Hailey is three months!

Hailey is 3 months olds today. And in true form, I haven't been as diligent about updating my blog as I was with the other girls. Life is busy!

Hailey is a sweet baby. She is very content most of the times. She is happy almost all day long but gets a bit fussy around 7ish. She loves her swing and her play mat. Her favorite book is a black and white picture book. Hailey loves to play with her hands. She is constantly holding her hands together or sucking on them. Hailey also loves to be naked! Is she is ever fussy all you have to do is change her diaper or pretend to change her diaper and she is instant smiles! Love this sweet girl!

Hailey 6 Week Update

Hailey will be 6 weeks tomorrow!  That went crazy fast! We are finally settling in to a "routine", as much as there can be a routine with 4 active kids and life on the go.  She is a pretty awesome baby. If she is crying she is probably poopy. She absolutely loves her swing and staring at the fish above her. She is learning to love her play mat. She is happy at bath time. She has no nap schedule what so ever, but naps any where from 45 minutes to 3.5 hours at a time. She eats every 2-3.5 hours. In the past week she has started going longer which is nice. For the first five weeks she was eating almost every 2 hours. It was a bit much. None of the other girls ever ate that often. At night she nurses around 10:30pm and then wakes up at 3 and 6ish to nurse again. She is sleeping on her own now in our room...for weeks she slept on our arms...I know I know, don't lecture me. Her sisters absolutely adore her.  She smiles often now and has a big dimple in her right cheek.  It is pretty adorable.  She seems like she might be a thumbsucker one she can find her thumb and get the hang of it. I don't know how we ended up with four thumbsuckers!  She's not a fan of being swaddled. None of our girls were.  When she is about to get upset or cry she pants like a puppy and starts flailing her arms.  It is pretty cute.  She is growing up faster than I imagined. And I love her more than I thought possible. 

Hailey's Birth Story

 Hailey's Birth Story

We had a scheduled induction set for January 2, 2014, two days before my due date.  We arrived at the hospital at 8:30 in the morning eager to meet our baby girl!  It was the first time I had arrived at the hospital without being in labor, and it was a much calmer experience.  We were led to our room shortly after arriving where they proceeded to get an IV started.  I had tested positive for Group B Strep so we wanted to get antibiotics going as soon as possible because it takes 4 hours for them to be effective.  After two (painful) attempts, the nurses were unable to get the IV started.  I had been at the hospital just 4 days prior for IV fluids due to dehydration because of the norovirus, a nasty stomach bug that had worked its way through our entire family.  I am not sure if I was still slightly dehydrated from being sick or what, but for whatever reason they had to call in an IV specialist.  After two more painful attempts an IV was finally put in my hand and we were able to get fluids going.  When they placed the IV they also took my blood.  After way too long they were finally able to get the penicillin for the Group B Strep started.  I had to get 4 hours of these antibiotics before we could even start the Pitocin for inducing.  By the time we actually got the Pitocin started it was 5pm and we had been at the hospital for 8.5 hours.  This process was taking a bit longer than I had anticipated.  Meanwhile, my blood work came back with extremely low platelet counts.  The doctor explained that this may mean that I could not get an epidural.  That was a little bit scary/disheartening to hear.  I was not set on getting an epidural, but with how long the process was taking I knew I would be tired and may likely want the option of having an epidural.  The doctor thought that it was unusual to have such low platlet counts so he ordered my blood to be drawn two more times.  Fortunately both of those counts came back in the normal range, so I would be able to get an epidural after all.  At 5pm we got the Pitocin started!  We were getting excited!  I sipped on chicken broth, red jello, sprite, and popsicles throughout the day and into the night, as I was not allowed to eat anything and I had not had anything to eat since 7:30am that morning.  Around 6pm Grandma and Grandpa Calvin and Madison and Makenzie and Ellie came to visit.  It was a nice break in the day.  Contraction started picking up and becoming painful and at 9pm I was able to get in the Jacuzzi tub for a while which was relaxing and helped with the pain.  And it was just nice to be out of the hospital bed after laying down for over 12 hours.  At 11pm I was 4 cm and it was decided the we would break my water and stop the Pitocin since labor seemed to have started.  I asked for an epidural at this point.  Just after getting the epidural I passed out for a moment.  I was fine, but it startled the poor nurses.  Every time I would have to lay directly on my back I would start to feel like I would pass out, so I started to lay on my side for an procedures needing to be done.  Hailey favored my right side so I spent much of my time in this position.  We would try to switch it up and let me lay on my left side, but Hailey didn’t respond well to it, so back my right side I went.  At midnight they broke my water.  With the epidural in I was able to take a short nap.  At 4:30am the nurse checked me and said I was 8-9cm!  I was so excited!  I had been at the hospital for 21 hours and I was ready to meet my baby!  I thought for sure that I would be feeling the need to push soon.  Hours ticked by and I never felt the need to push.  My contractions slowed down and finally at 7am my doctor decided to put me back on Pitocin to help speed up labor.  He checked me and said I was actually only 7cm.  That was a bit disheartening to hear.  I was really hungry and really tired by this point.  Pitocin was restarted and contractions picked back up.  At around 8:30am Josh decided to go grab a cup of coffee.  I thought it would be a while before the baby came so I suggested Starbucks.  He didn’t want to risk it and decided to walk to the hospital coffee shop instead.  At 8:45 am I suddenly felt a lot of pressure.  It was so sudden.  It took me a moment to realize what I was feeling.  And then I realized it was time to push.  The nurse checked me and I was 10cm.  She called the doctor and I called Josh.  The pressure was really intense and waiting for Josh seemed like forever.  As soon as he got back and the doctor was ready it was time.  With one contraction and two pushes Hailey Claire Thorp was born at 8:55am on January 3, 2014.  I could not believe that you were actually here.  It had been such a long day and then it all happened so quickly.  I was instantly in love.  You were 8lbs 4 ounces and 20” long, beautiful, and absolutely perfect.  We feel beyond blessed to have a fourth healthy, beautiful baby girl. 

 

Another Update

Another update.  Kenzie has been throwing up for 36 hours now, atleast 18 times.  We are concerned about dehydration now.  I have been giving her 1.5 tsp of liquid for the past hour and half and so far she has been able to keep it down.  I started giving her Sprite, after having nothing but water for a day an a half and she can't get over how good it tastes.  It has perked her spirits up to get a little sugar in her system.  I feel so bad for the kid.  She already looks smaller, and she is already so tiny to begin with. I am praying she gets over this soon for her sake and so we can enjoy or day together a family tomorrow before the baby comes the following day.  This is by far the worst illness to hit our little family.  We are all ready for it to pass.  And this is so not how I envisioned the last days before we had the baby.  I am thankful that Josh and the girls have been on break and we are able to stay home without missing obligations.  I am thankful that I am already on maternity leave.  I am thankful that the baby has not come yet as it allow more time to get our family and home healthy for her arrival.

Update on our family

Update on pregnancy and our family.

After my last post on Saturday I ended up getting really sick.  At 2am I went into Labor and Delivery to get IV fluids for dehydration.  Being in the L&D room for fluids when you know your baby is healthy and full term is a little disheartening.  But I was in absolutely no shape to have a baby and was so glad that labor didn't start.  While I was at the hospital Josh and Madison were at home throwing up, among other things....  Ellie had thrown up three times on Thursday and it seemed to pass very quickly for her.  Madison was back to her usual self by Sunday morning.  Makenzie started throwing up Sunday night and into this morning.  I think all of the symptoms have finally left the house.  We are resting up and cleaning and sanitizing everything in preparation for the baby. 

I had a doctors appointment this morning and I am 1-2 cm, 75% effaced and cervix is soft.  The doctor offered to strip my membranes but I opted not to in order to give our family one more day to recover before we have a baby.  I am scheduled to be induced on Thursday morning at 8:30 am.  Pray that the hospital doesn't fill up! 

39 Weeks

How far along? 39 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 26 lbs
Maternity clothes? Yes
Sleep? I was sleeping great and then I cam down with the flu a couple of days ago. 
Stretch marks? Nope
Best (pregnancy) moment this week:   I suppose the fact that I didn't go into labor, given that I was so sick and can't imagine labor and being this sick at the same time...
Movement:  Still moving, but more like rolling, no jabs or anything.  Actually it has been pretty awesome, I have been a little worried about the baby since I have been so sick, but every time I needed to feel her move for my own mental comfort, she would move immediately.
Food Cravings: Since I have been sick nothing sounds good.  I've had a lot of apple sauce the past 3 days.
Anything making you queasy or sick: The flu.
Pregnancy Symptoms: Fairly symptom free the past couple of days, though I am finding I cannot do nearly as much as I used to be able to do without being physically and mentally worn out.
Babies Size: 7+ lbs and 20 inches (though I am estimating she is over 8lbs)
Labor Signs: Random contractions here and there.

Due Date:  Who knows now...my "plan" didn't happen.  ;)  I guess she'll come out at some point!
Looking forward to: Being fully recovered from the flu and having a doctors appointment on Monday that will hopefully get some things moving.  I've given up on deciding on a name before we meet her.

 

Today is the day I was hoping to be induced.  I honestly hadn't really planned on being pregnant past today.  I went to the doctor on Thursday and I was not progressed enough to schedule an induction.  And he wouldn't strip my membranes until 39 weeks.  I was so disappointed after the appointment because I had really been planning on him doing both, but by that evening I was really sick. I was up all  night with tons of pain, cramping and throwing up.  I haven't been able to do anything for the past couple of days.  So now, I am so thankful that I did not get my membranes stripped or schedule an induction.  I have an appointment early on Monday morning.  I am hoping their is enough progress to possibly schedule an induction and that I will be able to get my membranes stripped and possibly go into labor on my own by Tuesday.

 

 

 

 

Letter to our Baby Girl

Dear Baby Girl (We are still picking out the perfect name for you),

It is Christmas morning 2013, the house is quiet, everyone else is asleep and I am sitting by the light of the Christmas tree thinking about you.  If all goes according to my plans and hopes for you, I will be holding you in my arms in 2-3 days.  I am so excited to meet you!  Your Dad and I have anticipated your arrival since the moment we found out I was pregnant.  You have three sisters who are beyond excited for their new baby sister to be born.  Little one, you are well loved!

I cannot wait to see what you look like.  God has knit you together for these past 9 months, planning every hair on your head, the color of your eyes, and the shape of your nose.  You are beautiful!   I am so excited to see the personality God has chosen for you, and to watch your strengths and gifts develop.  I can't wait to see what plans God has for your life.  Baby girl you are not even born yet, but God has big plans for your life.  He loves you beyond measure!

Very soon I will get to hold you in my arms.  I will sit up at night nursing you and praying for you.  I will cherish each moment we have together.  Your sisters will love on you with lots and lots of hugs and kisses.  They will be waiting anxiously to share with you their favorite toys and dolls and teach you all of their favorite things.  You will be Daddy's little girl.  You have the best daddy!  He will shower you with love, affection and lots of playtime and attention!  You are loved!

Your Dad and I love you unconditionally.  You do not have to earn it, it is already done, we have fallen in love with you forever and always.  Even when you feel that you are less than perfect, you can know without a doubt that you are loved. 

We pray for you already and will continue to do so every day of your life.  Our prayer is that you would grow up safe and secure in the fact that you are loved by us and by your heavenly Father.  We pray that you would develop the characteristics that God have given uniquely to you and that you would use those traits to honor and serve the Lord.  We pray that you would be characterized by loving others and loving God. 

We love you baby girl.  We cannot wait to meet you!

Love always and forever,
Mom