She's here!!!

Alana Carrigan Jeane
Weight/Height:6 lbs 8 oz/19.5 inches

I went in for a scheduled amnio Monday morning My results finally came back at 12:30 pm. They were mature, so induction was started around 2:30. I was already almost 3 cm cm and 80% effaced. My doc broke my water and pitocin was started. They checked me at 4:30, I was only 4.5 cm. They contractions started getting pretty intense over the next hour and I was freaked out if I was only progressing that much, I wouldn't be able to handle it. I had plans on no meds, especially no epidural. By 5:30, I thought I was gonna die!! I was in so much pain that we finally called anesthesia. They checked me before he started and I was 9 cm (one hour!!) The anesthesiologist was very impressd how I was handling my labor. He only gave me a 'test shot' which helped ease the last 3 contractions before I needed to push. I started pushing at 6:02 and she was born at 6:09!-three contractions worth!!!

She is absolutely perfect! She has to spend the first 24 hours in the special care nursery because she was only 36 weeks but she is doing great and all has been normal-breathing on her own , maintaing body temp. She is a little tired and doesn't want to eat but is latching on great! She has tons of hair too!! Elliott thinks she's pretty special.

Praise God!!!

My dad went into surgery around noon yesterday. They found there was a giant cyst ?on or in? his spleen and his spleen was filled with fluid. They thought maybe they could just drain the fluid at first, but that would not solve the problem. So, they decided to take it out. Luckily, his platelet count had increased since removing the aneurysms in August. We didn't hear from my mom until 6 something. He was in surgery until at least 4:30 and was still in recovery. When they took out his spleen, it was the size of a basketball! They also removed a portion of his small intestine because the spleen was pushing on it so much that the intestine wasn't functioning properly. Then, they found a blood clot in his liver. This just baffles me...the man who had such a low platelet count, he would always bleed a lot now has a blood clot! He is going to start blood thinners Saturday or Sunday. So, as I stop my blood thinners, dad will be starting. I'm so thankful that he came through the surgery. God is great! Please continue the prayers as I am sure the road to recovering completely will be painful.

On another note, I had my OB appt yesterday. I am still 2 cm but am now 80% effaced and baby is still low. Our amnio is scheduled for 10:15 am on Monday. I was given the ok to do some things this weekend and can also eat breakfast (not greasy!!) on Monday. The doctor is pretty confident I will be able to have her Monday. We are too. We're getting so excited. We got some of the things I ordered for her room and hopefully will receive the final piece before she gets here. Keep watching my blog for news! We wil be sending out an email as soon as we can after she's born for everyone to see our little princess!

Take care and God Bless.

Please Pray!

My father is still having complications from his spleen surgery at the beginning of August. He has been experiencing severe abdominal pain and frequent temperatures between 100-102, almost daily. Last week he had another round of blood work and CAT scan. They found out from the scan that his spleen is dying and turning to mush and is enlarging even more so than before, causing his other organs to be smushed together. Today they informed him that he has a blockage in his spleen, source unknown. They advised him to leave work and immediately go down to the Cities (St Paul, MN) and get admitted to the hospital. Tomorrow they will determine what type of surgery needs to be done and the source of the blockage. If they have to take his spleen, it is a VERY serious, risky surgery because of his low platelet count. Please pray for wisdom and knowledge for the physicians treating him and peace and strength for him and my mom. My brother and I are not able to be there at all, as my brother is 12 hours away in Michigan and obviously we're still waiting for little one to arrive. We can only pray, but need all the support we can get. He's a strong man and hope that his stubbornness pays off for him during this time.

Take care and God Bless.

SURPRISE!!

Well, I am now officially 34 weeks 2 days. We had an appt today and I have progressed to 2 cm, 60% effaced and her head has moved down. We also had an ultrasound and she is over 5 1/2 lbs! The biggest concern is to have me off the blood thinners for 48 hours and not have me delivering a huge baby! So, we are having an amniocentesis on Sept 24th (or 25th) to make sure her lungs are developed. If that is clear, which I am assuming it will be considering I had steroids, we will have her that day! The doc will break my water and take it from there. The day I had Elliott, I was 3 cm and that's when the doc broke my water, so I would see it going about the same. I see myself progressing to 3 cm by the 24th.

So, we are very excited! We had just a few odds and ends to get taken care of before her arrival. We have come to realize that we don't have any dresses for her, so we will be excited to get some for her!! We have cute shoes and tights to go with them!

Well, I can't think of anything else right now...12 days to go!!

Elliott's new room

Elliott's room is officially finished! The painting is done, also added a border and removable stickers and curtains. His room is CARS/NASCAR. I have to say it's pretty darn cool. Saturday was his first night in his new room and he did great. Now, he has his books in his room, which he thinks is great!

I am 33 weeks today, only 4 weeks left on bedrest! Yeah! I would really like to have her the last week of September after all of this, but I don't think it's going to happen. So, we will shoot for the first week October, at the latest. She seems to be ahead on weight, and I don't want to deliver a linebacker!! I have an appt tomorrow, so will update after that.

With Jonathan's parents help, we got the dividing wall up on the deck and all of baby girl's newborn and 0-3 month clothes washed. We just have to get some things for her room to make it more girly :)

Enjoy the pics of Elliott's new room!

PICS

I am adding a few cute pictures. Earnie on his "throne", my Aunt and me when they stopped and visited me and Elliott with his gma and gpa D. Also, he is holding his favorite new toy-Rocket and friends from "Little Einsteins".