.  Then the great flood began!  Well it was a small flood and I yelled at Chris immediately.  Chris I think my water broke come look.  He stumbles over, actually he looked drunk, it was funny! He was so tired and not to happy about me waking him up.  He said no I don't think so.  Then I hit the nurse button she came in and kind of felt the same way Chris did.  They both tried to connivence me I might have pee'd on myself.  I new it was more than that....and well when I stood up about 20 minutes later those 2 finally believed me as it was the great flood!  I was super jazzed and thought to myself that things must finally be kicking into gear.  The nurse said she would let my doctor know, but to try and get some rest until she came in the morning.  I tried to sleep and did off and on.  Then around 6 I wanted pain meds, but didn't want to be talking crazy so I was trying to hold off.  Which if you know me is big because my MO since I found out I was prego was GIVE ME THE DRUGS!!  I am so pro drugs its not even funny! While I was analyzing if I should push the nurse button or not I heard this random dripping noise.

The Roberts' clan!

Doing some arts and crafts to pass the time!

MONDAY: January 16, 2012

Thankfully at 6:30 my new nurse came in and I asked her to turn on our light because I heard a funny dripping noise.  She thought I was crazy, but did it.  Sure enough there was a leak....and well they were going to move us to another room.  My doctor arrived a few moments after the leak only to find out that her last "trick" was to well break my water. Since that had happened we were well at a stand still!  YIKES!  Next thing to do was a c-section!!  I was pro that since after 2 days of "labor" nothing had changed.....and I just wanted to meet my sweet baby.

7:00: All our families had arrived for the big moment.  I was geared up as well as Chris.  We had packed our room to be moved while we were in the o.r.  Off we went!  Okay so I have seen c-sections on tv and stuff but man having one was so different.  I felt like I was at Nascar and the Pit crew was setting me up! It was crazy in there....FREEZING COLD, but crazy.  I got on the table for my spinal to be placed, well another fun adventure that was.  After the 7th attempt it was in! WHOO WHOO and I was being slammed down on the table.  Next thing I know Chris has arrived and is holding my hand ready to take pictures.  He did an amazing job taking pictures...I love him for that. From there it was all a flash, and our doctor was asking Chris to look and take pictures.  She then said...Well dad what is it?  He looks and looks and looks and I wait and wait and wait...then finally it comes.  "It's a GIRL?"  I immediately begin to cry...I couldn't believe it we had a baby girl!  She hardly even fussed either...they put her beside me on the warmer and began to clean her up.  We were so in love in such a few short seconds.  Truly it is amazing...

The awful shot I had to take prior to my c-section...

see I told you...

Now for picture OVER LOAD!  Meet Miss Harper Reese:  There are many more pictures to come...blogger didn't want to work for me, so this is all I got loaded! 

Welcome to the world Miss Harper!

 Harper and daddy!

 Harper and I headed to our room.

 Our first family picture

 All dolled up...

 Ready to head home! 

Internet is down

Okay I know y'all are just waiting to read all about MISS HARPER! Lol but our Internet is down and blogging on my phone well stinks. I have the post ready to go however it's missing all the great pictures. Hopefully today or tomorrow we will have Internet again! Believe me it is killin me. Plus I am missing reading all your wonderful blogs. Again the phone is just not the same...hope to post soon.

Welcome Harper!

Baby R has arrived!  Harper Reese was welcomed in to the world today!  6 lbs 13 oz 19 1/2 inches long.  More info to follow...we are so overjoyed and blessed! Thank you for all your sweet thoughts as we made this journey.

A little help here, please!

This was a cute one I found.

Tonight I thought I would be a good prego mom and start the search for a cute birth announcement!  YIKES!!!  I have read in many places to go ahead and have those picked out so all you do is add the picture and info.  This way while you are trying to feed and well survive those first few weeks you are not also spending hours searching the internet.  Here is the PROBLEM: there are a MILLION cute ones out there.  I mean how do you pick?  I want something cute and unique.  Also I am very much about a picture, I mean heck we waited 9 months to see that sweet face...why not plaster it EvErYwHeRe?

I also liked this one.

Thus I turn to you my blogging friends.  I normally use Shutterfly for all cards, photo books, and such but I am sure there are other options.  Please send your info my way, I am begging you.  I will accept anything from a web address to even dyi ideas!  I am sure you have a place you love to print cards from.  My sister is queen of cute cards, but she normally makes hers by buying templets and such.  A) I am not that talented yet. B) She doesn't use a mac, therefore I am not 100% comfortable trying that now.  I am sure as I learn from her and start trying on my own I could become a PRO like her....but not now!  Thanks for all the great ideas I really appreciate the help you have no idea.

This and that!

So many random things I have not blogged about lately....just trying to keep up my weekly updates going has been hard.  Tonight I finished up my last round of grades for school for a while, crazy thought!  Now, I finally feel free to blog about all those random things I haven't had time for or felt bad about doing over school stuff!

Let's see where to start Baby Prep:  Okay so Chris and I have not really had that much baby/labor prep!  The funny thing is every time our hospital offered a class we were out of town!  YIKES...makes for a little nervousness on our end, but what can you do really.  However, I do have to give big props to the one thing we DID do for our sweet baby.  When I nannied my sweet niece back oh 7 years ago (wow she is so big..and I am so old) there was a local Target that would hold car seat safety checks.  Remembering this I made a few phone calls over Christmas break.  I called up the Hurst DPS and asked if they still had a car seat safety program.  They passed me right along to a wonderful State Trooper.  Officer Haschel was AMAZING!!  He actually came to OUR HOUSE on CHRISTMAS EVE to take us through all the INS and OUTS of the infant seat.

He came in and did about 20 minutes of the safety features for us.  He showed us how the car seat works in an accident and such.  The whole thing was very informative.  Then he took us out to our cars and showed us the best way to instal the seat.  He installed it and then uninstalled it....then making us do it.  After we installed it he checked and approved.  He said the number one reason babies get hurt in an accident is because the seat is not installed properly!  Check that off our list!!!  We can put that sucker in  like no ones business! Whoo whoo if nothing we are at least ready for the car. (if you live in the area I would love to pass along his info)

Baby R's room is pretty much complete! Check that off the list too.  Oh and have I mentioned the NESTING that has been going on. Nesting, nesting, nesting....like crazy!  The funny thing is that the nesting has not all been done by me either.  I swear if I didn't get the nesting bug, Chris sure as heck did. He has cleaned the garage, we sent the pod back to the pod place, got a new dinning room table, and fixed the office up.   The list goes on and on!  I love that everything is coming together and ready for the next few weeks.  Chris did a great job of making sure all our handy work got done too!  Got to love a handy sweet husband!!!

Okay so I would love to add pictures of all the changes, BUT the camera is packed and ready to go!  Sorry!!!  Guess I wasn't thinking about the blogging I would do :-)  After the baby comes I'll show you for sure!  P.S. Be on the look out for a BOY or GIRL post coming soon!! Sorry for the random long post about nothing too crazy fun...just random thoughts.

Watch me grow, week 39

Pregnancy Highlights:

I'm feeling rather large at this point...YIKES!

How Far Along: 39 Weeks

Size of the baby: All my pregnancy updates tell me it is the size of a watermelon! YIKES!  I am hoping it is really in the low 7 lb range.  

Total Weight Gain/loss: Back to 36, as of last week. I head to the dr. today so I hope no more weight is gained! 

Maternity Clothes:  Just enjoying it while I can...and hoping that soon I'll be back to normal.  

Gender: SURPRISE!! We are not going to find out till Baby R arrives in January! 

Movement: Heavens the moving is out of control.  Chris and I sat in awe on Sunday at church as our little one was moving like a maniac.  My stomach just went up and down like crazy! I am pretty certain this baby will be a wiggle worm.

Sleep: I snuck in a few naps this weekend.  Still sleeping great minus the 3-4 bathroom breaks needed at night.  I hope that means our little one will sleep good too, well one can dream right!

What I miss: Okay don't laugh...I miss being able to CALL SOMEONE and not get an immediate "ARE YOU IN LABOR"  I mean heavens people am I not allowed to call unless I am in labor.  Yes, everyone is on pins and needles but I do sometimes just want to call and chat about nothing! HA However, I am thankful that everyone cares enough to freak out when I call them.  :-) 

Cravings: No true cravings...just wanting to do somethings prior to baby.  Like eating at certain places for the last time just us and such.   

Symptoms: Swelling still, but I hear that is par for the course at this point in life! Braxton hicks also...oh and did I mention that I guess I finally have 'back pain"  My lower back kills me now, I have been living on my heating pad!  

Best moment this week: Well today we head to the Dr for our LAST visit!  Crazy how the past 9 months have just flown by.  I have a few moments this week some that are exciting and some that are sad.  

Sad moment of the week) Knowing that this is my last week with my sweet kids at school!  I am really sad to be leaving them for a while, and yes everyone says I wont once I see this baby....but for the past 6 months those kids have been my kids.  I will miss seeing the daily progress from them.  I just adore my class so much this year and I don't want them to fail because I have stepped away.  I know I am crazy...but it's the teacher in me! 

Exciting moments) Everyone family wise has booked or planned their trip.  I feel like we have a great plan for all to be here to meet Little Baby R!  Knowing we will meet our sweet baby in 5 days is AMAZING!!!  The excitement in our house is out of control you have no idea.  

Last weekend as 2!

Chris and I can not believe it is our last full weekend without a sweet baby!  Next weekend on Sunday (if Baby R sticks it out) January 15th we have planned our induction to meet this sweet baby.  I am so excited I can hardly stand it.  Chris is excited too!!

Of course if Baby R would like to come before that we are really fine with that...but it looks like he/she will need some talking out!  Since my last appointment not much has changed, other than the head moving down more.  I of course enjoy being able to plan some of this out...especially for school and family.   I have had a fear of my water breaking at school, I mean really I don't think 7 year olds should have to see that...ha ha ha  So this information makes me feel a little better about my next 4 days of teaching.  However, many of my co-workers think it would be great if I went into labor there! HA

Also since Chris' parents are all the way up in Minnesota I was worried they wouldn't make it for the birth.  But now we have a plan so that helps out and allows them a chance to get here before anything big happens.  That makes me feel better too.  Also my family can plan there travels easier so they wont be driving like crazy people and risk tickets, they both have drives through small speed trap towns!

If all goes as planned my family will arrive on Saturday and Chris' Sunday morning very early!  Then we will be GO for BABY R to arrive.  Of course I am a little nervous about being induced for various reasons.  A) I hear the contractions suck more B) I may not dilate enough to have he/she naturally C) it tends to take way longer than "spontaneous" labor  Chris quizzed our Dr. last week and she said it is fine and being induced does not harm the baby at all.  He was so cute to be worried about that, but come on I am the one carrying this thing...let's get him/her out and meet them already!  :-)

Until then, Chris and I are going to enjoy our last weekend just the 2 of us.  We had fun with friends last night!  Today I am sure we will try to squeeze in a movie, dinner, or something.  What a bitter sweet feeling this is!

Watch me grown, 38 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:

Here I am as we went out to celebrate New Year's Eve! 

How Far Along: 38 Weeks

Size of the baby: Well we have an estimate on Baby R's size this week since we had our sono last week!  Baby R was 6 lbs and 14 oz! Since the baby gains approximately .5 oz a day...I am guessing we are in the 7 lb range for sure!  YIKES  

Total Weight Gain/loss: Back to 36, that lb I lost last week came back this week, plus with a friend. GRRR...at what point can you get NO FATTER?

Maternity Clothes:  Just enjoying it while I can...and hoping that soon I'll be back to normal.  

Gender: SURPRISE!! We are not going to find out till Baby R arrives in January! 

Movement: Although I am still sad about my whole belly button being KICKED out!  I have noticed the kicks that use to be under my right boob have moved down to my tummy area more.  This was confirmed when the Dr. declared our baby's head had moved even further down!  I don't know how much further down it can get....without popping out!

Sleep: Well sad to be back at work, so no more naps! Sadness!! But I seem to be sleeping just like normal, which is great.

What I miss: Well, this week I have begun to miss more stuff.  I think its because we are so close to the end :-) I miss tying my shoes normally, my kids help me out so much ha ha.  I have also started to miss my kids at school.  I know that is silly and not part of pregnancy, but the past few days knowing I am leaving them makes me sad.  I see how far they have come and grown as students and will miss it.  Plus I know they will miss touching and talking to the baby, since daily I have at least 18 pairs of hands on my tummy.  This baby has no idea how many people love it already!  

Cravings:Well...I went to the store to buy our "snacks" for the hospital bag!  HA HA, I walked away with tons of snacks....trial mix, sour patch kids, m&m.....guess I was in a snack mood that day. 

Symptoms: Swelling still, but I hear that is par for the course at this point in life! Braxton hicks also, not too bad but enough that you stop and wonder when the next will come and if it's the REAL deal!

Best moment this week: I have 2 this week!

1) Our weekly Dr. visit going as planned but most of all setting our induction date.  There is just something about knowing your baby will be here NO MATTER WHAT by Jan 15th that makes life good.  We are so excited only 8 days.

2) Coming home the other night to Chris who was on the phone with an old friend.  I of course went about my business...then I hear them chatting about pregnancy and all the ins and outs.  It is so cute to hear Chris talk about what he has enjoyed, the changes he didn't expect, and how he can't wait for the baby to arrive. Of course he has no idea I was listening to his conversation from a far...but it made my heart melt!