It's been over two weeks since I've posted. Being a new mom definitely takes up all of your time! I've snuck a few minutes while she naps to update on the delivery and my beautiful miracle.
Ayden Jean Carroll was born on Saturday, April 7th at 2:22pm. She weighed 7 lbs 5 oz and was 20 1/2 inches long. My water broke at 5:00am on Saturday morning and a few minutes later my contractions started. I figured I'd be at home for a few more hours waiting for them to get closer together, but they were 2-3 minutes apart almost instantly. I called the doctor, and by 5:30am, we were on our way to the hospital. We called my Mom (who was staying at my aunt's) and she met us there about an hour later. Once we got to there and were set up in a room, I was dialated to a 3 and I was in full pain! Man, those contractions are no joke. I was given an epidural and after an hour I was feeling the contractions on one side so they had to give me a stronger dose. After dialating to a 6, my contractions were continuing strong and quick but I had stopped dialating. The doctor waiting 3 hours and I still had no progress. By then I had started getting very severe back pain and was back to feeling full contractions. He told me that the baby would not drop and she was most likely not positioned correctly and he recommended a c-section. That was the last thing I wanted and it took a half hour of talking to the doctor and Aaron and I talking to each other alone before we finally decided it was the best decision. It turns out it was the best decision because Adyen was "sunny side up", faced the opposite direction. Having the surgery was pretty emotional. They had to give me even more of the epidural becuase I could still feel with they did a "test cut" before opening me up. It's a pretty odd feeling to have a c-section. Once they pulled her out, they quickly held her up (and, yes, I cried) and then took her to clean her up. Aaron was so great during everything. He was supportive through labor, surgery, and after. He only left for a few seconds to cut her ambilical cord then was back at my side until I fell asleep. I was only out for maybe 10 minutes. They were still stitching me up when I woke. Once they were done, they rolled me into a room where Aaron was waiting with our baby girl.
The hospital stay was actually pretty hectic just becuase there were so many people in and out to visit. Since I had aunts and uncles in town from my grandma's funeral, there were more people that wanted to visit than we had expected. It was good to have them there to be able to meet Ayden though. I was released on Tuesday. Aaron and I were very ready to leave and go home after almost 4 days of being in a hospital room. Luckily, I had my Mom in town for 2 weeks to help out once we got home (more on that in the next post).
Monday, April 23, 2012
Friday, April 6, 2012
Last Day for an Early Delivery
So, it's Friday, April 6th - one day until my due date. This week has been kind of a rollercoaster. On Tuesday morning, my Grandma passed away. Then Tuesday afternoon, we had our weekly Dr. appointment and were told "any day now" for labor.
The doctor told us that I was dialated a 2cm, 75% effaced, and a -2 station (for those of you who know what that is). He could actually feel the baby's head during the exam! That got Aaron and I pretty anxious and thinking maybe I'd event start labor that day.
Because of my Grandma's death, I made Tuesday my last day of work so I could take the following few days as funeral leave. After finishing up with work, Aaron and I took a long walk on the greenway hoping maybe it would help trigger contractions. I was actually having regular "braxton-hicks" contractions all day and night on Tuesday. Later that night, my Mom flew in and I picked her up from the airport.
Unfortunately, I haven't had much contraction activity since then. Aaron seems to think it's because of stress, but I don't think I am any more stressed than usual (even with everything that's happened this week).
So after walking everyday, and trying other "labor-inducing regimens", I broke down and forced 2 spoonfuls of castor oil down my throat. Yes, I did. I'm to the point that it doesn't hurt to try. I guess I'll find out in a few hours if it actually works!
The doctor told us that I was dialated a 2cm, 75% effaced, and a -2 station (for those of you who know what that is). He could actually feel the baby's head during the exam! That got Aaron and I pretty anxious and thinking maybe I'd event start labor that day.
Because of my Grandma's death, I made Tuesday my last day of work so I could take the following few days as funeral leave. After finishing up with work, Aaron and I took a long walk on the greenway hoping maybe it would help trigger contractions. I was actually having regular "braxton-hicks" contractions all day and night on Tuesday. Later that night, my Mom flew in and I picked her up from the airport.
Unfortunately, I haven't had much contraction activity since then. Aaron seems to think it's because of stress, but I don't think I am any more stressed than usual (even with everything that's happened this week).
So after walking everyday, and trying other "labor-inducing regimens", I broke down and forced 2 spoonfuls of castor oil down my throat. Yes, I did. I'm to the point that it doesn't hurt to try. I guess I'll find out in a few hours if it actually works!
Grandma Denson
After a long time on hospice, Diane Denson, my favorite grandmother, passed away on Tuesday, April 3rd 2012.
When I was a little girl living in SC, my Grandma Denson's house was the place I remember most. Between my parents spending years breaking up/making up and moving to a different house or apartment every 6 months, I loved it when we got to stay at Grandma's house. The house seemed more than large enough to fit all of the cousins, aunts/uncles, and anyone else that gathered there. It's funny how, as kids, we see things so differently (that house was actually quite small).
My siblings and I often talk about how Christmas 1987 was our favorite Christmas. We still even watch the home video every few years. That Christmas, my Mom and us kids and all of her siblings and their kids stayed at Grandma/Grandpa Denson's house. There was probably 18 people piled in that living room at some point. Grandma did everything possible to make sure we enjoyed our time there. And we always did.
I think Grandma loved having us there (as much as we probably wouldn't settle down). She was always so generous, not only with her family, but with everyone. As I got older, I saw this more and more.
When I was 18, my nephew, Kannon, was born. Grandma Denson flew out to meet her 1st great-grandson. She insisted on giving all of us kids a gift of our choice while she was there. But what I will always remember about her visit is a day we had lunch at Ruby Tuesday. LJ and I took her to lunch and she knew the Braves were playing. Out west, the Braves weren't at all a popular team, but Grandma was a huge fan (and the reason I will always have Braves love). She called the manager over and insisted he not only turn the TV channel to the game, but move the TV so she could see the game while we ate. LJ and I were so entertained by her insistance with the manager because the look on his face was priceless. I'm sure he wasn't used to an ouspoken 65-year old southern woman.
In 2005, my Mom, sisters, and I flew to SC to visit family. We spent a few days at Myrtle Beach and took Grandma with us. Nina and I made it our mission to make her comfortable on the beach. We got her a beach chair with an umbrella, some sunglasses, and sunblock. We helped her put the sunblock on and set her down in her chair in the sand. She said she'd never felt so pampered and spoiled. She was amazing like that, appriciating the smalles gestures.
My last picture I have with her is from the day I got married.
Grandma Denson was 74 years old when she passed away. I guess I can consider myself and our family lucky that we got the chance to say goodbye. The most important thing to her was her children and grandchildren. It showed in everything she did. She is my childhood memories of what a Grandma is supposed to be and I will always love and cherish her. See ya on the other side, Grandma.
When I was a little girl living in SC, my Grandma Denson's house was the place I remember most. Between my parents spending years breaking up/making up and moving to a different house or apartment every 6 months, I loved it when we got to stay at Grandma's house. The house seemed more than large enough to fit all of the cousins, aunts/uncles, and anyone else that gathered there. It's funny how, as kids, we see things so differently (that house was actually quite small).
My siblings and I often talk about how Christmas 1987 was our favorite Christmas. We still even watch the home video every few years. That Christmas, my Mom and us kids and all of her siblings and their kids stayed at Grandma/Grandpa Denson's house. There was probably 18 people piled in that living room at some point. Grandma did everything possible to make sure we enjoyed our time there. And we always did.
I think Grandma loved having us there (as much as we probably wouldn't settle down). She was always so generous, not only with her family, but with everyone. As I got older, I saw this more and more.
When I was 18, my nephew, Kannon, was born. Grandma Denson flew out to meet her 1st great-grandson. She insisted on giving all of us kids a gift of our choice while she was there. But what I will always remember about her visit is a day we had lunch at Ruby Tuesday. LJ and I took her to lunch and she knew the Braves were playing. Out west, the Braves weren't at all a popular team, but Grandma was a huge fan (and the reason I will always have Braves love). She called the manager over and insisted he not only turn the TV channel to the game, but move the TV so she could see the game while we ate. LJ and I were so entertained by her insistance with the manager because the look on his face was priceless. I'm sure he wasn't used to an ouspoken 65-year old southern woman.
In 2005, my Mom, sisters, and I flew to SC to visit family. We spent a few days at Myrtle Beach and took Grandma with us. Nina and I made it our mission to make her comfortable on the beach. We got her a beach chair with an umbrella, some sunglasses, and sunblock. We helped her put the sunblock on and set her down in her chair in the sand. She said she'd never felt so pampered and spoiled. She was amazing like that, appriciating the smalles gestures.
My last picture I have with her is from the day I got married.
Grandma Denson was 74 years old when she passed away. I guess I can consider myself and our family lucky that we got the chance to say goodbye. The most important thing to her was her children and grandchildren. It showed in everything she did. She is my childhood memories of what a Grandma is supposed to be and I will always love and cherish her. See ya on the other side, Grandma.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)