The Many Faces of Miss Ava

I can't believe how much my life has changed since Ava has arrived. It's funny how mommy mode just kicks into gear naturally. I'm not saying I'm some super mom or even claim to be doing a good job, but it feels like I've always been making bottles, getting up two or three times in the night, changing diapers, and doing endless loads of laundry.

It's definitely been fun watching Noah with her. He talks so sweet to her and she gives him big big smiles when she recognizes his voice. He calls her his princess. I've been calling her my little monkey. I wonder which name will stick with her.

One For The Books

Yummy!

Our little family (minus our furbaby)

Yesterday was my 26th birthday. Noah's mom took me shopping for the day and we had plans for my family to come over for a birthday dinner. It was pretty tough leaving Ava for the first time with daddy but Noah did great. She was on the bilibed the night before and I was hoping that was the last night. On the way back from shopping I got the best birthday news, Ava's bilirubin levels were low enough so she could discontinue the photo-therapy! I was so excited because I could go home and enjoy her again.

My mom came over and she made low country boil hmmmm... and pot stickers (doesn't really go with low country, but they sure were delicious!). I prepared chocolate covered strawberries and Noah's mom made me chocolate cake (which I have been craving ever since I was on bedrest). While we were all preparing our stuff in the kitchen, Noah walks in the room with an Edible Arrangement!!! I was so excited. Noah's sister and her family sent it to me for my birthday. I have always wanted one of those and it was a sweet surprise!

The food was awesome and the company wasn't half bad either. What better way to spend your birthday than with family. It was my first birthday as a mom and my favorite present was my sweet baby girl. I still can't believe she's already a week old. I really have to savor every moment because by the looks of things time is going to fly by!

Ava is such a great baby. She's my little monkey :)

This birthday was super special. One for the books.

Ava will be a week old tomorrow. Life at home with her has been awesome. It's been such a big change but I think we are gradually getting used to it. The first three nights went smoothly, better than I was expecting. I thought I would be dead tired and hear alot of crying. However, Ava has been an angel baby. I'm sure it's too soon to say that because I've been assured my nights won't always be like that. I'll have my fingers crossed anyways.



On Monday, Noah and I took Ava to her first pediatrician appointment to check her bilirubin levels. When we left the hospital last Friday her levels were good but we started to notice a yellow tint to her skin a few days after coming home. I thought she might be jaundiced ( a condition common in newborns because their livers are too immature to break up bilirubin and causes skin discoloration) and it was only confirmed Monday afternoon. Treatment consists of the baby having to lay under special blue lights that will help break up the excess bilirubin. The nurse has instructed us to keep her under there as much as possible only taking her out for feedings and diaper changes. It breaks my heart because I want to hold her, kiss her, just enjoy her. I thought she would be really fussy not being swaddled and because she would be cold, but surprisingly she seems really relaxed under those lights. The nurse came to the house this morning to check on her and to take some blood to send to the lab. She called me earlier tonight and said Ava's levels were still elevated and I needed to continue the photo therapy. I hate it. I hope tonight will be her last night doing this. But she does look cute, like she's relaxing in a tanning bed, doesn't she??

We Survived!

We left the hospital yesterday and embarked on our first night at home with the baby. I'm so happy Noah's mom is here for two weeks. She definitely eased my anxiety.

The weather was perfect for our trip home. Ava didn't know what to think of the car ride. There were moments I thought she was going to wail and then she would settle down again.

We took it easy last night and headed to bed around 9:00. I didn't know what to expect of our first night, but it went so well. Since she's been born, I've tried to stay on top of her feeding schedules. So far it's worked out perfectly. She didn't even really cry last night except when I changed her diaper. She got up to eat and poop and then she went right back to sleep. I was so happy she let Noah and I sleep as long as we did. I feel pretty rested and I hope we have many nights like last night.

Cruzan Family minus Paxxers

My little bunny in her car seat

Best. Day. Ever.

Our beautiful, perfect daughter was born at 10:30 PM, weighing 6 lbs., 13 oz., and 18 1/2 inches on St. Patrick's Day 2010 (3/17/2010). It has been a pretty busy day and half with visitors coming in and out to celebrate Ava Madelyn's arrival so I haven't been able to update my post.

I am officially a mommy! So far it has been amazing and a feeling I can't even describe or ever thought I could feel. I cannot stop staring at my little glow worm. I've only had a couple hours of sleep in the past two days but I think I am running on mommy adrenaline and pure elation.

We were admitted to the hospital around 10:30 in the morning and the doctor said we would have her by 8 o'clock. He broke my water around 2:30pm to try and speed things up and eventually was given some pitocin. I was 9 cm dilated by 8:30 pm and it was time to push before long.

I am happy to say I didn't feel any pain throughout the 12 hours of labor because of this wonderful thing called the epidural. I swear those who choose not to get it are crazy. It did make me completely numb but it was worth it not to feel the pain that I have seen women endure on all the TLC shows I had been watching while i was on bedrest.

The minute Ava came out I was instantly overcome with emotion. I couldn't even speak, it was just the most wonderful feeling knowing she was finally here! I just started crying. I wanted to say something but I couldn't even get anything out. She was amazing after she was out and swaddled. She was just so curious, looking around stary eyed at her new world.

She's been a perfect baby so far and has only cried a few times when she gets unswaddled or briefly when we change her diaper. I'm hoping this behavior follows us home tomorrow.

Here's a couple of pictures of our new addition to the Cruzan Family.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Today I will not be wearing my green beads or heading downtown in the wee hours of the morning for a good parade spot. I won't be drinking beer or people watch all day and night long. Instead I may be having a baby!!! Noah and I went into our bizillionth doctor's appt and I was totally expecting to be sent home disappointed again, but was pleasantly surprised when he was talking about our options. Option 1) do nothing and wait until Ava decides to come, Option 2) Do nothing still but schedule an induction date on my birthday next week (definitely didn't want that, I want her and I to both have our own special day), and Option 3) strip or massage the membranes and induce labor (meaning I would be in labor within 3-4 hours). Noah and I discussed the options and decided on Option 3. What a great day to have a birthday and we were both already so anxious with all the back and forth feedback, plus I was not comfortable anymore and couldn't see me lasting another two weeks miserable. So now I'm in the hospital and hoping we'll have ourselves a baby today! I'm excited, nervous, scared, anxious, and elated all in one.

Hopefully my next post will be as a new mommy! Wish us luck!

No Baby Yet

Since Thursday nothing new has changed. I haven't felt anything consistent enough to rush off to the hospital just yet. I really wish that she would arrive today though. Two years ago my grandpa passed away today and what better way to be connected to him then to share this day with him. He was the most gentle soul and had the biggest heart. I was closest with him than with any other of my grand parents so today I think of him. I miss him so much and wish that he was here to meet his great grand daughter.

Today is also a great day to have a baby because it is also my sister and brother-in-law's 11th wedding anniversary! It's crazy to think she's only 30 and they already have 11 years under their belt. They have two beautiful children from it and I hope they have many many more anniversaries to celebrate!

Noah and I went to dinner last night. It was sooo nice to get out of the house even for just an hour. We didn't want to push it just in case Ava decided to come into the world. I was kind of scared my water might break in the middle of dinner. That would not have been very appetizing. But dinner went off without a hitch.

I feel okay right now. The doctor told me it's more common for women to go into labor around dinner time. I'm not going to have high expectations because I think it's looking closer to me making it to Monday and being induced. And who knows if he'll actually induce me Monday or make plans for another day in the week. We'll see I guess.

Patience is running thin. I just want to meet her!

37 weeks

I have officially crossed over from pre-term to full term! Yay me! Well Ava must have had second thoughts about showing herself to the world because we made our appointment today. I have been feeling some contractions so I was hoping labor was progressing. I am now 4 cm dilated but the doctor said he didn't want to admit me to the hospital just yet. So now I really have to pay attention to my body because having a home birth does not appeal to me. So it could literally be any minute now, but I'm not holding my breath because I've been told that for a month now. We have an appointment on Monday and if I make it to that appointment the doctor will talk to us about induction. So the waiting game continues.

I'm really happy to have made it to 37 weeks though. It's a relief to know she is stronger and was able to gain some weight. Now I just to see her and hold her in my arms! So, dear Ava, you have my permission and your daddy's permission to enter the world so we may spoil and love you for the rest of our lives.

Any Day Now

We had a doctor's appointment this morning and the doctor took me off the procardia and terbutaline so it could be any day now! I am 3 cm and 50% effaced. We have another appointment on Thursday in the case I'm not in the hospital already. We are getting close people! Exciting!

Lesson Learned

This week marks three weeks of being on bedrest. All anyone can tell me is to "hang in there" and "enjoy the rest while you can." I know everyone's intentions mean well and they are trying to keep me in positive spirits, but it's been really hard for me. I mean don't get me wrong. I know it is important for the baby to stay put and I have enjoyed sleeping in and getting in afternoon naps, but I have never stayed off my feet and inside my house / in the hospital for this long. I have been thankful to have Noah working from home this past week. At least I have someone to talk to. I think I'm most depressed when the weather is like it was today, beautiful. There was no cloud in sight and the temperature was perfect.

I think Noah felt really sorry for me today so he finally agreed to taking me to Wal-Mart after I begged him over and over again to take me anywhere. So for the first time in three weeks I got into an outfit that was not my pjs and we made our way to wally world. We rode with the windows down and I soaked in the sun. We were in Wal-Mart for probably twenty minutes just picking up something for dinner and I sure felt every minute of those twenty minutes. I was not used to walking for that long and boy could I feel the pressure. It felt like the heaviest bowling ball between my legs. Ouch! So I guess I learned my lesson. I've been on the couch since and paying for that twenty minutes of freedom.

On a different note we received another gift from the New Baby Welcome Wagon. We got a couple of pacifiers and a medicine dispenser. Maybe my next package will reveal who this mystery person is.

The Waiting Game

Our doctor's appointment went well. Ava looks to be doing well. I will be 36 weeks on Thursday but the doctor wants me to continue to take the meds through the weekend. This could mean the baby wouldn't be born until next week. Well that is if the meds continue to do it's job. So far so good. I haven't felt any contractions but I have felt immense pelvic pressure. It hurts to walk, to get up off the couch, or to turn over when I'm in bed. This must mean gravity is working and the baby is moving on down. The doctor predicts I'll go into labor within 24 hours of getting of the meds.

Since the meds have been working I have no reason to believe Ava would make an appearance before Monday. I was kind of looking forward to getting off the meds on Thursday though. That would mean I could meet Ava sooner and end the bedrest. But I understand the doctor is looking out for the baby's best interest. The closer she goes to full term, the better.

I'm starting to believe that Ava might make it to her due date. But who knows what will happen once I stop taking the pills. I am already 3 cm so there is only 7 more to go. I got to the first three fairly quickly so that might mean labor will go by fast? I hope so. I don't want to be in labor forever.

I think my worst fear is not being able to get to the hospital in time. I haven't felt much of my contractions. Even in the hospital I never experienced enough pain to call a nurse or anything. But hopefully I'll know when it's time.

That's the update for now folks! Stay tuned...

Hello March!

I can't believe we are in the month of March already! I love this month because my birthday happens to be on the 24th and now my baby will share the same birthday month as me too. Well, that's what it is looking like.

I'm still playing baby incubator at the moment and I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and I don't know what to expect. If all goes well I won't have to go back to the hospital unless I am going to go home with a baby.

My sister threw me a baby shower last month and I still don't have the pictures from it but I did take a picture of the gorgeous cake Tanya (my kind of sis-in-law) made me and the beautiful diaper cake my girlfriend, Lauren made me.

(isn't is so cute??) It's in Ava's nursery now.

This week we received another surprise from the New Baby Welcome Wagon. I still don't know who they are. Hopefully the mystery will be solved soon. We got some burp clothes and a musical froggy toy (that Paxx tried to get his paws on).

Everyone must have wedding fever because yet another one of my close friends is getting married. Noah and I will be attending like 6 weddings at least this year.

Congrats to Brett and Christine! Brett is another one of my close friends from elementary school. I'm so happy for him!

I also left out another couple getting married this year. So hard to keep up I swear! Noah is the best man for his best friend, Paul. Paul and Derin are so cute and they are getting married in the fall. Congrats to them too!