Tuesday, October 4, 2011

I've learned so much...

This entire pregnancy, labor and delivery and post partum period has taught me so very much as a person, mother and nurse.

  • I used to have patients come into triage and need medication because they were nauseated, yet they were eating or sitting up talking away or acting pleasant. Well with my hyperemesis I have learned that yes you can be nauseated and still be pleasant, after you live with it long enough you learn to tough it out and deal with it.
  • I learned that when someone says they are going to bottle feed because "they couldn't breast feed their first child... BELIEVE them...
  • People truly can have a "low supply"
  • Babys can have trouble latching even months after birth
  • No matter how bad a patient may WANT to breast feed it just may not be possible

(All this and only 2 months in, I'm sure I will learn soooo much more that will help me be a better nurse to my patients)

One more thing...

I completely forgot something very important about my birth story!!!

Something I had feared while being pregnant was going into labor and having curly hair!! YUP of all the things to worry about geez!! Well on Sunday night I took my shower and went to bed with my hair in a wet bun! (side note Incidentally I woke up that morning and told my husband "I just had the best most restful night sleep of my entire pregnancy"...)

Well when my water broke my hair was curly... AHHHHHHH

So my sister Bethany came to triage with her straightener in hand and straightened my hair so I would have straight hair by delivery.

My mom had gone home and gotten my makeup bag and tweezers and I was able to shape my eyebrows and put a little make up on so I didn't look so wretched!!!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

My Birth Story Part 2


A cesarean section scheduled for 5pm!! It had been my life long dream to have an unmedicated vaginal birth.It had been my dream to have a wonderful pregnancy, enjoying the little kicks, hiccups, and indigestion that accompanied 40 weeks of pregnancy. Instead as you know I've had a very very hard pregnancy. It was nothing that I had ever imagined.

I once took a birthing class from a wonderful nurse that I worked with for years and she told a story of planning a trip to France, you research it, you plan for it for a year etc. When the plain lands they come on the loud speaker and say welcome to China. She would go on to say, it doesn't matter what you planned for essentially it's not what you planned but your still on vacation. (she told the story much more eloquently than that.

The point is, none of this is what I had planned for, but the end result was a healthy baby.

He was born at 5:17pm, he came out crying and breathing great. He was cleaned up by the NICU team and brought over to me to do skin to skin contact (that was very important to me) They then took him to the NICU to observe him. He was on room air the entire time. They started an IV for antibiotics since I was GBS unknown. He spent 2 nights in the NICU and was released to my room.

He spent 1 night with Cory and I and then was admitted to Kerr's Cottage to have billi lights. He then was discharged home with me on that Friday.

My birth story part 1


On the morning of Monday, August 1, 2011 my water broke around 8am. I was shocked and out of sorts, I started barking commands at my parents, get me a towel, get me a maxi pad, get me sterile gloves... I called triage and talked to Kelly the charge nurse and she told me my Doctor was on for the day, what a relief!!

My little guy was breech so all I could think about was my baby having a prolapsed cord (the cord comes into the vagina and eventually cuts off life to the baby) Thank goodness my parents were so calm and understanding. Eventually my mom and I made it to the hospital where I waddled in with soaked towels between my legs. I started taking my clothes off immediately with the door wide open so I could be put on the monitor to check to make sure he was ok, I completely was out of sorts!!

Kelly put me on the monitor and the soothing sound of my sweet baby's heartbeat filled the triage room. From that point on I was calm and relaxed. Kim took over and got me triaged, My doctor ordered a "vaginal pooling" they took some of my water and tested it to see if his lungs were mature.If they were mature then we would deliver him that day, if not we would wait.

In the mean time Danielle and Bethany got there. I received a dose of betamethasone (a shot of steroids to mature his lungs) Contractions started as well. His little bum was sitting in my pelvis so with each contraction I was very uncomfortable with back pressure.

I was moved into a labor room to wait. My older sister Mindy showed up by then. She had stopped and picked me up a toothbrush, deodorant, and some preemie clothes. I hadn't packed a bag yet because I was according to the doctors only 33 weeks and 5 days. According to my last menstrual cycle I was 34 weeks 2 days. Either way he was going to be born premature.

As luck would have it my friend, the nurse I was hoping to deliver me Sharon was on that day and didn't have an assignment yet. She got my IV started and began antibiotics since I hadn't been GBS tested yet. She was great because she called St.Josephs continuously for me to check to see if his lung results were back yet.

The anesthesiologist I was hoping for was on that day as well as the scrub tech I had wanted. It seemed as if everyone was in place for the delivery of my sweet boy! 

Cory showed up around 10am, he had just gotten to work when my water broke. He works in Gila Bend, so he turned around and headed back to town. He was typical Cory, cool, calm and collected. He was making calls and keeping all our family in Oklahoma updated.

3:30 rolled around and the results were in, his lungs WERE mature, we were given the green light for a cesarean section, we decided it would be at 5pm.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

34 weeks!!

34 weeks!! Hooray!!

Today we drove to Tucson, because my cousin bought me a 3D/4D ultrasound package. Of course my little breech baby was facing my back so we couldn't get very good pictures... Here are the 3 that turned out.




I have gestational hypertension, still not being diagnosed as pre eclampsia, however this past week I have been symptomatic, spots before my eyes, a large weight gain in a week, high blood pressures and swelling. My 24 hour urine from a few weeks ago came back at 255 the cut off for my doctor is 300. So we will see if it turns into pre eclampsia or not.

I think I already blogged that I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, which completely explains why this kiddo is sooooo big already!! His last measurements were 4lbs 3 ounces and that was at 31 weeks.As I stated above he is breech, more transverse then breech, but either way that head is not in my pelvis. 

My hyperemesis gravidum, is somewhat controlled, I have more good days then bad, but spend A LOT of time on bedrest because if I'm up and moving I get nauseated and drive heave or vomit, motion completely sets it off!!

All in all we are nearing the end, and we will have this big sweet baby in our arms before we know it, and the past 9 months will have all been worth it!!!

Friday, June 17, 2011

27 weeks

Just a little over  27 weeks.... I go in for weekly visit to the doctor. Thank God I have such a great group I see. My blood pressure was high on my visit this week, my labs were normal, now we are waiting for my 24 hour urine results. We are monitoring pressures at home.... I used to be a 110/60 type of gal, well I have been looking at 160-170/90's... Crazy scary! I lay here and think of every scenario possible with blood pressure problems... MY greatest concern is delivering him early, because I am already on short term disability, if he comes early, I will have to return to work within 6 weeks, and I can't bear the thought of leaving my baby in the NICU, and or not being able to take time off work when he is finally released!!


So then I get the call yesterday from my dear doctor, she was calling to inform me I failed my 1 hour glucose test! So we have now set me up on home health to monitor my sugars and modify my diet and we will go from there.


So yup that's this pregnancy in a nut shell, Zofran pump, 4 medications 3 times a day to keep food down, IV home fluids, blood sugar monitoring and now blood pressure monitoring.... 


In my wildest dreams I never would have guessed this could all happen to one person... I will not complain though, I will endure anything I have to in order to keep this little baby safe inside my body, 13 more weeks is nothing, we've made it this far!!! 


Please continue to pray for my sweet baby Lane!!! Thank you :) 

Saturday, May 28, 2011

25 Weeks!

What 25 weeks looks like!!


Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. His weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but he's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As he does, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more and more like a newborn. He's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.


We are now 25 weeks. I have been placed off of work for the time being. I am back on my Zofran pump as well as IV fluids at home as needed. We had the fluids for 5 days straight running last weekend. It was a pain in the butt to lug around my IV pole, but wow did I feel better with the fluids, it really made a difference in how I felt!!


We are anxiously awaiting our little mans arrival!! September will be here before we know it!!!



Thursday, April 28, 2011

20.4 weeks!!

We are halfway there HoOrAy!!!!  Here is my little man at 19 weeks for his anatomy scan!
How precious is this baby profile?
 Look at these big boy feet!!

And here is what I look like at 20 weeks!! My boy is a growing machine inside my uterus!! It's wild all the changes that take place and how quickly they happen, I swear it seems as though I woke up and there was my belly!! LOL
I am starting to ween off my Zofran pump, and other meds!! Hooray for that! I have real cravings now, and this baby gets a kick out of super spicy and super sweet things!! He will move all over after I have eaten those things!! My husband has been awesome, he runs out to buy me cake and shaved ice for me, even at 9pm!! 

Things have been going so well that I am already talking about baby number 2!! LOL However Mr. Oklahoma isn't so sure about that!! :) It's just been such an amazing experience now to feel this little guy growing and moving inside of me, it is indescribable!!

Friday, April 15, 2011

18 & 6 weeks

My sweet little one, you are 18.6 weeks today and I have been feeling good for 12 whole days now, I bet it seems silly only 12 days but they have been a miraculous 12 days!! I have finally been able to eat normal and drink all the water I want without getting sick!!

This week we have our anatomy scan and I can't wait to see you again!! I should be able to feel you by now but because of my anterior placenta I can't feel you yet. Which is a bummer because I can't wait to have the reassurance that your there and doing well by feeling you!

Since you are just shy of 19 weeks I am going to post the 19 week update.. I hope you know how very very much you are loved already.. My heart has never felt love like this before, my intense need to protect you and grow you big and strong. 21 more weeks my sweet sweet boy and I will hold you in my arms!!

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! His brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that he may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to him, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.


Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. His arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of his body now. His kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on his scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.


This is what an Heirlooom Tomato is :)


Friday, April 8, 2011

I borrowed this from one of my BabyCenter Moms

Dear Friends and Family,

1. The appropriate response to a couple telling you they are having a baby is ‘Congratulations!’ with enthusiasm. Any other response makes you a jerk.


2. Through the wonders of science, we now know that babies are made ONLY by the mother and father – not grandparents. Unless the baby is in your uterus or you are the man that helped put it there, you may not ever use the phrase ‘my baby’.

3. On the same note, unless you made the baby as defined in 2, the pregnancy, birth, and raising of the child are not about you. You do not have input. No one wants to hear your opinion unless they ask for it…

4. The body of a pregnant woman should be treated the same as any other body. You would not randomly touch someone’s stomach if they were not pregnant, nor would you inquire into the condition of their uterus, cervix, or how they plan to use their breasts. Pregnancy does not remove all traces of privacy from a woman.

5. Likewise, no woman wants to hear comments on her weight…ever. A pregnant woman does not find it flattering that you think she is about is pop, must be having twins, looks swollen or has gained weight in her face. Telling her she looks too small only makes her worry that she is somehow starving her baby. Making such comments invite her to critique your physical appearance and you may not act offended. The only acceptable comment on appearance is ‘You look fabulous!’.

6. By the time we are 20-30 years old, most of us have picked up on the fact that the summer is hot. We are hot every summer when we are not pregnant. We don’t need you to point out that we will be miserably hot before the baby comes. Nor do we need to know how badly you will feel for us because we will be pregnant during the summer and how glad you are that YOU will not be pregnant this coming summer. (This one is my favorite, as an AZ native I know how hot AZ gets in the summer, why do you need to point out I'm going to have a hot summer??????)

7. There is a reason that tickets to Labor & Delivery are not yet sold on Ticketmaster. Childbirth is actually not a public event. It may sound crazy, but some women really do not relish the idea of their mother, MIL, or a host of other family members seeing their bare butt and genitals. Also, some people simply feel like the birth of their child is a private and emotional moment to be shared only by the parents. You weren’t invited to be there when the baby was created, you probably won’t be invited to be there when it comes out either.

8. Like everything else in life, unless you receive an invitation, you are NOT invited. This includes doctor appointments, ultrasounds, labor, delivery, the hospital, and the parent’s home. You do not decide if you will be there for the birth or if you will move in with the new parents to ‘help out’. If your assistance is desired, rest assured that you will be asked for it.

9. If you are asked to help after the birth, this means you should clean up the house, help with cooking meals, and generally stay out of the way. Holding the baby more than the parents, interfering with breastfeeding and sleeping schedules, and making a woman who is still leaking fluid from multiple locations lift a finger in housework is not helping.

10. The only people entitled to time with the baby are the parents. Whether they choose to have you at the hospital for the birth or ask for you to wait three weeks to visit, appreciate that you are being given the privilege of seeing their child. Complaining or showing disappointment only encourages the parents to include you less.

Sincerely,

All the Pregnant Women/New Parents in the World

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Baby Lane Fun Facts!!

Congratulations!
Your Due Date Is Saturday, September 10, 2011

Your conception date was most likely Saturday, December 18, 2010
You are in Week 17 of your pregnancy
Your Third Trimester will begin 6/11/2011 
117 days down, 163 to go!

Zodiac SignVirgo
Half Birthday: March 10
Birthstone: Sapphire
Birth Flower: Aster or Morning Glory
This time next year your baby will be 29 Weeks Old!!
Your baby will start kindergarten in 2017, be old enough to drive a car in 2027, finish high school in 2030, and will graduate from college with the class of 2034, give or take a year. Can you imagine?



Oh and here are his first pairs of shoes that his daddy bought him!!



Sunday, March 27, 2011

Meet Baby Lane!!




Here is our BOY!!! Baby Lane Elias Collyar!! Elias is his middle name, it's not part of his last name. Lane is the first BOY born into the Elias family!! We have a household of all women, sadly the Elias name will never be carried as a last name, so of course it was fitting to have Lanes middle name be Elias!

My family is over the moon about us having a BOY, and of course Mr. Oklahoma is too, he is so excited, that day I found out he said "It made my day finding out it's a BOY" Obviously we would have been happy with a girl as well, but this just makes it so much fun because in our family we don't know the first thing about BOYS!!

What we do know how to do is shop! Lane has over 32 outfits from my mom and dad, sisters and close friends!! This BOY is going to be well dressed, and of course we already have our share of ASU and OU items!!!

I am 16 weeks now and the nausea and vomitting let up for about a week and a half, and now it is back again. I can't wait until this part of the pregnancy is over! I am grateful for my zofran pump, it does help to keep the vomitting down to a minimum!! However it's cumbersome to lug this pump attached to your body everywhere, so I won't be sad when I'm healthy and I can mail the pump back to the company.

In 2 more weeks we have another US for growth and full anatomy!! I can't wait to see our BOY again. Oh, and he looks JUST like Mr. Oklahoma already, LLLLOOOOONNNNNNGGGGG skinny legs, and arms!! LOL

Friday, March 11, 2011

Monday, March 7, 2011

11 and 4


It is indescribable to see how the baby grows week to week!! Our baby is getting so big, you can see it's defined lips and nose!! This was our nuchal translucency ultra sound! I had horrible nightmares the night before, I am really beginning to believe I know too much from a medical standpoint for my own good!
However the tech was great and reassured me right away that the intestines were all sealed inside his/her belly, the spinal cord was nicely closed, and the nuchal fold only measured .8!! In my nightmare it measured 3.4!!!

I was feeling good for about 4 days, then the morning sickness started up with a vengeance!! I am now on Reglan, Phenergan, Scolpamine patches, Steroids and getting a Zofran pump today!!!

I can't wait until I am feeling 100% again!! I'm so grateful for my group of doctor's well really one in particular, she has been so patient with me and doesn't make me feel like a crazed labor nurse!!!

On another note, we are headed to court next week for our final custody decision.....

Saturday, February 19, 2011

10 weeks and some change


Well here is our little "dave matthews" we aren't sure if it's a boy or girl but we call the baby dave matthews, mostly because my husband hates it LOL We are roughly 10 weeks 4 days in this picture. Although we are doing dating this week because we are unsure. In this picture it looks like there are little nubs for hands and legs but really the kiddo has llloooonnnggg legs and arms like it's daddy, the baby was kicking and waving, and would push off the uterus it was amazing to see!! Without thinking I drank about 20 ounces of apple juice before my appointment in hopes I could pee at the doctors visit, well that kiddo was a maniac!! It looked a titch more then 10 weeks but we'll see...

I'm down to only throwing up about 3-4 times a day which is a major improvement. Mostly I just throw up bile, oh and sounds, smells and talk of grossness makes me sick LOL..

For the first time in 5 years as a labor and delivery nurse, I threw up during a delivery LOL Don't worry I had enough time to excuse myself from the patients room.

I'm contemplating doing a 3D at 15 weeks for a sneak peak gender as well as so we can get video footage to send to his mom so she can watch our kiddo grow!!

Everyday I am amazed that this little life is growing inside of me! I didn't realize you could love something so much in such a brief period of time, without even meeting them yet!!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

7wks 3 days

Well our little sweet pea, I am not able to keep much of anything down at all. My diet consists of sips of Gatorade or Sprite and macaroni and cheese. Before I was pregnant I can honestly say I haven't had macaroni and cheese in well over a year, I used to think of it as a processed, powdery mess! Now, boy do I crave it. I also eat bananas non stop that is another thing I can keep down!!

The other morning we woke up with a scare of some bleeding, I didn't want to call the doctor because I kept thinking, I'm a High Risk Labor Nurse, I should know better..... I kept thinking I know I would tell the patient it was fine. However I finally called, we went in to the office and we got to see you again. Your precious little sac has almost tripled in size, I couldn't believe in a week how big you are. And you looked great, so we were sent home with reassurance that you were a-ok!

It is still so wild to think there is a teeny tiny baby growing inside of me... I used to not believe it, however now with all the sickness and unable to button my pants I believe it all right! I can't want, 33 more weeks, it seems so surreal!!

We are all so excited and love you so much already!!!


Oklahoma and I go round and round on names, I LOVE traditional names,Abigail, Clare, Marie, Elizabeth, Emma, Janie etc. He hates them, this from the man who named his kids "different names" I would love Abigail Clare and we call her Abbie, or for a little boy Grayson, and we can call him Gray. We will see, what we end up with, we have a few months before we have to make it official!! I love the names Maddison, Bailey and Bella however the older I got with no kids, I decided to name my pets those names LOL so, so much for that!!

Oklahoma and I are going on a honeymoon in 2 weeks to Las Vegas, he has never been and I am so excited about showing him around, there is so much sight seeing to do, I hope I am feeling wonderful so I am able to enjoy our trip and the buffets LOL!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Our Sweet Pea



Yesterday we had our first ultrasound, we were able to see our little sweet peas heart beat and hear it... It was music to our ears!!

It is still so surreal, I can't even wrap my head around the fact there is a baby growing inside of me!!! I have been battling horrible morning/afternoon/night sickness... I have tried seabands, zofran, eating crackers before I get out of bed you name it... I would love any suggestions, I'm willing to try anything!! :) Thanks 

5wks 4 days

Wed. 01/12/2011 7pm


Today when the alarm went off, I rushed to get our oldest in the shower and then back to my bathroom to take a test. Oklahoma was still asleep, as soon as I peed, the blue positive sign lit up, there was no denying it... At first i had a moment of what on earth, no way, especially because I didn't think it would happen so quick.

I called my bestie, she didn't answer. I raised downstairs and called my mom. She was ecstatic!! The kids got off to school and I waited for Oklahoma to wake up. I didn't want to wake him up because I knew he'd be groggy and his reaction wouldn't be what I wanted LOL... I sent a picture to my bestie of the test and she called immediately, she was so very excited! Then he finally came down stairs and I told him "We're pregnant" he said, what, and just looked at me, and I said, yes I took a test today, we are pregnant!! He was excited too!!!

What a very surreal feeling... I don't think it's sunk in all the way yet.

I can't post this post yet until later on down the road...

**This was written on the 12th and posted today, 8 days later

Monday, January 3, 2011

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Collyar

I'm back...

Yes, I admit I have been gone for a long time.. I was busy with life happening.. To recap my last 8 months, I met the love of my life, I got engaged, I moved to Oklahoma, I got a job in Arizona, we decided to pack up and move to Arizona, a week before the wedding we got emergency custody of his 3 kids, we drove all 5 of us, in my car and a uhaul to Arizona. We moved back into my old house, we got married, and now here we are.....

I'm not sure where to begin, I suppose I will tell you about my new additions.

Miss C. is 11, she is a feisty, dare devil, sports playing tomboy. She reminds me of myself at her age.. There were times I forgot I was a girl....

Miss K is 9, she is my dainty little princess with legs up to the throat and hair down to her bum! She is a people pleaser, she reminds me most of my sister Miss D. (the one I've lived with forever)

Mr. W is 5, and he is a boys boy that's for sure, I just adore this little man, and he adores me. I quickly became "mom" to him and he has such a way of winning me over...

I'll let you in on a little secret.... On the 4th of July I was in Oklahoma visiting, and we stopped at a fireworks stand to buy some fireworks, I quickly dialed my mom on the phone and in a panic said "I don't  know the first thing about boys!! He farts and burps and laugh and is dirty and refuses to take baths, I can't do this boy thing!" I was raised in a house of all females (with the exception of my dad) and this boy thing was VERY new to me... My mom gave me some great advice and within a matter of days, that little boy had won my heart open.

Now I am like putty in Mr. W's hands, all he has to do is look at me with his big brown eyes and call me mom and I just melt....