We Meet Our New Addition

After just short of 12 hours of labor we finally met our son. Devlin Phillip Hill born at 5:56 p.m. He was 5 lbs. 7 oz. and 17.5 inches long.  

They began the Pitocin to get my contractions going at 6:00 am. It took a while before my body developed a good contraction pattern of 2-3 minutes apart.  Once they had administered the right amount of Pitocin for my body, the contractions kept coming and things went perfectly.   I didn't feel uncomfortable until about 11:30 am.  At that time I was dilated to 2 1/2 cm and I just wanted to take the edge off to get some rest.  They gave me a medication called Nubane which usually allows women in labor to relax and get comfortable.  However in 30 minutes, the pain went from an uncomfortable feeling to a "what the hell was I thinking" feeling.  By noon the anesthesiologist came in and worked his magic by giving me the epidural.  The epidural was probably the most painful, and uncomfortable part of the whole "laboring" experience.  The doctor was great, but I could actually feel the needles going into my spine and it was rather disturbing.  I never felt like I was out of control which was really really great.  I felt like I handled the pain really well and I was really surprised it wasn't worse.

Once the epidural took effect I actually felt crappy.  I am not sure if I can explain it any different, other than I didn't feel myself and I just felt uneasy.  It took the pain away, and I only felt pressure, but I also felt sick and really weird.  My legs were tingly and numb, my arm with the IV kept going to sleep.  It was not the relief I was expecting or that I remembered when I had it with Derek, but I wouldn't have done anything different.  I definitely wouldn't have tried to have had a "natural" childbirth.  Marty stood by my side the whole time and tried to be as comforting and supportive as possible.  My mom, Beautiful Bobbie, Aunt Terri, Grandma and Loressa all stayed for the whole thing from start to finish. They were really great, and it was so nice to have them all here!  I know it was a long day but it was filled with excitement.

From 12-4 I went from 2 1/2 cm to 4 cm.  From 4 to 5 I went from 4 cm to 7 cm, and from 5 to 5:35 I went from 7 cm to 10 cm.  I pushed once and the nurse saw his head, at which point she called the doctor in and the NICU team.  Once everyone was set up I pushed one more time and his head was out.  The rest of his body came out shortly after and he was screaming at the top of his lungs.  He did not sound happy, it's cold out here on the outside world!

Currently he is not getting enough oxygen.  They are giving him oxygen to assist in his breathing.  In order for him to go home, he will need to be able to tolerate feedings (I am pumping breast milk), keep his temperature up, and breathe well on his own.  I am guessing he will be here about a week, but it could be sooner and the nurses say it could be longer. Everyday he will hit another milestone.  They are going to keep a close eye on him to look for signs of jaundice which is very common in premature babies.

At this time, we don't really want any visitors for a few reasons.  One, we are not even able to hold Devlin.  Due to him being on oxygen and his age they don't want to disturb him for the next few days as he is trying to get stronger.  The other reason we don't want visitors is the NICU is very cramped and we are under a lot of stress with him being in there.  When we receive a release date from the Neonatologist we will announce it and welcome anyone to the house who would like to see him.  I am exhausted after this whole ordeal, so I would like some time to recover and transition back to our day to day routine.  I am going home tomorrow, but I will be juggling my time from the house and the NICU until he is released.  If I don't answer my phone when you call, please understand our circumstances and don't take it personally I want to talk but I need some time.  

If you have any questions you can always email me or call my mother.  I am trying to keep the blog as detailed as possible, and I look forward to seeing a lot of you at my shower in a couple of weeks.  By then, I should feel a lot better and Devlin should be home.  Thanks for all of your prayers and support.  I can't tell you how much we appreciate it!  Loressa created a birth album online so if you have not seen it or didn't get the invitation just send me an email and I will forward the invitation for all to see.  I am also taking more photos today so I will add more to the blog later.

Tomorrow Is The Big Day

I woke up with a migraine this morning, so the lights have been out, drapes have been closed and I have been resting all day.  Tomorrow is the big day we meet our little guy.  I'm getting excited but feeling badly, and not getting much sleep.  I will have photo's tomorrow to update the blog so everyone can see what he looks like :)

Nerves

It is getting harder to rest and I am getting increasingly nervous.  I hope he is ready to come out! He doesn't have much of a choice, but hopefully he will cooperate and come quickly.  I hope the contractions I have had up until now have softened my cervix and I am already dilated at least a little bit.  I just don't want a long dragged out labor again.  I was in labor for 72 hours with Derek. It was way too long!

Tomorrow I will catch up on all the shows from this week, watch a few movies and try and get a good nights rest before Friday.  I rented 40 Year Old Virgin, and a few other movies to keep me entertained and my mind busy.  I figure tomorrow will be the longest day I have had here.  

 

3 Days

I can't hardly believe that I am down to the last few days.  It has felt like an eternity in here.  I am still trying to picture myself holding this baby, and feeling him in my arms for the first time.  It's all so surreal.  I am really getting more uncomfortable by the day.  The back and stomach cramps are getting old, as are the contractions I have had.

My chances of taking him home are extremely slim!  He is probably going to be here for a short period of time.  Up to about two weeks as long as there isn't anything seriously wrong with him, and as of now everything looks great.  I am praying for a quick, safe delivery; I've also been praying for a healthy baby.  I really really hope all goes well!  I just need to prepare myself to go home without him though.  Prepare for the worst and hope for the best!  

Erik and his girlfriend Lisa are on there way out to see me this evening.  I am excited to see them!  It's been 3 weeks since I have seen Erik, which is a long time for me to go without seeing my brother.  I am surprised they are coming out today because I know they were planning on coming out after the baby is born.  Twice in a week is pretty good for Erik, he hates this drive.

I will say that I have been very fortunate to have friends and family see me everyday.  It helps the time go by quicker that's for sure.  I get more and more tired as the days go on and I am not moving around too much.  I'm not sleeping well through the night and so I have been making up for the sleep deprivation during the day.  I think it's my body's way of preparing itself to be up all hours of the day and night.  

Apparently the labor and delivery floor is full tonight and they are understaffed.  The good news is that I usually don't ask for much at night, so it makes no difference to me.  I have put in a request for the labor nurse that I want to have for Friday.  She has become familiar with my family, and I know she will have no problem telling anyone to leave if they talk too much.  I really want to be left alone during labor.  I need to be able to focus and breathe through my contractions without any distractions.  That would be difficult with the loud mouths in my family.  Terri is so nervous you would think she was going to be the one giving birth.  She is the one person I trust to shut up, well her and Loressa.  My mother will not be able to help herself, Marty for sure will break the rules and my grandma will try and pat my arm at the absolute wrong time.  Beautiful Bobbie will try and make me laugh guaranteed, and yes all these people will be in the room while I am in labor.  If they don't bother me, they can stay for the delivery as long as their heads aren't in my crotch checking things out.  That spot is reserved for my doctor and the nurse.  

We are going to video the delivery, but not the nasty view.  Mainly just when he comes out and they clean him all up.  Hopefully I will get to see him for a few minutes before they whisk him away but I am not trying to get my hopes up.  The benefit of having a vaginal delivery is that I will get to head over to the NICU after everything is said and done and see him.  I will also get a report on what's going on with him health wise.

Well, I need a break from the computer.  My eyes are getting tired and my head is starting to ache.  I need to relax before my visitors arrive.  They are coming kind of late for me.  Normally I am on my way to la la land.

Counting Down

The countdown is becoming more surreal at this point.  In just five days it will be time to deliver this baby, and for my head to spin!  Marty has been reading up on child birth education, what the husband can do to be supportive.  We weren't able to take a class unfortunately.  The want you to wait until around 3 weeks before your delivery date to take the classes.  We had just got the pamphlet at my last doctors appointment on the 31st of December to sign up for classes in February, and the very next day I ended up in here on bed rest.  They had a daddy boot camp class but Marty is not into "bonding" with other men he doesn't know.  He says he would rather learn how to change diapers from Derek.  Derek has decided he is ready to show Marty what to do with the baby for a fee, $20 per day.  Erik would be so proud.  He is such an entrepreneur.  

Still working on getting through the Bones TV series.  I am on the 3rd season, and I should finish it by today.  I am trying to spread my shows out over the course of the week so that I am entertained all hours of the day.  This series has kept me busy for quite some time now.  I am going to give Marty a list of videos I want from Blockbuster I think.  In case I can't spread this out.  I technically only need to stay busy today thru Thursday because Friday is delivery day. That isn't too many days, so I am sure I can find something to occupy my time.  I started a new show called Lie to Me and it is really good.  Once I get out of here I am going to be hooked to so many shows and there won't be time to watch them all.  Not with a new baby at home anyway. Even with Tivo!  

I am really happy that Derek is still in school and this isn't a summer baby.  This will allow me time to really bond with the little guy and he won't be jealous.  Once he gets out of school I can put the baby in the swing and help him with homework.  I have been trying to put together a schedule of how I think things should run in the house.  In the beginning it won't be too tough since babies like to sleep, but I will just have to take it one day at a time.  I know I am going to be exhausted, especially with the pumping schedule.  I want to go back to Weight Watchers, and back to an exercise routine.  I will join my aunt for meetings on Saturdays.  I am probably going to need a few weeks to adjust before I start.  We shall see, hopefully the weight pours off of me. Since I will be nursing it will help!

I didn't get much sleep again last night so I am going to rest for now.  I am just getting increasingly nervous and anxious.  It's hard to rest when you are thinking about getting out of here.  I am so excited to get home I don't know what to do with myself!  I can't wait to shower in my own shower, sleep in my own bed, pet my dogs and eat home cooked food.  I am tired of the food in the basement, as well as the food from the restaurants around here.  So good night for now, I will update if there are any changes later today otherwise I will be back on here tomorrow.

Baby Weight

This morning I had my last visit with the Perinatologist group.  Hooray!  Less opinions are better at this point because it really does get very confusing and upsetting.  One say's the sky is blue, another say's it's gray.  It does get quite annoying!  Today he estimated the baby's weight by measuring different parts of his body using the ultrasound machine.  I actually filmed it because I found it interesting, and the baby might like to watch it down the line.  I am going to have to start burning these videos to DVD's and storing them properly, instead of saving them to the computer alone.  Anyway, apparently he has a big head...not good for me as I have to push him out.  He weighs 5 lbs. + or - 1 lb.  So he could weigh as little as 4 lbs. or as much as 6 lbs.  We won't know the actual weight until he is born, however the good news is that he is big and has a good chance of coming home with me next Sunday.

My shower is on the 21st of February and he will be attending, however anyone who would like to see him before the shower is welcome to visit us at our home.  I think my mom is going to be staying with us, but we are going to take it one day at a time and see how much help we need in the beginning.  She will be there everyday though, cooking and helping to look after our little guy :)  I imagine Aunt Terri will be there as well quite a bit.  She wants this baby to like her more than Nick, since Derek prefers Uncle Nick.  She is also quite fond of babies, and is more excited over his arrival than perhaps anyone else other than myself.  She has been losing sleep and fretting over his arrival; she really likes to worry!

This week I am going to be putting together a menu of all the food I want cooked when I get home.  I am going to want some Paula Deen home cooking.  My mom is good at that, as long as I pay close attention that she uses real butter instead of margarine.  I am going to send Marty out to Costco and the grocery store on Saturday in preparation for the baby and I to come home on Sunday.  This way my mother will have all the ingredients she needs for the recipes and I can be sure that the "good stuff" is being used.  Derek has to accompany Marty to the grocery store so if he is unable to locate an item he will be sure to ask the clerk.  Marty doesn't like to ask for direction or help, but Derek doesn't like to see me upset :)  He is a smart boy!

So 6 days left to go.  I am really looking forward to getting him out and going home!  My dogs are surely going to be ecstatic as well.  I will need to keep the leash on Amos (our puppy Mastiff weighing 220 lbs.) for about a week for him to learn the new rules when I get home.  He only listens to me, and Marty baby's him.  He does everything Cesar Milan say's not to do which makes him a bad pet owner, and the sucker!  When I get mad the dogs rush over to Marty. Let's hope his parenting skills will be better, however I think he will be a sucker for this child as well.  We shall see!  Derek is looking forward to being a big brother, and we are allowing him to skip school on Friday to stay with my dad.  This way, no matter what time the baby is delivered Derek will get here and be able to see him right after.  We decided if the baby goes to the NICU, Marty will wait for Derek to get here and allow him to be the first to visit.  He will feel special!  We just want to make sure he is included in everything, other than the delivery itself.  I don't need to ruin that image for years to come and poison his brain.  It's already bad enough that Marty thinks he should watch him come out!  My uncle has been trying to tell him it's a very bad idea and it will be an image he will never be able to get out of his brain.  Marty is stubborn though, and curious.  I've just informed him no pictures or video will be taken from that end!  No thanks, I don't need to see it.  I want the nurses to clean the baby before they even put him on me.

It's now time for a nap.  My mom will be arriving some time this afternoon with my clean nightgowns and then I can shower.  In the meantime, I need to catch up on some much needed rest.  I am still not sleeping well at night.

Fantasy

So many women in this stage of their pregnancy have already fantasized about what it will be like to hold, nurse, cradle and love their baby.  They are putting the finishing touches on the nursery, making sure the car seat is installed correctly, packing their overnight bags for the hospital, and really preparing for this big day!  These fantasy's didn't really start for me until this week.  It still seems surreal that this is happening.  I cannot believe that in a week from today I will have another baby.  When I had Derek I was not as scared, I was young and stupid.  Now, I have life experience, a husband who loves me more than life itself and a family for support!  These are all good things to have, I know we will survive the first few weeks.  I just know it's going to be a bit tough!

My body has not been letting me rest as much as I need to.  I am tired but there are so many interruptions going on here right now.  I have to pee constantly, I am having trouble getting out of bed because I feel like I have a watermelon attached to me, and I am getting nervous about the delivery.  Like really nervous.  I am nervous he won't be okay mostly.  I am worried that he will have health issues and that I won't be able to take him home for awhile.  I find that nerve racking because I know how important it is to bond with him just after he is born.  Today was the first day I have really dreamed about holding the baby after the delivery.  I can almost feel him in my arms, and I am filled with joy and love.  I've just gotten to point emotionally that I didn't think I would ever get to, which is that I think this is actually going to happen and mine and my husbands dreams are coming true.  We are actually going to have a baby together.  It's becoming a lot to handle but I am taking it one day at a time.  It's the only way to cope with all of this.

As the days get closer, the nights get more restless, the nerves get stronger, and the excitement is building.  Knowing there is an end in sight.  If I deliver before 12 on Friday night, it means I can actually pack my bags and go home on Sunday.  It's almost unbelievable.  I will have spent 5 1/2 weeks in a hospital bed on bed rest.  If I make it to Friday without delivering him before than I know I will feel really down and out if I won't be able to take him home.  I thought I was pretty well prepared, and well, I am prepared as I can be with having to leave him behind.  Fortunately, they say statistically his stay in the NICU wouldn't be for too long however every baby is different.

My baby shower is coming up in a few weeks and it looks as if he will be joining the celebration.  That will make all my aunties happy, as well as anyone else who hasn't had a chance to meet the little guy!  Hopefully he is a calm baby.  Derek was a very calm and soothing baby.  I am looking forward to the shower a lot.  It will be special if everyone is able to meet him.  I may become a bit jealous with all the passing around :) but I get to go home with him.  I will have something nice to add to his album for the first year of his life.  

It's getting late and I am finally yawning so I am going to head off to sleep.  I should be getting a growth scan ultrasound performed tomorrow morning, so I will definitely write what his estimated weight should be.  My doctor needs to know before she performs the delivery.  Not that it changes the induction date or anything, but it may change in the care he is to receive and they may need to prepare us for something.  Either way, I should have details tomorrow to share.  Good night!