Aug 29, 2008

Liam Marshall Hoffman is HERE!


Liam was born Today at 7:14 pm!  I am so blessed to have such a beautiful little man! The long, hard, stressful 9 months of pregnancy have finally come to end!!! HORRAY!!!

Liam on his birthday just after his first bath


It all began on Thursday morning when I went to my last Dr. apt. I was in a lot of pain I think I pulled my groin muscle and my lower back the night before I could hardly walk. I had to call in sick to work that day too because I couldn't walk. I was scheduled to be induced at 5 am Aug 29th with Dr. Leaseburge. At my Dr. apt she told us that she was going out of town for the labor day weekend and would be leaving at 12noon on friday.  We were not happy to hear the news but we decided to wait and go Friday morning as scheduled but told her if she was working tonight we could start early this evening.  To our surprise Dr. Leaseburge called us at 8pm Thursday night and asked if we wanted to come in tonight and have the baby and we said "Oh YES"!! We were so excited and packed up in less than an hour and made it to the hospital at  9pm and I was induced at 10 pm.  I also had my epidural soon after and the labor process was well under way. I was comfortable for the first few hours and everything was going well. I was only 1-3 cent dialated but my contractions were starting to increase and I didn't get much sleep. Friday afternoon came and our Doctor had to leave at 12noon. Dr. Branch took over from there and she did a great job. Late Friday afternoon I started to feel the contractions and they were very strong.  I noticed though that my epidural was starting to wear off and I asked the nurse to get the anesthologist. As soon as the nurse requested for the anesthologist I felt this intense pain in my back end and couldnot move it was really scarey. Dr. Branch and 4 of the nurses came running in and said for me to get on my side and and I was in tears because of the pain.  Dr. Branch said Liam's heart beat dropped down into the 40s & 50s and they had to to insert a heart monitor on Liam's head to get an accurate reading. It took a few minutes and then Liam's heartrate finally went back up and was normal. Dr. Branch said that I went from being dialated 4 cent. to 8 cent. in just a minutes time and that is why Liam's heart dropped down.  It was so scarey and I didn't know what had happened. I was so relieved when Liam's heartrate went back to normal. But by then I was in intense labor and it was time to push.  But because of the pain the Anesthelogist did give me another dose of the epidural and I totally could not feel anything from the waist down..it was good but bad because I could not feel when I had to push. Because of that I had to push intensely for 3 hours!  Every 15 min the nurse (Rachael who was amazing) would have me push and then I'd ask "see anything yet?"  She tried to stay positive but she had to say "nothing yet but keep trying"..( boy I hated to hear that)  Chris was so great helping me with my breathing and keeping me going I couldn't have made it through without him.  Then just when I felt like I couldnt' take anymore I pushed one more time and heard the nurse call for Dr. Branch and the other 4 nurses to come in. I was worried something happened and didn't even think that it was time yet.  But Chris then got really excited and said "It's time Nadia, It's time sweetheart, Liam is coming..look they are preping the room for him here we go Nadia..he's coming.."  I couldn't believe it until Dr. Branch came in and switched places with the nurse and then I pushed one more time and then Liam was here! Right infront of me crying up a storm and looked so beautiful!!! They took him and cleaned him up and wrapped him in a blanket and then gave him to me to hold. I couldn't believe it. I kept looking at him and Chris kept saying "That's your son Nadia you're a Mom now!" The doctor's and nurses were so amazing. I was so surprised that Liam's weight was just perfect at 7lbs 2 oz. Dr. Branch said he is healthy and looks beautiful and that he is the perfect weight and she congratulated me on eating right while having gestational diabetes. I remember the nurses and doctors laughed when I said I was hungry and just wanted french fries!!!  
I will never forget that moment when Liam arrived. I can't begin to explain how happy and blessed I felt. I always wanted to know what it felt like to have baby and what it would feel like. It was so hard but so worth it. My rainbow baby has come and it was all worth it!!!

Mommy with Liam...love at first sightLiam & Daddy..first time holding his son

Aug 19, 2008

Another Long NST

Today I had another long NST (Non Stress Test) at the hospital.  I usually go Tues & Fri but with the hurricane approaching Tues I thought I'd go in today.  I arrived at 1 pm and didn't leave until 7:30 pm!  Liam was moving a lot when I first arrived so much that the nurse couldn't get a good enough reading and I had to have a biophysical ultrasound to check and be sure he was fine.  By the time I had the ultrasound it was around 6 pm and Liam was so tired I think that he didn't do a lot of movement like he usually does but he stretched and moved his arms so he did end up passing the NST and biophysical ultrasound.  This is the 3rd time I've had to have an ultrasound during a NST. I've got to know the ultrasound tech very well.  His name is Aerial and he is a really nice guy. He saw the first time how nervous we were and knew our passed history and tried to keep me calm. Ultrasound techs are not aloowed to talk to you during the biophysical ultrasound but Aerial does let me know if Liam passed or not and will tell us when his heart is beating and if he was moving. The first time I had to have a biophysical ultrasound  Liam was doing 360s Aerial said he just had to show us because it was amazing to watch and he didn't want me miss it. With this biophysical ultrasound he said Liam was not doing a lot of movement like the last two times time but that Liam did pass.  I'm exhausted to say the least.  I had a long NST last Friday also.  It gets really tiring but I know it is all for a good reason. It really is stressful because you are on edge not knowing if there is a problem or not. Today for example during NST the nurses rushed in my room and said Liam's heart dropped very rapidly which wasn't good so they had to monitor me closely.  Liam's heart rate went back to normal and was okay but it was a really big scare for everyone.  I did have a few contraction but I didn't feel anything and I am still 1 cm dialated at this time.

Aug 5, 2008

Exhausting Evening


I'm exhausted to say the least!!!  I went in for my scheduled
NST at 2:30 pm and didn't leave the hospital until 8:30 pm! Liam just
wasn't giving enough movement but his heartbeat was fine. I had to
have an ultrasound and the tech was really nice! He said I have to show
you what he's doing so he turned the screen so I could see him. Liam did a complete 360 and was moving all over the place. It was so cool to watch but that little bugger!!!
Then after I went back to my room and was waiting for my results to come back (which were fine) the nurse noticed some contractions but I didn't feel anything. So they had to admit me and I had to stay another hour to be monitored. I drank lots of water and they finally went away! So everything turned out fine but I am so tired.
NADIA

Aug 2, 2008

Induction finally scheduled


Today the Doctor scheduled me to be induced on Friday August 29th at 5 am!  Chris and I are so excited to finally get a date scheduled so the countdown is on! 
NADIA

Aug 1, 2008

Liam's Heart Ultrasound

Today  Chris and I went to Orlando for  Liam's heart ultrasound at a high risk pregnancy center.  The doctor and staff were so amazing.   The  doctor  did confirm  that  Liam  has a type of heart arithmia that is common for babies to have while in the womb and it is not a serious condition and often will go away by 38 weeks and  after birth.    They did a complete ultrasound of Liam's heart and other vital organs.  The doctor said he looked great! They also confirmed that the umbilical chord was in a good place which was WONDERFUL news.  I was so relieved to say the least that Liam looks healthy up to this point.
I feel he is going to be perfect! I just have 4 weeks to get through now. Thank you all for 
keeping us in your prayers! I was glad that I did go because I got to see Liam in full
form..he looks beautiful!!!  
This  pregnancy center knows what they are doing because all they handle are high risk pregnancies. The staff was very professional and you can tell they know how to deal with a mother who has a 
high risk pregnancy. I was so nervous during the ultrasound and the tech kept me calm and cool 
and tried to keep my mind on other things...she was great!

NADIA