Shamrocks!

Happy St. Patrick's Day...
Here's to lying, stealing, and cheating!
May you lie to save a friend;
May you steal the heart of the one you love;
and may you cheat death.

Ashlyn is here!!!

It's been a long few days, but I thought I'd take a second to announce that Ashlyn Niamh Simonelli is here, and gorgeous.

Ashlyn was born on Friday, February 26th 2010 @ 6:28pm. 20inches long, 9lbs 1ounce. Apgar Scores were both 9. She was born by a c-section.

Tuesday 2/23 we went to the hospital for induction at 7:30am. Got hooked up to machines, monitors and pitocin... I started out at 1cm dilated, 90% effaced, -1 station, and cervix being posterior. After about 6 hours of pit I started having frequent strong contractions. (About a 5/6 on a scale of 1-10). After 8 hours, and no change, we shut off the pitocin and inserted cervidil... Next morning at 7am, STILL no change. Tried a 2nd round of pitocin...
After NO change again by 5pm, we were discharged home, told to rest, relax, walk (Try what ever we wanted to that could start up labor), and come back on Friday 2/26.

Did chores around the house on Thursday and just enjoyed the time with Sean. Friday morning, headed to the hospital.

7:30am arrived, 8am totally hooked to monitors, IV and pitocin. Watched TV all day... played Travel Scrabble. At 5pm, STILL 1cm dilated, 90% effaced, -1 station, and cervix posterior. Opted for C-Section. (I had gestational diabetes and a Chiari Malformation).

Was instantly set up for the CS. I was in the OR by 6pm. I actually really, REALLY enjoyed the Spinal Block, since I've had SPD since 16weeks, and my hips and backs felt like they were going to break. It was the 1st time I WASN'T in pain in forever. I didn't get nauseous, or really even feel any tugging or pulling. Sean came in wearing his SUPER SEXY Hazmat suit (the white suit) about 6:15pm or so, and held my hand and we were just talking, almost like it was a regular night and we were watching TV. Neither one of us cried when we heard Ashlyn cry... we just stared at one another like, "OH CRAP, IS THAT NOISE OURS?!"... And my OB announced she weighs 9pounds 1ounce, and she was still floating around organizing my organs... no where near descending into the pelvis, and she was in NO hurry to make an appearance on her own.

I was back in my room by 7pm, and Sean and Ashlyn were there. She didn't need oxygen, or anything. Bright, Alert and Gorgeous. We're so in love I don't know what to do with myself.

We stayed in the Maternity ward from Saturday morning until Tuesday around noon (The ward was full after I delivered so we slept in the L&D room). I thoroughly enjoyed the rooming in, and having Sean there. (as well as the room service for both of us... what ever/when ever (that was on the menu from 6:30 to 6:30). We're pumping and supplementing. Ash has a terrible time latching, and gets so upset she turns purple and just about stops breathing. We met with 3 lactation consultants, and at least 8 nurses tried to help us. Ash's pediatrician also checked her, and her tongue web is REALLY short and she's having issues getting her tongue in a good position to latch. He sees NO reason to cut it until there are massive issues going forward. So long as I have skin to skin contact and I can give her expressed Breast Milk, then I'm happy. My tongue web and Sean's are both short, and we were both formula fed (Sean's adopted, and I had latching issues too).

Being home has been hard... there are no nurses to offer to help! Maternal instinct has kicked in, and I've learned and done things I never thought I could. (like jumping out of bed about 24hours after having a c-section because the baby cried and Sean was in the bathroom. I didn't even REALIZE I was in horrible pain until I sat back down!)
She is an awesome little person. Gorgeous as all get out, and just a cuddle bug. She HATES dirty Diapers. the SECOND she poops or pees she cries, until you take it off her.... then she stops. Happy clean baby. and she just wants you to hold her and talk to her.

This is the most amazing thing to ever happen in my life. I don't even know how to really put it all into words... I'm so in love.

Ashlyn Niamh was born Friday 2/26/10 @ 6:28pm by c-section. 20inches long, 9lbs 1oz. absolutely perfect and gorgeous.

... if at 1st you dont succeed....

blaaah.

Today is 2/26/10. my due date. We went in for an induction on Tuesday, 2/23/10 @ 730am. Pitocin for 8 hours, Cervidil that night, then 9 hours of Pitocin on Wednesday.... I was staying 1cm dilated, -1 station, 90% effaced and cervix was posterior...

They sent me home at 6pm Wednesday.

We're leaving in about 20mins for round 2 of the induction. Because of my Chiari and the Gestational Diabetes, she's coming out today one way or another. If I'm not making progress by mid-afternoon, then Ash will be showing up by C-section.

the Pitocin contractions got bad toward the end of Wednesday. like... a 6-7 on a scale of 1-10. I'm NOT Looking forward to today. I've been taking EPO for over 3 weeks... orally and vaginally, so I'm hopeful maybe TODAY something will happen on it's own.

She's LOW. LOOOWWWWW. Like, I feel like I have to poop a LOT... but I don't. and I can't walk like a human anymore. ha.

Fingers crossed.... fingers crossed....

38weeks, 5 days.

Had a nonstress test and an exam today...

STILL less than 1cm dilated, 0% effaced, Cervix is high and not cooperating... and Ashlyn is floating around not wanting to fall into my pelvis...

I had a little protein in my urine, and trace glucose... blah. My blood pressure is good though.

We scheduled an induction for Tuesday 2/23 - 7:30am. Because of the Gestational Diabetes, and my Chiari, we want to try to get her out with little issue. If hours go by with no progress, we'll end up with a C-Section, and I have to be honest, I'm ok with it. So long as she's healthy, I'm happy. Some Chiari patients can't push w/out passing out, so it's what's safest for us.

Sean is going to start his Daddy Vacation as of Monday. He'll finish out this week, have the weekend, and then take of Monday to help get the house cleaned and set... then he'll stay w/me at the hospital. His work said if he needs more time, to please let them know and take it. (He only has 7 or 8 paid vacation days available, but he can take what ever time he needs unpaid)

I hope my unemployment determination comes in by then... it would be awesome to have it approved and retro back to 1/15 to cover bills and stuff and keep us floating. *fingers crossed*

I need some rest... I'm so incredibly exhausted...

hmmmm

38weeks, 4days

I know it doesn't mean a whole lot of anything... but I just lost my mucus plug. (Gross shit huh?)

eh

37Weeks, 5Days...

I'm home from my NST, Ultrasound and Exam...

Ashlyn is estimating at 8lbs 2ounces. Her head is measuring approx 34CM. (according to Sean, I wasn't looking at that.... I was looking at the fact it showed 40W3D at the bottom of the screen)

Her heart rate was from 125 to 160 if she was moving..

Me on the other hand... I am less than 1CM dilated, not effaced, my cervix is still really high, and Ashlyn is still floating around, and not "engaged" at all...

There are some concerns about the Gestational Diabetes and how her size is advancing. 4 weeks ago she was in the 67.8th Percentile... Today she was at the 81st Percentile.

I'm hoping SOMETHING happens between now and Wednesday. If not, there is a good chance they are going to Schedule me for a C-Section between 39 to 39.5 weeks.

My biggest concern is that she comes out healthy and perfect... I don't care HOW she gets into the world at this point, as long as it's safely...

Maybe if I shovel the "Snow of Doom" that's hitting Massachusetts today, I can somehow put myself into Labor...

Hmm.. oh well!

Well, I have just over a month until my due day...

Yesterday was a Nonstress Test, Ultrasound and exam.
Baby is active. Heart Rate 144bpm. She's estimating at 5lbs 14ounces.
I had a little protein in my urine, and my blood pressure was a little high. We're going to keep an eye on that.
All in all things are good on the Ashlyn front. Next Ultrasound is 2/10/10, and that will determine when I'm being induced. That's at just about 38 weeks, and if I dont go into labor on my own by then, we'll schedule an induction. (just because of the Gestational Diabetes and stuff)



in other news...
Got a call at 9:30am. From HR @ work. I've been let go. Apparently doctors notes, hospital notes, and all that jazz don't cut it for pregnancy and pre-existing conditions since I'm not covered under FMLA. Oh well. I'll call the Massachusetts Unemployment office tomorrow and open a claim. HR was like, 75% sure I'd get approved, and the other 25% was a maybe ya, maybe no. Eh. FINGERS CROSSED.

So now I KNOW I'm not going to find another job between now and labor. So I really am hoping on unemployment. In the mean time, I'm not going to stress. I'm going to clean the shit out of the house. Like, Scrub TOP to BOTTOM. Today I've cleaned the floors, vacuumed, cleaned up the table, did dishes, cleaned the bathroom a bit, cleaned the ferrets cage (tonight they'll get baths and get their bedding washed)...
and I have a list of about 100000 other things to do. I NEED to get on the laundry. I wash and dry it, then it sits, new load, then sits... and sits, and before I know it there are 10 loads to put away. HA. I'll get better about that.

Ashlyn's stuff is starting to get set up. I cleaned out the crib (we set it up a while ago, but it became a dumping ground for shit)... Sean and I played with the car seat last night for install lessons. All her clothes and stuff we have are cleaned and folded, and I gave her a spot in the closet for her things. The baby shower is on January 31st, and then I need to get all that stuff cleaned, organized and put away. (Kimma sent out the invitations, but forgot to put where we're registered. It's at Target, Babies R Us, and Walmart. It's under Kristen & Sean Simonelli.) I'm really, REALLLLY excited about the shower, and our families FINALLY Meeting. (together 5 years and our families haven't met... and we're MARRIED!)

well... I think it's time for a nap, and more cleaning, then get Sean at work! *yawn*

Happy Anniversary

Tomorrow is my 1 year anniversary of my Chiari Decompression surgery. I can't believe it's been a year since there was finally a light at the end of the tunnel.
I still can't thank Dr. VanHorne for giving me my life back. This past year has been the longest amount of time in over 15 years I wasn't in blinding pain.
I never thought it was possible to live with out being in that much pain every day, and I still wake up and wait for the headaches, the pain, the paralysis to set it. ... and they don't.
I may not be running to the goals I set, but I can walk there, and I'm not in a wheel chair...

Thank you so much everyone that helped me in my recovery.?