Dorian

Well, he is almost 7 weeks old, so I probably should make a post about my littlest miracle, Dorian.

He was born March 27, 2014 at 9:08 pm. 8 lbs 5 oz and 20.5 inches long.

As for a Cliff's Notes version of the birth story, I went to my 38 week midwife appointment and Marsi had an epic meltdown when I put her in the car.  She screamed at me for a total of 2 hours that morning.  My blood pressure was through the roof.  They wanted me to go to L&D and I told them there was no way I could do that with Marsi screaming.  So, we agreed that Marsi would go to my friend's house that I had asked to take her during labor and hospital stay and I would go back tested and get my blood pressure tested again. In dropping Marsi off and crying on the drive back to the midwife, my blood pressure went up instead of down.  Since I was 38 weeks and he was measuring big, we decided on induction.  It was a week earlier than my scheduled induction.  I wasn't ready.  My house wasn't clean and ready for my parents to get here.  Stress.  Lots of stress.  I called Endrit and told him to come to the hospital.  I also called the missionaries to meet Endrit at the hospital to give me a blessing.  I was alone in the labor and delivery room for almost 2 hours.  I was hooked up to an IV at noon and Pitocin was started.  It was a very easy labor.  I was in very, very little pain until 30 minutes before he was born so I asked for the epidural way too late.  The last 30 minutes were crazy intense.  I thought I would die without the epidural.  They were nice and turned the Pitocin off so I could have normal intensity contractions to deal with.  Within 2 contractions, Dorian was born.  9 hours and 8 minutes from the start of the IV to birth.  It was a great experience.

We spent 2 nights in the hospital.  The second night was eventful with him needing re-suctioned, a chest x-ray and a little bit of oxygen.  All went well.  There were no issues after that one event and we were released later that day.

Since he came a week earlier than expected, in order for my parents to be there for Dorian's blessing, we got permission to have it at our home General Conference weekend.  It was a nice small thing.  I asked the missionaries that blessed me in the hospital to be here and the Bishop and one of his counselors came as well.  It was really special. I was able to make Dorian's whole outfit myself.  It was really big on him, but he was absolutely adorable.

So, we have gotten into our new routines and Dorian is a wonderful baby boy.  He has had some reflux issues, but doing really well so far.  He is already almost 13 pounds!  He wears 3 month or 3-6 month clothing for the most part. a few 0-3 still fit.  Marsi loves him.  He loves Marsi.  We are a very happy family of 4 now.

Surgeries

Any parent can tell you that having ANY surgeries on your child is a terrible experience.  Anything from a tear duct probing to open heart surgery, if your child has to go under and be cut in any way, it sucks.  You soon realize that any friend of yours who has to have their child have a surgery, you relive your fears along side of them.  I know little to nothing about undescended testicles, but a friends boy, just a few months old is having surgery.  I pray all goes well and he goes home tonight as expected.

Owning my body.

Luckily, I have never been one to wear a 2 piece swimsuit.  I am used to covering my belly.  Stretch marks have been a part of my life since puberty.  In all honesty, I feel the most beautiful when my belly is huge and pregnant.

This last Sunday, I got a few of the pregnancy comments.  I got 3 "You look like you are ready to pop!" and 1 "And you're sure there is only 1 in there?".  I was 30 weeks 4 days pregnant.  A lot of women would let that get to them.  Am I gaining too much weight?  Is my body ruined now?  Do I really look that big/fat?  Well, I am owning my body.  I like my body.  I am up 9 lbs this whole pregnancy.  I am healthy.  Dorian is healthy.  I will just get bigger until he makes his debut, and I am just fine with that.

30 week appointment

Today we had our 30 week appointment. It was great!  The ultrasound was wonderful.  I didn't get any good pictures, but I found out that he is finally head down and the placenta is far away from my cervix.  So, a vaginal delivery without continuous monitoring is expected!

I got all of my questions answered.  I am not ballooning in weight this third trimester which is awesome.  I am healthy, he is healthy.  I couldn't have asked for better.  It was so perfect, I don't even have to go in for a regular 2 week appointment.  I get one more 4 week stretch, so February 28th I will have my next appointment.  

For several reasons, at my last appointment my midwife offered a 39 week induction.  I hadn't even had that thought cross my mind until she said it.  There is a proper medical reasoning with me, but I wanted to do research and talk to people before I made my decision.  Well, the induction is scheduled for April 3, 2014.  The day I turn 39 weeks.  We will try to get him out before that (38 week membrane sweep and evening primrose oil starting then) but that is the finish line.  April 3.  Just a little over 2 months until I get to meet Dorian.

Here are the pictures that I posted on my Facebook page.  My mom couldn't see his face in the ultrasound at all so I decided to put some snazzy stickers on it to help her out.  He is getting to be chunky.   

30 weeks

Today I am 30 weeks pregnant. People in public always seem amazed that I am not on the verge of popping this kid out.  Thanks people.  Yes, I am big. 99% chance that this little boy will be born on or before April 3rd.  Some days I think "what on Earth did I do?!?" and others I feel like "I can do this.".  Well, the "what did I do?" has been winning out more frequently the last little bit.  I just have to remember that I won't be huge and pregnant trying to take care of 2 kids.  I will just have 2 kids.  I can do it...right?  I have an appointment with the midwife on Friday.  I get to have another ultrasound to see where my placenta is located.  

selfies

Ever since I got my iPad, Marsi has been fascinated by taking selfies.  She loves to talk to the baby in the iPad and I am pretty sure she is really understanding that it is her and not some random baby.  Making faces is her favorite thing to do.  Yesterday, I just snapped a lot of pictures of her in all her silliness glory.  She is a really fun little girl.

Marsi's Heart

In my wonderful absence from blogging, I completely forgot to do an update on Marsi's heart.  Wanting to utilize the end of the year savings, I found Marsi a cardiologist and set out to do her 2.5 year check up a little early.

We didn't know what to expect.  It was the first time ever that this cardiologist was seeing Marsi, it could have just been a consult to schedule the tests that needed to be done.  Well, it was the whole shebang!!  Echo, ECG, and full doctor appointment.  It was a long hard morning (with lots of screaming) but, she was good enough during the echo that she didn't need a sedated repeat.

Her heart is healthy!  The little hole in her heart seemed to have closed completely.  They told me to go to the cardiologist one more time at 5 years old before she went into school to just be 100% sure that she had no cardiology issues. Three years without worrying about a cardiologist!

Needless to say, I am very, very happy about this!

Pregnancy update

We found out right before my birthday that we will be welcoming a little boy in April.  Our perfect little pair.  Marsi and Dorian.  Marsi will be just under 2.5 years old when we welcome this blessing into our home.  

We were gifted with a 3D ultrasound of Dorian.  I didn't have this with Marsi, so it was fun to go and see what he should look like when he comes out.  He has my nose and Endrit's mouth.  People say he looks like Marsi, but I am not so sure about that.  He will be unique and cute.

Here is my 28 week picture.  I turn 29 weeks tomorrow.  I am carrying him a lot different than I did Marsi.  His placenta is in a much different place than Marsi's was.  I have gotten a lot more ultrasounds because of it since it is very low, but it is moving in the right direction in preparation for birth.

The pregnancy has gone much better than it did with Marsi.  Less contractions, less nausea.  I still get loads of contractions, but they are not painful like they were with Marsi.  I am hitting 29 weeks which was the start of bed rest with Marsi and I don't think that I will have to do that this go around.  We take it day by day, but we are good.

We are blessed.