Hospital Orientation

Last night we went to Memorial West for our hospital orientation. It was quite informative and I am really glad we went. First things first, if you go into labor on your own, you are not to come in until you are 5-1-1. Which is, contractions are less than 5 minutes apart, 1 minute long, and have followed that pattern for at least an hour. If you go to the hospital before that, you will be kept in the labor and delivery triage until you have reached that point.

So checking into the hospital when you are in labor, you go to the triage, they check you out, and make sure you are at 5-1-1. If that is the case, you go right to the delivery suite. The delivery suite has a hospital bed with a sleeper-sofa or recliner chair for dad, or a queen-sized bed. All have private bathrooms, some with tubs with jets, some with showers. The rooms have televisions, some with VCRs. We will stay in this room until Carson has joined us. Then we stay in there for about an hour afterwards and then we are moved to the 3rd floor where we stay. ALL of the rooms are private. THANK GOODNESS!!! I knew that before hand, but it is nice to always hear. Your stay is calculated by 48 hours once the baby has arrived, 72 hours for a C-section.

We are allowed to have AS MANY people in the room as we like, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. That being said, during the actual pushing and delivery, Geoffrey and I decided it will just be the 2 of us, and of course the dr and nurses. It will be the waiting room for everyone else for those 5 minutes of pushing..ha!! I know, I know, but I can dream.

The hospital is a "Room In" hospital. That means, Carson never leaves our side. I really liked that. They also use a lo-jack system, a small anklet on Carson which is deactivated when he leaves the hospital with us.

They told us what to bring to the hospital. Our toiletries, pillows, a robe, slippers, etc. And of course, can't forget Dad! Geoffrey needs to bring with him his toiletries and change of clothes and of course snacks. We can bring our lap top with us because all of the rooms have the ability to access the Internet. That means Geoffrey can upload pictures and send them to everyone right away!

Because my due date is in the height of hurricane season, I paid close attention to that topic. Basically, if you wait the hurricane out at the hospital, you wait it out in the lobby and have to bring EVERYTHING with you, i.e. your own air mattress, blankets, pillows, food. They provide nothing but a place to be in case you go into labor. Because of the pressure drop, hurricanes have been known to send women into labor when they are very close to full term. So that plan does not sound like a good time to me. No hurricanes the last 2 weeks of September or the first 2 weeks of October......Fingers crossed!!!

I think that's all for now, I'm pretty sure I have covered it all. :)

And this is all in the case that I am not induced or have a planned C-section.
81 days to go until Carson is here!!!!

Happy Friday!

THE RESULTS ARE IN!

GREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAT NEWS!!!

I passed the 3 hour glucose test! Don't know how, cause I didn't expect to, but I did! The nurse said everything looked fine, no worries. Sooooo, NO DIABETES and NO HIGH RISK!! WOOHOO! I'm thinking a nice big ice cream sundae would be an excellent celebration..hehe (That hehe is for you Rinaldi)

~and~

the time has come...drum roll please.........

CARSON MICHAEL ELLISON

is on his way.................

I'd like to give all of the credit to his dear daddy, Geoffrey, who picked his name. We have had it picked for quite some time now, especially after the Liam/Mail fiasco. No special significance behind Carson, nothing special with the C, just a name Geoffrey and I liked. The middle name, however, is after Michelle, Geoffrey's mom. So there you have it..No more Baby Boy Ellison..he finally has a name and pretty soon we will have a face to put to the name.

Happy Thursday!

On to the home stretch! Welcome Third Trimester!

I really can't believe how fast this pregnancy has gone by. It seems like just yesterday I was telling everyone I was pregnant at 3 months/12 weeks, and here I am with 3 months/12 weeks to go. It has been quite a journey so far, and I feel so blessed to be where I am today.

28 weeks marks the 3rd trimester, where I am today. I started it off by yet, another doctor appt and the dreaded, 3 hour glucose test. I've gained 5lbs and my total weight gain is 16 lbs. Doctor said I was A-ok on the weight gain. I was not looking forward to the glucose test, especially because last week I had 2 episodes of my blood sugar level drastically dropping. The test was just as horrible as it was last time, if not worse. Once again, thank god Geoffrey was there with me. I slept on his shoulder in the waiting room and every hour dragged myself out of the chair to have another needle stuck in my arm for more blood. I should get the results by Wed or Thurs, so we will see what happens.

Now that I have started the 3rd trimester I go to the doctor every 2 weeks until 35 weeks. At 35 weeks, I go every week until the baby has arrived. And of course, if I didn't pass the glucose test and I have gestational diabetes, its back to the perinatologist and back on high risk..Ugh.

So when I was about 26 1/2 weeks, my friend Nicole took photos of Geoffrey and I. They came out so beautiful and I love all of them. My friend April came over and did my makeup, can't live without April, and off to Tree Tops Park we went, at 7:30 am. It was worth it, because by 9:00 it was already so hot. Geoffrey brought Diesel with us, I guess he felt he needed a male companion with him. hehe. Although he forgets Diesel is a ham for the camera!

P.S. Nicole and April, your amazing and thank you again!!!

Here are some of the pics...Enjoy... (you can click on the pics to make them bigger)

Prenatal massage, pedicure and shopping..aahhhh

So today was a wonderful day. Besides the fact that I did not have to work today, I treated myself to a prenatal massage at Contour Day Spa. It was wonderful and relaxing and I can't wait to go back. Then to my surprise, my mom called and treated me to a paraffin pedicure. To make it even better than that, she took me shopping. This was a day every pregnant woman needs!!

We bought my first round of maternity clothes today. We went to Motherhood Maternity at the mall. My first instinct was to walk out as soon as we walked in. I was looking at all the clothes like a spoiled brat, picking the shirts up by the corners and holding the pants with the "extra" waistband like they were made for an alien. I'm sorry to anyone who observed this. But my mom picked some tops and bottoms out for me to try, and WA-LA, they were not so bad on and quite comfortable.

Then she had to do it. She had to walk by the maternity bras. Mommy! I hear her while I'm in the dressing room, "Lauren, look at this pretty one with lace." Somehow I felt like I was 14 again in the Macy's dressing room. I tried to tell her, I'm just not ready for that yet, baby steps, I will get there slowly. I ended up with 4 in the fitting room and couldn't figure out what those "clips" were for on the straps. The lady working there heard me and explained they were for easy access for nursing. Does it look like I am nursing anything now? No..What is the purpose. But again, to my surprise, aaahh...So much more comfortable. I drew the line with the maternity panties. We're not going there now, although my experience today tells me that day will soon come.

So the mothers that are reading this, I'm sure you got a kick out of my first maternity shopping experience. It was another wonderful day to include into my pregnancy memories.

Thanks for everything Mommy, your the best!

P.S. Im sure Daddy is going to email me, "too much info Lauren". So, to save you the trouble Daddy, I opened up one of your previous emails that said, "too much info Lauren". :)

25 week Dr Appointment

Today I went to see Dr. Goldberg for my 25 week appointment. Everything went well. I go back in 3 weeks for more blood work to test for gestational diabetes, again. My total weight gain so far is 11lbs. Dr. Goldberg said that my weight gain is in a completely normal range and he has no problems with it, at all. However, 6 of the 11lbs were gained this past month. Again that was not too much of a problem, he said he just does not want the weight gain to continue on that kind of pattern. So needless to say, Geoffrey, the food police cop, is back in action. Grrr...

I've heard rumors that the hospital is not performing circumcisions anymore because of insurance. So of course, I had to clear that up today. Dr Goldberg told me that he performs "the cut" and it is done the day after the baby is born. Glad to know that is done and overwith.

I told him I was planning on doing the Bradley Method. He said that was great and he will go along with anything that I choose. I can't wait to start those classes Aug 13!

I asked him about my back pain and he said to just work on my posture and that may help. He said your body has a tendency to create bad posture when pregnant.

Geoffrey and I are going to do our registry this weekend. I can't wait. I am actually really excited.

And finally, we confirmed today that once Baby Boy Ellison, or as Geoff and I call him, "The Kid", arrives, I will be returning to work after the first of the year.

Hope everyone has a Happy July 4th!