*Camryn's First Week*

Here is the adventure of our first week at home...

The day we got home, we settled in and tried to become accustomed to our new life!! We loveee this baby girl!!

The first night was interesting...she did not want to sleep! We changed her, fed her, rocked her, changed her, fed her. It was trying. She finally went down well at about 3am and we slept for just a few hours. I got up at 6am and made a HUGE pot of coffee for Daryl and me and we just hung out all day, mainly in our room, with Camryn, trying to get used to home life with her! I was loving it!

Thursday night was pretty hard. We were still tired from the night before and Camryn wouldn't sleep well either. We discovered that she's a pretty gassy baby and does NOT like to be wet. AT ALL. I helped her poop a little by a rectal temp, but we still barely got 5hrs of sleep that night. I was still pretty sore at this point, so I was trying to take it easy...easier said than done!

Friday was her newborn follow up appt. We took her to Dr. Dionisio in Farmville and she has gained back 4 out of 7oz that she lost at the hospital. Her color is a little jaundiced looking, so we have another appt for her on Tues, November 8 to just be sure she is doing well. The doctor told us to give 1 tsp Karo Syrup in each bottle for Camryn to help her have stools. So, we were going to try that. She then had newborn photos...which are going to be GORGEOUS. She is such a pretty baby and her skin is beautiful. I love chubby cheeks!! I began to get pretty tired and sore pretty quick so we headed back home and napped! Needless to say she slept very well Friday night, and we did too!

Saturday we had some friends visit, Tim and Steph. Steph fell in love with Cam :)  It's hard not to, with the little snuggle bug that she is! Then late Saturday night, when Daryl was feeding her, she had a HUGE blowout diaper. haha. He looked at me with huge eyes and said "Uhhmmm what was that??" HaHa. That was a two-person changing job! So funny. She didn't sleep as good that night, but I think her tummy was gurgling. Poor baby.

Sunday was mom's birthday, so her and dad came over and we had steaks on the grill. Dad kept Cam awake and talked to her alot, then we bathed her and fed her and put her down and she slept great!!

<<I have been debating for the past week over breastfeeding, bottle feeding, pumping, all three...my mind changes daily. I would love to be nursing her strictly, but after I do, everytime, she gets fussy and turns red and then screams! I feel like it's hard on her, and with formula, she does great. I am so up in the air about it. Plus, Daryl loves feeding her and holding her. So, for now, we are doing a little bit of everything to see what works. I obviously only want what is best for her, so I will do what needs to be done to make her feel good.>>

Then, here we are at Monday, November 7th...

 HAPPY ONE WEEK BABY GIRL!! What did we ever do without you?!

**CAMRYN LYNETTE**

Our sweet, sweet baby girl...

*Camryn Lynette Prewitt*

Born 10/31/2011 @ 12:19 pm

8lbs 5oz

20 3/4" long

Here is the detailed, yet very abbreviated version of my labor and the birth of Miss Camryn Lynette.

Saturday, October 29, Daryl and I dropped off our pups at the kennel and ran a few errands. We then went back home and straightened up and packed up the car. Then off to my parents we went. We stayed at their house Saturday night because we rode with them Sunday morning to the hospital. We had dinner, watched TV, and just relazed.... although I know Daryl and I were so nervous we could hardly stand it! We went to bed sort of late, then got up at 5:30am to call the hospital to be sure there was a bed and room reserved for me for my induction. Indeed there was, and we were told to arrive between 7:30 and 8:00am. So, here is where the journey began!!...

Daryl made me a turkey and cheese sandwich and a big glass of water to try to hold me over through the labor. HaHa. Little did I know...once we got to the hospital, mom and dad parked and we registered. We were sent up to L&D Room 3. My nurse was Megan, and she was great. My doctor came in to check me at 9am and I was 2-3cm and 70% effaced. Better than last time! So, we started my IV and Pitocin, and we were on our way!

Daryl's parents and sister came to give their support and then my sister showed up as well! Nice little support system  :)

Around 3pm, I started to get pretty uncomfortable because the contractions were picking up in the front. I decided to ask for an epidural. Well, I flinched the first time, so we had to redo it. Fun. But then it took pretty decent for a while. The doctor came in to check me around 6pm, and I was at 4cm and 80% effaced. She broke my water and let me tell you...I soaked three full-sized towels. The nurse said it was a good thing I didn't have that happen in public because it would have been a "clean up on aisle 4". Wow. HaHa. They put an internal fetal monitor on Camryn because she was so active still and they couldn't get a good pickup of her heartrate. No biggie at that point. More waiting... and into October 31, we go.

We all slept, and watched TV, and slept. It was a little bit of a blur to me. I started having some back labor around 3am or so, and then came and gave me a bolus in my epidural. I had to keep rolling over because my hips would hurt after laying on one side for too long, too. I got nauseated and got Zofran. YadaYada. Then they had to change my room because of some maintenance work being done outside of my current room... a little frustrated, but whatever. I was too tired to even care at tht point.

At 6am, the doctor came in to check me once again...STILL 4cm and 90% effaced. I was getting very frustrated as it had been 12hrs since they broke my water. She told me to sit tight and that we would discuss c-section options at the 24hr mark of induction (10am). Soooo frustrated. I went back to sleep.

At about 9:15am, I called the nurse in to tell her I was having pretty severe back labor. I was lying on my right side when she checked me and was 6-7cm and almost 100%. I rolled over then to my left side and just continued to wait. Within 30 minutes, I called her back and told her to check me because I knew I needed to push. She told me to just hang in there, and I said "No, check me now or I am going to start pushing. She did, and 10cm I was!! She called the doctor and told me to not push yet. Easier said then done. All the nursery nurses got everything set up, and it was time...

I began pushing at 10:15ish, with Daryl holding one leg and a nursing student holding another. Mom stood beside me and Kristen was my designated "push counter". Well, after about 30 minutes of pushing with SEVERE backlabor, my BP went up to the 170's and 180's and Camryn's heartrate was in the 180s. My temp was also going up, so they gave me Tylenol. I was put on a non-rebreather for oxygen and let me tell you...I was in sooooo much pain. The nurses were amazing, though. Daryl was awesome, but I could tell he felt helpless. I believe the epidural wore off before I even started pushing. And backlabor is the worst pain I have ever felt. The doctor came in around 12pm and told me he wanted to discuss ways to 'help' get Camryn out because she was face up and was not coming out on her own. He and I opted for the vacuum (well, mostly he did, I just said 'get her out!). They put my legs in stirrups and Daryl stood by my side. I had oxygen on, was crying (still, after 2hrs of pushing), and felt miserable. The next thing I knew, it felt like I was literally being tortured...the vacuum was the most painful thing I have ever felt. I believe now he was turning her while she was in the birth canal. I screamed soooo loud and begged him to stop. I looked over and poor Daryl and my sister were bawling and faces were red and mom walked into the bathroom for a few seconds because she couldn't stand it. Then, the doctor said "Ok, here we go..." and out came Miss Camryn. She opened her eyes and then we heard that precious "Wahhh". Daryl cut the cord and they took her to get her cleaned up. She was then brought to me (while I was being stitched up...ATLEAST 20 stitches due to four tears...OUCH!). She was a miracle. Daryl was still crying. It was so amazing. Words cannot even express how amazing it is when you first look at your child. :*)

We stayed in the hospital for two days and went home Wednesday, November 2 at 12:15pm. Camryn came home in the gown I wore 25 years ago, as we planned. When we walked in the door with our baby girl, it was surreal. She was beautiful, and alllll ours  <3

*Almost 38 weeks*

Well, I am sitting here, BORED as all get out, thinking I want to get up and just CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN!!! (Nesting?) Daryl is in school and I am sitting here watching TV, like I have been doing all day long. This morning, we had a 5hr power outage (I knew about it already) for the power company to try to figure out why we keep losing power randomly. So, I got up early, showered (in case I have to go to the hospital haha), and then ate breakfast and took a Tylenol PM. I laid back down and slept for a few hours to let the power be able to come back on. I got some gooooood sleepage, as did the dogs! HaHa. Anyway, here is how this past week went...


So, today is Wednesday, October 26, and I am 37weeks 5days. The past week has been somewhat eventful for me, regardless of the fact that I am on bedrest and doing a whole lot of nothing!! Last Friday night, I had some BAD back pains and woke up at midnight...then I started cramping. I did not want to wake up Daryl until I KNEW they were real contractions, so I just got up and walked around. I called my mom and talked to her for a while, drank some water, used the bathroom, and laid down. Well, I woke up four hours later, so being able to sleep through them means...NOT REAL. Darn! But that's ok. She's just not quite ready!! Saturday we went and visited mom and dad and had dinner. They are SO SO SO excited about their granddaughter's arrival! Dad got excited because he got to feel Cam have the hiccups again haha. So funny  :) We relaxed the rest of the weekend and did ALOT OF NOTHING Sunday. Great day :)

Monday I got a nice little visit from Melissa, one of my good friends, and her one month old baby girl, Addison. Melissa looks awesome! and Addi is just too frieken adorable!! Makes me super excited and anxious!!

TUESDAY was our big day...appointment day! We went in wondering if I would be sent on to the hospital....and, nope. I won't lie, I was a LITTLE bummed out. But, in reality I guess it's a good thing. My BP was much better, 132/82, and my swelling has gone down. Camryn was all over the place during my NST, and she looks great. I got checked (OUCH) and I am now 1cm dilate and 50% effaced!! WooHoo for progress! We got the offical paper that says "Scheduled induction"...so we are meeting our little Camryn on Sunday, October 30! STOKED!! I got crampy afterwards, however, but I kept thinking I wanted to go do a few errands. We finished up my mom's Christmas gift and by the time we were done at the store, I felt like I was going to drop a watermelon out of my belly. So needless to say, we left and I went home and napped!!!!!

Then here we are, back at Wednesday morning. I got up and after I showered, I was crampy. After thinking about it, I won't go into super details (no telling who reads this lol), but I am pretty positive I lost my mucous plug this morning around 0645. So, I am hoping that is a good sign!! We will see...I would LOVE to go into labor on my own and not be induced.

Annnnywho, I wanted to get this written in case I do head to the hospital before planned. So, at the next blog, I will either be heading to the hospital or posting pics of my baby girl!! See ya later!!! <3

**How far along? 37w5d down now, only 4 days left now!!

**Total weight gain/loss: +1 lbs... good news for me!! (With the rate that I was gaining in the middle, I have kept my weight gain wayyy lower than I thought it would end up being. So I am proud!! haha)

**How Big is Baby?  She wass measuring 8lbs & 38w5d at 37weeks!! Big girl!!

 

**Maternity clothes? Good Lord yes. I'm growing out of them through the belly area though. haha

**Stretch marks? <sighs>> hahaha YUP. Whatever.

**Best moment this week: Just hearing her heartbeat again and finding out that I am progressing!!

**Movement: Yupp...they're slowing down a little because she's running out of room!!

 

**Food cravings: Orange Juice <3 and peaches again.

**Nausea/vomitting? Not really...just some headaches.

**Gender: BABY GIRL...my Camryn <3

**Labor Signs: Crazy cramping and some back pains....nothing regular though.

**Belly Button in or out? It's an inny-outty now...depending on what she's doing in there!

 

**Sleep: Up every 2hours (or more) to go pee... I can't sleep for more than 2hrs on one side or it gets stiff and I hurt really bad. Also, I wake up and my fingers hurt sooo bad. I have pregnancy carpal tunnel  :(

*37 WEEKS*

Well here we are at 37 weeks... FULL TERM!!

The above picture is of me at a craft shop, shopping (very quickly, bc I get tired very easily) with Momma. I look hugeeee!!

Well, this past week was my very first full, official week out of work since I got taken out. It was ok at first, but now I am starting to get a little stir crazy. I am trying to find productive things to do that aren't hard on me. I get tired really easily and take a lot of naps, which is nice. It feels sometimes, when I am sitting on the couch just watching tv or whatever, that Camryn is trying to 'claw her way out'... it's like a grating feeling in my lower pelvis region. Strange, but I was told that it is her head just descending to get ready for birth!! So, that's fine with me then  :)

Mom went to VA Beach last weekend to visit Kristen, my sister, and I did get a little nervous about her being far away. Thankfully, nothing happened! Dad's Christmas gift came in and that is ready to go, and we are just waiting on mom's to come in now. Trying to get this stuff together before our little one's arrival!!

Well, then came the appointment on Wednesday...got some good news!! Daryl had class all day and is trying to not miss any since she will be coming so soon, so he went on and mom went with me to our appointment. We got there and my BP was 153/99, then she retook it and it was 155/105. NOT GOOD. The nurse tried to start preaching to me about what to eat and what to not eat...and I just looked at her like she was a retard. I'm thinking 'Look lady, I had this condition before pregnancy, and I eat very well. LEAVE ME ALONE'. So, I think she kind of got the message. The NST went well and Miss Camryn was very active!! We had an US too, to check her growth. She is measuring 8lbs and 38w5d!! Big girl for being only 37 weeks!! But I love chubby babies :)  Oh yeah...and she has hair!! Cannot WAIT to meet her!! ...thennnn we went and saw the doctor. She was not happy with my blood pressure again, so she decided to hold off on checking my cervix this week since there was no progress last week. Then she said the magic words to me "I think we are going to go ahead and schedule an induction for you because of these blood pressures." So, we are scheduled for induction on Sunday, October 30, 2011!! Soooo stoked!! She gave me a prescription for Fioricet, which will help with the horrible headaches I have been having lately, too (and when I say lately, I mean pretty much daily, 2-3x per day, in fact).

Well, here are the updates for the week...see ya next week...the last few days before Camryn arrives!!



**How far along? 37 down now, only 9 days left now!!

**Total weight gain/loss: -2 lbs... good news for me!!

**How Big is Baby?  She is measuring 8lbs & 38w5d!! Big girl!!

 

**Maternity clothes? Good Lord yes. I'm growing out of them through the belly area though. haha

**Stretch marks? <sighs>> It's inevitable... holler at some Mederma post-partum!

**Best moment this week: Hearing her heartbeat and finding out that we are being induced Oct 30!! <3

**Movement: Yupp...they're slowing down a little because she's running out of room!!

 

**Food cravings: Orange Juice <3 and pumpkin pie. haha

**Nausea/vomitting? Yeah nausea and headaches together  :(

**Gender: BABY GIRL...my Camryn <3

**Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks still... sometimes I think they're actually contractions, but not regular.

**Belly Button in or out? It's an inny-outty now...depending on what she's doing in there!

 

**Sleep: Up every 2hours (or more) to go pee... I can't sleep for more than 2hrs on one side or it gets stiff and I hurt really bad. Also, I wake up and my fingers hurt sooo bad. I have pregnancy carpal tunnel  :(

**Some of Camryn's Nursery**

Here are some updated pics of Camryn's nursery!! Enjoy!!

Camryn's wall in her nursery, above her crib!!

Camryn's bassinet that she'll be sleeping in for the first few months!!

This is the dress that I came home in from the hospital, 25 years ago!!

And... it is also the dress that Camryn will wear home :)

*36 weeks*

Sooo much happened this week, 36 weeks!! So few weeks left, and getting so excited!!

Well, here I am, about to run a few quick errands...trying to get a little more use out of my maternity scrub pants before I don't need them anymore!!   :)

Well, this past Thursday (I guess this kind of runs into the last post), I had a HORRIFIC headache that I just couldn't shake. I took Tylenol, put cool rags on my head, walked around...nothing helped. So, I called the nursing supervisor at midnight and called in sick to work for Friday. I felt so awful and laid around all day. I couldn't kick that headache. I rested alot over the weekend and just watched football with my hubby.

Monday I was put on call until noon, and Daryl and I put up Camryn's wall mural (you'll see it in the next post...sooo pretty!). They called me in to work at noon and I worked half the day. Tuesday we stayed home and did a lot of nothing. I worked again Wednesday and just felt really slow. I had a headache again and felt really tired, but I kept on truckin'! Then, come Thursday, here's where it gets interesting...

Thursday morning, Daryl and I got up and went on to our 36week appointment. I got there and felt fine, but when I stepped on the scale just before they hooked me up to the monitor for my NST, I actually gained 6lbs! I thought to myself, 'This cannot be good'. I didn't say anything yet, gave them my urine sample, and sat down for the monitoring. When the nurse took my blood pressure, Daryl's jaw dropped...it read 157/102. I said "That can't be right...check it again in a few minutes". She did, and it read 164/104. I knew that was bad news. The NST went great though, and Cam was super active! Once it was over, we headed over to talk to my doctor...

She came in to talk to me, and her first words were "So we're taking you out of work and putting you on bedrest, girl!" I knew it. I didn't want to go out yet, but I know it's what is best for Camryn and me. (I had trace protein in my urine, high BP, gained alot of weight, and my hands and feet/legs were swollen...also the headaches and nausea...all are signs of preeclampsia.) They checked me and NO PROGRESS...No dilation or effacement and her head is still reallllly high. UGH. I was so frustrated  :( But they then rechecked my BP and it was 128/78. Much better. So, they sent me for PIH labs and I have to do a 24hr urine before my next appt to check me for preeclampsia. Then, home I went. I called my manager and she was very understanding. So, my last day of work was October 13, and I return to work January 7...just very happy that I get to be out with my baby girl and hubby through the whole holiday season! I am so blessed!!

Other notes...I have been very crampy and just keep hoping!! I hope she holds out until full term (next week), then I am READY!! Daryl finished packing for the hospital and her carseat is ready to go in the car! We just cannot wait now :)

Here are week 36's stats...see ya next week...at FULL TERM!! :)

**How far along? 36 down now, 4 or less to go!!

**Total weight gain/loss: +6 lbs... I am showing signs of preeclampsia...ergo, bedrest. Ugh.

**How Big is Baby?  I don't know right now. We'll see next week at our 37wk US...They say ATLEAST 6lbs by now...I think she's bigger!! haha

**Maternity clothes? Good Lord yes. I'm growing out of them through the belly area though. haha

**Stretch marks? <sighs>> It's inevitable... holler at some Mederma post-partum!

**Best moment this week: Hearing her heartbeat again on the NST...that never gets old  :*)

**Movement: Yupp...all the time and I love it!! They're starting to hurt though... feels like she is trying to stretch out and well, there's just not enough room in there. So, I say, if ya come on out baby girl, you can stretch then!! hehe

**Food cravings: Just ICE COLD WATER. Again.

**Nausea/vomitting? Yeah nausea and headaches together  :(

**Gender: BABY GIRL...my Camryn <3

**Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks still... sometimes I think they're actually contractions, but not regular.

**Belly Button in or out? It's an inny-outty now...depending on what she's doing in there!

**Sleep: Up every 2hours (or more) to go pee... I can't sleep for more than 2hrs on one side or it gets stiff and I hurt really bad. Also, I wake up and my fingers hurt sooo bad. I have pregnancy carpal tunnel  :(

*35 weeks*

Ohhhh hey 35 weeks!! 5 weeks or less now!!

 

This past week was sort of a blur...went by pretty fast. I had 5 days off (Thursday through Monday), and I thoroughly enjoyed it!! Daryl and I went with mom on Sunday to MawMaw and PawPaw's to visit. It was nice, having lunch and visiting with them! I hope things get better for them. PawPaw's Alzheimer's isn't getting any better, as he had to ask my mom who I was a few times  :(  Afterwards, we went to Babies R Us and got a few things, and Mom insisted that Daryl and I need a bottle steamer for Camryn...so YET AGAIN, momma bought it for us. She's so amazing!!<3 We got home sort of late, and I was more than ready to hit the couch!!

Monday, Daryl had school and I sat at home pondering childcare options for after I go back to work. I called 2 babysitters around the area and they both had no openings, so I called the daycare Little Feats and spoke with the owner. She said they have no openings but that one will open up in January. So, as long as Daryl and I could pay first week's tuition by the end of the week, we could hold the slot. NO PROBLEM!!!  :)

Well, I worked Tuesday and Wednesday, and same 'ol same 'ol. Swollen feet, sleepy... yeah yeah.

Thursday wasur next doctor's appt. Before the appt, Daryl and I did a dry run to the hospital from the highway so we'd know how to get there. We met up with a girlfriend of mine who actually works in L&D at Virginia Baptist (where I am delivering), who is ALSO due in a few weeks and she showed us around the unit!! It's very pretty! Then we had our appt. My NST went well... I am actually having contractions every few minutes, but as long as they still don't hurt, I am good to go. Cam's HR is still great and my BP was 120/76. My doctor is so pleased with my progress, as am I!!

I got all my winter clothes out and put away the summer clothes this week, too. Feels AWESOME to do that, because this is most definitely my favorite time of year!!...and this also means that it is getting close to time to meet our little baby girl<3

Here are this week's stats...see ya at 36!!!

**How far along? 35 down now, 5 or less to go!!

**Total weight gain/loss: No weight gain this week...I actually lost a pound!

**How Big is Baby?  I don't know right now. We'll see in 2 weeks at our 37wk Ultrasound! But, she FEELS big!!

**Maternity clothes? Good Lord yes. I'm growing out of them through the belly area though. haha

**Stretch marks? <sighs>> It's inevitable.

**Best moment this week: Hearing her heartbeat again on the NST...that never gets old  :*)

**Movement: Yupp...all the time and I love it!! They're starting to hurt though. Hiccups 2x per day...when I wake up and at 5ish at night!

**Food cravings: Just ICE COLD WATER

**Nausea/vomitting? Just a little nausea.

**Gender: BABY GIRL...my Camryn <3

**Labor Signs: Hmm I don't think so yet...

**Belly Button in or out? It's an inny-outty now haha

**Sleep: Up every 2hours (or more) to go pee...roly poly Bonnie. HaHa But seriously, sleeping is sooo hard.