Saturday, March 19, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Ella Jane is here!!!!!!!!
We are so in love. Ella Jane arrived at 9:57am weighing in at a whopping 8lbs, 15oz. and 19" long. She is so beautiful and we are in awe! All we kept saying was, "thank you, Jesus, thank you" when we heard her first cries. I promise pics will come soon! For now, we are just spending time cuddling with our girl.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Postponed and Disappointed
We were so ready. We arrived at the hospital at 5:30 this morning. They put me in a room, took some blood, put my IV in and wheeled me down to the OR at 7:30. The anesthesiologist asked me a few questions and when I told her about the Factor V Leiden and that I took my last Lovenox injection Tuesday night, she said they would need to do a blood test to see if my blood was coagulating before she could do the spinal. Forty-five minutes later they came in and told me that my blood was still too thin and it was too dangerous to do the c-section today. So we have been rescheduled for tomorrow morning. They are keeping me at the hospital tonight to keep an eye on Ella. I am extremely disappointed and honestly, just super impatient to have Ella here in my arms. So we wait some more. I guess she really wanted her birthday to be March 18th, not the 17th. She doesn't want to share with St. Patrick. :o)
We will hopefully have some wonderful pictures to share with you tomorrow. In the meantime, pray that I get some rest (I slept NONE at all last night). I'm pretty exhausted physically and emotionally right now.
We will hopefully have some wonderful pictures to share with you tomorrow. In the meantime, pray that I get some rest (I slept NONE at all last night). I'm pretty exhausted physically and emotionally right now.
Our Rainbow Baby Arrives Today!
Sweet Ella Jane will be in our arms in a matter of hours. I can't believe it. The day is finally here. We will post pictures as soon as we can. Please be in prayer for us this morning. C-section is at 7:30. I didn't sleep a wink, but I'm too excited to be sleepy.
We love you so much, sweet girl! Your mommy and daddy can't wait to hold you!!!!!!!!!!!
We love you so much, sweet girl! Your mommy and daddy can't wait to hold you!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Impatiently Waiting
UPDATE: My doctor's appointment went great and Ella is doing very well. Her heartbeat was on the lower side (120's) so Dr. D went ahead and put me on the NST. She had great accelerations and everything looked great. Dr. D had not yet scheduled my c-section, so she asked if I preferred Thursday or Friday. I told her either day was fine. She texted me later and said to be at the hospital at 5:30 Thursday morning and the c-section is scheduled for 7:30. So it looks like we are having a St. Patty's Day baby!!! I am a little bummed however that my favorite nurse (Amy) who was with us when we had Noah will not be able to be there on Thursday. She will be there Friday, but I'm sad she won't be able to be there with us during the surgery. :o( My bro and sis-in-law will also not be able to be there because of work and other obligations that they absolutely can't get out of, so they are a little bummed too, but I know we will have the rest of our lives to all enjoy Ella together. Please be in prayer for us on Thursday morning!
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Original Post...
I can see that several of you are checking in on me a few times a day. Sorry! I guess an update would be nice. Ella is set to arrive via c-section this Friday. We will have internet at the hospital, so I promise we will update with pics as soon as we can! At my last doctor's appointment my blood pressure was a little higher than it has been the whole pregnancy. Not high, just higher. I also had a little protein in my urine. I go back to the doctor today and if either my BP or the protein has gone up, they may consider delivering today or tomorrow, but that's unlikely. Most likely our baby girl won't arrive until Friday afternoon sometime. Can I just say that I have never been more impatient for something than I am about her arrival? I'm very anxious and trying to just give it over to the Lord (every hour!!!). She's moving a lot today which comforts me. I just want her here while I know she is developed and thriving!!! Speaking of thriving, the ultrasound tech at my high risk doc estimates that Ella is about 8lbs, 9oz. WOAH! Keep in mind that I'm only 37 weeks and 2 days! Ethan came on his due date and he was 8lbs, 3oz. She would probably be a 10-pounder if we had to wait until 40 weeks to deliver! I must admit that I'm a little sad that she won't be a tiny baby when she arrives. She's ALREADY growing up too fast!
I had a breakdown yesterday. It's a mix of hormones, tired of being pregnant, anxious for her to arrive safely, and being just plain exhausted. Fear had a grip on me yesterday. I had all these thoughts of the thousands of different scenarios that could happen between now and Friday and I just became overwhelmed. Since I lost Noah, I've heard from countless women about how they lost their child. It really is unbelievable how many different things can go wrong in a pregnancy...even at the end. Usually grief follows fear. I started thinking about Noah and missing him so much. I ache to have him in my arms while I also desperately ache to have Ella in my arms. It's strange that in just a few days we will walk through the same doors of that hospital where we left empty-handed and broken-hearted just 20 months ago. I'm praying that God is writing a whole different story for us this time. I want that place of heartache and sadness to be filled to the brim with joy and love for a little girl. A little girl that is here because of her brother.
It won't be long now. These last few days are definitely dragging by. I know she will be here soon. For now, we just have to wait.
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Original Post...
I can see that several of you are checking in on me a few times a day. Sorry! I guess an update would be nice. Ella is set to arrive via c-section this Friday. We will have internet at the hospital, so I promise we will update with pics as soon as we can! At my last doctor's appointment my blood pressure was a little higher than it has been the whole pregnancy. Not high, just higher. I also had a little protein in my urine. I go back to the doctor today and if either my BP or the protein has gone up, they may consider delivering today or tomorrow, but that's unlikely. Most likely our baby girl won't arrive until Friday afternoon sometime. Can I just say that I have never been more impatient for something than I am about her arrival? I'm very anxious and trying to just give it over to the Lord (every hour!!!). She's moving a lot today which comforts me. I just want her here while I know she is developed and thriving!!! Speaking of thriving, the ultrasound tech at my high risk doc estimates that Ella is about 8lbs, 9oz. WOAH! Keep in mind that I'm only 37 weeks and 2 days! Ethan came on his due date and he was 8lbs, 3oz. She would probably be a 10-pounder if we had to wait until 40 weeks to deliver! I must admit that I'm a little sad that she won't be a tiny baby when she arrives. She's ALREADY growing up too fast!
I had a breakdown yesterday. It's a mix of hormones, tired of being pregnant, anxious for her to arrive safely, and being just plain exhausted. Fear had a grip on me yesterday. I had all these thoughts of the thousands of different scenarios that could happen between now and Friday and I just became overwhelmed. Since I lost Noah, I've heard from countless women about how they lost their child. It really is unbelievable how many different things can go wrong in a pregnancy...even at the end. Usually grief follows fear. I started thinking about Noah and missing him so much. I ache to have him in my arms while I also desperately ache to have Ella in my arms. It's strange that in just a few days we will walk through the same doors of that hospital where we left empty-handed and broken-hearted just 20 months ago. I'm praying that God is writing a whole different story for us this time. I want that place of heartache and sadness to be filled to the brim with joy and love for a little girl. A little girl that is here because of her brother.
It won't be long now. These last few days are definitely dragging by. I know she will be here soon. For now, we just have to wait.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Baby Shower and the wait
My sweet sister-in-law, Esther along with 3 of my dear friends (Sandra, Angela, & Trista) threw me a baby shower at my church last weekend. It was so much fun and wait until you see the pics below of how they blessed us with so much girly stuff! The decorations, the food, the cake, the friends...everything was just perfect!
The hostesses....
All the guests (minus a few who had to leave early)...
thank you to friends who drove from across state and from out of state to be there!!!
Love you girls!!!
Diaper Cake made by Sandra
Ethan being silly...
Thank you everyone for the beautiful shower and all the cute (and useful) gifts!!! It was so great to see some dear friends and it was such a special day.
We are in the final stretch...13 days to go (Ethan continues to remind us). Yesterday was kind of crazy. My day was filled with LOTS of contractions and I started to wonder if Miss Ella would make an early appearance. I swapped texts with my doctor, left work early, rushed home to finish packing my bag, ate lunch, then sat down and drank a glass of water. Then they stopped. As much as I am anxious for her to be here, I DO NOT want her to end up in the NICU, so it would be good if she could hang in there at least another week (or 2!). I'll be 36 weeks tomorrow and the plan is still to have the c-section on March 18th...but like I've said before, Ella may have other plans!
Today was the first Saturday in FOREVER that we had no plans at all. No birthday parties, no weddings, no baby showers, no church activities, NOTHING! And it was so nice! So I did what all mothers do at this stage in the game. NESTING! I gave David a list of chores and we are now relaxing after a long day of cleaning and preparing for Ella. We bought her car seat today, David put up the bassinet in our room and we set up the Pack n Play in the living room. They are all set up and waiting for her cute little self...
And her room has become my favorite room in the house...
The hostesses....
All the guests (minus a few who had to leave early)...
thank you to friends who drove from across state and from out of state to be there!!!
Love you girls!!!
The cookie favors (also made by Trista)
Diaper Cake made by Sandra
Isn't this the cutest? Ella was spoiled with all these clothes by her Aunt Es!
Ethan being silly...
Ethan wanted to help open all of Ella's gifts
The loot...
Thank you everyone for the beautiful shower and all the cute (and useful) gifts!!! It was so great to see some dear friends and it was such a special day.We are in the final stretch...13 days to go (Ethan continues to remind us). Yesterday was kind of crazy. My day was filled with LOTS of contractions and I started to wonder if Miss Ella would make an early appearance. I swapped texts with my doctor, left work early, rushed home to finish packing my bag, ate lunch, then sat down and drank a glass of water. Then they stopped. As much as I am anxious for her to be here, I DO NOT want her to end up in the NICU, so it would be good if she could hang in there at least another week (or 2!). I'll be 36 weeks tomorrow and the plan is still to have the c-section on March 18th...but like I've said before, Ella may have other plans!
Today was the first Saturday in FOREVER that we had no plans at all. No birthday parties, no weddings, no baby showers, no church activities, NOTHING! And it was so nice! So I did what all mothers do at this stage in the game. NESTING! I gave David a list of chores and we are now relaxing after a long day of cleaning and preparing for Ella. We bought her car seat today, David put up the bassinet in our room and we set up the Pack n Play in the living room. They are all set up and waiting for her cute little self...
And her room has become my favorite room in the house...
13 MORE DAYS!!!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Countdown...15 days
The Collinsworth family is counting down to Ella's arrival!!! Every morning Ethan tells me, "Mommy, baby Ella will be here in _____ days". March 18th. It's so close. Ethan is so completely excited he can hardly contain himself. It makes me even more hopeful and excited. Just two weeks from tomorrow (or you never know...maybe sooner?) Ella Jane will be here!
I have a lot of mixed emotions (obviously) about her arrival. I have not been back to that maternity ward at the hospital since we had to hand Noah over to someone and just walk away. I can't imagine all the emotions we will experience the day of her arrival, but I can tell you that right now, I mostly feel joy. I'm praying away all the doubt, fear and anxiety that is trying to creep in.
I am having a LOT of Braxton Hicks contractions every day, but my doctor checked me on Tuesday and I'm only dilated about 1cm. Ella has been getting a 10 out of 10 every week at my high risk appointments which is such a relief. Her heart rate is sometimes a little low (105-115), but then the next week it will be high (140-180). She has really good accelerations, so they aren't worried. They are keeping a very close eye on her though.
It's so strange to think back on how this pregnancy started off and to see how healthy and whole she is today. If you don't remember, you can read about the beginning HERE. Those first 10 weeks were so scary and we didn't know if this little one was going to survive. It fills my heart with joy every time the doctor says, "she's so healthy!"
As we make our final preparations for Ella's arrival, we are spending a lot of time with Ethan during his last days as an only child. We are remembering Noah and thanking God that through Noah's life and death, he has made a way for his sister to live. While I grow very tired of taking these injections every day, I'm so thankful for modern medicine that is preventing blood clots from forming and harming Ella.
Baby girl, we cannot wait for you to be in our arms. Do you know how much we love you already? Do you know how excited your big brother is to see you and play with you? Do you know that you have a big brother in Heaven? Do you know that you are already Daddy's little girl? We are already praying that you will come to know Jesus at an early age and that you will become a woman after God's own heart. We love you, sweet girl. 15 more days...
I have a lot of mixed emotions (obviously) about her arrival. I have not been back to that maternity ward at the hospital since we had to hand Noah over to someone and just walk away. I can't imagine all the emotions we will experience the day of her arrival, but I can tell you that right now, I mostly feel joy. I'm praying away all the doubt, fear and anxiety that is trying to creep in.
I am having a LOT of Braxton Hicks contractions every day, but my doctor checked me on Tuesday and I'm only dilated about 1cm. Ella has been getting a 10 out of 10 every week at my high risk appointments which is such a relief. Her heart rate is sometimes a little low (105-115), but then the next week it will be high (140-180). She has really good accelerations, so they aren't worried. They are keeping a very close eye on her though.
It's so strange to think back on how this pregnancy started off and to see how healthy and whole she is today. If you don't remember, you can read about the beginning HERE. Those first 10 weeks were so scary and we didn't know if this little one was going to survive. It fills my heart with joy every time the doctor says, "she's so healthy!"
As we make our final preparations for Ella's arrival, we are spending a lot of time with Ethan during his last days as an only child. We are remembering Noah and thanking God that through Noah's life and death, he has made a way for his sister to live. While I grow very tired of taking these injections every day, I'm so thankful for modern medicine that is preventing blood clots from forming and harming Ella.
Baby girl, we cannot wait for you to be in our arms. Do you know how much we love you already? Do you know how excited your big brother is to see you and play with you? Do you know that you have a big brother in Heaven? Do you know that you are already Daddy's little girl? We are already praying that you will come to know Jesus at an early age and that you will become a woman after God's own heart. We love you, sweet girl. 15 more days...
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