Rachel has always been an overachiever- although she would not say so. This week was no different as she was truly a rock star! She served our family selflessly and I don't know what I would've done without her. She made it possible for me to enjoy each moment with Chase with no worries. She cooked, cleaned, organized, taught me about all things baby, and helped me with any questions. She knew what to do before I even asked. It was great! She decided to paint our guest bathroom on her final day here....note topic name...lol Here are a few pics of her stay. There aren't many with her and Chase as she let me enjoy my time with him and really never sat down for even a minute. I did get a lot of pics with Jackson as he was also my helper and treasured his time to Chase. It was a perfect first week home and I couldn't have asked for more. Actually, she did more than I would've even thought to ask for..i.e. like painting the bathroom (lol)! Here's to you, Rachel!
We had friends come to visit today. We had a visit from a friend and her daughter that we are in small group with, then some coworkers. I loved getting to see all of them and having them meet Chase. They all loved his milk coma look! (lol) As far as how we are doing, we are fantastic. I am still just in awe and can't take my eyes of of him. He is perfect in every way. Nursing is going really well and hopefully we will know tomorrow if he has gained some weight. I think he has as poops and peeps are adding up in number (tmi) Brian had to go back to work today...which was hard for him. Last night, I mentioned him not getting up to change Chase b/c he had to work, he said "well yes I am still getting up!" He was insistent! He is loving every minute of it...even late night poopy diapers. (lol)Here are some pics of our time with friends and just random pics from Day five...
Mom, Dad and Chase right before leaving the hospital Chase in the car seat for the first time Dad changing a diaper right before we leave for home Momma holding Chase Chase not to happy about the diaper change Chase chilling in his new home. Jackson holding Chase at our house Daddy bringing Chase into our home for the first time!
We came home today from the hospital. William Chase is now 5 pounds 15 ounces but we are working on gaining weight. He is so tiny! His hair is plantium blonde and he has a ton it! (much different than my guess of being bald!) He is sleeping right now and is such a peaceful baby. I, however, am not getting much sleep as I can't take my eyes off of him. I am so thankful for him and just stare at him in amazement of God's miracle. I will post a few pics here of us right before we left-getting checked out, his first time in the car seat, leaving the hospital and our first moments at home. And no, he is not wearing dresses...one is a hand me down gown that was hand made for my nephew..the other outfit is a romper...also made for my nephew.(He is in the pic with Chase) They are very simple yet so precious...I love them and at this point, he can't protest! Enjoy the pics!
From this... to this... mama, big brother and William Chase
Day 2 was a good day for us and William Chase is doing well. I realized when I posted the first pictures that we didn't get a lot of close-ups of him. So, I tried to correct that with our day two pictures. Our night was much easier and he has long sleep times for now. We're very excited about bringing him home tomorrow. We've had several visitors and are so appreciative of everyones love and support.
As most of you know by now we welcomed William Chase Hume into our family yesterday (9/12/08) at 1:34 p.m. He weighed 6 pounds 12 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. He came out with a head full of blond hair. We knew going into yesterday that we could be running later than our scheduled time but when we got there they said we might go early. It wasn't early but at 1 p.m. they brought Karin back and I went back a few minutes later. I was nervous about if I would be able to watch any of the surgery but my adrenaline kicked in and I was able to watch most of it. Karin did amazing and has been so strong throughout. Our doctor was great and was joking with us the whole time. When she saw him she announced his full head of hair. He is beautiful (and yes I'm biased). He's completely healthy and is doing great.
One of our good friends(Christy Wiliams) was at the hospital before the surgery and was such a great support after it was over. Also, one of our pastors came and prayed with us. Tayler was so excited to meet his little brother. I think there will be many "arguments" over who gets to hold him.
Our first night was uneventful. He is a very peaceful baby but only when he's being held. Karin had hoped for a cuddler and I think she got it. Another thing Karin prayed for is that he would be able to latch on for nursing. He latched right away and is a big eater!! The hardest part of the night was the nursing staff coming in every hour. I'm thankful for their thoroughness and that baby Hume is doing well.
One last note for now- for months we have settled on calling him Chase. However, when we saw him we thought "William". So, he might be going by William. It was just our first thought so we'll see.
We'll keep everyone updated!!
PS- Yes- I'm wearing a "Hoosier Daddy" shirt. I saw it several months ago at our state museum but they didn't have it in my size. I called this week and they got a shipment in on Tuesday and I went and picked it up. Perfect timing!
I can't believe we are here at the end....We are leaving in about one hour. We took our last pic last night before going out to enjoy some time together as a family of three. Please pray for a smooth delivery, healthy baby, and smooth transition. I was actually going to try and sleep in this morning but of course I was up..mostly every hour. I got up and took my time getting ready. I still have a few more things to do around the house, but for the most part, we are ready. It is raining here and it is supposed to rain all weekend. I guess that doesn't really matter since we will be in the hospital..When we come home next week, it is supposed to be in 60's. That will be perfect weather to come home with baby...along with the smell of pumpkin spice candles and soup! On another note, leaving work yesterday was sad and my co-workers were so good to me. They gave me some beautiful fall roses and homemade cookies along with some little decorations of bibs and socks...so cute. They also took me out to lunch for one last meal of spicy salsa at Los Torres before baby comes! I am just so thankful for all of our friends who are so supportive and caring. We love you all!
Your Pregnancy: Week 39 As your official due date approaches, you're probably fixed on the calendar. But since less than 10 percent of women deliver on their actual due date, chances are baby is going to take you by surprise on a different day. Whenever the muffin arrives is the right time for him or her, so try not to get disappointed if your date comes and goes and the Mini hasn't made an appearance.
Wondering what's up with your body, your baby and your life this week? Read on ...
What You're Thinking: "Stick a fork in me. I'm done."
Your Body Head for the hospital or birthing center if you think you're in labor (even if it turns out that you're not!) It's better to make a couple of test runs than to deliver your baby at the local truck stop. If you are in labor but it has just started, the hospital may send you back home, which can be a bit of a buzz kill. But trust us, you'd rather be comfortable in your own home than stuck in a hospital bed with only four TV channels for the next 12 hours waiting to dilate from 1 centimeter to 2.
While there is nothing false about the pain that comes with false labor, it's a fake-out because it doesn't dilate the cervix like true labor does. And when you're trying to squeeze a grapefruit out of something the size of a cherry, it's an important distinction. Basically, false labor gives you all of the pain and none of the advancements. Nice, huh?
One way to identify false labor is to start timing your contractions. True labor contractions come regularly and get progressively closer together (and they hurt more as they get closer). False labor contractions are about as regular as your bowels since you've been pregnant—not very—and they vary from one to another on the pain meter.
False labor is more common in second or subsequent pregnancies than in first pregnancies.
Your Baby One uncomfortable complaint of late pregnancy is frequent hiccups. No, not you, your baby. Because there is no air around your baby, when she practices breathing, it can cause amniotic fluid to get into her windpipe, resulting in those regularly spaced thumps that make you think you're carrying a jumping bean in your belly. Other news this week:
The lanugo (an exotic word for soft, downy hair) that used to cover your baby's body has mostly disappeared, but you may find a bit leftover on the shoulders, forehead and neck. Don't freak and think you've given birth to a monkey: It'll fall out soon.
The color of baby's skin is changing from a red-pink hue to a white or blue-pink color (even in babes with dark skin). These changes are due to the amount of fat your little pudger is putting on. The circumference of your baby's head and abdomen are about the same size now (though you may not be able to tell if your baby's born with the common cone-shaped head!).
The placenta is lending your Mini antibodies that'll keep him strong and healthy after birth. That said, it's still a good idea to invest in that mega-size bottle of hand sanitizer.
At this point your little critter is about 19 to 20 inches long and weights about 7 pounds. That's just around the size of a large rabbit. What's up Doc?
Your Life After the first contraction hits (and you've regained your composure), there are probably some people you'd like to alert. For instance, those key people who will be with you in the delivery room.
Have a plan for contacting your team (coach, partner, Mommy, videographer, Zen master?) once labor kicks in—whether it's by calling your husband and having him call everyone else or programming everyone's number into your cell phone under: "Help! I'm in labor!"
Now that you technically have one more week, you may be feeling the pressure to lap up all this quiet time. So put your feet up, take a load off (and it is a load, let's be honest) and pop in your favorite DVD so you can think about something other than baby and when she'll show up
People walk away from the World Trade Center as ash rains down.
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Terrorists struck the United States Tuesday morning in harrowing, widespread attacks that included at least three commercial jet crashes into significant buildings.
• In the first attack, a plane hits the north tower of the World Trade Center in Manhattan shortly before 9 a.m., followed by another plane into the second tower about 20 minutes later. Both towers later collapse.
• About an hour later, a plane crashes into the Pentagon, part of which later collapses.
• American Airlines tells CNN that it lost two planes, both en route to Los Angeles: American Flight 11 from Boston with 81 passengers and 11 crew aboard is lost. This is believed, but not confirmed, to have been one of the planes that crashed into the trade center. ... American Flight 77, a Boeing 757 from Washington Dulles airport to Los Angeles with 58 passengers and six crew is unaccounted for. Witness says plane that hit Pentagon was an American Airlines Boeing 757.
• United Airlines loses two planes: United Airlines Flight 93 airliner headed from Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco, crashes near Somerset, Pennsylvania -- police say initial reports indicate no survivors. ... United confirms the crash of Flight 175 from Boston to Los Angeles with 56 passengers and seven crew aboard. It's possible, but not confirmed, that this is the second plane that hit the World Trade Center.
• FBI sources said all four planes that crashed had been hijacked.
• The Pentagon, the White House, the State Department, the Justice Department, the Capitol, the CIA and all other government buildings in Washington are evacuated.
• President Bush calls the crashes "a national tragedy." Later in the day, Bush issues a statement from Barksdale AFB near Shreveport, Louisiana. "Make no mistake: The United States will hunt down and punish those responsible for these cowardly acts."
• In the first-ever national ground stop of aircraft, all flights nationwide are stopped at their departure airports.
• International flights are initially diverted to Canada; FAA says later, however, that 22 U.S.-bound international flights will be allowed to land.
• Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef, the Taliban ambassador to Pakistan, says in reaction to the terror attacks that "we want to tell the American children that Afghanistan feels your pain and we hope that the courts find justice."
• In New York, more than 10,000 rescue personnel rush to the scene. Evacuation of lower Manhattan begins.
• Israel evacuates all of its missions around the world.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta is evacuated. CDC prepares bioterrorism teams in case they become necessary.
• Philadelphia landmarks are evacuated.
• In Chicago, the Sears Tower is evacuated; United Nations in New York is evacuated.
• Five battleships and two aircraft are deployed along the East Coast of the United States, and two aircraft carriers go to New York area, all from Norfolk, Virginia.
• The New York Port Authority closes all bridges and tunnels into the city.
• U.S. stock markets close after the New York attacks.
• NATO sends home all non-essential personnel from its Brussels, Belgium, headquarters.
• The Immigration and Naturalization Service puts the U.S. borders with Mexico and Canada on highest state of alert.
• Los Angeles International Airport is evacuated.
• Disney closes its parks in Orlando, Florida, and Disneyland in Anaheim, California.
• FEMA implements plan established for such events: FBI leads investigation, and Justice Deptartment heads crisis management.
• Three Palestinian groups -- Hamas, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Islamic Jihad -- deny responsibility for the attacks, but blame U.S. policies in the Mideast.
• Mayor Anthony Williams of Washington, D.C., declares a state of emergency.
• A Delta flight makes emergency landing in Cleveland and all passengers are safely evacuated. Federal officials search the plane for a possible bomb.
So here is the 38 week pic (and a few days) Also, in the pic is our new mural wall art "Think Big" This was a gift from a co-worker at my work shower. Today we had a false alarm. I had been contracting all day and decided not to risk it and go in. Well, actually, I called the Dr. and they said not to risk it and come in. Brian, Tay, and I all went in all the while Brian crossing his fingers that this IS NOT the day....budget, budget, budget, lol We were monitored and were told I was contracting and consistently but not dilating. So, they sent us on our way. We are glad we went b/c we got to see where we would be delivering and even got to meet the head charge nurse who will work with us on Friday. They were really great and the rooms are SO NICE! Other than this, no big news. We put the hardware on the dresser, our house has been detail cleaned (baseboards and all), I enjoyed my day at the Spa, Tay and I enjoyed some time together at Target (timing contractions all the while there), Brian mowed, we are shampooing the carpets tonight, and poor Tayler is sad today wasn't the day despite his efforts to wish it into being. On another note, it looks like three women did go early today that were scheduled for Friday, so they said they may call us to go early that morning instead of afternoon. I am VERY excited about this possibility as I am not too keen on not eating or drinking until late afternoon! PS You can see my hospital band in the photo..nice keepsake for baby book. They also let us keep my contraction paper to go in the book as well! (lol)
I have a few girls I used to go to church with that started a business called Loop De Lou. www.loopdelou.com They have the cutest stuff! A friend of mine is ordering us birth announcements, a few diaper bag tags, and some address labels as a gift. I wanted to post a few pics. They are non essentials (if you are a Dave Ramsey fan) but a special "extra touch." You get to pick your own art work, borders, fonts, etc....so cute! Above is an example of a diaper tag that we will put on Baby Hume's diaper bag (for church nursery, etc) For the address labels, you get to pick custom people like the girls above....(of course, we will have the man, boy, and baby too-but I don't have those examples-trust me they are so cute!) For the birth announcement, you can use similar to above...the baby boy carriage! Check out their website if you get a chance
We should have a camera by this weekend, so a 38 or 39 week pic will be up soon. We have about one week left until Baby Hume arrives. Please pray for our upcoming delivery! In the meantime, let's do a fun poll. Leave a comment with your best guess of weight and inches. As you know he should be here next Friday but you could always guess a different date, a time, etc. It will be fun to see what everyone thinks!
Your Pregnancy: Week 38 Two more weeks to go and your nesting instinct is in full throttle. You're busy washing and folding (and refolding) baby's clothes, marveling over how anyone could ever fit into such a teensy weensy T-shirt. If you haven't set up the crib, bassinet or wherever you plan for baby to sleep—now would be a good time. You don't want Dad frantically trying to figure out some incomprehensible instruction manual between contractions.
Wondering what's up with your body, your baby and your life this week? Read on ...
What You're Thinking: "Please don't let my water break at an inopportune time like in the middle of a client meeting or during my pedicure or at a fancy restaurant ..."
Your Body As your cervix begins to dilate, you may lose your mucus plug. (You may also toss your cookies when you read the words "mucus plug." Ew.) This thick, mucus-like wad seals the cervix and prevents infection during pregnancy. When the plug has done its work, it will bid your cervix goodbye and hurl itself into the toilet.
Contrary to what people may say, losing the mucus plug isn't a definite predictor of the onset of labor.
You also may notice some pink or "bloody show," another indication that your cervix is dilating.
Once you've lost your mucus plug, be on the alert for regular, strong, painful contractions (not like this is something you'd sleep through, believe us) or other indications that you should call your doctor and get thee to a hospital.
Your Baby Your baby's intestines have accumulated a considerable amount of meconium (the code name for black, tar-like baby poop), which is usually eliminated shortly after birth and gives you your first experience with the 100-wipe diaper change. Here's what else is up:
Your baby might just scratch herself in the womb as the fingernails have grown over the fingertips now. Resist painting them hot pink when she arrives.
Baby's lungs continue to mature and her brain and nerve function are working better every day. The latter two will continue to mature until Junior is a teenager, at which point she'll know it all (or at least she'll think she does).
Your baby weighs about 6½ pounds and is around 19 or 20 inches long—as long as a duffle bag (in case you needed an excuse to go shopping for a new bag for your labor gear).
Your Life Seeing that you've been wearing the same pair of maternity jeans every day for the last month, you probably haven't had a ton of laundry to do. That's all going to change in the next few weeks. Who knew that such a tiny person could create such mountains of laundry in a mere 48 hours? There will be so much barf and poop to get out of baby's clothes, you'll think you've given birth to the Exorcist baby. Now's the time to stock up on laundry detergent designed with your baby's sensitive skin in mind. And don't forget the stain remover.
Talk to a friend who has a baby to see what worked for her kid. Of course, every baby's skin is different, so what works for you might be something you figure out by trial and error. Check out brands like Dreft, All Free & Clear, Ivory Snow, Tide Free or Cheer Free if you're not sure where to start.
Wash a week or two's worth of Mini's clothes now so they'll be ready to go. But don't go ripping off the tags and washing everything for the next year. There's a good chance you won't need it or it won't fit when the time comes to wear it. (Seriously, who buys a six-month snowsuit for a January-born baby?) Keep the tags on and you can return it to the store for a larger size, or re-gift it to another expectant mom.
