Life Is Good

I can't believe that Claire has been with us for five days now. We are still getting used to her and keep calling her Lauren. Curtis has corrected us a few times. The kids came home yesterday after spending the weekend with my mom and they are really enjoying their baby sister. When Lauren got up this morning, she looked in the pack-n-play and started asking where the baby was since she didn't see her in there. Curtis has to sit next to me whenever I feed Claire. He is still asking why her name isn't Zach, but he also told me that he likes Claire. I am so incredibly blessed to have such wonderful children. Claire and I had our mother/baby assessment today and Claire now weighs 7lbs. 15oz. She is also a good nurser, the best one of the three. She latches on perfectly and my breasts are so thankful, not a lot of pain and cracking with her. Kevin has been off of work since Claire's birth, which has been very nice. This is the first time that he has taken vacation after a birth. I'm enjoying every minute of it, so are the kids. Claire will have her two week check up next Wednesday and I can't wait to see how much weight she has gained. Until then have a wonderful week!

Introducing...

Kevin and I are pleased to announce the birth of our baby girl,

Claire Elaine

born on Thursday, May 21st at 4:23 p.m.

Weighing in at 8 lbs. 4 oz. and 19 in.

We are so blessed and thankful that she stayed head down and the birth was quick and uncomplicated.

Curtis was very curious, but sad that there was no baby Zach. He told my mom that the nurses were going to put baby Claire back in my tummy, so baby Zach could come.

The proud parents

Our beautiful baby girl

So pretty

It Has Begun

I had my doctor's appointment this morning, and the baby has started the launch sequence. I am 3-4 centimeters dilated with 70% effacement and -2 station. The baby is still head down and has dropped. The nurse stripped my membranes to help things along, so we will see if that helps. I have my final appointment scheduled for next Wednesday, if I don't have the baby by then. If the baby hasn't come by then, we will induce. So, there will definitely be a baby next week if it doesn't happen this week. I can't wait to meet this little one!

In other news, Lauren has had two boughts of rectal bleeding this week. She was doing so good. I'm getting her back on the apple juice and Benefiber regimen again. She has also learned, from Curtis, how to climb into her crib. Thankfully she hasn't tried to climb out. She is learning so much and she has started to tell us that she wants to sit on the potty, especially when she poops. I'm hoping that she will be easier than Curtis to potty train. Curtis has also claimed me as his girlfriend. Good boy! I'm the only girlfriend he will have for a long time! We are also signing him up for a four week t-ball class starting in August. I can't wait! I hope you all have a good week.

Two More Weeks

Here it is Tuesday again and another doctor's appointment is done. This one was much better than last week. Kevin went with me this time and when the doctor was measuring my belly, he was asking me if I thought the baby had flipped. I told him that I didn't think so, and he looked at me and said, "Really?" He started to feel around my lower abdomen by my pelvic bone and looked at me and said,"I feel a head down here." So we proceeded with the ultrasound and sure enough the baby had moved into the head down position. Thank you Jesus for answering our prayers. The baby was really active last night, so I don't know if that's when he/she flipped or when it happened, but it was a wonderful surprise. The doctor also estimated that the baby weighs about 8lbs. 3oz. but I don't see how the baby could gain over a pound in a week especially since I didn't gain any weight. Now we just have to wait for me to go into labor and pray that the baby doesn't decide to flip again.

Letting Go and Letting God

So here we are two days into trying to get the baby to turn and it hasn't happened yet. I honestly believe that the baby is going to stay this way and I am now okay with that. Tuesday was really hard and I cried all day. Yesterday I woke up feeling really good, but today I am very uncomfortable. My back hurts so bad and the pelvic pressure is horrible. I didn't hurt like this with Curtis and Lauren, so it worries me. I have been in constant prayer over this baby and I know that God is in control, but the unknown scares me. Having a c-section is my worst nightmare come true and I know in my heart of hearts that that is what we will have to do to get this baby out safely. I almost had to have a c-section with Curtis and I worried about it constantly with Lauren which is why I chose to have her induced, so we wouldn't have to have one. I lost my trust in God and took matters into my own hands, so I guess He is getting my attention to let Him take control. I have been trying different things to get the baby to turn, but like I said, I don't think this baby is going to move. I also believe that there is a reason that this happened which will be revealed at a later time. My main focus is to make sure that this baby is safe and I'm safe, which makes me very thankful that I live in this modern age of medicine. One hundred years ago, women and their babies died during the birthing process because the baby was breeched. I am very thankful that my ob/gyn is a Christian and a high risk doctor, so I know that I am in good hands. Kevin and I have also decided that this will be our last child. We have always wanted four, but with this latest development, God has made it very clear that three is our quota, which is fine. If any of you need maternity clothes or baby stuff, let us know. Have a wonderful week!

Baby Update and Prayer Request

Well, I just got back from my doctor's appointment. The doctor did an ultrasound to see how big the baby was and we discovered that the baby is breeched. The baby's head is right under my ribs on the left side. It's been poking out for about a week now, but I thought it was the feet. I am shocked to say the least and worried. A c-section is not what I had in mind, but I will have to trust God in whatever he has planned for me and this baby. The doctor will do another ultrasound next week to see if the baby has turned. If it hasn't then we will discuss our options. He also told me that if I go into labor this week to go straight to the hospital asap since it's dangerous for me to be laboring with the baby in this position. I cannot tell you how scared and sad I am right now. The only good thing is that the baby looked good and is 7 lbs, so I just have to leave this in God's hands. Please join me in praying that the baby turns this week and that I do not go into labor before next Tuesday.