This is probably the most beautiful picture I've ever taken...what's so special about this one, you ask, besides the precious baby in it? Well, this is my two week old daughter sleeping in her own bed! Yes, it is a miracle! I couldn't get Blake to sleep in his own bed until he was like 6 months old! This little girl has no problem taking her naps there! She'll sleep for hours in her crib! It's so liberating being able to put her down for awhile--I never had that freedom with Blake! She looks so cozy, doesn't she?

Learning about Jesus...
Blake and his cousins Wesley and Morgan..Blake is a couple of months younger than Wesley...heehee
Blake and Wesley

We went to Bryce's aunt and uncle's house for Easter and had a very nice afternoon with everyone. They had a big egg hunt for the kids, which was really fun!

Easter

Blake and Mommy both got baskets from the Easter Bunny!
Miss Kendall just missed being able to get a basket of yummies from the Easter Bunny! We had the basket, but no baby!
Blake coloring eggs

With all of the Kendall excitement, I nearly forgot to post our Easter pictures! Sooo....Here goes!

Blake being silly with Grandma Charla and Kendall
Kendall's umbilical stump fell off yesterday, so we decided it was time for her first real bath! Blake insisted on being in the tub, too, so we let him get in for a bit.

Kendall had to be hooked up to a heart monitor for 24 hours starting on Monday. We turned the monitor into the doctor on Tuesday and then had the appointment to go over the results today. Her monitor reading was "pristene"--no incidents, no episodes, just a perfect heart rate! She'll go in again in another month to do the same thing and then we will probably be able to change her medication administration to every 8 hours instead of every 6 hours. I'm really looking forward to that! Every 6 hours is sort of a pain! But she's doing very well! Sleeps a ton and when she's not sleeping, she thinks she's hungry....I call her "Rooter Scooter" because she's constantly rooting for something to eat! I forgot about how cute that reflex is! Blake's doing really well too. He's been home with me and my mom all week, but will go back to school part time next week. I have to keep paying to save his spot, so he's going to continue to go....I htink he'll enjoy having his friends around to play with as well...I'm pretty sure I'm boring! The rest of us are just trying to get sleep when we can...I feel surprisingly good for as little sleep as I've been getting.

Grampy got to come down and visit for the weekend! It was short and sweet and we missed being able to hang out with him--we were in the hospital most of the time he was here....Hopefully we'll see him again soon!

Aaawwwww!!!

Blake, Kendall, me and Mimi

Aunt Sandy and Kendall!

Right before she was discharged!

Getting her pictures taken! She was alert right up until the picture lady got there....then she went to sleep for her pics! Oh, well!

Going home! Still sportin the belly....I wanted a pic of what I looked like right after, even though I know it's not good...lol!

And we're home!!!!

My Birth Story

Well, I knew I was having contractions the morning of the 25th, but I sort of just ignored them because I had been having false labor contractions all week. I dropped Blake off at school and went to my dr's appointment at 10am where he examined me and found I was at 4cm and fully dilated--ready to go! He told me to get to the hospital ASAP, but I wanted to go home and labor for awhile. I waited for Bryce to get home from work (he was out in the field over an hour away from our house!) and took a shower, did some housework, packed some more things in my hospital bag....We arrived at the hospital at 1:30pm--I was 5cm at that point. I waited about an hour and got my epidural before the pain got any worse. The doctor broke my water shortly after that. Another hour and a half and I was 7cm! By 7:02pm, I was fully dilated and ready to push. I didn't know if I would be able to have this baby without a c-section, so I just went into it thinking I'd be happy either way as long as Kendall came out healthy! Well, 19 minutes and three contractions later, we were welcoming Kendall into the world! The entire day went by so quickly! I was so happy to have the birth experience I had had. It was pretty much painless and quick...what more could you ask for? Kendall was in the delivery room with us for about an hour and a half before they wisked her away to the nursery for her first bath. It was at this time they discovered her heart condition--Supraventricular Tachycardia....from there, I think you know the story. My aunt Sandy and Bryce were in the delivery when Kendall made her way into the world. Bryce was able to cut the cord, which was so special! Blake arrived at the hospital with Aunt TT and Grandma Pam just shortly after Kendall came--no one expected her to come as quickly as she did--not even the doctor! It was all just a wonderful, emotional, special experience and I'm so glad to have had it!

NICU

Poor baby hooked up to all of those monitors!!! Nothing was keeping her alive, she was doing all of that on her own, but she did have an IV feeding her and monitors making sure she was maintaining a constant lower heart rate.
A few hours after Kendall was born, we got to go see her in the NICU--this is not how a parent wants to see their child!!!
Bryce's first time holding Kendall
My first time holding Kendall Poor pooper!!!!

After Kendall was born, I got to have her in the delivery room with me for about an hour and a half. They took her to the nursery to give her her bath and that's where she had her first episode. Her heart rate skyrocketed to 260 (normal is between 80 and 130ish....it varies, but you get the point). We were waiting in our post-delivery room for her to come in with us when a nurse walked in and told Bryce and me about the "episode" and let us know she had been taken to the NICU. We didn't know what to say....we didn't know what would happen from there. We didn't understand the condition our daughter has and if they were trying to tell us we didnt' have much time with her....After awhile, we were able to go up to the NICU and see her, but all we could do was touch her-- we couldn't hold her that first night. They had her hooked up to so many things, it was crazy! I remember just sitting in the chair staring at her half way passing out from being so tired, but refusing to leave her!

The NICU opens and closes throughout the day, so we were in there every moment we could be just sitting with her, holding her, hoping for her...They were open from 11:30pm until 6:30am, so we were in there with her most of that time. It was pretty rough because holding her was difficult due to all of the wires and the IV in her head, but we didn't care, we had to hold her anyway! We couldn't just pick her up and walk around or anything like that, of course, we had to pick her up and basically sit in a rocking chair near her area. I got to change her diapers almost immediately, which was pretty difficult, again, due to the wires everywhere!

I have so many things to update, I'm overwhelmed! It's nearly 1am, so I need to get to bed...I wanted to let everyone know we were finally able to bring Kendall home yesterday afternoon around 2pm. She's doing excellently! We're taking her to see the cardiologist tomorrow morning to get a heart monitor for her. We'll monitor her heart rate for 24 hours and then we will go back again Thursday to make sure everything is still going well. She's on medication that we give her orally every 6 hours. It's difficult to give a newborn medication and especially that frequently, but we know that it is helping her poor little heart maintain its normal rhythm, so we're managing. I'll update the blog more when I get a chance....I have tons and tons and tons of pictures to share!!!!

Happy family
Blake and aunt TT seeing Kendall for the first time
Blake got to escort Kendall to the nursery for her first bath!!!

Labor & Delivery

Still feelin good at this point!
Miss Kendall came so quickly, Bryce almost forgot to take pics!!!
Wide eyed and wondering what just happened!!!!!
Happy daddy
Happy mommy

It's A Girl!

Just a quick update: Kendall Reese Eddie was born Tuesday, March 25th at 7:22pm. She weighed 8lbs 4 ozs and was 20 inches long! I had an absolutely wonderful birth experience (I'll have to update later). We are still in the hospital and hope to be leaving tomorrow. Kendall has a minor heart condition called SVT (I can't remember the entire word, but that's the short version). Basically, it causes her heart rate to sky rocket. She's on medication that we'll have to administer to her once she's home, but she's stabilized now and doing really well. She was admitted to the NICU a few hours after birth and has been there nearly three days now. I was discharged from my room yesterday afternoon, but, luckily, the hopsital is letting us stay in the room free of charge as long as they have room availability. She's nursing like a champ, so I've been sleeping an hour here and there and then running up to the NICU to feed her every three hours, so I'm sorry I haven't made any calls! She's absolutely beautiful and very even tempered and happy despite all of the needle pokes, wires, monitors and IVs (she's had three separate IVs placed in her scalp....I can't wait for those to come out!). She has her mommy's dark brown hair and olive skin. She's down to 8lbs even now, which seems so little to us compared to Blake--he was 8lbs 15ozs! Once we're home, I'll be able to upload the pictures--we have hundreds! Hopefully it will be early afternoon tomorrow....Please pray she continues to remain stable and doing well! I should mention that SVT is a condition she'll eventually grow out of and it's not really fatal.

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I'M IN LABOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I went in for my 41 week check up this morning....I was feeling TERRIBLE! I was having contractions, but I was trying to ignore them because I've had them every night for the past 4 or 5 nights and they've just been false labor contractions. Well, I get to the doctor and go in to give my sample and I had some bloody show (sorry to my male readers). I went in the exam room and told the nurse it was going to be today or tomorrow and she told me I just didn't have that look about me.....Well, the doctor came in and I told him the same thing....He hands me a piece of paper with "March 31st, 7am" written on it. He said if I didn't have the baby before then, I would have to be induced that date and that he already had the appt set for me. Uuuummm.......well, he checked me and I was 4cm dilated and 100% effaced and the baby was at -2 station! He told me I needed to go to the hospital right away!!!!! I started crying!!!! Lol! I was at the appt by myself and I really wanted to spend some time laboring at home before going to the hospital. He said I could go home and get some things, but that I needed to come back soon. I sent Bryce the text he's been waiting for--"You need to come home, I'm in labor!!!!" Of course, they sent him to a location an hour away from our house! I'm sitting here waiting for him to get home so we can go. Ssssooooooo....KENDALL WILL BE HERE SOON!!!! It'll probably be a few days before I can post anything, so hold tight! Ok, my bet is that Kendall is 8lbs 6ozs.....can't wait to find out! I'm already in active labor, so it won't be long at all before we meet her! I'm so freaking out!!!!!

We signed Blake up to play tee ball this April! Bryce has been trying to practice with him so that he has a clue as to what's going on when they start practicing in a few weeks. Well, he gets bored or frustrated or something and just doesn't want to play anymore. So...here he is pouting and having a mild fit about playing tee ball...lol! This season should be really interesting! At least his friend Matthew will be on the same team to help keep him motivated! He's already showing some competitivness (do not beat him down the stairs when you're walking together....trust me, he gets all bent out of shape if he doesn't beat you!!!!), so....should be an experience to say the least!

Don't let the smile fool you....I am NOT a happy person any longer. This is the gigantic me (the angle really isn't helping anything, either) at 40 weeks 1 day. 40 weeks 1 day, you ask? Aren't normal people pregnant only 40 weeks? Yes...this is the typical case. Me...No, no, I don't get to be that lucky EVER. I get to be the one who watches everyone due before them have their babies like weeks before their due date while I get more and more miserable. So...yay.

I worked my butt off today in hopes of stirring something up....So far, just a few mild contractions that aren't growing in intensity or regularity. I cleaned the windows inside and out, steam cleaned the carpet, put the car seat in the car, went for a walk, gave Blake a bath....and nothing. I seriously don't want to be induced, why can't this kid come out on her own!?!?! The only thing I can think of is that she got the Cary Family genes....All of the Cary women (that's my mom's side) are habitually late (I do not fally within this category.....Unfortunately, because they're also all very thin, pretty and ageless....humph), so I guess I shouldn't have ever expected anything more than a late daughter!!!!

Well....I'm still here...still pregnant. Tomorrow is my due date and I don't see this kid budging. Geez, what is the deal!?! I must have something really good going on in there because neither of my kids would get the heck on out when they were supposed to! I have just been running a ton of errands....I had fun running around today. Everyone who asked me when I was due was shocked that I was out getting my hair done and shopping at the mall. I guess they expected me to be home.....lol!

I went to the doctor yesterday....2cm dilated 70% effaced. Blah...good progress, I suppose, but not good enough! I was hoping for more! Oh, well...We were sort of hoping she would be forn today since it's my grandpa's birthday, but I guess that's not going to happen! Hopefully she'll avoid her actual due date--it's Bryce's sister's birthday and she's already let us know she doesn't want to share....My doctor said he's on call this weekend, so it would be perfect for her to come any time after Thursday! Easter Sunday would be really cool! Or even Good Friday.....one of those days. Dr. said he won't let me go past the 31st, so hopefully she comes on her own, I don't really care to be induced.

Well, that's my update for now. I'm just waiting....

Yippee skippee!!!!!! Today's my last day of work and I couldn't be happier about it! I'm going to be coming back here, but not until June 23rd. It sounds like a long time, but I know those 3 months will fly by before I even know what's hit me! I'm just so ready to spend some time relaxing at home before Kendall comes. I'm so exhausted and so tired of getting up at the crack of dawn every morning to get Blake to school and me to work. Blake will keep going to school on a part time basis in order to hold his spot, but I won't have to get up early to get him there anymore--I can take him a little later now! Yay! I'm trying not to disrupt his schedule too much so that he doesn't feel too out of sorts with all of the changes that will be happening at home. I know he'll enjoy being able to go to school each day and see his friends--he really does have some good friends at his school--it's so cute! Every morning, his friend Aaron runs to greet him with a hug! And Blake told me the other morning "Mommy, my Aaron is here!!!" It was so cute! We've had a playdate a few times with Aaron, but we need to do it again soon.

Anyway....so, I'm super excited to be off work for awhile! I'll be getting a new company lap top in a about six weeks so I can work from home part time, which will be great. I figure I'll work 2-3 hours per day just processing a few orders and such. I hope it will lead to something more permanent as far as working from home goes, but I'm not holding my breath! But, yeah, I'm super excited to get a small break and to be home with the kiddos for awhile! I'm sure I'll be anxious to get back to work after such a long break (sounds crazy, I know) and I'll miss my coworkers! But for now....I'm sssooooooooo ready for this to be my last day!!!! Yay!!!!

Ok, I Feel Better Now....

Ok....I went to this local restaurant with Hollee and had $3.95 breakfast and I'm better now. Lol! I did tell my boss for sure today that Monday will be my last day before my maternity leave. I intend to come back June 23rd. It sounds like a long time, but I know it will all just fly by!

I just got a call from PBK and they're selling a floor model bed that I've been wanting for Blake forever, so I'm getting it for more than half off the original price!!!!!!! I'm so excited! Blake is going to love his new bunk bed!!!! We get to pick it up the day after Easter, so, fun! Oh, and by the way, the name of the collection the bed is a part of is the Kendall collection...lol!

Anyway, just had to share that! Thanks everyone for your supportive comments....I'm a crank these days! What can I say?

SCREW IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alright, alright....all along, I've been comfortable, haven't been complaining much, I've been working, fairly happy.....but today...I GIVE UP, alright!?! Screw it! I'm over this crap! 39 weeks pregnant today and not so much as a sign of impending labor! I pulled my pants on today and they were tight, I'm tired of wearing the same clothes over and over--none of them look cute anymore anyway, I'm a huge elephant! I can't wear any shoes other than my stupid flip flops and I'm tired of wearing them (I never thought I'd say something like that EVER!!!). I can't eat, although I'm freaking starving. I hate sitting in my chair at work all day....I can only sit reclined because Kendall thinks she owns the place or something and gets all in a hussy if I try to sit up straight! Getting out of bed is the worst part of my day....I'm just over it. Oh, and I usually have breakfast at work (frozen waffles or hot pockets or something), but I forgot I haven't been to the store in nearly 3 weeks and I have nothing to eat and no car (I carpool and it's not my day to drive), so I'm just sitting here starving. I don't have lunch either. I'm just over it. I think Monday will be my last day of work. I wanted to make it til the day I give birth, but what the heck is the point if I feel like this!?! I might as well just stay home...So, screw that stupid optimism BS I was spewing before. I'm tired of this crap....I'm ready for it to be over.

Update

So I had a doctor's appt last Tuesday and I was 1 CM dilated and 60% effaced....good progress, I was thinking. This morning I had my 39 week check up and at a "loose" 1 CM (almost 2) and 70% effaced. I wish I would have asked the station, but I did not. So, I'm making progress steadily. I have a week and a half before my due date and I'm just sort of hanging out. I don't feel overly anxious, I'm still sleeping well (and Lisa, I haven't felt like I can't breathe so much as I did with Blake.....Her head is actually pretty low, but, I dunno, she seems high to me, too), can't eat because of the heartburn and for fear of acid reflux, but....you know, all's pretty well. I've got everything I need for the first few months, I have all of the laundry clean and organized by size, my hospital bag is packed....we're ready! I need to get the car seat in my car, but we've been putting that off for whatever reason. Anyway....I have some pictures I will post soon! We finally got a new camera over the weekend, so I've got to learn how to use it--it's a different brand than we've ever had before, so I am not familiar with how things work yet....but as soon as I get that all squared away, I'll post some new pictures! Hope everyone's doing well! I'll keep you updated as I know things!!!!

37 Weeks

Well, you've probably seen more pics of my belly than you've ever cared to, but....well, what can I say? I keep taking the pictures every week, so I feel compelled to share them. 2.5 more weeks! I have an appt tomorrow and I'll have my first pelvic exam...I'm excited to see if there has been any progress! We shall see....this baby will probably be late just like Blake was, but whatever....she can come whenever she wants.

Isn't My Son the Sweetest!

We had a busy weekend this past weekend and I just needed to sit and rest Sunday afternoon. My feet have been mildly swollen the past couple of days because I haven't been resting enough, so my dear son came and rubbed them for me--I didn't even have to ask! He even ran upstairs to get the camera so I could take a picture of him! He sure does have his sweet moments (In between telling me he doesn't like me or that he doesn't love me....I thought those kinds of tantrums came later in life, but apparently it's three....)

Old Man Pants

Since Bryce sometimes does this joking around, Blake thinks it's hilarious to hike his pants up and run around...I'll tell ya, what entertains boys mystifies me....

The Finished Product

Ok, well, this is as done as it's going to get for now. I still need more wall accessories, but those aren't a priority right now. Everything's ready for a baby to come!