THE FIRST WEEK

Peyton had many visitors while in the hospital. She spent time with her Grams (my mom) and Grandma Sue (Chris' mom). She was looked after by her Great-Mamaw (my grandmother). But we can't forget Great-Papaw (my grandfather) and Carlie. They were all smiles too!!

Our first night in the hospital was great and scary. She went back to the nursery around 9pm so Chris and I could get some rest. Around 11pm, I was told she up and rooting around (ready to eat). So..Miss Peyton was brought to Mama. Chris was so good with her (and me). He helped me get ready to nurse and stayed up with me and was just wonderful. Peyton made another appearance the next morning around 3:35am. Even though, my sleep was interupted, I enjoyed and will treasure every minute.

Peyton and I were discharged on Thursday, June 11th. Peyton was doing great..she was down to 7 pounds once we left the hospital, but we were scheduled to have a 2-day checkup with her pediatrician (Dr. Hall) Saturday, June 13th. By her check-up, she was back up to 7 pounds 4 ounces and doing wonderfully!! Dr. Hall said he would see us for her 2 week check-up (June 22nd). I called the grandparents to inform them and it turns out that Dr. Hall was both Chris and my pediatrician (what a surprise)!! So Chris and I must have been destined to meet!!

Most of this week was spent at home getting used to things. Grams was over to help us get oriented, and she was so great helping us with food and laundry and anything else she or I could think of. I couldn't have asked for Peyton a better Grams. Grandma Sue was also there to help with everyday things that we just couldn't seem to fit in with the new demands of Miss Peyton. She is so blest to have such wonderful grandparents.

On Sunday, June 14th, Peyton had her first trip to the "Bay House" to meet her great aunts and uncle as well as Great-Grandpa Motyka (Chris' grandfather). It was also her first introduction to Maggie (our daschund). Maggie was a little confused, but very friendly. It is going to take some time for her to adjust. But once, Maggie learns that she can get food from Peyton, I'm sure they will be buddies.

Induction Day

It was now the morning of June 9th..INDUCTION DAY!!. We arrived at the hospital at 5AM, but we had to wait. The drip was finally started about 7AM. I was about 4cm dilated and fully effaced. I felt my first contraction around 8:30, but it wasn't too bad just a little discomfort. Around 8:45 my doctor arrived to break my water. Unfortunately, the breaking of the water brought a little nausea and I got sick, but it didn't last too long. By now I was around 6cm dilated. Then the "real' contractions began...and it was a pain that just can't be described!!

Chris was wonderful..even though there was nothing he could do to help..he really tried. I was finally able to get the epidural around 10:45 and everything was wonderful again. Then the next thing I knew..the nurse was looking at the monitor then she checked me..and she said.."it's time to push..you are 10cm dilated." So around 12 noon we started pushing with each contraction and then Baby Ankersen was crowning, so my doctor came and the stirrups came up.

At 1:11pm, Chris said, "it's a girl." He cut the cord, and we welcomed Peyton Elizabeth Ankersen to the world. She let us all know she was here with her well developed lungs. Peyton was 7 pounds 7 ounces and 20 inches long with a full head of black hair.

After Peyton was done getting checked out and cleaned off, we had our first family picture, and all the family was able to come back to meet the newest member. It was a time I will never forget...what a blessing!!

At 3:23pm, Peyton was breatfed for the first time. She did wonderful and has been eating well ever since. After she ate, she went back to the nursery to have her first bath (4:16pm). Chris and I were able be in the nursery to capture this moment..it was great!! She was loving every minute...and I just couldn't wait to hold her again!! But it was time for me to go to my room to get settled. It wasn't long..and Peyton was back with us in the room (to eat again, of course)!!

The Beginning

Well, now that parenthood has had some time to set in, we have decided to start a blog to keep friends and family up to date on the latest news.

Starting from the beginning...

In July of 2008, Chris and I decided that we were ready to start a family. On the morning September 24th, I took my first of two home pregnancy tests. I was shocked to find that once the hour glass disappeared... "PREGNANT" appeared on the indicator. Of course, I was so excited at that moment that I didn't even try to plan the perfect way to tell Chris...I just walked up to him at the table while he was eating his Captain Crunch Berries and pulled out the test. I can't recall his exact reaction, but I think we were both in shock. I don't think it hit either one of us until I took another test (with a different brand) and saw the two lines appear in the indicator giving us another POSITIVE test.

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On September 30th, mom and I went to the doctor who confirmed... I WAS PREGNANT!!! Unfortunately, Chris was in California on business so I had to deliver the news over the phone. I was 4 weeks and 6 days along with a due date of June 3rd, 2009.

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Since Chris was out of town, we had to keep our little secret for almost a week. We wanted to tell immediate family in person if at all possible so once Chris returned home we headed to Baton Rouge, LA with his mom and dad to visit his sister and her husband in their new home. Everyone was so excited!! So then we were finally able to tell the rest of our friends and family.

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However, my joy and excitement turned into nausea and sickness around 6 weeks. I tried my hardest to use any home remedies I could to control it, but after about 3 days without any appetite, I called the doctor. Zofran (for nausea) saved my life. I still had to cope with nausea and the loss of appetite throughout the first trimester and well into the second, but I was able to eat something. By the end of the first trimester, I had lost about 12 pounds. I never experienced the "cravings" or knew what it was like to "eat for two".

My prenatal appointments were scheduled every 4 weeks and on November 18th (11 weeks and 6 days), we had our first ultrasound and heard the heartbeat for the first time. Of course, I couldn't make much out of these pictures, but we did learn that the baby was healthy and growing right on track and that there was only one. Over the next several weeks, I was just trying to eat what I could (leaning toward the healthy side of course) and cut the caffeine and increase the water. However, in most of my prenatal appointments I was told that I had insufficient weight gain, but the baby was healthy and growing.

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We had our second ultrasound on January 6th, 2009 (18 weeks and 6 days), but we all thought the first pictures were much better. I guess the she was running out of room!! At this point, we could have found out the gender, but I really wanted to keep it a surprize...however, Chris was not thrilled with this decision. We made a deal that he could carry the next one and find out anything he wanted.

At all of my appointments, we know one thing for sure, our precious baby had a healthy heartbeat and was growing normally. On March 17th (28 weeks and 6 days), we had a 3D/4D ultrasound. Of course, we still didn't know the gender so we just got our first pictures of baby Ankersen's face (and what a cute face), but she wasn't cooperating very well and tried to hide from us.

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The last few months just flew by and just I continued to work and just prepare for "birth" day. I was also blessed to have great friends and family offering to help me prepare by throwing wonderful baby showers. They were all terrific and I thank everyone for those precious memories. I was starting it get the nursery together (unfortunately we are still in the apartment so we couldn't paint the walls, but I added color the best I could). March also allowed Chris to get some great experience...we started childbirth classes!! We both attended class for 2 1/2 hrs every Thursday evening for 4 weeks. The most memorable class was the first one. We were all relaxing with the lights dim and all of a sudden I hear Chris SNORING (he had the relaxing techniques down)!!

Then we reached a turning a point on May 5th; my prenatal appointments changed to weekly. On May 5th we found out that I was 0.5cm dilated, 70% effaced, and the head was down. Everything was pointing in the right direction. By the next week (May 12th), I was a little more than 1cm dilated and 80% effaced. On May 19th, there was not much change, however, the due date was getting closer, but was doing fine and just continued to work and get things ready at the house to welcome our new bundle of joy. On May 26th, I was 3cm dilated and still 80% effaced. Well the final appointment was June 2nd (due date June 3rd), but still no change. Our new baby could come any day, but I didn't have any signs or symptoms by this time. So I decided to work until the end of the week and my induction was scheduled for Tuesday, June 9th. I was really upset because I was looking forward to having everything happen naturally (besides the epidural, of course) and I couldn't wait to make those calls to say "it's time..we are heading to the hospital", unfortunately it didn't happen that way.