Can't catch a break....

I guess the saying when it rains it pours is proving to be true! It all started when I had to go to the emergency room for my incision. I went back for my follow up appointment with the dr and he says it is healing great, but still not healed. So therefore, the nurse is still coming and I still can't drive. My dressing is being changed twice a day.
our car needs the window replaced. Yes, the window is broke. thankfully, it is the back passanger side. The window is somehow broke in the door, thankfully the window is up, so we don't have to look redneck and put a trash bag up. here is the kicker, my husband had to have a german made car, so it will cost us a fortune to fix.
next issue. we have no air at our house. Sunday when we got home from running errands it was a little hot. Russ checked and the air is not working. Great! We can suffer through the night and have the air guy come and fix. Well they came the next day, charged me $326 and said that is just to get started. Our air unit is apparently 15 years old and an off brand. So, they have to order the part. It will be here in 2-3 business days. We obviously can't stay at our home, so we have moved in with my parents. Thankfully, they are nice enough to keep us and don't mind us staying here. I can't even begin to tell you how hard it is to take care of a newborn at a place that is not yours! Hopefully, Friday we can move back home.
The big kicker is my sweet little Annalee is sick. I took her temp and it is right over 100. She is sleeping now and eating which is good. So at 10:15 we are heading to the dr. Well, my mom noticed she was warm this morning. I don't have a thermometer in the diaper bag (have 3 at my house), my mom had to run out and buy a thermometer. Well, i have no car here either, so Russ has to miss yet another day of work to drive Annalee and I to the dr.
Maybe things will start coming in order!

Annalee's arrival...

Annalee was born via c-section and let me tell you they are not fun! We arrived at the hospital at 5:30 Friday morning and immediately were admitted. We went to our room that is much like a hotel. The nurse started my ivs and asked all kinds of questions. We were then taken to the pre-op room. There they ask several more questions and hooked me up to all kinds of machines. You name it I had it! Then at 7:30am we were ready, but no doctor. The doctor was paged. He called back and said he didn't know I was scheduled. Great! Luckily, he is wonderful and I completely trust him. He came to see Russ and I at about 8:00. He did a short prayer with us and then I was taken to the OR. Let me tell you this was the first time I was ever in an Operating Room. It was kind of scary. There were 4 nurses in the room, 2 for me and 2 for Annalee. Russ at this point wasn't with me he had to get suited up.

Finally, they were ready for the Spinal. The dr came in and put the big huge needle in the back of my spine and administered the meds to make my body (chest down) completely numb. It hurt so bad, then all of a sudden I couldn't feel anything. Russ was then able to come and be with me. Dr. S came in to start the delivery and at 8:50 Annalee was born. Below is a picture!

Now is where the fun part begins. Part of the reason I had to have a c-section is because they had to remove a quarter size cysts from my ovary. Yes, when they were operating the nurse said "wow that is huge!" They thought they may have to take the whole ovary, but luckily they got the cyst by itself. At this point Russ and Annalee are in the nursery and I am by myself with the dr and nurses. During the surgery I started having a lot of pain. It was horrible. All i could do was move my head from side to side. The nurse says "i think her spinal is wearing off!" That is all i remember! Next thing i know i am in the recovery room with my baby!! The next few days i am recovering and with my husband and baby!!!

Fast forward to this past Sunday. I had to go to the emergency room. Russ and I get there (my mom watched Annalee). My incision is in pain and bleeding. The dr tells me it is infected. I get an IV of antibiotics automatically and then they also give me fluids because i am dehydrated. After being in the ER for 5 hours we are finally allowed to leave. It was very scary for both Russ and I.

I go back to my Dr Monday and he has to reopen the incision. Apparantely, this happens with c-sections. So, he cleans my incision that is open!!! And tells me they are going to send a nurse to my house because someone is going to have to clean my incision 2x's a day. OUCH!!

the nurse came yesterday and so far so good! I must say I had a very good pregnancy and if this is the worst that can happen I consider myself lucky. My baby is healthy and that is all I can ask for!

She's here----

Annalee Victoria arrived Friday July 24th @ 8:50 am. She came weighing 7.5oz and 19 3/4 long! She has a head full of hair and is wonderful. I can't describe the feeling it is to be a mommy and i can't stop staring at her. I don't have a lot of time to blog about the details, but when i do i will. until then here are some pics of our beautiful healthy wonderful baby girl!

here she comes....

I am going to apologize in advance for the rambling of this blog. It has been crazy the past 24 hours. I had my doctor's appointment yesterday. I was really excited I just knew something was going to happen. Russ and i got to my appointment and waited for the doctor. Thirty minutes later he came in. They measured me and i was measuring at 40.5 weeks!!! I am only 38.5. They checked and i still wasn't dilated, Annalee still hadn't dropped and I have a cyst on my ovary. The doctor suggested a c-section. It sounds scary, but when he told us the options and his advice this was the way to go. We agreed to go along with the c-section and he said "let's schedule, how about Thursday or Friday!" I said "this week?" he said "yep!" Russ and i looked at each other. For nine months we have waited to meet our little girl, but i think this is when reality truly kicked in. So, Annalee will join us on Friday, July 24th at 7:30am and we couldn't be more thrilled. I go in at 5:30 for all of the pre-op stuff and surgery will start at 7:30am. I am excited, nervous, anxious, you name it. They have me down for surgery for an hour and a half. To deliver the baby and remove the cyst. Russ and I have been so blessed throughout this pregnancy and I know everything will go smooth with the delivery. Today I have been frantically getting everything off of my desk at work for my leave. I will be out for 12 weeks!! Tomorrow I am doing all of the last minute things and cleaning the house! Friday our lives change! Next time I post I will post pictures of our little girl! how exciting!!! OMG!

In loving memory...

Yesterday was a sad day for the Hopper's. Our family dog Pepper had to be put to sleep, he was 16 years old. Pepper was a schnauzer who was full of life. He battled through cancer, tumors, bladder stones and hip problems. He was part of the family. Yesterday my mom woke up and found Pepper having a seizure. He was twitching and foaming at the mouth. My dad rushed him to the vet and they said he had had a stroke. The vet told my dad that there really wasn't anything they could do and the best option was to put him down. pepper was given pain medicine and my dad brought him back home. It was decided that we would all meet at the vets around 5pm to say goodbye. I got a call at 4:30, Pepper had another stroke. I got to the vets along with my family and said goodbye. It was so sad, but at least he is at peace. The vet was wonderful and made things a lot easier. Our family is sad, but we will get through. We will miss you pepper!!!

ponds, 4th of July and baby news

I know I have not blogged in forever! Surprise, Surprise. We have been very busy getting things around for the baby and Russ building a couple of small ponds in the backyard.

Our backyard is very large and wasn't very well maintained when we moved in. Russ has been working very hard and our yard is looking really good! We have plants in the front and two small ponds in the back connected with a waterfall! I must say it looks really good! There are also goldfish swimming around! The picture below is when the pond was first being built!! It looks completely different now, but this gives you a little idea!

The fourth of July we went to the beach for a few days to visit some friends, shoot fireworks and have a good time! It was our last outing until the baby comes!!

The baby is due in 3 weeks! The nursery is ready and we are set. We went to the doctor yesterday and she is measuring big! The dr thinks Annalee is around 7lbs right now and thinks I may go early! That would be wonderful as I am now very uncomfortable!

So now is the waiting game......

7 weeks

Yep, that is the number of weeks I have left of being pregnant! Let me tell you the pregnancy is kicking in full force! I am huge, my feet and hands are swollen and I am uncomfortable. I did go to the Dr Tuesday and everything is still right on schedule!
Tomorrow we go on a tour of labor and delivery. That should be interesting. Sunday work is having a baby shower for me!
I don't really have anything else going on. Last weekend I went to my friend Jeni's baby shower! She is due 2 weeks after me and having a little girl too! I can't wait to see them together.
Hope everyone has a nice weekend!