~Our Christmas Surprise~

Whoa, what a Christmas! It all started on Christmas Eve. The plan was that Chris and the girls would leave for  a Christmas party at his Grandma's house in St. Paul around 2pm, and then would come back late that night. I wasn't planning on traveling that far away from home (not wanting to sit in a vehicle for over 3 hours, and being crammed in a house of many relatives), so I was planning on attending Christmas at my Grandma's house in Madison Lake for a few hours and then heading back home to put my feet up.

The first glitch in the plan was the pending bad weather. I was a nervous wreck thinking about Chris and the girls traveling on bad roads, with the possibility of not making it back that night.
After listening to the weather report, they decided that it would be best to leave early and then head back earlier than anticipated, to beat the big snowstorm. They left home around 11, and I stayed home and relaxed. I had decided that instead of driving myself (in the not so favorite truck) on bad roads, that I would hitch a ride with my sister who was already in town. She came to pick me up, we picked up lunch and then headed to her house in Elysian, before heading to Grandma's. Completely feeling fine (well, as fine as one can feel for being 38 weeks pregnant), we chatted the whole ride out there; but as soon as I walked into her house...I felt the urge to head to the bathroom. I noticed a little extra dampness, but didn't think much of it....maybe it was just a pregnancy thing, right? We all sat down to eat lunch, and again soon afterwards I had to head to the bathroom again. I started to wonder if it was my water breaking, but wasn't too concerned at that time. I didn't really want to say anything to anyone just yet, but once my brother in law stepped outside to snowblow,  I decided to tell my sister (calmly), that we might have to head back to Mankato and that maybe I was leaking water. We were more or less joking about it, not thinking that it was really happening. She had told me that she had joked with her co-workers before picking my up that "My sister better not go into labor while I am driving her around!". Well after a few more trips to the bathroom, I decided that it was really happening, and then my nerves started to kick in. I tried to call the clinic, which was closed for Christmas Eve. I finally reached my OB Dr. (who just happened to be on call over the holiday), and she told me that I should probably head in to Labor and Delivery and they would check me to see if my water was actually breaking, but not to rush things just yet. I decided to call Chris and let him know that he should start heading back from St. Paul, but he wasn't answering his phone.....nor was Holly. I finally got in touch with Chris' mom, who freaked out when I told her what was happening. She handed the phone to Chris and I told him that he should probaly head back. He really didn't think I was serious at first, but after realizing I wasn't joking, they quickly packed up and drove towards Mankato. Chris was a little worried that he would miss the birth of his child, but I assured him that there wasn't much happening and that he had time.

My brother in law drove me and my sister back to Mankato on the snowy roads, and we checked into the hospital. Shortly there after, Chris and the girls arrived. They assured me that my water did indeed break, and that we were having a baby that day!!! I was prepped for a C-Section, and taken into the operating room around 7:30pm. Our beautiful daughter was born at 7:52pm. She was absolutely perfect, weighing in at 6lbs 2.6oz, and was 20" long.  We named her Paige Catherine. She screamed very loudly right after birth and didn't stop for quite a while, just letting mommy and daddy know that she was alive and well. Possibly the best sound in the world at the time for the two of us. Both sisters got to see her right out of the operating room and into the nursery, and snapped many pictures of their new little sister.

She was about the best Christmas present our whole family could ask for!

After spending the weekend in the hospital, we were released on Sunday and arrived safely at home. We are slowly adjusting to having a newborn in the house, but it keeps getting better every day. She is a great baby, and we are all so thankful to have her in our lives!

Only 11 days left

Sam has been doing a great job of keeping everyone informed of what is going on from the doctors and with her feelings, so I thought I would change the perspective. The doctor is pleased so far with how Sam is progressing and how the baby is doing.  Her tests are coming back normal and she is progressing as she should.  The Doc thinks that the baby is about 6 and a half  pounds.  The baby is very active at night even when mom might not be as active.

We are mostly ready to roll as far as the baby and accommodations go, but this time of year is always stressful.  Sam is taking it in stride.  We started shopping early for Christmas and got most of it done with plenty of time.  Also she is letting me do somethings around the house.  OK maybe that is not amazing (I probably should do more), but she is not redoing any of it.  With the baby being born so close to Christmas, we are limiting the travel by having to cut out a few trips. I know everyone understands, but we love you all and can only do so much this year.  To those who we will be missing, we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  Ours will be.

Finally as prayer lists go, we have a small addition.  We have friends that are going through a difficult time as they lost their 2 month old unexpectedly.  Please keep Ben, Amber, and baby Connor in your prayers.

Almost there!

Boy, am I glad that I managed to make it to 36 weeks before our first snowstorm! The weather outside was frightful yesterday, and I had to go to work early so I could leave for my appointment. Sometimes I wish we lived out of town so I would actually have an excuse to stay home with the kids on a snow day, but no such luck working only a few miles away. The drive to the clinic wasn't so bad, but it was sure cold!  My appointment went well, everything is still looking good. I had the strep B test done, and was checked for dialation. So far I am not dialating, and baby sounds good. Her heartbeat was at 142 beats per minute.The doctor is still please with how things are coming along. I go back next Wednesday for my next appointment.  Only 18 more days to go!! I am really getting ready for this to be over with, and just have baby in my arms already. It gets harder and harder to get around and do things each day...like putting on my socks, picking up the many things I seem to drop, get in and out of the van, etc, etc. Fortunately, we are 99% done with our Christmas shopping for the year, so now all I have to do is find the time and energy to get everything wrapped! Does anyone know how we got to mid-December so fast??

35 Weeks and into December!

I can hardly believe that we are into December already. It seems just like yesterday that we embarked on this journey, not knowing where it would take us. And now we are rounding the last curve. I am currently 35 weeks today!! The countdown is definitely on. We all survived a wonderful Thanksgiving, that went by way too fast. We spent  some nice time wiith my family here on Thursday, and after a little early shopping, we headed up north to be with Chris' family on Friday. I was very much dreading the long car ride, but after being awfully tired from the black Friday shopping, I managed to nap for about half the ride so it wasn't so bad after all. We spent some quality time together with the family, went to see the Blindside, ate like kings, played games, and just visited with each other. It was overall a really good weekend. I took Monday off to recoup, and head to my doctors appointments. First we had an ultrasound, in which baby scored 8 out of 8 (already a straight A student!!), and then we were off to the clinic for some NSTs and a visit with the doctor. Baby is doing great, and measuring right on track. She is approximately 5lbs 9oz (give or take 13oz), and is getting good at practicing her breathing. We got to watch her open and shut her mouth on the ultrasound, which was really neat. I will start weekly appointments now, which should mean only 3 more appointments before we get to meet our little girl.
After the doctor appointment, we met at the hospital to pre-register, and got to take a tour of the labor and delivery floor. Both of our older girls were born at this hospital, but it has been a few years for each of us, so it was exciting to see where everything will take place.
I definitely think the nesting instinct has kicked in. I haven't stopped since returning home from up north. I am trying desperately to get all the Christmas decorations up, presents bought and wrapped, house cleaned, baby stuff washed and ready....etc, etc, etc. My list is never ending, and it seems to take me a lot longer to get stuff done lately. Before we know it, Christmas will be here, and then a few days later, our biggest gift of all will arrive!! We all anxiously await her arrival!!!