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| Home from the hospital! |
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| Froggy outfit! |
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| A visit from Aunt Maika, Uncle Casey, and cousin Jace |
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| First sponge bath |
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| Bryce loves Great Grandma Zina! |
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| Hanging out with Uncle Cam and Aunt Chamonix |
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| Nap time with Daddy |
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| One week old today!!! |
6.15.2011
First Week
A few pictures from Bryce's first week of life:
Introducing...
I can hardly believe that my sweet baby boy was born a week ago today! The time has gone by so quickly. In my sleep-deprived state, I've struggled with the concept that my life has changed so drastically and completely and that this perfect little person is ours to care for for the rest of our lives.
On Wednesday, June 8th, Preston and I excitedly showed up at the hospital for my scheduled induction. It was so surreal, and looking back on it now makes it feel even more like some sort of out-of-body experience (although out-of-body it certainly was NOT, just ask my body as it deals with the aftermath).
First, I got hooked up to an IV to administer antibiotics to treat GBS. That was about 8:30 am. After calling my doctor, we were told that she would come at 10:30 to break my water and get labor started.
10:30 came and went, and no doctor had arrived. And no doctor did arrive until 12:20, by which point Preston and I both thought we were beyond ready to get the show on the road. When my water was broken, I was dilated to a 6. Contractions started out gradually -- I hadn't really felt any up to that point, so I was almost glad to be having them.
That feeling didn't last long.
2 hours later, I was telling Preston that I wanted an epidural. Anticipating the next contraction filled me with dread, and I was unable to relax between them. I had no idea how long my labor would go on, and I just didn't think I had the energy to continue without help, having not eaten since midnight the night before. Preston was the best and sweetest coach and companion for me. He reminded me that I had a lot of good reasons not to get one, and told me to wait for them to check my progress and decide then if I really wanted one.
Moments later, the nurse came in to check my progress and told me I was at a 7. I asked her how long it would take to get any relief from an epidural and she told me at least 40 minutes. Considering how quickly I'd progressed to that point, I knew that asking for an epidural would be pointless. When the nurse suggested a small dose of narcotics, I took it.
Things seemed to happen very quickly, but in slow motion from there. I dozed a bit between horrendous contractions until they came one on top of another and I felt "pushy". My doctor was called, and we got the pushing under way. It felt like hours of pushing, but after only 15 minutes, our son, Bryce Elijah, was born screaming at 3:44 pm. It was the most beautiful sound ever!
Bryce weighed 7 lbs 3 oz and measured 19 1/4 in long
When they placed him in my arms, I just couldn't believe how beautiful he was, and that Preston and I made him. He's such a miracle.
I labored for a little less than 3.5 hours all together. It was difficult, but I feel so blessed -- I can't imagine being in labor for days, as some women are. I'm proud of myself for avoiding an epidural, but I'm also surprised at how wimpy I turned out to be. It was truly a test of my will, and if not for Preston I'm sure I would have caved.
So there's my birth story. I still don't believe it really happened.
On Wednesday, June 8th, Preston and I excitedly showed up at the hospital for my scheduled induction. It was so surreal, and looking back on it now makes it feel even more like some sort of out-of-body experience (although out-of-body it certainly was NOT, just ask my body as it deals with the aftermath).
First, I got hooked up to an IV to administer antibiotics to treat GBS. That was about 8:30 am. After calling my doctor, we were told that she would come at 10:30 to break my water and get labor started.
10:30 came and went, and no doctor had arrived. And no doctor did arrive until 12:20, by which point Preston and I both thought we were beyond ready to get the show on the road. When my water was broken, I was dilated to a 6. Contractions started out gradually -- I hadn't really felt any up to that point, so I was almost glad to be having them.
That feeling didn't last long.
2 hours later, I was telling Preston that I wanted an epidural. Anticipating the next contraction filled me with dread, and I was unable to relax between them. I had no idea how long my labor would go on, and I just didn't think I had the energy to continue without help, having not eaten since midnight the night before. Preston was the best and sweetest coach and companion for me. He reminded me that I had a lot of good reasons not to get one, and told me to wait for them to check my progress and decide then if I really wanted one.
Moments later, the nurse came in to check my progress and told me I was at a 7. I asked her how long it would take to get any relief from an epidural and she told me at least 40 minutes. Considering how quickly I'd progressed to that point, I knew that asking for an epidural would be pointless. When the nurse suggested a small dose of narcotics, I took it.
Things seemed to happen very quickly, but in slow motion from there. I dozed a bit between horrendous contractions until they came one on top of another and I felt "pushy". My doctor was called, and we got the pushing under way. It felt like hours of pushing, but after only 15 minutes, our son, Bryce Elijah, was born screaming at 3:44 pm. It was the most beautiful sound ever!
Bryce weighed 7 lbs 3 oz and measured 19 1/4 in long
When they placed him in my arms, I just couldn't believe how beautiful he was, and that Preston and I made him. He's such a miracle.
I labored for a little less than 3.5 hours all together. It was difficult, but I feel so blessed -- I can't imagine being in labor for days, as some women are. I'm proud of myself for avoiding an epidural, but I'm also surprised at how wimpy I turned out to be. It was truly a test of my will, and if not for Preston I'm sure I would have caved.
So there's my birth story. I still don't believe it really happened.
6.07.2011
Meeting Deadlines
Well... for all that my body was getting prepared to welcome our little one without outside help, he hasn't come on his own. So tomorrow we have ways of making him come out!
I had wanted very much to avoid an induction, but it seems the best choice given our circumstances.
Preston and I spent today enjoying our marriage the way it has been for the past three and a half years before our lives change tomorrow and forever.
I took a couple of (pretty crappy) end-of-pregnancy shots with my iPod touch just to document what I'm looking like these days. Maybe we'll take some more tomorrow, but I won't be blogging then, so here's what you get.
I won't pretend I'm not very, very nervous, but I also know that I'm as ready as I can be. Preston and I have prepared the best we can, and I think we both feel at peace with the decision to induce.
We're supposed to call the hospital at 6 am to find out what time they want us to come. Once we get there they'll give me antibiotics for Group B Strep, and then the madness will begin.
So here we go down the rabbit hole! Next time you see us we'll be parents!
I had wanted very much to avoid an induction, but it seems the best choice given our circumstances.
Preston and I spent today enjoying our marriage the way it has been for the past three and a half years before our lives change tomorrow and forever.
I took a couple of (pretty crappy) end-of-pregnancy shots with my iPod touch just to document what I'm looking like these days. Maybe we'll take some more tomorrow, but I won't be blogging then, so here's what you get.
I won't pretend I'm not very, very nervous, but I also know that I'm as ready as I can be. Preston and I have prepared the best we can, and I think we both feel at peace with the decision to induce.
We're supposed to call the hospital at 6 am to find out what time they want us to come. Once we get there they'll give me antibiotics for Group B Strep, and then the madness will begin.
So here we go down the rabbit hole! Next time you see us we'll be parents!
5.25.2011
Inquiring minds want to know
What happens when your first internal exam at your 36 week appointment reveals that, not only is your baby's head super low because he has dropped into your pelvis, but that you are dilated 3 cm and about 90% effaced?
I'll tell you.
The first thing that happens is that you laugh for about and hour -- all the way home from the doctor's office, in fact -- because you were so not expecting to hear such crazy numbers. You had expected to hear that you weren't dilated or effaced at all, and that your baby would be coming later than your due date.
Then you get serious and realize that this could mean your baby might come in May and not June. This will cause you to almost panic.
Then you will repack your hospital bag and wait.
And if at your second internal exam a week later you discover that you are further dilated to 4.5 cm and basically fully effaced, and you start to wonder what exactly is holding this baby in, don't worry about it.
Because really, no one knows what that means. Baby could be coming super soon, or... not.
So I'm waiting -- not very patiently at all -- for my inside baby to become my outside baby.
Any minute now...
Right?
I'll tell you.
The first thing that happens is that you laugh for about and hour -- all the way home from the doctor's office, in fact -- because you were so not expecting to hear such crazy numbers. You had expected to hear that you weren't dilated or effaced at all, and that your baby would be coming later than your due date.
Then you get serious and realize that this could mean your baby might come in May and not June. This will cause you to almost panic.
Then you will repack your hospital bag and wait.
And if at your second internal exam a week later you discover that you are further dilated to 4.5 cm and basically fully effaced, and you start to wonder what exactly is holding this baby in, don't worry about it.
Because really, no one knows what that means. Baby could be coming super soon, or... not.
So I'm waiting -- not very patiently at all -- for my inside baby to become my outside baby.
Any minute now...
Right?
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