The last 2 weeks in pictures.......

We are having SO much fun being the proud parents of Caden Wesley! Here's pics from the last 2 weeks - can't believe he's already 2 weeks old!! (In reverse order because I messed it up somehow :)).........

Due Date = A Tuesday with Caden :)

For so long November 10th was such a huge day - the day Caden was due to arrive :). But, since he arrived last Wednesday, November 4th, today ends up being "just a Tuesday :)" Kinda funny to me.

We are doing great - sorry so long for the post, but all you moms understand :). Caden is adorable and wonderful in every way. He is sleeping well, eating well, and wrapping mom & dad right around his little finger day by day, haha. He has decided 10 pm to 2 am is kind of a good time to hang out and have some fun, but hopefully slowly we can convince him to switch that to Central Standard time and let that be the time mom and dad can sleep some :). But, considering he's 6 days old, we're doing pretty good on the sleeping thing!

Caden was born at 8:28 pm on Wednesday, November 4th. It was a wonderful day! I didn't sleep Tuesday night, as I was having contractions off & on, but wasn't sure whether or not I should go in - didn't want to be the girl with false labor. So, finally at 2:30 I decided we should go in "just to be sure" nothing was happening. We arrived to the hospital at 3:00 am, and they hooked me up to a monitor and had me drink lot's of water and lay down for 1 1/2 hours. When the contractions were consistenly still there & getting stronger, they called the doctor and the doctor said to admit me. Today was going to be the day our son was born (hopefully!!).

So, we got all settled into our room by about 5:00 am and then I called my mom and sister. They were besides themselves and couldn't get to the hospital fast evough on their standards! Anyhow, a while later Kelly joined us and Bryan came, too. We were playing games and hanging out, I was so blessed to have my great circle with me.

The doctor came in at 8 and broke my water. I need to get this typed before baby wakes so I won't get into all the details until later, but by 7:30 pm I was finally complete & ready to push. They had me start pushing at 8:00, but then after 2 pushes the nurse told me I had to stop b/c the head was right there, and the doctor wasn't. So, at 8:10 the doctor came flying into the room, got her scrubs on, and my contractions stopped. They upped pitocin, they started again right away, I began pushing and after about 5 or 6 pushes (10 minutes or so), he was here!! It was amazing! I will post more pics later.

I just can't believe how much I love this little guy - I was put on this earth to be a wife and mommy, if nothing else, I know that :). It is just the greatest & we are so blessed. I can't say enough about Jared and how incredible he was through all of this. He never left my side and took such good care of me both at the hospital and as I am recovering. I couldn't imagine doing it all without him - he is amazing!

Well, gotta run - more later!

Thanks for all your support - can't wait for Caden to get to know YOU!!

Emily

Any day now, little man......

We had a doctor's appointment Thursday morning - sorry I'm a little slow in posting an update about it. I've been battling sinus crud since last Tuesday, and still not feeling real whippy. So, I'm a little slow :).

Doctor predicted on Thursday that I might just have this baby this weekend - I was close to 2 cm dialated and 70% efaced, which I'm told is good for a first baby. Anyhow, she said she wouldn't be suprised if I went on my own this weekend or very soon. Despite my feeble attempts to help baby along, he hasn't made his grand entrance yet, obviously! My next appointment is Thursday morning, so if he hasn't made it by then, she said we will 'decide what we want to do.'

So, hopefully if not sooner by Thursday I will know when little man will arrive! He has dropped and it's a wee bit uncomfortable these days, but those are all good signs! If I'd just kick this congestion crud that keeps hanging on, I'd be in much better spirits.

We'll keep everyone updated - shouldn't be long now! I keep reminding baby that we have lot's of cute clothes for him and 'cool' stuff in his room, if he'd just come out. But, I guess he thinks it's cozy in there - whatever! I'll try really hard to keep being patient, as a week is nothing in the grand scheme of things!

Talk to you soon!

Emily

17

The countdown says 17 - heehee, do you believe it?!?! 17 days and counting. Where has the time gone? I'm so excited!! And it's Husker game day, to boot!! Oh little man, we're so excited for you to be here!! And, we FINALLY picked a name FOR SURE - no changing our minds anymore!! Yay, can't wait to share it with you all along with a cute little pic of him!!

Home Stretch

Hi everyone,

I've been really slacking on updates - sorry :). We had our ultrasound a week ago Friday, and baby is about 6 pounds, so he'll be about 8 at birth or so. He has a 'big head' according to the doctor. Suprise, my sister & I never could wear those one size fits all hats!! Haha. Anyhow, everything looked good.

They had just gotten a 3D ultrasound machine in & wanted to try it out on us, so we got a free 3D ultrasound!! It was so cool. I'm posting those pics on here. When they got a picture of his face, Jared turned to me and said, "oh my gosh it's your dad!!" - needless to say, many have agreed that the ultrasound, especially the first couple pics, look like Dana!! It's bizarre!

We go back to the doctor today. 3 weeks from tommorow is due date. As you can see on the countdown, we're down to 22 days - woohoo! I started my shots a week ago Saturday, and all has gone pretty well considering. My body didn't seem to have to 'adjust' to them like back when I first started shots & got so sick. I'm just really achey the Sunday after I take it, but that is normal & to be expected. So, I can't complain.

Just really ready for baby to get here! Not really sleeping well anymore and don't like asking for help, so I'm getting frustrated even though I shouldn't! Bending over, sitting, walking, it's all a task these days it seems - haha! Will be so glad when baby is here!

Jared's grandad Wes passed away last Tuesday. We were able to go down and see him the week before he passed away. And, Jared was able to make it down there for his last minutes of life. It's been really tough on Jared, especially since I know he was so excited to make Grandad a Great-Grandad in just a few weeks! But, he is not suffering anymore & is at peace. They are holding a memorial service for him in Mullen, NE on October 28th, so I am praying that everything works out so that Jared can head out there for that; I really want him to be able to be there. I would love to go, too, but needless to say me being 6 hours away from my doctor in the middle of 'nowhere' isn't recommended by the doctor right now :)!!

Well, I'll try to be better at updates from here on out I promise!! Who knows, maybe next update will be that baby is here - haha!!
Take care,
Emily

Quick Update

Hi All -

Quick update......short I promise - yes, I'm capable :). Just got home from baby class, so I'm ready for bed, but wanted to update.......

Went to the doctor yesterday, and heartbeat & all is still great with baby. BUT, doctor is wanting to know how big baby is, as I am measuring big and "all baby" in my stomach, so she has scheduled an ultrasound for Friday the 9th of October at 9:30. I am personally excited to get to peek at my little guy again :), but the diagnose of "fetal weight determination" for the ultrasound reason makes me a little nervous :). Oh well - needless to say, we're 42 days (or less) away, and all is going well :).

We will update you after the ultrasound & post pics of baby's room which will hopefully (finally) be complete by next week at this time :).

Take care!!

Emily, Jared, and Baby Boy

Finally, another post

Sorry, I'm slacking on posting updates. I promise I'll be better at that :). The countdown is on - less than 8 weeks, folks!! I'm so excited, have I mentioned that yet?!?!

We had an apointment Monday. Jared didn't get off work in time, so I told my mom she could meet me and get to hear her grandson's heartbeat if she'd like. Of course, she didn't pass up that offer :). I'm measuring a week ahead still, which, again I was informed by the doctor doesn't mean he's coming early, but rather that he's going to be a big boy. Neat, thanks doc!! We'll take him either way of course, we just want him to be healthy, but I told her she's not allowed to tell me things like, "He's going to be big!!" We shall see......

Heartbeat was higher this time than last - about 145. It was only 3 weeks between this apointment and the one before that. Doctor said she wants to see me again at 2 weeks (I'll be at 34 weeks then). She said she may do an ultrasound at 36 weeks just to see "what we're dealing with" in regards to baby's size. Um, did you say I get to sneak a peak at my baby again - sure, if you insist!! But, we'll see if she ends up doing that or not.

I will start on my Avonex medication starting October 10th. It is the shot I get once a week in the leg muscle for my multiple sclerosis. Since I haven't been on it since last July, my body may have to adjust all over again. I am praying that it 'remembers' the medicine and I don't have to go through the horrible side effects of first using the medicine like I did last time. But, either way we shall survive! I figure if it is hard to adjust again, at least I'm getting a month under my belt before little man arrives. And, it should help with some of the risks associated with post-pardem and MS. I've 'beat all the odds' so far and will continue to do so if I have anything to say about it!!

We are slowly getting the room ready. I very much want it to all be ready now, as I feel like a walking time bomb!! Hopefully he doesn't decide to join us for a while yet, but I want to be prepared either way. I told Jared I feel like an overfilled water balloon these days, like I could just 'pop', so feeling like I need to get all these things done!

We started our Childbirth classes last night. They are for 4 weeks, every Tuesday night. We also got a tour of the "Baby Tower" at Bryan - SO AMAZING!! I cannot wait! It made it very real to be there. Although, pretty sure I about had a panic attack just 'touring' the delivery room, eeks, better get over that!! I decided I like the post-pardem floor better - you're done with delivery & baby is with you :). Haha. When the instructor asked who was planning on getting an epidural, I raised my hand high in the air with no shame, only to realize that the few others who did raise their hand barely had it in the air. Whatever, I'm not embarassed, I'm getting the epidural thankyouverymuch!! I'll be the oddball in class if that's what that means - drugs for me, please!! Kudos to those who don't, but I don't have any intentions of that. In a class of 20 pregnant ladies, I think I"m just being honest & there's a few that aren't being so honest if I was one of the only ones.......oh well, we shall see!! The nurse said epidural rate is about 94%, so that adds up to a few more in class. Birth plan for me = epidural, please!!

Well, Jared and I keep looking at our list of things to get done for baby and realizing that the list isn't getting shorter nearly as fast as the days left on the calendar till baby comes - better get hoppin'!! Take care!!