Home Again

I wish I had more energy to write tonight, but unfortunately I am just wiped out so this will be short. We are home, following a very long 5 day stay at the hospital. My labor story did NOT go as I had expected. Never would I have imagined needing a blood transfusion after hemorrhaging in order to fight off double pneumonia from aspirating indigestion during labor. Again, not the picture perfect story I had formed in my mind but I guess it will have to due. So, just consider that your preview and I will complete it soon. But for now, enjoy gazing at the fruits of my labor!

Just the Basics

WARNING: POSTED BY A VERY TIRED SUBSTITUTE BLOGGER

I must say that this has been an amazing day. I can't believe Miss Priss is only 15 hours old. I have to tell you that she is the most adorable little baby and oh so cuddly. There will be lots of spoiling going on and I can tell her daddy is going to let her get away with murder. So, without any further ado - presenting

Miss Camille Eileen . . . .

and her very tired aunt and labor coach (this was taken just minutes after delivery)

and her very proud daddy

I don't have any good pictures of The Princess yet as she has pretty much looked like death all day today and I swore I wouldn't pass around that picture. You would look that way too if your blood pressure dropped to 60/30 (for those that are medically challenged, that is a bad pressure to have)and you couldn't stop leaving pools of blood whenever you stood up. Hmmm . . intruiging. You'll have to stay tuned for the whole story. But don't worry, she was much better when I left her tonite and her bleeding has slowed down to what it should be at this stage of post delivery. I will try and post some more pictures tomorrow. We have 2 digital cameras going and I was only allowed to take one memory stick home. I promise I will take some good pictures of the proud mommy tomorrow.

BTW, for those of you that are wondering, all Substitute Blogging is being done by The Princess adoring sister, Jenn. You're welcome Internet Friends!!

SHE'S HERE!!!

AGAIN, POSTED BY A SUBSTITUTE BLOGGER

Nothing fancy . . .

Camille Eileen

Born December 27, 2005 at 4:45am

Weighing in at 9 pounds 7 ounces (no that wasn't a typo)

Measuring 20 1/2 inches long

Mommy and baby are both exhausted, daddy is already smitten with his new daughter and Auntie and Neices/Nephew are going to sleep now . . .

Pictures later . . .

The Real Thing . . We Hope

POSTED BY A SUBSTITUTE BLOGGER

I was asked to pass on to Emmy's Internet World, that she is truely in labor and has been for the past 27 hours. I don't wish that on anybody. I was in labor for 33 hours with my first, so maybe she'll beat it. I'm not going to give any gory details as she will have lots to share with all of you once she is back home. But, as for now, she is 5-6cm dilated, her water was broken at 2:30pm today and she gave up the ghost on taking drugs and had an epidural at around 5pm. She is exhausted and so is her dear hubby but she is being strong and hanging in there, hoping to beat my own record of labor.

STAY TUNED . . .

True or False

Bloody discharge: Yep, got that

Contractions: Every 5 minutes so says Derek, lasting 60 secs.

Does that mean I'm in labor?

I'll let you all know, for now I'm heading to the hospital and doing a lot of squinting.

We'll see what the professionals say!

Staying Pregnant 'til 2006

I know you're asking yourself where the heck have I been. And maybe even thinking that I might have possibly gone into labor and have had the baby and have been home in complete new motherhood bliss and forgot to tell you. Well, as it turns out I've just been delirious with sheer boredom that the pains of laziness have crept in as I sit on the couch watching Maury with intermittent periods of complete OCD as I search for something, anything to clean or organize followed by episodes of exhaustion and I crash and sleep for a good hour or so. That has been my life and will continue to be so until my body decides to kick into gear and deliver this baby. I find it quite comical that just 35 weeks ago I was doing everything I could to will my body to just keep this pregnancy. Now it has grown so accustomed to being pregnant that it has plans on staying this way forever. Even if forever means staying that way until 2006 which I said jokingly last week but am now realizing that it could be a possibility. At the last doctor's appointment we had an ultrasound which showed no increase weight gain, plenty of amniotic fluid and a beautiful functioning placenta. Meaning? There is no need to induce based on medical necessity at this time. And it also revealed that they all feel like yesterday, December 23 is a more accurate due date which I understand but I just wish I we came to that conclusion weeks ago. But I guess that's what happens when you get pregnant immediately following a miscarriage, my doctor still is amazed.

Since my body is giving me no signs that it's ready to deliver a baby, I'm going to do my best and wait without begging and pleading for a induction. I would prefer no intervention and allow my body to start when it's ready. I can't say I'll be strong enough to give it the full 2 weeks, but I'm willing to give it until next Wednesday, my next prenatal appointment.

I would leave you instead with the newest ultrasound pic of my daughter with her nose in the air, but that would require getting off the couch, something I can't do right now but will post it soon, it'll be a early Christmas present!

Repetitive

Exactly how many post, with how many different words can I make to tell all of you how I have still not had the baby? And yet an even more, how do I now explain to you that I will most likely be staying pregnant until at least 2006 because after today's doctors appointment and after 2 days of braxton hicks? There has not been any change. I was hoping to hear, just possibly that I was at least 3 cm dilated. My doctor said he would strip my membranes today. It did not sound like a fun procedure but the fact that the light at the end of the uncomfortable tunnel could end with going into labor, I was willing and able. Sadly for me, he could not do it. Apparently when you aren't even 1 cm dilated it's hard for them to do this. You have to be at least 2 cm. And to add insult to injury we haven't dropped yet, meaning if he would induce me today, I would most likely sit in labor until 2006. So, the new plan is to go back on Thursday for an ultrasound to see how much she has gained in ten days. If she is weighing in as moose status we will have to talk about forcing her out or quite possibly a c-section. I guess if she hasn't gained a ton, he'll let me go through Christmas. I never expected to be pregnant on Christmas. Or to be in New York on Christmas for that matter. But as my friend Heather pointed out, it could be worse. I could be 27 weeks pregnant giving birth. Or, to even go further with that thought, I could be 27 weeks along trying to just stay pregnant. Instead I'm here griping about being too pregnant, something I know that many women would trade me for this instant. So yes, it could be worse.

And would it be so awful to wake up Christmas morning laying next to my best friend? Clearly I need to stop complaining.

Still Waiting

Hmph....we still have no baby, we still have no labor. Actually, I have sporadic contractions, like at 3:30 today I was a little uncomfortable and that lasted for about 2 hours. But that's about it, it went away. My body mocked me. I go to the doctor's tomorrow and am already frustrated because I know they're going to say absolutely nothing and I know that hardly any doctor will induce with the first pregnancy.

But on a lighter note, it turns out there's this website that has a list of baby's that are due each month among websites. And, somehow I'm on it! I don't know how on earth I got there, but it was pretty cool . Unlike sitting here waiting for a sign that I won't be pregnant until 2006, not very cool anymore.

Awaiting

Nope, nothing yet. She's still in there, happy as a clam, no intentions of coming out. Tomorrow is one of our many due dates now. Turns out the doctor is now debating when he wants her actual due date to be. That's what happens when you miscarry and then get pregnant without a LMP, it confuses the heck out of everybody. So, tomorrow we shall sit and wait, wait and sit, sit and wait. The only good news I have is that I am crampy and a little more so than usual, I am assuming that is a good thing. I'm ready for her to come, now. I'm not uncomfortable or even the least bit annoyed by the mass of the belly. I just want to meet her and start this new life.

I'll promise to update again, even tomorrow so no one has to wonder but it won't be full of text, not much to say when your awaiting!

Tainted Genes

So? Um? Let's say you sent someone a package. And that said package gets returned to you. You don't keep communication with this person so you would have had no way of knowing whether they've moved or not. What would be your initial response internet? Would you leave a message on their voice mail saying something along the lines of this:

"Hey family member who I rarely speak with therefore not knowing if you've moved I sent you something, it came back refused, did I have the right address?"

~OR~

"Um, I sent you something for your baby and it came back refused so did you just not want it, or did you refuse it because it was from me because if you didn't want it that's okay but just let me know"

Dearest internet, I am embarrassed to say that someone in my gene pool actually left the second message on my machine yesterday. And, I wish I could say that I threw some sarcasm into that quote, but unfortunately that is almost verbatim. And my father wonders why I don't actively pursue a relationship with his precious nieces. I have more intelligent conversations with my 8 year old nephew.

P.S. No baby, no changes, no nothing.

Break ups to make ups

Blogger was very mean to me this weekend. I had composed an absolutely perfect post on Saturday, went to publish it and it disappeared. I've been so pissed off that I've refused to play with Blogger since. Right now we're on a touch and go basis. If anyone is upset that there's been no update or a great story (with pics) about my completely awesome surprise baby shower please take it out on Blogger.

Yes, you did read the above right....there was a surprise baby shower just for me, me, me! I loved it! I've never ever had anyone in my life throw me a party. The last party that I was the focus of was when I was 16. Here's me, all surprised. Can't you tell, as I brushed my out of control hasn't been cut for 6 months hair out of my face, with my amazing, and truly loving friend who threw the whole thing together for me:

It was great. My Dad's wife and my sister traveled up for the surprise, all my close NY friends came and my out of town friends even mailed gifts up before hand. I just loved every moment of it, and the cake that my sister made just made this pregnant girls heart melt, I mean, it was cake all for me!

Well, the original post was witty, but I'm out of witty for the time being. I'm 39 weeks pregnant with what the ultrasound says is a 8lb. 6oz. baby who, by yesterdays check, has no intention of coming anytime soon. Thank goodness for her sake that she's adorable because if she wasn't? She'd so be put in time out immediately following her birth.

Joys

38 weeks pregnant.

Worked a full day.

Prenatal appointment at 3:30.

Actually seen for the prenatal appointment at 5:00 only to be told that there is absolutely no change other than the fact that I gained 2.5 lbs. in a week and a half bringing the total weight gained to 28 lbs. and at this rate there will be no baby until next year.

Can you guess who might be slightly cranky at the moment? And? All she can have to drink that just might resemble a glass of wine is a caffeine free Coke and dear Lord the thought of a cookie right now is just depressing, because, um, 2.5 lbs in a week and a half!

Replaced

As a quick note, just to prove how this 38th week of pregnancy is sucking the energy out of me? It's 9:30 p.m. and I am fighting like all to stay awake after taking a 2 hour nap today. The most work I've done? Went to Lamaze from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., went to the grocery store to pick up a few items and came home and took a nap. That's it people, and now I am dying to go back to sleep. Go back to sleep with my huge right swollen foot which will be my ticket out of work tomorrow which I can now do because I've been replaced. And my replacement, the day she got hired, was described as "Passive, quiet and not very strong willed". Meaning? They hired the complete opposite of me, they came to their senses! So, as part as of her training, I think tomorrow she should be trained by experience, this is only for her own good. I'm seriously considering allowing this to be my last week, there is no need for two of me at the office at the same time.

What do you think? Should I throw in the towel and veto my right to say that I worked up to my due date? Think of it this way, if I quit I can be better at posting for the time being!

Not yet baby

No, I have not had the baby....my lack of update unfortunately has been due to sheer exhaustion. Yes, I am cruel, very cruel but also very sorry. But this exhaustion just hit this week and has been so severe that I have actually fallen asleep during what usually is my evening computer time.

I had hoped though to have been able to update on Monday with a post full of words such as dilated, dropped, effacement....anything that meant that Miss Camille was beginning her way out. Instead the only word I've got for you? That would be nothing, as in absolutely no change, as no "Get it out of your head crazy lady you are NOT going to have this baby any earlier than your due date". Which is okay that nothing did happen this week because tomorrow is our 3rd Lamaze class where I get to learn about all the drugs available to me during this event. This I really want to learn because I would like to hear if there is another alternative to having a needle go up my spine in order to help relieve what could possibly be the most excruciating pain I will ever, ever feel. I know, I said possibly and I know that you mom's reading right now are laughing that I would even consider saying it could possibly be when in reality it actually is but see, I'm really trying to not freak myself out and keep a positive outlook.

Funny though, now that same exhaustion that has kept me from the computer this week is now pulling me away. And when I get this exhausted I speak pure nonsense. Now I do promise that from now on, I will update even if it simply says "Nothing". That way no one has to worry, promise!