Three month backdrop pictures

Drew is 24.5 in and 13 lbs. He LOVES playing on his playmat, sucking his hand, sleeping (9-10 hrs straight), eating, his changing table, peek a boo. He CAN look for you and follow your voice, smile. Giggle and squeal, sit upright without neck support, make bubbles with his mouth, scoot a little on his back and end up a foot away at a different angle.

Backdrops: PearlPearDesigns

He DISLIKES being hungry, tummy time or not seeing what's going on. MILESTONES this month he had under his tongue clipped, went on his first trip to St. George, laughed. I WEAR 3-6 month clothing, size 1 diapers.

Love love love this boy, so sweet, can easily entertain himself, loves sitting and looking at us from his carseat, love going in the car and exploring the world

One Month Baby!

Drew turned one month and is the cutest little baby around.  He sleeps so well in 3-4 hour chunks (we keep him up for a little bit at night, feed him and put him down around 11 or 12 then he'll wake up, eat and I'll change him halfway and he'll go straight back to bed for another 3-4 hour chunk, until about 10:00- noon).  He definitely has needed less sleep each week (the first week or more he slept all day) and now at week four he's up for longer periods more often.

He eats amazingly! He eats about 20-30 minutes on average and also takes a pacifier and we've fed him a few bottles.  We started feeding him 1 oz of formula before bed (and before I feed him) which helps him sleep longer.  He loves his swing, playmat, car rides, we left the house for pictures and a few walks but it's so hot outside.  He's 10 lbs, 21.5 inches long and gives big smiles in his sleep and has a natural smile like the cute picture below :) and he's in Newborn clothes and diapers.

Both blanket and backdrop from: Pearl Pear Designs

Drew's birth story

So as some background, I went in the hospital three times previously to this.  Originally April 31 for preterm labor, I left dilated to 4.5cm 90% effaced with baby almost all dropped and then came in that next day because I still had contractions every 2-3 minutes and they told me to come in if that was the case because that meant they couldn't stop my labor.  Then the third time, I waited 11 hours with steady contractions (in the hospital they were every 2-3 minutes for 5 hours but my cervix wasn't dilating).  Anyway, that last labor and delivery visit they told me to come in next time if I was bleeding, my water broke, or if I was in dying pain (and ignore the rules for contractions).  My doc said I was an unusual case for her and my goal was to try to make it to 36 weeks then 37.

So.... May 23 my husband went to work and I got ready for the day and Owen.  I felt pain during that morning in my hips but didn't think anything of it until I was talking on the phone with my sister and then I realized I was having painful contractions which I never had with my first or with this baby. I started counting the contractions (my doc said to still be aware of them but don't use that as the main reason for coming in, she also told me if something happens I need to act FAST, like if my water broke I don't even have time to get dressed because I don't have any time to get to the hospital since I was super dilated).  Anyway, I started feeling like my hips were being torn apart, eventually I texted my husband saying to not be alarmed but I was in a lot of pain.  He called immediately freaking out and I told him let's give it half hour more and we would call and talk then (I wanted to be sure and wasn't sure at this time) then I started getting ready for the hospital.  Inbetween the pain I felt 100% fine and didn't feel any pain so I thought it past, the contractions were more like 4.5-5 minutes a part and I knew that I experienced them more close than that.  Regardless, I started getting ready for the hospital and had Owen in the car when the 30 minutes were up.  The pain I was having was really painful, about a 7-8 on the pain scale, feeling like my hips were being pulled a part and my lower abdomin hurting quite a bit and a little in my back.

Chris told his mom to be on alert and he was leaving work (we waiting in the hospital parking lot a few times the last few weeks lol) I told him to call her back and come pick up Owen.  Chris left work and I called him when I got to the hospital (I thought I was going to crash a few times because I was in a lot of pain which would last 30 seconds to a minute at a time), he was 15 minutes away and I said I could wait.  A few minutes later I couldn't wait so I got Owen out of the car and started walking into the hospital.  Right then Chris pulled up and walked inside with us.  We went to labor and delivery outside waiting area and I wanted to count the contractions again since I hadn't been during the drive, before being admitted.  Chris' mom came shortly after so Chris went down to hand off Owen, I said I would wait for him before checking in, but I felt like I was in so much pain during those contractions so I couldn't wait and went through the doors to check in.

1:45pm At the desk I quickly checked in and had a hard time talking during the contractions, they acted fast especially when they found out I was dilated to a 5.5 (since my last appointment that week, they started talking to all of the nurses that I was dilated that much and the doc sent me home dilated that far).  Chris came and I got into the hospital gown, the nurse started asking questions and putting things into the computer.  She was leaving the room and decided to check my cervix and she said "ahh his head is right there" and said I was dilated to an 8.  All of the sudden the room was filled with nurses because they needed to act fast.  Someone was asking me more questions, someone else filling in things into the computer, IV was being put into my arm, the epidural guy was coming in... ALL at the same time which made my panic a little. I was so so glad it was finally time since it was a long time coming (the last few weeks were so so long), I made sure and even asked once or twice if I was admitted and said don't send me home haha.  The doctor who was going to be delivering also came in too.

2:15pm Epidural was all in.  Since I had to get an IV for strep B they wanted to try to slow things down and get as much as they could in my system before he came.  They needed 4 hours to do this so I was praying that he wouldn't come too fast.  The epidural was supposed to slow down contractions, I didn't know that there was a constant drip to the epidural so I pressed it only a handful of times but I ended up being too numb especially on my left side.

2:45pm contractions were still two minutes a part and still as big as when I was in the hospital previously.  The IV was gone and they wanted to wait an hour to get everything in my system.

4pm The nurses wanted to wait 4 hours total for the antibiotic (so until 6-6:15). I had two IV bags total.

4:10pm I ate a delicious popsicle because I was starving and couldn't eat anything.

5:20 Dilated to a 9, Nurses were surprised my water didn't break yet.  They said not too often a mother reaches that without popping.

6:05pm Doctor came in again (my real doctor wasn't on call so I had another doctor who came in to check in on me a few times).  He said if I felt like pushing to let the nurses know asap (which happened twice because I wasn't sure, it's hard to tell with an epidural).  At 6:05pm he broke my water (I was 9.5 cm dilated) and wanted to wait another hour to see if labor kicks into gear.

7:00pm I started pushing for less than 5 minutes

7:04pm Little Drew was born!  7 lbs 2 oz 18.5 inches long!

He is so darling, he started crying as they sucked out his little lungs and eventually put him on me for skin to skin.  I was so excited he was here, we counted his little toes and saw that he might have brown hair (we thought it would be red like with Owen's).  It's so amazing having a sweet little spirit fresh out of heaven be in your arms. Looking into those little eyes is the best thing ever.

In the hospital we stayed two days, night one he slept for a four hour stretch, I couldn't believe how well he could nurse.  From my business I made him a few outfits with his name on them, he looked so cute in them and we loved having family come and visit and talk with us through Skype and on the phone.  We love this little guy so much!  Clothing from Pearl Pear Designs

Preterm Hospital Visit

Saturday we went to a baptism and then a date as our last date before baby.  We dropped Owen off to be watched and went to the new Provo City Center Temple.  While I was there I was feel contractions but I wasn't counting.  We got some food and Owen and then went home where I started counting contractions with my app.

I had a hard time realizing I was having contractions when I was pregnant with Owen and still was having a hard time telling all of them I was having with this baby.  I counted figure out when they start or end especially if I was walking or laying down, sitting was the best way to know.  My friend works at the NICU so I asked her some questions about mine since they were 7 minutes apart, then 5 then 3 minutes.  After 5 hours of having them consistently and getting closer and closer like that, we decided to call the doc then go in to L&D especially being 35 weeks.  We got there at 9:30pm and they hooked me up to the monitors and sure enough they were 2 minutes apart and when I checked in I was dilated to a 3-3.5 about 80% effaced.  They wanted me to be on the monitor for an hour and when they returned about 1030 I was still having contractions every 2 minutes and dilated to a 4, effaced 90% and baby was at station -1.  I ended up being dilated to a 4.5 somewhere soon after.  They decided to slow down my labor since the baby just turned 35 weeks that day, they hooked me up to an IV, gave me two shots and some pills and kept the monitors running to see if things would slow down.  About an hour later or at 12 midnight, the IV finished and I was not dilated any more and they kept me on the monitor.  Finally the contractions were smaller and further spaced (I think like 4 minutes then a little further than that).  At 1230 I was dilated to a 4.5, 90% effaced and they talked to my doctor and said I could go home and if I was ok with that.

I was super worried about leaving the hospital but wanted to keep him in as long as I can since he would be so early.  Eventually we felt good about leaving but I felt/still feel like he's about to come! I was discharged around 1am and in my preterm labor papers and what they told me, I need to keep down and do nothing to prevent more contractions and my cervix to progress.  No lifting heavy things, no stress, no sitting or standing long, laying is the best option.  They told me to come in if I was having contractions every 5 minutes I think they told me for an hour.  I didn't sleep well that night because I was worried the medicine wouldn't fully work and I would have the baby that day.  I woke up a few hours later since the contractions were large enough to wake me and I would count and sometimes fall asleep while doing that.  I think like 6 I was wide awake and counting them every 4 minutes for 3 hours by the time we got back to the hospital.  Thankfully I didn't dilate more, they hooked me up again and the contractions (even though for hours I counted with app every four minutes - sometimes less) they were more inconsistent and after a few hours I got released (Sunday).

Monday I was paranoid all day especially since my husband had to go to work.  I wanted to get through that day since I had my regular doctor's appointment Tuesday and didn't want to go back into the hospital unless I was completely sure he was coming.  Tuesday nothing changed when I went in and she said we need to make it to 36 weeks and then try for 37! During this time they took urine samples at the hospital and doc office this and last week, the samples and swabs came back negative for anything but one had a small amount of bacteria and she thinks maybe it could have been a bladder infection that triggered the contractions to put me into labor.  Who knows, anyway I'm so grateful for modern medicine and technology and pray I can make it as long as I can.  I'm almost to 36 weeks now and feel like I'm a ticking timebomb about to pop at any moment.  Oh on top of this I got a cold that Saturday before I went in and I cough and sneeze and blow my nose which scares me.  I still have tons of contractions every day but nothing continuous.  I wake up at night because they are painful but it ends up being nothing.  I just hope I can make it to the hospital too since I'm so far dilated along, labor is going to be faster.  Either way everything will work out fine and I'm getting plenty of down time and rest to keep him in the best I can!

34 weeks pregnancy

Last week at my doctor's appointment (33 weeks) I was dilated to a 2, baby is in the right position (he was breeched earlier at my ultrasound at 20 weeks), he's measuring big.

This week at 34 weeks I'm still 2 cm, effaced 70%, baby is still measuring big.  Just a few more weeks I hope don't come too soon!

Everything is pretty much in order, I'm trying to do less and not leave the house as much or have playdates to go places.  I still have no carpal tunnel (with my first I had the hardest time with my hands), I am sleeping well still, I get up once sometimes twice a night to use the bathroom.  I usually fall right back asleep but sometimes I lay wide awake for 1/2 hour but fall asleep. I feel comfortable when I sleep and I sleep with a pillow inbetween my legs (for the last few months). 

I'm still not eating as many meals and feel like I was continually starving like I was with my first.  For the last one or even two months with Owen (probably two) I was downing 6-8 decent size meals a day and couldn't last through the night without waking up and eating.  And, I would eat the moment before I fell asleep (woke up in the middle of the night for some applesauce or something) then right when I woke I would go straight downstairs and eat.  This pregnancy so far, my eating has been wake up, get some work done or wait for Owen to wake up (which could be around 9-10), eat cereal, for lunch eat something here like leftovers, grilled cheese, toast and eggs etc, then dinner I usually eat a lot of and have a snack later.

Owen's big boy room is coming along, we moved the guest room downstairs, everything is clean and I try to continue cleaning it everyday, I'm on top of my work orders, I turn 35 weeks this weekend!  

32 weeks pregnancy chalkboard

32 weeks! Weeks have been going by really fast. I've slowed down a lot recently and get more tired.  I take naps now occasionally, sleep longer and it's more uncomfortable sleeping.  The last two weeks I have to go the bathroom at least once a night.  I drink lots of water after which keeps me hydrated and not hungry.  This week I started having nightmares about silly things or fears which is no fun.  My poor husband hurt his back badly this week so I think the nightmares/anxiety are coming from that because I need him to get better before I have this baby :) After I get up at night it's harder to go to bed and I wake the baby up so he starts kicking and throwing punches for a while.

It's harder for me to bend, the last two weeks I've had to go the bathroom so many times, I went to the zoo last week and went four times while I was there haha.  My hips are feeling more stretched out and I think I'm feeling his head in the middle so hopefully he's in the right position. I think I've been having braxton hicks a lot more. I'm not an expert at detecting them, it's only when I feel my stomach or I'm having an intense one that I can tell.  I only feel it in my stomach by my belly button and have them frequently. I start freaking out because sometimes I have a ton during the day. I've been trying to keep it easier and drink more water and eat more.  Right now I think I've gained 25ish pounds if that, my last appointment this week they said I'm measuring ahead so that would be 33/34 weeks now (somewhere in there) but I'm going to have the doctor check it next appointment next week because I don't want to get up my hopes I'm almost there and then go back a few weeks to 32 weeks or something :) I've been more anxious recently so I've packed and put my hospital bag in the car to have a sound mind, made the baby an outfit (with more to come) and I think most everything is into place for the most part if he came now (but don't come now still stay in there!).

Lastly I haven't gotten swollen, sometimes my hands after typing but I haven't worn my wedding ring recently because I'm scared it won't come off. I haven't had any carpal tunnel... yet. Just a few more weeks! I start having appointments once a week and they'll monitor me which is great!

28 weeks pregnancy chalkboard

28 weeks!  Time is flying so much faster than my first pregnancy, probably because I have a two year old I'm running after :)  I'm still feeling good, we just came back from a road trip to St. George which was fun and relaxing, I'm too scared to get on a plane (being this pregnant) so we won't go anywhere else after that.  I'm tossing  a lot more when I sleep and my hips will hurt until a while after I sit up, I am still getting a lot of work down and have tons of energy so yesterday I taped up the kitchen and started painting the walls. I think this might be my last painting project before baby.  

I'm still eating 3 meals, larger dinners but I'm not eating right before bed, middle of the night, and the moment I get up like I was first pregnancy... or yet I should say :) I've been drinking tons of water and lathering lotion but don't feel hot like I was with Owen (but it's not summer either).  I remember being hot all the time with him and carrying a squirt bottle around to stay cool especially at night.  No cravings, I feel like I'm in panic mode a lot recently trying to get things done because I have a timeline in my head. My appointment this week doc set up an induction date for 39 weeks if baby comes, she thinks he'll be earlier than that but if not, I have a date set in May so no more June baby I guess.  I think baby has flipped, he's been stuck sideways recently but I think he might be in the right spot now!