She's here!

The details? Ledoux was born on August 10th, 2012 at 6:02 pm!  Weighing in at 8 pounds exactly, she is cute as a button! I was induced the night of the 9th and started having contractions (thanks to a little help from modern medicine) around 6:30 pm.  Doodle was born 24 hours later.  It was a rough start, since they couldn't find my vein- and after 5 attempts, the pain doctor finally got a vain.  These were my arms:

Me in the hospital- let's get this over with!!


Total weight gain/loss: The total weight gain was 19 pounds when I was induced- and I am happy to report that after 4 days, I only have 5 pounds or so left on me from where I started pre-Ledoux.  I anticipate being back down to pre-preggo size by the weekend! (although everything looks a little diffrent!) :)

Size of Baby today? Doodle is 7 pounds, 3 ounces.  They say they actually lose weight after they are born until the milk supply comes in- so we aren't worried about it.  I am ready for her to start gaining and getting chubby!

Sleep:  What the hell is sleep?  This baby stuff is no joke! Lee and I thrilled when we get 4 hours, all together!  We have a little routine down so that we can both get some sleep- which is working well so far. 

Best moment this week:  Gosh- how do I even answer this question anymore?  I have to say, although the experience at the hospital was far from stress and pain free, I feel so lucky to have had such a great team of doctors and nurses helping me!  Everyone knew who Lee and I were when we checked in, and they briefed them all as to our situation (with my rods and lack of pain meds being available...)  They all put there heads together and were able to offer me an ahhhmazing drug I have named 'remi' (remifentanil) that is controlled by a button- and I was able to press it every 6 minutes for immediate pain control.  It is not something used in Labor and Delivery, but when I researched it on the internet, it is something used in Europe often for labor.  I was able to get up, walk around, use the yoga ball and do whatever I needed to do to relieve the pain.  It by no means took the pain away, but it did put me in a fabulous state of euphoria and took the edge off the contractions to make them bearable.  The best part of the drug is that it doesnt pass to the baby, and only lasts in my system for 2-3 minutes (hence the reason I can push it so frequently.)  Lee was my button pusher, and he did amazing! I quickly learned not to fight the contractions, and rather just succumb to them and let it happen- and breath through them.  After Ledoux came, I have never felt so strong!!  I still can't believe that I made it through, but am so happy to say I did it without complete pain meds.  Thanks to my team (my OB, my nurse, and the 3 anestisiologists who worked together (and one even came in on his day off to help me), it was a great experience! I actually wrote all of them thank you cards, and setd lee to buy each of them a really nice bottle of wine that we gave them when we left the hospital on Sunday.

How is the week going? ALOT of learning going on.  The first night Ledoux had a crying fit, I had no clue what to do!  Now, we are getting to know her better and are learning how to recognize her needs.  I don't love the late nights and little sleep, but it is par for the course.  Lee and I nap when Ledoux naps...so if any of you call or text and don't hear back, its because our schedule is her schedule and we are probably sleeping!

Love this picture from the girls at work when I was in the hospital, thanks for the encouragement!!!!

Eating habits: Doodle took to feeding from the minute she was placed on my chest- and hasn't stopped!  She has her moments where she doesn't latch or seems un-interested, but I have to remind myself this is only day 4!  I get so worried to easy- thank god i have lee to make me less of a worry wart!

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy for sure- and looking at her make all of her random faces makes us laugh!  She has her best ones when she sleeps!  Lee is now called the baby whisperer, when Ledoux starts crying she wants nothing to do with me, but Lee can calm her in 2 seconds.  She loves her daddy!

Looking forward to: our first outing (other than the doctor) this weekend to a work party!  We are going to go (as long as doodle cooperates) to debut her to everyone from work!  We are also excited to see auntie katie on thursday!  She is coming out from arizona to see us!

Other news?  gosh, i am sure!  but i right now, everything is a fog!  I am going to continue blogging each week with ledoux's progress and milestones :)