Labor Update # 10

9:15 am:
Callie has the same nurse that she had with Abby two years ago. This nurse prides herself on giving good IVs.  Callie tried to tell her to get the IV team right off but the just had to try.  She missed.  In came the IV team, a Ken doll and his cart.  This guy was able to give her a good IV but it was hard not to chuckle.  He had very little body fat, big arms, and perfectly straight and blinding white teeth.  He was really nice though.

Callie's Pitocin drip has been going for about 30 minutes and nothing. I am beginning to wonder if it is going to happen today.

9:20;
First contraction.  Nurse anesthatist came in to interview her for her epidural.  Callie is so funny.  When asked if she had an epidual before she said, "Yes, I I loved it!"

9:42;
Dr. Hardenburg just broke Callie's water.  Callie is doing great.  No huge contractions yet but are expected soon.

10:05
Contractons are coming more often.  About five on the pain scale.  She is playing a game on her IPOD.

10:13;
Contractions every 1.5 to 2 minutes apart.  Callie still has her humor which I think will be leaving shortly when she screams "give me drugs!!!"  But for now, she is calm and doing fine.

Labor Update # 9

We are at the hospital.  It is 6:30 am and Callie is getting Pitocen (hope I spelled that correctly) and they are getting her booked into the system.  The baby monitor is on and I can hear my granddaughter's heart beating rhymically.  Sounds like all is well.

Callie is relaxed and trying to drink lots of water so her IV will go right the first time.  She always has difficulty with IVs.  She hates needles and I have to distract her while they put it in.  Really, I think that's why she lets me in the delivery room, so I can distract her from all that is going on.

We are in Mission Memorial in Ashville.  It is a nice hospital and when we were walking in Callie said that she really liked it here.  The people are nice and I hope all goes well again.  Abby was born in this hospital two years ago.  When I walked in memories of being at her birth flooded in.  It was a wonderful experience.

Callie's dear friend, Laura Shetley, is coming also to video as much of the birth as allowed by the hospital.  They don't allow certain shots to be taken.  That is a good thing in my opinion.  It is also nice to have someone worry about the pictures so I can tend to Callie.

Well, we are going to get to work laboring....I will post periodically throughout the day and get pictures up as soon as possible.  Thanks for following along.  Hope you enjoy with us and all goes well for this family.  Would love your prayers today.

Labor Update # 8

The house is clean, laundry done, baby changing stations set up all over the house, baby sitter set up for Abby, and food in the fridge.  All is ready for Baby Susanna to arrive. (Her parents are going to call her Cate, but I like Susanna Banana Danna.)

We leave at 6 am Monday morning for the hospital.  Callie is going to be induced.  She is in way to much discomfort and cramping too.  So we are going to move this along.

Pictures will be posted sometime tomorrow.

Labor Update #7

Callie had her membrane swept by the doctor on Wednesday. After that she had hard contractions for a few hours and then quit again.  We thought she would do something within 24 hours.

I can see the baby moving around.  I watch something (hand or foot) move across Callie' stomach and the whole mass shifts like Susanna Cate is doing Gymnastics in there. Funny.

Andy took her yesterday to Sam's Club to walk around and try to get things moving and stock up on stuff for the weekend. Last night Callie, Laura, and I went to PF Changs for dinner.  Andy opted to stay home with Abby and play.

Spring Break has started for Mt. Pisgah, the school where they teach.  Maybe Callie will stop stressing and just relax.

We are going to the Salon today to get my hair cut.  Getting out and about may help her, who knows. 

The doctor's office called and set up her induction for Monday a 6 am.  If you voted on the poll then we were all wrong.  However, I am guessing the weight.  Since we have big babies in this family I am guessing 8.8 pounds.  Andy is guessing 10 (his birth weight).   What do you guess?

Labor Update # 6

Poor Callie.  When we got home last night after going to the doctor and having her membranes swept she was doing labor pretty well.  I went to bed early knowing that I would be awakened in the middle of the night to head to the hospital.  But then she came to a halt, again.  The doctor didn't want to induce until after Sunday.  That is when she will be 39 weeks.  Callie is discouraged.

I really can't blame her.  She has worked so hard with the start-n-stop labor.  Her hips are in much pain too and she is having indigestion a lot.  I think she is more worn out than anything.  She is also stressing about many things.

Her last class for teaching was yesterday and all her work is done so I think she can start to destress and just relax.  I am doing all the house stuff so she can just be waited on. Another destresser.  Whatever we can do to help her relax will help I think.

Labor Update #5

We went to the doctor this afternoon.  After several days Callie is dialated to 3.  The doctor "swept" her memrane to speed things up.  If she doesn't do something they will induce next Wednesday.  I'm not sure she can go through another week of this.  She is really tired of working so hard.  At least she is getting some sleep during the day. So we wait again.

Labor Update # 4

Callie is still going very low.  She is having contractions but nothing that would pop a kid out in a few hours.  She has a doctors appointment this afternoon and she is asking the doctor to help get this process sped up.  We are anxious but willing to be patient too.  The problem is that Callie is so exhausted.  It is a lot of work to do labor, especially this long. It will be interesting to see if she has increased her cms.

In the meantime, I am enjoying my granddaughter, Abby.  She is adorable.  Callie puts her hair in braids every day.  It is so pretty. 

She is also a good eater and loves broccolli.  I made broccolli cheese soup and homemade buttermilk biscuits yesterday.  She downed three bowls and ate some of her mom's also.  Glad she likes veggies.

Abby is turning two on March 7.  If you read the previous blog you will know we had her birthday early.  I got out the letter card game and she can name almost all her letters. She knows what sounds they make as well.  She is learning out to spell her name and can sing the ABC song.  Such a smart kid.

Spending special time with her while there is not baby to distract is fun. She is an amazing little girl for sure.

Labor Update #3

Same ol', same ol'!  Though Callie's contractions are harder, she is still starting and stopping. She went to bed really early last night.  She is trying to keep up on the rest.  When she had Abby two years ago she was exhausted from the long labor and staying awake from the excitement of having her first baby.  Funny how we learn our lesson after going through it once.

It is nice to be here.  I am happy to be helping out.  I keep up on the laundry, cooking, and house cleaning.  Callie just loves having a personal maid.  Maybe that is why she wanted me to come early.

So we are going shopping again.  There is supposed to be this cute Ma & Pa store called "The Dancing Bear" that has tea sets for kids.  We are going to see if we can find a couple sets for Abby's birthday party this afternoon.

Labor Update #2

Waiting.....waiting....waiting......"I hate waiting"

Callie was having labor last night around 9 pm.  She started keeping track on excel.  I decided to go to bed and get some rest in case we had to get up in the middle of the night.  Woke up at 7 am.  All stopped, AGAIN!  This daughter of mine really makes much work out of having a baby.  Does anyone else go this long in labor?

When I had my three kids I had long labors.  The first was 18 hours, the second was 20, and the third ws 22 hours.  I was exhausted.  I am not sure how Callie handles all of this pain.  I know that her muscles are stretched to the point of tearing and her ligaments are maxed.  She is also having some gaul bladder issues. 

I hope she starts going soon so she can get some relief.

Labor Update

There is no labor.  She has totally stopped.  What gives? Obviously not her womb.

We decided to go to chuch today.  I took a bunch of pictures of my Abby girl.  She is so photogenic!  She was such a good girl in Sabbath School.  She sits quietly until the teacher gives her something to do and then she does it exactly right.  All the other kids are out of their chairs, screaming when they have to give their toy back to the teacher so she can go on to the next thing. Then the parents comment on her hair, done in french braids by mommy, and how behaved she is.  Of course!  She is my granddaughter, silly!

I loved her "riding on the horsie" and singing.  I don't know where they got these stick horses but if you squeeze the ear you can hear it clip clopping and neighing.  So cute!

In Labor

I am suddenly in Ashville NC.  My daughter, Callie, has been in labor since yesterday.  Our women are known for laboring a very long time....several days.  Callie is exhausted.  When she told me that she was in labor I decided to change my plane ticket and come early.  I am going to try and get some rest so that when she is ready I can be a good secondary coach. 

Andy is the primary coach and I will take direction from him.  He is a great hubby, dad, and son-in-law.  He is so wonderful to let me be a part of their sweet growing family. It is such a wonderful experience to watch my grandchildren be born and the joy on the parents faces as they see their new arrival for the very first time.

Will post again when I have news.  Keep her in your prayers.