Lulu the photographer

This is what we do during the day. Hang out in my room and take pictures of each other. She took the one of my eye and then the one of her brother. She improved quickly.

1 day and 2 weeks pics

So far, so good. Big sister is sleeping worse than he is. We are having a sleepover everynight. Lulu on the floor and brother in the bed with me. Lulu has ear infections and strep. Might need tubes again or her tonsils out. Mimi has been getting herself up and ready in the morning. Thank heavens.

1 day skinny legs, light hair

2 wks

March 30, 2011--the short version?

• I had an appt that morning and told Mr. he should stick around because they would be sending me to the hospital. Wishful thinking. After the ultrasound I knew there was a chance it would really happen because my fluid was really high. They wouldn't want me to be home when my water broke--fear of cord prolapse. I was right. The doctor called Dr. T, who is my regular doctor, and he agreed to induce. Luckily, Dr T was on call at the hospital, so I was basically guaranteed that I would get a bed sometime that afternoon. They told me to run errands for a few hours and return to the hospital. When I checked in, I told them I was a 1 and 50% effaced. Which wasn't true, I was 2 and 70% when I was checked that morning. Nobody checked me to see if I had progressed. They just hooked me to the monitors and left. I made some calls to make sure Mr. and my mom would come and to see if my MIL could watch the girls. They told me there were 2 rooms opening up that needed to be cleaned, but they didn't have a nurse yet. One nurse called in and said she would work as long as she could be off by midnight. I told them it would only be 2 hours after they broke my water. I also told them that I knew a nurse--Kelly Knight and thought that she would come in if she weren't busy. So nurse Aggie was the first nurse. My mom came and then Mr. arrived--after going to the bank and going home to shower. We had to wait until 5:30 for them to start the pitocin. Right after they started the drip, they announced that Kelly would be coming in and taking over. That was the best news. She was fantastic.


• My contractions were regular from the start and got more intense according to the monitor, but not really painful. The doctor came in an broke my water at 6:18. It actually started hurting within 20 minutes and the contractions were 1.5 min apart. I had them give me the IV bag so I could get an epidural. My plan was to have no pain while I watched American Idol and then have the baby. They gave me the epidural just before 7, Kelly held my had while the other helpers hid their eyes. It kicked in fast this time. I rolled over and tried to rest for a bit. Kelly checked me at 7:25--6 cm. Gave me oxygen to help baby through contractions. Checked again at 8:10--8 cm. Started shaking like crazy and feeling pressure. 8:13 ish--10cm ready to push. Baby born at 8:24. I was watching my mom when I was pushing and she was not looking so good. I thought maybe there was something wrong with the baby. Then I heard the Dr say, "We've got one going down." Mom passed out around the time the head came out. Sorry mom. The cord was around the baby's neck so Dr. T cut the cord himself and suctioned away. It seemed like it took along time for baby to cry. They said he looked "Awesome." Mr. ran to his side as soon as he was born and just stared. It was really cute. I kept shaking while I got stitched up. Mom came to and all was well.


• Luke Campbell Walker--7 lbs 3 oz, 20 1/2 in.


• A few hours later, they took baby to NICU because his breathing was labored. They monitored him and Mr. stayed with him until they got an x-ray taken. The nurses watch him in isolation for 3 more hours and said he was fine enough to stay in the room with me. The next night, another nurse wanted to run more of the same tests, got concerned and called the pediatrician to listen for a heart murmur. He said everything was fine. The nurse came in every few hours and at one point, talked to me while I was half asleep and took the baby out of the room. I asked Mr if he knew where they were taking him, but he had been asleep too. He jumped up and ran and got the now crying Luke, gave them a piece of his mind, and came back to bed. The nurses didn't bother us from 1:30 to 6 the next morning and we actually slept.


• We came home on Friday around 2 pm. He has been such a peaceful baby so far. The only time he has really cried is when his diaper is dirty or he has a burp. I went in for the post partum appt and they had me feed and weigh him. They said he only got 2 ml. So we are nursing and supplementing and glad that some people are a little more sympathetic to those with lower milk supplies. He has to have a CT scan of his chest to see if the cysts are there or not at 6 weeks. We won't be out and about much for 8 weeks because we don't want him to get sick. I feel fine, only taking ibuprofen for swelling. Living on little sleep. Lucky that it is spring break and family is able to play with the girls during the day.

37 weeks--no picture

They scheduled me to be induced on April 4th. I told them I would be hitting the gym to help it along. My due date is the 7th, so they didn't give me much of a headstart. What a bummer, but the Dr. I don't want to see was on before then and I really don't want to see her. So I will take the 4th and hope for a little earlier, but not on the 2nd. Let's see if I can control that.

Last week, I measured 35 weeks and this week I measured 32 weeks, but I have gained 3 lbs. Not sure where it went. The babe appears to be 6lbs 10 oz and long-limbed. They asked again if my husband was tall. They could not get a picture of the cysts. That doesn't mean that they aren't there, but that there was too much stuff in the way to see it. My fluid went up 5 cm in a week, 10 in the last 2 weeks. I guess that is not a big deal. 2 more ultrasounds to go and 2 more Dr. appointments. I still don't feel bad, just tired of this stuff.

We finally got Lulu out of the crib. She helped put her brother's sheet on his bed and we moved her stuffed animals and blankets to her big bed. We've had 2 good nights and one bad. Which means I am getting 4-6 hours of sleep a night. I guess that is good for a pregnant lady.

I was hoping to have the baby this weekend or before 38 weeks. Maybe my water will break in the middle of the baby shower or at church. That would be exciting.

The end, almost

Everything looked good with the babe this week. The new doctor was actually enjoyable to talk to. I didn't even mind the GBS test. He said this cyst is a rare thing and that if it comes to a surgery, hospitals will want us to come to their facility. He recommended getting a few opinions before we do anything. He also said, "Don't be afraid to rattle some cages if necessary." He also said that he would do more research, but from what he knew, it should not be a problem. So good news from another source.

He asked if I wanted a c-section or vaginal delivery. Then he asked if I wanted to be induced or start on my own. He said he would recommend induction at 39 weeks. So, next appt. I will be scheduled. We go to the specialist next week to have the cysts measured. Of course it would be nice if they were nearly gone. I am still feeling fine, hitting the gym, walking without a waddle. Last night I felt flu-ish and I thought maybe something was going on, but it never turned into consistent contractions for an hour.

Lulu has been asking me in the mornings if the baby came yet. I push out my belly and ask her if he came. She just says no and runs off. She is excited right now, hopefully she will be excited when he actually comes.

Still no name.

Heaven is...

• Sleeping all night without having to take a potty break.
• Taking a Sunday afternoon nap.
• Serve yourself Chocolate chip/PB M&M cookies for dinner.
• Seeing a nephew get baptized.
• Enjoying a baby blessing.
• Teaching a lesson on Fast Sunday with a built in snack time.
• Telling people the baby is coming this week (only in my dreams).
• Going to the gym and sweating.
• Prayers together at night.
• Still being able to tie my shoes and shave my legs.
• Getting to see the babe every week.
• Seeing that our insurance really is paying a lot of the bills.
• 3 yr old still saying "Happy Valentine's Day" and blowing kisses.
• Reading books with the girls.
• Coloring and painting.
• Free toothpaste.
• Cartoons that we can stand to watch all together.
• 8 o'clock bedtime.

Other news

Mimi finished her swim lessons at TCCC. She is a good swimmer, but still can't do the flip turn or dive in well. We are taking a break this session, but will probably sign her up for the May session. She is working on her multiplication tables at school and reading the rest of her little house on the prairie set. She still takes a 30 minute shower when I tell her to hurry. I think she took a 20 minute one once. She got a 4 inch haircut, but it looks like 6 with her curls. Perfect for the warmer weather we will hopefully start having soon.

Lulu is being bribed to sleep through the night. She gets a handful of change when she is successful. She wants to buy the elephant game with her $. She has been telling me some of her dreams lately. Today she said we were having a party and everyone was at our house. Earlier in the week she said she had a giant pink teddy bear. We might be able to make some of her dreams come true. She has been congested for 3 weeks, but doesn't really act like it is bothering her. She is a champion nose-blower. I think she says mom over a hundred times a day. I have found if I want some peace, I have to let her take a shower with her barbies. One day she took 3 showers. I was really tired that day.

We did our taxes and refinanced the house. This is good timing for all of the new baby expenses.

Mr. got back from Dubai and Kuwait. It took him 4 days to get over his jet lag. He brought back some sand and a stuffed camel for the girls. He is good at getting them fun things from his journeys.

I had an appt yesterday with a different DR. He said my weight looked good and that female sterilization is not painful. Then he gave me a pamphlet and said, "It's the bomb!" Next week I see another DR. I think they might do a cervical check. Nice to meet you.