Beautiful Babies Due in 2011 (Combined Group)

[rypell1985]

Mmmm idk why they got cut off! I'll have to try again later! Sorry!

[BlissfulCS]

I am long overdue for a few personals.

Chris- I think you look GREAT and so happy! Good luck getting everything wrapped up. You are getting so close to finally meeting your little man and I am so happy for you.

Ryann- that spiky red hair is too much! He's a doll and she is so beautiful.

Anna- its so good to hear from you. Glad that baby Paul's sleeping better. So sad on the shots, poor baby! I am not looking forward to that at all.

Lou- you and Chloe are simply gorgeous!!! Precious pic. How are you doing? Are you enjoying your maternity leave? I know you are a pretty focused and driven gal so I hope you are letting all that go and having a great time doing so.

SD- I cannot believe you are almost there! It seems like just yesterday that you and Crissylove kicked us off with BFPs on the Feb/March cycle board. It won't be long...are you ready yet? I know you are a crazy nester and organizer.

Margi- how are you mama??? Thinking about you and the babies often. Can't wait to see the little ones.

Blair- you are doing so good mama! Keep hanging in there.

AFM- I have my first glucose test tomorrow afternoon. Excited for my "weigh in". I think I am doing a much better job of eating for 2 these days and I am looking forward to getting a gold star from my OB tomorrow. Hope the test goes well.

[Sdtryingagain]

Hi all--

Ryann- you're babes are too cute! But then again we expected that with you and DH being such a cute pair too!

Bliss- thanks for asking, I'm doing well. All ready to go with baby stuff, but still have several work loose ends to wrap up...always seems to be more...I'm kinda bummed because I have this week and next week off (I really just wanted to relax and unwind, but it is looking like back to back visitors) I'm not particularly close with my mother and she pretty much invited herself here for the week prior to my deliver--- this would be the opposite of relaxing for me. Ugh, well we'll see how it goes. My midwife has been awesome and done some guided imagery work with me in prep for labor. Some of the imagery I think is really good for all life stress. There is this one exercise where you picture your worst nightmare happening and freaking out about it and then you picture that same nightmare happening but this time you imagine yourself with the ability to cope with it she says "How would that situation look if you were coping with it well?" and you imagine that. So, I've been practicing imaging myself coping well with my mother's visit LOL

take care all

[HopeIsAllIHave]

Ryann - your babies are beautiful! Love their cute little feet!

Bliss - good luck on your GTT! I was wondering where you were..

SD - lol, I'm still here. and pregnant. it may be a while. i'm seeing my midwife this Thursday, a day before our due date, so I'll ask her to check me this time.. not that it will make much of a difference. I hope it doesn't discourage me instead. Too funny to use guided imagery to help cope with your mother's visit. It can't be that bad, can it? I'm excited to hear about your birth story! I know you're using a midwife as well.. are you planning to go all natural?

In other news, my mom is coming to visit me from California this Thursday evening! I'm so excited to see her after about 4 months - the longest I've gone w/out seeing her! She will only be visiting for 11 days as she has a doctor's appt scheduled for Nov. 1st that she has to attend. I really, really hope Athena decides to arrive before Oct. 31st so mom gets a chance to see her and help us out for a few days (if not a day or two). I was told by my doula that a first time mom typically goes into labor 11 days past her due date. And my Bradley Method instructor said 8 days.. I really hope it's closer to 8 days (if not sooner) rather than 11. It's all a waiting game now..

[Sdtryingagain]

Hi Ashley- wow, I've never heard those states about 1st time mom's going so late! I hope that you are closer to your due date than that, but even if you do go post-dates I'm sure things will work out just fine. A friend of mine just went a week past her due date for her 2nd child and she was doing all sorts of funny things to bring lil' Emily into this world. She really didn't want to get induced and ended up having an amazing birth story at a birthing center.

AFM- I'm trying not to think about whether or not I will get an epidural this labor. I definitely won't do any IV medications this time (they gave me one dose of morphine for my 1st and I hated the way I felt-- doped up and still in pain). The epidural on the other hand was awesome for pain control, but made me feel very disconnected from my son until he was actually in my arms (it felt like watching a movie of someone else's lower half being in labor)

I have a really low tolerance for pain, so I honestly don't know if I can labor naturally. I want to. I really want the experience as a woman and as a mother. I want to feel fully connected and present throughout the labor. We'll see....I've been practicing various techniques and really trying to invision going through the labor naturally. My midwife is going to come to my house to labor with me until it is time to go to the hospital so that should help a lot! Regardless, I'm sure however things turn out as soon as my babe is in my arms happy and healthy, I'll be just fine with however the labor goes!

[blairwh58]

Well just a quick post- got sent back to Labor & Delivery today. I have been having contractions every 2-4 minutes since this morning. I got over here around dinner time and they hooked me back up to Magnesium to hopefully spread out the contractions again. Will keep everyone posted but for now we are 4-6min. Hope everyone is doing well.

[Sdtryingagain]

Well just a quick post- got sent back to Labor & Delivery today. I have been having contractions every 2-4 minutes since this morning. I got over here around dinner time and they hooked me back up to Magnesium to hopefully spread out the contractions again. Will keep everyone posted but for now we are 4-6min. Hope everyone is doing well.

Well, I'm sure that everyone wants those babes to stay in there a bit longer but you've made it so far it is fantastic. I hope very much that either they stay put or they come smoothly and are in your arms shortly! Keep us posted!

[margi26]

Quick post....I am utterly exhausted beyond words, but also so happy beyond words as well!!

Blair: Hang in there!! You are doing such a fabulous job. Hope you are able to keep baking them a few more weeks, but if not sending you lots of positive energy. They will be ok....

My darlings are doing so well. DH and I go to the NICU every morning around 8. He usually leaves midday to do some errands and FINISH GETTING HOUSE READY FOR BABIES!! (I tried to tell him we needed to be prepared)....and then he returns. We leave around 10-12 at night. I am literally the only mom there all day.... I really don't get it. If you are sick or need rest, I understand, but really. The only other parent I see often is another IVF mom of a set of twins...hm...seriously. I talked to a mom the other day, a first time mom, and she seemed incredulous that I would spend my WHOLE day there. I wanted to ask.."and what are you doing all day?" Anyway, enough of that soap box.

My dear babies are so sweet tempered. They smile and look at us with such big eyes. I didn't expect them to be so interactive at this young age. They are on complete bottle feedings (no IV's or tube feedings) which I have been told is great given their gestational age. Sofia has brady episodes (her HR drops significantly for a couple seconds) but only occasionally and only when she eats. She gets overzealous and forgets to breathe, which I am learning is pretty common in preemies. They both are gaining weight and need to get some more meat on their bones so that they can regulate their temperatures outside of their isolettes. That, and Sofia to stop having bradys and they can COME HOME!!! We are guessing in about a week and a half. (They are ten days old today). DH and I feel so completely blessed. I watch them all day....they let me feed them and diaper them, do kangaroo hold, and I pump round the clock, every 2-3 hours, as I am trying to build up my milk supply. So far it is going well I think. Levi latches on well, and will be a good breastfeeder once we are able to transition to that. Sofia just needs a little more time.

Well, I am falling asleep as I type. Let me attach a few photos. I will try to do some personals soon....there just isn't much time these days. Love all the baby pictures....and I really cannot believe that I am posting my own...still doesn't always seem real..

My dear Levi:



Darling Sofia: (not sure why her photo is so big, but no time to fix...sorry)



And the pair together: ( I cried when they let me hold them together the other day!)

[kjm1824]

Lou and ryann. Love the pocs. Just beautiful!

SD and Ashley. Good luck with upcoming labor nd delivery. You both have such great attitudes. I know it will go well for both of you.

Blair. I hope you are well and still holding in there. You have done a gret job making it to 30 weeks. Hopefully they stay a while longer.

Margi. I so understnd your post. I felt the same way. You get such limited time with them and then pumping. It is easier when they come home esp when you are at the hospital so much. I figured maybe some went back to work. I know one mom did so she could have more time off when her son went home. Your babies are so cute, just precious pictures. Sounds like tey are doing awesome. Glad they are off all ivs and tube feedings. Geat job on pumping and for levi latching. Reminds me of mine. Hunter was always better. They will be home soon. Sofia stop having those Bs!

[klinger13]

Margi- Sofia and Levi are soooo darn cute!! I can't believe they're already a week and a half old! When Maribel was in the nicu I was there for an hour every 2-3 hours round the clock and I only saw one other set of parents during our stay. I think though that part of that was that a lot of those babies were brought in from areas that didn't have a level 3 nicu so I wondered if there were more visits on the weekend. I'm just glad you get to spend so much time with them. Sounds like they'll be able to come home soon!

[Meinemo]

Margi, I've been on pins and needles waiting to hear an update on how Levi and Sofia were doing. What a fabulous thing that they're both doing so well! And coming home in under two weeks (fingers crossed)!

They look like such sweeties! So excited for you and your (procrastinating) husband.
Hugs,
M

[MamaBoo]

I have a c-section schedule Nov 21. However, there is a possibility due to earlier complications and corrective procedures, I will go into labor earlier. I have been having contractions and cramping, but as of yesterday, I am not dilated at all. My fluid level was a little lower than it has been, and my ob ordered another u/s tomorrow before my NST. She thinks it may be due to my stressful weekend. My son had an abscess on his lower abdomen. I had him at pediatrician Fri who sent us to ER at Children's wanting him admitted to receive antibiotics by IV. Dr there lanced abscess and sent us home w/antibiotics. Sat, I thought it was getting worse. DH took him back to pedi. She drew a line around red area so we could tell for certain if it spread and gave us a different antibiotic to add. Within a few hrs, I could tell it was still spreading. We went back to ER, and they confirmed it. They opened it back up and cleaned it again, and kept him overnight to administer antibiotics by IV....Seriously, they should have just done that Friday. I stayed with him Sat night. I didn't sleep, drink, or eat right. Son came home late Sun afternoon. He had follow-up with pedi on Monday who confirmed his is on the mend. He was home w/me on Monday, but that was hard on me trying to be on "bedrest". DH stayed home w/him yesterday. He was back at daycare today. He is doing well, just a few more days of nasty antibiotics (that they cannot flavor) and changing bandages. Hopefully, now that I am resting, eating and resting better, my fluid levels are back up.

[margi26]

Ashley: Wow...you are getting so close! I hope that your mom arrives tomorrow without incident and that you have a terrific visit. With baby almost here, I am sure it will be a very special time for you and your mom.

SD: It is really you next, right? I had thought I might deliver around your due date originally, but I “jumped” ahead. Sending you lots of positive energy for a quick and easy labor.

Annashope: Thank you for your complement, and for your continued prayers. I hope that Paul starts sleeping through the night soon. I am sure that must be difficult, but he is still quite young.

Ryann: Oh my! They are so adorable and getting so big!! Where does the time go already?

Lou: You and Chloe look beautiful! Love that picture.

Kelley: Thanks for understanding. Yes, I am assuming all will be easier once we get home. Seems like we are about halfway towards going home!

Amanda: Thank you!!

Meinemo: Thank you too....will send you a msg soon. How are you doing? Wow...26 weeks already...feeling ok?

Mamaboo: Sorry to hear about your stressors. Hope that DS is feeling better and that you are able to get some rest. You need it! When is your next fluid check? Hoping it is back up and you are able to make it to your c-section scheduled date.

AFM: Just plugging away....have to share this new photo from yesterday. They really look like they are communicating with each other!! (I so love holding them at the same time.)

[to_have_fun08]

Margi - the babies are adorable.

mamaboo - sorry you had such a stressful weekend. Glad to see that DS is doing better.


AFM - I talked with one of the midwives in the OB's office yesterday. She said since i am on blood pressure medication that the will probably induce me around 39 weeks. That's only 3 weeks away. I am undecided if i like the idea of an induction. Its nice to have a date but i have heard too many horror stories. i'm going to talk with them more next week and see how determined they are to induce and if it might be just a convenience factor for them. I am on the medication and my levels have been fine since starting it. I actually don't even take the full dose they prescribed. I was always forgetting to take my 2nd dosage and then my levels were fine with only taking 1 dose so i stopped worrying about the 2nd. Guess I'll try and push for 11/11 if they insist.

[lou71]

Margi- gosh those babies are adorable!

SD, Ashley, & Chris- You are all so close! Enjoy your visit with your mom Ashley. I really think you're next!

AFM- just enjoying my time at home with chloe. DH went back to work today and works the next 6 days straight. I'm likely to go stir crazy! I sent out all my birth announcements, all 110 of them, ha! Chloe is eating well, about 4 oz 6-7 times a day. I wonder how much she's gained? She was 6lb 10 oz at 7 days old and then 7 lb 10oz at 14 days old. Her next appt is Nov 2nd.