A little girl & A lot of love

It's been a while since I last updated, actually it's only been a little over two weeks.  That seems so unreal to me because it feels like forever ago I sat at the computer typing up this post on my due date discussing our options about our little girl's birth.  A lot changed.  We pretty much knew we were going to do a c-section that day.  It was the safest option for our baby so there really was no other choice to my way of thinking but we took the weekend to think about it like the doctor said to.  Monday we went in and find out there was another problem via an ultrasound, it looked like our little lady would have shoulder dystocia which made things a bit more serious and just confirmed that we were making the right choice in going with a c-section.  It all happened very fast though.   Suddenly the doctor was saying 'all right well let's schedule you right now' and the nurse said Friday but my doctor intervened and said before that so we decided on Wednesday...it was Monday it all seemed to be happening so fast!  So then I went over to the hospital for some blood work and husband drove over to sit with my mom and aunt while they waited for me right before I went in for the blood work I was called to the front desk apparently there was a phone call for me I couldn't imagine what that was about it turns out it was the secretary from the doctor's office saying they were moving my c-section to Tuesday...uhm what?...that's tomorrow!  I had to ask the lady to repeat herself I really did.  I was in total shock after that.  My husband looked like he was going to cry he was so happy...I thought I was going to throw up.  It was so real so fast!  Fast forward to the next day, we got to the hospital around 11 and before I knew it we were in the Maternity ward and I was meeting 'my nurse' Lyndsey *who was amazing and the Nursery Nurse named Celeste was also fantastic I will post about those ladies and my doctor later!* , after some trouble getting my IV in *I ended up having to have it in my wrist* my family started to pour in I had about 15 people there not including my husband, myself, and the nurses.  My doctor came in, I met my anesthesiologist and it was time to go and get my spinal *which was the part I was the most nervous for* walking into the OR was so weird it was cold and sterile and I really thought I was going to pass out at that point.  They had some trouble with my spinal and I ended up having more medication than normal them trying to give me my spinal actually took longer than the Cesarian itself.  I'm very thankful I didn't have to be put all the way out though, then my doctor came in and the ball started rolling suddenly the drugs kicked in and I was Gone I felt very nauseous but the anesthesiologist took care of that quickly enough then they brought my husband in and suddenly I was thinking "I'm open on the other side of this curtain...weird" I didn't let myself talk to him or anything I just sat there and did some thinking.  The weirdest part was actually feeling it when they took the baby out all the pressure and weight was just lifted out of me.  The doctor said "here she is and look her eyes are already wide open!" *then I also heard "Man look at that placenta!" ...that's nice lol* they cleaned her up and laid her directly on my face which I honestly loved every second of.  My husband was right there by my face as well and I just got to feel her and hear her little cry she even put her little fingers in my mouth I honestly felt like I was absorbing her into my heart it was a magical moment *that I actually have a photo of thanks to the anesthesiologist that I'll share later* and I will never forget a second of it.  Abigail Nancy Dianna Lester was born on February 12th 2013 at 2:37pm and weighed 8lbs and 9oz and was 19 1/2 inches long.

One more day

Tomorrow is my due date.  February 9th.  I am 40 weeks pregnant.  Still totally not feeling real.  My stomach is Huge if I go anywhere people openly *and rudely* stare at me and my baby belly *I kind of feel that I've graduated from a bump and I just don't know what to call my current state* someone always asks me if I'm having twins.  When I inform them no there is only one they then proceed to ask me '...are you sure one isn't hiding behind the other?' and then I just laugh because honestly...no I do not know what is going on in there.  I haven't had a sonogram since November, I would think something would've shown up so I'm going to stick with no there is not two of them just maybe a little bit bigger than average one.  Stretch marks have totally taken over, I have one of those belly buttons that has always been in and it is now trying to make it's way out *by the way that is painful and nobody told me about that* today is my doctor appointment.  I'm going with my mom and my Doula and in a couple hours we'll be crowded into the little room and he'll most likely check me *again OW*  and we'll see if I'm dilating or effaced at all.  Last week I was having some bad back pains, and some random contractions and when he checked me my cervix was definitely softening so that was all good for having a whole week left!  My doctor then proceeded to talk to me about options.  You know a C-section, being induced, waiting it out naturally.  I would like to avoid a C-section and being induced as long as possible.  The only reason I personally would choose either of those options was if there was some danger to the baby.  That's my first and really only priority.  A lot of people think I'll need to be induced because I'm so big, but not according to the doctor.  I still haven't gained 30lbs, my blood pressure is perfect every time, no diabetes, no real swelling or puffiness to speak of.  He said there really isn't a reason to push inducement.  And I am happy about that so very happy, but that was last week and things can change.  So we'll have to see where we are at today.  It's weird being so close to my due date but still not quite there.  My doctor warned me a lot of women will choose to be induced because of the emotional and mental stress and pressure.  I didn't understand what he was talking about until Sunday I think...and that's when the text messages and phone calls and facebook posts started.  "When are you having that baby?" "That's weird you aren't feeling anything yet!" "Why aren't you going into labor?" "Can you please hurry?" now I know these people are only being loving and caring and they don't see any harm and really it's not but surprisingly it is a lot of pressure it makes me feel like I'm almost failing or not doing something right because it's not happening yet.  And then on the one hand I do in fact wish I could hurry, and I would also love to know the exact day and moment I will have her...but I don't.  I never realized how much pregnant women psyche themselves out for their due date.  The calendar has a star on it, everything is centered around it, and yet how many women actually give birth on their due date and not sometime before or after?  Pregnancy is so different for everyone it's really quite amazing if you think about it.

Can't wait to check back in after the appointment

Hope you have a wonderful Friday!

Friday's Letters

via

Dear Organizher I fell in love with your stuff in this months issue of Better Homes and Gardens Storage magazine, especially the organizers for mail *pictured above aren't they to cute?!* !  I was so excited to purchase you...then I found out you are sold exclusively at target stores not online...so I have to drive an hour sometimes next week now to go get you.  That doesn't make me happy.  I'm 9 months pregnant so weird stuff like that is totally allowed to throw me off so completely.   

*My mommy on the left, obviously me in the middle, and my aunt Diana on the right at my baby shower*

Dear Pregnant body we've done super good not gaining a ton of weight this pregnancy haven't gained 25lbs yet!  And we only have 2 weeks and 2 days left till her due date!  I'd also like to thank you for not getting puffy until after my huge baby shower *is 65 people to much?  Not when it's all family except for 4 people* I don't like being puffy but I feel that you've now earned it.  So whatever go for it *but I am watching my salt intake like a maniac*

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Dear Burt's Bees I've always loved your products and I even have some of your baby stuff then I found out you now sell/make baby clothes and I couldn't be more thrilled because they are so adorable *but seriously also sold at Target what is with me and Target lately? I've always been such a walmart girl!* !  Even though we're 99% sure we're having a girl I couldn't help but get a couple of your gender neutral things I love yellow, cream, and gray anyway so I have no probs putting my baby in them!  Though I did give in and get one girly outfit...how do you say no to that? ... ♥

*husband resting comfortably and feeling the baby move a few weeks ago...not even knowing the crazy puffy hormonal wife was riiight around the corner*

Dear Husband I know I am starting to nest and it's your first week back at work...life is just not fair for you.  Please remember that I love you and the crazy will be over soon!

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Dear Pinterest you are seriously the root of my problem I know think everything has to be ridiculously organized and cute unfortunately it can sometimes be quite expensive to reach that happy medium.  What the heck.  Stop it.  I mean that.

*just the outside of our house at Christmas time back before it made me want to poke my eye out with a stick*

Dear Home you are bothering me so much it's ridiculous, I want you organized, clean, pretty, yeah OK so that's basically everything you are not right now.  I find myself really struggling to make sure everything I'm getting is cute and homey and pretty as well as functional *the functional aspect is kinda bringing me down not gonna lie it would be so much easier if I just had to worry about you being cute!* but I'm going to keep trying and hopefully with dad and husband working on some projects for me this weekend I can get you all straightened out Before the little one makes his/her appearance *because the closer the due date gets I'm realizing it is very possible Abby could be an Andrew* so this weekend is going to be full of balancing and figuring out money and trying to get everything we need to have for when the baby comes home, my hospital bag *oh my goodness I am that person that has not packed it yet!* and what we need to fix up the house a bit.

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Dear Money please multiple...and I mean like rabbits!  Seriously we could use more of you at this particular point.  Of course some money we do have coming in his horrendously late so that is irritating and frustrating and a bit of everything negative and blah.  But I'm doing a fabulous job of not freaking out!...In my somewhat humble opinion anyway.

True Love

My husband and I woke up this morning to the irritating alarm blaring, he turned it off and crawled back in bed and we both just stayed under the covers deciding to lay there for a few more minutes before getting up and getting him off to work.  He came up behind me and pulled me close and said "come here and let me hold my girls before I gotta go" and he wrapped his arms around me *and my ever growing 37 weeks pregnant belly* and rubbed my stomach and we just stayed like that for a bit.  Little moments like that I want to remember forever and so I figured I should do a little post about it, just for me really to make sure I never forget.  Sometimes I think the best memories are the ones you aren't able to capture with a camera.

Sick on a Tuesday

Being sick is not fun, I remember someone *not sure who I can't remember that little detail* once told me being sick when you're pregnancy is So much worse than being sick when you aren't pregnant...whoever you are that told me that...you were like 110% right.  Just thought you should know.  I'm not sure why it's worse it just Is.  It all started this weekend Friday night my little brothers *AKA the terror twins* were switching off coughing every 5 minutes this continued till Saturday then the runny noses started and constant sleeping *the last part I was kind of ok with me...evil sister that I am* and Sunday they were better and Monday was amazing for them, today they are at school.  But you see around Sunday I started blowing my nose like a crazy person, hunting for cough drops because my throat felt so stinking itchy and feeling all around pretty much like crap.  Yesterday was so much worse, yesterday I slept a lot.  And it was a rough night's sleep last night *please pity my husband who gets up at like 4:30 usually for work*.  Of course I'm a little more worried with this cold because I'm pregnant but I decided that by Thursday if I'm not better I will be headed to the doctor bright and early Friday morning.  Why wait so long you ask?  Because Tuesday has me feeling a lot better actually.  I'm super surprised I thought death would be poking his head in and asking to borrow a cup of sugar if yesterday was any indication of my health.  But no, I still have a scratchy throat but I'm not feeling exhausted and my nose is now simply plugged up instead of running 5xs the speed of light. 

So I'm thinking of making up the muffin mix for Husband's breakfast tomorrow so all I have to do is pop them in the oven, probably make his lunch and have it in the fridge waiting for him for tomorrow as well, go over a to-do list or two, and make some homemade chicken noodle soup for dinner along with some grilled ham and cheese sandwiches.  I am a little sad because I wanted to decorate for Christmas but I'm still not feeling as good as I'd like so I'm putting it off I refuse to not enjoy decorating as much as humanly possible.  I hope I remember to take it easy though, because that is gonna get me better faster than anything.  And when I'm sick the hardest thing for me to do is just chill out.  I want to be Doing things!  Getting things done and crossing them off the to-do list!  ...But I'll try and tone it all down a bit because Hopefully Thursday will be Christmas tree day for the Powers-Lester families!

Does sickness spread like wild fire in your house to?  My dad just came waking in like a zombie coughing so I gave it to him I'm thinking.  Do you have your tree up?  Have a happy Tuesday!

4months and 2days

 Ok.  So I keep seeing everyone filling out these little pregnancy questionnaire things and I thought why not do one for myself?  So here we go!

How Far Along: 4months and 2days

Size of the Baby: avocado

Maternity Clothes: They are in the mail and on the way thank the Lord!  Shirts are fine, it's pants and underwear I need help with!

Stretch marks: nothing that wasn't there before

Weight gain: 3lbs

Sleep: I sleep fine but lately I've been paranoid about how to sleep I freak out if I wake up and I'm on my stomach.

Best Moment of the Week: when I feel the little flutters or just something and I don't know how I just know it's my little one moving around.  Or whenever my husband and I sing to the baby or he just talks to my stomach *or rubs it ... it feels amazing*

Food Cravings: milkshakes, smoothies, and pizza

Gender: Unknown *but we think it's a girl*

Belly Button in or out: still in!

Anything making you queasy or sick: not to much except when I go to long without eating and then everything, or if I'm cooking dinner, if it's something fried I have a hard time standing over a hot greasy pan for to long.

Labor Signs: no

Wedding ring on or off: on

What I miss: I miss my normal pants lol and I also miss getting invited to things like friend's birthdays or days out *but apparently being pregnant is on par with being a comatose vegetable to the unmarried-thinking-that-they'll-NEVER-have-kids-crowd*

What I am looking forward to: finding out the gender, and getting our room all finished!, and of course the baby changing table is almost done!

Nursery: we don't have one lol we will all be living in a glorious little one room but we're preparing it for baby.  We'll be getting our rocking chair soon so that's really exciting.

Emotions: I'm crazy.  They'll either be fine, totally fine.  Or I'm super upset or I'll just randomly start crying...it's really lovely

My Baby Love

So my appointment yesterday went well, no problems.  I haven't gained any weight...at all.  And I have a good size baby bump going now...the doctor knowingly touched my stomach and said "oh sweetie that's all baby" this is the woman who delivered me, and my 4 brothers.  She knows how big we all were.  I was 9 1/2 pounds...and I was about 3 weeks early.  And then she asked about Stephen and how much he weighed when he was born...he was 10lbs.  The doctor just patted my arm again knowingly and said "well Marie if it comes out at 6lbs we're gonna have to ask who the real father is" *my doctor is hilarious and that is just something she would say I really love her* the heartbeat was perfect, our baby is now to big to fit on the one screen so we have to see different shots to get the whole picture.  She wasn't going to do a sonogram but Stephen was there for the first time and she thought he should see what he helped make *I'm pretty sure his chest puffed out with male pride at this point* and it was amazing to see my husband melt right before my eyes like I knew he would.  He squeezed my hand and a couple tears ran down his handsome face.  The love that was radiating off of him was amazing.  I couldn't take my eyes off him and he didn't take his eyes off the screen.  The doctor printed us out two new pictures and he stared at them the whole way home.  Commenting on how our baby takes the BEST pictures, and he is convinced the little one is going to have my native-american-high-cheek-bones...and not his chipmunk ones...he can just tell apparently.  So at our next appointment I'll be 19 1/2 weeks, we have two appointments that day the first with Dr.Howen who will be doing the sonogram where they check out the kidneys, brain, spine, heart chambers, etc. and of course they should be able to tell the sex.  The reason Dr.Howen is doing it and not Dr.Carrol is apparently he has a better machine, a certificate, and has taken all the special classes required.  He is the doctor that delivered my cousins actually, and he has a special place in my heart because in the beginning of our pregnancy we were worried the baby wasn't ok and maybe something was wrong...he did the sonogram and checked it out and spent a wonderfully, caring amount of time to make sure everything was right and I'll never forget him saying the words 'well we've got us a heart beat'.  So the next appointment will be a little nerve wracking as well, but it's all in God's hands which is exactly where I want it and where it need to be...so doesn't that work out well?  In other news I have NO pants. Aside from exercise pants and yoga pants I mean.  So God bless my grandparents they just wrote me a check and said get some maternity pants.  I held out as long as I could.  So I'm not just 'maternity' now I am 'Maternity plus' which makes sense because I'm plus size anyway.  But I found a great online store called Motherhood it's not only plus size it's all maternity but it's not crazy over priced and shipping on anything is only 6 bucks...I'll take it!  So that's life as of now on the baby front!  Later I'll do an update on husband's birthday and our room over-haul!  Have a blessed day!

A Catch up post

 Via

Well the last few days have been all kinds of fun, busy, and disturbingly Hot!  Apparently this weekend will be the hottest we've had in 6 years!  I can't even imagine, since becoming pregnant my tolerance for hot weather *which has never been very good I'm a fall/winter/spring girl all the way* has pretty much gone down to Zero. 

 Via

Well Wednesday was just about the best girls day Ever and I am completely and totally sure of that because I enjoyed myself So much I forgot to take Any pictures, seriously not one I don't even think I pulled out my phone.  It started out with mom and I getting ready and husband bringing us burger king breakfast *can you say guilty pleasure?* then we headed over to my aunt Dianna's house and we all piled in her van after hugging and laughing *when we're together we sound like the witches from Macbeth cackling and stuff except we sound like we've also been smoking for 40+ years when none of us has ever smoked lol* and oohing and ahhing over each others clothes and hair and what not.  We then went to a quick lunch to Strings for some awesome Italian food and as usual great service *I am there to much the waitress had no problem touching my stomach as soon as we told her I was pregnant and telling me to bring sonogram pictures next time* after completely Stuffing ourselves we got to our real destination the little beauty supply store that also sells Miche Bags it turns out Miche is going back to only parties and online sales so everything was 40% Off we were sooo excited we each ended up getting a purse and a cover at a crazy good bargain!  I have to say a HUGE thank you to my mommy who got me mine she is so sweet!

This is a really bad picture of my Miche with the cover on, I Love it!  A better one will come!

Then we went to a book store, thrift store, walmart and did a little shopping, Kmart, then Lowes to get me an Air Conditioner *because ya know I'm a grown up now* after that we decided to drive an extra hour just to see a movie!  We got there in plenty of time to get movie snacks like nachos, popcorn, and soda.  And saw the most amazing movie, it was so sweet and so good!  Perfect for any married couple, girls our with their friends, or anyone who is likes to see a real marriage portrayed and see what it takes to keep a real marriage going we saw the film...

Hope Springs

 

Via 

Another amazing Meryl Streep movie and Tommy Lee Jones was as fabulous as always!  Steve Carrell was hilarious and just perfect for the part he played.  You laughed, you maybe cried, you walked away touched with a perfect sense of what real Love is.  That it's not just fuzzy feelings and chemistry, it's hard work, forgiveness, respect, listening, and most of all commitment.  Not just commitment not to cheat or do someone wrong but commitment to work through any problem or obstacle that comes your way.

 

We ended the night with a couple quick stops at Marshalls and Ross, it was an amazing laughter filled day and night with my two best friends ♥

Via

Now today my dad and my husband are hooking up our brand new air conditioner and thoroughly destroying my house...but that's ok lol anything to help with 107 degree days.  Stephen and I have a big to do list today we're going down to the bay area tonight and staying in a hotel and then tomorrow morning going to Mountain View where he does his Reserve duty for 'Family Day' on our extremely limited budget.  Now I've never actually been able to go to any family day like events while he's been in the military because I was almost always a few continents away.  I'm very very nervous but so happy that I can be there for him.  I just want to make him proud and fit in as normally as possible.  Standing out can be bad lol.  But also I'm a little nervous because he wants to try and stay the whole time from 9-3 because he feels weird about leaving early *I'm pretty sure they wouldn't stone him or anything but hey I'd be a bit nervous to if I was still the new guy* but I have to look at this realistically I'm like 4 months pregnant I get hot Very easily and that's quite a while to be outside for me, and not only that but I tend to get sick...All.The.Time. I just don't want to embarrass him, I want to be a help not a hindrance.  So I would really appreciate some prayers!

Smile

Well this morning I have to go and get blood work done *ew/ouch but at least after child birth I will most likely laugh at the threat of needles and stuff* and then I'm going all around to a bunch of stores with my mom and grandmother *aka my posse* including but not limited to a bridal shop in search of a peach bridesmaid dress and babies R us to test out the potential glider I found online ... but I have to see if my butt fits in it Now and if it will fit in it during the 7-9 month period of which I am sure I will absolutely B-L-O-W-U-P!  So anyway lately morning sickness and heart burn and what seems to be an almost constant burping have taken over my life and made normal or ya know happy seem utterly impossible.  But I'm going to buck up and try to just smile and be happy and wear my stretchy pants and rock them.  Because sometimes in life you just need to smile your way through it *and sometimes just give in and wear the freaking stretchy pants*

3months1day and the perfect little girl's name



Well I'm 3monthd and 1day now, and I'm so happy about it!  I've finally started to quit worrying all the time and am giving it all to the Lord.  And thankfully I'm able to actually eat now.  I've gained 3lbs *1lb a month actually lol*  but I have barely been able to eat anything my morning sickness is terrible!  I've been worried about not being able to eat really healthy yet but the last few days I've been able to cook and eat lots of veggies which makes me feel so much better about it all!  No more cramps or spotting so that is a huge blessing!  Right now I'm just really ready for summer to be over!  I want fall and winter here now!  But the real reason I'm writing this is because we've picked out a little girl's name!  No we don't know that it's a girl but we're still deciding on a boy name.  We chose a letter to go with like my parents, grandparents, and aunt did we're picking 'R' our little girls name will be...

 Reagan Patricia Lorraine Lester

we just love the name Reagan, and Patricia Lorraine was my great aunt's name.  She passed away earlier this year.  She was a beautiful, fantastic person.  And I hope our daughter *if it is a daughter* will turn out to be a tenth of the woman she was.  My aunt Pat meant the world to me, and I couldn't think of a more fitting family name.

7weeks Pregnant

Well I'm very happy to report that no miscarriage has taken place. Everything seems to be a false alarm. I guess it's just me being paranoid but I just want this little one so much I can't imagine something happening to him or her. Switching doctors was the most amazing thing I could've done! I am so glad I made that choice I felt like everything turned around at that point. I'm actually going to the same doctor that delivered myself and my three Brothers. My hormone levels are fine, she did a vaginal sonogram {OUCH before now I've never even had a pap smear} and she said I have a nice strong sack, when I went to the appointment I was just barely 6weeks so she said it's normal that we didn't see a heartbeat it was just a bit to early. I go back July 5th for another sonogram to check out the heartbeat and everything with a different doctor because mine is taking a vacation {this doctor actually delivered my cousins} I'm nervous because this doctor is a male and it's gonna be AWKWARD {right?} for some reason I still have that lingering fear that something will be massively wrong and There won't be a heartbeat I'm trying to keep myself from getting to worried about and just have faith in the Lord.

Has anyone else had a similar experience? Or problems with previous spotting? Or had to change doctors?