*Kori's First Week*

    So, due to the fact that Kori was born a little early at 37 weeks, her bilirubin level was too high for her to be able to go home. So they put her under the bili lights for jaundice for a night. That night was awful. She did NOT like the mask, at all. Daryl felt as helpless as I did. But, we had a great nurse who offered to take her into the nursery for a few hours and let us get a little sleep. The next morning, her levels were ok so they sent us home!!

We left and picked up Camryn from daycare and headed home as a family!! All was ok during the day, but that night was awful. I think Camryn was afraid we were going to leave her again, so she insisted on sleeping with us. I was trying to adjust to nursing, and having a newborn, and Daryl was exhausted. But, we just trucked on and got up and took Cam to daycare, then took Kori to her follow up appt. Well, she had lost even more weight than when leaving the hospital (8lbs even), and her color was still jaundiced. So, the doctor gave me some breastfeeding pointers and sent us to have her bili level drawn again. Afterwards, we grabbed lunch and headed home.

At about 1:15, I got a phone call from our pediatrician saying that her level was 14.5, and we had to be admitted to the hospital here in Farmville, where I work, overnight, for more phototherapy. I just sat there and cried for about 30 mins. Then, I got myself together and we headed over to the hospital. The night went well, and I pumped and we supplemented formula for the night. Kori did better under the lights, probably because her little tummy was so full from the formula! And the next morning, her weight was up to 8lb1oz and her level was 12.8. Dr. Dionisio let us go home and follow up the next day. That night at home was much better, and at her doc appt, Kori was up to 8lbs3oz!! Pleased, the doctor let us go home and we are to follow up next week. <3

The weekend and following days went so much better. Daryl and I are careful to spend time with Camryn and help her feel included. She loves her little sister so much, and it makes me smile :) She is sleeping in her own bed, but still wants us to lay with her while she falls asleep. That's nothing new, and I am not taking that away from her. Kori is adjusting well and is learning the breastfeeding thing more and more each day!! I think we are settling in well. I couldn't be happier. I am so in love. <3

**All of this would have never been possible without the love of my life, Daryl. I love him so much more every day, and am so happy and excited to keep doing life everyday with him.**

**KORI ELIZABETH**

Introducing our sweet, sweet baby girl...

*Kori Elizabeth Prewitt*

Born 08/22/15 @ 9:48 pm

9lbs

20" long

So, here is the detailed, yet abbreviated version of my birth story with Kori.

Friday morning, we woke up at the hotel and got ready, then called to see if they had a bed ready for me. I was told to wait for a phone call that I should receive around 8am, so we then walked across the hall and dropped off Camryn with Daryl's parents. Cam got a little teary eyed, and it made me cry again. But, she was ok within ten mins. Daryl and I went to Panera for breakfast, and then as we were leaving, I received a phone call informing me that I can come on in!! So, we headed over to VBH <3

Once I arrived at 0845, I changed into a gown and got into bed. They started an IV and we were on our way!! 

The doctor (Dr. Robertson, same one who delivered Camryn) came in and checked me around 11:30 and I was 2.5cm, 80% effaced, head high. So, we started Pitocin at noon to get things going. The nurse was a little frustrated because she had a difficult time finding Kori's heartbeat, due to the polyhydramnios.  My hips were hurting, and I was becoming emotional. If it weren't for my amazing husband, I don't know what I would do.

At 7pm, the doctor came back in and checked me and there was NO PROGRESS... And when he checked me, her head was so high, and it hurt SO BAD. I begged him to stop, He then suggested that I go ahead and get an epidural if I was planning on it anyway to help with pain and he would try to break my water. So, I did, And I cried. ALOT. I missed my Camryn and she was asking Daryl's parents where her mommy and daddy were... I felt so guilty. On top of that, I wasn't progressing, At all. But, we got the epidural from a wonderful anesthesiologist and they gave me Zofran to help with nausea. I started feeling better and the doctor attempted to break my water... attempted. I'll talk more about that later. 

So, I slept some. Daryl slept some. I woke up at 0140 and could feel my legs again. The nurse came in and showed me how to bolus myself with medicine and it helped. The night was sort of a blur, though.

At about 0830, a new doctor came in and checked me and decided that I had not progressed at all still... and my water WAS NOT broken. Nice. He gave us a few options, and the best and safest one was to stop the epidural, because it was relaxing me too much and I wasn't contracting well (that and the amount of fluid was making it hard for my uterus to contract), and to stop Pitocin/start Cytotec. Cytotec is a vaginal suppository that helps ripen the cervix and thin it out. So we did, and then we slept a little more. I recieved two doses of that, about 4hrs apart.

Side note: I had to use the bedpan when I needed to pee. Eww. And Daryl helped. Talk about an AMAZING HUSBAND?!?!?

Then at 1 pm, things heated up. Doc came in and checked me and I was at 4cm and her head was much lower. When he checked me, he went WAY UP THERE, and I about flew off of the bed. I was crying so hard, as was Daryl. I begged the doctor to stop. He said, "I can feel your water and her head... do you want me to break your water?" And I yelled "Do what you need to... but please hurry!" So he did... and it was a gush of fluid... that never ended haha. Sooooo much fluid! We then started back with the Pitocin. Then, when I started to hurt again around 5pm, I started back up with epidural!!

6:30 pm they inserted an internal monitor and it picked up well. They straight catheterized me and got back 1100cc urine, then checked me and I was 5cm dilated. They said my full bladder was sort of blocking some progress. So, my numb self was then rolled over and the nurse put a 'peanut ball pillow' under my leg and it helped me progress some. So weird, though! HaHa

My parents arrived at 8pm to say hello and try to wait it out some, They left the room at 9:30 when I started to feel some pressure. The nurse checked me and I was complete! WooHoo!! She called the doc and they were both in a C-Section!? I told her that I hoped she could catch a baby because I was pushing! And then 12 minutes of pushing later, I delivered my beautiful 9lb baby girl!!

When Kori came out, she was slightly blue and kept having apneic spells. The nurses didn't even let me have skin to skin time because they had to suction her out, Her apgars were 6 & 8. They let me hold her for two mins then took her to the NICU. Her glucoses were borderline, but she stabilized out!

I had one small tear... MUCH better than last time. I bled alot, and the doc had to give me Cytotec to stop it. The nurses had to massage my belly alot to firm up my fundus, and then I was ready to head to mother/baby. But first... we stopped by the NICU to see our baby <3 DARYL was so wonderful the whole time. I couldn't imagine doing any of this without him.

When we got to the NICU, I just held my baby and cried. She was so beautiful and all ours. Looking so much like her big sister. Head full of hair. Beautiful, baby girl. <3

When I got to my room, I was told that the doctor ordered an IV of Pitocin to be hung on me through the night because of my bleeding, Well, the nurse 'accidentally' left the IV wide open, so I had a ten minute contraction. I was in so much pain, that the night nurse suggested (after she fixed the dosage) that I take a Percocet and get some sleep. I agreed.. but only after seeing my baby first!!.. So after I nursed her and we held her for a while, they took her to the nursery for more monitoring and I slept some. <3

The next day, Daryl's parents brought Camryn up to the hospital to meet her baby sister. Talk about your heart overflowing!! Oh my gosh, she was so in love. Our little family is complete <3

*37 weeks*

Ok you guys, so we are at week 37... FULL TERM!!

So this is my last pregnancy pic (EVER) showing my belly size!

This past week went by really fast. Friday, I went over to my parent's house and hung out all day with mom and Lauren and the kids got to play. It was nice and relaxing, and then I headed home for dinner with Daryl and Cam. 

Saturday morning, we headed back over to their house for a small cookout with closest friends. We got there early, and I just felt so completely wiped out that I napped for about 2-3 hours before everyone showed up. It was a nice evening, and there were four pregnant gals there! Myself, Lauren, Pam, and Barbara. :)

Sunday morning, I got up and ate breakfast and took a nap, while Daryl and Cam went outside and played. He powerwashed the house (it looks soooo much better!) and Cam just played and watched Daddy :) These moments are so sweet, and the reality that she won't be an only child anymore is starting to set in. I cry alot, just watch her alot. She seems so excited about her sister, and I can only hope it stays that way. I love my Cam so much, and I know she will be a wonderful big sister for Kori. Kori is so lucky <3

So Monday we were back to the doctor's. My BP was high again... 164/100, and it didn't go down this time. So, yet again, we got sent to the hospital to be monitored. We really thought we would be staying and having a baby that night, but they sent us home later on that evening. They really want to get me to full term, and I was ok with that. We picked up Cam from mom and dad's and visited with Lauren and Adam for a little while. Adam came to visit for a few days, so it was nice for Daryl and him to catch up. 

Tuesday and Wednesday I rested alot... Did a few things for myself, though, including a pedicure and a hair cut/color, to hold me over for a few weeks! It was nice and relaxing, but I got tired really fast. Then Thursday came. I finished preparing a few things, packing last minute things, and was ready. We headed to Lynchburg for the night to stay at The Hilton (thanks to Daryl's sweet parents), to make it easier for the next morning. On the way, I was having some contractions. Nothing really regular, but they were real! Wow. We went to dinner, just Daryl, Cam, and me, at Friday's, and it was nice and sweet. I kept getting super emotional, just about Camryn and how she was going to feel sharing mommy and daddy. But, I just kept pushing on. Kori was coming, whether I was ready or not! That night laying in bed with Cam and my husband beside me, she said, "Mommy, Daddy, I want to go home." That was it. I lost it... I cried so hard. I felt like she knew things were changing. I know it was for the good, obviously, but she was no longer going to be my only baby. Just kind of hit me. Sheesh, talk about emotional!

Then, with the little sleep that I got that night, the next day arrived!!!

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**How far along? 37 weeks

**Total weight gain/loss: +47 lbs total. Sheesh!! I had gained +48 with Camryn, so I guess that is just my body :)

**How Big is Baby?: 8lbs5oz right now, according to the BPP on Monday!!

**Maternity clothes? Yes... and they're too small. lol

**Stretch marks? Oh yeah... what's new?

**Sleep: Almost non-existent. Wahhh!!!

**Best moment this week: Just spending lots of quality time with my husband and first born. I love my family so much. Kori is going to love it out here :)

**Movement: All the time... and they HURT!!

**Food cravings: Nothing really? Just COLD foods and drinks.

**Gender: Baby girl!!!!!!!

**Labor Signs: Am having some irregular contractions still.