Isabella Paige McNab....Born 7/23/2008

Hey all...I have been MIA for the past few days trying to adjust to our new life with Isabella. Things have been wonderful and could not have asked for a better little girl :)
Greg and I left for the hospital at 5:00am on Wednesday, as we had to check in at 5:45am. On the way to the hospital, I took a Klonopin (anti-anxiety med prescribed by my OB to help take the edge off) When we got there, they took us back to surgery prep where I changed into my gown and answered TONS of ?. They put my IV in and I spoke with my OB and the anesthesiologist. I was relaxed and calm until the anesthesiologist came in to talk to me...then my legs started shaking. i think i was more scared of the spinal then the actual surgery. Anyhow, they walked me down to the OR while Greg had to wait. I walked in and it was COLD! They had me sit on the table and I got my spinal. Not as bad as I remembered. Then I laid down and they prepared for the surgery. Greg came in and they played my Marvin Gaye CD I brought. I delivered Morgan to this same CD :) The C-section was not too bad actually. I was a lot more relaxed this time around...I think the Klonopin and the Marvin CD helped alot. I have to say that as soon as I heard them say here she is...and heard her cry, I balled hysterically. I thought to myself, "OMG...there really was a baby inside of me." It was all so surreal up until she came out. They cleaned her up. Apgars were 1 minute: 8 then 5 minute was 9. Most of the discomfort that I felt was when they were stitching me all up. I was getting air in my diaphragm and it felt like someone was sitting my chest. it felt like it took them hours to stitch me up...I just wanted to see my baby. When they were finished, they asked me if I wanted to see my baby..."OF COURSE." They handed her to me and pushed me to recovery with Greg. She is so beautiful!

I held her so tight and just stared at her and cried. I was in recovery for about 2.5 hours. Then they pushed me up to my room. The ride to the room proved to be difficult, as i became nauseaous and dizzy. To make matters worse, the AC was broken in room and I was so hot I began throwing up. Morgan was the first one to enter the room to meet her new little sister. We had to decide on her name before we introduced her to the rest of the family. We decided that our new little one looked like Isabella Paige. Then my mom, dad, MIL, sister came into the room to meet Isabella. They all loved her!

My experience at the hospital was horrible, between the nurses not coming into the room to help me pee for the first time after the catheter was removed to forgetting the remove my IV and bandages, broken AC, etc....I could go on and on but I will remain positive for the time being :)

Isabella stayed in the room the entire time with Greg and I. Greg slept over both nights. By Friday, I asked my OB if he would discharge me as I was doing ok and did not feel my medical needs were being met at the hospital anyway. He DC me :) I was home by 2 pm Friday. Isabella was slightly Jaundiced but not enough to stay. Morgan was so excited to see us at home and I was so happy to be home. Mom was at the house to help out and Greg was a godsend. I am so lucky to have such a great and wonderful man!

Since being home things have been ok. Isabella is doing wonderful! She is a great baby. She sleeps most of the time, crying only when hungry, needs a diaper change......we are both learning breast feeding. It is going ok...I am sure it will get better for both of us. My healing is happening slowly. My incision is not really too sore, although it challenging getting up and sitting down from a seated or lying position. Constipation is a pain and the swelling in my feet and legs is TERRIBLE. My feet and legs are so swollen. My feet are so tight and have rolls of their own. I called the doctor on friday and was told it was normal and I will go away by 2nd week. it still scares me so I will call again on monday to see if they can give me a water pill.

We are all so excited to have Isabella in our lives. She is a precious little girl who we cannot wait to get to know. It blows my mind that she was in my tummy. I lay her on my stomach and am blown away at the thought.

I will continue to update this blog, as it is now a blog for Isabella and Morgan/

Thanks for checking in...
char

Leaving for the hospital

It has not quite hit me yet. You know something? I am having a baby today! OMG!
Wish me luck!!!
Char

WE MEET OUR NEW LITTLE GIRL TOMORROW!!!!!!

I cannot believe that this is most likely my last pre-baby blog entry!!!! I cannot believe that we meet our new little girl tomorrow! I am so excited, as are Greg and Morgan. Of course, I am quite nervous and I am sure this nervousness will increase as the day goes on. The pending C-section scares the day lights of out me, but knowing that there is a great prize at the end helps ease the anxiety.

Yesterday, I had my last OB appointment. I was shocked to find out that I am not dilated, despite the pain and discomfort I was in this weekend. My OB said that the pain I am feeling with every step is most likely my pelvic bone separating. OUCH! The rest is Braxton Hicks contractions. He said some women just experience both of these as painful. Who would have guessed that I would be one of those women????? I continue to have contractions but nothing regular so we should be good to go for tomorrow, so long as I do not over do it today. If I do, I might be visiting the hospital today. But we do not want that since my OB is not on call today :( Greg took off for today to help, as he has been doing so wonderfully, with last minute things around the house and prep for our new little girl's arrival.

My mom and dad are coming in tonight to be here for the big event and my mother-in-law and sister are coming to the hospital in the morning. My mom and dad will bring Morgan with them to the hospital :) It is going to be so nice to have family there, as we did not have family there right away when Morgan was born...we lived in NC then.

Yesterday, I found out that after the C-section, I will be moved the recovery room with the baby and Greg. We will be there for about 2 hours until they move me to my room. I thought that, at least, Morgan would be able to come back to see her sister right away but I was told that cannot happen. Only me, Greg, and the baby are allowed in the recovery room, as the recovery room is a large open room with lots of women and their brand new babies. Morgan and everyone else will have to wait about 2 hours from the delivery to see our new addition. While I understand why they have this policy, it upsets me the most that my dear Morgan will have to wait until her sister is a few hours old before she meets her for the first time. I guess this is the part of the "being cheated" that I have always felt about C-sections. When you have a c-section, you get cheated out of alot of things: holding the baby right away, cutting the cord yourself, having loved ones at the delivery, and siblings meeting their new sibling immediately. I know, I know.....think of the prize. You get the same prize regardless of the type of delivery. But I can't help to feel cheated out of parts of the experience in some ways.

Regardless, we are very excited to meet our new little girl and introduce her to everyone tomorrow. Keep an eye out for email with pictures over the next day or two.

Wish me luck!
Char

Forgot to mention......

On Thursday, the sonographer measured our little one again. She was measuring about 7 pounds 9 ounces!!!! Again, this is give or take about 7 ounces or so. I asked the sonographer what she thought about what her birth weight might be, based on her experience and the baby's growth. She is guessing that on Wednesday, she will weigh, at birth, about 7 pounds 5 ounces. Lets see :)

Rough Night

Boy, was last night a rough night. I think I moved around a bit too much on Friday and WAMMM it hit me. I was having cramping and contractions all night long. It was so uncomfortable that I was in tears. I am so ready for Wednesday. I had no contractions or cramping with Morgan. The first cramp or contraction I felt with her was when I was induced at the hospital. This is completely foreign to me. I did not call the OB since they were not regular, but boy was i uncomfortable. Today, Greg made sure I did not leave the couch for much of anything. i feel a bit better, although still cramping and contracting. Wednesday is just around the corner.
:)
Char

FULL TERM TODAY........

Well, we made it to 37 weeks, which is considered full term. YEAH! I had an appointment with my OB yesterday and all looked good. Baby is doing well. They did not measure her today via ultrasound, but last week, she measured @ 6pounds 8 ounces! I asked my OB today to measure my belly for fundus height, just out of curiosity. Anybody who has seen me, says that I look so small. Well...HA! I measured 1 week ahead. I was monitored for about 30 minutes and I was having regular contractions, about 2 minutes apart. My OB did an internal exam and I am still the same as last week, thinning a bit but cervix is completely closed. Even though having the baby now would be fine, he wants me to continue with my modified bed rest until the C-section next week. You see, if I do go early, I am not guaranteed that he would be around to do my C-section. My OB happens to be the head guy at a large practice. He is rarely on call. I drive 45 minutes (each way) 2 times per week because I feel comfortable with my OB. For those who know me well, you know that I am a nervous nut, especially when it comes to surgery. So...1 more week of confinement and rest and then we get to hold our new little girl. I cannot believe it! It is so surreal! I cannot wait to see her, to hold her, to know that she is ok. And of course, to share her name :)

Well, until next time.
Char

ALMOST THERE.......

Today, I am 35 weeks and 6 days. Tomorrow I will 36 weeks. The arrival of our new addition is only 2 weeks away!!! I cannot believe it.

Had a an appointment with my OB today. He has me coming 2 times per week for monitoring. Today, baby I was having regular contractions and the baby's heart rate was pretty low, compared to normal. They believe all of the uterine activity was lulling her to sleep. After they nudged her a bit, she maintained her normal heart rate. I am to continue on my bed rest, most likely until July 23. I am managing. Greg and Morgan continue to be my saviors. Morgan continues to help me during the day and Greg has been spending the last few weekend doing nothing but cleaning and getting things together for the babys arrival. I am very lucky :)

My headaches have returned, along with the awful heartburn. I have had a return of some morning sickness, too. Sleeping is becoming challenging, once again. But it all is for a good prize.....our sweet little princess. we cannot wait to meet her.

Until next time.
Char

C-Section Scheduled....Trying to hang in there :(

Let's see...where do I begin? I remain on bed rest, although slightly more strict, as of yesterday. Sunday night, I began having regular contractions that were about 2 minutes apart. This lasted for chunks of time, say an hour or so and then they were replaced with really bad cramping. The cramps are awful....they are terrible cramps that last in duration for about 1.5 hour each. UGH! I managed through the night and called my OB in the morning. I had a routine appt scheduled for 1pm but wanted to know if he wanted to see me sooner. They had me come in at 10:30am. My cervix was closed and the baby looked good. She is head down, which explains my inability to sit upright. I swear she stiffens her entire body, keeping her feet in my ribs. It makes it quite difficult to sit up. My OB tends to believe that what I experienced the other night was most likely VERY STRONG braxton hicks contractions, esp since there is no change in my cervix.. He said that some women feel them really strong. Of course that would be me, right? Par for the course with this pregnancy. He asked me to continue with my bed rest, avoid standing for any period of time, drink lots of water, and avoid the heat. He would like for me to make it, at least, until next week, when I will be 36 weeks. Can you believe it? Right now, I am 35 weeks. it blows my mind. He said that most of preterm birth risks decrease after 36 weeks. I would like to make it at least to 37 weeks, since this is the magic number for lung development that effects c-section babies. But, in case we make it all the way to 38 weeks, the C-SECTION IS SCHEDULED FOR JULY 23!!!!!!!!!!!!

Morgan continues to be a blessing. She has made alot of sacrifices this summer and is taking it like such a big girl. We are very proud of her. Greg has been wonderful. He works all week and takes his weekends to do household things for me, since I cannot. He detailed a great bit of the house this weekend, getting it dust and dig hair free for the baby's arrival. He is so awesome!

Last week, I forgot to note that the baby weighs 5 pounds 8 ounces....I cannot believe it! I have another appt on thursday, so my OB can check my cervix before the 3 day weekend.

Until next time...
Char