Hospital Stay

Our hospital stay was interesting.  Everyone was very nice, but VERY hyper about the flu.  I was to wear my respirator mask at all times and we were to have very limited visitors.  The respirator mask was so tight on my face that I still have a bruise on my nose two weeks later.  Every nurse that came in wore a plastic gown type thing over their clothes, a mask and gloves.  We could hear them getting all their garb on for 2 minutes before they ever stepped foot in our room.  

I had to call their lactation consultants about a week after I got home to ask them a question.  A very sweet lady from lactation called me back.  At the beginning of the conversation I was telling her that I had delivered there just over a week ago and I was sick at the time.  Before I could even finish that sentence she cut me off and said "Oh, I remember you honey. You were in room 6312 with the flu!" This particular lactation consultant hadn't even been to our room while we were at the hospital, we were only on the mother/baby floor for 24 hours before we left to go home, and this was a week after we had been home and she still not only remembered me but remembered my room number.  At least we were memorable, right?! :)  

When we first got to our room the nurse came in to give Abigail a bath.  Sweet girl was beat red from crying.  She didn't appreciate getting clean, but this was only about 2 hours after her birth and I was enjoying listening to her sweet newborn cry.  

All clean and snuggled up.  

Grandmama and Pawpaw drove up from Jackson on Sunday morning and got to the hospital at about lunch time.  They were SO excited about meeting their newest grandbaby!  

The hospital was a smidge hyper about visitors so they held Abby for a few minutes and then headed over to our house to visit with Abby's big sisters and take them a few gifts.  Emily, Hannah and Claire were super excited about seeing them! 

Our little bundle of love.  

My dad came over on Saturday and spent the first part of the day at the hospital with us while the doctors were deciding what to do with us, then he and my mom left to go to our house early afternoon to keep E, H and C after they decided they wanted me to wait to deliver until early Sunday afternoon. My dad woke up on Sunday morning feeling sick.  He could tell he was catching a bad cough/cold so instead of heading to the hospital with my mom he went back home to Toccoa.  It just about broke his heart to not be there.  He's been at the hospital at every other grandbaby's birth. He knew that we couldn't handle any more sickness and didn't want to expose our big girls or Abby.  We missed having him there, but appreciated him taking care of us.  

Mimi and her newest grandbaby!  

Bert doing a little reading with his baby snuggled up.  

One of the doctors from our girls pediatricians' office came in early Monday morning.  He said he thought it would be best if we went on home that day instead of staying the normal 2 nights.  He didn't agree with some of the strict policies that the hospital had concerning me having the flu and he thought we would be more likely to keep her well if we were at home (able to wash our hands easily, change my shirt if I cough on it, not wear a mask 24/7, but only when I am feeding her).  

My cough had been bad on Friday, literally almost disappeared for Saturday and Sunday, and I started coughing again on Monday.  I believe God held my cough off during my labor and delivery, and I was very thankful for that.  

My OB came in to check on us on Monday too and thought it was a great idea for us to head on out. I know I mentioned before but I love her.  When she came in the room, she was joking with (making fun of) Bert about his strict door closing policy.  The door in my labor and delivery room didn't close well and Bert spent a lot of the day Saturday and Sunday getting up to close the door after one of our nurses would leave the room.  It annoyed him slightly. (Bert's Edit: Stephanie's being too sweet. It annoyed me greatly.) She realized this and was joking with him about "everything being secure" when she stopped by Monday.  Ha!  She also said I won the award for best delivery of the weekend (she was on call Friday noon through Monday at noon), or at least for the fastest one!  Ha!  I love it when doctors are professional but laid back at the same time.  So thankful that Dr. Dubose was on call that weekend.  

We are thankful for our stay and had a good experience, but I doubt anyone cried when we left as we were causing extra work and precautions to be taken, and the feeling was mutual.  We were ready to hit the road after Abby was just over 24 hours old, even though it was the first time we hadn't stayed two nights after a birth. We were looking forward to rest in our home, and were very excited about being home together as a family of six!

Abigail Kate Watts

Our precious Abigail Kate was born on Sunday, March 6, 2016 at 1:57pm.  She weighed 8 lbs 11.2 oz and was 21 1/4 inches long.  She is absolutely beautiful and perfectly made by her Creator! Bert and I could not be more thankful or honored to be her parents.

Abigail's Birth Story:  The last few weeks of my pregnancy were interesting because Abby's position was what the OB's call an "unstable lie."  She was flipping all over the place despite her size.  At 36 weeks she was transverse, 37 she was breech, 38 she was oblique, and at 39 she was head down, but was still as high as she could get.  Up until my 39 week appointment I hadn't dilated or effaced at all, which was very different from my other pregnancies.  At 39 weeks I found out I was about 1 cm dilated but hadn't effaced at all. We needed to give her some time to drop and help my body get ready for labor.  My 39 week appointment was on Monday, Feb 29th, and since my due date was Saturday, March 5th, the plan was to give it another week and go back in on Tuesday March 8th, with plans to induce if she hadn't come on her own by then.  On Wednesday March 2nd I started showing some signs of labor....I started having some contractions along with some other signs, and all this was very exciting to me as I was ready for my body to start getting ready for delivery.  On Wednesday morning I also woke up with a small tickle in my chest.  I was coughing some, but not bad at all.  I didn't feel 1000 % but what 39 1/2 weeks pregnant woman feels 1000 percent?!  On Thursday it was more of the same.  My cough was some worse, my voice started sounding rough, I didn't feel very good, but I couldn't decided if it was because I was starting to get sick or because of the pregnancy, or both.  Friday (March 4th) was totally different. I woke up in the middle of the night feeling terrible.  I was weak and shaky and for the first time it crossed my mind that I might have the flu.  That morning I was so weak and shaky I had difficult time getting dressed.  I absolutely couldn't imagine taking a shower because I knew I was too weak to stand up for that long.  I called my OB's office about 9:30 and asked for an appointment.  I wasn't feeling Abby move like I thought I should and I wanted to make sure she was good before the weekend (their office closes at 12pm on Fridays).  I wasn't sure if I could/should drive myself to the doctors office but I really wanted Bert to go to Emily's school to watch her run in the Color Fun Run so I decided I would be fine to drive since I was sitting down.  The nurse that called me back could tell I felt terrible, but once she found out I didn't have a fever she didn't seem overly concerned.  They took me back for a non-stress test for Abby.  Abby looked good on the monitors and they took me to a room to see a doctor.  I talked to her about my symptoms (weak, shaky, and cough, but no fever).  I asked her if it would be possible for them to do a flu test.  She said she felt sure it wasn't that since I hadn't run a fever, but they would be happy to do a test for me to make sure.  She decided to check me before they did the flu test and found out that I was now 2 cm dilated and 75 percent effaced.  Progress!  She was still at a -3 (hadn't dropped at all).  They did my flu test and to everyone's surprise it came back positive for Type A flu.  Ugh.  I was due the very next day and I felt like death.  Yes, I absolutely had the flu shot as I do every year (I'm a stickler about it) and have never had the flu in my life. Who gets the flu for the very first time the day before she's due??!!  The doctor came in the room and told me multiple times how important it was for me to rest she said I could get "VERY sick if I were to go into labor while I have the flu."  She said it would be best for me to wait until at least early the next week until I go into labor.  I didn't know this at the time, but while I was still in the office she called the doctor on call for the weekend to let her know I would probably be coming in.  She didn't think I would make it through the weekend without going into labor.  Apparently the flu often induces labor.  Anyway, I headed home feeling literally horrible, stressed out, overwhelmed and tired. I started Tamiflu about 1:30pm on Friday afternoon and tried to rest, but ever since my appointment my contractions had started coming about every 10 minutes and they were slightly painful.  We were praying (and asked lots of other people to pray ) that I would start feeling better soon, no one else in our family would get the flu and that I wouldn't go into labor for several more days.  Not everyone comes running when they hear your have the flu, but my mama does.  She left work early so that she could get to our house and help Bert and be emotionally and physically supportive.  We were so thankful to have here there!  I stayed in the bed the whole day, but maybe only napped 30 minutes or so because my contractions were keeping me awake.  That night about 12am my contractions started getting even more intense.  I texted Bert (who was banned from our room to the couch....it was bad enough that one of us had the flu, but I absolutely couldn't stand the thought of him having it too.  One of us needed to be able to hold our baby.) to let him know my contractions were coming every 5 minutes or so and were getting too painful for me to talk through.  He needed to get us ready to head to the hospital.  This was taking place about 15 hours after I found out I have the flu....not ideal.  By about 4am we were on our way to the hospital with our bags and masks and prayers in our hearts and on our tongues for our baby girl.

We went to triage where they determined I was 4 cm and 75 percent effaced (had dilated 2 cm over the course of the day).  They decided that I would be staying and moved us over to a labor and delivery room at about 6:15am on March 5th.  I felt bad for every nurse that came in our room through out our whole stay.  I knew they probably felt like they got the "short straw" and would much rather have a patient that didn't have the flu, but everyone was super kind and helpful.  That morning they started my IV and were just watching the monitors trying to decide what to do with us.  No one wanted me to have her when I hadn't even been on Tamiflu for 24 hours, but they didn't want to send me home because it was my 4th and I go fast once I get into active labor (my contractions had slowed some after they started pumping me full of fluid through my IV).  It seemed like the entire hospital was in a twit over what to do with us.  They were trying to determine their policy for what to do with Abby once she was born.  Our nurse was first in contact with the Nursery Coordinator, then Residents and Interns, and then an Attending Doctor at the hospital.  My OB made calls to two of the pediatricians at my pediatricians office.  Finally they got an Infectious Disease Doctor involved who got information from the CDC on what the exact protocol should be.  At one point during all the hullabalu our nurse had talked to the nursery and they said I wouldn't be able to see Abby after she is born...she would go straight to the nursery and would stay there.  She came back another time and said that I might not be able to take her home when we leave the hospital.  Then they said she could be in our room, but I would need to pump.  Then they said they wanted me to nurse her.  It was c.r.a.z.y!  Towards the end of the morning my nurse and Dr. Dubose (my OB) came back in together and agreed that I should be retested for the flu.  They both thought I was too well to have just been diagnosed with the flu the day before.  We heard out nurse talking to another nurse and she said "it just doesn't add up" talking about me having the flu.  At this point, my cough, weakness and shakiness was totally gone (plus I had still never run a fever).  I was happy to do another flu test and I understood why they wanted me to but I felt sure it was going to be positive (I easily remembered how bad I had felt the day before).  The flu test did come back positive again for Type A.  They attributed my "wellness" to me getting the flu shot (which probably gave me a milder case of the flu), and the Tamiflu working quickly.  I'm sure both of those things helped, but I truly believe the reason I was doing so well (without getting any sleep, having the flu, and in labor) was because I had so many people praying for me. God was hearing and answering prayers!  About 1:30pm my doctor came back in and said "okay, we have a plan."  I was relieved.  The plan was for them to hold off my labor until I had been on Tamiflu for at least 48 hours (which was going to be the next day...I had 24 more hours to go), I was supposed to be fever free for 24 hours (not a problem since I hadn't run a fever the whole time), and wear a mask at all times when I am in the room with Abigail.  If all of these things took place I would be able to have her in the room with me and nurse her as long as there was a healthy adult with me at all times that could do everything except nurse.  This was the official CDC recommendation on what was safest and best for the newborn (with a mom testing positive for the flu) based on lots of research and studies and I felt pretty good about the plan even though I was stressed about getting my baby sick.  So, my mom and dad headed back to our house to stay with the girls the rest of the day while Bert and I settled in for the day.

I was still having contractions but managed to get a nap that afternoon and slept about 4 hours straight that night until 3:30am when my contractions started again in full force.  They were coming every 3 -5 minutes and were quite painful.  I couldn't go back to sleep, but was glad Bert was able to catch up on a little sleep before all the excitement started again.  By about 9:00 am my contractions were still coming hard and often.  I asked for an epidural and had one by 9:30.  I was able to rest (not sleep...I was too excited for that) for a couple hours before my doctor came back in.  They didn't want to get anything stirred up once they decided it was really important for me to be on Tamiflu for 48 hours, so they hadn't checked me since noon the day before when I was still 4 and 75%.  About 12:30 on Sunday, March 6th my doctor came in and checked me.  To my surprise I was STILL at a 4, was 100% effaced and she had dropped down 2 positions.  So, I had made progress, although I was shocked I was still at a 4 after all the contractions I'd had.  Dr. Dubose was the OB on call.  She has a special place in my heart....she delivered Claire in 2014, did my D&C in 2012 and is my favorite doctor at our practice....I was so thankful she was on call this weekend.  She is an incredibly gifted doctor, but also has a way of putting me at ease, which was super helpful with the added stress of delivering with the flu.  Dr. Dubose broke my water at about 12:30pm.  Remember they didn't want me to deliver until after 1:30.  I asked the nurse as she was walking out of the room when they would be back to check me (I went from a 4 to a 10 in an hour when delivering Hannah and knew I would probably go fast once the broke my water).  She said they probably wouldn't check me again until it was time to deliver.  She said they try to keep their checks to a minimum and I was to just tell them when I started feeling lots of pressure.  She jokingly said "this is your 4th....you'll know....just let us know when she's ready and we'll have a baby."  My contractions were coming every 1-2 minutes although I wasn't feeling them much thanks to the gloriousness of the epidural.  At about 1:30, I all the sudden started feeling SO MUCH PRESSURE!!!  I called the nurses' station and asked them to send in my nurse.  After about 5 minutes (felt like an hour) my nurse hadn't come and I called back again to let them know that our girl was ready.  The lady at the nurses' station let me know that my nurse was checking in another patient and would be there soon as she was finished.  I told her that this is my 4th and I am about to have a baby (I was actively trying not to push with each contraction) and let her know that any nurse would do, I just needed someone to get in there (I was very nice, but at this point she realized I was serious).  She sent in another nurse after just a couple minutes.  This nurse checked me and said "She's a 9 but will probably be a 10 at the next contraction....we're ready to have a baby."  They started wheeling in equipment, and my nurse came in within just a few minutes.  As soon as my nurse came in she called Dr. Dubose and told her it was time.  Dr. Dubose was there within 5 minutes.  Bert had helped put my mask on and given me tons of hand sanitizer just before I started pushing so that they could put her on my chest as soon as I delivered.  I pushed 3 times and she was out. She was born at 1:57 pm.  I had officially been on Tamiflu for just over 48 hours, fever free and was wearing a mask.  Our baby was here...in my arms....I could hardly believe this precious little gift was ours.  The miracle of childbirth is absolutely unbelievable.  Abby cried almost immediately (sweetest sound) and pinked right up after being a little blueish directly after being born, and her daddy and I were in love with our sweet little girl!

Seconds old...

Each of my girl's birth stories and the memories wrapped up in them are so special to me.  I just can't describe how thankful I am to be their Mommy. It is a gift, joy and privilege I don't take lightly.

Masks, masks everywhere....

Bert, my mom and all three of Abby's sisters started Tamiflu within a couple hours of finding out I had the flu.  Our pediatricians office usually doesn't put healthy children on Tamiflu, but under the circumstances they made an exception.  Everyone stayed well and I am so thankful that God allowed it to stop with me.  

Abby getting held by her amazing Daddy for the first time.  He loves his girls so much.  

When we were still in labor and delivery, before we moved to our mother/baby room, we Facetimed with our girls to show them their new sister.  They were SO SO excited!  

Abby Kate, you had quite an exciting entrance, coming just 48 hours after finding out I had the flu (sorry about that), but God was taking care of both of us every step of the way.  None of this took Him by surprise.  We love you more than you'll ever know, Abby.  You are a gift straight from God and we are so thankful to have you in our family.  You have three sisters that could hardly wait to meet you, a mommy that wants to kiss your face and snuggle you close so bad she can't stand it, and a daddy about to burst with pride.  You are loved, so loved, by us and by the One who made you!

T.E.R.R.I.F.I.C. Kid Award

Yesterday Emily received the Terrific Kid Award given by our local Kiwanis Club.  A boy and a girl from each class were given the award.  This is the letter that as sent home last week.  

Emily getting her award....

We were all four excited to be there to cheer on our girl!  

The little boy to the right of Emily (if you are looking at the picture) is Landon....he is also in her class.  

Group photo of all the kids getting the award.  

Great job, Emily!  We love you and we're proud of you!  

38 Weeks

I had my 38 week appointment yesterday.  I am now 38 weeks and 3 days....my due date is less than 2 weeks away.  Getting SO close!  At my 36 week appointment Abby was transverse (sideways), at my 37 week appointment she was breech and at my 38 week appointment she was oblique (picturing a clock, her head was at about 7:30....pointing toward my hip).  Our girl is definitely keeping these last few weeks interesting!  She is closer to where she needs to be than she was when she was breech, so I'm thankful for that; although, since no part of her is engaged, she can easily decide to flip back up top. I was dilated a big fat zero at 36 weeks and at my 38 week appointment I still wasn't even a ONE.  Crazy!  Apparently I need her head to get down so that I can start the dilating process. 

The end of this pregnancy has been so different than with my other three....I am not feeling the pressure down low that I usually do at this point, I'm hardly having any braxton hicks contractions, and I am just more doubtful that she could come any day.  It's not that I'm not excited about her coming because I am SO excited, but her not being in position and me not dilating at all has taken a little bit of the anticipation out of it....I'm not constantly thinking Will she come today?  Tomorrow?  This weekend?  (She totally still could.  My water could break and that would get this party started very quickly.)  Instead of the "when will she come?" questions, with every kick I feel I'm asking myself....Is she still in the same position?  Did she move?  Was that her head?  Or arm?  Or foot?  And she is moving around a lot so I'm basically thinking about her position all the time.  

We're still really praying she'll pop into place sometime over the week, but I am totally okay with a C-section if that's what needs to happen for both or either of us. Trusting that God will work it all out. I'm still doing these "exercises" that I have been told will help to get the baby to flip.  I usually get my knees on the edge of the couch and then put my head and forearms on the floor. Certainly not the most comfortable position for a very pregnant woman and my husband will be in serious trouble if he takes a picture of me doing it, but here is a cute picture of the girls copying me. 

They said they were trying to get their babies to flip.  

Abby's heart rate was good yesterday (144 bpm) and she was busy kicking all around.  

If she doesn't get head down before March 1st (ONE week from today) I will have a C-section on that day.  If she does there is a chance they may induce that day, but that's still up in the air.  Either way my baby will be in my arms soon and I can't wait!  

This morning I was doing a quick grocery trip run and noticed the milk expiration date was past my due date (March 5th)!  That, my friends, is super exciting to me!!  

Just a week or so more!  We love you Abby!  

Hannah - 4 years

I usually wait to do their big birthday post until after they have had their well check-up for that new age and then I include any details from that appointment along with their weight and height stats. Well, Hannah's well checkup is scheduled for March 3rd (Abby is due March 5th) and I can't get it moved up any.  If I have to have a c-section that will more than likely be on March 1st and her well check might get pushed back another week or so, so I decided to just go ahead and post.  

Here are a few things I'm treasuring about Hannah at this age...

-She loves movies and/or shows and gets so excited when she is allowed to watch one.  

-She likes to hold Claire's hand as we are walking out to the van in our driveway.  She walks Claire over to her door, waits until I pick Claire up to put her in the carseat and then walks around to her side of the car.  

-She can produce real tears faster than most people can blink.

-Yesterday she walked into my room and proudly said "I am sooooooo much taller than Claire."  

-She loves apples, pimento cheese sandwiches, pears, carrots, salad, and all things sweet.  

-She doesn't love yogurt or milk.  

-She likes her apples with the peel on and cut a certain way, she doesn't want to use a "baby" spoon but prefers to use a "big girl spoon" (small adult spoon).  

-I feel like I can confidently say that she would let herself dehydrate if it were not for my nagging her about drinking.  She is simply too busy with other things to bother drinking milk, juice or water.  

-She does this really quick nod/blink (at the same time) when she is happy about something we have told her.  Ex.  "Hannah, you only have 5 more minutes of rest time, go back to bed and you can get up when your light turns green."  Que her quick nod and blink thing.  It's cute!  

-She has a new fear of elevators.  Last Sunday I was riding the elevator at church with all three girls and Claire reached for the alarm button while I was talking to someone else on the elevator.  I kind of did a gasp thing and told Claire "no, no" right as she was pushing it.  I didn't scream or freak out but apparently I traumatized Hannah.  Claire must not have pushed the button hard enough because the alarm didn't go off.  As we got off the elevator Hannah was crying and she has had two other opportunities to ride an elevator since that incident and has cried both times, not wanting to get on.  Hopefully I haven't totally warped her.  Oh well.  

-She loves dresses and tights and cute shoes and really doesn't like pants of any kind.  If you see her in a pair of jeans just know she was strongly encouraged to put them on.  

-She falls asleep during "rest time" about once every other week.  When she does go to sleep she'll sleep for over an hour.  I use the term "rest time" loosely because she stays very busy in her room during that time.  She reads books for a little bit, sings, pulls out stuff from her closet, drawers....she often has some pretty big clean up once "rest time" is over.  

-Hannah got in a disagreement with Emily earlier in the week about what Abby would be wearing when she is born.  Emily insisted she would be naked and Hannah was equally sure she would be born with a blanket wrapped around her.  She said that is how she doesn't get cold in Mommy's tummy.

-Hannah is a little confused about how quickly her birthday rolls around and she asked me this morning if I would still have Abby in my tummy on her next birthday day (when she turns 5).  Umm NOOOOOOOOO!  

She got these new fleece footie pajamas for her birthday.  She loves them and wants to wear them every night.  

Here is a little interview I did with our sweet 4 year old....

What is your name?  Hannah

How old are you? 4

Where do you live? At home.

What is your favorite color?  Pink  

What is your favorite toy?  Minnie

What is your favorite food?   Carrots

What is your favorite drink?   Juice

What is your favorite thing to do?  Ride my Elsa and Anna Bike

What do you want to be when you grow up?   A princess.

Who is your teacher?  Mrs. Bradshaw

Who is your best friend?   Jacob

What is your favorite song?  Tarzan

What is your favorite book?  Jasmine

What is your favorite movie?  Tarzan

Who is the funniest person you know?  Emmy, no Claire, no Jacob....it's Jacob.   

Where is your favorite place to go?  The Star Restaurant (Also known as Hardee's)

What does your Mommy always say to you?   "Don't play on the computer."

What does your Daddy always say to you?  "Clean up."

We love you, Hannah Beth!  You bring us so much laughter and joy and you couldn't be any cuter if you tried.  We are so so thankful for you!  Love, Daddy, Mommy, Emily, Claire and Abby

Hannah's Family Birthday Dinner

We had a family birthday dinner for Hannah on Saturday night.  Her birthday actually fell on a Sunday this year, but we decided since Sunday would be a little busy we'd do it on Saturday.  She got to pick the menu. I gave her several options like pizza and others and she picked salad.  This 4 year old LOVES salad.  So, we fixed a big yummy salad and called it a meal.  For dessert I made Rice Krispie treats.   

Singing happy birthday to our girl!  

We had to get a family pic of our family party!  

After supper we took her into the living room and she waited for Bert to bring in her present from us.  She was SO surprised and excited!  It was absolutely precious!  

Happy birthday, Hannah!  You're a gift and a joy!  

These Days

Bert got this picture of them watching a show right after they had all woken up one morning in December.  I love that they all love to sit right beside each other.  

Katherine bought these dresses for Emily and Hannah for Christmas and she asked me to send her a picture.  I told them to stand beside each other so that I could take a picture for Aunt Katherine and they put their arms around each other and all three smiled. Sometimes I have to stand on my head to get them to smile but not this time.  I loved the randomness of this picture.  Claire had busted her bottom lip by falling off the couch minutes before I took it.  Hannah insists on wearing her white sandles with her tights.  

Doesn't Emmy look so old in this picture?!  

I caught Claire trying to sneak back out to the car to get her "cu-cake" (play food) that she left out there.  Got to keep an eye on this cute little stinker for sure.  

When Bert or I are leaving to go somewhere and Claire is staying at the house with the other parent she gets so sad and starts saying "Don't leeeave me!  I want go wif you."  She'll repeat it over and over until it just about breaks your heart.  

Emily had "Career Day" at school where they were supposed to dress up like what they wanted to do when they grow up.  She's been saying for a month or so now that she wants to be a doctor and we just happened to have a Doc McStuffins dress up outfit, so it worked out well for this uncreative, pregnant Mama!  She was SO excited about getting to wear this to school.  Cutie! 

Thankful for these days. Excited about adding Abby!