Emery Faith has arrived!

Emery Faith has arrived and is perfect in every way!!! She was 7 pounds 4 ounces, 19 1/2 inches long and made her debut on October 12, 2009 at 6:41 pm. A long day, but oh-so-worth it!!!! When we arrived they had just implemented a "no visitors under 12, including siblings" policy due to the high number of flu cases and I was devastated. I cried A LOT!!!! However, our rockin' nurses let us slip by the rule and allowed the Big Brother to come in!!!!! Here are few pics to tide you over, thanks for all the prayers... God is good!!!!

38w4d, just before heading to the hospital

Walking to the hospital and being silly ;o)

Chase kissing Emery

The family, Chase thought Emery was a little too heavy at this point

A very proud Daddy

So pretty

Chase's first time to hold his little sister

He is smitten

Our Littlest Miracle

Hugs,
Kahla

****I am grateful for
1) my family of four
2) so many prayers that came our way
3) great nurses throughout our delivery
4) an uneventful delivery
5) our precious Emery is here safe and sound!

Well I'm still around and still pregnant, just terribly busy!

I'm so sorry for the delay in updating, I just don't seem to have enough time in the day to get it all done and then in the evenings I'm totally exhausted! All is well and I'm now 38 weeks 3 days pregnant.... how did that happen????? This time tomorrow we will be settled into a room at the hospital awaiting induction early Monday morning. It's a bittersweet moment. We are so excited to welcome Emery into our arms and can't wait to have her here safe and sound but at the same time I know this is most likely the last pregnancy for me and I will miss it. It's so scary at times because of our history, but oh how I love it. I love the kicks and the big belly and knowing that she is safe in there. *sigh*

Today we spent the whole day just doing whatever. We got up and made cinnamon rolls for breakfast because Chase LOVES them, then we hit the Toy Story 3.D double feature at the movies. After that we visited Mrs. Crystal so Chase could get his haircut (it was LONG over-due) and then we made our way to a few stores to pick up odds and ends. We got some new fish for the Chase's tank and then he picked out two angelfish for Emery's tank. We grabbed some dinner to go and Chase went over to Uncle Will's to play with Madison for a bit. Meanwhile Jeff installed the carseat, yes I know - totally last minute, and I packed Emery's bag and Chase's bag. Ours is a work in progress!!!

Tomorrow we will go to church and then come home to finish just a few more things around the house. Chase will spend tomorrow night with Jeff's parents and they will entertain him on Monday since they are off and he's out of school. My mom is flying in very early Monday morning since she's in Chicago on business and will come to the hospital to be with us. As soon as we are close, we'll call Jeff's parents to give them a heads-up. Then my mom will bring Chase home from the hospital with her to our house so they can spend the night here and she will take him to school on Tuesday morning. I think we have a pretty good plan laid out, I'm just hoping it doesn't turn Chase's life up-side down too much. I worry about that a lot!

I should probably run, I need to pack some more, grab a shower, and get to bed or I'll never make it up in the morning! Hope everyone is doing well and if you get a chance send some prayers our way for a smooth and healthy delivery of our sweet baby girl!!!

Hugs,
Kahla

****I am grateful for
1) being full term
2) a healthy pregnancy
3) less than 48 hours before we'll hold our sweet baby girl!
4) Chase = big brother!!!
5) our family and friends

A Pumpkin Diaper Baby and Bows

How cute is this????? One of my friends, Peggy, brought this to me at work today. I met Peggy when I had her oldest daughter in first grade and now I have the pleasure of having her again in third grade. It's a double treat, a great kid and a great mom!!!! Peggy makes these and sells them (need info, I can hook you up) and I can't think of anything more fitting for Our Little Pumpkin!

Yesterday I went with Alisa and Madison to a bow making class and it was a great rainy-day treat! We had a lot of fun and made some not-so-bad bows for our first try! I definitely plan on getting some ribbon and making more. The spider web was the last one I made and I think it's the best... of course it's big so it'll have to wait until next year to be worn.



There were more bows but our internet is SLOW today and I'm giving up on uploading pics. I made two others and Alisa made Emery two as well. They were all very cute!

I had my last OB appointment/NST this afternoon and all was well. I'm scheduled to be at the hospital at 6 on Sunday night and Monday Emery is being evicted!!!! It kinda freaks me out to think about it, so perhaps I'll think about it tomorrow... and maybe I'll pack some bags, put the carseat in, bring the swing/pack-n-play in, etc. Poor Emery, we were so much more on top of it w/Chase!




***I am grateful for
1) good friends (that are VERY crafty)
2) a good appt
3) this time next week we'll hold Sweet Emery in our arms!
4) Chase does NOT have the flu (we didn't think it did, it's all those darn allergies)
5) my grandparents are getting settled into their new house and we love having them closer!

Our Pumpkin is a stalk of Swiss chard! (37 weeks - a little late), plus Emery's room and a peek at the Big Bro' Chase!

Congratulations — your baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away.

Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz. (www.babycenter.com)

Not much to update since the big update on Tuesday... however, I am full term now and that's pretty cool. I've had quite a few Braxton-Hicks and lately they are more and more uncomfortable. Also, today my feet are pretty swollen and look like sausages... ick.

We did a lot of work on Emery's room today and it is just about done now. It looks great and I'm very proud of how it's turned out. Now if we can get the rest of the house cleaned, the carseat installed, and the last few things done we'll be doing great! ;o) So much to do, so little time! Tomorrow I am supposed to be going to a bow class with my ex-SIL but we're still waiting on the directions, I sure hope it all comes through because I'm really exited about it! Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Emery's name that I painted, not bad!

Her name above the crib.

The start of her bow collection, Daddy said I can't buy anymore and I have to
learn to make them!

Her closet.... this doesn't include what's in the dresser!

Our diaper stash, Memaw has been collecting for us!

The crib.

Molly posing by the changing table.

The other bow holder that I made.

On one of the shelves.

Her first pair of Mickey ears!

And last, Big Bro' Chase in his Jango Fett costume! So cute!!!

***I am grateful for
1) Emery's room is pretty much done
2) resting w/my feet up
3) weekends
4) the bow class, where are those directions?????
5) 37+ weeks!

A good day indeed.

Today I had my 37 week appointment (I'll be 37 weeks tomorrow) and another ultrasound to see if Miss. Emery is going to cooperate. Let's just say it was pretty good news all the way around! She is indeed back to being heads-down and fluid levels, movement, etc looked good. She was measuring in at 6 pounds 12 ounces, so that's a gain of 28 ounces in 3 weeks... not bad! Dr. P pulled out the calendar and has decided that we'll be inducing on Oct. 12th, Columbus Day. I had already guessed that date, so I was spot on! I know a lot of people are against inducing but like I've said before, we'll do whatever to get her healthy and safe in our arms after all we've been through! So, unless something changes between now and the 12th, looks like that will be Miss. Emery's birthday!!!! I go back on Monday for one last OB visit/NST and then it's game on!!!!! Guess we'd better get our behinds in gear and finish all this last minute stuff!

Other exciting news is Chase got his new glasses last week! He looks adorable and is adjusting to them quite well, just took a few days and an adjustment to get him comfortable in them again. ;o) I'll get some pics up in the next few days since he's totally busy watching Spiderman right now and cannot be interrupted!




***I am grateful for
1) the flu vaccine, we've all gotten them and hopefully are safe
2) the cooler weather is coming
3) a good appointment
4) Emery will be here soon!
5) tomorrow is hump day!!!

Our Pumpkin is a Crenshaw Melon! (36 weeks)

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly. (www.babycenter.com)

Monday we had our ultrasound and the tech asked if I was having a c-section, to which I responded, "not that I know of, why?" Turns out little Miss. Emery has decided to from heads-down to transverse. Ugh! My OB said that she could still turn back and to not worry (yeah right!) and that we'll check out her position and size next Tuesday. Send some prayers that she will flip back down... is she going to be our stubborn one????

Other than that, things are good. I did lose part of my mucus plug this morning (I know WTMI) and that was quite gross. That never happened with Chase and it took me a second to figure out what it was since I wasn't expecting it. I've been reassured though that it really means nothing and it's just a piece of it, so all is well. My in-laws just left for a 10 day trip to West Texas (meaning far from home since we live in very East Texas) and my MIL is terrified Emery will come before they get back! Say so some prayers that she'll stay put as well!

Here is a current pic taken last weekend (so 35w4d I think) on the left and a pic of when I was 34 weeks with Chase on the right. They look pretty close to me, but to others I must look huge because I get lots of, "Are you sure your not due until October?" and "Did they check to make sure there is only one in there?" and "You just get bigger every time I see you, it looks like there's a watermelon in there!" comments. Not that it bothers me, just means I look really pregnant I guess!

Hope everyone had a good week so far, the weekend is so close I can smell it! ;o) Too bad I have to pull a 12 hour day tomorrow thanks to Open House!!!!!


Oh, my friend Angela is having her baby boy tomorrow morning, pray for a safe arrival for Baby Taylor!!!! I think him and Emery will be good friends!




***I am grateful for
1) 36 weeks!
2) hump day, love it, love it, love it
3) some rockin' fall weather today, I hope it stays like this
4) the warm shower I'm about to take
5) cell phones

Our Pumpkin is a Honeydew-Melon!! (35 weeks/35 days to go!!!!!!)

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight. (www.babycenter.com)

I have more baby shower pics to post, I'm just so tired by the evenings that I don't have the energy to do it! This weekend I am hoping to get the letters for her room painted, the strip on her wall painted (we decided to paint instead of chair rail due to time/$), and then start organizing her room some. We are also going to get the car cleaned out and install her car seat that arrived today!!!! I think if we can get her room a little more "done" then I'll feel better.

I have my next OB appointment on Monday and they'll be doing an ultrasound to monitor her movements. I'm hoping to get a weight estimate too. If they don't I got back in on the following Monday for a growth ultrasound and I should know more on a possible induction date at that time.

If you didn't notice in the title, today is a big milestone! I'm 35 weeks pregnant with 35 to go, yipppeeee!!! I can't wait to hold this baby girl, safe in my arms!

On a side note DH's cousin is going through chemo again right now. They have two small children and I can only imagine how hard this is (I've mentioned him on here before). You can read his wife's blog by finding it on my sidebar, "My Life." Please send some prayers for them during this time!

Have a great week, it's almost the weekend in my book!!!




***I am grateful for
1) hump day
2) 35 weeks!
3) 35 days to go (although we know I probably won't go that long)
4) indoor plumbing (seriously, I'm very grateful for it, especially now)
5) prayers for Wade!

A Sneak Peek of Emery's Shower!

Just a sneak peak, since I'm out of time to post this evening!!

Here is what it looked like when we were setting up....

My awesome cake that my grandmother made!!!

Me and my two favorite guys!!!

Opening gifts (why did it make this a link?)
Chase helping out! He was so excited!!!How awesome is this, my friend Brooke made it, it holds an ultrasound pic!

And these are too cute!!!!

I am exhausted and going to bed early, but I wanted to give a sneak peek. I'll work on taking pics of all the goodies, let's just say there was a lot of pink and we loved it!!!

Oh, had an appointment today and a NST. Emery is great (PA's words: She is the happiest baby I've ever seen!) and I had one contraction... not bad!!!




***I am grateful for
1) a great NST
2) Monday is over, I'm so not a Monday girl
3) early bedtime!
4) a wonderful shower
5) pink stuff!!!

Our Pumpkin is a Cantaloupe! (34 weeks)

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

I think yesterday's update pretty much covers everything that is going on. I will say that by the end of the day I am so tired and just want to sit down and do nothing... of course with a toddler that never happens!! I took some pictures yesterday, please excuse the look of pure exhaustion - it was a long day!!! (Not to mention my son is running around in his underwear... he's just like his Daddy, what can I say?)

The proud big brother!

I think there's a baby in there. ;o)

Where the heck did my feet go?

So sweet, he does this all the time (and we have never coaxed it).

***I am grateful for
1) 34 weeks!
2) recliners
3) Tylenol, cause some nights I just need it
4) chocolate... yum
5) 5 pounds of baby!

Say what?

This afternoon we had a growth ultrasound and appointment for Miss. Emery. Imagine my surprise when the tech told me that our sweet baby girl (yes, she's still a girl for the fourth confirmation) is already weighing in at 5 pounds with six weeks to go!!! Her big brother was only 6 pounds 1 ounce three days early so I'm thinking she's going to beat him on the weight. ;o) When we got to the room and Dr. P came in he said she looks great, is measuring well, and the fluid levels are right on track. She is also head down now, which confirmed that I thought she had flipped. He then went on to say that we'll go ahead and have some kind of monitoring every week. Next Monday we'll have a NST, the following Monday we'll have a ultrasound so monitor movement, and the following Tuesday we'll have another growth ultrasound to see how much she's grown in the three weeks and the fluid levels. The following week we'll go ahead an schedule an induction. At this point I was rapidly trying to do some math in my head and in my book that came to four weeks. FOUR WEEKS! ACK! I know a lot of women hate to be induced but after going through all we went through to get our babies, I'm open to whatever I need that will guarantee them safe in my arms so induce away when you think it's time doctor!! Jeff and I were looking at the calendar and I won't be one big surprised if we end up with the date of Oct. 12th, that is so close and we have so much to do!!!! Deep breaths!




***I am grateful for
1) Emery has flipped
2) fluid levels good!
3) Emery is measuring well!!
4) baby shower is Saturday (can't wait)!
5) in less than 6 weeks, our family will be complete!

Our Pumpkin is a Pineapple! (33 weeks)

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood (www.babycenter.com)

Things are pretty busy around our house and the days seem to be passing very quickly. Emery's room is painted on the top and the bottom, but when Jeff went to remove the painter's tape from the ceiling it took the paint off and now we have to touch that up. Then we'll have the chair rail to install and we'll be ready to start moving stuff in! Hopefully we can get that done this weekend.

My next appointment is on the 8th and we'll have our growth ultrasound at that time. I can't wait to see Emery again, it seems like forever since the 4D, but I know it wasn't very long at all. After that I'll be going weekly to rotate non-stress tests and ultrasounds. I think we'll also be told to go register at the hospital at our appointment next week. Good that it means we are so close, bad cause it means more money!!! 49 days and counting!

Chase is doing great in school and really loving it. Monday's drop-off was a little tough, but I think it's because he had only been in school for a week and then after being home for the weekend he was having a hard time going back. I dread next Tuesday after a three day weekend! We have signed him up for the music class that is held once a week and prepares them for private piano or guitar lessons and that starts tomorrow. He had one preview class and loved it, so he is really looking forward to it. Of course today he came home with a registration for a class that they do athletic stuff in (really have no clue what it's called). Apparently they had the preview class today for that because he promptly informed us that, "We NEED to sign him up!!!!" Boy do they know how to work it with these little kids!!!




****I am grateful for
1) TV, something other than watching Chase and Jeff play Star Wars on the Wii!
2) Humpday, love it!
3) a three day weekend coming up
4) bedtime, Chase is tired too, this school stuff wears him out
5) 33 weeks!!!