Yesterday went pretty well, but last night was another thing altogether. Callie didn't get much sleep at all. The baby wanted to nurse all night. That is pretty much the usual when a new baby comes home.
This morning Callie had to take Cate to the doctor for her first baby check. Seems really soon to me. Andy was going to take her but he was exhausted so I let him sleep with Abby and we headed to the doctor about 7:15 am.
The baby checked out well, but Callie isn't doing so well. She was dizzy and nauseated. She was really pale. I brought her home and gave her the medications the physician gave her. She hadn't eaten breakfast and so I made oatmeal, toast, juice, and hot tea. She also had an apple. She ate it all.
Callie is resting now after nursing the baby. She may be fighting the postpartum blues. I think she needs to drink a lot of water throughout the day so she stays hydrated.
Andy and Abby went to Target to spend a gift certificate for new bedding that will go on Abby's new bed. That will give Callie time for some real sleep. I think she needs rest and no stress. She wants mashed potatoes and gravy so off to get that started.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Baby Cakes Comes Home
It is about 7:30 am. Today is the day that baby Cate, alias Baby Cakes, comes home. They won't release her until 4 or 5 pm because of Callie's strep B. They want to make sure the baby is remaining healthy. So far she is and we are anticipating them soon...so I'm off to clean and see what I can make for supper.
It is now 3:30 pm. Abby and I ate lunch and then took naps. I woke up when I heard the car door shut and footsteps coming up the stairs. In came the new little family. Callie is so glad to be home.
Andy bought a new coming home outfit. Pink with white daisies. Sooo cute! Abby is checking out the baby very carefully.
Callie unfortunately is feeling very light headed and nauseated again. The nurse told her she would feel like that for awhile but it is kind of scary. I will be keeping a very close eye on her for now.
I made a "Moses Basket" out of one of Callie's laundry baskets for the living room. She can set it up on the rocker foot rest and rock the baby right next to her while recovering on the couch. The challenge is to keep Abby off of Mommy. She wants to be right up there watching the baby nurse and naming all the fingers and toes. She has taken all the blankets out of the "Moses Blanket" to cover the new baby. Poor baby. I think she is in for much mothering from her big sister!
If you would like to read this birth from a couple different perspectives read Laura's story "A Woman Is Born" at http://aliveandshining.blogspot.com/ and Callie's personal experience at http://callieandyadams.blogspot.com/.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Abby Meets Cate
I went home last night and got some rest. Andy stayed with Callie. Her hemoglobin blood count is 9.6 so they didn't need to give her the two units of blood they ordered last night. She took a shower and washed her hair. Her catheter is removed and she is functioning on her own now. Thank God. She says she feels sooooo much better. Can't blame her.
Andy came home and picked up Abby and me to come back and visit "Baby Cakes". That is what Abby calls her so I think that will be her nick name. Cute, huh?!
Andy took Abby home to get some rest. Callie is eating lunch. She is craving Taco Bell food, but it is snowing like crazy right now so we won't be getting any for her, especially since Andy took the car home for a bit.
Callie likes her nurse on this floor but she says the other nurses are a bit strange. Well, you can't always have the perfect caregiver. That is why I am needed....lol! Nothing like Mom when the kids are sick or ailing. I love it and am really glad I can be here sharing this with them. It is awesome. I have beautiful grandchildren all the way around. I am so blessed!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Freightening But Okay
About an hour after Callie gave birth and we were getting ready to move her to the regular rooms she began to have difficulty breathing. Nauseated and turning pale she began to crash. I called the nurse in and she immediatly got the trauma team in. Callie's uterus was blocked by a full bladder and a huge blood clot at the upper apex.
The uterus needs to continue contracting and "clamping down" so that the blood vessels in there shut off and slough out any extra junk that needs to be expelled. The blood clot was keeping that from happening. Suddenly when the nurse checked her she began to hemorrage and she bled out a liter of blood. Vomiting helped her a bit. She was catheterized and 500 CCs of fluid was extracted.
Her physician, who had gone home, was called back. In her hurry she got pulled over and ticketed. The stupid cop followed her here to the hospital to make sure she was telling the truth. Sheeze.
The trauma team did a great job in getting Callie stabilized. It was very scary. They are going to give her two units of blood in about 5 hours after they check her blood levels.
While all of this was happening I slipped out and called Don. He and pastor Jim stayed on the phone with each other and prayed together while Don was driving home from the front range. It really helped and we could feel God's presence working along with the doctors and nurses.
Callie is very tired, but doing fine now. She is holding Cate and they are resting. All is well.
The uterus needs to continue contracting and "clamping down" so that the blood vessels in there shut off and slough out any extra junk that needs to be expelled. The blood clot was keeping that from happening. Suddenly when the nurse checked her she began to hemorrage and she bled out a liter of blood. Vomiting helped her a bit. She was catheterized and 500 CCs of fluid was extracted.
Her physician, who had gone home, was called back. In her hurry she got pulled over and ticketed. The stupid cop followed her here to the hospital to make sure she was telling the truth. Sheeze.
The trauma team did a great job in getting Callie stabilized. It was very scary. They are going to give her two units of blood in about 5 hours after they check her blood levels.
While all of this was happening I slipped out and called Don. He and pastor Jim stayed on the phone with each other and prayed together while Don was driving home from the front range. It really helped and we could feel God's presence working along with the doctors and nurses.
Callie is very tired, but doing fine now. She is holding Cate and they are resting. All is well.
Delivery
11:00; The nurse came in and gave Callie an epidural. Laura and I had to leave while they did that. Not sure why. I guss if they mess up they have less witnesses, LOL. Callie did great and is resting. She can feel her contractions now. When they first gave her the epi it slowed the contractions, but she is back on track now.
3:50;
Callie's contractions are every minute or so. She is about 6 cm dialated. Resting, but feeling pressure. Maybe this is a good sign. She just asked for my Sudoku book. Maybe needs to get her mind off working so hard.
Baby Cate arrives at 5:36pm.
3:50;
Callie's contractions are every minute or so. She is about 6 cm dialated. Resting, but feeling pressure. Maybe this is a good sign. She just asked for my Sudoku book. Maybe needs to get her mind off working so hard.
Baby Cate arrives at 5:36pm.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.
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.
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