Throwback Thursday

I was on my FB page and stumbled onto this questionnaire I filled out right after Leighton was born. I wasn't a blogger back in her early days and so a lot of these things never got recorded. So for Throwback Thursday I thought I would post it. It is probably incredibly boring to you all, but priceless to me!

 1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED?
Sort of, I just stopped taking the pill about 1.5 YEARS before I got myself knocked up. We just waited to see what happened of course nothing for quite awhile, but it was all in God's perfect timing!

2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME?
Yes, four and 1/2 years

3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS?
Sheer excitement! I mean it took so long to get pregnant that I couldn't believe it! I called the doctor right away to get a confirmation. I just sat and cried tears of joy!

4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU?
There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING that would EVER make me even consider abortion! NOTHING!!! 

5. HOW OLD WERE YOU?
I was 25 when I found out

6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT?
Pregnancy test. I did it first thing in the morning thinking that it wouldn't be positive again, even though I had all the symptoms, but when I did a double take and saw those two lines I about died!!! 

7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST?
I wanted to tell my hubby in a special way and I had been planning ways all along, but when the time came all I could do was to run out of the bathroom to tell him. I did maintain my composure long enough to ask him "look at me from the side, do I look different to you?" He of course thought I was a nut and then I whipped out the pregnancy test and then all of our excitement set in!

8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX?
YES! Although, while ppl may laugh at me I knew it was a girl from conception! And of course I was right!

9. DUE DATE?
February 27th, 2009

10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS?
Yes, there were moments I thought I would die! Luckily no vomitting for me...just severe nausea.

11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE?
Sadly, I never really had any cravings. I would crave foods after I had them. For instance one day we went to Crackle Barrel and I had blueberry pancakes, and for like a month I craved blueberry pancakes! 

12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST?
Nothing/No one 

13. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX?
Girl

14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING?
No I really just wanted a healthy baby! And I did want a girl, but would have been just as happy to have a boy!

15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY?
26 pounds

16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER?
yes, 3

17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW?
I knew about all but one of them! My small group surprised us one nite!

18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY?
I had early on bleeding and a low lying placenta which had to be checked again around 30 weeks to determine if I would need a C-section or not. Thankfully, my pregnancy turned out perfect!

19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH?
VCRMC-ST. Joe---Wichita, KS

20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR?
I was in off and on again labor for about 2 weeks prior to actually having her. I was making a little progress each week, but nothing to put me into full on labor...I am what you call a 'slow starter' Anyway on Sunday the 15th I started having contractions again at church, of course I was use to that but somewhere during the afternoon around 2 the pain in my lower pelvic and back was so intense I couldn't sit, stand or lie down...again not thinking that this is what labor or contractions should feel like I resisted going to the hospital, until I called my mom crying and she forced us (well me) to go! They kept me in "observation" for 2.5 hours where I finally went from a 3 to 5. They offered me my epidural!!!! They barely got that in and going (seriously 45 minutes later) I was at a 10 and they started taking the bed apart and said it was time to push! An hour later Leighton was here!!! I think my labor and delivery was easier than the whole pregnancy! 

21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL?
Chad (hubby)

22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH?
Just Chad and the biggest team of Dr. and nurses I have seen!

23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION?
Natural

24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN?
EPIDURAL!!!!

27. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH?
6 lbs., 10 oz.

28. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN ?
February 15, 2009 . . . about 12 days early

30. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER?
Leighton Olivia

31. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY?
12 days!

Welcome to the World

I wish I had the funds and addresses of everyone to send each of you an announcement, but this will have to do instead.

Welcome to the world Micah Wyatt

on a side note, because I am proud of myself. I designed his announcement myself and printed them all for under $11 (and that includes Lo's birthday invites that got in the mix!)

It's A Baby Story {Part 4}

There isn't much to tell in this part. At this point in the story is where Micah Wyatt was introduced to family and friends and love ensued.

As you know we kept his name a secret for the whole pregnancy. Well, really just the last 6 weeks when we finally decided on it! When we called everyone to tell them he had arrived they all were asking "what's his name?" As if we would tell them over the phone after making them wait that long...silly family. Once they arrived to the room we introduced our son:

MICAH WYATT

Most of the clowns thought we said Micheal! Then they all started telling us why we chose that name. Their reasons still make me laugh.

Micah was after my name, meaning "who is like the Lord." With all the problems I was potentially facing in this pregnancy I wanted him to have strong biblical name, it just so happens that it fits with my name. Wyatt is a name I have been in love with since I was introduced to the series "Charmed." I know nothing special there, just loved it and Wyatt was never up for debate.

Chad and my MIL

Proud Grandpas

Auntie Meg
--I am sad Auntie Misa, Uncle Kreg and Lan's couldn't be here...soon though!

My parents...in case it isn't obvious. ;)

One of my besties, Jendy and her son. Brody and Lo are 3 days apart. I was bummed not to be pregnant with her this time. But now my sister is! Sort of weird. HA!

So then there was lots of fun to be had in the hospital.
Chad and I decided that it would be best if he would go home in the evenings and be with Lo in the morning, to keep the stability. Plus, while we had a full size bed, you get no sleep and Chad is worse than any mother constantly checking to see if they are breathing! HA! So it was best he went home, we didn't need two tired parents!

This is one of Micah and I's late night photo ops. While it was really sad in some ways to be alone at night, it was also really fun and special to just have me and Micah time, without having to share him with anyone.

The first night Micah slept awesome, I had to wake him for his feedings every 2.5-3 hours. It was rough sleeping for me that night, because my night nurse would NOT leave us alone. She came in at 930p for stats, then again at 10p to give me my pain pill, seriously that couldn't be done at 930p...it was freakin' Ibuprofen for crying out loud, not even the hard stuff. :) And then again several times through the night. IT was miserable. I just wanted to scream "let us sleep! We are fine!"

The only night he slept in the bassinet and swaddled, thus far!
He hates those things.

Then my day nurses hardly took one stat or came in all day! Go figure. Now's the time people when we are AWAKE!!

I was so hoping we would go home after 24 hours because Micah was a rock star...seriously other than his size you would have had no idea he was a preemie, but the ped doc said she wanted him to stay one more night due to his bili level and to make sure he didn't nose dive after the 24 hour mark. SUPER! ::note the sarcasm:: I am really missing my WHOLE family at this point and just wanted out!

Mommy and Micah time.

Then on night two I get the SAME night nurse, who did exactly the same thing. This time Micah was a lot fussier and so was I. I called her to come and get him, so I could get a little zzzz's. Then she brought him back to me to nurse after 2.5 hours and I just kept him. He, like his sister, hates to be swaddled and hates bassinets. So I put him in his boppy and snuggled up next to him and we slept 'til morning or 5a when the RN came in with my Ibuprofen and then 3 residents came in to ask me all the same questions at 6a! Needless to say I was so hoping we were going home today!!

Micah

When Chad arrived on Tues I broke down crying, little did I know my OB was right behind him. :/ She was confused as to why I was crying...seriously? I just had a baby, I haven't slept in 3 nights--no joke, hormonal, and miss being with my family at home...WHY do you think I am crying?!

The next two pics are of Leighton, just to compare...I think they look nothing alike...do you?
Lo

Lo making some very important phone calls. She came up to visit every afternoon. It was always rough to tell her good-bye!

So it was pretty much up in the air if Micah would be d/c on Tues. I was being d/c, but allowed to obviously stay with my son if he had to stay. FINALLY we got the ok to go home from the ped doc! PLT!!

I sent Chad home immediately to get the car and Lo. I told him I would be on the RN to get us d/c as quickly as she could!! The RN seemed shocked I wanted out of there so badly, so she got on the ball and got us out.

As I was waiting to be d/c, my grandparents called; they were in town and wanted to see Micah. I said we were in the process of being d/c so they hurried up and got to our room just as the d/c process was starting. It was fun to have them send us off home!

Get me outta here mom!
Micah's going home outfit...a bit on the large size.
My mom made his cute little hat to match.

I have never been so happy in all my life:
1. I am no longer pregnant! and 2. We are free!!!!!
"Let's blow this Popsicle stand!"

Super proud GREAT Grandparents.
They now have 4-Great Grandson's 2- Great Granddaughters and 1 that is currently undecided.

Homeward bound

Lock and loaded! AH! TWO kids!

We are home!
{we took a similar pic of Lo}

When Lo was brought home for comparison.

On a random note, our dog, Toby, not the brightest crayon in the box. It took him 4 whole days to even realize the Boppy was back out AND that we brought home a new person! It was as if he said "I knew there was something different around here, I just couldn't put my paw on it." HA!

It's A Baby Story {Part 3}

I had no birth plan. I learned that lesson during Lo's delivery. Nothing goes the way you want it to because L&D is so unplanned. All you can do is go with the flow. This time my "birth plan" held 1 thing and that was how I wanted Lo to meet Micah for the first time.

First family photo
{in my post-partum suite}

Chad and I told the families that we wanted Lo to meet her brother for the first time by herself with us only {and maybe my sister Meg at the video camera, since she is currently at KU's film school}. So whenever it was time for her to come up to the hospital anyone in the room (besides medical professionals) would be asked to leave. As "luck" would have it he came in the middle of the day, so she was actually the first to meet him!

Sadly, Meg was just 20 minutes out when Lo arrived at the hospital, and while it would have been special to capture the first meeting on video it was unfeasible to keep her occupied in the hospital waiting room that long, plus I was dying to see her!!

Checking out little brother for the first time.

When she came in she wasn't so sure what was going on. She was just so happy to see us! Then we showed her Micah and she just loved on him. There has yet to be a moment of jealousy. ::knock on wood::

We gave her a BIG SISTER gift to help ease any potential jealousy and make her feel uber special too. She got a juice bottle for her baby and immediately tried to feed Micah with it! She is just such a good mommy already. I have been amazed at how much love and affection she shows her brother.


She kept asking to "old" {hold} him, so of course I helped her. And then after a minute she bounced off and ran around trying doing her own goofy Lo Lo thing! Then she would stop and remember Micah and come hug him again, and then off she went again.

She wanted to read him her Cars book.

I think they are going to have a special bond and relationship. I am so glad how it all worked out and so relieved that she is attaching to him so well and not regressing in any way. {ie in potty training, or wanting to be a baby etc etc.}

First kisses.
Technically he is trying to nurse her face, but still sweet. :)

I have one more part to It's A Baby Story to finish off meeting the family and my fun filled hospital stay! ;)

It's A Baby Story {Part 2}

So where were we? {to see Part 1 click HERE}

On the way to the hospital. Chad has this little sports type car that seriously could put any one into labor they way you bounce around in there. So the journey to the hospital was less than pleasant. Definitely helped my contractions pick up that is for sure!

Once we arrive we went up to the Peri-natal Unit (PSU) and got gowned up and checked back in. I was a tad annoyed that I had to re-answer all the same questions I was just asked on Friday night, I was like can't you just pull that info, I am dying here and can barely talk! I digress.

The RN asked if my water had broke. I said I was unsure, I felt like I was leaking, but I knew it hadn't truly "broke." So she ran an amnio test on me. Negative.

This RN was so nice and compassionate about everything. It was much slower up there on Sunday, which probably helped everyone's attitudes. Anyway, after about 15 minutes on the fetal heart and contraction monitor; in walks a (pregnant) KSU-alum Resident. Score! I knew she would be awesome. :) She checked me I told her about my ordeal on Friday, she and the RN thought they were crazy on Friday and in not so many words...wrong. Again I digress.

I was a 4 and 100% effaced with my bag bulging, she couldn't even tell if he was head down.
Now normally if you are not pre-term you would be admitted at this point, but lucky me I am pre-term, therefore, I get to wait one hour to see if I had progressed any. I was praying hard! The resident was confident I would be staying, but you never know. She say my contraction pattern was less than impressive, which I agreed. With Lo I was contracting hard every 45 sec, and with Micah, as I said before, I would get going every 2-3 minutes with off the chart contractions that made me want to die and then it would slow to every 10 minutes with contractions that would rate a 4 on a pain scale. I just didn't get it. But an hour elapsed and at 1145a the resident said I was a 5 and I could be admitted.

I could tell she was possibly fudging it a bit, but I appreciate not being treated like I should be following the textbook labor and like a real person. She knew sending me home wasn't a good idea. They teach 'em right up there at Kansas State. ;) {Yes, she went to KU for Med school, but that is besides the point.}

After filling out more paper work, consenting to my epidural and being poke FOUR times like a pin cushion to get my IV in, we were on our way to L&D! I was just so thrilled. I started bawling. 1. because I was hurting from all their needles sticks and contractions and 2. because this was all finally happening. They believed me and I was in labor and going to meet my son very soon!

It was also really nice that I could "enjoy" my labor. With Lo everything happened so fast, I "enjoyed" nothing. I had her in 6 hours from the moment I walked through the PSU doors to the moment she debut. This one seemed to be moving a bit slower--in the end he came faster in 5 hours, but now I am ahead of myself.

I got in my room, I got my epidural and really I didn't feel like I really needed it yet, but since I was at a 5 and 100% with a bulging bag, I figured why not, it won't slow me down that much at this point.

However, according to Chad 5 minutes after my epi went "live" my contraction monitor went off the charts with contractions and I was like "what? I am having a contraction?" HA! With Lo I could still feel pressure, which I do prefer, especially when it comes time to push. But it was nice to finally have a break from all my contractions. I think 10+ weeks of on and off again labor call for an early epidural. My body was tired.

Here I am after my epi went "live!" It is such a weird, yet euphoric feeling. :)

Anyway, I made Chad go down and get something to eat and watched the end of Pirates of the Caribbean. I found this so fun, because again with Lo there was no time to turn on the TV. Chad comes back and finishes up his lunch.

It is now 2p. I start feeling this ballooning pressure down in my pelvis and thighs. I honestly felt like that girl in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory that swells up like a blueberry. I paged my RN and she thought I was weird, but was going to call the KSU resident. At that same moment in walks the doc on call that would be delivering me, Dr. Bammel. He comes in to introduce himself and check on where things were. He couldn't even check me because my bag of waters was bulging so much. He popped my waters at 205p. Micah drops way down to a +2 and Dr. B says "Whoa! You are ready to go right now!" My RN starts "freaking out" because she wasn't not prepared for that at all. I suppose I should have told her I go fast, but it is in the chart. Oh well.

So they yank the bed apart barely get everything in place and by 215p I am pushing. It was so weird this time because all I could feel were my Dumbo legs. I couldn't tell when to push or if I even was. But they all said I was doing good, and obviously I did something right because 15 minutes later he was out! It took me nearly and hour with Lo. Of course he was a bit smaller.

The official weight picture. 5# even.

I actually got to see him being pulled out, he was so purple (normal). Daddy cut the cord and they whisked him away to check on him. I could hear his little cry and I just started bawling, I couldn't believe he was here. The funny thing was that Lo was a 38 weeker and had an entire Neonate team in there to "catch" her (she was a meconium baby), and he had just one little nurse. Of course we were right next door to the NICU just in case.

My tiny little biscuit, I couldn't believe he was a blondie. Lo was very dark headed.
They are night and day different I tell ya.

Chad said he looked normal and everyone said he was healthy. Chad kept taking pictures and bringing me the camera. That is the worse thing they do to moms. Take their babies and make them wait to hold them, after all the work we do. Of course both my babies demanded immediate medical attention and I prefer their safety over my happiness.

Proud Daddy! He has his boy and now we are complete.

Finally, they brought him to me and I was in love. I never thought I wanted a boy, but it just feels so right and complete to have him here. He is so perfect and I get why people get so smitten with their boys.

No words, for the emotions washing over me the second he was placed in my arms.

I will again leave the story here. Up next meeting his BIG SISTER!

It's A Baby Story {Part 1}

The road to Micah's birth was long and difficult, but well well worth it. It is as if none of it even matters now that he is here, but of course I will still tell you all about it. :)

I am going to break it up into a few parts, mostly because I want to capture every detail for myself and Micah. So please bare with me.


As you know I have been in pre-term labor for quiet sometime, since 26 weeks to be exact, but as the end of December came the contractions were getting more frequent and intense, and picking up in regularity. However, once I was finally able to really sit and rest they would subside generally in 3 hours.

Then the second week of January hit and things really started to pick up and I was getting nervous I wasn't going to get my consulting job done before I had this little man. Through all of this I can see God's hand at work, now. I was really starting to become quiet frustrated with my slow on and off again pre-term labor. While I wanted Micah to be born as healthy as possible, I also wanted my labor to end and the only way that was going to happen at this point was to give birth. So here is how it all finally went down.

Sunday Jan 9th {35 weeks}: I woke up and started having some things going on that indicated labor was getting closer, along with a few contractions. We went to church and then I came home and started getting last minute preparations done, such as packing, going to the store, getting Lo's schedule written down, etc. I kept thinking I would go into labor that night, but was secretly hoping he would wait until Tues because it was 1-11-11. :)

Monday Jan 10th: Contractions picking up and now we are in a middle of a snow storm. I am trying to rest as much as I can with a toddler, but by her nap time I am not doing so great and email Chad that I may need him to come home early or at the very least leave as soon as school was dismissed. We kept in lots of communication.

I called my OB's nurse and she said based on my symptoms it was really up to me whether I wanted to go in to the hospital or not...gee thanks for the help.

On a side note: I spent 3 hours in Peri-natal with Lo because I was only 38weeks and our hospitals policy is to do nothing to augment labor until you are 39 weeks or in "active" labor (ie at 4cm+). I was a 3 when I went in, bleeding heavily, and contracting every 45 secs for 1 minute, evidently that doesn't equal "active" labor in their books.

SO rushing into the hospital to go through that again sounded like zero fun, I decided to wait. Again by the time Chad got home things started to calm down again.

Tues Jan 11th: Nothing but a few off and on again contractions. :( Bummer it was 1-11-11.

Wednesday and Thursday: I had to work both days. More of the same, on and off again contractions but nothing very stable, just frustrating.

Wednesday--I had my OB appointment, she checked me and said I was 3cm dilated and the baby was head down. This was promising to me that at least all this wasn't for naught.

When I told Megan, my sister, who was babysitting Lo she said "Now, baby you can't come Friday, maybe Saturday, but Sunday would definitely be better." I really wanted to smack her because I am dying and all she is thinking about is herself. ;) This was TOC weekend which is a big weekend that my mom and us girls work for the high school. However, in hindsight a very fortuitous statement.

Friday Jan 14th: By the time Chad got home I wasn't doing well at all and while I wasn't dying, I felt like I should finally go in and be checked out since I was a 3 on Wednesday I could have progressed a lot more and not even know it and actually need to deliver.

So to the Peri-natal unit (PSU) we went. My MIL met us there and took Lo back home. Because I was only 35 weeks they ran a bunch of cultures to make sure my pre-term labor wasn't due to a kidney infection or BV. Then the doctor checked me he said I was only 1 and 40% effaced!

"A 1??!" I said..."My doctor just checked me Wednesday and said I was a 3, it isn't possible to go backwards is it?"

"Not generally" he said.

I have never been more frustrated then I was at that moment. I am dying, they don't care, and they are arguing with me about this. I realize I am not a doctor, but seriously a 1 to a 3 is a big difference. They said they would monitor me for an hour and if I progressed they would go from there. I just wanted to go home, I was so upset. Of course after an hour I didn't progress and they d/c me. My snotty miss know it all nurse said see you in maybe 3 weeks. I just shot her a look as we left, like thanks for nothing. But I know I will be back before then.

So home we went. I cried most of the way. I just didn't understand, why did I have to go through this?! It wasn't that I wanted Micah here, I just wanted labor to stop. I didn't sleep well that night thanks to the contractions, plus just being so aggravated about my PSU experience.

Me pretending to have a good time in the PSU Friday night. :)

Saturday Jan 15th: Got up and decided I would not be going back to PSU until my water broke or I could no longer sit, stand or walk (like in my labor with Lo). We decided to make a family day out of Saturday. It was Lo's 23 mo birthday. We wanted to take her to Exploration Place to have one last special time with just her. Nothing was going to keep me from that.

Lo at Exploration Place having a blast.

Saturday night I was contracting just some and decided to go to bed early. I told Chad he should come to bed earl(ier) too just in case. Around 130a I was contracting hard, but I couldn't see the clock so I couldn't time them. I was refusing to give into it because I didn't want to go back to PSU until at least the morning and even then it better be bad. By 2a I couldn't focus any more and woke Chad up to time them. They were coming every 5-7 minutes and lasting for 1 minute. By 3a we decided to stop timing and try to get some rest. I told Chad my goal was to wait until the morning before we go back in. I just had to see Lo one last time before I left, plus I didn't want to call anyone over to our house at 2a, just so we can get sent home again!

God intervened and slowed my contractions from 330a-445a so I could sleep! I was up by 5am packing up my little PSU bag, since the rest of it was still packed from Friday night's fun there. At this point I was still contracting but nothing regular like earlier that evening. I was ticked. So I started walking and pacing in my basement to see if that would get things going again.

Sunday Jan 16th: By 7a I called my parents to say we wouldn't be at church since I had been laboring all night and that they needed to leave their phones on, because they would be the closest to get to our house if I decided to go back in.

By 730a plans changed. I called my dad back and asked them to come now and sit with me, so when I was finally ready to go in we could.

At this point my contractions were still a little irregular, but some were off the charts strong and others we barely noticeable (by comparison). At this point my parents couldn't get here fast enough. I finally got a hold of them around 915a to see where in the world they were because in my mind it was taking too long for them to get here. They said they were 15 minutes out, and I said good because we are leaving as soon as you get here!

By 930a we are in the car and on our way to the hospital.

I am going to leave the story here. Stay tuned. :) But here's a sneak preview of what happens. ::wink wink::