moving on.....

Since Elly is now here, I am thinking that she can officially be part of the Family blog. I might post here occasionally but for right now all "White House" new will be on our family website http://abcdewhite.blogspot.com/.  See you there.

A star is born

**I will try to keep this as graphic free as possible**

The time finally came! I was admitted to the hospital on Monday morning to get things going. My Dad and sister-in-law Janna went with me to keep me company since Adam had to work until later that morning. Mom stayed home with Dawson. Thank you Mom!

My delivery doctor came in around 8 and broke my water. I asked if I could walk around and they let me...HOORAY. Spent the next 45 minutes walking the halls. The halls were pretty short so there was a lot of walking back and forth but still, I got to walk! I went back to the room to be monitored again for a little while. Adam showed up just in time to watch me climb back into bed so he, Dad and Janna played card games while I tried to rest. The contraction started getting more and more intense but I became stubborn and tried to make it through them instead of getting meds. My poor nurse, she kept asking if I wanted anything..*hint hint~Epidural* but I kept saying "just a little while longer. Long story short.....I waited too long. By the time I agreed for an epidural, got the big bag of precursor saline and had the anesthesiologist called I was in EXTREME pain and had a VERY strong urge to push through them... not good when you are only dilated to a 3. I think I have convinced Janna to ask for an Epidural at check in when she has her future babies. lol. Finally the epidural started to work and was able to rest. 

My little sister Sadie Beth showed up around 3 and the waiting started........skip ahead to about 5 pm. I was checked...once a gain and HOORAY, I was fully dilated. Dad ran home to trade off with Mom so she could be there for the delivery. Thank you Daddy! Now I just needed to wait till I had the urge to push again. My Angel of a Nurse Practitioner Sara showed up to sit with all of us and wait. By 6:30 I kind of had a feeling that maybe I wanted to push but not really. I got bored of waiting and asked to try. We got me all ready to do a "practice" push. Since Elly was still at a -1 station, I was told it might take a little while to get her out.  Mom left the room to go check on Chandler who ran over after wrestling practice to be at the hospital. I proceeded to do the "practice" push and was immediately instructed to STOP! The nurses frantically started to call the doctor to hurry up and  get in there quick. By then I was begging to push. I could feel her "right there" and didn't want to stop. Janna and Sadie went running to find my Mom quickly and get back in time.  The doctor finally made it to the room and my Angel Sara delivered Elly after 2 more pushes. 


While waiting for me to "feel" something, there had been bets as to how much Elly would weigh and how long she would be. Adam guessed 8lbs 2oz and the rest varied between 7lbs 10oz and up. I guessed 7lbs 6 oz 19 inches and was told I was being optimistic of a small baby. Ellyana Rosalee weighed in at 7lbs 1 oz and 19.5 inches. See, always listen to Mommy. She knows. 


Elly has her own look. She has very light golden brown hair (not as much hair as I expected with all the heartburn I had) and beautiful smokey blue eyes. I hope her eyes don't change to brown and that her hair stays light but we will see. She has no color in her eyebrows and lashes which is interesting. She is a very laid back, easy going baby. She rarely cries and sleeps really well. She is healthy as a horse and melts all hearts she comes in contact with. I have to say she is very pretty and has been compared to a china doll. Perfect in every way. 

Right after she was born. 

Look at those fingers. She is an angel even when she sleeps.

Checking the world out. 

My very favorite picture from that day. Adam is one proud Daddy. He can't stop cuddling her.

The light at the end of the tunnel

 ***I appologize if this is too graphic****


Well.....went to my Doctors today and we now have a light at the end of the tunnel. I had progressed to a 3 so Sara was able to strip my membrane and agitate my cervix. I was instructed to go home and roll on an exercise ball and partake in some extra curricular activities *wink wink*. If nothing happens on its own this weekend, I am to report to the labor and delivery floor on Monday at 7  bright and early to be induced. We will have a baby we hope by the end of Monday! HOORAY!!! 

I am excited to meet my little jelly bean but I am suddenly sad that this is coming to a finale. No more babies for this girl. I am done. I would like to think I know when to stop and enjoy what I have. So.... more to come when it happens......♥

Todays appointment

Well.....last week I only progressed 1/2 a centimeter in dilation. After the huge progress the week before, the lack of progression seemed defeating. Today I went in hoping that after two weeks of contracting every 20 minutes that there would be SOME  progress but nothing.....needless to say I sobbed in the office. I am going back in on Friday, my actual due date, to see if Sara can get things moving. If not then I guess we will schedule an induction date for next week. New date to aim for....the 16th. Seem like if I can't have her on 11-11-11 then having her on her Great-Grandpa's birthday is a good day to have a baby.  I guess we will see. 

Doctor is guesstimating her weight right now to be about 7 1/2 pounds which is a good size. Now I am glad I ate so well and walked/exercised as much as I have. I am still weighing the same as I have for the last 3 months which means that I am actually loosing weight while she is gaining it. HOORAY. Still about 10 pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight.  

Progress

Today was my 37 week visit. Last week when I went in, my cervix was softening but not dilated, I still wasn't effaced and Ellyana was at a -4 station. Today, 1 week later I am dilated to 1 1/2, 70% effaced and Elly is at a -2 station. Sara said she could feel hair. I guess walking 1 mile or more a day has really helped to move things along. Not sure if she will be here this week but it makes me think she will be here soon. HOORAY!!

Here is a picture of my baby belly since I have had a couple requests

The count down begins....

Saw my doctor yesterday and he says everything looks right on schedule as far as he can tell. Ellyana seems to be measuring right on target again. I get to start the weekly visits and get the oh so pleasant "checks" starting next week. He also says that starting next week, if I go into labor he won't stop it. Let's hope that happens more towards the end of the month. 


I am pretty much packed and ready for her to get here. Now I just have to get myself mentally ready for her to be here.

Getting closer....

Today I am 33 weeks. Only seven more weeks give or take and then I will be able to hold my precious little Ellyana in my arms. 

We have the nursery almost set set up and I have most of what we need to bring her home. 

On a weird note, I woke up on Thursday and my baby belly had decreased. I looked like I had just given birth instead of being 7 weeks away. I had been feeling very "heavy" for a few days, a lot of pressure and a feeling of heaviness in my stomach. When i woke up on Thursday those feeling were gone and so was my belly. Elly is still being somewhat active so I am not too worried.  It has slowly started to come back but not to the point that I was at. I can see my feet too which is funny.

Elly is not as active as Dawson was so I am hoping she is more laid back and mellowed out than he is. Chandler was a very mellow baby and with a soon to be 3 year old in the house, the mellower-the better. 

I realize that I haven't post may pictures on here for this blog. Here are a couple of the nursery so far. The colors don't come across a cute as the room really is but for this being my very 1st and last nursery, I am happy.

 Elly's door

Crib and dresser

The knobs on her dresser spell out her name

(This is the same dresser I used when I was younger. It use to be a bright yellow. Now it is a lime green and periwinkle.)

 The beautiful quilt that my Mother-in-Law made Ellyana

 The letters I painted 

(The dots are multi colored. Doesn't show very well)

Sign my Mom and I found.

 Cute flower I found at Hobby Lobby

 Our Craigs List changing table

Like I said, The colors don't show up as accurate on a few of these pictures. Everyone will just have to come as see the room...and Elly too when she makes her appearance. 

Doctors visit

I went to my new OB office today. I found out that a lot of people have just walked out and not came back to the old office due to all the "Rockwood" changes. Interesting. I am now happy that we made the change and  sought out Sara. I think seeing her till the end will make the rest of this pregnancy so much easier. Her nurse said that a lot of her patients from Deaconess have followed her. She also confirmed Adam and my feelings about a certain female  doctor that shall remain nameless. When I told her that i had kicked her out of the delivery room with Dawson the nurse told me "good. I wish more people would do that. She is just mean!". I had to laugh.

I was asked to come back on Wednesday to be checked because due to my history I am considered a high risk pregnancy even if this pregnancy has been pretty easy so far. Add that to the fact that I have been contracting several times a day lately, they want to make sure that Elly isn't trying to make an early appearance. I am pretty sure everything is going to be fine but it is nice that they are being proactive.

Getting ready to head up to Northport this weekend for the 1st of 2 baby showers.  Can't wait. I will post pictures when I get back.

Little wiggleworm

I have to make a confession. I haven't really felt like I was really pregnant. I know I went through all the horrors of morning sickness and weight loss and expanding belly but it all still seemed like everyday stuff. I guess in a way it was my way of being in denial. I was in utter shock when we found out we were pregnant and truth be told not sure I was ready to take on another pregnancy after all that we went through with the two miscarriages and the fight to keep Dawson inside me. Dawson has been a joy but a challenge too (got to love a strong willed child). I even kept my excitement to a minimum except when it was necessary (People don't understand when you say you aren't sure you are excited about being pregnant). Well.......that all started to change when we were told that we "might" be having a little girl at 18 weeks. *another confession. I really wanted a girl. I REALLY wanted to be able to honor my Grandma Kitty and give her the little Rosie that she had always been longing for. I felt that if I could have my little girl and name her after Grandma then I would be able to have a small piece of her around me all the time and maybe fill that emptiness that her death caused in my heart. Anyways.....the spark of excitement started to glow more when I found the outfit that Grandma Kitty bought for me to come home from the hospital in. I had kept it a rubbermaid container along with all the girlie stuff I had been saving all these years. It is a little yellowed (antiqued) but still very usable. I think we will be using it for her blessing dress. The glow grew brighter when we officially confirmed this week that for sure we were having a little girl and then yesterday the bright glow turned into a bonfire when I was laying on the couch and my stomach jumped around to the point that it scared the cat who had been laying very near the action. I am happy to say I am now happy, excited and overjoyed to be having a baby but so glad we are now done.

1st pictures of "E"

I guess I need to stop calling her "E" and give her a proper name. I guess I have been hesitant to reveal the name we picked because:
1. It took awhile to agree on a name 
2. We keep changing the spelling 
3. I have gotten mixed reviews on our choice when I have expressed it
and
4. I didn't want someone to like it and use it before we got her here (paranoid I know).
The name we have chosen for this miracle is......Ellyana Rosalee (pronounced ellie-on-a). Eliana means God has answered and Rosalee is a combination of Rosa for my Grandma Kitty (Her birth name was Catalina Rosa) and Lee for my Mom (her middle name). There you go. :)

We went in for another ultrasound yesterday because the 18 weeks one didn't show her heart chambers as well as they had hoped. It was a blessing in disguise because 4 weeks makes for big changes and my Parents were able to come this time and since they missed all of Dawson's pregnancy and this is my last one I really wanted them to experience the wonders of modern technology. 
Elly was very active and put on a show. She kept covering her face with her arms and hands and punching/kicking up a storm. At one point she had the tech laughing because she had pulled her legs up over her head and was playing with her toes and trying to put them in her mouth. 

Here are a couple pictures from yesterday:

Her profile. Look at the cute nose!

A frontal picture. Kind of looks like a skeleton but still cute.

 Look at that shapely leg. 

 She was waving at us. lol.

Her little arm and fist.

Here area couple of the 4-D pictures. Elly still doesn't have much baby fat on her so the pictures are somewhat distorted but enjoy anyways....

 This one was her saying "no more pictures please".

And the Wizard says......

It's a GIRL!!!!! I will post pictures as soon as I download them. She is very active and all looks good. They couldn't get a good reading on her heart so I have to go back in 4 weeks for another ulrtrasound. We are excited and my Parents have all ready started shopping. This will make a great ending to our completed family.

Still no news.....

Well, here is our sad story.....

We showed up to our appointment all ready to see our little jellybean and be able to put a name to my bump. As I said in my last post we had been notified that our CNP, Sara, had moved on to another office and wouldn't be the one we were seeing. What the receptionist didn't tell me when she called to reschedule and I mentioned we were suppose to have an ultrasound was that Sara was such a sweetie that she did these "peek" ultrasounds for her favorite patients just to get the sex early but nobody else in the office does them. Needless to say Adam came unglued and I tried not to cry. Our new Midwife Valerie is very nice and I think she will do a great job helping us with this pregnancy.... but our other dilemma is we got the name of Sara's new office and so now we need to decide if we want to change offices or stay at my current one. At the current one I would get to deliver at Deaconess which I really want. If I see Sara I would have to deliver at Holy Family which I am not excited to do. My friend Valerie recommended the office she goes to and ironically the CNP that helped deliver Dawson that we loved so much who also left the practice now works there but I would have to deliver at Sacred Heart which wouldn't be so bad.   Oh decisions, decisions! :)

We will be going in to the hospital on June 13th for the formal Fetal Anatomy Ultrasound  that they give all 18 week gestation mommies to do all the measuring and testing and if we want the know the sex at that time they will tell us. WE WANT TO KNOW! Oh well. At least the 13th will come fast and them we can officially name this jellybean and start the buying process.

The date is set

We will be going in on May 31st to take a peek. I guess my practitioner who I loved and was so supportive has left the practice so I am now seeing someone new at the office. The midwife I used for Dawson left the practice after I had Dawson so I am starting to get a complex that I am causing people to move on. lol. The scheduling nurse noticed it too and even mentioned it to me in jest. 

Anyways, excited to finally see this jellybean on screen and maybe find out what color scheme we need to start thinking about. We are hoping pink but sadly I am thinking we may be seeing blue again. Guess we will know in two weeks. Any guesses?

A medium shrimp, a peach and a nutter butter walk into a bar.....

...no, but seriously. I receive a weekly e-mail from a couple different website that give you an insider into what is happening inside your belly for that week. each one then tells you how much your jellybean has grown from the last week and compares the size of the jellybean that week to a piece of food. This week, week 13, my jelly bean has been compared to a medium shrimp, a peach and a nutter butter cookies. For some reason this made me laugh. looking forward to next week to see what my jellybean is going to look like. ♥

12 weeks and going strong

The morning sickness is slowly getting better. I still don't have an appetite but I am able to eat occasionally. I haven't had to take the anti-nausea medicine in a week. I seem to be living off XXX Vitamin water. I am down 20 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight. Hooray! 

I am going to the doctors today so we will see what they say. 

****UPDATE*****

Saw Sara today. She was able to hear the heartbeat. Still thinks this is a girl so here is fingers crossed. I am severely dehydrated and need to eat more she said. Concerned about the weight loss a little but wants the dehydration to be taken care of. She put me on a new anti-nausea medicine. It the same one they give cancer patients. Shouldn't knock me out like the other one. 


We are going back in on June 1st to get a peek at our jellybean and see if we can tell what it is. I can't wait.

Still going strong.....

We were able to get a quick peek at our little jellybean on the 5th. There is just one (phew) and it is doing beautifully. Very strong heartbeat and our due date was moved from the 14th to the 12 but my midwife is bound and determined to deliver on the 11th. 

I am still sicker than a dog but it is still a good thing. So relieved that  I won't have to take all the med I did with Dawson to keep this little jellybean inside. 

I would post a picture but the ultrasound wasn't really all that impressive and would only really thrill a parent if you know what I mean. I promise to post when we have some really good pictures.

Sick sick sick....

I am sick sick sick. Not the most fun experience but at least it means the pregnancy so far is healthy. This is what I keep telling myself:
~This too shall pass.
~It is for a good cause.
~It can't last forever.
~This is an amazing weight loss program.
~If people with eating disorders can do it than you can too..... ok, not so much that one but you get the idea.

Down 6 pounds so far. Not too worried about not being able to eat since I seem to have enough "storage" to sustain this kid till food sounds good again. Tea and dry toast shall be my friend for a little while longer.

News from the doctor's office.....

I talked to the nurse today about my test results. My HCG levels were 51,989. Very high which is very good. I means that the pregnancy is healthy and that I probably won't have to be on medication. HOORAY!!!!!!! That would explain why I am sicker than a dog. Happy to be actually if it means I am having a healthy pregnancy. This too shall pass right?

Now we just have to wait till the 5th so we can get a peek at our little jellybean. Can't wait!!

more....

I went to my appointment on Tuesday and met with met with my midwife Sara. She is wonderful and is going to make this pregnancy so much better. She is already referring to this little one as "she". Let's hope she is right. I still had to be tested for my Progesterone levels but Sara is very encouraging about the fact that I am already sicker than a dog and extremely tired. Good signs of a healthy pregnancy with out the progesterone intervention. maybe I won't have to take it this time. That would be so nice. I still hope I hear from the office about where my levels are.

More to come......

What to do?

I tried to make an appointment with a new doctor but they can't get me in until April 3rd. I need to see someone before that because my last two miscarriages have been at 6 and 7 weeks. With Dawson I got in at 5 weeks and was put on the heavy duty progesterone right away and that seemed to do the trick. I called my old doctor's office and they can get me in next week. I will even get to see the midwife which is what I wanted anyways. I just hope that I don't have to see the doctor that shall remain nameless that made the end of my last pregnancy such a pain...no pun intended. There are two other providers there that I guess I could request instead if needs be. The one that delivered Dawson was a great guy and he was LDS also so he respected some of the requests that Adam and I had. tI guess we will have to see what happens after Tuesday next week.

More announcments

We told my Parents tonight. They were very excited. They loved the picture and Mom is already to take it to Church and brag. 

Sent an e-mail to Nana and Papa to announce to them. 

Now I need to just get into a doctor. I am going to call a place tomorrow that came recommended by my friend Tori. Not sure yet what I am going to do about the insurance so I might have to pay out of pocket a couple of times but if it gets me in the door and on the right track then great. 

Told the boys

We told Chandler today at dinner that he was going to be a big brother again. He says he suspected something like that was coming because Adam asked him on Sunday if he had a choice between a brother or sister in the future what would he want. I guess Adam was a little excited on Sunday. 

I told Dawson yesterday that he was going to be a big brother and that Mommy had a baby in her tummy. He said "I know". I asked if he wanted a girl or a boy baby and he said "girl". I guess Adam asked him the same thing on Sunday (so much for him keeping secrets) and Dawson said "boy". Guess we will have to wait 4 more months to find out. 

I made up the cutest pictures of my positive pregnancy test and put "Coming 11-11-11" on the bottom, framed it and that is going to be what we give my Parents to tell them this weekend. 

Still need to find a doctor. Not sure if I want to go back to the old office and hope I don't have to have an encounter with a certain Dr or should I find somewhere new that will deliver at Deaconess. Oh the decisions. I just need to do something soon because I am still panicked about something going wrong.

And it starts

We took the test and it came out positive. 

What are we going to do? Adam and I are both happy and scared out of our wits. I know we weren't exactly "not" trying but we also had been not "not" trying for 7 months and nothing had happened. I had decided that if it didn't happen this month we were done and Adam was going to go get snipped. Guess someone up there really wants us to add one more blessing to this family.  As of right now my due date would be 11-11-11. How cool is that?

I hope to use this as a sort of pregnancy journal. I will try to update as often as possible.