Here's Alana all dressed up for Daddy :)
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Location:Visiting Daddy :)
Monday, August 29, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Last day with Daddy :(
So his 2 weeks are up Francis has to go back to work tomorrow. I know I may sound a little silly to be sad about it but I've cherished these past few weeks together as a family. Are these postpartum blues getting to me or what?!!?! I feel like I'm gonna be so sad when he leaves for work tomorrow morning :(
I try to think about it this way to keep me from being so sad: Only 4 more weeks until we get to be together again for 6 awesome weeks!!! Maybe by then we'll be able to take her out more often :)
I try to think about it this way to keep me from being so sad: Only 4 more weeks until we get to be together again for 6 awesome weeks!!! Maybe by then we'll be able to take her out more often :)
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| I absolutely love this picture <3 |
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Happy Birthday Tita Heidee!!!
Yesterday was actually my sister's birthday but we celebrated it with food and family today.
Now throughout our childhood, you couldn't exactly say my sister and I got along well. In fact, it was quite the opposite. We argued, yelled, and did what normal siblings do.
Nowadays, I look back and am amazed at how far we've come. I'm proud to say that my sister is one of the nicest and most generous people that I know. Whenever I see her it seems like she has something for me, Alana or Francis that she just so happened to come across on one of her shopping sprees. It's not just with me though, I see it with my parents and everyone around her.
We've never been the type to really tell each other how we feel so I'll keep it short and simple...
Now throughout our childhood, you couldn't exactly say my sister and I got along well. In fact, it was quite the opposite. We argued, yelled, and did what normal siblings do.
Nowadays, I look back and am amazed at how far we've come. I'm proud to say that my sister is one of the nicest and most generous people that I know. Whenever I see her it seems like she has something for me, Alana or Francis that she just so happened to come across on one of her shopping sprees. It's not just with me though, I see it with my parents and everyone around her.
We've never been the type to really tell each other how we feel so I'll keep it short and simple...
Ate, thank you for everything!!! I LOVE YOU :)
Happy Birthday!
Friday, August 26, 2011
Belly Button!!!
Alana's umbilical cord fell off today!!! I know it's such a minor thing but I feel like she's already growing so fast. By the time I know it we'll be celebrating her 1st Birthday!!! So happy to be a parent :)
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Day 11
Woke up this morning to the sound of Alana crying at 7am. Thanks to Francis I was able to sleep through her 4am feeding. Thank you Francis!!!! You're the best husband!!! Postpartum blues are definitely hitting me because I get really sad that Francis only has 1 more week with us before he goes back to work. I'm just trying to cherish these first few days I have with the two loves of my life before Francis has to go back to work. Still in disbelief that I have a family :)
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
One crazy, life-changing beautiful day
August 11, 2011
Driving into the parking lot of Providence Holy Cross, I thought to myself, "This is it! Francis and I are walking out of this hospital with a daughter!!!!" Never did I imagine that things would happen the way that they did, but regardless, Francis and I will definitely mark this day down as the best day of our lives.
Walking into the hospital I felt nothing but excitement. I walked to the admissions bungalow as Francis found a parking spot. I waited for Francis and was wheelchaired into labor and delivery. Apparently there were about 3 other deliveries occurring at the same time and since I was an induction, I was of course the last to be seen. (after experiencing contractions, I completely understand why!)
I finally got admitted into a room (1110) and we were set. I was to deliver in this very room sometime within the next 2 days!! My nurse checked me and told me I was about 1cm dilated and 40% effaced and was not nearly ready to have Alana just yet. She couldn't quite make out whether she felt an ear while examining me so she asked for a second opinion from an ultrasound and an exam by Dr. Gabbay. The ultrasound confirmed that she was definitely head down, but what was that body part that the nurse felt?
Dr Gabbay finally steps into my room and while performing a vaginal exam, she accidentally breaks my water!!!! Guess it's time to deliver!!! And for those of you who have never had kids yet, be warned...as soon as your water breaks, those light contractions turn into unbearable pain quite quickly. Epidural please!!!! Of course again I was last to receive mine. But I wasn't exactly brave when it was finally my turn. Everyone including Francis was asked to leave the room.
They first injected me with lidocaine to numb the area. I was instructed to keep completely still as I sat at the edge of the bed and to my surprise, I barely felt anything at all! There was a slight pressure on my spine but no pain. Whoever invented epidurals is a genius!!!! Slowly the pain decreased and all I could feel was tightening on my stomach and some tingling in my feet.
After another exam, Dr. Gabbay realized that Alana was in face presentation and could not be delivered normally. The "ear" that the nurse thought she was feeling was actually her mouth and she had to be delivered via C-Section. Within minutes they were prepping me for surgery.
I was prepped by my nurse fairly quickly and taken to the operating room. Francis wasn't allowed to walk in for the first few minutes while they got me ready and I was just completely nervous being alone in there. I was moved onto the OR table with each arm to my side, and the anesthesiologist near my head. A curtain was placed so that I wasn't able to see my lower half and Francis was finally allowed in. He sat to my left, held my hand and before I knew it, the surgery had already started without me feeling a thing. Within 4 minutes, the surgery was done and the first thing I heard was the beautiful sound of my daughter's first cry and the tears flowed. She was finally here!!! I looked at Francis and it was the most amazing moment of our lives! He walked over to the nurses near the warmer as they checked her and swaddled her. They brought her over to me for a few moments and I was completely speechless. During my pregnancy I kept imagining that moment in my head wondering what I would say to her when I finally saw her, but I was just speechless. She was absolutely beautiful.
Not long after Francis left with the nurses to give Alana a bath as they completed my surgery. When they were done, I was wheeled into recovery and waited anxiously for my new family to meet me there. Francis held Alana for the first time at my bedside, kissed her head and immediately fell in love. He handed her over to me for the first time and I felt a happiness that I have never felt before. I couldn't believe that she was finally here and that we were a family. I only wish someone was there recording that moment...
One by one our family came in to visit us and I noticed that I was just utterly exhausted. I kept asking my nurses and the anesthesiologist if the grogginess was normal and they said normally people aren't but it can happen. So I dealt with it and let it be. They admitted me into postpartum room 1117 and the rest of our family came in a few at a time. To cut the story short, I bled a lot more than I was supposed to and went into hypovolemic shock. I quickly let Francis know that my vision was getting blurry. All I could think about was Alana and Francis...don't close your eyes, don't fall asleep was what I told myself. From what I was told, I became pale, lips were blue, and my monitor registered at 0 for a few seconds. I slowly came back and they pumped me with fluids to replace what I had lost.
After that scare, I was just happy to know that my little family and I were together and healthy. Our family was there the whole time through it all to support us through this and I couldn't thank them enough. Not until this incident did I finally realize how much family means to me. I think through the years I've taken my family for granted and I was reminded of their love during my hospital stay. Thank you to our parents for loving us so much. Hopefully we will be just as amazing in raising Alana. We love you so much!!!
Driving into the parking lot of Providence Holy Cross, I thought to myself, "This is it! Francis and I are walking out of this hospital with a daughter!!!!" Never did I imagine that things would happen the way that they did, but regardless, Francis and I will definitely mark this day down as the best day of our lives.
Walking into the hospital I felt nothing but excitement. I walked to the admissions bungalow as Francis found a parking spot. I waited for Francis and was wheelchaired into labor and delivery. Apparently there were about 3 other deliveries occurring at the same time and since I was an induction, I was of course the last to be seen. (after experiencing contractions, I completely understand why!)
I finally got admitted into a room (1110) and we were set. I was to deliver in this very room sometime within the next 2 days!! My nurse checked me and told me I was about 1cm dilated and 40% effaced and was not nearly ready to have Alana just yet. She couldn't quite make out whether she felt an ear while examining me so she asked for a second opinion from an ultrasound and an exam by Dr. Gabbay. The ultrasound confirmed that she was definitely head down, but what was that body part that the nurse felt?
Dr Gabbay finally steps into my room and while performing a vaginal exam, she accidentally breaks my water!!!! Guess it's time to deliver!!! And for those of you who have never had kids yet, be warned...as soon as your water breaks, those light contractions turn into unbearable pain quite quickly. Epidural please!!!! Of course again I was last to receive mine. But I wasn't exactly brave when it was finally my turn. Everyone including Francis was asked to leave the room.
They first injected me with lidocaine to numb the area. I was instructed to keep completely still as I sat at the edge of the bed and to my surprise, I barely felt anything at all! There was a slight pressure on my spine but no pain. Whoever invented epidurals is a genius!!!! Slowly the pain decreased and all I could feel was tightening on my stomach and some tingling in my feet.
After another exam, Dr. Gabbay realized that Alana was in face presentation and could not be delivered normally. The "ear" that the nurse thought she was feeling was actually her mouth and she had to be delivered via C-Section. Within minutes they were prepping me for surgery.
I was prepped by my nurse fairly quickly and taken to the operating room. Francis wasn't allowed to walk in for the first few minutes while they got me ready and I was just completely nervous being alone in there. I was moved onto the OR table with each arm to my side, and the anesthesiologist near my head. A curtain was placed so that I wasn't able to see my lower half and Francis was finally allowed in. He sat to my left, held my hand and before I knew it, the surgery had already started without me feeling a thing. Within 4 minutes, the surgery was done and the first thing I heard was the beautiful sound of my daughter's first cry and the tears flowed. She was finally here!!! I looked at Francis and it was the most amazing moment of our lives! He walked over to the nurses near the warmer as they checked her and swaddled her. They brought her over to me for a few moments and I was completely speechless. During my pregnancy I kept imagining that moment in my head wondering what I would say to her when I finally saw her, but I was just speechless. She was absolutely beautiful.
Not long after Francis left with the nurses to give Alana a bath as they completed my surgery. When they were done, I was wheeled into recovery and waited anxiously for my new family to meet me there. Francis held Alana for the first time at my bedside, kissed her head and immediately fell in love. He handed her over to me for the first time and I felt a happiness that I have never felt before. I couldn't believe that she was finally here and that we were a family. I only wish someone was there recording that moment...
One by one our family came in to visit us and I noticed that I was just utterly exhausted. I kept asking my nurses and the anesthesiologist if the grogginess was normal and they said normally people aren't but it can happen. So I dealt with it and let it be. They admitted me into postpartum room 1117 and the rest of our family came in a few at a time. To cut the story short, I bled a lot more than I was supposed to and went into hypovolemic shock. I quickly let Francis know that my vision was getting blurry. All I could think about was Alana and Francis...don't close your eyes, don't fall asleep was what I told myself. From what I was told, I became pale, lips were blue, and my monitor registered at 0 for a few seconds. I slowly came back and they pumped me with fluids to replace what I had lost.
After that scare, I was just happy to know that my little family and I were together and healthy. Our family was there the whole time through it all to support us through this and I couldn't thank them enough. Not until this incident did I finally realize how much family means to me. I think through the years I've taken my family for granted and I was reminded of their love during my hospital stay. Thank you to our parents for loving us so much. Hopefully we will be just as amazing in raising Alana. We love you so much!!!
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| Excited parents-to-be!!! |
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| Francis' view waiting to enter the OR |
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| Add caption |
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| Always there for me... |
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| Beginning of surgery |
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| End of surgery |
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| Our beautiful daughter Alana |
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| A little swollen because of her face presentation |
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| First picture as mother and daughter |
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Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Uh oh...
This morning we had another check up to see how my blood pressure was doing and once again it was high. 140/100 :( They had me rest for a little while and retook it a few times but it didn't make too much of a difference. Dr. Gabbay came in right after and told me that she didn't want to wait for problems to start so she decided to induce me tonight!!!!
So here we are in the hospital waiting to be induced. I can't believe the day's finally here! Hope you guys are all ready to meet Alana :)
So here we are in the hospital waiting to be induced. I can't believe the day's finally here! Hope you guys are all ready to meet Alana :)
Monday, August 8, 2011
Round #2
Yesterday I wasn't feeling all that well and started to get a headache. I was warned by the nurses that if I had a headache that I needed to head back to L&D. My blood pressure read 150/100 manually, but I decided to get a second opinion before jumping the gun. My mom took my BP both manually and by electronic machine and got about the same result. So off to the hospital we went.
This time we were put into triage and just my luck, my BP went back down to 132/84. Great. The poked me for labwork yet again and after getting the results the doctor said I was ok to go home but still on bed rest and low salt diet.
I guess it's not time yet. 16 more days...
This time we were put into triage and just my luck, my BP went back down to 132/84. Great. The poked me for labwork yet again and after getting the results the doctor said I was ok to go home but still on bed rest and low salt diet.
I guess it's not time yet. 16 more days...
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Admitted
So during our regular weekly OB visit, the medical assistant took my blood pressure and for some reason it was high. During this whole pregnancy not once did I have an episode of high BP but it was 140/98. I was told to lie on my left side for a few minutes and after doing so it was still at 136/92. Dr. Gabbay walked into the room not long afterwards and next thing I knew, I was being admitted into the hospital. As soon as we stepped into the L&D room I realized: "I hate being a patient!" I'd much rather be the nurse.
From the moment that I sat on the bed I felt confined to the bed. A blood pressure cuff was placed on my right arm and 2 monitors on my belly for Alana's heartbeat and contractions. They asked me to pee in a cup and poked me a few times for labs and to hook me up to an IV. I was not a happy camper. I've never been a patient so I guess it was really good experience for me as a nurse to be able to understand how they feel being in the hospital. There were times when I felt like I didn't even want to pee because of all the wires I was connected to. I gained a totally different view on the hospital experience. I've always looked at it from a nurses eyes, so to have this was actually somewhat of a blessing in disguise. Unfortunately, Francis was completely bored through it all and uncomfortable too. At least I had a bed to lie in, he had an uncomfortable, barely padded chair. They need to put a small couch in there or something! Honestly it wasn't a bad hospital experience though, the nurses were extremely helpful and they treated me the way I would treat my own patients so I can't really complain. I guess I'm just not used to being the patient.
Anyway, after all the tests, they found out I was just dehydrated and gave me a bag of LR through IV. As soon as they did, my blood pressure went back to normal and I was sent home but not without a few warnings. Bed rest and no salt, boo! Before I left though, I was told that I was 1cm dilated, 60% effaced and was having contractions that I didn't even feel. Almost time I guess?
18 days left....maybe sooner if Alana's ready!
From the moment that I sat on the bed I felt confined to the bed. A blood pressure cuff was placed on my right arm and 2 monitors on my belly for Alana's heartbeat and contractions. They asked me to pee in a cup and poked me a few times for labs and to hook me up to an IV. I was not a happy camper. I've never been a patient so I guess it was really good experience for me as a nurse to be able to understand how they feel being in the hospital. There were times when I felt like I didn't even want to pee because of all the wires I was connected to. I gained a totally different view on the hospital experience. I've always looked at it from a nurses eyes, so to have this was actually somewhat of a blessing in disguise. Unfortunately, Francis was completely bored through it all and uncomfortable too. At least I had a bed to lie in, he had an uncomfortable, barely padded chair. They need to put a small couch in there or something! Honestly it wasn't a bad hospital experience though, the nurses were extremely helpful and they treated me the way I would treat my own patients so I can't really complain. I guess I'm just not used to being the patient.
Anyway, after all the tests, they found out I was just dehydrated and gave me a bag of LR through IV. As soon as they did, my blood pressure went back to normal and I was sent home but not without a few warnings. Bed rest and no salt, boo! Before I left though, I was told that I was 1cm dilated, 60% effaced and was having contractions that I didn't even feel. Almost time I guess?
18 days left....maybe sooner if Alana's ready!
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Monday, August 1, 2011
No more work!!!!
I've been looking forward to my maternity leave for the past 8 months and now that it's finally here, I'm BORED!!! I don't know what to do with myself! I've watched TV, taken a nap, and folded some laundry but realizing that I still have 3 weeks until she's born makes me feel so unproductive. I guess this is about the time when the nesting phase starts to kick in, huh?
Everyone has been telling me to take advantage of this time because when the baby arrives there won't be much time to clean, cook, or even go to the bathroom. I know it's true, but I think I'm just so anxious about Alana's arrival I can't help but be extremely impatient. For those of you who have children, think about your first child and the wait that seems like FOREVER!!! It was hard to contain yourself those last few weeks, right? On top of that is the fact that I have carpal tunnel and can't even fit my wedding ring around my finger anymore. Part of me can't wait until I'm not pregnant anymore. The waddling and need to pee every 5 seconds is driving me nuts. I know I'll be busy with Alana, but it will be so worth it when she's finally here!
24 more days...
Everyone has been telling me to take advantage of this time because when the baby arrives there won't be much time to clean, cook, or even go to the bathroom. I know it's true, but I think I'm just so anxious about Alana's arrival I can't help but be extremely impatient. For those of you who have children, think about your first child and the wait that seems like FOREVER!!! It was hard to contain yourself those last few weeks, right? On top of that is the fact that I have carpal tunnel and can't even fit my wedding ring around my finger anymore. Part of me can't wait until I'm not pregnant anymore. The waddling and need to pee every 5 seconds is driving me nuts. I know I'll be busy with Alana, but it will be so worth it when she's finally here!
24 more days...
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