Leilani has arrived...

So I was due August 17th and needless to say I was getting very antsy...after walking for about 2 hours (2 one hour walks), eating spicy good, squating, a warm bath, and some sexy time with the husband, I went into labor at 10:30pm. At first I had no idea if this was the real deal or not, but Chris starting timing the contractions and tried to have me explain what I was feeling (which I did a terrible job of). Anyway, they were coming at 5 minutes apart from the beginning, so we woke up my mom and headed to the hospital. I barely remember the ride, but was happy there wasnt any traffic. We arrived to the hospital at around midnight. I was still in good spirits and they put me into an "observation" room to see if I was really in labor. The monitor indicated that I was and after being checked was told I was 5 centimeters and 90% effaced. SWEET. We went to the room and got settled in. The next few hours are a blur. I know that labor for me, became VERY INTENSE very QUICKLY. I really wanted a water birth, but as luck would have it, on a full moon, all those rooms were taken. So I labored in the tub and in the room and tried to find a spot where I would be comfortable. I know at one point I was screaming that I needed help and "I dont know what to do"...it was just so much and then nothing. Around 4:45ish, I was in the tub and was checked, my midwife said I was between 7-8 centimeters and asked if I wanted her to break my water. I said, YES! She broke my bag, nice clear water, and I went immediatly to 8 centimeters. By 5:15 I felt tons of pressure and wanted to push and was checked and was complete! YAY...But man, I was tired, I had hit the "zone" and just needed the baby out. Chris says I would push and then pass out. All I know is my thighs were cramping up and I actually thought to myself: If my legs didnt hurt, this wouldnt be half bad!! My contractions no longer hurt and I was just pushing. I pushed so hard I broke a few blood vessels in my eyes (nothing too bad). Anyway, right around 6:17, my midwife said: With this next contraction, you are having this baby, nobody is going to say anything but me and you are only going to listen to me. She continued to say that I was going to push but a very controlled push and then pant. So I repeated to myself: Push then pant, push then pant. My contraction began, and I was doing exactly as she wanted me too but out of nowhere...BAM the baby was born. Chris says you could see an inch or two of her head and then she FLEW out, literally, in the air and landed on the bed. Turns out, my midwive was trying to strech the area around the baby's head and she moved her hand to switch positions and the baby flew out..from 1-2 inches of head to a full baby in 1/2 second. WOW! I tore, didnt feel it at all! I was so overcome with emotion and love. I commented "I cant believe an actual human being just came out of me!". My mom cried, Chris was ecstatic and I was just elated. They put our little Leilani right on my chest and she began feeding right away. The cord was cut my husband. The midwife delivered my placenta, which also felt great, and then stiched me out (I still didnt feel anything, even when she gave me some litocaine shots to numb the area). She had a little cone head and smushed nose, but I dont know any baby that comes out looking good...heck would you after going through that?

So here are the Stats:

Leilani Elizabeth
8/16/08
6:19am
7lbs 4 oz
19.5 inches long.

After the whole thing, Chris brought my stuff to our post pardum room and a nurse came in to take me to the room and I almost passed out. I guess I lost a lot more blood than I thought. She broke out the smelling salts, and I was instructed to get a nurse every time I went to the bathroom. Recovery has been pretty easy and I have had a lot of help. Chris took the week off of work and its been great. Totally amazing experience and I highly recommend doing it if you can!

How are you feeling?

Alana

4 cm and waiting...

Sooo...yesterday morning I thought my water broke! YAY!! Why you ask, well my pants were wet and the couch was wet too! So I stood up awaiting the big "GUSH" and it never came. So I said to myself: Self, the baby's head is probably just blocking the flow of water as she is so far down. Oh well, I will wait until the contractions start." They never started, so I go on my merry way to my appointment in Dahlonega, GA (about an hour from our house). Anyway, I get a call from my good friend Jessie and tell her about the whole water breaking incident and she says: CALL YOUR DOCTOR! Okay okay, I call and they say: Can you come in right now? I said: No and that I would be in later that afternoon. My appointment goes well, people cant believe I am due in 3 days, etc..yadda yadda...Now I head to the doctors office and because of their lack of communication, I end up at the wrong office (my midwife was at the office I NEVER go to). Anyway, I end up being squeezed in to see Dr. Barett. He is SO nice. He comes in, I tell him my little story and he "checks" me. He tells me I am a "good" 4 centimeters and 80% effaced. Then he says he thinks I would no longer be pregnant within 48 hrs and at ANY sign of labor to go straight to the hospital...so here we are, 24 hours later and waiting...I am contracting, so hot sauce, a long walk, hot bath, and some other things and we'll see what happens...

Cutest Kitten Ever...

Well not EVER because Nittany and the Fat Baby Kitty were SO super cute...but this kitten gives them a run for their money...that's for sure...check it out (in the middle of the page): http://mfrost.typepad.com/cute_overload/2008/week30/index.html

Pregnancy is GROSS...

SO seriously...EW! Pregnancy is so gross. For the most part it's been easy and pleasant (for me anyway). Gaining only 16 pounds (lost a pound from last week), and not having any traditional ailments, I consider myself lucky. However, for the past 4 days or so, I just want Leilani OUT! With snot-like mucus coming out of a place other than my nose and then loosing my actual mucus plug (it was the size of a mouse and looked like jumbled up bloody snot), this whole thing is just NASTY! Not to mention, this is JUST the tip of the ice berg!!

At last check I was 3 cm dialated, 80% effaced and the baby was very low and locked in my pelvis. I have had several "real" contractions at night, but they always go away...so we'll see!

Oh Alarm Clock...How I LOATHE you!

I feel like every time I find the most comfortable spot to sleep, my alarm clock goes off! Making matters worse, when I try to find the spot again after hitting snooze, it eludes me! Then I get molded into another spot, fall asleep and BAM 9 minutes have passed and the alarm goes off and all I hear is: You just keep on using me, until you use me up! While I love that song, I am SO not in the mood to actually WAKE up...let alone GET up...so I hit snooze again, try and refind my "spot", cant, find another, and the whole cycle begins again! Blah...I just need more sleep!

The Cats Know Something is UP!

I am sitting on my couch working like crazy and both of our cats wont leave me alone. The Fat Baby Kitty is sitting right next to me with her hand, well paw, on my and gets very upset if I move (because then she has to move, but is always touching me). Nittany is sitting next to my head looking out the window, but he NEVER spends time with me during the day. Not to mention the two of them joined Chris and I in bed last night, which is usually something only Nittany does. Oh well, its cute.

So what a weekend we had! We had our 2nd shower, this one being held in our house and hosted by the lovely and talented Terry Abromitis and I have to say, it was awesome!! The food was fantastic and we even had a Baby Bottle Beer Chug and the winner got movie tickets. How cool is that? We got alot of great stuff and a ton of diapers and wipes, which I know we will be using!!! Plus we had some out of town guests which is always nice. Jessie and her 10 week old son Liam came down from Wed-Monday and it was an EYE opener in dealing with a newborn! I do hope Jessie and James move down here as it would be nice to have one of my oldest friends near me! Lauren and her boyfriend, Brian, arrived on Friday night and it was so good to see them. They are so cute together and I hope they get engaged and married soon! Then, MY buddy Dave Kaye came on Saturday afternoon. Chris likes to THINK Dave is more his friend than mine, but that is so not true. I mean I have known Dave since my freshman year of college! Cant beat that with a stick!

Leilani Update: Her head is fully engaged in my pelvis and I am 50% effaced/thinned out. So really she can come at any time. I have gained a total of 17 pounds...YIKES! However, I am happy to say it's all belly and boobs. My midwife, based on Leilani's head size and body position, thinks that she is a "good" 5 pounds. I was SO happy to hear this as I have been telling Leilani that she is allowed to be between 6 and 7 pounds and arrive any time after August 2nd and 11th (preferably the 8th)!! I have been having some contractions but nothing that I can time or to write home about.

Anyway, I am off to get some lunch!

34 weeks...

So it's official: I am ready to meet our little bean. It's not that I am uncomfortable or am ready for the pregnancy to be over. In fact, it's the total opposite. I am comfortable, feel great and can only complain about not being about to sleep on my stomach (my favorite way to sleep). We were at a BBQ this weekend for the 4th and most people thought I was 6 months pregnant and were shocked when I told them I was in my 8th month! I have gained 13 pounds and just need to be sure to not be on my feet for TOO long or the swelling takes ahold of my ankles and feet (it goes away once I put them up). However, I am SO EXCITED to see how big she is going to be (hopefully on the smaller side) and what she looks like. Alot of people can have a pretty good idea of what their child will look like, but I have NO idea. I mean even something as simple as skin tone is a COMPLETE mystery. Technically she will be 1/4 African-American BUT that can manifest itself in many ways...so I guess we'll see. In other news, Chris and I put together Leilani's swing and bouncer (I need to figure out the swing, the bouncer is awesome and will play music through an iPod, so no boring tunes for this little one. We organized the nursery and are getting more and more done around the house in anticipation of her arrival. We will be doing "Baby Laundry" after our shower in 2 weeks and then put everything away etc...Work is going well and is helping to keep my mind off of the baby and her arrival (which is good, because I need to be distracted). My last flight is this week (Wednesday-Thursday) to Memphis. Honestly I am most excited to meet her and see Chris with her. Awesome!