Pictures - August 1- 10

My mom came and stayed with us for a week.  We still miss having her here!! She was/is such a huge help. We are so very lucky to have had that special time with her . . . and although Nathan probably won't remember all the fun he had with her (this time), I will never forget it!  We are blessed to be loved by so many people!

 Big Brother Nathan blowing kisses to baby brother ~ PRICELESS

Pictures July 26-31

Nathan's First Birthday

 Aaron's BIRTH day

My sister and niece & nephews (& dad)  came to help out Sunday-Tuesday!  Unfortunately the kids weren't able to meet Aaron at that time, but my sister did . . . and took some great pictures (one is posted, the others i will try to get up eventually :)  ).  So grateful for amazing family & friends who came to support, help, and love on us!!

 Enjoying a summer day swimming with daddy . . . Daddy is still trying to him how to swim/float
 (see picture 2)

 Baby toes

Aaron Rouze Eugene

Aaron Rouze Eugene was born on Monday, July 28, 2014 @ 8:23 pm.  He weighed 6 lbs, 12 oz and was 19 1/2 inches long (the hospital measured him at 20 3/4, but we later found out that they measure weird).   He is a huge blessing to us!

  I was induced Monday morning around 6:30 am.  It was a rough ride.  My main nurse (who's shift was up before Aaron was born :(  ) was Anne.  She was amazing.  She comforted me, held me, and reassured all of us (Carl and my mom who were at the hospital the entire time).  She was such a blessing to all of us.  The first anesthesiologist, yes there was more than one, wasn't very good.  He numbed the wrong spot the first time (OUCH), and the second time (yes, he tried again) it didn't work.  Then the lead nurse tried to prove a point (that I was numb) and did things to me that caused me so much pain, it was unbelievable.  (I'll save the gory details).  BUT I wasn't numb, and it hurt.  My doctor finally had the nurses call in the second anesthesiologist, who did an amazing job - and thank the Good Lord, because the next few hours were long and worrisome, and from what I've been told the delivery would have been unbearable.  

  Little Aaron gave us quite a scare.  After they broke my water his heart rate began to be unstable.  It would slow to almost nothing during the contractions and then it would go back to normal.  The cord was wrapped around his neck.  They were concerned enough that the nurses decided that the heart rate monitor that was around my belly wasn't enough.  So they stuck a probe in my baby's head so that they could make sure he wasn't in too much distress.  It was a terrifying time.  And on top of that, instead of coming down the birth canal, he decided to be stubborn go up.  My dad came to the hospital at that point.  He prayed with us and was able to be there (right outside the room) when Aaron took his first breath outside my womb.  

   The doctor finally decided that enough was enough and  he pulled as I pushed and got my sweet Aaron out and safe.  We all cried tears of joy and relief :)!  

  So we have a healthy, happy baby boy.  Blue eyes, for now, with a head full of strawberry blonde hair!  He is perfect.  Nathan is slowing adjusting to not being the only child.  

                           We are Blessed.  Thank you for all your prayers!  God is Good.

Tomorrow & Monday

Tomorrow my first born turns 1.  As I have been reflecting this past week on how amazing he is, I can't believe he is ours.  His eyes that change color from hazel to brown and many in between colors, with the long dark lashes.  His hair that is a dark blonde and is getting long with a little curl at the end.  His nails that grow so fast.  His strength in his arms and legs.  How he loves to climb all over Carl and "run" with him or be swung over his shoulder.  He figures things out on his own - like how to turn the tv on and off or open the garbage can lid, or the cabinets . . . and almost opening the pantry door.  He loves to read and play chase.  And I'm sure if he could, he would be in the water (as long it is warm) all day long.  Nathan is so loving.  Giving lots of hugs and kisses.  He will blow you a kiss, or wave hello and just this past week he is giving high fives.  His smile and his laugh will brighten the darkest of days, and we are so blessed that he is ours.  

  I will do my best to post pictures of his first birthday and party before Monday.

Monday .  . . Monday   . . . . Monday.  I am going to be induced on Monday.  We go in at 5:30 am and I am praying that all goes smoothly and quickly and we will meet our second born.  I am anxious and excited.  Anxious about the unknown and having to care for 2 little ones.  And so very excited to meet the newest member our little family.  Please pray with us - healthy baby, quick labor & delivery, and peace.  And of course I will do my best to post pictures as soon as I am able of baby boy 2.  

First Steps & 9 months prego

On Tuesday, July 15th, Nathan took his first steps.  I will try to upload the video for it . . . But it was amazing.  He is still venturing out and walking a bit, but not completely!  I'm ok with that.  He has grown up so much this first year.  I can't believe he's going to be one next week!  My sweet, sweet boy!  

In other news, I saw my Dr. on Monday and all is still looking good.  No weight gain (YAY), and I start seeing him every week now (although it looks like it will really be only one (maybe two) more appointments before we have our newest little man here.  -  We are going to schedule an induction this next Monday for the following week.  I'm anxious and so ready to meet this sweet boy, but so nervous on how it's going to be with 2 little ones.  Please pray for peace, and patience for all of us during these last few weeks/days.  

11 Months

My baby is 11 months old!  In 4 weeks he will be a year and will also be close to being a big brother!  Nathan has just started waving and blowing kisses.  He pants to imitate Abby (she is obviously hot a lot more than she barks :) )  His hair is getting thicker and his eyes are constantly changing color.  Nathan loves to play chase, usually walking along the ataman or crawling around it.  He enjoys playing outside in the water, and splashing and kicking in his little "pool".  He wants to eat what you are eating and loves to suck on ice.  He will eat most any kind of fruit, and his favorite vegetable is carrot.  He recently learned how to turn the TV off and on, and also found the cupboard with the plastic containers in it.  I love watching him explore new things and try to figure them out.  

I'll post pictures soon.

Different

*DISCLAIMER ~ These are MY thoughts on MY pregnancy, on MY blog.*

This pregnancy has been so different than when I was pregnant with Nathan.  I had read that every pregnancy was different, but I wasn't expecting all the changes with this one.  I don't know if it had something to do with my age (I'm no spring chicken), or the fact that I got pregnant so soon after having Nathan, or both . . . or if it is just different just because.  

  Like I've stated before, most of the time I forget I'm pregnant.  Too busy with my eldest and trying to keep up the household duties (which I feel I fail at most of the time).  *side note, if you come to my house and it's dusty, it's not because I haven't dusted . . . its because 30 seconds after I dust it comes back ~ the joys of living in the desert. *  However, I feel him move all the time, I see him move all the time.  I love him already, and am anxious to see how different or similar he is to Nathan.  I wonder if he will be a better sleeper, or if he is going to have the same energy he has while I carry him.  Will he have the Peregoy blonde hair, blue eyes, or will he have the brown on brown, or a mixture like his brother?  Will we eventually choose the right name that suits him? 

  Then there's the questions about labor/delivery.  Will he be too big? Will it be fast like Nathan's, or will it take forever?  What are we going to do with Nathan? Who will watch him? What if we aren't home when it's his bedtime - I've never left him overnight before, for that matter I've never left him more than a couple of hours.  Will Nathan be okay?  Will I be okay?

 

It was about a month and half ago that I found out I was low on Iron (which was similar to my pregnancy with Nathan), and that I also needed to take thyroid medication.  Since I've been on both, my energy level has come back and I am in less back/hip pain.  It's been such a relief.  Then, about a month ago I had my Glucose Tests done.  (I passed with flying colors with Nathan, so I really wasn't worried with this one.)  I ended up failing my 1 hour test, so went back in for the 3 hour test.  

  No one really tells you how awful it is.  They don't tell you that besides fasting, which is hell when you are pregnant, that you can't have any fluids during the test and that the four times they draw your blood (one before the sugary drink and then one every hour after) will hurt more and more as you get more and more dehydrated.  I was in tears as I left the lab ~ sat in the car for 5 minutes and cried AND ate a granola bar.  But I still wasn't worried.  

  THEN, I got the news.  I have Gestational Diabetes.  I'm sorry, what?  Me? I can't have that.  I didn't have it with Nathan.  No one in my family has diabetes.  I'm eating healthier than I did with my pregnancy with Nathan.  I just don't understand.   There is such a stigma with GD, at least I had one.  The news broke me.  I felt like such a failure, that somehow I put my unborn child at risk, something that ultimately I had no choice in. After a couple of days of sadness/depression and LOTS of research (& lots of support from family & friends) I snapped out of it and realized that I can do this.  My doctor wanted to try to see if we could get my sugar levels under control with just diet (no meds).  So we tried it for a week, and all looked good.  Then it was another 2 weeks (my appointment was today) and still all looks good.  Praise Jesus!  

  The worst part of all of this is the pricking of the finger.  It really sucks!  I can live with minimal carbs and very little sugar for the remainder of this pregnancy, but the testing 4 times a day is no bueno.  

  The benefit to all this, is my weight is actually staying in one place (according to the doctors scale I haven't gained any weight in 3 weeks.  The baby is still measuring right on track (not too big).  AND we will most likely be induced at 39 weeks, which means a planned birth, so we will be able to get all our ducks in a row and my mom will not have to speed to get here :).  Yes, I know anything can still happen, but right now I rest knowing that God has this under control and it's one less thing that I need to worry about.  

  So, with all this being said, please know that I don't need any more advice, but we covet your prayers for a continued healthy baby, a healthy delivery and that everything falls into place.