Muncie 70.3 and pictures!

Muncie 70.3 race report

This was by far the most fun race I’ve ever done! Probably because of many factors: expectation-free because of 12 weeks post-baby and my first half-iron, Muncie is a great place to race, not far away from home, perfect weather, and MOST of all my sister came and did it with me!

So, I’ll put in too much detail for everyone to read but I want it so feel free to just skim the rest or go to the bottom with pictures and race results.

Scott was on a high-adventure all week and didn’t think he would be home till I had already left for the race on Friday. Well, I got a call Thursday from him saying he would be home Friday morning! I was SO happy! Emi didn’t sleep well for me the last couple days and I was ready for more than 4 hours of sleep in a night. I guess I was so happy that night that I didn’t sleep either (3 hours broken up in 3 segments). Emi on the other hand slept AWESOME! 11 weeks old and she ate at 8, down at 9pm and slept till 8am! AMAZING, just wish I could capitalize on it!

Well, Scott came home and I took a nap and then left so we really didn’t get to see each other for more than a few minutesL. I picked my sister up from the Indianapolis airport and we drove to the race check-in/expo. In the bathroom of the expo I discovered that my battery pack for my pump didn’t work! So, I found a secluded place with a pump and did my business. Oh the trials of a mom! J

Packet pickup was quick and we stayed and talked to some vendors. Shameless plug… there was one vendor that was a new goo-type product. They espouse that their product will not cause stomach problems. I tried both kinds and it was DELICIOUS! I plan on buying some online and trying it on my longer days. I have never been able to take goos. I talked to them for a while since the guys there were the owners. The one who started it was a collegiate runner and then joined the military. He said he used to mix chia seeds and water in Afghanistan and it got him through so he then developed this 100% natural goo when he got home. I also ate a whole bunch of bonk breaker taste tests because they are AMAZING! My sis says that I should write them in the fall to try to get them to give me free product, we’ll see how that goes, better get faster!

We went to the course to do a little shake out bike ride. I had already run a little that morning and just wanted to do 15 minutes on the bike. We both had to go to the bike mechanic people. My bike seriously rides SO much better because of them. It was a huge difference! I guess that’s what happens when you haven’t lubed your bike for a year!

We stayed 25 minutes away since all the hotels were taken when I started to look. I had made some brown rice pasta, sauce, and chicken for us to have for dinner. We went to Wal-Mart and picked up some water bottles to be able to throw on the ride.

I must have pre-race insomnia because I got about 4 hours that night too. I woke up at 12 and just couldn’t go back to sleep till much later. Well, we woke up and ate (pamela’s pancakes, banana, peanut butter) and went to the course. We somehow got to park RIGHT next to transition, SO blessed! I was a little worried about how this whole pumping situation would work out. I posted on the Facebook page to ask if there was a place I would be able to have a plug to pump. Someone with a house across the street said I could pump there.

After setting up transition I went to their house to pump, found the plug on the porch and couldn’t put my plug in because the plug had a plastic cover over that wouldn’t move out of the way enough! I was worried and started walking around their house to find a different plug. Their garage door was open and so I went and pumped in their garage. The wife came out as I had a couple more minutes left and I explained my self. Thankfully her husband had told her about me! She was very kind and let me finish up even though she wanted to go down to the start. I left my bag right out side her house and went over to the start. By this time it was after 7 as I headed to the start. My wave was second to go in the water. Meredith was going to do my hair but we just didn’t feel like we had time.

We were on the outside corner and I was going to try to stick on her feet for a few minutes, after the start I think I saw her hit the water, maybe not even that. I never saw her feet. I got a little rallied in the water the whole way. I kept hitting a good stride and then would get pulled, hit, water in my face, etc. I couldn’t see much because my goggles kept fogging and the sun was in the way too. I stopped something like 5 times to clear my goggles. I didn’t do that last year and was very glad I did this year. I also kicked harder at the end right before getting out, which gets blood to your legs so you don’t feel as unsteady getting out of the water.

I was able to get out at 38:05 which was great for being in the pool a total of 10 times before the race. My transitions are always slow. My sister asked me “what do you DO in transition?” At least the transition was faster than last year (not by much though). I was off on my bike. I was cruising averaging above 22 when I looked at it and thought “uhoh.” I’ve only been training on my trainer and went on one ride outside before the race. That one ride was only 2 hours and was in the POORING rain. So, I couldn’t even tell how fast I would be able to go on that ride. I scared myself and slowed it down a little. In hind site I shouldn’t have, but I guess that’s what race experience is for. My sister and I didn’t go to the athlete meeting so we were both surprised that there was a 3/4mile no pass zone. After that zone I saw Scott and Emi!!! It was just what I needed there and I even teared up a little seeing them. I didn’t have any idea when I would because Scott was planning on being up there for the start but hadn’t gotten much sleep and slept through 4 alarms on his phone. He left the house a little before the race started. Well, a little after I saw them my attitude went down the drain. The road condition was AWEFUL! Last year we didn’t have to go on this part of the road. I couldn’t wait for the turnaround! I also was so excited to be able to see Scott and Emi. It kept me going knowing that I would be able to see them again at the end of the awful road!

Oh I forgot, a little over an hour into the bike I was calculating my nutrition. I was planning on taking around 200cals/hour. I was STARVING after a little over an hour and couldn’t figure out why this nutrition plan wasn’t working for me. I then realized, I’m a nursing mom! Of course I need more nutrition than normal! So, I was craving bars not just goos and chews and liquid. I was a little worried because solid food can make your stomach a little upset. I ended up doing about 400cal/hour! I then did about 150/hour on the run.

My goal for the bike was to not let any women pass me and I had 2 pass me. They weren’t in my age group though! I kept going back and forth with this 20-year-old guy.

I got off the bike for T2 and my legs felt so so weird! I’ve done several bricks (bike then run) and I never have felt that weird coming off the bike. T2 was slow, like always. I changed my jersey into one I made that said 12 weeks postpartum. Also went to the porta-potty. My goal for the run was to not let anyone, guy or girl, pass me. The first mile you always have to tell yourself to go slower because you think that. My first mile was 6:37, 7:05, 6:50, 6:50, 6:52, 6:49, 6:49. 7:05, 7:01, 6:59, 7:11, 7:09, 7:13 (1.1). At about 10 miles to go on the bike I started realizing that I had the possibility to go under 5 hours. I kept calculating out what I was going to have to run to be able to break 5 hours.

I actually felt really, really good the whole run and thought to pick it up, but didn’t want to crash and burn. One guy barely passed me around 4 miles and I went with him, just behind him. I didn’t want to let him go but he slowly drifted from me. I kept him in my eye site the whole race. He probably finished 20-30 seconds in front of me. I felt good until the last two miles. I think I got a little heat exhaustion. I also never feel anything that hurts usually but my foot hurt the last couple miles. With two miles I was sure that I could make it under 5 hours! I got to see Scott and Emi one more time at the finish line! When I saw the race clock I kind of freaked out because I thought I had 5 seconds to cross the finish line to break 5. I sprinted it in the last couple feet and came in when the seconds said 59. I was confused because I thought our wave went off at 7:17 but it went off at 7:19 so I did break 5! 4:58.59! My first half ironman!

Right after, I went to try to find Scott and Emi and got to hang out with them and we went to go pump. We found Meredith as well and we had a little freak-out-hug-party.

I was an awesome, fun, amazing experience! Thanks to all who helped support me and cheer me on! Thanks for the text messages from everyone! I’m so blessed to have people who love me so much! Thanks to my husband for coming and brining our little one to cheer. It helped me so much and I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish my goals if they hadn’t come! I know it took a lot of time and effort on his part to make that happen! Thanks to my sister and BGFF. I hope that someday this will become a more common occurrence and we will be able to live closer together to be able to train, race, cook/bake, and hang out together! I wouldn’t have been able to break 5 hours without her here and seeing her on the course cheering me on! She always knew I could break 5 hours even though I said no way! That’s what family is for right, believing more in the person than they do themselves. The only thing I wish was different this weekend is that it was longer, lots, lots, longer…

Edit: I had to add that my sister did AMAZING too! She didn't taper at all for the race and used the day as an awesome training day. She didn't wear a wet suit and still had the fastest swim time in our division and also had the fastest bike in our division! I can;t wait to see her bust it out in Louisville and do amazing in Kona and Arizona!

And for the photo bomb!

I'm two months old!

This is what I like to do while mommy works out!

Bath time is the happiest time of the day!

 Guess who did this picture:)

Got my haircut for my race!

 This picture is a complete joke!

 Meredith and I and our awards after Muncie 70.3!

Two days before race day!

So, I’m not too good at this blogging thing! In terms of workouts, they are going pretty well. My crazy long workout before the race was a week or two ago. It was a 3 hour bike and 1 hour run. The bike was great, it’s hard to tell since I’m on a trainer and don’t have my speed computer hooked up. My run was amazing though! I got back and thought “I really don’t want to calculate what my pace was.” I did it any way since my sis told me to… 6:45ish pace!!! WHAAA??? That was my reaction anyway! So, that workout went really well, or I went real slow on my bike.

I ran 13-14 miles a couple times and went around 7:10 pace so I was happy about that too. All my other runs have been between 7-7:30 pace. I don’t feel fully back running wise but I’m getting there!

I started swimming! I joined the Y for cheap during the summer and they have a 50m outdoor pool. Deanna (a friend from church) started coming with me so I even have someone to push me, which I really need with swimming. My 3^rd or 4^th time swimming I decided to swim a straight mile and time it… DISASTOR! It took me 32 minutes! I was so down after that! Ac ouple times later I did a timed 1,000m and did it in 17:10! (much faster pace). So, I’m not expecting much out of the swim, but I’ll finish it and won’t be last. I’m hoping to do the 1.2 miles around 38-40 minutes.

I’ve been inside on my trainer since I got prego so it’s been 11 months! This last weekend I told Scott I needed to go outside a least once before the race. So, we planned for Saturday. Well, anyone in Cincy knows that we had a CRAZY rainstorm and had flash flood warnings! I was undeterred since this was my ONLY chance to go outside! I was soaked the minute I got out of the car and I really am not exaggerating! You know you haven’t been outside in too long when you are 5 minutes out and realize that you don’t have a helmet on! I turned around and got it! Grateful I didn’t crash at all especially while I didn’t have a helmet on!

So here’s a list of what I’ve done as workouts to prepare for Muncie. Just two days away! I can’t sleep so why not blog right?

week of the 9^{th 13 hours}

cMonday- 30 minute run, 1 hour ride

cTuesday- 30 minute ride, 30 minute  ride

Wednesday- 1:30 run, 1:30 hour ride

Thursday- 2 hour 10 minute ride

Friday- 1 hour run, 1.5 hour ride, 1 hour ride

cSaturday- 30 minute run, 1 hour ride

week of the 16^{th  14 hours}

Monday- 1 hour 40 minute run, 1 hour bike

Tuesday- 1:30 bike, 30 minute swim

Wednesday- 30 minute run , 1:10 hour bike, 30 minute swim

Thursday- 3 hour ride, 1 hour run

Friday- 1:05 bike,

Saturday- 1 hour bike, 45 minute run, 30 minute swim

week of the 23^rd 12 hours

Monday- 1:40 run, 30 minute bike

Tuesday- 1:30 bike, 30 minute swim

Wednesday- 1 hour run, 1 hour bike

Thursday-1:15 bike, 45 minute swim

Friday- 30 minute run, 1 hour swim

Saturday- 2:30 ride, 1 hour run

week of the 30^{th 7-8 hours}

Monday- 10 mile run, 30 minute swim

Tuesday- 1:30 ride

Wednesday- warm up then 1,000 fast (17:10 minutes)swim, 30-40 minute run Thursday- 1.5 hour ride

Friday- 20 minute run, 1 hour swim

Saturday- 1:45 ride, 45 minute swim

week of the 7^th (race week!) 4.5 hours?

Monday- 30 minute run, 40 minute swim

Tuesday- 45 minute bike

Wednesday- 42 minute run, 30 minute swim

Thursday- 1 hour bike

Friday- 15, 15 ,15- don’t fret if I can’t get it all in

Saturday- RACE DAY! 

I still haven't decided on a race day time goal, I started training for this thinking I wouldn't have one at all, but really, how fun is that right? I'm still trying to workout how I'm going to pump right before and right after the race. I was thinking of pumping during T2 as well, but I don't think I'll want to take the time to do that. 

And now for the photo bomb! I need to load my picture onto our computer because I have all the recent ones since Scott's phone became too full of picture to take more and he couldn't decide which ones to delete. 

Weeks 3-6!

I can't believe that she is already 6 weeks old! 1 1/2 months ago she came to us! Well, since I have't posted what I did in those last few weeks here goes:

Week of the 5th

Wednesday- 2 mile run/walk

Thursday- 40 minute ride

Friday- 30 minute run

Saturday- 45 minute ride

Week of the 12^{th 5 hours}

Monday- 30 minute run

Tuesday- 1 hour run

Wednesday- 40 minute run

Thursday- 45 minute ride

Friday- 45 minute run

Saturday- 1 hour ride

Week of the 19^{th  8.25 hourrs}

Monday- 50 minute run, 30 minute ride

Tuesday- 45 minute ride

Wednesday- 45 minute run, 45 minute ride

Thursday- 1.5 hour ride

Friday- 30 minute run, 45 minute ride

Saturday- 2 hour ride

Week of the 26^{th  10 hours}

Monday- 1:05 run, 1 hour ride

cTuesday- 30 minute ride, 40 minute ride

cWednesday- 1 hour ride, 20 minute run

Thursday- 1.5 hour ride, (feed baby), 1 hour ride

Friday- 1 hour run, 1 hour ride

cSaturday- 20 minute run, 30 minute bike

Week of the 2^{nd  12 hours}

Monday- 1:15 run, 1:20 ride

Tuesday- 1 hour ride, 1.5 hour ride

Wednesday- 60 minute run, 60 minute bike

cThursday-30 min bike morning, 40 minute night

cFriday- 35 minute run morning, 50 minute ride

Saturday- 2.5 hour ride, 30 minute run

Obviously I haven't done Saturday yet, but that is what I'm planning on at least. I've had my ups and downs in these last few weeks. On May 26th, when I did the 1:05 hour run I charted it out and realized that I was running just under 8:30 pace. That was heart breaking to me since I felt like I was running a lot faster. I started beating myself up about it until I realized I only had been running a couple of weeks! This week was much better. I was able to do my long run at 7:30 pace and all my other runs between 7-7:30 pace. I was so exited to chart my run on Wednesday and realize that I did 7 minute pace! I still don't feel fast out there, but I am just running a comfortable speed and HR. 

Only 5 more weeks till RACE DAY! I know I'll be ready after how things have gone this last week. I started thinking about time goals for the race, but I'm trying to put that out of my head since I will only be 12 weeks PP when I race.

I bought a plain white dry fit shirt a while ago and have been planning on making a shirt to wear race day. I can't decide what to write on it. I was originally thinking something like, "I gave birth 12 weeks ago, what's your excuse?" or "my baby's 12 weeks old!" I want to do something about her, but I don't want it to be offensive. 

Any suggestions?

And now the only reason people come to a blog....

 This was during a photo shoot we did with her. There's a long story behind her and stitch. Her nursery is actually stitch themed as well.

 This is one of Scott's favorites.

 And of course daddy is always the funny one!

 I'm a sloth!

 Morning workout with mommy.

 This was the first onesie she ever owned. Scott got it for me for christmas and made me cry.

 Bath at home.

 Her little boxer bathrobe.

I love this little outift!

 Already 2 weeks!

 What are you guys looking at!

 I had clinicals on my B-day so Scott sent me this!

 Scott edited this picture for me for my birthday.

 Hanging out with mommy on the boppy!

 I conquered the video monitor robot!

Why am I naked!

 Aren't I cute!

 This was after her baby blessing. That dress is the same one my grandfather, dad, and I were blessed in. Really cool history AND a beautiful dress made by my great-grandmother. It had beautiful detailing.

 The little booties were made by my mother-in-law and were also adorable!

 She has a hawaiian themed nursery. I will have to post more pictures of it when we take them.

 So Happy!

 Sock monkey that my mother-in-law made all the grandkids! She loved it. It was SO cute!

I need to post a picture of this whole outfit, but one of my friends gave it to me. It is hands down my favorite outfit she has right now! The blanket has her name on it too. Thanks again, you know who you are (wants to remain anonymous)

Week 1 of postpartum workouts!

I'm more than 2 weeks postpartum so, yes, I have gone on a couple runs and bike rides now. At two weeks (Wednesday) I did a run 3 minutes walk 2 minutes for 2 miles. 

Thursday: I felt too good to just do 30 minutes on the bike so I did 40. 

Friday: 3 mile run (1 mile run, 1 minute walk)

Saturday: 45 minute ride

Monday: 3.5 miles no walking at 8:15 pace. Felt great but out of shape!

Tuesday: 1 hour on the bike!

It's been amazing to be a mom. It's just so amazing how much she just makes me happy. I didn't think I would be that stereotypical mom who thinks everything her baby does is adorable, but I do. 

It's hard to fit workouts in between feedings, but I do it. I've had to go at 5am to get a run in and I'm sure it's not my last early early morning run I'll do and I know I'll have some late night rides on my bike to be able to fit in a ride longer than 1.5 hours. 

I'm excited though, because even though I'm not fully healed and have a couple of annoying things especially prohibiting me from working out like I want to, I feel as though I will be able to be in good enough shape to do my half ironman. 

Birth of Emilyn Jane McCauley

The story really starts on Wednesday 4/17 when we had last OB appointment. I was still 50% effaced and not dilated at all (same as the appointment a week prior and the one to that as well). I hadn’t had any really regular contractions the whole time. I had a final to take for my Complex care of adults class (7 credit hours). I had previously asked my professor if I could take it early on Friday if I was showing signs of labor. Well, I didn’t think I was showing any signs of labor so I said I’ll just take it Tuesday with everyone else. Well, I started having inconsistent contractions on Friday and Saturday. Then Sunday I had regular contractions 3-5 minutes apart that were about 30 seconds long. I was VERY worried the baby was going to come Sunday or Monday but definitely by Tuesday. I called my professor and worked out that I would come in on Monday at 11:00 to take the exam. Scott and I said a prayer that my contractions would stop so I could focus on the test and do well enough to get an A in the class. I only needed a 90 but was concerned because her final in the other class from her was ridiculously hard.

My contractions stopped and I was able to take the final with out contractions and while I felt good and was very confident about it. Scott jokes that she was helping me.

Tuesday I wanted to go on what I knew my last run would be. I went to the gym on campus and ran/walked 6 miles it was about at 10 minute pace even with the walking. I was having contractions every 3-5 minutes for 40-60 seconds. I was able to get in a full mile at the end of the run without walking. Then I biked for about 30 minutes.

I had to go talk to some professors at school so I walked over and talked to them. I could still walk through contractions although they weren’t the most comfortable to walk through. I probably looked like I was injured or something. After talking to some of them through my contractions I decided that these contractions weren’t going away. The standard is to call the doc and go in if the contractions are 5 minutes apart and 1 minute long. Well these were definitely 3-5 minutes apart and 40 seconds to 75 seconds long.

I called the doctor and the nurse said to go in. I said I’m not in that much pain though. She said still to go in and get checked. Scott came and got me around 1:00pm and we obviously stopped by yogurt VI for some frozen yogurt. The nurses knew that I wasn’t going to be that far along when I came in because I was smilling. They checked me and I was at a finger tip and 50% effaced. They had us walk the floor for an hour and checked me again and I was at 60% and maybe a little more than a finger tip. My OB that I wanted to deliver her was on call that night and said that she could admit us, but that since we wanted to go natural we might just want to go home and then come back in when contractions were worse.

I had told everyone that I wanted to deliver on Friday because I loved the on call doc for that day. It was Dr. Sutler and she is a big advocate for natural deliveries. She gave me a pep talk when we went into see her during the pregnancy. We actually only saw her once during the pregnancy but it was my favorite appointment.

Well I thought that she would be delivering my baby cause I knew I was going to have the baby in the night. So we went home so I could labor at home in the comfort of my own home. I wanted chipotle that night to get some food in me since I hadn’t eaten much that day. I think total calories I had on Tuesday were something close to 1400-1500 and that was the day I worked out. Then from Tuesday at 8:00pm till around 1:00 on Wednesday I didn’t have anything. I was so so so hypoglycemic at the end of it. I was shaking uncontrollably.

I had told everyone that I wanted to deliver on Friday because I loved the on call doc for that day. It was Dr. Sutler and she is a big advocate for natural deliveries. She gave me a pep talk when we went into see her during the pregnancy. We actually only saw her once during the pregnancy but it was my favorite appointment.

Well I thought that she would be delivering my baby cause I knew I was going to have the baby in the night. So we went home so I could labor at home in the comfort of my own home. I wanted chipotle that night to get some food in me since I hadn’t eaten much that day. I think total calories I had on Tuesday were something close to 1400-1500 and that was the day I worked out. Then from Tuesday at 8:00pm till around 1:00 on Wednesday I didn’t have anything. I was so so so hypoglycemic at the end of it. I was shaking uncontrollably.

Well, Scott went to chipotle and I walked to 5-guys to get some fries for us to eat as well. I was still able to walk through the contractions, but they were getting a little more difficult to walk through. We went home and I laid in the bath as we watched the end of the hobbit and ate chipotle. At the time I was going to have us stop the movie since it was a pretty suspenseful movie and I needed to be relaxing, but we wanted to take the movie back that night so we wouldn’t have to pay more. By the time it was over I really didn’t want Scott to leave and thought it was worth the extra 1.25 to have him with me through the entire labor.

I took a nice shower with Scott and then we went to labor in bed. Around 11:30pm I felt as though the contractions were getting pretty hard and they weren’t going away completely each time so I was a little worried about her getting adequate ox. I called and the doctor said I could come in but it wasn’t any rush to get in quickly. Scott encouraged me to keep laboring at home so I did. I took another bath and then labored in bed some more and might have drifted off to sleep a little in between contractions.

Around 2:30 am I said that it was time to go in. Contractions were getting harder and my uterus really wasn’t relaxing in between so I was worried about her tracing. The ride to the hospital was down Harrison Avenue, which is getting construction done on it, and is incredibly rough especially when you are going through labor. I said a quick prayer to myself that I wouldn’t have a contraction during that stretch of the road because I knew it would hurt. Fortunately, just as we pulled off the construction section I had a contraction, but not prior to that.

We were told we could go in through the ER, but I just wanted to park and walk in. I had a contraction right at the coffee shop in the hospital and had to stop. The two workers asked us if we needed someone to come get us or a wheelchair. I said to them in the middle of the contraction, “don’t mind me I’m just in labor, I’m fine!” The next contraction hit right when we were supposed to be getting out of the elevator. I couldn’t walk out and we tried to hold the door, but it closed on us and we had to ride it a little longer.

In triage they checked me and said I was at a 5 with a very bulging bag of water. They were surprised that it hadn’t broken yet. This check was probably the most painful check I’ve ever had. The woman who did it was merciless and was in me for minutes feeling around. She asked if I had ever had a LEAP or another surgery on my cervix. I haven’t ever had any type of gynecological problems so I was confused why they were asking. Like I expected the tracing for the baby was minimal and they were slightly worried. They wanted to pump me with fluids but I really didn’t even want an IV. I refused the IV and said I could just drink water and ice chips. I also wanted to get into their whirlpool, but with the tracing they weren’t going to let me.

When we got back to the room, I let them do the IV as a precaution. The nurse that I was handed off to said that she felt ok letting me in the tub but they were emptying and cleaning it so I would have to wait 20-30 more minutes.

They admitted me and my doctor came in and checked me again just minutes later. She asked me the same question about my cervix and I asked why they were wondering. Apparently I was 100% effaced except for one little area of my cervix that was holding everything back from dropping down and rupturing. She knew I was planning on going 100% natural and was very respectful of that. In our last visit she gave me a pep talk about the labor and that I could do it etc.

She said she was very surprised that my bag hadn’t ruptured and expected it to happen any time. She told the nurse to call her when it happened and she went to fall back asleep upstairs in the hospital because she knew after I broke I would go fast. She did mention that we might think about breaking your water because she didn’t know if it would on it’s own.

I went to the tub, which relieved much of the pain of the contractions. After about 30 minutes of laboring in the tub the nurse came in and asked me to get connected to the telli monitors. I stayed in the tub for 45 ish minutes more while I let Scott take a little cat nap in the rocking chair in the room. (Later he felt so guilty that he was asleep while I was in labor, but I knew that I needed him to be on his game later that morning and wanted him to sleep while I was doing fine with contractions.)

I then labored in bed, and standing by the side of the bed leaning over it, I tried to walk the halls a little, and the nurse brought in the birthing ball for me. At around 7:00 am they had shift change and I had two nurses with me because one was leaving in the afternoon. They asked me if I wanted to get checked and I said yes because I wanted to hear that I had at least made SOME progress. She checked me and told me I was still at a 5! I was heart broken, Scott told me later he was heart broken for me. I had been laboring and STILL at a 5! I was surprised they didn’t jump to say we need pitocin! They did mention breaking my water, but the OB was off the floor and the next one was coming in at 9:00. They couldn’t get ahold of the resident either. Just my luck! I decided that I did need my water broken to progress this labor since I had been the same the whole time.

They offered to get me in the tub again around 8:00am so I took them up on it. I went to the bathroom and had another contraction while the nurse was in my room. She ran over while she heard me and said “are you having the urge to push?” Apparently I sounded like it. I said well, my uterus feels like it is pushing without me wanting it to. It has been happening the last 4-5 hours during 80% of the contractions. I was in A TON of pain during those pushing contractions since I was trying to breath through them. I just didn’t know that that was what it was supposed to feel like and the night nurse didn’t say anything about them.

The nurse said let me check you before you go in the tub. I was at a 7ish and my cervix was still in the way and my bag of waters was still bulging. I felt like the nurse might have been exaggerating on that 7cm to make me feel better about the progress. She said she would keep calling to have someone come in and break my water but until then I could go in the tub only for 30 minutes. This time the tub wasn’t as much relief as the times at home and the last time in the hospital. I had those pushing contractions every contraction in the tub. Looking back on all this I’m surprised they weren’t more concerned since  I could have ruptured my cervix by pushing when not 100%.

The nurse said she would be right outside the room if I needed anything. After 30 minutes I asked Scott to poke his head out and ask if they had gotten a hold of anyone. She said the doc would be there around 9 since he had a meeting in the hospital till then. It was close to 9 so I decided to get out. By the time I was out I saw the doc down the hallway. He yelled up the hallway having fun yet? I think I gave him a pretty dirty look and I heard Scott give a fake giggle. By the time I was in bed he was there with everything to break my water.

He got set up and was very gentile with me the whole time (thank goodness!). He told me that the contractions would probably get more intense and closer together. When I was in the tub the contractions had spaced themselves out to 3-5 minutes but they were any where from 90-150seconds long. I really didn’t have a textbook progression of my labor, but I guess the body doesn’t read the text book! Well he exited the room fairly quickly.

Not more than 2 minutes after he left I had another contraction that I felt like I had to push. I felt something drop down and the nurse checked me really quick. She didn’t even have to stick her fingers in me really to feel the head. She got extremely wide eyes and started calling for help. She told me to breath through my contractions because we needed the doc there. I heard bits and pieces of what was going on, but I was in the zone now. I knew that my baby would be here soon!

She said that she couldn’t get a hold of the doctor and I heard someone else say maybe he’s in the elevator try the resident. I heard/saw another guy come into the room who was the resident and I heard someone say that he was going to have to deliver. Scott told me later that he tried to introduce himself to me in the middle of a contraction! Then he said “nevermind.” Well they still had me breathing through contractions and finally got the OB in. They got my left leg in the stirrups but I just didn’t think I could put the right one. When they said now you need to put it here all I could say was, “no I can’t.” The nurses looked at the OB to ask if that was ok, he said it was fine. I really don’t think I could have laid any other way. Well the first couple contractions I wasn’t thinking and I continued to breathe through them. Then the nurse said you need to push and work with the contractions and I remembered what I supposed to be doing. Scott and I practiced the position a couple days prior so he helped me a little. I think he was more focused with the baby’s head coming out then me. The nurse was calming me and helped coach me a little. After a couple of actual active pushing contractions her head was out. They told me to look down and I saw her little head and then body come out. They put her right on my belly/chest and clamped the cord.

Now for the photo bomb! 

 This is right after delivery she's literally just minutes old!

 Right after delivery as well.

 We had to give her a bottle with pumped breast milk because of her jaundice and weight. She's off it now though! Yay!

 Going home from the hospital!

 First doctor's appointment. Her temp was very low so we had to bundle and they told us to stick her in our coat.

 Just cute

 Already one week has gone by!

After her first real bath since her umbilical cord fell off!

Catch up!

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I wrote in here!

Well I kept up my crazy workout routine till the end!

The week of the 8th I still was able to do a 10 mile run at 8:30 pace and feel like I could go so much faster. It was a great run! I did my 11 hours of biking as well. I thought about swimming a lot but I don't think I could have gotten into a swimsuit that I own. Not that I was huge, but just big enough that I wouldn't be able to squeeze in.

The week of the 15th I finally relented and only ran 9 miles instead of 10 :) This run was a little harder than my other ones. I don't know if it was because of pregnancy or because I was stressed with school winding down. I also was able to get in all of my biking this week as well. I started having contractions on Friday, but they weren't regular. Sunday they became regular and I started getting scaird.

The week of the 22nd. I woke up Monday and biked an 75 minutes because I wanted to be awake for my final that day. When I got home I actually bike another hour and called it good. I had bloody show Monday night and started having contractions every 3-5 minutes for 30-40 seconds. They didn't hurt at all though. I continued having contractions but I needed to go to school and talk to some professors so I went to the gym at school and ran/walked 6 miles since I was still having contractions. I knew it was the real thing because they didn't hurt as much as the braxton hix when I tried to run through them. I biked for 30 minutes and felt wiped out so I called it good.

I went to talk to the professors through contractions the whole time. They started getting closer and a little more intense so I called Scott!

I already wrote my birth story but I need to edit the secret parts out that I don't want everyone on the internet to be able to read and then I will post it.

I am now just resting and getting very restless and anxious to start back! I had her on the 24th so it's been 1 1/2 weeks. My OB said tat I could start run/walking at 2 weeks if I'm feeling good. I started going on short (1.5 mile) walks at 1 week. I had to step it back since I started being more swollen and sore.

I will probably post the birth story tomorrow. I know your on the edge of your seat for it!

Catch up on the past 3 weeks! Only a couple more to go!

So, I know I haven't written in a while and it's because that crazy clinical time I talked about. I don't remember how many hours it was in 8-9 days, but it was WAY TOO many. I was able to keep up with my same schedule though except for 30 minutes of biking the week of the 18th and one run. I though that was pretty good considering my crazyness with school. I didn't get much sleep, but what pregnant women really does?!? SCOTT came HOME! It was a happy happy day, that I actually was in clinicals as well. So, he got in at 3:30pm but I wasn't able to see him till 9:00pm that night :( I was funny to see him since I didn't really look too pregnant when he left, but when he got home I definitely looked like it.

The week of the 25th was also pretty crazy with clinical days/times, but again I was able to get in all my workout time except for 2 runs (so I only did my 10miler and then a 4 miler later that week). I only had gotten 3 hours of sleep before my 10 miler so I slowed it way down to 8:30 pace. Urg, I feel so slow when I go that slow! My HR was so low, but I was just exhausted from not getting sleep and I actually had had regular contractions on Sunday because my body was so exhausted from no sleep. I wanted to play it safe! I had some night shifts mixed in with day shifts and too many shifts back to back. At least I'm DONE with clinicals till the baby is born!

That was a quick update, but I know you really don't care too much about all the little details anyway! Well, this week I was finally able to get back into my normal routine! Monday I did my 10 miler again (37 week prego!) I actually got sleep the night before so I did 8:15 pace on the treadmill. Then I did my hour ride Monday night.
Tuesday: 1.5 hours on the bike in the morning
               1 hour at night
Wednesday: 2 hours on the bike
Thursday: 1 hour on the bike 4 mile run
Friday: 2 hour bike (skipped the run)
Saturday: 3.5 hour bike, then 2 mile run
So I got everything in except one run. I wanted to do a 3 miler on Friday, but I was too tired and hungary and I'm prego so I have every right to skip a workout here or there!
I had an ultrasound on Thursday which showed that she's 6.5 pounds exactly in the 50%. She's so fun to see, we can't wait to see her in real life! They've been monitoring my growth since my belly is measuring small. I measured 30 weeks at 36 (smaller than I was at 34weeks). I know half of you are thinking, it's cause you're working out so much, but it actually wasn't. She has dropped A LOT the last couple weeks which made her measure much smaller than normal. She's all locked and loaded :) Hopefully she'll stay patient though since I have a final the day before my due date!

Scott painted the nursery this week and we packed our hospital bag. It's becoming more and more real as time goes! Tomorrow the car seat gets installed into the car. I will also attempt to do an 8 miler tomorrow (38 weeks)! We'll see if I can last that long, she's riding low on my bladder now.