Sloan's Birth Story

IWe had our 39 week appointment on Thursday, April 24th. Everything looked great. I was 2cm 50% effaced. I lost my mucous plug early Friday morning. I anxiously waited for labor to start anytime after that, but got nothing. I'd have a few contractions and then they would stop. Nothing consistent and nothing intense. Saturday morning we went to Rory's soccer game and sat in the hot hot sun (check out farmers tan in pic below). I was having contractions, but still nothing intense. Just typical contractions, very similar to Braxton hicks. 

My belly during a contraction. Check out baby's butt on left side. 

We came home, ate lunch, and everyone napped. I tried to nap but ended up feeling anxious. I had 3 contractions that had a little more umph behind them so I got up and showered just in case something were to happen. Long story short, I went all day Saturday having contractions that gradually got more frequent but still only felt like Braxton hicks. Around 6pm they got a little more intense, just a little. At 8:30ish I got a really strong contraction with lots of pressure. A few minutes later I had another and they continued to come and were only 5 minutes apart, if that. I went to tell Don, who was in the living room reading Rory a book. He called his parents to come over and stay with the kids. I timed my contractions again. They were 4 minutes apart when we left the house. We headed to the hospital and got  to L&D at 9:30pm. My contractions were 3 minutes apart. After all the hoopla, the nurse finally checked me and I was a "stretchy 7cm". She called Dr. Dodson and began to get the room prepared for baby. Dr. Dodson arrived quickly and checked my cervix. 9 1/2 cm!! She broke my water at exactly 10:30 pm and our precious baby GIRL entered this crazy world at 10:51pm on April 26th, 2014. Eva Sloan. What a beautiful surprise!!

 Rory and Lhana were stoked to meet Sloan. They both held her and were so gentle. Lhana didn't want to let anyone else hold her. To say she was excited would be an understatement. She gave Sloan about 75 kisses, minimum, within the first 5 minutes. Lhana's eyes glistened with pure joy! Thinking about that moment now still makes me smile!

The bond they will share will be unsurmountable (I hope)!

Meet Eva Sloan

We are overjoyed and thrilled to welcome our precious Eva Sloan Riggins into this world! She made her appearance on April  26th @ 10:51pm. Weighing only 6 lbs 5 oz she is one tiny ball of perfection! She looks some much like the other two! Check our her and Lhana's newborn pics..

Eva Sloan... Baby GIRL!!

Oh my holy goodness! It's a girl! A girl! She is perfect and 100% healthy. We are so thankful. It's about 2 hours post birth and I'm still in the delivery room on cloud 9. Don is watching and taking pictures of Sloan's first bath. Ah... We have another baby! We have 3 babies! God is so good. I'm exhausted, sore, hungry, excited, sleepy, but mostly, for a lack of a better word, content. I feel so calm and humble. We are so blessed.

It's Friday! 5 days until EDD...

It's Friday! Woohoo! We had our 39 wk. appt yesterday. Baby is doing great. I measured 36 weeks which means baby has definitely dropped and may be coming soon? I hope. HR was in the 130's. I am now 2cm, 50% effaced. Not that great, but it's progress. I am scheduled to work tonight and I would really like to have a baby instead! I lost the majority of my plug this morning so labor could be just hours away, Yahoo!..or days, Boo. Don is playing in his CHS golf tourney this morning, but after thy baby can come anytime. We are ready!!

39 Weeks and Anxious is an Understatement!

Today we are 39 Weeks and baby is still in tow. I'm still feeling great but feeling very anxious. This waiting game is no fun. My bags are packed, kids outfits ready, car seat loaded, baby clothes washed. Just waiting. Last night I had some contractions about 6-7 minutes apart for a short period of time. They were so intense with so much pressure that I began getting things together and panicking a little bit. Ha! Lhana came so quickly that I'm extremely nervous about not making it to the hospital on time with this one. Good thing Tanner is only 1.75 miles away! Surely I can keep baby in for that short car ride :/

Rory is so ready for baby he can't hardly stand it. He asks all the time if today is the day. He told his teachers last week that baby was coming. He wants baby to sleep in his room. Lhana is going to want to hold the baby and cover it up constantly I'm sure! She loves to wrap her babies, feed them, pat them, get on to them, put them in time out, all those things a mommy does, ha! They are going to be the best big brother and sister. I can wait to add a 3rd one to these two smiling faces! 

Both Lhana and Rory are so convinced that this baby is a boy. Lhana will NOT let you mention baby girl before she quickly corrects you and says, "No! Baby boy!". Don and I are leaning towards a girl. Eek!! We can't wait to find out!

Size of Baby: 7lbs

Total Weight Gained/Lost: + 22lbs
Maternity Clothes: Yes. But most of my shirts are now too small. This belly is huge!
Movement: it's slowed down.
Sleep: waking much more to pee and roll over, but sleeping good and waking up well rested
What I miss: Moving around with ease. I love being pregnant, but it does get exhausted trying to move furniture or do laundry with this big ole belly.
Cravings: chocolate, fruit, ice cream, anything to drink. I am constantly thirsty.
Symptoms: mild back pain (after moving/lifting patients all night), heartburn, indigestion, strong Braxton hicks, pressure on my bottom, ligament pain, nerve pain in my right leg. This pain is show stopping! I can be walking and suddenly have to grab my thigh and hunch over with pain. It only lasts for seconds and is so random. I think baby has settled on a nerve.
Highlights from this week:  Celebrating Easter! The kids hunted eggs at Tanner on Saturday and then on Easter Sunday we had my family over for an egg hunt and then went to Don's parents for dinner and more egg hunting! The weather was beautiful and it was so nice to spend time with both of our families and enjoy this dwindling time as Riggins Party of 4!

38 Weeks & Waiting

Here we are...38w2d and anxiously waiting on baby #3's arrival. We had our 38 week visit yesterday and I am 1 cm dilated. 1cm?!? What kinda crap is that. I was 2 cm 4 weeks before Lhana was due. Goes to show that every pregnancy is so different. I swept, mopped, did laundry, even went and walked 1.5 miles yesterday morning before my appointment hoping that it would help. I have been having some pressure but nothing like I did with Lhana. In fact, I still feel really good. Dr. Helton asked if we were considering induction and we declined. I will wait on this baby until next month if I have to. The majority of my anxiety and anticipation for baby's arrival is my work schedule. I have a hellacious schedule coming up next week and it sure would be nice to have this baby instead of going to work, but looks like baby is going to hangout a bit longer.

37+ Weeks...Finally Full Term

37, going on 38 weeks. It's so bitter sweet at this point. The end is near, as well as a new beginning. Overall, I still feel great! We are so ready to meet this sweet baby (all of us, especially Rory who asks every day when baby is coming), but I know I'm going to miss the time it's spent growing in my belly. I love the kicks and jabs, the punches and rolls. I've even come to love the hiccups in the last few weeks. Pregnancy is such a joy. It something everyone should be able to experience. The love and bond that forms with a creature you've never met is simply magical. Something I will miss. Can you tell I'm becoming emotional in these last few weeks?!? I came home from work this morning and Don said something and I started crying for no reason. He wasn't even talking to me, haha! It's only the 2nd time that I've cried during this pregnancy (Insert applause here). The first was that dreaded day when we came home and our floors were not what we had ordered and we were banned from our house yet another week! That was devastating...or so I thought at the time.

Size of Baby: 

Total Weight Gained/Lost: +21lbs
Maternity Clothes: They are all getting a bit too TIGHT! Almost there...
Movement: All the time! Baby is very active again!
Sleep: Not so good. Insomnia is kicking my booty. 
What I miss: Good sleep
Cravings: grapes, sweets
Symptoms: heartburn, STRONG Braxton hicks with LOTS of pressure, but no real contractions :(, muscle burning "down there" which hopefully means I'm dilating, major increase in appetite. I am hungry all the time. I think baby has dropped and given me more room for food! Mmm! Insomnia. Frequent peeing, mild swelling in my legs after work. 

Highlights this week: Getting Lhana potty trained! Sweet girl is so smart and has picked up on it in just days. She loves to go "tee tee in the potty" and get a fruit snack! We are still in diapers at night, but I'm okay with that. She loves her "Barbie-Lina" panties and can take them on and off by herself! She has a Barbie Movie with Thumbelina As the main character so every Barbie has become "Barbie-Lina". Our baby isn't  our baby anymore! Another bitter sweet moment ;( Sniff Sniff...

36 Weeks!! Hello Spring!

Only 4 Weeks left. Wow. Surprisingly my energy level has picked back up over the past week. I've gone numerous days without naps and stayed up almost every night past 9pm. Pass this girl a cookie. 

Don and I went to a friend's wedding in Rockmart on Saturday. Congrats Kristine & Josh. Such a beautiful, sweet celebration.

On Sunday we decided to tackle painting our living room. What the crap were we thinking. We started while the kids napped and hoped to finish Sunday night after they went to bed. Nope, didn't happen. We painted until 2am and we still aren't done. I've been wanting to lighten up the room for sometime now, so why not while I'm 35+ weeks pregnant?!? 

      The room was so dark before...

I plan to tackle the kitchen during maternity leave. Check out that border...

I am definitely nesting, no doubt about it. Maybe going a little overboard. I'm changing up every room in the house, minus the bathrooms. I've cleaned out closets and drawers. We are even having a yardsale this weekend to sell all of the stuff that I have disposed up during this "nesting" phase. It's not just me though. Don is nesting as well. He's agreed, and in fact has been more than happy to help me clear way for some new stuff. My nesting probably needs to focus more on this baby though. I have no bags packed, no definite boy names, and have yet to get any baby stuff down from the attic. It's probably time...

 Anyhow...check out this beautiful table we found to replace our 1970's retro table that was there before...

I'm in love with it! It matches the floors perfect and will be perfect for what I have in store for our kitchen re-vamp. 

Total Weight Gained/Lost:+20lbs

Maternity Clothes: I really need to get some more, but with only 4 weeks left, why bother.

Movement: less frequent, but stronger kicks. When I prop something on my stomach baby usually tries to kick it off.

Sleep: Good. Still waking up at random times of the night but I've been able to fall right back asleep

What I miss: running

Cravings: sprite with rabbit pellet ice chips, trail mix, omelets, rocky road ice cream

Symptoms: Hot flashes! Mild swelling. Occasional heartburn, but nothing compared to what it was with the other babies. 

Highlights from this week:Making progress on our house! I'm starting to have anxiety about it for realz! And of course the beautiful 70 degree weather we had over the weekend

35 Weeks... Already?

Hard to believe only 5 weeks left. I'm ready to meet this precious bundle, but a tad nervous as well. 

I've been searching this book long and hard over the past few days...

Drum roll please...

We have a girl name!

I've also been asking myself zillions of questions over the past few days. I have a feeling this baby may come little early. Is baby going to be healthy? Will my delivery go as smooth as the last? Am I going to have time to shave my legs before heading to the hospital? How are Rory and Lhana going to react to a new crying baby? Are Don and I going to feel outnumbered? The list goes on and on. The answer to all these questions is oh so near and it's a bit overwhelming! 

Size of Baby:  5.25lbs, 18 inches, honeydew melon
Total Weight Gained/Lost:  +19 lbs
Maternity Clothes: yep. I went shopping for a dress for a wedding this weekend. It is dang near impossible to find a decent dress to cover this barrel belly.
Movement: movement has really slowed down. Baby seems to be stuck in the same position. Not too much rolling or flipping any more. Mostly stretching and kicks here and there. Lots of hiccups. I'm a bit worried that baby is not head down anymore.
Sleep: It seems to be going downhill fast. I have fallen asleep on the couch many times this week while watching TV which I could never do before. I wake numerous times during the night. Sometimes it's to use the bathroom but usually for no reason. Sometimes I can fall right back asleep, other times I am up for hours. I sleep during the day if I work the night before and wake with a throbbing headache a burning eyes. My body is demanding more sleep but on nights when I am able to catch up, I wake up every few hours. It is getting pretty rough. Good thing only 5 weeks left of this routine.
What I miss: sleeping on my stomach
Cravings: ice cream, grapes
Symptoms: more Braxton hicks, heartburn, more frequent peeing, insomnia, decreased appetite, burning muscle pain "down there". Hopefully my cervix is making some progress. I had this same feeling when carrying Lhana and I dilated well. Fingers crossed that labor with this baby will go as smoothly.
Highlights from this week: Not necessarily a highlight, but a moment to remember.... Our sweet but fearless Rory put a bead up his nose at school and it got stuck! Yep, my little genius. Instead of napping, he was curious if the bead would fit or not. A quick trip to the ENT and he was cured. Did I mentioned he swallowed a button about a month ago at school?!? Boys...

Happy Spring!! (34 Weeks)

Today is the first day of spring and what a beautiful day it is. Currently 65, sunny, and not a cloud in the sky! Our 34 week appt. went perfect yesterday. Baby is officially head down!! Whoop woop. Baby has been in the same position for a week or so and it's butt is very prominent on my left side, so thank  goodness Dr. Dodson confirmed its position.

Baby's heart rate was 138-140 and growing perfectly. I'm now on. A weekly schedule. Next week is my Group B Strep test.

Size of Baby: 4.75 lbs, 18 in, a cantaloupe
Total Weight Gained/Lost:  +19 lbs
Maternity Clothes: the ones that still fit :/
Movement: kicks and punches have slowed down but they are much stronger now. Strong kicks to my ribs or bladder often make me jump.
Sleep: So-so. It's 2:12am and I'm wide awake in bed typing this. Been up since 12:45...
What I miss: clothes fitting properly! I've almost outgrown all of my cute maternity clothes. 
Cravings: chocolate! Ice cream, fruit, all things sweet.
Symptoms: fatigue, hot flashes, constant hunger, heartburn, sharp sharp sharp ligament pain in my lower left abdomen. It only seems to bother me at night.
Highlights from this week: Welcoming spring with open arms ( and a ginormous belly).

33 Weeks...Home Sweet Home!

Our appointment last great. Everything is A-okay! I am now measuring back on track. Baby's HR was 133-135. Sweet thang! 

Size of Baby: 4lbs, 17+ inches

Total Weight Gained/Lost: 18lbs
Maternity Clothes: Yes. I have two or three outfits that I wear all the time. It's finally getting warm enough of maxi dresses, so those will be worn very often when appropriate
Movement: still all the time. Baby has been in the same position for days now, but I can tell exactly what is what
Sleep: I need more!!
What I miss: being skinny
Cravings: chocolate, ice cream, fruit, coffee. I feel like my cravings have been rather consistent this whole pregnancy...weird
Symptoms: fatigue!! I can't express enough how tired I am. My eyes always feel half closed. Heartburn. Lots of Braxton hicks. I want to eat all the time...seriously! 
Highlights from this week:  being back home!! Finally, after 2 weeks, we were able to move back in last Friday. Our hardwoods took a week to finish so we expected to be put out 5-7 days; however, they didn't turn out how we had hoped and discussed with the contractor, so...they had to rip them up and start all over. Another week way from home! It feels great to be back home now and I'm excited to start organizing all the baby stuff I got at my work baby shower this past weekend.

32 Weeks and Absolutely Exhausted

Geez...I can hardly keep my eyelids open anymore. Even after a good nights sleep, exhausted doesn't even describe how I feel. I'm not sure if it's pregnancy related (which I'm sure has a lot to do with it) or the fact that we are still not back in our house yet. We've been out for 10 days now! Ah! And I forgot my body pillow at our house. No body pillow=no sleep! 

I find myself nodding off at work when I'm idle for too long. I take my whopping 30 minute break just so I can nap. I can barely keepy eyes open typing this post at 0535am. 

Anywho... aside from having to staple my eyelids open each morning, I feel great. Little bean is constantly moving, no painful aches at this time. Baby is healthy. I am healthy. Life is good.

Our 32 Week appt was yesterday. I've gained 1lb since last visit. HR was 133-135. 

31 Weeks and Missing Home!!!

We are now 31 Weeks! Exhaustion has hit. It's almost like it came overnight. I was feeling great a few days ago and now I can barely keep my eyes open during the day. I have very little patience these days, so it's probably safest just to stay away from me. We are currently staying at my mom's (Mimi's) house while our floors are being finished. The kids have loved it and dont ever want to go

home, ha! 

We have been here since Monday and I am so ready to get home!! I'm wanting to clean out and paint and rearrange and all that other nesting stuff and I can't do it if I'm not at home!! They are finishing the 3rd coat of polyurethane tonight so we should be back home by tomorrow afternoon at the latest! Thank. The. Lord!

           

            And...I can't see my toes

30 Week Appt!

Things are moving right along. 30 week appointment is Done. HR was in the 130's again. I measured a little small, 29.5 weeks. I did this with Lhana too, but caught right back up at the next visit. According to Dr. Dodson I have lost 4 lbs since last visit just two weeks ago putting me at 12lbs total. I'm pretty sure those numbers are off.  According to my scale I'm still up 15lbs, only 1lb different than my 28 week appointment. Baby is definitely not head down yet, which it still has a couple of weeks to turn. I feel kicks all over the place and have most recently been feeling hiccups at the very top of my stomach.

30 Weeks....Only 10 to GO!!

So far, so good. I am still feeling great! I have been extremely tired after working, but that's nothing new. My belly is getting huge and I still bend to quickly or directly over and almost knock baby out. We have been busy bees lately and time has slipped away. We celebrated Rory's birthday, Valentine's, and this weekend is Lhana's 2nd birthday! I can't believe sweet girl is 2. She is such a diva. I remember being pregnant with her around this time 2 years ago, 3cm dilated, and anxiously awaiting her arrival. We don't have anything much planned. We are celebrating with family on Saturday and may take her to the zoo or aquarium one day. She would love it!

I am beginning to nest. I'm purging everything. We are having hard wood floors put in next week and I have BIG plans to move the majority of the furniture out, but not bring it back in! Don doesn't know this yet. Maybe I can convince him that it is to save him the trouble of having to move the furniture twice ;)

Size of Baby: 15.7 inches, almost 3lbs
Total Weight Gained/Lost:  +15lbs
Maternity Clothes: Oh yes! I need to buy some more actually, I'm starting to outgrow or stretch the ones I've got.
Movement: 24-7
Sleep: Good! 
What I miss: Working out
Cravings: chocolate! Don bought me some Dove chocolates for Valentines and I grab one everytime I walk by the bowl. I've also had my fair share of Rocky Road ice cream the past few weeks,
Symptoms: heartburn, and swelling. If we are extremely busy at work and Indont have time to chug my water or prop my feet up then my legs swell. Not my ankles or my feet, but my lower legs. My socks and support hose leave indentions.
Highlights from this week: Having Don and the kiddos home! Its their winter break and the weather has been so nice so we have been able to go outside and spend lots of family time together...outdoors! 

Hello, Third Trimester!

We met with Dr. Dodson today for our last monthly appointment and everything looks great. My gestational diabetes screen was normal so that is a relief. I measured exactly 28 weeks and will go back in 2 weeks for our 30 week! Baby's HR was in the 130's, low 140's. I've gained quite a bit of weight since last visit, but I still feel great so I suppose its just a number. 

Size of Baby: 2.2lbs, 14.5-15 inches, size of chinese cabbage

Total Weight Gained/Lost: +16lbs 😬
Maternity Clothes: yep
Movement: Yes! Baby has a routine now and it still moving all over the place.
Sleep: Good! 
What I miss: hmm...
Cravings: sweets, omelets
Highlights from this week: Finishing up my monthly appointments. Time goes by much quicker going to the Dr. every other week and it means that we are getting closer to meeting baby!!

Check out this little big guy who turned FIVE this week...Wow!

27 Weeks and Feeling Every Bit of It!

This week went by so quickly I had to actually take a minute or so to remember if I was 26 or 27 Weeks. Time is flying. I'll be 28 Weeks on Wed and have my 28 Week Appt on Friday. I have still got to do my gestational diabetes screening this week!! Ah, time has slipped away. The kids were out of school Tues-Fri last week, so we were snowed in and got to spend lots and lots of time together as a family of four. The ice and snow just melted on Friday and today....it's 66 degrees. Crazy Georgia weather. 

As far as how I'm feeling...Great!!! Still getting around good, no discomfort. I have been having lots and lots of Braxton hicks. Probably 4-5 a day. They aren't painful and only last a minute or so. I noticed them weeks and weeks ago, but they have just now become more regular. I believe it was about this time with Lhana that I started feeling them as well. With Rory I was only a month or so away from delivery when I felt them, but had no idea that is what they were until I experienced them with Lhana. Also, I feel like this baby is now sitting low low low. I feel kicks all over the place so baby is in now set position just yet but baby is definitely hanging low!

26 Down, 14 to Go!!!

Size of Baby: 14 inches, 1.75lbs, a scallion

Total Weight Gained/Lost:  +12lbs

 Maternity Clothes: Definitely in maternity jeans all the time now.

 I still wear regular tops some, but mostly maternity shirts! I'm getting pretty large!

Movement: yes! Kicks are stronger and much higher. I feel them above my belly button often now!

Sleep: Good! I sleep great at night, but find it hard to take naps anymore :/ That's odd for me.

What I miss: sleeping on my stomach again. 

Cravings: ice cream, cheese its,  buffalo chicken, coffee w/ marshmallows

Symptoms: heartburn, frequent peeing, burning/pain at very top of my tummy from stretching. 

Highlights from this week: Don felt this baby kick for the first time! He said it was the best one he's felt with all 3 pregnancies. Baby has been favoring my left (way left) side lately and Don just happened to have his hand there went the baby was practicing his jackknifing! He was so excited!!!

25 Weeks. Say No to Sodium!

25 Weeks has come and will quickly pass. I am feeling so great these days. No complaints at all. I hardly ever nap anymore, I have a great appetite, and feel baby moving ALL the time! I love this stage. I do feel incredibly large these days. Weight gain has been steady the past couple of weeks and I can definitely tell. I can also tell when I eat something unhealthy or extremely salty. Greasy foods make me feel uncomfortable afterwards and sodium makes SWOLLEN with a capital S! We made some boiled peanuts the other day and I'm pretty sure I ate nearly half the batch and boy could I tell! I was huge when I woke up to head into work. I weighed that morning when I woke up and weighed again that evening after seeing how swollen I was. There was a six pound difference!!!! WOW! Not good. I felt like a blimp...even my lips were swollen. Ha! I should've taken a picture. A co-worker came by and said, "Well hello, you look really pregnant today". Haha! I'm sure she was referring to my swollen face and not my swollen belly. I drank lots and lots of water at work and over the next 48 hours it finally flushed out. I wont be doing that again.

6 Month Appointment

I saw Dr. Helton last Friday, at 24 weeks, and everything is still flowing just as it should. Baby's heartbeat was loud and clear at 148! Hmm...the guessing game continues. I've gained 10lbs so far. I go back Feb. 7th for my last monthly appointment and then it's every 2 weeks! "Holy Mercy" as Rory would say.
 Dr. H gave me the paperwork to have my Gestational Diabetes screen done, but told me to wait until 26+ weeks so that it will be more accurate. I didn't argue putting it off a little longer considering there are other things I'd rather do and drink in my spare time.  The drink actually isn't so terrible, it's just WAY too sweet. Geezz...time is going so fast I can't even catch my breath.

24 Weeks + New Hair

Size of Baby: 1 1/3 lb, 12 inches,  ear of corn
Total Weight Gained/Lost:  +8.5lbs
Maternity Clothes: Some
Movement: Yes! Strongest at night, early in the morning, or after meals
Sleep: Good! 
What I miss: Being able to put on my pajamas without getting short of breath. Not sure why this task is so difficult...Don thinks its hilarious.
Cravings: coffee, eggs, fruits, chocolate
Symptoms: fullness, occasional swelling, more energy, nesting
Highlights from this week: Bangs! School was cancelled 2 days this weeks for the kids due to below freezing temperature and I was going a little stir crazy. Instead of pulling my hair out, I decided to just cut it. The bang are already driving me bananas, but its a nice change I suppose.

23+ Weeks

Size of Baby: 11 inches, 1+lbs
Total Weight Gained/Lost:  +8lbs
Maternity Clothes: Some jeans. Mostly loose, comfy clothes
Movement: Yeh buddy! I can't get enough. 
Sleep: Good! 
What I miss: Step interval class at the gym
Cravings: Omelets, peanuts, coffee. I've made the switch to decaf because I can't stop at just one cup of coffee. 
Symptoms: mild heartburn, fullness after meals
Highlights from this week: