He's Here!!

Baby Boy Patnode

February 11, 2013 @ 4:34 pm

8 pounds, 2 ounces

20 1/2 inches

I predicted he would be 8 pounds, 2-3 ounces - I am a genius! He is their biggest baby yet...but still smaller than both of mine!!

As per usual, he is nameless. Let the debate begin.

Patty also tested positive for GBS, so she'll be in the hospital until Wednesday. I hope to get to go up there, but given Drew has yet to take a bottle that seems unlikely, so I will probably see him at home later this week.

Patty also pushed only 1 time! She certainly knows how to have babies. {grin}

Our hearts are full - just in time for Valentine's Day!!

Drew's Birth Story - Part 2

In case you missed it, Part 1 is HERE.

Where we left off, Brent had just pulled up to the hospital. He dropped me off at the entrance and went to park. Walking into the hospital was horrible. I read a sign that said 'Active labor - 2nd floor'. The lady at the information desk pointed me in the direction of the elevators and up I went. I had a contraction in the elevator and am so thankful no one was there when the door opened as I was leaning on the wall and moaning. Ha! I heard Brent come in downstairs and ask about me. The woman at information asked 'Was she wearing purple?' Yup, that was me! She pointed Brent upstairs and I shouted 'Hey' at him from the balcony. I didn't wait for him though - I went into L&D without him and figured he'd find me. I needed a room NOW!

Brent met me in L&D and a nurse got assigned to take us to a room. She asked if I wanted a wheelchair. The thought of sitting down again was absolutely awful. We got to our room, and I got changed into a gown and gave the nurse my birth plan. It was now 12:00 PM. The nurse mentioned her shift being over at 1:00 and a new nurse would be assigned to take us through delivery. Little did she know...

Just a few minutes later, doula Cary arrived. I started laboring on my hands and knees on the couch, and she began coaching me through each contraction. It was wonderful. Her voice was so calming, and she really helped keep me focused on my breathing through each pain.

A few minutes after that, Liane {midwife} made it! She came over and helped Cary get me through a contraction. I will forever love both of these women. Liane told me I needed to be checked, and I know it sounded awful, but I had to lay on the bed. Here was the moment of truth. Would I be a 2 and want to die? Honestly, the 2 minutes I was on the bed were the worst of the whole day. I had 1 contraction on my back and could barely handle it. Cary and Liane kept me together, and then Liane checked me. The way it felt, I knew she was going to say 2. She said '8 cm, 80% effaced, water bag bulging.' Holy sh*t!! Looking back, this is probably why the truck ride was so bad - I was probably going through transition.

Brent said at this point the room jumped into motion. Liane got really serious. People started swarming in, Liane got herself suited up, and I began laboring on the side of the bed. They also tried to get an IV in for antibiotics from Group B Strep, but I accidentally knocked it out during pushing. Oops! I was standing leaning on the birth ball which was on the bed. Cary and Liane kept coaching me through each contraction, and Liane said I had already been through the worst and it wouldn't hurt anymore than it already did. Those were magic words.

Liane then started discussing my water. Given Baby Gurl was 41 weeks, it was highly likely there would be meconium in my water, and if that was the case, we would not be able to delay cord clamping because we would need to get her suctioned immediately. Liane must have a 6th sense because on my next contraction, my water broke and, sure enough, there was meconium in it. 

Liane told me to let her know when I felt like I needed to push. The next contraction I started to feel the urge to push, so I climbed up onto the bed and leaned over the back of it (it was elevated) and began pushing when the urge hit. These contractions didn't hurt anymore, but the feelings were so intense. That's the only way I can think to describe them. It was overwhelming how my body took over and just made me push.

I started to lose control a little and was saying 'I can't, I can't' over and over again. Cary kept encouraging me that I could and I was. She said every time 'She is almost here. You are right there.' Brent told me {I didn't hear this or don't remember} that Liane told me to stop talking and use that energy to push. Ha. Brent said he almost got in my face at that point to pep talk me, but I got myself back under control.

At this point, Liane wanted me to turn onto my side to push to give Baby Gurl more room to come out. It took me a little bit of time to move into that position, but once I did, I looked down and half of her head was out! On the next contraction, I pushed with everything I had and out popped her head! Liane then worked her body out and she was here!!!! The time was 1:02, 1 hour after we got to the hospital.

She came out screaming which was awesome because that meant she didn't have to be suctioned and we could delay clamping her cord. Happy mama!

Wow! What a day!

We did not expect labor to go that quickly, but I'm so thankful I was able to labor at home some and wasn't at the hospital very long. We had an amazing team, Brent thought Liane did a great job too (he doesn't give out praise often).

We pretty much got our ideal birth and have a healthy, beautiful baby girl. We are beyond blessed.

Drew's Birth Story - Part 1

The plan was that if Baby Gurl wasn't here by 1/2/13, I would go back to work and life would resume from the holidays as 'normal' until she did arrive. So my in-laws kept Trent Tuesday night (1/1/13) since he always stays with them on Wednesdays. Brent took him over there, got a hamburger with some friends and came home. We talked about the plan for the next day - we wanted to go see Brent's best friend who had had a baby on 12/27, eat lunch together, run some errands and then have our appointment with the OB at 3:00 PM.

Wednesday morning I woke up a little before 7:00 and willed myself to go back to sleep. I dozed for a bit and then felt something. Hmmm... I looked at the clock - 7:24 AM. I tried to doze some more and felt another something. I proceeded to feel little surges every 5-10 minutes. They weren't painful but they were definitely something. I decided I'd give them at least an hour before I woke up Brent to make sure there was consistency. I mean, at 41 weeks pregnant, it has to be labor, right? I was sure hoping so but didn't want to get too excited. I got something to eat and sat down to read and watch the time. The surges continued.

At 9:00, I went and told Brent what was happening. At 9:30, I asked him if I should call the OB and doula group. We decided it couldn't hurt since I was still contracting less than 10 minutes apart. Things still were not painful at this point...but they were definitely there. I also texted a few girlfriends to say we might be in labor! That was fun.

At the OB's office, Liane {midwife} recommended I go ahead and go to the hospital since I did test positive for GBS. I was a little surprised by that because the OB {Dr. C} had said originally that I could still labor at home for awhile even with a positive test result. I called the doula group and Cary was the doula of the day. She agreed I could probably labor at home for a little bit since I was still feeling okay, could talk through my contractions and WANTED to be at home. She said she could meet us at home or at the hospital, just to let her know. I also talked to my mom, my MIL and my sister. Everyone was very excited!

I decided to get in the tub for a bit and I started timing my contractions with an app. I wanted to see if they were closer together like I thought or if it was my imagination/hope. I filled the tub up super full and climbed in. 2 contractions later I was OUT. I did NOT enjoy those contractions in the tub and just couldn't get comfortable. {Later Brent told me he was like WTF when he saw me get into the tub, he wanted to go to the hospital!} I started timing contractions at 10:06. They were on average a minute long and about 3 1/2 minutes apart - definitely moving in the right direction and starting to be painful. 

I got into the shower at this point because I wanted to be clean and fresh at the hospital. Brent took over timing the contractions. At this point they were definitely getting worse. I was using visualization and prayer to get me through each one. I ran the 400m in high school which is about a 1 minute race. I kept thinking about each contraction like a 400, kind of funny. I said lots of Hail Marys too and realized they were starting to get bad when I couldn't finish the prayer because I couldn't remember the words.

When I got out of the shower, I still wanted to fix my hair and make-up but Brent was really pushing me to get my bag finished so he could get it in the truck. I got dressed and realized there was no way I could get ready with as quickly as the contractions were coming and as painful as they were getting, so I pulled my wet hair back and threw everything else we needed into the suitcase and Brent started loading the truck.

I randomly remember paying for the placenta encapsulation service (Cary laughed at me about this later because she saw the email come through with my payment info) and answering an email from a co-worker (No, sorry I can't chat today, having contractions...ha). 

At this point, I was having to moan through each contraction to keep myself loose and relaxed. Scared the crap out of Brent though to walk back into the house and hear me moaning in our bedroom! Sorry, honey, it felt SO good!

I took one last bump picture, called Cary to tell her to meet us at the hospital and out the door we went!

It took me a few minutes to actually get into Brent's truck as contractions hit me. He just wanted me IN THE TRUCK so we could get going! In the truck, I called my mom and the OB to let them know we were heading to the hospital. By this point, it was 11:30 AM.

The drive to the hospital was pretty brutal (and only 15 minutes). Contractions every 3 minutes sitting were not pleasant. I remember cursing the bumps in the road. I wanted to be turned around backwards hugging the seat but was just trying to manage each contraction as best as I could until we could get to the hospital.

Finally, Brent turned onto the road the hospital was on. In between contractions, I voiced a fear that I NEEDED to be at a good number. I wasn't sure I could make it if we weren't. Brent told me to not worry about a number, we'd be where we'd be and we'd make it. Love that man.

And with that, we made it to the hospital!

Part 2 coming soon...I need to feed a hungry girl! {grin}

The Name Game

It only took Brent and me 1 day instead of 2 to name this child. Maybe we're getting better at this whole parenting thing??

We proudly introduce...

Drew Kathleen

I plan to get the birth story up by Monday and have such cute pictures of Trent meeting his baby sister. He definitely loves her! It is adorable. I always hate the long time between hearing of a new baby and reading the story of their arrival...I promise I'm not dragging this out on purpose...I just don't have free hands much right now! Thanks for all the sweet comments and love for our baby gurl. We are over the moon!

Baby Gurl Bumpdate: 41 Weeks

Our appointment at 3:00 got cancelled. {grin}

Baby Gurl Gurley

1:02 pm on 1/2/13

9 pounds, 20 inches

Pure heaven

Think...

PINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oops...We Did It Again

Warning...

I feel it is my duty to let all you peeps out there know...

If you read this book...

You might get this!!!! {grin}

My New Niece or Nephew

Couldn't fool you guys!  My sister is preggo again!!  Due to Baby P already causing drama (leading us to believe this baby is a girl), Patty has already had 4 ultrasounds and Baby P is doing fantastic!  She's due April 5 - I can't wait!

Introducing...

TRENT JOSEPH GURLEY!!!!!!

Details and pics to come when we get home. Right now I have the cutest baby sleeping in my arm making typing and uploading a bit tough!!

Meet My NEPHEW!

My sister and brother-in-law had a HEALTHY baby BOY this morning!! He was born at 4:29 a.m. weighing in at a whopping 7 lbs. 6 ozs. {ha - I bet my boy will weigh more than that} and measuring 20 inches long. He doesn't have a name yet, and here's just a few pictures. We'll be heading back up to the hospital in a little bit, so I will post more pictures of the cutest baby boy!!

One very happy aunt

Look at that face! I could eat him up already.

Freshly bathed and a full belly makes a sleepy, precious boy

It's A...

What's Happenin', Hot Stuff?

So now that this blog is finally underway, I figured there's lots to share! My December has been totally crazy but so much fun. I guess the most important thing to share goes back further than December...WE ARE HAVING A BABY!!! We found out October 23 and had our latest appointment this past Thursday. I've been feeling pretty good, just the typical stuff - total exhaustion and nausea. :) Cute, huh? My sister is expecting as well, and it's a lot of fun going through this together. She's the other baby due date on my side bar, Patty's baby. Here's her 30 week picture (I torture her by taking pictures, but one day she'll be happy I took them).

This month I have been in Raleigh visiting my BFF, Kristen. We didn't take any 'good' pictures, but she got a cute one of me with my favorite puppy (her dog), Mitch. Can you tell he missed me?
Then I went to Orlando for work...the day after I got home from Orlando, Brent and I packed up and flew to Puerto Vallarta with 3 other couples (Ryan and Rhonda, Derek and Dez, and Kelby and Karen). I have way too many fun pictures from there to just post one, so I'll save that for another post. This one is long enough as it is!!