1 Month Old

I cannot believe it’s already been a month! That means only 2 more weeks at home with my baby girl. :(

The past 4 weeks have been the hardest and most rewarding weeks of my life! We love our baby girl more than we could ever imagine.

This pic is from yesterday – the 10th. Of course I am a day behind on posting!

Turner Mc is sleeping 3.5 to 4 hours at a time and nursing like a champ. She absolutely hated her “sponge baths” that we gave her before her cord fell off. She finally lost her cord at 3 weeks and she LOVES relaxing in her tub!

She only cries when I’m pumping or eating and usually constantly between the hours of 10 and 12 – at night. :) Other than that she’s a very happy baby! I’ve learned if we stay up till 12 or 1, I only have to get up once before 6am!

She’s sleeping in her cradle beside our bed and spends a lot of time in her swing during the day. I am adjusting to functioning on a lack of sleep and I love being a mommy!

Here are the pictures we took tonight…..

 

Happy 1 month Turner McCartney!!

TM’s Birth Story – Part 2

Don’t cheat! Go read Part 1 because you know you wanna!

It is super important to mention that I got a spray tan the day before I gave birth. I cannot believe I forgot to share this info with y’all! Feel free to make fun but I was in desperate need of a tan and I didn’t want to scare TM with my pasty-ness.

Moving along….I got the epidural and all was unicorns and rainbows blah blah blah.

We need to revisit contractions. I had people tell me that contractions feel like period cramps. Ummm not sure what kind of hellacious period you have but my period cramps usually don’t feel like death. Get an epidural people. It will change your life!

So after the epi all my lovely friends and fam rejoined us. There were at least 79 people in the room and I felt great for a little while. All of a sudden I felt the worst pressure you can imagine. Shall we have graphic detail? Yes?! Of course. I felt like my a** was going to explode. Surely this is not normal…..I tried whispering to my nurse to let her know I needed to push or my butt was exploding. Since this was my first rodeo I wasn’t really sure which was correct.

She went in search of the doc while everyone socialized around me and I died a slow and painful death of anal pressure. A little before 2 the doc came in and checked me and it was go time! 10cm. Woo Hoo!!! (He then oh so conveniently left and I had to rely on my husband to keep me alive! – okay there was a nurse there too – and my mommas!)

I started pushing right around 2. Dude pushing out a kid is hard! Extremely hard. And you have to hold your breath and push for 30 seconds and it seems like 30 hours. Seriously. Apparently TM wasn’t in a hurry to make her appearance because it took 40 forevers or a little over an hour for her head to “crown.” Y’all it felt like I pushed for days before they could see her head. And I know this will be hard to believe but I didn’t say not ONE ugly word while I was pushing! Yay me!!!

The doc came down around 3 because they thought I was oh so close to delivering. Sike! I could not get homegirl’s head out. It was horrible. I think they told me “ONE MORE PUSH” at least 37 times. I thought I was going to die. For real. Finally at 3:38 Turner McCartney arrived! With the cord around her neck, and a knot in her cord. WTH? I couldn’t see what they saw so I was freaking when I heard the nurse say she has a knot. The doc suctioned her and she started screaming! Apparently the knot had just happened that morning and didn’t cause any problems.

I LOVE this picture!!!

Now once TM was out I felt great. Until I realized I had experienced complete vag destruction – three cuts with the kitchen scissors - and I had to be sewn up. And for some crazy reason I started to feel the doc stitching me up. It was horrible! And the needle was, I swear, a fish hook. No lie. Looked just like one. I survived having my taint sewn back together and I got to finally hold my beautiful baby girl! Best moment ever!

 

I need to give props to LG who had to push out a nearly 10 lb baby Fenn! I cannot imagine!

 

Our first family photo!

So that concludes the birth story. I’m finally feeling like I can function normally again and I will try to blog more often! I would love to answer any questions or humor you in any way so please feel free to ask me anything you want to know!

Thanks for hanging in there with us! I can’t believe we survived!

TM’s Birth Story – Part 1

Thursday March 10, 2011:

This is my last pregnant picture. 39 weeks and 5 days!

Let me start by saying I had an amazing birth experience with very few complications. Being induced worked amazingly well for us but that’s not always the case. We were beyond blessed to have such an awesome experience with everything going better than planned – for the most part.

 

I woke up Thursday morning around 3:30. I couldn’t sleep. This is the day I will finally meet my baby! The day I will no longer be pregnant – thank God! We had to be at the hospital at 6:30 and there was so much I felt I needed to do. I showered and dried my hair and put on makeup – a luxury of being induced! I had plenty of time to make myself feel pretty. (I wish you could see me now! I do good to bathe every day!) We got everything ready, got the car packed and in true Denton fashion we pulled out of the driveway at 6:30. Let’s be honest, it wouldn’t be our birth story if we weren’t late.

Berty made it to the hospital in record time and we were checked in and ready to go by 6:45. Once in the room I got to pee in a cup because when you’re pregnant people are obsessed with your pee. You can’t go anywhere without giving someone a specimen! The cups at the hospital are larger than the shot glasses you pee in at the doc so I’m pretty sure I didn’t pee on myself. The nurse started my iv – which hurt like hell, strapped on the fetal and contraction monitors, and we waited for the doc to come break my water.

Dr. Smith came in at 7:30 to break my water and get the party started! I was 3cm at this point. Now, it took 40 forevers for him to break my water. Apparently I had a “tough” bag. This part wasn’t that bad just a lot of pressure and lots of things shoved all up in my business. The instrument used to break your water is a standard crochet hook – seriously. It took about 5 minutes for my bag to finally break and once it did the doc left and homegirl’s heart rate dropped from the 130’s to the 70’s and then – nothing. While JP and my nurse made nurse faces at each other and tried to pretend like everything was hunky dory, I freaked. They finally located her heart rate and I had to lay super still to make sure she was going to be okay.

Moving on from the dramatics….

This is after he broke my water and right when the Pitocin was started – obviously before the contractions became intense.

Last photo as a family of 2 – minus the fur children of course!

The early morning was pretty uneventful. Contractions started getting stronger soon after the Pitocin was started but they really weren’t that bad – at first. I knew I wanted an epidural and because I was 3cm when I got there, they told me I could have my epidural as soon as I wanted it. I was a little scared sh*tless of the epidural so I wanted to hold off as long as I could.

The doc came in and checked me again around 11 and I was 4 cm. They offered my some iv pain meds and I was afraid it would effect the baby so I declined – until I had an awesome contraction and I decided that TM probably wouldn’t mind being doped up to help her momma out!

 

Before Stadol:

After Stadol:

The pain meds took the edge off and I enjoyed socializing with all my visitors and trying to rest for the last time – ever. No really.

Aunt Courter, my mom, and Aunt Nini – my SIL

We had lots of friends and family come by throughout the day and I felt pretty good for the hour or so following the pain meds! I could feel the contractions getting stronger and I grew some balls finally asked for my epidural. The last 2 contractions that I felt were ridiculous. The worst pain I have ever felt. We need to take a moment to recognize those who labor without any meds, like none. You rock! There’s no way in hell I would have survived. I was in tears by the time the doc came in with the goods!

I was at 5cm when I got my epidural at around 1. Half-way there! And the epidural was not bad at all. The shot you get before they put the epidural in is really not that bad. The worst part is trying to be still through the contractions. It took maybe 5 minutes total for him to put it in. 15 minutes later I was feeling nothing and it was amazing!

This amazing feeling lasted about an hour and we partied it up in our room with lots of our favorite peeps!

Me and my daddy!

Check back for part 2 of the story – I need to try and sleep while TM is actually sleeping!

Meet Turner McCartney

I really have been meaning to post this! I promise!

 

March 10, 2011 3:38pm

6lb 8oz. 19 1/4 in.

Thank you so much for the tweets! You guys are awesome! I’m working on the birth story and hope to have it posted soon.

We are beyond blessed and could not be happier!

Bumpdate

How Far Along: 39 weeks

Total Weight Gained: 19lbs – yep! I gained 3 lbs in 1 week.

Sleep: It is what it is. I’m used to not sleeping. I get up to pee about 4 times a night.

Best Moment of the Week: Finding out that this is the last week I will be pregnant.

Food Cravings: Cake. Specifically chocolate cake with cherries and vanilla icing.

Food Aversions: Eggs.

Symptoms: Pain. Back, vag, stomach, hip, leg. It just hurts.

JP’s Symptoms: Berty has had some moments of rudeness this week. I think I deserve some major pampering and he thinks I need to suck it up.

Movement: Movement is painful these days, but I’m loving every minute of it!

Gender: Girl – Turner McCartney

What I miss: Margaritas! We had Mexican Saturday and I would have loved a margarita!

What I'm looking forward to: Meeting my baby girl!

Weekly Wisdom: Listen to other people’s advice but ultimately you know what is best for your situation. I always ask for other people’s opinions but I’m still going to make my own decision.

Also, eat lots and lots of cakes and girl scout cookies while you’re still pregnant!

Milestones: I made it! We scheduled an induction date!

So other than finding out that I ate my weight in cake last week, I also learned that I am now 2.5cm and 80% effaced. The doctor feels comfortable inducing me now and we scheduled for Thursday!

I’m so so so excited to know what day we will finally meet her!

Thanks for the comments on the bathroom! Berty really appreciates it!

Bathroom Remodel!

I wanted to post some before and after pics of our bathroom remodel. You know just in case I forget what it used to look like! The hubs worked hard on the demo and we hired someone to make it look fabulous.

Before pics:

This was our fab tile – on all the walls and around the tub/shower.

Our old sketch cast iron tub:

Demo Pics – I’m not gonna lie….I was super concerned!

 

And now the after pics!!

   

I LOVE the way it turned out and I am so thankful for all the hard work John Paul put in to it. It’s probably my new fav room in our house!

Stay tuned for an update. I have what I hope to be my last doctor’s appointment tomorrow!

Bumpdate

 

How Far Along: Still pregnant! 38 wks

Total Weight Gained: 16lbs

Maternity Clothes: Ok really. I might be wearing my sweatpants and too small t-shirts to work this week. I am running out of room in my maternity clothes.

Sleep: I’m tired all the time but I can’t sleep. I get up at least 3 times a night to pee.

Best Moment of the Week: Bathroom is finished!! That’s all I have to share.

Food Cravings: Cake. I’m still going to Sonic every morning for a water. The lady knows my order when she sees me pull in.

Food Aversions: Eggs. Berty had some nasty smelling omelet at good ole Waffle House on Saturday and I thought I would die!

Symptoms: Braxton Hicks. Pressure. Back pain. Indigestion. Luckily I haven’t had any swelling so I’m very thankful for that!

JP’s Symptoms: Berty busted his butt to make sure the bathroom was finished this weekend. I may or may not have threatened his living situation but it was finished and he still lives with me!

Movement: When she moves it hurts. I have been neurotically writing down all her movements so I can make sure I feel her enough during the day.

Gender: Girl – Turner McCartney

What I miss: Not being pregnant. I can’t remember what it’s like to not be pregnant.

What I'm looking forward to: I guess I’m looking forward to going BACK to the doctor on Monday to see if I’ve made any progress. I would really like for my child to make her appearance soon. 

Weekly Wisdom: Ignore people. I mean I understand I’ve been pregnant for years. I don’t need to be reminded. Yes, I’m about to pop. I look in the mirror every morning.

Milestones: 11 days left.

Berty went with me to the doc yesterday. I am 1.5cm. Should I be excited about the .5cm change?

He wants to see me back Monday to check my progress again. He really wants me to be dilated more before we induce. I would prefer to go into labor on my own but we will see. I have a small window of time to work around the hubs off pattern. He will take off work regardless but we would like for her to come while he’s off so he doesn’t have to take so much time off work.

I’m walking every night till Monday to try and hurry things along. I wish I had thought to ask about stripping my membranes. Maybe he can do that on Monday?

Have a great Tuesday friends!!