1st Dr Visit for Cassia

It was a routine visit that was checking for Jaundice. She was negative for that. She was so hungry but once I  nursed her she was fine. I got Sis Missy to take me since Jasper and Renee both had to work. I can't drive for 2 weeks. Everything went good. I am tired and sore from the trip. Cassia is still sleeping...lol!

She is so precious! I am so thankful for such a healthy beautiful baby girl.

Cassia Rose Merrell

She arrived at 9:31 a.m. August 9th via c-section. Dr. Botticelli Delivered. He was fast and did great work! I had a spinal, which went well and also had a morphine mixture added to it to help control pain afterward. It did VERY well. there was a side effect of itching but it was not anything I could not handle. All itching has stopped now.

Cassia weighed 8# 10.5 oz and was 19 3/4 in long. She has a head full of jet black hair! She is beautiful!
She gave us 1 scare getting choked on the fluids she swallowed in utero, and she turned blue. So glad the nurse was in the room when it happened and she immediately rushed her to the nursery and they did a deep suctioning out of her lungs and nasal area. She has choked some since but not to that extreme. Thank God!

The hospital staff was above and beyond! They were excellent! RMH in Harrisonburg, Virginia is super!!! They even encouraged me to have more children if that was what we wanted! I was surprised at that! Most people spend their time telling me we need to stop lol! I am just trusting the good Lord.

Our first night home was a long one, but sweet at the same time. Cassia nursed most of the night which helped as today we see milk is coming in. :) OOps...I fell asleep right there. I guess I better post this pic and get off the computer.

Leave me a comment tell me how pretty Cassia is! lol!!

1 Day left!

I find myself unable to sleep the past few nights. Not sure if its from anxiety or plain discomfort. Maybe it's both? I have a few more things I need to do before tomorrow. I will be up super early in the morning. Probably at 5. I have a small head cold but I think it will be fine. As long as I do not sneeze on the table!

I have a house full here. My in-laws arrived yesterday afternoon. They will be here for the birth. Cortney is here. My niece. She will be staying with me at the hospital at night. She is so excited!
   
   Cortney has come a long way in the few days she has been here. She went to youth camp and accepted Christ in her life. I am so proud of her.  I love that girl so much, and it is going to be hard when she leaves. Even Carl is saying he will miss her when she goes home. I think Rebecca will really miss her. Cortney has really made over her while she has been here. She does her hair and everything.

Today we have several things on the agenda. I have to drop Samuel off at work and then I need to head to the store. There are a few things I need to get before the morning. I have diaper bag packed but not mine! So I have to do that as well. There is a bit of organization left to do as well But I think it can be managed today. So, I better close this check my email and get moving!

Look for pictures tomorrow!!!

2 Days!

Only 2 days left and we will have our sweet Cassia Rose! Last night I dreamed about the Dr not being able to get the needle right In my back. I am sure they will do fine. I can't wait to meet her!

It's almost show time!

It seemed like it would be a longer duration than it has been. However, in some ways it seems like it has been ages! I am home tonight because going 2xs a day is just too much for me right now. It won't be long until things are back to normal and we have our sweet baby girl. Cortney, Rebecca and Carl are excited. The rest well they are old and express themselves differently. Which is fine. I am not exactly sure yet how we will manage getting everyone to the hospital. Jasper's Van is not doing well. It would be really good if we could borrow the church van for everyone. We will see how it goes.

Surgery time is set for 9 a.m. and I have to arrive very early for prep. They said it may get moved to 7:30a.m. which would mean arriving for prep way too early for my enjoyment! If they remain on schedule for 9 we should have our baby girl in our arms by 9:30a.m. No later than 10.

It's an exciting time! I love it. I have just a few things needed to be done before the big day and kids are going to help me. I run out of steam very quickly so I will need their help! It won't take too much though.

My in-laws are coming. They should be here by Wednesday sometime. I wish they would wait and let us come down in a few weeks after I am better. I couldn't talk them out of it....lol :) So we will have lots of company. I just hope it doesn't turn to chaos!

I will post as much as possible and will try to post pictures from my cell phone to blogger so that you can see the baby!

Today's last visit

I went at 8:30 this morning and had my last Dr visit. Dr Keatts had a hard time finding her heartbeat, but It was because she just would not listen when I said she was now breech. In the end however, she had to and told me I was indeed correct...DUHHHH!

She told me to check the heart beat 3x's a day and count the kicks that the baby makes. I was like okay sure no problem, I have my own doppler so I guess that is why she wanted me to do that??? Not really sure.

So we have 8 days left until delivery day! I still do not have a time yet, but should real soon! Today my pelvis is really hurting. I am going to church tonight so I have got to push myself. I dread the seats. They hurt my pelvis bad! I want to be there at least tonight though!

Anyway, counting down the days!!! Whoo hooo!!!!

38 Weeks!

My my, it is swiftly passing and passing at an incredible speed! I have accepted the fact I will not get all the things done that I had wanted to before lil' miss Cassia arrives. That's fine, it will be there when I get to it! lol!
I am getting more and more sore as the days past after saying things had improved! I figure that too is because we are in the home stretch of this pregnancy.
Cortney is here and we are so excited that she will be here to see her name sake. No one will ever know just how much we love that girl. She is a precious part of our lives and I am so glad to have her with us for these couple weeks!
I have all my paper work in order and am supposed to be packing my bag tonight...lol Nope still have not done that! Anyhow, I have my last Dr visit tomorrow and then Thursday of next week we have Cassia! I have to get my camera charged and the card cleared to make room for video and stills. I cannot believe we are here!
One of the papers suggested the hospital keeps you 4 days after the surgery! I was a bit surprised at this. I was only in for 2 days when I had Carl. I hope I do as good if not better than when I had him. :)
Since it will be on a Thursday, Jasper can manage nicely over the weekend with the children. :)

Well, that's it for now. Carl has fallen asleep on the couch next to me and it is storming out as well. I am going to get him into bed and try to pack that bag I need to pack!lol! :)

10 Days!!

Can you all believe I have just 10 days until I have my surgery?! I cannot believe this pregnancy is almost ending. I still have so much to do, however I am hindered and will not be able to do it. Let me explain....

A couple nights ago, we had a visitor come in our yard. This visitor was so rude. We had our window open and they didn't even care! I woke up to a putrid smell of SKUNK! It was SO bad that we kept spraying our room with fresheners, but could not seem to over shadow the stench left behind from Peppy. As if that was not bad enough, I had some boxes to go through on the porch, still there from our move, and began smelling the skunk out there! He/She was either under the porch or behind a box sleeping and I disturbed it! Lovely! So I cannot finish sorting my things! It was out again last night. We are going to have to do something to get it gone! I know I am silly lol. My room still smells like skunk! lol

SO today I will just do what I can in here. DH is away at youth camp as Junior counselor and as soon as he gets home we will try to trap it and block the holes up. Hopefully that will do the trick!

Oh my word!

What a night I  had last night! I had been having some problems with my pelvis because Cassia was getting into it. So I opted to stay home. I was so glad I did once the cramp hit my left lower side. It was so bad I could not move. I managed to get into my recliner, it was not easy to get there but I held on to furniture and made it. It took 45 minutes for it to ease off.

Today when I got up, I was hurting in my back and having some contractions. Cassia was being very still and I couldn't make her wiggle so I went and got my doppler and then in the place I have always been able to pick up her heartbeat I could not find it. I knew where the placenta was so I placed it there and knew she was at least alive, but was not finding her actual heartbeat. I finally positioned the probe on top of my belly and it was there that I found her lil heart beating.

When I spoke to the nurse and shared all the information it was then that she told me it sounded like Cassia completely flipped inside and was now in the breech position. This turn also made my uterus be irritated and that was causing the contractions.

All is well now, things are calm for the most part. I have decided to pack my hospital bags tonight....lol

I took this pic while shopping today!

37 Weeks!

I have made it to this point. Cassia is really growing and I can tell it with her movements! She is limited in her space now for sure. All is going well considering. My bp stays normal, swelling has just begun. I have very fat feet and hands these days! I have just 2 weeks until c-section day arrives! Whoo hoo can hardly believe that day is that close! I can't wait to hold my lil girl! All the wondering of who she will favor, how much she will weigh will be evident.

I have all her clothes ready and plan to pack my bag and the diaper bag next week for the hospital. :) I still have things I wanted to do, but I think they are just to far out of reach to get them finished. :( that means it will be a while before I can get things like I want them. Sigh. Oh well, just have to do what I have to do.
One thing for sure it WILL be there when I am well enough to tackle it! lol

Next week is youth camp and Jasper and Samuel will be going. Rebecca is so excited because when Daddy is gone her and baby brother sleep with Mommy. She is counting down the days! We may go to some of the day services but not sure just how many because I have trouble sitting for long periods of time and the chairs though padded are not comfy at all. Again, not sure how much we will go but, we will at least try for 1 day service and 1 night service. :)

Well that's all for now. Samuel has to work today so I need to get moving to be ready to drive him the 2 minutes...lol

Have a great day all!

Swollen Feet!

I wonder where my Ankles are? 17 days left!

Ultrasound pic!

Cassia Rose! Her head is on the right side, her belly is on the left! She is chubby!!!!

Ultrasound Results

My appointment went well yesterday. They did the sonogram and said she looked good and that she has a fat belly. No masses, just chubby. They estimate her weight currently at 7# 4 oz.  This is not a definite weight though. In most cases they are almost always heavier. Twenty-Four years ago, when they told me Renee would be a 5# baby, she was born weighing 7#5oz. Then last year a friend of mine was told her son would be 7# and he was within a couple oz of being 10lbs!!!! So even though there has been many medical advancements  the sonogram weight is not one of them. I have 3 weeks yet until the c-section date. They grow at a half pound per week sometimes more. It should be interesting to see what her weight will actually be!!

36 Weeks!

I have made it to this point! Yay! I am really amazed at how well everything has went so far. For my age that is lol. Just 3 weeks 2 days left until scheduled surgery date. I know it will go by fast and we will be there before we know it! I am blessed.
I will write tomorrow about the Dr visit and any new information.

So Uncomfortable!

It has gotten to the time where comfort is no where to be found. Yesterday Cassia was in a position that kept me from being able to sit correctly so I stayed home and reclined a lot! I can tell she is very large. I get sore when she gets active. lol! Just part of it I know. :)


I go Wednesday for the sonogram to see just how large she is estimated to be. Should be interesting.

NO WONDER!!!

Last night I measured my waist line. It was 47" around! YIKES!!!! Then I measured the height of the uterus like I have been taught...According to the Dr, the cm amount generally matches the week of pregnancy you are in. Give or take a week. I am 35 weeks, but measured 39!!!!!!! No wonder I have new marks on me! I go next week for another ultrasound. It will tell her estimated weight. This should be interesting!

35 weeks

Routine Exam

I went early this morning for my check up. Dr feels like Cassia is going to be a big girl. I have an ultrasound scheduled for next Wednesday. I hope we get a picture! :) after that we have just 3 weeks until she comes....my how time flies!

I have not dilated any further than I was 2 weeks ago. I was actually surprised to hear this! Thought for sure I would be a 2 or even a 3...lol

Swelling is down and BP was 100/70 which is good they say. Weight was 189....I gained 4 pounds so total weight gain thus far is 17 lbs. Not bad at all.

I am going to go through the baby clothes next week and wash what I will be needing first. My my it's hard to believe! She will be here soooon!!!!!

We r home! Look how bad my feet are swollen! Even my legs are swollen! Camp was great though!

Dr. Visit

I went for my visit and all went well. I asked her to check me, as many of the contractions are becoming painful, and I was concerned perhaps maybe I was a little dilated. Sure enough, 1cm. However cervix is thick and high still so she is not concerned at this time.
 I told her of my extreme fatigue and she increase my iron to daily dosage verses 3xs a week. She said hopefully it will bring more energy for me.
I am scheduled for a 2 week visit and then drop to once a week! The count down is really on! I do have another schedule sonogram to monitor lil' miss Cassia's size. I still have sugar in my urine. It could signal I am Gestational Diabetic. So I assume that is why they are checking her size again. It's so close now. Wow!

Dr. gave me the go ahead to travel this weekend. We are going to do a youth camp in Millers Creek NC. I plan to rest as much as possible. I am hoping for a great Youth Camp!