Tuesday, July 28, 2009

IT'S DADDY'S TURN!!

Now it's my turn to write on the blog. The pregnancy flew by. From the day Angie told me we were pregnant at 1 or 2am in the morning after I just returned from yet another Ram's butt whooping, and I was so shocked because that was the last thing on my mind, but in about 2 seconds my whole life changed, so incredibly for the better. Then Ang decided she needed to take 5 pregnancy tests just to make sure she really was pregnant. On top of that the doctor told us we were pregnant, but she still had a hard time believing it. We had another pregnancy test she never used, honestly to my surprise. I think it finally set in that she was pregnant during the first 4 months of the pregnancy because she had morning sickness, all day long every day. Then came what I call the work out phase of the pregnancy. Angie worked out like a mad woman, in fact she scared the people at gold's gym, they told her to quit climbing all those mountains on the stair climber, before she gives birth to our child right there at Gold's. This was from about month 5 to about month 8 of the pregnancy. Angie didn't look like she was pregnant for a long time, then about week 24 I looked at her one day and I said, "Wow Ang, you look really pregnant." She had finally popped! After about 8 months the babies head had turned so Ang had a ton of pressure between her hips. It was like this for about the last month. Dr. Puckett told her she couldn't work out anymore. He even threatened her with bed rest. I think that was what finally got her to quit working out, was the thought of bed rest. It became hard for her to even walk. Then about 2 weeks before the baby was born we stayed up for 6 hours with Ang having false labor pains until 4am. This lead to Ang being put on medication to keep her pregnant. After 2 weeks she quit taking it and well, you know the rest of the story.

Now let me give you my perspective. The day our baby was born was pretty calm until about 8:40 pm. As you know Ang had labor pain starting about 10 that morning. Well let me tell you everything picked up when they broke her water at 8:40. The contractions obviously went from being a 2 or 3 on a scale of 1-10 to about an 8, 9 or 10 on the pain scale. She was grabbing the bed, turning, grabbing my hand, borderline screaming her head off and I was about a foot from her the whole time. Did I mention she took no medication and gave birth the natural way, if I didn't, well let me tell you, there is no doubt in my mind that she did. The next hour there wasn't much I could do except stand and watch, helpless, as my wife said over and over I don't want to do this anymore. Then 10 pm rolled around. That was when she started to push. That was also when she decided she wanted an epidural, well this is the point during the labor process where you can no longer be given an epidural. This did not please Ang. Supposedly when you start to push it's supposed to help with the pain. Not so in our case, our baby had become turned inside her and was causing unbearable back pain every time she pushed. The next 2 hours was filled with blood curdling screaming, incredible pain, frustration and comments like "I WANT AN EPIDURAL!" Not to mention Dr. Puckett seemed to be taking his sweet time getting there, and the doctor that was there has the people skills of a social retard. Also Angie's friend Jenna was there to take pictures, and if after hearing what she heard while she was there I seriously doubt if she will ever give birth without an epidural. The birth process was unlike anything I have ever experienced in my life. I was a foot away from a woman who was passing a human being through her. Around 11:30 I could see the babies hair coming out. Also, Ang had put Dr. Puckett (who finally showed up) on a time table. She better have this baby by midnight or else. As the time got closer to midnight I was beginning to wonder how we were gonna get this baby out. I was having some serious doubts. The hair had been showing through for a while but we were stuck. So they used the vacuum and they were able to pull the head out. I was like, "Holy crap! I can see it's head, Ang you have to push!" And push she did, then out came our baby boy, Jacob. I didn't know how I would react when our kid was finally born. Would I cry, would I smile, would I just be checking on Ang to make sure she was ok. Well, I cried, yeah I cried, wanna make something of it?! Just kidding. I informed Ang that we had a baby boy, checked her to make sure she was ok, then I just stared at Jacob in amazement and disbelief. The whole time I just felt like it was so surreal. I immediately texted or called anybody I could think of. By the way I apologize to anybody I woke up. Jacob was born at 11:58 (not 11:56) and I wanted everyone to know I was a proud Daddy. It's funny because my Grandpa'a mom always said he was born a day earlier than his birth certificate says. He always said "I sure think my mom would know what day she gave birth to me on." Well, I'm pretty sure Daddy knows what time his baby was born. Anyways, we spent the night at the hospital. Amazingly enough I slept pretty well on the little bed they provided for me.

The next morning Ang took a shower and afterward asked me dry her legs off, when I looked in her eyes I could tell something was wrong. I caught her just before she passed out. I put her on the shower floor and rang the nurse, I heard a noise in the bathroom, and I was like crap, she got up (take it from someone who passes out 2 to 3 times a year, if you pass out, don't get back up for a while). So I ran in the bathroom and sure enough, there she was standing up, and I caught her again before she passed out, again. By this time the nurse got there, and she was absolutely no help whatsoever, so I picked Ang up and took her to her bed. Immediately she came to and had no clue what happened. I should let you know, my biggest fear going into this pregnancy and labor was something happening to my wife. I was scared to death to lose her for some freak reason, like you see in all those stupid romantic comedy/chick flick movies. So needless to say, this freaked me out. But they said she just needed to rest and eat and she would be fine.

The next day we came home. It's so surreal having him here. It's like he's just temporary, I think partly because I can't believe I am a dad. I told Jacob, "You made me a Daddy." He is so awesome and other than Monday afternoon where we think his stomach was a little upset, he has been extremely easy. I think that must be the Carriker in him. Whenever he's fussy, I say that's the McBride in him. Lol, you know I love you guys.

The pregnancy seemed to go really fast to me. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, I showed pregnancy symptoms as well during that time. I had cravings, I was tired and I didn't sleep well. It's funny how what happens to one partner affects the other partner as well. The labor was something I will never ever forget. I haven't told Ang this, but when we went to Colorado to visit my sister and brother-in-law Mark after they had their daughter Aleah, Mark just looked at her totally differently than he ever had before. Before he looked at her like he loved her, but when we were there I noticed there was something different in the way he looked at her. It was almost like how a little boy would look at his favorite super hero if he ever got to meet him. Well, after watching my wife give birth naturally, I know why my brother-in-law looked at her like that, because that's now how I look at Ang. Like the song says, "And I thought I loved her then."

The amazing thing about all this is, Jacob is so worth it all. Jacob, I promise you I will be the best Dad I can possibly be. I'm not gonna be perfect, but I'm gonna show you this world just like the song says, "With arms wide open."

Side note: His name is Jacob Ryder Carriker
Mom's nickname for him is, "Peanut"
Dad's nickname for him is "My little man"
The general nickname for him is "Jr", because his initials are JR, which equate to Jr. and also, he is a little us or a Jr. of Ang and I. So feel free to call our new bundle of joy Jacob or Jr., whatever you prefer.

Jacob's Birth Story and 1st week!

Last Tuesday changed our lives forever in so many ways and I can’t even begin to wrap my head around everything that has happened over this past week, but here’s my attempt.


Tuesday: Around 10 AM I started to have contractions (over the weekend I stopped taking my medicine to stop them and we were suppose to let mother nature take over). A & I went on a walk and relaxed a little before my dr. appt at 1. I drank a lot of water and by my appointment at 1 the contractions had not let up, which told us it was not false labor. I rarely have ever had to wait at the dr’s, however today (the day I really did not need to sit for a long time) I had to wait for about an hour. When Dr. P finally came in, I told him that I’d been having contractions since about 10 and they were not letting up. He checked me and measured my tummy. He then looked at us and said, “You guys need to go home, grab your bags, and head to the HOSPITAL!” He then said, “I'll call them and let them know you’ll be there soon. See you later today.” So at 2, I was 3-4 cm dilated and Baby C looked like he/she was on their way! A & I didn’t know what to say or how to act. Our lives were forever going to be changed, if this really was the real thing?! I just kept thinking, we’re going to get to the hospital and then all of a sudden everything will stop and it’ll be another false alarm. As we headed home, we both called our moms with the news and told them we would keep them posted. A was getting pretty psyched up when we were leaving and I was just in ahh of everything that was going on. It was really strange leaving the house and knowing the next time we came home it would be with Baby C. It was nice when we got the hospital, our room was set up and everybody knew what was going on. I got changed and then was hooked up to all these machines to monitor everything from my contractions, Baby C’s heartbeat, my antibiotics, etc. I was checked around 6ish and was about 6 cm. It was then decided they were going to break my water at 8, which actually turned into 8:40ish. After the OB floor Dr broke my water, the contractions really started to pick up and the last 3 cm went pretty fast. I was handling the contractions fairly well and opted not to have any drugs. I asked the nurse when I was about 9 cm, "Is this as bad as it's going to get?” She told me yes, so I knew I could handle the pain and just wanted to go natural. By 10:00 I was ready to begin pushing. With Dr. P, my nurse, the baby nurse and A all around me, the hardest part began for me. I thought I would be pushing 30 mins to hour at max, not two hours. Every time I tried to push, I had the worse low back/butt pain ever. I would push for about 3-4 secs and then I couldn’t focus on pushing anymore because my back was killing me. After an hour of this I was beginning to wonder how we were going to get this baby out. Come to find out later, A was thinking the exact same thing. I kept asking if we were going to have this baby before midnight or not. Everybody reassured me that we were and so I focused on being a mommy by midnight. I kept telling Dr. P he had 45, 30, 20, etc mins to get this baby out of me. The clock kept creeping closer to midnight and I began to plead for some type of painkiller. At one time I even said I’d take some Tylenol; I was so desperate for anything to take the pain away. I finally managed to gather my thoughts and emotions enough to give it all I had. We did have to use the vacuum in the end, which was one of my last resorts but Baby C was really stuck. The Dr. said that Baby C had turned in a way, which caused me to have a lot of back labor and then got stuck under my pelvic bone, which is why I couldn’t get Baby C pushed out. As Dr. P pulled Baby C out, I looked up at A and starred into his eyes and waited for him to tell me whether we had a son or daughter. He then said, “Would you like to meet Jacob?!” It was funny when Dr. P pulled Jacob out, he pointed out his plumbing to A, just so he didn’t mess it up in announcing what we had. Jacob Ryder Carriker was born at 11:58 PM on July 21, 2009. He weighed 6 lbs and was 20 inches long. His birth certificate says he was born at 11:56 since that’s what the monitor said, but A and all the nurses had 11:58 on their watches. Luckily it wasn’t 11:58 and midnight, or we’d have a whole day to argue about. I really wish I could relive that moment over and over again. Giving birth to a child is one of the most unbelievable feelings in the world. All I could do was thank God for this child and my new family. While they checked out Jacob, I couldn’t help but take my eyes off of A. You could see that Jacob had become his whole world. Jacob held onto A’s finger while they did everything to him. All my pain and discomfort went away as I watched the two most important things in my life bond. I’m so thankful I had my friend Jenna there to capture this amazing time in our life. She put together a DVD of all the photos she took of Jacob’s birth and I’m fully convinced I will never be able to watch it and not cry. It is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever watched and still can’t believe how blessed I am to have a beautiful baby boy.


Wednesday: After they got Jacob and I cleaned up, I nursed him for about 20 mins and then we were off to our room where we would stay for the next 2 days. I almost passed out as we got ready to leave, who knew this little scare would be a prelude to what was going to happen in a matter of hours. We got situated in our new room and spent our first night together as a family. All I wanted to do was hold my baby Jacob, so sleeping was the last thing on my mind. I tried to sleep a little here and there, but ended up just holding and nursing Jacob. Around 10ish that morning I decided to shower and clean myself up, since I just had one of the hardest workouts ever. The shower felt absolutely amazing. At the end I asked A to come dry my legs off and I keep telling him how amazing the shower was. The next thing I knew, I’m laying on my bed and everybody is starring at me. Apparently I had passed out in the shower, and while A was calling to get the nurse I got back up on my own and then passed out again into A’s arms. He then just laid me down on the bed. I think I made everybody’s heart rate spike just a little. They contributed these little spells to the fact I just gave birth to a baby and not eating for 24 hrs. Wednesday night Jacob had his first visitors. Jenna, Gina, and Jason came for awhile and then the Rigoni's came. Annie was so excited to sit and hold a brand new baby! Most of Wednesday was spent bonding with our new baby and having some test done on him to make sure everything was going good.


Thursday: By Thursday morning I was going stir crazy and ready to take Jacob home! We got home around 2ish and were surprised when we drove up and saw a big blue bear tied to our mail box. When we opened the door, we were once again surprised to see more balloons. It definitely made coming home even more special. Taking pics with Jacob when we got home was so surreal and I really couldn't believe he was here!


Friday, Saturday, Sunday: We really took it easy and enjoyed some nice quality bonding time as a family. We've been spoiled rotten by our neighborhood since we've been home. Each night someone has brought us a nice home cooked dinner. Saturday Jason and Jenna brought over the DVD and pics of Jacob's birth. I cried tears of happiness and thankfulness. Saturday we took Jacob for his first walk in the stroller. On Sunday Jacob and I helped A with his running drills and then we watched Rambo swim in the pool. The swimming in the pool was followed by a doggy bath.Sunday afternoon was Jacob's first outing. We took him to get his picture professional taken. We didn't originally plan on doing it, but then decided if they could fit him in, that we would get it done. The pics turned out great, even after a much protesting Jacob who was tired of being handled by the photographer. Every time I look at his pics I can't help but tear up and give thanks; he's really here!


Monday: Jacob had his 1st dr's visit. After having to wait for quite sometime at the dr, we finally got in. Jacob weighed exactly what he did when he was born. Over the weekend we started to notice a little yellow in Jacob's eyes. He had been tested for Jaundice at the hospital and was fortunate enough and he didn't have to have any further test or treatment. However, the dr wanted us to go get his blood drawn to see what his numbers are. They came back a tad bit high, so we would have to have it done again on Tuesday. If the number had not gone down in a day, we would have to look into some type of treatment. Overall he's doing great and the dr told us to keep doing what we're doing because it seems to be working, especially given he was a month early. The 3 of us and Rambo went on a walk, so we could keep Jacob in the sun in hopes of helping clear up his Jaundice.


Today we had to take Jacob back to get more blood drawn. We later found out that his numbers had decreased and he should be fine without any further treatment. Jacob was a little fussy this afternoon and has royally just wore himself out.


Jacob is sleeping, feeding, stooling, etc. great and we're so blessed to watch our "Sonshine!" I have him on a 3 hr feeding schedule and only get up twice in the night to feed and change. Overall I've been doing fairly well for a brand new mommy (or at least I like to think). For the most part you can't even tell I just had a baby and am really up and about. Lately I’ve cried a few tears. Tears of joy, praise, happiness, and love! As I sit and hold my baby boy in my lap, I being to tear up once again. He’s our world and he’s a true miracle from God! Jacob I wonder what God was thinking when He made you?!


Today Jacob is 1 wk old, which means I’ve been a mommy for officially 1 wk too! Amazing how fast time is already flying by!


I know there are a lot of things I forgot to mention, but I really just wanted to post Jacob's birth story and what we've been up to for the past week. Before this week turns into next week. So in the following post I'll probably fill in the holes and gaps about the things I missed. I really can't believe a week ago I was in the hospital and having a baby!


I can't wait to document everything that "Peanut/My little Man" is up to.


“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”- Hebrews 11:1

Sunday, July 19, 2009

We made 36 wks!

A & I had a pretty laid back weekend, which is exactly what I needed given I'm exhausted (exhausted really might be an understatement to how tired I feel)! Last night we went to church, Wal-Mart, and rented some movies for our "date night" (which we haven't done forever). It was so nice to hang out and watch a movie with my love! Today we took it really easy (I've been super tired and really don't feel like doing much of anything). We did however go out with our friends (Jenna & Jason) tonight for supper and ice cream!

A little Q&A:
How far along? 36 wks!
Total weight gain/loss: +25/26 lbs.
Baby size: 6 lbs and more than 18 1/2 in!
Maternity clothes? Of course!
Stretch marks? Nope! Thank goodness!
Sleep: A & I are taking full advantage of going to bed late and sleeping in till we want to get up! It's been great! Especially because I only get about 2 hrs of consistent sleep at a time, then it’s a bathroom break and flip to the other side. Baby C loves to move around when I flip sides, which is always a joy feeling at 3 AM (seriously it is)!
Best moments this week: Making to 36 wks, since that was our goal!
Movement: Yep! Baby C gets the hiccups all the time too, so that's always fun watching/feeling my belly move.
Food cravings: Candy, watermelon and milk! The other day I wanted pizza, Mexican, and grilled cheese! A says I'm finally having the cravings like a preg woman is expected too. I think A has had more cravings than me, which just goes to show us that men go through pregnancy too.
Labor Signs: Yes. Now that we've made it to 36 wks, I can go off my meds to stop the contractions and let mother nature take over.
Belly Button in or out? Still have an innie! As A would say, "It's still hanging on!"
What I miss: Being able to walk and move like I used to!
What I am looking forward to: Seeing what this week has in store for us. Will we finally meet Baby C or will we make it through another week? I'm also anxious to go to the dr's on Tuesday to see what's going on with me and the baby.
Weekly Wisdom: Take full advantage of being just the two of us right now!
Milestones: Learning how close we are to being mommy and daddy!

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” -Philippians 2: 9-11

Friday, July 17, 2009

"I'm sure glad I'm a guy!"

As of right now I really have nothing new to report, unless you want to hear some complaining ;) I’m thinking we can make it another 3 days at least and then maybe even another week.

The usual BH contractions have been coming a lot more & have been getting more uncomfortable. I still take my medicine to stop the serious contractions; I usually just take them in the evening and at night so I can sleep. As of Sunday I will stop the medicine and we’ll let Mother Nature take over. It's getting harder to walk... seriously... saying I waddle is an understatement! To be honest I don’t even think you can call what I do a waddle, but somehow I get around. The pressure has really increased and at times it is just hard to move from sitting to standing. Luckily and thankfully I’m carrying just a small basketball in front, so I can’t complain about being huge. I'm just thankful that I get such a beautiful gift out of all of this though! Feeling Baby C’s little feet pushing against me just makes me smile & makes me that much more thankful that God has allowed me to be able to go through a pregnancy complication-free. I'd take all the aches and pains in the world in order for my precious baby to come safely & healthy.

Thursday we met with the Baby C's pediatrician for the first time. He seems like he'll be a great dr and both A & I were really impressed with him and the office.

The question goes back and forth, will Baby C be a boy or girl? So the other day A thought it would be fun to see what the dogs thought. A held the sippy cups we bought in each hand and then called Rambo over to see which one he would go to (blue or purple cup). Rambo went to the boy cup! We then had Pebbles do the same thing, and what would you know.....boy cup! With everything pointing to boy, Baby C is going to prove everyone wrong and be a girl!

Need a laugh?!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRRkJ95RxIo

I can't stop laughing!

A little quote from Adam- "I'm sure glad I'm a guy."

“Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” -Jeremiah 32: 17

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

No news is good news!

Today A & I went to the hospital to turn in our pre-registration forms and tour the maternity ward. The nurses there seem super nice and I think we'll all be in good hands when the time comes. The rooms have a beautiful view of the Missouri River, which will be very relaxing to look out. After the hospital we headed to the dr's appt. I'm progressing a little from last week, but not too much. Our goal is to make it to at least Sunday (36 wks) and even better would be the Sunday after that. I also tested positive for Group B strep test, which just means I need antibiotics during l & d. Overall Baby C and I are doing good (bp, wt, etc).

Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down. ~ Oprah

Monday, July 13, 2009

Dear Baby C, It's almost time!

Dear Baby C,

It's almost time! As I sit here and wonder when I will be able to hold your precious body in my arms and stare into your gorgeous eyes, I can't help but get all anxious inside. All eyes are on you right now and all of us are wondering how long you'll stay put. This past week we got to see you moving your legs and toes around, along with watching your heart hard at work during an ultrasound. The report back to us was that you look healthy and ready to come a little early. You looked perfect in my tummy and really do like to bury your head. You've been causing me a lot of pressure all the time and have made walking even difficult at times. The dr. thinks you might be joining us a little earlier than we expected; he hopes you'll stay put for at least one more wk (36 wks). When Daddy and I heard this news, we couldn't believe that you could be here any day now. I sit and watch you on the ultrasound at least once a day and can't help but wonder when you'll be here. Keep growing for just a little longer before you come meet your mommy and daddy. Rambo and Pebbles are starting to act a little different and I think they anticipate your arrival is coming soon. Things have been pretty quiet around here this past weekend, it feels like the calm before the storm. I guess we'll see what this week brings us. The house is ready. We are ready. We can't wait! See you soon Baby C!

Love you with all my heart,
Mommy

May your father and mother be glad; may she who gave you birth rejoice."- Proverbs 23:25

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Ready, Set, Wait...... Parent Job Description, We have a baby boy name!

Ready, set, wait.......It's crazy to think how close we are to being "Mommy & Daddy!" It's hard for me to wrap my mind around everything that has developed over this past week. The fact that we could be parents any day now, is CRAZY!
Yesterday we had our carpets cleaned, packed our hospital bag, and made sure everything is ready for when the big day comes. We also had some maternity photos taken. We had them scheduled for next week, but where the baby could be here any day we thought it would be a good idea to get them done asap.

This morning A & I watched Looked Who's Talking Too. It was so funny to hear what the baby and toddler say and think, because we're about to have a little one. We plan on going out for breakfast and then finishing some things on our list, which includes relaxing to the fullest. I'm trying to do things where I sit, so hopefully I don't have to go on bed rest.

Tomorrow is 35/35; 35 wks down and 35 days to go. It's been a rough week on me physically. The pressure continues to get a little stronger each day and walking is interesting at times. A has been wonderful through all of this and always helping me out doing everything (even getting up)! We go back to the dr's Tuesday; I'm anxious to see what has happened over this past week. Hopefully nothing has happened or at least not too much, so we can make it another week at least.
I don't remember where I found this, but thought it was funny.
PARENT Job Description

This is hysterical. If it had been presented this way,
I don't believe any of us would have done it!!!!

POSITION :
Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma
Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION :

Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities! Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES :

The rest of your life.
Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5.
Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers.
Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next.
Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.
Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product..
Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION :

None.
Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE :

None required unfortunately.
On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis..

WAGES AND COMPENSATION :

Get this! You pay them!
Offering frequent raises and bonuses.
A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent.
When you die, you give them whatever is left.
The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS :

While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love, and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.

In the end.........I know being called 'Mommy' will be worth it all. Oh, it's getting so close!!!

Oh ya, we officially decided on a boy's name yesterday! We even bought a boy and girl sippy cups that had their names on it.

"…See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm…" ~ James 5:7-8

Friday, July 10, 2009

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Practice makes Perfect?!

Tuesday night was quite a crazy night for A & I. Around 10 I started having contractions. After about an hr, A started to time how long they were and how much time between them. For over an hr they were a minute long and 5 minutes apart, which technically means we should have headed to the hospital. However, I wanted to stay home for a little longer to see if they'd go away. My hips were killing me and the contractions were really strong in my back and then moved to the front. All of this lasted from about 10pm to 4am. During the last couple hrs the contractions finally started to slow down and weren't quite as long (30 secs). Once there started to be more time between the contractions (8-9 mins), I was able to rest a little and then eventually just passed out around 4 from exhaustion. The medicine Dr. P had prescribed me earlier helped to stop the contractions over time. I told A, that it was just a practice run for us and now we are ready for the real thing (which hopefully won't happen for awhile). The other day I talked to my Dr about the whole ordeal Tuesday night and was instructed if it happens again to go to the hospital and get a shot to stop the contractions. A did wonderful during this whole little "practice run" and needless to say we are now seeing how close we are to meeting Baby C.

Yesterday I had the nesting bug really bad and although I only had 3 hrs of sleep the night before I was wired. The car seat bases are installed, the diaper bag is packed and Mommy is getting anxious!

Today I still have the nesting bug, but I know how important it is for me and baby to rest and take it easy. A & I did however manage to get the house cleaned and I even got a haircut. I can't wait to see what these next couple weeks have in store for us.

Q & A:
How far along? 34 wks, 4 days!
Total weight gain/loss: +26 lbs.
Baby size: 4 lb 15 oz!
Maternity clothes? Yes! I really enjoy wearing some bigger shirts from bowl games and the Rams to lounge around in. At least with these shirts my basketball and I aren't stretching them out! I'm thankful it's summer, so I can just wear shorts and tanks most of the time.
Stretch marks? Not yet and hopefully never!
Sleep: About 2 hrs of consistent sleep at a time, then it’s a bathroom break and flip to the other side. Baby C loves to move around when I flip sides, which is always a joy feeling at 3 AM (seriously it is)!
Best moments this week: Getting to see the baby on the ultrasound.
Movement: Yes! Every day Baby C is moving around all day/night long and makes mom laugh when her belly jiggles. Baby C even gave Daddy a little kick in the head when he was resting his head on mommy's tummy the other day. It was a priceless moment:) Lately, every morning Baby C has woken Mommy up by doing somersaults in her belly.
Food cravings: Watermelon and milk!
Labor Signs: Yes. I'm 1 cm dilated and completely thinned out. The other night I spent almost six hrs experiencing contractions.
Belly Button in or out? Still in.
What I miss: I've been grounded for the rest of the pregnancy, so I can't workout (beside limited walking and pool) and I can't go anywhere in case I go into labor.
What I am looking forward to: Possibly meeting Baby C this month. I hope we can make it to the beginning of August, but when God says it's time, we're ready!
Weekly Wisdom: Enjoy every moment of this pregnancy and the blessing of life inside of me! Take it easy; Baby C is almost here!
Milestones: Learning how far along I already am. Experiencing hard and consistent contractions. Seeing how my body is getting ready for the arrival of Baby C!

“I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.” -Psalm 138:2

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Dr's appt

It's getting close, actually closer than we expected. Today I had my 34 wk appt to see how things are going with me and baby. We had an ultrasound and got to see Baby C just hanging out. Everything looked good and Baby C is measuring great all over. We then had our regular dr. appt where he checked me. I knew something had to be happening, because I've had an increase in pressure every day and today has definitely been no exception. Today I probably had one of the hardest times working out because I simply had so much pressure that it hurt to move. So when Dr. P told me I was completely thinned out and 1 cm dilated, it really was no big shock. As of now my work outs are restricted to limited walking and swimming around in the pool (no laps though). He also put me on some medicine to help stop all the contractions I've been having. His goal right now is to keep me pregnant as long as he can. We're hoping to make it to 36 or 37 would be even better.

Here's the details from today:
-My bp: 110/72
-Baby C heart rate: 132 bpm
-Weight: +26 lb
-Weight of Baby: 4 lb 15 oz (40th percentile)

It was strange because A & I had planned something for this weekend, but decided it was best for me and baby to stay put. It's just one of the many times (& many more to come) we've had to put Baby C's health and well being before our own. The good news is that Baby C looks great all over and is head down and ready to come out, now the question is when!

“As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.”-Psalm 18:30

Sunday, July 5, 2009

A wonderful 4th of July & Less than 6 wks to go!

James, Kim, and the four girls came down to celebrate the 4th together. It was a wonderful weekend with the family and there is nothing like watching little kids shoot off fireworks and celebrating the holiday with family!

Friday night we enjoyed some great Cracker Barrel, DQ and fireworks! It was so much fun watching the girls shoot fireworks off. The best picture was when the the three girls and Adam lit a firework and all came running back to the driveway as if the firework was going to explode!

Saturday (the 4th) it rained, rained, and then rained some more! It did clear up for a little bit in the afternoon, so everyone could go swimming. After swimming and we headed to church, Red Robin, and then to the local park. At the park there was a mini-petting zoo, inflatable jumpies, candy, and pretty much everything that would be in a kids fantasy land. It was kind of a bummer though, because it was so muddy from all the rain, but the girls seemed to have a blast regardless! A & I left a little early from the park, so we could go see ty our neighbor boy who just came home after graduating from Army Bootcamp. As dark rolled upon us (with no rain, yet), we started shooting off fireworks in the culdesac. Ty and his friends enjoyed firing off the huge ones, which provided us with lots of entertainment. After all the big ones were finished, A & I helped the girls (including Annie, the neighbor girl) fire off some smaller ones. As the rain rolled in, the girls still insisted they could (and still wanted to) shoot some more off, so we did as many as we could until the firework would royally not light because it was so wet. We ended a wonderful fourth of July celebration by watching Shrek The Third. When there were fireworks going off all around it really made me stop and give thanks for the life God has provided for me. I think to often Independence Day becomes more about the fireworks, rather than than the actual thought of our freedom in the US. So as I stood and watched all the fireworks going off everywhere I especially gave thanks to the Lord for all the troops fighting for our INDEPENDENCE!

Today the girls, James, and A played games and just had a great time hanging out with each other. After they left this afternoon it was time to clean, do laundry, and relax! It's been a wonderful today and especially a great afternoon with my husband. We've enjoyed relaxing and taking it easy, especially because today has been a rough "pregnancy" day for me. Overall the weekend was wonderful and it's so nice to spend time with family. It wasn't even 5 minutes after they left, that A told me "I miss the girls:(" The twins really took a liking to A. They always wanted to sit on his lap, be picked up by him, etc. It was so cute! And believe it or not about an hour after they left, we both looked at each other and said, "I really do miss all the noise!"

Throughout the weekend the girls never cease to amaze me when the things they say. Here's just a glimpse of the things that made me smile:
  • As we were walking to the firework tent there was a huge balloon flying in the air. I pointed it out to one of the twins, who then informed me it looked like my tummy! Thankfully I'm still pregnant and not holding my baby in my arms.
  • One of the twins was rubbing my belly and said, "There's a baby in there! That's what my mom looked like with Baby (this is what they call their little sister). When is it coming out?"
  • We were shooting off fireworks and one of them didn't do very much and one of the girls let us know what she thought of it after it was finished by saying, "That's it!!!" It was hilarious!
  • A & James were playing ping pong and one of the twins really wanted to play, so A told her as soon as they were finished she could play. She then said, "You always say that!" After about 5 minutes she asked them, "Are you going to be done before it's dark?" When she finally got to play on A's team, she was saying, "I'm the bestest!" "I'm so gooooooooood!" Let me remind you this is right after the ball went flying off the table from her crazy serve or went right by her as she swung and missed. She always wanted to high five A after she thought she scored a point; it was so cute watching all the girls play.
  • As they were getting ready to leave, they all gave us a hug and said, "I love you!" Oh, how I wish they didn't have to leave:(
  • And so it continues.....kids will always be honest and their giggles will always make me smile!
Pregnancy notes: Less than 6 wks to go until we finally get to hold Baby C! I can tell my body knows that the time is nearing for this special arrival. The other day my legs were aching so bad and then it moved into my hips, which are starting to widen (what an uncomfortable feeling). Needless to say, that evening we worked on relaxing and breathing techniques just so I could get comfortable. A really does have this back/hip massage down pat. Other changes in my body that are starting to signal the big D-day is coming: BH everyday/every hour (okay maybe not that much, but definitely enough every day that is making me really uncomfortable), the pressure has increased so much that A says I'm finally walking/waddling like a pregnant lady, the increased pressure has really made it hard for me to bend over and even move around like I was a wk ago, an overly exhausted feeling, I even threw up my lunch the other day, and many more changes. Though I'm uncomfortable at times, I just think about what it's going to be like to hold this precious gift from God. It's still hard for me to believe that I'm going to be a mom and A are starting our family! It'll be here before we know it! It was funny last night when we were visiting with everyone at the party, everybody couldn't hep but say, "It's like you have a basketball under your shirt. It's all in your belly and just sticks right in front." Thank goodness! We are headed to the dr's on Tuesday for an u/s and check up. I can't wait to see how everything is progressing!

Baby C received a special delivery in the mail the other day from Grandma Carriker. She sent a safari sleeper; I can't wait to put Baby C in it!

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.”-Psalm 33: 12

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Birth Plan-Check, Nursery-Check, It's getting so close!

Baby C's arrival is getting so close and I'm getting oh so more anxious about everything. I can't believe in less than a month and a half I'll finally be able to hold this precious gift from God in my arms.

A & I have been busy checking things off our to do list before the baby comes. Finishing our birth plan really started to have things settle in for me that the big day is nearing. Every night A & I work on breathing & relaxing techniques that we plan to use during l & d. I really enjoy this time together and gives us special bonding time with each other and the baby. The other day we finished the nursery and packed the diaper bag; now all we're waiting on is the final touch, the arrival of Baby C! A & I love just going into the nursery and picturing what it's going to be like when Baby C is here. A recently told me that his new favorite room is the nursery. It so sweet to find him in there playing with some of the toys and just hanging out in the baby's room. Each day I manage to keep marking things off my to do list and with each check I know we're one day closer to meeting Baby C.

Today A & I are taking it easy around the house getting more things done on our list and running a couple errands. This afternoon we're going to Ice Age III: Dawn of the Dinosaurs and HuHot's, what a great date day it's going to be with my hubby?!

This Friday Adam's cousin James, his wife Kim and their 4 girls are coming to celebrate the fourth. It'll be nice to spend time with family and enjoy shooting off some fireworks.

Baby C loves "pumping iron" every day and steeling all of Mom's energy in doing so. I've been so exhausted lately and find afternoon naps almost essential for me to function, especially because at night Baby C and I are only sleeping a few hrs at a time. Every time the baby kicks, I really can't help but give thanks for this gift of life. At night when Baby C is moving around in the excitement of hearing his/her Daddy read to him/her, I can't help but praise Him for everything He's blessed me with. Thank you God for the amazing blessings in my life!

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”-Romans 12:3