One month

Our baby is one month! I can't believe it! She has changed so much and I love watching her grow. We had both sets of grandparents come and visit. Many friends have stopped by and met our little bug. So much has changed around here. Our pets have adjusted to Hailey and I think they like having her around except when she cries. They both give me this look like "hey can you tell her to stop" Haha.

1 month:
 -7lbs 14 oz
-becoming a wiggle worm
-awake a lot more during the day
-still has her night and days mixed up
-smiling
-still wearing newborn clothes and diapers
-loves laying on our chests
-loves moms and dads kisses

Love her so much!!!!!

Hailey Ann

Life with a newborn is pretty busy. I wouldn't trade it for anything. On October 26 our lives changed forever! We welcomed our baby girl Hailey Ann Schrader. Here is the story of her beginning:

I had come off of bedrest at 37 weeks and was cleared to go back to work. I was so glad because I was going  a little stir crazy. At my last appointment I was 3cm and 90% and my doctor didn't think I would last very long at work. I went in at 38 weeks and was still the same. No change with my cervix. I had been feeling contractions all week especially at work. Friday morning after working 3 shifts, I was still feeling contractions and they were getting stronger. I decided we needed to go to the hospital. We stopped and got some breakfast at one of the only places that was open at 6am haha. I knew that if this was real labor, I wanted some food in my belly since I know I wouldn't be able to eat for a while. We made it to the hospital and they hooked me up to the monitor and I was for sure having contractions about every 3-4 minutes. They weren't terrible but close enough to admit me. They started some pitocin to get things moving. We were going to have a baby!!! And my doctor was on call so she would be the one to deliver Hailey which I was really excited about it. So Chris and I got settled in and made our phones calls to family and friends. We walked, watched movies, and played cards. About 1pm my doctor came to check me and I was 5cm and ready for my epidural. I got in the jacuzzi tub while I waited for the epidural which was amazing! It really helped with the pain. The contractions were strong to a point where I had to breathe through them and I was getting very quiet because of the pain I was in. The epidural was amazing! Such a weird feeling of your legs being numb and so heavy. I was in a much better mood! Around 5pm or so my doctor came back in and checked me and I was 7cm and she decided to break my water. Once she did that I could see the contractions getting closer together on the monitor. I felt the pressure of them but no pain. I swear like an hour later, I felt a ton of pressure. It was so fast once my water was broken. They wanted me to "labor down" for a bit so that Hailey would come farther down meaning less time for me to push. I was all for that! Everything was getting set up and the doctor was getting all ready and it was time to push. Chris was such a good labor coach! He was so positive and encouraging which is what I needed. I maybe said 10 words during the whole pushing part. I was focused :) When Hailey's head was almost out, they said they couldn't find her heart rate which of course freaked me out. They used a probe on her head to get her heart rate but was having trouble getting it on her head. I told them Please just let me push!!! we were missing all these contractions while she was putting this thing on her head. I just had this feeling that one more and I could get her out. They said ok go and I DID! I pushed for about 40 minutes and here was our baby girl. They put her up and on my chest which was an incredible feeling. I just looked at her and she cried and then I cried and it was AMAZING! After 9 long months here was our baby girl! I was so glad to be holding her! She is perfect. 10 fingers, 10 toes. She was 18 inches and 6lbs 8 oz. We were all surprised about her weight. I had been measuring ahead the whole pregnancy and Chris and all his siblings were 10 pound babies. My doctor even guessed that she would be atleast 7 almost 8 pounds haha. I love my little peanut. It is an amazing love we have for this little girl. She brings so much joy to our lives. I had an amazing birthing experience. My nurses were amazing and I was so grateful for that (especially since I work with them sometimes :)) My doctor was great and really listened to me and what I wanted. We are so glad to have our baby girl!!

Bed rest day 6

I am so glad that it has already been almost a week. It has been an emotional week but I am very grateful for friends and family that have called and text me to make the time go by faster. I have been trying to keep busy but doing the little things I can. I have washed some baby clothes, started reading some books, watched some movies on Netflix, and had some great phone conversations. My mom flew out here on Friday night and left Sunday night. It was so nice to have her here and help get things ready for the baby. She helped clean the house and gave Chris a break. Baby is doing great! She is moving constantly and feels like she is getting bigger.
I have been praying for this little girl to stay in a little longer. So far I have still not felt any contractions. Thank goodness! Here's to one more week on bed rest (unless doctor tells me otherwise-fingers crossed)!

Bed Rest day 1

Well yesterday's check up did not go as I thought it would. I was at my 34 week appointment with my doctor and told her that everything was going great but that I was feeling some pelvic pressure but not a ton. She said that she would check my cervix just to make sure.

Her eyes said it all. I probably could of just cried right there (darn hormones!)  but I wanted to hear what she had to say. I was 1cm dilated and 90% effaced. So as I fought back tears, she told me she wanted me to go labor and delivery triage and have them put me on their monitor to see if I was contracting. I was not feeling any type of contractions. I called Chris and told him what was going on and he was going to come meet me.
I headed to the hospital registration which was right next door and signed in. They took me up in a wheelchair. I decided that I don't really like being on the opposite end of this scenario. I'm the nurse that is suppose to be pushing the patient in the wheelchair and it didn't really like being in the hot seat.

So I arrived at the OB triage area and the nurses were there waiting for me and immediately recognized me since I work up in OB every so often and got to know the nurses up there. It was nice to see familiar faces though! They were really great to me and made me feel very comfortable in an uncomfortable situation.

I was hooked up to the monitor and the nurse said, "Are you sure you don't feel anything?" And I said yes and then she pointed to the monitor that showed me having contractions every 4 minutes! Ya thats not good. I just had no idea or felt anything. My belly wasn't tight and I wasn't cramping. She called the doctor and he told her to give me a shot of terbutaline which is suppose to stop the contractions. She gave it too me and they pretty much stopped within 5 minutes. Thank goodness. Baby is doing just great and kicking and moving and measuring perfect.  Chris was there and the doctor came in to tell me that he wanted me on bed rest for 2 weeks until this baby was a little bit more cooked! I go back to see my doctor next week to see how I am doing and to make sure that I am not still dilating. They gave me medication to take home to also stop the contractions but it makes me so shaky! They say its a normal side effect so it is taking some getting use to.

 I am just so glad that baby is healthy and doing great and this bed rest is just a bump in the road. It is a wake up call that I was probably pushing it too far. Working 12 hour shifts does alot to the body. It is just hard to see Aspen look at me with those big eyes asking me why we can't go on our daily walk. I know this is the best for our baby so she understands :)

I am having my wonderful husband take me to the library tomorrow to pick out some books (since I can't even drive..grrr) so that will take up some time! I still searching for more things to do at home since I can't really go shopping. Wish me luck as I start this journey of being on bed rest. It can't be that bad right :)

A Summer Wedding

Weddings are so fun! Chris's older brother got married in Massachusetts this past weekend. We flew in on a really early early flight. We connected in Chicago and met Chris's family there because they had a connection there too. It was great to catch up with them and spend time together. It was a busy weekend full of meeting people and exploring the little town. We went to one of the Yankee Candle flag ship stores and it was AMAZING! They had so many cool things and we even got to make our own candle (first picture of Chris). We made a candle of cinnamon and pumpkin for the fall time. 

The Wedding was beautiful. You could tell that the couple put in lots of time and effort into making everything so great! The weather was perfect. I was nervous that being 6 months pregnant, that it would be pretty hot since I am hot all the time already. We had a great time but glad to be back home. Time to catch up on much needed laundry and lots of rest!

 

Uplifting

Being a mom-to-be is kinda scary. I have dreamed of the day that I would become a mom and all the joys that come along with it but it is hard now that someone is actually growing inside you and you are bringing life into the world. You worry about the littlest things. Is everything going ok in there? Am I eating the right foods? Am I doing things to harm the baby growing inside?
So many questions and worries. I was looking up some baby stuff online today and some how came across this quote:

"The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot protect you." 

I read that and it just made me think. God will not give me any challenges that I can not overcome. It warms my heart and makes me feel at ease. I know these worries are normal for a first time mom but the reassurance from God just makes it that much comforting. I just thought I would like to share!
Have a good Wednesday!!

Here is my 15 week photo! Little bump but it's getting there!

One more to the list....

 Yes we are adding ourselves to the pregnant world! It has been hard to keep it a secret especially when there are so many other pregnant people too. It is all so exciting!!!! Chris and I are super happy and excited to welcome this sweet baby into the world.
I turned 14 weeks today and due Oct.29. So we might have a little Halloween baby :) I have been feeling pretty decent just really tired but that is starting to go away. Can't wait for the next months to go by and feel this little babe move all around in my belly!!!! YAY for babies!!

(8 week appointment-saw the heart beat!)