It's a GIRL!!!!

On November 2nd, I had my 37 week prenatal appointment.  An ultrasound found very low amniotic fluid and the baby had not increased in weight since our 35 week appointment.  These factors were warning bells to the doctors,  so they said -- You are going to have a baby today.

They let us go home and get our birthing bag.  We both called into work and said, we are at the hospital being induced.

Nothing really happened on 11/2 other than I was admitted and they put in a medication called Cervidil.  It softens the cervix and makes the Pitocin work better to start labor.

They started me on Pitocin at 7 AM on 11/3.  It started some contractions but nothing really happened.  They wanted me to get to 3 cm and then rupture my bag of waters.    I really didn't want that.

At 4:30 PM after being on Pitocin all day they checked my progress and said we just were not having a baby today.  They turned off the the drip and said I could eat!!! ( I was on clear fluids since midnight.)

I was about one bite into a snack bar when I threw up.  My water broke on its own and I was in labor for real.

My midwife and her intern left for the night and had to be called back to work.

Since my water broke they wanted to put me back on pitocin to make sure my labor happened fast enough.

They started the drip again.

My contractions got really strong.  They put the baby on an internal monitor to make sure the baby was not in distress.

Aaron was an AWESOME helper.  He made me feel so much better.  He did counter-pressure on my back and helped me relax and just let my body give birth.

I wanted to have a drug-free birth, but the pitocin made things very intense.  Aaron said he was so worried for me and the baby.  He said he could tell my pain was at an "11" and when I asked for the pain medication.  He supported all my the choices for the birth.

It was very intense for a few more contractions, then I felt wonderful relief.    When I had a contraction I would take in a very deep breaths and try to relax.

My Mid-wife and her intern wanted to do another internal check at 11 PM and I asked if we could wait until 1 AM.

At 1 AM they were helping with a c-section.  I had started to feel "pushy" and called the nurse.

She checked me out and then contacted the Mid-wife and said that she would need to hurry back to deliver our baby.

The mid-wife made it back about 2 AM.  She asked if we could wait for the intern to arrive to deliver the baby.  I said sure.

So we waited for her to arrive.  It was about 2:10 when she arrived and was ready to catch the baby.

I pushed three times and the head crowned.

With the next contraction I pushed three times again and the baby was born.

I was worried about tearing but I didn't have any maternal birthing trauma.

I had a beautiful and easy birth.

Aaron then announced it was a GIRL.  They put her on my chest and Aaron cut the cord.  My Baby GIRL!!!!!


We named her Alexandria Ruth Scott.

She was born at 2:13 AM on 11/4/11
She weighted  4 pounds  15 ounces and was 18 inches long


Due to her size -- Aaron had to go out and buy another car seat so we could take her home.  She was too small for the car seat we had got (5 -70 lbs).

Mommy and baby

Holding my Daughter after being washed and given back to me.

Daddy and Lexi about to go home!

Going Home in the "Magic Hankie"

Everything is Perfect - Let's Induce.

This week I had my 36 week checking with the Doctor. 
She said:

Your blood sugars are great and under control by just your diet and exercise!

Your blood pressure perfect.  Baby still measures in the 45 percentile.

Baby's heart is perfect, the flow in the cord and placenta are great.

Then a totall 180'

We should not let you go past 39 weeks and induce you.

I got skid-marks on my brain.   Say what?!

It was like a slap in the face.   Why tell me how great everything is going and then suggest induction?!

An induction is a medical intervention if there is a risk to the baby and/or mother for the pregnancy continuing.

My baby is not in danger. I am not in danger.  There aren't any risks that would really call for an invention.

I reply that I'd prefer to let my birth start naturally.


She then throws out:

But your placenta could stop working and you will have a still birth.

Really?  I refuse an totally unnecessary medical intervention for my healthy pregnancy and she instantly says, "YOUR BABY WILL DIE."

I said we can re-evaluate in a few more weeks, but for now -- thanks, but no thanks.

The Due Date is not an expiration date!!!  

It's not like the baby MUST be out from my womb by that date or the power is shut off.

I have faith in my body's ability to grow and birth my baby.

Today's Home Inspection

Today I was present while Jim Duggan, Senior Inspector for RIA Solutions, inspected the Condo we intend to purchase with a fine tooth comb.

He was very pleasant and let me know what he was looking for while he was checking things out.  He found minor issues, but nothing that would prevent us from moving forward with our purchase.  I am not sure if Aaron would want the Seller to fix any of these things before we take ownership.

Jim checked the attic, the Heating and Cooling system, the water heater, all the Kitchen Appliances, the washer and dryer, all of the outlets, all the windows, the walls and ceilings, the faucets, drains, shower heads, toilets, and fireplace.

Most of the "issues" he noted are due to the age of the property.  They are not what is standard or "up to code" these days -- but are grandfathered in because of the age of the property.

We cannot fix many of them -- so oh well.


Some of his other recommendations we will act on once the place is ours like:

• Get a new over-the range microwave and have it installed to code.
• Install Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GCFI) outlets in "wet" areas.
• Put a C-Clamp on the Fireplace Damper to make sure it always stays partially open to avoid a build-up of carbon monoxide.
• Replace the bare bulb in the closet with a globe fixture, just so the bulb does not break if hit.
• Pour liquid plumber down the slow drain in the Master bathtub.

There are a few other things that Aaron and I want to do with the place too -- but again that is just our preference.  Nothing that is wrong with the place.

Aaron has his heart set on getting new super fancy High-Efficiency washer/dryer set.

This one:

Since he does all the laundry I am totally cool with him getting the set. :)

OFFER ACCEPTED!!!!!!!!!!

The Seller agreed to our price AND to cover the closing costs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

 OMG! OMG! OMG!  We got a home!

We'll be riding double with our Apartment  until the lease is expired, but we really don't care and can afford to do it for a bit.

Yea!

Made an offer for our first home purchase.

Aaron and I put an offer in for a 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo yesterday.

It was listed at 84,500 and we offered 80,000 plus asked the seller to pick up closing costs.  We also included a $2000 Earnest Money deposit to express we are sincerely interested.

Hopefully we will have an answer back later today if our offer is accepted or countered.

We'll see.

Here is a link to details and photos of the property:

http://www.trulia.com/property/3051739555-604-Dunbar-Dr-Dunwoody-GA-30338

It is 1314 sq. ft.  The estimated mortgage plus the community HOA fee is about $700.

Currently we are in a 960 sq. ft. 1 bed 1 bath apartment and pay $930 plus an additional bill for monthly water, sewage and trash removal.

Those costs are in our HOA.

We'd have an extra $200 a month for BABY!



UPDATE!!!!  When I go to my Agents website it says the property is no longer on the market...  That is either a good thing (did they accept!!!?!?!?) or a bad thing (someone beat us to it...)

The fact that it is suddenly no longer on the market the day after our offer was made should be a good thing right?

If we don't get it, we're back to looking and looking.

Baby has a COUSIN on the way!

This morning Aaron's middle brother, Michael and his wife, Amy annouced that they are 12 weeks along with their first baby!!!!!!!!

I am so happy for them because I know they had been trying for some time!!

Our baby has a cousin on the way!  Yea!


Today we had an ultrasound to see how our baby is growing.  Our baby is 33 weeks old and is in the 45th percentile for size, just a bit small, but not too small to be worried.   Who wants to give birth to a huge baby?!


We also were very lucky to get a 4-D image of the baby's face!

Thumbsucking

If you cannot see the baby here is an edited picture to help you see:

I have to go in every week to measure the baby to make sure it is not growing out of control due to the gestational diabetes.

I am so excited!!

Pregnancy Shape

There are less than 8 weeks before my due date and I thought by now I would FINALLY have the perfectly round buddah belly... but I don't.  My old ROLLS are still on my belly! :-( 

But as a bonus, I have not had any issue with strech marks because my skin can handle this size.

Baby Shower'ed

What a great time!  It was great to see everyone and it was a lot of fun!!!  I will be sending out Thank Yous soon!

My sister hired a great Karaoke DJ to provided entertainment for the "Jess-tival" when I was home over the weekend.  It was so much fun!  I can't wait for the pictures to be posted.
I remeber singing the following, but there were more:

• Carly Simon - Nobody Does it Better (the theme from the James Bond film The spy who loved me)
• Nancy Sinatra - These boots are made for walking
• Rihanna  - Only Girl in the World
• Willie Nelson - Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
• B-52s - Love Shack
• Don Williams - Some Broken Hearts Never Mend
• Eminem & Rihanna - Love the Way you Lie
• Lady Gaga - Bad Romance
• Katy Perry - Last Friday Night

My family and friends also sang.  I should have taken videos with my phone!  By the end of the day my feet were so SORE but it was so much fun.  I slept like a baby in the hotel bed that was so uncomfortable the night before.


The party was wonderful and our baby now has lots of great books and some very imporatant basics. 


Aaron's co-workers are throwing us another shower on Friday at his work.  My co-workers will likely follow suit in a few weeks, and our friends down here have expressed a desire to throw a shower too.  So hopefully the baby will be pretty set to join the outside world.

 
I was thinking of updating our Baby Registry on Amazon.com to just have the items we really need, like cloth diapers, cloth wipes, onesies, and sleepers.   I put lots of cute things on the registry, but when it comes right down to it, THE BABY NEEDS TO HAVE DIAPERS... not a Green Bay Packers footed sleeper.  (But it is SO CUTE, I still want it!!!)



(Cute right?!)

Again, Aaron and I greatly appreciate all the wonderful gifts we have received already and I will be sending out personalized thank you cards soon!!!

Baby and I are okay after a scary weekend

On Sunday I fell.

Aaron and I were walking across a parking lot to our car, and my shoe slipped.  I tried to catch my balance, but I knew I was doomed to have let gravity have its way.

I started to fall face first to the asphalt.  Instinctively, I turned so my right side would impact before baby.
I tore up my right hand pretty good, right wrist sprained, right shoulder bruised and bloody, right knee and the top of my right foot both scraped up too, and the smallest injury was to my right cheek.

But what about the baby?!?!?!

At first I just laid there my mind freaking out. Aaron was right there.  He and a woman who saw me fall helped me get up.  I knew I wanted to get to a hospital to make sure the baby was okay, but I was also covered in sandy dirt and blood.

I went in and washed up, then Aaron drove me to the ER.  When we got to the ER they sent us to Labor and Delivery.  L&D sent us to Labor Holding where they hooked me up to contraction and fetal monitors.  We then spent 4 hours waiting to see if I would go into labor.

Being stuck in a bed hooked up to stuff was SO BORING, but Aaron was amazing.  He did his best to entertain me and just be silly. It was so nice to have him there to distract me from my injuries and worry.

Baby was active, with a steady heartbeat, and after 4 hours of monitoring -- there was no sign of pre-term labor!  Since I was 28 weeks and 4 days at the time of the accident, our baby would have a high chance of survival with intensive neo-natal care, but I am glad that the baby did not show up on Labor Day!

Last Trimester!

My due date is less than 12 weeks away now.  Soon we will get to meet this brand new person Aaron and I created together!

In two weeks we'll fly back to Wisconsin for the shower.  I am pretty sure that the flight will be fine.  I am SO GLAD Aaron will be with to help support me.  

I meet with my doctors again next week on Wednesday and Friday, so I can get the green light to take to the skies!

My blood sugar has been right on target, so things are going fine with that.

Aaron and I are studying up for our baby's Birth Day online, although I should take the tour of the Hospital... but I also work for the Hospital where I will have our baby... so I might just ask someone to take me.