It's been forever since I've posted on here. Been a little busy. Well, Anna is going to be 5 months old next Saturday. I can't believe it! I know she's only a few months old, but I feel like she's growing up so fast. I know it's ridiculous, but I try to hold on to every moment while being excited about the next ones.
I pretty much have the greatest child ever born! She's been sleeping through the night since she was 8 weeks old, she eats and does all her little tricks just like she's supposed to. She takes her bottle, plays for a couple of hours, then sleeps until her next bottle. I know...don't hate me because I have an easy baby! :) I just hope she stays this way.
In case you haven't seen my Facebook page, Anna's smile is so big and beautiful and pretty much makes me happy no matter what is going on in my life. I'm just so blessed to have such a wonderful baby. She makes me want to have another one right now. I'm sure the next one will be awful. At least that's what EVERYONE tells me. :)
I love being a mom so far. I also love being a stay-at-home mom. It's amazing what you can find to keep you busy when you're home all day! It's tough on the wallet, but I'm so blessed to be able to stay home with her. I don't know how I would do it if I had to work and be a mommy!
I know I'm rambling on and on, I was just looking at Anna napping and thinking how God has blessed me beyond belief.
I'm truly thankful.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Current Happenings
There is so much going on with us right now. Since I'm able to be a stay-at-home mommy (woohoo!) I get to see all of these new things that Anna can do when they happen. She now weighs 10 lbs 11.5 ozs and is 23.5 inches long! She's 1.5 inches longer than her last dr. visit! She's starting to smile and laugh and really know who everyone is around here. She loves it when I 'steal' her kisses and she thinks everything Matt does is hilarious! She likes to play on her awesome play mat jungle.
At her 2 month check up we were told to put her on a formula diet. She's on Nutramegen since she has a milk protein allergy. Luckily, our formula fairy (Jamie Foster) is able to get all we need for FREE!!! She gets it from work and we could not ever thank her enough! Anna isn't too big, but she's already taking 36 ozs of formula per day which is too much. So we've started giving her 1 tablespoon of rice cereal mixed with her formula and spoon-feeding it to her. Over the next few weeks we'll add more rice and then mix it with a fruit or vege. Eventually it will take the place of one of her formula feedings. It's so sad that she's already eating from a spoon, but it's really cute! We videoed the first feeding. She's actually doing great and eating all that we offer her. Such a big girl!
She doesn't really enjoy tummy time which has lead to a bit of a flat head effect. I'm hoping I can undo this by giving her more tummy time and figuring out way to make her enjoy it more. She's such a sweet baby and I'm truly enjoying getting to spend so much time with her. I don't know how working moms do it all! I have so much respect for them. There's no way I could handle it! I'm really going to miss this baby when she starts getting bigger. But I'm sure I'll enjoy all the stages of her growth!
At her 2 month check up we were told to put her on a formula diet. She's on Nutramegen since she has a milk protein allergy. Luckily, our formula fairy (Jamie Foster) is able to get all we need for FREE!!! She gets it from work and we could not ever thank her enough! Anna isn't too big, but she's already taking 36 ozs of formula per day which is too much. So we've started giving her 1 tablespoon of rice cereal mixed with her formula and spoon-feeding it to her. Over the next few weeks we'll add more rice and then mix it with a fruit or vege. Eventually it will take the place of one of her formula feedings. It's so sad that she's already eating from a spoon, but it's really cute! We videoed the first feeding. She's actually doing great and eating all that we offer her. Such a big girl!
She doesn't really enjoy tummy time which has lead to a bit of a flat head effect. I'm hoping I can undo this by giving her more tummy time and figuring out way to make her enjoy it more. She's such a sweet baby and I'm truly enjoying getting to spend so much time with her. I don't know how working moms do it all! I have so much respect for them. There's no way I could handle it! I'm really going to miss this baby when she starts getting bigger. But I'm sure I'll enjoy all the stages of her growth!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Anna Lynn McCullough
I'm finally going to tell the story of the day Anna was born. This will be very long, but pretty funny.
The Thursday before she was born was my last day at work. My doctor told me Wednesday that I should go ahead and stay home. I had polyhydramnious- too much amniotic fluid- which was making me extremely uncomfortable. Normal amniotic levels are in the low teens and mine was 35! So, I told everyone goodbye and prepared to head home. Matt was a little concerned that I was leaving too early. After all, it was 4 weeks until my due date!
Friday morning mom and I went to Kohl's in Trussville so I could swap a couple of things for Anna. After that, I went home and rested. Shopping wore me out because I had so much extra weight and fluid pressing on my knees, etc. Matt left early Friday morning for Auburn. He was helping judge the southeast civil engineering competition that was in AU this year. He was nervous about leaving me, but it was still a month before Anna was due. I was sure there was nothing to worry about.
Saturday morning, March 20, 2010. I got up early and went to Target in Trussville. I needed to get some more things for Anna before she got here. I felt great and wasn't nearly as tired as usual. Then I headed to WalMart in Leeds to do the same. I was there for about an hour. I went home and cleaned house, did some laundry, and hung the letters above Anna's bed. I went down the hall to get the clothes out of the drier and that's when it happened.
It was about 1:30pm. I thought, "did I just pee my pants?". I ran to Anna's bathroom and sat there for a minute. I figured if the water stopped, then I had just peed. If it kept coming, my water broke. The flood continued. Remember, I had too much amniotic fluid! I ran to my bathroom because my cell phone was there. I called Matt- who was in the middle of a competition at a lake in Georgia. He said, "can you hold on one second?" and I said "well, my water broke". He said, "are you serious?". I told him I was and he told me he'd be here in 2.5 hours.
So, I'm sitting on the potty with a flood coming out of me laughing hysterically at this whole situation. I called the doctor, Steph, and then my parents. Mom and Dad got to the house. Mom came on up to try to help me find some pants to wear. However, we went through about 6 towels and the water was still coming. Finally, I made the decision. I told Mom to give me a beach towel, which I proceeded to roll up and stick between my legs. We then tied one around my waist. That's right... I went to the hospital with no pants, only beach towels and a big ol' AU tee shirt! I had to sit on puppy pads the whole way. I took my time walking around the house making sure we had everything. Mom was about to lose it!
Dad drove us to the hospital and I showed him the "special" labor and delivery door where he needed to drop off me and mom. He left to go park. Unfortunately, it was the wrong door! So mom and I walked around to the next door. I quickly realized this was the main entrance to the waiting area for the women's center. There was no way I was going in there! Mom found a lady and asked for a wheel chair. The lady- assuming we were in our car- told mom which door we needed to go to. So, we walked all the way back around the women's center- outside- to the correct door. I'm still laughing hysterically and flooding!
When we walked in, the nurses were all sitting there waiting, and laughing. They got us set-up and said my contractions were coming every 2 minutes. I didn't realize I was having any. Matt finally got there around 4. He was a wreck from the drive. We spent the rest of the evening hanging out with the family and watching NCAA March Madness. I never felt any of my contractions and never dilated any.
The next morning Dr. Sparks- Dr. Stradtman was on Spring Break- checked me again and I hadn't dilated any. He gave me a little more time, but at 3pm we decided to do a c-section. I only felt a few contractions the whole time. They gave me a shot of pain medicine before we decided on the surgery and it knocked me out. It also made me sick! I can remember hearing everything and feeling things, but I couldn't hold my eyes open.
When they rolled me into the OR, I remember the doctors talking, etc. Dr. Stradtman came in to do the surgery. I was so thankful! I don't remember Matt being there at all until they pulled her out and he said "There she is!!!". I'm so glad I could feel them take her out. I was able to open my eyes to see her when they held her up over the screen. She was beautiful!
Anna Lynn McCullough was born March 21, 2010 at 3:17pm. She weighed 6lbs 15oz and was 21 inches long. Her eyes are blue and her hair is red- the exact same color as mine! She was a month early, but didn't have any trouble at all. The pediatrician said that if she'd made it another month, she would've weighed 10 lbs. They rolled me to recovery where I got to hold her. She was so sweet and beautiful right from the start! The whole family was there when we got to our room. Everyone got to hold her. I was still pretty much out of it.
The nurse woke me up at 6am to get up and start moving me around. I was a little sore, but no real pain. I was very blessed to have no pain from start to finish! I quit taking pain meds that day because I hate the feeling they give me. We had so many wonderful visitors and I didn't want to sleep through it all!
We went home that Wednesday. She came home on her own little schedule. Eating every 3 hours and only waking up at night to eat and then go right back to sleep. She's been such a good girl and such an easy baby! We are so blessed. Now I'm going to be a stay-at-home mom and I couldn't be happier.
In one year I went from being terrified of having a baby to being completely comfortable and in love with my sweet Anna. I wish she would stay this small and sweet forever, but I know she'll grow up. And that's a good thing. Just a little sad right now.
Well, thanks for reading all of this. It was a hilarious couple of days, but totally wonderful!
The Thursday before she was born was my last day at work. My doctor told me Wednesday that I should go ahead and stay home. I had polyhydramnious- too much amniotic fluid- which was making me extremely uncomfortable. Normal amniotic levels are in the low teens and mine was 35! So, I told everyone goodbye and prepared to head home. Matt was a little concerned that I was leaving too early. After all, it was 4 weeks until my due date!
Friday morning mom and I went to Kohl's in Trussville so I could swap a couple of things for Anna. After that, I went home and rested. Shopping wore me out because I had so much extra weight and fluid pressing on my knees, etc. Matt left early Friday morning for Auburn. He was helping judge the southeast civil engineering competition that was in AU this year. He was nervous about leaving me, but it was still a month before Anna was due. I was sure there was nothing to worry about.
Saturday morning, March 20, 2010. I got up early and went to Target in Trussville. I needed to get some more things for Anna before she got here. I felt great and wasn't nearly as tired as usual. Then I headed to WalMart in Leeds to do the same. I was there for about an hour. I went home and cleaned house, did some laundry, and hung the letters above Anna's bed. I went down the hall to get the clothes out of the drier and that's when it happened.
It was about 1:30pm. I thought, "did I just pee my pants?". I ran to Anna's bathroom and sat there for a minute. I figured if the water stopped, then I had just peed. If it kept coming, my water broke. The flood continued. Remember, I had too much amniotic fluid! I ran to my bathroom because my cell phone was there. I called Matt- who was in the middle of a competition at a lake in Georgia. He said, "can you hold on one second?" and I said "well, my water broke". He said, "are you serious?". I told him I was and he told me he'd be here in 2.5 hours.
So, I'm sitting on the potty with a flood coming out of me laughing hysterically at this whole situation. I called the doctor, Steph, and then my parents. Mom and Dad got to the house. Mom came on up to try to help me find some pants to wear. However, we went through about 6 towels and the water was still coming. Finally, I made the decision. I told Mom to give me a beach towel, which I proceeded to roll up and stick between my legs. We then tied one around my waist. That's right... I went to the hospital with no pants, only beach towels and a big ol' AU tee shirt! I had to sit on puppy pads the whole way. I took my time walking around the house making sure we had everything. Mom was about to lose it!
Dad drove us to the hospital and I showed him the "special" labor and delivery door where he needed to drop off me and mom. He left to go park. Unfortunately, it was the wrong door! So mom and I walked around to the next door. I quickly realized this was the main entrance to the waiting area for the women's center. There was no way I was going in there! Mom found a lady and asked for a wheel chair. The lady- assuming we were in our car- told mom which door we needed to go to. So, we walked all the way back around the women's center- outside- to the correct door. I'm still laughing hysterically and flooding!
When we walked in, the nurses were all sitting there waiting, and laughing. They got us set-up and said my contractions were coming every 2 minutes. I didn't realize I was having any. Matt finally got there around 4. He was a wreck from the drive. We spent the rest of the evening hanging out with the family and watching NCAA March Madness. I never felt any of my contractions and never dilated any.
The next morning Dr. Sparks- Dr. Stradtman was on Spring Break- checked me again and I hadn't dilated any. He gave me a little more time, but at 3pm we decided to do a c-section. I only felt a few contractions the whole time. They gave me a shot of pain medicine before we decided on the surgery and it knocked me out. It also made me sick! I can remember hearing everything and feeling things, but I couldn't hold my eyes open.
When they rolled me into the OR, I remember the doctors talking, etc. Dr. Stradtman came in to do the surgery. I was so thankful! I don't remember Matt being there at all until they pulled her out and he said "There she is!!!". I'm so glad I could feel them take her out. I was able to open my eyes to see her when they held her up over the screen. She was beautiful!
Anna Lynn McCullough was born March 21, 2010 at 3:17pm. She weighed 6lbs 15oz and was 21 inches long. Her eyes are blue and her hair is red- the exact same color as mine! She was a month early, but didn't have any trouble at all. The pediatrician said that if she'd made it another month, she would've weighed 10 lbs. They rolled me to recovery where I got to hold her. She was so sweet and beautiful right from the start! The whole family was there when we got to our room. Everyone got to hold her. I was still pretty much out of it.
The nurse woke me up at 6am to get up and start moving me around. I was a little sore, but no real pain. I was very blessed to have no pain from start to finish! I quit taking pain meds that day because I hate the feeling they give me. We had so many wonderful visitors and I didn't want to sleep through it all!
We went home that Wednesday. She came home on her own little schedule. Eating every 3 hours and only waking up at night to eat and then go right back to sleep. She's been such a good girl and such an easy baby! We are so blessed. Now I'm going to be a stay-at-home mom and I couldn't be happier.
In one year I went from being terrified of having a baby to being completely comfortable and in love with my sweet Anna. I wish she would stay this small and sweet forever, but I know she'll grow up. And that's a good thing. Just a little sad right now.
Well, thanks for reading all of this. It was a hilarious couple of days, but totally wonderful!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Another Waste of Time
We went back to the doctor today for our weekly check-up. Unfortunately, my doctor is out with her family this week so we saw the crappy doctor again. We had an ultrasound first and got more great pics! She is measuring just 2 weeks ahead now which is great. My amniotic fluid level has gone up a lot, though. Her heart was good. Everything is good except my comfort level. :) The doctor came in for just a minute. Am I supposed to have an 'exam' every week from now on? I thought I was, but he didn't do one. I asked him about work and he gave me a letter to turn in to my insurance people. So at least I can stay home now. I really need to because everything is so hard for me right now with all of this fluid. It's so weird to be completely out of control of my body. I kinda hate that feeling! I plan to rest a lot since I can't sleep much at all. I asked when we would schedule the c-section and he said next week when my doctor gets back. I'm hoping that since she's so big already and my fluid keeps getting worse that she'll take her AT LEAST by 38 weeks. That would make her an Easter baby!!! Nothing much else happening. I'll keep you all updated!
Friday, March 12, 2010
Update #2
I feel like my feet are going to explode!!! I've taken some pics, but they just don't do justice. And, when you already wear a size 10 shoe, there's not much room to grow. So funny looking! I'll have to figure out how to put pics on here soon. :)
Updates
Tuesday was not a fun day. I was having some pains in my lower abdomen so I called the doctor just to make sure it was ok. She suggested I come in, but my doctor was off so I could just see another one. Matt and I went in, listened to the fetal monitor for 1-1/2 hours and then the doctor finally came in. He spent about 1-2 minutes with us and kind of acted like I was silly for coming in. I don't handle that very well. I've never been pregnant before, so I don't know what's normal and abnormal. I was not a happy camper when I left.
I called MY doctor the next day to see if she could see me sometime this week before she was off with her family for Spring Break. We went back Thursday. So much better! My belly is officially full term- 40 weeks- even though I'm only 35 weeks pregnant. My blood pressure is still ok. I'm sooooo swollen that my doctor feels sorry for me. :) We also decided that unless she comes early on her own, we're going to do a scheduled C-section. Anna is just too big to risk shoulder distosia and other complications. So, hopefully we'll find out in the next 2 weeks when she'll be here! I also had my first pelvic exam and there is no progress being made there. Anna is still head down but she's pretty high. I felt so much better when I left that appointment and so did Matt. Some doctors are just plain mean.
I've been writing thank you cards like a crazy woman! We are so blessed to have so many people who love us and want to help prepare us for Anna. It's kinda fun to go back over the list and see who got what and get to thank them. I wish there were more I could do, but this will have to be enough for now.
I've decided that I'm not going to try to sleep anymore. :) It told Matt it feels like someone beat the crap out of me when I wake up! I'm so swollen everywhere that it hurts to sit up, stand up, walk, turn over, sit down, etc. But hopefully she'll be here soon and I won't have all of this fluid and weight.
I hope everyone has a great weekend. I can't wait to go back to the doctor next week for my latest update. We're getting close!!
I called MY doctor the next day to see if she could see me sometime this week before she was off with her family for Spring Break. We went back Thursday. So much better! My belly is officially full term- 40 weeks- even though I'm only 35 weeks pregnant. My blood pressure is still ok. I'm sooooo swollen that my doctor feels sorry for me. :) We also decided that unless she comes early on her own, we're going to do a scheduled C-section. Anna is just too big to risk shoulder distosia and other complications. So, hopefully we'll find out in the next 2 weeks when she'll be here! I also had my first pelvic exam and there is no progress being made there. Anna is still head down but she's pretty high. I felt so much better when I left that appointment and so did Matt. Some doctors are just plain mean.
I've been writing thank you cards like a crazy woman! We are so blessed to have so many people who love us and want to help prepare us for Anna. It's kinda fun to go back over the list and see who got what and get to thank them. I wish there were more I could do, but this will have to be enough for now.
I've decided that I'm not going to try to sleep anymore. :) It told Matt it feels like someone beat the crap out of me when I wake up! I'm so swollen everywhere that it hurts to sit up, stand up, walk, turn over, sit down, etc. But hopefully she'll be here soon and I won't have all of this fluid and weight.
I hope everyone has a great weekend. I can't wait to go back to the doctor next week for my latest update. We're getting close!!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Today's Visit
First off, I don't get to stay home quite yet. Just wanted to get that out of the way. We had our weekly non-stress test and Anna did fine. Crazy as always. My blood pressure was fine- still high for me, but fine. Dr. Stradtman measured my belly. I am 34 weeks preggers today and my belly measured 39 weeks!! She said she was almost positive it was more amniotic fluid, but wanted me to have an ultrasound. If Anna was huge or I had more fluid, it wouldn't change my treatment, she just wanted to know.
We went off to the ultrasound room. Anna is measuring in at 37.5 weeks- just 3.5 weeks ahead- and weighs around 6.8 lbs. She's gained about a pound in the past 2 weeks, which is normal. If she continues at this rate and I go full term, she'll weigh about 9-10 lbs. Dr. Stradtman couldn't believe that I'm not having any contractions because my belly is so stretched. The real culprit of my huge belly is amniotic fluid. So, everything is fine with Miss Anna. I'm just gonna have to put on my big girl panties and suck it up until she gets here. Maybe she'll come a little early.
I still don't have any stretch marks- Priase Jesus! I REALLY hope I don't get them, but I'm getting worried. My belly keeps getting so big at all my appointments. I know it's not a huge deal, but it's forever. We'll see.
I can't wait for my baby showers this weekend!! If you didn't get your invitation, just come on! Apparantly the Moody post office is PATHETIC, and a lot of my family didn't get their invite. It feels like the reunion all over again. Anyone who wants to come is more than welcome!
Well, I'm off to home and choir practice. Then I'm sure we'll have Mexican for dinner! I'm so glad my friends love and appreciate Mexican food as much as me!!! Have a great week.
We went off to the ultrasound room. Anna is measuring in at 37.5 weeks- just 3.5 weeks ahead- and weighs around 6.8 lbs. She's gained about a pound in the past 2 weeks, which is normal. If she continues at this rate and I go full term, she'll weigh about 9-10 lbs. Dr. Stradtman couldn't believe that I'm not having any contractions because my belly is so stretched. The real culprit of my huge belly is amniotic fluid. So, everything is fine with Miss Anna. I'm just gonna have to put on my big girl panties and suck it up until she gets here. Maybe she'll come a little early.
I still don't have any stretch marks- Priase Jesus! I REALLY hope I don't get them, but I'm getting worried. My belly keeps getting so big at all my appointments. I know it's not a huge deal, but it's forever. We'll see.
I can't wait for my baby showers this weekend!! If you didn't get your invitation, just come on! Apparantly the Moody post office is PATHETIC, and a lot of my family didn't get their invite. It feels like the reunion all over again. Anyone who wants to come is more than welcome!
Well, I'm off to home and choir practice. Then I'm sure we'll have Mexican for dinner! I'm so glad my friends love and appreciate Mexican food as much as me!!! Have a great week.
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