Kapri has made her debut!!

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On May 20, 2009 at 9:13 p.m., at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, James & I welcomed Kapri Jolie Mejia into the world. She weighed in at 7lbs 14oz, and was 21 inches long...wow! We definitely expected her to be in the mid-8lb range...so her weighing less was a little surprise!

I was scheduled to be induced that morning...bags were packed, car was filled...and I was a ball of nerves. I wanted to film while James drove, just to capture our feeling on soon becoming parents...I also wanted one last 'baby belly' picture...unfortunately I forgot to do both of those things...I blame it on pregnancy brain

We got to the hospital a little after 7am, checked into the cozy L&D room that would soon be filled with one of my favorite memories of all, and changed into that lovely little hospital gown. Relax. Breath.

Then around 8 a.m. that's when they started the pitocin to help get my contractions going. I was so nervous & anxious, and didn't know what to expect...naturally. So a few hours later, I started feeling those contractionsand they progressivly got more & more intense. Every hour or so, our wonderful nurse came to check on me to see if I wanted the epidural or not...the anesthesiologist had numerous c-sections to attend, so she wanted to make sure I had a nice window of oppurtunity to get the epi. Finally around noon, the contractions were starting to take my breath away...I found myself having to stop what I was doing, or stop in mid-conversation to close my eyes & breath through the pain. It pretty much felt like the WORST "time of the month" cramps!!


Then at 12:45 p.m., I gave in & told the nurse to get the epi goin!! I had to wait about 45 min. for the doc to come in, prep me & administer the epidural...ouch! He *conveniently* gave me that shot right along with the worst contraction yet!! That's when I actually let the tears flow...thank goodness James was right there with me every step of the way. Now I don't know if this was just a coincidence or what...but right at that moment, our song (which we had our 1st dance to at our wedding) started playing in the background.... "By Your Side" by Sade. James looked at the nurse & I and said "this is the perfect song...I was by your side then, and I'm by your side now"... needless to say, I lost it! haha

Thankfully, the hours in the hospital literally only felt like minutes to us, it was so weird! I think it helped having lots of visitors to make the time pass. We also brought 2 movies...Finding Nemo (my fav) and Ace Ventura. We were told that it was best to bring funny, lighthearted movies...no drama - just something to keep your mind off the pain that was to come!

Finally....we hit the 12-hour mark and around 7:30 p.m., our nurse told us I was at 10 cm - time to do some practice pushing...

O.M.G. - I can't do this...I'm scared!! I threw up twice - which is normal, haha!

Unfortunately, my contractions slowed down quite a bit...which in turn, delayed the labor and my chances to push (with each one, you have to hold your breath & do 3 large pushes)...so they had to increase my pitocin. Then I mysteriously developed a 102 degree fever - I was so hot & swollen, not fun. My legs & feet especially felt like they were on fire. So the nurse had to put ice packs behind my neck, in my armpits and on my feet. Luckily the fever wasn't passed on to little Kapri.


My doctor told me to look down, a head...hair...a PERSON is coming out of me! Finally, at 9:13 p.m....she arrived perfectly & beautifully...it really was love at first sight - like they always say. Along with James & I, my mom and sisters were in the room during the process, so it was quite the sob-fest in there with all of us combined, haha!! Once she was cleaned off & I was 'cleaned up'...we had the rest of our family & visitors come meet the popular baby Kapri...it was a full house in there! Then about an hour or so later, she had her first meal from mama...yum yum! I'll never forget the sounds she made as she anxiously tried to latch on. That night, I don't think I slept one minute...I still felt like I was in a never-ending dream...and I just could NOT take my eyes of this wonderous little angel.

Thank goodness for James with all his love & support...I don't know how I would've gotten through this day (or this pregnancy for that matter) without him there...by my side :-)

This really was the single most amazing experience of my life. Or like my dad would say "the #1 life changing moment"...so true.

Acupuncture anyone?

So today, I had my very first acupuncture session with a wonderful woman named Katie Mik (also pregnant herself!) at the Acupuncture Continuum - here in Encinitas. Like I said in my previous post, I began researching methods to help bring on labor naturally and came across "acupuncture". Of course never doing this before I was skeptical, but upon more & more reading about this over the internet...I found that it is a completely safe & beneficial alternative to helping 'induce' naturally. Another plus to this, is that my insurance covers this kind of treatment, YAY!! 

"Using acupuncture is a much softer and easier approach to inducing labor...rather than with a commonly used medicine called "Pitocine" - which can have unwanted side effects...like much stronger labor contractions. Acupuncture trigger points to induce labor include points on the back, above the ankle, and specific points on the hand. By needling these points, the body's qi (pronounced "Chee") is stimulated, and helps prepare the body to begin labor. The only rare side effect to using this treatment is potential light bruising at the needle points." 

So, I'm happy to report that I survived & it was great! I was definitely a little nervous upon arriving...but anxious to get started. I laid on my left side in a dimly lit room with relaxing music, as Katie inserted about 10 extremely thin needles in different places on my body. There was 1 between my thumb & pointer finger, 2 in my ear (not IN the ear canal or anything!), I think 3 around my ankle/calf and about 4 in my lower back. She was very gentle and constantly checked to see how I was doing. After they were all in, she 'stimulated' the ones in my back so there was a light pulsing sensation. Kapri was moving all around during this time...she must have known that something was going on, haha! Katie then turned off the lights & left me in the room to relax. A few minutes later she came back in, made the ones in my back stronger & also stimulated the ones around my foot & the one on my hand. The whole process took about an hour & I left feeling very calm and relaxed. I'm looking forward to next Tuesday's session & hopefully it'll help when I go to the hospital on Wednesday! Wish me luck :-)

9 days, 2 hours, 20 minutes & 16 seconds...O.M.G.!

Less than 2 weeks left...Really?!?! This pregnancy has gone by way TOO fast...however it has seemed to slow down a bit in the last 2 or 3 weeks...but overall it's flown past us and I'm almost sad to see it go. I obviously can't wait to meet Kapri, but I definitely think I'll miss being pregnant - mainly since it was such a wonderful time in my life & an exciting new adventure for James & I to share. It's one of the most beautiful things that a woman can experience and I'm so grateful that we get to bring a new tiny little life into this world.

Ahh, so...let's see, what has been happening this past week since I last wrote?  

Mother's Day - May 10, 2009 (my very 1st!) - Even though we don't have Kapri in our arms just yet...I still got to celebrate this day for the first time....I think I've done good so far, as she seems pretty warm & cozy in my belly!! So on Mother's Day morning, James & I had over his mom, brother (Steve) & his new wife (Amanda) at our home. We all made brunch and it was beyond delicious!! I got a few bouquets of pretty flowers that are still wonderfully perfuming our home! That evening James went to work & I went out to dinner with my mom & sisters...we always have such a fun time together & always make each other laugh over the most random things...love it!  

Doc Appt - May 14, 2009 - At this week's appt, there was unfortunately no progress...still 1cm - so after I got home, I started looking deeper into all the different ways to coax this little girl out! HOWEVER, the doctor did schedule me to be induced on Wed. 5/20/09, but we do also have a follow up appt with her the day before to see if I've progressed any further. So, the induction date is somewhat "tentative"...but we'll see what happens...fingers crossed people!!!  

Pediatrician Appt - May 15, 2009 - Today we met with another potential pediatrician...Dr. Anna Medenhall. She's just down the street from our house and is an AWESOME lady! James & I really liked her, she seems very passionate about her job & working with children. She was very caring & did not make us feel unimportant or silly for all of the questions we had. She's with the Children's Physicians Medical Group and their offices are great...we especially liked that there were separate entrances/offices for sick kids & well kids...so that was a plus! We're definitely going to use her & we think Kapri will love her too.  

Week 38 Baby Bump...yes, I know...I'm huge.

Finished Work of Art & a *blah* Doc Appt

My sister Chelsea & I finally finished Kapri's name that I wanted to put above her crib. It took awhile for us to get inspired & in touch with our creative side to figure out what we wanted to do on the letters. First they were all going to be different in style, but similar colors with ribbon to hold them on the wall...but then we decided to keep them all the same style without ribbons holding them at the top, haha! I'm very proud of them & hope Kapri loves them too! Pics are below... and personally I think they look better than anything I could've bought in a store!!
 

I also had another weekly checkup this past Thursday...unfortunately no progress since last week :-( I shouldn't have kept my hopes up, especially since I knew that women can be 1 or 2 cm dilated for weeks without any progress! We'd like to induce, and are hoping for possibly May 18 (exactly 1 week before her due date). So I have mapped out a loooooong walking route here around Village Park where we live...I'll just have to make myself do that once a day....which also means I have to just ignore the crazy back & foot pain that I already have!! So, we just have to be patient...but maybe that's a good thing, since there are a few final details I want to do in her nursery and STILL have to pack our hospital bag(s)!!! Other than that, we're pretty much set & ready for her arrival. The last week I was home relaxing and literally every time I thought I was being *lazy*, I had to tell myself that it was OKAY and to just enjoy it, because once Kapri is born...I may not have this kind of time all to myself (and time for just James & I).

Last day at work...and doctor's visit

I thought today would NEVER come!!

These last couple weeks at work have been pretty difficult...just getting out of bed is a major TASK...I sort of feel like a beached whale, on it's back, trying to flip & flop myself over. I almost need one of those huge white slings that they use to transport whales, no joke - you should see me (and hear the noises I make in my dramatic attempts) - I'm sure it's pretty hysterical!

 So, needless to say...I will enjoy about 2 weeks of NOT having to wake up at 4:30 a.m. & spend an hour getting ready for work...OH JOY!!! I plan on being as lazy as possible, because I know when Kapri arrives, I will never have time to be 'lazy' again! I would *LIKE* to walk on the beach with Mika a few times a week in the morning...we'll see though! We live literally 3.6 miles from Moonlight Beach - so I feel like I should at least try to take advantage of that. I'm also going to spend the time finishing the details/decor in Kapri's room and cleaning the house...I know..."ICK"...but it must be done, so maybe just little bits at a time ;)

 Today I also had my first "check" at the doctor's office to see if I'm progressing at all. I went into this appointment, trying not to get my hopes up that I was dilated at all...but James & I have been walking & I've been sitting/bouncing/stretching on my exercise ball every night - in hopes that it'll help move things along. This appointment was also important because if I'm moving along nicely, then our hopes for inducing in 2 weeks are better.

So...I found that I'm a whole 1 cm dilated & 50% effaced. Time to start walking more, eating spicy foods, ($ex), and whatever other 'old wives tales' that will help me move along more! Next doc appointment is Thurs. 5/7/09....stay tuned!