June 28th, 2011, 1.00am

My last doctor's appt was June 21st at 2.45, and I left with this news: "Your fundal height is at 43, and I'm just being nice-- it's really 44... you're still closed up... I went away for a couple of days and came back, HOPING you would have had that baby," and FINALLY, "Okay we're inducing you- go to the hospital midnight on Monday. We'll try everything we can to make it natural, but it's more than likely going to be a c-section."

It was such a long but quick Monday-- everyone told me to sleep and rest, but I couldn't. I was busy cleaning and painting, and by the time I thought about laying down, something else was going on or needed to be taken care of. Needless to say, no sleep was gotten. After I was admitted, the nurses did lots of bloodwork and inserted a catheter into my arm for fluids prior to the induction process. They gave me Misoprostol to ripen my cervix b/c, pause for shock, I still was not dilated. Because Elijah was still very active, the nurses had to wrap my belly in two bands to keep track of his heartbeat. I was then hooked up to the blood pressure monitor and the pulsation/oxygen machine. I still tried to sleep but it was very hard to do b/c of the bands, and anytime there was an alarm about something, it would wake me up (alarms for the contraction machine running out of paper, bubbles in the fluid line, and oxygen level getting too low). I ended up sleeping in 15-30 minute increments only- plus I was cramping from the Misoprostol (which is normal). After another assessment was done and showed no ripening, I was started on Pitocin that is considered to be the "serious stuff."

The cramping was worse, and I still got no sleep-- so the next step was my epidural and bathroom catheter. My anesthesiologist was super nice and very "talented." I really thought that would hurt, but it really didn't. The worse part of it is when they do a "test run" on the numbing medicine b/c it's a lot of pressure on your back and it's cold going in. But then once the numbing takes place, the cramping goes away and it's pure bliss. I still didn't get any sleep, but it was still really nice not to be in pain. The bathroom catheter didn't hurt either, but of course, I was numb so didn't feel it. Just in case you were wondering why they use a catheter, it's because you can't move or feel your legs to get up and walk so they do a catheter so you can pee.

Around 1.00pm, my water broke and that was really weird. I've read it's like a popping sensation when it happened, so that's what I was thinking but it really isn't. It's more of a sensation like when you have to pee for a while but can't, so when you do it takes a while but finally happens. At first it was a trickle but then it was a gush and would continue to be a gush for the next 7 minutes. When my doctor came in to check me, I still wasn't dilated so he said, "Well let's give it until 3 or 4. If nothing has happened, then we'll get him out." The doctor showed up around 4, and again pause for shock, was only dilated 2 cm.

I was taken back to the OR at 4.50pm and the C-Section was started. Prior to, I was given more numbing medicine and was told, "Be expected to have some nausea with this stuff." They rolled me into the OR, and that's when it hit- the nervousness and shakiness (from being nervous) and the tears (from being nervous and not knowing what to expect). The other anesthesiologist introduced herself and reassured me about everything. I couldn't stop apologizing for crying and she kept saying, "Honey it's okay.. it's okay.. the end result is worth it." When everything was started, I had no idea what they were doing but I certainly couldn't feel anything because my body was so numb. At one point, I said, "It smells like popcorn in here." She laughed and said, "Honey that's you." And I said, "Oh... well I smell good." LOL. There were two guys working on me, and from Josh told me- Elijah wouldn't come out of the opening they had made, so one of the doctors actually had to jump and push down on my stomach to get Elijah's head to come out. Even at that, they had to use the vacuum and suction to get him. The doctor pushed on me one more time. When Elijah's head popped out, he was completely out- and at that very moment, I was relieved of 100+ lbs of pressure on my body. It was a night and day difference. Then I heard his shrill, sweet baby cry- and that's when Josh and me both cried. It was the most amazing thing EVER. Before Elijah was out, the anesthesiologist said, "Okay it's 5.14 right now. I predict he'll be out by 5.19." His actually birth time 5.21pm-- that's how big he was.

Both doctors couldn't believe how big he was. His birth weight was 8 lbs, 9 ounces- head size was 15 1/4-- and he was as chubby as he could be. My original OB said later that we definitely made the right choice b/c as big as he was, there was NO WAY he was coming out the natural way. I would have been in labor for days and pushing for hours.

The after process was probably the worst part of it all. It seemed to take forever to stitch me up, and the longer it took, the more nauseated I got. And I couldn't quite figure out if it was the medicine or the blue sterile curtain they had up, but it was horrible. I tried to look at anything to take my mind off of it, but nothing worked and eventually, things went double. I started trying to do deep breathing things, but it didn't work. I was asked how I was feeling and was given Phenergan and had the blue sterile curtain pushed back a little bit to relieve my sickness. I started shivering and was wrapped in a warm blanket.

The ride back to the room was horrible because I was still nauseated, and the more I laid there and tried to get my mind off the nausea, the worse it got-- and pretty soon.. well, you can guess what happened next. But I'll tell ya, after that, my nausea was gone and besides being drugged up and exhausted- I felt good.

Thursday was an interesting day because all of my catheters and pumps, etc. were removed, and it was strongly advised to get up and walk around. So I did that and tried to get some sleep, but it's very hard to do when nurse after nurse after lactating consultant after kitchen staff after doctor comes in every 5 minutes. That was the day that my hormones got the best of me, and I broke down. Everyone thought it was because I was overwhelmed or worried about not being able to breastfeed, but it wasn't anything like that. It was the simple fact that I'm so used to being independent and not having to ask anyone for anything, and I couldn't do it. AND I had been in the hospital for what seemed like an eternity, so I was ready to get home. And finally on Friday, I got to go home.

I was a little worried about that because the doctor won't let you leave if you don't use the bathroom. So at 5.00 that morning, I was able to use the bathroom and was so happy that I texted one of my friends and told her (a little TMI, yes, but she was very happy for me.. lol). My staples were removed, I was given my discharge papers, and all of that good stuff-- and out the door we went.


So welcome to the world baby big head, chubby-cheeked, little Elijah Alexander Vittitow... It was love at first sight!!!

I'm Such a Goober!!

So today, my feet have been super swollen and it hurts to rotate my left foot side to side. I got the Boppy out and have been elevating my feet in hopes of the fluid going away, which it has. I'm laying here in the recliner and start rotating my foot and said, "Hey, I can rotate my wrist side to side now." Josh turns to look at me with this very questionable look and says, "What?!" I look at my rotating foot and said, "My wrist, I can move it now." He starts giggling and says, "Your wrist?"

lololololololol--- I'm SUCH a goober. :))

35 Weeks and Freakin Miserable.

You know I'm not one of these women who LOVES being pregnant-- I'm just not. First off, don't get me wrong-- I laugh every time I feel Elijah jab me or roll. And I'm so excited about the next step-- meeting him, seeing who he looks like, etc. I really, really can't wait. I haven't even met him, and I love him to pieces. BUT the symptoms that come along with it? The no-boundaries that some people have? Well it's enough for me to say, "Okay Elijah, you can come out now."

So here is my list of complaints:

1. I feel the need to be cold all the time. Any kind of warmth makes my feet and hands hurt from swelling.

2. I'm tired ALL THE TIME. Lugging around 50 pounds of baby and baby-related things is hard work. And when you're lugging all that around weight, it makes it very hard to get comfortable-- sleeping or otherwise. I can't eat like a normal person, nor can I really put my plate or bowl on my stomach very well. Several times I've had to take off my pants just so I could sit in a decent position to eat.

3. Naps are officially out of the question... OFFICIALLY.

4. My pelvis and pubic bone have started hurting. And this one aggravates me the most. Now I've read that this is just because my body is getting ready b/c of the stretching, which I'm thankful for-- but must I hurt so bad that I can't even switch positions when I'm sleeping??? And must it hurt so bad that it's a pain to get out of the chair and put a lot of pressure on every part of my body???

Boo!!!!

Now onto the no-boundaries thing. When I was in NC, these are the questions I got asked the most by patients: How tall are you? Are you old enough to work here? How big are your feet? What's your ethnicity? And it was quite annoying, as you can imagine. In SC, being pregnant gets these questions: Are you pregnant/expecting? (no idiot I was really hungry) Is this your first? Do you know if it's a boy or girl? And my favorite- What are you going to name him? It's gotten so bad that when I call someone back, I cover my stomach with the chart so people won't ask me about it. Just a little tip, if I don't know you-- I'm not going to tell you his name. Me telling you his name is the same as you touching me or my stomach-- it's just not going to happen. Several people have asked me what I'm going to name him, and I have to say, "I'm sorry, I'm not going to talk about that. It's private."

So those are my rants this week... Really, really, really can't wait for Baby Elijah to get here. Really, really.

What's Going On..

Not a lot going on in little Elijah's world right now-- he's getting bigger and fatter in the oven, which is good. On the outside world, his mama is feeling every roll and jab and getting more and more uncomfortable sleeping. I'm also trying to get used to sleeping on my left side and enjoying my lunchtime 20-30 minute naps.

Mother's Day weekend, Josh and I traveled up to NC for a final trip and the baby shower. I was so happy to get up there to see everyone- friends and family- and I was even more excited to get home (even though by the time we got home to SC, my butt was numb and my feet and fingers were swollen. We got so much stuff-- it was unreal the amount of stuff we got-- BUT I was so grateful for everything people got us. I was even more grateful to see how many people showed up-- it was like a female family reunion for the Collins side-- four of my bestest friends from my old job showed up-- and even Josh's mom and grandmother showed up. It was SO GOOD to see everyone-- really did my heart good. Favorite presents I got were the Eddie Bauer high chair and some green frog galoshes that my friend, Kabo, got me. We got so much sweet baby stuff that mom had to take some of it home with her.

So my projects for this weekend are to finish packing my labor bag and to wash and divide baby clothes and blankets. We'll see if I follow through with any of that. :))




33 weeks pregnant



Baby Shower Goodies.. do y'all see the little green galoshes??!!

31 weeks-- sweet lil Elijah. My belly is measuring 33cm-- so he's going to be a big baby. :)

Spotting, Bedrest, and Boredom.. oh my!!

This current week has been an interesting and scary week for me. Now I know spotting throughout pregnancy is normal, BUT this pregnancy has been easy- no sickness, no heartburn, bloating is gone, etc-- I mean, easy pregnancy. So when something like spotting happens, well, it freaked me out. Spotting to me is bad b/c I know the possibilities of WHAT can happen. The first episode happened Monday night. Of course first thing Tuesday morning, I went to the doctor and was told everything was fine. BUT drink lots of fluids, stay off your feet as much as possible, and TAKE IT EASY.

Well that is easier said than done when the doctor you work for has a 60 patient load, your work ethic is to work up as many of those sixty patients as possible (not to be a kiss ass but because that's what you're there for, those 60 patients pay you, and the sooner you get started, the sooner you leave), and because your work ethic tells you to constantly be moving. Luckily Tuesdays and Thursdays are light days, so it's easier to take it easy (25 patients is so much easier to work up than 60, as I'm sure you can imagine). So since Tuesday was a light day AND the day I was told to take it easy, I did. And everything was fine.

Wednesday rolled around with yet another sixty patient load and again, more spotting. This time I freaked out (more than I did Monday) and went to the doctor yet again who told me again that everything was fine. He told me that women spot for unknown reasons but my cervix was not thinning and perfectly intact. Said placenta could be separating a little and that could have caused the spotting. Told me to be on the lookout for more bleeding and pain because that, of course, is bad. Most important thing he told me was, "Go home and stay off your feet. Let's see if the spotting goes away." My question, "Am I out just today?" His response, "Nope the rest of the week."

While I'm enjoying putting my feet up and doing as little as possible so Elijah can continue to bake and get fat (which from what I was told yesterday, he's already a big baby-- whether that means he's long or fat I don't know), I can't help but think about work. I feel like I need to be working, not because I'm obsessed with my job but because I simply hate to be an inconvenience to anyone. I hate putting people off.. it quite frankly upsets me, BUT I have to do what's best for my body and Elijah. And if that means, staying off my feet than so be it. However I can't wait to get back to work on Monday-- I just hope the spotting doesn't return. IF it does and with the doctor's permission, I'll be reclined at work doing triage and ordering/dispensing contact lenses all day. Which is fine with me b/c at least I'll be working AND off my feet-- two for one deal.

So it's Thursday at 11.49am-- what am I doing? Watching Grey's Anatomy and The Price is Right and enjoying the company of my brother-in-law, sister-in-law, and niece (who is quite the character). They were getting ready to go to the beach last night, and Josh took Paisley with him. As they were getting ready to leave, Ashtyn squealed and said, "This is the best day EVER!!!" LOLOLOLOL. She was getting ready to leave, and I said, "See ya later alligator." Her response, "See ya later alligator- don't let the bedbugs bite." Like I said, quite the little character. Love that little girl to pieces.

Sweet Boy.

Sweet lil Elijah boy. 30 weeks tomorrow, Saturday 04.23.2011.

SN: I am now having hot flashes and need to be cold all the time. I have a sinus infection that is getting better with Sudafed (okay'd by my doc, btw). Trying to sleep with a growing baby and clogged up nostrils is very uncomfortable. I feel the need to nap every day at lunch, even for just 10-20 minutes. And my fingertips are swollen, probably from being hot.