1st day home...

We got the call we wanted on our last day in the hospital... Aubrey gets to come home with us!!! I paced to be discharged so we could go pick her up and get her home.... the car ride home was nerve wracking... but we made it! Aubrey's grandma's and GiGi were here to spend time with her, and we basically just hung out...

She ate, pooped and slept all day! We organized, assembled, and tried to rest.

1st night.... well.... Timmy let me catch some sleep as he did the 1am feeding, I love him for that... just wish i would've fell asleep sooner. Aubr

ey didn't want to sleep much after that feeding, so it was up and down all night. I was going to try not to use a pacifier, but that came out quickly... We've gotten through almost the whole night... 7am feeding is next. Then hopefully a nap for me... Later today, we have her first doctor's appointment at noon... I hope she's doing well!! Need to start writing down questions....

Breaking Out Tomorrow....

It's been a long week... Sunday feels like a month ago... but tomorrow is almost here! Aubrey has been doing wonderful, and she should be going home with us tomorrow! As long as she keeps her weight up tonight, we are all set to go.... getting ready to bunk down for the night so tomorrow will come quicker! Can't wait to get into our own place again... even though I will miss my awesome nurses, and the fact that all I have to do in the morning is make a phone call and 30-40 minutes later, breakfast arrives!! LOL!!!

It will feel awesome to be home though!!

Link to more pictures...

Can't upload too many here... so here's a link to photos I've put on my Facebook....

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=299567&id=784912178&l=8aa7c611b6

March 13, 2011

So we thought we had 2 more weeks..... Well, Aubrey had different plans! My doctor was due to leave on a 10 days cruise on Monday the 14th, and Aubrey caused issues that sent us to labor and delivery on the 13th at 2pm.... We were told that we would be having a c-section after 7:30pm... the waiting game began... would've been sooner, but I drank a carnations instant breakfast that morning.... luckily I slept in, and missed my Lovenox shot...

We waited and waited.... I was getting nervous about the c-section, but there was no turning back, the time was here.... we went back to the OR around 7:45pm... I was a champ for the spinal, I think the most painful part of that was the guy pushing on my back to find the space... but that went in well... and soon Timmy came in... We talked to each other, said prayers, listened for the announcement of "baby time"... and soon it came!

Aubrey Faith was born at 8:31pm, weighing 5lbs, 5oz and 18 inches long.... just perfect!!! She had to go to the NICU because of her age, which we understood.... we knew her lungs were working... she let all of us know! She was screaming, letting everyone know she was there!!! The tears were flowing, and we were just waiting for them to bring her to us to see her.....

They took her upstairs, and started closing/cleaning me up... the morphine was pushed, and Timmy left the room once I passed out.... I joked with my doctor that he's free to go on vacation now and take extra time too!! And then I went to recovery... After sitting in recovery for 1-1/2 - 2 hours, I got to swing through the NICU to see Aubrey before going upstairs.... she was just so perfect!!!!!

I didn't sleep that much last night... my mind was racing... I wanted her with me in the room, but I also want to make sure she's okay 100%! I had pictures on my camera to look at.

Today, Timmy and I went down to see her, and I finally got to hold her and give her a bottle.... she took 15ml, up from 10ml at the last feeding... they put her IV down by half... and said that she should lose the IV by tonight... then it's up to her to keep eatting, and hold her body temp.... they said she should go home by the weekend... I don't think they will say Thursday to us, b/c they don't want to get our hopes up.... Not looking forward to going home without her, but if it's what needs to be done to make sure she's completely ready to come home, that's fine with me!

Here are some pictures from the last two days....

Crib here and set up....

One more step done! The mattress and crib showed up, and despite nausea and Timmy tired after a long day of work, we worked together and got the crib together.... makes things seem a little more real, and seeing that there's only 19-1/2 days now until the c-section, I guess it's about time we got this done!!!! Love the crib and bedding set! All ready for Aubrey to come home when it's time!!!

only 11 more days of work... 18 until the amnio and 19-1/2 until the c-section).... we will get a growth tomorrow at the doctor's appointment... I'm guessing that she's going to be about 5lbs 11oz... but we'll see!!!

Here's a picture of the crib all done....

4 weeks to go...

WOW... 4 weeks to go!
Finished my 2 days of steroid shots, so my hips are a little sore, but again, it's part of the territory... just can't wait to get out of work and get home to sit... after making dinner!!!!
I stare at my calendar at work... the 30th is highlighted in BRIGHT PINK... so it stands out.... it's going to be real... Aubrey is really going to be here in 4 weeks!!!! Amazing!!!

Steroid shot...

First one done... while I sat there waiting, I figured I would take a picture to set into reality the size of the needle that I take weekly (which I can turn into "took weekly" after Friday) This is the same size needle that I get for my p17 shots too... if you look at the picture, you will see a cap on the syringe.... if you look there is a grayish area at the opening of the cap, from that grayish area, to the tip of the cap, that's ALL needle!! OUCH is right!!!

Can't believe tomorrow is March 1st!

I'm a little anxious to flip my calendar tomorrow... we'll be in the FINAL MONTH!!! Oh boy, or should I say Oh Girl!!!! The time has really been passing us by... but that's a good thing! I'm waiting for that time that everyone tells me, "it's going to drag...".... but I've been lucky so far!

This is a big week for me... last P17 shot on Friday, but I'm going out with a bang.... Steroid shots today and tomorrow too... so my last week of my shot in the back is actually 3 shots! Whoopie!!

19 more days of work
26 more days of Lovenox shots
28 more days until the Amnio
30 more days until the C-section!!!

I laugh that the Amnio falls on our 2nd wedding anniversary... the traditional gift for the 2nd anniversary is cotton.... I guess there is cotton in the gauze that will be under the bandaid after the amnio!!! LOL!!

Basically one more month to go!

5 Weeks to Go!

Had a busy weekend/week .... This past weekend was my baby shower, hosted by my mommy and sister.... Gotta love them!!! It was perfect!! I loved seeing all my family and friends together in one room, showing their support for us and the arrival of Aubrey! It was just a plus to get all the loving gifts from everyone!!! I'm a little OCD, so that night I had to organize!!

We had our Tuesday Doctor's appointment and received awesome 3D ultrasound pictures, which are up on the site under the ultrasound pictures tab.... it's amazing what they can do now! And luckily earlier in the day, Timmy and our friend Jon got the changing table/dresser up from the basement, and into Aubrey's room... it looks a little more complete, and also means that I can put more stuff away... I have washed a lot of the clothes, sheets and blankets, and have them ready to go...

We have 5 more weeks to go until the c-section! It's amazing at how quickly the time is going... I'm waiting for it to slow down... I keep thinking to myself that it's going by too fast, that it's got to drag at one point, but every month so far has flown by! 21 more days of work.... 34 more days until the c-section! 2 more shots in the back of my P17, and a steroid booster this Friday.... It's all worth it!!! Now I just have to come to terms with the fact that my beloved doctor is going on a cruise the WEEK BEFORE my c-section... but I spoke with him on Tuesday and gave him the "what for" telling him that if I happen to go into early labor, I'll just hang from my ankles for a week!! LOL!!!

Oh well....

5 WEEKS TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!

8 Months!

Hit the 32 week/8 months!!! Whootwhoot!!!! So excited... Aubrey is a little mover, she's always kicking/punching me all day, which I love, and will miss!!!!

here's updated pic, and our countdown chain.... it's getting closer....

Change of Bedding

Decided I didn't like the bedding I originally ordered.... change of plans....

New Bedding

7 weeks to go....

Can't believe that in 7 weeks I'll hopefully have Aubrey in my arms... all depends on Stamford Hospital staying on schedule... who knows, I could still be waiting to get into the OR for our c-section... it's so exciting!!! I can't wait!

So much to do... And I'm limited to what I can do, but Timmy has been great at helping with whatever he can! We are hoping that some of the sun we are supposed to get these next few days will melt some of the snow... so we can move the changing table/dresser out of the basement, around the outside of the house, and up into her nursery!! But as of right now, there is about 1-2 ft of snow blocking the basement door... Timmy will have to eventually dig a path!

I have so many countdowns.... 7 weeks until the c-section, 6 weeks until I'm 37 weeks... only 31 days left of work.... so many things to keep my mind looking in the positive direction!!! Things are going to go great this time!!!! But unfortunately, this time, I have all this time to think about the c-section... last time it was just , "we're going into the OR, let's go".... so time to ponder... just go.... this time there is time!! Time to think, reflect on last time... I know it will be a different experience this time... but that worry always sits in the back of my mind... hearing that monitor flatline with Timothy Joseph... something I fear hearing again... but I must think positive... I have a very supportive husband, family, friends, and the world's greatest doctor performing the c-section!!! And he better be there... I already told him I will hunt him down!!!

So... another week down!!!

7 weeks to go!!!!!

Aubrey's Room

Finally did it... got Aubrey's bedding set!!! Now her room is painted, and the bedding set should be here in a week or so.... so excited!!! I hope she likes it as much as I do!!!

C-Section Officially Booked....

Got a call from the doctor's office this morning.... we are all booked for March 30th... the time, 11:30am... we need to be there 2 hours prior and I can not eat/drink anything past midnight the night before!!! WOW!! The countdown begins!!!

9 weeks and counting!!!!!!!!!!

Let the Real Countdown Begin...

Doctor's appointment went well today... Aubrey's heart rate is good... she's growing and moving around... and practicing her breathing... And we met with Dr V at the end of the appointment... Here is goes...

On our 2 year wedding anniversary, I will undergo an amnio (3rd one in my life now!)... and then we will wait on results. If her lungs are mature enough (which I would assume that they would be if I have had steroid shots)... then our scheduled c-section date is March 30th!!!! OMG!!! I can flip the calendar twice and see that date!! and in 11 days I will only have to flip that calendar ONCE!!!!

I will upload her ultrasounds later.... she was hysterical for those... this little girl didn't want her picture taken so badly that she had both hands and a foot in front of her face.... Boy, this little girl better change that attitude.... her mom is a paparazzi!!!

PASSED!!!!

Got my results of the 3 hour glucose test.... and I PASSED!!! Every blood draw they took, I passed!!! So happy I don't have to worry about that... now on to waiting until Thursday to meet with the head doctor and hopefully he will give us our scheduled c-section date... so exciting!!!

Failed the 1 hour....

1st test failed... not by too much. Took the 1 hour glucose tolerance test on the 5th, and me being as impatient as I am, I brought my meter with me and tested myself, so I knew before they called me.... but I surely did fail my 1 hour with a 155, when they wanted me under 130...

I go back on Friday the 14th for the fun 3 hour Glucose Diagnostic Test... this should be fun, seeing I was in the doctor's office for about 3 hours for the 1 hour.... lets see how long I will be there for the 3 hour... Luckily I have something to do when I go on Friday... I started a blanket for Aubrey Faith, and I could possibly finish it that day, LOL! I seem to be able to do 1 row every 15 minutes.... so 4 rows an hour.... Okay, maybe not finish it... but I'll put a nice dent in it.... lets just hope I sleep well the night before... For the 1 hour, I was up since 4am... no fun! I plan on going to bed late so that I can sleep through the night.

Then on the 20th, I will finally meet with the "man behind the curtain", Dr V... and he will hopefully give us our more tentative scheduled c-section date!!! That date all depends on the results of my 3 hour glucose test... If I pass, he will try to get me to 37 weeks... if I fail, it will be sooner, but I assume it all depends on watching her growth.

The weeks are flying by! I can remember being just 4 weeks pregnant, and now I'm close to 27 weeks!!! It's insane!!! I don't mind the weeks flying by, because I would not like it to drag... that would get annoying! 1-1/2 weeks until we hit our 3rd trimester!!!

The End of 2010...

The ball will drop at mid-night, signalling the end of 2010, and the fresh start to 2011.... just thought I would take a moment to regroup about everything that has gone on in 2010...

I remember the ball dropping last year, sitting on my bed crying, saying "good riddens 2009!" I knew that 2010 had better things to bring after the loss of our son, Timothy Joseph. During 2010, we started the year living with my mom at her house, which I loved!!! We made it past our original due date for Timothy Joseph... on March 28, 2010, we celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary in the Poconos... On May 1st, we started renting my grandmother's house from her, we had our own place again.... but I missed living with my mommy! We hosted our first every backyard BBQ on a very hot humid day... and boy was I an agitated women that day! Little did we know that about a week later we would find out that I was pregnant! We found our early... and we couldn't keep our mouths quiet about it... thought after last time, we would do the normal 12 week wait... who are we kidding....

The pregnancy has been a doozie, as you have read here.... lost of doctor's visits, my numbers doubling rapidly, them thinking it could be twins, then the other baby never making down my fallopian tube (so no twins).... meds, shots, spotting.... all the fun I could have! But things are going well... we have been pregnant for most of 2010... so I guess you could say that that makes for a great year....

2011... what I look forward to... working at paying off some bills... sharing in life's moments with all our friends who are expecting in the first 5 months of the year... Seeing Aubrey Faith come into this world in March! Watching her milestones as the weeks go by... enjoying all her 1st holiday's... Growing closer to Timmy as my husband and the father to my children... seeing him interact with Aubrey... that will bring a tear to my eye... watching him hold her. He will be an awesome father!!!

Last day of 2010! I will spend it running errands, cleaning, and cooking.... I hope everyone else had a good year in 2010....

Happy New Year Everyone!!!!!

Oh, I remember that stinging burn!!!

Yesterday was an interesting day at the doctors... I waited for my ultrasound, and in comes another lady with the ultrasound tech.... "Hi, my name is Deb, and I'll be performing your FFN test"... my what??? Apparently it's another test to see if I will go into labor within the next two weeks... fun! Just what I want to know... best part is, they have to use a speculum... but they are not allowed to use gel, b/c it will mess with the results... talk about uncomfortable! Oh well... gotta do it! Ultrasound cervical check went well... everything is holding up!! I'm always above 3cm (I think that's what they are measuring in!). Then I was transferred over to another room for fetal monitoring... no heartbeat tracking yet.. but they were monitoring for any contractions... 40 minutes... and not one single spike in the line! YIPPIE!!! Then in comes the doctor with my ice.... oh fun!!!! She asked me if I remember the Steroid Shot from last time.... I said, "kind of... I remember them walking into the room with it, and me climbing up the gurney and then up my mother's arm, b.c I saw the needle..." she explained that it goes in easier than my P17 shot, but it will burn a little.... sure enough, the minute that she started pushing the solution thru the needle and into me... "YUP! I remember it now!!!" OUCH!!!!

I have to go back today for the 2nd steroid shot, as well as my P17 shot... so much fun... 3 shots in the back in 2 days.... way to end the year! Then next week will be my 1 hour glucose challenge test.... Fingers crossed that I pass!! Or else I have to go back and do the 3 hour Glucose Tolerance Test... Even more fun! But after the pass/fail come back from those, we will have a more tentative scheduled c-section date for when Miss Aubrey Faith will enter into this world!!!!

Last Night was Awesome!

I was sitting at the computer last night, talking to my mom on the phone... I glanced down and thought I saw something move... at first I thought, "no... it's just my eyes..." Then I decided to stare at my tummy.... and sure enough, there was a kick... and another one!!! WOW!! I can see Aubrey kicking me now!!!! So amazing to see that!!! I know what I'll be doing when I'm bored during the day now and I feel her moving!!!

Today is my first shot of steroids at the doctors, along with fetal monitoring for contractions... then two more shots tomorrow... Next week is the glucose test, along with a growth measurement of Aubrey and once we get the results from both of those, we will hopefully receive our tentative scheduled c-section date!!!! can't wait!!!!!!

Only today and then two more days left in 2010.... this year has flown by!!!