The Birth!

Our little man is here! It's been 5 days and a true whirlwind, so I'm having trouble figuring out where to start.

On Tuesday morning, after about 3 hours of sleep and a late night dinner of 5 Guys Burgers, we headed out for Baptist Hospital at 4:15 am. When we arrived, there were 2 people in front of us at the registration desk who were in active labor, so we had to wait a few minutes to get checked in. We received our hospital bracelets and were sent to the waiting room, where my mom, dad, sister Maggie and Uncle Bob were waiting for us.

At about 6 am, they led me back to a room where I changed into my gown and received my IV. Ouch. After what felt like a billion questions from the nurse Donna, they hooked me up to a fetal monitor where I could hear Max's little heartbeat for the very last time before he was born.

The anesthesiologist, Dr Hollowell, came in to speak to us about the spinal block and then my family was allowed in to see us.

At 7 am, they wheeled me into the operating room. Shane had to wait outside while they gave me the spinal block. Bryan was my nurse anesthetist (which I still have trouble saying) and Lonnie was Dr. Piper's first surgical assistant. Lonnie tried to distract me with some of his new iPhone apps while Bryan administered the spinal block, which wasn't as bad as the IV had been. It was a very bizarre sensation to feel one's butt and legs go numb in just a few seconds. As the spinal began to take effect, I found it very hard to breathe. But, Shane walked in the door and I felt instantly better. They began the surgery at 7:14 am.

After what seemed like 3 seconds, I felt tugging and pulling, heard Dr. Piper grunting with the effort of getting Max out, and then I heard the sounds of the OR staff telling me that Max was here. He was born at 7:23 am. He was whisked away to the heated table and I heard his little cry for the first time. He was perfectly healthy and strong, so Shane was able to hold him and I was able to see him. He was so beautiful, I can't even describe it. After a few minutes, Shane carried him to the nursery and they closed me up. I was so tired that I fell asleep on the table.

The surgery was not bad at all, just a little scary. And, it was the right decision. Max had tied a knot in the cord and it was wrapped around his shoulders. Plus, the fact that he was 9lb, 1/2 oz was a big factor. It was a very happy experience.

Tomorrow....

...our lives change forever!! We arrive at Baptist Hospital at 5am for a 7am C-section. The last day has been a blur.

Shane was up all last night with tummy issues, which kept him home all day today. But, it was nice to have someone home today so I wouldn't get nervous! We had dinner with my family tonight at 5 Guys Burgers, which will be my last big meal for a few days.

After that, I tied up all of the loose ends at the house, finished the laundry and finished packing my bag. We are all set!

That being said, I don't know if I'll be able to sleep tonight with the anticipation of tomorrow's event. First surgery, first time in the hospital since I was born, first baby, first everything.

I hope I'll be a good mom. I hope the next few days are peaceful and wonderful.

The Nursery

Maxwell's little nursery is ready! The last item (the mural) arrived today and we are all set.

I went to my last prenatal appointment today and we are still on schedule for the 22nd. He hasn't dropped and he is still breech. 6 more days to go!

I am cleaning a little bit every day and the house is almost done. If only I had the "nesting energy" every day!

My last day of work is Friday and I can't say that I'm very upset about that :)

Coming into the home stretch!

Here's the latest news on Baby Max. We had a 36 week ultrasound last week and he is weighing in at a hefty 7 pounds 13 ounces...already! So, in Dr. Piper's expert opinion, he may be an 11 pound baby and I do NOT want to deliver him vaginally. She mentioned the phrase "fourth degree episiotomy" and I was all about the C-section. She also reassured me that Shane and Max could stay with me as they are closing me up and we can all go to the recovery room together. That, and the fact that I will be allowed to wear my contact lenses, made me feel a lot better.

The scheduled date for the C-section is September 22, which is also my mother-in-law's birthday. This is an INCREDIBLE coincidence because I was born on my paternal grandmother's birthday and Max will be born on his paternal grandmother's birthday! Dr. Piper doesn't think he will arrive on his own because his head is already almost too big for the trip south.

We are finished with the nursery except for hanging the curtains. The bassinet, pack-n-play and swing are in place. His clothes are washed and his hospital bag is packed. I just need to clean the house, put the car seats in, and finish packing my bag. We are almost ready and I can't wait!!!

Big, big baby

It's been a while since my last post, but there hasn't been too much to report. The third trimester hasn't been too bad, but I am slowly starting to feel more uncomfortable. My feet and hands are getting a little swollen and my nose is starting to look puffy. Actually, I look like Weezie Jefferson in the morning. And, I've gotten my first stretch marks, right on my belly. There aren't very many, but it's an outward sign of how big this litte dude is getting. As of press time, I am 33 weeks and I am measuring at 37 weeks. He's a big little guy! Dr. Piper is already entertaining the idea of a C-section, which terrifies me. But, the good news is that I will have time to mentally prepare myself for the realities of this.

We have Max's room ready except for a few little odds and ends. We only lack curtains, the bassinet and some art on the walls. In my opinion, I feel like I have 4 weeks left at the most. I know we can get it done in time. And, we have had wonderful help and support from our moms and sisters. I don't know how I could survive without my family right now.

This has undoubtedly been the most physically and mentally stressful experience of my entire life, but it's all worth it. I can't wait for little Maxwell to arrive!

Time is ticking (and kicking) away!

In two days I will be 28 weeks and officially in the 3rd trimester. It's hard to believe how quickly this time has passed! But, those weeks of continuous nausea do seem eons away.

I feel little Max several time a day (including now) and he's getting stronger.

At my doctor's appointment yesterday, he was measuring at 28 weeks, so he's only slightly bigger than the average. We have been unpacking baby stuff since the shower and it's been a slow process. But, his room will be ready for him!

I've been fighting a cold for the last few weeks, but other than that, the good feelings are holding out! Hopefully, they will be here to stay :)

Tingly fingers and little thumps

Well, we are slowly but surely approaching the day when Little Max will finally join us. These last few weeks have been great! I feel fantastic and our little guy is kicking away. I feel him almost all day and I always enjoy his little thumps and bumps. They remind me that he's always with me and that he's healthy and strong.

The only difficult symptom has been my gestational carpal tunnel syndrome. Because of that, my hands feel like they are asleep all the time. It was really bad until I received steroid injections in my wrists. Now, it's not so bad. My fingertips are just a little tingly.

I started a new job this week and hopefully I will get 12 weeks of paid maternity leave! More time with Max!!!

I really can't wait until my baby boy arrives!

Little Face

We had to go back to the doctor today to finish up some unfinished ultrasound business. On the day of the "big" ultrasound, Little Max wouldn't stop flipping long enough for the tech to take enough pictures of his tiny heart and other organs. So, we went back today to finish up. This time, we got a picture of his sweet little face.

Oh yeah, we have a name! His name is Maxwell Tomlin Stem aka Max. Little Max is healthy and kicking away. I can't wait to meet him.

It's a boy!

We are happy to report that we add another boy to the Stem family! He seems to be a whopper, too. In fact, the ultrasound tech asked if big heads run in our family. He weighs about 14oz, which is 4oz bigger than the average 20 week old, so we're going to have to watch his size in the coming months. But, he's very healthy and he's definitely all boy. As if to highlight his male-ness,  he reached down to, um, point to his boy parts. He wanted us to know that there will be no Hannah Montana permitted.

Here are some pics!

Little kicks

I was sitting at lunch yesterday with my team from work and I felt a tiny nudge on my lower left side. I knew instantly that it was a kick. I'd felt movement in previous days, but I hadn't been sure that it wasn't just gas or stomach rumbling.

This was a definite kick! It makes it all real! We're having a baby!

Healthy Baby

We went for our 16 week appointment yesterday and all is well. The heartbeat is very healthy and my weight and blood pressure are "perfect", in the words of my doctor. Nothing new to report other than that. Hopefully I will start feeling Hurley's Stem-sized feet kicking me in the next couple of weeks. May 12th is the big day! We will then know if it's a "Her-ley" or a "Hurl-he"!

Heartbeat!

We heard the heartbeat today! According to the doctor, it sounded very strong. She said it was surprisingly easy to find for 11 weeks. This only confirms my suspicion that I am 12 weeks and 3 days rather than 11 weeks. But, I digress.
The swishly little heartbeat was pretty faint. But then Dr. Piper said "Your Daddy's here to see you" and the heartbeat went "SWISH SWISH", as if Hurley heard her. It was so cool!

3 months down, 6 more to go...

Yesterday was the 12 week mark and I breathed a huge sigh of relief. I feel a certain degree of security knowing that I've made it this far. I've read that once you make it to 12 weeks, the chance of the big M is greatly diminished. This is only slightly more exciting than the fact that I've felt really good for 4 WHOLE DAYS in a row. I've had no severe puke-i-ness and my exhaustion is less than crippling. Now, I did have a crying spell on Friday night that frightened me a little, and I KNOW scared the hell out of Shane, my poor, bewildered husband. He's really doing the best he can. 

I have an amazing advantage that I married a man who has been through this whole process twice with his two sons from a previous marriage. He is an old pro at being a daddy. I am such a rookie myself, so I feel incredibly blessed to have a man who knows how to change a diaper, burp a baby, take a temperature and give a bath. He's also been peed on and barfed on, so he's no stranger to the more disgusting aspects of parenthood. Aside from being married to my best friend, I feel very lucky that he's in my life and even more fortunate that we are having a baby together.

10 weeks!

We have reached the 10 week mark! I feel the need to be positive and say that I am officially one fourth of the way through this. If you use the doctor's calculation wheel, I wasn't even pregnant the first two weeks and I didn't know I was pregnant the following 2 weeks. So, in some ways this "1/4 done" figure  feels like I'm cheating, but I really need a milestone to celebrate my semi-return to "normalcy". I actually woke up hungry this morning. I knew I was inching back to my former self because the sight of Food Network intrigued me rather than made me want to barf.

My other symptoms are manageable. My digestion has come to a screeching halt, if you know what I mean. And my round ligament pain sometimes knocks me to the ground. But, I felt the little bulge where little Hurley resides for the first time last night and it made me realize that this is all worth it. 

Look out world!!!

Well here is your first look at dear Hurley! I had my first OB appointment today with Dr. Piper. She is a rock star and her nurse Lisa is a total trip. I feel really comfortable with them and I think they are a very nurturing team.

The baby looks just fine. It's little heart is beating at 160 bpm and it's measuring at 8 weeks exactly. My calculations are 4 days off, so the due date is still September 26th.

The nausea is wearing off thanks to Unisom and Vitamin B6, so it couldn't be a better day:)

Fetus, thy name is Hurley.

Okay, so my luck ran out with the nausea. 

So in the spirit of the occasion, I've decided to give the baby it's pre-natal name....Hurley.

2 reasons: 

1) "Lost" is the greatest TV show ever and Hurley is my favorite character. He's so kind and caring. He's the moral compass of the show.

2) The baby is making me want to hurl, hence "Hurl-ey."

So, there you go. Girl or boy, the babe is Hurley until she/he decides to surface.

First doctor's appointment February 18th. Stay tuned!

Confirmed...

My doctor confirmed our suspicions today and waved the green flag. We are go, Preggo!

I have my first Obstetrician's appointment on February 18th.  So far, I have no nausea or other nastiness. I am really tired and weepy, but it's nothing that an order of onion rings hasn't been able to fix : )

YES!

It seems official! We are expecting a little Sprout of our very own. I have an appointment with my doctor on Thursday to get the final verdict, but I've taken six tests and all point in the same direction. Baby time!

Maybe???