Six months along!

Okay I have really popped out this month? I dont know if its the pregnancy or the food I am eating.

Up to now, I was actually weighing in less than I did with Alessia and I started out a few pounds heavier with this second pregnancy. But alas, all that's well ends well...at 24 weeks I am now heavier in the second pregnancy. Of course I am at a very healthy weight, no cause for alarm. Maybe I am just catching up.


This little girl is very active and I find it exciting to feel her moving around all the time! I guess its a mommy-thing....LOL

We talk about names all the time but we havent found the one yet. We have a middle name and I like Anjali for a first name and Michael likes Annalisa for a first name. We might go with first letter A name but if we dont agree its on to the next letter in the alphabet.....

Half way to go!

Merry Christmas, it's a girl!

Four Months - Healthy baby so far

Three Months

Went to the doctor after a rescheduling morning appointment to late afternoon. This caused us to loose out on another ultrasound since it was late in day. UGH

Heard the heartbeat, still beating fast and strong.

Doctor said my trip to the ER was built up acid that got out of control, gave Prilosec samples. She also gave me my prenatal vitamin Rx.

Next appointment is the week of Thanksgiving.

A baby?

Congratulations Ms Sorola, you're having a baby! A baby? I already have baby, her name is Alessia, what do you mean?

We went to our new Fort Worth OB today and confirmed our pregnancy, we are currently two months along (8 weeks). We are very happy, nervous, and thankful to be able to have another baby on the way.

We have completely switched our style of doctors. We decided to go with a young female doctor this time, Dr. Ruth Wiley. I think she is really great and her Michael hit it off well, possibly because she is from San Antonio and her husband is a medical recuriter; imagine that.

We were able to see the baby with an ultrasound, our cute little gummy bear. The baby had a strong healthy heart beat, measured at 176 BPM. Our expected due date is May 12th 2010.

My strongest pregnancy symptom is exhausation and I also have a headache everyday. However my newest symptom is naseau which I didnt have in my first pregnancy, this usually occurs after lunch. So all in all, I have been hiberating for the last month but smiling when awake :)

Keep us in your prayers!

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!