First Things First...Introducing.......

Kynlee Rose

8 lbs 10 oz. 21 in.

She was successfully born VBAC at 7:19 am on Monday morning 7/9/07

We are still in the hospital due to some extenuating circumstances, but give me a few days, and I'll post all about the birth!!! I can't wait to tell you all about how our little angel made it into this world. She is definitely a blessing from God!!!

More pictures to come...I promise!!!

I See the Light!

I guess there's light at the end of the tunnel after all! We had an appointment this morning, and received some encouraging information that I thought I'd pass along to you all!

This morning I woke up with lots of cramps...not contractions per say, but definite cramping. I wasn't too sure that was normal, and was a little concerned about what was going on inside. We already had a scheduled appointment, so perfect...I'll ask the doc. Well, because of the cramping and all the false labor, she wanted to "check" me, and make sure things were a-okay. Everything looked great, and in fact I am now 4 cm, 80 %, and -1. Slowly progressing, but progressing non the less!

Anyways...because of where we're at now, she feels comfortable inducing us, if that is our wish. She feels that we'll go "any time"...but I've heard the "any time" thing for the past couple of weeks. If I don't labor on my own through the weekend, then she'll induce me on Tuesday the 10th!!! Did you hear that...Tuesday the 10th! Yippeee...We finally get to meet our precious little angel! So here's to hoping I start laboring before the 10th, so we don't have to be induced...but if we do...so be it! It beats waiting until the 20th for our scheduled C-Section!

My Grandma said I'll probably just "explode" tomorrow right along with all the fireworks!!!

It Must Have Been the Full Moon!

Friday night around 10:00, I started having "regular" contractions again. They were about 5 or 6 minutes apart, and slowly getting a little stronger. Now, if you haven't been following along with my other false labor tales, you might think that 5 or 6 minutes apart really meant things were progressing...not for me. 5 or 6 minutes is really a weekly thing for me...the quality of the contractions is what I've been looking at now.

They really weren't any stronger than my daily tightenings, but I was definitely aware of them. Well, around 12:00am, they started getting a lot stronger, and were now 2-3 minutes apart, and lasting 45-60 seconds. Strong enough that I couldn't sleep through them, and was needing the breathe a little with each one...Huh...could this finally be the start?

After a couple of hours of this, Kevin and I decided to head up to the hospital. We got there, got all hooked up to the monitors, and got checked by the doctor...3 cm, 80% effaced. Okay...so we've got a ways to go. The doctor wasn't nearly as discouraged as I was, and told me to walk and "hang out" for a few hours, then she would come back and check me again. Sounds great!

She came in, looked at the monitor, and said by the "strength" and consistency of the contractions, she was sure things would be progressing nicely...Here we go...3 cm 80% effaced. Sighhhhh. "Go home, get some rest, and we'll probably see you back tomorrow, if not in a few hours." Fine...No problems here...I'd rather be at home laboring, instead of listening to the lady down the hall screaming "ouch...ooooouuuuuch....this hurts.....ooouuuwwwwyyy...ouch, etc."

We went home, took a nap on the couch, and what do you know...woke up with NO, yes you read right, NO contractions. Okay, back at square one...the waiting game.

It must have been the full moon...There were 5 deliveries between midnight and 3:00am the night we went in, and there really wasn't even a room available for us. The Lord is looking out for us, and for our precious little babe. We want the best care for him/her and me, and if that means we don't get it for a couple of weeks, then so be it. After all...the due date isn't until July 12th, so we've still got some time.

Just thought I'd vent, and update you all!

OUR plan...what's Gods'?

Kevin and I just got home from our 35 week Dr. Appointment, and thought we'd fill you all in on "the plan".

As of right now, the baby is definitely head down, and wedged in there pretty good! We still however have 5 weeks until the due date, meaning he or she could flip around at any time. If all goes well, our precious little babe will stay head down, and I'll be able to try for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). The doctors feel that we have a good chance for this because we only had the c-section due to Kallen being breech! They only allow VBAC's for patients that are "good candidates", and I guess I fall into that category! There are some risks with the VBAC, so we're trusting God that this baby will come into the world HIS way, and not ours. I really would like to try and have this baby without a C-Section, but if the Lord has other plans...then that's what will go with!!! If I don't go into labor on my own, they will not induce due to the risks, which means an automatic Cesarean on July 20th.

I've been having contractions throughout the day for the past few weeks, so the doctors are telling me to slow up a little and watch my activity level. They definitely want me to make it one more week, but obviously the longer this kiddo holds out, the better! I'm guessing these contractions are just a tease, and since the doctors are prepping us to go early...we'll pass up the due date for sure. Doesn't it always work that way!

Not so Little Anymore

Today marks the 32nd week in pregnancy #2!

We are so excited, and anxiously awaiting the arrival of our new baby boy or girl! Over the past few weeks, we've been pulling baby boxes down from the attic, and getting things organized in the soon to be nursery!

Before my "cousin" Amy had her second son Griffin, she posted a picture of an infant onsie compared to her hand. It was amazing to see how small our "little" boys used to be. I too began looking at all the tiny, tiny things Kallen used to wear, and found myself thinking..."he's not that much bigger now, right? He's still my baby boy, and surely he hasn't grown that much."

Well, I decided to put my "he hasn't grown that much" theory to the test! This is a picture of the first "outfit" my husband dressed Kallen in, the day we came home from the hospital!

This is the same outfit, taken this morning (18 months later). He was cracking me up with the hat, and has decided he wants it to be part of his attire all day today!

Okay fine, maybe he's not my little boy anymore! When looking at how these clothes used to fit him, and how they fit him now, I'm in shock. In 8 +/- weeks, we are going to have another precious little angel, who will once again make these teeny tiny clothes look big! Huh...it's hard to imagine.

Mommy Talk Monday

This weeks question is:

Describe your pregnancy...cravings, sickness, etc.

Kallen

I think I have to admit that I was probably the luckiest pregnant lady ever. I had no sickness or cravings of any kind. My body felt like "my body", and I LOVED every minute of being pregnant. Half the time I forgot I was pregnant...that was until the large growth that was protruding from my belly, ran into a wall, or didn't squeeze between something the way it used to. Anyways, I had no real complaints to speak of!

Baby #2

Not so much love this time around!!! I have definitely enjoyed being pregnant...I love the stretchy waist pants that you don't have to unzip to use the potty, the fact that I get to feel bloated after I eat something, and I don't have to try and hide it, the kicks and rolls that happen during baby #2's time at the gym each day (maybe he or she is a gymnast), know that God has blessed me with not only one, but two babies, etc, etc., but I haven't enjoyed how I'm feeling now that I'm in the third trimester. For the most part, the first 26 weeks were a-okay. Very similar to my pregnancy with Kallen...no sickness, cravings, weird pains, etc.

Now, it's a totally different story. As I've mentioned before, I have the most severe heartburn I've ever experienced, and now I'm dealing with lots of hip and pelvic pain and pressure. The doctor says things are just moving around, and making room for the baby, but I'm pretty sure my body isn't enjoying what this little kiddo is doing on the inside. Getting up in the morning takes several minutes, and lots of grunts and groans to get my body in a position where it actually wants to hold my weight and allow me to stand up. Oh well...only 10 more weeks right!!!

I feel blessed to be able to carry children at all, and these aches and pains I'm experiencing aren't changing my mind about having more children...now lets just see if I can talk my husband into it! No rushing of course...let's just get through this pregnancy first before we start talking about the next!

Mommy Talk Monday!!!

This weeks question is:

How did you tell your spouse/sig. other you were pregnant?

Was he happy, surprised, upset, worried, etc?

How did you feel?

Kallen (found out St. Patties Day...March 17, 2005).

Kevin and I were not "trying", but we weren't "preventing" either. I know...everyone tells us that "not preventing" is the same as "trying". We're not convinced. Anyways...Our idea was when it happens, it happens. On that note:

When Kevin and I got married we made a wish list. We wanted to buy a house, a truck, a camper or trailer and a ski boat before we had kids. We felt that if we waited to get the "toys" until we had kids, it may never happen. I know, materialistic, but remember...it was a WISH list. Well, the Lord blessed us with our house, our truck, our camper, and on March 17th 2005 our boat. Hold on...I'm getting to the answer.

I had been feeling "funny" for a few days, but I hadn't mentioned anything to Kevin...just in case it was nothing. On the day that we brought the boat home (ironically the last thing on our "wish" list), I got home before him, and quickly ran in to take a pregnancy test. 1 minute...2 minutes...3 minutes...POSITIVE...I was pregnant. I was going to plan this big surprise to tell Kevin, but I just couldn't wait. I laid the test on his pillow and waited. When he saw the little stick lying there from a distance, he just smiled and said "ha ha...very funny". I obviously wasn't laughing, so he just looked at me and said "really...what?...We're going to have a baby", and immediately took me in his arms, gave me a great big kiss, and asked me if I was okay, or if I needed anything! We were both ecstatic!

Baby #2 (found out November 6th, 2006)

Same scenario as with Kallen...Not "trying", but not "preventing". When Kallen turned 9 months, we decided to stop taking birth control, and see when the Lord blessed us with another little one!

Two months later I was feeling really weird. I was having lots of cramping and abdominal pain and was rather concerned. I told Kevin because if I wasn't pregnant, than something was seriously wrong. We took the test together, and held hands the LONG three minutes Hoping and praying it was positive, so we could rule out something more serious! It was! Baby number two was on his/her way!

Obviously we were both thrilled! We couldn't wait for Kallen to wear the "I'm going to be a big brother" T-shirt at his birthday party to tell the rest of the family!

28 weeks - Is someone sitting on my chest?

Here we are at 28 weeks, and the beginning of the third trimester.

I've heard for some women this is a very relaxing time in the pregnancy and things just run smoothly from here on out. Yeah, I'd like to know where those women are??? No, I'm only kidding. That was definitely the case when I was pregnant with Kallen. I had no issues to speak of other than the occasional SLIGHT heartburn attack. I was comfortable, full of energy, and often times forgot I was even pregnant...other than the humongous growth that was protruding from the middle region of my body! Anyways...things this time, are not so.

I have been having the worse bouts of heartburn I could ever imagine, and literally have such a lack of energy that I find myself crawling around the house to get places. Also if I'm down on the floor, Kallen doesn't think he has to be up in my arms all the time, which drains my daily allowance of energy to nothing.

When these heartburn attacks first began, I thought I was dying and that I needed Kevin to take me to the emergency room. I quite frankly thought I was having a panic attack or something because the first episode was the night before I left for Alaska. The whole next day I felt as if someone was sitting on my chest, making it nearly impossible to breath. The good ol' trusty doc recommended Zantac and said the symptoms should clear up within an hour. I watched that clock like a hawk, and the doctor was only about an hour off in her times. It took almost two hours to feel any relief, but when I did...Oh sweet relief!!!

Now I sleep propped up with several pillows (almost sitting), don't eat at least three hours before bed, and watch foods that seem to trigger the symptoms (which actually seems to be anything, so I'm a little stuck in that department!)

I keep telling myself it's all worth it to see my precious little babe here in another 3 months, but then 3 months sounds like forever...so I say 12 weeks...uhgg, still sounds like forever...what about 84 days...huh...is it really that long?

It's a.....

Baby!!! We had our ultrasound yesterday and found out we are having ONE baby boy or girl, not two! Sorry to all those of you who swore up and down I was having twins. No such luck for you! Oh...and we didn't give in. The sex of our little bundle of joy is still going to be a surprise on the day he or she arrives in our lives! You will all find out the second...okay maybe a few hours after we find out!

It never stops to amaze me what a miracle and a blessing little babies are. When I was lying there on the table with this little hand held joystick being maneuvered all over my tummy and our little baby was appearing on the screen for us to see, the emotions were overwhelming. This little breathing life is growing inside of me, and will soon emerge into this world...a little of Kevin, and little of me, whom we will hopefully nurture into a God loving man or woman, and teach the ins and outs of life. Wow...what a responsibility.

For those of you who have never had the opportunity to see a baby in the womb via ultrasound...I am sorry. It is the most amazing thing I have ever seen! Our little babe was lying there, heart pumping, legs and arms a-flailin', and head nodding, in it's nice cosy environment. In fact...The baby was so content in it's little environment that the ultrasound technician had a hard time getting any profile shots. She would talk to the baby and say..."okay little one, I just need you to lift your head a bit" and sure enough...on cue...the baby would nod it's head "no". Then we finally got a good view of the face, and baby immediately covered it's face with it's arms. Fine...don't cooperate. Oh well...we got one good shot, and I thought I would share it with you all! (It's the same scan...I just thought I'd rotate it so you can see the profile a little easier. If you look to the left of the picture, or the top depending on which one you're looking at...you can see the babies arm trying to cover it's face!)

I just wish I could remember...

So I've discovered that I really like being pregnant. Well, I knew that the last time as well, but this time just confirms it. I've had relatively no morning sickness, no weird cravings, and for the most part no uncomfortable pains or swelling. I know I'm still in the beginning (the last week of the 1st trimester to be exact)...But if this pregnancy goes anything like it did with Kallen, this will last throughout!!! One can hope right??? Anyways...The most enjoyable part about being pregnant (right now at least), is bed time. I am sleeping so well, I don't ever want to get out of bed. I've always been a deep sleeper, but nothing like it is now. I have very vivid, and detailed dreams almost every night, I just wish I could remember them in the morning. All I know when I wake up, is that I dreamed about something, and I've only got bits and pieces of it to remind me. I read something once that said you should wake up in the middle of the night after you've had a dream, and write it down...since that's when it's the most fresh in your mind. Okay, great idea, now how do I accomplish that. Where do they sell the alarm clock that wakes you up when your dream is over. Anyone? Anyone? Huh...when someone finds that clock, will you let me know!

We need more arms

So here I am, getting my first reality check about the new baby! My friend Brandy needed a favor today, and asked me to watch her 4 month old son Dawson.




Isn't he the cutest!!! Anyways...of course I said yes, not exactly sure what the day would have in store for me. I was most pleasantly surprised, but did get a little taste of what it will be like when the new baby arrives!!! For 14 months now, Kallen has been the only one. All my attention is focused on him, and my arms are always available for that precious hug he needs every now and then...or just to hold him. He hasn't had to face the problem of me holding another baby in my arms, trying to get lunch ready, and having him tug on my legs to get up. It would sure be nice to have four arms. One to hold each child, and the other two to get things done. I might send a memo up to God to share my suggestions with him. Four or more arms is the way to go, especially for moms and dads! Anyways...today Kallen was faced with that, and it was pretty interesting. Kallen reverted to being a little baby, which was much to be expected. When Dawson was in the swing, Kallen would walk over, and try to pull him out, so he could get in the swing himself. If Dawson was laying on a blanket playing with a rattle or something, Kallen wanted to lay on the blanket and play (with the exact same toy D had of course!) It was pretty comical actually.

I will say that having two little ones around will definitely help keep me skinny. I've done more acrobatic moves today than I've done since I was a little tyke myself. Holding D in my arms, and pushing Kallen around on his little truck with one foot, while hopping on the other foot must have been a hilarious sight for the neighbors!!!

All in all, we had a good day, and things went off without a hitch. Not too many jealous tears were shed from either child, and D's face is still in tack. (Kallen tends to try and rip other babies faces off). We all took naps at the same time, and took turns in mommy and auntie Kati's arms!

The only thing that got neglected was the house work. Today was laundry day, so I guess I'll start that when Kallen goes to bed, and I might take a real quick grocery trip in between loads. If that's all that didn't get done, I guess I did pretty good for my first day with two little munchkins. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it with more and more practice.

So...can I be ready for two little ones after only one day of practice. Huh...maybe Brandy will let me borrow Dawson a few more days before baby number two comes!!!