The Story of Gavin ~ Part II

(If you need to catch up Part I of the story can be found here!)

I was scheduled to check into the hospital at 5 a.m. for my induction, and though the paper work was signed, I was dressed in my fashionable (ha!) hospital gown, and hooked to my IV by 6, we had to wait until the doctor showed up after 7 to start the pitocin drip.  Lucky me though...the monitor was showing that I was already having small, but regular contractions! 

Dr. H. arrived shortly after 7, ordered my pitocin drip, and warned me that it could be the next morning before I delivered Gavin.  Justin had to slip off to work at this point to get a few things done before he was off for a few days, and by the time he returned at 9 I was feeling very uncomfortable.  At this point I was allowed to get up and take a walk...which felt wonderful after having been confined to bed the entire time I was in labor with Logan!  Walking helped make the contractions more bareable.  When we got back to the room I was able to relax a little.  To pass the time Justin ordered the book Shit My Father Said on his Nook and read to me.  We laughed like crazy, but after an hour the contractions began to intensify again, and it became hard to concentrate.

Around 11 I got to get up and walk around again.  This time the walk was not fun.  It seemed to only make everything worse.  I had to stop frequently to ride out contractions before I could continue walking.  Once we made it back to the room I chose to continue standing instead of laying back in the bed - I just couldn't stand the idea of laying down at that point.  Around 1 the nurse asked me if I would like to try some IV pain medication, but knowing I would be limited on how many times I could have it and not knowing how long until I would be able to get my epidural (I was only at 3 cm), I chose to pass at that time.  Dr. H. came in shortly before 2, checked me, was extremely pleased with my progress, and ordered the epidural! 

I had forgotten how awful getting and epidural is (or maybe I just didn't feel it with Logan?), but when it was all finished and both sides finally went numb (my left side took a little longer than my right) I was ready to settle down and get some sleep!  At this point Justin decided to take the opportunity to get some lunch and feed our cats (who knew when another opportunity would come around) and I dozed off.  Shortly after that I was woken up by the nurse telling me to roll onto my left side while she put an oxygen mask on me.  The doctor flew in shortly after and they quickly began discussing what to do.  I knew then that something was wrong.

I remember hearing them talk about my contractions and that they were too strong and too close together; that Gavin's heart beat was dropping rapidly every time.  I was given medication to stop the contractions, but it barely affected them.  The OR was called and prepped.  My nurses changed into their surgical scrubs.  I was prepped for surgery.  Everyone was ready to move at a moments notice.  In the middle of this Justin returned (he'd only been gone half an hour); he was shocked to see what was happening so suddenly.  He held my hand and watched the monitors with Dr. H and my nurses.  The one thing I remember the most clearly throughout was how calm I felt - like I knew that no matter what everything was going to be ok.  And, eventually, things did seem to settle down though Gavin and I weren't in the clear yet.

My two nurses and doctor stayed in my room until 4.  At this point I remember turning to my nurse, Connie, and telling her that I felt like I needed to pee which I though was weird since, well, you know...  She quickly checked me and announced that I was officially full dialated!

Pushing was more difficult with Gavin.  I had had my epidural so recently that it was still very effective which is great for pain management, but not so much for pushing.  I couldn't feel my contractions at all and couldn't seem to make my muscles cooperate.  Finally after about 15 minutes I got it "figured out."  10 minutes later, at 4:26 p.m. after a mere 9 hours of labor, I delivered Gavin Douglas.  All 7 pounds, 3 ounces, and 22 inches of him!

He was immediately laid on my belly while they wiped him down and cut the cord (Justin refused to do it this time too!).  I was able to be the first to hold him in my arms, and he fit so perfectly!  It was a beautiful, memorable moment.  One I'll never forget.

I can't believe all of this happened just one year ago today.  Happy Birthday, Gavin!  It's been a beautiful year!

The Story of Gavin ~ Part I

Gavin is turning one year old this week so I thought I'd take some time to write out his story this week.  I'm not going to spend any time on the story of his creation except to say that he was planned!  End of story there!

My pregnancy with Gavin was different than my pregnancy with Logan simply because it went so much more smoothly.  We knew what to expect so there were no unsettling surprises this time around!

I had my first doctor's appointment with the nurse practitioner when I was around eight weeks pregnant.  After that I was scheduled for my first appointment with my OB and my first ultrasound at twelve weeks pregnant.  My twelve week appointment went very smoothly, and it was amazing to get to hear Gavin's heartbeat and see his tiny little body swimming around on the ultrasound!  It was also at this time that we started talking to Logan about my pregnancy and his new brother (or sister - we didn't know Gavin was a "he" at that time!). 

16 weeks

The second trimester went along very easily and very quickly.  The only problem I had throughout this stage was that I got a stomach flu and ended up in the emergency room all night for dehydration...ugh. 

At my twenty week doctor's appointment I was scheduled for a diagnostic ultrasound in order to get base measurements of our baby (these would be used in the future to monitor growth and development through my third trimester because of my history of preclampsia).  We also learned that our baby was a boy!

25 weeks

My third trimester began just as school was letting out for the the summer.  It really was perfect timing because I was able to take it easy and rest as much as necessary during this time.  My doctor and I agreed that this was what allowed me to carry Gavin longer and with fewer complications during this stage of my pregnancy.  I still had to go in weekly for NSTs at this point and also had to have another diagnostic ultrasound, but the results were almost always good.

I have to say my third trimester with Gavin turned out to be my favorite.  I loved watching my belly grow larger.  Plus, Gavin was a very active little baby.  I could sit in a chair and just watch my belly move with each of his kicks and rolls.   

29 weeks

At the beginning of August I started to have braxton hicks contractions.  I hadn't experienced these with Logan so I was a little shocked.  There was more than one night that I was sure I was in labor only to have it all end a couple of hours later!  At this point I had so much hope that I would be able to carry Gavin to full term and even (hopefully) go into labor on my own.

36 weeks

At thirty-seven weeks my blood pressure began to elevate and I started to show my first symptoms of preeclampsia.  I had to start going to the hospital twice a week to be monitored on the labor and delivery floor, and I was put on light activity (no big deal...I was already only doing light activity).   I went in for my last appointment on Friday of my thirty-eigth week.  Because I was going to be thirty-nine weeks in two days and my symptoms were a cause for some concern, the doctor me for an induction on the following Monday morning. 

Justin and I spent Saturday and Sunday with Logan enjoying our last few days as a family of three, but so excited to become a family of four.  Sunday night we dropped Logan off with his Mimi and went home to get our last full night of sleep (well, almost...we had to be up at four the next morning).

39 weeks...only hours before the induction!!!

My pregnancy with Gavin was beautiful and amazing, but I was ready for it to be over.  I was ready to meet the tiny little boy I had been carrying around for nine months.







A Baby Story ~ Part II

Today I'm telling Logan's birth story.  If you missed the story of his conception (minus the details, of course) click here.  Or if you missed the "riveting" story of my pregnancy click here.

So there I was at 10 in the morning on my birthday hooked to a pitocin drip wondering what the heck had happened to my day.  I called Justin, told him what was up, and then told him not to rush over 'cuz nothing was happening and nothing would be happening for awhile.  See, my doctor may have decided that it was time for me to have a baby, but my uterus was still sealed up tighter than Ft. Knox.  Since my uterus was "unfavorable for labor" the doctor was not expecting me to actually deliver Logan until the next day.  So Justin worked until his lunch hour and then popped in...and still nothing was happening. 

Nothing. 

And "nothing" basically describes what happened for the next eight hours.  Around mid-afternoon I did start to actually feel some very mild contractions...but then they went away.  Before he left for the evening the doctor came to check me and due to my lack of "progress" (only 1 whole centimeter after an entire day of pitocin) he decided that I should continue to receive pitocin through the night even though he had originally promised me the "night off."  My first thought was "oh big deal...this is easy cheesy."  My only complaint at that point was that I was still technically on bed rest so all I was allowed to do was lay in bed.  Bah!

I spoke (thought) much to soon.

Around six that evening I was slammed with pain.  And I was confused; I wasn't feeling contractions that came and went.  I was having one continuous-never-ending-most-painful-cramp-in-my-life contraction.  After about an hour of this I told the nurse.  She looked at the monitor and told me that the monitor wasn't registering any contractions - was I sure?  Uhhh, YES!  So she checked me, but I was still only 1 centimeter.  She told me to try to get some sleep and left.

Sleep didn't come and the pain just got worse.  The nurse came in around nine that night to check me again.  Still only ONE freakin' centimeter!  As she was leaving I felt a gush.  "Uhhh, I think my water just broke."  The nurse looked at me like I was crazy and then humored me by checking.  Oh, and guess who was right?  Yeah, me.  My water had broken!  And from this point on the night just went downhill.

The constant pain continued ALL NIGHT LONG.  And never once did that darn monitor I was attached to register a single contraction!  Oh, and my husband, no help what-so-ever. He was the only one getting any sleep!  I tried IV medication around one in the morning, and the first time through it helped...for about 45 minutes.  But after that, the meds couldn't even take the edge off.  The nurse began backing off my pitocin drip, but that didn't help much either.  Finally about 4:00 she turned the pitocin drip off completely because Logan's heart rate was starting to drop, and an hour or so later the pain eased up enough for me to doze a little.

At 7:00 a.m. I my new "day" nurse came into see me.  She had been informed about the trouble Logan and I had through the night and informed me that when she checked me if I had still not made it past 1 centimeter that a c-section may be my only option.  Ugh...  The checking commenced and the verdict:  ONE CENTIMETER - STILL!  But, she felt that despite that my cervix was sufficiently "changed."  She left to talk to my doctor who came in, performed his own examination, and agreed.  It was decided that my pitocin would be turned back on and cranked up big time.  And then he told the nurse to order the epidural - WITH OUT even asking ME if I wanted it (at the time I didn't want one), but I was too pooped - and scared - to protest.  Keeping my mouth shut at that time was the smartest thing I've ever done!

At 7:30 my pitocin was turned back on and by 8:00 I had finally discovered what contractions could feel like...and looked like on the monitor (mine just happened to have double peaks - not pleasant).  There was no denying it now - I was in labor. 

And this is where I insert my personal opinion on pitocin.  It is a drug created by the devil himself.  It is awful in the fact that it makes contractions come very hard and very fast.  I would never voluntarily choose to be induced "just because."  End of personal opinion; now back to the story.

My magic epidural man arrived around nine and by 9:30 I was pain free.  Ahhhh...  At this point I was able to doze in and out of sleep.  Every time I woke up I saw one of my two nurses at my side.  I thought that was normal.  Shows what I know!  Turns out my contractions were causing Logan's heart rate to drop substantially so we needed to be very closely monitored.  At one point they had to start pumping fluid back into my uterus (remember my water had broked twelve hours before) to help try and cushion Logan from the contractions.  I was also given extra fluids and eventually had to go on oxygen as well.  And the worse part:  I wasn't allowed to move!  I was carefully propped on my left side in a way that was best for Logan and I had to stay there!  Thankfully I was able to continue laboring.

At noon I was declared fully dialated and ready to push.  The doctor came down to watch my first push, told me nice work, and took off to the clinic again expecting it to be awhile before Logan appeared.  He was so wrong!  Before I could even finish my third push the nurses were telling me to stop; Logan was right there and they needed to get the doctor (due to the complications in pregnancy and labor they were unwilling to deliver Logan with out the doctor present and a pediatrician near by).  By the time they got a hold of him and he got back to my room we had been waiting almost twenty minutes.  Then it was time to push again...I couldn't believe that after 38 weeks and 27 hours of labor I was about to meet my baby!  Logan literally shot out on my fourth push...and he was beautiful.  My first thought was he looks like Justin.

The cord was cut and Logan was quickly whisked away to be checked out before I could hold him.  Turns out they were all worried for no reason!  Though he weighed in at only 5lbs. 3oz. he was in perfect health.  The nurse wrapped him up and handed him to Justin who promptly carried him over to me.  Seeing my husband hold our child - amazing!

And that first moment of holding my baby, our wedding gift from God, well, there are no words to describe it. It was just that beautiful!

Logan Nathaniel

June 29

5 lbs. 3 oz.

18 inches long

I honestly can't believe that all of this happened four year ago already...  More amazing yet:  On that day I couldn't imagine how I could love him any more than I did in that moment, and today I'm left realizing that I already love him more than ever.  And even though he is four years old today and will continue to grow every day, Logan will always be my baby.

A Baby Story ~ Part I

This week I'm telling the story of Logan.  If you missed the beginning, and you're curious enough to want to read it click here. 

I always figured that being pregnant wouldn't be easy and I always knew that because of my medical history it could possibly make pregnancy a little more difficult than average, but the roller coaster ride that was my pregnancy with Logan was more than I had anticipated. 

6 Weeks
At six weeks pregnant I met with the nurse practitioner to discuss my medical history and the changes that needed to be made with my medications.  I also called up my endocrinologist to get his input.  In the end it was decided to leave the medications for my hypophosphatemic rickets alone (its a genetic thing that affects my endocrine system and kidneys - really no biggie normally as long as I'm monitored) and my blood pressure medication changed to a "baby safe" pill (Yes, I have high blood pressure.  Have since I was 14 although no one has ever really been able to explain why a healthy active 14 yr old becomes hypertensive suddenly).  At this there were no worries; Justin and I were floating on a nice baby high...


10 Weeks
We had our second appointment in the Women's Clinic and met our OB/GYN for the first time.  Things were dreamy at first...there was an ultrasound and we got to see our baby - Logan - for the first time!  He was swimming around like crazy making it hard for our doc to get a good look at him!  But he was in there and he was healthy and beautiful.  Medical concerns were brought up afterwards and it was discussed how best to proceed through this pregnancy.  It was decided that at 20 weeks I would have a more in-depth ultrasound and meet with a prenatal specialist.  Our doctor was very positive about the whole situation, and we left feeling great.

16 Weeks
While in the hospital getting some routine lab work done for my endocrinologist Justin and I ran into a friend of ours in radiology.  She sneaked us into the ultrasound lab, rounded up a technician, and gave us our second look at our baby.  So much had changed in six weeks - that little round, gray, wiggly lump now looked like a baby!  Oh, and it was very evident that that baby was a "he"!  We were so excited to know!

20-22 Weeks
By this point I had been to the doctor a number of times - more often than normal as we were making an effort to regulate my blood pressure on the new medication.  At 20 weeks things seemed to cruising along pretty well, but our doctor still set us up to see the prenatal specialist.  We had to drive an hour away.  Once there first up was the ultrasound.  It was very extensive and long as the technician took all kinds of measurements and pictures of every part of Logan (she also told us he was a boy and we acted surprised of course...).  Then it was on to the specialist.  He was less concerned with my rickets - other than the added strain that pregnancy would continue to place on my kidneys - and more concerned with my high blood pressure.  Though it was under control at the moment he feared that as Logan continued to grow and put more strain on my circulatory system my blood pressure would become harder to control.  My risk for preeclampsia would be very high as would Logan's risk for intrauterine growth restriciton as a result.  It would be very important for me through the third trimester to have regular ultrasounds and non-stress tests to monitor Logan all of which could be done locally by my doctor.  All in all, we left the appointment feeling pretty good about everything.


28-30 Weeks

I went to my regular doctor's appointment ready to talk to my doctor about how poorly I was feeling - I had headaches, dizziness, nausea, and had started to notice more and more swelling in my hands and face.  When I got to the appointment I found out my doctor was on vacation for the next two weeks and that I would be seeing a "fill-in" doctor, and I was worried.  The nurse checked my blood pressure - it was hovering in the 150's/100's.  She asked me to lie down for five minutes and returned to check it again.  Still it was too high.  The doctor than came in told me to rest more and eat less salt and then left.  I was stunned.  So was the nurse I guess because when she saw me getting ready to leave she told me to sit back down and chased the doctor down.  He returned to the room ordered some lab work, sent me to ultrasound, and told me to come back the following week.  I was in tears by the time I made it to my car.  I was scared and didn't know what was going on.
I returned the next week.  My blood pressure was lower - not "safe" but lower.  The doctor called it a success, told me to continue watching my salt intake, and told me to come back in a month.  This time I was scared and angry!  The next day I called the clinic and scheduled the first available appointment with my regular doctor upon his return from vacation.  And I'm glad I did.

For the third week in a row I was back in the clinic, but this time I was prepared to get some answers.  My doctor looked through my lab results which were "ok" and looked at the results of the ultrasound which showed that Logan was slightly smaller than average babies at that stage - nothing to worry about yet, but something to watch.  He also did a non-stress test.  As far as my blood pressure was concerned, I was maxed out on medication, but it improved upon resting.  He decided to send me home on partial bed rest.  I was allowed to go to work as long as I taught from my desk with my feet up and after work returned home and laid down - absolutely no kind of strenuous physical activity!  I was also supposed to start coming in for weekly appointments and non-stress tests.  For the first time in three weeks I felt better - not great - but at least I felt like things were being taken care of.


34 Weeks

I went into one of my weekly appointments feeling less than amazing.  I wasn't surprised to see that my blood pressure was extremely high again.  I was surprised though - and scared out of my mind - when my doctor came in and sent me straight down to be admitted to Labor & Delivery!  For the first time I put on the ugly pink hospital gown, crawled into one of the uncomfortable beds, and was strapped to a monitor.  I called Justin and he came straight over from work.  I gave up blood and urine to lab tech.  Next came a portable ultrasound machine and a biophysical profile was done on Logan.  Finally the doctor came to see me.  He told me that I was pre-eclamptic and there were concerns that Logan was suffering from intrauterine growth restriction.  But, do to my body's response to rest (my blood pressure fell back into normal levels when I was laying on my left side) and okay labs that he was sending me home - on total bed rest.  I could walk to the bathroom to use the rest room and shower.  I could sit up to eat or drink.  Other than that I was to do nothing but lay there.  I also was going to need to start coming to appointment twice a week, but I would no longer be seen at the clinic.  Instead I had to check in to Labor & Delivery for each appointment.  I was told that with luck I would be able to carry Logan to 36 weeks - a much safer early delivery date.

And so began my bed rest...it was fun...for about three days.  Then it became unbearably boring.  And scary.  My days were filled with books, day time television (we didn't have cable or satelite), blood pressure checks (I'm a pro at taking my own), and hourly kick counts.  Thank God for all of the great friends who stopped by to visit, brought me movies, and drove me to and from doctor's appointments while Justin was at work.


36 Weeks

Bed rest = comfy clothes, no make-up, and bad hair.  That was probably the best part about bed rest...aside from improving my and Logan's health that is!

I went to the hospital twice a week for two weeks.  One appointment each week was just for a non-stress test and usually only took 2-3 hours.  The other appointment each week included not only a non-stress test, but an ultrasound and lab work - they also lasted 4-6 hours.  I left each one breathing a sigh of relief that I got to go home again each time.  Bed rest (and lets face it - a lot of prayer) had helped lower my blood pressure and almost eliminate all my sympotms of pre-eclampsia!  At my 36 week appointment my doctor commented that he thought I just might carry Logan to full term after all!  Big sigh of relief!

38 Weeks
Despite the fact that bed rest sucked and sucked bad things were going along really well.  Then the night before my 38 week appointment (and 24th birthday) I started feeling really sick, and I slept horribly.  I finally got out of bed that mornig, choked down a bowl of cereal, and sent Justin off to work assuring him that I was "fine" and not to forget he had promised me an ice cream cake for my birthday.  Then I waited for my friend to show up to take me to my 9:00 appointment.  And I was worried - I knew what I was feeling was a bad sign.

Sure enough my blood pressure was too high again.  It was a lab work/ultrasound appointment, but I never made it to the ultrasound part.  My preliminary lab work came back bad - I was showing all the signs of pre-eclampsia again.  My doctor came in and told me I was being admitted and induced that morning.  Sure enough by 10 - only an hour after showing up for my appointment - I was back in a hospital gown tucked into my very own room with and IV and a pitocin drip.  I think I was in shock because I'll I can remember thinking is There goes having any birthday cake for me today...

Tomorrow:  The Birth of Logan (minus all the gory details - I promise!)

A Wedding Gift

Logan's birthday  is this week, so if you don't mind I'm going to spend the next few posts talking about him because I happen to think he's that special and it's my blog so I can do what I want!

I've decided to start at the beginning for two reasons.  1.  I've never written it all down before and I think it would be kind of cool someday to look back and show Logan the story from the beginning.  2.  It's my blog and I can do what I want!

So, back to the beginning...

Justin and I got married in October 2006.  For two months leading up to the wedding I was breaking out in hives.  BIG. BAD. UGLY. RED. HIVES.  I went to my regular doctor twice before she finally referred me to a dermatologist.  Turned out he wasn't much help in figuring out why I was breaking out in hives either, but the last time I went to see him in absolute desperation - my wedding was in one week - he decided to prescribe me some steroids in hopes that it would at least temporarily stop my break outs.  It worked like a charm - a week later I was married hive free!  'Course neither he nor the pharmacist bothered to mention the possible side effects, and I - a poor consumer indeed - didn't bother to read the "literature" attached to my prescription.

(Are you trying to figure out where I'm going with this yet???  Keep reading - it's all relevant; I promise!)

The ceremony was beautiful, and I'm not kidding, with in minutes of it ending questions and jokes about "making babies" started flying.  Justin and I just laughed and told everyone that we had a five year plan.  We'd talk about babies in five years.  Little did we know that the joke was going to be on us...

(Have you figured it out yet???)

On Monday I went back to work...it was a busy week as I was figuring first quarter grades, prepping for my first parent-teacher conferences, and planning a weekend trip to Iowa for our second wedding reception (95% of my family lives in Iowa so my parents insisted on having a second reception in Iowa - no complaints here...I love a good party!).  After a crazy week and whirlwind weekend I was back at work and exhausted.  I chalked it up to the excitement and didn't think anything of it...until a week later when I was still tired...among other things that I won't mention (there is such a thing as to much information!!!)

That week a little, tiny voice in my head started whispering, "You know, you could be..."  I ignored it, because I knew I couldn't be - I had the birth control thing covered.  Then later that week one of my co-workers mentioned that she had heard that steroids were kind of like antibiotics and could affect birth control and did I know that.  Huh...hadn't known that...  At that point the little voice inside my head got a little bit louder, but still I ignored it...no need to go there right???

Then November came...but my period didn't.  And I knew, but I didn't mention it to Justin yet (denile is a good friend of mine).  After a couple of days I mustered up the courage to take a pregnancy test.  And then I knew for sure...and I had to tell Justin.  To my dismay he was really okay with the idea (telling Justin made me nervous as he was a big fan of the five year plan).   That night, just to be sure, I took four more pregnancy tests.  And then there was no denying it.  I was pregnant.

(Betcha guessed that was coming didn't you???  Good-bye five year plan...Hello five hour plan!)

I had to get into the OB immedietly because there were medications I was on that I couldn't be on anymore so changes needed to be made (unplanned pregnancy remember...) and during that appointment our baby's due date was calculated:  July 12, 2007.  This baby was due almost nine months to the day after our wedding.  There was no question that this baby was a wedding gift from God himself and by far the best gift we had recieved.

That day...it's one I'll remember forever...

Stay tuned...there's more coming tomorrow...