working with grandpa

We are so lucky to live close to Kameron's parents. Each week, on tuesday, we have lunch at "Jamma's" house and play with our cousins. This week "Papa" was home from work working in the yard and on the shed. Braden was a big help to both Dad andGgrampa. Braden loves tools and always wants to help especially if it involves using a "screw-de-driver!"

My Baby is Going to be TWO

My little Braden is just the cutest thing out there! Of course I have a bias opinion, but really, isn't he just BEAUTIFUL? I've been thinking a lot about my little boy and I can't believe that he is not a baby anymore. This has been a rough one for me. I thought when he turned one that I would be devastated, but the devestation and realization that my little baby in now a big kid has just been more overwhelming now as I am coming to terms with him turning 2. I am excited to have a new little brother come in our family, but I am still not ready for Braden to be a big boy.

Waiting to have Braden was a long and exhausting process. Kam and I had been trying for almost two years to get pregnant when finally at my routine OB appointment I had a long discussion with my doctor about what could be wrong and what we could do make things right. To begin, Kam had to be tested. He was not excited about that. After learning that Kam was more than capable, the testing turned to me. I took several blood tests that showed that I most likely was not ovulating. I was put on clomid to get my body to do what it was supposed to do. I used clomid for three months with no success so my doctor scheduled for me to have a special procedure done that uses a special dye and an X-Ray machine to see if there is blockage. This was so painful! I cried during the entire procedure. The results showed nothing. However, the procedure did give the benefit of "clearing me out." I spoke with my doctor about what to do next and he said the next step was artificial insemination, and then in vitro. Luckily things didn't have to get more complicated. I woke early and took a pregnancy test the day my cycle was to begin (I did this every month because I never wanted to get my hopes up just to be disappointed.) I was totally shocked to see the positive sign on the test. I couldn't believe it was really true. I began crying immediately, I ran to our bedroom to wake Kameron and threw the test at him. At first he thought there was something wrong with me. We were so excited that we told everyone right away.

My pregnancy went very well. I wasn't too sick and everything went as great as you can hope for. I was measuring rather large and my doctor suggested that I be induced. We had a date set for the induction but my body wasn't showing any signs of being ready. I wasn't dilating and was only 70% effaced. My doctor decided it would be best to wait rather than forcing my body to cooperate. So I waited. 

Early in the morning, 2 am on my due date (October 12th) I woke to use the bathroom and noticed I was having some contractions. I had been experiencing braxton hicks and thought nothing of it. Later around 5 in the morning I noticed that the contractions were coming regularly. I woke Kameron and we timed them together for about an hour. They were about 6 minutes apart so I decided to get up. After an embarrassing experience of peeing my pants and taking a shower Kam and I got in the car and headed to the hospital. 

We got to the hospital at about 8:30 am and were put in a small room so that I could be checked. I was only dilated to a 1 so the nurse had me wait an hour to see my progress before calling the doctor on call (my doctor was at the time stuck in a snow storm in Ohio.) After an hour I was dilated to a 2 and the doctor said to have me wait another hour and check my progress again. Another hour later and I was dilated to a 3. Since I was making progress the doctor gave the okay to be checked in officially and I was moved to a delivery room. I got comfortable and asked for my epidural. The anesthesiologist poked me and I then waited for the doctor to come break my water. We didn't have to wait long because my water decided to break on it's own, but as the doctor made his checks they realized that my water broke from the top and had to be broken again. My progress from there didn't move too much. I was progressing rather slowly so they hooked me to pitocin to see if I would progress more rapidly. Not to be unfortunately. It was about 9:00 pm and I was still only dilated to a 7 and I had begun to swell. My epidural had worn off and I was feeling everything! The doctor said he would be back in a half hour and if I still hadn't progressed that they would begin getting me prepped for a c-section. At this point Kam grabbed his phone and walked out of the room. I could tell he was really shook up with the news but here I am feeling every contraction knowing that I would now be undergoing surgery and my husband leaves me. Luckily my dad was there feeding me ice chips and holing my hand for me. Kam finally came back and so did the doctor. I was checked and the final decision was made. 

I was now being wheeled me down the hall to the operating room. I began crying uncontrollably. The nurse who was to assist said to me, "there's no need to cry now, your gonna have your baby!" I was so out of it. I hardly remember the rest of the night but I did watch in a mirror as they performed the c-section. It was amazing. I was so happy to finally have my baby, and a part of me was relieved that I didn't have to push a baby out, I didn't think I had the energy for that. 

Braden was finally here! Born at 10:58 pm  just shy of being a Friday the 13th birth, weighing in at 8 lbs. 11 oz. and measuring 22 inches long. I later learned that the cord was wrapped around both his neck and his ankle. The doctor told me that it was probably a blessing that my little bud wasn't going to fit through my narrow pelvis because had I been able to have him vaginally he may have been put under a lot of stress that could have been bad. (This is why I am grateful for c-sections.)

Here are a few pictures of that great day!

On our way to the hospital.

Waiting for Braden.

Getting prepped for the c-section.

In the recovery room.

Braden the newborn. (This is the face that I saw when I 

first got to see him; tongue out and everything.

Announcement picture. (9 days old)

Where does Jesus Live?

So Braden has decided that he likes to watch movies now. His favorites include Elmo, Finding Nemo, Curious George and Jungle Book. The other night he was having a movie marathon with Uncle Kris (he was tending while I was at the Women's Conference) watching 10-15 minutes of each movie when he saw the castle that shows at the beginning of all Disney movies. Braden blurted out "Temple!" Kris says, "Yes, that is like the temple. Who lives there?" Braden quickly responds, "Jesus!" Later when telling me the story, I turned to Braden and asked, "Where does Jesus live?" He responds, "the temple." What a cute kid. I guess he really is paying attention to both scripture study and his nursery teachers. What a good boy!

my sister

So I just can't say enough about my sister Ashley. She is so wonderful. She is not only gorgeous and intelligent, but funny, inspirational, witty, creative, kind, loving, athletic, oh and of course humble.
He, he, he. (hope you like this, brooke)

braden's gonna have a brother

We went in for our utrasound on Monday. I was so nervous and excited. I am such a planner and just have to be in the know. I have been busy getting rooms cleaned out and consolidating so that I could be ready to decorate a new nursery. All I needed was to know if I was decorating for a girl or another boy. I was convinced that I was going to have a girl. This pregnancy has been so different than with Braden. I guess it goes to show that you can't judge gender based on old wives tales and differences.