Welcome Michael Robert Polingo!

I can't believe that it's been a week since I last posted!

But I have a good excuse...

I've been busy being a MOMMY!!!!

Do you believe it?  The baby that started way back here has finally arrived!

Michael Robert Polingo

came into the world on February 15, 2011 at 7:28am.

He weighed 7 pounds 15 ounces and was 20 inches long.

His Apgars scores were 9&9!

As you know, I had to have a c-section due to my surgery over a year ago.

However, my wonderful husband is not a medical person and has a tendency to feel faint just watching medical stuff on TV.  Because of the risk of him fainting in the OR if he moved anywhere beyond the protection of the curtain, I asked my doctor and anesthesiologist if my sister, Jodene could come in the OR with us to take pictures of the momentous arrival.  Thankfully, they said yes, and thanks to Jodene, we have some amazing pictures of his birth!

Here I am world!

Michael and Dr. Brown

My first glimpse at my Baby Boy!

Rob was able to trim the cord!

Our first family picture!

Being a labor and delivery nurse, I wasn't expecting to get teary during the delivery.

And despite what some people thought, we really did NOT know what we were having.

When Dr. Brown annouced to us that we had a little boy and I heard him cry for the first time, I'll admit I got a little teary.  There is no other feeling like knowing you not only had a baby, but that he was healthy!

I've said it multiple times to Rob since Michael has been born.

I feel so lucky.  Lucky to have him here and lucky to have him be healthy.

What more could I ask for?

We spent a hour in the recovery room and then made our way to the 4th floor where Michael had his first bath followed by a little skin-to-skin time with Mom.

I love his blonde fuzz!

Skin-to-skin

Our first day was a busy one!

Lots of family members came to visit us.

Who am I kidding???

They came to visit Michael.

But that's okay.  Who can blame anyone for wanting to meet the newest addition to our lives?

Auntie Jo and Michael

Papa and Nana Peeps

Auntie Dee

Michael with Daddy and Gramma and Grampa Polingo

Uncle Peter

Cousin Joey

We had a lot of visitors that were not family members too.  One of the perks of working at the hospital is that all of my "work friends" were able to meet him too.

Thanks to everyone that stopped up to say hi, see how we were doing and to meet Michael.  It's so great working with such wonderful people!

It was also nice to have some alone time during which I was able to snap this quick picture.

I Love You, Michael!

Almost there!

Today is February 14 aka Valentine's Day.

However, in our world, it is the day before BABY DAY!!!!!

Because my doctor does not want me to go into labor, my c-section is scheduled for tomorrow at 38 weeks.  Unfortunately, because it is scheduled for a week earlier than when they normally do c-sections, my doctor wanted me to have an amniocentesis done today.

An amnio is when they inset a needle through your abdomen and into your uterus and withdraw amniotic fluid.  Then they test the fluid to see in the baby's lungs are mature.

The perinatologist didn't want to go through my placenta (which takes up a good part of the anterior part of my uterus) because it can lead to bleeding and seperation of the placenta.  In order to not go through the placenta he had to go into a smaller pocket of fluid on my left lower side.  Once he was able to finally get into that pocket, of course, the baby decided to move it's arm in the way.  Luckily, he and the ultrasound tech were able to stop and wait until the baby moved out of the way.  When he was able to get the fluid out, he said that it was nice and clear and it had bits of vernix in it.  Vernix is the white, cream cheesy stuff that babies are covered with in utero.  The closer baby gets to the due date and maturity, the vernix starts to slough off and into the fluid.  The doctor said that this is a good sign that the results will most likely be mature.

After the amnio was done, I was put on a monitor to make sure the baby's heartrate was good and that I wasn't having contractions.  Everything looked great!  Baby's heartbeat was perfect in the 130's with beautiful accelerations and not a contraction was had!

They then let me go about my day with instructions to take it easy.  No problem with that!

Once they get the results, they'll call my doctor who will call me and let me know that we are officially on or off for tomorrow.  Believe me, I'm hoping we're on!

There'll be an update once I hear the results.  Wish us luck!


UPDATE!!!!!

As of 5:45 pm, we are all set for tomorrow!
My doctor called me at home to let me know that the results were great!
For those L&D, SCN and PP nurses out there, even the PG was present!
Yay!

Do you think I used too many exclamation marks?

Can't help it.
Just too excited!!!
(And maybe a little freakin' out!)

A Rough One

It's been a rough week..emotionally and physically.  But like they always say, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger."

This past week started with the passing of my Grandma.  She was a great woman who loved her Lord and is now happy and content in his Kingdom!  It gives comfort now, but at the time, her passing only brought sadness.

By this past Wednesday night, I was starting to not feel well and chalked it up to baby getting bigger and my stomach running out of room.  Turns out it was a touch of the lovely bug...norovirus.  I would have given anything for a couple bags of IV fluid!

During the few days of not feeling well was also my Grandma's wake and funeral.  I was honored that my aunts and uncles asked me to give the eulogy.  The only problem?  I'm a hormonal, pregnant woman and with the virus making it's way through my system, just standing for a few minutes made me feel dizzy and lightheaded, not to mention emotional!  My family had to think I am also the laziest pregnant woman ever since I had to sit the majority of the time.

On Sunday my family and I celebrated my Dad's 60th Birthday.  As I wrote in the post about the Dells, he's one of the most active and healthy 60 year-olds I know...until he gets hits with the norovirus too :(.  Today is my Dad's official Birthday and he's back at work...and still not well.  Did I also mention he's one of the most stubborn men I know?  I think that may be where I get it from.  Love ya, Dad!

By Sunday night I was starting to feel better, but my dear hubby is now getting sick too.  Hmmm...

Today is now Tuesday and I am back to feeling 100% and Rob went back to work today.  Thank goodness this bout of the virus was relatively short-lived.

I had my 37 week doctor's visit today.  Everything still looks good.  Baby's heartbeat, my blood pressure and lab work all look great.  We are right on track for next week!  Did I mention that this baby is coming out in one week?  Yup!  7 days!  I don't know about you guys, but this has gone super fast for us.  There were days I never thought we'd get here, but now here we are and it feels like we're running out of time to get the last minute stuff done.  AHH!!

After my appointment, I got to spend some time with my sister, Dee at lunch.  It was nice to be able to eat real food again!  Then I went shopping for the last minute "I need it now" type of stuff.  Done and done!

With the last week being what it was, I took some "me time" today and got a pedicure.  It was a wonderful, relaxing way to end a rough week.

As my Grandma taught us ...
with a strong faith and a positive attitude, we can be carried in the Lord’s arms through any challenge.

Thank you Grandma!  I love and miss ya!

Yet another...

post about the preggo.

Today I had my 36 week visit.

Heartbeat in the high 140's with lots of movement.

Blood pressure?  Good.

One less thing to worry about this week.

2 weeks to go!