LIfe as a family of 4....FINALLY! :)

Christmas Day

My labor story:

After the previous post on the evils of the week of induction I marched into the Dr's office ready to tell the Dr. to shove his induction and no more then 15 minutes of waiting for him the hospital calls and tells me to come in. Hmmmm.... figures.

Anyway, so I apparently was close to being in labor on my own anyway. I was 3 cm and almost fully effaced when they first checked me. I was given the smallest dose of pitocin which immediately put me into labor. Within 30min of being admitted I was given my epidural (AWESOME!). Things happened so fast. 30 minutes after that they broke my water and I was immediately 5cm. In an hour I was 6cm. Then I stalled for 3 hours. I was so depressed. But suddenly I started feeling a lot of pressure and my nurse said, "let's check you just in case..." Well, I was 9 1/2 cm. WHOA! Ben and I freaked out. They let me labor down for about another hour and had me start pushing. After only 15min of pushing the nurse was yelling at me to stop because they needed to get the Dr. in. As soon as he was there I gave a few good pushes and the next thing I knew the Dr. told me to, "Reach down and grab your son." So I actually got to pull Karson out and onto my stomach. Although that may sound gross it was actually one of the most cherished moments of my life. Absolutely amazing.

So for the hardest pregnancy I was blessed with the most wonderful birth! Thank you Karson!

Well, we are home and happy to be home. Trying to adjust has been difficult and challenging, but well worth it. I couldn't believe how quickly Kolton changed. The tantrums have been bigger, MINE has become a favorite word, and he actually developed an evil eye that beams in my direction if I am holding Karson. It makes me sad. I expected the changes and challenges and with each day there are the little things that make me smile. Like when Kolton brings Karson a pacifier out of the blue. Or when he rubs Karson's head and gives him a kiss without being asked to. I have hope that my "new" Kolton realizes that mine is now "ours" soon and that Karson is a wonderful blessing for our family. :)

An induction nightmare...still waiting....

So who do I yell at?

I can't yell at the nurses when I call labor and delivery. Lord knows they are working their butts off every day and night. They are so sweet when I call.

I can't yell at the scheduler at my Dr's office because she is just doing what my Dr. tells her to.

I can't even really yell at my Dr because he is trying to deliver babies, see patients, and raise his own family. Being a business owner I appreciate that the guy needs his own life, too.

So who do I yell at? I can't take this anymore. Oh...I guess I should update you on what has been going on FOR THE PAST 4 DAYS. Maybe then you will at least want to yell with me to get some frustration out.

This is a picture of 3oz of gold...the exact amount I needed Karson to add to his weight at 36 weeks to qualify me for a medical induction.

The story:

I was scheduled for induction initially on Dec. 29th, but rescheduled to Jan. 4th (Monday) because they were all booked. For those who don't know I am an elective induction decided on by my Dr. because at 36 weeks my baby was only 100grams (3 oz) away from being a macrasomia baby, qualifiying me for a medical induction. That means the baby was/is BIG. So here I am, riding the line of needing a medical induction like I had with Kolton at 36 weeks because of the babies size. Only now I am 5 days from my due date, so I can't even fathom how big this guy is at this point.

Moving on to Monday. Waited, called, got the same story every couple of hours....we are full, we'll call when a bed opens up....waited. Then Tuesday morning the hospital tells me they'll call in the afternoon, while the scheduler at my Dr's office tells me they won't call me if I haven't been called by the morning and I will probably be rescheduled. So I wait, not knowing who to believe.

Monday evening I call L&D (labor and delivery) they tell me they haven't called because my Dr. rescheduled me for Wed. night. Gee. Thanks for anyone calling me to tell me. I am such a wreck from not sleeping and the anxiety of all of this that Ben and I decide to leave Kolton at his parents again so I can get some sleep.

Wednesday morning I wake up feeling refreshed. Settled. Ready to make a plan. I decide that if I get bumped again I am going to march up to my Dr. and tell him to shove his induction where the sun don't shine. I am 5 days from my due date and will let nature do what it was meant to. Ben and I spend the day with Kolton...a wonderful day....and then drop him back off again at his parents. My spirits begin to decline. The 3rd night away from my baby Kolton.

Wednesday night I wait....I call....I'm smart enough to go to bed this time. Good thing I did because I wake up from dreaming about yelling at my Dr. and see it is already 4am. NO CALL. The nurses in L&D tell me they see a light at the end of the tunnel and I should be called after 7am. I watch a movie and go back to bed at 6am. Wake up at 8am and decide this is over. I'm done.

So here we are. I just called L&D again and they're telling me to go about my day and I should get a call in the afternoon. Ya f'n right. I call my Dr.'s office and of coarse the scheduler doesn't answer her phone. I decided I will bug her ever 30min until I get in to see my Dr. today because I AM DONE.

Now who would you yell at?

It's the final countdown....

The holidays are over. The decorations are put away. And the baby stuff is staring me straight in the face. It is time. In 3 days my poor body will be forced into labor, like it or not. I was hoping I would go on my own by now. And although I have had many "uh oh...what's that" contractions, no such luck. I have been walking, drinking lots of red raspberry leaf tea, and hoping....I am waiting as patiently as I can. But the Dr. doesn't think my body will go on it's own before Monday. :(

So, I will be waiting for the phone call. The one I'll get sometime between 6 - 10pm Monday night that says, "We are ready for you, let's have a baby!". I will then go into the hospital and be given a pill to jump start my labor. The dr. says it should go pretty quickly due to how far along I am and the progression I've already made. I sure hope so, because induction with Kolton was a nightmare. But this baby is so big and I am so uncomfortable that it is time he is evicted. I will keep everyone posted as much as I can, and Ben will bring the laptop so we can hopefully download pictures asap.

Until then I love any thoughts and prayers anyone would like to offer. This is so nerve-racking at this point. I am so ready for this to be over, and so ready to hold my son in my arms. Here's to the new year and the upcoming birth of Karson Dale Koller.

Wish me luck.

The Curse of the Ultrasound Machine....

Ultrasound Machines have made so many amazing things happen for pregnant women. They catch debilitating diseases in unborn babies, let parents have a glimpse at their unborn child, and help Dr.'s make important decisions on the health and safety of babies....

However, they suck, too. Blunt. I know. But I am so frustrated right now that I can't even prentend to like the stupid machine. Here's what happened:

1. Last week I had an u/s to estimate the babies fetal weight which was 7.5 lbs. I was put on the induction list for Dec. 29th because my baby was measuring so large.
2. I received a call 2 days later that I didn't qualify for a medical induction because Karson was in the 90-95% and must be 95% or bigger. AND the elective induction list was full. However, if Karson hit the 95% mark on the next Tuesday (TODAY) I could be put back on.
3. Had an u/s today. He measured 7.6lbs. That's right...he supposedly only gained an ounce. The tech looked at me funny and said, "Well, these formulas are only calibrated to make an estimation once every 3 weeks. And you already had an u/s last week so since it has only been a week that measurement is off."
4. You think?
5. Dr. says...."Well, you still don't qualify due to todays measurement."
6. Me, "But isn't it off."
7. Dr., "Yes, but that doesn't matter. The baby needs to be 100 grams heavier to qualify. So now we will put you on the list for Monday, Jan. 4th."
8. Me....now sobbing, "But I'll be 39 weeks and this baby will be HUGE. What if I can't push it out."
9. Dr., "There's a very slim chance you won't be able to...it will be ok. See you next week...here's a tissue." Pat on the back.

Ok....so I HATE ultrasound machines now. If I would have never known the weight I might never have started to obsess with the fact that I have to push such a large baby out of my whoo haa..... After giving birth to Kolton at 36weeks 5days with a 25hour labor and a vacuum to boot and 40 stitches later I am a little nervous at what is going to happen to me with a LARGER baby at 39 weeks.

Pray for me. I need it right now.

KARSON UPDATE

Quick update after my really long Dr.'s Appt.....

His estimated weight at the moment is 7.5lbs. This measurement can be + or - a lb....let's hope for -. Even though he is gaining steadily I haven't gained any weight in the last month and that makes me happy. I am dilated 1 cm which is more then I ever did before I was induced with Kolton. Since I have 2 more weeks to go before my induction I should dilate even more...should. Hopefully. (The Dr. suggested ways to "ripen" my cervix, but I will save you the gory details.) Karson is measuring in the 90-95%. So we went ahead and scheduled an induction for the night of the 29th. I will be 38 weeks exactly. I was 37 weeks when I was induced with Kolton. So hopefully this induction will go a lot quicker and smoother. I have another ultrasound next Tuesday to make sure he is still a big boy and if he is all will be a go for the next Tuesday....

So....here's to 14 days and counting.

Monday Madness

Today was madness for several different reasons:

1. Last night Kolton refused to sleep. He screamed instead of snored. He cried instead of dreamt. He kicked instead of cuddled. It was horrific.

........do I mention here the severely painful contractions I was having.......

2. Obviously because of the above sentences I did not get ANY sleep.

3. Motherly instinct, "SOMETHING IS WRONG."

4. It must be that dastardly Lightening McQueen Bed.....

5. No, it's more then that.

6. Go to urgent care at 7am. Wait for an hour for a Dr. to say, "Ummm...I'm an orthopedic specialist. I wouldn't feel comfortable treating him. You need to take him to his pedi."

..........Thanks for the hour wait with a sick kid.

7. Get an appt. w/ pedi for 11am........more waiting w/ the sick kiddo.

8. Hmmmm....my throat is really sore. Damn.

9. Pedi diagnoses what I suspected all along. Yes....an ear infection. 5 minutes and $30 later.

10. Proceed to an afternoon and evening filled with sick kid behavior, my sore throat, contractions, and a total lack of sleep..............

Thank God this day is almost over.

Monday Madness.

Tonight's Milestone....

Kolton is asleep (for now) for the 1st time in his big boy Lightening McQueen bed. Lots of mixed emotions on this one. It is so weird to walk by his old room and see an empty crib waiting for Karson. I know I am going to sleep even lighter (if possible) just waiting for Kolton to come walking into our room. He is growing up too fast. I hate it......and love it. He is becoming .....swallow....a big boy. Ok...now the tears.................................