Roller Coaster

WOW!! The past 3 days have been a big roller coaster. I have never been induced before and I think I had a different impression of the whole experience. I knew I could be sent home but I was hoping that wasn't going to be the case of course but the reasons were legit and we came home Thursday. The main reason was that my body over reacted to the gel in my cervix. Fast contractions and no progress. Hyper stimulation! The second reason was my blood count for my platelets was 91K and the cutoff for most anesthesiologist is 100K. I had been told by several OB's and nurses that most docs are cool with 90 and up so I was hopeful. That was not the case on Thursday. 5 docs said no! So besides the meds being a bit much for me the epidural wasn't coming either! No thanks!!! We are trying the induction again tomorrow though. If my platelets are better then I will go forward. If not then I may walk away again because at this point I am too close to my due date and she will come eventually! My OB had the best of intentions wanting to induce me. She hoped my counts would be good. She hoped the docs would take my platelets in the 90's. At the end of the day though this is still elective with my platelet count. 50K and under would be a different story!

My OB also thought as a last ditch effort for Sunday's induction that I could take a quick round of steroids for my platelets. Sometimes steroids help but usually aren't given until the #'s drop way below what mine are. Again though...she wants to help me to have the pain control option of my choice. I want that too! I took the steroids last night and for the past 24 hours I have been wacked out. It's too hard on me. The dose is crazy high since labor is soon. It's too hard on my mental state. The side effects suck!! I felt like I was on speed. I had a breakdown in Wal Mart for crying out loud over my mom asking me which carrots we should buy! I have decided to not take them again today. It's hard to say no to a med that could get me the epidural possibly but going into labor with these side effect....can't sleep, heart palpitations, anxiety like crazy...it's not good either. My doc said which one would I hate more....no epidural or side effects from the meds. Tough question at this point because today I have felt nothing but terrible. My gut says put the meds down and what will happen will happen. Am I happy or prepared for natural childbirth...NO...but I am strong and I will get through this.

It won't be long now. I wasn't easy getting pregnant this time and it hasn't been easy preparing for the end either but it's happening. I want her. I am ready but I will be patient. God has a plan. Sometimes He breaks us to make us!

The next update will be pictures and smiles I hope!! =)

Preparing

I am loving all my friends right now! Sending well wishes and little reminders to take care of myself before the baby arrives. Today is the last official day before the induction begins...pending the hospital isn't booked up of course! What is it about being a mom already that makes it hard to take of yourself? I guess the answer is obvious....you aren't alone anymore! I have been washing sheets, making dinner, and just being a maniac cleaner. I think I am wearing the fibers down on all our clothes, rugs, and sheets from over washing! It's a hormonal thing. What I need today is a shower, pedicure, and massage. I'll settle for a shower though! Pretty soon I will truly never be alone with 2 girlies around here. I will finally join the other crazies mamas who are in the land of 2....some even have 3 already that I know!!

Tomorrow morning we go to the hospital to start being induced. They start with a gel in the cervix and see what happens. If it works then I stay...if not I go home for a day or so then come back either in labor or to try another method. Say a prayer, cross your fingers, wish on a star...whatever...that my labs looks good and my blood work is positive and ready for induction and that the meds work swiftly tomorrow! ( i have had a low platelet count in my blood work which is why we are inducing. hoping to have a good blood work day and just get this ball rolling. if my #'s don't look good then i cannot receive and epidural due to risk of bleeding).

I'll keep posting hopefully on FB with more news!!! Time for that shower. My mom will be here in a few hours. =)

36 weeks and a baby shower

Beautiful diaper cake by Paulina

Hot Chocolate Bar

Kelly, Liz, Me, Paulina

36 weeks

36 weeks and 70% effaced already! I hope this means that things are progressing faster than they did with Claire. I'd love baby to stay in and get fatter but I also want her out before February 24th!! She seems pretty big in there already and she is so low I can hardly walk for very long! It's crazy! I don't remember being quite to uncomfortable at this point in my first pregnancy. Guess my lazy muscles aren't doing the job like before!

I had an awesome baby shower with all my buds. I feel so blessed and lucky to have made some really sweet girl friends here in Arizona. I would have never thought 4 years ago when we moved here that I would have a gathering like this with all new friends. It's amazing! The theme was owls and I love love love owl decor! Aren't they adorable!!? And can you say Hot Chocolate Bar!!! So yummy! Special thanks to Liz, Paulina, and Kelly for throwing me a party to remember!

Sleepover

Claire had a sleep over at her Uncle Tom and Tia's house last Friday night. This picture just cracks me up of the dog, Cristy, in Claire's umbrella stroller! HA! They took the "girls" to the park Saturday morning and of course Claire has her train, Percy, and her apple juice. Her most prized possessions. Notice her hair too...no one wants to tackle brushing that curly hair! LOL! Eric and I enjoyed our night off. We went to dinner at Outback and just stuffed ourselves. I was so uncomfortable when we left I needed a gurney to get out of there! Still it was nice to be alone. We won't have that for much longer! We actually watched Avatar finally. Are we the last people on the planet to see this movie? I think so!

36 weeks today and I finally hit that place where I am "over it"! Just yesterday I said the words out loud. I am scared to say that and bring home a newborn all over again but I am over being pregnant! I feel good overall but laying down and getting up or turning over at night hurt way more than I can ever remember with Claire. This girl is LOW! I am up every 2 hours like clockwork to pee. I am very aware though that I am more rested now than I will ever be in a few weeks. I wonder if she'll show us her face before February 24th or if she'll pull a Claire and come out later! I can't wait to find out!

TRAINS!!

Have I mentioned how into Thomas the Train Claire is?? Not your typical girly girl stuff but Claire has never been girly girl since day one. And you know what? I love that about her! I was the ultimate girly girl but it's been super easy adapting to what Claire likes. No fru fru dresses, no tights, no fancy shoes. She is still into wearing a super comfy cotton dress and occasionally likes Tinkerbell but overall she's just doesn't know your typical gender differences with toys. I think this is so very 2011 of her!! =) I think no matter what she'll always have this "comfortable" side to her even if she does love more girly things when she's older. I feel pretty confident this is just a huge part of who she is.

Anyways, we took Claire to the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park this weekend to check out some trains. We rode one around the park (see pics above....you can't tell but she's on the train). You can just see her face light up!

Speaking of her face! Notice the nice cut on her cheek. One of THREE accidents this weekend. A picture frame fell off our bookcase Saturday morning and cut the crown of her head. Not bad but lots of blood at first. The next day she fell into an open drawer in our bathroom and cut her cheek. OUCH! Then she fell at the train park (not pictured above) and has a shiner on her forehead. For real girl. She about gave me a heart attack or early labor this weekend!

Big Sister

The move into the guest room has finally happened. Claire is now in her "bigger" girl room!! I am so happy with how it turned out!! I got her this wall book bin and she loves it so much. She can grab her books and sit on the toy box. The room took some time because I had to rely on Eric for pretty much everything. I couldn't move anything or assemble anything or hang anything. I kind of felt like a toddler myself and it got really annoying. Eric worked really hard and as fast as he could having only weekend to get stuff done but my nesting instinct was very impatient. Everything was making me a little crazy (dont' get me started on the crap in the closet!). Poor E....he had to hear my insanity for 3-4 weeks! ha! He is pretty over painting I know that much. He painted the desk and nightstand white (and the room which i did help with) and that was a beotch! It's all come together now and it's beautiful! She has plenty of time to get used to her new space and so far she's doing great. She hasn't missed her old room one bit!

Claire also had her Sibling Superstar class at the hospital. It was cute. Nothing over the top or awesome but age appropriate. She loved getting her certificate! The biggest part for her was just seeing the hospital and knowing where I will be when I have the baby. It's across the street pretty much from our house so we talk about the "big white building" all the time now. Which when I hear that I think, yes, I will be in the "big white crazy house" very soon!

T-minus 39 days and counting!

New Year, New Faces?

I am sure with most kids it's hard to capture the perfect smile. I see it then I snap the photo and I get something completely different! Our NYE dinner at home was complete with a few new faces for the new year!

New Year's Day we had a small breeze so we got to fly the kite. Well, kind of. It didn't last long and the breeze wasn't strong enough. I am not sure in AZ when it will be the perfect wind though. It's either blow you down windy or just a subtle breeze. She loved it though and can't wait to fly it again!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!