Colin's Birth Story

We arrived at the hospital shortly after midnight on May 30th, got to the labor and delivery room. After answering a bunch of questions and signing consents, the nurse checked me - 3cm and 50% effaced. No change since my appointment so she gave me Cytotec to thin my cervix about 1:30am. We tried to get some sleep, but that didn't work too well since I was being pumped full of fluids and needed to use the restroom or they were coming in to check my vitals. I was supposed to start pitocin at 5:30am, but I had been contracting on my own all night (yeah) even though I couldn't really feel them. At 6:45am, the nurse checked me again (still 3cm and 50%) and started the pitocin. After just 30 minutes, she had to turn it off because I was contracting too quickly. :-)

My doctor came in around 8:45am (still 3cm and 50%) and decided to break my water.  She went into a 3 hour procedure and 10:30am and kind of joked about not having the baby until she was done.

The contractions got much stronger after she broke my water. By 10:30am I could breathe through them but they were definitely painful. I was debating on when to get my epidural so the nurse checked me, and I was at 5cm and 100% effaced! So, I ordered the epidural!

Once again, my epidural was awesome! I didn't feel any contractions once it was in, but I could put enough pressure on my heels to raise my bottom from the bed when I needed to.

At 12:30pm, the nurse came in after watching the monitor to check me and I was at 10cm! The bad news...my doctor was still in her procedure. Sure, I could have started pushing, but it might have been a while because Colin was still high. Since I couldn't feel the contractions anyway, they wanted me to drift. So, we just hung out and rested. By 1:30pm I was starting to feel pressure and the urge the push. Thankfully, it wasn't too bad, and I could wait a little longer.

My doctor showed up at 2:15pm, I started pushing and Colin was born at 2:30pm! His cord was wrapped around his neck so Dr. Dudley had to cut it before his body was even out. She cleaned out his mouth, and he let out the biggest cry. He actually continued crying for a while...guess he liked it in there. ;-)

I held him for the longest time while they did his Apgar tests (8 and 9...just like his big brother) and then they took him to get his weight (8lbs 4oz), length (20 inches), and give him the Vitamin K shot.

 

Next up...Drake meeting Colin!

Baby Patterson #2!

 

 

Colin Stewart Patterson

May 30, 2012

2:30pm

8lbs 4oz

20 inches long

Birth story to come...

Scheduled!

At my appointment yesterday morning, I was dilated to 2cm. Then, we decided she would strip my membranes, and she said it was maybe closer to 3cm. But, my cervix was still high and "pretty thick." She also said that this baby is bigger than Drake (7lbs 13oz).

I've been off work for over a week and need my FMLA to kick in next week plus my doctor is leaving on vacation sometime next week. Being 40 weeks and 1 day, we talked about induction. She suggested either this Thursday or next Monday and gave me the option. I couldn't decide so I left the office and planned to call them back in the afternoon.

After talking it through with Jason, my mom and a nurse friend, I settled on Thursday. This would work out nicely as I could spend a whole day with Drake and my parents would have time to get down here to stay with him while we went in. Although, this also meant that he was going to be born on our anniversary.

I called the office back and then waited to get confirmation that the hospital would be ready on Thursday. The nurse finally called me back about 4:30pm when I was picking up Drake and said the hospital couldn't do Thursday, but they could do Wednesday! That meant I had a few hours to figure out arrangements for Drake overnight and get our stuff together. Luckily, Jason's niece was able to come over and stay with him while we were gone and then will drop him off at daycare this morning!

So, we're at the hospital and praying for a safe delivery of baby boy #2 (who still doesn't have an official name). :-)

Memorial Day Weekend!

We have had a great weekend and probably our last as a family of three!

On Friday night, we picked Drake up from daycare and hung out at home all night. Jason put Drake's swing up...which he couldn't get enough of!

Then, we noticed that the bird nest we have been watching on our lights outside had baby birds in it!! I couldn't get too many good pictures, but it was so neat to watch the momma bird come and feed her babies.

Saturday morning, we decided to try out a "new to us" park in town. It was wonderful! There was no one there, it was pretty shaded and they had lots of fun things to play on.

 

 

 

We stopped at Steak & Shake for lunch, took naps, had dinner, and then went to the mall to walk around and let Drake play at the soft play area for a while.

On Sunday, we went to church, had lunch and naps and then headed over to a high school friend's house for a pool party! Drake had a great time swimming and playing with the other kiddos.

This morning, we went to the parade followed by lunch and play-doh!

 

 

 

 

 

We ended the holiday weekend with dinner at Moe's and Carl's Ice Cream for dessert. :-)

40 Weeks!

Well, here we are...40 weeks! I truly didn't think we would make it this far since Drake came at 39 weeks 1 day. The good news is that I am feeling great, I got a lot accomplished on my week off work, we've had a great weekend, but now I'm ready.

Okay, let's face it ... I am more than ready!


Thursday night, I went to labor and delivery because I wasn't feeling much movement. By the time we got there, he was going crazy and his heartrate was in the upper 170s. We were monitored for a while and when his heartrate finally got back down to normal (in the 140s/150s), I was contracting every 1-2 minutes. Unfortunately, it didn't make any change to my cervix (still at 2cm) so they sent me home.

My next appointment is tomorrow so we'll see if anything has changed. At this point, we will schedule an induction for sometime later this week or early next week. Of course, I'm still holding out hope that he will come on his own before then, but it's certainly not looking that way.

The Great Grocery Challenge

 

Target: OOP $5.28, Saved $9.32 (64%)

Meijer: OOP $20.86, Saved $84.13 (80%)

You can see the details of my first Meijer trip here. Pretty sweet trip if I do say so!

CVS: OOP $5.52, Saved $21.88 (80%)

Aldi: OOP $8.33

I am really liking shopping at Aldi these days...especially picking up those things that I wouldn't normally have coupons for as well such as milk or produce.

Weekly Totals: OOP $39.99, Saved $115.33! (74% Savings!)

Check out Mommywantsfreebies.com for daily deals and new coupons!!

Sprinkler!

We had a pretty hot weekend here...it was in the 90s...so after nap on Sunday, we headed outside to the sprinkler!

 

 

Aireol's 8th Grade Promotion

My little "sister" had her 8th grade promotion last night. I was glad that we were able to be there (now baby can come any time!). It's a small school with about 75 kids in her class so it didn't even take an hour.

 

 Drake did a great job clapping for all the 8th graders as their names were announced.

 

 Aireol's mom, great aunt and sister.

 Aireol is such a beautiful young lady inside and out! I really can't believe she'll be in high school next year. We've been matched for 5 years next month...9 years old to 14 years old is a big difference.

39w1d

I'm still here. :-)

I had a doctor's appointment this morning. There is a little progress...I'm dilated to 2cm now, but still not effaced. Today marks the gestation that Drake was born at so I guess I kind of thought this little one might come by now, but it's not looking like it.

My doctor said she could at least feel his head so we know he's head down and getting into position. Drake was still super high when I went into the hospital to deliver him and my doctor couldn't tell at previous appointments if he was head down so this is good news to me.

She offered induction again, but I turned her down. Honestly, I am very comfortable still. Yes, I've gained 35 pounds and have a big 'ole belly, but I haven't had any swelling and am not in any pain. I'm REALLY hoping he will come on his own. I have an appointment scheduled for next Tuesday, and I agreed that if he wasn't here by then, that we would schedule. I need to start my official leave by June 5th and she's going on vacation shortly after that.

So, we'll see what happens...

39 Weeks!

Whew! It has been quite a week that all started at my doctor's appointment on Tuesday. My sitter texted saying Drake was having a rough morning while I was on my way to the appointment. While I was there, she called and said he got sick at the lunch table. This was all while I was supposed to be leaving my "sample" which ended up going right in the toilet...oops! Thankfully, Jason was able to go get him as I had my evaluation for work right after my appointment and was preparing for a conference this past weekend as well as briefing my co-worker on my workload for the summer that she'll be taking care of for me.

I stayed home with Drake on Wednesday morning and then he went back to the sitter's with no other symptoms. My co-workers were a great help getting ready for the conference - I think they were actually nervous that if I did anything, I would go into labor and not be able to be there. :-)

The rest of the week went by way too quickly and we had a great conference on Saturday which was my last full-day of work before baby comes!!

I'm still feeling really good!! There has been more pressure, but I've also had these sudden bursts of energy to get things done. I'm starting to really wonder when he will decide to arrive. (I had these same thoughts with Drake which I'm sure most women can relate to.)

My next appointment is tomorrow morning so we'll see if there is any progress. That will be 39+1 which is the day I went into labor with Drake. 

The Great Grocery Challenge

 

Dollar General: OOP $3.25, Saved $4.25

Target: OOP $8.95, Saved $37.41!

Meijer: OOP $25.80, Saved $22.33!

The Meijer trip doesn't look too good, but I was pretty happy with it since I had a to buy a few things that weren't on sale and I didn't have a coupon. Mostly for a recipe I'm making for a dinner I'm putting together for another family on Monday night. I was also excited to try out their new coupon policy -- they are now accepting competitor coupons! I used 2 Target coupons and they worked with no problems. :-)

Weekly Total OOP $38.00, Saved $63.99! (63% savings!)

I was glad to stay under budget this week since I spent quite a bit last week. :-)

Don't forget to check out Mommywantsfreebies.com for daily deals and new coupons!

38 Weeks!

This is my last week (or less) of work before baby comes. It's really hard to believe that we are to this point already. We're ready...the room is together, his clothes are washed and my bag is packed, for the most part. I'm kind of hoping that he'll hold out until next week just because that would give me a couple days off and then I could attend my little "sister's" 8th grade promotion next Tuesday. We'll see what he has in mind though. :-)

At last week's doctor appointment, there was nothing going on to indicate this baby would be coming any time soon. We'll see what she says at my appointment tomorrow.

And, I'm hoping to finally post some pictures of little guy's room this week! My co-worker is making his crib skirt and a quilt, but I don't have it yet.

Happy Mother's Day!

My Mother's Day started off with a church sermon about resting...how nice, huh?

So, after church we had lunch and took a nap. :-)

It was a beautiful day here. Jason washed the Acadia, and we spent some nice time outside including going to the school playground near our house.

 

Drake is all about pushing the stroller! It certainly doesn't get us anywhere quickly, but he likes it. :-)

 

 

 

 

Hard to believe that next year I'll be a momma to TWO boys!! Hope everyone enjoyed their weekend!