Feeling better

I had a brief weekend getaway at Memorial Mission hospital. I had Mastitis, which is a breast infection. I had gone to a Lactation consultant about two weeks ago, thinking it was infected.
*Now, let me give my blurb on my previous opinion of the Lactation consultants. Yes, they are a wealth of information and can be helpful. But they were totally impractical when I saw them at the hospital, setting me up in unrealistic situations to breastfeed. Not to mention they all tell you something completely different. Needless to say, they were already not my favorite people.*
Anyways, since I "didn't have a fever," she assured me it was not infected and it probably was not necessary to see a doctor, unless it got worse. Less than a week later, it got worse. I went to the doctor and she was not happy, saying I should've seen her a week ago. I was put on antibiotics to take 4 times a day and told to come back in two days. Getting the antibiotics alone was a nightmare...they were not available at the first pharmacy and I had to wait an hour for them at the second one, all the while my baby girl is at home (this was the first time I left her and it was KILLING me).

The next day the infection was worse. It looked horrible and the pain was excruciating. It hurt to move and I had to hold my clothes away from my chest. Next to child birth, this is the worst pain I have ever experienced. The next day, Friday, I went back to the doctor. I cried as she entered the room...from the pain and knowing that I was not going to receive any good news whatsoever. Thankfully, my wonderful husband was there for support. One brief look and she decided to direct-admit me to the hospital. Fortunaley, Avery could be there with us for our little "vacation."

I was in the hospital until the following Monday. I received antibiotics through an IV. On Saturday, they did an ultrasound to confirm that I had an abscess and on Sunday they had to drain my breast. This was not a pleasant experience at all, but fortunately it only lasted about 45 minutes. During the procedure, they drained 180 ccs out of it! I knew it was a lot at the time when the doctor continuously told his assistant to keep getting more syringes...I believe I counted nine full ones when it was all said and done (and these syringes were huge, might I add). After I returned to the room, I felt like death run over. The infection had hit me hard and it wasn't until that night that I began to feel normal again. Before leaving the hospital, I found out that the infection had become a staph infection, more specifically MRSA.

I am feeling much better now and my breast looks a lot better. I return to the doctor this afternoon to check on it, then go to an "infectious disease specialist" tomorrow. For those of you who have kept me in your prayers, I am eternally thankful. This whole event has been a nightmare, but I know that things happen and you have to trust in God to pull you through. If it wasn't for him, Shayne and our family, I would not have been strong enough to endure it all. Not to mention that this little angel I have makes me feel better.

Happy (belated) Valentine's Day!

Avery is doing great! She is our little piggy :o). I had an appointment with a lactation consultant last Thursday and found out that she now weighs 7lbs. 15oz!! She definitely takes after her parents...she likes to eat! I hope to get more pictures up soon...it's hard to find the time between diaper changes, feedings, crying sessions, and did I mention diaper changes?!?

Labor of Love

Thanks to my good friend Leah, you all were quickly informed of Avery's arrival (thanks Auntie Leelee!). I wanted to share our story though, of the day that changed our lives forever....

I woke up around 1:00am having contractions, thinking "this could be it." Being the wonderful wife that I am, I let Shayne sleep until 2:00...just in case I was wrong. After waking Shayne, we started to time the contractions. They were 2-5 minutes apart, lasting anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute long. That was good enough reason to call.
We arrived at the hospital around 4:00am and I was already at 7 centimeters. Waiting for the epidural seemed like an eternity! And the actual epidural was an eternity as well...they stuck me 3 times! Shayne was trying his hardest to bite his tongue at that point, being they were not getting "the right spot" on my spine! I, however, was just a nervous wreck thinking my epidural was not going to work. Third time was the charm, praise the Lord...I was much appreciative...



About 8:00am, I was dilated at 9 centimeters, so the doctor went ahead and broke my water. I started to feel some pressure, although nothing like the contractions. The doctor checked me at 9:30am and suggested I go ahead and begin to push...Shayne, Avery & myself must've made a good team, because she was out at 10:08am! They immediately laid our beautiful baby on my chest, which she then proceeded to raise her head and look around. She also had her first poop right on me...that was the first time I could've cared less about poop (which is good because I know there's many more to come).

Words cannot describe the experience and the feelings that rushed over me when our baby girl entered this world. I instantly knew that my lifelong dream of becoming a mother was moving above and beyond my expectations...and will continue to do so as we continue our lives as a new family.