Rylan's Birth Story

After being sent home on Thursday (click here to see the details) I had it in my mind that I would not be having this baby until May 2nd, my due date.  So on Saturday afternoon (the 21st) when I started to leak fluid and wasn't having contractions, I was telling myself that this HAD to do with my bladder infection.  But after 6 hours of the leaking getting worse and still no consistent contractions, I called my doctors office and they said to go into the hospital.

Chris and I were talking on the way about how they might be sending me home AGAIN and about how anti-climatic this was.
Checking into the hospital (the last picture of me pregnant!):

 

We got there at 7:00pm and they checked me and I was still 3 cm dilated and 70% effaced.  Great.  I thought they would tell me that it wasn't amniotic fluid and that I needed to go home, BUT they tested and it WAS amniotic fluid!  Woo hoo!  Baby boy would be here in 24 hours!

They let me labor naturally on my own and my contractions got to be 3-4 minutes apart.  But I wasn't dilating, so the doctor broke my water (fully) at 10:15pm.  The anesthesiologist came in and gave me an epidural at 10:30pm.  At 12:15am on Sunday I was 4 cm dilated and they started pitocin.  At 1:45am I was 5 cm dilated and almost fully effaced and at a 0 station.  At 2:05am they gave me a bolster in pitocin (because I was having a "window" or a "hot spot").  At 2:30am I was 10cm dilated and READY TO GO!

They brought Dr. Leezer in and got everything set up.  I started pushing at 2:45am and baby boy made his appearance to the world at 3:25am!

Oh and did I get to mention that Chris got to help deliver the baby????  How cool is that?

 

Such an amazing moment.

 

Chris couldn't have been happier!

 

This is one of my favorite pictures.  Chris is so stoked that he got to help deliver him, he was finally here, and I am crying tears of joy.

Here he is all nice and cleaned up after Nurse Marcy gave him his bath.

 

Here he is:  Rylan Micah Lewis

Chris went home around 4:30am because Payton had woken up at 1:00am and wasn't going back to sleep for Papa and Sasha.

They all came to meet Rylan when everyone woke up.  Here are their reactions:

 

 

Dylan getting to hold his baby brother.

They had to check out everything on his face. 

 

Proud daddy.

 

Payton's turn to hold him!

 

Here he is in the "hospital uniform".

 

My sweet baby boy.  So glad he has completed our family.

 

Drumroll Please...

Introducing...

Rylan Micah Lewis

Born April 22, 2012 @ 3:25 am
7 lbs 12 oz ~ 19.5 inches long

We are very much in love with our new little guy!

What a Bummer of a Day

I have been having sporadic contractions for a few days now, so I decided to go for a walk this morning.  Right after the walk I was in a lot of pain.  So much so that I called my doctors and they said to come in.

Yep, that is me trying to smile while hurting.  They monitored my contractions which were 13-15 minutes apart and re-checked me (3cm dilated and 75% effaced).  They told me that I should go home and labor some more (if I showed up to the hospital not dilated at least to 4, they would send me home) and go to the hospital when my contractions are 5 minutes apart.  They said that we will get to meet our little guy tonight or tomorrow morning sometime!

So...we went home.  Contractions continued and I walked some more.  At 3:15 the contractions had been at 5-6 minutes for 45 minutes so we headed to the hospital!  Checked in.  Got hooked up to the monitor.

I was checked again and still at 3cm and 75% effaced but my contractions were 5-7 minutes apart.  So they called my doctor to find out what he wanted to do.

Here's me waiting.

And Chris waiting.

The nurse came back in and informed me that I had a bladder infection and THAT could be causing the contractions.  They gave me an hour and a half to dilate more or they were going to send me home.  So I walked for an hour and a half (still in pain and still having contractions).  Got checked again and nothing changed.  So I was not in labor, and they discharged me and sent me home.  They said the pain and the contractions should stop within 24 hours.

Bummer.

And we are still waiting...

My Husband...

My husband is amazing.... lately I have been doing little to nothing and he has been so great picking up my slack.  He has meal planned, gone grocery shopping and tonight he make this for dinner:

Super yummy lasagna.  Payton called it "re-sagna".  Dylan said, "I love this.  No seriously, I love this."  It was really good and you know what???  He didn't follow a recipe - he just winged it.  I am trying to learn to do that more because when he cooks like that it always turns out so good.

Thanks honey - I love you!

Now back to laying around, doing nothing...  :(

Preggo Update

I had a doctors appointment today.
For all the mommies out there - I am 2 centimeters dilated and almost completely thinned out.  His head is super low and I am ready to go.  They stripped my membranes (not really sure what that is, but it is supposed to help get labor moving!).  I've been having contractions all afternoon, but nothing that is consistent with their timing.  So we are still waiting...  =)

16 Days Left!

I started back walking waddling {and slowly} as much as I can hoping to start labor. Everything hurts on me at this point {LOL!} and sitting down to tie my shoes has proven to be quite the challenge now. Thank goodness I have been living in flip flops the past few weeks!  Here's a picture of my view of my belly after getting on the ground to tie my shoes.  (FYI - I was doing the butterfly stretch since I was already on the ground...)

Can you imagine trying to tie tennis shoes with that thing in the way?  Haa!  Only 16 days left until my due date!

I am Spoiled!

My sweet neighbor, Bethany, set up a surprise baby shower lunch for me today. (Can you believe it?  TWO showers in one week!)  She invited our neighbors, we had some great food/dessert and we had a great time.

 

Cupcakes

 

Cake

 

Group photo!

Marjorie, Deborah, Patsy, Me, Sasha (my mother-in-law) & Bethany.  (Sorry the picture is blurry - it was my camera phone!)

It was kind of them all to come together and to spoil me and Little Man!  Thanks to Bethany for hosting and putting it all together!

From the Past Couple of Weeks

Dylan found the cutest and tiniest frog ever!  I love that he can do the typical "boy" things here.

Top left to right: (1) my cutie patooties (2) Payton in her new swimsuit (3) little girl "stinky stompers" (4) love his steel blue eyes (5) big boy "stinky stompers"

Top left to right:  (1) an attempt at getting a 9 month preggo pic (2) Dylan kissing my belly {can't believe how tall he has gotten!} (3)  playing so well together (4) me and Doopers {Who will always be my baby boy! Even when Little Man comes along.} (5) okay, how they actually play together! 

Overwhelmed and Blessed

I don't know if I have the right words to tell you how I felt today.  I went to my Tuesday Morning Women's Group this morning and when I walked in, the other ladies had planned a surprise baby shower for me!  We started going to this church just 3 months ago and I was overwhelmed that they would even think of doing such a sweet thing for me.  They brought yummy, yummy food to eat, and we sat around telling war stories {oops!}  I mean birthing stories.  Then they blessed me and Little Man with gifts.

Here's the yummy spread:

Digging into the food...everything was wonderful.  I even brought some home with me!

Payton keeps telling everyone that she got to eat "booty cakes".  {LOL}  Then, I have to explain what they are:

Here's my plate:

Hanging out and opening presents:

"Little Brother"

Me and my sweet friends!

From left to right:  Rachel, Elesha, me, Carrie, Kelly & Laura

What an amazing day, right?  And you would think it couldn't get any better... but our friends, Mark and Tamara treated us to dinner tonight.  We got to double date (Thanks Papa and Sasha for watching Dylan and Payton!), have great conversation, laugh and eat MORE yummy food!  (So bummed that I didn't take any pictures tonight!)

I guess you can say I was spoiled today...very spoiled!

Monday Randoms

Spring break is officially over and Dylan was back to school today.  My sweet hubby let me sleep in today and he got up with Dylan and got him off to school.

I had company at my doctor's appointment today.  Here they are reading the Highlights magazine together:

I completely remember looking through those magazines at doctor's offices when I was little.  Did any of you do that too?

No new news from the appointment.  Just waiting for Little Man to make his grand appearance!

Here's my pretty little lady.  

We are trying to explain to her that although she is going to be the "big sister", that doesn't mean that she can ride in a "big seat" in the car.  Where did she come up with that connection???

9 Months

Yeaouza - I am 9 months pregnant!  28 more days to go {But who's counting??? Oh yeah, me!}!

~ 36 Week Update ~

Total weight gain/loss: +20 lbs

Maternity clothes:  Yes. All my regular shirts are way too short at this point.  Although when I wear one of those, Craig (my father-in-law) says that I look "Georgia" and fit right in.  =)  I had to retire my trusty AE jeans because it is too hot to wear pants anymore.  So now I am wearing maternity shorts almost daily.  I have been blessed with some cute hand-me-down maternity clothes too!

Sleep:  Having some insomnia this past month.  If I get up to use the restroom I am awake for an hour or two.  But sometimes (like last night) I sleep through the night!

Best moment this month:  Going thru and sorting, washing and folding all of Dylan's baby clothes.  It was a trip down memory lane AND it made me more excited for the arrival of Little Man.

Movement:  Lots.  They say that it is supposed to slow down at the end because they run out of room...but I don't think anyone told Little Man that!

Food cravings:  Still on the hot and spicy kick.  See:

Yes, that is jalapenos on my pizza - no other toppings and it was won.der.ful.

Gender:  Boy...at least it better be at this point!  =)

What I miss:  Being active.  I have a few good hours in the morning then I need to be sitting down or laying down pretty much the rest of the day.  I feel super lazy

Milestones:  I went to once a week appointments.  I have been having a lot of contractions.  Oh and at my appointment on Monday I was dilated 1.5-2 cm!  {Yes, that news tells you everything and nothing all at the same time.  My contractions were actually doing something...but I could stay dilated the same for weeks!}


I guess this is my last pregnancy update because I PRAY there will not be a 10 month update!  We are all excited and can't wait to meet Little Man!

Look At What We Bought Today

So tiny!  Crazy that there will be a little bottom that fits these coming soon!

Lazy Day

Today was an extremely lazy day for me.  I did almost nothing.  My "attempt to run" yesterday really did me in.  I took Tylenol and my sweet hubby rubbed my back for me last night - but I still hurt.  I hurt while I slept, woke up hurting and have been hurting all day long.  Funny thing is - if it were to happen again today... I would run again (or at least attempt to).  We moms do crazy things when our babies are crying!

Anyway - enough about me.  Dylan told be that he made Payton one of those "cheerleader things that they wear on their heads".  This is what he meant:

Hee hee!

Then when Dylan was doing his homework I asked Payton to color me a picture.  A few minutes later I look over and see this on the ground:

She was OUT cold!  Chris had to wake her up after an hour.

She doesn't nap anymore so this was a shock.  Guess she was tired!

Preggo Update

~ 5 weeks left today (or 35 days whichever way sounds better).

~ My belly is SO crooked.  It is trippy to look down and see that your belly button is to the left of where it should be.

 

~ I am having a lot of braxton hicks/contractions today.

~ While playing out front, Payton got into a red ant hill (yes, again!) and started screaming frozen in fear.  I took off running to get her and realized that I can't run.  I hope there were no video cameras capturing a big 'ol pregnant lady attempting to run - I must have looked sooo silly!  Payton only suffered one ant bite and is okay.  Me on the other hand - notsomuch.  Ooohhhh I hurt.  Almost everywhere.

~ Here's a short video of baby boy kicking and moving.  Watch my tummy to the right.

~ We can't wait to meet the little man!

Copycat Olive Garden Salad

The great thing (or actually the not so great thing) about being pregnant is when someone mentions a particular food/drink that sounds good - I crave it.  {to be honest} I think about it everyday until I can have it.  Borderline obsession.  Remember when I craved Chick-fil-A Lemonade?

Anyway, my friend Amy blogged about some recipes that she had made and one of those was copycat Olive Garden Salad.  She said the recipe she used was close, but she wouldn't call it a "copycat".  I had a different recipe in my recipe book (I think that I got it from Top Secret Recipes) that I would say is extremely close and of course since she mentioned it....I had to have it.  Did I mention that we didn't make it until 4 days later?  That was 4 days of thinking of Olive Garden Salad.  Thanks Amy! ;)

So are you craving it now???  If so, here are the links to the recipes from CopyKat Recipes (they just happen to be the exact recipe that I have):

Olive Garden Salad Mix Recipe

Olive Garden Salad Dressing Recipe

If you make it, let me know what you think!

Weird Picture

The past couple of days, my feet have began to hurt/swell in the afternoon.  So today I decided to lay down (on the living room floor) and put my feet up.  Then I took a picture of my side view... hence the weird picture!

If I had a "Go-go-gadget arm" I could have gotten my face in the picture - oh well!  LOL!

Hearing Check 1-2-3

So about 7 years ago I noticed that at night while trying to sleep - if I laid on my left side I could hear the crickets chirping outside and our water feature running.  But if I flipped over to my right side, I couldn't hear those things.  Oh well, that's not a big deal, right?

Fast forward to 2012...  I'm still having the same issue, but kinda nice when we sleep with the window open, I know I can flip to my right and block out the chirping.  (But I can still hear the incessant barking of a dog nearby - LOL!)  A couple of weeks ago (when Payton was really sick) we were sleeping and I noticed Chris getting up out of bed.  I sat up to see what was going and THAT is when I heard Payton crying and coughing.  It kinda scared me that I couldn't hear her (I was sleeping on my right side) and worried me with a new baby on the way.

I went to the doctors today for a hearing test and was diagnosed with "otosclerosis".  It is hearing loss in my left ear.  Not the news I was hoping for.  I had chronic ear infections when I was little and ended up having tubes put in my ears when I was in 1st grade.  I was hoping it had something to do with that and they could put in another tube and I would be fine.  Instead there is a problem with the bones in my middle ear.  They don't know if there is a stiffening of the bones or if the bones didn't connect correctly (due to my chronic ear infections).  They need to do some imaging, when I am not pregnant, to decide if I need to have surgery to try to connect the bones or if I need a hearing aid.

Fortunately, right now, it's not a huge hearing loss.  I can still hear out of my left ear.  I can talk on the phone on that side.  I can still hear music from my earphones.  And when I am not pregnant and can sleep on my back again, it won't be as noticeable at night.

All this to say, I know that God is our healer and I am praying for complete healing (if it is HIS will) or that it won't get worse (there is a possibility that it grows worse with pregnancy).  So when you think of it, will you pray for me?  I know that in the grand scheme of things, this is not a major issue but the Bible says:

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you." - 1 Peter 5:7

* * * * *

Now, on to the fun things today:

Dylan and the neighbor caught a lizard today.  The got to hold it, pet it, try to feed it, then release it back out to the wild.

 

And just because I got a cute pic of Payton today, I thought I would share it: