Final Body Shots

So I compiled my side profile pictures showing the progression of my growing belly during the pregnancy. It is pretty neat to see how I progressed along the way. The first picture starts at 4 weeks and pictures were taken every 2 weeks until 38 weeks. The pink and gray flannel pants picture was taken the day after Kiley was born. The last picture was taken 2 weeks after Kiley was born. Overall, I gained 37 pounds. I was 179 pounds the day I had Kiley and three days later I was still 170 pounds! I was sad. I was feeling a bit better when two weeks later I was around 154 pounds. It was frustrating to pick out something to wear. I was too small for my maternity clothes but too big for my pre-pregnancy clothes so I opted for wearing pajamas all day. It was not like I was going anywhere! I have also included a link to my pregnancy album where there are more pictures than what is below. "Pregnancy Pictures"

Week Two

At Kiley's two week check up she weighed 7 pounds and 6 ounces (30th percentile for her age and sex) and was 20.25 inches tall (45%). Her doctor was very pleased with her growth. At her one week check up, her doctor recommended that we do tummy time with her. Kiley was barely wake enough to eat, and we were supposed to have tummy time! We did try tummy time with her a few times this week, and she made us proud. Kiley lifted her head a few times and managed to turn her head from one side to the other. Not much more happened during tummy time other than her kicking her legs. Also, it didn’t take too long for Kiley to get aggregated with tummy time, and Jeremy would rescue her and end tummy time. Below is a Google video of one of her tummy time experiences. Kiley likes to kick her legs!
"Tummy time video"

Week One

Kiley was 6 pounds 4 ounces when we left the hospital. By her one week check up, she was at 6 pounds 5.5 ounces. Her doctor was glad to see she was almost back at her birth weight. She had 2 weeks to get back to her birth weight, but she didn’t waste much time! She sleeps a lot. The day we got home from the hospital everything was going well until that night. I took a shower, and then it was time for Kiley to eat. I didn’t stay clean for long. Kiley threw up on me after she ate, which scared her and me. After we got her calmed down, I was changing her diaper, and she started choking. I immediately picked her up and started patting her back. It wasn’t two seconds later when I felt a warm sensation down my stomach. Kiley pooped on me. Needless to say, I took another shower. I did get pooped on again later in the week. I was changing her diaper and was wiping her bottom when projectile poop shot at me. It got on me and the couch. I quickly learned to keep the diaper up to prevent that from happening. Jeremy and I learned a lot about diapers this week. We managed to go through 3 diapers in one changing. Kiley likes to wait to get a clean diaper before she poops or pees! Nothing much more happened this week. Even though Kiley is sleeping most of the day, I still don’t seem to have much time to get anything around the house done!

Kiley is Here!

When labor actually begins is not always clear. I have decided to start Kiley's birth story from here:

On Wednesday December 3rd, Jeremy and I went for my 38 week check up. Dr. Graham said I was dilated to a “loose” one. She could have stretched me to 2 cm but she didn’t want me to go into labor. Dr. Graham is a big Alabama fan and they made it to the SEC Championship. Graham was having a BIG party and would be out of commission from 4 pm on Saturday to 4 am on Sunday, meaning she was not going to be able to deliver Kiley if I were to go into labor during that time frame. I was then paranoid that I would go into labor and Graham would not be able to deliver me. I told her I was just going to show up at her house if I did go into labor during the game.

Well, my friend Ashley had stopped to visit me Friday December 5th on her way home to Melbourne, FL from Alabama. I asked how long she was going to visit, and she didn’t know. I told her if she would stay until Sunday I would have Kiley then. Jeremy and Ashley laughed at me because they said I could not decide when Kiley was going to come. Saturday night Ashley asked Jeremy and me what the signs of labor and when we were to head to the hospital. We were a little fuzzy on the specifics. Ashley decided to pick up my book “What to Expect when Expecting” off the floor and give us a quick refresher course. Later that night while we all were watching tv, I told Ashley and Jeremy I thought I was having a contraction and that Kiley would be coming the next day. They bought laughed at me again.

It all started Sunday December 7th at 4 am with me waking up thinking that my water had broke. I really wasn’t sure if my water broke because I was not wet nor was the bed. I just figured that I caught the very beginning of my water breaking and made it to the bathroom in time. Since, I wasn’t sure if my water had broken, I decided to get back in bed and time what I thought were contractions. Jeremy woke up at 4:15 am and asked what I was doing holding a light and my running watch. He soon figured I was timing contractions. He knew we were to head to the hospital if my water had broke, but I told him lets go back to bed and wait a bit longer to make sure I was really in labor. Being 4 am, he agreed. However, my contractions were 4 to 5 minutes apart and lasting from 45 seconds to a 1 minute, and I decided to call the hospital. They told me to come in if I thought my water broke, and they could do a test to determine if it did indeed break. If my water broke, they would admit me; if not, they would send me home. I woke up Ashley to let her know we were heading to the hospital and I would call if I was admitted.

By the time we got to the hospital, it was around 6 am. I almost got sick on the ride in the elevator to the evaluation room. I figured it was my nerves; I later found out it was the labor process making me sick. Well, the test was positive that my water did break, and at 6:30, I was dilated to almost 4 cm. As soon as they wheeled me into my room, I felt sick again. The nurse barely got Jeremy a bucket in time for me to get sick. I got sick several times. The nurse gave me Phenergan in my IV, and I got sick 10 minutes later. They tried another medicine but that didn’t help. I was pretty much getting sick with every contraction. Dr. Graham came in to check on me. I told her I didn’t feel well, and she said I didn’t look well! Jeremy later told me that with every contraction my eyes would roll back in my head and my lips with clinch and only my teeth would show. He said it was pretty scary looking. She recommended the nurse give me more medicine, but again it didn’t help. Graham suggested that an epidural may help with the nausea because it could be the pain that was making me sick. I was trying deliver without an epidural. However, I was having a hard time getting through the contractions because I couldn’t determine whether to focus on getting through the pain or not getting sick. I couldn’t do both. If I focused on not getting sick, the pain was really strong, and if I focused on getting through the pain, I got sick. Around 10 am, I was 6 cm dilated and decided to get an epidural hoping it would help with the nausea.

Well, the first epidural was defective. The catheter was not open on the other end so the medicine was not going into my body. The anesthesiologist said he had never had that happen before, and Graham said she had never heard of that happening. Needless to say, he had already taken the needle out so I had to get poked again. Not fun. The second try worked and within 5 minutes I was relaxed enough to sleep. I passed out for about 2 hours, and when I woke up I was dilated to 8 cm.

Shortly after 2 pm, I was fully dilated and ready to start pushing. Before I stared pushing my friend, Lori, said that Kiley would be out in seven pushes. I pushed 7 times and within 10-15 minutes Kiley was born at 2:34 pm. Thank you Lori for that blessing! Not sure how people push longer than that! Attention, the rest of this paragraph could be viewed as graphic by some readers! Read at your own risk. The weirdest/awkward/uncomfortable part of the whole thing was when Kiley's head was half out. I wanted her to go back in or just come out! I didn't like the in between feeling.

Jeremy did very well through the labor process. He patted my leg when I was getting my epidural and played with my hair during the pushing phase. I did not yell at him at all! Jeremy did cut the cord. I was impressed. Then again, I don’t think he had much of a choice because Graham just handed him the scissors.

Kiley weighed 6 pounds 6 ounces and was 19.75 inches tall. (Side note: I also don't know how people give birth naturally to babies bigger than Kiley. Congrats to those mothers that have.) We couldn’t believe we were parents. We were so excited and nervous at the same time. We were now responsible for a child. It was kind of scary too. Kiley was finally here, and we were now a family!

Over the Hill!

Half way there!!! Yesterday we had our mid-pregnancy doctor appointment which lasted a lot longer because the baby was not cooperating! The ultrasound tech could not determine the sex of the baby because it was curled up. She had me go pee and thought that would get the baby moving; it didn't! She said she would try again after my appointment with the doctor because there were still some pictures of the baby that she needed to make sure everything was fine but she couldn't get because of the baby being all curled up. Well the third time is a charm! The baby had woke up and started moving more (maybe because the coke and apple juice I drank finally kicked in!). IT'S A GIRL. We have a name picked out..Kiley Nicole. We do have a back up name for a boy, Luke Wesley. The ultrasound showed that so far everything was fine with the baby. Next time I will have to have another ultrasound because the tech couldn't see the heart or the spine. The heart beat was 142 bmp. As of today, Heather is 20 weeks and has gained 11 pounds. Jeremy is holding steady!

Getting Bigger

I am getting bigger, and the picture proves it! I feel huge looking at it. Despite that I am still getting sick, I am gaining weight. I am up to 10 pounds. I will be 19 weeks on July 22nd. My belly still doesn't show much through my clothes, but I do know my clothes are fitting tighter and there are some I can't wear anymore! Becky gave me great tip about using a rubber band around the button through the hole and back on the button to extend my pants. Works very well! The worst part of the day for me is eating. Food still does not sound too appetizing to me. Jeremy made me lunch the other day and by the time he was done making it, I no longer wanted it. I felt terrible. Jeremy has been wonderful in helping me out, trying to make me as comfortable as possible. I try hard not to be one of those crazy pregnant women demanding things and having mood swings. Jeremy says I don't do that but he my just be trying to be nice. He is wonderful to me.

Peanut is not a Peanut Anymore!

Everything went well our last appointment which was yesterday, Monday June 30th. Heather is 16 weeks today. She has gained about 7 pounds and still gets sick occasionally but it is getting better. At our appointment, our doctor tried to sneak a peak at the sex of baby Bracewell, but our baby was not moving much and our doctor couldn't get a good look. She thinks it might be a girl because she didn't see anything protruding but she said not to buy anything pink yet because she is really not sure. Hopefully next time we will get a confirmation on the sex.

Body Shots

Well they are more like belly shots...The pictures were taken every two weeks starting at 4 weeks and ending at 12 weeks. There is a little bit of difference by 12 weeks.

Unknown Fruit

Today, June 4th, was our second doctor appointment at 12 weeks along in the pregnancy. We got to hear the baby's heart rate again. It was 140 bpm. They say the heartbeat can be an indicator of a girl or a boy. A faster heart rate is usually a girl and a slower heart rate is usually a boy. The average fetal heart rate is 140 bpm according to some website. Go figure that didn’t help much! Well only a few more weeks before the sex of Baby Bracewell is determined.

We get weekly email updates about the developing baby. They usually compare the baby to different fruits sometimes foods. Week 9 the baby was compared to a strawberry, week 10 a shrimp, week 11 a large lime, and week 12 it didn’t give a comparison of a fruit. Everyone kept asking what fruit was the baby…unknown? Week 13 it starts again with the fruits; Heather had to look ahead!

Heather has gained about 5 pounds, and Jeremy has gained about 6 pounds, so far. Jeremy asked the doctor if it was okay to take meth to help with his weight control. She gave Jeremy the okay, but Heather is not allowed any. The second time the doctor has met us and now she probably thinks we are some drug addicts. Heather is still not showing much, but she says her clothes are fitting tighter. The morning sickness is starting subside a bit. The last four weeks Heather had nausea just about all day long. Not fun for either of us. Heather’s sense of smell is very heightened. She can smell and ant fart. She sleeps downstairs sometimes because she swears there is a smell upstairs that makes her sick. Jeremy thinks she is just nuts. He can’t smell anything.

After our second visit with our doctor, we really feel comfortable with her. We have heard great things about her from other couples in the area. Several of our friends at church are seeing her as well. We asked about natural childbirth and liked her response. She is not on a time schedule when it comes to delivery. She won’t call for unnecessary procedures just because it 5 O’clock on Friday.

One more week and we are into the second trimester.

Peanut

We had our first appointment yesterday May 7th and everything went well. The doctor says everything looks great. (looks like a peanut)We had an ultrasound and below is the first picture of Baby Bracewell. In case you can't see the peanut, they have labeled the baby so you can't miss it! Abi, Heather's sister's daughter who is three, called us later that night to ask how peanut was. It was so cute. We didn't realize we were going to be able to hear the heartbeat and when we did it was amazing. It made the pregnancy so real. It was so neat seeing and hearing the baby. The heartbeat was 170 bpm, which is normal they say for babies so early in the pregnancy. According to the ultrasound, the computer gave me a due date of December 16^th, which is the date the doctor will be using. We had a really good feeling about the doctor. We are very comfortable with her. We are so excited!

We're Expecting!

On April 8th, Heather took an at home pregnancy test and a little blue line appeared in the second box. Jeremy doubted the second line because it was so much lighter than the control line. Heather assured him it was a positive test and showed him the instructions. Jeremy was still not sure. Heather made an appointment for later that day for a doctor to confirm.

We thought the doctor was going to do a blood test to confirm the pregnancy since we knew we could not be more than two weeks pregnant. At the doctor's office, they had Heather pee into a cup. Heather was waiting for the nurse to come in to draw blood, but when the door opened it was the doctor. Her first words were "Congratulations!" No blood test was necessary. We were certainly pregnant! The doctor said we were four weeks along. We learned that pregnancy is tracked since missed period not conception, or they add two weeks to the conception date... so begins our start of pregnancy knowledge. Our expected due date is December 18th. Christmas at our house!

Where we trying? Well, we were not preventing!

How do we feel? We are very excited yet nervous. I had found out just that weekend that my friend, Ansley, from Texas is pregnant. We are about a week or two apart. God is awesome; I wanted a friend to be pregnant along with me. We are both glad we are going through this together. We are hoping we can spare our husbands a bit by having each other to talk to about our pregnancies.

Did we have an idea we were pregnant? Looking back there were a few signs. I had been feeling different like dizziness, weakness, work outs were harder for me. Sleepiness was a hard symptom for me because before I got pregnant I was tired all the time! Also Jeremy put his hand on my belly about two weeks prior and thanked the Lord for our child. I had a feeling then that we would be expecting soon. Jeremy really didn't know until I took the pregnancy test and then had it confirmed by the doctor.

Boy or Girl? A healthy baby.