Mims, her grandma, is in town until next Wednesday and its been great having her here. She’s been a big help. Peter is back at work and I’m still trying to figure out how to nap….hahah I usually crash around 2 or 3pm, I’m just not use to napping.

I still have cabin fever but we managed to get out a little bit yesterday. I pretended Sarah wasn’t here and put Selena in the car seat and got her in the car….I was a scared about this….silly I know, but everything is new to me and taking a little wee one out somewhere is just nerve racking at first….but then it’s like, “oh..that was easy.”

In other news, Sean may be coming up here this weekend, something is wrong with their dog and the vet can’t figure it out, so I hope things are ok.

I’m ready to start running, but my body tells me to wait a wee bit longer.

Eli

Things I’ve learned to do while taking care of Selena:

texting while cuddling, checking email while pumping, reading a novel and magazines while breast feeding (Selena learned all about the economy and finances), grabbing my water bottle with my feet (I’m really good at this), typing and eating with my left hand (I’m a little slow with the left hand right now but getting better).

The neighbors gave us a baby bjorn carrier so I can’t wait to take her for a walk. I went for a 2 mile walk yesterday and it was a little much after labor….it’s only been 10 days, so I probably need to wait a little longer for exercise. I’m getting cabin fever.

Peter went back to work today for a half day and we miss him already.

Eli

Here’s her birth story:

Labor was interesting..the one thing I learned from this whole birth process is nothing ever works out the way you plan it and so is life right?

I wanted to do a natural birth but on Tuesday the 16th I had the “labor signs.” We got excited but then I started leaking Amniotic Fluid…..a lot in fact so we went to the hospital and sure enough my bags of water was ruptured. Because of the increased chance of infection they want people to deliver within 24 hours of your amniotic sack rupturing…so they sent us home hoping natural labor would ensue, but if not we had to be checked in at 5pm on Wednesday, February 17th and we wouldn’t be leaving the hospital until I delivered. I had some contractions but nothing crazy. When we checked in they gave me a pill to induce labor and it worked too well…I had too many coming, so they gave me a shot to stop it, then it stopped it too much, so they they gave me potosin and upped it slowly but when it kicked in it was not like regular labor it was intense and I had a couple of contractions at the same time and they were coming frequently….so I said screw it give me the epidural…..that was the best thing I did….we were all able to sleep for a little while and rest and then it started to wear off on the right side of my body but still stayed on my left and I started to feel contractions again, but we were at the point of pushing so I had them turn off the epidural so I could feel the contractions to push….I was still numb in the areas that counted, but I was like, “I’m pushing her out before this crap wears off”….so I was able to push her out in about an hour, I also barfed a bit, it was rough…..and I had very little tearing which was good…I’m healing well. Anyways the pushing part seemed the hardest but the easiest if that makes sense and having my mom and Peter there was awesome…they helped so much, much more than they realize…..I had a lot of anxiety about labor beforehand, but it worked out although I never imagined it like it happened.

So Selena Elisabeth Voigt arrived on 2/18/10 at 2:34 pm, she weighed 7pounds 1 ounce and was 19 inches long with a full head of dark hair and she’s a cutie. I’m so lucky to have her and Peter in my life….I feel like the luckiest person alive and I truly think that labor was the most intense experience I’ve ever had!

Welcome to the world Selena!!!!

Went to the doc. on Friday….says Peli is really engaged now…deep in the pelvic region, my cervix is soft but hasn’t opened….so she says probably not this week which is sort of a relief since we still have to get the house ready and we need to get a few things on our registry too….and have another date before we get no sleep for a while.

I’m ready for her to come though. My legs are starting to hurt and collect water, so that’s not fun by the end of the day and I’m getting less mobile, just want to chill.

In other news….it’s Vday this weekend, the Chinese New Year – Year of the Tiger and President’s day and I’m going to enjoy my three day weekend.

Our friends threw us a shower the day before the Superbowl and it rocked. We had a great time hanging with friends and eating some yummy food Rachele made. Peli got lots of fun presents and it was really nice to hang with friends. You can check out some of the pics here. Lisa and Spiz took a lot of pics, so I’ll link to their pics when they post them.

In other news I had a doc. appointment last Friday….she said Peli is engaged and my cervix is soft, but that she won’t come this week. So we will see…the countdown is on.

It’s now Tuesday and I’m getting more practice contractions….a few real ones too and I’m exhausted…..so we’ll see if this is a sign of what’s to come or just a random day in the life of a really preggers chick.

My belly is growing and I can’t find a comfortable position, but I’m in the final countdown and that’s exciting and scary all in one. Peter is really helping me out and I do appreciate his help. Currently we are just trying to get the house ready for Peli….they call it the nesting period. Hahhaha.

In other news, our friends are throwing us a shower this weekend and we’ll watch the Saints win the Superbowl (crossing fingers). I always said if the Saints made it to the Superbowl I’d fly home to watch the game, well I can’t fly anywhere right now. Oh well…

I’m finishing up my website updates, application for a PHD program and some freelance this week. Oh and trying to get stuff squared away at work. Seems like everyone is quitting all at once. It’s like a mass exodus, but I’m still there, until baby Peli decides to introduce herself to the world.

The Saints are in the Superbowl, one of my goals before I die has been met. Woo Hoo….Peter says I better not go into labor during the Superbowl…hahahha.

This week has been more manageable. I’ve figured out how to reduce my back pain. My weekly doctor’s visit brought up some interesting things. Apparently I have a heart shaped uterus, but it’s only a dip and shouldn’t be an issue. But reading online didn’t bring up anything reassuring about it, but my doc says I’m fine so I’m ignoring everything I read online. Although one thing to note less than .1% of the population has this issue. Also, at the doc’s office Peli’s heart rate was low so I had to go and do a non stress test, NST. She was fine, apparently I have an “aggravated uterus” whatever that means and I’m having practice contractions all the time, so they took her heart rate while one of the contractions was happening. The doc said, “Wow you have an active baby.” This is the fourth time I’m hearing stuff like this, so I guess it’s inevitable that we will have an active child

In other news I’m trying to get things together to apply for a PHD program. Almost done.

Geaux Saints!

At least now we’re in week 34, so the closer we get to Peli’s due date the better. Again she’s fine through all of this. I feel her move like normal. We also packed a bag.

Maybe I can get Peter to post a pic of my belly this week, although it will consist of me laying on the couch….my other bed.

I’ve been sick all week fighting a virus. My temp has gone up and down and Wednesday night (Jan. 13th) I spiked a temp that caused contractions so I had to go the hospital. I had no idea I was having contractions. Luckily Peter remembered the signs from class and made me call.

At the hospital they gave me two shots to stop the contractions and took a ton of tests to make sure everything was ok including no infections. Peli was looking good. The worse test they did was an Amniocentesis. They had to do it twice since Peli kicked the needle around on the first try. I tried not to look, but the look on Peter’s face told me it wasn’t pleasant from where he stood. The Amniocentesis caused my tummy to cramp up for hours and then I was so sore for two days after. Here’s a pic of what the Amniocentesis is.

Good thing she didn’t come we’re not ready yet Peli!

We had a small gathering at our house to ring in the new year and played drinking games. I chugged a lot of water

My belly is getting larger as you can see below. Wow….call me big momma! Peli gets hiccups everyday and sometimes twice a day. I’m starting to get some back pain because I’m not quite as limber anymore and I’m having to work with my body differently. Peli has hijacked my body, but the countdown is almost upon us. We’re continuing with out labor classes and we’re learning some interesting ways to cope with pain….oh boy I can’t wait. I think Peter will be an excellent co-partner in the process.

In other news I’m trying to get tons of projects finished this month without causing too much stress and I’m craving king cake!

Tonight it’s off to play Beatles rock band at my co-worker’s place.