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SHE'S HERE!!!

Hello world!

Have you missed me? I've been busy, her name is Nevaeh! Last Sunday, after much debate (since I had said that I wasn't going until the baby was coming out), we went to the hospital, mainly because Dwayne was afraid he would have to deliver his own baby and I had been in pain (nothing new for the past few months) for 24 hours. I was sure after many visits to the hospital with no gain, that although I was hurting and contracting away, I would hear the same old "Nope, this isn't it Lauri, but we do want to keep you and observe you.".  Not my cup of tea, if you know what I mean. This time however I was given good but scary news, yes, after two months of preterm labor, finally made it to stage two of labor. Of course, this was scary because I was only 36 weeks so I was getting relief but she would still be a preemie.

by early the next afternoon Sept. 18th I was holding my beautiful baby girl. She was 5 lbs. 15 oz. and 18 1/2 inches long. with a mop of black hair. I had to make sure and tell Dwayne she was definitely his as both of the boys had little to no hair and are blond. 

To sum it up; We are exhausted, I'm sore, and We have our blessing, a little jaundiced, but over all healthy (Thank God!)

For now,

Lauri

36 weeks and happy to be home

I have decided not to go back to the hospital until there is a baby poking out. I spent a large chunk of my day yesterday and the night before in the hospital. I'm not a huge fan of hospitals, they make me extremely nervous; They hook you up to machines, in any case there is the worry that there is something fatally wrong, they poke you with needles, make you wear robes that give off the peep show if you move wrong, and all dignity is gone (not that I'm shy, but I think that the doctors have seen more of my lower posterior than my husband has lately).

I am sore, tired, and worn out. I had contractions going about every 4-5 minutes, so I went into triage, where of course, I start to panic, 'is this the time, is the baby going into the NICU if she is born, is there something wrong with her, and oh yes, how many times are they going to stick me with needles?'.  To make a very long night short I'll sum it up; I panic, my useless (by the way)contractions start going every minute in a strange pattern, doc wants to know if there is a tear somewhere and if these contractions will turn into something (you know full blown labor), she didn't want to wake up neonatal doctors for an ultrasound so I stay the night (not that I wanted too). To answer my own worrisome questions, no this is not the time. who knows if she would go to nicu, many 35 and 36 weekers go home with momma. No there isn't anything wrong with her (my body just hates me). And last but not least I was poked with 8 needles, 6 of which were to get an I.V. in, all of which ruptured with the aid of three different apologetic nurses. Anyone who has had an I.V. knows that those are big needles and no they didn't use a numbing agent although after the first 2 tries I did ask.

For now,

Lauri

35 weeks. Is baby coming sooner than we thought?

My posts have been scant the past few days due to the fact that I have been in and out of the hospital. The doctor I saw told me that she thought the baby would be born this weekend sometime, but who really knows?

Thursday I awoke with the ever familiar contraction in a stronger form and wasn't able to go back to sleep. 6 contractions and an hour later I decided to wake Dwayne up, who by the way was dead out, to let him know that the medicine wasn't working and to see what he wanted to do. He proceeded to stare at me glassy eyed, which I figured out meant that he was still asleep. I repeated myself and said "... What do you want to do?" To which he replied very groggily "wait" and then immediately began to snore (loudly).  So I decided to wait another hour, the whole time trying to relax and sleep (didn't work).

4:30 AM rolled around and the contractions were still bountiful, so I woke him up again. this time he understood that he wasn't dreaming and we decided to call grandma. She arrived and we left for the hospital. After what always feels like an eternity, the doctor said we had made a little bit of progress but that she thought that I would feel more comfortable at home until the time came (over the next few days).

We went home. Long story short; I was called back to the hospital for blood pressure problems, sent home again and returned later to find that my discomfort, though it had grown, wasn't doing much (not uncommon for a mom in early labor). I was still about the same. After sincerely declining a shot of Demerol in the ass and a stay of observation in the hospital (to see if it would relax or possibly stop labor) We settled on me taking some meds via mouth entry (I remember what the steroid shots in the butt felt like when I was pregnant with Keith, extremely unpleasant, but those were for his benefit not mine as was the case with the Demerol. No thanks, I like the ability to walk.) and a trip back home so We could sleep in our own bed.

The meds. knocked me out for 12 hours! I haven't ever slept that good, but they slowed my contractions to every 15 minutes. In 24 hours we have progressed to every 10 minutes. I don't think baby's coming for a few more days (or weeks). I'm am getting tired of feeling like one of those stress relief balls and I'm sure she's tired of feeling like a squeak toy (as it has been 4 months of it now, the only difference is that these are stronger and more frequent now that medicine has stopped working).

Keep ya posted.

For now,

Lauri

34 weeks

Hello all,

I'm a little over 34 weeks now, and hoping to make it to at least 36 weeks. Although the terbutaline isn't as effective as it used to be, it's still helping. Trust me, I can tell when it is wearing off and it isn't pleasant, I would much rather have the contractions I get while on it than the ones that I get when I'm not. I went to the doctor today and he said that he's happy that I've made it this far, and I have to say that I am too.

For those of you who are wondering, myself let alone any other pregnant woman has no dignity left by the end of pregnancy. This combined with my lack of shyness attributes to these lovely little tidbits on the every day life of a pregnant woman (don't you feel lucky you read this? ha ha). Now, on the subject of Doctor visits, as anyone who is or has been pregnant may know that they need a urine sample at every visit (ah yes, checking other peoples pee, now there's a job that must be loathed), which most of the time isn't a problem... except when you get to nine months. No, I'm not saying that you don't have to go (believe me, you always feel like you have to go), but it proves to be more work than it's worth some days. The growing baby has made for the sensation of a shrinking bladder, so I feel the need to go but can sit there for 10 minutes waiting for a whole three drops (ah sweet relief, ha ha). Hope it's enough for what ever tests they need to run, if not wait another two minutes and I'll bet you any pregnant lady will be ready to go again. On that note, I'll let you go.

For now,

Lauri

Pregnant Album

Hello,

For those interested I have added a new album just for Pregnant picture rightfully named Pregnancy Pictures. Later on I will be adding a new album just for my professional portfolio.

Oh and while I was browsing today I found a fun weblog for parents, which by the way was a featured blog on Typepad.com yesterday called CityMama. Check it out.

For now,

Lauri

Pregnancy

Hello,

So we're 33 weeks now, and my meds. have been upped again (You gotta do what you gotta do). If I can just make it three more weeks I will be ecstatic. Obviously I'm not allowed to do too much so I spend a lot of time reading (which doesn't bother me a bit).  My latest read would be Jenny McCarthy's Belly Laughs it's incredibly entertaining. For anyone who hasn't read it (even if you don't like Jenny McCarthy) you'll get a kick out of it. Though I do have one question about the chapter on pre-term labor (as I have that same problem and my interest was peaked) at 25 weeks she is cramping which she says wasn't even as bad as some menstrual cramps she had had in the past, so she calls her doctor (slightly concerned) instead of going to triage and he tells her to "have a glass of wine and put her feet up". Just so you know she decided that it would be better to go to the hospital instead.  Now as I have understood it ever since my first pregnancy in '02, alcohol is a HUGE no no. Now, I know that when my mom was having kids they would make the same suggestion, but this book was published in 2004. Do some doctors still recommend this?

The other book I recommend for the new mommy to be if you want to know how to pamper yourself (or have someone else pamper you) pick up Spa Mama by Stacy Denny. There are masks and massages galore in this book and even a few recipes, I know as I have tried quite a few myself. So pick it up and enjoy.

For now,

Lauri

Pregnancy

Hello world,

I just feel like rambling. We're at 32 weeks and counting, and as I have pre-term labor problems (like I have in the past) everyone in the family is on panic mode. The doctors have said to take it easy but they have told me that I don't have to be on bed rest (yay!!!). They have, however, doubled my dosage of Terbutaline (which is apparently usually meant for emphysema patients). It is a very uncomfortable medication that makes you shake all the time (especially when I'm upset). But I have noticed that the contractions have gotten stronger so I looked up the medication and apparently it loses it's effectiveness with long-term use (I've been on it for about 4 weeks), my question is why am I still taking it if it isn't really helping anymore, will upping my dosage really do any good? I know I'm not in a full blown labor (I remember what that feels like) or I would be having a baby right now. And don't get me wrong, I like my doctor a lot. He has said that the meds. won't stop the contractions, they just ease them. I guess, all I have to say is that if these are the eased version then I don't want to know what they are like with out them.

for now,

Lauri

On pregnancy

Hello,

I have to admit that I love being pregnant, I think that pregnancy is one of the most beautiful times in a woman's life.  It happens to be one of my favorite things to photograph (the belly pics. not the birthing process). This is my third and last time and although I want to see my little girl and give her, her name (Nevaeh) I don't want it to end, not just yet. The reality of it is the word "last" is so final, you know. To be quite honest I'm just grateful for the opportunity to experience it.

Of course you don't always feel so lovely, like when I go swimming with my little ones (cause even pregnant ladies gotta get their swim on) and there is that one (or many younger girls) with the 34 D bust and the size 2 waist and there you are (although you're not huge) feeling like your waistline is, well, the equator. Then of course it's the thin girls that are "evil" for a whole new reason (like it's there fault that your knocked up, ha ha!). Oh well, it's all worth it in the end, and yes I even say that 2 months after the baby is born and I haven't slept in weeks.

Coming from me, to say that I love being pregnant is huge (no pun intended), all being considered that as a younger girl that I was determined not to have kids, partially but mostly due to my 8th grade teacher who was pregnant and kind enough to share the "Miracle of Life" video with our science class because of her un-contained (and at the time, misunderstood) excitement. No offense to the maker of the video as it is educational and something that can be appreciated, just not to a 13 year old girl. For those of you who have not seen the movie, it starts from conception showing you what the baby looks like at all stages and then proceeds to show the Full Monty of the birthing process. It scared the crap out of all the girls, and the boys were probably rather traumatized for a while (not exactly what they want to fantasize about if you know what I mean). None the less i outgrew that fear obviously as i am on my third child. Actually I got to be with one of my best friends recently when she had her first, it was cool being able to be there for her on her first time.

I do have a question though, what's up with men who have kids who get squeamish at the sight of a pregnant woman. Could it be that their pregnant wife beat them mercilessly, or is it just a scary thing for them even though they "survived" it at least once before?

till next time,

Lauri :)   

For more photos of all types you can view our photo album at bits and peices