Madelyn Jane Fowler

And now that we're keeping the blog going, here is some of the information missed since our last post.

Madelyn (Maddie) Jane Fowler was born on October 27, 2009. She weighed 7lbs and 1 oz, 20 inches long and born at 2:31 pm.

Birth Story (Kinda long)

I last posted that I was 4 cm dilated and 80% effaced and that the nurse said I would most likely have Maddie over the weekend, well as we know I didn't got into labor over the weekend and went back for my scheduled appointment on Monday. Dr. Jones said I was still 4cm dilated but now I was 100% effaced, he said he didn't feel comfortable letting me spontaneously go into labor since everything would happen pretty quickly so he called and reserved a room for the following morning at Presby Hospital. His famous words were, "Would you like to have this baby tomorrow" and my answer was, "You bet!" I was beyond excited, we would have our baby in the next 48 hours for sure!

It was nice knowing that I was going into the hospital at a certain time, there was not mad rush to get out of the door, Clay didn't speed off on two wheels leaving me behind in the dust holding my suitcase like you see on TV. Nope, I was able to get up and take a shower, have breakfast and drive to the hospital with the anticipation of bringing home my baby instead of wondering if it was a false alarm. I remember eating my bowl of cereal that morning in silence and thinking how this was my last meal in a quiet house...and I was right :)

We got to the hospital around 7:15 am, we were introduced to our nurse Brittain who I instantly liked. We were settled into our room by 7:45, hooked up to the monitors and ready to go! Brittain asked me once I was hooked up to the monitor if I could feel anything. I told her I didn't feel a thing and she said, "well you just had a contraction". That definitely explains how I got to 4cm without feeling a thing! It was nice to go through pre-labor without feeling any pain, I hope I'm this lucky with my next one! Dr Jones came into the room at 8:15 to break my water, he said I could have an epidural at this point but I thought nah, I can do this for a couple more hours- no problem. Yeah right! By 7cm I was begging for the aneseiologist, Brittain said it would be another 30 minutes or so before he could get there...oh great! By the time the aneseioligist got there (10:45 am) my contractions were coming one after another with hardly any time to take a breath! I couldn't talk, I couldn't breathe, all I could do was focus on this horrible pain in my belly. After the epidural kicked in I was in heaven- I could talk, breathe, joke with family- it's amazing how these things work! I could have kicked myself though for not having it at 4cm when I had the opportunity...oh well, too late now!

After an hour or so I started feeling pain on my left side, I told the nurse that I didn't think the epidural "took" on that side. She checked me and said, "Nope, it took. You're just 10 cm now and that's pressure your feeling, are you ready to push?" WHAT! Okay, I wasn't expected to hear that...and so began the pushing! Ugh, my least favorite part! I pushed for about an hour and half and was making progress but very little. After Dr. Jones checked on me several times, I finally told him I was tired and weak and that I didn't think I could go much longer. He asked if he could use a vacuum to assist and I said, "You bet!" I knew how the vacuum worked from my childbirth preparation course and was familiar with the process. The word vacuum sounds a lot scarier than it really is. So Dr. Jones suited up, turned on the brightest lights I've ever seen overhead, and prepped me for the final push! And with one push, I heard, "Amy, look down and see your baby!" I opened my eyes and there she was, the most beautiful baby I had ever seen! It was a moment I'll never forget!!! She was absolutely perfect! At 2:31 pm, Miss Maddie made her appearance into the world and I was overjoyed!!!

My overall experience was great, I think I deserved a stress-free, uneventful labor after everything I went through to get her here. She is the love of our lives and I'm so thankful for all my family and friend's prayers that got her here safely. She's my little miracle and a huge blessing to our family! :)

Update! :)

I had (hopefully my last) doctor's appointment today, my doctor was out again delivering a little one so I had to see another OB. He checked to see if I had made anymore progress and he confirmed that I was 4 centimeters dilated and 80% effaced!! :) He made it seem like she could come any day now. The nurse told me to make my next appointment for Monday but she said most likely that she wouldn't see me. So that's where we stand, Maddie could be here before the weekend is over! :) I'm ready and so excited for her to get here!!! We'll keep everyone posted!

Feeling Great!

The appointment went well today, the cerclage removal went smoothly. Although a little painful and lots of discomfort, it was as I suspected it would be and I'm glad it's out! We got to see the little blue stitch that held our baby girl in for all these weeks, pretty emotional. The doctor then checked me to see if I was dilated and sure enough I was...2 centimeters! Clay was shocked but from all the research (reading baby books and watching baby shows in the past 4 months) I know that some woman can go a couple weeks being 2 cm dilated so it wasn't as shocking for me to hear but I'm really excited! Dr says it could be anytime or I could still go to my due date, there's no way of knowing at this point so the waiting game continues...I have another appointment with him next Thurs. the 22nd!

I feel good now, not a lot of pain and the best part is I'm off bedrest! Once I fully recover, I'm going to take very short walks around the neighborhood since I haven't walked a whole lot in the past 4 months, I want to prepare my body for labor and delivery.

I just want to thank everyone again for all the prayers and support, we have amazing friends and family and we couldn't have gone through all this without you all helping us along the way.

Nursery Pics- Finally finished!

The pink explosion (as Clay likes to call it) is finally finished! We're 36.5 weeks now...not too much longer!

Lots of clothes!

Claudette painted the letters for Madelyn, she did such a great job!

Soon to be pictures of Madelyn and family...

Clay and Larry MADE these beautiful bookshelves!

Maternity Pictures- 33.5 weeks!

Officially 9 months pregnant! Holy Cow!!

Wow, I'm so happy we made it this far without further complications...I truly feel blessed and I know that God has been answering many, many prayers!

I had my doctor's appointment today, the doctor was very pleased with everything and we went ahead and scheduled the cerclage removal for next Tuesday the 13th! He said it should be a pretty simple procedure that he can do in the office...I hope, we'll see. He also confirmed again that I would be off bedrest completely, woo hoo! And...I don't have to take my progesterone anymore, yay!

So baby could be here in a week to 4 weeks...we're definitely ready. Nursery is completely done and I'll post pics soon! Thanks again for all the support and prayers!!!

35 weeks today and only 35 days (or less) to go!!!

Today marks 35 weeks...woo hoo! I can't really say that time is flying by but it is going by faster than when I was first put on bedrest. I can't believe it's been 14 weeks since I first went on bedrest, when all is said and done it will probably be a total of 4 months! The good news is in two weeks exactly, I will be completely off bedrest!!! :)

No doctor's appointment this week but I go back next Wednesday the 7th, at that appointment we'll set up a date for the cerclage to come out...will probably be the 14th! :)

This weekend we have our childbirth preparation class (all day on Saturday...sorry Clay) so I'm looking forward to that!

Will post again next week, thanks for all the prayers!!