Monday, April 16, 2012

The First Few Days Home

    The first few days home went well. I must say it was strange to have him home BUT nice too ;). The first few nights, were really quite sweet. Doug, me and Mason all slept in our living room. Doug slept on a blow up mattress, me on the couch, and Mason in the Pack N' Play or on me. I really enjoyed our family sleeping together like that ;). Unfortunately it couldn't last long, because Doug had to go back to "that evil place that holds his paycheck".
    Once Doug went back to work, I was pleasantly surprised with how well things were going! I enjoyed being mom with my new son!

Friday, April 6, 2012

The Hospital Stay and Going Home

   We were moved into my new room by about 8:00 P.M. (less than 2 hours after having Mason). It was the tiniest room on the floor, barely enough room for the sofa to be pulled out into a bed for Doug, the hospital bed for me, and the bassinet for Mason. To top things off, just outside my room was the ice machine for the floor :(...noisy! They really need to restrict usage after about 11 P.M., but they didn't. If someone wanted ice at 3 A.M. they could have it.
   Mason stayed with us most of the time I was in the hospital. He went to the nursery for less than 2 hours one morning but was brought back to me because he was crying too much. REALLY!?!?! What happened to giving new mothers a chance to rest?  I had just been through the most physically exhausting and demanding thing of my life. I wasn't allowed any time to recuperate.
   The day and half I spent in that room seemed so much longer than it actually was. I think it was because I was getting checked on so often, nurses for both of us, doctor for me, doctor for Mason, anesthesiologist,  etc. I saw A LOT of staff in about 36 hours time. Seems weird to say that it was only 36 hours, felt a lot longer at the time, like I said.
   Friday came, it was time to come home. Mason was checked out nice and early (5 or 6 A.M.). I didn't get checked out until around 9 A.M. by my doctor. The paperwork and all the other procedures for checking out took until about 12:30 or 1 P.M. On a side note, when I was first put into that room I was given a survey to fill out for classes or educational information that we wanted before leaving. They didn't do anything I had asked for :(. I was too tired to think clearly, so I didn't even ask about it.
   We packed up everything, I got Mason dressed into his "going home" outfit. I had forgotten how hard it is to dress a newborn, they are so wobbly. They brought Doug a cart for everything. I was wheeled out with Mason in my hands through the lobby. So many people looked at us and smiled ;). I guess when you are in a hospital, it is good to be reminded that good things happen there too.
   We very carefully loaded Mason into the car, and drove home. I sat beside him on the way home. The ride home seemed to take along time. We arrived home and I carried him up the steps (I wanted to).  We unpacked everything and relaxed, while watching the kitties meeting Mason for the first time.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

D-Day (ironic title since he was born on Dec. 7th)

    FINALLY!!! The big day had arrived (and before my scheduled induction too...YEAH!)! On the morning of December 7th, 2011, I was having trouble sleeping. I finally took a half of an Ambien at 2 A.M. but it had no affect on me. I laid in bed for an hour restless, not being able to sleep even after taking the Ambien. I decided that maybe if I went to use the restroom I could sleep better (I didn't really have to go, just thought maybe having to go at all was keeping me up). So I was about to get up off the bed, when POP! I felt a pop and then a big gush! It was 3:14 A.M. I screamed for Doug (he was on the couch because I couldn't sleep with him in the bed). He came in. I said I think my water just broke (I KNEW it had broken but I just wanted him to not get too anxious). So I called the doctor, she asked me a couple of questions, then said to pack my bags and she would let the hospital know that I'm coming (finally, this time to have Mason ;).
   So Doug hopped in the shower while I put the finishing touches on my bag (it was basically packed since about 32 weeks, because of the trouble I was having). He wouldn't let me take a shower :(...I should've taken a shower THEN woken him up, LOL! So we got in the CR-V and headed to the hospital. We arrived there about 4:45 A.M.  Along the way we discussed when to call my mom.  We tried calling her iPhone and the house phone, but couldn't get through.
     I was checked in and assigned a room. Mason decided to come on a busy early morning for the hospital. I was hooked up to machines for monitoring of Mason's vitals, my vitals, and contractions. After I was settled in we called my mom again and we got through. Dr. Stadulis came in about 5:30 A.M. and discussed pushing Pictocin through my IV, I told her I didn't want that. She said I could wait a few hours, but if the contractions weren't closer together by the time Dr. Wilkes arrived at 8 A.M., that I would have to get Pictocin to "move things along". Mom and dad arrived :).
    Sure enough 8:30 A.M. came and Dr. Wilkes came in the room to check on me. She put the order in for Pictocin, the contractions weren't coming close enough together. I was ok with that, because I had been given the chance for my body to kick into drive, but it didn't (at least not quick enough). Also around that time Mason appeared to be the only one to be affected by the Ambien. His vitals were staying flat, normally they want to see "accels" or accelerations. They told me then if he didn't start showing "accels" and my contractions didn't start coming closer together, then I would have a c-section (BOOO!!!).  My contractions got closer together, but the dose of Pictocin had to be increased too :(.  Thankfully Mason's vitals improved to the acceptable range and I was allowed to continue progressing.
     I started having regular contractions, I  got to the point after about 3 hours that they were 3 minutes apart and very painful. I asked for an epidural. It took about 20 minutes for someone to show up, then took numerous people (3) 30 minutes,  and numerous attempts (7-8) to get it in. Once it was in, I was so GRATEFUL! My nurse, Christi, was so nice and helpful!  Once the epidural was in, she pushed the button to give the medication a "jump start" then gave me control. I only pushed it once about an hour after getting it.
     I saw I was having contractions, but didn't feel them thankfully. Doug asked me if I knew I was having contractions, I said yes, that it was "cool". Dad had to leave for a while but Mom stayed with me and Doug.  Meanwhile, next door there was a woman that went all natural. She sounded like she was in sooo much pain. Every time I heard her scream and yell, all I could think was "Thank God I have an epidural"...literally, thank you God for me having that option.
     Christi popped her head in to check on me here and there. A couple of times she helped me turn over when Mason's vitals dipped again. Mom and Doug hung out with me, taking turns leaving the room to get food. About 2:30 P.M., she came in and moved me again so that the doctor could check me. I had dilated some more, and Dr. Wilkes said I would be meeting my son around dinnertime. YIPPEEEE!!!!  About an hour later, my epidural started wearing off. I let it rather than pushing the button again or asking for a 2nd one. I had remembered that the epidural can slow down labor. About 4:45 P.M. Christi came in and said it was about time to push. She left and told Dr. Wilkes, to see if I could start pushing. She came back in around 5 P.M., saying that she had the green light to have me start pushing. With that announcement, Mom left the room. Christi set the room up. Then about 5:15 P.M. I started pushing. After about 30 minutes of pushing she called in Dr. Wilkes. I was having trouble delivering Mason,  so I had extra staff in there in addition to my nurse and doctor- the head nurse, NICU doctor, and NICU nurse. I just want to smack the head nurse. She was annoying, she thought she was my personal cheerleader,  ANYONE who knows me would know how annoying I would find that on a day where I wasn't in the worst pain in my life. I just wanted her to leave or to smack her. I kept saying to her,  "just counting please" ( tried to be polite to everyone :). I think I said that to her 8-9 times before I finally asked her to leave. She couldn't leave, hospital policy :(. What BS! Like the other 2 nurses and 2 doctors that were WAY more helpful couldn't handle it. Finally Christi spoke up for me and asked her to wait in the corner...lol!  I pushed some more, then all of a sudden Mason was here! Mason arrived at 6:14 P.M. :)!!
     The nurses and doctors cleaned him up and suctioned his nose, he then began to cry.  The nurses and doctors tried to settle him some before passing him to me. He arrived in my hands crying but as soon as I talked to him he got quiet. I was impressed he recognized my voice that quickly. I thought it would be maybe a few hours, possibly even a few days, nope instantly :)!
    Nurses finished cleaning us up. I rested while holding Mason. I was so afraid I was going to drop him, because I was a little lightheaded and my appendages were like jell-o from pushing so much. After a while my new nurse got me out of bed and I nearly passed out in the bathroom. She gave me some smelling salts and told me to take very deep breaths, I recovered. Then once in the wheelchair I came close to passing out again (even closer this time, don't worry I wasn't holding Mason because I was physically exhausted and I knew it ;).  Around 7:45 P.M., Joy popped in to meet her grandson, but didn't stay long because even though it only been about 90 minutes since I gave birth, it was time for me to move to a different room.
     

The Last 20 Weeks

    The last 20 weeks were anything but uneventful.  At 24 weeks, I began having upper abdominal pain on a Thursday night. The pains continued the next morning off and on. I called the nurse at my doctor's office (she was only sometimes helpful), I knew I should have asked to be seen rather than talking to her, BUT I was following procedure. So I described the pain, and told her it wasn't near the baby. She said I had to go to L&D (labor & Delivery) to make sure I wasn't having contractions. What a horrible feeling! I knew he was viable at that point, but just barely. So I drove myself to L&D (being a Friday Doug was at work, when he left for the day I wasn't having any pain) after calling Doug. I don't know how I made it! I can remember driving there but being very nervous. I got there and they took awhile to check me in. They finally got me hooked up, I was having minor contractions, but nothing to be concerned about (just Braxton-Hicks, I couldn't feel them at all). They monitored me for awhile and then released me. The doctor had explained to me that she had thought it was a gall bladder issue and that it was normal. She asked if I had a GI doctor and I said yes.  She said to follow up with him so I did. Both he and I thought it wasn't a gall bladder issue because after that day I didn't have any more immediate symptoms. He ordered an ultrasound just in case. Turns out we were both wrong. I had gall stones. Thankfully as long as I didn't really have any more symptoms I could wait until after having Mason to deal with them. As I am typing this, Mason is almost 4 months old, and I haven't gone back to the GI doctor yet (I plan to, just haven't yet ;).
     At 28 weeks, I was tested for gestational diabetes. Please just let it be good news! It was! No gestational diabetes, yeah I can eat cake at my baby shower ;)!
     At 30 weeks, I thought I was having a bad day, just not feeling well (thought it was normal back pains, stomach stretching, etc.).  I called the doctor on call at Doug's urging and I am glad I did. She had us go to L&D, they hooked me up to a machine to monitor me (to rule out contractions). That's just it though, they couldn't rule out contractions. So I was given 2 shots of terbutiline and the contractions stopped. I left the hospital with a RX for Procardia and on bedrest :(.  Taking the Procardia every 4 hours (even through the night) sucked, but thankfully it did its job and kept the contractions at bay. This was also the beginning of weekly appointments to my OB (I was supposed to start weekly at 35 weeks :-/).
     At 32 weeks, I went back to the perinatologist. I told him about what happened at 30 weeks, he wasn't convinced that I needed the Procardia but I could stay on it if I wanted to. He ordered me to go get steroids at the hospital to mature Mason's lungs. So I went to L&D again and they hooked me up to machines again (part of their procedure). Gave me another shot of terbutiline because I was having contractions, although this time I couldn't feel them. Then also gave me the first of 2 steroid shots. The next one was given 24 hours later. Can you imagine how terrifying this is for a FTM (first time mom)?!?!?
    At 34 weeks, I was having back pains and stomach pains again. So off to L&D AGAIN!  This time I was having contractions but they stopped on their own and I wasn't given any medication to stop them, but instead was given pain medication (helped greatly). A bonus of this trip was being able to see my new nephew :) (my SIL had given birth about 20 hours earlier).
   Thankfully, I went off the Procardia at almost 36 weeks along with the bedrest.  Each weekly visit was completely normal ;). With each visit there was little or no progress. I was asked when I would want to be induced. I said December 5th, thinking of how I wanted the pregnancy done, but not thinking of the fact I really DIDN'T want to be induced. I eventually got my induction rescheduled until December 8th. The whole time hoping and praying that he would decide to come before that. Thankfully he did ;).

The Baby Shower and Gender Reveal

    Long before my baby shower was being planned, I had heard of the gender of the baby being revealed at the baby shower. What couples had been doing was getting the gender results from the ultrasound put into an envelope by the ultrasound technician and given directly to a baker. Then the baker would decorate a cake that was gender neutral on the outside but would be gender specific on the inside (i.e. pink or blue icing).      
   We decided to do a twist on it. We we would find out the gender and tell some select family members (grandparents) the gender, but everyone else would be in the dark until the reveal at the baby shower.  Notice I said some select family members. Let me just say Doug did VERY well at keeping the secret, as for me, not so much. I slipped twice. I think if I hadn't gotten that "deer caught in the headlights" look on my face when I slipped or had been a little more quicker thinking on my feet, then I would have been able to keep the secret as well.  Oh well! I only let is slip twice.
   I loved how people at my shower were looking at me and then my SIL (sister-in-law...pregnant with my nephew at the time & everyone knew she was having a boy) and then looked at me, declaring I was having a girl. Haha! My friend Linda guessed ahead of time that my baby was a boy and gave us a handmade gift for a boy.  I really enjoyed watching the look on my guests faces as we cut into the cake.  So fun!

Mason's Name Explained

Mason is named after his grandfathers. His first name was Doug's dad's middle name. Mason's middle name, Robert, is my dad's middle name. Originally the name was supposed to be Robert Mason, but we later changed it to Mason Robert because there are Roberts in the family but no Masons. It was also changed as a tribute to Doug's dad.

The First 20 Weeks ;) and It's A BOY!!!!

     The first 20 weeks of the pregnancy were pretty uneventful, just some of the usual morning sickness, aches and pains. The only thing of note during this time was getting diagnosed with a fibroid and my doctor deciding to send me to a perinatologist to monitor the fibroid. On July 18th, 2011, Doug and me went together for the 20 week ultrasound that would tell us if we were having a boy or girl.
     All a long both Doug and me felt it was a boy BUT because both of us felt that way, we were both thinking it would be a girl. Turns out we were right! I guess a parents' intuition begins early :)! We both were watching the monitor when a view of the baby came on the screen. It was an image of the lower half of the baby. We both looked at it and looked at each other, then counted. Three appendages!  Then we asked (almost in unison),  "is that what we think it is"? The tech said yes as she typed on the image, "BOY! OH BOY!".  Honestly we would have been happy with either a girl or a boy, all we wanted was a healthy baby. We had names picked out for each before I was even pregnant!

The First Ultrasound

Doug and me went together for the first ultrasound. It was so exciting but yet nerve-racking at the same time. What if there was no heartbeat?? Thankfully there was one ;). What an awesome sight to see your baby for the first time! We left with pictures in hand, both so happy. We celebrated by going out to lunch (also to kill time before our next appointment). We had another appointment that afternoon with a nurse to go over the ultrasound and start planning the office visits. The only bad thing that happened that day was I found out that I would most likely miss my brother's wedding (which I did :'( ) because I would be 37 weeks pregnant. All in all a great day!

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

First Doctor Appt

I went to the first OB appt with my mom and Doug. I was under the impression from the receptionist that I was going to have my FIRST ultrasound as a soon to be mom (that's why I wanted my mom there). WRONG! To me the appointment was a  complete waste of time and money. My mom and Doug were escorted to an examining room and I was escorted to the bathroom. I had to take a test (just like the ones I took at home).  They said congratulations I'm pregnant (no kidding). Then I asked about getting an ultrasound, they said it was too early and we would have to come back. Really, what's the point of that first appointment??? Why not have women come in after it's been long enough for the first ultrasound??? So we leave with the next appointment set. Talk about a long 2 weeks.

The story of Finding Out About Mason

     I first found out about Mason the day after my birthday (March 28, 2011). I had thought about taking a pregnancy test either the day before or the day of my birthday but had decided against it because I didn't want my birthday ruined,  just in case. So I took the test (well actually several, wanted to be sure ;) that afternoon. OMG! It's POSITIVE! Really?!?!? Then I got so excited and began wondering how I was going to keep the secret for about 2 more hours until Doug got home.
    Well turns out I couldn't, at least not totally. I told my good friend Tina in NC (my friend for over 10 years). I figured being in NC she couldn't tell any of my relatives or friends here, and I could get that out of my system ;). Two hours passed, and Doug was FINALLY home (on time but it felt like an eternity). I didn't say a word! Instead I left the test in a cup on the counter in the hall bathroom and waited for nature to take it's course.
    He went in there and as he was washing his hands, saw the test. He came out and asked me if there was anything I wanted to tell him, I asked "what did he mean?". He said about something in the bathroom. I said I took a pregnancy test, and he said "and?". I said "I'm pregnant".  Here is where I wish I could say  that he said something truly romantic....but nope :(. He said "Are you sure? How do you know? Don't you need the doctor to tell you for sure?"...men!  I explained to him that the tests are sometimes exactly the same ones that they use in a doctor's office and that it's was more likely to get a false negative than a false positive.  Talking about ruining the happiest moment in my life (other than when I got married) up until then.