NICU

Well, our little "big" guy was sent to the NICU Tuesday night after being monitored in the nursery for about 5 hours. We had noticed that he was breathing fast earlier in the afternoon so they took him back to the nursery. After awhile they consulted with the neonatologist and he ordered some blood tests and a chest x-ray. Our family doctor was coming in that evening to do his circumsion so he was able to check him out and look at the x-ray. They all came into my room to let me know what was going on. The x-ray came back fine, and they were waiting on his blood work; but wanted him to be closely monitored so they were going to take him up to the NICU. They kept stressing to me that he was going to be just fine-but it was better for him up there than in the nursery where they had about 22 other babies to look after.
I understood and was fine with everything, but it was still very emotional. Luckily he didn't have an infection, or anything else. And we were able to take him home Wed evening after he finally got his circ done.
Here are a few pictures from the NICU:

Our poor guy all hooked up :(

Big Brother Aiden coming to take us home. We had to put on the gown and gloves, but it was fun putting everything else on him too :) He looks just like Daddy!

He was so funny holding his arms up like that-looking like he was going in for surgery :)

We're happy here because we get to go home soon!

Pictures

Devin Thomas 9 lbs 11 oz 21 in

Big brother Aiden helping Devin with his pacifier

Aiden making his silly face for Devin ;)

Proud mommy and daddy

Aiden so happy to see baby Devin

Aiden giving Devin a kiss (his favorite thing to do right now)

I could just stare at him all day

Kissing my big boy

I'll upload some more photos with the rest of the family soon, and give an update on what's been going on with Devin in the NICU. But good news is that he should be realeased and will get to go home later today with us. Soooo relieved and greatful.

Will post again soon-but now it's time to enjoy our celebration lunch-now that we have something more to celebrate :)

Baby Devin

We had our wonderful baby boy come into our lives on Monday at 11:40 in the morning. He was 9 pounds 11 ounces and 21 inches long. And I'm very proud to say that it took only two pushes...Let's just say I had a great epidural! And I'm feeling pretty good considering everything.
I'm going to keep this short for now, and post more tomorrow when we know more (and I get photos uploaded). Devin was doing great before, but earlier today we were noticing that he was breathing fast. After some observation in the nursery, they decided to have a neonatologist check on him. He has been transferred to the NICU, and it's unclear how long he'll be there. We will know more tomorrow. He could be discharged as early as tomorrow evening, or it could be more like 4 days if they have to give him any antibiotics. But the nurses keep stressing to us that he will be just fine.
We are greatful that he is getting the care he needs, and are anxiously anticipating taking a healthy "not so little" guy home with us :)
Thanks in advance for all the kind thoughts and prayers-we'll be keeping you posted soon-and with pictures I promise!

Keeping Cool

It is so hot here! Supposedly it's only in the low 80's, but I swear it feels hotter than that! Thank goodness Kiki is here to keep Boo company outside so I can stay inside-and blog a little ;)
She came in last night to surprise me and have Laura take me out while she watched our kids, thinking it would help distract me a little and have some fun without children. She was right. I have been feeling a little down in the dumps these past few days of waiting. Laura and I had a great time seeing Mama Mia!, eating some spicy food, and walking around doing a little shopping. Hey-I'm still trying ;)
But anyway, Here is a fun pool I got last year on clearance but just put together for Aiden. The only down side is that you have to keep the water running, and the lip of the pool is pretty shallow, So I feel like it wastes a lot of water. We turned it off and it still is fun for a little bit, but definately more enjoyable with the water going.

even I get in for a little cool-off before going back inside ;) (as big as ever!)

and of course making footprints has been the highlight of the day

Feeling Defeated

I figured I would put up a quick post to keep you all updated. No Pumpkin has not arrived yet. I had a doctor's appointment yesterday, and he told me that I should sneeze and go into labor! I have progressed as much as I really can without being in active labor. So I have a feeling that when it finally does happen, it will go fairly quickly. At least I hope it does. But I also don't want it to happen too fast, so our families can make it out here in time.

But the reason I am feeling defeated is because I scheduled an induction date. I have been pretty against it from the beginning, and it sucks that one had to be scheduled just in case. I was induced with Aiden after I was 3 days post term (which is today with Pumpkin now). He did not have an easy time even though I was only in labor for 12 hours start to finish. Part of me wonders if it was because I was induced, and so I have wanted to go naturally this time around.

But it seems to be out of my hands now. We decided to give it another week, and wait until next Wed for the induction. Again, my doctor is pretty sure I will go before that-but he said that last week too! I'm dealing with being uncomfortable and trying to be patient to let Pumpkin come when it's good and ready...but I'm definately ready.

I'm sorry if this post seems redundant for some of you-but unfortunately I don't have much else to post right now. I can't really go anywhere or do anything besides the normal everyday things. Life right now seems pretty boring-the calm before the storm. The best I can do is be prepared, which I think I am.

horse back riding

Can we say that I'm a little jealous? There was a family reunion on Sunday for my dad's side of the family, but unfortunately for me I was unable to attend because it was over 2 hours away. I was hoping to have had a baby by now, but alas I'm still preggers-and my due date was yesterday :( Oh well. But anyway, my dad took these photos and sent them to me last night. My mom used to have horses, and we had one up until I was about 9. We really loved Delbert, and were soooo sad and mad when we had to sell him because we were building a new house and were not allowed horses. It seems rare now that we have the opportunity to ride-so I'm happy for Mom and Hilary to have the chance. And if I was there-I probably would have gotten on to try and bounce the baby out ;) So maybe it's a good thing I didn't have the temptation! Anyway, I'm glad they had a good time, and I'm hoping that we can see them "very very soon" as Aiden has been stating for the past week :)

Godincidences

I'll start off by stating that yes, I'm still pregnant. Augh.
Ok, now onto my post. I love how the Good Lord works in mysterious ways. I don't like to think of things as coincidences but as Godincidences. I just ran into a girlfriend from college, whom I really didn't think I'd be seeing again any time soon. And I wouldn't have run into her if my mother-in-law hadn't suggested to go shopping for the baby.

I have been vehemently against buying anything gender specific for the baby so as to not jinx it one way or the other. But I think Sandy realized I needed some distraction and figured shopping would lift my spirits a little. She pointed out that if we bought for both boy and girl, we could just take back whatever Pumpkin wasn't. And that way I would still have some cute outfits for the summer before everything switched over to fall.

So we all planned on going shopping at Target quick, and then out to eat for dinner. Well, Micah and his parents came back from their bike ride pretty hungry, so we decided to do dinner before shopping. It is here that I recognized that God was really at work, and we didn't realize. We went to the restaurant that Micah and I have had nothing but good things to say about-and had the worst service experience! It took us forever to get our food, and even then not all our food. Aiden's dinner was the last to come out, and by that time everyone else had pretty much finished. We were there over and hour and a half-and couldn't believe that dinner had taken that long. (the food was still excellent though). So finally we were off to the store. If it hadn't been for that timing in the restaurant, I would never had run into my friend! And neither one of us had a clue that we both lived in the same town now. So we exchanged numbers, and I'm hoping we'll be getting together often in the future.

But it's little moments like that, that I think we can take for granted. Sometimes we don't always see where God is working in our lives, and realize that He's always there helping us along the way. But He is, and it's the little things like this that make me smile and I know I'm not alone. For me the thing to remember is that as much as we like to think we're in "control" and living on our time, we're not. We are on God's time. This has put things into some perspective for me right now. As frustrated and uncomfortable as I am right now, I realize that the baby isn't going to come on my time, but on God's time. And I'm not alone. Right now, I'm just along for the ride.

Some excitement last night

Well, we had a little excitement around here last night. We had a fire truck in front of our house! Sorry if you were expecting any news about Pumpkin-it's still being stubborn, even after a 2 mile walk (2 days in a row) 7 packets of hot sauce on nachos for lunch and a hot and spicy beef sausage for dinner! But anyhow-back to the fire truck...

We had just put Aiden to bed, and Micah was upstairs studying, and I was watching TV downstairs when through my windows I saw this huge glow and flicker. I was thinking, what the heck is that?? I look and it's my neighbors behind us having another bon fire-burning all the brush and such from their gardening. We love our neighbors, and a few weeks ago they invited all of us around for s'mores by the fire :) So I didn't think much of it, and went back to "So You Think You Can Dance".

About 25 minutes later I see this red flashing light through our front windows. Again, I'm thinking, what the heck is that! I call up to Micah, and he finally emerges from the office. We open our front door and our driveway and street in front is swarming with firemen! (How cool would that have been for Aiden to see-but I knew it would be a bad idea to wake him up for that). My first thought was, "I'm not in labor, what are they doing here?" I was having a baby brain moment I think. Then it occured to me that they were there because of the bon fire. I was so bummed for them! It was down to a mere camp fire by this time, and I was hoping they weren't going to be in any trouble, because they are allowed to have fires since they are not part of the subdivision.

Luckily, they did not have to extinguish the fire yet, and the firemen left-so I went out there to talk to them and find out what happened. It turns out that someone must have complained and called them in-however they are not within our zoning, so fires are ok. But they got issued the "rule sheet" which states that all fires have to be done by 5pm. Dumb huh? Who wants a fire when the sun is still out? Well, they were told to let it burn out, and then they would have to extinguish it before they went to bed.

Funny thing was, that everyone else had thought I was having the baby when they saw the fire truck coming! All our neighbors that came out to see the excitement all stated that they were sure I was having the baby and Micah must not have been home. Then when the firemen starting coming to the back they realized it was a baby false alarm.

Everyone is anxious, including me! But I tell you I am getting frustrated and a little irritated. I think it would be easier if there wasn't an expectation of going early. But when you're as far progressed as I am, and the doctor assures you that most women at this stage go within the next few days-you have some high expectations. Patience is not coming so easy anymore. Not to mention everyone asking in disbelief, "You're still pregnant?" and "You'll have the baby by the weekend for sure". Then you have others saying "You can't go until at least Monday!"

I guess I'm just done with it all. Luckily my in-laws are on their way here for the weekend anyway, and will provide some much needed distractions!