Two Weeks Ago.....

So sorry for just getting around to posting this wonderful news but.....Evelyn Revay Rowell was born two weeks ago today.  It's been a busy busy busy two weeks.  Lots of learning and adjusting to this new life.  A very sweet life.

The Week Before.....

     At 38 weeks we went in for our weekly Tuesday doctors appointment.  This is the appointment I had been waiting on because they were going to do an ultrasound to estimate Evelyn's weight.  This was going to determine if they were going to let me go into labor naturally or if they planned on inducing.

The ultrasound estimated she was 8.6 pounds.  This meant if I went full term with her she may be nearing the 9 1/2 - 10 pound range.  Big baby!  When it was time to see the doctor she came in, looked at her paper work and told us she was planning to induce.  INDUCE?!?!?!?  The one thing that I was fearing this whole pregnancy.  It just made me nervous and I've always heard that the contractions are so much worse when you are induced.  Not much I could do about it at this point.  My doctor left the room to check the schedule over at labor and delivery and it was the loooonnnggeesstt wait EVER.  She came back to tell us that the schedule was a little crazy due to that the fourth of July was right smack dab in the middle of the week.

She told us to be at the hospital the next monday at 5:00 p.m. to check in and get the Pitocin started.  Usually when doing inductions they up the dose the next morning but they planned to up mine at 11 that night so that my doctor could be the one who delivered Evelyn since she was about to be gone for the Fourth of July.  It was a pretty freaky feeling knowing that in a week you were going to meet the precious baby that's been keeping you company for all these months.  I was excited and totally scared.

For the next week I had to keep my news a secret from everyone except for some family members and obviously I had to tell my boss I wouldn't be coming to work after this work week.  So - sorry to those that I didn't tell the complete truth to.  I can't tell you how many people asked me what my doctor said and I simply told them she said "We will see you next week."  I just didn't let them know why she would be seeing me.  So, for the record I did not lie to you.  I simply didn't tell you the entire truth.  It was something Zach and I wanted to keep private.  With the horrible mood I had been in for the past 2 weeks the last thing I wanted was a hundred text messages and phone calls.  I understand everyone was just curious and excited but I tell you this, I will NEVER ask a 9 1/2 month pregnant woman how she is or if she's ready to have that baby.  I realize now how annoying it is.  I will not do it.

The Big Day.....

So anyways, we checked ourselves in and waited and waited and waited.  I got my epidural around 1:30ish in the morning because I could start to feel the contractions starting.  I was already a 4 when I was admitted so I could have it at any time I wanted it.  I must say, it didn't hurt that bad.  I thought for sure Evelyn was going to be here by 3:00 in the morning but before I knew it, it was 4:45 a.m and they were breaking my water to get this show going.

My doctor came to see me around 8:00ish in the morning and said I was dilated to a 5 or 6.  They upped my dose of Pitocin and there I was, just laying in the bed watching Zach and my sister fall in and out of sleep praying I would do the same.  I was so tired because I hadn't slept all night and there was no way I could fall asleep at this point.  It was getting too close to time to see my baby.  

Around 1:30 p.m I started getting sensation back in my feet and feeling cramps.  I realized that my little epidural juice box was not on.  At least I didn't think it was.  I called a nurse in and they said it was working and if I felt like I needed some extra juice to just hit the button on the little epidural remote when the light was green and I would be good to go.  The sour part is that you can only pump the extra juice every 15 minutes.  I didn't feel like it was working and I could still feel the contractions coming on.

Shortly after this they came in to check my dilation again and I just wasn't making progress.  I wasn't thinning out and Evelyn's head wasn't lining up they way they wanted it to.  My doctor decided at this point to book a room and do a c-section.  At this point they also turned the epidural completely off so I layed there for the next hour feeling every contraction.  They weren't super horrible but they weren't fun either.

When 3:00 rolled around they came and got me and I was rolling down the hall into the surgery room.  I've never been so nervous in my life.  The lights were so bright and there were so many people in the surgery room waiting on me that I became completely overwhelmed.  They didn't let Zach back yet so it was just me laying there completely exposed in front of strangers while they prepped me and pinched me to make sure I couldn't feel anything.  

I could feel my body going numb and they put an oxygen mask on me.  This was about the time Zach came in and I thought I was going to throw up in the mask because I got instantly nauseated.  I couldn't concentrate on anything.  I know Zach was over me talking to me but I was shaking so bad that I just couldn't even focus.  All of a sudden they told Zach to stand up and he got to see Evelyn enter the world at 3:35 p.m on July 3, 2012.  I heard her cry and the doctor say, "Momma, she's got your red hair." That's when I really lost it!  A few minutes later Zach brought her to me and obviously it was love at first sight.  She had a hat on so I couldn't see her hair but she was beautiful as could be.  

It was a very overwhelming moment.  All of a sudden the girl I've been imagining in my head was right there in front of me and I was no longer pregnant.  It was the beginning of a new chapter and I couldn't wait to get back to the room so I could hold her.

I got back to my room at 4:00 and still couldn't hold Evy for almost 2 hours because I was shaking so bad and pretty much couldn't feel anything from my shoulders down.  We had enough visitors during that time that I would not have been able to hold her anyways.  She was already getting the lovin'!

My stay at the hospital was fantastic!  Couldn't have had a better staff taking care of us.  It was definitely hard to get around the first couple of days and impossible to get any rest between visitors, feedings and the constant check up from someone from dietary to the the baby photographer.  There was a constant rotation of people in and out of my room.  By Friday I was ready to be home so we checked out in the late afternoon and began our new life as parents.  So exciting yet so scared.

The past two weeks have been all over the place.  I was blessed to have Zach off with me the first week at home and my sister has been with me this week.  I had my two week checkup with my doctor today and I have been released to drive :) I've been pretty emotional and I'm sure a lot of it has to do with No SLEEP!  But it's worth it.  :)

Here's the moment you've all been waiting for.....Miss Evelyn Revay Rowell

Meeting my baby for the first time.

Yes, I'm drugged up and bawling so I look a little crazy.

But look at my sweet baby :)

Brand new baby

Daddy and Evy

Our ride home

Couldn't leave this baby out

Just a little nap

Love that little smile

Soooo tired

That's my girl!

Daddy's little girl

First shopping trip

My FAVORITE picture!

Best Friends!

So precious.

Okay, okay.  I'll stop with the pictures.....on this blog at least :)

Be prepared for A LOT more.

I've got to capture every moment cause I feel like she is so big already.

So happy to be a momma,

April

Waiting...

Holy Cow!!! I cannot believe that my countdown to Evy says 16 days today.  SiXtEeN DaYs!!!  I can't believe this pregnancy is coming to an end.  As cool as it's been to experience all the things that come with it, baby movements, growing stomach, preparing for a new addition to the family, I am SO ready for it to be over with.

I'm just not one of those girls who adores being pregnant and would do it the rest of my life.  I'm ready to see my little girl's face and start loving on her!  I cannot get comfortable no matter what I do.  Nothing fits me at all and I refuse to buy clothes to get me through the next two weeks when really she could be here any day now.  I'm tired of having to be cautious of everything I eat and drink.  I just want my healthy baby girl.  

Zach is so ready for her to be here too! He has his daddy/daughter time every evening when we go to bed where he just lays his hand on my stomach and feels her swishing around inside and talks to her.  Yeah, it's pretty sweet.  She is going to be a daddy's girl for sure.  I have a feeling I'm the one who is going to be laying down the law in this household.  

People keep asking me what I need and if I have everything ready to go.  I need a baby and I'm ready to head up the the hospital.  Bags are packed and in the car.  I'm just waiting for the first contraction.  Which is scaring me big time.  It's the waiting around for something to happen, not knowing how it's going to happen, that is keeping me a little crazy and anxious.

I'm still attending work every day even though it is getting harder and harder.  It's not the getting up early thing that's a drag.  It's the sitting at a desk all day in a chair that is uncomfortable and it feels like your stomach is being pushed up to your chin.  And the fact that I have to tell people, "hey, if you see my stomach hanging out will you tell me?  I can't see it."

I had my friends and family baby shower a couple of weeks ago that I've been meaning to post about but several of my nights were spent watching the Oklahoma City Thunder play in the NBA finals and that was obviously more important :) Really wanted them to win and very proud of how far they made it.  Next year! I thought for sure some of those games were going to throw me into labor.  They were just too close and too intense.  I'm very excited to see a preseason game when they play in Tulsa in October.  

Shower time.....

Thanks to my sister and cousin for putting this shower together for me.  It was a really nice shower and something I had been looking forward to since the first positive pregnancy test.  

Here's a glimpse of 37 weeks.

Ready for my doctors appointment on Tuesday.  They are doing another ultrasound to check on Evelyn's growth so I'm excited to get to see her again.  Just wish it was in person :)

April

P.S - People of Wal*Mart, please do not slow down and yell at me from your car while I'm walking into the store, "I bet you're ready!" and smile at me like we are friends.  We're not.

Baby Evelyn's Room

It's finally where we want it.  Evelyn's room has been done for some time now but there were just a few little things here and there that weren't quite right but this weekend we put the finishing touches on it and now it's all ready for her arrival.

I'm 35 weeks today and feeling pretty good.  My sleep is all sorts of all over the place.  Acid reflux has struck big time and it wakes me up almost every night. I woke up last night coughing and coughing and thought some chocolate milk would do the trick but it only made me sick to my stomach.  Thought I was going to throw up everywhere but somehow I managed to get comfortable and was able to get a little rest.....until the next bathroom break hit.

We had a doctors appointment last week and we got to see Evy again.  She didn't want to show us her face this time but she showed us a head full of hair.  She's head down and in position.  As of last week she weighed 6.4 pounds!  Doctor said we are probably going to have a big baby and that she is in the 93 percentile.  She doesn't think we will go the full 40 weeks because of her size but we will have one more look at her at 38 weeks.....if I make it until then.  I may or may not have had a little bit of a freak out.  Not only was I told that she is big and basically could come in the next few weeks but we also took a tour of labor and delivery.  I've been there before and I've seen the rooms and the set up but when you look at them knowing you are about to be in one of those beds, reality hits!!  It didn't help my nerves when the girl at the nurses desk said "See ya soon!" as we were leaving.  Oh boy!

As long as I make it to my shower this Saturday this little girl can come whenever she is ready.  I want to see her precious little face.

Here's my big ol' belly at 35 weeks

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And here is Evelyn Revay's room

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Before and After

Views of the room

Before and After

Views of the room

I'm very happy with how everything turned out.

Now we just need the baby :)

One more thing before I go

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Don't forget to Thunder Up tomorrow night!!!!

Let's go OKC!!!!!!

April

Showered With Love

Do you ever envision something for years wondering how it will be when it actually happens?  One of my envisions happened this week at work and it was just as special as I always thought it would be.

I've been with the same company for 11 years now and I've witnessed and helped throw some baby showers throughout this time.  In the back of my head at each one of them I always wondered what it would be like when it was my turn.  Well, guess what?  It's my turn.

The shower was a double shower because another girl in the office is having a baby as well.  We are just a month apart.  It's been nice to talk about our symptoms and doctors visits together.  It's a first child for the both of us only she is having a boy.  This summer we both will become first time mothers and then we will be able to share stories of our growing babies instead of our growing bellies :)

The New Mommas!

Thank you to all my co-workers who helped make this day very special to me.

As soon as I got home I went through all of my goodies again and realized that Evelyn is so close to being here.

Thank goodness this is a long weekend.  I've been washing clothes and organizing things and yes, my Thank You notes are already done and ready to be passed out.

Now I'm looking forward to my Friends and Family Baby Shower!!

April

32 Weeks. Already?

Holy Cow!! I'm getting so excited for this little girl to get here! She has been growing and growing and growing. My lower back has been hurting the past few days and I swear I can feel my hips widening.  My husband was sweet enough to go buy a softball today and bring it to me at work so I could sit against it and put pressure on my back.  Thanks wonderful husby! You're going to be a great daddy.....in 56 days. (give or take a few days)

I'm so ready for our baby moon this weekend.  Just two more days of work and then it's just him and me going out of town for the last time as just "us". Next time around we are going to be packing more than just our bags.  Hoping to make it to see What To Expect When Expecting.  It's coming out at the perfect time.

Tried to get some maternity pictures with Phoebe this weekend and I have to say she cooperated better than I expected.  I think her and Evelyn are just going to love the heck out of each other.

I love her "mean mugging" face in this one.

What's 32 weeks look like?

This.....

Yowzers!! That is one round tummy!

April

Happy Mother's Day

It's so crazy to think that next Mother's Day I will actually actually actually be a mother.  Like, have a baby of my own.  I'm so ready for it! I feel like things are starting to cave in but in a good way.  Several months ago I would think of something that needs to be done and I would say to myself "It's cool.  I've got a few months to get that done."  Not so much anymore.  I'm now in double digit countdown mode.

We received our car seat and stroller this weekend from Zach's dad and step-mom.  He put it all together this morning and it was funny to see him push it around. Funny and cute.  :) He's going to be such a good daddy. I can't wait to see him morph into a father.

I really love this man so much. I'm pretty sure I was trying to explain our next pose in this picture but as you can see, he already had one in mind.

I went back to employee health on Friday and my wrist/arm hasn't improved too much. I really hope this fades after I have Evelyn.  So now they are sending me to hand therapy.  As if I didn't have enough appointments on my calendar already.

Speaking of hands, my hands and feet have starting their swelling process.  I can't wear my wedding ring anymore and my feet pretty much look like Fred Flintstone's every night. They just look like big bricks that look like feet.  Walking is now becoming a hassle. I better wear some comfortable shoes next weekend when we go to Branson.  There's going to be a lot of walking.

My feet.

I got a really cool baby gift from my good friend this week.  I had registered for some lullaby cd's at Buy Buy Baby.  Not just any lullaby cd's.  They are renditions of people like Madonna, Michael Jackson and the Beatles songs in lullaby form.  Totally cool! Well, my friend happened to find a John Mayer one and I've listened to it several times.  Glad it didn't put me to sleep at work. There are a TON out there on iTunes.  You name the artists, there is probably a lullaby cd of their songs. I was informed that she also bought Michael Jackson's for me too but I can't have it until my shower :(

Get you one! 

My stomach continues to grow every hour it seems.  And let me tell ya, Evelyn has some strong moves for sure!  Lots of punches and kicks and flips!

I think this shirt is starting to get a little too small for me :)

Most of my weight has been all stomach but I can also see it in my face.  I've already started scouting Pinterest for some good eating and workout techniques.  

I guess the best compliment I've had all week was when this guy at work told me "I've seen a lot of pregnant woman and you don't look creepy."  I'll take that as a compliment :)

Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there.  I can't wait to join the "club".

April