The past week of having Mollie things have gotten AMAZING in our lives. We want to thank everyone for all of the prayers both for a healthy baby and for David to get this job. We found out on Thursday that he had gotten the job. Right now he is just part time at the job but has the potential to move to a full time position. This job is working at a house for brain injured men. David is a housekeeper and does basic maintenance around the house for the clients that live at the house. We are so thankful that God has answered so many prayers and given us what we wanted all along, for David to work in town. I can't imagine doing this parent thing without him so many days out of the month. I also couldn't imagine him missing so much of his daughter's life.
Mollie has been doing so well. We were a little worried about her not eating enough, but when we went to the doctor on Tuesday of this week, we found that she was 6lbs 7oz. She had gotten down to 6.1 before we left the hospital. The doctor was very happy with her progress. She also had to be tested for jaundice throughout the past week, so we have been putting her in the sun to help with that. When the doctor tested her again on Tuesday, her levels started to go down. They are no longer worried and feel confident that her numbers will continue to decrease and the jaundice will go away. She is sleeping a lot of the day, but is much more awake in the past couple days. It is great!
I am sorry that it has taken so long for me to update everyone on what is happening in our lives. We have been so busy working to get some kind of schedule and just plain sleep.
On Tuesday, July 5th, they started the induction process. They started with cervidil to get my body ready to birth the baby. That process took 12 hours. At about midnight on the 6th, the stopped the cervidil and I was allowed to take a shower. After my shower, I was having contractions every 2 minutes and they were very powerful. They started Pitocin about 1:30 in the morning. I decided to get my epidural about 3:00 in the morning. This was probably the worst part of the whole labor process, but I knew deep down inside that it was all going to be worth it. There is no explaining what an epidural makes your body feel like. I kept saying that it felt like I was wearing a snowsuit. It made my legs so heavy. Once the shot part was over, it didn't hurt. I guess I had never thought of the process, but right afterwards I didn't feel the baby moving any more in my stomach. I started to cry because I missed this almost immediately. I was finally able to get a few hours of sleep through all of the nurses coming in and adjusting the monitors and taking my blood pressure throughout the night.
In the morning the doctor came in and broke my water about 8:30. My family slowly started to come up to the hospital and get ready for the birth of Baby Evanina. David's mom came to our house to clean it so it would be ready for a brand new baby. Throughout the day, the nurses would come in and check me. They predicted her to come sometime between 4 and 6. About 2 in the afternoon, my epidural started to wear off so they gave me another shot. They had to do it again at 4. About 4:40 the doctor came in and said that it was time to start pushing. My mom went out to tell the family, and they got me ready. When I started pushing it was just the nurse, my mom, and David in the room. Once the process was far enough along, the nurse called in the doctor and the other nurses because the baby would be there very soon. I probably pushed 3 more times. After an hour and a half of pushing we delivered Miss Mollie Ann Evanina. She was 6 lbs 6 oz. She was 20 inches long. They put her on top of me right when she was born to cut the cord. It was amazing to see that sweet baby girl that I had been feeling move around for so long. She cried immediately and they wisked her away to start checking her vitals. It was the most amazing feelings that I have ever felt in my life.
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Well, I guess I should start with Monday. I woke up on Monday and was feeling miserable. I know this is a sign that pregnancy is about to end, but my doctor told me to come in when I started to feel this way. Since it was a holiday, back to the hospital I went. This time though I was admitted into the labor and delivery part, not the observation area. This was only because of nurse/patient ratio. I must say, it gave me hope that I would be having this baby very soon! They ran more blood work and found that one of my levels was elevated. To be able to induce, they needed 2 different tests to come back elevated. So, they had me do another 24 hr urine to try to find the other element they needed. The doctor on call was very optimistic and acted like he thought the urine would come back fine and I would be going home on Tuesday. I had mixed emotions about this because I wanted a healthy baby, but I also wanted to deliver this baby. They kept me over night, and my doctor was the doc on call for Tuesday in my practice. I knew this would be the determining factor to tell me if I was going to deliver or not. He walked in at 8:30 in the morning and said he was done with my pregnancy and I said I AGREE!! So, I was scheduled for induction to start later that afternoon.
I just wanted to update and let everyone know that everything is still going well. I am still on bedrest and it seems to be working. My bps have been really good and I have not had any of the symptoms of the preeclamsia. I am so thankful for everyone who has come over to visit and help pass the time. I have had a couple visitors throughout the week and it has made things so much easier. I am also thankful for all of the prayers and thoughts throughout the past weeks as well. David and I are so lucky to have such amazing family and friends that support us through everything.
We are still headed back to the doctor late Tuesday afternoon. I will make sure that we update as soon as possible after that. Feel free to call and check in if you don't hear from someone. We will do our best to keep everyone up to date, but depending on where we are and what is happening, we might not have access to the internet or a laptop to keep everyone up to date through the blog. I promise when this little one is going to make her grand appearance everyone will know!
Thank you again for everyone's prayers and thoughts. David and I couldn't be more excited to welcome this baby girl into the world with such an amazing support group that already loves and cares for her before she has even been brought into this world!
Love,
Christina
During the past few days the pregnancy has gotten a little crazy. In my last update I discussed having to go to the hospital for a bunch of lab work and being sent home and put on bedrest. My goal was to make it to Tuesday before having to go to the doctor again.... I didn't make it. On Monday, I woke up with a bad headache (one of the signs they had me watching for). Then, about lunch time, I started to feel really dizzy and just not feel good (more signs). I decided to eat lunch to make sure that it wasn't my blood sugar, but the feelings continued. I called the doctor and they got me in to see him that afternoon. I walked in, they took my bp, and then sent me back to the hospital for more blood work and to monitor my bps again. The doctor is very worried about preclamsia. This could be very detrimental to myself and the baby, so the fastest way to get results about how my body is acting is by going to the hospital for the blood work. I must say that I have had some fabulous nurses at the hospital and have learned about how they do things. I feel very confident to have my baby at this wonderful location. Anyway, my lab work came back normal (good), but I was still feeling bad and my bps were still high (bad). The doctor decided to have me do a 24 hour urine test and keep me over night just to monitor everything. I do love being hooked up to the fetal monitor to hear my little one moving and kicking around in my belly. I know that is something I will miss greatly! The baby is doing great and is looking just the way she should on all the monitors. She is active and has great blood pressure. The doctor is very pleased.
The doctor ended up sending me home on Tuesday morning with my 24 hour urine in hand and told me to keep collecting at home and he wanted to see me on Wednesday. I went home and was on STRICT bedrest and was only allowed to get up to go to the bathroom (which was about every 30 mins because of the amount of water I was drinking) and to take a quick shower. I couldn't make a sandwich, fold the laundry, or take the dog out. I followed doctors orders to a T. I must say when 5:00 came on Tuesday and I no longer had to collect my urine, I felt LIBERATED!
On Wednesday I went back to the doctor. I now walk in and they all know me. I have been 3 times in one week. Once we got there I did the normal routine and my bp was checked. It was finally GOOD!!!! No hospital this time. I have never been so excited in my life. The doctor has put me on STRICT bedrest again and is going to see me again on Tuesday as long as my urine comes back with good results. He told me that if I don't feel good at all to call and they will admit me right away. We are at the point now that if my bps continue to be a problem they will induce labor. I am really trying not to let this happen, but know that I need to do what is best for me and the baby. When I go on Tuesday, we will make a plan for the next steps. It may be more bedrest, or it may be to schedule a delivery date.
For those wondering about the interview, David was called back for a second interview today. He has some demons in his past that are not helping him get this job, but both of the top bosses LOVE him and want to give him the position. Please continue to also pray for him as they make their final decisions about him being employed in their building. We really feel like this would be a great place for him to work. It is a center that houses and rehabilitates brain injured men. With David's injury, he understands what these guys are going through. He feel thankful that he is completely healed from him injury, and that he might have the ability to give back. He would be doing maintanence around the facility. We are praying hard that God will answer our prayers and allow him to work here. This would keep him in town, which would put so many of our stresses our of our minds.
I know that we have some great prayer warriors out there and appreciate all of the support! David and I can't wait to meet our angel, but know that she needs to bake as long as possible so that she is ready to greet the world. Please continue the prayers and I will continue to update.
Yesterday, David and I went to the doctor for the weekly appointment. I have had 2 good appointments before this one, so I was under the impression that things were going to be great! Within the past week, I have swollen tremendously and have been very uncomfortable. My hands hurt and my feet look like oompa loompa feet as the day goes on.
When we walked in they checked my weight... gaining 3 pounds.... most of which I think was because of the swelling. Then the nurse took me back to the room to check my blood pressure. It was really high! The doctor came in immediately and sent me to the hospital. He told me that he was diagnosing me with preclamsia. This is high blood pressure and can have some horrible reactions on my body as well as put the baby under stress if it is not treated. Immediately, I cried and called my mom to come sit with me. David had an interview yesterday and I didn't want him to miss that!
When I got to the hospital my blood pressure was high still!!! They had me lay on my side and my bp came down tremendously, but whenever I would roll on my back, it would go right back up. Finally, after a few good bp's and blood work, I was able to go home. I am now on bedrest until Tuesday. At that point I will go back to the doctor and he will check me again. Then we will make a game plan of the next steps. I will be 37 weeks on Wednesday and he said before I left yesterday that I would probably deliver between 37 and 38 weeks.... SOON!!!!
I am so excited to meet my little girl, but I just pray that she is healthy and ready to come! She has been moving so much lately and I know that is something I will miss once she is here. I love feeling a tab and a punch, knowing she is alright. I know that I will be in the best of hands once we make the decision of when to have her (even if it is early...)
Please continue to keep us in your prayers. I will update throughout the weekend if needed and will definitely update after the doctor's appointment on Tuesday morning.
The next week is going to be a very fun packed, exciting time! Tomorrow morning I will have my weekly doctor's appointment. I can't wait to see what the latest is on my little one. Then we will kick off a family weekend with my mom's family. This weekend, all of my mom's brothers and sisters will be in town to celebrate together. Tomorrow afternoon we will kick off the weekend with a girl's lunch at my aunt's house. Then we will spend the rest of the weekend at my grandfather's house by the pool to hang out and spend family time. I am so excited! We will end the weekend on Sunday with church and a brunch with family for Father's day with my grandfather.
Sunday will also be David's first Father's Day. This baby is so lucky to have such an amazing daddy who loves her so much already! People tell me that I am going to spoil her rotten, but I don't think they have any idea how much she is going to be spoiled by her daddy either. He is going to be the best daddy ever!
On Sunday, David and I will also celebrate our 1 year anniversary! I am such a lucky girl to have such an amazing husband. I know that we won't be able to see each other on Sunday, but I am so happy and lucky to have a husband that works so hard for this family. I am hoping that we will be able to celebrate with at least a dinner before this sweet little one comes.
Thursday of next week is David's birthday. We are hoping that he might be able to come in town for a couple days before the next job so that we can celebrate all of these fun things. Even if it is just for one day, we will definitely celebrate these exciting things. Even if he can't come in town in between jobs, we will find a time to celebrate together for sure!
