grandmas

Asher and I just got back from our first outing. We took Grandma Kathy (aka Gangy) to the airport. We are very sad she is gone but so thankful that she was able to come and spend time with us. I really don't know what I would have done without her.

Thanks Mom!

Another Grandma is on her way on Wednesday. I'm excited Vicky can come as well. Picking her up will be our second outing and another good prep for our third outing which will be a trip to the pediatrician on Thursday morning. I'm scared of trying to get up and out the door and to somewhere on a schedule. Wish me luck!

week one

I can't believe it has already been a week. It has been a long hard week, harder then I thought I would be. But things are looking up. At first, Asher wanted nothing to do with his crib or really anything that didn't involve him sleeping while someone held him. This made for extremely long nights. But last night progress was made. My mom stayed up with Asher until 4 am (hallelujah!) while I got some sleep and worked with him all night on sleeping in his crib. He slept for 3, then 2, then another 2 all in his crib. And all day long he has napped in his crib, not as long as I would like, but progress nonetheless.

We are starting to get the hang of eating. Asher has a tendency to fall asleep rather quickly whilst feeding which makes it hard, but today I've worked on trying to stretch the time between feedings since he was wanting to eat so frequently due to falling asleep. It seems to be working. He was also much more alert and content just to be sitting in his vibrating chair today then he has been in the past.

Despite all the stress and lack of sleep, he is an absolute delight to have in the home. My mom has been a lifesaver especially while Quinn has been gone. Speaking of, Quinn gets home in a few hours and I can't wait!

dimples

This video was shot right when the brought Asher to me. If you look closely in the video you can see Asher's adorable dimples.

Also, here are a few of my favorite photos from today.Getting ready for his sponge bath

I just love this look

Check out his mullet!

Can you tell Quinn was having fun dressing him up?Daddy and Asher getting in some bonding time before Quinn had to leave for San Fran.

27 hours give or take

Thursday March 19th

7:30 pm: Check into hospital, we are moved upstairs where I'm hooked up to monitors etc... and then given the Cervidil to try and get things started. They monitored me all night and I had contractions ranging from 3 to 7 minutes apart. They weren't that bad at all and I was able to sleep through most of them.

Important to note (at least it was to me) that I was not allowed any food from this point on or any liquids after midnight.

Friday March 20th

7:00 am: Moved down to Labor and Delivery and started on the drip to get things going even more.

8:30 am: My doctor comes in and checks me. She has a very discouraged look on her face and tells me it is going to be a long day as I'm only at a 2 (which I've been at since 35 weeks). They turn the drip up.

10:00 am: My mom arrives with McDonald's for Quinn for breakfast. It looks delicious.

11:30 am: Doctor returns to check me. 3. Not much progress. She "breaks" my water. This really really hurt. I'm having contractions but they aren't very strong.

1:00 pm: I start to have more intense contractions especially back labor which is not so enjoyable.

1:30 pm: Quite a bit of pain and I decide to bring on the epidural. Anesthesiologist comes in. He was extremely funny and we spend most of the time discussing March Madness and Pres. Obama. At this point Quinn is out picking up some food for him and my Mom. I was pleasantly surprised at how not painful the epidural. To me the nurses attempt at getting my first IV in the night before hurt much more than this did.

2:00 pm: Starting to feel much better. Quinn and Mom eat Subway. Dr. comes and checks me a 4. She says she can still feel the membranes so breaks my water again, basically meaning she didn't get it the first time. I felt a gush this time where as I felt nothing the first time. We are hopeful that this will really get things started.

4:00 pm: Dr. returns. Still a 4. She is starting to get concerned. She says she will come back in two hours or so and if I'm not at least at a 6 we will have to discuss our options (i.e. cesarean).

6:30 pm: She comes back and checks me. I hear her tell the nurse it is a miracle and I'm at a nine. I start to get excited because I really didn't want to have to do a c-section.

7:30 pm: I can start to feel the epidural wear off on my right side. We try to fix it by changing positions but the baby doesn't do well unless I'm on my left side.

8:00 pm: We start pushing. I had a great nurse who really helped me through it. We pushed for maybe 40 minutes or so before she brought in the doctor.

8:40 pm: The doctor comes in and everything starts moving. I keep pushing. I can feel him moving down the birth canal and it is pretty painful if I don't push through it.

9:11 pm: Asher is finally born! We stay in labor and delivery for a while while they finish everything up.

10:30 pm: We are taken up to our room and Asher goes to the nursery for a check-up and a bath.

11:00 pm: I am finally able to eat something. They brought me which I'm sure was a secretly disgusting turkey sandwich but it tasted like heaven to me along with some fruit and cottage cheese.

1:00 am: They bring us our most precious little boy all washed and clean. I had never seen anything more beautiful!

P.S. For a much more peaceful delivery of which I am very jealous check out my cousin Lacy's blog who had a beautiful little girl Lucy Marie on Sunday morning. A special shout out to Lacy for holding off until Asher was born or I might have had a complete breakdown since Lacy was also due after me.

here he is

Asher Quinn DelHoyo
Born: March 20, 2009 at 9:11 pm

7 lbs 14 oz and 21 inches long

induction

I went in early this morning for another ultrasound with the doctor. She said my fluid is lower than it was on Tuesday and just barely above the mark they would use anyway for induction so she feels good about inducing me tonight, said she probably would want to anyway even if I hadn't asked. So I'm suppose to report to the hospital tonight at 7:30. I'm off to take a nap now as I have a feeling it will be a long night and morning!

swollen

It's official. My hands and feet are officially swollen. I'm just glad it took this long to get to this point. I'd been having a bit of swelling at the end of the day for the last week or so, but yesterday it pretty much stayed that way all day and today looks to be about the same. I'm not complaining and it isn't really even that bad. It just looks like I have fat fingers and I can't wear my wedding ring anymore.

appointment update

We just got back from the doctor. It was pretty disappointing. Still no change. Nothing. Zero. Which means I've pretty much been at a two for about 4+ weeks. They did an ultrasound to make sure the baby wasn't getting too big. She said right now he looks to be about 7 1/2 pounds so they aren't worried about him getting too big. She said they would induce on Monday. I very politely asked if there was anyway they could do it earlier since my husband is suppose to go out of town Tuesday night. She was really sweet about it which is good because I was nervous, I didn't want to come across selfish. So she stripped my membranes (ouch!) then told me to come in on Thursday morning for a quick ultrasound to come up with a reason to induce (since it would be before the official 41 weeks) and hopefully induce Thursday night. So things are looking up. I really hope Thursday works as that would allow Quinn to be there for the first few days and still get to SF. Who knows maybe my water will break tonight! That would be even better.

the mall

We spent 4 hours today at the mall. My mom got in yesterday so she, Quinn and I headed to the Galleria today. With his birthday money and 30% off at Gap and Old Navy (thanks Mallory!) Quinn pretty much made off with a whole new summer wardrobe. Then we walked a lot, had lunch at The Grand Lux Cafe, and walked some more. Hopefully, it will help. After the mall, we headed over to Sprinkles to pick up some cupcakes for my mom to try, then back home for a rest. I'm feeling good but tired and just wishing for some baby action sometime soon.

28

Today Quinn turns 28. He is my best friend and an even better partner in life. He will watch cheezy chick flicks with me, he'll watch TV shows like AI and The Bachelor with me even though I know he would rather poke his own eyes out. He calls me at least once a day while at work to check on me and tell me he loves me. He would do whatever I ask of him to make sure I'm comfortable. He makes me laugh all the time. He tells me I'm a great wife even when I don't make dinner or haven't cleaned the house. He is great with kids and teenagers and I can't wait to see him with our own son. I could go on and on...but it boils down to this...I love him and I'm so grateful to have him as my husband. Happy Birthday Quinn!!!!

PS. Just a small blurb about the pregnancy, I went to the Dr. yesterday and there is still really no progress. I'm learning patience.

sunday

Quinn spoke in church today. He gave a really great talk on the importance of knowing who we are as sons and daughters of God and how that will help us make the correct choices in our lives. The chapel was a sauna. When I walked in I knew I was going to be miserable. Before church started, I was chatting with the Bishop and casually mentioned how hot it was in the building. He said that the heat was on when he got there this morning. Keep in mind it has been in the 80's lately. I seriously thought I might pass out from the heat in the chapel.

Now we are home and Quinn and I are going to go out for a walk. I'm trying to stay somewhat active even though all I really want to do is sleep.

My sister Stacey's SIL had her baby this morning. I was ticked as she was due a few days after me. My nephew Jaxson kept telling me that her baby was going to "pop out" and is now wondering when mine is going to "pop out." I'm wondering that myself.

In other happier news, it was finalized yesterday that Danny, Stacey and Jaxson will be moving to the Dallas area for April through Aug/Sept. I'm so excited. They were either going to Seattle or Dallas. My preference was obvious. I'm so excited to have family close by even if it is only for four months.

advantage

One advantage of still being pregnant is that I am free to enjoy--guilt free--the four boxes of these that Quinn brought home last night.
Yummy!

Although I do think Quinn was slightly frightened by my enthusiasm for this cookie when I found out that one of his coworkers daughters was selling Girl Scout Cookies.