Life now... Life now…she’s sooo adorable and our perfect little angel!!! Yes, even when she cries. I know her every pattern and what she wants when she does cry. We’re doing our best to rest. I’m allowing Kris to sleep through the night because he has to work. I'll be off for a few months, thankfully. She’s pretty easy going. When I do wake her up to feed at night and change diapers, she doesn’t scream to wake Kris up. So, he gets his usual sleep, while I get sleep here and there. I guess it goes with the territory. In the day, Alana can sleep up to 3 hrs. That’s when I rest with her or try to do my own thing and catch up to bills, mails, emails and what not. I know I should be resting, but it’s hard to do when there’s not much time to do anything except when she’s asleep.
My new role as a mother is just what I've been waiting for. I'll take it with whatever it comes with. No one ever said having a baby was going to be easy, so I'll do my best in taking care of her and providing only unconditional love for Alana. It's going to be hard going back to work, emotionally and physically. I've grown so attached to her. I love waking up to hold and kiss her and telling her that mommy loves her every morning. She just brightens up my day.
I can’t believe 2 weeks have passed and she’s originally due tomorrow! I can’t even imagine how much bigger she would’ve been. She came when she wanted and we couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful special baby girl. Our family is now complete, until the next one. Yes, I would do this all over again!!!
2008-06-17 (39 weeks)
the BIG day!!! Today, Alana is 2 weeks old. I'm sure you're all curious to know what happened to me since my days off from work. I only have a maybe about an hour to tell you the ending to my pregnancy and a new journey to labor and birth. I will try to explain what I can in brief.
Tuesday, June 3rd at 7:30 am, my water broke. I woke up wanting to pee and a gush of water came out. Sounds pretty gross huh, but it is what it is. I thought it was my pee, but it came out with blood and the leaking of fluid did not stop. I quickly called Cindy and asked if that was my water that broke and she suggested I called my doctor, but they weren't open until 9am. So, I called the after hours and haven't heard back until after 9am. So, with the time in between, I called Kris to warn him that this could be it. So, I took a shower and did what I could to have our home ready. Once the doctor told me to go to the hospital to check, Kris arrived at 10am to pick me up. When we got there, the nurse that took care of me said, oh yeah that is certainly your amniotic fluid. So, she waited to see if i've dialated more. Nothing happened, so she induced me at about 1pm. At about 5pm, I was in sooo much pain and with only being 2.5cm, she gave me epidural anyways. The pain was like the worse cramp you can imagine. When the contraction would begin, I would hold on tight and close my eyes. The epidural did do wonders and is highly recommended. My cervix began dialating more by the hour. My doctor came in and said I'd probably have her by 1am because I was dialating 1 cm per hour or more. I had some time to nap while waiting. When the time came, I was excited to meet her, but that never did happen. By the time I was 10cm in, her head just wouldn't come out any further. By then, I was already pushing for 2 hrs. I never thought about how tiring the process was. I was literally hurting with every push . I gave it my all, but no luck. She was not crowning yet. The pain that I felt was the worst I’ve ever felt. Even with epidural, whenever I pushed, she’s pushed up against my ribs that’s where I felt it the most. Eventually, the doc said I should do c-section because I was developing a fever and it’s endangering me. So, within the hour, I was rushed to the surgery room and delivered her. There was a point when they injected more epidural that I began shaking tremendously. They say it’s from the hormones mixed with all that’s put into me. I’ll back up for a sec. While being takin over to the delivery room, I told Kris that this baby better be big in order to put me in this position where I never wanted a c-section. But, what can I do. Anyways, once they began the surgery, I can feel the pressure of the tugging and the pulling for Alana to come out. It wasn’t too long before they pulled her out and weighed her. I thought I was dreaming when I saw the scale and it read 8.5pds. My goodness, I was shocked and in disbelief. I never thought I was capable of carrying such a large baby. Here I thought she was going to be small. When they handed her to me, I was just crying. I was before from being nervous and not knowing how to react to the surgery. She was just beautiful. She looked like me and had the chubbiest cheeks!!! I couldn’t believe she was inside of me. Kris was wonderful to me the whole time too. He kept telling me sweet things and that we’re going to meet our daughter soon and to hang in there. After the surgery, they put me in a recovery room for 2 hours of monitoring, while Alana was in Kris’s arms. He had to learn quickly on how to calm her down. She also opened her eyes to Kris and that sure made his day. He said that his life is now complete. We’re now a family. I couldn’t have agreed with him more.
When it was all over, I was put into 7th floor room 12 for recovery. Everything became a blur right after surgery that I didn’t even remember being transferred there. I had iv’s all over and let me tell you that Kris did an amazing job with Alana. While I was recovering, he really stepped up and showed me what a perfect dad he was to her and me. Being in there for 4 nights and 5 days, I never changed 1 diaper nor swaddled Alana. Kris did it all and I have so much more love and respect for him than ever before. He fell in love with Alana and went to all of her appt with the doctor. He and I became very attached. After meeting her, the love we have for Alana since has been unimaginable. It can’t be explain until you have one yourself.
On the second day, we had a scare from Alana, which I’ll explain later. She also ended up having jondous, which set us back one day on when we were to be released from the hospital. She had to be put into an incubator for 2 days. I hated seeing her in there, but we know it’s only for the better of her. The nurses there really took care of me and baby. They woke me up whenever I needed my meds and to try to feed Alana. It was also great how they fed me every meal. I like her pediatrition. Her doc and her staff stopped by every morning to check up on her. That was important for me because I ran out of time to meet consult with her doc before I got into labor, so I’m relieved. Everyone is saying that I'm recovering very well. I think I'm much better, but there are times when getting up from bed or chair seems a bit painful at the incision area. On-well, it is what it is and I'll be fully well soon to take a better care of Alana. Good thing my mom is here with me. She's been tremendously helpful and I couldn't be more grateful.
2008-05-31 (37 weeks)
How I spent my first days at home Thursday was my first day at home. I didn't want much of my family members to know about going on maternity leave early because I just don't want anyone to worry about me. The only person that knew was Cindy, my twin sis. In the morning, I cleaned the dishes, folded clothes and whatever else I've been delaying to do. Then Cindy came over after her day at work and we just hung out here and walked a lil bit after dinner. After the day was over, I realized that I think I could enjoy being at home. Hopefully baby will allow me to. I didn't realize how much I can get done! At first i was worried I was going to get bored! But, as friday came, I drove over to Cindy and she was going to drive me to the hospital to get my breast feeding bra measured, but I needed to make an appt first, so we went to the spectrum instead. We shopped for a friend's bridal shower and Alyssa, my niece, got to run through the shooting water. We ended up eating lunch at Wahoos there. After then we went back to her pad for all of us to rest, then Cindy and I ditched the guys to go see my "last" movie (for now), "sex and the city". I'm glad I had the chance to do so, cuz after this, I probaby won't be able to go to the movies for a while. So far, my days off has been great and useful. I think next week, i'm going to really try to stay home and rest my feet on the couch and just read or watch tv and truly be a couch potato.
I probably shouldn't be out too much in the heat and sun anyways becuase of my swollen ankle and my rashes. I'm not sure what triggered it, but it happens in first time moms or mom's having twins. I believe it worsens when I'm in the heat. What helps is sleeping with the AC or fan on. It began from my abdomen, to my hips, to my side of my knees and now to my feet. It's soooo itchy!!! Here in my 9th month, I can honestly say, it's been miserable. She was very good to me in the beginning, now it's been going down the thill. I now not only have to worry about peeing 3x at night, but also waking up to an itchy body. The doc said to take 1 dramamine and rub some cortizone or benedryl with it, but nothing is working. As much as I've loved having her in my tummy, I'm so ready to have her out!!! Sorry kid, you're making me miserable I don't care anymore if she's a lil early now. She's in the safe zone and is no longer considered a premie. So any day kid...
2008-05-28 (37 weeks)
9th month-2 of 4 doctors visit I am now 37.5 weeks!!! Baby made it to the safe zone where if she comes out now, it's ok because she won't be considered a premie anymore . Though, things are certainly getting severe. The doc reviewed my testings and said that baby is slightly big, but nothing to worry about. She also wanted me to stop working because of my swollen feet, more so on the left foot though. The reason being is baby is lying more so on the left side of the body, which is crushing my blood flow. I mentioned my belly rash and she said it could the "pupp" rash which happens towards end of third trimester. It's sooo itchy though. She said to just use cortizone cream on it. Let's just say at this point, I'm so ready for her to be out!!! Things are getting VERY uncomfortable. My pelvic hurts, to my swollen feet, to my itchy belly . OMG, I can't wait to have my body back to normal. Starting next week, She wanted me to go to the hospital to monitor me and baby for half and hour, 2x a week. I'm happy that they take all precautions.
I went to work telling my boss what the doc said and showed her how swollen my feet and she demanded that today was going to be my last day and doesn't want me to come back to work anymore. I'll be off for 3 months. But, since im a workaholic, i was not ready to leave yet. I'm gonna be bored at home. I never just sit around and do nothing. But, I guess at this point, I need to do it while I can. So, my co-workers took me out to Islands for lunch. That was so nice of them. I will miss them dearly! After then, when I went to the restroom. I notice a thick discharge and I believe it's the "mucus plug" That's what keeps the sac and everything together. If I loose that, it's just telling my body that it's almost time from like a day to a couple of weeks. i called my doc and they said to just monitor baby movement and pay attention to my contractions. I just have a feeling she might be coming out pretty soon. We'll see what happens...
I don't care anymore if she's a lil early now. She's in the safe zone and is no longer considered a premie. So any day kid...
. Though, things are certainly getting severe. The doc reviewed my testings and said that baby is slightly big, but nothing to worry about. She also wanted me to stop working because of my swollen feet, more so on the left foot though. The reason being is baby is lying more so on the left side of the body, which is crushing my blood flow. I mentioned my belly rash and she said it could the "pupp" rash which happens towards end of third trimester. It's sooo itchy though. She said to just use cortizone cream on it. Let's just say at this point, I'm so ready for her to be out!!! Things are getting VERY uncomfortable. My pelvic hurts, to my swollen feet, to my itchy belly 
. OMG, I can't wait to have my body back to normal. Starting next week, She wanted me to go to the hospital to monitor me and baby for half and hour, 2x a week. I'm happy that they take all precautions.