WHEW!

So, this is truly the first time I have had time to actually post again since Carter's birth almost 4 weeks ago!
We are doing well, but still adjusting to this new little person in our lives. We are exhausted!
Carter is sleeping pretty good, we put him down at 10:30 and he wakes up at 2:30 and about 6:00 or 6:30 to eat. Both times he goes back to sleep (with the exception of about 20 seconds of fussing). Right now he is in his crib taking a nap. I had to learn that I could put him down during the day...I can't hold him 24-7! The day I held him all day, Chad came home and I was in the floor in tears because I didn't get a thing done and I don't think I even got a shower...I felt like a complete slob and wreck! So from then on, I have been getting him to sleep and letting him nap in his crib so I can actually get some work done around the house! In my head I have set 3 minimal goals to meet each day around the house, and if I get those done then I am pleased...those goals are as follows:

1. Get a shower, and put on make-up
2. Have all bottles washed by the time Chad gets home
3. Make up our bed

Okay, so being a Mom stuff is HARD, the hardest job I have ever had, but I know it will be very rewarding. Sometimes I think it is so hard because with my last job I only worked 9 hours a day, but now I work 24 hours a day, I think that's the difference....oh and the fact that I am caring for another human being and trying to figure out what he wants when he can't talk ; )

We are just now getting to where we are getting out of the house some with him and it is wonderful!! I love getting him out in his stroller, it really makes me feel like a Mom. Plus he sleeps the whole time because he loves the car and the car seat, so who could ask for more?

We had a couple of rough nights these past few days because little man has been constipated :( Poor guy just screams bloody murder because he is trying to push it out and it isn't budging...we have been doing the Karo syrup for 2 days now and this afternoon we had success! It was a pretty big blowout and he went straight to sleep afterwards :)

As for Chad and I, we have become closer than we have ever been. We are really working as a team and I think we have realized just how much we love eachother and NEED each other. We were both really overwhelmed at first and now we are somewhat getting the hang of things, but I couldn't have done any of this without him! He has been amazing, he is a great Daddy.

Well, that is about it for now, Carter is STILL asleep :) so I am going to go and watch TV and relax for a few minutes...hopefully my next update won't be too far away!

Carter's Birth Story

So we arrive at the hospital last Monday night at about 10pm. At about 3am they give me the medicine that will cause me to dilate and efface. When Dr. Maddox came in the next morning to break my water I was at 2cm and 90%. I had already been started on the medicine to make me contract, so as soon as my water was broken I wanted my epidural. As we were watching all the monitors we were noticing Carter's heartrate was dropping, so they put me on oxygen. Also, my blood pressure readings were high, so Dr. Maddox ordered me to be put on some medicine during labor and 24 hours after labor. By about 2:00, I still had not made any kind of progress and my uterus was in a constant state of contraction plus the baby had his first bowel movement inside of me, and this was a sign of distress. Dr. Maddox then came in and talked to me and said it didn't look like I was going to progress anymore and the baby needed to come out immediately. Of course I agree to this and within about 15 minutes I am on the operating table having a c-section. Carter's head was so far down into the birth canal that they had to tug really hard to get him out...so hard they were putting so much pressure on my ribs that it made me nauseous and I had to throw up right there on the operating table :(

Carter comes out finally, and I see the sweet little thing I have been carrying for 9 months and he is beautiful and looks exactly like his Daddy.

The next few days were pretty rough, I was on the morphine pump and the blood pressure medicine for 24 hours which made me completely out of it and I don't even remember holding Carter for the first time. I was also in a lot of pain because of the surgery and because they had to tug so hard to get him out.

Once we were able to get moved into a normal room a day later, one of the doctors who assisted in the c-section came in to let me know what had happened and why the labor didn't go as planned. Since my blood pressure was so high during labor, it caused me to have a little bit of preclampsia, and when they opened my uterus there was blood inside because my placenta had started separating itself from my uterine wall.

I have prayed so hard about this birth and Carter's safety and my own and God was totally in control of the whole situation. He provided me with nurses and doctors that knew what they were doing and knew when Carter needed to come out. He got him here healthy and safe and for that I praise Him and I am forever grateful. I come even fuller to the realization that the Lord hears His children's prayers. Although the birth was nothing that I expected it to be, God knew all along and was there from the beginning of it all. When I first found out I was pregnant, I was extremely nervous and anxious about everything...when I cried out to God and I just asked Him "What do I do?!" The words "Trust Me" radiated through my whole being. That is one of the only times the Lord has talked to me like that, and I will remember it forever. My trust in Him brought me through the whole pregnancy and birth and I relied on those words the whole 9 months.

Now we are just adjusting to this whole new life!

Baby Tomorrow!

I went in for my check up today and at the appointment when Dr. Maddox listened to his heartbeat on the Doppler, she said it sounded a little slow. That prompted her to send me over to labor and delivery and have it monitored for a little while and to do a stress test to see how he reacted under contractions. After a few minutes of monitoring him, his heartbeat was perfect and he did great under the stress test.
Dr. Maddox went ahead and ordered us to come back at 10:00pm tonight and spend the night...we are going to do the pill that they insert in you to have you dilate a little more, and then I will be induced in the morning! She will probably be in about 7:30 to break my water and we will go from there.
When she checked me today he had dropped and I was 1 1/2 and 60%. I think she wants to get me to 2 by in the morning so it will be more favorable for induction.
Pray that he doesn't act up anymore, he is being bad (just kidding of course), but he gave me a little scare this afternoon.
We will have a laptop at the hospital, so hopefully I will be able to update :)
I'm excited, let's get this baby here safe and sound Lord!

IT'S official...

Nothing fits. Nothing. I am wearing a very tight pair of maternity pants at the moment. The only shirts that fit are any of Chad's...and let me tell you, I have never missed wearing the color pink (or any other girly color for that matter) so bad in my entire life. Right now I am limited to blue, grey, a red, and an occasional yellow shirt. I look like a tom boy that loves basketball so much, she swallowed one.
Last night I got about 3-4 hours of sleep. I went from bed to recliner, to bed, then back to recliner, then back to bed again by about 4:30 AM. I think I just cat napped all night.
Today, Mom and Grandma came and deep cleaned my house for me...it was AMAZING! My house has never been so clean. I mean, they moved furniture and everything...Mom even whipped out the toothbrush on the toilets. Thanks Mom and Grandma!!
Hopefully, this time next week this little guy will be here.
Debbie brought me a picture tonight of what Chad looked like when he was born, oh my goodness, he was SO adorable and I hope and think Carter will look exactly like him. I could have just eaten him up. Kerri and I joke that I am carrying around a little clone of Chad in my stomach...I hope so!
I would post the picture, but we don't have a scanner, I might try to take a picture of it with my camera and upload it.

I go back to the doctor on Monday at 3:15, so I really should know something at this appointment. I will keep everyone updated!

39 Week Appointment

Sorry I didn't update until now. We had an unexpected death in the family last night...Chad's grandfather passed away. Long story short, he had surgery in his mouth to remove a tumor (possibly cancerous) at the beginning of December. He seemed to have complication after complication, and he was so tired...last night about 9 PM he went to be with his Heavenly Father. In that we take comfort.

My appointment went well, I did a little more than I expected. I am still 1cm, but this time I am 50% thinned out. Which is more than I have ever been, so that's a plus! It still seems to be moving slowly. Dr. Alten said it looked like Dr. Maddox had me tentatively scheduled to be induced next Thursday, the 8th. I thought she had told me Tuesday, but they may have been booked up in labor and delivery. Dr. Maddox is still going to check me on Monday to see my progress before she schedules anything for sure. I don't think I'll move much past 1cm until I get induced or my water breaks, but I feel like I will continue to thin out. I will keep everyone updated, hopefully this baby will be here sometime next week!

Yesterday ended up being my last day of work. Last night I called my boss and just let her know I was not going to be able to come in for my last day, that I needed to be with family and help with arrangements if need be. Also Chad and I were up until about 1:00 last night doing some work emails and finishing some things up so we could be off today, so needless to say, we slept late this morning.

That's about all that's going on at the moment, keep Chad and his family in your prayers and I hope that everyone has a wonderful New Year :)

Just a few thoughts...

So, it's hard to imagine that we will probably have a baby here next week...and our lives will change dramatically! I'm excited but a little bit nervous, of course.
I can't wait to see what he looks like and to hold him, and for Chad to hold him.
I also cannot believe I have a fully grown baby in my stomach...the whole pregnancy I looked at pictures each week of what stage he was in and what he was developing and what he looked like (most of the time he looked alien-like)- so it is hard to believe he is already so fearfully and wonderfully made and ready to come out! He is just sitting in there getting fat now :)

Most of you who know me, know that I am a worry wart...yes it's something God and I are working on, but nevertheless, it still gets me from time to time. So, of course I have scary thoughts of labor and Carter and pretty much anything that passes over my head. I have been good and have been staying off of the Internet (doctor's orders). So if you think about it please be praying for a safe delivery for us and a healthy baby.
God is in control and He has assured me of that. I guess it's one of the biggest tests for me because it is totally out of my control! All I can do is trust and have faith.

I have a Doctor appointment today at 2:45, so I will update later today. I'm not expecting any change :(

I did finally pack our bags last night! I got together a few cute sleepers and gowns, a blue blanket, and the outfit he will have his picture taken in. It is a Feltman Brothers bubble that is white and blue and has a sweet baby rocking horse on it (thanks Aunt KK)! I packed a couple of pairs of socks, a 'boggin hat that says 'Carter' on the front (thanks again Aunt KK), a nursing wrap, Germ-X (gotta love cold and flu season),his brush (I'm guessing he will be bald though), and a couple of burp cloths. I didn't pack any diapers or anything like that because I know the hospital will provide those for us (and a lot of other things).
I don't think I'm going to bring him home in the Feltman Brother's outfit...it is short sleeved and it will probably be cool...so I think I am bringing him home in a little outfit my Mom bought him that is white with blue polka dots and says "Welcome to the World" on it :)
It is a onsie, a pair of cotton footed bottoms, and a little cotton jacket that matches the pants. It is sooooo cute.

My bag was not as fun to pack...PJ's, some long sleeve t-shirts I think will fit me, socks, house shoes...and then I have a list sitting on my bag of all the other things that I will have to grab...these are the things that I will need up until it's time to go...like make-up ect.

My last day of work is tomorrow. I have already cleaned off my desk, so it's very empty right now. I don't think I will be sad at first, but I may miss it eventually. But, I am so blessed to get the opportunity to stay at home with Carter and raise him. It will be a test of our faith in the Lord and a huge growing opportunity I am looking forward to.

I will post after my Doctor Appointment!

Merry Christmas

I have the best husband ever! Look at the diamonds and sweet Willow Tree figurine I got for Christmas!! Totally not expecting any of it...

(I have been slacking on my blog-sorry! But there are SEVERAL new posts below, check them out)