A few pictures of Alexandra Marie

Introducing Alexandra Marie, born on Friday 12/23/11 @ 8:56AM

Weighing 5 lbs 12 oz, 19 1/4" long

Me getting a peak at all of her precious baby parts - 10 long fingers on her tiny hands, and 10 sweet baby toes!

In her mommy's arms, exactly where she belongs!

My first chance to hold the little punkin...in my arms :)

So tiny and precious

48 hours old!

Alexandra arrived @ 8:56am, and I'm sitting in a chair!!!

C-section went well this AM and I was in recovery within 40 mins of being taken in there! Doctor said that when he got in there, the placenta was along the back wall of my uterus so he didn't have to cut through it to get to the baby. BUT it was completely covering my cervix, more than they had thought, which means I had a complete previa! So we are all very grateful that we didn't attempt a vaginal birth and that I didn't end up in an emergency situation.

Around lunch they brought me a tray of liquids. I took a few bites of jello, a few sips of broth, and a sip or 2 of Gatorade. Then promptly got seriously nauseated and almost threw up. I called the nurse and asked for Zofran, but unfortunately I'd had a dose in the recovery room and couldn't have another. So I had to do Phenegren, which I really didn't want to take. Once it was in the IV I promptly spaced out and then had a fitful few hours of rest. I'm not really a back sleeper and couldn't roll over, and kept waking up suddenly realizing I'd been holding my breath. Anyway I made myself wake up enough to check-in with my IP's who were down in the NICU. They came up to visit for a bit, then headed back down when Michael and the kiddos showed up for a visit. Unfortunately the kids couldn't see the baby which had them highly disappointed. But we had a short visit and then they left for dinner.

Michael is home and getting them to bed and said all is going OK at home.

And here I sit, watching a movie and fighting to stay awake. I'm hoping to get a good night's sleep, but not holding my breath. Right now I'm really needing to cough, but every time I try, I can't get it out. *sigh*

I'll post some pics tomorrow when I've been able to go see the baby. Please keep her in your thoughts & prayers, for her lungs to quickly get stronger and for her health to rapidly improve. (Btw, her apgar was 8-9, and we all thought she was perfectly fine, but she rapidly started having trouble and after 6 hours of observation in the NICU, they admitted her).

Prayers that y'all have a great Christmas Eve and I'll update more later!

Just 2 more sleeps!

And the little miracle will be here, in her mommy & daddy's arms, where so belongs!!!

Yesterday was my final OB check, at 36w2d. We didn't have an ultrasound, but all of my stats and baby's were exactly where they should be. I talked to Dr. R and got specifics about a few odds & ends regarding the c-section. Turns out that I will be given a "spinal" rather than an epidural, which will leave me completely numb for about 24 hours - sounds good to me! After the numbness wears off, the nurses will be getting me up & moving (uugghh!!!) and then we'll be doing oral pain management. And depending on how that goes, I may get to go home as early as Christmas day!! Altho, knowing me and my lack of a pain thresh-hold, I may be there until Monday, who knows?

Today I did the pre-op blood tests and my blood pressure was super-low (surprisingly). I have about 6 loads of laundry to tackle before bed, and will be squeezing in dinner at some point.

Tomorrow I will be packing the kiddos up for what may be a 7-8 day vacation from home. They will stay with my in-laws on Thursday night, which will allow for me to be at the hospital by 7:30AM on Friday. My MIL will bring them up to the hospital Fri evening after everything & everyone has settled in at the hospital. Hubby will have them on Fri night, then they will be tossed around on Sat between hubby and my in-laws, and will celebrate Christmas eve at their house. Home again with daddy to sleep in their own beds, then up (at the crack of dawn) to see what Santa has brought. Michael will then load them up and take them to my sister's house for a day to be spent with my family, including their grandparents :) From there, everything gets foggy, as much will depend on when I am released from the hospital, but next week will be a fun week for them with my sister and her fiance', likely in Austin! I'm really looking forward to the quiet time at home to rest and recuperate before they return and we gear up for a few crazy weeks of me not being allowed to drive, but juggling schedules.

Hm, should be an interesting next month around here! But, bring it on!!! I'm ready :)

35w update

There are no changes since my last post - we are still scheduled for our 12/23 c-section, and baby B still looks fabulous at 5lbs 4oz. As long as we can get through the next 10 days without issue, I will be spending Christmas Eve & day in the hospital with this precious little miracle and her mommy (and daddy & big sister when they come up for visits). We've pretty much settled all of our own plans here at home and have made the necessary arrangements for the kids and visiting family. So bring on the 2011 holiday craziness!!!

To say that I am excited is an understatement!

Already a happy baby!

34 weeks and counting....down!

Today we had our 34 week u/s and OB check. Baby, as usual, looked beautiful - and happy :) - as is evidenced by the big smile she gave the camera today! She measures a little petite, but already weighs 4lbs 7oz. She also seems to have a head full of hair - some measured as long as an inch!!! I love seeing that pouty little face - that still looks ALLOT like her big sister. I love getting to see her, but I really love watching her mommy or daddy light up when they see her on the screen :)

Also had the ever-so-lovely Strep B swab and the blood work for the HIV and CBC panel that go along with it. Oh yes, and the getting-more-painful-by-the-week PIO booty shot :( Can't say I'm going to miss that at all, honestly!

And finally, we have scheduled our c-section! While we were really hoping for 12/24, because its a Saturday, the doctor couldn't convince the head nurse at the hospital to schedule that day - which happens to be IF's birthday! So we had to "settle" for Friday the 23rd. Yep, little miss Alexandra Noelle will be making her grand entrance as an almost-Christmas baby! Assuming, that is, we can get through another 2 1/2 weeks without issue. We are all really hopeful this will be the case, as giving her a few more weeks to bake and grow will be the most ideal. At that point, I will be 36w5d - not quite what is considered to be full-term, but darn close. And less risky to me than waiting another week or 2.

As we are nearing the end of this ride, I've been thinking allot about how tough this journey has been - and thinking about my attitude along the way. I am not a complainer by nature. I tend to look for the positive in everything, even when there doesn't seem to be anything positive to find. But I realized that I have done a bit more complaining that I should have, and for that, I am truly sorry. I feel so extremely blessed right now - to have made it this far without issue, to be carrying such a precious little girl for such a remarkable family, for having my health and nothing more than some inconveniences along the way, and for my beautiful and supportive family!

I cannot say enough positives about how well my kiddos have handled the ups & downs of this journey; they have done such a great job of being "little grown ups" when mommy has been on bed rest, or not feeling good. They have each stepped up and done big & little things around the house, helped me when I've needed it, and been real troopers when things haven't gone quite as we were expecting them to. They have given up things, and done so willingly, even if not always joyfully, all for the sake of the health of this baby girl. They each pray for me all of the time, which I love, and truly believe that God is in control. I love seeing these traits bloom within each of them. It hasn't been easy for any of us, but they've done a remarkable job of handling each hurdle as it has come. Even when we talked to them about our "normal" Christmas plans being interrupted, they all jumped on board with the change of plans and are happy to postpone opening presents with mommy & daddy until I am back at home. Of course, Santa will still come on Christmas Eve. And as an added bonus, my entire family will be in town on Christmas Day offering to help care for the kiddos while mommy is recuperating in the hospital! Christmas Eve will be handled by Michael's family, adding to the blessings I feel for the support system we have all around us.

And to my wonderful husband Michael, words just cannot express the gratitude I have for him. He has truly been my rock when I have crumbled under the pressure, and has stood by me through each step of this journey - the highs and the lows. It hasn't been easy for him, and I don't take a single second of his support for granted. I know he is a rare treasure, and I truly thank God for him each & every day.

And finally, for my family & extended family, friends, and acquaintances: I would like to say a very humble thank you. For the words of encouragement, the prayers, and the support. There have been times when I couldn't have gotten through the day without you.

So, now that I have waxed all sentimental, I would like to tell my wonderful IP's that I am grateful for you as well. I know that we haven't had it easy, and that we've had our moments of doubt and fear, but God has brought us farther than we could have seen just a few months ago, and I know He has us securely in the center of His very large and capable hands. We have made a very long journey, and can now see the light at the end of the tunnel - and its not a train :) God is so very good!!!

32w & 34w belly pics

32 Weeks!

34 weeks! Is it me, or do I look considerably bigger???