Alessia Callie's Birthday

Well we were admitted to the hospital on Friday night. Of course, this was after we went out for steaks at Outback with Michael's parents. You know, the last supper....
We arrived around 8:30pm, was in our labor and delivery room by 9:00pm where they check you in bedside, nice. IV is inserted, a bag of saline and Magnesium for high blood pressure (PIH) is started.

At 10:30, they give me a dose of Cycotec to rippen the cervix and inducement begins. Two Ambiens later, I am out of it when they give me another dose of Cycotec at 2:45am. THen at 4:25am, I start cramping painfully, then I hear a loupd pop, satup and my water had broken. This was no twinkle, full force and the contractions begin....

I progressing along with cervix dilating and epidural is given by 7:30am, the doctor visits me and starts pitocin. At 3:30pm, I am at 9cm but the baby sill not low. At 4:15, I am 10cm and baby is STILL HIGH!!!

We begin pushing at 5pm and there is decelaration in the baby's heartbeat, not good. I am told that could be that the baby's cord is wrapped around her neck. We push for two hours during which the doctor asks if we would like to attempt vacuum suction. Tried and failed, time for c-section.

At 7:13pm, as my epidural is wearing off, we enter the operating room. I feel a sharp scapal! Must wait another 20 minutes for epidural top off to take effect. They wait 10 minutes and begin the surgery, I feel pressure only by now. At 7:42pm, Alessia Callie Sorola is delivered!

In the labor and delivery, pushing and doctor using the vacuum:




Moving onto the OR for C-section:

Getting ready for baby

One nice thing about getting induced, is the inducement date. We know exactly what day she will arrive. So this week we have been getting ready for the baby. Daisy was sweet enough to spend the week with us and help us prepare. We finalized the nursery, purchased premie size clothing and got last minute items for the hospital stay. Below are pictures of the nursery:

Hospital Information

We are being admitted tommorrow, Friday January 2nd at 8pm at St. Christus Catherine Hospital in Katy, Texas:

CHRISTUS St. Catherine Hospital
701 S. Fry Road
Katy, TX 77450
General Info: (281) 599-5700



Travel directions to hospital from Interstate 10 (the Katy Freeway):

Take the Fry Road exit.
Go south on Fry Road to Brittania Drive.
Take a left on Brittania Drive.
The Birthing Center entrance is on the right

39 weeks - Induction scheduled

At our 39th week appointment, Baby Alessia is still NOT ENGAGED. The doctor ordered an ultrasound to see how big this baby actually is. My blood pressure was slightly elevated at 130/90, the week before it was 120/78. Maybe it was all the food I ate over Christmas, LOL.

The ultrasound measurements had Alessia at least two weeks behind, with an estimated weight of 6lbs and 11oz.

Doctor recommended us to schedule an induction due to the baby not growing much in the last two weeks coupled with an elevated blood pressure.

So Friday night I will be admitted and started with p-gel to rippen the cervix. The doctor will come Saturday to break my water if I am 2cm dilated. Then they will start me on Pitocin.

This is exactly what I didnt want to do so I am a little bummed but at least we will finally get to meet her this Saturday! Pray for us!

38 weeks - still no signs of labor

We had a 38 week appointment and since the doctor was going skiing in Colorado, he gave me my just in case doctor assignment. But he didnt think I would go into labor since cervix is still closed and baby is not engaged/dropped. He said that if I am 40 weeks and baby has not dropped, it does increase the chance of a c-section.

Christmas is this week! My friend Alex bought baby Alessia a Christmas gift, so sweet, even I didnt do that!

The day after Christmas I will start the old wives' tales to naturally induce labor: excerise ball, walking, sex, EPO and spicy food!

We did get our maternity photo shoot proofs. However they are not photoshopped, no editing, no black/white or sepia tones yet.

37 weeks - Full Term

Well we are in the home stretch, I am medically full term at this point. I had my second internal exam and there was NO cervical change. The GBS test was negative. Dr. Ronen said I was a boring patient, I'll take that as a blessing. He said that Alessia is a 'small baby', what do you mean? 'It will be an easy labor', what the heck does that mean? 'You know a few pushes and she'll be out'. Ummm, yeah, I am not going to count on that. Where is that exercise ball at again?

We also attended the last of our childbirth classes at the hospital. It was good because we were able to ask questions specfic to our hospital's policies and standards. They recommended an epidural for first time moms and to birth at home until 3-4 centimeters because it takes so long to get that point in the beginning. I will labor and deliver in the same room. I will also get to hold the baby immediately after birth for an hour before they take her back to the nursery for temperature check, bathing and glucose testing. Which takes about 3 hours and then they bring her back to me to nurse.

36 weeks - The Last Month

Well I am in the final month and things are a changing. Last month, I gained a good amount of weight, this month not so much but I have had increased hormones and even some severe heartburn. I am up to 35 lbs in overall weight gain, see pics below....

I had my first internal exam and there was NO indication that the labor has begun. Cervix was long and closed, and baby at station -2. A little disappointing but it is still very early. I took the GBS test, aka B-Strep test at this doctor's visit. If results are positive there will be cautionary steps needed during delivery. I am now in the weekly ob appointment stage.

Baby Alessia is:
Vertex - head down
Posterior - She faces my belly, which backwards for delivery

We did take Alessia to her first NFL game. We went to the Houston Texans football game that was a big deal here because its the first Monday Night football game in 14 years. And you thought the first black President was a historical moment....just kidding.





We also had a maternity photo session. We will view the proofs on the 22nd and decide whether to burn them or buy a few. :) It was actually kinda fun, Michael made jokes the entire time. For some reason, he belives he is a seasoned super model! Oh my...

35 weeks - Thanksgiving week

Well we are bummed out as we had to cancel our Thanksgiving plans. We were to fly to Oklahoma to see family but the doctor advised against it so we stayed here in Houston. We did enjoy a great Thanksgiving feast at Marissa's mom's house with her and Rene. It was soooo good.

We also missed our surprise baby shower in Oklahoma for the Sunday after Thanksgiving! More bummed!



We did use the time off to work on the nursery and play with all the shower gifts. Everyone was so generous, so thank you to all! We are blessed to have family and friends such you.

We hung up the nursery border and orgainzed alot of things. Michael put together the car seat and stroller, so cute to see him so determined. I still need to wash the crib and bassinett bedding and Alessia's clothing.

34 weeks - Dallas baby shower

This weekend we had a fun couple's shower in Dallas. They put in alot of details and great food to make it a blast. I think Daisy had 10 games ready for us to play, although we didnt play all the games, she made sure the guys participated and it was hiliarous. The guys were great sportsmen. One of the funniest things I have to mention is that Michael was made to wear a pink tool belt with a bottle brush, destin diaper rash cream, teether, bottle, burp clothes, etc. Hilarious!



Friends and family were so sweet and geniuely excited for Michael and I.



Additional photos can be viewed here:

http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=e83d5966c88f61c726cd1d30d33b21f1&sid=8QZtWzJu1buQA


I broke out in a rash again on my ankles and lower legs. Itching was so bad, I didnt go to work, feet were swollen too. My doctor was out of town and didnt get in to see his partner because I might infect other pregnant women???? WTH So I went to my family practioner because I was suffering.

33 weeks - More Baby Love & New Ultrasound

This past weekend, Michael and I went to visit his family in San Antonio. They showered baby Alessia with the cutest clothes and necessities....




Additional photos can be viewed here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/anissahope/SorolaBabyShower

Today starts my 33rd week, seven more weeks to go! We had a doctor's appointment today with a new ultrasound! Baby Alessia is 4lbs and 7oz by measurements of her head, femur bone and abdomen. Due date is still the first week of January. The doctor will not induce unless for a medical condition or if the cervix measurements are high, which is unlikely for a first time mom. Next appointment in three weeks will be a pelvic exam, uh-okay I guess.

This is a ultrasound pic of her face, not too glamourous if you ask me. The ultrasound tech sees these pics all day and was probably not as excited as us.

32 weeks- Showering the Baby

This is week I had two wonderful showers in Houston. They were both at my favorite resturant Maggiano's!

On friday afternoon, Claudia hosted a shower with some good friends I have made over the years at Apache Corporation!





Additional photos can be view at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/anissahope/BabyShowerWithMyApacheGirlfriends

On Saturday afternoon, my girlfriends from Houston meet up and had a feast!





Additonal pictures can be viewed at: http://picasaweb.google.com/anissahope/HoustonBabyShower

Alessia Callie Sorola

We finalized the name! No more suggestions or compliants PLEASE, we are ready to move on. We hope you like it, Cheese N Rice!

Alessia is pronounced: A-LEE-see-a

Callie is pronounced: KAL-ee

31 weeks- 4D Ultrasound

I had my three-hour glucose test for gestational diabetes. Michael arrived at 8am, I drank a highly sweetened drink and they took four blood samples over three hours. I really hope I passed, otherwise the doctor will be forced to put me on a diet.

Speaking of diet, I weigh 30 lbs heavier at 31 weeks. Not so good, since I have two months left! Can you belive it, two months left!

No ultrasound at the doctor's office. So we went to an elective ultrasound center where they take 3D pictures and a 4D video clip. I gotta be honest, most of the 3D pictures look the same to me but the 4D video clip makes it worth the money.

We were able to see her:

Open her eyes, Stick out her tongue, Smile, Drink in fluid, Suck her thumb and it was truly amazing!

What was really cute, was when Michael would talk to her in his "soothing voice", she would smile. See the picture below.

We also confirmed that she is still a little girl, has plenty of fluid, not breech and she measured a few days behind. Which probably means she going to be a little small, or she could have a delayed growth spurt. Who knows, but I am small frame women but weighed over 9 lbs when I was born.



The video is 20 minutes, I will post a reduced version later...



And this what I looked like when we took the ultrasound pictures above, YIKES!

30 weeks - Lots of movement

I have been feeling the baby alot lately. She kicks and stretches qutie often, especiallly after eating and when I am lying down. I have been working alot, long hours but its almost like a split shift, so I am able to take a two-hour nap some days which helps. So we nap together :)

Not much to report since I was out of town for 12 days, more next update.

When I am out in the field, we do have a trailer house to lounge in and cool off in. Someone offered to call the rental company and request a bassinett, ha ha so funny!

29 weeks- Fat Girl and Nursery part 2

Well I guess I put my foot in my mouth. I failed my glucose test, which is a pre-screening for diabetes. Of course, my appointment was at 3pm and I had a huge lunch at a conference with dessert. I had no instructions to fast beforehand so I didnt. Hopefully I am not at risk and it was just my big fat lunch that made me fail!

Well the nursery looked so fresh and so clean that I asked Michael to keep going....and paint the base boards and the closet! It ended up being more work than I thought. I tapped up all the edging for him but because Home Depot gave us the wrong tint, he had to paint twice. Oops.

We went to the Houston Dynamo game (soccer) against LA Galaxy. It was so much fun, even though David Beckham was suspended. I wanted to see my other baby-daddy but he didnt attend. We had good seats and the weather was great!

Michael and I put the crib together, which seemed to be the easy piece to assemble of three. I messed up on the dresser and Michael had to repair it for me, I nailed the backing to the front the dressser!

Note: Coco our chocolate cocker helping out and Yoshi our siamese being nosey!

28 weeks - Started the nursery

We cleaned out the spare bedroom to make room for the nursery! Michael began painting. We experimented with a two-tone room, sage on the top half and beige on the bottom half. It did look so good so we ended painting the entire walls sage green.

Because of the fumes, I worked on the baby furniture. Each of three pieces, changer, dresser and crib are shipped in a box and must be assembled....UGH. So far so good, I completed the changer and started on the dresser.

27 weeks - Third Trimester!

Well the second trimester went by really fast with work, the hurricane and Cancun. That’s too bad because they say that’s the best time too. I am up to a 20-pound weight gain. Not too bad, its average but I’d rather be on the low end of the range instead of the high end….too many sweets in my life. I eat a lot of peanut butter, bananas and guzzle skim milk which is good but I must confess I pretty much eat a dessert DAILY! Like its a vitamin or something :)

Finally this rash seems to be going away this week, two weeks later, and after it moved from my tummy to my boobs. It’s not kosher to scratch your breast at work, especially in the oil industry.

With some awesome help from Imrana we went Babies R Us and registered this week. Mike had fun of course, I was on a mission since it was a weekday and thanks to Imrana, we were finished in 30 minutes. All the bedding is online at ewish.com so that was simply but I’ll go to Target this weekend to scan away.

Imrana also sent us the cutest wood letters that spell out the baby's name to hang in the nursery. They are pink with iridescent glitter, hung by chic little lace loops. It gets me excited to get after the nursery.

We worked hard on picking the spelling of her name this week. We visited websites that pronounce the names for you, so we have narrowed it down to two spellings: Alessia or Alissia.

26 weeks - no new ultrasound

We went to the doctor this week and he said her little heartbeat sounded good. I took the glucose test and I am waiting for blood results. The bottle did say I was supposed to fast 12 hours before the test, no one said anything to me so I had a slice chocolate
cream pie at my luncheon event that day.

I really wanted to see the baby via ultrasound, but it didnt happen. I am curious with all her movement, as it has gotten stronger. Is she making a fist yet, is she blowing bubbles or sucking her thumb, how big is she, stuff like that. Next appointment is at 29 weeks, where I will have another ultrasound, maybe.

The textbook says: Your baby weighs just under 2 pounds and could possibly survive if delivered now. Your baby measures approximately 9.2 inches from crown to rump.

I really want to change doctors, but its hard finding one, I have referrals but what if I go through three of those before I find one I like it!

We’ve been slow in registering but we did open registries at Target and Babies R US (BRU) online.

Good luck to her dad that will ride his bike to the beach this weekend for the MS Society, from San Antonio to Corpus over two days.

25 weeks - Viability

This weeks marks the milestone of viability; 'With modern medical technology, your baby would have a chance to survive if it were born now.' Amazing but true, we have witnessed this miracle through Danica Lynn and she is a healthy and strong one year old!

Cancun was beautiful of course! I somehow survived being pregnant in the tropics looking at others in bikinis while I was wearing a biohazard suit. I do think I may have a mistake though. I didn’t want to have a farmer’s tan so I did sunbathe my tummy a little. I may have started a revolution of some kind because my body is killing with a rash that itches, burns and stings! The rash started that same night on my belly, then the next day it moved to my hips and pelvic area. So I have been applying Caladryl and taking Benadryl at night. It started to clear up after a few days then Montezuma’s revenge hit with the rash all over my breast. Gosh it hurts……Help me.

24 weeks - Hurricane Ike

Well this is an interesting time, at six months pregnant I technically survived a hurricane in Houston! The nursery will be delayed as we repair all the damages from Hurricane Ike.

Shoutout to Mike for tarping the roof in the rain and then patching the roof and two other neighboors'.

The good news is that we live from Cancun in two days, leaving all the Houston Hurricane drama behind, for awhile anyway.