Cade Joseph Makes his Entrance

Everyone should know how anxious we all were on Monday when we headed to the midwife appointment. As usual we were scheduled for our weekly ultra sound and appointment/NST to follow. During the ultra sound, again they were looking to score 8/8 on his test. He only got a six, he just didn't want to move. We were sent downstairs to see the midwife where they hooked up the Non Stress Test. Still not a lot of movement. My cervix was checked, still nothing. We were now facing 40 weeks, no dilation, high amniotic fluid, lots of contractions, and now a less responsive baby.
At that time the midwife said she wanted to send us to the hospital. We were to try a cervix softener that needed to be placed and left for 12 hours. Sometimes this can give a boost to dilation, otherwise induction was to proceed the next morning. Everything sounded great. I was going to get sleeping meds and pain meds while in the hospital, I was to be rested for the big event.
Decisions, decisions for Joe, he wanted to stay so badly, but that would mean no rest for him, and not up to par for the big event. The nurses and I convinced him it would be for the best. I did get some sleep to start, as much as anyone can knowing they would seen meet someone they'd been so anxious to meet. By one in the morning though, the pain and cramping was getting a bit rough. I honestly don't remember quite all the details from then on, but I'm sure I can give the best account of the story. The nurse was able to give me a shot to ease the pain, this was to last an hour. Within an hour I was calling for more. After the next hour the baby was getting a bit sluggish, but the pain was getting increasingly worse. The nurse had noticed my contractions were getting closer with more peaks and not many dips. It was time to call the midwife, she said no more pain meds, that may be causing the baby to be too sleepy, wait an hour and take out the cervix softener. I believe it was going on about 4:30 or so, more than two hours with no word, no relief, and still a less responsive baby. Call the doctor. The doctor wanted the nurse to manually stimulate him to try to get a response. This took two, really three nurses to do, within minutes of one nurse disappearing she reappeared and said it was time to call Joe. The baby's heart beat decreased instead of increased and the doctor said c-section asap.
Around six that morning I awoke Joe, within minutes he was at the hospital. Luckily the nurse, who at this time was throwing scrubs at him, was trying to explain everything to him, I had tried but it was better coming from her. Joe called his mother on the way over, I had called mine, and in between I was able to reach Beth also. (She was on her way into the hospital to start her shift. I didn't want her to hear I had the baby before I could tell her) I told my mother to say a prayer and not worry about coming over until 8:00 or so not knowing how long everything would really take. (She fortunately didn't listen) Surgery started at 7:15.
7:36 Cade was here.
Cade Joseph Angle
7 pounds 8 ounces
21 inches long
Sometime after eight I was wheeled from the OR, to be greeted by Joe, my parents and his. I got to hold my baby and the rest was a love filled day. All day long the joke had been within minutes of anyone being notified the baby was on the way, the baby was here. He was perfect.
He is perfect.
Once things begin to settle I should have more posted on events of Cade's first week. For now, we'll be posting mostly pictures. We want our family and friends far away to share this event the best they can.
God held us strong and continues to do so. He has already blessed my little family in so many ways.

Day Two, Total Updates to Come Later

Cade Joseph 7pound 8 ounces

No Change

Went to the midwife yesterday, no change. That's the word. Everything is great, but no progression. She measured my tummy (uterus) its a good size. Cade didn't really want to participate in the NST, but the midwife forced him. Everything is good, just no change. In God's time everything will progress and still, we will be ready.

39 Weeks & Counting

I'll have to make this somewhat short. I am totally not sure how to feel nor how to express it. We had an ultra sound today, everything looks great. The NST looks great, but I still have not dilated. The midwife says she doesn't want to induce that may cause an unnecessary c-section. She is concerned because she said just last week she had a lady that was more than forty weeks pregnant, she induced, and still ended up with a c-section. I guess we will be ready in God's time. Maybe later I will expound more, when I know what to think. Thank God everything is looking great though.

Super Fab Friends

So again I am shown how blessed I am. Just the other day I receive word from Michael Gore that we have a package on the way. Yesterday afternoon we returned to find Fed Ex just leaving our driveway. Just like on Christmas, I patiently took the package and slowly opened it, savoring every moment. Inside was a brand new video camera, to which Joe could not believe. We guessed what it was (Hillary & Michael aren't the best secret keepers), although when Joe bent over to pick up the FedEx box, he stated he thought it was too light for a camera. Once I looked through everything I rushed to charge it and nap while I waited. (I am nine months pregnant you know) Before I had a chance to even call and express thanks the Gores were calling, they had received their delivery email.
Yesterday I didn't get much of a chance to play, but I did today. Above is the video I shot of the baby's room. (Which is quite finished) It is shaky, but its my first. We have a big day coming up, our lives are changing, now we can share with our loved ones far away.
Thanks two tons to the Gores...
not only to them, but everyone else in our support system! We love You!

Another Day, Another Visit

Firstly, I feel well. I think I feel better than I should this far along. I do have the usual pains of trying to get in and out of bed, sitting in uncomfortable chairs, and so forth... but nothing that is making me miserable.
So I saw the doctor as opposed to the midwife, just to get a second set of eyes on my chart and another opinion. He didn't say much different. High fluid is sometimes unexplained. It has plenty of causes, but most times is unexplained. Even though everything is fine, it still has to be closely monitored. Just with the last few visits I was put on the NST, and again it was non-responsive. This time one of the nurses went to get a juice box (for the sugar to make the baby more active), while she was gone though, I poked and prodded a bit to try and get him going. It seemed to do the trick. I return on Monday for another ultra sound and to see the midwife. We'll just hope for the best on Monday, and continue to pray that everything remains well.

Oh What a Day

Today was interesting. We were scheduled for an ultra sound and NST today, when we go there we find out it was a bit more. Apparently the ultra sound was specific. The baby had 30 minutes to score 8 points. The eight points consisted of several different things such as movements, kicks, bladder function, kidney function and so forth. Cade passed in five minutes! The tech also couldn't stop laughing at him. He was making faces and had his foot up on his forehead, he also had the cord in his hand rubbing it on his face. He already has a personality. Yay things looked good. Fluid level was high normal, but down, but still high- down to the midwife. After chit chatting with the nurse I was hooked up to the NST. The baby decided he no longer wanted to participate in any more tests. After about 40 minutes we were sent to the hospital. The midwife said she had spoke with the doctor, and they all just wanted to make sure everything was alright. So we walked over to the hospital, where they were expecting us and got all hooked up. NOW Cade wanted to play. He wouldn't stop moving enough for her to get the test done. About an hour and a half later everything looked good and we were sent home.

Now that leads us to more anxiousness. Everything looks great, BUT we have to keep doing tons of tests. I return on Tuesday, to actually see a doctor, the midwife wants to make sure she isn't missing anything. So now all we can do is pray and wait.

NST

So although we are being monitored twice a week, everything is perfect. It wasn't as long a wait at the office, but that was because I was on the phone with Hillary the whole time. This time the door was left open so everyone in the hallway could here the monitor. I know I've been there before and heard this machine, but realize now the midwives and assistants listen to it while they are out in the hallway working. When Cade moved the girls would giggle, he was really active while I was there. The midwife checked in a few times, she said the baby was doing perfect and needed to teach other babies how do to an NST, it was textbook. She of course could tell I didn't feel well, but since I really couldn't pinpoint anything, I was just feeling pregnant. She told me just to go home and go to bed, I was at the "done" point. This I have heard quite a bit.
I return on Friday for an ultra sound and another Non Stress Test. I was hoping to have Cade for Easter, but it still isn't looking like he is ready. We'll be ready whenever he is ready.

37 Weeks

Friday was my latest follow-up with the midwife. My last visit I scheduled oddly, therefore creating too much time between appointments. So it is my last month, which means weekly visits. It had been almost two weeks, no big deal. I was scheduled for another ultra sound to check my fluid, the last ultra sound said it was bordering on high. This ultra sound confirmed it was now high. It seemed like such a whirl wind there, we waited more than an hour for the ultra sound, got to the midwife had to wait there too, then chaos. The midwife and assistant were in and out telling me bits and pieces here and there. Obviously nothing to be distressed about, and obviously issues they deal with all the time. For the first time, I felt like a patient. I often try to explain to my boss and crew that even though we see what we see everyday, it is all new to the patient. As tiring as it is, everything needs to be explained just as though it was the first time, because it is for the patient. I wasn't quite prepared, I hadn't read up as much as I thought that I had, nobody had really warned me. It was also the end of the day. So with twenty trips in and out, I had peed, had my blood pressure taken, undressed and dressed, then was hooked up to the NST, non stress test. Then I sat still for another twenty minutes, I was going on three hours at the office. "Everything looks great," the said. Luckily Joe was there to get at least one question in, I was too busy following directions to think. He asked what it all meant, good question. The midwife said I would now be coming twice a week (I hadn't even gotten to once a week, now I'm up to two) for the baby to be monitored, I'd have an ultra sound a week to check the fluid, she hardly ever sees anything wrong, but everything still needs to be checked, just in case. In high fluid cases, it could mean kidney problems, but that is usually when fluid is high through out the whole pregnancy. She didn't really get in to much more, fortunately I return on Tuesday for another NST, so I can be reassured everything is fine. Now I just need to be patient, Cade will be here in due time.