My baby is growing!!

I don't have time to write much but here are some cute pics and videos of my sweetie.  Everything is good.  I miss her a ton while i am at work but they love her at daycare so that makes it a little better.  Chris has been amazing.  He is a great hands-on dad who helps with everything from washing bottles to grocery shopping.  Ava adores him and smiles when she hears his voice (see pics) She is starting to chunk up and not look so scrawny and she slept from 10pm to 4am last night!! (ps that is when i sleep)

Ava listening to her dad talk

Momma & Baby Week

This last week has been my first (and only) whole week with just Ava and I at home together all day.  We had a lovely time eating, sleeping, playing, and doing errands together.  She has developed a pretty regular schedule which goes well except when she decides she doesn't want her naps. 

Monday we went to the doctor and she is doing great.  She is now 6lbs 11oz and 19.25 inches long.  She behaved wonderfully and didn't cry once.  The nurses were so amazed. 

Ava also proved how strong she is by performing feats expected of 2 month old babies at two weeks! (see video below)

Here are a few other fun things we did ...

Bath time (which she now enjoys)

watched giraffes and lions in the crib

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a cute one from a couple weeks ago too.  Thanks to Nana and Pop Pop for coming to visit, we had a great time!

hanging with Nana

Ava's Birth Story

I am writing this story for me, for Ava, and for anyone who wants to know the details of Ava's birth.  It was a beautiful and amazing night/day and I want to document it so i never forget these moments.

just short of 6lbs

Nervous and excited, not knowing exactly what to expect, Chris and I headed to the hospital at 7pm October 5, 2010.  We got checked in and settled in our room.  An IV was started (actually two b/c the first one blew) and, I was checked and 1cm dilated and 80% effaced. Around 9:30pm the nurse placed the cytotec gel into my cervix.  I sent Chris home to sleep and planned to rest through the night for my assumed big day to follow.  My body had other plans though.   I had already been contracting (as i had for the past two months) but less than an hour later i was contracting more regularly and starting to have back labor.

The night passed in a blur of pain from back labor and nurses coming in to make me flip from side to side because Ava was not tolerating the labor.  I was supposed to receive more cytotec every four hours but after the first dose the doctor cut me off due to Ava's decreasing heart rate.  Chris returned at 6am and I was surprised to see him not realizing the whole night had already gone by.

just after her first bath

At this point Ava was looking better and my new nurse decided that it was time to start Pitocin in place of the missed cytotec.  My nurse called herself the Pitocin Nazi and swore to "get my labor going."  Let me just say me and Pitocin do NOT get along.  Almost immediately I started having insane contractions, one right on top of the other, doubles, triples, quadruples.  It was truly terrible.  I couldn't breath, move, anything.  The nurse tried to talk me into an epidural.  I ignored her.   After an hour Ava again was not looking good. Soon Dr. Hicks arrived and after looking at me and Ava she started talking about a C-section.  Knowing I really wanted to have a vaginal delivery and agreeing, we decided to go ahead with breaking my water. I was now 4cm and 85% effaced.


At 7:30 Dr. Hicks broke my water, and suggested an epidural.  I ignored the suggestion and continued to try to breath.  The next hour or so was rough.  The pain made me nauseated and i began vomiting.  Chris was great and held my hand, placed cool rags on my forehead, and rubbed my back.  Finally they turned off the pitocin and let me contract on my own.  The pain changed and was more tolerable and having two minutes between contractions was a blessing.  I was able to get into a rhythm of breathing through contractions and resting for two minutes and we went on.

At 11am the nurse checked me again and i was 5cm and 95% effaced.  Chris suggested i accept a dose of Stadol and rest while he went to grab lunch.  Tired and trusting his voice of reason, i requested some pain relief and an anti-nausea med (why i had to ask for that i don't know, still mad at my nurse for not thinking of it for me!).  The Stadol was wonderful. It allowed me to sleep and dulled the contractions.

At 12:30pm I woke with an incredibly intense pressure and need to push.  It was literally overwhelming and i felt she was coming.  I yelled to Chris that i had to push and it was time and frantically pushed my nurse button.  Thankfully she came quickly and sure enough i was dilated to 10 and ready to go.  Dr. Hicks was called and while the nurse set up I pushed gently.  Soon Dr. Hicks was there and first thought she had no time to change but the nurse pushed with me until she had her scrubs on.  Then it was time.  Everyone was ready and Chris held my hand as I pushed FOR REAL.  I touched her head as she came out and i cut her cord once delivered.

After 15 hours of labor our baby was there on my belly. She was sweet, blue eyes wide open, lots of brown hair, and pink with purple hands and feet.  She was perfect.

36 hours of work and daily naps

This week has been lovely.  I only worked 36 hours, usually starting at 8 or 9 in the morning allowing me to sleep in and have breakfast before leaving.  I have had most afternoons off to work on my research and nap (and when i say nap i mean a good 2 hours on the couch).  Me and and the dogs have been spending a lot of quality time together as Chris is gone again for military stuff. 

My awesome co-workers gave me a baby shower a few weeks ago where i received a gift certificate for a pregnancy massage. I am going tomorrow for a spa day and can't wait to get pampered and hopefully work out some of the hip and pelvic pain i have developed in my last months of pregnancy. 

In some of my time off i decided to get very ambitious and find Chris' power drill to put up curtains in the nursery.  Chris has been so busy with work i thought i would attempt a little handy work myself.  If only i had a picture of me 38 weeks pregnancy, on a chair, with a power drill.  I should say chris probably could have done a better job but the curtains are up and i was proud of myself.

No signs of baby coming yet, but we are ready.  She has definitely dropped (even more, who knew it was possible?) but i decided to skip the pelvic check this week.  No rush, she will comes when she is ready.  

where did july go?

I guess i should not be surprised i lost an entire month of blogging after the busy month i just had.  Shortly after Chris left, Nicole and Hannah came to visit for a week (see nik's blog for details).  We had a great time and it was so nice to have people around to help out.  My sisters were amazing and while i went to the doctor they cleaned my house (THANK YOU !!!).  We completed some very fun and important baby shopping then worked together to prepare the nursery for Ellie (my new nickname for our no-name baby).  Nicole was so helpful with all of her baby knowledge and i think we may have everything we need now.  I think by the end Hannah was definitely babied out though.

love my farm animal theme, so cute!

After they left, my world consisted of keeping up with my many hours/stress of the Surgical ICU, while keeping the house together and trying to keep baby inside.  There were many nights on call i would debate going down to OB for a check due to my numerous contractions.  Thankfully we made it through successfully, still pregnant and and a better doctor. 

work baby shower

35 weeks

Chris is now home again which is such a relief (i did not want to have this baby alone!)  I am now a full 9 months preg and contractions get stronger everyday.  At my last check i was dilated to "fingertip" and 75% effaced.  Because i contract pretty much all day everyday, my new criteria for going to the hospital is not being able to "smile through the contractions."  Chris is predicting a Sept 7th birthday but i am still holding out for the end of the month.  I guess we will see.

36 weeks

does this count as a smile?

So far a great July

Summer is finally truly here and the weather is beautiful.  We started out this month by celebrating our 10th anniversary (can you believe it?).  On Saturday we slept in a little then headed out to the Farmer's Market where we bought lots of fruits and veggies.  Then we packed up some of our fresh foods, the dogs, and other goods and drove to Muskegon, a beach town about 45 minutes away.  First we took the dogs (Zoey's first time) to the dog park to play in the sand, water, and woodlands.  Then we headed to another park for a picnic before heading to the beach where the water was amazing and the waves were like the ocean.  We spent all afternoon in the sun and and water.  It was beautiful and relaxing.

Yep, i even braved a bikini with my 7 month belly. Unfortunately we forgot the sunscreen in the car and baby Elliott became a little overcooked.

On Sunday we slept in even more and lounged around the house.  For dinner we went to this really nice place called six-one-six in the J.W. Marriott.  The food was amazing, especially the goat cheese cheesecake for dessert!

Back at home we set off our own fireworks in the front yard.  Apparently everyone else had the same idea too because we could hear fireworks until about three in the morning.

Last weekend, my good friend Altaira came up from Chicago to visit.  We had a great time.  It was so nice to hang out with an old girlfriend chatting, catching a movie, shopping, and of course eating! Thanks for coming Alty!

Sunday i dropped Chris off at the airport for a couple of week of training in Arkansas so i went to my OB appt alone today.  I had an ultrasound to check baby's feet (last time she kicked so much we couldn't get a good pic).  She has grown so much.  Her feet are fine, she now has a fuzzy head of hair, and yes, we double checked and she is still a girl :)  Dr. Hicks says i am perfectly healthy.  Appointments will now be every two weeks now that we are closing in on the end.  


since chris is gone i had to take my own 29 week belly pics.  I thought i would go for a new angle.  It is getting so big i can't go anywhere without someone commenting on it.  Typically they think i should be due any day but no... two and a half months to go

Tornados and Closets

This week has yet another busy week in the Elliott house.

I had a busy day/night on call in the surgical ICU, then on Wednesday night we awoke to tornado sirens calling out.  The sky was lit by incredible lightning and the thunder was booming and continuous.  I (having to pee of course) got up and looked out the front window and could not even see across the street due to the wind and rain.  After about an hour it finally calmed down but i definitely needed a nap on Thursday. 

Friday i took SICU overnight call by myself (i usually have a second year resident on with me).  It was very busy but a good experience.  I have learned a lot on this rotation and feel confident to take charge as a second year starting Thursday!!  looking forward to much less weekday overnight call and more challenging surgeries.  Chris has also been busy.  He is now working full time for the National Guard here in Grand Rapids as the executive officer of his unit.  We continue to make it work with just one car which can be challenging but we are saving and hope to add another once baby comes.  

Last night Chris and I drove up the Dr. Schlatter's house (my program director) for a BBQ to welcome the new intern class.  He lives in a big house on the lake and it was beautiful.  Chris even walked down the hill to the lake and went kayaking down the river.  We had a very nice time and it was good to get out and see the other residents outside work. 

Today was full of work.  I have a huge list of things to do to prepare for the baby and get the house ready.  Last weekend we took the metal railing and glass doors off the upstairs bathroom bathtub and i scraped silicon and scrubbed mold and dirt until the bathtub was baby ready.  Today we moved all our clothes around to open up space in the nursery closet.  I have also been getting all the clutter out of the "dressing room" to make it a nursery.  Poor Chris has now been delegated to the guest room so i can keep all my clothes upstairs.

All the while, i continue to grow.  I get tired more easily and have started getting a ton of braxton-hicks contractions, especially when walking the dogs.  Baby girl has also began kicking harder and moving a lot more.  I think she is getting crowded in there.

25wks, 2 days

Today a chugged 16oz of super sweet lemon lime glucola as i sat in conference doing my best not to make a face in order to determine if i have pregnant diabetes (god forbid because then i really would have to stop eating candy).  Despite my recent constant uncomfortableness and inability to eat more than a granola bar before becoming full, i was told i am perfectly healthy at my OB appt.  My blood pressure and pee are perfect.  Even though i was sure my belly had grown 10 inches and my weight had skyrocketed i was told i am the perfect size and really only added 3lbs since my last appointment.  Baby girl is also doing well and proved her health by kicking Dr. Hicks' hand as she listened to the heartbeat. Three and a half months to go.

It's a Girl!!!!

Today was our long awaited "check all the parts" ultrasound.  I had not wanted to know the sex of the baby but I gave in to Chris and once it was decided we were both pretty excited.  I have to admit i have been very nervous about this appointment because it has been seven weeks since we checked on our little one, i have not really felt her move, and i am paranoid.  When we first started looking, she was not moving at all and i could not see the heart yet so i was getting a little stressed out. a minute later i was so distracted i did not realize that we were peering at the screen between her two little legs at what was clearly girl parts.  Shortly there after she started moving and her heart was beating away; my heart slowed down enough to realize we are having a baby girl.  I guess it really is true that as long as its healthy, it does not matter what sex it is.  Chris and i enjoyed the rest of the ultrasound marveling at her amazing perfectly forming organs and cute little arms and legs.

Baby Girl Elliott Stats:
21 wks 2 days
all parts confirmed to be intact and appropriate (except her feet which were kicking too much to check)
43 percentile in size and weight
has made momma gain 11 lbs
placenta is anterior (making it hard to feel her moving)

No names have been picked yet, so don't ask :)   

We look forward to the coming months of feeling kicks, belly growing, and making our nursery.  more updates to come!

Spring is Here!!

This Tuesday i was post call after a pretty chill night at St. Mary's.  After a morning nap on the couch, i noticed what a beautiful day is was outside.  The leaves have all grown in, Chris has been working diligently in yard making out grass thick and green, and the temperature was in the high seventies.  Chris and I decided to take the dogs for a walk.  We did two miles to the park and let the dogs play/chase the ducks.  Zoey had never done this before and jumped right in the water.  Ichiban has always been a little hesitant with water and preferred to walk on the rocks. 

On the way home we decided it would be a great day to break in our new BBQ grill.  We visited this cute little Polish market on the corner of our street and bought homemade bratwurst and potato salad.  I set up lawn chairs in the backyard and we had a delicious meal to end a beautiful day.

And of course, our 20 week belly pic

Yesterday Chris and I had a date day to hang out before he heads back to AZ for the annual canoe trip.  We saw Iron Man II and ate a fantastic BBQ dinner at Famous Dave's.  Overall it was a pretty good week. 

Let's Catch Up

So i know it has been a long time but for the sake of documenting my pregnancy somehow and letting my loved ones be a part of it from far away, here we go again.....

Recap of my last five months

January: very tired, kinda nauseated, terrible heartburn, and a little in denial.  Finally bought a pregnancy test in the pharmacy at work and took it when i woke up from my post call nap. It had that positive sign before i stopped peeing.  My poor husband found out we were having a baby (total surprise as i had failed to mention i was two weeks late) while he was chopping hot peppers for chili.  I promise i will tell him in a nicer way if there is a next time.

February:  Still very tired, even more nauseated, living on ginger ale.  If you want to know how crappy i felt, i was giving up surgery cases to other residents and hoping my attendings would not turn cases over to me. (and may have snuck naps at work). The worst part was hiding it.  I felt very strongly about not telling anyone before my 12 week mark but masking how bad i felt was pretty tough.

March: I started March exhausted but starting to feel better.  I was on my Plastic Surgery rotation which thankfully meant i was working an avg of 60 instead of 80 hours a week and had time for naps.  While i was not a big fan of plastic surgery,  by the end of the month that magic 12 weeks had passed i was physically improved. I was even able to stop going to bed at 8pm and go back to my 10pm bedtime.  We also had our first doctors appointment and had that special moment when we heart our baby's heartbeat and saw it for the first time.

April: This last month has been great compared to the previous three.  Even though i have pelvic pain, a growing belly, and heartburn is back, i am fully functional again.  I had a great month on Surgical Oncology, successfully took 30 hour call again, and even spent a significant amount of time studying (which i had given up for sleep in the previous months). 

So now i am going into May, almost five months pregnant.  I have noticeable but not overwhelming belly which my sweet husband rubs and kisses regularly.  I am waiting for the day i feel my little one move.  We have an ultrasound in a couple of weeks to check out the organs and see how it is developing.  So here's to being halfway.  Our quiet boring life is becoming more interesting and soon to be noisier.  Now if only Zoey would stop trying to stand on my belly...

Home Depot and New Years Resolutions

Today I found myself marveling at the wonders of Home Depot for about the hundreth time in the last six months.  Owning a home has exposed me to a whole new world of home care and how all ills can be cured at the Home Depot...

The toilet lever breaks... Home Depot
The dog eats the air conditioner cover... Home Depot
Need to clean the gutters ..... Home Depot
Considering if it is necessary to rake the snow off the roof.... Home Depot
..... and the list goes on

and this brings me to this years New Years Resolutions..
1.  Improve my home improvement skills
2.  Take a multivitamin daily
3.  Live in and for the present instead of the future (after years of going to school for a future career, it is hard  to remember that I am here and should enjoy it)
4.  stop saying that i am going to stop eating jelly bellies, red vines, and chocolate.  It is never going to happen.
5.  Explore more of Michigan (main stops, Traverse City, the wine vineyards, more beaches)

Holiday Fun

Here at my surgery program, we have a sweet deal that either you work during Christmas or New Years and get time off during the other.  I ended up with New Years off meaning that I worked my a** off for one week and now have multiple days off to recover and play. 

I really did get killed at work over Christmas but Chris and I managed to exchange gifts on Christmas morning before i passed out on the couch.  He gave me everything on my list including a Snuggie (yes i really wanted it), a Mokka pot (awesome coffee/espresso), and a kitchen mandolin (no, not the kind you play).  We also had bought the puppies new toys and treats and had fun watching them enjoy their Christmas. 

For New Years we bundled up last night and headed downtown.  First we caught the concerts in the square with great music from Uncle Cracker and Boys like Girls, very fun.  Then we went to our favorite Brewery where we shared a booth with a very nice couple that we met while trying to find a table.  After drinks and burgers, we headed back out into the cold to bar hop and enjoy the atmosphere.  Around 11pm we decided that we would head home to miss the traffic and finish New Years at home with the dogs.  (yes we are old)

Today has been fantastic.  I slept in, drank my coffee, then headed out with the dogs to go sledding.  Oh, i forgot to mention the awesome sled i got for Christmas too!  There is  great hill down the street from out house and there were tons of brave children jumping onto their butts, knees, and stomachs and racing down the hill.  I was terrified after trudging up this huge hill and standing at the top holding my new sled.  Nevertheless, i carefully arranged myself inside and next thing i knew i was flying down the hill.  About halfway down i had to remind myself to breath.  It was so much fun.  On the way home, Chris stopped to rent a movie and Zoey and I dedcided to jump out and walk home (at which Chris told me i was pulling a Cullen, ask nicole).  We tromped home in the snow then made snow angels and i tried to make a snowman.  It was all super fun and yea for two more days off!!

Christmas Spirit

I love Christmas decorations.  The hospital has been full of Christmas spirit with trees, garland, lights, etc everywhere.  I finally had my first day off since Thanksgiving yesterday and Chris and I set out to bring some Christmas into our house.  For the last nine years all we have had is a 3ft fiberoptic tree that i put up.  This year we decided it was time to have a tree, a real tree.

I did a little research and found a tree farm Northeast of where we live and we bundled up, grabbed the dogs, and went to find the perfect tree.  After much tromping around in the snow and closely inspecting tons of trees we found the perfect one.  It is a 7ft, fantastic smelling, Fraiser fir.  Chris sawed it down and we hauled it home.  It was probably one of the most fun things that i have done in a long time.  Now decorated in gold and red, it is the most beutiful tree ever

Winter Fun!!

It has been snowing for the last couple of weeks and I am loving it.  It is beautiful outside, It feels like Christmas.  It is cold but i don't mind  bundling up in my coat, scarf and boots.  Here are some pics of our first snow.  The dogs were crazy excited and didn't know what to do at first.  
The driving has not been bad so far.  Chris has been shoveling like crazy (he even gets up at 4:30am to shovel before i leave for work).  He is beggin for a snow blower already but i just tell him real men shovel snow :)

 

First, thanks to everyone for there kind birthday wishes.  I spent my birthday day and night at the hospital but have spend a lovely five days off since.  Chris and i have hung out and worked on house projects.  For my birthday Chris took me to the 2nd annual Grand Rapids Wine and Food festival.  It was so much fun to dress up, taste tons of wine and cheese, and just spend an evening together.  We ended it with a late dinner of sushi and it was the perfect birthday celebration. 

Life has been good lately.  I am back on the General Surgery rotation and operating almost everyday.  While trauma was fun and sometimes exciting, i much prefer my hernias, breasts, and appendix.  The weather here has been a beautiful fall.  It is brisk but still warm enough to walk the dogs and rake leaves.  We had a fun halloween too.  First i went the "The Haunt" with some friends from work. It is a huge very well done haunted house in which i screamed appropriatly multiple times (i was wishing that hannah and meg were with me).  Chris and I then attended a party (where we were the only losers who did not dress up, oh well, there is always next year) and headed out to play in downtown GR.

The dogs are good.  Zoey has grown so much but she is still my baby.  Thankfully she is fully housetrained now and even learning to follow simple commands (sit, downs, up, etc).  She is a total love and is happy to snuggle me whenever i want.  She did give us a scare the other night when she snatched an ibuprofen that i dropped on the floor before i got to it.  These are very poisonous for dogs and we spent the rest of the night make her throw up and giving her pepcid.  Thankfully she is just fine.

happy times

I just shooed my puppy outside for catching her playing in her water bowel for the third time today. She splashes by putting her two front paws in the water until all the water in on the floor. She is really so funny. Her favorite spot to nap is on the downstairs bathroom floor. Once she is done playing outside, she comes in, gets a drink of water, then trots downstairs and flops down on the bathroom rug. I don't know why, she just likes it down there, even if she is all alone.
It is actually very nice to be around such joy. While i love my work, trauma does begin to wear on me. I see many terrible things on trauma and watch more than my share of people, especially young people die.

On a brighter note, Chris has been assigned to a National Guard Unit here in Grand Rapids. He was given a position in the Mechanized Infantry Unit and is actually drilling as I write. He will be the second highest ranking person in the platoon, which is perfect since he is such a great leader.

The beginnings of fall have come and the leaves are starting to change color. The temperature has been just a bit cooler but still nice and forecast predicts that it will drop into the 50s soon. I am excited for the change in the weather and the fall colors and harvest. I have heard there are orchards around Grand Rapids and you can go pick your own apples, how fun.

The Surgeon and the Psychiatrist

(this one is for you Rachel :)

I hate propagate stereotypes however this was a call i made this morning and afterward i had to laugh. Granted i was post-call after a 30 hour shift and had no ride home. still, no excuse. I reprimand myself!

Surgeon: Dr. Psychiatrist, i have a consult for you. She is a 13 y.o. girl who was involved in an MVA in which her uncle was killed and she sustained pelvic fractures. She is a sweet girl who is morbidly obese and has a history of depression and self-cutting. I am concerned that her grief and trauma will put her at risk for this behavior again.

Psychiatrist: wow that will be tough

Surgeon: yeah sorry (me being the sleep deprived, selfish, overworked person i am assumed that he meant that this would be a tough consult for him thus causing more work)

Psychiatrist: No, i meant it must be tough for her to deal with all her problems (being the kind, patient focused, well slept person he is)

Oh well, at least i realize my weaknesses. I will admit when i pray for no more traumas it is so i can go to bed, not so no one else will get hurt. Maybe i am a bad person. sigh.

Family of four

I don't know when i last posted but today i have a reason to post other than whining about how much i work.

We have added a new member to our family. Her name is Zoey and she is (as you can see) the cutest puppy ever. She is 6lb, 8 wk old, American Eskimo puff ball that we found from a breeder south of Chicago. Chris picked her up last saturday and we have had a great first week. Of course we have the normal puppy problems but she hopefully will learn quickly.

We are training her to go to the bathroom outside but of course she is little and forgets or pees inside and then runs to the door. we knew it would be a process though and now i know why God makes puppies so cute.

She is a little naughty and loves to play in her water bowel, attack her brother constantly, and try to bite my nose, but she is overall very sweet and lovey and follows chris and I around the house.

Ichi is happy to have someone to play with and they get along great. Sometimes he forgets that she is little and plays too rough but she quickly reminds him (and us) by crying and barking. During the last week they are either playing or sleeping from playing so much.

I feel like i have a great family to come home to and i get lots of love. for never being an animal person, i am so happy that have my babies. life would not be the same without them.