Camryn Grace Dysart is here!

Camryn Grace Dysart

This is my favorite!

Right after delivery: Jeanette, Dr. Mohr, Camryn, Me and Brett

Tuesday Brett and I went to the hospital for my induction. Started pitocin at 7:30, they broke my water at 8:30, epidural 10:45 and her arrival at 4:25 pm! Things went really smoothly, thank the Lord!, and pretty quick! Once I got to 4 cm it was only 2 1/2 hrs later and she was here! Thankfully I only had to push for 4 contractions (while I puked my brains out!). I don't know how people push for hours on end!! My labor progressed so rapidly at the end that none of my family was even at the hospital--my mom was not too happy about that! Of course the only time Brett left the room was 5 mins before Jeanette (my nurse) checked me and lil miss was practically crowning! Dr. Mohr delivered her and was fabulous! Brett and I both had a great experience. Brett was super supportive and did a great job! It was a great experience for him to see my work environment at Rex and he was so interested in everything with Camryn's delivery. Even crazier is after delivery we found out that she had a true knot in her umbilical cord. Those happen when the baby is so active that they flip around and tie a knot, usually during the first trimester. This is something else that inhibits blood flow to the baby. This lil girl was truly meant to be here between my progesterone problems with this pregnancy, the 2 vessel cord and then a knot to top it off! She weighed a lot more than everyone thought, 7 lbs and was 21 inches long.

Since delivery Camryn has been a great baby so far! She loves to sleep and has only woken up once during the night to be fed, every other time I have to set an alarm to wake her up to eat! She's a great eater which has definantly helped. I also totally understand why people bottle feed, holy cow! Saturday we head to the pediatrician and get her bilirubin levels checked and her first dr's appt.

We want to thank you all for your love, support and prayers! We so appreciate and covet them! As new parents we need all the help we can get!! We'll keep you all posted!

36+ weeks!

Feeling massive at this point! This past weekend we set up most of the house for Christmas, sooo fun! This is the first year Brett has been here to help--every other year he was working. He even did lights on the house! I am so excited for Christmas, it's my favorite holiday and even more so this year!!

Thanksgiving was pretty low key as both of our families ditched us and I had to work--plus I can't really go to the mountains or Michigan this pregnant! We had a nice dinner at our house Wednesday night with Mitch, Mark and Jeanie though and that made it feel like we at least had a holiday! Our last shower is this weekend and it's just weird to think that "she" could be here any day!

As far as the nursery goes, I just need to order the glider and finish the curtains with my mom. My 35 week dr's appt made me realize I gotta get things done! Planning on getting everything we need Tuesday after my next appointment.

Weight gain: about 20 lbs...not too bad if I do say so myself!

Stretch marks: still no new ones!!

Sleep: fair, waking up a lot at night still...as Dr. Mohr says "You must be peeing a lot because of how low she is". Boy is she right!

Movement: she is being good and moving a lot still...very reassuring for her paranoid mother!!

Food Cravings: Orange Juice everyday! Had to have jello the other day--I never eat that stuff!

Labor Signs: Well, she's settled in my pelvis well...not really dilated. Contracting more frequently.

Belly Button: Still hasn't popped!

What I miss eating: BEER, sangria, etc.

What I am looking forward to: meeting her!!

Duke Visit #3

Today we had our 3rd ultrasound at Duke Maternal Fetal Medicine. Lil one did great again! She's approximately 5 lbs 13 oz (Plus or minus half a lb). That puts her right near the 50 percentile...where she's been hanging out! Great news is that she's growing even if I'm not!! I'm already sick of eating like I have been for the past few days--I mean I can only stand so many Big Macs, doughnuts, ice cream, etc. Plus with Thanksgiving I'll eat plenty!! My fluid levels looked really low at first but she's just taking up so much room that there's really only good pockets of fluid up under near my ribs and down by my pelvis. Still had a good level though. So next week we start Non-Stress Tests at the OBs office which is monitoring her heart rate for at least 15 minutes as long as it's good. Duke is also recommending that I not go past my due date...and we all know I don't want to get to that anyway! So YAY for now! Let's just hope the belly keeps growing! Thanks for your thoughts and prayers! You do not know how much we covet them!

Mama's in Troule!

34 week belly! Apparently not big enough!

the bedding--all done!!

her chandilier

the dresser

dresser again! So glad to be done with that!

So today we had our 35 week appointment. At my 33 week check up I was measuring a week behind and had only gained 1.5 lbs in the previous 6 weeks. Today, I measured at 33 weeks and lost 2 lbs since my last visit, so I'm down .5 lbs in the past 2 months. So to sum it all up we are going back to Duke for another ultrasound and it's looking more and more like little one is going to be here sooner then later! If she's not growing we may be looking at an induction in the near future! Both Brett and the dr told me to basically go home and get fat! LOL! So I'm on the eat-all-the-time plan! 35 weeks is the point in time where dr's don't stop labor and the baby is developed for the most part so it's great to be at this point, but 2 more weeks would put her at term which would be ideal. We are most likely going to Duke sometime this week since my next appt at the OBGYN is Monday. We'll keep everyone posted! Just pray that whenever she comes she'll be healthy!!! I also going to post a new belly picture and nursery pictures when Brett gets home from the Carolina game tonight!

Getting big or so I feel

30 week belly

The Quilt

Crib with bedskirt and quilt, minus the bumper

the dresser in need of a new paint job and hardware but I love!

So today was a day of pampering for me, yay! Thanks to my mom's great birthday gift to me I spent a day getting my hair done, eyebrows waxed, a pedicure and an hour and a half massage! I wish there were more days like today! This past week I have really popped out, at least I feel like I have. Last weekend I went out for my friend Amanda's bachelorette party and never have felt more like a beached whale! They so don't make cute clothes for pregnant women to go out in either! Good news is that her wedding is next weekend and I still can fit in my bridesmaids dress!! The crazy thing about feeling so much bigger is I've gained under a pound in the last month but swear my belly has grown like crazy. I have proof that it's not all in my head either as my scrub tops no longer fit. Sitting is definantly starting to get uncomfortable as I have a butt wedged in my ribs half the time.

The nursery is coming along! We now have a crib and dresser--which does need to get painted soon--but at least we've started! I have also washed all the 0-3 month clothes so they are ready too. I'm definantly in the nesting phase with wanting to get the house ready and really clean. I even cleaned the baseboards this week! My great friend Lawanda from work is almost finished making my baby bedding, just in need of a bumper. I love the way it turned out and it's so "me" as everyone puts it. I am excited that we are in the last 2 months and hoping that time will hurry up just a bit so we can meet her, the still nameless child!

Nursery...just starting on it!

Brett hard at work putting up the wainscoating
He did this all in one afternoon!

"Mimi" and one of her friends who painted most of the nursery, thank you!

Finished painting! The wall to the right has a shelf the entire length.

Level II at Duke MFM

Here is a profile picture

Here she is looking at the ultrasound...you can kind of make out her eyes, nose and mouth

Today we had our second level II ultrasound and great news! No "She looks good...BUT" today. She's doing "perfectly" (Dr. Cooley's words, not mine)! Her growth is in the 50th percentile (putting her at 2 lbs. 13 oz. approx). Since her growth was good they said we won't have to come back to Duke unless something changes. GREAT news! Also, she's finally head down! She's been breech since about 20 weeks, which means an automatic c-section. So for now she's head down and will hopefully stay down! The little stinker ran from the ultrasound tech so these 2 are the only picture we got!

Another praise is I got some Ambien today! I've been sleeping AWFUL lately! On average, 2-3 hrs a night. I can't fall asleep until really late and then when I work am up at 5:30...that and peeing every 2 hrs. So the no sleep, along with being anemic has worn me out!! Hopefully that will change shortly! Don't worry (Mom), I'm not taking it most nights...just enough to function!

Wednesday my mom, one of her friends and I are painting the nursery. I'll post pictures of the finished project and Brett doing the wainscoating. Not to brag on him or anything, but he did it in less than a day! So proud of my handy man!

27 weeks and Belly pictures

15 weeks!

22 weeks!

27 weeks!

Passed my glucose test this week! YAY! Have our next big ultrasound at Duke Maternal-Fetal Medicine on October 12th! I can't wait to get more pictures of her! She's still really active, moving a TON in the afternoon and evening. Brett has started on the wainscoating in the nursery and I've picked out the fabric for the nursery bedding, which a friend is making for me! It's fabric that my mom's friend Tina Givens designed and the line that I'm using is called fairy tip toes the pink line. It's super cute!

Baltimore

This weekend was our "Babymoon". We caught a wonderful Red Sox win versus the Orioles at Camden Yards, lots of college football at ESPN Zone, the inner harbor, good seafood and sleep! We also got some shopping in at IKEA and the Leesburg Outlets. I got some of the best sleep of my life (and Brett too I think). The hotel had Sleep Number beds! We slept 12 hrs Friday night and I took a 2 hr nap on Saturday, it was great! I haven't slept well for at least 10 weeks so it was a much needed, relaxing weekend!

Today I am 24 weeks! A big milestone as this is the minimal viability for a baby. So excited to be at this point!

Total weight gain: 10lbs or so
Maternity clothes: pants, definantly! Can fit in a few of my regular shirts still!
Stretch marks: No new ones!
Sleep: Sleeping better in the past 2 weeks then the previous 6!
Movement: Alot most days, especially in the afternoon and evening!
Food Cravings: Not really eating sweets--rare for me! Pickles and salty things are yummy!
Labor Signs: A couple contractions, nothing that hurts or worrisome, thank goodness!
Belly Button: Still looking like it should
What I miss eating: Queso dip, a big juicy hot dog!
What am I looking forward to: her arrival, of course at least in 12 weeks!
Milestones: 24 weeks! Also, getting Brett to actually start planning for a baby!

I now have to sit down to put socks and shoes on. Getting up and down is definantly not easy and I am stiff and sore, lots of back pain especially after work. This weekend my pregnant self is in a fashion and hair show for breast cancer awareness...talk about interesting since I'll be in heels, YIKES! Next weekend we are headed to Baltimore and furniture shopping. We are hoping to find things for the nursery and the house, can't wait!

Pediatric Cardiologist

Went yesterday and things look good! Lil one's heart looks normal, so no major defect! Thank you Lord! He said because she's so small (at this point about 12" and 1 lb) and they can't see everything that he can't rule out something small--a hole or minor defect. So unless Duke MFM sees something at our next Level II ultrasound in 5 1/2 weeks we don't have to go back!

I'll be posting belly pictures soon!

First Level II Ultrasound Pictures!

Next Test

Today I am 21 weeks and 6 days pregnant (YAY!). We found out that our little one's cardiac echo will be next Wednesday the 2nd of September. Please join us in praying that she will pass this test with flying colors! What it will do--it tells us if her heart is functioning correctly. Something minor would most likely mean that we can deliver at Rex still (please GOD!), but something major would mean I would have to go to Duke or UNC (somewhere they can do major pediatric cardiac surgery). At this point this test is just precautionary as she has a two vessel (instead of three) umbilical cord and cardiac anomalies are a potential side effect. Our first level II ultrasound revealed no problems with her at all (thank you Lord!), but this echo is more definitive for the cardiac function and is done by a pediatric cardiologist.

On a more positive note, she is an active little thing that seems to rarely sit still--just like her daddy! I feel her moving all the time. We are planning our "babymoon" this week. We are headed to Baltimore in September to watch the Red Sox and do some shopping and sightseeing, I'm so excited! We'll let you know how things go!

It's a girl! No more baby Carlos!

To Mitch, Mark, Brett, Luke and Jeanie: NO MORE BABY CARLOS!!
Today was our level II ultrasound and boy has it been an emotional rollercoaster!! I was so excited to hear that we were having a girl, especially since everyone thought it was a boy! We went to Duke Maternal-Fetal Medicine for the ultrasound and they assured us (after our second visit of the day!) that everthing looks fine...BUT she does have a 2 vessel umbilical cord. A normal baby has 3 vessels, 2 that feed the baby and 1 that returns blood to me. However, she only has one vessel feeding her. There are TONS of anomalies that can be associated with this, many I had no clue about. I have delivered many babies with 2 vessel cords that are just fine so that's what we are praying for! The MFM specialist assured us that everything about her looks normal, their main concern going forward is that she grows well. We follow up in October with another level II ultrasound and will keep going to my OBGYN for weight and measurement follow up. We are hoping and praying that worst case scenario she'll just be a little small!

Africa, Baby Carlos's first trip outside the US

Well we are back from our trip to Africa, probably my one and only trip! It was definantly an experience!! In Ethiopia we had power only every other day in the capital city, which meant we only MAYBE had hot water every other day. So we got used to being dirty and not eating much other than bread, coke, and bottled water. Depressing is a word that comes to mind in describing Ethiopia--it's the third poorest country in the world with an unemployment rate of 50%. All day long people were lining the streets with no place to go, sleeping in the gutters or just meandering around. Also, if anybody thinks universal government run healthcare's a good idea, you need to visit Ethiopia!! The safari in Kenya was awesome, wish we could have gone longer, but would so recommend that!!

The baby Carlos thing--if you have seen The Hangover you understand! Everybody thinks we are having a boy, so one of my brothers--I believe it was Mitch--started referring to the baby as baby Carlos. Now everybody in Africa that met us knows about baby Carlos. I have let it be known that if we are having a girl, no more baby Carlos comments! :)


Here's a link to the pictures--Thanks Mitch for narrowing it down!http://community.webshots.com/user/mvandeguchte