Calleigh's BIRTHday!

WOW is all I can say. It's been a long time since my last post and so much has happened since then that I'm going to try my best to finally get it all written down... before I forget it!

Thursday, April 5, 2012, at 8:47 p.m. we got to meet our precious baby girl, Calleigh Abrielle Cook. It had been a LONG three years up to that point, but man, was it all worth it! We had a scheduled induction for 7:30 that morning, and I don't think either of us got any sleep the night before... the anticipation of what was to come that day was just too great. We arrived at the hospital on time and about 8:45 things finally began to get underway. The epidural was in place and the Pitocin was started at 9:30. Dr. Godat had planned on breaking my water at noon, but was called into emergency surgery so it was 2:00 before it was done. From that point on it seemed like time was creeping by... I was dilating very slowly... until I got to 5 cm. Then it's like my body kicked into overdrive. It only took an hour to get from 5 cm to 10 cm! I started pushing at 7:30 and an hour and seventeen minutes later Calleigh entered the world! A total of 11 hours and 17 minutes of labor. Our little miracle weighed in at 7 pounds 15 ounces and was 18 3/4 inches long. Absolutely PERFECT!

And it begins...

Dr. Travis monitoring the contractions...

It's finally GO time!

She's here!!!

Daddy cutting the cord...

Daddy and Calleigh holding hands for the first time...

This is Daddy's "Oh Crap! What do I do now?" face...

And finally Mommy meets her angel!!!

At the nursery for the official weigh in...

One of God's most precious gifts: Calleigh Abrielle Cook

And it's Bed Rest for this Momma...

Time has slipped away again! My last blog got you all caught up on the nursery... this blog will get you caught up on the events leading up to Calleigh's birth! After Spring Break and getting the nursery completed, it was back to work... or at least that was the plan for next couple of weeks. That Monday when I went back to work, the swelling also came back... full force! I had been battling swelling for a few weeks, but this week it was at its all time worst... to the point that my legs and hands were also super swollen. I called Dr. Godat's office that night and they recommended plenty of water and no salt until my appointment on Wednesday (week 37 appointment). Two days later at my appointment, the swelling was even worse and to add to it my blood pressure was elevated. When I stepped on the scale I had gained 9 pounds!!! Whoa!!! Once Dr. Godat came in the room and saw my legs, hands, and face he immediately ordered strict bed rest. He guessed that at least 7 pounds was due to swelling! He said that I was showing signs of Toxemia and that if it was not better at my next appointment on Tuesday, March 27, that they would be taking the baby then. My bed rest orders were to start on Friday, March 23, and I was to only get out of bed to use the restroom, grab something to eat, and shower. Here is a picture of my ankles from Monday... now picture them about two times worse than this on Wednesday!

I was able to negotiate with Dr. Godat to let me work at least one more day (Thursday) so that I could finish getting things in order for my long term sub. Thanks to fabulous co-workers, I was able to get a lot accomplished at school that day! I still took a few things home with me to work on (grades and plans) since I wasn't going to be able to do much else from the bed for the next couple of weeks. Here is a picture of Bella helping me out with some grading :) She was a great bed rest buddy!

Then came our appointment on Tuesday. Dr. Godat was pleased that the swelling had decreased some, but was still concerned about my blood pressure. While he said that everything was a little more under control for the time being, he still wanted to schedule an induction. So from there it was set... we would meet our baby girl the following Thursday (April 5), unless she decided to come on her own before then. But since I was only dilated to a 1, there was little chance in that.

The Nursery Is... Complete!

After the emotional week of showers last week, my amazing mom came over to spend the weekend and help me organize and finish the nursery (as I mentioned before, I was a bit... no, A LOT overwhelmed). There is no way I could have gotten anything done without her... so THANK YOU, Mom! If I end up being even half the mom you are to my little girl then I'll be ecstatic :) It was a long and tiring couple of days for both of us, but we finally got the nursery all finished. Now all we need is Calleigh to get here! Starting at the closet, here are pictures of the nursery.

This picture just shows a snapshot of the inside of her closet! The clothes continue behind the door... and even then that's not all! Her dresser drawers are full too!!!

Notice her hospital/diaper bag is packed beside the chair :) Ready to go along with the My Breast Friend nursing pillow!

This corner (once the bouncer is moved to the upstairs living room) will hopefully be her reading/play area. She already has a pretty decent book collection started :)

Changing area complete with the canvas paintings Gigi made :)

This wall may get a couple more things added to it, but for now it's finished (simply because I don't know what else to put there)! The scripture on the wall doesn't show up well in the picture, but I love it... because it sums up the last three years of mine and Travis's lives: For this child I have prayed and the Lord has granted the desires of my heart. 1 Samuel 1:27

Now that the nursery is complete, it's just a waiting game. Everything is installed (car seat in my car and extra base in Travis's car) or put together (infant travel system/stroller, pack and play, down stairs swing and bouncer, high chair, walker, and jogging stroller - I wanted all the boxes gone even though she won't be using some of these items for a few months) and in place! All we need now is my hospital bag packed and for my water to break :)

I started acupuncture back up this week to help keep me comfortable these last couple of weeks and to help prepare for easy labor. Man how I have missed my acupuncture sessions! We go back to the doctor on Wednesday (week 37) for our first cervical exam... I'm curious to know if there's anything going on down there yet! Emily, my acupuncturist, said that she could help things along once Dr. Godat gives the okay... and I'm totally fine with that. I'm ready to meet my little girl!

And the Showering Continues... AGAIN!

On Wednesday, March 7, my fabulous work family held a shower for Calleigh. Once again, the little stinker scored big time :) After this shower, with the combined emotions from the other two, I was totally and completely overwhelmed... to the point of crying almost the whole way home (and even cried during the shower)! Tears of amazement I guess you could say. I was and still am stunned at the generosity and love shown by all of the people in our lives... family, friends, and co-workers. As if praying for Travis and I and our little miracle wasn't enough, everyone went above and beyond in blessing us. We thank God everyday for each and every one of you, and have come to realize that our simple "Thank You's" will never be enough to fully express our gratitude.

35 Weeks Complete!

On March 6, we went to our week 35 appointment. We got to hear Calleigh's sweet little heartbeat... oh how I love that sound! At this appointment, Dr. Godat did the Group B Strep test, which I am thrilled to say came back negative... just one more blessing in the bucket! While talking with Dr. Godat about things to come/plan for, he informed us that he was going to be out of town the week of her due date. When I asked if he was going to let me go until after he got back, I got a very quick response of, "No way! We will have a baby before then... and will start trying at week 38". He also said that it was good timing that Spring Break was coming up because we needed to get the house ready! Holy Cow!!! I was in shock and didn't think at the time to ask what exactly he meant by "trying at week 38", so I've been wondering ever since :) We go back on March 21 so I guess I'll find out then. Here is our week 35 picture.

And the Showering Continues...

The next day, Sunday, March 4, our family and church family hosted another shower to celebrate our precious miracle! Once again, Calleigh got TONS of wonderful things! She is one spoiled baby girl, that's for sure :) We truly appreciate all of the love and thoughtfulness that went into helping Travis and I prepare for our daughter! Blessed Beyond Measure doesn't even begin to cover it!

And the Showering Begins!

On Saturday, March 3, my good friends Emily, Kelsey, and Liz hosted a shower to celebrate Calleigh's arrival! She got lots of great things :) It was so much fun to see and visit with old friends that I hadn't seen in such a long time. Thank you so much to all of you that were able to make it! There were several other friends that were unable to, and you were definitely missed! Here are just a couple of photos from the shower.