We need your prayers, love, and monetary support!
Thank you in advance!
Keep the Faith!
Until next time,
~E
Friday, August 29, 2014
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
My Rainbow Baby is here: Birth of Baby Maxwell McAfee
Where do I begin? Yes baby Maxwell Immanuel McAfee is here. He was born via emergency cesarean section on Tuesday, August 19, 2014 at 2:19pm. He was 4lbs 7oz 17 1/4" long.
Maxwell means Max's spring or well or capable
Immanuel means God With Us
God was truly with us this last week of the beginning of his life. On Tuesday, I went to training for work and ended up leaving before lunch because I felt bad and like I was having some contractions. The uneasy feeling didn't end after laying down so I called Brandon and asked him to come home to drive to me to hospital. We got to the hospital at 1:45pm, and I was in so much pain the immediately rolled us into triage and began checking for Maxwell's pulse. They couldn't get a strong one so immediately I went into the operating room for an emergency c-section. That's all I remember until I woke up on Wednesday afternoon.
Long story short my placenta had erupted or separated from my uterus and my uterus was contracting to stop from bleeding internally. The bleeding was stopped and I was airlifted to another hospital for another surgery and additional monitoring. Maxwell was recessitated when born, and immediately started breathing on his own. He has shown great progress since last Tuesday, but he still is premature and we don't know the long term effects of him not receiving oxygen for some unknown period of time. But we are faithful and grateful for my life and his life. God truly smiled on both of us last week and we can't give him enough praise!
As for me and my recovery I'll share in another post the details, but I'm getting released from the hospital today and will be home as long I can be and definitely the entire time he is in the NCIU.
I will have time to blog more about my journey as a new mom, NICU experience, and journey from breast pumping to feeding my baby boy.
He is here and we thank God for our miracle our rainbow baby!
Keep the Faith!
Until next time,
~E
Maxwell means Max's spring or well or capable
Immanuel means God With Us
God was truly with us this last week of the beginning of his life. On Tuesday, I went to training for work and ended up leaving before lunch because I felt bad and like I was having some contractions. The uneasy feeling didn't end after laying down so I called Brandon and asked him to come home to drive to me to hospital. We got to the hospital at 1:45pm, and I was in so much pain the immediately rolled us into triage and began checking for Maxwell's pulse. They couldn't get a strong one so immediately I went into the operating room for an emergency c-section. That's all I remember until I woke up on Wednesday afternoon.
Long story short my placenta had erupted or separated from my uterus and my uterus was contracting to stop from bleeding internally. The bleeding was stopped and I was airlifted to another hospital for another surgery and additional monitoring. Maxwell was recessitated when born, and immediately started breathing on his own. He has shown great progress since last Tuesday, but he still is premature and we don't know the long term effects of him not receiving oxygen for some unknown period of time. But we are faithful and grateful for my life and his life. God truly smiled on both of us last week and we can't give him enough praise!
As for me and my recovery I'll share in another post the details, but I'm getting released from the hospital today and will be home as long I can be and definitely the entire time he is in the NCIU.
I will have time to blog more about my journey as a new mom, NICU experience, and journey from breast pumping to feeding my baby boy.
He is here and we thank God for our miracle our rainbow baby!
Keep the Faith!
Until next time,
~E
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Faith over Fear: 3rd Trimester Blues
With 5 weeks left in this pregnancy I'm still scheduled to have a cesarean section at 38 weeks (date and time TBD), I'm an emotional mess. I find myself just crying for no reason at all, at the simplest things. My body is growing, my limbs are swollen, and I have no energy to do anything, but sit on my butt when I get home from work. Sigh! Below are some worries, fears, and blues I have as I prepare my heart and mind for delivery.
1. Weight gain and excessive swollen limbs - these last 3 weeks I've experienced the worse of being swollen. No matter how much fluid I drink, I still look like the Pillsbury dough girl. I have finally found a balance with drinking water and other fluids and literally sleeping with my feet on pillows to reduce the swelling in my feet and hands. My biggest concern with excess fluid and weight gain is a repeat of having pre-eclampsia which will cause for immediate delivery of Maxwell. My doctors have been watching the protein levels in my urine and I've done my best not to sweat the small stuff. If my clothes don't get folded or the dishes ain't washed or the house is not clean, I could care less. My health and Maxwell's health is all that matters to me in the last few weeks.
2. Movement - as you can imagine not feeling the baby move is heart breaking in more than one way. It's solely your responsibility to know when something is wrong with the baby at this stage in the pregnancy. I still beat myself up for not knowing something was wrong with BJ in the 9 months I carried him. So, not feeling Maxwell move is a major concern for me. I found myself crying and almost hysterical because I forget the last time he moved, but then I just pray to God and he kicks. Sometimes, fear continues to creep up and I remember that Faith comes by hearing and work through believing that God can and will provide.
3. Repeat cesarean section - I've been having day dreams & dreams about this pending c-section. I'm nervous, anxious, and prayerful that I won't have the same experience in the OR. I dream of hearing Maxwell cry. That's all I want to hear is his cry for me to know that he is alright. After that I just want to hold him for hours and just have my time with him. That's all I dream about and all I long for. I haven't even dreamt about breastfeeding, his circumcision, or even bringing him home. My biggest desire is for him to be healthy. Of course my biggest fear is the obvious not bringing him home. The hardest part about Faith is, believing God is good when we've experienced something oh so bad. but the truth remains he is faithful!
Keep the Faith!
Until next time,
~E
1. Weight gain and excessive swollen limbs - these last 3 weeks I've experienced the worse of being swollen. No matter how much fluid I drink, I still look like the Pillsbury dough girl. I have finally found a balance with drinking water and other fluids and literally sleeping with my feet on pillows to reduce the swelling in my feet and hands. My biggest concern with excess fluid and weight gain is a repeat of having pre-eclampsia which will cause for immediate delivery of Maxwell. My doctors have been watching the protein levels in my urine and I've done my best not to sweat the small stuff. If my clothes don't get folded or the dishes ain't washed or the house is not clean, I could care less. My health and Maxwell's health is all that matters to me in the last few weeks.
2. Movement - as you can imagine not feeling the baby move is heart breaking in more than one way. It's solely your responsibility to know when something is wrong with the baby at this stage in the pregnancy. I still beat myself up for not knowing something was wrong with BJ in the 9 months I carried him. So, not feeling Maxwell move is a major concern for me. I found myself crying and almost hysterical because I forget the last time he moved, but then I just pray to God and he kicks. Sometimes, fear continues to creep up and I remember that Faith comes by hearing and work through believing that God can and will provide.
3. Repeat cesarean section - I've been having day dreams & dreams about this pending c-section. I'm nervous, anxious, and prayerful that I won't have the same experience in the OR. I dream of hearing Maxwell cry. That's all I want to hear is his cry for me to know that he is alright. After that I just want to hold him for hours and just have my time with him. That's all I dream about and all I long for. I haven't even dreamt about breastfeeding, his circumcision, or even bringing him home. My biggest desire is for him to be healthy. Of course my biggest fear is the obvious not bringing him home. The hardest part about Faith is, believing God is good when we've experienced something oh so bad. but the truth remains he is faithful!
Keep the Faith!
Until next time,
~E
Thursday, August 14, 2014
It's Bump Day! Week 31 Pregnancy Update!
The countdown has begun until Maxwell's arrival. We are excited and overjoyed and very nervous, but know that God is in control and we are putting our worries in his hands.
How far along? 31 weeks 4 days
Total weight gain/measurements: 2 lbs this week, 29 lbs total
Maternity clothes: Yes. All maternity clothes are in full rotation. Purchased some cheap T-shirts from Target to get me through to wear with work pants and cardigans.
Stretch marks: None new. Been using lots of whipped Shea and coconut butter.
Sleep: 8-10 hours. Preggo pillow and without.
Best moment this week: Successful BaBy Q baby shower. I had a great time and enjoyed my time with everyone who came to the shower.
Miss anything Nothing this week.
Movement: Yes, lots of movement as he grows. He has finally settled head down.
Food cravings: Chocolate
Anything making you queasy or sick? Pasta salad from the shower made me very queasy this week that we had to discard it :(
Gender: Boy
Name: Maxwell or Max
Labor signs: Some Braxton Hicks but nothing that water can't help out.
Symptoms: lots of distinct movement and hiccups from Maxwell at certain times throughout the day. He moved a lot in the early morning and evening.
Belly button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? Off. Placed both bands on a necklace and will keep them there for the duration of the pregnancy.
Happy or moody most of the time: Happy! I am looking forward to the doctors setting a date and time for delivery. I am also looking forward to finalizing the nursery and using the gift cards given to me during the shower to make final purchases for the nursery.
Looking forward to: Purchasing the final items for the nursery, washing and folding up clothes and organizing the rest of the house to prepare for baby. Finding out my official csection date and telling the world lol Successfully transitioning my duties at work so that I'm able to take off the duration of the year and return in 2015.
Keep the Faith!
Until next time,
~E
Picture taken by my husband Brandon at our BaBy Q Baby Shower August 9
How far along? 31 weeks 4 days
Total weight gain/measurements: 2 lbs this week, 29 lbs total
Maternity clothes: Yes. All maternity clothes are in full rotation. Purchased some cheap T-shirts from Target to get me through to wear with work pants and cardigans.
Stretch marks: None new. Been using lots of whipped Shea and coconut butter.
Sleep: 8-10 hours. Preggo pillow and without.
Best moment this week: Successful BaBy Q baby shower. I had a great time and enjoyed my time with everyone who came to the shower.
Miss anything Nothing this week.
Movement: Yes, lots of movement as he grows. He has finally settled head down.
Food cravings: Chocolate
Anything making you queasy or sick? Pasta salad from the shower made me very queasy this week that we had to discard it :(
Gender: Boy
Name: Maxwell or Max
Labor signs: Some Braxton Hicks but nothing that water can't help out.
Symptoms: lots of distinct movement and hiccups from Maxwell at certain times throughout the day. He moved a lot in the early morning and evening.
Belly button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? Off. Placed both bands on a necklace and will keep them there for the duration of the pregnancy.
Happy or moody most of the time: Happy! I am looking forward to the doctors setting a date and time for delivery. I am also looking forward to finalizing the nursery and using the gift cards given to me during the shower to make final purchases for the nursery.
Looking forward to: Purchasing the final items for the nursery, washing and folding up clothes and organizing the rest of the house to prepare for baby. Finding out my official csection date and telling the world lol Successfully transitioning my duties at work so that I'm able to take off the duration of the year and return in 2015.
Keep the Faith!
Until next time,
~E
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
BaBy Q Baby Shower Success!
My Barbecue BaBy Q themed baby shower was a success this past Saturday. Here are some highlights via pictures.
It was such a great event planned by my mom and sister and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves despite the rain and overcast weather.
Maxwell was truly blessed by all the gifts received and I can't wait for him to use every piece of clothing, diaper and wipe, and toy that was gifted to him during this shower.
The countdown begins until his arrival!
Keep the Faith!
Until next time,
~E
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