4 Months

Happy Baby waiting for lunch

Ally is now 4 months old and is as cute and as sweet and she can be. I took her to the doctor today and she had 5 immunizations and is doing well. She weighs 15 pounds (90%), is 25.5" (90%) and her head circumference is 17 1/4 (95%). Eczema is the only issue we are dealing with now, Ally's entire body is covered with rashes so the doctor prescribed a steroid ointment. Her next appt is for her 6 month check up.

We started rice and oatmeal cereal a few weeks ago and have started fruits now (first, apple sauce, then bananas). The girl knows how to eat & loves her baby food so far. Ally's not rolling over yet, but does like to sit up (and try to sit up on her own). She laughs and "coo's" all the time now-she's a very happy baby. She sleeps from 9-6 most nights (amazing). Now I'm just waiting for her to say momma (although, she'll probably say dadda or Gage first). :o)

God has blessed us!


4 Month Check-up

Easter

1st Build-a-bear

Easter



Bananas!

3 Months

Ally is 3 months old now and is doing great. She's getting so big! Today my mom made her laugh, her first laugh, at the warehouse; it was adorable. I then picked up my phone and recorded her doing it again...

She sleeps through the night for the most part now; it's so nice. She coos and "talks" more often which is adorable. This weekend we are starting her on baby cereal. She stays hungry all day so I think she is ready for it.

Ally's Aunt Shannon B. found out she is having a girl! Now Ally will have a buddy & someone to give her clothes to :) She's outgrowing everything so quickly. As soon as things settle down around here (yeah right), I will start making some things for baby B who is due in July. Here are 2 dresses I made for Ally over the last couple of weeks:

2 1/2 Months

I haven't posted in a few weeks so I thought I would now. My plan was to post something at least every month of her first year but life is busy with 3 kids.Here's a few first's:

1st Real Bath

1st Doctor's Visit

1st Christmas

1st Sunday at the new NCBC 01-27-13

Christmas as a Fam of 5

1 Month Old

2 Months Old

So much has happened during the last 2 months. Ally is still as healthy as she can be. She did develop some ezcema and craddle cap (just like Gage & Cady did) but Aquaphor & Selsun Blue are helping tremendously. Danny & I started putting her in her crib in her room once she turned 1 month old. This was a big deal for me, as Gage and Cady slept with us for way too long when they were little (like 4-5 years). Sleeping in her own room actually has helped her become a better sleeper during the night-who knew!? Until recently, her schedule was up at 12:30, then 2:30 or 3, then 4:30 or 5 and then she was up for the day. Now, its up at 12:30 or 1 OR 3:30 or 4 and then up for the day around 5 or 6. Not too bad. I'll take it!

The terrible drooling started this week (don't know if she's teething or just being like big sis was as a baby). Ally's made it through most of the winter without getting sick (yay!). She did have an upset stomach the other day, but no fever or colds or anything like that. Cady on the other hand has had a runny nose and cough since Ally was born. Gage has not been sick at all, which is great because he's my big helper. He loves to hold Ally.

Ally's last pediatric appointment was around 7 weeks. She had 4 injections and one liquid (taken by mouth) immunization. She did great, there were some tears but she was fine by the time we left the doctor's office. Her next appt is supposed to be around 4 months & there will be more immunizations. Hopefully I'll have a post between now and then.

Another first is coming up... a trip to Chuck E. Cheese for Cady's 7th birthday! Oh vey!

2 Weeks Old

Allyson is 2 weeks old now. She is doing great. We've had a busy/scary week. Saturday night I was taken to the hospital (they should know me by name & have a room reserved for me by now). I had to have an emergency D&C (dilation and curettage). It was not fun. While the doctor was trying to avoid having to do the D&C, I was in so much pain they gave me four doses of morphine and it didn't help at all. After seeing that there were just too many clots they decided to send me to the OR for the procedure. My blood was too thin so I couldn't have an epidural so they had to put me under with general anesthesia. The procedure only took about 30 minutes but I was out of it until Monday morning. My eyes were a little swollen and I felt like I had not slept for days. I am fine now and am hoping that was the last of the hospital I will see. Danny has been a life-saver. He has taken care of the kids while I was in the hospital (and while I am at home too & he's taking care of me too).

Allyson's next pediatric appointment is Monday. Part of her umbilical cord came off today (or in the middle of the night, I didn't discover it until this morning). She eats like crazy so I am curious to see how much weight, if any, she has gained. She only woke up once last night, it was wonderful sleeping for more than a couple of hours at a time.

Allyson visiting me in the hospital Sunday afternoon.

1 Week Old

Baby Allyson is here! She was born November 30, at 7:46 PM. She weighed 7 lbs 15.2 oz and was 19 3/4" long. She's beautiful and healthy!

We were supposed to be admitted to the hospital that Friday morning at 8 AM but sat in the waiting room until about 10:30 and then were admitted. I was given pitocin to induce labor around 1 or 1:30, my water broke around 5, and then I was given the epidural around 5:30. Once I was ready, it only took 2 or 3 contractions & then Allyson was born. There were no complications during delivery; I couldn't have asked for a smoother labor (I had some pain of course, but no probs). Allyson has no health problems. Mommy is fine too. I am back on coumadin (no more injections!) :)

We've been spending this first week together at home. It has been wonderful. Allyson hasn't had any problems feeding or sleeping. She really is a good baby. God has blessed us! We are looking forward to what God has planned for our family and this beautiful baby girl.

37 Weeks

Yesterday was 37 weeks (we're full term now). Last Friday (9th) I was admitted to the hospital to begin the process of switching from Lovenox to Heparin. I was there until Tuesday night (longest 5 days of my life)! No problems! Baby Allyson was monitored the entire time and she is doing great. A couple of weeks ago, my fluid measured a little on the high side so they've been measuring it each week to make sure everything's fine. Every time since then, each ultrasound has shown normal fluid. Thursday, we saw the doctor for our regular appt and my blood work came back showing my PTT (from blood thinner) was 31 (it should be between 70-125). They upped my dose of Heparin a little (from .85 ml to 1) and will check my blood again Monday to make sure amounts are therapeutic (where they should be). My 30th birthday was Thursday too. What an exciting week it has been. I've had several Braxton Hick's contractions and the pressure on my hips and lower stomach is so much that it hurts for me to lift my legs (walking, getting in and out of the car are so fun now). I do waddle now :) Thankfully, the kids are out of school all next week for Thanksgiving so my walking around and driving should be minimal, giving me plenty of time to rest. It hasn't been scheduled, but the nurse said I should be induced around November 30th (right at 39 weeks). It's almost time!

36 Weeks

We had our 36 week check up today. My blood sugar levels were good so no changes there. Allyson has a good strong heart beat. The doctor said last week's ultrasound showed above-normal fluid levels so I have to have an ultrasound each week to keep an eye on it. Today's ultrasound was supposed to show at least 3 movements and Allyson "practice breathing" for at least 15 seconds. She moved plenty but did not breath so I had to have a non-stress test for 20 minutes to make sure she is ok. After 4 or 5 contractions that were 6 minutes apart, the doctor said Allyson passed the test. She had no problems during the contractions and her heart rate elevated as it should during them. We set up our appt for next week (my 30th burfday). Tomorrow I am supposed to be admitted to the hospital to switch over to Heparin but the nurse said that they are unusually full and may not have a room for me. I have to call before we leave in the morning to make sure they will admit me. The suspense!