Abby's Story

Wow - it might be a little harder to post than I thought it was going to be. I am so in love with this little girl - I don't want to put her down!!

So on Tuesday after I posted, my contractions started getting a little stronger, but nothing I couldn't talk through. We left to go to the doctor with our bags packed - I knew that even if it wasn't right then, it was coming soon. On the way to the doctor's office, I was timing the contractions about every 5 minutes, and they were starting to hurt. Right before we got there, I thought that I should have called to see if they wanted me at my appointment, or if I should just go to L&D since I knew I was close. Since I didn't call first, we went up to the office (which is just across the street from the hospital) and asked them. The receptionist went to find the nurse to ask, and came back and told us just to go to the hospital, since the doctor I was going to see that day was actually over at the hospital. So over to the hospital we went.

We went up to labor and delivery, where they showed me to a room and got me hooked up to all of the equipment. They told us that it was really busy that day and that they were having a hard time finding rooms for everyone - which made me worried that they would send me home. The nurse checked me, and I was a bit disappointed when I was still at 3 1/2 cm - same as the Friday before. But the good news was that my contractions were every 2 -3 minutes apart, and getting stronger. I was ecstatic when they came and and told me they were moving me to a delivery room!!

From here, it all went pretty smoothly. The doctor - Andrea Smith (who was on call for my doctor who was out of town) came in and checked me again - up to a 4 at this point. She broke my water to speed things along a bit. When she broke my water, she noticed that there was meconium in the water, so I had to have a tube put in me that flushed water through to try to clear it out. It wasn't bad, so they weren't too worried - just a precaution. I have to say, it was quite weird, laying there in a bed with fluids running in and out of me!

Shortly after that, I got my epidural, which was pretty painless. It took a little while for it to kick in, so I got to experience some good contractions. Once the epidural took over, my contractions did slow down just a bit, so they supplemented me with pitocin to keep things going. From this point forward, I progressed fairly quickly.

At about 10 to 8, I started pushing. I had Josh there on one leg, my mom on the other leg, and my mother in law holding my head. I have to say, I had the best team there. It was really a different experience, because I couldn't feel a thing because of the epidural. I didn't really know where or how to push because I couldn't feel anything, but they were the best coaches, cheering me on when things were good. The nurse told me I would probably end up pushing for 1 1/2 to 2 hours since it was my first, but just under an hour later, at 8:43pm, Abby came into this world.

It was all such an amazing experience. Josh and I both bawled like babies, and I haven't been able to keep my eyes off of her since. I am so in love!!

Things are going fairly well right now. Josh has been great - taking such good care of both of us and the dog. My feet are really swollen, so I've been trying to stay off of them, and I ended up needing an episiotomy (sp?) so I'm trying to heal from that. If it wasn't for those 2 things, I would feel great right now!! She's a good eater, although my milk hasn't come in yet, but she's still been a trooper. I actually had 2 periods of 3 hours of sleep in a row last night, so hopefully that will continue! The only trouble we have had so far is that she doesn't like to get put down, so one of us is basically holding her all of the time. I'm sure once she gets used to this new place that will get better.

I'm sure I'll have all kinds of photos coming up. I told Josh we will need a new hard drive to store them all becasue I've already gone crazy! And I'm planning on using this as my way to keep a journal of everything.

I love my little girl!

Abigail (middle name still tbd) Harroun arrived Tuesday, January 27th at 8:43pm. She weighed 8 pounds 1 ounce and is 20 inches long. She has a ton of dark hair and is perfect in every way!

More to come later!

Maybe Today??

Well, no baby yet, but I really think that today might be the day. I woke up (again) at 2am with pretty bad contractions. I started timing them at 3am, thinking that if they were 5 min or less apart we would head to the hospital. Unfortunately, they stayed at between 7 and 10 minutes. I was finally able to fall back asleep around 4:30, with the occasional contraction waking me up.

I've been having contractions all morning, about 5 minutes apart, but of course, now they aren't as painful as they were last night. But they are progressively getting stronger. And my lower back has been KILLING me since last night - so bad that I can't even really bend over. I have a doctor's appointment at 11:20, and I'm pretty sure I'll be ok until then. If the doctor doesn't think I'm in labor, then I'm at least hoping we've progressed enough to get sent over to the hospital and we get a jump start.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed!! We don't have a laptop, but I think I should be able to update on Josh's phone, so hopefully I'll have some good news here in a few hours!

D-Day

I wish that stood for delivery day - not due date!!

If you would have asked me 6 months ago, I would have bet $100 - even $1000! - that I would have this baby early. Even if you would have asked me a month ago, I probably would have made that same bet.

But here I am, my official due date, and she's still not here.

I've had 3 times now where I thought for sure I was in the beginning stages of labor, only for the contractions to completely go away. On Friday, I had some really painful contractions, but once I started timing them, they got further and further apart. I figure they were from my membranes being stripped. Then yesterday, nothing. Just the Braxton-Hicks contractions I've been having for weeks now.

Most statistics say that only 5% of women actually deliver on their due date. I can only wish, because it looks like this little girl has plans of her own. I am feeling really crampy today, so I guess you never know.

Josh has been sick the last few days. We're now thinking it might be strep, so he stayed home from church this morning, and I skipped out early so I can take him to InstaCare. If it is strep, we need him on antibiotics asap so that when this little girl does come, he's not sick and contagious. I wish we would have gone days ago, but I have a stubborn husband. So maybe it's a good thing that this little girl isn't here yet!!

I'll keep updating - hopefully this doesn't go another whole week!

Learning Patience

39 weeks, 5 days

So we really thought Wednesday night was going to be the night. I started having regular contractions around 3pm. They weren't exactly painful, but more uncomfortable than all the other contractions I've been having. I started timing them, and timed them up until about 9:30 that night. They stayed mostly between 10 and 13 minutes, but every once in awhile, I'd have one every 7 minutes. I really thought that was the beginning. I even called my mom to make sure she had her phone with her at all times. I went to bed about 10:30, thinking that they would wake me up if they got any worse. I woke up a couple of times with strong ones, but by the morning, they were back to my "normal" not painful contractions.

I was really disappointed yesterday morning. Especially since they weren't still coming like they were that night. But I figured that I had a doctor's appointment coming up, and surely all these contractions were really pushing me along.

Early this morning, about 2am, I woke up feeling crampy. If I wasn't pregnant, I would have thought that I was about to start my period. My back was killing me, and I just generally didn't feel very well. I tried to sleep, but was quite restless the rest of the night, not getting very much sleep. This morning, the crampiness continued, and contractions started in. I didn't time any of them, but they were more painful than the ones the night before. My doctor's appointment was at 10:10, and I really thought he'd be sending me to the hospital from my appointmet. I seriously even took my packed bag. We headed off to the doctor, only to be disappointed again. Well, I shouldn't say disappointed because there was some progress. I am now dialated to a 3 1/2, and 80% effaced. Bad news, though, is that if I don't have this baby by 5pm tonight, chances of me getting my doctor to do the delivery are bad. He's not the on call doctor this weekend, and I found out today that he will be out of town next week. In fact, I had to make my next appointment with another doctor. He also let us know that they typically won't induce (since it's my first) until after 41 weeks. He stripped my membranes again, which didn't hurt as much as the first time, but probably because I knew what to expect this time. He said that he would be suprised if I didn't have her this weekend. But really, there is no way to know.

I know I just need to be patient and that she will come when she is ready. But it's hard when I just don't feel good. I feel queasy and crampy, the contractions are not comfortable, and my back is killing me. All signs that she might be here soon, though. I guess she is teaching me patience before she even gets here!!

Not Yet

Still waiting. Impatiently waiting. It looks like she might overstay her welcome. My next appointment is on Friday, and I'm sure we'll talk induction at that time. Josh has been begging me everyday this week to call the doctor to see if we can get induced this week, but since I really don't want to be induced until after 40 weeks, I'm being patient. I think I'm just worried about having a 9 pound baby. (And Ryley - I totally admire you for having a 9 pound baby completely natural - I just don't want that to be me!!!)

I'm still hoping for any day now - but so far I'm still just having Braxton Hicks contractions. For probably the first time in my life I'm looking forward to feeling some pain - because that will mean she will actually be coming!

Another Appointment

Now I'm 38 weeks, 4 days. Officially 10 days days from my due date. And no baby still.

I had my 38 week appointment today, and unfortunately, he didn't tell me to get over to the hospital like I was hoping he would. I kept hoping I'd start having contractions this morning, so I could go straight from the doctor to the hospital, but no such luck. Still no contractions. I think she's just getting really comfortable in there.

I'm now dilated to a 3, but that's about the only progress I've made. My doctor did strip my membranes, but he said with a first child, it doesn't usually throw you into labor. He said that he is on call at the hospital this weekend, so it would be a good weekend for me to have her - I hope she's listening!!

I did make an appointment for next week, but let's hope we don't go that long. I think that they will probably schedule an induction if I do make it to my appointment next week, and I really don't want a medical induction. I'm still really optimistic about this weekend - I really do feel like she'll be here any time now!

Everyone send good thoughts my way!!

No baby yet...

Well, as much as I wanted today to be the day, it's not going to be...

We had planned to go get pedicures and go to Olive Garden last night, but Josh has been working at a Home Show in Salt Lake all weekend. He got home about 4 yesterday, so we headed to the salon, only to find all the chairs full and people waiting. Neither of us are good at waiting, so we decided just to go to Olive Garden. Yeah, not a smart idea on a Saturday. Even though it was 4:45, there was still probably at least an hours wait. So we stopped at Apollo Burger and just watched a movie at home!!

I have a niece who's birthday is tomorrow, so she wants to make sure she's not born tomorrow because then it will be too hard to schedule birthday parties (according to Tiana!!) But hopefully soon. I've been having tons of Braxton Hicks contractions, but no real contractions yet. I can tell she's moving further down because it's getting really painful, so we'll see. It's just a waiting game from here!! I'm sure she'll come when she's ready!

Will This Be the Last???

37 weeks and 3 days...and I'm still really hoping to go into labor this weekend, but unfortunately, my doctor says there's a chance, but it's not really likely...

I had an appointment yesterday, and everything still looks good. I only went from 1 1/2 cm dialated last week to 2 cm this week, and I'm still about 75% effaced. I asked him how far she's dropped, and he said she's at about a -2. He said that I might drop further before going into labor, or I might go into labor from here. I asked him if he thought it was possible to go this weekend, and he said anything can happen, but he's predicting that I'll make it to my next appointment but not the one after that.

In the meantime, I think I'll start some of the ways I've heard start labor, because I'm ready for this baby!! I just bought some pineapple - I've heard fresh pineapple starts labor. And this weekend, I'm making Josh take me to get a pedicure and I'm going to make them massage the heck out of my ankles!! And my youngest sister heard that drinking a cup of Olive Garden salad dressing works - she tried it a few months ago with her little boy and went into labor the next day!! Who knows if any of them will work, but it's worth a shot! I've switched at the gym from the elliptical to the treadmill, so I'm getting a good amount of walking in every day. The only problem with that is that it's hard to do anything after I walk - she feels sooo heavy for hours afterwards.

Here's to hoping for this weekend!!

Happy New Year!!

I know I'm a few days late, but better late than never!! I just wanted to do a quick review of last year, and also list some resolutions for next year.

I was reading my sister's blog this morning, and she made a comment about how so many people say not to make New Year's Resolutions because no one ever keeps them. But I agree with her - it's good to write them down and at least have a goal to shoot for. I only made one resolution last year - and it was a food related one for my food blog- and I was able to complete it, so I'm proud of myself. But I've decided to write down a few personal goals for this year.

1 - This is going to be the year of pictures. I keep saying I want to learn more about photography and photoshop, and with a baby coming, what better time is there?? I'm so ashamed when I look through my archives of the last few years and see how many big things I missed in pictures. So family and friends - I apologize in advance if I always have a camera around my neck this year!! Along with this will come more regular blogging on this blog. I used to be really good about keeping a journal, and I really need to start again, but for the last few years this is all I have. And I want to journal more of my life here! The picture above was taken yesterday morning. I was out salting the driveway and sidewalk as the sun was coming up, and I couldn't believe how beautiful the sky looked against the mountains. I just had to run in and grab my camera to record the beauty of this earth!

2 - Both Josh and I have resolved to read the Book of Mormon this year. I haven't read through the BOM in years, so it's about time I do it again. We have a schedule, and I'm actually planning on reading out loud to the baby.

3 - Have more fun. I know this is pretty vague, but it seems like we are always either working, cleaning or just plain tired that we don't go out and do anything on a regular basis. We had vacations last year, but I want to do more locally - even if that just means going on a walk as a family or going to the park, or going to a museum or a movie. Something besides just crashing in front of the tv!

4 - Devise a budget. We have been extremely blessed - in a time when most people are struggling, I was able to leave my job and Josh has been successful in his new job. But even though we might not have to stress about money on a daily basis now, I want to do a better job at keeping track of our finances, be better about saving, and set up something for the baby.

5 - Since losing weight is one of the most popular resolutions, I'm adding this one is as well. I want to be back to my pre-pregnancy weight by June, and hopefully 10 pounds lighter by next Christmas.

6 - Last but not least, I want to organize my office at home. I did it not too long ago, but since then, all of the storage that was once in the baby's room has been moved to the office, so it is now a storage room/office/pantry and a complete wreck. It's the one room in the house I walk into and feel anxiety, so it needs to be taken care of. Especially so I can keep the finances in order and start scrapbooking again!!

And I can't leave without highlighting a few things from 2008. It really was a great year - one of the best of my life. I would say that I can't see 2009 topping it, but I know that it will, just because our little girl will be joining our family!!

On November 15th, 2008, Josh and I were sealed for time and all eternity in the Mount Timpanogos temple. I still get tears of happiness in my eyes when I think of this day. Definitely one of the very best days of my life!!

We found out we were going to have a baby, and I experienced the joys of being pregnant last year. I'll never forget that moment when I saw the positive on the pregnancy test, and how happy and excited I was.

And along with the pregnancy, we found out that we are being blessed with a wonderful little girl. I have had so much fun preparing for her, and I can't wait to meet her in the next few weeks!!

We were able to take 2 vacations - we went to New York in May, and to Vegas in November. Both were so much fun, but we were especially glad to get to go to New York to see the Yankees in Yankee Stadium for the last year. New York is one of my favorite places, and Josh fell in love also. We didn't have time to see as much as we wanted to, so we hope to make it back in the next few years. And we've decided that our November Vegas trip will become an annual one.

These are just a few of the many highlights of the year. And now I can't wait to see what 2009 brings!!