4 Months!

Can you believe Nolan is 4 months old? Time is truly flying by. It is amazing how much he changes almost daily. I must say he gets cuter every day, if that is possible! We had his well child check on Friday. He got his second set of shots. He did really well, only cried for about a minute. I cuddled him close and he calmed right down and was back to his laughing, kicking, cooing self in no time. He has slept well today, which is a nice change.
His pediatrician said he is doing really well. He is still small, only in the 10th percentile, but is growing nicely. He weighs just over 12.5 pounds now (was 7 pounds at birth). He is cooing and babbling more and more these days. He will carry on entire conversations with you in his own language. He loves for us to read books to him...he will follow every page as you turn it and look at all the pictures. He of course loves to be talked to and sung to. He is developing such a little personality.
The girls who keep him at daycare say he is such a good and happy baby. What a blessing it is to hear that. I was sure worried I was not going to have a happy baby due to the rough times we had during his first six weeks of life. But from six weeks on, he has been wonderful. Motherhood is by far the best and most rewarding "job" I have ever had. I highly recommend it!
We are getting excited about his first Christmas. He still has several family members he hasn't met yet. Should be a great time. Although, next year will probably be even better, because he will get the honor of helping everyone rip open their presents!
We'll keep you updated on how he is growing and changing.

Nolan is growing, growing!

Sorry it has been so long since I have written on the blog. Life is a little busy these days. I'm back at work part time, which is going well. I miss Noland all the time, but it is currently necessary for me to work. He seems to be enjoying daycare. He loves his teachers and they seem to be enjoying him. I rush out of work as soon as I am able in order to pick him up though. I just can't get enough of him. I want to spend all my time with him. He is absolutely the most adorable thing I have ever laid eyes on. Jonathan and I say to each other all the time..."I love that kid!"
It is so fun to see Jonathan with Nolan. He adores him. I love to hear their "conversations." It is hilarious. Nolan is "talking" more and more. He loves to make lots of sounds and noises. He kicks and flails his arms. He stands up on his legs often, and loves to bounce. He has discovered his left hand and looks at it often, especially when he is on the changing table. I don't think he has any idea that it is attached to him. It is so fun to watch.
We have discovered that Nolan LOVES baths. He kicks hard enough to splash water out of his little tub and all over me! He fusses when you take him out.
He has met all of the developmental milestones for his age and for 4 months. So exciting. He is coming right along. He is an absolute joy!
We'll continue to keep you updated as he grows and does fun new things.

Last week of maternity leave

Well....this is it....the last week of maternity leave. So sad. I love my job and am excited about getting back to work. But I am really, really sad to leave Nolan. I have so enjoyed spending my whole day with him! I am sure the first several days will be very rough.
Thank goodness I will only be going back part time. I am not sure my heart could take going back full time. All I have to say is I appreciate my parents even more than I used to! It is amazing how much I love Nolan. I really wish I had words to say, but I can't express it through words. He is so incredibly wonderful and I cherish and adore him. Don't worry....I still love, cherish and adore Jonathan too. If anything I love Jonathan even more...it is wonderful to look at Nolan and realize that part of both of us are in him. A true miracle.
Nolan is getting so big. He is finally fitting in his 0-3 month clothes. Only a few newborn clothes are fitting these days. So exciting. He is just over 2 and a half months old. Can you believe it?
Wow. Well I'll let you know how the next few weeks go.

So much to tell!

I know I haven't blogged in a long time. Nolan is taking more and more of my time as he gets older and I want to spend as much time with him as possible since my maternity leave is coming to a very quick end. Too bad I don't live in Sweden where the maternity leave is one year!!
Nolan has become such a joy! I have mixed feelings about returning to work. One part of me is excited to get back to what I love doing, but the new mother part of me wants nothing more than to spend every day with Nolan.
He is doing so many new things. He is cooing and grinning and laughing. He certainly knows who Jonathan and I are. He follows us if we leave the room. He kicks and moves his arms all the time. He has unfortunately discovered his thumb. I would rather he didn't. At least I can take the passy away eventually. I can't take his thumb away. He was sleeping through the night, but got a little sick and that stopped (just a little cold). Hopefully he will start feeling better soon and go back to sleeping from 10PM to 6 AM. I didn't know what to do with all that sleep. The first two nights though, I wasn't able to enjoy it because I woke up every hour from 3AM to 5-6AM wondering if he was ok. Then when I got used to it and was loving it, it stopped. I know he'll get back on track soon though.
I have to go back to work on November 2. At least I will only going back part time. This is wonderful because I will get to do the job I love and be mom to Nolan more than just evenings and weekends. Unfortunately the lady who was supposed to keep Nolan at our home isn't going to be able to do it. So we have decided to put him in daycare, which is breaking my heart. I know daycare is necessary for some and is fine for some, but I had really hoped he wouldn't have to. We are praying about it though and I know he will be fine.
I am in complete denial about having to leave him to go to work. I really get sick to my stomach if I think about it....so I don't. Hopefully I'll be able to deal ok the first day I go back.
I'll try to keep the blog updated more often with the fun and cute new things Nolan is doing.

Yay for Exercise!

Well I went to the gym today and for a long walk! It felt great to get moving again. I am hoping to cash in on the theory (research proven) that exercise is the number one cure for fatigue. It would also help if my child would sleep longer at night.
Last night was a little rough. He was up every three hours just like during the day. It was my fault though cause I ate broccoli for the first time. Note to self: When I eat broccoli Nolan gets bad gas ALL night.
So I learned my lesson and will no longer be eating any vegetables that can cause gas in a baby!
Nolan is finally healthy, but still behind in weight gain. Not surprising for all he has been through. He will go later this week for a weight check and if he isn't gaining like he is supposed to then I will have to supplement formula after each nursing. I really don't want to do this so please pray he starts gaining like crazy. We are nursing for multiple reasons. One it is the healthiest thing for my child, two it is an amazing bonding experience, and three it is FREE. Formula is not.
I'll let you know how the weight check goes.

Good News!

Praise God, Nolan's test was normal. He does not have cystic fibrosis. We so very much appreciate your prayers. We are still reaping the effects of long term antibiotics with Nolan (from the hospital and then me taking them for a sinus infection). His poor digestive tract is just torn up. Please pray his belly is able to heal and he can get back to normal eating and sleeping patterns. Jonathan and I are in serious need of some good sleep. And so is Nolan for that matter.
We are so very blessed to have friends and family that are willing to pray for us and support us. Thank you so very much!!

Prayer Needed AGAIN!

Once again I am asking for prayer for Nolan. I received a call from Nolan's pediatrician today (the doctor actually called me). He said that the day after we received notice that all of Nolan's blood work from the Newborn screen was normal they actually received a notice that one of the test had been negative. He suspects that this test was run from the blood that was collected from a vein (it must be drawn from a capillary) and that is why it was positive. The test that was supposedly abnormal was the one indicating possible Cystic Fibrosis. I am not sure if you are familiar with this or not, but it is a horrible disease of the lungs and gastrointestinal tract that is incurable. To my knowledge the oldest living person with this disease is 30. People with this disease undergo lots of therapy and take numerous medications daily just to live.
We are going today to have the blood redrawn once again (the fifth time) to see what the results say. If it is abnormal we then have to go for a very specific test at the hospital to see if he indeed has CF.
We are asking for prayer that the test is negative and that Nolan is indeed healthy and whole!!!! We are believing that he does not have this horrible illness and that he will live a long and healthy life!!
We will certainly keep you updated!

Normal Test Results!!!

PRAISE GOD!!! All of Nolan's test are normal. He is compltely healthy!!!! What a relief. How wonderful that all of this is behind us and that Satan is defeated. God is so good. Thank you all for your continuous prayers! You have been a huge support to us through this entire ordeal and we cannot tell you how much we appreciate it.
We are so very blessed to have friends and family like you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Wonderful News

Well....Nolan's test today was NORMAL!!! PRAISE GOD. He does not have any reflux of urine to his kidneys. That means this infection was a fluke and a one time deal. We are still waiting on some blood results and are believing that those will be completely normal as well. We will continue to keep you updated. Thanks again for all the prayers. Obviously prayer works!!

Thursday Update

Well we are at home and trying to readjust. It is almost like starting all over again. We are so thankful to be out of the hospital though. Nolan's procedure to test for urinary reflux is scheduled for tomorrow morning at 10:00. We ask that you continue to pray that the test is completely normal and that Nolan has absolutely no problems or long term complications. We are also still waiting on blood results. We will continue to keep you updated as we get results back.
Thanks again for all the prayers. I know we are asking a lot. We are hoping that soon this will all be behind us and we will be getting on with a "normal" life.

Going Home!

We are going home today! PRAISE GOD!!! Nolan will get a noon dose of antibiotic and then we will be out of here. So far things with his tests are looking good. However, like I said yesterday we are waiting the results of one more blood test, the repeat Newborn screen (that tests for genetic, metabolic, and hormonal problems) and the urine test to see if he has reflux. We are continuing to believe that all will be absolutely normal!
Thank you so very much for your continued prayers! Again, we are beyond blessed to have friends and family like you. We would not be able to get through this without ya'll! We appreciate all the words of encouragement and support.
We'll continue to keep you updated as we get results back.

Tuesday Update

Still not much new. All the final test results are in and they all look good. He still has to undergo the invasive test to see if he has reflux of urine to his kidneys. That test will be next week most likely. Please continue to pray that the test is negative and we never have to deal with this again.
Also, Nolan continues to be very fussy in the late evening and night. He didn't go to sleep last night until after 1 AM. Very tiring. Please pray he gains peace and rests well at the right times.
We are for sure going home tomorrow. Praise God! We are so very ready to be in our own environment.
We really appreciate your prayers! We cannot tell you how much it means to us that you would take the time to pray for our family.

Good News/Continued Prayer Request

More good news! Nolan's blood work all looks great. His white blood cell count is almost back to normal. The CRP (inflammation level) is normal. His second urine culture was negative! Praise God.
However, the MD still highly recommends that we stay in the hospital for a total of 7 days to ensure that he continues to recover and does not relapse. She mentioned that the real reason for this is that there is simply no literature that indicates guidelines for our situation and Nolan's age. So basically we are erring on the side of caution. Frustrating because that keeps us in the hospital, but good because we will be able to go home worry free. He will still be on antibiotics when we go home, but for 7 days. He still has to endure the test to see if he has some urine reflux into his kidneys.
So our prayer requests continue. Please pray he continues to improve. Also that he does not catch any other bug or infection from being in the hospital. Please pray the test is negative and that he does not have any urinary reflux. Please pray for financial provision so that we are able to pay for the hospital bill quickly.
We are so very appreciative of all the prayers and support. We could not get through this without such wonderful friends and family.

More updates

Well good news and frustrating news. So far his second urine culture shows no growth after 24 hours. This is great, but they will not actually say it is negative until 48 hours. The antibiotics he is on seem to be working well. However, the MD who rounded on Nolan today called the Infectious Disease Center to run our situation by them. They strongly suggested because of how young he is that he be on IV antibiotics for 7 days and then oral antibiotics for 7 days just to be safest. This of course means we have to stay in the hospital until at least Wednesday evening or Thursday morning. Although this is tedious and frustrating, if it is the safest way to go we are ok with that. This is not final, we will talk with the MD more in depth tomorrow morning. However, a second issue that we are now facing is that of the financial cost of such a long hospitalization and so soon after I was in the hospital for several days with his birth. Health care these days is not cheap even with insurance. Please pray that God provides abundantly and that these hospital bills do not put an added burden on us. Thanks again for everything!We are blessed to have friends and family like you and we don't take that for granted.

Saturday Update

Well, Nolan seems to be showing conflicting traits. Clinically he looks great. He is eating wonderfully, filling his diapers well, and hasn't run a fever since Thursday morning. However, his urine still looks pretty bad. On a positive note his blood culture and spinal fluid cultures were negative. That means he did not have infection in his spine or his blood. This is a very good thing. Right now we are playing the waiting game. He will continue to get antibiotics to get rid of the bacteria in his urine. Tomorrow he will get blood tests again (a complete blood count and the crp to test for inflammation). When those results and repeat urine culture results come back it will be decided if we get to go home tomorrow or on Monday. We are praying of course for tomorrow, however we do not want to go home and then have to turn around and come back. We also don't want to go home and worry that he might not be getting better. Most likely next week he will have the test to see if he has any reflux of urine into his kidneys. We are praying hard that this test is negative. If it is positive it is possible that this could be a life long issue for him. We prayed and sewed for a healthy baby through our pregnancy. We are believing that this will hold true and he truly is healthy without long term issues. Thank you for praying with us and for us. We appreciate it so very much.

New Update

Well there isn't too much to tell at this point. Some good and some not as good. Nolan had blood work and a urine test today. His white blood cell count has come down some, but not as much as we expected. The other blood test that looks at how much inflammation there is in his body as a result of infection actually went higher, which was frustrating. According to the MD this can happened occasionally, but we will certainly be looking for it to come down soon. His urine still looks rough, but some better than it did. Things just seem to be going a little slower than everyone would like.
Good news is that he is eating very well and is more alert. He has not had a fever since yesterday morning. We are waiting on the cultures and sensitivity to ensure he is on the correct antibiotics.
We want to say thank you so much for all the prayers and encouragement. We are believing that Nolan is healed already, we are just waiting on the labs to show it. We will be in the hospital at least until Sunday. It is a 50/50 chance we will go home that day. Please continue to pray that things get better each day and we can return home soon. Hospitals are no fun! And Jonathan can't stay the night because there is no place for him to sleep. I certainly can't leave because I am Nolan's source of food. It will just be nice to return to some semblance of normalcy.
We'll keep you updated!

Nolan Update

Nolan had a renal ultrasound today which was completely normal. Praise God! We are now waiting on urine and blood culture results. If they are negative and his fever stays down then we can go home. If it is positive he has to have an invasive test to see if he is refluxing urine into his kidneys. Please pray that his cultures are negative and this is just a one time fluke never to return.
Thanks so much for the prayers. We really appreciate it and know they are working.
I'll continue to keep you updated.

Prayer Needed!

Hey everyone. We have not so good news. Nolan has been admitted to the hospital due to fever. It is a long story and he has been through so many tests. Currently the main issue seems to be a bad urinary tract infection. He goes for another test today and then more blood work tomorrow. We are in the hospital until at least Friday. Nolan is so new and precious to us. This issue was very much unexpected and difficult to deal with. Fortunately we have a Good God. He has a plan to prosper Nolan, not to harm him.
We will keep you updated. Thanks so much for the prayers and support.

First Day By Myself!

Well today is the first day Nolan and I are by ourselves. Hemi (our lab) is here of course, but he can't get things for me like Jonathan can. So far so good. Last night was a little rough. Turns out Nolan has some reflux issues when he eats too fast and swallows too much air. Scary moments when your 13 day old throws up all you just fed him. But he's better now and I have made some adjustments in how I feed him. He also stays upright now for a minimum of 30 min after a feeding and we work on getting good burps.
I actually didn't cry when Jonathan left this morning. Probably because I could barely keep my eyes open long enough to say goodbye, but hey...no tears is a good thing regardless of why. For now Nolan is back on his schedule and he actually did it all by himself. So I will enjoy the predictability of feedings and nap times as long as it lasts.

So much for the schedule!

Well, Friday Nolan hit a growth spurt sending our wonderful schedule into a tail spin. Who knows what schedule he is on now. As the days go by it has become evident that our little man likes to sleep late at night and into the morning, but come afternoon and evening he is wide awake. The only real problem with this is that he becomes overly tired from not napping and then won't go to bed until midnight. This is not very good for Jonathan and me. So please pray that he gets back on a schedule of some sort so Jonathan and I won't go insane from lack of sleep.
Last night was the first night I got up by myself to feed Nolan. Jonathan has to go back to work tomorrow and needs to catch up on sleep. Things went well overall. At what was supposed to be a 4:45 AM feeding, Nolan didn't actually eat until 5:20. I guess he decided he wasn't all that hungry after all. Other than that it went relatively well. I pray tonight is even better.
I am pretty sure he is growing. Certainly feels heavier when I pick him up. I go for my two week check on Wednesday and Nolan goes for his first well check on Thursday. My biggest prayer is that Monday and Tuesday go well since it will be my first time at home all day by myself. I still cannot carry Nolan up and down the stairs so we will be downstairs all day. Jonathan will come home at lunch if he can, which will be nice.
Nolan has been a wonderful blessing and a great adventure, but I tell you what...no one can prepare you for life with a newborn. I've read about every book out there and talked to numerous people who have been through it. But experiencing it is in a world by itself. My goal is to cherish each moment, even the ones where he won't sleep and I don't know what to do. Life is so fleeting and he will be big before I know it.

Another day.

Not too much to report. We are starting to settle into a routine. Nolan mostly eats on a 3, 6, 9 , 12 schedule, which is nice for predictability. Overall he is doing really well with this.
I am getting very sad about Jonathan going back to work on Monday. He has been such a huge help and I have really enjoyed spending all this time with him. I am afraid I'll go through Jonathan withdrawals. Its great to realize how much I like my husband!
Thanks again to everyone who has brought us meals and has been a huge support. We really appreciate it.
Please continue to pray for strength and energy for Jonathan and me and also for healing for me. Recovering from surgery is no fun at all. We went to Target yesterday just to pick up a few things and I realized real quick I can do far more in my head than my body is ready for. I'm getting there though. I also realized that when I am cleared to start exercising again, cardio is going to kick my rear end. I'll have to start back very slow.
We'll continue to keep you updated.

Wonderful Husband

All I have to say is that I have an amazing husband. He has done an amazing job since we have been home. He has helped with Nolan. Gotten items for me since I am limited in my ability to go up and down the stairs. He has kept a positive attitude even in frustrating moments. He is a great dad and husband! I really don't know what I am going to do when he goes back to work. We are worked so well together it has been amazing!
We are continuing to adjust. Life is beyond crazy. Time is flying. Nolan is already a week old. Hard to believe. Keep praying that our schedule starts to pan out and that Nolan continues to feed and sleep well. We are having some issues with him wanting to fall asleep during feeding and wanting to stay awake when it is time for bed. But what baby doesn't go through these things?
Thanks for all the tons of support from friends and family! The meals have been wonderful and a blessing. We could not do this without you.

Adjusting

The first day and night went great. Saturday and Saturday night were a little tougher. He likes to stay awake in the AM and then again at night and sleep all day. But things are overall going well. He is nursing well for the most part. He loves to cuddle, so when he gets close he wants to sleep. Therefore he has to eat pretty much naked!
He is too cute! He makes lots of adorable noises and interesting faces. We have had several visitors and will have tons more today. Hopefully he'll be worn out and sleep good tonight.
We'll keep updating.

He's here!

Well......we are happy to welcome Nolan Bryce Seymour to our family. He was born last night at 11:04 PM. He is 19 3/4 inches long and right at 7 pounds.
Unfortunately he was born via c-section. Things progressed well for a while, but then I got stuck at 5-6 cm and Nolan's head was continuing to descend despite me not being dilated. This caused his heart rate to decrease several times for a significant amount of time. Thus the c-section.
In the end we are happy to have a healthy baby and a healthy mom. I think my biggest frustration comes from all the preparing and research we did on natural child birth. It was all natural until surgery.
He is too cute! I know I am completely biased, but still he is so darn cute. I will post pictures when I can. We'll keep you updated on how he is doing and when we will be heading home.
Thanks again for all your prayers! We couldn't have done it without you.

Baby Seymour is Coming Today!!!!!

Yay! My water broke at 11:45 today at work. It was hilarious now that I look back on it. I went upstairs to eat lunch. Drug reps bring lunch most days. Today it was from Firehouse Subs. They usually bring warm subs and put them in a cooler on the floor to keep them warm. I squatted down to pick out a sub and felt a little pop. The next thing I knew I was soaking wet. I stood up said "oh crap" and flew out of the room holding myself like a 2 yo who had to go. I had to go downstairs to get to an open bathroom. On the way down I called for Debbie (she is a lady at work who knows everything and fixes everything). When I got to the bathroom of course I was still gushing (sorry, probably TMI). Well they got me a towel and Sandra (another lady from work) called Jonathan. Every time I thought I was done leaking and stood up, it started again. I had no idea there was that much fluid in me.
Well, Jonathan got there and we left with tons of well wishes and hugs from co-workers. They say that you are supposed to make sure you have half a tank of gas or more in your car from 36 weeks on. Well we have been very good about this until today. My gas light came on today on the way to work. So on the way home we stopped for gas.
Now we are at home waiting for things to really get started. I have had several contractions, but nothing too bad yet. We will do our best to keep you posted. Please pray that he comes quickly. If he comes during business hours then the Nurse Midwife that I really want will deliver me!
We are so very very excited. Thanks for sharing in our joy!

Slight Progress

I went in the OB today because I had had so many contractions over the weekend. She checked me and said I am almost 2 cm dilated, 80% effaced, and he has dropped to -2 station. All of this is good, just not quit what I had hoped for. She thinks the baby is about 7 pounds, but very likely long because of how bunched up he is in my tummy. She thinks I will go sometime this week, but said she is wrong as often as she is right.
Please continue to pray that I go into labor when she can deliver me. This would be amazing and it would be so comforting for her to deliver me since she is on the same page as I am. We really appreciate all the prayers and encouragement. Now that I know things are ok and normal I can concentrate on being positive and excited.
I am headed back to work tomorrow. I couldn't stand staying at home again just waiting and waiting. It is like waiting for the water to boil. We will continue to keep you updated.

Prodromal Labor Stinks!

I am apparently having prodromal labor...almost all of which is during the night. For those of you that do not know what this is, it is basically labor contractions that are regular and uncomfortable, but that do not progress. This started Tuesday night and has happened almost every night since then. Last night Jonathan and I very much thought I was is active labor. The contractions were 3-4 min apart, getting stronger and very uncomfortable. Then 4 hours into it (3:30 AM) things just kind of stopped.
So obviously things are getting close, I am just not sure how many more sleepless nights I can take. We are trying to stay positive and catch naps when we can. Please keep us in your prayers. It is a tough time right now. It is tough to stay positive and excited with things continuing to start and stop so many times.

Revelation

I woke up this morning determined to have a new and improved attitude. While praying this morning it hit me that I have made this pregnancy all about me. I'm uncomfortable, and impatient, and tired, and cranky. My thoughts and unfortunately my prayers have been self focused. When in reality it has nothing to do with me. God is (or should be) the focus of my life. That includes everything to do with this baby. God made this baby, not me. I am this baby's "Mary." I was chosen by God to grow and nurture and raise this child, but at the end of the day he is God's child. He has a plan for this baby, which includes pregnancy and birth (and their timing).
I am reminded of the scripture that got me through when we thought this baby might come early. "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ." Philippians 4: 6-7

Good News/Bad News

Bad News: I am still not in labor.
Good News: I have started dilating. Only 1 cm and 60% effaced, but still...progress is progress at this point.
Please pray that everything continues to progress well and we both stay healthy. God has a plan and His timing is perfect!

Very Frustrated!

Well I've seen lots of action in the last 14 hours, but nothing is progressing. Last night at our birth class I stood outside and walked for an hour and a half and had contractions every 5-6 min with good intensity. By the time we got home at 9:00 and was finishing packing, things slacked off and by 10:00 no more contractions.
Then throughout the night I was awakened by very hard contractions. By 3:00 I was sick of waking up in pain and felt I could handle it better if I was awake and prepared when a contraction started. They were every 10 min for several hours. At 5:30 they had tapered off again and I was exhausted. I sort of went back to sleep and got up around 7:00. Jonathan and I went on a long walk, which created a TON of pressure and lots of lower abdominal cramping. Some contractions, but still nothing consistent!
So basically what I have learned is that regardless of how much you prepare and learn and seek advice, your situation is never normal. What I am having is so far from text book and all that I was expecting. I have no idea if I am actually in labor or not.
I have an appointment today at 1:40 so I guess we'll see what they say. Please keep us in your prayers. This is beyond frustrating and somewhat concerning. I am trying hard to stay positive and focused, but it is difficult when you have no idea what is going on inside your body.
I'll update again after the appointment.

Start Praying!

Ok, Jonathan is back in town for good. I am full term. Baby Seymour can come any time! So all those prayers that were keeping him in now need to switch to lets get him out!
I am fully ready to go through labor and delivery in order to stop feeling so big, clumsy, and just all around blah! I have plenty of symptoms that indicate he may be coming soon. However, soon could mean hours, days, or even weeks! In my opinion, the sooner the better. Jonathan and I are going on a long walk tonight. And then tomorrow I'll go to the gym after work and every day thereafter until he comes!
I know God has a plan and this baby will come when he is good and ready. I just pray that it is sooner rather than later and that I can survive the time until then.
We really appreciate your prayers and supports. We'll keep you updated.

FULL TERM!!

We made it! I am full term today. And boy am I ready for this baby to come. He needs to either come today or he needs to wait until Sunday (because of the wedding). I actually have three weeks until my due date, but he is safe to come whenever he wants now.
As of yesterday I was exhausted, frustrated, and nervous. I woke up this morning feeling like I could clean the world. In fact, Jonathan had to push me out of the house because I wouldn't stop cleaning and straightening. I didn't get to work until 8:05! Huge deal for me. I am usually there by 7:30. Now I am frustrated because I have to be at work instead of completing my huge mental list of things to do. People at work said I am nesting. I just feel like my brain is going a million miles an hour.
My mom, again, said not to get my hopes up. It could still be several days or even weeks. I understand, but and certainly praying that is not the case. Thank you so much for your prayers and support. We couldn't do this without ya'll. Please continue to pray that he comes today or Sunday! My nurse midwife is still out of town with her mother. So that means one of the MD's (there are only two) will deliver me. The one I like the best is on call through Sunday and then it is the other one starting next week. So I would rather go before next week so I can feel one hundred percent confident and comfortable with my OB at delivery!
We'll keep you posted!

Made it through the weekend!

Yay! We made it through the weekend. Jonathan is back safe and sound and I am still pregnant. Now if I can just make it one more week. Trey and Sarah (college friends) are getting married this weekend near Boone, NC. Jonathan is in the wedding so he will be leaving again. However, this time it is only 2.5 hours away. Not nearly as big of a deal.
This weekend I spent the time getting the house and nursery ready. My mom (thank God for mom's) was a huge help. She stained his toy box cradle, went with me to get some missing items, and sorted all of his clothes. And let me tell you, thanks to a few good friend and their hand-me-downs, this baby has more clothes than I do. Of course we have no idea what size he is going to be and if he will be able to wear all of them, but it is amazing to have a closet and drawers full waiting.
They crib has sheets on it, the pack and play is set up, the car seat ready, and the stroller is ready. The only thing left is to run by the fire department and have them professionally install the car seat bases.
I now have to focus on getting my bag packed and getting myself emotionally and physically ready for labor and delivery. I haven't been able to exercise in several weeks due to all the contractions and fear of going into early labor. But come next Monday I am back in the gym (I'll be full term by then and it is ok if he comes).
For anyone following this blog that is pregnant or will ever be pregnant and is planning on having natural child birth, I highly recommend Bradley classes. They have been absolutely wonderful and, in my opinion, a great preparation for labor and delivery. I'll do a longer blog on it later.
Well keep you updated. Thanks for the prayers and support!

36 Weeks!

Well we have made it another week. In 7 days I will be considered full term although I have four weeks to my due date. We are still praying for at least 12 more days to ensure Jonathan will be in town. I went to my weekly appointment yesterday and everything was fine. I have not dilated, praise God. My cervix is somewhat effaced (thin), but that is relatively normal at this stage in pregnancy. I am no longer taking the Procardia to stop contractions (which it never did anyway).
Jonathan leaves tonight for Mississippi to be with his family and to attend his grandfather's funeral. He will be back late Sunday night. So please pray that his flight there and drive back are safe and that nothing happens with this baby while he is gone. He leaves again next Friday for Trey and Sarah's wedding. He is coming back on Sunday morning after the wedding. So...we just need things to continue to go smoothly and for me not to stress out without him here.
We have prepared for a natural, husband-coached childbirth. That won't work if the husband is not here! I have total confidence in God that things will work out well.

Great and Crazy Weekend

Well, we had our last two showers this weekend. What a blessing they were! We received so much stuff. And all of it we really needed. Thank you to all who came to the showers and gave so graciously. Thank you to Meredith, Maggie, Katie, and Laura for throwing the showers. We are so thankful! His room looks like a tornado hit it right now. This week will be for organizing, taking inventory, and filling in what we are still missing.
Sadly, Jonathan's grandfather passed away on Saturday. Jonathan will be going to Mississippi for the funeral with his parents, however, I am too far along to travel. So please keep his family and us in your prayers as Jonathan is away.
We are still praying for 15 more days at least. After that then NBS can come any time.
Also, my Nurse Midwife (the one I really want to deliver me) is out of town for another two weeks because her mother is very ill. It feels selfish to pray for her to come back before I deliver, so I guess pray for God's will in that situation. Her family is incredibly important and I want her to be with them. However, my birth experience is important also and she shares the same philosophy about birthing as I do. I know God is in control and all will work everything out for the good of those who love Him.
It is crazy and amazing that we are coming down to the end of this pregnancy. Jonathan and I are both ready to start this new journey and excited about seeing our little man.

35 Weeks!

Well, I really don't have any new news. Which is a good thing. My appointment went well yesterday. She didn't check my cervix, which is fine with me because if I am dilating then I don't want to know about it (yet). She didn't check because I have had no further changes in symptoms. I will be checked next Wed when I go. They will also test for Group B Strep. That is a bacteria that is present in 30% of women. I pray mine is negative so I do not have to have IV antibiotics during labor and delivery. I am also supposed to start tapering off the Procardia that may or may not be helping with my current contractions. They usually wean you between 35 weeks and 36 weeks, which starts today.
Something kind of crazy: In 14 days if I go into labor they will not stop it! However, we really need at least 19 days so Jonathan can be in town.
So I guess current prayer requests are that 1) He waits at least 19 more days; 2) My strep test is negative; 3) I am able to survive the next three to five weeks.

A New Week!

Well here is the start of a new week. Still having contractions. Not much change. This weekend had good moments and bad. Friday during the day things were great. Friday night and Saturday were a little rough with lots of contractions. Sunday was much better though. I tell you what, I am getting a little tired of sitting on my couch. It is difficult for me to sit quietly. I really miss working out. But whatever it takes to keep this little man inside is, of course, what I will do.
We need him to stay in for 22 more days.
He is getting stronger and stronger. His kicks and turns and punches are starting to not be cute at all. Yesterday he put his foot on my right rib near my sternum and ran it all the way across the rib to my side. I about came off the couch. We had some words after that and thankfully he hasn't done that again.
This is an exiting and very busy week. We have our birth class on Tuesday night (which we are loving), my work shower on Thursday, and a shower Saturday and Sunday. Plus Ryan and Katie (Jonathan's brother and his wife) will be here this weekend, which will be fun. It is wonderful to have so many distractions.
I'll let you know what the status is after my next appointment on Wed.

34 Weeks!

Yay, we made it another week. Still having tons of contractions. Some so mild I don't know I'm having it unless I feel my belly. Others so strong it is hard to breathe. But praise God he is still inside me growing and maturing. We are praying for at least 26 more days.

According to babycenter.com he is the weight of a good size cantaloupe. I feel like he is already the size of a watermelon! I told Jonathan last night I won't know what to do when I don't have to lug around this belly any more. It has been and will be more than worth it though. I keep focusing on the miracle that this baby is and the amazing blessing he will be and it is easy to forget all the other stuff that is going on.

I got to the Midwife again on Wednesday July 8. We are hoping for no cervical changes at that time. I am still working daily. It is nice because it passes the time and it is easier to ignore the contractions than when I am sitting on the couch. However, I do lay down for an hour at lunch each day. I even fell asleep the other day, which is rare for me. I never take naps. I guess I have a good reason now though.
We'll continue to keep you updated. Thanks for all your prayers and support.

Wishful Thinking

Well, I was wrong. The medication is not really helping the contractions. I am still having lots. However, I have not noticed any other symptoms, which is very good.
So, our new prayer request is that Baby Seymour wait until July 27 to make his entrance. At that time I will be 37.5 weeks pregnant and he is safe to come.
Why this date? Well, we have a baby shower today, one June 30, one on July 9, 11, and 12th; and then Jonathan is in a wedding in NC on July 25 (his birthday). So if this baby can wait until then, we won't miss any of the fun stuff on our schedule and he should be plenty healthy enough to come. So please continue to pray with us! Just 30 more days and he can come!

Contraction Update

I called the Midwife yesterday and she was out so I spoke with one of the OBYGN's. I let her know that the contractions were no better (I had about 30 from 6:30 AM to 3:30 PM an stopped counting after that). She agreed to let me double the medication to help stop the contraction as long as my blood pressure remained high enough and I didn't have side effects (dizziness, headache, etc). So I have doubled up and it seems to be helping. I have only had 6 or so contractions since 6:30 AM and it is now 11:00 AM.
So...with all the prayers and the medication things seem to be getting better. Please continue to pray. We believe wholeheartedly prayer is amazing and works!
Yesterday I started to get discouraged and frustrated so I turned the best source in the world for advice...the Bible.
Here is the scripture God brought me to:
"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ."
Philippians 4: 6-7
I have repeated this over and over and any time I start to worry I remind myself to pray instead. Thanks again for your continued prayers and support. We are blessed to have friends and family like you!

33 weeks!

33 weeks today! Can you believe I have been pregnant for 8 months? Crazy!
Well I am still having contractions. On average I have about 4 an hour. The medication is starting to help I think. Today is only the second day of taking it. I go back to the Nurse Midwife in two weeks.
The midwife wants me to make it to 35 or 36 weeks. I want to make it at least to 37, but really 38 weeks, because that is considered full term. Jonathan and I have believed and prayed for a full term baby since the get go. I do not want a NICU baby. I want to take Baby Seymour home when I go home from the hospital. Please pray with us that despite these contractions, my cervix is not changing and that Baby Seymour is growing more and more healthy each day.
He sure feels like he is healthy. He moves less often now, but when he does it is like he is doing aerobics and it goes on for 45 min to an hour. He is definitely developing sleep wake cycles. This, of course, is a good thing. He has hiccups all the time, which make me laugh. This is also good because it is developing his diaphragm so he will be able to breathe effectively when he gets out.
Thank you for your prayers and support. We will continue to keep you updated.

Crazy Day!

Well....today starte out rough. Actually it started last night. About 4:30 yesterday I started having a lot of contractions. This is really the third episode I have had, but this was slightly worse. This morning I went on to work, but the contractions continued. So I called the Nurse Midwife and she said I needed to be checked. So...Jonathan drove me to the appointment where they hooked me up to a monitor that tracked contractions and the baby's heart rate. I was having quit a few contractions, some of them very strong. She then did a test called fenobronectin. If this test is positive it indicates a likelihood of me going into labor in the next two weeks. Luckily mine was negative, praise God! She also checked me and said my cervix is still closed and still long, but is as soft as a marsh mellow. So we are safe for the most part but not completely out of the woods. I have started a medications called Procardia. It is actually a blood pressure medicine (my BP is fine) that stops contractions. I have to also cut back my patient load significantly at work and lay down for an hour at lunch.
Not exactly fun, but way better than the other alternative.
So....our request is that you pray for a full term baby with us. We are believing that Baby Seymour will be safe and healthy and that things from here on out will go smoothly.
We'll keep you updated.

32 weeks!

Only 8 weeks to go! I hope! Jonathan and I started birthing classes on Tuesday that we are very excited about. Jonathan actually enjoyed the class. I was surprised. Anyway, the only "negative" thing that the instructor had to say, in my opinion, was that first time baby's have an average gestation of 41 weeks and 1 day. That is 8 days over my due date. Now, this would put the baby coming on my mom's birthday, but I would really rather give her an early present by having this baby on my due date or before.
I am starting to live life even more day by day. Some days this baby cooperates and I am fairly comfortable. Other days (like today) I feel like he is going to pop out through my skin because he is pushing on me so much. I am not sure if my right ribs will ever be the same.
I am going to the Nurse Midwife every two weeks now. My next appointment is next Wednesday. I'll let you know how it goes and what she says.

Best Anniversary Ever!

All I have to say is that I have an amazing husband. He whisked me away from work Friday and took me Chateau Elan near Atlanta. This is an amazing resort I didn't know existed. We had a wonderful dinner, a relaxing evening, an amazing breakfast, and a fun day of antique shopping. I could not have asked for anything more. Plus, the best part......he actually surprised me!! That is not an easy feat.
Also, when we got home the house had been cleaned (by Jonathan), and my mom-in-law had put the baby's bedding on the crib! What a wonderful family I have! I am so beyond blessed! The nursery is coming along great. Almost done. We got a foot stool today to go with my grandmother's rocker and a side table. Now we just need a chest or cradle for the toy box. It is starting to get very exciting! Can't believe it's less than 9 weeks until Baby Seymour comes.
My grandmother sent me the cutest happy anniversary email. It said that this year was going to be very different than the rest. I told her she ain't kidding!
Lot's of new things to come this year with a new baby! I am so thankful for what the Lord has blessed me with. A wonderful, loving husband, a great family, and a little miracle on the way!

Single Digits!

31 weeks today! That means 9 weeks (or less). Things are staring to move right along. The nursery is painted and the chair railing up. It looks wonderful! This weekend we will put the crib together and put the furniture in the room.
We will be starting child birth classes next Tuesday. I have toured the hospital and will take Jonathan to see it in a week or two.
I had my first appointment with the new Nurse Midwife and she is so great. Her philosophy about pregnancy, labor, and delivery is almost identical to mine. Our prayer is that she is on call the day/night I go into labor!
We are starting to get very excited!! Can't believe it is almost time for Baby Seymour. At times this pregnancy seems to have flown by. Other times it seems to be crawling. Overall it has been a wonderful experience and I am so very thankful!
We'll continue to keep you updated.

30 Weeks!

Well... only 10 weeks from today and we should have a baby! I certainly hope and pray that it is no more than 10 weeks. I am actually praying for 8-9 weeks, but I realize God has a plan. And I certainly want Baby Seymour to get here strong and healthy. I really do not think we have to worry about the strong part. He has given me a handful of kicks in the ribs that has been slightly more than uncomfortable!

He has found that he can stretch out a little more if he lays sideways in my abdomen. This means his head is in my left lower abdomen, his back and rearend are across my belly into the right abdomen, and his curled legs are literally on my right side. It is very weird to feel a baby kicking near your back!

We start painting the nursery this weekend! Very exciting. I'll post pictures as soon as the computer decides to cooperate and let me.

Water Aerobics

I did water aerobics tonight for the first time. It was great. I certainly didn't feel weightless, but it was nice to work out and not be sore afterwards. The water felt great and I still got my heart rate up and used all my muscle groups. This will certainly be a part of my workout routine for the remainder of this pregnancy.
Now if I could just figure out a way to sleep and not be sore in the morning. I feel like someone pucnched me in the ribs all night. Jonathan swears it wasn't him, and the baby's kicks don't hurt, so I'm not sure whats going on. I'm up to five pillow. Two to prop me up, one in between my legs, one under my belly, and one behind my back. Only 10.5 weeks left though. Then the sleeplessness will come from having a newborn, but at least I'll be comfortable. He is completely worth it though!

Baby's Growing

Today I woke up feeling like this baby had settled in my lungs. Of course I know he can't grow in my lungs, but it is hard to take a full breath. I usually feel this way every few weeks as he hits another growth spurt. I am all about him growing and getting strong, but I wish I had about five more inches of verticle space in my torso! I've been told my many that it really wouldn't help much though.
Things are still going great. 10.5 weeks to go. Thursday I will be 30 weeks pregnant. We will paint the nursery this weekend. Then the following weekend we will assemble the crib and put the beautiful bedding on it that Jonathan's mom has so lovingly made. We are really starting to get excited.
Jonathan grins and laughs when he feels the baby move.....I just grunt and groan :).

Changes

After some unfortunate events Jonathan and I have made the hard decision to stop seeing a midwife as our health care provider for this pregnancy. We have decided to go with a Nurse-Midwife at an OBGYN office. Unfortunately that means I will be delivering in a hospital, which is not what I wanted. However, at this point safety for the duration of this pregnancy and birth is of utmost importance. We have been very blessed in that we have no complications or problems and our prayer is that this continues.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support. We'll keep you updated.

28 weeks

Well....the third trimester is upon us! Just 11.5 weeks to go! Honestly though I am hoping for about 9.5-10 weeks, but my mom says not to get my hopes up! Things are still going great. Starting to have a little swelling by the end of the day, but luckily only in my feet and not too bad. Heart burn is occasional, which I will take any day over the other more severe symptoms of pregnancy.
I tell you what though, this baby loves to move! He has found my right ribs and seems to like pushing off of them. Sometimes I even feel him all the way over on my right side so far it seems like he is heading towards my back! Crazy how he finds room in there I didn't know I had. It is a joy though to know that there is a real live human in me and he is growing like he is supposed to.
We just got back from my last trip until Baby Seymour comes. A family friend got married in Baton Rouge, LA, but we actually stayed with Jonathan's family in Biloxi, MS. We had a great time, but no more 8 hour car rides for me while pregnant!!
I tried to post a picture of me at 28.5 weeks pregnant, but the website isn't cooperating. We took some family pictures while in Biloxi and I got the courage to take one by myself. I'll try again tomorrow and see if I can't be more successful.
We have tentative plans to start the nursery next weekend. I'll keep you posted.

Personality Changes

I have been surprised in many unexcpected ways during this pregnancy so far. It seems, in some areas, my Type A personality has been transformed into being laid back and go with the flow. Not that this is a bad thing mind you......it simply means that I am 12.5 weeks from delivery and Baby Seymour's nursery is no more completed than it was months ago. We have beautiful furniture, fabric, and paint...but none of it has been started.
I have also found that my being picky got worse when it came to picking out nursery stuff. I did not want a theme or for the room to appear "babyish." Several months ago Jonathan and I stumbled on some beautiful furniture at Southern Estates Antique Mall (highly recommended if you like antiques). We bought a normal sized dresser as storage and a smaller dresser with mirror that will be both storage and a changing table. The mirror will of course come off until later. The crib is brand new but we were lucky enough to find a design that compliments the antiques perfectly. They are all a very dark wood....I think you would call it mahogany.
We have decided to use sage green and white as the colors. Jonathan's mom is a wonderful seamstress and is working on the bedding and window treatment. The paint has been purchased, and we have decided on how to paint, but of course no paint is on the wall.
So, needless to say, things are progressing slower than I ever imagined I would let them. But Jonathan is loving the laid back Mandy, so there are certainly positives to this change.
I'll keep you updated on the nurseries progress.

27 Weeks

Well, this blog is being started somewhat late in this pregnancy, but better late than never huh? Today we are 27 weeks pregnant, meaning only 13 weeks to go! It is unbelievable how fast time is flying. Baby Seymour is growing by leaps and bounds, meaning I am also growing. As many of you know I have been very hesitant about documenting this pregnancy with picutres, but I will do my best to draw up enough courage to start posting pictures.

A quick update on how things have gone up until now: First trimester- only two episodes of getting sick, extreme fatigue, overall a great time full of awe and excitement. Second trimester- getting bigger and bigger, more energy, mild heartburn, overall a very happy time with building anticipation and excietment. Third trimester- starts next Thursday!

I hope you enjoy this blog and are able to follow the remainder of this pregnancy and Baby Seymour prepares to make his grand entrance.

Oh, I almost forgot...we are keeping his name a secret until he is born. I understand many of you are not happy about this, but we are very excited about anouncing his birth and name at the same time! We feel it is a fun decision and increases the anticipation even more!