Hadlee Alexus

On October 2, 2010 soon after midnight I woke up from being very uncomfortable. Initially I thought my bladder was just way too full and needed to be emptied out. After doing so and returning to bed I realized I was wrong.

The day before my contractions were between 20-25 minutes apart. Very close together compared to the two days before which were 45 minutes apart. I'm not sure what it was that put me into active labor. That Wed Dr. Brock separated my membranes. I was eating very spicy food and had done some cleaning. I had also done the same thing weeks before and nothing seemed like it would put me into active labor. Maybe it was the fact I was 40 weeks and 5 days..

So I start tracking my contractions for 2 and a half hours. Each half hour getting closer together. Around 3 am I start getting my things together and wake up my mom. Its that time! Her first question is, " You aren't in pain?" Well apparently I have super human labor pain tolerance because I breezed right through my contractions with relaxed breathing.

On the way to the hospital, it would be the one time the car is on empty, we stop for gas. We are still near the house and 20 mins away from the hospital. My contractions now were 7-9 minutes apart.

I get admitted and walk up to the labor and delivery floor. Give my urine sample. Slip into my robe and the wait now begins. Before they start an IV or epidural they make absolutely sure its my time to stay. Well it was because my contraction were now 4-6 minutes apart and I'm now 5 cm's dilated. Let me also add while my contractions were very close together and on no drugs I applied a full face and fake eyelashes. Any other way just wouldn't be my style! Hello IV and epidural. BTW I had the sexiest doctor ever..and a huge thanks for the drugs which like Bethenny Frankel stated, " its like a mini bar." NO JOKE! About now its 6 or 7 AM. My Aunt Debbie and mom are there keeping me company and wait for Dr. Rasner to arrive. We waited several hours for him to arrive. He was on call at Baptist South and downtown.

Dr. Rasner arrives and breaks my water. It sort of felt like a water balloon filled with baby oil breaking in my hand. Within two hours I dilated to 8 cm's. The nurse then sets up for the delivery. An hour later its time to PUSH!

After 45 minutes of pushing, at 5:56 PM, Hadlee Alexus entered the world at 7 lbs, 6 oz and 21 1/2 inches long.

40 weeks and 1 day

I am forty weeks and one day pregnant with little miss Hadlee Alexus.

 I could not be more happy to get to my appointment this week to find out what is going on.

I have had several irregular, unpainful contractions. None of which have been anywhere near 5-7mins apart of to the point where I couldn't talk. I don't know if I am just handling them very well or if im just still so early in labor. I really hope to receive some good news as far as inducing me or monitoring me. I don't like not knowing!

The air conditioner went out last night and I was fortunate to make it through the night with box fans & a day full of fall temps and overcast skies. Had it of been a normal Florida fall day it would of been one of the most agonizing nights ever.

Not only am I getting anxious about Hadlee's arrival, but the fall fashion. I love layers, however Florida isn't ideal for such. Other things to look forward to are Florida football games, Halloween, Thanksgiving, my birthday and Christmas. If the end of the year is anything like te beginning it will fly by :(

Keep you updated on my little misfits arrival!

Still pregnant

Well I am still pregnant. I am due this Monday, September 27, 2010. I've had several contractions. None of which have been 5-7 mins apart or where I've lost my breathe. I'm starting to think Hadlee just doesn't want to come. I don't blame her with so many ignorant people in the world. I'd stay in my belly too as long as possible.

Didn't sleep at all last night after what was already a rough day for me with the dogs escaping and running down the road barefoot after them. Then just when im cozy in bed and about to fall asleep, GIANT cockroach invades my space. I then moved everything and sprayed my room down. Never did find him. I was told there was a dead one in the living room. I hope it was the same little bastard that kept me up ALL night.

Dad's intown and as much as I want to go see him I am just too tired to make the 35 minute drive. Maybe I will get some sleep tonight so I can make my way over there tomorrow.

Gator game on in 12 mins vs Kentucky at the swamp. Its GREAT to be a FLORIDA GATOR!

Expect the unexpected

I knew that yesterday was going to be a long day, but I was not prepared for the unexpected..

My morning started like any other day. I arrive to my doctors appointment 45 mins early and get taken back immediately. Blood pressure is back to normal thanks to much needed bed rest. No complaints besides being tired and some contractions. I have not dilated or thinned out anymore, but BAM here it comes..Hadlee's heartbeat is in the 170s-180s and isn't going down. Seeing as I am familiar with her movements I knew she was just doing her normal jazzercise in my belly. My CNM checks it a few mins later & here I am being shipped down to labor & delivery.

I've never been back to labor and delivery before because I have never been pregnant before. I give a urine sample. Get dressed into my super sweet hospital gown and wait for my nurse. Rachel was awesome! She was really down to earth and made me feel so comfortable. If I was about to have an emergency C-section or be induced I was ready. (MINUS the fact I did not have my hospital bag nor get to show my little pup Peanut much love before I left him for a few days.) Her heartrate went down as I knew it would & I was wheel chaired up to my second appointment 45 mins early.

Second appointment was very much fun. My beautiful baby girl is estimated to weigh around 7 lbs 5 oz. She appears to have a head full of hair with the cutest little lips and nose. How I have a baby that size in my belly is beyond me since I only look 5 months pregnant.

I get wheel chaired back to labor and delivery to be discharged and im on my way to Chickfila. I have never been so excited to eat! I tried the new Spicy Chicken sandwich which was good but definitely packs a punch and leaves you salivating.

I arrive home, shower & crash.

My next appointment is on Thursday, Sept 23 @ 10 AM. I will be 39 weeks & really hope im giving a scheduled C-section or induced.

The Waiting Game

My 38 week appointment is tomorrow along with an ultrasound. I will also find out exactly what the results were from my labwork on Thursday and what is in store for our future..

I will now refer to this stage in my pregnancy as, "The Waiting Game", since thats exacty what it is. I was anxious weeks ago for her arrival, but now it seems worse than ever and that she will never come. At the same time im sort of enjoying her being in my belly. I think what makes this so frustrating is that I'm on bedrest, which alone is the most boring thing ever. I have never been one of those people that likes to lay in bed allday. I would rather pretend like im Cinderella and clean everything in the house until I can see my own reflection.

I'll be posting soon about a labor and delivery plan unless things come unexpectedly.

C'iao!

One last message, the season finale of TRUE BLOOD is on tonight at 9, DONT MISS IT!

Bed rest

Bed rest is so boring! I can only do so many crossword puzzles. Reading doesn't get much more exciting. I'm all finished with my little girls room, but I still could be cleaning or doing something. I've never been a fan of laying in bed allday when there are a million other things in the world going on.

Yesterday was my 37 week appointment. I've gained around 26 lbs total. Of course that could be plus or minus a few lbs. Everything has been great thus far in my pregnancy until the last week or two when my headaches turned into throbbing neverending migraines. After several doses of Tylenol-3 and bedrest they kept occurring. On Monday my feet really started swelling and I was feeling really under the weather. One of the doctors yesterday saw these as warning signs for preeclampsia. Being that preeclampsia is very serious I started a 24 hr urine collection along with blood work this morning. Results should be back tomorrow.

At this point medically nothing surprises me. I've learned to expect anything and everything.

Ultrasound and 38 week doctor appointment has been scheduled for Monday. By then hopefully they will schedule a C-section or induce labor. Either way im ready to hold my baby through the endless weeks of sleepless nights. Just hoping that doesn't last too long lol.

37 Weeks

I am 37 weeks today which means I am full term. It truly amazes me how time has flown by, but now it seems like she will never arrive!  On Wednesday I went for my 36 week appointment. At that time I was around 80% effaced and 1 cm dilated. As we all know everyone is different, so it could be another 2 weeks before she decides its time. Hopefully it won't take that long!

Our bags are packed, the pediatrician has been picked so Hadlee its okay you can come now. Mommy has all your clothes washed. Your crib has been set up since mommy was 12 weeks pregnant. I understand you like the coziness warmth inside my belly, but I promise to swaddle you and love you even more than I do now.

37 week appointment tomorrow at 10:45, lets see where im at then..

Fall Fashion 2010

Fall is right around the corner and what not a better way to start it than making sure you have the must haves for this season. BTW, im super digging WHATS HOT for this season. Its sort of a mixture of all things classic with a twist from some of our favorite decades.

Id like to start in the 70's. Yes the 70's! It can be a bit scary if you immediately think about Disco, but you'll find its actually more sophisticated. Its all about high waisted, wide leg pants. Coordinate it with a ruffled, tucked in silk shirt and all you will need is accessories. Most appropriately is a belt. Don't forget your two toned wedges.

The most important accessory for this season is the military jacket. Camo green or navy blue is what to look for, but if you find something else that pleases the eye go for it!

Yes women the classic button up shirt is back! This sort of shirt can be worn many different ways amongst the many different types of collars. Do some research to find what style you prefer. Hey even go browsing at the mall to see what fits you best.

Just a brief summary of what will be hitting the streets, especially in the bigger cities. For those that aren't familiar with fashion forward or need more direction look online and you can be provided with all your needs.

100 Greatest Beatles Songs

Rollingstone Magazine put out a great copy covering The Beatles 100 Greatest Songs of All Time. The cover band for many decades now is well known throughout the world affecting each of us in different ways. Here is a brief summary of the list.

1. A Day in the Life

2. I Want to Hold Your Hand- This song single handly started The Beatles madness in the United States.

3. Strawberry Field Forever

4. Yesterday

7. Hey Jude- This was written about John Lennon's Son. Paul MrCarteney wrote it over concern about how Lennon's son was doing after his parents divorce.

8. Let It Be

9. Come Together

15. Help

20. Please Please Me

22. Eleanor Rigby

Check out the rest of the list in the September 2010 issue that was released today!

Its great to see the impact The Beatles have had over the decades. Music is a profound being in this life. We each relate to it differently. It has been there for me through the ups and downs. In its own way its a form of therapy. I cannot wait to share The Beatles and other greats from Classic Rock with my daughter. The genre and the artists that consist of this category have truly cultured me. No one will ever touch these artists music, thank goodness!

Home Remedies

Home remedies are great! Not only are they a fun way to pamper yourself at home, but you are able to know exactly what is going on your skin or problem area. I have found that organic products are great to use, but can be very expensive. Other products obtain horrible toxins.

Mayonnaise for Brightening Hair:
Rinse your hair thoroughly then towel dry.
Comb mayonnaise through hair root to end making sure each strand is evenly saturated.
Wrap hair in saran wrap or shower cap. Which ever you prefer.
Then wrap with a warm, damp towel.
Leave on for at least 15 minutes or sleep in it over night.
Shampoo your hair regular & style as you like.

Any brand of Mayo will suffice & if you want to be a true home remedy make your mayo from scratch!







Dry Skin:
All I can say is hydrate, exfoliate, moisturize!

Mixing brown sugar with some lemon juice is a great body scrub to use. Don't scrub to hard because you don't want to give yourself abrasions. Rinse with cool water to close your pores. Pat dry. Then use shea butter.



Engorged Breasts:
( Have not used this one myself yet..)
After you stop breast feeding apply cabbage leaves to chest. Replace every 2 hours. Tie a big cloth around you as tight as you can bear.

Sea Shepherd For Compassion - A Must See

Bright Starts

For anyone that has kids or is surrounded by them you should be familiar with the brand Bright Starts. They offer a range of products from infancy to toddler and from rattles to playards.I have noticed this brand before from having nieces and nephews, but didn't become familiar with them myself until I started my own baby registry. Now my daughter Hadlee has several of their products such as their teething keys and car seat toy entertainers. I love these products not only are they safe to use starting very early on, but they are just too cute to look at. No wonder kids love them. Colored bright and patterned kids find it hard to resist. Props to Bright Starts marketing dept on that one.



Another great thing about this company is the Pink Power Mom. It is one of their very own foundations honoring women that have recovering from Breast cancer. This especially hits close to home with my Aunt recently winning her fight over breast cancer. Along with the long line of women in my family who have died from the evil life sucker or suffered from lumps which alone is scary. For every product you buy Bright Starts donates a portion to this foundation. When possible pick up a product. Not only are you making a little one happy but you are also saving a strangers life. Remember any stranger could turn into you or someone you know.



New mom's, if you are anything like me and most mom's, you'd probably like a checklist of the must haves to register for. I find some thing's to be exactly that, MUST HAVES, whereas other's you'll realize you can do without. On the site is a checklist, but for your convenience, I'll provide the link.



 Pretty in Pink Collection

 New Mom's Checklist

And so it begins..

On a Sunday the first weekend in Feb I found out I was pregnant. It was not planned nor was she conceived with someone I knew for very long. Initial symptom, ANXIETY! It wasn't one of those, "How did this happen?" because I knew how it happened. It was, "What to do now?"

Lets jump to today. I am 34 weeks happily pregnant with a beautiful baby girl that weighs somewhere around 5 lb's 4 oz's. I have spent the last 34 weeks making sure I follow every guideline to a T. Everything from 6-8, 8 oz. glasses of water a day, followed by prenatal vitamins,  taking in extra calories, smothering myself in cocoa butter & nearly running through a million shirts from sweat. Would I ever wish anything were different? Absolutely NOT! Getting pregnant is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I cannot say the situation is ideal, but I am a strong smart woman with a loving supporting family that will raise this little girl to be all that she can be and more. I have a feeling the next 6 weeks might be the longest 6 weeks of my life. I guess I can wait a few more to hold her when I've already waited 34.

Up to this day I have traveled the states, graduated from high school, actively in college, participated in numerous sports, modeling so on and so forth, but the most rewarwing has been getting pregnant. Anyone can do the things I have done if they really want it, but not everyone is blessed to bring a child into the world.

Hadlee Alexus, finding out I was pregnant truly was the defining moment in my life. I love you my precious little girl.

So I ask you, " What has been the thing that defines your life?"