How Mackenzie Grace came to be...

By now, everyone knows that our little princess has arrived and is healthy and happy. We could not be happier and feel more blessed by our bundle of joy. She is absolutely perfect. I had a fairly easy pregnancy and the labor was very similar, thank goodness. We learned during the pregnancy that less than 10% of labors begin with the water breaking and then contractions that follow, but that is exactly what happened for us. It was actually very similar to what you might see in a movie. I had some false labor pains on Sunday, March 25th but nothing major. I was planning to go to work on Monday morning and my lunch was packed and my clothes were laid out and ready to go. I had fallen asleep around 11:00pm and woke up at 11:40 with one pain, which I did not think anything of, but decided to go to the bathroom since I was awake. I knew I would have to go soon regardless. My water broke 2 minutes later! As soon as my water broke I started having contractions. We called the doctor and he told us to head to the hospital. I don't think I have ever seen Craig move so quickly! He had the car packed in less than 2 minutes and was ready to go! We were in the car and headed to the hospital at 12:01am. Go figure that it was 1 minute into our OB's vacation. Oh well! We had a pretty good idea that we would deliver when she was out of town. It all worked out in the end regardless of her absence. By 1:00am we were in the labor and delivery room and I was getting my IV. I had never had one before and it made me slightly light headed and nauseous. After the IV was in the nurse checked my cervix and I was 4cm dilated. Woohoo! That was progress from the previous week at the doctor. Once I had a full bag of IV in me, the anesthesiologist came in to administer the epidural. This is where the fun really began! Apparently I have scoliosis which makes administering an epidural much more difficult. It took FIVE attempts to actually get the epidural in. Now the next step was making sure that it took. Well... here was the second issue. It only numbed the left side of my body, so we had to have the anesthesiologist come back in and adjust it. And just for safe measure, she gave me two more doses of the drugs to really help it kick in. I ended up needing to lie on my side to help numb the right side as well. It eventually took and took REALLY WELL. I could not feel anything from my stomach down. I had absolutely NO body control over my hips and legs. That was a very strange feeling. Once the epidural was in and working the nurse checked my cervix for the second time. Now I was 6cm dilated!!! Since things were progressing they wanted us to try and get some sleep. That was easier said than done for the lady who could not feel half of her body. Craig was able to get to sleep which was really good. I think he got about 3 hours of sleep and I got 3 hours of watching TV. The nurse came back into the room about 6:30am to check my cervix again before the next nurse started at 7:00. Now I was a full 10cm dilated! YAHOO!!! Things progressed very quickly and we were almost ready to start pushing. We waited until about 8:15am to actually start pushing and Dr. Goldman came in about 8:45am. Pushing was difficult because I was so incredibly numb from the epidural. The doctor ended up turning off the epidural to try and give me a little feeling back so my pushing would be more productive. Everything ended up working out and Mackenzie Grace was born at 9:32am. She came out head up which is why we pushed for over an hour. Looking back everything was well worth it. Craig and I would do the whole process over again to get our little miracle in the end. She is absolutely perfect and we could not be more in love with her already.

Baby Mackenzie is Almost Here!

Another couple of weeks have gone by and we are that much closer to our little addition. We went to the doctor yesterday and are progressing right along. 2.5 cm dilated, 70% effaced, and -1 station. We kind of know what that means but kind of don't. The only thing we know for sure is that she will be here before too much longer. At the very latest, Dr. Collins will induce on Monday, April 2nd. We don't think that I will make it that long, but there is always a possibility. I kind of hope that I don't because life is getting much more uncomfortable. I am having a lot of difficulty sleeping and moving around.

We're excited to say the least and can't wait for Baby Mack to be here before we know it! We love you already and can't wait to meet you!

Let the Countdown Begin...

Today was the official start of going to the doctor EVERY week. I thought this time would never come and always seemed so far away. I was wrong-- IT'S HERE! Not the most comfortable appointment I've ever had, but I guess it's all for a good cause. While we don't think she will be making her grand entrance next week; we know she is starting to think about it. I wasn't sure that I even wanted Dr. Collins to start checking this week because it seemed like a long shot, that just shy of 36 weeks, there would be anything. I have been having contractions (Braxton-Hicks) so I thought maybe there might be something. Well, I am 50% effaced and 2 cm dilated. I know this could mean that we still have a few more weeks or she could come at any time. One thing that we found out is that doctors do not like to make ANY predictions regarding going into labor. I think they are probably wrong way more often than they are right. Must have learned over time to just stop doing it! Dr. Collins did say that she thinks there is a good chance that we could go into labor in 2-3 weeks. Possibly the week of March 12th, which is the week of my spring break and would be VERY convenient! What are the odds that she is works on my schedule?!?! Sure would be nice though! We have another appointment next Thursday, so we'll have to wait and see if there is any more progress. In the meantime, there is so much that I want to get done around the house before we have baby girl here. It's probably not all going to get done, but it's nice to make lists and cross things off.

First Video Blog

Here is our first video blog! We, well I, have some improvements to make! You'd think Craig talks to the camera all the time!

Belly Picture Update!

I have not done a good job of staying up to date with the blog lately and with the pictures. Here are some pictures to update how big the belly and getting, and Craig and I are working on the next post which will be video! 

29 weeks. Bowser loves his soccer ball!

30 weeks

31 weeks with mom at my baby shower!

32 weeks and we had to wake Bowser up!

33 weeks! Bowser with his Valentine's puppy.

34 weeks. We are bribing Bowser with a big bone!

In other news, we are an uncle and aunt again!!! Brad and Kelly had their sweet baby boy on Thursday, February 16th. Dylan James Skistimas was 8 lb. 14 oz. and 21.5 inches. BIG boy!!! He is so cute and we can't wait to watch him grow up! He and Mackenzie will be best friends and cousins in no time at all! 

Uncle Craig and Aunt Kristen with Baby Dylan

32 Weeks and Counting

Things just keep moving along everyday. Mackenzie is becoming much more of a realization with every waking moment. Even in dreams too! I have had some pretty crazy dreams about her being her, but especially about the delivery. Dr. Collins said that it's totally normal to be having vivid dreams about the delivery if I'm at all nervous . Well... OF COURSE I'M NERVOUS!!!

We had another doctor's appointment at 31 weeks that went very well. Baby's heartbeat was 146 bpm which is fantastic and where it should be. All of my measurements are right on track and nothing is out of the ordinary. Kenzie is moving much, much more everyday. It's very reassuring to Craig and I that all is well. 

My sister's threw me a baby shower last weekend and it was amazing! They know me so well! It was so nice to have friends and family gather with the anticipation of Mackenzie's arrival. Everyone was incredibly generous with their gifts and time to come to the shower. My Granny came in town again, and that is always such a treat to see her and spend time with her. My cousins from Atlanta flew in for the weekend. Along with my cousins from Houston. It was an incredibly busy weekend, but well worth it. We had a shower for Denise as well last weekend. (She's due 12 days before me!) It will be so much fun for Colin and Mackenzie to be so close in age. 

We continue to get the house ready for Mackenzie to come home. After the shower I got the urge to put together the stroller and the car seat. Once Craig saw it wheeling around the house, it all became a little more real to him. Now we have a stroller and car seat hanging out in our dining room for the next two months. We also got our bouncer, and that's all put together and in her nursery. Today we did a lot of baby oriented running around. I think I might have pushed Craig just a little too much. He was ready to be done by the end of it all. We ended up getting a Pack n Play for the bedroom. It turned out to be a longer process than we originally anticipated. Mostly because I am indecisive! But just like all of the other baby items we have gotten, it is all put together and in it's place in our room. I hope it does not become a junk collector until she occupies it. That will be the hardest part. Craig thinks it will be good for us to look at it everyday. I tend to agree! 

We have so much to look forward to and be grateful for each and everyday. We are trying to soak up the time we have left together just the two of us and looking towards what the future brings. 

Third Trimester, Here We Come!

Things are definitely not slowing down around our house. The floors are officially finished and things are almost all back in their places. It was a long process and not the best experience, but the floors look great! Craig even said that he doesn't mind cleaning them! Mostly because he can still hear the TV and there is nothing to plug in. I'll take what I can get! 

 

Bowser had eye surgery last week. We've known that day was coming since he was 10 weeks old. It's all taken care of, and his eyes are doing awesome! He was super tired the day of the surgery, but has made a full recovery. He is back to his crazy self again! We knew it would not take too long for him to recover. He got a new collar because he chewed up the cone and his old collar.  We like to think that he is a REALLY smart dog and knew exactly what he was doing! The worst part has been that he is not allowed to play with other dogs yet. No dog park and no playing at Grandma's. :( Soon enough. 

The first glucose test came back that everything was just fine. My body can process sugars well, and my iron levels look great! I'd give up the sweets if I had to, but I am sure am happy that I don't have to! We went back to the doctor this week because I wasn't feeling baby girl moving that much. It made me nervous. The doctor had me come in mostly to put me at ease, but just to check anyways. They hooked me up to heart monitor and had me push a button when I felt her move. Well, I didn't feel her move a whole lot, but her heartbeat was strong and steady. And the paper that was coming out of the machine showed that she is indeed moving quite a bit. I just can't feel her. No one is concerned though, so I felt a lot better afterwards. As Craig reminded me, I like to sleep a lot and she is my daughter! Maybe she will be a calm and easy baby! Here's to hoping!!! 

Her room is coming together nicely! All of the bumpers are made and up, and her crib skirt is on the bed. I made a matching valance too! The next step will just be figuring out what we want to do with the walls. It is all making it more and more real that she will be here before we know it. Last week was officially the first week of our last trimester. That's CRAZY!!! I think she's starting to say, "Ready or not here I come!"

Week 27 belly.

Week 28 belly and Bowser in his post surgery cone.

Mackenzie's finished crib

 

More Changes at Our House

It was a long week coming off of the Christmas break. Waking up was definitely more difficult than usual. Craig took his first trip of the new year this week. He is in Washington DC for MAGFest 10. He was really looking forward to it this year. I think this will be his last trip before Mackenzie comes. 

While he is gone, there are some big projects happening around our house. On Friday night, I went to my mother-in-law's house to work on some things for Mackenzie's room. The biggest project is the bumpers and crib skirt for her crib! To say that I helped with those projects is not exactly true. I did learn how to sew a whip stitch though! (I think that's what it was!) She finished the bumpers and I cut the fabric for the crib skirt and made some flowers. Then she surged together the crib skirt (in 5 minutes) and I just watched in amazement! I brought everything home to see how it looked, and I love it! Adding all of the color to the room definitely brings it together. We have to tweak a few things, but everything is well on it's way for her big debut! 

I made this 'M' to hang on her wall.  

Here are the SUPER cute bumpers!

The biggest project going on at the house is our new flooring downstairs. All of the carpet, except the master bedroom, is being pulled up and replaced with wood. Well, laminate! It sure does look like wood though. After a frustrating start to the installation, the workers are well on their way to getting us new floors. I know Kay Kay will be happy that Mackenzie does not have to crawl around on our used to be nasty carpets! 

All of my pictures are from upstairs, so I can be out of the way. Here are some pictures of the progress so far:  

Front entryway

Living Room

 

Almost finished hallway

Living Room is almost complete

 The flooring guys have been working for 4 and a half hours, and have all of the planks laid. They are going back and adding something the bottom of the base boards and the transitions between the rooms. It has created A LOT of dust downstairs. I hope they clean some of it up before they go, or I know what I will be doing for the rest of the night. :( I hope they finish soon for many reasons, but mostly because I am hungry and cannot access anything in my kitchen nor can I leave my house. Mackenzie needs food!