3.31.11 Amelia Update

Ken & I spent last night and today with Amelia at All Children's Hospital. When we walked in, they were performing a spinal tap on her, which was very upsetting to me beings they hadn't discussed it with me first. That didn't start the night off well. I did get to hold her for about 2 hours last night before she had another apnea episode. This one lasted for just over 4 minutes. Of course they had given her morphine for the spinal tap, so I'm not really sure one can even count that one as an episode because of course if you give a sedative to someone who is already having breathing problems it would only magnify the problem. The neurologist came to see us and said he felt she was possibly having seizures and/or withdrawal symptoms from my medication that I take. I immediately felt horrible, but know that it is necessary that I take medication for my well being, which ultimately is for her well being.

The rest of the night and for the next 24 to 36 hours, they will have her hooked up to an EEG machine with audio and video to monitor for seizure activity. By the time we had left this afternoon, there had been no occurrences of noticeable seizures. This is good news! The doctors did say that if it is medication withdrawal, it should be completely out of her system within 5 to 6 days with no lasting effects. Praise God! If for some reason medication withdrawal isn't the answer, further testing will be necessary.

Hopefully tomorrow they can resume feeding her. She is hungry and feisty about not getting fed through her stomach. She is receiving IV fluids and nutrition right at the moment, but as long as she has the nasal cannula on for the apnea, they aren't real interested in feeding her. Although tomorrow I will discuss removing the cannula long enough to feed her.

If you would like to leave Amelia a note or message, I have been printing off the prayers and comments from friends and family to read to her. If you have a favorite poem or story, I would be happy to read that to her as well. She very much recognizes my voice and that of her sister and seems calmer when I talk with her, even at times when I can't hold her - like today. But since she doesn't seem to be interested in the mundane gossip, we have resorted to lullabies and nursery rhymes. Thank you all for continued prayers and blessings! We couldn't get through this time without you and without God's strength and wisdom.

Headed to All Children's Hospital

Please continue to ask for healing for Amelia and knowledge and blessing for Dr.'s and medical staff, and strength for myself and family as we struggle to find out what is going on with little Amelia. She is having many apnea spells (time where she quits breathing to the point of discoloration or respiratory distress) and respiratory distress today, so the NICU Dr. recommended sending her to All Children's Hospital for better diagnostic tools and measures. There still may be nothing wrong with her, jut that she was born fast and it may be something she needs to outgrow. But since it is so unusual for a full-term baby to have apnea, they are not taking any chances. Ken & I will be headed there this evening/night and stay tomorrow. I should know more by then. God works wonderful miracles and we sure could use one now!

Amelia Faith's Birth Story

My last OB check-up was Thursday, March 24, where I was 4cm dialated and 100% effaced. Since I was only 38 weeks and 1 day, they wouldn't do anything to assist labor other than stripping my membranes. So off I went to try and enjoy one last weekend before giving birth. I felt like I'd been in labor with braxton hicks contractions for well over a week, and my induction was scheduled for Wednesday, March 30th, so I really figured that I wasn't going to deliver on my own. Friday I layed low and Saturday went to the annual Chasco Fiesta Parade in New Port Richey. I schlepped Abigail and lunches for quite some distance but enjoyed the day of sunshine, beads and parade fun. Abigail had a great time and it was really important to me to spend fun time with her, since I knew that once Amelia arrived, life would be a little hectic for awhile.  We spent Sunday preparing for family pictures and a picnic at Moon Lake park in the afternoon. I was having hard braxton hicks contractions all day, but again, nothing I hadn't been having the last two weeks. I felt good, a little tired, but finished out the day at the park with my rather large family. Pictures were a huge success, as everyone was able to make it and even though I was still pregnant, at least I was up front and pregnant enough that little Amelia made it into the portrait!

Once I got home, I was exhausted and decided to give Abigail an early bath and bed. She was tired and didn't really have a nap that day either. Abigail was sound asleep by 9pm and I was laying next to her. Ken & I had our nightly talk and prayer session while putting Abigail to sleep. About 10:15pm I decided to get up and get something else to eat, and make one of my dozen or so trips to the bathroom for the night. That's when it all started. While trying to get out of bed, I felt a pop and then immediately was wet with hot liquid. I knew my water had just broke. I thought my grandmother was right outside the door, but she wasn't, so I waddled out to the kitchen, leaving a trail of dripping amniotic fluid behind me. There was so much of it! I couldn't believe it! It just kept gushing! Then all of a sudden I had a REAL contraction! Wow! There was a difference between the bh contractions (although they were pretty intense and uncomfortable) and the real thing! I called my friend Laura, who was taking me to the hospital, and my boyfriend, Ken (who met me there) and then my mom. Within 20 minutes, I had already had a dozen or so contractions and they were about a minute and a half apart. I was still praying to get to the hospital in enough time for an epidural, because I was not looking forward to a natural birth. Bring on the drugs! During the 15 minute ride to the hospital, the contractions intensified rapidly in strength, duration and shortened the time between them! We barely got into a room and I was 7cm dialated already. The midwife had already been called, but they weren't sure if she would make it or not. The contractions were one on top of another and very painful. It was obvious I wasn't getting an epidural and I lost control and focus with the pain. I begged for other drugs and a nurse ran to get something for my IV. However, my friend yanked me back into reality, as there wasn't time for any type of drug, as the baby was crowning already & I was pushing on my own! Still no midwife, but 2 strong pushes and Amelia came out anyway! She wimpered a little, but no real cry. Her scores were fine and she appeared lethargic, but healthy! She had such a precipitous birth (2 hours from water breaking to birth!) that she didn't have time to recover. Amelia Faith Wagner entered the world at 12:13am on March 28th, 2011. She weighed 6lbs. 13ozs. and was 20.5 inches.

By 3am we were both cleaned up, our visitors had left and we were settled in our room for the night. While she nursed a little that night, it was clear her little birth had exhausted her beyond belief and all she wanted was to sleep, sleep, sleep! Which was just fine with Mommy! Welcome little Amelia! You are already so sweet and have so many people in love with you! I love you so much already! You round out Abigail and I just beautifully and I promise to love you forever!

Amelia Faith Wagner 

 

38 Weeks and Counting!

Well, we've finally made it to 38 weeks! I've been very uncomfortable these last 3 weeks or so, and experiencing a milder form of labor each night for about 2 weeks now. That's not to say that it doesn't hurt, or that it is pleasant by ANY means, but the hours of contractions I'm experiencing are not getting me anywhere ~ except to say that I can't sleep through them - so sleeping is out. They say that is nature's way of assuring 2 things. First, that the woman is fully ready to undergo the painful process of birthing a child and second, that one is fully prepared for the months of sleep deprived nights that lay ahead. Having gone through labor and birth once already, I would have just asoon skipped over the miserable part of pregnancy and remembered the lessons from the last one! I'm not usually one that requires retraining on important issues... Anyway - here we are, just counting down time, as so it seems. If I don't have her naturally by Wednesday, March 30th, I'm scheduled for my induction to start at 6:30am. So I should have her no later than the evening, if things go smoothly. We'll see! Hopefully she doesn't decide to make an appearance this weekend - I have plans on Sunday! Although Caroline (a friend) really would like her born on the 26th - as this is her birthday as well! We shall see!

Starkey Park

Abigail, Julia & Kaylease enjoyed out Tiny Tots group meet-up today at Starkey Park. We couldn't have asked for a better day! Plenty of sunshine, 78 degrees with low humidity and a nice breeze. It could have only been better if I wasn't so pregnant that getting out and about playing with the kids is quite difficult. But Jill is visiting from Oklahoma and was out playing with them, so they were well supervised. It was nice chatting with the other moms from the group, as I haven't attended any of the meet-ups in the last two weeks because I'm so uncomfortable. I really wish this baby would get here!
Kaylease and Julia loved playing with the digger thing in the sand box. Abigail wanted to try too - but it was really heavy for any of them to do by themselves!
Mom packed some watermelon for the kids - it looked really good. Poor Kaylease lost her second piece to Abigail - Abigail just asked for a "bite" and Kaylease never did get her fruit back! Thank you, Kaylease!







Abigail and Kaylease trying to maneuver the digging thing. Plenty of sunscreen was needed today! We successfully wore out two 2-year olds to take good, long naps for the afternoon! Everyone had such a good time.

Marissa's First Game

Marissa joined little league softball this year. It is her first time really playing the game, other than at school. She loves it! And while she is a little afraid of the ball, I think she will be a pretty good player. This was their first game. They played the 7-8 year old division from Shady Hills. That is who most of their games will be with. Their uniforms hadn't come in yet, so they were wearing maroon and black for the time being.

Both teams hit off a pitching machine. They each get 6 pitches, or 3 strikes, whichever comes first. This game they were all pretty scared of the pitching machine, so there were not a lot of hits. While they don't keep official score at this age, and no team wins or loses, Shady Hills did end up with two runs while Marissa's team didn't score.

Go Marissa & the Lil' Rebels!

Diaper Fluff

I'm getting more and more ready to bring Amelia home! We are finishing the house projects that need completed and I'm starting to wash clothes and diapers in preparation for her arrival. I want nothing more than her to come now, but in all reality, I'm just not quite ready. But, I have all the newborn diapers I think I will need, and even a few larger diapers to work into. In the cloth diaper world, it is called "fluff", but whatever you want to call it - they sure are cute! I'm prepping them this week, as they need to be washed 3 to 5 times to activate the absorbancy of the core parts of the diapers. They looked so cute all hanging in the sunshine, so I thought I would share!

The plaid one on the end is my favorite! Of course it was the most expensive, but it is lined with such soft material! I can't wait to get photos with these on Amelia!

Barbie, where's Ken?

I have heard this line all my life. As a child I would usually respond with some stupid response like "at home watching PJ & Skipper" (for those of you unfamilliar with the Matel Barbie clan, those were Barbie's little sisters). But as an adult, and yes I continue to get asked that question from grown adults, I just give them a funny look and say "I haven't heard that one in a long time - elementary school maybe?" But now I have a reason to answer anew! I have a new friend that I am quite interested in, named Ken.

I met Ken at Sunday School and we got to chatting for a couple of weeks and we hit it off nicely. We got the chance to go out last Wed. night to watch old people sing karaoke at the American Legion, and then on Thursday we took Abigail to the park. She loved it! She had such a great time, but I think Ken fell in love with her almost immediately. I can see why, she is such a cutie and going to be a heartbreaker! I added some of my fav pics. Stay tuned to see where this new adventure leads!