{BABY} Madelyn Leigh Shotton

She made it!  On day 284 of the pregnancy at 11:53 PM on St. Patricks's Day - Madelyn Leigh Shotton made her debut!

On Monday we went to the doctor for an appointment at 3:30 pm and they told us that we would be checking in at midnight to the hospital to begin the process....what?  We were a little surprised but we were ready to get the show on the road!

In order to get things moving, the doctor started a process that led to me having contractions at home around 7:30 pm and by the time we left for the hospital at 11:30 pm I really thought I was going to have the baby ASAP.

Once at the hospital I was admitted and given an epidural.  That was my saving grace - I have never been in so much pain in my life - I was contracting every two minutes and could not see straight.  After the epidural I was just fine!  However, nothing was happening, a lot of contractions but the baby was not making any progress.   So, after over 20 hours of waiting on the baby to move down (which she never did) our doctor decided it was time for a C-Section (we had also broken my water, tried stretching, etc).  This was at 10:30 PM... my doctor arrived at 11:00 PM and realizing it was an hour until the end of St. Patrick's Day wanted us and the OR to deliver a St Patty's Day baby.  Believe  me when I say this, if our doctor wants something done - it happens!

After a LARGE dose of more epidural medicine for me the process began at 11:30 PM and by 11:53 PM we had a baby!  Our doctor's first words were "We have a chunk!" which was funny because that's what we had begun to call her too!

Truly, even though the process was long and drawn out, I was not in a lot of pain (with the exception of the hours between 7:30 PM to 1:00 AM on Monday/Tuesday).   Thanks to modern medicine, the baby and I were fine and everything went very smoothly.   Now we have been staying at the "hotel" otherwise known as Scottsdale Healthcare Shea since Monday night and we will be leaving on Saturday, if all goes to plan!  The staff here is amazing and we have been well taken care of!

Now begins the next chapter and we are already loving every minute of it!

{BABY} Week 40 plus 1 day

I really never thought we would go this far!  We are one day past 40 weeks and that is 281 days for anyone counting (BTW - I am)....

The baby website site say she is the size of a Jack Fruit - personally I have never seen a Jack Fruit so I have no idea what that means.

{week 40 plus 1 day} 

Since we are playing the waiting game and I CANNOT sit around the house or clean it again, we have been visiting Oregano's, Humble Pie, Costco (136 diapers for $15 - Yep!), etc.  We hit up a great sale thanks to Jess Fitz and found a bag of clothes for me for $15 for after baby - that is if she ever decides to vacate the premises! 

She has been kicking and rolling around like crazy and on the scans is a very happy little girl - like a houseguest who doesn't leave!  Our next appointment is Monday afternoon and hopefully we will be in a better place to get this party started.  We will keep everyone posted! 

Thanks to everyone for the calls and texts, we are so excited to meet her and excited for everyone else to meet her too! 

Until Monday....

{FOOD} BBQ Sauce Favors

Still no baby... however the appointments at the hospital went really well and I am contracting but nothing serious yet.  We have another appointment on Thursday with Dr O and hopefully start the process on Friday.

Since we are waiting I wanted to show the BBQ Sauce we made as favors for the baby shower!

This is our special BBQ Sauce we make all of the time and love it!

We have adapted it from this recipe:

It's so good we are actually having it tonight on our ribs!

{BABY} Week 39...

Well, it's week 39 plus 1 day... and no baby in sight.  Nothing, nada, zip at the doctor (Friday) so she is having me go in to the hospital on Monday (3.9) to get a NST (non-stress test) and some gels to help move this process along.  We are shooting for my due date which is Friday, March 13th.  Yep, Friday the 13th!

How big is baby: At our last ultrasound at 37 weeks she was 7 pounds and is growing an ounce a day…. Supposedly from here on out my belly shouldn't get much bigger. We will see about that. It gets bigger by the hour if you ask me. Oh, and at my last appointment everything was measuring on time again.

Other sites say she is the size of a watermelon... 

Maternity clothes: I swear I will miss my maternity jeans.  They have become like a second skin and I am not sure what I will do without them.

Sleep: Ehh. Not so great, I am so congested and my own snoring wakes me up and I've been waking up one or two times a night to use the bathroom.

Best moment of the week: Everything is done and ready for the baby.  Everything. 

Food cravings: None, I am so excited though to eat like a normal person again without thinking about what’s on my “do not eat” list. 

However, I am not sure if this is a craving but I LOVE the crushed ice at Circle K and make Brad go twice a day for a free refill.  The workers must think he is a freak!!!

Food aversions: None, as evidenced by my weight gain.

Symptoms: Sore SWOLLEN feet.  Stiff, tingling and swollen fingers. 

Labor Signs: None.  Last week I thought it was time, but no it was dehydration.  I now carry around a huge plastic jug of water and ice at all times.

What I'm looking forward to: Having this baby!!! 

What I miss: Sleeping on my back and stomach.  And being able to use my hands properly – the stiffness is insane.

Next appt: Monday, Tuesday and Friday.  I see the doctor’s office staff so often I know all about their lives.  Brad can now read NST results and translate the majority of the info before some of the staff.  Can we put this on our resumes?

NST Test

Baby items purchased: Have purchased almost everything off our registry, aside from the breast pump (the hospital provides it). My baby to-do list is complete.  We picked a pediatrician but now since we have time we might interview another one since he is from Indiana.  Brad also finalized putting together the swing from Cindy and Mike... a couple days, redos and assortment of batteries later, we are good to go! It's like a spaceship for babies! 

Other: We got Reggie groomed to remove a lot of his extra fur.  He looks very pretty! 

Since, the baby is not coming this weekend we decided to have Jon over for Friday and Saturday night... 

So, what date do you think she will make her debut?  I am hoping for Friday night.  Brad wants March 11th.