Later that Night...

posted by Travis

Hey now,

Finally, at around 9:00 last night, Barret made his way to our room and Eleisha was able to see him outside of the operating room.

Now, let me say this.  I don't want to jinx anything, but if this kid keeps behaving like he is now, then this should be a piece of cake.  Let's hope it continues, because Barret is a very happy content baby that rarely makes a fuss right now.

In any case, we had a good night until he went back to the nursery around 12:30.  Here are just a few pics from last night, including his first "official" diaper change [the nurses doing it didnt count] and Eleisha holding him for the first time.

...more sure to come

Barret Heath Ensign... 7lbs 8oz

posted by Travis

Well, after a not-so-standard 28 hours, our son is finally here!  Let's do a quick breakdown of the past several hours.

Yesterday Eleisha called me at almost 11:00 and said "We are having the baby now".  I didn't know it at the time, but that was not so accurate a statement.

I rushed to the hospital to meet Eleisha, and she told me that she had pre eclampsia [hypertension for those of us not in the know] and did not want to risk that getting to full out eclampsia.  So, they were going to start the induction process.

So, they admitted her around 1:00 and around 4:00 in the afternoon, she started the first stage of meds to try and induce labor.  Well, by this morning, she was no more dialated than I was [1cm] and was not making progress.  So, they started her on a second drug, Pitocin.  That was slowly working, and around 2:30 this afternoon she was 4cm dialated and ready for her epidural.

However, when the doctor was administering the epi [that is how you say it in the medical world], Eleisha's blood pressure dropped briefly, and so did Barret's heartrate.  So the docotor, without a second thought, ordered an emergency c-section.  

Before i knew it, in litterally 5 minutes, she was already getting prepped in the operation room.  I came in several minutes later with not a second to spare.  About thirty seconds later they pulled Barret out, and he was screaming.  They cleaned him up and weighed him and the whole nine yards.

I followed Barret to the nursery, and later while Eleisha was still in recovery I was able to feed him a little bit from a bottle.

Eleisha was great thru the entire process... much better than I had expected, although some say my expectations were quite low.  In any case, I am very proud of how she handled everything.

So, I am writing this as we are waiting on Barret to arrive from the nursery.  Here are our first pictures of him.  I am sure that once Eleisha is feeling better she will post as well, but I get the pleasure of doing it first.

Bye for now.

35 week update

I'm 35 weeks today!!! only 5 more weeks to go until my due date...but only 2 more weeks until he is SAFE to get here! I'm hoping to reach 37!

things have changed a bit around here. On Monday, at 34 weeks and 5 days, I went in to the doctor. I actually saw MY doctor, whom I haven't seen in about 6 visits. She came in, asked how I was, and if my legs were swelling. I told her how they have been swelling, but have gotten allot worse. The day before we had gone to Lisa's for Easter dinner, and my feet and legs were really bad. Lisa lovingly called me "platypus feet".

But at the appointment, I thought my feet were greatly improved looking. The doctor pressed on them, and of course they made indentions, and it took a while for them to rise back up. She asked me to lie down and measured my belly. All normal. Then she asked if I was having head aches. I said that I had been having sharp shooting pains up my neck into my head, but not head aches that wouldn't go away, which is what they told me to look for.

She asked how work was going, and I told her that it was good and that I was done traveling. All normal. Then she says, "Well, you will get to spend allot of time on your side from now on". I was shocked and said, "TODAY???"

I explained to her that I had a board meeting on Tuesday that I just could NOT miss. She did not care at all. She told me no, that I was to be laying on my side because she was worried about the swelling feet, which is a sign of pre-eclampsia. The other signs, high blood pressure and protein in your urine, I don't have. I begged and pleaded, and she finally gave in that I could go to my meeting and then come right back home. She made me promise to be really good the rest of the week.

SO, I'm on the couch now, working from home, with my feet up. I can't lay on my side with my feet up and work on the computer, so I'm hoping feet up is good enough. My feet actually look normal right now, so I'm hoping that is a good sign.

I have another appointment tomorrow for an ultrasound and blood work. Of course, my doctor won't be there, so I'll see Dr. Infante. Hopefully she will see that everything else is good, and that I don't really need to be on bed rest, or at the very least tell me to stay home and take it easy. It is just awful to SIT here all day long. I have so much I want to do, but can't.

I'll update more tomorrow after the appointment!

harlingen baby shower

On March 28th, I had a wonderful baby shower thrown by my friends Brooke Burns, Lisa Valencia, & Brooke Hood. Thank you ladies so much for such a lovely shower!!

The cake was so beautiful, the food was delish, and it was so nice to have everyone come and shower little Barret with presents. Thank you so much everyone for coming!

34 week update

This marks 8 1/2 months pregnant! Only 6 more weeks to go!!! I'm hoping for 4!

I went to the doctor yesterday, but didn't find out too much. They did prescribe me with a diabetic medication to help my sugars stay slightly lower. I don't think they are too high, but the doctor wants them lower. Luckily, it is a low dosage, and I don't intend to take it after the baby is born. In all reality, we didn't know how pregnancy would affect my diabetes situation, and I always thought I'd end up on insulin and never get off again. It was a risk I thought worth taking. I suppose slightly elevated sugars and a small pill aren't too bad in the long run.

No exciting news on the baby. They monitor me every week and listen to his heartbeat and make sure that he is moving enough. He is! He is very active during the day, and restful at night. I'm praying this pattern continues after his birth. Right now he is jumping around in there and has the hick-ups! He just started getting hick-ups last week. I'd heard lots of women talk about their baby having the hick-ups, but I had never experienced it. It's kinda fun...little monotonous thumpings.

Barret and I are both getting much larger now! I'm sad to say I waddle...allot! My feet are always swollen (to varying degrees) and I only wear flip flops now...even to church! I can't sleep well...lots of pain at night, which the doctor says is normal. I usually get up 2 times a night, and then make a big fuss about getting back into the bed. Move 3 pillows around, throw the covers off of Travis, be as loud as possible, and then toss and turn once I'm back in bed. Poor Travis just huddles on his side and tries to sleep, or wakes up to ask if I'm OK if I'm loud enough. I figure...If I have to be awake because of OUR baby...so should he! :)

The room is almost complete. We have EVERYTHING that we need, thank God. We are blessed with so many wonderful, generous family members and friends. Having a baby is EXPENSIVE and we wouldn't have half of what we do without everyone's help.

Now we are on the last stretch. We are both ready to meet our little boy. It is amazing that in less than 6 weeks, we will be parents. Absolutely mind blowing!

33 week update

33 weeks today. 7 weeks to go!

I went to the doctor yesterday to check sugars and to monitor his heartbeat. After 20 minutes of monitoring...they weren't really happy with the results. So, I sat there for another 20 minutes of monitoring, and they were still not happy and sent me on for an ultrasound to check his movements.

During the sonogram, the tech said that he looked great and she didn't see why they wanted the testing done. He moved fine, his heartbeat was good, etc.

She was trying to get a 4D photo of his face, and he was NOT cooperating. While she was using that tool, I asked her to check to see if the cord was around his neck (one of my greatest fears) and of course...it was. I could clearly see it when she shifted to his neck. You could see his spine, neck and little head, and the blood flow of the cord around his neck. Tears immediately came to my eyes.

Of course, she says that this is common, as did the physician's assistant. They said that we would monitor him during labor to make sure that his heartbeat was staying up, and if it wasn't THEN they might opt for a c-section.

I'd rather them just do a c-section instead of putting him at risk during labor, but I'm afraid they won't do that. I have another appointment next Tuesday, and I will ask the doctor then if it is possible to do a c-section.

He is moving fine today (lots of good kicks and jumping around in there) but it is still very scary. I know that Barret is in God's hands, and that he has control of the situation. Any prayers you could send our way would be greatly appreciated.