Back in the Saddle!

I've been away for far too long.

Life got a little crazy for awhile there. I can't even remember when the last time I posted was. I'll just back track to November and provide an overview of what life has been like since then. Get everyone up to date!

November marked the last little bit of my pregnancy with my adorable little boy, James. The beginning part went off without a hitch. I finished his room, got things put together for him, put up Xmas decor, etc. I made sure we were ready for him whenever he decided to make his appearance.

The week of Thanksgiving is when things really started getting crazy. I ended up going to the hospital once before Thanksgiving (I think Monday?) because I thought I was in labor. I was having pretty regular contractions and we just wanted to be safe. Went in, no progress since my last appointment and nothing really to report on. My blood pressure was a little elevated, but the nursing staff that night didn't seem concerned and they really didn't spend much time worrying about what was going on with me. (In retrospect...I'm very glad I didn't deliver that night because I think I would have hated the staff! I thought they were nice when I was there but they paled in comparison to the staff on my other visits...yes, visits, plural.)

I went to my doctor appointment the day before Thanksgiving and explain about the hospital visit. I had started swelling as well and just felt off so I explained this to my doctor, but it was written off as a normal pregnancy. Lo and behold, one week from my first visit to the hospital I was back! Same situation as my previous visit...contractions, no progress, high bp. This time though the staff was more concerned about my condition. Next thing I know I'm being monitored and there are concerns about whether I will be leaving the hospital or not that day. After some back and forth with the doctor on call its decided I should go home and visit my actual doctor the next day. I do so. Bedrest by doctors orders, but no clue on the cause of my probs since they "ruled out Pre-E".

A few days later, on Dec 2nd, at like 4AM...here I am off to L&D again. I'm having contractions, think my water is leaking, and have a headache...bad sign with high bp. I check in, they take my bp and find that my bp sky rocketed. I am now diagnosed with Pre-E (Wait...didn't they rule this out?!). I spend a few hours being monitored with the assumption I'll be induced at the shift change. (My regular doctor came at next shift so figured they would wait). My water wasn't leaking and I still wasn't progressing but they were getting concerned I might give myself an aneurysm or some other damage.

I'm given a mag drip and some antibiotics at about 8AM, pitocin at 9AM, and water broken around 10:30. They also took me off mag then. Epidural at 1PM ish and then ready to push at 4PM. Unfortunately had issues pushing so they took away my epidural after a little bit (I didn't want one originally but they couldn't contain my bp. It was epi or back on Mag). Was back to pushing, without meds, for over 2 hours. Almost got a c-section. James was born at 7:16PM, 20 3/4 in, and 7lbs11oz...two weeks early. He got stuck and I was informed I can't birth babies any larger.

That's my birth story. A little different than I wanted, but it happens. James is 6 weeks now and doing awesome. He's had 2 vaccines and getting 4 more on 2/2/11. I probably cuddle him too much but who cares! He was 9lbs 6oz and 22.3in on 1/5/11. My bp is still an issue and prob will be forever so I take daily pills for it now. Got cleared for most everything at my doctor appointment today so I'm ready to take on the world!