Maddoxx Chance McCollum

Arrived one month ago today. Man how time flies! He was born Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 12:13 PM. He was 8 pounds 4 ounces and 19.5 inches long.

I went to the doctors on June 21st, expecting to set up a date to be induced. Little did I know I was going to be induced that night. We went to the hospital at 9 PM and started the process. They started me on the lowest dose of Pitocin possible and upped it once an hour for the first few hours. Eventually they began upping it every half an hour and then every 15 minutes. I held out on the epidural until about 7:00 AM. The doctor broke my water around 7:30 AM. By 9:45 AM I was at 5 CM and by 10:15 AM I had finally reached 10 CM. At 11 I was given the OK to begin pushing and by 12:13 PM our beautiful little boy entered the world.

On the way out, he swallowed several CC's of Amniotic Fluid. Right away they sucked out about 20 cc's but that wasn't enough. He aspirated and had to be taken away. He was put on oxygen and an IV. We didn't get to hold him for the first 24 hours. It was really hard on both Chance and I. Eventually his breathing began to get better and he was able to start nursing. Each time he nursed, they lowered the amount of fluid he received through the IV until he was off. We spent 3 nights in the hospital and were released Saturday afternoon.

He is such a wonderful baby, I couldn't be happier. He has such a big personality already!!


Here are some pictures from his first month :o)

Are We There Yet..?

Here we are welcoming week 37! Only 3 Weeks to go... Boy, how time flies!

If you haven't yet delivered, you've reached the calm before the storm. You're probably monitoring your body for those first Early Labor symptoms and wondering what you've forgotten.
Your smooshed-up baby is weighing in at around 6.3 lbs and 19 inches (with boys somewhat heavier and longer than girls).
As far as their internal organs go, your adorable poop and blood factory has reached "term" - a medical term that means your sweet little bun is birth-ready and labor is welcome and normal at this point.
Despite being physically ready to land on planet Earth, your baby's immune system is quite weak and will continue to be that way for their first years of life.

~length                   ~weight
19 in | 48 cm           6.3 lbs | 2.8 kg

 

 

Everything at the Doctor's looked great today! He had a heart rate of 150 BPM, he is a very active little guy! 

I am looking forward to meeting him, I hope he is just like his daddy :)

 

How far along?: 36 Weeks 6 Days

Total Weight Gain?: 20 Pounds

 

Gender?: BOY

Maternity Clothes: Maternity Pants/Shirts, Sweats, Dresses

Stretch Marks?: Unfortunately...

Sleep?: During the day, not at night!!

Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks here and there

Best Moment of the Week?: He's been VERY active over the last few days! He doesn't hold still for more than about 30 minutes at a time

Movement?: Never-ending

 

Food Craving?: Cherry Limeade, Nutter Butters, Kettle Corn

 

Food aversions: Pork, Meat!

Belly Button?: It's about to pop!... YUCK

What I miss?: NOT having heartburn! Being able to do everything for myself. Being able to see my feet!! Being able to go up and down the stairs and still have my breath!!

What I'm looking forward to: Labor and Delivery so I can meet our son! :)

 

 

 

I cannot believe how wonderful and supportive Chance has been through this whole pregnancy! I am so fortunate to have him as my husband/life partner. I couldn't do it without him by my side! He will be such an amazing father!!

Today is Chance's birthday, he's 22 today! Man, he's getting old ;) I wish we had something fun planned, but we don't. I guess that's what happens as ya get older! At least we'll get to spend the evening together. We really don't get enough time with each other anymore.

 

34 Weeks Down!! 6 to go!

Today marks the 34th week! I had a Doctor appointment today and everything looks great, he is measuring spot on!! He had a heart rate of 145... Not his usual 150, but close! He kicks the doppler every time, without fail!

Your amazing baby is on the move!
Until now, your wee womb-squatter's been living fairly high up in your poor stretched-out womb - blithely compressing your poor lungs and internal organs.
This week your baby's going to pack their tiny bags and make the "big" move to your pelvis - commonly referred to as the time when your baby "drops".
If you haven’t noticed it already, you’ll be feeling the weight shift indicating your baby is most likely out of breech position (if they're being stubborn, check out 17 Ways To Turn a Breech Baby) with their head now resting on your pubic bone.
When baby drops this may also give you some horrific stabbing back pain as they press on your sciatic nerve.
If that's the case, get off your feet and try to do some spine-lengthening stretches to help your baby move OFF that poor throbbing nerve.
In developing internal-organ news: although not quite fully formed, your little poop-factory's liver is now capable of processing a certain amount of waste.
Because your baby's liver is not quite birth-ready, it's common for newborns to get a case of mild and harmless jaundice (signaled by a slight yellowing of the skin).
Jaundice is the result of your baby's body producing more bilirubin (a by-product of blood production) than the liver can currently breakdown, leading to a subtle yellow tinge that goes away in a few days.
Babies born earlier than their due date tend to have moderate to severe jaundice, which - in the hospital, will be treated via light therapy to help their body break the bilirubin down.
For home-birthers, jaundice is easily dealt with by increased breastfeeding (to help their body pass the bilirubin) and "naked time" for baby in a warm sunlit area for 10 minute intervals throughout the day until it disappears.

Trip to Tombstone

Over the weekend, Chance and I made the short drive to Tombstone, Arizona. It was a neat place to see because it holds so much history. I think Chance would like to go back someday, without a pregnant wife.. So he can see more and enjoy it a little more!

This is the Million Dollar Slope

These are a few pictures from the reptile exhibit at Tombstone. I didn't realize how many different Rattle Snakes there are!!

A few more weeks have gone by...

And they have gone by very quickly!! After a long hard search, we finally found a new doctor. After calling 23 offices, we finally found one that would take us on. What a pain!! Baby M is measuring perfectly, the due date has been moved up to June 15, 2011. We'll just have to wait and see if he'll actually come then!! His heart rate is still in the 150's and he keeps me up ALL night kicking and rolling around. He's still head down and beginning to cause me to waddle.. Only a little over 6 Weeks left!! We are getting so excited to see what he will be like!

 28 Weeks

 30 Weeks

33 Weeks

How far along?: 33 Weeks 4 Days

Total Weight Gain?: 16 Pounds

Gender?: BOY

Maternity Clothes: Maternity Pants/Shirts, Sweats, Dresses

Stretch Marks?: Unfortunately...

Sleep?: What's that??

Labor Signs: Nope

Best Moment of the Week?: Seeing all of his movements

Movement?: All the time!

Food Craving?: Cherry Limeade, Oreos, Fruit, Eggs, Waffles

Food aversions: Pork, Vegetables

Belly Button?: innie

What I miss?: Being able to bend over, being able to get out of bed... unassisted, Sleeping through the night.. Sleeping at all..., Moving without pain.

What I'm looking forward to: His due date!

Baby "M"

So here is our little one at 24 Weeks and 5 Days. Everything looks great! I'm so glad that we FINALLY got a good profile shot and one of his face as well. I am so excited to be able to see what he's developing into. We can't wait until he is here!!

26 Weeks and 5 Days

How far along?: 26 Weeks 5 Days

Total Weight Gain?: 10 pounds

 

Gender?: BOY

Maternity Clothes: I love my maternity pants!!!

Stretch Marks?: Nope :)

Sleep?: What's that??

Labor Signs: Nope

Best Moment of the Week?: Feeling and SEEING his movements!!

Movement?: Constantly!!

 

Food Craving?: Grapes, Chocolate Milk, Steak

 

Food aversions: Lunch Meat

Belly Button?: innie

What I miss?: My Miss Me jeans, being able to get out of bed without help, moving pain free.

What I'm looking forward to: Meeting the little guy

Half Way There!!!!

We've reached the half way mark! Now I think that's something to celebrate :) The first several weeks drug by and I never thought I would reach this point. Since morning sickness began to fade away a couple weeks ago, the time has flown. Before I know it, I'm another week closer to holding this little boy in my arms! I am so excited! It really helps that Chance is just as excited if not more! He's been so supportive through this whole thing, I couldn't do it without him. He really is an amazing husband and friend and he'll be a great daddy!

How far along?: 20 Weeks

Total Weight Gain?: -1.2 lbs

Gender?: BOY

Maternity Clothes: Rubber band and Maternity Pants Occasionally

Stretch Marks?: Not so far

Sleep?: What's that??

Labor Signs: Nope

Best Moment of the Week?: Feeling him move!

Movement?: YEP!!!

Food Craving?: Chocolate, Bagels w/Cream Cheese, Fruit

Food aversions: Peanut Butter, Sweet Tea, Pizza, Lasagna, Chicken

Belly Button?: innie

What I miss?: Ibuprofen, wearing my cute pants, working out

What I'm looking forward to: The next ultrasound, February 7th



*** I stole the above from Melissa! :)

Quick Update! December/January

Some things that have gone on since the last update:

-Chance and I enjoyed our first Christmas together along with family.
While I spent most of it sick, I was just happy to have him home.

-We found out that we are having a little BOY
Still due June 22, 2011
 
-Chance was put up for a promotion by his DS
He received his promotion on January 19th.

-Chance graduated from Basic Training
On January 20th.

-Chance is now in Arizona, at Ft. Huachuca for AIT.  His MOS is a UAV operator or a 15W
We found out that we will get to live down there together once he reaches Phase V, which is great news!! Unexpected, but great!