Hayden is 3 weeks old!

My sleeping baby girl

Smiling in her sleep. I love it!

She loves her fuzzy blanket!

This baby loves sleeping on her belly!


So yesterday, we had a 3 week check-up at the dcotor for Hayden. She has had to go more frequently than normal, since she has had some weight issues. We were very excited to find out that she is now 8 lbs. 13 oz., 22 in. long, and doing VERY well! The nurse made a comment that I must be making CREAM instead of milk! Haha! We really love our pediatrician...he really seems to love what he does...and even stopped in the middle of examining Hayden and just said "You are just too cute!" That made me happy since I know that it can be hard to find a good pediatrician. We now don't have to go back to the doctor until she is 2 months old! Yay! I am really surprised at how quickly she is growing up. I mean, she's only 3 weeks old, but it seems like just yesterday we brought her home from the hospital. I'm hoping it all slows down a bit so I can REALLY enjoy each second.

Baby Hayden is here!!

It's official! We're parents! Not that you care, but here's the story......

On November 13, I went to Fetal Diagnostics for an NST (Non Stress Test) at Hoag. My blood pressure was pretty high and a few other tests were elevated as well, so my Dr. decided it was time to induce me!! I was admitted to a LDR room...with the most INCREDIBLE view I might add! The started pushing the pitocin at about 12:30 pm...I continued to labor throughout a LONG LONG night. At about 1 am I couldn't handle the pain anymore and asked for an epidural...but naturally the Anesthesiologist was in an Emergency surgery and couldn't get to me for 2 hours. Let me repeat....2 HOURS!!!!!!! Finally, they checked me at 3 am...I was 5 cm and 90% effaced. I got my epidural and managed to get an hour or 2 sleep. At 6 am they woke me up to check me. I was 10 cm, 100% effaced, and -2 station. In other words....it was time to push! So, at 6:40 am I started pushing. The nurse was awesome and helped me push so it was most effective. Josh had one leg, Mom had the other...and together we got to work! Or so we though...I pushed until 7:15 am and was making awesome progress, when my nurse told me to lay on my side because her shift was over and it was time for a new nurse to come in. WHAT!?!?!?! In the middle of me pushing, you're going to STOP ME!!!!!! Yeah...needless to say, I wasn't happy. So, about 20 minutes later a new nurse came in. Naturally, it was the stupid nurse from hell that I had dreaded the entire time. She walks in, looks at me, and says ok...you can start pushing again. Josh gets my leg again, Mom gets the other, and the nurse is wandering around the room doing who-knows-what while Josh is counting and helping me push through the contractions. After pushing through 2 contractions, the nurse finally goes to where she's supposed to be and looks....and says "Wow...I guess you are ready...I should call the doctor...lay on your side while we wait for her to get here!" WHAT!?!?!?!?!! Once again, I'm in the middle of pushing and you're going to STOP ME!!!!! This time...I sat there for 35 minutes...panting through the contractions cause I wanted to push SO BADLY! Dr. Grouse finally got there...I pushed through 2 contractions, and low and behold....we had ourselves a baby girl at 8:19 am!! Only 20 1/2 hours of labor...and they gave me a baby girl. I feel so blessed.

At 8:19 am on November 14, 2008 Hayden Jo Stofle was born. She weighed 7 lbs. 13 oz. and was 20 1/2 in. long. She looks like her daddy...but has mommy's lips.

We were in the hospital until Sunday, November 16...when they (surprisingly) let us go home. I say surprisingly, because my blood pressures the night before we were supposed to go home were higher than they had ever been before. They let us go anyway...

It was a fantastic experience. I still can't believe that I pushed that little bundle of joy that I had been growing inside of me for 9 months out of me. She truly is a miracle. Below, I will post some pictures of Hayden Jo. Enjoy!!

Hayden just after she was born!

Happy Grandmas!

Happy Daddy!!

Pictures of ME over the last 6 months!

8 months

7 1/2 months (at my baby shower)

7 months

6 1/2 months

Pictures of Hayden over the last 6 months!

Hayden's face...too beautiful!

The 3D/4D ultrasound...at about 30 weeks!

Her foot....even that is cute to me!

This is Hayden at 28 weeks...look at those chubby cheeks!

I love this...legs crossed like a true lady and waving "Hi!"

Hayden Jo...at about 18.5 weeks!

We're BAAAACK!!!

So, I discovered that the last time I had posted was when I was 12 weeks pregnant! Wow....how time flies...I am now 37 weeks 5 days pregnant! My pregnancy has been great...I was pretty miserable throught the 1st trimester, but not as bad as many people are...the 2nd trimester was a breeze, and we found out we are having a little GIRL (YAY!!!)...and the 3rd trimester brought me back to work and back to exhaustion, a sore back, and swollen feet/ankles. Our little girl, Hayden Jo, has been growing perfectly throughout the entire pregnancy. She has measured about 2 weeks ahead every time we had an ultrasound. This is totally to be expected since Josh is such a monster (he was about 10lbs. 9oz. and 24 in. when he was born!).

On October 30, a day before I was 36 weeks, I went to a regular doctor's appointment, and they discovered that my blood pressure was VERY high...like 158/98. They took it about 5 more times, and it only went down a little bit, so they sent me to Hoag for observation (SCARY!). I was admitted into a Labor and Delivery Room, put in a gown, hooked up to monitors for about 4 hours, diagnosed with mild preeclampsia, before they finally released me to go home to complete bed rest. I am pretty much allowed to go from bed, to couch, to bathroom, to shower, and up/down the stairs once a day. THAT'S IT! It was a scary realization while sitting in the hospital bed with talks of inducing me that night that I totally did not feel prepared. I had not washed all of her clothes, the bassinet and pack 'n play weren't put together, I didn't have her coming home outfit picked out, no bags packed for myself, and I guess just mentally I did NOT feel ready at just 36 weeks pregnant! Anyway, I'm now almost 38 weeks, and have been able to control my blood pressure and all other preeclampsia symptoms pretty well with bed rest. I go to fetal diagnostics at Hoag 2 times per week for an NST (Non-Stress Test) where they hook me up to fetal monitors and monitor Hayden's heart rate and my contractions for about an hour. They also do an ultrasound to check the amniotic fluid level, and blood tests to see how my kidney and liver function are. It's a nerve wracking process to go through each time, as I'm afraid there's going to be something wrong every time I go in there. Luckily, everything has been okay.

So, at my doctor's appointment yesterday, which my wonderful mom and husband accompanied me to, I found out that they are most likely going to admit me and induce me tomorrow! Ahhh! I have some definite worries with being induced, especially since I am only 1 cm. dialated and 50% effaced right now. My doctor said it could potentially end up being a 2 day labor.....oh great. I guess the only thing I want at this point is for the health and well-being of my little girl to be perfect, and for myself to come out of this without any more complications. I am totally open to having a C-Section (which I think is a high possibility), which I have heard is good that I am so mentally prepared for that option.

Anyway, I just wanted to update...eventhough this is a ridiculously long post. I hope to become more consistent with the blog posts once Hayden is born so I can share pictures and keep everyone updated!

Please keep me, Josh, and baby Hayden in your prayers as we continue this journey.....

12th week!

I am 12 weeks today!!

Josh and I got to go to our first consult with my OB today. It was great to finally meet the Dr. and RNP. I feel like they are going to be great match with me. Dr. Grouse seems like a very laid back person with a good sense of humor. She said we're probably looking at a C-Section due to the fact that Josh was 10 lb. 9 oz. and like 25 in. long when he was born at about 36 weeks! We also got to hear the babies heart beat again today....for all of about 5 seconds...and it sounded perfect! According to the RNP, the baby would NOT sit still. We kept hearing a "whoosh" sound, which meant the baby was moving around. She spent about 5 minutes running all over my belly trying to find where the heart beat was, and was only able to hear it in the background for about 2 seconds again. Anyway, once it comes time to be able to actually feel the baby moving, she said it is going to be a VERY active baby. Lucky me!

I am getting more and more excited now. It is all feeling a bit more real now...

WE'RE HAVING A BABY!!!

I am 11 weeks today!!! Yay!!!

Updates

So, today I got to tell everyone at work that I am pregnant! It was so great, after 6 weeks of keeping it a secret, to FINALLY get to share the exciting news with the rest of my co-workers. They were all very happy for me and for my mom (Grandma Fisher)!

Also, I am happy to say that I was finally able to find an OB to go to! My gynocologist referred me to an OB, but as it turns out, she is not accepting new patients. So, they referred me to someone in their same practice, but located in Irvine instead of Newport. Since I had 2 requirements (to deliver at Hoag Hospital and that they took Blue Cross PPO) I was afraid it would be really difficult to find a doctor. I am very happy that the doctor they referred me to in Irvine, Dr. Grouse, meets all of my requirements! I made an appointment for May 14th for Family History and May 28th for an actual exam with Dr. Grouse. I guess I am just excited that this is all moving along...and I really am pregnant! Ha ha! I'm so excited to be a mommy...

Since this our first blog...first post...I figured we should post our first picture of our first child!

This ultrasound is when I was 7 weeks 2 days!! I know...baby looks like a fish!!