A Josephine Story...FINALLY!

It's about time, huh? We are finally settling in to life with a newborn and almost 4 year old. You wouldn't believe all you forget about newborns in almost 4 years! :o) Enough of this junk, away we go...

If I had to rate Delnor on a scale from 1-10 with 10 being the best, I would give them a 57! The care that we all received (including Scott, Tanner and visitors) was beyond my wildest expectations. The medical staff was amazing and our room (and bathroom that I made EVERYONE go see) were just as gorgeous, if not more, than on the tour.

We had to arrive at a bright and early 5:30 a.m. on Monday, July 21, 2008. Due to our hour drive to the hospital we had to be up at 4:00 a.m. and out the door by 4:30 a.m. I didn't think either of us would sleep a wink the night before but we surprisingly both slept blissfully.

I don't remember what we talked about during our drive that morning, and honstely I don't even remember most of our drive. I do remember Mike & Mike being on satellite radio and that I was tired but excited.

We arrived at Delnor and were greeted with big smiles and a "WELCOME!" as we were led into a room that would begin as my "prep" room and end as my "recovery" room. Thankfully this time it only took 3 sticks to get my IV in and the little over 2 hour wait (We had to wait for another bag of saline the pharmacy was late delivering.) went by in a flash. Before I knew it the nurse was telling Scott he needed to change into his scrubs (Poo-poo to the paper gown St. Alexius provided when Tanner was born!) and Dr. Newman and the anesthesiologist were in talking with us. (I didn't have the same anesthesiologist that I met with earlier but this one was as equally lovely!)

The panic then set in over the spinal I was about to receive and I started bawling. Scott asked what was wrong and I told him that I was naive when Tanner was born but I knew what to expect this time and I was scared. After much reassurance from Scott and a nurse telling me it was time to go I snapped out of it.

In many episodes of "A Baby Story" you see a dramatic long walk down a sterile hallway to the Operating Room. The mom-to-be looks back and gives a small wave to her hubby before going in. That didn't happen. My trip to the O.R. was about 3 steps as it was the room next door! SNORT!

The room was freezing and I commented on the lack of music. Disco music was playing when Tanner was born. I was introduced to everyone in the room and my best friend immediately became the nurse anesthetist. She was 67, had no interest in retiring, and was the most amazing person! She walked me through my spinal that I was so deathly afraid of and made sure to concentrate only on me as if I was the most important person on the planet. My spinal, by the way, was OUTSTANDING! I didn't feel a thing while they were administering it.

Unfortunately nausea from the spinal kicked in but fortunately the anesthesiologist was well prepared and all over it. I guess the lack of color in my face and gallons of sweat I was producing gave me away. So much for the makeup I put on that morning! My nurse anesthetist spent a good 15 minutes having to de-fog my glasses over and over. The cold of the O.R. and my nauseated sweating weren't a good combo for my specs. :o)

After it was established that I was all numbed up, Dr. Newman and Dr. Postlewaite (LOVE THEM!) came in and I mentioned that I felt "very exposed." They laughed and confirmed that indeed I was, "very exposed." They asked for someone to get Scott and we were on our way!

Again, the nurse anesthetist talked us through the entire c-section and one of my favorite moments was my doctors announcing that Josephine had tons of hair to which I responded, "She better! My heartburn has been HELL!" The next thing I knew she was out, crying and everyone was saying how big and perfect she was. I immediately asked if she really was a girl which made everyone laugh again. I got a quick glance of her perfection and a small kiss before they took her off to be weighed, cleaned and all the other good stuff they do. I couldn't believe that once again, we were blessed with another gorgeous little one!

Scott went off to be with Josie while I was being put back together. When he came back and announced that she was 9 pounds 2 ounces I was flabbergasted! Scott and I had bet earlier on her weight. I guessed 8½ pounds and he guessed over 9. He obviously won.

As sad as I was to see Cathy, the nurse anesthetist leave me, my recovery nurse was just as lovely and the sponge bath and toothbrushing were much welcomed after sweating what felt like buckets.

I was then transferred to my room (I don't remember this or a conversation that I supposedly had with Scott about buying someone a present. HA!) that would be my home away from home until we were discharged on Thursday. As much as I missed all of the attention and fabulous amenities, it was nice for us girls to go home with the boys.

We cannot thank everyone who visited, sent flowers, gifts and food enough! My intention was to take a picture with each visitor holding Josie, yeah...that obviously didn't happen! We had non-stop guests and enjoyed every second! We especially enjoyed the cookie bouquet and chocolate covered strawberries from Edible Arrangements! Oh, and how could I forget the cupcakes and Cold Stone ice cream?!?! It is a miracle that I lost any weight! It had to have been all of the outstanding hospital ice that flushed all of the calories I consumed right out of me. I still crave that dang ice! It was made to perfection!

We have all had to adjust but Josie has been outstanding! She goes to bed at 9:00 p.m., wakes at 2:30 a.m. and sleeps until 7:30 a.m. Yes, you read that correctly, she wakes only ONCE! (Knocking on wood so I don't jinx us by putting that bit of info in writing.) She only cries when she needs her diaper changed or to be fed and she has zero interest in a binky. In short, she is completely opposite of Tanner when he was her age. :o) I joke and say that God is showing me mercy with this one because of Tanner's colic. :o)

While there are not nearly enough hours in the day or hands on my body now that Scott has gone back to work, the past 3 weeks have flown by! Josie had her 1 week appointment where she weighed in at a whopping 9 pounds 8 ounces (When we left the hospital she was 8 pounds 13 ounces.) and was showing fantastic head control and strength. We also swear she has been smiling since Day 1. Yes, she is already on her way to Harvard! :o)

Tanner is adjusting much better than I anticipated. He has his "I love her!" days and his "Take her back to Delnor!" days. Thankfully he likes her on more days than not and is a good helper. If all continues to go this well, Scott will actually get the 3rd child he so desperately wants in 2010. But don't tell him that!

I can't believe this part of our "Journey to Josephine" is over. It feels like it took so long to get here and it was over in the blink of an eye.

143 posts to read and still no birth story!

Yeah, I know I promised a birth story and you still haven't seen it. I swear she actually was born! :o)

Since you have been waiting so long I will make it good.

Things are so much different at our house with an infant and almost 4 year old. We have our GREAT days and our not-so-great days but no complaints will be heard from me.

Once Josie's birth story is up I invite you to continue our journey with Booger Jake and Bootsie Marie (I hope they don't go to school telling people that is their names!) at our family blog. Bookmark it! www.tannerandjosie.blogspot.com.

A Josie Story

I promise I will get her birth story done this week. I snuck down to the basement to write it up when she started to cry and I was summonsed upstairs as Scott was getting Tanner down for a nap.

I have a baby in one arm and am typing with the other as you read, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

The story will (should) be up tonight!

To Alison, Alison, Farah & Mel...

You girls rock my world!!! We got home from my first day out of the house to find a big box with the words "Baby Shower In A Box" on it.

Words cannot express how much I appreciate your support and friendship throughout this journey to Josie. You girls have been such a lifeline and I love each and every one of you.

The gifts were so thoughtful and I cannot wait to take pics of Josie in the cute clothes!!!

(Alison M., thank you so much for being such a wonderful friend and putting this together for us.)

Lather, Rinse, Repeat...

That is the mode we are in at our house right now. I wouldn't ask for anything else though!

I will get to Josie's birth story this week. Getting to our computer in the basement hasn't been the easiest after my c-section and technically, I am not even supposed to be going up and down stairs until after tomorrow. Please let our lap top work upstairs soon!

New pictures are up, go and enjoy!

1st Professiomal Pics

Boy have things changed in almost 4 years! Tanner has the typical "hospital pic", but Princess Josie was treated to her first professional photo session today. Apparently many hospitals are are going more "couture" with their photos and Delnor is one of them!

http://www.bellababyphotography.com/

click on "website"
click on "client"
enter password:jt1636

Here is another non-professional pic courtesy of Great-Aunt Paula.

A sneaky-peek to tide y'all over...

Eviction Papers have been Served! :o)

It is official, I had my last appointment which was with Anesthesiology, am wearing my armband, and am on for Monday at 7:30 a.m.

This was a fairly odd appointment to begin with but ended on a high note.

I had to have a MRSA swab, which is basically two HUGE q-tips that you have to stick up one nostral and give them a whirl. Lovely vision, eh? When I asked how far up my nostral they needed to go the tech said until your eyes water. GOOD TIMES! Then the vampire in her came out and she drew my blood in case a blood tranfusion was needed. I know why she doesn't work in the lab...holy hurting! Then she proceeded to yap my ear off about her kids while waiting for the Anestheseologist to come in. Thankfully he saved the day with his lovely demeaner and cutie-cuteness because this was all going downhill...FAST!

I have decided to have another spinal instead of an epidural, because I am a big baby and the size of the epidural needle scared the bejesus out of me. I am a wuss, get over it.

So I am tagged with my wristband (which I am trying to figure out how I will explain to the mani/pedi tech tomorrow) and ready to GO!

As Scott reminded me this morning, only 72 more hours or as I said to him, only 3 more uncomfortable sleeping nights. :o)

Still here...

Unless I can will my body into labor between now and Sunday, Josie will officially be born on Monday, July 21, 2008.

Yesterday, the big guns (Scotty) joined me at my last appointment to plead my (our) case to Dr. Newman to try to get him to deliver me early...we got a big, fat, still pregnant, NOPE!

I tried telling Dr. Newman that our marriage depended on it and he just laughed. I am glad one of the three of us was laughing! ;o) Poor Scotty's throat was jumped down as he said to me, "I know how you are feeling" the other night when I was in sheer misery from my aching crotch, sides and the inability to breathe. I told him he will never get to know this pain and I wish he could be me for one day, as I burst into tears. We are both lucky we are so tolerant of each other. :o)

Some girlfriends felt bad for me and treated me to The Cheesecake Factory today for a lunchy-lunch although I couldn't really enjoy it because my right side was in such agony. I am sure the people sitting next to us thought I was in labor because I had to keep getting up and rubbing my side. What a lovely sight! :o(

Pray for me, think of me, rub your lucky rabbit's foot, rub a Buddah Belly (just make sure it isn't mine!). I need anything I can get to make it through these last 3½ days.

The final countdown.

This is our last week as a family of 3. I caught myself a little off guard yesterday when I told Tanner that in a week he will be a big brother. He retorted with, “I want to be a big brother NOW!” Amen to that! It is hard to believe this is almost over though. Don’t tell Scott but this could be the last time that I am ever pregnant.

I am experiencing end of the road morning sickness. Ahhhh, the memories! Oh yeah, close your eyes if you are easily offended or move along quickly, and my woobies (Thanks Mel and Alison for the word that always cracks me up.) are achy and leaking. My sister, Scott and I are keeping our fingers crossed for the ability to breastfeed this time around. I am not holding my breath but bigger miracles have occurred in this world.

This is Tanner’s last weekend as an only child so we are trying to plan fun things for all of us to do. On the top of his list is the new Chuck E. Cheese not too far from our house. This time I won’t be required to climb up into the tubes and slide down the slide with him. :o)

One more doctor’s appointment and a meeting with anesthesia left. YIKES!

Hello Old Friend and Calculations

Once again, due to my swelling and a slightly elevated blood pressure I win the wonderful prize of a 24 hour urine catch and more blood work! A round of applause, please! I think this is round 3. If anything comes back abnormal, Josie will be here earlier than expected but we won’t know anything until next week.

I am not disappointed in the least with this as every day is getting harder and harder on my body. Although, I look back and realize that it was a journey just getting pregnant again so why should the end be any easier? And why the heck should I be complaining?

I was asked the other day if I was excited that I was having a girl. I told them “Yes, but she could have been a boy, a monkey or a volleyball and I would be equally excited because there was a point in time where I didn’t know if I would be here again” and ended the conversation there. I love the crazy looks I get when I do that.

I cannot deny that I am over the moon about having a girl this time. We will have an even team at our house. Daddy, Tanner and Roeni on the boy’s side and Momma, Josie and Ruthie on the girl’s side. :o) Every day I think to myself, would I have gotten the girl I wanted so badly if I would have gotten pregnant when I wanted to? Just something I will probably ponder the rest of my life!

As for the calculations I mentioned in my title:

1 almost 38 week pregnant woman + 1 NASCAR event in Joliet + 1 run to try to avoid a HORRIFIC storm that brewing that we eventually got caught in because we couldn’t find our car + 1 tent in a parking lot that we were seeking shelter under that had to be held down due to the wind by one Daddy holding a 40 pound upset and cold toddler and one VERY pregnant Momma trying not to cry in front of her toddler or drown her $600 camera + 1 aching crotch and sides of the almost 38 week pregnant woman + 1 urinary accident in said pregnant woman’s pants because she drank way too many liquids, had to run like hell, and was being ambushed by cold rain DOES NOT EQUAL going into labor early.

I thought for sure SOMETHING would happen after all of that! I can laugh now but it was traumatic for both Tanner and I at the time, thankfully Daddy held us all together. :o)

Jill Tice Book of World Records

As of 10:40 a.m. yesterday, this is the longest I have been pregnant. :o) Tanner was born at exactly 37 weeks at 10:39 a.m. Being up and uncomfortable at 4:30 a.m. yesterday morning and not sleeping well again last night makes me wish I would have matched or beat that time.

I would like to think I have done fairly well this pregnancy but it is now taking its toll on me. Since I have technically never been in labor, I have zero clue if I am contracting or just plain VERY uncomfortable. I guess that is a question for the doctor on Wednesday.

I hate to think I am trying to wish this over especially since it took us so long to even get here (and we still have most of our list to finish before Josie arrives) but I am officially ready to sleep on my belly again and lay on my back and not need to pass out! Yep, it happened again yesterday while I was on the ultrasound table. There is some big fancy name for what is happening but all I remember from her description is that my aorta was being cut off (or something to that nature) and that was all I needed to know!

I did pack most of my hospital bag. I still have a couple of items to throw in there but nothing that Scott couldn’t go buy if I needed him to. Heck, he had to go buy my whole bag last time!

This week is going to consist of washing 0-3 month baby clothes, bibs, socks, crib bedding, etc… and my mom and I plan on making some cute burp clothes out of cloth diapers. Wait until you see the bedding she made for our bassinet and moses basket! ADORABLE!

Are we there yet???

Alright, I am at that point. I have been cruising along until recently. I actually broke down the other night when I just couldn’t get comfortable no matter what I did. My sides were killing me, I couldn't breathe, my calf still hurt from the Charlie Horse I woke up with over the weekend, and my crotch hurts so badly that I yelp whenever I get up from sitting or laying down. (My friend Alison is probably laughing at my whining right now! Remember, this will be you sooner than you think!)

Scott, trying to be helpful, reminded me that it is all for the little girl that I wanted so badly. I could have skipped the pep-talk. :o)

2 weeks, 3 days, and 16½ hours…but who is counting?

Whoppers are not just at BK anymore!

I am carrying one in my belly! No, I didn’t make a BK run nor is it on my list of things that I am craving, heck, could I even get a whole Whopper to pass through my lap band? Let’s get focused here…

Josie is weighing in at a hefty 6 pounds 15 ounces and measuring a week and a half ahead as of today’s growth scan. No wonder I am super uncomfortable. If you remember waaaaaaaaay back when Tanner was born he was 37 weeks and 6 pounds 15 ounces on the day of his birth. Based on this calculation we are expecting her to weigh any where from 8½-9 pounds on the 21st. Good thing we didn’t get very many newborn sized clothes!

Other than that fun news, I remembered today that I was officially on bed rest by now when I was pregnant with Tanner, now if I can just make it past 37 weeks! :o)

3 weeks and 5 more appointments left…

Ice, Ice, Baby!

Do you have that song in your head now? :o)

My latest and greatest craving. ICE! I cannot get enough ice water, the emphasis on “ice.” Remember earlier in my pregnancy when I told you I was having to choke it down with a lemon? How things have changed!

I was on a mission to find the perfect ice and I believe it has been found. Sam’s Club Fountain Drink ice. Please do not email me or comment about fecal matter being found in ice machines, I don’t need to hear it. :o) Sam’s Club has the most perfect round little nuggets of ice. Perfection in my book. Rumor has it the Pilot gas station in town offers the same kind, I need to investigate as I could go there every day to satisfy my craving verses a bi-weekly trip to Sam’s.

I am down to 3 BPP appointments and 3 OB appointments. 3 weeks! Guess what? Nothing has been taken off of our list that needs to be done, it if Friday, and we have a full weekend of family events. I promised Scott I would at least get my hospital bag packed and set aside just in case anything were to happen.

Are you still singing, “Ice, Ice, Baby?”

YAHTZEE!

I really should have bought a lottery ticket yesterday; the moons were all in aligning in my world.

First off, I have to give a big shout out to two friends of mine who recently found out that they are expecting their first child and I am pretty sure their due dates are only a day apart! Yea to Alison and Mel! Congratulations, girls! I am overjoyed for both of you!!!

Yesterday’s BPP appointment started out on a sour note. They were running behind and I had things to do and people to see and was in no “8 month pregnant” mood to be waiting. They finally got me in and strapped to the monitors when my lovely ultrasound tech explained that they were testing a new ultrasound machine that they were thinking of purchasing and she wanted to know if it was OK if they tried it out on me. I was already 40 minutes behind so I told her that would be fine. Little did I know that decision would TOTALLY make up for them running so far behind in my book.

Before I go on to the good stuff I have to tell you that I almost passed out on the table. Literally, people. I was lying on my back and they were looking at Josie when I started getting really sweaty, nauseated and blurry vision. I was freaking out internally trying to decide if I would say anything (DUH on my part!) when I finally said, “Ummmm, excuse me, but I totally feel like I am going to pass out!” They quickly turned me on my left side and I immediately felt better. I was telling them how embarrassed I was and they said it happens all the time at this stage of pregnancy and I could only be embarrassed if I didn’t say anything and was passed out on the floor. :o)

Now that that little story is out of the way, they continued on showing the tech all of the new and updated features. One of the features was that the machine could make a CD of the images and video that it saved. The tech said she had never done that for someone before and the consultant said we could try it out now. The thought of the images on a CD alone made me giddy until she then turned on the 4D ultrasound!!!! HOLY MOLEY PEOPLE! There was Josie right in my face in 4D! We were all in awe and if I wouldn’t have already been embarrassed by my “almost fainting” incident I would have bawled in front of them.

Josie is ALL PROKUP from the images! Once again, will my dream be right? Remember the story of Tanner at 16 and me holding Josie and thinking she looked like me? She has the chubbiest cheeks, biggest lips and a “Prokup Nose.” I have included the images below. I also got the added bonus of a video where she is moving her little mouth. Good Lord, I still feel like I won a million dollars!

As I calmed down from the experience I was waiting for the doctor to come in and talk to me I decided to check our home voicemail to see if we had a message saying Tanner’s glasses were in, they were, Bonus #2. On our voicemail was a message from my regular doctor’s office saying they needed to talk to me but it wasn’t anything urgent or bad. You have to love how they told me it wasn’t anything bad. They obviously know me too well! :o) I called them back and they were letting me know that my c-section is officially scheduled for July 21st at 7:30 a.m. The first on the books! Bonus #3!

Could the news get any better at this point? Well, yes it could! Then I talked to my mom because my sister was hosting dinner that night as my nephews are home from Rhode Island and I asked her what she was making, she told me Fort’s (My Brother-In-Law who loves me enough to bring me the Gondola a couple of weeks ago.) Spaghetti. BONUS #4! You may wonder why this is Bonus #4. I literally just told Scott how I was craving Fort’s spaghetti and wondered if he would make me a batch. Fort is officially my favorite Brother-In-Law, I cannot deny it!

Saying Monday was a “good day” is an understatement! I think karma is making up for the car accident and all of the headaches that have followed. :o) I still have a big cheesy grin on my face!

What’s the story, Wishbone? (Props if you know what show that song belongs to.)

My crotch is killing me. There, I finally said it. KILLING ME! I told Scott I feel like a wishbone being pulled apart. Also, the reason why I have to pee as soon as I stand up is that Josie’s big ol’ melon (I have ultrasound confirmation that she does, indeed, have a big ol’ melon like her Daddy and brother!) is messing with my bladder. :o)

But on a positive note, I am hoping our luck is on its way back to “good.” All signs are pointing that way.

So this has been our last week: car accident, (Lemme tell ya, dealing with insurance has caused me more than one headache in this past week!), possibility of gall bladder issues and the on-set of pre-eclampsia again, then our beautiful gazebo that Daddy worked so hard on to have ready for our Father's Day cook-out taking flight and busting before we could even use it, Aunt Lori and Uncle Jeff getting a flat tire outside our house and Grammie Patsy missing our last step and falling on the concrete. The last 3 incidents were ALL on Father’s Day. I told Scotty that we were jinxed and everyone needs to run away, FAST!

Well, things are finally looking up. Knock on wood. Grammie was fine, we can order parts for the gazebo and fix it, insurance seems to be getting easier to deal with even though we won’t take the car in to be fixed until after the baby is born. Heck, I won’t be going anywhere so it is perfect timing! I am not sure about the tire but I am going to assume that is fine too.

The best news of all though is THANKFULLY, there is nothing wrong with my gall bladder that they could see via my blood work and all of my pre-eclampsia tests came back normal. Can you believe something associated with me is “normal?” They are going to attribute the swelling to it being so hot and humid and the fact that I am pretty darn far along in this pregnancy. I may actually make it past 37 weeks this time!

You REALLY know you are consuming way too many Tums when…

…Your 3½ year old son reminds you to “Bring your Tums!” as you are walking out the door.

QUADRUPLE SNORT! The kid cracks me up!

A Perfect 10!

Something is finally going right again at ol’ Casa de Tice! Although, I shouldn’t speak too soon because I do not have the results back from my blood work or my 24 hour urine catch so let’s all knock on wood at this moment. Sure I could call to see if they are in but I have another appointment on Thursday and well, I am just being plain chicken.

As much as I was dreading (and annoyed by) the BPP appointments it was so relaxing and I got an ultrasound so you will hear no complaints from me for the next 4 appointments. Plus, I got the bonus of having the most lovely lady perform the tests and she explained EVERYTHING while it was going on. No more waving the wand all over my belly a million times, looking in the same spot, and causing my blood pressure to go through the roof due to thinking something is wrong.

I had no clue what to expect so when I was taken to a room with a big old comfy recliner and asked to sit down and put my feet up I was quite surprised. I was hooked up to two monitors, one that measured Josie’s heartbeat and the other her movement and asked to sit there for 20-30 minutes. I could have easily fallen asleep and may just do that next time. Just when I thought the appointment was over my technician said, “Now it is time for the fun part, the ultrasound!” I was practically skipping down the hall!

The ultrasound was a test and the baby was rated on a scale. The highest and best you could get was a 10 and our little girl did just that. They measured the amniotic fluid around her, her heartbeat and her breathing. All looked fabulous and I was sent on my way.

Easy Peasy! Once again, boring = EXCELLENT! I needed another boring appointment after my last OB appointment.

On another good note, tonight is Daddy’s last class for 8 whole weeks! YEA! We have sooooooo much to do! Once again, I was in a state of panic last night due to the fact that if my tests do not come out well Josie could be here in as little as 3 weeks. Scott promised that we would make a list of what I needed for the hospital this week and go get it to make me feel better and that he can get diapers and bottles while I am in the hospital if it comes down to that.

Our list looks like this as we have done a few things:

1. Move bookshelf and CD/movie racks out of old guest room/new Tanner and Josie room and into upstairs living room or basement living room.

2. Get storage units and install in upstairs playroom so it is no longer a disaster area.

3. Set up crib with bedding. (Although this can wait because she will sleep in the bassinet for the first couple of months.)

4. Haul changing table upstairs.

5. Make sure swing and Papasan are working.

6. Wash clothes, blankets etc.

7. Touch up paint in kid’s room.

8. Make sure carrier is OK and install bases in cars.

9. Buy bottles, diapers and formula.

10. BREATHE! :o)

OK, so I guess we don’t have as much as I was thinking but Scott doesn’t like me to panic so I can get my way faster if I do. :o)

Comments?

I have been asked to turn on the "comments"portion of this blog...so comment away! But know that I can censor you. :o)