Welcome Randi Lyrae

Randi Lyrae Hire born August 18th, 2009 at 11:38a.m. She weighed 6 lbs 11oz and was 20 inches long. She has tons of dark hair and is just the most beautiful sight I've ever laid my eyes on. I love her so much already. I started getting contractions at 12:30a.m. the morning of the 18th and went into the hospital at 2:00a.m. They checked me right when I got there and I was at 2cm. They hooked me up to the monitors which showed that I was barely having any contractions at all. They then again checked me an hour from that and I was still at 2cm so they sent me home. As soon as I got home I started having severe back labor. Ladies, if you haven't experienced labor, it is the most excruciating pain you will ever feel in your lives. (don't want to scare you but it's indescribable pain). The contractions were less than a minute a part and were lasting over a minute with each one. I managed to stay at home for a couple hours after they discharged me for the first time but I just couldn't take it any longer. We went back to L&D and they no sooner got me hooked up to the monitors and I got checked and the nurse started moving very quickly. I asked her what I was dilated to and she said "You're at a 9, you're going to have this baby soon!" Excuse me, what???? I was freaking out. I started sobbing hysterically because I knew at that point there was no room for an epidural or pain medication of any sort. I literally thought I was going to die. I didn't know how I was going to be able to live through any more pain than I had already been experiencing. Everyone was moving very very quickly. They got me to a room, my husband managed to call my labor team in and within about 20 minutes they were all there. The doctor came in and was scrubbed and ready to go and he checked me and, a great thanks to the Lord for this one, I was really only dilated to 7cm. The nurse who checked me previously was obviously a little off. They called the anesthesiologist in and got me an epidural and after that I quickly calmed down. We arrived at the hospital for the second time at 7:00a.m. and Randi was out by 11:38a.m. The whole process seemed very very quick but I was actually in labor for about 12 hours. The pictures are mostly from when she was just minutes old. My dad, Randy is holding her in the first one. Only fitting as she was named after her Grandpa. We're so over the moon in love with this little girl. I just can't stop looking at her. I barely stayed in the hospital for 24 hours. We went in at 7:00a.m. on the 18th and were released by 1:00p.m. on the 19th (by the way, the 19th was my 3 year wedding anniversary and we couldn't have asked for a better present than what we got, our daughter). I haven't slept really but maybe 5 or 6 hours in 3 days but I just can't take my eyes off this girl. She's perfect in every way. She's the best eater and sleeper and almost never cries.

This will probably be my last post. I have gotten what I need from this blog, all your support got me through the most difficult time I had ever faced in my life. My life has started a new chapter now that I'm more than thrilled to begin. I will continue to follow your posts as I think of you girls often and want so badly for your miracles to come as I know they will. I can't thank you enough for all the support you gave me. I will continue to do the same for you. Thanks girls!!!

38 weeks

Wow, 38 weeks today. Where does the time go? It's been a little over a week that I've been on bedrest and I'm not as bored as I thought I would be. And surprisingly I thought I would be taking many naps throughout the day but I have yet to take one. What I'm doing, I'm not really sure, but something seems to be occupying my day. My appointment last Thursday went well. BP is good, urine is clear and I only gained a pound from the week before. I didn't get my cervix checked so not sure if I'm dilated any more or not. I will get checked this Thursday when I go back to the doctor though. I'm hoping she comes soon, I'm ready to see her.

Shower

Had my baby shower and it was all that I could have ever hoped for. Almost everyone invited showed up, the food was great, the presents were absolutely adorable, but most importantly, I ACTUALLY had a baby shower!!! Something at one point and time I thought would never happen. I had been working on a slide show to present at the shower recapping all of our struggles to have this little girl and let me tell you, there was not a dry eye in the place. My goal wasn't to make anyone cry but let's face it, infertility sucks and it's bound to bring many tears. But at the end of the show, they were tears of joy. The song that played during the slide show couldn't have been more appropriate. It's called 'I would die for that' by Kellie Coffey. You have to check it out. It applies to all of us infertiles. I didn't get any pictures with my camera but plenty of others did so when they send them to me I will try and post them. I'll be 37 weeks tomorrow and this little girl will then be considered full-term. Next appointment is on Thursday.

36 weeks 3 days

Well, ladies, I'm on bed rest. I've had some serious excessive swelling and rises in my blood pressure so I'm off work until this baby comes. I'm a fingertip dilated but the doc doesn't think this baby is coming any time soon. And wow, do they really have to reach up that far to check your cervix??? I swear I could feel his hand in my throat. The baby's heart rate was much higher than what it normally is and it kind of concerned me but no one else was concerned so I ate my fears. Next appointment, next Thursday. What ever am I going to do on three weeks of bed rest???? Hmmm, I'll have to get some good books to read.

36 weeks

Well, I'm still chugging along. I've decided that work is what is making me miserable these days. I get so swollen from being there, my blood pressure goes up and my back hurts from sitting in my chair at my desk all day long. And, I've been working seven days a week so I don't really get a break. My blood pressure was pretty elevated when I was at work on Saturday and my hands were swelling which hasn't been happening so I went to get checked out at the hospital. Bloodwork, and urine all came back just fine and my blood pressure was back down to normal levels before I left there. Of course, the on-call doc thought I was overreacting and I kind of wanted to smack him. He literally said that I was overreacting and I said well, I'd rather be safe than sorry. We all know, pregnant women and high blood pressure aren't a good combo. I have my 36 week appointment this Thursday and we'll see what my doctor says about taking me out of work by the end of this week. I only have this week and next left to work but I'd rather be out now. Not that I'm in any kind of pain or anything or that I'm so miserable that I can't take it, it's just that my symptoms get worse and worse each day that I'm here, so why not take off early if I can? My doctor's pretty laid back so I doubt he'll let me out earlier than I had anticipated taking off. My shower is this weekend and I have a feeling it's going to be a pretty emotional day. There was a long time there where I thought I would never make it far enough into a pregnancy to be able to have a shower. I still can't believe she's going to be here in just four weeks.
On another note, my blogger friend Stace had her babies on Sunday. I'm really excited for her. Although her twins were over twelve weeks early, they're troopers and I'm sure will come out of the NICU earlier than expected. Congrats Stace!!!

35 weeks

35 weeks down, only 5 more to go. Crazy. It's coming up so fast. I'm so excited and really quite scared too. I know I will love being a mom, I'm not scared about that. I'm quite honestly scared about the delivery. I tend to be a little bit of a hypochondriac about things so, go figure, every irrational thought is running through my head of what "could" happen but probably wouldn't in a million years. But, I know I'll get through it because, after all, women do this all the time, right??? Okay, enough about that. I've gained almost 40 pounds thus far, yuck. Hope it comes off later. And I know I haven't taken a belly pic in a while, but I don't seem that much bigger but it feels like there is literally no more room in there. My stomach feels stretched to the max. It's getting harder to breathe and her kicks and punches rather hurt sometimes. I swear she's gonna just punch her way out of there. And even though I sit at a desk all day at work, I am soooo uncomfortable and sore by the end of the day. Imagine what would happen if I had to stand all day? How do some women do it? Well, that's all I have for today.

34 weeks, 4 days

Had my 34 week appointment yesterday and we've established that I've been having Braxton Hicks contractions. I've been getting what feels like period cramps on and off for the past few days and apparently that's what contractions feel like??? Blood pressure's good, urine is clear and I gained another three pounds. We have our last two week appointment and then it's down to every week. Can't believe we only have five and a half weeks left to go. It's a little scary but I'm so ready for it. I'm getting so unbelievably uncomfortable. No position I'm in feels good, but it's par for the course.