Isn't she wonderful...

Isn't she lovely...

Grace Marie Brownlee
born on Friday, June 22 at 6:16 p.m.
5 pounds, 13 ounces
18 inches long

It's time...

I am going in to have a c-section at 5:30. We'd appreciate your prayers right now.

Thanks,
Hannah and Merrick

This could be it...

June 22
2:57 p.m.
I just finished a delicious "lunch" of clear foods... chicken broth, apple juice, orange and cherry jell-o. I woke up from my nap and Merrick was watching a show about the best pizza places in the US. Now all I can think about is pizza... It probably doesn't help that he is sitting on the couch munching on Trader Joe's cookies. Oh well, I'll eat again soon enough.

1:30 p.m.
Nap time! Contractions have pretty much stopped (which is exactly what kept happening last weekend when we tried this). Good news is that I was able to get some rest, bad news is we are no closer to baby's arrival.

12:02 p.m.
Well, I am having regular contractions, but nothing is hurting. (I am not complaining about the lack of pain, but know that pain is what causes the necessary changes). My nurse, Meghan, keeps upping the pitocin, so hopefully it will kick in soon.

9:13 a.m.
Pitocin was started. Now we wait and see what happens...

7:02 a.m.
Well, today could be the day. We have learned, however, that nothing around here is set in stone, so don't rush to your calendars to write baby Brownlee's birthday on June 22 just yet. We still have a ways to go - the entire length of the birth canal to be exact.

At this point the plan is to induce this morning or early afternoon. Because of a few overnight complications, the start time has been pushed back a bit - not ideal, but we will work with it. The OBGYN isn't comfortable with me staying pregnant past this weekend, so if this try with pitocin doesn't work, I will end up having a c-section sometime on or before Sunday. That being said, the doctors and midwives are not giving us an hour or day to expect baby because they don't want us to experience the same disappointment that we went through three times last weekend. For now we are sticking with the "wait and see" approach to this birth.

Until contractions become unbearable, I will try to keep this updated so you all know what is happening here.

Something to do...

My friend, Shannon, just started a blog for her daughter, Sophia. Hopefully she will keep it updated so I will have something fun and interesting to read from my hospital bed. =) Also, Mandy started a blog a few weeks ago. I don't get to see her very often - she just moved from New York to Colorado - but it is fun to now be able to read about the crazy things she is up to in the Rocky Mountains.

Nothing much is happening around here today. A man from the lab woke me up at 4:15 a.m. to draw my blood, and my nurse woke me up again a little after 7 a.m. to go have an ultrasound done. Good news is that my white blood cell count is great - evidently I am a very healthy pregnant woman. My fluid level has dropped since Sunday, but is still considered to be "safe and normal." So, for now I remain in bed. One thing I don't understand is that everyone around here seems very concerned about making sure that I am getting enough sleep. I even have the option of taking a sleeping pill before bed (which so far I haven't needed). So they want me to sleep, but then come wake me up at ungodly hours to run tests that theoretically could be run at any point during my extremely non-busy day. Oh well.

From my window it looks like it is going to be a beautiful Oregon day. Hopefully you will all get out in the sun for a bit and enjoy it for me.

Aunt Norma...

After being in the hospital for over 2 weeks, you start needing funny things to get you through the days... today I have had a few.

There is a lady that has been calling my room (since I checked in) looking for her niece, Audrey. I have talked to "Aunt Norma" three times now - each time explaining that I don't know Audrey, but I am the one in the room now. I guess at hospitals, when you give out direct room phone numbers and don't go through an operator, there is some confusion... usually that dies off after the person realizes that their niece has been discharged and is no longer in the room.

Today my nurse, Beth, came in to take my temperature. Right when I put the thermometer in my mouth the phone rang (of course). She answered it "Hannah's room" and then explained who she was and that I couldn't talk but asked the person on the line if she wanted to hold for just one minute. I picked up the phone and when I didn't recognize the voice of the person on the other end of the line said, "who is this?" She answered, "This is Norma. Who is this?" I said, "This is Hannah." Then aunt Norma said, "Well, where is Audrey?" I told her that I don't know Audrey or how to find Audrey. She kept insisting that this is Audrey's room, and didn't seem to get it when I explained that I have been here for 17 days. Perhaps Audrey did have this room - three weeks ago - but honestly, I am not lying when I saw that Audrey isn't here!!! Typically people don't stay in the birthing suites for more than 24 hours. So, after being frustrated with me, aunt Norma hung up. Perhaps if I am here next Monday she will call again... if not, the next patient in room 314 will get the joy of talking to aunt Norma.

Also, just a quick update for those who haven't heard...

On Saturday my midwife started the pitocin early in the morning, but by that afternoon it was obvious that nothing was happening and my body was not reacting to the pitocin alone. We had thought that no matter what we would have a baby that evening. Molly came in Saturday afternoon and gave us two options.... I could have a c-section or could wait and have cervidil - a cervical softener - overnight and try the pitocin again on Sunday. Knowing that a natural delivery is better for baby, we opted for waiting a day and giving baby every opportunity to come naturally. On Sunday, my body took to the pitocin better and I had 4 or 5 hours of good, steady contractions, but nothing else was happening. My midwife consulted with the OBGYN and both had the same conclusion... the baby is happy, healthy, and in no hurray to come out.

Since baby is looking so good, and my body is doing really well at keeping baby in, there is no real rush to get this baby out. Every day that baby stays put, it will be that much healthier and stronger when it does decide to come. For now they are monitoring me, taking my blood daily to check my white blood cell levels (high levels are the first sign of infection). They are also doing ultrasounds every other day to check on the fluid levels. Last night they checked and were hoping for at least 5 centimeters of fluid - lower than that and baby might be in trouble. I had 12.9 cm. Normal for your third trimester is 5-25 cm. So, even though my "water broke" a long time ago, baby is still producing plenty of new fluid, and my body is maintaining enough to keep him/her happy and safe.

So, for now I am back on bed rest to hurry up and wait for this baby to come. There is a higher chance that I will go into spontaneous labor this week, if not, we will try the pitocin again on Friday. If that doesn't work, I am not sure of the plan - and I am not going to make any more day or date predictions... I am just going to sit back and be patient (yeah right). If I start to show any signs of infection, if the fluid level drops, or if baby just looks unhappy on the monitor, they will deliver baby within 24 hours one way or another.

Funny joke...
My mom sent this to me, and I have to share. Again, laughter is the best medicine, right? Sorry if this offends anyone, I just got a kick out of it.

Sleeping Beauty, Tom Thumb, and Quasimodo were all talking one day. Sleeping Beauty said, "I believe myself to be the most beautiful girl in the world."

Tom Thumb said, "I must be the smallest person in the world."

Quasimodo said, "I absolutely have to be the most disgusting person in the world."

So they all decided to go to the Guinness Book of World Records to have their claims verified.

Sleeping Beauty went in first and came out looking deliriously happy. "It's official, I AM the most beautiful girl in the world."

Tom Thumb went next and emerged triumphant, "I am now officially the smallest person in the world."

Sometime later, Quasimodo comes out looking utterly confused and says. "Who the hell is Rosie O'Donnell ?"

Now you tell me...

So, after 12 days in the hospital I learned the truth about how the hospital food service works. When I first checked in I was given a patient menu and asked to choose what I wanted for breakfast the next day. I ordered yogurt and French toast... and was shocked when my one piece of French toast arrived. Really? Who only eats one piece of French toast for breakfast? That was my first lesson... order a lot - one of everything on the menu - if you want to get full.

The other strange thing is that patients on the maternity floor are fed last. Explain that... we'll take the really hungry pregnant and postpartum women and feed them after everyone else in the entire hospital has eaten. This wasn't an issue with me until Monday. I was really looking forward to the lemon meringue pie that I had ordered (it had been delicious the week before). When my dinner tray came, there was a bowl of orange sherbet with a note saying they were out of pie. I don't know many people who would consider orange sherbet a satisfactory substitute to lemon pie. The people in the kitchen obviously don't understand the inner workings of a pregnant woman's cravings.

I also learned that every day of the week has the same menu as the next week... Thursdays are Salisbury steak, Fridays are meatloaf, etc. This was okay for the first week, but by the second week it was getting old. Yesterday I had a new nurse who happened to be in my room and overheard me grumbling about meatloaf. She said, "hasn't anyone given you a write in menu?" Well, I had no idea there was a write-in menu, and was thrilled when she brought in pages of food that I could order at anytime I wanted. She also told me that anything you would normally find in a well stocked kitchen could be ordered. So, for breakfast I requested an omelet and hash browns. What a fun changed from 12 straight days of oatmeal and a bran muffin. It was delicious!

So, now that there are only 4 days left of my hospital stay, they finally tell me all the secrets of ordering meals. I am very much looking forward to my turkey and stuffing for dinner. I can't remember what I ordered for dessert, but I am starting to think a piece of apple pie would go nicely with my "Thanksgiving" meal.

Taking a mulligan...

Well, now that the date has been changed, we might need to start this little game over again. If you are new to the game, feel free to add a comment to this blog with your guesses. If you have already guessed, and need to adjust the day/time/weight... just add a new comment. If you want to stick with your original guesses that is okay too.

Here is what we are looking for:

• Date of birth?
  
• Time of birth?
• Length of labor?
  
• Baby's gender?
• Baby's weight?
• Baby's length?
• Baby's name?

A little game...

Since we have some time to waste up here, we will get a little pool going for people guess baby statistics. (Hannah did this before Emmett was born.) Now, the birthday is all but set, so we will pick some other fun facts to guess on. Send me an email, or add a comment to this blog page to get in on the action...

Have fun. Sometime next week I'll post again to let you know who was closest on the following categories:

• Time of birth?
• Length of labor? (be nice people)
• Baby's gender?
• Baby's weight?
• Baby's length?
• Baby's name?

Things I will miss...

As my countdown to Friday continues, I am starting to realize that I am going to miss being pregnant. I am going to miss the whoosh, whoosh sounds of the heart beat on the monitor, and watching baby react to its daddy's voice. I am going to miss the feeling of my baby rolling over in my belly. The way it kicks back when I push against its foot, and the way it pushes into my hand as I massage the little buns that bump out of my tummy. I am going to miss eating whatever I want and having a belly that is supposed to stick out. Mostly I am going to miss just being pregnant. It is a magical, miraculous thing that you can't describe or understand until you have experienced it yourself. The fact that God has been at work, creating a life within me, is an amazing feeling - and I am sad to let that go. Don't get me wrong - I can't wait to welcome this child into the world and into our lives, but there is something special and intimate about pregnancy that I am sad to say good-bye to.

My friend, Sarri, sent me this poem that she cherished before having each of her three kids. I have only read it once, and it made me cry, but I am looking forward to reading this one more time - perhaps on Thursday night or even Friday morning before they induce. I thought I would add the poem to the blog for others to enjoy.

These Last Few Hours
It is important to me that I spend a part of the next few hours here alone with you in the darkness. You and i will never be this close again. By morning you will be a tiny person all your own. No longer the kicking, demanding bulge in my body that i have grown to love so well. I pray God will safely guide you on your Journey and, I ask him for strength to help you all I can. Again, you signal your impatience to be free. Time to wake your Daddy.

Re-living my wedding night...

No, not like that, sick-o... today at the hospital was Thanksgiving dinner for lunch - and it was great! I have always loved Thanksgiving food, but it is fun to have another reminder of our special day. The food here hasn't been too bad, but this was definitely one of the better meals.

Nothing else in our status here has changed. Baby is still looking great on the monitors - and is VERY active. Since there is less fluid, that means less padding, so overtime baby moves and kicks it is more painful. Not that I am complaining. I think that I am going to miss feeling those movements. I am looking forward to having our baby and holding our baby, but I have really enjoyed being pregnant. (Well, I could have done without two weeks of bed rest, but that hasn't been that bad either).

Now I am just sitting in the room watching episodes of "A Baby Story." Perhaps not the best show to watch four days before I give birth, but there isn't a lot of options on Monday at 2:30 in the afternoon.

I'll do my best to update as we learn more or as things change.

Heartbeats and hiccups...

Well, I made it to 34 weeks... which means that I have now been in the hospital for a whole week. The good news is that I am half way done, and so far the time is going by quickly. Baby is still healthy and happy, and I can't really complain, since I am getting waited on hand and foot.

I am now only being monitored twice a day - morning and night - to watch for problems with baby's heartbeat and any contractions I may be having. It is fun to lay here for an hour and listen to our baby. The baseline of its little heart is 130 beats per minute, with accelerations up to 150 or 160 bpm. (Accelerations are a good thing, and what they are looking for to show the baby is happy). We can watch on the monitor, and when Merrick talks to baby, its heart speeds up. Nothing happens when I talk, but that is probably because it is sick of hearing me talk to it all day long... daddy's voice is still really exciting to it. Baby also will get hiccups, and when I am on the monitor, which is funny to listen to.

I have had friends stopping by frequently to keep me company - and my parents have come almost everyday. It is nice to have people who are willing to give up their afternoon to spend time with me up here in the hospital. It really helps the time go by quickly. Merrick is also spending most of every day here - working from the room, and only going home to shower, change and check on the house. We are so grateful that he has a flexible job that is allowing him to be here with me.

I will try to update more often over the next week. If all goes as planned, I will be induced next Friday, June 15. Perhaps I should change my baby ticker!

Chronic earliness - I inherited it from my grandpa…

Hello, baby Brownlee here. I decided a few days ago that it would be a good time to be born – never mind the fact that I am seven weeks early. (Well, I am not here quite yet, but just gearing up to make an early entrance into the world). My grandpa Bob is always really early, so I am just trying to fit in the family. Not sure how, but I managed to pop the little sack of water that I live in on Friday night. Now mom and dad just have to spend the next few weeks in the hospital waiting for my lungs to get strong and for me to gain some weight. Mom and I are doing great, she is just confined to a bed at St. Vincent, and on a lot of antibiotics to keep us both healthy. Doctors want me to stay put for about 2 more weeks, then they will let me come. I never really wanted to be born in July… I much prefer June.

So, stay tuned… Dad is going to keep people updated as much as possible. Feel free to call mom at St. V’s (our number is 503-216-7314) if you want to check in – I am sure she would love to talk to her friends. I am looking forward to meeting everyone real soon! Oh, and ignore the little ticker at the top of mom’s blog… it is way off!