No time, no time

I have been wanting to update but can't seem to find the time. I do update Facebook and Shutterfly regularly with pics and Emerson's milestones, so please check there!

If you are a working mom and still have time to update your blog, please give me your trick! I have been using my "free time" doing laundry, organizing all of Emerson's new toys and clothes, and playing with my sweet baby girl. Hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas holiday...we sure did! :-) Love to all....

Ahhhhhh sleep!

I am loving 2 months old! Emerson is sleeping through the night! I am feeding her at 10pm, and then we put her down about 10:30. She sleeps until 6 or 7 in the morning, and Mommy is loving it! Perfect timing b/c I have to go back to work...I will be much more well-rested for work if I don't have do a night feeding!

She is smiling and laughing all the time! And she LOVES LOVBS LOVES bathtime! She kicks her legs and moves her arms all around. We do bathtime at the same time every night and she is getting familiar with the routine, so she gets excited when we enter the bathroom at that time. She knows what's coming!

We love our little girl! :)

Getting packed up for 3 days in Waco....lots of stuff to pack for a little baby....geez!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Daycare, Santa and her first round of shots

Tuesday~ This is my last week of maternity leave :(, so I wanted to take Emerson in to the daycare to see how she did before she starts for good. Knowing that for sure I would cry, I wanted to wait until I was at least in my car....but I didn't make it that far. I cried when I was leaving....when the daycare lady saw me, she teared up too. I dropped her off at 9am and didn't pick her up until 3pm. That's the longest I have ever been away from her (besides during my hospital stay). It was NO FUN for me, but I think she did well. I think she slept most of the time, but she did get a chance to lay in the swing awake and watch the other kids play. I know daycare will be good for her...kids need social interaction with other kids and I am happy with who Mike and I chose. It's not her I worry about.....it's ME! I don't like leaving my little girl.

Wednesday~ We went to go see SANTA CLAUS! Yes, it's a little early, but I am trying to get this stuff done before I go back to work. She wore her Christmas dress and looked so pretty! This was her first time in shoes! Santa looked pretty good himself...very realistic!

Afterwards was the not-so-fun part. Emerson had her 2 month check up....Mike met us there. Doc said she looked great! But then she had to get her 6 vaccinations. All shots in her legs...that was NOT fun for her or for me. She screamed like I had never heard her before (rightfully so), and I cried as well. I bet her little legs are so sore. At 4 months old, we have to do that all over again....and not looking forward to it. Here are her stats:

Weight- 11.1 lbs (50th-75th percentile range)
Length- 22.5 in (50th percentile)
Head circumference: 37.5 cm (10th-25th percentile range)

Mike and I both have tiny heads, so it makes sense that her head would be small as well. I would normally be worried about that, but I'm not concerned knowing her genes!

We are getting ready for a fun-filled Thanksgiving week with lots of traveling. This Saturday, we go to Victoria for Hrncir Thanksgiving/Christmas (Mike's mom's family)...just for the day. On Wednesday, we are going to Waco for my family's Thanksgiving until Friday. That will be an interesting trip with Emerson and all 3 dogs! On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, we go to Hallettsville for Schott Thanksgiving. GEEZ!!!!!!!!! I guess it's good practice for Christmas...we will again be doing so much traveling...this time with a newborn in tow.

Has it been 2 months already?

So, I've been a little behind on my entries! Emerson will be 2 months old this Wednesday, and I have been enjoying every second of being home with her. This is my last official week of maternity leave. I do get off next week too, but only because it's Thanksgiving Break. Back to work the Monday afterwards...I am not too happy about that. I am not ready to leave that little girl. We have found a home daycare that we really like, so that's not what I am worried about. I am just sad to have to leave her.

Our time together these last couple of months has been great! She has started to smile back at me when I talk to her. Sometimes, when she's really happy, she will even kinda laugh! We have our 2 month checkup at the doctor on Wednesday, and I am so interested in her current weight....she's a chunky little thing! Love those chubby cheeks and leg rolls!

She's gone many places in her first 2 months....she's been:
-to Waco (over the Halloween break)
-shopping countless times! (her favorite places are Kohls, Target, Babies R Us, and the mall)
-to a high school football game
-to a housewarming party
-to a football watching party
-up to my school a few times
-to church
-out to eat at lots of restaurants!
-on a sneak-peek visit to her daycare

Since it's been so long since I posted, I will just paste the links to her pictures thus far.

Emerson's BIRTHday and stay in the hospital:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2038448&id=1137711619&l=c85506e3e4

Her 1-week pictures (taken at home by Mike's secretary):
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2041187&id=1137711619&l=dd5aca73e3

September (well, the rest of it) pictures:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2039187&id=1137711619&l=62ac720039

October pictures:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2041184&id=1137711619&l=a4bfa6096a

November pictures:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2043798&id=1137711619&l=a693701c0d

I hope to get better about posting more frequently....we will see how that goes!

A Very Trying Time

Mike and I have had quite the week. At 3:30am on Fri night/Sat morning, I woke up with a high fever. My body ached so bad and was shivering hard. I took Tylenol, nursed Emerson, pumped and then the fever started to break. I woke up in a puddle of sweat from breaking the fever. While trying to take a shower, I was so dizzy and lightheaded that I almost passed out. Mike had to get me out of the shower. Around 11 am, the fever came back and even worse. I called my doc's after hours line, and the doc said to go to the ER- especially since I am postpartum, just having Emerson 2 weeks before.

In the ER, my blood pressure ran 57/32. If you don't know, normal is 130/80. I was also very dehydrated, so they immediately hooked me up to IV fluids. I had ultrasounds run on me to determine if part of the placenta had been accidentally left in. Ultrasounds came back negative. I was admitted into the hospital after the ultrasounds and blood and urine cultures came back negative, and they couldn't diagnose what was wrong. They did discover that my white blood count and my kidney (creatinine) levels were both extremely high, but could not tell me why.

On Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, they ran every test under the sun on me. Chest CT scan, abdominal CT scan, kidney ultrasounds, ultrasounds checking for blood clots, etc.. My symptoms during this time were fever and chills every few hours, dizziness, lightheadedness, trouble breathing, upper abdominal pain, etc. Both of the levels mentioned above were getting worse, even after taking tons of antibiotics and fluids through an IV.

All of those ultrasounds, scans, blood draws came back negative for major organ problems. My doctor was stumped and said that it must be an internal bacterial infection that took over my body, because it could not be anything else. Around Wednesday, antibiotics seem to working bc my levels started to come down slowly. I was still having fever, but not as frequently. I was given a little oxygen and a breathing pipe to help with my breathing. Doc said that I would be released when my levels were back to normal and I didn't have fever/chills for 48 hours.

It's Thursday evening now, and I am playing the waiting game. My levels have returned to normal, but we are waiting the 48 hrs of being fever-free. I am hoping things go well tonight and I get released tomorrow, but we will see!

My mom and Mike have been fabulous throughout this whole thing. Both had to take off work all week. They have switched off being with me here at the hospital and taking care of our 2 week old at home. I miss Emerson like crazy. This has been very hard for me. I have pictures of her up in the hospital but cry every time I look at them. New moms should not be separated from their babies. Luckily, I didn't have to worry about her well-being because she has an awesome Daddy and Nana taking care of her.

I was nursing before this illness started, so that has been another ordeal. Apparantly, being really ill diminishes your milk supply, so I was not producing anything. I pumped at the hospital, but with no success. We had to start giving her 100% formula, and this really upset me. Luckily, my milk supply has come back since starting to feel better. They are able to give her part breast milk/part formula at every feeding. Hopefully, I will be able to give her 100% breastmilk soon.

So, it's Day 6 now, and I am hoping to get out tomorrow. I am still very weak, so I don't know how much I will be able to help out at home, but I SOOOO just want to be home. I miss changing my baby's diapers (crazy, I know) and giving her baths and rocking her, I miss cuddling with my husband, I miss my dogs, I miss my bed, I miss home-cooked meals, I miss everything.

This has been very frustrating b/c they can't put a name on my illness. The internal doctor said that I was "very, very sick" and "levels and bp were critical" at one point, but no one can diagnose it. I am just hoping they didn't miss anything even more serious.

OK, so I am rambling now here in my hospital bed while watching Greys. I need to say one more time though that I am very thankful to my husband and my mom for all of their help. They both had to take off work all week, sleep in a recliner at the hospital, do all day-duty with Emerson and all-night duty with her too, transport breastmilk back and forth from home, etc. I love them so very much.

Don't you know that 31 is the new 21?

Someone had a birthday on Sept 29th! Yes, that would be me! With Emerson only being 11 days old, we didn't feel right going out and leaving her with Mike's mom who was staying with us. We celebrated with our great friends LauraLee and Tom, who brought us a yummy dinner and ate with us. Mike and I are very lucky to have them as friends! THANK YOU GUYS!

Emerson made her debut!!!

Sorry it has taken me so long to post anything....you know how it is with a newborn at home! (Pics will come soon)

Thursday, Sept 17th- 5:30pm- We went to the hospital for a scheduled induction. My obgyn was going to be put of town the next week when I was due and Mike and I really wanted her to deliver, so we induced 6 days before due date.

Friday, Sept 18th- It was a slow process, and I didn't start having contractions until the next day around 11am, I think. It's all very much a blur....they did have to use a vacuum to remove her, and that still kinda haunts me. The important part is that she came at 2:11pm, and she was/is PERFECT! We could not have asked for a prettier baby! 6 lbs 10 oz----19.75 in long. Around day 2, they noticed she had some jaundice, so while we were in the hospital she had to lay under the jaundice lamps.

I was discharged from the hospital on Sunday, but they let me "room in" with Emerson until she could go home. Luckily, they discharged her the next day on Monday, so we got to go home!!!!

Home with her has been great! She's a pretty easy baby so far. Very noisy (not crying, just funny noises...grunting, etc). She makes the funniest noises and faces! I could stare at her all day long. We are so so so so blessed. And you can tell that Mike is head over heels.

We are so lucky to have such support from great family and friends! Many came to visit in the hospital, and many came to visit at home. Some of them brought meals, and we so appreciated that!

My mom and dad came on Thursday night for the inducing and were there the next day for the big arrival! Mike's mom Betty was also there when Emerson was born. My mom stayed with us until Thursday of the next week. We had Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun night by ourselves and then Betty came on Monday and stayed til Sunday. Mom and Betty were a GREAT help. THANK YOU!!!

Emerson coming soon!

We had a doc appt yesterday afternoon and learned that she scheduled a last minute Hawaii trip with her hubby. So, we scheduled an induction date so that she could be the delivering doctor. We go in at 5:30pm on Thursday, so she should be here sometime on Friday! CANNOT WAIT!!! More than likely, her bday will be 9/18/09, and the actual due date was 9/24/09.

I am out of work now (starting yesterday), so I am resting up for the BIG DAY! Will post more soon....

Birthday Celebration for Betty, Gene, Paige and Me!

On Mike's side of the family (well his mom's side), there are 4 of us with b-days close together in August and September. Soon there will be a 5th one to celebrate at that time! So, every year, we meet up and celebrate all 4 at once. This year on Sunday 8/30, we met in Gonzales- halfway between Austin and Victoria (where his Mom and stepdad Gene live)- and had lunch.

Caleb turns 28!

Caleb's birthday was on August 20th, but we were unable to make the celebration at Esther's Follies downtown that night. It would have been a lot of fun, but I had Open House (Meet the Parents & Students) and knew I would be too tired to go after working all day and then Open House. But, we did make the dinner on Saturday night 8/22 at Cheesecake Factory in the Arboretum. YUM! Happy Birthday Caleb! (OH, Mike got a kick out of Kirk's temporary mohawk! That's the reason for the last 2 pics. I think he only had it like that for a day, but it actually looked good on him!)

Housewarming Party, Work, my new iPhone, and time with Mom and Bailey

Sat, 8/15- We've been busy with lots of things- one reason it has taken me so long to post another blog. One of the many things we have been up to is Tim's housewarming party! He built a beautiful house out in Dripping Springs a while back now, but he just got around to having everyone out for a party. It was a lot of fun. The theme was "Beer From Around the World", so he had lots of different types on hand, most of which I had never heard of before. Sure wish I could've partaken in tasting them! But I did get to eat the yummy food- he also had foods from around the world- hotdogs and hamburgers (from the US of course), eggrolls, mexican dishes, and so on. Lots of fun!

Mon, 8/17- This was my first day back to work- well at least for Staff Development Week. And then school started for the kids on 8/24. It has been interesting so far! I have found a long-term substitute to take over my class while I am gone and have coached him on everything, so I feel much better about that. I think he was a little overwhelmed when I emailed him about 6-7 pages of lesson plans, and that was only for the first week! He is a great sub, and I have full confidence that he will do great while I am gone. People keep asking me how long I am going to be out. I have no idea! It kinda depends on when she comes and how everything goes. I have a feeling it is going to be very hard going back to work and leaving her at daycare. Luckily, we have found an in-home daycare that we really like, and we both feel very comfortable leaving her with this daycare provider. I guess I am going to play it by ear on how long I stay home with her...more than likely, it will be for about 8 weeks after she is born.

The week of Staff Development, I dropped my cell phone in my Sonic drink....don't ask! Both my phone and my SIM card were ruined...awwww! Not cool! Mike and I had been talking about getting me an iPhone for my day (Sept 29th), so we decided to just buy it then as an early b-day present. It took me awhile to get everyone's phone #s again, but I think I have most everyone's that I had before. I love playing on it, but I still have a lot to learn!

Also, in that same week, Mom was down babysitting my niece Bailey (for over a week). We spent a lot of time with both of them, going out to dinners, swimming, going to see a Disney movie...it was a lot of fun!

Updates on the nursery, on Emerson, and on the pregnancy!

Here are the updated pics of the nursery! Everything is set and ready for her to arrive! As most of you know, my friend Trish painted the letters on the wall. She also painted the canvas (in the first pic), and it turned out great! The middle oval looks really lime green in the pic, but it is more like the wall color in real life. We are very pleased with how the nursery turned out...now all we need is a baby to enjoy it with us! (We also got a new glider and ottoman-in the last pic-, but we have it in our living room...not enough room in the nursery.)

Emerson updates- At our last appt on 8/31, they had her weighing in at about 6lbs 3oz from the measurements on her ultrasound. That is the 42nd percentile for weight, so she is almost average. On that date, I was 36 1/2 weeks. I go weekly now, so I can't wait to see what they say at my next appt on 9/9. She is doing wonderfully. We are so happy and feel so blessed that the pregnancy has gone well and that she has been healthy thus far. We are so excited, we almost can't stand it! Our bags are packed, and we are ready!

For anyone that has not been pregnant before, I will tell you and warn you now that the last month is absolutely NO FUN! It is impossible to get any sleep b/c you cannot get comfortable. I get up to pee at least 4 times a night....and getting up is not easy! These last few weeks have consisted of swollen feet, lots of Braxton Hicks contractions, raised blood pressure and being so tired I am almost don't think I can make it through the day. Working full-time has not been easy either, especially in my field of work. Anyone that teaches elementary kids knows that the first few weeks of school are the hardest and most stressful weeks of the year. Sitting down is almost not an option. It's been hard starting off the year being 8 1/2 months pregnant...and the heat is not helping either....next time, we will TRY to time our pregnancy differently! Oh- and I have developed carpal tunnel in both of my wrists. Supposedly, this is a hormonal thing that springs up in some pregnancies. The doc says it will go away after the baby is born. Hope so, b/c it hurts! OK- enough complaining! She is coming soon...very soon...so I can stand it all until then.

The latest on Emerson

Went to the doc yesterday, and she is head-down....so she is in position to come out! :) 6 more weeks if I carry to term. She weighed 4 lbs 11 oz (I have no idea how they determine this!), which is just a little small. Right now, she is in the 39th% for weight. They said that birth weight is very genetic, and since both Mike and I were small babies, this is nothing to worry about. Birth weight avg nowadays is about 8 lbs, and they are predicting her to weigh about 6 1/2lb if I carry to term. She was moving constantly during the whole u/s, which is what I feel her doing in my belly. She hardly ever stops!

Everything else is looking good! They gave me an u/s pic, but my scanner is messed up right now so I can't upload it.

Our Last Baby Shower....Fun Times!

So, my friends LauraLee, Debbie, and Christi threw Mike and I a WONDERFUL baby shower! It was thrown at our house on Saturday 8/8 night, and we had a blast! They provided great food (brisket, beans, potato salad, etc) and alcohol (even a marg machine). There were about 50-55 people here, so we had a great time! There were so many different groups of people here...my family, Mike's family, my friends from HS and college, Mike's friends from college, my work friends, etc. It started at 6 pm, and the last people left at 2am. Of course at the end of the night, games were brought out to play! I retired around midnight, but I am glad everyone stayed up and partied even later! Oh- and we got a ton of great stuff. I think Emerson has anything and everything she could ever want!