Introducing Rowan Thomas Kirby :)

I know I'm way overdue on this, but just wanted to share that Rowan Thomas was born Wednesday, June 15th at 7:22 p.m.  He weighed 8 lbs., 3 oz. and was 20 inches long.  He is absolutely darling and has a full head of hair!

For those interested, here's what happened.  At my appointment on Monday, they did a growth ultrasound (which they estimated him to be around 7.5 lbs.), a non-stress test, and of course the weekly exam.  With the ultrasound, they found my placenta was starting to age and my amniotic fluid levels were at 7, which the doctor said at that point they should've been around 15.  So she scheduled my induction for the very next night.

Tuesday night I went in at 8 p.m. to be induced.  I was already 100% effaced, but only 1 cm dilated, so they started me on Pitocin.  Sometime the next morning (it's all such a blur) they broke my water and then my contractions got SO painful.  About an hour later, I had the epidural.  It was amazing, haha!

At 5 p.m., I began pushing.  I pushed for an hour and then I got the news.  He was trying to come out, and apparently I'm a good pusher, but he just wouldn't go any further.  He kept getting stuck.  She said my pelvis is just too small and that he was "sunny-side up", so the biggest part of his head was trying to come out first.  She said I needed to have an emergency c-section.  I bawled my eyes out, only because I was scared and didn't know what to expect.  I was ok with having to have one, because I knew it was what was best.  I was shaking so much!  But it went wonderfully and the doctors did an INCREDIBLE job.

I will never forget that first little scream I heard from him.  I just stared at him, with so much love and joy that I never knew was in me.  I just kept crying and saying, "Oh my goodness...oh my goodness...he's perfect!"  It took us about 3 hours to name him, but we finally settled on Rowan Thomas and it's just perfect.

The first week afterwards was kind of difficult, but overall it really hasn't been that bad.  I'm feeling almost 100% and have resumed driving, lifting, going for walks, and other light things that aren't too stressful.  Of course, I can't lift too much yet, but we're getting there!  It was an amazing experience, despite being in labor for 23 hours!  :P  I love my son more than anything in this world and I'm just amazed.  I was so worried about being a mom and having what it takes and if I would really enjoy it...but it's the BEST thing in the world and I wouldn't have it any other way.  :)

It's Time!!! (a.k.a. 40-weeks,-but-who-cares-it-doesn't-matter-anymore)

It's time! *Said in the best "Steel Magnolias" rendition I can do.*

I had my 40-week appointment today (even though I'm not officially 40 weeks until tomorrow).  It started out with an ultrasound to see about how big he is.  According to their measurements, he's about 7.5 pounds.  But she said she had a really hard time getting measurements because he's SO low.  The ultrasound was actually pretty uncomfortable because she kept pressing really hard and really low.  And I couldn't tell what anything was on the screen.  She said he's so cramped in there and doesn't have much room to move.

Then we went to a back room with a recliner and couch for the non-stress test.  I was hooked up to monitors for about 25 minutes to measure contractions and his heartbeat.  Nothing to report, just that everything looked good.

THEN I had my exam.  I'm not gonna lie, it hurt so )(#&T%(* bad!  :P  It felt like the worst cramp in my life.  Holy cow.  Omg.  I'm still in pain, lol.  She said I'm 2 cm now (yay progress!).  She said nothing about effacement or station, which I couldn't focus to even ask because I forgot.  She went right into the details from my two previous fiascos from the morning...

"Non-stress test looks great!  Nothing of concern there.  Now..." She sat down on the stool in front of me and was looking through papers.  "Your amniotic fluid levels are pretty low.  Right now it should be about 15, but yours is about half that...yours is at 7.  And your placenta is starting to age.  Basically, there's not a whole lot left for baby to thrive on.  So I think it's best we get him out as soon as we can.  No rush, of course, but I don't want to wait.  It's better to get this done now rather than later.  I'm thinking Wednesday.  So you go ahead and get dressed and I will go call Labor & Delivery to see what their schedule looks like."

!?!?!?!?!  Ok!  At that point I think I was just in shock because it was starting to hit me that this is REAL!  She came back in and handed me, what she called, my "golden ticket".  It's a gold piece of cardstock with my instructions.  I have to call tomorrow at 6 p.m. to make sure there's a bed open, and I'm scheduled to be there at 8 p.m. to start my induction.  She said they'll start me on pitocin and that I should expect to deliver sometime Wednesday morning.  So that told me that L&D had a slight scheduling conflict, which is why I'm going in tomorrow night.  I will be SO bummed if they get an influx of people and I have to wait!  But it shouldn't be an issue.

So Baby Kirby's ETA is Wednesday, June 15th, 2011!!!  The doctor left the room and I started crying.  Kyle and I are down to 24 hours by ourselves!!!! :( It really is sad to me.  Yes, I'm excited to meet our little guy and I'm sure I won't look back (at least for a while...I'll be pretty mesmerized for a while!), but our lives are about to change.  In 24 hours.  My parents are coming over this evening to help us clean, repair, do last minute things.  Then my husband and I are having a little date night!  It'll be our last one, just the two of us, being able to do what we want and come and go as we please.  I'm not gonna lie, I'm FREAKING OUT.  Like, scared to death!  I don't handle pain well, I hate needles, and I'm a big whimp.  Oh yeah, and I woke up at 3 a.m. today and worked on lessons for next year.  So I'm tired and overwhelmed.  I think that means it's time for a nap!

I will take my computer, but it's dumb and I probably won't be able to update from the hospital.  You better believe I'm going to try, though!  ;)  If you don't hear from me from the hospital in the middle of the night tomorrow, the next time I post there will be pictures of our son at the end of the week!  Ahhh!!!

Until next time...

39.5 Weeks

We are down to 4 days, people.  Give or take.

My appointment on Tuesday was disappointing, to say the least.  Not much has changed.  Still pretty much the same.  She said I'm super-soft and that I'm doing just fine and am right where I should be.  She encouraged me by saying she is very pleased and that I'm doing everything right.  Whatever that means.  But when she said I haven't progressed any, I'll admit I got extremely sad and frustrated.  I was in a bad mood the rest of the night and cried.  I don't know why.  Stupid pregnancy hormones.  I know there's nothing I can do if he's not ready, but I just felt like it was my fault for some reason.  Dumb, I know.  But I woke up the next morning feeling SO much better.  I went out to lunch with a few friends, went shopping, and got a haircut.  I treated myself to some new nail polish.  I figure I'll wear it at some point this summer.  It's very daring for me.  Usually, I don't go for the "wild" colors, but I couldn't help it.  It intrigued me and I caved in.  It's very exciting.  The color is called "Tiffany Imposter."



So aside from not making much progress (which I keep telling myself I'm already so far along...there's not too much more my body can do to get ready), the doctor told me what's up for next week.  I go back Monday morning at 11:00 for a growth ultrasound (they'll do some measurements to get a weight prediction...I'm pretty nervous) and a non-stress test.  The test is just where I get hooked up to some monitors for like half an hour or something where they keep track of his heartbeat, his movements, see how he reacts during contractions, and measure my contractions.  Then I'll go to meet with the midwife where she'll check me again and we will talk about scheduling an induction. 

The good news is that the baby will be here within the next week no matter what.  So at least the end is in sight!  I was hoping to go on my own, but I honestly don't care.  People get induced ALL the time and it's fine.  My sister was induced 6 days after her due date and had a great labor and delivery.  I know countless other people  who get through with no problems or anything.  So I'm going in with the attitude that it'll all be over soon and this is just the route we have to go.  And I don't know any different, so who cares.  The majority of first-time moms go overdue, so it's not like this is anything new or a risky procedure or anything.  And by no means am I picking on anyone or trying to be mean, but it really irks me when people act like induction is the end of the world.  They make you feel like, "Omg, you have to get that baby out before you have to be induced!  I hope you don't have to go through that!  Do everything you can to try to get that baby out naturally.  Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that."  Or they just look at you, like they want to say something but they don't want to discourage you.  At least they have the decency to keep their mouth shut.  Guess what people, I can see it in your face.  I'm not dumb.  And when you've had the issues I've had for the last 9 months, don't take away the joy that I have of finally getting this baby out.  Some bodies just don't adhere to that "perfect" labor and delivery story.  At this point, I don't care if I have to be knocked out and have a c-section.  Now of course, that's NOT my first choice and I hope that doesn't have to happen.  But if it's what's best for me and baby, then by all means just get him out and do what you have to do.  I don't care anymore.  Seriously.  (Can we tell I'm a bit fired up and on edge?)  Once again, I'm not calling out any one person.  I've just had SO many comments and what not and I'm tired of it.  This whole thing is scary enough as it is.  There's no reason to make someone scared or upset when it's a scary situation already.  Ok, I think I'm done.  :P  Thank you for letting me vent.  I promise I still love everyone.  ;)

So yeah, that's about it at this point!  I ate spicy food yesterday, did a lot of walking (good lord, I was SO swollen...my feet HURT, like tingly, stabbing hurt), and even invested in some Evening Primrose Oil supplements.  I figured what the heck.  I felt GREAT yesterday (like no pain or symptoms or anything), but today I woke up and felt like crap a few steps out of bed.  I'm constantly crampy (before today, the cramps come and go throughout the day, but today I've had them every second) and my lower back is kind of achy.  My stomach is also kinda messed up and I can barely eat without feeling like throwing up.  I took a 1.5 hour nap.  Other than that, I've just been sitting around, curled up with a pillow trying to take my mind off the pain.  It's not unbearable, but if you're a girl, you know this feeling I'm talking about.  That one or two days a month where you feel miserable and crampy and bloated and sick to your stomach and tired and achy.  Yep.  It's like that. 

It's a good, yet scary, feeling knowing that next week is it.  No more "just me".  No more sleeping whenever/however long I want.  No more just hopping in the car and driving to Hobby Lobby when I get bored.  No more making my own plans and just rolling with the punches.  I pray every single night that when I see his face and hold him that my world really will change and that I will be excited to be a mommy.  Right now I'm not.  The only reason I want him here is a very selfish reason - to feel better.  I swear I'm the world's most horrible mom already.  But I'm sure everything will be fine and I'll forget about me once I see him.  :)

Until next time...

38.5 Weeks!

I'm a little behind this week!  I've been going crazy trying to get the house ready and last-minute things finished up.  I've also been up to the school each day for a little while this week because today was the last day of school.  I ALMOST cried, but I held it together!  My kids are just so sweet and it's so neat to reflect on how far they've come.  They make me proud.

So there's actually not a whole lot to report.  At this point it's just a waiting game.  A very anxious one at that!  It's very emotional because it's just hit me that life will never, ever be the same.  I can't be so independent anymore.  That's a harder pill to swallow than one might think.  But I'm eager to start this new adventure and slowly, but surely, getting excited.

So my appointment this week went pretty well.  I am 1 cm dilated, 90% effaced, and +1 station.  Let me see if I can find a picture of what that means, because a lot of people have been asking...


Wow, that's a really large image.  And looking at it is somewhat...painful.  It explains why my hips hurt so bad!  Goodness!  She said he's really low, so this gives me a good idea of what she's talking about.  And I guess most people at this point are somewhere around -1 or -2.  I had one person tell me they weren't ever at +1 until they were in active labor.  So who knows...it's also just another number.  She DID tell me, "I have to admit, I'm really surprised I didn't see you in the hospital this past weekend!  I thought for sure you'd be one of the ones I saw."  To which my response was, "I wish you had seen me..."  She told me she would be very surprised if I make it to my due date.  It literally could be any day.

I've been having some contractions and lots of hip pain and just random pains.  Some of them HURT.  I wish my water would just break so I would know, for sure, to head to the hospital.  Timing contractions is actually a lot harder than you think, especially when your back is constantly hurting.  It gets hard to decipher the intense pain from the pain that's already there.  The doctor thinks I'm already in early labor, which can last for days.

Kyle asked (because he knew I wanted to know) if there were any "tricks" that can throw people into labor.  Her first thing was DON'T drink castor oil!  She said it rarely works and it's a horrible way to go.  It basically makes you sick, out both ends.  Very violently sick.  I told her that was no problem.  That was the one thing I would NOT try.  She said spicy food (particularly Thai or Mexican), cleaning bathrooms (like scrubbing floors...she said she doesn't know why, but this is the most common way she's seen that has sent people into labor), going for walks, and some other things I won't mention.  If you're pregnant or have been pregnant, you probably know what I'm talking about.  ;)

So we'll see!  Tuesday night/Wednesday morning I woke up at 3:30 a.m. and was WIRED the whole day.  I started cleaning and doing some organizational things.  And I didn't sleep again until 11:30 that night.  It was insane and I was WIPED OUT the next day.  Just about everything is marked off our checklist!  Our house is the cleanest it's been in quite some time.  Really the only thing left is some laundry and to get Kyle's car fixed.  But those are no big deal.  If baby were to come right this second, I would be ok with it and not worry about the things I didn't get done.  So the waiting begins! 

I will start off tonight by trying to paint my toes...we'll see how that goes...lol....

Maybe next time I update there will be a real, live, Baby Kirby that we can look at in a picture?  Time will tell...

37 Weeks/Nursery is Complete!

Wow.  37 weeks.  21 days.  I'm full term.  Baby can be born any day now and they will not try to stop labor.  He's finished!  Everyday he stays in he's just getting a little stronger.  He weighs somwhere in the neighborhood of 6.5 pounds and is around 20 inches.  So what's he doing in there?  He's practicing inhaling, sucking, blinking, and pivoting.  So are you ready for the LAST fruit???  :)

It's kind of a bittersweet moment!  This has been the LONGEST 9 months of my life, but it's incredible to think that I just grew a baby.  I started filling out his baby book and just smiled the whole time.  Writing down the life story of his mommy and daddy.  Skipping pages that will be filled out once he's born and we know about him.  Knowing that any day I will be able to look into his eyes and he will look back.  Working with Kyle to raise this little guy.  We are going to be PARENTS.  What a huge responsibility.  But I can't wait.  :)

The hospital bags are all packed.  The carseat is installed.  His clothes are all washed.  Everything is ready for his arrival.  We are just waiting now.  I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon and she said they would "probably" check me for dilation/effacement.  I've been having tons of aches and pains lately.  Plenty of contractions.  Sharp, burning pains that apparently indicate that he's moving down.  Hip/pelvic pain.  It is unbelievable how uncomfortable the last month is.  No matter what you do, there's no relief.  The good part is, I'm used to it and welcome it.  I don't really complain about it anymore, just suck it up and get excited that it's getting so close. :)  I did have a horrible headache/migraine over the weekend that made me cry because I was just so done with it.  It's one of those things where it's like, "Ok, this is old.  Let's just be done, ok?"  I know I'm getting there, though.  Just a short while longer!  I've also felt sick to my stomach and was in the bathroom part of the night last night.  Whatever. :P

Ok, so I know you're all excited to see his room!  I'm so excited about it, especially knowing that it's DONE!  I apologize in advance for the heavy number of pictures.  It's just one of those things where you step back and admire all the work you've put in.  So here it is!  Baby Kirby's nursery...

BEFORE

AFTER

Diaper bag is ready to go!

This little guy has tons of clothes!

A view from the OTHER door of the closet!

Pac N Play and bouncy seat are ready!

Bedding is from Pottery Barn Kids and I LOVE it!

I'm sure he will spend tons of time on his playmat!

Carseat is ready to bring home baby!

Here's all his socks, shoes, and hats!

Lots of jammies!

Pants and shorts

Receiving blankets and Aden and Anais blankets!

Warm, cozy blankets.

Lots of wipes!

Baby carrier and sling, burp cloths, and grooming stuff.

Bibs and towels.

Baby lotion/shampoo/body wash and hooded robes and sheets/etc.

There we have it!  So excited for him to get here now!  If I have major news from the doctor in a few hours, I will of course post them tonight.  But I'm not getting my hopes up, haha.



36 Weeks

Everytime I update this blog it gets more amazing to me to be getting so close!  36 weeks!  And I'm updating a little late this week, so really i have 3 weeks and 6 days left. :P

Things are getting finished up around here.  Yesterday I had an eye appointment to get new glasses, since the hospital said I may need to wear them while in labor instead of my contacts.  I've had the same glasses for about 10 years, so I figured it was time to get new ones.  And of course I ended up getting Vera Bradley glasses. ;) 

This past Saturday we went up to Michigan for my family's shower.  We got a lot of the last essentials, like monitors, car seat for Kyle's car, high chair, humidifier, diaper bag, playmat, and of course tons of cute clothes, shoes, and other things!  It was an amazing shower at an amazing restaurant.  It was SO good to see everyone.

Oh, and before I move to the next part I should update you about my doctor's appointment.  I went in Monday and had my Group B Strep test done.  I'll find out the results next week.  She also said she will probably check me for dilation/effacement next Monday.  This is getting real!  And she told my my job for the week (and she asked Kyle to make sure he helped me get it done) is to get my hospital bags packed.  :o  Now, I already have the diaper bag packed, but my bag is another story...

I talked with a dear friend and co-worker, Heidi, last night and she suggested I pick out music (which I had already thought about doing anyways).  She said, "Pick something out that takes you somewhere else..."  So I thought, and thought, and thought this morning about what songs 'take me somewhere'.  Then it hit me.  Kyle bought me a CD a few years back when we first started dating.  It's Mississippi Delta blues.  It's actually described as "folk" music from the Delta.  It's a recording from way back in the day when blues first started to be recorded.  I looked it up and the year the music was recorded was between 1936-1942.  I listen to it every now and then, especially in the spring and summer, when I start to miss the South.  I literally just sit around and stare out the window and envision myself down there and all the things I love about Mississippi and the South.  And I have a deep appreciation/liking for blues music.  I'm so excited to have something to listen to that will take my mind off everything AND that I can bring my son into the world with some Southern roots/appreciation.  ;)  I may even create a playlist and sneak in "From Dixie with Love" on there.  Boy, I would be a mess!  That song makes me cry anyways!  Let alone seeing my son for the first time...geez...

SO, with being told to get my hospital bags ready and knowing that it's just a matter of days until I go to the hospital, we decided it was time to take things seriously and pick up the pace a little bit.  Last night Kyle and I made a trip to Polaris to complete our registries and get anything we could think of that we would need.  I was COMPLETELY worn out by the 2nd stop, but we got it done.  We picked up the breast pump (gracious, those things are too darn expensive...thank goodness we had a couple gift cards...it still killed me to spend so much, though!), car seat cover, the rest of the bedding from Pottery Barn Kids, car mirror, bottles , bottle liners, some cups and bowls, and a couple swaddle blankets that were recommended.  I also got a nursing tank and some other nursing essentials.  I also found a cute dress to wear home from the hospital that I'm going to pick up on Sunday.  So basically, aside from the darn bookshelf, I think baby's room is ready!  As soon as that bookshelf comes in I'm posting pics...if I don't get it soon I may have a heartattack.  It's driving me CRAZY to have such a big, missing piece.

So today I am just sitting around cutting tags off clothes (by far the biggest pain!) so I can get them in the wash and put away.  I'm not sleeping much at all (maybe 5 hours a night), so I'm sure I will be sneaking in a nap or two.  Other than not much sleep and the occasional headache, I actually feel really good!  Probably the best I've felt this entire pregnancy.  I definitely get worn out quick, have some swelling, and some pains in my pelvic area, but I'm used to it.  :P

This is baby's last week as a honeydew!  He weighs around 6 pounds and is around 20 inches long.  Every major system is developed.  The only thing that continues to improve and grow is his lungs.  With each passing day they get a little stronger and more capable of handling things on his own.  He's not kicking as much, so to speak.  Because he's out of room it's more just rolls and pokes and stretches.  I noticed this week that my maternity shirts are having a hard time completely covering my belly.  I'm starting to get nervous about how big he will be.

Until next time...

35/35!

Today marks a big milestone in the pregnancy world.  It's called "35/35".  That means I'm 35 weeks along and I have 35 days left until my due date!  So it's pretty exciting.  I haven't really had a countdown of days so to speak (the past couple weeks I've said things like, "I have 6 weeks and 3 days left").  So this is really exciting that I can finally start counting down actual days instead of weeks!  Insanity.

I do want to inform my readers that I did go back to Coldstone on Sunday and got more banana ice cream with chocolate chips. ;)  It was soooo yummy and worth every bite!  So far this morning I've already had 2 popsicles.

So I think my body is preparing and labor is getting close.  I know I still won't know the exact day, but I do know I'm getting ready!  My body is doing some weird things (including contractions, major lower back pain at times, hugely swollen feet and hands at times, lots of pelvic pressure, sharp pains, baby dropping, a bigger appetite than I've had the whole pregnancy even though I get full really quick, stomach aches everyday, peeing every 5 seconds instead of every 10, and some other bathroom-related things that I won't go into ;)  You're welcome.)  I have read all these are signs that things are starting to happen!  It could still definitely be another month before I give birth, but it's exciting just to know that things are progressing and that he's preparing to enter the world!

Yesterday I also did some MAJOR nesting!  I went nonstop from about 8 a.m. until 11 p.m.  It was the most unusual burst of energy I've had...maybe even the whole time.  I vaccumed, dusted, scrubbed countertops, did dishes, mopped floors, organized a cabinet in our mudroom, filed papers, washed baby clothes, finished thank-you notes, balanced my checkbook, wiped down all the appliances, installed the car seat, folded up the stroller and put it in the back of my vehicle, packed up the Pac N' Play and put it away, organized cookbooks and other books of mine, and ordered valances for the nursery (I hated the ones I picked up on Sunday...too lime green!).  It truly was weird.  No naps.  No sleeping in.  No lounging around.  And my body actually handled it pretty well.  I was kind of shocked.  Hmmmm...

This week he's still melon-sized.  He weighs around 5.5 pounds and is likely maxed out at length (somewhere around 20 inches).  He's pretty much done growing in length.  There's still a lot of brain development going on, though.  It's crazy that there's not much else going on with him.  He's pretty much done.

I also have my last shower this weekend.  We're making the trek up to Michigan for my family's shower.  I'm looking forward to getting out of the house and getting away.  Mom thought we should do the trip in one day.  Drive 3 hours up, have the shower, drive 3 hours home.  I told her that would be a HORRIBLE idea and really wear me out.  So we're leaving Friday, shower Saturday, coming home Sunday.  That will be a lot easier on my body!  I'm REALLY looking forward to seeing everyone, especially since we didn't go up for Christmas this past year.  :(

It's the final stretch!  Stay tuned!