My poor baby has a slight case of reflux

We knew something wasn't right when she would fuss all night long and we couldn't burp her enough. Last night was the last straw. She was up all night with an upset tummy. She kept burping and hiccuping. I got her in to see the pedi and he gave her a script for Axid. It's suppose to help decrease the acid in her stomach so when it comes up it's not as irritating for her. We tried everything from Mylicon gas drops to elevating her bed. Nothing worked. Hopefully this medicine will help her (and mom and dad) get some much needed sleep!

Her weight today was 5lbs 8oz! She gained 8 oz in one week! She's gaining like a champ!

Other than the reflux issues she is doing great! She eats all day so obviously she's not letting reflux mess up her eating schedule!

Jackson 18 months

Here are some pics of the big brother. He is so sweet with Ava. I hope it continues!!!

Ava 2 weeks old

Ava has been doing so well. She is an eater! She has a schedule of eating every 3 hours during the day and sometimes goes 4 hours at night. She only wakes up twice during the night which is great for me! She does seem like she has a little bit of reflux. She will spit up a little after a feed if we don't sit her upright for at least 3o mintues but at night she seems restless like her tummy hurts her.

Jackson is adjusting well. He needs our attention 24/7 but he is so sweet to her. He will give her a sugar any chance he gets and lets us know when she is crying by pointing at her crib as if saying, "aren't you going to check on her?" It really is cute. He is also such a big helper. He will bring me her burp cloths, blankets, diapers and binkie whenever I go to pick her up if she is crying. I hope this continues!

Well here are some pics of the little peanut.

Steph

She's here!!!!!

Turns out it wasn't a false alarm after all! I was in the first stage of labor early Thursday morning into Friday afternoon. I had my appointment with the perinatologist at 2:30 and Scott's mom was meeting me there so she could help watch Jackson. On the way there I was still having contractions. I finally got in to see Dr. Gore and he did an ultrasound. He assured me that she looked great and that the fluid level had gone up from 7-8 to 10. He said this was very good and that he wanted me to see my ob on Monday and him the following Thursday. After my ultrasound I went to get a fetal monitor. Apparently they do this after every appointment just to check the baby's heart. I told the nurse that I was contracting last night and today so she decided to take a look while I was having contractions. I had 4 contractions in 10 mintues! She went and told Dr. Gore and he told me he was going to let L&D know to see if they wanted to see me. Sure enough they sent me over and I had to get hooked up to a fetal monitor. She looked good and I had even more contractions in the room. The nurse came in and did an internal exam on me and turns out I was already 3-4 cm and 50% effaced, 0 station. She called in my doctor who was luckily on call that day. He finally came in to see me and explained the situation. He told us we were in a gray area. She was still not to full term but having the issues with my placenta he wanted to move forward and deliver her then. Scott and I were in shock. Scott kept asking, "Do you mean today? Right now"? The doctor did not want to let me go any longer since the closer she got to being full term the higher the risk that she could be born stillborn. So hearing that we were like, "Take her now then!" He told us he was reluctant to let us go home because the way my contractions were spaced I would surely be back in later that night. This happened all around 4pm. Scott was out of town in Austin. He left Thursday morning and was to return Friday at 3:30pm. My appointment was at 2:30pm and he immediately came to the hospital when he found out they were monitoring me. Luckily he came when he did! At around 5pm the doctor came in to check me again and to break my water. I was at 6 cm. He told me after he breaks my water I will really start feeling the contractions and to let him know if I wanted an epidural. I got through the next hour and a half with no meds then he came in to check me again and I was at 7-8cm. I was really feeling them now! I decided to go ahead with the epidural and she was there within 5 mintues! I wish I would have gotten it a little sooner since they were very strong at this point and my luck I would have one right as they were inserting the needle. Sure enough that's what happened. I had to sit up and lean over making my back like a "c". I had two contractions at this point and they hurt like hell! Oddly enough they were more bearable if I was sitting up as opposed to laying on my back. The epidural immediately took effect and it was smooth sailing from then on out. I could still feel my legs and feet so I wasn't completely numb. Another hour later I was finally at 10 cm. My nurse called the nurses station to get the doctor in immediately. I was terrified because she kept saying, "she's bleeding a lot, I am not making her push until the doctor is here!" This kinda freaked me out a little. Why was I bleeding so much? The doctor finally came in and three to four pushes later out she came! Scott was at the head of the bed and Scott's mom was at my side. I watched the whole thing happen and how amazing it was! She was a little peanut! She came out screaming though! What a joy to hear. We were so nervous that something was going to be wrong. The NICU team was there just in case they needed to take her to the NICU. They took her over to the warmer and were assessing her. No problem with her lungs being underdeveloped!!! We were just watching them work on her and we asked if she was being taken to the NICU. They assured us that no, she was great and could go to the newborn nursery. She weighed in at a whopping 4 lbs 10 oz, 17 inches long. She got to stay in the room with us for about an hour while everyone got to hold her. She had a lot of dark hair! Yeah! Finally a dark headed Samuel!!!!!! She is so beautiful and wonderful and we are so excited she is healthy. Thanks to everyone who prayed for her. She is truly a "Lucky" little girl. So what if she was born on Friday the 13th!!! She proved us all wrong!!!!!! I hope you enjoy the pictures!!!

Pics before delivery

She's coming......

Here are pics of me actively in labor.....can you still believe I had a smile on my face! I was no overwhelmed with emotions! I was both apprehensive and excited about her delivery. We just wanted her to be healthy. I had an amazing support system by my side. Scott was again at the head of the bed and Roxanna was at my side while the nurse was on my other. It went by so fast it seems like a blur. What an amazing experience!!!

Ava, welcome to the world!

Here are pics right after Ava was born.

The proud parents and big brother

Family first

Here our pics of Ava being held by her family. She is so tiny it feels like your arms are so big! It is so akward holding her!

More pics from our second day

Our second day

Here are some pics from our second day in the hospital. Little Ava had many visitors to welcome her into the world. Our second night was bearable. They only brought her into nurse twice during the middle of the night. She's getting the hang of it. She's so tiny she doesn't require much!

Brother and Sister

Here are some pics from our last day in the hospital. Jackson loves his little sister so much. He always wants to hug and kiss on her.

False alarm!

Here is me before heading for my LAST doctor's appointment (maybe).....36 weeks and 3 days.

Last night I was having some contractions so I decided I would time them just for fun. They were only 20 mintues apart for like two hours. I went to bed and of course since Dad is out of town Jackson was up all night! He woke up three times and I finally just brought him to bed with me. I woke up around 4am to some pretty strong contractions. They NEVER wake me up in the middle of the night so I thought this was it. They were coming every 10 mintues. I got up and walked around and they spaced out to about every 20 mintues. I went back to bed and they came back every 10 mintues. I got up again! Same thing....every 20 mintues. I called Scott (he's in Austin go figure) and he was half asleep so I told him I would call him back and I would continue to time them. I went to try to sleep again and they started again every 10 min. I finally got up around 6am and nothing. They totally disappeared! I don't know what all that was about but I think she wants out! We'll see what the doctor says at my appointment today!

Back from the perinatologist....

So we saw a perinatologist today (high risk pregnancy physician). He did an ultrasound and said her weight was around 4lbs 9 oz whereas my ob measured her at 4 lbs 5 oz. Every little bit helps! :-) He did check her amnotic fluid and said it was borderline normal to low. This worried him so instead of waiting until Monday for another ultrasound to check the fluid I am seeing the specialist again this Friday. He didn't want to wait until Monday if indeed the fluid was getting lower. If her fluid level keeps going down then they will induce then. If not, we'll see what my ob says on Monday. So....we might have a baby this weekend! I'll keep everyone posted after my appointment on Friday.

Thanks to everyone for their well wishes and prayers. It means so much to us.

Stephanie

36 week appointment not so good......

Well we had our 36 week ultrasound yesterday to get her measurements and check her weight. The doctor told us that she is measuring small, 33 weeks and I am 36. He was concerned thinking she might have what is called IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction). This is when the fetus is less than 10% for weight compared to other babies the same gestation. She's an okay weight, 4lbs 5 oz and would be about almost 6 at full term. He told us that there are many factors that can cause this, smoking, drinking, diabetes, malnutrion in the mother or problems with the placenta. Obviously in my case he thinks it's the placenta. It is done working apparently and is saying "ok, I've done my job." It is not giving her all the nutrients and blood flow that she needs thus the small weight. He is sending me for a second opinion either today or tomorrow for another ultrasound by a different doctor. If that doctor gets the same measurements they will induce me the last week of June. If not, then I will wait until I go into labor. He said if she does have IUGR then she will thrive more outside of the womb so there is no sense in keeping her in there until 40 weeks. He told us not to worry that she will more than likely be fine since it happened so late in my pregnancy. She has been measuring right on track thus far so at least she got past the 4 lb mark. I've researched all about IUGR and of course they tell you the worst. He said most babies that have it early in pregnancy are the more serious cases since most deliver around 32 or 33 weeks which is very early.

Keep her in your prayers that everything turns out fine and that she doesn't have to spend any time in the NICU and we can take her home with us.

I'll keep everyone posted as to what I find out from the other doctor.

36 weeks!

Well I moved my ultrasound to today instead of tomorrow. Scott had a meeting that he didn't know if he had to be at it so I went ahead and rescheduled. It is today at 3pm. I don't think I'll have an internal exam but you never know. I'm sure we'll talk about my heart issue and maybe what we'll do at delivery. I'll update after my appointment.

Here are some pictures of Jackson making sure the bassinet is up to par for his little sister. Also a very bad hair day for Jackson after a nap! Too funny!