Thursday, June 3, 2010
Bargain Shopping
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Did he just roll over?
Today was a big day for Nolan last night he slept for 8 hours straight, no complaints here. We went to friends house who have a baby the same age and he played with the activity gym, smiling at the little cow toy that had a mirror on the belly. Then he actually started reaching for it with his hands and batting it around. What a fun new trick. Now tonight I just put him on the bed on his back and Keith and I watched him flip over onto his stomach. What a day! Nolan is two months old today.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
The First Weeks
It is amazing that 6 weeks could have gone by so fast.
Nolan is growing so fast. Here are some of our experiences so far.
Keith's family came during Nolan's first week. Everyone enjoyed holding him a lot. I just tried roll with all of the hormonal changes that happen in the first week. I'm sure it seemed like I was being reclusive while they were here, but I was just soaking it all in. Loving being a mommy.
We gave Nolan his first bath at home. Videotaped the whole thing. This one might be better if left on mute. He screamed through the whole thing. I was following the guide for water temperature, in my book it was not nearly warm enough.
My parents came the next weekend. It was cool to see The Dzia (read: polish grandpa) wanting to hold the baby all of the time. He can sure put him to sleep. I was feeling a lot more active and we were even able to go out for dinner.
I threw my back out, really bad. Couldn't even walk for a few days. I was laid up flat on my back. In the morning I would be able to pick up Nolan, but after a couple of diaper changes and getting the boy dressed, I would have shooting pains all up and down my back.
My mom returned a week later to help me with things around the house since I was so limited with my movements.
Young Life had a great banquet. We raised over $7,000 for Young Life and over $3,000 for camp scholarships.
I am putting the finishing touches on our Fun Run (June 5th) It is the biggest fundraiser we do for camp scholarships.
We are learning a lot about being parents. What each cry means based on the sound and what time it is (when he was last fed/changed/played with). Each Ayea-ayea he makes when we give him a binky to stop the crying is fun.
Just this past week he has started smiling. We will get a big toothless grin when we smile at him, especially in the morning.
6 weeks ago Nolan weighed only 8'15oz now he weighs 12'2oz. That is huge. I have some 3-6 month gerber onesies for him that are already being stretched to their limits. I cant believe it, and I really don't want to put him into 6 month clothes when he is only 6 weeks old. Somebody screwed up in the sizing department. Why can't they just label all of the clothes by weight? That seems to make a lot more sense.
I did get organized and I bought bins for his different size clothes. I even returned some of the clothes Erin had loaned me because I couldn't get his dresser drawers closed. It felt so good to get "organized". I was even able to set aside some extras that I am going to send with Alison to Ethiopia for the orphanage that they are adopting their son from.
Baby Gear: I love my Bob Stroller. It is HUGE to pack around, but it rolls so smoothly. I know that it will be great for running when I am finally able to run again.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Nolan is finally here!
15 days late, but well worth the wait...
Here is an account of what I can remember from the whole experience. Some of it is in present tense because I was able to jot down some notes. The rest I'm just filling in now that I have some time at the computer.
We came to the hospital on Thursday night for a round of pitocin and meds to help soften my cervix and help dialate. Short story, it didn't work. We went home around 7pm Friday evening.
While we were there Kathie Schroeder came by with these awesome shirts made specially for us by a company called RowdyDow BBQ out of Chicago. I guess they must have gotten a lot of calls from people who know us. They are so cute.
Sunday night and Keith got me all checked in and hung out for a while. For round two of the same process that we did on Thursday/Friday. I was still pretty skeptical that it would work. So, I sent him home to get some good rest. The hospital bed is really uncomfortable, so I didn't get much sleep at all. And, right when I got checked in the nurse hooked up my IV incorrectly so that the entire bag of saline got dumped into my system in about two hours. I had to pee a lot. Every time I would have to page the nurses and have them unhook me from the blood pressure cuff that was going off every 15 minutes and from the fetal monitor that was providing a constant thump.
Monday morning. 4am A couple of minutes ago I heard a crack crack in my pelvis it sounded kind of like a piece of plastic snapping. I figured it was Nolan connecting with the monitor on a couple of kicks. Could he have just broke my water? 20 minutes passes and nothing happens so I write it off. Then I have a chance to get up and to to the bathroom. Half way there I start to leak but make it to the toilet. The nurse had put a little measuring hat in it and the liquid that fills the bowl is very dark and murky looking. It scared me enough to call out for the nurse. She reassured me that meuconiun staining is normal in post date babies. It just means that Nolan has already had his first stool, and that things should start to progress soon. That water was protecting me, now I can definitely feel the contractions. Will try to sleep, that was a rush.
530am No sleep, these are definitely painful. The nurse gave me a small dose of pain medication and some Kleenex and told me to try and ignore them. Not possible. Once I get to 4cm I get to have an epidural, so that is the goal. 2 3/4 down hopefully I can make it to 4 before the day is too far gone. Its 5:30 am now, so I'm trying to decide when to call Keith and have him come over, I know I could handle the pain on my own, but he will want to be here as a support. I'll text him and see if he wakes up. No luck, 6:00am I call and he is by my side in no time.
9am the nurse comes to give me the epidural. She has to give me about 15 shots of "local" anisthetic before she can put in the catheter. I had 12 contractions in the time it took her and I had to sit up really straight on the side of the bed. It was really painful. Now that I have the epidural, it is great I can't feel a thing, I've requested that they tuen it down a bit so I won't be quite so numb, I want to have some of the "real" experience. I'm excited that I won't have to have a C-Section. I am at 5 cm now
11am the nurse just checked me again 9 cm! And, the nurse just discovered that they had forgotten to start the pitocin drip after they gave the epidural, she started it to try and get the contractions into rhythym. Now they are getting the room all ready for delivery, so excited this is all moving really fast. It's wonderful, not the miserable and painful horror stories thay I've heard. We are so excited to meet Nolan.
They have gotten the room all ready for delivery.
Noon, ready set get ready. The nurse told me not to push. That my body would take care of everything it needs to. I feel like I have electrical cords cords coming out of me in every direction. I have the monitor hooked up in two places, the epidural lines, pitocin, saline, a catheter, and an internal fetal monitor.
1:00 Dr. Hoffman gets there and tells me that I can start pushing. I start pushing, and also pushing the epidural button for more meds as well. The nurse tells me that where they had to put in the epidural line it provided a great block for the contractions, but isn't going to help much for the delivery. Great, I keep pushing the button anyway. The nurse tells me that I need to push down hard three times per contraction. I continue with that even when no one is there to remind me, it doesn't feel like I am making any progress. At some point they tell Keith that he can see the top of the baby head. He looks amazed.
The delivery is kind of a blur. The last few pushes hurt a lot, most of what I remember is that they wanted me to push more than three times per contraction and I didn't want to. I was mentally prepared for three and to bring on the pain more was asking too much. I was telling them I can't push any harder when all of a sudden it was over. There he was. Gray skin and lots of hair, he is beautiful. It took a little bit for him to start crying and opening up those lungs, but he eventually let loose. Keith says he looked shocked. They took Nolan over to the warming table and suctioned his nose and ears and got him cleaned up. Keith stood by his side, but kept looking back at me with concern.
After just a little but they brought him over to me and let me hold him. I feel like I can't even remember it much because of how much else was going on, but it was the best feeling in the world to have his warm little body in my arms.
The Doctor was fixing me up and I told Keith that the Grandma's are probably wanting to see him so he took Nolan out to meet them, then cam back pretty quickly so we could all be together as a family. What a miracle.
Here is an account of what I can remember from the whole experience. Some of it is in present tense because I was able to jot down some notes. The rest I'm just filling in now that I have some time at the computer.
We came to the hospital on Thursday night for a round of pitocin and meds to help soften my cervix and help dialate. Short story, it didn't work. We went home around 7pm Friday evening.
Sunday night and Keith got me all checked in and hung out for a while. For round two of the same process that we did on Thursday/Friday. I was still pretty skeptical that it would work. So, I sent him home to get some good rest. The hospital bed is really uncomfortable, so I didn't get much sleep at all. And, right when I got checked in the nurse hooked up my IV incorrectly so that the entire bag of saline got dumped into my system in about two hours. I had to pee a lot. Every time I would have to page the nurses and have them unhook me from the blood pressure cuff that was going off every 15 minutes and from the fetal monitor that was providing a constant thump.
Monday morning. 4am A couple of minutes ago I heard a crack crack in my pelvis it sounded kind of like a piece of plastic snapping. I figured it was Nolan connecting with the monitor on a couple of kicks. Could he have just broke my water? 20 minutes passes and nothing happens so I write it off. Then I have a chance to get up and to to the bathroom. Half way there I start to leak but make it to the toilet. The nurse had put a little measuring hat in it and the liquid that fills the bowl is very dark and murky looking. It scared me enough to call out for the nurse. She reassured me that meuconiun staining is normal in post date babies. It just means that Nolan has already had his first stool, and that things should start to progress soon. That water was protecting me, now I can definitely feel the contractions. Will try to sleep, that was a rush.
530am No sleep, these are definitely painful. The nurse gave me a small dose of pain medication and some Kleenex and told me to try and ignore them. Not possible. Once I get to 4cm I get to have an epidural, so that is the goal. 2 3/4 down hopefully I can make it to 4 before the day is too far gone. Its 5:30 am now, so I'm trying to decide when to call Keith and have him come over, I know I could handle the pain on my own, but he will want to be here as a support. I'll text him and see if he wakes up. No luck, 6:00am I call and he is by my side in no time.
9am the nurse comes to give me the epidural. She has to give me about 15 shots of "local" anisthetic before she can put in the catheter. I had 12 contractions in the time it took her and I had to sit up really straight on the side of the bed. It was really painful. Now that I have the epidural, it is great I can't feel a thing, I've requested that they tuen it down a bit so I won't be quite so numb, I want to have some of the "real" experience. I'm excited that I won't have to have a C-Section. I am at 5 cm now
11am the nurse just checked me again 9 cm! And, the nurse just discovered that they had forgotten to start the pitocin drip after they gave the epidural, she started it to try and get the contractions into rhythym. Now they are getting the room all ready for delivery, so excited this is all moving really fast. It's wonderful, not the miserable and painful horror stories thay I've heard. We are so excited to meet Nolan.They have gotten the room all ready for delivery.
Noon, ready set get ready. The nurse told me not to push. That my body would take care of everything it needs to. I feel like I have electrical cords cords coming out of me in every direction. I have the monitor hooked up in two places, the epidural lines, pitocin, saline, a catheter, and an internal fetal monitor.
1:00 Dr. Hoffman gets there and tells me that I can start pushing. I start pushing, and also pushing the epidural button for more meds as well. The nurse tells me that where they had to put in the epidural line it provided a great block for the contractions, but isn't going to help much for the delivery. Great, I keep pushing the button anyway. The nurse tells me that I need to push down hard three times per contraction. I continue with that even when no one is there to remind me, it doesn't feel like I am making any progress. At some point they tell Keith that he can see the top of the baby head. He looks amazed.
The delivery is kind of a blur. The last few pushes hurt a lot, most of what I remember is that they wanted me to push more than three times per contraction and I didn't want to. I was mentally prepared for three and to bring on the pain more was asking too much. I was telling them I can't push any harder when all of a sudden it was over. There he was. Gray skin and lots of hair, he is beautiful. It took a little bit for him to start crying and opening up those lungs, but he eventually let loose. Keith says he looked shocked. They took Nolan over to the warming table and suctioned his nose and ears and got him cleaned up. Keith stood by his side, but kept looking back at me with concern.
After just a little but they brought him over to me and let me hold him. I feel like I can't even remember it much because of how much else was going on, but it was the best feeling in the world to have his warm little body in my arms.
The Doctor was fixing me up and I told Keith that the Grandma's are probably wanting to see him so he took Nolan out to meet them, then cam back pretty quickly so we could all be together as a family. What a miracle.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Olympics!!!
It has always been a dream of mine to go to the Olympics. The spirit and excitement of the games is something that I've always wanted to experience. On Tuesday, Keith got a call and was offered two tickets to a womens first round hockey game between Finland and China. We don't have any connection to either team, but we do like to watch hockey. I wasn't going to let a little thing like work get in the way of this opportunity, so I called in a replacement and we left for the border at around 3:30 for a 7:00pm game. What a night. Keith and I have a lot of things up in the air right now, so here is an account of what happened throughout the evening.
• We got to the border and every lane was open, ZERO wait time. It could have been the fastest we've ever gotten across the border.
• Our GPS has Vancouver maps luckily. As we are exiting onto Marine Drive the GPS prompts us that we need to exit onto Marine Doctor. (Dr.) I would have thought that Dr. (drive) is a common word for the GPS to know.
• Against suggestions we decided to try and find parking near the arena at the University of British Columbia. Expecting to have to walk a long distance, we were happy for find public parking about 1/2 a mile from the arena and it only cost us $7 for the entire night. :)
• The tickets we were getting were coming from Keith's boss and they were on a city bus coming from downtown so we waited for them at the beginning of the security line. Celebrities like Matt Damon, Elvis Costello, Carrie Underwood all thanked us via prerecorded loudspeaker for supporting the Olympics and warned us about what we could and couldn't bring into the arena. It was pretty funny.
• When Mason and his family came into view, there was a neat surprise, a couple of other area directors that are Keith's friends were there too. They had been walking around downtown taking in the tourist events all day.
• Inside the UBC arena now, it holds about 6500 people. Smaller than the local semi-pro league in Everett.
• At the Olympics and we have to find a souvenir. As expexted, everything is pretty expensive. Keith's dad requested a t-shirt so we poke around in two different kiosks. Finally we settle on a shirt for his dad and a beanie that we will share. Keith points out a little mascot stuffed animal "for Nolan". We get all three. When we get back to the stands the stuffed animal is the first thing that he shows to his friends. :)
• China scores first and the stadium goes wild. Nolan starts bouncing around in my stomach. I know he can hear everything that is going on.
• Keith gets a text about work and the fundraising situation. Debating if he wants to think about that stuff he replies that we are still about $8000 from our goal of raising $20,000 this month.
• 5 Min later he gets a text back that a family (angels who have blessed us with their generosity before) has just pledged $8000. Sitting with Keith's boss and getting that message at the same time was incredible. They go out to concessions to get a beer and have a heart to heart.
• Finland Scores, all ties up 1-1. The game is getting more physical and more penalties are being called.
• WHAT A NIGHT
• Finland scores again and Nolan Kicks me really hard. Sorry buddy, I can't make them quiet down.
• We figure out that the campus has free wi-fi so all of us iphone addicts connect and start updating facebook.
• End of the second period so Keith and I run out and get a yummy Canadian hot dog.
• Heartburn ensues.
The third period gets really exciting with lots of penalties and both teams playing really hard.
• I am just trying to soak it all in. I can't believe we are at the Olympics. At the buzzer the whole arena is on its feet cheering for both teams and a hard fought match. Nolan feels like he is trying to join in.
• We walk slowly back to the car and debate whether to drive downtown and try to see the torch. We dont have any idea where it is we instead just decide to head home, it's 9:30 already.
• We use the restrooms at the grocery store we parked by and get some Canadian delicacies, Ketchup lays and Coffee Crisp wafers. Yeah Canada.
• Driving back we can see all of the lights in Vancouver and the lit ski runs at Grouse Mountain and Cypress Mountain. Shaun White is winning his gold medal right now.
• What an incredible night, we both feel a physical weight lifted from us with that pledge of $8000 coming in. And what a better way to find out, when we took a step back and decided to just have fun for a night. Tears of joy for the provision that God provides.
• We got to the border and every lane was open, ZERO wait time. It could have been the fastest we've ever gotten across the border.
• Our GPS has Vancouver maps luckily. As we are exiting onto Marine Drive the GPS prompts us that we need to exit onto Marine Doctor. (Dr.) I would have thought that Dr. (drive) is a common word for the GPS to know.
• Against suggestions we decided to try and find parking near the arena at the University of British Columbia. Expecting to have to walk a long distance, we were happy for find public parking about 1/2 a mile from the arena and it only cost us $7 for the entire night. :)
• The tickets we were getting were coming from Keith's boss and they were on a city bus coming from downtown so we waited for them at the beginning of the security line. Celebrities like Matt Damon, Elvis Costello, Carrie Underwood all thanked us via prerecorded loudspeaker for supporting the Olympics and warned us about what we could and couldn't bring into the arena. It was pretty funny.
• When Mason and his family came into view, there was a neat surprise, a couple of other area directors that are Keith's friends were there too. They had been walking around downtown taking in the tourist events all day.
• Inside the UBC arena now, it holds about 6500 people. Smaller than the local semi-pro league in Everett.
• At the Olympics and we have to find a souvenir. As expexted, everything is pretty expensive. Keith's dad requested a t-shirt so we poke around in two different kiosks. Finally we settle on a shirt for his dad and a beanie that we will share. Keith points out a little mascot stuffed animal "for Nolan". We get all three. When we get back to the stands the stuffed animal is the first thing that he shows to his friends. :)
• China scores first and the stadium goes wild. Nolan starts bouncing around in my stomach. I know he can hear everything that is going on.
• Keith gets a text about work and the fundraising situation. Debating if he wants to think about that stuff he replies that we are still about $8000 from our goal of raising $20,000 this month.
• 5 Min later he gets a text back that a family (angels who have blessed us with their generosity before) has just pledged $8000. Sitting with Keith's boss and getting that message at the same time was incredible. They go out to concessions to get a beer and have a heart to heart.
• Finland Scores, all ties up 1-1. The game is getting more physical and more penalties are being called.
• WHAT A NIGHT
• Finland scores again and Nolan Kicks me really hard. Sorry buddy, I can't make them quiet down.
• We figure out that the campus has free wi-fi so all of us iphone addicts connect and start updating facebook.
• End of the second period so Keith and I run out and get a yummy Canadian hot dog.
• Heartburn ensues.
The third period gets really exciting with lots of penalties and both teams playing really hard.
• I am just trying to soak it all in. I can't believe we are at the Olympics. At the buzzer the whole arena is on its feet cheering for both teams and a hard fought match. Nolan feels like he is trying to join in.
• We walk slowly back to the car and debate whether to drive downtown and try to see the torch. We dont have any idea where it is we instead just decide to head home, it's 9:30 already.
• We use the restrooms at the grocery store we parked by and get some Canadian delicacies, Ketchup lays and Coffee Crisp wafers. Yeah Canada.
• Driving back we can see all of the lights in Vancouver and the lit ski runs at Grouse Mountain and Cypress Mountain. Shaun White is winning his gold medal right now.
• What an incredible night, we both feel a physical weight lifted from us with that pledge of $8000 coming in. And what a better way to find out, when we took a step back and decided to just have fun for a night. Tears of joy for the provision that God provides.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
So many changes
Life can never just throw one thing at you at a time. It seems like in our lives there are always a lot of really bug changes that always happen at once.
Keith and I put in an offer on a house today.
Here is a link to the listing
Now we wait to see if the bank accepts it. If they do we get to figure out when we will move. Before or after Nolan is born.
Nolan is coming. I have 26 more days until my official due date. This Saturday i will be considered full term, so really anytime after that and he could be there. Maybe moving could be a good way to induce labor. :)
We are still waiting and praying about Keith's job and fundraising situation.
Have you noticed a pattern.... WAIT, patience, WAIT.
Only one guarantee. Our baby boy will be here soon enough, life will continue, everything will work out the way God intends for us. Can't we just have a hint about what the future will hold?
In the meantime, we were given tickets to a women's olympic hockey game tonight between Finland and China. So excited to go to the OLYMPICS!
Keith and I put in an offer on a house today.
Here is a link to the listing
Now we wait to see if the bank accepts it. If they do we get to figure out when we will move. Before or after Nolan is born.
Nolan is coming. I have 26 more days until my official due date. This Saturday i will be considered full term, so really anytime after that and he could be there. Maybe moving could be a good way to induce labor. :)
We are still waiting and praying about Keith's job and fundraising situation.
Have you noticed a pattern.... WAIT, patience, WAIT.
Only one guarantee. Our baby boy will be here soon enough, life will continue, everything will work out the way God intends for us. Can't we just have a hint about what the future will hold?
In the meantime, we were given tickets to a women's olympic hockey game tonight between Finland and China. So excited to go to the OLYMPICS!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Care to take a guess?
This is a fun website that lets everyone guess when Nolan will be joining us. It only takes a couple of minutes.
Things you should know.
We are having a Boy
The Due date is March 14th
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