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Rhetoric Pics Taken at Hospital

Here are the pictures taken at the hospital when Rhetoric was only two days old:

Rhetoric's Photo Book Pics, by Christie Ray

I'd like to share my Walgreens Photo Center photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.

Rhetoric has Arrived!

After checking in at the hospital on Wednesday February 16th at 1pm, I was taken to one of the delivery rooms.  Around 1:30pm my nurse tried to get my IV going and she burst my vein twice. She then got another nurse to come and do it instead. Luckily this other nurse got it on the first try.  It was now about 2pm and the pitocin was started.  The nurse checked to see how dilated I was (at my appt the day before I was 3cm and 75% effaced.  The nurse said I was a 3-4cm.  My doctor then showed up and broke my water a few minutes later.  Just a little while later I had the anesthesiologist come to give me an epidural.  After it kicked in, I noticed my right leg was complete dead weight and my left side had a numb feeling but I could kick that leg up in the air.  As I was having contractions, I could feel some pain and pressure (with Amelia's epidural, I was completely numb and on top of the world).  They switched my medicine a few times to see if it would help numb me.  I was numb and tingly up to my shoulders but could still feel the contractions, not what I wanted.  When the nurse checked me at 4pm, I was dilated to 6cm.  At 4:30pm she checked me again and I was still 6cm...disappointing.  At 5pm I told the nurse I was feeling much more pressure and had an urge to push.  She checked me and I was at 10cm....yay!  I gained 4cm in 30 minutes.  That made up for the slower beginning.  They called my doctor and once they were all ready, they had me start pushing, at 5:15pm.  They told me I was having contractions but now I couldn't feel them...thank goodness, the epidural finally kicked in when I needed it to most.  After eight minutes of pushing my son entered this world!

Rhetoric Jefferson Ray

Born Wednesday February 16, 2011, 5:23pm

Induced 2 weeks early (my choice)

7lbs 14oz      

20"

Valentine's Day

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

I started Valentine's Day a few days ago when I made sugar cookie dough.  Later that night when the dough was chilled, I rolled it out on the counter and had Amelia help me make heart shaped cookies with my cookie cutters.  Once I baked them in the oven and let them cool, I frosted them with some homemade icing and let Amelia help put the sprinkles on top.  She had fun helping mommy bake...and loved eating some cookies too!

Yesterday for breakfast I made french toast as usual, but used my large heart shaped cookie cutter so we could eat heart shaped french toast.  I also had Clint and Amelia open their Valentine's Day gifts before church (since Clint gets up early Monday-Saturday, long before Amelia wakes up).  Amelia (I) made a notebook for Clint with a picture of them together on the cover.  Amelia got a few candies and a necklace kit.

I dressed Amelia and I in pink today, of course!  Her shirt had hearts all over and she had two pony tails with heart barrettes.  We went to a Valentine's Day party at her friends Neils' and Jaxton's house.  She got to decorate a Valentine mailbox and a heart shaped sugar cookie.  Then she passed out her Valentine's to each of the other kids' mailboxes.  She had a blast and looked so cute too!

I took a few pictures of her outfit, almost kissing mommy, and kissing baby brother (mommy's tummy).  I can't believe that in about two more days, we will actually be kissing the baby!  I am excited, nervous, and anxious.  I think Amelia is pretty excited and can't wait to visit me when I go to the hospital to take pictures with her new baby brother.

Going for a Walk

We went for a walk a few nights ago and I took a picture of Amelia on Clint's shoulders with my phone. This is another test post to see how blog posting works from my phone with a picture.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

Test Post

This is a test post from my phone. I want to see how it works and if I can post a blog while in the hospital after delivery.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

37 Week Appt

I had my 37 week appointment this morning and measured a definite 2cm and 75% effacement.  We schedule my inducement date for Wednesday the 16th at 7:30am.  That's eight days away!!!  Wow, I can't believe it's coming to an end.  I can't wait to meet this little boy of mine!

Ultrasound

At my 35 week appointment my doctor wanted me to schedule an ultrasound so we could find out how big this baby boy was measuring. 

I had the ultrasound this morning at 7am.  I am 36 weeks and 1 day but this boy was much bigger, like I expected.  According to the measurements the techinician got, he was 37 weeks and 4 days in size.  I know my due date for March 2nd is very accurate, so I just have a big baby...about 10 days ahead of schedule!  He is already 7lbs and 85% for his height (big surprise there!). 

I am planning on getting induced early because I don't want a huge baby, my labor was pretty quick with Amelia (went from a 5cm to 10 cm in 1.5 hours and only had to push for 20 minutes), and I want my parents down here to help take care of Amelia while I'm in the hospital and when I come home for a few days.  Clint works a lot so I can't really rely on him being home to help me try to deal with being a new mother again and taking care of Amelia, and myself.  I am grateful my parents are willing to take time off to come down and help out!!!

I figure that this baby will be about 8lbs when he is born, if I get induced around the 18th of February like I want.  Amelia was 8lbs 12oz and born 5 days early.  If he is 8lbs when born 12 days early, then he would probably be around 9lbs or more if I waited til his due date of March 2nd.

36 Week Appt

I had my 36 week appointment this morning and measured 1cm and 50% effaced.  I'm glad I am making some progress now that I have 4 weeks (but really less) left to go.  I brought Amelia to the appointment with me and she enjoyed hearing her baby brother's heartbeat.

35 Week Appt

I had my 35 week appointment, this is when they start checking my cervix to see what's going on inside.  My cervix is starting to soften a little bit, so that's good news I guess.

Picnic at the Park

I packed a picnic and took Amelia to our community park.  We enjoyed sandwiches, apple sauce, cheetos, crackers, fruit snacks, and apple juice.  Amelia was more interested in playing at the park than eating.  I was able to get a few pictures of her; she got upset when I started to take pictures and would turn away :( 

Amelia loves to go down the big slide and on the swing all by herself like a big girl.  When on the swing, she wants me to push her high, she says, "Higher, mom!"  I'm glad I was able to have a picnic with my baby girl and can't wait to have picnics with both my darling kids in a few months!

C-Wood Baby Shower

Amelia and I drove to Cottonwood on Friday for my baby shower on Saturday.  We played lots of fun games.  Here are pictures from the cottonball game (you are blindfolded and must spoon cottonballs out of the bowl on your lap and dump them into the bowl on top of your head).

Amelia had a hard time reaching her arm with the spoon up into the bowl on top of her head.

I did quite well, spooning 32 cottonballs into the bowl.

The theme for the baby shower was Winnie the Pooh, which is what my nursery is all decked out in.

Me and my big 'baby girl'

I received a special homemade blanket from my best friend Paula.  I think my baby boy will love it :)

Charlie and Amelia rocking in the chair together.

Charlie and Amelia riding the horse, Grandpa Dave, around the living room.

Sand Angels

The weather was quite nice so I took Amelia to the park in our community.  After playing on the slide for a while, Amelia decided to lay down in the sand and make a sand angel...she called it a snow angel (Little Bear in the TV show Little Bear makes snow angels in one episode). 

New Year's Weekend

My parents came down the night of December 30th for the New Year's weekend since they were in Tucson for Christmas.  After Amelia went to bed, my dad and Clint put together the large Christmas present my parents got for Amelia...a play kitchen.  When she came downstairs and went into the living room on the morning of the 31st, she noticed a large present immediately. 

Amelia was VERY excited when she saw that the large gift was a play kitchen.

She spent time with Grandpa Dave by reading Winnie the Pooh books.

My mom, Amelia and I went shopping and dressed Amelia up into what we called a 'snow princess' so she would stay warm.

When we returned back from shopping, we saw this great play house in the living room.  Grandpa Dave turned the play kitchen box into a play house for Amelia.  She was also thrilled about this new thing to play with.  It had a door and jingle bell doorbell.

There was a window on each side with 'washcloth' blinds.  On one side there was a small portal window that could be opened with a string from the inside of the house.

For New Year's Eve Clint, Amelia, & I got to watch the Suns game from a sweet suite room.  Clint's sister and husband rented the suite for the Ray family's Christmas gift to everyone.  Amelia had a blast and couldn't get enough of the gorilla.  She also loved eating cotton candy with daddy.

After the Suns game, we dropped Amelia off at home with my parents and put her to bed.  Clint and I went to his aunt and uncle's house for their annual New Year's Eve celebration. 

After getting a few hours of sleep Friday night, Amelia, my mom, and I went shopping some more on Saturday.  Amelia sported her ladybug hat and mittens to stay warm.