Ella, 2 weeks old

A few pictures of little Ella. How about these pink booties? My Nana sent a few knit items and these are the first pair that fit her tiny feet. They stay on so well! I'm in love with the booties.

A long update

Long story short, I went back in the hospital last week. I got discharged Sunday, Ella got discharged Tuesday, Thursday afternoon Ben and I went to my work to drop off my FMLA paperwork and I started having some scary symptoms. I had the worst headache of my life, one of the big symptoms I was supposed to be looking for, and shortness of breath, not as severe but reminiscent of when I got sick post partum after last pregnancy and had fluid in my lungs. I had been GAINING swelling since my discharge rather than losing it, and finally I called my doctor and asked for a stronger diuretic which didn't help at all.

So... scary symptoms, I called the doctor again and they directed me to labor and delivery. I was hoping they would listen to my lungs and say there was no fluid, and it was just an issue with my asthma or something but that's not what happened. I had a chest x-ray, and an EKG just to double check that everything was OK with my heart and the x-ray didn't show a ton of fluid in my lung (and the EKG showed everything was normal). My heart was a little enlarged from the excess fluid so I was put on IV Lasix to shed the fluid. And I did. I lost about 15 pounds in 24 hours. That's crazy! Since being home I've lost another 11 pounds of swelling. So I only have a few more pregnancy pounds to go (yeah!). I felt better the morning I woke up in the hospital, it was so easy to breathe. And every day it gets easier, and I feel better.

Ben stayed home all last week with me, which was not his original plan but Thursday morning I told him I wasn't feeling well and I thought he should stay home, and once they determined I was going back in the hospital he took off Friday.

My Mom came in Thursday night and she and Ben took both girls to the doctor for their appointments (2 year apt for Betsy, 2 day discharge for Ella). Then they all came to pick me up from Labor and Delivery! We spent the whole weekend at home and my Mom, Ben and I split the night duty for Ella. Betsy really got to know her little 'ister.

I think I underestimated a bit on how much of an adjustment going from one child to two would be. I thought bringing Betsy home was really easy once I was not longer sick, and she is such a well behaved kiddo and understands that Ella is her baby 'ister, so I just thought this would be about the same level of adjustment. One one hand, this IS only my first week out of the hospital and every day I 1. lose swelling, making it easier to get around and 2. I feel better every day. At times I feel 100% better, but when my ibuprofen wears off I remember I had a baby 12 days ago! As the bruises from the blood pressure cuffs have faded away, the tape residue from my epidurals and IVs are finally gone, Ben is back to work, I can drive and Betsy is back at daycare. And the best part is Ella and I getting to know one another.

I feel like our bonding was a bit delayed because of the time we spent apart while she was in the hospital and then I was. This down time we have now is what I wanted. The 2 am feedings, figuring out how to get a burp from her, giving her baths when she's thrown up on me over and over (and finally getting a shower 8 hours later when Ben comes home).

Betsy comes home from school between 4:30 and 5 everyday and I've been feeding Ella right before she gets home so we can have Bets/Mommy time for a while. It works nicely, Betsy gets a bath right away to wash away some of the germs, then she eats dinner, and we usually draw, and she LOVES to help with the baby. She is great at burping Ella, and she brings me diapers, and sings songs to the baby when she's fussing.

I haven't taken nearly enough pictures but here are a few from this weekend, and I promise to take some more soon!

Betsy meets Ella

Yesterday Ella was discharged from the NICU at about 3:30. We got home at 4 where we were met by Grandma, PawPaw, Betsy, Cousin William and Aunt Mary! Betsy was SO HAPPY to meet Ella. She totally 'got it' and understands that Ella is the baby that was in my stomach before I went to the hospital. She alternates between calling her Baby Allah or Abby (her baby cousin is named Abby, though that Abby is VERY blond and Ella is NOT).

Betsy loves to touch Ella's hair, her hand, and sit right next to her. It makes us a little nervous as Betsy is used to playing rough with kids at school, but this morning she was very sweet and gentle and I'm sure it's just going to take a few days for Bets to understand the protocol of what to do and what not to do around 'Baby Allah'.

More Ella pictures and updates!

Ella is doing even better today! She had high billiruben levels (which means she has jaundice) but she was put under the lights today for treatment. We were thrilled to come in and see her little arm was FREE from the IV! The IV looked so painful that Ben and I were both thrilled to see her without it. The only monitor she's still on is the heart rate monitor that all NICU babies are on. This afternoon the nurses planned to do Ella's hearing test and administer the shots she needs to get before discharge, so she is ready to leave ASAP tomorrow! We will call at 8 am and get an idea of when she can leave.

These are the only pictures we have off our camera because Ella was taken back to the NICU so quickly. I took a couple this morning under the billi lights but mostly we've been taking pictures with our iPhones because they are easier to carry into the NICU and less startling for Ella.

That's all until tomorrow, when we get to bring her home, introduce her to her room, her puppy, her house and more friends and family!

Ella's arrival

Thursday night we checked in for my induction, it only took a few minutes. By 10:10 I was hooked up and the doctor had given me medication to start the labor process. By 3 am I had progressed from 2 to 3 cm and I was fully effaced. By 5 am I had made it to 4 cm and I got my epidural. I quickly progressed to 10 cm, it took about 5 hours. All of a sudden Ella's heart rate was dropping and several doctors rushed in and determined she was probably laying on her cord. They had me turning from side to side, and roll over to my hands and knees. That was pretty amazing considering you're not supposed to feel your legs with an epidural! I still felt things, just my contractions weren't painful. The doctor's decided I could start pushing and they really encouraged me to make it quick as Ella was in some distress. I pushed for less than 10 minutes and she arrived! The last push they gave me some help via the forceps and as a result Ella was a little beat up when she came out. Ella arrived at 11:22 pm, 20 inches long and weighing 7 lbs 13 ounces.

Ella spent some time with the NICU nurses in our room (because of her distress during delivery) and they thought she was fine. We gave her the first bottle and noticed her coloring didn't look great, so they took her blood glucose levels, determined they were low and took her back to the NICU quickly. Once there they determined her blood oxygen level was not staying high enough.

We don't know a whole lot about what's wrong, they've taken many chest x-rays and we finally got the answer that there is not pneumonia in her lungs. Also her daily tests show she is not fighting an infection. Finally yesterday we got to start feeding her bottles and she has steadily increased how much she's eating. In the evening they removed a tube to her stomach that was relieving her stomach gas. Today we came in to see her at noon and were surprised to find they had taken her off the oxygen tubes, that was SO nice to see! No tubes in her face at all!

They still have her IV in and are giving her antibiotics and a very small amount of glucose. When I called a few minutes ago they told me they decreased her glucose from the IV, so she's improving even more.

It was pretty sad to leave without Ella, but getting to feed her yesterday and today and cuddle for a nice long time made me feel SO much better. I barely got to hold her at all on delivery day, maybe 5 minutes. There is hope she can come home tomorrow and it keeps me from being too bummed out about being home without her. Plus seeing Betsy and Madison made me feel a little better.

Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers and if you'll keep Ella in your prayers we are really happy to see her improving and hoping we can be together as a family of four (and a 'nauzer) very soon.

(Hopefully) LAST pregnancy update!

Last night my doctor called and told me my test results had (again!) improved. She reminded me how weird I am for getting healthier these last couple weeks when at any moment she has expected me to turn into a ball of swollen high blood pressure. I know. Bizarre! I mean, getting sick postpartum was bizzare last go round so she should have known I would be doing things backwards this time.

This means I did NOT get induced today BUT she is a little concerned about my 5'4 self giving birth naturally (my hope) to a bigger baby. SO she says there is currently a spot open Friday for induction, but since I'm not looking 'ready' for the baby to come out I'll call tomorrow night, make sure my room is still open, if it is I'll head into the hospital where there will be 'ripening of my cervix' happening before starting the real induction Friday morning. Apparently 'cervix ripening' isn't painful so they'll do it overnight so I can hopefully get some sleep, though if they take my blood pressure as often as I predict they will, I doubt I will sleep. Dr. G says she's hopefull if we start this process tomorrow night at 10 pm, that I will have the baby by Friday at 10 pm.

That's the news! My blood pressure has been really good today so I've been out running a couple errands, and picking up around the house a little bit. This morning Big Sister Betsy and I went out for a super-special only child breakfast at our favorite place (Chick Fil A i.e. Chicken). We ate Chicken Minis, we laughed, she talked about 'Cwitmas', and the twee in the corner of the restaurant, and about Sahntan coming down the chimney, and I reminded her about baby 'Cheezus' and his birthday. It was a really special time that I wanted to savor with my blabber mouthed big girl.

That's the news, please send fast and painless (haha, HAAAAAAAAAhahaha) labor vibes my way on Friday!

Pregnancy Update 38.5 weeks

I've been bed resting since Wednesday when I got home from the hospital, and taking a blood pressure medication. This morning I took Betsy to daycare and on the way home I got really dizzy and faint. My blood pressure was normal. A couple hours later I took my blood pressure again and it was high :( and I had a bad headache. I called to report in to my doctor and she had me come in to get checked out.

My mother-in-law Jane drove me to the doctor, and my blood pressure was kind of high, but came down the longer I sat there. I'm also still dilated to 2 cm. Dr. Greene ordered (another) 24 hour urine catch test, and I'll complete it tomorrow at 3 pm. I don't have to go back to the doctor Wednesday so I'm pretty sure I'm DONE with prenatal doctor appointments.

If my results for the 24 hour test are a smidge higher than my last test, then the doctor wants to induce me Wednesday. If the results are OK then she wants to induce me Friday or later (I have to be 39 weeks to be electively induced). Bed rest has helped me feel SO much better that I won't mind too much if I don't get induced Wednesday. The doctor also commented on the baby's size (again) and estimates she is seven and a half or eight pounds.

So that's the update! We'll have a plan for baby's arrival in the next day or two and my type A personality LOVES to plan!

Thanksgiving update!

Tuesday I went to the doctor and had higher BP readings in the doctor's office. She ordered a nonstress test (where they monitor my contractions and the baby's heartbeat) the baby looked good and I was having contractions ever 4 minutes. For a couple hours I was having contractions consistently, getting to 2-3 minutes apart. Ben and I decided to head to the hospital and upon checking in my contractions slowed down, but they found my blood pressure was really high. When I saw the numbers on the BP readings I was sure they wouldn't let me leave and they didn't. I spent the night in the hospital where they took my blood pressure every 15 minutes and I watched movies on the hospital network, (finally saw the Princess and the Frog!).

My contractions didn't mean much, I'm dilated to a 2 and my body is certainly getting ready for labor! I'm on a low BP medicine and I have an appointment Wednesday if I don't go into labor before then. In the mean time my doctor has put me on bed rest, I can't go back to work but I'm not too upset about it because this baby will likely be born within the next week anyways!

I am so thankful for our very supportive families, our wonderful friends, my selfless husband who is so good at knowing what to say and what to do to make me feel better, and of course my beautiful sweet girl Betsy. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

All things update

The happiest news I heard all weekend is that our nephew Hudson was discharged from the hospital on Saturday! JD says he weighed 5.3 pounds at discharge and he's an eating machine. Tiffany, JD and Hudson are all home and I think that's the best medicine anyone could give to Tiffany!

It's a short work week. I am SO glad. I work today and Wednesday, I have a doctor appointment tomorrow so I took the day off. I'm pretty sure she'll say I've still made no progress as I've barely had any contractions. That's OK! I'm practicing my patience.

Friday night both Bets and I went to bed early and slept late. Ben was hunting with a friend, and Saturday Betsy and I played around the house and decorated the Christmas tree. She is enthralled by the tree and has to say 'Hi tree!' and 'Bye tree' each time she walks past it. I've been battling a sinus infection and I was running hot and cold all night, so I was thrilled when Ben got home from hunting about 8 pm.

Sunday Ben bought the groceries, we played with Betsy, and later she went to Paw Paw and Grandma's house so Ben and I could see the new Harry Potter movie! We loved it.

So in all it was a good weekend...tree decorated, lots of rest, saw HP7, Georgia Tech won, Aggies won, and Cowboys won.

Happy Thanksgiving week everyone!

TGIF

FULL TERM! We've made it to full term! With no preeclampsia or bed rest!! I have been praying for this so much, it's hard to believe it happened. I'm 37 weeks pregnant today. From this point on when Ella arrives she will not be consider premature, she's a full term baby.

I am SO glad it's Friday. I am completely amazed I made it through this 40 hour work week, it's been pretty rough, between a sinus infection and just overall discomfort. This morning was super sweet as Madison snuggled with me for a while, then Betsy came in bed with me to snuggle for a while. I got my fill of affection this morning.

Betsy and I plan to celebrate Betsy's Aunt Mary's birthday tonight, then take it easy. Over the course of the weekend I'd like to get the tree decorated. AND at some point Ben is going to have to take me to see the new Harry Potter flick. This is my consolation for not having a baby yet!

Next week should be much more manageable for me. I only have to work Monday and Wednesday as Tuesday I have a doctor's appointment, and Thursday and Friday are holidays. And then I'll be 38 weeks pregnant! Just a week from when the doctor might induce me.

ELLA! Come out, come out wherever you are! I would much rather you decide to come on your own.

Where did that come from?

I remember when little Lauren was a baby the last word she mispronounced was breakfast. She used to call it 'breakfurs'. She also used to call chap stick 'chaplick'. Betsy has a few of these and we love them. I understand now why my mom was a little sad when little Laur grew out of her mispronunciations.

Bananas are banays.
Crackers are cackas.
Pudding is punu.
Bottle is bobble.
And last night I discovered sheet is bunkie.

Sheet= Bunkie. WHERE did that one come from?

Betsy was telling me 'Sauzer needs a bunkie! Sauzer cowld!' and finally she untucked the sheet and spread it over Madsion. She's starting to treat Maddie like her baby.

I love my big girl Betsy.

Pregnancy by the numbers- Week 37

• 30.4 pounds gained
• 7+ pounds, Ella's approximate weight currently
• 120/85 my blood pressure last night
• 4 more scheduled doctors appointments (though I could deliver early and miss half of them!)
• 23 days until my due date
• 16 days until the doctor is considering inducing me!
• 10 more work days until my possible induction
• 2 days until Ella is full term (the point at which I delivered Betsy)
  

Another Tiffany and Hudson update!

Tiffany was discharged from the hospital on Monday night and got a good night's rest in her own bed! My mother-in-law Jane is staying with JD and Tiffany to help around their condo and because Tiffany needs to be around someone constantly in case something goes wrong and she needs to go back to the hospital. It's great news that she's home, but she is taking lots of medications that make her sick. I know we all want so badly for her to feel well. I remember being sick post partum and forgetting what 'feeling good' felt like, so when it finally happened I felt like I could do anything.

Hudson is a strong little guy! He's up to 4 pounds 14 ounces and he has been alert and eating well. I think his discharge is right around the corner!




Please keep praying for Tiffany, JD and Hudson. In my ninth month of pregnancy I've been up all night tossing and turning because I have to use the bathroom, or I have to change positions and every time I wake up I think of them. Tiff, if you read anytime soon we love you, we think about you every day and we are here for anything you need!

Betsy's Second birthday party

While Betsy doesn't actually turn 2 for another three weeks, I decided to throw a little birthday party early in the chance that her sister makes an early arrival, or if I'm still pregnant I doubt I would feel up to hosting a party 40 weeks pregnant! We kept things simple, I ordered pizza and I made cupcakes, as well as a few snack foods that are kid friendly (apple slices, Gold Fish and Teddy Grahams). We just invited our local family and friends and had a nice turn out of 18 people!

The morning of the party Betsy woke up to see everything set up and ready to go. All she cared about was seeing my giant cupcake carrier full of "Cuh-Cakes". Ben decided to set up our badmitton net which turned out to be a huge success, as we had badmitton games outside and the Cowboys-Giants game inside!

Here's a few pictures from the party, we had lots of fun :)

Pregnancy update week 37!

Week 37 starts today...we're in the homestretch.

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and I was a little disappointed to hear that I haven't made much progress toward Ella's arrival. My blood pressure looks good, it's starting to go up but that is typical during the last month of pregnancy, and I have no traces of protein in my urine nor is my swelling too bad. The doctor gave me the go-ahead to keep working if I want to, as long as I lie down three times a day and I promise to come home and get off my feet. Ben has been making sure I do this for several weeks now so it's not hard to agree to these conditions!

I'm really happy to not bed rest, to save my paid leave for time with the baby.

Dr. Greene also pointed out that I'm growing a 'VERY healthy baby'. She meant she's pretty large. Most babies at this point are about 6 pounds but Ella is probably closer to 7 pounds already and if she doesn't arrive until her due date we could be looking at "a nine or ten pound baby". The doctor pointed out that with my last pregnancy I had high blood pressure which tends to cause smaller babies. Without having high blood pressure I'm growing a big girl!

We won't talk induction until I'm in my 39th week if I haven't had her by then (unless I take a turn toward developing preeclampsia).

So that's the update! We both look perfectly healthy, we're just not seeing any signs of Ella's arrival anytime soon.

Update on Tiffany, JD and Hudson

My sister-in-law Tiffany was discharged from the hospital on Monday, to return Tuesday because she was having intense chest pains. It is SUCH a good thing that when this started Tiffany got straight in the car and went to the hospital. Tiffany has an aortic dissection which can be fatal if not caught and treated immediately. This means she has a tear in her aorta, which is the largest blood vessel to the heart.

When I heard about this I googled it and freaked out about what I read. We are just SO glad Tiffany went strait to the hospital. Tiffany has been in the Intensive Care Unit since Tuesday but was finally allowed to visit Hudson in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit yesterday. The doctors decided against surgery at this time, opting instead to try to get Tiffany's blood pressure down and try to let nature do some good work and start healing the tear.

This condition presents itself most often in older men. Over half of the cases in women under the age of forty occur late in pregnancy or in the early post partum period.

So Tiffany is healing but I have so much sympathy for her as this is her second week in the hospital and there is no sign of when she's going to get to leave. It has to be frustrating, being separated from your newborn, fearing for your life, and feeling a bit helpless in all of it. The same goes for JD, Tiffany's husband. What a hard position to be in, seeing your wife in the ICU and your baby in the NICU. Ben is beside himself not knowing what to DO for JD, but right now all we can do is pray, and ask for others to pray for this family as well.

The good news about Hudson is that he is getting stronger every day. He had lost weight down to 4 pounds 1 ounce but is back over 4.5 pounds now (and that was a couple of days ago, I'm sure he has gained since then).

I know many of my blog readers do pray and I hope you will keep Tiffany, JD and Hudson in your prayers. My prayers have been for healing for Tiffany, strength for JD in this tough time. I pray for patience and wisdom because feeling so helpless and now knowing what tomorrow will bring can just drive someone mad. I pray for continued improvements for Hudson. And I pray that Tiffany and JD will feel some comfort knowing how much other people are thinking about, praying about them right now. I pray for guidance for their extended families to know what we can do to comfort and support them.

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Pregnancy countdown/ by the numbers...

•6 pounds, Ella's approximate weight currently
•128/85 my blood pressure last night (it's getting a little higher but not high enough to be concerned)
•5 more scheduled doctors appointments (weekly until my due date)
•32 days until my due date
•11 days until Ella is full term
•4 days until I'm 36 weeks pregnant. This is the point I was put on bed rest with Betsy and has been my goal this pregnancy, to work at least up to this point.

I got a couple of things accomplished this weekend.

- I filled in Betsy's birthday party invitations. It's in a week. I purposely did this at the last minute so if I was having signs of pre-labor or indications I may be put on bed rest I could cancel. But all signs are go that this weekend I'll be ready to party! I also made goody bags for the other little guys who will be attending the party!

- Betsy has finally hit a growth spurt (though she hasn't gained a pound in 4 months!) and I cleaned the 18 month clothes out of her closet. They filled a huge bin, Betsy has been in 18 month clothing for about 10 months. Her closet looked so empty and forlorn that I made a trip to Target for some essentials. She needed more play clothes (and that cute argyle sweater I couldn't pass up).

- AND my hospital bag is PACKED! I was delighted to find some nightgowns on clearance at Wal-mart that met the criteria for what I wanted in the hospital... short sleeved so that the blood pressure cuff wouldn't be in the way. On clearance so I don't mind if they get destroyed. Comfortable and modest.

Last week I bought lots of travel toiletries for Ben and myself so that I don't have to pack those at the last minute to go to the hospital. I also packed our twin blow up mattress, air pump, sheets and a blanket for Ben. I have the diaper bag packed and a little present for Betsy from Ella, for when the big sister comes to meet little sister in the hospital.

All we need to grab at the last minute is my camera, and our various chargers (cell phones, camera, Kindle).

That's all for my pregnancy update!

Meeting Hudson

Here are a few pictures from meeting Hudson last night!

Dear Ella,

Let me tell you a little bit about your family. We run on 'Bralley time'. Typically we show up places early. Our family motto is 'If you're on time you're late. If you're early you're on time. If you're really early, you're a Bralley.' Cousin Hudson is certainly a Bralley. He came really early. Betsy was on time. She was three weeks early, but late enough that she was ready to party. I can't wait to meet you!

Our hospital bag is packed. We're ready to go. Please stay put for two more weeks and get a little chubbier, and better at breathing and sucking. Then you are free to make your appearance. Sooner rather than later I hope, as I feel you are running out of space in there.

XOXO,

Your Mama

Welcome James Hudson!

Our nephew is here!! James Hudson Bralley was arrived at 6:06 pm weighing 4 pounds 6 ounces. He is NOT having respiratory issues and we are so glad to hear that! Lung development is important in the last few weeks of pregnancy and as Hudson arrived 5 weeks early he's doing great! Hudson will need to spend some time in the NICU gaining weight before he can come home. Please keep his development in your prayers as I know it'll be tough for Tiffany and JD to go home without him for a while. I hope to have some more pictures tomorrow after we go visit Hudson and his parents tonight!