Queen of my Castle

Looks like I am the queen on my castle!!!!!

I went in Thurs, May 12 for my last NST. The doctor had already scheduled my induction the week before for Thurs night into Fri morning as the week before I was only a fingertip and 'long.' He checked me at my appointment Thurs and I was still the same, which meant my induction started 8pm Thurs night with Cytotec rather than Fri morning with just the Pitocin.



I did some running around Thursday, went to TRU to get bike helmets for my big boys, picked up Shane from K, then went home and rested as I was having contractions from being checked earlier in the day. Went back to the school later and got my other son and went home to straighten up a bit. DH had an appointment with a new doctor that night at 5 so my stepmom was coming over to watch the boys and deal with getting them to school the next day. After hubby's appointment we went and picked up dinner at a local Italian place, we are friends with the owner and she was so happy that my 'last meal as a preggo' was hers!!! The doctor said to eat 'lite' but to heck with that, who knew how long I was going to be in labor for the next day!!! We took dinner home and ate as a family of 4 for the last time. Loaded up the car, took some last min 'preggo' picts and off we went to the hospital. When we arrived we went up to the mother baby floor and saw Larry, the male nurse who helped deliver both of our boys. He was the nurse we happened to get with our 1st, but he was SO GREAT that we requested him for our 2nd! We jokingly said maybe we'll see you tomorrow!



I thought they would put me right into a labor room...nope; I got the 'bigger' room in triage!!! Of course there was just a recliner for hubby, which, with 2 herniated discs, would not have been a place for him to sleep so I told him to stay with me until I got settled then he could go home. They had me hooked up to a monitor for a bit, and then the resident came in and put in the Cytotec. About 15 mins later she came in to say that MY doctor ordered cytotec but the attending on that night (another in the practice) wanted cervedil, so she had to take out the Cytotec!!!!!!!! She also didn’t have the cervedil on the floor as it had to come from the pharmacy, so she would be back to put it in. By that time it was around 10 so DH went home to sleep. The resident came in a bit later and quickly put in the cervedil (which is a long string/ribbon) before she had to go in to the OR for a C-section. I had to wait about an hour before getting up to go pee, so about an hour later the nurse came to help me get up and of course I felt the string falling out...thankfully it was only partially. So after the section the resident came back to put it back in and the nurse gave me some Ambien to sleep and started and IV. I then realized that it was Thurs night and I missed Greys and Private Practice...hopefully it will be on the DVR when I get home!!!

Thanks to the Ambien, I slept for about 5 hours or so!!! The nurse came in around 7:30-8 and said MY doctor was there and she was going to ask him if I could eat something since I really wasn't in 'active labor.' My doctor came in then and seemed REALLY annoyed that his partner changed what he ordered, but didn't take it out on me; he just mentioned that he wasn't sure why his associate did that. A few mins later my nurse came in to tell me she was getting me b'fast and once I ate she would move me over to a labor room. Around this time Hubby and my friend, Amanda, came in. I ate my breakfast, if you can call toast breakfast, and we all walked down the hall to my labor room.


A different resident came in to check me to see if it was time for the Pitocin and I was 2cm and 60% effaced!!! YAY the cervedil worked! My doctor came in and said to start the Pitocin. The nurse got everything all ready, hooked it into my IV, only to find out, my iv site was no good...it had blown! I am not the best 'stick' so she was really limited on where she could go, so my hand it was. Hand IVs hurt the worst, as least to me, but I knew she wouldn't have gotten me anywhere else. The Pitocin was then started at 11am. My mom, stepfather and brother arrived shortly after, with a Starbucks Chai tea, which was a no-no as it wasn’t a ‘clear liquid’ so we put it into a cup marked water! I was telling my nurse, Dawn, that I did NOT want a resident breaking my water....only my dr. I also told her that with my other two, once I hit 6cm things went REALLY FAST. (With Cody I went from 6 to 10 fast and only pushed for 18 mins, with Shane I went from 6 to 10 in an hour and pushed 3 times). Within a few minutes my OB came in and asked if I wanted my water broken, his timing was perfect! He broke my water but nothing really came out (no big gush like with the boys). He said the baby's head was down and acting like a cork so he thought it would be a 'slow' trickle. Which was fine by me since that gush always felt gross to me!

The pain was getting worse so I asked for something, they offered stadol or the epi...I opted for the stadol. Which helped...for maybe half hour or so. They checked me again around 1:15 and I was 4 to 5 and 100% effaced and I knew it was time for my epi since 6cm seems to be my 'magic number. By 2pm I had my epi and was 7cm, feeling much better. The baby nurse came in to get everything ready for the baby and when she heard how fast I went with the other 2, she decided to stay in the room and hang out! Smart woman! I asked Randy if we could have one more. I was starting to get sad that this was the last time we would have this magical moment, the last time I would feel a baby kick inside me. The nurses joked that it had to be the 1st time they have EVER had a patient, in active labor ask that!

Things started to get a little scary here...baby's heart rate started dropping below 90, so I became a rotisserie chicken...flopping from one side to the other. I told them I felt pressure so the nurse checked me...I was 10 with just a little bit of a 'lip' so they called the resident, who checked me again and said the same thing, who called my doctor who came in and checked me and said the same thing, but it was time to push and have a baby!!!!! He suited up, put my legs in the stirrups and we started. Thinking back no one ever 'counted' they just told me to push and there was no break of pushing in between, I pushed with the 1st contractions and once it was over the doctor said to keep pushing. My mom later told me the cord came out with the baby's head, she wasn't sure if it was around his neck or not and I didn't ask!

Two pushes later, the baby was out..........a boy!!!!!!!!!!!! Randy announced, “Another Penis!!!” They put his grey body on my chest and started rubbing him to stimulate him; this lil stinker continues to sleep, letting out only a little whimper here and there. They let him on me while the doctor did what he had to do to get out the placenta and everything else. He had a HUGE mess to clean up....my water gushed after the baby came out and I started bleeding a lot. I overheard the doctor say, “Up with the Pitocin” and someone else ask, “Does she have a history of postpartum hemorrage? I really wasn’t paying much attention after that, I was staring at the new little person who, like his brothers before him, would forever hold a piece of my heart.

Casey Joseph Yardumian was born May 13, 2011, at 2:55pm, weighing 7lbs, 7oz and was 20inches long with a perfect amount of hair.

I had told Randy we were not going to tell anyone the sex of the baby until his big brothers got here and could know, so I had Randy call my step-mom, who was picking them up at 3:10 from school, to tell her to bring them up to the hospital. Cody REALLY wanted a sister, Shane really wanted a brother. I was a little concerned at how Cody would take the news. They came up and I was holding Casey. I announced to them, this is your new little brother. If Cody was really disappointed he hid it pretty well. I was expecting tears or a hissy fit, all I got was, “Mom, can the next one be a girl?” Don’t I wish there would be one more! They each took turns holding him, as did everyone else.

The next few hours/days were spent getting to know this new little person in our lives. Randy took the big boys back and forth to the hospital and we had a few visitors here and there. My postpartum course has been far from easy as I developed a cyst on my upper inner thigh that lead to an infection and a few really bad days. The baby was at the doctor Friday and had some jaundice (had to get his level checked, thankfully it came back better) and he has pink eye! My mom came to help out with the 3 boys, which really meant taking and picking up the big boys at school. We did some cleaning and shopping and organizing which has been a huge help with all the visitors coming over to meet the little man. Cody and Shane are wonderful with their baby brother…they love to hug and kiss and hold him. He breastfeeds like a pro, and is coming around on sleeping (the 1st few nights were pretty rough!)

After a difficult pregnancy, both physically and emotionally I am so happy he is here and is safe and sound and healthy. I really worried that with all the issues I had during the pregnancy I wouldn’t be attached to this baby, but I am happy to report that is not the case. I am over the moon in love... with all of my boys…all 4 of them.

Almost there....yet so sad

In the final stretch of this long journey....well at least with the journey of prengancy (let's face it, in motherhood there is never a final stretch!). It's hard to believe in a bit less than 2 weeks, I will be a mom to 3 earth angels!

Lately, as my belly has been more obvious to my patients I have been getting the standard questions...

When are you Due? May 25th, but I'll be having the baby before then due to issues I have.............Really!! WOW, good luck!
Do you have any other children? Yes, 2 boys, they are 6 and 7
Are they excited? Yes, they both can't wait to love on this baby
Do you know what you are having? A cheeseburger.... No we like the good old fashioned surprise.........Good for you, back when I had my kids we didn't have such things, so every one was a surprise.
Well maybe this one will be a girl! And if it's not, it's not like I can send it back!!!! (this one gets me a little upset...everyone assumes I WANT a girl and would be dissapointed if it is not)

No matter what, I love this baby. Having a girl means trips to American Girl in NYC, passing on my dolls (the 4 orginal ones!) and getting adorable dresses. It also means hormones, teenage years, periods, BOYS and a father that will want to lock her away like repunzel to protect her from all of the above. Having a boy means I know what is to come, I have the toys and clothes and the experience for a boy. I already have 2 Mama's boys, but always have room for 1 more in my heart!

As for my sadness...regaurdless of what gender this baby is, it will be my last. The drs, nurses and my own body have said this is it. Then again so has hubby!!! LOL! Which is why I am so sad.....this means an end to the excitement of a new life growing inside of me, the last kicks I will feel, the last time we can call everyone with the news of the arrival. Makes me sad. Either that or my hormones have already started to go out of whack!


I'm sure my next post will be the arrival of my little Apple!!!!!!

Unsure

There has been so much to write about, but everytime I sit to write...nada. I have been feeling overwhelmed lately. This past monday I started my 2 time a week Fetal Non-Stress Tests. For those who don't know, this is where you go into the dr office for about 20mins to half hour and get hooked up to a fetal heart rate monitor and a contraction monitor, much like you do when you are in labor. You are also given a 'button' to press each time you feel the baby move. They are looking to see how the baby is doing and if it is 'stressed' at all. When I was there on Monday my BP was elevated and I had a 7 day headache...all signs of pre-eclampsia. They sent me home with a jug to pee in for 24 hours and a script for some blood work...........and the worry that this baby is coming a lot sooner than expected. I went into panic mode. I thought of all the things I had yet to do...like get PJ's for the hospital, Easter basket stuff for the boys, big brother gifts, not to mention the attention my house has needed. Mondya night Hubby and I went buck wild cleaning our room. I am no longer worried about the nursery being 'done' (as in not a mess, decals on the wall, diaper stacker filled and so on) as when the baby comes home s/he will be sleeping in our room in a pack and play for at least a few weeks. So now I feel a bit better that our room is baby ready. I went out yesterday and got my PJ's and some Easter basket/BB gifts, so that is done. Phew...deep breath. Now tonight I want to pack my hospital bag, jsut in case tomorrows appt doesn't go well. I'd rather be prepared then have to tell Randy where to find things I'm not even sure of where they are. I was a bit sad last night, feeling the baby move, knowing soon this will all be over....the last time I feel movement, the last time we will be a family of 4, the last time I get to shop for new baby things for our baby. But I also am grateful that I have gotten to experience all this, as I have so many friends who have never been able to have bio-children or a pregnancy of their own, so I also know how blessed I am.

A Brag about Couponing

Randy thinks that coupons are a total waste of time. It infuriates him to no end when he gets stuck behind someone in line who has them and then proceeds to fight with the checkout clerk about them. He often says he'd rather wipe his ass with them.

I, on the other hand, LOVES coupons. I love saving money (come on, who doesn't!) and a love a good challenge. Last week I got Trix and Cinnamon Toast Chrunch for $1 a box, and the way we go through cereal in this house, it's a good thing. I usually average $5-10 a trip in the grocery store which is $5 to 10 more in my pocket! I have more recently started to join coupon web sites that tells you where to get good printable coupons and at what store to use them at to get the most bang for your buck! Some of it requires getting more than you need or getting something you don't need RIGHT NOW (like 3 childrens Advil, while I don't need any right now, it won't get wasted when I do need it).

Here was my shopping trip at CVS last week.........

Herbal Essense Shampoo onsale 2/5.97, CVS gave $2 reward dollars back and I ahd a coupon for buy 1, get 1 free
Carebear musical toothbrush on clearence for $1.25
Squeaky dog toys, on clearence for $1
Irish Spring Body Wash on sale for 2.99, CVS gave $2 back in rewards and I had a coupon for ).50 off
Infant and childrens advil was on sale for $4.50 and I had coupons from my ped office for $2 off a bottle, so I got 5 bottles (a friend wanted some too!) so total for that was $2.50
They had Lansinosh nipple cream and breast milk storage bags were on sale for $9 each (reg 12.99 in other stores).

I then had a $5 off $25 coupon form the lil red machine at the front of CVS

Total out of pocket was $34.53, but I got $14 back in rewards to use at my next trip!!!!!! So it really only cost me $20.53 for all that stuff. I really didn't need 2 bottles of shampoo, but it will get used, we didn't need the body wash right now, but it, too will get used!!! The nipple cream and breast milk bags would normally be over $20 so I had a good saving day.


Today was the BEST I have ever done. Target will let you use Target coupons and MFG coupons on the same item. As fas as I know, they are the only store locally who will let you do this.

Here is what I got

2-4oz tubes of A&D ointment
1-box of Target brand denture cleaners (they work GREAT to clean sippy cup lids and valves as well as bottle nipples)
2-Cans of Pedigree dog food
1-Bag of Pedigree dog food (4lbs or so)
1-Bag of Once Beyond Cat food (3.5lbs)
1-Newborn Huggies pk
1-Huggies small wipes package
1-Pampers size 3 diapers pkg
1-Pampers wipes tub

Total before coupons $43.83
Total AFTER savings from coupons $11.88

Holy Hanna!!! That is some good couponing!!!!


The baby stuff is, of course for the baby. The dog and cat stuff is for the animal shelter. They are always in need of dog and cat food so when I can get it free or really cheap, I pick it up. We got our Choo Choo from there and he is THE best cat, so anyway to make sure other great cats and dogs find a home I am all for it. We have no more room in our animal inn!

Almost there

This week I am 31 weeks preggo...which means a MAX of 9 more weeks. With this being our last I have started to get some feelings of sadness. This will be the last time I feel the baby moving inside of me....the little alien like movements that sometimes make me laugh out loud. The last time I will be bringing home a new bundle for the dogs to lick and go wild over. The last 'firsts' that come with any child.

The nursery is finally painted. YAY! I really thought it would never get done! But it is, and all the furniture is put together and 'staged.' My mom promised she would come up and iron everything (true story...I have lived in this hosue for 6 years and have only recently pulled out the iron, back in September, to make iron on transfer shirts for out WDW trip) since I hate to iron, and help me get everything else picked out (curtains, curtain rods and where to palce the wall decals). Of course, she leaves next week for a 1 to 2 week trip to NC to see my Nana and uncle. So it will have to wait!

I ordered a diaper bag to match my stroller better then the one that matches the baby's room. It's a Vera Bradley bag and I got the matching wallet to boot!!!!

(I am a lil impressed with myself....I figured out how to get a picture in here!!!)


Well I am to tired to write anymore...so see ya soon!

Celebrating our Baby to Beeeeee

Two weeks ago my mom and my 2 best friends threw me a shower. I can honestly say, I made out better at this shower then I did my 1st one with Cody!!!

Since the baby'r toom witll be bees, they went with a bee theme for the shower and it came out SO cute! The boys were SO excited all week for the baby party and loved helping me open the gifts.

The only thing we really need now for babee is my travel system, which we will wait a lil bit longer to get, the last thing I need around here is anything else to make my house look like Babies R Us!!!

The nursery still is not done. Randy has to paint some more, which seems to be dragging on forever. I want this kid's room to be done so the rest of my house can get back in order. Well, ok, not back in order, as that implies that it was once in order, so maybe I should say "in order."

This past weekend was my 1st Sunday of working weekends only, which means I have been off all week. It truely has been wonderful. I am less stressed, I am able to get stuff done around this house and my kids are happier becuase of it. I'm not sure whyI didn't do this before!!!! I msut say that I will miss my family this wekeend, but it's a small price to pay to have all week off!

FINALLY...gettign excited!

So as I ahve posted, this pregnacy has bee far from easy. I am still not out of the woods yet, due to my pre-pregnancy hypertension, the doctors are quite concerned about pre-eclampsia. But if I sit around and worry about it all day, I will have a messy house, unclean-unfed kids and would lose my job, so for now I keep an eye on things, but don't dwell on it.

I am beyond the constant puking, the racing heart and passing out (with the grace of medications!) and generalized tiredness. Now all I have is regular prenancy woes.... WOW, I am, like, a normal pregnant woman! My hips have hurt the last few days and I wake up to pee every 3 hours, but I am actually excited!

I know before long this pregnancy will be over and I will be holding my new baby, either boy or girl (well, let's face it, it won't be a puppy!), in my arms and the days will go sooooooo fast. I will turn around and wonder how 7 years have slipped by (like I do now with Cody) in what seems like months. I have vowed to myself that I will be excited for the rest of this pregnacy no matter how sick I feel.