10.30.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 6:19 pm by kellgaston
It seems like she should be much older than 2 weeks! It’s been a long two weeks, though overall, it’s been good. Much better than last time.
Our good sleeper has become a not so good sleeper. She was waking up two or three times per night for feedings and then going back to sleep. She still gets up that often to eat, but sleeping in between feedings is problematic. She really wants to be held. She does not want to sleep in her bassinet. Last night, I let her sleep part of the night in the bouncer while I slept nearby on the couch. So, I did some research and bought a Close and Secure Sleeper to put in our bed. She really wants to be close to us and I was just afraid to let her sleep in between us without something to put her in. Hopefully things go better tonight.
Ava is funny. She’s generally very good humored, but she refuses to take a bottle. At first, I was supplementing with a little syringe. That didn’t go well. So, I tried playtex bottles. Not good. Then I tried the Soothies bottles. At first, she did okay, but then, no. More of the milk ended up on the burp rag than in her mouth. The last time we tried to give her a bottle she flat out refused it. I guess I’m stuck breastfeeding. It has gone so much better this time, thankfully. Definitely not pain free, but not the horrible pain I had with Nathaniel. I still dislike it (and tried to get the doctor to give me sinus meds that would force me to quit) but I’m hanging in there for now.
Mom is going home tomorrow 
but will hopefully be returning early next week. I’m still not supposed to be lifting Nathaniel for four more weeks. That’s hard.
Tomorrow night is Trunk or Treat at church and then we’ll be handing out candy here. I don’t know how it will work with Nathaniel — he is not allowed to have candy normally.
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10.25.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 4:19 pm by kellgaston
Just when I had lost all hope of going into labor naturally before my scheduled induction, it happened. Friday (the 18th) was a nice day. I left mom alone for the morning and hung out at the in-laws. We went to look at a house and the kids were able to play. I went home in the early afternoon and dh got home early (to begin his vacation). Mom watched baby while dh and I ran to the bookstore and to pick up dinner. Yummy burgers from Earl’s. We got home in time to bathe Nathaniel and play with him for a while (actually a long time — he stayed up an extra hour — neither one of us wanted to force him to go to bed and he was being so funny). He finally went to sleep around 10 pm. So, we decided to watch a movie that we had recorded on the dvr.
The movie starts and shortly thereafter, so do some minor contractions. Nothing big — just like I’d had for the past week and a half. Only thing was that I started to notice a pattern. But, I thought it would probably pass. Even still, I kept an eye on the clock. Much to my surprise, the contractions were coming almost every five minutes. I was able to deal with them alright, either sitting in the chair or swaying on all fours in the floor or swaying against a wall. Dh was able to be right there with me the whole time, but still neither of us thought it was the real thing. Toward the end of the movie, it became apparent that they just might be real. I started getting things together while the movie finished. Then, I wanted to take a bath and dh needed to get in some time on the exercise bike. Around 12:00, I woke up mom to ask what she wanted to do (go or stay) and to let her know that we were leaving shortly. We called grandma to let her know we’d be by shortly with Nathaniel.
I took a very short bath, as it was becoming apparent that I needed to be at the hospital. Dh only got in 5 minutes on his bike, instead of 30. I finished getting things around, we got it in the car, and I yelled at mom to hurry (several times). The pains were quickly becoming unbearable and instead of five minutes apart (when the doctor told us to go to the hospital), they were coming every 2 minutes. We left so quickly that mom forgot her purse. It was 12:30.
Dh couldn’t drive fast enough. I was begging him to drive faster. I didn’t know if we even had time to stop at grandma’s, but we did. Dh just handed Nathaniel off and we left.
We were at the hospital by 1:00 a.m. I had to stop on the trip in and sway on a wall. I was seriously hurting. Of course, L&D was in no hurry. Paperwork, paperwork. Finally, they got us into a room and told me to get changed and do a urine sample. What fun. I complied and waited through several contractions, but no one came to check on me. I finally called and told them to send someone, quickly. They finally came and checked me. I was 5-6 and completely effaced. I asked for drugs, but there was more paperwork needed first, as well as an iv to be placed and blood to be drawn. We finished paperwork (dh had to mark things for me) and then the bloodletting began. No student this time, but the nurse still blew out the vein on her first attempt. My wrist is still black. I was in lots of pain — different than with Nathaniel. I could not sit straddling the chair to deal with the pains like I had with him. I couldn’t find any comfortable position. I wanted an epidural now! Luckily, the anesthesiologist didn’t make me wait for results from bloodwork. He came in and around 2:00, I was feeling much better. It was great. Within a few minutes, I was able to relax and dh and I were able to discuss names. Around 2:45, the doctor on call came by to check me and found that I was a 10 and ready to push. The staff quickly prepared the room and at 3:05, baby girl Gaston was born, after two easy pushes. It was great.
Her name is Ava Elizabeth. She weighed 7 lbs. 10 ozs. and was 21 inches long. She is doing very well.
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10.17.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 5:39 am by kellgaston
This week is fall break in Oklahoma. So, Aunt Bloss and Cousin Ed decided to take Nathaniel to visit a nearby pumpkin patch on Thursday. We had lunch at my favorite pizza place in Norman and then they headed out.
Apparently, he wore himself out. He was a little wary of the pumpkins but loved the animals and just being outside.
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10.14.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 6:33 pm by kellgaston
I’ve had contractions off and on all day, but no “progress.”
I planned to try castor oil this evening, but I was overruled. The side effects sound kind of rough. Nausea and vomiting? Not what I need in this condition.
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10.13.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 6:05 pm by kellgaston
Just a quick update . . .
We had our 38 week appointment this afternoon.
I’m dilated 2-3 cm and 90% effaced. Baby’s head is down.
But it’s 9:08 and no sign of labor. Yuck.
We’re tentatively scheduled for an induction next Tuesday (a week from tomorrow) at 5:00 a.m. if nothing happens between now and then. I don’t want to be induced. Neither do I want to wait until next Tuesday. Originally, we said next Monday, but the hospital is booked, so we have to wait. Double yuck.
Tried somewhat spicy food tonight. Tomorrow night, it’s castor oil and oj.
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10.09.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:49 pm by kellgaston
Mom and I have accomplished a lot at home this week, with some up high help from Aunt Bloss. She took on the really rough stuff, the a/c returns and light fixtures. Yuck. There are advantages to being pregnant! Last year I cleaned those after Nathaniel was born.
I thought I would share a few pics of the kids room as of today. Thaniel should be in good shape. Baby Elizabeth’s room is coming together nicely. The changing table should be done soon, but we’re having some technical problems with the antique bed. It wants to fall apart! We need some gorilla glue.
Baby Girl’s Crib
The Little Princess’s Room
Princely’s Room
I thought I was going into labor on Tuesday night. I’d been at A’s for “ladies’ night” and when I got home, I felt really weird. I was having irregular contractions and was in pain virtually all night. But, I felt better during the day on Wednesday. Since then, I continue to have some nasty contractions, but no pattern. Aunt Bloss says it will be Saturday (which coincidentally, is the day on which I was born 30 years ago this year). I wasn’t mentally prepared to have this baby on Tuesday, but now, I think I’m as ready as I can be.
In other news, I have my first real estate listing. Yeah! And another one should be online soon.
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