a birth story: Rylee Ann Kussee

It was the morning of May 15th.  The previous day, Tyler and I had gone in for our routine 39 week doctor's appointment.  We got to Dr. Harrison's office, signed in, got weighed, and then waited in the exam room while the nurse took my blood pressure with the BP machine.  She said something must be wrong with the machine because my blood pressure was high and that was unusual for me, so she took my blood pressure manually.  My blood pressure didn't change.  It was still higher than normal and what they liked to see in a pregnant woman.

Shortly after, Dr. Harrison came in and went through the nurse's notes, took my blood pressure herself, and told us there was a high possibility of having a baby that day.  Tyler and I just looked at each other and couldn't believe it.  We were so sure Baby Girl would wait until her due date or be a little late-not early!  After talking about the negative effects of high blood pressure (preeclampsia, risk of seizures for me, etc.), I asked Dr. Harrison if there was any way we could wait just one day and see what everything looked like tomorrow so I could wrap everything up at school.  She gave us firm instructions to go home, get my feet up all night, and for Tyler to finish packing the hospital bags and other necessities.  We made an appointment for the following day with hopes that my blood pressure would go down and I could finish out the week teaching my students.

At our appointment at 11:30 the next day, my blood pressure hadn't budged from 152/100.  Dr. Harrison entered the room with a "we're having a baby today!"  Tyler and I just looked at each other while I asked Dr. Harrison if she was positive it had to be today.  She was firm in the affirmative.  I love how direct she was and how she wasn't taking any chances with Baby Girl's safety.  We were on board with having a baby that day if that's what was best for Baby Girl.  Dr. Harrison started telling us the hospital procedures, asking us if our hospital bags were in the car, and then left the room to call the hospital to tell them we were on our way over.  She walked back in the door with a smile, said to go grab a bite to eat for lunch, and be at the hospital to check in by 2.  With a wave goodbye and an assurance that she'd see us within the next 24 hours to deliver our baby, she left two very nervous and excited soon-to-be parents behind.

After a quick stop at Firehouse Subs and talking, laughing, and nervous giggles while we were eating, we headed to UVRMC hospital.

After taking the elevator to Labor and Delivery, we checked in and signed paper after paper after paper... then we were shown to Room 17 where we'd deliver our Baby Girl.

We were pretty happy with the view.  The nurses assured us that we had the best room with the best view- we couldn't have agreed more! 
 
After changing into the attractive blue hospital gown and getting inserted with an IV (ouch!), we sat tight and waited for the hospital staff to get the show on the road.

4:00pm:  They started me on a Cytotec pill to soften my cervix a little bit more and help my body start dilating slowly.  We met our amazing nurse, Alyson who would end up being with us all night and into the morning.  T and I ordered a dinner of Alfredo Chicken Pasta with numerous sides and talked about Baby Girl.  What would she finally look like?  Would she have hair?  How big would she be?

We both talked about how nervous and excited we were while we held hands and just kept smiling.  I couldn't believe we'd meet Baby Girl in less than 24 hours!  We talked about what we'd like to name her and still came away from that conversation undecided, but convinced we'd narrowed it down to two names to choose from when she was born.

As our conversation died down, we started up a game of "I Spy" using the gorgeous view from our window to spy things from.

8:00pm: They start our Pitocin and said to hang tight and wait until I dilated from a 3 to a 4.  Nurse Alyson was fantastic in staying optimistic for us and keeping us excited to meet our baby.  She also kept a close watch on my blood pressure as it kept fluctuating up and down.  In spite of that fact, Baby Girl never showed any stress or duress from my blood pressure.  Thank goodness!

12:00am:  Still dilated to a 3 and can't sleep.  Tyler attempted to sleep on the futon/couch furniture for a few hours.  I read a book and surprisingly kept calm for the majority of the night- until I got all jealous that Tyler was able to sleep for a while and it completely evaded me.

6:30am: Dilated to a 4 and ready for my water to be broken!  Nurse Alyson suggested getting an epidural before they broke my water because once they broke my water, things would start progressing pretty rapidly.  Tyler and I went into this pregnancy knowing that I would want a nice epidural and not feel a whole lot of pain, so we listened to Alyson and called in the nice anesthesiologist.  He numbed my back, but oh my goodness gracious was it still a little painful!  I attempted to man up, but ended up crying and holding Tyler's hand the entire time.  Bless that darling husband of mine.  Husbands don't get enough credit for this whole labor/delivery time.  They undergo a lot of stress and the emotional, mental, and physical help that Tyler provided me was enormous.  The epidural was just the beginning of the support he gave me during our entire labor.

Dr. White came in to break my water (which went nice and fast) and from then on things got pretty exciting.

In less than a half an hour, we progressed from 4 cm to 10 cm, we were fully effaced and ready to push.  That half hour was a little painful while the epidural was still kicking in.  I was convinced that they'd put my catheter in wrong and made Tyler go grab the nurse to check.  She was surprised to see us fully effaced and dilated and immediately called Dr. Harrison.  The anesthesiologist came and gave me a nice little "shot" of his drugs into my epidural IV line to get the epidural working a little faster, while I may have said a few choice words.

We started pushing, which, is a little difficult with an epidural.  We pushed for 2 1/2 hours and Baby Girl finally crowned.  The nurse called Dr. Harrison, who had gone to see a few patients across the street at her clinic.  Dr. Harrison raced over while I was told to wait and not push.  Once Dr. Harrison showed up, it only took a few more pushes until Baby Girl took her first breath of air.

Rylee Ann Kussee
5/16/14
born at 9:55am
5 lbs. 13 oz.
18 1/2 inches long

Tyler had a proud daddy moment and cut the umbilical cord.  Then I finally get to hold our Baby Girl.  Tyler and I just looked at each other in awe with tears in our eyes at this tiny, beautiful, brown-haired girl that we made together.  She came out completely perfect.  Not one bit of her was swollen and she was absolutely perfect in every way.  She looked like a perfect little doll.

Baby Girl wasn't breathing quite as well as Dr. Harrison wanted, so they whisked her away to the side of the room to check her out a little more closely.  Tyler stayed at her side the entire time while I delivered the placenta and got a couple of stitches for a first degree tear.  Another doctor from the NICU came in to perform a couple rounds of CPAP on Baby Girl and make sure her breathing was adequate.  Baby Girl passed all of her tests and went with Tyler and a nurse to go get cleaned up and dressed.  Tyler got to see her get her first bath and he picked out the cutest blue and peach bows for her to wear.

My mom, Misty, and Codi all came in to check on us and got a glimpse of Baby Girl before they took her away to be completely cleaned.  The nurses moved me down to the Mother/Baby floor and Tyler and Baby Girl met us there shortly after.  I finally got to snuggle our little bundle and then we passed her around to meet her new grandma and aunts.

After they left, Tyler and I finally got our snuggle time with our Baby Girl and tried to determine which name we wanted her to have.  In the midst of our conversation, the Kussee side of the family showed up and Baby Girl got to meet her other set of grandparents and aunts and uncles!

It took us the rest of the day and the next morning to finally decide on Baby Girl's name.

Rylee Ann Kussee

Rylee means "courageous, valiant" and Ann (both of Rylee's grandma's middle names) means "favor, grace."

The rest of our hospital stay ended up being perfection.  Rylee ate like a champ, slept like a champ, and snuggled with her parents like a champ.  Our nurses were phenomenal and so helpful and the food was actually pretty dang good!  Tyler ended up sleeping on the hospital bed with me, rather than the chair they provided for him to sleep on!  Tyler changed every single diaper at the hospital (what a guy, what a guy!) and we cuddled with Rylee during our entire stay.  Our phones, computers, and books all got pushed to the side while we were completely entertained with our new daughter.  It was a time that we wanted to enjoy together as a family and get used to each other before introducing Rylee to cyberworld.

The nurses all fell in love with our little cutie- she was a favorite of them all.

We left the hospital Sunday morning after partaking of the sacrament for the first time as a family of three.  The nicest couple came in to bless it and Tyler got to bless the water.  It was incredibly spiritual.  Both of us cried while Tyler used his priesthood for the first time as a father.  The couple left us with a quote that also left us both with even more tears in our eyes.

It said, "LOVING PARENT.  What a  noble title.  There are no greater roles in life for a man than those of husband and father.  Likewise, there are no greater roles for woman than those of wife and mother."
[Russell M. Nelson  Ensign, Nov. 1989]

A perfect beginning to the start of our little family going home.

 

Home Sweet Home.

35 weeks (and a few days...).

Spring Break spoiled me rotten.  I got to sleep when my body told me to, eat when my body told me to, and just plain old relax.

It was good while it lasted.

Now I'm back to having small bags under my eyes when T takes these "bump" pictures in the mornings.  Maybe we need to start taking them at night...

Baby Girl is kicking away!  She's still never been way up into my ribs, but she's definitely more active nowadays!  Whoever said that she's sleeping 90-95% of the time must be crazy.  Or she's just super active in her sleep...

Other than being tired during the day (20 minute power nap around 2:00pm anyone?  I wish my students and their parents would go for that idea...), I'm doing great!  Really truly.  T and I have expressed many grateful thanks to Heavenly Father for making this pregnancy pretty low-key.  That doesn't mean there hasn't been rough moments, but we've definitely been blessed that my body is taking the whole pregnancy thing in stride.

We also started our prenatal class this past week at UVRMC!  Surprisingly, we both stayed pretty interested and our instructor is entertaining and informative.  It was a little weird to be surrounded by other couples who are at the same stage in life, but neat at the same time.

  

My eating habits have kind of gone downhill the past couple of weeks too.  I'm getting in all my fruits and veggies, but man do I love me some ice cream and sweets.  Still not "craving" them to the point that I have to have them, but they would be nice to have!  In fact, we were in the middle of our prenatal class "focusing"on one point in the room and all I could focus on was how good a milkshake sounded.  Suffice it to say, we went out for milkshakes after our class.  My husband is the bomb!

I've also started cleaning up my classroom.  Seeing how I won't be there for the last 2 weeks of school, I'm hoping to make it as easy of a transition for the sub as possible.  Which also means double duty for me at school.  While still planning my regular daily lessons, I have to plan in-depth lessons for a sub and prep all of the materials for the last 2 weeks of school.  Sometimes I wish I'd chosen a career where I could pick up and leave when I go into labor and not have to plan ahead for a sub.  Especially for the last 2 weeks of school where all routine and structure goes out the window anyways.  Read-a-thons and parties for 2 weeks?

Baby showers are this weekend and we couldn't be more excited!  I think we're more excited to hang out with family and friends and celebrate Easter, but we are excited to get some more clothes for Baby Girl and other essentials that we don't have!

Happy Friday!

33/34 weeks.

Whew!  These past couple of weeks have whizzed by!  Baby Girl's nursery is set.  With the exception of a few essentials that we'll pick up in the coming month (or perhaps at our baby showers?).  

We're down to 6 weeks (technically 5 1/2 seeing how late this post is...).

Whoa.

There's also been a whole lot of decision making going on here at the Kussee household.  Decisions that drastically change our future, careers, and our lives really.  Kinda exciting.  Kinda stressful at the same time.

Baby Girl is measuring right where she should be.  Or, at least, my belly is measuring right on schedule with her growth.  She's finally moved up a little and isn't on my bladder all day long anymore.  I can actually plan my schedule without wondering how long it'll be before my bladder takes a beating from the inside!

 {hello tired Jamie!  Can we all just say that I needed Spring Break?}

Still no signs of swelling this week!  Happy day!  Dr. Harrison says that Baby Girl seems to be in a good position for now (she's obviously not settled yet.  This girl is an active one!).  Her heartbeat is still in a good range and Baby Girl is surely getting bigger every day!  Tyler started laughing the other day because of how mobile she was.  There was a rollercoaster of arms and legs going on inside of my stomach and we sat there and just watched and felt her moving.  

Kind of a cool feeling.

Baby Girl also had her first bout of hiccups this week!  Super cute and fun to watch.

{a much happier and well-rested Jamie on Spring Break}

This pregnancy is still going swell, with the exception of a little bit of exhaustion starting to move in around mid-afternoon.  Can I just schedule in a 30-minute nap once school starts up again next week?   I'm sure my active second graders would totally go for that idea.

We're so excited to welcome Baby Girl into the world NEXT MONTH!  And birthing classes start next Tuesday.  Technically we signed up just to see how procedural stuff goes.  Sometimes it's better for me to not know how other things might go.  

Like, for example, labor...  

31 weeks.

We're down to the single digits of weeks left!  

It freaks me out a little.  Because lets be honest, I've never birthed a child before and I'm a little terrified.  Last week at our doctor's appointment, Dr. Harrison wanted to talk pain management during labor.  

T and I almost simultaneously said, "Drugs."  My pain tolerance is not very high.  At all.  T knows that.  And I definitely know it.  So more power to the women who feel that they feel more empowered and that they're a better mother for going through the pain of natural childbirth and birthing their baby at home.

Seriously, props to you.

However, that will not be me.  I will be happy as a clam with an epidural surrounded by medical personnel in the event that something might happen and Baby Girl needs immediate medical attention.  No, I do not want any advice on the effects of drugs or how good you felt going through natural labor.  No, I don't want to hear your horror stories of the hospital.  I trust my doctor and this is a decision that I think should be between you and your spouse and your doctor.

As long as Baby Girl gets here safe and sound then I'm pretty sure T and I will be "Happy, happy, happy (Duck Dynasty reference, anyone?)!

End rant.

Remember this post?  It hasn't happened again, yet.  Smaller meals are definitely helping, but you can rest assured we have the drugs needed to nip heartburn in the bud.  That was not a fun experience.

Other than that, we are doing goooood!  Baby Girl is kicking up a storm these day.  All day every day.  It's reassuring to know she's in there.  It used to freak me out when she wouldn't be moving for a while.  She loves all foods again- except white bread.  Still a no go with white bread.  Sweets are the most enticing, but food overall is just delicious!  

No hand or feet swelling yet, which is a definite surprise seeing how I'm up and moving around my classroom all day.  Definite blessing.

The doctor always says that I look like I'm measuring small, until she actually takes my measurements.  Every time she says we're measuring right on track.  Apparently I'm just all freakin' basketball belly. 

Baby Girl is still getting spoiled by her daddy with bedtime stories.  Whether it's the scriptures or a picture book, she gets her story every night.  I always get a kick out of watching Baby Girl start squirming all around once T starts reading.  This baby of ours definitely knows her parents voices already.  It's kind of adorable.  This whole process of making-a-baby is pretty cool.  I honestly had no idea if I'd like being pregnant or not.  So far, its been pretty neat to see it in action.

Last weekend we both took Friday off (T had Spring Break and I got it off) in lieu of our anniversary coming up.  We ended up just doing baby stuff... We finally got registered at Target and Babies 'R Us (we finally decided on a carseat and stroller!), picked up Baby Girl's dresser, went to IKEA and grabbed a few items for the nursery, put up some curtains in our bedroom and figured out a sweet set-up for some more storage so we can actually have a closet for Baby Girl's stuff, and did our taxes!  The only anniversary-ish thing we did was go buy T some new sneakers for his anniversary gift (super romantic, right?).  His other ones were getting pretty trashed.

All in all, it was a successful day off.  We actually had quite a bit of fun with each other.  

It's pretty great being married to your best friend.

29 weeks. shots, shots, and did I mention shots?

29 weeks has us sitting pretty.  My body has finally figured out this whole pregnancy thing (at least, for this week) and I don't have to take Unisom anymore or wake up with lower back pain.  Hoorah!  

I find myself accomplishing a lot during the day and getting a lot done at work and at home.  I'm staying on top of lesson plans and activities at school and the house is staying clean (props to the hubs for being supportive in helping it stay that way-thank goodness I married a man who likes a clean house and isn't a slob) AND planning and making healthy dinners.  We're pretty much rockstars down here in Apartment 5.

We also had our 28 week appointment last week!  All appointments from here on out will be in 2 week increments.  Gulp.

Baby Girl has a heart rate of 152 bpm and this belly of mine is measuring right on where it's supposed to.  I also got an updated Tdap shot at our last appointment.  T got off the hook again because his last Tdap booster shot was before his mission.  He's still got a few years before he has to get it updated.  Lucky duck.  

We also headed over to the hospital Outpatient clinic to get my blood drawn so they could give me my Rhogam shot 72 hours later.  Good news is- they didn't have to put it in my little tushie! Rather,  I got it in my shoulder muscle (apparently now you can choose which injection site you want).  So now, my right arm is sore from the Tdap shot and my left arm is sore from the Rhogam shot.  Even better news?  The nurse giving it to me was the B-E-S-T.  We were laughing like best friends when I left and she gave me a Bugs Bunny bandaid.  I do love the awesome bandaids I get after getting a shot.  Last time, I got a pink camo one.  

I am getting a little sick of getting poked and getting shots left and right.  No, I'm not complaining that we're pregnant.  I actually find myself very lucky and blessed to be carrying this Baby Girl of ours.  We have many friends who we love dearly and who we're closer than close to that have had a hard time conceiving a child.  Heck, that was our fear when we first started trying for a baby and nothing happened as fast as we wanted it to.  I wouldn't trade being pregnant for anything.  No sirreeee. 

But I will say that this pregnancy has made me face my biggest fears almost every 4 weeks- needles and doctors.  

I think I'm slowly getting over those fears.  Needles don't bother me too much anymore, I just stick out my arm and let them have at it and I love my doctor and her nurses.

Knock on wood.

Pregnancy has also brought about a few changes to our marriage.  I love seeing the father side of T's personality start to kick in and he's definitely got the whole "protective father and husband" thing down.  I don't think I could be treated any better than how he treats me (and how he always has treated me!).  He's the ever attentive husband, but gives me my space to still do things.  

For example, he doesn't treat me like an invalid.  Yes, he does expect me to take it easy when lifting and doing certain things, but he doesn't aggravate me and tell me I can't do something just because I'm pregnant.  I think it's my "I-Can-Do-Anything" Madsen genes kicking in when people tell me I can't do something.  Obviously I'm not stupid enough to endanger my own child by doing something the doctor has told me not to do while pregnant, but it's also not going to kill me or harm Baby Girl if I lift a gallon of milk or mop the kitchen floor.  I'm not usually one to sit back and "take it easy."  Even if pregnancy is an awesome excuse to use.  

Thank goodness this pregnancy is pretty healthy so far.  I'm not so sure a bedridden pregnancy would exactly be my cup of tea...

There have also been quite a few changes mentally, emotionally, and physically in our marriage.  Being the pregnant wife, I've gotta hand it to my husband.  He's one patient man.  He always has been, but I think I've really been testing his patience during some days of this pregnancy.  I'm sure it's gotta be hard to see your wife in tears over nothing and be able to smooth things over.  He's quite the catch and I'm ever so grateful that he's all mine.  

Baby Girl is pretty lucky to have such a cool daddy already. 

Even though I thought it wasn't possible, we're even more in love today than ever.  My love for this man is ever increasing at the end of every day.  

glucose test, doctors appointment, and a cute guitar-playing husband.

And the results are in!

We passed the glucose test.  Hip hip hooray!  My sugar levels were an 88 and you have to be under 140 to pass (we were waaay below!).  Props to the high protein breakfast of bacon and eggs that I had this morning.  And no iron supplements for me either!  Weight gain looks normal- we're almost to the 10 pound weight gain through pregnancy so far.  And even better news- they didn't change our due date!  Baby's growth looks pretty normal from the last ultrasound, so they're keeping our due date May 21st. 

Awesome.

The Glucose Drink they make you drink for the glucose test actually wasn't bad.  And it was teeny tiny!  It tasted like a melted orange otter pop or flat Fanta.  Not too shabby... except for the high amount of sugar in this thing!  Whoo whee!  Baby girl was fidgeting inside my stomach for awhile once the sugar got down to her.  Her first sugar rush...

On a side note, this guy of mine is something special!  He's never missed a doctor's appointment with me, he studied all of the educational theorists in the doctors office with me to help me prep for my test next Saturday, he works incredibly hard at both work and school while still finding time to be with me at the end of the day. 

He even made my heart melt yet again this week as he pulled out his guitar and started singing again.  He's been looking up daddy/daughter songs and listening to them.  He's so excited to become a daddy.  And he should be.  He's going to make one fantastically patient, fun, outgoing, athletic dad that this baby girl is going to adore and worship.  I wouldn't be surprised if she's a complete daddy's girl.

We also thought we'd be at the doctor's office a lot longer than we were.  They had us in and out in an hour (due to the glucose test being an hour long..).  They're usually running behind so we were surprised to be out by 9:30!  I'd already taken the rest of the day off from work, so I get to stay home and study for the Praxis 2 test while T is off working his little bum off. 

Studying here I come...

December 12, 2013 {Baby's First Picture}

Today we got our very first glimpse of Baby Kussee.

Wow.

We met our child for the first time.  It was a proud parent moment.  That we were, in fact, pregnant and going to have a baby in 5 months.  T held my hand while our tech, Melanie, squeezed the cold ultrasound goop over my belly and then started moving the probe around.  There was our baby.  We counted it's arms, legs, and head (there's only one!).  

The main reason for our appointment today was to find out this baby's gender so we could get a move on on nursery plans and all of the other gazillion baby plans that are in our future.  We were so excited!  

However, Baby Kussee wasn't cooperating as much as we would've liked.  He/she was sitting indian style (maybe it's been listening to me teach in school and tell my kids to "criss-cross-applesauce?") which gave us a good glimpse at it's male/female parts.  Baby was just moving a whole hecka lot and is right at the developmental stage of "your baby could  be a boy OR it could be a girl."  We had two technicians in the room with us and both were saying completely different genders.  

So basically, we left our appointment knowing we were growing a human being, but still split 50/50 on knowing if it was a boy or a girl. 

Bah.  Not what we wanted to hear.

BUT, come January 3rd, this kid is going to cooperate at our 20 week appointment and we're going to know if it's a boy or a girl.  

Otherwise, I'm putting the kid in the corner and in time out.

 {Baby Kussee enjoying itself in it's Mama's tummy.  For once in my life, I actually appreciated an ultrasound picture.  It's so much more different when the picture is of your own kid.  You want to memorize everything from it's cute little frog legs to it's garbled-looking face.}

 {Baby Kussee sitting indian style and turning it's head to look at us.  At least we know it's going to be a flexible kid.  Soccer?  Gymnastics?  Contortionist?}

We breathed a sigh of relief followed by one of disappointment after the appointment was over.  It was exhilarating to see an actual baby growing, but we were disappointed to not know the gender 100%.  Once technician told us what gender he was leaning towards and gave us a 90% sure that he was right.   The other technician told us she was 75% sure it was the other gender.   But, really, we think they were just making an educated guess and not really sure about anything.  

T and I both think it's one gender.  But, we're trying to be okay with the other gender if that's the end outcome.  Because, really, we're growing a child.  And that, in itself, is quite the feat.  Girl or boy, we're going to love this kid like none other.