1st week

This has been a very big week and as I sit here and think about things I can't believe its been a week already!! In some ways I cannot remember what life was like without my sweet little guy but in other ways it seems like he was just born yesterday. I plan on using this blog like his 1st years scrapbook so I want to document milestones and try to remember all of the fun and special times we have.

To my sweet Caden,
You have been the light of my life for the past week. I never knew love like this until I heard you cry for the first time. I sit and watch you sleep and I thank God for giving me you and I pray that he prepare me to be the mommy that you need. Just a few stats for your first week

You are back up to your birth weight

You are not a fan of diaper and wardrobe changes at all.
In fact, we joke that you just hate your life during those moments

Bath time is not a favorite either but you LOVE the warm towel at the end

You are nursing like a champ but not a big fan of mommy's schedule.
You would rather make your own schedule!

You sleep through most visits from friends.

You sleep on daddy's chest for a couple of hours after your bath and you & daddy both love that special time. You don't move once you are there until we move you.

You don't sleep well lying flat so most nights you sleep in your bouncer and will sleep 3 hours at a time and probably longer if I didn't wake you up.

I am an over-protective mommy so we aren't leaving the house unless you have a doctors appointment for awhile. We are comfy here!

Caden, you are a very special little boy and I am so thankful to have you. I am enjoying every moment I have with you and making a point of not "wishing" time away. I enjoy this day and this age and my prayer is to take it all in because you will only be a newborn once. And I don't want to miss a thing!!

Diaper disaster

Everyone knows there is always a BIG chance you will get pee'd on with little boys. Matt and I have been very cautious with this since we've been home. But we had a really off day. In the middle of the night, when I am barely awake and functioning, before I had a chance to cover my little guy, he pee'd all over himself, his pajamas, his toy, the changing pad and the wall. Oops!! So after changing & cleaning everything the very same thing happened at his next diaper change! I really wasn't feeling like mom of the year that's for sure! But my little man didn't really seem to mind. As long as he got to eat he was quite happy and content! Then we went on our first outing to the doctor. I was prepared and had the diaper bag packed the night before and our schedule all figured out... but my little guy didn't exactly want to go by my schedule... he thought it was more fitting to eat for 15 minutes more then usual. So by the time we arrived at the doctor I was a frazzled new mom. Then while we were there Matt frantically motioned to me to come fast and our poor little guy had a blow out in his diaper! We laughed and laughed and knew we would always remember our first family outing and as crazy as it was I wouldn't change it for anything. I love my new life as a mommy!

While we were at the doctor we found out Caden is already back to his birth weight. Evidently this is sooner then most babies who exclusively nurse and I have a feeling we are going to have a little chunk on our hands! And I love it!

Matt took good care of our little guy at the doctor. He is such an amazing daddy. It makes my heart melt watching him take care of him and love on him. I always knew he was an amazing man but I fall in love with him more everyday seeing him interact with Caden. I am one blessed girl!


I am one proud mommy... if that isn't obvious enough!

Caden... your daddy sure is silly!

Stats

Caden Andrew Kerr
Born 6/23/11 @ 10:53p.m.
7lbs 14oz and 19 1/2 inches

Our story...

My sweet baby boy has finally arrived after much anticipation and prayer. We have been home for 2 days now but life has been so busy I haven't had time to update. I have been asked to post "Our story" so I will tell all about the days events. I will warn you... this may be long.

I went to the doctor on Wednesday June 22 and still was not dilating or progressing but was 40.3 weeks pregnant at that time. Dr Bates said he wanted to admit me to the hospital Wednesday night to start Cervadil with the hopes it would start progressing my body to dilate. Matt and I arrived at the hospital at 6:00p.m. and the cervidal was started around 8:00. I started having contractions that were every 2 and a half to 3 minutes around 10:30p.m. and that lasted all night. They weren't unbearable but definitely felt them. I did manage to get a couple hours of sleep. At 6:00a.m. my pitocin was started and my water broke on its own around 7:45a.m. When Dr. Bates came in to "check me" shortly after I still was not dilated but he said he would be back sometime early afternoon to check again. My contractions continued to get worse and I can honestly say it was not fun. But I kept telling myself I would meet my little boy soon and it would all be over. By the time Dr. Bates came back around 2:00 I could barely think straight I was in so much pain and he said I was only dilated to a 2 but would go ahead and order my epidural. Thank you Jesus for epidurals!! I gladly welcomed that "huge needle" if it meant not feeling anything! I finally got some rest but started developing a fever. When Dr. Bates came to see me around 7:30p.m. it was over 100 and I was only dilated to a 5. He said he was going to wait an hour and see what my fever did and come back to check on me. When he came back my fever was 101.7, Caden's heart rate had increased and I was still only dilated to a 5. I could tell he was concerned and he explained to me that my body was just not progressing like he'd hoped and he thought it would be in my best interest, and Caden's, to proceed with a c-section within the hour. Dr. Bates is a Godly man and someone I trust wholeheartedly so I said okay. I won't lie, I was scared to death but I knew God was in control and I knew I wanted to see my little boy.

This picture was taken right before they took me back to the OR. I was slightly terrified of what was about to happen.... and looking rough, but I had been in labor for 24 hours so, at that point, I did not care.



Once I was in the OR they explained to me what was going to happen and it seemed like it took forever to get everything prepped. But finally Matt was at my side telling me how much he loved me and being so supportive and encouraging. I didn't realize they had even started and before I knew it I heard my sweet little boy cry for the first time. And one of the doctors showed him to me from the side before they took him away to clean him up and Matt was right behind them. I had asked him to stay with Caden every second once he was here. I would be fine on my own but our little boy needed him. Before they took him to the nursery the sweet nurse took a picture of our sweet family.

I was finally taken back to my room to recover and Matt was still with Caden in the nursery. My mom came back to be with me so I didn't have to be alone and it was such a special time for us. I had been so scared and I know it was probably hard on her having to watch everything I had been through that day so it was good for us to have that time together. Then Dr. Bates came in and told me everything had gone so well and he even prayed with us and for our new family. What a great man! And finally after MUCH anticipation Matt brought our handsome son to me and I got to hold him for the first time. I immediately fell in love.
So we are finally home as a family of 3 and loving every minute of it. We are trying to get on some sort of a routine but I am enjoying every second of my sweet little guy. I just stare at him, in awe of how great God is and how lucky I am.

Our first family picture away from the hospital.


More to come but for now I have a baby to take care of..... :)

Still waiting...

When I started this blog I promised myself I would update it frequently. But to be perfectly honest I haven't had much to say over the past couple of weeks. My due date has come and gone and I am still pregnant (that's 40 weeks and counting) and I am becoming more and more uncomfortable every day. I am trying really hard not to complain because I know it will all be worth it once I have my sweet little boy but the thought of having to endure this another week is almost more then I can handle. My sweet husband does what he can to make me comfortable and I will admit he gives the best foot massages ever and my mom is so sweet to help me clean my house and take me out to lunch and shop to get my mind off everything. I am still working a few hours a day, mainly just to give me something to do, but to be perfectly honest going to work is really hard.

But the hardest part is not feeling like doing much and having too much time to think. The growing risks go through my head constantly and it's hard knowing those risks increase everyday I am still pregnant. I pray constantly for God to give me peace. So as I wait, I will continue to pray for safety for my little man, patience on my part, and a peace knowing God is in control. And I will continue to eagerly await the arrival of my sweet baby & enjoy the "quiet" time Matt and I have until he gets here.

"Therefore, do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, we fix on our eyes, not on what is seen but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal" 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Anxiously patient

I feel like I am just waiting on something to happen, always on edge never knowing when it could be. But in the meantime I am trying to get things done that I know I won't be able to do once Caden gets here. I am having lunch dates with friends everyday. Taking naps as soon as I get home from work and at times just sitting and enjoying the peace and quiet of my house. Because I know that is all going to change very soon! And I am excited about that change!

But I lost the most precious little person in my life a week and a half ago and my heart is still broken over it. At times when I am home alone the quiet is a very rude reminder that my precious Ladybug is no longer with me.


And yes, to me she was a little person. She had such a personality and was a feisty little thing! She, in a way, reminded me of me... except she was a dog. She was my first child. She was the love of my life for 10 years and if you knew us as a twosome you would know that we had a very special bond. There is no doubt in my mind she was sent to me from God and she served a great purpose in my life. She taught me to love in a way I never knew I could do. Just seeing her sweet little face everyday put a smile on mine no matter what kind of day I had. I miss her so so much but I know with time it will get easier.

So knowing my precious dog taught me all of that I can only imagine how I am going to feel seeing my precious little boys face for the first time! I am already a different person because of him so I am anxiously awaiting his arrival. Big doctors appointment tomorrow morning!! Hopefully news to share soon!

A waiting game...

After MUCH encouragement from my sweet friend Ashley I have finally joined the blogging world. And to be perfectly honest my excuse has always been "I am too busy", but now that I am waiting for my sweet baby boy to arrive I seem to have all the time in the world... and then some!

I'll start with my sweet family. Matt and I have been together about a year and he is such an amazing man!! I'll be honest... who can resist a man in a uniform!! He pretty much stole my heart from our first date! I have always prayed for a man who encourages me and is strong and a leader for my "one day" family and Matt encompasses all of those qualities and then some! I am a pretty lucky lady! We are expecting our first baby any day now... IT'S A BOY!!

We are so excited and ready to meet our little man but I will admit I don't recommend being 38 weeks pregnant to anyone. I just thought I was uncomfortable earlier in this pregnancy but the past few weeks have proven that it can, indeed, get worse! And it has!! A decent night's sleep is like a dream I had a long time ago, nothing I experience now. Bathroom runs every hour fill up my days & nights but I know once I see his sweet little face I will forget all about the lack of sleep and backaches! So in the meantime I am walking, eating Mexican food and getting massages and hoping this little guy decides it is time to make his entrance sooner then later!!