Karter Update

Mom and I headed to Elgeston today with Karter to get some blood work done. His neutrophils (ANC) have been low since birth...the ANCs were low last month, but had gone up a bit. We were hoping and praying today they would be up to where they needed to be. The morning didn't start out very well, first there was no parking in the parking deck, like there were attendants telling us we had to turn around, the vallet parking guy told us they only park for Emory, even though we have used them before, however I had a talk with him and he parked us...then after I checked in I was asked if I knew my appointment was at 1:30, thankfully I could show her on my email where it said 10:30, and they got us worked in after 2 1/2hrs. Thankfully Karter was an Angel and everyone was very apologetic about it.

The Aflac center is not a place you want to be, it is so sad to see so many kids hurting from toddlers to teenagers. Thankfully the time in the waiting room gave us a chance to talk to many people, and if waiting that long was just for us to meet and pray for people, it was worth it.

Well finally it was our turn to go back, we got his blood drawn and then waited for the results, unfortunately they were still low...not exactly what we wanted. They are sending out his blood to get more test done. We will go back in a few days to get more blood drawn and then hopefully we'll have some answers. All we know is it could be auto immune, it could be from anti bodies he is getting in the breast milk that is working against his body, it could be hereditary, again something he got from me...those were the reason the doctor gave me. The hardest part is just not knowing. I know so many have been praying for him and we are so thankful for those prayers. I am so thankful for such a great hospital and feel confident they know what they are doing, I am glad they are being so proactive in trying to figure out what is going on. Hopefully we'll know something soon.

One month...what?!?

Yep, my baby is a month old today! So crazy, how is time already flying by so fast? Either way we are soaking up and enjoying every minute...we feel beyond blessed for him to be ours! He is the best baby...Seriously!

Well I thought since he is a month I would share his nursery, I realized I never had. I LOVE his nursery! It turned out exactly how I wanted! Since I had been on bed rest I didn't get to be as involved with putting it together...but have I ever mentioned how amazing my family is??? Well with all their help it got put together perfectly! My dad made the book shelves, he also hung everything, my sis-in-law, Jen made the Karter sign, covered the rocker and the bumper, my mom painted all the furniture, the bird picture was painted by my sis-in-law Beth Lauren and she made the yellow and grey blanket in his crib, the blanket on the rocker was made by my Grandma and the birds were made by my sis-in-law Amy and most of his stuffed animals were bought by my sister Bethany, who started early in spoiling him rotten...pretty much everyone has a touch in his nursery, makes me so happy! I'm am so blessed!

Karter Update

Karter is now two whole days old! We are beyond grateful and blessed to have that baby boy! He is in NICU still...he went originally because they thought his breathing was not doing well, however his lungs are fully developed and he is doing great with that...his eating wasn't very good though at first, he wasn't sucking/swallowing/breathing all that the same time well so they put a feeding tube in him to make sure he he got enough nutrition. As of today he has been eating most his food with a bottle with no problems! However yesterday they started treating him for an infection that he got during birth...I tested positive for the strep test and although I got the antibiotics in time, it's not fool proof and therefore they think he got an infection...so then today they checked his white blood cells and they were still low so they will treat him with an antibiotic for 7-10 days, which means he will be in NICU until then:/ he also was jaundice today so they are treating him for that as well. Although I want more than anything for my baby to be home I am so thankful that everything going on with him is so easily treatable... I know he will be home soon. Also thankful for the time to recover from delivery and 12 weeks of bed rest, hopefully the extra time I have right now will make me a better momma for him...we appreciate all the prayers and are trying to stay positive through this, God has blessed us so much and has brought us so far.

Reflection on 2012

Wow, what a crazy year...there were lots of planned adventures as well as unplanned, some things I would love to make traditions, while others I want to leave in 2012, there were lots of ups and some downs, but overall there isn't much I'd change about this past year...it was amazing!

Klay and I got to cruise together for the first time and enjoy a relaxing trip with no plans...completely different from what we usually do.

We got to explore Europe with my parents, probably one of the best experiences yet! Loved doing this with them so much, there is nothing to describe how amazing that trip was!

We also bought a car and thankfully were able to pay cash for it! We got all the ceilings scraped in our house as well as all the walls, trim and windows painted...this has made our house look and smell like new!

Klay and I went on two trips to Florida, one to visit my Grandmother for her 80th Birthday and one to Seagrove Beach to hangout for the last time with just the two of us.

We found out this summer we are expecting our first child!!! So excited about that! Probably the best thing ever! I got to skip morning sickness and had a great start to my pregnancy...however now that I am near the end of my pregnancy I have been on bed rest and when it's all said and done probably will have spent at least 12wks on bed rest. With that however God has taught me how much I have to rely on Him. He also has taught me how much is out of my control and that I need to learn to patient and to let things go. I also have felt an amazing peace I have never felt as well as contentment with where I am. He has shown me how much He and others love me and how amazing the people he has put in my life are...it has been very humbling. I had really wanted to experience God in a big way this year, and I truly have through all of this.

I know there is so much more that happened this year, but for now that's what has really stuck out. I can't even begin to say how excited I am about next year because Klay and I will officially be parents! We are beyond excited to experience this new adventure together!

Up date

I am now 28wks! So exciting! Of course hoping to make it to at least 30-32wks, but we'll see. I got retested today for my glucose sugar test, and it was high, so I have gestational diabetes:/ not at all happy about this. I realize there is there nothing that I could have done about it, but I hate it none the less. I am on a special diet now that is low in carbs and sugars. I also have to test my blood sugar 4 times a day...anyways I'm doing the best I possibly can and glad that it can be managed through diet. I also got a cervix check today, it was a 1.2 last week and was a 1.3 today, so not a huge improvement, but at least stable which is good. I also got an ffn (fetal fibronectin) test today...it can show whether or not you might go into labor in the next two weeks. Mine came back positive so I will not get to go home. However this does not mean I will go into labor in the next two weeks, it's just another complication on top of the ones I already have. I will be in the hospital for at least the next two weeks. So, not the best news today, but I am trying to make the most of it. I would have loved to go home today, and had the ffn test been negative, they would have let me, but I prayed so much about it and got my answer. I do want to be where God wants me, and right now that is in the hospital. So please keep the prayers coming, I feel beyond blessed to have so many people love me and praying for Klay, I and Karter!


Here are some pictures of how homey/Christmasy my room is...it's not so bad ;)

The hospital...my new home

November 23, black Friday I woke up because I sneezed really hard and thought I must have peed my panties a little. Well when I got up to change I realized it was blood, and when i peed there was blood. I called my doctors emergency line and then called Klay while I waited for the doctor to call me back and tell me what to do. I have to say I remained pretty calm, and tried to get Klay to stay calm, but he ended up running code home from work if that says anything about how he was feeling. When he got home he didn't even change and we took the patrol car to the hospital...believe me I tried protesting, but Klay would have none of it. When we got to the hospital we met with my doctor and she thought I was dilating, and at first my contractions weren't showing up on the monitor, but once in my room and on a monitor they were showing up a lot and they were pretty hard. An ultra sound showed I was dilating, but thankfully baby looked good. They then hooked me up to Magnesium to help stop the contractions, and I got a steroid shot to help speed up baby boys development if he decided he was coming. I also got a catheter put in because I would be on the mag for 24 hours. The first 30min dose is the worst, thankfully I responded very well and the worst side effect was the extreme heat/flush you get...and it is extreme, like your face feels like it will explode, you're so hot! However we had one of my favorite doctors on call and one the best nurses. So I was greatly taken care of. Klay never left my side and has been such a great caregiver...love him so much! My mom stayed close by in the waiting room and was here if we needed anything. It's Sunday and praise the Lord my contractions have stopped and I'm hoping that I get a good report and will be able to go home in the next few days...but I guess we'll see.

Well it is Tuesday and after a cervix exam I am officially staying in the hospital on strict bed rest. This is not what I wanted per say, but of curse I want what is best for Karter. I would love to be home right now, actually I would love it a lot, but after a lot of prayer and my exam, I am at peace, at the moment, about staying here. It was scary Friday to go through everything I did and I do not want to be at home and something happen that would be harmful to Karter or me. I know this is not going to be the easiest for me, but I do know I have a lot to be thankful for. I am in the hospital because God has blessed me with a precious baby boy and I realize there are lots of other people laying in hospital beds for a lot worse reasons. So even though I would love to lay here and feel sorry for myself because my pregnancy isn't normal, and worry about everything that could happen, I'm deciding to be thankful for where God has me and trust in His plan for mine and Karter's life.

A whole lot of thanks!

Today I am feeling good, and it has been over two weeks since I have been on bed rest. Everyone has been amazing and I am realizing how grateful I am for my Klay-doh, family and friends! So as I have been reading on Facebook all the 30 days of thanks I just had to say a little bit of thanks I'm feeling right now.

I first have to talk about my Klay-doh...he is my best friend and the person I love doing my life with and this time in my life is no exception. I am so thankful that unlike me he actually doesn't mind being at home, so when he is off he isn't stir crazy and doesn't mind hanging out with me. He has also been amazing when it comes to keeping my house clean and getting my house back into order after our renovations. And I have to add he does it all without complaint! Not only does he come home, take care of me, and our home, but he also works 12hr shifts and then runs his own business. He spends time listing on eBay/online, answering emails and shipping. He seriously is my super hero and although I'm not sure how he does all of it, I am beyond grateful that God blessed me more than I deserve with him!

My family...I'm not going going to lie, I've always known how blessed I am with them and can never remember a time in my life where they haven't been here for me. They are the first to show up unexpected and do whatever needs to be done without being asked. Of course my family wouldn't be what it is without my parents! I love them so much! I cannot even begin to show my gratefulness to them from what they have done in my life and it seems they keep adding to my debt. In the two weeks they have spent whole days here helping clean my entire house, cooking dinners, running errands, redecorating the house, and so much more. They were here the this week, and my dad spent his entire day off putting up shelves for me that he built, and changing out all my light switches and outlets. He does this without complaint and without even being asked. My mom, well what can I say
about her...she is busy, always doing something, she has done our laundry, cleaned the house, cooked a ton of meals, grocery shopped and so much more. She calls me every day and wants to do something to make this time for me as easy as possible. I just can't say enough about my parents! I am also equally blessed with my siblings, I have three brothers and a sister, all who are married so that's a lot of people who help! And I'm thankful that I honestly love all of them so very much and again already they have brought me gifts, made meals, gone shopping for me and just have come over and kept me company. It also is convenient that they all live within 15min of us. The Lord has definitely blessed me with all of them. I also must say I have an amazing in law family...they might not all be the closest, but the call and thoughtful texts to check up on me definitely have a way of making you feel loved!

And now i have to say I am thankful for friends....friends that feel like family. God has truly blessed Klay and I with some amazing friends to do life with and they have definitely been here for us during this time. They have also ran errands, made dinners, rearranged meeting places, brought lunches and have just come to hang out. Not to mention emails, texts and phone calls to check in. Life without them would not be the same!

I can't say enough about how grateful I feel. I just had to write a little note before I busted with thankfulness for everything that has been done. I still am not a fan of this whole bed rest thing, but I am trying my hardest to be still and take care of our baby boy. I can see how God has
used this time to show me how much I am loved!

Pictures below are some of love I've gotten!