A Baby Story

Kate's entrance into this world was one long journey!

We arrived at the hospital Monday evening at 8:00 ready to be induced. After determining that I still hadn't progressed at all (I was still in between closed and one centimeter) they decided to get things started with cervicol(?) and contractions started about an hour later. My contractions came quickly and were pretty strong, so we tried comfort measures like sitting on the birthing ball, massage etc. Then around 5:00 am they checked me again and I was at a 3. Progress, but not a lot, so I decided to take a shower. I had heard that this really helps you dilate. So I took a shower for about an hour, and by the time I was done I was in PAIN. Then I caved and asked for the epidural. The nurse did not check me again before we did this, because she was pretty positive that everything was fine and that I had progressed more while in the shower. I received my epidural (YAY), but it slowed my labor down. Or, I was just having a slow labor anyway.

I stayed at a 3 for about 10 hours! My contractions were adequate, I was just not progressing. They even broke my water and nothing really happened. Then just when my doctor was contemplating a c-section, I progressed to 5 centimeters, so they wanted to let me keep going. So I did.

Well, by 10:00pm I still had not progressed past 5 centimeters, so my doctor decided to go ahead and do a c-section. I was never more grateful to hear anything in my entire life! I was so frustrated and exhausted, and my epidural hadn't been working correctly for about 2 hours. I was not a happy camper. I had the anesthesiologist come in twice to give me extra pain medication. The little extra shots would work for about 30 minutes, and then I'd be back in full pain. I don't know why he didn't check my epidural to see how it was functioning, but he didn't. And later he got yelled at by the anesthesiologist who did my spinal.

By this time I had been in labor for a full 24 hours. I was READY for the surgery. After I got my spinal, I was the happiest I'd been ALL day. I was just so relived to be done, and so excited for my baby to finally be here! My doctor got the baby out very quickly, and Kate was born at 10:44pm.

Even though it was long and stressful, it was a wonderful experience! We love our daughter so much!

Introducing...

Kate Jordyn Watson. Born April 28, 2009 at 10:44 PM via C-section. She weighed in at 7 lbs 13 oz and measured 21". Everyone here is healthy and happy - here are some pics with full story and whatnot coming later. Enjoy.

I bet you're all thinking...

"Erin hasn't posted in a while, she must have had her baby!"

Sorry.

I'm now 6 days overdue!

This baby just isn't going to come on her own. Tomorrow evening we will be going to the hospital to start the induction process. I guess it depends on how progressed I am by then, but the plan is to use the prostaglandins gel first, and then if that hasn't done anything by the morning my doctor will start me on the pitocin. I am scared, but very excited at the same time!

Tuesday. She'll be here Tuesday.

The hospital has free wireless internet too, so we'll post pictures as soon as we can.

Keep us in your prayers!

Due Date!

Today is my due date.

Sorry folks, no baby yet.

I had a doctors appointment this morning. I am dilated one centimeter. Not anything really, but at least it's better than closed! If I don't go into labor naturally this week, I'm scheduled to be induced next Monday night, the 27th. I am hoping to avoid an induction, but the upside is if I do have to be induced, I'll have MY doctor there. That would be really awesome. So...there's a silver lining in everything right?

Wish me luck!

39 week appointment

Well, it was bad news all around today at the doctors office.

First--I have hit the 200 pound mark. I almost cried today when they moved the little weight on the scale from 150 to 200. Do you know what 200 pounds looks like on a 5'2" frame? Think about the marshmallow monster from Ghostbusters. Now picture that monster as a blonde pregnant lady. That's how I feel. The most aggravating part is, I really feel like I've done my best to keep the weight off! I'll have to occasional fast food craving (who doesn't?), but I would have to say that 80%-90% of what I eat is healthy! I eat healthier now than I did before I was preggers. How do I get rewarded? By gaining 50 pounds. Fifty. Five-Zero. Fifty! Ugh. You need to come out Kate! Mommy needs to start losing this weight!

Second--I only have 6 days left until my due date and my cervix is still closed. I'm not progressing at all. This baby is happy right where she is. I know I've mentioned this before, but I really think she's going to have her Dad's personality. She's a procrastinator. She'll wait until the very last minute, and then everything will happen at once.

It's been a disappointing day. I'm really hoping to give everyone good news with my next post. Keep me in your prayers!

One week left!

On Saturday Dustin and I had one last official date. We went and walked around a couple malls, and then went to dinner at Macaroni Grill. This is one of my favorites, but we hardly ever go there because it's expensive. Well...expensive for us. We're really frugal people. But on Saturday night we decided that price wasn't a problem and we ordered whatever we wanted. I had the chicken canneloni, and Dustin had the 16oz tuscan sirloin steak. Then for dessert we shared a piece of lemon cake. So yummy! I'm glad we got to do this. Who knows when we'll get our next chance?

Easter was pretty uneventful for us. Our church starts at 8:00am, and I just couldn't get my big pregnant bum out of bed yesterday morning. So we missed church. On Easter Sunday. Horrible. We slept in until 11:00, and relaxed all day. I even painted my toes! A big accomplishment for myself, since I can barely reach my toes! Then for dinner we had egg salad sandwiches and deviled eggs. And that's as "easter" as we got this year.

For the past couple of months, I've been going back-and-forth with the idea of taking some maternity photos. I was going to have my sister-in-law Bethany take them (she's got the super nice camera and the talent), but then everyone got so busy that I just forgot about the idea until last night. So I finally decided to go for it (even though I feel like a whale!), and Dustin and I set up a little studio in our living room. Here's what we could do with a sheet, a lamp, and our crappy point-and-shoot camera on a tripod. Oh- and photoshop! I don't really have a stretch mark-less belly.


I am now officially ONE week away from my due date.

Hopefully my next post will be introducing you to Kate!

12 days left

This morning was my 38 week check-up.

Good news: I actually did get checked this time.

Bad news: I am not close at all. Not at all. I guess she's her father's daughter! Laid back and in no hurry.

So this week I will eat lots of spicy food, take long walks, continue to drink my raspberry leaf tea and take my primrose oil, eat pineapple, do yoga, maybe get a massage, and spend some "quality" time with Dustin. Are there any other old-wives-tale remedies that I'm missing? haha.

But mostly I'm just going to relax and be patient.

I know that she will come when she's ready, and I intend to fully enjoy my last days of laziness and no responsibility.

Dustin's Baby Shower

On Friday afternoon, Dustin's work threw him a little baby shower. Everyone got us diapers! We not only received newborn diapers, we have all sizes! Needless to say, we won't need to buy any for a long time!

Dustin also won his NCAA bracket! He won $224! Cha-Ching!!

Tonight we did some major grocery shopping. I really wanted to stock up on food to try to make our first weeks with Kate easier. Thanks to the Grocery Game we saved 60% tonight. We spent $95, but saved $130!! Awesome.

And yes, I'm still pregnant. I'm 38 weeks now, and sooo ready to be done. Here's a picture of my enormous belly.

Hopefully I'll be done soon!